A Guide to Living in San Antonio (Oct. 31st - Nov. 6th)
Hey y'all,
Cory here–Happy Halloween! 🎃
And, maybe more importantly for San Antonio, happy Dia de Los Muertos! 💀
Welcome to your Thursday Guide to Living in San Antonio.
Here's this week's list of timeless and timely recommendations to help you connect better with the Alamo City.
One PSA before we dive in: early voting is still happening in San Antonio through tomorrow, November 1st. If you'd like to vote early in this year's election (I'm voting today), you can find your closest voting location here.
⭐️ Featured Recommendations of the Week:
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebrations Continue!
Dia de Los Muertos at the Pearl
💀Honor the lives of loved ones with a special Día de los Muertos celebration at the Pearl. This community event will feature traditional ofrendas (altars), live music, vibrant art installations, and family-friendly activities to commemorate this rich cultural tradition.
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Pearl, 303 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
La Vida de los Muertos at Plaza Guadalupe
🎭 Join the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for La Vida de los Muertos, a multidisciplinary Día de los Muertos performance, on Saturday, November 2, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Plaza Guadalupe. This free outdoor theater and dance performance features the talented Guadalupe Mariachi Academy, Dance Company, and Dance Academy, celebrating over 25 years of tradition. The production combines traditional and contemporary music and dance to bring the mythological land of the dead to life with vibrant costumes and colorful characters.
Arrive early to explore the altars at the Progreso Community Gallery, open from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, showcasing original displays that celebrate life and honor the departed. Seating is limited, so feel free to bring your own chairs for a comfortable experience.
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
Carnaval de Los Muertos at Elmendorf Lake Park
✨ Be captivated by URBAN-15’s Carnaval de Los Muertos, an annual illuminated procession at Elmendorf Lake Park on Saturday, November 2, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Since 1985, this magical performance has celebrated “the space between life and death” with glowing costumes, intricate banners, and a mix of motion, sound, and light.
The festivities begin earlier in the evening with the Día de Los Muertos Lantern Release Celebration, hosted by Westside Stories Magazine at 5:00 PM, featuring vendors, crafts, food, and entertainment.
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Elmendorf Lake Park, 3700 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
📅 This Week’s Events:
🌳 Nature Fest at Mission County Park
Presented by Green Spaces Alliance, this free, family-friendly event brings nature to life with activities for all ages. Enjoy kids’ crafts, forest bathing and yoga, food trucks, local art, a conservation fair, and a Nature Bingo Challenge, all designed to deepen your connection with the outdoors.
Additional Highlights:
• • Kids’ Nature Crafts and Scavenger Hunt 🎨🌿🎨
• Forest Bathing and Yoga 🧘
• Conservation Fair 🌎
• Nature Bingo Challenge 🌲
Bonus Event: Join the River Clean-Up (with my friends at River Aid San Antonio) on Friday, November 1, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM with River Aid San Antonio. Help keep the river clean and see the results announced at Nature Fest!
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: Mission County Park, 6030 Padre Dr, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
🌳 Día del Árbol: Texas Arbor Day Celebration
Celebrate San Antonio’s urban forest at Día del Árbol! Head to Mission Marquee Plaza on Saturday, November 2, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM for this free, family-friendly event featuring a tree giveaway with over 1,000 trees, interactive demos, crafts, and nature activities. Learn about tree care and take home a tree to add to your own green space.
WMission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
✨ Diwali San Antonio – Festival of Lights
Celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights at Hemisfair Park! Join San Antonio’s celebration of its Sister-City relationship with Chennai, India, with a night full of cultural vibrancy. Expect live Indian dance performances, delicious food from local vendors, and an array of traditional crafts and attire.
As night falls, witness the beautiful candle-lighting ceremony on the River Walk, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. The night wraps up with a breathtaking fireworks display you won’t want to miss.
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 4:30 PM - 12:00 PM
Where: Hemisfair Park, 434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free!
🎉 (Re)Discover Something New:
La Panadería, a beloved San Antonio bakery known for its pan dulce and mouthwatering pastries, has opened its newest location at 2503 Broadway! Situated in the former Fratello’s Market & Deli, this bright, airy space brings an expanded menu of breakfast, lunch, and delicious treats to the bustling Broadway corridor.
This spot also introduces a full bar featuring strawberry margaritas, carajillos, and other beverages—perfect for a mid-week or weekend treat.
📍 2503 Broadway, San Antonio, TX
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat-Sun 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
📖 One Read: “Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich’s Quiet Generosity”
Ken Rodriguez pulls back the curtain on the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, revealing a side of the legendary coach often overshadowed by his fiery court demeanor. Known for his unmatched generosity, Popovich has touched lives far beyond the basketball court—funding meals, donating to the homeless, supporting the San Antonio Food Bank, and even buying cars for those in need. His philanthropy extends nationwide, impacting communities in ways both large and small, often without seeking recognition. For a glimpse into the compassionate soul behind the Spurs’ success, this article is a must-read
READ MORE🤔 Did You Know?
On October 31st, 1967, San Antonio’s HemisFair Tower construction faced a major challenge when the lift rods holding up the top house began to fail, nearly causing it to plummet. The unique “cupcake” structure, built on the ground and then lifted 579 feet into the air, required quick thinking and resources from across Texas.
Engineers brought in additional cranes from around the state, stabilizing the tower and completing the project just in time for HemisFair’s grand opening six months later.
Source: San Antonio 365: On This Day in History
🌱Texas Nature Journal: Fall Garden Tour
I’m excited to share a special Fall Garden Tour from my very own San Antonio landscape. Recently, I was awarded a grant by the City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability to turn my home garden into a Texas-native plant demonstration site. In this tour, I’ll walk you through some of the new additions and ongoing projects, including a pollinator garden, water-saving techniques, and tips for creating resilient landscapes with native plants.
Join me on this journey as I share the challenges, successes, and lessons I’m learning along the way.
🔥 Rapid Fire Recs:
🎸 Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country Album Release BASH! – Celebrate the launch of Everyone is Everyone with Garrett T. Capps and NASA Country at The Lonesome Rose. Saturday, November 4, 8:00 PM - 11:45 PM. Find Tickets Here
🍿 November Movie Mondays at Pearl – Catch a free outdoor movie each Monday in November at sunset! Pack your blankets and chairs, and settle in at Pearl Park. Enjoy Harry Potter (11/4), Dunkirk (11/11), The Wizard of Oz (11/18), and Ratatouille (11/25). Don’t forget to grab snacks from the Bottling Dept.
🎨 First Friday at Blue Star Arts Complex (11/1) – Explore a variety of art exhibitions, live music, and unique vendors across multiple venues! Everything starts at roughly 6:00 pm on Friday!
🎨 McNay Free Family Day: Time & Tales – Celebrate family, heritage, and memory with a day of creative activities inspired by Whitfield Lovell: Passages. Enjoy live music by 34K, tote bag screen printing, family portrait drawing, and a glam photo booth by URBNevents. Don’t forget to bring family photos for a scrapbook collage! Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Learn more here
If you check out any of these spots or events, reply to this email and let me know what you think—I’d love to hear about your experience.
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Until next time,
-Cory
