San Antonio local knowledge?

Ed T

Ed T

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
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I will spend a couple of days in San Antonio on business soon.

Any must see/ must eat/ type of things I should know?

Any hidden knife stores that would make the trip worth it?
 
kdstrick is a formite living there for many years. you can find his tests in the testing section--he likes busses & ferhmans
 
Ed T said:
I will spend a couple of days in San Antonio on business soon.

Any must see/ must eat/ type of things I should know?

Any hidden knife stores that would make the trip worth it?
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I live an hour or so away, so I visit frequently and I've not found any knife shops worth a dang. Remember also that SA has its own "special" knife laws that are far more restrictive than the rest of TX. Check them out in this thread:http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360103&highlight=san+antonio+knife+laws

The River Walk is always neat, but is most certainly a tourist trap/attraction. It has some really good restaurants. There is a Mexican food place there, but I cannot remember the name. Look for all the multi-colored patio umbrellas. Also, check the Alamo if you never have...that is coming from a history nerd. I have other suggestions, but I will have to dig up names when I get back to my desktop. Before I forget, if SA gets to be too dull, you are only 80 minutes SW of the capitol and the weirdest city in Texas. :)
 
dougo83 said:
I live an hour or so away, so I visit frequently and I've not found any knife shops worth a dang. Remember also that SA has its own "special" knife laws that are far more restrictive than the rest of TX. Check them out in this thread:http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360103&highlight=san+antonio+knife+laws
Click to expand...

Well, that's a five year old thread, but really well traveled and shop worn. A good cautionary bit of advice, but take it with a grain of salt.

I grew up here. I work in construction (35 years) and I always carry a large folder/locker clipped to my belt or in a belt sheath. For those in the trades, the Buck 110 is still the standard blade, worn on the belt in full view.

No one gets stopped for having a locking blade knife. The law was written to give the police something to enforce when the same 110 was the gang bangers stabbing/cutting tool of choice and was a bit out of control in the 70s and 80s. The police could see the knives, knew they weren't being used for work or practical purposes, but couldn't do anything about it.

BTW, we also have law on the books that prohibits carrying fence wire cutters on your person if you aren't working on fences.... damn cattle rustlers!

There are still many that have fancy belt pouches that carry their large folding lockers, and like me, they go anywhere they please with them. Common sense is certainly the key here. When I did a short stint working at a bank in the early 90s managing a construction project, I always had a small lock blade in my pocket, certainly not within "legal" limits.

The law was made to keep the idiots at bay.

Go to the river, ride the tour barge at night so you can see the lights, and drink a margarita while on board. It is recently complete from its long and expensive renovation and is really pretty.

For a good food and a look at some traditional architecture, take a look at

http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-margarita-restaurant-and-oyster-bar-san-antonio

The margaritas are excellent, the food is pretty damn good, and the chips and sauce are great.

Across the walkway, is one of the oldest restaurants in San Antonio, complete with strolling mariachis, also great margarita, homemade tortillas, excellent guacamole, and a big menu of Tex Mex finished off with its own traditional bakery:

http://www.mitierracafe.com/

I would give a slight edge to La Margarita on the food, but on any given day it would be a toss up. A noisy, fun, free for all party atmosphere would definitely go to Mi Tierra.

Excellent food with some incredible fish dishes on occasion:

http://www.elmiradorrestaurant.com/

Cheap, good Tex Mex with some smattering of traditional Mexican dishes (this has been in national TV several times and is a favorite or Emeril Lagasse):

http://preview.tinyurl.com/244fp6x

Make sure you go to the Los Barrios on Blanco Rd, NOT Redland Rd.

Every one of those restaurants is a distinctly different style and taste of Mexican/Tex Mex food.

Literally a couple of miles from Los Barrios is one of the oldest gun shops in South Texas:

http://www.nagelsguns.net/Nagels_Guns/NAGELS_HOME.html

Not an elegant story by any means, but they have a large selection of knives. It doesn't look like much until you realize the knives are stuck everywhere in that wing of the store. There are probably 500- 600 knives on display on the walls, in the cabnets, and in other cases. Be aware though, there are NO bargains. You will pay full price on everything there. But you get to see and handle some knives you may not ever have seen anywhere else.

When they have closeouts, they get "right" on the price, and they also take some consignments which can lead to some possible bargains. Outside of Nagel's, there isn't much. We have the same Bass Pro Shop, Ninja knife mall stores and sporting goods stores that everyone else has.

Enjoy your visit to our fair city!

Robert
 
Thank you very much.
I carry a yellow sodbuster, so I am not to worried on the knife laws.
I am looking forward to the trip after the flying part.

I am staying downtown, so I am planning on the riverwalk and Alamo.
 
:thumbup: +1 on Robert's recommendations.

While you are in Nagel's talk to Bill Keller. He is one of their gunsmiths but also does some fine custom knifemaking.

There is also a Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q out on Westover Hills. They may not be the best in town - there's always an a$$-kickin' local mom and pop barbecue place in any Texas town - but they are fairly representative of good Texas oak smoked barbeque. They advertise as "the worst bar-b-q in Texas" but their brisket is top-notch and they have good traditional sides and lots of Shiner on tap.

I recall there are plenty of historical sights in and around San Antonio but I'm not up to date since leaving Texas 5 yars ago. Brooks AFB houses the Museum of Aerospace Medicine in old restored Hanger 9 if you're interested in less touristy sights. It is free to the public. Witte Museum also has some good displays. There are also family attractions like Seaworld and Six Flags and Schlitterbahn Waterpark just to the north in New Braunfels. Natural Bridge Caverns is also just to the north and worth a view.


Have a great stay in SA!!


j
 
Java and midnight pretty much covered all the bases. +1 on Rudy's BBQ but, if you go on a Sunday, be prepared for a looooong line. Since you're staying Downtown, another place to check out is the Cadillac Bar - decent Tex Mex, pretty cool atmosphere, but a little further away from the more touristy El Mercado places. And, while we're on the subject of Tex Mex, if you want to try a pretty good and cheap hole in the wall place, the Taco Kitchens are pretty hard to beat. Aside from the Alamo (which is a "must see" IMO), the Institute of Texan Cultures http://www.texancultures.utsa.edu/ is worth checking out.
 
Alamo Cafe already mentioned - a hearty +1 on that...

For good mexican, you can mostly hit any old hole in the wall in SA and find what youre looking for. On HWY 16N/Bandera Road just inside Helotes (right outside 1604) is a good restaurant called El Chapparal. Incredible food at a very nice price.

Further east on 1604 is Tom's Rib's (a staple for BBQ, imo). Rudy's BBQ on I10N outside 1604 is the best location. The one on 151 isnt too bad.

1604 (north side) near 281 is a bar called Hills & Dales...if you ride motorcycles go there. Incredible joint.

I love San Antonio...stay away from the riverfront and see the city and the hill country instead. Good luck to you.
 
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