Pearl’s February programming and curated Valentine’s Day gift boxes

Pearl Farmers Market Curbside Sweets for My Love Valentine Gift Box. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

This Valentine’s season, Pearl is thrilled to offer Month of Love programming. February will be filled with socially distant activities on site or virtually. Throughout the month of February, Pearl will offer “Surprise & Delight” musical acts for guests strolling the property. Pearl offers beautifully curated Valentine’s Day gift boxes in partnership with its farmers market vendors via Curbside. The property will also host the SA is Amor photo wall installation in partnership with Martha Martinez’s SA is Amor campaign benefiting local nonprofits. (Pearl, 2021)

Pearl’s 2021 February offerings include:

Pearl Farmers Market Curbside Valentine’s Gift Boxes: Order January 31 through February 11
This year, Pearl Farmers Market Curbside debuts a variety of curated boxes filled with themed artisan products from regional producers and family farms. Shoppers can pre-order their products packaged in a beautiful, hand-printed Pearl gift box starting on January 31 through February 11. Orders can be placed online and picked up on Sunday, February 14. Gift Box offerings include: Pasta Lovers for Two | $100; Filet Mignon for Two | La Babia $125, Startz Wagyu $200; Ms. Chocolatier Assorted Truffles | $60; Sweets for My Love | $75; Charcuterie for Two | $75

SA is Amor Photo Wall Installation: February 1 – 28
During the Month of Love, Pearl will create an interactive SA is Amor photo wall installation by local graphic designer Martha Martinez to raise support and awareness for local nonprofit Martinez Street Women’s Center while highlighting why San Antonio is so special. The wall will be available from February 1- 28 at the Pearl Shade Structure near Pearl Park and serve as a backdrop for guests to take photos and share on their social channels. There will be a QR code that will allow guests to send an AMOR e-card (a virtual love letter) to someone special.

On Valentine’s Day (1/14), Wide Awake Creative will set up a photo booth at the installation for guests to enjoy. Feliz Modern POP will set up an “Amor” pop-up during Farmers Market to sell SA is Amor merchandise, with proceeds benefiting local nonprofits. A new product will be released in February, the proceeds of which will benefit the Martinez Street Women’s Center.

Love, San Antonio Notes: February 1 – 28
Pearl is a place where San Antonio gathers and special moments happen—from the mundane to the monumental. During Month of Love, Pearl will collect stories that illustrate the power of love and human connectedness. Pearl invites the community to share their stories of love from time spent at Pearl. Submissions can be sent from February 1 – 28 to love@pearlbrewery.com or by using this online form. All submissions will be entered to win a $200 gift card to a restaurant of their choice at Pearl.

Love Song Sessions & Playlist: February 1-28
In honor of Month of Love and Valentine’s Day, Pearl will celebrate San Antonio’s legendary music scene with the debut of the Love, San Antonio playlist and with Love Song Sessions music showcase throughout February. The Love Song Sessions will feature songs of love and heartbreak from San Antonio’s esteemed artistic community. The musical acts will be at random dates for guests strolling the property to enjoy, acting as “surprise & delight” moments. The Love, San Antonio playlist will be available on Spotify and feature legendary San Antonio musicians along with many artists that have performed at Pearl over the years. Pearl will announce via social media once the playlist is available to download.

Pearl Farmers Market Heart Healthy Campaign: February 1-28
During the Month of Love, Pearl will encourage self-care by promoting heart healthy produce at the weekend Farmers Market and Curbside. Pearl will promote heart healthy produce and recipes via its social media and newsletter. Leafy greens and other heart healthy produce will be the focus throughout the month at the weekend Farmers Market.

Pearl Restaurants & Retailers: February 1-28
Pearl’s restaurant and retail tenants will be offering their own specials throughout the Month of Love. Pearl will be highlighting the options via its social media and newsletter.

“February is Month of Love at Pearl. Our culinary, cultural, and maker community is at the center of our love-inspired efforts with campaigns promoting positivity, self-care, and human connectedness. Initiatives include surprise and delight music activations, invitations to share love memories from time spent at Pearl, the installation of a SA is Amor wall, and the debut of Valentine’s Day Gift Boxes through Farmers Market Curbside.” – Elizabeth Fauerso, Pearl’s Chief Marketing Officer

Reconnecting with my home town: Veterans Park

Veterans Park in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Part one in a series of posts meant to help me reconnect with my home town and the areas around it while educating the public about the numerous places to see and experience. First of is Veterans Park in Brownsville. Last week I took a trip to see it for myself since I have never been here before, having been gone from the area for almost 20 years. What I found was a respectful and educational memorial to the areas’ veterans.

Veterans Park is located next to the city library and shares an entrance drive and parking. It consists of veteran memorial walls and placards, a multi-purpose lawn, a walking path, and landscaping. Celebrating the rich heritage of veterans from the Brownsville community, this park is a beautiful living memorial. (City of Brownsville, 2020)

The park focuses on large concave concrete slabs that include the names of Brownsville area veterans from World War II to Afghanistan with each slab holding 40 names each. Currently there are more than 50,000 names of both living and deceased soldiers native to Brownsville. The center of the memorial contains three large flag poles centered on a concrete base with a start embedded within it. There is also a memorial to Medal of Honor Recipient, and Brownsville native, Sergeant Jose M Lopez.

The monument honors veterans from World War II to current conflicts, including the Afghanistan War and its Operation Enduring Freedom. The American Legion aimed to make the park an educational extension of the library by creating two murals showing the locations of conflicts on world maps from the 18^th century to present.

If you decide to visit a park or trail, please abide Second Amended Emergency Order guidelines. Protect yourself and others. Make sure you are wearing a face mask (face covering) and always practice social distancing. Maintain distance–Stay 6 feet away from other people. Avoid mass gathering. No crowds, no groups

Deck the Paws Parade at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Looking for something to do with your dogs this weekend? This Saturday, December 5 from 9a.m. to 12p.m. at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, (555 Funston Place) guests can enjoy the garden’s 38 acres of holiday blooms with their four-legged friends. So, dress up your fur family in the best holiday attire and join the Deck the Paws Parade as winners from each category will receive a prize. The event will feature dog vendors and food and drinks will be available for purchase for the humans accompanying the dogs. Doggy dress up contest categories: Best Costume Overall, Best Dog/Owner, Best Puppy in Costume (for dogs 1 and under) and Best Duo Costume (for dogs with a matching theme). (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

The parade begins at 10a.m. by Mays Family Display Garden and goes around Greehey Lawn. Doggy Dress Up Contest begins at 10:45a.m. at Greehey Lawn. Cost: Included with Garden admission + $5 per leashed dog. Members enjoy free admission + $5 per leashed dog. Tickets are available online.

Dog guidelines: All dogs on-site must be current with appropriate shots and registrations. Dogs in heat or aggressive animals may be removed from the Garden at the discretion of management, no refunds. No dogs will be allowed in the Garden after 12p.m. and all dogs must always be on a leash. All dogs must remain on pathways. No dogs will be allowed at The Zachary Foundation Culinary Garden, Family Adventure Garden or Children’s Vegetable Garden.

Holiday Movies by Moonlight at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Movies by Moonlight in the Garden will take place November 27 and 28. Photo: google

Movies by Moonlight is back at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Place) this month. Cozy up under the moonlight with family or friends for a magical holiday double feature at the Botanical Garden. Movies by Moonlight in the Garden features two family-friendly movies on the lawn, hot cocoa, s’mores, as well as movie-inspired drinks and food available for purchase. Dates: Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28 from 5p.m. – 10 p.m. Prices: $15 adults ($13 members), $10 children ($8 members) (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

Guests are welcomed to bring low riding lawn chairs and blankets and are asked to follow all COVID-19 visitor guidelines during their visit at the Botanical Garden. Movies subject to change.

The Polar Express (G) 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m. – On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Elf (PG) 8p.m. – 10p.m. – After discovering he is human, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole decides to travel to New York City to locate his real father.

OrigamiintheGarden² opens this weekend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

White Bison by Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang. Photo: sabot.org

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, OrigamiintheGarden² this weekend. It will be on display from Saturday September 19 to Sunday May 9, 2020. Making its Texas debut, this incredible outdoor sculpture exhibition, created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, captures the delicate nature of the origami paper art form in museum quality metal. Displayed within beautiful garden settings are examples of typical origami: soaring birds, gliding airplanes, galloping ponies, floating boats and emerging butterflies. The exhibition features Box’s own compositions as well as collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse and Robert J. Lang. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

There will also be a variety of dedicated programs to get visitors involved with the OrigamiintheGarden² exhibit while abiding by CDC guidelines for COVID-19. These include a curated audio tour, paper-making and origami folding classes and Japanese cooking classes. Distance learning opportunities for school groups and adults will focus on the relationship between origami and engineering, the roles plants play in paper creating, the science of paper-making and the life cycle of the butterfly through the lens of origami. This is all included with general admission and is free for members.

Opening weekend hours are 10a.m. to 2p.m. and includes guided and self-guided exhibition tours, origami inspired hands-on activities, storytelling by Sue Kuentz on Saturday only, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, shaved ice and more. COVID-19 guidelines are listed online.

General admission: members – free, adults – $15, children ages 3 through 13 – $12, children under age 3 – free, military with valid ID – $13, students with valid ID – $13, Museums for All Discount – $3 (must show SNAP or WIC EBT card with valid ID; per person, up to four people). Tickets are available online.

Drive-In Film Festival hosted by Anthony Michael Hall

EVO Entertainment Group® is excited to announce Anthony Michael Hall’s Summer Drive-In Film Festival taking place over four weekends in July and August. Anthony Michael Hall, known for films like The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, 16 Candles and more will be hosting the film festival. Each evening will offer a double-feature presentation of two films shown outdoors at the EVO® Drive-In experience. The festival will take place at EVO Entertainment’s Schertz, Texas and Kyle, Texas locations. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2020)

The Summer Drive-In Film Festival schedule:
Weekend 2 – July 24 & July 25 (sold out)
John Hughes Comedy Classics #2 – The Breakfast Club / National Lampoons Vacation

Location:
Friday, July 24 at EVO Schertz
Saturday, July 25 at EVO Kyle

Weekend 3 – July 31 & August 1
Rudy / The Goonies

Location:
Friday, July 31 at EVO Schertz
Saturday, August 1 at EVO Kyle
Special Guest: Sean Astin

Weekend 4 – August 7 & August 8
The Iconic Duo – Terminator 2 Judgement Day / War Machine

Location:
Friday, August 7 at EVO Kyle
Saturday, August 8 at EVO Schertz
Special Guest: Robert Patrick

Weekend 5 – August 14 & August 15
AMH & RDJ: The Iconic Duo – Hail Caesar / Johnny Be Good

Location:
Friday, August 14 at EVO Kyle
Saturday, August 15 at EVO Schertz

Throughout the screenings, guests will have the ability to purchase food and beverage, merchandise, autographs and more via EVO’s mobile app. During the intermission between the two films, guests will also enjoy a 45-minute interactive Q&A with Anthony Michael Hall and guests plus the opportunity to have a professional photo taken with the celebrities. In order to promote a safe environment, questions for the Q&A will be submitted via EVO’s mobile app or in writing. Guests that partake in the photo opportunity will be asked to wear a mask up until the photo is taken and photos will be available for download through EVO’s website. The use of personal phones for photos will not be permitted in an effort to limit the number of surfaces being touched during the photo opportunity.

All tickets are priced at $25.00 per vehicle and can be purchased online. Tickets are valid only for the weekend and location chosen and shown on the tickets. Guests must purchase a separate ticket for each event they wish to attend, there are no all-inclusive ticket options. Tickets are non-refundable.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic EVO Entertainment has taken extra precautions to better ensure the safety of its staff and guests. To learn more about EVO’s safety procedures visit EVO Cinemas online.

Circuit of the Americas food drive

On Sunday, May 10 from 12p.m. to 5p.m. Circuit of the Americas (COTA) will be collecting donations for Central Texas Food Bank and allowing guests a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to take a drive on the world-famous 3.4 mile track. This will be a parade of unity, hope and fun for the Central Texas community. Join friends and neighbors safely from inside your vehicle as you ascend the iconic “Turn 1” hill, weave through the challenging “esses” at Turn 3 and 4 and cruise down the same back stretch as the greatest Formula 1 have done. Donations are recommended, but not required to participate. This is an experience as unique as Austin. (Circuit of the Americas, 2020)

Germania Insurance will match up to $10,000 of donations and COTA and Austin Bold FC will match Germania’s donation to $10,000. Donations can also be done online. Please keep in mind that $1.00 can produce up to four meals. If you choose to donate cash or non-perishable items, “touchless” locations will be available for self-drop-off in the COTA garages.

Circuit of The Americas
9201 Circuit of The Americas Blvd
Austin, TX 78617

Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, is the only purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for all classes of racing. The 3.4-mile racetrack hosts the world’s most prestigious sporting events, including Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, INDYCAR Classic, as well as world-renowned concerts, music festivals, and opportunities for track rentals. The 1,500-acre campus is also home to the award-winning Austin360 Amphitheater, driving experiences including COTA Karting, open-wheel Formula America and the Audi Driving Experience, expansive meeting and hospitality spaces and an iconic 25-story observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the circuit, amphitheater and downtown Austin.

Tulip picking at Texas Tulips in La Vernia

texastulips The first official day of Spring is March 19 but flowers of all kinds have been blooming for weeks. For anyone who loves flowers and nature, there is a new tulip farm that just opened last month in La Vernia. Texas Tulips is a family-owned “you pick” tulip farm in La Vernia, TX just 30 minutes south of San Antonio. This is the ideal road trip to get some much needed fresh air, spend time with family and friends and pick your own tulips to create a custom made bouquet. There are thousands of tulips to choose from at only $2.50 a stem and the flowers are then wrapped in pretty paper and the stems are put in flower gel. Entrance fee is $5 per person. Additional information as well as farm rules and regulations are available online.

We visited the Saturday morning after Valentine’s Day to be able to spend some time outdoors and the opportunity to create our own unique bouquet. The trip there did not take long but it took awhile to find the farm since it is in the outskirts of town. They provide a basket for guests’ convenience and it comes in handy once the picking starts. There are indeed many varieties to choose from and it is impressive to see the many colors available but I was expecting the location to be bigger. It was early in the day but the crowd was already growing and while it is the picture-perfect location for Instagram worthy shots, some of the guest were trampling the greenery around the tulips and access was limited due to lingering groups. Regardless, I got to pick the colors I wanted and ended up with a small bouquet of one red, one yellow and one white tulip and took the necessary pictures to show off our visit. The return trip home took an hour and they were already wilting but once placed in a vase with fresh water and plant food, they perked right up.

The overall trip was pleasant enough to recommend it to nature lovers. A chance to pick your own bouquet is a unique experience and more people should try it. It appears to be a popular place so my advice is to go early in the day because the traffic can get overwhelming. Parking is free so the parking lot was full by the time we left and it took us twenty minutes of idling just to get to the exit. Perhaps the owners underestimated the traffic they would get because the entrance gate is only one way. Hopefully this will be fixed in the near future. One major drawback is that it is not pet friendly; it would have been nice to be able to take our dog. The primary location is in Dallas. Business hours are 10a.m. to 6p.m. seven days a week and they expect to be open through early March, depending on the weather.

Texas Tulips – San Antonio
15122 FM 775
La Vernia, TX 78121
(940) 440-0232

Texas Tulips – Dallas
10656 FM 2931
Pilot Point, TX 76258

Pearl to host third annual holiday Posada on Wednesday

This Wednesday December 18 from 6:30p.m. to 9p.m., Pearl will host its third annual Posada, inspired by the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas. Community members are invited to join the Posada and become pilgrims traveling by candlelight in a procession throughout the property, beginning at Pearl Park. (Pearl, 2019)

Las Posadas is a nine-day Christmas celebration in Mexico and Latin America, centered around the ritual re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s quest to find lodging in Bethlehem. The evening includes live mariachi music, lotería, traditional Mexican bingo for children and traditional treats of buñuelos, tamales and Mexican hot chocolate provided by Ms. Chocolatier, Churro Star, La Hacienda, CIA and Panifico Bakery. This event is free and open to the public. Representatives from Mission Concepción and Father David Garcia will lead community members in a procession throughout the Pearl property followed by live music by Mariachi Mexica.

Pearl Campus
303 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215

Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne

outdoorchristmaslight — Old West Christmas Light Fest is now open through Christmas Day. Photo: Google

Holiday magic comes to life at Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne. Set in an Old West town, it is brimming with lights, music, games, activities and flavor. Experience holiday glow and some of the best Christmas lights in the San Antonio area in a true Texas setting where Santa and his Holly Jolly Herd of longhorns are ready to pull his sleigh across Texas. Delight in a synchronized light show set to music, play laser tag in the lights, escape holiday stress with family fun in the Old West’s Christmas Escape Rooms and snap sweet pictures in Candyland. Bring family, friends and camera: pictures with Santa are always free at Old West Christmas Light Fest. (Old West Christmas Light Fest, 2019)

Old West Christmas Light Fest is open from 6p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday evenings until Sunday December 15 then every night December 19 through 25, including Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

Hinojosa Family Lights has taken over the ranch this year. Come see the magic that features Christmas classics and surprise songs in a synchronized Old West Light Show. The show is included in admission to Old West Christmas Light Fest and runs continuously. Escape holiday stress in one of the Old West’s Christmas Escape Rooms. With two holiday-themed rooms, guests can make Christmas memories with friends and family while trying to beat the clock. Or save Christmas by playing Laser Tag in the Lights, electronically defending holiday fun surrounded by the glow of thousands of Christmas lights. There is also a Candyland Instagram room where guests can snap share-worthy shots all season long and holiday cooking decorating classes. Two special nights of romance will take place on December 8 and December 15 with “Romance Under the Lights” with a host of local romance writers greeting fans and getting in on the holiday fun. Fill your holiday gift list by shopping the Old West merchants and fill your belly with flavors from a variety of food trucks on site each night. No matter what you choose, a night at Old West Christmas Light Fest is one to remember. Every night features music, with beer and wine at the bar and hot cocoa and s’mores by the campfire. Santa is at his favorite ranch to hear holiday wishes through Christmas Eve and photos with Santa are free.

Tickets are available online and are $15 per person ages six and older and children five and under are free. Family 5-packs are available for $60. Members of the military, active duty, guard, reserves and all retired service members, as well as first responders and their immediate families receive a $5 discount. Season passes are $45 per person. Onsite parking is included.

Enchanted Springs Ranch
242 Hwy 46 W
Boerne, TX 78006

Take exit 540 off of I-10 and travel three miles west

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Category: Outdoor activities