Contributors Abe Asher, Bill Baird, Ron Bechtol, Danny Cervantes, Amber Esparza, Brianna Espinoza, Anjali Gupta, Colin Houston, Kiko Martinez, Mike McMahan, Kevin Sanchez, M. Solis, Dean Zach
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in this issue
Auditor’s Certification:
21 Triumphant Trio
Inside San Antonio’s three Michelin-starred restaurants Issue 25-25/// Dec 10 - 23, 2025
07
News The Opener News in Brief Bad Takes Trump’s immigration crackdown is about creating fear for more than migrants 12 Calendar Our picks of things to do powerful 15
The Riot Is Growing
San Antonio’s newest comedy club creating laughs plus more experience for local stand-ups
17 Screens Reclaiming
Innocence
Deborah S. Esquenazi continues to seek justice in documentary Nightin West Texas
25 Food
Global Eats
For being a ‘Tex-Mex town,’ San Antonio’s food scene covers myriad cultures
Northwest Noshing
Boerne restauranteurs branch out for new dining experiences
Holiday Cheer
Dulce returns to the DoSeum with ‘Sugar, Spice & Holiday Spirits’ celebration
Restaurant Listings
41 Music The Past in Future Tense
San Antonio’s Pop Pistol celebrates two decades with new music
Critics’ Picks
On the Cover: The Current’s Flavor Issue takes a look at San Antonio’s favorite places to dine, including the homegrown Las Palapas chain. Photo: Jaime Monzon. Design: David Loyola.
Courtesy Photo Robert Lerma for Nicosi
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That Rocks/That Sucks
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued an Islamic center in North Texas for alleged securities fraud as the organization attempts to build a housing development outside of Dallas. The proposed development, which would include 1,000 units of housing, a mosque, a school and shops, has been the target of multiple investigations this year — including one from Paxton’s office and another from the Justice Department. The federal agency closed its probe in June after finding no wrongdoing.
A group of 18 multi-faith and nonreligious Texas families has filed a lawsuit last week in federal court in San Antonio to block public school districts in the state from displaying the Ten Commandments The suit comes in response to the passage of Senate Bill 10, which requires all public school classrooms display to the religious text. Two federal judges have already declared the law unconstitutional, but their rulings have only applied to certain districts and not statewide.
The Texas Comptroller’s office last week said it’s removing women- and minority-owned businesses from a program designed to help economically disadvantaged groups win state contracts. Moving forward, the Historically Underutilized Business program will be renamed the Veteran Heroes United in Business program and focus exclusively on businesses owned by disabled veterans. Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the change is designed to “ensure Texas’ state contracting is free from gender or race discrimination.”
Bobby Pulido’s South Texas congressional campaign has caught the attention of the New York Times, which last week profiled the Grammy-winning Tejano singer with political ambitions. Pulido, a moderate Democrat who’s running to represent a district that stretches from the eastern edge of Bexar County to McAllen, is seeking to represent a seat that was held by the his party for more than a century before U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz won it in 2022. — Abe Asher
YOU SAID IT!
Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH.
AssclownAlertisacolumnofopinion,analysis and snark.
Worried your car’s just too safe? Fear not, fellow driver, Sen. Ted Cruz is stomping the gas pedal and aiming straight for the guardrail of common sense.
As Americans seek relief from $766 monthly car payments and skyrocketing insurance premiums, Texas’ junior senator has determined that the solution is to lead a Senate hearing on removing safeguards that keep autos from killing people.
Cruz’s Commerce Committee is hauling in the Big Three automakers for a Jan. 14 hearing on those pesky, pricy safety features.
Cruz’s stated purpose: figuring out why new cars cost so fucking much. His unstated purpose: massaging the shoulders — and other body parts — of an industry that donates more to the senator than anyone else in Congress, according to bipartisan
campaign-spending watchdog OpenSecrets.
Automatic Emergency Braking? A menace.
Backseat reminders to prevent parents from accidentally leaving kids in the car? Government tyranny. Seatbelts? Give him time, and Teddy Boy will reverse us back to the Unsafe at Any Speed era.
Sure, asshole automakers have been fleecing consumers for years. But perish the thought that President Donald Trump’s unhinged tariff scheme might be contributing to the current sticker shock.
Instead, Cruz is targeting features the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration credits with saving 860,000 lives since 1968. But apparently those lives just get in the way of crony capitalism. If Cruz really wants to lower costs, he should push for antitrust enforcement, rein in corporate monopolies and cap dealer markups. But that would irk his key donors — and we all know consumer-safety watchdogs just don’t write the kind of campaign checks CEOs do.
Buckle up, we’re in for a wild ride as this assclown pushes to deregulate your Dodge until it has the structural integrity of a plastic lawn chair from Dollar General. — Sanford Nowlin
The U.S. Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a major victory last week, ruling that Texas can use its new congressional map, redrawn to favor Republicans, while the legal challenge to it plays out. The decision pauses a lower court ruling that had temporarily blocked the state from using the map, and the timing of the ruling ensures the new one will be in place for the upcoming midterm elections. The court voted 6-3, with the three liberal justices dissenting.
The San Antonio Philharmonic has cancelled its Holiday Pops and New Year’s Eve concerts. The cancellations were announced in an email to musicians days after the San Antonio
Scottish Rite gave the Philharmonic until Nov. 28 to vacate the fraternal order’s historic downtown building, where it’s performed for the past year.
Fifty San Antonio police officers assisted federal law enforcement officials in a controversial immigration raid last month that detained 140 people. Lt. David Bacarreza, an SAPD deputy chief of staff, told the Express-News that officers involved in the raid provided “perimeter security and traffic containment,” but didn’t assist directly with immigration enforcement. Activists and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the raid, which immigration authorities claim targeted the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. — Abe Asher
ASSCLOWN ALERT
Wikimedia Commons Gage Skidmore
Trump’s immigration crackdown is about creating fear for more than migrants
BY KEVIN SANCHEZ
BadTakesisacolumnofopinionand analysis.
There are two types of people: those who feel safer when the cops show up and those who feel on edge.
Since I spent my youth smoking copious amounts of a plant known to induce paranoia, I tend to fall into the second category. A recent trip across West Texas, for example, was made decidedly less fun by multiple Border Patrol checkpoints and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers speeding around in SUVs. But I’ve had it easy.
The same can’t be said for Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a college student near Boston who intended to surprise her parents on Thanksgiving by flying back home to Austin. Border Patrol agents slapped the cuffs on her at Logan Airport instead. Although a judge ordered an emergency stay to pause her deportation for 72 hours pending a review of her immigration status, Belloza was flown to a country she’s not set foot in since age 7.
“I burst into tears because I couldn’t believe it,” she told ABC News via phone from Honduras.
If you’re from San Antonio, you’re likely aware of the recent raid on an after-hours food truck park near San Pedro Avenue and Basse Road. Federal agents rounded up more than 140, ultimately charging two Honduran men with illegal reentry, while claiming some 51 of those arrested were “confirmed” members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The feds have offered no proof of gang affiliation as of press time, and elected officials are still seeking answers. It’s uncertain whether they’ll get any.
Lest we confuse Donald Trump’s intensifying immigration crackdowns with a zeal for bringing drug traffickers to justice, last week he suspended the 45-year prison sentence of the former president of Hondu-
ras for conspiracy to smuggle 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
Non-presidents, however, have a tougher row to hoe.
Take George Retes, a U.S. citizen and Iraq War veteran detained by ICE on his way to work this summer.
“One ICE agent’s knee was on his neck, another’s was grinding his back. Drenched with tear gas and pepper spray, Retes might have wished that he were back in Kirkuk,” conservative columnist George Will wrote of the ordeal, adding sardonically, “a glimpse of your tax dollars at work.”
Retes, who remained locked up for three days without a lawyer, has since sued the government.
“This doesn’t just affect one person,” he told National Public Radio. “This doesn’t just affect the Left or the Right. This is a civil rights problem that affects everyone. There’s no accountability. There’s no justice.”
Goodness help the soldiers without their papers in order.
“More than 100,000 U.S. military veterans lack citizenship,” Rolling Stone disclosed earlier this fall. “Some are lawful permanent residents who enlisted on the promise of a fast-track to naturalization. Many of them have family members who believed their loved one’s sacrifice would protect them from immigration enforcement. Instead, they live with the constant fear that ICE could knock on the door at dawn, or grab them off the street, and ship them to countries they’ve never been to.”
As videos of families being ripped apart outside court hearings go viral, people ranging from hospital staff to farm hands now live in fear. The consequences aren’t just heartbreaking but lethal. More than a dozen inmates have died in ICE custody this year.
“Across the country, people are being held in abhorrent conditions and indefinite detention,” Zoe Bowman, a supervising attorney with the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, said early in Trump’s second term. “Immigration officials have proven time and time again to be unable
and unwilling to prioritize the health and safety of the women, mothers, fathers, children and families that make up the people in their care.”
“The same conditions that allowed [tuberculosis] to flourish at the end of the 1800s are hallmarks of immigration detention, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and a breakdown of health protocols,” medical experts informed progressive magazine American Prospect. “And, of course, the disease doesn’t recognize the limits of prison walls.”
You needn’t be a non-citizen to be subjected to such harm. ProPublica documented 170 U.S. citizens who endured incarceration for alleged immigration violations.
Even if you don’t land behind bars, you can still be watched.
“Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement shared information about U.S. citizens’ social media profiles and home addresses with each other after stopping them on the road,” the Associated Press uncovered last month.
In one pending case, a Houstonian named Alex Schott had his car ransacked after a tipoff from immigration agents who’d seen that he made an “overnight trip from Houston to Carrizo Springs, and back ... stayed overnight in a hotel about 80 miles from the US-Mexico border … and met a female colleague there before they drove together to a business meeting.”
Bexar County deputies held Schott on the side of the road for over an hour, only to find nothing incriminating.
With a $28 billion yearly budget, ICE is now the country’s largest domestic law enforcement agency. Reviewing procurement records, Lever News journalist Katya
Schwenk ran across a $5.7 million contract signed with Zignal Labs, “a social media monitoring platform used by the Israeli military and the Pentagon,” adding to ICE’s “growing arsenal of social media surveillance tools, many of which employ artificial intelligence to generate leads and identify ‘threats’ from vast quantities of online data.”
“Hundreds of specialized ICE investigative agents, who normally focus on serious crimes such as human trafficking and transnational gangs, have been reassigned to routine immigration enforcement,” news agency Reuters revealed in August after interviewing current and former ICE officials.
So, the administration’s mass deportation agenda is literally sparing the so-called “worst of the worst” to hound folks who have lived and worked here for years. ICE’s massive recruitment efforts are also poaching beat cops, as Popular Information reported that same month, which “will shift resources from fighting local crime to arresting non-violent immigrants with no criminal record.”
“We’re told only the guilty need be afraid — the usual menacing excuse,” right-of-center blogger Andrew Sullivan recently warned. “But the effect of all this performative (and real) authoritarianism is that everyone — citizen and non-citizen — will become used to masked men with the power to arrest walking the streets of the country. We will become used to policing our words so we are not bundled into a van by mistake. We will carry passports to avoid being thrown into jail by mistake. That is not a free country. It is not America. And on this scale, it has never been done before.”
Courtesy Photo Immigration and Customs Enforcement
SAT | 12.13
SPECIAL EVENT
THE RIVER OF LIGHTS
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In downtown San Antonio, anyway. Handsomely decorated trees, illuminated waterways and 100,000 pounds of real snow doesn’t hurt. Nor do sled rides for children of all ages or a live manger full of furry friends. The River of Lights — the San Antonio River Authority’s one-night holiday blowout — is the perfect place for the entire family to enjoy a little slice of what the North Pole has to offer. Add this to offerings by the San Antonio Jazz Collective, Ballet Folklorico and a sampling of Magik Theatre’s seasonal production Red Riding Hood, and you’ve got a festive, well-rounded gathering for the masses. Free, 4-8 p.m., San Antonio River Lock & Dam, 510 Brooklyn Ave., (866) 345-7272, sariverauthority.org. — Anjali Gupta
SAT
| 12.13 - SUN | 12.14
SPECIAL EVENT
LA GRAN TAMALERA
How does one build the perfect tamal — balance the flavors, get the right masa consistency and create the ideal holiday treat? It’s a complex but not insurmountable task. Founded on the West Side in 2008 by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, La Gran Tamalera has brought together families, neighbors and visitors to Market Square, the event’s home since 2017, to celebrate one of San Antonio’s most beloved holiday traditions — the communal making and enjoying of tamales. With a backdrop of music, storytelling and personal engagement, one should walk away from this event satiated, and with a much better understanding of culinaria y cultura Free, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, Dec. 13-Saturday, Dec. 14, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St., (210) 207-8600, marketsquaresa.com. — AG
SUN | 12.14
SPECIAL EVENT
DEUTSCHEWEIHNACHTSFEIER
The 120th San Antonio Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier will embrace the German language to tell the tale of the first Christmas using scripture, poetry, prayers, choral voices, congregational singing and instrumental music as performed by the San Antonio Liederkranz and the Beethoven Männerchor, the oldest German choir west of the Mississippi. German culture has an idiosyncratic but lasting influence on Central Texas, since the influx of refugees from that country largely stemmed from political issues that preceded both World Wars. If you happen to know the words to Stille Nacht (Silent Night) or O Tannenbaum (Oh, Christmas Tree), feel free to join in. If not, lyrics are provided, so give it your best. Free, 5-6:45 p.m., Trinity University, Margarite B. Parker Chapel, One Trinity Place, (210) 264-6749, saweihnachtsfeier.org. — AG
Courtesy Photo City of San Antonio
Courtesy Photo Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier
Courtesy Photo La Gran Tamalada
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
When you think of family, a Harley-Davidson dealership might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but perhaps that’s on you. Biker families are warm, tight-knit and amicable — not exactly the Hell’s Angels of yesteryear. If you’re looking for somewhere to spend holiday time with others, look no further. Caliente Harley-Davidson is serving up a pancake breakfast for their community. Perks include photo ops of you with Santa — you’re riding in the sidecar, naturally — and warm fuzzies all the way around. Don’t get stuck in the cold. Cozy up to some folks that will actually welcome your weird company. Free, 10-11:30 a.m., 410 Caliente Harley-Davidson, 7230 Northwest Loop, (210) 6812254, calienteharley.com. — AG
JAREL’S TOY CHEST
What if that lump of coal was nio’s largest free toy giveaway, has handed out over 70,000 presents to underprivileged
or a child under your guardianship — on time — they will receive a
Courtesy Photo Caliente Harley Davidson
BandofTheWest USAFBandoftheWest @bandofthewest
The Riot Is Growing
San Antonio’s newest comedy club creating laughs plus more experience for local stand-ups
BY VALERIE LOPEZ
Over the decades, the basement of the Maverick Building on Presa Street has been a speakeasy, a wedding venue and a storage space.
Then, on Oct. 30, it became what downtown San Antonio has been missing since 2018: a place to catch weekend comedy headliners, specialty showcases or watch open mic standups bomb spectacularly.
The recently launched Riot Riverwalk is filling a gap left by the 2018 closure of Rivercenter’s Improv Comedy Club. It’s also rewriting what a comedy club can mean for San Antonio’s scene.
The new venue came about when Houston’s Brian Gendron — who built that city’s The Riot Comedy Club and the annual Riot Comedy Festival into comedy institutions — was actively scouting expansion into “Greater Houston; Brooklyn, New York; and San Antonio — fully expecting that we’d eventually enter all of them.”
After an entire day of looking at potential San Antonio venues, Gendron was exhausted and ready to head home to Houston. That’s when AREA Real Estate threw him a Hail Mary: what about the basement space at the Maverick?
“Honestly, I almost said no — I was that tired — but I’m incredibly glad I didn’t,” Gendron recalled. “The moment I walked into the building, down the steps into the already built-out Library [Cocktail] Bar, and then back to what used to be a basement wedding and events venue, I realized it was actually perfect for a comedy club.”
Perhaps it was fate that David Adelman, one of the ownership partners of the National Register of Historic Places-listed Maverick, had been searching for the right tenant to enliven the basement.
“When we re-developed the Maverick we had always hoped to find a way to turn the basement into an asset as opposed to a forgotten space,” Adelman said.
Warm burgundy and black decor replaced the former wedding venue’s white aesthetic. The stage features professional sound and upgraded lighting. It’s intimate in the way storied clubs such New York’s Comedy Cellar should be — the comic is close enough to the audience
that they know whether the crowd is rapt with attention or daydreaming.
The adjoining Library Cocktail Lounge, with its book-lined walls and brightly colored portraits of comedy legends including Robin Williams, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers, serves as an impromptu green room.
“I personally love comedy clubs having spent time in many of the best in New York, Chicago and LA,” Adelman said. “Now we have a jewel of a club in downtown San Antonio.”
Growing a comedy scene
Riot Riverwalk is open seven nights a week. Every single night gives developing comics stage time to hone their craft.
During the week, open mics follow the ticketed showcases. Those sessions offer the kind of stage time that turns anxious first-timers into working comics. More reps means faster development.
At a mere 90 minutes from Austin, Riot Riverwalk offers comedic cross-pollination for capital-city comics wanting practice in front of San Antonio audiences.
Weekends bring touring headliners. Riot Riverwalk’s first, Jeremiah Watkins, has worked with The Riot club in Houston for years.
“I love working with Brian because he not only cares about the comics, he cares about comedy,” Watkins said. “Each year I do the club he has found ways to make it a better and more seamless experience not only for me, but the audiences as well.”
Two weeks after opening, Gendron brought back FIST — Funniest in South Texas — a local comedy competition that had been dormant for years. Past winners include Big Al Gonzalez, Raul Sanchez and the late Larry Garza.
The 2025 competition kicked off in November and is expected to crown its winner Dec.
Entering a new phase
The Maverick Building location isn’t incidental. In addition to Riot Riverwalk, the mixed-use downtown structure offers apartments, a hotel, coffee, dining and a bar. It’s the kind of integration that keeps downtowns alive after office workers go home.
For tourists, comedy is now as easy to find as a bowl of gooey queso on the Riverwalk. For locals, it’s an elevator ride away.
San Antonians are naturally skeptical of outsiders planting roots in their city, but Gendron’s track record suggests he’s capable of creating something real. He built The Riot brand in Houston with its club and comedy festival before expanding outside of his home city. His background in marketing and corporate event organizing translates directly to running a successful club. And he knows comedy: he was a 2019 semi-finalist in the Funniest Comic in Texas competition.
The arrival of new venues in 2025 — first Woodlawn Comedy and now Riot Riverwalk — also signals that San Antonio’s comedy scene is entering a new phase. More venues mean more opportunities for local talent, more reasons for touring acts to route through town and more reason to take the city’s homegrown comics seriously.
The Maverick’s basement appears integral to that by offering comics a place to grind seven nights a week. They’re showing up, they’re laughing and the Riot is growing, Gendron said.
“I hope more and more San Antonians will meet up with the many visitors to our beautiful and fun city for a great night on the town,” he added.
Find more arts coverage every day at sacurrent.com
Courtesy Photo Riverwalk Riot
11. The winner earns the title, a cash prize and a spot on The Riot Comedy Festival in Houston in April.
Reclaiming Innocence
Deborah S. Esquenazi continues to seek justice in documentary Night in West Texas
BY KIKO MARTINEZ
The first time that Allison Clayton, deputy director of the Innocence Project of Texas (IPTX), heard about the murder case that sent Odessa native James Reyos to prison, she immediately knew he wasn’t guilty.
“James had been railroaded by the system for a variety of reasons,” Clayton told the Current during a recent interview. “I was afraid we weren’t going to be able to do anything for him because we have a court system that is becoming more and more hostile to claims of actual innocence.”
In 1983, Reyos — a gay Apache man — was convicted of killing Father Patrick Ryan, a closeted Catholic priest, in a motel room in Odessa. Although Reyos had an airtight alibi, and there was no physical evidence tying him to the crime, he was sentenced to 38 years in prison.
Clayton said to get Reyos fully exonerated, she needed help from a “heavy-hitting journalist” who could expose the cracks in the original investigation. She turned to filmmaker Deborah S. Esquenazi, who had made the award-winning 2016 documentary Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four, which brought national attention to four queer Latinas wrongly convicted of sexual assault.
“I am of the belief that you have to get publicity in these cases to move the needle,” Clayton said. “It shouldn’t be that way. It should be about the law, but it’s not. Our reality is that it’s about public opinion.”
During an interview with Esquenazi, we discussed her new documentary, Night in West Texas, about Reyos’ case, and why she felt compelled to tell his story. Visit nightinwesttexas. com for a list of upcoming screenings, including one at the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth on Dec. 18.
What resonated with you about James’ story?
James’ story was hard to accept. It was remarkable in terms of a man who was framed for what happened when he wasn’t even in the state. And then, of course, with my work, I’m always interested in the complexities of
what it means to be queer, especially in the 1980s, and how that might have impacted his trial.
How did you keep all the themes you confront in the film — from sexuality to systematic prejudice — from overshadowing one another?
It’s sort of a two-pronged reality. It’s how I live my life as a documentarian. There are no easy villains and no easy heroes. I think it’s important to be a listener. That’s my job. Then, during editing, it’s about massaging and finessing [the film], so it feels balanced. If we’re trying to reflect any essence of truth, whatever that might mean for somebody, the nuance is critical.
Did you collaborate with consultants during production to ensure you weren’t being exploitative in any way?
In terms of forensics and criminology, we worked with the Center for Homicide Research. After we finished an early cut of the film, we sent it to different indigenous tribes to make sure we were hitting the notes without any exploitation. In terms of queerness, I took that up myself because I am queer, and I feel comfortable speaking on that. Then, we had Allison, who understands the law. And, of course, we had James, who was the biggest source of all. If I had any questions about identity, I just asked him.
What kind of reforms would you like to see happen because of James’ case?
Well, right now, the thing I am really hanging my head about is the shift of the court system towards the right. So, I want the
issue of innocence to be a bipartisan issue in Texas. It was for a long time, [but] that part is slipping. That is worrying me more than anything because if we have a system that wrongfully convicts people, we have to have a system that also rectifies and apologizes. I would rather we get it right 100% of the time.
Are you still in contact with the San Antonio Four?
Yeah, Anna Vasquez is actually working at the Innocence Project of Texas. So that’s remarkable. Elizabeth Ramirez came to James’ hearing. We all went to San Antonio together to meet with the San Antonio Four and did some advocacy for James. So, we check in occasionally. I’m delighted that they’re doing so great.
screens
Find more film stories at sacurrent.com
Courtesy Image Night in West Texas
Named Best Cocktail Bar Two Years in a Row! Cheers, San Antonio!
Isidore
Triumphant Trio
Inside San Antonio’s
three Michelin-starred restaurants
BY KAT STINSON
San Antonio restaurants shone brightly at 2025’s Texas Michelin Guide awards, earning more new stars than any other city in the state.
In only the second year the French company has produced a Texas guidebook, Alamo City dining spots Isidore, Mixtli and Nicosi have all won coveted stars. Notably, it was the second win for Mixtli, the sole SA star-winning restaurant in the state’s debut guide.
To earn that designation, restaurants must deliver on world-class food and hospitality, but how they achieve their special success differs. Let’s take look inside each of these three notable San Antonio establishments.
True to its namesake, the Catholic patron saint of farmers, the flagship steakhouse at the Pearl’s Pullman market trades fine-dining fuss for clean plates and quality Texas beef, trusting the meat’s deep, elemental flavor to carry the story.
But Isidore chef de cuisine Ian Lanphear takes that devotion to Texas bounty well beyond the steaks. While the cuts remain the headliners, Lanphear’s foraging instincts fuel a rotation of seasonal starters and small plates that spotlight the state’s often-overlooked vegetable scene: embered beets with pecan butter, smoked turnips enriched with Texas green tea and dashi butter, and a popcorn chicken dish that leaves guests wanting more. In its own way, Isidore isn’t just rethinking what a Texas steakhouse can be — it’s making vegetables every bit as irresistible as dessert.
Set inside a restored section of the old Samuels Glass Factory — the industrial footprint that Emmer & Rye Hospitality transformed into the Pullman Market — Isidore feels more like dinner at a friend’s home than the precursor to a
Michelin-star pedigree. Its open kitchen, rustic wood shelving lined with understated Texas-inspired curios, and sunlit dining room create easy warmth that disarms guests the moment they walk in.
The hospitality seals it, however. Wine director Ali Schmidt and sommelier Sarah Bacinich guide pairings with finesse, while bartender Campbell Dobbs turns out thoughtful, quietly brilliant cocktails behind the elegant bar.
The building’s history is still on display through wide glass windows, but the Isidore team keeps diners rooted firmly in the present with attentive service, a sharp wine program and some of the best steaks in San Antonio. Occasionally, Emmer & Rye Hospitality co-founder and chef Kevin Fink lends a hand in the kitchen, but like his colleague and fellow Michelin-star recipient Tavel Bristol-Joseph, he steps back, allowing the Isidore team to take their well-deserved spotlight.
Mixtli
812 S. Alamo St., Suite 103, (210) 338-0746, restaurantmixtli.com.
Widely regarded as San Antonio’s premier upscale Mexican dining experience, Mixtli — or
Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com
Courtesy Photo Robert Lerma for Isidore
food
“cloud” in the Aztec language of Nahuatl — has remained steadfast in its vision since opening in a 12-seat boxcar in 2013. Though the restaurant has since relocated to a larger yet still intimate space in Southtown, its commitment to charting the culinary pathways of Mexican history remains unchanged. Each seasonal menu continues to serve as a thoughtful exploration of regional traditions, ingredients, and stories — a mission that has defined Mixtli from the very beginning.
Chef-founders Diego Galicia and Rico Torres emphasize that Mixtli is and always will be a true team effort. That ethos is on full display in the restaurant’s dining room, where the open kitchen invites guests to watch the chefs, particularly incredible chef de cuisine Alexana Cabrera, at work. Each course is presented by a member of the Mixtli team, creating a sense of shared storytelling, while Mexican wines selected by Michelin-starred sommelier Hailey Pruitt elevate the experience even further.
And before the meal even begins, it’s mandatory to enjoy a drink at the Bar at Mixtli, where Michelin-starred bar manager Lauren Beckman, who, along with Pruitt, earned the first-ever Texas Michelin Guide star for service in 2024, crafts cocktails that feel like pure artistry and a little bit of magic. These aren’t your standard syrupy, boozy drinks, they’re thoughtful, transportive creations that set the tone for the night.
Actor John Leguizamo, who visited Mixtli for an episode of his series Leguizamo Does America, referred to Mexican food as the center of cuisine itself. If there’s one place that embodies that idea, it’s Mixtli — San Antonio’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.
San Antonio’s three Michelin Star winners weren’t the city’s only restaurants highlighted in the latest guidebook. A dozen others also received “Recommended” or “Bib Gourmand” designations, highlighting standout dining experiences that are affordable and accessible just below the star level.
Michelin Recommended List:
Leche de Tigre 318 E. Cevallos St., (210) 265-5933, lechedetigretx.com.
Nicosi
221 Newell Ave., (210) 759-0088, nicosisatx.com.
Nicosi may share a roof with Isidore and the same Emmer & Rye Hospitality pedigree, but the experience is worlds apart from its steakhouse counterpart. Named for founding pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph’s middle name, Nicosi delivers an eight-course, dessert-only fine-dining journey inside an intimate 20-seat space that feels almost like a black box theater. Every course is a small act of surprise and precision.
With the stage set, Nicosi asks guests to put their phones away and fully im-
2M Smokehouse
2731 S. WW White Road, (210) 885-9352, 2msmokehouse.com.
Signature Restaurant
16401 La Cantera Parkway, (210) 8793515, signaturerestaurant.com.
Little Em’s Oyster Bar 1024 S. Alamo St., (210) 257-0100, littleemsoysterbar.com.
merse themselves in the experience. The culinary team guides diners through a journey of four key “acts” — savory, sweet, bitter and acid — inviting them to leave both their reservations and preconceived notions about dessert at the door. Here, each course is a performance, and every bite challenges what you thought a dessert could be.
The experience is further elevated with optional alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink pairings. With phones tucked away, it’s easier to connect with fellow diners, all while staying rapt as the Nicosi team explains the thought and technique behind each dish. Adding
Barbecue Station
1610 NE Interstate 410 Loop, (210) 8249191, barbecuestation.com.
The Jerk Shack 10234 TX-151 Suite 103, (210) 776-7780, thejerkshacksatx.com.
Nicosi
to the intrigue, each seasonal menu is kept completely under wraps — there’s no menu online, only a sense of mystery and anticipation.
Questions are answered only when diners step through the humble door to the right of Isidore, ready to be part of this singular culinary performance. Bristol-Joseph himself embodies the spirit of Nicosi, sophisticated, precise, yet always ready to surprise with a playful twist. Like his fellow Emmer & Rye Hospitality co-founder Fink, Bristol-Joseph often takes a step back during each Nicosi experience, letting his skilled team take the spotlight.
Ladino
200 E. Grayson St. #100, (210) 325-6007, ladinosatx.com.
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery 136 E Grayson St., Suite 120, (210) 4555701, southerleighatpearl.com.
Courtesy Photo Robert Lerma for Nicosi
U
N 2:1
This holiday season, your generosity can go even further to nourish hope for families across Southwest Texas. Thanks to the incredible support of longtime San Antonio Spurs legend and hunger relief advocate Tim Duncan, every dollar you give will be tripled, turning $1 into 21 nutritious meals for neighbors in need.
As a social enterprise of the San Antonio Food Bank, Catalyst Catering offers catering services and venues for a cause.
Order your holiday meal from our kitchen! Each meal ordered supports the Food Bank’s efforts to fight hunger and feed hope across our community.
Food used for catering services is procured separately from donated food product.
food Global Eats
For being a ‘Tex-Mex town,’ San Antonio’s food scene covers myriad cultures
BY RON BECHTOL
In the beginning there was TexMex. And it was good.
At least that’s the narrative forged in the cauldrons of San Antonio’s Chili Queens in the late 19th century and expanded over the years in hundreds of street corner restaurants and bakeries blending the rustic cuisine of Northern Mexico with the cultural influences of a newly settled Texas.
Tex-Mex cooking survives and even thrives in 21st-century San Antonio, but new culinary stars are emerging to share the spotlight — thanks in no small part to military veterans returning from global wars. Korean, Thai, Japanese. And Asian options are just the tip of the iceberg.
Here’s a sample of the many global cuisines that contribute to the new cauldron of cultures in the Alamo City.
Chinese
The first of China’s myriad cuisines to reach American shores was Cantonese. But the second wave brought the spicy-numbing foods of Szechuan/ Sichuan and neighboring provinces. Dashi Chinese Kitchen & Bar was among the best of the bunch but recently closed. Fortunately, sister restaurant Sichuan House (3505 Wurzbach Road, Suite 102, (210) 509-9999, sichuaneats.com) is more than just a backup, and many dishes are similar or the same. It’s hard to go wrong with Cucumber Smash’d or Garlicky Cold Noodles, for example — and Sweet-but-Spicy Peanuts make for good bedfellows. Then move on to Sichuan Quacker, the restaurant’s chopped duck dish, and by all means have the gingery and justly Famous Green Beans. Finally, don’t sleep on the Twice as Nice Pork Belly with garlic leeks.
Though Gansu Province touches on Sichuan, its cuisine, a major influence on the menu at Mian Noodles and Dumplings (19141 Stone Oak Parkway,
Ladino
(210) 267-1711, miannoodlesdumplings. com), might as well come from a different universe. As the name suggests, the call here is both hand-pulled noodles — the soupy Lanzhou Noodles stand out — and house-made dumplings such as the Pork and Scallion. Spices aren’t numbing in the Sichuan manner, but there are still surprises. Try the Spicy Bean Curd Salad for a take on soybeans you have likely never experienced.
Indian
Much of the diaspora driving San Antonio’s Indian cuisine is associated with the medical community. Makes sense that the Medical Center serves as a magnet for places such as Biriyani Pot (9386 Huebner Road, Suite 109, (210) 561-8874, biryanipotusa.com) and its elaborate rice dishes.
Hyderabadi Spicy Matka (7080 Bandera Road, (210) 600-3338, hsm-sanantonio.com) can be bustling in something of a Bollywood manner, but the food is worth every decibel. My advice here is to throw caution to the wind and go for the most unfamiliar dishes such as the puffed rice Bombay Bhel or the incendiary Mirakapaya Bajji, or stuffed green chilies. The Gongura Biriyani is spicy and floral with hibiscus leaf accents. The impossibly thin pancakes called dosa may be more familiar to diners, but they’re worth ordering to savor the contrasting tastes and textures.
Japanese
Sushi has gained an increasing audience in San Antonio since the pioneering days of Niki’s Tokyo Inn on Hildebrand. A contender for the crown these days is
Shiro Japanese Bistro (107 W. Jones Ave., (210) 585-1863, shirossan.com) near the San Antonio Museum of Art. Caviar and truffles tend to get thrown around, but if you stick to the traditional nori-rolled maki and seafood-draped nigiri, it’s hard to go wrong. One or more of the specialty rolls with “real crab” — the Toroshiro also features soft shell crab and spicy tuna — wouldn’t be remiss, either. Among the cooked options, the charcoal-seared hamachi might catch your eye. And whatever the order, enjoy some chilled sake as well.
Korean
Some of the best Korean in the city hangs out in the least pretentious places. Han Il Garden (4415 Rittiman Road, (210) 590-8889, instagram.com/hanilgardensa),
Courtesy Photo Ladino
is a mom-and-pop place where the kids once did duty as servers, but Mom now runs it by herself. It epitomizes the genre, and it also stands out for perhaps the best banchan — or side dishes — in town. The Beef Bulgogi and Bi Bim Bap aren’t shabby, either. But considering that this is a one-woman show, call ahead to see if she’s amenable.
Restaurants associated with Asian grocery stores are a good bet too. A current favorite is the bustling Korean Market (6210 Fairdale Drive, Suite 1, (210) 646-7005). Beyond being my go-to spot for kimchee, it boasts a café in the back that’s part of the whole scene. The dining spot was once presided over by Korean grannies who delighted in telling the uninitiated what to order. Even without their help, the Kimchee Pancake is worth investigation, and there’s a killer Kimchee Soup with tofu and pork. Beef Bulgogi is probably better at Han Il, though.
Thai
Having wearied of conventional Chinese restaurant food, many of us became enthralled with Thai cuisine. It had everything: sweet and sour, coconut cool and chili heat. In time, other types of dining took hold, but it’s always a pleasure to return to Thailand. A still-good stalwart of the old days is Thai Dee (5307 Blanco Road, (210) 342-3622, instagram.com/thaideesa). Crab Rangoon always gets a pass from me, but I can easily be had by a colorful summer roll or a brimming bowl of Tom Kha soup. Green papaya salad is a must too. And then there’s green curry over crisp rice noodles or, better yet, with eggplant and basil. Feeling flush? Give the grilled ribeye Tiger Cry a run, but adjust the spice level or both you and the big cat will be crying. Another worthy contender is Thai Curry (8210 Broadway, Suite 1, (210) 888-1155, thaicurrysa.com). Check out the Thai Larb with ground chicken, the pumpkin curry and the tamarind-sauced stir fry available with the meat of your choice.
French
San Antonio has a thin, but lengthy history of French cooking. Today’s exponents are more sophisticated. That French renaissance started with chef Damian Watel in a place just off the Olmos Circle. Now at Bistr09 (6106 Broadway, (210) 245-8156, bistr09.com), Watel con-
tinues to turn out classic cuisine done the right way. It’s always a joy to go there for the hearty country paté or a half-dozen garlic-scented escargots. Watel’s way with fish makes sautéed flounder a must, though the duck confit is equally excellent. For dessert? A perfect chocolate mousse, bien sûr.
A more opulent option is the Pearl’s Brasserie Mon Chou Chou (312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Suite 2104, brasseriemonchouchou.com) where the must-order is the sandwich au fromage raclette, a voluptuous vehicle for melty cheese only the French could pull off. Consider, too, the lobster bisque crowned by puff pastry, the seared bavette steak with frites and, as a side, the plate of green lentils with garlic sausage. Even more rarefied is the French-inspired cuisine being turned out at 25-seat Petit Coquin (1012 S. Presa St., petitcoquinsa.com). The prix fixe menu lists only two options for each course, but the wine list is vast and quirky.
Italian
There are plenty of decent Italian and Italian-American — its own genre, really — restaurants in town, but few stand out. One that combines both ambitious food and a warm, inviting atmosphere is family-run Mare e Monte (9390 Huebner Road, (210) 267-1233, mareemonte.com). Here, the often-tired trope that is calamari fritti is actually worth ordering, as are the breaded asparagus fries. A garlicky black pasta might be on your radar, along with
gnocchi carbonara. Yes, there are meatballs, but you are forgiven if you also order the creamy seafood risotto. Do we consider that pizza, as interpreted in America, is still Italian? Maybe if made with traditional care in a domed, wood-fired oven as at Il Forno (122 Nogalitos St., (726) 444-0744, ilfornosa. com). The classic Margherita is always a good test, and with its emphasis on crust — and just the right amount of sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil — it passes with flying Italian-flag colors. Things Found Underground, which includes potato, garlic, leek and fontina, might raise an eyebrow in Italy, but from Il Forno the combo seems almost expected.
Mediterranean
The best of the ambiguously defined “Mediterranean” category is to be found at Pearl’s Ladino (200 E. Grayson St., Suite 100, (210) 325-6007, ladinosatx.com). Chef Berty Richter’s focus may be Israeli, but the entire eastern end of the sea in question is represented in all its multi-ethnic glory. His hummus alone, served with fried eggplant, will change the way you look at the dip, as will the puffy, not-flat breads that seem to keep coming. A kofta of beef and lamb with sour pepper salad is meltingly good, and so are the Zucchini Fritters with feta and a spicy tzatziki. Among the larger plates, the Mushroom Schwarma with peanut salsa excels, and Saffron Chicken elevates the ubiquitous fowl to a place of prominence.
South American
Yes, almost every South American nation is represented in San Antonio, but if forced to choose, Peruvian Leche de Tigre (318 E. Cevallos St., (210) 2655933, lechedetigretx.com) would be my pick. (The recent Texas Michelin Guide thought so, too.) The three brothers who run the eatery call it a cebicheria and pisco bar with an “authentic Peruvian essence,” and ceviches such as the Clasico with amberjack and sweet potato, and the Nikkei with yellowfin tuna and tamarind ponzu certainly verify the claim. Non-pescatarian possibilities such as the Chaufa — fried rice with pork belly, Chinese sausage and egg — illuminate the other side of Asian-inflected Peruvian cuisine. Pisco inspires many of the creative cocktails. Give one a try.
For a Caribbean slant, look to Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Grill y Tapas (910 S. Alamo St., (210) 314-2723, lunarosatapas.com) in King William. The Empanadita de Carne, Puerto Rican-style pernil, or roast pork, and the ever-appealing Ropa Vieja of slow-cooked shredded beef all stand out — as do plantains in any style. In the end, it all comes around. Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines are lately being influenced by global flavors — think Korean-inflected tacos — and vice-versa. San Antonio should be well placed to participate in the new Mexican revolution. Maybe German, one of the city’s original food cultures, will eventually come around too.
ron-bechtol
Leche de Tigre
food Northwest Noshing
Boerne restauranteurs branch out for new dining experiences
BY TRAVIS E. POLING
The northwest bedroom community of Boerne is a strollable town.
And while the city is trying to keep up with a population that’s close to doubled over the last decade — and traffic along with it — the reputation of its downtown is growing with tourists as a place of charm, quaint shops and plenty of good eating.
One sign the Hill Country destination has a thriving food scene is that owners and chefs of already successful establishments are investing in new concepts in their hometown instead of eyeing expansion to San Antonio or another large city.
“For a perfect day in Boerne, start with a to-go breakfast and enjoy some of our outdoor amenities,” Ty Wolosin, co-owner of three local hot spots and a Boerne councilman, told the Current. “Visit the stores and after lunch do the hops to the breweries. Have dinner and then stay at one of our downtown inns.”
If not staying the night, he urged visitors to consider taking out the stress and restraint by using a ride-share service from San Antonio to Boerne and back. Most of the non-chain restaurants, bars, shops and parks are concentrated downtown or along a one-mile, walkable stretch.
Frequent visitors have their favorites, but here’s is a sampling of some new additions to the dining and drinking scene, including three pizza joints along Main Street.
Sunny’s All-Day Brunch & Bar (518 River Road, Boerne, (830) 266-0498, sunnysbrunch.com) is getting a lot of buzz, especially with locals, who can fill up the inside and outdoor seating across from River Road Park along Cibolo Creek even in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon. Owner Albi Zogaj is a Boerne
resident and wanted a brunch spot to enjoy close to home before heading into San Antonio, where he operates locations of Italian restaurant Albi’s Vite in both Leon Springs and Leon Valley. Sunny’s menu features eight sweet and savory crepes with fillings. Birria-style shredded beef and brunch potatoes show up in the Brunch Cowboy, smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese star in the Holy Smokes and crushed Oreos with vanilla mascarpone cream sweeten the Crème de la Crème. There are plenty of pancake, French toast and egg dishes for the breakfast-anytime crowd along with inventive salads and entrées for those preferring a lunch or dinner vibe.
The main feature of the bar for Sunny’s diners all day is the mimosa, and an impressive mimosa tower for $65 takes care of the brunch party.
Chef Jason Dady brings the legacy of his Tre Trattoria, a San Antonio favorite since 2007, to Boerne with Tre Pizzeria (103 N. Main St., Boerne, (830) 331-2227, tre-pizzeria.com) in the heart of town. Rustic flatbreads include an Italian meatball specialty with wild mushrooms; Pizza Bianca with fire-roasted red peppers, pesto and parmesan cream; and soppressata with pepperoncini. Pastas include Tuscan radiatore bolognese and roasted chicken orecchiette.
Tucked out back of Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. is Offline BBQ (448 S. Main St.,
Pizza Volterra (605 S. Main St., Boerne, (830) 483-8302, pizzavolterra.com) offers another take on Tuscan pie. It’s an opento-the-public business on the same property as The Oak, a members-only club. Crust from slow-fermented dough is topped with an enticing list of ingredients including prosciutto and fig, porcini mushrooms with truffle burrata and the Carne Diem pie loaded up with pepperoni, sweet-fennel wagyu sausage, prosciutto, pancetta, roasted onion and provolone. The pizzeria also is putting together a fleet of vintage-style Italian-made Fiats for a distinctive delivery service.
Unit B, Boerne, (830) 507-3520, instagram. com/offlinebbq) a little smoke shack putting out big flavors — but on weekends only. Offline is the newest concept for the Mazour and Wolosin families, who also own and operate Cibolo Creek and the throwback burger joint and brewery Hamby’s, both on Main Street. Offline pitmaster Chris Brown serves up brisket, barbacoa, short ribs, pork belly burnt ends and the occasional dino rib from a 500-gallon offset smoker. Instead of white bread and dill pickles, the meats are served up with a twist that includes three flour tortillas, pickled jalapeños and onions, a piquant “pickle de gallo” and Lazer sauce.
Pinchy’s Lobster & Raw Bar (250 River Road, Boerne, (830) 331-4133, pinchyslobsterandbeer.com) is the chain’s third location with the first two being in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. There’s plenty of outdoor dining space and a robust live-music calendar. With the exception of a variety of sushi rolls, the menu has a coastal New England vibe, showcasing raw oysters, lobster tails and towers of food. The biggest of those towers, dubbed the Bloody Kraken, is a wonder of oysters, mussels, shrimp, lobster tail, snow crab sliders, sausage and chicken wings. The “bloody” in this Friday-through-Sunday-only dish comes from the additional of a michelada.
On a more isolated end of Main Street, the owners of 28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen are teaming up with Zach Disch, who ran Z’s Pizza for eight years, to open Carmela’s Pizza Parlor (110 N. Market Ave., Boerne) next door. “We wanted it to be a very different vibe than this,” said co-owner Don Kretz, gesturing to the brewpub. The finer details of the Carmela’s concept is still in the works, he added, as is the go-ahead from the city to start working on the space. Kretz is from a household of four generations of Sicilians, and the restaurant will pay homage to that.
Boerne Epicure Gourmet Delicatessen (111 Staffel St, Boerne, (830) 331-8170, instagram.com/boerneepicuredeli), once inside the Boerne Epicure Gourmet Market, moved off Main Street to a larger location, where the owners added a breakfast service alongside its robust lineup of thick deli sandwiches. They also changed things up with daily specials for breakfast and lunch and actively update the latest offerings on Facebook.
Restaurants that have been around a while are benefitting from increased tourism and population with homegrown concepts such as Cypress Grill (170 S. Main St., Boerne, (830) 248-1353, cypressgrilletx.com) doing a makeover and Hamby’s (437 S. Main St., Boerne, (830) 816-5620, instagram.com/ hambysboerne) expanding its indoor dining area.
One notable closure is Peggy’s on the Green, a dining experience featuring Southern comfort-food concept from San Antonio’s king of steak Mark Bohanan of Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood. According to the website for Peggy’s, Nov. 30 is the last day for the restaurant inside the Kendall Inn.
Travis E. Poling
food
Holiday Cheer
Dulce returns to the DoSeum with ‘Sugar, Spice & Holiday Spirits’ celebration
BY KAT STINSON
Sweet-toothed Christmas lovers, rejoice.
Dulce — the Current-sponsored holiday event celebrating all things sugary and spirited — is returning to the DoSeum on Friday, Dec. 12, bringing a fresh “Sugar, Spice & Holiday Spirits” theme to this year’s festivities.
The DoSeum will transform into a winter wonderland with local food and drink vendors offering fun bites and beverages that match the theme. The gathering will run 8-11 p.m. with VIP entry at 7 p.m. Ugly sweaters and over-the-top
RESTAURANT LISTINGS
AMERICAN
Anacacho Coffee & Cantina A fresh face in San Antonio’s dining scene, Anacacho Coffee & Cantina marks the newest venture from James Beard Award-nominated chef Leo Davila. Set in the St. Anthony Hotel, the space marries elegant Texas ranch aesthetics with Davila’s inventive takes on beloved Asian and Texas dishes. 300 E. Travis St., (210) 227-4392, anacachocoffeecantina.com.
Cullum's Attaboy Once a classic brunch-only diner, Cullum’s Attaboy has expanded to include a dinner menu while maintaining its commitment to stellar service and top-tier ingredients such as caviar, which makes any brunch better. The menu may be streamlined, but Cullum’s provides an elevated experience all around. 111 Kings Court, (726) 229-7301, cullumsattaboy.com.
DelliGatti's Sandwich Shop Another San Antonio classic that’s exactly what it
claims to be, this spot serves up affordable, generous hot and cold sandwiches, hearty salad sandwiches, comforting soups and family-style rotating specials including pot roast and roasted breaded chicken. 13465 Wetmore Road, (210) 4943801, delligattissandwichshop.com.
The Dogfather At The Dogfather, every hot dog is an offer you can’t refuse. Locals love the endless flavor combos, creative toppings, focus on house-made ingredients and casual vibe, which allows the hot dogs to take center stage. 6211 San Pedro Ave., (210) 481-4272, sadogfather.com.
Embers Wood Fired Restaurants For a touchdown food feeling on a low budget, Embers Wood Fired Restaurants offers a winning play. Think flame-kissed steaks, pizzas and burgers augmented by 50-plus draft beers — all served in a relaxed, game-day-friendly atmosphere. Multiple locations, emberssa.com.
Full Goods Diner True to its name, this Pearl favorite has been a reliable go-to for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Enjoy pastries, classic breakfast entrees, savory options such the El Cubano sandwich and the famous Paper-
For those who procrastinated on holiday shopping, Dulce’s winter marketplace filled with local vendors will offer a fun way to support small businesses and score one-of-a-kind gifts. Participating artisans include Trinket Amor, Garcia Art Glass, Happy Mama Designs, Kalianas Boutique and many more.
Guests can also snack their way through offerings from an array of local restaurants and bars. This year’s sweet-and-savory lineup includes Tu Asador, Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, Sugar Clouds Cotton Candy, the Culinary Institute of America, Brevity Coffee Co. and additional partners yet to be announced.
Christmas costumes aren’t required, but they’re highly encouraged — and they might pay off. The best-dressed guest will take home a $500 cash prize.
boy pancake, a tribute to the founders’ eponymous Austin restaurant. 200 E. Grayson St., (210) 201-3665, fullgoodsdiner.com.
Gold Feather Chicken truly takes flight at this reliable dining favorite. From saucy wings to chicken and waffles along with sides such as loaded fries, mac and cheese, queso and more, there’s something for everyone. 834 NW Loop 410, Suite 106, (210) 342-2473, goldfeatherbb.com.
Muck & Fuss Craft Beer and Burgers Set in the heart of downtown New Braunfels, Muck & Fuss pays playful tribute to founders Terry and Celina Muckenfuss. It’s become a beloved local hangout, serving classic American bites, burgers and craft beers with a dog-friendly patio and a side of live music. 295 E. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, (830) 255-7055, muckandfuss.com.
Pür & Simple Cozy, charming, and full of flavor, Pür & Simple’s first San Antonio location on U.S. Highway 281 serves up avocado toast, pancake stacks, coffee and an array of hearty brunch and lunch favorites at an affordable price. 20821 U.S. Highway 281 North, (210) 999-5054, pursimple.com.
Tickets are available in multiple tiers online, with general admission priced at $65 and VIP admission at $100. VIP perks include early entry at 7 p.m., a commemorative Dulce mug and complimentary valet parking.
This Pearl staple showcases coastal cuisine that fuses chef Jeff Balfour’s Galveston roots with his love for San Antonio. Highlights include the restaurant’s famous snapper throats, crab bisque, chef-curated oysters and inventive cocktails, making it an elegant yet approachable spot for visitors seeking a fun and sophisticated dining experience in a historic space. 136 E Grayson St., Ste. 120, (210) 455-5701, southerleighatpearl.com.
Wayne's Wings Beyond the award-winning wings in its name, depend on this homegrown chain for delectable chicken and waffles, Philly cheesesteaks and all the chicken-forward comfort food your cravings can handle. Multiple locations, wayneswingssa.com.
ASIAN
Duck & Dumpling
This gem celebrates the humble dumpling in every form — steamed, boiled, pan-fried and spicy-sour — all while adding creative spins on other Chinese classics. From noodle soups to fried rice and wontons, it’s a delicious stop for lunch or dinner. 3003 Thousand Oaks Drive, (210) 255-1611, duckndumplingtx.com.
Jaime Monzon
food
Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market & Bakery This popular North Side spot cooks up flavorful Filipino cuisine in addition to selling home goods and pantry staples. The all-day Sari-Sari Special is a good intro for novices, since you get to try a little of everything. 5700 Wurzbach Road, (210) 426-8660, sari-sari-satx.com.
Tarka Indian Kitchen This Texas-based chain serves up counter-service Indian food that’s fresh, flavorful and spicy as you want it to be. Tarka is an approachable way to sample the delicious and varied food of the subcontinent. Multiple locations, tarkaindiankitchen.com.
Tasty Modern Asian Kitchen This relative newcomer offers a passport to the flavors of China and beyond. The dim sum and roast duck are exceptional, but you’ll also find formidable takes on standbys such as General Tso’s chicken and kung pao shrimp. 9502 I-10, (210)888-1190, tastymodernasiankitchen.com.
Thai Bird With spots in Make Ready Market and Alamo Heights, James Beard Award nominee David Gilbert excels at elevated Thai street food. Check out the gluten-free Asian fried chicken and the smartly curated wine list. Multiple locations, thaibirdrestaurant.com.
BARBECUE
2M Smokehouse A triumph of sheer determination, 2M Smokehouse was built from the ground up by pitmaster Esaul Ramos, his wife Grecia and original co-founder Joe Melig IV. Though Melig has since gone on to run Castroville BBQ Co., the Ramos’ dedication to classic barbecue enriched with Mexican flavors remains unmistakable. Little surprise this spot has racked up two James Beard Award nominations. 2731 S. WW White Road, (210) 885-9352, 2msmokehouse.com.
Barbecue Station This humble 33-year-old pit stop — once an actual gas station — has become a landmark of San Antonio’s barbecue scene. It serves all the classics you’d expect, including brisket, pork, turkey and traditional sides, in a down-home dining room adorned with memorabilia. 1610 NE Loop 410, (210) 824-9191, barbecuestation.com. El Monte BBQ Le Cordon Bleu training meets South Texas smoke at El Monte BBQ. The classically trained proprietor has been serving up brisket and
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
all the fixings on Bandera (plus barbacoa on Sundays) since 2017, proving that fine dining skills and barbecue smokers can mix. 6526 Bandera Road, Suite 4, (210) 267-1356, elmontebbqsatx.com.
Reese Bros BBQ This no-frills joint lets the smoked meats do all the talking. Brothers Nick and Elliott Reese cut their teeth at other pit stops before launching this tribute to classic Central Texas ’cue with bold Mexican touches. Think homemade flour tortillas, scratch-made salsas and poblano mac and cheese in an open-air venue. 906 Hoefgen Ave., (512) 925-9205, reesebrosbbq.com.
BARS AND TAVERNS
Breakaway Brewing Co. Veteran-owned Breakaway Brewing pays true homage to its founders’ Pacific Northwest roots while staying firmly grounded in its Government Hill home. You’ll find hearty brews, juicy burgers and the kind of convivial atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming. 1518 E. Grayson St., (210) 255-1149, breakawaybrewing.us.
Copa Wine Bar As one of San Antonio’s oldest wine bars, Copa embraces a simple-is-best philosophy: walls stacked with wine, unfussy fresh tapas, bold red and white sangrias and the kind of down-home hospitality owner Jeff Bridges is known for. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? 19141 Stone Oak Parkway, (210) 495-2672, thecopawinebar.com.
Finnegan’s Sports & Spirits A beloved sports bar since 1997, this Irish-
is great for date nights or for cocktail lovers craving a little extra ambience with tipples. 295 E. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, (830) 255-7432, sidecarnb.com.
BAKERIES, COFFEE AND DESSERTS
Cakes by Felicia Certified cake boss Felicia Miranda took a tough moment and baked it into something beautiful with Cakes by Felicia. With scratchmade cakes, cupcakes, pastries, cookies and plenty more, she has every sweet option to make any celebration unforgettable. 1526 E. Grayson St., (210)-2514623, cakesbyfelicia.com.
style gathering place offers ice-cold beer, big-screen sports, drink specials and a lively yet welcoming atmosphere. 16260 San Pedro Ave., (210) 495-4717, finneganssatx.com.
Indulge Wine Bar It’s no surprise that Indulge Wine Bar, connected to an interior design firm, exudes soft elegance in its Boerne hideaway. From its extensive wine list — Italian and French reds, whites, champagne and rosés — to craft cocktails and tapas-style bites, every detail is thoughtfully curated. 21 Truss Drive, Boerne, (830) 336-4727, indulgetx.com.
Longtab Brewing Co. This veteran-owned brewery, coffee shop and restaurant is dedicated to the legacy of the Green Berets. Each beer honors Special Forces history and supports charities for fallen soldiers. 4700 Timco West, Suite 105, (210) 946-4766, longtabbrewing.com.
Maverick Distilling Maverick Whiskey crafts award-winning whiskeys, gins, bourbons and rums from inside a historic downtown bank building. Legend has it that Sam Maverick once left a jug of whiskey for his fallen Alamo comrades. Today, guests are invited to share in that legacy while sampling San Antonio-distilled spirits. 115 Broadway, (210) 447-7010, maverickwhiskey.com.
Sidecar Tucked beneath the Prince Solms Inn, this classy, vintage speakeasy is a perfect New Braunfels hideaway, complete with atmospheric lighting and live music on select nights. Sidecar
Chocolatl Named the Texas Culinary Association’s Best Pastry Chef of 2024, Alessia Benavides now showcases her Le Cordon Bleu-honed skills at her own Stone Oak-area chocolate shop. Offering artisan chocolate bars, bonbons, dragées and specialty items, Chocolatl also hosts in-person and online classes for those looking to refine their own confectionary skills. 18720 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 105, chefalessb.com.
Cosmic Cakery This shop delivers on its whimsical name with imaginative custom cakes for all occasions. Woman-owned and operated, the business also specializes in custom wedding cakes, cupcakes and cake pops. 150 W Olmos. Drive, (210) 387-2305, cosmiccakery.com.
Hearthstone Bakery Cafe Comfort at this dining spot comes wrapped in a sandwich. From breakfast croissant sandos to hearty lunches with soups, salads and gourmet creations, it’s an ideal spot to start your day cozy and satisfied. 3920 Harry Wurzbach Road, (210) 920-2600, hearthstonebakerycafe.com.
Lily's Cookies Cookie connoisseurs, rejoice. Lily’s Cookies is a one-stop shop for custom cookie treats, classic flavors and all things delicious — a true sweettooth paradise just north of downtown. 2716 McCullough Ave., (210) 832-0886, lilyscookies.com.
Sugar Clouds Cotton Candy This spot proves indulgence can be guilt-free. Made with organic sugar and natural flavors, Sugar Clouds’ cotton candy comes in numerous flavors. The beverage glitter bombs and adult-friendly alcohol-infused options are perfect for
Ron Bechtol
AUTHENTIC NEW ENGLAND SEAFOOD IN THE HEART OF BOERNE
Experience the flavors of the Northeast at Pinchy’s, your local urban seafood shack. Enjoy fresh Maine lobster rolls, an extensive raw bar with oysters and sushi, and all-you-caneat crab legs, all crafted with high-quality, fresh ingredients. Relax with indoor or outdoor seating, soak in the atmosphere, and catch live music while you dine.
10% Off First Responders, Active Duty Military & Veterans. All Day Everyday!
food
weddings and parties. 9330 Corporate Drive, Suite 701, Selma, (210) 800-2738, sugarcloudscottoncandy.com.
Summer Moon Coffee The secret to Summer Moon’s smooth coffee blends? Beans roasted over a fire fueled by Texas oak. The multiple SA locations offer an extensive drink menu full of sweet, flavorful and energizing options perfect for a midday boost. Multiple locations, summermooncoffee.com.
Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe Bonjour from La Cantera! Beyond its namesake crepes, this spot excels at savory French dishes and mimosas while offering a touch of Parisian elegance in every bite. 15900 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 19160, (210) 561-4452, sweetparis.com.
FRENCH AND EUROPEAN
Maverick Texas Brasserie French cuisine gets a Texas twist in this sophisticated Southtown setting. Signature dishes include moules frites, pan-seared duck breast, wood-fired bone-in ribeye and rotating plats du jour. 710 S. St Mary's St., (210) 973-6050, mavericktexas.com.
ITALIAN AND PIZZA
Grimaldi's Pizzeria New York-style pizza meets coal-fired excellence across this locally owned chain’s three locations. Guests can craft their own pies, savor chef-selected specialties, indulge in calzones or bruschetta and toast it all with wines perfectly paired to every slice. Multiple locations, grimaldispizzeria.com.
Tre Trattoria at San Antonio Museum of Art After exploring the museum’s eye candy, Tre Trattoria offers a delicious pause. Chef Jason Dady’s Italian classics — scratch-made pastas, flatbreads and a robust wine list — are best enjoyed on the Riverwalk-view patio. 200 W. Jones Ave., (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org.
LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN
Gloria's Latin Cuisine Although Gloria’s Latin Cuisine began in Dallas in 1986, its San Antonio location brings the same vibrant fusion of Salvadoran and Tex-Mex flavors. Guests can enjoy strong margaritas, live Latin music and an upscale La Cantera-style atmosphere at this popular dining destination. 17623 La
Cantera Pkwy, Suite 103, (210) 451-5412, gloriascuisine.com.
The Jerk Shack Chef Nicola Blaque serves up a vibrant love letter to classic Jamaican cuisine enriched with other Caribbean influences. Standout dishes such as jerk chicken, fried plantains, masala fries and crispy fried chicken honor both her family heritage and her standout culinary abilities. 10234 TX-151, Suite 103, (210) 776-7780, thejerkshacksatx.com.
Real Real Jamaica At Real Real Jamaica, there’s no need for frills — the bold Caribbean flavors do all the talking. From jerk chicken and oxtails to rasta pasta and curried goat, the menu is a heartfelt tribute to the island country’s rich culinary heritage. 6828 San Pedro Ave., (210) 858-3015, real-real-jamaica. menu-world.com.
MEDITERRANEAN
Ladino Chef Berty Richter’s restaurant in the Pearl serves sourdough pita baked fresh in a wood-burning oven along with seasonal hot meze and dips, and the standout entrees such as lamb-belly ribs, Denver steak and pork souvlaki aren’t to be missed. Set in a striking blue-tinged space flooded with natural light, it’s a must-visit destination for date nights. 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 100, (210) 325-6007, ladinosatx.com.
MEXICAN AND TEX-MEX
Acenar Mexican Restaurant For more than twenty years, Acenar Mexican Restaurant has been a San Antonio favorite, serving a colorful mix of authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex fare, set against the beautiful Riverwalk and paired with crowd-pleasing margaritas. 146 E. Houston St., (210) 222-2362, acenar.com.
Garcia's Mexican Food With decades of history and countless plates served to the San Antonio community, it’s no surprise Garcia’s Mexican Food, a family-owned restaurant from the start, earned a spot on the Michelin-recommended list. The menu leans into classic Tex-Mex, but the standout is the signature brisket taco, an iconic bite of San Antonio that lives up to the hype. 842 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 735-5686, garcias-mexican-food.res-menu.com.
La Hacienda de Los Barrios Founded by beloved restaurateur Viola Barrios, La Hacienda has grown into a true culinary landmark. Its menu highlights Barrios’ award-winning recipes, from slowcooked beef cortadillo to vegetarian fajitas and timeless Tex-Mex enchiladas. 18747 Redland Road, (210) 497-8000, lahaciendabarrios.com.
Las Palapas Decades of Tex-Mex goodness make the Las Palapas chain a beloved San Antonio staple. While plenty of restaurants offer fajitas, enchiladas, tacos and huge margaritas, Las Palapas has a deft and dependable hand at turning out the classics Alamo City diners love. Multiple locations, laspalapas.com.
Los Barrios The Barrios family’s original restaurant remains a lively spot known for its comforting TexMex favorites, family gatherings and business lunches. The spot’s legendary puffy tacos are reason enough to visit, and don’t forget to explore the Latin American specialties that augment the menu. 4223 Blanco Road, (210) 732-6017, losbarriosrestaurant.com.
Mezquite With a standout space that’s worth a visit on its own, Mezquite’s menu is a deep dive into Sonoran cuisine, one dish at a time. This isn’t just another TexMex spot but an elevated exploration of interior Mexican flavors. Must-try dishes include the chuleta with Colorado salsa, La Babia Denver-cut steak with dried chili jus and a creative twist on the classic tuna tostada. 221 Newell Ave., (210) 756-7378, mezquitesatx.com.
Rosario's Comidamex & Bar Rosario’s has been a San Antonio favorite since 1992, and its relatively new two-story pink Southtown home only elevates the experience. The Tex-Mex classics and signature margaritas? Still as iconic as ever. 722 S. Saint Mary’s St., (210) 223-1806, rosariossa.com.
Tacos on the Street Bringing 32 years of tradition from Puerto Vallarta, Tacos On The Street serves more than just tacos — it’s a taste of family, community and authentic flavors. The unmissable blue building near TPC Parkway marks the business’ first U.S. location. 22026 N. U.S. Highway 281, Suite 101, (210) 8365986, tacosonthestreet.com.
Tu Asador Mexican Steakhouse A true Mexican steakhouse, Tu Asador (“Your Grill”) serves traditional Norteño carne asada in a welcoming, family-owned setting. Guests can choose the Tabla de Carne Asada or select meats a la carte. Either way, make sure you pair them with a classic tequila-based Mexican cocktail. Multiple locations, tuasadorsatx.com.
Viola's Ventanas The younger sibling of the Los Barrios restaurant family, Violas Ventanas serves casero-style Mexican favorites including fajitas, nachos, enchiladas, flautas, carne guisada and puffy tacos. Don’t forget a frozen margarita — or two — in the vibrant atmosphere of this favorite that retains the family feel of every Los Barrios restaurant. 9660 Westover Hills Blvd., (210) 684-9660, violasventanas.com.
SEAFOOD
Little Em's Oyster Bar This Southtown seafood haunt has built its reputation on standout oysters, a breezy pink-andwhite vibe and a menu stacked with hits including salmon beurre blanc, lobster rolls and fresh fish tacos. 1024 S. Alamo St., (210) 257-0100, littleemsoysterbar.com.
Pinchy's Lobster and Raw Bar Say hello to surf and turf at Pinchy’s in the heart of Boerne. From burgers and lobster rolls to clam chowder and shrimp baskets, this restaurant specializes in fresh, hearty fare in a relaxed indoor-outdoor space. 250 River Road, Boerne, (830) 331-4133, pinchyslobsterandbeer.com.
SA Seafood Craving Cajun-fusion seafood? This San Antonio favorite delivers the classics such as oysters and fries and fried catfish — plus Cajun fried rice, garlic black-bean mussels and other dishes that incorporate an Asian influence. Look for the $8.99 seafood boil boxes during happy hour. 5222 De Zavala Road, #330, (210) 2367777, saseafoodtx.com.
Smashin' Crab Smashin’ Crab delivers top-notch Louisiana-style seafood. From spicy gumbo and seafood boils to po’boys and catfish filets, the menu brings a Texas flair to the down-home flavors of bayou country. Multiple locations, smashincrab.com.
The Past in Future Tense
San Antonio’s Pop Pistol celebrates two decades with new music
BY JAMES COURTNEY
It’s fitting that Pop Pistol, a long-beloved altrock band with a knack for atmospheres and angles, would mark its 20th year not with a greatest hits trip down memory lane but with a release party for a new album.
After all, the near-spiritually kinetic force behind the San Antonio band and its music has always been tied to its ability to both honor and shed each of its incarnations.
Pop Pistol, begun in 2005, is composed of Alex Scheel (lead vocals, guitar, electronics), George Garza (bass) and Jorge Gonzalez (drums). Garza and Scheel are cousins, and Gonzalez joined the band when they were still teens.
Since then, the trio has dropped three albums, one remix collection and, over the past nine months, four bold new singles. Along the way, it’s attracted a devoted following by gigging locally in small clubs and on big festival stages.
The group has also toured regionally and nationally, felt successful and felt frustrated, enjoyed periods of great intensity and weathered unplanned hiatuses and side-projects too.
All the while, Pop Pistol has operated on its own creative plane, and at its own organic pace — expanding on the artful foundation and deep friendships upon which it’s built.
The band’s new work, an eight-song cassette called Surreality Growing, will be first available at a Sunday, Dec. 21, release show at Lonesome Rose.
13-year gap
The new stuff, which comes 13 years after Pop Pistol’s prior release, 2012’s Animal Prisms, finds the band at its most nimble and wise. Clearly, its members are as curious and searching as ever but with new focus and an even wider sonic palette — one that embraces the sharper, harder, more electronic elements of their sound.
The Current caught up with the band’s members for a bit of reflection on the journey so far and what might still be left.
“In a way, we have sort of all grown up inside of this world that Alex has created,” Garza said of Scheel, the band’s songwriter, visual designer and spiritual guide.
Garza likened it to kids feeling that childhood will somehow go on forever.
“The band, for me, is like a really cool time warp or time capsule to live inside of in some ways,” he said. “So, there’s a challenge with it, like, not to be-
looking backwards as much as looking forwards, for sure.”
For Gonzalez’s part, there’s nothing wrong with memorializing, but he’s more interested in keeping the creative entity going.
“Because, I think what’s brought us to this point is consistency: consistency as friends, as musical allies, as collaborators,” he said.
Not dwelling on milestones
Dwelling too much on a 20-year milestone could easily cause Gonzalez to become too self-conscious and lose the joy and momentum that the project has always brought to his life, he added.
Regarding the decision to mark the anniversary with new music, Scheel said “it feels like staying true to not all your former selves, but a bunch of your former selves and, like, being honest with them.”
He added that his deepest ambition is to make each song come alive. So, failing to deliver on that would feel heartbreaking.
“Being able to make this batch of songs come to life feels like you’re being loving to yourself,” he said.
So, does working with former selves and earlier iterations of the band ever become taxing or stifling?
“No, there’s enough former selves where it doesn’t feel stifling,” Scheel said, “because there’s enough moments that you draw on where you had a little vision or you had a little awakening and you remember that feeling and that hunger.”
Maintaining unrealistic and decidedly creative expectations is a key component of enduring in a project such as Pop Pistol, Scheel said, adding “embracing your … younger, more innocent self helps you maintain those positive unrealistic expectations.”
As he looks back on 20 years of collaborating with his best friends, he sees the “constant reaffirming of collective dreams” while “keeping the vision new and the connection new.”
“So, it’s about realizing that throughout the time, when the first perfect vision didn’t work out and then the second one didn’t work out and the third one didn’t work out, you’ve got to know
that, OK, these perfect visions ain’t gonna work out, but this relationship is.”
Art as life, life as art
Indeed, the relationships Pop Pistol’s members have to the band seem entwined with their lives in profound ways.
“It just adds purpose and freedom and this sense of expression and the confidence that goes with it,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez’s lifelong commitment to music has also been a strong and beneficial structuring force in experiences outside of the band, he added. It’s enabled him to see life as a creative endeavor to be arranged to his taste and not a checklist to be completed as directed.
Garza said the biggest thing that Pop Pistol brings to his life is joy. No longer as focused on traditional or measurable notions of success as he once was — he’s long been the band’s de facto business manager — he considers the collaboration to have added more value to his life than he ever anticipated.
Also, as a relatively new father, Garza’s come to see his continued involvement in music as a powerful positive example to set. It suggests his kids “need to know that life is not just about work or bills, but that it is important to make space for your passions and for being creative in however that looks.”
For Scheel, the draw of a creative life is, perhaps, a bit more mystical.
“[Creating] is a tool that makes me feel like I can travel further. Not physically, but just like this thing through which I can inhabit something bigger,” he said.
“If I didn’t make music,” Scheel added, “I probably wouldn’t engage in as much reflection, or it would be a little more copycat-structured, namaste kind of stuff, where I would be focused just copying mantras and doing that kind of stuff.”
Through music and the creative life, Scheel sees a path to an “unstructured” kind of spiritual self-exploration.
“It’s like this little magic that becomes impossible to quit, because it tells you so much. It tells you who you are. It tells you who you were.”
Free, 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com.
music
Find more music coverage every day at sacurrent.com
Courtesy Photo Pop Pistol
critics’ picks
Thursday, Dec. 11
ST 37, Hickoids, The Manson Family Band
ST 37 are Texas noise-rock royalty, and the group’s 1987 vintage means it’s been around longer than some of its fans. ST 37’s sound draws on sonically provocative acts ranging from Austin’s Butthole Surfers and 13th Floor Elevators to Krautrock luminaries Can. Indeed, drummer Lisa Cameron played with Roky Erickson before joining the ST 37 and is now a preeminent practitioner of improv music. $10, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 4550233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — Bill Baird
Kansas
Casual fans know Kansas’ “Carry On Wayward Son” for its continued dominance on classic-rock radio and “Dust In The Wind,” which remains a constant in pop culture thanks to its use in movies such as Old School. But the band forges ahead in creating new sounds, as evidenced by a couple of solid releases over the past decade. $72.59-$224.50, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 2265700, majesticempire.com. — Danny Cervantes
Friday, Dec. 12
Vanita Leo, DJ Lucha, DJ LA Pacha
This showcase is a third-anniversary celebra -
tion for homegrown record label Vinilious, which focuses on Latinx and female-fronted musical acts from across the globe. A labor of love by founders Celeste Cadena and Kristen Ibarra, Vinilious has undertaken the arduous task of independent promotion and bringing acts from across the globe to the Alamo City. Cumbia-pop princess Vanita Leo, DJ Lucha (Luz Elena Mendoza from Y La Bamba) and DJ La Pacha will bring the party atmosphere. $10, 7 p.m., Lighthouse Lounge, 1016 Cincinnatti Ave., instagram.com/thelighthouselounge. — BB
Sat, Dec. 13
The Lemonheads, Erin Rae
Evan Dando and the Lemonheads are touring behind the release of Love Chant, their first new album in 19 years. Best known for their catchy cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” and the groovy ballad “Into Your Arms,” the group was a ’90s alt-rock dynamo. Fittingly, the new album features collaborations with peers from the era, including J. Mascis and Juilana Hatfield. $34.79, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — DC
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Luna Luna
Luna Luna straddles the line between pop, indie-rock, and cumbia with silky smooth vocals and a finally honed production sheen. The Dallas-based band, which blew up as a TikTok phenom, specializes in enjoyable grooves and familiar feelings without diving into predictability or cliche. $23, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Nico Play
Nico Play, Chicago-based by way of Mexico City, offers exceptional songwriting shaken up by touches of bossa nova. The artist’s refreshingly simple and unfussy take gives the music a classic feel. Nico Play is performing at the Paper Tiger at the time as Luna Luna (also recommended) but in separate shows in separate parts of the venue. Both are well worth checking out. $34, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – BB
Thursday, Dec. 18
Die Spitz, Farmer’s Wife
Die Spitz’s blistering punk took the Austin scene by storm, but over time, the band has graduated to something knottier, more complex and more in-
Vanita Leo
teresting. Along the way, they’ve graduated from being a shit-hot local punk act to being a classic in the making. $45, 8:00 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Buttercup, Magic Rockers of Texas, Slomo Drags, Powdered Wig Machine
Ever-creative San Antonio art-pop group Buttercup headlines this packed bill of local groups that enjoy coloring outside of the lines. Bet on a good time. 9 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com. — DC
Friday, Dec. 19
Silverada, The Wilder Blue
Silverada is a newer, more polished vehicle for Americana songwriter Mike Harmeier. After playing for years as Mike and the Moonpies and gaining legions of fans, Harmeier finally cast off the old name, which he didn’t like too much. Fortunately, the songs are still wonderful, offering a taste of classic Texas country with a healthy dose of independent honkytonk spirit. $31, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — BB
Courtesy Photo Vanita Leo
“All In Order”--at least the first 12. by Matt Jones
University Health seeks Family Medicine Physicians in San Antonio. Requires MD, DO, or foreign equivalent and completion of Family Medicine ACGME certified residency. EOE. Reference job code 9759, send CV to Amy.Hensz@uhtx.com
thesizer
38. Night visit to the fridge
39. Lance of the O.J. Trial
41. Feline feeler
42. ___ Bi-Flex (immune support supplement brand)
44. Fine for farming
45. Tapioca alternative
46. 1997 basketball film that brought on sequels
47. Collection of Jewish laws
48. “Lawrence of ___” (1962 epic)
49. Carly and Paul, for two
53. Locale
54. Qatar neighbor
55. Copter ancestor
56. Dublin dance
57. “This ___ test”
58. Scale amts.
Answers on page 31.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION ON APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION OF BASE IRRIGATION GROUNDWATER TO UNRESTRICTED IRRIGATION GROUNDWATER
The General Manager of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (“EAA”) proposes to grant applications to convert Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater under § 711.342(c) of the EAA’s Rules. A copy of the applications, the technical summaries, the General Manager’s proposed actions, and the proposed amended regular permits are available for public inspection at the EAA’s offices at 900 E. Quincy Street, San Antonio, Texas Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Electronic copies may also be obtained by request to Jennifer Wong-Esparza at jesparza@edwardsaquifer.org or (210) 222-2204.
The General Manager proposes to approve the following applications to convert Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater under § 711.342(c) of the EAA’s Rules:
Continental Homes of Texas, L.P. – Filed application on May 5, 2025. The application seeks to convert 19.62 acre-feet of Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater based on the development of the Historically Irrigated Land (HIL).
The applicants or any other Edwards Aquifer permit holder may file a written request for a contested case hearing on the proposed action with the EAA by no later than January 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in accordance with § 707.603 of the EAA’s Rules. The EAA’s Board of Directors will consider approval of the applications and issuance of the proposed amended regular permits within 60 days of publication of this notice unless a request for contested case hearing is timely filed. If no timely requests for contested case hearing are filed, the applications will be presented to the EAA’s Board on the date of the hearing for final action.
This notice is issued pursuant to § 707.525 of the EAA’s Rules.
