January 18th, 2010
Live Music & the Nightlife of San Antonio
When you are spending some time in the city of San Antonio, and you are looking for some night time entertainment, you will no doubt be overwhelmed with choices. For the hottest and trendiest of dance clubs, to a wide selection of live music venues, to comedy clubs, this is one Texas city that really does spring to life when the sun goes down. Recently, many “enotecas” or classy wine bars have opened, as well as places to get an ice cold beer or to find a vast collection of every kind of tequila there is on the market.
From the quick and fast paced party, to the laid back glass of wine with friends in the lounge of an historic and incredible hotel in downtown San Antonio, you will have plethora of options when it comes to that perfect night out. On my first visit to the city, my friends took me to a pub called, “Around the Bend”. This was my kind of pub, as there was no loud techno beat in the background, it was just a neighborhood joint filled with people who had known each other for many, many years.
The next evening, desiring a bit of local food and fare, we had a meal and mojito at the Neuvo Latino bar, Azuca. There are two buildings separated by a beautiful patio, and the colors and the contemporary designs were enhanced by replicas of the glass works of Chihuly. It was an incredible atmosphere, and the fine food of Rene Fernandez was a bit of the traditional combined with, as the name implies, nuevo cuisine. On the weekends, live salsa bands perform while people strut their stuff on the dance floor.
One of my favorite places was called the Blue Star Brewing Company. While I loved the bar, I loved the area more, as it is set back in an area filled with the artists and the galleries of the Blue Star Arts Complex. The feel was a bit industrial, but the company, the spirits and the food created a warm atmosphere that is most inherent in the restaurants and the pubs situated in artistic communities. Nights out on the town in San Antonio have haunted my memory a bit, and I am looking forward to my next visit, with anticipation and with delight.