Dining in, but out

San Antonio's popular Restaurant Weeks switches to to-go dining amid COVID-19 fears

Battalion is among the restaurants participating in Restaurant Weeks To-Go.

Restaurants all over the world are adapting to fit the needs of the dining community amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these uncertain times, nonprofit group Culinaria is launching Restaurant Weeks To-Go, beginning Monday, March 16, an update on its popular event.

Culinaria, a 19-year-old organization that promotes San Antonio as a food and wine destination, is reminding locals that many of the city's favorite restaurants are still open for business despite the spread of coronavirus.

“Participating restaurants have $15 lunch, $30 dinner three-course prix-fixe menus, and some are also offering family meals,” says Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, president and CEO of Culinaria, in a release. “For those who do venture out, be assured, the culinary community is taking extra precautions to clean and sanitize establishments frequently throughout the day, not only the dining area, but behind the scenes in the kitchen and prep spaces, including equipment.”

The program will run indefinitely until there is an assurance that the COVID-19 crisis has been contained, which may mean the implementation of a new normal for restauranteurs.

On March 16, the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed 57 cases of COVID-19 in the Lone Star State, including three positive cases in Bexar County. The trend of social distancing has directly affected eateries in the San Antonio area.

On March 13, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a seven-day public health emergency declaration which prohibits gatherings of more than 500 people. It also strongly recommends against gatherings of 250 or more. For high-risk individuals, San Antonio Metro Health District’s recommendation is refraining from attending gatherings of 10 or more.

This most-at-risk population is defined as citizens 60 years and older; people with health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease; those with compromised immune systems; and those who are pregnant or have been pregnant over the past two weeks.

Despite these restrictions, Restaurant Weeks To-Go organizers feel that it’s imperative to stimulate the economy, particularly in the Alamo City which has been celebrated for its culinary achievement. In fact, San Antonio has the distinction of being named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, which is an honor shared by only two cities in the United States.

Culinaria is also currently organizing a donation-based emergency relief fun to help restaurants on the brink of financial collapse help cover operating costs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will likely continue to adversely affect the hotel, travel, and food and beverage industries.

“The mission of Culinaria has always been to promote San Antonio as a culinary destination, and, to support the restaurant and hospitality community in times of financial hardship or family emergencies,” continued Taranto-Etheredge. “We ask the community to give what you can to help restaurant owners keep their establishments operational.”

Any donations sent to this cause are 100 percent tax deductible.

Even leaving a tip that’s a little more than usual might go a long way for a server trying to make ends meet in the age of social distancing.

A comprehensive list of participating restaurants and further information about the Emergency Relief Fund can be found on their website.

charity where-to-eat

SPARE ART

North San Antonio gets crafty with new creative supplies shop

Photo by Ismael Rodriguez.

Local nonprofit Spare Parts recently opened its brick-and-mortar center for creative reuse.

One local nonprofit organization has spent years getting environmental accountability and community education down to a fine art. And now it’s getting crafty with a new brick-and-mortar shop in North San Antonio aimed to help locals to go green.

Spare Parts was founded in 2010 by executive director and longtime arts educator Mary Elizabeth Cantú to provide a creative spark for area students and schools lacking arts funding and resources. Through a variety of educational programs, public art exhibitions, events, and the organization’s traveling Mini Art Museum, Spare Parts has enlightened thousands of students and San Antonians, all while fostering reuse practices and sustainability, a key tenet of the nonprofit.

Spare Parts’ latest endeavor is another artistic triumph. Its new center for creative reuse, located at 13451 Wetmore Rd., is nothing less than a crafter’s delight. The shop features an impressive array of “pre-loved” and price-reduced artsy merchandise — from paint supplies and paper crafts to sewing items, beading and jewelry, school and office supplies, vintage gadgets, and crafting kits — all of which has been rescued from area landfills.

Cantú notes that proceeds from the new Spare Parts’ shop will enable the organization to further increase creative and educational experiences for San Antonio students and families. But even more so, she hopes the shop will help locals embrace the concept that one person’s trash can be another’s artistic treasure.

“There really isn’t any more room in the world for this stuff. Buying pre-loved at places like Spare Parts or other stores is a way to reduce the amount of things [people] feel that they need,” Cantú said in a recent interview with the San Antonio Sentinel. “We’re challenging people to rethink things around them, buy pre-loved, and find a way to be creative in their lives.”

In the time of COVID-19, however, getting the creative juices flowing isn’t as simple as popping into the Spare Parts shop. Though the center for creative reuse is open, the store is currently offering only weekend curbside pickup of items ordered through its website. But crafters shouldn’t despair, as Spare Parts is offering private in-person shopping experiences in the new year, with the first planned for January 16 and 17.

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