San Antonio Magazine May/June 2024

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

+ Follow the Pitmasters: Take a Texas BBQ road trip

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H U N T OP I A ® W O R L D P RE M I E RE M A Y 4 - N OV E M B E R 3

Join us as celebrated artist Hunt Slonem debuts his magical outdoor garden exhibition.

NEW B A CHELOR OF S CIENCE in nur sing

St. Mary’s University is excited to introduce the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Fall 2024. This program will help close the critical shortage of nurses in the regional health care system and add to the University’s robust pre-health options.

With a lasting tradition of preparing students for successful health care careers, St. Mary’s is poised to graduate compassionate professionals committed to excellence in nursing practice and grounded in the St. Mary’s mission.

To learn more, visit www.stmar ytx.edu/nursing or scan the QR code.

The Catholic and Marianist University

Fun in the Sun

Plan your summer vacation — where to stay, where to eat, what to see and do.

Low and Slow

These barbecue spots are worth a road trip.

Supercool Superheroes

Morgan’s Wonder Squad welcomes everyone.

Summer Concerts

Don’t miss your fave legacy acts and hot newcomers.

Development

Pullman Market at Pearl is a food lover’s heaven.

Maker

Treat yourself to Oro Bianco’s authentic Italian gelato.

Influencer

Siempre San Antonio’s Gabby Gonzalez shares her love for the city.

Now Departing to Frankfurt

San Antonio airport lands its first nonstop flight to Europe.

Say Cheese

Melted, gooey deliciousness oozes at these places.

Black Cowboys: An American Story

Powerful exhibit returns to Witte Museum.

Imbibe

Conversa Elevated offers options for casual and refined experiences.

Eat Here Now

2M power couple’s Blu Lacy Smokehouse and Baked are booming in Castroville.

On the Cover

Texas Gulf Coast is a popular summer destination for San Antonians.

Whether you plan to relax with a good book on the beach or explore all there is to see and do, you’ll want to check out the hotels, restaurants and attractions at the top Texas Coast destinations of Galveston, Port Aransas and Rockport featured in this edition.

If luxury life is calling, retreat to Grand Velas Riviera Maya, where there’s something for the whole family.

If a European vacation is more your speed, catch San Antonio’s first nonstop flight on Condor to Frankfurt, Germany. Learn everything you need to know about the airline, what to expect when you land at Frankfurt Airport, and suggestions for sites and eats in Germany’s historic city.

For those who plan to stay closer to home this summer, check out tips for tubing on area rivers, plot your route for a barbecue road trip, sip your way through the city’s growing selection of wine bars, or watch the magic happen at one of several songwriter circles in the area.

There’s also an impressive summer concert lineup that offers a little something for everyone. And fun for the whole family awaits at a new splash park — Morgan’s Inspiration Island.

No matter where you’re planning to unwind this summer, know how to exercise caution when spending extended time in the sun and heat.

Most of all, have fun and savor the summer.

Jennifer McInnis Editor jennifer.mcinnis@sanantoniomag.com @sanantoniomag

FIND Y OUR

Perfect Pair

BY PAUL STEPHEN

IN THE LOOP

Bring Your Appetite

T’S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE scope of the new Pullman Market at Pearl. The 40,000-square-foot project is hands-down the most ambitious food-centric enterprise to launch in San Antonio in years.

Located inside the former Samuels Glass Co. building, Pullman Market is a multifaceted foodie paradise from the Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, which made its mark in San Antonio with Pearl restaurants Ladino and Henbit.

“Pullman Market is the first project of its kind in San Antonio and the region. We’re most excited about providing a space for guests to get a taste of the ideals that make this city great: community, hospitality and high-quality food,” Emmer & Rye Hospitality

partner Kevin Fink said.

“There’s something for everyone at Pullman Market. You can grab a quick bite, stay awhile at one of our restaurants, discover fresh local ingredients or grab something premade to make mealtime easy — knowing it’s all been sourced with a commitment to quality and sustainability in an effort to offer the best we can for our community.”

Pullman Market set a high bar for itself in its earliest days, suggesting it would be San Antonio’s version of the beloved international marketplace darling Eataly. And it lives up to that glorious gustatory chaos.

Pullman Market boasts a wide selection of specialty groceries, five quick-service eateries, a robust bar program and four fully formed restaurant concepts on its sprawling

footprint at 221 Newell Ave.

So loosen your belts. You’ll probably find yourself nibbling and sipping your way through the market, whether you’re there to grab some greens and fresh pasta or catch a reservation at one of its restaurants. The endless bounty of cheat-day calories is hard to avoid.

Casual shoppers looking for ingredients to make tonight’s dinner are greeted at the door by a display of the finest fresh produce, shelf-stable ingredients and an impressive selection of Texas-caught seafood, meat and bakery goods hot from the oven.

If you’re a cocktail fan, a bar decked out in a funky Flintstones-meets-Jetsons vibe anchors the center of the hall. Under the guidance of San Antonio bar fixture Houston Eaves, who previously served as beverage director at The Esquire Tavern, you’ll be able to enjoy just about any kind of beer, wine or spirit-based libation you could possibly desire.

The restaurant options are wide-reaching, but well-focused.

For a vibe that mimics a trip to co-owner Fink’s native Tucson, Ariz., make a reservation at Mezquité, which focuses on the food and drink culture

of the Sonoran Desert region.

If you’re feeling Italian, Fife & Farro is the destination, serving handmade heritage grain pastas and wood-fired sourdough pizzas.

The restaurant Isadore may be of most interest to local food fans. It promises to showcase a regularly rotating menu of the best produce and meats Texas has to offer, along with a wine and spirits list to accompany those Lone Star treats.

And don’t forget dessert. Nicosi is a unique experience, giving up to 20 guests at a time a chance to indulge in a multicourse tasting of delights, all technically considered desserts but exploring a wide range of flavor profiles. Just remember to put your phones in airplane mode: This spot asks you to keep your techie devices out of sight.

Pullman Market is a unique creature. Unlike the various enterprises at Pearl, it represents the singular vision of the Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group. While they work with a near countless number of providers for ingredients, one ownership group is directing the course for this venture. And it’s one we have a near bottomless appetite for.

Trail on Track

Green Loop on South Side gets a funding boost

trail connecting other pathways with greenways and surrounding amenities is more than just a vision for the city’s South Side. It’s becoming a reality.

With a boost from recently approved government funding, the Brooks Green Loop project will connect Salado Creek and the San Antonio Mission Reach by way of the Brooks campus, a roughly 1,300-acre, mixed-use community owned and managed by the Brooks Development Authority.

In February, the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board agreed to include Brooks Green Loop on the list of funded projects for its Transportation Improvement Program during the 2025 to 2028 fiscal years. Final approval of that budget is expected in June, with $9.3 million set

to fund the trail project.

The Brooks Green Loop is an approximate 8-mile path that will connect the multiuse trails at the Brooks campus with surrounding amenities, including Greenline park and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. It will offer pedestrians and cyclists a safe path and easy access to the area, according to the Brooks website.

The trail connector project also will link with the planned 188-acre Arboretum San Antonio, which will sit about 2 miles from the Brooks campus on the site of the former Republic Golf Course that closed in 2020. An architect for the tree garden is expected to be announced in May.

So, when will locals get to walk and bike these planned trails?

Well, no one should start planning a trek on these green spaces any time soon, as the Brooks Green Loop is still years away with no target completion date set.

Since the project involves several agencies, including Brooks, the city of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation, “the true next step is to establish a lead entity for the project,”

said Connie Gonzalez, chief strategy officer for Brooks Development Authority. Then an architect to design the trails needs to be selected so an official design can be approved.

“We’re still very much in the early stages,” Gonzalez said.

Still, there is plenty of excitement for what the Brooks Green Loop will mean to the area.

For one, it will connect the Brooks campus to the greenways to its west by paving the San Juan Acequia Trail, which runs directly behind Mission San Juan. The plan is to create a paved trail connection suitable for cycling and walking from the national park to Brooks.

The project also includes a path that will run underneath I-37, using an existing drainage area and extending the greenways on the Brooks campus to the east.

Such connectivity aligns with other recent projects involving campus green spaces.

The Greenline waterfront linear park opened in 2018, and a quarter-mile trail extension connecting Brooks to a 30-mile,

hike-and-bike path running from Mission Reach Trail to Brackenridge Park was completed in 2021.

Brooks Green Loop also is in line with the mission of Brooks, which was established in 2001 when the public-private partnership was created to revitalize the former Brooks Air Force Base. The partnership intended to promote and develop a sustainable and inclusive community “by serving as a catalyst for transformative economic development and regional prosperity,” according to the Brooks website.

Today, Brooks is home to more than 50 businesses, 5,300 employees, 1,700 residents, 2,500 students and 1,200 residential units.

Gonzalez noted that features such as Greenline park and the intricate trail systems connecting outside amenities to Brooks attract development. And, she added, that leads to more jobs and opportunities for housing, education and transportation.

Ultimately, she said, the focus is on connectivity and creating community, with Brooks being “part of a larger regional center” of business, homes and green spaces.

Buffalo Dairy King

Oro Bianco's Gelato a Taste of Italy in the Lone Star State

h, give me a home where the buffalo roam. That’s what Phil Giglio wanted when he left his job as a corporate lawyer in Chicago in search of greener pastures.

That search led the New York native to South Texas, where he founded Oro Bianco Italian Creamery.

The first and only water buffalo dairy and creamery in the Lone Star State, Oro Bianco is home to some of the best gelato you can get without needing a passport. Each creamy, dreamy flavor is made in small batches using fresh buffalo milk and some of the best seasonal flavors in Texas, from Poteet strawberries to Fredericksburg peaches and pistachios from a farm in El Paso.

One taste and it’s easy to see why San Antonians line up at the Pearl Farmers

Market every weekend to indulge in this authentic Italian treat that Giglio says began as an afterthought.

“Our original goal was to make mozzarella,” he said, laughing.

Say Cheese

Going from the field of law to a field of buffalo may not seem like an obvious career move, but for Giglio, who was burned out and looking for a change, it felt like the right choice.

“I wanted to go to a small town and do something in agriculture,” he said. “But I had no idea what.”

An avid cheese lover, Giglio lived in Southern Italy in 2013, where he developed an affinity for authentic buffalo mozzarella. With no experience and no idea where to start, he decided to try his

hand at producing authentic Italian buffalo mozzarella stateside.

“It was a pretty sound business plan,” he said, tongue in cheek. “I didn’t know where to find the buffalo, how to milk them or how to make cheese.”

Enter Jason Peeler of Peeler Farms, who was housing water buffalo on his Floresville ranch. The two men connected, and in 2017, Giglio moved to Texas and Oro Bianco, which translates to “white gold,” was born.

After building a working dairy on the ranch and a creamery in Blanco, Giglio traveled to Naples, Italy, with the company’s chef to learn the fine art of cheesemaking. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as he thought. After six months of frustrating attempts, Giglio returned to Italy to get the scoop on how to make gelato instead.

“Gelato is a lot of spreadsheets, and I’m

a math and numbers guy, so it’s more my speed,” he said.

After perfecting the recipe, Giglio began selling buffalo milk gelato at pop-ups. Word spread fast, and the creamy, fresh flavors became such a huge hit that he started selling it in the creamery’s retail shop.

Suddenly, Giglio found himself owning a successful gelato business and growing faster than you could say “cheese.”

Growing Pains

As the demand for his product grew, Giglio quickly realized he had a problem.

“If we need another hundred gallons of milk, the buffalo don’t care, and there’s nowhere we can go to buy it,” he said. “That kind of hamstrings how quickly we can grow.”

Then there’s the issue that water buffalo

eat 60% more than a cow but only produce about as much milk as a goat.

“Those are not great economics,” he said.

Through imported Mediterranean genetics, Giglio started inseminating the buffalo and increasing the female population of the herd, thereby increasing milk production. Today, more than 200 happy buffalo roam the pastures of the South Texas ranch, producing the rich milk that is the company’s bread and butter.

Serving Happy Customers

With brick-and-mortar locations in Blanco, Fredericksburg and Stonewall, Oro Bianco now offers customers more than just the famous gelato. Guests can enjoy cured meats, buffalo mozzarella cheese (yes, they finally got it down), cookbooks, olive oils and other treats.

The Stonewall location serves up fun for the entire family with a full-blown deli and a pizza trailer. Parents can order a glass of wine and watch the kids play cornhole or feed and pet the buffalo kept on-site.

In addition to the permanent locations, Oro Bianco has three pushcarts for popups and farmers markets. Plans for further expansion are in the works and include a gelato truck in Austin that is being converted from an old milk delivery truck and a trailer to be set up in San Antonio.

Not bad for an idea that Giglio jokes “may or may not have been hatched after a few beers.”

Although they do not ship gelato, Oro Bianco ships its meats and cheeses nationwide. For more information or to find the location or pop-up nearest you, visit orobiancomilk.com

‘A Second Chance to Change’

In judge’s court, domestic violence offenders find ‘redemption through accountability’

udge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez speaks with purpose and conviction when she talks about Reflejo Court, a pretrial diversion specialty court for first-time domestic violence offenders who express a desire to change.

Elected in November 2018, Gonzalez oversees County Court-at-Law No. 13 — one of two designated misdemeanor domestic family violence courts in Bexar County.

“I remember when I was knocking on doors, talking to elected officials about getting this program up and running. And

everyone said it was a great idea. And I had a couple of people tell me it was a great idea, but it was political suicide because no one wants to help a violent offender,” she said at a recent graduation ceremony.

“And my response to them was, ‘Well, good thing I’m not a politician and good thing I’m a public servant.’ ”

Gonzalez worked to establish Reflejo Court with spouse Stacy Speedlin Gonzalez, Ph.D., who is a published expert on trauma and addiction, and former Bexar County Court-at-Law No. 1 Judge Al Alonso, who implemented the first

certified drug court in the United States in September 2001.

Reflejo Court, confirmed in 2019 by the passage of House Bill 3529 in the 86th Texas Legislature, offers “redemption through accountability.”

Participants go through intense supervision by a multidisciplinary team that helps offenders address the core issues that lead to violence.

The team includes John Diego Vacca, Bexar County reentry manager at American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions. He was one of the first people

to approach Gonzalez with a curriculum, the judge said.

“John and his tribe, American Indians in Texas, all stepped up to the call to help us with the curriculum for this population,” Gonzalez said.

The first commencement ceremony was in the summer of 2021; ceremonies are held twice a year. Of the 28 Reflejo Court graduates, 27 have not reoffended.

Reflejo Court will achieve the benchmark of 30 graduates at the next graduation ceremony, which is in July. The next goal is to have 50 active participants in the program.

Moving Forward

While waiting for the Winter Class of 2024 ceremony in January, prior graduates and graduate candidates shared their experiences, and the tips and resources

that have helped them.

Then the scent of sage filled the room as Linda Jimenez, representing the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, presented a blessing to the four directions before the educational program and the ceremony began.

“We all experienced trauma at some level and some way throughout our lives. … Trauma can be debilitating. It can be psychologically debilitating. It can be physically debilitating,” Gonzalez said in her opening remarks to the seven graduates.

“And unless we are taught, we don’t come with the tools to deal with trauma. But we can learn to deal with trauma. We can learn to modulate our emotions. We can learn how to respond and not react.

"And this is what Reflejo Court is all about. We understand that going through the criminal justice system can be traumatic.

And so we offer a second chance … to those who are willing to follow our instruction, to those who are willing to take the necessary steps … to heal and get past that trauma and learn how to modulate that trauma so that they can be not tax burdens on our community … and be contributing members of our community.”

The most moving validation comes from the graduates themselves. Jolene A., whose last name was withheld, was among those who shared her testimony.

“I walked into the courtroom and thought I was going to be able to cheat the system, pay some fees, go to some classes and be on my way — a couple of months, tops. That’s not at all how it went,” she said.

She shared that she had relapsed during the program, was sanctioned and had to complete 30 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in 30 days.

REFLEJO COURT 13 DOCUMENTARY

Go to youtu.be/SnSPuEMSwTU to hear participants share their stories.

“They cared about me and wanted to help me, not just lock me away,” she said.

Using the resources available to her through Reflejo Court, Jolene said that she became less angry. Her relationships with her family and her mental health have improved.

“I was finally being heard and not overlooked,” Jolene said. “I’m proud of the person I’ve become.”

She acknowledged she will continue to work on herself for the rest of her life and shared a message to those just starting their healing journey.

“For current participants, don’t ever give up, put in the work, use all the resources provided to you and be kind to yourself. I want to thank those who had faith in us and to the ones who did not, I forgive you. I hope this story gives you a little bit of insight on addiction and why everyone deserves a second chance to change instead of being thrown into the system without therapy and healing,” she said.

Her testimony is similar to others who have shared their experiences in a Reflejo Court 13 documentary that’s available on YouTube. It’s the best thing that ever happened, one graduate shares.

In March, Reflejo Court became the first court in Bexar County to receive Level 1 Trauma Informed Certification by the EcumMenical Center, the certifying entity for the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Consortium.

That same month, the Texas Association of Specialty Courts announced that Reflejo Court was selected as its Court of the Year.

Gonzalez shares that “hurt people hurt people,” and a counterpoint shared by a Reflejo Court volunteer at the ceremony was that “healed people heal people.”

“And that’s where we want to be,” Gonzalez said. “Because that’s what is going to make our community safer and more peaceful and a great place for everyone to live in and the best place for all of us to raise our kids for generations to come.”

“We all experienced trauma at some level,” says Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez. “But we can learn to deal with trauma.”

Siempre San Antonio

Gabby Gonzalez shares her love for the city

an Antonio native and content creator Gabby Gonzalez began documenting her food adventures and love for her home city through her Instagram account, @siempre_sanantonio, in 2019.

S“I knew I wanted to share our beautiful city with everybody,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez grew up on San Antonio’s South Side. As she got older, she wanted to explore different parts of the city and began spending a lot of time driving around to new places.

She soon became the person her friends turned

to for advice on where to eat and visit. Once she saw Instagram’s rise in popularity, she decided to share her experiences with a larger crowd.

“I’ve always been into going and discovering new spots and, in particular, hole in the walls,” Gonzalez said.

Since then, she has gained thousands of Instagram followers and expanded onto TikTok, which multiplied her following of fellow San Antonio enthusiasts.

“I love everything about our city,” Gonzalez said. “It has been a dream that I am able to do this work, and now that it can be a career, it’s really freaking amazing.”

Gonzalez describes San Antonio as ever-growing with a diverse community and food scene.

“You are not just going to get Mexican food or Mexican culture,” Gonzalez said. “There is a diversity here when it comes to different ethnic foods that you are able to enjoy, as well as people.”

While the Texas influencer can be found at aesthetic and trendy spots all around San Antonio, she says her favorite places to support are small businesses and mom-and-pop shops. Gonzalez says many of them have little to no social media presence, so she wants to provide a voice for them.

“They are the ones that are the backbone to our city,” Gonzalez said. “They started this stuff, and I want to make sure they continue to thrive.”

As her account continues to grow and expand beyond food, Gonzalez says she has been making an effort to continue to showcase the nonprofits and organizations that are doing good for local communities.

“I want to make sure I’m providing the resources so you can have a good time without spending money, but also I’m going to give you some nonprofits and some incredible organizations that are ticket events because we want to support them, too, and put money back into our community,” Gonzalez said.

Along with supporting nonprofit organizations and small businesses, Gonzalez shares free events and a link in her biography for people to find local food pantries and free food.

“We struggle, and I want to be that resource, too,” Gonzalez said.

The San Antonio influencer says her goal for the upcoming years is to do more when it comes to the community, giving back and using her platform for good.

“It’s home, it’s who I am, it’s what I love, it’s truly a passion,” Gonzalez said. “I am truly obsessed with the city.”

BY PAUL ST EPHEN

EAT + DRINK

All in the Details

coat rack equipped with loaner sports jackets by the front door is the first clue you’re walking into something different at Conversa Elevated.

AThe new two-story lounge opened along Interstate 10 near the Dominion in February with a mission to bring an upscale air of hospitality and sophistication to the city’s food and beverage scene.

Ownership team Four Skillets Group didn’t hold back in creating a luxe yet inviting atmosphere. At Conversa, bartenders select curated bottles from milehigh shelves using a ladder that channels an Old World library vibe. The sleek black space is decked out with dark wooden tables, funky light fixtures and cozy, intimate seating areas furnished with midcentury modern-inspired furniture.

The attention to detail includes the crew tasked with cultivating Conversa’s energy. The petite menu of light

CONVERSA ELEVATED

20327 Interstate 10, Suite 170

Open 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday 210-444-9568 conversaelevated.com @conversaelevated

nibbles and shared plates with a Caribbean and Asian fusion feel was designed by noted chef Teddy Liang, who’s launched new restaurant menus across San Antonio. Andreas Olivier Imhof, whose pedigree includes acclaimed Austin-area restaurants and the celebrated Restaurant Gwendolyn, holds down the executive chef duties.

The cocktail menu should feel familiar to San Antonio bar scene enthusiasts. The lineup of creative libations is the handiwork of general manager Corey Farmer, a 20-year hospitality industry veteran who garnered

accolades and loyal customers alike at Bar 1919 in the Blue Star Arts Complex and Rock and Rye in The Rim.

Farmer’s refined, minimalist flair is reflected in drinks such as its vegan twist on a classic flip made with gin and pistachio milk, and the classy Man With A Plan featuring aged rum and the complex liqueur China-China in a rocks glass prepared with flamed absinthe. The elegant Blue-Bonnet channels Texas pride with Scotch bonnet-infused blanco tequila and lavender syrup, toppled with dried wildflowers and

with an earthy rim of black volcanic salt.

Farmer steers away from egg and dairy products and eschews refined sugar for honey in many of his drinks. The cocktails are made with Conversa’s kitchen in mind and incorporate some of the same ingredients found on its plates for sips that pair exceptionally well with the food.

“Simplicity is the key. A cocktail doesn’t have to have 15 ingredients to be interesting,” Farmer said. “I want to concentrate on keeping this program very experimental and progressive.”

As a new operation, Conversa is still finding its stride, but the foundation for success and longevity is there. Currently, it operates almost like two separate experiences.

On the ground floor, Conversa’s guests will find a relaxed but polished space that operates like a modern lounge. The seating is loose and casual, with a long row of bar stools, tables and clusters of chairs. Music is playing but dialed down to never drown out conversation — a key intention that inspired the establishment’s name.

Upstairs, the casual is swapped for refined. This is where the dress code kicks in, seating is by reservation, and guests are treated to more of a fine-dining atmosphere with hot towel and Champagne service.

There isn’t much room to mingle around the bar, and that’s by design. The table and arrangements provide privacy without being removed from the room, allowing visitors a chance to focus on their dates or other company. A balcony provides a vista of the rolling Hill Country foothills and a perfect spot to enjoy a selection from Conversa’s robust cigar collection.

Whether you go for a relaxed happy hour cocktail or a big date dressed to the nines, Conversa Elevated has a seat for you. Cheers to that.

Destination dining

Culinary power couple create a barbecue and baking delight in Castroville

After building a nationally acclaimed barbecue destination with 2M Smokehouse, Esaul and Grecia Ramos have launched a new destination dining experience in Castroville and are helping to write a new chapter in the story of their charming new hometown.

Instead of cloning 2M and its Central Texas barbecue with a South Texas accent, Esaul Ramos and his business partner Joe Melig went for more of a classic Central Texas approach.

“It's just simpler, more traditional,” Esaul Ramos said.

But there’s no mistaking the 2M level of quality and attention to detail.

Consider the mac and cheese. Instead of a mere scoop, a server here holds a to-go container and ladles melted cheese on the bottom, swirls it around, drops a scoop of the dish and then gently pours another ladle of cheese sauce on top for a rich, creamy and spectacular combination.

That same level of love comes through in a pulled pork sandwich when a cutter massages a handful of shredded meat with mustard-based sauce and pork jus before nestling it in a sturdy yet delicately flavored bun from Grecia Ramos. Of course, the Texas trinity of brisket, pork ribs and sausage maintain the deliciously high level of excellence expected from the 2M family.

The couple originally didn’t plan to

BLU LACY SMOKEHOUSE

1303 Lorenzo St, Castroville 830-359-8720

Baked by Chef Grecia Ramos 409 Paris, Castroville bakedsatx.com

EAT THIS

Dino rib at Blu Lacy Mac and cheese at Blu Lacy Croissant at Baked Any muffin at Baked

come to Castroville until investors in this town intrigued them with the chance to be part of redeveloping a quaint, yet historic city that’s still somewhat of an unheralded gem. They not only opened their businesses but moved to Castroville.

“We just took everything that I didn’t like and made sure that I didn’t do it, and then put in everything that I wish I had,” Esaul Ramos said. “2M is kind of like moving out of your parents’ house into an apartment; and Blu Lacy is like moving out of that apartment, and you bought yourself a house with some land, and maybe cattle and stuff in the back. I say that is because there are many much more moving parts to it and stuff. But I love it.”

Meanwhile, Grecia Ramos, a pastry chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America,

San Antonio who had worked at several bakeries around town, didn’t intend to have her own space. She planned to bake her creations in a corner of the barbecue spot.

“As we were walking around one of the investors mentioned, ‘Hey? You know I've been looking through your Instagram, and it looks really good. We should have a bakery,’ ” she recalled. “They presented me plans and a future contract, I was like, ‘Oh, you guys are serious.’ ”

Her business, Baked by Grecia Ramos, sits next door to the barbecue spot with outdoor seating, a play area and a bar sitting between them. Her pastries bring a sophisticated sweetness, while her take on café de olla highlights Mexican cinnamon and a touch of anise, with the traditional piloncillo taking a supporting role. Enjoy the café de olla with a shatteringly crisp and deeply satisfying pan au chocolate and it’s as perfect a pairing as brisket and Shiner Bock.

Blu Lacy, named after the Texas state dog, opened to strong crowds nearly immediately because of 2M’s fanbase. Then customers made their way to the bakery and now it fills up regularly. The two businesses quickly became stops on Castroville’s monthly Fiorella Friday event, a long-running downtown event inspired by San Antonio’s First Friday.

“We have a bar. Every Friday, Saturday, we have live music,” Esaul Ramos said. “It gets really, really nice out there.”

FOUR WAYS FOR SANDCASTLES AND SUNNY DAYS

BY BECCA HENSLEY

Summertime and the livin’ is easy — at the beach. You can reach these four stellar sand-studded, wave-crashing getaways in Texas and beyond in just a few hours of travel time.

Rockport

A historic town known for its fishing culture and vibrant arts community, Rockport sits on the Gulf Coast less than an hour from Corpus Christi. It’s the sort of place where visitors can join locals in art classes, concerts or in galleries at the newly minted $9 million Rockport

Center for the Arts, try their luck casting a line from one of the plentiful piers, kayak around the bays or spot a rare bird. Take the brood to Rockport Beach, a gentle, mile-long sandy crescent, replete with a playground, palapas, picnic tables, boat launches and bay views. Plan your trip to artsy Rockport around its buzzy festivals — such as ArtFest (July 6-7 this summer) or the Rockport Hummerbird Celebration in the Fall. Art buffs: Book your stay over the second Saturday of the month to enjoy the Austin Street Art Walk, a festive all-day affair on the renovated main drag downtown. Galleries and boutiques welcome

shoppers with bargains, street sales, refreshments and live music.

WHERE TO STAY: Sleep in work designed by San Antonio’s famed Lake | Flato at the newly reimagined Reel ’Em Inn, home to a 1,000-foot pier and nine bayside rooms. Once a 1960s era tourist court, the sleekly contemporary redo has retro vacation vibes. Consider buying out the whole property for a family reunion.

WHERE TO EAT: Rockport and adjacent Fulton claim a bevy of sea-to-plate restaurants. Take the kids to Yarbarita’s Sip & Swing beside Little Bay, which hangs playful swings on its front porch

and serves juicy burgers, shrimp — even fried alligator for those who dare.

Port Aransas and Mustang Island

Your holiday begins the minute you steer your car onto the Aransas Pass ferry to Mustang Island. On the short trip across the Corpus Christi Channel from the Texas mainland, something magical happens — you begin to unwind. Above, pelicans hover, and you may spy dolphins leaping alongside the boat, as if accompanying you to shore. A historic playground for fishing aficionados (Teddy Roosevelt hooked a tarpon here nearly a century ago), Mustang

Island and its centerpiece beach town

Port Aransas gift travelers with the consummate Texas beach experience. Park your car most anywhere along the meandering 18 miles of dog-friendly, resort-peppered, gleaming-gold sand. Boogie board, surf, parasail and jet ski through crashing waves. Or, set up a volleyball net, build a bonfire or pitch a tent. In nostalgic, unpretentious Port Aransas, the island’s heartbeat, rent a golf cart and join the clown car parade along the beach, honking and waving along the way. Alternatively, take a dolphin cruise, board the Red Dragon Pirate Ship or explore the slew of unique shops, such as

family-owned Winton’s Island Candy, a Port Aransas tradition.

WHERE TO STAY: For those interested in a newly built, upscale, awayfrom-the-fray stay, Cinnamon Shores reigns. A few minutes from town, the master-planned community, complete with resort amenities, features signature orange and white beach umbrellas, reserved beach slots, restaurants, pools, bonfires and organized activities.

WHERE TO EAT: In Port Aransas, dine dockside outdoors at Virginia’s On the Bay, famous for crab cakes and frosty libations. Take a seat at happy hour to watch the fishing boats drift in, unload,

weigh and display their bounty.

Galveston

The Victorians, sybarites at heart, called Galveston Island (only 45 miles south of Houston) the “Playground of the South.” That legacy lives on via sublime mansions from the era, festooned with gingerbread trim, turrets and Mansard roofs — as well as in the beauty of the 10-mile long Galveston Seawall, edged with palm trees. Less casual than Port Aransas, Galveston’s cityscape with its Strand Historic District and long beloved Pleasure Pier, awash with rides, carnival snacks and

games aplenty, imparts an old-fashioned boardwalk appeal not found anywhere else in Texas. Scuba down deep at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary to glimpse manta rays and whale sharks.

On land, launch a kayak, cast a line or trek some trails at Galveston Island State Park. Take your break from the sun on the Strand’s Pier 21, an entertainment district packed with restaurants and shops. While there, take a gander at the pier’s famous shrimp boats, insect looking vessels, nicknamed the mosquito fleet. For history and architecture fans, a variety of museums satisfy, including

Bishop’s Palace, Texas Seaport Museum and The Bryan Museum.

WHERE TO STAY: Be among the first to stay at newly minted, 61-room, family-owned Hotel Lucine, set right on the Seawall. Stylishly kitted from the bones of a decades-old motel, the boutique retreat fuses the past with the present. You’ll relish its relaxed mid-century modern glam.

WHERE TO EAT: Katie’s Seafood House has it all: waterfront dining, a boat-to-plate menu (opt for one of the Boatload Platters with their gargantuan assortment of fresh catch), a friendly ambiance and festive cocktails.

Riviera Maya

What’s faster than driving to a Texas beach? A quick flight from San Antonio International Airport to Cancun International Airport. To forego Cancun’s over-touristed Hotel Zone, head south to the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. Known for its jungles, freshwater cenotes, pyramids, stunning beaches and turquoise waters, the region holds plenty of all-inclusive resorts, perfect for those who hanker for some blissful — even hedonistic — lethargy in a luxury setting. If you think you’re the type to feel guilty for not leaving your hotel to immerse in local

culture, choose a resort that specializes in bringing the culture to you on site.

WHERE TO STAY: Founded by Mexican brothers who wanted to create an all-inclusive that met their lavish standards, who were keen to give the gift of Mexican culture to guests, firstin-class Grand Velas Riviera Maya does all-inclusive beyond your wildest imagination. Set amid a mangrove jungle with cenotes as part of the landscape, the sprawling resort, garnering the (AAA) Five Diamond Award for lodging multiple times, encompasses a postcard-perfect beach. Choose between suite-style rooms that face the ocean or spacious

hideaways tucked amongst tropical flora. Eight restaurants, myriad bars (serving premium wine, liquors and beer), an award-winning spa, pools, creative kid and teen clubs, and scores of daily activities pamper and entertain guests of all ages. As suitable for honeymooners as families, the resort caters to romance with various adults-only areas.

WHERE TO EAT: You’ll want to try every restaurant at Grand Velas, but be sure to reserve elegant Cocina de Autor for a date night meal. With a gastronomic tasting menu concept, the pioneering eatery takes inspiration from regional products and traditions.

The Best Day Ever in Galveston

From beaches, bars and restaurants to local attractions, find out what fun the island has to offer

BY RYAN NICKERSON AND JORDAN RAY-HART

While Galveston can be a popular destination for long weekends, holidays or special events like Mardi Gras, it’s more than just a beach town. It’s a city filled with art and history that often gets overlooked as folks head for the beach.

To highlight some of the many great things offered by the Oleander City, we’ve put together this itinerary for the best day ever in Galveston.

Morning

TOP PICK

Get coffee at Mosquito Cafe

628 14th St.

Mosquito Cafe is one of Galveston’s hidden gems and a go-to spot on the island’s East End. With generous portions and a friendly staff, it simply can’t be passed up. Try the carnitas tacos — pulled pork in a corn tortilla with mixed greens, chipotle sauce, pico de gallo and homemade salsa — served with confetti jasmine rice and black beans.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays

Phone: 409-763-1010

MOD Coffeehouse

2126 Postoffice St.

Good at any time of the day, MOD’s coffee is locally roasted from Katz Coffee Roaster, and it also has an in-house bakery. Hang out on the patio on Friday and Saturday evenings for free live music.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Phone: 409-765-5659

ShyKatz Cafe & Bakery

1528 Avenue L

SkyKatz is a colorful counter-service restaurant and bakery that specializes in breakfast. Diners can call ahead and order an entire meal that they’ll warm up for you when you pick it up.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily

Schlitterbahn

2109 Gene Lucas Blvd.

As one of the biggest waterparks in the Houston area, Schlitterbahn Galveston aims to provide entertainment for the entire family.

Hours: Visit the website, schlitterbahn. com/galveston, for information on hours

Phone: 409-770-9283

Afternoon

TOP PICK

Take a self-guided tour of Galveston tree sculptures

Start at 1620 Sealy Ave.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike’s powerful winds damaged and uprooted thousands of Galveston’s trees. What resulted was an effort by a group of homeowners to turn tragedy into art by converting many of the trees into stand-alone art projects. The sculptures can be found in the front yards of homes throughout Galveston’s East End Historic District. The self-guided tour is open to the public, with sculpture locations listed at visitgalveston.com.

The Beach

6285 Seawall Blvd.

Beach days are a great way to spend time, and Galveston has 32 miles of coastline to enjoy.

Moody Gardens

1 Hope Blvd.

Many first-time visitors to the island ask about the colorful glass pyramids that line the horizon. It’s Moody Gardens, and it’s one of the main attractions in Galveston. Moody Gardens has a hotel, spa, convention center, rainforest, aquarium, 3D and 4D theaters, museums and more.

Hours: Yearly attractions open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Phone: 409-744-4673

Postoffice District

2200 Postoffice St.

The Postoffice District is a popular Galveston destination for visitors and locals because of its unique shops, art galleries and restaurants. The district is designated by Texas as a cultural arts and entertainment district.

Evening

TOP PICK

Enjoy dinner at Jimmy’s on the Pier

9001 Seawall Blvd.

Not only does Jimmy’s on the Pier offer fresh Gulf Coast seafood, it also has one of the best views on the island. You can even enjoy a drink from Jimmy’s bar or coffee shop on the pier. Try the fish tacos, made with the catch of the day, and topped with red wine mango slaw and the chef’s housemade dressing.

Hours: Hours may vary; check the website, jimmysonthepier.com

Phone: 409-974-4726

Waterman’s Restaurant

14302 Stewart Road

If you find yourself on the western side of the island and have a fancy dinner in mind, try Waterman’s for a spectacular sunset view of the island.

Hours: Hours vary by day; check the website, watermansgalveston.com

Phone: 409-632-0233

Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant

3828 Seawall Blvd.

Gaido’s opened in 1911 and remains a historic and important Galveston restaurant. It specializes in daily catches, with mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, Atlantic salmon, snapper, catfish and more.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Phone: 409-761-5500

Daiquiri Time Out

2701 Market St.

When nighttime arrives, enjoy a refreshing cocktail at Daiquiri Time Out.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m.

Sunday

Phone: 409-497-2760

TOTALLY TUBULAR

Top tips to maximize your next river trip

BY JASON BUCH

Plenty of picturesque waterways, many of them spring-fed, snake through the hills north and west of San Antonio. And there are few better ways to escape the heat than floating down one of them while clutching a refreshing beverage.

But a lot has changed since the old days when you just sat in the innertube from a tire and sipped cold beer in a can. The tubing experience varies greatly, depending on where you go. The

Frio, Comal, Guadalupe and San Marcos are among the popular rivers for floating within a couple hours’ drive of San Antonio. Water levels, local regulations and overall vibe vary greatly across the region.

Glass and styrofoam are banned on all Texas waterways. In recent years, local governments have started implementing their own regulations.

“I’m gonna start with I guess the bad news,” said Mark Jalufka, general

manager of the San Marcos Lions Club Tube Rental. “Single use containers effective this summer are no longer allowed in the (San Marcos) River or along the river.”

That means no beer cans on your float within the San Marcos city limits, although you can have cans in designated areas of city parks and you can bring alcohol in reusable containers. Coolers can’t exceed 30 quarts and must be secured with something like a

latch or a bungee cord. New Braunfels, which covers all of the Comal River and part of the Guadalupe River, has similar requirements and has banned containers less than five fluid ounces and “volume drinking devices” (translation: Leave the Jell-O shots and beer bongs at the frat house).

Bring “anything you can put in the dishwasher and wash and reuse again,

like a Yeti cup or a sports thermos, tupperware for food,” said Reid Kohls, the communications and marketing manager at Rockin’ R River Rides. “Anything in your cooler needs to be reusable, too.”

Rockin’ R offers floats on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers in the New Braunfels area, and Kohls said their staff will offer guidance about what to bring. River-legal items are available at

RIVER DO’S AND DON’TS

Do:

• Bring lots of water and sunscreen

• Bring an adequate size cooler

• Bring water shoes

• Bring a lifejacket if you’re not a strong swimmer

• Plan ahead and call ahead

Don’t:

• Litter

• Trespass

• Bring glass or styrofoam on any Texas rivers

• Bring single-use containers (like beer cans) in New Braunfels or San Marcos

• Overdo it; drinking too much alcohol or too little water can ruin your fun

their shops.

That ban on small, disposable containers also applies in the Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County on the Guadalupe River upstream of New Braunfels, but beer cans are allowed outside the city limits. For people planning to bring their own tubes, they can’t be more than 5 feet in diameter in New Braunfels (that’s a

straight line drawn through the middle of the tube). Are you a downriver DJ who thinks your musical selection will enhance everyone else’s river experience? The city of New Braunfels doesn’t want your tunes to be heard more than 50 feet away.

So do your research before heading out. You might not want to be the only family amidst a floating party, or the only group slamming river punch on a low-key excursion. And you might want to make sure the float you choose is the right length and the right amount of effort for your crew. The amount of water in the river affects how long your trip is, and whether you’ll have to walk. Watching the sunset without having any idea how close you are to the end of your float is never a fun feeling.

“The river conditions can change rapidly because of rain,” said Melissa Bates of Happy Hollow Frio River Outfitters in Concan. “We definitely recommend calling us and finding out closer to the time of their trip.”

Think about what you want to bring with you. Some outfitters offer lockers or dry bag rentals so you don’t have to leave your stuff in the car. Some rent coolers and reusable beverage cups that comply with local regulations. But it’s best to plan ahead.

“Really that's kind of a personality thing,” Bates said. “Some people don't want to take their phones, don’t want to take anything with them so they can completely unplug. Some people want to take all that stuff.”

And respect private property. In Texas, purple paint on fence posts and trees means no trespassing, so stay in the riverbed.

“The state of Texas owns the riverbed as well as a certain portion of the floodplain,” said Chris Russo of Guadalupe Canoe Livery in Spring Branch. Paddlers and tubers are “able to get out of their boat and picnic on the gravel bars here and there.”

The Heat is On!

How to Stay Safe in a San

BY BONNY OSTERHAGE

From picnics and paletas to beaches and backyard barbecues, is it any wonder that we love summer in South Texas?

Whether you enjoy long, lazy days lounging poolside or a leisurely float down the Guadalupe River, the possibilities for summer fun are endless — and so is the heat.

The San Antonio sun is brutal, and without the proper precautions, it can cause problems that range from sunburn to more serious issues, including severe dehydration and heat stroke. Before you resign yourself to staying inside all season, here are a few tips for staying safe in the sun and enjoying all the summer fun San Antonio has to offer.

Stay Sun Savvy

One of life’s cruel ironies is that while nothing makes you feel healthier than a radiant, sun-kissed glow, subjecting your skin to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays is one of the worst things you can do to it. At best, sun exposure causes hyperpigmentation and accelerates the aging process. At worst, it can result in severe burns and skin cancer. That’s why it is important to be sun-savvy and protect your body’s largest organ. Your first line of defense is sunscreen, but with so many brands on the market, how do you know which one to choose?

Antonio Summer

“Look for an SPF (sun protection factor) of 50 or higher,” advises local dermatologist Elizabeth Hughes, MD FAAD, who suggests reapplying it every two hours and more often if you are in the water.

Once you've chosen the correct SPF, you must choose a formulation. While it may be tempting to go with the convenience of a spray, Hughes suggests using a cream or lotion instead for more precise coverage and applying a thick layer at home before heading out. We like the locally made Supergoop! line of sun protection products for its wide range of formulas and finishes.

Accessorize to Protect Your Eyes

In addition to sunscreen, Hughes suggests a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the delicate skin on your face and around your eyes. We like Sunshine Tienda hats for their cute styles and colorful trim. You can find them at Sunset & Co. We are also big fans of GoodR sunglasses for their slip-proof design, fun colors, excellent UV protection and less than $40 price point. You can find them locally at Moon Mippy.

Don’t Wait to Hydrate

Don’t just carry that trendy water bottle around, use it! Waiting until you’re thirsty to drink water is like waiting until you’re sunburned to apply sunscreen. So how much

should you drink? You’ve probably heard the eight glasses of water a day rule. While that’s a solid basic guideline, it may not be enough depending on where you live, how much you sweat and other factors. Hate water? No worries! You can get fluids from other sources, including non-sugary sports drinks and fresh fruits and vegetables. These will help with hydration and add electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, there are plenty of hydration enhancers on the market that you can add to water to replenish and refresh deliciously. Liquid IV is a popular choice among those in the know and is easily ordered through Amazon, including sugar-free versions. San Antonio is home to several places that offer IV drips to help with hydration. Recharge Zone is a go-to for a quick fix.

A word of caution when it comes to hydration: Not all liquids are created equal. While that margarita or cold beer may look cold and refreshing, alcohol is a dehydrating substance, so consume it mindfully and in moderation, and make sure you drink plenty

of water along with it.

Know What To Do When You Overdo It

Despite our best efforts, summer slipups happen. Pay attention to your body. If you experience nausea, headaches, confusion or similar symptoms while outdoors, get in the shade and call 911, as you could be suffering from heat exhaustion or the more deadly heat stroke.

If a day at the beach has you looking like a lobster, Hughes recommends taking ibuprofen, applying cool compresses and using over-the-counter lotions with camphor or pramoxine. For more severe

burns or blisters, consult your dermatologist.

The bottom line is that with some common sense and precautions, it is possible to reap the many benefits of time spent outside without obsessing over the risks.

“I’d like to see a small portion of the day spent applying sunscreen and donning protective clothing and then the rest of the day spent worry-free in an environment that will boost mood and fitness and create memories for you and your people,” Hughes said. “Think empowerment, not fear.”

BARBECUE ROAD TRIP

5 GREAT PLACES TO CHASE THE SMOKE BEYOND SAN ANTONIO

They were already there when I got to Barbs B Q on a cloudy Saturday morning in Lockhart. The barbecue chasers, that is, the ones who know every place worth knowing in Texas for brisket, ribs and sausage. They brought chairs, they brought coffee, they brought a scruffy pup named Drama.

They brought these things because they know the line starts way before the doors open at 11. Call it the barbe-queue, the long and winding line that’s a fact of life for the state’s top-tier barbecue joints. Because at these places, fear of missing out means fear of selling out.

Barbs B Q is one of those destinations now, less than a year after opening in this barbecue mecca already famous for Kreuz Market, Smitty’s Market and Black’s Barbecue. With an all-woman team and a curlicue sign out front, Barbs B Q turned the barbecue world pink two months before the “Barbie” movie even came out.

The line at Barbs B Q included something else that morning, something Larry McMurtry might have scripted

for small-town Texas. A young woman walked the line handing out business cards, asking people to vote for her as the next queen of the Watermelon Thump, happening June 27-30 in Luling, a town 15 miles to the south of Lockhart with a famous barbecue joint of its own: City Market.

It reminds all of us that a Texas barbecue road trip is so much better than the road not taken. And no matter how strong the barbecue scene in San Antonio becomes, to chase the smoke, sometimes you gotta burn some gas.

Barbs B Q

102 E. Market St., Lockhart, barbsbq.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-sold out Saturday-Sunday

Barbs B Q didn’t reinvent barbecue in Lockhart, but it brought something new nonetheless: a James Beard Award nomination for Best New Restaurant. Not just for Texas. For the whole country. Not bad for a narrow former bank lobby with pitmaster Chuck Charnichart like a teller in the back, cutting brisket, turkey, fajita sausage, lamb chops and pork ribs. The brisket looks like a sepia-tone photo, well-matched to the 1890s grandeur of the Caldwell County Courthouse across the street. A serrano syrup glaze gives the ribs their stage name: Molotov. They’re full spare ribs, fueled by lime zest and a sweet-hot chile sting. Mahogany links of fajita sausage convey a slow, sultry spice, another sign there’s a new player on the Lockhart smoke scene.

Burnt Bean Co.

108 S. Austin St., Seguin, burntbeanco.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-sold out Thursday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-sold out Sunday

The legend is that Burnt Bean got its name

when a co-worker threw shade at Ernest Servantes, saying he’d probably burn the beans at a barbecue competition. You wonder how they’d feel now that Servantes is a three-time James Beard Award nominee with fellow pitmaster and Burnt Bean co-owner David Kirkland. Carved from the brickyard bones of a former bar across from the Guadalupe County Courthouse, Burnt Bean does brisket with a rippled velvet elasticity like a velour shirt circa 1981. They make competition-quality sausage and pork ribs, but Burnt Bean’s story is one told in the small details: brisket huevos rancheros on Sundays, pork chops and beef dino ribs on the weekends, and the everyday spectacle of Hot Cheeto Queso Mac.

Black Board Bar B Q 1123 Sisterdale Road, Sisterdale, 830-324-6858, blackboardbarbq.com

Hours: 5-8 p.m. Thursday for Burger Night; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

The road to Sisterdale is one of the Hill Country’s most beautiful drives, one that meanders past bluebonnet fields and wide

open spaces. Joe Rodriguez and Melissa Garza tapped into that magic when they bought Black Board from its original owner in 2022. The rustic farmhouse setting is the same, but the screened-in pitroom is new, along with the 1,000-gallon Mill Scale smoker inside it. In Rodriguez’s hands, brisket burnt ends are a calling card to the wider experience, golfball-size nuggets with black pepper bark. A full piece of brisket looks like an ancient stone wall built with those ends, with blocks cut to fit in precise union, mortared with veins of coppered fat. Both the jalapeño-cheese and garlic-confit

sausages convey a textbook ratio of lean and fat, and the full-size pork spare ribs are so robust that just two of them might equal a full pound.

City Market

633 E. Davis St., Luling, 830-875-9019, citymarketluling.com

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday At City Market, the line snakes through the front door, past the rack of miniature pecan pies, all the way back to the pit room, where a team of guys cuts brisket, pork ribs and ring sausage, and bundles it all in greasy pink butcher paper. This is barbecue from the old school, the least expensive on this list, with shiny decoupage brisket, blushing red ribs and snap-case sausage, plus all the sides you could ever want, as long as those sides are potato salad and beans. There’s Big Red by the bottle, sweet pickles and mustard sauce in repurposed Tabasco bottles. Same as it ever was, since 1958.

Eaker Barbecue

607 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, 830-992-3650, eakerbarbecue.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday

How real is the FOMO factor in Texas barbecue? The customer in front of me got the last half-pound of gochujang ribs at Eaker Barbecue on a Friday. Here’s how good they are: I drove back to Fredericksburg the next weekend to be first in line. Smoked with mesquite and sauced with Korean chile paste, they’re a tribute to the Korean heritage of Boo Eaker, who opened the shop with her husband, Lance Eaker, in 2021. The Korean influence flows through kimchi, fried rice and a cucumber salad, and their dry-rub pork ribs and handmade sausage honor the Hill Country barbecue aesthetic with equal integrity. With brisket that pulls like a blacksmith’s bellows under a barklike beef candy, Eaker could take a seat at any serious barbecue table in Texas.

ROAD

TEXAS

Get ready for surf, sand and sunrises in Port Arthur, the Cajun Capital of Texas. Drive on over to Texas’ upper Gulf Coast for a family vacation overflowing with fall festivities. From sports and music hall of fames at the Museum of the Gulf Coast to overnight camping and paddling one of three rated trails at Sea Rim State Park to fishing and beach combing at McFaddin Beach, and even filling up on the best Cajun seafood in all of Texas, you’ll love every memory-making moment.

visitportarthurtx. com

Grill like a Pro

FIRE UP THE BARBECUE PIT THIS SUMMER

BY JILL ROBBINS

Maybe it’s the vibe of summer’s slower, more relaxed pace, or maybe it’s the tantalizing smells coming from your neighbor’s grill, or perhaps it’s the prominently placed bags of charcoal briquettes at H-E-B, but suddenly, meat cooked on the grill sounds really good.

But what if you feel clueless about grilling and you’re not the “barbecue person” in your family? The good news is that grilling is not beyond you; as with anything, practice makes perfect.

The Pros Weigh In

Chef Jason Dady has operated Two Bros BBQ Market since 2009. Two Bros showcases brisket, turkey, sausage, chicken thighs, cherry-glazed baby back ribs and three homemade sauces.

“Patience is the key,” Dady said. “You can’t rush it.”

Simple ingredients are also the best ingredients. Keep kosher salt, fresh cracked black pepper and mustard on hand. Dady calls these pantry staples essentials for great barbecue.

Kaitlyn John manages the BluePit Smokehouse at Selma’s Bluebonnet Palace. The popular dance hall north of San Antonio feeds 1,000 to 2,000 people every weekend, and the most sought-after menu items are brisket plates and brisket tacos.

John’s best advice for newbie barbecue chefs is to keep things simple, and not try too many things at once or to cook for too large of a crowd.

“Don’t be afraid to take chances when making food,” he said.

John also suggests beginners might find gas grilling less intimidating than cooking on charcoal.

According to Dady, the No. 1 barbecue sin is being in a hurry. Low and slow is the way to go.

“Don’t wrap your meat in foil and place it in your oven to speed up the process,” he said.

Also, assemble all necessary barbecue tools and ingredients before cooking. John recommends investing in a quality digital meat thermometer that quickly tests the internal temperature of meat.

If You’re Not Lookin’, You’re Not Cookin’

Don’t plop half a dozen chicken breasts on the fire and take a dip in the pool or settle in to watch the game.

HOMEMADE BBQ

SAUCE — YES YOU CAN!

Although H-E-B and Central Market have a robust selection of ready-made sauces, it is surprisingly easy to make BBQ sauce from scratch using pantry staples. And, even if you’re a beginner or completely winging it, nothing says expert like homemade sauce.

Classic No-Cook BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups ketchup

• 1 cup vinegar

• 1 cup prepared yellow mustard

• ½ cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ¾ teaspoon chili powder

• ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

Mix ketchup, vinegar, mustard, sugar, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, cayenne pepper and black pepper in a bowl until smooth.

Take things up a notch and heat the ingredients over low heat, allowing the flavors to bind together for a smoother and more consistent flavor. Allrecipes.com

But don’t poke, prod and flip unnecessarily either. Stay nearby to ensure dinner doesn’t burn, but don’t overflip. Typically, flipping once or twice is sufficient. Flipping too soon can make the meat stick to the grill.

Resist the urge to open the dome too often. Sure, you want to peep, but let the grill do its job and keep the heat and smoke in.

Best Chicken Tips

Cook chicken low and slow using indirect heat. Chicken quarters — thighs and legs — are easier to cook than breasts. Make sure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Best Beef Tips

Nothing says Texas quite like tender brisket. According to Dady, the magic formula for great brisket is constant and consistent heat.

“Also, a lengthy resting period, up to six hours,” he said.

He also recommends wrapping the finished brisket in a towel and placing it in an insulated ice chest. “This will give you the best brisket you’ve ever cooked. Trust that.”

Cook brisket fatty side up, which allows the rendered fat to drip down the meat while it cooks.

Make sure burger patties are at room temperature before grilling. This helps avoid shrinking and keeps those patties bun-size.

Best Pork Tips

Everyone loves a classic pulled pork sandwich. Cook pork low and slow until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Once the pork is shredded, add it to a large pot with liquid. Experiment with liquid flavors of water, broth, beer and fruit juice.

“Grilling or smoking pork is harder to get right because you have to be mindful of getting the safe internal temperature without drying them out,” John said. “A pork sausage is also an easy, approachable protein for beginner grillers.”

San Antonio Barbecue

BluePit Smokehouse, 17630 Lookout Road, Selma, bluebonnetpalace.com/ smokehouse

Two Bros BBQ Market, 12656 West Ave., twobrosbbqmarket.com

A Park for Everyone

Wonder Squad stays true to Morgan’s mission

BY DEBORAH MARTIN

Whenever lines back up for the rides at Morgan’s Wonderland, a request goes forth summoning help to rescue adventure-seekers from the perils of boredom.

Often, that call is answered by the Wonder Squad, the theme park’s very own team of superheroes. They’ll swoop in wearing their distinctive gear — including the standard superhero wardrobe of flashy boots, capes and a few pairs of wings — and pose for

photos. They’ll also chat with folks to help them pass the time.

The guests clearly respond, eagerly approaching them. And the actors love doing it.

“The thing I enjoy most in the park is having fun with the kids and playing with them a little bit,” said Alejandro “Aleka” Carmona, 21. “I love children, and I love to entertain and theater. It’s my passion.”

The Wonder Squad also fulfills a larger purpose. Each character reflects

many visitors at the park, which was created specifically to put those with special needs first.

X-Ray, who was born blind, sports high-tech goggles that help him see the good in others. Rocket, a mechanical whiz kid, gets around in a souped-up wheelchair with a device on one of the arms that sprays bubbles. And Jette propels herself through the park on jet-powered crutches.

The team’s leader, Morgan, sports long blonde hair and fluttery wings

that allow her to metaphorically fly through such obstacles as anxiety or fear.

“She’s all about the superpowers of friendship, love and healing,” said Entertainment Manager Matthew Cassi. “As a person with autism, she might have cognitive delays, but she’s turned those into emotional gifts.”

The character was inspired by Morgan Hartman, for whom the park is named. Morgan has cognitive and physical special needs, which motivated her parents, Gordon and Maggie Hartman, to create a park where she and others like her would feel at home.

Morgan’s Wonderland opened in 2010. The Wonder Squad has been a part of it from the beginning, though

at first, the team was solely represented by life-size cutouts. Able-bodied actors started playing the characters during the holidays in 2015, walking around the park and interacting with guests.

About two years ago, an actor who had been part of the Wonder Squad had an encounter outside the park in which she was asked what it had been like to take a performance opportunity away from an actor with disabilities, Cassi said.

That stunned her. She brought the issue up at the park, and a decision was made to pause that part of the entertainment while staffers worked out how best to move forward.

“When I got here, mission one for me was, these characters are fantastic,

and they’re so great for the community. So how can we get them back in, and how can we do it correctly?” said Cassi, who has a background in theater and in theme parks, and has been at Morgan’s Wonderland for nearly two years.

Ultimately, a decision was made to actively seek out people with special needs who were interested in playing the characters and gaining experience that might open doors to other jobs. Able-bodied actors are cast as well, which helps the park convey the message that Morgan’s Wonderland is for everyone.

“Our general community thinks this park is just for kids with disabilities or special needs,” Cassi said. “The kids with special needs want kids without

special needs to enjoy this park so that they can all come together. They don’t want their own park; they want a park that they can share with everybody. That’s why some of our messaging has changed.”

Between seven and nine actors currently play members of the Wonder Squad, with some actors portraying more than one character. Carmona, for example, alternates between X-Ray and Rocket.

In addition to portraying a range of abilities, the characters are racially diverse, depending on the available actors.

The actors also play other roles in the park, including friendship fairies and Professor Flutterwing, a zoologist who always appears with a caterpillar

puppet named Dr. Kindly.

The performers also work behind the scenes, picking up other skills. Gabriel Hey, 29, who has played X-Ray, a Christmas elf and many other roles in the park, has learned how to run sound cues for shows. This summer, he’ll be learning lights.

“This is an opportunity for them to get experience here, and they could potentially go work in a theater or go work in another theme park,” Cassi said, noting that an actress who is on the autism spectrum spent two seasons at the park and recently was accepted into Disneyland’s internship program.

Cristina Kazmierczak, 29, plays Jette and also has performed in the park’s dance parties, and worked as an usher

and a technician.

“This is my first season working here, but I was in the park when Morgan’s Wonderland was first opened,” said Kazmierczak, who also works as a model. “I came to the park when I was in school. Now they pay me.”

The profile of Jette and Rocket has shot up this season because two new rides are named for them. Jette’s Wonder Bikes, which is Kazmierczak’s favorite ride, allows folks to use either pedals or hand cranks to send gliderlike cars into the sky. And Rocket’s Sky-High Adventure is a zip line that soars over the park’s lake.

“I have my own ride,” said Malik Burt, whose characters include Rocket. “I’m so glad to have my own ride. I’m like, yes!”

Maryann Valerio, 29, is a supervisor who also plays Morgan and Jette.

“I love interacting with the kids and seeing them get really excited,” Valerio said. “I remember going to Disneyland and meeting princesses, so this makes me feel like a Disney princess. It’s supercool to be in that position now. I want them to have that same experience.”

New Splash Park Opens

Morgan’s Inspiration Island, billed

as the world’s first ultra-accessible splash park, opens for the summer May 17.

Those who have visited the sevenyear-old park in the past will find that it’s gotten a bit of a refresh since last year. It’s been repainted, the cabanas have been updated and there is a new concession stand, as well.

The wheelchair valet, where visitors can transfer to waterproof chairs, remains in place.

The enticing 3-acre park’s offerings

include Calypso Cove, where folks can make music as they splash about, playing drums that look like mushrooms and a xylophone that looks like a log. Rainbow Reef features warm water, and includes interactive elements such as a splash pad, water tables and spraying seahorses. Shipwreck Island boasts four wheelchair-accessible water cannons. Harvey’s Hideaway Bay has a jungle treehouse and splash zones. And Will’s Hang 10 Harbor has a beach-like feel.

Musical tribes

Songwriters and listeners gather, find community in song

BY TRAVIS E. POLING

Every Tuesday night at The Pigpen in Mahncke Park, about 20 singers and songwriters take the stage to pour out a little bit of their soul.

While the craft of songwriting often is a solitary endeavor, open mic nights in San Antonio and the Hill Country are proving grounds for local and visiting writers to come together far from the crowded Austin music scene.

“San Antonio has long had a singer/songwriter culture,” said John Whipple, a tunesmith and host of TuNesday Night at The Pigpen. “I wish more people in San Antonio knew to be proud of that.”

Tracing the Roots

It’s a legacy that dates back to the 1960s. In later years, clubs near San Antonio College drew people down from Austin, like the legendary Townes Van Zandt and later

up-and-comers such as Steve Earle.

Claude Butch Morgan discovered the Wednesday open mic at the original Casbeers on Blanco Road in the 1990s after moving back to Texas from Tennessee to try out his new songs. In 2003, he was asked to take over hosting duties of the showcase.

It featured a live band backing anyone who wanted to play. His 10-year-run as ringmaster to the creative process was continued by Whipple, moving to the Olmos Pharmacy and then to The Pigpen, where it became TuNesday.

The creative process sometimes makes a quick transformation to performance at The Pigpen, thanks to the 2-decade-old tradition of the San Antonio Song Saloon. The Monday night songwriters workshop, once held in person, is now on Zoom. Finished songs from that night often end up playing on the stage the following night.

More than anything, it’s a safe space for creativity.

“We’ve seen so many people come in, and they’re scared to play,” Whipple said. “The Tuesday night group becomes a safety net. I don’t know if this would work if it wasn’t for all the love coming from the audience.”

Early in his performing career, songwriter and recording artist Dallas Burrow made regular trips to TuNesday to roll out new material. He sought to re-create the encouraging atmosphere and interaction with music lovers, songwriters and musicians, although he wanted a model more like the influential Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, where active listening on songwriters circle nights is key to the experience.

In the spring of 2021, he started The Redbird Listening Room in New Braunfels with his mother, Carolyn Lehmann, who owned a character-rich building next to her graphic design and marketing business.

When he’s not touring with a new album, Burrow can be found giving words of encouragement to the songwriters, who sign up to perform one of their originals, some of them works in progress. Except for rare exceptions (such as the time Burrow asked songwriter and local plumber Patrick Sullivan to share his college voice training with an operatic performance), all songs during the sessions are original. Each night then closes with Burrow or a guest host leading attendees in the gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away.”

“It helps to have that positive voice for songwriters,” Burrow said. It’s in keeping with the sports psychology theory that “if you treat the athletes the way they could be, they’re more likely to become that player.”

Songwriter circles evolve

That community is now extending outside the performance space. In March, Burrow invited South Central Texas songwriters and their families to come for an informal song circle around a campfire on the shore of an area lake.

The scene is reminiscent of the numerous campfire music circles that pop up each night after a day of organized performances on stage at the venerable Kerrville Folk Festival.

Songwriter regulars from The Redbird also took the experience to Port Aransas earlier this year and found more songwriting talent eager to play and listen to others.

An even greater reach came this year when the venue became the new location for taping live shows of the Ray Wylie Hubbard-hosted “Roots & Branches of Americana.” The long-running Tuesday night show airs on 92.1 KNBT and streams at RadioNB.com.

While some attendees are professional songwriters and performers, just as many show up at TuNesday, The Redbird, The Screaming Goat in Bulverde and other venues to express themselves and find camaraderie.

Alex Lucas played in an Austin-based band in the 1990s until, at 28, he decided to become a pharmacist. He rose to the level of district manager for a major pharmacy chain, but lost his job and then his wife during the COVID-19 lockdown. He picked up music again, this time as a songwriter, to express the complex emotional turmoil of that time.

“I had basically put away my music for my career,” Lucas said.

He drew into himself until the COVID vaccine took the edge off the pandemic. It was then that he found the songwriting community. Now, he doesn’t miss a week at The Redbird.

“Coming here it felt like home. Songwriting and this community have changed my life,” he said.

The Northeast San Antonio resident now commutes to a Luling pharmacy for work and hosts his open mic at Rails & Ales next door. He still returns each week to The Redbird.

“The people who come here pour their souls out,” Lucas said. “We don’t express ourselves very well in real life. It’s easier to play for songwriters.”

Claude Morgan, who still makes appearances at TuNesday and has a regular gig with his band at Sancho’s on Thursday, has recorded dozens of his songs over the decades but usually not before they have been played for others.

Sketching portraits

Pen and paint capture tunesmiths and guitars

BY TRAVIS E. POLING

Mark Nelson has met hundreds of songwriters over the years and commemorated each one with the tip of a pen or swipe of a paint brush.

The 77-year-old New Braunfels resident can be found most nights at the time-worn Gruene Hall in the historic town of the same name or at the newer The Redbird Listening Room just blocks from his home.

A graduate of the Minneapolis College of Arts, he left his home state in 1976 to bike around the United States for the nation’s bicentennial, but only made it — along with his wife — as far as Texas. His work as a welder had him on South Texas oil rigs, on the crew of Galveston’s historic iron sailing ship Elissa, and several companies around New Braunfels until his retirement.

Through it all, he never stopped capturing the people around him. For years now, the focus of most of his sketches and watercolor paintings are of songwriters and singers.

“I’m addicted to drawing people,” Nelson said. “I go to where the interesting people are.”

He has found that in songwriters, he said, as his never-idle hands sketched a lawyer on a phone and laptop working in the coffee shop. “I really like drawing big noses,” he said with a laugh.

“A lot of people like my watercolors, but I’m really a pen and ink guy,” he said, showing a recent drawing of singer Sarah Lee Guthrie, the daughter of the famed songwriter and “Dust Bowl Troubadour” Woody Guthrie.

During concerts, he is able to more fully capture the singers and band members. A bigger challenge is trying to capture the essence of a songwriter on open mic nights when he has sometimes less than three minutes to capture their essence.

He doesn’t do it for the money, but many songwriters say they have Nelson’s sketches of them framed on their walls after making a small donation. More details emerge the longer the writer talks about the song and the inspiration, sometimes giving Nelson up to five minutes to complete a portrait sketch.

“If (the musician) is convivial, then I can relax,” he said.

“I never wrote a song I cared for anyone else to hear. I wrote it for me,” Morgan said. “If it’s good, then I’ll share it. It raises the waterline to be around other writers. It encourages you to be better at your craft.”

San Antonio to San Marcos has long been a sweet spot for songwriters to gather, and the number of places to gather has grown in recent years.

“We just like writing songs in the same way other people get together and play golf,” said Joe Tidwell, a songwriter from Boerne who has played in bars for 30 years and frequently takes the stage with other songwriters at The Screaming Goat.

The place screams “Hill Country” — with mic stands made of stripped cedar, a disco ball and, in late March, a

walk-on performance by 1960s University of Texas quarterback and 10-year NFL veteran William Bradley.

The Wednesday night meetup is helmed by David Lee, a Grammy-nominated songwriter from Nashville who plied his trade there for 22 years before taking up residence in the Texas Hill Country in 2015 to write and record.

Tidwell said Lee is like a father figure to many young songwriters, having penned tunes for country stars such as Montgomery Gentry and Lee Ann Womack. The night is a good place to workshop songs, and young songwriters especially like the fellowship and feedback of listeners and seasoned songwriting pros, he said.

“Austin’s not like this,” Tidwell said. “It’s pretty rare, and ego doesn’t get in the way of anything.”

Preserving the tradition

The San Antonio, Hill Country and San Marcos songwriting communities have found common ground in recent years at the Redbird Listening Room, where donations on songwriter nights, tickets on showcase performances at the 60-seat venue and support from the Cheatham Street Music Foundation help keep the lights on.

The foundation was formed in 2005 to carry on the tradition of encouraging songwriters started decades ago by Kent Finlay, songwriter and founder of Cheatham Street Warehouse in 1974. It was a testing ground for seasoned and fledgling artists, many of whom went on to find fame.

The foundation eventually bought the building but sold it to Randy Rogers and is now using that money to support the foundation efforts.

Songwriter John “Missoula Slim” Gilliam was given his nickname by Finlay soon after moving to Texas from Montana and joining the circle at Cheatham Street 20 years ago.

“It was like walking into place and finding my tribe,” Gilliam said.

He has worked to preserve and spread that tribe for others ever since, including serving as current president of the Cheatham Street Music Foundation. On Wednesdays, you’ll find him leading songwriter night at Cheatham Street, and he is a regular performer Thursday

THE VENUES

• Cheatham Street Warehouse, 119 Cheatham St., San Marcos, cheathamstreet.com

• The Pigpen, 106 Pershing Ave., thepigpensa.com

• The Redbird Listening Room, 1260 S Business IH-35, New Braunfels, redbirdlisteningroom.com

• The Screaming Goat, 4 Sun Valley Road, Spring Branch, screaminggoatyard.com

nights in New Braunfels at The Redbird.

“Everybody shuts up and listens. Songwriters love that,” Gilliam said. “Playing a room where people are actually listening, that keeps you going. Those are golden moments.”

That has created one of the most diverse songwriter scenes he has encountered on many fronts. Of course, there is a heavy dose of that encompassing genre known as Americana, but there are also stripped-down acoustic performances that highlight lyrics from what could be new country, pop, rock or other categories when backed by a band.

“It’s a great opportunity to show off new stuff,” Gilliam said. “We all try to support one another. It’s an open community. It’s not a clique. If you can write a song, we want to hear it.”

Inflatable Pools ESCAPE

This summer, dive into a family vac ation in South Padre Island, where activities, amenities and adventure await under warm, sunny skies

BY BECCA HENSLEY

THE GOOD LIFE

Buckle Up

San Antonio’s first flight across the pond to Frankfurt is here

EFORE I BOARD MY CONDOR flight to Frankfurt, I catch a glimpse of the plane from the airport window.

Painted with cheerful blue stripes, it looks as festive as decorations for a birthday party, the perfect merry transport for my long-awaited vacation.

On board, things only get better. The interiors are spacious, especially in business class, where every seat has aisle access and each commodious nook feels like a private compartment.

On the front row, the four Prime Seats, larger in every way, come with extra amenities, including pajamas.

But I’m content to tuck into my window spot, sip the bubbly offered by the flight attendant and dream of whether I’ll choose the tagliatelle with truffle cream sauce or Cajun chicken for dinner. Once we take off, I’ll transform my

chair into a luxurious, totally flat bed — and sleep all the way to Germany.

Ready for it? Nonstop flights to Europe have finally come to San Antonio. Germany-based Condor, one of Europe’s most storied airlines, began its pioneering transatlantic service May 17 from San Antonio International Airport.

Scheduled to fly across the pond to bustling Frankfurt three times a week all summer long until Sept. 6, the 10-hour jaunts will depart Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. They’ll arrive the next afternoon in plenty of time to connect to other flights or trains — or allow travelers to whip into Frankfurt city for a satisfying urban stay.

Return flights to San Antonio, conveniently scheduled midafternoon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, allow flyers to take leisurely mornings to sightsee or arrive from other

destinations. Travelers pass backward through time zones to land in the Alamo City in the early evening hours of the same day of departure.

“This a spectacular win for San Antonio,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during a news conference at the City of San Antonio International Center in September when the Condor agreement was announced.

“This is the first time people in San Antonio will be able to fly from SAT to Europe nonstop and vice versa. Germany is where San Antonio has the most demand for travel in Europe because of the cultural, historic, tourism, military and business ties,” he said, also mentioning that Condor is projected to have “an annual $34 million estimated economic impact” on the region.

Affectionately known as Germany’s “take me on vacation” airline, Condor

launched in 1955. Its decadeslong history of conveying revelers to sunny places such as Greece and Spain have made it a favorite in Europe, deeply associated with quality of life, relaxation and fun.

Already popular for affordable pricing and top-notch service, Condor also wins accolades as an eco-conscious airline. Its new A330neo planes, considered the world’s most planet-friendly aircrafts, reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20%, and consume much less fuel per passenger than the industry average.

Ever natty and in vogue, Condor isn't just environmentally astute. The savvy airline also brings style to the skies. With newly minted exteriors painted with colorful stripes — a playful motif inspired by beach towels and pool parasols — the whimsical look sends

the message that your holiday begins the moment you board the plane.

Inside the Flight

With a nod to air travel’s luxurious, pampering heyday and a dose of German panache, Condor and its A330neo planes offer peerless in-flight perks and coziness across cabin classes.

With space for 310 total passengers, the planes’ sleek interiors sport striped accents, soothing blue hues and a sense of spaciousness.

Up front, 30 business class seats await, each with aisle access and roomy, private compartment-style seats. Ideal for working or sleeping during flights, the 19-inch-wide seats stretch out completely flat, elongating to a glorious 6.5 feet.

The best seats in the house, the four Prime Seats occupy the very front row. Designed for couples or colleagues traveling together, these even larger spots have a shared coffee table and include amenities such as pajamas and personal snack baskets.

Just behind, the Premium Economy cabin with 64 seats features an

elevated economy service, including extra legroom with 35 inches of pitch, upgraded meals and complimentary alcohol. (Pro tip: Ask for a BrewDog Ferien Lager or a nonalcoholic beer in striped cans.)

Throughout all categories of service, a “whisper quiet” airspace cabin

imparts a sense of tranquility. More personal space, larger overhead bins, an innovative mood lighting system, high-speed internet and state-of-theart in-flight entertainment systems combine to ensure a Top 10 consumer-friendly flight experience.

Ready to take off? Buckle your

seatbelt. You’ll be across the Atlantic eating pretzels in Germany in no time.

About Frankfurt Airport

As the main hub for Condor and Lufthansa, Frankfurt Airport reigns as Germany’s largest, prime for transfers to worldwide destinations.

Upon arrival, you can continue by air, rent a car or take a train from one of the two railway stations in Terminal 1: the Long Distance Railway Station for all high-speed intercity trains, or ICE, leaving in all directions, or the Airport Regional Railway Station for metro, regional and local trains.

Note: Condor offers a cool Rail & Fly program in which you can purchase a Condor air ticket that includes a rail Deutsche Bahn ticket anywhere in Germany — all on Condor.com.

Hanging Out in Frankfurt

How to Get There

From the airport, take a taxi or the subway (lines S8 and S9 from the Airport Regional Railway Station) to the city center, which takes about 15 minutes.

What it's Like

Locals call it Frankfurt Mainhattan — and it’s got that urbane vibe: residential and au courant with skyscrapers and modern architecture. Often underrated touristically and sometimes overlooked because of its reputation as a buzzy business center or just an airport town, the historic city stands up as a fascinating place to bookend a longer trip or to spend a long layover. Walkable (a huge plus when working off jet lag), it actually emits a village vibe. Though cosmopolitan

and modern, historic Frankfurt is friendly and easy to navigate. Throughout it claims uniquely German pockets, from cobbled streets to half-timbered houses.

Peruse some 160 stalls at Kleinmarkthalle, an extravaganza of local purveyors and regional delicacies. In characteristic Sachsenhausen — a neighborhood full of quintessential taverns that pour Frankfurt’s famous apple wine and dish up colossal plates of pork schnitzel, potato salad and wurst — you can’t go wrong, and you may want to pub hop from one zesty spot to another.

Visit postcard-perfect Römerberg Square in the heart of Old Town, or Altstadt. Cruise along the River Main

on a boat. Satisfy your curiosity at the Museum Embankment, a veritable trove of 39 outstanding museums along a boulevard. My favorite,

Städel Museum, features masterworks by the likes of Picasso, Monet, Beckmann, Klee, Renoir and Degas –among others.

Where to Stay

I love 25hours Hotel Frankfurt The Goldman because it echoes Frankfurt’s hip, design-centric, modern side. Located in the creative east end, it lies a short walk down the river’s shore to everything you’ll want to do. A bonus? It has bikes to borrow, which makes for a rollicking way to see the sights.

For Apple Wine and German Food

On the river, replete with a beer garden, Daheim im Lorsbacher Thal, which dates from 1803, should be your first stop in Sachsenhausen to sate your hunger.

Where to Find the Best Cheesy Goodness in San Antonio

Savory, creamy, comforting, sometimes tangy or even squeaky. These adjectives describe cheese, of course. While San Antonio may not be known as Cheese City, USA, we offer our own swoon-worthy cheese deliciousness.

May is American Cheese Month, as if anyone really needs a reason to cheese it up. Here are some great spots in San Antonio for the cheesiest delights.

Raclette & Baguette

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

This gem at Pearl serves approachable French comfort food, and the menu’s cheese superstar: the Raclette & Baguette. Raclette is a round cow’s milk cheese melted with direct heat, and the melted part is scraped onto a crisp baguette.

The tableside presentation is reason enough to order this cheese masterpiece, but its all-around yumminess lives up to the dazzling delivery. Raclette is mild, with a slight balance of both sweet and nutty flavors. It is cheese perfection. Chou Chou serves the Raclette with smoked paprika aioli and tiny pickles on the side. Want to sink your teeth into something a bit more substantial? Add Bayonne ham.

312 Pearl Parkway, 210-469-3743, brasseriemonchouchou.com

The Cheddar Cheezy

Chris Madrid’s

For anyone who knows the perfect way to enjoy cheese is atop a burger and gripped with two hands, meet the Cheddar Cheezy at Chris Madrid’s. Routinely topping lists of where to grab San Antonio’s best burger, this Blanco Road favorite spot has a hearty, no-frills menu with hand-helds, nachos and other satisfying things covered with cheese.

The menu touts the Cheddar Cheezy, a burger topped with a molten flow of cheddar cheese sauce, as everyone’s favorite. We’re not arguing. Plan on extra napkins and maybe a bit of finger-lickin’.

1900 Blanco Road, 210-735-3552, chrismadrids.com

Proveleta

Dorrego’s in Hotel Valencia Riverwalk

Dorrego’s, inside the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, is an Argentine-inspired eatery. The Proveleta, listed on the small plates section of the lunch and dinner menus, also can be ordered at the bar, which is prime people-watching territory. The Proveleta makes the ultimate pre- or post-Majestic Theater bite.

A small iron skillet of savory Provolone is adorned with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, drizzled with 151 rum and lit tableside, treating visitors

to a fiery show as the cheese melts. The Proveleta is served with crostini and is a must for anyone seeking that ultra-Instagrammable cheesy pull.

150 E. Houston St., 210-230-8454, dorregos.com

House-Made Burrata Dough

Want authentic Neopolatian-style pizza? Go to one of Dough’s two San Antonio locations. While pizza unarguably is big on cheesy goodness, don’t skip Dough’s signature burrata.

A lot is happening on the plate, filled with truffle essence, mascarpone and ricotta, and served with a side of tomatoes, rosemary balsamic reduction, olive oil and crispy house-made crostini. Despite that, this fresh cheese dish remains deliciously simple and comforting.

518 S. Alamo St.*, 210-227-2900, doughpizzeria.com

*Second location at 6989 Blanco Road

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Jardín at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Leave it to Chef Jason Dady to create an elevated twist on this beloved lunch classic while still keeping it comforting. This morsel is made of tangy, creamy goat cheese on a toasted bread round and smothered with sweet tomato jam.

You’ll need a knife and fork for this one, and there’s no shame in ordering two.

555 Funston Place, 210-338-5100, jardinsatx.com

Queso

Torchy’s Tacos

Anyone within 210 knows that queso is not only a food group, but any sentence starting with “Best Queso” opens the door for a potentially controversial exchange. Same with “Best Barbecue” — San Antonians have strong opinions, and that’s OK.

Although where to get spectacular queso deserves its own discussion, Torchy’s snags the top spot here.

Although the city is full of delicious and unique queso (looking at you, Brisket Queso from Iron Cactus), Torchy’s wins for its perfect texture — it takes hold of the chip without being too thick and clumpy — and zippy green chile flavor and cool dab of guac on top.

999 E. Basse Road No. 183*, 210-824-1603, torchystacos.com

*Six other S.A.-area locations

BEST CHEESE SHOPS

Sometimes, there’s just no place like home. Whether you’re creating a fromage-topped masterpiece in your kitchen or assembling an epic charcuterie board for a night in, familiarize yourself with one or all of these local cheese specialty stores.

The Board Couple

Although anyone can breeze into The Board Couple’s Woodlawn Lake shop and grab a selection of cheeses, meats, house-made nut mix, curated wines and craft beers, the experience is much more than a store.

The focus is on creating an experience by offering classes and bespoke grazing boards. “You eat with your eyes first,” said Monica Nino, who has operated the Board Couple with her fiancée, Bryan Gonzales, since 2018. The Board Couple recently opened a second location in Comfort.

2218 N. Zarzamora St., 210-573-2100, theboardcouple.com

Otto’s Cheese Shop

Otto’s, located on Landa Street in New Braunfels, offers gourmet cheese, meats and other cheese board accompaniments. Otto’s frequently partners with Water2Wine for classes and pairings, and there’s even a cheese club for those

with adventurous cheese palates. 344 Landa St., New Braunfels, 830-387-4495, ottoscheeseshop.com

River Whey Creamery

This creamery crafts artisanal cheeses

are sold in H-E-B, Central Market and Antonelli’s cheese shop in Austin. It also offers cheese-making and cheese-tasting classes. Local customers can pick up their cheese at the Schertz location. 17361 Bell N. Drive, No. 115, Schertz, 210-326-1342, riverwhey creamery.com

Willow’s Cheese Shop

This mother-anddaughter-owned Blanco Road location sells specialty cheeses, meats, oils, vinegars and other charcuterie-themed gifts. It also offers cheese pairing classes. 6413 Blanco Road, 210-888-1199, willowscheeseshop.com

Vintage variety

Wine bars serve every palate

N THE LAND OF MARGARItas and Lone Stars, suddenly San Antonio is a wine city. The past yearplus has brought about a half-dozen new wine bars to town, where they’ve joined a lineup of vino veterans who paved the way for the newcomers.

The influx has brought a staggering array of vintages to the table, with shops specializing in tiny producers from far-flung corners of the globe to experts focused exclusively on the wines of Mexico, and they’re all finding a place in the city’s ever-expanding wine bar scene.

A Perfect Day

A Perfect Day is located in the former Southtown home of Francis Bogside. The offspring of longtime bar owner Aaron Peña and the team behind Bar Loretta, A Perfect Day is the perfect place to sip a Picpoul while browsing the shop’s large selection of bottles.

803 S. St. Mary’s St., Instagram: @aperfectdaywinebar

Anne’s Wine Bar

Nestled inside Francis Bogside in St. Paul Square, Anne’s is a prime date-night option. The neon-pink space is vibrant, lively and inviting, with eclectic lighting

and artwork throughout. The bottle selection isn’t huge, but it is well-focused on Old World European labels. Anne’s 1170 E. Commerce St., 210-274-2977, francisbogside.com

The Board Couple

Owners Monica Nino and Bryan have transformed a former West Side taco shop into a refined and relaxed spot to enjoy a selection of roughly 1,000 bottles along with charcuterie boards, sandwiches and a selection of specialty grocery items.

2218 N. Zarzamora St., 210-573-2100, theboardcouple.com

Casa Guipzot

This unique wine bar deals exclusively in wines from Mexico, which has a viticultural history dating to the 16th century. Owners Salena and Eduardo Guipzot have sourced some of the country’s finest expressions of Old World grapes and serve them in an intimate West Side space.

118 S. Sabinas St., Building 3, Suite 101, 210-996-0575, casaguipzot.com

Go Fish Wine Bar

Go Fish is a solid spot to enjoy creative seafood dishes over a glass or bottle of intriguing wine. You can’t go wrong

with a dozen oysters to pair with your wine selection, but don’t sleep on the kitchen’s flavorful ceviche and sashimi. 125 W. Grayson St., 210-542-6631, gofishmkt.com

Hands Down

This wine bar is the product of a partnership between artist Amada Claire Miller and Empty Stomach Group chief Chad Carey, and it’s the place to be for a taste of the unusual and unexpected. The wine selection puts forth offerings from small producers you’re unlikely to find in big-box stores.

1012 S. Presa St., 210-462-1430, handsdownbar.com

High Street Wine Co.

This popular Pearl establishment reopened late last year following a significant makeover that greatly ex-

panded its capacity for both customers and bottles in its cellar. The new and improved space also provides room for High Street to hold regular wine tastings and educational classes. 302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 104, 210-908-9144, highstreetwine.com

Little Death

This is pretty much the only spot on the St. Mary’s Strip where a grown-up doesn’t have to feel sensitive about their age among the throng of clubbing college kids, but make no mistake: Little Death is down to party. The selection

of bottles available for retail purchase or on-site consumption is huge and ever-changing, and represents a wide range of wine styles at accessible price points. 2327 N. St. Mary’s St., 210-264-6472, littledeathwine.com

Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery

This Hemisfair destination is the vision of talented sommelier Jennifer Beckmann and her roughly 15 years of experience promoting and developing the wine scene in Texas. Much of what you’ll find here are her own wines, produced exclusively from Texas grapes. 623 Hemisfair Blvd., Suite 106

at Hemisfair, 210-239-9763, rerootedwine.com

Vintage Wine Bar & Specialty Foods

Lindsey and PJ Edwards chased the success of their restaurant Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar with this haven for foodies and oenophiles in early 2022. In addition to a collection of roughly 150 different wines available to purchase or enjoy on-site, the shop holds regular tasting events and seasonal parties.

555 W. Bitters Road, Suite 112, 210-267-1872, vintagewinehcv.com

Summer Concerts

BY JIM KIEST

Concert attendance is on the rise. According to the Hollywood Reporter, industry behemoth Live Nation reported its best year ever for attendance in 2023. In San Antonio, 13 concerts sold out at Frost Bank Center, which saw total attendance of 400,000 across 41 concerts, a year-over-year increase of 21%, according to a statement released by Spurs Sports & Entertainment.

That trend looks likely to continue this year, with a busy summer schedule that includes legacy acts and hot newcomers, which should attract a broad range of fans.

Here’s a look at 20 concerts coming to San Antonio-area venues large and small through the end of August.

May

Miranda Lambert: Country superstar Lambert’s latest release was a cookbook, “Y’all Eat Yet?” Fair enough. The Longview native cooks onstage, with a set list that draws on an unbroken string of great albums, from “Kerosene” to “Palomino” and hits like “Gunpowder & Lead,” “The House That Built Me” and “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).” May 24-26, Whitewater Amphitheater

Justin Timberlake: Pop star Timberlake carries some baggage; Britney Spears’ recent memoir was a reminder of that. But from *NSync to his chart-topping early solo albums and winning appearances from “Saturday Night Live” to “Trolls,” he’s also built up an incredible amount of goodwill. That seems to be carrying the day on his Forget Tomorrow tour. His San Antonio stop is nearly sold out. May 29, Frost Bank Center

Saxon and Uriah Heep: Here’s an odd but intriguing double bill in an unlikely venue. Saxon was one of the standouts of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the late ’70s. Uriah Heep was on the progressive end of an earlier generation of

British rock bands with rock radio staples like “Easy Livin’” and “The Wizard.” May 30, Tobin Center

Alejandro Escovedo: San Antonio native Escovedo’s career runs from the L.A. punk of the Nuns through cowpunk band Rank and File, Austin rock heroes True Believers and a celebrated solo career. He looks back on much of it on his new album, “Echo Dancing,” which reconceives many of his earlier songs. May 31, Stable Hall

June

Samara Joy: 24-year-old jazz vocalist Joy won last year’s Grammy Award for best new artist. Following her most recent album, “Linger Awhile,” she released a holiday EP in 2023 and contributed a song, “Why I’m Here,” to the soundtrack for the Netflix biopic “Shirley.” According to Billboard, the song continues a “flawless streak of truly spellbinding vocal performances.” June 1, Carver Community Cultural Center

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire: Starting with the Commodores, Richie has been a consistent hitmaker for decades with songs such as “Easy,” “Lady,” “Hello,” “All Night Long” and “Dancing on the Ceiling.” His 2012 country album, “Tuskegee,” sold more than 1 million copies, a milestone that’s hard to reach in the downloading and streaming era. Opening act Earth, Wind & Fire will get the party started with hits such as “September” and “Boogie Wonderland.” June 4, Frost Bank Center

Todd Rundgren: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rundgren, last in town opening for Daryl Hall, returns with his own band, including bass player Kasim Sulton, a member of Rundgren’s band Utopia, and Prairie Prince, who played with the Tubes and Jefferson Starship. Rundgren is known for songs such as “Hello It’s Me” and “Can We Still Be Friends?” as well as producing albums for Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls and Meatloaf. June 8, Empire Theatre

Aventura: Bachata superstar Romeo Santos reportedly will be fronting the band Aventura for the final time on the reunion tour Cerrando Ciclos. Emerging from the Bronx in the mid-’90s, Aventura

is credited with bringing the Dominican music style bachata into the Latin music mainstream with hits such as “Por Un Segundo” and “Dile al Amor.” June 19, Frost Bank Center

Blink-182: Pop-punk heroes Blink-182 released a new album, “One More Time,” last year, the band’s first with its classic lineup of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker since 2011. That’s the trio responsible for hits such as “All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again?” and “I Miss You.” June 24, Frost Bank Center

George Thorogood & the Destroyers: “Bad to the Bone” boogie man George Thorogood introduced a bunch of rock fans to blues and rock pioneers like Bo Diddley, Elmore James and John Lee Hooker with his loud and raw covers of their songs. His current tour looks back on 50 years in the music business. With the Robert Cray Band. June 28, Tobin Center

July

Jennifer Lopez: After reports of sluggish ticket sales for Lopez’s This Is Me … Now tour, fans were assured that the concerts also would include hits from “then” like “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” Does it even matter as long as J-Lo delivers the kind of dancing and spectacle that filled the over-the-top movie that accompanied her new album? July 5, Frost Bank Center

Peso Pluma: The breakout star of 2023, corridos tumbados singer Peso Pluma’s career took off so fast that his first San Antonio concert had to be moved from the Majestic Theatre to the Frost Bank Center. The Rolling Stone cover star will be back in the city he briefly called home on another headlining tour in support of his forthcoming album “Exodo,” which he told the magazine will include “a lot of flavors, not only of regional Mexican music.” July 17, Frost Bank Center

Information Society: Synth-pop band Information Society came out of the same Minneapolis music scene that produced acts as varied as Prince and the Revolution, Soul Asylum and the Replacements. The band is best known for the monster dance hit “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy),” featuring the voice of Mr. Spock. July 19, Sam’s Burger Joint

Zach Bryan: Country singer-songwriter Bryan, an Army veteran who’s known for his stripped-down storytelling style, earned raves for his self-titled album on Warner Bros., which featured the hit “I Remember Everything,” a duet with Kacey Musgraves. His fans will sing along with it in concert as well as his previous hit, “Somewhere in the Orange.” Actually, they’ll probably sing along with everything. July 30-31, Frost Bank Center

August

Donny Osmond: Pop singer and theater star Osmond has a long, long career to draw on in his Direct From Las Vegas Tour. From his family band to teen idol, TV star with sister Marie, star of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Dancing With the Stars” champion, the 66-year-old has been a professional entertainer since he was 5. Aug. 1, Tobin Center

Legends of Hip Hop: Rapper, actor and entrepreneur Ice Cube, whose legend dates back to the early days of West Coast hip-hop and the group N.W.A, headlines this throwback show. He’ll be joined by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, E-40, Juvenile, Amanda Perez and N2 Deep. Aug. 3, Frost Bank Center

10cc: Fans of British rock band 10cc, best known for its 1975 hit “I’m Not in Love,” have a rare chance to see them live. Fea-

turing original member Graham Gouldman, the band is touring North America for the first time in 30 years. Aug. 8, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Switchfoot & Blue October: San Diego rockers Switchfoot recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of their terrific album “The Beautiful Letdown,” which featured the hits “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.” Led by singer Justin Furstenfeld, beloved by fans for his emotionally raw songs, Blue October recently released a new single called “Everything We Lost in the Fire.” With Matt Nathanson. Aug. 8, Whitewater Amphitheater

Barry Manilow: With a string of hits including “Mandy,” “It’s a Miracle” and “Looks Like We Made It,” Manilow was one of the biggest pop stars of the 1970s. He’s maintained a loyal fan base through the years with concerts that play up his showmanship and albums devoted to standards and themes such as “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties.” Aug. 15, Frost Bank Center

Def Leppard: Def Leppard headlined one of 2022’s biggest concerts, The Stadium Tour, with Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett. The “Pour Some Sugar on Me” rockers will do it again in 2024 with a somewhat more mainstream lineup, including fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Journey and the Steve Miller Band. Aug. 16, Alamodome

Venues

• Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St. livenation.com

• Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St. thecarver.org

• Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St. majesticempire.com

• Frost Bank Center, 1 Frost Bank Center Drive. frostbankcenter.com

• Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St. majesticempire.com

• Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St. samsburgerjoint.com

• Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway. stablehall.com

• Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. tobincenter.org

• Whitewater Amphitheatre, 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels. whitewaterrocks.com

Mark your Calendars

BY EMILY DITOMASSO

Southern Smoke N Sip

Spend Memorial Day savoring the taste of the south with delicious barbecue and cocktails. There will be live music, a kids zone, a car show and the chance to savor the best margarita or barbecue.

Noon-11 p.m. May 24-26, 12210 Leslie Road, ticket prices vary, ssnsfestival.com

Madre Tierra

This exhibit will feature visual styles and thematic experiences of the landscape, including representational paintings, expressionistic watercolors and ink drawings, photographs, silkscreens and mixed-media abstractions. Nate Cassie, Ethel Shipton, Katie Pell, Alejandro Diaz and Matt Kleberg are among the featured artists. Times vary, May 29-Aug, 17, Ruiz-Healy Art, 201-A E, Olmos Drive, ruizhealyart.com.

Dogs! A Science Tail

This exhibit is made for pooch aficionados who want to experience our furry friends’ point of view of our world. Dog lovers will learn how dogs sniff, hear and see through hands-on exhibits; train a virtual dog; clock their running speeds against the world’s fastest dogs; and more.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1-Sept. 2, The Doseum, 2800 Broadway, thedoseum.org

River Walk Pride Parade

Held along the River Walk, the Bud Light Pride River Parade & Festival offers vibrant floats, energetic music and the pride of

the LGBTQ+ community. Put on your most colorful gear, and get ready to dance and cheer for inclusivity.

5-10 p.m. La Villita/Arneson River Theatre Celebration; 6-7 p.m. Museum Reach River Parade; 9-10 p.m. Downtown River Parade, June 1, free, San Antonio River Walk, thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Fiesta Noche del Rio

Experience the vibrant culture and heritage of San Antonio through colorful costumes, song and dance. The annual event will include a variety of performances representative of cultural traditions, such as mariachis, flamenco dancers, folkloric groups and more.

8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, June 7-Aug. 3, Historic Arneson River Theatre, 418 Villita St., along the San Antonio River Walk, $8-$20, fiestanochesa.com

Party on the Plaza

Enjoy a night of music ranging from Tejano to country, pop and blues from local artists at the base of San Antonio’s iconic landmark — the Tower of the Americas. There will be light bites and drinks to enjoy under the night sky.

7-11 p.m. every first Friday, June 7-Oct. 4, Tower of the Americas, 739 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., free, toweroftheamericas. com

Juneteenth Festivities

• Kick off the Juneteenth celebration with a prayer breakfast. 9-11 a.m. June 8, Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, ticket prices vary

• The annual Juneteenth Festival will be held at Comanche Park and will include musical performances by Heatwave and 12 Eleven, along with food booths, gospel groups and children activities.

11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 15, Comanche Park

No. 2, 2600 Rigsby Ave., free

• The celebration ends with a golf tournament that benefits Miller Child Development Center and supports the Official Juneteenth Festival.

8 a.m.-3 p.m. June 19, Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club, 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, $175 registration includes green fees, cart, driving range, catered breakfast and lunch

Tickets and more information available at San Antonio Juneteenth Commission, juneteenthsanantonio.com.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Join best-selling author and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson in a thought-provoking discussion on space travel, and the obstacles and limitations that come with it. Through wit and humor, the astrophysicist encourages a more informed and realistic perspective on exploration beyond Earth. 7 :30 p.m. June 20, H-E-B Performance Hall at Tobin Cen -

ter for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, ticket prices vary, tobincenter. org/degrasse-tyson

Stonewall Peach Jamboree & Rodeo

A celebration of agriculture, rural life, community and all things peach. The 63rd annual Peach Jamboree will include peachthemed food, drinks and tasting competitions, along with peach picking. There will also be a parade, live music, a rodeo, and arts and crafts.

6 p.m-midnight, June 21; 7 a.m.-2 a.m. June 22, Stonewall Chamber Grounds, 250 Peach St., Stonewall, $20-$40, stonewalltexas.com/peach-jamboree

70th Luling

Watermelon

Thump

Celebrate Luling’s watermelon harvest with food, live music, a carnival, a parade, car shows and the festival’s famous watermelon seed-spitting contest. There also will be the annual crowning of the thump queen. June 27-30, Watermelon Thump Pavilion, 421 E. Davis St., Luling, free on Thursday and Sunday, ticket prices vary Friday and Saturday, watermelonthump.com

Pride Bigger Than Texas

Spread the message of love and inclusivity with the Pride Bigger Than Texas Festival. There will be live music, food, drinks, a colorful parade and local LGBTQ+ small businesses/vendors. Make sure to dress for the Texas heat as temperatures are expected to rise.

11 a.m.-7 p.m, June 29, Crockett Park, 1300 N. Main Ave., $12, pridesanantonio.org/pride-festival.

Where San Antonio EATS, PLAYS, PARKS

Live like a local. Visit Hemisfair this summer for a day of non-stop fun! With the newly opened Civic Park, visitors can dive into a day of excitement with the park’s new amenities, delicious eats from local restaurants, free events, and easy-to-access parking at the Hemisfair Garage.

With something for every member of the family, from tasty treats to endless adventures, Hemisfair is the ultimate destination for summer memories. Join us and experience the heartbeat of San Antonio in full swing. Scan to plan your visit

Magazine Launch Party Celebrates Community

San Antonio Magazine celebrated its relaunch under Hearst Texas ownership with a party March 21 at Copenhagen Imports that coincided with the release of the March/April issue. The festive evening included upbeat music by Volcan, Fiesta favorites such as chicken on a stick by The Bread Box, wine by ReRooted:210 urban winery and beer from Alamo Beer Company. It was fun to connect with so many familiar and new faces. Everyone shares our excitement for San Antonio Magazine and its new, invigorated life.

TOTAL RENOVATION

Central Market is getting a makeover

BY BECCA HENSLEY

Central Market on Broadway: It’s not just a store, it’s one of our city’s buzziest living rooms. Both a shopping hub and social gathering place, it’s been a legendary foodie destination since 1999. That’s not going to change — but it’s going to get a whole lot better.

H-E-B and Central Market have announced plans for a major renovation at the Alamo Heights location at 4821 Broadway with a redo, inside and out, planned to improve the shopping experience for customers and enhance the work environment for store partners

— all while remaining open to the public.

We hear you panicking, “Don’t move the cheese!” But Central Market, with its friendly, knowledgeable store partners, its personal connections with local producers and its penchant for fresh-made food for on-the-go lifestyles, is always looking ahead — just like its beloved mother brand, H-E-B.

“For decades, at the corner of Broadway and Patterson, a special relationship has been built between our store, this community, and our Partners,” Stephen Butt, president of shareholder relations and Central Market Division, said in a news release. “With a commitment

to strengthen that bond well into the future, we are announcing plans for a significant re-investment in Broadway Central Market. This major project will take time to complete. When our work is finished, the newly renovated Broadway Central Market and our friendly Partners will be well equipped to continue serving our customers with the freshest and best specialty products the world has to offer, for many years to come.”

The last notable transformation was with the addition of the efficient curbside offerings in 2021. With the new upgrade, the reimagined and renovated store will continue to pursue “a bold restatement”

and modernization that will launch in phases, according to the news release.

Phase one will begin this spring to update the parking lot and add a produce loading dock on the upper level. That should be completed by the end of the year.

Then, phase two will revitalize the facade and reimagine the interiors. While the design is not yet finalized, it will evoke the stylishness and eco-conscious attitude of the neighborhood, adding windows to draw natural lighting, while incorporating an industrial chic vibe via D’Hanis brick, metals and wood. Plans also include expanding the seating area for the café, pedestrian paths and sidewalks.

Yes, some store departments will be repositioned, but you’ll have time to relearn the store topography as the project, forecast to finish in 2026, will be like a slow travel trip through Italy — or any other food-centric place you love.

As a loyal customer and neighborhood shopper, you’ll feel a sense of pride and ownership as the store executes its vision. Those of you who’ve been shopping at this location since it was an H-E-B 50 years before becoming Central Market know this to be true.

Folks, this is your neighborhood store — and it’s getting a makeover. We can’t wait to see the changes.

MAY 11TH

10am-11:30am.:

Adult Seminar - Growing Home Patio and Landscape Citrus

MAY 25TH

10am-11:30am.:

Adult Seminar - Houseplants for a healthy indoor environment . 10am-3pm.: Blood Drive

MAY 25TH – 27TH Tax Free Weekend

JUNE 22ND

10am-11:30am.: Adult

FOLKS WHO MISSED THE Witte Museum’s powerful exhibit “Black Cowboys: An American Story” when it opened in 2021 are getting another shot. The Witte has brought the exhibit back, updating it with the latest scholarship and adding more stories about the lives of the Black men, women and children who worked on Texas ranches before and after emancipation.

The exhibit, which runs June 15 through Feb. 9, tells contemporary stories, as well. The boots displayed in one case were worn by Larry Callies in 2011. Callies made a name for himself as a roper and a singer, opening for Selena and Travis Tritt, among others, until he lost his voice in the 1990s. He has said that he asked God for guidance on what he should do next and was told he should open a Black cowboy museum. So he did. The Black Cowboy Museum can be found in Rosenberg near Houston.

The mission of the exhibit is underscored by the saddle displayed with Callies’ boots. It was used in the early 1900s by a cowboy whose name is lost to history and represents the many people whose stories were not preserved.

The Gallery: Witte Museum

3801 Broadway

The Work: Larry Callies’ boots with saddle

On display until Feb. 9, 2025

BY DEBORAH MARTIN

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