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Alamo Heights crowned best place to live in this week's top stories

Alamo Heights, home to the McNay, is the 4th best place to live in Texas. McNay Art Museum - Facebook

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the biggest San Antonio news of the week, starting off with Alamo Heights' top Texas ranking and the 2025 HGTV smart home. Plus, three delicious dining stories. Read our five most popular stories below, then consult this guide to plan your weekend.

1. Affluent San Antonio suburb ranked 4th best place to live in Texas. Alamo Heights, a small affluent suburb in San Antonio, has been ranked the No. 4 best place to live in Texas in 2025 by rankings and review website Niche.com.

2. Win this $1.1M San Antonio house in HGTV's 2025 smart-home sweepstakes. Dreaming of an escape from small-space city living? Home and Garden Television is giving away a massive $1.1 million, 3,000-square-foot San Antonio house as part of its 2025 Smart Home sweepstakes.

3. San Antonio's 10 best chefs leave diners hungry for new experiences. Meet the 10 nominees for the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Chef of the Year, then find out who took home the crown here.

4. Burger Boy grills up new location in growing San Antonio neighborhood. More Fruity Pebbles shakes are coming to San Antonio when Burger Boy opens its 10th area location at 7560 I-35N in Windcrest.

Burger Boy San Antonio Burger Boy will open its 10th location this summer. Photo courtesy of Burger Boy.

5. Iconic Houston Tex-Mex chain opens first location in Fredericksburg. Los Tios, one of Houston's most iconic Tex-Mex restaurants, has opened its first Fredericksburg location. Located at 203 E. San Antonio St., it began serving customers on April 1, bringing its signature puffy tacos and frozen margaritas to the Texas Hill Country for the first time.

VIVA FIESTA

Civic Park ropes in big headliners for free San Antonio music fest

Chaparral Music & Heritage Festival San Antonio

Chaparral will bring a diverse array of sounds to Civic Park. Photo by Oscar Moreno Photography.

The San Antonio Parks Foundation is bringing an eclectic soundtrack to this year's free Chaparral Music and Heritage Festival. The official Fiesta celebration, set to return to Civic Park in Hemisfair on April 26, has announced a rootsy lineup of acts blending country, rock, blues, and jazz.

The 9 am-7 pm performances will kick off with Mariachi Azul de San Antonio before introducing a whirlwind of musical styles. Featured acts include Lacy Brinson, Brandon Padier & Black Gold, Bobby Joe Harlow & Rock Solid, the U.S. Air Force Rock Band, and Paul Farrell & the Bon Vivants.

The Bill Ayers Band will bring the evening to a crescendo with an electric blend of country, rock, and blues. The local favorite is fresh off the release of their debut album, Heartaches & Hangovers.

Although admission to the festival is free, organizers cooked up a pair of ticketed culinary experiences for 21-and-over guests. For $50, music fans can start the day with a Cowboy Brunch spread, including scrambled eggs, artisan chorizo, hash browns, coffee, mimosas, and bloody Marys.

From 4-6 pm, festival-goers can take a break with the $75 Boots, Bourbon, and Bites tasting. The whiskey will be paired with light bites like bacon-bourbon meatballs and street corn dip, and the ticket includes a limited-edition Chapparal western hat.

More than a music festival, Chaparral is also a celebration of community. The United States Postal Service will mark the occasion to dedicate its new Bluegrass Stamp. The U.S. Army Golden Knights will show off their precision parachuting skills, and nonprofits like Bat Conservation International and Gardopia Gardens will also be on hand to share their mission.

The San Antonio Brahmas will also make a special appearance with their new mascot and giveaways. And, of course, no Fiesta party is complete without local food and artisan vendors.

Chaparral is not the only festival set to fill Fiesta with sound. Civic Park will also host the reborn La Semana Alegre May 1-2, bringing acts like Joe King Carrasco and Legs Diamond to the stage.

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