Joey's is just an all-around great place to hang out and have a few beers or even a few shots in a nice, well-kept environment that doesn't put on any airs. It's a laid back joint that's big enough to accommodate large groups of people and never seems to get over-crowded. The billiards room, attached to the bar, is enormous and has a number of pool tables, and even a shuffleboard table. They typically draw a 30's plus crowd, so you can actually hear yourself talk. On hot summer nights, their good-sized patio is the perfect spot to kick-back, relax and just enjoy life. There's nothing better than watching the game while you're playing one! That's what Joey's is all about!
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: During the week, you can play pool and shuffle board for free. It's a great way to enjoy an early evening!
Kimberly's expert tip: Joey's offers a wide selection of beers, including Alamo Pilsner on tap, which goes great with their pepperoni pizza.
If you have time to plan ahead a romantic night out be sure to check you who is performing at the Majestic Theatre. The Majestic Theatre is San Antonio's oldest and largest atmospheric theatre. The theatre seats 2,311 people and was designed by architect John Eberson, for Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres in 1929. This beautiful and elegant theatre is host to all the top performers from musicians such as Willie Nelson to comedians such as Aziz Ansari and Broadway shows such as Wicked. They're also home to the very talented San Antonio Symphony. Majestic Theatre San Antonio was listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1975 and also designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: The Majestic Theatre is a wonderful venue for any and all live performances.
Kimberly's expert tip: Get tickets early.
Shrinking violets beware: With two dueling piano players, a raucous atmosphere, and audience participation near 100%, Howl at the Moon is a great place to let loose. Musicians keep things boisterous with witty banter, good-natured ribbing, and familiar tunes that all seem to be crowd favorites. Get your courage up with tube or jello shots or an old-fashioned mixed bucket of beers. A mainstay of younger crowds, the bar also pulls in business travelers on a quest for a good time. Located in a hub of bars and restaurants, Howl at the Moon is a fun place to stop at along the way.
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: Howl at the Moon is always a lively, fun time, no matter the day or time.
Kimberly's expert tip: This is the place to go for a raucous good time!
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club should be on the top of your bucket list, especially when headlined by Jade Esteban Estrada from Bravo TV and Comedy Central. Find out when this fabulous comedian is performing in a city near you at www.getjaded.com. Each week, LOL brings in A-list top comedians fresh from LA and NY comedy clubs, Vegas showrooms, the Tonight Show, the Letterman and Jay Leno shows, HBO and Comedy Central. Make sure to check out their website to see what other special events, guests or activities they have. They feature a hilarious open-mic night during the week that is worth staying up for!
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: The LOL Club is only one of two comedy clubs in San Antonio, but thankfully it's a good one!
Kimberly's expert tip: Bring lots of friends!
San Antonio's Overtime Theater may be the only theater house in town dedicated to featuring original works written by ingenious San Antonio writers and played by talented San Antonio actors. Every performance is a collaboration of true heart, blood, sweat and immense creativity. The Overtime has some exciting upcoming performances and is always open on Saturday nights for their hilarious Improv troupe! They consider themselves the "theater for the people," and it must be working because they've won the San Antonio Current readers' favorite theater award for four years in a row now. You'll find everything from community-based plays, science-fiction and superhero epic adventures, broad comedy, gritty realism, and especially that which hasn't been seen before. The Overtime Theater may just be creating the freshest, hottest live theater in San Antonio!
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: The Overtime offers unique and original programming that you won't find anywhere else.
Kimberly's expert tip: Check out their improv on Saturday night.
Bowlero, which opened in November (2013) in San Antonio, Texas, offers a new, revolutionary spin on social entertainment. This isn't the same old bowling alley your parents used to take you to when you were a kid. For groups and couples bored with bars and nightclubs, Bowlero offers an exciting alternative. This hip new hangout features forty-eight lanes of blacklight bowling, a thrilling gravity ropes course, amusement games, multiple themed lounge areas and a full-service kitchen serving inventive culinary creations. No more stale hot dogs and warm beer! In addition to their blacklight bowling lanes and the super fun gravity ropes course in the rafters, Bowlero also offers an oversized redemption arcade featuring a mix of interactive video games and retro-fun favorites, from giant Pac-Man and basketball to billiards and shuffleboard.
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: Bowlero's retro-modern and eclectic style and upscale yet laid-back atmosphere is the perfect place for family outings, birthday parties, date nights and private events.
Kimberly's expert tip: Go for Sunday Funday to get discounts.
The Tobin Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose 1,759-seat (2,100-seat with flat-floor configuration) performance hall, a 250-seat studio theater, and an outdoor performance plaza connected to the river walk with a permanent 30 foot video wall and water taxi portal. The building itself is an architectural accomplishment. The Tobin is situated along the banks of the river walk and within walking distance of some of the city's finest hotels, such as the Havana Hotel and Tropicana, as well as San Antonio's enchilada-colored library and many fantastic restaurants. What was once a historic Municipal Auditorium, with its original facade preserved, has been transformed into an incredible venue that will be a huge draw for acts of all kinds, from opera to music and A-list comedians and speakers. A wide variety of stellar acts and performers can always be seen at the Tobin!
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: The Tobin is a popular destination for all the top-notch performances in the country.
Kimberly's expert tip: Check out their online calendar to buy tickets in advance.
The Culinary Institute of America at San Antonio is the one to thank for Nao Latin Gastro Bar The restaurant/bar, located at the Historic Pearl, not only offers some of the most innovative, seasonal, and delicious cuisine in the Alamo city, but is essentially a classroom for the CIA students during lunch. For dinner, you can enjoy an array of ceviches and dishes like Crab and Green Plantains with coconut, lime, and entrees such as Duck Carnitas. Additionally, Nao Latin Gastro Bar recently announced they're now also serving Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. One of the main focal points of the reset is the bar. Not only do they have a large curved bar, perfect for evening revelry, but the seasonal house cocktails are enticing. Expect drinks like the Zarangoza, made of Sotol, Ancho Reyes, prickly pear, orange and lime juice.
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: Nao is a unique place to go to celebrate Latin food and drinks.
Kimberly's expert tip: Go for drinks, stay for dinner.
For the longest time, the only improv comedy troupe in town, The Denials, has been operating out of the Overtime Theater on Saturday nights. Sure, there are a few open mic nights around town and the LOL Comedy Club and the Rivercenter Comedy Club are good for a few laughs, but it's just not the same. Improv is a special brand of comedy that once you get a taste for, you're hooked! Cary Farrow IV, who comes from the Denials' team, and still works with them, is spearheading this new improv troupe, called Alamo City Improv, that performs for the public every Friday night at 9 pm and only costs $5, which is not much to support a burgeoning comedy scene in San Antonio. The shows are held at a comedy club called the Blind Tiger, inside the Magic Time Machine restaurant, located in the center of the city. Farrow has made it his personal mission to expand the improv comedy scene in San Antonio, which has had trouble gaining a foothold here. Improv is much more popular in Houston, Dallas, and of course, Austin, where they have several improv theaters that perform nightly.
Recommended for Early Entertainment because: Alamo City Improv is a new comedy troupe with fresh talent.
Kimberly's expert tip: Plan on eating elsewhere before going to the improv.