Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings
Don’t let its name fool you. San Antonians are ready to get messy with Tidy Ben’s, a hot pandemic-era plant-based pop-up-turned-sloperia. (That’s a restaurant that specializes in sloppy Joes.) Now residing permanently on the outside patio at Jokesters 22 Pub N Grub at 713 S. Alamo St. (the site of Tidy Ben’s previous pop-up), this new brick-and-mortar operation’s menu is highlighted by owner and operator Benito Cardenas’ signature sloppy Joe sliders. Specials include an order of three sloppy Joes on Hawaiian slider buns. Available sloppy slider varieties include the classic sloppy, pizza sloppy, fiesta sloppy, BBQ sloppy, and curry sloppy options. Tidy Ben’s permanent hours of operation are Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 10 pm, and Saturdays from noon to 10 pm. Guests can visit Tidy Ben’s Instagram page for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation and to keep up with the sloperia’s latest menu specials.

We didn’t think it was possible, but San Antonio’s elote game has gotten even stronger. Opening this Friday, April 2, at 4 pm is Elotitos, a new elote-focused bar operation from pop-up operator Jesus Arreaga. Here, Alamo City corn nuts can look forward to corn both on the cob and in cups, piled with a variety of toppings like spicy Takis, Cheetos, queso fresco, and jalapeños, as well as dressings like Arreaga’s mother’s special recipe for crema. Elotitos’ new brick-and-mortar spot is located at 1933 Fredericksburg Road and will be open for weekly service from 4 to 9 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays following the operation’s grand opening celebration, which takes place from 4 to 8 pm April 2.

Other news and notes
A buzz-worthy new art pop-up is coming to the Alamo City. On April 9, San Antonio-based beer juggernaut Pabst Brewing Co. will debut a new interactive art experience at the Aztec Theatre downtown. The pop-up event, dubbed In Living Pixels, is presented in partnership with independent local creative studio Wide Awake and features a series of immersive and interactive installations that will “allow guests to have a multi-dimensional view of themselves and the spaces around them,” according to a release, and includes artwork stylized to appear like a partially pixilated image of the well-known Pabst beer can. In addition to installations by such Texas-based artists as Don Jimenez, Chris Sauter, and Natalia Rocafuerte, In Living Pixels will also feature a Creators Lab, space where two creators will provide experiential engagements inspired by the installations, including nail art and aura photography. The In Living Pixels experience will be free and open to the public from 5 to 10 pm daily from April 9-15. Time slots must be reserved to ensure a limited capacity.

San Antonio’s hottest food truck pop-up of late brings a dose of adorable to the Alamo City. This Saturday, April 3, the one and only Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will touch down at The Shops at La Cantera, bringing with it an eye-catching assortment of treats and trinkets. First hitting the road in October 2014, this adorable feline-inspired café on wheels has traveled to more than 100 cities across the country. When it arrives in San Antonio, Hello Kitty fans can purchase such edible goodies and limited-edition merch as madeleine cookie sets, sprinkle mugs, enamel pin sets, and — of course— giant Hello Kitty Cafe cookies. Hello Kitty Cafe Truck’s San Antonio pop-up takes place from 10 am to 7 pm at 15900 La Cantera Parkway near the Barns & Noble store. Until then, interested parties can follow the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck’s journey on Instagram.

Bonjour, brunch! Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, which serves up traditional French comfort food at its location at the Pearl, is getting into the brunch game. The Parisian-inspired restaurant has officially launched brunch service on Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. Brunch specialties include lobster Benedict, oeufs en cocotte, vol-au-vent aux epinards, couscous aux legumes et piment d’espellette, pain perdu, omlette aux champignons et herbs, and an A5 New York strip steak. (Don’t worry if you’re unsure of what these menu items are — or how to say them; the friendly folks at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou will forgive your mispronunciation!) And in true French form, brunch dishes can be paired with a variety of morning cocktails. As they say at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, “The mimosas are bougee, the food is delicious, and the experience is unparalleled.” Cheers to that!