SA approves major Hemisfair project amendment with Zachry, greenlighting hotel and residential units
The San Antonio City Council approved a contract amendment with Zachry Hospitality on a major project at Hemsfair, greenlighting the process for a hotel and more residential units at the former World’s Fair site.
5 parks around San Antonio to visit this spring
San Antonio – Spring is here and it is time to get outside, but you don’t have to go far to enjoy the great outdoors. These 5 San Antonio area parks are great spots to enjoy the weather before the summer heat arrives. Brackenridge Park - The park is home to a stretch of the San Antonio River, the Japanese Tea Garden, Sunken Garden Theater, the San Antonio Zoo, Lambert Beach and Tony “Skipper” Martinez ball fields. Hemisfair Park - Hemisfair is a community with residences, local businesses and three public parks in the heart of San Antonio. To learn more about these parks as well as other parks to visit around the city, head to the San Antonio Parks & Recreation website.
Videos, photos show how San Antonio spent Snow Day 2021
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio residents woke up to an unusual sight Monday morning. While the winter storm has resulted in power outages and dangerous conditions, locals made the best of it by enjoying a rare opportunity to play in the snow. AdThat meant ice angels at Alamo Plaza, snowmen galore, and sledding and kayaking down streets. View some images and videos of Snow Day 2021 below. Gallery: Locals take in a rare snow dayFull Screen Full Screen 1 / 28 eustaciotovar: SnowmanWatch: Sledding through San Antonio streetsWatch: Skiing and snowboarding in SchertzWatch: Husky plays in snow in San AntonioWatch: Kayaking in snow down San Antonio streetWatch: San Antonio dog plays in snow for the first timeStay InformedAs always, Your Weather Authority team will keep you updated.
San Antonio's first urban winery, Re:Rooted 210, on track for mid-February opening
click image Instagram / rerooted210Lovers of Texas wine, mark the date.San Antonio-based sommelier Jennifer Beckmann is leagues closer to realizing her dream of opening Re:Rooted 210, a winery at downtown SA’s fast-evolving Hemisfair complex. The spot will serve both its own Texas-grown wine and that of other Texas vintners.Since thespoke with her last October , Beckmann and her team have been finishing out the 2,200-square-foot space and acquiring the necessary licensing. They're also developing a food program so the business is recognized as a restaurant under state COVID-19 safety rules.If all goes to plan, Beckmann told the, Re:Rooted could be fully open by mid-February. Curbside wine sales could start as early as next week.Re:Rooted is one of at least three culinary ventures opening at Hemisfair this year, including the second location of SA staple Bombay Bicycle Club and the first brick-and-mortar location for popular catering outfit Box Street Social.Re:Rooted 210 is located at 623 Hemisfair Blvd., Suite 106.
sacurrent.comHemisfair’s Civic Park construction now scheduled to begin this fall
click to enlarge Ben Olivo / SA HeronThe site of the future Civic Park at Hemisfair. In 2017, the City of San Antonio chose Zachry Corp. out of 11 bidders to construct buildings on the northwest corner of Hemisfair, around a new public park named Civic Park. click to enlarge Courtesy / HemisfairThe advantage of starting construction on Civic Park is that it is something that HPARC can control after the pandemic has turned everything topsy-turvy, Andujar said. “I don’t know how to explain the beauty of what’s coming,” Andujar said of Civic Park. The first speedbumps came in 2018, when parts of San Antonio’s tricentennial celebration were held at Hemisfair, Andujar said.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio's Hemisfair to receive new garden through $1 million gift from Mays Family Foundation
click to enlarge Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment CorporationPeggy Mays Garden Conceptual RenderingAfter receiving its first ever seven-figure philanthropic donation, downtown San Antonio's Hemisfair public space will use the money to construct a garden in the new year.The Mays Family Foundation announced a $1 million gift in honor of family matriarch Peggy Mays, who died at 85 last month. The Hemisfair Conservancy will develop the Peggy Mays Garden along East Nueva Street between Yanuguana Garden and the future Civic Park. "My mother was devoted to adding beauty and improving life for all San Antonians," foundation President Kathy Mays Johnson said in a press release. "The Mays Family Foundation is leading the way in helping us accomplish our aspirational vision of creating one of the world's great public places here in San Antonio," Hemisfair Conservancy Executive Director Anne Krause said in public statement. "Philanthropy is at the heart of Hemisfair, and we hope this transformational gift inspires other donors to support the redevelopment."
sacurrent.comSan Antonio's New Year's Eve fireworks show going virtual due to pandemic
Courtesy of The San Antonio River Walk AssociationThe city's annual New Year's Eve fireworks show and festivities will follow the trend of other events in 2020 and go virtual, according to the San Antonio Parks Foundation. Although the event won't be enjoyed in person, the foundation says residents can have a front row seat to the Celebrate SA! show, which will begin with 2021 spelled out in the sky followed by a 12-minute fireworks show and grand finale. The show is virtual this year in response to the pandemic, the foundation said.
mysanantonio.comFree Holiday Drive-Thru at Hemisfair will feature snow, selfies with Santa
click to enlarge Courtesy of HemisfarHemisfair is partnering with Centro San Antonio for a wintry drive-through to add to your family’s safe holiday season schedule.The free event on Saturday afternoon will include everything from twinkling lights to socially distant pictures with Santa — all while celebrating the traditions of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and the winter season as a whole. If you missed that one winter a couple of years ago when it actually snowed in San Antonio, Centro is bringing back those feels courtesy of Mireles Ice, with 110,400 lbs. of ice that will be turned into snowflakes.The drive-through will feature carolers from the American Caroling Company, decorations from Mandie’s Balloons, animals from Happy Tails Entertainment, reindeer from Zoomagination, a drum circle from The Synergy Studio, jumping elves from Aqua Acro and a sound system by Galaxy Productions.Vehicles should enter through East Cesar E. Chavez and Hemisfair Boulevard. Early birds will get a special treat — the first 100 cars will receive a free bag of kettle corn from Pepito’s Italian Ice.Let’s just hope the cherry on top includes weather cold enough to wear a jacket and drink some hot chocolate in the car.
sacurrent.comIt will ‘snow’ in downtown San Antonio this Saturday at drive-thru holiday event
SAN ANTONIO – Bet you didn’t think you’d get a chance to drive through the snow this holiday season in San Antonio, did you? Well, you can from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday at a free holiday drive-thru event hosted by Hemisfair and Centro San Antonio. Centro, courtesy of Mireles Ice, is bringing 110,400 pounds of ice to the event to create the magic of man-made snow, according to event officials. Here’s what organizers want you to know before you head to the event:Entrance to the Holiday Drive-Thru is on Hemisfair Blvd and East Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. Centro Ambassadors will help keep traffic moving in order to ensure as many families as possible have a chance to experience this free event.
Muertos Fest returns with special television broadcast for its 8th annual celebration
click to enlarge Bryan RindfussBilled as the largest Day of the Dead festival in Texas, Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair — or Muertos Fest to those who prize brevity — will return virtually for its 8th annual installment.The event will be broadcast as a one-hour special at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, in partnership with Sinclair Broadcasting CW35.Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jim Mendiola, the TV special will showcase San Antonio's unique take on the Day of the Dead through music, dance and spoken word performances.The broadcast will also feature traditional elements of the holiday, such as community altars, or ofrendas. A small group of altars will be featured in mini-documentaries, allowing viewers to learn more about the creators of the altars and their subjects.In light of the pandemic, the special will put COVID-19's impact on the Latinx community at the forefront. "If there ever was a time to honor those we’ve lost to the disease, and to thank those farmworkers and care givers and grocery store clerks, it’s now," Mendiola said in a statement. "COVID’s impact on the Latino community has been especially hard, and we will remember lives lived and recognize the resilience of our community through altars, songs and stories of those we’ve lost. "Muertos Fest will have an expanded music lineup this year, including Grammy-award winners Los Lobos, Lila Downs and Carla Morrison, along with National Medal of Art Recipient Santiago Jimenez Jr. — the brother of Flaco Jimenez — plus live performances by local favorites Los Nahuatlatos and Tallercito de Son.This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Selena's death, so to honor her legacy the festival will showcase a performance of "Fotos y Recuerdos" featuring Chris Perez, the late Tejano legend's husband; Girl in a Coma's Nina Diaz; Mariachi Campanas de America; and Ceci Zavala.The program also includes performances by San Antonio poets, in addition to short films by Ray Santisteban.For those that miss the initial broadcast, or are outside of the San Antonio market, the virtual festival will be rebroadcast with additional material on the Muertos Fest website at 7 p.m. Sunday, November 1.In addition to the virtual fest, Hemisfair visitors will have the chance to visit a community altar and view art installations by Momo and Pompa on display at the park through November 2.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio's second Lick ice cream shop is opening downtown next week
San Antonio's second Lick ice cream shop is opening downtown next weekHere's the scoop: San Antonio will get a double dip of Lick Honest Ice Creams when the company opens the second location at Hemisfair next week. Here's the scoop: San Antonio will get a double dip of Lick Honest Ice Creams when the company opens the second location at Hemisfair next week. Photo: Robin Jerstad /Contributor Photo: Robin Jerstad /Contributor Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close San Antonio's second Lick ice cream shop is opening downtown next week 1 / 1 Back to GalleryHere's the scoop: San Antonio will get a double dip of Lick Honest Ice Creams when the company opens the second location at Hemisfair next week. The first San Antonio shop has been a popular spot for ice cream at The Pearl since opening in 2014. San Antonio Lick fans can also take advantage of free delivery once a week by visiting the company website.
mysanantonio.comEvery San Antonio Event Canceled or Postponed Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
click to enlarge BK MKeeRevelers flood the popular Night in Old San Antonio Event during a past Fiesta. The upcoming production ofhas been tentatively postponed to April 24.The Archdiocese of San Antonio has suspended public mass in all churches beginning March 14, as well as all nonessential gatherings, until further notice. The grand opening of Social Revolt at Traders Village is still on.The San Antonio Zoo, Kiddie Park and Will Smith Zoo School will be closed through March 20. San Antonio Flavor , originally scheduled for March 19. Inductions will take place next year on February 27.Ally Brooke at the Aztec Theatre, originally scheduled for March 29.2020 Craft Brewers Conference, originally scheduled for March 29-April 1.Valero Texas Open golf tournament, originally scheduled for April 2-5.Taco Fest: Music y Mas at UTSA Downtown Campus, originally scheduled for April 4.Kenny Chesney's May 23 concert at the Alamodome.
sacurrent.comBank of America Gives $750,000 for Hemisfair House Renovation
Hemisfair announced Wednesday that it received a $750,000 grant from Bank of America to restore the Kusch House, one of the historic homes in the urban park district. Once its restored, the Kusch House also will have a commercial tenant. The Kusch House is located on East Nueva Street between the Mexican Cultural Institute and the 68 Apartments. The Bank of America donation is the largest corporate gift that Hemisfair has received. Jessica Miller, the San Antonio market president for Bank of America, said Hemisfairs ability to connect San Antonians reflected the companys values.
therivardreport.comThousands of San Antonians to Ring in 2020 at Hemisfair
Celebrate San Antonio, the Citys official New Years Eve celebration, will take place at Hemisfair on Tuesday, Dec. 31. All proceeds from the event will support the San Antonio Parks Foundation, which funds park improvement projects across the city. Programming on the Hemisfair stage will include super high-energy party band Melange by Intensity Entertainment, In10City Band, according to the Park Foundations Facebook event page. Attendees are encouraged to look into taxi, ride-share, mass transit (park and ride), and electric scooter options. Outside food and drinks, as well as e-scooters, are not permitted within official event boundaries.
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