SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE
46 HIDDEN GEMS TO EXPERIENCE IN THE ALAMO CITY
D ECE MB E R 202 1 SEC RET SA / EXP LORE FR E D E R IC KS BURG
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AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO FREDERICKSBURG MEET SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S NEW SECURITY DOG
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December FEATURES
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SA’S HI D DE N G E M S
Experience the lesser-known side of the Alamo City, whether booking dinner in a cave, finding art in unexpected places, ordering a secret menu item or searching for ghosts in a downtown bar.
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E X PLO R E F R E D E R I CKSBU RG
San Antonians know the draw of Enchanted Rock and Texas wine, but there’s even more to discover in Fritztown this holiday season.
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S ECU R I T Y PU PS
TSA Passenger Screening Canines are now on staff at San Antonio International Airport. Go behind-the-scenes as they’re trained at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and learn about what their day entails when protecting passengers in the terminal.
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WI L L TOU R I SM BOU N C E BAC K?
San Antonio thrived on its travel and convention business before the pandemic. The industry has started to return, but experts say it’s not back to normal just yet.
PHOTO BY VINCENT GONZALEZ
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TSA K9 handler Darrell Hagan and his dog Sally
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December
IN THE LOOP 16 TH INGS TO D O Celebrate the season at one of these cultural institutions. 1 8 PERSON O F INTEREST The co-founder of Young and Jewish in San Antonio says it’s important to find a balance of knowledge, ritual and faith.
2 2 IN FLUEN CER How the sisters behind the new Fraulein Boot Company are curating that vintage feel. 24 ENTREPRENEUR Throw a stress-free holiday get-together or New Year’s Eve shindig with these tips from Party Hat Celebrations.
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FINAL THOUGHT
57 DI S H Laika Cheesecakes & Espresso brings its treats to The Rim.
6 4 CO LU M N A long-distance relationship led one Alabama native to happily ever after and a new hometown to love.
5 8 E AT H E RE N OW Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar is a delicious expansion. 6 0 S P OT L I G H T Custom cakes and holiday pies aren’t just for people thanks to Kitchen to K9.
20 CU LTU RE Joffrey Texas is out to reshape the world of ballet, one young dancer at a time.
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EAT + DRINK
6 2 T H E GU I DE Try birria tacos, birria quesadillas, birria ramen and more at these 10 eateries.
ON THE COVER Illustrator Lisa Sheehan, @lisa_sheehan_asillo3d, created the 3D neon sign featured on this month’s cover. Sheehan is also a children’s book author and illustrator.
DISH: JOMANDO CRUZ; LIGHTS: COURTESY SABOT; DOG TREAT: COURTESY KITCHEN TO K9
D EPART M E N TS
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UP FRONT / EDITOR' S NOTEBOOK
ONLINE THIS MONTH
t was early evening on a Wednesday this fall when I found myself standing center stage at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Craig Verm and Michael Sumuel would stand there the following day as part of Opera San Antonio’s Don Giovanni, but for now, the seats in the H-E-B Performance Hall were empty. The house lights were on as technical director Hector Gutierrez pointed toward a rectangle in the middle of the stage and explained how it lowers into the basement. “It’s essentially an elevator,” he said, adding that it would lift Verm onto the stage during one of his scenes that weekend. “We’ve even had couples use it for wedding reveals.” From orchestrating grand wedding receptions to ensuring the lights shift colors at just the right moment during Ballet San Antonio’s The Nutcracker this month, Gutierrez told me that while the behind-the-scenes work at the Tobin Center all relies on advanced technology, it’s also an art form that depends on the careful work of him and his crew. Going backstage at the Tobin Center is just one of several “secret” San Antonio experiences I sought out while reporting on this month’s cover feature alongside writers Travis E. Poling, Bonny Osterhage and intern Tiffany Ha. While Gutierrez had initially welcomed me into the sound booth as part of an interview (read more about him on page 36), the backstage tour was a perk that’s periodically offered to Tobin Center members. Like that one, a few of the experiences we found require memberships—beer drinkers will want to heed Poling’s advice and seek out a coveted spot in Weathered Souls’ and Second Pitch Beer Co.’s clubs—but you can enjoy most of the hidden gems we found if you just know what to ask for, where to look and when to slow down and soak in your surroundings. I did that on a visit to City Hall, where a slow stroll from floor to floor gave me time to study local art installations added to the common areas this year and while at the Canopy by Hilton downtown, which boasts several pieces by Cruz Ortiz. Another place with a few gems worth discovering is nearby Fredericksburg. Freelance writer Tommie Ethington spent time in the Hill Country town that’s just over an hour from San Antonio and found that while its mainstays are always worth the trip, there are plenty of restaurants, shops, events (like Der Singende Weihnachtsbaum at the Pioneer Museum this month) and wineries to visit that you may not have thought to try just yet. Find her full guide starting on page 38. Whether you’re soaking in the season at home or venturing into the Hill Country this month, I’d love to hear about your “secret” spots and the experiences that you share with friends and family when they are in town for a weekend. Email me at editor@sanantoniomag.com, or tag us in photos while you’re out with #SecretSA and @SanAntonioMag.
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Nominations for our annual Best of the City issue opened in November. Help us crown the winners from among the finalists in 75 categories by voting up to once per day between Dec. 1 and 29 at sanantoniomag.com/botc.
SWEET STOCKING STUFFER Consider Mi Dulce Vida, the candies enchilados made by San Antonio occupational therapist Valerie Guevara, when gifting local this month. She chatted with us about how the pandemic lead to her new business at sanantoniomag.com/ midulcevida.
READ LOCAL On page 24, we share ideas for books by local authors to add to your list, whether you’re reading for fun or looking for something to share with kids or young adults. Head to san antoniomag.com/rudyruiz to hear from one of them about his work.
COMING UP NEXT MONTH Find a specialist or primary care provider with our latest Top Doctors list.
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JOSH HUSKIN
Kathleen Petty Editor in Chief kpetty@sanantoniomag.com @kpettysamag
BEST OF THE CITY
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DECEMBER 2021 / VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 3 WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO PLACE OR EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE VISITORS IN TOWN?
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© Copyright: San Antonio Magazine is published by Open Sky Media, Inc. The entire document of San Antonio Magazine is © 2021 by Open Sky Media, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. San Antonio Magazine is locally operated.
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In the Loop I NSI D E / HA NNUK A H T RA D ITION S p. 18 / RED EFIN IN G BALLET p. 20 / D ESIGN ER BOOTS p. 22
LIGHTSCAPE
Nov. 19-Jan. 2 San Antonio Botanical Garden sabot.org/lightscape
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Winter Glow production crew of over 30 people spent more than two weeks installing the thousands of lights illuminating the San Antonio Botanical Garden each night through Jan. 2. Known as Lightscape, the new exhibition that is already set to return for the next four years, features a 1-mile walking path that takes guests through the “Winter Cathedral,” pictured here, which is a tunnel crafted out of 100,000 lights. The holiday exhibit first debuted in the U.K. and then at Chicago Botanic Garden, where tickets quickly sold out in 2020. In San Antonio, it will include a few new elements, such
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as the “Field of Texas Bluebonnets.” Designed to mimic how wildflowers grow in nature, the field will feature 2,500 bluebonnet lights that will vary in height and be arranged both in clumps and on their own, says Emily Knapp, director of marketing, guest experience and exhibitions at the garden. The visiting event also will include an 8-minute choreographed light show set to music known as the “Field of Lights.” Knapp says the garden has seen more visitors in 2021 than in its previous two years and reservations are suggested for those wanting to visit Lightscape. Looking for more holiday must-dos? Turn to page 16.
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IN THE LOOP / THINGS TO DO
The Consequence of a Hoax / A federal jury found a man guilty of falsely posting twice on Facebook that he had paid someone who was infected with COVID-19 to lick some of the merchandise at San Antonio stores. The man, Christopher Charles Perez, admitted it was a farce and that he was just trying to scare people. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay a fine.
Three ways to celebrate the holidays Ice Skate in Travis Park Enjoy the ice regardless of whether there are winter temperatures thanks to the return of the Rotary Ice Rink in Travis Park. After taking a hiatus due to the pandemic in 2020, the rink reopened the weekend before Thanksgiving and will welcome guests through Jan. 17. “We’re really trying to create a community atmosphere,” says Brandon Logan, past Rotary Club president. To that end, every Saturday until Christmas, families can enjoy free visits with Santa while Sundays will feature local performers showing off their skills on the ice. Live music also is planned on select nights. Each Monday, military personnel and first responders can skate for free, and their dependents will receive $4 off admission. Tuesdays are “cheap skate night” when all guests will receive half-off admission (and when parking in the nearby city garages is free). New this year, guests can reserve a time to skate and pay online or at a digital kiosk in the park. rotaryicerink.com Start a New Tradition at The DoSeum From a fantastical fairy village complete with glitter to a sandy oasis and a winter wonderland made specifically for mice, the scenes built for The DoSeum’s latest exhibition are anything but traditional. As part of The DoSeum Express: Tiny Trains and Trolleys, the museum partnered with six artists-in-residence—Kallie Cheves, Daniel Rivera, Randall Rudd, Linda Vivenza and Robert Wurzbach and Emily Kinder—to create miniature
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worlds through which a train can travel. “It’s more creative and wacky than I could have ever imagined,” says Meredith Doby, the museum’s vice president of exhibits. “It’s not your classic retail display of a Christmas train.” Doby says the artists' miniature scenes are full of whimsy and fun while also incorporating elements of STEM, art and social-emotional learning for young visitors. In Cheves’ world, for example, kids will learn about loss through a creative display that features the earth and its moon. Rivera, in turn, crafted an interactive cavern that kids can climb into while Wurzbach and Kinder put together a fairy village. thedoseum.org Take in the Lights at the Zoo Now in its sixth year, the San Antonio Zoo’s winter event (open Nov. 19 through Jan. 2) offers plenty of new elements plus all of the favorite displays it’s become known for, from the 15-foottall lighted giraffe in Starry Safari to the giant snowman with artificial snow in Polar Point. New this year, guests can walk through a “Water Wonderland” that will include projections of water plus audio of the ocean and lighted jellyfish and sea creatures. At the Train Depot, adults and kids alike can enjoy a treat of cookies and hot chocolate while they ride the train through Brackenridge Park alongside Santa and his elves. Inside the zoo, Santa will make his return for visits and photos while the Lakeside Light Show is back with thousands of lights programmed to dance to music near the carousel. sazoo.org
A 20-Year Legacy / Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced this fall that he will not run for re-election in 2022, vacating the position he has held since 2001. State Rep. Ina Minjarez announced she’s interested in running for the county’s top seat. Virtual Reality / Visitors to the Japanese Tea Garden at Brackenridge Park can now download an augmented reality app on their phone and scan QR codes placed on signs around the property to learn about the history of the garden—as well as take selfies with a virtual dragon. The app is by San Antonio–based Geomedia. Striving for Equality / Top executives from Spurs Sports & Entertainment, Rackspace, USAA, H-E-B, Southwest Research Institute and elsewhere have committed to put $13.8 million toward initiatives that support underserved communities in an effort to create more equality in San Antonio, where Hispanic and Black residents are more than twice as likely as white residents to live in poverty.
COURTESY THE DOSEUM
Soak in the Season
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IN THE LOOP / PERSON OF INTEREST
of Jewish 20- and 30-somethings looking for a way to connect and YJSA was born. “We didn’t have any intention of starting a young adult’s organization. It just kind of happened organically,” Teldon says. “It’s taken on a life and a vibrancy that’s very meaningful to us.” Now the parents of six children, the Teldons have moved into an advisory role at YJSA, spending more time with youth, family, adult and senior programming while Rochel’s younger brother, Rabbi Eli Block, and his wife, Tzivia, lead YJSA. How did YJSA get started? We just wanted young people at our Shabbat Friday night dinners. We invited a few people my wife knew growing up and word kind of spread and soon we had 20 to 30 people in our little apartment on Friday nights. We started doing monthly socials, and then we had weekly Jewish education classes. It basically became like a family. Children are active in Jewish life because there’s Hebrew school and summer camps and all of that and then there’s the bar and bat mitzvahs. On college campuses, there’s a Jewish presence if you want to be involved in that, but I think as the marriage age gets older and older, there’s this gap now in Jewish life. It used to be that you got married young, had kids and then you were back in the synagogue. Now, if you’re single for 10 years, how do you connect?
Shining a Light Rabbi Levi Teldon, co-founder of Young and Jewish in San Antonio, on the importance of Hanukkah, tradition and faith INTERVIEW BY KATHLEEN PETTY
blind date first brought a young Long Island rabbi to the Alamo City and eventually led to the creation of Young & Jewish San Antonio. Rabbi Levi Teldon’s friends convinced him there was a woman he had to meet, Rochel Block—but she lived over 1,800 miles away in San Antonio. Teldon took a chance and found the two shared a vision for outreach and Jewish education. A few months after that date, they were married along the River Walk downtown. Block moved to New York, where the newlyweds lived for a few years before returning to the Alamo City just over a decade ago to work with Block’s parents at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning. YJSA began in 2011 when the Teldons decided to open their own Friday night Shabbat dinner tradition to other young adults. They quickly found that there were dozens
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FACT FILE
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y. Family: Teldon and his wife, Rochel, have six children Celebrate: Visit yjsa.org for detail on this year’s Hanukkah events at Pearl and La Villita.
Why is it important for young adults to stay involved? There is nothing like understanding your heritage. When there is understanding, there is investment. Part of what I love about being a rabbi is seeing that aha moment when you share an idea and you see that it gives someone perspective. There’s nothing like Torah study and Jewish education because then you’re not just doing it on faith or because of tradition or that you grew up in it, you’re doing it because it means something to you and is important to you, which only happens when you understand it. That’s not to degenerate faith—that’s important too—but in Judaism, you have to have a balance of both. Do most young adults stay involved in the faith or did you encounter people who were returning after time away? We have people who are religious, those who used to be religious and those who ILLUSTRATION BY VICENTE MARTÍ
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are not religious, and somehow, we are able to create a place where everyone is warm and friendly and connected. For me, the secret sauce is seeing myself, and then others, as a soul and not as a checklist of do’s and don’ts. We’re all souls here on a spiritual journey and the more I see myself that way—like the verse in the Torah says to love your fellow as you love yourself—the more I relate to others that way. If you love yourself because of your looks or smarts or politics or hobbies, then that’s what you see in others, and we’re all divided. If you look at yourself and others soulfully, then you can see that we’re all beautiful and we’re all in this together and no one is better than anyone else. I think that message is even more accepted now because as society gets more and more divided, young people are looking for an identity outside of politics and careers. Tell us about the tradition of Shabbat dinners. Friday night dinner is the secret sauce to Jewish continuity in my opinion. Jewish people have been through so much throughout history. What’s always held the family together is the serenity and the peacefulness of everyone in their finest at the table on Friday. There’s the singing and the rituals of sanctifying the Sabbath over a cup of wine and quoting the scripture about how God worked for six days and then he rested, and we emulate that. All phones are off. You withdraw from being in creator mode and you get back to being the true me. It’s also a serious, four-course dinner and throughout, we toast “l’chaim,” which is a toast to life. It’s hard to keep that tradition up if you’re living alone in an apartment so we were hoping to help fill the gap. We tell people we do this religiously. It’s not like we’re putting on a show. It’s an authentic Jewish practice. YJSA hosts Chanukah at Pearl, and the Chabad Center has an event at the Arneson River Theatre. What do you hope people take away from those? Understanding. No. 1, we want to give people exposure to Jewish holidays and traditions. The more you see people of other backgrounds and faiths in person, the less you’re impacted by negative images or things on TV. More so, I think the message of Hanukkah is meaningful and is a universal message. It’s the story of the few versus the mighty, the weak over the strong, light over darkness. In a world that seems more and more dark, that message of light and of hope and of light over darkness can be applied to people on so many different levels, whether nationally with politics or in personal struggles. Light ultimately will overpower darkness and it doesn’t take a lot of light—that’s the miracle of Hanukkah. They found just one jug of oil and they could have said that’s not enough to last us eight days so we’re not even going to try. The miracle is that they tried to make it last and God responded and increased the light every single night. It’s why it’s not enough to light one candle. We light one on night one, two on night two and so on. The light increases just like you always have to grow and step out of your comfort zone and bring more light to the world. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. DECEMBER 2021
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Joffrey Texas works to make ballet inclusive for San Antonio youth BY KATHLEEN PETTY
lie, one, two, three, and look toward your right fingers before you tendu—that’s good—now seven and eight.” Joffrey Texas co-director Kenny Borchard calls out the movements as six students complete a barre exercise while standing in the center of the room during an intensive class held earlier this year at Woodlawn Pointe. The students finish up as the last piano note plays from the speaker and Borchard instructs the youth to close their eyes. “Thumbs up for hands-on corrections in front of the group or thumbs-down,” he says, looking around the room as the dancers gesture their reply. A seventh dancer, who also closes her eyes, is tuning in virtually from her living room and appears on a laptop screen at the front of the room. It’s thumbs up all around, so Borchard instructs them to open their eyes and then walks from dancer to dancer, positioning one student’s arms at just the right height and turning another’s head ever so slightly to the side like they’ll need to do during the next exercise. He checks in with the young woman at home before turning the music back on so they can repeat the exercise. The act of requesting permission to make physical corrections while other students are watching is just one simple way in which Borchard and co-director Mauro Villanueva say they’re working to make ballet, at least at Joffrey Texas, more inclusive. The two men grew up dancing in a world where males only learned certain parts, where pointe shoes were only for women and where the traditions of the art form that dates back to 15th century Italy were rarely questioned. “For me as a student, it wasn’t even really something I thought
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Confronting Tradition
about until much later because you just had to fill the role that was expected of you,” says Villanueva, who grew up in San Antonio and spent 13 years with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. He took over Joffrey Texas from his former University of the Incarnate Word Ballet School instructors when they retired. “And also, dance is a discipline, so you abide by those rules. It’s not until you mature and self-examine and wonder why I couldn’t dance or learn parts that were traditionally female.” At Joffrey Texas, Villanueva and Borchard say if a male student wants to seriously study pointe, they’ll be there to help. For non-gender-conforming students, making them feel welcome could be as simple as not requiring ballet’s typical binary uniform. For non-white students, it’s acknowledging that the light-colored shoes and tights that have long been a signature of ballet are not inclusive and that they can select the colors they prefer. When they hire instructors, they aim to have a diverse faculty so that students see themselves represented in their teachers. Borchard, who taught at Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Program and also worked in television and commercial projects, says that when Joffrey started his company 65 years ago, he was a pioneer of the time, welcoming dancers who didn’t always look like the typical ballerina in other companies. “He was already pushing for inclusivity, and we are just bringing it into the 21st century,” he says. Also inspired by Joffrey, he and Villanueva are working to invite dancers from neighborhoods Joffrey Texas has not traditionally served. “Mr. Joffrey said that everyone deserved to learn how to dance, even if they don't become a professional dancer," Borchard says. Joffrey Texas typically offers a summer intensive (July 17-30 in 2022) as well as a winter program, which this year is expanding to Beaumont to meet demand there. (Classes are scheduled Dec. 29-30 in San Antonio and Dec. 27-28 in Beaumont.) Borchard says he knows it will take time, but he’s hopeful they’re building the kind of school he wishes he’d attended in his youth. “Moving your body is a kind of new experience for a lot of people, so if you don’t have a space that’s set up for that exploration then you’re, in a way, causing more harm and we are very particular about not causing more harm,” he says. “We’re just trying to create spaces for people to feel welcomed.”
COURTESY JOFFREY TEXAS
I N T H E L O O P / C U LT U R E
THE ART OF FILM
JEREMY DANIEL
COURTESY JOFFREY TEXAS
Slab Cinema on moving indoors with Arthouse at Blue Star If snow flurries or rain happen to accompany the holiday season this year, it won’t mean the cancelation of every Slab Cinema film. Thanks to its new indoor venue, Arthouse at Blue Star in the former Fl!ght Gallery, Angela and Rick Martinez will be able to welcome small crowds for film screenings regardless of weather. The couple who opened Slab Cinema 17 years ago have become known for their inflatable movie screens that pop up at parks and venues around San Antonio. They still do that, Angela Martinez says, but they now also curate a schedule of artsy, independent and obscure films at Arthouse at Blue Star. “We’re really trying to offer what the other multiplexes don’t and things that people can’t see somewhere else,” she says. So far, they’ve screened Coen brothers movies, Sherlock Jr. and Blood Simple, among other titles, and have plans for some holiday classics this month. Instead of an inflatable screen, the indoor venue relies on a projector, which Martinez says is ideal for pre-digital films. The space also has hosted art exhibitions and it’s meant to be flexible so that it can work for movies, events and more. Martinez says while they once lived near Blue Star, the idea of turning a former gallery into a movie house never dawned on them until they hosted an event there this fall. “We didn’t know we wanted an indoor space at all, but once we got in, we loved it,” she says, adding that because the venue is smaller, advance ticket purchase is recommended. “We just jumped in feet first.” slabcinema.com
Becoming Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory San Antonio native Cody Garcia makes his Broadway tour debut, Dec. 7-12 at the Majestic Theatre INTERVIEW BY KATHLEEN PETTY
Did you dream of Broadway while growing up? When I was younger, I actually wanted to make movies. I went to NESA (North East School for the Arts) as a cinematography major first and then the last two years I was in the musical theater program there and it changed my life. This is your first Broadway tour. What’s it like? Yeah, I had just finished my third contract with Disney Cruise Lines when I saw that the producers of this show were looking for a Willy Wonka. I got a call back and learned I got the part, so this is my first national tour. We’re pretty busy the whole time we’re on tour. We have shows almost every night and sometimes two shows on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. I go to the gym if I have down time and I love exploring cities, specifically their aquariums and museums, but I also try to conserve my energy for the shows. What are you looking forward to about coming home? I’m super excited. I grew up watching tours on the Majestic stage, so it’s been a dream
of mine to perform on that stage for so long, and I’m thrilled to be doing it in this role specifically. Hopefully, this is not the last you’re going to see of me on that stage. I’m also very excited to go back to Whataburger and get some good Mexican food— Garcia’s is down the street from my house. Any advice for aspiring stars? At the end of the day, if it’s what you want to do, you have to have the strength to keep going. You face rejection all of the time. You’re going to hear a million “nos” before you hear a “yes,” and you often don’t hear anything at all when you don’t get the part. Put yourself out there and do the work and there’s nothing you can’t do. When Broadway closed due to COVID19, how did you spend your time? I was on this tour when COVID struck. We were in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we spent 18 months sort of in limbo waiting. It took me a few months to figure out exactly what to do. I ended up sewing a lot, and I also went to Costa Rica to massage therapy school. Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dec. 7-12, majesticempire.com DECEMBER 2021
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IN THE LOOP / INFLUENCERS
Stepping Out The sisters and founders of Fraulein Boot Company on bringing back that vintage feel BY BONNY OSTERHAGE
ome little girls dream of sliding on a glass slipper to become Cinderella. Not Margaret Walker and her sister Sarah Caruth. These two Kingwood natives who now live in San Antonio dreamed of slipping into a pair of vintage cowboy boots and becoming Crystal Gayle. “She was our hero from the moment we saw her at the Houston Rodeo with her hair to her waist, twirling around in her sparkles and boots,” says Walker. “We had stars in our eyes.” While they may not have grown up to become country music legends, the sisters did embrace the vibe and style of their idol, wearing cowboy boots as they traipsed across Texas hunting, hiking and fishing with their “outdoorsy” family. One of their favorite memories involves a family trip to Whispering Winds Dude Ranch in Bandera, where they were exposed to their first real honky tonk, Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon. The musty joint with its sawdust dance floor made a big impression on the young girls, who realized that boots weren’t just made for the outdoors but also for dancing. “They don’t make honky tonks like Arkey Blue’s anymore, and we don’t think they make cowboy boots like they used to either,” Walker says. That’s where their new business, Fraulein Boot Company, comes in. Like many other new ventures, theirs was born out of the pandemic. Caruth, who worked in sales and marketing, says COVID put a damper on her career. It wasn’t until a friend asked her to describe her dream job, that she realized her true passion might just be in her “sole.” “People are always asking me where I get my boots and the answer is usually eBay or garage sales,” she says. “That’s when I decided to make new boots that look and feel like vintage. I asked my sister to partner with me and then the doors just started opening.” Named for their late father’s favorite song, Fraulein Boots are manufactured by Rios of Mercedes, a bootmaker in Mexico with roots that date to 1850. The sisters design the boots, handpicking the leather, stitching and colors to achieve an authentic vintage feel. Made in five styles, Walker says the boots are designed to work at home, on the range or on the runway. “There are no rules anymore,” Walker says. “You can wear a party dress with cowboy boots.”
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IN THE LOOP / ENTREPRENEUR
Curating Joy
3 SA BOOKS TO READ
The owner of Party Hat Celebrations offers tips for throwing your own stress-free shindig
GIFT LOCAL THIS MONTH WITH THESE TITLES BY SAN ANTONIO AUTHORS
BY KATHLEEN PETTY
ivoting may be the pandemic buzzword but for Josie Patrick, it’s also been her reality. The owner of Party Hat Celebrations, Patrick first launched her company, alongside her sister and a friend, a few years ago with the hopes of creating party-in-a-box options that customers could order. The concept never took off, but when they started offering balloons, business boomed. Now the sole operator of Party Hat Celebrations, Patrick specializes in large-scale balloon installations, bouquets and garland that she says act as the icing on the decor at birthday parties, baby showers, corporate events and more. The mom of three says when balloons began taking over her home about a year ago, she knew it was time to grow. She found a space at the Alley on Bitters where she now creates custom installations and also offers bouquets and garland for pickup from her balloon bar. Knowing what it was like to operate without a home base, Patrick also opens up her space for rental by other entrepreneurs. It’s been used for everything from cookie decorating and charcuterie workshops to art classes and cake smash photo shoots. With a master’s in early childhood education, Patrick says she never envisioned balloons taking up the bulk of her day but that it’s a pivot she’s grateful occurred. “It’s a joyful job,” Patrick says. “I walk in and kids scream and yell and they’re so happy.” Here, she offers some tips on creating your own festive event.
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Rely on Colors, Not a Theme While kids’ birthday parties often revolve around a theme— from dinosaurs to Disney princesses—they’re not necessary. Instead, forgo a formal theme at your next children’s party and just stick to bright colors, which always make the room or backyard pop. For adult events, you can’t go wrong with classic colors. On New Year’s Eve, Patrick suggests using black, white and metallics. It’s straightforward, sure, but it’s also classy.
The Bully Who Learned to Love By Claudia Villarreal, Illustrated by Michael Koch This author, actress and former teacher released her second kids’ title just before the pandemic. Read the rhyming tale about how Buddy the bully has a change of heart after encountering a kind teacher. FOR YO U T H
This Poison Heart By Kalynn Bayron Bayron was inspired by the stories she loved while growing up, including Little Shop of Horrors and The Secret Garden, while writing this YA fantasy novel that tells the story of a girl who has the power to turn seeds into plants with the touch of her hand. Bayron says representation is important, particularly in young adult novels, so the heroin is a queer Black young woman and the novel also includes the story of her supportive parents. Keep It Simple While Patrick’s balloon creations are often ordered to act as a focal point at an event, you don’t have to do something that big. At kids’ parties, streamers and paper fans go a long way toward making a room look festive (find local options for easy decor at Feliz Modern or on Party Hat Celebrations’ website. If you want to go all out on streamers, San Antonio’s The Stream Factory creates custom streamer installations). When it comes to adult dinner parties or New Year’s Eve soirees, Patrick says to liven up your space with florals or greenery, even if just a bouquet of flowers or eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s or H-E-B.
FOR ADU LTS
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez By Rudy Ruiz Ruiz’s latest title already has won gold in the fiction and audio book categories of the International Latino Book Awards. The fiction romance story that weaves together the past and present is influenced by his own experience growing up on the border as the son of Mexican immigrants. The novel begins with the tale of young love between the son of immigrants and the local pharmacist’s daughter and picks up when the two are adults about to meet again after being torn apart while in their youth.
COURTESY PARTY HAT CELEBRATIONS
Ask for Help Patrick says the biggest mistake people make in their own party planning is taking on too much. Instead, set reasonable expectations for what you can do and don’t be afraid to ask for help or hire a professional for the rest. Sometimes that means creating the decor yourself and ordering appetizers. Other times, it looks like cooking your favorite meal and ordering a centerpiece or having a friend decorate the mantle. “There’s a lot of pressure in the Pinterest age, but parties are meant to be enjoyed,” Patrick says. “I encounter people all of the time who are so stressed about it and it shouldn’t be that. It should be fun.”
FOR KIDS
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YO NE U D PA E D O N A ’T H AS SW T O N D OSRE C R T H E XS H A D E T G EE S E P E RK EO R A RM S 4 6 I E N AL OU IN HI CE A MN D A ND D O TH D EN CIT E Y TIF
FA N Y BY OS B HA TE ON , K A R H AGN Y PE THL E, TTY EE T R A NN AV D PO IS E LIN . G
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SECRET SA Three Streets by Ana Fernandez
PLAN YOUR OWN MURAL TOUR LOCALS CAN TAKE OFFICIAL PUBLIC ART TOURS ON THE WEST AND EAST SIDES, BUT THE BEST WAY TO GET A FEEL FOR THE FULL SCENE IS TO BUILD YOUR OWN SCAVENGER HUNT THAT WILL SEND YOU ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO. HERE, AN ITINERARY TO
During the renovation of City Hall (which was originally built in 1889 and is now among the oldest public buildings in continuous use), crews uncovered niches in several walls that have since been converted into public art displays featuring works by local artists Ana Fernandez, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Mari Hernandez and others. Found in the common areas of
floors two through four, you’ll see them as you exit the stairway or elevator on your way to any scheduled meetings at City Hall. Hernandez shares mixed media portraits of people connected to the Tap Pilam Nation while Fernandez created oil on panels that highlight the culture and landscape along local roads. 100 Military Plaza, getcreativesanantonio.com
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GETTING READY ON THE GO A woman on the go, Asia Ciaravino often finds herself hustling from her job as president and CEO of SA Youth, to galas, fundraisers and other events for the nonprofit. That means she must sometimes get ready on the fly. Her solution? The bathroom in the lobby of TriPoint on North St. Mary’s Street. “I’ve changed in there many times,” she says, with a laugh. “It’s always clean, has tons of great mirrors, and I can plug in my flat iron.” Although housed adjacent to the D.R. Semmes YMCA, it is not part of the gym, meaning it is open to anyone.
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You could spend a full day on the West Side, but start with a sampling of work completed through San Anto Cultural Arts’ Community Mural Program, including “Barrio Wellness” by Angel Hernandez (San Anto Cultural Arts); “Brighter Days,” which has been restored but was originally created by Adriana Garcia (Paul Elizondo Community Mental Health Clinic); and “Virgen Indigena,” by Jane Madrigal, Jose Cosme and Louie Alejandro (at the Guadalupe Community Center). Don’t let the Spurs season end without a visit to the Best Tickets office across the street from the AT&T Center, where you’ll find Christopher Montoya’s Coyote montage. Montoya is also responsible for the Cesar Chavez mural on South Flores Street. Drive South toward the San Antonio Missions to see “The Four Seasons,” a series of murals under the Loop 410 overpass at Villamain Road, that highlight the seasons plus the indigenous plants and animals that sustained the Coahuiltecan peoples centuries ago. Artists Cristina Sosa Noriega, Chris Montoya, Joe de la Cruz and Albert Garza each completed a season. St. Mary’s Street is full of Insta-worthy fun thanks to the George Strait mural by Matt Tumlinson that takes the moniker “King George” to a new level. There’s also Eva Marengo Sanchez’s breakfast tacos mural painted on a pink wall at Page Barteau Catering and the smaller ode to Shiner Bock on the side of The Amp Room. Head Northwest to The Rim to pose between a painted cup of coffee and a stack of macarons or against the multi-colored geometric designs commissioned for a wall between The Rustic and Bowl & Barrel through a partnership with San Anto Cultural Arts.
CITY HALL: KATHLEEN PETTY; TACO MURAL: COURTESY EVA MARENGO SANCHEZ; CIARAVINO: DAVID G. LOYOLA
GET YOU STARTED:
FIND PUBLIC ART ON THE WAY TO YOUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE’S OFFICE
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TAKE IN TWO 1920S-STYLE ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS ON SOUTH ST. MARY’S STREET
Eva Marengo Sanchez’s taco mural is one of several public art pieces to see on South St. Mary’s Street.
ATTEND AN INVITE-ONLY CONCERT If you find the noise of the bar or the banter of the crowd distracts from the main event— the music—consider reserving your seat at an invite-only concert. Tim Slusher, of Riff House Concerts, started opening his home up for semi-private house concerts over a decade ago. While COVID halted the fun for a bit, Slusher plans to begin booking his living room again in 2022. Head to his website, riffhouse concerts.com, so you can be on the next invite list. Outside, the Echo Bridge Appreciation Society hosts regular Sunday concerts under the Mrs. Frank W. Sorrell Bridge near Tandem San Antonio. Follow them on Instagram @echobridge appreciationsociety for updates on the next event and to reserve one of the limited spots available on the concrete under the bridge. riffhouseconcerts.com; instagram.com/echobridge appreciationsociety
CURATE A HOTELSTYLE GUEST ROOM When a downtown boutique hotel went through major renovations this fall, Office Fu r n i t u re L i q u i d a t i o n s was called to clear out its 40 rooms. Mattresses were donated to VetStrong, which supports veterans in need, while lamps, desks, couches and other pieces were added to OFL’s 45,000-square-foot showroom, which features gently used furniture (and often fun decor) perfect for that next room redesign. 6838 Bandera Road, officefurnituresa.com
LINGER WITH THE FAMILY IN THE EMILYANN GARDEN There is so much to do at this outpost in Wimberley that you’ll need to plan a full day. Walk a nature path, relax in the outdoor library, take a selfie in the life-size princess carriage, play chess on the giant set and concrete board amid the greenery, tackle a maze or make your own tunes in the sound garden. 1101 FM 2325, emilyann.org
Known as the Drury Hotel Plaza San Antonio River Walk since 2007, the building opened originally in 1929 as Alamo National Bank. Now a National Register of Historic Places landmark, the building is trimmed with granite and marble, features bronze and terra cotta details on the exterior and boasts a lobby with stained glass windows, marble walls and bronze framework. Walk inside to see those features plus the original chandeliers that have been refurbished but still hang from the 50-foot ceilings. Down the street, the Tower Life Building opened the same year (then known as the Smith-Young Tower). Representative of the boom in high rises seen around the country just before and at the onset of the Great Depression, the tower stands 30 stories tall and features a promenade on the 22nd floor. Designed in a Gothic Revival style, the building was the work of San Antonio’s Atlee B. and Robert M. Ayers and features terra cotta gargoyles outside plus a tiered design that has been described by many as akin to a wedding cake. 105 S. St. Mary’s St., 310 S. St. Mary’s St.
FIND CRUZ ORTIZ OR GARCIA ART GLASS AT A DOWNTOWN HOTEL Keep your eyes open at the new(ish) Canopy by Hilton on the River Walk to see pieces by Cruz Ortiz, or walk into the lobby at San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and look behind the check-in desk and the touchless elevators to see pieces by Garcia Art Glass. 123 N. St. Mary’s St., hilton.com; 101 Bowie St., marriott.com
ORDER FROM A HIDDEN MENU Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Here are a few ideas to get you started in your quest to snag an offmenu bite: Try the banh mi pork belly wrap at Mi Roti. Order the Bull Roll for something with an extra kick at Sushi Zushi. At Whataburger, add grilled veggies to your standard grilled cheese or lunchtime chicken strips atop pancakes at breakfast. Turn your quesadilla into a seafood dish by asking for shrimp instead of meat at Los Barrios. Request a Dirty Bird at Longhorn Café—a chicken fried steak sandwich with beans and Fritos stuffed under the bun. Don’t be fooled when you see mac n’ cheese listed only on the kids’ menu at Boiler House—you can enjoy it as an adult entree, too. Next time you visit Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, try the Wild Bill, which allows you to enjoy brisket and sausage (plus barbecue sauce) together on a po’boy bun. If you’d rather test the secret market with a drink, consider the Rosa Cucu (a pink beet latte with piloncillo syrup) and the Chocosubmarino (it’s espresso with a full chocolate bar!) at Olla Express, or an Almond Joy at HTeaO San Antonio. DECEMBER 2021
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EXPERIENCE NINE-PIN BOWLING
TAKE A (SOMEWHAT) HIDDEN TRAIL If you love hitting the trails but not the trail traffic, get off the beaten path at Eisenhower Park. While its paved Cedar Flats Trail that starts near the playground is well used, find some solace on the unpaved Hillview Natural, Yucca Natural and Red Oak trails that lead visitors to the far edges of the property. New this fall, the city also opened a 2-mile paved trail connecting the park to The Rim and allowing the Leon Creek and Salado Creek greenways to come together. The result is access to around 40 miles of paved multi-use trails for cyclists and others to enjoy. 19399 N.W. Military Hwy., sananotnio.gov/ parksandrec
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PLAN A DAY-CATION Staycations were all the rage as pandemic restrictions began to ease, but in San Antonio you don’t have to commit to an overnight stay to enjoy the perks of a resort. Book a day pass directly with a property or browse on the ResortPass app to quickly explore your options. Day passes with pool access at places like La Cantera Resort & Spa, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, the new Thompson San Antonio, Mokara Hotel & Spa, and Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa range from around $30 to $75 or more. Want to really treat yourself? Book a private cabana and order lunch in style or reserve a spa pass for the ultimate in relaxation (those extras can run from $100 to over $500). resortpass.com
BUY YOUR NEXT HOME BEFORE IT HITS THE MARKET The next time you’re in the market for a new home, consider skipping the hours-long online searches in favor of pocket listings that real estate agents can sometimes get you into before they officially hit the Multiple Listing Service. Though sales like these are often made on exclusive or high-end homes, those aren’t the only properties sold through this method. Agents at Kuper Sotheby’s market their ability to find these, but it’s worth asking any real estate agent if you can see the listings they’re working on or that their colleagues will be listing soon. It may save you the hassle of a bidding war or multiple offers.
MEET YOUR CHICKEN DINNER Abo Mused and his brothers, Omar and Mohamed, grew up in Brooklyn eating fresh meat thanks to a farm-to-table-style market run by their immigrant father. After they moved to San Antonio, they struggled to find something similar and decided in 2020 to open their own Halal-certified shop, Alamo Farms. They offer fresh meat, from T-bone steaks to whole cows you can order and have processed however you like. Ensure your chicken is fresh by selecting a live, organically raised chicken outside and then heading indoors to observe through windows while the animal is processed. 200 Chihuahua St., alamofarms.com
SKIP THE COMAL AND GUADALUPE RIVERS THE NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO FLOAT THE RIVER If crowds and drinking college kids are no longer your scene, consider bringing your tubes to the Medina River or Blanco State Park instead. The rivers are just as refreshing and the parks ideal for family outings. Need a rental? In Bandera, the Medina River Company offers tubes and kayaks and will also shuttle your group to the river. Visit their barbecue trailer and fill up your cooler while you’re there. 114 Main St., Bandera, themedinariv ercompany.com; 101 Park Road 23, tpwd.texas.gov/ state-parks/blanco
COURTESY JW MARRIOTT HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA
Although 10-pin bowling now rules the lanes in the U.S., it is the medieval German sport of nine-pin bowling that was played in America in colonial times. Bowling spots like New Braunfels’ Mission Valley Bowling, Zorn Bowling Club in Seguin, Fischer Bowling Club and the 126-year-old Bexar Bowling & Social Hall in Marion are holding down the German tradition, which typically has teenagers setting the pins up instead of machines. Pins are aligned in a diamond shape with one pin in the center. Hidden away on the back of San Antonio’s Beethoven Männerchor biergarten is an inoperative nine-pin bowling alley where generations of young pinsetters have carved their names in the wooden ceiling above where they labored. The nonprofit association that runs the Beethoven is trying to raise funds to restore it so locals can play once again. southtownbeethoven.com
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GET TO KNOW AN ANTIQUE DEALER
BEHIND THE SCENES AT FULL BELLY CAFE + BAR
With three floors of collectibles, jewelry, coins, vintage magazines, midcentury modern furniture and more, odds are that you’ll find something to love just by browsing at Alamo Antique Mall. When you’re looking for a specific piece, it can pay to know an antique dealer. To get acquainted, find the vendors that stock your style and introduce yourself the next time you make a purchase. If you let them know what you’re interested in, many are willing to give you a call the next time that item comes up in their inventory giving you the chance to purchase it before it hits the floor. 125 Broadway, alamoantiquemall.com
JAMES MOORE, A CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY GRADUATE WHO WORKED WITH MAX’S WINE DIVE AND BOILER HOUSE BEFORE STRIKING OUT ON HIS OWN, SHARES HOW HE PRO-
MOORE: CLINT DATCHUK; STARGAZING: DAVID G. LOYOLA
VIDES A MEMORABLE CULINARY EXPERIENCE.
“It might surprise people to learn that these days cooking is probably what I do least. As executive chef and partner at Full Belly Cafe, most of my time is spent on things like scheduling, ordering and organizing. COVID added additional responsibilities to my plate, such as tracking down limited product, troubleshooting and finding staff. On top of that, I am trying to grow the business after dealing with capacity restrictions. With so much to do, my day typically begins around 7 a.m. when I do a walk-through of the entire kitchen and restaurant to check on the cleanliness, organization and product supply. I meet with my sous chef, Abel Salazar, and, based upon what is needed, I start prepping, cooking, baking and ordering product, or I jump on the computer and handle the business end of things. A chef is not only responsible for the menu planning and implementation, but also for the fiscal responsibilities that surround those tasks. Running a successful restaurant is a team effort. On a busy night, we may serve
LOOK UP AT THE STARS as many as 200 people, often after having served an additional 200 at brunch that same day. I look for people with a good attitude, a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn. We have line cooks who prep and execute the final dishes, prep cooks who prepare the large-scale batch cooking, stewards who clean equipment and dishware, and an in-house baker who creates all of our breads and pastries. Plus, we have waitstaff who deliver the food and make sure our customers’ every need is met. The sous chef and chef manage the organization of all of those tasks as well as participating in them. We do as much as we can in advance so that the final execution and delivery of the food is as quick and efficient as possible, while still being fired to order. Sauces, batters, portioned proteins, and vegetables are among the things that are prepared daily to ensure freshness, while still being able to be quickly put together. Our restaurant closes at 10 p.m., at which time we do all the cleaning and make a prep list for the next day. The last person to leave usually does so between 10:45 and midnight, and then we hit it bright and early the next day and do it all again. It’s a monster on a leash most days, but it’s worth it to deliver the quality and service that our valued customers expect.”—AS TOLD TO BO
Thanks to development in nearly every corner of town, it can be tough to spot specific constellations from your backyard, but truly dark skies are just a short drive away. Join the San Antonio Astronomical Association for a Saturday evening community event at Guadalupe River State Park, Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area, Garner State Park, Hill Country State Natural Area and elsewhere and learn from the pros about what to look for and where to find it in the night sky. Email public.programs@ sanantonioastronomy.org for details on the latest events. nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov
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LEAVE NO TRACE AT MEDICINE WALL The Texas Climbers Coalition spent years working to acquire Medicine Wall and make it accessible (and protected) for climbers searching for an outdoor option in San Antonio. Locals with climbing know-how can use the wall by parking along the Salado Creek Greenway (it’s a short hike from the trailhead at Loop 1604 near Bitters Road). The coalition asks visitors to leave no trace, which means not developing new routes, leaving trees undisturbed and limiting climbing to daytime. texasclimbers coalition.org/medicine-wall
VOGUE (OR CHEER FOR THOSE WHO DO) Plan for pizza at Playland and then head to the restaurant’s basement event space, Below, for monthly Vogue nights that spotlight San Antonio’s ballroom culture. Balls are loosely defined as competitions in vogue, a stylized dance style that include costumes and the celebration of trans and queer people of color. Follow @shay lashimmyxo on Instagram for details. 400 E. Houston St.
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TANNER EASTON, SENIOR ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST IN HERPETOLOGY, SAYS HE GREW UP WANTING TO BE STEVE IRWIN AND FOUND THE NEXT BEST THING AT THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO, WHERE HE CAN FOCUS ON BOTH ANIMAL CARE AND CONSERVATION.
“We joke that in the herpetology (amphibians) department, we don’t have a typical day. We do have routines for how often we feed individuals and for servicing enclosures before guests arrive, but otherwise our curator likes to tell us to act like palm trees—we should be able to bend in the wind and take everything in stride. I work Tuesday through Saturday and start my day at 7 a.m. Between 7 and 9, we get the buildings open and service exhibits, which basically means we get in there, water plants, pull out any fecal matter, feed snakes, lizards or other individuals, clean the glass and check the lights and just make sure everything is working. Once guests arrive, we still have plenty of exhibits to tend to in the back areas. We have hooks that we can use to maneuver snakes if we need to or we’ll pull that individual out to make it safer for us. We always err on the side of caution with our venomous snakes. I take care of our Komodo dragons, some of our gecko species and several venomous snakes, like the king cobra and the
mangshan pit viper. It’s this really cool venomous species out of China. We have some snakes and animals that not many zoos have. I take care of a Japanese venomous pit viper, for instance, and we’re one of two institutions in the world that have them. Outside of our routines, a lot of our week—me and the other four keepers in herpetology—depends on medical cases. An animal might be fine one day and then need to visit the vet the next. We also participate in a breeding project with the Puerto Rican crested toad. Once a year we pair up toads that are recommended to us and if we have success getting them to breed, we collect the tadpoles and send them to Puerto Rico so they can be reintroduced into the population there. It’s about a two-month process that usually takes place in the fall. Guests still teach me things or ask me questions that I have to research to find the answer to. I’m always asking questions and researching at home to learn more. In some enclosures, we have multiple snakes so it’s fun to ask guests to look for them all and to watch them hunt for them or to point out one that is right there in front of them, but that they don’t see because it’s camouflaged. Reptiles are awesome. They’re a lot smarter than people think.”—AS TOLD TO KP
BATS: KSANAGRAPHICA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; EASTON: CLINT DATCHUK
The largest single-species bat colony in the world makes its home just outside of San Antonio in Bracken Cave each summer. Watch some of the more than 20 million Mexican freetailed bats emerge from the cave at dusk for their nightly insect hunt by becoming a member of Bat Conservation International, which owns Bracken Cave and its surrounding land. Once summer viewing dates are scheduled, members are emailed so they can register for the evening of their choice when they’ll be escorted near the cave as part of a small group. batcon.org
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO
BECOME A BAT INSIDER
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DINE IN A CAVE Whether you’re planning the perfect proposal dinner or simply looking to liven up that weekly date night, consider booking a VIP experience at Natural Bridge Caverns. As part of its private cave tours and custom offerings, couples and families can book intimate, after-hours candlelight dinners, complete with catering and even a photographer. Want to let the family know you’re expecting? They can also turn the cave lights blue or pink as you make your big reveal. 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, naturalbridge caverns.com
PANCAKES: COURTESY THE HAYDEN; ILLUSTRATIONS: DAVID G. LOYOLA
ADD TO THE FIRST FRIDAY TRADITION It’s a given that art goes handin-hand with Southtown each First Friday but there are other neighborhoods to add to your regular art appreciation agenda. Before you land in Southtown, check out Space C7 on the South Side where curator Jeff Wheeler presents First Friday shows in the gallery that opened as part of South Side Living + Maker Spaces. The following weekend, take Second Saturday Art Walks at the 1906 Art Complex in the Lone Star Neighborhood and see work from 14 artist studios. 2450 Roosevelt Ave., instagram.com/spacec7; 1906 S. Flores St., 1906.studio
CURATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR YOUR KIDS If that sounds extra, the moms at Hand Me Up want you to hear them out. The online business that debuted this year from the women formerly known as @simplywholemoms on Instagram allows parents to order a capsule-style clothing bag that includes three tops, three bottoms and one extra item—all “pre-loved” and curated for your kid. When you receive the new-to-you clothes, you can pack up items that no longer fit and send them to Hand Me Up. They’ll give you a $10 coupon on your next order and either share your clothes with another family or have them upcycled by seamstresses who turn them into purses, headbands, dolls and more. handmeupshop.com
FIND YOUR INNER GARDENER Turn your brown thumb green with the Bexar County Master Gardeners Training Class. A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offering, this intensive 12-week program teaches you everything you need to know, from vegetable gardening to soils, composting and much more. The $275 course is limited to 30 people and includes weekly training classes, field trips and annual maintenance requirements. bexarmg.org
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A REVERSE SPECIAL Sometimes the best specials are topsy turvy. At The Hayden on Broadway, indulge in breakfast for dinner each Wednesday night, or order a slice of pie with your eggs any morning. Further north in Alamo Heights, Hanzo offers $7 cocktails and $3.50 house shots, including sake, as part of its reverse happy hour from 11 p.m. to last call. (Happy hour also runs all day on Sunday and Monday.) In the Medical Center, Torchy’s Tacos caters to those finishing the nightshift by cutting $2 off signature drinks and $1.50 from beers between 7 and 10 a.m. on weekdays.
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A TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES When she’s feeling nostalgic for her home in Manila, Philippines, SA Live co-host Fiona Gorostiza heads to Laguna Cafe. “It always makes me feel like I’m back home,” she says happily. Her go-to dishes? The Pancit Sotanghon, a vermicelli noodle dish with veggies, chicken, bacon and shredded eggs, and the Lumpia (spring rolls). “It’s so authentic,” she says. “The owner, Mila, will take good care of you.”
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Second Pitch Beer Co. opens only a few new spots in its Mug Club at a time, so it pays to be a regular who’s in the know if you want to join. A $150 fee means you get a personalized mug hanging above the taps, a 20-ounce pour for the 16-ounce price, discounts on merch, to-go draft fills in crowlers and a 2-liter “boot” of beer to share on your birthday. At Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, quarterly $100 Whiskey Club members receive at least two special release bottles a quarter, invites to pick-up parties, plus discounts at the tap room. Weathered Souls Brewing Co. opens up a limited number of memberships every September and at $225 a year, they usually sell out in a weekend. That fee comes with two bottles of special releases chosen by the brewmaster each month, member happy hour prices on certain days, member-only parties throughout the year and a special gift. Those who have been members for at least two years are in line for additional perks based on seniority through the uber-exclusive Top 60 Club. secondpitchbeer. com, drinkrangercreek.com, weatheredsouls.beer
SEE ART BY A MASTER WITHOUT LEAVING TOWN The McNay Art Museum boasts dozens of works by Pablo Picasso. Many of them aren’t on display for public view every day but you can see his “Nu” sculpture in the Garden Level 2 gallery or his “Femme Couchée (Reclining Woman)” in the Hamon Gallery 2. Through Jan. 23, guests can see Claude Monet’s 1902 “Charing Cross Bridge, brouillard,” on loan from the Art Gallery of Ontario and available for viewing in the Zilker Gallery. Visit from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday for free admission. 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., mcnayart.org
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PAN FOR GEMS AT CAVE WITHOUT A NAME Discover the natural wonders of the world below where rock formations thrive and studded minerals dangle overhead. Once you’ve taken in the living limestone cavern, get to work by panning for gems of your own or cutting geodes so you can take a piece of the magic home with you. Make reservations by calling 830537-4212 or emailing cwan@ cavewithoutaname.com. 325 Kreutzberg Road, cavewith outaname.com
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Enjoy the arts for free The McNay isn’t the only place with free hours for locals. At San Antonio Museum of Art, admission is free from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-noon on Sundays. The Witte Museum is free from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesdays, and The DoSeum welcomes families for free (with registration) each first Monday evening. Artpace, Ruby City and Blue Star Contemporary are always free (though donations are, of course, appreciated).
ArtisTree Home has built treehouse getaways in Hawaii, Mexico and California but the treehouse design and construction firm got its start in the Hill Country. Founder Will Beilharz first realized his vision through guest houses built in the ancient cypress trees on his family’s Cypress Valley property in Spicewood. Known initially for its zipline tours, Cypress Valley now boasts five treehouses that sleep two to six people and offer a secluded, natural getaway. The newest house, Yoki, boasts a two-story deck with a spiral-styled staircase that leads around the towering tree trunk outside. Inside, find a king bed, a soaking tub with a view of the property and a kitchenette complete with Cuvee coffee. Guests have to commit to at least two nights and treehouses are often booked up months in advance (weeknights are cheaper with the smallest treehouse starting at $200 a night and Yoki, the newest and most luxurious, starting at $625 a night). 1223 Paleface Ranch Road S., cypressvalley.com
GET FIT—NO GYM REQUIRED You don’t need an expensive gym membership to get in great shape thanks to the citywide Fitness in the Park program that offers free group fitness classes in and around the city’s parks. New this year, the city partnered with Seek Parkour for a Monday evening Parkour Tag at San Pedro Springs Park. Parkour is roughly defined as “moving rapidly through an area,” but this local version incorporates jumping, running and a little bit of climbing, all in the name of fitness and fun. 2200 N. Flores St., fitcitysa.com
MAKE A CUSTOM MEAL PLAN AT H-E-B You already know H-E-B can meet all of your grocery needs, but what you may not realize is it can also help with your health and wellness goals. H-E-B dietitians offer one-on-one consultations to help determine your nutritional needs and develop a meal plan so you can meet your goals. They will even shop with you to find the best ingredients. The best part? With more than 70 insurance plans accepted, there’s a good chance the cost of your consultation is covered. heb.com/ nutrition-services
CLAUDE MONET, CHARING CROSS BRIDGE, BROUILLARD, 1902, OIL ON CANVAS, COLLECTION OF ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO, GIFT OF ETHEL AND MILTON HARRIS, 1990; PHOTOGRAPH © AGO
JOIN A CLUB TO DRINK
DECEMBER 2021
10/29/21 12:58 PM
LOOK FOR GHOSTS ON YOUR NEXT STAYCATION
GET IN ON THESE SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS
TREEHOUSE: COURTESY CYPRESS VALLEY; GHOST: DAVID G. LOYOLA; BATHROOM: COURTESY BLACK SWAN YOGA
Catch of the Month Groomers Seafood wants to help you increase your fish intake. Its monthly subscription club members receive vacuum sealed, flash frozen fish fillets, portioned for you to take out of the freezer before each meal. groomerseafood.com/subscription-box
Flour Box Former Broadway News bakery Flour Press is focusing on wholesale goods while it transitions to a new location, but its treats can still be enjoyed at home thanks to its monthly Baker’s Box. A recent box included favorites like the oatmeal cream sami and pumpkin muffin, but each month promises to be worthy of a cheat weekend. flourpress.com/menu
The Mischief Box Get a taste of what Sichuan and Dashi Sichuan’s Kristina Zhao might put in her own shopping basket at her family’s Asia Market—but even better. Quarterly subscribers will receive hidden treats from the market (as well as info on what they are) plus early access to new menu items. table22.com/sichuan-house
Willie & Roo The local pet-focused company helps create customized subscription boxes for your pup based on a survey you fill out detailing your dog’s size and lifestyle. Expect premium toys, chews, treats and more. Organic supplements can be added. willieandroo.com
FIND A LAVATORY TO LOVE Who says bathrooms must be boring? Kitsch, class and color abound in these facilities. The Paramour Bar gives guests something to gawk at with vintage posters of a half-naked Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck on the walls. Colorful rainbow tiles at Yanaguana Garden add to the playful nature of the popular Hemisfair playground. And at Black Swan Yoga, River Bank Art Studio created a desert escape in the lavatory, complete with succulents and a blooming cactus. 102 9th St.; 434 S. Alamo St.; 914 E. Elmira St., Ste. 201
Built next to the Alamo less than 25 years after the 1836 battle, the Menger Hotel is known to house many-a-ghost, from spirits of those who died at the Alamo to maids who appear in Victorian-era uniforms. Guests have reported seeing over a dozen different ghosts while walking the halls, but your best bet for a haunted sighting may come from requesting specific rooms. On the second floor, call and ask for the King Ranch Suite, which is named for Capt. Richard King, the ranch owner and business mogul who died in the room where he was a frequent guest during the mid1800s. Upstairs on the third floor, beloved chamber maid Sallie White took her last breath after being shot in the back by her jealous husband. She’s known to show up in rooms folding towels or delivering clean sheets. Look for her while treating yourself in the Alamo Plaza King suite, which includes a private balcony overlooking the Alamo. Not up for staying the night? President Teddy Roosevelt has been spotted in the Menger Bar (which he visited along with his Rough Riders) while a woman in a blue dress and a child believed to have been run over by a carriage out front have shown up in the lobby. 204 Alamo Plaza, mengerhotel.com
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Want to know more? Lauren M. and James A. Swartz penned Haunted History of Old San Antonio, which delves into the city’s haunted past (Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free).
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Harvest, plant, weed or clean up after livestock at the San Antonio Food Bank’s teaching garden and you’ll have the opportunity to learn about everything from growing vegetables in raised beds to composting and aquaponics. On the East Side, the nonprofit Gardopia Gardens welcomes volunteers on some Thursday evenings and Saturdays for garden maintenance, livestock care and more. 5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy., safoodbank. org; 619 N. New Braunfels Ave., gardopiagardens.org
BRUNCH WITH A SIDE OF ART For nearly 45 years, Cappy’s has used part of its dining room as a rotating gallery that features different local artists, artisans and photographers. Luisa Wheeler-Price and Steven G. Smith are just a few of those who’ve been highlighted. Be sure to ask about what is hanging nearby while you enjoy your next peach mimosa and Gulf shrimp omelet. 5011 Broadway, cappysrestaurant.com/art
PUT DOWN YOUR CLUBS IN FAVOR OF DISC GOLF Weave through the wooded areas of Northwest Vista College as you compete on its recently reopened disc golf course. In Universal City, head off the beaten path near Cibolo Creek Primitive Trail for a mix of open, elevated and tight holes that will challenge even the most experienced disc golfer. At McClain Park, find an 18-hole course that’s easy to miss if you’re simply driving by. 3535 N. Ellison Drive, pdga.com; 1200 Cibolo Trail, universalcitytexas.com; 15700 O’Connor Road, sanantonio. gov/parksandrec
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HECTOR GUTIERREZ HAS BEEN WORKING BACKSTAGE AT THE TOBIN CENTER SINCE JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER IT OPENED IN 2014. NOW THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, HE ENSURES EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE BEFORE THE AUDIENCE ARRIVES.
“I’m kind of like the foreman on a construction crew. The head of audio, head of lighting and head carpenter all run the shows and I’m there to work on challenges, logistics and advancing of the show. We do so much compared to just a theater. We have private events, tours, resident companies—I’ve done an event in every room of this building, including outside and in the rotundas. We’ve gone from a wedding with tables in the H-E-B Performance Hall to an opera rehearsal with chairs and the orchestra pit setup to folding the seats up under the floor so it’s flat for a standing room rock concert. With tours, they might send me their information for lighting, sound and everything two months ahead of time. That way we know if any equipment is needed or if we need to hire people from the stagehands union to unload their trucks. With the resident companies, we work a few weeks to a month out to make sure everything is ready. We’re here with them during rehearsals, so we’re more involved. For a tour, they might get here in the
morning, unload, set up, do their performance and then load up and be gone. It’s routine for them. The brain to everything is back here in the control room—basically all of the equipment and computers that keeps everything going. We have the Ferrari of consoles for audio and sound but what we do is really an art form—the designing of the sound, all of the lighting, everything. Everything is programmed before a show starts but you’ll still see crew members stacked along the desk closely monitoring everything. We’re in constant communication with the staff backstage, the staff out in the lobby, everyone, and we monitor all of it to make sure it goes according to plan. Backstage, our grid is 90-feet tall and we have a fly system that consists of 90 linesets that can each hold up to 2,000 pounds (of sets or props). There’s a lift in the middle of the stage that acts as an elevator and can bring people up from the second floor basement during a show. The orchestra pit also rises up so you can load instruments onto it from the stage level. It’s high-paced and it can be crazy but it’s a lot of fun. I want what we do to add to the performance but it’s not the star—there’s a reason we all wear black, it’s so that we remain in the background. Still, it is awesome when we get a compliment from a patron who notices those things.”—AS TOLD TO KP
CLINT DATCHUK
LEARN TO GROW YOUR OWN VEGGIES WHILE GIVING BACK
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
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PAY YOUR RESPECTS AT THE ALAMO CAT GRAVESTONES
EXPLORE IN THE DARK AT CASCADE CAVERNS Look for blind salamanders during a nighttime flashlight tour at Cascade Caverns near Boerne. The evening tours that start after the sun sets are only offered to groups of 10 or more so gather your friends and make a weekend of it by booking campsites outside the cave where the fun can continue after you resurface at ground level. 226 Cascade Caverns Road, Boerne, cascadecaverns.com
LIZARD: LILIYA BUTENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SNACKS: COURTESY JEFFERSON BODEGA; VELAZQUEZ: DAVID G. LOYOLA
SUPPORT A NONPROFIT WHILE SHOPPING Shop for a cause and find items you won’t see on Amazon. At Boysville Auxiliary Thrift Store, purchases of clothing, jewelry, home decor and more provide funding and supplies to the Boysville Children’s Home and Shelter. Animal lovers can help homeless pets by purchasing hidden gems at Second Chances Thrift Shop, which is run by the Helotes Humane Society. Thrift House, which stocks clothing, homewares and more, is the primary source of funding for the Assistance League of San Antonio, a nonprofit organization that focuses on meeting the essential needs of children in the community. 307 W. Olmos Drive, boysvillethriftstore.com; 10671 Shaenfield Road, hhs animals.org; 2611 West Ave., assistanceleague.org
The Alamo defenders aren’t the only ones to remember the next time you visit the historical mission. Behind the employee gate in the back courtyard, you can also visit the graves of the beloved felines of the Alamo grounds, Ruby (19811986) and C.C. (1996-2014). While you’re there, say hello to the current Alamo cat, a calico named Bella, who is cared for by the mission’s staff. 300 Alamo Plaza, thealamo.org
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Meet Blue Star Contemporary’s museum dog Duncan the dog is known for his love of tennis balls, contemporary art (we hear Gary Sweeney is a favorite), naps and vegetables (watch him chomp on spaghetti squash and broccoli on IG @bluestarartdog). The pup of Blue Star’s development manager, Elaine Leahy, Duncan doesn’t live at the gallery, but he is a frequent guest and greeter. 116 Blue Star, instagram.com/ bluestarartdog
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SPICE UP YOUR SNACK LIFE Try Sour Power Straws in every flavor (including the tough-to-find cotton candy) or cucumber or salted egg Lay’s thanks to Jefferson Bodega, which has curated old-school varieties of candy plus chips typically distributed to stores overseas. 2. Skip the Maruchan Ramen of your college days in favor of Sapporo Ichiban chow mein noodles at Hung Phong Oriental Market. The taste is worth the special trip, and they’re just as easy to make. 3. For those evenings when you need just a touch of sweet, reach for Delicje European Biscuits from Ali Baba International Food Market. Made in Poland, the cookies are soft on the outside with just the right amount of cherry filling inside. 4. Head to Rancho Diaz to pick up Chile Pequin or Prickly Pear Chili Pequin Jam by San Antonio– based Brushfire Farms. The sweet touch of heat is just what your morning toast is missing. 1.
TRANSFORM THAT PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU INHERITED (AND PROMPTLY STASHED IN A DRAWER) Custom jewelry design is the go-to when shopping for an engagement ring but, Michelle Shetler, owner of Shetler Fine Jewelers, says it can also be used to transform heirloom pieces into modern-day designs that you’ll actually wear. Thanks to the acquisition earlier this year of Medlars Jewel Masters, Shetler now has two master jewelers and a designer on-site who can sit down with customers and create or remodel a piece in front of their eyes. At its store, customers can watch as the initial drawing for their piece is turned into a digitized design and then a wax mold that will be used to cast their piece. “You can come in and see every step of the process, which is such a fun experience,” she says. 7373 Broadway, Ste. 106, shetlerfinejewelers.com
MILES AND MILES OF TEXAS COUNT DOWN TO SAN FERNANDO The Rev. Carlos B. Velázquez, who became the new rector at San Fernando Cathedral in July, found meaning in the floor at one of the nation’s oldest churches. “I was surprised that a marker in the cathedral floor indicates the city center of San Antonio and that all the signs in Texas showing how many miles to San Antonio are measured to that spot. Now I can use the signs to tell me exactly how far I am from home.”
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COCKTAIL, PICNIC BASKET: COURTESY HILL & VINE/AUBREY JIMENEZ; WINE MEDALS, GALLERY:COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB/BLAKE MISTICH; BARONS CREEKSIDE: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB
AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO FREDERICKSBURG Plenty of the state’s best-kept secrets remain in the nearby HILL COUNTRY BY TOMMIE ETHINGTON
Opposite page: Pritzer Sweet Shop; This page, clockwise from top left: Several of Fredericksburg's award-winning wines; Hill & Vine; Barons CreekSide; InSight Gallery; Hill & Vine; a picnic basket from Sunday Supply
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Seventy miles northwest of San Antonio and 175 years ago, German settlers established Friedrichsburg in honor of Prince Frederick of Prussia. Times have changed and so has the name, but people continue to be drawn to modern-day Fredericksburg for its old-world charm. The town’s population has increased steadily over the years, now hovering at around 11,000, and its share of tourism has only grown as it’s gained national attention as the wine capital of Texas. Still, plenty of the state’s bestkept secrets remain in Fredericksburg, especially around the holidays. The majority of guests flock to the area in the spring and fall, according to data from the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau, with only 14 percent visiting during the winter. With cooler temps, fewer crowds and plenty of festive happenings, this is the perfect time to seek out your own piece of Hill Country heaven.
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BARONS CREEK: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB; CHRISTMAS ILLUSTRATION: BAZA178/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Barons CreekSide
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Every weekend in the late 1800s, farmers would make the trek into town for supplies, beer hall get-togethers and church services. They would overnight in so-called Sunday Houses. You can still stay in a version of one today thanks to the beautifully restored Hoffman Haus, a charming bed and breakfast complete with a cooking school and spa. Oenophiles will love Barons CreekSide, a romantic cabin resort set on 26 rolling acres overlooking rows upon rows of grapes. A 10-minute walk away, on Main Street, you’ll find The Roadrunner Inn, which features midcentury modern lofts with nary a doily in sight. Those willing to go farther afield will be rewarded with even more distinctive digs—from Ololo’s globally inspired “texclectic” guesthouses and the treehouses at HoneyTree Farm to the retro A-Frame Ranch and glam campers at Blue Skies Retro Resort.
Skipping out on Fredericksburg’s German fare would be like going to New York or Chicago and snubbing the pizza. It’s a must-try, especially now that local chefs are putting their own spin on the traditional cuisine. Hill & Vine offers uniquely Texas staples like sausage stuffed pretzel kolaches and a chicken schnitzel eggs Benedict. Out back, a brightly colored 1970s Volkswagen bus has been converted into the aptly named Das Bar Bus, serving up—what else?—Bavarian brews and margaritas. Just off Main Street, Otto’s German Bistro is like an elevated version of an oma’s kitchen—if Granny also had exceptional taste in wine. The menu changes seasonally but the wurst platte is a mainstay, beloved for its heavy helping of sausage, German potato salad and housemade sauerkraut and spicy mustard. For dessert, stop by Pritzer Sweet Shop for their sweet German pretzel.
Much of Fredericksburg’s small-town charm comes from the mom-and-pop shops lining Main Street. Find everything from Western wear and Lucchese boots at Headquarters Hats to Wüsthof knives and intricately carved cookie molds at Der Küchen Laden. Wander west on Main and you’ll run right into several fine art galleries, including Gallery 330 and InSight Gallery. For Hill Country crafts, head to Artisans - A Texas Gallery and don’t miss the First Friday Art Walk, a festive evening when galleries stay open late. Interior design lovers will feel right at home in the lesser-known Warehouse District, where stops include Gathered & Good, Blackchalk Home & Laundry and Carol Hicks Bolton Antiques. For tasty souvenirs, visit Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods. They have an outpost on Main, but for the authentic experience head to Das Peach Haus.
Fredericksburg’s Marketplatz comes alive with polka music and stein-hoisting competitions for the annual Oktoberfest celebration. In town sometime other than the first weekend of October? You can still prost to good times at Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the oldest operating brewpub in Texas, or Altstadt Brewery, a sprawling family-friendly complex that includes a biergarten and free museum dedicated to antique tractors. A stop at Enchanted Rock is a given, but don’t miss Old Tunnel State Park, a decommissioned train tunnel that is now a summer home to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Buy tickets in advance to see them take flight nightly, May through October. The town of Luckenbach—population three—offers a different kind of nocturnal fun with an old-timey dance hall and picker’s circle that allows aspiring musicians to play with the pros.
The Perfect Holiday Day Trip
During the holiday season, Fredericksburg’s Marketplatz is like something out of a Hallmark movie with an outdoor ice-skating rink and 26-foot-tall rotating German Christmas Pyramid—the first of its kind in the United States. On Main Street, two stores, in particular, offer the perfect present: The Christmas Store has needlepoint stockings, snow globes, themed nutcrackers and ornaments by designers like Christopher Radko and Jim Shore. At Hand
Carved Candles, makers sculpt ornate designs out of warm wax. Their candy cane design is classic, while the tumbling Santa motif brings an element of fun with mini-Mr. Clauses sliding down the wax headfirst. Take a break from shopping to enjoy another kind of art: the frosted sugar cookies at Clear River Ice Cream, Bakery & Deli, then end the day with a trip aboard the Jolly Trolley to take in more than one million lights in nearby Johnson City. DECEMBER 2021
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Holiday Events to Plan a Weekend Around
Clockwise from left: Charcuterie at La Bergerie with meats cured on-site; Otto’s German Bistro; Quintessential Chocolates; Heath Sparkling Wines
Nov. 27: Travel back to the early 1900s at Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm’s annual Deck the Halls event, where reenactors demonstrate how to make wreaths out of local cedar and invite guests to string together popcorn garland, dip beeswax candles plus craft traditional ornaments to take home. Dec. 3: Glowing, decked-out floats make their way from Washington Street to Edison Street during the Christmas-themed Light the Night Parade. Don’t miss the festive family-friendly flick that screens outside beforehand and stop at Peppermint Platz for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Dec. 4: Following a decades-long tradition, children bring stockings to hang over the fireplace for the Pioneer Museum’s Kinderfest. While “elves” fill them with nuts, fruits and candy, enjoy a Christmas story, songs, crafts and a meeting with St. Nick himself.
Dec. 10-11: Bethany Lutheran Church recreates the classic Biblical story in The Christmas Journey, a 10-minute, drive-through performance using live actors, animals, professionally hand-painted props and special effects. Dec. 19: A tradition, started by President Lyndon B. and Lady Bird Johnson more than 50 years ago, the LBJ Tree Lighting takes place at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site and nearby Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Highlights include homemade German cookies, farm activities and, of course, the outdoor tree lighting. Dec. 31: Say goodbye to 2021 in Luckenbach at the annual New Year’s Eve Dance featuring country band Kin Faux and a champagne toast. Or learn the jitterbug at The Hangar Hotel’s 1940s-themed New Year’s Eve Hangar Dance.
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Wine Down The Texas Wine School: Take your wine education to the next level with hands-on classes sponsored by Texas Tech University Fredericksburg. Learn the basics with the Intro to Wine course or take a deeper dive by focusing on one specific region.
Fredericksburg sits in Gillespie County, which boasts miles of vineyards and more than 50 wineries. Deciding where to start your wine tasting adventures can be a tall order. Whether you’re a newcomer or frequent traveler on Highway 290 (often called Wine Road 290), here are a few sure-to-please spots off the beaten path.
La Bergerie Away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street’s tasting rooms, you’ll find this cozy artisanal wine bar and gift shop. Ask the knowledgeable staff to recommend a bottle to accompany one of their charcuterie boards. Of note, the meats are cured on-site.
Heath Sparkling Wines The state’s first tasting room devoted exclusively to sparkling wine stands out not just for its bubbly, but also for its modernist architecture and attentive staff. It’s on the same property as Grape Creek Vineyards and sits just outside of town.
Quintessential Chocolates There’s wine and chocolate pairings and then there’s wine encased in a chocolatey sugar shell. Lecia Duke, founder of this Fredericksburg confectionery, put her spin on a rare Swiss technique to cast a perfect liquid center in her sweets.
Kalasi Cellars Where else can you pair wines made from grapes harvested on the Texas high plains with samosas, spicy peanuts and a tikka masala flatbread? Here, the palate-pleasing snack menu is an homage to the co-founder’s Indian ancestors.
CHARCUTERIE: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB/EVA SIMPSON; HEATH SPARKLING WINES: COURTESY HEATH SPARKING WINES
Dec. 4-5: More than 70 carolers gather to form a 30-foot-tall “singing Christmas tree” for two nighttime performances, held outdoors at the Pioneer Museum. This year’s Der Singende Weihnachtsbaum lineup includes traditional songs, sung in both English and German.
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Tastemaker Evelyn Washburne The Fritztown native and Side Street Hospitality co-owner shares the best of old and new Fredericksburg in Fredericksburg, Evelyn Washburne says her childhood was like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. In school, she was in the marching band and worked part-time at Hill Country Outfitters, a clothing store on Main Street. It wasn’t until she went off to college that things started to change. “It went from driving down the street on a Sunday morning and if you weren’t going to church, somebody would ask you at H-E-B where you were going,” Washburne says, laughing. “And then all of a sudden, you don’t know anybody on the street.” While she spent time outside of Texas in her 20s, Washburne never really felt at home. Eventually, she found her way back to Fredericksburg, where she met and fell in love with John Washburne,
CHOCOLAT: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB/EVA SIMPSON; OTTO'S: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB/TRISH RAWLS
GROWING UP
a Dallas transplant who dreamed of opening a restaurant inspired by the European bistros he frequented as a student in Scotland. The idea for Otto’s German Bistro was born and became the first of what is now eight concepts— ranging from a coffee shop to a wine bar to a Mexican ice house—run under their parent company, Side Street Hospitality. The couple works with local farmers and purveyors, many of whom Evelyn has known since childhood. While the Washburnes in many ways represent “new Fredericksburg,” they are committed to honoring the town’s roots and creating spaces that serve locals as much as the visitors passing through. Want to experience the best of old and new Fredericksburg? Evelyn shares some of her favorite hangouts. DECEMBER 2021
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Kid-approved: The Washburnes have three daughters and after a hike to the top of Cross Mountain, the family heads to Pecan Grove Store for their famous Dino Burgers. Best date night spot: The couple loves Chase’s Place for its craft cocktails and small plates. For something different, try the CBD-infused Moscow mule, made with hemp vodka. Can’t-miss event: The entire community turns out for the St. Mary’s Turkey Dinner every October to raise money for a local Catholic school. They have bingo, beer and, of course, a homecooked turkey dinner. “It’s so welcoming and so old Fredericksburg,” Washburne says. SANANTONIOMAG.COM
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Training instructor Al Garcia works with Norberta at the TSA Canine Training Center at JBSA.
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MAN'S CANINES THAT DETECT EXPLOSIVES AND KEEP PASSENGERS SAFE AT AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN
BEST
TRAINED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND FOR DECADES. NOW, SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS HOME TO ITS OWN TSA PASSENGER SCREENING CANINE TEAMS
BY KATHLEEN PETTY PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT GONZALEZ
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IT’S
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She and handler Darrell Hagan were the first of four TSA Passenger Screening Canine teams added at San Antonio International Airport to provide an extra layer of security for travelers and there was a lot to take in during her first day on the job. Hagan walked Sally slowly through a row of chairs near the ticketing counters in Terminal B. The dog hopped up on a chair when she found an open red bag resting on its seat and stopped, tilting her head this way and that to sniff its contents before jumping down and looking up at Hagan. “That-a-girl,” Hagan says. “Good job.” The pair continued down the row of seats with Sally’s nose trained to the ground, changing course only when she encountered another bag or pair of feet that required an extra sniff. “After 32 years, it still amazes me to see them work and find that odor,” says Hagan, who moved to San Antonio along with Sally from their last post at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. He joined the Transportation Security Administration after working with canines during his 18-year career in the Army. “That’s the joy of the job.” He and Sally were joined by a second
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team, Jenny Angeles and her German Shepherd, Tex, in November and two additional teams will be added in the months to come. While the Department of Homeland Security has trained dogs at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland since the 1970s, the local airport has never before had a Passenger Screening Canine team of its own. Jess Presas, the TSA federal security director at San Antonio International Airport, says he’s been wanting to procure a team for nearly a decade and thanks to work with Airport Director Jesus Saenz and elected officials, including Rep. Tony Gonzales, that dream has finally become a reality. “I believe that we ought to provide the most secure environment that we can,” says Presas, a Marine Corps veteran. “We have a lot of good technology here but having these passenger screening dogs provides another layer of security.” Dogs have been working at the airport for years in other capacities. San Antonio Police Department
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TSA K9 handler Darrell Hagan and his lab, Sally, were the first passenger screening team assigned to San Antonio International Airport. Sallly can detect explosives in static items, like trash cans, as well as on passengers.
“I BELIEVE THAT WE OUGHT TO PROVIDE THE MOST SECURE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CAN.” JESS PRESAS TSA FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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Role players acting as passengers walk through a hangar designed to look like a terminal at JBSA-Lackland while training instructor Ryan Kelly teaches dog Ajax to sniff out certain scents.
“IT’S A SIMPLE TO COMPLEX PROCESS THAT BECOMES MORE AGGRESSIVE AND DIFFICULT AS THE COURSE PROGRESSES.” ZEBULON W. POLASEK BRANCH MANAGER OF THE TSA CANINE TRAINING CENTER AT JBSA-LACKLAND
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canines trained at JBSA-Lackland search for explosives in bags, cars and other static items. Plus, dogs and their handlers often complete in-the-field training at San Antonio International Airport. Now, the airport also will have dog teams specifically trained to screen passengers, both at security and in the terminals. Before a dog ever begins a shift at the airport, though, it must first pass a rigorous testing and training regimen. That’s where the TSA team at JBSA-Lackland comes in. Located on the same property as the Department of Defense’s Military Working Dog Program, the $12 million TSA Canine Training Center features 17 venues that are meant to mimic what dogs will encounter in the field, whether a cargo facility, aircraft, terminal, parking lot or other area. Zebulon W. Polasek, branch manager of the center, says they have dedicated staff who work to procure around 400 German shepherds, labs, pointers and Malinois annually from around the globe. Those dogs are evaluated for their health, character and behavior before they’re purchased. Only if they pass those tests are they flown to San Antonio for an initial eight-week training course. “Every dog does not make it,” Polasek says. “It’s a very stringent selection process.” Canines that successfully complete screening and the introductory training are then paired with a handler and put through another 16 weeks of school. Handlers come from around the country and live in San Antonio during their four months of training, reporting to the base at 6 a.m. each weekday for a combination of classroom and field instruction. “It’s a simple to complex process that becomes more aggressive and difficult as the course progresses,” Polasek says. By the end of training, a handler’s job is to know their dog so well that they can detect any change in demeanor and decide if the behavior they’ve observed warrants pulling a passenger, bag or other item aside for further screening. Team chief Tim Broadhurst says dogs are trained to detect certain smells through positive reinforcement, which means their job is fun for them. He brings dog-handler teams into hangars that look just like airport terminals and when a canine detects the smell of an explosive in a bag being carried by a role player acting as a passenger, the dog is rewarded with his or her toy. “The dog’s nose is kind of like a file system, so we’re training them to categorize and sift and file smells that don’t matter and then pick up on the things that do,” he says. Dogs that graduate are more successful at detecting explosives than any machine, which means there are plenty of canines that don’t make it through the program (those dogs are often placed with another agency where they can be of service or adopted by a family). Currently, there are just over 420 passenger screening canine teams in operation nationwide as well as over 650 law enforcement teams, which includes some assigned to airports. All were trained in San Antonio. Back at the airport, Hagan and Sally have stopped to say hi to a family dragging their luggage behind them. Sally has her own trading card and a poker chip that Hagan shares with young guests, but he emphasizes that Sally is at work. She can be admired from afar, but passengers cannot pet her. “This is a 24/7 job for us. We take care of them, schedule vet appointments, feed them twice a day. They’re not treated like pets, these are working dogs,” he says. Looking over at Sally he smiles and adds that while hers is a serious task, “She loves her routine. She’s a little diva." DECEMBER 2021
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eaWorld San Antonio Park President Byron Surrett has plenty on his to-do list, from managing sanitation guidelines and staffing to overseeing the addition of an innovative new ride. But when the gates open, Surrett’s face may very well be the first one visitors see as they scan their annual passes and Fun Cards at the self-service kiosk. “I typically start my day out front,” says Surrett, who has been with SeaWorld in some capacity for over 40 years and as president in San Antonio since 2019. “I’m pretty chatty with people. We see a lot of folks from Louisiana, Oklahoma and even Kansas and New Mexico, but it’s mostly Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.” And while SeaWorld is still following its enhanced sanitation procedures and recommending masks when indoors, Surrett says he hasn’t heard a single guest in recent months express concern over COVID-19. In fact, no one has even mentioned the virus. “We’ve been going 100 miles an hour,” he says. From long lines for rides at theme parks like SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas to crowds on the River Walk, at the San Antonio Zoo and San Antonio Botanical Garden and at the weekly Pearl Farmers Market (even when the delta variant was surging in San Antonio a few months ago) it can look as if the city’s travel and tourism industry is already back to normal. It is in some ways—places like SeaWorld and the zoo are reporting crowds of pre-pandemic levels with projections for growth in 2022 while the Botanical Garden already is seeing an increase in visitors from previous years. But when it comes to business and convention travel, which historically represented around 15 percent of visitors, leaders say they’re not expecting the industry to
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fully rebound until at least 2024. And even then, some things will never be the same. “Hotel and food service operations have been changed forever when it comes to safety and security standards,” says David Bojanic, Ph.D., the Anheuser-Busch Foundation professor in marketing at University of Texas at San Antonio, who studies tourism, sports and hospitality.
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By mid-September, five conventions that were projected to bring more than a $20 million economic impact during the fall months had been canceled. And while the number of employees working in the industry has certainly climbed from the spring of 2020 when furloughs and layoffs were common, it has not reached 2019 levels. Michelle Madson, president and CEO of the San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association, says San Antonio businesses have struggled with staffing the same way hospitality businesses nationwide have, though with signing bonuses and other incentives, hotels were starting to see improvement by fall. “It was such a quick ramp up that they just weren’t able to hire enough people to meet demand,” she says, adding that not everyone who lost hours or jobs in the industry wanted to return when
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LANDRACE: COURTESY THOMPSON SAN ANTONIO/GREG CEO; BLACONY: COURTESY CANOPY BY HILTON; BARGE, HIPPO: COURTESY VISIT SAN ANTONIO
A 2018 report on the economic impact of the hospitality industry in San Antonio found that it was a $15.2 billion industry that attracted over 31 million visitors to Bexar County while generating $214 million in taxes and fees for the city of San Antonio. One in seven workers in the metropolitan area was employed in hospitality and the industry had tripled in size since 1992. That report was set to be published again in 2020 but for obvious reasons was postponed, according to the San Antonio Visitor Alliance, which commissioned the study. Before COVID-19, though, the industry was only continuing its upward trajectory, says former CEO Sharon Aguillen. Then COVID-19 forced the temporary closure of attractions while halting the bulk of conventions and drastically slowing the pace of travel worldwide. In San Antonio, nearly 300 meetings and conventions have been canceled since March 2020 and while hotel-motel tax revenue was up in 2021, it still was over 20 percent below 2019 levels. After a dismal 2020, Visit San Antonio President and CEO Marc Anderson says spring break and summer travel was strong this year, with lines of cars snaking down Hildebrand Avenue waiting to get into the zoo’s new parking garage in March and hotel occupancy rates in July that were just more than 3 percent lower than in 2019. Also in July, the Texas High School Coaches Association held its convention in San Antonio and saw a record turnout of over 14,000, which Anderson says is evidence that people are ready to be together, rather than on Zoom. “The reality is that these groups want to be back in person,” he says. Still, the expected downturn in travel that always occurs when school begins in August was even more pronounced this year thanks to rising COVID-19 cases amid the delta variant’s spread. Hotel occupancy rates were nearly 10 percent below what they were in 2019 and passenger numbers at San Antonio International Airport dropped 12 percent from July to August, the most recent data available.
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the opportunity arose. In August, according to the latest data released from the Dallas Fed, there were around 18,000 less people working in hospitality in San Antonio than there were before the pandemic. Anderson, who came to San Antonio in June after serving as COO of Choose Chicago, says even with all of those challenges, he’s an eternal optimist. All of Visit San Antonio’s research and conversations with industry leaders indicate that local tourism levels will be back to “normal” by 2024 or 2025, he says. With the work of their team and others in San Antonio, plus multimillion-dollar investments from hotel-motel tax revenue, he’s betting on 2024. Those investments will work to attract conventions, new groups and visitors through everything from campaigns with Expedia. com to targeted storytelling efforts meant to rebrand San Antonio. “The strategic business plan that we have built is not only dramatically increasing demand year-over-year but has the end goal of us building demand back to pre-pandemic levels by 2024,” he says.
At the Thompson San Antonio, which opened along the River Walk earlier this year, general manager Ted Knighton says he’s done making predictions—“I don’t know when we’ll return to 2019 levels; I don’t think it’s anytime soon”—and instead is learning to live with COVID. While business travel has been slower than they hoped for, particularly into the fall, leisure travel has remained strong, he says. They’ve seen guests from Mexico City, Chicago, Arizona and elsewhere, but their No. 1 market thus far has been Austin. “It’s people coming for a long weekend,” he says. The hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant, Landrace, are often so booked up by locals that it’s tough for all of the guests who want a reservation to find one. “COVID isn’t going anywhere. We’re going to have to learn to adapt and live with it and control it,” Knighton says. “I think it’s changed everything about our business.” Daniel Haughan, general manager of
Coming Soon 3 attractions to see in 2022
Canopy by Hilton, which also opened downtown this year, says they too have seen mostly leisure travelers from Texas’ other major cities as well as from Mexico. Though business travel is slow, he says more people who have the ability to work remotely are deciding to add an extra day to their San Antonio trip. With holiday events planned along the River Walk, he says the city has done a good job of offering people reasons to visit and stay. “We’re cautiously optimistic,” he says. And on the outskirts of town, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa senior marketing manager Nina Shorkian says they’ve found many travelers are ready to get away from home but still want a somewhat controlled environment, which is where a resort comes in. Guests can enjoy everything, from restaurants and holiday fun to golf and hiking trails, without ever leaving the property. When it comes to major attractions, a local city and government that understands the value of travel and tourism and invests in the industry is part of what drew Merlin Entertainments to open LEGOLand Discovery Center and Sea Life Aquarium near the Alamo. It has operated both sites at limited capacities but has frequently sold out of the tickets it has opened to guests, says Jeremy Aguillen, general manager. One investment that city leaders are hoping will pay off in additional visitors and business travelers is at San Antonio International Airport, where a more than $1.5 billion strategic development plan aims to eventually bring a host of additions and changes, including a new Terminal C. In the near term, Anderson says they’re focused on communicating the message that you can feel safe when visiting San Antonio as more than 2,300 local businesses have pledged to implement stringent safety protocols for guests and employees. From there, Visit San Antonio is working to bring in meetings, trade shows and conventions that have never been to the Alamo City before—something Anderson was successful at in Chicago. Whether planners are seeking art, food, history or the outdoors,
Tidal Surge, touted as “the world’s tallest and fastest screaming swing” will open at SeaWorld San Antonio in the spring and take guests 135 feet up into the air.
Anderson says San Antonio delivers, which is a story he wants to make sure more people hear in the coming months. UTSA’s Bojanic says that although convention visitors are crucial to the city’s economy, they still only account for a small percentage of its guests. So, while it may be several years before that industry fully returns, travel and tourism could be closer to normal by the end of the coming year. “Texas is in a little better position because its economy tends to rebound and it has a larger population of people who travel within the state,” Bojanic says. Rebounding will also require reimagining what normal looks like. Bojanic echoes Anderson and says that not only will hotels and attractions need to maintain higher levels of health and safety protocols, they also will need to be clear in telling people about how they’re keeping them safe. “There’s no reason to go back and the next time this happens, it won’t take as long (to respond) because there are already contingency plans, and we know better how to handle it,” he says. “People want to travel to destinations where they feel there are good protocols. It’s no longer just the attractions, hotels, restaurants and natural beauty. When I’m teaching destination marketing, safety and security will be more important.” Tim Morrow, president and CEO at the San Antonio Zoo, says outdoor destinations like the zoo, SeaWorld and the Botanical Garden were the first to see guests return en masse and that with vaccinations and safety protocols implemented, he’s seeing traffic coming back to other attractions, too. “People are exploring Texas in a whole new way now, and we have such an advantage because we have all of these attractions and restaurants,” he says. “It was a really dark time for San Antonio when we were closed, but I think there’s a bright, bright future because there’s a newfound appreciation for the city. There’s something for everyone in San Antonio—whether you’re an adventure traveler, a history buff or otherwise. We just have to get through these dark days and there’s already a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger will debut this summer as part of Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ 30th anniversary. The coaster will lift riders 150 feet into the air before sending them on a “face-first” 95-degree dive.
A new jaguar habitat, Neotropica, just opened at the San Antonio Zoo, providing the animals with more space, and a Pantera Walk catwalk that lets guests watch them walk overhead.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Valencia Hotel Group Valencia Hotel Group’s holiday package, “Light up the Night” includes luxurious accommodations coupled with light up cocktails perfect to be festive this holiday season. We invite you to enjoy holiday events in any Valencia Hotel Group location including Austin, College Station, Irving, Lubbock, or San Antonio. We are encouraging our guests to bring a new and unwrapped toy for the Ronald McDonald House.
valenciahotelgroup.com/ holiday-offers-and-promotions.htm
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Marriott Marquis Houston Experience Texas Winter Lights at Marriott Marquis Houston, an interactive light experience on our 6th floor Altitude Rooftop & Pool available nightly, 5pm to 10pm. Back for its second year, enjoy bigger light displays, more walk-through experiences, and endless selfie stations for an even bolder poolside encounter. With over 20 new Instagram-worthy elements, guests will enjoy photo-ops as they walk under the shade of lights, through our Grove of Trees, among the Archway of Lanterns and more. Float through the lazy river, heated all winter long to 80°, as lights glimmer from above. Cozy up with a nostalgic holiday-themed movie every Thursday. Nightly snowfall and a winter-themed dining menu filled with signature cocktails, dinner and dessert round out the perfect Insta-worthy evening.
Tickets and to book your room: Marriottmarquishouston.com
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Eat + Drink I NSI D E / SICHUA N HOUSE ’S LITTLE SISTER p. 58 / PUPPY P IES p. 60 / MUST-TRY BIRRIA p. 62
L AIK A CHEESECAKES & E SPRE SSO
4718 Broadway Coming soon at 5311 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 105 instagram.com/laikacheesecakes Open daily
A Touch of Sweetness he oven is almost always on at Laika Cheesecakes & Espresso. The dessert shop on Broadway that’s known for its cheesecakes-in-a-jar saw demand grow so quickly during its first year that it had to start scheduling kitchen shifts around the clock to ensure that a batch of its personal-sized desserts was almost always baking. “There’s only space for so many people at one time so we’re baking at all hours,” says Ricardo Perez, who handles social media for the café that opened in December 2020. “At first our goal was to sell 1,000 jars a week and now we’re selling that many jars each day.” Fulfilling orders will get much easier later this month when founders Anna Afanasieva and Viktor Krizma open their second Laika at Loop 1604 and I-10. The new shop’s kitchen is nearly as big as the full restaurant on Broadway
COURTESY LAIKA CHEESECAKES & ESPRESSO
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meaning Afanasieva and her staff of bakers will have plenty of space to test out new recipes and to work together, rather than taking turns at the overnight oven shift. A Ukraine native, Afanasieva moved to San Antonio from California and was running a photography business when she started experimenting with creative cheesecakes in her kitchen. She shared some of her sweets on Instagram and soon had orders from friends who encouraged her to launch a bakery. While New York–style cheesecakes may be commonplace, Afanasieva says there weren’t a lot of options beyond that, so she partnered with Krizma, who handles the business side, to open a cafe. She’s since created a rotating menu that includes flavors like coffee pomegranate, mango passion fruit, tres leches and an Earl Grey with blood orange compote that often sells out within hours.—KP
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E AT + D R I N K / E AT H E R E N O W
DASHI SICHUAN KITCHEN + BAR
2895 Thousand Oaks Drive 210-562-3343 sichuandashi.com Lunch and dinner Thurs-Sun
Building on Success Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar expands San Antonio’s understanding of Sichuan cuisine BY EDMUND TIJERINA
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ystified by an item on the Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar menu? Restaurant owner Kristina Zhao will put it in context. Pig tongue? “People eat lengua all the time,” she explains. Cold meats? “What about sandwiches? And people love charcuterie,” she offers. And pig intestines? “What about tripas?” she counters. “People around here eat it all the time.” Indeed, at Dashi, she’s breaking down misconceptions and apprehensions around the cuisine of her family’s home while helping us all better understand each other. She and Chef Jian Li launched the now-iconic Sichuan House in 2015, quickly becoming a favorite of food lovers in the know and then gaining a broad, loyal following thanks to the deep, rich flavors of the menu’s dong po braised pork belly, Sichuan peppercorn–enlivened cucumbers and dry wok–seared green beans. Zhao had been exploring the idea of opening a new restaurant for some time but hadn’t found the right opportunity. Then, “all the stars just kind of aligned to make it happen,” she says. Early in 2020, a spot in the Thousand Oaks area opened that offered 6,000 square feet of space instead of the 2,400 square feet
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PHOTOS BY JOMANDO CRUZ
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ORDER THIS
Sichuanese Charcuterie (Spicy Listeners or Spicy Talkers, assorted pickles and Spicy Candied Peanuts) Spicy Cumin Lamb Lollipops Savory and Sweet Eggplant
at the original restaurant. (The space was formerly home to Hawx Burger Bar and LA Crawfish, among other places.) Meanwhile, Li, who had left Sichuan House to try his hand at personal projects, contacted Zhao’s father to ask about any culinary opportunities. With a skilled chef and a reasonably priced location in place, the time was right— even during a pandemic—to launch a second restaurant. “If we had not come together on this, I probably would not have opened Dashi,” Zhao says. “It’s the only chef-driven program with a focus on Sichuanese food in the city.” On the plate, the results are spectacular. Of course, items such as lamb chops and lobster dazzle, but an even more vivid demonstration of Li’s skill is apparent in the notso-simple Savory and Sweet Eggplant dish, which could anchor an entire meal. The menu continues its cultural diplomacy by listing cold meat dishes as “Sichuanese charcuterie” and offering a sense of a banquet opening course by giving diners the ability to build their charcuterie with the choice of three or six items. Not sure what to select? Give the pickled vegetables, spicy candied peanuts and either the spicy talkers (pig tongue) or spicy listeners (sliced pig ears) a try. Dashi opened to advance reservations only over the summer to let the kitchen and service staff get up to speed, and now is humming along with regular service. Meanwhile, the mother ship has strong enough managers and employees to continue its quality while Zhao devotes most of her time to Dashi. The team at Sichuan House and Dashi have earned a strong reputation and on Dec. 12 will host a dinner along with La Gloria chef Johnny Hernandez for the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America series. They also collaborated on a dinner with Rose’s Luxury, a critically acclaimed restaurant in Washington, D.C. It all gives credence to the meaning of the restaurant’s name: Da shi translates into great artists. Indeed. DECEMBER 2021
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Puppy Chow my Bosques used to joke that she was living in an episode of It’s Me or the Dog. After she moved in with her boyfriend, she, simply put, “could not stand” his two pups, Nacho and Max. “The dogs weren’t trained, and they were just running the house,” she says. Tired of arguing, Bosques prayed one day that her heart would soften toward the pets. She woke up later that week and was inspired to bake for the dogs—a small act of love that she says not only brought her closer to Nacho and Max but also was the start of her now fulltime business, Kitchen to K9. “Fast forward, and I love the dogs—they’re my dogs now,” she says, laughing. A former mortician and longtime home baker, Bosques says she consulted with veterinarians about ingredients that would work well for pets before experimenting with dog treats, hand pies, cakes, donuts and more. “I wanted to use ingredients other than just peanut butter and banana,” she says, adding that she bakes with all natural
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ingredients, including fruits, honey and tapioca, which is used for icing. “It’s good food. I always tell people to take a bite of it—it’s good, and it’s good for you.” Initially, Bosques focused on dog treats. Then, a customer inquired about whether she could make a birthday cake for a “bark party” and those specialty cakes, whether for birthday parties, Fiesta soirées or dog quinceañeras, have become her best-selling treat. Nacho the chihuahua is her taste-testing partner (since “Max will eat anything” and can’t be trusted), and will sniff each treat before taking a thoughtful bite. “If he won’t eat it then I know it’s a no,” she says. Bosques hopes to open a store front one day. For now, her pup pies are available at Tootie Pie Co. in Boerne and her other baked goods, whether grain free treats, pup tarts or Harry Potter-themed mini-cakes, can be found at pop-ups or through custom orders online. “I enjoy baking and making people happy,” she says. “Everyone loves their dogs, so it doesn’t get any better.” instagram.com/kitchen_to_k9—KP
COURTESY AMY BOSQUES
Kitchen to K9 grew from a home chef’s desire to make peace with her boyfriend’s pups
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BIRRIA BARRIO (South) This
outpost opens at 2 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and it’s not unusual for its birria tacos to sell out before the dinner rush is through. Order ahead or bring your own drinks to enjoy on-site. Tacos are served with cheese, onion, cilantro and a cup of consommé. 2710 S. Presa St., facebook.com/ birriabarrio
1009 Ave. B; 2924 Culebra Road, instagram.com/elremedio_sa GUAJILLO’S (Central) Choices
abound at this restaurant near North Star Mall, from chilaquiles to al pastor and bistec tacos to mole poblano. Its birria is a boneless lamb cooked in rich mulato broth and served with onions, cilantro and corn tortillas so you can build your own taco. Add beans and rice on the side and don’t forget the frozen margarita that can be added to any meal at lunch or dinner. 1001 N.W. Loop 410, guajillos.com
BIRRIA Y TAQUERIA AY ARANDA
(Woodlawn Lake) Birria is traditionally made with lamb, though plenty of beef options now exist. At this taqueria, you can give both a try thanks to five taco packs that are served with cheese, broth and toppings that range from cucumbers and jalapeños to limes, oranges and housemade salsa. 2426 Culebra Road
GUERITO’S RED TACOS (North-
west) Instagram helped make these tacos a star but even its IG photos don’t quite capture the taste. Birria can be ordered in tacos, quesadillas, tortas or burritos. There’s also consommé for dipping and plain cheese quesadillas for those not wanting meat. 8701 Farm-to-Market Road 1560, gueritosredtacos.com
EL CHIVITO TORTAS AHOGADAS
(Balcones Heights) Guadalajara-style beef birria tacos are the star here, but there are also empanadas, a multitude of tacos and torta ahogadas made with carnitas, beans and more for when you are looking for variety. 204 Crossroads Blvd., ahogadaselchivito.com EL REMEDIO (Downtown, Far West) Find this food truck at El Camino downtown or on the West Side and look for a third location coming to Northwest San Antonio soon from owner Joshua Palacios. The truck is known for birria in all of its forms, from traditional tacos and quesadillas to birria ramen.
LA REVOLUCION (Central) This restaurant offers a variety of tacos plus breakfast and lunch plates, but its beef birria tacos are the reason customers return. Enjoy them in threes alongside rice and beans, and don’t forget to add a housemade salsa. 4310 Blanco Road, facebook.com/larevolucionrest LOS AZULEJOS RESTAURANTE BAR (Castle Hills) Dine in at the
stylish bar and restaurant or order food for pickup to enjoy at home. Its birria de arrachera is a hangar steak that’s braised for 12 hours, seasoned in chile ancho and beef broth and served with red onions
and cilantro on corn tortillas. The restaurant also has a variety of other tacos plus vegan and vegetarian dishes and multiple enchiladas. 2267 N.W. Military Hwy., Ste. 101, losazulejosrestaurant.com LOS TAPATIOS MARKET (Universal City) Try a Monster Quesabirria, which is an oversized flour tortilla stuffed with birria de res, broth and cheese, or opt for four tacos served on corn tortillas with salsa. There’s also a birria ramen if you want to skip the tortilla all together. Once you’ve finished your meal, visit the market for short ribs, fajita meat that’s already marinated, wings, pork chops and more that you can take home to grill later. 925 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, lostapatiosmarket.com TACOS AND CHELAS MEXICAN KITCHEN (Far West) Start with
asada fries, which are french fries topped with generous portions of diced chicken, pulled pork or sirloin, plus pico de gallo, sour cream and barbecue sauce. Save room for the birria that is slow cooked for hours and can be ordered in a quesadilla or street tacos with onions, cilantro and consommé. Corn and flour tortillas are always fresh and the perfect vessel for meats or sides. 9902 Potranco Road, 210-384-9145, tacosandchelas mexicankitchen.com Restaurants' service and menus can change. Please call ahead to confirm. For our full directory of San Antonio restaurants, visit sanantoniomag.com/restaurants-bars.
When you’re entertaining a large group, what’s your go-to restaurant? Where do you prefer takeout from for large gatherings at home? Every year around the holidays, 50-plus cousins, spouses, kids, aunts and uncles on my wife’s side come into town, and we reserve a section at La Margarita. With the combination of South Texas favorites, attentive service and strolling mariachis, what’s not to love? If I’m hosting friends but not cooking, I’m either getting a Shack Pack of barbecue from Smoke Shack or a large seafood boil from Pinch Boil House. If I’m cooking, I’m probably making paella or grilling fajitas. Have a question for our resident foodie? Email asked@sanantoniomag.com.
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DAVID G. LOYOLA
10 Places to Find Birria Tacos
DECEMBER 2021
10/29/21 12:54 PM
OFF MENU News from the restaurant scene
San Antonio’s 2M Smokehouse and Burnt Bean Co. in nearby Seguin made Texas Monthly’s list of the “50 Best BBQ Joints” in the state, with Burnt Bean Co. coming in at No. 4. / Adelante, which was known for healthier Mexican food and tamales, plans to close in April after 40 years in Alamo Heights. / The New York Times included Fish Lonja on its list of 50 restaurants it’s excited about right now. The eatery by Alejandro Paredes is located behind his lauded Carnitas Lonja. / Jeret Peña’s Boulevardier Group opened Three Star Bar in the former Grayze on Grayson. / Espada Coffee, a truck that parked outside Armadillo Boulders, closed in October. / Chef Jaime Hernandez, who worked at the Gage Hotel in Marathon, is set to debut a new food truck, Aroma, at El Camino food truck park, serving trompos and Mexican-style street tacos. / Missouri-based Andy’s Frozen Custard will open its first San Antonio location at The Rim. / Armadillo’s Texas Style Burgers purchased the former Contreras Ice House site on the city’s West Side for a yet-to-be announced eatery. / Jason Fiske and Charlie Nuttall opened Bubby's Jewish Soul Food on the North Side.
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Charmed, I’m Sure Writer and Alabama native Jennifer Chappell Smith on falling in love with her husband and his city
hen I was dating my future husband long-distance from Birmingham, Alabama, I was also checking out San Antonio. Both won me over, and 16 years later, I’m still charmed by the Alamo City. At first, I focused on differences between San Antonio’s landscape and the terrain of my native Alabama, where lush, kudzu vines climb and towering hardwoods and pines line the roadways. The semi-arid landscape I encountered in Texas felt exposed and open to the sky. Without the waxy, green magnolia trees and hot pink azaleas I was used to, the terrain seemed colorless at first sight. But soon, that exposure and openness felt freeing. Then I discovered the fiery, pink bougainvillea in La Fogata’s courtyard, where fountains bubble and chartreuse green margaritas come garnished with purple orchid blossoms. The vivid colors of Fiesta brighten everything. Road trips became a regular part of our weekends as a couple, and I found the curves and vistas of the nearby Hill Country did offer scenic variety. I discovered bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush within city limits and on
W
nearby drives. Today, I still try to get our three sons—now less compliant at ages 13, 12 and 10—to pose in a field of them for annual pics. I loved the skyline of the Magic City, as Birmingham is known, but I’m continually impressed by the still growing cityscape of San Antonio, accented by the shapely Tower of the Americas. I love that the hum of urban life and a big-city feel is just a 15-minute drive from the suburbs where I live and that the rural Hill Country is just as close, thanks to New Braunfels, Wimberley and Boerne. San Antonio offers a home base for the best of both worlds. Nights on the River Walk, where we still get the tableside guac at Boudro’s that we ordered on our first River Walk date, and now dinners at Pearl, feel like mini vacations when we get to play tourist. Likewise, the laid-back, farmhouse scenes and wineries in the Hill Country have their own allure. As an Alabama girl through and through, I never imagined my kids would be born and raised in the Lone Star State, but throughout these seasons of life, we’ve found our favorite spots that make San Antonio home.
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ILLUSTRATION: DAVID G. LOYOLA; CHAPPELL SMITH: EVA MAGAÑA PHOTOGRAPHY; FREDERICKSBURG: COURTESY FREDERICKSBURG CVB; BARGE AND TOWER: COURTESY VISIT SA; BOUGAINVILLA: KRIENGSUK PRASROETSUNG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; BLUE BONNET: JLMCANALLY/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
FINAL THOUGHT
DECEMBER 2021
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Vol. 17 No. 3
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