SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE
CURB APPEAL
JULY 202 1
THE DESIGN GUIDE TO SAN ANTONIO REAL ESTATE
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THE FIVE BEST-SELLING ZIP CODES IN THE ALAMO CITY
REAL ESTATE / SAN ANTO NI O’S WEST S I D E
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Vol. 16 No. 9
THE COMPLEX PAST AND FUTURE OF THE CITY’S WEST SIDE
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July FEATURES
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N E I G HBOR HOOD D ESI G N
Explore the pleasures of the city’s historic neighborhoods and find out where homes are selling fast in San Antonio right now.
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BU I LT BY CU LTU R E
San Antonio’s West Side has been shaped by arts—from Tejano sounds to public murals and theater—but has also struggled economically. Longtime residents are working hard to accelerate positive change while still maintaining the character that has made the neighborhood special.
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A HO M E FOR TEC H
San Antonio has a history of seeing tech startups move elsewhere when they hit it big. The founders of Irys, which creates community-connecting apps, want to disrupt that trend.
PHOTO BY CLINT DATCHUK
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Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
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July D EPART M E N TS
1 2 CITY NEWS There’s a map for that: the city’s Office of Historic Preservation develops a way for locals to share San Antonio’s lesser-known history. 1 4 PERSON O F INTEREST As the city emerges from the pet-friendly pandemic, the director of Animal Care Services says homes for dogs and cats are needed more than ever. 16 HISTORY At long last, construction begins this summer at Alamo Plaza, but the
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battle over how to best tell the mission’s story is just beginning. 18 CO M M UN IT Y Children and adults with disabilities find a place of acceptance and joy at CAMP Camp. 20 CULT UR E From the Great Depression to the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing can stop Alamo Music Center. 2 2 IN FLUEN CER After serving in Afghanistan, the owner of Traveler Barbershop finds a new purpose in cutting hair.
24 T RAV E L Seven Texas hotels with pools worth traveling to splash into. 26 CASA A Shavano Park home’s modern refresh is all about quality of life.
EAT + DRINK 5 6 E AT H E RE N OW South Texas provides inspiration for ingredients and flavor at Landrace, chef Steve McHugh’s new restaurant in the luxury Thompson San Antonio hotel.
5 8 L I BAT I O N S Creative tropical cocktails and an authentic tiki bar feel await at Hugman’s Oasis. 59 M A K E R San Antonio inspires CakeBoy SA’s sweet treats. 6 0 TAST E M A K E R Eva Marengo Sanchez turns La Gloria’s food packaging into works of art. 64 FINAL THOUGHT A JoyRide Cycling + Fitness instructor on finding a whole new level of fitness after 50.
ON THE COVER Art Director David G. Loyola created this illustration, depicting several different home design styles in San Antonio.
DISH: JOMANDO CRUZ; POOL COURTESY HOUSTON MARRIOTT MARQUIS
IN THE LOOP
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UP FRONT / EDITOR' S NOTEBOOK
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Kathleen Petty Editor in Chief kpetty@sanantoniomag.com @kpettysamag
While you’re exploring some of San Antonio’s historic neighborhoods, open the city’s new(ish) online There’s A Story Here map and learn about some of the lesser-known tales of the town. At Pearson Place on East Guenther Street, for example, the map shows that the original owner is rumored to have had a speakeasy in the basement during Prohibition. The owner also fought for the Union during the Civil War and was a friend of President Abraham Lincoln. Read more about the map on page 12 and keep it open on your phone’s web browser while you’re driving around town this month.
FUN FOR THE FOURTH After COVID-19 necessitated lackluster celebrations in 2020, we’re looking forward to the chance to enjoy fireworks and friends this year. Head to sanantoniomag.com/ fourthofjuly2021 for a roundup of ways to celebrate in San Antonio.
COMING UP NEXT MONTH The 30 Best Restaurants in San Antonio.
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JOSH HUSKIN
t was during the course of a conversation with a colleague about the best places to run in San Antonio that I found myself agreeing to attempt my first half-marathon. I’d just moved here a few months before and, up to that point, had been a very casual runner, jogging for exercise a few times a week but never competing in anything tougher than a 5K (and, to be honest, the post-race festivities were as much a draw for me as the short runs for a cause). Still, my San Antonio Magazine co-worker made 13.1 miles seem doable and even offered to complete some longer training runs with me along the San Antonio River or down Broadway and into Mahncke Park. I was initially drawn to running in college because I preferred the natural surroundings offered by trails to the beige walls of a gym, so with the promise of time spent in some of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods, I submitted my race registration. Upping my weekly mileage was as much of a challenge as I feared it might be—particularly on fall days when summer-like temperatures lingered—but my expectation of enjoying the beauty of the city around me also proved true. On one 10-mile training run, we parked along a street in the King William Historic District and ran through the neighborhood, admiring the mix of Italianate cottages and stately Victorian and Greek Revival homes. We took concrete stairs down to the river near the Guenther House and continued south for miles along the Mission Reach. I’ve returned to the area numerous times since, sometimes simply to stroll and admire the homes, other times for a drink or dinner with friends. It is perhaps the most recognizable historic neighborhood in San Antonio but one of dozens that offer a lesson in history through architecture and structural charm. In this month’s issue, freelance writer Claire Winesett offers a guide for where to live based on the style of home you prefer (page 28), delving into some of the city’s 30-plus historic districts plus a few areas known for everything from new builds to condos. It’s a bit of a departure from our typical “Best Neighborhoods” roundup, but one that I hope will provide a fresh way of looking at the city, whether you’re in the market for a new home or simply a new neighborhood in which to explore. The West Side of San Antonio is one place I’ll be taking a closer look after reading Kimberly Suta’s profile of the area (page 40). Whether a self-guided public art tour or for this month’s CineFestival at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, you need not live on the West Side to appreciate its rich culture—maybe I’ll even plan a run to take in each of the neighborhood’s outdoor murals.
THERE’S A STORY THERE
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JULY 2021 / VOLUME 16 / ISSUE 9 IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN ANTONIO OTHER THAN YOUR OWN, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF
Kathleen Petty CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Katherine Stinson, Chris Warren CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Becca Hensley, Bonny Osterhage, Travis E. Poling, Kimberley Suta, Edmund Tijerina, Claire Winesett
OP E N SKY ME DIA CEO
Todd P. Paul PRESIDENT
Stewart Ramser VP OF SALES
Julie A. Kunkle EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Rebecca Fontenot Cord
FACT CHECKER
Katherine Stinson “I’ve always loved Alamo Heights for its old school neighborhood feel, historic architecture, leafy lawns, retro businesses and proximity to the iconic McNay.”
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Hollis Boice
COPY EDITOR
Patsy Pelton
“King William. I have lived and worked in Southtown on and off for years and my favorite thing is still taking the dogs for walks along the Riverwalk in the King William neighborhood. The houses are stunning, historic beauties with stories to tell and it’s close to amazing restaurants, bars and shops.”
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Kerri Nolan
EDITORIAL INTERN
Jessica Lenamond
ACCO UN T IN G ACCOUNTS MANAGER
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Sabina Jukovic
ART DIRECTOR
David G. Loyola
DIG ITA L DIGITAL MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS
Vicente Martí
Abigail Stewart DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Katherine Carey, Jason Chetwood, Matt Conant, JoMando Cruz, Clint Datchuk, Josh Huskin, Olga Maya “River Road Historic District—hidden away with winding streets and quaint houses, the river runs through it, and it is so close to downtown and Pearl.”
ART INTERN
Katelyn Lester ADV ERTIS ING PUBLISHER
Kathie Anderson
Rosie Ninesling CO NTACT US
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© Copyright: San Antonio Magazine is published by Open Sky Media, Inc. The entire document of San Antonio Magazine is © 2021 by Open Sky Media, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. San Antonio Magazine is locally operated.
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In the Loop INSI D E / DISCOVE RING SA HISTORY p. 12 / BATTLIN G OVER TH E ALAMO p. 16 / TEXAS' TOP POOLS p . 2 4
Play Ball The Missions are back, albeit with a few changes aving been in charge of the San Antonio Missions minor league team since 1988, it’s no surprise that the natural rhythms of Burl Yarbrough’s life have revolved around the game. During a typical season, Yarbrough worked a regular day at Wolff Stadium plus the 70 or so nights the Missions hosted home games. When the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season, Yarbrough was still at the ballpark working all the time, there just weren’t any innings being played. “I was here but it was a very lonely place,” he says. “I spent a lot of time walking around the park thinking we should have crowds.” Crowds finally returned to Wolff Stadium in April, and putting in the protocols to keep people safe as the pandemic lingers kept Yarbrough plenty busy in the offseason. As games began, the stadium had limited crowds to maintain distance but by the end of May it had welcomed fans back at full capacity. The most visible change for Missions regulars is the absence of mascots Henry the Puffy Taco and Ballapeno. “The field will be a bubble to start. We will not be able to do our on-field promotions to start the year,” says Yarbrough. He’s hopeful things will get back to normal and he is still very much focused on delivering a unique experience for fans who make it to the park, even if there are no dancing mascots. “We are getting creative and will change things as we go,” he says. One tradition that won’t change: July 3 and 4, the Missions will host a big fireworks show following the final out of the night.—CHRIS WARREN
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS
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IN THE LOOP / CITY NEWS
TELL YOUR STORY
sanantonio.gov/historic/ local-historical-markers/ story-here
Untold Tales New map from city’s Office of Historic Preservation spotlights San Antonio’s lesser-known history n 1984, local band S.A Slayer faced off against the California-based Slayer in a battle of the bands at San Antonio’s now defunct rock venue Villa Fontana. It was the local group’s second to last performance before disbanding. Thirty-four years later, one of Slayer’s band members wore a shirt from the 1984 battle during their farewell tour stop in San Antonio. The Slayer story is one of many lesser-known gems of San Antonio history finally getting a spotlight thanks to the There’s A Story Here program (TASH for short), a crowd-sourced story mapping project from San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP). Residents with interesting and unknown San Antonio tales can submit their stories online. OHP staff will then contact those who’ve made submissions so they can pick up a QR sticker or sign to place at the location where the historical event they shared took place. The QR sticker for the S.A. Slayer story, for example, lives at the former Pearl Pavilion at Hemisfair, where Villa Fontana used to stand. As more QR codes are placed around town, locals and visitors will be able to use OHP’s site and interactive map to take self-guided tours of the various sites. “TASH is designed to celebrate unique, fun and underrepresented histories. It was inspired, in part, by hearing local recent history tales—like epic parties during Fiestas past—or other popular culture stories or memories unique to San Antonio that might not rise to the level
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of more traditional historic markers programs,” says Shanon Shea Miller, OHP’s director. The office held a soft launch for the program last fall before officially unveiling it during the spring. It also has partnered with Texas Public Radio to create web-based episodes spotlighting various stories. The initial episode features some of OHP staff’s favorite submissions thus far, from the tale of Marriage Island on the River Walk to the Reptile Gardens. In the months to come, OHP staff also are working to partner with local organizations and institutions, like the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum and the Westside Preservation Alliance, in hopes of collecting a broad and diverse range of stories that showcase the depth and breadth of San Antonio’s untold history. Miller says the potential for storytelling through the initiative is unlimited. “TASH embraces recent history—we want stories to span as many centuries as possible. And because TASH is crowd-sourced and doesn’t require any evidence when a story is submitted, it works to validate the lived experiences of San Antonians that aren’t always included in our city’s written history,” Miller says. “We started to think of these histories as ‘lower-case h’ histories, as opposed to already well-documented and well-publicized Histories (with a capital H). The lower-case ‘h’ histories help flesh out a fuller and more colorful account of the past, making for a more interesting and representative capital-H History.”
DIETMAR RAUSCHER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
BY KATHERINE STINSON
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Birds Up / When a video of Adam Sandler playing a game of pickup basketball on Long Island went viral, KENS 5 producer Tom Petrini spotted a UTSA shirt on the court. He tweeted that he was looking to connect with the man wearing the shirt and soon learned it was Phoenix Ford, a member of UTSA’s men’s basketball team.
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Smokin’ Headliners / Rapper 50 Cent described his experience in San Antonio as “lit” after he appeared during a weekday “Night in New San Antonio” event at Smoke BBQ + Skybar downtown, performing past hits like “In Da Club.” Before 50 Cent’s visit, Nelly made a stop at Smoke, and the venue’s owner told MySA.com that more noteworthy headliners are in the works.
DREE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
We’re the Tops / U.S. News & World Report called San Antonio one of the best weekend getaways in the South (and the best option in Texas) while Esquire declared the Alamo City as “unexpectedly awesome.” Maybe it won’t take long for tourism levels to rebound after all. Beating On / After Sandra Obregon died earlier this year of COVID-19, her care team at Stone Oak Methodist Hospital took saved recordings of her heartbeat to Build-A-Bear and had stuffed animals made for her children that could play their mom’s heartbeat. The nurses at the hospital told KSAT that they became close with Obregon during her 45 days of treatment and wanted to support her family, especially since they’d also cared for her husband, who recovered from the virus. JULY 2021
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IN THE LOOP / PERSON OF INTEREST
surge during Fourth of July fireworks. “The single biggest impact you can have is by fostering,” says Sims, who is serving in the organization’s top role after working as assistant director for eight years. Animal Care Services saw an increase in adoptions and foster care placements during the pandemic. Has that trend continued? We’re still seeing a fairly strong adoption rate. Our rescue partners continue to really come through, which of course enables us to limit euthanizations and keep that rate as low as possible. We were at an about 93.5 percent live release rate in the spring and most of the pets placed during 2020 still are in those homes. The microchipping program that the city implemented back in 2015 is really starting to bear fruit now and in recent years. In 2015, about six percent of lost pets were reunited with their owners and now we’re up to about 33 percent.
Post-Pandemic Pet Care Animal Care Services director says the need is high for foster pet parents and in-person volunteers INTERVIEW BY KATHLEEN PETTY
year after Animal Care Services (ACS) reported its highest live release rate of pets ever—94.5 percent— interim director Shannon Sims says the city is again in need of foster and adoptive homes. That rate, which measures how many animals are returned to their owners or are placed within a new home or partner nonprofit agency rather than being euthanized, went up in 2020 as locals who were staying home during the height of COVID-19 volunteered for the first time as pet foster parents. Sims says the rate this year still is high at around 93.5 percent but that it will take more help to maintain it through the summer when the shelter is dealing with springtime puppies and kittens plus runaway dogs, which
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FACT FILE
Veteran: Prior to his time at ACS, Sims served in the Marine Corps. Get involved: Foster, adopt or volunteer on-site by bathing, walking or socializing with animals in the shelter. Volunteers also can perform administrative work and other tasks. Visit sanantonio.gov/ animal-care/ for more details.
You mentioned Fourth of July is a time when a lot of pets are lost. What should pet owners do to prevent that? It’s the animals that are left outside on their own that get away on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, even if they’re animals that don’t typically leave the property. You’d be surprised how they’re able to get under or over a fence. You really need to bring your animals inside on the Fourth of July because otherwise they’ll be looking for a safe place to hide from the noise of fireworks. Even if you don’t bring them in the other 364 days of the year, bring them in on the Fourth. You’ve talked about partners being a big reason ACS keeps its euthanasia rate low. Tell us about that. We have the big three, the San Antonio Humane Society, the Animal Defense League of Texas, SA Pets Alive! But what a lot of folks don’t realize is we partner with hundreds of rescue agencies. Some are decent sized like those three, but others are mom and pop 501(c)3s. We could not feasibly achieve the live release rate we have right now if it weren’t for all of these organizations. On our website, we have all of our urgent animals listed, which are animals we need to find placement for soon. Many of these rescue organizations also receive email alerts and as it gets to the point that an animal is about to become eligible for ILLUSTRATION BY VICENTE MARTÍ
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euthanization because it’s been in our shelter a number of days, they all look to see how they can help, and they save a lot of these animals. To help keep the release rate high, our partners have a myriad of different solutions at their disposal. Some of them work with people who take animals in long-term and are able to rehabilitate them if there’s an injury or medical issue. Others foster them if they’re kittens that need to be bottle fed. Some of them have rescue programs or places where they can let the animal stay longer than the six to seven days that we can provide. Many of them also have wide networks on social media and elsewhere that they can get the word out and find a home. Of the about 6.5 percent of animals that are euthanized, about 1 percent are euthanized due to space. That happens when we have to make the difficult call—after marketing an animal and not finding someone who can take them—of making space so we can give a more marketable animal additional time. ACS announced partnerships in recent months with Petco Love, Petco’s foundation, and with the community through a new Facebook group. Tell us about those. ACS Lost and Found is the Facebook initiative and it has been great. When we know where an animal came from, it’s enabled us to get volunteers to reach out to their specific neighborhood on [the app] Nextdoor. They can say, ‘This animal was found in our area and is at ACS and that has been really effective. We can’t monitor every Nextdoor thread in San Antonio, so it’s been really effective to have volunteers getting the word out. The Petco Love Lost program has the potential to be a significant game changer because it allows pet owners to report a lost pet by just uploading a photo. The app then uses facial recognition to show all of the animals at shelters nationwide that may match theirs. We absolutely have had folks from Louisiana or Houston find their animal here after it has been missing for quite some time, though most of our lost animals come from the surrounding area and are reunited because of microchipping or efforts in the field. How can people help? Now that we’re vaccinated and can start removing some of the limitations in place due to COVID-19, we’re looking to stand up our volunteer program on campus more strongly than we’d been able to this last year. There are lots of opportunities to help on campus and you no longer need an appointment to come by and look at the animals. One of the largest impacts you can have is by taking those young animals or those with medical needs and fostering them until they are old enough or well enough to be adopted. (If you foster, ACS provides all of the supplies and medical care, so it doesn’t cost you money). If you don’t have the capacity to foster or adopt, we’re always in need of blankets and newspapers and towels, or people can donate to ACS or one of our partner agencies. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reshaping the Alamo Officials push to move forward with updates as politics complicate the telling of the mission’s history ourists stepping onto Alamo Plaza for the first time often arrive with pop culture-influenced versions of Alamo defenders in their head—the Fess Parker caricature of Davy Crockett from the 1950s TV show or the Laurence Harvey version of Col. William B. Travis in the 1960 movie, The Alamo. It’s no surprise then, that they’re often a little disappointed by the reality of the city and state’s most popular tourist destination. Only about 1 percent of the Alamo collection is on display for public view and much of it is housed in the annex, a place that has been retrofitted over the years but was never designed to be an exhibit space. Beyond the actual grounds, the flashing lights and sounds from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! across the street can be disorienting when trying to soak in the sacredness that many-a-Texan associate with the historic site. Efforts to change that experience have stopped and started many times over the years but are back in motion again this summer as crews break ground on a 10,000-square-foot Alamo Exhibit Hall & Collections Building. The facility is the first piece of a larger plan that local and state officials and residents have been working toward (and in many cases fighting over) and may be the first sign that change finally is coming.
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“There was a perception publicly that the work had stopped, but behind the scenes, work never stopped,” says Kate Rogers, who became executive director of the Alamo Trust earlier this year. “There has always been work and conversation going on.” While fraught with debate, the physical redevelopment (which also will address deterioration in the church and long barracks and include the addition of a large visitor center and museum) may end up being the easier part of reimagining the Alamo, despite its estimated $450 million price tag. Running parallel to redevelopment efforts is a spirited discussion over how best to educate visitors about the battle and greater Texas Revolution. When this most recent round of redevelopment plans began under then-mayor Julián Castro, there seemed to be at least some agreement between city and state stakeholders that a full telling of the site’s history needed to acknowledge the role of Native Americans and of slavery in the Texas Revolution. Agreement on that began to deteriorate in recent years just as battles were brewing nationwide about the way we remember and talk about our nation’s history—should statues of Confederate leaders be removed from public spaces or does that equate to a “cancel culture?” How
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can curriculum better acknowledge the role of slavery in ongoing racial inequality or are current lessons sufficient? In Texas, the debate came to a head this spring when a bill was filed in the Texas Legislature aiming to prohibit Alamo development plans from highlighting anything that wasn’t mentioned in the Texas Declaration of Independence as a reason for the revolution. The declaration does not mention slavery. Carey Latimore, Ph.D. and associate professor of history and African American Studies at Trinity University, says he understands the discomfort that can come with acknowledging imperfections of the Alamo heroes, some of whom were slave owners. But, he adds, leaving out that and other elements, simply “whitewashes the important experience” of entire groups, many of whom visit the Alamo. “Slavery sometimes doesn’t fit into our narrative. We want to always say we’re on a pathway to more freedom and the fact that slavery existed for so long throws a monkey wrench into that,” he says. “Slavery, in my mind, is one of the realities that can’t be dismissed in leading to the Texas Revolution. It’s this idea of acknowledging that revolutions often don’t happen for only one reason and you can’t dismiss slavery as one of the reasons.” Rogers says education and the ways in which Alamo staff talk about its history are at the center of all redevelopment plans. When it comes to what details are included, Rogers says they follow state public education standards in providing curriculum for teachers to use in fourth and seventh grades, when Texas history is taught. Latimore says as Texas and America become increasingly diverse, including Black, Latino and Native American history narratives at the Alamo and elsewhere will only become more important. “I hope we can make this work because it would mean we’ve asked the difficult questions and we have found a way to tell the story truthfully and accurately,” he says. “If we make this work, I think it’s a model for the nation and a tremendous victory for our city and state.” As that conversation continued at the state level heading into summer, Rogers says the Alamo Trust was focused on moving ahead with the site’s physical upgrades. Bexar County in May approved a $25 million investment for the Alamo Museum and Visitor Center set to open in 2025 (The city had already committed over $35 million and the state over $100 million). Moving ahead likely will continue to include debate, she says, but that doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish the initial goal of an improved Alamo Plaza that better reflects what occurred at the site in 1836. “Obviously, with a site as treasured as the Alamo, there are a lot of stakeholders,” Rogers says. “We have to do a good job of communicating, of listening, of sharing our plans and taking feedback so that in the end what we build is something everyone can be proud of locally and across the state.” JULY 2021
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A Place to Belong CAMP Camp offers children and adults with disabilities the chance to be themselves BY KATHLEEN PETTY
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he first time Karen and Tony Ridout agreed to send their daughter Shelby to CAMP Camp, they had plenty of reservations. Shelby was 10 at the time and lives with Encephalopathy, a disorder of the brain that means she is developmentally delayed and can have seizures. Karen Ridout, Shelby’s stepmom, says she worried about staff responding to a seizure and about Shelby being without her parents for a whole week. “We left her crying. (Tony) dragged me out and we got in the car and he said, ‘Don’t look back,’” she says. “When we came back to pick her up at the end of the week, she was not ready to go home. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship for her with CAMP. She has made so many friends and she gets to be herself there.” Now 31, Shelby has participated in camps hosted by the nonprofit CAMP (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential) for 20 years. Karen is such a believer in its positive impact on kids and families that she now serves on CAMP’s board and chairs its annual gala, which is taking place virtually this year on Aug. 28. The organization was initially founded in 1979 by three Air Force pediatricians who wanted to offer children with disabilities and severe medical conditions the chance to attend camp just like any other kid. A camp has taken place with that aim
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each year since, except for 2020 when COVID-19 forced leaders to cancel for safety. It will resume this summer with a few changes, including fewer sessions to allow for more time to deep clean the Center Point facility between camps. “CAMP Camp is very important to give the kids that we serve the opportunity to do things they may never have experienced,” says CEO Susan Osborne, who has been with the organization since 2004. “It gives them a chance to have peers and to not be defined or judged by their disability.” To serve people of all abilities, CAMP Camp relies on medical staff plus enough volunteers that each camper has a buddy to go through every day and activity with them. Osborne says they keep a book of firsts to document when kids ride a horse, hit the swimming pool or try out archery for the first time. “We have kids on ventilators who we are able to put on a horse,” she says, adding that they also serve adults up to 50. “It’s simply amazing to see them do things they’re not able to do anywhere else.” Ridout says she understands the hesitancy parents feel in sending their kids with special needs away for a week for the first time. But, she says, the staff and volunteers go out of their way to protect each camper. “This is the one opportunity that our loved ones get to be themselves,” she says. “Your child will thank you for it.”
COURTESY CAMP
IN THE LOOP / COMMUNITY
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Alamo Music Center continues to be a family business with the founder’s granddaughter, Adriana Flores, acting as vice president and her nephew, Patrick Marr, as vice president of sales. Here, the two hold a photo of founder Alfredo Flores Sr. that sits in the store on North Main Avenue.
Staying in Tune In the Alamo Music Center’s 92-year history, the store has survived the Great Depression, multiple recessions and now the COVID-19 pandemic BY JESSICA LENAMOND
hen Adriana Flores recalls the 92-year history of her family’s business, one phrase frequently uttered by her relatives always comes to mind: “Adapt, or die.” The motto explains how Alamo Music Center has remained a stronghold since Adriana’s grandfather, Alfredo Flores Sr., first launched the business by selling pianos from his front porch during the Great Depression. “He connected to music in a special way,” says Adriana, adding that her grandfather never played an instrument but believed in the power of music to improve life. “He knew it was like medicine that could make you feel better when times were bad.” Now run by the family’s third and fourth generations—Adriana serves as vice president; her nephew Zach Marr, 34, as president and CEO; and nephew Patrick Marr, 29, as vice president of sales— Alamo Music Center has grown from that front porch to a store on North Main Avenue that opened in 1965 plus a second location on Babcock Road that opened in the 1980s. The family also has built a robust online business, something that grew exponentially during the pandemic and thanks to its popular YouTube channel. When COVID-19 initially led retail stores to close their doors in 2020, Alamo Music Center had to let half of its staff go. However, as online orders poured in from people looking for a new hobby while quarantined at home, Adriana says they found themselves
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AL AMO MUSIC CENTER
425 N. Main Ave., 1530 Babcock Road alamomusic.com
racing against Amazon for quick delivery times and eventually were able to add all of its staff back while also hiring new employees. “Music is that thing people can turn to, like they did in the Depression,” she says. “It was like, ‘I need something in my life to fill me up in a positive way, and I'm stuck at home. What can I do that’s safe and how can I make my family more cohesive?’ We felt blessed that we were able to help people in that way.” They fulfilled orders from throughout the country and also catered to longtime local customers. When music students at University of Texas at San Antonio and University of the Incarnate Word needed instruments to finish their spring 2020 semester at home, Adriana personally drove keyboards to them. “Being there for them when they need us, that's what my grandfather and father always talked about,” she says. Thanks to Zach and Patrick, the store also gained global attention from its YouTube guitar channel, which is led by expert player Chris McKee. After the success of that first channel, the men also created piano and synthesizer channels that have thousands of subscribers. “I love that my nephews are younger than me because they're not afraid of taking risks,” says Adriana, a 50-year-old mom of two. “You can't stick your head in the sand. You have to adapt.” PHOTOS BY KATELYN LESTER
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IN THE LOOP / INFLUENCER
Barber Talk Chuck Holdridge traded his Army uniform for an Airstream and hair clippers BY BONNY OSTERHAGE
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ost men have to get a haircut every two to four weeks. So why shouldn’t it be something they actually look forward to? That’s the question that led U.S. Army veteran Chuck Holdridge to open the Traveler Barbershop. As a young boy growing up in San Antonio, Holdridge always had what he described as a “fascination” with hair, specifically women’s pixie cuts and the long styles worn by men in hair bands of the 1980s. “Maybe it’s because my own hair looked like Screech from Saved By the Bell, but I always knew this was what I wanted to do,” he says. It wasn’t until the age of 30, however, that Holdridge enrolled in the Aveda Institute and began to learn the hair cutting and styling skills he would need to fulfill his dream. “I had just returned from a really rough, long deployment in Afghanistan, and I knew it was time for a change,” he recalls. “I called my wife and said, ‘I’m going to quit my job and do hair.’”
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Eight years later, with experience under his belt and a business degree from Texas State University, the father of two transformed an Airstream trailer he found on Craigslist into the Traveler Barbershop. From the start, he focused on spending time with clients to really discuss their hair needs and vision all while providing more of a salon experience than the typical rushed cuts customers might find at chain barbershops. The business model paid off enough to enable Holdridge to open a larger, second location at 125 Lamar Street last July. Holdridge hopes to continue to grow and expand his own salons, while serving as a mentor to aspiring young stylists and continuing to redefine the barbershop experience one cut at a time. “You are more than a stylist or barber, you have to create your own personal brand that customers will relate to and gravitate toward,” he says. “You want them to not only love your work, but also enjoy spending time with you.”
PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN
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Pool Party Kids love hotels for their pools, and these seven spots prove why BY BECCA HENSLEY
Science tells us that water improves our mood and well-being. We need that now more than ever. While San Antonio opened public pools this summer with some restrictions, these Texas hotels provide the opportunity for a splash that’s well worth the weekend road trip.
Immersed in Bastrop Spread out across 405 acres, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in the Piney Woods of Bastrop is less than a 2-hour drive from San Antonio. With beaucoup activities for families (and couples) such as horseback riding and fishing, the recreational destination still gets kudos for its irresistible Crooked River Water Park. It’s no surprise: the park features a 1,000-foot-long lazy river, a two-story water slide, an activity pool with a sandy beach and a splash pad for children. The adults-only section pampers with serene whirlpools.
Living Large in Houston The Marriott Marquis Houston, centrally located near Minute Maid Park, proves that everything is bigger in Texas—especially Texas-shaped pools. Its Lone Star–configured lazy river snakes across the rooftop at this luxury retreat. Enhance your aquatic fun with iconic movie classics on the pool deck beneath the summer stars, paired with s’mores from the fire pits and hot dogs from a food truck.
Halcyon Hill Country Activities abound at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, a Texas Hill Country stand out near Sonora that is home to ATV adventures, hiking, horseback riding, a spa and lazy ranch-hand repose. Submerge in the haven’s gorgeous infinity pool, with views across the rolling hills. Or, book the stand alone Archer’s Nest Villa, which boasts its own outdoor oasis pool with a tanning deck, slide and swim-up table perfect for a private happy hour.
Drenched in Dallas Forget the concrete jungle. Dallas’ snazzy Hilton Anatole keeps things fluid at its impressive JadeWaters, a pool complex that boasts a beach-entry family pool. Expect to float a 630-foot-long lazy river and then switch gears to whoosh down two 30-foot-tall, 180-footlong slides. A kids’ splash and play area ensures squeals of delight. Adults can surface at Leisure Cove’s swim up bar to sip a cocktail.
Splashing in Boerne At George Strait’s Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne, wide-open spaces and a country twang come naturally. So does summer fun. The getaway’s oversized pool is ideal for youth, featuring a waterslide, a play area, fire pit, loungers and poolside treats. Adults can seek repose at the adults-only pool, where the sound of water doesn’t compete with the playful noises of kiddie fun.
Back in Time in Fort Worth For history buffs, Hotel Drover fulfils all dreams. Ensconced in the Fort Worth Stockyards’ National Historic District, the hotel celebrates cowpoke lore with elegance and ease. Its pool occupies a prime location in The Backyard, a boundless outdoor section along Marine Creek. Daybeds, crystal chandeliers, fire pits, yard games, hot tubs and a heated pool help families make their own history.
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Hill Country in the City Missing Texas’ famous swimming holes? No worries. In Austin’s canny South Congress neighborhood, the grotto-like Hotel Magdalena evokes the culture of the Hill Country’s natural springs and lakes right in the middle of Austin’s urban buzz. Its 900-square-foot sunken swimming pool is open to guests only. Even those who prefer to stay dry will relish the pool’s all-timber construction, which brings to mind an upscale treehouse.
HOUSTON: COURTESY MARRIOT MARQUIS HOUSTON; HALHALCYON HILL COUNTRY: COURTESY JL BAR RANCH, RESORT & SPA; BASTROP: COURTESY HYATT REGENCY LOST PINES RESORT; DALLAS: COURTESY HILTON ANATOLE; BOERNE: COURTESY GEORGE STRAIT'S TAPATIO SPRINGS HILL COUNTRY RESORT; FORT WORTH; COURTESY HOTEL DROVER; AUSTIN: COURTESY HOTEL MAGDALENA
I N T H E L O O P / T R AV E L
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IN THE LOOP / CASA
A visit to New England led to the creation of an outdoor-focused Shavano Park home BY CHRIS WARREN
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ost of the time, when people say that travel can change your priorities and perspective on life, it’s on an abstract level; after all, routines and attitudes are highly resistant to change. But when Nicole Roberts Winmill was working on a design project for a new home, her clients returned from a trip to Concord, Massachusetts with an entirely new idea about what they wanted. “We had started the design process and the plans were nearly completed when they went traveling,” says Winmill, owner of the interior design company NR Interiors. “They decided what they wanted was a home more tied to nature that had trees and privacy in a natural setting.” Quickly, Winmill had to shift her mindset from designing an ultra-modern new build to a dramatic refurbishment of an existing arts and crafts style home in Shavano Park. She was now tasked with transforming an existing dwelling in a way that simultaneously maintained the finest features of its original design while also updating it to increase its comfort and convenience—all while accommodating the homeowner’s unique needs and tastes. In particular,
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Change of Perspective
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Architect Craig McMahon and interior designer Nicole Roberts Winmill transformed this Shavano Park home into a mid-century modern masterpiece, all while maintaining its best features. A wall was removed to double the size of the kitchen while bringing in more light, a primary bedroom and bathroom were added to the first floor and tall glass windows were used to highlight existing oak trees outside.
the homeowners wanted to create a fully accessible, ADA compliant home. Winmill partnered with architect Craig McMahon, founder of Craig McMahon Architects, who was originally charged with installing an elevator in the home to provide access to its upstairs bedrooms. After careful study, McMahon came up with a different approach entirely. It was an approach aimed at retaining the best of the existing home (particularly a two-story screened porch), optimizing the plentiful trees on the lot and making the house more livable for its residents over the long run. The core of McMahon’s new design was to move away from the original idea of an elevator that connected living spaces and instead locate the main bedrooms on the first floor. That meant adding a new primary bedroom suite to the first floor, making space for a pool house, adding a new laundry room and doubling the size of the kitchen. In designing these additions, McMahon was careful to make it all blend in with what he calls the existing Frank Lloyd Wright elements of the home. Cross, a local remodeling and construction firm, helped to carry out the vision. “It became a study in roof lines and how to connect everything and have it be harmonious with the deep overhangs and vault ceilings,” McMahon says. “You want to make it look like the additions connect with the same design language of the original home.” While consistency was important, the additions were very much intended to
improve the home’s aesthetics and maximize its location. For example, the new design resulted in a courtyard centered on and shaded by existing oak trees. It was created by building an arbor from the new primary bedroom to the garage and then to an arbor that was already in place on the front of the home. Though hardly noticeable, the walkway along the arbor slopes slightly in order to allow for easy wheelchair movement. The home’s first floor additions seek to connect the owners with the unique courtyard by utilizing tall glass windows that bring the outdoors inside. Similarly, what was once a dark and compartmentalized kitchen has been expanded and brightened through the removal of an interior wall and by connecting it to the dining area. In her interior design work, Winmill used the owner’s furniture and art collection to create a mid-century modern aesthetic. The owners’ style also became inspiration for some of the new lighting, finishes and cabinet designs. For example, a large white oak wall was added to hide the necessary, though not particularly attractive features of the home. “We have these large cabinet doors that hide the water heater and HVAC unit, but we also added in a coffee bar and custom pantry,” Winmill says. “This was one of the ways we were able to maintain the home’s character of showcasing beautiful wood while also transitioning to a mid-century modern style.” JULY 2021
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BY CLAIRE WINESETT
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TEXT ILLUSTRATION: DAVID G. LOYOLA; FRAME: EKATERINA RYBINA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Historic homes and neighborhoods bring unique character to San Antonio and help define the city as a place where big-city amenities uniquely meet that small-town community feel. The Alamo City is home to 32 historic districts—places with concentrations of lovingly designed and built craftsman homes, mid-century ranches and other distinct dwelling styles. Elsewhere in San Antonio, deep-rooted history is meeting a future with growth and new construction. Here, we look at where to find everything from historic properties to traditional homes and new builds. Plus, industry professionals weigh in on what’s to come in San Antonio’s bustling real estate market.
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COURTESY KATHERINE TURNER
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AN ARRAY OF HISTORY THE HISTORIC HOMES OF SAN ANTONIO show-
case a multitude of architectural styles— Spanish manor, Victorian, craftsman, Greek revival and English tudor, just to name a few. They are attractive for obvious reasons: character and craftsmanship that transcend the actual time period when they were constructed. Many of these historic homes also have the benefit of being located in some of the city’s most charming, walkable neighborhoods, where mature, beautiful trees and concentrations of local restaurants and businesses create a hyper-local sense of place. There can be tradeoffs, of course. If you want a house with a story and some years (some more than a century) under its belt, there will most likely be desired— and needed—renovations. When buying a historic home, make sure to pay extra attention to the necessary property inspections, and if you happen to buy a house with historic designation, you will have to have any exterior renovations approved by the city’s Office of Historic Preservation. So where should you start and how much does a home with historic character cost?
Monte Vista
Tobin Hill: This neighborhood has Victorian and Neo-Classical mansions along with simpler, Craftsman-style bungalows making it accessible at multiple price points.
Monticello Park: In the late 1920s, this area transformed from a dairy farm into a beautiful, eclectic neighborhood with Tudor Revivals, Art Moderne and other styles.
Monte Vista: You can find some of San Antonio’s most elegant residences in Monte Vista, which has the distinction of being one of the oldest designated historic district in the country.
Average selling price: $341,838
Average selling price: $326,006
Average selling price: $591,293
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Dignowity Hill
COURTESY OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
WHERE TO BEGIN:
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KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE San Antonio’s history can be seen through its architecture. While the city changes, its historic buildings remind us of our past and the former influences of the city’s creative and political culture. At the same time, as the Alamo City evolves, even aspects of its historic neighborhoods are bound to shift. That’s where Shanon Shea Miller comes in. As director for the San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, Miller makes sure that historic neighborhoods retain their charm as they change with the times. In her own words, “It’s not about freezing it in time but managing the change so that the historic properties continue to be the stars of the neighborhood.”
DAVID G. LOYOLA
SAM: What criteria gives a property a historic designation? Shanon Miller: A general rule of thumb for the U.S. is that a property is 50 years or older to reach that threshold, but our ordinance allows for younger properties to be designated. These properties have some historic or cultural significance based on something that happened there, a person that it’s associated with or it being a good example of a particular architectural style.
Monticello Park
SAM: What design and maintenance guidelines are there for those who own historic homes? SM: The historic designation doesn’t require you to revert anything back to the way it used to be or anything like that. There is a set of city-wide design guidelines that cover significant changes to the exterior of a structure. The majority of these cases are repairs and maintenance. Only about a third of requests (made) go to the Historic and Design Review Commission, and those are bigger things like additions or new, in-view construction. About 98 percent of cases are approved. Those requests are often for relatively minor things like painting or exterior repairs. Only about one-third of requests are for bigger things, like new additions. We also don’t review anything on the interior. That’s just normal building permit requirements. You will be able to do work on your historic house! We’re just trying to manage those changes so that historic properties— the character—are maintained.
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SAN ANTONIO’S STATE OF THE MARKET
San Antonio is in the middle of a supply and demand game. Sales were strong through the first year of the pandemic and are expected to remain “very strong” throughout the summer, Miculka says. This is due to a few intertwining factors that have affected the San Antonio real estate market for years before COVID-19. “We’ve been really strong for the last few years,” Miculka says. During this time, many residents refinanced their homes and others sought out San Antonio real estate to take advantage of the low interest rates. Now, Miculka says it’s become an issue of inventory. There is high demand for homes and not enough supply to go around. And it’s not just low interest rates that make San Antonio real estate desirable. “Now that many people are working from home, people are staying home more frequently. We’re seeing that the buyers are wanting larger homes with home offices,” Miculka says. Plus, without everyone returning to their daily commute, fewer people need (and want) to live near downtown, sending people looking for more accommodating spaces farther from the city center. And while many home sales are generated by residents moving within San Antonio, there are plenty of people moving in from outside of the city, too—so much so that the Alamo City is poised to become the sixth largest city in the U.S. by 2021 (a title currently held by Philadelphia). Even though high demand and, thus, higher prices, are the reality for those still searching, San Antonio remains the most affordable major city in Texas. “San Antonio is still quite affordable. Our average sales price in Bexar county in 2020 was $276,237,” Miculka says. “It’s much higher in the Houston, Austin and Dallas areas.” (In 2020, “much higher” meant average sale prices of over $300,000 in Houston, $400,000 in Dallas and $500,000 in Austin.) “We work hard to keep affordability in San Antonio,” Miculka says.
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Mahncke Park
DAVID G. LOYOLA
Cher Miculka, 2021 chairman for the San Antonio Board of Realtors, shares what selling and buying real estate looks like in San Antonio right now and what to expect in upcoming years
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CRAFTSMAN HOMES THE HISTORIC CRAFTSMAN-STYLE HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO
Alamo Heights
(think bungalows, for example) are functional and simple single-family dwellings. Their utility and good looks are probably a reason they are so easy to spot around town. Craftsman architecture was a reaction to the emphasis on standardization and efficiency that arose during the Industrial Revolution. In response, craftsman homes emphasized natural materials such as wood and stone and the quirks and special characteristics that result from the work of artisan builders. Look for large covered front porches, tapered columns that are often sturdier on the bottom and smaller on top, multi-paned windows and partial-paned doors. Inside, you can expect to find a practical, open floor plan with small bedrooms off a few hallways, and you might find built-in shelves, exposed beams and big fireplaces. This building style was popular during San Antonio’s first and largest expansion, from the 1850s through the 1930s. That means you can find the highest concentration of craftsman-style homes in many of the first established neighborhoods surrounding downtown.
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS
WHERE TO BEGIN: Dignowity Hill: This 150-yearold East Side neighborhood has recently attracted new buyers thanks to its impeccable location near downtown and its mix of historic homes and new developments. Average selling price: $264,774
Five Points: One of the closest to downtown, this neighborhood has great walkability and many local restaurants, bars and coffee shops, from The Cove to Sancho’s Cantina & Cocina. Average selling price: $310,625
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Alta Vista: Those wanting to feel a part of San Antonio’s history will find plenty of purchase and rental options in this area just north of downtown. Average selling price: $308,362
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Olmos Park
ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE OF LOOP 410, TRA-
ditional-styled homes dominate. These were primarily built in the second half of the 20th century and feature pieces of various architectural styles, incorporating elements of older trends in newer houses. These homes are one or two-story buildings, typically with a stone, brick or stucco exterior, and featuring traditional lines. There is often a steeper roof pitch, covered porches, open foyers and lofts. Homeowners associations and neighborhood amenities are important to consider when buying in a traditional neighborhood. Pools, parks and playgrounds are available in many of these areas, gated communities are common and yard space is almost guaranteed.
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WHERE TO BEGIN: Castle Hills: A wonderful option for anyone who wants to be closer to Loop 410 and for those who appreciate the understated ambience of older homes surrounded by mature trees. Average selling price: $238,257
Alamo Ranch: The fastest growing master-planned community in San Antonio is broken up into multiple different subdivisions with options aplenty.
Stone Oak: This popular North Side neighborhood boasts many gated communities surrounded by dining and shopping options plus well-rated schools.
Average selling price: $297,461
Average selling price: $444,155
Deerfield and Rogers Ranch: These neighborhoods offer garden homes where landscaping is taken care of plus larger homes with spacious lots perfect for families and pets. Average selling price: $454,899
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS
TRADITIONAL HOMES
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SAN ANTONIO’S TOP-SELLING ZIP CODES
78254
78260
Total sales: 2,447 Average selling price: $274,277 Median selling price: $264,900 Days on Market: 55
Total sales: 982 Average selling price: $425,406 Median selling price: $394,900 Days on Market: 85
78253
78247
Total sales: 2,128 Average selling price: $297,461 Median selling price: $275,000 Days on Market: 64
Total sales: 969 Average selling price: $231,326 Median selling price: $230,000 Days on Market: 45
78245
+ Most sales over $500,000
Total sales: 2,117 Average selling price: $235,706 Median selling price: $229,900 Days on Market: 59
Total sales: 215 sales Average selling price of homes sold over $500,000: $803,019
78209
Data represents sales from April 2020-April 2021, the latest sales information available from the San Antonio Board of Realtors.
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CONDOS OFFER MODERN AND HISTORIC OPTIONS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR OPTION, CONDOS ARE IDEAL FOR
those looking to downsize or for young professionals with healthy budgets who want to live at the center of urban life. Before heading downtown, though, consider the Medical Center, where you can find San Antonio’s original condos. These are a bit older, will be more ornate, and have an interior with more partitioned off spaces than modern builds. As you move closer to downtown, newer condos offer sleek, modern, industrial and open floor plans. Start your search along the Museum Reach but know there are options all the way into Southtown, and there are even high-rise condos in the middle of downtown, like the Alteza Residences on top of the Grand Hyatt. These are walkable areas and each condo offers a different menus of amenities—everything from parking and security to pools and shared spaces for hosting parties, meals and more. A condo on N. St. Mary's Street overlooking the River Walk
WHERE TO BEGIN: Though prices will vary greatly by location and building (from $400,000 to over $1 million), check the Pearl, around downtown and throughout Southtown to find condos for sale. Consider these as a starting point: Pearl District Townhomes: Four-story condos that have a garage on the bottom level and a rooftop deck to top it off. 938 E. Josephine St.
The Broadway: Elegant condos with first-class amenities and quick access to both downtown and Alamo Heights. 4242 Broadway
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS
South End Lofts: Includes units that feature concrete floors, exposed concrete beam ceilings and other industrial elements. 1331 S. Flores St.
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MOVING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS SAY
they expect development to follow one common theme: outward and onward. To access available land, developers are moving farther out from central San Antonio to build.
3 Areas to Watch South San Antonio Port San Antonio—a technology and innovation campus—and other industries have ushered in continued development south of downtown near what used to be Kelly Air Force Base.
Far West Side The land outside of Loop 1604 near Government Canyon State Natural Area continues to grow. It’s the best of both worlds with close access to Hill Country terrain and all of the community necessities.
281 North Every San Antonian has experienced the grueling traffic along Hwy. 281 out of San Antonio, so it’s no surprise that this area is expected to continue expanding. There are new and growing neighborhoods, spacious properties for families and smaller options for those trying to downsize.
5 Developments to Consider Highland Estates A gated community with halfacre homesites located just off Hwy. 281 and Borgfeld Road. 27241 Highland Crest, 78260
DAVID G. LOYOLA
Trails at Culebra A neighborhood with close access to city amenities and the Hill Country. Gunsight Pass, 78253 Cypress Trails This community is popping up inside Loop 1604 near the Medical Center and UTSA. 6806 Prue Road, 78240
Red Hawk This forthcoming community sits southwest of downtown near the San Antonio River and the I-37 and Loop 410 corridors. Southcross Ranch Road, 78222 Town Creek This new, modern neighborhood centrally located in New Braunfels has single-family homes along with townhomes and condos that are in the early stages of construction. 979 N. Academy Ave., New Braunfels, 78130
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Oak Park Northwood
MID-CENTURY POSSIBILITIES TRUE TO THEIR NAME, THESE HOMES WERE BUILT
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Alamo Heights
WHERE TO BEGIN: Oak Park Northwood: This grid-style neighborhood has trees that have had a century to grow and mature, little traffic and quick access to all the necessities plus some options below the 78209 average selling price.
Alamo Heights: Though some mid-century homes have been torn down and rebuilt, many low and wide beauties remain. Expect some homes around or below the average selling price plus others that are $1 million or more.
Average selling price: $572,784
Average selling price: $572,784
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS
around 1930 all the way up until 1965. After World War II, new materials such as steel and plywood were popular in architecture and design and brought about a change in residential living. These houses have a few key traits: wide and low footprints with large windows providing outdoor views meant to better integrate the home with nature and encourage healthy living. There are often small steps in between rooms to create split-level spaces as well as partial walls and cabinets at varying heights to provide depth. The areas of town that are densely populated with mid-century homes are a step back in time, offering a glimpse of what San Antonio looked like before its massive expansion.
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COURTESY KATHERINE TURNER
RENOVATING A RENTAL Back in 2004, Katherine Turner’s mom was driving through the historic Tobin Hill neighborhood when she saw a large, ornate home for sale. The property was so full of overgrown bushes and trees that you couldn’t even see the front porch. Despite that, when her mom told her about it, Turner thought it was perfect and purchased the property. The newly acquired building was a historic masterpiece broken into four one-bedroom apartments that are each about 1,100 square feet. Turner did some minor repairs and used the property for long-term rentals for about a decade before deciding to completely renovate the space and share it with visitors through Airbnb. “We totally had to redo the inside,” says Turner, adding that she worked to maintain the original charm by refinishing surfaces like the floors rather than replacing them. “While we had to update it, we tried to keep it as original as possible.” As the long-term tenants moved out one by one, she updated the bathrooms, added new tile, put granite countertops in the kitchens, refinished the hardwood floors, painted the interior with warm colors, teals and tans and added new landscaping. “It wasn’t an easy process,” Turner says. “Working with contractors was one of the most difficult parts.” Not only did she have to remodel the interior and tidy up the exterior, she also completely furnished all four apartments with eclectic antique store and estate sale finds, from grandfather clocks and paintings to rugs and ornate wooden dressers. “I wanted it to be comfortable and cozy,” she says. “That was my main goal.” In 2016, everything was ready, and Turner opened the units as vacation rentals. “We have been busy since we started,” she says. This isn’t hard to imagine with the historic Pearl a few minutes away, the River Walk right down the road and close proximity to local restaurants, bars and shops. Turner says that all of her guests have not only appreciated the historic charm of the house and neighborhood, but they have also respected it—welcome news for neighbors who sometimes object to historic properties being turned into rentals. Many guests have enjoyed it so much, they come back time after time, Turner says.
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WEST SIDE STORY A love letter to a neighborhood full of contrasts BY KIMBERLY SUTA PHOTOS BY CLINT DATCHUK
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The “Familia y Cultura es Vida” mural by Debbie Esparza and Juan Ramos, with restorations by Andy Rivas and Damien Salkin, is located on La Popular Bakery.
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rtist and fashion designer Agosto Cuellar recalls growing up on San Antonio’s West Side in a home that was often packed with family eating and playing together, noise and vibrant conversation a constant. Outside, the vivid sights and sounds of the historic neighborhood shaped his view of the world and have continued to influence his work, including his latest collection, Barrio Folk Baroque, which showed in New York and Paris. “I lived in the projects and remember it as my formative years,” Agosto says. “As a kid, I was enthralled by the vatos with their tattoos and wife beaters and the girls, all chola, with their heavy makeup, sitting on the hoods of cars playing `70s music. It was a village of all people of color. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of gang violence and families fighting with each other, but it was a much simpler time… Sometimes it’s very subtle, but (the West Side) is always present in the work I create.”
Cuellar is just one of many artists, activists, chefs and musicians birthed from San Antonio’s West Side, from the Queen of the Accordion, Eva Ybarra, to New York chef and Culinary Institute of America grad Julie Farias. They were raised in an area that’s rich in terms of family, art, community, culture and tradition. It’s the place of the nostalgic crispy dogs (hot dogs wrapped and grilled in tortillas), Ray’s puffy tacos and fried fish with gravy. It’s dozens of incredible outdoor murals, the Tejano Conjunto Festival at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, of family barbecues and holiday celebrations. It’s the place where the first Habitat for Humanity home in the U.S. was built on Hidalgo Street in 1976. It’s unlike anywhere else in San Antonio, and perhaps the world. Yet concurrently, the neighborhood remains among the poorest in the region, with its 78207 zip code reporting one of the highest poverty and unemployment rates
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Opposite page: San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 on Castroville Road; Right: Fashion designer and artist Agosto Cuellar says his West Side roots influence all of his work.
COURTESY AGOSTO CUELLAR
“THERE IS A SENSE OF PRIDE. I’VE ALWAYS FELT MOST AT HOME AND SAFEST ON THE WEST SIDE.”
in the county, according to a 2019 report by Texas Appleseed, a nonprofit that works to promote just laws and policies. Adults in the neighborhood are three times as likely as other Bexar County residents not to have a high school diploma and the median household income in the area is less than half of that of Bexar County as a whole, with nearly 50 percent of residents living below the federal poverty level, according to a report prepared for United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. The poverty is not new—the 78207 area was highlighted over 50 years ago in Hunger in America, a documentary by CBS. It’s a dichotomy that continues to play out as arts and culture organizations still pour into the neighborhood and businesses eye the area as a place for potential growth. San Antonio staple Bill Miller Bar-B-Q announced in May that it will move its headquarters from downtown to Old Highway 90 and Texas 151 on the West Side. Longtime residents of the area, meanwhile, are working to find the balance between welcoming new neighbors and improvements while staving off gentrification. “There is a sense of pride. I’ve always felt most at home and safest on the West Side. Growing up, we talked to our neighbors and we cared for each other, supported each other. There definitely is a kind of friction between perceptions of it being dangerous and rough, but also a place where San Antonio’s cultural history and Chicano culture era began,” says Stephen Guzman, whose parents met at Lanier High School and raised him on the West Side. Guzman is now co-executive director of SAY Sí, an arts education organization that serves youth from marginalized communities, including those from the area where he grew up. The nonprofit will complete a move this summer from Southtown to the West Side, where it is constructing a new, state-of-the-art headquarters that Guzman says he hopes will support both the culture and the educational outcomes in the area. “We started off with a mission of providing youth with access to art education because it wasn’t being provided in school, but our main goal is to dispel barriers in young people’s lives so they can find success,” he says. The West Side first thrived at the start of the 20th century when immigrants who left Mexico amid political unrest moved there, according to the city’s Office of Historic Preservation. Over the years, Guadalupe Street, still a center of activity, became the region’s main street. It was known as a center for Latinx JULY 2021
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W E S T S I D E S T O RY culture and also as a place of activism when in 1938, Mexican Americans banded together there to launch the largest labor strike in San Antonio’s history. Called the Pecan Shellers Strike, 12,000 pecan shellers protested wage cuts by the Southern Pecan Shelling Company. At the time, 40 percent of U.S. pecan crops were grown in Texas. The strike was a success, resulting in a wage increase for employees. That legacy continued in 1997 when Jaime P. Martinez organized on the West Side the first Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, an event that continues today. Chavez, who was known as an advocate for social justice and for farm workers starting in the 1960s, visited San Antonio frequently to work with organizers. Arts worked its way into the fabric of the neighborhood organically over the decades. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center debuted in the renovated Guadalupe Theater in 1984, founded by Chicano artists who wanted to help shape the culture of both the immediate area and the city as a whole. It has continued to be a powerful fulcrum for the neighborhood, offering kids and adults alike a place to experience and participate in the arts, from dance and theatre to visual arts, literature, film and music. It’s also known for its festivals, including the Tejano Conjunto Festival that has featured artists from around the world. “The contribution we’ve made isn’t just the West Side—it’s regional, national, international. The kind of work we’ve done here is on many levels,” says Jorge Piña, the center’s director of programs. “A lot of us came from the Chicano movement, so it’s important that art and culture be at the forefront of that movement.” Juan Tejeda, who’s a retired professor of Mexican-American studies and music, worked at the Guadalupe for the first 18 years of its existence as the Chixano Music Program director and knows all too well the role the West Side has played in the
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Guadalupe Cultural Arts Education building; Bottom left: “Cultivate The Path to Prestige” mural by Crystal Arias at La India Herbs; Bottom right: “Barrio Wellness” mural by Angel Hernandez at San Anto Cultural Arts
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“THE CONTRIBUTION WE’VE MADE ISN’T JUST THE WEST SIDE, IT’S REGIONAL, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL. THE KIND OF WORK WE’VE DONE HERE IS ON MANY LEVELS.”
musical realm. “I started the first accordion and baja sexto classes for the community and was one of the founders of the Tejano Conjunto Festival,” Tejeda says. “I think San Antonio is such an important cultural center for the Mexican American Tejano people. It’s considered one of the Tejano Conjunto capital of the world because of the amount of musicians who were born and raised here.” During its heyday in the `80s and early `90s, there were a multitude of Tejano clubs and radio stations in West San Antonio, not to mention the Tejano Music Awards. Tejeda says the area became known for producing a specific sound, a fusion of early Black rhythm and blues, Tejano, rock-nroll and oldies. Pioneers of this so-called West Side sound include Arturo “Sauce” Gonzalez and The WestSide Horns. Still, while cultural institutions grew, highway construction in the 1960s created a literal barrier between the neighborhood and downtown that fueled some economic decline, according to the Office of Historic Preservation, and led some families to move out of the area as job opportunities that already had been limited became even more so for those without easy transportation downtown. Historic homes also were demolished. It wasn’t until about 20 years ago when an iconic service station and dance hall was razed that residents forcefully spoke out and, along with the Office of Historic Preservation, worked to maintain the structures and culture for which the West Side is known. This summer, the city’s Department of Arts & Culture and Public Works Department are working on a capital improvement project that will reestablish accessibility between the West Side and downtown while also adding public art through murals under the bridges at Commerce, Buena Vista and Guadalupe streets. Those improvement efforts have also taken on new meaning in recent years as newcomers buy up properties on the West Side, looking for homes close to downtown that they can live in or flip. “The inner West Side is going through a transformation right now,” says Jaime Macias, owner of the bar Jaime’s Place. “There’s lots of talk that those who have been here for decades and decades are being pushed out, taxed out and displaced.” Other neighborhoods close to downtown, such as Dignowity Hill, have experienced the same thing in recent years. Craftsman and classic homes are bought, flipped and sold at prices not seen before in the neighborhood, which, in turn, leads JULY 2021
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W E S T S I D E S T O RY to higher taxes for everyone living there. On the West Side, several organizations have dedicated resources to offsetting this trend. “People have been buying large numbers of properties on the West Side for some years. We have to keep working closely with organizations like the Westside Preservation Alliance and Esperanza (Peace & Justice Center), who are on the forefront concerning this debate,” says Piña. Avenida Guadalupe Association, for example, has worked to protect long-time residents, particularly the elderly, who may have few options beyond the homes they grew up in and raised families in. “We’re a solution against that trend,” says Gabriel Quintero Velasquez, president and CEO of the Avenida Guadalupe Association, which has already constructed three low-income housing apartment complexes for seniors. “We’re an organization that has pioneered the development of poor neighborhoods and ones of color, enabling them to develop and improve without the consequences of gentrification.” Graciela Sanchez, director of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, a community-based cultural arts and social justice organization that has been active since the 1980s, also wants to see the area flourish
without losing its identity. “This neighborhood was part of the original 36 square miles of the city. We just call it the historic West Side or near West Side. At one point it was called the Mexican Quarters,” she says. One of the silver linings of living in an economically challenged neighborhood is that individuals come together as a community to survive, and indeed, to thrive—a trait that has helped the existing community to maintain its character. Part of the work Sanchez does at Esperanza is to help facilitate those relationships. One 88-year-old resident in a wheelchair, for example, was being fined $500 for not mowing her lawn. They worked to connect her with someone who can mow free of charge, so she doesn’t get fined and eventually displaced. “We’re trying to stop the displacement and demolition of the neighborhood and trying to educate city staff and work collaboratively to stop code compliance violations from becoming demolitions in the future,” Sanchez says. “We need to figure out policy and actions to help each other out, instead of just tearing down a home or a profound part of the history of San Antonio is going to get demolished.” Patti Radle, San Antonio Independent School District board president, co-director
of Inner City Development and a West Side resident, says supporting the existing fabric of the community also means empowering its students, something she says the district is doing. “When I first got here 52 years ago, just getting kids to graduate was really hard. We have a better handle on that now,” she says, adding that the dropout rate was as high as 70 percent. Now, she says, West Side campuses are offering programs meant to provide a comprehensive education while also preparing teens for the kinds of careers that can allow them to succeed, and in turn, invest in their neighborhood. By raising expectations and letting students know they are supported and capable, the district saw its pre-pandemic dropout rate fall to 9 percent. Elsewhere, people like Rachel Delgado, of the Westside Preservation Alliance, are ensuring the quintessence of the West Side—its energy, stories and history—will be preserved by recording the experiences of longtime residents. Piña and others know some level of change is inevitable. They simply want the West Side to remain the West Side. “This is my barrio, this is my home. And since it’s a home, I welcome you to come in and celebrate what we celebrate,” Piña says.
Abandoned beef plant on Laredo Street
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EXPLORING THE WEST SIDE
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RESTAURANTS TO TRY
Diana’s Burgers: If you’re a fan of Chris Madrid’s, then you’ll enjoy Diana’s Burgers, created by the sister of the original Chris Madrid’s owner. You’ll find the same ginormous beef patties, overflowing with cheese and gut-busting toppings. facebook.com/ dianasburgers El Siete Mares: This family-run Mexican restaurant with a focus on seafood has been around for years. Located close to downtown, you can expect fantastic ceviche, crudo, whole fish and traditional Mexican favorites. el7mares.net
JEFFERSON BODEGA: KIMBERLY SUTA
Oasis Tropical Fruteria (aka Mangonada King): For a sweet treat, head over to Oasis for one of the best mangonadas in town. Nothing beats the heat better than a bright orange mango sorbet swirled with chamoy sauce and tajin seasoning. They also have cups stuffed with fresh fruits, ice cream and other treats. facebook.com/oasis-tropical-fruteria The Original Donut Shop: The West Side’s Deco District can claim some of the best breakfast tacos and donuts, all under one roof. Stop in for a variety of classic donuts from this over 70-year-old institution and enjoy with a side of tacos—from chorizo and beans to avocado and potato and egg. facebook.com/theoriginal donutshop Ray’s Drive Inn: Home of the original puffy taco, Ray’s is something of an institution on the West Side and, along with authentic puffy tacos, delivers with tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and more. raysdriveinn.net
"Educación" mural by Cruz Ortiz and Juan Ramos at 2121 Guadalupe St.
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Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center: Home to an enormous variety of art opportunities, from dance and music classes to stage performances and movie screenings, this arts center is a hub of San Antonio culture. Check its website for upcoming events, including its world-renowned festivals like the Tejano Conjunto Festival that takes place each spring and the CineFestival, scheduled July 8-11. guadalupeculturalarts.org MujerArtes Clay Cooperative: This cooperative of women began over 25 years ago and continues as a place where residents create beautiful ceramics that epitomize the talent and creativity of the neighborhood. Look for annual exhibits during Dia de los Muertos and Mother’s Day weekend. esperanzacenter.org/ esperanza-projects/mujerarteswomens-pottery-collective Puente de Fuego at Jaime’s Place: Within this neighborhood bar is a newly opened art gallery featuring local artists creating work in a variety of mediums. There’s an emphasis on Chicano art and also occasional live dance and other performances in the bar. jaimesplace.pub San Anto Cultural Arts Mural Tour: While they offer official tours for large groups, small groups can enjoy self-guided tours by plotting out a bike ride, walk or drive with addresses and descriptions from the organization’s website. With over three dozen murals to see, you can pack a picnic and make a full afternoon of it. sananto.org
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Jefferson Bodega: It may look like a run-of-the-mill convenience store but inside you’ll find unique and imported snacks, from Korean Cheetos and CBD sparkling water to key lime pie Kit Kats, Texas Proud Snickers and more. They also host pop-up arts events by hip-hop dancers, San Antonio Symphony musicians and others. instagram.com/jeffersonbodega Elizondo Flower Shop: Situated among historic properties, this floral store has for decades filled orders for Mother’s Day, quinceneras and for those visiting the nearby San Fernando Cemetery No. 2. Las Princesas: The piñata and gift shop is known for its creative piñatas of everything from Big Red and Hot Cheetos to princesses and Easter rabbits. You’ll also find elaborate Fiesta hats, cascarones and more. facebook.com/lasprincesas giftshop.sa
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UP, OUT
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COMMUNITY-CONNECTING APP STARTUP MAKES ITS HOME ON THE WEST SIDE
BY TRAVIS E. POLING PHOTOS BY MATT CONANT
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Alberto Altamirano CEO
Alberto Gomez COO
T
he three founders of Irys, a 4-year-old San Antonio tech startup company, are frequently asked why they haven’t moved out of the city for greener tech pastures. That drumbeat sounded even louder last year after a successful $1.2 million investment round. The company, which is led by CEO Alberto “Beto” Altamirano, chief operating officer Alberto “Beto” Gomez and chief financial officer Eduardo Bravo, did, in fact, relocate last August. But the move from their home as a tenant at the downtown tech incubator Geekdom was a doubling down on being a San Antonio company. Instead of Austin, Boston, or Silicon Valley, Irys moved to San Antonio’s West Side. Irys, which develops apps that allow governments, corporations and civic organizations to better communicate with the public and build online communities, wanted to carry that community building mission to new heights by pushing the boundaries of the city’s recognized tech sector downtown. “A lot of people ask, ‘Why haven’t you moved to another city?’” Altamirano says. “We’re about community and the West Side was at the center of San Antonio’s community organizing. Coming from downtown, we’re bringing our own twist as techies.” That includes hiring interns from West Side universities, such as Our Lady of the Lake University, and introducing a program that invites students to visit the Irys offices and help with starting projects. The idea for Irys was born out of the founders’ frustration with how companies and the government were lagging in using technology to engage the public. They saw the need for something more flexible than just in-person meetings and without the noise generated by social media platforms such as Facebook. The founders brought their experiences as insiders in government, academia and business together to identify and solve problems they had seen up close. Altamirano, who grew up in Mission, was working as a staffer on a fellowship in the White House’s U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Senate office of John Kerry in 2012 when he noticed how little tools such as Facebook and Twitter were being leveraged by elected officials and their offices to communicate with constituents.
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Eduardo Bravo CFO
Gomez, originally from Brownsville, was living in Spain and traveling throughout Europe for his Ph.D. research into the use of mobile technologies and how communities were communicating with the government. Bravo, who moved from Mexico City to San Antonio as a teenager, was working with EY, a government consulting arm of Ernst & Young in 2015 and 2016. He saw government offices spending millions on technology upgrades with systems such as Oracle, but with little idea of how to make them work after years of outdated “legacy” technology. “They were jumping from a typewriter to Oracle,” Bravo says. Altamirano, who had moved to San Antonio to work for the transportation-focused Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, began evangelizing the idea behind a community-engagement app even before there was a usable product. He spoke at South by Southwest in Austin in 2016 and all three founders were asked to participate in a White House tech event called South by South Lawn that same year. The company got its official start in 2017 under the original name CityFlag by successfully bidding on a contract to redo the City of San Antonio’s 311 app. The new app engages users to communicate with the city about potholes, damaged garbage carts, aggressive animals and a host of other items. At its heart, the app is about engagement and a two-way communication between the community and the city. The app “gamified” public engagement by awarding participation on the app with points that accumulated for digital medals. (The company would like to see that eventually translate into even more tangible rewards, such as gift cards). The San Antonio 311 app now has more than 50,000 users and by early 2021 had logged in more than 150,000 requests. The success soon put the CityFlag team in motion doing the same thing for other Texas cities, including Hidalgo, Mission and the combined economic development foundation of the Lower Rio Grande Valley cities. In Mexico, the company has contracts with Mexico City, Tampico, Reynosa, Merida and the national tourism office of Mexico. The request for proposals to remake the City of San Antonio’s 311 app in late 2016 was just the proving ground
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the company needed. Gomez recalls having to provide 30 printed copies of the request, plus burned CDs with the same information in their submission for what was meant to be a high-tech project that would use no paper—a perfect example for why a company like CityFlag was needed. “We wanted to make (311) more accessible to a younger generation,” he says. The 311 app launched in the summer of 2018, the same year Altamirano made the Forbes “30 under 30” list. In 2019, Altamirano, Gomez and Bravo went to Europe for three months as part of the Techstars accelerator initiative that connects startups with mentors and networking opportunities with possible sources of funding. During that time, they forged a valuable relationship with Amsterdam–based engineering consultancy Arcadis. CityFlag began focusing on its Irys software (after which the company was renamed in 2020) to go beyond government contracts and make it applicable to everything from major infrastructure projects to research tools for academics. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused many government entities to pause spending on technology
“We’re about community and the West Side was at the center of San Antonio’s community organizing. Coming from downtown, we’re bringing our own twist as techies.”
projects, but companies with government-funded infrastructure contracts were moving forward and became the next area of focus. “COVID brought opportunity because companies couldn’t do meetings for in-person feedback,” Bravo says. “We provide that solution.” Irys now has enough clients to keep its cash flow going, but it will take more for the next leap in growth. Arcadis is using the app to aid several of its clients in the U.S. with keeping in touch with the community and its project stakeholders, including the island town of Nantucket in Massachusetts and the state of New Jersey. Arcadis will roll it out globally in 2022. In late spring 2021, Irys began working on a new public portal that will use data scraped from across government websites, news sources and databases to provide an overview of every major public or private project in progress for a certain city. San Antonio and Austin will be first and then Irys will develop the free-to-the-public website in 25 additional cities next year. “People are excited to know how their cities are growing and transforming,” Altamirano says. “This will give them a vision of the future for the next five years.” So why did Irys opt to stay loyal to San Antonio? It’s a natural question because the Alamo City has a history of tech startups moving elsewhere to grow or because of
an acquisition by a company elsewhere. WheelGroup, for example, moved to Austin years ago after being bought by Cisco. Just this last year, financial modeling software company Flightpath Finance moved to Washington State. What’s more, Altamirano says many programmers and developers are moving to Austin after graduating from University of Texas at San Antonio, Trinity University and Codeup, the 22-week data science and web development boot camp. It’s a trend that tech community leaders and the city are trying to change. That includes creating more homegrown venture capital firms, more local angel investors, startup-friendly banking relationships and fostering a city culture that will attract and keep skilled tech workers in San Antonio. Irys certainly has benefited from its connection to the city’s business ecosystem. Henry Cisneros, former San Antonio mayor and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Clinton administration, was a small investor in the seed money round of financing for the company that morphed into Irys. He is now landlord of the company’s West Side digs, a former residence on the same block as Cisneros’ own home. Cisneros says he believes that Irys, a rising star in San Antonio’s tech community advocacy group Tech Bloc, moved to the West Side as part of filling a geographic gap in the city’s economic development. “The community has great potential,” Cisneros says. “Three out of four points on the compass are doing well, but the West Side has lagged over the years for a variety of reasons.” Among those reasons are the railroad tracks, the Bexar County Jail and the associated bail bonds operations surrounding the jail. Cisneros, an acquaintance of Bravo’s businessman father, says he took a meeting with the group as part of his efforts to mentor young people seeking advice in politics, civic engagement and business. By the second meeting, they pitched him on investing. With the possibilities for transparency between communities and government or contractors and an easy-to-use dashboard, Cisneros got on board alongside other high-profile investors such as business partner Victor Miramontes, Rackspace and Geekdom co-founder Graham Weston and Active Capital founder and CEO Pat Matthews. For San Antonio, the aim is to create a lot more success stories like Irys. Alejandra “Alex” Lopez, director of the City of San Antonio Economic Development Department, says public and private sector initiatives are working together to help not only launch startups, but also create an environment where they can thrive long term. “We want to foster the growth of these tech companies in our community,” Lopez says. “We are making sure they have the support in the ecosystem as they make their way along the growth path.” The $1.2 million in seed capital for Irys will help grow the team to gain more clients, create a more scalable product and do more marketing to keep in the mainstream media. “We are definitely looking for a funding round that will allow us to hire more people in San Antonio,” Altamirano says. “We’re obsessed and hyper-focused with our product. This is an opportunity to introduce a new wave of public engagement.”
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
R E A LT O R P R O F I L E S 2 0 2 1
NATALEE NEWELL PHYLLIS BROWNING COMPANY Natalee Newell, a San Antonio native, has been matching extraordinary people with extraordinary properties since 1999. In 2000, she was named Rookie of the Year and she has kept up the pace ever since. She puts her experience and expertise to work for her clients … knowledge plus attention produces results. Natalee is a Luxury Home Specialist and has been listed frequently as a Platinum Top 50 REALTOR® finalist and winner. The San Antonio Business Journal placed her in the top 1 percent of Luxury Real Estate Agents in 2019 and 2020. She consistently closes over $15 million in real estate per year. Thanks to a successful career, Natalee is grateful to spend much of her time now working with past clients, friends and their many referrals. A natural linguist and avid traveler, Natalee speaks Spanish fluently, along with a little Italian and some French from her time in Paris at La Varenne Culinary School. She is extensively involved in the community, her church, the Laurel Heights Garden Club and the Gardenia Musical Society. Natalee is also active with the San Antonio Botanical Garden and Impact San Antonio.
210-215-1212 nnewell@phyllisbrowning.com www.phyllisbrowning.com/associate/604-a-607-65/natalee-newell
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R E A LT O R P R O F I L E S 2 0 2 1
LYNN A. BOYD III PHYLLIS BROWNING COMPANY A native Texan originally from McAllen, Lynn Boyd has been a resident of San Antonio for over 30 years. This gives him the edge of knowing the city and surrounding areas well, and he is accustomed to assisting clients in all price ranges. Lynn attributes his success to being attuned to his individual clients’ needs and adjusting his efforts and tailoring his approach accordingly. Lynn works diligently to make his clients’ transactions worry-free and seamless, providing an extraordinary level of service backed by his tremendous knowledge of the industry. Lynn has been a multi-million dollar producer every year since joining the real estate business and is consistently recognized by Phyllis Browning Company and the San Antonio Business Journal as one of the top Realtors in the city each year. He is a member of the San Antonio Board of Realtors, Texas Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. He is also a graduate of the Realtor Institute. Lynn enjoys supporting his community. He is a current board member of the Monte Vista Historical Association, where he has served since 2019. He is a past president of Landa Gardens Conservatory and served on the board for many years.
SHAWN ALVAREZ DAVID ABRAHAMS PHYLLIS BROWNING COMPANY From West Point to full-bird Colonel in the United States Army, over 32 years in the military taught David Abrahams discipline and leadership. Upon retirement, he put these skills to work successfully as a Realtor® with Phyllis Browning Company, swiftly rising through the ranks. In his first full year in real estate, David was named Rookie of the Year and welcomed as a Star Circle Member. Last year, David helped over 50 clients achieve their real estate dreams, closing residential, commercial and small land purchases in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. David is proud to deliver the conciergelevel, luxury service that Phyllis Browning Company is known for to buyers and sellers at all price points.
PHYLLIS BROWNING COMPANY Shawn Alvarez is an accredited Luxury Home Specialist. Her professionalism, dedication and exceptional customer service have made her a trusted top producer at Phyllis Browning Company. A proud San Antonian and a marketplace expert, Shawn is successful at pairing her local and national buyers with some of the most unique luxury homes in the region. As a listing agent, Shawn provides robust marketing to give her client’s property the visibility it deserves, using a team of professionals from start to finish to facilitate a stress-free, memorable experience. Shawn’s deep knowledge of home construction and her home renovation experience help guide clients through the buying and selling process. When Shawn is out of office, you can find her at Pilates class, hiking with friends or exploring new beaches! She enjoys spending time with her husband, son and grandchildren. Shawn's empathy for people and nature is evidenced by her passion for fostering kittens from SnipSA.
210-863-5758 210-667-7110 678-463-9733 laboyd3@phyllisbrowning.com dabrahams@phyllisbrowning.com salvarez@phyllisbrowning.com www.phyllisbrowning.com/associate/604-awww.phyllisbrowning.com/ www.phyllisbrowning.com/associate/604-adf1905151230604607102/lynn-a-boyd-iii associate/604-a-607-1894/david-abrahams df190621183660460753/shawn-alvarez
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Eat + Drink I N S I D E / ST EVE M CHUG H TA K ES O N HOT EL FOOD p. 56 / CAKEBOY SA’S SW EET TREATS p. 59 / D RAW IN G FOR F L AVOR p . 6 0
Pairing Guide P R I C K LY PEAR: Add it to sparkling water with vodka and lime juice TE X AS WILDFLOWER: The perfect complement to a mild gin S M O K E D FI G : Try it with a bold Texas whiskey
The Perfect Pear f it weren’t for the pandemic, Bexar Tonics might still be just a hobby. But after Matt McLaughlin was furloughed from the restaurant industry in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, he and wife Maray McChesney agreed to turn the tonic syrup recipes he’d concocted at home into a business. The two started experimenting with making their own tonics after McChesney found herself getting ill from traditional tonic water mixers for cocktails. McLaughlin thought he could make versions that tasted better and made them feel better thanks to quality ingredients, like lemon, lavender, all-natural cane sugar, real cinchona bark imported from South America and the fresh tunas (fruit) that ripened on prickly pear cactus near their home.
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McLaughlin spent the first few months of their venture perfecting his recipes so they could be replicated and bottled. The two then took to social media last August to share their product and even did a round of front door deliveries to spread the word and allow locals to try their mixers. Bottles of Bexar Tonics have since been added to shelves at Larder at Hotel Emma and Feliz Modern and the tonics also are used at several local restaurants and bars, including Cured and Devil’s River Whiskey, which adds the Smoked Fig Tonic to its whiskey-based Idle Hands cocktail. McChesney says they’ve loved that other local businesses have supported them and that they hope to do the same as they expand. “As proud locals, we definitely want to serve the San Antonio community for as long as possible,” she says—KATHERINE STINSON
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L ANDR ACE
111 Lexington Ave. 210-942-6026 landracetx.com Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily; Brunch Sun
Back to the Land At Landrace, celebrity chef Steve McHugh offers a unique vision of Texas flavors BY EDMUND TIJERINA
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f Chef Steve McHugh’s Cured restaurant shows his roots in rural Wisconsin and his adopted hometown of New Orleans, Landrace picks up where Cured left off, and anchors its understanding of San Antonio in the land itself. “The idea of Landrace is focusing on Texas terroir,” McHugh says. “Whether it’s the fish coming out of the Gulf or raking prickly pear and using it in a dessert, I want to take all of these things that San Antonio is known for and put them in a menu.” This gem located at the new Thompson Hotel downtown came from an idea Steve and Sylvia McHugh conceived of years ago. It found its home at the hotel when a Thompson executive reached out to McHugh after dining at Cured. “They were fans of what we were doing and wanted to do something new and different for San Antonio,” McHugh says. “They
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were adamant about nothing touristy.” The heart of Cured is the charcuterie case that greets guests when they first walk in. At Landrace, the hub is a gleaming, steel Argentinian-style grill with crank wheels akin to a contraption in a Jules Verne story. It’s a heart that beats with a live fire, which the chef raises and lowers to adjust the heat and intensity needed for each dish. The grill relies on a mix of mesquite and post oak that add earthy, sweet and piquant notes to dishes. The smoke notes enliven a seemingly basic bread service that includes dense, house-baked rolls accompanied by a dip of smoked butter and Texas extra virgin olive oil, together evoking the feeling of a campfire under a clear, Texas sky. Pair that bread and butter with a house cocktail. Maybe you’ll want something based on mezcal, or perhaps a mesquite-infused bourbon. Or, ask for a visit from the Old Fashioned cart that offers diners a choice of spirits, flavored syrups and bitters. No matter the selection, the commitment to a sense of place shines through with ingredients that include mesquite beans and prickly pear. “I wanted to make the bar as local as
our kitchen,” says McHugh, a five-time James Beard Award finalist. After the bread, move on to appetizers where the smoke adds depth to grilled barbecue oysters, and it plays off the herbaceous parsley and garlic spread of the accompanying toast to achieve memorable bites. The smoke enlivens a rich and addictive bone marrow appetizer, too. But it’s not all about the smoke. Consider a snapper crudo, presented as an entree plate of fanned out raw fish, bathing in brightly sweet clementine juice, with thin slices of fermented—not simply pickled—chilis, and dollops of avocado yogurt. The result is a light dish with amazing and intense flavors. The rustic overtones of the dishes balance with the sleek, strong lines of the stylish interior architecture. Indeed, the entire restaurant offers a remarkable balance of seeming opposites: rustic yet elegant, playful yet meticulous, intensively creative yet accessible. In other words, if you like what McHugh created at Cured, you’ll love what his team is doing at Landrace. It’s superb. JULY 2021
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ORDER THIS
Steak tartare Roast leg of lamb Snapper crudo Canoe Cut Bone Marrow
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HU GMAN ’S OASIS
135 E. Commerce St. hugmansoasissatx.com Open Tues-Sun
Tiki Meets Texas Hugman’s Oasis is designed to provide a tropical escape along the River Walk BY KATHERINE STINSON
Wave of Mutilation Ingredients 6-8 mint leaves ½ ounce Don’s Mix ¾ ounce lemon juice
hris Hill was so committed to making Hugman’s Oasis authentic that he hired legendary designer “Bamboo” Ben Bassham to work with him and Giles Design Bureau on creating his new tiki bar downtown. Named for Robert Hugman, the architect behind the San Antonio River Walk where the bar is located, Hugman’s Oasis invites locals and tourists alike in for a barside tropical getaway. Bassham brought plenty of experience to the San Antonio project, having designed 40 tiki bars across the country, including in Nevada and California. Inside Hugman’s Oasis, he’s crafted a faux lava wall with fountains that bring a warm glow to the space (also the perfect stop for a selfie). Further inside the bar, an array of skulls made with a heavily antiqued patina finish adorn the walls while brown palms hang from the ceiling alongside lanterns that emanate green and yellow hues onto the floor
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1 ounce guava nectar ½ ounce falernum 1 ½ ounces toki Orchid and mint sprig to garnish Preperation Lightly muddle mint and place in a shaker tin. Add all other ingredients plus crushed ice. Shake lightly. Dump into a Collins glass. Garnish with orchid and mint sprig. Recipe created by Dee Acosta
below. Guests can find a stool at the bar, at a table behind carved wooden poles or in semi-private booths, including one that has a skull-laden chandelier hanging above the table from a pitched thatch roof. “Hugman’s was our 41st commercial tiki bar,” Bassham says. “All of my projects are different in one way or another. Hugman’s was cool because we made our own molds and cast all of the skulls on-site.” To ensure the cocktail menu was as tropical as the décor, Hill leaned on award-winning bartender Jeret Peña (of the now-shuttered Brooklynite and Hello Paradise) to work with Hugman’s staff to craft a menu that includes more than just your typical pina colada. On a first visit, Peña suggests starting with the Piñagroni, a blend of gin, pineapple-washed campari and sweet vermouth; or the Wave of Mutilation, a whiskey-based beverage with cinnamon and sugar that arrives adorned with a purple flower and skull mixing stick. He also says it wouldn’t be a tiki bar without rum, which is where the Zombie cocktail comes in. Made with Hugman’s own rum blend plus absinthe, falernum, renadine, lime juice, bitters and a specialty mix of cinnamon, sugar and grapefruit, it’s equal parts sweet and indulgent. There’s also the Junglebird, a rum-based cocktail with pineapple and lime juices. Peña says the space is “gorgeous” and he wanted the drinks to match. “It’s about the celebration of the space itself and hospitality,” he says. “I enjoy helping people get the full spectrum of an experience.” Small bites, or “island snacks,” include things like plantain chips with lemony Mediterranean sumac, seasonal skewers (Thai basil and orange pork were the initial offerings) and candied jalapeno ragoons. PHOTO BY JASON CHETWOOD
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M A K E R / E AT + D R I N K
ORDER
@cakeboy.sa on Instagram
SWEET ART The Food Network-winning baker and artist behind CakeBoy SA creates edible masterpieces
KLARE PEREZ
GROWING UP IN BANDERA WITH HIS MOM,
San Antonio cake artist Brett Siebern was always looking for creative outlets, painting, drawing and sculpting in his free time. “I always took as many art classes as I could going through school,” he says. “Something that’s always been in the back of my mind is wanting to create.” He moved to San Antonio in 2006 following high school and took a position at Michaels, which he quickly found he hated. Remembering the hours they spent watching shows like Ace of Cakes, Siebern’s mom suggested he channel his creativity into baking rather than the craft store job. He took her advice and applied at an H-E-B bakery. It was there that Siebern met mentor Kevin Moulder. The two would go on to win the first episode of Food Network’s Winner Cake All in 2018 by sculpting a 3-foot-tall edible mermaid cake. Moulder has since
opened a bakery in Seattle while Siebern went on to cultivate a successful home bakery known as CakeBoy SA. When he’s not working his full-time job at Merit Coffee in the Medical Center, Siebern can usually be found in his kitchen, baking and carefully decorating up to three elaborate cakes a week for delivery to local customers. The 33-year-old says he likes to take risks, baking from scratch and testing out flavors and cake designs that reflect San Antonio’s culture, including vibrant Mexican-inspired embroidery and mariachi-themed wedding cakes and specialty cakes like one sculpted into a La Catrina, known as the dame of Día de los Muertos. For flavors, he once created a mangonada cake with spicy chamoy filling at the request of a customer as well as a seasonal blood orange cake soaked in pomegranate simple syrup. Ultimately, he says, each cake must not only look like a piece of art but also taste great, too. “When it comes down to it, it can look beautiful on the outside,” Siebern says. “But if you cut into it and it’s disgusting, you’re going to be let down.” —JESSICA LENAMOND JULY 2021
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The Taste of Home Johnny Hernandez adds artist-driven labels to his H-E-B meals BY JESSICA LENAMOND
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hen chef Johnny Hernandez’s taco kits, enchiladas and other La Gloria favorites hit H-E-B shelves last spring, they were sold as part of a pandemic-era program launched by the grocer. The items—which are stocked at select stores alongside entrees from other local restaurants—were such a hit that they’ve remained even as pandemic restrictions lift. Knowing his meals and sides would be offered long-term, Hernandez wanted to make sure his packaging distinguished itself from the thousands of other products already popular at H-E-B. He looked to the glimmering fruit cup paintings by Eva Marengo Sanchez that hang in his own home kitchen for inspiration and contacted Sanchez to see if she could turn his labels into mini works of art. “Her art captures the essence of our neighborhood and food—our culture,” says Hernandez, who also owns Burgerteca, The Fruteria and True Flavors Catering. “When you see her work, you recognize, that’s talent. It’s art that somebody like me, with an untrained eye, can appreciate, and say, ‘Wow, not just anybody can do that. That looks beautiful.’ I love the detail and realism in her images. It’s art that you can understand.” Sanchez agreed to draw Hernandez’s al pastor, bistec and chicken tacos plus street
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corn and more. Then San Antonio graphic designer Martha Martinez Flores and Mexico City’s José Ramón and Ortiz Solorzano finished out the labels’ design with a custom font and other details. The last of the artistic packaging debuts in stores this month. Sanchez says she paints food because she loves San Antonio and its cuisine—something she realized even more after she’d left. When living in the Midwest and then Mexico City before returning home in 2015, Sanchez could not stop craving San Antonio’s comfort food, especially breakfast tacos. “That’s when I realized how closely food was tied to my soul and memories of home, family and friends—who I am,” she says. “It isn’t Mexican, and it isn’t American. It’s Tex-Mex, and it’s home.” She’s known for her still life paintings of enchiladas, fruit cups like those hanging in Hernandez’s home, Mexican pink cakes and melt-in-your-mouth conchas. Her paintings, and now food labels, don’t feature people, but they’re portraits all the same, she says. “It’s telling the story about a person or a moment, but there’s no human form involved,” Sanchez says. “It’s easier for people to make it personal, because they impose their own memories of being with family and going to get a fruit cup or to the panadería on Sunday with grandma.”
COURTESY JOHNNY HERNANDEZ/EVA MARENGO SANCHEZ
E AT + D R I N K / TA S T E M A K E R
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S P OT LI G H T / E AT + D R I N K
THE DOORYARD TAPHOUSE
Taste Test
4503 De Zavala Road, Ste. 108 210-201-4911 thedooryardsa.com
The Dooryard Taphouse’s self-pour system allows customers to sample beers from around the world by the ounce BY KATHLEEN PETTY
t was a stroke of bad luck that led The Dooryard owner Jason Meredith into entrepreneurship. A former IT professional, Meredith was closing in on 20 years with a local nonprofit when he was laid off. He and his partner had just purchased a new home and were expecting a baby in the coming months. His partner’s parents had launched their own venture with Künstler Brewing and their family had long considered Texas craft beers a pastime, so Meredith decided to open his own taproom. Only instead of offering in-house brews, he would provide locals the chance to try sips (or more) of beers from around the state, country and world. “Starting something new is, of course, scary,” he says. But, he adds, he was done leaving his fate in someone else’s hands. At the end of 2020, he opened The Dooryard Taphouse, equipped with 30 taps of mostly Texas beers but also a few national and even international selections.
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Instead of walking up to a bar, customers hand their credit card to a host upon entering and are provided a Dooryard card they can use to pour as little as a few ounces up to a full glass. Knowing how tough it is to visit every craft brewery as the scene continues to grow, Meredith says the taps provide a way to take a tour of local breweries all in one sitting. Taps rotate regularly and focus on tougher-to-find brews. Recent offerings have included San Antonio beers like Longtab Brewing’s Quiet Professional IPA as well as Texas beers like the Hominimania Lager by Jester King Brewery in Austin and the Mango Smash IPA from 3 Nations Brewing in Carrollton. Seltzers and cider also are available on tap. The food menu starts with typical bar bites, from a giant pretzel to bar nuts (chickpeas with togarashi), but also has more creative takes with dishes like the achiote-braised pork belly steam buns and the Vietnamese-style banh mi. JULY 2021
Three Beers Types to Taste IPA SA’s Longtab Brewing Co. and Künstler Brewing regularly have must-try IPAs on the menu. Lager The tap list has consistently included at least a few Texas lagers, each offering a distinct crisp flavor. Sour Opt for an intentionally tart beer. One recent offering came from Martin House in Fort Worth.
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11 Places for a Cool Summer Treat BOOZY’S CREAMERY AND CRAFT
(Southtown) Boozy’s tests the idea that two great things are better together with its alcohol pourovers of ice creams. Or opt for a specialty shake or drink featuring ice cream with a boozy kick and plenty of tasty toppings. A variety of non-alcoholic ice cream options for kids and dairy free flavors are available, too. Follow Boozy’s on Instagram for the latest offerings. 711 S. St. Mary’s St., instagram. com/boozyscreamery BRINDLES AWESOME ICE CREAMS (North West) It doesn’t get more San Antonio than a taco sundae—scoops of ice cream stuffed into a taco-shaped waffle cone and topped with chocolate syrup and more—but this veteran-owned shop also offers gelato and ice cream in over 30 flavors, served in traditional cones or a dish. 11255 Huebner Road, facebook.com/brindlesawesome icecreams CHARM CITY SNOBALLS
(Mahncke Park) The owners of this shop describe their frozen treats as “New Orleans SnoBalls with a Baltimore twist.” That means it’s not a copycat raspa spot but instead a unique twist on shaved ice concoctions. Flavors rotate weekly but have included strawberry cheesecake, peaches and cream and key lime pie, which featured key lime-flavored ice topped with ice cream and whipped cream. 3710 Broadway, charmcitysnoballs.com
EL PARAISO ICE CREAM (Woodlawn) Located just down the road from the Woodlawn Theatre, El Paraiso has been a favorite for over 30 years. Ice cream bars and paletas are made from simple, natural ingredients and include flavors like horchata, strawberry, cheesecake, pina colada and more. 1934 Fredericksburg Road, elparaisoicecream.com FOUR SEASONS YOGURT (Stone Oak) Frozen yogurt fans won’t want to miss this family-owned cafe. With over 15 flavors—including dairy free, gluten free, sugar free and vegan options—there’s something for everyone to try, from birthday cake to white chocolate strawberry and pineapple. 1207 Loop 1604, fourseasonsyogurt.com FRESHEST ICE CREAMS (Medical Center) Milkshakes, gelatos, ice cream and fruit cups are all natural here, so there are never any artificial colors or chemicals in your dessert. Try the mango, lemon and kiwi ice cream cup for a vegan option, a traditional strawberry milkshake or a made-to-order fruit cup with pineapples, bananas, pears and a scoop of ice cream. 8053 Callaghan Road, freshestice creams.com
LAS NIEVES FRUIT CUPS & MORE
(Hildebrand, Northwest, Northeast) From traditional fruit cups, raspas and agua frescas to Italian ice, milkshakes and banana splits, there’s something for everyone here. 1118 W. Hildebrand Road; 4310 Blanco Road; 4342 Thousand Oaks Drive, lasnieves.net LICK HONEST ICE CREAMS
(Pearl, Hemisfair, The Rim) The Austin-based ice cream shop has become a local staple since opening at Pearl in 2014. Don’t expect traditional vanilla. Instead, wallow in the creative flavor combinations made with Texas ingredients, including a goat cheese, thyme and honey made with Austin Pure Luck goat cheese. 312 Pearl Pkwy., Ste. 2101; 639 Hemisfair Blvd.; 17635 La Cantera Pkwy., ilikelick.com PALETERIA SAN ANTONIO (Hemisfair) Joey and Cecy Rodriguez favor natural and organic ingredients for their homemade paletas whenever possible. They offer a slew of milkbased treats (Oreo, Fruity Pebbles and more) plus water-based pops (like pickle, mangonada, watermelon and chamoy). 510 S. Alamo St., paleteriasanantonio.com SOUTH ALAMODE PANINI & GELATO CO. (Southtown) Josh
KUMA (West) The Hong Kong-
style ice cream shop is known for its bubble waffle cones that are often topped to the brim with Pocky candy, sprinkles, cookies, marshmallows and more. Not up for ice cream? Try a milk or boba tea. 7915 W. Loop 1604 N., Ste. 120; 6565 Babcock Road, St. 17; 3107 TPC Pkwy., Ste. 103, instagram.com/kuma.satx
Biffle and Diletta Gallorini bring a taste of Italy to the Mission Reach with gelato fashioned after the kind you’d find in Gallorini’s native country. 1420 S. Alamo St., southalamode.com
Restaurants' service and menus can change. Please call ahead to confirm. For our full directory of San Antonio restaurants, visit sanantoniomag.com/restaurants-bars.
What’s your go-to food when it’s hot outside and where do you get it? Hot weather screams out for a cool seafood dish and I always love the camarones aguachile at El Bucanero or the Peruvian cebiche at Rocotos Grill. Sometimes my wife and I will get takeout of a campechana and nopalitos salad from La Fonda on Main. And of course, I’m getting fruit cups and raspas from Las Nieves or Los Valles. I always make sure to load mine with plenty of mango and coconut. When it’s really humid outside, I’ll order some tacos de cochinita pibil from Guajillo’s. The classic Yucatán dish reminds me of the beautiful city of Mérida. Have a question for our resident foodie? Email asked@sanantoniomag.com.
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OFF MENU News from the restaurant scene
Three Star Bar, a new restaurant from Boulevardier Group owner Jeret Peña, is slated to open in the former Grayze on Grayson near Pearl. The menu by chef Josh Calderon will feature deli-inspired classics and comfort food. Rob Gourlay will lead the whiskey-centric bar menu. / Pieter and Susan Sypesteyn’s Bud’s Southern Rotisserie at the Bottling Dept. at Pearl closed in May. / The Austin-based hamburger chain P. Terry’s will open its first San Antonio location this month in the Medical Center. / Willie’s Grill & Icehouse opened a new location off I-35 in Cibolo. / El Camino, a new food truck park along the River Walk, opened in May. It features local art, a full bar and a rotating lineup of trucks, including Holy Smoke and Big Papa Chapa’s. / San Antonio-based Burger Boy opened a fourth location on Bitters Road. A fifth Southcross location will open this summer. / Mama’s Café on Nacogdoches Road reopened in May after two years of renovations. / Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard closed permanently after founder Sandy Winokur died following a battle with cancer. / Chico’s Coffee Shack is slated to open this month on South Flores Street with Latin American coffee beans roasted in-house. / The Jerk Shack announced it has plans to open a third location next summer at Hemisfair. / Jesse Kuykendall, chef at Hotel Havana’s Ocho, won an episode of Food Network’s Chopped by creating mole, peanut butter churros and hot dog quesadillas.
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Workout Wisdom Bonny Osterhage, freelance writer, JoyRide Cycling + Fitness instructor, fitness trainer and certified health/ wellness coach, on staying fit after 50
oday’s 50-year-old woman isn’t what she used to be. In fact, she’s more likely to rock stilettos over sensible shoes, and prefer triathlons over trifocals. Women aren’t content to go quietly into their second half of life. They are pushing limits and staying fit well past the half century mark. Don’t believe me? Just look at Halle Berry’s abs or J-Lo’s famous derriere. Even at 81, Tina Turner still has legs to-die-for. But as much as we all like to look good, fitness isn’t about a size, or a six-pack. It’s about feeling your best in a healthy body that is pain and injury free. Not sure where to start? Here are a few suggestions: Look for Low Impact: As we get older, the less wear and tear we can put on our bodies, the better. That doesn’t mean you should forgo high-intensity workouts though. Try indoor cycling, brisk walking or swimming to get your heart rate up and tone your muscles without unnecessarily straining your joints. Show up for Strength Training: Many women shy away from strength training because they are afraid of adding bulky muscles. But strength training is even more important as we age in order to prevent the loss of bone density and muscle mass. Test the
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waters by joining a group strength training class at a gym or fitness studio or hire a personal trainer to help you develop proper form. Consider Your Core: People tend to think of core and abs as interchangeable. They’re not. Your core encompasses everything from your abs to your lower back, hips and pelvis. The core is at the center (pun intended) of most of our daily movements, helping with balance, posture, lower back ailments and overall stability. A plank is one of the most effective exercises for working your core, and it is one that can be done anytime, anywhere. Find Some Flexibility: Range of motion can decrease as we age due to deterioration in the muscles and joints, which in turn can increase risk of injury. Stretching, lengthening and strengthening the muscles should be a regular part of your fitness routine. Try incorporating yoga or Pilates into your schedule. There are endless options at area studios or gyms and even online if you prefer to complete your workout at home. Remember, it is never too late, and you are never too old to exercise. It just takes commitment, dedication and the wisdom to prioritize your health—just the sort of thing that comes with a few decades under your belt.
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FINAL THOUGHT
JULY 2021
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SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE JULY 202 1
REAL ESTATE / SAN ANTO NI O’S WEST S I D E
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