All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Standard

San Antonio

San Antonio Alerts

Alert

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting San Antonio.

Axios San Antonio Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios San Antonio

San Antonio Members

Membership

Ay Caramba Taco Cantina is one of the new additions to the food scene on Broadway near Pearl.

What's happening: Owner Flabio Vásquez tells Axios the Mexican restaurant will focus on flavors from Arandas, Jalisco, his hometown.

A grand opening date has not been announced, but owners are planning for the first week of October.

Details: The menu has not been finalized, but Vásquez is planning on more than tacos — including burritos, bowls, chilaquiles.

For dessert, there's an intriguing chocolate tamal, served with a scoop of creamy ice cream.

A trompo is set up in the kitchen, so expect fresh cuts of al pastor.

The owners are working with a chef from Arandas to guarantee the authenticity of the food.

A plate of chilaquiles with meat and cheese.

Chilaquiles from Ay Caramba. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios

The space has plenty of indoor seating as well as a covered pet-friendly patio.

The dining room's focal point is a wooden structure adorned with flowers, symbolizing the jacaranda trees that are known to bloom abundantly throughout Mexico.

There's also a full bar with additional seating.

Vásquez plans to feature live music at the restaurant.

Flashback: The space at 1915 Broadway was previously home to Tacos and Tequila, which closed in 2017, followed by Señor Fish, which closed this summer.

Zoom out: Nineteen Hyaku, an upscale sushi restaurant, is scheduled to open on Sept. 27 in Jefferson Bank tower, across the street from Ay Caramba.

Bellagreen, a sustainability-focused restaurant chain, is also in the works at Jefferson Bank tower, according to permitting information filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

A plate featuring an omlette and salsa and cheese.

Ay Caramba also serves breakfast items like omelets. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios

💭 Madalyn's thought bubble: I was able to try a few of the salsas and couldn't pick a favorite. I hope they have a prominent place on the final draft of the menu.

First look: Ay Caramba brings Jalisco flavor to Pearl area

Expect fresh al pastor, drinks and interesting desserts.

A bar with red leather high-top seats and a purple and white ceiling artwork hanging down.

Interior of Ay Caramba. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios

Ay Caramba Taco Cantina is one of the new additions to the food scene on Broadway near Pearl.What&#x27;s happening: Owner Flabio Vásquez tells Axios the Mexican restaurant will focus on flavors from Arandas, Jalisco, his hometown.

News

Food and Drink

Business

Culture

He hasn't played a regular-season game yet, but Victor Wembanyama is seen as the Spurs' savior, reminiscent of a biblical story of salvation — and now there's an oversized mock vela, or prayer candle, to prove it.

What's happening: The Canstruction competition, featuring the Wemby vela, is on display at North Star Mall until Sept. 23. The contest produced by the American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration challenges architects, engineers and contractors to complete structures made of canned goods.

This year's competition resulted in a variety of creations, including the Disney villain Ursula and a UTSA Roadrunner logo.

The Wemby vela has been a hit on X (formerly Twitter).

What they did: Elissa Maldonado, who worked on the Wemby design called "Lighting a CANdle for SA," tells Axios that CaptureRX, Alpha Engineering, Pape-Dawson and KCI Technologies teamed up for the build.

The contest's objective was to create something that highlights what makes the city unique, aiming for the most significant cultural impact.

What they're saying: Maldonado says Wemby has become an "instant symbol of hope and inspiration for the city" after the Spurs posted the third-worst record in the league last season.

Between the lines: Spurs fandom is ingrained in the heart of San Antonio, intertwining with the city's identity. It's evident in art, in kids named Ginobili and in the euphoria of getting caught in a traffic jam on Commerce Street with horns blaring.

Velas hold a deep-rooted significance in Latino culture, where they play a central role in Catholicism for healing and protection. In pop culture, traditional images of saints that adorn the candles are superimposed photos of celebrities.

By the numbers: About 3,600 cans of food were used to create the structure, which took seven hours, not accounting for the planning time and practice builds.

Canstruction is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger. The canned goods will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank after the contest.

What's next: The winner will be announced Sept. 30.

Wemby "prayer candle" fires up can competition in San Antonio

A group of people stand in front of an arrangement of canned goods designed to be a prayer candle.

The Canstruction team with their Wembanyama entry. Photo: Courtesy of Society for Design Administration, San Antonio chapter

He hasn&#x27;t played a regular-season game yet, but Victor Wembanyama is seen as the Spurs&#x27; savior, reminiscent of a biblical story of salvation — and now there&#x27;s an oversized mock vela, or prayer candle, to prove it.What&#x27;s happening: The Canstruction competition, featuring the Wemby vela, is on display at North Star Mall until Sept. 23. The contest produced by the American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration challenges architects, engineers and contractors to complete structures made of canned goods.

Sports

Here's what's going on around San Antonio this weekend.

🎬 Catch a free screening of "Selena" at Mission Marquee Plaza, 7:30pm Thursday.

Bring your own seating. Food trucks will be on site.

⛳ Listen to live music from Frio Four and grab a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich at the Metzger Biergarten at Cool Crest Mini Golf, 6:30-9:30pm Friday.

🦇 Enjoy a night hike at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and learn to identify bats, 7-9pm Friday.

🍂 Shop the free fall festival at Eisenhower Park, 8am-1pm Saturday.

💪 Test your strength in the stein-holding competition at Second Pitch Beer Company, 5-6pm Saturday.

🍻 Say "Prost!" at Brackenridge Park's annual Parktoberfest, 2-5pm Sunday.

The free event includes music, free craft beer samples and food for purchase.

Things to do this weekend in San Antonio: Fall fest, live music

Here's what's going on around the Alamo City this weekend.

Illustration of a cherry pie with "weekend" cut out of the crust. 

Texas

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s going on around San Antonio this weekend.🎬 Catch a free screening of &quot;Selena&quot; at Mission Marquee Plaza, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="7:30pm Thursday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.slabcinema.com/event-details/09-21-selena-throwback-film-series-mission-marquee-plaza-sponsored-by-cosa-world-heritage-office" data-vars-content-id="7d036426-e706-460d-ba1d-f8a3bec275cf" data-vars-headline="Things to do this weekend in San Antonio: Fall fest, live music" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.slabcinema.com/event-details/09-21-selena-throwback-film-series-mission-marquee-plaza-sponsored-by-cosa-world-heritage-office" target="_blank">7:30pm Thursday</a>.

Things to Do

Victor Wembanyama, the most anticipated Spurs rookie in a generation, is already making a splash in the popular NBA video game 2K.

He doesn't lace up for his first actual game for another few weeks. The Spurs' preseason starts Oct. 9, and the first regular season game is Oct. 25 against Dallas.

Why it matters: Wembanyama received a 2K rating of 84, which is unheard of for a rookie in the 25-year-old video game franchise that has become deeply ingrained in the culture of the NBA.

What's happening: 2K Games digital marketing director Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie 2K, discusses Wembanyama's game and how he got such a high rating.

Singh said Wemby's career in Europe and some of his Summer League performances were considered in the rating.

"It's a massive statement by us that we're expecting him to have a very good season and be very good for a long time," Singh tells Axios.

How it works: Ratings for players are updated every two weeks. Seasons in NBA 2K are updated every six weeks.

Yes, but: While Singh stands by Wemby's historic rating, he thinks Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren, who has a 77 rating, will take the Rookie of the Year Award.

The intrigue: NBA 2K debuted in 1999, after Tim Duncan's rookie year, but Singh thinks he would have had a rating similar to Wemby's.

What's next: Singh says Wemby's size and abilities will challenge the gaming company. For example, the game's MyPlayer mode, which allows gamers to start off as an NBA prospect, does not allow for a player of Wemby's size.

"If he is everything that he is expected to be, we're definitely going to have to think about how we build the game going forward. We're just going to have to see how his career plays out. I'm really excited for it."

What they're saying: Singh believes that Spurs fans have had a fun NBA 2K experience for 25 years, thanks to iconic players like Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. With Wemby, this high-quality gaming experience will continue.

"I think it's going to be another 25 years that Spurs fans can be excited because they're going into it with what could be a once-in-a-generation player, like Wemby," Singh says.

Game changer: Ronnie 2K breaks down Wemby's impact in NBA 2K24

Ronnie 2K dished on what he thinks Tim Duncan's rookie rating would've been.

Side-by-side photos of Victor Wembanyama and Ronnie Singh on a grey background. 

Victor Wembanyama (left) and Ronnie "2K" Singh. Photo: Arturo Holmes and Cooper Neil/Getty Images

Victor Wembanyama, the most anticipated Spurs rookie in a generation, is already making a splash in the popular NBA video game 2K.<ul><li>He doesn&#x27;t lace up for his first actual game for another few weeks. The Spurs&#x27; preseason starts Oct. 9, and the first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="regular season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/sa/seasontype/2" data-vars-content-id="bd45ade2-3bd2-4f9a-9d55-4c12e614c184" data-vars-headline="Game changer: Ronnie 2K breaks down Wemby&#x27;s impact in NBA 2K24" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/sa/seasontype/2" target="_blank">regular season</a> game is Oct. 25 against Dallas.</li></ul>

Local bars are joining the global Negroni Week party for a cause.

Context: Imbibe Magazine launched Negroni Week in 2013. Since then, it's grown from 140 venues to thousands throughout the world.

Not that you need a reason to get a drink, but some of the proceeds will benefit the charity Slow Food, which advocates for sustainability and diversity in the food industry.

Details: Negroni is an Italian apéritif made of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, served over ice and garnished with an orange slice.

What's happening: Twenty local bars and restaurants, including Double Standard, The Moon's Daughters and Sojourn Trading Co., are serving versions of the bitter but sweet ruby-red cocktail this week, until Sept. 24.

Yes, but: Hands Down in Southtown is celebrating, but is not registered with the official website.

The bar is offering a menu of $10 negronis and is giving 50% of sales to Gardopia Gardens, an East Side Community Garden.

The bottom line: Keep an eye out for special Negroni menus throughout the weekend.

These San Antonio bars are celebrating Negroni Week

More than 20 San Antonio bars are celebrating Negroni Week.

A cocktail glass filled with a ruby red liquid, spherical ice and a lemon wedge. 

San Antonio is sipping for a cause. Photo: Tasha Tsiaperas/Axios

Local bars are joining the global Negroni Week party for a cause.Context: Imbibe Magazine launched Negroni Week in 2013. Since then, it&#x27;s grown from 140 venues to thousands throughout the world.

Madalyn Mendoza

Featured stories

Game changer: Ronnie 2K breaks down Wemby's impact in NBA 2K24

These San Antonio bars are celebrating Negroni Week

Things to do this weekend in San Antonio: Fall fest, live music

First look: Ay Caramba brings Jalisco flavor to Pearl area

Wemby "prayer candle" fires up can competition in San Antonio