Hey y’all,
Cory here.
It’s been another packed week—most of it spent in the studio as we continue rolling out our Mayor’s Race 2025 coverage for bigcitysmalltown. We recorded with three more candidates this week, and new episodes are now dropping (almost) daily. If you’re starting to think about your ballot (early voting starts Tuesday!), it’s a great time to tune in.
On the home front, my wife and I had a night out around the Pearl and ended up stumbling into the Bidi Bidi Party—a joyful tribute to Corpus Christi’s own fallen angel, Selena. We also took the boys to the final Spurs game of the season. They made it through halftime, which honestly felt like a win.
Wishing you and yours a happy Easter weekend—hope you get some time to rest, enjoy good food, and maybe take in a little sunshine.
Enjoy this week’s guide!
🌊 Feature of the Week: Can This Park Be a Blueprint?
Confluence Park is one of the most thoughtfully designed public spaces in San Antonio—a place where architecture, ecology, and education come together.
Once a fenced-in utility yard, this three-acre site on the Mission Reach has been transformed into a space that captures rainwater, restores native landscapes, and invites visitors to learn by experience.
In this week’s video, I toured the park with Frates Seeligson of the San Antonio River Foundation. We covered:
- A 12,500-crate underground system that stores rainwater to irrigate the park and flush restrooms
- Native grasses and tree species that mirror the San Antonio River’s natural habitat
- A pavilion designed using parametric modeling to funnel rain like a flower, not shed it like an umbrella
- Public art that helps kids trace the entire river watershed—from the Hill Country to the coast
“What if the park is art,” Frates asked, “instead of just affixing art to the park?”
🎥 Watch the full tour to see how San Antonio is rethinking public space—starting right here on the South Side.
📆 This Week's Picks:
🎷 Jazz on the Rooftop Tonight! |Thursday, April 17, 6:30–8:30 pm.📍The Fairmount Hotel Rooftop, 401 S Alamo St. Wind down tonight with skyline views and smooth jazz as Noah Peterson and Ricky Hernandez return for their third season.
🐣 Spring EGGstravaganza at the Botanical Garden | Saturday, April 19📍 555 Funston Pl. $35 GA / $60 Kids VIP. Celebrate Easter weekend with fairy tale characters, the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, and lively stage performances. VIPs get early access, storytime with the Pixie Hollow fairies, and a special gift.
🚶 Fredericksburg Rd. Audit Walk & Social | Saturday, April 19, 10 am–2 pm.📍Starts at Fredericksburg & Lynwood, ends at Sunset Brews (1904 Fredericksburg Rd). Join Strong Towns San Antonio for a community walk-and-talk on street safety, design, and livability. After walking the corridor, stick around for games, drinks, and discussion at Sunset Brews.
🪡 Guayabera Fest | Saturday, April 19, 1–8 pm.📍Travis Park, 301 E Travis St. Celebrate the culture and history behind the iconic pleated shirt with live music from DJ Laz, Isabel Marie, and Movimiento Cumbia, plus dancing, food, and family fun in the heart of downtown—hosted by Centro San Antonio.
🪷 Festival of India | Saturday, April 19, 2–10 pm.📍Civic Park at Hemisfair, 210 S Alamo St. Experience a vibrant celebration of Indian culture through music, dance, and food—set against the stunning backdrop of downtown’s new Civic Park. Hosted by the India Association of San Antonio, this free festival is a feast for the senses.
🔮 Looking Ahead
🥦 Food Horizons Forum | Thursday, April 24, 6 pm.📍Launch SA, 600 Soledad St (inside Central Library) Join local nutrition leaders for a candid, myth-busting conversation about health, diet culture, and science-backed wellness. Panelists include Elizabeth Johnson of Pharm Table, Chelsea Marquez of JTA Wellness, and Dr. Bhoja Katipally of New Me Health. Moderated by Mitch Hagney of the San Antonio Food Bank.
🎙️ bigcitysmalltown Live with Rory Sutherland | Friday, April 25, 9 am–12 pm📍Geekdom Event Centre, 131 Soledad St Join us for a special live recording of bigcitysmalltown featuring Rory Sutherland—bestselling author, behavioral economics expert, and Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK. Rory will sit down with host Bob Rivard for a thought-provoking conversation on creativity, cities, and the strange logic that drives us. Free, but seats are going fast!
🗳 One Watch/Listen: Get to Know San Antonio’s Mayoral Candidates
Early voting starts April 22—so now’s the time to get up to speed on who’s running to lead San Antonio.
In our special Mayor’s Race 2025 series on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down one-on-one with six of the most competitive candidates in this year’s mayoral race (we had invited eight total candidates but two others didn't accept our invitations). These thoughtful, in-depth interviews explore each candidate’s background, priorities, and vision for the city—touching on everything from housing and economic growth to climate and infrastructure.
We’ve already released episodes with Adriana Rocha Garcia and Beto Altamirano, with the remaining four interviews landing by Monday morning.
📝 Prefer to read? We also sent each candidate a written questionnaire. You can read their responses right here.
🍺 Discover Something New: Otto’s Ice House
Okay—I haven’t been yet. But Otto’s Ice House just opened at the Pearl, and from the looks of it, this might be one of the best new hangouts in San Antonio.
Set along the shady banks of the San Antonio River, Otto’s is a modern take on the classic Texas ice house. Expect tallboys, mesquite-grilled plates, soft serve, and cocktails with names like “Otto’s Last Shot” (yes, there’s a scandalous backstory). There’s even a “Texas Handshake” on the menu: a Lone Star and a shot of bourbon.
It’s family-friendly, dog-friendly, and packed with local lore—including a wild tale involving three Emmas, one Otto, and a murder that echoes through Pearl history.
📍111 Newell Ave, open daily
If you go before I do, let me know what you think—I’m taking recs.
🥬 Texas Nature Journal: Charis Park + Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
What if a church parking lot could become a native plant sanctuary? And what if your weekly market run helped restore the land?
At first glance, Charis Park and the Sunset Ridge Farmers Market might seem like two separate spaces. But together, they represent a powerful shift toward regeneration—of ecosystems, food systems, and community life in San Antonio.
Tucked behind Sunset Ridge Church, Charis Park is a one-acre landscape of native plants, salvaged stonework, and winding trails. Designed with over 70% native species and anchored by a majestic live oak, the park was built from recycled sidewalk concrete and reclaimed materials—showing that beauty and biodiversity can flourish even in the heart of the city. (Charis means “gift” in Greek.)
Every Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM, the space transforms into the Sunset Ridge Farmers Market—San Antonio’s only regenerative farmers market. Local ranchers and growers sell soil-building produce, pastured meats, and handmade goods beneath the shade of the native canopy.
🚙 Free parking available on the Sunset Ridge Church campus (over 100 spots!)
📍Charis Park & Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Saturdays 9 AM–1 PM
If you make it to any of this week’s picks—or try something new from the list—I’d love to hear how it went. Just hit reply and let me know what you thought.
And if A Guide to Living in San Antonio brings you a little closer to this city we call home, consider forwarding it to a friend. That’s how this thing grows—one neighbor at a time.
Curious about collaborating or supporting the work?
I’m always open to partnerships, ideas, or just a good conversation.
📬 sponsor@ensembletexas.com or just reply to this email.
Enjoy the weekend (and Happy Easter, if you’re celebrating 🐣),
Cory