Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone
The Last Thing He Told Me, Tastes of Texas, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Walter Clayton Jr., Busted Bracket
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This issue includes my favorite moments at the Final Four in Texas, a book about a man who disappears suddenly, the best bites I had in Texas, a great 90s band from Santa Barbara, the most outstanding player at the Final Four, and a classic cake. I hope you like the picks and pics.
Is anybody goin' to San Antone
Or Phoenix Arizona?
(song lyrics by Glenn Martin and Dave Kirby)
Yes, Barb, Roger, and I were going to San Antone. And we had a marvelous time there, eating, walking, cruising along the Riverwalk, meeting up with friends, and seeing three thrilling basketball games.
Unfortunately, neither of our teams made it to San Antonio. To honor them, Barb wore the U of M colors, and I posed in front of both teams’ logos.
To cap it all off, I was the co-champion of Roger’s bracket pool, tied with our friend Jim Long of Northville, whose bracket is named for his granddaughter. Barb came in 8th place — not a bad showing for this basketball-loving power couple.
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Fave Five 131: Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone
Disappearing Dad (The Last Thing He Told Me), Tastes of Texas (Chi Chi Bird’s, Blush, Boudro’s, Los Cuates, Kreuz, Labor Street Café, Pinkerton’s), Sweet Santa Barbara Band (Toad The Wet Sprocket), Great Gator (Walter Clayton Jr.), and a Busted Bracket.
Fave Five List: Final Four Favorites
Barb, Roger, and I had a lot of fun at the Final Four. Here are my five favorite moments from the weekend, not including the food — see the restaurant section for our dining highlights.
Bands on Barges. Just as in 2018, the bands and cheerleaders for each team floated by on Riverwalk barges. I always liked the Battle of the Bands, which I first saw in 2000 in Indy and enjoyed until it was called off in 2005 in St. Louis. Florida’s piccolo player and Houston’s wind section were our favorite performers.
Our annual meetup with four Final Four fanatics from Michigan. Mike and Matt played basketball with Roger, and their two friends Josh and Dave have become our friends. It’s always fun to hang out with them.
Enjoying a reunion with our friends Robin and Bill from the first Cayamo music cruise. We met them at the first dinner of Cayamo 2008. We have been together many times since then, including a tour of Ireland and a music festival in New Mexico. But we hadn’t seen them since stopping at their home in Georgetown (north of Austin) on the way to California in 2021. It was great to see them again and to introduce them to Roger.
Making a new friend while waiting in line for barbecue. The long wait seemed to pass quickly as Anna and I chatted about basketball, food, music, and children. A Duke fan, she came to root for her Blue Devils along with her son, Parker.
Three great games, with comebacks in all three. On Saturday, Florida overcame a 9-point lead by Auburn to win 79-73, and Houston came back from a 14-point deficit in the second half to beat Duke 70-67. On Monday, Florida was down 12 to Houston with 16 minutes left in the game and still won 65-63. We rarely see any games this close at the Final Four, let alone three, and it was a treat.
Book Best Bet
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
This book was recommended by someone I follow, so I bought it. It’s exciting and fast-paced. The writing is not as good as other authors I like, the plot is not particularly realistic, and the mention of a “chaise lounge” instead of the correct “chaise longue” rankled me for a moment. But I liked it, and Barb and I just started watching the TV series version on Apple TV+ and will continue with it.
From Amazon: The "genuinely moving" (New York Times) and "gripping thriller" (Entertainment Weekly about a woman who thinks she's found the love of her life—until he disappears.
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah's increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen's boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn't who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen's true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen's past, they soon realize they're also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.
With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a "page-turning, exhilarating, and unforgettable" (PopSugar) suspense novel.
Restaurant Recommendations
Tastes of Texas
Here are the highlights of our four days in San Antonio (and nearby Lockhart).
Chi Chi Bird’s Hot Chicken 1004 South Alamo Street, San Antonio, TX 78210
Roger and I came here late Friday after he arrived from DC. This food truck was next to a lively bar.
Crispy Boys: 4 tantalizing tacos crafted with crispy shells, Chi Chi Birds Hot Chicken, zesty red salsa, bird sauce, and tangy spicy pickled onions.
Blush Bakery 713 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
This was a short walk from our Airbnb. The pastries were so good that we had breakfast here on both Saturday and Sunday.
Cinnamon Roll
Boudro’s Texas Bistro 421 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
We always love coming to this Riverwalk spot for tableside guac. We just beat the lunch rush to score a nice outside table on the upper level.
Guacamole for Two: Freshly prepared at your table with diced avocado, roasted tomato and serrano pepper, cilantro and fresh lime and orange juices
Taqueria Los Cuates 732 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Roger and I stopped here on our walk back from the Saturday games. We just beat the line that soon stretched out the door. Passersby are stopped by seeing the meat and pineapple being sliced off the trompo and make a quick decision to get in line.
Tacos Al Pastor
Kreuz Market 619 N Colorado St, Lockhart, TX 78644
This was my third visit, and once again, we got here just in time ahead of the crowd. Going into the pit to order your meat and smell the smoke is a near-religious experience.
Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, Pit Ham, Turkey Breast, Half Chicken, Original Sausage, Jalapeno Cheese Sausage
Labor Street Cafe 718 Labor Street, San Antonio, TX 78210
This was another short walk from our rental home, and we loved the food and service.
Tejas Scramble: Scrambled Eggs, Cheddar Cheese, White Onion, Avocado, Tomatoes, Micro Cilantro, Salsa Rojo, Hashbrowns, and Sourdough Toast
Pinkerton’s Barbecue 107 W. Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205
When in Texas, take advantage and have as much barbecue as possible. I waited for 90 minutes in the line here, and it was worth it. I made a new friend and both the meats and the sides were outstanding.
Brisket, Turkey, Chicken Thigh, Pork Rib, Brisket Sandwich, Grant’s Potato Salad, Tangy Coleslaw
Marvelous Musicians
We saw the band for the fourth time at the March 8, 2025 benefit show in Santa Barbara. They are one of my favorites.
This band started in Santa Barbara, were we spend the winter. I became a fan of Toad in 1991 when I bought Fear. I bought their subsequent albums and then forgot about them after they broke up in 1998. When they appeared at The Ark in Ann Arbor on May 4, 2009, I was there and loved the show. When they returned to The Ark on September 16, 2010, I was in the front row with fellow Toad fans. We saw the band on July 29, 2011 in a field in West Michigan and on September 1, 2016 at Royal Oak Music Theatre. We saw Glen solo on Cayamo 2009 and 2017 and with WPA on Cayamo 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. We saw WPA at The Ark on December 5, 2009.
From Wikipedia: Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consisted of vocalist/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss, who stopped touring in 2017 and left the band in 2020. Guss was replaced by drummer Josh Daubin, who had been supporting them as their drummer on recent tours. They had chart success in the 1990s with singles that included "Walk on the Ocean", "All I Want", "Something's Always Wrong", "Fall Down", and "Good Intentions". The band broke up in 1998 to pursue other projects; however, they began touring the United States again in 2006 for short-run tours each summer in small venues. In December 2010, the band announced their official reunion as a full-time working band.
Toad the Wet Sprocket takes its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes", in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report: Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle. "Fell off the back of a motorcyclist, most likely," quipped ace drummer Jumbo McClooney upon hearing of the accident. Plans are now afoot for a major tour of Iceland.
As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious." Vocalist Glen Phillips later called it "a joke that went on too long" and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time." The name had been used once before, by a short-lived British blues band of the late 1970s that had appeared on the 1980 Metal for Muthas compilation, although the earlier band had long since split up when Philips and company formed their band.
Eric Idle, the sketch's original performer, reflected on the band's name in a 1999 performance: I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians, and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket." And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in LA, and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket," and I nearly drove off the freeway.
Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970 in Santa Barbara, California) is an American songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of the alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket. Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986, at the age of 15.
Walk On The Ocean
Something's Always Wrong
Crazy Life
All I Want
Whatever I Fear
My Playlist
Sports Star
Walter had an outstanding 2025 NCAA Tournament, leading Florida to the National Championship.
vs. Norfolk State (First Round): 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting with five rebounds, two assists and a steal
vs. UConn (Second Round): 23 points on 6-of-14 shooting with three rebounds and an assist
vs. Maryland (Sweet 16): 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting with four assists, a rebound and a steal
vs. Texas Tech (Elite Eight): 30 points on 7-of-14 shooting with four assists, two blocks and two rebounds
vs. Auburn (Final Four): 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting with four rebounds and two assists
vs. Houston (Championship): 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting with five rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block
From Wikipedia: Walter Marterry Clayton Jr. (born March 6, 2003 in Sebring, Florida) is an American college basketball player for the Florida Gators of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2025. Clayton began his collegiate career with the Iona Gaels.
In his first season at Florida, Clayton averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists and was honored as Second-Team All-SEC. He played an instrumental role in getting the Gators to the SEC Tournament Championship for the first time in 10 years and the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 3 years. Despite the loss, Clayton had 33 points in a historic performance against Colorado in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
After the 2023–24 season, Clayton declared for the NBA Draft. However, he ended up withdrawing from the draft and returning to Florida for his senior season. It was during this season that Clayton had one of the best individual seasons in Florida basketball history. He led Florida to a 27-4 record in the regular season while averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. During this season, Clayton led Florida to wins over No. 1 Tennessee and at No. 1 Auburn, which was the first time Florida had ever beaten a No. 1 on the road. He also helped lead Florida to its best overall record and SEC record in 11 years. After the regular season, Clayton was honored as first-team All-SEC selection. On March 18, 2025, Clayton was named a first-team All American.
Clayton went on to lead the Gators to the national championship, making a crucial defensive stop causing Houston's Emanuel Sharp to pump-fake on a potential game-winning three-pointer and lose his dribble. Clayton's teammate Alex Condon pounced on the loose ball to seal the Gators' third national championship in program history and first since 2007. Clayton was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP).
What came after the Florida Gators' national title win is what has people talking
With time ticking down, Clayton, a senior guard, watched as Houston Cougars sharpshooter Emmanuel Sharp (the name is serendipitous) caught a pass at the top of the key and geared up for a potential game-winning 3.
Clayton — alone in the paint — raced to the top of the key, leaped high in the air and managed to affect Sharp’s view of the hoop so severely that the Sharp tried to land without shooting the ball, which would constitute a clear "up and down" traveling violation and an automatic turnover.
Instead, Sharp dropped the ball, a scramble ensued, and the Florida Gators sealed their third championship as time expired, stunning Cougars fans as the Gators and their fan base erupted in euphoria.
But it’s what Clayton did next that served as a reminder that there’s truth to that old adage “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”
He walked over to Sharp, who was kneeling on the hardwood, hands buried in his face, and placed his arm on his opponent's back. He offered some words of encouragement and gave him a hug, literally just moments after the game had ended.
Corey Brewer: Walter Clayton is on the Florida basketball Mount Rushmore
He topped the 30-point mark in both the Elite Eight and Final Four, becoming the first player since Larry Bird to do so.
Walter Clayton Jr.’s 1-Year-Old Daughter Leilani
Walter Clayton Jr. 2025 NCAA tournament highlights (Final Four MOP)
Picture Pun
For those whose brackets are busted, let them eat cake.
Another great post! I'm a big fan of Pinkerton's, and back when I was staying Texas I thought Kreuz Market had thebest sausages in the state.