Love ya, Mama

9 special San Antonio activities to make Mother's Day memorable

You’ve got a delectable Mother’s Day brunch lined up and you’ve picked out the perfect present, but maybe you’re scratching your head wondering what else to do to celebrate the special day. Show the mom in your life how much you care on Mother’s Day weekend with a stop at one of these special San Antonio attractions.

San Antonio Botanical Garden
Falling right in the middle of spring, Mother’s Day is great time to go out and enjoy the beautiful flowers and plants at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. There’s much to explore across its 33 acres, including the Rose Garden, Sensory Garden, conservatory, and Texas Native Trail. If your mom is a birder, she’s likely to enjoy the bird-watching viewing areas as the gardens are frequently visited by a variety of species. When you're ready for refreshments, head to Rosella at the Garden.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Japanese Tea Garden
Once a rock quarry, the Japanese Tea Garden has since been transformed into a relaxing, picturesque oasis. Strolling along the stone walkways and bridge gives you the chance to take in the lush landscape, koi ponds, and large waterfall. Make sure to stop by the Pavilion for a scenic view of the whole area. The Jingu House restaurant is on-site for those looking to grab a bite to eat during their time here.
The Japanese Tea Garden is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset, and it’s hard to beat the cost of admission ... completely free.

La Villita Historic Arts Village
History and shopping collide at La Villita, a block of shops, art galleries, and restaurants just south of the River Walk. This area was one of San Antonio’s very first neighborhoods (settled almost 300 years ago), and the district has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. It won’t be hard to find a gift or two to spoil your mom among the jewelry, textiles, paintings, sculptures, and other regional arts and crafts. Even if you’re not in the mood to buy, meandering through the tree-lined courtyards and cobblestone paths, and perusing one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items at this cultural center are sure to make for a pleasant outing with the whole family.
La Villita is open Monday though Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.

Historic Market Square
Shopaholic and window-shopping moms alike will find plenty to feast their eyes on at the festive Historic Market Square, which covers three blocks and is said to be the largest Mexican market in the country. There are 32 shops in the El Mercado alone and then 80 more specialty shops in the Farmers Market Plaza where you’ll find everything from clothing to curios. When you’re feeling hungry, you don’t have to go far at all as there are a number of restaurants nearby including the famous Mi Tierra Café and Panadería.
Market Square is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Hemisfair Park
Smack dab in the city’s center, Hemisfair Park was originally the location of the 1968 World’s Fair and today serves as a vibrant urban park. The Tower of the Americas, Institute of Texan Cultures, Instituto Cultural de México, and The Magick Theatre are all noteworthy spots here. You can also spend the day enjoying the fun features scattered throughout the park, inlcuding the splash pad, sand play area, giant chess and checkers, climbing structures, swings, and picnic tables.
Hemisfair is open every day of the week from 7 am to midnight.

Mission Reach Trail
San Antonio’s Spanish colonial missions are some of the city’s most treasured gems, and the easy, eight-mile Mission Reach trail makes for a enjoyable way to pop by four of them (Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada) while soaking up the outdoors. Feel free to walk or bike the trail as it’s all conveniently paved and well marked. Consider packing a little Mother’s Day picnic to enjoy at one of the lovely spots on the route, which winds along the San Antonio River. Just remember the trail is not a loop so plan accordingly.
With multiple starting points, we recommend staring at Mission Concepción.

McNay Art Museum
For moms who love modern art, the McNay Art Museum is the place to go. The first modern art museum in Texas, the McNay is housed in a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion and boasts a collection of over 20,000 works. After checking out the fine works inside, consider wandering the beautifully kept grounds too.
McNay Art Museum is open every day except Monday. The McNay grounds open earlier and close later than the museum.

Witte Museum
If natural history is more up your mom’s alley, consider visiting the Witte Museum. The exhibitions cover South Texas history, environment ecology, and science — from the dinosaurs to early settlers to modern times. With gems and minerals, artifacts, wildlife dioramas, paintings, and so much more, the museum makes for a stop that’s as fun as it is educational.
The Witte Museum is open every day of the week at varying times.

Spanish Governor’s Palace
Mother’s Day is all about treating your mom like royalty, so why not pay a visit to a palace? You can see how the area’s elite in the 18th century lived at the Spanish Governor’s Palace, a National Historic Landmark and the last remaining architectural example of its kind in Texas. Completed in 1749, the striking building was the headquarters and residence for the captain of the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar and later home to Spanish governors living in the city. Aside from the rooms full of historical pieces, the site also has quite the lovely courtyard and gardens.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace is open every day except Monday at varying times.

Head to the McNay with mom in tow.

Courtesy photo

Head to the McNay with mom in tow.

Movie Review

Jesse Eisenberg redefines the comedy duo trope in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners; relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

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