Day Trips: Sundays With Santiago, San Antonio
Accordion player Santiago Jiménez Jr. fills taco shop with free rancheras
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., Aug. 7, 2015
Sundays With Santiago features a national musical treasure playing for free at a little Mexican meat market on the west side of San Antonio.
"It's just a lot of fun to do, and the Almanza family are old friends of mine," says the NEA National Heritage award-winner Santiago Jiménez Jr. Gregarious and friendly, he has been playing the free gig on most Sundays for the last five years.
As a member of the first family of Tex-Mex accordion players, Santiago has paved a conjunto path unique from his father and his older brother Flaco. His music is toe-tapping infectious.
Even before noon, Santiago puts on a good show serenading the neighborhood residents as they stop by for a bowl of menudo or pound of cabrito, carnitas, or delicious pork ribs for a late breakfast or early lunch. The market sells tortillas and sodas, but you'll need to bring your own coffee or adult beverages.
With a simple band of a bass player and guitar player, Santiago goes through the rancheras and corridos on the button accordion with the same energy and passion he would use if it were a Saturday night dance hall.
Carnitas Uruapan is at 2530 Ruiz Street, at the corner of NW 24th, a few blocks south of Culebra Road. The meat market is only open on Saturday and Sunday, from 5am to 2pm. Sundays With Santiago goes from 10am 'til noon. It's one of the best free concerts around.
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