Quantcast
Photo courtesy of San Antonio Parks Foundation

San Antonio Parks Foundation, in partnership with the City of San Antonio Parks & Recreation Department, will present the 4th Annual Outside For All, an outdoor celebration of the diverse outdoor recreation and green space opportunities in the community.

The theme for 2023 is "Co-Creating Community In Urban Parks" with a keynote address by former U.S. Housing & Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros focusing on the role of government funding in creating and supporting dynamic public green spaces.

Round table discussions will be open to all park users, facilitated by topic experts will follow the keynote address. Representatives from each round table will give a summary of their discussion along with suggested solutions. Closing remarks will be given by San Antonio Parks Foundation Board Member and Outside For All Event Chair, Brandon A. Logan.

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden

Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend

Weekend Event Guide

Experience the sounds of the city with the help of these must-attend musical happenings. See The Zombies live in concert or groove to music under the stars at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Check out the top five things to do in San Antonio this weekend. For a full list of events, visit our calendar.

Thursday, March 16

The San Antonio Botanical Garden presents "Lush: Twilight in the Garden"
A new after-hours entertainment series is in full bloom at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. This month’s activities are inspired by the theme "Luck in Lush" and will include extended garden hours, live music, entertainment, a signature beverage, and an array of floral displays for ambiance. For more information and to snag your tickets, visit sabot.org.

Ben Rector in concert
Singer-songwriter Ben Rector performs live at the Majestic Theatre in support of his album, The Joy of Music. Rector has released seven studio albums and has topped the charts with songs like “Brand New” and “Love Like This.” For seating availability, visit Ticketmaster.

Friday, March 17

Druski: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Tour
Comedian and Internet personality Druski takes his brand of comedy on the road as part of his first-ever, headlining comedy tour, Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda. Fans can experience his blend of skits, storytelling, and social media-infused content at Majestic Theatre live and in person. Visit the Ticketmaster for more information.

Saturday, March 18

The Zombies in concert
Legendary British psych rock band The Zombies comes to San Antonio for one night only. The group behind hits like “She’s Not There” and “Indication” performs at the Aztec Theatre in support of their new album, Different Game. They will be joined by special guest AJ Smith. Get ticket information via Live Nation.

Sunday, March 19

Lush: Twilight in the Garden
Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden

San Antonio Botanical Garden invites revelers for "Lush: Twilight in the Garden" on March 16.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts presents "Yamato: The Drummers of Japan"
See the spotlight shine on Japanese Taiko drumming during this special performance by Yamato. This storied drumming group hails from Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture, also known as the “hometown of Japan,” and has traveled to 54 countries in the almost three decades since its formation. A select number of tickets are still available at tobincenter.org.

Hemisfair/ Facebook

Splash, spin, and swing into San Antonio's best spring activities for the whole family

FAMILY FUN

Phew! You made it to Spring Break. After juggling soccer practice, homework, and packed lunches for weeks, Spring Break arrived and brought the next parenting challenge — keeping the kids from bouncing off the walls.

Fear not. While plopping down the brood for a repeat viewing of Encanto may be tempting, most moms and dads have heard enough about Bruno. Instead, pack sunscreen and wet wipes for an affordable adventure on the town. And most of these events last long after Spring Break is over, so you can keep the fun going as the school days count down and temps start to climb.

Los Trompos Experience at the Shops of La Cantera
The whole family can take a spin inside these kinetic sculptures, designed by Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena to mimic life-sized tops. And since they are in one of San Antonio’s largest shopping centers, parents can get some errands done too. Free daily through April 9.

Morgan’s Wonderland
An amusement park for people of all abilities, this Wonderland has a sensory zone, sand pits, a train ride, and playgrounds that every family member can enjoy. Though the park will be open the entirety of Spring Break, check the calendar for other March dates. Admission starts at $13.

Nature Exploration at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Break out the purple backpack. Every youngster’s inner Dora Marquez will adore the outdoor fun at the Family Adventure Garden. Each week features a different activity to inspire a lifelong love of nature. Included with $13-$16 admission, Wednesdays through October 25, 10-10:30 am.

Poolside Movies at San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter

Go un poco loco at this outdoor screening of Pixar’s classic Coco. Food and drinks will be available for purchase starting at 6:30 pm. Free screenings March 11 and 18, 7-9 pm.

Spring Break Family Day at San Antonio Museum of Art
Who says a little learning can’t be squeezed into Spring Break? Ties to SAMA’s latest exhibition, this exciting afternoon offers art-making experiences, story times, food vendors, performances, and more. Free, March 14, 10 am-7 pm.

Super Fun Saturday with H-E-B
Starting March 18, San Antonio’s beloved grocer will host a series of third-Saturday events sure to keep even the most gregarious child engaged. Crafts, vendors, live music, and more will delight the whole family, while monthly themes like Spring is Blooming provide adorable opportunities to fill the photo album. Free, first Saturday of every month through October, 11 am-1pm.

Union Pacific Railroad Splashpad
Whatever the threat to an Explorer’s upholstery, kids can while away hours dashing through dancing waters. With wheelchair accessibility, comfy lawn furniture, and plenty of shade, Yanaguana Garden might have the best splashpad in the city. Plus, nearby treats from Dough Pizzeria Napoletana and Paletería San Antonio keep hangry fits at bay. Free daily, 9am-9 pm.

"Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit" at the DoSeum
Yes, the exhibit name is quite a mouthful, but what would one expect from something so jam-packed? Inspired by the Very Hungry Caterpillar author’s beloved works, the activities include weaving a web and composing a night symphony. $16 admission for ages 1 and up. Wednesday - Monday through April 16

Teletextile/ Facebook

Local artist floods San Antonio with two water-inspired performances

THE SHAPE OF WATER

From Lake Elmendorf to the River Walk, San Antonians are blessed with a surplus of beautiful waterways. Now a local composer is augmenting their visual appeal with a free series of sonic art performances in collaboration with the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture.

According to a release, Alamo City sound artist Pamela Martinez will bring the happenings to two San Antonio dams in March. A Reiki master and educator putting out work as Teletextile, Martinez has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. National publications such as The Atlantic and the New York Times have lauded her densely layered soundscapes.

Martinez works with a revolving crew of collaborators to execute the events, creating “sound and ceremony” designed for specific sites. The San Antonio performances will explore “water as a carrier of culture throughout the city.”

The first two-act production will occur at Lake Elmendorf's 19th Street Dam on March 4 at 5 pm. The first act, “Transformation,” employs immersive staging to walk the audience into the dam's teeth. Guests are invited to contemplate the theme related to the different states of water and interpersonal development. The second act, “Our Power Together,” features an original score with percussion, horns, and choral elements.

“When I look at a dam, I see an opera house,” says Martinez via a release. “The majestic stage is set for the drama that is our lifeblood in the inevitable overflowing of water.”

Martinez will return for a second performance at the Roosevelt Control Tunnel Outlet Park on March 25 at 5:30 pm. The first act will reprise “Our Power Together,” staged with musicians floating on the San Antonio River in kayaks. The second act, “Flow,” encourages guests to promenade with the cast along the river up to the floating pavilion and the hidden three-mile water tunnel below.

The event will crescendo with “Dam! A Song of Water.” The composition was initially performed in October 2022 at Espada Dam in collaboration with the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The piece spotlighted the landmark and the Spanish colonial acequia system.

Both performances will last around an hour. Admission is free, but guests need to RSVP before the show. Tickets can also be upgraded by purchasing a digital download or reserved seating. Walking, however, will be a part of both events.

Participants are advised to dress appropriately for wet areas since performances will be held inside the dams and near the San Antonio River. Closed-toe or waterproof shoes with traction are encouraged. For safety reasons, the events will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

Those wanting to get a jumpstart on the performances can download a DAM! Audio Tour through geo-mapping app Echoes. The location-triggered sounds include remarks about the water’s nature, field recordings, and selections from Martinez’s work.

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden

San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Lush: Twilight in the Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden’s after-hours series, Lush: Twilight in the Garden, will feature new, exciting themes. Each month, guests can enjoy extended hours, live music, entertainment, a signature beverage, and beautiful bloom displays as the sun sets over the 38-acre urban oasis.

Theme schedule

  • March 16 - Luck in Lush
  • April 13 – Fiesta Preparada
  • May 18 – Rosé and Roses
  • June 15 – Margarita Madness
  • July 20 – Dueling Pianos
  • August 17 – Sangria and Sunsets
  • September 21 – Knight at the Garden
  • October 19 – Day of the Dead Celebration
Photo by David Morris on Unsplash

Where to see the once-in-recorded-history green comet approaching San Antonio

Seeing green

The world is buzzing with news of an approaching astronomical body, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), more often referred to in the news and social media as "the green comet." Its most recent appearance was 50,000 years ago — compared to the about 200,000 years since modern humans emerged.

"While the pictures of it have been impressive, its visual appearance differs greatly," explains Joe Wheelock, public program specialist at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin. "Currently you might glimpse it with the unaided eye as a fuzzy patch of light[,] but you would need to be away from city lights. Binoculars or a telescope would improve the view, and you might even glimpse a faint tail."

As tempting as it is — and as much fodder as its made on social media — this experience will not be easy for most Texans to photograph and share. "The pictures that have been posted on various websites were taken by experienced astrophotographers and in most cases cameras designed for astrophotography," Wheelock warns.

Some logistics to note when planning a viewing:

  • The comet will be closest to Earth (thus, likely the most visible) on February 1.
  • Wheelan says placement will also be good in late January and early February, and it will be best viewed after midnight. Since the new moon was on January 21, every day the moon will compete with it a little more.
  • The McDonald Observatory posts daily stargazing tips, so viewers will have a few chances at seeing something special, even if the comment doesn't work out.
  • Getting out of San Antonio is the best bet against light pollution.

Those who are willing to make a trip out of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity should consider their best chances at out running the city lights. The closest popular option to San Antonio proper is McAllister Park, which sometimes hosts stargazing events. For a more structured approach, the Curtis Vaughan Jr. Observatory at the University of Texas at San Antonio hosts first Friday stargazing nights after sunset. The McDonald Observatory, although it is an entity of the University of Texas at Austin, is in Fort Davis, about 400 miles from San Antonio.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) maintains records of some of the world's least light-polluted skies and works to protect them, ensuring that these places stay available for reliable stargazing retreats. There are four IDA-certified Dark Sky Parks in Texas: Enchanted Rock (90 miles from San Antonio), South Llano River (120 miles), Copper Breaks (370 miles), and Big Bend Ranch (490 miles).

In addition to the certified parks, there is a smaller group of Dark Sky Sanctuaries, which are especially dark and carefully protected. There are two in Texas: Devil's River State Natural Area (170 miles) and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (390 miles).

For more in-depth reading on the comet's trajectory and context, Wheelan suggests an article in Sky & TelescopeSky & Telescope.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

7 things to know about San Antonio food right now: Mexican street food joint wraps up after 25 years

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our weekly roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

After serving locals for more than 25 years, a Broadway corridor mainstay has wrapped up business. In an Instagram statement, the owners of Beto's Alt-Mex announced that March 19 was the last day of service. Since 1997, the restaurant has offered an eclectic take on Pan-American street food, serving a variety of tacos and empanadas alongside sides like charro beans and Peruvian rice. In the post, the team struck a hopeful note by promising, "this is not a goodbye, but a see ya later."

A Northwest Side eatery only offered finality in its own closing note. Via Facebook, mom-and-pop joint Sarah's Barbacoa said its goodbyes on March 16. Though owner Sarah Hernandez explained the shutter was a tough decision, each member of the family management team decided to focus on emerging career opportunities.

In more playful news, schoolhouse-themed watering hole Home Roomwelcomed its first visitors on March 16. Owned by Marika Olmstead-Wright of Pacific Moon and Marc "Frenchy" Groleau of Charlie Brown's Neighborhood Bar, the watering hole has filled the former home of St. Peter Claver Academy with lawn games and primary colored furnishings. Still to come will be food trucks and a school bus patio bar.

A new project is brewing at 11015 Shaenfield Rd. A concept called Refuge Coffee and Beer has applied for a wine and malt beverage on-premise permit with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. According to corporate filings, the project is the work of Austinites. Although similarly named businesses exist in other states, this appears to be an original concept. An online presence seems to be still pending.

Other news and notes

Newish Pearl hot spot Ladino is putting a Mediterranean twist on the wine dinner. On March 27, the eatery will welcome Greek vintner Christos Zafeirakis of Domaine Zafeirakis Winery for a four-course feast paired with a whopping six wines. Tickets are $120 online and are limited to 24 guests.

River Walk restaurant Dorrego's is giving guests a little zazzle with made-to-order paella Monday through Friday, 11 am-2 pm. For $16.95, diners can customize a heaping helping of saffron rice with chicken, shrimp, scallops, sausage, mussels, and vegetables. Reservations can be booked online.

Speaking of paella, chef Johnny Hernandez's annual Paella Challenge will return to Mission County Park on March 26. As always, the shindig will feature more than 40 paellas prepared by some of San Antonio's culinary luminaries. Tickets start at $85 and benefit Hernandez's youth charity Kitchen Campus.

Ridiculously violent John Wick: Chapter 4 hits most of the right marks

Movie Review

The world of John Wick sure has changed a lot from its relatively small beginnings in 2014. Back then, Wick (Keanu Reeves) was just a former hitman out for revenge on the people who killed his dog. Now it’s full-blown franchise with a story that spans continents, necessitating that each subsequent sequel try to out-do the previous film.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the biggest movie in the series yet, clocking in at just shy of three hours. Stunt coordinator-turned-director Chad Stahelski does his best to fill that massive running time with as much brutality and derring-do as possible. Wick, having long ago run afoul of the powers-that-be that lead the hitman syndicate, The High Table, is still on the lam, with only a few loyal friends willing to help him.

One of the leaders of The High Table, the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), is on mission to root out Wick once and for all, systemically shutting down versions of The Continental, hotels that serve as safe houses for assassins like Wick. With the Marquis and his henchmen constantly on his tail, Wick has no choice but to do what he does best – take out as many people as he can before they get to him first.

The film, written by Shay Hatten, Michael Finch, and Derek Kolstad, is not quite a non-stop thrill ride, but it’s as close as you can get when you decide to make a film this long. The complexity of the machinations of The High Table makes it almost impossible to keep up with the actual story of the film, but when they get down to the business of fighting, none of that really matters.

There are multiple extended sequences that become an orgy of violence, but the way they’re staged by Stahelski and his team make them eminently engaging. John Wick: Chapter 3 suffered from repetitiveness, and while the same could be said here to a degree, it feels fresher because of the sheer number of combatants and constantly changing scenery.

The fight scenes are magnificently over-the-top, but in this series, that’s to be expected. Where the filmmakers step up this time around is in the cinematography, with bravura shots filling the screen. The camera is almost constantly on the move, swooping in, out, and above the action. One especially memorable sequence even has the camera going above walls to follow the fighting.

While the majority of the story is treated in a deadly serious manner, the filmmakers aren’t afraid to add in some goofy elements. We’ve always had to take Wick’s ability to survive (mostly) unscathed with a huge grain of salt, but this film turns that idea up to 11. At certain points, there’s a kind of a Wile E. Coyote tone to Wick’s escapes, especially a late sequence involving (many) stairs.

There’s not much do the character of John Wick other than his preternatural ability to kill, and Reeves continues to play him perfectly, expressing himself more in gunshots and punches than words. In addition to returning favorites like Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Laurence Fishburne, this film sees great supporting turns by Skarsgård, Donnie Yen, and Shamier Anderson.

John Wick: Chapter 4 did not need to be nearly as long as it is, but in this case, the excess is the point. Much of it is ridiculous and ridiculously violent, but it’s also highly entertaining, which is all you can hope for from this type of film.

---

John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters on March 24.

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Blockbuster Western art exhibition and sale stampedes into San Antonio

Luck of the draw

No other region has quite captured the public’s imagination quite like the American West. From the sweeping mountaintop vistas to the harsh desert flats, the landscape has fueled countless works of art. Although many still view it through the amber of history, the realities and myths of frontier life still resonate today.

It’s a subject well-known by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, whose annual Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale returns to San Antonio March 24 through 25. The two-day spectacular showcases nearly 300 new works by 80 of the nation’s vanguard Western artists. The event kicks off a six-week public viewing included with admission to the museum.

The paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works displayed reflect a panoramic vision of the Western United States, ranging from portraiture to nature studies. Works by greats like Billy Schenck, Don Oelze, Z.S. Liang, C. Michael Dudash, George Hallmark, Kim Wiggins, Bonnie Marris, Michael Ome Untiedt, Teresa Elliot, and Jan Mapes will be quickly snatched up by collectors.

The blockbuster show also gives guests a chance to discover emerging artists. Among the notable new talent this year are Jeremy Lipking, Eric Bowman, Glenn Dean, Dustin Van Wechel, Bob Guelich, Kevin Red Star, and Tony Pro.

"With a rich array of works from today’s top artists, events like Night of Artists prove the strength of Western art," said Michael Duchemin, Briscoe's President and CEO, via release. "The genre continues to flourish thanks to the talent showcased by our participating artists and the increasing number of collectors and enthusiasts drawn to the beauty and spirit these works capture,”

Opening weekend kicks off with an exhibition preview in the Briscoe's Jack Guenther Pavilion on the River Walk banks. The exclusive evening begins with cocktails amongst the art before a seated dinner. A high-spirited auction will provide a dramatic crescendo.

Guests wanting a more in-depth understanding of the Western art can participate in the Briscoe Bison Society Collectors Summit on March 24 and 25. Collectors, gallery owners, and artists will chat at a series of panels held at the Westin Riverwalk, offering expert advice on market trends.

Other highlights include The Night of Artists awards luncheon and the exhibit opening reception in the McNutt Sculpture Garden, both on March 25. Art fans will surely want to check out the evening Luck of the Draw sale, where attendees can snag up pieces at a fixed price.

Tickets, benefiting the museums exhibitions and programs are available online. Those who are not able to make it can view the dazzling collection March 26 through May 7.