Category: Recreation

JL Bar Ranch is Texas Hill Country’s undiscovered luxury retreat

JL Bar Ranch is located deep in the Texas Hill Country. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, used with permission.

This year, as Americans continue to practice social distancing and seek destinations that are in remote, outdoor-driven locations, one of the U.S.’s hottest regions is the Texas Hill Country and its stunning, off-grid JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)

Set on 13,000 acres and a short drive from Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Fort Worth areas, and accessible via private airplane thanks to its on-property hangar (FBO), The JL Bar Ranch offers an off-grid yet luxurious experience for those seeking to reconnect with themselves and the Great Outdoors. With the following new amenities, offers, and activities for 2021, The JL Bar Ranch is a prime destination for a naturally distanced getaway in the heart of Texas.

Luxury Meets Texas Ranch: The 32-room boutique property acts as guests’ home away from home to relax, unplug and enjoy the tranquility of West Texas. With scenic views in every direction, JL Bar’s grounds offer rolling acres of oak trees and wild grasses to spot local wildlife.  JL Bar’s cuisine is reflective of the current seasons with an emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients.

A True Texas Adventure: From a full equestrian program featuring horseback riding to off-road ATV adventures, a Putting/Chipping Green, weekend yoga, wine tasting, and clay and skeet shooting, The JL Bar Ranch’s slew of activities and programming take place primarily outside for the ultimate safe cation getaway. Guests are invited to embrace the Texas Hill Country lifestyle, even if it is just for a weekend stay.

Cowboy Cookout: The culinary team at JL Bar Ranch has designed a decadent and interactive social distancing-approved dining experience with its new Cowboy Cookout. Guests can take in the Texas Hill Country views with a horseback ride to the property’s cookout camp, enjoy cocktails and snacks as the culinary team prepares a lavish steak dinner, and relax to country music while taking in the magnificent sunset.

Wellness Weekend, Anyone? To balance its outdoorsy and adventure programming, JL Bar Ranch guests can unwind and practice self-care at the property’s full-service spa, which offers luxurious massages and spa treatments alongside a full nail/salon menu. Guests can reconnect with themselves and the natural world with one-of-a-kind immersive programming, ranging from a horse psychology experience to spa treatments that incorporate ancient healing traditions.

Set amidst 13,000 breathtaking acres deep in the heart of the majestic Texas Hill Country, JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa is one of the country’s premier working ranch experiences and the state’s only luxury ranch resort. Fulfilling the dream of owners James and Lois Archer, the 32-room resort is a study in rustic elegance, providing an intimate, customized Texas experience while connecting guests to nature through a variety of guest offerings and amenities such as equine experiences, hiking, swimming, biking, yoga, and a sporting clay complex. The resort features a spa, outstanding culinary offerings at The Restaurant at JL as well as Lonesome Creek Lodge for dinner series and private events; a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) private airport with a 5,300-foot runway, a general store and more than 35,000 square feet of unique indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, making it the perfect place to relax, unplug and experience the beauty and serenity of West Texas.

Big Day of Play: Winter Wonderland at The DoSeum

Big Day of Play: Winter Wonderland is this Saturday, December 12 at The DoSeum. Photo: The DoSeum.

On Saturday, December 12, The DoSeum celebrates the Holiday Season with Big Day of Play: Winter Wonderland when families will spend the whole day embracing curiosity and wonder. This holiday themed day-long celebration will bring hands-on and minds-on fun to the entire family. Activities are focused on STEM, the arts, and literacy and will inspire everyone to learn through play. Families will enjoy learning about holiday traditions from around the globe and learning about the science of ice and snow. The DoSeum’s Winter Wonderland is set to be the coolest activity in town. (The DoSeum, 2020)

The event is free with a General Admission ticket purchase and includes admission to the DoSeum’s special exhibit Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage, an art and science exhibition that explores the successes of those who think outside the box when faced with the challenges of dyslexia. The exhibition defines some of the tools and resources for identification, intervention, and pathways to success. Activities for the day include: Cool Science: Unfrozen, Ice Mountain Excavation, Bamboo Brush Artistry, Microscope Décor, and Buche De Noël Cake Decorating. Guests who would like to attend the Buche Noël Cake Decorating during Winter Wonderland need to RSVP for the preferred time.

The DoSeum, San Antonio’s museum for kids, is one of the leading children’s museums in the nation; a place where children learn by doing. The DoSeum offers innovative exhibits and experiences to get children excited about concepts in science, math, art, and literacy and encourages them to take the excitement into the world. The DoSeum is a 501 c3-non-profit organization.

Briscoe Western Art Museum’s ‘Cowboy Christmas on the River Walk’

Briscoe’s ‘Cowboy Christmas on the River Walk’ will be this Saturday, December 19, 2020. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

At the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the holidays come with a touch of Western fun. Enjoy the holidays in a new way at “Cowboy Christmas on the River Walk,” this Saturday, December 19 from 11a.m. to 4p.m. when the Briscoe will be brimming with holiday cheer. For guests who pre-book a visit, the experience includes a virtual or in-person story time and a personal visit with Cowboy Claus. “Cowboy Christmas on the River Walk” is included with Briscoe general admission. With safety in mind, visits and story time with Cowboy Claus are ticketed separately and limited to those who pre-reserve. The museum’s health and safety protocols require that both staff and guests wear masks. Temperature checks are also conducted. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2020)

Cowboy Christmas features a day of family fun exploring the museum, made even sweeter because December 19 is Locals Day at the Briscoe. All Bexar County residents receive half off general admission to enjoy the day. The Briscoe’s halls are decked, carols are quietly echoing in the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, and holiday fun and flavor await with San Antonio food truck favorites Lady Picoza and Saweet Cupcakes onsite offering tasty holiday treats to enjoy in the sculpture garden. During a special 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt, guests can browse through the Briscoe’s fantastic collection and there will be Christmas crafts and coloring sheets to enjoy onsite or to take home.

For shoppers looking for the perfect gift, the Museum Store is offering special deals during Cowboy Christmas, including 10% off all holiday, home décor, and gifts for men, women, and children. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission at the Briscoe, as do active-duty members of the military, making the museum an ideal spot for local families to enjoy and find fantastic gifts to take home.

The Briscoe is offering both virtual and in-person contactless visits with Cowboy Claus. For the virtual Cowboy Claus option, morning and afternoon private, personalized sessions are available and include four children per family. Through a Zoom visit, Cowboy Claus will meet and greet each Lil Partner and their family in a 10-minute private visit, featuring one-on-one family time with the man of the season as he visits with your Lil Partners in your home before he comes back in person on Christmas Eve. Santa will know your Lil Partners’ names, favorite things and more, thanks to the magic of the pre-reservation information you provide. The session also includes story time with Santa and a digital activity pack including coloring pages, a Santa countdown calendar and more. Virtual visit families will also receive a fun and engaging children’s craft activity delivered before the big day, as well a 20% discount code to shop online or in person for the perfect gifts in the Briscoe Museum Store and two general admission tickets to enjoy the museum on a future visit. Virtual visits are $45 per family of four children and $35 for museum members and can be booked online.

Santa wants everyone to stay safe for the holidays, so he is stopping by the Briscoe for “contactless” visits in-person with Lil Partners. That means he will meet and greet but will be safely distanced so that everyone can stay on the nice and healthy list. In-person Cowboy Claus sessions include story time with Santa, a 6-minute personal visit with Santa and unlimited personal photos with Santa, snapped by a grownup joining in the fun to capture Christmas memories, the Briscoe’s holiday scavenger hunt, and a fun and engaging take-home children’s craft activity and exclusive discounts to shop online or in person for the perfect gifts in the Briscoe Museum Store. In-person visits with Cowboy Claus are not included with museum admission, however, museum admission may be purchased online, or in-person and the Locals Day admission special applies. “Contactless” Cowboy Claus visits are $35 per family of four children and $25 for museum members and can be booked online. 

Space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis to guarantee a safe, socially distanced event and tickets must be purchased in advance.  Virtual visits with Cowboy Claus must be pre-reserved by December 13and in-person time by December 18. No sessions will be sold the day of the event.

iFly Indoor Skydiving holiday gift guide

iFly Indoor Skydiving has packages perfect for gift giving. Photo: google

iFLY is a sports and recreation company with the mission to deliver the dream of flight. The company pioneered the body-flying “indoor skydiving” experience and is the world leader in vertical wind tunnel technology. Guests do not need to be an athlete or in the best shape of their life. iFLY’s world-class instructors are pros at making flying fun for everyone. Looking for the perfect gift for the adventurer on your list? This holiday season give an experience that will create lasting memories for years to come. iFLY Indoor Skydiving is offering three holiday gift voucher packages, available now through January 4, 2021. Prices vary per iFLY location. More information available online. Holiday vouchers must be purchased in person. San Antonio location:  15915 I-10. (iFly Indoor Skydiving, 2020)

The Exclusive Gift

  • 4 flights + 2 high flights + 2 videos
  • Can be shared between 2 flyers
  • Valid 7 days per week, starting 1/4/21
  • Save up to 40%

The Elevated Gift

  • 4 flights + 2 videos shareable by 2 people
  • Valid Sun-Fri, excludes Saturday, starting 1/4/21 
  • Save up to 35%

The Essential Gift

  • 2 flights
  • Valid Mon-Fri, excludes weekends, starting 1/4/21 
  • Save up to 30%

iFLY is taking the proper precautions to ensure guests can enjoy their flying experience by investing in new safety measures to create new ways of keeping people safe in their buildings. The enhanced safety procedures include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability to complete waivers online, touchless temperature readings for all entering the building, contact-free check-in, floor markings indicating distancing requirements, all equipment, including helmets, goggles and flight suits, sanitized and washed after each use, hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility, and surface areas and touchpoints, such as counters, door handles, and bathroom facilities, will be regularly wiped down with disinfectant.

As temperatures drop, this is a fun and safe activity to do indoors. In fact, iFLY’s wind tunnels have a fresh air advantage over other experiences. Advanced wind tunnel technology provides guests with clean air while flying by recirculating and refreshing the air from outside the iFLY facilities. Tested and proven, iFLY’s wind tunnels create an environment at least 10x fresher than the average store or gym when flying guests—even at slow wind speeds.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC, is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry. iFLY has over 70 facilities operating worldwide with 32 in the US. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality by giving their customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment.

Pearl announces April online programming

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April online events at Pearl include Typewriter Rodeo Poems for National Poetry Month. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

Prompted by COVID-19,Pearl has launched several online program offerings for the month of April. April programming includes a celebration for National Poetry Month, online story time brought by the Twig Book Shop and a new Interfaith Project with messages of hope and resilience from some of San Antonio’s spiritual leaders. (Pearl, 2020)

The April line-up is as follows:
Miss Anastasia Storytime
Miss Anastasia brings her popular story time adventures online. Join Miss A on her Instagram page every Friday at 10:30a.m. to catch her fun and spirited readings of popular children’s books, brought to you by the Twig Book Shop at Pearl. This event is free and open to all ages.

  • Every Friday in April (10, 17, 24) | 10:30a.m. | Online on Instagram

Typewriter Rodeo Poems for National Poetry Month
In honor of National Poetry Month, Pearl has commissioned Typewriter Rodeo to create four custom poems to share on Pearl’s social media channels every Tuesday in April. The poems touch on themes of resilience, innovation and the importance of staying emotionally connected yet physically distant—all of which are important now more than ever. This program is in partnership with the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture. This event is free and open to all ages.

2020 Interfaith Project
While this time of year usually brings many opportunities for gathering, we must now find ways to stay connected amidst physical separation. Given all the uncertainty, we can turn to each other and members of our San Antonio interfaith community for words of comfort and faith. Throughout the month of April, Pearl will share messages of hope and resilience on its social media channels from some of San Antonio’s spiritual leaders in honor of Easter and Passover. Dates include 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 on Facebook.

Partners for this program include:

Reverend Michael Newman – President, Texas District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Rev. Michael Newman is the president of the Texas District LCMS.  He has served as the MMF for Area C since July of 2008. Before serving the Texas District he served in pastoral ministry since 1987 in congregations in Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota. He has been blessed to be involved in the leadership, development and growth of a mission congregation and has served congregations both large and small. His ministry journey has included participation in multi-ethnic ministry, international mission trips, the planting of new ministries, radio and television ministry.

Rabbi Levi Teldon – Assistant Rabbi, Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning. Rabbi Levi Teldon was born and raised in a loving Chabad family on Long Island. At 14 years old he was shipped off to study at Yeshivas on two continents and Detroit and wisely chose to become a rabbi at the age of 23. A true born-again Texan, he teaches and co-directs programming at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning in S. Antonio with his wife Rochel, and is the co-founder of Young & Jewish San Antonio

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller – Archbishop of San Antonio. Born in Mexico, Gustavo García-Siller was named Archbishop of San Antonio by Pope Benedict XVI on October 14, 2010. Previously, he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Chicago Archdiocese on January 24, 2003 by Pope John Paul II, where he served as Cardinal Francis George’s liaison to the Hispanic community. On a national level, Archbishop García-Siller currently serves on a number of committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): The Cultural Diversity Committee on Hispanic Affairs, African American Affairs, Committee on Hispanics and the Liturgy, the Committee on Migration, and the Committee on Consecrated Life and he served as Chair of Region 7 of the USCCB.

Dr. Carey Latimore – Associate Minister, Mount Zion First Baptist Church. Dr. Carey Latimore is an associate professor of history at Trinity University who has a passion and love for God’s word. An ordained minister, Carey is excited about connecting his faith to his scholarly interests and community concerns. Among his many projects, he has worked with Urban Ministries (UMI) on their Vacation Bible School curriculum and wrote their Building a City on a Hill adult student book.

“Now more than ever we want to acknowledge the powerful human connections that make up our community. Because we cannot physically gather, we want to use our social media channels to bring a little bit of the energy and human connectedness we all experience at Pearl into everyone’s home during this time as well as a message of hope and staying emotionally connected with each other.”  – Pearl’s CMO Elizabeth Fauerso

Fast Eddie’s ‘Let’s Get Physical’ anniversary party

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Fast Eddie’s next anniversary party is this Friday January 4. Photo: Fast Eddie’s, used with permission. 

Mark your calendars to join Fast Eddie’s Billiards & Sports Bars on Friday, January 4 from 7p.m. to 2a.m. for another 20th Anniversary Party featuring high-dollar giveaways. There will be cocktail specials and the staff will be serving them in their favorite workout gear to go along with the “Let’s Get Physical” theme. Come enjoy the festivities and be sure to grab a finalist ticket, which will be handed out every hour on the hour from 9p.m. to midnight, at this event for a chance to win a brand new 2019 Chevy Camaro. One lucky winner will also be selected on this night to receive a $3,000-valued prize. Do not miss out on this evening of fun, drinks, games, pool and giveaways. (Fast Eddie’s, 2019)

Fast Eddie’s opened its first location in San Antonio in August 1998 by hospitality experts and bar veterans, Bob Wilson, Mark Beyer and Mark Lewis. These talented entrepreneurs created a neighborhood gathering place with more entertainment options than were available at any other billiards halls. With large, comfortable environments that feature multi-dimensional entertainment, high-end audio-visual equipment, top of the line pool tables, dart boards, video games, music, comfort food, a full bar, themed events and charity benefits, Fast Eddie’s has drawn a loyal following. The single pool hall on Culebra Rd became so successful, it spurred the growth of Fast Eddie’s to 15 locations in Texas and Louisiana.

Fast Eddie’s Billiards & Sports Bar San Antonio locations:

9910 W Loop 1604 N Suite 113
San Antonio, TX

7616 Culebra Rd #103
San Antonio, TX

502 Embassy Oaks
San Antonio, TX

11221 Perrin Beitel
San Antonio, TX

Hiatus Spa + Retreat monthly retreat packages

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Hiatus Spa + Retreat has monthly packages to fit every style and preference. Photo: Molly Culver, used with permission. 

Each month, Hiatus Spa + Retreat creates special “Monthly Retreat” packages for customers to escape their daily routines and enjoy unique body treatments that end with a specialty cocktail. The upcoming monthly retreats include Black Magic in October, Abundance in November and Solstice in December. (Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2018)

October Monthly Retreat: Black Magic
80 minutes. $195 | $128 h-circle
Make time for a little magic this October with the detoxifying Black Tea and Charcoal Body Experience. Fragrant Black Tea joins forces with Activated Charcoal and Organic Sugar to create a gentle full-body polish. Afterwards, a warm body wrap using a potent triple-clay Masque with Activated Charcoal and Magnesium balances and mineralizes the skin and includes a scalp and foot massage. A warm Vichy rain gives way to a moisturizing massage with a blend of cocoa and shea butters, touched with essences of Orange, Bergamot, antioxidant-rich Marigold and Black Tea Extracts. The spell wouldn’t be complete without a bewitching corpse reviver cocktail to close.

November Monthly Retreat: Abundance
80 minutes. $195 | $128 h-circle
A handmade enzyme rich pumpkin scrub mask with earthy yet fresh essences of Carrot Seed and Ginger Root gently peels away tired skin, while a nourishing foot treatment with Boabab and Tamanu Oils will restore a sense of groundedness. After a refreshing Vichy cleanse, delight in a hydrating massage with a vitamin-rich Jojoba body butter and a spiced bourbon pumpkin punch.

December Monthly Retreat: Solstice
80 minutes. $195 | $128 h-circle
Escape to the peaceful tranquility of the forest with the uplifting December Retreat. Pure essences of Red Spruce, Northern White Cedar and Eastern Hemlock blend in a gentle body polish to recreate a nostalgic serenity of the woods. A warm Vichy rainfall, soothing massage and frozen blackberry gin fizz are sure relieve Holiday tension; and without forgetting the spirit of giving, purchase of this service supports regional forest protection organizations.

Additionally, Hiatus Spa + Retreat has added SAINT Cosmetics to their list of products sold at all spa locations. SAINT is an organic makeup line that uses formulas that instantly transform complexion for a flawless finish without compromises. SAINT is the first nontoxic makeup brand that photographs like an Instagram filter and offers flawless full coverage completely untraceable by high-definition cameras or in-person. SAINT’s natural cosmetics are the standard in nontoxic makeup by being free of parabens, petrochemicals, nanoparticles, sulfates, silicone, polyethylene glycols (PEGs), phthalates, mineral oil, triclosan, petrolatum, coal tar, artificial preservatives and synthetic fragrance ingredients, making them one of the most complete brands for best natural makeup.

SAINT products sold at each Hiatus location include: Angel Face Primer, Pressed Powder Foundation, Illuminating On-The-Go Flawless Concealer, Diabolical Liquid Liner, 24K Glow Highlighter, 24K Glow Highlighter, On Cloud 9 Bronzer, Blush, Longwear Lipstick, Lip-gloss, Eyeshadow Palettes and Mascara.

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

Camp Gladiator stadium takeover at Alamodome

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Camp Gladiator stops in San Antonio on Saturday August 18 at the Alamodome. Photo: Camp Gladiator, used with permission.

Camp Gladiator, one of America’s fastest growing fitness companies, is proud to announce a series of free, open-to-the-public stadium takeover events this August in celebration of its tenth anniversary. With the motto “Changing Fitness, Changing Lives,” these fitness events will take place in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; as well as in Charlotte, North Carolina; Raleigh, New Carolina; Shreveport, Louisiana; Denver, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; Tampa, Florida; and Nashville, Tennessee. The stadium take-over in San Antonio will take place on Saturday August 18 from 7a.m. to 1p.m. at the Alamodome. (Camp Gladiator, 2018)

Founded in 2008 in Dallas, Texas, by Ally and Jeff Davidson, Camp Gladiator is a movement dedicated to transforming lives through dynamic, fun and challenging outdoor group workouts led by talented trainers who inspire campers to discover their best selves. To celebrate its ten-year anniversary, Camp Gladiator is creating the camp experience on a grand scale by providing the rare experience of working out on the grounds of notable large stadiums in each city for a day of outdoor fitness fun. Since its humble beginning, Camp Gladiator has grown to over 80,000 campers with over 900 trainers across 350 cities. In its tenth year, Camp Gladiator is entering new markets as its pattern of rapid growth continues. Most recently, the company announced plans to expand to Jacksonville, Florida, in January 2019.

The stadium takeover days offer a social, hangout space for guests to have fun and get to know what Camp Gladiator is about. The events feature food, retail, and fitness vendors and other fitness activities such as a slamball slam contest and a battle rope station. Each city event has an Eventbrite page to RSVP and an RSVP is required to attend the free event. The events are open to all ages and all fitness levels. Attendees under 14 years old must have a parent present to attend. All campers will be provided with online waiver forms with their RSVP. Guests are asked to wear athletic clothing.

The Camp Gladiator stadium takeover events start on August 11 in Austin, Texas, and continue in cities across the nation on August 18 and August 25. The day is programmed around a free, CG trainer-led group workout. Attendees can sign up as a spectator or a competitor. The events will either be a “Dash” event where the participants will be released in waves to run between 10 workout stations held throughout the stadium or a “Mega Workout” where participants will complete the 10 workout stations as a large community workout. Dash events are held inside the stadiums are 2 to 3 miles long. Mega Workout events are 60 to 90 minutes long and are held on the stadium grounds or in stadium parking lots.

Both the Dash and Mega Workouts are full-body workouts that combine strength and cardio exercises designed to challenge campers of all fitness levels and ages. The workout is based off the CG camp experience which focuses on endurance, strength, agility, and interval training suitable for all fitness levels. Camp Gladiator provides an encouraging community to inspire greatness and a competitive spirit in each camper.

“We are really beyond excited to be celebrating 10 amazing years of Camp Gladiator and the impact made on hundreds of thousands of campers across the nation. We can’t wait to host our loyal campers and everyone in our amazing communities that have supported us through the years at stadiums across the nation.” Ally Davidson, Camp Gladiator founder and CEO.