agave is life

West Texas town celebrates spiky succulents during annual agave festival

Agave Festival Marfa puts the spotlight on a favorite Texas plant.

Between the wide open spaces, dark night skies, and desert mystique, there are plenty of reasons to head to West Texas — even in summer. And while Marfa is always a popular choice, the small town makes a strong case for a specific escape from June 6-9 during its annual Agave Festival Marfa.

Celebrating the spiky succulent and its influence on culture through food, film, music, science, and spirits, the packed program features talks from preeminent historians, botanists, artists, anthropologists, and archaeologists. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free, including tastings from agave spirit producers, unique dining experiences, and musical performances.

“We want this to be a festival in the broadest sense — one that celebrates the diverse cultures of our region and involves art, ecology, food, drink, music, and dancing,” says festival organizer Tim Johnson on the event website.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 6, with a 4 pm screening of the film Agave is Life, which explores 10,000 years of symbiotic relations between agaves and humans. Written and directed by Meredith Dreiss and Sharon Greenhill, the screening will include a Q&A between Dreiss and archeologist David O. Brown.

Other programming highlights include:

Thursday, June 6 - 7:30 pm: The annual Agave Festival Welcome Party at The Pool at the Hotel Saint George, featuring a set from DJ eMCee (Michael Camacho) with music from his weekly program on Marfa Public Radio.
Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 - 9 am: Join an expert-led hike at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute to learn more about native plants of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Friday, June 7 - 4 pm: A reading from legendary poet, translator, and revolutionary, Margaret Randall. Stick around at 5:30 pm for a conversation between Randall and editor/author/poet/essayist, Robert Tejada.
Saturday, June 8 - 12 pm: Liquor store and plant nursery Cactus Liquors hosts a tasting with spirit makers from all over Mexico paired with bites from El Paso’s Taco Neta.
Sunday, June 9 - 11 am: Jaqui Delolmo of Mira Marfa, along with Mateo and Malinda Galindo of Tierra y Que, host Crudolandia, featuring food by Taco Neta and a DJ set by Cariño de la Radio.

Beyond the above lineup, El Cosmico will host additional programming featuring local musicians in the Marfa Municipal Alliance and Zona Mutante to benefit the Big Bend Reproductive Coalition on June 7. Ballroom Marfa and The Capri are also hosting a multi-week residency with Michelin-starred chef Michael Diaz de Leon, who will serve food Thursdays through Saturdays.

Be sure to check the Agave Festival Marfa website for the full lineup and latest updates, as well as helpful travel info. (Pro tip: Head to El Cosmico for special discounts on summer travel.)

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Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

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