Holiday happenings at Pearl

pearlholidays — This week Pearl has different activities planned to get visitors in the holiday spirit. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

This week at Pearl there are numerous holiday activities to get visitors into the holiday spirit. From the festive scenery to holiday entertainment, food specials, shopping and live music, there is something for everyone.

The featured designer brands at Popmarte this week are India Hicks, Snake Hawk Press, Mignonne Gavigan, Lambillotte, La Marée Swimwear, Uwila Warrior, Dawnson + Hellmann and Cheree Berry Paper. Popmarte is a rotating, multi-brand retail store open for a limited time through December 23.

On Tuesday, December 12 – Northwest Hills Baptist Church will be caroling at 7p.m. at Parkito.

The Holiday Night Market will take place on Thursday December 14 from 4p.m. to 8p.m. This week it features Farmers Market vendors, craft vendors, live music and holiday activities. Guests will be able to pick up tamales and other traditional goodies like chocolates and sweets and gifts including handmade soaps to artisan goat cheese and gourmet dog treats.

Holiday Canciones is set for Thursday, December 14 beginning at 6p.m. This is a a four-part music series that takes place as part of the Pearl Holiday Night Market and features popular Texas music genres with a holiday twist. This week’s ‘Blue Christmas’ showcases rising Texas blues star, Dylan Bishop with a performance of classic blues and Christmas tunes mixed with his authentic and well-groomed playing style. During the evening event, patrons can experience a special outdoor bar by Bottling Department. All female Mariachi group Las Coronelas will also perform at Parkito.

Pearl
303 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215

Popmarte pop-up store at Pearl

Popmarte, now open for a limited time at the Pearl, offers customers a wide selection of gifts for the holiday season. Photo: Popmarte, used with permission.

Pearl is making it easier for customers to do some holiday shopping this season. Popmarte, a rotating, multi-brand pop-up retails store, is now open at the Pearl grounds until December 23. Curated by fashion industry veterans Nina McCandless and Ashley Clauss, it is a 1,200 square-foot retail space which features a wide selection of goods from local, regional and national designers in the fashion, accessories, home, beauty, kids, tech, travel and lifestyle space. Each week, five to seven select brands will have their own shop-in-shop within the overall space offering newness and excitement for the consumer throughout this holiday season. (Popmarte, 2017)

Participating national and local brands include Mignonne Gavigan, Dawson+Hellman, Cruz Ortiz and Snake Hawk Press, Rica Bath and Body, Mimilore, Bib & Sola, Uwila Warrior, Angelina Mata’s new line Sonsuz, La Maree, Boyd’s of Texas, Mi Cocina of Ubi-Ind Denim and more.

Popmarte
110 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215

San Antonio Beer Week’s Mid Year Gala and Food Pairing

On Thursday December 7, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery and nine other local breweries, will get together at Blue Star Art Complex for the San Antonio Beer Week Community’s Mid-Year Gala and Food Pairing. Ten of San Antonio’s best breweries will be showcasing unique, one-of-a-kind beers paired with four tickets for small plates from local chefs, including Southerleigh, Weathered Souls, Blue Star and Botika. This event will take place from 7p.m. to 10p.m. and at 8:30p.m. guests will be able to meet the brewers for a Q & A session. Tickets are available online and are $35 per person. Price includes a SA Beer Week commemorative taster glass. The San Antonio Food Bank will be taking donations to support continued efforts to aid those affected by Texas Hurricane Harvey. (Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, 2017)

Southerleigh is the first brewery at Pearl since 2001 and has a 15-barrel brew house, six serving tank and a firkin/wood barrel-aging program. It is a 7,900-square foot dining facility with multiple seating options including bar seating, patio seating and a private dining room that can seat up to twenty people. The private dining in the north dining room seats up to seventy-five people with the capacity to host parties of up to two hundred people.

Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex
108 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204

Whataburger fundraiser for McAndrew Elementary

whataburgerchickensandwich-jpg — On Tuesday December 5, Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser for McAndrew Elementary School. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. This Tuesday December 5 from 5p.m. to 8p.m., Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser for McAndrew Elementary School. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales during the posted hours to the organization. The first 100 customers will also receive a free Whataburger slap bracelet. There will also be a photo booth and the popular Whataburger for a Year drawing, where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the prize, a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. This Whata Night fundraiser will be at the 25111 W Interstate 10 location only. (Whataburger, 2017)

Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Since then Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.

Whataburger
25111 W Interstate 10 (near Ralph Fair Road)
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 698-5450

Holiday fun with Christmas Light Fest

Christmas Light Fest is open from now until December 31. Photo: Christmas Light Fest, used with permission.

The holidays are well under way and so is the annual light show at Don Strange Ranch in Boerne. From now until December 31, visitors can enjoy Christmas Light Fest and its two million twinkling lights, hayrides and holiday fun. Opened nightly, this holiday extravaganza takes place on a picturesque ranchland and features tunnels of twinkling lights and holiday displays along a two-mile path and Santa’s Village, a rustic barn filled with holiday flavors and activities. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 6p.m. to 9p.m. while Friday and Saturday nights, as well as holidays, feature an extra hour, from 6p.m. to 10p.m. (Christmas Light Fest, 2017)

Santa will be visiting each weekend before Christmas, December 8-10, December 15-17 and December 21-24. Wednesday nights visitors can enjoy free cookies with Santa on December 6, 13 and 20. Decorate cookies, play games and stroll through even more lights for perfect picture opportunities and fun. Santa’s Village is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a variety of holiday flavors including s’mores, coffee, hot chocolate, kettle corn, sausage on a stick and more while doing some shopping and helping to feed Santa’s Longhorns. After all, in Texas Santa needs more than reindeer to pull his sleigh.

There are two ways to enjoy Christmas Light Fest: drive through the festive displays in a vehicle or ranch-style, catching a hayride to tour the lights. Tickets are $27 per vehicle to tour the ranch, or $15 per person for a hayride. To ensure availability, hayrides should be purchased in advance online. Onsite parking is free. Vehicle passes and hayride tickets are available online. Private hayrides are available by reservation.

This year, there are more displays and twinkling surprises, more family fun and a walk-through light displays. Visitors can support Christmas Light Fest’s food drive for the San Antonio Food Bank by donating non-perishable food and canned goods. For every donation, Christmas Light Fest will take $2 off a vehicle pass or $4 during the week, from Sunday through Thursday.

Don Strange Ranch
103 Waring Welfare Rd
Boerne, TX 78006

Tickets for ‘The Book of Mormon’ go on sale December 8

The Tony Award winning musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ is back by popular demand after successful runs in 2013 and 2015. It returns to the Majestic Theatre for a limited engagement from Tuesday May 1 to Sunday May 6 as part of the 2017-2018 North Park Lexus Broadway In San Antonio season. Tickets go on sale this Friday December 8 at 10a.m. and prices start at $39. They are available through Ticketmaster online, by calling phone at 1-800-982-2787 or by visiting the Majestic Box Office. The Majestic Box Office does not accept single ticket orders over the phone; all ticket sales must be made in person. Majestic Box Office hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours vary weekly. Orders for groups of ten or more may be placed by calling (210) 226-5967. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. (Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)

In ‘The Book of Mormon,’ Elder Kevin Price and Elder Arnold Cunningham are sent to Uganda for a two-year mission. Upon their arrival the villagers share their experiences of living with famine, poverty and AIDS. Eventually they meet the other missionaries who are stationed there but have been unable to convert anyone to Mormonism. Elder Price is convinced he will be different and he tries to teach the natives about Joseph Smith, the founder of their religion but he has trouble connecting with the natives. It features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series “South Park.” Considered a religious satire musical, it won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2011. Please be aware that it contains explicit language.

Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700

‘The Santaland Diaries’ at The Classic Theatre

‘The Santaland Diaries’ opens at The Classic Theatre on Friday December 8, 2017. Photo: The Classic Theatre, used with permission.

The Classic Theatre’s Second Series opens ‘The Santaland Diaries’ next week. This one-man show is based on the true chronicles of NPR comic genius David Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Santaland display. In this cult classic he talks about some of his odd experiences during the height of the holiday crunch. John Stillwagon returns as Sedaris’ not so merry alter ego Crumpet the Elf with Bart Roush directing. The show is written by David Sedaris and adapted by Joe Mantello. It opens on Friday December 8 with subsequent show dates on December 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2017)

Tickets are $25 for general admission and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450. Group rates are available. There will be a complimentary eggnog reception on opening night Friday December 8. Please note that ‘The Santaland Diaries’ is recommended for ages 14 and over as it contains mature content and language and the secret of Santa is exposed.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

Customer appreciation event at Whataburger

Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. On Thursday November 30 from 9p.m. to 11p.m., Whataburger will host a Customer Appreciation event, at their 6803 N Loop 1604 location only, to show support for the UTSA community and to thank loyal Whataburger fans for their support. Customers who purchase a medium order of fries and a medium drink will receive a free Whataburger. Attendees of the November 30 UTSA basketball game will receive a raffle ticket which they can present at the event after the game for a chance to win Whataburger’s popular “Whataburger for a Year” drawing (must be present to win). Two names will be drawn to win a prize, a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. There will also be various giveaways from UTSA. (Whataburger, 2017)

Whataburger
6803 N Loop 1604, near La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 690-8366

Burgerteca official grand opening

burgertecapic — Burgerteca officially opens to the public on Monday December 4, 2017. Photo: Josie Rees, used with permission.

Locally renowned Chef Johnny Hernandez’ new restaurant, Burgerteca, is having its official grand opening on Monday December 4, 2017. Burgerteca is a never-done before burger concept influenced by Mexican cuisine. The custom-made burgers are made with ingredients and flavors distinct to traditional Mexican food such as chiles, spices, moles, queso, flavors like al pastor, pibil and chilaquiles on hamburger yeast buns baked fresh daily. Business hours are Sunday from 11a.m. to 4p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11a.m. to 10p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 11p.m. (Burgerteca, 2017)

Having traveled extensively through Mexico, Hernandez’s burger menu is inspired by and themed with flavors native to Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz and Yucatan. The menu includes items such as the ‘Oaxaqueña,’ an Angus beef patty dressed with mole negro, black bean spread, pickled onions, avocado and queso fresco, and the ‘Pacifica,’ made with seared tuna topped off with chipotle-lime mayo, cabbage slaw, sesame seeds, avocado and tomato.

Burgerteca also includes an on site ice cream shop where guests who prefer take-out can walk up to the counter and conveniently order treats to go without having to sit down. The frozen Mexican desserts on the menu include items such as paletas – fresh fruit popsicles, nieves – traditional Mexican ice cream and raspas – shaved ice made with seasonal, from-scratch syrups. Other unique menu items include the house made signature ice cream nachos—Mexican buñuelos piled high with ice cream, fresh fruit syrups and Oaxacan chocolate fudge. It will also have local craft beer and spirits, like a creative Mexican rum cocktail program.

The décor is inspired by the imaginative and colorful work of Pedro Linares, who created the art known as “Alebrijes,” an art form famous in Oaxaca. The interior includes hand selected custom designed chairs, hand forged chandeliers and large slabs of wood for communal dining.

Burgerteca
403 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204

Hiatus Spa + Retreat offers holiday packages

The holidays are in full swing and so is holiday shopping. For anyone looking for gift ideas for others or themselves, Hiatus Spa + Retreat, located at the Pearl, is offering hard to resist gift packages. These include monthly retreats and holiday packages. (Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2017)

Monthly retreats are 80 minutes long and price ranges from $195 for non-members to $139 for H-Circle members.
November retreat – Creme Brûlée
Begins with a full-body brown sugar scrub exfoliation followed by a wrap in a steamy cocoon with caramel and vanilla aromas and a cool stone face massage. A refreshing rinse under the Vichy shower washes away any remaining glaze before the sweet finish of a warm vanilla and shea butter massage. Toast with a crème brut cooler to finish.
December retreat- Magi
Comforting aromas of ginger, cinnamon and clove and a snowfall of powdered Sea Salt create a delectably warm exfoliating masque. Rinse in a full-body Vichy shower, then enjoy a tension-melting massage, followed by a final drizzle with essences of Frankincense and Myrrh. It all ends with a warm cup of mulled wine flavored with cranberry, holiday spices and accented with Gold leaf.

Holiday Packages
The Merry & Bright – 2 or more hours – $179
Pick any two Essential Services–The Signature Massage, The Tailor Made Facial, The One & Only Mani-Pedi, The Body Glow or The Body Wrap.

The Mistletoe Kiss – 3 hours, $319
Start with a reinvigorating Monthly Retreat and after a cocktail, settle in for The Best Facial Ever.

The Peace, Love, & Joy – 3.5 hours, $269
The three most in-demand services, The Signature Massage, The Tailor Made Facial and The One & Only Mani-Pedi, are bundled up and tied with a bow.

Let It Glow! Let It Glow! Let It Glow! – 2 + hours, $239
The Body Glow, The Spotlight Massage (30 minutes) and The Sparkler Facial (60 minutes) will combine their magical powers for a rosy glow to fight off even the chilliest winter days.

The Warm & Cozy – 3 hours, $219
The Hot Stone Massage (90 minutes) is paired with The One & Only Mani-Pedi for some serious self-care, feel-good me-time.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat
312 Pearl Pkwy, Building 4, Ste 4112
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 202-3355

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