Issuu

FALL 2026

INSIDE: When India Dances The New Era of Exhibit Design San Antonio’s UNESCO Chef Ambassadors The Marigold Magic of Día de los Muertos Blooms Again Hit the Alamo City Golf Trail

Photo courtesy of www.ArtsCultureFun.com Chef Johnny Hernandez

celebrating 50 years fighting for justice

Photo Courtesy of Monsoon Marketing Agency

gamez law FIGHTS

gamez law CARES

36 30

26 14

54 44

Table • o f • Co nt e nt s ARTICLES: 8 EDITOR'S LETTER

48 THE MARIGOLD MAGIC

of Día de los Muertos Blooms Again

10 WHEN INDIA DANCES 14 FROM GISELLE TO SAN ANTONIO

A Partnership Onstage and Beyond

16 FROM COLLECTION TO CONNECTION The New Era of Exhibit Design

52 SUPER HEROES TAKE OVER THE

SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK The Rey Feo Super Hero River Parade for Education Returns

54 HOLIDAY FORECAST

ice! ™ in the Hiill Country

22 A CANVAS

56 INSIDE SAN ANTONIO'S

Along the Current

Arciniega District

26 HOW ARTISTS TURNED THE

LONE STAR ART DISTRICT into One of San Antonio’s Creative Anchors

30 SAN ANTONIO’S UNESCO CHEF AMBASSADORS Share Our Culinary Story with the World

36 BUTTERNUBS

LISTINGS: 28 PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS 38 CULINARY ARTS 60 THINGS TO DO

Starting from Scratch

62 DOWNTOWN MAP

40 FORE! FUN!

64 MUSEUM REACH MAP

Hit the Alamo City Golf Trail

44 GOTHIC GUARDIANS OF SAN ANTONO

The Storied Past and Haunted Presence of the Emily Morgan Hotel

65 SOUTHTOWN MAP 66 COUPONS

ON THE COVER:

Towering almost 40 feet above Maverick Plaza in La Villita Historic Arts District, adjacent to San Antonio’s River Walk, will stand a spectacular Catrina and Catrín couple this October. Festively dressed skeleton figures inspired by Mexico’s Día de los Muertos tradition, they will be unveiled by Chef Johnny Hernandez on October 9 with confetti cannons. The unveiling will set the stage for La Villita’s three-day Día de los Muertos Festival, October 23–25, a celebration of music, art, food and Mexican culture, featuring San Antonio’s renowned Día de los Muertos River Parade on October 23 and Day of the Dead celebrations throughout the city.

READ US ONLINE! w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

w w w. A r ts CultureFun .com Publisher Louis Doucette Editor Trisha Doucette Advertising Sales Sandy Weatherford, Gerry Lair Business Manager Vicki Schroder Design & Production Jennifer Nelson Jennifer Nelson Designs Website Eric Kahn Major Tom Collective Phone 210.410.0014, San Antonio Mailing Address 10036 Saxet Drive Boerne, Texas 78006 Information: info@artsculturefun.com Website: www.ArtsCultureFun.com

Arts|Culture|Fun Magazine is published by Traveling Blender, LLC. Advertising rates available upon request. All rights reserved by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent from publisher. Every effort is made to assure accuracy of the information contained herein. However, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Advertising is subject to errors, omissions and or other changes without notice. Mention of any product or service does not constitute endorsement from Arts|Culture|Fun Magazine. The information contained in this publication is deemed reliable from third party sources, but not guaranteed. Arts|Culture|Fun Magazine does not act as an agent for any of the advertisers in this publication.

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

EDITOR'S LETTER

SAMA Folk Art Gallery

The Kimpton Santo San Antonio-Riverwalk Tenfold Rooftop

There’s something about San Antonio in the fall that makes the city feel especially alive. The colors, music, food and traditions remind us just how deeply culture, creativity and tradition are woven into the character of our city, and give us lots of reasons to get out and explore. From marigolds and candlelit ofrendas to festivals, art exhibits and cultural performances, there’s always something new to discover — and familiar traditions to enjoy. One of the most beautiful examples is Día de los Muertos. While the celebration is deeply personal and rooted in family, San Antonio has embraced it in a big way. Chef Johnny Hernandez has played an important role in bringing this beloved tradition to the forefront of our city’s cultural calendar. Nearly two decades ago, a trip to Michoacán, his mother’s homeland, introduced him to the way families honor loved ones who have passed. Graves were decorated with flowers and candles, and families gathered with food, music and offerings on altars. What stayed with Chef Johnny most was how everyone took part, and the experience inspired him to help make Día de los Muertos a bigger part of San Antonio’s cultural story. You’ll find that same spirit of tradition in San Antonio’s Indian community. Bharatanatyam, the classical dance tradition of South India, is an amazing combination of movement, music and storytelling. With colorful costumes, intricate hand gestures, expressive faces and rhythmic footwork, dancers use their entire bodies to tell stories. It’s a wonderful example of how a tradition can travel thousands of miles and across generations and still find a new home while keeping its roots intact. This issue also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at something we often take for granted: museum and gallery exhibits. We tend to focus on the art, but there’s a tremendous amount

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

of planning involved in deciding how each piece should be displayed and how visitors will experience the space. So, the next time you visit a gallery or museum, take a moment to notice the exhibit design, too. There’s an art to that as well. We also look at one of San Antonio’s most recognizable landmarks, the Emily Morgan Hotel. Standing across from the Alamo, its dramatic Neo-Gothic architecture has been part of the city’s skyline since 1926, when it opened as the Medical Arts Building. Today, its history, architecture and legendary ghost stories make it a fascinating part of downtown. And, of course, food is a big part of what makes San Antonio unique. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, our city continues to celebrate its culinary traditions through the work of local chefs and UNESCO Chef Ambassadors who travel the globe representing San Antonio’s food culture. There’s plenty more to see and do this fall. Check out Second Saturday in the Lone Star Art District, play a round along the Alamo City Golf Trail, discover the new Arciniega District, adjacent to La Villita and Hemisfair, with historic courtyards, walkable pathways, rooftop cocktails, great food and plenty of different vibes to choose from, or explore the art, historic missions and conservation efforts along the Mission Reach. And don’t miss the Rey Feo Super Hero Parade and Festival, which combines family fun with scholarships and a well-deserved celebration of our local first responders. We hope this issue inspires you to get out, explore San Antonio and, most importantly, take part in the traditions that make our city such a special place to call home.

TRISHA DOUCETTE

The Mission Reach Photo courtesy of San Antonio River Foundation

Emily Morgan Hotel 8

Día de los Muertos in La Villita Photo by Jonathan Alonzo

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Gamez Law 50 years of Service to the Community.

GAMEZ LAW FIGHTS, GAMEZ LAW CARES GAMEZ LAW FIRM

is the Official Sponsor of u Fiesta San Antonio u Fiesta Flambeau u Fiesta De Los Reyes u

Miss Fiesta

u Network of Young Artists

Loteria

u Rey Feo Consejos

Educational Foundation

u St. Mary's Oyster Bake

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

PERFORMING VISUAL ARTS ARTS

Divyasri Thanigachalam and Ahana Biju Kuppadakkath

WHEN INDIA DANCES By Susan Yerkes | Photography courtesy of the families

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

The colors flash before you first; the sound and movement follow. Jewel-bright reds, greens and blues shimmer across the stage. Gold-trimmed silk flashes under the lights, along with elaborate jewelry at dancers’ wrists, necks and foreheads. Then comes the sound: rows of tiny bells wrapped around the dancers’ ankles turn stamping feet into percussion, keeping intricate rhythms with the exotic sounds of percussion, flute, violin and voice. Now watch the dancers’ faces. Eyes dart and widen. Eyebrows lift. A head tilts. A hand unfurls. Fingers form precise shapes. Expressions flash from anger to tenderness, sorrow to surprise to joy. Eyes, hands, faces and bodies work together until movement becomes language. The dancers are telling stories. This is Bharatanatyam, the ancient classical dance tradition of South India, an art form that traveled thousands of miles and across generations to put down deep roots in San Antonio.

For Rajam Ramamurthy, MD, those roots stretch back to a childhood in India, when the dance she loved had fallen far from favor. Dr. Ramamurthy, a retired neonatologist and professor emeritus of the Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology in the Joe R and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas at San Antonio, grew up in a small town in southern India with what she remembers as an almost irresistible desire to dance. “I had this compelling desire to move, to narrate stories,” she recalled. Long associated with temples and royal courts, traditional Indian dance was stigmatized during British colonial rule. Even when Ramamurthy was young, she recalled, respectable families were reluctant to let their daughters study dance. She found ways to dance anyway — at school, college and later medical school, learning songs and putting together dances whenever she had the chance. After independence, Bharatanatyam underwent a remarkable revival as Indians reclaimed indigenous arts and cultural pride.

Years later, after marrying, moving to San Antonio and having children, she and a few other Indian mothers found they all wanted to give their daughters the opportunity they never had — to bring them closer to their culture through their native dances. One problem: there were no Bharatanatyam teachers in San Antonio. Finally, they found dance guru Revathi Sathyu’s Arathi dance school in Dallas and persuaded Sathyu to spend one weekend a month teaching in San Antonio. But occasional lessons weren’t enough for small children, so the mothers devised a solution: Sathyu would teach them one weekend a month, and between her visits, they would teach their daughters. “We had to be both students and teachers,” Ramamurthy said, “and in the process we all were learning.” They scribbled notes and Ramamurthy drew stick figures to remember exactly where arms and legs belonged. There were no cellphone videos or YouTube tutorials to consult afterward. “In 1981, we started the Arathi School in San Antonio with four physicians, one computer engineer and six young students,” Ramamurthy said. It grew fast.

Dr. Rajam Ramamurthy

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

PERFORMING VISUAL ARTS ARTS Bharatanatyam is a highly ritualized art form with roots stretching back centuries. While many dances tell traditional Hindu stories, Ramamurthy, who is Christian, has created dances based on Biblical themes, including the life of the Virgin Mary and the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe. She has used Urdu poetry to create dances for Muslim students. “Dance should tell a story, and religion should be no bar,” she said. It takes years to build the vocabulary to dance the story. There are 28 single-hand gestures, or mudras, and 24 doublehand positions, along with precise instructions for positioning the body, literally from head to toe. Even the costumes connect dancers to India. Saris are selected there and a Bangalore tailor makes each costume to the student’s exact measurements. Music is recorded in India, too. After years of study, dancers make their arangetram — a series of eight specific solo dances lasting two to three grueling hours — to graduate as full-fledged performers, qualified to teach others. Ramamurthy’s daughter was the first Arathi student to make her arangetram, the first of many. Now another generation of her family has embraced the tradition: her granddaughter (whose dad is actor Sendhil Ramamurthy) has studied Bharatanatyam for years and recently performed her own arangetram. Anilina Gnalian, a 17-year-old student at Johnson High School, has studied with Ramamurthy since she was 4 or 5. She completed her arangetram two years ago. “I love how intricate the art is,” she said. “There is the detail — eye, head, neck movement, hand gestures, how your body is positioned, following the beat.” As dancers mature, she said, the emphasis turns toward “telling stories, showing emotion and transferring it to the audience.” Another outstanding Arathi graduate was Kausi Subramaniam, who began studying Bharatanatyam at age 10. A degreed chemical engineer, she found her niche in teaching and choreography, as co-owner and dance director at Kalalaya Indian Performing Arts. Today, the school is one of San Antonio’s largest centers for classical Indian music and dance. Subramaniam’s role in preserving and sharing Indian culture goes far beyond the dance studio. As founding president

Anilina Gnalian from her arangeram

of Anuja, she led San Antonio to its Sister City relationship with Chennai, India, in 2008. To publicly celebrate San Antonio’s Indian Sister City, she helped create Diwali SA, bringing India’s famous “Festival of Lights” here as an official citysponsored event for the first time in 2009. This year on November 7, Diwali SA will fill downtown, from Hemisfair to the Arneson River Theatre, with color and light. A crowd of 20,000 to 40,000 is expected. Classical Indian dance will be one of the featured events, showing thousands of San Antonians an ancient art form that is flourishing here today.

Anilina Gnalian

Ahana Biju Kuppadakkath, Kausi Subramaniam and Divyasri Thanigachalam 12

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio.

Photography courtesy of Diwali SA

LITTLE DANCERS, BIG TALENT

Ahana Biju Kuppadakkath and Divyasri Thanigachalam

DON’T LET THEIR AGES FOOL YOU.

At 12 and 13, Divyasri Thanigachalam and Ahana Biju Kuppadakkath are already accomplished Bharatanatyam dancers, veterans of years of demanding training with Kausi Subramaniam at Kalalaya Indian Performing Arts. And when the music starts, these best friends often dance side by side. Both started early — Divyasri at 3, Ahana at 5. But they didn’t meet until a few years ago, when they were the youngest in a Bollywood group filled with much older kids. “We automatically started partnering,” Divyasri said. They’ve been dancing together ever since. Divyasri, 12, completed her arangetram — the demanding solo performance marking a major milestone in a Bharatanatyam dancer’s training — at just 10 — a remarkable achievement. Her growing collection of honors includes the 2025 Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival Dance Competition, national championships at FETNA and America Natya Idol, and three consecutive CRY America Superstar titles. Ahana, 13, performed her arangetram shortly after turning 12, at the Carver Community Cultural Center. In her first competition this year, she took second place in her age division at the Houston regional American Natya Idol, advancing to the na-

Divyasri Thanigachalam

tional competition in St. Louis, where she placed fifth with honorable mention among 48 dancers from across the country. Both girls have moved into Kalalaya’s senior class, dancing alongside high school and college students. “They’re both among the very best,” Subramaniam said. They also manage demanding schoolwork at BASIS campuses — and both say they want to become doctors. But ask what dance means to them and the serious looks vanish. “It’s very exciting,” Ahana said. “It’s very passionate, very happy.” For Divyasri, it has become something even more personal. “As I grew, I felt that dance was, like, sort of my thing,” she said. It seems these two young dancers, already performing well beyond their years, have found their thing together. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

PERFORMING VISUAL ARTS ARTS

FROM GISELLE TO SAN ANTONIO A Partnership Onstage and Beyond By Katie Rodriguez Hall | Photography courtesy of Alamo City Arts

For more than 12 years, Sasha Krukava and Nurlan Kinerbayev have shared a life in ballet. They have built professional careers spanning Europe and the United States, danced some of classical ballet’s most iconic roles, and spent much of that time performing side by side. Now married, they have begun a new chapter together in San Antonio as Associate Artistic Directors, principal dancers and master teachers with Alamo City Dance Company, part of Alamo City Arts. And it all started with Giselle. Sasha was in her first year with the ballet company and had already been given several leading roles. Nurlan had performed Giselle before, so he began helping her prepare for one of ballet’s most demanding roles. Her talent was immediately obvious to him. So was something else: they had a natural chemistry as dance partners. “She was extremely talented and naturally stood out among the other dancers,” Nurlan remembered. That connection quickly became something they could feel onstage. “We 14

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

did not need long conversations to understand what the other person wanted to do,” they recalled. “We could sense each other onstage and understand one another almost instinctively.” One of their favorite memories from that first Giselle came at the end of a performance when the audience rose to its feet. “It was an incredible feeling,” Nurlan said. “One of those rare performances when everything comes together, and you feel that everything worked one hundred percent.” Somewhere in all of those rehearsals and performances, the emotions they were portraying onstage stopped being entirely pretend. “Eventually, the emotions we were portraying together onstage were no longer simply acting,” they said. “Those feelings had become part of our real lives.” Nurlan was born in Kazakhstan and trained at the Almaty Choreographic College named after A.V. Seleznev. He has danced as a principal with the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Almaty, Moscow City Ballet, Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian National Ballet and Manassas Ballet Theatre. His repertory includes Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Basilio in Don Quixote, Don José in Carmen Suite and Albert in Giselle. He has also served as an adjudicator and master teacher with Ballet Championships of America. Sasha trained at the Minsk Ballet Academy in Belarus and went on to dance principal roles with the Minsk State Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Russian National Ballet and Manassas Ballet Theatre. Her repertory includes Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and the title role in Giselle. For Sasha, what makes their partnership work comes down to trust. “When I dance with him, I know that he will do everything possible to make me feel secure and confident and to allow me to look my best onstage,” Sasha said. “Sometimes emotional support can be even more important than physical support,” she added. “A great partnership is not simply about executing difficult lifts or partnering steps correctly. It is about trust, respect, responsibility and knowing that the person beside you is there for you.”

As Associate Artistic Directors of Alamo City Dance Company, their roles extend beyond performing. They teach, choreograph, coach company dancers, prepare students for ballet competitions, and help shape the artistic direction of the company. They value an artistic environment where their experience and ideas are trusted and where they have the freedom to grow as teachers, choreographers and artistic leaders. “When someone truly believes in you, you begin to believe more strongly in yourself,” they said. San Antonio also appealed to them because of its strong cultural identity and respect for history, tradition and the arts. This season, Sasha and Nurlan are expected to appear in approximately 25 performances with Alamo City Dance Company, including Carmen , Carnival of the Animals , The Nutcracker , Rodeo , Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote . But just as important as what they bring to the stage is what they are now sharing with the dancers coming behind them. “We do not want our students simply to walk onto a stage and execute the choreography correctly. We want them to live the role, understand the character, and tell a story to the audience,” they explained. “For us, ballet is first and foremost an art form, not simply technique. When the audience believes you, ballet becomes more than movement. It becomes art.” That philosophy is part of what drew them to Alamo City Arts, where they found an approach to dance that values growth beyond competitions and awards and creates opportunities for students with different abilities, strengths, backgrounds and goals. “One of the most important things we can give a young person is the confidence to believe in themselves,” they said. What began with two dancers and a performance of Giselle became a partnership, a marriage and a life in ballet together. Now, they are sharing that life in ballet with the next generation.

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, Briscoe Photo courtesy of Briscoe Western Art Museum

FROM COLLECTION TO CONNECTION

The New Era of Exhibit Design By Claudia Alarcón

When we visit art galleries and museums, we tend to enjoy the art without thinking about the process and dedicated work it takes to display it, when there’s a lot of thought that goes into designing an exhibit, whether for a world-renowned museum or a local art gallery. Even temporary exhibits require extensive planning. In general, gallery installations are designed to showcase artworks as compelling visual objects, emphasizing aesthetics and the viewer's immediate experience. Museum exhibitions, by contrast, are carefully curated to communicate ideas, historical context or cultural significance, and designed to tell a cohesive story. Of course, the distinction isn't absolute. Many contemporary galleries create highly curated thematic exhibitions, and museums also strive for visually engaging displays. And then 16

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

there are those exhibits in non-conventional spaces, like hotel or bank lobbies. In San Antonio, different institutions have different processes and needs depending on the nature of the exhibit, but all share the common goal of doing what’s best for the artworks while giving visitors the best experience possible. Next time you visit these institutions, take a moment to notice the art of designing each exhibit while you admire the objects displayed.

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART When you’re a world-renowned museum with an incredibly large collection of fantastic objects in a limited space, how do you choose what, when and how to best display them? In the context of hanging paintings or setting up sculpture, there are a couple of different reasons a permanent gallery may need to switch around its artworks, and it can be one or a combination of things, explains Erika Dahl-Stamnes, Curatorial and Exhibitions Coordinator at the San Antonio Museum of Art. “Artworks have a limited time they can remain on view, especially if they are light-sensitive, such as works on paper and textiles,” she said. “In galleries with many light-sensitive works, there are regular rotations based on their materials.” Sometimes, these objects move when they find a permanent gallery home. And as SAMA continuously acquires new works, space is needed to display them. “Maybe an object has just been out for years, and it’s time for a refresh,” said Dahl-Stamnes. “SAMA has over 30,000 objects from six continents. As with most museums, many are in storage, not on view. We simply don’t have enough space to display everything at once.” Another instance in which objects may be swapped is if they’re coming in or going out on loan; depending on the size, it could require a shift in the gallery, which brings new opportunities for curators to rotate objects. On rare occasions, conservation is needed to continue to care for an object’s life. “After decisions are made based on these reasons, a curator will select which works to install and deinstall,” said Dahl-Stamnes. “Before installation, we use a variety of tools to mockup digital and physical life-size versions of objects on their cases and wall coverage, in a layout, to understand how it would look, whether things would fit, and whether it is com-

pliant with ADA. Sometimes we get it right on the dot, and it’s easy to swap one thing for another; other times we need to work on how and where things should go. After, our team of Registrars and Art Preparators install the rotation.” When it comes to exhibition ideas, Dahl-Stamnes says they come from all over. They could range from large, packaged traveling exhibitions from well-known art institutions exhibiting famous artists to exploring relationships between SAMA’s global collection’s cultures past and present; bringing in loans from other museums to support the museum’s works in a themed exhibition; or bringing it right back home to San Antonio’s history and community. “We look at what’s needed in the community, what’s receptive and what hasn’t been done,” she said. “Our curators research the collection’s objects and artists, new artists and art, and explore themes, techniques, mediums and interpretations across works. For example, a popular theme for both curators and visitors, is bringing the new and old together through contemporary reflections on past art. And if there is a way to display our permanent collection in an external, temporary exhibition, we do it.” The SAMA team holds meetings to discuss every aspect of an exhibition's look and feel. Things like paint colors and graphics can be a large part of setting an exhibition. “Sometimes objects speak for themselves, but sometimes you want to get creative and include other elements of the exhibition as supporting details, such as unifying vinyl motifs, photo murals, use of sound, videos of the making of objects, educational interpretation, responses to the exhibition, and even an in-gallery gift shop,” she added. “For whatever is chosen to add to an exhibition, we examine its relationship to the rest of the exhibition and the artwork in the layout.”

Dilemma installation, SAMA Photo courtesy of Walley Films

Microhistories of the Andes, SAMA Photo courtesy of SAMA

SAMA Folk Art Gallery Photo courtesy of SAMA

TIPSY installation, SAMA Photo courtesy of SAMA

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

Currency Collection & Mezzanine at Frost Bank Tower – McKinney York Architects Photography by Dror Baldinger

FROST BANK CURRENCY COLLECTION Displaying objects in a non-traditional space, meaning a building not constructed specifically for the purpose of displaying art, has its own set of challenges. That’s what the team at McKinney York Architects had to navigate when designing the Frost Bank Currency Collection exhibit. Housed in the lobby of the Frost Tower, the exhibit showcases rare Texas and American monetary history and features a sculptural display case draped in graphics from a Republic of Texas ten-dollar note. “When displaying art in a non-traditional venue like the Frost building, we as architects consider how the artwork will relate to both the architecture and the visitor experience,” said Brian Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at McKinney York Architects. “In this case, scale was one of our primary design considerations — both the scale of the exhibit within its architectural setting and the scale of the individual artifacts themselves.” Previously, the collection was displayed in the bank's former lobby, in traditional framed displays along a corridor. “We knew it was one of the bank's most beloved features and something customers looked forward to seeing,” he added. “As we designed the new headquarters, we felt it was important not only to provide the collection with a new home, but to elevate the experience.” The team carefully considered how the collection could be both celebrated and easily discovered within the scale of the new headquarters lobby, a grand, light-filled space defined by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. While the abundance of natural light creates an impressive and welcoming environment, it also means there are very few traditional walls available for displaying artwork. “Rather than competing with the architecture, the exhibit needed to complement it while establishing a strong visual presence,” said Carlson. “At the same time, the currency and coins are inherently small and intricate, inviting close inspection. The currency is also double-sided, so we wanted to create an opportunity to see both sides.” This created an interesting design challenge: how do you make a collection of small artifacts command attention in such a large space? “By carefully considering the exhibit's 18

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

size, form, placement and presentation, we created a display that commands attention and encourages visitors to engage with the remarkable details of the collection up close. Our responsibility was to transform that collection into a meaningful visitor experience. We considered how people would encounter the exhibit, how the coins and currency could be viewed most effectively, and how the display could take advantage of the dramatic, light-filled architecture of the new lobby,” explained Carlson. Lighting was another important consideration for Carlson. “The natural light in the lobby is one of its defining features, so we wanted to use that light to enhance the exhibit rather than compete with it. The use of natural light informed the translucent materiality of the exhibit and its ability to capture and reflect light. At the same time, we carefully considered glare, reflections and viewing angles, to ensure the currency could be seen clearly and comfortably.” Instead of simply relocating the display, Carlson and team designed an exhibit that celebrates the collection, draws visitors into the space, and creates a memorable moment within the grand lobby of the bank.

MCNAY ART MUSEUM Audience engagement is another aspect that designers consider when planning new exhibits. “Over the years, watching how museum visitors look at artworks, it seemed that viewers spent less time and were less engaged when all works were presented in ‘classical’ museum form. By that I mean all works are on the same centerline and generally equidistant apart,” said Rene Paul Barilleaux, former Head of Curatorial Affairs at the McNay. “Younger visitors, the next generations of museum patrons, were particularly disengaged.” Barilleaux explains that when employing installation

untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art. Photo courtesy of McNay Art Museum. L-R: Paul Feeley, American, 1910-1966, Skins 1962, Oil-based enamel on canvas. John Newman, American, born 1952, Redoubt 1989, Cast iron. Rosalyn Schwartz, American, born 1952, Big Perfume 2006, Oil on canvas.

techniques that are unexpected or surprising, such as using different hanging heights or asymmetrical grouping, visitors often focus more closely on individual works. Other elements — wall placement, wall color, sight lines — also enhance the experience, as well as audio and video components. “In creating an environment for presenting artworks, I often look outside of traditional museum and gallery models to find both fresh and familiar design concepts,” he said. “I've used a range of ‘real-world’ models, especially for grouping objects, such as our image of the solar system, the old-school way of diagraming a sentence or the organic sprawling of a garden in bloom. These models allow for innovation along with structure.” For instance, the model for the McNay's current exhibition, untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art, was a simple ice cube tray, with rectangular galleries side-by-side, proceeding along a central axis. Finding inspiration doesn’t

untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art. Photo courtesy of McNay Art Museum. L-R: Sandy Skoglund, American, born 1946, The Cocktail Party 1992, Installation with found objects, Cheez Doodles and paint. Sandy Skoglund, American, born 1946, Winter 2018, Archival pigmented ink print. Ian Dawson, British, born 1969, Henri and Henrietta 2004, Polyethylene.

have to be complicated, as everyday objects and shapes can offer ideas for those who know where to look.

untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art. Photo courtesy of McNay Art Museum. L-R: John Chamberlain, American, 1927-2011, Sabine Knights 1977, Painted and chromium-plated steel. Judith Godwin, American, 1930-2021, Movement #1 1962, Oil on canvas. Ken Little, American, born 1947, Red and Turquoise Elk 2007, Found objects and vinyl.

untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art. Photo courtesy of McNay Art Museum. Center: Wim Delvoye, Belgian, born 1958, Dump Truck Scale Model 2004, Laser cut stainless steel.

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM Of course, there are other considerations beyond the shape of the exhibit and placement of the art, and at the top is public engagement. “When we’re putting together a new exhibition, a few things always rise to the top: making it accessible, making it beautiful, and making it interactive,” said Jason Kirkland, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Collections & Exhibitions at the Briscoe Museum of Western Art. “For me, it all starts with knowing who’s going to walk through the door. We want the story to feel relevant and welcoming to as many people as possible. That means writing the labels and text in a way that’s easy to read and understand, but still meaningful. Because we’re in San Antonio, we’ve also made a big push to present our exhibitions bilingually because it just makes sense for our community.” Kirkland explains that once the story is set, the focus shifts to the visitor’s journey. “We use a consistent color palette, strong graphics and a layout that feels natural because you shouldn’t have to work hard to figure out where to go next. The goal is for everything to look good and flow smoothly so you can enjoy the experience.” An important part of the experience are the interactive pieces, which Kirkland says make a big difference in the perception of the story. “We want people to do more than just look; we want them to participate. In our new show, Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, for instance, we have a spot where visitors can sit down and write their own family migration story. It’s simple, but it always sparks personal moments. People start thinking about their own family’s journey and how it connects to the bigger Tejano story on the walls.” Kirkland also points to lighting as an aspect that most people don’t consciously notice but can completely change how they experience an exhibition. He explains how the right lighting makes artwork come alive. It can make colors vibrant, reveal textures you’d otherwise miss, and create real drama. On the flip side, bad lighting can flatten everything and leave a piece feeling dull. “To me, lighting can truly make or break a show,” he said. “When we design an exhibition, we’re always thinking about angles and positioning. With sculptures, for example, we play with light to gently reduce harsh shadows while keeping enough contrast, so the piece feels three dimensional and lifelike. A well-placed spotlight can highlight

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, Briscoe Photography courtesy of Briscoe Western Art Museum

the curve of a face or the folds in clothing in a way that suddenly makes the figure feel alive and present.” At the Briscoe, lighting is also used as a storytelling tool. “A focused beam can quietly draw your eye to a small but important detail, like perhaps an intricate stitching pattern on a historic saddle or a subtle expression in a portrait that you might have walked right past otherwise. It’s like gently saying, ‘Hey, look closer at this’,” said Kirkland. A side that visitors don’t usually think about is preservation of the objects. Bronze or stone sculptures can handle stronger lighting, but paintings need a softer touch, and delicate works on paper or old textiles must be kept at even lower levels. “We have to be careful with light levels,” said Kirkland. The goal is to let you enjoy these treasures today without harming them for tomorrow.” When it comes to traveling exhibitions, the approach is a bit different at the Briscoe. “We like to make it our own, so it feels more personal and connected to San Antonio audiences,” said Kirkland. “We often add pieces from our permanent collection, bring in local loans, or incorporate special elements that help visitors feel a stronger connection to the story and to our museum.” Next time you walk into a museum, Kirkland encourages you to pay attention to those little things. How the colors and lighting make you feel, how easy (or hard) it is to move through the space, and whether there’s something that invites you to do more than just look. And take a second to notice how the lighting works on the pieces. You might be surprised how much it shapes what catches your attention, and how the art makes you feel. Those design choices are what turn a good exhibition into a memorable one.

Zocca Cuisine D’Italia in The Westin Riverwalk Zocca Cuisine D’Italia, located on the river level of The Westin Riverwalk, offers chef-driven dishes, regional wines, draft beers, and clinkworthy cocktails. An indoor-outdoor bar and patio along the river, live music on select days, Zocca-hosted river cruises, river parades, and culture-centric events offer engaging experiences like no other.

Zocca Happenings Page

210-224-6500 Zoccariverwalk.com

@zoccasa •

@zoccaitaliasa

Main dishes include Gnocchi, Seafood Risotto, Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, Braised Mushroom Ravioli, craft pizzas, fresh salads, and shareables, while cocktails include the Zocca Spritz, !Ay Caramba!, and San Antonio Fashion. Special Event and Semi-Private Dining with specialized menu choices are also available. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

A CANVAS Along the Current By Ann Koehler | Photography courtesy of the San Antonio River Foundation

Stretching eight miles from downtown to Mission Espada, the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk is celebrated for its miles of trails, native landscapes and historic connections to four of the five Spanish Colonial missions, inviting visitors to slow down and experience the river through conservation, art and community engagement. “The Mission Reach is unique in that it is one of the first largescale public projects which incorporates all three, while still fulfilling its primary task of flood control. Historically, projects were thought of as being just for flood control, or environmental mitigation, or public green space. The Mission Reach proved that we can have all three successfully incorporated in one larger project,” said Frates Seeligson, Executive Director of the San Antonio River Foundation.

PARTNERSHIP FOR PRESERVATION Both the San Antonio River Authority and the San Anto-

The River Foundation helps secure private donations and grant funding to enhance projects and programs when

nio River Foundation share a common vision of inspiring

appropriate, while also partnering with the River Authority

stewardship of the San Antonio River and the native ecology

on volunteer and educational programs. Together, they

it supports, but each plays a distinct role. The River Authority

lead the River Warriors volunteer corps and host events

is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and man-

that encourage hands-on stewardship, including trash

agement of the Mission Reach, ensuring that its restored

cleanups, citizen science observations and invasive species

ecosystem, trails and public spaces are protected and main-

removal projects. Through their collaborative efforts, the

tained. The River Foundation complements those efforts

River Authority and River Foundation are able to preserve

by connecting people to the river through arts and culture,

the Mission Reach's ecological health while creating

education, ecology and recreation initiatives.

meaningful opportunities for the community to experience

The two organizations work closely together to support conservation and community engagement along the river. 22

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

and care for one of San Antonio's most treasured natural resources.

WHERE ART TELLS THE STORY

Butterflies, by Anita Valencia

Yet one of its most distinctive features is something visitors may not expect to find along a restored ecosystem — a curated collection of public art installations that tell the story of San Antonio’s river, culture and community. "The Foundation feels public art is integral to its efforts of engaging the community with the river," said Seeligson. "Just as in nature, art attracts people down to the Mission Reach, where then there is the opportunity for better understanding of the river ecology and hopefully a chance to inspire stewardship." Whether exploring by bicycle, walking the trails or paddling along the river, the public art provides a unique way to connect with both the natural environment and the people who have shaped it for generations. Seeligson explained, “Art is an incredible way to start a conversation, and a tool to reflect the different cultures and traditions making up a community. The ‘Arbol de la Vida,’ for example, is public art where the public actually made the art. Each of the more than 700 pieces

Serapes, by Vincent Valdez

reflects a family’s history or traditions that make them a part of the greater San Antonio story. ‘Whispers’ heralds the vibrant colors of spring, but also heavy tones of industry on the reverse side. All of the public art is presented in a way to help people understand the role that the river and its habitat have played, and still continue to, on our community.” Rather than functioning as standalone sculptures, the artworks are woven into the experience of exploring the Mission Reach itself.

INSTALLATIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH: Butterflies, by Anita Valencia: This brightly colored, recycled aluminum bench serves as a reminder of the critical role pollinators play in supporting healthy habitats and biodiversity.

Serapes, by Vincent Valdez: Inspired by vintage serapes from the artist’s grandmother, represented by automotive pinstripe detailing, and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey,

Confluence Park, by architects Lake Flato and Matsys Design

which reminds him of how rapid change replaces the old with the new, Valdez said the Mission Reach project reflects an inspiring convergence of old and new. Confluence Park, by architects Lake Flato and Matsys Design: While not a traditional art installation, Confluence Park is widely considered one of the Mission Reach's architectural masterpieces, having won several international awards. Designed to demonstrate the relationship between water, sustainability and the built environment, its iconic concrete petal structures harvest rainwater and an adjacent photovoltaic array provides energy to the park. The park is offered free of charge to school systems as an outdoor classroom, and there is public programming year-round. Or, friends and families can simply visit the park on their own to connect with nature. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

The Once and Future River, by Anne Wallace: Etched with flora and fauna that is thriving once again thanks to Mission

The Once and Future River, by Anne Wallace

Reach restoration efforts, this pedestrian bridge can be found near Concepción Park.

River Return, by Stacy Levy: Designed as a portal to Mission Concepción, stone walls mimic the flow of water and lead visitors to the lower plaza towards the mission.

CoCobijos, by Mel Chin: A name invented by the artist and meaning “co-shelters,” the design features prickly pear cactus paddles arcing to create a shade structure. Live prickly pears are also planted on the roof, inspired by those growing on the roof of Mission San José.

Yanaguana, by Riley Robinson: Located south of Espada Dam and named after the Indigenous Payaya word often interpreted as "Land of the Spirit Waters," the galvanized steel art bench provides a place to rest while the images cast shadows across the path.

Whispers, by Arne Quinze: Serving as a portal to Mission San Juan, this colorful installation celebrates both the

River Return, by Stacy Levy

natural beauty of the Mission Reach and its industrial history. Its vibrant exterior evokes the colors of spring and native landscapes, while its reverse side acknowledges the area's industrial heritage.

Árbol de la Vida: Memorias y Voces de la Tierra (Tree of Life), by Margarita Cabrera: As the portal to Mission Espada, this community-centered work incorporates more than 700 individually created ceramic pieces made by local residents, under the guidance of Cabrera, adorning a steel tree-like structure. The objects are inspired by the ranching heritage of the region.

RESTORING THE RIVER ECOSYSTEM The Mission Reach restoration project transformed what was once a heavily engineered flood channel into a thriving riparian ecosystem. According to Seeligson, before restoration efforts began, the river corridor had become a mowed trapezoidal drainage ditch that supported very little native plant or animal life. The comprehensive restoration project reintroduced native habitats and recreated the natural functions of the river. Key components of the project focused on reconstructing the river channel to enhance ecological function while maintaining flood protection. It also included planting hundreds of thousands of native trees, shrubs and grasses, creating wetlands and aquatic habitats for wildlife, constructing miles of hike-and-bike trails and recreational access points, incorporating public art and educational features, and improving connections to the historic missions and surrounding neighborhoods. 24

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

CoCobijos, by Mel Chin

Yanaguana, by Riley Robinson

Since its completion, the Mission Reach has experienced remarkable ecological success. Seeligson noted the project’s effectiveness: "For me, it is the avian study that has documented more than 200 species of birds that have returned to the Mission Reach since completion in 2013," he said. "We also were able to release freshwater mussels, which are a filter species, so really a win-win for our river." While there are currently no plans for additional public art installations along the Mission Reach, opportunities are continually evaluated as the river system evolves. One of the most exciting developments is the West Side Creeks Restoration Project. Once complete, visitors will be able to travel from Elmendorf Lake or Woodlawn Lake to the Mission Reach via restored creek corridors, significantly expanding San Antonio's connected network of riparian habitats and recreational trails.

Whispers, by Arne Quinze

PLANNING YOUR VISIT While it’s possible to bike, hike and kayak your way through the Mission Reach, for first-time visitors, Seeligson recommends experiencing it by bicycle. "I would suggest people start at Confluence Park (there is a BCycle Bikeshare Station) and bike all the way down to Mission Espada, enjoying the serenity, the public art and historic missions," he said. The route offers an immersive look at the restored landscape while providing easy access to many of the area's artistic and cultural highlights. Visitors are often surprised by how rural the Mission Reach feels despite being located within one of the nation's largest cities. "Sometimes you actually hear more chickens than cars," Seeligson said. "But yet you are still in a city of 1.7 million people." Whether you're visiting for the public art, native wildlife, historic missions or simply a peaceful ride along the river, the

Árbol de la Vida: Memorias y Voces de la Tierra (Tree of Life), by Margarita Cabrera

Mission Reach demonstrates how conservation, culture and community can coexist — creating a space that continues to inspire stewardship for generations to come.

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

VISUAL ARTS

HOW ARTISTS TURNED THE LONE STAR ART DISTRICT

into One of San Antonio’s Creative Anchors By Ann Koehler

Long before the Lone Star Art District became a monthly destination for gallery hopping, live performances and conversations about contemporary art, it was a neighborhood few people lingered in after dark. Vacant industrial buildings, low property values and even drug activity defined parts of the area. For a small group of artists, however, those challenges represented opportunity. Today, the district's Second Saturday Art Walk has become a year-round tradition, drawing visitors every month to

Susan Budge’s ceramic sculptures at Dock Space Gallery

A DIFFERENT VISION FOR AN ARTS DISTRICT

explore galleries and artist spaces in the neighborhood. More

FitzGibbons understood both the promise and the pitfalls

than an art event, it reflects a philosophy that artists thrive

of San Antonio's growing arts scene. Having served as direc-

when they have affordable places to create, own their spaces,

tor of Blue Star for a decade, he watched First Friday evolve

and build community together.

from an intimate gallery experience into a citywide social

For artist and public art pioneer Bill FitzGibbons, the transformation has been decades in the making. "We bought Lone Star Studios in 2002 after learning about the property from

event. "First Friday became a really big deal," he said. "Then it became a place to party." At the same time, the success of First Friday revealed anoth-

Andy Benavides," FitzGibbons recalled. "At the time, Joe Lopez

er problem. Artists leasing studio space watched rents rise as

owned Gallista Gallery, and Andy Benavides and Alberto Mi-

neighborhoods became fashionable. Many found themselves

jangos had opened 1906 in the early '90s. They were the first

helping revitalize communities only to be priced out of them.

artists to actually own buildings in the district." Those early

The Lone Star Art District offered an alternative model.

artist-owners weren't simply creating studios — they were

Instead of relying primarily on commercial galleries or leased

building an arts ecosystem.

studio space, artists invested in buildings, creating perma-

As galleries began hosting exhibitions, they noticed a pat-

nent homes for their work while fostering a collaborative cre-

tern. Visitors would start at First Friday in the Blue Star Arts

ative community. "There were only two or three commercial

Complex before arriving later at Lone Star Art District galler-

galleries in San Antonio then," FitzGibbons said. "In the Lone

ies, often after the night's celebrations had already taken its

Star area, there were about 10 to 12 artists, and everyone was

toll. "They'd come over late — and sometimes overserved,"

supportive of each other." “I believe the Lone Star Art District is the beating heart of the

FitzGibbons said with a laugh. The solution was simple but transformative: establish a

San Antonio arts scene. Many great artists have studios there

destination of its own. Around 1994, the founding group cre-

and a number of interesting galleries populate the district,

ated what would become Second Saturday, giving the Lone

making it a magnet for all forms of art,” said artist Alan Hollander,

Star Art District its own dedicated monthly celebration.

who exhibited his work at Dock Space Gallery in 2024.

Alan Hollander’s exhibit, Tone Poems: Distant Dreams, at Dock Space Gallery 26

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

MORE THAN EXHIBITIONS Second Sat-

A CREATIVE IDENTITY FOR SAN ANTONIO In the early years, convincing artists and businesses to

urday continues

invest in the neighborhood wasn't easy. Yet affordable real es-

every month,

tate made it possible for artists to establish long-term roots.

with galleries

"When we first moved here, the neighborhood had some

such as Dock

issues, like drug dealers," FitzGibbons said candidly. "The good

Space Gallery,

news was the property values were so low."

Studio 111, Lone

As galleries multiplied and artists claimed former industrial

Star Studios and

buildings, the neighborhood began to change. "Whenever

1906 opening

you have art and galleries in a section of the city, it becomes

their doors, typi-

the hip place to go to," he said. "But it impacts economics."

cally from 6:00

The challenge, of course, is ensuring artists remain after the

to 9:00pm, while

neighborhood becomes desirable. It’s why ownership mat-

some venues re-

tered in the beginning and why it still matters today.

main open even later. But the district brings much more than

Second Saturday regularly showcases emerging local talent

Bill FitzGibbons installing Öndvegissúlur, Poem of Light, 2010, 60’x125’x3’ A temporary installation in Reykjavik, Iceland

a monthly event. “Bill FitzGibbons, who is an internationally recognized art-

alongside established Texas artists and even international guests. "San Antonio has a really good statewide and national opportunity to express its visual artists community," FitzGibbons said. More than two decades after its founding, visitors experi-

ist with light installations in five countries and throughout

ence not only galleries but also a thriving corridor of locally

the United States, is a major influence in the San Antonio art

owned restaurants, studios and creative businesses along

scene. He has kindly dedicated two areas of his studio as gal-

Lone Star Blvd., illustrating how cultural investment can

leries to promote visual arts, offering exhibits to both experi-

reshape an entire neighborhood without losing its artistic

enced and upcoming artists in San Antonio and throughout

identity.

Texas. Bill has given opportunities to many deserving individuals and works with art students in the city giving them invaluable experience,” shared Hollander. FitzGibbons has made mentoring emerging artists a central part of his work, regularly hosting interns from local universities as well as students from the North East School of the Arts (NESA). While colleges excel at teaching technical disciplines like ceramics, printmaking, woodworking and metalworking, they rarely teach public art. "That's what my interns are learning," he said. FitzGibbons also believes many students leave school without understanding other essential aspects of becoming an artist, and his advice extends beyond technical skills. "I tell young artists that 50 percent of being an artist is talent. The other 50 percent is networking." He remembers one particularly gifted but introverted high school student who planned to attend college close to home. "I told him he couldn't do that," FitzGibbons said. "You have to go to openings. You have to meet people, even

Lighting of the Alamo by Bill Fitzgibbons, 2008, 16' x 38' x 2', San Antonio,Texas. Computer controlled LED lights. Alamo Lights was the first artistic lighting of the historic Alamo. It was a collaborative performance with the San Antonio Symphony as part of San Antonio’s inaugural Luminaria, an annual citywide celebration of art and artists. Commissioned by the City of San Antonio and the Daughters of the Republic.

if you're introverted." The student took the advice, earned a substantial scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago and returned with renewed confidence, expanded opportunities and a broader perspective on his career — and a beautiful girlfriend.

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

PERFORMING ARTS

ALAMO CITY PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION www.alamocityperformingarts-

OUR LADY PEACE: 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST THE VERVE PIPE October 11 PRESIDENT: NORTH AMERICAN CAMPAIGN 2026 October 12 ARCH ENEMY & THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER - WRATH ACROSS NORTH AMERICA 2026 October 13 THE LIVING TOMBSTONE - THE MULTIPLAYER TOUR October 14 DYING FETUS & SANGUISUGABOGG October 16 MARILYN MANSON October 17 - 18 LEONID & FRIENDS October 19 MARIA JOSE + MOENIA US TOUR 2026 October 21 PROF October 23 CAMERON WHITCOMB KINGDOM OF FEAR TOUR October 24 WAGE WAR - EMERGENCY BROADCAST TOUR October 25 ALVARO DIAZ - OMAKASE TOUR October 31

association.com

ALAMO CITY SYMPHONY VIVA THE LEGACY OF LONDON October 11 ALAMO CITY SYMPHONY VIVA TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH November 15 HEART OF TEXAS CONCERT BAND - HISPANIA October 4 HEART OF TEXAS CONCERT BAND - ARTS CONNECT: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS WITH ALAMO CITY DANCE COMPANY October 8 - 9 HEART OF TEXAS CONCERT BAND - HOLLYWOOD AT THE SYMPHONY November 22 ALAMO CITY BALLET FOLKLORICO - ARTS CONNECT: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS November 4 - 5

ALAMODOME www.alamodome.com GUNS N’ ROSES 2026 WORLD TOUR September 16 BRUNO MARS THE ROMANTIC TOUR September 23 IRON MAIDEN RUN FOR YOUR LIVES WORLD TOUR WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS MEGADETH AND ANTHRAX September 29 THE R&B TOUR STARRING USHER RAYMOND AND CHRIS BROWN October 5 KPOPWORLD FESTIVAL & WORLDWIDE DANCE COMPETITION October 28 - 31

JERMAINE COLEMAN PRODUCTIONS - BACKGROUND CHECK September 19 ZOONOTICO September 25 THE CIRCUIT September 25 LOVE FLAMENCO September 30 IMPERSONATION October 5

CENTRO SAN ANTONIO www.centrosa.org

THE FOUR HORSEMEN - THE RODRIGO Y GABRIELA OURHOME TOUR October 1 JUANES NORTH AMERICA TOUR 2026 October 2 CANNONS: THE EVERYTHING GLOWS TOUR October 3 POUYA - THE FOREVER GLADES TOUR October 4 IGORRR: NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2026 October 7 CHAD GRAY: 30 YEARS OF MADNESSS October 10 A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

MAJESTIC THEATRE www.majesticempire.com

CHARLINE MCCOMBS EMPIRE THEATRE www.majesticempire.com

KANY GARCIA: PUERTA ABIERTA TOUR 2026 September 9 MRS. DOUBTFIRE September 15 - 20 SQUEEZE - TRIED, TESTED AND TRIXIES WITH SPECIAL GUEST ADAM ANT AND HAIRCUT 100 September 22 MICHAEL - MAJESTIC MOVIE NIGHT ON HOUSTON STREET September 24 JERRY SEINFELD September 25 RODNEY CARRINGTON LIVE 2026 October 2 RICK ROSS FEATURING THE RENAISSANCE ORCHESTRA WITH SPECIAL GUEST THAT MEXICAN OT - PORT OF MIAMI TOUR - CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF BOSS CLASSICS October 3 TERRY FATOR PURE IMAGINATION October 4 THE SOUND OF MUSIC October 6 - 11 FOREIGNER October 13 GOV'T MULE AND ZIGGY MARLEY October 14 AN EVENING WITH CELTIC THUNDER 2026 CELEBRATE YOUR FAVORITE SONGS October 15 BRINCOS DIERAS - EL DESMADRE CONTINUA TOUR October 16 THE CHICKS October 17 – 18 THERESA CAPUTO LIVE - THE EXPERIENCE October 21 THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW - SPOOKTACULAR TOUR FEAT. NELL CAMPBELL & SPACED OUT TEXANS October 22 BERT KREISCHER - PERMISSION TO PARTY October 24 NIKKI GLASER - THE STUNNING TOUR November 7 - 8 THE STRAY CATS US TOUR NOVEMBER 10 THE CARPENTERS SONGBOOK November 11 AN EVENING WITH ALTON BROWN November 12 BEETLEJUICE November 13 - 15 LYLE LOVETT AND HIS SMALL LARGE BAND November 20 JIM GAFFIGAN November 21 - 22

JONATHAN VAN NESS HOT & HEALED September 25 MACBETH October 15 DERRICK STROUP RUNNING HOT TOUR October 16 ROCK THE 90S FEATURING THE LASER SPECTACULAR October 17 CHARLIE BERENS THE LOST AND FOUND TOUR October 22 SHYNE: 2622 LGND TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BARRINGTON LEVY AND LIL' CEASE October 24 AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS November 7 MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN THE TASTE ME TOUR: THE FINAL LEG November 11 - 12 RANDY FELTFACE GIMMICK November 18

CARVER COMMUNITY THE ESPEE www.theespee.com CULTURAL CENTER www.thecarver.org

AZTEC THEATRE www.theaztectheatre.com

VIENNA LIGHT ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS TOUR 2026 November 27

RIOT COMEDY CLUB PRESENTS SUNDAY NIGHT STANDUP COMEDY SHOWCASE (Sundays), September 6 November 29 GENERATIVE DISRUPTION: FEMINIST ART FROM THE COLLECTION WALKTHROUGH + RECEPTION September 26 GHOST BUS: HAUNTED PUB CRAWL Thru December 25 WAX & DJ HOPPA | HIGHWAY HOTEL TOUR November 4

FA L L 2 0 2 6

LUCKI WITH SPECIAL GUEST SK8STAR September 18 GYMCLASSHEROES. & LUPE FIASCO BACK TO BASICS TOUR October 1 CHIODOS: THE IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS HAIL THE SUN/EMERY/ EVERGREEN TERRACE October 14 BLACK FLAG October 30

JOSEPHINE THEATRE www.josephinetheatre.org CANDLELIGHT SERIES September 12, 19, 26, October 10, 24, 30, November 14, 28 SHOWSTOPPER SHOW October 16-18

MAGIK THEATRE www.magiktheatre.org IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE October 3 - 25 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS November 21 - December 24

VISUAL ARTS BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB November 24 – 29

THE TOBIN CENTER

STABLE HALL @ PEARL www.stablehall.com

www.tobincenter.org

COVET X ANAMANAGUCHI W/ DROOK September 18 THE ULTIMATE DOORS TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS September 20 AMY GRANT September 22 THE BAD PLUS FAREWELL TOUR September 23 DIAMOND RIO September 24 RANDALL KING - BENEFITING RISE SCHOOL OF SAN ANTONIO October 15 JIMMIE VAUGHAN & THE TILT-AWHIRL BAND October 16 IRON & WINE W/ DUG October 23 DEMOLA LIVE! October 25 HAZLETT October 29 THEE SINSEERS: LOVE STORIES TOUR W/ THE CHARITIES October 30 OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW UNION MADE TOUR W/ KEN POMEROY October 31

THE TOBIN CENTER

CARLOS ALVAREZ STUDIO THEATER www.tobincenter.org

I SAW THE LIGHTS BY JASTON WILLIAMS September 16 - 27 EMMALINE|SINATRA/ MY SWEETHEART TOUR October 1 RACHEL HOLLON JAMES PRESENTS: MEDITATION MOCKTAIL October 3 - 4 FUNJELAH LIVE - PODCAST TAPING FEATURING ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES AND SPECIAL GUEST October 13 BLACK BOX LIVE AT THE TOBIN CENTER PRESENTS: LISA MORALES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DAVID HIDALGO & JOHN DOE October 18 JANEANE GAROFALO October 21 - 22 TOM RUSH October 23 THE WEIR BY CONOR MCPHERSON October 26 WARREN HOOD October 29

H-E-B PERFORMANCE HALL CHLOE ARNOLD'S: SYNCOPATED LADIES LIVE! September 17 TAJMO: ROOM ON THE PORCH TOUR September 23 ARIES SPEARS September 26 TAYLOR DAYNE September 27 THE FAB FOUR: BEATLES' A HARD DAY'S NIGHT October 2 CINDERELLA | OPERA SA October 15 & 17 BALLET SAN ANTONIO | DRACULA October 23 - 25 THE GOONIES 40TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING + Q&A WITH COREY FELDMAN & KERRI GREEN October 29 THE BILLY JOEL LEGACY: A TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE October 30

MUSEUMS

ARTPACE www.artpace.org SELF June 12 - November 29

BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM www.briscoemuseum.org SELENA FOREVER June 4, 2026 - January 4, 2027 TEJANO LEGACY-ANOTHER AMERICAN ORIGIN STORY July 24, 2026 - January 18, 2027 CULTURAL AZTLAN 49TH ANNUAL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS EXHIBITION AND CELEBRATION November 2

CENTRO DE ARTES www.sa.gov/directory/depart-

ments/arts/galleries/centro-deartes MERCADO/MATERIAL October 15, 2026 - March 7, 2027 CONTEMPORARY AT BLUE STAR BELLA MARTINEZ: GHOST NOTES Thru October 4 SOOMIN JUNG REMMLER: ORDINARY LIFE: SHINING MOMENTS Thru October 4

MÓNICA MARTÍNEZ-DÍAZ: THE NEW HOUSE IS EMPTY: POSTAMERICAN DREAM Thru October 4 RUBIO: EL CORAZÓN Thru October 4 JAMES COBB: THINGS INTO THOUGHTS Thru October 4

THE DOSEUM www.thedoseum.org TRAVELING EXHIBIT: DINOSAURS IN MOTION Thru September 7

MCNAY ART MUSEUM www.mcnayart.org UNTITLED: 20 YEARS OF COLLECTING CONTEMPORARY ART Thru September 6 SPOTLIGHT: K-12 ARTISTS RESPOND TO KATIE PELL May 17, 2026 - April 25, 2027 A PEOPLE’S HISTORY: THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT ON STAGE Thru November 8

MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART IN KERRVILLE www.museumofwesternart.com THE ENCHANTED WEST OF ADRIENNE STEIN Thru November 7 TWO VISIONS OF THE WEST/ FEATURING THE WORKS OF SCULPTOR ERIC SLOCOMBE AND BILL KALWICK November 14, 2026 - January 9, 2027

RUBY CITY www.rubycity.org DANIEL RIOS RODRIGUEZ: OPEN THIS WALL October 25, 2025 - October 4, 2026 TRACY ROSE June 6, 2026 - May 9, 2027

UTSA MAIN CAMPUS ART GALLERY www.utsa.edu ANTITHESIS IN CONTEMPORARY COLLAGE September 3 - October 10

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART www.samuseum.org SAMURAI SPIRIT: SWORDS/ ACCESSORIES AND PAINTINGS January 6, 2024 - January 3, 2027 CANVAS TO CLAY: GEORGIA O’KEEFFE & MARIA MARTINEZ TO MATA ORTIZ & TONALÁ October 4, 2025 - October 4, 2026 TIPSY November 15, 2025 - November 14, 2027 MICROHISTORIES OF THE ANDES May 24, 2026 - May 21, 2028 RENOIR TO PICASSO: THE ROBERTSON FAMILY COLLECTION June 12, 2026 - June 10, 2029 THE ETRUSCANS: FROM THE HEART OF ANCIENT ITALY October 31, 2026 - March 14, 2027

WITTE MUSEUM www.wittemuseum.org THE WITTE MUSEUM: 100 YEARS April 11, 2026 - January 9, 2027 PTEROSAURS: FLIGHT IN THE AGE OF DINOSAURS Thru September 7 ADVENTURES IN TEXAS DEEP TIME October 18, 2026 - March 14, 2027 THE ROBOT ZOO February 28, 2026 - January 19, 2027

RUSSELL HILL ROGERS GALLERY @ UTSA SOUTHWEST www.colfa.utsa.edu SCHOOL OF ART EXQUISITE ENTROPY: PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRISH SIMONITE/1972 – 2025 August 28 - October 3

Browse for more performing and visual arts in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULINARY ARTS

Chef Lizzeth Martinez at Pueblos del Maiz Dinner in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO’S UNESCO CHEF AMBASSADORS

Share Our Culinary Story with the World By Kimberly A. Suta | Photography courtesy of City of San Antonio, World Heritage Office

For many San Antonians, the phrase “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy” may still require a little explanation. Yet around the world, a UNESCO designation carries significant weight — a recognition that celebrates the cultural treasures, traditions and stories that have built communities across the globe. San Antonio is one of only two cities in the United States — alongside Tucson, Arizona — to hold the prestigious title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, placing the Alamo City among an international network of communities celebrated for preserving culinary traditions while using food as a bridge between cultures. The designation honors not only chefs, but also the farmers, ranchers, food artisans, historians and generations of cooks who continue to influence the city’s evolving culinary story. Awarded the designation in 2017, San Antonio’s application highlighted the city’s unique identity as a confluence of cultures. From Indigenous foodways and Spanish influences to the traditions brought by German, Polish, Canary Islanders and other communities, the city’s cuisine has always been a reflection of its beautifully diverse heritage. Every three years, the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office selects a delegation of local chefs to serve as culinary ambassadors for San Antonio at local and international festivals, fairs, workshops and special events. Chosen chefs are deeply connected to the city’s rich heritage and bring an authentic understanding of San Antonio’s unique culture, people and culinary traditions. “This network is an opportunity to expand the way we think about food,” explained Colleen Swain, Director of the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office. “The chefs we send abroad represent San Antonio, and this is often, for many, their 30

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

first introduction to each other. The chefs meet other chefs, cooks and culinary students, learn from each other, and bring that and more back to San Antonio.” Through the San Antonio UNESCO Chef Ambassador Program, selected chefs share the city’s culinary story on an international stage while creating meaningful connections with chefs and people from other countries — using food as a form of cultural diplomacy. “Chefs, in a lot of ways, are these magicians. They just know how to improvise and work on the fly. They make the resources they are given work and present it with a smile,” shared Colleen. “I’ve seen chefs come back truly inspired to share their experience and to think about San Antonio’s culinary landscape in new ways. It’s a lot of work, but they have fun and return with a new appreciation for San Antonio and all of the things we have in common with other places in the world, and it makes them think about new ways to innovate and integrate those experiences in their work.” More than a designation, UNESCO’s recognition has become a catalyst for cultural exchange, culinary innovation and a deeper understanding of how food connects us all. That philosophy is at the heart of the Chef Ambassador program — and below are four notable chefs who have carried San Antonio’s story across oceans and deserts and returned home with new Photos by Drew Henry stories to share.

CHEF LIZZETH MARTINEZ, NACO MEXICAN EATERY Chef Lizzeth Martinez believes food has always been more than something we eat. It's about identity and a connection to the people and places that help define us. Having grown up in Mexico, where UNESCO's cultural designations are taught in schools and deeply respected, being selected as one of San Antonio's UNESCO Chef Ambassadors was an extraorChef Lizzeth Martinez dinary honor. It became even more meaningful when she traveled to the UNESCO Creative City of Macao in March 2026 to represent the Alamo City at the 2026 International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, Macao, where she shared the flavors of San Antonio's Mexican cuisine with thousands of people from around the world. “When you create, it’s an obligation — as parents, as chefs and as a community — to create a new generation of food lovers, of food warriors,” said Lizzeth, co-owner of NACO Mexican Eatery. “If you don’t open their palate when they’re young, then we don’t create humans that value the work and ethic behind the industry.” Over 10 days, Lizzeth and her small team, including her partner/husband Francisco Zuriel Estrada, served cochinita pibil (achiote-marinated pulled pork) to more than 4,000 guests — many of whom had never tasted an authentic taco before. Armed with heirloom corn from Oaxaca, tortillas prepared in San Antonio and freeze-dried green salsa, she wasn't simply feeding people — she was introducing them to a culture most had never experienced before.

UNESCO Macao International Cities of Gastronomy Fest

"I would do it again gladly," she said. "Not only are you sharing your passion for your culture, you get to meet amazing people from all around the world. You're working 14-hour shifts together and it creates camaraderie you can't find anywhere else." Among the festival's more than 175 booths representing numerous culinary traditions, Lizzeth found herself equally inspired by everyone around her. She still talks about the handmade dan dan noodles stretched fresh before her eyes and the remarkable generosity of chefs eager to exchange recipes, techniques and stories. "I absolutely love that the whole idea is to expand your network and learn as much as you can from other people who are on your same path but have different experiences," she noted. Yet one moment continues to stay with her above all the others — when a young Mexican soccer player living in Macao approached her booth after hearing there were tacos at the festival. Skeptical that they could possibly taste like home, he took one bite and immediately burst into tears. "He said, 'It tastes just like my mom’s,'" remembered Lizzeth. "That was the moment. That's why food is so important, because you can travel time and space with just a taste. You can create new memories or go back in time with it." For Lizzeth, those moments reinforce why programs like UNESCO matter. Every exchange broadens perspectives, encourages curiosity and reminds people that unfamiliar food often becomes the first step toward understanding unfamiliar cultures. "I really think there's a big opportunity to broaden people's minds through food," she explained. "You don't need to like everything. You just need to accept it and be open to trying it." When Lizzeth returned Chef Lizzeth Martinez and home, she brought Chef Jason Dady in Macao back more than memories. She returned with Chef Lizzeth Martinez at new friendships, fresh Botanical Garden Chef Series culinary inspiration and an even deeper appreciation for our city’s own rich food heritage. After all, every taco she served in Macao represented far more than a meal. It shared the flavors of San Antonio, the heart of her culture and created memories that lingered long after the last bite. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULINARY ARTS

CHEF JAIME GONZALEZ, WOK WEY When Chef Jaime Gonzalez traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2024 as part of San Antonio’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy program, he expected to discover a new cuisine. What he didn’t expect was to gain a deeper understanding of a culture, its traditions and the people who proudly carry them forward. “I never thought I’d go to Chef Jaime Gonzales in that side of the world,” Buraydah, Saudi Arabia mused Jaime, owner of Wok Wey, currently located inside El Camino. “But the culture is what got me the most. They were beautiful people. They were so welcoming and so proud of what they have.” Jaime was invited to represent San Antonio at a date festival in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, a city recognized for its rich history of date cultivation. As a chef known for blending cultures through his food, he embraced the challenge of creating dishes that honored both his hometown and the flavors of his host country. “I only knew about the Medjool date,” he admitted. “I didn’t know there were over 50 different varieties.” The experience transformed his understanding of the ancient yet humble fruit. During the festival, Jaime incorporated dates into San Antonio-inspired dishes, including a breakfast taco featuring potatoes, eggs and a unique salsa macha made with Texas pecans and the local dates provided for him. “When I got there and saw all these different ones, I got to try so many, I was ‘dated’ out,” he joked. “There were ones that tasted like caramel. The fresh ones were like a cross between an apple and a pear. It was amazing.”

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

For Jaime, the most meaningful part of the journey wasn’t simply discovering new ingredients. It was realizing how food creates a doorway into a new understanding. “I got to really be present to where I was. I got to understand the culture, the tradition and the religion all in one place,” he shared. That openness extended to the kitchen, where Jaime represented San Antonio alongside chefs from around the world. As the only representative from the United States, he quickly saw how food could break down barriers. His booth drew long lines of visitors eager to experience San Antonio’s renowned tacos. The response was so overwhelming that, according to Colleen, they had to do line control because they were such a big hit. “We also had to show people how to tilt their heads to eat a taco,” she laughed. Those experiences are exactly why Jaime believes San Antonio’s UNESCO designation matters. For him, preserving culture isn’t about looking backward — it’s about making sure traditions continue to evolve and inspire future generations. “It’s important to me because we need to keep our culture alive as a city. It’s our jobs as chefs to keep it alive and talked about. Otherwise, it will be forgotten,” he added. That mission is reflected in his own cooking. Through Wok Wey, Jaime combines his Hispanic roots with his love of Chinese cuisine, creating dishes that celebrate both traditions. “Tacos are always going to win,” he laughed. “But I know I can provide a different culture of food.” For Jaime, every plate tells a story — and every cultural exchange adds another chapter. It’s clear he’s hoping to visit Saudi Arabia again, reconnect with new friends and maybe even ride another camel.

CHEF JOHN TAMEZ, CULINARY EDUCATOR AT ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE Chef John Tamez stated clearly that representing San Antonio is about far more than food. It's about honoring generations of family, preserving culture, and sharing the story of a city that has shaped his life. As a sixth-generation San Chef John Tamez Antonian, his connection to the city runs deep. "My ancestors walked this land, farmed this land, and built their lives here," he said. "To represent San Antonio, our culture and our heritage on an international stage means more to me than I can really put into words." That deep-rooted connection, paired with 15 years as a culinary educator, made him a natural choice to represent San Antonio abroad. Teaching has required him to take complex culinary concepts and transform them into engaging lessons, a skill that translates naturally into introducing visitors to the city's rich food culture. More importantly, he believes every conversation is an opportunity to show that San Antonio's cuisine is rooted in history, family and generations of cultural exchange. During a recent cultural exchange in Phetchaburi, Thailand for the 2025 International Food Festival “East Meets West,” he represented San Antonio with a dish that embodies those values: Fideo Loco. While humble in its ingredients, the dish tells the story of countless Mexican American families whose recipes have been passed from one generation to the next. The experience also revealed unexpected similarities between the two communities. Phetchaburi is known as the "City of Three Flavors" for its celebrated limes, salt and palm sugar — ingredients that define much of the region's cuisine. Inspired by those flavors, he incorporated all three into his Fideo Loco, creating a culinary connection between Thailand and South Texas. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with chefs and residents alike drawn not only to the flavors but also to the story behind the dish. Even a gift of H-E-B flour tortillas became a memorable cultural exchange, as many visitors were tasting them for the very first time. While he traveled to Thailand to share San Antonio's story, he returned with valuable lessons of his own. "What amazed

me," John said, "was how much they celebrated simple ingredients." In Phetchaburi, everyday staples are treated with extraordinary respect because they represent the land, the people who produce them and generations of tradition. “My experience in Phetchaburi reminded me that every great food city has a soul. Their cuisine is built around their local ingredients, their history and the pride their community has in preserving those traditions. San Antonio is no different,” he shared. Those experiences have strengthened the philosophy he brings into his classroom. Raised on Mexican and TexMex traditions, he learned early that recipes are more than instructions — they're family history. Later, friendships with people from diverse backgrounds, along with learning about his wife's Filipino heritage, expanded his appreciation for the ways food preserves culture and connects generations. That belief shapes the way he teaches. While knife skills, sauces and cooking techniques are essential, he believes understanding the history behind a dish is equally important. He encourages students to document treasured family recipes and record relatives preparing traditional meals before those memories disappear. "I ask them, 'When was the last time you recorded your grandmother making tortillas or your dad making menudo?'" he said. "Those recipes are part of who we are." His decision to become an educator was driven by a desire to strengthen San Antonio's culinary community from the ground up. Since becoming the first culinary instructor hired at The Art Institute in 2010, he has taught thousands of students. For him, success isn't measured by what happens in the classroom, but by watching former students build meaningful careers years later. Representing San Antonio, he says, is never about one individual. John explained, “I see San Antonio as a city with a unique voice in the global culinary scene. We are not trying to imitate anyone else — we have our own story to tell. From handmade tortillas and tamales to barbacoa, breakfast tacos and the evolution of Tex-Mex, our food represents resilience, creativity and the blending of cultures. The world is beginning to recognize what we have known for generations: San Antonio’s food is connected to our identity. And our future chefs need to understand where our food comes from so they can carry that legacy forward.”

Chef John Tamez at the UNESCO 2025 International Food Festival “East Meets West,” in Phetchaburi, Thailand

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULINARY ARTS

CHEF STEPHANNIE BEYERS, MEXICO CEATY For Chef Stephannie Beyers, food has always been a bridge between cultures. As Venue Master Baker at Mexico Ceaty, where she oversees the bakery and tortilla programs across nine concepts, she has built her career around honoring tradition while finding new ways to tell culinary stories. That same passion led her to become one of San Antonio’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Ambassadors for the 2025Chef Stephannie Beyers 2027 cohort. Stephannie first learned about San Antonio’s UNESCO designation while working with the Por Vida program, an initiative supporting local food businesses. She realized many San Antonians were likely unaware their own city carried the prestigious designation. “It’s a worldwide organization, and in Mexico it’s a big thing. When I learned San Antonio was involved, I thought it was such a good opportunity to put San Antonio on the map. I feel like Mexico and San Antonio have a lot in common,” she offered. Becoming an ambassador was no small accomplishment. Applicants must demonstrate community involvement, sustainable practices and a commitment to preserving and promoting culture. “It was amazing because it wasn’t easy,” she said. “They have a lot of checklists. You have to be involved with the community and have experience promoting the culture.” Her first international exchange took her to Afyonkarahisar, Turkey in May 2026, where she joined chefs from around the world for a multi-day cultural and culinary experience. The trip included restaurant tours, cooking demonstrations, visits to UNESCO heritage sites and time with culinary students. One of her most memorable discoveries was the surprising connection between Turkish and Mexican cuisine. “I found

Chef Stephannie Beyers in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

out how many things Turkish culture has in common with Mexican culture, and that blew my mind. They use a metate to grind things just like we do for corn and chocolate, but they use it to make dough,” she said. During the visit, Stephannie also discovered new ways to think about sustainability through Turkey’s traditional desserts. One dish featured old bread soaked in cherry syrup and topped with cream, transforming an ingredient that might otherwise be discarded into something memorable. “The bread absorbs the cherry syrup until it becomes almost cake-like, creating a dessert somewhere between bread pudding and tres leches,” she described. “It’s really sweet, but with the cream and sourness, it makes the perfect balance.” Beyond the food itself, Beyers says the greatest gift of the program has been the relationships created across borders. Chefs she met abroad have continued exchanging recipes, techniques and ideas long after returning home. “We share recipes and tips. It’s like a little community that just starts to build,” she said. Stephannie learned that community is the heart of UNESCO’s mission. The experiences don’t simply stay overseas — they return home through new dishes, new perspectives and a deeper appreciation of all cultures. “I think this kind of program gives us the experience to learn other cultures more easily,” she shared. “It opens that door in a more direct way.” And perhaps that’s the true gift of these culinary exchanges: once the door opens, the world becomes a little smaller, a little more connected and infinitely more delicious.

Browse for more dining destinations in San Antonio. 34

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

GO WILD!

Naturally Amazing

Buy Ahead and Save

at NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1975. Serving Texas’s old-time favorites such as country fried steaks, burgers, BBQ and Mexican food. www.therepublicoftexasrestaurant.com

Book your next get together with The Republic of Texas Restaurant

Dining Experience Accomodations • Rehearsal dinners • Corporate dining • Cocktail fun • Birthday celebrations • Team building dinners

• River barge catering • Buffet • Set menu • Custom cocktail hour

(210) 226-6256

Scan for specials

Come enjoy riverside dining, fantastic margaritas and lovely staff. It will be our pleasure to serve and celebrate with you. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULINARY ARTS

BUTTERNUBS Starting from Scratch By Kimberly A. Suta | Photography courtesy of Anne Ng and Jeremy Mandrell

Anne Ng and Jeremy Mandrell built a name for themselves in San Antonio and beyond with the greatly lauded Bakery Lorraine, growing the business from humble beginnings at the Quarry Farmers Market into a regional pastry powerhouse that earned numerous accolades, including a James Beard Award nomination. Unfortunately, after 12 years of blood, sweat and pastry, their involvement in the company came to an abrupt end — or at least that's how it appeared from the outside. "It was a surprise to us, too," said Anne. "It's a delicate thing, but we're contractually obligated not to talk about it. It was an amicable departure, and we wish them the best of luck." But when the proverbial soufflé sinks, true entrepreneurs don't stay down for long. They begin again. In this case, inspiration came in the form of a rich, salty sablé cookie affectionately named Butternubs. 36

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

The couple, both pastry chefs, met and fell in love while working at a bakery in Napa Valley. They moved to San Antonio during the recession with plans to leave the hospitality industry behind, but according to Jeremy, "If you get bitten by the baking bug, you never quit — it calls you back." That passion eventually led to Bakery Lorraine and, years later, to Butternubs. More than pastry skills, creativity or business savvy, Jeremy and Anne possess a quality found in many of the culinary world's most beloved figures: a genuine desire to bring people joy. Whether it's a perfectly laminated crois-

sant or a brown butter sablé, they're in the business of creating small moments of happiness. "When it comes to pastry, we're attention hounds," admitted Jeremy. "We love to watch them eat it. We just love to make people feel special." Anne agreed, “We get satisfaction from seeing people enjoy our pastries.” After parting ways with the bakery, Jeremy threw himself into the kitchen like a mad scientist — or perhaps more aptly, The Swedish Chef (from the “Muppets”). One can imagine batter being whisked at sonic speed, recipe notes scattered across the counter and enough flour in the air to make the kitchen look like a Texas dust storm. "I did more baking during that time than I had done in years — for friends and at home," he recalled. Around the same time, the couple was working with Chef Max Mackinnon at Petit Coquin, who had created a brown butter rice pudding that sparked an idea. Jeremy threw himself into developing a cookie that was intensely brown butter-forward — a French-style sablé that would showcase the rich, nutty flavor he loved. "That was March of 2025, when he made that first version," noted Anne. "It was a quick decision, but sometimes when you stumble onto

Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng

something, you just know. Intuition. So, we just went for it." Now, just over a year later, Butternubs has become one of San Antonio's sweetest obsessions. Fans can order boxes online (eatbutternubs.com) or find them at Central Market stores throughout Texas. Currently, the company offers two flavors — the original Brown Butter Sablé and Chocolate Sablé — both individually wrapped and sold in boxes of 12. As for what's next? "We have more Butternub flavors on deck," Jeremy said. "We might do a limited release or let people vote for the next flavor. So far, we've made a brown sugar and cinnamon one, a lemon one, Mexican hot chocolate..." "We have a sticky toffee pudding one," Anne chimed in. If you're not salivating yet, you will be once you get your hands on one of those sweet-and-salty cookies. And after the box is empty and you're surrounded by the buttery crumbs of your new guilty pleasure, you may find yourself wondering where the magic comes from. Jeremy has a simple answer. "There's two of us," he said. "It's an unfair advantage." Having worked side-by-side for nearly two decades, the couple has developed a rhythm that few business partners could replicate. Jeremy typically starts with an idea, while Anne's extensive pastry knowledge helps refine and elevate it. Their intense but friendly competitiveness pushes them both to be better. "We're a team," she said, laughing about their competitive natures. And therein lies the magic of Butternubs — not just in the butter, the technique or the texture, but in the alchemy of their partnership behind every bite.

Browse for more dining destinations in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULINARY ARTS

AMERICAN/ CONTEMPORARY

AMBLER TEXAS KITCHEN & COCKTAILS www.amblersanantonio.com BAR LORETTA www.barloretta.com

CURRY BOYS BBQ www.curryboysbbq.com

THE GUENTHER HOUSE www.guentherhouse.com

TARDIF’S AMERICAN BRASSERIE www.tardifs.com

PINKERTON’S www.pinkertonsbarbeque.com

THE HOPPY MONK www.thehoppymonk.com

TYCOON FLATS www.tycoonflats.com

REESE BROS BARBECUE www.reesebrosbbq.com

J. ALEXANDER'S www.jalexanders.com

BLISS www.foodisbliss.com

JOTS RESTAURANT www.jotsatgunter.com

BOILER HOUSE TEXAS GRILL www.boilerhousesa.com

LANDRACE www.landracetx.com

BOUDRO’S TEXAS BISTRO www.boudros.com

LIBERTY BAR www.liberty-bar.com

BUFFALO BLUE www.buffalobluesa.com

LONE STAR CAFE www.lonestarcafe.com

BROADWAY 5050 www.broadway5050.com

M.K. DAVIS RESTAURANT (210) 223-1208

CAPPY’S RESTAURANT www.cappysrestaurant.com

THE MAGPIE www.magpie.us

CASTLEHILL AND HIGHLAND AMERICAN www.castlehillrestaurant.com

MAMA’S CAFÉ www.mamascafesa.com

CAVALIER www.cavaliersanantonio.com

MAVERICK TEXAS BRASSERIE www.mavericktexas.com

CLEMENTINE www.clementine-sa.com

MAX & LOUIE’S NEW YORK DINER www.maxandlouies.com

CORINNE SAN ANTONIO www.corinnesatx.com

MAX'S SISTER (210) 383-8416

THE COVE www.thecove.us

MILES BISTRO www.milesbistro.com

CULLUM'S ATTABOY www.cullumsattaboy.com

MR. JUICY www.mrjuicy.net

CULLUMS' ATTAGIRL www.cullumsattagirl.com

OTTO'S ICE HOUSE www.ottosicehouse.com

DEWESE’S TIP TOP CAFÉ www.tiptopcafesa.com ELSEWHERE GARDEN BAR & KITCHEN www.elsewheretexas.com THE ESQUIRE www.esquiretavern-sa.com

BEST QUALITY DAUGHTER www.bestqualitydaughter.com CHAS MARKET AND KITCHEN www.chaskitchen.com CHIKA OMAKASE www.chikasatx.com DASHI SICHUAN KITCHEN & BAR www.sichuandashi.com DING HOW CHINESE RESTAURANT www.dinghowsa.com GOLDEN WOK www.goldenwoksa.com HANZO www.hanzobar.com HOT JOY www.hotjoysa.com HUNG FONG CHINESE RESTAURANT www.hungfongsa.com

SMOKE BBQ RIVERBAR www.smokedowntown.com SMOKE SHACK BBQ www.smokeshacksa.com TWO BROTHERS BBQ MARKET www.twobrosbbqmarket.com

BRITISH

MAD DOGS BRITISH PUB www.maddogs.net

FRENCH

BRASSERIE MON CHOU CHOU www.brasseriemonchouchou.com PETIT COQUIN www.petitcoquinsa.com VOILA CAFÉ www.voilacafes.com

GERMAN

SCHILO’S www.schilos.com

IRISH

JINGU HOUSE www.jinguhousesatx.com

THE COTTAGE IRISH PUB www.thecottageirishpub.com

SARI SARI www.sari-sari-tx.com

DURTY NELLY’S IRISH PUB www.durtynellyspub.com

SHIRO JAPANESE BISTRO www.shirossan.com

WAXY O’CONNORS www.waxyoconnors.com

SICHUAN HOUSE www.sichuaneats.com

ITALIAN

TOKYO COWBOY www.tokyocowboytx.com

BBQ

ALDINO’S AT THE VINEYARD www.aldinos.com ALDO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO www.aldossa.com

2M SMOKEHOUSE www.2msmokehouse.com

BARBARO www.barbarosanantonio.com

THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS www.therepublicoftexas restaurant.com

THE BARBECUE STATION www.barbecuestation.com

BATTALION www.battalionsa.com

BLANCO BBQ www.blancobbq.com

DOUGH PIZZERIA NAPOLETANO www.doughpizzeria.com

CASANOVA BARBECUE CO. www.casanovabarbecue.com

FIFE AND FARRO www.fifeandfarro.com

THE COUNTY LINE www.countyline.com

FIUME PIZZERIA www.fiumepizzeria.com

SOUTHERLEIGH FINE FOOD & BREWERY www.southerleigh.com |

ASIAN

PUMPERS www.eatpumpers.com

SIGNATURE RESTAURANT www.signaturerestaurant.com

FOUR BROTHERS SOUTHERN PROVISIONS www.omnihotels.com

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

SUPPER www.supperatemma.com

ISADORE www.isadoresatx.com

BIGA ON THE BANKS www.biga.com

FREDERICK'S BISTRO www.fredericksbistro.com

FA L L 2 0 2 6

LA SORRENTINA ITALIAN RESTAURANT www.lasorrentinaitalian restaurant.com MARE E MONTE www.mareemonte.com NONNA OSTERIA www.nonnasa.com PAESANOS www.paesanosriverwalk.com POMPEII ITALIAN GRILL www.pompeiigrill.com RAVELLO ITALIAN CUISINE www.ravellotx.com RENZO’S TRATTORIA E PIZZERIA www.renzostrattoria.com SCUZZI’S ITALIAN GRILL www.scuzzisitalianrestaurant.com

AZUCA NUEVO LATINO www.azuca.net BURGERTECA www.chefjohnnyhernandez.com CAFÉ OLE www.cafeole.us CASA HERNAN www.chefjohnnyhernandez.com CASA RIO www.casa-rio.com CUISHE COCINA MEXICANA www.cuishemx.com DOMINGO www.domingorestaurant.com DON PEDRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT www.donpedro.com

TIU STEPPI’S ITALIAN KITCHEN www.tiusteppis.com

EL CHAPARRAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT www.elchaparral.com

TRE TRATTORIA www.tretrattoria.com

EL MIRASOL www.elmirasolsa.com

TUCKER'S ITALIAN www.tuckersitalian.com

EL PASTOR ES MI SENOR www.elpastoresmisenor.com

ZOCCA CUISINE D’ITALIA www.zoccariverwalk.com

ESENCIA www.esencia-sa.com

JAMAICAN

THE JERK SHACK www.thejerkshacksatx.com

LATIN AMERICAN

GARCIA'S MEXICAN FOOD (210) 735-5686 GUADALAJARA GRILL www.guadalajaragrill.us

BILIA EATERY www.eatbilia.com

IRON CACTUS www.ironcactus.com

DORREGO’S www.dorregos.com

LA FOGATA MEXICAN CUISINE www.lafogata.com

LUNA ROSA PUERTO RICAN GRILL & TAPAS www.lunarosatapas.com

LA FONDA ON MAIN www.lafondaonmain.com

TORO KITCHEN & BAR www.torokitchenandbar.com

LA GLORIA www.chefjohnnyhernandez.com

MI TIERRA CAFÉ Y PANADERIA www.mitierracafe.com MIXTLI www.restaurantmixtli.com

CHAMA GAUCHA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE www.chamagaucha.com

RAY’S DRIVE INN www.raysdriveinn.net RESTAURANTE PICO DE GALLO www.picodegallo.com ROSARIO’S COMIDAMEX & BAR www.rosariossa.com

PERUVIAN

LECHE DE TIGRE www.lechedetigretx.com

SEAFOOD

AQUAZUL SEAFOOD www.aquazul.app COSTA PACIFICA www.costapacificausa.com LITTLE EM’S OYSTER BAR www.littleemsoysterbar.com

LA MARGARITA www.lamargarita.com

OSTRA www.omnihotels.com

ACENAR www.acenar.com

LOS BARRIOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT www.losbarriosrestaurant.com

SILO ELEVATED CUISINE www.siloelevatedcuisine.com

ALDACO’S MEXICAN CUISINE www.aldacosrestaurants.com

LUZ ROJA COCINA Y CANTINA www.luzrojatexmex.com

MEXICAN

THE CAPITAL GRILLE www.thecapitalgrille.com

PALOMA BLANCA MEXICAN CUISINE www.palomablanca.net

VIOLA'S VENTANAS www.violasventanas.com

BOB’S STEAK AND CHOPS www.bobs-steakandchop.com

BRENNER’S STEAKHOUSE www.brennerssteakhouse.com

THE ORIGINAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT www.originalmexican.com

SALSALITO CANTINA MEXICAN RESTAURANT www.salsalito-sa.com

BLU PRIME STEAKHOUSE www.bluprimesteakhouse.com

BOHANAN’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD www.bohanans.com

THE ORIGINAL BLANCO CAFÉ www.blancocafe.net

ON THE BEND OYSTER BAR & CIGAR LOUNGE www.onthebendsa.com

LADINO www.ladinosatx.com

AVENIDA BRAZIL CHURRASCARIA STEAKHOUSE www.avebrazil.com

MEZQUITE www.mezquite.com

LA HACIENDA DE LOS BARRIOS www.losbarriosrestaurant .com

MEDITERRANEAN

STEAKHOUSE

MARIA BONITA RESTAURANT AND BAR www.mariabonitatx.com

DEAN’S STEAK & SEAFOOD www.deanssteakandseafood.com HAYWIRE RESTAURANT www.haywirerestaurant.com J-PRIME STEAKHOUSE www.jprimesteakhouse.com JOSEPHINE STREET www.josephinestreet.com LITTLE RED BARN STEAKHOUSE www.lrbsteakhouse.com PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE & GRILL www.perryssteakhouse.com RANGE www.rangesa.com RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE www.ruthschrissa.com SILO PRIME www.siloelevatedcuisine.com TU ASADOR MEXICAN STEAKHOUSE www.tuasadorsatx.com

SPANISH

BAR BAMBOOSH www.barbamboosh.com

Browse for more dining destinations in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

Brackenridge Park Golf Course

FORE! FUN!

Hit the Alamo City Golf Trail By Susan Yerkes | Photography courtesy of the Municipal Golf Association of San Antonio

Almost every city has a municipal golf course or two. Some have more. But almost none of them have a golf trail. San Antonio’s Alamo City Golf Trail is a national standout — eight courses under one name, one reservation system and one nonprofit mission: keep public golf excellent, keep it affordable, and keep the money in the courses instead of in a shareholder’s pocket. Since 2007, when the Golf Trail was put together under the management of the new, nonprofit Municipal Golf Association of San Antonio (MGASA), it has reinvested nearly $44 million in the city’s courses, according to Andrew Peterson, the Association’s President and CEO. Another $40 million in improvements is planned over the next 20 years. “We’re recognized nationally,” Peterson said. “I get a lot

scribed “golf nut” who plays the city courses as many as three

of interest from other cities all over the country — even in

times a week when he’s not working in the golf association’s

Canada — wanting to know what our secret sauce is.”

call center. “There’s been a huge improvement.”

Even if you’ve never swung a club in your life, it’s a great

Compared to elite private golf clubs and even privately-

story. And like many success stories, it starts with a problem.

owned public courses, the Golf Trail is a bargain. For less than

The city’s Parks and Recreation folks didn’t have the skill set

$100.00, an annual Trail Pass gets you discounts on green fees,

required to manage golf courses successfully, but they had

six bonus rounds a year and more. Tiered rates for different days

the job. And a lot of the revenue they did generate went into

and hours help make the Trail courses accessible to everyone —

the city’s general fund — not back into the courses, so main-

and every course offers top-rated Callaway clubs to rent.

tenance was deferred.

“Allowing the golf trail to operate independently has been

“I remember teeing off on the 10th hole at Olmos Basin

a great thing,” said Thomas Aguillon, former chairman of the

and looking at a bunch of mowers just sitting on the side of

MGASA Board of Directors. “They started marketing them

the course, not being used,” recalled Jim Simmons, a self-de-

together — ‘Come Play the Golf Trail.’

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

“I’ve played every city course – Olmos Basin, Riverside, Cedar Creek… the Trail has very competitive green fees, and we try to make it accessible to everyone,” Aguillon added. “I grew up in the game, playing Brackenridge — there’s a special tie to my family there. My grandfather won Low Amateur in the last Texas Open there in 1959. The Pan American Golf Association, the oldest Hispanic golf association in America, started

Willow Springs

at Brackenridge, and my Uncle Ray still plays with them every

Opened in 1925 as the Woodland, Willow Springs also hosted

Sunday.”

multiple Texas Opens. Today, with the Spurs’ AT&T Center and San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo grounds just across

HITTING THE TRAIL “Old Brack” The Crown Jewel

the street, significant course improvements have made it a popular spot for golf again.

Texas Open 1922

San Antonio golf started here in 1916, when the city opened the first 18-hole public golf course in Texas. (A bison herd and assorted wild animals that George Brackenridge had donated to the city had to be moved off the land first, to a nearby area that became the San Antonio Zoo.)

Riverside Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders once trained here — thus the par-3 “Teddy Bear.” The front 9 opened in 1929, and generations of golfers learned the sport here. Recent improvements include a fresh facelift along its shaded, historic stretch of the San Antonio River.

One of America’s greatest golf course designers, A.W. Tillinghast, built his famous “reef bunkers” to cope with a water works canal, the winding San Antonio River and a couple of roadways that ran through the property. In 1922, Brackenridge hosted the first Texas Open, with a $5,000 purse — triple what the U.S. Open paid back then. More than 6,000 spectators showed up each day. Over the following decades, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer all walked those fairways in the 22 years the Texas Open — now the Valero Texas Open — was played at “Old Brack.” It was fitting that the Municipal Golf Association’s turnaround started where it all began, with a completed renovation of the Brackenridge Course. Restored to Tillinghast’s original design, today the course is a Texas Golf Hall of Fame

Cedar Creek

site with its Walk of Fame, its stunning old Tudor Clubhouse

Out in the Hill Country, at 7,158 yards, it’s said to be the tough-

and the renovated Borglum Studio, now an event center,

est Golf Trail course. The course was closed for months for

where sculptor Gutzon Borglum watched golfers on the 17th

huge renovations, from water features to re-grassing, in 2024.

hole as he worked on designs for Mount Rushmore.

Last year, a new Snack Shack opened there. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

San Pedro

Mission del Lago Another long course — 7,044 yards from the back tees, with 100 bunkers, it has the Trail’s highest course rating and slope: 74.1/134. Denis Griffiths, the only American to design a course in St. Andrews, Scotland, might have been channeling the seaside wind — it can be formidably windy here.

The Trail’s beginner-friendly social spot. The new 18-hole artificial putting facility (think putt-putt!), par-3 course, driving range, lessons, simulators, music events, Wine and Nine scrambles and a new patio bar make San Pedro a cool gathering place for everyone, from families with kids to senior citizens, golfers and duffers. It’s the kind of happy hangout that makes folks like Peterson optimistic about the future of the sport. “Seven or eight years ago, people in this business were worried about the future of golf,” Peterson said. “With population rates going down, there were potentially fewer younger people coming into the game. But the script has tipped a little. Younger people have really grown into the game.” Whatever generation you’re in, whether you're chasing a Youth on Course round at Riverside, hunting your first ace

Olmos Basin

at Olmos, or just watching the sun set over Mission del Lago

The busiest. Smack-dab in the middle of the city, it’s short,

as twilight rates kick in, if you’re playing the Alamo City Golf

walkable, friendly, tree-lined and beloved by regulars who've

Trail, you’re playing on the history — and maybe the future

played it hundreds of times. Not all easy, though. Watch out

— of San Antonio golf. In the immortal words of Roy Rogers,

for the second hole — a tree-lined dog-leg par 4 with an

“Happy Trail To You!”

uphill approach.

ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAIL BY THE NUMBERS (2025) 460,721 Rounds of Golf Played 32,000 Rounds Played by Junior Golfers 10,734 Trail Pass Holders 1,300 Youth on Course Members 474 Golf Carts 490 Complimentary Rounds to Veterans and Active-duty Military

Northern Hills A former private club acquired by the city in 2015, it still has

32 226 70

Alamo City Golf Trail Staff Members Pieces of Agronomy Equipment Holes in One on the Trail

the traditional private clubhouse and event space. It has also received a lot of TLC — most recently, renovated tee boxes and concreted cart paths — to bring it up to Golf Trail standards. The 12th hole, with a pond beside a narrow landing area, is notable. 42

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio.

www.fiumepizzeria.com

200 S Alamo St. on the River Walk

BEXAR HERITAGE CENTER FREE ADMISSION

Explore Bexar County’s rich history through immersive exhibits, artifacts, and dramatic representations!

We offer free group tours for schools, seniors, and community organizations. Contact us to book your tour today! @reallygreatsite

Monday - Friday | 8 AM- 4:30 PM 100 Dolorosa St., Suite 110 210-335-6688 | heritagecenter@bexar.org w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

GOTHIC GUARDIANS OF SAN ANTONIO

The Storied Past and Haunted Presence of the Emily Morgan Hotel By William V. Scott

Perched on the eastern edge of Alamo Plaza, the Emily Morgan Hotel — with its soaring copper roof, stone gargoyles and gothic silhouette — stands out as one of San Antonio's most iconic landmarks. While millions photograph the Alamo each year, many overlook the impressive Neo-Gothic tower directly across Houston Street. This building’s rich history includes medicine, architecture, preservation, tourism and tales of the supernatural.

Originally opened in 1926 as the Medical Arts Building, it captured the optimism and ambition of a rapidly growing San Antonio. A century later, it remains a prominent part of the skyline, recognized as one of Texas’ best-preserved Neo-Gothic commercial structures. Its distinctive shape is as iconic to the San Antonio skyline as the Alamo itself, and 44

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

stories of unexplained phenomena have elevated it from an architectural treasure to one of America's most talked-about historic hotels. Whether appreciated for its design, celebrated for its preservation, or sought out by those believing in spirits, the Emily Morgan continues to serve as a true gothic sentinel of San Antonio.

A MONUMENT TO MODERN MEDICINE

ALONG THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL

The decade after World War I saw rapid growth for San Antonio, driven by advancements in transportation, healthcare and commerce that established it as a major city in the Southwest. Healthcare professionals increasingly favored centralized buildings combining offices, labs, pharmacies and hospitals — an innovative idea at the time. Developer Joseph Madison (J.M.) Nix imagined such a structure, collaborating with renowned Texas architect Ralph H. Cameron to create a medical skyscraper that would symbolize stability, elegance and prestige. Completed in 1926 at 705 East Houston Street, the Medical Arts Building quickly became an architectural icon of San Antonio. Cameron, also responsible for designing the nearby Hipolito F. Garcia Post Office and Federal Building, regarded this project as one of his best commercial works in the city.

The Medical Arts Building also played a key role during a significant period of transition in the history of transportation. In the 1920s, the Old Spanish Trail was established as one of America's major transcontinental highways, running from St. Augustine, Florida, to San Diego, California. Before the interstate system, travelers navigated this famous route across the country. San Antonio, situated at the trail's midpoint, became one of its main stops. Thousands of travelers passed right by the Medical Arts Building on their journeys between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Many early supporters and organizers of the trail had offices in the building, making it a crucial hub for promoting automobile tourism. As a result, this building became linked to two major 20th-century developments: advances in modern medicine and the rise of automobile travel.

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE REACHES TEXAS Although hospitals are typically seen as modern and sleek today, the Medical Arts Building showcased a very different style. In the 1920s across America, Neo-Gothic skyscrapers were immensely popular, with architects drawing inspiration from medieval cathedrals and European castles, reinterpreting ancient forms with modern steel frameworks. This blend resulted in structures that combined advanced engineering with romantic historic elements. The Medical Arts Building exemplified one of Texas' best takes on this trend. Its thirteen-story steel-frame structure featured a V-shaped design that sharply rose from Houston Street. The lower two floors are clad in precisely cut limestone with wide arched windows, conveying strength and permanence. Above, light-colored bricks extend upward, decorated with detailed terra-cotta embellishments. Its most distinctive feature is a striking châteauesque corner tower topped with a steep copper mansard roof, supported by exposed wooden ribs. Rising higher still, a church-like spire dominates the skyline, drawing the eyes upward like medieval cathedral towers. Perhaps most treasured are the building's sculptural details: terra-cotta gargoyles and grotesques peer down from parapets and corners. Unlike traditional medieval monsters, many depict people suffering from various medical issues — such as toothaches, headaches or swollen cheeks — reflecting the building's original medical purpose. These playful yet meaningful sculptures turn the building into a visual tribute to medicine, acknowledging human ailments while vigilantly watching over the physicians who treat them. Few commercial structures in Texas feature such imaginative architectural symbolism.

CHANGING TIMES Medicine underwent significant changes in the postwar years. During the 1960s and 1970s, hospitals expanded into large suburban campuses, leaving many downtown medical office buildings uncertain about their future. The Medical Arts Building was among these. By 1976, after serving multiple generations of doctors and patients, it stopped functioning as a medical center and was transformed into modern office spaces. Luckily, this period also saw an increased appreciation for historic preservation. The building's outstanding architectural value quickly gained recognition, and in 1977, it was included in the Alamo Plaza Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also designated a local historic landmark, acknowledging its architectural significance and contribution to San Antonio’s skyline. Visitors exploring downtown soon encountered the building as part of the San Antonio Conservation Society's Texas Star Trail, showcasing one of the city's most remarkable architectural landmarks. This marked a significant victory for preservation.

FROM HOSPITAL TO HISTORIC HOTEL Adaptive reuse has saved numerous historic buildings across America, and few instances are as successful as the transformation of the Medical Arts Building. In 1984, developers undertook a major renovation, turning the former medical tower into a luxurious hotel. This project was monumental; nearly every interior element was removed and rebuilt to house guest rooms, meeting spaces, restaurants and modernized systems. Despite w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE these changes, the Gothic exterior was carefully preserved, maintaining the building's architectural identity. The hotel was given a historic name: the Emily Morgan Hotel, honoring Emily D. West, the iconic figure linked to the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas." Though her story remains debated by historians, her connection to Texas independence made her a fitting namesake for a hotel across from the Alamo. The renovation revitalized a key downtown landmark while keeping its distinctive silhouette.

RECOGNITION FOR PRESERVATION Historic preservation succeeds when communities see architectural heritage as both an economic and cultural asset. The Emily Morgan Hotel exemplifies this belief. In 2010, the San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects awarded it the Twenty-Five Year Distinguished Building Award, highlighting the quality of its adaptive reuse and Ralph Cameron's timeless design. Just two years later, the hotel reached another milestone. After a multimillion-dollar renovation completed in December 2012, it became part of the DoubleTree by Hilton, blending modern hospitality with its historic character. The hotel also joined Historic Hotels Worldwide, an organization dedicated to promoting heritage tourism and conserving historic hotels globally. In 2015, it was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America, recognizing its importance as a historic site showcasing the nation's architectural and cultural legacy. A century after its original construction, the former Medical Arts Building continues to find new purpose while honoring its rich history.

THE HAUNTED REPUTATION The Emily Morgan's lasting fame cannot be attributed solely to its architecture. Few historic Texas hotels are widely known for paranormal activity. Its proximity to the Alamo has sparked numerous ghost stories, with visitors dating back to the nineteenth century reporting strange sounds, apparitions and eerie sensations around the historic district near the old mission. The hotel's vantage point over the battlefield has become intertwined with these legends. Both guests and staff have described strange happenings — elevators stopping on seemingly empty floors, unexplained footsteps, lights flickering without reason, doors opening on their own and the feeling of unseen presences. Some have seen shadowy figures in period attire, while others hear voices in empty hallways. The upper floors, especially the fourteenth, the number assigned despite the building's original thirteen stories — are notorious among paranormal fans for unexplained activity. Skeptics suggest suggestibility, architecture, old machinery or expectations as explanations, but believers see the hotel's long history, its dual role as hospital and hotel, and its location by the Alamo as creating a perfect setting for paranormal encounters. Regardless of viewpoint, the stories persist. Paranormal investigation shows and travel writers frequently highlight the hotel as one of America's most haunted. These legends have become a defining part of the hotel’s identity. 46

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

MORE THAN GHOST STORIES Although often seen simply as a haunted hotel, the Emily Morgan holds much greater significance. Architecturally, it remains one of Texas' premier Neo-Gothic skyscrapers. Historically, it marks a pivotal chapter in the development of American healthcare, urban growth, automobile tourism and historic preservation. Culturally, it showcases how adaptive reuse can conserve architectural masterpieces while infusing them with new vitality. Its gargoyles still peer over Alamo Plaza, its copper roof gleams in the Texas morning sun, and its tower remains a key feature of San Antonio's skyline. Visitors today walk through renovated spaces designed for hospitality, yet they stand in a building that once housed pioneering physicians, travelers on the Old Spanish Trail, preservationists saving historic architecture and generations of San Antonians.

A GOTHIC GUARDIAN ENDURES As San Antonio continues to grow, the Emily Morgan Hotel remains a steadfast observer of one of Texas' most historic intersections. Its towering Gothic structure is a reminder that a city’s character is shaped not only by battlefields and monuments but also by the remarkable buildings that silently observe history as it happens. The former Medical Arts Building has endured changing medical practices, shifts in economic fortunes, urban renewal and a century of development. Through careful preservation, it has stayed relevant while preserving Ralph H. Cameron’s original architectural vision from 1926. Today, its gargoyles continue their silent watch over Houston Street, just as they have for generations. Their weathered faces have witnessed physicians rushing to appointments, motorists traveling the Old Spanish Trail, preservationists saving landmarks, hotel guests checking into elegant rooms, and visitors admiring one of San Antonio's most distinctive buildings. Whether celebrated as an architectural masterpiece, a preservation success or one of America's most fascinating haunted hotels, the Emily Morgan is more than a place to stay. It stands as a monument to the enduring power of architecture, a guardian of memory overlooking the Alamo and one of Texas' most iconic gothic landmarks.

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio.

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

Día de los Muertos at Pearl Photo courtesy of Pearl

THE MARIGOLD MAGIC

of Día de los Muertos Blooms Again By Kimberly A. Suta

Every fall, San Antonio bursts into color as marigolds bloom, candles illuminate elaborate ofrendas and calaveras, Catrinas and fantastical alebrijes appear throughout the city. Music fills the streets, families gather and food becomes a way to connect generations — both living and departed. This is Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a very intimate yet increasingly popular celebration with ancient origins. And in San Antonio, where Mexican heritage is woven deeply into the cultural fabric of the city, it has become one of the largest and most celebrated Día de los Muertos observances in the United States. The scale is impressive, but for Chef Johnny Hernandez, one of the people most responsible for bringing the beloved holiday to the forefront of San Antonio’s cultural calendar, its meaning has always been much more personal. Chef Johnny, founder of Grupo La Gloria and a longtime advocate for Mexican culinary traditions, first became fascinated with the history and beauty of Día de los Muertos during a trip to Mexico nearly two decades ago. Visiting Michoacán, his mother’s ancestral homeland, he witnessed families gathering in cemeteries to honor relatives who had been gone for generations. Gravesites were cleaned and thoughtfully decorated with flowers and candles, 48

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

while families brought food, music and offerings placed on ofrendas (altars) and spent time together remembering those they had lost. What struck Chef Johnny most was the level of commitment involved. “The sacrifice, the journey, the tradition, the participation — everyone’s a part of it,” he recalled. In Mexico, Chef Johnny discovered Día de los Muertos was far more than a holiday or festival. It was a rich cultural practice that brought families back to their communities and encouraged them to preserve connections with the generations who came before them — traditions that are both public and private. Some families traveled long distances to return to ancestral cemeteries, while others celebrated in their homes, creating ofrendas filled with photographs, favorite foods and personal objects belonging to deceased relatives. “It’s breathtaking,” said Chef Johnny of the cemetery celebrations he experienced, which prompted him to consider his own family history in a new way.

A TRADITION THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING Día de los Muertos in Mexico received global acclaim in the late 20th century, culminating in 2008 when UNESCO honored it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. But the roots of Día de los Muertos extend back thousands of years, long before Mexico existed as a nation. Indigenous peoples throughout Mesoamerica developed traditions centered on death, ancestors and the belief that death was part of the natural cycle of life. The Aztecs were among the many Indigenous cultures that observed elaborate rituals honoring the deceased. Scholars have gained some knowledge of Aztec funerary rituals through pre-Hispanic Codices and archeological evidence. The Aztecs had a rich spiritual world filled with gods and festivals dedicated to each, one of whom was Mictēcacihuātl, the goddess of death and the underworld, and sometimes referred to as the Lady of the Dead. She is portrayed in Aztec cosmology as a skeletal figure adorned with bones and flowers. Mictēcacihuātl was honored during the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, a 20-day stretch that roughly lines up with late July and early August. Though archeologists and historians don’t have the full picture of Mictēcacihuātl’s month-long celebration, they believe it involved incense, food, music, dancing and blood sacrifice — rituals that were deeply woven into Aztec tradition. When Spanish colonization brought Catholicism to Mexico in the 16th century, Indigenous traditions merged over time with Catholic observances. Whether forced coercion or through an eventual compromise is unknown, but Mictēcacihuātl’s celebration was shifted from summer to early November to align with the Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. And just like that, ancient rituals found a new home on the calendar — keeping the spirit of the tradition alive to this day. Some Mesoamerican customs were documented but, interestingly, scholars have discovered that the Catholic Spaniards actually brought many customs with them and this is where some of the traditions and rituals blur together. Anthropologists call this a syncretic holiday — an amalgamation of different religions and cultures. Scholars have also discovered that ritual elements and cultural practices are similar around the world, and what parts of celebrations go back to different traditions is hard to

determine. But as a whole, each of these culture’s traditions relate to honoring our larger family tree — our deep ancestry that ties us back to our ancestors and history.

THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS The holiday’s vivid visual language also has its own fascinating history. La Catrina, now one of Día de los Muertos’ most recognizable symbols, is credited to Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in the early 20th century. His elegant skeleton satirized Mexican elites who embraced European fashions and customs while rejecting their Indigenous roots. Over time, Catrina evolved into an enduring symbol of the holiday. Hollywood even helped bring Día de los Muertos to a wider American audience in 2015, when the James Bond film, Spectre, opened with a spectacular Día de los Muertos parade through Mexico City — a fictional procession so visually captivating that it helped inspire the city to create an actual annual parade of its own. Younger audiences were captivated by Coco, with the movie now being screened in Mexican cities, and even alebrijes are more popular as part of Día de los Muertos celebrations. Día de los Muertos has never been a static tradition. It continues to change as it travels across borders and generations. In the United States, Mexican American communities have celebrated it for generations, and Chicano artists and activists played a particularly important role in transforming private and religious observances into the vibrant public celebrations seen throughout the country today.

Día de los Muertos at Pearl Photo courtesy of Pearl

Photography courtesy of Chef Johnny Hernandez

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

Photo courtesy of Muertos Fest at Hemisfair

Authenticity was equally important. Rather than simply borrowing the holiday’s colorful imagery, Chef Johnny worked to bring artists and cultural traditions from Mexico into the celebration, helping San Antonio audiences better understand the meaning behind what they were seeing. “Part of the magic is bringing us closer to our ancestors,” he mused. “Día de los Muertos gives us permission to focus on family and the great memories that we’ve shared with family we’ve lost.”

MORE THAN A FESTIVAL

BRINGING DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS HOME The connection to the holiday became even more meaningful to Chef Johnny when he discovered his mother’s hometown in Michoacán. While traveling through the region, he recognized the name of the small community, called Pátzcuaro, on a road sign and realized he was only a few miles away from the place where his mother had been born. He began asking questions, talking with people in the community and searching for family connections. He discovered that his family name was still prevalent there, and perhaps even more serendipitously, the town’s patron saint was San Antonio — the same saint for whom his hometown in Texas is named. The discovery broadened Chef Johnny’s understanding of the relationship between his family’s history in Mexico and the city where his grandparents eventually settled. It also reinforced his belief that food and cultural traditions are immensely powerful ways to preserve those connections. “I think I learned that early on when I opened La Gloria because we’re always trying to celebrate and preserve food traditions,” he explained. “The food and cultural traditions of Mexico are just so closely intertwined.” That philosophy has been central to Chef Johnny’s career. Through Grupo La Gloria, he’s built a reputation for introducing diners to the diverse regional cuisines of Mexico while honoring the traditions behind them. But his interest in Día de los Muertos eventually grew, and he envisioned a celebration that would allow San Antonians to experience the holiday in a meaningful and authentic way. “I wanted to own it for the community — be the place in the U.S. to celebrate Día de los Muertos,” he shared. That vision became a reality in 2019, when Chef Johnny and his partners launched a major Día de los Muertos celebration featuring a river parade and events throughout the city. The effort was not without its challenges. He had to persuade community leaders that the River Walk could be the ideal setting for a large-scale celebration of a tradition that is, at its heart, extremely personal. 50

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Yet the success of San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos celebration cannot be measured simply by attendance or spectacle. At its heart, the holiday remains about remembrance. An ofrenda might feature a grandmother’s photograph, a father’s favorite tequila or a child’s favorite candy. Marigolds, or cempasúchil, add their distinctive color and fragrance, traditionally believed to help guide spirits home. Candles illuminate the altar, the intricate cut-outs on papel picado provide a path for spirits to travel through, and calaveras (sugar skulls), believed to be remnants from Aztec traditions, now represent the sweetness of life. Food, in particular, has an extraordinary ability to transport us. A recipe can summon a grandmother’s kitchen. A familiar aroma can bring back a childhood memory. A single bite can connect someone to a place they haven’t seen in years. That relationship between food and memory is something Chef Johnny instinctively understands. “One of the reasons why I feel Día de los Muertos is a powerful tool for teaching is because it’s very colorful. It incorporates art, food, aroma… it touches all the senses, and it’s a very good reminder that we have to honor and remember everyone we’ve lost,” he described. For a chef who has spent his career preserving and sharing Mexican food traditions, the connection is undeniable. The city has embraced the holiday on a grand scale without losing sight of what makes it meaningful in the first place. Chef Johnny is careful to emphasize that the celebration belongs to the community. “Our success all ties back to our willingness to promote everyone who’s part of this,” he noted. “It’s about participation.” And perhaps that is precisely why Día de los Muertos feels so at home in San Antonio. This is an old city influenced by generations of people who brought their histories, recipes, faiths, languages and traditions with them, creating something new without leaving the past behind. Each fall, those stories return in the form of marigolds and candles, music and art, moles and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), photographs and family recipes. Some are thousands of years old. Others belong to people who passed only recently. Together, they form a living history. For Chef Johnny, that’s the legacy he hopes will continue long after his own role in the celebration has come to an end.

2026 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENTS

SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL AT LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE

One of the weekend’s signature events, the illuminated river parade features beautifully decorated barges representing Día de los Muertos traditions, complete with performers, altars, Catrinas and costumed participants floating through the heart of downtown San Antonio.

October 23–25, 2026

La Villita once again serves as the heart of San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos celebrations with a free, family-friendly festival featuring live music, cultural performances, food booths, artisan markets, face painting, kids’ educational and fun events, art projects, cooking demonstrations, giant ofrendas and programming throughout the afternoons and evenings. • Multiple stages at Arneson River Theatre, Plaza Juárez and Maverick Plaza will feature live music, folklórico, dance performances, DJs and cultural entertainment all weekend long. • Renowned artists from Oaxaca, Michoacán, Mexico City and other regions of Mexico will join San Antonio artists for live demonstrations, exhibitions and an open-air marketplace in La Villita, where visitors can meet the artists and purchase original works celebrating the rich traditions and evolving artistry of Día de los Muertos. • Visitors can stroll among enormous alebrije (spirit animals) handcrafted by Mexican artisans, transforming La Villita into an immersive outdoor gallery of color and imagination. • Festival-goers can pose for photos with the towering Catrín and Catrina statues; at nearly 40 feet tall they are arguably the largest in the United States, standing watch over Maverick Plaza throughout the week. • Exclusive VIP packages provide lounges, premium parade viewing opportunities, specialty cocktails and curated culinary experiences.

CHEF JOHNNY HERNANDEZ’S CITYWIDE CELEBRATION

Chef Johnny is expanding the annual celebration beyond La Villita. • Guests can enjoy Día de los Muertos-themed cocktails and culinary specials at his restaurants throughout San Antonio, including La Gloria locations, Casa Hernán Alta Cocina, Southtown Coffee and other Hernandez concepts. • See more than 40 giant, hand-painted skulls displayed throughout La Villita, Maverick Plaza, the River Walk and Chef Hernandez’s restaurants. Curated by San Antonio artist Rubio, Chef Johnny and Mexican and local artists, the growing Calavera Collection has become one of the festival’s most photographed attractions. • Lace up your running shoes (and put on your finest Catrina attire) for the Calaverita Run 5K on October 24, adding a spirited fitness component to the weekend festivities.

Day of the Dead River Parade Photo by Jonathan Alonzo

October 23, 2026, 7:00pm

RIO DE LA VIDA-TRADITION TRAIL

Tuesdays & Sundays, October 4 – November 1, 7:30pm

Hosted by GO RIO River Cruises, this narrated one-hour river cruise along the San Antonio River Walk delves into the history, traditions and significance of magical alebrijes dotting the river banks.

HISTORIC PEARL DISTRICT

October 27 – November 3

Día de los Muertos festivities at Pearl includes vibrant ofrendas and large-scale art installations, live music and cultural performances, family-friendly activities, seasonal food and drink, a Catrín and Catrina contest and the beloved Día de los Muertos procession celebrating life, memory and community.

MUERTOS FEST

October 23-25

This free annual event in Hemisfair is an immersive festival combining more than 80 ofrendas, live music on five stages, a Muertos Mercado artisan market, workshops, food booths and two processions throughout the weekend. Friday night brings a new experience: ¡Presente! A Night to Remember.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT MARKET SQUARE October 24-25

Cultural activities, traditional altars, face painting, live music and a storytelling dance performance by Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession each day at 1:00pm brings a vibrant celebration that honors the rich traditions of the holiday.

You’ll find more Día de los Muertos events at VisitSanAntonio.com.

Browse for more arts and culture in San Antonio.

Photo courtesy of Muertos Fest at Hemisfair

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

CULTURE

SUPER HEROES TAKE OVER THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK The Rey Feo Super Hero River Parade for Education Returns

By Ann Koehler

Calling all super heroes, sidekicks and comic book fans: it’s time to don your cape and head to the San Antonio River Walk. The annual Rey Feo Super Hero River

Parade for Education is returning on September 26 with a colorful lineup of costumed characters, decorated floats, live entertainment and a special tribute to the local heroes who keep San Antonio safe. Now in its eighth year, the ticketed parade has become a favorite family-friendly event while also raising money for the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation. The parade is one of the foundation’s biggest fundraisers, generating more than $100,000 to date for scholarships that help deserving San Antonio-area high school seniors pursue a college education. The event took a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic but has continued to grow since returning. The fun begins before the parade even hits the water. Along La Villita Street, families can enjoy live music, dancers, food booths and comic-themed activations, with plenty of opportunities to meet and see favorite action characters up close. The festival sets the stage for the evening’s main attraction: a parade featuring approximately 25 elaborately decorated floats making their way along the River Walk, and led by former Spurs’ star Danny Green, this year’s Grand Marshal. Among the stars will be familiar super heroes, like SpiderMan and other popular characters from movies and comics. But the parade isn’t just about fictional heroes. First responders will join the costumed characters on the floats, giving 52

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

the event a chance to celebrate the real-life heroes of San Antonio. First responders will also receive special recognition during the evening at the Arneson River Theatre. The parade will be accompanied by an evening of live entertainment, including performances by Patsy Torres and other entertainers. With music, characters, dancing and the colorful floats moving along the river, there will be plenty happening throughout the night. For families looking to make an evening of it, VIP tickets at the Arneson River Theatre include beverages, and children under 5 can attend for free, with a limit of two children per family. More than just a spectacle, the Super Hero River Parade gives families a chance to have fun while supporting a cause that helps local students. After raising more than $100,000 through the event so far, organizers are hoping this year’s celebration will push that number even higher — all while giving San Antonio plenty of reasons to cheer for both its fictional and real-life heroes.

For tickets, visit ReyFeoScholarship.com.

EVENT SCHEDULE

La Villita Street Festival: 4:00 to 10:30pm Arneson River Theatre on the River Walk: Opens at 5:30 Live Music: 6:30-7:30, with a Special Performance by Patsy Torres Parade: 7:30-9:00pm General Admission: $50 Kids 12 and under: $20 Kids under 5 attend free – limit two per family Televised October 25 at 9:00pm on CW and WOAI 2

+ CULTURE arts

Fun

L IVING LA VIDA local For more information on the people, events and places included in our magazine, visit our website, follow us on social media and sign up for our free newsletter.

w w w. A r ts Culture Fun.com

FUN

HOLIDAY FORECAST

ice!™ in the Hill Country By Ann Koehler | Photography courtesy of JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

If you’re looking for a cool holiday outing, add this to your calendar. ice!™, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa’s immersive Christmas experience, returns for its third season, bringing one of the most unique holiday attractions in Texas. This year’s theme is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, a classic that kids love and adults know by heart. The main attraction is a massive indoor icy wonderland, kept at a brisk 9 degrees. But don’t worry — you get to borrow a cozy blue parka before entering, though you probably still want to bring gloves and a hat! Inside, you’ll wander through scenes from the nostalgic Rudolph story, recreated with more than two million pounds of colorful ice. There are towering sculptures, frozen tunnels, lots of photo ops and two-story ice slides that everyone will want to ride more than once. One of the coolest parts of the experience is learning how it all comes together. Every year, a team of master ice carvers from Harbin, China, travels to build this signature attraction 54

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

from scratch. It takes 40 ice carvers over 30 days to transform

“We’re thrilled to welcome guests back for the third season

6,700 giant ice blocks into detailed sculptures using tech-

of our signature immersive Christmas experience, ice!, and

niques passed down through generations.

introduce Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as this year’s

But the fun doesn’t stop once you leave the ice.

theme,” said Nina Shokrian, Director of Public Relations and

The resort’s Exhibit Ballroom becomes Reindeer Ridge, a

Marketing at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort &

40,000-square-foot holiday hub packed with family-friendly

Spa. “While the stunning ice sculptures bring Rudolph’s story

activities. You can tube down Snow Flow Mountain on real

to life in an unforgettable way, the real magic happens when

snow, take part in a snowball challenge, decorate gingerbread

families experience it together.

houses or catch storytime with Mrs. Claus.

From grandparents sharing memories of Rudolph from

There are also plenty of time-honored classic holiday

their childhoods to children discovering his story for the very

activities like Santa photos and letter-writing stations for

first time, ice! creates moments of wonder, connection and

Christmas wish lists. Then set off on the Reindeer Games™

joy that become part of a family’s holiday tradition. These

Scavenger Hunt and explore the resort as you follow clues left

are experiences that bring loved ones together and become

by Rudolph to track down the Misfit Toys and help them find

cherished memories for years to come.”

their way to new homes. As fun as this is for a family, you don’t have to be a kid or

ice!™ is one of those holiday events that’s easy to make a tradition. It’s fes-

have a kid to enjoy it. The Jolly Antler will be serving sea-

tive without feeling overdone, and it’s

sonal cocktails, and the resort’s Stay & Play packages can be

definitely a unique place to chill out for

tailored for families entertaining kids for a holiday treat or

a while and embrace the season.

couples seeking a luxurious few days and nights with seven distinctive restaurants, wellness treatments, impeccable service and all the other lavish amenities on property.

Browse for more fun things in San Antonio.

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

FUN

Original Arciniega House on Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa property

INSIDE SAN ANTONIO'S Arciniega District By Claudia Alarcón

In May of this year, following the completion of the long-running construction along South Alamo Street, neighboring hotels Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk and Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa officially debuted the Arciniega District, a new lifestyle and dining destination that connects downtown and Southtown.

ORIGIN OF THE ARCINIEGA DISTRICT NAME The Arciniega District takes its name from José Miguel de Arciniega (1793–1849), a Mexican military explorer, legislator and former alcalde (mayor) of San Antonio whose family played a longstanding role in the city’s history. In 1811, José Miguel's father, Gregorio, established a homestead near present-day Arciniega and South Presa streets. José Miguel eventually inherited 20 town square lots, which include the grounds of Plaza San Antonio. José Miguel later served as alcalde in 1830 and 1833 and held several military and civic roles, including Land Commissioner for Stephen F. Austin’s colonies. The district’s name honors his legacy and the Arciniega family’s historic ties to the area, which are commemorated by an Arciniega Street marker near the site of the family’s former homestead. This new district is a corridor that runs along the hotels’ respective front doors and includes restaurants and bars, all 56

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

connected by walkable pathways and historic courtyards. This vibrant addition to San Antonio’s growing dining scene, just a short walk from La Villita, is rooted in history, culture, culinary experiences and elevated hospitality. “The Arciniega District brings together five distinct food and beverage concepts within a walkable downtown destination. It gives locals and visitors the opportunity to experience everything from rooftop cocktails and elevated steak and seafood to intimate lounge experiences and garden-inspired dining, all within one connected district,” said Lauren Garza, the district’s Marketing Manager. Each of the hotels contributes diverse establishments with different menus and vibes to suit each occasion. “The new district is designed to appeal to a broad demographic, including San Antonio locals, hotel guests, tourists, couples, groups of friends and culinary enthusiasts looking to explore multiple concepts through one curated experience,” said Garza.

Anaqua Garden Bar

Corinne Bar

This four-and-a-half-acre property first opened in 1979 as the Plaza Nacional and has gone through several names over the years before becoming the Plaza San Antonio in 2023. At the heart of the hotel are three 19th-century bungalows listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Arciniega House, Elmendorf-Tyler House and Staffel House — that were preserved and incorporated into the hotel’s redevelopment. The Arciniega House is tied to José Miguel de Arciniega, who inherited the property from his father and lived there for more than three decades; today, the restored home serves as the hotel’s Arciniega Suite. The Elmendorf-Tyler House and Staffel House, which date to the late 1800s, have also been preserved and now form part of The Spa Plaza San Antonio. Together, the three homes offer a glimpse into the property’s residential past while blending naturally into the modern hotel and its garden setting. The Plaza San Antonio, the only Autograph Collection hotel in the Alamo City, is home to Corinne, an easy-going concept that weaves classic American fare with South Texas and Gulf Coast influences. The space is modern yet comfortable, with a come-as-you-are vibe that welcomes everyone. The menu matches the atmosphere, with delicious salads, sandwiches, grilled shrimp tacos and truffled pasta at lunchtime. Corinne offers four hours with five starters and six drinks during their 4-5-6 Harmony Hour, at the bar and in the dining room. Lobster queso, spicy wings, margaritas, draft beer and house wine are all available Monday through Thursday from 2:00 to 6:00pm.

Dinner options boast the same San Antonio-influenced flair. Think starters like Navajo fry bread with whipped butter, and grilled oysters with chorizo butter, Cotija cheese and lime. Big plates go a step further, with choices including a Texas Oscar steak — filet mignon with brown butter crawfish tails, hollandaise sauce and blistered asparagus, and a Gulf redfish filet with sweet corn purée, succotash and crispy sunchoke. Corinne’s signature dish is a long-bone pork ribeye, paired with tomatillo, hominy and grilled corn. At Anaqua Garden Bar, guests will find a tranquil escape right in the heart of downtown. Named after the property’s enormous anaqua tree, this indoor-outdoor bar offers a serene space with comfortable natural wood furniture and earthtone upholstery, and lots of plants throughout. The menu highlights a fusion of Japanese culinary techniques and flavors with Latin American traditions in small plates meant to be shared. There’s a Thai shrimp cocktail with fermented chile, lime, ginger, jicama and cilantro; shredded brisket bao with pickled vegetables and Korean barbecue sauce; and roasted lobster skewers in the style of Mexican street corn, with lime crema and Cotija cheese. The signature botanical cocktails follow suit, with tropical and Asian ingredients in equal measure. And yes, you can get a riff on the piña colada, the Anaqua's House of Don Ramon cocktail, served inside a pineapple. Since the bar sits next to the hotel’s pool, you can elevate the whole experience by reserving a poolside cabana for a transporting day or night out with friends or your special someone.

THE PLAZA SAN ANTONIO HOTEL & SPA

Corinne Bar Photo by Garrett Smith

The Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa Photo by Karissa Rangel

Anaqua Garden Bar Photo by Karissa Rangel

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

FUN

THE KIMPTON SANTO SAN ANTONIO – RIVERWALK The Kimpton Santo’s historic core includes an 1850s German-English schoolhouse, one of the oldest surviving structures on the property and a reflection of the German settlers who arrived in San Antonio after the Texas Revolution. Preserved through the hotel’s adaptive reuse project, the schoolhouse’s original brick walls, rafters and rustic details are woven into the modern hotel, creating a distinctive blend of historic character and contemporary, Bauhaus-inspired design. Today, elements of the former schoolhouse can be seen throughout the hotel, including the lobby, suites and restaurant, making it a central part of the Kimpton Santo’s architectural and cultural identity. At Kimpton Santo, visitors can expect a luxury lifestyle hotel experience anchored by Dean's Steak & Seafood, an upscale steakhouse and the hotel's signature restaurant housed in the historic 19th-century German schoolhouse. As the hotel’s main restaurant, the striking two-level building offers a menu that spans from breakfast to dinner, and from lunch into a solid happy hour. At brunch, you can start with healthy alternatives like fresh pressed juices and açai bowls, or splurge on steak and truffle eggs or king crab benedicts. A small but varied menu for lunch features salads, a Wagyu burger and crab cakes, but if you stick around for happy hour, you’ll find selected cocktails for $10 accompanied by snacks like truffle fries and salmon crudo. Dinner at Dean’s means prime steaks — A5 Japanese and Texas Wagyu — as well as seafood and a fabulous raw bar featuring oysters, Alaskan king crab and cold seafood plateaus served with cocktail sauce, mignonette, fresh grated horseradish, dijonnaise and house hot sauce, all accompanied by a curated wine and cocktail program. Speaking of drinks, Kimpton Santo boasts two bars with distinct atmospheres. Tenfold Rooftop is the city's only year-round, all-weather rooftop bar, offering panoramic 360-degree views of the downtown skyline. The minimalist concrete construction is softened by floor-to-ceiling glass, colorful fabrics and lots of plants, giving it a bright and airy feel. The menu highlights signature cocktails, agave flights and elevated international bites to pair them. Here, aguachile and ceviche share the menu with a mezze platter and pani puri, a flavorful Indian street snack. Try the exclusive '10x Tour' — a prix fixe menu featuring 10 chef-selected dishes from different regions around the world. For something more intimate, The Study is a hidden cocktail lounge that blends historic charm with modern sophistication. A low-lit room with dark wood, marble top bar and red velvet banquettes complements a menu inspired by classic cocktail culture. While walk-ins are welcome, making a reservation will guarantee your spot for that special night out. 58

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

Dean's Steak & Seafood

Dean's Steak & Seafood Oyster Bar

Tenfold Rooftop

Tenfold Rooftop Photo by Garrett Smith

The Study

THE FAIRMOUNT HOTEL The Fairmount Hotel has one of San Antonio’s most unusual preservation stories. Built in 1906 near the South Pacific Railroad Depot, the three-story hotel served travelers and salesmen arriving by train before eventually falling into disrepair. In the early 1980s, the building was slated for demolition to make way for a shopping mall, but the Conservation Society of San Antonio stepped in to save it. In 1985, the entire 1,600-ton structure was moved six blocks through downtown on wheels to its current location on South Alamo Street — a feat recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest building ever moved on wheels at the time. After being expanded and restored, the Fairmount reopened as a boutique hotel and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Although not technically part of the Arciniega District, its location marks a perfect stop in the string of historic hotels across from Hemisfair and between La Villita Historic District and Southtown. The hotel is home to two distinct dining experiences: NONNA Osteria, a Northern Italian restaurant inspired by Executive Chef Luca Della Casa’s family traditions, and Silo Prime, an intimate steakhouse built around live-fire cooking, whiskey, wine and wood. At NONNA Osteria, the atmosphere is open, breezy and welcoming, with a menu that pays tribute to the rustic flavors of Northern Italy and an impressive selection of Italian wines. The restaurant is designed for lingering over weekend lunches or daily dinners, with traditional Italian dishes meant to be shared alongside wine and cocktails. Dishes draw from Chef Della Casa’s memories of Sunday suppers with his mother and grandmother, making the experience feel both refined and deeply personal. Silo Prime takes a moodier, more sophisticated approach. Dark leather furnishings, low lighting and an intimate atmosphere set the stage for a menu centered on fire-driven cuts and fresh seafood, like the Signature Chicken Fried Oysters nestled on sautéed spinach with bacon, tart apples and mustard hollandaise. It’s the kind of place that feels equally suited to a celebratory dinner or a long evening at the bar, with a polished steakhouse experience that still feels distinctly Texas. For drinks, the Fairmount Rooftop Terrace offers a chance to take in downtown San Antonio from above. The rooftop pairs panoramic city views with sunset cocktails, wine and a menu of elevated snacks, antipasti, oysters and seafood. Back downstairs, the Lobby Bar provides a more intimate setting, where guests can settle in for a cocktail or a guided whiskey experience while taking in the energy of the hotel. “The completion of the road construction has truly opened numerous opportunities for us as well as the entire stretch of South Alamo. Providing an inviting and welcoming walkable route through the downtown area connecting all parts of Hemisfair plaza, the area is really enhanced with the natural liveliness and history of San Antonio while complimented by the

lush landscaping and accessibility for visitors and locals alike. We are thrilled to be in the epicenter of such a big undertaking and pleased to have pushed through to see the other side of a transformation of a truly remarkable and historic area of the city,” said Patrick Richardson, owner of Silo Elevated Cuisine. This fall, expect to find seasonal dining moments and holiday brunches at Corinne; festive pop-ups and community events at Anaqua; Día de los Muertos and winter rooftop experiences at Tenfold; special holiday menus and celebrations at Dean’s; literary-inspired cocktails and recurring activations at The Study; and jazz on Thursdays at the Fairmount. With this renewed connection between La Villita, Hemisfair and Southtown, guests and locals can experience a true sense of place that invites exploration, encourages connection, and deepens engagement with San Antonio’s culture, nightlife and culinary scene.

Rooftop Terrace

Silo Prime

Browse for more fun things in San Antonio. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

THINGS TO DO

ALAMODOME www.alamodome.com

FUTURE READY DAYS AT HEMISFAIR: ACCESS October 10 GET FIT AT HEMISFAIR WITH MACFIT ATHLETICS October 17

UTSA VS. UTRGV September 5 UTSA VS. COLORADO STATE September 26 UTSA VS. SOUTH FLORIDA October 8 UTSA VS. NAVY October 17 BANDS OF AMERICA November 6 - 7 UTSA VS. NORTH TEXAS November 14 UTSA VS. NORTH TULSA November 27 - 28

HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE www.marketsquaresa.com

FREEMAN EXHIBITION HALL www.freemancoliseum.com CARDEN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS September 3 - 6 ESC-20 PRODUCT SHOW September 10 2026 SAAA TRADE SHOW: SAAA UNIVERSE STEP UP, SUIT UP, SHOW UP AND UNLEASH YOUR SUPERPOWERS HEROES VS. VILLAINS September 10 FINCK’S LONE STAR CIGAR BASH 2026 September 19 BRIDAL & WEDDING EXPO September 27 THE GREAT JUNK HUNT 2026 October 2 - 3 BARBACOA AND BIG RED FESTIVAL October 9 - 11 NEISD COLLEGE & CAREER EXPO October 20 SAN ANTONIO AUTO SHOW November 6 - 8 SA VILLAIN ARTS TATTOO FESTIVAL November 13 - 15 46TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE November 21 – 22

LABOR DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION September 5 - 7 FIESTA PATRIAS WEEKEND September 12 - 13 MARKET SQUARE WEEKENDS: LIVE PERFORMANCES, LOCAL EATS & ART IN ACTION (Saturdays/Sundays), September 19 November 22 12TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW October 3 CULTURAL CELEBRATION: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS October 24 - 25 CALAVERAS DE AZÚCAR FESTIVAL October 31 - November 1 CELEBRACION MUSICAL November 28 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS November 29

LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE www.lavillitasanantonio.com DAY OF THE DEAD SAN ANTONIO October 23 – 25

MORGAN'S WONDERLAND www.morganswonderland.org

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW September 21 TEXAS VS. BAYLOR MEN’S BASKETBALL November 15

MORGAN'S WONDERLAND PARK HOURS: (SATURDAY-SUNDAY) 10:30AM - 5:00PM September 5 - October 25 WATER PARK HOURS: (SATURDAY-SUNDAY) 11:00AM - 5:00PM September 5 - 20 WATER PARK CLOSED FOR SEASON September 21 PARK HOURS: 4:00PM - 9:00PM October 31 PARK HOURS: 10:30AM - 5:00 PM November 1 PARK CLOSED FOR SEASON November 2

HEMISFAIR www.hemisfair.org

PEARL www.atpearl.com

BASKETBALL WORKSHOPS AT HEMISFAIR September 5 SUPER FUN SATURDAY WITH H-E-B: SUPERHERO SATURDAY September 12 GET FIT AT HEMISFAIR WITH MACFIT ATHLETICS September 19 SUPER FUN SATURDAY WITH H-E-B: DAY OF PLAY October 3 BASKETBALL WORKSHOPS AT HEMISFAIR October 3

PEARL PUTT (Daily) September 1 - October 4 MAT PILATES AT PEARL PARK (Tuesdays) 6:00pm - 7:00pm, September 1 – November 3 ACTIVATE BOOT CAMP (Tuesdays) 7:00pm - 8:00pm, September 1 October 27 TWO-STEP TUESDAYS AT STABLE HALL (Tuesdays) 7:00pm - 9:00pm, September 1 – October 27 STERNEWIRTH SESSIONS (Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays) September 2 November 30

FROST BANK CENTER www.frostbankcenter.com

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

LIVE MUSIC AT OTTO’S ICE HOUSE (Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays) September 3 - November 1 YOGA UNDER THE STARS (Thursdays) September 3 - 10 DANCE PARTY WITH DONNIE DEE AT JUE LET (Thursdays) September 3 - October 22 MISS ANASTASIA'S WILD AND WACKY PRE-WEEKEND TWIGLET STORYTIME! September 4 FARMERS MARKET (Saturdays) September 5 - November 28 MAKERS MARKET (Sundays) September 6 - November 29 SAVE THE DATE: MARIACHI SHOWCASE September 13 SAVE THE DATE: VIVA DIECISÉIS September 15 SEAFOOD BOOT CAMP 2-DAY October 8 - 9 IRON & WINE October 23 SAVE THE DATE: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS October 27 - November 3 HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY November 27 SAVE THE DATE: TASTE OF PEARL FESTIVAL November 28

SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN www.sabot.org NATURE EXPLORATION IN THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GARDEN (Wednesdays/Saturdays) September 2 November 21 DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY GARDENING (Wednesdays) September 2 – November 25, except November 15 BEYOND FRESH - DRIED CHILIES September 2 STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN (Thursdays) September 3 - November 19 SKETCHING IN THE GARDEN September 3, 17 GUIDED TOUR: SUSTAINABLE GARDENING September 4, October 2, November 6 DIY: TOSTADAS FOR THE FAMILY! September 5 THRILL, FILL, SPILL: CONTAINER PLANTING DESIGN September 5 GARDEN RUN CLUB (Saturdays) September - October 2026 FOREST BATHING IN THE GARDEN September 6, October 4, November 1 PLAN YOUR WINTER CUT FLOWER GARDEN September 9 DROP-IN GUIDED TOUR: TEXAS WATERSAVER GARDEN (Fridays) September 11 - December 11 MORNING FLOW WITH KRYSTAL (Select Saturdays) August - December 2026 SEPTEMBER PLANT SALE September 12 - 13 WRITING AND MINDFULNESS (Select Saturdays) September - December 2026

MEDITATION IN THE GARDEN (Select Saturdays) September - December 2026 FAMILY NIGHT HIKE September 18, October 16 NATURE JOURNALING AND MINI-FOREST BATHING September 20, October 18, November 15 GARDEN SOUND BATH September 27, October 18, November 22 MEMBER EXCLUSIVE DOG DAYS October 10 NEIGHBORS IN NATURE DAY October 18 OCTOBER PLANT SALE October 24 - 25 ELLIE SELIG DISTINGUISHED GARDEN DESIGN LECTURE SERIES October 27

SAN ANTONIO RODEO www.sarodeo.com TEE'R UP GOLF TOURNAMENT September 12 HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES September 12 HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES October 10 GO RODEO ROUNDUP October 17 HAUNTED HAYRIDES October 22 - 24 S.A.L.E. FOR KIDS November 13 HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES November 14

SAN ANTONIO ZOO www.sazoo.org FRONTLINE HEROES September 1 - 30 TINY TOT TUESDAY September 1, October 6, November 3 LOCALS DAY September 5, 13, October 9, November 27 JURASSIC S.A. DINO EXPERIENCE September 5 DINOS AFTER DARK September 4 - 6 WILD BITES September 6 DINOSAURS OF TEXAS WITH BK BONES September 7 41ST ANNUAL ZOO RUN, PRESENTED BY H-E-B September 11 41ST ANNUAL KIDS ZOO RUN, PRESENTED BY H-E-B September 12 ZOO BOO! PRESENTED BY PNC September 19 - October 31 ZEN ZOO September 19 MEMBER GIVEAWAY PIN DAY September 26, October 17, November 22 DOG DAYS October 18 MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY October 24

ZOO SALUTES November 1 - 30 BRING-A-FRIEND FREE DAYS November 7 44TH ANNUAL ZOOBILATION BALL November 13 ZOO LIGHTS! POWERED BY CPS ENERGY November 14

SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL www.mainplaza.org MARIPOSAS ON THE PLAZA | DIA DE LOS MUERTOS November 1

TEXAS LEAGUE BASEBALL

@ NELSON W. WOLFF MUNICIPAL STADIUM

www.milb.com/san-antonio/ballpark/wolffstadium SA MISSIONS VS. MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS, September 1 - 6

THE TOBIN CENTER www.tobincenter.org STRENGTH & MOBILITY FITNESS | WELLNESS AT THE TOBIN (FIRST SATURDAY) September 5 - November 7 RESET & RECOVERY YOGA | WELLNESS AT THE TOBIN (Second Saturdays) September 12 - November 14 SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (2010) | H-E-B CINEMA ON WILL’S PLAZA September 12 2026 OPEN HOUSE: THE TOBIN IS OUT OF THIS WORLD! September 13 MINDFUL FLOW YOGA | WELLNESS AT THE TOBIN (Fourth Saturdays) September 26 - November 28 PRACTICAL MAGIC (1988) | H-E-B CINEMA ON WILL’S PLAZA October 10 RHYTHM & MOVES DANCE CARDIO | WELLNESS AT THE TOBIN (Third Saturdays) September 19 - November 21 DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989) | H-E-B CINEMA ON WILL’S PLAZA November 14 HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE VIEWING PARTY November 27 2026 HOLIDAY ART MARKET November 28

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE @ TOYOTA FIELD

www.sanantoniofc.com

WORLD HERITAGE CENTER www.worldheritagesa.com MAKE-IT DAYS (First & Third Saturdays) September 5 November 21 ABC’S OF WORLD HERITAGE (Second Wednesdays) September 9 November 11 THE ALAMO ARCHAEOLOGY ARTIFACT WORKSHOP, THE ALAMO September 10 JUNIOR RANGER DAY PARK SCAVENGER EVENT, ALL MISSIONS September 12 MISSION DAY AT THE ALAMO September 12 TOUR DE LAS MISIONES September 12 CARE OF CREATION MASS & WALK, MISSION ESPADA September 13

WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE @ MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA www.worldheritagesa.com

FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET/MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA (First & Third Saturdays) September 5 November 21 THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE September 5 LA BAMBA September 17 SELENA September 19 ELIO October 3 KLRN KIDS FALL FESTIVAL October 10 JURASSIC PARK October 15 SPECIAL FEATURE TO BE ANNOUNCED October 17 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS: CELEBRANDO LAS MISIONES October 24 FRANKENWEENIE October 24 SPECIAL FEATURE TO BE ANNOUNCED November 7 DÍA DEL ÁRBOL November 14 END OF SEASON HOLIDAY MARKET & TREE ADOPTION November 21 ELF November 21

SAN ANTONIO FC VS. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES September 26 SAN ANTONIO FC VS. NEW MEXICO UNITED October 17 SAN ANTONIO FC VS. ORANGE COUNTY SC October 24

Browse for more things to do. w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

N. MAIN AV

’S RY MA

ST .

AV EN U AY W

D OA BR

E. MARTIN ST.

AVE SM AIN

AV E

EZ R CHAV E. CESA

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6

EE AV EN U

DWA Y

AV E

LOSOYA ST.

O ST. N. ALAM

ST BOWIE

KET S

77 78

20 71 72

HEMISFAIR & YANAGUANA GARDEN TOWER OF THE AMERICAS

73 74 75

76 THE ALAMODOME

ST.

E. MA R

ERCE

70 AR

COM M

67 69

11 12 13 14

HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER

P 68

E. C

BROA

JEFFERSON

45 46 47 48 49

N E.

NAVARRO ST.

59 60

KETT ST .

SHOPS AT RIVERCENTER

LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE

A ST

DWYER AV E

S. MA

P P

63 62 61

E. CROC

GO RIO CRUISES

VILLIT A ST

S. PRESA ST.

P E. N U

OS T.

TORCH OF FRIENDSHIP

T ST

ARNESON RIVER THEATRE

BOWIE

AS RES

P 58 W MA RKE

64 NAV ARR

ARY T. M S. S

ST.

16 56

N. P

RRO S NAVA

’S

S. MAIN

ST.

THE ALAMO & ALAMO PLAZA

38 34 39 35 40 36 41 37 42

22 P 23

31 32 33

29 28 27 30

TT ST.

VILLIT A ST .

EVA

IN AVE

EVA

LOR E

MAIN PLAZA

AVE.

S. FL ORES

E. N U

S. F

20 21

DOLOROSA

STON

S. AL AMO ST.

25 26

S. ALAMO ST.

W. CROC KE

RKET

NAVARRO ST.

E. HO U

. LLEGE ST

COLLEGE ST.

W. M A

A ST

NAVARRO ST.

N. ST MARY’S

16 17

RCE ST .

N. ST. MARY’S

SOLEDAD ST.

N. MAIN AVE.

N. FLORES

SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL

COMM E

6 P

S. PRES

MAIN PLAZA

E. HOUSTON ST.

BOWIE

13 14

ST.

PALACE

E. HOUSTON ST.

W. HOUSTON ST.

8 51 SPANISH 52 GOVERNOR’S

11 10

3RD

. ST

P E. TRAVIS ST.

COMMERCE ST.

E. TRAVIS ST.

TRAVIS PARK

N. FLORES

. E. TRAVIS ST

HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE

E. PECAN ST.

N. AL AM

NAVARRO ST.

N. MAIN AVE.

. ST

VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARK

4 W. PECAN ST.

E. AV

H 4T

E. MARTIN ST.

W. TRAVIS ST.

3 AUDITORIUM CIR

CONVENT ST.

G OU LL

N. ST MARY’S

TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

U CC M

.. ST

W. MARTIN ST.

SOLEDAD ST.

R VA NA

OR FL

MAP AV EN U

DOWNTOWN

ST.

LOROSA

DO & DISCOVER

28 29 1 UTSA Southwest School of Art/Russell Hill Rogers Gallery 30 2 Hopscotch 31 3 Artpace San Antonio 32 4 Charline McCombs Empire Theatre 33 5 Majestic Theatre 34 6 Buckhorn Saloon & Museum & The Texas Ranger Museum 35 7 San Antonio Visitor Information Center 36 8 Centro de Artes Gallery 37 9 Bexar Heritage Center 38 10 Aztec Theatre 39 11 Holey Moley 40 12 LEGOLAND Discovery Center 41 13 LiggettVille Adventure Center 42 14 SEA LIFE San Antonio 43 15 Casa Navarro State Historic Site 44 16 Marriage Island 45 17 Briscoe Western Art Museum 46 18 San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum 47 19 River Walk Public Art Garden 48 20 Instituto de Mexico (Mexican Cultural Institute) 49 21 The Magik Theatre 50 22 Culture Commons Gallery at Plaza de Armas 51 TASTE & TOAST 52 1 The Moon’s Daughters 53 2 Landrace 54 3 Stout’s Signature 55 4 Cavalier 56 5 Pinkerton’s BBQ 57 6 Range 58 7 Bohanan’s Prime Steak and Seafood 59 8 The Palm Restaurant 60 9 La Panaderia 61 10 Devils River Distillery 62 11 Maverick Distilling 63 12 Oro Restaurant at the Emily Morgan 64 13 Acenar 65 14 Dorrego’s & Naranja Tequila & Mezcal Bar 66 15 1 Watson Rooftop Bar 67 16 Hugman’s Oasis 68 17 Tokyo Cowboy 69 18 The Esquire Tavern 70 19 Four Brothers Southern Provisions & El Colegio Bar 71 20 Domingo & Otro Rooftop Bar 72 21 Iron Cactus Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar 73 22 Rita’s on the River 74 23 Ostra at Mokara 75 24 Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 76 25 Joe’s Crab Shack 77 26 Landry’s Seafood House 78 27 The County Line River Walk 79

Hard Rock Café Paesanos Riverwalk Howl at the Moon Mad Dogs British Pub On The Bend Oyster Bar & Cigar Lounge Frosty Dog Saltgrass Steakhouse The Original Mexican Restaurant Boudro’s Texas Bistro The Republic of Texas Rainforest Cafe Dick’s Last Resort Brenner’s Steakhouse Café Ole Lone Star Cafe The Colonial Room & Menger Bar Crockett Tavern Dave & Buster's Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Fogo de Chao Ruth’s Chris Steak House Yard House Morton’s The Steakhouse Restaurante Pico de Gallo Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia La Margarita Mexican Restaurant & Oyster Bar Biga on the Banks Zocca Cuisine D’Italia Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails Schilo’s Delicatessen Casa Rio Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub The River’s Edge Café & Bar Fiume Pizzeria & Wine Bar Prost River Walk Patio & Alchemy Bar Smoke BBQ River Bar Casa Catrina La Villita Café Guadalajara Grill Nonna Osteria Silo Prime Tenfold Rooftop Corinne Dough Pizzeria Napoletana ReRooted 210 Urban Winery Box St. All Day Bombay Bicycle Club Paleteria San Antonio Chart House & Bar 601 Cuishe Cocina Mexicana Toro Kitchen & Bar Escencia w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

MUSEUM REACH

MAP 1 SAN ANTONIO ZOO

E AV

BRO ADW AY S T

E. J

AV E

MAKE READY MARKET

DO & DISCOVER McNay Art Museum Witte Museum San Antonio Botanical Garden The DoSeum Stable Hall San Antonio Museum of Art San Pedro Springs Culture Park

TASTE & TOAST 1 2

La Fonda on Main Cullum’s Attagirl & Cullum's Attaboy

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

NEW

ELL

AVE

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16

FA L L 2 0 2 6

HISTORIC PEARL RESTAURANTS Bakery Lorraine Best Quality Daughter Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden Brasserie Mon Chou Chou Cape Bottle Room Casanova Barbeque The Culinary Institute of San Antonio/Savor High Street Wine Co. Jazz TX Jue Let Ladino La Gloria Larder Fine Groceries and Prepared Goods Lick Honest Ice Creams Local Coffee Founders Otto’s Ice House Pearl Food Hall at Bottling Dept. Savor Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery Sternewirth at Hotel Emma Supper at Hotel Emma Voila Café

PULLMAN MARKET RESTAURANTS

PULLMAN MARKET

E. GRAYSON ST

281

O ST

LAM

THE HISTORIC PEARL DISTRICT

P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

N. A

DWA Y ST

LID

PHINE

BROA

MCCULLOUGH AVE

SAN PEDRO AVE

W. GR AYSO N

E E.

THE CREAMERY DISTRICT

281

N. ST. MARY’S ST

WA YS

E. JOS E

L E. E

OA D

BERR Y AVE

E. ASHBY PL

T AS

DO AK R

E. MU L

E. WOODLAWN AVE

BRACKENRIDGE PARK

ST .M AR Y’S

E. MISTLETOE AVE

TULETA DR

MCCULLOUGH AVE

SAN PEDRO AVE

281

E. MULBERRY AVE

KIDDIE PARK JAPANESE TEA GARDEN

Tycoon Flats Curry Boys BBQ Cappy’s Restaurant Hung Fong Chinese Restaurant Jingu House Josephine Street Down on Grayson Sam’s Burger Joint Otto’s Ice House Tre Trattoria at the Museum Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen Hot Joy Paramour Bar & Colette at the Phipps

Fife & Farro Isidore Mezquite & Mezcaleria Nicosi

CREAMERY DISTRICT RESTAURANTS Amelia Social Lounge & Lunatique Rooftop Garden Chika Omakase Costa Pacifica Crème Coffee Social Easy Baby Underground Tribute

MAKE READY MARKET RESTAURANTS Bowls N Go Four Brothers Hotaru Sushi Ize Box by Orderup Teka Molino

SOUTHTOWN

MAR K

OS AA VE

IA M

LABOR ST

ESA

S PR

VAL LOS S

S ST.

E CE

R ST

LABO

MO LA

T IDA S

PERE

A ST PRES

’S MARY

LAM

ILL W NG KI E IN AV

S MA

S FL ORE S ST

T BAN

S ST

S PRESA ST

IN AV

ES SF LO R

S MA

TA R SS AN

4 3 5 2 6 1 2 12 9 7 3 13 8 10 11 LEIG 14 1

PRO

S FL ORE

T TS

BLVD CHAVEZ CESAR E.

UEV A ST

T AR M

281

ET S

EVA

LAM

W NU

S. A

MAP

DO & DISCOVER 1 2 3 4 5

Garcia Art Glass San Antonio Art League & Museum Villa Finale Museum & Gardens Ruby City Blue Star Arts Complex

TASTE & TOAST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Maverick Texas Brasserie Rosario’s ComidaMex & Bar Battalion Azuca Nueva Latina Blush Restaurant & Bakery Bar America La Frite Belgian Bistro

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Tapas y Mas Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Pharm Table Mixtli The Friendly Spot Tito’s Mexican Restaurant Bar Loretta Little Em’s Oyster Bar Liberty Bar The Guenther House Camp Outpost Botanero Lounge Casa Hernán Cantina Leche de Tigre Burgerteca Künstler Brewing

w w w. A r t s C u l t u re Fu n .c o m

Fiume_RIO Ad_Coupon.pdf

COUPONS

7/15/22

10:48 AM

12/31/26

03/31/27

FREE CHIPS & QUESO with Purchase of 2 Entrees

FREE FLAUTA APPETIZER

(seasoned chicken rolled up in a tortilla)

Scan for specials

with the purchase of 1 entrée Coupon not valid with other offers or coupons. Please present coupon to server at time of ordering.

(210) 226-6256 www.therepublicoftexasrestaurant.com

w w w.Ar t sCultureFun.com 66

A R T S C U LT U R E F U N

FA L L 2 0 2 6