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It takes a certain kind of person to thrive in SA, and I like that kind of person much more than the average mindless hipster or "coolness" chaser. But, there is the issue of keeping the Rackspace crowd (for example) happy here. With more and more new things going up, it is slowly--very, very slowly--happening. For example, there are three or four really cool new bars opening up on the outskirts of downtown this month, more or less...
What bars, and where are they located? I'm always up for new, cool places in the near-downtown area.
What does that mean, I don't like Hispanic culture, I am tired of Hispanic culture? I keep hearing that about SA and would like someone who feels that way to elaborate.
Oh my. This is a good conversation to have, but it turns into negative flame wars whenever it's brought up.
When I think of "San Antonio culture," I do think of a bedrock of Tejano, mainly working class culture, but also a long history of connection to Mexico and an interesting intellectual history. Take the event I just mentioned at Pearl. You had amazing graphic design by Cruz Ortiz (who lives in SA, I think, but whose art is widely represented all over the place); a live cumbia band from Corpus; Toy Selectah, an amazing DJ from Monterrey who has been largely responsible for the huge "digital cumbia" rage (and is on Diplo's label); and then Mexican Institute of Sound (from Mexico City), a really well known band that plays all over the world. These are big culture makers, highly educated folks, who were just as comfortable in English as they were in Spanish--and used both.
Sitting on the edge of things, it was a really cool crowd to watch: you had a few of the tattooed 20-somethings on fixies (who dominate Austin), but you also had a great group of what looked to be Mexican nationals (or really upper class, long-time San Antonio families), folks with their kids and dogs, and some of the younger kids around here who are part of the whole Latino rock/punk/indie crowd, with their own styles. It was just a group of people that you don't see much of in Austin or anywhere else. But it was a beautiful setting, with good looking people, and a kind of music and language that is common only in certain cities--and San Antonio is probably one of the biggest of them, at least in the U.S.
We're just too close to Austin to try to be Austin (or Portland, Brooklyn, Silver Lake, etc.). This city already is something else, and "Hispanic culture" is a big part of it. I'm not Hispanic, but no one has EVER given me grief over it--people here are so friendly and open that it just doesn't matter.
Build on your strengths is all I'm saying. Not everyone will be attracted to it, but many will.
(Oh, one more thing: two of the main folks mentioned by Callie in the article actually moved FROM Austin to San Antonio, stayed for years, and contributed to the community. If people like that are attracted to stick around for years and pitch in, I think we're doing something well.)
What does that mean, I don't like Hispanic culture, I am tired of Hispanic culture? I keep hearing that about SA and would like someone who feels that way to elaborate.
I'm going to try to say this in a way that doesn't offend. I'm really just trying to explain what people mean.
San Antonio has a very low-brow population, if I were to generalize. Many events turn into the same thing over and over: DUIs and drinking, fights, teenage pregnancy, and taco stands. If I dropped you into the middle of Fiesta Oysterbake or First Friday or really any other event, you wouldn't be able to tell where you are. There's nothing "cultural" about most of the events here, but those events get classified as Hispanic culture.
Also, people crave variety, and you can hear an audible groan from people when they see a restaurant close down and another Tex-Mex place opens up. San Antonio has a hard time attracting people from other countries/ethnicities which gives the city a very homogeneous flavor.
THis touches on another topic related to retired military & employment in SA. Several people have commented how once retired they will work for under-market salaries and dont care. And this is very common in SA cause they want all the retirement services/benefits available here.
They basically had a revolt at one company's(which will remain anonymous) IT department, because they were hiring all these retired military IT guys for like $35K(and they didnt care cause the were getting their retirement too). And of course the company loved it..the could hire people with exprience at less than half the cost. So none of the existing employee could get raises or promotions, they were just told "we can hire someone else for less money and more experience if you dont like it here." So needless to say, all the young college educated developers left and the entire IT department (100+) is now all retired military.
I know this isnt always the case, but it does happen.
It's pretty obvious that it's USAA (from the salaries to the management attitude). No need to hide it.
What bars, and where are they located? I'm always up for new, cool places in the near-downtown area.
Well, you have the new Southtown 101 on Pereida; a cocktail bar that will be manned by Olaf (of Mon Ami fame) at the Pearl; another cocktail bar going in at Blue Star; the rebirth of Lava Lounge as "Brass Monkey" on N. St. Mary's (don't have high hopes for that one); and some other place that a friend of mine just posted a pic of on Facebook but is swearing secrecy on until it actually opens.
I'm going to try to say this in a way that doesn't offend. I'm really just trying to explain what people mean.
San Antonio has a very low-brow population, if I were to generalize. Many events turn into the same thing over and over: DUIs and drinking, fights, teenage pregnancy, and taco stands. If I dropped you into the middle of Fiesta Oysterbake or First Friday or really any other event, you wouldn't be able to tell where you are.
huh? This is the first time I've ever heard of First Friday as an hispanic themed event. And the reports of fighting were really over stated. One or two instances, a couple of years ago.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsTheTruth
Also, people crave variety, and you can hear an audible groan from people when they see a restaurant close down and another Tex-Mex place opens up. San Antonio has a hard time attracting people from other countries/ethnicities which gives the city a very homogeneous flavor.
I fully agree on variety and a groan when yet another Tex-Mex place opens up, but I'd be curious to see real data on newcomers to the city by ethnicity. I only have my own anecdotal evidence, and though I'm hispanic myself, pretty much all but a few of the people I know who have come to San Antonio from somewhere else (which is, I'd say, more than 75% of people of my acquaintance, which is a large circle) are not hispanic. We do have hispanic friends, most of whom are native to San Antonio or have some family connection here. But the vast majority are not.
The city is definitely majority Hispanic, there's no arguing that, but that alone does not stop everyone from moving here.
Well, you have the new Southtown 101 on Pereida; a cocktail bar that will be manned by Olaf (of Mon Ami fame) at the Pearl; another cocktail bar going in at Blue Star; the rebirth of Lava Lounge as "Brass Monkey" on N. St. Mary's (don't have high hopes for that one); and some other place that a friend of mine just posted a pic of on Facebook but is swearing secrecy on until it actually opens.
Thanks for the quick response. I wish the St. Mary's "strip" could get a revival.
Have you been yet? I've watched it being fixed up daily, but haven't been able to shed my kids yet to make it inside.
And though it's more eat than bar, the Alamo Street Eat Bar just opened on S. Alamo.
There's supposed to be a cocktail bar going into one of the shops on S. Presa, next to Taco Haven, but haven't seen any activity there for awhile so not sure if it'll come about.
The city is definitely majority Hispanic, there's no arguing that, but that alone does not stop everyone from moving here.
Yes it does. I have friends who have visited and thought about moving but decided against it because there is no way for them to buy their food staples. From Asian to Middle Eastern to Italian, our supermarkets are horribly lacking. That alone is enough to prevent people from moving here.
huh? This is the first time I've ever heard of First Friday as an hispanic themed event.
If I can buy a pinata there...
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