BOOZE AND BOOS

Spooky Halloween pop-up haunts San Antonio's Three Star Bar

Black Lagoon is creeping into Three Star Bar this October.

Photo courtesy of Black Lagoon

A Halloween bar pop-up is hoping to give San Antonio a frightfully good time. Black Lagoon will take over Government Hill’s Three Star Bar October 9 – November 2, bringing spooky cocktails, gothic decor, and a sinister soundtrack to the still-swampy city.

The immersive cocktail experience was started in 2019 by industry vets Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage, whose CVs include cult bars like Two Dots and a Dash and Lost Lake and esteemed consultancy firm Trash Collective. The pop-up debuted in San Antonio in 2024.

Black Lagoon will transform Three Star into a haunted house with skulls, coffins, and bats. The campy environment isn’t likely to cause palpitations, but the original drinks might get a few local barflies’ hearts racing. This year’s lineup includes:

Griselda’s Revenge: Fords Gin, Lustau Vermut Blanco, Giffard Liqueur Mangue, tarragon, lemon, Bitter Queens Thai Spice, soda
Nocturna Colada: Kraken Black, Kraken Gold, Mr Black Liqueur, passionfruit, coconut, pineapple, Bitter Queens Coffee cardamom bitters
Corpse Flower: Lalo Tequila Blanco, ube, Giffard Banane, lime, Lustau Amontillado sherry
Death’s Door: Spirit-free alternative, Giffard Pineapple, miso falernum, lime, soda

One of Black Lagoon's ghoulish tiki mugs.Photo courtesy of Black Lagoon

“We wanted this year’s cocktails to push the boundaries of spooky creativity while also being approachable, fun, and above all, delicious,” says Hayes, via a release. “It’s important to us that every drink feels like an experience, whether you’re sipping tequila, rum, or even a zero-proof cocktail.”

Black Lagoon is part of a growing trend of nationwide pop-up experiences, providing an income bounce for bar owners and adult holiday fun for their patrons. Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, two Christmas-themed concepts, also make frequent stops in San Antonio.

The eerie event will take place in 38 North American cities during the 2025 season, including five in Texas:

Austin: King Bee (October 1 – October 31)
Fort Worth: Nickel City (October 13 – November 1)
Galveston: Daiquiri Time Out (October 8 – November 1)
Houston: Nickel City (October 13 – November 3)
San Antonio: Three Star Bar (October 9 – November 2)

Three Star Bar can be found at 521 E Grayson St. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 3 pm-2 am, and Saturday and Sunday, noon-2 am.

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BAR ABOVE

Viral Boerne pizza joint launches new Predator-themed bar

Darkside Pizza/ Facebook

Danger lurks around the corner at Darkside After Dark.

A new Boerne bar is keeping Hill Country nightlife action-packed. Darkside After Dark, on the Dark Side Brick Oven Pizza Co. compound at 25 Truss Dr., is now serving cocktails, beer, and wine in a Predator-themed space, complete with an ill-fated chopper caught in a tree.

Owner Michael Hawes opened the pizzeria in May 2024, dishing out Neopolitan-style pies in a sprawling dining room showcasing his vast collection of pop culture memorabilia. The spot is a wonderland of Gen X nostalgia with life-sized figurines of E.T., Teen Wolf, Superman, Yoda, and more tucked into every corner.

In March, the spot became a national viral sensation after creator Bethany Tucker (AKA @tasteoftexas) posted a video walkthrough of the space on TikTok and Instagram, garnering millions of views. After Dark grew out of Dark Side’s growing popularity, offering visitors a place to hang out while waiting for a table.

Hawes quickly got to work turning the waiting area into an experience.

“I believe, obviously, with the determination, but mostly the passion for something you truly love, you can make it happen,” he said in an earlier video.

After Dark sets the tone by making guests walk over a wooded bridge to a separate building from the main pizza joint. Once through modern glass doors, revelers are transported to the jungles of the fictional Val Verde in Central America.

Almost every inch of the bar is covered with artificial greenery, from vines crawling down faux stone walls to the central tree cradling the aforementioned helicopter. Cocktail tables, oversized lounge furniture, and cushy barstools bring some creature comforts. Live jazz sets a relaxed vibe.

But be wary. A meanie from the extraterrestrial tribe Yautja is lurking in the corner with no one around to save you. The statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer is in the main restaurant and unavailable to “get the choppa.”

boerne hill country bars nightlife pizza pop culture openings

BOOZE AND BOOS

Spooky Halloween pop-up haunts San Antonio's Three Star Bar

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