Texas 4th of July Weekend Guide: Best Rooftop Parties, BBQ, & Brunch Deals

Paris Baguette is celebrating the Fourth of July with festive limited-time treats. Photo: Paris Baguette, used with permission.

The Ultimate Texas 4th of July Weekend Guide: Where to Eat, Celebrate, and Relax

Independence Day weekend is here! Whether you are looking for rooftop fireworks with a DJ, a family-style Texas barbecue, or a relaxing post-holiday spa day, Texas has something spectacular lined up for you.

From San Antonio to Austin and Frisco, here is your curated guide to the best food, events, and celebrations for the Fourth of July. (The Gunter Hotel, Paris Baguette, La Panadería, Freight Fried Chicken, Kimpton Santo San Antonio Riverwalk, Otto’s Ice House, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, The Faust Hotel, Briscoe Western Art Museum, Omni Hotels/2026)

🍽️ San Antonio Eats & Experiences

The Gunter Hotel

Celebrate the Fourth at Jots, the Gunter Hotel’s signature restaurant. Indulge in a special holiday dish or stick around for their famous Sunday Jazz brunch.

  • The Special: Steak & Frites ($35) on Saturday, July 4.
  • Jots’ Jazz Brunch: Sundays from 10 AM – 1 PM featuring live music from The Dirty River Jazz Band and a historic supper-club-inspired menu.
  • Reservations: Encouraged via OpenTable.

Paris Baguette

Satisfy your sweet tooth with limited-time patriotic treats perfect for any holiday gathering.

  • Stars & Stripes Berry Trifle Cake: Three layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with soft cream, strawberries, and blueberries. Serves 8. (Available now through July 5)
  • Red, White & Blue Mochi Donut: A colorful, seasonal festive donut. (Available now through July 19)

La Panadería

Heading to the downtown parade? All San Antonio locations will be open serving artisan pan dulce, pastries, and café favorites.

  • Pro-Tip: The Houston Street downtown location is the perfect pitstop before or after the city’s Stars & Stripes on Houston Street Fourth of July Parade.
  • When: Saturday, July 4 (Regular business hours).
  • Orders: Skip the line and order online.

Freight Fried Chicken

312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215 James Beard-nominated chef and veteran Nicola Blaque invites veterans and community members to enjoy her nationally recognized recipes.

  • The Special: A limited-time fried chicken plate (two pieces of fried chicken with any side) for just $10.
  • When: Saturday, July 4 through Sunday, July 6.
  • Hours: Friday – Saturday (10 AM – 10 PM), Sunday (11 AM – 9 PM).

Otto’s Ice House

111 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212 If you are looking for a casual, all-day hangout along the San Antonio River, this is your spot. Located right near Pearl’s shops, it’s an easy go-to for cold drinks and quality time with family.

  • Holiday Weekend Hours: Friday – Saturday (11 AM – 12 AM), Sunday (11 AM – 10 PM).

🏨 Hotel Takeovers & Rooftop Parties

Kimpton Santo San Antonio-Riverwalk

  • Tenfold Rooftop | Red, White & Blue Skies Celebrate Independence Day above the city at this all-day pool party sponsored by Aperol. Expect rooftop poolside vibes, specialty cocktails, live DJs, and prime views of the city’s official firework demonstration at Hemisfair.
    • When: Saturday, July 4 from 12 PM – 12 AM.
    • Tickets: Required via the booking link.
  • Dean’s Steak and Seafood Enjoy incredible fine dining alongside a unique pop-up experience. Tried & True Leather will be at the bar offering custom and pre-made leather works for the holiday.
    • When: Saturday, July 4 from 6 PM – 10 PM.
    • Reservations: Strongly encouraged through OpenTable.

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa

  • Corinne San Antonio & Anaqua Garden Bar Enjoy family-style barbecue favorites, festive summer cocktails, live music, and outdoor dining on the shared downtown patio. Budweiser will also be on-site as the featured beer vendor.
    • When: Saturday, July 4 from 11 AM – 2 PM.
    • Reservations: OpenTable (Corinne) or via link here (Anaqua poolside).
  • The Spa Plaza San Antonio | Wellness in the Garden: Reset Day Recover and recharge after the holiday. This rejuvenating experience invites you to slow down, refresh, and prioritize self-care in a relaxing outdoor setting.
    • When: Sunday, July 5 from 10 AM – 11 AM.
    • Bookings: Available via the website link.

The Faust Hotel

Wilhelm & Werner – 229 South Castell Ave., New Braunfels, TX 78130 Escape to New Braunfels for an elevated Texas-style brasserie lunch and brunch service inside this historic hotel.

  • When: Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM.
  • Reservations: Encouraged via the website.

🏛️ Culture & Arts

Briscoe Western Art Museum

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with heavily discounted and free admissions while checking out the stunning Selena Forever / Siempre Selena photography exhibition.

  • July 4th: $2.50 admission for all guests.
  • July 5th: Free entry for locals.

🚗 Worth the Drive: Austin & Frisco Events

Rooftop Pool Celebration at Omni Austin Hotel Downtown

700 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin, TX 78701 Head up to the rooftop pool and Cloud Bar for a special 4th of July edition of their popular Summer Saturdays series.

  • When: Saturday, July 4 – Sunday, July 5.
  • Access: Complimentary for overnight guests; public day passes start at $60 via ResortPass.

Red, White & Blue BBQ at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

8212 Barton Club Drive, Austin, TX 78735 Celebrate under the Hill Country sky with classic Texas barbecue, lawn games, a fireworks finale, and live music from multiplatinum country artist Neal McCoy (with opener Mason Lively).

  • When: Friday, July 3.
  • Admission: Open to resort guests and country club members.
  • Upgrade: The Star-Spangled VIP Experience ($160/person) offers premium food/drinks and front-row terrace views of the fireworks.

Fireworks on the Fairway at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa

4341 PGA Parkway, Frisco, TX 75033 Grammy Award-winning artist Darius Rucker takes the stage for an unforgettable evening! The event features a massive combined drone and fireworks display, carnival games, face painters, and festive food.

  • When: Saturday, July 4.
  • Tickets: Available via Eventbrite (Resort packages available for guaranteed access).

💆‍♀️ All-Month Relaxation

Red, White & Bloom Facial at Mokara Hotel & Spa

212 W Crockett St, San Antonio, TX 78205 If you want to skip the crowds entirely, celebrate self-care all month long. The Forbes Four-Star rated Mokara Spa is offering a specialized Red, White & Bloom Facial for $155.

  • When: Available all month long in July.

For anyone looking to make a weekend of it, take advantage of Omni’s America is Calling offer, which extends 15% off two nights and 20% off three or more nights. Additionally, kids 10 and under eat free from the Omni Kids menu for breakfast and lunch through September 7. 

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July! Which event are you hitting up first? Let me know in the comments below.

Gemini-generated image.

A.A. Williams Releases New Album ‘Solstice’ via RPM Records

A.A. Williams’ new album Solstice is out now. Photo: another side, used with permission.

Cinematic Darkness & Radiant Renewal: A.A. Williams Releases ‘Solstice’

A.A. Williams steps into a new era. Out now via RPM, Solstice arrives as Williams’ most powerful and poetic work to date, an album shaped by extremes of light and darkness, weight and fragility, devastation and renewal. (another side, 2026)

Thunderous highs, intimate lows, and vivid emotional shifts unfold across a record that feels both deeply personal and cinematic in scale.

A Sonic World of Extremes

Long celebrated for her haunting vocals, immersive dynamics, and striking emotional clarity, Williams expands her sonic world with an album that moves like a ritual through changing seasons.

  • The Instrumentation: Guitars churn like gathering weather, while strings glow with a fragile warmth.
  • The Vocals: Her voice unfolds seamlessly from restrained intimacy into a commanding emotional force.

Solstice captures A.A. Williams at a major creative turning point. Inspired by years of global touring, acclaimed collaborations, and genre-defying reinterpretations, the album finds her fully embracing both vulnerability and power.

Balancing crushing heaviness with moments of startling beauty, Solstice invites listeners into a world where silence can feel as immense as sound itself. It’s intimate, dramatic, and quietly radiant; music for endings, beginnings, and the long road between the two.

About A.A. Williams

Making her debut live appearance at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands off the back of a self-titled EP, A.A. Williams has since toured across the globe with heavyweights like:

  • Cult of Luna
  • Explosions in the Sky
  • Russian Circles
  • Sleep Token
  • The Sisters of Mercy

Alongside these massive support slots, she has established herself as a formidable headline artist, including a landmark show at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Hall inside London’s Southbank Centre.

A Track Record of Critical Acclaim

Her standout festival appearances have dovetailed with two widely acclaimed album releases: 2020’s Forever Blue and 2022’s As The Moon Rests. Both records placed Williams at the forefront of a wave of artists taking textured, epic, and folk-rooted heavy music into progressive new directions. A live BBC session at the legendary Maida Vale Studios further bolstered her credentials.

Pushing Boundaries & Companion Pieces

Never one to rest on her laurels, Williams has continuously released innovative companion projects, including:

  • “Exit In Darkness”: A collaborative single with Japanese post-rock titans MONO.
  • Songs From Isolation (2020): A solo covers collection recorded during the pandemic lockdown that drew praise from icons like The Cure’s Robert Smith and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan.
  • arco (2021): Perhaps her most impressive feat, where the multi-instrumentalist drew on her classical training to completely rework her debut EP from rock instrumentation into a stunning string ensemble.

Solstice is out now via RPM. Stream or purchase the album here.

Solstice track list:

  1. Poison
  2. Wolves
  3. Little By Little
  4. Hold It Together
  5. Outlines
  6. I’ve Seen Enough
  7. The Veil
  8. Just A Shadow
  9. It Won’t Rain Forever
  10. Breathe
  11. The Gentle Harm

New Immersive Space Exhibition ‘Smithsonian Starstruck’ Opens at Rivercenter

Explore stars, black holes, and galaxies in a fully immersive journey beyond Earth that brings the universe within reach like never before. Photo: Smithsonian Starstruck, used with permission.

The Universe Awaits: ‘Smithsonian Starstruck’ Immersive Experience Launching in San Antonio

The universe is officially within reach, Texas! San Antonio is about to become a major gateway to the cosmos with the arrival of Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience. (Smithsonian Starstruck, 2026)

Opening this week at The Shops at Rivercenter, this free-roam, interactive journey invites visitors to witness the birth and death of stars, explore distant galaxies, and come face-to-face with a black hole, all without ever leaving downtown San Antonio.

Here is everything you need to know about this upcoming celestial adventure.

📅 Event Details at a Glance

FeatureDetails
Opening DateThursday, July 2, 2026
LocationThe Shops at Rivercenter, Lower Level (San Antonio, TX)
Duration~40 minutes
Recommended Age10+
TicketsAvailable now via the Fever app or website

Science Meets Magic: Built From Real Astronomical Data

Developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)—a pioneering research center founded in 1890—Starstruck draws on decades of genuine astronomical research.

This isn’t just a standard digital exhibition. By translating complex scientific data into a fully immersive, walkable universe, the experience dissolves the boundary between the observer and the observed. Visitors will be able to touch, hear, and navigate the wonders of the cosmos using all of their senses.

🚀 Cosmic Travel Partners: During the journey, guests will travel alongside humanity’s most powerful space observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Chandra X‑ray Observatory.

🌟 Experience Highlights

What can you expect once you step inside? The journey breaks down into some truly breathtaking segments:

  • Launch from the Summit: The experience begins atop SAO’s Whipple Observatory, where a cosmic guide named Astro awaits to launch you into deep space.
  • A 3D Galactic Drift: Glide past thousands of galaxies, race through the Milky Way, and soar close to the Sun to witness its immense energy.
  • The Edge of Infinity: Encounter extreme exoplanets, stand beside a dying star, and walk right up to the edge of a supermassive black hole.

Celebrating Innovation & Human Accomplishment

Beyond the stunning visuals, Starstruck honors centuries of scientific curiosity. From the Big Bang to our modern solar system, the experience places you inside the story of discovery itself, reminding us that humans are not just observers of the cosmos, but an active part of it.

“This project demonstrates how immersive experiences can make complex scientific ideas more tangible and engaging. It’s exciting to see astronomical data translated into an experience that encourages curiosity and exploration.” — Randall Smith, Associate Director for Science at the Center for Astrophysics at SAO.

Bringing Starstruck to San Antonio marks the latest addition to Fever’s growing worldwide portfolio of cultural experiences, aiming to make science and art completely accessible through cutting-edge technology.

♿ Commitment to Accessibility

Developed in close collaboration with the Smithsonian Office of Visitor Accessibility, Starstruck has been thoughtfully designed to ensure a welcoming experience for everyone. Accessibility features include:

  • Captions and visual descriptions
  • Wheelchair-optimized viewing pathways
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Complimentary companion access
  • Monthly low-sensory days alongside a fully trained staff

About the Organizers

About the Smithsonian

Since 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. It consists of 21 museums, the National Zoological Park, and various research facilities housing roughly 157 million objects and specimens.

About the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)

As part of the largest astrophysics research center in the world, SAO has been a pioneer in space exploration since 1890. Today, they perform groundbreaking research and operate multiple satellites, including NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Minor Planet Center tracking solar system asteroids.

Ready to explore deep space? Head over to Fever to secure your tickets for opening week!

Photo: Smithsonian Starstruck

The Neuroscience of Mental Toughness: A Look Inside ‘Wiring Intelligence’

In ‘Wiring Intelligence,’ Dr. Bobby Low explains why high performers fail under pressure and how to address it. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: Wiring Intelligence

From Reactive to Proactive: 8 Mindsets to Control Performance Under Pressure

By Dr. Bobby Low

Most people don’t fail under pressure because they lack talent, discipline, or desire. They fail because their mind gets hijacked and activates thinking patterns they never chose. (Amazon, 2026)

They weren’t mentally tough.

When it’s time to perform, your brain defaults to whatever thinking patterns have been wired through repetition. For many people, those patterns are reactive, driven by fear, doubt, and avoidance. And when they take over, performance breaks down in the moments that matter most.

In Wiring Intelligence, Dr. Bobby Low explains why this happens and, more importantly, how to change it.

The Science of Peak Performance

Grounded in neuroscience, sport psychology, and years of applied work with elite athletes and high performers, this book reveals how thinking patterns are formed, why pressure activates them, and how they can be retrained. You’ll learn how to shift from reactive thinking to proactive control, so you reach your peak performance under pressure.

At the core of the book are eight essential performance mindsets—a practical framework for:

  • Building self-awareness
  • Regulating emotion
  • Sharpening focus
  • Using your words to train the mind

Through research, real-world examples, and proven tools, Dr. Low shows how high performers wire intelligence into their thinking, not through hype or positive thinking, but through deliberate mental training.

This is how you become mentally tough. This is how you unlock your peak performance. This is how you control your mental game. This is how you perform under pressure.

Wiring Intelligence is a practical guide for athletes, coaches, parents, and high achievers who want to stop letting their mind get hijacked and start performing when it matters most.

Get your copy today!

About the Author

Dr. Bobby Low is a Mental Performance Doctor who trains athletes, teams, and high performers to build the mental patterns required to perform under pressure.

As a former NCAA All-American and professional pole vaulter, he learned firsthand a powerful truth: performance doesn’t break down because athletes lack talent, it breaks down because the mind gets in the way and interferes with execution when it matters most.

After retiring from track and field, Dr. Bobby earned his PhD in Sport & Performance Psychology and spent years studying how elite performers think, respond, and execute under pressure. Through his research and work with athletes, he discovered that the best performers don’t rely on positive thinking alone, they train their minds to respond differently.

Today, Dr. Bobby works with athletes at BYU and supports elite performers across professional sports, helping them train the mental patterns required to perform under pressure. But what drives him most is helping younger, developing athletes gain access to the same training and systems that are typically reserved for the highest levels of sport.

His Mission: To make world-class mental performance training accessible to every athlete, team, and family. Through the MOTYV8 platform, athletes train directly inside his system, building confidence, focus, resilience, and emotional control through daily repetition.

‘Voyagers’ Book Review: Emotional Sci-Fi Meets Childhood Trauma

‘Voyagers’ is Meg Charlton’s debut novel. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Voyagers by Meg Charlton

The Story

Years ago, when Alex and Ana were six years old, they vanished for thirty-six hours during a sleepover while on vacation near Palm Springs. When they returned, dazed but unharmed, their account had all the traits of an alien abduction. The media frenzy that followed made them famous, and the long months of child stardom—of talk shows and sitcom cameos—created a seemingly unbreakable bond between them, until the mystery behind their disappearance began to tear them apart.

In the present, “the Signal,” a mysterious transmission pulsing from the edge of the solar system, arrives, changing the world overnight. Planes are grounded, satellites fail, and speculation abounds. While humanity holds its breath for first contact, the Signal feels deeply personal to Alex, now a thirtysomething lawyer who has spent years distancing himself from the unexplainable. It is the opening of an old wound.

With the world on edge and the Signal growing stronger, Alex is drawn back to the one person who might have answers. Ana, now a professional advocate for experiencers of extraterrestrial contact, is leading a retreat near Palm Springs, close to the site of their childhood disappearance. As the former best friends tentatively reunite, what starts as a quest to confront the reality of their original experience becomes a larger reckoning with friendship, faith, family, and truth itself.

Review

Voyagers by Meg Charlton reframes a popular sci-fi premise—a world-altering cosmic transmission—into a profoundly intimate character study. While humanity holds its breath over potential first contact, Alex is forced to confront a childhood trauma he spent decades burying.

Charlton beautifully balances global intrigue with deep character development. The mystery surrounding Alex and Ana’s disappearance keeps the pages turning, while their complicated reunion adds emotional weight to the unfolding narrative. As the tension of the global phenomenon grows, it perfectly mirrors the internal reckoning between the two protagonists. Rather than relying solely on extraterrestrial speculation, the novel uses the themes of memory, belief, and the stories people construct to make sense of their lives.

The pacing is steady, with suspense building naturally as the Signal grows stronger and long-buried questions demand answers. The writing is thoughtful and atmospheric, creating a sense of wonder without sacrificing emotional authenticity. Written in a non-linear narrative, the story unfolds beautifully through Alex’s first-person perspective:

“I saw all my younger selves stretched out like skeins of geese across the sky, crisscrossing in the air, the six-year-old Alex still flying away from California, the adult flying back toward it.”

Key Themes & Concepts

  • Most Intriguing Concept: Is Allen just Alex and Ana’s imaginary friend, or is he a real memory?
  • Core Themes: Family, Friendship, and Identity.
  • Genre: Blend of literary fiction and science fiction.

Final Thoughts

Voyagers is thought-provoking and beautifully written. A suspenseful exploration of friendship and family dynamics, it’s rich with science fiction, mystery, and emotional drama. It uses an extraterrestrial backdrop to dissect the fragility of human memory and poses the question: is discovering the truth always worth the cost? Most importantly, it explores the psychological aftermath of early stardom, public scrutiny, and shared childhood trauma.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent speculative fiction with strong, character-driven arcs.

“It is very painful to be called out for believing something that isn’t so. The instinct is not to cut one’s losses and confess to being wrong but to double down, to stay committed to your foolishness for so long that it takes on a kind of power.”

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Get your copy today!

About the Author

Meg Charlton was born and raised in New York City. She holds an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College, and Voyagers is her brilliant debut novel.

** Thank you to Sarah Jean Grimm and Broadside PR for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

From Book to Screen: Harlan Coben’s New Netflix Series ‘I Will Find You’

Harlan Coben’s ‘I Will Find You.’ Photo: Barnes & Noble

From Page to Screen: Harlan Coben’s ‘I Will Find You’ Comes to Netflix

Few authors have mastered the art of suspense like Harlan Coben. His novels captivate readers with intricate plots, unexpected twists, and relatable characters whose ordinary lives are suddenly turned upside down. Each story keeps readers guessing until the final pages, making his books nearly impossible to put down.

That same storytelling brilliance has translated seamlessly to the screen, with numerous Netflix adaptations becoming massive international hits. Series like Fool Me Once, Stay Close, and The Stranger have introduced Coben’s gripping mysteries to an even wider audience. Whether on the page or on the screen, Harlan Coben consistently delivers edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

The latest adaptation to join this thriller lineup is I Will Find You, an eight-episode limited series that premiered on Netflix on June 18, 2026.

📺 The Series: ‘I Will Find You’

Based on Coben’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel, I Will Find You follows David Burroughs, an innocent father serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the murder of his own son, Matthew.

Five years into his sentence, David receives shocking word from his sister-in-law, Rachel, that Matthew may actually be alive. To uncover the truth, he must embark on a high-stakes mission that leads him out of prison and into a dangerous world of deceit and despair.

🎭 Meet the Cast

ActorRole
Sam WorthingtonDavid Burroughs
Britt LowerRachel Mills
Milo VentimigliaHayden Payne
Logan BrowningSarah Greer
Chi McBrideMax Williams
Madeleine StoweGertrude Payne

📖 The Book Synopsis

For those who want to dive into the source material, here is the official setup for this breathtaking thriller:

David Burroughs was once a devoted father to his three-year-old son, Matthew, living a dream life just a short drive away from the working-class suburb where he and his wife, Cheryl, first fell in love. Until one fateful night, David woke to discover Matthew had been murdered while David was asleep just down the hall. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

Half a decade later, David’s been wrongly accused and convicted of the crime. Grieving and wracked with guilt, he didn’t have the will to fight the system, leaving the world to move on without him.

Then, Cheryl’s younger sister, Rachel, makes a surprise appearance during visiting hours. She brings a strange photograph, and in the background—just barely in frame—is a boy bearing an eerie resemblance to David’s son. David knows it instantly: Matthew is still alive.

Determined to achieve the impossible, David plans a harrowing prison escape to save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened. But with his life on the line and the FBI following his every move, can he evade capture long enough to reveal the shocking truth?

✍️ About the Author

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in 46 languages and have topped bestseller lists in more than a dozen countries. His celebrated Myron Bolitar series has earned him the prestigious Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards.

Coben is also the creator and executive producer of numerous television shows. Beyond Netflix hits like Missing You, Fool Me Once, The Innocent, and The Woods, he is the creative force behind Amazon Prime’s Shelter and Lazarus. With Run Away and I Will Find You anchoring his latest screen adaptations, Coben has plenty more thrilling projects in the works.

Have you started watching I Will Find You on Netflix yet, or are you planning to read the book first? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Sip & Savor Passport: A New Luxury Culinary Crawl in Downtown San Antonio

Kimpton Santo + Plaza San Antonio launch Sip & Savor Passport and unveil new chapter for The Study. Photo: Kimpton Santo/Plaza San Antonio, used with permission.

Discover the Arciniega District: A Culinary Journey in Downtown San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Downtown San Antonio’s culinary scene just got a major upgrade. Following the launch of the Arciniega District, two of the city’s premier luxury lifestyle hotels—Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk and Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa—are teaming up to launch the Sip & Savor Passport. (Kimpton Santo San Antonio/Plaza San Antonio, 2026)

Running from Friday, June 26 through Friday, July 3, this week-long dining and cocktail experience invites locals and visitors alike to taste the very best of this historic neighborhood.

Located along South Alamo Street, the Arciniega District seamlessly connects both properties. The best part? Every single stop on this culinary tour is within a one-minute walk of each other.

What is the Sip & Savor Passport?

Designed to showcase the collective culinary brilliance of both hotels, the Sip & Savor Passport is your self-guided ticket to five distinctive destinations. Whether you want to complete the journey in one epic evening or savor it slowly throughout the week, the experience is fully customizable to your pace.

  • The Cost: $95 per person (inclusive of gratuity, before taxes).
  • What’s Included: One curated cocktail (or non-alcoholic alternative) and one signature culinary bite at each of the five participating venues.
  • Where to Buy: Tickets are available now via Eventbrite. Reservations are strongly encouraged!

“The Sip & Savor Passport is a natural extension of what we’re building within the Arciniega District — a collection of distinct culinary experiences that are all connected through a shared sense of place. Guests can move from rooftop cocktails to garden dining… all within a walkable district that showcases the creativity and hospitality defining this part of downtown San Antonio.” — Adam Slyter, General Manager of Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa

The Lineup: Where Your Passport Will Take You

🍸 Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk

  • Tenfold Rooftop Bar
    • The Vibe: Skyline views and chic rooftop energy.
    • The Menu: Your choice of the Queen of the Night or Dancing in the Rain cocktails, paired with Wagyu Korean Skewers or Chicken Rellenitos. (Non-alcoholic: Agua Fresca).
  • Dean’s Steak & Seafood
    • The Vibe: Refined, historic dining housed within a vintage schoolhouse.
    • The Menu: A Santo Margarita or Dean’s Signature Old Fashioned paired with a Mini Baked Crab Cake or Mini Burrata. (Non-alcoholic: Passion Fruit Paloma). Note: Premium entrée enhancements are available for purchase!
  • The Study
    • The Vibe: An intimate, literature-inspired standalone cocktail lounge.
    • The Menu: Your choice of Paper Dreams or Last Call with Caulfield paired with Kennebec Chips with Truffle French Onion Dip or Tuna Tartare.

🌿 Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa

  • Corinne San Antonio
    • The Vibe: Fresh, seasonal, and welcoming fare.
    • The Menu: Choose between a La Villita Margarita or Spiced Mule alongside Fry Bread or Cauliflower Wings. (Non-alcoholic: Tepache).
  • Anaqua Garden Bar
    • The Vibe: Garden-inspired drinks set within 6.5 acres of lush green space.
    • The Menu: Sip on a Don Ramon or Soju-A-Gogo paired with Lobster Street Corn or Brisket Burnt Ends. (Non-alcoholic: Seasonal Spritz).

Spotlight: A New Chapter for ‘The Study’

The Sip & Savor event also marks the official grand re-opening of The Study. Formerly an extension of Dean’s Steak & Seafood, The Study has officially broken off into its own independent luxury cocktail destination. Reservations available through OpenTable.

Boasting a brand-new dedicated entrance on South Alamo Street and beautiful new streetscape enhancements, this concept is ready to debut a fresh look and a completely reimagined food and drink menu on Friday, June 26.

The Cocktail Program

Inspired by literature, conversation, and discovery, the drinks tell a story:

  • Paper Dreams: Inspired by the novel The House on Mango Street.
  • Last Call with Caulfield: A bourbon-forward cocktail rooted in literary storytelling.
  • Other highlights include: Ode to Joy, Daisy’s Pearl, First Sip of Censorship, Among the Ivy, and A Visit from Wonka.

The Menu

To complement the narrative-driven mixology, guests can enjoy elevated, high-end bites perfect for a date night or post-dinner nightcap:

  • Spicy Ahi Tuna Cones & Wagyu Tartare Cones
  • Crispy Koji Chicken Bites topped with Caviar
  • Curated Mini Charcuterie Boards

Whether you’re stopping by for the Sip & Savor Passport event or booking a table later via OpenTable, The Study is cementing itself as one of downtown’s most dynamic nightlife destinations.

Ready to Sip & Savor?

Grab your tickets on Eventbrite today and map out your ultimate downtown San Antonio culinary crawl!

Kimpton Santo 📍431 S. Alamo St.

Plaza San Antonio 📍555 S. Alamo St.

Smirk Announces New Album ‘Speculative Fiction,’ Shares New Single ‘Abide’

New album Speculative Fiction out July 3 via Smoking Room. Photo: another side

Track Premiere: Smirk Shares Melancholic New Single & Video “Abide” Ahead of New Album

Smirk has released the melancholic single and video “Abide” ahead of his highly anticipated new album, Speculative Fiction, due out July 3 on Smoking Room. Pre-order/pre-save here. (another side, 2026)

The indie-leaning track feels like a lost B-side from Surfer Rosa-era Pixies mixed with the twang of Gun Club and a solo straight out of the J Mascis playbook. Lyrically, the track slides right into the album’s overarching theme: abandoning longstanding ties for a fresh start and a new future on the horizon.

“‘Abide’ is based on an old British hymn that I reworked to be about the looming end of a long friendship. It’s about that slow drift where nothing really happens, but you can feel it fading and you aren’t trying to fix it.” — Nick Vicario, Smirk Mastermind

Unrest in the Suburbs: Facing the Past

Growing old sucks, but there comes a point in life when it becomes a necessity to ignore the pull to constantly wild out.

“When this band started in LA, it was a crazy time in my life,” Vicario admits. “I was crashing cars, doing drugs—I was doing horrible things and destroying my life.”

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario deals with a new twist on an age-old theme for punk rock: unrest in the suburbs. Instead of youthful rebellion, this version of unrest deals with looking back on past indiscretions and dealing with their repercussions—the disruption of the old life, settling into the new, and the reflection that comes with it. These thoughtful lyrics and themes, when paired with Vicario’s guitar-pop confection, make for a unique juxtaposition.

“When I was writing ‘Speculative Fiction’, a lot of that dealt with the ‘old me’ and some of the crazy life choices I made while abusing substances. So while the record is partially about the ‘old me,’ it’s also very much about putting them in my current world and the new set of problems that come from that.”

From Portland Hardcore to Solo Vision

Vicario has a deep history with punk rock. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, in the early 2000s, he was ingrained in the legendary scene that birthed Poison Idea and Wipers. He began playing in bands at an early age, hobnobbing with members of Tragedy and Criminal Damage in cover bands and even on the gridiron. At just 12 years old, his first band, The Diskords, were the toast of the Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll illuminati, leading to several releases and having The Exploding Hearts take them under their wing.

His musical journey spans an impressive array of genres and projects:

  • Hardcore & Indie Pop: Playing in hardcore bands like Cower eventually led him to the indie pop outfit Wild Ones, who released two records across eight years (the latter landing on Topshelf Records).
  • Collaborations & Touring: Stints with Public Eye, Cemento, Crisis Man, and others, alongside touring with Surfer Blood and Dreamdecay.
  • The Birth of Smirk: Vicario eventually decided to focus his energies on his solo project, Smirk, dropping a self-titled album in 2021 and Material in 2022.

A New Sonic Blueprint

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario is restarting both personally and musically. Smirk is slowing things down, taking a more measured, power-pop approach that strays away from the speedy punk marking earlier releases. The result is decidedly more mid-paced, reflecting the works of Big Star and The Paul Collins Beat as much as early Stiff Records releases, all filtered through the DIY spirit of Guided by Voices.

Written entirely by Vicario, Speculative Fiction is Smirk’s third full-length album. To round out the record, he called upon a stellar cast of old friends and live bandmates, including:

  • Ross Farrar (Ceremony)
  • Max Smadja (RIXE)
  • Ryan Mangione-Smith (Advertisement)
  • Current members of Smirk’s live lineup (who play in Hotline TNT, Poison Ruin, and Pardoner)

Production Credits

  • Recording: Mainly recorded in Vicario’s home studio, with additional tracks captured by Ian Rose at Daisy Chain Studios in Brooklyn.
  • Mixing: Handled for the bulk of the record by Andy Oswald.

Life Imitates Art

With Speculative Fiction, life imitates art. Smirk slows things down, retools, and gets meticulous—making deliberate decisions with respect to songwriting, approach, and collaboration to execute a new vision.

The final result is a refined, focused, and less chaotic approach to punk with an eye on pop-sensibility. It perfectly mirrors Vicario’s new lifestyle: outside of the fast lane and behind a white picket fence.

Smirk’s new album Speculative Fiction arrives July 3 via Smoking Room. Stream the new single “Abide” now.

Speculative Fiction tracklist:

01 – Greetings
02 – Victimry
03 – Cheap Greed
04 – Going Off To Die
05 – Sistine Junk
06 – Dog Years
07 – I Shall Be Released
08 – Perfect World
09 – Abide
10 – Ritual Torture
11 – Interlude
12 – Shit Song
13 – Crime Pays

Photo: Emily Vicario

Austin’s Barrett’s Coffee Featured in PBS Documentary: Catch the Screening This June

Community hot spot Barrett’s Coffee announces June events. Photo: Barrett’s Coffee.

Coffee, Comedy, and Community: What’s Happening at Barrett’s Too This June

Austin’s own community-oriented local roaster, Barrett’s Coffee, has an incredible lineup of events coming to their second location, Barrett’s Too, this month. From star-studded documentary screenings to World Cup watch parties, there is something for everyone in the neighborhood. (Juice Consulting, 2026)

Here is everything you need to know about what’s brewing this June.

☕ Featured Event: “COFFEE The Universal Language” Screening

When: June 25 at 8:00 PM

Where: Barrett’s Too (103 N Loop Blvd E.)

Special Thanks: Sponsored by Oatly

Barrett’s Coffee is thrilled to host a special screening of the documentary series “COFFEE The Universal Language,” streaming on PBS and Tubi.

In this second season, viewers travel through eight cities across the U.S., and their very own owner, Travis Kizer, was selected to represent the city of Austin. To celebrate the screening of Travis’s episode, they will be serving a special collaborative oat-milk-based frozen beverage for one night only. Don’t miss it!

⚽ Catch the World Cup at Barrett’s Too

From now through July 19

Looking for the perfect spot to catch the soccer matches this summer? Barrett’s Too is hosting family-friendly watch parties for the World Cup games. Bring the whole crew, all ages are welcome.

  • Soccer-related events
  • Food and drink specials
  • Community watch parties for every big match

📅 Weekly Programming (June & Beyond)

Make them a part of your weekly routine. Stop by for these regular events happening every single week:

  • Mondays (7:00 PM): Geeks Who Drink Trivia — Free for all ages.
  • Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM): MilkMade Ice Cream Truck onsite.
  • Thursday Mornings (7:00 AM): Workouts with Erica Nix — Payment required. Sign up through her website or pay on-site.
  • Thursdays (4:00 PM to Close): J. Marie Tarot Readings.

🎉 Special June Events Lineup

Mark your calendars for these limited-time community events:

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Movie Screening: Elvira Mistress of the Dark

  • When: June 24 at 7:00 PM
  • Featuring: Bloody Rose Boutique, Queeriosities, & Sarah Froelich
  • Special Guest: A performance by Dednamez

🎙️ DEI Comedy Showcase

  • When: June 26 from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
  • What: A night of incredible local laughs and community connection.

About Barrett’s Coffee

Barrett’s has been a proud part of the Austin coffee community for almost a decade. While their first cafe location opened nine years ago in 2017, the team has been roasting coffee locally since the mid-1990s. Owner Travis Kizer has decades of experience sourcing and roasting beans, building strong connections in both the local and global coffee community since 1992.

The original North Lamar location (713 W St. Johns Ave.) is still home to their daily roasting and packaging activities. They recently expanded their offerings to a second location, Barrett’s Too, which features a full bar and kitchen alongside their house-roasted coffee.

Sourcing Responsibly & Giving Back

Barrett’s purchases directly from farms and brokers located across Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, and Ethiopia. They specifically source fair trade, organic certified, and women-produced coffees that help give back, funding local K-12 schools, women’s programs, recycling initiatives, and computer labs.

They also love sustainable innovation. Check out their newly launched Bubbs Seltzer. They are one of only four companies in the country to offer this reusable, sustainable siphon-bottled seltzer, delivered for free right to your doorstep.

‘The Focused AI Captain’: A Leader’s Guide to Successful AI Transformation

‘The Focused AI Captain’ by FocusFirst founder René Esteban. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: The Focused AI Captain

How to Navigate the Storm, Empower Your Crew, and Deliver Real Value

By René Esteban

Master the Art of Leading AI Transformations for Lasting Business Success

Only 5% of enterprise AI initiatives succeed. Are you ready to be among the elite few who truly transform their organizations?

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses face a common enemy—AI initiatives that fail to deliver real impact. Millions are spent on pilots that never scale. But the true obstacle isn’t the technology itself; it’s how organizations are structured, aligned, and led. (Amazon, 2026)

In The Focused AI Captain, René Esteban, CEO of FocusFirst, reveals why most AI transformations stall and what leaders must do differently to succeed. Grounded in real-world enterprise experience, this book provides a clear, practical roadmap to turn AI ambition into measurable business results.

What You Will Learn

Inside, you will discover how to:

  • Master the 10-20-70 Rule: Allocate resources effectively and maximize AI ROI.
  • Apply the 3D Framework: Learn to Diagnose challenges, set Direction, and Deliver results.
  • Bridge the Trust Gap: Turn employee skepticism into active AI adoption.
  • Move Beyond Pilots: Confidently scale your AI initiatives across the entire organization.

Who is this book for? This book is written for CEOs, executives, and decision-makers who refuse to let their organizations fall behind in the AI revolution. Whether you’re leading a large-scale transformation or preparing your team for the next wave of AI adoption, you’ll gain practical frameworks, leadership insights, and execution tools you can apply immediately.

Get your copy now and start leading your organization to AI-driven success.

About the Author

René Esteban brings unwavering passion to making big goals tangible and inspiring people to achieve them.

As the Founder and CEO of FocusFirst, a Keynote Speaker, and a Senior Advisor to top executives, he has made it his mission to accelerate transformations in organizations. He firmly believes that complex change succeeds best through a clear focus on a single goal, excellent communication, and the active involvement of all stakeholders.

René began his career at Merck, where in his mid-20s he led the global build-out of the e-commerce division, today a billion-dollar business. This experience taught him that successful transformations depend not only on the right strategies, but critically on early and open communication with key stakeholders. His insights led to the development of the award-winning PEAK Method, through which FocusFirst has already guided more than 250 transformations.

René is a passionate entrepreneur with several companies alongside FocusFirst. He cherishes inspiring moments of exchange over Italian wine and loves traveling the world with his family – especially to Italy.