San Antonio Current - May 29, 2024

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in this issue

08 Feature Inside Job

Critics want the new head of San Antonio’s embattled Animal Care Services to come from outside, but two finalists are current employees

29 Music

Hair Metal or Hard Rock?

Whatever the label, Tesla is still making music and sticking to its roots

Never Surrender

More than four decades on, metal act Saxon is still running on Hell, Fire and Damnation

Critics’ Picks

07

News

The Opener News in Brief

CityScrapes

As San Antonio’s mayoral race heats up, it’s time for us to ask serious questions

Bad Takes

50-year old movie classic Blazing Saddles manages to skewer contemporary targets

14 Calendar Calendar Picks

17 Arts Lap of Luxury

From resort getaways to fine foods, pet pampering is big business in San Antonio

Hands-on Hounds

The DoSeum’s new ‘Dogs!’ exhibit

focuses on science about our canine companions

21 Screens

Master of Her Own Destiny

Franka Potente talks 25th anniversary of Run Lola Run, living in Texas as student

23 Food

Vino Venue

Houston-based wine haven Art of Cellaring expanding to San Antonio this summer

Small Kitchen, Big Hit

Food and service at San Antonio’s unassuming Pazzo Pastaria worthy of raves

Summer Smackdown

The Paloma and the gin and tonic are both worthy contenders for best hot-weather cocktail

the Cover: The Current’s annual Pet Issue looks at trends in pet pampering and a new interactive museum exhibit on dogs. Cover design: Samantha Serna. Photo: Jaime Monzon. Cover model: Koda.

Michael Karlis

That Rocks/That Sucks

HTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the Biden administration in hopes of blocking workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. The basis of Paxton’s suit is a guidance issued by the administration last month stating that failure to accommodate a worker’s gender identity, such as prohibiting a worker from using a bathroom that corresponds to their gender, constitutes unlawful harassment. The AG claims enforcement of the guidance would, among other things, cause “irreparable harm” to state finances and sovereignty.

Paxton, meanwhile, has made yet another enemy: Pope Francis. During a recent 60 Minutes interview, the pontiff blasted Paxton’s lawsuit aimed at shutting down an El Paso-based Catholic charity that assists migrants. “That is madness,” Francis said. “Sheer madness. To close the border and leave them there, that is madness. The migrant has to be received.” Paxton is reportedly being considered for attorney general in a new Donald Trump administration

HA San Antonio teacher has resigned after she was accused of using racist language during a math class discussion. The teacher, who worked at Bradley Middle School in the North East Independent School District, is alleged to have used the N-word on May 14 following a screening of the 2016 movie Hidden Figures. NEISD told the Current that officials started termination proceedings after ain investigation into the matter. The employee quit before being cut loose.

HSan Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team, becoming just the 12th Spurs player in franchise history to secure the honor and first since Kawhi Leonard following the 2011-12 season. Wemby was already named Rookie of the Year earlier this month in recognition of an outstanding first campaign in San Antonio in which he led all contenders in scoring, rebounds and blocks per game. — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“The First Amendment is a better guide for our public discussions than Governor Abbott’s whims, and this lawsuit insists that all public officials adhere to their obligation to respect the free speech rights of the students we are teaching in our public schools.”

on college campuses to combat antisemitism.

Sphincter snorkeling at Trump’s hush money trial with

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

After witnessing the parade of GOP lawmakers grabbing photo ops at former President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and two MAGA-minded members of Texas’ congressional delegation apparently decided it was their time to grovel.

On Tuesday, May 21, as testimony wound down, U.S. Reps. Troy Nehls and Ronny Jackson joined Patrick in fawning over Trump and professing his saintly innocence.

For those keeping score at home, all three far-right Republicans are recipients of Trump endorsements.

During the appearance, Nehls compared Trump to the Pope, likening those who attend the former reality show star’s campaign rallies to Catholics seeking a blessing from the pontiff, news site Mediaite reports.

“When people come to Donald Trump’s rallies, they’re saying, Donald Trump, we need you more than ever before. Our country is burning,” Nehls prattled.

Just to make sure everyone knew whose posterior he was smooching, the Houston-area congressman wore a tie with photographs of Trump holding an American flag, the Texas Tribune reports.

Meanwhile, Jackson — you know, the former White House physician who once gushed over Trump’s “incredible genes” and claimed his boss only weighed 239 pounds — dismissed the trial’s

The former mayor of the South San Antonio suburb of Von Ormy has been charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. Trina Reyes, who served as Von Ormy’s mayor from 2015 to 2017, was taken into federal custody last week on an FBI warrant. Reyes, who was released without paying bail, is facing charges including entering a restricted building and disruptive conduct in the Capitol.

prosecutors and judge as “corrupt” lackeys of the Biden White House. No word on what Trump attire the demoted former Navy officer and Panhandle congressman might have been wearing, sadly.

Not to be outdone in his obsequiousness, Patrick spun conspiracy theories about shadowy elites wanting to see Trump behind bars.

Never mind that the former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records over his $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

“They want Donald Trump to disappear,” Patrick told reporters, according to the Tribune. “They want to send him to jail. They want to take him off the main stage because they know he’s their biggest danger to taking the ruling class down.”

Expecting Trump to take down the ruling class is a lot like having expected O.J. Simpson would find the “real killers” before he kicked the bucket last month.

Assclowns all. — Sanford Nowlin

The families of the Uvalde school shooting victims are suing the Texas Department of Public Safety officers who waited 77 minutes to confront the shooter at Robb Elementary School. The suit, filed a day before the tragedy’s two-year anniversary, names 92 DPS officers. The families are also suing Mandy Gutierrez, the then-principal of Robb Elementary, and Pedro “Pete” Arredondo, the school district’s former police chief, for their alleged “inaction” during the shooting.

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and his Travis County counterpart, Judge Andy Brown, have launched a 24-person committee to explore the possibility of building a new passenger rail line between San Antonio and Austin. The Central Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, which held its first meeting earlier this month, includes former Mayor Henry Cisneros, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda and Capital Metro President Dottie Watkins. — Abe Asher

—  Council on American-Islamic Relations in a lawsuit filed to overturn an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott seeking to rein in free speech

Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore

Courtesy Photo / Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center

Inside Job

Critics want the new head of San Antonio’s embattled Animal Care Services to come from outside, but two finalists are current employees

BY MICHAEL KARLIS

With Shannon Sims quietly retiring last week as director of San Antonio’s embattled Animal Care Services department, the search for his replacement is heating up.

Sims’ two-and-a-half-year tenure as ACS director was mired in controversy after a slew of headline-making dog attacks rocked San Antonio. Animal advocates have also criticized the department’s low live-release rate and blasted it for accidentally euthanizing of three dogs last summer that were not supposed to be put down.

Those controversies have led animal rights advoctaes to demand that the new ACS director come from outside the department.

Even so, two of the nine candidates that have made it out of the application process and into the in-person interview phase are current ACS employees, according to city documents obtained by the Current. Those two, selected from a total pool of 74 applicants, are ACS Assistant to the Director Shannon Oster-Gabrielson and ACS Chief Operations Officer Bethany Colonnese.

The remaining seven finalists for the leadership role are employed outside of the department.

Although internal hires are often considered a plus for companies and organizations due to their grasp of inner workings, animal advocates and other ACS critics are raising alarm bells at the city’s willingness to consider candidates from within the department.

“Everyone at ACS has been there too long, are too desensitized, have given up on innovative ideas and refuse to look outside the box,” Lea Laport, a founder of ACS watchdog group NoKillSA, told the Current last week.

On May 8, Laport and others protested outside of City Hall and spoke during council’s public comment session to demand that Oster-Gabrielson and Colonnese not be considered for the role.

During those comments, advocates alleged that both Oster-Gabrielson and Colonnese had past failures that should raise red flags. Advocates also argued there’s a conflict of interest in Assistant City Manager David McCary’s

Critics charge that Oster-Gabrielson in text and email messages to other department heads last summer questioned why ACS should have apologized for putting down three dogs that shouldn’t have been euthanized.

In August 2023, department personnel euthanized three dogs — Babe, Bandito, and Ollie — even though they were supposed to be released to rescue organizations. The deaths appear to have been the result of a breakdown in department communication, according to internal ACS documents obtained by the Current

“The dog was on the euthanasia list and wasn’t pulled out of euthanasia after rescue placed a hold,” Sims wrote in an Aug. 21 text message to McCary. “Don’t want to call it accidental, but definitely a process breakdown in communication is what it looks like.”

involvement in the hiring process.

City officials were unavailable for comment on the hiring process and advocates’ concerns as of press time Friday afternoon. Oster-Gabrielson and Colonnese were also unavailable.

McCary, San Antonio Solid Waste Management Director David Newman and Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Melinda Cerda make up a panel that will conduct the in-person interviews for the role of ACS director, according to city documents.

In addition to overseeing ACS operations, Parks & Rec and Solid Waste Management also fall under McCary’s purview, according to the city’s website.

The conflict of interest, according to Laport and other critics, is that McCary essentially is Newman’s and Cerda’s boss.

“It is unclear how their expertise is an appropriate choice for determining qualities of a strong ACS director,” LaPort said. “And would you feel comfortable going against the choices of your boss?”

The controversy surrounding the two potential internal hires doesn’t stop there, however.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, advocates have obtained pages of text messages and emails that they argue demonstrate that both Oster-Gabrielson and Colonnese are unfit to take on the leadership role.

In the dog pound

Following the mistaken euthanasia of the three dogs over a two-week period, Sims called for an “operational pause” until ACS could figure what had happened, additional text messages show.

Although ACS ultimately took responsibility for the incident, two ACS officials — Oster-Gabrielson and City of San Antonio Senior Manager Analyst Brad Davenport — took issue with the department’s claim of responsibility.

“I just don’t like the angle of apologizing for what we do,” Davenport wrote in a text message to ACS Communications Director Lisa Norwood. “We will make mistakes, but not fair to take that blunt [sic] of responsibility on our staff for an error. We pay about the same as an admin assoc in most depts. It’s a flaw in the COSA system that is not okay.”

Meanwhile, Oster-Gabrielson wrote in a text that she didn’t “understand why we are apologizing for Babe.” Animal advocates also argue internal communications suggest Oster-Gabrielson has displayed a lack of seriousness about legitimate critiques of the department.

During an Aug. 10 council meeting on the proposed city budget, District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito made clear her concerns with ACS’s prior performance and scrutinized parts of the department’s proposed spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I am concerned about some of this additional staff, like the five [Full Time Equivalents] for animal exams,” the councilwoman said. “I just feel that we need to focus the additional ACS budget for boots on the ground, for

Michael Karlis

people responding to critical calls. So, when I see 14 positions on enhancing campus adoptions, on support service, on thriving work force — to me that’s not boots on the ground, and we really need to focus on boots on the ground so these dogs are getting picked up.”

Gavito’s concerns didn’t appear to sit right with Oster-Gabrielson or Davenport, who criticized the councilwoman in text messages they sent to each other.

“God David [McCary] sent us the audio transcript from Thursday. Unfortunately my memory is accurate and now I just had to relive it. District 7 wow,” Oster-Gabrielson wrote in a text to Davenport.

“They need to chill the fuck out. Jesus,” Davenport replied. “[Chief Marketing Officer’s] office are stressing everyone out, harshing my buzz.”

For context, Alderete Gavito has taken a keen interest in ACS and its internal operations, even touring its facilities Aug. 18, 2023.

Earlier this month, Alderete Gavito introduced a three-pronged proposal aimed at getting the city’s dangerous-dog problem under control. She called for stiffer penalties for owners whose dogs repeatedly wander off property, a system for anonymous reporting of dangerous dogs and allowing ACS to spay and neuter — at the owner’s expense — wandering dogs it picks up.

During an Aug. 15, 2023, council budget work session, Oster-Gabrielson and Davenport again leaned into council members in a group text with Sims. The trio discussed a meeting after the council work session, which it appears Sims was slated to attend.

“Good luck tonight with the old white dudes tonight. At least you’ll fit in. Maybe you can grab some beers with Perry later,” Oster-Gabrielson texted Sims, referring to then former District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry.

In another text message an hour later, Oster-Gabrielson targeted another council member, this time District 8’s Manny Pelaez, who’s now a mayoral candidate. In that text, Oster-Gabrielson discussed a hypothetical situation that might play out during a council session scheduled for two day later.

“Pelaez will go on a streak on [domestic violence] and cops and something we can’t follow,” Oster-Gabrielson texted Davenport.

No love from Petco

The other potential internal hire, ACS COO Colonnese, is also facing criticism from animal advocates, including one Austin-based consultant who worked with the department, for what they call her support for the department’s questionable euthanasia practices.

With ACS’s live-release rate at a seven-year low of 88% by the end of 2022, animal-welfare nonprofit Petco Love — created by retailer Petco — sponsored a shelter consultant to help ACS improve that number.

To that end, Petco Love CEO Susanne Kogut and Chelsea Staley, the nonprofit’s director of life saving, contracted Kristen Hassen, founder of Austin-based Outcomes for Pets Consulting, to evaluate and provide recommendations to ACS about boosting its live-release rate.

However, tensions arose between Colonnese, Staley and Hassen as the consultants tried to help increase the number of animals adopted out alive, according to a February 2023 letter written by Sims to San Antonio Assistant City Attorney Camila Kunau.

According to Sims’ version of events, Hassen visited ACS Dec. 7-8, 2022, and sent her findings to the department a few days later. However, Hassen told the Current that she was at ACS for four days.

Hassen also told the Current she identified a significant flaw in the department: that it focused primarily on moving animals out of its care as soon as possible instead of striving to prevent euthanasia of otherwise healthy

and adoptable ones.

“By moving animals so quickly, animals that could have had a live outcome were not even able to have a chance at a live outcome other than the rescue-team list,” Hassen said. “Some of my recommendations would have potentially required additional actions to try to get the animals out alive versus euthanizing them, and I didn’t see a pathway forward with the client to make that happen.”

Of the 46 recommendations Hassen and Petco Love provided to ACS, the department only implemented half — 14 of which were already in place, according to Sims’ letter to Kunau.

Hassen said she doesn’t think Colonnese has adequate experience to become ACS director.

“I think for ACS to change — and it should change, and they could achieve more live outcomes,” Hassen said. “But that change is going to take demonstrated experience that is both a priority and something a leader can accomplish. I don’t know that Bethany [Colonnese] has that.”

Colonnese’s work experience prior to joining ACS in September 2012 was serving as the area director of Romano’s Macaroni Grill, according to the resume she submitted as part of her ACS director application.

What’s next

Petco Love’s Staley also applied for the ACS director’s position and made it to the final pool of nine candidates.

She has the support of some animal advocates, who maintain that she would be able to shake things up at the department.

However, outgoing director Sims railed against Staley in his letter to the assistant city attorney, explaining why the department and Petco Love were no longer working with each other.

Sims met with Staley in January 2023 after an argument broke out between Outcomes for Pets behavioral consultants and Colonnese, according to his version of events outlined in his letter. Sims said the argument stemmed from the consultants attempting to house non-medically cleared animals with healthy animals.

Staley was unavailable for comment about the alleged conflict with Sims and ACS. However, Sims maintained in his letter to the assistant city attorney that Staley said that Colonnese, ACS’s live release manager and the department’s shelter manager “needed to go because they were toxic.”

The interviews for the nine finalists will begin May 31, ACS Advisory Board member Valerie Moore told the Current Moore serves on the hiring panel.

The candidates will go through several interview panels made up of stakeholders, including rescue partners, executive city staff and other departments that may interact with ACS, McCary said during his presentation to the ACS Advisory Board on May 15.

City Manager Erik Walsh will make the final hiring decision, according to McCary.

Michael Karlis

As San Antonio’s mayoral race heats up, it’s time for us to ask serious questions

BY HEYWOOD SANDERS

Editor’s Note: CityScrapes is a column of opinion and analysis.

When the Express-News reported on a recent rule change that might enable a direct flight from San Antonio International Airport to Washington, D.C., the headline sounded positively triumphant: “S.A. Moving Closer to Flights to D.C.”

The story brought news that a recently FAA reauthorization bill would open up additional direct flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. And one of those new landing slots appeared primed to go to American Airlines, which promised to add a new nonstop flight to San Antonio — a nonstop Austin already has via Southwest Airlines.

Why the triumph?

“Local business leaders and elected officials have long sought a nonstop flight to DCA [Reagan], saying the city’s military, medical, cybersecurity and information technology sectors need easier access to the nation’s capital,” the article explained.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg gushed to the daily about the win.

“We have been working for more than a decade to give residents of America’s seventh-largest city the same access to our nation’s leaders as nearly every other big city in the country,” he said.

Of course, a nonstop flight to D.C. would be nice, although it would be helpful to know the details. Exactly what has American Airlines committed to, and for how long? Also, is the city or our local “economic development” nonprofit on the hook for a bunch of subsidies, including marketing funds and a revenue guarantee, to the airline? What happens if passenger volume isn’t quite what local airport officials hoped and perhaps promised? All valid concerns, but there’s a much larger question in the face of this seeming victory: how important is a single nonstop flight to San Antonio’s future? Why has this particular goal

been a focus of city officials’ efforts for more than a decade? And why is it that the mayor and city government have so embraced a priority seemingly set by the city’s business leadership?

That question is particularly relevant right now. Nirenberg is a lame duck, obliged by the city’s term limits to leave office next year. And with his departure and no incumbent to fight, the 2025 mayor’s race is shaping up to be a wide-open contest. Multiple members of City Council have already begun positioning themselves for a run.

District 8’s Manny Pelaez has announced a candidacy, although it should come as little surprise since he’s long sought to position himself for such a run. John Courage of District 9 also formally launched a campaign.

Rumors have it that District 6’s Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 7’s Marina Alderete Gavito and District 4’s Adriana Rocha Garcia are also weighing runs. And then there’s the likely possibility local business or development leaders who seek a friend in the mayor’s office will come up with someone outside the current council, much as happened with Phil Hardberger, who served as mayor from 2005 to 2009.

San Antonio residents — or at least those few who actually vote in city races — have a few months to seriously consider and evaluate their choices for future mayor. But it’s not too early to start considering the relevant questions those candidates need to answer, not to mention what’s truly important to San Antonio’s future.

There’s long been a tendency for City Council debate to focus less on substantive policy questions than on symbolic concerns, many of which reflect the country’s larger cultural and political fault lines. So, we get fights over having Chick-fil-A at the airport or what the city’s official stand on the Gaza War should be.

Meanwhile, other issues of local importance seem to slip by with little

public discussion or consideration. The disposal — not quite a sale — of the Grand Hyatt hotel occurred with little time for real analysis or public input. The possible development of a downtown arena for the Spurs looks to be chugging forward with effectively no transparency or public discourse. The enormous number of street improvement projects across town, particularly in and around downtown, have made just getting anywhere an enormous trial — one that in case after case has taken far longer than city staff forecast. Beyond those concerns, what’s next after Mayor Julián Castro’s once-hailed “Decade of Downtown?” And we also need to ask questions about CPS Energy’s rate increase plans, about how well job-training program SA Ready to Work is actually working and about whether that affordable housing bond program local voters embraced is really delivering affordable housing, and for whom.

Now is the time to start making up

our own lists of what’s really important for this community’s future, and for pressing those prospective mayoral candidates to give us real answers and commitments on where they stand and what they propose to do.

Are the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission on things like council pay and changing the compensation and tenure of the city manager all OK? Do the candidates back a new arena for the Spurs, and how would they pay for it? And what would they propose to do about the longstanding problems of multigenerational poverty and aging housing? Rather, of course, than pushing for a new nonstop flight?

Perhaps next time we can get a mayor who’s interested in leading the city and dealing with its problems rather than campaigning for a new job in D.C.

Heywood Sanders is a professor emeritus of public policy at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION ON APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION OF BASE IRRIGATION GROUNDWATER TO UNRESTRICTED IRRIGATION GROUNDWATER

The General Manager of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (“EAA”) proposes to grant applications to convert Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater under § 711.342(c) of the EAA’s Rules. A copy of the applications, the technical summaries, the General Manager’s proposed actions, and the proposed amended regular permits are available for public inspection at the EAA’s offices at 900 E. Quincy Street, San Antonio, Texas Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Electronic copies may also be obtained by request to Jennifer Wong-Esparza at jesparza@edwardsaquifer.org or (210) 222-2204.

The General Manager proposes to approve the following applications to convert Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater under § 711.342(c) of the EAA’s Rules:

Continental Homes of Texas, L.P. – Filed application on February 14, 2024. The application seeks to convert 18.727 acre-feet of Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater based on the development of the Historically Irrigated Land (HIL).

LEC Legacy, Ltd. – Filed application on April 16, 2024. The application seeks to convert 22.391 acre-feet of Base Irrigation Groundwater to Unrestricted Irrigation Groundwater based on the development of the Historically Irrigated Land (HIL).

The applicants or any other Edwards Aquifer permit holder may file a written request for a contested case hearing on the proposed action with the EAA by no later than July 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in accordance with § 707.603 of the EAA’s Rules. The EAA’s Board of Directors will consider approval of the applications and issuance of the proposed amended regular permits within 60 days of publication of this notice unless a request for contested case hearing is timely filed. If no timely requests for contested case hearing are filed, the applications will be presented to the EAA’s Board on the date of the hearing for final action.

This notice is issued pursuant to § 707.525 of the EAA’s Rules. ISSUED THIS 29th DAY OF MAY, 2024.

50-year old movie classic BlazingSaddles manages to skewer contemporary targets

BY KEVIN SANCHEZ

Editor’s Note: Bad Takes is a column of opinion and analysis.

Ahalf century ago, a low-budget spoof on Hollywood Westerns became a box office smash and left an unexpectedly indelible mark on American cinema and culture.

Originally titled Tex X, an homage to human rights leader Malcolm X, the film Blazing Saddles told the tale of a daring sheriff who saved a fictional frontier town named Rock Ridge from greedy railroad profiteers. A well-worn plot, to be sure, except with one twist: the lawman, played by Cleavon Little, was Black.

Director Mel Brooks stuffed that otherwise canned storyline with dynamite, ruthlessly parodying every trope of once massively popular cowboy films — perhaps even hastening the genre’s decline, according to some critics.

And people loved it. Even though it cost less than $3 million to produce, ticket sales exceeded $100 million in fistfuls of 1974 dollars. Not bad for a movie Warner Brothers execs nearly shelved after test screening. To avoid confusion with X-rated fare, Brooks changed the title to the more appropriately melodramatic Blazing Saddles

The film’s satire serves as an only slightly more absurd reflection of modern Southern politics. Because if you believe that extra-judicial killings and attempted land snatchings have been safely relegated to the 19th century, the joke’s on you. As with District Attorney Hedley Lamarr, played by Harvey Korman, and Gov. William J. Le Petomane, played by Brooks himself, corrupt politicians and their corporate backers continue to employ the tried-and-true tactic of sowing racial discord to divide and conquer.

Take Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent pardoning of a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester named Garrett Foster.

“Despite all the claims this is about an old-school version of justice, being able to protect yourself, this is about empowering thugs to terrorize everyday people,” David Griscom, co-host of Austin’s Left Reckoning podcast, explained last week.

Griscom went on to describe “a very clear attempt by the Republican Party to intimidate and to instill fear in protesters: be it by the police, like we have seen at Palestinian human rights marches, where police immediately used brutal violence against folks, including the media, to an example like this, where the governor of this state could say, ‘Hey, it doesn’t

matter how clear-cut the trial is, that somebody engaged in murder; you kill the right person in the state of Texas, you’re free to go.’”

In Blazing Saddles, the railroad foreman named Taggart (Slim Pickens) laments the appointment of Little’s Sheriff Bart.

“Here we take the good time and trouble to slaughter every last Indian in the West, and for what? So they can appoint a sheriff that’s blacker than any Indian. I am depressed,” he tells a henchman.

After Sheriff Bart’s attempted murder is foiled by the quick draw of his sidekick, the Waco Kid (Gene Wilder), DA Lamarr musters “an army of the worst dregs ever to soil the face of the West” in a bid to “reduce Rock Ridge to ashes.”

He instructs Taggart to round up baddies ranging from rustlers and cutthroats to train robbers and Methodists.

If the movie were made today, Brooks might have added Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, January 6ers, Constitutional Sheriffs, the Boogaloos, the NRA and MAGA cultists. One of the defining traits of reactionaries is to stoke — and ultimately to deputize “with stinkin’ badges” — vigilantes who can operate with sadistic impunity and, as needed, plausible deniability.

Consider whether the following news item sounds like something out of the Wild West.

“In McCurtain County, Oklahoma, Sheriff Kevin Clardy was caught on audiotape in March 2023 talking with other county leaders about how they might kill and discreetly bury the bodies of two local journalists who had written stories about alleged corruption inside his office,” CBS reported this month. Turns out, residents had been raising allegations of misconduct about the sheriff’s office for years, “ranging from financial improprieties to excessive force and neglect of duty.”

Indeed, “three-quarters of reported crimes went unsolved in McCurtain County last year and some apparently suspicious deaths were never investigated or reported by the sheriff’s office to independent officials,” according to CBS. “But even after a viral news scandal, and a paper trail of alleged violations with audio and video evidence, Sheriff Clardy remains in

Mpower today.”

In the end of Blazing Saddles, Sheriff Bart unites the folks oppressed by Le Petomane, Lamarr and their crew and saves the day.

Despite the ugliness of our current reality, real-life endings sometimes are as happy as the one Brooks envisioned on the silver screen.

A few years back, San Antonio-baed Valero Energy and Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline tried to build a pipeline through a predominantly Black community in South Memphis and over an aquifer. The construction would have avoided a wellto-do white suburb. In early 2021, a spokesperson for the proposed pipeline said the quiet part out loud, describing the planned route as “the path of least resistance.”

Except, just like the brave townsfolk taking on Union Pacific Railroad, persistent and dedicated activists gave the corporations more than they bargained for. That summer, executives scrapped the Byhalia pipeline.

For all the wisecracks at the expense of the provincials of Rock Ridge, Brooks humanizes them, and they redeem themselves by uniting with Black railroad workers to fight a common enemy.

Yet somehow, anti-woke posers keep making the claim that Blazing Saddles couldn’t be made today like a dead horse.

If we take Brooks’ satire seriously, it’s imperative to remake Blazing Saddles today in our politics. That means using humor, solidarity and style while patiently constructing an inclusive, diverse working-class movement that brings together the rural and the urban.

That movement must be strong enough to not only defend what we hold dear but to outsmart the wealthy elites who treat our lives as a disposable means to ill-gotten gains.

When I say inclusive, of course, I even mean the Irish.

© 1974 - Warner Bros.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (left) and Blazing Saddles’ Gov. William J. Le Petomane (right) have their share of similarities.

Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore

QUEER FILM THEORY 101: ROAD HOUSE (1989)

“I used to fuck guys like you in prison!” spits the villain before the climactic fight in Road House, one of the many ludicrous and memorable lines peppered throughout this perfect film. Someone once described Road House, the subject of a 2024 remake, as camp for straight men, which is true, but it’s more universal than that — a stupidly sublime or sublimely stupid genre masterpiece that has little time for any dreary and tedious considerations like “does this make sense?” Patrick Swayze never looked more lithe or beautiful as James Dalton, an NYU philosophy PhD (?) bar bouncer-slash-cooler hired for security at the Double Deuce in Jasper, Missouri, seemingly the most violent blues roadhouse (??) in the world. Ben Gazzara plays a billionaire (???) who rules this shitty little town with an iron fist but is also adamant about respecting the troops. A monster truck and a taxidermied grizzly bear play major roles in the action, and Sam Elliott plays a sort of kung fu blues man. What more do you need? The screening includes an introduction by queer comedian and writer Micheal Foulk. $11.75, 6:30 p.m., Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Park North, 618 Northwest Loop 410, Suite 307, drafthouse.com/theater/park-north. — Neil Fauerso

UNSETTLED EYE

A former blackbox theater space at Ruby City has undergone a stark white makeover for Unsettled Eye, an exhibition of photography-based works held in the Linda Pace Foundation Collection. Presenting far more questions than answers, the group show comprises familiar works and recent acquisitions alike, with a sense of discomfort functioning as a thematic thread. “The exhibition revolves around a selection of photo-based works which cause viewers to be surprised or even troubled by their appearance and subject matter or the materials used in their production,” Ruby City Director Elyse A. Gonzales told the Current. “They disturb or call into question what viewers are seeing — hopefully ‘unsettling’ them in the best possible way!” Among the highlights, Artpace alum Anne Collier’s 2009 diptych Eyes of Laura Mars goes beyond meta by presenting appropriated images of actress Faye Dunaway — looking quite unsettled herself — portraying a photographer in the 1978 thriller of the same name. A fellow fan of high-concept appropriation, British artist Jonathan Monk similarly demands eye contact with In Edition (to tears) — an eerie passport photo mutilated with a strategically placed pair of dangle earrings. “One prime example of

the show is James Casebere’s Panopticon Prison #3,” Gonzales continued. “It looks like an image of a building in shadow but is actually a model of a prison he photographed. His work brings up all manner of ideas related to incarceration and the sometimes-flawed notions we have about architecture’s ability to be rehabilitative to those living within its confines.” Free, walk-through and opening reception 2-5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, on view by appointment 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through April 27, 2025, Ruby City, 150 Camp St., (210) 227-8400, rubycity.org. — Bryan Rindfuss

SUN | 06.02

MUSIC

ECHOES IN TIME

The San Antonio Choral Society’s Echoes in Time concert will highlight choral works both new and old. The 100-voice choir will showcase “haunting melodies of ancient chants to contemporary compositions that challenge the boundaries of vocal expression,” according to orga-

nizers. Organist Geoffrey Waite will accompany the choir, which will be under the direction of Jennifer Seighman. The concert will take place in the beautiful and historic St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown San Antonio in anticipation of the Choral Society’s France and England tour: From Cathedrals to Castles. Expect to hear works by English, French and American composers, which the group also will perform at prestigious venues such as Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. Tickets are available for purchase at the Choral Society’s website, listed at the end of this preview. $5-$18, 3-5 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 502 E. Nueva St., (210) 223-2611, sanantoniochoralsociety.org. — Brandyn Miller

MON | 06.03

THEATER

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN

100A Theater Productions, a new live theater project at The Tobin Center, presents a series of recitations called Industry Night Readings, which invite the audience to witness dry runs of seminal works with actors reading directly from scripts and stage direction given out loud. June’s offering, Kiss of the Spider Woman (El beso de la mujer araña), based on a 1976 novel by Argentine author Manuel Puig, is told mostly through dialogues between a poor, middle-aged gay man (Molina) and a young, upper-class socialist revolutionary (Valentín) sharing the

same jail cell. The two clash at first but eventually forge an unlikely friendship that becomes sexual. Adapted into a film in 1985, the novel itself is revolutionary in that the characters are written with tenderness and depth that transcend stereotypes. Kiss of the Spider Woman is both a hallucinatory fever dream-like work of magical realism and a poignant denunciation of political and sexual repression. Tickets $13.50-$15, 7 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir, (210) 2238624, tobincenter.org. — Anjali Gupta

Courtesy Image / Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Linda Pace Foundation Collection, Ruby City, San Antonio, Texas © Jonathan Monk

Courtesy Photo / Jennifer Seighman

© Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

THU | 06.06

ART

BETWEEN TWO DIMENSIONS

San Antonio artist Marcy McChesney brings us stories told in collage from the most challenging and traumatic time in recent history: the COVID years. The exhibition, made possible by an Individual Artist Grant from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, tells “stories of several San Antonio residents adapting to a new world of uncertainty during COVID.” McChesney uses her 20-plus years of experience as an artist to bring to light San Antonio residents’ personal stories. Collages based on these individuals were created through interviews and by utilizing photographs and other visual elements specific to their individual experiences. The exhibition closes June 20. Free, 6 p.m., Blue Star Arts Collective, Upstairs Studios at Blue Star Arts Complex,1420 South Alamo St., bluestarartscomplex.com. — BM

SAT | 06.09

CCI//SAN ANTONIO 2024: INSTALLATION AT EVERGREEN GARDEN CENTER

Brooklyn-based Unheard-of Ensemble is a contemporary chamber collective dedicated to connecting new music to communities across the United States. The group accomplishes this through the development and performance of adventurous musical presentations and programs that harness emergent technology, interactive media and revolving collaborations with an ever-growing network of like-minded young composers. One of its programs, the Collaborative Composition Initiative (CCI), will be held in San Antonio this year, and includes five installations and performances across the city. The last event in this year’s CCI is an interactive installation at Evergreen Garden Center, a stunning glass structure built in the 1940s. The performance features an installation co-created by initiative participants and a special guest, local composer and sound artist Pamela Martinez (aka Teletextile), who will explore the unique ecology of San Antonio through performance and interactive sound sculpture. Prior to the event, Martinez will take CCI participants on a field recording trip to San Pedro Creek Culture Park to collect sound samples for the installation. Free, 7:30 p.m., Evergreen Garden Center, 922 W. Hildebrand Ave. unheard-ofensemble.com/events. — AG

Courtesy Photo / Marcy McChesney

801 Photo Co

Lap of Luxury

From resort getaways to fine foods, pet pampering is big business

in San Antonio

BY TRAVIS E. POLING

The basic needs for a happy dog or cat are simple. Maybe a romp in the grass with friends, a belly rub or curling up for a good nap.

Just the same, plenty of San Antonians spare no expense when it comes to pampering their pets.

The pinnacle of luxury for pet daycare and overnight stays are the Alamo City’s abundant upscale pet resorts, which are about as far removed from the utilitarian kennels of old as a Motel 6 on Interstate 35 is from the J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort.

Barkaritaville near The Dominion has numerous packages for dogs and cats — such as its Spoiled Rotten VIP package, which includes three activity or group play sessions, a gourmet treat, a belly rub at bedtime, upgraded bedding and a “Woof Mail” sent once per visit. The resort’s Luxury VIP Suite comes with a patio and doggie door leading to outdoor lounging in lush grass.

The TLC Cat package, one of several for Barkaritaville’s feline resort guests, includes two pampering sessions and aromatherapy.

At WoofGang Bakery, found at Northwest Military Highway and Wurzbach Parkway, pets who receive a scissor cut and a medicated oatmeal treatment from the on-site groomer also receive a cookie, pastry or special-occasion cake.

A $70 a day Platinum package at Wagmore Pet Resort in Boerne gets boarded dogs three playtimes, two nature walks, an interactive toy, bedtime tuck-in and a special bed along with any special food requested by their owner.

Cats are more self-sufficient, so Wagmore’s $30 Meow Time offering comes with two playtimes with catnip toys, cat treats, brushing and a little lap time with a staff member.

From photos to facials

Lucy’s Doggy Daycare and Spa has a selfserve dog wash, but the staff also is happy to provide royal treatment for pooches with separate custom splash pads for large and small dogs at its downtown, Thousand Oaks and U.S. Highway 281 and North Loop 1604 locations.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic changed how we gather, special treatment at Lucy’s included a birthday party for dogs with their people and specially written happy birthday song for canines. That perk has been replaced by a photo shoot, a special treat and a birthday

bandana.

Photo shoots with pets’ human dads on Father’s Day, pups sitting behind a desk for back-to-school and snaps with Santa Paws are popular, Lucy’s Marketing Manager Hannah Snyder said. Proceeds from the Christmas pictures go to local pet rescues — something inspired by the resort’s namesake pooch.

“Lucy was a rescue, and all this was built around our love of dogs,” Snyder said.

For a price, pet parents also can show their love with special treatments at Lucy’s, such as therapeutic massages and blueberry shampoo facials. The special shampoo naturally controls bacteria, is soothing and “smells great,” Snyder added.

One of the most popular features for dogs at high-end day cares and resorts is anything with water, especially as South Texas temperatures soar. Hot afternoon lethargy turns to energetic play when the paws hit special pools or splash pads designed for canines.

“At first, some of them aren’t sure of the water” until they gingerly make their way in and enjoy the experience, Snyder said. “It’s such fun to watch them become such social butterflies.”

Eating well

Pampering isn’t just about play and looking good. What goes on inside a cherished animal companion is as important as fun and finery, according to owners of SA pet boutiques catering to dogs and cats.

Pet nutrition store Fifi & Fidos carries nutritionally balanced products for cat and dog diets for all stages of life, including during pregnancy. Beyond mealtime food, the shop stocks frozen delicacies made only from fermented goat milk, a source of probiotics that are good for the gut, said Diana Farrar,

the shop’s owner.

Pampering with treats also comes with a cautionary note to purchase only pet-friendly versions of foods, because what humans find tasty can potentially be harmful for furry friends.

“You can’t just go down to H-E-B and buy bone broth and give it to your dog because it contains onion,” Farrar said, explaining that onions are toxic to canines.

“People make the mistake of feeding nothing but dry, highly processed food to their pets because that’s what they’ve been told they are supposed to do,” she added.

While cats and dogs may gobble up kibble, many brands are full of carbohydrates that are bad for overall health, said Farrar, who has studied pet nutrition for more than 20 years. The focus, instead, should be on whole foods and ingredients you shouldn’t have to Google.

“Be very careful with the ingredients,” Farrar said. “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t let them eat it.”

Shutterstock / Masarik

arts

Hands-on Hounds

The DoSeum’s new ‘Dogs!’ exhibit focuses on science about our canine companions

BY BILL BAIRD

Let’s call it an educational experience worth wagging a tail about.

The DoSeum, San Antonio’s interactive children’s science museum, is presenting “Dogs! A Science Tail” from June 1 through Sept. 2, a special exhibit devoted to our canine friends. Expect a wealth of interactive science and fun, according to museum officials. And, yes, a few dog puns along the way.

“This is exhibit is escaping off the leash!” Meredith Doby, the DoSeum’s chief creative director, said with a laugh.

“The Doseum is focused on STEM –science, technology, engineering and mathematics — and this exhibit works really well with that. It’s the fun topic of dogs, but we get to learn about the science behind it. We have many dog lovers here in San Antonio. We’re definitely a dog city, so that’s a nice connection.”

The exhibit will feature a variety of hands-on activities, including walking an invisible pet companion through a neighborhood maze, an immersive canine head that allows visitors to hear like humankind’s best friend and a race where participants can time themselves against the world’s fastest dogs.

The DoSeum is even working with animal rescue group SNIPSA to have dog adoption events. The exhibit is primarily targeted to families, but those without children are welcome too, although they’ll need to pass a background check.

The DoSeum itself is a light-filled, joyous place that invites exploration from its young visitors.

“Our overriding philosophy is learning through doing,” Doby said.

The new dog exhibition is no exception.

“The whole thing is interactive, in that DoSeum style,” Doby added. “Everything you can touch, play, get your hands on. We’re very hands-on with everything we do.”

That educational approach originates

from late-19th century educators including Maria Montessori and John Dewey. One of the first hands-on educational museums was San Francisco’s Exploratorium, established by Frank Oppenheimer — atom bomb creator Robert Oppenheimer’s brother and a contributor to the Los Alamos project.

The creation of San Antonio’s DoSeum came with initial financial help from H-E-B honcho Charles Butt, whose mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, was a teacher herself and a lifelong education proponent. The organization got its start as the San Antonio Children’s Museum, which was located downtown and focused on younger children.

“When we opened as the Doseum, we expanded our age range up to age 10 and started to focus on STEM skills,” Doby explained.

“Dogs! A Science Tail” was designed by the California Science Center, an LA-based family science museum with a similar sense of exploration and wonder.

“Museums will create these exhibits and they will tour around,” Doby said. “[One of] ours is actually about to go to Dublin, Ireland.”

That collaborative aspect of kid-friendly museums underscores a shared ethos: make science fun and interactive.“Dogs! A Science Tail” fits perfectly with that philosophy, according to Doby.

“If you’re a dog lover, if you’re interested in the science of dogs, if you’re curious about how your dog see, smells, or experiences the world, then you should come and see this exhibit,” she said.

$18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway, (210) 212-4453, thedoseum.org.

Courtesy Photo / The DoSeum

Master of Her Own Destiny

Franka Potente talks 25th anniversary of Run Lola Run, living in Texas as student

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

German actress Franka Potente said her “whole world opened up” when she traveled from her hometown of Dülmen, Germany, to Texas as a foreign exchange student circa 1990. She attended Humble High School northeast of Houston for her entire junior year.

“I was a Humble Wildcat!” Potente, 49, told the Current during a recent interview. “I spoke English really well. I think language is freedom. So, it was awesome that I was able to make friends and study in a different language.”

Potente played tennis in high school and traveled to San Antonio for competitions. She recalled Texas as a “very colorful state” where men wore cowboy hats and the words “super big” could be used to describe everything.

“I had never seen anything like it,” she said. “The hair of the girls in high school, the sandwiches, everything. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is America.’ Living in Texas definitely shaped me as a person.”

A few years after her time as an exchange student, Potente was back in Germany making what would become her breakout film, Run Lola Run. The experimental German thriller is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the release of a 4K restoration at select theaters on June 7.

In Run Lola Run, Potente plays the title character, a young woman trying to help her boyfriend replace $55,000 he accidentally misplaced. The stakes are higher than the cash though: his criminal boss will kill him if he finds out about the lost loot.

Told in three separate but similar narratives, Lola finds herself running toward the same goal in each story, but her destiny changes each time because of a subtle difference at the start of every sprint.

During our interview, Potente, who’s also known for her appearances in Blow, The Bourne Identity and The Conjuring 2, talked about what she remembers most about making Run Lola Run 25 years ago and how the film changed her own ideas about destiny.

When you moved to Texas for a year, did you discover more American films and TV series?

Well, we had them in Germany – just dubbed. Growing up, I loved [the TV series] The Fall Guy with Lee Majors. They just made that into

a movie. That was one of my absolute favorite shows. I wanted to become a stunt girl watching that as a kid. One of my dad’s favorite movies was Moby Dick with Gregory Peck. During my time in Texas, we would watch TV like any American family, but I was also doing a lot of other stuff like school activities.

What do you remember most about making Run Lola Run 25 years ago?

The whole shoot was really exciting. I was 23. At the time, I was a student at an acting school in Munich. It was my first time in Berlin. It was such an exciting city and still is. The vibe hasn’t changed that much. The director [Tom Tykwer] was so cool and energetic. We really didn’t know what we were making, but there was a sense that we were all working on something cool. We worked long hours, but it was just so much fun. I was totally dialed into that energy.

Was the physical aspect of the film challenging?

I was running a lot, but I didn’t get very tired. I was young. If you know Berlin really well, the route that [Lola runs] in the film, nobody could run that in 20 minutes. Geographically, that’s not possible. Those scenes were very spontaneous. We didn’t have permits for everything.

I saw Run Lola Run when I was a teenager, and I had never seen anything like it before. I remember playing it on a loop for months.

I think overall, the film is just very accessible. It has a very simple premise, and there are so many different energetic levels to connect to. The visuals are very strong, and there’s this whole philosophical idea about what happens if you change one thing.

How did your participation in the film affect your thoughts on destiny?

I think it probably made me more aware. That was a very formative time in my career. Tom [cast me] after seeing my first film [After Five in the Forest Primeval]. I got that film because I was at a club and there was a scout there who invited me to audition to be an MTV VJ. That audition tape got into the hands of a director who was friends with the casting director [of Forest Primeval]. Tom saw it and cast me in Lola. That plays into the theme of the film. If I hadn’t gone to a club that night, would I have ended up doing Run Lola Run?

It’s too exhausting to think about things like that.

There’s a million different ways you can play it. You and I are talking to each other right now while life is happening out there for these 30 minutes. We could be doing something else. It is kind of overwhelming if you think about it all the time. But I think that gives you a certain awareness. I don’t know if it makes your life better or worse. I think within that lies an opportunity to consciously go left or right. I think that’s definitely a powerful principle.

Find more film stories at sacurrent.com

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Vino Venue

Houston-based wine haven Art of Cellaring expanding to San Antonio this summer

BY NINA RANGEL

San Antonio  sommelier Josh Thomas, a former beverage director for Maverick Texas Brasserie, has partnered with Houston-based Art of Cellaring to expand the business’ wine club and boutique to the Alamo City this summer.

The new Art of Cellaring satellite, located at 2810 N. Flores St., west of the Monte Vista Historic District, will include a secure, climate-controlled facility for clients to store and preserve wine. The nearly 9,000-squarefoot space also will include a swanky members-only lounge that operates around the clock, an open-to-the-public retail space and classrooms for wine education.

The Current got a sneak peek at the space last week and chatted with Thomas and Art of Cellaring founder Liz Palmer about the concept.

“What I love about [Art of Cellaring] is that

it’s super inclusive. There are other bougier concepts in big cities like Dallas and Houston that are way more expensive and have really crazy perks,” Thomas told the Current. “But if a group of four servers want to get together and split a membership so they can attend classes, winemaker events and store some wine, that’s completely acceptable here.”

The Art of Cellaring team expects to have the retail space up and running by the end of June. The members-only lounge and storage lockers will follow soon after.

In 2019, Wine Enthusiast Magazine recognized Maverick Texas Brasserie as one of the 100 Best Wine Restaurants in America. That recognition came while Thomas served as beverage director for the lauded Southtown dining spot, although he left during the pandemic to spend more time with family.

Now, Thomas is ready to take on a different

kind of wine venture. He said extensive travel during his career helped him realize San Antonio lacks any kind of storage facility geared toward serious wine aficionados — hence his partnership with Art of Cellaring.

Art of Cellaring’s San Antonio members will receive perks such as 24/7 site access via a secure app, a temperature-controlled and -monitored storage area backed up by a generator, access to the members-only lounge and private outdoor garden along with invitations to special wine events.

The second floor of the building will be dedicated to the Texas Wine School, which offers classes to students seeking Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) or  Wine Scholar Guild certifications. The school also will teach one-time classes that its website bills as “a two-hour night out in which you will learn about and taste through a variety of wines.”

Art of Cellaring founder Palmer said the upcoming business already has begun scheduling classes for June. While the rest of the building is being renovated, wine scholars can enter the school via an entrance on Woodlawn Street.

Those interested in applying for a membership can subscribe to the business’ newsletter via the Art of Cellaring website, artofcellaring.com.

Courtesy Photo / Art of Cellaring

food Small Kitchen, Big Hit

Food and service at San Antonio’s unassuming Pazzo Pastaria worthy of raves

BY NINA RANGEL

Come a little early and Pazzo Pastaria might appear like just another San Antonio mom-and-pop Italian eatery struggling to make it. On our first visit, around 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, the place was bare, save for a pair of diners at a small table in the corner. It came as a surprise when the hostess asked if we had a reservation.

About half an hour into our meal, the reason behind her inquiry became obvious. By the time our entrees arrived, the dining room was a hub of energy. Boisterous families filled every table and waitstaff buzzed around the dining room. Before our eyes, Pazzo Pastaria transformed into bustling and hospitable dining spot that would make any nonna proud.

The unassuming eatery opened in 2023 to considerable fanfare, including a Current Best Of San Antonio win for Best New Restaurant.

After recent visits, we can say the praise is well-deserved.

During that first Pazzo dinner, we started with that week’s special spedini, fresh mozzarella batons wrapped in shaved prosciutto and flash-grilled. Served on a bed of fresh spinach, tossed with balsamic vinaigrette and parmesan cheese, the delectable morsels presented the perfect balance of salty, creamy and tangy. A fine start, indeed.

My dining partner’s entree, a weekly special cleverly dubbed the Uptown Cluck, featured a breaded chicken cutlet topped with prosciutto and melty fontina cheese and a whole grain mustard cream sauce. The mammoth cutlet rested atop buttered house-made fettuccine tossed with crisp sautéed green beans and roasted mushrooms.

Mustard sauces can all too frequently cross the line from elegant into pungent, the bitter flavor becoming overpowering. Here, the balance was perfect. The grains of the mustard provided texture and just enough sharp flavor, while heavy cream and white wine flavors imparted rich and dry notes, respectively.

Speaking of sauces, celebrity chef Jason Dady’s bolognese has long stood

out as the city’s best. Pazzo Pastaria’s iteration knocked Dady’s off the pedestal. The savory meat-based sauce, a staple in Italian cuisine, typically features ground beef, veal or pork, finely diced celery, carrot and onion, tomato paste, wine and a touch of milk. Pazzo chef Sean Archer also adds sliced mushrooms and luscious dollops of mascarpone cheese. Served over handmade spaghetti, his is now the version to beat.

Worthy of note, Archer and his crew make all pastas, bread, dressings, sauces and desserts on-site.

Both entrees were large enough to leave leftovers, so we ordered dessert to go, too. The dense, chocolatey flourless torte caprese held up just fine on the journey home, its ganache topping still fudgy and smooth when we cracked into it later. Pazzo’s limoncello tiramisu replaces the traditional coffee- or espresso-soaked lady finger layers with the Italian pastries soaked in limoncello syrup. Layered with mascarpone cream, candied lemons and raspberries, the dessert was refreshing and light, and a welcome change from the toasty, roasty coffee flavors normally encountered with the classic version.

A second visit began with the spinach-artichoke dip, which arrived hot and bubbling with toasted crostini. Beyond providing Instagram-worthy cheese pulls, the appetizer’s blend of wilted spinach, fresh garlic, mozzarella and a touch of alfredo sauce proved so addictive we had to stop lest we run out of room for our entrees.

The spaghetti carbonara featured the classic combination of crispy pancetta — or salt-cured pork belly — alongside green peas, pecorino cheese and black pepper mixed with a sauce made from pasta water, egg and egg yolk. Pazzo’s version of the sauce was slightly thinner than the norm, but the flavor was unmatched.

The fettuccine della casa, which featured a creamy red chili-infused Alfredo sauce, loaded with pancetta and prosciutto — two kinds of oh-sotasty cured pork — along with roasted mushrooms, and green peas proved

similarly satisfying. We added grilled shrimp, because why not. In all, the dish was a delightful departure from other, less complicated Alfredo-based dishes we’ve had recently. Be warned, though: the portion is big enough for two to three meals.

The third guest in our party — a

PAZZO PASTARIA

7-year-old spaghetti connoisseur — ordered the slow-simmered meatballs and spaghetti. Served with a robust red sauce and a generous helping of shaved parmesan, the dish received two thumbs up from the young diner. A taste test of our own confirmed the deep flavors in both the 26

13777 Nacogdoches Road, #107 | (210) 277-0663 | pazzopastaria.com

Hours: 11:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 5-10 p.m. Saturday

Price Range: $20-30 per person

The lowdown: Pazzo Pastaria’s handmade pastas are delightful on their own, but the modest but well-selected wine list and inventive weekly specials are even more reason to keep this new-ish eatery in rotation. Traditional takes on Old World sauces such as bolognese and carbonara are winners, to be sure, but slight variations on classic preparations are a welcome surprise.

Nina Rangel

food Summer Smackdown

The Paloma and the gin and tonic are both worthy contenders for best hot-weather cocktail

BY RON BECHTOL

It’s not a slugfest, really. No, we’re not talking a no-holds barred fight between Paloma the Pugilist and Gentleman Gin and Tonic where the best boozy drink takes home the Summer Sipper crown. But why not gin up, as it were, a little friendly competition as temperatures reach, and exceed, 100 degrees?

Gentlefolk, place your bets.

The margarita is alleged to have been the most-ordered cocktail in the world in 2023, but in Mexico, the Paloma — said to be of older origins, at that — can claim equal popularity in the minds of many. In part, that’s because it’s easier to make at home. The basic formula is tequila and grapefruit soda accented with a little lime. But within these modest ingredients, there’s a world of variations to be had.

With simplicity in mind, here’s a recipe:

Paloma

4 oz. chilled grapefruit soda such as Jarritos or Mexican Squirt 1½ oz. blanco tequila ½ oz. fresh lime juice

Squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice (optional)

Pinch of salt (preferably kosher)

Build drink in a highball glass filled two-thirds with ice and stir minimally.

The choice of grapefruit soda alone has spawned numerous debates, with some concluding that the classiest of sodas, Fever Tree for example, don’t necessarily make the best Paloma. And then there’s the salt: some prefer to salt a grapefruit wedge-moistened rim, others to incorporate the salt. My preference is to salt the drink, but you do you.

The precocious among you will have already raised a hand to suggest

subbing mezcal for tequila, and for this you do get extra points: a madefor-mixing mezcal such as Del Maguey Vida makes a killer Paloma. A combination of tequila and mezcal also works. Desert Door, a maker of Texas sotol, also promoted its product as a base spirit at recent World Paloma Day celebrations; that’s how far the drink has come.

But to take the Paloma further into creative cocktail territory, omit the soda altogether in favor of fresh grapefruit juice and simple syrup topped with sparkling water.

Here’s another recipe:

Elevated Paloma

2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice (Ruby Red yields a summery pink color)

½ oz. fresh lime juice

¼ oz. simple syrup (one-to-one mix of sugar to water)

2 oz. tequila or mezcal

Pinch salt

2 oz. club soda

Stir first four ingredients together in tall glass, add tequila, then ice to fill glass, stirring until chilled. Top with soda and stir minimally. Garnish with grapefruit wedge if desired. For a spicier version, make the simple syrup with 1:1 hot water, agave nectar and sliced chiles to taste.

Pro tip: Always keep your gin in the freezer, the tonic water in the refrigerator. You’ll then be ready to knock out a G&T at a moment’s notice with only a lime to add to the equation. Here’s a recipe — not that you need one:

Gin and tonic

1 part gin

3 parts tonic water

A swath of lime peel or a small wedge

Fill tall glass with ice, add gin first, then tonic, twist lime peel over glass and drop in. Done.

With such a simple recipe, it’s essential to go with the good stuff. To keep the drink bracing, a juniper-forward London Dry such as Beefeater is classic. I happen to like the Plymouth variant — navy strength if I’m feeling frisky. But more floral gins such as the cucumberand rose petal-scented Hendrick’s can work too.

And as tonic water is three-quarters of the drink, it’s worth springing for a premium brand such as Fever Tree. That producer makes four variations on the tonic theme, including an elderflower edition.

Playing with tonic waters opens up other possibilities. In Spain, where the popular drink is often condensed to gintonic — and just as often served in bars called gintonerias — the OG G&T positively blooms with accessories and is typically served in a balloon glass to emphasize aromas.

There are basically two approaches to garnish: emphasize the elements already present such as the juniper berries in the London Dry or the cucumber in Hendrick’s, or fill in for something missing such as citrus or pungent herbs such as rosemary. Pink peppercorns, star anise and even green olives have made appearances.

Whichever your preference, summer’s better with these refreshing tequila and gin drinks at the ready as an antidote to the heat and humidity. Rolling blackouts, however, might require stronger stuff.

25 sauce and meatballs, suggesting much time and care had gone into both.

During a final solo lunch visit, a cup of tomato bisque and a mista salad also turned out to be solid wins. The silky soup featured pureed sun-dried and plum tomatoes, cream, garlic and fresh basil. It was just enough for a midday refuel. The salad offered spinach, romaine, pickled red onion, shaved carrot and tomato tossed in a flavorful Dijon vinaigrette.

Each of the portions ran just $5. While the servings didn’t require the takeaway boxes that seem necessary during dinner at Pazzo, the combo was still a lunchtime bargain.

Pazzo clearly puts considerable care into its food, and the same was clear about the service, which was attentive without being smothering. Staff members seemed to have ample practice reading their tables and delivering just the amount of attention needed.

On our second visit, we asked our server what wine would do well with the creamy, cured pork-laden fettuccine della casa. After admitting he wasn’t a wine connoisseur, he offered to enlist the help of the general manager. She suggested a light pinot grigio, and the wine’s apple and pear notes did a nice job cutting through the dish’s richness. The suggestion felt as if it came from someone who knows the menu and wine list intimately.

Speaking of that modest list, it offers a variety of selections from California and Italy as well as a small menu of “winetails” featuring syrups, purees and hand-pressed orangeade, all made in house.

Clearly, Pazzo Pastaria is a momand-pop hidden gem that won’t remain hidden much longer. Its consistently delicious food, just-attentive-enough service and general affordability ensure that much. The restaurant’s unassuming exterior gives way to a cozy, fulfilling experience, one that feeds the soul just as well as it nourishes the body. Each dish exudes a level of practiced attention typically not found outside a grandmother’s kitchen.

It brings to mind an Italian proverb: la cucina piccola fal la casa grande. A small kitchen makes the house big.

Shutterstock / Brent Hofacker

NEWS

San Antonio’s three-store Sweet Baker chain is asking for community support after a car accident left co-owner Stephanie Padilla temporarily unable to work. The bakery group started a GoFundMe account to help pay for her medical and personal expenses and assist in replacing her car.

New-ish local concept Saucy Birds will close May 31, after less than six months in business. The restaurant launched in January after chef-owner Ceasar Zepeda shut down his Sangria on the Burg concept, which operated in the same space.

Elotitos Corn Bar has closed its Government Hill location. The snack shop’s owner said he’ll now focus on his flagship location on Fredericksburg Road. 1933 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 105, 210999-2609, elotitossa.com.

The Fredericksburg Peach Fest will pop up Saturday, June 15, at The Shops at La Cantera three weeks before the Fredericksburg Peach Fest, an annual celebration of the Texas Hill Country’s peach harvest. The big event will take place Saturday, July 6.

Texas-based brunch spot Toasted Yolk Café is planning its first San Antonio location, this one at the intersection of Highway 151 and Hunt Lane. Construction is slated to be completed in August.

Philadelphia-based Insomnia Cookies will make its San Antonio debut later this year, serving up its variety of warm sweets at all hours of the day at two new SA locations in the coming months. insomniacookies.com

OPENINGS

The Hangar Bar and Grill will expand by opening a third location, this one on the city’s West Side. Owners haven’t shared an opening date for the new Hangar, located at 9330 Potranco Road near Hunt Lane.

Fast-expanding Chicken Salad Chick will open a fourth San Antonio location, this one at the intersection of Lockhill Selma Road and Loop 1604. 6010 UTSA Blvd., Building #2, Suites 201-202, chickensaladchick.com

Swanky rooftop bar Lunatique is now open at the new-ish Creamery complex north of downtown. The new drinkery boasts nearly 360-degree views, craft cocktails and DJ entertainment. 875 E. Ashby Place, Suite 1215, lunatiquesatx.com

Extra Fine will launch a second location, this one in Southtown, later this month. The satellite will offer the same sweets, treats and sandwiches that fans of the original business have come to know and love at the flagship store. 812 S. Presa St., extrafinesa.com

Bluefin Sushi & Ramen has opened its first San Antonio location at The Rim, serving up sashimi, nigiri, ramen and specialty rolls. The menu also includes small plates such as crab puffs, calamari and fritto misto. 17711 W IH10 Suite 104, bluefinsushiramen.com

New neighborhood watering hole The Break Room has opened in the strip-mall spot that formerly housed longtime dive bar Halftime Lounge. Now operating in a soft opening capacity, The Break Room has scheduled a June 1 grand opening. 8084 Pat Booker Road, (210) 472-0325, thebreakroomliveoak.com.

Courtesy Photo / Fredericksburg Peach Fest

Fredericksburg Peach Fest

Hair Metal or Hard Rock?

Whatever the label, Tesla is still making music and sticking to its roots

BY MIKE MCMAHAN

San Antonio got its first taste of California hard rockers Tesla when the band supported Def Leppard at the legendary HemisFair Arena on November 16, 1987.

At the time, Tesla — who will appear Wednesday, June 5 at the Aztec Theatre — was supporting its debut LP, Mechanical Resonance, which included “Modern Day Cowboy.” The single featured Tesla’s signature strong songwriting, powerful riffs and the raspy, high-register vocals of one Jeff Keith.

After that strong start, Tesla dropped several more studio albums and hit singles before releasing Five Man Acoustical Jam, arguably the group’s standout achievement. Mixing stripped-down acoustic versions of Tesla originals plus some ’70s rock covers, Five Man offered another smash in “Signs,” not to mention being the opening salvo in the “unplugged” trend that dominated the early ’90s.

Like Def Leppard, Tesla is loosely associated with the hair metal trend of the ’80s, but its members insist it’s always been more rooted in the hard rock of the prior decade. Unlike Def Leppard, which was already moving in a more pop direction by the time the bands played together at HemisFair Arena, Tesla stuck to its roots and has spent decades delivering hard rock anthems.

We caught up with Tesla bassist Brian Wheat on Zoom to talk about songwriting, Def Leppard and his love of the undisputed best band of all time: The Beatles. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tesla supported Def Leppard here in San Antonio in 1987. What are your memories of that tour?

That tour was just incredible. You know, it was in the round. Lots of tickets were being sold. Def Leppard were like mentors and big brothers to us. They said that we reminded them of [themselves] when they were our age and young. Not that they’re that much older than us, actually, because they started really young. But young in a career sense. I don’t think we’d be sitting here speaking today had we not done that tour. You know, the brotherhood between us will always be there. I’m real tight with [Def Leppard guitarist] Phil [Collen] and I’m real tight with [singer] Joe [Elliott]. Joe wrote the foreword to my book. And I’ve got to tell you, out of all the bands

that we ever toured with in our long career, they treated us the best.

You never hear anything bad about those guys.

Well, there’s nothing really bad to say about them. Stand-up dudes. I mean, outside of Joe Elliott being homely. We kind of look alike. No, I love Joe Elliott.

The enduring appeal of Tesla may be that you guys have clever arrangements. “Modern Day Cowboy,” “Love Song” and “No Way Out (Heaven’s Trail)” have tricky riffs, unusual sections or weird phrasings. Would you agree? And if so, was that by design? I think that you see it like that, right? Or someone that looks from the outside would see it like that. Me, I don’t study it. We didn’t sit there and say, ‘Oh, let’s try to be clever here. Let’s try to be clever there.’ We’re just like little workmen. I’m of the opinion that on the eighth day, God created Paul McCartney. I never really analyze his songs, but I am aware that stuff like “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” and “Band on the Run” and “Live and Let Die” are pretty fucking cool. And the arrangements and stuff are tricky. I don’t know if he sat there and said it or if it’s just what he naturally did. When you hear Tesla and you hear those songs, it’s just what we did while we were working.

Five Man Acoustical Jam dropped around the time of what you’ve called a “changing of the guard,” when grunge came along. The band that’s represented on Five Man could very easily have opened for The Black

Crowes.

Well, it’s funny. They came to one of the first acoustic shows we did and hung out with us. And I think [Black Crowes guitarist] Rich [Robinson] got up and played with us. It was in Boston at The Channel. There’s many more similarities in Tesla and The Black Crowes than in Tesla and a lot of bands that they try to lump us in with. But if we’re an ’80s hair band, what was The Black Crowes? Because they came out at the same time, and The Black Crowes were a blues-based rock band. Call it what you want. It’s still Tesla to me.

Hard question. What are your three favorite Beatles albums?

That’s easy. Revolver, the White Album and Let It Be

No

Sgt.Pepper?

Nope. Revolver is the greatest record ever made.

We can agree there. But you could drop Let It Be off that list and — No, no. Let It Be. Watch the documentary. Look how McCartney pulls “Get Back” out of his ass. I love Let It Be. It’s a great record. “Across the Universe,” “Dig a Pony,” “Two of Us,” “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “Let It Be,” “Get Back,” “The Long and Winding Road.” I mean, come on. George didn’t have the great songs on that record. Sgt Pepper? It’s a masterpiece. There’s The Beatles and there’s everyone else. Period. I don’t care who it is.

$64-$193.50, 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com.

Shutterstock / Debby Wong

Never Surrender

More than four decades on, metal act Saxon is still running on Hell, Fire and Damnation

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO

For those of a certain generation who like their music hard and heavy, the new wave of British Heavy Metal, or NWOBHM, represents a special era.

The late ’70s and early ’80s surge in UK-based upstart metal acts leaned heavily into instrumental virtuosity, hooks, riffs and biker-influenced attire such as denim vests and leather.

Chief among the acts emerging from this scene are bands including Tygers of Pan Tang, Samson and Girlschool along with better-known standard-bearers such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon.

Fast-forward four-and-a-half decades later, and Saxon is still throwing the red meat of hard rock to the masses.

Scheduled to play San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, May 30, with Uriah Heep, the quintet is touring behind Hell, Fire and Damnation, its 24th studio outing.

For vocalist Peter “Biff” Byford — who produced the 10-track effort with Judas Priest touring guitarist Andy Sneap — the recording evolved into an inadvertent concept album.

“[The record] goes into a little bit of a good versus evil type theme,” Byford said in an early April interview. “I think that Hell, Fire and Damnation is about good and evil battling through the ages with religious overtones there. It initially wasn’t a concept. We just wrote a bunch of songs and put them all together, and that’s sort of how it turned out, really. It wasn’t until we’d written everything that I got the idea that maybe we were onto a good thing here and this album was going to be great.”

While the lazy music fan might be quick to dismiss metal acts as writing solely about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, Saxon’s subject matter often has a more literary take, albeit with soaring guitar solos and a pounding backbeat. Not unlike brethren in Iron Maiden, the

group has made history, the occult, and science fiction serve as fodder for its newest set of songs.

The results range from Marie Antoinette’s fate (the anthemic “Madame Guillotine”) and the unfortunate wretches accused of supernatural wrongdoing (the double-time “Witches of Salem”) to powerful Mongol emperors (an epic “Kubla Khan and the Merchant of Venice”) and Area 52-fueled conspiracy theories (the groove-driven “There’s Something in Roswell”).

Quickly banged out last October, Hell, Fire and Damnation is infused with a spontaneous spirit driven by the need to have it available for purchase before the band hit the European leg of a tour opening for Judas Priest.

“We didn’t have a lot of time to make it and finish it, but I think that added to the excitement of the album, because everybody worked really hard and were really pushing it,” Byford said. “Andy Sneap, the producer, was working in America with Judas Priest at the time, so I had to do quite a bit of the recording of the guitars and things myself. It was an exciting album — a kind of wham, bam, thank you ma’am kind of moment. Vocally, I spent quite a bit of time working on melodies and lyrics to make it a bit more interesting than your average rock and roll lyrics. Singing on this album was also a nice moment — my son was engineering at the time for me, so that was a good thing.”

Long known as an exciting live band dating back to Saxon’s early days open-

ing for Motörhead, Byford acknowledges the importance of his loyal fan base. So much so that the group is inviting devotees to help craft this tour’s setlist via social media.

“We’re promoting Hell, Fire and Damnation, so it’s going to be four or five songs from that album,” Byford explained. “I’m going to do a Facebook post asking people what they want us to play. There are 16 songs, including five songs off the new album, and let’s see what people say. Let’s get people involved in the tour. Every show we do is totally different. We’re a great live band, and we don’t have a lot of things running behind the scenes. If an audience wants us to play a certain song and if we know it, we’ll play it. Those are the sort of live shows we run.”

Saxon might be classified as a heavy metal act, but its roots date back to the late ’70s UK punk scene, when the band was named S.O.B. and shared bills with The Clash. In pre-Saxon life, Byford started as a singing bass player for a blues-rock band before enjoying a brief stint playing flute for obscure British psychedelic outfit Jumble Lane.

But it would be the NWOBHM scene that provided the springboard for Byford and his crew to achieve international fame, a highlight of which was a U.S. tour supporting 1983’s Power & the Glory and opening for Iron Maiden in the States.

Byford remembers that era fondly.

“It was quite an exciting time, you know,” he said. “Because [Iron] Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard were new

bands on the scene. We were labeled different than other bands like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash, who were great bands but were not of a new generation of bands. We picked up a whole new generation of people — mostly schoolkids really — 14- and 15-year-olds.

“And a lot of punks were disillusioned with that scene and came to Motörhead actually. Our first tour was with Motörhead, and their audience took us in and we became popular because of those tours. We had a great album and great tours. Everything was in the right place at the right time. The planets aligned, and that’s what the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was. That movement swept around the planet, really.”

For now, Saxon’s immediate future involves plenty of American touring before a summer return to the UK to headline festivals and hit the road with Priest again.

When asked about the band’s longevity, Byford points to Saxon’s blue-collar background and the mantra its members adopted from a song featured on 1981’s seminal album Denim and Leather

“We wrote a song called ‘Never Surrender,’” Byford said of the tune that also lent its name to his 2007 memoir. “It seems to be our motto and people like it.”

$59.50-$99.50, Thursday, May 30, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org.

Ned Wakeman

SPONSORS SCAN THE QR CODE FOR EVENTS & TICKETS SPONSORS

Friday, May 31

Alejandro Escovedo

critics’ picks Hayes Carll

San Antonio native Alejandro Escovedo has decades of creating compelling punk, cowpunk, rock and Americana on his own and as a member of the seminal groups Rank and File and True Believers have made him Texas music royalty. The Austin-based singer-songwriter’s life truly is the stuff of legend — he lived in NYC’s famed Chelsea Hotel, collaborated on albums with famed producers including Tony Visconti and Jim Dickinson and he played with Judy Nylon, the multidisciplinary artist immortalized in Brian Eno’s “Back in Judy’s Jungle.” $25-$95, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — Bill Baird

Saturday, June 1

Samara Joy

Verve Records recording artist Samara Joy sings in the classic jazz mold of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holliday, and, at only 23 years old, is at the start of a promising career. She’s already been showered with accolades, including being named Best New Artist in both 2021’s JazzTimes Critics Poll and the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Clearly, this show’s quick sellout is a sign SA jazz fans recognize her as a future legend. Sold out, 8 p.m., Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., (210) 207-7211, thecarver. org. — BB

High Desert Queen

Austin’s High Desert Queen, stellar purveyors of stoner/doom//fuzz rock, are in town to promote their newly released sophomore album, Palm Reader, on Magnetic Eye Records, which has much to offer for lovers of tight sludge and heavy psych. Houston’s Warlung, along with SA favorites Syr and Diamond Denim, open. For the sake of transparency, we must mention Current editor-in-chief Sanford Nowlin is a member of Syr. $5, 8 p.m., The Amp Room, 2407 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 320-2122. — BB

Dreamer Boy, Nitefire

Dreamer Boy, an indie-rock project formed by Waco native Zach Taylor, blends Americana, R&B and rock emphasizing Taylor’s Southern twang. Inspired by the landscapes Taylor visited while relocating from Nashville to Los Angeles, Dreamer Boy’s just-released third album, Lonestar, highlights a soul-stirring journey across these United States. Onstage, Taylor channels his inner Ziggy Stardust by adopting a rodeo clown persona. $18, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Danny Cervantes

Tuesday, June 4

Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire

The Sing a Song All Night Long tour spans the careers of legendary hitmakers Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire. Richie, who rose to prominence as a member of The Commodores, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year. His solo career peaked with 1983’s Can’t Slow Down, spawning pop-radio mainstays such as “All Night Long” and “Hello.” Meanwhile, Earth, Wind & Fire dominated the ’70s with funky R&B tunes including “September” and “Let’s Groove Tonight” that still get plenty of party play today. Dancing in the aisles for this show is mandatory. $30.95 and up, 7:30 p.m., Frost Bank Center, One Frost Bank Center Drive, (210) 444-5140, frostbankcenter.com. — DC

Saturday, June 8

Hayes Carll

Hayes Carll makes fun, moving, witty and no-bullshit singer-songwriter country that brings ’70s greats including John Prine, Townes Van Zandt and Waylon Jennings to mind. As a testament to that, he’s racked up accolades from just about every music publication out

there, including biggies like Rolling Stone and Spin, and he’s been nominated for a Grammy along the way. His recent song “Nobody Dies From Weed” is a groovy toe-tapper with a message. $30, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, TX, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — BB

Todd Rundgren

Philly native Todd Rundgren helped invent the power-pop genre with his brilliant 1972 opus Something/Anything? What’s more, his 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star has emerged as a classic and a touchstone for modern psych artists such as Tame Impala. The singer-songwriter’s fascinating and varied career has also included prolific work as producer, which included helping create masterworks for Sparks, XTC, the New York Dolls, Meatloaf and even Daryl Hall & John Oates. $39-$219, 8 p.m., Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., majesticempire.com. — BB

An Orchestral Rendition of Dr. Dre 2001 And now for something completely different. Ever

wanted to hear the defining hip-hop opus 2001 live but without Dr. Dre? A European orchestra joined by a posse of rappers and DJs has stepped in to fill a void in your street cred that you may not even know you had. By the show’s finale, you may even have “Forgot about Dre.” $45-$135, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — DC

Sunday, June 9

The Peterson Brothers

The Peterson Brothers are heading back to the Alamo City to support their latest album, Experience. Glenn Jr. handles vocals and guitar in the duo, while Grammy Award-winning brother Alex supports on bass, backing vocals and occasional violin. The bros have shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Gary Clark, Jr., Willie Nelson and The Roots, which shows how adept they are at mixing blues, jazz and funk. $18-$100, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — DC

Shuttertstock / Sterling Munksgard

6.22.2024

St. Paul Square • St. Mary’s Strip

“Opera Biffs”--classing it up, but with one letter off. by Matt Jones

© 2024 Matt Jones

Across

1. Gave a hoot

6. Some TV screens

10. Herring cousin

14. Former “SNL” cast member Cheri

15. “It’s all ___!”

16. “Aladdin” parrot

17. Opera that’s sorta supernatural, but by chance?

19. Actress Cannon of “Heaven Can Wait”

20. 2024 title role for Michael Douglas on Apple TV+

21. Those who ___ most

23. Partner of yang

24. Opera about actor Ribisi turning into a canine?

26. ___ California, Mexico

27. Expected

28. Opera about an Irish wiggly dessert?

31. Collective auction offering

32. Software creators, for short

36. “Holy cow!”

37. Office seeker, for short

38. Shakespeare collection

39. Ooze through a crack

40. Stan Getz’s instrument

41. Opera about a superhero mechanic?

42. League where Utah is deciding on a team name

43. “The Big Easy”

44. Opera where a future king turns blue-green?

49. “Ask later” on schedules

52. Playwright Eugene

53. Send mass phone messages during an election, maybe

55. Shoelace issue

56. Italian opera about pub quizzes?

58. German article

59. Snack with a roughly 1.75inch diameter

60. Oopsie

61. In proximity

62. Notify

63. Break a truce, maybe

Down

1. Like a nice recliner

2. Pong producer

3. “King Lear” daughter

4. ___ go bragh

5. “King of the Surf Guitar”

6. Division for FC Barcelona

7. Held on (to)

8. “Hi and Lois” creator Browne

9. Escorted to the door

10. 45’s main feature?

11. Composer with all the symphonies

12. “What is it now?”

13. “___ Make It Look Easy”

(Meghan Trainor song)

18. 1988 Olympics track star

nickname

22. Night before

25. K-pop star, e.g.

26. Radar flash

28. Fractions of a lb. or qt.

29. Coffee

30. Shorn animal

31. Bagel go-with

32. Kids’ show explorer

33. Shade tree

34. Through

35. Family tree branch, perhaps 37. Hand part

38. Topple

40. Superficial

41. Raccoon’s South American cousin

42. 0, on a soccer scorecard

43. Cell that fires on impulse

44. Gotten out of bed

45. Concave belly button

46. Singer Lewis

47. Quart’s metric counterpart

48. ___ Tots

49. Papal headpiece

50. Ulan ___, Mongolia

51. Clock-radio feature

54. Very urgent

57. Longtime Notre Dame coach Parseghian

Answers on page 17

EMPLOYMENT

Optometry Management Specialist

Pedro Cuba d/b/a My Vision Family Eye Care. San Antonio, TX. Prep, supervise & analyze budget for expanding optometry office; oversee daily biz operations; dvlp & implement growth strategies; selecting & training employees; lower costs & improving revenue; eval performance productivity, analyzing accounting, payroll & financial data; receive feedback from on ways; analyze medical data w/medical equip; troubleshooting analysis non-adjust lenses w/patients; communicate w/the optical lab; oversee inventory; train & improve in different software. Min. Req. Mstr's in Biz Admin or reltd field, must have workable knowledge & understanding of optometry office. Mail resume to: 4522 Fredericksburg Rd., Ste. B-36, San Antonio, TX 78201