LOCAL: Alamo Heights, Monte Vista, Olmos Park, Downtown, King William, Terrell Hills, November 2016

PG. 05 OUR TURN

Area dads and father figures urged to join WATCH D.O.G.S.

ALAMO HEIGHTS APPROVES $14.6 MILLION BUDGET

NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016

Addressing the opioid epidemic calls for participation from the entire community

VOL. 5, ISSUE 5

MUSIC SCENE

BUSKING BACK IN DOWNTOWN SA

Residents will see a slightly lower tax rate PG. 13

PAGE 16

PG. 04 SUSAN YERKES

City relaxes its rules to restore the sound of music PG. 18

COMMUNITY NEWS

LOCAL SOCIETY

ALAMO HEIGHTS

KING WILLIAM

on the scene of the latest parties

MONTE VISTA

OLMOS PARK

TERRELL HILLS

NEW DAWN FOR BLUE STAR Contemporary art museum celebrates reopening Nov. 4-5

PG. 14

MOVING FORWARD

DOWNTOWN SA

GETS A NEW BRAND Future of city tied to 300 years of development PG. 20

PG.23 EAT LOCAL

SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT

THE BIN

PG. 06 HAPPENING LOCAL

Barcelonainspired tapas bar debuts on East Grayson Street

Initiative links past and present; Phase One has started, creating a second River Walk PG. 21

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FROM THE EDITOR

1331 S. Flores Street #108 South End Lofts

tedwards@localcommunitynews.com

President Harold J. Lees Assoc. Publisher Rick Upton

Publisher Gregg Rosenfield Dir. of Operations Jaselle Luna

EDITORIAL Executive Editor Thomas Edwards News Staff Collette Orquiz, Bain Serna and Will Wright Contributing Writers Valerie Bustamante, Dan R. Goddard, Carole Miller, Benjamin Olivo, Edmond Ortiz, Eileen Pace, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Contributing Photographers Rudy B. Ornelas ADVERTISING Zone Manager Kelly Jean Garza Controller Gracie Cortinez READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Phone Fax (210) 338.8842 (210) 616.9677

Advertising Inquiries kgarza@localcommunitynews.com Recruiting: kgarza@localcommunitynews.com Story Ideas: tips@localcommunitynews.com Website: www.salocallowdown.com LOCAL Community News publications Zone 2: 78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249 Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247 Zone 4/5: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Zone 6: 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 Zone 7: 78015, 78023, 78255, 78256, 78257 For advertising, customer service or editorial, please call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: Local Community News 4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201 San Antonio, TX 78229 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2016 Helen Publishing LLC and Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.

Keep political views out of classroom

N

ot long ago, a student I know related that a teacher used class time to push a personal political agenda.

I support freedom of speech, but somehow, I don’t think the classroom is the place for educators to try to sway others to their political viewpoints.

Certainly teachers have a right to voice approval for candidates they support, but not during school.

Teachers are the leaders in a classroom. Education, at least through high school, is compulsory, which means educators also have a captive audience. It is not fair or proper for an educator to use that special place to push a single viewpoint.

I know such instances are rare, and that 99 percent of all educators are completely professional, but my friend’s story is not the first I’ve heard about such an episode.

Educators are the custodians of facts, history, rational observations, science and mathematics. Their personal political views — or religious, for that matter — should not be aired inside the classroom. Instead, they should be the gatekeepers in a marketplace of ideas, presenting multiple viewpoints in a dispassionate and informed fashion.

The same lesson should apply to those in my profession — unless the story is on the opinion page and labeled as such.

THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rackspace co-founder Graham Weston reacts to being named Downtowner of the Year at Centro San Antonio’s pre-party Centropolitan Awards on Sept. 22 at the Majestic Theatre. Centro San Antonio and others have launched a rebranding campaign to raise the profile of downtown. See story on page 20. Courtesy photo

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NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016

LOCAL COMMENTARY

Chasing the dragon

by SUSAN YERKES

C

hasing the dragon is a really catchy name for a devastating reality. The term originated with opium and heroin users. It refers to the way addicts gradually build up tolerance to these drugs, and need more to feel high.

Eventually, many can’t even get that, but they still crave the illicit narcotics to stave off withdrawals. Today, heroin is the most widely used illegal opioid, and its use is increasing, especially among young people.

That rise is linked to the proliferation of

a class of legal opioid drugs developed for pain relief. Hydrocodone, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, morphine and codeine are the stars in an array of legal prescription opioids.

And they’re probably coming to a home near you soon — if they aren’t there already. Many adults who become addicted to pain pills get started with initially beneficial prescriptions. Some children begin by stealing pills from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Others buy them at school. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014, more than 28,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses – almost as many as in car accidents.

Prescription drugs caused the majority of those deaths, but as dependence on pain relievers has soared, and law enforcement has cracked down on their abuse, heroin addiction has risen because it’s easier and cheaper to obtain.

When the FBI held a community screening of a documentary called “Chasing The Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict” in San Antonio in

September, school administrators, health officials, law enforcement officers and community leaders came together to stress how critical the problem is.

“We’re beginning to see teenagers using IV heroin,” Dr. Robert Jimenez, chief medical officer for Bexar County’s The Center for Health Care Services, told me.

“Heroin from Mexico is now the highest quality, and it’s being brought in across the border by the ton,” Jimenez added. Because a lot of the heroin is more pure, it is less likely to be diluted with fentanyl or other substances, which increase overdose risk, he said. However, it takes less to get high, so it tends to be cheaper.

“You can buy it all over San Antonio,” he said. “Kids can buy it at school from each other. They snort it or chew it or put it in candy or wafers – snorting is very popular with kids. They may handle it for a while, but sadly, eventually they’re going to start shooting it, and they’re going to get in trouble, often with HIV and hepatitis. Right now the

largest number of new cases of HIV and hepatitis are coming out of the (78209) area and the North Star Mall area.

These are not just poor minorities.”

“This problem affects everyone,” Police Chief William McManus said at the “Chasing the Dragon” symposium, “and we can’t arrest it away.”

The CHCS has a wide range of prevention and treatment options, including a methadone program with about 1,000 enrollees, detoxification and residential treatment. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio researchers are among those working to find alternative approaches to treating pain, and new therapies for preventing or treating addiction. Many school districts target at-risk kids, and educate students and families about symptoms and solutions.

Changing the status quo is going to take a lot more informed, enlightened community efforts. If we don’t unite to confront this dragon, who knows how monstrously high the toll will rise? syerkes@localcommunitynews.com

SAN ANTONIO HEALTH EXPERTS SINCE 1970 Ophthalmology Associates of San Antonio (OASA) has been serving the medical and surgical eye care needs of the community since the early 1970’s with Dr. Thomas F. Hogan, Dr. Joe R. McFarlane, Jr., and Dr. David M. Hunter. Doctors Arlo C. Terry, Robert P. Green, Jr., John A. Campagna, Mark J. Trevino and Cooper M. Clark joined the practice over the subsequent years. Offices were opened in outlying communities for the convenience of our patients. Our services include state of the art cataract surgery and lens implantation, sub-specialty cornea (Dr. Terry), sub-specialty glaucoma (Dr. Campagna), and sub-specialty retina (Dr. Clark). Dr. Green and Dr. Trevino also perform oculoplastic procedures.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our loyal patients. The entire staff is looking forward to serving you and all of your eye care needs. For new appointments: 210-223-5561

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OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community

Make WATCH D.O.G.S. a howling success

S

ome area campuses are going to the dogs, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, the trend needs to continue by having more volunteers join WATCH D.O.G.S. — or Dads of Great Students.

The national program encourages male involvement at elementary schools by providing role models for children.

Dads are eligible to apply, but grandfathers, uncles and other father figures can also sign up.

The requirements are not onerous.

Participants are asked to spend one day

a year at the school helping teachers.

They monitor hallways and playgrounds; spend time in the cafeteria and library; and mentor schoolchildren.

In today’s society, there are a lot of single parents or families where both parents work. Sometimes dads don’t come home until late at night, or a child only sees a father early in the morning before school.

The WATCH D.O.G.S. program enables dads and father figures to take a peek at what their kids do during the school day, but also provides a mentor for other kids who might not have a fatherly connection.

In addition to participating in students’ daily routine, WATCH D.O.G.S. volunteers help out with bike rodeos and other school events.

If you’re a dad or a father figure, step up to the plate and take a swing at volunteering. To get started, call your local campus.

-The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.

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NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016

HAPPENING LOCAL

Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.

OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH

HAPPENING KEY

FITNESS

ART

ALAMO HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Chamber 2 holds luncheons the first Wednesday of each month in a private room at Paesanos Lincoln Heights, 555 E. Basse Road. Arrive by 11:30 a.m. for a meet and greet; a guest speaker follows at noon. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. For more, call 822-7027 or visit http://alamoheightschamber.org/.

NOV.

SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, CAMP 1325 3 Alamo City Guards, Camp 1325, conducts 7 p.m. meetings the first Thursday of each month in the Fiesta Room at Luby’s, 911 N. Main Ave. Members and guests are welcome to eat beginning at 6 p.m.; no reservations are required. For more, visit www.alamocityguards.com.

NOV.

NUTRITION DISCUSSION NOV. Live With Nature meets 3 from 10-11:30 a.m. at San Antonio College’s Sinkin EcoCentro, 1802 N. Main Ave. The group examines nutrition’s role involving health challenges. Free sessions take place the first Thursday of each month, and may include health tips, recipes and plant exchanges. For more, call 492-4620.

SAN ANTONIO AUDUBON SOCIETY Beginning at 7 3 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, The First Tee, 915 E. Mulberry Ave., hosts the group.

Nonmembers are welcome at the free meeting. For more, visit saaudubon.org or www.facebook.com/saaudubon/.

NOV.

COOKING LESSONS Improve your cooking, NOV. 5 including holiday specialties, with a series of classes on selected dates in November and December at The Culinary Institute of America, 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 3. For exact dates,

BEGINNING

EVENT

OUTDOOR

MUSIC

FOOD

times and cost, visit www.ciachef.edu.

OPEN-AIR MOVIES “Southtown shows free flicks 5, 19 Cinema” the first and third Saturdays, August through December, in Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair Park, 434 S. Alamo St. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for screenings beginning at 8:30 p.m. Enjoy music and food, too. This month’s features are “Goonies,” followed two weeks later by “Three Amigos!” For more, visit www.slabcinema.com.

NOV.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING St. John the Evangelist Altar Society, 6 4603 St. John’s Way, presents its annual Arts and Crafts Christmas Bazaar from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the church patio. For more, call 738-2201.

NOV.

PRESERVING HISTORY The Monte Vista Historical 8 Association board meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. in Landa Branch Library annex, 233 Bushnell Ave. For more, call 737-8212 or visit http://www.montevista-sa.org/.

NOV.

JAVA, PAINTBRUSHES AND MORE Enjoy a coffee, a painting 9 class and a discussion on the future of Brackenridge Park at Lions Field, 2809 Broadway, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

For more, visit SAParksandRec.com.

NOV.

“KEN SLAVIN: SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED” Fresh from his 10 performance at New York City’s Metropolitan Room, jazz crooner Ken Slavin brings his latest show to the Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. The concert is a fundraiser for the San Antonio AIDS Foundation.

Tickets are $50 for general admission and $150 for VIP seating, which includes

NOV.

HAPPENING continues on pg. 08

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HAPPENING continues from pg. 06 a signed CD and a post-concert “meet and greet” and photo with the artist. A cash bar will be available. Tickets may be purchased at www.TobinCenter. org or by calling 223-8624.

COOL-WEATHER GARDENING The San Antonio Herb Society 10 meets on the second Thursday of the month with speakers and programs at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave. This month’s guest, Mark Fanick of Fanick’s Garden Center, will discuss winterizing your garden. Refreshments and social time at 6:30 p.m.; program is at 7 p.m.

For more, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

NOV.

SOUND OFF San Antonio NOV. Sound Garden presents “11/11 11 You Vote. They Win. Party” in Alamo Beer Hall, 723 N. Alamo St. from 5-11 p.m. Ten San Antonio artists will play; the audience decides a winner. Cost to attend this inaugural event is $30. For more, visit www.SASoundGarden.org.

BEGINNERS’ BIRD WALK Led by Georgina Schwartz, the 12 San Antonio Audubon Society outing begins at 8 a.m. at the Judson Nature Trails start point, 246 Viesca St. in Alamo Heights. Nonmembers are welcome; binoculars can be provided. The free walk is held the second Saturday of each month. For more, visit saaudubon. org or www.facebook.com/saaudubon/.

NOV.

OFF AND RUNNING Shamrock Series 5K takes place at 7:30 12 a.m. at Maverick Plaza in La Villita, 345 S. Alamo St. Entries limited to 2,000 participants. For registration costs and more, visit www.athleteguild.com.

NOV.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY Go to the Japanese Tea 13 Garden, 3853 N. St. Mary’s St. next to the San Antonio Zoo, from 1-4:30 p.m. for “Picture Your World,” a photography workshop for ages 8-18, presented by Green Spaces Alliance.

The program is designed to foster an appreciation of the environment. Bring

NOV.

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your camera, or one will be supplied.

For more including registration costs, visit www.greensatx.org.

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE Segs4Vets Mobilizing America’s 13 Heroes 5K begins 9 a.m. at Freetail Brewing Co., 2000 S. Presa St. Proceeds benefit Segs4Vets, a nonprofit giving Segways to combat-injured military veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. For more, including registration costs, visit www.athleteguild.com.

NOV.

TERRELL HILLS The City Council meets at 5 p.m. in City 14 Hall, 5100 N. New Braunfels Ave., on the second Monday of each month. Sessions are open to the public.

For more, visit www.terrell-hills.com.

NOV.

SAISD BOARD SESSIONS San Antonio Independent 14, 28 School District trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. Gatherings are in the Burnet Center, 406 Barrera St. For more and to see the agenda, visit www.saisd.net.

NOV.

ALAMO HEIGHTS The Council meets at 14, 28 City 5:30 p.m. in the municipal complex, 6116 Broadway, on the second and fourth Monday of the month, except holidays. For more, visit http://www.alamoheightstx.gov/.

NOV.

THE CHILDREN’S NUTCRACKER a cast of more than 17, 18 Featuring 100 local young performers, The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio performs “The Children’s Nutcracker,” 7 p.m. both days, at the Scottish Rite Theatre & Grand Ballroom, 308 Ave. E. For more information and tickets, call 540-8398, visit www. childrensballetofsanantonio.org or email info@childrensballetofsanantonio.org.

NOV.

AHISD BOARD Alamo Heights Independent School District 17 trustees regularly meet at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Central Office, 7101 Broadway. For more, and to confirm dates, visit ahisd.net.

NOV.

HAPPENING continues on pg. 09

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENING continues from pg. 08 OLMOS PARK On the third Thursday of each month, 17 the City Council meets at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 120 W. El Prado Drive. For more, visit olmospark.org.

NOV.

MUSIC AL FRESCO The seasonal Rooftop Jazz concert 18 series concludes with an 8-11 p.m. performance at Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave., from The King William Jazz Collective. Supporters of the gallery and radio station KRTU can attend the members-only event at no cost. For more, call 212-4900 or visit www.artpace. org and www.facebook.com/artpace.

NOV.

DIG IT! Lambert Beach Softball Field in Brackenridge Park, 19 3910 N. St. Mary’s St., hosts an archaeological exploration from 10 a.m. to noon. Children of all ages are invited.

For more, visit SAParksandRec.com.

NOV.

EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE The 39th annual Alamo Heights 19 Chamber of Commerce Holiday Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Cambridge Elementary School, 1001 Townsend Ave., and proceeds south on Broadway ending at the Stewart Center. A moon bounce, music, food and fun are included in the after-party. For more, including entry forms and guidelines, call 824-0369 or visit www.alamoheightschamber.org.

NOV.

CAN YOU RUN FASTER WITH A CAPE? The cape-friendly, 20 25th annual 5K Fun Run for Justice: Heroes vs. Villains takes place at 8 a.m. at the San Antonio Gun Club, 928 E. Contour Drive. For registration costs and more, visit www.athleteguild.com.

NOV.

SCHOOL’S OUT Campuses in NOV. 21-25 the Alamo Heights, North East and San Antonio independent school districts will be closed for Thanksgiving break. For more, visit www. ahisd.net, neisd.net and www. saisd.net.

RUN FIRST, GIVE THANKS LATER The Great Turkey 24 Challenge 2016 is at 8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day from H-E-B Headquarters, 646 S. Main St. Proceeds help fight hunger in the community.

NOV.

For more, including registration costs, visit www.athleteguild.com.

FORD HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE The unofficial start of San 25 Antonio’s Yuletide season commences with the 35th annual parade along the River Walk, featuring 31 floats, beginning at 7 p.m. A Christmas music concert for ticket holders at the Arneson River Theatre, 418 Villita St., precedes the event at 6 p.m. For more and to make purchases, visit www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com.

NOV.

DANCING FOR A CAUSE Trilogy Dance Center, 25 1242 Austin Highway, conducts a program from 6:30-7:30 p.m. combining dancing and social awareness. For updates, call 479-1551 or visit www.trilogydancecenter.com.

NOV.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE NOV. MARKET New this year, the 25-27 Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave., has extended its annual bazaar to a third day. Times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The event, with more than 100 local and global vendors, offers various handmade goods. Enjoy food and live music, too. Admission is free. For more, visit esperanzacenter.org.

I’M ALL EARS The Tuesday Musical Club Artist Series 29 continues its 94th season at 2 p.m. with a performance by Ensemble Schumann at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 W. Woodlawn Ave. Cost is $25.

Handicapped seating is available. Parking is free in the church’s lot. For more and to make purchases, visit www.satmc.org or www. facebook.com/SATMC or call 364-1992.

NOV.

THE URBAN LIFESTYLE LIVE IT. OWN IT. The historic Steel House Lofts condominiums offer an urban lifestyle like no other in San Antonio. Each loft is unique in floor plan, details and view, many lofts have yards, patios or balconies. One, two or three-bedrooms from the $180s to $500s.

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ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE to the Freeman Coliseum 19-20 Come Expo Hall, 3201 E. Houston St., for a two-day shopping extravaganza, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 20. The 38th annual edition of the holiday tradition will feature handmade jewelry, gifts and apparel, plus decorations and outdoor art. For more, call 492-1437 or visit http://christmasshowcase.com.

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1. THE BIN, 511 E. Grayson St., is a Barcelona-style Spanish tapas bar featuring appetizers such as serrano-wrapped blue cheese dates, grilled-cheese sandwiches, patatas bravas, pan tomate and more.

Drink selections such as sangria and other wines, gin and tonic, mojitos and classic cocktails are also available. Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

For more, call 994-8099 or visit facebook. com/thebintapasbar or Instagram.com/ thebintapasbar. (See story on page 23) 2. AGAVE APARTMENTS, 633 S. St. Mary’s St. near the King William Historic District, celebrated its grand opening in September. Agave features studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments that overlook the River Walk and come with various amenities. Leasing office hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 855-972-9350 or visit www.liveagave. com or facebook.com/AgaveApts.

3. LIBERTY REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS INC., 2130 N.E. Loop 410,

Suite 212, a physical and occupational therapy clinic, recently moved into its new location across from Northeast Baptist Hospital off of Loop 410. Liberty Rehab offers physical therapy, certified hand and occupational therapy, customized wellness

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IN OTHER NEWS THE CAMPUSES OF THE ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT met state and federal benchmarks, and 86 percent of safeguards, according to the Texas Education Agency after reviewing rankings for 2015-16. Alamo Heights High received five of seven distinctions. “Alamo Heights ISD students generally do well on state and national assessments, including record-high scores on the ACT (college entrance exam),� said Superintendent Kevin Brown. “But our district does not place a focus on standardized tests for a variety of reasons. We have found that state tests do not measure learning very well, and performing well on them is not sufficient to gauge whether a child is prepared to enter college or the work force. We seek an enriching experience for our children customized to meet their needs and passions, not a standardized experience that is one-size-fits-all.�

Brown said because 94 percent of district students are college-bound, AHISD’s focus is on preparing them for the next

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 11

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOWDOWN continues from pg. 10 step by providing a broader educational experience. “Focusing on these efforts, rather than high-stakes tests, allows our teachers the freedom to be creative and innovative and ensure our students develop a lifelong love of learning that is impossible to accomplish in a highstakes testing environment,” he said.

ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT Emma Moser recently was recognized by Bexar County Commissioners Court for her contribution to the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The honor is based on the NCSV and San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse’s initiative, “Do the Write Thing” Challenge, which accepted student entries on ways to reduce youth violence and enhance local awareness. She was selected as a Bexar County ambassador in the national competition held last summer.

More than 4,400 pupils contributed essays.

WOODRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH TEACHER Shawn Simpson recently

11

was honored with the ExCEL Award from the San Antonio Credit Union and KENSTV. SACU and KENS have recognized local teachers with the award since 1999 “for their innovative teaching practices and for the differences they are making in the classroom,” according to a release.

Every year, a teacher from each of the San Antonio area’s 19 school districts is selected, then receives a surprise visit in the classroom and a $1,000 check from SACU. DR. JIMMIE WALKER, THE ACADEMIC DEAN for the Alamo Heights Independent School District, recently was selected as the recipient of the 2016 Carnegie Project of the Education Doctorate Dissertation in Practice Award for her work, “Braintargeted early childhood beginnings: A case study in India.” Walker was invited to join the CPED Consortium at the 2016 Convening Oct. 24-26 at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, to receive $1,000 and a plaque. In addition, she was asked to prepare a 15-minute

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 12

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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 11 presentation of her work to share with the participants, according to officials.

TERRELL HILLS CITY OFFICIALS ARE reviewing bids from qualified vendors to install a French drain on Winchester Road near Morningside Drive. The bids opened on Oct. 6 and have been forwarded to the City Council for a final selection and approval, according to officials.

ELEVEN TRINITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN as the latest McNair Scholars in the “prestigious program that prepares participants for doctoral studies through research and related scholarly activities,” according to a statement. The program offers “academic counseling, financialaid advising, mentoring, research opportunities, seminars, paid summer internships and graduate admissions guidance.” The program is named after the late physicist and Challenger shuttle

astronaut Ronald E. McNair and is funded

by Trinity and a Department of Education grant. The student recipients are Yasmeen Alayli, Brianna Azua, Michael “Cole” Callen, Samsara Davalos-Reyes, Sarah Fordin, Daisy Horr, Karina MendezPerez, Michelle Nguyen, Zabdi Salazar, Frances Stone and Autumn Sutherland.

THE LONE STAR BREWERY REVITALIZATION PROJECT HAS SIGNED its first two tenants, a movie theater and a bowling alley, officials said.

Developers of the long-dormant site in Southtown penned deals with Cinemark Holdings Inc. for a 10-auditorium, 34,500-square-foot movie theater.

TRINITY UNIVERSITY DINING SERVICES and The Trinity Market have teamed up with a Metro Health chronic disease prevention program known as ¡Por Vida! in order to promote healthy meals across campus that fit higher nutritional criteria. The campuswide implementation of the ¡Por Vida! program “aligns with other university health and educational initiatives, such as supporting a campus farmer’s market and a range of academic courses emphasizing wellness, healthy eating, and a positive body image,” according to a release. Trinity students, staff, faculty and guests can find ¡Por Vida! healthy choices in the various dining facilities and mobile food vendors by looking for the ¡Por Vida! logo.

PAPPADEAUX SEAFOOD KITCHEN CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY in October. The Cajun restaurant, located at 76 N.E. Loop 410, marked its anniversary with “daily specials, iconic dishes, contests and giveaways” as a way to thank its San Antonio patrons.

A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY HAS RELOCATED from Austin to San Antonio’s Downtown Tech District at the San Antonio Entrepreneur Center, 219 E. Houston St. Dragonflyware specializes in financial technologies for the insurance industry. According to reports, Dragonflyware is the seventh information technology company to locate or expand its operation to the city’s

growing Tech District in recent months.

Dragonflyware will operate out of center while looking for a permanent location for its new headquarters, according to officials, and could move in by December. During the next three years, Dragonflyware expects to expand its new headquarters operation to 50 employees, with an average annual salary of $90,000.

THE 2012 BOND PROJECT WILL ALLOW THE CITY to create more twoway streets downtown as part of a continuing revitalization initiative.

District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño and other city officials broke ground in mid-October for improvements on Main and Soledad streets that include reconstruction of the roadways and conversion from one-way to twoway traffic operations. Additional improvements will include bicycle lanes on Main, curbs, sidewalks, wheelchair ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, left-hand turn lanes on Soledad and amenities to promote pedestrian activity.

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM ALAMO HEIGHTS continues from pg. 01

Health insurance costs being calculated

by BAIN SERNA

A

LAMO HEIGHTS – Highlights of the city’s 2017 multimillion-dollar budget include funds to update equipment for emergency services and undertake street repairs.

The City Council unanimously approved the $14.6 million budget and slightly lower tax rate for fiscal year 201617 during the Sept. 26 regular meeting.

“The proposed budget has been developed to be consistent with the established mission, vision and goals of the city and provides a balanced fiscal plan as adopted by the City Council,” said City Manager Mark Browne. “The budget has been developed to allocate resources by city department and to provide necessary municipal services to customers and citizens. We look forward to providing outstanding service during the next fiscal year.”

The council also approved a tax rate of 38.9 cents per $100 property valuation, which is still lower than last year’s tax rate of 39 cents, according to officials. Property taxes make up the largest component of revenue for the city and are 54 percent of total funding.

“On the budget’s tax rate, we were able to lower it slightly,” said Finance Director Robert Galindo.

On a home in Alamo Heights valued at $594,157, the owner would pay a tax bill of $2,317, according to officials.

“Even though we were able to lower the tax rate, the amount in property taxes to the city increased by $131 because the average taxable home value increased,” Galindo said.

The budget included a transfer of $241,300 to the Capital Replacement Fund for equipment needed by the fire, police, EMS and public works departments.

The adopted budget also has funding of $248,000 from the onefourth-cent sales tax dedicated to street maintenance, which city officials say is an ongoing priority.

The council in August tabled plans to call for a nearly $12 million bond issue Nov. 8 to help pay for road upgrades. Officials said the price tag might have been too steep.

“Another item is that residents want us to maintain the streets properly, so we want to make sure that we have enough in the budget to provide for street maintenance,” Galindo said. “That’s one of our main priorities, to provide proper streets and roads for residents as we continue to maintain the community to the standards that our residents expect.”

Galindo added, “One of the focus points of the budget is being able to provide all the current services the way we have them and to continue to provide resources that are expected from our residents.

One of the main challenges we have is maintaining a good workforce because the job market is very competitive, so one of the things we focused on to have in the budget was enough to provide for health insurance (for city employees).”

Officials expect to get information on insurance rates sometime in November to see what kind of expense the city will be looking at for next year, the finance director said.

“Health insurance is a challenge,” Galindo said. “We have to go out for bids and we see how insurance (costs are) increasing, so we included that in the budget.”

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BLUE STAR continues from pg. 01

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fter a $500,000 renovation, the Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum is shining brighter than ever.

Celebrating 30 years of presenting cutting-edge exhibits as part of the Blue Star Arts Complex, the museum — housed in a 1920s-vintage warehouse — has undergone a major face-lift featuring much wider front steps and a more inviting front entrance.

Closed since June for construction, the Blue Star is set to have a grand reopening birthday celebration Nov.

4-5 with four new exhibits that will remain up through January.

“We’re thrilled the improvements reflect our desire to be more welcoming to people,” said Executive Director Mary Heathcott. “We could not have done it without our great team of collaborators and the wonderful support of the community. As part of this project, we have signed a new 20year, in-kind lease with the complex, so we plan to be around for a while.”

The Blue Star had $250,000 from a 2012 city bond that needed to be spent, and it was able to match that amount with a combination of funding from San Antonio’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 11 board, Capital Group, the Lifshutz family, Poteet Architects and the King William Association.

James Lifshutz, whose father, Bernard, offered the space free of charge to the city’s artists in 1986, said his company was happy to continue its tradition of support for contemporary art in San Antonio.

BLUE STAR continues on pg. 15

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After major renovations, the Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum celebrates a grand reopening in November. The $500,000 in funding partially came from the city's 2012 bond issue, with the rest from donors and other sources. Photo by Collette Orquiz

BLUE STAR continues from pg. 14 “I am very pleased with their new look,” Lifshutz said. “Blue Star Contemporary has always been an important anchor for the complex – so as they recommit to their mission, refocus as an organization and revitalize their space, we the neighbors and the complex benefit. They have such good management, vision and enthusiasm as they open this new chapter.”

But even architect Jim Poteet, a Blue Star board member who donated his services for the project, said visitors’ initial reaction to the new look may be simply: “Is that all there is?”

That’s because many of the improvements are not readily apparent, such as a new heating and air-conditioning system and new LED track lighting that should greatly improve the look of the exhibits.

“The challenge was to renovate the existing space to reflect the great

things that are happening at Blue Star Contemporary today,” Poteet said.

“Very little has been done to the facility since its founding in the mid-1980s.

The list of needs was truly enormous.

For every improvement you see, there’s a million things you won’t see.”

Gone are the rickety, much-repaired wooden steps that led up to the Blue Star.

The old steps were about 8 feet wide, but the new stairs — which are also wooden — are about 25 feet wide and large enough for patrons to sit on. A new steel canopy shades and frames an enlarged steel and glass entrance. A new handrail that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a sleek, minimalist grayish paint scheme connect the museum entrance to the Blue Star’s adjoining educational MOSAIC studios.

“Visitors will now be able to see what’s going on inside the Blue Star from out in the parking lot,” Poteet

BLUE STAR continues on pg. 17

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NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016

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ouncing boys, cultured cocktails and ballet boosters gathered to raise money for charity and have some F-U-N.

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BLUE STAR continues from pg. 15 said. “We wanted to be more welcoming, but also to reflect the Blue Star’s role as a serious contemporary art institution.

Many great strides have been made under Mary’s leadership in terms of financial stability and top-quality programming.

This project is intended to be the physical manifestation of that growth.”

The main gallery may look similar, but project manager Brett Freeman said enough discarded material was removed to fill a Dumpster. In the past, the walls were about 2 feet shy of the ceiling.

“The before and after is incredible,” Freeman said. “Instead of 12-foot walls, the walls are now 14 feet tall from the floor all the way to the ceiling. We took out the old, giant ducts and put in a whole new system.

Probably the most complicated part of the project was installing the new lighting. Several improvements involved ADA compliance, safety and bringing everything up to code. We’ve smoothed out the walls and floors so the Blue Star will have the feeling of a first-class museum instead of an old warehouse.”

The structure hid a few surprises. A survey for asbestos revealed the dangerous insulation material wasn’t used. The cold storage room, now the Project Space, is actually insulated with thick walls of cork, Freeman said. Offices will now be on the north side of the building in an area that turned out to have been a loading dock designed for horse-drawn wagons, then filled in with dirt. A floor had to be built to support the office space.

New exhibits opening Nov. 4 include “Beneath Metropolis,” featuring artists from across the country whose work reflects a hidden, alternate reality. Leigh Anne Lester’s “Flexible Foundation” focuses on the genetic modification of plants. “Hold Still” features two artists exploring current trends in still-life photography. “Reclaimed by Nature,” curated by Claudia Arozqueta, is the first in a series of collaborative exhibits organized by participants of Sala Diaz’ Casa Chuck Residency. The exhibits will be up through Jan. 8.

The museum, 116 Blue Star St., is open noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Regular admission is $3 to $5 and free after 4 p.m. Thursdays.

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NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016 Remy Bones, a drummer who plays near Commerce and Losoya streets, is one of the performers enjoying a new artistic lease on life now that City Council has relaxed rules on downtown busking. Photo by Benjamin Olivo

BUSKING continues from pg. 01

Official: Street performing creates vitality

by BENJAMIN OLIVO

T

he city’s decision to relax its rules prohibiting street musicians from playing downtown is striking all the right notes for performers now enjoying a resurgence.

Just ask Michael Santos, 33, who spends most of his time living and working in the center of the city. His digs are at the Soap Works apartments, and he is one of the Amigos — the name for the crew that cleans the streets and River Walk.

Even Santos’ passion keeps him downtown.

Most nights, Santos can be found playing the bagpipes at a streetcar stop next to the Torch of Friendship.

Santos and his bagpipes have been a downtown fixture since 2001. He took a break in recent years because of the city ordinance curtailing street musicians from performing. But now Santos is back, along with other musicians, because of changes to those rules made earlier this year.

“It’s a great thing for the downtown area,” Santos said. “It’s not so dull anymore, not so much like a ghost town.”

In March, the city changed the statutes to allow for street performing, also known as busking. Now, noncommercial performance artists can take their talents to downtown’s sidewalks, parks and plazas. Some exceptions include the River Walk, Alamo Plaza and Main Plaza.

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a new skill,

In reality, any performer using music — dancers, acrobats, comedians — are allowed to set up wherever they want, as long as they don’t disrupt the pedestrian flow.

“Street performing provides a public amenity that enhances the vibrancy, vitality and ambience of downtown San Antonio,” John Jacks, interim director of Center City Development & Operations, wrote in an email.

The loosened rules have certainly spurred that energy. They’ve provided a kind of career breakthrough for Remy Bones, who played his drums near the River Walk entrance at Commerce and Losoya streets during the summer.

Bones’ first night was the night of the Fiesta Flambeau parade in late April, when the lanes flooded with revelers. He was working for a pizzadelivery service at the time, and had $60 in his pocket for living expenses.

That night, in two hours, Bones made $120. Through the rest of spring and summer, Bones kept at it, and made

BUSKING continues on pg. 19

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM BUSKING continues from pg. 18 close to $5,000 on street tips alone.

“I was nervous (at first) because I didn’t know if it was going to work,” said Bones, 28, who’s been playing drums since he was 6. He ended up quitting his job at the pizza place.

But the end of summer also meant the end of the foot traffic. Still, the exposure brought Bones an opportunity to work in a recording studio and learn the ropes. He also has aspirations to return to school to learn more about the music business. He may return to his corner when tourism kicks back up during the holidays, he said.

That’s when he’ll return to what he calls a free-for-all.

“From car accidents, little fender benders, to people being drunk falling over each other, to girls flashing — it’s a free-for-all out there,” Bones said.

For Alice Knight and her husband, Jack, playing in their band the Buskeroos, downtown is a chance to make a little gas money. The couple, who are in their 70s and play with son R.J. Loomis, operate an art studio in Terlingua

TOP: The Buskeroos — Jack and Alice Knight (from left) and their son R.J. Loomis — perform recently at the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets.

BOTTOM: Michael Santos plays the bagpipes at the streetcar station next to the Torch of Friendship downtown. Photos by Benjamin Olivo

near Big Bend National Park.

“One night, one man gave us a $20 bill,” Knight said. “You’re not hoping to support yourself, you’re just having some opportunity to have fun. Do I want to go to a bar and listen to someone else sing? No. Do I want to go to an open

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mic and wait to sing two songs? Or would I rather be out singing what I want to and have crowd reaction? Yes.” There’s also the program called Houston Street Live, operated by Centro San Antonio, the nonprofit dedicated to improving downtown. It places performers of all kinds, not just musicians, at various spots along Houston Street to help draw more people to the corridor.

The program is on hold for now, but will return before the end of the year with new acts, said Eddie Romero, Centro’s director of marketing and events.

Santos, who has been performing on the streets for more than a decade, sees himself as sort of a torchbearer for this new crop of musicians. Though he never met George Coleman, aka “Bongo Joe,” Santos is aware of the street performer’s legendary status. Bongo Joe was a downtown fixture, delighting tourists and locals alike from the 1960s to the 1990s.

He died in 1999, two years before Santos started his performances.

“I guess I am that torch carrier,” Santos said.

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When someone says to you, “I’ve got good news and bad news.

Which do you want to hear first?” Which do you normally choose? For me, I almost always select to hear the bad news first. Absorbing the initial pain and then assimilating the good news in a way that helps us deal with the pain is my preferred approach. Well, actually my preference is for there only to be good news. But those days are few and far between.

In the book of Revelation, when the angel told John to read and digest the 7th seal, he warned “Take and eat it. It will taste as sweet as honey but it will become sour in your stomach.” (Rev. 10:910) God’s hard news shapes us to deal with life’s hard realities.

God’s good news is always His bottom line reality. Do we listen to His warnings? Are we aware of the bewares?

In our troubled world God is opening His 7th seal. He wants us to know: 1) ACCEPT. God is giving us an important message during these urgent days. (Rev. 10:6) 2) BELIEVE. God’s purposes will be accomplished. (Rev. 10:7) 3) COMMIT. Take in and share all of God’s messages without discrimination. (Rev. 10:10-11) With God we never lose. Left to ourselves, we always lose our way.

Trust God and you can deal with all of life’s bad news and good news.

Les Hollon, PhD Senior Pastor Trinity Baptist Church

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20

NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016

NEW BRAND continues from pg. 01

Website lets folks comment on downtown

by EDMOND ORTIZ

A

rebranding effort underway to raise the profile of downtown San Antonio as a vibrant place for residents and businesses, not just tourists, also honors the city’s 300 years of history.

“We’re celebrating what the city is about,” District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño said at a Sept. 22 block party on Houston Street, where dozens gathered to kick off the campaign and showcase its new logo.

The rebranding is a collaboration between Centro San Antonio, which supports downtown growth, and Tech Bloc,

A new logo unveiled in September aims to showcase downtown San Antonio, symbolizing the river that gave rise to the city and three centuries of growth. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

which advocates San Antonio as a rising hub for information-technology businesses.

The letters S and A dominate the new logo’s center, with the A meaning two things, according to Centro San Antonio. Shaped like a water drop, it symbolizes the San Antonio River and a compass, noting the growth of the city since its settlement by Spain in 1718.

The lines connect within the brand, representing the many cultures that have contributed to San Antonio’s diversity and evolution. Local tech-industry leaders, such as those associated with collaborative co-working space Geekdom at the Rand Building on Houston Street,

have sought more public and private reinvestment in the downtown area.

Companies including Michiganbased Liquid Web are moving into vacant downtown office spaces. Liquid Web, which bought Windcrest-based Rackspace Hosting’s Cloud Sites business unit, plans to set up local shop in the International Bank of Commerce building.

Rackspace co-founder Graham Weston, a driving force behind Geekdom, was named Downtowner of the Year at Centro San Antonio’s pre-party Centropolitan Awards on Sept. 22 at the Majestic Theatre.

Startup Merge Labs has moved out of its Rand Building offices and into a building on Soledad Street. Software developer Dragonflyware, which specializes in financial technologies for the insurance industry, plans to move its base from Austin to downtown San Antonio.

There has been an influx of infill redevelopments, such as Agave at St. Mary’s Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard, in and around downtown in recent years.

Developers are lured by the infusion of new businesses and retail options such

as the Pearl, city officials have said.

San Antonio Economic Development Foundation President/CEO Jenna SaucedoHerrera said one thing that has always been a shining example of San Antonio is its people and their can-do attitude.

“San Antonio has an opportunity to show how far it has evolved through organizations and movements such as SA 2020 and Tech Bloc,” she said.

The former is another nonprofit that advocates San Antonio as a wholly educated, engaged and vibrant city.

For its part, the city is making urban core investments such as $185,000 for new LED streetlights, which will run along Houston from Alamo Plaza to Santa Rosa Street, and the recently launched project to improve San Pedro Creek.

At the block party, Centro San Antonio President/CEO Pat DiGiovannni said San Antonio has made strides with the San Pedro Creek project, as well as the ongoing redevelopment of Hemisfair, and last year’s designation of the Spanish colonial

NEW BRAND continues on pg. 21

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM NEW BRAND continues from pg. 20 missions as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“We’ve been building a world-class downtown with Pearl and soon-to-be Lone Star Brewery, South Flores H-E-B, new housing options like Agave, the tech industry like Geekdom, and an emerging tech district like the Center for Applied Science and Technology,” he added.

The downtown rebranding is accompanied by the launch of a website, www.yourvoicesa.com, where anyone can explain why they enjoy downtown.

“There are a lot of stories about San Antonio, an amazing history, an amazing culture,” Trevino said. “We’re starting that by branding our city, branding our downtown. We’re also celebrating innovation, our tech sector, culinary businesses and arts district.”

DiGiovannni and other guest speakers said the downtown rebranding is designed to reinforce pride in San Antonio, pay tribute to the community’s past and culture, and encourage people to further capitalize on the city’s potential.

The party included a brief video — http://tinyurl.com/jer4st2 — with a montage of images from around San Antonio, as well as locals voicing their feelings about the city. The narrator notes, “We don’t simply exist as a city; together, we thrive.”

“With small startups, maker movements and entrepreneurs, our youth culture is alive and well. We are one of the fastestgrowing millennial populations in the United States. You folks are the future of San Antonio,” said DiGiovannni.

“We embrace our history and we look forward to the future. That’s what tonight is about,” Saucedo-Herrera said.

DiGiovannni added the rebranding campaign will contribute to the citywide tricentennial celebrations planned for May 2018 and beyond, and should reverberate in every part of town.

“We want this brand to amplify who you are and the work you are doing,” he said. “Small-town vibes, a metropolitan city, a community that has amazing neighborhoods, big-city options and offerings.”

SAN PEDRO CREEK continues from pg. 01

New design will create better flood control

by EILEEN PACE

T

he recentlyy launched Phase One of the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project is promising “a second River Walk” to be completed for the city’s tricentennial in May 2018.

Planners say it will pay homage to the history and cultures that flourished along the creek’s banks, a kind of counterpoint to the more tourist-centric and worldfamous River Walk. Early European settlers built the city around the creek.

As construction begins and crews demolish concrete pads laid down two decades ago by the Army Corps of

Engineers, they must be gentle with the earth below – in fact, archaeologists expect to find remnants of hunters and gatherers from thousands of years past, as well as the Spanish imperial culture that settled in San Antonio 300 years ago.

Organizers of the project, who note the creek was once a dividing line between Anglo and Latino cultures socially and economically, hope to tie the city together in a unique way.

Michael Cortez, owner of Mi Tierra Restaurant and co-chairman of the San Pedro Creek Subcommittee — which meets each month to review the design, guidelines for art projects and progress of the construction — said the restoration connects to his family at different levels.

“It intersects and runs through the heart of Zona Cultural, from the River Walk to Market Square, where my family has worked the last 25 years to establish an area of happenings through downtown,” Cortez said. “Preserving our culture has always been part of

SAN PEDRO CREEK continues on pg. 22

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NOV. 1 - NOV. 28, 2016 The San Pedro Creek Improvements Project, organized around the waterway that helped lead to the birth of San Antonio three centuries ago, could become the city's second River Walk complete with amenities including walkways. Courtesy illustration

SAN PEDRO CREEK continues from pg. 21 our family’s mission statement.”

The project aims to create a larger, natural channel replacing the existing concrete. It will beautify the area with paths and landscaping similar to the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River south of downtown. And it will provide aesthetically pleasing elevations for structures that abut the creek.

“There’s some of this on the San Antonio River – such as at the (San Antonio) Chamber of Commerce — where you see the complete vertical wall and plantings along the wall,” said Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff. “All of those structures along San Pedro Creek where the water laps up right onto their walls will be incorporated into the design.”

But Wolff said the project also will achieve better flood control.

“It’s kind of like hitting two birds with one stone, removing a number of acres from the floodplain south of Chavez Street on San Pedro Creek, and beautifying the area,” the commissioner said. “The

county’s role in it started with the major flood-control project that we began over 10 years ago, looking at all our different watersheds and major creeks where we could take property out of the floodplain.”

He said Bexar County is committing up to $150 million to the initiative.

Costs have been going up as the project has proceeded through the design and permitting phases, rising from the original estimate of $125 million.

“The city of San Antonio, if it passes its (2017-22) bond issue, will contribute $20 million. But if not, the county will put

in the full $150 (million), in combination with some private funding that is still being raised,” the commissioner added.

The city bond issue is expected to go to the voters in May. “Some of the property owners have contributed frontage of their property for the county to use in developing the walkways – and they will get a return on their investment by way of beautification of those areas,” Wolff said.

The creek runs north to south, a short distance east of Santa Rosa Street, from the Interstate 35/Interstate 10 interchange

on the north to just south of Guadalupe Street. The project calls for the removal of some of the older buildings, including the old Bexar County Jail, but Wolff said no historic structures will be removed.

It’s the history part that stirs the passion in Cortez.

“The other wonderful thing about San Pedro Creek for my family is that Jose Antonio Navarro (a hero of Texas independence) built his homestead on the banks, and that history will be preserved. Through that descendancy, I am a sixth-generation Navarro through my grandmother’s side of the family,” Cortez said. “It turns out that my Grandmother Cruz was born on the Navarro homestead and later worked in the grocery store and restaurant.

That’s where she met my grandfather.”

Cortez also sees the economic value of the creek’s restoration, possibly more directly than others. His restaurant, Mi Tierra, is situated near the midpoint of the north-south path of the creek, and only a few yards away from the future second River Walk.

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks

For tapas and drinks, drop into The Bin

by VALERIE BUSTAMANTE

L

ocated in the original Bakery Lorraine building, The Bin, a new creation

by Chef Jason Dady, is billed as the ultimate after-work spot.

The Barcelona-inspired tapas bar opened its doors Sept. 20 at 511 E. Grayson St. which is near the Shuck Shack, one of Dady’s other restaurants.

Serving as an ode to the now-closed Bin 555, his 2004 eatery formerly located in The Alley on Bitters, The Bin is a smaller version focused more on the bar

concept with small bites to dine on.

Its bar is dedicated to gin and tonics, and mojitos, both classic Barcelona cocktails. However, there is also a complete list of Spanish wines.

The Bin even uses porrons, a communal drinking vessel from Spain that allows groups to share cocktails straight from the pitchers.

Customers can visit the tapas bar from 4 to 6:30 p.m. every day for happy hour.

“We offer four preset gin and tonics, three mojitos and a great caipirinha and Negroni Blanco. Other than that, we have a full bar and can make any cocktail you desire,” Dady said.

There are 15 mini-dishes to choose

A tapas plate with deviled eggs, Tortilla Espanola, a stuff piquillo pepper, olives with peppers and anchovies (top left); pan tomate (above); and blue-cheese stuffed dates wrapped in serrano ham (bottom left) whet the appetites of patrons at The Bin. Photos by Collette Orquiz

from, including Tortilla Espanola, Patatas Bravas, Spanish pulpo and various cheese and chorizo plates.

“It’s fun and unique for San Antonio for sure. It’s not meant to be a meal per se, but a place to grab as many snacks as you desire and great drinks,” Dady said.

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