July is Best Lawyers 2009

San Antonio’s Best Lawyers
Our sixth annual list of the Alamo City’s outstanding attorneys. 6,000 of San Antonio’s most experienced lawyers voted for their peers in 64 practice areas. This year’s roster is the most comprehensive and diverse ever.
Cover photo ©iStock/ Alan Crosthwaite


FEATURES
Rolling On The River
By Paulina Cantu
Many San Antonians have found what they consider the perfect wallet-friendly staycations, keeping it closer to home and keeping gas mileage in mind by floating rather than driving.

Electric Eclectic
By Susan Yerkes
Humorous, quirky and bold only begins to describe the Eclectic Art Gallery overlooking
the San Antonio River and the artists who display their works there.

The Court Is In (Jam) Session
By Kelly Johnson
A collection of San Antonio legal pros, along with one bandmate they call the
“normal” guy, are rocking the city with their R&B band, The Court Jesters.

Recycling Businesses
By Susan Yerkes
A group of locals are turning some of the city’s oldest businesses into some of its most
stylish residences as they reclaim, redefine and reuse some landmark locations.

Creature Creators
By Jennifer Warner
San Antonio’s very own monster makers are populating sidelines and grand openings
all over with some very furry (and funny) mascots.

June 2009

COVER STORY
One Way Ticket
By Julie Catalano
A “Texan” since she was eight, Benita Veliz barely remembers life in Mexico. To those who sympathize with a child brought to a country she came to love, who worked hard for her success, and wants to stay, it’s enough. To others, she broke the law and there are no excuses.
Cover illustration by Leo Garza


FEATURES
Dressing Smart
Photos by Lalo Garcia
It’s graduation season in San Antonio. Congratulations and good luck to all and here’s to a few young high-achievers who combine good looks with good grades.

Workplace Justice
By Jacque Crouse
Labor and employment law defines the difference between unfair and illegal, and a labor attorney can help you understand how the law applies in your workplace.

On Shaky Ground
By Mary Ellen Rowe
San Antonio job market-watchers are cautiously optimistic about the city’s employment future.

Freefalling From a Layoff
By Ken Rodriguez
One day a Metro columnist, the next day a budget cut. That’s not exactly how Ken Rodriguez expected to end his career in the newspaper business. But there was
a silver lining.

Exercise Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
By Tracy Austin, M.D.
The abundance of high-calorie foods, coupled with a more sedentary lifestyle, has placed San Antonio third on the list of America’s Fattest Cities. A little exercise can change that
and your cardio health as well.

Stars In Their Eyes
By Ken Rodriguez
After reaching the WNBA finals only to be swept out, the San Antonio Silver Stars
have high expectations for this year.

Don't Miss May

COVER STORY
Amazing Grace
By Ken Rodriguez
On April 24, 2008, a burglar broke into Viola Barrios’s North Side home and shot her in the head with an arrow. The generosity of the Barrios family in the face of that tragedy has taught the entire city a lesson.

FEATURES
Picture Imperfect
By Robb Kendrick
A Texas native gets to know his western subjects on more than just a surface level through 19th century technology.
Pharewell Phil
By Susie Gonzalez
He never dreamed as a young man that he would be mayor of the nation’s seventh largest city. Now, after four years that office and an enviable approval rating, term limits are forcing Phil Hardberger into a new role.
Musical Offerings Hits Sweet Note
By Rosa Romero
Business and art are traditionally considered incompatible. Ann Amor found a way to bring together these two elements 25 years ago.
Cheap Thrills From SA To Z
By Julie Catalano
If you’re going to follow the president’s advice to stimulate the economy, you might as well stimulate ours. To make it easier, we’re presenting your staycation education in alphabetical order. It might remind you that Dorothy was right.
A Year Of Giving Generously
By Jon Black
Thousands of lives have been changed thanks to hundreds of young people and
an innovative service program called City Year San Antonio.
The (Good Ol’) Boys Of Summer
By Jon Black
For those who are truly passionate about the sport, opportunities to play competitive baseball beyond college can be rare. And it is for these diehards that San Antonio
Men’s Senior League Baseball exists.
No Room For Doubt
By Jacque Crouse
Nowhere in the legal system is there more at stake than when a person, or someone he holds dear, is accused of a crime. In this situation, choosing the right criminal defense attorney is crucial.

April 2009

COVER STORY
Let’s Do Brunch
By Patsy Swendson
Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time to split the difference between breakfast and lunch with luxurious crossover cuisine.
Cover photo ©iStock.com/ Rakoskerti
FEATURES
Election Guide
May 9 is Election Day. Candidates respond to our questions about why they’re running and what they hope to achieve in office.
Viva Fiesta
Plan your steps through San Antonio’s 10-day spring celebration with our Fiesta schedule.
Missions Accomplished
By Jon Black
Professional baseball swings back into action in San Antonio as the San Diego Padres’ AA affiliate takes to the field.
Job Fare
By Julie Catalano
San Antonio’s job market is outperforming many others in Texas, but are we trading quality for quantity?
Space Race
By Pamela Mooman
Landlords are wheeling and dealing to keep tenants as the city’s commercial real estate market deals with a shrinking economy.
The Eyes Have It
By Dr. Tracy Austin
Diabetes can have devastating effects on the eyes. Watchful waiting isn’t an option when vision is at risk.

March Madness

San Antonio’s Most Expensive Homes
Who’s got the priciest pad in the Alamo City and which of the ‘burbs is home to most of the city’s high-end haciendas?
Zen And The Art Of Money Maintenance
We’re all looking for ways to either make or manage money. But instead of going to a financial planner, maybe we should be visiting a Zen master.
Finding Your Financial Footing
If the banks, the auto companies and other large institutions are not making it, we wonder, how can we?
How Deep Are Our Pockets?
How are our local nonprofit organizations surviving in these tough economic times? The answers may surprise you.
The Female Majority
Lila Cockrell broke the glass ceiling of city leadership, ultimately leading San Antonio to become only the second major city in America governed by a female majority.
Not Your Lucky Day
If you’re suffering from paraskevidekatriaphobia, we’ve got the cure
(Or, at least an explanation).
Animal Magnetism
We’re celebrating the bond between people and their pets. And you’re invited
to join in the furry fun.
A Magic Carpet Comes To San Antonio
A special group of artisans from Spain’s Canary Islands creates huge, spectacular works of art each year, only to see them scattered to the winds.
Manny’s Murals
As the sun set on the Westside of San Antonio on January 7, a group of artists prepared to collaborate on what was conceivably the most difficult project any of them had ever attempted—designing and painting the casket of their friend, Manuel Castillo.
PLUS! so much more...
Buy this issue at your local HB or call for subsription (210) 828-4209

There' Something For Everyone in our February Issue!

COVER STORY
Best & Worst of 2008
2008 was one for the books. As with most years, there were tears. But there were laughs, too. We take a look back at a year that brought us the disappearance of AT&T and the emergence of the Bikini Car Wash.

FEATURES
San Antonio and Mexico – A New Year,
a New President, a New Agenda
By David Cibrian
We should actively support collaboration with the Mexican government and Mexican business sector partners to increase the likelihood that San Antonio energy companies will benefit from the anticipated reforms in U.S. and Mexican energy policies.

64 Greatest Things About San Antonio
Our tournament to find the single greatest thing about San Antonio is down to the Great Eight. Is your favorite still in the running?

A Fresh Start
South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics is making cancer cells available to researchers around the world.

A Shot In The Arm
By Lisa Bastian
Smallpox has been eradicated and poliomyelitis has been eliminated from most countries in the world because of vaccination. So, why are some parents opting out?

More Than Just Divorce Court
By Jacque Crouse
Chances are if you are headed for a tough divorce or have child custody issues, you know you need a family lawyer. Choosing the best lawyer for your particular circumstances comes down to knowing the right questions to ask.

The Changing Face of San Antonio Politics
By Lori Massey
A descendent of slaves, San Antonio native Jefferson Wallace is the first African-American chief justice of Texas’ Supreme Court.

Fiesta Steeped In History
By Julie Catalano
The history of Fiesta is a sprawling and colorful one, with groups like the Spring Carnival Association and the Fiesta San Jacinto Association springing up and disappearing, along with festive balls and mock coronations.

Not Your Lucky Day
By Jon Black
Friday the 13th has been dreaded for centuries. Why? If you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, be sure to check our explanation.

A Taste For Romance
Valentine’s Day is upon us. Candy and flowers are the traditional offerings at this time of year. Just be sure you’re not sending the wrong message. Our shoppers guide has tips on how to make the right gift choice.

Yeehaw and Happy New You

COVER STORY
Let’s Rodeo San Antonio
Once again the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has named the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo the Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. That’s four in a row for San Antonio’s annual event. The rodeo is more than just a reason to burnish our buckles and scoot our boots though.

FEATURES
Title Chase
By Jon Black
Born and raised here, Chase Clement has been donning football pads and throwing pigskins since the fourth grade. Before wowing fans in Conference USA football, Clement was a gridiron hero at Alamo Heights High School.

An Education In Economics
By Collen McGee
Tuition is up, enrollment is down and the economy is performing a disappearing act with the income and savings of working families. All those facts add up to one major challenge for San Antonio area college students, and many are left scrambling to adjust their educational plans.

Getting A New You
By Sharon McQuillan, MD
The medical aesthetic and medical spa industries are growing exponentially, with no clear end in sight. The increasing acceptance, availability and affordability of many minimally invasive cosmetic treatments has fostered the “Era of Glamour.”

The Changing Face of San Antonio Politics
By Lori Massey
Young? Female? Ethnic? In the past, that would have been three strikes against a candidate for elected office. Now, it’s the triple threat. How did a young, female, Hispanic attorney win what many San Antonio politicos considered an unwinnable election? Some say it’s the changing face of San Antonio politics.

U.S. and Mexican Energy Reform
By David Cibrian
Texas already enjoys legendary status as a world energy powerhouse, but Governor Rick Perry has grander designs—he wants Texas to be “the epicenter of energy development in the 21st century.” But, the benefits are not just confined to Texas’ borders. Mexico can and should be a source of newer opportunism for the Texas energy sector.