City of Waters

It only makes sense that San Antonio would be most famous for – after the Alamo – for the Riverwalk. The downtown landscaped banks of the San Antonio River are a tourist draw without peer. Less well-frequented, or newer developments – say, through King William and Southtown, or along the new Pearl Brewery-Museum Reach are a secret and treasured green-space as well as a breath of fresh air for residents.

The existence of the San Antonio River is more than just a happy coincidence and landscaping opportunity; when San Antonio began to expand and industrialize in the late 19th century, the river provided power for establishments like C.H. Guenther's Pioneer flour mill – as well as power and a necessary ingredient for breweries…

Road Trip: The Capital of Texas BBQ

Having reason last Saturday to go up to Lockhart, to participate in an evening fund-raising event to support the Eugene Clark Library, my daughter and I thought;  let's drive up in the early afternoon and take a look at the sights of historic downtown Lockhart; a district of several blocks centered on the archetypal Texas courthouse in a square with a number of businesses housed in classic late-19th century or early 20th century buildings.

It's a short drive from our San Antonio home, all things considered, and a fascinating place to spend a weekend afternoon. We would hit a couple of thrift and antique shops, check out one of the four notable BBQ houses, and generally have a relaxing afternoon.…

Our Riverwalk

by Julia Hayden

It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that the downtown Riverwalk is the heart of San Antonio – after the Alamo, it’s the other completely unique tourist attraction. Water, trees and skinny riverbank gardens in the heart of a high-rise city – not many other places like it, and all hail Robert Hugman, the architect-genius who conceived the idea of a riverbank promenade, lined with shops and adorned with bridges and gardens.

Water and plenty of it drove the establishment of a settlement and missions here in the first place: an oasis in what was otherwise near enough to a desert. Early San Antonio looked to the water, measured out careful amounts through the acequias, the irrigation ditches. By the mid-19th…

Personal Art

by Julia Hayden

Well, it is personal, the stuff that you hang on the wall, or put on the shelf to ornament the particular place where you live  . . .  and anything original and artistic, and not done by you or any member of your family  . . .  that’s even more personal. Seriously, I’d like to be a mega-best-selling author just so that I could afford to buy some of the original art that I have seen, here and there around San Antonio. I know that most of those artists would like very much to sell something to someone who can afford it, like me – so everyone would be happy. (Even more, I’d like to have a larger house with wall space enough to properly display those objects d’ art that I would like to buy, but one thing at a…

Venturing Out to the Rim

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Carp Diem at the McNay

I love the old mansion, and the landscaped grounds at the McNay - sometimes it seems that any town or city with a certain level of accumulation of old money admixed with cultural appreciation has such a museum: a sprawling mansion, in a park-like setting, an eclectic art collection - or a collection of something - purchased by an original owner with sufficient taste and income. Southern California, for instance, has the Huntingdon, Descanso Gardens, and Indianapolis has the Lilly House  - and San Antonio has the McNay, at the corner of New Braunfels and the Austin Highway.

The mansion that Jessie Marion Koogler McNay Atkinson built is one of those splendid Jazz-age Spanish-style…

Small Town Texas

by Mamie Carter

Not so long ago, first-class postage cost three cents and a loaf of bread was a nickel.  When you pulled your car up to a "filling station," the owner came out with a squeegee in his hand. "Howdy there, stranger."  Beneath the red-roofed station stood glass-topped gasoline pumps and a familiar Texaco sign with a red star. ("You can trust your car to the man who wears the star.")

Scenes from the by-gone days of "Small Town Texas" are captured by Dr. Ricardo Romo, President of the University of Texas at San Antonio. They are on display through Oct. 4 at the Witte Museum at 3801 Broadway. The exhibit is free with regular museum admission. The show is part of Foto Septiembre…

Institute of Texan Cultures: Visiting Diverse Past of Texas

Written by Randy Watson

San Antonio is nothing if not a melting pot for different cultures and ethnic groups, and the University of Texas at the San Antonio Institute of Texan Culture is a 50,000 square foot monument and museum dedicated to exploring and investigating this history.  Each year, the institute produces exhibits, hosts talks and workshops, and maintains a comprehensive library filled with works on cultural and ethnic history.  

The Institute of Texan Cultures is located at 801 South Bowie Street, San Antonio, Texas, in HemisFair Park beneath the Tower of the Americas and adjacent to the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.

The…

Created Saturday, 28 April 2007 08:49

Museum of Art: Exhibitions and Education

Written by Randy Watson

The San Antonio Museum of Art opened its doors in 1981, and has been serving the city in many ways, ever since.  The museum functions not only as a depository for magnificent artifacts from all corners of the globe, but also as an educational center, helping people to learn about a variety of civilizations, cultures, and traditions from the past and present. 

The museum began with a seven acre property, and over the years, has more than doubled its physical space, as well as its collections.  Today, the museum features permanent collections as varied as Western Antiquities, Asian Art, Latin American Art, contemporary American paintings,…

Created Monday, 16 April 2007 08:52

MAS - The Smithsonian in San Antonio

Written by Randy Watson

Someone flipped the switch and the cube, showing off its modernistic latticework, bust into colorful light with several thousand people cheering and throwing confetti. . .and with that, a dream came true, and a 10 year project came to completion.  The Museo Alameda del Smithsonian, a 40,000 sq. foot museum exploring and educating about the Latino influence, history, and heritage, was inaugurated Friday at a huge celebration.  People braved the rain to witness the opening of the San Antonio\'s newest, and perhaps most architecturally brash, museum.

The Museo Alameda del Smithsonian’s (MAS) mission is to educate, preserve, and spark…