San Antonio Magazine October 2021 by San Antonio Magazine

SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE

EIGHT LEADERS WHO ARE SHAPING THE CITY

WORLD-CHANGING WOMEN

OCTOB E R 202 1

+ WOM EN LEADING SA / P R I VAT E SCHO O L GU ID E

THE 2021-22 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

GET HYPED FOR THE SPURS TIP-OFF

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October FEATURES

WO M E N S HA P I NG SA

These eight San Antonio females are leading in their industries and in the city at large by advocating for local businesses, promoting the arts and ensuring equity in education, healthcare and their own neighborhoods.

G O S PU RS G O!

From new players to the ins and outs of the Hype Squad’s game-time antics, get ready for the upcoming NBA season with this Spurs fan guide.

Ki’Amber Thompson

BLU E PR I NT FOR SUCCESS

By addressing its students’ needs in academics and life, San Antonio College has become a model for how community college systems can prepare cohorts for their future.

PR I VAT E SC HOOL GU I D E

Whether the pandemic has sent your family looking for a change or you’re enrolling your children for the first time, use this annual guide of 40-plus campuses to find that perfect fit.

PHOTO BY KATHERINE CAREY

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OCTOBER 2021

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October

IN THE LOOP 10 COMMUN IT Y A pet owner’s own search for pup-friendly fun led to the creation of The Dog Guide San Antonio. 1 2 NONPRO FIT Honor the life of Kristine Meza while raising awareness of domestic violence during this month’s Purple Run. 1 4 MAKER Charlie Rehfeld transforms vintage cigar boxes into working guitars.

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16 CULT UR E Celebrate 40 years of the San Antonio Museum of Art with this special exhibition. 18 BUSI NESS How one San Antonio mom grew her own desire for a stylish diaper bag into a multimillion -dollar national baby apparel brand. 20 FIT N ESS Training can be fun thanks to friends and post-workout meetups organized by In The Loop Run Crew. 2 2 T RAVEL Spend fall break attempting to see the full

plethora of museums and attractions in Texas’ largest city.

EAT + DRINK 5 5 DRI N K Handcrafted lattes are delivered with a side of art at Curator Coffee. 5 6 E AT H E RE N OW Eat local at home thanks to the growing number of San Antonio ghost kitchens. 5 8 S P OT L I G H T Celebrate Oktoberfest without leaving town at Little Rhein Prost Haus on the River Walk.

60 MAKER How one family’s obsession with hot sauce turned into a budding business. 6 2 T H E GU I DE Coffee, mimosas, pancakes, huevos rancheros and more—these nine eateries deliver when it comes to brunch on the town.

FINAL THOUGHT 6 4 CO LU M N To change your business, you first have to change yourself.

ON THE COVER Photographer Katherine Carey spent a Saturday in August photographing the eight women spotlighted in this month’s cover feature.

GHOST KITCHEN: KATELYN LESTER; CROWN: CHINA, LIAO DYNASTY (907–1125), GILT BRONZE, H. 11 7/16,” PURCHASED WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE BESSIE TIMON ENDOWMENT FUND, 2021.1.1/COURTESY SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART

D EPART M E N TS

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UP FRONT / EDITOR' S NOTEBOOK

ETC.

Kathleen Petty Editor in Chief kpetty@sanantoniomag.com @kpettysamag

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THE SECRET TA B L E Join us Oct. 14 for the return of our secret dining series. The location and featured chef won’t be revealed until the morning of the event, but we promise it’s a fun surprise that’s worth waiting for. Make reservations at sanantoniomag.com/ secrettable.

NEW SPURS I was as disappointed as the rest of San Antonio to hear of Patty Mills’ exit from the Spurs. Still, while change is hard, I was encouraged to embrace it during a Zoom conversation with Tre Jones and through video clips from Joshua Primo. Both young players are thrilled to call the Alamo City home and reminded me that while the team will look different this year, its character remains. Learn more about the new faces and about the people who keep the game lively even during timeouts on page 34.

COMING UP NEXT MONTH A look at the history of Mexican food in San Antonio—and the chefs serving the cuisine’s best dishes today.

JOSH HUSKIN

hen my husband and I found out we were pregnant with a girl just more than a year ago, we joked that our main goal was to ensure she didn’t grow up to become a mean girl. The jest inspired by the 2004 Lindsay Lohan movie was just that, a joke—we obviously don’t want her to be the kind of kid who would talk behind her friends’ backs or get accused of pushing someone in front of a school bus—but it also contained a bit of truth. We want her to be kind, caring, patient and hard-working, not a teen who gets caught up in the drama of middle and high school cliques or a woman who thinks success can come only from putting herself first. The women profiled in this month’s cover feature, starting on page 24, are prime examples of what it looks like to pursue a passion and find success, all while displaying kindness and compassion. Written by freelancer writer (and woman extraordinaire in her own right) Bonny Osterhage, the feature highlights just a handful of the females who pour into our community daily, whether in education, the arts or local government. Erika Prosper Nirenberg, for example, is known by many as the mayor’s wife, but the daughter of migrant farmworkers has a success story that’s all her own. When she’s not working as an exec at H-E-B, Nirenberg uses her influence to promote the city she’s come to love, volunteering to support the arts and shopping and eating local, all in the name of doing her part to help San Antonio become a place with positive growth in mind. San Antonio transplant Deb Parsons served 25 years in the Air Force and then retired in the Alamo City with the goal of spending her newfound free time volunteering to help others. She told Osterhage that giving back is “the fun part” of retirement. The pandemic has been tough on nearly every person and industry in some way, but we know statistically that it’s been especially hard on women, who were more likely to have experienced lost wages or jobs and were more often juggling their career with household duties and childcare or first-time homeschooling. So, while we could easily put together a list of notable San Antonio women every year, this year felt like an especially important one in which to highlight just a few of the females who are shaping the city. My own mom taught me well that success doesn’t come from doing it all but rather doing what you love well while still making time for the ones that you love, and these women remind us that’s possible, even in years where circumstances aren’t ideal. Here’s hoping my daughter will look up to women like these (and not the mean girls of the world, fictional or otherwise).

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OCTOBER 2021 / VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 1 WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF GOING TO A SPURS GAME?

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF

Kathleen Petty CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Emily Guajardo, Melanie Mendez-Gonzales, Bonny Osterhage, Katherine Stinson, Edmund Tijerina, Chris Warren, Claire Winesett COPY EDITOR

Patsy Pelton INTERNS

Vivian Phillips, Molly Todd “Snacks!”

A RT ART DIRECTOR

David G. Loyola

OP E N SKY ME DIA CEO

Todd P. Paul PRESIDENT

Stewart Ramser VP OF SALES

Julie A. Kunkle EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Rebecca Fontenot Cord DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Hollis Boice AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Kerri Nolan ACCO UN T IN G

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Katherine Carey, Josh Huskin, Marty Morris, Louie Preciado

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Sabina Jukovic DIG ITA L

“The excitement and energy of the fans— it is a real Spurs rally every game!”

INTERN

DIGITAL MANAGER

Katelyn Lester

Abigail Stewart

ADV ERTIS ING PUBLISHER

Kathie Anderson

“Watching them win!”

DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Rosie Ninesling CO NTACT US

Christina Olivarez

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AD SALES & SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

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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 / M USICA L CIGA R BOXES p. 14 / 40 Y EARS OF SAMA p. 16 / A W EEKEN D IN H OUSTON p. 2 2

Yard for Rent hether you’re an apartment dweller without a backyard in which your dog can roam or you simply want to provide your pet a change of scenery during their daily off-leash time, Sniffspot may be for you. Originally launched in Seattle in 2018 by a techie dog owner who found himself without a yard, the site is like Airbnb for dogs and allows pet owners to book one-hour slots of time in other people’s yards. Hosts list the size of their property, whether it is fenced and if it has pup-friendly amenities like play structures, and dog owners can request to book online or through an app, just like they might reserve a stay at an Airbnb. Some yards are open to multiple dogs at a time—including the property owner’s pet—so that your furry friend can get some social time while others are available for private rental. Only a handful are operating in San Antonio so far, though the list continues to grow. Amy Lynn, founder of The Dog Guide San Antonio (learn more about her on page 10), says the concept is an intriguing one, especially for dogs who might not love the commotion of a crowded public dog park. “My sweet girl can be an anxious pup, and Sniffspot looks like a great off leash outdoor option for dog owners,” she says, of her dog Terry, pictured here.

PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN

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WEB EXTRA

CU T EST D OG CONT EST Head to san antoniomag. com/cutedog contest this month to submit a photo of your pup in costume as part of our Cutest Dog Contest. Winning dogs will be featured on the magazine’s social media channels.

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IN THE LOOP / COMMUNITY

4 PLACES TO HELP PETS IN NEED AN IMAL D E F E NS E LEAGU E OF T E X AS

Volunteer on campus, adopt, foster or give pet food, supplies or monetary donations to support the mission of the largest no-kill shelter in the city. adltexas.org DAISY CARES

Through a Pup’s Eyes The Dog Guide San Antonio seeks to help pets and pet owners alike enjoy their hometown BY VIVIAN PHILLIPS

my Lynn is passionate about enriching the lives of San Antonio pups. The Dog Guide San Antonio she created is a manifestation of this passion, providing locals with an extensive resource that details places to visit, events to attend and information about where to adopt. It’s the kind of details Lynn says she had trouble finding when she and her four kids adopted Terry, their chihuahua mix, nearly four years ago. A blogger known as Maker Mama, Lynn was a contributor and editor for Alamo City Moms at the time and was inspired by that experience to start Dog Friendly SA, which she rebranded this year as The Dog Guide San Antonio. The website and Instagram feed (which now has over 7,300 followers) have been such a success since launching in spring 2018 that Lynn is expanding the program to Bend, Oregon, this year, and looking to license The Dog Guide in other cities after that. She hopes to eventually create a network of local dog sites. Lynn says her work consulting with Bend made her hone in on her San Antonio guide, as well. One new local offering to come from that

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is the Paw Pass, a card that readers can purchase to enjoy exclusive discounts at dog-friendly businesses, including North Park Subaru, Pawderosa Ranch and Feliz Modern. Ten percent of each card sold benefits Daisy Cares, the nonprofit that operates with the San Antonio Food Bank to provide pet food to those in need. The organization is one Lynn supported through a community-wide food drive she put together last spring when COVID-19 forced her to cancel the pet-friendly meetups she’d been hosting. She collected 60,000 pounds of food— double the goal she’d initially set. Last month, she launched the Downtown Dog Market at Legacy Park, an event that will continue each second Saturday through December. Lynn was also happy to act as a resource to all the locals who welcomed new companions during the pandemic. “We certainly saw far more people reaching out to us and visiting our website who shared that they had recently adopted during COVID,” Lynn says, adding that the Animal Defense League of Texas reported a 20 percent increase in the number of adoptions and fosters over the course of the pandemic.

Donate cat or dog food, litter, treats or new pet supplies. Locals also can host their own pet food drive to benefit the nonprofit that operates in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. For those who’d rather donate online, each $1 given supplies 10 pounds of food. daisycares.com SAN A NTONIO HUMANE SOCIE T Y

This organization runs a no-kill shelter, offers foster and adoption opportunities, provides medical care to pets in need, offers low cost spay and neuter services and more. sahumane.org SN IPSA

The nonprofit where Lynn adopted her own dog was created by veterinarians and pet lovers who want to make sure homeless and unwanted animals find families. It facilitates foster and adoption placements for dogs and cats, offers spay/neuter and microchip services in low-income neighborhoods and provides necessary medical care and surgeries when needed before pets can be placed in new homes. snipsa.org

PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN

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A Different Ending Honoring the life of its namesake, the Kristine Meza Foundation works to support victims of domestic violence in seeking help BY KATHLEEN PETTY

t’s been 10 years since Kristine Meza died but her three younger sisters still have clear memories of her acting as a second mom during their childhood, driving them to school or snapping her fingers to reprimand them when they were out of line. When she decided to pursue nursing school in her 20s, even that was done partly to set an example for her younger siblings, says her mother, Laura Acevedo. “I was a single mom and I worked very long hours and sometimes two and three jobs, so she took on the role of mother and helper when I wasn’t

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GET INVOLVED

The Purple Run Oct. 16 Our Lady of the Lake University thepurplerun.org

there,” Acevedo says. “She felt she had to set the bar for her sisters, and she just wanted them to be proud of her.” It was perhaps that motherly role that led Meza to try and solve problems on her own before ever bringing them to her family. She didn’t want to burden anyone. So, when Meza told her mom and sisters that the boyfriend with whom she’d recently ended a twoyear relationship had physically abused her and now was threatening her, Acevedo knew it was serious. “She had reached a breaking point,” she says. Sister Jessica Meza says Kristine told her the ex-boyfriend was calling at all hours of the day, threatening violence and promising to track her down if she went out. Kristine eventually filed a protective order with the San Antonio Police Department, but her family says she was determined not to let him interfere with her life goals and so she continued her routines of going to work, school and church and spending time with friends. On Feb. 11, 2011, while getting into her car to go to work, Kristine Meza was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself. “She had all of these dreams and she felt everything was falling into place,” Acevedo says. Adds Jessica, “The idea of him taking her life never crossed our minds.” Through the devastation, Kristine’s family knew they wanted to continue her legacy of caring for others. They founded the Kristine Meza Foundation as a tribute to her and share her story in hopes of changing the trajectory for other domestic violence victims. Their annual Purple Run, held each October in conjunction with Family Violence Prevention Services, serves to raise awareness of the issue and to encourage at least one victim to seek help. “We don’t want their story to end the way my sister’s story ended,” Jessica Meza says. It wasn’t until they lost her sister that Jessica says she realized what an issue domestic violence is in Bexar County. The number of local women killed by partners

COURTESY KRISTINE MEZA FOUNDATION

IN THE LOOP / NONPROFIT

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is higher than in any other major city in Texas and it tripled from 2012 to 2017. During the pandemic, domestic violence has only increased. Last year, 30 San Antonio homicides were attributed to domestic violence, up from 21 the year before, and the overall rate of domestic violence calls was also up in San Antonio and nationwide. Acevedo says Kristine Meza was like many women in that she felt some shame for becoming a victim. “As with most people in that situation, she had this sense of thinking it was her fault in some way. She had a good family and support system, great friends, it was almost like she felt this sense of humiliation because she thought this wasn’t supposed to happen to someone like her,” Acevedo says. “It does not discriminate where you are socially or economically. No one is immune.” Acevedo says she imagines if Kristine were still here that she would have a “house full of kids” by now as she long dreamed of having the kind of big family she grew up in. She loved spending holidays with siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins and couldn’t wait to have her own kids share in that type of love. And while the Purple Run, which will be held both virtually and in person on Oct. 16 at Our Lady of the Lake University, is a somber occasion, Jessica Meza and Acevedo say it also is a therapeutic and even joyous event as it provides them a way to remember Kristine and offer hope to others. “There is always hope,” Acevedo says. “No matter how dire or desperate your situation is, know there is always a way out. It may not be easy, but it just requires taking that very first step.”

Need help or know of someone who does? Call 1-800-799-7233, the national domestic violence hotline, or contact Family Violence Prevention Services at 210-733-8810.

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IN THE LOOP / MAKER

Refurbished Sound

SHOP:

tejascigarboxguitarco.com etsy.com/shop/tejascbgco

Charlie Rehfeld is spending retirement transforming vintage cigar boxes into working guitars BY EMILY GUAJARDO

ather than relishing in the solace of empty afternoons, Charlie Rehfeld and his wife Nina have made it their mission to enjoy retirement by reviving the sounds of pasttime Jug Bands and fretless folk tunes through their business, the Tejas Cigar Box Guitar Company. Based in their San Antonio garage, Charlie Rehfeld turns vintage cigar boxes into instruments and works of art while Nina Rehfeld handles the business side of their venture. “I think people are just drawn to our guitars because they look so odd. From afar, they look like boxed guitars with a wooden neck, but when they get up close, they can really see and hear the difference,” Charlie Rehfeld says. Rehfeld created his first cigar box guitar a decade ago for his son’s band, looking at it then as a fun project to try at home. He enjoyed it so much that he built one for himself as well as for a few friends and from there, a new business was born. That was in 2012, shortly after Rehfeld retired from a career as an electrician, and he and Nina have since spent many-a-weekend traveling to artisan fairs, markets and music festivals across the south to share the guitars. The process to craft the instruments takes a great amount of time, energy and mileage, Rehfeld says, but the payoff is well worth the struggle. To start, he visits vintage shops and cigar stores throughout the region to collect empty cigar boxes or humidors that have a clean, mostly scuff-free exterior. Once he’s acquired the boxes, Rehfeld returns to his garage and handcrafts a guitar neck out of wood for each box. From there, he creates a fingerboard that will hold the guitar’s strings and affixes both to the box. After sanding down each individual guitar neck until he’s achieved a smooth finish, Rehfeld begins the most tedious part: fitting the guitar with strings. He melds and stretches each string until it fits perfectly across the fingerboard and onto the box. After some final polishing and days of work, his masterpiece is complete and functional. “Normally, I’ll spend a couple of hours at a time in the garage and sometimes, my wife even has to come in

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OCTOBER 2021

and remind me to come to bed or eat dinner because of how long I’ve been working,” Rehfeld says. “Time just gets away from me, especially if we’re planning on going to a festival or fair that weekend, where we know that we could potentially get close to selling out.” Along with the guitars, he and Nina also have recently introduced cigar box amplifiers that the cigar box instruments can be plugged into. At each market and fair, the couple lay the instruments out on one of Nina’s colorful tablecloths. Whether selling instruments to longtime musicians or collectors of art, Rehfeld relishes seeing others find joy in his work A quiet retirement may be for some, he says, but for him, the days are far better spent working on something he loves. PHOTO BY LOUIE PRECIADO

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I N T H E L O O P / C U LT U R E

Slowed and Throwed

Oct. 16-Jan. 2 samuseum.org

Collective History SAMA celebrates ruby anniversary with 40 Years, 40 Stories BY KATHLEEN PETTY

ess than half of the San Antonio Museum of Art’s vast 30,000plus piece collection is on display on any given day. So, when COVID-19 scheduling complications left a hole in the museum’s exhibition schedule, curators decided to celebrate their 40th anniversary by digging into the museum’s on-site storage rooms. “It’s a good time to celebrate our collection,” says Jessica Powers, Ph.D., interim chief curator who organized the exhibition. “Each of the works in the exhibition stands on their own and has some kind of interesting story.” A 1767-68 portrait by English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, for example, had old layers

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of retouching and varnish that had become discolored and unattractive. After years of treatment by conservators at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the painting has been transformed and will be exhibited along with information about the careful work it took to restore its colors. A glamorous portrait of 1920s Hollywood film star and femme fatale Pola Negri will be on display for the first time in years, telling the story of a silent film actress who retired in San Antonio while pointing to the importance of collectors who contribute pieces like this one to the museum. The exhibition includes a piece that is over 6,000 years old plus a few recent acquisitions that are newer, and it represents artists from every continent except Antarctica. Rather than chronologically, pieces in the Cowden Gallery are grouped loosely by theme so visitors can, for instance, view portraits together or items that relate to various faiths, such as an Italian Renaissance painting of the Holy Family and a page from a Medieval Islamic Quran manuscript. “It’s a very interesting and fun show,” Powers says.

Can you explain the relevance of this exhibition today? When [DJ Screw] passed, there were about 80 known mixtapes at that time. Since then, his cousin, Big Bubb, has been able to reproduce over 300. He’s ensuring that, in so many ways, DJ Screw is still alive, still contributing, still producing. DJ Screw may be known in music circles worldwide, yet the discourse around him is also often framed in limiting ways. Tell us about the exhibit’s 15 contributing artists. These artists aren’t inspired by DJ Screw in the conventional sense. Many of them do happen to be musicians and huge fans of him but were selected because they use practices that parallel the strategies DJ Screw employed. I consider them visual DJs. Do you have a favorite part of the exhibit? Without a doubt, it is the 30 selected records personally collected by DJ Screw. Being able to see all of these records that were owned, used, loved and collected by him, and the accompanying stories of what it was like to go with DJ Screw to the record shop ... You really get a sense of the energy of what he was like and his passion and love for music.

PORTRAIT: TADE STYKA (FRENCH, BORN POLAND, 1889–1954), POLA NEGRI, CA. 1930, OIL ON CANVAS, UNFRAMED: 54 1/4 X 42 1/2 IN. (137.8 X 108 CM), FRAMED: 66 3/4 X 55 IN. (169.5 X 139.7/COURTESY SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART; GALLERY: COURTESY ARTPACECM), BEQUEST OF POLA NEGRI, 87.39.1

40 YEARS , 40 STORIES

The latest exhibit on display in Artpace’s Hudson Showroom delves into the legacy of the late Houston hip hop legend DJ Screw. Co-curator Patricia Restrepo shares why the “innovator and musical genius” who died 20 years ago needs to be remembered today. View the work in Slowed and Throwed: Records of the City Through Mutated Lenses through Nov. 21.—MOLLY TODD

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IN THE LOOP / BUSINESS

Discerning Style The mom behind Caden Lane and Nursery Couture outfits infants with modern designs s the founder of baby brand Caden Lane, Katy Mimari is known for modern designs that look and feel more like an extension of mom’s style than something made just for baby. In other words, you aren’t going to find cheesy bunny and teddy bear prints here. With no background in design or retail, the mother of three got her start designing fashion-forward diaper bags. “When I was pregnant more than 15 years ago, the only diaper bags out there were these cheesy, baby prints,” she recalls. “I wanted something more stylish.” Mimari launched her first Caden Lane bags in 2004, and retailers including Nordstrom went crazy for the simple, purse-like designs with their neutral exteriors and bold pops of color peeking out from within. Caden Lane no longer focuses on diaper bags, but Mimari has grown the brand into a multimillion-dollar business that sells directly to consumers via its website and through Mimari’s flagship store in San Antonio, Nursery Couture, which opened 14 years ago. It operates independently of Caden Lane, which is based in Boerne. “Moms today want comfort, quality, and to make sure their babies are wrapped in the softest fabrics,”

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Mimari says. “Their newborns are a reflection of them.” The Caden Lane brand now focuses on infant apparel and personalized newborn essentials designed with the discerning mom in mind. It’s known for its soft knotted gowns and hats—the kind parents often put their newborn in when snapping announcement photos at the hospital—plus zipper footie pajamas and personalized swaddle blankets with baby’s name, tasteful florals and other designs. It also offers mommy robes, crib sheets, changing pad covers and other personalized gifts. This year, Mimari added a giving arm to her business by establishing the Conceive Fertility Foundation, which will help women who are struggling with infertility. “A percentage of our annual sales will go to our foundation and literally give life to people who cannot afford IVF treatments,” she says. Between running her business, starting her nonprofit and spending time with her fiancé and children, now 9, 13 and 16, Mimari has a full plate. But, she says, with hard work, perspective, belief in herself and a little trial and error, it’s possible to find a balance. “You can’t be perfect at all the things,” she says. “You have to focus on what’s important in the moment.”

COURTESY KATY MIMARI

BY BONNY OSTERHAGE

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IN THE LOOP / FITNESS

In The Loop Run Crew puts the fun in training with post-workout treats BY KATHLEEN PETTY WHEN COVID-19 FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF THE

5K runs and Spartan Races that Amy Hermes and her wife had come to love, they quickly went looking for a replacement. Initially, the couple jogged on their own each Saturday, usually winding up at a local brewery to enjoy a leisurely drink after their workout. Hermes, though, wanted some accountability to get her running more often, and she missed the social aspect of the events they’d frequented. She looked to neighbors first but soon decided to take her search online, and in December 2020 launched the In The Loop Run Crew. Nearly a year later, the group has over 1,700 followers on Instagram and hosts four weekly

+3 Other Casual Runs to Try

iRun Social Runs The running store hosts a free social run from each of its locations. At 6 p.m. on Mondays, meet at its Bitters Road store to hit the Salado Creek Greenway for a 3- to 5-mile run. At 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, meet them at either the Stone Oak or Dominion location for a jog nearby. iruntexas.net

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runs that attract a group of around 35 who run together before grabbing local beer or coffee. “It’s super chill,” Hermes says. “It’s people at any pace, even if you’re just walking or starting to run.” On Mondays, they run from Roadmap Brewing Co., Wednesdays bring a sunrise 5K at Woodlawn Lake Park, Saturdays take the group to the LBJ Trailhead and Sundays are for running through Brackenridge Park. On Saturdays, the club splits up so those who want to run a 10K can tackle a longer route while the others complete a 5K. Afterward, they head to Theory Coffee Co. and often to Second Pitch Beer Co. On Sundays, Mila Coffee is the spot for an after-work out treat. The group also has a mission of giving back. In June, it raised $700 for Thrive Youth Center and in August it hosted a fundraising run and raffle from Freetail Brewing Co. in support of Girls on the Run Bexar County. Hermes says the group has provided the accountability she was looking for plus something the San Antonio native wasn’t counting on. “It’s hard to make friends as an adult, so it’s been kind of an unexpected surprise,” she says. intheloopruncrew.com

San Antonio Road Runners Fun Runs While you can join this longstanding running club for long distance training and other programs, they also have monthly fun runs each Saturday morning from McAllister Park’s Al Becken Pavilion. facebook .com/saroadrunners

Fitness in the Park Running Group The city’s free fitness program includes a weekly running meetup. Head to the field near McFarlin Tennis Center at San Pedro Springs Park at 6:30 p.m. each Friday for a run near the park. sanantonio .gov/parksandrec

Awkward Intros / For a third time, John Oliver poked fun at Fox San Antonio’s Daytime with Kimberly & Esteban on his HBO show Last Week Tonight. This time, Oliver played a compilation video of Kimberly Crawford and Esteban Solis sharing awkward pleasantries and moments of silence in their daily intros. In the past, Oliver has made fun of Solis’ tribute to International Women’s Day and Crawford’s failed attempt at an Irish accent. Suburban Growth / Bexar County’s population grew by nearly 300,000, or about 8 percent, in the last 10 years, according to recently released Census data, but it’s the population boom between San Antonio and Austin that drew the most attention. New Braunfels grew by a whooping 44 percent. Body Positivity / A San Antonio woman’s TikTok video went viral after she recorded a segment criticizing a Miami party bus service that wouldn’t allow her on the bus because of its policy against “big girls.” She said not everyone is small and access should never be based on looks.

COURTESY IN THE LOOP RUN CREW

Running for the Reward

Spurs Expansion / Spurs Sports & Entertainment plans to break ground this month on a $510 million development that will span 50 acres on the city’s Northwest side and feature a state-of-the-art training center, green space and spots for retail. Spurs executives told Bexar County Commissioners in a proposal for the project that it’s a symbol of their long-term commitment to making San Antonio home.

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I N T H E L O O P / T R AV E L

Mission Impossible It’s difficult to see even a handful of Houston’s museums and attractions in one trip, but it’s sure fun to try

Left: Walk through the Skylab Trainer at Space Center Houston. Right: See “Grey Lines with Black, Blue, and Yellow,” by Georgia O'Keeffe at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

here are many reasons why a trip to Space Center Houston is the foundation of so many visits to Texas’ largest city. Anyone with even a glancing interest in space exploration is bound to come away from NASA’s expansive and historic Houston headquarters in awe. From walking the hard-to-fathom 363-foot length of the Saturn V rocket—the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever flown—to the opportunity to glimpse NASA’s ongoing efforts to reach Mars, a full day can evaporate in an instant. That’s especially true if you sign up for a tour led by one of the museum’s passionate and knowledgeable guides (ours had been there for decades, yet still choked up when describing the death of his childhood hero, Gus Grissom, and two fellow astronauts during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission). But the marvels of Houston are by no means limited to things extraterrestrial. The city’s Museum District offers more to see than you can pack in a single trip. On a visit to the city earlier this year, my family was enthralled by the wonders of the permanent exhibits at The Museum of Fine Arts,

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Houston. Floor by floor, we were treated to a history of American art with works by the likes of Thomas Eakins, Frederic Edwin Church and Georgia O’Keeffe. We were especially struck by Frederic Remington’s evocative paintings of the American West, including “The Blanket Signal.” The museum attracts stellar traveling exhibits as well. Exhibitions starting this month include a collection of almost 100 photographs taken by Georgia O’Keefe over the course of her lifetime and an exhibit of sculptures, paintings and other work by Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder. A short walk away from The Museum of Fine Arts is the exceptionally kid-friendly Houston Museum of Natural Science. Among the permanent exhibits at the museum is the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, which will widen the eyes of kids (and adults) who appreciate shiny crystals and gold. In total, the district includes 19 museums clustered together into four walkable zones, covering everything from photography to crafts to health and African American culture. Trying to pack even one zone into a few days takes the hubris and courage of an astronaut, which makes it the quintessentially Houston weekend.

STAY The luxury Blossom

Houston Hotel recently opened near NRG Stadium, or the boutique Hotel ZaZa has locations in the Museum District and Memorial City District. blossomhouston.com, hotelzaza.com EAT Legend has it that fajitas were first created by “Mama” Ninfa Laurenzo in 1973, and they’re still served at the Original Ninfa’s, which also has an extensive menu of Tex-Mex favorites. ninfas.com

DO A different kind of art—one

that emphasizes immersive and sometimes surreal experiences made possible by the lights and sounds produced by technology—beckons at the 40,000-square-foot Seismique. seismique.com

TUNNEL: COURTESY SPACE CENTER HOUSTON; GEORGIA O’KEEFFE, “GREY LINES WITH BLACK, BLUE, AND YELLOW,” 1923, OIL ON CANVAS, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON: COURTESY HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

BY CHRIS WARREN

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by BONNY OSTERHAGE

Get to know eight women who are making an impact— advocating for youth, the arts, equality in health care and the neighborhoods and small businesses that define the Alamo City

photography by KATHERINE CAREY

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Accidental Influencer

Erika Prosper Nirenberg curates a life of local art, food and service

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rika Prosper Nirenberg may be the first lady of San Antonio, but she has established herself as far more than wife of the mayor. She is an independent force, using her love of adventure, community and a solid Instagram feed to promote local businesses, support the arts and help San Antonio grow and thrive. “I believe that arts and small businesses are the core of any city and the last layer of protection you can afford a city as changes happen, both good and bad,” she says. “That’s why it is important to me to support our local entrepreneurs and artists.” The daughter of migrant farmworkers who is originally from Weslaco, Nirenberg has called San Antonio home for 21 years, and in that time she has garnered

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a reputation for knowing where to go, what to wear and what to eat when you get there. Weekends typically find her hiking with Mumu (a rescued Boxer) before getting coffee from one of her favorite haunts like Café Azteca (“He elevates the status of Mexican coffee.”) or the Olla Express Café coffee bus (“She imbibes creativity and serves it back to you.”) before heading out to visit small local businesses like Chica Verde or Felíz Modern, a favorite. “I have a huge soft spot for Felíz Modern because the owner does a great job of curating up-and-coming local artists and making their work accessible,” she says. Even her wardrobe is local. Nirenberg wore dresses designed by Niche to entertain the king and queen of Spain on their visit to San Antonio. “Eighty percent of my closet is from Niche because they cut clothes in such a way that they transcend body type and look good on everyone from a size 4 to a size 16,” she says. “They always make me feel confident.” Confidence is important when you are as visible as Nirenberg, who earned two undergraduate degrees at the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s from University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication. In addition to her responsibilities as a political figure, she is on the boards of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas and the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute and has served everywhere from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she was chairwoman, to Artpace’s Chalk It Up and SAY Sí, which provides arts education to underserved youth. “I am always trying to find smaller, unknown artists and purchase their work not only to decorate my home but to make sure people are exposed to them,” Nirenberg says, adding that the majority of art in her home was created by students and that it’s all part of her larger vision for the city. “In general, my vision for San Antonio is that we become known as a growth mindset city,” she continues. “Our culture and art can support a growth mindset of moving forward and inherently that is entrepreneurism.” Her vision aligns beautifully with that of H-E-B, the company where she has served as director and now senior director of customer insights for nearly 14 years. Her role is to bring the voice of the customer to the decision-makers in the hopes of enhancing both the customer and business experience. “H-E-B is all about that growth mindset,” she says. “Many of the projects I am involved with align with the company’s core values and they get behind it. If you have a passion for something and there is an opportunity to explore it, they encourage that.” “Explore” is a word that comes up often with Nirenberg, who considers herself an explorer of San Antonio rather than an influencer. “I think you should always be exploring your city, even if that means driving an extra 15 to 20 minutes to find something amazing,” she says. “If that influences someone else to check it out and discover something new about the city to love, even better.”

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Arts Advocate

Evin Nicole Eubanks, CEO of Ballet San Antonio, believes the arts are for everyone

f we’ve learned anything from fairytales, it’s that the right shoe can change your life. Such was the case when 4-year-old Evin Nicole Eubanks slid her foot into her first baller slipper. That experience led to a lifetime love of the arts that included dance, orchestra and theater. After graduating from Texas Tech University, a young Eubanks moved to Chicago to pursue an acting career. Ultimately, it was the job of stage manager that turned out to be her life-changing role. “I discovered a passion for being behind the scenes and it changed my pursuits,” says Eubanks, who served as director of the Chicago Dancing Festival for four years before bringing her experience back to San Antonio to help further the arts in her hometown. As CEO of Ballet San Antonio since 2017, Eubanks has made it her mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, particularly children in underserved communities—and not even a pandemic can stop her. When

live shows were canceled, Ballet San Antonio turned to technology and, with the help of H-E-B and Raise Your Hand Texas, brought a free digital production of The Nutcracker to more than 67,000 children. “We wanted to make sure that children had the magic of The Nutcracker at a time when we all needed some joy,” she says. This year, Ballet San Antonio is back on track with a full season of live performances as well as a new dance school that provides pre-professional training from company members. Eubanks is particularly excited about the company’s “Learning That Moves You” outreach program, which provides free classes at Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio and soon at Haven for Hope. “This is where my heart is,” she says. “Exposing children to the arts is about more than performing. It teaches life skills like collaboration, creative thinking, teamwork and discipline.” Putting the San Antonio arts scene on the national map is a driving force for Eubanks, who says the Alamo City has all the same offerings as the larger cities—the key is making people aware of that. “There is so much diversity and cultural richness in San Antonio and the arts are a big part of that,” Eubanks says. “There are amazing things happening here.”

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I Empowering Educator

Young Women’s Leadership Academy Head of Schools Delia Montelongo-McLerran wants success to be an option for all girls

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n 1984, Delia Montelongo-McLerran wanted to become the next Barbara Walters. She enrolled as a journalism student at Columbia University, but her dream changed when she realized that not only was she underprepared for the rigor of the university, but she was also one of only a handful of women of color on campus. Determined to correct that for future generations, she changed her major to education, and returned to her hometown of Corpus Christi after graduation to teach in high-risk schools. “I believe that students need to see people who look like them going to colleges and universities like Columbia in order to inspire and connect,” she says. After 19 years of teaching and administration in Corpus Christi, Montelongo-McLerran was offered her “dream job,” as the head of schools at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) San Antonio, an all-girls preparatory and public charter school in San Antonio ISD for mostly economically disadvantaged young women who want to attend college. “When they described YWLA to me I thought, ‘Wait a minute! That’s who I am,’” she says. The school’s rigorous Advanced Placement academic program is coupled with a solid foundation in the arts and rounded out with the teaching of valuable life skills. The girls learn how to advocate for themselves, how to collaborate and about the importance of giving back to their communities. “Our commitment is to have 100 percent of these girls prepared for college both academically and personally,” Montelongo-McLerran says. “One of the things I am most proud of is that our girls learn that it isn’t just about them.” Now in her 12th year, MontelongoMcLerran oversees both the secondary school and the newer elementary YWLA program, which serves kindergarten through third graders and is adding a new grade level each year. She and the academy have earned several awards over the last decade, including the prestigious “H-E-B Excellence in Education Award” and campus rankings in U.S. News and World Report, but it’s the school’s impact that she says is her greatest achievement. “We have to set girls up for success from kindergarten through graduate school,” she says. “The earlier we let them know that they have choices, the earlier they will realize they can be whatever they want to be.”

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Leveling the Field The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women in just about every way. Studies show that women were more likely to be juggling their career, household duties and childcare (including at-home schooling) than their male counterparts, plus were more likely to experience lost wages or jobs. In San Antonio, inequities were apparent even before COVID-19 began. According to The Status of Women in San Antonio, a report commissioned by the city and published in 2019, working women in San Antonio still fall behind those in Texas’ other major cities. Women in San Antonio earn less than women in Dallas, Austin and Houston, experience a wider earning gap when compared to men and are less likely to be involved in business activity and in city boards. Still, there is reason to hope change has already begun. That same report found that San Antonio women have closed the gender gap when it comes to earning bachelor’s degrees and have now surpassed men in holding university diplomas. They also participate in elections at higher rates and now half of the San Antonio City Council is made up of women. Not to mention the increasing number of women leading private and public organizations in San Antonio, from CPS Energy to Texas A&M San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio and its 502nd Air Base Wing. As the authors of the report say, “When women achieve parity with men, not only will their own lives be enriched, but also those of their families and the sustainability of their communities. Simply put, everyone wins when we achieve gender equality and eliminate patriarchy.”

Professional Volunteer

Deb Parsons took her retirement from the Air Force as an opportunity to give back to others at every turn

hroughout her 25 years of service, Air Force veteran Deb Parsons has been stationed all over the world, but it was San Antonio that stole her heart. After a brief stint in the Alamo City from 2001 to 2005, Parsons and her husband returned following her 2019 retirement as a chief master sergeant, and she hasn’t looked back. “I was inspired by the way the community supports veterans and the military,” she says. “And the food here is amazing!” With a master’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University, Parsons performed a variety of duties in the military and her commitment to service has followed her into retirement. “For me, the fun part of retirement is the volunteering,” says Parsons. “I enjoy giving back to my community.” One way she does that is by serving as an active member and publicity chair for the Memorial Services Detachment’s Firing Party at Fort Sam Houston, a group that provides military honors to eligible veterans and service retirees. Another is through Women Veterans of San Antonio (WVSA), where she serves as

president, providing resources and information to other female veterans, and offering connection through social and volunteer opportunities. “Many of the women who contact us are looking for the camaraderie that they miss from serving,” she says. Others need so much more. Parsons says San Antonio has the largest number of homeless female veterans in the state. She and her team gather and distribute hygiene supplies and undergarments to these women, partnering with other local organizations to meet even the most basic needs. Veterans are not the only ones to benefit from Parsons’ talents. You can hear her voice on OWL Radio, a station for the sight-impaired, and on Learning Ally, an audio book service for children with learning disabilities. Filling others’ cups brings her joy, but Parsons is sure to fill her own, too. She makes time for exercise and her favorite hobby, cooking. She and her husband are avid cyclists and can often be found taking advantage of the city’s many bike paths. “I love to stay busy,” she says, laughing. “That’s why I love San Antonio. There is always something fun to do.”

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Latino Health Promoter

The director of Salud America!, Amelie Ramirez, is leading the way in making health care more equitable

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hile the Latina population is not at a higher risk for breast cancer, they do have a lower five-year survival rate due to late-stage diagnoses. Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and its headquarters, the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), as well as chair of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, has devoted her career to solving problems like this one. Originally from Laredo, Ramirez began her work at Baylor College of Medicine, where her focus was on high blood pressure education among Latinos. There, she realized her passion for helping the community take care of its health. After a decade in her field, she was tapped to start IHPR. Now, 20 years later, she is an internationally recognized researcher in Latino health promotion and behavioral change. “Latinos are now the largest minority in the U.S., and we are still not as well understood,” she says, adding that Latinos make up 18 percent of the U.S. population. “We are finding higher rates of liver, stomach and gallbladder cancer in South Texas than across the entire state and even the nation. Most of these are diagnosed in later stages, which means the available treatments might not be as effective.” Ramirez’s own father died from liver cancer. She attributes these late-stage diagnoses to factors including lack of access to care, lack of education about signs and symptoms, lack of insurance, lack of transportation and fear. She works to alleviate some of those barriers through a grassroots, community oriented approach. Health care workers visit local neighborhoods and small organizations, giving presentations, connecting people with resources and stressing the importance of screening and early detection. “People don’t come in when they are due and before you know it, it’s been two years,” says Ramirez, who has a doctorate in public health. “The pandemic only made that worse as some people have not come in for yearly screenings.” One of IHPR’s newest projects puts the power literally in the people’s hands. With support from Susan G. Komen, they are developing an app that helps breast cancer patients stay adherent to their medication while also tracking side effects and learning strategies to minimize those. It also provides positive reinforcement for things the patient does well plus access to a patient navigator. One of the few Hispanic women who is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, Ramirez says that in South Texas, obesity is one of the largest risk factors that is associated with a number of cancers, so promoting lifestlye and diet changes is important, as well. “Changing behavior is just as difficult as coming up with a new treatment,” she says. “Going forward we need to find more ways to make the right choice the easy choice.”

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Outdoor Enthusiast

Charles Roundtree Bloom Project founder Ki’Amber Thompson wants to share the healing power of nature with youth impacted by incarceration

f she hadn’t been placed in AP environmental science against her wishes as a senior in high school, Ki’Amber Thompson might never have found her calling. “I didn’t want to take that class,” says Thompson, founder of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, which is part of Black Outside Inc. “I wanted to take AP biology, but that’s where my passion for environmentalism and environmental justice was sparked.” Growing up on the East and West Sides of San Antonio, Thompson remembers being outside in her neighborhood and tubing annually on the Comal River, but she says it wasn’t until she was studying English and environmental analysis at Pomona College in California that she truly experienced and articulated the healing nature of the outdoors. It started during orientation when she participated in her first-ever camping trip, which included planting on a Native American reservation, and continued throughout her four years with visits to state parks, camping and research into environmental issues. “Just putting my hands into the earth and giving back in that way, it was a healing experience for me,” she says, of her volunteer work at the reservation. “I sought out more experiences like that because that’s the place where I felt most spiritually grounded and most at peace.” During a Ray Diversity Fellowship with Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C., Thompson came up with the idea for the Bloom Project, hoping she could share her love of the outdoors with youth in her hometown. Just as she began applying for grants to make the program a reality, her cousin, Charles Roundtree Jr., 18, was shot by police in San Antonio. She decided to name her program for him. “It just gave me more motivation to do this work in San Antonio,” she says. “There are so many young people like him who don’t have a lot of opportunities for healing or finding support for their goals.” Now two years old, the Bloom Project provides mentorship to youth, ages 11 to 20, who have been impacted by incarceration, whether a family member

or themselves—a group Thompson wanted to serve because of her own experience with a mother and grandfather who were in jail. Along with mentoring sessions that can include everything from yoga to gardening and leadership training, the program provides opportunities to experience the outdoors, including through camping trips at places like Lost Maples State Natural Area, Big Bend National Park and even through the mountains in Colorado. Starting this year, participants as young as 4 also will have the chance to learn bouldering through a partnership with Armadillo Boulders. The chance to experience adventure and be outside is part of what Bloom Project offers, Thompson says, but it’s also about providing an outlet for healing and a framework for dreaming about the future, whether that includes a career in environmentalism or something in a totally unrelated field. “With the traumatic experience of my childhood and the trauma of losing my cousin, a lot of that feels overwhelming. As a kid, my coping mechanism was to repress those things,” says Thompson, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology. “Being outside and connecting with the land is a release and it is really therapeutic.”

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Public Servants

Rebecca and Phyllis Viagran are building a legacy on the city’s South Side

isters Are Doin’ It for Themselves,” might be the title of a famous song, but it could also apply to the Viagran sisters, who made history by consecutively holding the title of San Antonio’s District 3 Councilwoman. “We’ve never had two sisters on the City Council in San Antonio,” says Phyllis, who succeeded her younger sister, Rebecca, when she was elected this year. Growing up on San Antonio’s South Side, the Viagran sisters attended political fundraisers with their parents and volunteered in the community from an early age. Rebecca took the political plunge in 2013, eventually becoming the longest-serving Latina in District 3 and the only District 3 councilmember in 20 years to be re-elected three times (the maximum allowable by term limits). Her legacy of economic, educational, cultural and housing resurgence within the district includes a new medical school (UIW), a thriving four-year university at Texas A&M San Antonio, more than 3,000 new jobs and a whopping 51 percent increase in voter turnout. Additionally, the San Antonio Missions became the only designated World Heritage site in Texas during her term. Succeeding her would have been daunting for any newly elected official, but Phyllis was up to the task. “I had a bird’s-eye view to what my sister was accomplishing, and I was inspired,”

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says Phyllis, adding that her sister was a great mentor and supporter during her campaign. “I wanted to be part of that momentum and the changes that were being made.” Rebecca, who now serves as the inaugural director of workforce development and community partnerships for Texas A&M San Antonio, says, “Phyllis saw the eight years of hard work we put in sowing the seeds for the resurgence of the South Side. She is ready to help it grow and blossom.” Drawing on her work experience in education, tourism and senior services, Phyllis brings a different perspective to the role than her sister. She also comes in during a pandemic when budgets are slim, but she remains undeterred and is strongly focused on public safety for District 3. “We are the largest district in San Antonio, yet we don’t have a public safety substation,” she says. “We have the opportunity to change that with a bond coming up in 2022.” The Viagran sisters share a close relationship that includes Netflix binging, a love of dogs and cycling outdoors. But more importantly, they share a love for San Antonio and the people who call it home, which is what drives them in their public service. “My favorite thing about San Antonio is the people, and their spirit and willingness to help their neighbor,” says Phyllis. Rebecca agrees, adding, “(There is) nothing like the South Side. I believe it carries the soul of this city. The authenticity and puro of the city sits in the southern sector.”

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PLAYER: COURTESY SAN ANTONIO SPURS; PAPER GRAPHIC: YEVHENII ORLOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

2 1- 2 2 E 20 N, H T AS O E R S TO E E S D I S U Y PU R N ’S G PLA OP IO S A FA W N O T A SCO NE N E A E D AND E H SI T SA N T N N I RV ME HE OM AIN ES E FR OT T R T R W TE TO OW ES KNO ENA EN M RN A O TO G R F A H T INHIC SEA ON T W YO U R A K LO O

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NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR

With the exits of DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills, who spent 10 seasons in San Antonio and was the team’s longest tenured player, the Spurs head into the 2021-22 season with a younger roster and plenty of new faces.

GETTING TO KNOW

TRE JONES

The 21-year-old rookie point guard drafted out of Duke in 2020 gained experience last season with the Austin Spurs before recording minutes with San Antonio. Jones stood out during the NBA Summer League, scoring 34 points (including the winning shot) in an August win against the Hornets. What’s your impression of San Antonio now that you’ve been able to get out a little, following the NBA’s strict 2020-21 COVID protocols? I had never been to San Antonio. I’d heard it was a really cool city and I obviously know Justin Robinson [son of David Robinson and Oklahoma City Thunder guard] from college, so he told me a little bit about the city, but it’s everything that I’d heard. It’s been extremely cool being able to get out in the city and experience what San Antonio is like. I’m from Minnesota, so it’s very different than what I’m used to. I like the culture a lot. It’s very diverse and I like that. I was able to go to the Fiesta river parade, which was super cool, and to a San Antonio FC game, which was my first professional soccer game, and the atmosphere was great. I’m still trying to find my favorite restaurant.

COURTESY SAN ANTONIO SPURS

The AT&T Center plans to be back at full capacity for fans this fall. Does that make a difference for players? I know for myself—and I think I can speak for a lot of people—that fans make a huge difference in the game. Going through that time period where we didn’t have fans makes you appreciate having fans that much more. It’s not just at home. A lot of us love playing in away arenas where everyone is cheering against you and it’s super chaotic. I just appreciate it now more than ever. What team do you look forward to playing most? You know, I always look forward to the games against my brother [Tyus Jones of the Memphis Grizzlies]. My mom tells us that she doesn’t pick a side, so I got to just check in on her during the game and see who she’s cheering louder for.

DOUG MCDERMOTT

THADDEUS YOUNG

Previous team: Pacers Position: Forward Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota McDermott, 29, signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Spurs and joins the team after career-highs during his last year in Indiana, with an average of 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Previous team: Bulls Position: Forward Hometown: New Orleans The 12th overall draft pick in 2007 has 14 years in the NBA, including seven seasons in Philadelphia. Young, 33, comes to San Antonio as part of the DeMar DeRozan trade and brings some of the experience San Antonio lost in the offseason. He averaged 12.1 points per game last season with 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Al-Farouq Aminu, a 30-year-old forward from Atlanta, also joined the Spurs from the Bulls as part of the DeRozan deal.

ZACH COLLINS JOSHUA PRIMO Drafted: No. 12 Position: Guard Hometown: Toronto The Spurs’ youngest pick ever, Primo, 18, says he’s always wanted to be a Spur and that he told his agent when he entered the draft that he hoped to land in San Antonio. Primo went pro after one season at the University of Alabama, where he averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in a season when the team won the SEC Championship and made it to the NCAA Sweet 16. Primo already was impressing coaches and fans during the NBA Summer League.

Previous team: Trail Blazers Position: Forward/center Hometown: Henderson, Nevada The 10th pick in the 2017 draft, Collins signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Spurs following two seasons in which he was often sidelined with ankle injuries. The 23-year-old has gone through three surgeries and will look to make a comeback on the court in San Antonio.

BRYN FORBES

JOE WIESKAMP

Previous team: Bucks Position: Guard Hometown: Lansing, Michigan Forbes initially joined the Spurs for the 2016-17 season as an undrafted guard out of Michigan State. After four seasons in San Antonio, the 28-yearold played a year in Milwaukee, where he won a championship ring, and returns to the Spurs this season as a free agent.

Drafted: No. 41 Position: Guard Hometown: Muscatine, Iowa The all-time leading high school scorer in the state of Iowa, Wieskamp was drafted following his junior year at the University of Iowa. The 6-foot-7inch 22-year-old started in each of the 97 games he played at Iowa and averaged 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

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9/2/21 12:59 PM

Oct. 23 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Nov. 3 & 12 vs. Dallas Mavericks

The 2021 NBA Champions visit the AT&T Center for the Spurs’ second home game of the season. (The Silver & Black first take the AT&T Center court Oct. 20 against the Magic.)

The Spurs are used to defeating their I-35 rival but in 2021 lost two of three meetings against the team. They play in Dallas on Oct. 28 and then have two rematches in San Antonio in November.

1 LOYAL FAN

At his bar mitzvah over four decades ago, Brad Beldon received a single season ticket to watch the San Antonio Spurs play at HemisFair Arena. His parents had shelled out $8 each for a mid-court seat while Beldon was relegated to a chair with an obstructed view—but he didn’t mind a bit. Now a 45-year season ticket holder, the CEO of Beldon Roofing Co. uses his prime seats these days to entertain clients most nights but he’s no less of an avid fan. When the Spurs win a playoff game, Beldon wears the same outfit he has on that day—down to his undergarments—every time the team takes to the court. Even when the Spurs miss the playoffs, like they did in 2020, Beldon respects the team and relishes the chance to cheer for them at home. “That’s one thing about the Spurs, they never give up,” he says. “You can learn a lot from sports, and I think that the Spurs teach all of us to be better people and how to run more effective and efficient organizations.” 36

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Nov. 22 vs. Phoenix Suns

Jan. 21 vs. Brooklyn Nets

March 7 vs. L.A. Lakers

Any road to the NBA Finals will have to go through the 2021 Western Conference championship team that includes Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Jalen Smith.

It will be Patty Mills’ first game at the AT&T Center in a Nets jersey. With Mills, Kevin Durant and James Harden, the 2021 second-place Eastern Conference team is a powerhouse.

Lakers fans come out in force when LeBron James is in town so wear your silver and black and cheer especially loud to maintain that homecourt advantage.

REASONS WE’RE GLAD HAMMON IS STILL HERE

Becky Hammon was in the headlines throughout the summer as a contender for head coaching jobs with other NBA franchises. Alas, the league will wait at least one more season before seeing a female take the top job. Fortunately for us, that means Hammon will remain a Spur for now. For her part, the assistant coach told CNBC she’s “not mad. This is business and it’s very competitive.”

It Gives San Antonio the Chance to Promote Her. After 20-plus seasons, Gregg Popovich is the longest tenured coach with any one NBA team and at 72, we don’t expect him to stick around forever. When he does retire, we can only hope that the Spurs front office will put Hammon at the top of their list when considering a replacement. She has said she doesn’t want to win a job or make news because of her gender, but rather because of her qualifications to lead a team. It’s those qualifications that Popovich cited when he hired her and the same reason she could just be the one to succeed him. Need proof that a Pop assistant can lead? Look no further than Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, who spent 17 years on Popovich’s coaching staff and this year led the Bucks to its first championship since 1971.

She’s a San Antonian. Hammon may be a South Dakota native and Colorado State grad, but she’s a San Antonian now. The mom of two has been here since her first season with the WNBA Stars in 2007 and while she keeps a low profile, she’s supported fundraising efforts for the San Antonio Food Bank and serves as an example to young women (and men). That inspiration is even commemorated in a “Never Stop” mural featuring Hammon off Broadway in Lincoln Heights.

COURTESY SAN ANTONIO SPURS

OPPONENTS NOT TO MISS

OCTOBER 2021

9/2/21 12:59 PM

GET

HYPED

How the Spurs Hype Squad turned Anna Di Marco, an East Coast native and the entertainment coordinator for the team, into an avid San Antonio fan

COURTESY SAN ANTONIO SPURS

“I’M ONE OF THREE GIRLS AND FOR THE FIRST 10 TO 12

years of my life, I hated sports because it was my father clapping super loud and screaming at the TV. But then I was a cheerleader at St. John’s University and got to cheer during games at Madison Square Garden. As much as I grew to love the sport of basketball, it’s the fan engagement from the court that makes being an entertainer so much fun. I went to school for public relations because I thought I wanted to be a publicist for someone like Kim Kardashian, but I minored in sports marketing and was super fortunate to be in New York and get to work at the Brooklyn Nets a little and to do some stuff with the Yankees. I was interested in the NBA but typically their teams are very dance heavy, and I have a cheerleading background. But in 2018, I saw a post by the Spurs about their new Hype Squad. They described it as a new entertainment style that would be fan focused. I applied in

August and after interviewing, they asked if I could be here by Labor Day. It was 100 percent a whirlwind. Since then, it’s been a process of developing the team. Year one, we tried hula hoopers and had someone do a monologue and someone else who played guitar. Since then, we’ve refined the squad down to athletic talent but it’s a group we want to be out in the community and focused on fan engagement. We want fans to know that the Hype Squad is just average fans—maybe with a few more tricks. They live in San Antonio and they love the Spurs. The application is pretty extensive. It begins online but it includes choreography, interviews and even a mock T-shirt toss to 18,000 empty seats. They have to make it last for 2 minutes and show us, as much as possible, how they would perform on a game day. There’s no minimum or maximum age and our team has included 19-year-olds and people in their 30s and 40s. Some are students or teachers. We had a legal secretary and someone who went to and graduated from the police academy while on the team. In a typical week, we practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, working on endurance and learning or cleaning up choreography for in-game performances. On game day, they’re at the doors two hours before the game starts and they’re the first ones you see when you walk in the AT&T Center. Then they perform or do T-shirt tosses or other promotions during the game and then it’s back to practice. It’s a never-ending cycle. Coming into year four, we’re excited to push the boundaries. In our world, everything we do is for the fans. It is our ultimate goal every day. I knew no one when I moved here and I’d never stepped foot in this state before the job, but now my friends and family and fiancé are here. This was a dream job for me. I never thought I could combine my love of fan engagement with the business side. The Spurs are 100 percent my team and I love the atmosphere here.” OCTOBER 2021

34-39_Spurs_Oct21.indd 37

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/3/21 10:51 AM

REACCLIMATING TO THE AT&T CENTER The Spurs began welcoming fans back at limited capacity in the spring but they’re getting as back to “normal” as possible this fall. “We are excited to once again hear and see our fans cheering in the AT&T Center,” says Casey Heverling, AT&T Center VP and general manager. Here’s a look at what to expect when you head back to the AT&T Center.

Download the Spurs App Along with being a quick place to purchase and pull up your tickets for entry into the AT&T Center, the updated app also features an interactive map to help you find concessions, restrooms and your seat. Plus, you can order and pay for drinks, snacks and meals from the app. On game nights, guests can also chat with other fans, participate in games and trivia and watch instant replays in the Spurs Digital Arena. Stay Healthy At press time, masks were not required for those who are vaccinated but they were strongly recommended in accordance with local and CDC guidelines. At the arena, enhanced sanitation processes continue, including the use of the San Antonio–made Xenex robot that relies on UV light technology to kill 99.99 percent of SARS-CoV-2 virus within 2 minutes. Fans should know this by now, but if you don’t feel well, cheer on the team from home. (COVID-19 guidelines could also change during the season based on any updates to the league’s health and safety protocols.) Eat at the Game Go local at the on-site Whataburger, which serves everything you’d find at a non-arena location. Looking for something more than typical game fare? Consider the Charter Level Saddles & Spurs restaurants that offer premium cocktails, craft beers that pair with the chef selection for that day and other slightly upscale dishes.

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34-39_Spurs_Oct21.indd 38

AT&T CENTER: COURTESY SPURS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT; BASKETBALL: LIGHTSPRING/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; MASK: ANDREY POPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Leave the Cash at Home The AT&T Center went cashless last spring and will continue to ask fans to pay for everything from parking to food and drinks with a card or smartphone app.

OCTOBER 2021

9/3/21 10:51 AM

ENTERTAINMENT RULES

COURTESY SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Every T-shirt toss, Coyote skit and halftime dance routine is part of an orchestrated plan to keep fans engaged

For Carter Snowden, the court at the AT&T Center is more than simply the center of play for the Spurs—it’s also his main stage. The associate director of game presentation for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, Snowden spends his days (and dozens of nights) planning every minute of the game that players aren’t on the court. Whether the pre-game “Star-Spangled Banner” performance, in-game routines by the Spurs Hype Squad, stunts from Coyote or interactive games featuring fans, he and the 60-plus people who focus on entertainment during any given game don’t leave much to chance. “The fan is the star and the biggest part of everything that we do at the arena,” he says. “How can we create moments, big or small, that can turn into lifetime memories? If we can create those lasting memories, that’s what creates a fan for life.” The way they did that changed during the height of the pandemic when fans were enjoying games from home and then at the AT&T Center in a limited capacity. Instead of on-court fun, Snowden and his team had to pre-produce segments to keep people engaged. Even when things were live in the arena, they took place on the concourse rather than the court. Plans still are in the works for the 2021-22 season—and if last season taught them anything it’s that regulations could change any moment—but Snowden says on opening night, fans can expect plenty of noise and excitement. “We have such a

great fan base,” he says. “They’re not fair weather. They’re die hard and they’re ready to cheer on the team regardless of how they’re performing.” Each game’s detailed script often “goes out the window” when the action begins, and timeouts are called earlier than usual or commercial breaks last longer. But, Snowden says having a guide on what will fill a hot timeout or the break between quarters gives them all the tools they need to ensure fans are never left bored. During each game, a production staff of 35 carry out everything from lighting cues to song selection and volume. Three people are dedicated solely to Coyote and his in-game antics, and the crew knows exactly how long any given skit, T-shirt toss or game should take. “It’s a lot of people, but everyone knows their roles,” says Snowden, who is there to manage game nights and ensure everything runs smoothly. Theme nights, like the Fiesta nights planned this year in conjunction with the return of Fiesta City edition jerseys, are where the fun comes in. “Theme nights are our nights to throw the entire script out the window and start from scratch,” Snowden says. “From a TV standpoint, they’re like sweeps.” And if hardcore fans see T-shirt cannons and halftime routines featuring break dancers as distracting, Snowden asks them to reconsider. Keeping fans engaged—and loud—is all part of supporting the players. “We’re all fans,” he says. “We all want the team to be successful.” OCTOBER 2021

34-39_Spurs_Oct21.indd 39

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/3/21 10:51 AM

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER ED San Antonio College has created a culture that empowers its students for success in more ways than one. After it won the coveted Aspen Prize earlier this year, it is becoming a national model for how community colleges can stimulate the local economy while helping to shrink its income gaps

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 40

BY CLAIRE WINESETT

OCTOBER 2021

9/2/21 1:04 PM

COURTESY SAC

OCTOBER 2021

40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 41

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/2/21 1:04 PM

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40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 42

VINCENT GONZALEZ

an Antonio College (SAC) has been around for almost a century, making higher education accessible to lowincome, first generation, traditional and nontraditional college students alike. However, this May it became more evident than ever that something is going very right here when SAC became the first in the state to win the Aspen Prize (a top honor described as the Oscars of community colleges) just after the president of the college received news of a $15 million grant from Mackenzie Scott. Community colleges are especially important at this moment in time. While preparing students for the workplace, re-educating workers who lost income or jobs during the pandemic, and providing mid-career skills training, a community college education has the potential to shrink income gaps and stimulate the local economy as it recovers from COVID-19. With the Aspen Prize, SAC has been recognized

nationally as a leader in this endeavor and held up among community colleges around the country as a model for how higher education can work for all types of students and for the communities in which they operate. SAC President Robert Vela, Ed.D., says he believes every root of the school’s success is grounded in the student-focused mindset they have built. But, he adds, it has taken work. “Every one of our students has a talent and something that they can bring to the community,” he says. When Vela took his position almost seven years ago, he says he noticed a “deficit mindset” internally. SAC’s identity seemed wrapped around the idea that it was a large, urban campus that served all students. However, because it is difficult to serve students with so many varying needs, the unspoken belief was that while the college could be good, it might not ever be excellent. Vela didn’t believe that and has spent the years since he became president trying to change the culture. He built a system that has staff and educators focusing on the talents and strengths each student brings and looking at it as their job to help reveal those strengths to the students. Put simply, he believed they needed to get highly personalized in the way they guided and supported students at every turn. It starts with mandatory advising to help students make a plan to complete their program as efficiently as possible—regardless of whether they are heading straight into the workforce or to a four-year university. “It’s a highly personalized plan for each student. There are so many ways to get a student to the end goal, but we also want to help manage personal needs,” Vela says. Highly trained and qualified advisors help build plans for students that take into account their personal situations, like their need to work or pick up kids from school, while getting them through their program without wasting time. “Our advisors are nationally certified advisors,” he says. “There are so many complexities to each program—so many levels and steps possible along the way—that our advisors need to be embedded in these disciplines so that they understand the nuances of each profession and the best pathway for students to achieve their goals.” Once a path is developed for each student, Vela says they begin a journey. Gone are the days when students simply check boxes, racing to a finish line with a transcript. “We are all on a journey to gain skills and credentials that make us more marketable and aligned with our core mission in life,” Vela says. “We are now on a very fast track to develop micro-credentials and badging for the work students are doing, so they don’t have to wait to earn an associate degree to

OCTOBER 2021

9/2/21 1:04 PM

PHOTOS COURTESYT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE; DOG TAGS: EUGENE ZAGATIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; MALE/FEMALE ICONS: ALLESS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; DEGREE ICON: NILAMSARI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Opposite page: San Antonio College President Robert Vela, Ed.D. This page: San Antonio College celebrates its Aspen Prize award; students participate in a pandemic -era drive-thru graduation celebration.

receive credentials; instead, they will be able to earn credentials throughout their time at SAC.” A student who aims to become a nurse, for instance, may start out earning a quick credential as a phlebotomist drawing blood and then work their way up to becoming a medical assistant before eventually pursuing a nursing degree. In whatever courses a student takes, there are opportunities to master marketable skills, such as critical thinking, communication proficiency, leadership ability and working effectively in teams. Along with teaching those skills, SAC works to help students communicate with employers through e-portfolios that show they’ve established those skills, known at SAC as badges. Students aren’t just completing classes and then heading out into the workforce either. SAC provides students with work-based instruction, including internships, externships and capstone courses, so students can transition into the workforce with strong technical, career-focused skills. The actual work experience these opportunities provide serve to bolster students’ skills while also connecting them with local employers. Even work study programs on campus are aligned to a student’s field of study so they can be useful in preparing them for their career. “You not only get an education, but an education that helps you become a productive member of the community,” Vela says. Before a student can be prepared and connected with the workforce, there are also often basic needs that must be addressed, particularly since the pandemic began. To that end, SAC’s Student Advocacy Center has a free food pantry, a clothing closet, access to crisis counseling and a help line that connects students with social workers, childcare assistance and more. “We have now taken on the responsibility of making sure our students have help with these life issues that could keep them from continuing in their education,” Vela says. The hope, he adds, is that the need for a student to choose between continuing their education or taking care of themselves and their families is eliminated. Vela says they’ve also implemented strategic data collection of student services and advising so they can find any places where they are falling short and make adjustments to better serve students before it’s too late. Staff also make an effort to identify and reach out to students in need of help, rather than waiting for them to ask for assistance. With foundational human skills and career-focused technical skills learned and practiced, Vela says he believes that excellence is inevitable. And if a student feels as if he or she belongs and is in the midst of excellence? Well, then the sky’s the limit.

SAC FALL 2020 ENROLLMENT AT A GLANCE

27%

39%

Economically disadvantaged

Full time

First generation

16% First-time college students

11% VA students

13%

Dual-credit students

37% Male

OCTOBER 2021

40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 43

19%

63% Female

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/2/21 1:04 PM

PRIVATE

GUIDE

SCHOOL

% OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

SCHOOL NAME

CONTACT

YEAR FOUNDED

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

GRADES SERVED

Antonian College Preparatory High School

6425 West Ave., 78213 | 210-344-9265 | antonian.org

1964

Catholic

735

9-12

$11,520

The Atonement Academy

15415 Red Robin Road, 78255 | 210-695-2240 | theatonementacademy.org

1994

Catholic

Approx. 300

PK3-12

$8,800

The Buckner Fanning School at Mission Springs

975 Mission Springs, 78258 | 210-721-4700 | bucknerfanningmissionsprings.com

1998

Nondenominational Christian

110

PK3-8

$9,870$10,350

Central Catholic High School

1403 N. St. Mary’s St., 78215 | 210-225-6794 | cchs-satx.org

1852

Catholic

522

9-12

$12,850

40%

The Circle School

217 Pershing Ave., 78209 | 210-822-0461 | thecircleschool.org

1965

None

PK3-8

$7,470-$8,570

25%

The Christian School at Castle Hills

2216 N.W. Military Hwy., 78213 | 210-878-1000 | castlehills.school

1981

Nondenominational Christian

Approx. 650

6 wks-12

$7,800-$9,144

Concordia Lutheran School

16801 Huebner Road, 78258 | 210-479-1477 | concordia.school

1952

Lutheran

360

PK-8

$9,404-$10,162

Cornerstone Christian School

17702 N.W. Military Hwy., 78257 | 210-979-9203 | sa-ccs.org

1993

Nondenominational Christian

1,210

K4-12

$9,400 $9,960

Discovery School of San Antonio

222 Salem Drive, 78201 | 210-3443472 | mydiscoveryschool.com

1974

None

Approx. 100

2 yrs-1

$2,950 $7,200

15%

First Baptist Academy of Universal City

1401 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, 78148 | 210-658-5331 | fbauc.com

1979

Baptist

255

PK3-12

$1,734-$5,957

Geneva School of Boerne

113 Cascade Caverns Road, Boerne, 78015 | 830-755-6101 | genevaschooltx.org

1999

Nondenominational Christian

K-12

$12,200$13,250

15%

Grace Christian School

7760 Prue Road, 78249 | 210-265-8166 | gracechristianschool-sa.com

2002

Nondenominational Christian

115

PK-12

$3,900

Hill Country Montessori

317 Schweppe Street, Boerne, 78006 | 830-229-5377 | hcmontessori.org

1981

None

18 mos-8

$10,500$16,600

19%

Holy Cross of San Antonio

426 N. San Felipe Ave., 78228 | 210-433-9395 | holycross-sa.org

1957

Catholic

282

6-12

$6,820 $9,625

44%

Holy Spirit Catholic High School

770 W. Ramsey, 78216 | 210-3491169 | hscssa.org

1965

Catholic

370

PK3-8

$5,875-$7,260

Incarnate Word High School

727 E. Hildebrand Ave., 78212 | 210-829-3100 | incarnatewordhs.org

1881

Catholic

395

9-12

$12,650

80%

International School of San Antonio

8231 Callaghan Road, Bldg. 2, 78230 | 210-920-4315 | issatx.com

2019

None

PK-K

$8,700$13,000

Keystone School

119 E Craig Place, 78212 | 210-735-4022 | keystoneschool.org

1948

None

480

PK-12

$13,000$20,000

11%

The Lighthouse Christian School

10280 Culebra Road, 78251 | 210-618-3035 | tlcs-sa.org

2016

Nondenominational Christian

1-12

$4,000

Lutheran High School

18104 Babcock Road | 210-694-4962 | lhssa.org

1995

Lutheran

9-12

$11,200

The Montessori School of San Antonio

17722 Rogers Ranch Pkwy., 78258 | 210-492-3553 | montessorisa.org

1974

None

272

PK-8

$10,000 $18,000

40%

New Braunfels Christian Academy

220 FM 1863, New Braunfels, 78132 | 830-629-1821 | nbcatx.org

1981

Nondenominational Christian

461

PK3-12

$8,750 $12,650

Less than 10%

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 44

UNIFORM?

ANNUAL TUITION

10%

OCTOBER 2021

9/3/21 10:53 AM

2021-2022 STUDENT: TEACHER RATIO

% OF FACULTY WITH ADVANCED DEGREE

Editor’s Note: We attempted to contact every private school in San Antonio and included information from those campuses that responded. Any blank spaces represent information we were unable to collect or verify. Don’t see your campus listed here? Please email editor@sanantoniomag.com to be added to the digital version at sanantoniomag.com.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

WHAT SETS THE SCHOOL APART?

14:1

Rolling

Antonian is a Catholic school rooted in Gospel values that strives to work in partnership with parents in the formation of young men and women of outstanding competence, character and conscience.

11-18:1

Rolling

The Atonement Catholic Academy strives for excellence in the physical, the intellectual and the spiritual virtues through a challenging course of classical and Catholic education.

10:1

Rolling

Fostering student success and the love of God and others through heart, soul, mind and strength.

OPEN HOUSE

14:1

53%

Contact for details on events

Priority deadline: Dec. 1; General deadline: Jan. 3

All-boys education developing young men of character through faith, academics and leadership.

12:1

100%

Dec. 7; Feb. 21

Rolling

Giving back to the larger San Antonio community, via changemaker initiatives, is central to the mission and curriculum. The Circle School prioritizes experiential learning and immersive education in ways that let it explore, understand and respond to social problems, inequalities and injustices in the local community.

Available upon request

Developing tomorrow’s servant leaders today.

20:1

Available upon request

Rolling

Preparing students for a life of faith, service and success. Concordia is Texas’ first SMART Exemplary School.

16:1

Monthly from October - May

Rolling

Cornerstone Christian School provides a Christ-centered education.

Enrollment for fall begins March 1

Discovery School is a nonprofit child-centered early childhood program that celebrates the joy of childhood and playing as students learn through meaningful, hands-on activities, nurturing interactions and valuing parents as partners in learning.

February

Rolling as space allows

First Baptist Academy of Universal City is a college prep school.

Available upon request

Round one deadline is in January

Geneva School graduates classically-trained servant leaders equipped to do hard things.

Available upon request

Open enrollment begins March 1

Grace Christian School has a passion that its students grow in their knowledge of Christ and that they develop a deeper relationship with Him while also receiving a firm foundation in academics.

Rolling

HCMS is the only Montessori accredited (AMS) school in the greater San Antonio area.

4-7:1

18:1

90%

11:1

12:1

10%

12:1

14%

13:1

20%

Holy Cross is a private Catholic co-ed college preparatory middle school and high school.

Rolling

Holy Spirit Catholic School—faculty, staff and parish family—is dedicated to providing excellence in education centered on the teachings of the Catholic faith.

First round of acceptance is Feb. 11

Incarnate Word High School, an all-girls campus, is now offering a Virtual High School, where students can learn remotely from all over the state, country and the world.

Roling

Provides language immersion primary education in either French, Mandarin or Spanish.

Kindergarten and high school deadline is Dec. 1

Keystone School offers a high-level academic program in a warm and caring setting that challenges and supports children and teens to be the best students and the most caring people they can be.

Rolling

Students receive personalized instruction based on their own learning style.

Available upon request

Rolling

Lutheran High School is committed to developing student leaders in the classroom, church and community. It turns out many of San Antonio’s top student leaders by creating a more challenging educational experience.

Jan. 22

Rolling

As a private Montessori school, curriculum is developmentally appropriate to educate the whole child, so children do not have homework until seventh grade, and at that point, homework is gradually and thoughtfully introduced as work that truly reinforces learning.

Rolling

It has an Einstein Center that offers help for students with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD.

18:1

13:1

90%

6:1

100%

8:1

70%

Oct. 21

Oct. 17

5:1

12:1

26%

15:1

20%

OCTOBER 2021

40-47_Education_Oc21.indd 45

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/3/21 10:53 AM

ANNUAL TUITION

% OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

PK2-8

$4,560-$5,150

Catholic

PK-8

$5,900

1951

Catholic

6-12

$6,835$10,395

9401 Starcrest Drive, 78217 | 210-483-9100 | smhall.org

1879

None

735

PK3-12

$14,420$27,710

18%

San Antonio Academy

117 E. French Place, 78212 | 210-733-7331 | sa-academy.org

1886

Nondenominational Christian

300

PK-8

$15,000$25,000

14%

San Antonio Christian School

19202 Redland Road, 78259 | 210-340-1864 | sachristian.org

1972

Nondenominational Christian

950

PK-12

$3,900$14,500

St. Anthony Catholic High School

3200 McCullough Ave., 78212 | 210-832-5605 | sachs.org

1903

Catholic

9-12

$11,169

St. Anthony Catholic School

205 W. Huisache Ave., 78212 | 210-732-8801 | stanthonysa.org

1907

Catholic

400+

PK3-8

$7,930-$8,400

St. George Episcopal School

6900 West Ave., 78213 | 210-342-4263 | saintgeorgeschool.org

1954

Episcopal

495

PK4-8

$9,650-$14,150

25%

St. Gerard Catholic High School and Regional Middle School

521 S. New Braunfels Ave., 78203 | 210-533-8061 | stgerardsa.org

1927

Catholic

6-12

$4,470-$6,970

90% of those who apply

St. Gregory the Great

700 Dewhurst Road, 78213 | 210-342-0281 | stgregorysa.org

1966

Catholic

PK3-8

$6,700-$7,500

St. John Paul II Catholic High School

6720 FM 482, New Braunfels, 78132 | 830-643-0802 | johnpaul2chs.org

2009

Catholic

208

9-12

$10,360

St. Luke Catholic School

4603 Manitou Drive, 78228 | 210-434-2011 | stlukecatholic.org

1959

Catholic

420

PK4-8

$6,791-$7,719

St. Luke’s Episcopal School

15 St. Luke’s Lane, 78209 | 210-826-0664 | sles-sa.org

1947

Episcopal

216

PK3-8

$10,475$20,975

22%

St. Mary Magdalen Dual Language School

1700 Clower St., 78201 | 210-735-1381 | stmmsa.org

1942

Catholic

412

3 yrs-8

$4,950

80%

St. Matthew Catholic School

10703 Wurzbach Road, 78230 | 210-478-5099 | smcssa.org

1992

Catholic

700+

PK-8

$6,617-$7,639

St. Paul’s Episcopal Montessori School

1018 E. Grayson St., 78208 | 210-271-2861 | stpaulsmontessori.org

2005

Episcopal

18 mos-6

$8,190-$8,720

St. Peter Prince of Apostles School

112 Marcia Place, 78209 | 210-824-3171 | stpeterprince.org

1926

Catholic

PK3-8

$6,765-$7,454 for new students

St. Thomas More Catholic School

4427 Moana Drive, 78218 | 210-655-2882 | st-thomas-more-school.org

1962

Catholic

18 mos-8

$4,500

30%

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children

603 E. Hildebrand Ave., 78225 | 210-824-0579 | sunshinecottage.org

1947

None

180

Preschool-5

Please contact Sunshine Cottage for the most recent tuition rates.

90% receive either scholarship or financial aid.

TMI Episcopal

20955 West Tejas Trail, 78257 | 210-698-7171 | tmi-sa.org

1893

Episcopal

480

6-12

$25,500$27,500

30%

Trinity Christian Academy

5401 N. Loop 1604 E., 78247 | 210-571-7797 | tca-sa.com

1980

Nondenominational Christian

PK-12

$7,240-$7,650

25%

The Winston School of San Antonio

8565 Ewing Halsell Drive, 78209 | 210-615-6544 | winston-sa.org

1985

None

205-220

K-12

$20,000

SCHOOL NAME

CONTACT

YEAR FOUNDED

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

GRADES SERVED

Northwest Hills Christian School

8511 Heath Circle Drive, 78250 | 210-522-1102n | nwhcs.org

1969

Baptist

144

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

16075 N. Evans Road, Selma, 78154 | 210-651-6811 | olphselma.org

1901

Providence Catholic School

1215 N. St. Mary’s St., 78215 | 210-224-6651 | providencecatholicschool.net

Saint Mary’s Hall

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UNIFORM?

20%

16%

OCTOBER 2021

9/2/21 1:04 PM

STUDENT: TEACHER RATIO

% OF FACULTY WITH ADVANCED DEGREE

8:1

15%

OPEN HOUSE

APPLICATION DEADLINE

WHAT SETS THE SCHOOL APART?

Northwest Hills Christian School fosters cross-grade friendships to increase the family atmosphere.

14:1

Available upon request

Rolling

Building character and shaping tomorrow’s leaders by delivering academic excellence in a Catholic faith-based community.

10:1

Available upon request

Rolling

Providence prepares young women of diverse backgrounds for the world of tomorrow and encourages them to develop intellectual curiosity, deepen their faith, practice integrity and seek justice.

15:1

Upper School preview: Oct. 11, Nov. 4; Lower School preview: Nov. 10, Feb. 2; Middle School preview: Jan. 26

Upper School: Nov. 19; Middle/Lower School: Feb. 11. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis after the deadlines as space allows

Saint Mary’s Hall echoes the offerings of a liberal arts college with a rich, dynamic curriculum; passionate, expert faculty; extensive fine arts; and a competitive athletic program.

Available upon request

Rolling

The Academy educates boys to succeed in life scholastically, emotionally and physically.

Rolling

Through a combination of called and caring teachers, active family involvement and school spirit, the SACS experience is boldly Christian and undeniably academic.

Inquire for availability

The school prepares young men and women for positions of responsibility and leadership through a college preparatory curriculum based in Catholic values and traditions.

65%

10:1

Available upon request

12:1

Available upon request

9:1

48%

Available upon request

Rolling

St. George offers an exceptional academic program, competitive athletics, daily chapel and extensive leadership opportunities in a close-knit community.

Rolling

Open to all faiths, St. Gerard is an early college campus that follows the Catholic faith and equips students with the ability, will and desire to impact the world for Jesus Christ through knowledge, faith and service.

Available upon request

Rolling

In keeping with the Catholic tradition, St. Gregory nurtures in its children and one another, spiritual, personal and academic growth through prayer and Christ-like service.

Nov. 6

Rolling

Newly renovated STEM wing with state-of-the-art chemistry and physics labs, robotics and computer programming/video editing rooms.

Inquire for availability

Rolling

St. Luke offers a strong community and a commitment to academic excellence.

Nov. 14

Feb. 11 and then rolling as space allows

St. Luke’s develops exceptional leaders through its Declamations (public speaking) program, which begins in first grade.

Rolling

St. Mary Magdalen is San Antonio’s only dual language Catholic school and a member of the University of the Incarnate Word Brainpower Connection. The campus also is offering a virtual option.

Rolling

St. Matthew is committed to the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and physical development of every child.

Rolling

Offers individualized education with a focus on whole-child development.

May 13

Providing a Christ-centered education focused on Catholic values, academic excellence and servant leadership, empowering students to become global leaders.

10:1

11:1

81%

7:1

49%

12:1

25%

8:1

65%

Educates a diverse student body in the Catholic faith, Christian values and academic excellence.

Available by appointment

7:1

8:1

60%

Inquire online

Rolling

The campus utilizes a multi-age classroom approach.

7:1

100%

Available upon request

Open

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children prepares children with hearing loss for a successful life in the hearing world by promoting early identification of hearing loss, intervention and listening, language and speech in an auditory oral educational environment.

9:1

75%

Jan. 7

Since 1893, TMI remains a leader of innovation and design thinking—an approach to learning and serving, reflected in our Episcopal roots, that develops academically prepared and empathetic leaders to their fullest potential. Utilizes multi-age classrooms.

8:1

25%

VIP tours available upon request

Rolling

Provides individualized education in a family environment. A virtual option is also available.

Inquire for availability

Rolling

Provides personalized, college preparatory education to students with high potential and identified learning differences.

8:1

OCTOBER 2021

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9/3/21 10:53 AM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EDUCATION D I R E C TO R Y Further your education with area private schools, universities and continuing education programs

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Central Catholic High School At Central Catholic, it is our mission to educate young men, from diverse backgrounds, in the Marianist tradition for success through the development of scholarship, leadership and moral character. The first boys’ school in San Antonio remains a prestigious landmark in San Antonio and a symbol of teaching excellence. 1403 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78215 | 210-225-6794 | cchs-satx.org

Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy EKHLA is an open-enrollment public charter school, serving students in kindergarten to eighth grade. The school has a unique second language offering of Hebrew, a rich and rigorous academic curriculum, with passionate teachers and extraordinary student support. We are a school with a strong Core Value system, a nurturing environment, and a student leadership culture. EKHLA also offers a robust fine arts after-school enrichment and athletics program. 1327 Dreamland Drive, San Antonio, TX 78230 | 210-890-7267 | ekhla.org

J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts at Texas Tech University We’re a close-knit creative community with all the resources of a world-class university. Our students shine with Texas-sized ambition, curiosity and compassion. Talkington provides an ambitious arts education to undergraduate and graduate students— including D.M.A. and Ph.D. candidates— spread across three different schools of art, music and theatre and dance. 1011 Boston Ave., Lubbock, TX 79409 | 806-742-0700 | vpa.ttu.edu

Keystone School Keystone offers an accelerated PK3-12 curriculum that provides motivated students with a nationally recognized, well-rounded experience in a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages academic excellence, ethical growth, community involvement and responsible leadership. 119 E. Craig Place, San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-735-4022 | keystoneschool.org

San Antonio Academy SAA embraces the traditions and values that have served young men well for 135 years. A family-like atmosphere that forges lifelong friendships, the Academy teaches boys to accept responsibility and aspire to excellence. The rigorous academics result in impressive outcomes while the extracurricular and leadership programs foster well-roundedness and teamwork. 117 E. French Place, San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-733-7331 | sa-academy.org

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9/3/21 12:17 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

OCTOBER 2021

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

St. Mary Magdalen School The school features an elite dual language program guided by Boston College, small class sizes, a SuccessMaker Academic Excellence Program and affordable tuition. Specialized preparation is provided for high school and college, and personalized support is offered to our graduates to reach our goals of college and heaven. Now enrolling 3 years through eighth grade. Call or email william.daily@stmmsa.org today to schedule a free, personalized tour. 1700 Clower St., San Antonio, TX 78201 | 210-735-1381 | stmmsa.org

Saint Mary’s Hall For nearly 150 years, Saint Mary’s Hall has remained steadfast in its commitment to prepare students for success in college and fulfillment in life. Known for its robust curriculum and arts and athletics programs, our strength lies in our longevity, adaptability, and sense of community. At SMH, students are known, and they thrive. 9401 Starcrest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78217 | 210-483-9100| smhall.org

St. Mary’s University Founded in 1852, St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic university in Texas. Academic achievement, community and holistic learning are what sets a St. Mary’s education apart. For many graduates, their St. Mary’s experience is a defining moment in their lives, sparking a passion for life-long learning and servant leadership. One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228 | 210-436-3011| stmarytx.edu

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children Sunshine Cottage is a private, nonprofit school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as for children with typical hearing. Sunshine Cottage offers a stimulating educational program with an excellent clinical and teaching staff (7:1) and state-of-the-art technology. A strong emphasis on the foundation of listening leads our students to the acquisition of spoken language. 603 E. Hildebrand Ave. San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-824-0579 | sunshinecottage.org

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OCTOBER 2021

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9/2/21 1:12 PM

Eat + Drink I N S I D E / G HOST K ITCHE N G ROWT H p. 56 / OKTOBERFEST ON TH E RIVER WALK p. 58 / BRUN C H REZ ZI ES p . 6 2

CUR ATOR COFFEE

2923 Thousand Oaks Drive, Ste. 4 curatorcoffee.com Open daily

Curating Creativity tandard pour overs, rose-infused lattes and all other hot drinks enjoyed in-house at Curator Coffee arrive in a one-of-a-kind handcrafted mug. The presentation is just the start of the ways in which cafe owner Yuli Chang works to marry her passions of coffee and art. “I use creativity in coffee and art, so we’re weaving everything together,” says Chang, who moved to Texas from Taiwan in 2009. And while she’d grown up loving art and coffee, Chang pursued a career in finance first, working as an analyst at a local firm after earning her degree at UTSA. She quickly found she didn’t love the field, so in 2020 she sold her house and car and invested everything into Curator Coffee.

PHOTO BY MARTY MORRIS

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She’d visited coffee bean farms on family trips and as part of UTSA’s Investment Society but enrolled at the San Antonio Barista Academy, worked at Black Rifle Coffee Co. and shadowed other pros to learn the art of turning those beans into cappuccinos, lattes and cold brews. Curator Coffee started in 2020 with pop-ups before growing in March into a cafe. Along with drinks made from local beans that Chang curates seasonally (from places like Tag Coffee Co. and Shotgun House Roasters), the San Antonio Potters Guild member also uses her shop as a gallery space where she displays and sells the work of local ceramic artists. Her own mugs and vases also are for sale, and you can even purchase the cup your coffee order comes in.—KP

OCTOBER 2021

SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/2/21 1:12 PM

E AT + D R I N K / E AT H E R E N O W

Back to the Future of Dining Delivery-only restaurants known as ghost kitchens are changing the way we eat BY MOLLY TODD

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OCTOBER 2021

even restaurants, three people, one kitchen. This is the way of the future for some in the post-pandemic restaurant world. Set ups like these go by different names: delivery-only, virtual kitchens or most often, ghost kitchens. Whatever you call them, they’re culinary businesses that operate out of a professional food prep space or restaurant kitchen and all they offer are meals for delivery. Dining in is never an option. The concept is not new—food trucks are technically ghost kitchens—but they proliferated during the pandemic, especially early on when welcoming diners inside was not an option. Even in the year-plus since customers have been permitted back indoors, though, many restaurants have been working to cut costs and the need to rely on a full cadre of employees. And while some turned to the ghost kitchen concept temporarily, others are staking out for the long run. In fact, the market research firm Euromonitor estimates that by 2030, ghost kitchens could be a $1 trillion business globally. That’s thanks in part to diners becoming more

PHOTOS BY KATELYN LESTER

9/2/21 1:12 PM

comfortable with delivery because of COVID-19 but also because people are looking for convenient options beyond their typical drive-thru, the firm says. One such venture, GhostKitchenSA, an arm of The Co-op SA, officially opened in January offering food from seven different ghost kitchen concepts—Outlaw Burger, Miss Mazy’s Amazin’ Chicken, Firebelly Wings, Crave Burger, The Wing Dynasty, Wild Wild Wing and Outlaw Burger. Chefs Stephen Paprocki and Adrian Cruz together handle the menus and preparation for each restaurant and work from the Fork and Garden kitchen at Los Patios. Last month, Paprocki and Cruz also added a dine-in concept, Gun Slingers, at the same venue (it also offers delivery). All of the crew’s ghost kitchen meals are available for pickup or delivery via the Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub and DoorDash apps, which is why, next to taste, the chefs say reviews and, therefore, presentation is important. Along with keeping up a digital presence online and on social media to spread the word about their food, the chefs also mark every container that goes into a hotbox for delivery with “VIP.” “Treat everyone like a VIP and they’ll be happy,” Paprocki says. “We let them know that each person is just as important as the one before them and that we will do everything we can to make sure they’re satisfied.” Just like with food trucks, some ghost kitchens start with a to-go model so they can work up to a brick-and-mortar business. That was the case for chefs Jeff White and Luis Colon. The two launched JDubs Burger and Grubs from the former 5 Points Local kitchen earlier this year before hosting pop-ups at places like The Good Kind and then expanding to serve in-person diners at Moses Roses downtown. Ceasar Zepeda saw his concept, River Wok, which he says was the first pandemic-era ghost kitchen to launch locally, as a way to bring some creativity into an already existing kitchen. The delivery-only noodle bowl eatery operates out of his Alamo Biscuit Co. during the evening hours when the breakfast restaurant is closed, but it also has the flexibility to pop-up elsewhere should another restaurant in town want to collaborate. Paprocki says with the demand they’ve seen, their team has no plans to transition away from ghost kitchens anytime soon. But, they add, if the pandemic taught them anything, it’s that they must always be willing to adjust and change. Cruz and Paprocki say they sometimes miss the face-to-face interaction of dine-in service but that the online feedback and comments they receive keep them going. OCTOBER 2021

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SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/3/21 10:55 AM

E AT + D R I N K / S P OT LI G H T

LIT TLE RHEIN PROST HAUS

231 S. Alamo St. littlerheinprosthaus.com Lunch & dinner daily

Prost! to Oktoberfest Little Rhein Prost Haus sees every day as Oktoberfest, but there are even more ways to celebrate this month ktoberfest in Bavaria may have been canceled this year but thanks to Little Rhein Prost Haus, San Antonians can still celebrate. Technically, they treat every day like Oktoberfest at the restaurant that rebranded in March after being known as Little Rhein Steak House, says Terry Corless, CEO of Mad Dogs Restaurant Group, which owns the eatery. But, during the weeks of the real Oktoberfest (mid-September through early October), guests can expect a full lineup of music plus brews and German food. The restaurant’s German heritage can be traced back to 1847 when German-American San Antonio resident Otto Bombach built what would become the Little Rhein Prost Haus. The facility is now the second oldest of its kind in San Antonio. The food and drink menu works to honor that history with dishes like the Prost Haus Tower, a multi-plate meal that’s big enough to share and features bratwurst,

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knockwurst, Polish and Nuremburg sausage, sauerkraut, deviled eggs, pickled veggies, potato salad, warm Bavarian pretzels and bier cheese. Charcuterie-styled plates are served on wood paddles and starters range from kraut balls (breaded and fried pork sausage, cream cheese and sauerkraut) to a Bavarian pretzel with Dusseldorf mustard. If your group is hungry enough for the tower, Corless suggests pairing it with a liter-sized stein of the German-style Altstadt Kolsh, which is brewed in nearby Fredericksburg. Several other regional beers are available on tap as well as around 10 German beers, including the Warsteiner, which is made in North-Rhine Westphalia. The menu also features beer paddles (or flights) plus cocktails. The Rhein Old Fashioned is a twist on the classic drink but with German black cherry schnapps and whiskey made by Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye. Grab a seat on the tiered patio for a view of the River Walk and soak in a little bit of Oktoberfest at home.

COURTESY PROST HAUS

BY KATHERINE STINSON

OCTOBER 2021

9/2/21 1:12 PM

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9/2/21 1:12 PM

E AT + D R I N K / M A K E R

A family’s love for spice turns into a specialty sauce collection AS A NEWLYWED, LESLIE OAKESON REMEMBERS BEING OFFENDED

every time her husband would douse his dinner in hot sauce. “For years it would make me mad,” she says. “Don’t you want to try the food before you coat it?” He insisted it wasn’t a slight to her cooking; it was simply the way he enjoyed the food he loved the most. A graduate of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Oakeson remained unconvinced but eventually gave in and even created her own hot sauce recipe using peppers from the garden to accompany their meals. “We add it to salad dressing, ketchup, barbecue sauce, pizza,” she says. “It’s one of those things where you can add a little bit to anything.” When they moved home to Texas in 2010 after living in California and Colorado, Oakeson began sharing her signature jalapeño hot sauce with family, friends and her husband’s hunting buddies. She continued to hear requests for more sauce and had friends ask where they could purchase their own, so at the start of 2020 she acquiesced and launched Texas Hill Country Hot Sauce. Getting the word out about a new business during the pandemic was certainly a challenge, she says. But after dozens of events and

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OFF MENU News from the restaurant scene

P. Terry’s partnered with H-E-B and now serves the San Antonio–based grocer’s Cafe Olé Organics Breakfast Blend in all of its restaurants. / Tlahco Mexican Kitchen is opening a second location in Stone Oak this fall. / Austin-based Kirby Lane is adding a restaurant in San Antonio near Loop 1604 and I-10. / America’s oldest brewery, Pennsylvania-based Yuengling, began distribution in San Antonio in late August. / The owners of Angry Elephant have plans to open a new bar, Shin-Dig, on Bulverde Road in far North San Antonio later this year. / The fast-food chain known for its wings and signature sauces, Zaxby’s, will open its first San Antonio location in late 2021 on the Far West Side. / Cereal Killer Sweets launched a pastry shop, C.K.S. Pastry, that puts a twist on French favorites, including an oversized choux au craquelin stuffed and then dipped in ganache and topped with cereal. / Whataburger has plans to open an outpost in Terminal A at San Antonio International Airport.

COURTESY TEXAS HILL COUNTRY HOT SAUCE

Hot Sauce Habit

the twice weekly farmers markets that she started attending as soon as they reopened, Oakeson now sells several cases of sauce each weekend. The jalapeño hot sauce that her family still uses most days is a top seller, but she’s also expanded into multiple varieties, including tropical habanero, creamy serrano pickle, peppers and garlic, and a prickly pear chili pequin. At the request of farmers market customers, she also concocted an extra spicy sauce made with a base of carrots and onions that features five hot chiles and a touch of Garrison Bros. whiskey. “That one there is too hot for us,” Oakeson says, laughing. “It’s for people who were wanting a hotter hot sauce.” Everything is still made in Oakeson’s Pipe Creek kitchen, located between Helotes and Bandera, but she’s working toward her own commercial kitchen so she can distribute the sauces to stores and restaurants. For now, it’s available—along with samples so customers can identify which sauce best suits their taste buds—at Handmade on Main in Boerne, the Alamo Heights Farmers Market and Huebner Oaks Market. Sauces are plant based, made without fillers or artificial colors and are gluten and dairy free. She also recently launched a seasoning line. And while the business has meant a little less time for homemade dinners, Oakeson says her husband and now her kids still cover everything in hot sauce—her youngest even asks for it when he’s packing a lunch for school. “He’s got the hot sauce bug,” she says. txhillcoun trysauce.com—KP

OCTOBER 2021

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E AT + D R I N K / T H E G U I D E

ALAMO BISCUIT CO. & PANADERIA (Northwest) As a Texan, you can’t skip brisket for brunch. Chef Caesar Zepeda provides your fix with housemade brisket served with classic pepper cream gravy and cheese. While you’re there, try the legendary honey chicken biscuit or the Texican, which features smoked sausage, poblano gravy, fried egg and queso fresco. 9630 Huebner Road, Ste. 103, 210-2655585, alamobiscuitco.com BAKERY LORRAINE (Pearl, Medical Center, The Rim) Start with a classic ham and cheese croissant, a quiche Lorraine with bacon, caramelized onions and gruyere or the salmon on everything croissant. Once you’ve enjoyed a meal, select one of the bakery’s famous macarons, a housemade toaster pastry or a seasonal muffin. Breakfast/ brunch is available until 11 a.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends. 306 Pearl Pkwy., Ste. 110, 210-8625582; 7338 Louis Pasteur Drive, Ste. 201, 210-303-0330; 17503 La Cantera Pkwy. Ste. 108, 210-4154066, bakerylorraine.com CAPPY’S (Alamo Heights) The

New Orleans gumbo may be listed as a starter, but there’s nothing modest about the brunch favorite packed with chicken, Gulf shrimp, Andouille sausage and okra. Entrees include everything from a classic Benedict to Texas pot roast with mashers and veggies, both of which pair well with a beer on tap or Fredericksburg peach mimosa. Brunch is offered Saturday and Sunday. 5011 Broadway, 210-8289669, cappysrestaurant.com

COMMONWEALTH COFFEE HOUSE (Alamo Heights, Hemisfair,

Downtown, Stone Oak, Brooks City Base) Breakfast is available all week but this French coffee shop’s weekend brunch is worth the special trip. Find a seat at its original Davis Court location, at Hemisfair or in one of Commonwealth’s other outposts and enjoy fresh Cuvee coffee, authentic French pastries and crepes filled with Nutella and your choice of bananas or homemade jam. Multiple locations, 210-560-2955, commonwealthcoffeehouse.com CURED (Pearl) If chicken and waffles aren’t your style, opt for James Beard Award–nominated chef Steve McHugh’s house-made doughnuts and fried chicken topped with jalapeño syrup. Weekend brunch also features the restaurant’s favorite Blue Ribbon Burger, BBQ shrimp and grits and more. 306 Pearl Pkwy., Ste. 101, 210-314-3929, curedatpearl.com

Downtown, La Cantera) Brothers José and David Cáceres bring the pastries of Mexico to San Antonio, from classic conchas to a tres leches croissant and empanadas. Don’t skip the tequila almond croissant, which put the pair on the map when they launched as a farmers market booth before opening their first location in 2014. 8305 Broadway, 210-375-6746; 301 E. Houston St., 210-592-6264; 17030 Fiesta Texas Drive, Ste. 105, 210-600-4460, lapanaderia.com LIBERTY BAR (Southtown) The iconic pink building and floor-toceiling windows welcome visitors near and far, but the dishes are what make them stay. Try brunch classics alongside fresh baked breads with rosemary butter and homemade peach jam, street tacos and the Queso de Cabra con piloncillo. Don’t forget a cocktail, whether the Liberty bloody Mary, or a pineapple, cranberry or grapefruit mimosa. 1111 S. Alamo St., 210-227-1187, liberty-bar.com

THE GUENTHER HOUSE (South-

town) The fluffy Pioneer biscuits or signature sweet cream pancakes are must-tries. Splurge on something extra sweet with a Belgian waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream or keep it simple with the 1851 breakfast platter that includes potatoes, eggs, Applewood smoked bacon and more. There’s often a wait, but that just means you’ll have time to see the museum that pays tribute to the Guenther family and the history of their Pioneer Flour Mills or shop the gift store upstairs. Breakfast is served all day, Wednesdays through Sundays. 205 E. Guenther St., 210-227-1061, guentherhouse.com LA PANADERÍA (Alamo Heights,

MAGNOLIA PANCAKE HAUS

(Medical Center, North Central, Schertz-Cibolo) Search, “best pancakes in San Antonio,” and you’ll likely see this breakfast mecca at the top of the list. Not sure where to start? Magnolia has it all, but you can’t miss with a stack of fresh buttermilk cakes, or try their classic pancakes topped with banana rum praline sauce or made with applewood smoked bacon crumbles baked inside. 10333 Huebner Road, 606 Embassy Oaks, 17730 I-35 N.; 210-496-0828, magnoliapancakehaus.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.

Is there a stadium food you can’t help but order when you’re at a game or concert? At a Spurs game, my go-to is a simple stadium dog with relish, yellow mustard, ketchup, and maybe some pickled jalapeño slices. I love the combination of sweet, sour, salty and umami. I’ll pair it with either a Coke or an IPA. Have a question for our resident foodie? Email asked@sanantoniomag.com.

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DAVID G. LOYOLA

9 Brunch Spots Worth A Reservation

OCTOBER 2021

9/3/21 10:55 AM

OCTOBER 2021

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SANANTONIOMAG.COM

9/2/21 1:12 PM

Change Me, Change My Business Melanie Mendez-Gonzales, the blogger and content creator behind Que Means What, says it was not education but rather change found through friends that transformed her most

business coach once told me that my business wouldn’t change until I changed. It wasn’t until a decade ago when I became a digital media entrepreneur whose business revolves around creating content about my own life that that advice began to resonate. Because of the pandemic, it’s loud and clear. Like many business owners, everything changed for me because of COVID-19. Events were canceled. Budgets were nixed. Everything was on hold. I spent that time investing in my education with intense online entrepreneurship programs. Although that served me well, education was not the most impactful change on my business. By the fall of 2020, I had readjusted and knew it was time to get back to business. Instead of just my own story, I shifted my platforms to incorporate content focused on Latina leaders. Through an interview series on Facebook Live, I was able to talk with leaders locally and nationally, from award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa to San Antonio Hispanic Chamber president and CEO Marina Gonzales. I wanted to empower other women to see themselves as leaders by highlighting the different ways

to be a leading Latina CEO, elected official, author, community leader and much more. My business was changing because I was changing. I found myself revisiting an empowering book club of chingonas that I had joined earlier but, before the pandemic, hadn’t made time for. If we get inspiration from reading books, we get empowerment from discussing personal takeaways with our hive, and these women had the same interests in book topics and authors as I did. The book themes often challenged the expected narrative of our identity. From that group, a smaller four-person set formed. We started meeting together through an instructor-led vision board class and have since grown into a peer-to-peer support and accountability group. Our sacred space is based on vulnerability, growth and respect. Months later I realize that it’s not what we do that makes this group special; it’s what we don’t do. We have unspoken rules of no gossip and no judgment—two unfortunate things found too often in women’s circles. Their absence has changed me and allowed me to stay focused on the positive impact my business can make when sharing the stories of Latina leaders.

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HEADSHOT: COURTESY MELANIE MENDEZ-GONZALEZ; WOMEN ILLUSTRATIONS: ALINA KVARATSKHELIA

FINAL THOUGHT

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SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE OCTOB E R 202 1

WOM EN LEADING SA / P R I VAT E SCHO O L GU ID E

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