San Antonio Magazine January/February 2024

Gala. Feel simply serene.

Available locally at Copenhagen.

Delight your senses with the exclusive Gala bedroom by Thielemeyer of Germany. Inspired by modern 1950’s design, Gala balances beauty and warmth with grooved walnut paneling, soft titanium accents, and thoughtful attention to detail. Sharp, boldly angled legs contrast with the airy, elegant styling of the frame, bringing a sense of relaxation to your bedroom space. Pair with the matching Gala nightstands and dresser for a cohesive feel

by Cassey Golden Photography

Down Syndrome Association of South Texas

LEARN. PLAY. GROW.

Our mission at the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas (DSASTX) is to provide lifelong services and support to children and adults with Down syndrome and their families in South Texas to optimize well-being, develop rewarding relationships, and foster inclusion in the community. The DSASTX started with six families who reached out to one another for support, hoping to provide a better future for their children. Celebrating thirty years this year, the DSASTX now serves over 1,300 children and adults with Down syndrome by providing support through ongoing programming, resources, and events for the families served.

E l e v a t e y o u r E x p e r i e n c e ! E l e v a t e y o u r E x p e r i e n c e !

Be My Valentine, S.A.

The culture, the culinary creations and sweet finds, the hidden gems, the public parks, the live music – and now the upcoming spring season – are just a few reasons to love the Alamo City (which is also within driving distance for a Hill Country getaway). Let’s count the ways.

The City’s Best Dining

These are San Antonio’s No. 1 picks in every restaurant category, from Chinese to Mexican, steakhouses and sushi.

Black History

San Antonio African American museum takes us on a tour of discovery.

IN THE LOOP

Maker

Creations from this San Antonio jewelry artist can be seen on “Yellowstone.”

City News

Broadway is undergoing an improvement project, but it’s been a barrier to business.

Person of Interest

The McNay Art Museum’s first curator of Latinx art seeks to amplify artists’ voices.

Culture

Pearl’s new state-of-the-art music venue stays true to its Texas roots.

Influencer

Longtime KENS 5 anchor Deborah Knapp shares her journey back to her “happy place.”

EAT+DRINK

Libations

Step inside Idle Beer Hall, with plenty of S.A. swagger.

Eat Here Now

Paladar gives us five reasons to fall in love with the new Mexican-Cuban fusion sensation.

Spotlight

Cheers to wellness with 5 brain- and body-boosting elixirs.

Polly’s Picks

WORK OF ART

S.A. native shares her latest restaurant faves. Latin American Popular Art Gallery

See the featured creation that has been a visitor favorite since the gallery first opened in 1998.

On the Cover

Art director Susan Barber created an illustration of things we love about San Antonio.

Love is in the air. And this February issue is a love letter to San Antonio. Even as it grows and evolves, this city stays true to itself. Never one to take itself too seriously, San Antonio confidently stands as tall as the Tower of the Americas, cocking its head in the most puro way, taunting the younger Texas cities, “¿Que pasó?”

I’m a Texan, born and raised in Houston, but San Antonio has been a second home throughout my life. I am ecstatic to return to my first love — journalism — in a role that provides bountiful opportunities to connect with and share stories about the people and places that make this city, my chosen home, special to so many. It is the seventh-largest city in the United States but still a small town. It is a majority-minority city that embraces and celebrates its cultural heritage and diversity, offering a model for the future of the rest of the country. I am reminded of when I was a San Antonio Express-News intern, an editor and mentor said to me, “Never underestimate the heart of this city.”

After living in most of the major metros in Texas, it is clear that the authenticity and love that exude from this city are unique. This feeling captures the hearts of our military service personnel who are stationed here; it captivates the hearts and minds of tourists and conventioneers who fall in love with our River Walk, history, attractions, food and the people; and it’s behind the bold pride of natives who welcome with open arms everyone who is open to discovering the secret corazón of Texas.

This issue is the first to be produced in-house by the incredible Hearst team dedicated to delivering a magazine and content that reveals this love for San Antonio. I arrived just in time to help put the final touches on an issue that reflects the best of entertainment, food, music, public parks and more, and exhibits the pride of those who live here. And it will help you plan the next month and look ahead to spring season outings.

The arctic blasts of this winter have us all longing for the warmer temperatures of springtime, which hosts our favorite festivals. The March/April relaunch issue will focus on all things Fiesta and a time of year that’s bursting with energy. Future bimonthly issues will continue to build upon the solid foundation of the previous 19 years of San Antonio Magazine.

Join us on this exciting journey.

Jennifer McInnis Editor jennifer.mcinnis@sanantoniomag.com

@santoniomag

FEBRUARY 2024

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 VOL. 19 NO. 1

VOL. 20, NO. 1

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Editors

Editors

Jess Elizarraras

Jan Waddy

Jennifer McInnis

Jan Waddy

Contributing Writers

Candice Avila-Garcia

Contributing Writers

Jason Buch

Priscilla Aguirre

Carmina Danini

Candice Avila-Garcia

René Guzman

Vincent T. Davis

Jim Kiest

Jim Kiest

Richard A. Marini

Richard A. Marini

Deborah Martin

Deborah Martin

Sarah Martinez

Polly Anna Rocha

Madalyn Mendoza

Stephanie Schwartz

Robin Soslow

Polly Anna Rocha

Steven Santana

Paul Stephen

Peter L. Scamardo II

Mike Sutter

Paul Stephen

Mike Sutter

Copy Editors

Jaundrea Clay

Gary Fulghum

ART

Nancy Floeck Wilson

Art Directors

October Custom Publishing

ART

Contributing Photographers

Art Directors

Billy Calzada

Adrián Alvarez

Kevin Geil

Luke Hill

Susan Barber

Kin Man Hui

Tim Hursley

Contributing Photographers

Mia Isabella Photography

Al Gawlik Photography

Avery Nicole Photography

William Luther

Brittany Dawn Photography

Josie Norris

Danielle Lochte Photography

Bob Owen

Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Siggi Ragnar

Carlos Javier Sanchez

Charlie Blalock

Marty Sohl Photography

Brett Coomer

Paul Stephen

Gerald Flores

Robert Stofa

Dayna De Hoyos

Kin Man Hui

Chris Stokes

Robin Jerstad

Mike Sutter

Jerry Lara

William Luther

Tony Maples

ADVERTISING

Josie Norris

Chief Revenue Officer

Kate Weber

Edward Orenelas

Polly Anna Rocha

Robin Soslow

Senior Marketing Director

Paul Stephen

Sara Bryant

Chris Stokes

Mike Sutter

Peggy Tenison

Andrew Thorpe

Mindi Westhoff

Salgu Wissmath

HEARST

HEARST

Publisher Mark Medici

Publisher Mark Medici

ADVERTISING

CONTACT US 210-268-1100 sanantoniomag.com

Chief Revenue Officer

Kate Weber

Advertising Inquiries advertising@sanantoniomag.com

Senior Marketing Director Sara Bryant

Story Ideas, Letters to the Editor editor@sanantoniomag.com

Subscriptions, Renewals and Address Changes

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Subscriptions, Renewals and Address Changes

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CONTACT US 210-250-2000 sanantoniomag.com

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Story Ideas, Letters to the Editor editor@sanantoniomag.com

February 24 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Rodeo T oma to Class

Learn all about the new 2024 Rodeo Tomato with Calvin Finch and plant your own tomato Only 35 spots available! Call 210-497-3760 to sign up

Space is only limited to plant your own tomato The lecture part of the seminar is unlimited.

IN THE LOOP

Texas Hats with Character

Cenizo Hatworks creates custom designs for Clara Brewer on “Yellowstone”

HEN SAN ANTONIO NATIVE CASsandra Coronado Everett was asked to design a hat for Clara Brewer, the governor’s assistant on “Yellowstone,” she wanted to get a feel for the character before she set to work.

W“So I asked some questions to get an idea for the personality and that kind of thing,” said Everett, a designer with a growing reputation for her distinctive work. “She needed to look like she knew what she was doing. The hat’s supposed to look worn and very well-used.”

Everett has questions for all the clients

BY DEBORAH MARTIN

she works for through Cenizo Hatworks, her Sabinal-based company. That’s why each custom hat starts with a personal consultation.

The price of the pieces start anywhere from $1,400 to $3,000 and go up from there. It can take from five to 10 months for one to be completed, and the company typically makes six to 10 each year.

All of that means that it’s too late to order for this year’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, but it’s possible to order one and break it in for next year’s rodeo. Those who would like to do that can get the process started at cenizohatworks.com.

The hats are part of the growing empire of custom accessories designed by Everett that also includes jewelry, which she creates through her other company, Cenizo West.

“The idea of seeing what I create come to life out in the real world is just extremely humbling,” Everett said. “I’m happy people are happy.”

Available online at Cenizo Hatworks, cenizohatworks.com, and 830-275-4939

Broadway Construction

Improvement project a barrier for businesses

he rumble of heavy machinery in the street out front can be heard — and felt — all the way into Scott Rote’s office at the back of Herweck’s art supply store at the corner of Broadway and Third Street. The work underway outside is part of the ongoing $42 million Lower Broadway Corridor Project, which promises a host of improvements along a stretch of the vital north-south roadway between East Houston Street and the Interstate 35 overpass.

The project, underway since the summer of 2020, is being done in phases along Broadway and includes new streets, curbs and sideways as well as improved drainage, lighting, landscaping and utility work. Bike lanes are also being added on Avenue B

and North Alamo.

For Herweck’s and the other businesses along this busy stretch of Broadway, however, the project has been nothing short of an ongoing headache.

“I don’t know how many people have told us, ‘I got so frustrated trying to get to you that I just gave up,’” said Rote, who runs the family-owned company. “I don’t have a percentage, but I know our business is down. Some of that could be due to the economy, but the work out front hasn’t helped.”

While Broadway businesses aren’t as dependent on foot traffic as those on the St. Mary’s Strip, Rote’s complaints echo those from bar and restaurant owners who suffered monthslong delays on a similar

street improvement project. Lack of coordination among the construction companies and the city was blamed for delays to the $15.7 million project.

The ever-changing detours around the lower Broadway project make driving so confusing that Rote has taken to using his store’s printing capabilities to make directional signs, which he then posts on the temporary barricades that have left the area looking like a battle zone.

While a previous phase of road closures reopened to traffic before the holidays, the current work, which closed the street directly in front of Herweck’s, isn’t scheduled to be completed until March. Once that phase reopens, workers will commence installing new sidewalks.

Amplifying Artists’ Voices

Mia Lopez is the McNay Art Museum’s first curator of Latinx art

W

hen Mia Lopez left San Antonio for graduate school, she always planned to come back.

“Originally, my plan was, OK, I’m going to study for three years, because I was in a program where you did two master’s degrees,” said Lopez, a Keystone School graduate. “My plan was to go and get my degrees and come right back and continue working in my hometown, in this community that I love — I’m completely in love with the San Antonio art scene — and life had other things in mind.”

When she finished her studies, great opportunities took her north. In Minneapolis, she worked at the Walker Art Center — “a time that I really look back at as a curatorial boot camp.” Then she returned to Chicago, where she earned her master’s degrees, to work at the DePaul Art Museum.

After about 11 years away, she moved back with her husband, artist Joshua McCormick, and their daughter,

Gabriella. Shortly thereafter, Lopez found an ideal position as the first curator of Latinx art at the McNay Art Museum.

Her new post is funded through 2028 by the Leadership in Art Museums initiative, which is designed to help museums increase racial equity in leadership roles.

“We took a leap of faith, my family and I, and said, ‘Let’s go back and find our way in this city,’ ” Lopez said. “I was really confident that because of San Antonio’s vibrant arts and culture scene and the incredible institutions here that I would be able to find the right opportunity for me. And when I heard about the McNay receiving the grant and the creation of this position, I was just thrilled, because I knew it was perfect for me.”

It brought her to a space that had been special to her as a child, when she was captivated by the fact that it had once been the home of its founder and namesake, Marion Kooger McNay.

Lopez sat down for a chat a few weeks into her new job. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What are you hoping to do with your new position?

A: What I’m really excited to do is to build off of the nearly 70-year legacy of the museum, which really has, in its foundation, a great reverence for Latin American, specifically Mexican, art. I’m really excited to take this into a new generation, where we’re thinking about Latinx art as American art, and using our entire collection to really amplify the voices of artists and to also hopefully build some new models that we can share nationally with our colleagues to really think about how we can center these artists in the work that we do.

Q: Some people have a strong reaction to the term “Latinx.” Can you talk about how you see it?

A: By using the term Latinx, we are aligning ourselves with a forward-thinking way of addressing identity. Yes, it’s about inclusion, but it’s also about what’s coming next and, in a way, kind of allowing people to choose their own terms. I would absolutely never use that term with someone who did not want to be labeled in that way. Personally, I identify as Tejana. And it’s taken me 38 years to be like, OK, that’s the one that feels right. At different points, I was called Hispanic, I was called Latina, I was called Mexican, Mexican American, but I’m a fourth-generation Tejana, and that is what feels the most comfortable. And I’m OK with the other terms, too.

Q: What is it that brought you to the realization that this was the word that’s the one?

A: I say it took 38 years. (But) it didn’t. Leaving Texas. And the specificity of where I came from and being so

fortunate to have a deep connection to home and to place and knowing where our ancestry more or less comes from, learning more about our history and then the concept we didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us — that applies to so many people here. It’s not something that we really learn in school, which is why I think it’s really exciting to think about museums as extensions of the classroom. We’re alternative classrooms in our own way, a place where we can tell stories maybe that haven’t quite made history textbooks.

Q: When you would come as a kid, what kind of things would you do at the McNay?

A: What I remember the most is just being kind of in awe that somebody used to live here. And what that has translated to now is also an awe for that philanthropic vision. Before she passed, Mrs. McNay knew that she wanted to leave the home to become a museum. And that, to me, to have that foresight, to be able to think about giving this gift to the city for generations to come, I’m really struck by that.

Q: Were you a museum kid growing up?

A: I would say yes and no. I give a lot of credit to my mother in particular for making sure that my brother and I went to museums and were culturally engaged. As I got older, I started to explore more of the Southtown scene, when Blue Star and First Friday were really exploding. And so that was a cool thing. I totally became enamored of that, and my very first internship in college was at the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center (now known as The Contemporary at Blue Star). I spent two summers there. That’s when I really fell in love with working with living artists. I was so blown away by how they were so cool. They had this bohemian thing, and they were thinking outside the box, and I was, like, I have to do this, I have to work with artists for the rest of my life.

True to Texas Roots

Stable Hall at Pearl to host mix of national, regional, local musicians

Stable Hall, the new performance venue at Pearl, was designed to give 21st-century audiences a good experience while also honoring the history of the space.

“We’re humble stewards of this room,” said W. Brandt Wood, whose Dallas-based company WoodHouse is the concept developer, operator and partner behind the space’s transformation. “This is a 130-year-old building that everybody loves. It is with kid gloves that we approached this project.”

A guiding idea as the one-time horse stable was transformed was to make sure that it was a distinctly San Antonio space. That extended to the artists who are being booked. It’s a mix of national, regional and local musicians who play all kinds of genres.

“All the local bands that are there show how important local programming is to this venue,” Wood said. “We would not have opened a big room with just touring shows. We absolutely have total commitment to our local community, the artists, the music patrons, and there’s no better way to represent that than to book the artists and to book them regularly.”

They’re also being presented the same way as every other band that plays the space.

“They’re not going to get the early nights of the week or the afternoon plays,” Wood said. “We’re going to hold these shows as important as anything else. That’s how we’re going to approach it.”

The space accommodates up to 1,000 people, making it comparable in size to Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, which has a capacity of 800.

Its jewel box stage, wood floors and ceiling and other visual touches are intended to evoke Texas’ historic dance halls.

Stable Hall is the newest identity for the building, which was built in the late 19th century. The name is a nod to its original purpose: It was built as a stable to house the Pearl Brewery’s draft horses in the days before motorized vehicles. When horses were no longer needed to transport the brewery’s suds, it became a Western-themed hospitality space dubbed The Corral. It closed around the time of HemisFair ’68, and three years later, it got a makeover and reopened as the Jersey Lilly, a space with a Gay ’90s theme that included red flocked wallpaper and brass chandeliers.

When Pearl began operating as a mixed-use development, a project that started in 2001, the space became Pearl Stable. The rental space was used for weddings, graduations and all kinds of meetings. At the time, the Pearl complex was just being developed, and so the hall gave folks who might not otherwise have set foot there a reason to go and check it out.

By 2020, Pearl was one of the city’s busiest destinations. And so, the time seemed right to set the stage for a new chapter.

Musician Rosie Flores, a San Antonio native based in Austin, is excited to be part of it. She has helped promote the new venue over the past three years, and she and her band the Talismen will share a bill with the West Texas Exiles on Feb. 28.

“They really have an agenda of highlighting Texas artists, which means a lot to us,” Flores said.

‘Happy Place’

Longtime local TV anchor Deborah Knapp now mentors others

ongtime San Antonians know local TV anchors are a staple to the community. However, it’s not often that we see many of them stick around more than 10 years. There are a few who many San Antonians have had the privilege of growing up watching, including KENS 5’s Deborah Knapp. The longtime San Antonio anchorwoman didn’t just land her TV success overnight.

LAfter graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977, Knapp went to work for KSAT 12 as the weekend “weather girl” and news intern. Two months later, there was an opening for a reporter. The news director told Knapp he didn’t hire reporters right out of college but she says she was determined and he gave her a chance.

A year later in 1978, Knapp was given an opportunity to join the KENS 5 family, where she anchored the noon show and co-anchored the 5 p.m. newscast alongside Fred Lozano. While at the CBS-affiliate, she wanted to develop her reporting skills, so she would ask for other assignments.

“I volunteered to come in at 11 a.m, anchor the noon, leave and return at 2:30 p.m. to anchor the 5 p.m. newscast and then report for the 10 p.m. newscast,” she says. “It was essentially a 12-hour day for a year, but I loved it. I learned so much from the talented anchors and reporters at KENS 5.”

In 1980, Knapp had the opportunity to join CBS-affiliate WCAU in Philadelphia. But after a few years she said it was time to come home. She returned to San Antonio in 1987 and rejoined her KENS 5 family.

“I love who we are in San Antonio — the warmth of the people, the importance of family and faith. We love traditions and the military. We embrace each other’s cultures.”

Knapp helped launch the KENS 5 Excel Awards in 1999.

“For 20 years, I recognized teachers across San Antonio. It was a privilege every week to meet and honor these heroes who teach our children,” she says. “It’s been an honor to be in a position to lend a hand to so many organizations in San Antonio working to make our community better.”

In the city she calls her “happy place,” Knapp now anchors the 5 p.m. at KENS 5 and works on special reports. The most rewarding part of her job, she says, is mentoring young anchors, reporters and producers.

“They are such a talented, dedicated group and I love helping them grow.”

E l e v a t e y o u r E v e n t E x p e r i e n c e ! E l e v a t e y o u r E v e n t E x p e r i e n c e !

‘Cultivating

EAT + DRINK

Your Confidence’

Idle Beer Hall brings plenty of S.A. swagger to the scene

VERYTHING OLD IS COOL AGAIN, especially when it comes with a frothy beer at San Antonio’s newest brewery.

Idle Beer Hall & Brewing has joined a rapidly growing nightlife district just blocks away from fellow brewers Roadmap Brewing Co. and Back Unturned Brewing Co. near the heart of downtown San Antonio. The area has seen numerous bars open in recent years, including Tony's Siesta, Bentley's Beer Garden and The Lucky Duck.

The brewery may be a newcomer, but it comes with puro San Antonio swagger.

Idle Beer Hall & Brewing is located inside the historic and painstakingly restored Cavender Cadillac Building. Many original features of the dealership remain intact, including the exposed brick walls, wooden ceiling and boldly painted “Cultivating Your Confidence” slogan over one of the entrances.

The brewery's 10-gallon system is helmed by head brewer Brandon Pettit, who learned his craft at the nearby Alamo Beer Co. and the Altstadt Brewery

BY PAUL STEPHEN

IDLE BEER HALL & BREWING

414 Brooklyn Ave. Open noon to midnight Sun-Th, noon to 2 a.m. Fri-Sat instagram.com/idlebeersa

in Fredericksburg. Pettit's initial offerings included a pair of IPAs, two types of kölsch and an Oktoberfest brew. The Northstar Bavarian pilsner gives a nod to the property’s history, paying tribute to the iconic Cadillac Northstar car engine.

But there’s more than beer here. Idle’s bar also serves draft cocktails and mixed drinks, including its wildly popular paloma that adds a hint of ginger to the classic combination of grapefruit and tequila. The espresso martini is made with cold brew from Mila Coffee, which shares a small corner of the lot Idle is parked on.

For those eschewing alcohol, the brewery also has a housemade Hop Soda tasting of lime with mild hoppiness and a touch of sweetness, and an extensive lineup of nonalcoholic drinks.

The new brewery occupies a massive 15,286-square-foot space that includes an expansive dog-friendly patio and an outdoor bar. Inside, patrons can entertain themselves by playing pool and Skee-Ball. Or they can quietly sip their suds in one of several semiprivate seating areas if they don't feel like claiming a seat at the bar or one of several large communal tables.

When the weather is right, expect a large crowd, including plenty of kids and puppies, sprawled across that patio. In only a few months of operation, Idle has become a relaxed haven just blocks from the Alamo and River Walk. It’s an ideal starting point for an exploratory mission of the burgeoning restaurant and bar scene nearby.

While Idle doesn’t have a food menu, you won’t have to wander far to find a bite. The brewery shares ground with the recently opened Make Ready Market, a food court offering a wide range of dining options, including burgers, Thai-style fried chicken, gelato, Venezuelan fare and grilled seafood tacos.

Idle Beer Hall & Brewing is the second San Antonio venture from the California-based hospitality group Pouring With Heart. The group also owns Three Star Bar in the Government Hill neighborhood, which it took over in 2022.

5 reasons to love Paladar

San Antonio’s new Mexican-Cuban fusion spot is a sensation

Three veterans of the San Antonio powerhouse Mexican and Spanish restaurants Cuishe and Toro have launched Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba, finding common ground with the foods of Mexico and Cuba, two cuisines more different than you’d think, but with more in common than you’d imagine.

Let’s look at five reasons to fall in love with Paladar.

The backstory

The first time I met chef Arturo Villegas, he was a face in the window of a taco truck. Fonda Nostra was parked near St. Paul Square in July 2021. That truck went on to become a brick-and-mortar called Fonda Nostra Bistró, an off-Broadway nook in an office park in front of the Witte Museum parking garage. It closed last summer but came roaring

The mailing address is 3615 Broadway, Suite 4. But it’s easier to get there by navigating to the front of the Witte Museum parking garage at 3501 Avenue B. 210-267-1329 paladarfusion.com

The flavors of Mexico and Cuba come together in Flautas de Lechón with fried plantains, above, as well as Tuna Salvaje with mango, Guacamole con Masitas with fried pork, and Ceviche Tropical with red snapper, mango and kiwi, left.

back in September as Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba, this time with Villegas and restaurant partners Ian Sam and Ricardo Zamora. The fusion part comes naturally to the group. All three men were born in Mexico. Sam’s father is Cuban, and so is Villegas’ brother-in-law.

The food

The fusion side of the menu includes the lush suckling pig that animates Flautas de Lechón, combining the crunch of Mexican taquitos with the sour orange twang of Cuban-style pork, finished with a side of sticky-sweet fried plantains. Or try Tuna Salvaje, the best thing I ate at Paladar, with flashed-seared tuna and avocado over flat oval slices of mango luxuriating in a tangy bath of ponzu-style sauce. On the Mexican side of the equation, go for grilled red snapper tacos on robust corn tortillas.

The setting

With just a handful of tables inside and a few more on the sidewalk outside, you’ll never feel lost in the crowd. It’s spartan but clean and warm, like the household restaurants of Cuba. Big dreams start small, because small is where the little details come to life.

The BYOB

Paladar is BYOB for now, and they’ll get you started with a fresh mint mojito base, if you like. Just add the liquor you love, or bring along some great Mexican beer. Bonus: No corkage fee.

The potential

Paladar has charm, a sense of place, solid restaurant protocol and food that forgives the absence of those other things, with the potential to be even greater than the sum of its parts. It’s good to see Villegas, Zamora and Sam in this new context, brave enough to venture out in a new direction in a quirky office-park boutique box. As critics, we look for small places with big potential that we can lift up without high-five hyperbole. Paladar is that place.

Wellness Shots

Healthy elixirs provide welcome jolt of nutrients

With flu vaccines, COVID-19 boosters and other routine health care treatment, we’re all used to taking a shot in the arm.

Fortunately, when it comes to healthy living, an injection isn’t the only way to receive a shot of goodness.

Wellness shots, concentrated elixirs composed of juices, spices and other ingredients typically sold in 1- to 3-ounce servings, are increasingly easy to find in San Antonio-area juice bars and coffee shops. They boast a wide range of benefits, including immune system support, inflammation management, improved mental focus and detoxifying properties.

While wellness shots aren’t a cure-all or substitute for medical care, they can provide an extra jolt

Pharm Table shots (far left) are based on ginger, beet juice, turmeric and leafy greens. Elaborate or simple shots are available at Southwest Elixirs (bottom row, left, two small bottles. Buje shots are made with organic ingredients. The shot at Squeezers Juice Bar (top row, middle three) is meant to fight the flu. Among Revolucion Coffee + Juice’s elixirs is one aimed at boosting immunity.

of nutrients. Common concoctions contain a hefty dose of immunity-boosting vitamin C, belly-calming ginger, inflammation-reducing turmeric and other ingredients, including black pepper or chile, which helps with nutrient absorption.

In general, wellness shots are safe for most people to incorporate into their daily routines, but a degree of caution is advised. Some ingredients, such as ginseng or activated charcoal, can interfere with the effectiveness of medications. Wellness shots can also contain a high level of sugar, honey or other sweeteners. If you’re concerned, check with your doctor.

If you’re ready to toss back something other than tequila, try any of these five San Antonio-area establishments for a shot of well-being.

Buje

Located inside the new Make Ready Market food court in downtown San Antonio, this juice bar’s Super Human shots are packed with turmeric, ginger, and orange, lime and carrot juices, along with sea moss, which contains omega-3 fatty acids. This shop specializes in juices and wellness shots

made with organic ingredients — no preservatives or artificial flavors. 203 W. 8th St. inside Make Ready Market, drinkbuje.com

Pharm Table

Chef and owner Elizabeth Johnson has created what she calls an “apothecary kitchen” focused on wellness through food with a specific anti-inflammatory approach. For the full healthy elixir experience, try the Ayurvedic Wellness Flight, which includes the restaurant’s four types of shots, ones built around ginger, beet juice, turmeric and leafy greens. 611 S. Presa St., Suite 106, 210-802-1860, pharmtable.com

Revolucion Coffee + Juice

If you like a wide variety of options, this is the wellness shot destination for you. All of Revolucion’s San Antonio locations sell multiple types of shots, including an immunity booster, a shot specifically formulated for flu prevention and relief, and shots built around matcha green tea, ginger, turmeric, root vegetables, beet juice and activated charcoal. (Multiple locations), revolucionsa.com

Buje inside Make Ready Market sells juice, smoothies and Super Human shots containing turmeric, ginger and other healthy ingredients. Several San Antonioarea juice bars offer wellness shots. And while these shots aren’t a substitute for medical care, they can provide an extra jolt of nutrients.

Southwest Elixirs

This organic and plant-based juice bar offers shots ranging from the elaborate For the Sol (ginger, lemon, cayenne, orange, pineapple, turmeric and black pepper) and Fuego (carrot, lemon, garlic, jalapeño, vitamin B12, turmeric, black pepper, oil of oregano and apple cider vinegar) to simple shots made with mint and aloe vera or beets, carrot and lemon. All the wellness shots claim to have specific benefits, which are clearly spelled out on the shop’s website. 125 Lamar St., 210-368-2844, southwestelixirs.com

Squeezers Juice Bar

You’ll only find one wellness shot here, and during sniffle season, it’s the only one you’ll need. The FTF (‘F’ the Flu) shot is made with immune-boosting ingredients, including carrot juice, vitamin C from citrus fruit, ginger, turmeric and a zippy dose of chile pepper to help your body soak up all that goodness. 914 E. Elmira St., Suite 103, 210-943-0054, Facebook: Squeezersco

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT:

Tacos Al Carbon Cabron lets diners customize their taco experience; Yippon Ramen offers something for everyone, from sushi to noodle dishes; Wurst Behavior is notable for its Asian comfort food; Naco Grayson brings the goodness of Mexican food to the Midtown area.

Standout Spots Stamped With Approval

These newer spots offer variety and solid service

ver the past year, several noteworthy restaurant openings have been on my radar for their culinary creativity, quality service and overall execution. The following list is intended to spotlight a number of those restaurants that have impressed since launching.

O

Tacos Al Carbon Cabron

Tacos Al Carbon Cabron has more than earned the hype surrounding its tacos, with meats prepared over a charcoal grill and topped with all kinds of fresh fixings, like onions, cilantro and lime. The self-service salsa bar is also a nice touch, so you can customize the tacos to your personal taste. 6653 San Pedro Ave., tacosalcarboncabron.com

Yippon Ramen

This new-ish Japanese restaurant features an assortment of soupy noodle dishes on its ramen menu, including a classic tonkotsu, a tantanmen and a flavor-packed black garlic ramen. On the sushi side, Yippon offers a little something for everyone,

from simple veggie rolls to more complex specialty rolls. Seasoned sushi eaters might want to order the chirashi bowl of assorted sashimi when visiting. 1518 Austin Highway, Suite 18, yipponramen.com

Naco Grayson

It’s no secret that Naco Mexican has some of the best tacos in the city, and its newest outpost, Naco Grayson, is bringing the goods to the Midtown area. The chilaquiles are a standout, as are the tortas, and the brisket and egg tacos with cheese are some of the best in town. 310 W. Grayson St., nacomexican. com

Wurst Behavior

Wurst Behavor comes to us from some of the same folks behind praiseworthy Curry Boys BBQ. The St. Mary’s Strip establishment is notable for its Asian comfort foods, like chicken katsu curry and house lo mein. It’s also basically customary at this point to try the frozen passion fruit sake, a one-of-a-kind cocktail that’s worth the brain freeze. 358 E. Craig Place, wurstbehaviortx.com

BY RENÉ GUZMAN

DEAR SAN ANTONIO, WE LOVE YOU. SO MUCHO MUCH. San Antonio has a way of stealing our heart by giving us so much to love. After 300plus years, it’s a bustling metropolis, but one with a small-town feel. A multicultural melting pot with your abuela, grandma, bubbe, nani, oma, etc., minding the stove.

A major tourist attraction with its iconic Alamo and River Walk, Hemisfair and Tower of the Americas, even the big boots at North Star Mall.

Now more than ever you hear the term puro San Antonio: pure San Antonio. It’s that perfect mix of culture and chutzpah that makes our city so unique, that special blend of Spanish and English so representative of this American city’s predominately Hispanic population. And at its purest, at its puro-est, San Antonio is that rare place that truly loves you back.

So how much do we love San Antonio? Let us count the ways.

Fiesta

Nothing says love like flowers. We’ve been in love with Fiesta since that first Battle of Flowers Parade in 1891, when a cavalcade of floats and horse-drawn carriages honoring the heroes of the Alamo and San Jacinto ended with a literal flower fight at Alamo Plaza. More than 130 years later, we’re still partying and pelting each other with color for the love of San Antonio history, goodwill and just a good time.

During the Battle of Flowers parade in 2018, Mary Larkin, the Duchess of Graceful Allure, responds to a traditional call: “Show us your shoes!”

When it comes to Fiesta, you’ve got to love a celebration that both cherishes tradition and cracks it with a cascaron. It’s why a Fiesta figurehead like King Antonio has a cultural counterpart like El Rey Feo, or “The Ugly King.” Or why the regal fashion show that is the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo is followed by a raucous satirical revue called Cornyation. Even beloved processions such as Battle of Flowers and its Saturday night spinoff, the Fiesta Flambeau, share the streets with the great dog walk that is Fiesta Pooch Parade and the boisterous parade at the King William Fair.

Then there are all those Fiesta rites of passage. Shouting “Show us your shoes!” at the Fiesta belles on the floats so they’ll hike up their fancy gowns and reveal their silly sneakers or other colorful footwear. Collecting enough Fiesta medals to make a tank. Diving face-first into a greasy gordita,

chicken-on-a-stick or other must-eat Fiesta food.

And to think all this fun goes toward fundraising. Dozens of nonprofits put on Fiesta’s more than 100 events, which add $340 million to the San Antonio economy. A good time that gives back? What’s not to love?

Spurs

San Antonio’s heart beats silver and black for so many reasons beyond just the Spurs being the city’s only major league sports team. Sure, five NBA championships and 22 division titles help. But it’s really the names and memories behind those jersey T-shirts that speak volumes to our love for the franchise.

It’s the early 1970s when the team first rolled into town and George Gervin’s finger rolls rocked the old HemisFair Arena. It’s the franchise landing what are now three towering

No. 1 draft picks: David Robinson in the late 1980s, Tim Duncan in the late 1990s and Victor Wembanyama last year. It’s the first two having a hand in those previous championship rings, and the third having a handle on all the hype to win more.

Of course, there are all those other names whose retired jersey numbers hang in the rafters. Avery Johnson and Tony Parker. Sean Elliott and Bruce Bowen. James Silas and Johnny Moore. And then there’s Manu Ginóbili, the patron saint of puro San Antonio Spurs fans who like their stars to shine en Español tambien.

It’s also all that class and smarts on the baseline. It’s Gregg Popovich, the winningest head coach in NBA history. It’s Becky Hammon, the first woman to act as an NBA head coach when Pop got ejected from a game.

And it’s all the fun around the team. The mighty, manic mascot that is

the Spurs Coyote. The rowdiest of the rowdy fans that are the Baseline Bums. Honking downtown after another postseason win. And repping all that awesomeness with Spurs logos on cars, clothing, buildings and body art.

To call the Spurs the only game in town would be a disservice to, in no particular order, the San Antonio Missions, San Antonio FC, San Antonio Brahmas, the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners and the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals, and all the high school football teams and the like. But there’s a reason the Spurs tagline “Por Vida” (“for life”) just fits. Chances are if you’re a Spurs fan, it’s in your blood.

San Antonio Missions

Yes, everybody remembers the Alamo. But what about those four other Spanish missions that make up San Antonio’s historic handful? Much as we love the Cradle of Texas liberty

The

recipient of

that gives the Alamo City its nickname, we also have a special place in our heart and on the globe for missions Concepción, Espada, San José and San Juan.

That’s not just hometown hollering, either. The five San Antonio Missions are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a prestigious designation the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture, or UNESCO, gives to places on Earth deemed to be of “outstanding value to humanity.” The San Antonio site is one of only 25 in the United States and the only one in Texas. Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

As well it should be. The missions down the San Antonio River from the Alamo carry three centuries of history and culture in their stone walls, going back to the early 1700s when Spanish priests established the missions as part of a colonizing system to spread Catholicism across the

Mission San José is known as the “Queen of the Missions.” But all five San Antonio missions are a big deal – together, they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

area. Today, the missions host church services, weddings and educational tours aplenty, the perfect marriage of heart and heritage.

Food

San Antonio cuisine is as rich and diverse as its citizenry. That said, we’ll always have a place at the table for those many comidas del corazón, foods from the heart that taste like home and like our hometown.

Starting with our city’s cultural cooking roots and the Chili Queens, we’re talking enchiladas oozing with cheese. Holiday tamales any time of year. Breakfast tacos that can’t be beat. (Keep dreaming, Austin.)

Sizzling fajitas. Steamy menudo. Pillowy conchas and other pan dulce. Fruit cups and raspas for the kids, or an icy margarita or michelada for the grown-ups. And — oh, yes — Big Red and barbacoa.

Of course, there’s more on the S.A.

menu to love than just Mexican food. Like the big city with the small-town feel that it is, San Antonio has risen to new levels of culinary excellence while sticking to its comfort comida staples. Not only is it the home of the Culinary Institute of America’s Texas campus, it’s also a UNESCO-designated Creative City of Gastronomy, a global honor it shares with only one other U.S. city, Tucson, Ariz. Again, kind of a big deal.

Music

We must sing the praises of San Antonio’s eclectic music scene. True to its Tex-Mex lineage, it’s still at the heart of mariachi music and two-stepping Tejano, not to mention the home of legendary conjunto accordionist Flaco Jimenez, arguably the squeeze-box soul of San Antonio. It’s also the birthplace of the late Doug Sahm, a multi-genre musician who fused blues, country, conjunto and rock into one sweet,

influential sound.

We also love that San Antonio is still a hard-rock haven that clings to its vaunted “Heavy Metal Capital of the World” status from its ’80s head-banging days. And that country music still boot-scoots on, especially in February at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. There’s even a burgeoning rap scene, plus plenty of tribute bands that give us the bigname experience when the big names can’t come to town.

Arts

San Antonio loves its arts, and we love how it shows them off in all its esoteric museums and theaters. Because where else can you quench your thirst for works of art across centuries, even millennia, than at the former brewery that is now San Antonio Museum of Art? Or explore the original home of San Antonio contemporary art than at the

warehouse district that houses Blue Star Arts Complex?

Want to enjoy the performing arts under the stars and indoors? Behold the atmospheric Majestic Theatre with its constellation-designed ceiling. And since we’re talking stages that are themselves works of art, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts likewise fuses classic architecture with futuristic design for myriad performances and acoustics.

There’s plenty more on our arts appreciation list for the Alamo City. Western works at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Black heritage at the Carver Community Cultural Center. The remembrance of lost loved ones at Día de los Muertos festivals and the colorful Hindu Festival of Lights celebration at DiwaliSA. The illuminating festival of contemporary art that is Luminaria. And, of course, the timeless and timely galleries of the McNay Art Museum and Witte Museum.

The MLK March

Since 1987, San Antonio has put its best foot forward to honor the dream and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with what’s considered one of the largest MLK marches in the country. Unfortunately, an arctic cold front caused 2024’s march to be canceled. The annual march brings hundreds of thousands who walk arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart down the city’s East Side street that bears the civil rights leader’s name, all in the name of love for our fellow human being. Just another stellar showing of what makes San Antonio shine.

LGBTQ+ pride

Love is indeed love in San Antonio, and that goes for all skin colors and all stripes of the pride rainbow. That love goes back to downtown, disco-era San Antonio and visionary developer Arthur “Hap” Veltman, who opened the city’s first gay dance club with the bygone San

Antonio Country in 1973, followed by the still-dancing Bonham Exchange in 1981. And it marches on along Main Avenue, where a permanent rainbow crosswalk welcomes those from all walks of life to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community with a pride parade, exuberant nightlife and other festivities.

Military City USA

We will always salute San Antonio’s legacy in the armed forces, as much for how it has shaped our city’s past as for how it still safeguards our city’s future. With its many military installations, San Antonio has maintained a consistent military presence for more than 300 years. What started with the first Spanish soldiers who built Presidio San Antonio de Bexar in the early 1700s continues with Joint Base San Antonio, the largest joint base in the Department of Defense, which includes historic installations such as

Fort Sam Houston and Randolph Air Force Base.

According to JBSA, San Antonio has been called “Military City USA” since World War II. In 2017, San Antonio made it official when the city trademarked the term for logos and promotional materials. Which is only fitting since veterans and active-service members will always have a home in San Antonio.

Faith

Most religious San Antonians keep the faith as Catholics, again going back to the 1700s when San Fernando Cathedral rose in the city center. So it’s no wonder the most popular image of faith in San Antonio is Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Virgin Mary — on altars, art, T-shirts, tattoos, you name it. But you’ll find the city named after the patron saint of lost items offers plenty of praying room for all faiths, from various denominations of

Christianity to Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and other religions.

Folklore

It wouldn’t be a love letter to San Antonio without blowing a kiss to its storied ghosts and other cucuys. Spirits from the early 1900s at the Emily Morgan and Menger hotels still roam their downtown halls. Then there’s Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, a spooky 19th-century mansion said to house ghosts on its grounds from across the centuries. Even the Alamo has its ghost stories going back to at least the late 1800s. And pour some baby powder on the bumper for the once heavily trafficked Ghost Tracks on the city’s South Side, where a deceptive slope that has since been repaved was long said to have been the site of ghost children who push your car over the railroad lines

when you set it in neutral.

And three cheers for San Antonio’s most haunting femme fatales. La Llorona, the weeping woman of Mexican American lore who drowned her children and now, according to abuelas and mamas with naughty kids, will come for them, too. La Lechuza, the witch owl, is said to swoop down on misbehaving youth, as well as drunk adults. And that bizarre hybrid the Donkey Lady, a creepy cross between a pack animal and a recluse said to clip-clop through the night and, at one point in the 1980s, through a special phone number lost to time and caller ID.

That’s as far as …

Another thing we love about San Antonio is how we refer to any drive across town as “way out there by SeaWorld” or some other muy lejos

landmark in relation to our starting point. Other sites on the metaphorical sticks of San Antonio include Rolling Oaks Mall, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Traders Village flea market.

Where’d you go to high school?

Let’s wrap our love letter to San Antonio with our most popular greeting. Asking someone where they went to high school in San Antonio is more than just a verbal handshake. It’s like saying hello with a hug, a high-five and a pat on the back, all at the same time. There’s a special pride in S.A. when it comes to asking and answering where you got your high school diploma, especially when you meet a new face who once walked the same halls you did back in the day.

That’s San Antonio love for you. It has you right at hello.

SAN ANTONIO PARKS WE L VE

BY PRISCILLA AGUIRRE

When the coronavirus pandemic forced everyone to stay indoors, many (including myself) discovered a love for the outdoors and nature. Escaping the work-from-home life into trails and recreation activities helped keep folks safe from COVID-19 and encouraged exercise.

Green spaces and parks blossomed into a paramount objective for the community, so much so that San Antonio

Woodlawn Lake Park

Woodlawn Lake is considered one of San Antonio's urban core neighborhoods, bringing together the community with its green space, local events, public pool and annual Fourth of July fireworks. The park dates back to the 1880s when developers wanted to build a residential subdivision and saw the need and opportunity for parkland on San Antonio’s West Side.

Dubbed the “finest artificial lake in the south,” the lake and surrounding land were privately owned until 1918. After being deeded to the city, the name changed to Woodlawn Lake, and many improvements occurred at the 62-acre park in the next 79 years.

In March 2023, the city implemented a new service, adding kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding rentals to the park on the weekends. The service is also available at Elmendorf Lake. 1103 Cincinnati Ave.

voters approved that $272 million of 2022’s $1.2 billion bond should go to parks.

Using those funds, the city’s parks and recreation department has been busy, with projects such as expanding the greenway trail system and opening phase one of Civic Park at Hemisfair.

Due to the growing interest, we compiled a few parks San Antonio loves.

Brackenridge Park

Brackenridge Park serves – and continues to serve –generations of locals, offering a golf course, picnics, a miniature train, access to the San Antonio Zoo and the Japanese Tea Garden, trails and fishing. The 349-acre park isn’t the largest in the city, but it’s one of the green spaces residents fight for the hardest.

Since 2022, residents have advocated preserving the park’s birds and trees due to city restoration and renovation plans. After several meetings, city officials reduced the number of trees slated for removal. Conversations continue to take place regarding projects to improve the park. However, there’s one thing everyone agrees on – how much they love the park. 3700 N. St. Mary's St.

Phil Hardberger Park

Bonnie Conner, a real-life Leslie Knope who helped preserve nearly 20,000 acres in parks, assisted in acquiring the land on Phil Hardberger Park. Landowners planned to sell the property to become subdivisions. Thankfully, it turned into a massive urban space for humans and wildlife.

Named after former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, who worked with Conner and others to secure the land, the 330-acre nature park offers 7 1/2 miles of connected trails. It also features sustainability with decomposed granite and paved surfaces. At the park, you’ll find the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge – a 150-foot wide bridge that connects one side of the park to the other and allows pedestrians and animals to cross above Wurzbach Parkway on the North Side.

You can also catch spectacular views at the skywalk, which is 1,000 feet long, 6 feet wide and elevated 18 feet off the ground.

8400 NW Military Hwy.

Eisenhower Park

Eisenhower Park offers one of the best views of San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, thanks to its 1,280foot high observation tower. This park is primarily for hikers and cyclists; however, families can take the trek, enjoy the picnic tables or visit the playground.

The 420-acre park is known for hiking, with more than 6 miles of trails. The park now connects two major greenways, Leon Creek and Salado Creek. With the two greenways linking, cyclists can complete approximately 40 miles altogether.

Even former Spurs favorite Manu Ginóbili approved of the new bike trail after showing up at the trail opening in October 2021.

19399 NW Military Hwy.

Pearsall Park

Pearsall Park is San Antonio’s largest park at 505 acres, offering a range of amenities perfect for families. Former District 4 Councilman Rey Saldaña spearheaded the mission to transform the former landfill into the public park it is today.

Folks can enjoy the city’s largest skate park, featuring ramps, rails and bowls suitable for boarders of all skill levels. Or, the splash pads, the massive playground (also the largest in the city) and an 18-hole disc golf course.

In addition to the many facilities mentioned, the park has a 1.5-acre, fenced-in dog park and food and ice cream trucks on the weekends. You can also work on your physical wellness in the fitness zone, which includes a 5K walking/running track, a zip line, pull-up bars, and a multi-use exercise machine.

4838 Old Pearsall Rd.

Confluence Park

Confluence Park is known for its award-winning sustainable design, creating a living laboratory that broadens nature-goers’ understanding of South Texas ecotypes and the impact of urban development on local watersheds.

The 3.5-acre park, opened in 2018 in the Mission Reach area, became the country’s largest urban environmental restoration project, according to the San Antonio River Foundation. At the park, you can hike, bike or paddle.

Public and private programs also host special events at the park, such as puppy yoga, outdoor movies and festivals.

310 W. Mitchell St.

5 Great Hot Chocolate Dates in San Antonio

BY MIKE SUTTER

Ilearned a lot about chocolate on a trip to Costa Rica. The teacher of a coffee class held in the shadow of an active volcano held up cacao beans as complementary elements on the coffee color wheel. Somewhere just south of that experience, a shaman guided us through a drinking-chocolate ritual, hissing his fevered warnings about dark visions and stomach revolts. Neither one came. Either way, give chocolate credit for its complicated history, and for all the properties we ascribe to it. Better brain function, lower

blood pressure, putting “Happy” on Spotify repeat. And there’s the love thing. Or as WebMD so poetically puts it: “Chocolate contains the chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are thought to be mood boosters and mild sexual stimulants.”

Because we’re in full Valentine’s Day mode, let’s put that to the test by adding a romantic element to the classic coffee date, with a quick guide to five great hot chocolate dates in San Antonio. Call it coffee with benefits.

THE CUTE NEW PLACE:

Crème Coffee & Social

The Creamery is the kind of boutique multi-use development every city dreams about. Apartments, shops, restaurants, parking, all of it with a nostalgic connection to a long-lost industrial past.

Kind of like the old Pearl brewery, except make it the old Borden Creamery.

Crème Coffee & Social at The Creamery feels like the lobby of an eclectic European hotel, with cozy peacock velvet and mosaic tile floors and a thoroughly modern barista counter.

Mexican hot chocolate from that counter pours as mellow as Abuelita’s with a crown of whipped cream and cinnamon, a color scheme that looks pretty in a pink ceramic cup the size of your Instagram following. 875 E. Ashby Place, Suite 1115, 210-446-8399, cremesatx.com

THE SCENEMAKER: Local Coffee Founders at the Pearl

There are places you go to be seen, and there are places you go to make the scene. The Pearl is both, and Local Coffee is the place to get it started, pouring the first cup at 6:30 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. on the weekends. Once you’ve settled in with a proper espresso-sparkling water combo and an outsized white ceramic cup of rich hot cocoa with a flower artfully traced in the foam, watch through walls of windows on three sides and start playing fashion-plate bingo with the people walking by. Cross-body Louis bag? Check. Tiny long-haired dog? Yep. Giant Stanley thermal cup, seafoam green? Bingo. 302 Pearl Parkway at the Pearl, 210-530-1004, localcoffee.com

THE STUDY BREAK: CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery at Jones CommonWealth took over this sunny split-level warehouse space from Rosella Coffee last summer, coming in strong with breakfast and lunch menus full of avocado toast, croissant sandwiches, omelets and dill chicken salad. The coffee bar plays it straight, leaning on great beans from Cuvee Coffee for espressos, lattes and French presses. Hot chocolate lives on the “Not Coffee” menu, but that doesn’t mean they take it for granted. Smooth, sweet and creamy, it’s the right balance for the caffeine, both of them fuel for reading, writing and procrastinating in seating nooks scattered upstairs, downstairs and the courtyard. Studying? Maybe. Hanging out with your English-lit class crush? Absolutely. 203 E. Jones Ave., Suite 101, commonwealth coffeehouse.com

THE WORLD TRAVELER:

La Boulangerie

I’ve chased croissants halfway around the world, from Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles to a sidewalk cafe in Kathmandu, but I’ve never been to Paris. But I have been to La Boulangerie, San Antonio’s little corner of France downtown on Broadway. The cafe’s Petit Déjeuner Classique is a breakfast museum display of black coffee, a burnished croissant, orange juice, half a baguette with quince jam and Greek yogurt with fruit and granola. Enough to share, enough to justify adding a cup of sweet hot chocolate in a mug with a handle like the hilt of a sword. The drink itself fits the peasant-skirt aesthetic of the cafe itself. No frills, no foam, no whipped cream shag. Just good hot chocolate and good company. 207 Broadway, 210-639-3165, saveurs209.com

THE NIGHT OWL:

Halcyon Southtown

It’s the eternal coin toss, that time when the night boils down to a Clash song: Should I stay or should I go now? It’s a debate fueled by the coffee angel on one shoulder and the cocktail devil on the other. At the rowdy warehouse space at Blue Star Arts Complex called Halcyon, you can give in to one or the other — or both — all the way to midnight, or even 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

But what if I told you there was a third option? They call it Boujie Cocoa at Halcyon, big cups of hot chocolate with ambitions all their own. One goes all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, a one-two punch of Hershey’s on the left and Jif on the right. The other takes me right back to Costa Rica, a shamanic whisper from the Mayan gods of chocolate, cinnamon and chile, a whisper that says the night is young, no matter what time it is. 1414 S. Alamo St. at Blue Star Arts Complex, 210-277-7045, halcyoncoffeebar.com

unforgettable San Antonio chocolatiers

BY PAUL STEPHEN

The bouquet of roses is blooming and fragrant.

Dinner reservations at that glittery steakhouse have been booked. You even scheduled a romantic carriage ride through downtown.

Bring it on, Valentine’s Day. But wait – did you remember the chocolates?

If not, you’re in luck. San Antonio is home to several chocolatiers who are more than ready to satisfy your sweetie’s sweet tooth. Whether it’s gourmet chocolate bars made from beans roasted and ground in-house or elaborately decorated truffles, you can find it all at these five chocolate shops.

Alamo City Chocolate Factory

There’s a lot of Texas pride at this Stone Oak shop. Chocolate renderings of the Alamo. Chocolate cowboy boots. Chocolate in the shape of the state map. But the real delight comes in their cases full of truffles. There’s an impressive range of flavors, particularly for booze lovers. You can find truffles flavored with Burgundy wine, Champagne, Grand Marnier and more. And they’re all elegantly decorated with colorful and artistic patterns painted on top.

This is easily one of the most well-stocked chocolate shops you’ll find in town, with an enormous selection of about 8,000 pieces in roughly 100 flavors when their cases are at full capacity. If you need a one-stop shop, this is the one.

1203 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 117, 210-490-5333, alamocitychocolatefactory. com, Facebook: @Alamocitychocolatefactory

Casa Chocolates

The shop at The Alley On Bitters is the destination for true chocoholics. They specialize in scratch-made chocolate straight from

bean to bar.

Here, you’ll find exquisite dark and milk chocolate bars and small chocolate wafers (these are perfect for your next charcuterie board) made with beans from Vietnam, Uganda, India, Ecuador and more, some of which are also infused with CBD. There’s a Mexican hot chocolate flavor with cayenne and cinnamon, a coffee flavor and other combos with dried fruit and nuts.

Don’t expect to find sweet truffles or candy here — this shop is all about celebrating the different flavors found in the chocolate alone. And they are very generous with their samples and the chocolate knowledge.

555 W. Bitters Road, Suite 127, in the Alley on Bitters, 210-863-5245, casachocolates.com, Facebook: @casachocolatesTexas

Chocollazo

This venerable confectionary will close for good on Feb. 17, so load up while you can. The store sells molded chocolates styled after famous Star Wars characters, truffles in the shape of Buddha heads and some of the most elaborate caramel- and

chocolate-coated apples you’ll find in town.

The truffle selection here is visually stunning. They come in a rainbow of colors

and shapes from smooth, golden teardrops to angular geometric forms. And there are some sophisticated flavors such as lemon rosemary

or balsamic fig in addition to familiar favorites like caramel, Nutella and others. Owner Mary Collazo opened this Midtown shop

in 2016 after a few years peddling chocolates from a food truck and in a small shop at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. These

are high-design chocolates beyond the norm, perfect for special gifts.

4013 Broadway, 210-776-3963, chocollazo.com, Facebook: @chocollazo

Délice Chocolatier & Patisserie

This Stone Oak shop has a pair of bona fide celebrity chefs in the kitchen. Owners Susana Mijares and Ignacio “Nacho” Aguirre both have made multiple Food Network appearances. Their store is equal parts chocolatier and pastry shop.

The chocolate selection starts with an impressive array of truffles. There are plenty of traditional caramel, ganache or fruity flavors, but pay special attention to the flavors from Mexico. You’ll find truffles filled with tequila, dulce de leche, chipotle chile and other tastes you can’t get elsewhere.

And don’t miss out on Délice’s pastries, either. You’ll find a kaleidoscope of French macarons, elaborate cakes sold whole or by the slice, cookies and more. They’re all addictive, as you would expect from folks who’ve competed on shows including “Best Baker in America.”

946 N. Loop 1604 W.,

Suite 145, 210-545-2200, delicechocolatier.com, Facebook: @DeliceSanAntonio

Schakolad Chocolate Factory

While this downtown store is technically part of a Florida-based chain with several locations in five states, each of the company’s shops is individually owned and makes its treats on site.

This shop makes several chocolate-covered sweets including pretzels, shortbreads, strawberries and more, but truffles are the star. The flavor selection is fairly traditional — peanut butter, toffee, caramel, chocolate cream and the like, with a wide range of nutty options made with pecans, almonds or macadamia nuts.

Health-conscious customers take note: This shop has a large selection of sugar-free chocolates. They make sugar-free almond bark in white, milk and dark chocolate varieties and sugar-free cordials and truffles all packed into a wellstocked display case. 110 Broadway, Suite 65, 210-354-3322, schakolad. com, Facebook: @SanAntonioSchakolad

The Cove

Eclectic and chill, with a focus on Texas beer and sustainable food, The Cove caters to families, music lovers and those just looking for a place to relax

BY STEPHANIE SCHWARTZ

You can do a lot at The Cove: Choose from 54 Texas beers on tap, hear live music, eat organic food, let your kids play in the jungle gym, bring your dog, wash your car and do your laundry. Covering almost an acre, The Cove is a sheltered inlet along Cypress Street, just north of downtown.

The outdoor area, where adults can drink and eat at picnic tables while children burn off energy, is an institution for many San Antonio families. These families make up much of the afternoon crowd, along with those who come for lunch then stay awhile.

In the evenings, The Cove offers live music, five days a week. Most bands are local, and some have been playing there for more than a decade. Owner Lisa Asvestas wants to give young musicians some exposure and says she has begun adjusting the lineup to make more space for them.

Asvestas and her then-husband, Sam, didn’t set out to create a bar, restaurant and music venue. The Cove began as a car wash and coin laundry. The two then began selling sandwiches and ice cream, and their small deli just kept growing.

At the time, the couple had three young children. They added the jungle gym because it was a great way to keep their kids occupied. They also wanted to create the kind of family-friendly space they had trouble finding when they went out to eat.

In 2003, two years after the founding of The Cove, Asvestas began to study Ayurveda, a holistic system of medicine from India. As she changed what she ate and fed her children, she began to feel she couldn’t feed her guests fare she wouldn’t eat herself. She changed the menu from mainly pre-prepared, fried food to one emphasizing fresh, organic and local products. Some herbs are grown right on the patio, and she recently bought a ranch that will supply the restaurant with produce.

Guests order at the counter, and their food is brought out to their seats. Burgers, made from grass-fed beef from a nearby regenerative ranch, form a central part of

the menu. Other guest favorites include fish tacos and nachos. Not all ingredients are local or organic, but many are. The restaurant also makes sure to offer several vegan options.

The Cove serves beer and wine, but not hard liquor. In addition to the beers on tap, Texan beers are sold by the bottle and can. While it sells some Mexican beers (because, after all, this is San Antonio), The Cove’s offerings remain about 98% Texan.

The main bar is outside, where seating is spread across a large space. Bands play in the inside seating area, and while this climate-controlled space is important, it is the sprawling outdoor space that creates The Cove’s relaxed feel. Mist fans and heat lamps help keep the area comfortable.

The Cove gets busy over spring break, when the weather is ideal for its outside spaces and parents are looking for ways to entertain their kids. Or rather, they look for ways to entertain themselves while entertaining their kids.

The enclave is an alternative to the spring break craziness of some downtown spots. It’s lively yet mellow — a nice fit for San Antonio’s temperament.

Sanchos

A welcoming spot with a little attitude, a serious tequila selection and music every night of the week

BY STEPHANIE SCHWARTZ

Sanchos is a little rebellious, a little rough around the edges. It is also the kind of place that attracts a loyal following.

As guests enter, they face a painting of Frida Kahlo flipping the bird. They also find music seven nights a week, a waiter that sings along with the band and a space that gives you permission to be yourself. Co-founder Sam Asvestas says he wants Sanchos to be the most inclusive place in the city.

He says the idea for Sanchos was born as he and a friend were walking in Mexico City one night. They wanted to open a Mexican-style taco place. The friend, co-owner Rob Barnett, loves tequila, so a tequila taco bar seemed like just the thing.

At the time, Sam was married to Lisa Asvestas, and they were running The Cove. They had bought an old house near The Cove and were using it mostly for storage. This spot was converted to Sanchos Cantina y Cocina. When Sam and Lisa parted ways, she stayed with The Cove, and he kept Sanchos.

Sanchos offers kid-size portions of mini-quesadillas and cheesy nachos, but it definitely doesn’t have a jungle gym. Asvestas says he wanted Santos to have all the things that weren’t provided at The Cove. And at the top of that list? A full bar.

Along with beer and a few wines (including fruit smash and Sam-gria), as well as cocktails, Sanchos carries a range of tequilas and makes award-winning margaritas. The menu lists the juices and liquors that can be added to a margarita if you really

want to make it your own.

Amid the bar atmosphere, Asvestas takes his food seriously. Tortillas are made in-house every day, and the bread is homemade as well. The rice and beans that come with some dishes are flavorful; they do not just taste like an afterthought.

Santos offers an Empanada of the Moment, which changes regularly, if not exactly by the moment, and is a crowd favorite. The restaurant also offers tacos, tortas, nachos and even a couple of salads. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, including vegan queso and “FAUX”-jita made from spiced portabella mushrooms.

The crowd at Santos largely depends on the band. Some musicians and bands, such as The Professor Underfunk, Claude Butch Morgan & His Bandaholics and the Fleeks, usually play every week. Monday evenings are always The Hess Brothers and Company Jazz Jam. Some nights there are two bands, and sometimes there also is a DJ or karaoke.

Santos has a rooftop patio that is usually open for dining and sometimes reserved for events. Occasionally, concerts are held on the roof, and these have a cover charge, unlike the rest of the music program.

Asvestas says he wants to support local musicians and be an asset to the neighborhood. The establishment, serving customers seven days a week, proudly keeps track of how many consecutive days it has been open. It is now well past 3,000.

For spring break, Sanchos will be offering extra music sets, as well as food and drink specials. It is a great destination for music lovers, as well as those who might discover a new, friendly refuge in the Five Points neighborhood, just outside of downtown.

Another Wild Ride

William Beckmann bringing his blend of country, Americana, Spanish back to stage at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

BY DEBORAH MARTIN

William Beckmann has played a lot of stages in his career, but the one at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo took some getting used to.

That’s because it rotates to give everyone in the hall a good view of the musicians.

“It definitely disorients you for the first few minutes,” said Beckmann, laughing. “You kind of forget where you started and who you’re looking at. Then you step off and you have to get your land legs back, but it was fun. We’re very much looking forward to doing it again.”

He played the rodeo for the first time last year and will be back this year. He and his band will play their particular brand of country and Americana music following the competition on Feb. 24.

The Del Rio native and his family often came to San Antonio for the rodeo when he was growing up. So getting to perform there — and being invited back just one year later — is a big deal to him.

“It meant the world,” said the musician, who divides his time these days between San Antonio and Nashville, Tenn. “My favorite part about the whole thing was going to the concerts, so to be on the other side of it, to be up onstage, is pretty surreal.”

His 2024 rodeo set will include

some tunes from “Here’s to You. Here’s To Me,” which was released last year. And he’ll throw some Spanish songs into the mix, too.

“That’s become one the highlights of our show,” he said. “When I was growing up, I listened to a lot of songs in Spanish, and when I was learning how to play music and how to sing with my first band, we made sure to include a couple of songs in Spanish. When I went to Nashville and kept

doing it, people thought it was the wildest thing. And I said, ‘This is just how I grew up. Everybody sings in Spanish where I’m from.’ ”

His 2023 rodeo debut was part of a banner year for him. He also signed

with Warner Music Nashville, and so the album he’s working on now will be his first on a major label.

In addition, he and his band headlined for the first time at Floore’s Country Store after a few years as an

opening act.

“That’s a big steppingstone for us in the scene to get to play on the big stage,” said Beckmann, who has landed a few singles on the Texas Regional Radio Chart Top 20. “We had a couple of thousand people show up, and it was a very proud moment in my career to be able to do that.”

He also made his Grand Ole Opry debut, another thrill for Beckmann, whose well-crafted music reflects his deep appreciation for the roots of country music.

“Probably the coolest part about it is you get to stand in the circle,” he said, referring to floorboards that came from the Opry’s original home at Ryman Auditorium when the show moved to a custom-made venue in the 1970s. “When you get to stand there at the microphone, you get to stand where every legend you can think of has stood, from Hank Williams to George Jones and everybody else. To get to stand in the circle is a privilege and an honor.”

He’s met a few of the musicians he’s always looked up to, including George Strait. Beckmann has been invited to play at the superstar’s annual charity golf tournament in Boerne the past four years.

One topic he has not broached is his cheeky riff on Strait’s smash hit “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” Beckmann’s take is “All of My Exes (Still Make Me Breakfast).”

“It was a joke that I’d written with a couple of friends, and I never had the intention of seriously putting it out there, but then we played it for enough people that they all started requesting it, so we ended up recording it and giving the fans what they want.”

He doesn’t know if Strait is aware of it.

“If he does hear it, hopefully, he finds the humor in it,” he said.

Fresh and Familiar Faces will take Rodeo Stage

BY JIM KIEST

The 75th San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will present more than 20 concerts over its 18-day run. Like William Beckmann, most of the acts are some variety of country, from Texas singer-songwriters to big Nashville stars, but a few classic rock acts and a norteño band are in the mix.

The rodeo will be Feb. 8-25 at the Frost Bank Center and Freeman Coliseum grounds. Tickets are on sale at sarodeo.com.

Here’s the rest of the lineup:

Old Dominion: Nashville band Old Dominion, which is known for songs such as “One Man Band” and “Written in the Sand,” is the reigning vocal group of the year in both the ACM and CMA awards. The band’s most recent album, “Memory Lane,” features the singles “Can’t Break Up Now” and the title track. 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8

Midland: The well-dressed gents in the country-rock trio Midland first played the rodeo in 2018, not long after the release of their debut album, “On the Rocks,” and they’ve become regulars since then. Their latest album is 2022’s “The Last Resort: Greetings From.” 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9

Wynonna: Country star Wynonna began performing as part of a duo with her mother, the late Naomi Judd, and also has scored hits as a solo act with songs such

as “She Is His Only Need” and “No One Else on Earth.” Noon Saturday, Feb. 10

Brad Paisley: Rodeo regular Paisley is one of country music’s best songwriters and guitarists. His hits include “Whiskey Lullaby” and “I’m Gonna Miss Her.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10

Mike and the Moonpies: Singer Mark Harmeier grew up listening to the music of Texas musicians such as Johnny Bush and Rusty Weir, friends of his fathers. He formed the Austin-based band the Moonpies in 2007 and has released nine albums since then, including last year’s “Love at the Devil’s Backbone.” Noon Sunday, Feb. 11

The Oak Ridge Boys: Country quartet the Oak Ridge Boys has been around for decades, with its popularity peaking in the early ’80s with songs such as “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue.” The group, which embarked on a farewell tour last year, also is revered for its gospel music. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11

Neal McCoy: In past years, Texas native McCoy has been the Lone Ranger of the rodeo, riding to the rescue when a scheduled act had to cancel. The singer and showman, who’s made multiple scheduled rodeo appearances, too, is known for his ’90s hits “Wink” and “No Doubt About It.” 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12

Robert Earl Keen: Texas music icon Keen is putting his retirement from performing on pause to play the rodeo. Since he started writing and playing music at Texas A&M, along with his friend Lyle Lovett, Keen has amassed a catalog of classic songs such as “The Road Goes on Forever,” “Merry Christmas From the Family” and “Feelin’ Good Again.” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13

Gary Allan: California country singer Allan released “Ruthless,” his first new

studio album in eight years, in 2021. A regular visitor to San Antonio, he is known for songs such as “Watching Airplanes” and “Nothing on But the Radio.”

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14

Shane Smith & the Saints: On songs like “All I See Is You,” the Austin Americana act Shane Smith & the Saints whips up an acoustic/electric storm, topped by Smith’s passionate vocals, that compares to the Avett Brothers and the Lumineers.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15

Cheap Trick: Known for rock radio hits such as “Surrender” and “I Want You to Want Me,” Cheap Trick is still on the road with three of the band members who recorded those classic songs: guitarist Rick Nielsen, singer Robin Zander and bass player Tom Petersson. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16

Brooks & Dunn: One of the most successful duos in country music history, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have scored 20 No. 1 hits, including “Neon Moon” and “My Maria.” Following a decade-long hiatus, they released a new album, “Reboot,” in 2019. Noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Randy Rogers Band: One of Texas music’s biggest stars, Rogers is known for songs such as “Kiss Me in the Dark” and “Fuzzy.” The New Braunfels act’s most recent album is “Homecoming.” Noon Sunday, Feb. 18

Grupo El Duelo: A norteño band from Roma, Grupo El Duelo is known for songs such as “Puño De Diamentes” and “Malabares.” Duelo’s most recent album is “Nostalgia: Tesoros de Mi Tierra, Vol. 2,” released last year. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

John Michael Montgomery: Kentucky native Montgomery had a string of hits in the ’90s, including “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That.” He just announced

on his website that he’ll be wrapping up his touring career this year and next. 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19

Styx: Fronted by longtime members Tommy Shaw and James Young, the classic rock band Styx will turn back the clock with late ’70s and early ’80s hits such as “Come Sail Away,” “Blue Collar Man” and “Too Much Time on My Hands.” Styx released a new album, “Crash of the Crown,” in 2021. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20

Chris Young: Grand Ole Opry member Young’s most recent album is 2021’s “Famous Friends.” Since releasing his debut in 2016, he has scored hits with songs such as “The Man I Want To Be,” “Aw Naw” and “I’m Comin’ Over.” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21

Charley Crockett: Throwback country singer Crockett works like a man making up for lost time. After releasing two albums, “Jukebox Charley” and “The Man From Waco,” in 2022, he followed up last year with a live album recorded at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. His most recent single is “Killers of the Flower Moon,” based on the incidents depicted in the David Grann book and Martin Scorsese movie. 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22

Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson: The rodeo’s circular stage may get a little crowded when Big & Rich are joined by Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy. Big Kenny and John Rich Friday already were country music veterans when they teamed up and scored hits such as “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and “Lost in This Moment.” 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23

Clint Black: Country star Black was in San Antonio a year ago with wife Lisa Hartman on their “Mostly Hits & The Mrs.” tour. His best-known songs include “A Better Man,” “Like the Rain” and “Nothin' But the Taillights.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24

MORE PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO FOR LIVE MUSIC

From honky-tonk to country to jazz and rock, these places are bound to be playing your tune nearly every night of the week

BY ROBIN SOSLOW

Latin jazz, New Orleans jazz, Tejano, conjunto, country, alternative, rock ’n’ roll, blues, classical ... whatever sound you crave, you’ll find musicians playing their hearts out in San Antonio on nearly every night of the week.

You likely know the big spots: Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the historic Majestic and Empire theaters, the Alamodome, Frost Bank Center and that legendary honky-tonk John T. Floore’s Country Store. But San Antonio has many other cool music havens worth visiting, from the new Stable Hall at Pearl (Page 18) to hidden gems The Cove (Page 48) and Sanchos (Page 52). Here are more places to find the best live music in San Antonio nearly every night of the week.

502 Bar

Just north of Pearl, this large, friendly venue devotes weekends to touring rockers and singer-songwriters. Sundays are open mic, and on Monday nights patrons become the stars via karaoke.

Find it: 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks; 210-257-8125; 502bar.com

Jazz, TX

Now this is unexpected for an underground club. Instead of edgy and mysterious, you get sultry, saucy and sassy. Where is Jazz, TX?

Go to Pearl, head to the Food Hall at Bottling Department and look for the outdoor stairs. Instead of descending into a basement, you’ll enter a glitzy nightclub that looks straight out of a 1950s movie — or "I Love Lucy." Ricky Ricardo is not in the house, but you can applaud regional jazz and swing bands Tuesday through Saturday. The food and drinks hit high notes, too. Doc Watkins' house band is terrific — and so is the salsa dancing.

Find it: Jazz, TX, 312 Pearl Parkway, Suite 6001; 210-332-9386; jazztx.com

Paper Tiger

Steps from the Lonesome Rose on the St. Mary’s Strip, Paper Tiger presents bands spanning indie, punk, hardcore, hip-hop, EDM and country. Past events include the Red Bull Batalla rap battle, billed as the world's largest Spanish-language freestyle rap battle. The sound system is tight, and the drinks are tasty. Dovetailing with its diversity ethos, Paper Tiger’s music events are for all ages, unless otherwise noted. Find it: Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St.; papertigersatx.com

Sam’s Burger Joint

A longtime favorite among performers and fans alike, many call Sam’s Burger Joint and Music Hall the best music room in San Antonio. A quick rundown of its list of performers offers ample evidence; they include James

McMurtry and Cowboy Mouth. Then consider the add-ons beefing up its cred, from tributes to Stevie Ray Vaughan to branded burgers. And the reasonably priced, strong drinks don’t hurt, either. Find this gem poised on the edge of the Pearl District. Find it: Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St.; 210-223-2830; samsburgerjoint.com

The Dakota East Side Ice House

Besides live music on weekends and Thursday jazz jams, you can dig exotic music and movement on belly dance nights and stop by for open mic night on Wednesdays. Bands showcased include Los Nahuatlatos, specialists in Xicano roots fusion, a mashup of traditional Latino styles. The Dakota mixes it up with conjunto, reggae, Chicano soul, cumbia and ska. Temper this hotness by drinking a cold, Texas-brewed beer while watching the sun set on the outdoor patio. Find it: The Dakota East Side Ice House, 433 S. Hackberry St.; 210-375-6009; thedakotasa.com

The Espee

Revamped in February 2023, this cozy amphitheater hosts acts such as Black Violin, Samantha Fish and Gov’t Mule. Previously a train station called Sunset Station, The Espee is now run by the operators behind the Majestic and Empire theaters. It’s just a

short stroll from downtown on the edge of St. Paul Square.

Find it: The Espee, 1174 E. Commerce St.; 210-226-5700; theespee.com

The Lonesome Rose

“We host live country and Tex-Mex music on Fridays and Saturdays, and sometimes loud rock ’n’ roll bands on weeknights,” co-owner Garrett T. Capps said.

“Our honky-tonk kicks ass,” he added. Cowboy karaoke on Wednesday nights is a fan favorite at The Lonesome Rose. With top-drawer talent such as Grammy Award-winning Los Texmaniacs (with Flaco Jimenez and Augie Meyers), the welcoming dance floor and enormous backyard filled with seats and fire pits, this old-school Texas bar rocks the St. Mary’s Strip. Add the Cowboy Breakfast cocktail and on-site Slab Side BBQ eats to your visit, and Capps promises, “You'll have a puro San Antone time.”

Find it: The Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St.

Mary’s St.; 210-455-0233; thelonesomerose.com

Thirsty Horse Dance Hall and Saloon

This Castle Hills joint has leveled up with its summer 2022 addition of the huge back porch, complete with a stage, outdoor bar and dance floor. Claim a picnic table, then get in the queue for live band karaoke (with a choice of 800 songs) on Fridays and Sundays. Local country and rock musicians perform on the back porch on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Inside, live country fills the super-size dance floor nearly all night Wednesday through Sunday. Hear talents like Felix Truvere, Texas red dirt country swingers like Smoke Wagon (fiddle heaven) and local alt-pop artist Jefferson Clay. There’s usually no cover charge and plenty of seats.

Find it: Thirsty Horse Dance Hall and Saloon, 2335 NW Military Highway; 210-3481513; thirstyhorse.net

Hill Country Getaways

Fredericksburg properties offer a little something for everyone, including couples, families and friends

BY RICHARD A. MARINI

Fredericksburg is known for many things: its German heritage, its charming — if often crowded — Main Street, nearby wineries, breweries and distilleries and its numerous festivals and events. Add to that its proximity to San Antonio, Austin and, a bit farther away, Dallas and Houston, and it’s no wonder the still-quaint Hill Country town attracts tourists like lederhosen to an oompah band.

And many of these tourists want

to stay in similarly quaint, even fanciful lodgings; everything from yurts to motor homes to cabins lifted into the trees. Here’s a look at six unique properties to consider on your next visit to Fredericksburg. Note that prices listed are only starting rates and do not include taxes and fees:

A-Frame Ranch. Hybrid ski chalet/ treehouse has seven raised A-frame cabins that float among the tree canopies and overlook a wet weather creek. With

pine walls slanting upward and large windows to allow plenty of natural light, these simple, minimalist cabins are warm and comfortable in a rustic sort of way. They all have cozy seating areas, one or more large beds and either a full kitchen or a nicely appointed kitchenette. Some have outdoor decks with soaking tubs that can be curtained off for privacy, while others share a heated stock tank pool. A nearby, stand-alone sauna can accommodate up to 15 (really

close) friends. Rates start at $229 weeknights, $245 on weekends. 301 Armand Lane, 817-975-8233, aframeranch.com.

Airstream Village. Located on the grounds of the Fischer & Wieser farmstead, the three silver bullet Airstreams — the Serenity, Caravel and Basecamp — provide adult-only guests with snug, yet efficient kitchenettes, living and sleeping areas. It’s travel-trailer living

without the travel. Guests are greeted with a small charcuterie plate of F&W products and all three trailers have a small outdoor patio with comfy Adirondack chairs, a dining table and grill. A nearby tiny home, with a bedroom and loft, recently began welcoming guests. Travel-trailer rates start at $250 nightly. 1406 U.S. 87 S., 830-997-8969, jelly.com/farmstead-lodging/airstream.

Haven Yurts. Traditional yurts are round, portable and covered in skins, felt or, more recently, canvas. While Haven’s four large luxury yurts have the round thing down, they’re also hardsided and permanently set in place — a far cry from a glamping experience. Uniquely decorated and surprisingly luxurious, they all have air conditioning, walk-in bathrooms, kitchenettes

and other amenities. Several outdoor seating areas with fire pits scattered throughout the property allow guests to socialize while enjoying the night sky. For a cozier, more private experience, the yurts also have clear stargazing domes directly above the king-size beds. Rates start $135 on weekdays, $200 on weekends. 11594 U.S. 290, 833-428-4371, havenyurts.com.

The Menagerie. As the name suggests, The Menagerie is a collection of immaculately restored lodgings, including a 1909 Victorian mansion, a renovated carriage house and barn, and four 1930s bungalows, most clustered around a renovated swimming pool. Inside, they’ve all been opulently, even whimsically, designed and decorated. Reigning over the luxurious bathroom

in the Temptress suite, for example, is a magnificent, art deco-style stained-glass window original to the house. Just two blocks off Fredericksburg’s Main Street, the Menagerie welcomes guests with complimentary snacks and drinks. Addons — personal yoga instruction, sound baths, various catering options and the like — are also available. Rates start at $679 weekdays, $790 weekends. 302 W

Travis St., hello@themenagerietx.com, themenagerietx.com.

Odonata Escape. Each of the Odonata’s eight rooms are made of interconnected shipping containers, individually decorated with influences taken from books, artwork, statuary and other items collected over the years by the owners and their parents. One is Asian inspired, for example, another has a West Texas-“Mad Men” vibe, while a third exudes a groovy, midcentury modern mood.

Each room in the Odonata (the name refers to the insect order that includes dragonflies, btw), has a sleeping area, a full bathroom, a reading nook and a kitchenette. Rates start at $119 weekdays and $200 on weekends. 186 Grasshopper Lane, 830-351-8350, odonataescape.com.

The Trueheart Hotel. This charming boutique hotel on the banks of Town Creek is made up of nine buildings clustered together for a quaint, small-town feel. Native plants, meandering walkways

and an outdoor fireplace where guests mingle and unwind over a glass of beer or wine only enhance the atmosphere. Each of the property’s 13 rooms is decorated in a nuevo Western style — think Indian rugs, cactus art and longhorn headboards — and all have their own private porch. The Trueheart is located just one block off Fredericksburg’s Main Street. Rates start at $225 on weekdays, $315 on weekends. 201 N. Llano St., 830-992-3489, thetruehearthotel.com.

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San Antonio’s No. 1 restaurants in 15 categories

BY MIKE SUTTER

Good news, San Antonio. We’ve fanned out over the wide world of restaurants in the city to find the best of the best, the No. 1 restaurants in 15 categories. Let’s lay to rest, once and for all, the stereotype of San Antonio as nothing but Mexican food, barbecue and chicken-fried steak. We can’t imagine life without that holy trinity, but there’s so much more.

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

Garcia’s Mexican food

Garcia’s is the top Mexican restaurant in a city that knows Mexican food for a lot of reasons. For its perfect No. 5 Mexican Dinner enchilada plate. For its smoked brisket and pork chop tacos. For its carne guisada and brisket nachos and 30 kinds of breakfast tacos on handmade flour tortillas. And for the Garcias themselves, for brothers John and Andrew Garcia, carrying on the legacy their parents started in 1962. San Antonio loves to root for the home team. San Antonio loves Mexican food. With Garcia’s, San Antonio gets both. 842 Fredericksburg Road, 210-735-4525, Facebook: Garcia’s Mexican Food

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano

The country club warren of rooms is gone now, the building where Aldo Ghaffari opened his namesake restaurant in 1985 at the Medical Center wiped away in the name of progress. But progress comes for us all, and Ghaffari embraced the change, closing his original restaurant in 2019 and reopening just a week later near The Dominion in a more modern space, a single room with heroic dimensions and an imported wood-burning oven. At Aldo’s, Italian means a veal chop with steakhouse grill marks. It means that every kind of pasta — every single one — is made by hand by the same man who’s been doing it for more than 35 years. It means hand-pulled mozzarella and roasted fish and Australian lamb chops. And it means that Aldo’s is the best Italian restaurant in San Antonio. 22211 Interstate 10 W., Suite 1101, 210-696-2536, aldossa.com

BEST CHINESE FOOD

Sichuan House

This bare-bones cafe near Ingram Park Mall opened in 2015 and slowly built a cult following with garlicky cold noodles, wok-fried green beans and the chile pepper explosion of crispy-spicy-savory chicken. For many in San Antonio, it was their first taste of Sichuan cooking, with the face-numbing Botox spice of Sichuan peppercorns. Sichuan House and its tireless owner Kristina Zhao have weathered the pandemic, pioneered an innovative delivery system and expanded the tiny space, always innovating with cumin duck and salt-and-pepper shrimp and pork belly stacked like a Sichuan bacon tower. It’s more than a menu; it’s a validation for Zhao and San Antonio’s willingness to embrace Chinese food in all its forms. 3505 Wurzbach Road, Suite 103, 210-509-9999, sichuaneats.com

BEST BARBECUE

2M Smokehouse

I’ve seen some crazy things at 2M Smokehouse on South W.W. White. I’ve seen a mattress next to the smoker in the big screened porch out front. I’ve seen a couple get out of an Uber straight from Atlanta to eat at 2M before going to their Airbnb. I’ve seen a Southeast Side barbecue joint get nominated for two James Beard Awards. Craziest of all? I’ve seen San Antonians wait in line for barbecue. And San Antonio doesn’t do lines. But they do it for 2M, because Esaul Ramos Jr. and Joe Melig found the barbecue Goldilocks zone in 2016 and stayed there, waving cords of oak like magic wands over brisket with museum-quality amber fat, candy-apple pork ribs and the city’s best handmade sausage, a link that stuffs serranos and Oaxaca cheese in the same casing to see who wins. (It’s you; you win.) With sides that include Mexican street corn, pickled nopales, and macaroni and cheese spiked with chicharrones, Ramos and Melig took Hill Country barbecue and made it San Antonio barbecue. 2731 S. W.W. White Road, 210-885-9352, 2msmokehouse.com

BEST TACOS

San Taco

The Mexican food diaspora takes so many forms in San Antonio: the carnitas of Michoacán, the trompos of Monterrey, the tamales of Oaxaca. Add to that the guisados of Aguascalientes that chef Charlie Gonzalez grew up with, the guisados that he and co-owner and fiancée Gaby Hinojosa brought to San Antonio when they opened San Taco in October. More than a dozen guisados simmer in clay cazuelas, including chicken mole, rajas con elotes, barbacoa, chicharrón prensado, picadillo and pork in salsa verde. Served with tortillas, they’re DIY taco starter kits for sharing at the table. The menu covers a lot of ground, including al pastor mini tacos, basic bean and cheese, and a terra-cotta plate of fried taquitos dorados smothered with chicharrón prensado and a fried egg. For comfort-food tacos, for tacos that help us deepen our appreciation of Mexican food in San Antonio, nobody’s doing it better right now than San Taco. 114 Fredericksburg Road, 210-314-3099, Facebook: San Taco

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Blü Prime Steakhouse I caught wind that a new steakhouse was opening in November at the long-vacant former home of Brasserie Pavil off Loop 1604 just west of Stone Oak, a side project from the blue-collar Mexican food chain Las Palapas. Then I heard that former J-Prime fixture Carlos Rodriguez was involved, and by the time I saw Blü Prime for myself, passing by the bar as high as a siege tower, catching a glimpse of the brigade-size kitchen and taking a seat under those impossibly high shimmering blue ceilings, I was all in for the ride. Blü Prime harbors the best sommelier-driven wine experience, the best dry-aged steak, the best Continental-style service, the best sides, the best bone-marrow appetizer. So many bests. And the blue-jeweled crown in the giant royal black-and-white graphic framing the bar? It’s theirs until somebody knocks it off.

1818 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 101, 210-879-1111, bluprimesteakhouse.com

BEST SUSHI

Shiro Japanese Bistro

Inspired by San Antonio’s embrace of the Culinary Institute of America, chef Grey Hwang brought his California command of sushi here in 2020, choosing the ground floor of an apartment complex on the River Walk across from the San Antonio Museum of Art for Shiro. Chef Hwang is the quiet figure in the center, letting sculptured towers of sashimi speak for him with hamachi, amberjack, shima aji, bluefin tuna, ora king salmon, sweet sea scallops, mackerel and so much more, with freshly grated wasabi and cold sake served in a carafe in a basket over crushed ice. There’s tuna with caviar and lotus root chips and a DIY hand roll with crab, golden sea urchin and gold leaf. The freshest fish, the freshest ideas and the best sushi in the city. 107 W. Jones Ave., shirossan.com

BEST FRIED CHICKEN Chatman’s Chicken

If this whole fried chicken thing doesn’t work out, Eddie Chatman has a future as a motivational speaker. He’ll talk to you about God and marriage and keeping his staff employed during COVID. What he won’t do is try to sell you chicken, because Chatman’s Chicken sells itself, the way it has for more than 20 years. The plain fried chicken is good, crusted with golden armor on the outside but still juicy inside. The spicy’s even better, dusted with the fried chicken equivalent of a barbecue dry rub. But the lemon pepper’s the best, and it leaves your fingers painted with dusky yellow spice the way Cheetos paint your fingers orange. 1747 S. W.W. White Road, 210-359-0245, Facebook: Chatman’s Chicken

BEST PIZZA Dough Pizzeria Napoletana

Doug and Lori Horn found the Goldilocks zone for Neapolitan pizza in Castle Hills in 2007, then spread the love to Hemisfair in 2018. Both locations are as comfortable as a neighborhood tavern and polished as a focus-group franchise. And both turn out pizzas with the charming irregularity of pies made by hand, with polka dots of toast and char over a twistable, turnable, foldable core. Each pizza holds its own revelations. Fresh bufalina mozzarella creates a Margherita pizza with ivory pools of cheese in a courtyard of fresh red and green. Housemade sausage and curled coins of pepperoni animate the Americana, and even though I’ll burn in hell’s oven for saying it, the Primavera with spring peas and fennel fronds is the best veggie pizza in San Antonio. Maybe anywhere.

6989 Blanco Road, 210-979-6565, more locations at doughpizzeria.com

BEST BRUNCH

Cullum’s Attaboy

Chris Cullum bridges the gap between old and new San Antonio. His dad was the late jazz cornet player Jim Cullum, who also ran the jazz club and restaurant The Landing. Chris Cullum worked there as a kid, and he learned the city’s restaurant culture by tagging along to the hottest restaurants of the day: La Louisiane, Chez Ardid, Christie’s Seafood. In 2021, he brought the best of those influences together. “Champagne brunch,” he called it, something fancy without going overboard, with fried doughnuts called Spudnuts, a fish roe dip called La Lou Tarama Peasant Pâté and a caviar setup he calls The Swell Life. He shaves real truffles over fluffy scrambled eggs and carefully grilled steaks. He makes espresso martinis and Ramos gin fizzes and burgers that recall when he was a younger man with a food truck and a dream. The dream is real now.

111 Kings Court, 726-229-7301, cullumsattaboy.com

BEST RAMEN

Kimura

The shop that started the San Antonio ramen wave a decade ago remains the city’s best practitioner of the art. Kimura broke away from downtown in December, moving to the former home of the Bohemian cafe and yoga shala 5 Points Local. They’ll craft a margarita with yuzu and a charred shishito pepper, then the business of ramen begins with silky white pork tonkotsu offset with sweet and rustic mushrooms, blonde curls of ramen noodle, the sunrise gold of an ajitama egg and suntan slices of pork chashu. Grilled bok choy and marinated ground pork anchor the city’s best bowl of tantanmen ramen, and veggie miso ramen gets a textural boost from flash-fried tofu. Kimura’s part izakaya, part neighborhood hangout, part show kitchen, and 100 percent San Antonio’s original and reigning champion of ramen. 1017 N. Flores St., 210-444-0702, kimurasa.com

BEST DOUGHNUTS

The Art of Donut

Doughnuts are built for speed, meant to move a dozen at a time with as little fuss as possible. But The Art of Donut is all about the fuss, and each doughnut tells a story. The red velvet doughnut gets a sprinkle of more red velvet cake over the top. The French toast doughnut is finished with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. And the s’mores doughnut includes a marshmallow shingle with an actual chocolate bar for full campfire effect. And they’re not just for show. Both the cake and yeast doughnuts bring the right airiness and sturdiness that define their forms, and the more than 25 varieties guarantee you’ll find one to savor, one doughnut at a time. 3428 N. St. Mary’s St., 210-265-5423, artofdonut.com

BEST COUNTRY CAFE

Grumpy’s Mexican Cafe

Kesia Jackson was in the right place at the right time in 2021 when Ed “Grumpy” Azzoz decided to retire from the cafe he started with his wife, Tammy, in 2001. After 15 years of serving chicken-fried steak, puffy tacos, fried catfish and breakfast plates to the community around Schertz, Bracken and Selma she affectionately calls “Grumpyville,” Jackson took over for Grumpy himself. And her cafe hasn’t missed a beat. It’s equal parts taquería, Tex-Mex mom-and-pop, catfish house, burger joint and country diner. A gloriously ragged chicken-fried steak with eggs, hash browns and biscuits is one of the region’s perfect plates of food. The catfish is as dusty and fresh as a weekend fish fry, and bristling onion rings form a halo around a massive bean burger with a chalupa tucked inside. It’s a country cafe representing all the countries: America, Mexico and Texas. 18817 FM 2252, 210-651-3444, grumpysmexicancafe. godaddysites.com

BEST NACHOS Carriqui

The menu’s been a work in progress since the day this South Texas/Mexican hybrid opened at Pearl last fall. Housed in the former Tilt-A-Whirl building that once was the home of Liberty Bar, they created an elegant saloon of a space with its own pit room, a pit that makes a mean barbacoa and some of the best cabrito in the city. But even as Carriqui rearranges its menu in pursuit of its complex vision, one thing’s stayed true from the beginning: Classic Nachos. These are the kind my dad used to make, built one at a time with a schmear of salty refried beans, a generous pile of cheddar and a single jalapeño slice per chip, all melted under the broiler for edges of toast and char and caramelization. The simpler the better, and simply the best.

239 E. Grayson St., 210-910-5547, carriquitx.com

BEST CHICKEN WINGS Revolutionary Wings

Joshua Paprocki is from Buffalo, N.Y., and he missed the wings he grew up with so much that he started making them himself. That’s the way his wife, Felicia Paprocki, tells it. They’re both chefs, and Revolutionary Wings is the brick-and-mortar passion project that grew out of the food truck they started in 2016. That passion translates to 30 kinds of wings, some paying tribute to the Buffalo and garlic Parm and barbecue classics, but so many more crossing the culinary lines drawn by Felicia’s Belize homeland and the couple’s affection for San Antonio. Each of those influences came through in the dusty orange jolt of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the tropical twang of Sticky Thai Coconut and the smoke-infused mystery of Ancho Coffee Smoked Wings. 427 E. Ramsey Road, 210-620-3657, revolutionarywings.com

Exploring African American Contributions to San Antonio

San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum highlights little-known aspects of the city’s history

BY STEPHANIE SCHWARTZ

Heather Williams, program director at the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM), would like the public to understand just how important San Antonio has been for African Americans.

“San Antonio used to really be a hub for nationally known African American artists, scientists, businessmen, entertainers,” she says, “and many people are not aware of this.”

She would also like to boost understanding of the influence African Americans have had on the area. She says African Americans who were successful in business usually got involved with the city and especially their community. They used their wealth and power to bring improved services and infrastructure to their underserved areas, and this had an effect on the city as a whole.

To gather and communicate this knowledge, SAAACAM was founded in 2017. The organization aims to collect African American artifacts connected to San Antonio and the surrounding areas in a community-based digital archive. SAAACAM also has an exhibition space in the historic La Villita area downtown.

In January 2021, the organization was searching for a way to interact with the public without violating COVID guidelines. Realizing that boat tours on the river were still active, SAAACAM came up with the idea of offering a Black History River Tour, tying San Antonio’s African American history to the center of the city.

A new angle

As the Black History River Tour boat passes The Pearl on the San Antonio river, guides don’t tell the juicy story of Pearl Brewery owner Otto Koehler and his three Emmas. Instead, they talk about African American businessman Charles Bellinger.

In the early 1900s, when banks generally didn’t lend to African Americans, Bellinger was able to open a saloon with the help of a loan from Pearl Brewing Co. He went on to own many businesses, which tour passengers are told included a pool hall, a café, a cab company and a construction company, as well as a lottery and a bootlegging operation. Bellinger’s success then boosted opportunities for other African Americans in San Antonio.

“He turned around and, because of his wealth, was able to then lend to this community,” says Williams. “He himself was a private lender for Blacks.”

The tour mentions the political clout Bellinger developed and also discusses the influence of more contemporary Africans Americans, including Ivy Taylor, the first African American female mayor of a city with more than 1 million in population; Kathryn Brown, the first African American female constable in Bexar County; the female Black judges Yolanda Huff, Grace Uzomba and Stephanie Boyd; and Tommy Calvert Jr., the first African American county commissioner in Bexar County.

Tour guides also bring up the achievements of the commissioner’s father, Tommy “TC” Calvert Sr., who has a long history as a civil rights activist in San Antonio, as well as civil rights leader

Mario Salas. Williams suggests that San Antonio civil rights leaders may not be as well known as those from other cities because they did not encounter as much high-profile resistance.

The tour passes the former sites of the Rincon School, the first free public school for Black people in San Antonio, and St. Philip’s Normal and Industrial School, which was founded to educate the daughters and granddaughters of emancipated slaves. St. Philips began with sewing classes, then developed

into an industrial school for girls before becoming a high school and eventually a junior college.

An environment of growth and change

Williams says prominent agricultural scientist and inventor George Washington Carver spent considerable time in San Antonio. SAAACAM has photos of him with families in the area, and Williams said he sometimes stayed on the Wilcox Ranch, the oldest active African

American owned ranch in Jakes Colony, a freedmen’s settlement just outside of San Antonio in Seguin.

As influential African Americans were drawn to San Antonio, it reinforced an environment of intellectual and social advancement.

“San Antonio used to be quite a hub for progress,” says Williams. “San Antonio five-and-dimes and department stores were the first in the South to peacefully desegregate their lunch counters.”

To honor this milestone and create a new, bigger space to serve the public, SAAACAM recently purchased the building that formerly housed the Kress department store on East Houston Street in central downtown. The organization says that in March 1960, this store was the first in San Antonio to desegregate its lunch counter.

A few years ago, developers joined the Kress building with the Grant building next door. This combined building will provide over 100,000 square feet of space,

eclipsing anything previously available to the organization. The Kress-Grant building will house exhibition spaces, as well as classrooms, a research library and an auditorium. It will also include a boutique hotel and an event venue.

To honor the building’s history and educate visitors, SAAACAM will re-create the lunch counter, which will not only be an exhibit, but will also serve food. The new space is expected to open in 2026.

As it seeks to not only record information, but also preserve, interpret and

BLACK HISTORY RIVER TOURS

Tours are ticketed and should be purchased in advance through the website.

The next tours are set for 1:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and March 9, meeting at 218 S. Presa at La Villita. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Not recommended for anyone younger than 12 years old. Charter tours available by request. For more information, visit saaacam.org/ events.

distribute it, SAAACAM staff is joined by researchers and volunteers. The efforts are often by the community and for the community. The public can access the archives through the SAAACAM website.

To grow the community archive, local African Americans are encouraged to contribute their history.

“We say, ‘Tell us your family story,’” says Williams, “because nine times out of 10, people don’t realize that either they or their ancestors may have really made a difference or impact.”

HE “SEATED MONKEY”

Twelcomes visitors near the entrance of the Latin American Popular Art Gallery at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The earthenware piece, dated to around 1900, was created in Guanajuato, Mexico. The playful artwork depicts a monkey sitting on a stump, its knees pressed against its chest and its tail curled below it. The grinning critter sports a jaunty hat with a broad brim.

The piece has been a favorite of visitors since the gallery first opened in 1998 as the Latin American Folk Art Gallery. And so, it made the cut when the exhibition was re-installed as part of a makeover in 2020.

The “Seated Monkey” is not the only monkey in a hat in the gallery. A few feet away, another glass case includes a tray holding a smaller glazed ceramic monkey in a similar pose, a porkpie hat perched on its head. The tray is part of a set that includes six matching cups in the shape of tiny monkey heads. Those are dated to around 1940 and were created in Puebla, Mexico.

The gallery, which reopened following a makeover in 2020, can be found on the first floor of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art at the museum.

The Gallery: Latin American Popular Art Gallery

The Work: “Seated Monkey”

BY DEBORAH MARTIN

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