Hey y’all,
Cory here.
It was a good week—finalizing our mayoral coverage for bigcitysmalltown (you can catch my thoughts on the race below) and making it out to UTSA to judge Honors College presentations. I was really impressed—worth keeping an eye on the students out there!
Also: Fiesta is officially here. And my advice? Less is more. Definitely don't skip it—just be intentional. Pick a few things you really want to do, and enjoy them fully. Don’t burn yourself out trying to do it all. We’ve got a curated handful of ideas below to help you do just that.
Hope to see y’all out there.
🗳️ Feature of the Week: Why I'm Voting for Beto Alamirano for Mayor
Early voting is underway in San Antonio, and after meeting many of the candidates through my work with bigcitysmalltown and reflecting deeply on what kind of leadership our city needs, I’ve made my decision.
This week, I shared a letter about why I’m supporting Beto Altamirano for Mayor. It’s a piece that reflects the same values we talk about often here at Ensemble Texas—like community, equity, sustainability, and care for place.
There are several strong candidates in this race—including Councilmembers Adriana Rocha Garcia, Melissa Cabello Havrda, and Manny Pelaez—but Beto’s vision, values, and personal story stood out to me.
A few reasons why I’m in:
- Beto understands that San Antonio doesn’t need to mimic Austin or Dallas—we need to chart a growth path that’s uniquely ours.
- He’s focused on the how of growth: investing in infrastructure, public schools, childcare, and workforce development before chasing outside corporations.
- As a son of immigrants, a small business owner, and a new dad, he brings lived experience and a generational urgency to this role that I connect with.
If you’re still undecided—or just curious—I invite you to read the full letter.
📖 Read the full endorsement here → ensembletexas.com/why-im-voting-for-beto-altamirano-for-mayor-of-san-antonio
🗳 Early voting runs through April 29. Election Day is May 3.
Let me know what you think, and more importantly—make your plan to vote.
📆 This Week's Picks:
🎙 bigcitysmalltown Live Recording w/ Rory Sutherland | Friday, April 25, 10 am–11 am📍Geekdom Event Centre (131 Soledad St). Free (but registration required)! Join us for a live taping of bigcitysmalltown with Rory Sutherland—Ogilvy UK’s Vice Chairman—on how behavioral economics and creative thinking shape cities and business.
🎷 A Taste of New Orleans | Friday (Aprilt 25th), 5:30–11 pm; Saturday, 12–11 pm; Sunday, 12–10 pm📍Sunken Garden Theater, Brackenridge Park. Tickets $22–$100. Now in its 39th year, this beloved Fiesta event brings the Big Easy to the Alamo City with crawfish boils, gumbo, etouffee, and live zydeco, brass, and jazz.
🌎 Earth Day 2025 | Saturday, April 26, 10 am–2 pm📍Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave. Free! Celebrate the planet at this official Fiesta event featuring over 60 environmental organizations, live music, free tree giveaways, food trucks, and more.
🎶 Chaparral Music & Heritage Festival | Saturday, April 26, 9 am–7 pm📍Civic Park at Hemisfair, 210 S Alamo St. Free; Culinary Experiences $50–$75. A full day of Texas tunes, local eats, and Fiesta flair—plus a parachute jump by the U.S. Army Golden Knights and special culinary upgrades for the 21+ crowd.
🛶 Fiesta Flotilla 2025 | Sunday, April 27, 11 AM – 3 PM📍Acequia Park (8500 Mission Pkwy). Free! One of Fiesta’s most playful traditions! Enjoy free kayaking, live music, folklórico, and festive contests on the San Antonio River.
📰One Read: 8 Fiesta Events You Shouldn’t Miss
As Fiesta kicks off today, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of parades, parties, and performances on the calendar. Thankfully, the San Antonio Report has your back with a smartly curated roundup of 8 standout events to help you dive into the celebration without decision fatigue.
From Fiesta Fiesta’s opening night energy to the iconic Battle of Flowers Parade and family-friendly classics like King William Fair, this guide hits the high points while capturing the essence of what makes Fiesta so special.
Big thanks to the San Antonio Report for this one.
🍽 (Re)Discover: Biga on the Banks
If you haven’t dined at Biga on the Banks lately, now’s the perfect time to revisit a San Antonio culinary institution. Biga just celebrated its 25th anniversary—and my wife and I had the pleasure of attending their celebration, which brought together alumni chefs from all over the city. It was a reminder of how many great San Antonio restaurants trace their roots back to that kitchen.
Led by Chef Bruce Auden, Biga has long been a pillar of the River Walk’s fine dining scene, known for its inventive takes on New American cuisine. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a well-earned night out, treat yourself—and support a place that’s helped shape San Antonio’s food story.
🔗 Explore the menu or make a reservation
🌿 Texas Nature Journal: Help San Antonio Defend Its Nature Title
The City Nature Challenge is back this weekend, April 25–28—and San Antonio is ready to go wild. Last year, our metro area won the national title, recording more wildlife observations than any other participating U.S. city. Let’s keep the crown in 2025.
So, what is it?
It’s a global citizen science event where cities compete to document the most biodiversity. All you have to do is head outside and observe the wild world around you—think birds, bugs, blooms, or even animal tracks. Using the iNaturalist app, you upload photos and recordings to contribute to real ecological data used by researchers worldwide.
How to participate:
- Download the iNaturalist app and create a free account
- Snap photos or audio of wild plants, animals, insects, or signs of life (not pets or garden plants)
- Upload to iNaturalist between April 25–28
- You can explore solo—or join a local event!
Here are a few great ways to get involved this weekend:
📍 Saturday, April 26
- 🐦 8:00 AM – Free Entry Day & Bioblitz at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
- 🐸 10:00 AM – Explore Aquatic Life at Guadalupe River State Park
- 🦋 7:00 PM – Bioblitz and Black Light Event at Government Canyon (RSVP)
📍 Sunday, April 27
- 🌿 7:30 AM – Flora/Fauna Bioblitz at Kirchhoff Farm (RSVP)
- 🦜 8:00 AM – Guided Bird Tour at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center (RSVP)
- 🦇 8:00 PM – UV Light Nocturnal Insect Survey at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
- 🔦 8:30 PM – Black Light Event at Encino Branch Library
Whether you’re solo with your smartphone or joining a community group, every observation helps—and might just uncover something surprising in your own backyard.
🔗 Join the San Antonio Project on iNaturalist // Check out the CNC List of Events
If you make it to any of this week’s picks—or stumble onto a great Fiesta event I didn’t include—I’d love to hear about it. Just hit reply and let me know what you got up to.
And if A Guide to Living in San Antonio helps you feel a little more rooted in this city we share, forward it to a friend. That’s how this thing grows—one good recommendation at a time.
Curious about collaborating or supporting Ensemble Texas?
I’m always open to ideas, partnerships, or just a good conversation.
📬 sponsor@ensembletexas.com or just reply to this email.
Enjoy the weekend, pace yourself with the Fiesta calendar, and soak up whatever feels meaningful to you.
Until next time,
Cory