Sho Nakpodia, CEO of Dreamweek San Antonio, joins Steve and Myra to talk about this year’s events.
Nina Simone: Four Women marks its regional premiere at The Public Theater of San Antonio, the longest running theatre company in Texas. This play with music by Christina Ham runs January 20 through February 12, 2023 in the historic Russell Hill Rogers Theater, located at San Pedro Playhouse in San Pedro Springs Park. The production is led by Director Ann James with music direction by Kimberlyn Montford.
Nina Simone: Four Women is set on September 16, 1963. The day after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This play with music uses the framework of one of the Civil Rights Era’s leading songstresses’ most blistering songs to give voice to a group of women suffering self-hatred due to the different hues of their skin. A journey that leads these four women through healing and transformation.
Broadway World sets Nina Simone: Four Women as “An eye opening, powerful, stirring, and unique theatrical experience. ” Director Ann James adds, “Nina Simone: Four Women is not like any other play I have directed and I am so excited to bring it to life in San Antonio. The blending of the characters’ lives and the background of social change will take the audience on a remarkable journey. Live music written by one of America’s Black treasures, Nina Simone: Four Women serves as a solid foundation that will thrill and move the story to its thrilling end. Come experience this play and you will meet the women that live among us all.”
The cast includes DEBRA ELANA as Nina Simone, DANIELLE KING as Sarah, STEPHANIE D. JONES* as Sephronia, REBEKAH WILLIAMS as Sweet Thing.
The creative team includes Ann James as Director, KIMBERLYN MONTFORD as Music Director, KRYSTAL UCHEM as Costume Designer, JAMES THOMAS as Set Designer, CARLOS R. NINE as Lighting Designer, CLAUDIA JENKINS MARTINEZ as Sound Designer.
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Run time: About 90 minutes with one intermission.
Show themes: Nina Simone: Four Women focuses on civil rights, as well as blending the lines between artistry and activism.
Events in Celebration of Nina Simone: Four Women
- Opening Night- Friday, January 20, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
- Engagement Night – Thursday, January 25, 2023 at 7 p.m.
- After Words (Post-show Conversation) -Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 2 p.m. – collaboration with Dreamweek
- After Words (Post-show Conversation) -Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
- Relaxed Performance – Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 2 p.m.
- (For more information on Relaxed Performances, click here)
- ASL Interpreted Performance – Friday, February 10, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
- ASL Interpreted Performance – Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Lots of cool stuff is on the books for 2023, including Pink at the Alamodome, Tyrannosaurus rexes at the Witte Museum, and immersive opera and Disney experiences.
Thereâs also the opening of Stable Hall, the latest reinvention of the Pearl Stable. Thereâs no opening date yet, but Elizabeth Fauerso, CEO of Potluck Hospitality, expects the venue to be up and running by the end of next year. The first concert announcements should roll out in late spring or early summer, she added.
Potluck Hospitality develops restaurant and hospitality concepts at Pearl. Stable Hall is going to be a biggie: The building, which was built as a home for the Pearl Brewery’s draft horses in the days before motorized vehicles, is being transformed into a state-of-the-art music venue meant to evoke Texas’ historic dance halls.
“I think it will be both a place that will feel like this very hometown venue for us to all come and enjoy music, but also a place where visitors to San Antonio can go to hear our South Texas sound and get acquainted with our artists,” Fauerso said. “And it will draw artists from all over to come and play there as well.”
Here’s a look at 23 more 2023 events to get excited about.
January
âThe Cast That Goes Wrongâ: The Miscast Theatre Company, which aims to create opportunities for performers who often are overlooked in casting calls, is introducing itself with this cabaret. The company will be in residence at The Public Theater of San Antonio, where it will present its first full show in the fall. Jan. 5-8, Cellar Theater, The Public Theater of San Antonio.
“Crystal City 1969”: This play tells the true story of the civil rights protest of Latino students in Crystal City. They had grown weary of racist measures, and a lack of representation on the school board and in classes. Dallas’ Cara MĂa Theatre created the play. This will mark the first time the company has taken it to San Antonio. Jan. 19-22, Guadalupe Theater.
Angel Olsen: Singer-songwriter Olsenâs latest album, âBig Time,â is one of the best reviewed releases of 2022, landing in the Top 10 of 16 year-end criticsâ lists. Atmospheric and melancholic songs such as âAll the Good Timesâ and âRight Nowâ sound like Patsy Cline produced by David Lynch at the end of a long night. Â Jan. 23, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
San Antonio Philharmonic: The Philharmonicâs first Pops program, a musical tribute to the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., is a part of DreamWeek. The program will feature bass-baritone Timothy Jones and will be conducted by Charles Floyd. Jan. 27-28, First Baptist Church of San Antonio.
On ExpressNews.com: SA Philharmonic debuts to standing ovations
February
âAladdinâ: The musical adapted from Disneyâs 1992 animated classic is making its San Antonio debut three years later than originally planned because of the pandemic. The show has won praise for its energy and visual spectacle. Feb. 7-12, Majestic Theatre.
âFences”: Classic Theatre is tackling August Wilsonâs powerful 1985 play about a once-gifted athlete in the Negro Leagues whose baseball career was derailed right before integration, leaving him with a bitterness that he takes out on his family. Antoinette Winstead is directing â very good news for anyone who caught her memorable 2007 staging for the Renaissance Guild. Feb. 9-26, Carver Community Cultural Center.
âMaria de Buenos Airesâ: Opera San Antonio is planning an immersive staging of the opera, which tells the story of a sex worker obsessed with tango. The piece has music by Astor Piazzolla and a libretto by Horacio Ferrer. Feb. 10-11, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
âFabulous Monsters:â Chicana punk band Fea is writing music for The Public Theater of San Antonio’s world premiere of Diana Burbano’s play. It follows the friendship between two Latinas forged when punk rock was starting to become a force on the Los Angeles music scene. Feb. 24-March 19, The Public Theater of San Antonio.
âRoman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii”: The 65 works in this exhibit delve into ancient landscapes created between 100 B.C.and A.D. 250. The images depict countryside scenes in which humans bump elbows with gods and mythological beings. It is the first in the United States to explore this imagery. Feb. 24-May 21, San Antonio Museum of Art.
Pablo Såinz-Villegas: The famed Spanish classical guitarist, whose playing has drawn comparisons to Andrés Segovia, will perform with the Agarita chamber ensemble as part of its series of free concerts. Feb. 25, San Antonio Botanical Garden.
John Mellencamp: Heartland rocker Mellencampâs 76-city âLive and In Personâ tour will begin and end in his home state of Indiana. His artifacts, including a â76 Fender Telecaster, have a home, too, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fameâs Legends of Rock exhibit. Mellencamp, known for hits like âJack and Dianeâ and âSmall Town,â released his 24th studio album, âStrictly a One-Eyed Jack,â this year. Feb. 26, Majestic Theatre
âDisney Animation: Immersive Experienceâ: San Antonio will be the first Texas city to host this installation, which surrounds patrons with scenes from such classic films as âEncantoâ and âThe Lion King.â It is the product of a partnership between Lighthouse Immersive, which made its San Antonio debut in May with âImmersive Van Gogh,â and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Feb. 28-March 29, Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio.
March
“Womanish: Audacious, Courageous, Willful Art”: The McNay Art Museum’sbig spring exhibit features works by women that have been added to its collection since 2010, including pieces by Vanessa German and Katie Pell. March 3-July 2, McNay Art Museum.
On ExpressNews.com: McNay Art Museum names new director
âRagtimeâ: The company based at the Woodlawn Theatre will change its name to the Wonder Theatre in January in advance of its big move to Wonderland of the Americas in the summer. One of the last shows in its home on Fredericksburg Road will be the musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel. The show is a snapshot of life at the turn of the 20th century, depicting civil unrest, racial tensions and life-changing innovations. March 3-26, Woodlawn Theatre.
“Alice in Wonderland”: Ballet San Antonio will bring Lewis Carroll’s tale to life through Brian Enos’ choreography, which blends classical and contemporary movement, as well as surrealist projections by visual artist Luis GranĂ©. March 3-5, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
Camille A. Brown & Dancers: Brown, an award-winning Black choreographer based in New York, draws on ancestral stories and contemporary culture in her work. March 11, Jo Long Theater, Carver Community Cultural Center.
Sabrina Carpenter: Actress and pop singer Carpenter starred in the Disney sitcom âGirl Meets World,â a spinoff of the â90s hit âBoy Meets World.â For consumers of teen beat gossip, her 2021 single âSkinâ was widely seen as a response to Olivia Rodriguezâs âDriverâs License.â But she moved on with her album âEmails I Canât Sendâ and itâs buzzy track âNonsense.â March 25, The Espee
Amythyst Kiah: Singer-songwriter Kiah is a student of traditional music, and the banjo is one of her primary instruments. But sheâs a fan of alt-rock, too, covering Tori Amos, Green Day and Joy Division on a recent EP. Everything comes together on Kiahâs 2021 album âWary + Strange,â which includes her Grammy-nominated song âBlack Myself.â March 25, Carver Community Cultural Center.
April
ManĂĄ: Since releasing its self-titled debut album in 1987, ManĂĄ has sold millions of albums, sold out countless venues and won four Grammy Awards, sealing its reputation as one of the most popular and influential Latin rock acts of all time. Its big hits include “Oye Mi Amor,” from the classic 1992 album “ÂżDĂłnde JugarĂĄn Los Niños?” April 1, AT&T Center
Amy Cutler: The heart of this exhibit is âFossa,â an immersive installation Cutler created for SITE Santa Fe in 2015 alongside musician Emily Wells and hair stylist Adriana Papaleo. Visitors will step inside the work, which resembles an old-fashioned parlor and includes ambient sound as well as more than 800 feet of braided and synthetic hair. Opens April 26, Studio at Ruby City.
May
“Southwest Rising: Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch”: Bob Wade, the late artist who created the enormous cowboy boots at North Star Mall, along with a slew of other oversize public works, is among the artists featured in the show. It digs into the influence of Horwitch, a powerful force in the art world as Southwest pop took hold as a movement. May 26-Sept. 4, Briscoe Western Art Museum.
“Tyrannosaurus: Meet the Family”: The touring exhibit from the Australian Museum explores the gigantic predators, including early Asian tyrannosaurus. The show includes life-size models as well as fossils and interactive elements. May 27-Sept. 4, Witte Museum.
September
Pink: Pop star Pink has a new album, âTrustfall,â out in February. Sheâll almost certainly have a few new stunts to show off, too, when her Summer Carnival tour hits town. The music â including older hits like âSo Whatâ and âJust Give Me a Reasonâ â may even compete with the spectacle. Â Sept. 25, Alamodome.
dlmartin@express-news.net; jkiest@express-news.net
Our top picks for Things to do in San Antonio this weekend (November 4-6) include Family Flashlight Night, Diwali SA Festival of Lights Parade, 1 Million Push-up Challenge, Makers Market at Pearl, and more!
Check out all the Fall Fun in the San Antonio area with these recently published articles!
- San Antonio Trick or Treat 2022
- Halloween Party San Antonio 2022
- Corn Mazes near you in San Antonio
- Pumpkin Patches in San Antonio
- Fall Festivals 2022 in San Antonio
PLAN YOUR SUMMER FUN AT A DISCOUNT! SAVE BIG ON SAN ANTONIO AREA ATTRACTIONS WITH POGO PASS
The Standard South Central Texas Pogo Pass (San Antonio/Austin/Waco) provides admissions to 35 different entertainment venues in the San Antonio, Austin, and Waco area.
Perfect for families, the Pogo Pass gives both adult and child pass-holders 50+ visits to some of the best things to do that San Antonio, Austin, and Waco have to offer. The Pogo Pass nearly pays for itself with a visit to one or two venues alone!!!
Pass Features the following Attractions in San Antonio
- One visit to the San Antonio Zoo
- One visit to the Witte Museum
- One visit to the Buckhorn Museum
- One visit to Wonder World Park
- One visit to the San Antonio Aquarium
- One visit to Rush Fun Park
- Six tickets to the University of Texas â San Antonio athletic events (multiple sports)
- Two visits to Pump It Up
- Two visits to Monster Mini Golf & Laser Tag for a round of Mini Golf
THINGS TO DO IN SAN ANTONIO THIS WEEKENDÂ â FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION â âBORN TO RIDE THE EDGE OF NOTHINGâ
Presa House Gallery brings together two amazing artists Aaron Coleman and Alejandro Macias in this exhibit of multidisciplinary works reflecting political and social issues in âBorn to Ride the Edge of Nothing.â The exhibition fuses their works in a singular dialogue about race, multiculturalism, multinationalism, and faith.
When: Friday, November 4, 2022, 7:00 pm â 10:00 pm
Where: Presa House Gallery, 725 S Presa St, San Antonio, 78210
How much: Free
CHRISTMAS TREE PAINTING PARTY
Join Clay Casaâs Christmas Tree Painting Party and have a great time painting a stunning, attention-grabbing tree with your loved ones. Each appointment comes with Christmas music, a DIY photo booth, food, and specialty paint. The evening of the event is when you will select and pay for your clay project.
When: Friday, November 4, 2022, 6:30 pm â 9:00 pm
Where: 502 Embassy Oaks #107 San Antonio, TX 78216
How much: $10 to reserve a seat
FAMILY FLASHLIGHT NIGHT
Experience the nocturnal side of the San Antonio Botanical Garden with your family this weekend. Discover the Gardenâs nighttime, navigate the light maze, enjoy campfire tales, and explore it by moonlight. Donât forget to bring your flashlights!
When: Friday, November 4, 2022, 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, Tx
How Much: From $15, children under 3 years are free
DEAL ALERT â HAUNTED GHOST BUS TOUR OF SAN ANTONIO
See the haunted side of San Antonio on this ghost-themed bus tour. Your guide, a sinister fellow who proclaims to be in tune with the afterlife, leads you on a chilling exploration of the cityâs famed haunted sites including the Menger Hotel, the old Red Light District, the former Bexar County Jail, a historic cemetery, and more.
Get more information and book your Haunted Bus Tour of San Antonio TODAY!!!
GRETA VAN FLEET AT THE AT&T CENTER
Catch Greta Van Fleet, a Grammy Award-winning rock band, as they include San Antonio as one of their stops this fall for more stadium dates in the wake of their sold-out Spring 2022 tour â Dreams in Gold.
When: Saturday, November 5, 2022, 7:00 pm â 9:00 pm
Where: 1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219
How much: Â $49.50 â $199
DIWALI SA FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS PARADE
Head on to Hemisfair, Arneson River Theatre, and Tower of Americas this Saturday for Diwali SA 2022! There will be a DJ area available for dancing the night away, along with live entertainment, food, and handicrafts for purchase. Additionally, 2,000 floating diyas will be launched. A breathtaking display of fireworks marks the eventâs conclusion!
When: Saturday to Sunday, November 5 â 6, 4:30 pmâ 12:00 am
Where: Hemisfair Park, Arneson River Theatre, Tower of Americas, 630 E. Nueva St, San Antonio, Texas 78205
How Much: Free
FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
Join the Farmers and Artisan Market at the Mission Marquee Plaza for a fun and rejuvenating weekend activity this Saturday. The markets will open at 9 am with a free fitness class for all levels, and then indulge in locally made refreshments and explore the pop-up shops showcasing goods produced locally. Additionally, there will be live music, enjoyable games for the whole family, cooking demonstrations, food trucks, and more!
When: Saturday, November 5, 2022, 10:00 am â 2:00 pm
Where: Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio, TX 78214Â
How Much: Free
SAVE ON ADMISSION TOÂ SEA WORLD SAN ANTONIO
What: One Single-Day Ticket to SeaWorld San Antonio: Valid Through 01/03/2023. Attractions include roller coasters, up-close sea life interactions, and world-class shows at one of San Antonioâs largest amusement parks.
Where: Sea World San Antonio â 10500 Sea World Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251
How Much:Â Up to 18% discount on admission at Sea World and Aquatica, San Antonio
SUNDAY DANCE PARTY
Visit The Good Kind on Sunday nights for Texasâ best small dance party! Every Sunday from 5 to 9 oâclock, weâll host a selection of DJs. All age groups are free to attend. DJ Lineup includes Joshua K. Swensen, Nandez, DJ Ira, and DJ Phanie.
When: Sunday, November 6, 2022, 5 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S St Maryâs St, San Antonio, TX 78210Â Â
How much: Free
DĂA DE MUERTOS 2022 CELEBRATION
Join the community in remembering the antepasados and preserving Mexican history and Westside traditions. Live music, kid-friendly face painting, community altar/ofrenda displays, food, and more will all be available at this free event. People are invited to dress up and bring an instrument or noisemaker for the parade, which will also include a walk through the neighborhood.
When: Sunday, November 6, 2022, 1:00 pm â 6:00 pm
Where: Rinconcito de Esperanza, 816 S Colorado St, San Antonio, TX 78207 Â
How much: Free
1 MILLION PUSH-UP CHALLENGE
Join Dreamweek as they attempt to complete 1 million pushups as part of a challenge to promote wellness and good health. The Push-Up Challenge is available to everyone and promotes widespread participation in order to achieve their objective of uniting the community via push-ups and inspiring the great city to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
When: Sunday, November 6, 2022, 11:00 am â 1:00 pm
Where: Hemisfair, 434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205Â
How much: Free
MAKERS MARKET AT PEARL
Check our Makers Market! This free for all market lets you browse more than 40 local producers and artisans selling items for the home and kitchen, including wood crafts, pottery, ceramics, and more, every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Pearl.
When: Sunday, November 6, 2022, 10:00 am â 3:00 pm
Where: The Historic Pearl, 303 Pearl San Antonio, TX 78215
How Much: Free
DEAL ALERT â GETÂ 20% DISCOUNT ON ADMISSION AT NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS
Customers can embark on a discovery tour of underground caverns featuring ancient formations such as stalagmites and stalactites.
Obtain more information and book your 20% discount on admission to the Natural Bridge Caverns!Â
What’s up, San Antonio? What is your social calendar looking like these days? Is there room for more events on your itinerary? What fun is still unwritten in the murky unknown that is the weekend ahead? A crystal ball probably won’t provide you concrete answers, but this curated “things to do” compilation might.
Without further ado, here are some things happening in San Antonio this weekend. Have a fun event/party/pop-up/concert to share? Send us an email at with the subject line “TTD” to news@mysa.com.’
Things to do Friday Jan. 13
DreamWeek
Friday officially kicks of DreamWeek in San Antonio, 17 days with more than 200 events that celebrate our humanity by creating environments for civil and civic engagement to embrace ideas and dreams for the common good. Weâll highlight a few these next two weeks, but check their extensive calendar for more thoughtful, cultural events each day around the city.
Friday night at the Planetarium
Itâs opening night for the season at the Scobee Planetarium at San Antonio College, a chance to learn about stars, planets, black holes, and distant galaxies. The Scobee Planetarium offers Friday night public presentations at 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. show is family-friendly, the 8 p.m. show is a live presentation of âThe Sky Tonight,â and at 9:30 p.m., there is a movie presentation. Children must be 6 years old or older to be admitted to the 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. programs.
Find it: Scobee Education Center and Planetarium, 1819 N. Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212
Cost: Adults are $5, children, seniors, military, and teachers are $4, members of the Alamo Colleges community are $2. Tickets are sold in person at the box office 30 minutes before showtime.
Spurs Back Home in the Dome Game
Be a part of history as the Silver & Black try to break the NBA attendance record. The Spurs will take on the Golden State Warriors at the Alamodome at 6:30 p.m. The Spurs announced last week they were within 5,000 tickets of the record and within 8,000 of selling out the Dome. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to take part in the many in-game festivities and features that pay homage to the teamâs 50 years in San Antonio.
Find it: Alamodome, 100 Montana St., San Antonio, TX 78203
Cost: Tickets start at $29.
Candlelight Yoga
Connect to Flow Yoga presents this class at Mission Crafts Chandlery designed to give you a full body stretch, help you gain a sense of relaxation, and unwind from your busy week with soft, warming candlelight and sound bath. All participants will receive a meditation candle for class. The one-hour class starts at 6:30 p.m.
Find it: Mission Crafts Chandlery, 1010 S. Flores, Suite 106 San Antonio, TX 78204
Cost: Registration is $20. Registration closes Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m.
Fantasia
One of the OG winners of American Idol makes a stop at the Tech Port Arena on Friday. Bringing R&B hits like âWhen I See Uâ and âEnough,â Fantasia will get the crowd swaying with her smooth vibes. Doors open at 7 p.m. All ages.
Find it: Tech Port Arena, 3331 General Hudnell Drive, San Antonio, TX 78226
Cost: Tickets start at $40.50.
Michael Martin
San Antonioâs legendary folk-rocker Michael Martin, lead singer of the Infidels, is doing a solo show Friday at The Backyard on Broadway from 5-7 p.m. Get some snacks and drinks while Martinâs voice soothes the weekâs troubles.
Find it: Backyard on Broadway, 2411 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78215
Cost: Free
Early Eyes
Minneapolis-based alternative group Early Eyes makes a stop at the Paper Tiger on Friday, ready to bring a mellow, electronic, jazzy sound to the Small Room. Theyâll keep the room moving with upbeat songs from last yearâs debut album, Look Alive! Doors open at 7 p.m.; show is at 8. All ages.
Find it: The Paper Tiger, Small Room, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX, 78212
Cost: Tickets are $18.
Cost: Free
Things to do Saturday Jan. 14
Last Chance Market
Ready to support some local artists? Last Chance Market and Sunshine Bakery are having a Second Saturday pop-up at Poetic Republic Coffeefrom 9 a.m. to noon. You can enjoy coffee, local shopping and live music while you shop for jewelry, clothing, art and more.
Find it: Poetic Republic Coffee & Wine Co., 2330 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78210
Cost: Free
Nature Photography Workshop at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Mitchell Lake Audubon member and photographer, John Lewis, will be sharing his expertise with all skill levels during this nature photography workshop from 9-11 a.m. Bring your camera and learn tips and tricks on how to capture great nature photos, then enjoy a hike to work on techniques learned during the workshop. Ages 16 and up.
Find it: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX 78221
Cost: Registration is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Preregistration required.
SoFlo Market and Destash Sale
Another market option in the downtown area is the SoFlo market, with a major twist this month. This Destash Sale also allows artists and makers to de-stash art and craft supplies they no longer use, including textiles and fabric, tools, magazines, books and more. You just might find an unexpected treasure. Besides the art supplies, more than 80 great artists and makers will be bringing their new products for Valentine’s Day and spring season with live music and food trucks keeping the party jumping all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find it: SoFlo Market, 1344 S. Flores St., San Antonio, TX 78204
Cost: Free
Family Gardening Workshop: Plant a Pizza Garden
Get the tools and knowledge to plant your own container garden with the essential herbal flavors for making delicious pizza. In this workshop at the San Antonio Botanical Garden from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants will learn how to plant, tend, harvest, and utilize garden herbs. Primary adult registration includes container garden kit.
Find it: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl., San Antonio, TX, 78209
Cost: Primary adult registration is $35 ($31.50 member) including garden kit; $13 per child ($11.70 member), and $15 per additional adult ($13.50 member)
An evening with Maureen Johnson
New York-based author Maureen Johnson will be at Nowhere Bookshop chatting with the storeâs proprietress, Jenny Lawson, about her newest release Nine Liars, a murder mystery set in London. Talk begins at 6 p.m.
Find it: Nowhere Bookshop, 5154 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Cost: Tickets are $19.99 and include access to the event and a copy of Maureen’s book!
Ladies Night Improv
The improv-troupe House Party has taken up residence in the Black Box Theatre at Black Potion gaming tavern. This Saturday, the group brings together an all-female lineup of performers from San Antonio and Austin for an evening of short-form games and long-form improv. Show is at 8 p.m. Ages 16 and up.
Find it: Black Potion, 1900 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78201
Cost: Tickets are $10.
Movie in the Park â ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’
Grab a blanket and enjoy a family-friendly motion picture under the stars at the base of the Tower of the Americas. The movie will start at sunset. All ages welcome. Food and drink available for purchase.
Find it: Tower of the Americas, 739 E. CĂ©sar E. ChĂĄvez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205
Cost: Free
Things to do Sunday Jan. 15
Traditional Turkish Brunch for a Cause
An official DreamWeek event, the Raindrop Foundationâs Turkish Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will feature Turkish breakfast staples including Turkish bagel (simit) and tea. The Raindrop Ensemble will perform and Shokare Nakpodia of Dreamvoice will give the keynote address.
As we set out to build âLive Like a Local,â our evergreen city guide with the depth you love from the San Antonio Report, we knew we wanted to make a list of our favorite âpuro San Antonioâ experiences.
As any local knows, this is a city like no other â a center of culture and commerce, arts and tourism. Military City USA. The Alamo City! Whatever you call it, San Anto is a place for fun, family and community. To capture that spirit, we asked our staffers to tell us their favorite things you can only do here.
Here are 15 places and experiences that capture the essence of San Antonio. How many have you tried?
Hang out at Yanaguana Garden
In 1968, HemisFair Park hosted a Worldâs Fair, landing San Antonio an enduring spot on tourist itineraries. Now known as Hemisfair, the park features apartments, a childrenâs theater, restaurants and Yanaguana Garden, named for what natives called the San Antonio River before the arrival of Franciscan missionaries. The garden is popular among families, who bring kids of all ages to climb the sculptural jungle gym, pet the big glass-tiled panther made by popular local artist Oscar Alvarado, pop pingpong balls on freely accessible tables and generally exhaust themselves running around arbor walks and corkboard-floored fountains.
Savor flavor at Carnitas Lonja
It doesnât get much more puro than a restaurant that features a single dish: carnitas. Chef Alejandro Paredes opened Carnitas Lonja in 2017 to feature the traditional dish he knew from his native Michoacan: chopped pork stewed in fat. Eschewing fancy terminology such as âconfitâ (though the term applies), the simple menu offers a choice of a half-pound or a pound, served with pico de gallo, salsa and pickled onions. The dish has won Paredes accolades from around the nation, and the James Beard Award-winning chef has been featured on PBS and in the New York Times. Lonja regulars will note that on weekends, the back patio shares space with Fish Lonja, offering a rotating seafood-focused menu of Paredesâ traditional Mexican favorites.
Stroll across the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge
Named for the affable former mayor, Phil Hardberger Park opened in 2010 as a natural area split by busy Wurzbach Parkway. A conservationist effort resulted in completion of the 150-foot-wide, landscaped Robert L. B. Tobin Land Bridge, connecting the east and west sides of the park and named for a prominent local philanthropist. The wheelchair-accessible bridge spans the parkway below to allow people â and wildlife! â to pass freely and safely over the road, for uninterrupted views of the 330-acre parkâs natural surroundings. Artistic sculptural blinds allow visitors to discreetly gaze at wildlife, and night-vision cameras allow researchers to track the land bridgeâs effectiveness in conveying animals across.
Play a round at Cool Crest
Located in the quaint Deco District, the design of Cool Crest Miniature Golf recalls the art deco era and takes advantage of the putt-putt courseâs location on a gently sloping hillside just northwest of downtown San Antonio. Two meticulously maintained 18-hole courses offer fun and challenge, with ample shade provided by flourishing greenery. The coronavirus pandemic inspired Cool Crestâs owners to open the Metzger Biergarten, an entertainment-driven outdoor patio that hosts live music, food trucks, a monthly craft market and Singo, a musical take on traditional bingo, with putt-putt golf gift cards offered as prizes.
Explore local art at First Fridays
Each first Friday of the month, hundreds of locals gather at the Blue Star Arts Complex for the First Friday art walk. Artists and artisans open their studio and gallery doors to the public for crowds to stream through and possibly take home a handcrafted artwork that appeals to their liking and their pocketbook. The ever-changing array of accessible visual arts is complemented by restaurants, a brewpub, a small grocer and live music.
Go global at San Fernando Cathedral
Musical Bridges Around the World is a local nonprofit organization that aims to unite global cultures through art. Its performance season runs for six months in fall and spring, with free Sunday concerts inside historic San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonioâs downtown anchor for nearly 300 years. Concerts feature music of countries and cultures around the world, from Argentina to Ukraine, and touch on styles from jazz to classical piano.
March with thousands for MLK Day
San Antonio hosts what is often proclaimed the largest MLK Day march in the country, and that was true long before it became an official federal holiday. Hundreds of thousands join in, from local residents to marchers from across the country, who walk the Eastside route from MLK Park to ââPittman-Sullivan Park, where Negro League professional baseball teams once played. The march serves as the culmination of the citywide Dreamweek celebration â actually several weeks â of San Antonioâs Black communities. After two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city should be ready for a strong return to the march in 2023.
Cool down at Las Nieves
Thereâs no way around it, San Antonio summers get hot. Thankfully, locals get creative in providing relief, and the line runs around the block most summer evenings at the three locations of Las Nieves Fruit Cups & More. The store touts its Mangonada specialty, with the mellowness of mango fruit and the savory spice of chamoy, but the list of Italian ice tropical fruit flavors is long: cantaloupe, piña colada, coconut, pineapple, âlimon locoâ and more. Frito pies are popular here, and Las Nieves has a variety featuring Flaminâ Hot Cheetos topped with melty cheese and jalapeños. Corn in a Cup is another local specialty, a take on the traditional elotes cob corn street snack. To keep the chill going and keep it all in the family, have a fruit paleta at El Paraiso Ice Cream, run by the same Flores family.
Browse for foodie treats at the Pearl
Ever try a gelato made from grass-fed water buffalo milk? If such tasty delicacies spark your interest, look no further than the Pearl Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Makers Market on Sundays. Long known for its finely curated mix of boutiques and restaurants, the Pearl hosts weekend markets that focus on local vendors. Orobianco Italian Creameryâs small-batch gelato joins a lively list of local producers including popular Holdman Honey, Tio Pelon salsas, Three Six General butchery from nearby San Marcos and produce from several farms. The newish Makers Market introduces food-related artisans to the mix, including Barclay Pottery and Meechi Ceramics.
Experience Day of the Dead
With echoes of its indigenous, Spanish and Mexican heritages, San Antonio comes alive for Day of the Dead. Just after Halloween, catrina masks and makeup appear with papel picado decorations and special pan dulces, all to honor ancestors who have passed on to the next world. Many families maintain quiet ceremonies at home and in neighborhood cemeteries, but the whole city turns out for two big festivals, the popular Muertos Fest at Hemisfair, and the newer Day of the Dead Festival at La Villita. Muertos Fest features music, food and a parade the whole family can join, while the Day of the Dead Festival aims to be the biggest DĂa de los Muertos â as the holiday is called in MĂ©xico â celebration in the U.S., with live coverage on national television of its flagship river parade.
Catch a live set at Flooreâs Country Store
Located just outside Loop 1604 in Helotes, the honky tonk known locally as Flooreâs has hosted such âlocalâ legends as Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen, as well as a host of up-and-coming country pickers, grinners, pluckers and crooners. Be prepared to dance with the crowds in the spacious interior â or just people watch the lively oldsters and smiling youngsters gliding in pairs across the floor â or enjoy shows on the outdoor stage.
Attend Mass at the missions
San Antonioâs missions might be 300-year-old tourist destinations and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, but they also host weekly masses for local congregations, with many attendees continuing a generations-old tradition. Visitors are welcome, and the ancient grounds are ideal for strolling after Sunday services, particularly in summer when the Pride of Barbados, Esperanza, and other colorful local flowers are in bloom. Get there early for the annual âdouble solar illuminationâ at Mission ConcepciĂłn, though, as the small church fills up quickly for this treasured annual tradition.
Behold the bats at Bracken Cave
The swirling cloud of bats that emerges from Bracken Cave, the worldâs largest known bat colony providing a summer home to an estimated 15 million bats, is so dense it shows up on weather radar. The spectacular display can be seen from May through September by reservation only at a preserve just north of San Antonio. In the early evening, visitors can witness the whirlwind of Mexican free-tailed bats headed out on their nightly search for food, gobbling up millions of mosquitoes that might otherwise harass area residents.
Cowboy up at the stock show and rodeo
The vaquero tradition runs deep in San Antonio, merged in this multicultural city with southwestern cowboys, now joined by cowgirls and vaqueras. Each February for two-plus weeks, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo takes over the AT&T Center for a good old-fashioned rope-âem-dogies, bull-riding rodeo, with multiple nights of country music stars. Family events include Mutton Bustinâ for kids, who must remain on their shaved sheep for 6 seconds to win, and the Western Heritage Parade and Cattle Drive, where onlookers can gape as cowboys drive hundreds of longhorn steer right through downtown.
Paddle the San Antonio River
San Antonio prides itself on its namesake river, which can be enjoyed on foot along the River Walk or riding Go Rio river shuttles. But intrepid adventure seekers can take matters into their own hands and rent a kayak for self-guided tours along the 13-mile stretches of the River Walkâs north and south stretches, known colloquially as the Museum Reach and the Mission Reach. At points you might forget youâre in the seventh largest city in the country, surrounded by native plants and tangles of live oak forest. The Mission Reach gets a star turn during the cityâs annual Fiesta celebrations with the Fiesta Flotilla event. Members of the public can sign up to join the floating parade, festooned in festive Fiesta gear, and show their oar-handling skills on a competitive watercourse.
Clad in a blue wool sweater, thick black leggings and boots, Angie LaPenta lifted bags of food into the bed of a truck on a recent Saturday afternoon. She wore a black beret over silver hair, pulled snug over her ears. As she worked, a silver chain and crucifix reflected the midday sunlight atop her dark pullover.
The 84-year-old inspiration was one of 50 volunteers loading cars and trucks with meals and packs of bottles to hand out to the homeless community during Pastor Shetigho Nakpodiaâs â1,000 Plates for the Hungryâ DreamWeek event.
When photojournalist Sam Owens and I visited Redeemerâs Praise Church on South Pine for the event, we knew we had the makings of a Monday column within minutes of meeting LaPenta.
During a break, she shared stories about helping those who live in the shadows of the city. On Christmas morning, LaPentaâs friend Carlos CantĂș stopped his white pickup near the Hays Street Bridge on the East Side, where the homeless lay tucked away in makeshift camps, out of sight.
LaPenta opened the passenger side door and called out to the unseen that she had presents for them. When a young woman came her way, LaPenta handed her one of the bundles, along with her blessings. Then the woman asked LaPenta if she could have another gift, for her mother, who slept beside her under the bridge.
âIt broke my heart,â LaPenta said. âWhen you see people without shoes, itâs heartbreaking.â
LaPenta is one of the many residents who feed, clothe and uplift San Antonioâs homeless without fanfare. For the past year, sheâs been one of Nakpodiaâs volunteers who travel across the city to feed the unsheltered.
At the event, Nakpodia hugged LaPenta, who is a whisper below 5 feet tall. Dressed in a yellow and purple motif-head wrap and full-length dress, the pastor said CantĂș and LaPenta also trim the trees around the rust-painted church. The pastor said the slim grandmother, who does yoga, carries away tree stumps without help.
âSheâs out here every Saturday,â Nakpodia said. âSheâs amazing.â
LaPenta was born and raised in Natalia, 30 miles from San Antonio. She learned compassion and how to tend to the sick when she helped care for her mother, bedridden for eight years. Her mother died when LaPenta was 10.
âShe taught me how to love, how to respect people and that we are all the same under the eyes of God,â LaPenta said
The octogenarian has known the aches and pains of hard labor since she was a child. She worked in the fields of West Texas with her family, hunched over, picking crops that included cotton, green beans, black-eyed peas and strawberries. After her mother died, she joined her father, brother and seasonal migrant workers in picking sugar beets in Colorado.
LaPenta is the last of six siblings still living.
By 1968, she had been a single mother of three children for 10 years. Her doctor said LaPenta was so thin sheâd have to be hospitalized if she didnât relocate to the city. She moved her family to San Antonio, where she met her future husband, Frank J. LaPenta.
It wasnât love at first sight for her. Her kids fell in love with the man who played softball with them and other youngsters on their street. She recalled he would stare at her during the games. Smitten, he proposed two weeks later and told her to take her time thinking it over. But if she said no, he planned to keep trying to win her love.
âYouâre not going to marry me,â LaPenta said, âyouâre going to marry us four.â
They were wed for 48 years; Frank LaPenta died five years ago.
âGod blessed us and kept our marriage together,â LaPenta said.
The couple ministered to the homeless for 10 years. Sheâs dedicated her goodwill stops in memory of her late husband.
Once a week, she makes sandwiches for the homeless around her South Side neighborhood. CantĂș, 73, drives her to areas from Pecan Valley Drive to Brooks.
CantĂș knows how it feels to receive a plate of food â he lived on the streets when he was a young man. Meeting LaPenta gave him an opportunity to offer others the same help he once received.
âTo them, itâs something real big, very special,â he said. âThey donât know if theyâre going to get a meal the following day or not. Itâs kind of hard to swallow when you see people waste a lot of money when they could be using it for something positive.â
Before we left, LaPenta shared one last story from their travels around the city. She recalled a cold, rainy day when she saw hints of a camp by a South Side drainage ditch. CantĂș parked the truck, and LaPenta stepped out to see a young woman climb up an embankment. The woman said she was caring for several older people. The pair handed her four meals. She thanked them and carried the food to the group clustered in the dark culvert.
âIt made me cry,â LaPenta said. âIâve never gone without food or a home. Iâve been blessed.â
February is celebrated across the nation as Black History Month, and in San Antonio, that history runs deep. Black history in San Antonio is often overshadowed by those who fought for Texasâ independence. Historical figures like Ella Austin, Artemisia Bowden, and Charlie Bellinger have had a lasting influence on San Antonio.
There are several historic landmarks on the East Side you can see â including Ellis Alley and the Healy-Murphy Center â and several organizations will be hosting Black history events throughout the month as well. Hereâs how you can celebrate San Antonioâs Black history this month.
Living history in San Antonio
An archeological dig last year on the banks of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park in the west end of downtown San Antonio unearthed the cornerstone of the post Civil War-era Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The initials AME and the year 1875 are among the markings chiseled into the cornerstone. Researchers believe the church stood on the site from 1871 to 1877.
The river authority is building walkways, retaining walls, public performance space, art installations and water features all along the creek. It’s also adding landscaping to convert what was once a trashy creek and cement culvert for floodwaters into linear park space.
The artwork includes a five-panel mural that tells the county’s 300-year-old history and a lighted waterfall that will sync to music or voices speaking into a retro 1950s style microphone in front of TPR, which sits on the creek banks in the 300 block of West Commerce Street.
TPR’s Dreamweek panel discussion delved into this archeological significance, and the actual history with participation from the African American Archive and Museum, the city’s Office of Historic Preservation, Army Corps of Engineers, Trinity University and the current. St James AME Church pastor.
History of Black cowboys told in new exhibit at San Antonio’s Witte Museum
The traditional story of the Wild West needs a re-write to make it historically accurate.
The cherished fable of the horseback hero of the open range doesnât reflect the actual racial diversity of the cattle drive.
For example, the 1960s cowboy TV show “Rawhide” was a fictionalized portrayal of the 1870s cattle trail. The characters, including Rowdy Yates played by a young Clint Eastwood, were all white. But â in fact â one in four of the cowboys on the trail was Black.
“A number of the cowboys were born in slavery and they began their journey as cowboys enslaved, as enslaved children,â said Ronald Davis, a Ph.D. candidate in history at the University of Texas at Austin.
He co-curated the Witte exhibit The Black Cowboy: An American Story. It tells the story of how frequently Black people did the tough and perilous work of settling the West.
The Witte exhibit, The Black Cowboy: An American Story, runs through April 2202.
Events
Thursday, Feb. 10 | Noon to 1 p.m.: The Role of Code-Switching in DEIB | Virtual
Dr. Dana E. Crawford explores the psychological toll of code-switching, the price of notcode-switching and more in this free virtual event. Register here.
Saturday, Feb. 5 | 1-3:30 p.m.: Saturday Afternoon at the Movies @ Ella Austin Community Center
âThe Bronze Buckarooâ and âTwo Gun Man from Harlemâ will show as part of the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museumâs âBlack History Month and Letâs Rodeoâ event. There will be food trucks at the event.
Childrenâs and young adult author Varian Jones will share about his life and work in this San Antonio Public Library event.
Sunday, Feb. 13 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Black History River Tour @ La Villita
SAAACAM will host a 100-minute guided tour about the history of African American people in San Antonio. Tickets are on sale on the organizationâs website.
This SAPL event explores the transformation of historic spaces due to gentrification and whatâs being done to preserve African American cultural memory and heritage in this time of change.
Tuesday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m.: Living in My Skin @ The CarverÂ
âLiving in My Skinâ is a film about what it means to be a Black man in San Antonio. The in-person screening will be followed by a discussion with a panel of local men. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP here.
Sunday, Feb. 20 | 3:30 p.m.: The Untold Truths From Her Womb @ The Little Carver Civic Center
Presented by The Liberation Center, this dinner theater will highlight a feminine perspective of world history and the resistance, revolution and liberation that shaped the world.
Saturday, Feb. 26 | Starting at 2 p.m.: Film screenings @ Slab Cinema Arthouse
At 2 p.m., Slab Cinema will screen “I Am A Dreamer,” a documentary about todayâs current state of affairs. Then at 4:30 p.m., “Daughters in the Dust,” an award-winning film. At 7 p.m., Slab Cinema will screen “Us.” The 2 p.m. screening is free; the other movies are $10.
Sunday, Feb. 27 | Starting at 2 p.m.: Film screenings @ Slab Cinema Arthouse
Slab Cinema will screen a couple of foreign films: “Touki Bouki” and “Black Girl” at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. respectively. Both movies are $10.
Digital Exhibit | Barrier Breakers: Pioneers in Medicine
The San Antonio Area African American Community Archive and Museum presents African American history-makers in San Antonio who changed the medical science field.
Recent recognition
The “grandmother of Juneteenth” has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thirty-three members of Congress signed a letter nominating Opal Lee for the prestigious award.
The Fort Worth native led a years-long effort to get Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday. She succeeded last year when President Biden signed it into law.
Juneteenth marks the day when enslaved African Americans were liberated in Texas two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The nomination letter says that Lee’s efforts were, “a symbol of her hope that we as Americans can come together and unify against social issues that are plagues on our nation.”
Local organizations and resources
SAN ANTONIO – While DreamWeek technically ends on Jan. 31, the Mayor’s Ball is considered the finale of the DreamWeek Summit.
On Saturday, Jan. 29, the 2022 DreamWeek Summit finished on a grand final note with the annual Mayor’s Ball, held at Venue Villita.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg was the night’s guest of honor. Nirenberg assumed office on June 21, 2017, and has served as mayor since.
DreamWeek was founded by Shokare Nakpodia. DreamWeek 2022 is the 10th annual DreamWeek held in San Antonio and was scheduled from Jan. 13 – Jan 31.
The finale event showcased San Antonio’s many musical, theatrical comedic, and cultural performance artists, featuring Cleto Rodriguez, the San Antonio Youth Orchestra, Billy Ray Sheppard, Grupo Folklorico de Bendiciones, and more.
This year’s summit hosted over 200 events in and around San Antonio.
To learn more about DreamWeek, you can visit their website here.
People were dressed to the nines as they filled Venue Villita downtown to watch performances by local artists, dancers and more celebrating culture and diversity.
