Tag: art

Summer Fun & Festivities: July Events at Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa

Scheduled events include the hotel’s first-ever Quinceañera Showcase Expo on Sunday July 20. Photo: Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, used with permission.

🎉 July Happenings at Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection

Summer is heating up, and so are the events at Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection! Whether you’re looking to relax, celebrate, or simply enjoy a day out with family and friends, our hotel has something for everyone this July. From rejuvenating spa treatments and lively garden parties to unforgettable family showcases, here’s what’s happening this month: (Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, 2025)

🌿 Now Through July 31: Red, White & Renew Facial

Treat yourself to our exclusive Red, White & Renew 50-minute facial in honor of the Fourth of July.
💆‍♀️ Price: $155
📅 Available until July 31
🔗 Book your appointment here

🧘‍♀️ Soul Flow Saturdays

Ease into your weekend with outdoor yoga led by Kristel Perry.
📍 Oasis Lawn, Spa Plaza San Antonio
🕤 Saturdays in July | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
💸 Tickets: $17.85
🎟️ Reserve on Eventbrite

🍹 5•5•5 Sundays at Anaqua Garden Bar

Join us for an all-day summer series featuring:
• $5 Pool Passes
• $5 Cocktails
• $5 Bites
• $55 Cabanas
• $55 Shareable Cocktails
📅 Every Sunday
💻 Use code SUNDAY555 on Resort Pass to book a pool Day Pass.
🎟️ Reserve a spot on OpenTable

🍽️ 4-5-6-7 Happy Hour at Corinne San Antonio

Enjoy delicious bites and sips — all for $7!
🕓 Monday – Thursday | 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
🎟️ Make a reservation on OpenTable

🥂 Beats and Bubbles at Anaqua Garden Bar

Don’t miss this whimsical garden party featuring:
🎧 Live Vinyl DJ
🫧 Bubble Festivities
📅 Friday, July 26 | 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
🎟️ Reserve your table here

🎉 National Tequila Day & National Avocado Day

Celebrate two delicious days at Anaqua Garden Bar:
• July 24 – National Tequila Day: $6 Margaritas in Mexico
• July 31 – National Avocado Day: $6 Guacapoke
🎟️ Book your spot on OpenTable

👑 Gowns & Glam: Quinceañera Showcase Expo

Plan the celebration of a lifetime at our first-ever Quinceañera Expo!
📅 Sunday, July 20 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
✨ Local vendors, inspiration, and a grand giveaway
🎟️ RSVP for FREE on Eventbrite

🎶 Music Under The Stars: Featuring Leon Sanchez

Unwind with cocktails and live music in the breezy Anaqua Pavilion.
📅 Thursday, July 24 | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
🎸 Featuring local favorite Leon Sanchez
🎟️ Reserve a table on OpenTable

🎧 Raspa & Rhythm on the Lawn

Cool off and dance it out with:
🍧 Ice-Cold Raspas
🎵 Upbeat House Music
🎯 Lawn Games
📅 Fridays, July 18 & 25 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Plus:
🔍 Kids’ Scavenger Hunt | 10:00 a.m.
🔥 S’mores by the Fire | 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Make the most of your July at Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa — your downtown destination for summer relaxation, celebration, and connection.

Enter the Phenomenomaly: Meow Wolf’s Summer Spectacle Blends Theater, Puppetry, and Magic

Meow Wolf’s Phenomenomaly: a wild immersive performance this summer in Vegas and Denver. Photo: Paul Torres

Phenomenomaly: Meow Wolf Unleashes a New Immersive Spectacle This Summer

Santa Fe, NM — Imagine Sleep No More meets Theater of the Mind, then throw in a glowing puppet parade and a swirl of surrealist dance. That’s Phenomenomaly, Meow Wolf’s latest mind-bending experience unfolding inside their Las Vegas and Denver exhibitions from June 21 through August 9, 2025. (Meow Wolf, 2025)

A New Era of Interactive Art

Known for crafting wild, genre-defying festivals and installations, Meow Wolf is taking immersive storytelling to new heights. Phenomenomaly is part immersive theater, part art party, and part glow worm migration (yes, you read that right).

Set on a continuous loop, this interactive performance weaves live theater, dance, puppetry, and audience participation into the very fabric of Meow Wolf’s already-surreal multiverses.

What to Expect Inside Phenomenomaly

As guests explore the exhibition, they’ll encounter:

  • Otherworldly characters
  • Strange rituals
  • Moments of intimate magic
  • A crescendo that erupts into a luminescent parade—featuring massive puppets, strange instruments, and shimmering creatures known as Flickerwermz

These glowing, migrating beings are part of a multiversal mythos whose fate depends on the playful engagement of the audience. Each 90-minute loop is layered seamlessly into Meow Wolf’s fantastical environments, making for a performance that feels both spontaneous and deeply woven into the space.

Unique Every Time

Each location—Denver and Las Vegas—hosts over 15 performers per show: dancers, puppeteers, clowns, and more. New guest artists are introduced every week, ensuring that no two shows are ever the same.

Phenomenomaly is the result of collaboration with an incredible team of national and local creatives, including:

  • Basqo Bim, Iggy & Andy, Kate Major, and Monsters of the Underworld (Costume Designers)
  • Sam Johnson of Colossal Collective (Puppet Project Manager, Designer, Fabricator)

🎟️Each city also showcases a rotating roster of local artists, spotlighted weekly—check the Denver and Las Vegas event pages for full schedules, lineups, and ticket information.

Photo: Meow Wolf

📍 Event Details

  • Dates: June 21 – August 9, 2025
  • Times:
    • Denver: 3–7 p.m. (select dates)
    • Las Vegas: 2–6 p.m. (select dates)
  • Cost: Included with standard admission

About Meow Wolf

More than an arts and entertainment company, Meow Wolf creates extraordinary experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination. With millions of visitors across its locations, Meow Wolf collaborates with hundreds of visionary artists to build stunning, interactive worlds. As a certified B-Corporation, they’re committed to innovation, community, and play.

Step inside Phenomenomaly this summer and become part of a story that shifts with every step, every glance, and every imagination brave enough to follow.

Senses Awakened: Experience the Art of Botello, Menchelli & Willome

Nadia Botello, What the River Says. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Experience Three Immersive Solo Exhibitions at Contemporary at Blue Star

📍 San Antonio, TX – Contemporary at Blue Star invites the community to experience three new solo exhibitions opening on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. Featuring artists Nadia Botello, Fabiola Menchelli, and Jason Willome, each exhibition offers a unique, sensory-driven experience where the audience is invited to interact with the art through touch, movement, and presence. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)

🎉 Opening Events

  • Taco Talk with the Curator
    🗓 Friday, July 11 | ⏰ 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Register Here
  • Public Opening Reception
    🗓 Friday, July 11 | ⏰ 6:00–9:00 p.m.

🖼 On View: July 11 – October 5, 2025

✨ Featured Exhibitions

Nadia Botello

Theophany

Sound artist and composer Nadia Botello explores the San Antonio River as a living entity—a shaping force with a voice of its own. A native Texan and fourth-generation San Antonian, Botello presents multimedia works in sound, sculpture, and film that ask: What might the river be saying for itself?

Her 16mm film series What the River Says reveals images formed solely by submerging film into the river—no human intervention, only the language of water.

Fabiola Menchelli

ombré

Blending photography with painterly process, Fabiola Menchelli introduces a new body of work from her Parallelograms series. Created in total darkness, her photograms are both intentional and accidental—revealing the mystery of creation when sight is removed.

In a fast-paced world of constant imagery, Menchelli’s slow, sensory process challenges viewers to pause and reflect.

Jason Willome

When a Mind Wanders

Jason Willome delves into memory, transformation, and the unknown through his deeply personal drawings. Sparked by the final moments leaving his father’s home and witnessing his father’s decline from Parkinson’s disease, Willome uses gouache, charcoal, and cattle markers to render consciousness in flux.

These abstract, layered drawings mirror the haze of memory and perception—reflecting both confusion and care.

This body of work was developed during Willome’s residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin through the Contemporary’s international residency program.

🏛 About Contemporary at Blue Star

Contemporary at Blue Star showcases artists from San Antonio and across the globe, presenting innovative exhibitions that spark empathy, action, and understanding. As a non-collecting contemporary art space, the Contemporary fosters fresh perspectives and cultural dialogue.

🎟 Admission is always free.
📍 116 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204
📞 (210) 227-6960
🌐 Contemporary at Blue Star

🕒 Public Hours

DayHours
Mon–TuesClosed
Wed12 pm – 5 pm
Thu–Fri12 pm – 8 pm
Sat–Sun10 am – 6 pm
Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star, used with permission.

Red, White & Delicious: Fourth of July Eats, Drinks & Events to Savor

Twang debuts limited-edition cocktail rimming salt for Fourth of July celebrations. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Celebrate the Fourth of July in Style at Hotel Contessa

This Fourth of July, make your way to Hotel Contessa in downtown San Antonio for a weekend full of bold flavors, festive fun, and patriotic flair. (Hotel Contessa, 2025)

🍖 Fourth of July Dining Specials at Ambler

Available Thursday, July 3 – Saturday, July 5

Ambler, Hotel Contessa’s signature restaurant, is firing up the grill with bold Texas barbecue and elevated comfort food all weekend long. Enjoy these mouthwatering specials:

  • Mesquite Smoked Pork Ribs with mac-n-cheese & slaw – $34
  • 28oz Cowboy Ribeye with baked potato & grilled asparagus – $99
  • 24oz Bone-In NY Strip with mac-n-cheese & grilled asparagus – $99

👉 Reservations recommended. Book online or call Ambler at (210) 298-8040. Limited seating available!

🎬 Outdoor Movie Night: Independence Day

Saturday, July 5 at 10:30 p.m. | Hotel Contessa River Walk Patio

The celebration continues Saturday night with a special screening of the iconic film Independence Day. Grab your seat (first come, first served!) on the River Walk patio and enjoy:

  • Themed cocktails
  • Popcorn & candy
  • A nostalgic s’mores bar

Don’t miss this perfect summer night under the stars!

📍 Hotel Contessa – 306 W Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205

✨ Summer Sips & Patriotic Products

🍸 Twang’s Life, Liberty, and Lime Rimming Salt

Raise a glass to summer with Twang’s newest limited-edition release, Life, Liberty, and Lime—a zesty cocktail rimming salt featuring all-natural red, white, and blue crystals. (Twang, 2025)

  • Bold lime flavor + festive colors
  • Perfect for margaritas, beers, and more
  • 4oz tub for just $5.00
  • Available at grocery stores nationwide or online

Founded in San Antonio in 1986, Twang is a Latino-owned brand known for premium-flavored salts, sugars, and seasonings that elevate every bite and sip.

🍵 Full Leaf Tea Company: Functional Hydration for the Fourth

Looking for a refreshing, wellness-forward way to celebrate? Full Leaf Tea Company has you covered with patriotic drinkware and antioxidant-rich teas. (Full Leaf Tea Company, 2025)

Full Leaf, based in Southern Oregon, is beloved for its USDA organic teas, wellness blends, and on-the-go accessories. Explore their tea-based summer recipes and curated gift sets to keep the good vibes flowing all season long.

Photo: Full Leaf Tea Company, used with permission.

Whether you’re indulging in barbecue and blockbusters or sipping antioxidant-packed tea by the pool, there are plenty of ways to make this Independence Day your most flavorful and festive yet! 🎆

Savor the Season: La Panadería’s Bold Summer Menu + Stone Oak Expansion

La Panadería kicks off summer with new cold foam drinks and ‘Summer of Concha’ campaign. Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

Summer Sips and Sweet Treats: La Panadería Launches New Seasonal Menu and Expands to Stone Oak

San Antonio, TX – La Panadería, the beloved San Antonio bakery renowned for its artisanal pan dulce and French-inspired Mexican bread, is thrilled to unveil its new lineup of Summer Drinks, along with the return of its fan-favorite seasonal conchas as part of the annual Summer of Concha initiative.

These limited-time offerings are available now through August 31, 2025, at all La Panadería locations.

☀️ Sip into Summer

La Panadería’s refreshed beverage program brings a cool and creative twist to summer sipping, featuring iced drinks made with house-crafted syrups and indulgent cold foam toppings.

This summer’s drink lineup includes:

  • Lavender Latte
    A floral iced latte sweetened with La Panadería’s signature lavender syrup, topped with a smooth lavender-infused cold foam.
  • Tres Leches Matcha
    A layered iced matcha latte with strawberry purée, topped with strawberry tres leches cold foam—blending the creamy essence of tres leches cake with earthy premium matcha.
  • Strawberry Mimosa
    A bright, bubbly take on the brunch classic—featuring champagne, strawberry purée, and a splash of orange juice. This is La Panadería’s first-ever mimosa flavor beyond the traditional orange.

🍞 Summer of Concha Returns

Back by popular demand, La Panadería’s Summer of Concha celebrates bold flavors and nostalgic indulgence with a lineup of creatively reimagined conchas—Mexico’s iconic sweet bread.

Limited-edition concha flavors include:

  • Dubai Chocolate Concha
    Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar, this dual-toned concha features a green and chocolate crust, filled with luscious pistachio ganache and Nutella.
  • Ferrero Rocher Concha
    A decadent red-and-chocolate shell filled with rich chocolate ganache and hazelnut praline cream—a nod to the beloved Ferrero Rocher.
  • Nutella Concha
    An orange-shelled treat filled with creamy Nutella, first introduced as a March Madness special.
Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

🍽️ New Location Coming to Stone Oak

La Panadería is also excited to announce the opening of its largest location yet, debuting in Stone Oak in late Fall 2025. The new 6,600-square-foot restaurant at 1011 N. Loop 1604 E will feature:

  • The full La Panadería menu
  • A cocktail bar
  • A covered outdoor patio
  • 100 dedicated parking spaces

“We’ve always believed in growing thoughtfully and with our guests in mind. Stone Oak is a vibrant and growing area, and we’re excited to bring La Panadería to a new part of the city.”
— José Cáceres, Co-owner

About La Panadería

Founded in 2013 by brothers José and David Cáceres, La Panadería began as a humble stand at the Quarry Farmers Market and quickly grew into a local institution. Since opening its first brick-and-mortar in 2014, the bakery has become a staple of San Antonio’s culinary landscape—celebrated for its commitment to quality ingredients, artisanal techniques, and heartfelt Mexican-European fusion.

From handcrafted pan dulce to savory tortas and brunch favorites, La Panadería continues to serve a one-of-a-kind dining experience that captures the culture, flavor, and warmth of San Antonio.

Visit La Panadería today to enjoy the Summer of Concha and cool off with their vibrant new drink selections—before the season ends!

📅 Available through August 31, 2025
📍 Multiple locations across San Antonio

Ironmouse, KAF, and JKT48v Lead a Mixed-Reality Revolution in LA

Fantastic Reality Presented by IRIAM debuts mixed-reality 3D live mini-fest at Vermont Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles on July 3. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

🎤 Fantastic Reality: A Mixed-Reality 3D Live Festival Debuts in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – Fantastic Reality presented by IRIAM is thrilled to unveil its debut mixed-reality 3D live mini-fest, bringing the world’s top virtual talent* to life on an IRL stage—complete with a live band, DJs, and immersive digital art. (Magnum PR, 2025)

This genre-defying event reimagines next-gen entertainment by uniting international virtual superstars like:

  • Ironmouse (Twitch’s top VTuber/performer)
  • KAF (Japanese chart-topping VSinger)
  • JKT48v (Jakarta’s virtual pop powerhouse)
  • and many more.

Together, this lineup commands over 9.5 million online followers.

📍 Event Details

🗓 Date: July 3, 2025
📍 Location: The Vermont Hollywood, Los Angeles
🕖 Doors Open: 7:00 PM
🎟 Tickets
📺 PPV: Launch date & platform TBA

🎶 Lineup Highlights

Headlined by Ironmouse, the festival also features:

  • Mint Fantome
  • KAF & Kou Mariya
  • CottontailVA
  • Derivakat
  • Isaa Corva
  • JKT48v

Live music will be performed by a band directed by Daryl Vanessa Barnes (aka StarlightDaryl), with:

  • Riptidesan on bass
  • OfficeDrummer on drums
  • Chacha (appearing virtually) on guitar

Mariya will host the event as MC, while DJs Mono Monet (virtual) and JOENN will keep the energy high between acts.

🌐 About Fantastic Reality

Launched as a techno-optimistic antidote to global disconnection and decay, Fantastic Reality offers a vibrant future where human and virtual performers coexist through fantasy, innovation, and groundbreaking production.

“Fantastic Reality is doing something that has always been impossible. We’re uniting our community in an intimate IRL space with a cutting-edge live show featuring international luminaries Ironmouse, KAF, JKT48v and more.”
— Kou Mariya, FR co-producer, performer, and MC

🧬 About the Creators & Partners

  • Kou Mariya – VTuber/VSinger since 2020 and co-producer of FR. Known for visionary leadership and community-driven creativity. Signed by V4Mirai (Brave Group US) in 2023.
  • Daryl Vanessa Barnes – Award-winning composer and VTuber (aka StarlightDaryl). Sound architect for over 150 VTubers, including Ironmouse and Zentreya.
  • ETC (Emerging Technology Company) – Co-producers of cutting-edge pop culture experiences like the Dodgers Experience at TokyoNode.
  • Bulldog DM – Live video pioneers crafting premium livestreams for global audiences.
  • Rust – An enigmatic producer of unpredictable, inspiring live moments.
  • IRIAM – A VTuber-centric mobile streaming platform making real-time fan interaction magical and meaningful.

🤖 What is Virtual Talent?

Virtual talent includes VTubers, VSingers, and digital pop stars—not AI, but real performers using motion capture and digital avatars to create content.

Blending anime, gaming, music, and art, the global VTuber market is currently worth $7B and projected to exceed $20B by 2035.

Stay tuned and step into the future with Fantastic Reality—where dreams, tech, and performance collide.

Psychedelic Science 2025: Denver’s Most Mind-Expanding Week of the Year

Flying Lotus & Reggie Watts headline Psychedelic Science 2025 kickoff party in Denver. Photo: Colorado Convention Center.

🎉 Psychedelic Science 2025 Brings the Party to Denver!

DENVER, CO — June 2025
Psychedelic Science 2025 (PS2025) isn’t just the world’s largest gathering of psychedelic researchers, therapists, and policymakers—it’s also a celebration of creativity, culture, and community. From June 16–20, Denver will come alive with a full week of immersive events, headlining performances, and wellness experiences that extend far beyond the walls of the Colorado Convention Center. (Psychedelic Science 2025)

🎶 Opening Night: Flying Lotus & Reggie Watts Live

PS2025 kicks off with an unforgettable launch party—Flying Lotus & Reggie Watts Live at the Mission Ballroom. This immersive night of music, comedy, and art is presented by Good Trip Studios, creators of Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (Netflix), who will also be capturing content for an upcoming sequel.

👉 Grab your tickets now.

🌆 Music, Magic & Movement Across Denver

In partnership with MAPS and Superfly (creators of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands), PS2025 will feature independently produced events all over Denver—open to both attendees and the public.

🎤 Headline Concerts

  • June 17: Flying Lotus & Reggie Watts – Mission Ballroom
  • June 18: Tycho – Ogden Theatre
  • June 19: Blind Melon – Cervantes
  • June 20: Drive-By Truckers – Ogden Theatre
  • June 19–22: LSZEE (4 immersive shows) – Mission Ballroom

🎨 More Must-See Experiences

From immersive art shows to movement workshops and comedy, here’s just a taste of what’s happening:

  • June 17:
    • Sasha Shulgin’s 100th Birthday Celebration
    • A NEW Trip with Shane Mauss
    • Poranguí & Savej: A Musical Journey
    • Iboga Saves: Ending Addiction
    • Shroomski Melt: The Visionary Art Superbowl
  • June 18:
    • Psychedelic Drag Speed Friending
    • The Psychedelic Playhouse @ Jonas Brothers Building
    • PRATI Party @ Town Hall Collaborative
  • June 19:
    • Operation Inner Peace
    • Queer Magic 2
  • Wellness Events:
    • Sunset Skyline Rooftop Yoga @ Catbird Hotel (June 18)
    • Mat Pilates on Tap (June 17)
    • Plants, Yoga & Beer @ Bierstadt Lagerhaus (June 22)
    • Friday Night Yin @ The Source Chiropractic (June 20)
    • BUNNY YOGA! @ Great Divide Barrel Bar (June 21)

💡 Note: These events are independently organized and not part of the official PS2025 program. Many are free or low-cost to promote inclusive access.

🤝 Why We Gather

“Whether you’re a veteran advocate or first-time attendee, there’s a place for you to dance, laugh, and connect. These events remind us why we’re here—to gather, grow, and find joy in the journey together.”
— Gina Vensel, Director of Media & Community Partnerships, PS2025

📅 Explore, Register, and Join Us

Visit Psychedelic Science 2025 to:

  • View the full conference agenda
  • Register for workshops and talks
  • Get travel and hotel info
  • Browse the complete list of community events.

About Psychedelic Science 2025

Hosted by MAPS and produced with Superfly, PS2025 is the world’s leading psychedelic conference. Since 2010, it has brought together scientists, therapists, cultural leaders, and changemakers to explore the future of psychedelic research, healing, and culture.

📍 When & Where:
June 16–20, 2025 | Colorado Convention Center, Denver

About MAPS

Founded in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the medical, legal, and cultural understanding of psychedelics and marijuana. With over $150 million raised to date, MAPS is pioneering new frontiers in mental health, drug policy reform, and public education.

✨ Come for the science. Stay for the community. Leave transformed. ✨

From Bourbon Pie to Skydiving: Unforgettable Father’s Day Ideas in San Antonio

Goode Company’s Chocolate Bourbon Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie is available for a limited time. Photo: Goode Company, used with permission.

Celebrate Father’s Day in San Antonio: Food, Fun & Unforgettable Gifts

Father’s Day, celebrated on the third Sunday in June, honors fathers and father figures across the United States. It’s a day to express gratitude through cards, gifts, and quality time. Families often gather for barbecues, outings, or special meals. Children may craft homemade presents or share heartfelt messages. Communities also host local events leading up to the day. While traditions vary, the spirit remains the same—celebrating the love, support, and guidance dads provide.

In San Antonio, businesses are making it easier than ever to honor dads with indulgent food, thoughtful gifts, and some much-needed relaxation. From bourbon pies to Wagyu burgers and spa treatments, here’s a roundup of top Father’s Day offerings around the city. (Goode Company Online Shop, La Panaderia, Bakery Lorraine, Corinne San Antonio, Dean’s Steak & Seafood, Twang, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, 2025)

🍫 Goode Company Online Shop

Chocolate Bourbon Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie is back for a limited time! Infused with Milam & Greene bourbon and crafted with Texas-grown pecans and rich chocolate, this 9-inch pie serves 10 and costs $60. Available for nationwide shipping.

👉 Order from Goode Company

🍔 La Panaderia

The Alamo Burger is a must-try! Featuring 8 oz. Wagyu beef, Swiss cheese, organic greens, and pickled jalapeños on a spiral croissant—best enjoyed with a cold craft beer.

🍩 Bakery Lorraine

Celebrate Dad with:

  • Chocolate Sea Salt Donut – $4 each (limited time only)
  • Burger or Croque Monsieur Sandwich – $15 each

🥃 Corinne San Antonio & The Spa at Plaza San Antonio

Father’s Day Dinner at Corinne

  • 3-course prix-fixe menu — $70/person
  • 📅 Sunday, June 15
  • 💺 Limited reservations available here

Relax & Recharge Spa Package

  • 80-minute massage + body scrub — $225
  • Includes a Dad Water cocktail from Anaqua Garden Bar
  • 📅 Available through June 28
  • 📞 Call 210-353-8016 or book online

🥩 Dean’s Steak & Seafood at Kimpton Santo

June 13–15: Enjoy an Old Fashioned made with Elijah Craig Private Barrel Bourbon paired with a fine cigar—perfect for the dad who appreciates luxury and flavor.

🌶️ Twang

Spice up your gift with Twang’s bold flavors:

  • Beer Salt – citrus-infused
  • Drink Rimmers – for micheladas, margaritas, and more
  • Snack Salts – for topping or snacking solo
  • Michelada Mixers – made with real lime juice

🛒 Available online or at H-E-B, Walmart, Buc-ee’s, Kroger, Specs, and more.

🪂 iFLY Indoor Skydiving

For the adventurous dad!
Now through June 15, get 25% off 10 flights + all photos/videos (up to 5 flyers).

🎟️ Book your experience online and make it a Father’s Day to remember.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, make this Father’s Day one filled with good food, great memories, and heartfelt appreciation.

Aloha Vaqueros: Celebrating the Cultural Fusion of Mexican Vaqueros and Hawaiian Paniolos

Aloha Vaqueros: Briscoe Western Art Museum explores the western spirit across oceans. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Aloha Vaqueros: Where the American West Meets the Pacific

On view June 13 – September 1, 2025 | Briscoe Western Art Museum

This summer, the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites you to journey beyond the mainland and explore an extraordinary chapter of the American West that stretches across the Pacific Ocean. Aloha Vaqueros, presented in partnership with the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias (MuVaCa), unveils the surprising and powerful ties between Mexico’s legendary vaqueros and Hawaii’s storied paniolo cowboys.

Member Preview Party – June 13, 6–8 p.m.

Briscoe members are invited to an exclusive preview party to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Enjoy:

  • Beer, wine, and specialty cocktails
  • Light bites
  • Complimentary valet service

👉 RSVP here.

The Roots of a Cross-Cultural Cowboy Culture

Long before Hawaii became a U.S. state, Mexican vaqueros traveled across the Pacific in the early 1800s to teach cattle handling to Hawaiian islanders. These expert horsemen brought with them tools, techniques, and traditions that took root and evolved into Hawaii’s distinct paniolo culture—a unique blend of island spirit and Western grit that still thrives today.

“This exhibition beautifully illustrates the rich cultural exchange that helped shape the cowboy traditions of the Pacific. It’s a compelling reminder that the spirit of the West is both diverse and far-reaching, stretching from the plains of Texas to the mountains of Maui.”
— Liz Jackson, President and CEO, Briscoe Western Art Museum

What to Expect from the Exhibition

Through a rich collection of artwork, artifacts, and immersive storytelling, Aloha Vaqueros explores:

  • The deep-rooted traditions shared by vaqueros and paniolos
  • The artistry, attire, and music of island cowboys
  • The resilience and horsemanship central to both cultures
  • A hands-on educational area showcasing traditional island crafts

Developed by MuVaCa in El Triunfo, Baja California Sur, the exhibition challenges the conventional boundaries of the American West—broadening the story to include the Pacific’s enduring cowboy legacy.

Visit the Briscoe

📍 Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205
🕘 Museum hours, parking, and admission information available online.

About the Briscoe Western Art Museum

Located on the San Antonio River Walk in the beautifully restored 1930s former public library, the Briscoe preserves and presents the art, history, and culture of the American West. Named in honor of Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum features:

  • The Jack Guenther Pavilion for events and programs
  • The McNutt Sculpture Garden, an outdoor tribute to Western heritage

Don’t miss this chance to experience a chapter of Western history that redefines borders and celebrates a shared spirit of grit, grace, and tradition.

Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Arcades, Lawsuits & Love Songs: Walter Day’s Legacy Hits a New Note

Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is the follow up film to the iconic indie The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

🎮🎶 Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day — Release News, Review & Director’s Insight

The highly anticipated follow-up to The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is finally here. Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day will be available globally on TVOD and digital platforms beginning June 9, 2025. (Cinematic Red PR, 2025)

🎬 About the Film

Directed by Ed Cunningham (Undefeated, The King of Kong), this musical documentary is his feature film directorial debut. Arcade & Love Songs revisits beloved characters from The King of Kong, reconnecting with the real-life gamers who captivated audiences since their Slamdance debut.

The film follows 74-year-old Walter Day, the father of esports and iconic star of The King of Kong, as he navigates a lawsuit that threatens his legacy. At the same time, he embarks on a deeply personal journey: finally recording and performing the rock-opera love songs he’s carried in his heart since a devastating 1980s heartbreak—right at the height of the arcade boom.

The film premiered in U.S. theaters earlier this year through Monkey Wrench Films, capturing the same nostalgic magic that made The King of Kong one of Slamdance’s most celebrated documentaries.

Run time: 1 hr. 31 mins.

🎥 Credits

  • Director: Ed Cunningham
  • Producers: Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon (Baywatch, The King of Kong), Mike J. Nichols (Zappa)
  • Writers: Ed Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, Paul Leach (The Woodsman)
  • Executive Producers: Ed Cunningham, Byron Ashley, Scott Jackson, Harrison Kordestani Kerry, Cathy Loveland, Paul Campoamor
  • Editor: Mike J. Nichols

👨‍🎤 Director’s Statement

The King of Kong premiered at Slamdance 2007 to a packed house of just the right type of audience. As the filmmakers, we could not have selected a better group of people to be the first to see something we had lived with for three years. The gamers, tech-types and doc lovers were all into it from frame one….The whispers, laughs and touching moments were all hitting…We knew the film could be seen as mocking people we had grown to love, doubt and admire and had worked tirelessly to present them truthfully and empathetically. And this audience got it. From that night forward, the original documentary has changed many people’s lives – for better and worse – so when Billy Mitchell called to tell me Walter Day was being sued based on things that happened in our movie, I began helping make sure he was properly defended…I felt a responsibility to document the conclusion to Walter’s journey and it was also a great opportunity because I love his music and want to help get out in the world.

– Ed Cunningham

⭐ Movie Review: Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day

Arcade & Love Songs is a tender, quirky, and unexpectedly profound documentary that shines a spotlight on a cultural pioneer. Walter Day, once the steady-handed referee of The King of Kong, becomes the heart and soul of this new film—revealing the music, memories, and emotions that shaped his life.

Ed Cunningham blends archival footage, heartfelt interviews, and theatrical musical sequences to create a vibrant portrait of resilience. Walter’s songs—strange, sincere, and oddly beautiful—are as much about heartbreak as they are about healing. Especially moving are the testimonials from younger gamers, who speak to how Day and the esports community shaped their sense of belonging.

This is more than a film about retro games—it’s about chasing your passions, no matter your age. Arcade & Love Songs is a love letter to the 8-bit generation, to late-blooming artists, and to anyone still holding onto the dream of finishing their song.

📅 Watch It

🗓 Release Date: June 9, 2025
🎟 Pre-order Now: Apple TV & Vimeo-on-Demand
📺 Available On: Apple, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Fandango, Vimeo-on-Demand

Let your heart hit “Start.” Walter Day’s ballad is one worth listening to.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*The author was contacted for a review of this film and received a screening link. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.