Diwali San Antonio Festival of Lights 2011

San Antonio’s third annual Diwali Festival was held November 5 in HemisFair Park. The free festival included Indian dancing and costumes, lighting of Diya candles, food and gift vendors and DJ Rahul. Due to the drought a laser light show replaced the traditional fireworks. The free event was hosted by the City of San Antonio’s International Relations office, the India Association of San Antonio (IASA) and the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce. The program featured performances by dancers and musicians from different states in India. The only disappointment of the evening was a breeze blowing my candle out soon after I set it in the water.

Chalk It Up

Chalk It Up had a big turnout yesterday despite the threat of rain.  The annual free art festival organized by artpace included professional artists, school groups, children’s activities and a free zone for anyone to draw with sidewalk chalk.  Several blocks of Houston Street downtown was closed for the festival.  I attended around noon and saw the artists at work.  It was especially nice to see the many groups of talented teenagers working intently on their creations.

National Night Out

The San Antonio Downtown Residents Association hosted a National Night Out (NNO) event at the base of the Tower of the Americas in HemisFair Park tonight, October 4th.  The fun event included a display of classic cars, music by the MishMash Band, children’s activities, food and drink vendors, and informational tables.  You may remember NNO being traditionally in August.  However, Texas took advantage of an optional October date this year since it’s hard to be neighborly when it’s 100+ degrees outside.

MishMash Band

Jazz’SAlive church service at Travis Park UMC

Last Sunday morning (Spetember 25) I attended the Jazz’SAlive church service at Travis Park United Methodist Church.  The church is located across the street from the annual free jazz festival.  The church service was informal and accessible to everyone.  The music was fabulous and I attempted to record some of the songs with my small digital camera.  The church sanctuary was beautiful with a huge blue pipe organ in front.  The band gave a 20 minute concert in the sanctuary following the service. 

Stop Child Trafficking Now Run/Walk

Stop Child Trafficking Now (SCTNow) organized a fundraiser run/walk last Saturday, September 24, at the University of Incarnate Word (UIW). SCTNow’s mission is to stop child trafficking by targeting the source - predators who drive the sex industry.  The cause was serious but runners and walkers enjoyed the lovely woods and UIW’s campus.  At the end of the course a DJ played fun music and Amy’s Ice Cream scooped out complimentary ice cream.

UIW grotto

Information table

Trees in nature preserve

House of C.A.R.D.S.

Amazing Butterflies at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

My nine-year-old niece had a blast at the opening weekend of the Amazing Butterflies exhibit at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. She enjoyed interactive maze activities such as the spider web climbing ropes and the zip line.  Along the maze she collected stamps and turned them in for a surprise at the gift shop. Volunteers were on hand to lead arts and craft activities with a butterfly theme.  Children were also given a butterfly-loving plant to take home.  The Austin Bike Zoo provided large colorful butterfly bicycles for rides. The maze exhibit will be installed until January 8, 2012.  In conjunction with the exhibit MySA.com is holding a butterfly photo contest.

Butterfly Maze

Austin Bike Zoo rides

Cocoon

Zip line

Arts and crafts activity

Butterfly pinata

Butterfly plants

UTSA Football Vs. McMurry

Following are some photos from the September 10th UTSA football game at the Alamodome.  I got a new camera and couldn’t resist taking lots of pictures.

RockerDogz at Sunset Station

Football players enter the field

Band's half-time show

Mariachi performers

Giant flag unfurled at half-time

Hamster ball game

Vegeria (a vegan Tex-Mex restaurant)

1/2 order nachos

I’ve tried the new vegan Tex-Mex restaurant Vegeria twice now.  The food is delicious, the staff is friendly and you can feel good about eating  enchiladas, nachos, tamales and cupcakes.  On my first visit I was envious of the “in-the-know” diners around me feasting on plates piled high with nachos.  My second visit I got a 1/2 order of nachos to share as an appetizer and the plate was very generous.  The chips were topped with veggies, soy “meat”, vegan cheese and even some quinoa.

Tamales

My favorite entrée so far is the sweet potato tamales.  The creamy sauce on top of the tamales was delicious and the sweet potatoes blended nicely with the masa.  My friend enjoyed her enchiladas but the red sauce on top was too spicy for me.

The restaurant also has yummy baked goods. The bakery case next to the cash register holds several flavors of cupcakes. On my first visit I tried a mini cupcake and a scone. The next visit I decided to give my dog the calories and got a bag of vegan dog treats.  The treats had the magical effect of putting the dog into a deep sleep.

Enchiladas

The co-owner/chef told us they are planning to open soon for dinner and they are also planning some cooking classes. He recommended we come back for Saturday brunch which included some “naughty” breakfast dishes involving Oreos and Captain Crunch. He seems to be having fun.

Restaurant interior

HemisFair Park art nooks

Brawley's sculpture at night

On the side of the H.B. Gonzalez Convention Center facing the Tower of the Americas on the northeastern edge of HemisFair Park are seven beautiful art “nooks” or “grottos.”  Six of the nooks hold artworks and one nook is mysteriously empty.  From left to right the grotto artists are:  1) Say Si; 2) Carlos Alvez; 3) Alex De Leon; 4) empty; 5)Benito Huerta; 6) Cakky Brawley; and 7) David Zamora Casas.

I have walked by the nooks at different times of the day but rarely see anyone enjoying the art.  The addition of some benches might encourage people to stay a little while and contemplate the art.

By Say Si

By Alvez

By De Leon

By Huerta

By Casas

Detail on Casas art

Detail on Alvez mural

Detail on De Leon art

UTSA Kicks Off First Football Season

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) kicked off their first football season last Saturday afternoon with a bang at the Alamodome.  Everything that makes football fun  for me was there – a marching band, cheerleaders, mascot, flags, fireworks and 56,743 fans.  Enthusiastic fans began arriving early in the morning to set up tailgating tents with grills and coolers. Around 10:30 am the football players got off their bus at the corner of Hoefgen and Gonzales streets  and were met by fans, cheerleaders and the band.

Football players exiting bus before the game

On the football field a pre-game show featuring the band, flags and fireworks got the crowd roaring. The cheering continued as UTSA won the coin toss. The marching band came back onto the field at half-time for a rousing performance and then the fans practiced a cheer.  The football game wasn’t very close (UTSA won easily) but I had a lot of fun watching the band, cheerleaders and the fans.

Pre-game festivities in Sunset Station

UTSA’s next home football game is this Saturday, September 10, at 1 pm against McMurry University.  Come out and join the fun!

Tailgating before the game