RE Newsline November 2022

America’s Long Held Myths And Weird Activities

As difficult as it may be to imagine a world without language common sense tells us that such a time must have existed long ago, but when and where? That is an intriguing question but one to which we may never have a complete answer: How did we get from animal vocalization (barks, howls, calls...) to human lan guage? This subject has puz zled scientists, including lin guists, archaeologists, anthro pologists, psychologists and biologists for centuries as we recognize that human language is unlike any form of commu nication used by other ani mals. We also recognize that because it is different this ability had to have developed sometime after the genetics of humans split from that of the chimpanzees and bonobos, our nearest relatives, around six million years ago.

Examples of early origin studies include Mesopotamia’s compilation of word lists from the cuneiform symbols in use during the 3rd to the 2nd Millenia BC before they moved on to study other symbol lan guages including Sanskrit and Hieroglyphics. A main prob lem with the symbol languages was the lack of knowledge as to how the symbols had been vocalized. And during the Reign of the 26th Dynasty in Egypt (664 BC – 610 BC) the first recorded language experi ment was conducted by Pharaoh Psammetichus I (Psamtik I) when he had twin babies brought to a remote location to be raised by care takers who were not permitted to speak any words to them. At the end of two years the children most often repeated the Phyrigian word becos, meaning bread which Psamtik concluded meant that language is innate and that Phyrigian is the natural language of humans. Interesting theory but not reasonable.

During the 19th century language origin studies were ongoing with one speculative theory after another showing up in the literature. In 1866, the Linguistic Society of Paris, citing the shortage of direct empirical evidence, banned any existing or future debates on the subject, a prohibition

which remained influential across much of the Western world until late in the twenti eth century. However, out of all the theories floating around a Top Ten list with rather whimsical names has emerged and has been cited throughout the literature on the subject.

According to the mama theory language began with the easiest syllables that were attached to the most signifi cant objects and what could be more significant to a baby than their mother? However, Sir Richard Paget, a British Baronet who was both barris ter and an amateur scientist held that language may have derived from gestures. His tata theory suggests that human language originated when tongue and mouth gestures unconsciously imitated peo ple’s common gestures. He likened saying ta-ta to waving goodbye with one’s tongue but would there be other gestures readily explained by this ta-ta theory?

Friedrich Max Müller, a German born philologist and orientalist is credited with suggesting the bow-wow theo ry which is the idea that words were first formed by imitating the sounds one hears around them like moo, tick-tock, choochoo, clang, buzz, bang, meow. This is technically referred to as onomatopoeia or echoism. I guess the obvious comment then would be to ask how one would explain words like love and hate which seem to have no sound association. And fol lowing that thought there is the pooh-pooh theory that proposes that speech devel oped from the instinctive sounds people make in emo tional circumstances like “ouch” in response to pain or “achoo” as a sneeze. This theo ry suggests a common response across all languages, however, if “ouch” is the nat ural response to pain then why is it expressed as “oi” in Russian and “eee” in Cherokee?

Sound symbolism is the basis for the ding-dong theory, another onomatopoeia theory which claims there is a some what mysterious connection between sounds and meanings

so that objects were named after the sounds of everyday life like “oink,” “boom” or “crash.” Then, according to this theory what sound is asso ciated with a rock? The theory also points out that small, sharp, high things have high front vowels in many lan guages like “itsy bitsy teeny weeny” and that big, round, low things tend to have round back vowels like “moon.” Then, linguist A. S. Diamond suggests that a yo-he-ho theo ry relates to the rhythmic chants similar to the grunts and groans a human emits when doing heavy work that were perhaps calls for assis tance or cooperation. The theo ry does not explain the origin of most words and Diamond, because of words like “cut,” “break,” “crush” or “strike,” thought this theory might also be somehow related to the aforementioned ding-dong the ory.

Danish linguist, Jens Otto Harry Jespersen, suggests that, contrary to other theories, per haps some of our first words were actually long and musi cal, rather than the short grunts many assume we start ed with. He proposed in the sing-song theor y , that lan guage is a result that comes from play, laughter, cooing, courtship, emotional mutter ings and the like. And, accord ing to a linguist named Revesz humans have always needed contact with their fellow man and he proposed a contact the ory known as the hey you? theory which said that lan guage began as sounds to sig nal both identity, as in “here I am!” or belonging, “I'm with you!” Or we may also cry out in fear, anger, or hurt, as in “help me!”

Later additions to the top ten list include a contribution by Dr. George Boeree, author of the list, which he named the hocus pocus theory with the idea that language may have had some roots in a sort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors' lives. He further noted that perhaps humans began calling out to game ani mals with magical sounds, which then became their names. And the final theory on the list is the eureka theory

that says that maybe language was consciously invented because some ancestor had the idea of assigning arbitrary sounds to mean certain things.

The most recent offering to the compilation of theories is from Quentin D. Atkinson, a biologist at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, who in 2011 added the find ings of his work. Rather than study words as most previous researchers had done Atkinson applied mathematical mea sures to linguistics to study phonemes, the distinctive units of sound by which words are represented, for more than 500 languages around the globe. His primary focus was on the click consonants in the Khoisan languages, most of which are indigenous to south ern Africa.

Atkinson noted that many African click languages con tain more than 100 common phonemes, while the spoken languages among the Pacific Islanders, inhabitants of the furthest migration route out of Africa, contained only 13 of those and the Modern English language has approximately 45 of the phonemes. Findings from the study suggest that language originated only once, and the specific place of origin may be southwestern Africa. He also speculates that since the African populations began their dispersal from Africa to Asia and Europe 60,000 years ago it is possible that the spo ken language existed at that time and may have been the catalyst for the dispersion and subsequent migration.

All of these theories along with those more scientifically named such as the Continuity theories (language is so com plex it must have evolved from earlier pre-linguistic systems) and the Discontinuity theories (language must have appeared suddenly during the course of human evolution) in addition to the other large number of proposals, create an enormous amount of information which can be mind-boggling. There is one thing to be said about the language theories, that lacking direct empirical evidence one is certainly free to subscribe to the one they like best!

Pat Farrell / Senior Contributing Writer

Class of

Congratulations to the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®

2022 TRLP graduates! For 8 months, 18 people went through a series of modules in the form of lectures, sem inars, guest speakers, leadership exercises, and group discussions. All this with the goal of cultivating lead ers in our community and encourage them to undertake important roles and utilize their assets to effect change in their respective profession al, personal, and civic areas of inter est.

As part of their program, the class of 2022 was tasked with creat ing their own unique definition of the term “leadership” to which they said means, “A leader is a coach/mentor who empowers the team to move for ward adventurously being selfless, authentic and caring.” We hope this definition and what they learned throughout the program, is applied to not only their work but also personal lives.

2022 Graduates are: Jacob Arbizu, Billy Fiedler, Anna Hammad, Jeanie Holmes, Pam Kight, Casey Lee, Cheryl McClintock, Dina Murphy, Rebekah Murtagh, Kein Oros, Gay Penak, Roxana Ramirez, April RaynorBrock, Adriana Rodriguez, Jennifer Romance-Deal, Lanessa Smoot, Melanie Thomas, Michelle Mendez

Once again, congratulations graduates and we are grateful to have been part of your journey! We are proud of you, and We are excited to see what you do next!

Do you think you have what it takes to be a leader in your industry and community? Don’t wait and apply now on our website at sabor.com. Spots are limited. The deadline to apply is November 4, 2022, at 5 p.m. Be on the lookout for any deadline extensions on our social media channels or emails.

If you have any questions, contact communications@sabor.com.

Rosemary Gomez, World Financial Group and Yen Yan, Local Chapter President

Laksmi Taylor, RE/MAX Alamo Realty and Jeana Lacey, Aligned Mortgage

Heather Rice, Title Professional and Kalen Bahlman, Your Time Home Inspections

Heather Rice, Title Professional, Mark Trias , eXp Realty and Elvia Williams, Your Time Home Inspections

Dan Moran, South Texas Solar Systems and Yen Yan, Local Chapter President

Victor Salinas, RE/MAX Preferred and Quynh Nguyen, Hip Winn Real Estate Group

Neelam Kinger, Vortex Realty and Pat Farrell, RE Newsline.

Some of the attendees for the Potluck Lunch

Tracie Hasslocher, SABOR Chairman and Grant Lopez, Keller Williams Legacy

Bob Leonard, Diane Craig and Katie Griffin Ross, all RE/MAX Associates

Caroline Daly, Fidelity Home Warranty and Lynn Knapik, Lynn Knapik Realty

Wendy Martin and Christina Marshall, both RE/MAX Corridor

Leslie Hays, Susan Taylor and Valerie Wilshire, all Independence Title

Janice Carpio-Hernandez, SABOR, Ronnah Stabenow, Pyramis Company and Jeremy Brewer, SABOR

Pat Farrell, RE Newsline and Marty Hutchison, Property Management Services Mari Mitchell, Mitchell Realty and Sara Gerrish, RE/MAX Unlimited

THE WAY I SEE IT

Cathey Meyer / Contributing Writer

Forgetting to Remember

DI4-6087. That was the Meyer family phone number before cable, cell phones, internet and answering machines. I learned the seven-digit number as Diamond 46087. The let ters on the yellow rotary phone attached to the kitchen wall served a purpose until one day the number altered to 344-6087. My non-mathe matical mind assumed there was a finite combination of seven-digit numbers and Alexander Graham Bell added the 26 letters to create an infi nite mix. No one has ever provided me the trivia of why letters and num bers were on the dial. None-the-less, we had to memorize that number and repeated it often.

As we grew up, we had to learn phone numbers for grandparents, par ents’ work, the neighbors, and best friends. At some point the San Antonio area code, 512, became part of the numbers. You did not need to dial it, but the area code apparently was the secret code for your geo graphical location. Of course, way before Global Warning, boundaries

got altered on the globe and likewise, the 512 was demoted to the 210.

Suddenly, we went from seven to 10 digits to reach out and touch some one. Then the fancy Hill Country folks got their own code of 830. The good news was that our brains were always actively memorizing, dialing and eventually touch-toning phone numbers.

Cell phones slowly weaseled their way into our everyday life. I noticed the younger generation’s reliance on the multifunction gadgets and started to ponder if their brain matter might lose effectiveness.

Exposure to flashing lights, subliminal dings, and instant feedback might short circuit brain function. I was shocked when those of the younger generation could not tell me their own home phone numbers. Unfortunately, I forgot no one really has a ‘home phone’ anymore. For a cell phone, home is where the pocket resides.

The trivia the young can recall is most impressive. They can stream applica ble information but streaming num

bers is now history.

Times change and so do the habits of life. Turns out, memorizing phone numbers is not necessary to keep your brain activated. Those little devices are working parts of my brain I forgot (or just did not know) I had. No need to memorize a phone num ber now: just tap the name and/or face and suddenly the ringy dingy begins. Rarely, does anyone call any more, so texting is now the communi cation of choice. Finally, a reason for all those little letters on the rotary phone of yore.

Where my brain gets the hard est workout currently is the password recall. Instead of just remember 10 digits to dial for a visit, these days at least ten times a day you have to log in to some app or program, each requiring its own unique combination of letters, numbers, capital letters and random symbols for access. Not to mention you have answer unique questions that verify you are you and remember what lie you told when you first answered what your first pet’s name was. Now I have to remember where I stored my secret passwords, what clever combination I used to keep them similar but not the same and what my new password will be when I have to reset the original pass word I forgot.

Back in the late 1900’s when I

was selling real estate, we used the old Mapsco Street Guide to determine the location of homes on the buyers list. That was a mental challenge to determine directional N/E/S/W; grid squares; read tiny print to find a culde-sac and attempt to remember if you were turning right or left at the busy intersection. For those of you AARP enough to remember, comput ers were not yet booted up and we all dug through bicep building MLS books to make the match of home to buyer. You had to recall MLS num bers, page numbers, and other num bers I cannot remember at the moment just to start your list of prop erties to show. Let us not get into the lockbox combinations that may or may not be accessible. We worked our brain matter back in the day.

This Century has brought us all a laundry list of items we have to remember on a daily basis. I no longer worry about brain development in the young, maybe I should worry more about memory lapse in the aging. The digital age has infused a different pattern of memory jog. We all have to remember to charge our devices, where we left our device, if our device is android or IOS compati ble, who is on our device plan, which text sent the bill for which service, did we pay the bill and which password applies to which need. I had more to share, but I forgot which app I typed my notes to share . .

Annette Slater, Annette Slater, Broker and Ronnah Stabenow, Pyramis Company

High Flyer Jordan Phillips with Tim Ohlbrecht

Paula Grigsby, President of our Realtor Credit Union, Texas Associations of Professionals Federal Credit union (TAP FCU), was recently honored as Affiliate of the Year by the Texas Women's Council in recognition of her more than 30 years of consistent involvement, dedication and support of both local and state networks of the Women's Council of Realtors. Pictured with Paula is Patti St. Louis, Texas Women's Council President.

Cullen Neely with Texas REALTOR, Daye Wanat of eXp Realty and Mike Crowley REALTOR Academy pause during the SABOR Roadshow in Castroville.

Megan Cloud and Melissa Turner , both VIP Mortgage

Keller Williams Heritage Grand Opening

Keller Williams Grand Opening

HAPPY CRITIC

Karen Evans / Contributing Writer

Thanksiving, My Favorite Holiday

I am especially fond of Thanksgiving because it focuses on food, art, friends, family, and gratitude to God.

I started cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for my friends in the early 90s when I became single. Not knowing then that I would remain unmarried for the rest of my life, the Thanksgiving celebrations have continued and have become my favorite tradition. My childhood holiday dinners consisted of drab, traditional turkey, stuffing, and green bean casse role. I thought dressing up my menu each year with a new "food with a flair" would provide a fun and memorable table. So, this year I am adding an exciting dish to the menu. Spicy Pulpo with Grilled Pineapple! Below are a few heavenly recipes that mean a lot to me and have become guest favorites. I hope you and your family will enjoy them as much as I do.

Homemade Eggnog With A Kick Serves 10

Be prepared! Your friends will start requesting your special eggnog. Remember, Homemade Eggnog with a Kick is just for the holidays.

If by a miracle you have leftovers make eggnog french toast for breakfast the following day!

Ingredients:

1 7-pound eating pumpkin olive oil

1 french baguette cut into 1/2-inch slices

2 1/2 cups grated Gruyere

2 1/2 cups grated Emmenthal

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup little green onions chopped

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 heavy cream

Savory Baked Sweet Potato With Roasted Grapes And Goat Cheese: Serves 4

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 450 with rack in the lower third. Toast baguette slices until crisp but pale, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. Remove the top of the pumpkin by cutting a 3-inch circle around the stem. With a spoon, dig out all of the seeds and fibers until the pumpkin walls are smooth. Season the inside of the pumpkin with 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Pepper

Garnishes:

4 whole Grilled Green Onion

1 avocado sliced

4 corn tortillas toasted and warmed

2 grilled fresh pineapple slices

Preparation:

1. Wash the and boil it with salt for 15 minutes. Do not overcook.

2. Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the onions. Add the sauce ingredients and the boiled octopus and heat for 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Arrange the octopus with sauce, 4 grilled green onions, 1/2 the sliced avocado, 2 grilled pineapple slices, and a dollop of the Pineapple Habanero sauce on a chopping board and serve with the corn tortillas.

A spectacular Spanish dish

Banana Pudding Trifle: Serves 12

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk

2 cups heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup sugar

Pinch of Salt

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

6 eggs pasteurized and separated (Davidson's Pasteurized Eggs at Central Market)

1 cup Brandy

2 ounces Dark Rum

Cinnamon and Freshly Ground Nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Whisk the egg yolks in a large bowl until they begin to turn a lighter shade of yellow. Add the sugar and a pinch of salt and whisk until pale yellow. Whisk in the brandy and the rum until well combined, and then whisk in the milk, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla until blended. Chill the mixture for at least 3 hours or overnight. Chill the egg whites until ready to use.

2. Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks with a handheld electric mixer when ready to serve. Fold the beaten egg whites into the chilled nog. Whisk the eggnog until smooth. Serve immediately, sprinkled with fresh nutmeg in your pretti est cups.

Ingredients:

4 sweet potatoes

2 cups red seedless grapes

1 teaspoon grapeseed oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 ounces honey flavored goat cheese

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons honey + more for drizzling

1 pinch of cinnamon, optional

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350

1. Stab each potato with a fork, leaving multiple holes. Coat each potato with olive oil. Wrap in foil and bake for about an hour until the flesh is soft. Slice the middle of each potato and let it cool to the touch.

2. Increase the oven temperature to 450. Place 2 cups of grapes on a bak ing sheet. Drizzle with grapeseed oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast grapes in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until they start to burst. Remove and let cool.

3. Once the potatoes are cool, scoop out the flesh of each potato into a large bowl. Make sure the skins are intact.

4. Add 3 ounces of goat cheese and 3 tablespoons of butter to the pota to flesh with salt, pepper, and 2 table spoons of honey. Cinnamon and nut meg are optional. Mash all the ingredi ents together. Refill the potato skins. Return the potatoes to the oven to reheat. Top each potato with grapes and goat cheese. Serve drizzled with remaining honey.

This is a recipe you will want to enjoy throughout the year.

3. Whisk together cream, broth, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 tea spoon of pepper in a bowl. Mix both cheese and green onions into another bowl.

4. Place a layer of toasted bread in the bottom of the pumpkin, and cover the bread with 1 cup of cheese and 1/2 cup of cream mixture. Continue layering bread, cheese, and cream mixture until pumpkin is filled--about 1/2 inch from the top, using all the broth and cream mix tures.

5. Cover the pumpkin with its top and position it in an oiled roasting pan. Brush the outside of the pumpkin all over with olive oil. Bake until the pumpkin is ten der. 1 1/4 -1 1/2 hours.

This pumpkin platter will add a whole lot of joy to your Thanksgiving table!

Spicy Pulpo With Grilled Pineapple Habanero: Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt

4 cups milk

8 egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 12-ounce package of Nila Wafers

1/4 cup dark Rum

2 tablespoons Malibu Coconut Rum

6 bananas peeled and sliced

6 1.4 ounces English Toffee Heath Bars crushed

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation:

1. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan; whisk in milk. Constantly whisking, bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove mixture from heat.

2. Beat egg yolks until thick and pale. Gradually stir about 1/4th of the hot mixture into yolks; add to the remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly. Cook, constant ly stirring, until thick. Stir in vanilla.

Ingredients:

2-pound whole baby octopus trimmed and ready to cook

1 cup chopped baby green onions

2 tablespoons chopped onions

Salt

Sesame Seeds

Sauce:

1/2 cup Pineapple and Habanero Glaze

2 Teaspoons Chili Powder

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

2 teaspoons Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon Chopped Ginger

3. Layer 1/3 of the wafers in the bot tom of a 4-quart trifle dish, Stir together the rums and brush over the wafers. Top with 1/3 of the banana. Spoon 1/3 of custard over the banana, and sprinkle with 1/3 of crushed toffee. Repeat the procedure twice.

4. Put the bowl and beater of a standing mixer in the freezer to chill. Add the heavy whipping cream to the chilled bowl and beat until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream over the trifle and sprinkle with the remaining crushed toffee—cover and chill for 3 hours.

Men go bananas for Banana Pudding!

SA VAREP Chapter Board: April Raynor, Treasurer, Fred Wulff, Education Director and Mary Corcoran, Government Affairs Director

SA VAREP Chapter Past President Pat Farrell and Dannette Castaneda, Encore Bank

Cecilia Sosa, Mobile Notary and Diane Gonzales, Premier Realty Group

Ruben Pena, TC Austin Realty and George Sanchez, Simple Real Estate Ventures

SA VAREP Chapter Secretary, Carlos Rodo and President, Judy Goldick

Signs Of The Times

GUEST COLUMN

Karen Evans / Contributing Writer

Tower Life Building -San Antonio's First Skyscraper

The Tower Life Building bears a colorful history and a bright future. Built in 1929 in neogothic brick and terra cotta green tile, this 404 ft, 31-story stunning, octagonal office tower was designed by father and son partners Atlee & Robert Ayers, a local architectural firm. It was San Antonio's first skyscraper built on the river at the end of the Roaring Twenties and was inspired by Robert Ayers' alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. The Gothic Revival Style tower is adorned with orna ments and guarding gargoyle drain spouts to ward off evil and protect the building from rain water flow. These gargoyle sculptures above the 20th Floor were made of decorative cast stone and have survived for almost a century.

Once reputed as the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, it was the tallest building in San Antonio until 1968 when

the Tower of the Americas was built. The Majestic Theatre, The Nix, and the Medical Arts Building were constructed simul taneously. Unfortunately, the biggest stock market crash in the world happened, and devel opers Jim and Albert Smith of Smith Brothers Properties with Lawyer/Partner J.W. Young's dreams of developing San Antonio into a vibrant downtown were crushed by bankruptcy, hardship, and suicide. The Tower Life building was the tallest building and the last skyscraper built until 1988, when the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel emerged on the skyline.

Some Interesting Facts

1. The Law Offices of Goldstein & Orr have been at the top of the historic Tower Life Building for over 70 years and are one of the oldest practicing law firms in San Antonio.

2. The Tower Life Building housed San Antonio's first Sears & Roebuck Department Store in its lower two stories with offices above.

3. The building can be seen from various distances and directions and is arguably the most impressive period building in San Antonio. The best evening view of the Tower Life Building is at Biga on the Banks Restaurant Patio at the International Building. At night dramatic light ing adds height and intensity to the tower, and the view of the building with its golden pointed tile roof lit up is an ethereal sight.

4. The lobby is filled with gothic detail, including the origi nal mailbox that still functions today. The original elevator doors are still there, as is the intri cate and beautiful ceiling.

5. The Tower Life Building is a landmark structure in historic downtown San Antonio. In 1991 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

6. The Tower Life Building is also known in the past as the Transit Tower and Smith-Young Tower. The building is in excel lent physical condition, owned by H.B. Zachry Properties since 1943.

7. If you think you know

everything about San Antonio, think again and join one of Jane Martin's "Architours." This historic San Antonio tour includes the iconic Tower Life Building and is a fascinating experience for resi dents and tourists alike.

Exciting things are ahead for the San Antonio community and the new owners of The Tower Life Building. San Antonio legend Red McCombs and real estate brokers Ed Cross and Jon Weigand have joined forces and purchased the iconic building from H.B. Zachry Properties. Joe Shields, McCombs' grandson and business development director of McCombs Enterprises, stated, "We are honored to now own and steward a piece of San Antonio's cultural heritage." Their plans for the skyscraper include redeveloping the building into mixed-use housing and retail spaces. Exciting projects and goals are just unfolding for the renovation period.

In the 1970s, my father's firm was on the 25th Floor. It is where I landed my first job! I think it will be spectacular, and I plan on being one of the first residents on the 25th Floor! I have many fond memories of this majestic building and look forward to watching her bright future unfold with me in it!

GUEST COLUMN

Aly Crawford / Contributing Writer

Every weekend, San Antonio is jammed with opportunities for you to get out and explore our city. Small farmer’s markets with local vendors, traveling shows, pop-ups and annual local events are always being added to the calendar. If you are looking for something fun to try with your fami ly this weekend - you’re in luck. No matter what time of the year, there is always something going on in and around San Antonio.

Shopping and eating at local mom-and-pop shops is a passion of mine. There is no better way of div ing into the heart of a city than by getting to know its people. You can find unique items and offerings cre ated by your own neighbors. So explore your own little corner of San Antonio, then make some time to explore the huge variety this area offers.

Greater San Antonio, the city and all of its local cities and suburbs

is a massive area, yet farmer’s mar kets are continuing to pop up in an increasing number of San Antonio’s neighborhoods. Contrary to the name, produce and farm fresh goods aren’t the only thing you’ll find at a farmer’s market. Local creators and artisans as well as specialty eateries can also be discovered. The Pearl’s farmer’s market near downtown San Antonio has quickly risen in popu larity and is booming every week end. They’ve even designated Sundays as a Maker’s Market, high lighting local craftsmen and creators. Other markets such as the San Antonio Farmer’s Market hosted by the San Antonio Food Bank is anoth er great weekend stop. Some other family favorites are the Alamo Heights market at the Quarry, Mission Marquee Farmer’s Market, and if you are up for a little drive, the New Braunfels Farmer’s Market does not disappoint.

As the holiday season quickly

approaches, our thoughts and focus tend to shift to finding the perfect gift for our loved ones. Each week end our little family ventures out into San Antonio to find an experi ence we will all love. I get excited when those experiences involve a lit tle holiday shopping too. Traveling shows and pop ups are a great place to find unique gifts and items. These can be a little harder to plan in advance until you have found a few you enjoy and want to return to. One of my favorites that comes through San Antonio seasonally is San Antonio Vintage Market Days. This is a huge market with a variety of shops and goods. There are vendors specializing in refurbished furniture, metal creations, art, and home goods. These types of shows are quite different from a farmer’s mar ket and feel more like a collection of shops. Many of the small towns in the hill country bring in events like this to draw tourism to their town, so make a day trip and head to near by Gruene Market Days just outside of New Braunfels or Fredericksburg Trade Days, then you can stroll by the quaint downtown shops for some extra gifts.

If you’ve been in San Antonio long, you know this city has a knack for seasonal events. In the spring you can take a deep dive into San Antonio’s culture and history by attending one of Fiesta’s innumer able events. More than a yearly street

party, Fiesta’s events are in multiple locations around historic San Antonio and the experiences you’ll find vary greatly. You can find a stunning and serene art event fol lowed only a few hours later by a raucous concert and carnival. But Fiesta is just one part of our city’s festivals. Annual festivals, fairs and carnivals are often the highlight of our weekends. From the world famous 10 day salute to sausage at New Braunfels’ Wurstfest to unique events like the Barbacoa and Big Red Festival music Festival south of town - you can find some phenomenal and obscure festivals. A few I would highly recommend adding to next year’s calendar are the awe-inspiring and colorful Artpace’s Chalk It Up event and local rodeos like the Helotes Cornyval and Comal County Fair. Keep an eye on the convention and events centers in town as well. Fantastic events will come through like Comic-Con, train shows, and it’s possible you’ll even stumble across an entire event dedicated only to books.

San Antonio’s beautifully diverse community has created a unique collection of local events. Fairs, festivals and markets are just the tip of the iceberg, too. There are even more local events like charita ble 5ks and seasonal events like pumpkin patches. If you are bored this weekend in San Antonio, you’re simply not doing it right.

1-Dec

3-Dec

Kelly Lucas Keller Williams Legacy

Rosalinda Hoback Lifetime Real Estate Srv.

Luis Galindo San Antonio Elite Realty

Tim Brown RE/MAX Corridor

Sarahi Alonzo Century 21 The Hills Realty

4-Dec Ron Mersinger RE/MAX North-San Antonio

Shyler Leon Phyllis Browning Company

Gabriel Garcia Home Team of America

Lisa Morales Century 21 The Hills Realty

Alice Boubel Century 21 The Hills Realty

5-Dec Judy Dunlap Phyllis Browning Company

Dawn Ainslie Home Team of America

Michael Zamarripa Century 21 The Hills Realty

6-Dec Debbie McNeal Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

7-Dec Gilbert Moses A&G Property Services

Laura Gordon Sterling Group Real Estate

Lauren Cornwell Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

8-Dec Scotti Evans Old Republic Title

Robin Wysong Old Republic Ttitle

Victor Yong Home Team of America

Terry West Coldwell Banker Stagecoach RE

Laura Sanchez Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Corleen Schneider Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

9-Dec Michelle Fink Texas Premier Realty

Judy Dalrymple Phyllis Browning Company

10-Dec Rick Clifton RE/MAX Corridor

Orquidea Blain Belmares Properties

Yvonne Elizondo Keller Williams Heritage

Karen Critchlow Realty Executives of S.A.

11-Dec Lily Stribling Caballero & Associates

12-Dec Terry Reitz Rock House Real Estate

Caesar Flores Realty Executives of S.A.

Holly Weems eXp Realty

Alisa Cox Keller Williams City View

13-Dec James Harrison StepStone Realty

Priscilla Allen Home Team of America

Molly Harvey ERA Colonial Real Estate

14-Dec David Geramita RE/MAX Preferred

B.K. Buske B. K. Buske

Lydia Lozada Texas Premier Realty

Carlos Fernandez Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

15-Dec Joe Reyes Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Russell Deiley Laughy Hilger Group

Pam Slocum Beth Harmier Properties

JB Goodwin JB Goodwin Realtors

16-Dec Jennifer Hard Keller Williams Legacy

Richard Guerrero Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Brent Knapp Keller Williams Legacy 17-Dec Carlos Perez 1st Brokerage

Al Cannistra Texas Today Realty

Penny Anders JPAR San Antonio

Norma Jean Denman Old Republic Title 18-Dec Russell Hild Mission Real Estate Group

Bill Graves San Antonio Portfolio KW RE

Paul Davalos Davalos & Associates

Robert Wood RE Consultants

Carolyn Sparks Carolyn Sparks Real Estate

Geri Barrows BHHS PenFed Realty

Tammy Greenbauer Full Spectrum Realty

Tiffany Wright eXp Realty 19-Dec Kathy Vogel Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper Monica Vasquez eXp Realty

Joraine Miller JB Goodwin Realtors

Debra Maltz Centro Properties

Tyler Herman Home Team of America

Frank Ruffo The Real Estate Group

Pete Peters Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper 20-Dec Gilbert Rodriguez JPAR San Antonio

Herlinda Hernandez Rigel Realty 21-Dec Charlene Gubernator RE/MAX Associates

Ara Fesperman M. Stagers Realty Partners

Lee Jones Keller Williams City View

Gil Aldaco Texas Elite Real Estate

Margie Morcher The Homeland Group of Texas 23-Dec Cheryl Moore Old Republic Title

Oscar Vaca Home Team of America Victoria Subia Champions School of Real Estate 24-Dec Gwen Derry Old Republic Title

Gerri Johnson Avenue Realty

Lisa Martinez Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Sonia Flores Kimberly Howell Properties

Terri Saari Kristalli Real Estate

Mike Klein Michael Klein Realtors

25-Dec Holly Mahler Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Matthew Smith, III Alamo Top Realty

J.J. Rodriguez J.J. Rodriguez Real Estate

Sol Hooda Stonepoint Properties, Inc.

John Alaniva Kimberly Howell Properties 26-Dec Chris Schofield Vortex Realty

Polly McKinley Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Troy Hoessly Home Team of America

Becky Rabel Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper 27-Dec Thomas Fentress RE/MAX Preferred

TeAnglia Moore Reliance Residential Realty

Pamela Montano RE/MAX Associates 28-Dec Randy Pereira T2M Real Estate

Catherine Rosales IH-10 Realty

Bob Mabry ERA Colonial Real Estate 29-Dec Krista Boazman Phyllis Browning Company

Marilu Salazar Old Republic Title

Sherry Keeble Exit 4 Texas

Kate Griffin-Ross RE/MAX Associates

Eddie Martin Mission SA Property Mgt. 30-Dec Randy Elgin Option One Real Estate

Michael Carmona Tierra Realty

Clifton Jansky Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Shannon Miller Trinidad Realty Partners

Vivienne Porter Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Jessica Uralde Redfin Corp.

Randal McLeaird RAM Group

Nereyda Vicente JPAR San Antonio 31-Dec Kurt Jaeckle Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

Lynn Knapik Lynn Knapik Real Estate

Dan Lopez Integrity Realty

Jaylove Malapo Redbird Realty

Christine Magee Century 21 The Hills Realty Diana Lopez Century 21 The Hills Realty

Jeff Robinson, Rachel Cutter, Debbie Keeland and Michael Anthony, all Stewart Title

Bob Jacobs and Mary Lynn Presas both with RE/MAX Associates.

Sophiela Grannum, Click & Move Realty and Diane Gonzales, Premier Realty GroupFran Valdez and Christy Johnson, both with Capital Title

Meeting

Sandra Lagos, JPAR and Merlie Sanders, Ottey Investment Realty

James Cardenas, My Insurance Guy and Phillip Taglieri, Adapt Realty Group

Kenny Cunningham, Click and Move Realty and Rebecca Byers, Alamo Top Realty

Sophiela Grannum, Click and Move Realty and Rebecca Byers Alamo Top Realty

Robert Rees, AmeriFirst Financial of Texas, Speaker

Jesse Ruiz and Matt Hamilton, Quick Roofing

Megan Trevino, Insurance Professional and Yolanda Pearson, Alamo Area Realtors

Gwen Derry, Old Republic Title and Kenny Cunningham, Click and Move Realty