My good friends Ariela and Elliot are longtime New Yorkers who fled the Big Apple for Austin two years ago, got priced out and ended up in San Antonio. It’s a common story these days.

When I meet up with them in San Antonio, along the hipster-y St. Mary’s Strip, I begin to understand why they chose this city 80 miles to the southwest. Those hoping to “keep San Antonio lame” — a play on Austin’s “keep Austin weird” moniker — seem to be losing the battle, as quirky new bars and restaurants give Texas’ capital city a run for its money… (continue reading at The Chicago Tribune)