Stone Oak, TX February 2026

EDUCATION

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS RETURN AFTER 35 YEARS AND THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO INVITES YOU TO MEET THEM.

FOOD + BEVERAGE STOP WATCHING AND START BAKING AT OVER THE TOP CAKE SUPPLIES & THE BAKE LAB.

YOU’VE DONE DINNER. HOPSCOTCH REDEFINES DATE NIGHT. FEBRUARY 2026

Deaver Garage Door Service delivers precision, honesty, and long-lasting craftsmanship on every repair and install. We never rush, cut corners, or upsell what you don’t need. We use premium parts and clear communication to keep your door running smoothly and safely.

Stone Oak City Lifestyle Magazine readers also receive a FREE consultation. When you want it done right, count on Deaver.

Love Isn’t Loud. It’s Local.

February is supposed to be about love, but let’s be honest. It can get weird. Overplanned. Overhyped. Sometimes a little forced. Flowers are nice. Chocolates are fine. But the kind of love that actually sticks is usually quieter and way more interesting.

That’s what this issue kept circling back to while I was working on it.

Local love is not about big declarations. It’s about showing up. It’s about curiosity. It’s about saying yes to the places and people that make San Antonio feel like home, even when we are busy or tired or stuck in the same routine.

You’ll see that in these stories.

There’s love that looks playful. Like a date night that turns into laughter, color, and shared moments you didn’t expect. The kind where conversation flows without effort and you leave thinking, we should do this more often.

There’s love that looks intentional and long term. The return of gorillas to the San Antonio Zoo didn’t happen overnight. It took years of planning, care, and commitment. It’s a reminder that when we understand something, we protect it. And when we protect it, we give future generations a chance to love it too.

There’s also love that shows up in teaching. In flour covered countertops and nervous smiles. In people who walk into a class convinced they are not creative and walk out holding proof that they are. Watching confidence grow like that never gets old for me.

What ties all of this together is not the subject matter. It’s the feeling.

San Antonio is full of people creating experiences that invite connection without making it complicated. Places where curiosity is encouraged. Where learning feels approachable. Where you don’t have to be an expert to belong.

Working on this issue reminded me why I love telling local stories. There is so much care happening quietly around us. So much effort. So many people building things that matter, even if they are not shouting about it.

So this month, I hope you try something new. I hope you take someone you love somewhere unexpected. I hope you slow down enough to notice the heart behind the places you visit.

Local love is not loud. It’s steady. And it’s everywhere.

Thanks for being here.

Same place next month?

February 2026

CO-PUBLISHER

Jonathan Mottu

jonathan.mottu@citylifestyle.com

CO-PUBLISHER

Sarah Mottu sarah.mottu@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Chelsea Humphreys chelsea.humphreys@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Christina Garcia christina@stylesavvysocials.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erin Lyons, Chelsea Humphreys

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

S&L Photography, Chelsea Humphreys

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad

LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

CHELSEA HUMPHREYS, EDITOR @STONEOAKCITYLIFESTYLE

Love Is Wild

Congo Falls and The Ralston inspire learning and conservation in the next generation of San Antonio Zoo visitors.

Date Night Magic

Hopscotch, San Antonio’s top immersive art gallery, turns date night into an unforgettable experience.

the newest residents of the San Antonio Zoo. Congo Falls introduces gorillas back to our city and reminds us why understanding leads to protection.

Elevate Your Look at Trio Extensions & Beauty Lounge

Color & Cut Package Transform

1: Alex Serna serving bold brunch vibes and colorful mimosas at Mimosa Gossip in San Antonio. 2: Former King Augie Cortez of Augie’s BBQ leads a team competing at Grillsgiving. 3: Celebrating Nopalera’s grand opening with community, culture, and a ribbon cutting full of local pride. 4: Cassandra and Manny celebrate their engagement in Downtown San Antonio. 5: Hunty bringing fearless style and joyful energy to San Antonio nights downtown.

Velvet Ridings Launches Velvet Creative Co.

Velvet Creative Co. is a boutique marketing agency founded by Velvet Ridings, helping brands show up online in a way that actually makes sense. From social media and email marketing to targeted digital ads, the focus is on clear strategy, strong storytelling, and consistent visibility. Known for being hands-on and easy to work with, Velvet Creative Co. partners closely with businesses and nonprofits to simplify marketing and help their message reach the right people.

Sparkle Squad Delivers a Clearer View for San Antonio

Sparkle Squad is a local family and veteran owned business proudly serving the San Antonio area including Military City USA. They specialize in residential and commercial professional window cleaning, pressure washing, window tinting, solar panel cleaning, and more. Founded by a recently retired service member, Sparkle Squad brings military level attention to detail to every job. Clean windows do not just shine. They give you a fresh perspective going into 2026.

Because Love Means Looking Out for What Matters

Legal challenges can feel overwhelming, especially when they affect the people you care about most This February, et Morales Padia Law provide thoughtful guidance and steady support when you need it most.

Our Services Divorce Child Custody Modifications Enforcements Probate Estate Planning

At Morales Padia Law, we guide families through every step of the estate planning process with care and clarity Protect your future and preserve your legacy with a plan you can trust.

LOVE IS WILD

CONGO FALLS AND THE RALSTON INSPIRE LEARNING AND CONSERVATION IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAN ANTONIO ZOO VISITORS.

ARTICLE BY ERIN LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY BY S&L PHOTOGRAPHY

In order to care about something, you must understand it. And it’s much easier to understand something if you can see and learn about it. For 35 years, the San Antonio Zoo has been without gorillas, leaving entire generations with less opportunity to understand this critically endangered species. Congo Falls and its neighboring event center, The Ralston, provide San Antonio Zoo visitors the chance to fall in love with these gorillas and take action to save them in the wild.

Thanks to the Generation Zoo campaign and generous donations, the San Antonio Zoo has made many improvements. Congo

“We want the gorillas to feel wild. Our vision at the San Antonio Zoo is to secure a future for wildlife”

Falls construction began in November 2024, but the planning process took most of a decade. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) helped the San Antonio Zoo gather input from gorilla experts at other institutions to learn what worked in their habitats and what they wished they had, using that information to design Congo Falls.

“We want the gorillas to feel wild.” Hope Roth, VP of Marketing, told me as we strolled through Congo Falls four days after it opened. The 2-acre habitat is now home to seven western lowland gorillas. They live in two troops, mimicking gorilla life in the wild. There is a bachelor troop

of three males, Juba, B’wenzi, and Shana, and a family troop of 1 male, Ajari, and three females, Andi, Anaka, and Merry Leigh. Andrea Pearson leads the all-female gorilla care team that is working hard to develop trusting relationships with the animals. They ensure their physical and cognitive health is a top priority, and that their behavior reflects good well-being. Hope told me, “Our vision at the San Antonio Zoo is to secure a future for wildlife,” and that includes optimistic plans for baby gorillas. The family troop of gorillas was selected for both their disposition and genetic compatibility based on information in the AZA Species Survival Plan.

In their natural habitat, gorillas forage for food, climb around, and play in the water. All of this was included in the design of Congo Falls, and guests can enjoy seeing them do it all with 360-degree views, including overhead pathways for both people and gorillas. Visitors can watch the gorillas splashing around in the pool at the bottom of the 30-foot waterfall or climbing across fire hoses donated by the San Antonio Fire Department, now strung wall-to-wall in the indoor area.

The impressive Mays Family Silverback Peak is the world’s tallest gorilla tower by more than double. In their natural habitat, gorillas climb up high and look out over the

“Congo Falls gives our community the chance to see gorillas up close, fall in love with them, and take action to protect them.”

tree canopy, so this helps them experience something very similar. The tower was built directly next to The Ralston, an elegant venue space that opened in September 2025, seating up to 500 people with an incredible view of the downtown skyline.

The Ralston is unique because it shares a wall with Congo Falls and the Mays Family Silverback Peak, providing the potential for gorilla interaction. During an event at The Ralston on the opening day of Congo Falls, one of the gorillas climbed all the way to the top of Mays Family Silverback Peak. Everyone at The Ralson had a close encounter with the gorilla as he explored his new home. For those involved in planning Congo Falls and The Ralston, this felt like proof that the design was working to benefit both the gorillas and the visitors from the very first day.

There are many ways people can support gorillas, starting with a visit to Congo Falls. Every purchase helps support the zoo, and sharing what you learn about gorillas encourages others to visit as well. Another way to help is by donating old electronics to the Gorillas on the Line collection bins in Congo Falls. Western lowland gorillas are displaced due to the mining of coltan, a material used in phones and tablets. Recycling these items decreases the need for mining in their habitats.

The arrival of gorillas at the San Antonio Zoo is more than a new exhibit. Congo Falls and The Ralston are providing a chance for our community to reconnect with a species many of us have never seen in person. By learning about them, supporting the zoo, and sharing that experience with others, we can help ensure that gorillas are loved and appreciated for generations to come.

DATE NIGHT

MAGIC

Hopscotch, San Antonio’s top immersive art gallery, turns date night into an unforgettable experience.

ARTICLE BY GAGE MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA HUMPHREYS AND S&L PHOTOGRAPHY

Date nights can be boring. Some are about checking a box, others igniting sparks. Hopscotch falls into the second category. This immersive art experience invites couples to step out of the ordinary and into something colorful and a little magical. Inside the gallery, each exhibit feels like a new adventure. You might find yourselves laughing in a rainbow ball pit one moment, then kissing under glowing lights the next. The experience is self-guided and self-paced, so there’s no rush and no right way to explore. This makes it easy to relax and enjoy time together while the art naturally sparks conversation and curiosity.

Hopscotch is deeply loved by San Antonio’s creative community, featuring artists from Texas and beyond. That local focus adds heart to the experience and gives couples something meaningful to connect over beyond the gallery walls. With fourteen exhibits, there are plenty of opportunities to share moments of wonder that make date night feel special.

and play. It’s the kind of venue where laughter comes easily, and chemistry builds without trying.

A huge barrier to a great downtown date night is parking, and Hopscotch makes that part refreshingly easy. Anyone who has spent time downtown San Antonio knows how frustrating it can be to circle blocks looking for a spot or rush through plans to avoid a meter. Hopscotch removes that stress with validated parking that keeps the focus where it belongs, on the date itself. Guests receive validated parking for up to three hours for just five dollars, giving couples the freedom to slow down and enjoy the experience. When logistics are

Hopscotch also offers a curated cocktail and mocktail menu and an artist-driven gift shop, so you can take a piece of the experience home. Whether it’s a first date or a favorite tradition, Hopscotch turns date night into a shared memory worth revisiting.

One of the best parts of a Hopscotch date is how easy it feels. There’s no pressure to fill every quiet moment or come up with the perfect conversation starter. The art does that for you. Each exhibit invites interaction, and plenty of mind-boggling moments along the way. Instead of simply viewing art on the walls, guests are encouraged to move

previews of new installations, special  discounts, and first access to new exhibits.

Location adds to the fun. Hopscotch sits steps from some of downtown San Antonio’s top restaurants and just two blocks from the River Walk, making it easy to build an entire evening around the experience. Many couples plan dinner before their visit or take a stroll along the river afterward, letting the night unfold naturally. Whether you’re just getting to know each other or celebrating years together, Hopscotch offers a date night that feels playful and genuinely memorable.

simple, and the experience feels special, date night becomes less about planning and more about connection.

Hopscotch works for nearly every kind of couple. For first dates, it removes the awkwardness. There’s always something to talk about and explore together, which keeps conversation flowing naturally. For long-time partners, it offers something different from the usual routine, creating new memories instead of repeating old ones and surprising each time you visit.

It’s also a place couples return to over and over again. For couples who want to make Hopscotch a regular tradition, annual memberships offer unlimited access throughout the year, exclusive perks like members-only events, sneak

Your dream life is waiting.

Set your schedule. Make an impact. Build a life you’re proud of.

Behind each of our 200+ City Lifestyle magazines is someone who cares deeply about their community. Someone who connects people, celebrates businesses, and shares the stories that matter most. What if that someone was you?

Or maybe it’s someone you know. If this isn’t the right time for you, but you know someone who could be the perfect fit, we’d love an introduction.

Ladies, it’s time to prioritize YOU!

FACIALS | PERMANENT MAKEUP | BODY SCULPTING | BOTOX

At The Fountain of Youth Spa in San Antonio, we specialize in non-surgical treatments designed to rejuvenate and empower. From the revitalizing Hydro Facial to Body Sculpting, our services are tailored to enhance your natural beauty. Experience firmer skin, a youthful glow, and the confidence that comes with looking and feeling your best. Embrace the art of ageless beauty because you deserve it!

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ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA HUMPHREYS

Inside Over The Top Cake Supplies and The Bake Lab

Where Confidence

Is Baked In

Walk into Over The Top Cake Supplies and you immediately understand this is not just a shop. It is a place built for possibility. Shelves are lined with tools and ingredients that feel both exciting and attainable. Whether someone arrives with years of experience or a quiet curiosity they have never acted on, the message is clear. You belong here.

At the heart of Over The Top Cake Supplies is a simple but powerful idea. Baking is a skill meant to be shared. It is creative, technical, and deeply human. While professional bakers have long had access to quality supplies and education, home bakers often felt left out of that world. Over The Top was created to close that gap,

offering the same level of tools, ingredients, and guidance to anyone willing to learn.

Education quickly became central to the mission. Classes were not added as an afterthought. They were a natural extension of what the shop already represented. A place where questions are encouraged. Where mistakes are part of the process. Where confidence grows through practice, not perfection.

That philosophy expanded even further with the creation of The Bake Lab. While Over The Top focuses on approachable and skill building classes, The Bake Lab offers a more elevated, technique driven experience. Together, they create a learning ecosystem that supports bakers at every stage. From first timers holding a piping bag for the first time to experienced decorators refining their craft, there is a place for everyone. What sets these classes apart is not just what is taught, but how it is taught. Online tutorials can show steps, but they cannot adapt in real time. In person instruction allows students to understand the why behind the technique. When something goes wrong, and it often does, instructors step in to explain what happened and how to fix it. That moment is where real learning happens.

Students are welcomed into a supportive kitchen environment where everything they need is prepared ahead of time. Instructors demonstrate techniques, then work alongside students as they practice. The atmosphere is focused but encouraging. Questions are answered. Progress is celebrated. Every class ends with a finished project and the confidence to recreate it at home.

More than anything, these spaces remind people that learning can be joyful. Laughter mixes with concentration. Flour dusts countertops. Small victories are celebrated loudly. Someone masters a swirl. Someone else fixes a mistake. Everyone leaves with something tangible in their hands and something less visible but far

“TAKING A CLASS TURNS BAKING FROM SOMETHING INTIMIDATING INTO SOMETHING EMPOWERING. WHEN PEOPLE FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND EACH TECHNIQUE, THEY STOP GUESSING, START TRUSTING THEMSELVES, GAIN REAL CONFIDENCE, AND DISCOVER HOW EXCITING, JOYFUL, AND SURPRISINGLY FUN LEARNING CAN BE IN THE HANDS ON ENVIRONMENT.”

more valuable inside them. Confidence follows them home. It shows up at family gatherings, holidays, and quiet afternoons when they decide to bake again.

Classes at Over The Top are ideal for beginners, families, and hobby bakers looking to build foundational skills. The Bake Lab is designed for those ready to deepen their knowledge, refine techniques, or explore baking at a more advanced level. Many students arrive unsure of themselves and leave surprised by what they are capable of creating.

One of the most meaningful examples of this mission in action was a recent gingerbread decorating class created for the San Antonio homeschool community. Homeschool families value hands on and meaningful learning, and gingerbread offered the perfect balance of creativity and structure. The room was filled with focus, excitement, and collaboration. Children made confident creative choices. Parents watched capability unfold. The takeaway was simple and powerful. Creativity does not need to be perfect to be meaningful.

That belief extends beyond the classroom. Baking, at its core, is about connection. It brings people together. It preserves tradition while making room for innovation. Over The Top and The Bake Lab exist to make that process accessible, supportive, and empowering.

San Antonio is the ideal home for this kind of community centered business. The city values culture, creativity, and shared experiences. Every class brings together people of different ages, backgrounds, and stories. Supporting local, hands on businesses matters because they build real relationships and strengthen the fabric of the community.

Looking ahead, Over The Top and The Bake Lab continue to expand their offerings. Plans include more elevated classes, certification style programs, and guest instructors who bring fresh perspectives and new techniques into the space. The goal remains the same. To give people the tools, education, and confidence to explore what baking could become for them.

The message is clear. You do not need to be an expert to walk through the door. You only need curiosity and a willingness to learn. Everything else can be taught.

For those ready to begin, the invitation is simple. Visit the shop. Take a class. Follow along for upcoming schedules because at4 Over The Top Cake Supplies and The Bake Lab, confidence is not just encouraged. It is baked in.

MIRROR WORK FOR SELF-LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Everyone knows this line from Snow White. The Queen wanted to be the fairest. When she wasn’t, she poisoned beautiful Snow White. Most of us do not believe ourselves to be the fairest, but quite the opposite.

As February is widely known as the month of love, let’s focus on self-love. Often people, especially parents, tend to give a lot to their partners and their children and less to themselves. Sometimes it is challenging for us to silence the inner critic that speaks harshly to ourselves in a way we would never speak to a loved friend or family member. This is where mirror work can help.

Many people have a complicated relationship with the mirror. We don’t always like to look at our reflections. We may find it confronting. Taylor Swift even sings about it in her song Anti-hero: “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror.” Why is it so difficult for some of us to gaze with love–or affection–into the mirror?

ARTICLE BY LEA GRIMALDI

Mirror work, a term coined by transformational teacher and selflove expert Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing, and the author of You Can Heal Your Life and Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life, is the practice of looking at yourself in the mirror and saying nice things to yourself. You can start with something simple. “I like myself. I am doing the best I can today.” Or even, “Hey sweetie! You look great!” One of my favorites is, “I love, accept, and forgive myself fully and completely.” Mirror work combines well with affirmations, which are positive phrases said in the present tense as if they are already true. The practice of saying affirmations combined with mirror work can increase the benefits of both practices.

I AM STRONG. I AM CAPABLE. I CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I KNOW MY WORTH. I CAN DO HARD THINGS. MY LIFE IS ABUNDANT. I AM HAPPY AND HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I AM KIND AND COMPASSIONATE. I DESERVE LOVE AND ABUNDANCE. I AM DOING MY BEST. I AM SMART. I AM BRAVE. I AM POWERFUL. I AM STRONG.

The objective of mirror work is to help people silence their inner critic and believe the positive words they are telling themselves while looking at themselves in the mirror.

Mirror work can help with self-esteem issues and can achieve results such as changing a negative body image to a more positive one. Hay developed the practice to increase self-compassion and self-love as part of the daily activities detailed in her 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life

Although it can be confronting and challenging, it is important to practice mirror work regularly to reap the benefits. Set a daily goal of saying affirmations while looking at your reflection in the mirror and seeing how it makes you feel. Start with two minutes a day and work up to five.

As a yoga teacher, I have included mirror work in my classes with clients. Often the first experience with the exercise is somewhat uncomfortable, but with practice, it becomes more natural. When resistance comes up, ask yourself what you are feeling, allow the emotion to be present, and then release it. It may be rooted in a past experience and just needs to be acknowledged and felt before you can let it go.

HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR HOW TO CREATE A MIRROR WORK PRACTICE:

• Make sure you will be alone and uninterrupted so you can let your guard down and allow emotions to surface

• Try to do it for a set amount of time, such as five minutes every day

• Allow yourself to feel and process whatever emotions show up

• Keep a journal to record your feelings, reactions, and experiences

• Start with less confronting or difficult phrases, and as you become comfortable increase the intensity

Mirror work can be used in tandem with inner-child work because many of the negative limiting beliefs that play in our minds are the result of something we were told as a child that is not true about us or our life. If something negative comes up during mirror work, we can challenge it and write about the feelings in the journal, thus freeing us from that limiting belief.

Inner child work is an approach to recognizing and healing childhood trauma. We all experience traumas as children which affect the way we experience the world. As adults, we can reconnect with the child we once were, in order to heal. Mirror work is one way to help facilitate that process, in addition to talk therapy, meditation exercises, and setting healthy boundaries.

MIRROR WORK COMBINES WELL WITH AFFIRMATIONS, WHICH ARE POSITIVE PHRASES SAID IN THE PRESENT TENSE AS IF THEY ARE ALREADY TRUE.

Here are some ideas for affirmations to use with your mirror work. I am strong. I am capable. I can do this. I believe in myself. I know my worth. I can do hard things. My life is abundant. I am happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit. I believe in myself. I am kind and compassionate. I deserve love and abundance. I am doing my best. I am smart. I am brave. I am powerful.

In the words of Hay, “Doing mirror work is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself.”

Creating the Road Map you Need

realty report

SAMPLE OF RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES IN STONE OAK, TX.

events

FEBRUARY 6TH – 23RD

San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

Frost Bank Center and Freeman Coliseum Grounds

The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo returns with world class rodeo action, live concerts, carnival rides, livestock shows, and classic fair food. A true San Antonio tradition celebrating Western heritage and Texas pride. Tickets and carnival passes available at Ticketmaster.com/RTC using code LISZAM.

FEBRUARY 10TH

San Antonio Coffee Festival

Civic Park at Hemisfair | 10:00 AM

A celebration of coffee culture with 30+ roasters, 80+ brews to sample, live music, workshops, food vendors, and community vibes at Civic Park at Hemisfair. Perfect for coffee lovers, curious sippers, and anyone who enjoys great drinks and good times. Tickets required for entry and tastings.

FEBRUARY 14TH

Free Valentine’s Day Weddings at the Bexar County Courthouse

Bexar County Courthouse

San Antonio continues its Valentine’s Day tradition with free mass wedding ceremonies officiated by the Bexar County Clerk. Ceremonies typically begin just after midnight and run throughout the day. Couples must obtain a marriage license in advance. Registration and official ceremony times are announced closer to the event. More information at: https://www.bexar.org/2225/County-Clerk

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events CONTINUED

FEBRUARY 15TH

Quinceañera Expo San Antonio

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center | 12:00 PM

The Quinceañera Expo San Antonio brings together the best vendors, fashion shows, and live demos for quinceañeras, sweet sixteens, and proms. A one-day celebration packed with inspiration and ideas for planning an unforgettable event.

FEBRUARY 27TH – MARCH 1ST

San Antonio Home + Garden Show

Alamodome

The San Antonio Home + Garden Show brings together home improvement and garden experts, innovative products, and design inspiration all under one roof. A must attend event for homeowners planning renovations, upgrades, or fresh ideas for indoor and outdoor living.

MARCH 1ST

YOSA Presents: America at 250

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | 2:30 PM

Celebrate America at 250 with the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio in a special concert honoring the nation’s legacy through powerful orchestral music. A meaningful and inspiring performance for music lovers of all ages. Tickets available from $15 online.  https://www.tobincenter.org/ Behind each of our

Engaging MultiPrep® curriculum

Nutritious meals and snacks included Character development And more!

Ivy Kids at Stone Oak 24278 Wilderness Oak San Antonio, TX 78258

Infants - Pre-K, After School and Seasonal Camps

Now

Enrolling Schedule a virtual tour.