Category: Holiday themed events

Celebrate Father’s Day at COVER 3

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COVER 3 and COVER 2 have special Father’s Day promotions to celebrate dad this Sunday June 17. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

Father’s Day is this Sunday and for those who would prefer to treat dad to a sports-centric day, COVER 3 has special promotions for this special occasion. (COVER 3, 2018)

On Sunday, June 17 at all COVER 3 locations, plus COVER 2, all dads will receive a complimentary draft beer or a Bloody Mary wrapped in a COVER 3 koozie. The Bloody Marys are only available with brunch until 3p.m., but fathers can also select their choice of any available draft beer anytime that day compliments of the house. Limited to one free drink per dad per location. At the San Antonio, Downtown Austin and Round Rock locations, fathers can choose from any available beers from (512) Brewing.

All COVER 3 and COVER 2 locations will open one hour early, at 10a.m. on Sunday for World Cup watching when Mexico takes on Germany. If needed, all locations will also be showing Game 7 of the NBA Finals at 7p.m. that same night with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Golden State Warriors. Those interested in reserving a table or booth for the​ games​ are encouraged to do so in advance by calling their preferred COVER 3 location.

COVER 3 is the leading high-end sports bar and has previously been named to CNN’s list of “101 of the best sports bars in the U.S” as well as the “Best Sports Bar in the Central Region” by Sports Illustrated. Each location has enough TVs to give guests multiple options regarding which TV near their table is the most comfortable for their viewing pleasure. Serving upscale food, craft cocktails and high-end wines, COVER 3 remains elegant and stylish while giving guests the feeling they are enjoying the Super Bowl in their own private box.

COVER 2 is an independently owned and operated sports bar and restaurant created in 2008 by native Austinites, Doug Young and Matt Dodson. It is the premier sports bar in Central Texas offering an exceptional guest experience within a casual and comfortable atmosphere that sports fans of all types can call home. COVER 2 boasts both elevated cuisine offerings and classic bar food staples, in addition to over 20 beers on draft, a full bar with premium spirits, two chilled liquor taps and a curated selection of additional beers and wines. Sports fans will appreciate the more than 25 big-screen HDTVs and a larger-than-life sound system.

1806 N Loop 1604 W
San Antonio, TX 78248
(210) 479-9700

2700 W Anderson Ln, Ste 202
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 374-1121

1717 West Sixth Street, #21 OR
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 982-1550

2800 N-IH 35, Suite 300
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 693-2393

COVER 2:
13701 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 506-9935

Father’s Day Specials

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Dos Carolinas has an exclusive new collection of guayaberas perfect for Father’s Day. Photo: Dos Carolinas, used with permission.

Sunday June 17 is Father’s Day and there are only a few days left to shop for the perfect gift for dad. Area restaurants and stores have special deals that range from a day out to watch the soccer game to specialty donuts and clothing. (Krause’s Café, Bakery Lorraine, The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, Pearl, Twang, 2018)

Krause’s Cafe:
This year, Father’s Day falls on the same day as the highly anticipated Germany vs. Mexico World Cup game and Krause’s Café + Biergarten is hosting a special viewing of the World Cup game beginning at 10a.m. Patrons can watch the game with dad in the biergarten and whether they are cheering for Germany or Mexico, they can find over 70 beers on tap at the Biergarten from German steins of beers like Hofbrau and Franziskaner Hefenweizen to Mexican cervezas including Dos XX and Modelo. There will be authentic, tasty German fare that can be paired with the biergarten’s wide array of brews, from schnitzel and bratwurst with sauerkraut to Bavarian pretzels. For Father’s Day, the restaurant will serve up an off menu special of Grilled Ribeye Filet with bacon wrapped asparagus, baked potato, bordelaise sauce for $34. They will also have Manmosas (man mimosa) for $12.

Bakery Lorraine and Maybelle’s:
Maybelle’s at The Bottling Department will have Rum and Pecan Donuts and Bakery Lorraine will offer Bourbon Tobacco Macarons. These two sweet are not typically found at Maybelle’s or Bakery Lorraine and are exclusively for Father’s Day.

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew:
The Granary ‘Cue and Brew will offer a $45 Father’s Day gift package featuring one beer growler (64 oz) filled with any house beer, one bottle of The Granary spice rub and the limited edition 5th anniversary apron designed by Cruz Ortiz.

At Pearl:
Dos Carolinas will carry an exclusive Father’s Day collection including new guayaberas, sunglasses and belts. The Sporting District will host several Father’s Day pop-ups throughout the weekend. On Friday, June 15 the store will feature Mission Mercantile, the retailer known for handmade leather goods. On Saturday, June 16, Habana Cowboy, the vintage Airstream mobile cigar bar, will take over, offering free cigars to customers who make purchases of over $100 in store plus free shoe shines for fathers on Sunday.

Twang:
Dress up dad’s drink this Father’s Day with Twang beer salt. The pocket-sized bottles of beer salt make colorful additions alongside any six pack. Beer Salt is a citrus flavored salt used to dress the rim of longnecks and beer mugs. Priced at just $3 per bottle or $12 for a 6 count, every pocket-sized bottle of Twang beer salt is an inexpensive, easy and fun addition for any father or beer lover. Twang Beer Salt is available at HEB or online.

Celebrate National Doughnut Day with Maybelle’s Donuts

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Celebrate National Doughnut Day at Maybelle’s Donuts this Friday with a special Rum and Pecan doughnut.  Photo:  Jessica Giesey.

Maybelle’s Donuts is one of the vendors at the Bottling Dept. Food Hall at the Pearl Brewery. This Friday June 1 is National Doughnut Day and to celebrate, Maybelle’s will feature a special Rum and Pecan doughnut, a rare flavor to honor the special occasion. Business hours for Friday are 8a.m. to 10p.m. (Maybelle’s Donuts, 2018)

Jeremy Mandrell, Anne Ng and Charlie Biedenharn, co-founders of Bakery Lorraine, have teamed up again to bring artisan donuts to Pearl. After launching the bakery in 2012, the trio wanted to create an assortment of fried dough confections, from donuts to fried pies. Anne and Jeremy, who are pastry chefs by trade, were eager to make their mark on the donut world. The name Maybelle is a memorial to Charlie’s late dog of 14 years. Maybelle was adopted on the Yavapai reservation in 2001 as a stray puppy and lived a life filled with adventure and decadent treats. When working on a name for the new donut endeavor, the trio felt it was all too fitting that this donut shop bear the namesake of a great dog and a wonderful friend.

Maybelle’s Donuts
Bottling Dept. Food Hall
312 Pearl Parkway, Building Six
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 564-9140

Extended Memorial Day hours at San Marcos Premium Outlets

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San Marcos Premium Outlets has extended shopping hours this Memorial Day weekend.

San Marcos Premium Outlets announces extended shopping hours this Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28, for the ultimate shopping convenience.  Select stores will have special promotions throughout the weekend and are offering additional holiday discounts on top of already everyday low prices. (San Marcos Premium Outlets, 2018)

Extended hours are:
Friday: 10a.m. – 10p.m.
Saturday: 10a.m. – 10p.m.
Sunday: 10a.m. – 8p.m.
Monday: 10a.m. – 10p.m.

Just in time for this this weekend’s shopping, Michael Kors is reopening Friday, May 25. The new and improved store is larger and carries a larger assortment of products, including women’s shoes for the first time. After an extensive makeover and expansion, Michael Kors will reopen in its original location between Restoration Hardware and Gucci. The 10,600 square-foot store will feature an updated, luxury concept with more product offerings and modern touches throughout.

Michael Kors is the leading American fashion designer for luxury accessories and sportswear. The company’s heritage is rooted in producing polished, sleek, sophisticated American sportswear with a jet-set attitude. Products, emblematic of the highest standard of quality, include apparel, accessories and beauty.  In addition to a new and improved layout, shoppers now have larger assortment of product in the expanded store, including handbags and small leather goods; men’s watches, bags, wallets and apparel; and women’s  shoes and apparel.

San Marcos Premium Outlets
3939 S Interstate 35
San Marcos, TX 78666

Olé, San Antonio at Pearl will celebrate city’s 300th anniversary

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Ole, San Antonio: When San Antonio Meets Spain will celebrate the city’s anniversary this summer. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

To celebrate San Antonio’s Tricentennial and its Spanish heritage, Pearl announces Olé, San Antonio: When San Antonio Meets Spain. This summer-long celebration will take place from Friday June 15 to Sunday September 16 to commemorate the city’s 300th anniversary. There will be events and activities related to four main pillars: gastronomy, music and dance, arts and architecture. Events will include new programming while also incorporating existing Pearl activities. (Pearl, 2018)

Scheduled events will have a common thread: an intercambio, an exchange and collaboration between the cultures of Spain and San Antonio, creating experiences and memories completely unique to Olé. Restaurants at the Pearl will feature Spanish menus and chef collaboration dinners, retailers will feature specially curated Spanish items, and there will be a variety of activities at the Pearl Park.

The official opening day is Thursday June 21 with a Dia Mundial de la Tapa (International Day of the Tapa) tasting at Pearl Stable, a flamenco performance in Pearl Park by Pure Flamenco Primitivo Family Dance Company and a celebration of Spanish cuisine and cooking techniques at the Culinary Institute of America campus at Pearl.

Gastronomy:
Pearl will have a total Spanish take-over of the restaurants onsite as they host Tapas Tuesdays, Gin Tonic Thursdays, Spanish wine selections and more. Collaboration dinners will include Spanish chefs paired with Pearl chefs. The Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio (CIA) will host Spanish master classes for students and food enthusiasts that will center around popular Spanish cuisine like tapas, paella and Spanish wines. Hotel Emma will present several culinary concierge-driven Spanish demos and immersive tastings as well as classes around the six essential Spanish food categories: olive oil, wine, cheese, jamón (ham), salts/spices and conservas (tinned fish). Supper, Larder and Sternewirth will incorporate Spanish-influenced items, such as flamenquines, saffrón and Spanish sea salts, jamóns, tapas, sangrias and gin tonics. Hotel Emma will also host several Spanish dinners at Supper featuring chefs from Spain and regional Spanish chefs.

Music and dance:
Spanish music and dance will come to life at Pearl with intercambio performances that will range from flamenco to jazz to DJs to mariachi. World-renowned flamenco dancer Carlos Rodriguez will present a special performance at Pearl Park. Spanish DJs will collaborate in their performances with South Texan counterparts and there will be an evening of zarzuela with Casa de España en San Antonio. Spanish artist Concha Buika is scheduled to perform at Pearl Park in August. She is a Grammy nominated artist and voted one of the world’s “50 Great Voices” by NPR whose music includes flamenco, Latin, jazz and R&B.

Arts and architecture:
Ana Juan, an artist, illustrator, painter and winner of the 2010 Spanish National Illustration prize, will be creating a limited-edition serigraph honoring the city’s long history printed by master serigrapher Manolo Gurillo. The Olé Galería (gallery) will feature exhibitions of contemporary Spanish graphic artists and works from visiting Spanish photographers Beatrix Mexi Molnar and Andres Marin. Olé will also be collaborating with the San Antonio Museum of Art on its exhibition Spain: 500 Years of Spanish Painting from the Museums of Madrid.

Finally, the closing day is scheduled for Sunday September 16 and the day’s events will feature an intercambio dinner with Spanish chefs working with Pearl chefs, a mariachi-flamenco performance with Spanish guitarist Luis Gallo performing with local San Antonio artists as part of Mariachi Lab and a Cabezudos (big heads) parade representing key figures in the city’s history. A short film, the product of a collaboration between visiting Spanish and San Antonio-based artists, will premiere at the event.

“Our intention with creating Olé was to acknowledge our 300 years of history with Spain and to create a truly monumental celebration that people will cherish and remember for the rest of their lives..” – Elizabeth Fauerso, Pearl chief marketing officer

Celebrate National Wine Day on Friday

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Celebrate National Wine Day on Friday with a fresh-fruit sangria at Krause’s Café. Photo: Krause’s Café, used with permission.

This Friday May 25 is National Wine Day and for anyone looking for local places to relax and have a glass of wine, Pearl in San Antonio and Krause’s Café & Biergarten in New Braunfels have some wine specials. Whether by the bottle or the glass, red or white, guests can celebrate this drink holiday with style and save money.

At Pearl’s Bar at the Bottling Department, guests can expect 25% off select wines on Friday. If money is no object, the new frosé is available to cool down with and just $8 for an 8 oz. glass.

Krause’s Cafe & Biergarten in New Braunfels will offer half off select bottles. Restaurant and biergarten patrons can also enjoy wine on tap for $6- $7.50 as well as one of New Braunfels’ biggest glasses of fresh-fruit sangria for $8.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten
148 S Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX  78130
(830) 625-2807

Pearl
312 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX  78215
(210) 564-9140

Zas! recipes for grilling season

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Mango Chili Shrimp Ceviche perfect for grilling season.  Photo: Twang, used with permission.

The weather is getting warmer, which means Memorial Day and summer are right around the corner and with it, grilling season. With Latin roots and the Mexican tradition of adding citrus + salt to foods as the inspiration for many of their products, ZAS! has recipes to bring out the flavor in summer grilling. Each ZAS! blend has been designed to pair as a marinade with certain meats and veggies. The line of premium blends brings flavors from around the world to a backyard grill, with tastes reminiscent of a street vendor in Mexico City or a mango grove in India. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in San Antonio, Texas. ZAS! products are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores, convenience stores and online. (Twang, 2018)

Mango Chili Shrimp Ceviche
All ceviche is tasty, but this version kicks it up a notch with the added tropical and spicy flavor of Mango Chili.
Serving Size: 4
Ingredients:

  • 12 medium raw shrimp, cleaned and chopped
  • ¼ cup of fresh lime juice
  • 1 small mango, peeled and chopped
  • 1 small avocado, cut into chunks
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
  • ZAS! Mango Chili Super-Seasoning

Instructions:

  1. Toss the shrimp in the lime juice enough to cover all the shrimp. Let sit for 12-20 minutes.
  2. Once the shrimp is opaque, add the mango, avocado, tomato, red onion, jalapeno and cilantro. Toss to combine all ingredients. Add more lime juice and let it sit in the refrigerator for another 15 minutes.
  3. Remove and sprinkle on the ZAS! Mango Chili Super-Seasoning before eating.

Tamarind Ham Pineapple Kabobs
Serving size: 12 Kabobs
Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: 1 can of pineapple chunks (drained), 36 ham cubes, 12 skewers, ZAS! Tamarind Super – Seasoning

Directions:

  1. Alternate Ham Cubes and Pineapple chunks on skewers
  2. Grill 2 – 3 minutes on each side of skewer until heated through and charred.
  3. Sprinkle on several dashes of ZAS! Tamarind Super-Seasoning to taste.

Mother’s Day specials in San Antonio

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El Mirador is one of the local restaurants offering guests Mother’s Day specials. Photo: El Mirador, used with permission.

Mother’s Day is this weekend and for anyone looking last-minute gift ideas for mom, here’s a guide from Hiatus Spa + Retreat, Vintage Bouquet Bar, Bakery Lorraine, Cover 3, The Granary ‘Cue & Brew and Mirador. (2018)

From Hiatus Spa + Retreat:
Mom 2.0: Upgrade mom’s operating system with two hours of me-time and she will be ready to take on the world.  The Comeback Massage and The One & Only Pedicure give Mom some much-needed time to re-charge. (2 hours $165 | $190 value; H-Circle $119)

Happy + Happier + Happiest: The three most popular services combined—The Signature Massage, The One & Only Mani-Pedi and The Tailor-Made Facial—for a fantastic finish. (3.5 hours $260 | $320 value; H-Circle $189)

The Shangri-La: The Yours, Truly Massage, The Best Facial Ever and The Epic Mani-Pedi come together for a spa day for the ages. (4.5 hours $425 | $515 value; H-Circle $369)

The Big Chill: The 90-minute Signature Massage followed by a super-charged plant peel in The Perfectionist Facial for that inner glow. (2.5 hours $240 | $305 Value; H-Circle $189)

Hiatus will be offering a special Monthly Retreat, Springtime in Paris:
Begin with an invigorating exfoliation of Sea Salt, Lemon Peel, Lavender Blossom and Juniper Berry. Savor a refreshing massage with an exhilarating Vichy rainfall, followed by a sprinkle of fragrant body oil. Afterwards, delight in a French 75 made with a lavender infused gin. (80-minute, $139 H-Circle | $195 Non-Member)

Around San Antonio and the Pearl:
While supplies last, The Bottling Department at Pearl will be giving away free Vintage Bouquet Bar flowers to all Mothers that visit that day and will have a mom mimosa special at the bar.

Bakery Lorraine will have dark chocolate zinfandel macarons in honor of all the love moms share with their children.

Cover 3 will show their mom appreciation with free rosé and mimosas to all moms who stop by that day.

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew will have a popup Sunday brunch on Mother’s Day featuring buttermilk French toast, pastrami hash, southern Benedict made with buttermilk biscuits, country ham and more.

At El Mirador
The restaurant celebrated for its classic Mexican cooking and outdoor space is helping guests who come to brunch at the Southtown favorite on Mother’s Day celebrate in style. Specials include $10 off all jarras of cocktails during regular brunch hours from 10a.m. to 3p.m. Jarras (pitcher) offerings range from margaritas and palomas to fresh-fruit sangria. Guests can fill up on delicious bronche items like Chorizo con Huevos and papas, panqueques, griddled pancakes, with cane sugar syrup, Don Julian’s Favorite, eggs scrambled with beef machacado & salsa rancher, Nachos Compuestos and Queso Flameado. Besides this excellent special on jarras, the patio at El Mirador makes for a beautiful view when toasting to mom.

May happenings at Pearl

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May at the Pearl is full of activities for the whole family. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

The Pearl is brimming with activity this month. Whether it be music, food, shopping or fitness, there is something for everyone. (Pearl, 2018)

Fitness in Pearl Park at 5:30p.m.
Pearl hosts a free Fitness in Pearl Park every Tuesday, May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, at 5:30 p.m. in May with CrossFit classes from MBS Fitness. After class, enjoy specials in the Bottling Department from The Good Kind and the Bar. Sign up is not required for this event.

Sunset Sessions is back at Pearl Park for the 2018 summer season. DJ sets are every Wednesday starting on May 2 from 5:30p.m. to 9p.m. Dates and details for the June through October sessions will be forthcoming.

May DJs include:
May 9 – DJ Plata
May 16 – JJ Lopez
May 23 – DJ Nandez
May 30 – Benjamin Boogie

Sunday, May 13: Mother’s Day at Pearl
Mother’s Day at Pearl is jam packed with family-friendly activities and brunches worthy of spoiling moms. The Bottling Department will be giving away free Vintage Bouquet Bar flowers to all moms that walk in that day and will have a mom mimosa special at the bar. Bakery Lorraine will have dark chocolate zinfandel macaroons and The Granary ‘Cue and Brew will have a first ever pop-up brunch from 11a.m. to 3p.m. featuring buttermilk French toast and more. Granary is not usually open on Sundays, so this will give guests an exclusive chance to try their brunch for the first time. Retailers at the Pearl will also be open during normal business hours for guests to buy the perfect Mother’s Day present. The Farmers Market will be open from 10a.m. to 2p.m. as usual that day.

Starting Saturday, May 19 through June 3: Elena Gallego’s Rare Books Pop-Up Shop at Pearl from 11a.m. to 7p.m.
Elena Gallego Rare Books will be hosting a special pop-up at the Pearl featuring antiquarian books, manuscripts, maps and posters from Texas and Spain. The pop-up will start on May 19 and go through June 3. There will be an official opening party on Tuesday, May 22, starting at 5p.m., with cocktails provided by La Merienda Catering. To RSVP for the opening party, please RSVP to mariana@elenagallego.com or 210-789-5824.

Monday, May 28: Memorial Day at Pearl from 12p.m. to 4p.m.
Celebrate Memorial Day at Pearl with a crawfish boil and pig roast by Bud’s Southern Rotisserie. Activities will include live music by the Gulf Coast Playboys and more.

Pearl
303 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 212-7260

Cinco De Mayo Cocktails

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‘Batman of Mexico’ at Downstairs at Esquire. Photo: Kody Melton, used with permission.

With Cinco De Mayo right around the corner, some cocktail bars choose to celebrate the holiday by incorporating the rich influence of Mexican spirits into their cocktail menus. Three of those are in San Antonio, a city known for its Mexican influence in food and drinks, and include Downstairs at Esquire, Esquire Tavern and El Mirador. Beverage Director Houston Eaves helps lead a beverage program that thoughtfully creates cocktails in ways that both utilize Mexican ingredients in a playful way while others reflect and pay homage to the rich Mexican history associated with San Antonio. In honor of Cinco De Mayo, here are some recipes, each with a clever story or character inspiring them. (Downstairs at Esquire, Esquire Tavern, El Mirador, 2018)

‘BATMAN OF MEXICO’ AT DOWNSTAIRS AT ESQUIRE
Named for Dr. Rodrigo Medellín, a Mexican Conservationist and Ecologist known as the ‘Batman of Mexico’ for his academic work studying bats. Dr. Medellín is co-founder of the Bat-Friendly Tequila & Mezcal Program, which is studying the relationship between agaves and their main pollinator, bats. This program looks at how the Tequila industry can help impact populations of migrating bats by allowing a portion of their plants to flower each year.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Siembra Valles High Proof Blanco Tequila
.75 oz. Fresh corn/chile syrup
.75 oz. Key Lime juice
Shake ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with sal de chapulín. Garnish with Bat Signal.

‘TEXECUTIONER’ AT ESQUIRE TAVERN
Named after Texas politician Rick Perry, Wahaka’s brazen espadín serves as an herbal fortitude for this memorable mix. Crafted in 2011 by bartender Houston Eaves during his time at ranch-like restaurant Contigo in Austin, the recipe traveled down to San Antonio’s historic Esquire Tavern after he relocated to the Alamo City a year later. Thanks to its savvy balance of snappy grapefruit and sweet Cocchi Americano, the drink has endured as a menu staple at both bars. Drink it served up or on a large ice cube and watch for the punchy mezcal to soften as the honeysuckle and orange notes of Cocchi weave throughout.

Ingredients:
3⁄4 oz. Wahaka Espadín mezcal
3⁄4 oz. Xtabentún
3⁄4 oz. Cocchi Aperitivo Americano
3⁄4 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
GRAPEFRUIT TWIST, for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin with ice and shake well. Strain into a coupe glass. Express the oil from a grapefruit swath over the top of the drink for aromatics and garnish with grapefruit twist.

‘EL CHAVO’ AT EL MIRADOR
Created by El Mirador bartender John Cox and inspired by popular 80s Mexican TV show “El Chavo del Ocho”, the El Chavo cocktail stirs up reminiscent feelings of the show centered around the adventures and tribulations of the title character—a poor orphan nicknamed “El Chavo.” When ordering the drink during happy hour, patrons at El Mirador can often find the bartender playing this show on TV.

Ingredients:
1oz Paranubes Oaxacan Rum
0.5oz Cimarrón Reposado Tequila
0.5oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao
0.5oz Fresh Key Lime Juice
0.25oz Cinnamon Syrup
1 barspoon Condensed Milk
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a half-Chapulín salt rim.