A Guide to Living in San Antonio (Mar. 20th - Mar. 26th)
Hey y’all,
Cory here.
This week marks a big moment for San Antonio—Civic Park at Hemisfair is finally complete (more on that below).
But beyond Hemisfair, spring is in full swing. Síclovía takes over Broadway, Monarch Fest celebrates pollinators, and the city’s migratory birds are putting on a show.
Plenty of ways to get outside, get active, and experience the best of San Antonio.
Let’s dive in.
🏞️ Feature of the Week: Civic Park at Hemisfair Opens Just in Time for the Final Four
San Antonio just hit a major milestone in its ongoing transformation—the grand opening of the second and final phase of Civic Park at Hemisfair. This long-awaited expansion cements Hemisfair’s place as one of the city’s most important public spaces, blending history, community, and forward-thinking urban design.
Civic Park is a dynamic gathering place designed for festivals, live performances, and everyday San Antonio life. The newly completed 9-acre space now features:
• Source Plaza – A tree-lined, shaded entrance welcoming visitors.
• The Promenade – A scenic path connecting Hemisfair’s historic areas to Southtown.
• Zócalo – A new main square, perfect for public events and casual meetups.
• A Performance Stage – A venue for concerts, festivals, and cultural celebrations.
Hemisfair has undergone a decade-long transformation, and Civic Park’s completion marks a major step forward. It’s opening just weeks before the NCAA Men’s Final Four, which will bring thousands of visitors downtown—many of whom will experience the park for the first time.
The outgoing CEO of Hemisfair, Andres Andujar, summed it up best:
“It’s a place for a community to gather, celebrate and to protest and to run.”
So whether you’re heading to Hemisfair to check out the new space, grab a drink at the Zócalo, or just enjoy the water features, take a moment to appreciate how far this area has come. This is a San Antonio success story—and there’s more to come.
🔗 Read more about Civic Park’s opening here.
📆 This Week's Picks:
🌿 Twilight Market | Friday, March 21, 6–10 PM 📍 Confluence Park, free—shop fresh produce, artisan goods, and sustainable products under the stars, enjoy live music, and participate in a Seed Cleaning Event to support pollinators!
🦋 Monarch Fest | Saturday, March 22 & Sunday, March 23, 10 AM–2 PM 📍 San Antonio Zoo, included with admission—celebrate all things monarchs, milkweed, and migration with live music, seed giveaways, storytimes, and pollinator-friendly activities for all ages!
🌱 Spring Equinox Farmers Market | Saturday, March 22, 1–4 PM 📍 Gardopia Gardens, free—celebrate the changing seasons with fresh produce, artisan goods, and local vendors at this community-driven market, hosted in one of San Antonio’s most vibrant urban gardens!
🧘 Lighten Up Festival | Saturday, March 22, 4–9 PM 📍 Woodlawn Lake Casting Pond & Park, free—unwind with yoga, meditation, and community vibes, including Sun Salutations at 5:30 PM and 7 PM—don’t forget your mat!
🚲 Síclovía | Sunday, March 23, 10 AM–2 PM 📍 Broadway St. San Antonio’s largest free wellness event transforms Broadway into a car-free playground for biking, skating, running, and playing!
🦉 Birds of Yanaguana: Photography Exhibition | Tuesday, March 25, 6–9 PM 📍 Spirit Waters Art Gallery, free—experience a breathtaking bird photography exhibition by Roberto Paz, engage in activities with Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, and catch a live bird flight demonstration at 6:30 PM!
🍷 Regenerative Farming & Wine with Steve Matthiasson | Tuesday, March 25, 5:30–7:30 PM 📍 AOC Selections (2810 N. Flores St.), ticketed—join renowned winemaker Steve Matthiasson for a deep dive into regenerative farming, climate-friendly viticulture, and sustainability in the wine industry, complete with a guided tasting of his Napa Valley wines!
📖 One Read: The Data Says San Antonio is Getting Safer
I’ve highlighted some of this data before, but these stories are so undertold and underamplified that they’re worth sharing again.
A new report shows San Antonio’s Violent Crime Reduction Plan—focused on hot spot policing—has helped drive a 10% decrease in violent crime citywide and a 22% decrease in designated high-crime areas since its implementation in 2023. Murders, aggravated assaults, and deadly conduct incidents are all down significantly.
But, of course the story is more nuanced and more work remains. Some areas, have seen crime displacement rather than reduction, and family and domestic violence remains concerning. The next phase of the plan will aim to address these deeper-rooted issues.
These results align with a nationwide decline in violent crime, raising important questions: How much of this is due to local strategies? What broader societal trends are at play? And where do we go from here?
🔗 Read the full report via San Antonio Report: [Link to Article]
🌮 (Re)Discover Something New: Mezquite’s Michelin-Worthy Evolution
Last week, I mentioned Mezquite after Texas Monthly named it one of the best new restaurants in the state. Well, my wife and I went back for a date night last night, and let me tell you—it more than lived up to the hype.
Since our last visit, Mezquite has completely revamped its menu, and there’s a real buzz about the team’s ambitions. Word is that the GM and head chef are on a mission to bring another Michelin Star to San Antonio. If what we ate last night is any indication, they might just pull it off.
We had the Tuna Tostada, Sunchoke Dip, Caramelo, and the Chuleta, and every dish was a knockout. The Tuna Tostada was bright and fresh, the Sunchoke Dip was rich and comforting, and the Caramelo—a Sonoran-style taco wrapped in a supple flour tortilla—was pure perfection. And then there was the Chuleta, a thick-cut pork chop that was impossibly juicy and packed with flavor.
If you haven’t been, now’s the time. Mezquite is celebrating the deep flavors of Sonora, grilling meats over open flames and serving housemade tortillas that’ll ruin you for store-bought forever. The vibe is warm and lively, making it a perfect spot for a weekend dinner.
📍 Where: 221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
⏰ When: 5 PM – 10 PM (Weekdays), 11 AM – 10 PM (Weekends)
🍹 Late Nights: Mezcalería open till Midnight on Fri-Sat
🔗 More Info & Menu: mezquitesatx.com
🦜 Texas Nature Journal: The Spectacle of Spring Migration
San Antonio hosts one of nature’s greatest events every spring—the annual Spring Migration. Millions of birds, from tiny warblers to towering herons, pass through Texas on their way north, following the Central Flyway, a superhighway in the sky that guides birds from Central and South America to their breeding grounds.
Why is this such a big deal? Texas provides a critical stopover habitat for migrating birds to refuel, rest, and recover from their long journeys. Some birds, like hummingbirds, make nonstop flights across the Gulf of Mexico, relying on their fat reserves to sustain them. Others, like warblers and tanagers, travel at night using stars and the Earth’s magnetic fields to navigate.
If you want to witness this incredible movement of life, here’s what to look for:
🦋 Painted Buntings & Warblers—bright colors and lively songs in backyards, parks, and nature centers.
🦅 Raptors & Hawks—often seen riding thermals over open spaces.
🌊 Shorebirds & Waders—found in wetlands like Mitchell Lake Audubon Center.
One way to celebrate, support, and learn more about these migrating birds? Attend the Migratory Bird Fest!
🐦 Migratory Bird Fest
📍 Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
⏰ Saturday, March 22, 9 AM – 1 PM
🎟 Free!
Celebrate the return of migratory birds with live animal encounters, guided bird walks, nature crafts, and a native plant sale. This family-friendly event offers a chance to connect with the region’s feathered travelers and learn how to protect their habitats.
So step outside, look up, and welcome back the travelers of the sky!
🔗 More info: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
If you make it to any of these events or check out Civic Park this week, I’d love to hear what you think! Just hit reply and let me know what stood out—or if there’s something else worth featuring in a future edition.
And if you’re enjoying A Guide to Living in San Antonio, share it with a friend who loves exploring the city. The more, the merrier.
Reply to this email or reach out at sponsor@ensembletexas.com to start the conversation.
Until next time,
Cory
