San Antonio Magazine November/December 2024

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ExploreLakeCharles, wherethe rich flavors of Cajun and Creole cuisine blend seamlessly with vibrant localculture. Situated

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can indulge in high-stakes casino action, unwind on serene lazy rivers, and immerse themselves in lively cultural events.

LakeCharles is celebrated for its exceptional cuisine, serving up local favorites likechickenand sausagegumbo, shrimp étouffée, and smoked boudin, all enriched with Southern hospitality Dive into the relaxed atmosphereby exploring downtown’s unique dining and shopping options, or immerse yourself in the arts at the city’s museums and galleries. Experiencethe beauty of the outdoors along the Creole NatureTrail All-American Road, or enjoy the waters by taking asunset kayak tour

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NAVIGATING RECURRENT PREGNANCYLOSS DURING THEHOLIDAY SEASON

and Alamo Heights

Theholidays area populartime forpeople to announcetheir pregnancies,which canmake theseason even moredifficult forthosewho are experiencinginfertility andthe emotions of their ownpregnancy losses.

Thereare ways to cope, however, andsometimes the processofhealing is by understanding what apregnancy loss is,knowing thatitwasn’tyour fault, andoptions thatcan help yourealize your dreams of havinga baby.

Understanding Pregnancy Loss

It is estimatedthatglobally, thereare 44 pregnancy losses per minute. Whilecommon, they areextremelyisolating foreachperson and couple whoexperiencesone.There’s comfort in knowingthatone pregnancy loss doesn’tsignal anyissues forfuturefertility.

Recurrentpregnancy loss is when awomanhas twoormorelosses andoftentimes, there is a medicalreason forwhy it happens, including structural uterus problems, thyroid disorders, hormonalissues, andimmunedisorders.

Themostcommon reason forrecurrent pregnancy loss is one or morechromosomal abnormalities thatprevent afertilized egg, also knownasanembryo, from developing naturally.

TreatmentOptions

Oneofthe mostsuccessful advancements in assistedreproductivetechnology, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), has significantly improved pregnancyrates forthose whohaveexperienced recurrentmiscarriages.

Part of IVF treatment protocol, PGTisusedto determinewhetheranembryoisconsidered chromosomally abnormal. It canbeusedto detect conditionsthatcould hinderimplantation or result in amiscarriage,likecystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, andTay–Sachs syndrome

More importantly,PGT alsoallows forthe transfer of the healthiestembryos thatwillgive aspiring parents the greatest chancesofbringing home ahealthybabyand reducetheir risk of experiencingadditional loss.

Ways to Cope withRecurrentPregnancy Loss

Forwomengoingwho have experiencedmultiple miscarriages,itcan be difficult to continuewith day-to-dayactivitiesand the emotionalimpact canbesignificant. Theholidayseason canadd more stressand worsen the psychological toll of infertility.

It’s important to remember andpractice selfcare during thisholidayseason. Andfor those whohavelovedoneswho arenavigatingthe pain of aloss,it’simportant to be there forthem as asource of supportand comfort –and most importantly,toremindthemthattheir loss isn’t their fault.

Some days will be harder thanothers,sowhen preparingfor the holiday season, understand that family events maybe difficult forthosegoing through infertility.

CO NTENTS

14 History

OP

The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner marks 45 years.

16 City News

San Antonio shines in the film “Say aLittle Prayer.”

18 Person of Interest

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye leans into spirit of connection.

32 EatHere Now Chika’s 13-course omakase presents sushi with corazón

34 Imbibe

It’s beginning to look alot like holiday theme bars.

52 Holiday Decor Tips

Big is in this season, and more pointers from Frosted Home.

58 Keeping Traditions

Community members preserve family history.

64 Sustainable Style

Small changes give fashion pieces asecond life.

80 Datebook

Keep up with all the holiday happenings and winter shows.

22 Travel

The serene seaside of Los Cabos is calling

30 Tastemaker Heroes and hope led to restaurant Mare eMonte.

WO RK OF ART

90 Story of the Alamo “Spinning San Antonio de Valero” tells both sides.

The Season of Giving

On thecover

The Season of Giving in San Antonio

Illustrated by Imelda Robles

STARTYOUR JOURNEY TO ALIFE OF PURPOSE

at St.Mary’s University

Renowned for academic excellence and committed faculty,St. Mary’s University equips graduates to excel professionally and live purposefully. This holistic approach, combined with awelcoming stancetoward diverse beliefs, makes St.Mary’s acompelling choice for those seeking atransformative education and impactful careers.

“St. Mary’s is an excellent place to do research on yourself. Youhave the opportunity to sit down and really digest who you are and what your potential is in different fields. It’s all about attaching knowledge to your own sense of duty.”

THIS SEASON IS AMAGICAL TIME IN SAN ANTONIO. IT’S ATIMETOSLOW DOWN,ATIME FOR reflection,togivethanks, to find joyinthe littlethingsand to celebratetraditions.

Oneofthoseheartwarmingtraditions,theRaulJimenezThanksgivingDinner,is celebrating45years.Thenthere’s the43rdAnnual Ford Holiday RiverParadethe dayafter Thanksgiving,which ushers in thelightingofthe RiverWalkthatwill continue to twinkleintothe newyear.

Continuingtime-honoredtraditionsisthethemeofastorybyMelissaRenteria,aboutfamilieswho honorconnections to theirheritage, such as thoseatMax &Louie’s,ChasMarket& Kitchenand thePan AfricanCulturalCommunity

This issuealsoincludeseverythingyou need to make theseasona success. Bonny Osterhage createda localguide to intentionalgivingfor everyone on your holiday list, with theadded benefitofsupportinglocal businesses.Becca Hensleyspoke with FrostedHome’sKelleyFrost, whooffers10tipsforentertainingthatwillimpressatanyholidaygathering.Thereisaroundup of holiday-themedbars, as well as cocktail recipesand helpfulhints forguestswho prefer zeroproof sippers.

This season canbea time of heavyconsumption,but we featurethree locals whoare making themostofthe sustainablefashion movement to help lowerthe environmentalimpactand benefityourpocketbook.

Fora newexperience, impressyourguestswiththe SanAntokyo-style13-courseomakase at ChikaatThe Creamery,featuredinEat Here Now.

Andifyou love to go to themoviesduringthe holidays, do notmiss“Saya LittlePrayer,” whichstars Luis Fonsiand wasfilmed in andheavily features SanAntonio.Itisa lighthearted rom-comthatwillopenNov.22inselectAMC theaters

Wishingyou andyourfamily aseasonfilledwithgoodwill andgratitude.

NO VEMBER/DECEMBE R2 024 VO L. 20 |N O. 6

ED ITORI AL

Editors

Jennifer McInnis Jan Waddy

Contributing Writers

Becca Hensley

Jim Kiest

Sallie Lewis

Deborah Martin

Boma Muaka

Bonny Osterhage

Melanie Salazar

Melissa Renteria

Paul Stephen

Katherine Stinson

Edmund Tijerina

Copy Editors

Jaundrea Clay

Gary Fulghum

Nancy Floeck Wilson

AR T

ArtDirector

Adrián Alvarez

Contributing ArtDirector

Nadya Hassan

Contributing Illustrator

Imelda Robles

Contributing Photographers

Jason Barnes

JoMando Cruz

Abigail Im Marvin Pfeiffer

Jessica Phelps

Paul Stephen

HE ARST TE XAS

Publisher

Mark Medici

AD VERTIS I NG

ChiefRevenue Officer

Kate Weber

Senior MarketingDirector

Sara Bryant

Director of MarketingRevenue

Maxine Pittman

Events Director

Lauren Sposetta

DI GITAL

Audience Producers

Abigail Im Abigail Stewart

CI RCULATI ON

Audience Development

Director

Tom Nork

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Statement of Ownership, management and circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685). 1. San Antonio Magazine 2. Publication No. USPS 008-350 3. Oct 1, 24. 4. Bi-Monthly, 5. No. of issues published annually. 6. Annual subscription price $30.00; 7. PO Box 2171,San Antonio, TX 78297-21719.Names and addresses of Publisher and Editors are: Publisher, Mark Medici, P.O. Box 2171,San Antonio, Texas 78297-2171. Editor, Jennifer McInnis, P.O. Box 2171,San Antonio, Texas 78297-2171. 10.Owner: Hearst Newspapers, LLC, mailing address: 300 West 57th Street, NewYork, NY 10019.Members of Hearst Newspapers, LLC are: Hearst Communications, Inc. (ManagingMember), andNewspaper Holding, Inc., mailing address: 300 West57th Street, NewYork, NY 10019 11.See Item 10 above. 15.A.Total no. copies printed (Net Press Run). Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 11,725. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 12,329. B. Legitimate Paid and/orRequested Distribution. 1. Outside-County Subscriptions. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 5,778. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 5,798. 3. Sales throughdealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other outside USPS. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 577. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 691. C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 6,355. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 6,489. D. Nonrequested Distribution. 1. Outside County, Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 2,689. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 2,880. 4. Outside the Mail, Averageno. copies each issue duringpreceding 12 months, 1,713.Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 1,966. E. Total Nonrequested Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 4,402. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 4,846. F. Total Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 10,757. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 11,335. G. Copies not Distributed. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 968. Actual no. copies eachissue published nearest to filing date, 994. H. Total Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 11,725. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filingdate, 12,329. I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Averageno. copies each issue during preceding 12 months 59%.Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 57%. 17.Icertify that the statements madebymeabove are correct and complete. Mark Medici, Publisher.

IN TH EL OOP

Raul JimenezThanksgivingDinner

FORRAULJIMENEZ,THANKSGIVINGMEANT sharingyourblessingswithothers.

Thebusinessman andMexican food mogulfeltthe holiday,which isassociatedwithlovedonesgatheringamidan abundanceofthoughtfully prepared dishes, wasmeanttobeshared—especiallywiththose in need of both companionshipand sustenance.

Jimenezstarted servingfreeThanksgiving mealstoseniorcitizensintheearly1970swhile livinginFortWorth.HelatermovedtoSanAntonioandlaunchedthedinnerherein1979asa full-scaleevent open to everyone

It didn’t take long forthe AlamoCitytoembracethe affair andmakeitanannual tradition. Thedinnersoon grew to feed thousandsatthe

Convention Center,where hundreds of volunteersworkfordaystopreparethemeals,decorate thedininghallandcoordinateallthelogisticsthat gointoputtingonsuchamassiveevent.

AfterJimenez died in1998,justweeksbefore Thanksgiving,somepeoplequestioned whetherthe annual dinner wouldcontinue withoutits namesake andfounder at the helm.His daughter,PatriciaJimenez,who wasa youngchild when herfatherservedthe firstfreeThanksgivingmeals,committedto continuing herfather’svision.

Andthe SanAntonio community has shared theJimenez family’s call to service.

Thisyearmarksthe45th editionoftheRaulJimenezThanksgivingDinner,aneventrecognized acrossthecountrynotonlyforitsgrandscalebut

fortheongoingcommitmentofitsorganizers

Even when thecoronavirus pandemic forced apause of theseateddinnerin2020 and2021, thetradition continued, with organizers pivoting to home delivery. Thecommunalgathering returned in 2022.

Thedinnerhasfedabout25,000dinersannuallywiththehelpofcorporatesponsorsandcontributions from thecommunity.Individuals and groups hold food drives to collect itemsfor the dinner, andmanyothersdonatetheir talentsto entertainguestsattheevent.

Andwithlocal schoolchildrencreating drawings that areusedtodecoratetables, everycontributionmatters in continuing the charitable legacy of Raul Jimenezand acitywide holidaytradition ★

TOP: Volunteers in 2022 finish plating meals forthe approximately 25,000 people at theannual Jimenez Thanksgiving dinner.
LEFT: Patricia Jimenez, daughter of Raul Jimenez, applauds volunteers during last year’sdelivery of 550 turkeys forthe event.
INSET: In 1992, Raul Jimenez greets guests at the dinner that bearshis name.
HeartfeltSan Antonio tradition feeds thousands annually

20 Yearsinthe Making

‘Say ALittle Prayer’ brings San Antonio to the big screen

San Antoniowill be on full display when the“SayA LittlePrayer” film premieresNov.22inselectAMC theaters across thecountry TheromanticcomedyiswrittenbyNancy De LosSantosand starsLuisFonsi,the Puerto Ricansingermostnotably knownfor 2017’s global hit“Despacito.”

FonsiplaysRafaelReza,apainterturnedart curator. Rafael is theloveinterestofAdela Valez, played by Vannessa Vasquez, whointhe filmisfromFalfurriasandownsanartstudioat La Villita.

“Say aLittlePrayer” was20years in the making,DeLos Santos said.And initially,it wasgoing to be filmed in herhometownof Chicago. Thestory is basedona prayer Santos’ grandmothergaveher when shewas 30 “Ihadagreatjob.Iwasalreadyproducingin

Chicagotelevision. Ihad agreat house. Ihad just bought anew car, butmygrandma said, ‘You'renot married,’ ”DeLos Santos recalled.

“And to her, that wasreally important. She said it outoflove.”

Santoswasnotworriedaboutfindingahusband,but hergrandmother insisted

“She said,‘No,no, no,yourhusband is lost Youmustsay this prayer to St.Anthony.’ And even in themovie,you know,the wordswere thesaintsthatyou pray to when youloseyour carkeys.Andshesaid,‘Yes,andtheprayeralso saysthathe’sthepatronsaintofalllostthings, includinglosthusbands.’”

De LosSantosdid notsay theprayerfor 20 yearsbut wouldsometimes thinkabout it.While working in Hollywood,DeLos Santos realized therewerenofunmoviesaboutLatinas

“There were no romantic comedies that had

us,andIthought,Ithinkthatprayercouldwork asagoodbasisforagoodromanticcomedy,and that'swhyIpulleditoutofmypocketandwrote thescript, butittook 20 years,”she said

While sheisfromChicago,DeLos Santos considersTexashersecondhome.Herparents livedherebeforemovingtoChicago,and she returned to attend theUniversityofTexas at AustinandwouldvisitSanAntonio.Sofilming in SanAntonio wasa naturalfit.After all, the city gotits name becausethe Spanishexpedition arrivedhereonJune13,1691,the feastday of St.Anthony of Padua.

Filmedin2022inSanAntonio,“SayaLittle Prayer”featuresmanyrecognizablespotsinthe city.Adela andRafaelmeet at Centro de Artes at Market Square

“I love SanAntonio,” Adelasaysatone point.

Nancy De Los Santos saysher grandmother was the inspiration behind “Say ALittle Prayer,”which wasfilmed in the AlamoCity.

Thereisa horse-drawncarriageride throughdowntownand cameos of Downstairs at EsquireTavern, AlamoBeer,DecoPizzeria and“TheSaga” at SanFernandoCathedral,to name afew familiarsites.

Astar-studdedred-carpetscreeningofthe movieatCharlineMcCombs Empire Theatre inOctoberbroughtHollywoodtoSanAntonio, includingFonsi,Vasquez,ChrisKattan,DeLos Santos,cityleaders,and SanAntonio co-producers Eileen Kret andRoberto Treviño.

Fonsiwrote thefeaturedsonginthe movie andsaiditwas afun challenge.

“Obviously,writingsongsissomethingthat Ilovetodoand that Idoveryoften.But I’ve neverhad to writea song whereI have,like, a script,acharacterandastorybehindit.Itwasa good challenge,”hesaid.

“Firstofall,it’sinEnglish.Mostofthesongs IwriteinSpanish,sothat,onitsown,itwasfun Andifyou hear thesong, there’sa couple little thingsthatyouhearaboutSanAntoniotoward theend.”

Also walkingthe redcarpetwas thefirst family of SanAntonio —Mayor RonNirenberg,wifeErika Prosperand theirson,Jonah Nirenberg, whohas asmall role in thefilm

“Firstofall,I’mproudofourcity.It’salove storytoSan Antonio, andsoI’m really excitedtoseeitonthebigscreen,”RonNirenberg said.“Butyou know,for me andfor ourcommunity,weknowhowbeautifulourcityis.We love ourcity. It’s alittlebit of akeptsecret, so having it on thesilver screen is goingtobea really interestingand proudmomentfor San Antonians.”

He is excitedfor thefuturefilm opportunities it couldbring

“MarkTwainsaid,there’sfouruniquecities in America, andSan Antonioisone of them There’sa reason whythiscreates aliving, breathingbackdrop, so many wonderfulstories.And forthe film industry,for television, forHollywood to recognizethatand make use of that andfor us to collaborate in thoseproductions,I thinkisa huge opportunity.” ★

“Say ALittle Prayer” starLuisFonsi was amongthe celebrities at the film’s screening at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.
Thered carpet was rolled out at the Empire.

Bridging Cultures Through Poetry

nanautumnafternoon in downtownSanAntonio,NaomiShihab Nyesippedtea in hersunlit living room,surroundedbybooks. For years, theaward-winning poet,author, editor andeducatorhas lived in theAlamo City with herhusband,buildingcommunityandmaking art, while sharingher passion forpoetrywith thenextgeneration.

O“I’vefeltlikeaSanAntonianformostofmy life,”shesays.“There’safeelingofreallybelonginghere.”

In1952,NyewasborninSt.LouistoaPalestinianfatherandAmericanmother.Shespent

partsofheryouthinbothSt.LouisandJerusalembeforethe family relocatedtoTexas in the 1960s. Shecredits herparents forinstillingin heranearlyappreciationfortheworldandexposing hertoeverythingfromart museumsto nights at thesymphonyand playsinthe park

“Myparents were people of voice, andthey were real proponents of thearts,”she says Nyewasonly7yearsoldwhen,withthehelp of herschool librarian,she begansending her poemstopublications.Later,after graduating from LeeHighSchool andTrinity University, shestarted workinginschoolsfor theTexas Commission on theArts. Since then,she’s

workedinhundredsofschoolsacrossthestate andasfar as Japan,China,Syria andPakistan.

“Itellour8-year-oldgrandsonthatIfeellike I’ve been in school allmylife,”she says with a smile.“Ineverwenttoaschoolanywherewhere poetrydidn’texist,orwherethekidsweren’texcitedtolearn,talkabout or make poetry.”

Today, Nyeremains aprolific and multitalentedwriter, rising earlyinthe predawn hourstopen herpoems,novels, essays andshortstories.ShereceivedtheWallaceStevens Awardfromthe AcademyofAmerican PoetsinOctober.The lifetimeachievement awardisgiven annually.She also continuesto

teachand is currently aprofessorofcreativewriting at Texas StateUniversity.

“WhenI startedteaching, I realized it mattered, because thekidswerethankingme,”she says.“I’dgotoschools,and it wasarevelationofthesevoices; everykid hassomuchtosay.”

OneofNye’s greatest gifts hasbeen making poetry more accessibleand participatoryfor youngpeopleofall ages.Back when school policy allowed, shewould oftentakeher studentsonsilent observation walksoff campus,instructing them to take notesand payattentiontothe things they saw.

“I’llnever forget this kidat HarrisMiddleSchooltelling me,‘When youcame, Ireally thoughtI lived in adumb neighborhood,and nowI feel like Iliveina rich neighborhood,’ ”sheremembers.“That’s what Ihopewe’dall see… that we all have rich lives.”

Theimpactofher work continues to reverberate, evidenced byhermanyspontaneousinteractionswithformerstudents.

“Frequentlythere’s atearful episode,”she says of crossing paths. “One womanatCentral Market told me thewhole time shewas in school,she wasonly askedtosharehervoiceonce when Icame,”Nye recalls.“I thinkone of thegifts of beinga humanbeingishavingavoice.”

Over theyears,the artist has

used hers to illuminate thehope andwonderofthehumanexperience throughthe small, subtle momentsofdaily life. Ultimately, thelingering questfor connection,whichwasimportanttoher even at 7years old, fuelsher unrelentingdrive.Particularlynow, as theworld facesunfathomable tragedyand hardship,Naomi speaksofpoetryasatoolforpeace andhope.

“Everybody hasa poetry channelintheir brainthatremembersand dreams,” she says.“It’s thepartofyourbrain that wantstomakeconnectionsbetween things.”

As theholidaysapproach, sherecommendsleaning into that spirit of connection by reachingouttoothersandgiftingbooks to lovedones.

Next fall, Nyeplans to publish anew collection of poetry Though theworkisstill taking shape, theword“sidekick” came to mind as atemporary workingtitle.Theword,sheexplains,isa fitting representation of theroleshe’s played in thecountless schools, programsand townsshe’s worked with over herlongcareer

“That’swhatIwanttobein my lifeisa sidekick to alot of things,” shesays. “Because then youget to be aparticipant,anobserver. …You’re notthe centerpiece, butyou were there, andyou helped in some way. ” ★

CHRISTMAS TREES AFTER THANKSGIVING Milberger’sNurserywill offerthe most reliable selection of Christmas trees in the San Antonio area.All of our trees have been selected fortheir excellent needle retention and shape.Every tree is fresh cut and displayedinwater to maintain superior freshness.Trees ranchfrom5’to12’ tall.

SAT.,SEPT 2. STARTS AT 10AM GROWING YOUR FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN

BLUE SANTATOY DRIVE NOV. 16TH –DEC. 14TH

BROUGHT TO YOUBYTHE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT:

Help bring asmile to achild on Christmas by donating new/unused and unwrapped toys,books,hygiene sets and clothing forchildren 0-12 years old.

DECEMBER 7TH AND 8TH 11AM-2PM

Join us at the nurseryonLabor Dayfor aFree Adult Seminar presented by David Rodriguez, Extension Agent and Horticulturist. South Texasoffers vegetable gardeners twogreat growing seasons everyyear.David will answeryour specificquestions aboutyour gardeningissues.Bring anotebook

DECEMBER 7TH &8TH 11AM-2PM

Building Connections

Okay Decent more thanacoffee brand

henErikFordrelocatedtoSanAntoniofromLosAngeles,hewasina newcitywithnorealfriends or connections.HeturnedtoDribble. com, asocialmedia platform fordesigners There, he stumbled upon theworkofa local SanAntonio designer,StevenDarby

Thetwometinpersonandquicklybonded overeverythingfrommusictofashionandpop culture.Eventually,theyfosteredaworkingrelationship that in 2013 blossomedintotheir successful creative firm,Heavy Heavy.

Thefirmhasworkedwithmanyprominent namesthroughouttheAlamoCityandbeyond, leavingtheirmarkoncompaniesandorganizationslikeHemisfair,Texas A&M-SanAntonio, andevenSPAM.

In2023,adecadeafteritsbirth,HeavyHeavy

launchedapassionproject—OkayDecentHumanBrand.OkayDecentisa coffeecompany fromtheoutsidelookingin,butfromtheinside lookingout,itismuchmore.Inshort,OkayDecentisalifestylebrandthathappenstosellcoffeeandotheritems,whilepartneringwithlocal creativestogivethema larger platform

“The foundation foreverythingwedowith OkayDecentistheideathatwhenwecometogetherasacommunity,wearestrongest,”Ford said.“We kind of thoughttoourselves,what betterway to startcomingtogetherthanto shareagoodcupofcoffeeorteawithyourloved ones andneighbors?”

Oftheproject’sname,Darbysays,“OkayDecentistheshortestwaytodescribeourperspective on community andjustgetting along. BeingOKisforyou,andbeingdecentisforevery-

oneelse. It’s maybea reaction to thestate of things around us,but it’s apositioning statement either way. We’reheretobegood neighbors andget along.”

While just over ayearold,OkayDecenthas steadily putout astellarselection of coffee, starting with thepopular Friend Maker, amediumroastcoffeewithhintsofmilkchocolate, nougatandstonefruit,followedbyFirmGrip,a bold andearthydarkerroast;Family Magic, a seasonal offering inspired by thetraditional Mexicancoffeedrink café de olla;and itsnewestpecanpralinecreation,WordBond,created as an odetoSan Antonio’slifelongloveaffair with pecans

FordandDarbyaremeticulouswhenselectingcoffeeflavorprofilesand roasts

“Wedowhatwelikebutleanonourroaster

as much as possible. He’s kind of amad scientist of sorts” whoisalwaysworking on somethingnew,saysDarby,referring to theirroastingpartner,MikeTabhanofTexas Coffee Roasters.The groupconstantlytries newsamples to create theperfect product. Although coffeehas thus farbeen theirmainexport, the groupisdiligentlyworkingonteaconceptsfor spring andhavea newlyreleasedmeatrub.All of theirproductsare availableontheir site

OnethingthatsetsOkayDecentapartfrom traditionalcoffeebrandsisits connectionto localartists.Thebrandhasrecentlylauncheda series calledLegends &Friends,where it collaborateswithlocal SanAntonio artiststo combat what it viewsasanunderrepresentation of illustrators featured on localgoods. OkayDecentpartnerswiththeseartiststoproduce one-of-a-kindT-shirts, allowing artiststo profit withoutthe overhead of printing and otherexpenses.

“Aswerolloutmorevariedofferings,Ihope people will begintosee Okay Decent as alifestylebrand celebratingand uplifting themakersanddoersinourcommunity,notjustacoffeebrand,” Ford said.“From artiststocoffee roasters andsomanythingsinbetween,we wanttospotlightthehighlevelofqualitybeing producedbyourneighborssomorepeoplecan enjoythem.”

Darbyadds, “I do hope they buycoffee, though.It’sreally good.” ★

Erik Ford, right, and Steven Darby are behindcreativefirmHeavy Heavy andOkayDecentHuman Brand.

TH EG OOD LIFE

Discover theHidden Elegance of LosCabos

Dive into aluxuriousescape of stunning coastal landscapes

ITHITS BOOMING NIGHTLIFEAND BUZZY beachfront hotels,itcould be tempting to writeoff Cabo SanLucasasa partyhot spot populatedby spiritedspringbreakers.Afterall,thisrenowned resort city,togetherwithits colonial neighbor, SanJosédel Cabo,ishometoover90resorts, anda roughly20-mile-longtourist corridor pulsingwithlivelybars, beachesand dancemusic. Beyond thehustleand bustle of LosCabos’ touristtrappings, however, awaits amuchmore nuancedidentity, with serene seasideretreats, organicfarms,abundantoutdoor adventures andholisticsensibilitiesappealingtoa wide swathofTexas travelers.

With direct,two-hourflightsfromAustin,

Dallasand Houston, LosCabos’easyaccess— nottomention itsoptimal year-round climate andstrikinglandscapes— arejusta fewofthe manyreasonsTexansmakeanannualmigration totheMexicanstateofBajaCaliforniaSur.Here, thedesertmeetsthemountainsandtheseaina dramatic coastalsetting knownfor itsstriking rock formations,likethe ancientgeological arch namedElArco.

Nearly 100milesofcoastlinesprawlalong thepeninsula’s southern tip, wherethe Seaof Cortéz andthe PacificOcean come together. Whileswimmingandsurfingshouldbereserved forselectbeaches,becauseoftheregion’sstrong wavesand undercurrents, many prefer exploringthe Sierra de la Laguna Mountainsfrom

thevantageofanATVormountainbike,andothers play golf in themedleyofworld-class courses around LosCabos.Additionally,the Cabo Pulmo MarineParkishometoNorthAmerica’ssoleliving hardcoralreef,anaturalwonderspanningover45 square miles, making it oneofthe best places to scubadiveonearth

Thelegendary environmentalist, Jacques CousteaudeemedtheSeaofCortés“theaquarium oftheworld,”attractingmigratoryspeciesandseriousfishermen alike. John Steinbeckand Ernest Hemingwayweretwoofthemanyanglerswhovisited Baja Californiafor thecompetitive sportfishingaroundCaboSanLucas,whichcontinuestobe calledthe “Marlin Capitalofthe World.”Come winter,theregion’swarmwatersarehometothousandsofmigrating gray andhumpbackwhales, whileeveryThursdayfromlateNovembertoJune, alivelyartwalkluresvisitorstoSanJosedelCabo’s charming Gallery District

Farmingiscentral to this Mexicanstate’s culture andidentity, with organicoperationssuchas FloraFarms championingsustainable growth and zero-waste practices. Thepropertyoffers multiple hands-oncookingprograms,farmtoursandherbalist-ledbotanical walks, andtheir popularcarrot “Farmarita”mightbeworththetripalone.Baja’sagriculturalheritageisdeeplyfeltacrossthepeninsula,and in townssuchasMirafloresand Santiago, while fishermanand street vendorslureinLaPaz

Eachisworthyofavisit,asisastopintoTodosSantos,whereamixofexpats,farmers,artistsandsurfers contribute to thetown’sbohemianspirit. The

community,whichishometothefamedHotel California, hasseveral notablehospitalityoptions,includingHotelSanCristóbalbytheAustin-basedBunkhousegroup,andParadero.The latterrecentlydebuted anew MexicanrestaurantcalledTenoch,inspiredbytheancientAzteccityLaGranTenochtitlan, that wasrecognizedbythe Michelin Guide.

Long before luxury resortspopulated this area,thehotspringsofElChorroandSantaRita were places of comfortand healing. Today, manyhotelsinandaroundLosCabosofferhydrotherapy circuits andhealingrituals reflective of theregion’scenturies-old traditions

Though LosCabos’party-centric reputationremains,thereismuchmoretoappreciate aboutthismulti-faceteddestination,including some of thefinest, five-starhospitalityonthe continent. This winter,check outthese three outstandingaccommodationstoexperienceit foryourself.

Superlativeservice andattention to detail shineatthisfive-star resort,which is home to someofLatinAmerica’smostluxuriousvillas.

EddieMoneymayhavecroonedabout“Two TicketstoParadise,”but in Baja CaliforniaSur, it’s allabout the windowstoparadise,orLas Ventanas al Paraíso. On arrivaltothisfive-star Rosewood resort,mariachis welcomeguests withtheirsignatureornamentalsuitsandheritage music. Eighty-fourenchantingsuitesand villasshinealongthewater’sedge,tuckedamid theproperty’sgleamingpools,elegantbarsand elevated restaurants.

Here,itisallabouttip-topservicedelivered bydedicatedbutlerswhogettoknowguests’interestsand preferenceswithcustomizedsurprisesthroughouttheirstay.TheBulgaritoiletries area luxe in-room amenity, butthe bespokesewingkit,pairedtomatcheachvisitor’s vacation wardrobe,isa detail that lingers From sunuptosundown,the team at Las Ventanas al Paraísopridesitselfonmaking everyone feel likea VIP. Though it’s hard to thinkofanythingmorepleasingthansimply sitting by theresortpool,a rangeofexperiencescan be planned, from horsebackrides to offshore fishing, or movienightsonthe beach.Theprivatebeachcabanasareanother splurge-worthy experience,withintimate plunge pools, andsun-drenchedlounge

1. Las Ventanas Al Paraíso

chairs perchedatopsandraked with tailored greetings

Everyday,therearedifferentwellnessofferings available, from yoga to matPilatesand functionalbeachtraining,whilethespaisaveritable sanctuary. Cool towels wrappedwithcucumber andaloeverasoothe sun-kissedskin, whiletheiruniquemenuoftreatmentsinclude nopaldetox wrapsand holistictwilight ceremonies.The latterservice,withits 60-minute massage,startswitha purifyingand cleansing “limpia”ritual,adoptedfromancientshamans of Baja,using sage smoke, prayersand eagle feathers to releasenegativeenergy.

Thefood here is freshand exquisitelyprepared,fromthesimplicityofawell-cutpieceof fish at theTequila &Ceviche Bartodinnerat thetwinkle-litArbolrestaurant,wherecreative coastalcuisine is coloredbyAsian influences Afterdinner, head to thediscrete1920s-style speakeasyfor incredible liveentertainment andsophisticated craftcocktails

Thoughthesuitesalonearesplurge-worthy in everysense,the villasatLas Ventanas al Paraísohaveearneda reputation forbeing the mostluxuriousinLatinAmerica.TheTyWarner mansion, namedfor theresort’sowner and

founderofBeanieBabies,isaprimeexample;at 28,000 feet,the exclusiveestateboastsa 300foot infinity pool,dualocean view primary suites,and interiorsfurnished with thefinest examples of Mexicanartistry.

2. One&Only Palmilla

Classic,old-schoolMexicoreignsatOne&Only Palmilla,withanexemplary spaand anew omakaserestaurant.

DrivingintoOne&OnlyPalmilla,hundreds ofcolorfulglasshummingbirdsshimmerfrom beneathalargecentraltree.Guestsaregreeted with cool lemongrass towels andglassesof pressedgreen juicetoppedwithchile-infused tequila as they’rewelcomed“home.”

Home is afitting word forthisnostalgic Mexicanhotel,withits hacienda-style abodes sittingon55acresofpalm-shadedgrounds.On thehill overlookingthe property,a1950schapelgives thefeelingofbeing in an oldcolonial pueblo,while down theway,hammockshang over lush lawns, inviting guests to take arest.

Thehotel’s origin datestothe mid-1950s when DonAbelardoRodriguez,son of thenMexicanpresident,General Abelardo

Rodriguez, turned it into hisprivate home, andeventually,the region's firstresort. Over theyears,HollywoodstarssuchasJohnWayne andLucilleBallvisited,along with Oprahand JenniferAniston more recently

Today,guestsenjoythespaciousoceanfront roomsfurnished with Mexicanceramicsand artwork, alongwiththe dedicatedhosts who tend to everyneed.Amenities onsite include theaward-winning JackNicklaus-designed golf course,bothadult andfamily-friendly pools,alongwithPelicanbeach,whichisoneof thefew protectedand swimmablebeaches in thearea.

Theresortalsooffersa rangeofluxeculinary options, from itssignature restaurant SEARED by Michelin-starChefJean-Georges Vongerichtentoanewelevatedomakasevenue calledHoshi.The latterisa sleek andcontemporary addition to theOne&Onlyportfolio, withadramaticomakasecounterandintimate sakebarwherepatronspartakeinagastronomic journeydrivenbythe freshest fish andlocal seafoodsourcedfromtheSeaofCortézandPacificOcean

Culinaryindulgences arebalancedwith morningclassesintheyogagardenandquality timeloggedintheOne&OnlySpa,whereamix of holistictreatmentsand traditionalhealing modalitiestakeplaceinaverdant,sereneoasis, complete with gurglingfountains andfloweringgardens

Andwhilethehotelisapopularyear-round destination, thereisperhaps no better time to visitthanDecembertoApril,whenthegrayand humpback whales make their6,000-mile migrationfromAlaskatoBaja. Grab thein-room binoculars andheadoutside forunforgettable whale-watching memories

3. Zadún, aRitz-Carlton Reserve

MotherNaturereignsinthisoff-the-gridRitzCarltonReserve property,where indoor-outdoor living is celebrated in style.

Unbeknownsttomany, over 40%ofBaja CaliforniaSurisdesignatedaprotectednatural area,inspiring anew wave of eco-tourismand sustainablehospitality. Zadún, whichisone of just half adozen Ritz-Carlton Reserveproperties around theworld,and thefirst in Mexico, leansintothatdesignationheavily,withanemphasisonMotherNature’sbeautyandblended indoor-outdoor living.

Thepropertyisfarther removedfromthe luxury accommodationsabove,witha decidedly more contemporary flair. Here,walls of glassand metalare softened by windingfootpathsflowering with oleander andnative grasses, whilethe 113guest rooms, suites and villascamouflageintothe rollinghills,with naturalstone concealingoutdoor showers, privateplungepoolsand floor-to-ceiling viewsoftheSeaofCortéz.Furthermore,every

guestisgiven apersonal“tosoyne” or dream catchertohelpcuratetheir stay

Highlightsinclude thestate-of-the-artAlkemiaspa,withits open-air hydrotherapy circuit surrounded by plumeria trees,and the unique menu of wellness offerings, including Temazcal ceremonies,and adedicated Savasana room designed to quietthe mind

Visitors lookingtoindulge in authentic Mexicanflavors likechicken tingaand fresh passionfruitmargaritascandosoatthecolorfulrestaurantElBarrio,whileatHumo,amedleyoffreshfish,meatsandseafoodaregrilledin aSouth American parrilla andwood oven.

Most unique,however,isthe property’s partnershipwiththe Jean-MichelCousteau Ambassadors of theEnvironment program, whichinspireshuman connectionwiththe naturalworld.Children, adults andfamilies alikeare invitedtopartake in immersiveexperiences, from stargazing to trailhikes and aquaticexploration,all highlightingMexico’s diverseecosystems.Withmorethan400avian speciesinthe state, birdwatching is anotherof theprogram’s popularactivities. Zadún’steam ofonsitenaturalistsequipsguestswithbinoculars during guided walks, whereit’spossibleto seeeverythingfromWestern Tanagers to Wilson’sWarblersandCactusWrens,alongwitha fewofthe state’ssix endemicspecies,likethe ethereal Xantus hummingbird andYellowfooted gull. ★

When Freedom andFood Intersect

Mare eMonte pays homage to Military City andowner Prince Blakaj’s Albanian roots

The1999 sign hangingprominently on thewallatMareeMonte has sentimentalmeaning to owner Prince Blakaj

GrowingupinKosovoduringtheheightof theKosovoWar,Blakajassociatedthesoundof Americanfighterjetsoverheadwiththefeeling of freedom.

FighterjetswerepartofOperation Allied Force— aNATO-ledair campaign aimedat ending thehumanitariancrisisinKosovofor good in1999.

“Those heroes —they’re theonesthat fought formetobefree,”Blakajrecounted Dreaming of hisown restaurant anda better life,BlakajgravitatedtowardMilitaryCity knowinghewantedtobesurroundedbythe heroes whohelpedkeep himsafeasa child Italianfor“landandsea,”MareeMontegar-

neredbuzzfromthe moment theeatery opened itsdoorsina stripmallonHuebner Road in Spring 2024

Themenuandnameoftherestaurantitself payhomagetothe Adriatic Seaand theAlbanian mountains, tyingitall together neatly with aTexas-sized twistofclassic Southern hospitality.

Blakaj takeshis dedication to hospitality with theutmostseriousness.The ownerfrequentlyinteracts with guests at Mare eMonte, jovially sharinghis triumphant story of hope amid clinking wine glassesand forkstwirling freshpasta

Evokingtheold-schoolambianceofaholein-the-wallItalianeateryone mightcome across on ahistoric, cobblestone European street,MareeMonte’s menu keepsitstraightforward.Thelemonsoleoreganata(afanfavor-

ite, Blakaj notes) features theeponymous fish, bathed in asatisfyingwhite wine reductionand toppedoff with homemade breadcrumbs, paired with asparagusrisotto andspinach

“Thebreadcrumbsaddadifferenttexturetothe classicdish—it’sjustbeensellinglikecrazy,”Blakaj said

Thebreadcrumbs arealsoa callbacktoBlakaj’s upbringing.Henearlydisconnected with hisinitialpassionforcookinguponhismovetotheUnited States in 2018,but asummertriptoItaly,Albaniaand Greecereignited therestaurantowner’s childhood cookingmemories.

“Comingout of thewar,myfamily used to watchcookingshowstogether.However,wedidn’t havealltheingredientswewouldneedtorecreate recipesfromthe programs.So, what we woulddo wasplanayearinadvancetogettheingredientswe neededtocookourfavoritecookingshowrecipes,” he said

“Those momentsare what really ignitedmy passion forcooking.”

Blakaj’s enthusiasm is infectiousinevery dish atMareeMonte.Theeatery’slunchanddinnerofferingshavesomething foreveryone— tender lamb chops, apasta el nero (squid inkpasta)dish, lobsterravioli (aptly namedravioli Mare eMonte), multiple chickendishesand more

In atruefull-circle moment,U.S.militarypersonnelthatparticipatedinOperationAlliedForce havestoppedbyMareeMonte,inadditiontoother membersofthe ArmedForces, eagertohear Blakaj’s story.

Some even sharetheir challengecoins with Blakaj.A longstanding militarytradition,challengecoins aretokensmembers of themilitary earn during certaincampaigns or operations

If they’rechallenged to show theircoinbyother militaryservice membersand can’tbrandish theircoinwithin15seconds or less, they owethe challenger andanyoneelseinthe room whowas able to producetheir coin adrink or around of drinks,depending on thescenario.

Thechallengecoins areminiature badges of honor. It’s atestament to Blakaj’s dedication to MilitaryCitythatmultipleservice membershave givenhimchallengecoinstoaddtohiscollection.

“It’sjustbeensoincredible,thisismydreamjob …it’snot even ajob anymore, I’mjusthavingfun over here,” Blakaj said ★

MARE EMONTE

9390 Huebner Road mareemonte.com

EA T+ DR IN K

Puro Sushi

Chika celebrates SanAntonio cultura in a13-course omakase

ho knew that sushicould serveasa creative canvas to expressa love of San Antonio? ForChefJonathan Reyes, hiscreations offerstories andinsightsintothe city andits culture

WIndeed,Chika is theessentialrestaurantSan Antoniodidn’trealizeit needed

Twiceanight,ReyesandChefJohn Ramoscreatea 13-courseomakase journeythat’sfilledwithstories,incredible flavor andanunmistakable corazón that givessushi asense of placeinSan Antonio.

Reyescalls hisstyle “San Antokyo” andit’sbrilliant.His deft approach keepsthefocusonthefreshnessofthe seafood,and hisSan Antoniotouches accent,butneveroverpower,thefocus on each course.Ina course that includes pickleddaikon, he adds alight sprinkle of Tajinand talksabout pickingfruit at Woodlawn Lake;inanother,headdsatouchofshavedchileserrano slices andrhapsodizes aboutRudy’s Seafood,the SouthSidefried fish fixturethat’sa must foranybody who wantstounderstandthiscity.

Otherdishesmay have alemon caperessence(thinkofthe SanAntonioclassicShrimpPaesano), al pastor seasoning, or ahintofmolepoblano

Thesetouches wouldbesoeasyto careenintokitsch,butRamos’senseof tastekeepseverythingunder control.

“Youknowthesaying,‘seasonituntilyourancestorssayit’sjustenough?’” he asks.“Ijustlistentothem.”

TheexperiencebeginswithcheckinginatAmeliaforacocktailandafew minutesoflounging. Then diners receiveatextandmaketheirwaybehind ablack curtain, througha narrow, neon-lit hallway into Easy Baby andthen behindaheavydoorthatopensupinto theomakase space. Fora fewmoments,Ididn’tknowifIwasgoingtoan undergroundomakase,anillicitpoker tournament or fightclub, andthat addedtothe anticipation

With 1970s-erafunkfillingthe space, Reyesand Ramosquietly arrangetheir ingredientsand equipment behind thecounter before startingthe experience.Get thewinepairings,too.Theydoafunjobofprogress-

CHIKA

875 E. Ashby Pl., Suite 1030 (access through Amelia lounge) Seats by advance purchase only sevn.ly/xjPqDNK0

ingthrough thecourseofthe meal

“Wetry to create anon-stuffy and pretentiousapproach,” Reyessaid. “At theend of theday,itdoesn't matter howhardI work on it.Doesittaste good?”

This dining experience comes fromReyes,“aproud Chicano,”from theSouth Sideand West Side whoattended theCordonBleuinAustinbefore starting hisfirst restaurant jobat Benihana,wherehemetRamos.Reyes brings that teppanyakiexperiencein hisshowman movesofsqueezinga lime over aknife atop arow of sushi piecesbeforeserving,andhisdramatic passingofaculinarytorchabovearow of nigiri

Reyeswas recruitedtothe Austin sushitempleUchiandworkedatother Austinrestaurantsbeforereturningto SanAntonio to care forhis ailingfather

“Icamehomewiththeintentionof leavingand stayed longer than Iintended,” he said.

Here in SanAntonio,heworkedat Kimura,Botikaand Up Scale, before heandRamosranathree-monthresidencyatKimuracalledChotto.That’s atermthatthe Japanesechefs at Uchi wouldtellReyes,toseasonhis dishes “a little.”

Thetermalsoplays with somethingReyes’fathersaidbeforehedied. “Mydad wouldtellme‘When you miss me,justmissmea littlebit,’ ” Reyesrecalled. “Thisisa tributetoour dads,losingthemtocancer.We’rejust trying to make them proud.” ★

Chika Chefs JonathanReyes andJohn Ramos combine traditional sushi techniques with local flavors to create what theyrefer to as San Antokyo style.

These days,Santa is servingupa lotmorethaneggnog.

Over thepastfew years, San Antoniohas seen arapid expansion in thenumberofholiday themed popup bars taking over ourfavoritewatering holesevery holly jolly season.It’sanopportunity forbar operatorstodoawaywiththe business-as-usual ho hum andtemporarily reinventthemselvesasawinterwonderland fulloffestivedecorations,merrimentand,of course,morethanafewwhimsicalcocktails

Experience theMagic

Holiday-themed pop-up bars make SanAntonio merrier

Themovementtook reindeer-guided flightinearnestafewyearsbackwhentheinternationallyknownMiraclepop-uplanded at thenow-shutteredJet-SetteronHouston Street.Miracle hassince takenholdhere, making itshomeatDownstairsatEsquire Tavern forthe past severalholiday seasons. Ifyou’veneverbeentoaholidaybarpopup,brace yourself.They’re akitschy exercise in excess, whereonlythe most horridugly sweaters will do,you’llsip your beverage froma Rudolph-inspired muggrippedby

theantlerhandles,and there’sa good chance you’ll head home with more than a fewstrands of tinsel stuckinyourhair.

Andyou candosomegoodalong the way. Miracle( miraclepopup.com)opens Nov. 29 this year —a farbetterway to spend BlackFridaythanbraving theretailshopping chaos— at Downstairs.Thisyear, the organization haspartnered with thenonprofitSeva,whichworkstopreserveandrestorevisionthrough self-sustainingprogramsaroundthe world.

Miracleisfar from theonlyshowin town.A fewdoorsdownonthe RiverWalk, Hugman’s Oasiswill also undergoa festive transformation into atiki-inspired holiday barSippin’ Santa. Here,the jolly oldelf vacationsinthe tropicswithrum,coconuts andsurfboardsmixed into thetraditional decoroflights, garlands andwreaths.

Thefestivities at Hugman’s also kick off

on Nov. 29.BothHugman’sOasis (135 E. CommerceSt.)and Downstairs at Esquire Tavern (155 E. CommerceSt.)are ownedby developerChris Hill. Miracleand Sippin’ Santa( sippinsantapopup.com) arepartner pop-ups, andbothhavea finely tunedattentiontodetailthatfeelsgift-wrapped with abow.Besuretoadd this year’s lineup of collectible mugs to your stashofglassware at home

ThesprawlingNorth Sideestablishment ChickenN Pickle hasalsojumpedinto thesnowpile of frosty pop-up fun. For thepastseveral yearsthey’ve overhauled theirupperlevelintotheski-lodgeinspired TheHoliday Hideaway.The pop-up returns this year,makingits debutNov.22.

TheHoliday Hideaway offers seasonal drinks such as thewarm, tequila-spiked Cozy CabinCider anda flight of seasonal martinisdubbedReindeergames.It’sanex-

Theholiday pop-up bars will launch in late November.

tensivemenuthatbringssparkleandglitter (literally—oneofthedrinksisinfusedwith glitter) to thepropertyat5215UTSABlvd. Reservationsarerecommendedandcanbe made at chickennpickle.com.

Perhapsnoplace in town will take the holiday reduxmoreseriously than theJW MarriottSan AntonioHill CountryResort &Spa.Thishotel (23808 Resort Parkway) hasheldseveral holiday pop-upsinthe past.Thisyearthey’re goingall-in with a full-blownwinterwonderland.

Themainattraction is Ice!,anelaborate displayofcharactersfromDr. Seuss’ “How theGrinchStole Christmas!”carvedfrom2 millionpoundsofice.StartingNov.23, the resortgroundswillbefullydeckedoutwith a30-foot tree, an iceslideand multiple food andbeverageoptions allready to chasethe humbugsaway. Details andticketsatjwhillcountrychristmas.com. ★

Geronimo Lopez was named executive chefatHotel Emma in October.

CClassicand Contemporary Flair

hefGeronimoLopez’sjourneyhas come full circle,landing at his newbeginningasexecutivechefat HotelEmma

“You know it’s acomeback,”Lopez said “I’llbehonestwithyou,whenI wasinthe midstofmakingthatveryharddecisionof shutting down Botika,whatpoppedintomy mind wasgoing back to hotels becausethat’s whereI came from.”

AnnouncedinOctober,the HotelEmma executivechefpositionincludesoversight of Supper, Sternwirthe, Larder andeventually, room servicefor thehotel

LopezopenedBotikaatPearl in 2016, whichfeatureda Peruvian-Asian inspired menuuntilclosinginAugust.Lopezpreviously wasexecutive chef andinstructoratthe Culinary InstituteofAmerica SanAntonio, whereheopenedthe school’s firstrestaurant, Nao,whichclosedin2018.Hehasledkitchens in restaurantsand resortsinhis native Venezuelaand Europe,Mexicoand Hawaii.

While Lopezwas thinking aboutreturning tohotels,hewasn’tinterestedinthegrindofa large, impersonal corporateoperation.

“Luckyme,youknow,thestarsalignedand then this jobcameabout,and this placeis such abeautiful property with agreat personalitythatisabsolutelyunique,”hesaid. “And they were lookingfor that uniqueness into theirculinaryprogram.SowhenI expressed what my dreamwas forthisplace,I thinkwe sawthe same vision andmission forit.”

Lopezwants to bringbackclassics, returningtoa beautifulgoldenera of dining that reflects theOld Worldfeel of HotelEmma

“Lately, I(have)beenhavingpersonallya bigpassion forold school cookingand classics,” he said.“Emma hassucha rich history fromthearchitecturetothedetails,youknow, therewerenospareexpensesdoingthisplace Andyou cansee it in everylittlecornerofthe hotel. So I’mcomingfromthat, knowinghow importantthishotel wasfor thewhole project.”

HotelEmma wasrecognizedwithtwo Michelin Keys in September. TheMichelin Guidejudgeshotelsbased on excellence in five categories:architectureand interior design,qualityand consistencyofservice,overallpersonalityand character, valuefor the price, anda significantcontributiontothe guestexperienceina particular setting. Two Keys areconsideredanexceptional stay Theannouncement forthe Michelin restaurantguideforTexaswasscheduledforNov 11,beforepresstime.Nodoubt,therecognition it will bringtothe stateand howitwill elevate dining in SanAntonio is on theminds of restaurantownersand chefs.

“I know that I'mgetting allthe support fromtheexecutiveteamheretoreallyputfor-

ward that dreamofmakingthisa placethat notonlyhas twoMichelin Keys,but hopefully some otheraccoladesand recognitions.”

March 6, 2025, at Hotel Emma Tickets cost $150and will go on sale in November. jamesbeard.org/tasteamerica

Oneesteemed eventhas been announced. Thenonprofit James BeardFoundation’s TasteAmerica series,which champions America’srichfoodculture,will stop in San AntonioonMarch 6, 2025.The dinnerwill featurea four-coursedinnerhostedbyChef LopezatHotel Emma ★

Executive Chef Geronimo Lopez will oversee Supper at Hotel Emma.
NewExecutive Chef Geronimo Lopez brings elegant vision forHotel Emma
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION TASTE AMERICA

SpiceUpYourHolidays

he holiday entertaining season is a time to spicethingsupwithdarker spiritsand signaturecocktails Whetherornot cooler weatherfinally arrivesinSan Antonio, Milam& Greene Whiskey’snewestrelease—UnabridgedVolume 3: ACask-Strength BlendofStraightBourbon Whiskeys —shouldbeinyourrotation.

TUnabridged refers to acompletepiece of work withoutleaving outany parts. In this instance,itreferstobothCEO HeatherGreene’s time as awriterand this spirit as unfiltered,unchilledcask-strength

Thebottleitselfisbeautiful andcomes in an enclosed boxthatalsomakes it aperfect holiday gift

Milam& Greene’sUnabridgedVolume3 is cask-strengthandbottledat59%ABV/118Proof Itisablendofsixdifferentwhiskeysfrom49barrels distilledinKentucky, Tennesseeand Texas. Thebarrelsrangeinagefrom3.5to10yearsand they areblended at thedistillery in Texas.

Onarecenttastingcall,Greenesharednotesof “creaminess, spice, andmulti-notes directly from maltedryebarrelsfromKentuckyandTexas.”

Themaltedrye adds toastedsweetness, and thereisa hint of mint on thefinishwitha spicy note of cinnamonand chili powder

GreeneenjoysUnabridgedVolume3 candied sweetness with asimplepiece of dark

Unabridged Volume 3 is both acollector’s item andthe perfectgift for whiskey lovers

MI LAM &G REENE ES PRESSO RYE -TIN I

Ingredients

• 2ounces Milam &Greene Port Finished Rye Whiskey

• 1ounce espresso coldbrew

• ½ounce Mr. Black ColdBrew Liqueur

• ½ounce vanilla or regular simple syrup

Instructions: Mix rye, espresso, cold brew liqueur and simple syrup. Shake on icefor 20-25 seconds. Strain into a martini glass andgarnishwith coffee beans.

chocolateafter dinner.

“Pullitout aftera hard dayortocelebrate something.Lightyourfireorsitonyourporch. That is themostbeautiful perfectway to enjoy this whiskey,”she said.“Appreciate life. Whiskeyisamomenttoslowdownattheendofthe dayand appreciate life.”

Milam& GreeneWhiskey,founded in 2019 in Blanco,has quicklycollected accolades. Amongthe tophonors, Greenewas named 2023MasterBlenderoftheYear,andthedistillery’s Master DistillerMarlene Holmes wasrecently recognized as the2024MasterDistiller of theYearbythe WomenofWhiskey Award.

Theircombined50years of experience workinginthe whiskeyindustryled them to become “Whiskey makers forwhiskey drinkers,”Greenesaid.

Forthose whoprefera mixedcocktail, Milam& Greene’sPortFinishedRye packsa punchintheir take on an Espresso Rye-Tini ThespiritwasawardedgoldattheSanFrancisco WorldSpirits Competitionand rated97 points by Wine Enthusiast.Beginning as IndianaRye whiskey, it is broughttoMilam& Greene’sTexasdistillery,whereitisfinishedin oldPortWineCasksandagedintheTexansun Milam& Greenespirits areavailable in most retail locations, as well as at thedistillery:208 Carlie Lane in Blanco ★

Holidaycheersfor soberguests

The holidayseasonis upon us with parties, dinners,happyhours andother celebrationsfilledwithholiday spirit Whetherit’seggnog sipped around afireorflutesofchampagneclinkedatmidnight, alcoholisoftenatthecenterofmany seasonal soirees,which can causethesoberguesttofeelawkward,excluded, or like Scrooge himself. So howcan youbethe holiday host or hostesswiththe mostest? By creating asafe, welcoming andinclusive environment that allows everyguest to relaxand revelinthe joyofthe season with or withoutalcohol

Have Mocks In Stock

Theholidaysaretrickyinthatwhilesomeeagerlyawaitthe time spentwithfamily andfriends,there areothersfor whom this time of year canbechallenging as they tryto navigate social situations withouta drinkinhand. That’s whyit’sessentialforthehosttoplanaheadandhaveplenty ofbeverageoptionsthatdon’tscream,“Hey,I’mnotdrinking.”Thankstoa rise in soberand sober-curiouslifestyles, many brands of nonalcoholic wines, beersand spiritson themarketlookliketherealdeal,andtastedeliciouseither enjoyedontheir ownorina favorite holiday “mocktail.”

As theco-ownerofSan Antonio’spremier soberbar, VeganHash, RogerSanchez is an expert on nonalcoholic brands that generate abuzzamong thesober set. Forthose wholovethe tasteofa cold beer,herecommendsAthletic BrewingCompany

“ItisthefirstnonalcoholicfullbreweryintheU.S.,”Sanchez said

ST RAWBERRY

JA LAPEÑO

MA RG ARITA

Ingredients

• 1strawberry

• 2slicesofcucumber

• 2slicesofjalapeño

• 1½ ounces of Spiritless Jalisco Tequila

• ¾ounce Dhos Spirits Non-Alcoholic Triple Sec

• 1ounce lime juice

• 1ounce brown sugar simple syruporagave

• Salt or chile lime, for rim

Directions: Muddle the strawberry, cucumber, and jalapeño. Add spiritless tequila, N/A triple sec, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake well, and strain into aglasswith asalt or chile lime rim.

Credit: RogerSanchez, VeganHashOwner

GO LDEN HOUR

MO CKTAIL

Ingredients

• 2dashesAngostura Bitters

• 2dashesOrange Bitters

• 1dropper of Other Realm Nervine Tincture

• ¾ounce lemon juice

• ¾ounce honey simple syrup

• 2ouncesSeedlip 42 Non-Alcoholic Gin

• Orange peel,for garnish

Directions: Add Angostura, orange bitters, tincture, lemon juice, simple syrup and N/A gin into ashaker with afullscoop of ice. Shakewell and strain twice into aglass. Garnish with a trimmed and twisted orange peel

Credit: Elizabeth Johnson, Owner Pharm Table

With afocus on athleticismand health, theaward-winning brewshavebecomemainstream andeasytofindatplaceslikeH-E-B andWhole Foods.

Sanchez, whohas been soberfor 11 years, alsorecommendsthebrandFreforthosewho liketounwindwitha glassofwine. Foundat CentralMarketand some H-E-Blocations, Freoffers red, whiteand sparklingoptions made with traditionalwinemakingmethods Then,theyextract thealcohol from thefinal product.Accordingtothecompany’swebsite, this processallows thebeveragetoretainthe flavorsand aromas of apremium wine,but with less than 0.5% alcohol, nottomention fewercalories.

Finally,for spirits, Sanchezturns to thefemale-owned,Austin-basedbrand Spiritless Unlikeother companiesthatmakedupes of whiskey,gin,tequilaandotherlibations,Spiritless produces traditionalspirits andremovesthe alcohol.

“Itgives them amuchbetterand more authentictaste,” said Sanchez.

He uses thebrand’s tequila in hisholiday Strawberry JalapeñoMargarita mocktail. You canfindSpiritlessatTwinLiquors andsome H-E-Blocations in SanAntonio.

However, before yourun outand stockthe barwithall thenonalcoholicdupes youcan find,it’simportant to note that notall sober people want somethingthatlooks, smells or tastes likewhattheyhavegiven up.

“Thatcanbeaslipperyslopeforsomepeople,”Sanchez said

Onealternativetothatproblemistothink outsidethe barand reframehow youpresent thebeverages at your gathering.

“Considerofferinga varietyoffestive drinks that arefabulouswithout alcohol, and offerthe alcoholonthe side foranyonewho choosestoadditin.Thisway,yoursoberguest isn’tthe oddone out,” said ChristinaVarela Mayer, CEOofBlueHeron Recovery.“Rather than ‘alcohol-free,’weofferto‘addtothe drinkifyou choose,’which really normalizes thesober option,” shesaid.

Raise The Bar On Party Etiquette

It’s easy to make guests feel at home forthe holidays. With abit of planning,considerationandrespect,everyonecanraiseaglassof cheeratyourparty.Justrememberthatwhat’s in that glassisnobody’sbusinessbut their own.Peoplechoosenottodrinkforawidevarietyofreasons andare notrequiredtodisclosethose reasonstoanyone.

“Maintaina respectfor your guests’privacy,” Mayersaid. “Itisincrediblyimportant to remember that whoeverchooses to drinkor nottodrink alcoholisthe only person at liberty to share.”

Youalsoneed to understand that even though youmay have done everything you couldtomakeeveryonefeel welcome, it’s not

always aboutyou.Ifa sober guestneedsto leavethepartyearly,that’sOK.Don’tmakeita bigdealorembarrass anyone

“Any situationcan become stressful withoutreason,”saidMayer.“Weencourageeveryonewho aims to stay soberoverthe holidays to have aparty escape plan.”

Finally,rememberthatthe reason fora holiday partyisabout more than what youare servingatthe bar. It’s aboutgetting together with people we love.

“Asthe host,try to create an environment that is less focusedonthe alcoholand more focusedonthecommunityandthereasonfor thegathering,” said Sanchez.

We’lltoast to that! ★

Austin-based Spiritless brand removesthe alcohol from its products

Gifts to GetLove They’ll

Embrace thespirit of giving with locally curated presents

omepeopleare naturallygreat “gifters,” always managing to show up with theperfect present. Others, notsomuch. If youfallintothe lattercategory, don’tworry,we’ve got your back!Arm yourself with ourgift guidefilledwithlocal selections and suggestions forwhattogiveeventhe most hard-to-buy-forfolks.And whileit’salwaysbetter to give than receive, don’tbesurprised if youfind yourself pickingupa couple of itemstostuff your stocking,too. Don’tworry,wewon’t tell thebig guy. Happy Holidays!

Forthe Kids

Christmasand toys go together,like Frosty andRudolph.LearningExpress in theQuarry Market is thenextbestthing to Santa’sworkshopfor unique findslike thefamousMissRacheltoysfor toddlers or Plasma Cars forthe preschool set. The shop is also home to an extensiveselection of toytrain sets forplaying or collecting. Visitlearningexpress.comfor more information.

Thinkoutside thetoy boxwitha membership to theDoSeum. This children’s museum is designed forcreative play andhands-onlearningthatstimulates youngminds.Or, take awalkon thewild side with amembershiptothe SanAntonio Zoofor year-round animal fun. Visitthedoseum.org or sazoo.orgfor more information.

For theCulture Lover

TheSan Antonioartsscene is thriving, andfrommusic to dance, theaterand museums, thereissomething foreveryone. Ticketstothe SanPedro Playhouse arealwaysa smashhit.Now in its112th season,thisbeloved localtheater setin picturesqueSan PedroSprings Park has a2025springlineupofprofessional performances that includes “JerseyBoys” and“Romeoand Juliet.”Visit sanpedroplayhouse.orgfor more information.

Otheroptions forart lovers on your listinclude ticketstothe spring perfor-

Kids play on the sock skatewhile ringing in the "Noon" Year at the DoSeum.
Ballet San Antonio will presentits annual staging of “The Nutcracker” at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

manceof“PeterPan”bythe world-class BalletSan Antonio, passestothe San AntonioMuseumofArt,ora membership to TheMcNay foruniqueongoing andvisitingexhibits.

Addtoorstart theirart collection with affordable pieces from some of the city’s toplocal artists, availableatFeliz Modern.ThiseclecticOlmos Park shop serves as agateway forbothestablished andwanna-beart collectors.

Visitballetsanantonio.org, samusue-

m.org, andmcnayart.orgfor ticket and membership information, andfelizmodern.com forgiftideas

For the Men

TexasbandZZTop said it best when they sang,“Everygirl’scrazy fora sharpdressedman.” To keep theguysonyour listlookingsharp,headtoPenners Since 1916,thisdowntownfamily-owned men’sstore hasoutfittedgenerations of

thecity’smoversand shakersinsuits, shoes, casual wearand more.Visit pennersinc.comfor more information.

Forsomething custom yetcasual, try DosCarolinas at Pearl. Here,you can choosefromvarious fabricsand finishes to create acustomtraditional shirtthat’s as specialasheis. Visitdoscarolinas.com formoredetails

If youhavea guywho likes to make a bold statement, head over to Divide & ConquerDenim &Leather on Broadway

JavierTrevino,owner of Divide &Conquer Denim &Leather, makes customguayaberas at his store in downtown San Antonio.

whereJavierTrevino andhis team make everygarment onsite.Eachdesignisa work of art, from custom leatherjackets to aprons andjeans.Visit lafoodwhore.comfor more information.

For the FitnessEnthusiast

SanAntonio hasmadegreat stridesover thepastseveral yearstobecomea fitness-forwardcity, so giving thegiftof good health hasnever been easier. One of thehottest trends in fitnessright now is Pilates, andwelikeCoreFit Pilates andBarre forits varietyoflocations, assortment of classesand engaging instructors. Visitcorefittx.com forpackagepricing

Forthe cardio queens,Amp Cycleon Broadway near Pearland Amor Cycling Studio +Fitness near Broadway and410 offerfun ways to raisethe heartrate. Visitamp-studio.comand amorcyclingstudio.comfor package pricing.

Finally,a pass to oneofthe city’s many idyllic golf coursesmakes agreat stocking stufferfor thegolflover in your life. Visitalamocitygolftrail.com fora listand ratingsofsomeofthe city’s best courses.

For the Culinarian

Whetheryou’vegot an aspiring chef on your listorsomeone whodoesn’t know a broilerfroma boiler, cookingclasses make greatgifts foranyonewho loves food.H-E-B CentralMarketoffers a menu of optionsthatprovide delicious, hands-on educationand funfor allages. Visitcentralmarket.com fora listof classesand pricing.

Thelocally owned, popularSouthtown plant-forwardhot spot Pharm Tableoffers cookingclasseswhere guests canlearn howtomakehealthy,ayurvedic-focused mealsthattaste phenomenal Visitpharmtable.comtopurchasea gift card that canbeusedtowarda class.

Finally,headtoThe Twig Book Shop at Pearltograba copy of “Cured:CookingwithFerments, Pickles, Preserves& More.” Pennedbysix-timeJames Beard AwardfinalistChefSteve McHugh,it brings everything youloveabout hisSan

Central MarketCookingSchool area great gift for theculinary enthusiast on your list.
PA

Antoniorestauranttoyourtable.Makes aperfect hostessgift, too! Visitthetwig.com formoreinformation

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

You’re nevertoo oldtoenjoy thethrill of getting abikefor Christmas. Blue Star Bike Shop is afull-serviceshopwithan extensiveselection of electric to road bikesand everything in between,along with allthe accessories youneed fora smoothride. Visitbluestarbikeshop.com

to learnmore.

If you’re on thehook fora gift for your favorite fisherman, tryAlamo Anglers. LocatedonBroadwayinthe heart of AlamoHeights,thislocally owned outfitterwill lure youinwithfly fishing gear andequipment suitable forevery level. Visitalamoanglers.comfor more information.

Setsailalong theSan AntonioRiver with akayakingexperiencefromMission AdventureTours.Celebrating 10 yearsofproviding locals andtourists

with unique outdoor opportunities, this kayakrentalcompany will help your outdoor loversee thecityina new way. Visitmat-tx.comfor routes and rental information.

For the Fashion Forward Friend

Since1975, threegenerations of women have made thefamily-owned Adelante Boutique at Pearlthe placetogofor fun women’s fashion. Clothing,shoes,accessories andgifts make this amust-shop for

ConsideraMission Adventure Tours gift card for the outdoor loveronyour list.

thetrendyfriends on your list. Visit adelanteboutique.com to seewhat’snew

In 2025,JulianGoldwill celebrate80 yearsofoutfitting thecity’smoststylish women. This family-owned department storeislocated on McCulloughinOlmos Park andoffers thelatestluxurybrands. From contemporary casual to elegant eveningwear, accessories andcosmetics, if youcan’t find it here,you don’tneed it.Whether you’re lookingfor that WOW bigticketitemora funstockingstuffer, they’vegot somethingfor everybudget. Visitjuliangold.comtolearn more.

Penny Lane Boutique on Broadway in AlamoHeights is theplace forthat casually chic andeffortlesslyelegant vibe.Locally ownedand operated,it carries allthe cool-girlbrandslikeXirena,MotherDenim andmore. Visit pennylaneonline.comfor information.

For the Self-Care Addict

Self-careisthe gift that keepsgiving, and agiftcardtoHiatusSpa at Pearlmakes a perfectstockingstufferfor head-to-toe pampering. Guests canrelax or rejuvenate with both dayand medspa services Visithiatusspa.comfor amenuofservices andpricing

Getmorebangfor your holidaybuck at theLaCantera Resort andSpa,where, in addition to luxuriouspampering treatments,you canenjoy indoor and outdoor pools, saunas,and more foran entire dayofrelaxationwithina Hill Countrysetting.Visit lacanteraresort.comtobuy some bliss.

Jenny Little of OlmosPark’sMagic Manosdeliversmorethansimplya pore-cleansing facial.Somesay it’s an “out of body”experiencethatleavesyou lookingand feelinglit from within.And what Little does forthe face,her suitemate KaylaBeltran does forthe body Usingvarious techniques andmodalities, shedeliversa relaxing massage that relievesall typesofmusclediscomfort. It’s aone-two punchfor afullday of pampering. Visitlasai-wellness.comor magicmanosskincare.glossgenius.comto purchase agiftcard.

Find gift options that include jewelry andother accessories at Adelante Boutique at Pearl.

For the Hostess

Holiday partiesmeanhostess gifts. You can’tgowrong with agiftthatgives back, likeanornamentfromThe Majestic Empire Foundation.These hand-blown glassornaments featuretwo of San Antonio’smosticonictheaters, and proceedsbenefit TheMajesticEmpire Foundation’s scholarshipfund. Prices startat$85.Visit shop.themajesticempirefdn.orgtopurchase.

Raiseholiday spiritswitha bottleof award-winning Ranger Creek grain-toglasssmall-batchbourbon,singlemalt, or ryewhiskey.MadefromTexas ingredients,theyare aLoneStarstaple. Visit drinkrangercreek.com to order.

Home sprayfromSoularTherapy makesa “scentsational”hostess gift.This locally made brandisbehindsomeofthe most iconic hotelfragrancesinSan Antonioand worldwide, includingHotel Emma,the Thompson andHotel Valencia.Visit soulartherapy.comtoorder

For the Four-Footed Friends

Don’tforgetyourfur babies this season Stufftheir stockingswithdelicious, wholesome, homemade treats from locally ownedFifi& FidosonBroadway. Visitfifiandfidos.com.

Pamper your petatone of Lucy’s Doggy DayCareand Spa’sthree convenientlocations.Thislocal award-winning spawill have your puplooking pretty.Visit lucysdoggydaycare.comfor more info

PAWsitivelySweet Bakery in Castle Hills takesthe cake fordog andcat cakes, pastries,chews andtreatsthatare locally made with healthyingredients Youcan also find them at ThePearl Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Visit pawssweetbakery.com forinformation or to order.

Happy holiday shopping! ★

The Charline McCombs EmpireTheatre hand-blown glass ornament benefits ascholarship fund.

Dr.DavidM.GonzalezisanOrthopaedic Surgeon with 44 years of experience, focusingonshoulder andknee arthroscopy. He graduated fromthe University of Texas HealthScienceCenter Medical School in SanAntonio and served in theUnited States Army for over21years, completing hisOrthopaedicSurgery residencyat Brooke Army Medical Center.

Dr. Gonzalez also pursueda 2-yearResearchand Sports Medicine fellowship at the Burn UnitInstitute of Surgical Researchatthe US MilitaryAcademy at West Point. Throughout hismilitarycareer,heheld leadership positions including ChiefofOrthopaedicSurgery at the 93rd Evacuation HospitalinSaudi Arabia duringthe Persian Gulf War

Dr. Gonzalez’s exceptionalskillswererecognizedwith the“A” proficiencydesignator award. Afterretiring, he received theLegion of Meritawardand now practices in SanAntonio,specializing in rotatorcuffarthroscopic repair andreconstruction.Committed to upholding the highest standards of care, Dr. Gonzalezcontinues to provide expertsurgical care tohis community.

UNFORGETTABLE HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

10 Frosted Home tips to bringelegance and style to every celebration

Christmas,Hanukkah, fancydinners andmerrymaking galore:Businesswoman. Counselor. CivicLeader. Newgrandmother.KelleyFrost is allthose things —but shemay be best knowninSan Antonioasanavidtastemakerand passionateentertainer.The founderand mastermind behind FrostedHome, an Alamo Heightsinteriordesignand decorstore, Frostopenedher business in 2018 as an outlet forher creative energy.Today,her inspiringstore offers arange of gifts, accoutrements,accessories andmotivationfor amateurdesignbuffs andprofessional designersalike. Walkinginiskindoflike stepping into your favorite Pinterestpage— only better. As theholidaysapproach,we reachedout to Kelley, whoisparticularly acclaimedfor hertablescapes —for 10 no-failholiday entertaining anddecorating tips.Let’s getthe partiesstarted!

1Make aplan. Greatentertainingstarts with agood game plan that makesguests feel welcome theminutetheyset theirfeet in thedoor.Think abouthow youwant

the evening to flow, and play the role of movie director by incorporating a scripted series of big moments One of my favorite ways to give guests an opportunity to comingle is to number the place settings instead of putting names on them I have guests pick a number for their spot at the table, and at dessert, they look under their plate to see another number to change places for coffee and sweets

2

The grand scheme. Deciding on a color scheme and a theme for holiday décor brings everything together, especially if you ’ re hosting multiple events like a family dinner and a cocktail party for friends Don’t be afraid to depart from traditional red and green for Christmas or silver and blue for Hanukkah Jewel tones take center stage this year in décor and add richness and depth with deep oranges, emerald green or sapphire blue Maximalism is in, so layer it on

3

Something old, something new Bring out tried-and-true pieces that you love, but if some of your décor feels past its prime, edit it out Consider adding a statement piece to change up the look of your décor

JASON BARNES

4

It’s allinthe mix. Creating abeautiful tablescape that laststhroughoutthe season entails acombination of freshgreeneryand faux floral.Thisisa secret that many floral designerswon’t reveal,but the silk stemsthatare outtoday look so real that they canadd stayingpower to your tablearrangements.Big bows areback, so useanoversized bowtoadorn aswagor garlandacrossyourtable

5Divide andconquer. Oneofmyfavorite holiday traditions is adinnerweshare with four couples, andeachofusplays a part in putting together theperfect meal Since Ilovesetting thetable,the others bringthe delicious food andwine, making this thebestnight of theseason.

6Letthere be light. Consider howyour home is lightedfor holidayentertaining andlet it setthe mood.Ample candlelight throughout thehomegives offa glow,and select asignature scentfor your home

Layeredlightingisanessentialelement of décor, so ensure that youhavelamps,chandeliers andrecessedlightsondimmers to give flexibilityand create theright backdrop foryourevent

7Listen to themusic. MaybeI’m stuckin mixtapedaysgoneby, buthavingthe perfectplaylistfor aparty is amust. Playing DJ forthe eveningmeans mixing up classic nostalgiawithhigherenergyhits, so that guests enjoya varietyofartists from MichaelBuble to Snoop Dog.

8Thinkbig Bountifultablesand buffets make guests feel likeyou’veput alot of thoughtintocelebrating an eveningtogether, so my attitude is generally “gobig or go home.” Startwithbeautiful linenstoset the stageand getcreativehere; I’ve used cowhidesasa starting pointfor aThanksgiving table. Usepiecesaroundyourhomeasaccentsfor thecenterpiece —blueand white jars,a crystalobelisk, apiece of artorsculp-

ture or an antiquefind— look at your home as aset designer mightand popinsomething different to addinteresttoyourtable

9Do afavor. My mother-in-lawloved partyfavors, andcarryingonthattradition is afun waytoshare atreat with guests Anything in acellophanebag with abow feelsspecial,and it canbesimpleand inexpensive. We love cookingupspecial favors in thestore forhostess giftsand favors by incorporatingthe themeofthe eventand making apretty presentation

10Strive forperfection(notreally!)

Theworst partiesare thosethatare devoid of character, so don’tstressout aboutevery littledetail. When aglass breaks or an appetizerdoesn’t come outjustright, shrugitoff andmoveon. Nothingshould spoilyourfun as ahost, so make sure you enjoythe moment ★

This interviewhas been edited for length andclarity

As 2024 comestoanend,weat7 to 7Dentalwanttoremind patientstomakethe most of your dentalbenefitsbeforetheyexpire on December 31st.These hardearned benefits won’trollover into 2025,meaning anyunused coverage will be lost—essentially throwing away your money. The holiday season canbe hectic,but

prioritizing your dental health is crucial. Regularcheck-ups can prevent more significantissues down theroadand keep your smilebright. 7to7 Dental has availability,but prime-time slots fill up quickly. Whetheryou need a routinecleaning, have concerns to address, or want to explore cosmetic options, nowisthe time

toact!Addressing your dental health today cansaveyou from future complications andcosts Call or book onlinetomaximize your benefits before it's toolate!

CULTURAL Connections

SANANTONIOENTREPRENEURS PRESERVE FAMILY TRADITIONS

For CatherineContreras,someof herfondest childhood memories involvefood—specifically,making tamaleswithher family

Wantingtocapturethismemory forher children, andsurethatothersfelt thesameabout theholiday traditionoftamaladas,Contreraspursuedanideabornout of theearly days of thepandemicfouryears ago.

“Whenwewereinlockdown, we were having virtualtamaladas with my family.My kidswereverylittle,andtheyreallywantedto do it,” said Contreras, themotheroffive. “I thoughtwecould take some playdoughand geta husk andlet them play that way. ”

Seeing howmuchher kids enjoyedthe activity,Contreras knew this wassomething

shehad to pursue.Along with herretired schoolteachermother, MarieBauml,Contreras foundedFresh Masa,a business that produces sensory-friendly toykitsthatcan be used to educateand entertain.

Each kitcontainsPlay-Dohand small toolstocreatea themed activity —including theLatino-themedTinyTamalada,TeenyTaco andMyFavoritePanadería —thatallow userstopretend to spread andshape “masa” to make tamales, tortillasand pandulce “Asanautismmom,wedosomuchthat involves sensorythings, likePlay-Doh. I thought‘let’sbring this to everybody,’” she said,whileshowingsomeoftheitemssoldat FreshMasa’sspotinsidePainted Tree Boutiques marketplaceonthe city’s NorthSide. Contreras, whowas oneofthe founders

and My Favorite Panadería.

of theSan Antonio-centricT-shirt company BarbacoApparel, againlooked to herheritage andfamily historytocraft away to support herfamily while also keepingtraditions alive.

She isn’talone RestauranteurDrewGlickpayshomage

Catherine Contreras (right) and her mother
Marie Bauml founded Fresh Masa to create Latino-themed sensory-friendly toys that celebrate customs like Tiny Tamalada
SANANTONIO

to hisJewishheritageand NewYorkroots throughfood

Opensince2016,Max&Louie’sNewYork Dinerservesseveral traditionalJewish dishes,including matzoballsoup, potato latkes andcheeseblintzes,aspartofits regular menu offerings.

GlicksaidservingsuchfoodsathisNorth Sideeateryisawaytosharethetraditionshe grew up with,not only with thosefamiliar with thedishesbut also with diners who’ve nevertried them.

“Mostoftheitemsonthemenuarethere forspecificreasons,” theQueensnativesaid, adding that many of thedishes“have avery specific historyinthe Jewish heritage but they’realsoEastern European.”

Glicktalkedofcustomers whorecalled

family gatherings of theirchildhood while eatingthediner’sHungarianstuffedcabbage or cheeseblintzes. Others,hesaid, have recalledtheir time living in NewYorkand eatingatdinerslikeMax &Louie’s

“History is history. Some things move awayfromourmemories,andyouforget.But youtry nottoforget,” Glicksaid, adding how much food cantriggerour recollections

“I have very fond memories of my grandmother’s split peasoup,”hesaid. “I thinkit’s thefirst thingI’veevereaten.”

Thesoup, prepared theway hisgrandmother made,ispartofthe diner’ssoup-ofthe-daylineup. It’s also included in meal packages andspecial menusdesignedfor Jewish celebrations,including Hanukkah andthe High Holidays.

Themenuisn’ttheonlywayGlickhonors hisfamily history. Thediner’s name is anod to hisancestors —paternalgrandfather, LouieGlick,and greatuncle,Max Braverman. Both immigrants andbothbutchers, themen’s likenessesadorn thediner’s logo ForsomeSan Antoniobusinessowners, preserving traditionand honoring heritage extendsbloodlines

At Chas Market &Kitchen,owner J.T. Kimand hisfamily honorthe historyofthe East Side business that originated in the 1930sasCharlesSupermarket.TheKimfamilyboughtthemarketinthe1980sanddecided to honorits original owner, CharlesDe Leon,bykeepingthe name Chas

Theestablishment is part neighborhood conveniencestore,where customerscan

findmainstreamgroceriesalongsideKorean specialtyitems,including jars of homemade kimchi.And it hascontinued to servethe breakfasttacos made with freshhomemade tortillasthathavebeen neighborhood favorites fordecades

Forlunch anddinner, customerscan orderfromaKoreanmenuofbibimbap,bulgogi,banchan andall-you-can-eatKoreanbarbecue. Alldishesare served freshand in the same mannerasKoreans eatduringmealtime, theKim family said

“Manycustomers aresurprised that we haveMexicanbreakfasttacosinthemorning andauthenticKoreanfoodfromlunchtime,” saidBrianKim,J.T.Kim’sson.“WearesimultaneouslypreservingtheheritageofMexican immigrants as well as ourown immigration storyfromSouth KoreatoSan Antonio.”

HwaY.Kim,J.T.Kim’s wife,started sharingher homemade Korean recipeswithpatronsabout 10 yearsago throughthe dishes served at Chas,Brian Kimsaid.

“Weare so proudofour heritage and food,but at thesametimesothankfulthat many in ourcommunity love Korean food,” he said

Forone SanAntonio organization dedicatedtopreservinghistoryandcustoms,part ofitsmissionistosupportblack-ownedbusinessesthrough weekly marketsand special events,including theupcomingKwanzaa Market Festival on Dec. 7.

ThePan AfricanCulturalCommunity, basedonthe East Side, is anonprofit that

strivestobea“culturalresourceforthecommunity,” itswebsite states.

AundarMaat,founderanddirectorofthe organization,saidtheKwanzaaMarketFestivalisn’tjustforthosewhocommemoratethe holiday.It’salsoachanceforthecommunity tolearnabouttheannualcelebrationofAfricanheritageand culturethatoriginatedin the1960s.

Themarketfestivalprovidesanopportunity to purchase itemsfromlocal vendors thatcanbeusedinKwanzaacelebrations,includingcandles,clothingand art, Maat said KwanzaabeginsDec.26andconcludesJan.1, highlightingone of thecelebration’s seven principles each day.

ThePan AfricanCulturalCommunity holdsmanyofits events at thebuildingthat once housed OurPlace AdultDay Care Center, whichclosedin2020. Weekly cultural events,including adrumcircleand poetry open mic, take placeonSaturdays,whena market promotingBlack-owned andsmall businessesalsoisheld.

Forthose whostrivetopreservecustoms andhonorhistory,theysaytheeffortisworth it,especially when seeing youngergenerationsshowinterest.

Contreras, whohas memories of making tamalesand spending time in thekitchen with hergrandmothers, said forsomefamilies likehersthere is agap in generations passing on traditions.

“Mymom is of thegenerationthatheaded to theworkforce,soshe didn’t spendas muchtimeinthekitchenasmygrandmothers,”Contreras said.“There’sa gapinthataspect of theculture.”

That’s whereContreras hopesher Fresh Masakitscanhelpfamiliesreignitecustoms, or at leastpromote familiesspendingtime together

Though thekitsare toys designed for youngkids, olderchildrenand adults with dexterityproblemscan benefitfromhandlingthe items, shesaid. Andsomeolder adults with cognitiveissues canbehelpedby thememoriesthatplaying with thepretend masa brings

Oneofthe reasonsContreras andher mother said they createdFresh Masa productswassofamiliescouldspendtimetogether andshare storiesofancestors andtraditions.

“Thisisone waytoconnect andhave those experienceswhile teaching them aboutthe cultureand family history,”she said ★

Max &Louie’s owner Drew Glickcontinues to serve traditional foods that pay homage to his grandfather and great uncle, both immigrants and butchers.

SaintMary’sHall empowers students by offering arich curriculum in asupportiveenvironmentwherethey areknown –byfaculty, each other,and themselves.Bythe time they graduate,students arearmed with knowledge,self-awareness, andthe skill they need to thriveincollege andinlife.

ExperienceSaintMary’sHall.

#1 in Best PrivateK-12 Schools in SanAntonio Area

ECO-FRIENDLY FASHION PRACTICES ON TREND TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

For fashionistaAmandaAlarconHunter,the choicesthatpeople make when they’reselecting what to wear have significance beyond style.

That is whyshe uses anyplatformextended to hertoadvocatefor sustainable fashion.

“A lotofpeopledon’t understand what sustainabilityis,”saidAlarcon-Hunter, a designer whoalsooffers aslewoffashion services throughher onlinebusinessMinx andOnyx. “It’slikea newbuzzwordeven though it’s been around forever.”

Basically,it’sabout keepingclothingin circulationfor as long as possibleand out of landfills.Thatmight mean wearing somethinguntil it falls apartorextending itslifebyalteringittocreatesomething new. It also mightmeanpassing alongto others clothing that’s in good condition butwhich younolongerneed or want.And it meanscarefully weighing whethersomethingnew is needed,and,ifitis, buying somethingusedratherthanbrand-new

Allofthose choicesare designed to combatthe impact of fashiononthe environment.Thatincludesthe damage from discarded clothing,including fast-fashion pieces whichtendtofallapart afterverylittlewear.

Alot of American castoffs endupbeing sold by thepound andshippedoverseas, said ProfessorMelinda Adams, programcoordinatorfor thefashion management program at theUniversityofthe IncarnateWord. Once there, it ends up in landfills or is burned Becauseofthe plastics in thesynthetics, fires send toxicfumes into theair.And thedregs also endupinthe watersupply.

As increasedattentionzeroesinonall of that,morepeopleare responding by moving toward sustainablefashion.Small changes canhavea significantimpact, Adamssaid.

“Ifyou useyourclothes sixtonine months longer,you’rereducingyourcarbon footprintby20percent,” Adamssaid.

Alarcon-Hunter,who hasbeeninthe fashiongamefor 30 years, sees evidence that SanAntonians arehopping on thebandwagon.For onething,there area lotmoreplaces wherepeoplecan shop sustainably.

“The vintageindustryisupand coming here,” shesaid. “And at thrift stores,you can’t find thegood stuffany more.SoI have to go outsideofSan Antonio, whichI didn’t used to

“I didn’t used to have much competition, andnow it’s everywhere.Which is good.”

Youngergenerations areleading theway

“Someofthe millennialsand GenZ are bigintothrifting becausetheyare very concerned aboutthe environment,” Adamssaid. “EvenGenerationAlpha,they’re in middle school,they’re very concernedabout what

we’re leavingbehind. Andsotheyare biginto thrifting.”

Designer Agosto Cuellaris, too. Andhe hasbeen foryears,buildinghis fashion career on giving asecondlifetoall kindsof textiles.

“It’salmostlikea disposable lighter,” said Cuellar, whoownsand sells hisworkat Augustineinthe Blue Star Arts Complex. “Onceit’sover, it’s over.But what Iwantto do is Iwanttotakethe disposablelighter and addsomemorefluid to it.Wejusthaveto find away to getitbackuptolight up the worldagain.”

Hisown approach is rooted in hisheritage

“Myjob andmypassion is to take things that have been discardedand turn them into somethingbeautiful,” he said.“Growingup, we didn’t call it sustainabilitybecause that wasn’t thewordinthe vocabulary.Whatwe calleditgrowing up wasrasquache.That’s what my grandmothercalledit. Anditwas just making do with whatever wasavailable.”

He hasbeen part of SanAntonio’s fashion scenefor 25 years, andhe, too, sees an increasedinterestinsustainability. Forone thing, he’s oftenasked if he givessewing lessons.And he sees alot of excitement around thesustainable fashionshows he pulls together with high school andcollege

students as part of hisday jobasmerchandisingmanager forGoodwill.

“It’sdefinitelya movement,” he said.“I thinkit’snot goingtoget anyweaker, it’s just goingtoget stronger.I wasreading an article that said that by 2040,2050, themajorityof clothing that we’llbewearing will allbe secondhand.”

Artistsand frequent collaborators JenniferKhoshbinand Nanako Pastolhavebuilt theirclothingline, JK |NP, around secondhandpieces. They take clothing they find at thrift stores anduse thoseitems as abase to whichtheymight addembellishments craftedfromfeltleftoverfromother projects They also have experimented with embroidery andpaintingonthe fabric,creating one-of-a-kindstatement pieces

“It’swearableart,” said Khoshbin,whose work also includes murals andpublic art pieces.“Notthatit’sa costumebut it’s somethingthat’smeaningfultoyou.Weall have in ourclosets clothing whereyou’relike, remember that T-shirtthatI gotX yearsago? Or that pretty dressI wore it that onespecial time?It’skindoftryingtothink of it that way, that it’s goingtobea specialpiece.”

They sell theirstuff at pop-upsthatthey design as events to give customersa memorableexperience. Thenextone is Nov.16 at Confluence Park,and they maydoanother oneoverthe holidays.

They have alot of return customers,

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SouthPadre Island callstofamiliesthiswinter, offering unique accommodations,family-friendly activities,natural beauty,warmweather &much more.Planyourfamilyescapetoday.

they said,and thefeedback is positive

“Whentheywearit, they standout for sure,” said Pastol,who studiedfashion design andspent yearsworking forretailclothing outlets. “And they allsay,‘Ican’t tell youhow many timesI’vebeen stoppedand asked aboutthisjacket.’”

Pastol is adedicated bargainhunter. And Khoshbin andher kids do alot of thrifting fortheir ownclothing.

“I’venever lived in acitythathad so much thrifting,”saidKhoshbin. “Ifyou really look into thriftinghere, it’s remarkable,the extremelylarge amountsofclothingthat’s beingrecycled.”

Giventhe plethora of places whereshoppers canfindolder pieces,how cannewcomers to theideaofsustainable fashionget going?

“Numberone,I wouldtellthem, stop buying things,” Alarcon-Hunter said.“Numbertwo,I wouldsay,look at what youalready have.A lotoftimes people don’thavethe rightlightingintheir closet.I’veknown people to buythe exactsamething threeor four timesbecause they can’tsee what they have.”

Beingfully presentiskey when shopping to replacethings, Adamssaid.

“It’slikewhenwesit in fronttothe theTV andweeat popcornwhile we’rewatchinga movie, andwedon’t thinkabout it,” shesaid. “A lotofthathappens when we’reshopping.

“Webuy things becausethey’re on sale, we’renot thinking aboutit. We need to be mindfulinthe same way. Question yourself do Ineed this?Isitmoreofa want vs.a need?”

Cuellar’sadviceistostart small, with accessories or maybea top.

In addition to helpingtocombatenvironmental ills,folks mightget alittlemood boostfromcraftingtheir ownlooks.

BELLA GROVES

UNCONDITIONAL JOY

“Peopleare goingtocomment,they’re goingtosay,‘Wow, Ilikethattop.Where did youget it?’”saidCuellar. “Because what happens is,theydon’t seeitatWalmart,they don’tsee it at Ross, they don’tsee it at Forever 21,theydon’t seeit.

“And so,whathappens is they understand theprocess: ‘I canwearsomething that makesmelook different from anybodyelse andthat’swhatI want.’” ★

CommunityMAtters CommunityMatters

Communities aremadeupofpeople. The things we care about,the moments we share, the victoriesand tragedies thatshape us over time. West Texasisa place wherecommunitymatters.Thisyear,Marfaand Alpine have had experiences thathighlightthe strengthoftheir communities.

Alpine suffered adevastating fireinthe heart of their historic downtown that claimed fivebusinesses:a restaurant, agallery,shopsand asalon. Within days, thecommunityrallied with fundraisers to addressthe financial impact of thelosses.

Arent-free space wasfound forthe salon, acommunityart project marks the firesite, and the Big Bend Galleryhas nowhad atriumphantreopening. Alpine residents came together to help their neighbors and support the local business community.

Marfa celebratedthe establishmentofthe Blackwell School National Historic Site, thenation’s newest national park unit. Thisevent wasthe culmination of years of work by Blackwell School alumniand friends, and ensuresthe preservation of acritical part of history forWest Texas’sHispanic community.The eraof de factosegregation and the divisionsit encouraged in communitiesacrossthe nation will be remembered and standas achallenge to do better.

Visit West Texas. Not“tourist destinations,”but real townsfilled withlove, with resilience,and alwayswith awarm welcome. Communitymatters.

Alpine mural. Photo by ChrisRuggia
Sec. Deb Haaland and Joe Cabezuela.
Photo by the National Park Service
Blackwell School Photo by SandraRamos/ NPCA
Mural painting. Photo by Heather Yadon
Big Bend Gallery interior. Photo by ShelleyAtwood
MarfaISD BalletFolklorico. Photo by SandraRamos

Annual Nonprofit Guide.

Help San Antonio area nonprofits

raise end-of-year funds.

As thefestive season approaches, there's no better way to embody thespirit of giving than to make ameaningful impact on oneofour beloved local nonprofits.

San Antonio Magazine is honored to introduce "SA Gives,"a section dedicated to thebeloved organizations in ourcommunity whowork tirelessly to uplift &empower ourneighbors.

As theyear comestoa close, we hope you'll join us in supporting these nonprofits andstrengthening theheart of San Antonio.

AssistanceLeague Member/Volunteers expressjoy as achildgives abighug to amember afterreceiving hisjacket, newsneakers, and newclothes,during an Operation School Bell®program visit.

DONATE-VOLUNTEER-SHOP ASSISTANCELEAGUESAN ANTONIO

Transforming lives of children and adultsthrough communityprograms

•Donatetosupportour mission and the children we serve throughout BexarCounty!

•Become aMember/Volunteer and positively impact the lives of children through our programs! (Smilesand Hugs included)

•Shop at our 6000 squarefootThriftHousefull of treasures

www.assistanceleague.org/san-antonio 210-732-1200

TheSAHope Centersupports over 6,000 individuals across San Antonio,offering comprehensiveservices to empowerfamilies and break the cycle of poverty.

Through strengths-based case management, SA Hope provides personalized plans to overcome barriers,including mental health care, economic advancement opportunities,and holistic wellness programs

Keyservices include career and financial training, parenting and health classes,and access to essentials likefood, clothing,and financial assistance, fostering long-term stability and self-sufficiency foreach individual

DECEMBER 3

Bowl InsiderReception

DECEMBER 8

Team Announcement

DECEMBER 12

Head Coaches Press Conference presented by Sports Medicine Associates of SanAntonio

DECEMBER 17

H-E-B Scholarship Awards Luncheon

DECEMBER 24

CAPTRUSTCoaches Dinner

DECEMBER 26

FCABreakfast RicosRiver Rally

DECEMBER 27

KickoffLuncheon presentedbyUSAA

Bowl PubCrawl presentedbyMad Dogs Restaurant Group

SATURDAY,DECEMBER28

SATURDAY,D E CEMBER 28

Tailgate Town presentedbyKiolbassa Smoked Meats

Valero AlamoBowlFan Zone

BrakeCheckPregame PitStop

SimmonsBankPregame Party

Weaver TouchdownClub

VALERO ALAMOBOWL- 6:30 PM TO LEARNMORE,

EVENT LISTINGS

Red Dot Art Sale

Contemporary at Blue Star will hold its annual Red Dot Sale, afundraiser to support connections between local artists and the community of art supporters. 7p.m. Nov. 13, Contemporary at Blue Star, 116Blue Star, contemporarysa.org/events/red-dot-2024

La Villita Market Days: ACelebration of Culture and Community

Every Saturday, Maverick Plaza is transformed into amarketplace filled with local artisans, craftspeopleand food. Watch cookingdemonstrations and guest artists work on their crafts, and enjoy free live music 10 a.m.Nov. 16,Maverick Plaza, 418 Villita St., lavillitasanantonio.com

Irrationally Speaking: Collage and Assemblage in Contemporary Art

This exhibit will highlight the art formsof collageand assemblage as artistic techniques and conceptual approaches. View art that addresses avariety of meanings through the compositionofamyriad of materials. Times vary. ThroughAug. 31.Ruby City, 150Camp St., rubycity.org

Sunday Brunch Market Hosted By Box St. All Day and the Texas Market

Visit Box St. All Day’s sip and shop market, and enjoy local vendors, live music anda tasty brunch. 10 a.m.Nov. 17,Hemisfair, 630 E. Nueva St., boxstallday.com

LUSH: Dueling Pianos

Folks can enjoy live music, entertainment and winsome bloom displays as the sun sets in the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Each Lush event contains anew themeand a market supporting local small businesses. 7p.m. Nov. 21, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 FunstonPlace, sabot.org

‘The Happening’ Artpace Annual Gala

Join Artpace San Antonio for “The Happening,” which will honor the work and career of Shahzia Sikander, Artpace Spring 2001international artist-in-residence, and corporate philanthropist H-E-B. Time TBD. Nov. 22, Tobin Center for the Performing

Arts, 100Auditorium Circle, artpace.org/ happening

Coca-Cola Classic Christmas at Toyota Field

Visit the opening night of ToyotaField’s transformation into awinter wonderland filled with larger-than-life light sculptures, ice-skating, snow slides, seasonalfood and more. Times vary. Nov. 22-Dec. 29, Toyota Field, 5106 David Edwards Drive, classicchristmas.com

Fredericksburg German Christmas Market at The Shops at La Cantera Journey through aGerman-inspired Christmasmarket of traditionalholiday music, handcrafted gifts, specialty items and Hill Country wineries, beer and more.This

family-friendly event includes activities for children to learn more about German holiday traditions. Nov. 23, The Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La CanteraParkway, theshopsatlacantera.com/en/events

45th AnniversarySan Antonio Christmas Showcase

Mark your calendars for Texas’ premier holiday shopping event, featuring more than 300 vendors, unique products and holiday activities. Kids are welcome as they can enjoy avisit with Santa and other activities in the Kids Zone. 10 a.m.Nov. 23 and 24, Freeman ColiseumExpo Hall, 3201E Houston St., christmasshowcase.com

‘Shucked’

Catch the opening night of this Tony Award-winning musical comedy directed by Jack O’Brien (“Hairspray”) which is guaranteed to fill your musical theater-loving heart. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26, Majestic Theatre 224 E. Houston St., majesticempire.com/events/shucked

ICE! Featuring ‘How TheGrinch Stole Christmas!’

Journey through the immersive town of Whoville while viewing colorful ice sculptures of 10 magical scenes fromthe Dr.Seuss classic“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” The event will also feature tunnels, arches and two-story ice slides. Nov. 23-Jan. 5. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, 23808 Resort Parkway, jwhillcountrychristmas com/ice

AChristmas Carol: AGhost Story

Embrace your holiday spirit at Playhouse’s newest family tradition —the theater will presentaunique telling of this classic holiday story while integrating ASL throughout the production. Times vary. Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, San Pedro Playhouse 800 W. Ashby Place, sanpedroplayhouse.org

Ford Holiday River Parade

Don’t miss this San Antonio holiday tradition featuring 27 illuminated floats, five entertainment floats, and over 100,000 holiday lights at the San Antonio River Walk. This year’s theme, “Toy Box Adventures,” is destined to provide amagical experience to audiences of all ages. 6p.m., Nov. 29, Arneson River Theatre at La Villita 418Villita St., No. 900A,

thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ ford-holiday-river-parade

‘Illuminate’ at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Wander through abreathtaking display of light and art with thisdebut of “Illumante,” produced by the internationally acclaimed Tianyu Arts &Culture. Various times. Nov. 29-Jan. 12,San AntonioBotanical Garden, 555 Funston Place,sabot.org/illuminate

Holiday Art Market

Kick off your Christmas shopping at thisfree annual Holiday Art Market, featuring handcrafted items by over 100local artists and artisans. The event will also feature pop-up performances, all-day photos with Santa, reindeer lawn games, and festival food and drinks. 10 a.m. Nov. 30, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org

The Nutcracker Ballet

The celebrated junior dance company San AntonioDance invites folks to attend a performance of thistwo-act masterpiece that tellsthe heartwarming story of ayoung girl’s dreams through dance. Times vary. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Lila CockrellTheatre, 900 E. Market St., sadance.org

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

This one-of-a-kind holiday mash-up is fitfor the whole family and comprised of atalented cast of adozen all-star dancers, aDJ, a violinist and one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, MC Kurtis Blow 7p.m., Dec. 1, Aztec Theatre, 104S.St. Mary’s St., majesticempire.com/events/ hip-hop-nutcracker-aztec-theatre

Ford Holiday Boat Caroling

Celebrate the timeless tradition of spreading holiday cheer through song by caroling with family and friends under the shimmering lights on aboatatthe River Walk. Times vary. Dec. 4, SanAntonio RiverWalk, 203 S. St. Mary’s St., sanantonioriverwalk.ticketspice.com/ 2024-ford-holiday-boat-caroling

Mariachi Extravaganza Music Festival

This event will feature the largest national mariachi group and vocal competitions, showcase talent from school-based mariachi programs across the country, and offer three days of awe-inspiring performances. Folks can expect acompetitive atmosphere filled with cultural pride and tradition. Times vary. Dec. 5, 6and 7, Lila Cockrell Theatre, 200 E. Market St., mariachimusic.com

Folklorico Nutcracker

San AntonioPhilharmonicwillpresent a Texas Folklorico Nutcracker that weaves the rich stories of San Antonio’s diverse traditions and cultures. This production will honor the multifaceted heritage of our city and Texas. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6and 7,

Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., majesticempire.com/events/ sa-phil-folklorico

TheFrost Follies: AHoliday Cabaret

Attend ashowcase presenting jazzy renditions of holiday classics by this talented ensemble known for theircaptivating flair, energy and talent. Noon Dec. 6, San Pedro Playhouse, 800 W. Ashby Place, sanpedroplayhouse.org

Rock ’N’ Roll Marathon

This December, experience afirsthand view of the city’s landmarks beautifully decorated for the holiday season and finish off the year with aRock ’n’ Roll Fiesta by choosing a marathon distance of your choice. Time TBA. Dec. 7and 8, 900 E. Market St., runrocknroll.com/san-antonio

Second Saturday Market with Mariachi Las Altenas and Son de Jarocho —In Celebration of MexicanIndependenceDay

Celebrate this holiday with festivities that celebrate Mexican heritage and enjoy an eveningofmeeting localmakers, shopping, food trucks andentertainment. The eventwill featureperformances by Mariachi Las Altenas, Son de Jarocho and the ringing of the San Fernando Cathedral bells. 6p.m. Dec. 14,Main Plaza Conservancy, 115N.Main

Ave., Main Plaza,mainplaza.org/event/ second-saturday-market

Jingle Bell Run

Make yourself proud as you bring this year to aclose by putting on your most festivefit and participating in the Jingle Bell Run for charity,incollaboration withthe Arthritis Foundation. 9a.m. Dec. 14,Martin Luther King Park, 3503 Martin Luther King Drive, events.arthritis.org

La Villita Holiday in the Village

Attend this annual celebration that features handcrafteditems, art and jewelry created by local artists and artisans. The event will also feature holiday cuisine, live music, theater performances, gingerbread house workshops and cookie decorating. 10 a.m. Dec. 14,LaVillita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St., lavillitasanantonio.com

Yippee Ki Yay, The ParodyCelebration of Die Hard

The Tobin Center invites you to the joyful and comedic retelling of the holiday classic “Die Hard,” following its hit 2023 debut. 8p.m. Dec. 18,Tobin Center for the PerformingArts, 100Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org/ yippeekiyay

San Antonio Youth Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

San Antonio YouthBallet’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker” is back to whisk you into the Land of Sweets and Christmas paradise.The performance features the acclaimed South Texas Symphonic Orchestra. 7p.m. Dec. 20, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 308 Ave. E., sanantonioballetschool.com/ performances/05

URBAN-15's Holiday Laser Show 2024 Don’t miss URBAN-15’s 19th annual Holiday Laser Show, an hourlong presentation of technology art forms, choreographed laser beams and 3D animations, set to holiday musical favorites. Times vary. Dec. 22, Our Ladyofthe Lake University,Thiry Auditorium, 411SW24th St., urban15.org/events

Christmas at the Caverns

Explore aunique holiday experience at the Caverns, complete withcaroling, awalking trail, s’mores and more. Daysand times vary. Through Dec. 23, NaturalBridge Caverns, 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, naturalbridgecaverns.com/calendar

Paesanos Riverwalk: Christmas Day

Dining Event

Spoil your taste buds with adelicious holiday meal at Paesanos. On Christmas Day, enjoy a uniquely curated three-course menu featuring seasonal favorites and chef’s signature dishes. Times vary. Dec. 25, Paesanos Riverwalk, 111W.Crockett St., Suite 101,paesanosriverwalk.com/special-events

Rotary Ice Rink

Enjoy achilly night under the twinklinglights through ice skating in the heart of downtown San Antonio. Times vary. Nov. 15-Jan. 5, Travis Park, 301E Travis St., rotaryicerink.com

Celebrate SA: NYE Party and Countdown

Celebrate the last day of theyear with the city for aholiday party and New Year’sEve countdown. 6p.m. Dec. 31,Civic Park, 210S Alamo St., saparks.org/event/ celebrate-sa-nye-party-and-countdown

Selena Vive: The Music of Selena

Come to this performance ready to dance and celebrate thelegacyofthe iconic Selena Quintanilla. The event will feature vocalist and Tejano Music Award winner Isabel Marie Sanchez and SA Philharmonic performing some Selena favorites. Times vary, Jan. 3-5, Majestic Theatre 224 E. Houston St., majesticempire.com/events/sa-phil-selena ★

WINTER CONCERT GUIDE

Nostalgiablankets the winter months like fresh snow, withmemories shared at family meals, Mariah Carey singing“All IWant for Christmas Is You” on the radio and Rudolph andFrosty on TV

It’smuch thesamewiththe winter concert calendar, achill mixofChristmas music and blasts from the past. Here’s alook at the biggest and best of the concertscoming to San Antonio through February

Maverick City Music: TheAtlanta worship music powerhouse wasfounded with the goal of giving marginalizedvoices aplaceto sing and shine. It’s fair to say they have seized the spotlight with hit songs such as “Jireh” with Elevation Worship and “Promises” as well as ahandful of Grammy and Dove awards. “Mavhouse,” a collaboration with Song House, came outin October. Nov. 30,Frost BankCenter

Christopher Cross: San Antonio native Cross, the soft rock star known for“Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind” and theOscar-winning themefrom “Arthur,” performedwith the San Antonio Symphony in 2017.Someof those musicians likely willbeonstagewhen Crossreturnstoplay abenefitfor the BrackenridgePark Conservancy with theSan AntonioPhilharmonic. Dec. 4, Sunken Garden Theater

Mariachi Extravaganza: MariachiVargas de Tecalitlan returns after ayear’s absence to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of San Antonio’s annualmariachi competition and concert. The recent Netflix documentary “GoingVarsity in Marichi” gave national exposure to one of San Antonio’s musical treasures. Dec. 5-7, LilaCockrell Theatre

American Aquarium: An alternative-country band from North Carolina, American Aquarium staked its claim on albums suchas“Lamentations” and “Things Change” with clear-eyedviews of the South. The band released anew album, “The Fear of Standing Still,” in July. Check them out, and do some good, at bandcamp.com, where sales of arecentliveset from Asheveille, N.C.,willbenefitvictimsof Hurricane Helene. Dec.6,GrueneHall

Shemekia Copeland: “Blame It on Eve,” thenew albumfrombluessinger Copeland, “delivers thegoods in arighteous manner,” accordingtoroots music journalNo Depression.Copeland, who’sbest known songs include “Salt in My Wounds”and “Hit ‘EmBack,”has five Grammy nominations andfiveTop 10 blues albums to her credit, including 2002’s “TalkingToStrangers, which hitNo. 1 .Dec. 6, Sam’sBurgerJoint

MountainGoats: Sonically,this long-running folk rock band hasevolved since founder John Darnielle’s earlydays making low-fi cassettes. It’s nowaquartet that cancoverall thegroundbetween hard rock andorchestrated retro pop. From the start, Darnielle’s songwritinghas been consistently smart,challenging andfilled with empathyfor outsidersand subcultures on songs such as “ThisYear” and“The Legend of Chavo Guerrero.” Dec. 9, Paper Tiger

Kenny G: Talkabout giftsthatkeep on giving: Saxplayer KennyG’s holidayalbums “Miracles, Faith” and“Wishes” have together sold more than 10 millioncopies HisMiracles Holidayand Hits Tour should featureplentyofseasonal songs as wellas contemporaryjazzfavorites such as “Songbird” and“Forever in Love.” Dec. 10 MajesticTheatre

Beat: The prog-rockband King Crimson “reactivated for theNew Wave era,” in Spin magazine’swords —released three distinctive albums in the’80s. Bandleader RobertFripp wasjoinedbyguitaristand singer Adrian Belew,partofTalking Heads’ expanded lineup,and bass player Tony Levin, whoworked in thestudiowithFripp on Peter Gabriel’s solo albums. Belew andLevin, along with guitaristSteve Vaiand Tool drummer DannyCarey, aretouring as Beat to play music fromthose cool,complex albums “Discipline,”“Beat”and “Three of aPerfect Pair.” Dec. 14,MajesticTheatre

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Thisclassic rock-meets-Christmasspectaclehas becomeasmuchofaholiday traditionas drivingthrough Windcrest to see thelights or searchingfor aSee’s Candies Kioskatthe mall. Thisyear’swinter tour is acelebration of the20th anniversary of thealbum “The Lost ChristmasEve,” which includes the instrumental“WizardsofWinter.” Dec. 27, FrostBankCenter

Ranky Tanky: Carver seasonsubscribers will remember Ranky Tanky,a jazz ensemble that specializes in acontemporary take on themusic of theGullah culture of South Carolina andGeorgia. The band,which played theJoLongTheatrein2019, won Grammy Awardsfor itslasttwo albums, “GoodTime” and“Live at the2022 New OrleansJazz& Heritage Festival.” Jan. 17, CarverCommunityCultural Center

Alan Walker: British-Norwegian producer Walker’s renown in the United States may be limited to dance floors, but he’s an international EDM superstar. His 2015 song “Faded,”released when he was ateenager, has more than 2billion streams on Spotify. His latest single is “Children of the Sun.” Jan. 22, Boeing Center at Tech Port

MichaelBolton: Though he started as a rocker in aband with future Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick, Bolton made his name as an emotional balladeer. His big hits include a cover of Percy Sledge’s “When aMan Loves aWoman” and “How AmI Supposed to Live Without You,” asong he wrote that originally was recorded by Laura Branigan. Bolton recently released adeluxe edition of his 2023 album “Spark of Light.” Feb. 4, Majestic Theatre

Los Tigres Del Norte: This legendary norteño band could rest easily on past glories. But the group isn’t just interested in being anostalgia act. In recent years, it has recorded aNetflix documentary at Folsom Prison and marked the 10th anniversary of its landmark “MTV Unplugged” album.Now on a 50-datetour, Los Tigres released anew EP, “Aqui MandoYo,”inMay Feb. 7, Boeing CenteratTechPort

DreamTheater: Progressivemetalband DreamTheater is celebrating its40th anniversarywitha series of “evening with” concerts. The band had an MTV-fueled hit with the 1992 song “Pull Me Under” and won aGrammy for Best MetalPerformance 30 years later for the song“TheAlien,” anearly 10-minute showcase for guitarist John Petrucci. Feb. 16,MajesticTheatre

Smokey Robinson: It’s hard to overstate Robinson’s importance. He was adriving force at Motown as asinger with the Miracles, agenius songwriter and an executive. As asolo artist, his album “A Quiet Storm” gave aname to anew,smooth style of R&B. His 2025 tour commemorates the 50th anniversary of that album, which featured the hit “The Agony and the Ecstasy.” Feb. 17,MajesticTheatre

Itzhak Perlman: Classicalmusic superstar Perlman returns to theTobin Center, where he performed arecitalin early 2023. The classical music superstar, now 79, will be joined by pianist Rohan De Silva Feb. 27, Tobin Center

Gary Clark Jr.: Austin guitar hero Clark is known for his live shows, where he can stretch out on songs such as“When My Train Pulls In.” But he also got solid reviews forhis wide-ranging new studioalbum “JPEGRAW ” including an endorsement from Jon Stewart, who called it a“masterpiece” when he hosted Clark on “The DailyShow.” Feb. 28, Aztec Theatre ★

VENUES

Aztec Theatre, 104S.St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com

Boeing Center at Tech Port, 3331General Hudnell Drive, boeingcenter techport.com

Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., thecarver.org

Lila Cockrell Theatre, 900 E. Market St. (mariachimusic.com)

Frost Bank Center, 1Frost Bank Center Drive, frostbankcenter.com

Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, gruenehall.com

Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., majesticempire.com

Sam’sBurger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., samsburgerjoint.com

Sunken Garden Theatre, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St. (brackenridgepark.com)

CREAMERY THE DISTRICT

WhereThe Holidays Shine

This seasonisgoing to sparkleatSan Antonio’sbustlingnewdistrict.Celebrating theirfirst holiday seasonwithrecently opened lounges,restaurants,coffee shops, and bars, The Creamery District will truly have somethingfor everyone to feel the magic in the air.

Making Spirits Bright....

As thelightsget dim, thebeats go up at Easy Baby Ultra lounge.Thisisa perfect adult night outwhere the Naughty and Nice meet up for the electric pulse of this sophisticated hideaway.

Give the gift of an immersive dining show in an underground sushiroom.Book your reservations at San Antonio’s premierOmakaseexperience, ChiKa, locatedunderneath AmeliaSocialLounge.

Raise aglass (or abottle) to unforgettable nights filled with cocktails, festive vibes and holiday memories in the making. Celebrate with family &friends under twinkling lights with arooftop hot-buttered rum & S’mores experience or dress up for awinter date and enjoy acozy corner with curated cocktails in Amelia Social lounge.

There’s aholiday card opportunity around every corner! Choose from decoratedbars, a33foot Christmas Tree,life-sizeMenorah under the pavilion, or holiday cocktailsand coffeetocapture your perfect picture.

WO RK OF ART

TheGallery

Centro de Artes

101 Santa Rosa

TheWork

“Spinning San Antonio de Valero”

On display through Feb. 9.

ONE

MANY HIGHlights in “Diningwith RolandoBriseño:A50 Year Retrospective” at Centro de Artesis“Spinning San AntoniodeValero.”The striking piece, made from paintedStyrofoam,depicts SaintAnthony of Paduaatopa processional base resemblingthe Alamo. Thesaint holdsanopenbookreading“Truth inHistory”ononesideand“History in Truth” on theother

As thetitle promises,the piececanindeedspin,thankstoa pivotbar.Whenitisinaction, either thesaint or theAlamo is on top. Briseñocreated it from paintedStyrofoam fora series of performances staged annually from2009to2012atAlamoPlaza They were designed to draw attentiontothewaythestoryofthe Alamooften hasbeenspunso that Indigenous andTejanocontributions were omitted.

It also is areference to thebelief that SaintAnthony of Padua canrestore lost things

“WhenyouputSaintAnthony upsidedown,youaskhimforafavor,”Briseño said.“My favoris truthinhistory,history in truth.”

/

With ateam solelydedicated to complex pregnancies, amom-to-be canstayahead of the curve. As the only hospital in San Antonio recognized as one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek,we’rethinking beyond our world,soyou andyour baby canthriveinyours. Learnm and your can thrive in yours. Learn mor ThinkingBeyond.net.

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