Downtown San Antonio date night idea
State of play: The boutique hotel houses Ocho, a pan-Latin restaurant helmed by chef Jesse Kuykendall, and the sultry Havana Bar in the basement.
The vibe: Ocho feels like dining in a dreamy glass greenhouse overlooking the River Walk with chandeliers, tufted couches — and yes, air conditioning.
A few steps away, Havana Bar sets the mood with dim lighting and cozy corners for cocktails and conversation.
What to try: At Ocho, start with the ceviche del día ($18) for a burst of brightness.
For a main entree, try the Calle Ocho ($42). It's a standout dish — a juicy ribeye with spicy chimichurri, sweet tomato confit, crispy manchego yuca and a cool cilantro crema.
Bonus: The rotating zodiac-themed cocktail list is a fun surprise.
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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Mexican band Latin Mafia helps carry the flag for Latin music at this summer's Lollapalooza
On the last night of Lollapalooza Sunday, festival goers had a choice to make: A$AP Rocky, Sabrina Carpenter or Latin Mafia. Latin Mafia, formed in 2021, is a Mexican indie pop band of three brothers, twins Milton and Emilio and Mike de la Rosa. Their debut Lollapalooza performance on the Grove stage in Grant Park was, in a word, hectic: Milton and Emilio each ripped off their shirts, one of them scaled the stage's scaffolding and the other threw himself into the crowd. The band brought out Omar Apollo, a Mexican American alternative artist, to join the ruckus. Latin Mafia's appearance at Lollapalooza felt, to many, like a tribute to Latin music. The band, after all, is not nearly as famous as 2023 headliner Karol G, who, along with artists like Bad Bunny, have brought Latin artists more of a mainstream following in the United States over the last few years. Alongside The Marías, Young Miko and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, the de la Rosa brothers made sure that Latin music was heard at this summer's festival. Many of their fans, though, said they wished that Lollapalooza organizers C3 Presents could do more to highlight Spanish-language performers — especially given that Latino and Hispanic people make up nearly 30% of Chicago's population. 'Being Mexican, it's awesome to see artists that are also Mexican on stage,' said Giselle, a 26-year-old from Chicago who asked to use only her first name. 'I wish that there was more, because there's good music being made in our community, and I wish that they were given the spotlight a little more.' Chicago residents Jose Perez, 38, and Kat Diaz, 30, worked a bar at Lollapalooza but managed to make it to Latin Mafia's and Young Miko's performances. They have both worked Sueños, too, the Latin music festival earlier in the summer in Grant Park also organized by C3 Presents. While Sueños gives Chicagoans the opportunity to celebrate Latin music, Perez and Diaz both pointed out that Lollapalooza draws in a much bigger crowd and therefore provides more exposure for its performers. 'To have a platform here for Latin music would be huge, not only for Latinos, but for the general population, because it's growing so much,' Perez said. Noah Estrada, 27, who lives in San Diego County, has been to a number of music festivals over the years, including Coachella in Southern California, Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas and Portola in San Francisco. Estrada has noticed that these big festivals tend to bring out the same Latin performers, as if they 'travel in packs.' 'It's whatever's trending that year,' he said. 'You'll get The Marías and some of these other big Latin names together all at once, instead of on their own.' (María Zardoya, lead singer of The Marías, was born in Puerto Rico and often incorporates Spanish into her songs). Latin Mafia, for instance, performed at Coachella in 2024. Estrada appreciates how they use synthesizers in their unique sound, and being half-Mexican, he has a bit of a sentimental reason for choosing the band to be his Lollapalooza closer. The crowd that gathered to hear Latin Mafia took over The Grove, shouting excitedly in Spanish when Milton or Emilio urged them on. Almost everything the band members said or sang during their show was in Spanish, which didn't seem to pose a language barrier for anyone in the crowd. Jailine Cortez, Samantha Quiroga and Natalie Reyes, who are all 26 and live in Chicago, bought tickets just for Sunday. Reyes and Quiroga have been to Sueños several times, but never Lollapalooza, until now, because it didn't seem to have much of a draw for Latin music fans. As Latin Mafia sang its final number, the brothers passed around a Mexican flag. 'I love to see Mexican representation anywhere in the world,' Giselle said. 'It makes me so proud.' As he walked up and down the stage, singing in melodic Spanish, one of the twins wrapped the flag around his shoulders. The red, white and green trailed behind him like a cape.
Chicago Tribune
14 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Lollapalooza 2025: What we saw — and heard — at the 4-day music festival at Grant Park
Lollapalooza 2025 is now over at Grant Park. This year's festival showcased an impressive blend of breakthrough acts and established favorites, with headliners like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyler, the Creator. It was an exciting year for artists who've found their creative stride, from Grammy-nominated R&B powerhouse Durand Bernarr to genre-defying sensation Amaarae to mega breakout rapper Doechii, a hip hop superstar in the making. Here's what we saw — and heard. Day 4 opened in Grant Park under sunny skies, lower air quality alerts and a final lineup of music across the festival's seven main stages. Headliners were Sabrina Carpenter, making a day-closing stand for Lolla's strong female lineup on the T-Mobile stage, and New York rapper A$AP Rocky on the Bud Light. It's been nearly 10 years since A$AP Rocky last played Lollapalooza. Other notable artists for the day included Finneas, the singer first famous in 2016 for teaming with sister Billie Eilish; Dominic Fike; a second Lolla for the Latin and jazz-infused indie band The Marías; and two concerts by Rebecca Black, the first a DJ set on the Perry's stage. Read more here. Clear skies, lake breeze. Headliners for Lollapalooza Day 3 were more of a trio, with Australian electronic group Rüfüs Du Sol closing the day on the T-Mobile stage, K-pop girl group TWICE on the Bud Light and singer commanding his own strong following for his Saturday-capping set on the smaller Grove stage. Other artists Saturday included indie-pop singer Clairo, Young Miko, Two Friends, Marina, Doechii and JPEGMAFIA. The Chicago Youth Symphony closed the Tito's Handmade Vodka stage Saturday evening. Plus there was the surprise addition of Chance the Rapper with a 15-minute set on the Perry's stage at 5:50 p.m. Chance has a new album, 'Star Line,' due out on Aug. 15. TWICE, the first-ever K-pop girl group to anchor the festival, drew K-pop fans sporting trademark accessories inspired by their favorite idols — bright colors, fur armwarmers, hair tinsel and baseball card-sized photos of their TWICE favorites. 'You can definitely tell when someone's here for a certain singer,' said Bridget Sikorski, 20. Read more here. Friday was Olivia Rodrigo day at Lollapalooza as the festival opened for Day 2 in Chicago's lakefront Grant Park. Rodrigo is the T-Mobile mainstage headliner to close out the night, on the opposite end from metal band Korn on the Bud Light stage. There was a sea of Rodrigo's signature purple at the T-Mobile by noon on Friday. Some of her most dedicated fans, many wearing purple cowboy hats, made it a point to line up early to get the best view. Read more here. Lollapalooza opened Thursday in Grant Park for its annual four days of crowds and music, with a lineup through Sunday heavy on female artists — Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter are both end-of-day headliners, with Gracie Abrams and Clairo also among the early crowd favorites. Official headliners for Day 1 were Tyler, the Creator and Luke Combs, who closed out the night on the T-Mobile and Bud Light stages, respectively. Combs made Lollapalooza history as the Chicago festival's first-ever country music festival closer. At the main gates at Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive, concertgoers got up with the sun to be first in the entrance chutes before the festival opened at 11 a.m. Siblings Jacob Fuentes and Sofia Pogue traveled from Texas; this was the first concert ever for Sofia, 13, they said. Tyler, the Creator is her favorite artist. 'I like a lot of music but I feel like I like (Tyler's) the most,' she said. Read more here. Lollapalooza can be seen as a safe haven — a place where music lovers go to catch all their favorite artists in one place. But along with that excitement comes crowds that can swell to outsized numbers for more popular artists, at a time when crowd safety has taken on a new sense of importance. Some of that awareness this summer is due to the documentary 'Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy,' which was released on Netflix in June and quickly became popular. The documentary details the events leading up to the crowd crush that killed 10 people at rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival in Houston in November 2021. Read more here. For the second year in a row, Lollapalooza will power its largest stage with a hybrid battery system, marking a growing trend of big-name music festivals transitioning away from diesel-based generators. When the Chicago staple introduced its hybrid battery-powered stage in 2024, it became the first major U.S. festival to power its main stage with a battery system, which supplements the stage's generators with energy stored from the electric grid. This system reduced the stage's fuel consumption by 67%, and avoided 26 metric tons of carbon emissions, according to data from festival organizers. This year's system will provide 1.5 megawatt hours of storage, the same capacity as last year. The system will power the T-Mobile stage. Read more here. What makes this year's Lollapalooza especially compelling is its focus on artists who represent the future of their respective genres. Whether it's Clairo's sophisticated, downtempo evolution on 'Charm,' innovative approach to indie rock, or The Marías' emotionally resonant breakup anthems, the festival promises to be a showcase for music that feels both contemporary and timeless. Here's our picks for the best-of-the-best. Read more here. The wave of visitors should keep most downtown hotel rooms and many restaurants filled, a much-needed boost at a time when overseas tourists seem increasingly reluctant to visit the U.S. Chicago hotel operators say it's become one of downtown's most important events, and this year may be the biggest ever. 'The Lolla lineup determines overall success,' said Nabil Moubayed, general manager of the 792-room InterContinental at 505 N. Michigan Ave. 'This year's lineup is very strong, so we are seeing exceptional demand. It's exciting for us and the market.' Read more here.
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business Wire
Viking Opens Bookings for 2027–2028 Ocean and Expedition Voyages
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viking® ( (NYSE: VIK) today announced that its 2027–2028 ocean and expedition voyages are now open for booking. With destination-focused journeys on all seven continents, additional departures are now available across Viking's award-winning ocean and expedition fleet, including the company's most popular itineraries. The new sailing dates include voyages on Viking's newest ocean ship, the Viking Lyra®, which is scheduled to join the fleet in 2028 and will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. As part of today's announcement, Viking also unveiled a new expedition itinerary, Into the Antarctic Circle, which will offer travelers the rare opportunity to cross the 66°33′ line of latitude, which marks the Antarctic Circle, while exploring the 'White Continent' – an honored milestone among polar explorers. 'Our guests are curious travelers who like to connect with the destinations they visit in a meaningful way,' said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. 'We have always crafted journeys that are designed to bring our guests closer to history, culture and nature in each destination—and we are pleased to offer an even wider selection of itineraries and departure dates in the years to come.' With a fleet of small, all-veranda sister ships designed specifically for ocean voyages and state-of-the-art Polar Class expedition ships, Viking offers more than 100 itineraries across all five oceans and on all seven continents. The 2027–2028 deployment expands the company's offerings on its most popular and new voyages, including: NEW for 2027 Into the Antarctic Circle (15 days; Buenos Aires – Ushuaia) – Enter the pristine world of the 'White Continent' and sail across the 66°33′ line of latitude into the Antarctic Circle. Venture into this untouched polar region that teems with remarkable wildlife and is visited by only a rare few. Navigate narrow channels by Zodiac, kayak ice-laden waters and participate in meaningful science with resident experts from partner organizations such as the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute and UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography and J. Craig Venter Institute. A voyage of discoveries and sheer wonder awaits on this extended itinerary that goes beyond mere sightseeing. South America & the Chilean Fjords (18 days; Buenos Aires – Santiago) – Soak in the eclectic mix of Latin and European influences in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, the birthplace of tango. Visit Port Stanley, home to more than one million penguins, and explore the scenic surroundings of Ushuaia, the city at the 'End of the World.' Sail through the Strait of Magellan, passing rugged mountain peaks and blue-tinted icebergs and experience Chile's vibrant capital city, Santiago. Viking Homelands (15 days; Stockholm – Bergen) – Sail the clear waters of Scandinavia and the Baltic on this 15-day voyage. Delve deeper with overnight stays in the refined capital of Stockholm, the culturally rich city of Oslo and the picturesque coastal city of Bergen. Discover the charming historic center of Tallinn and marvel at the Gothic brick cathedrals in Gdańsk. Immerse yourself in Norwegian culture in Stavanger and Eidfjord and view breathtaking scenery from your ship as she glides through majestic fjords in the legendary homelands of the Vikings. Australia & New Zealand (15 days; Sydney – Auckland) – Gain a deep understanding of the native and European influences that shape Australia and New Zealand. Learn about Australia's penal past from a descendant of its first settlers. Admire the Victorian treasures of Dunedin, the fragrant English gardens of Christchurch and the art deco glories of Napier. Enjoy the sounds of the didgeridoo from Indigenous Australians and watch the captivating dances of the Māori. With Viking, every moment is designed to immerse you in the rich heritage of these southern lands. British Isles Explorer (15 days; Bergen—London) – Journey through the storied landscapes of the British Isles and explore Norway's charming city of Bergen. Discover the legendary Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland and its capital, Edinburgh. Visit the Shetland and Orkney Islands and contrast modern Belfast with traditional Dublin. Experience Welsh culture in Snowdonia. In England, visit Liverpool, home of the legendary Beatles and the 'World Capital of Pop,' see historic Dover and its dramatic white chalk cliffs and overnight in Greenwich, a borough of London and home to several iconic maritime institutions. Great Lakes Collection (15 days; Toronto – Duluth) – Join Viking for a unique voyage across the historic waterways of all five of the majestic Great Lakes. Sail scenic shorelines, explore storied cities and admire the awesome power of the thundering Niagara Falls. Navigate the granite islands and sheltered inlets of Georgian Bay and traverse the famous Soo Locks. Study the aquatic ecosystems of the lakes as you journey and venture into the dense boreal forests that line the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Far Eastern Horizons (15 days; Hong Kong – Tokyo) – Unravel the mysteries of one of the most captivating corners of Asia. Browse the lively stalls at Hong Kong's renowned Stanley Market. Gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan through the perspective of a local guide. In Japan, hear firsthand accounts from residents of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Uncover the vibrant contrasts of Shimizu and Tokyo with insights from those who live there. With overnight stays in four ports, you will have the time to explore each destination in greater depth. Into the Northwest Passage (13 days; roundtrip Nuuk) – Discover the rugged landscapes and awe-inspiring nature of the Arctic Circle. Immerse yourself in Inuit customs and traditions while exploring towns dotted with colorful wooden houses. See the towering peaks of Greenland and the blue-tinged glaciers of the Canadian High Arctic, as you kayak pristine fjords, or partake in a Zodiac shore landing. Join Viking on a once-in-lifetime voyage to remote territories and stunning natural wonders. Alaska & the Inside Passage (11 days; Vancouver – Seward) – Immerse yourself in Tlingit culture and experience the outpost atmosphere that prevails in charming, mountain-ringed seaside towns. Sail a pristine wilderness of misty fjords, lush forests and gleaming walls of ice, pan for gold like prospectors of old and hear tales of a region where a Wild West spirit still feels very much alive. Classic Panama Canal Passage (11 days; Ft. Lauderdale – Panama City) – Immerse yourself in nature and discover the colonial gems of Central America. Set sail and relax in the serene surroundings of Cozumel on the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Discover the ancient Mayan civilization in Belize and explore the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. Embark on a crossing of Panama's famed canal, an engineering marvel, and witness centuries-old tribal life as you experience the traditions of the Emberá people. Empires of the Mediterranean (10 days; Venice – Athens) – Ten days. Nine magnificent destinations. One epic journey. Sail the Adriatic and Aegean, taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by iconic Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar and Dubrovnik and admire the famed whitewashed villages of Santorini. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and be captivated by Koper, the gateway to picturesque Slovenia. Iceland's Natural Beauty (8 days; roundtrip Reykjavik) – Discover Iceland's majestic shores as you explore this northern isle's coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and see cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjords. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid Norse explorer Leif Eriksson, widely regarded as the first European to set foot in North America. Or observe the remarkable diversity of wildlife, from puffins and Arctic foxes to seals and whales. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor. Iconic Western Mediterranean (8 days; Barcelona – Rome) – France's famed southern coast and Italy's Renaissance treasures take center stage on this eight-day Mediterranean sojourn. Immerse yourself in Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture and history during overnights in Barcelona and Tuscany. In the South of France, call on historic Montpellier and picturesque Marseille and visit Monte Carlo, Monaco's glamorous city by the sea. Viking's Award-Winning Fleet Viking was rated #1 for Oceans, #1 for Rivers and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. Viking was also named a 'World's Best' for oceans, rivers and expeditions in Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards. No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors from both publications. In the 2025 World's Best Awards, Viking was once again named #1 for Expeditions, a position it has maintained since its first year of eligibility in that category. Viking was named Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples and Best Line in the Mediterranean in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Cruise Lines ranking for the fourth consecutive year. Viking's ocean ships have also been rated and 'Recommended' as part of the Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards, an annual independent evaluation for luxury travel brands. Additionally, Cruise Critic honored Viking with seven awards across the Luxury (Ocean), River and Expedition categories 2024 Best in Cruise Awards. One Viking Designed for curious travelers, Viking's river, ocean and expedition voyages bring guests to the heart of enriching destinations on all seven continents. From Europe's iconic waterways and the storied shores of the Mediterranean to the Canadian High Arctic and Antarctica, the Viking experience is singular. To learn more, visit Booking Details From now through August 31, 2025, Viking is offering North American travelers the Summer Sale, with reduced fares on all-inclusive voyages, with up to free international airfare and a $25 deposit. Call Viking toll free at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or contact a travel advisor for booking details. Media Assets For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact vikingpr@ About Viking Viking (NYSE: VIK) was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 and 2024 Readers' Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a 'World's Best' for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure. No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit
