Hey y'all,
Cory here.
Another busy week out and about around town. A little rain and a brief cold front brought some much-needed relief—but with that, my garden is definitely saying it’s spring.
This week, we kept the momentum going on our mayoral coverage for bigcitysmalltown with two more candidates in the podcast studio. Our first episode in the series—featuring Beto Altamirano—drops tomorrow, so if you’re starting to research who you’ll cast your ballot for (early voting runs April 22–29!), be sure to give it a listen.
Around town, I had an incredible lunch at Camp (get the fried chicken sandwich!) followed by a stroll along the river in Southtown before a haircut. I filmed a tour of a local native plant nursery (video out next week), interviewed a front yard gardener doing impressive things with a small space (that story’s coming soon), and wrapped up filming at Confluence Park for a new feature going live on YouTube tomorrow.
Enjoy this week's guide!
📘 Feature of the Week:
What Strong Schools Can Teach Us in Lean Times
Across Texas—and here in San Antonio—public schools are facing a hard truth: funding is tight, and the outlook isn’t improving. Despite record budget surpluses at the state level, districts are still waiting for meaningful increases in per-student funding. Many are already operating at a deficit.
That’s the backdrop for a recent education symposium hosted by Texas A&M University–San Antonio, and covered by The San Antonio Report, which spotlighted three high-poverty schools in Bexar County that are producing standout academic results. Each earned an “A” rating from the state. Their strategies varied, but the themes were consistent:
• Strong leadership and staff stability
• Consistent use of data to guide instruction
• Creative enrichment programs that keep students engaged
• One-on-one coaching and wraparound support for students who need it
One insight that came through clearly: these schools are not doing it alone. Partnerships—with universities, nonprofits, and, increasingly, the business community—are playing a key role. As Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran said at the forum, “Public-private cooperation is what the next movement is going to be.”
As someone who produces non-traditional media, one thing I love is that I can proactively follow stories like this. Because whatever “playbook” these schools have developed—it’s well worth understanding more deeply and sharing widely across San Antonio’s public school ecosystem.
It’s worth paying attention to what’s working—not just to celebrate it, but to understand it. Especially now.
📆 This Week's Picks:
🌆 Twilight Market at Confluence Park | Friday, April 11📍Free. 310 W Mitchell St, spend your Friday evening along the San Antonio River with local vendors, live music, and hands-on fun like Fiesta medal-making with Spare Parts. There’s even a free guided bike ride for early birds (18+).
🌍 Earth Month Farmers Market + Produce Giveaway | Friday, April 11 6-9 pm.📍 619 N. New Braunfels Ave, head to Gardopia Gardens for an evening farmers market and free local produce giveaway (first come, first served!) to celebrate Earth Month—courtesy of River City Produce.
🎷 Jazz in the Garden | Friday, April 11 📍 Japanese Tea Garden, ease into the weekend with a free outdoor performance by the Noah Peterson Quartet, set in one of the most beautiful spots of the city. Music starts at 6:30 PM—bring a chair or blanket and enjoy (get there early if you want a good spot!).
📚 San Antonio Book Festival | Saturday, April 12📍Central Library & UTSA Downtown Campus, this free, all-day festival brings the city’s literary spirit to life with author talks, panel discussions, book signings, a vibrant kids’ zone, and food trucks lining the streets. Whether you’re a serious reader or just out to explore, there’s something for everyone.
🍅 Sundays at The Square | Sunday, April 13 📍 1174 E. Commerce, swing by St. Paul Square for one of the city’s freshest weekly markets featuring top-tier food, local goods, and artisan vendors. Hosted by Juntos San Antonio, this community staple runs from 10 AM–2:30 PM—come hungry and ready to explore.
🍔 One Watch/Listen: 🎧 How Biga on the Banks Has Lasted 25 Years:
This last week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Bruce Auden and Perny Shea of Biga on the Banks to reflect on 25 years of keeping one of San Antonio’s most iconic restaurants thriving. It’s a story of resilience, community, and a few surprises about the city’s culinary past. Worth a listen—especially if you’ve ever dined there.
🥃 (Re) Discover Something New: The Esquire Tavern
If you’re looking for a date night spot that blends classic San Antonio character with a killer river view, start here. Opened in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition, The Esquire is the oldest bar on the River Walk—with deep booths, craft cocktails, and the longest wooden bar in Texas.
While the moody, historic vibe inside is worth soaking up (especially in the basement lounge), we love grabbing a spot on the riverside balcony. You’ll get a drink, some deviled eggs (highly recommended), and a free soundtrack of semi-accurate Go Rio tour guide history as the boats cruise by.
📍 155 E. Commerce St. | esquiretavern-sa.com
🌳 Texas Nature Journal: H-E-B’s Trees for Texans Program Is Accepting Applications
The H-E-B Trees for Texans program, in partnership with Texan by Nature, is now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 planting season—and if you’re part of a public school, nonprofit, or municipal organization in San Antonio, this is worth your attention.
The goal is simple but vital: increase tree canopy, reduce the urban heat island effect, and make our public spaces more livable for everyone. Grants of $5,000 are available for projects that meet those aims, and schools are especially encouraged to apply. The application deadline is May 30, 2025.
To date, the program has planted over 221,000 trees, distributed more than 122,000 seedlings, and impacted thousands of Texas students through educational planting events. With public funding for green infrastructure uncertain, opportunities like this from private philanthropy are critical—and we should take full advantage of them.
💡 My take? Every school and local civic group should be applying. If we’re serious about growing a greener San Antonio, we’ve got to be proactive.
🔗 Apply for the Fall 2025 cycle here
📖 Learn more about Trees for Texans
If you make it out to any of this week’s picks—or if something in this issue caught your attention—I’d love to hear what stood out. Just hit reply and let me know.
And if A Guide to Living in San Antonio helps you feel a little more connected to this place we call home, consider forwarding it to someone who’d appreciate it too. Sharing is how this thing grows.
Want to collaborate or support the work?
I’m always open to ideas, partnerships, or just a good conversation.
📫 sponsor@ensembletexas.com or just hit "reply."
Until next time,
Cory