SAN ANTONIO – Today @ 10:30 a.m., coffee, cocktails and a park full of jack-o-lanterns.
VOILA CAFE
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National Coffee Day started with a beret and a table full of drinks at Voila Cafe, the French coffee spot at 1803 Broadway St. in San Antonio. The director of operations, who was born in Paris and grew up in New York City, put the cafe’s resemblance to the real thing at about 95%, minus the French people. The tasting began with dessert: an affogato, French vanilla bean ice cream slowly melting under a double shot of espresso, which he suggested pairing with a croissant. From there came a toasted marshmallow iced latte, offered as an alternative for anyone tired of pumpkin spice, and a cappuccino, the cafe’s most popular order. Non-coffee drinkers got an iced vanilla matcha inspired by the botanical garden a few blocks up Broadway. Pastries, creme brulee, an apple tart and breakfast are all on the menu, and yes, the berets are for sale in a range of colors. The segment also kicked off the question of the day, with viewers asked to name their own favorite coffee shop.
CHAMA GAUCHA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE
The coffee theme moved behind the bar at Chama Gaúcha Brazilian Steakhouse, 217 E. Houston St. in San Antonio, right across from the Majestic Theater. The bartender walked through two coffee cocktails: the house espresso martini, built with Licor 43, vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, and the Carajillo, described as the Brazilian after-dinner drink, where the Licor 43 is caramelized and lit for about 15 seconds before the espresso goes in. He also laid out the restaurant’s two-part dining format, a salad bar with 30 to 40 fresh items, then the meat service, all USDA prime and wet aged for more than 35 days. From the bar menu came the Chama board with picanha and Brazilian sausage, a beef carpaccio made with thinly sliced filet mignon that he called one of the best lunch sellers, beef rib sliders and the restaurant’s take on steak fries.
SPURS MEDIA DAY
A quick look ahead at the Spurs season, built from Media Day interviews. Players talked about the support the city showed during the playoff run and about the expectations that come with it, which one framed as a sign the team is doing something right.
LUNG CANCER PREVENTION AND SCREENING
In a segment sponsored by University Health, San Antonio, a cardiothoracic surgeon and lung transplant surgical director from the University Health Transplant Institute laid out what to know about lung cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, affecting about 1 in 19 Americans, and smoking raises the risk 15 to 30 times over the general population. Early warning signs include a cough lasting several weeks, chest discomfort, shortness of breath or wheezing, recurring infections and coughing up sputum streaked with blood, though he stressed that most early-stage lung cancers cause no symptoms at all. The American Cancer Society recommends an annual low-dose screening CT for people ages 50 to 80 with a 20-year smoking history; the scan takes about a minute and uses far less radiation than a standard CT. If a concerning nodule turns up, the options are repeat imaging or a biopsy, now often done as an outpatient robotic bronchoscopy that can sample nodules as small as four to five millimeters. He said early detection opens up many treatment options and good outcomes. More at universityhealth.com/lunghealth.
MORGAN’S WONDERLAND HALLOWEEN
Sponsored by Morgan’s, this one took the cameras out to the park, where every weekend in October brings kid-friendly Halloween decorations, games, costume contests and treats. The park president pointed out the life-size jack-o-lantern at the Starlight Amphitheater entrance as a photo stop, then walked onto the stage where the season’s newest production, a Wonder Squad Halloween show, is staged. Seasonal food includes Halloween pretzels, cheesecake and a parfait. The Halloween Bash lands Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 9 p.m. On tickets: buying a 2027 season pass includes free admission for the rest of 2026, with details at morganswonderland.org/tickets.
