Alamo City vs. Austin

Austin may be No. 1 place to live in U.S., but San Antonio’s not far behind

San Antonio is among the best cities to live in the U.S.

For the second year in a row, Austin has been crowned by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 place to live in the U.S. But fear not, San Antonio — Alamo City is right behind.

Out of 125 metro areas, San Antonio appears at No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live report card for 2018. And while that puts San Antonio behind Austin, the Alamo City sits ahead of Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 18) and Houston (No. 26).

The publication describes the Alamo City this way: “San Antonio is as comfortable as an old pair of jeans. It offers big-city amenities and world-renowned attractions coupled with a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.”

Here are snippets of what U.S. News & World Report observed about Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston.

Austin — “People are drawn to the Texas capital’s music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions.”
Dallas-Fort Worth — “Offering both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area offers an interesting mix of Texas pride and cosmopolitan offerings. The cowboy life still exists in Fort Worth, while Dallasites love the trendy local bars and numerous retail shops.”
Houston — “The Houston metro area attracts people with an entrepreneurial spirit and those who want to work at some of the country's largest companies. Not only is Houston the hub of the oil and gas industries, but it's also a major center of manufacturing and health care.”

U.S. News & World Report compared five factors in grading the 125 places:

Net migration: the difference between the number of people moving to and from an area.
Desirability: the allure of a region for potential residents.
Value: a region’s affordability.
Quality of life: a mix of indicators for categories like commute times, crime rates, health care, and education.
Job market: salary levels and job availability.

“When deciding on a place to settle down, it’s important to understand that where a person lives can impact their well-being,” Kim Castro, executive editor of U.S. News, says in a release.

“U.S. News created the Best Places to Live to highlight areas across the country that have the characteristics residents are looking for, including steady job growth and affordability. The top-ranked places are areas where citizens can feel the most fulfilled socially, physically, and financially.”

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Ready for Harvest

New farmers market and yoga classes stretch into St. Paul Square

Photo courtesy of St. Paul Square

St. Paul Square is historic, but keeping up with the times.

San Antonians have a fresh way to pick up groceries and artisan goods at St. Paul Square with the addition of a new farmers market. It will be free to attend in the central courtyard every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm.

Shoppers will be able to browse produce, handcrafted goods, and ready-to-eat treats by farmers, bakers, and artisans, according to a release. Suppliers will come from San Antonio and other places in South Texas.

This recurring event is just called the St. Paul Square Farmers Market. It's attributed directly to St. Paul Square, which is not just a neighborhood destination but an organization developing the historic district. Part of the purpose of the new programming is to support local businesses, as well as drawing in visitors.

The area was founded in 1778, and now includes all kinds of modern and retro attractions like the popular Francis Bogside bar, several eateries, 1902 Nightclub, and live music venue The Espee.

Donation-based yoga classes on Sundays from 9-11 am give even more to to do at The Espee's courtyard (1174 E. Commerce St.). They'll be led by Bendy with Lenny, and guests joining in will get to choose between a gentler slow flow in the earlier slot, and a higher energy class in the later slots.

“Our team is excited to introduce a series of new programs this winter aimed at enriching and uplifting our local community," said St. Paul Square managing partnerDon Thomas in the release. "We invite residents from across San Antonio to join us at St. Paul Square this Sunday to kick off the series and enjoy supporting local businesses as we enter the holiday season.”

The debut St. Paul Square Farmers Market takes place November 17 at17 Heiman Street.

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