Texas Nightlife History
San Antonio (/ˌsæn ænˈtoʊnioʊ/ SAN an-TOH-nee-oh; Spanish for “Saint Anthony“), officially the City of San Antonio, is a city in and the county seat of Bexar County, Texas, United States. The city is the seventh-most populous in the United States, the second-largest in the Southern United States,[9] and the second-most populous in Texas after Houston. It is the 17th-most populous city in North America, with 1,434,625 residents as of 2020.[10]
Founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the city in 1731 became the first chartered civil settlement in what is now present-day Texas. The area was then part of the Spanish Empire. From 1821 to 1836, it was part of the Mexican Republic. It is the oldest municipality in Texas, having celebrated its 300th anniversary on May 1, 2018.[11][12][13]
From 2000 to 2010, the city was the fastest growing of the top ten largest cities in the United States; it was the second in growth in that category from 1990 to 2000.[14][15] San Antonio is the largest city of the San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area. Commonly called Greater San Antonio, the metropolitan area had a population of 2,601,788 based on the 2020 U.S. census estimates, making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and third-largest in Texas.[16]
Straddling the regional divide between South and Central Texas, San Antonio anchors the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion colloquially known as the Texas Triangle. Downtown San Antonio and Downtown Austin are approximately 80 miles (130 km) apart, both falling along the Interstate 35 corridor. Some observers expect the two metropolitan regions to form a new metroplex similar to Dallas and Fort Worth.[17][18]
San Antonio was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for the Portuguese priest Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13.[19][20] The city contains five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Together these were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015.[21] Other notable attractions include the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, SeaWorld San Antonio, the Alamo Bowl, and Marriage Island. Commercial entertainment includes Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan’s Wonderland amusement parks. According to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city is visited by about 32 million tourists a year. It is home to the five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion San Antonio Spurs. It hosts the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest such events in the U.S.
The U.S. Armed Forces have numerous facilities in and around San Antonio;[22][23][24] Fort Sam Houston, which has Brooke Army Medical Center within it, is the only one within the city limits. Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Kelly Air Force Base, Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley are outside the city limits. San Antonio is home to four Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center, the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region.
San Antonio is also the largest majority-Hispanic city in the United States, with 64% of its population being Hispanic.[25]
Traffic between Austin and San Antonio is steadily getting worse due to absolutely no regional planning and getting stuck in traffic jams even on the weekend is now a distinct possibility during random hours of the day and night! however, you might have someone do the driving for you now! check out Vonlane!
NEED A RIDE? CHECK OUT VONLANE | HITCH | FLIXBUS | REDCOACH | MEGABUS | GREYHOUND | TEXAS EAGLE | Twisted Road | Riders Share | Zipcar
COVID19 has changed or cancelled many events or venues. Please check the business websites before planning your night!! https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Home
Local Arts and Cultural Organizations
The city of San Antonio is home to many different arts and cultural organizations — some center on visual arts, while others provide opportunities to enjoy performing arts, such as music and dance. San Antonio has a rich and diverse cultural past and present. Cultural organizations offer creative, and often times historical learning experiences about our community, city, state and world, and about people, as a society, what our artistic and intellectual ideas, beliefs and achievements have been. Arts and cultural organizations draw us together by helping us to better understand one another. They reach and teach us the old and new things and bring us enjoyment to enrich our lives.
By supporting these local arts organizations and taking advantage of their individual educational opportunities, you are encouraging the ongoing growth of arts and culture in San Antonio.
Artpace | Founded by Linda Pace, Pace conceived of Artpace as a laboratory of dreams, providing artists from all over the world with an environment that would encourage experimentation and growth.
ARTS San Antonio | ARTS SA’s mission is to enhance the cultural and educational environment of San Antonio by presenting high quality visual and performing arts.
Ballet San Antonio | Ballet San Antonio has been reaching approximately 40,000 members of our community every year – not just through our regular performances but through a variety of community outreach initiatives.
Bihl Haus Arts | Nurtures and promotes the work of diverse visual and cultural artists in San Antonio; Fosters artistic excellence and intergenerational and multicultural understanding and awareness; Creates community between seniors enrolled in the GO! Arts program, area established and emerging artists, members of surrounding neighborhoods, and the global art culture; and • Builds collaborations with other cultural and social service organizations to maximize access to collective resources.
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center | Blue Star is an innovative contemporary art museum whose mission is to “inspire the creative genius in us all.”
Carver Community Cultural Center | The mission of the Carver Community Cultural Center is to celebrate the diverse
cultures of our world, nation and community, with emphasis on its African and
African-American heritage, by providing challenging artistic presentations,
community outreach activities and educational programs.
Centro Cultural Aztlan | Centro Cultural Aztlan is a community based organization with a mission to preserve, develop and promote Chicano/Latino art and culture.
Children’s Chorus of San Antonio | From infants to young adults, CCSA is dedicated to enriching and expanding the experiences of young people through choral singing and musical performance. CCSA’s commitment to artistic excellence, social inclusion and individual responsibility empowers young singers to embrace and explore a broader, more positive view of self and the world.
Children’s Fine Arts Series | The only organization of its kind which presents performing arts exclusively for young children.
Choose to Dream | Dedicated to developing youth in the study of the Arts, Communication and Leadership. Musical Theatre and Musical Theatre Camp.
Classic Theatre | The Classic Theatre’s mission is to reinvigorate and create new audiences for the theatre by presenting professional productions of popular classics and forgotten masterpieces and new material for residents of and visitors to San Antonio.
The DoSeum (Formerly the San Antonio Children’s Museum) San Antonio’s new museum for kids, opening June 6, 2015. Is comprised of a series of three, two-story exhibit halls totaling 65,000 square feet. Between each exhibit hall, glass facades will create daylight-flooded transitional spaces that connect visitors to the additional 39,000 square feet of outdoor exhibit yards.
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center | Esperanza works to preserve and promote artistic and cultural expression of and among diverse communities.
Get Creative San Antonio | The city of San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development’s homepage for Arts and Culture.
Gemini Ink | Gemini Ink offers a variety of community writing classes and workshops.
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center | The Guadalupe Arts Center’s mission is to promote and preserve Latino arts and culture in San Antonio.
Magik Theatre | Magik Theatre aims to “nurture a love and understanding of theatre and literature by providing extraordinary, affordable, and professional theatre and education experiences.”
McNay Art Museum | Texas’s first museum of modern art, the McNay houses nearly 20,000 works from Medieval and Renaissance pieces to the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts.
My Art Starz | My Art Starz offers after school art classes for children, as well as mobile art parties and summer camps.
Overtime Theatre Innovative and accessible theatre at an affordable price. Experience new, original works, or new, unconventional adaptations of old classics.
Pixel SAAVI At Pixel Saavi, painting is for everyone. Digital Painting and social event all rolled into one fun party.
The Renaissance Guild San Antonio’s Premier Black Theatre Company
San Anto Cultural Arts The largest contributor to public art in San Antonio, to foster human and community development through community based arts programs.
San Antonio Opera | Resident opera company at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
San Pedro Playhouse | The Playhouse’s mission is to bring the community together through the enjoyment of high quality theatre for all ages.
SAY Si | SAY Si provides students opportunities to develop both artistic and social skills to encourage future academic success.
Southwest School of Art | The school, which also offers a museum, is a nationally-recognized leader in arts education, currently offering studio programs for more than 4,000 adults, children and teens annually on its campus.
San Antonio Symphony | The San Antonio Symphony, in addition to providing high quality musical performances, offers an array of educational opportunities for students.
Urban-15 | Urban-15 offers a variety of free classes to young children and seniors
Witte Museum | The Witte offers exhibitions and programs on natural history, science, and South Texas heritage.
Woodlawn Theatre Woodlawn Theatre, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to creating opportunities for its surrounding community by providing quality, entertaining, educational, and affordable programming for all ages. A historic theatre, located in the Deco district of San Antonio, regular live community theatre performances and educational programs sustain traditional theatre for all to enjoy.
Young Orchestra of San Antonio | YOSA is comprised of eight orchestras, which rehearse weekly throughout the school year. The organization is involved in several school partnerships and offers music camps during the summer.
When you walk through the halls of the Bonham Exchange, you’re not just walking into the hottest night club in San Antonio, you’re literally traveling back into time. Our history extends back to 1891. That’s when Turn Verin, a German athletic association, whose purpose was to the improvement of the mind through the development of the body, purchased the land our beloved Bonham sits on.
On April 18 of that year, architect James Wahrenberger and builder Adam Maurer, set out to erect Turner Hall for just under $35,000. The building would contain a bowling alley, a gymnasium, and a grand ballroom for formal events. The 20,000 square foot facility would be covered in pressed Chicago brick, lined with Kerrville limestone, and granite.
Nine months later, on January 30, 1892, a luxurious and festive grand opening party was held. It was covered by the then, San Antonio Daily Express, which would later become the San Antonio Express News. It was acclaimed as an affair worthy of the occasion, eclipsed in elegance by everyone who had witnessed it, and would be remembered in local social circles for many years. However, the founding family, the Turners, faced some struggles in the coming decades as their children did not share their love and enthusiasm for fitness nor the essential interest in the athletic association. Nonetheless, the Turners had ideas for expanding the Hall.
In February of 1929, plans were drawn up to add on an additional 10-stories. That expansion would also include a 3rd story swimming pool, basketball courts, office space, club room, and a formal dining room. However, a few months later, the Great Depression hit and the Turners struggled to keep up their loan payments to the bank. In 1932, they defaulted on their loan of the Hall.
The United States government purchased the property ten years later for $90,000 to house a new USO office downtown. But with all the anti-German sentiment flourishing during World War II, many of the historical and memorable German markings of the old Hall were removed from the decor. The stone marking Turner Hall was also taken down outside and many of the ornate stained glass windows, depicting Stars of David, inside the ballroom were boarded over. The final architectural insult was that the gorgeous brick exterior was painted with a drab olive green. Decades later, during restoration, the sandblasting to remove the paint would destroy the patina and waterproofing of the brick.
The USO used the Bonham building for almost 30 years and then relocated to Hemisfair Plaza in the 1970s. After that, the government turned it into a storage facility for the downtown post office.
However in 1980, downtown developer Arthur P Veltman (other known as “Hap” or Happy”), was scouting the area for a new location to replace his previous gay nightclub The San Antonio Country, which had recently been purchased by the Valero Corporation in a much publicized event. He fell in love with our Beloved Turner Hall, choosing the building for its beauty and history. That began a costly renovation process for the long, long neglected building.
The Bonham Exchange opened its doors to club patrons in July 1981 with a great grand party, similar to the Hall’s original opening nearly a century prior and we have been going strong ever since. Hap was a great man with a great vision. The world truly lost a visionary with his rather sudden and untimely death in December of 1988. He entrusted the club to the two beneficiaries in his estate, Kenneth Garrett, who still heads the club today, and Wade Strauch, who was also lost to an untimely death in 1992.
Today the Bonham Exchange is over 120 years old and is known as San Antonio’s premier downtown hot spot for over 30 years. We have been the host to many big name entertainers over the years, including, but not limited to: Tina Turner, the Ramones, the Bangles, Iggy Pop, Bronski Beat, The Thompson Twins, Simple Minds, Georgia Ragsdale, Debra Harry, Black Box, Martha Wash, Taylor Dayne, RuPaul, Real Life, Pamela Stanley, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Lonnie Gordon, and Ministry. We have also hosted celebrity events and sightings with such stars as: Helen Reddy, Puff Daddy, Prince, Patrick Swayze, Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, Ashley Judd. Not to mention cast parties with touring Broadway Shows such as: Greater Tuna, Will Rogers Follies, Hello Dolly!, Buddy the Buddy Holly Story, Fiddler on the roof, The Phantom of the Opera National Tour I & II, Jesus Christ Superstar, South Pacific, Swing!, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, BLAST!, Mamma Mia!, Cats, Grease, Singin’ in the Rain, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, Cabaret, Les Miserables, The Producers, Aida, and 42nd street. Also the Moscow Ballet and The Nutcracker Russian Ballet.
If you look around you’ll see we recently (2012) went through a massive renovation. We restored, replaced, and refinished over 10,000 square feet of hardwood floors. We recarpeted, repainted, rewired, replumbed, redecorated, and revamped your favorite San Antonio Nightlife Spot.
We don’t like to drop a dollar figure on exactly how much this massive renovation cost us, trust and believe, it was pricey but well worth it. Let us just say you, our customers, patrons, friends, and family (and when you are here, you are family), were well worth it. Because without you, we wouldn’t be here, there would be no need to remodel, no need to restock the bar, no need to spin tunes, or keep the dance floor open. We appreciate each and every one of you.
Our Mission: At the Bonham Exchange we strive to not only provide a safe venue for music and dancing, but to change with the times. We hope to expose people to new ideas and to maintain a space where ALL individuals can get along and enjoy each other’s company, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, age, or sexual preference. We invite you to come out, be whoever you want to be, and have a great time without fear of criticism. This is the legacy of the Bonham Exchange, as envisioned by Hap Veltman.
Past acts that have played the Bonham Exchange
Live Music Venues by San Antonio Neighborhoods
- Historic Civic District
- San Antonio
- Downtown
- Houston Street
- Midtown
- Riverwalk
- SoSo (South of Southtown)
- Southtown
- Uptown
- Adkins
- Canyon Lake
- New Braunfels
- San Marcos
- Stone Oak
- Hill Country
- La Villita
- North Central
- Northwest Side
- Southside
- East Side
- Near East Side
- Dignowity Hill
- Greater Harmony Hills
- Roosevelt Park
- Sonterra-Stone Oak
- Tobin Hill
VENUES ACROSS TEXAS
800 Live Nightclub & Venue – 800 Lexington Ave, San Antonio
9PM Music Venue – 9371 Richmond Ave, Houston
Ah Sing Den – 1110 E 6th St, Austin
Alexrad – 1517 Alabama St, Houston
Aura – 4701 Nett St, Houston
Avant Garden – 411 Westheimer, Houston
Baby’s Club – 11107 Bellaire Blvd, Houston
Barbarella – 2404 San Jacinto, Houston
Barbarella Austin – 611 Red River St, Austin
Barcelona Austin – 209 E 6th St, Austin
Bauhaus – 1803 Pease St, Houston
Beauty Bar Dallas – 1924 N Henderson, Dallas
Bonham Exchange – 411 Bonham St, San Antonio
Boondocks – 1417 Westheimer, Houston
Cassidy’s – 2540 Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth
Cedar Street Courtyard – 208 W 4th St, Suite C, Austin
Cheapsteaks – 2613 Elm St, Dallas
Cheer Up Charlies – 900 Red River St, Austin
Church Bar – 212 E Mills Suite B, El Paso
Cle – 2301 Main St, Houston
Coconut Club – 310B Colorado St, Austin
Corp Lots – 6555 Navigation Blvd, Houston
Crowdus Bar – 2721 Main St, Dallas
CU-29 Cocktail Bar – 720 Brazos St Ste B-710, Austin
Deep Ellum Art Company – 3200 Commerce St, Dallas
Drinks Lounge – 2001 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin
Eastdown Warehouse – 850 McKee Street, Houston
Elysium – 705 Red River, Austin
Emo’s East – 2015 E Riverside Dr, Austin
Empire Control Room & Garage – 606 E 7th St, Austin
Ethics Music Lounge – 422 Congress Ave, #C, Austin
Etro Lounge – 1424A Westheimer, Houston
Granada Theater – 3524 Greenville Ave, Dallas
Green Door – 8750 Gateway Blvd E, El Paso
Green Light Social – 2625 Floyd St, Dallas
Haltom Theater – 5601 Belknap St, Haltom City
Highland Lounge – 404 Colorado St, Austin
Hotel Vegas – 1500 E 6th St, Austin
House of Blues – 1204 Caroline St., Houston
House of Creeps – 807 William St., Houston
Indra’s Awarehouse – 7904 FM 969, Austin
Industry Alley Bar – 1711 S Lamar St, Dallas
It’ll DO Club – 4322 Elm St, Dallas
Karma Lounge – 105 E 5th St, Austin
Kingdom Austin – 103 E 5th St, Austin
Kremlin SA – 212 College St, San Antonio
Las Cruxes – 1900 E 12th St, Austin
Last Concert Cafe – 1403 Nance St., Houston
Levu Dallas Nightclub – 2505 Pacific Ave, Dallas
Lincoln Bar – 5101 Washington St., Houston
Lizard Lounge – 2424 Swiss Ave, Dallas
Lumen Lounge – 5020 Kirby Drive, Houston
Lush Rooftop – 4553 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 1201, San Antonio
Main Street Tap & Grill – 4002 Main St, Houston
North Door – 502 Brushy St, Austin
notsuoH – 314 Main Street, Houston
Numbers – 300 Westheimer, Houston
Outer Heaven Disco Club – 1808 E 12th St, Austin
Plush – 617 Red River St, Austin
Present Company – 1318 Westheimer, Houston
Pure Lounge – 505 Main St., Houston
RBC – 2617 Commerce St, Dallas
Reset – 606 Dennis, Houston
Rise Rooftop – 2600 Travis St, Houston
Roof 324 – 324 S 17th St, McAllen
Rose Room – 11500 Rock Rose Ave, Austin
Rubber Gloves – 411 E Sycamore St, Denton
Ruins – 2653 Commerce, Dallas
San Jac Saloon – 300 E 6th St, Austin
Satellite Bar – 6922 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston
Scratchouse – 617 E 7th St, Austin
South Congress Hotel – 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin
South Side Ballroom – 1135 S Lamar St, Dallas
Spire Houston – 1720 Main St, Houston
Stereo Live – 6400 Richmond Ave, Houston
Stereo Live Dallas – 2711 Storey Lane, Dallas
Studio 69 – 6910 Shirley Ave, Suite C, Austin
Summit Rooftop Lounge – 120 W 5th St, Austin
Superstition – 110 E Riverside, Austin
Super Happy Fun Land – 3801 Polk Street, Houston
Sweet Tooth Hotel – 2316 Victory Park Ln, Dallas
Tamale House East – 1707 E 6th St, Austin
Texas Live – 1650 E. Randol Mill Rd, Arlington
The Bomb Factory – 2713 Canton St, Dallas
The Commoner – 410 Main St, Houston
The Cut – 301 Chicon St, Austin
The Dive – 809 Pierce St, Houston
The Eastern Austin – 1511-b East 6th St, Austin
The Flat – 1701 Commonwealth, Houston
The Green Elephant – 5627 Dyer St, Dallas
The Last Word – 229 E Houston St, San Antonio
The Lowbrow Palace – 111 E Robinson Ave, El Paso
The MARC – 120 E San Antonio St, San Marcos
The Nines – Deep Ellum – 2911 Main St, Dallas
The Oven – 6910 Shirley Ave, Suite C, Austin
The Purple Hippo – 6292 Wilcrest Dr, Houston
The Rock Box – 1223 E Houston St, San Antonio
The Sahara Lounge – 1413 Webberville Rd, Austin
The Secret Group – 2101 Polk St, Houston
The Spot – 1102 E 30th, Austin
The Vanguard Performing Arts – 7115 Harrisburg, Houston
The Venue ATX – 516 E 6th St, B, Austin
The Volstead Lounge – 1500 E 6th St, Austin
The Yard FW – 3017 Morton St, Fort Worth
Theory Nightclub Uptown – 2912 McKinney Ave, Dallas
Tradewinds Social Club – 2843 W Davis St, Dallas
Ventura SATX – 1011 Ave B, San Antonio
Voodoo Room – 419 E 6th St, Austin
Vulcan Gas Company – 418 E 6th St, Austin
Wallflower – 500 San Francisco Ave, El Paso
Walter’s Houston – 1120 Naylor St., Houston
Warehouse Live – 813 St. Emanuel St., Houston
Wax Club Lounge – 2211 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio
Web House – 320 Blanco Rd, San Antonio
Wits End – 2724 Elm St, Dallas
Wonky Power Live – 3534 Navigation Blvd, Houston
Xpace – 5705 Armour Dr, Houston
