https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/ The best articles on the web en-us Copyright 2026 by me RebelMouse JS Custom Feeds Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EDT San Antonio Texas Local News Breaking News Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:00:01 EDT 15 https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zMTczMjk4My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc5MTg2NjAwMn0.XSOu0dzguUpOcAg4R2FqPvmknNgrwi83nJv4HyuqEMc/image.png?width=210 https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/ San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/fashion/summer-laundry-advice-recommendations-houston/ 2677060327 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:00:01 EDT Gabi De la Rosa Fashion + Beauty San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/leviticus-movie-review-conversion-therapy/ Leviticus updates that trope for the 21st century, with the added bonus of pointed commentary that unfortunately remains as relevant as ever.]]> 2677059849 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:02 EDT Alex Bentley Entertainment San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/best-ice-houses-cold-beer/
We know the question of what makes an ice house is still up for debate, but forget authenticity. What matters is a frosty pint and a bowl full of salty snacks on the table.

Blue Star Brewing Company
Open for 30 years and counting, Blue Star Brewing Company hasn’t adapted to the modern Instagram era with flashy vibes and neon signs. Instead, it lets the locally-brewed beers do the talking. Everything is brewed onsite, making it ideal for drinkers eager to try a true San Antonio sip. The European-style Bulverde Hills Pils and the lower-ABV Texican are good starting points.

Callaghan’s Icehouse
Looking for an ice house with arcade games and a pool table? Callaghan’s on Fredericksburg has both, plus beer specials to boot. It’s a no-frills destination, but there’s plenty of seating and TVs tuned to whatever game is on.

The Dakota East Side Icehouse
If there were a physical embodiment of San Antonio’s historic East Side, it would be the Dakota. One of the younger options on this list — they opened in 2018 — the Dakota asks each guest to abide by one rule before entering: “Be nice, damnit.” Agree to the house rule, and you’ll be rewarded with an assortment of local San Antonio brews on tap. Stay for the food menu and the live music lineup.

The Friendly Spot
One of the truer ice house concepts in the city, the Friendly Spot has called Southtown home for decades, first located where Beau’s Tiny Diner now stands. Now firmly planted at 943 S. Alamo Street, the Friendly Spot has become a go-to for family-friendly outings (the outdoor space has a playground), Spurs watch parties, and beer buckets. And according to co-owner Jody Newman, it’s also a prime spot for first dates.

Otto’s Ice House
Otto’s pays a cheeky nod to Pearl Brewery president Otto Koehler, who had a thing for women named Emma. Led by Houston restaurateur Levi Goode, Otto’s has the more modern indoor-outdoor ice house setup, with AC inside and plenty of vintage memorabilia adorning the walls. Head to the outdoor bar for a bucket of beer (and save $2 thanks to the bundled deal) and live music.

River North Icehouse
Another newcomer on the ice house scene, River North wins on space and energy. Come for the cold blast of A/C, stay for the drink specials, arcade games, and karaoke nights. There’s a backyard patio with a rotating food truck, and Mondays bring $5 draft pitchers for whoever needs them.

Wurzbach Ice House
This downhome spot has kept patrons hydrated since 2011. They typically keep about 13 to 15 beers on tap, with plenty of canned options to go around. For a cheap, satisfying pour without the fuss, this is the spot. (They also have a decent frozen marg for beer-averse guests.)]]> 2677060433 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:30:01 EDT Katherine Stinson Restaurants + Bars series San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/mcconaughey-harrelson-brothers-tv-series/ Brothers, out globally September 23.]]> 2677060579 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:30:01 EDT Brianna Caleri Entertainment San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/high-lonesome-ranch-hits-market/
While the new listing isn't public, the sale is being handled by Brandon Scott of the Texas Ranch Company LLC. Interested buyers can contact his office for viewings and pricing.

The sellers purchased the 4,100-acre Tilden ranch in 1995 and transformed it into a Wild West getaway destination. The property features a real Old West town themed around Lonesome Dove, the fictional town chronicled in the acclaimed Larry McMurtry novel and 1989 miniseries adaptation of the same name.

The main street is lined with facades themed to look like Wild West businesses, but which actually hide luxury guest rooms stuffed with antiques gathered from all over Texas. The site has been used as a wedding and event venue and includes a saloon, 40-seat church, gift shop, a restaurant, pool, conference room, and horse barn.]]> 2677049112 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:00:01 EDT Jef Rouner Real Estate San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/sixty-vines-opens-la-cantera/ Sixty Vines, a Dallas-based concept from the team behind Ida Claire and Whiskey Cake, will open its first Alamo City restaurant at 15900 La Cantera Pkwy on August 10.

The small chain steers in a similar lane to restaurants like Postino and Seasons 52, focusing on its wine selection. Its hook is that each of its 60 selections is on tap, a practice the company says saves more than 450,000 bottles each year from winding up in landfills. Each keg holds the equivalent of 26 bottles and can be reused about 1,500 times.

Pours are served in various sizes, from a 2.5-ounce taster to a 750-milliliter carafe, to encourage guests to expand their palate and take risks. The international selections include choices from Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines list alongside trendier low-intervention wines. And, yes, guests can still get a bottle for those long-conversation nights.]]> 2677061679 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:01 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/city-life/best-cities-in-america-2026/ 2677059666 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:00:02 EDT Amber Heckler City Life San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/toy-story-5-movie-review/ Toy Story came out is a little mind-boggling. While the animation studio has had varying degrees of success with their other properties, they’ve always managed to make something special with each installment of their signature franchise. They’re now rolling the dice yet again with Toy Story 5.]]> 2677059752 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:03 EDT Alex Bentley Entertainment San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/wetzels-pretzels-cold-stone-opening/ Wetzel’s Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery will open at 7118 W. Loop 1604 N. on June 24.

Neither brand is new to the Alamo City. Wetzel’s has operated a kiosk at the Shops of La Cantera since 2021, and Cold Stone has four locations in the area, including outposts in Helotes, Live Oak, and San Antonio proper. The latter two storefronts also play double duty, sharing space with sibling concept Rocky Mountain Chocolate.

Cold Stone was co-founded in 1988 by Susan and Donald Sutherland (no relationship to Kiefer), who sought a Goldilocks balance between hard-pack and soft-serve ice cream. Today, it is known as one of two national mega-chains offering made-to-order cones with various mix-ins.]]> 2677059616 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:30:02 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/vp-racing-fuels-new-distillery/ VP Racing Fuels is eyeing the former home of Freetail Brewing Co. at 2000 S. Presa St. for a planned distillery.

Freetail closed the Southtown taproom in October 2025, whittling down its local presence to a single location. The move followed the 2024 decision to stop distributing its beers and instead focus on its gastropub operations.

In a June 12 filing, VP said the industrial site is ideal because zoning already allows machine shop and warehouse uses. The main change would be an extension of the building’s previous microbrewery operations to allow for distilling.

It assured city planners that all activities would be conducted indoors (No patio? Bummer!) and that it would not “generate traffic volumes exceeding those previously associated with the site’s operation as a restaurant and brewery.” It did not state whether guests would be able to fuel up with a tipple in an on-site tasting room.

VP also kept mum about the actual spirit, but whiskey seems more apropos than bubblegum vodka. Whatever the final product, it will best be enjoyed far away from the starting line.

Like many fuel companies, VP has extended its brand far beyond its bread-and-butter products. The company lends its name to gas stations, marinas, and car washes, and sells a variety of merch such as windbreakers and Hot Wheels cars.

The boozy brand extension is by no means set in stone. The zoning change request will have to be approved by the City Council, and as of press time, the building is still on the market. VP did not immediately return a request for more information.]]> 2677059249 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:30:02 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/smithsonian-starstruck-exhibit-opens-downtown/ Smithsonian Starstruck, opening July 2 at downtown’s The Shops at Rivercenter, offers a light-speed virtual reality trip across the universe.

Entertainment company Fever partnered with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) to bring the adventure to life. Starstruck incorporates decades of astronomical data and images gathered by the SAO to build a simulated jaunt that puts visitors right next to black holes, extreme exoplanets, and the Big Bang itself.]]> 2677048701 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:00:02 EDT Jef Rouner Entertainment San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/alamo-icebar-opening-river-walk/ first ice bar has opened underneath the Aztec Theatre at 200 River Walk, a frosty new attraction where heat-stricken tourists can down a shot, take a few selfies, and leave with a slightly numb tush.

Unlike the city’s many ice houses, Alamo IceBar is more of a quick-hit destination than an all-day hangout. The entire environment is made of frozen water, including the tables, benches, and hand-carved walls. Guests are given parkas and gloves to ensure no one gets frostbite in the brisk 13-degree environment.

Once bundled up, polar explorers are ushered to two environments. One has a rock-and-roll theme, with records and album covers embedded in the walls. The other is an indigenous stew vaguely combining Mayan and Navajo motifs.

The drinks (included with the cost of admission) are served in frigid receptacles. One might yearn for hot cocoa, but the menu leans towards flavored liqueurs and spirits like Dough Dough Bird churro whiskey, Svedka cherry limeade vodka, and Rumple Minz. During family hours, kiddos can slam sodas or juices.

It’s unclear why someone decided to plunge Alamo City into the Pleistocene. But ice bars have increasingly become an international phenomenon since the concept was first dreamed up inside Jukkasjärvi, Sweden’s famous ICEHOTEL in 1994.

Of course, Jukkasjärvi is north of the Arctic Circle, where subzero climes are the norm. Alamo IceBar uses commercial-grade insulation to essentially create a giant walk-in. It says it minimizes energy consumption through heavy insulation and timed sessions that minimize blasts of cool air.

Tickets for the experience start at $22.50 for adults and $15 for ages 10-20. Kids nine and under receive complimentary admission with a paying grown-up. Hours are 1-10 pm Sundays and Tuesdays through Thursdays, with an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays. The glacial lair is 21-plus after 5 pm.]]> 2677058363 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:30:01 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/weekend-events-6-18-2026/ calendar.]]> 2677050430 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:02 EDT Paige Turner Entertainment San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/pizza-hut-sold-yum-longrange/ Pizza Hut, whose sales have floundered for several years, is set to be acquired by private equity firm LongRange Capital in a $2.7 billion deal.]]> 2677054958 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:02 EDT John Egan Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/arts/mcnay-museum-first-latina-sculpture/ McNay Art Museum (6000 N. New Braunfels Ave). Edra Soto's “Screenhouse,” a 10-foot reimagined gazebo, will be installed on the grounds in late July.

Although the near-Alamo Heights institution has works from Sonia Romero and Maria Natividad in its contemporary Latino prints collection, this will be McNay’s first outdoor sculpture by a Latina artist. The interactive structure, based on the artist’s Boricua heritage, invites visitors to contemplate Caribbean history as American history.

The piece is built from roughly 400 12-inch charcoal-hued cast concrete blocks, and will be ringed by native San Antonio plants that echo Puerto Rico’s foliage. Patrons are allowed to walk through the structure instead of viewing it from afar.

“Screenhouse” is part of Soto's GRAFT series, which draws on rejas and quiebrasoles, the decorative concrete blocks and iron grilles common to Puerto Rican homes. In the island climate, they aren’t merely decorative — providing shade and airflow without sacrificing privacy.

The Chicago-based artist uses the architectural motifs to surface an African influence often left out of the island's tourism-friendly image, born from Spanish colonialism. The block patterns trace back to Yoruba symbols brought to the Caribbean by enslaved West Africans.

"My artistic practice encourages viewers to reflect more closely on architectural motifs common in Puerto Rico's working-class communities and to experience them beyond mere utility and aesthetics," Soto said in a release. “Often, Puerto Rico’s status as an unincorporated United States territory renders its history imperceptible.”

The placement is its own conversation. The geometric blockwork speaks to the tilework from founder Marion Koogler McNay's residence, and the sculpture's black silhouette sets up a deliberate dialogue with Tony Smith's cubist “Asteriskos” nearby, according to museum officials.

The acquisition is part of a broader McNay initiative to expand the definition of American art. In 2023, the museum hired Mia Lopez, its first curator of Latinx art.

“By introducing these rejas and quiebrasoles to San Antonio, Edra Soto evokes the nostalgic warmth of home for the Caribbean diaspora with a broader, vital conversation about history, culture, and public space,” said Lopez.]]> 2677054859 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT Brandon Watson Arts San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/nicks-tacos-southwest-side-closing/
“We've invested countless tears, sweat, and blood into this establishment, pouring our hearts and resources into its growth," wrote co-owner Regina Flores Navarro in a Facebook post. “Now, we're left with nothing but our name and faith.”

Via a direct Facebook message, a restaurant rep said that the closing is due to a landlord dispute and having to pay for improvements out of pocket, which caused the owners to go into debt.

Nick’s is the kind of taco joint common throughout Alamo City, serving classics like carne guisada, picadillo, and chicken fajita along with an affordable three-taco plate for breakfast. But its commitment to helping struggling neighbors sets it apart from the pack.

Navarro and her husband, Joe Navarro, both pastors, call it a “church disguised as a restaurant.” The couple’s spiritual beliefs led them to use Nick’s kitchen to provide ministry and hot meals to locals experiencing homelessness.

That care extended to the broader community. The restaurant maintained a Wall of Hope that allowed customers to purchase meal tickets for neighbors in need, no questions asked.

Although the physical storefront will soon be cleared out, the Navarros plan to continue catering. The rep explained that the business will be more mobile, focusing on events while still providing aid to the less fortunate.]]> 2677054321 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:00:02 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/home-design/allie-eklund-new-cibolo-boutique/ McBee Dynasty cast, has opened Triple E Mercantile, a new ranch-chic boutique at 813 Cibolo Valley Dr.

For those who don’t follow all things Andy Cohen, the show chronicles four brothers tasked with running their family’s Missouri cattle ranch. Eklund, a content creator and model out of Austin, has a memorable turn on the show as the then-girlfriend of eldest sibling Steven McBee Jr. Needless to say, things take a turn. We won’t go into that here; any true Bravo fan enjoys the forensic work.

Back in Cibolo, Eklund’s new store is inside an unexpected space: the new River City Ace Hardware owned by her and her family. Eklund is no stranger to the area. Her family owns a ranch near Fredericksburg, and she grew up in Central Texas.

“Opening a business in the Hill Country is incredibly special to me because it’s where I grew up and where so much of my family’s story is rooted,” Eklund shares. “I was raised in the Lake Travis area, and I’ve always loved the sense of community, entrepreneurship, and Texas pride that defines this region.”

The store-within-a-store carries Texana merch, entertainment essentials, and home accessories. Not all of it gives yeehaw vibes. Among the goods are stylish metallic handbags, rough-hewn vases, and cheery plates with an Italian lemon print. Triple E Mercantile is also a showcase for Eklund’s debut goat milk skincare collection, featuring small-batch lotions, body butters, and candles.

Eklund used the occasion of the June 12 grand opening to announce a new collaboration with Texas’ storied YO Ranch Headquarters. She says the partnership will involve everything from wildlife experiences to curated local products.

“Both brands are passionate about preserving the legacy of the Hill Country while creating experiences that help people reconnect with the land and with one another,” she explains.

Triple E Mercantile is now open daily inside the River City Ace Hardware. Hours are 7 am-7 pm, Monday through Friday; 8 am-7 pm Saturdays; and 10 am-6 pm Sundays. McBee Dynasty airs Mondays on Bravo and streams the following day on Peacock.]]> 2677053454 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:30:02 EDT Brandon Watson Home + Design Fashion + Beauty News San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/affordable-cities-for-homebuyers-2026/ top-of-mind for many Americans in 2026, and housing prices aren't getting any cheaper. Luckily for San Antonio residents, we live in one of the most affordable places to buy a home in 2026, according to a new survey from GoBankingRates. ]]> 2677041878 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:01 EDT Amber Heckler Real Estate San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/merc-development-new-restaurants/ The Merc, a 112-acre live-play district, has announced its next wave of tenants, including a new concept from a beloved local sushi restaurant.]]> 2677052209 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:00:02 EDT Brandon Watson Restaurants + Bars popular City Life News San Antonio Texas Local News https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/news/arts/teatro-audaz-new-season-tickets/ Teatro Audaz is taking its biggest bow yet. The award-winning Latine theatre company has announced “Audaz X: A Decade of Familia,” an anniversary season packed with three mainstage productions and a returning sketch comedy series.]]> 2677049266 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:00:01 EDT Brandon Watson Arts