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Mark Your Calendar
Every Tuesday
5 pm - 2 am
Downtown Tuesday
City-operated parking garages, lots, and meters are FREE
November 29 - December 19
Mayor Castro's
Light Up Downtown
Holiday Contest
Vote for your favorite holiday lighting display by December 19!
See the lighting displays
on through January 4
www.lightupdowntownsa.com
December 20
Travis Park Holiday Market
Travis Park
For info call 207-3677
December 21
OPEN Downtown Pop Up Shops
Houston Street
www.sanantonio.gov/ccdo
December 23 - January 1
City Winter Holiday
Schedule of services online at:
www.sanantonio.gov
December 27 - 31
Alamo Bowl Weekend Celebration
Market Square
For info call 207-8605
December 30
2013 Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome
www.alamobowl.com
December 31
New Year's Eve
Celebrate San Antonio
Hemisfair Park
www.saparksfoundation.org
January 4 - 5
Primer Sabado y Domingo
Market Square
For info call 207-8605
January 5 - 10
River Draining
For info call 207-7895
January 10 - 12
River Fest Arts & Crafts
River Walk
For info call 227-4262
For more events visit:
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Travis Park Holiday Market
December 20
11 am - 2 pm
Get into the holiday season with a visit to Travis Park for the Travis Park Holiday Market. Seasonal music will be playing as you walk around looking at the vendors featuring a variety of unique gift ideas, including holiday décor, jewelry, hand-crafted items and more.
Dine at the food trucks, or bring your own lunch to enjoy among the holiday atmosphere inside Travis Park.
This seasonal event occurs on Friday December 20 from 11 am -2 pm so be sure to make it out for some holiday fun.
For more information contact
210-207-3677. |
City of San Antonio
Winter Holiday
December 23 - January 1
City Hall and most municipal offices will be closed Monday, December 23, 2013 through Wednesday, January 1, 2014. Public safety and emergency services will remain in operation.
For a complete schedule of city services during the winter holiday, visit www.sanantonio.gov. |
Downtown Tuesday Suspended on
New Year's Eve
Tuesday is the new Friday!
Downtown Tuesday offers free parking at city-operated parking garages, lots and meters on Tuesday evenings after 5 pm.
Downtown Tuesday free parking will be suspended on Tuesday, December 31 for New Year's Eve. Parking in downtown lots, meters and garages will be available at the posted rates on December 31.
Downtown Tuesday free parking will resume on Tuesday, January 7 at City-operated lots, meters and garages from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
More than 75 businesses participate in Downtown Tuesday by offering specials on Tuesday nights. Downtown restaurants and bars, museums, hotels, and entertainment providers participate in the program. |
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Public Works, San Antonio River Authority and Downtown Operations will be draining the main channel of the San Antonio River from Josephine St. to Alamo St. from January 5, 2014 thru January 10, 2014. The River Walk is estimated to be refilled and ready by January 12, 2014. The draining project will not include the river loop area. Rio San Antonio Cruises river barges will be operating during normal hours in the river loop area only for the duration of the draining.
Throughout the duration of the river draining, the south lane on E. Nueva between Main Plaza/Dwyer and S. St. Mary's will be closed. Eastbound traffic along this section of E. Nueva will be maintained throughout the draining.
For questions or more information, please contact Lincoln St. George at 207-7895.
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Out & About Downtown
by Jim Mery, Interim Director, Downtown Operations
Happy Holiday, San Antonio! With this festive season upon us, downtown has many activities to spread holiday cheer. Gaze at the street level lighting displays participating in Mayor Castro's Light Up Downtown Holiday Contest...and wait for the winners to be announced at the downtown New Year's Eve celebration! You can get your last minute gifts at the Travis Park Holiday Market (December 20) or the OPEN Downtown Pop Up Shops along Houston Street (through December 21).
As you plan your New Year's resolutions, be sure to plan ahead for New Year's Eve street closures around Hemisfair Park. If you plan to visit downtown after New Year's, please note the river will be drained from January 5 - 10. Take note that this year's draining will not include the river loop, so Rio Cruises river barges will be operating during normal hours in the river loop area only for the duration of the draining.
We are excited to announce organizational changes to the City that provide improved efforts in downtown development. With the City's ongoing efforts to strengthen economic development growth in the city core, the Downtown Operations Department will be placed under the leadership of Center City Development Office Director Lori Houston. This change will go into effect on January 2, 2014.
There is always something happening downtown, and every month we are making sure you know about it. I look forward to seeing you out and about downtown!
We're located at 400 N. St. Mary's, #100. Contact us at (210) 207-3677 or via email at downtown@sanantonio.gov for questions or assistance related to downtown San Antonio.
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by Lorraine Pulido, Ph. D., Dept. of Communication & Public Affairs
 Mayor Castro's 3rd Annual Light Up Downtown Holiday Contest is going on now! Come downtown to view creative holiday lighting displays by dozens of downtown businesses competing for YOUR vote to be named the best.
Participants are competing in a variety of categories, including "Best Lighting Display of a Building," "Best Lighting Display of a Storefront," and "Greenest Lighting Display." Which one will win your vote?
Vote for your favorite lighting displays online at www.LightUpDowntownSA.com (one vote per person, per day). Voting ends Dec. 19, 2013, and winners will be recognized publicly on New Year's Eve.
This year, pop up retail shops along Houston Street will participate in the contest by featuring lighting displays along with unique gift ideas. Learn more about "OPEN" along Houston Street at www.sanantonio.gov/ccdo.
Thank you to our media sponsors, WOAI-TV and KABB-TV, featuring weekly segments on Light Up Downtown during the "San Antonio Living" and "Daytime at Nine". Tune in for interviews with participants, event organizers and more!
Like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LightUpDowntown.
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Plan Ahead for New Year's Eve Street Closures
by Veronica Garcia, Executive Assistant
The City of San Antonio and San Antonio Parks Foundation is ready to kick off the New Year in a big way at the annual New Year's Eve Celebrate San Antonio held at Hemisfair Park and La Villita. The official kickoff is at 5 pm but festivities start at noon around the area.
Live music on three stages will be ongoing throughout the festivities. Once the clock strikes twelve the public will be treated to an amazing fireworks display. Approximately 250,000 people are expected to attend...don't miss out on this free and fun event!
Save time and plan ahead! To accommodate the event, street closures will be put in place around Hemisfair Park starting at 8:00 am on December 31 and continuing through 7:00 am on January 1. Alamo Street from Market to Cesar Chavez and Nueva Street from Alamo to Presa will be closed. Citizens are encouraged to save time and plan ahead for the New Year's Eve street closures. Download a detour map here.
Please note Downtown Tuesday free parking will be suspended on New Year's Eve and parking will be available at posted event rates.
For more information on the New Year's Eve Celebration, visit www.saparksfoundation.org or call 210-212-8423.
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OPEN
by Veronica Gonzalez, Center City Development
Eight new shops are popping up downtown along a stretch of Houston Street just in time for the holiday shopping season. The OPEN Downtown Pop Up Shopswill be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Downtown Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays through December 21.
OPEN is an initiative of the City of San Antonio's Center City Development Office in cooperation with Federal Realty/REATA and Service Lloyds Insurance Company to offer established business owners a no-cost, short-term lease for the 2013 holiday season.
OPEN activates underutilized and vacant downtown properties by introducing temporary retail locations that create an environment that engages customers and authenticates downtown as a vibrant urban space for long-term investment.
The participating shops include the following:
- Joyarte Jewelry Couture - Hand-crafted art, 141 E. Houston St. (Dec. 17 and Dec. 21)
- Las Ofrendas - Hand-crafted art, 311 E. Houston St. (Dec. 17 and Dec. 21)
- Zubiate Projects - Furniture, artwork, sculptures, 231 E. Houston St. (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
- San Antonio History LLC - Books about "Downtown San Antonio," 140 E. Houston St. (Dec. 14 and Dec. 17)
- St. Sarita - Fair trade folk art and textiles, 140 E. Houston St. (Dec. 10 and Dec. 14)
- Vinously Speaking and Fresh Urban Flowers - CANVAS: A Pop UP wine gallery and art bar, 140 E. Houston St. (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
- PAWSitively Sweet Bakery - dog treats and accessories, 140 E. Houston St. (Dec. 3 and Dec. 7)
- Pinkberry Boutique - women's clothing and accessories, 311 E. Houston St. (TBA)
OPEN was made possible through the generosity and support of San Antonio's property owners, businesses and community organizations.
Several special activities are planned with OPEN, including pictures with Santa and free gift-wrapping, and entertainment by strolling carolers spreading holiday cheer. For dates, times and locations for the special activities, visit the Facebook page "OPEN: Downtown Pop-Up Shops."
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Mosaic Tile Mural Restored
by Laura Raffaniello, Contract Coordinator
The City of San Antonio's Downtown Operations Department recently oversaw restoration of the mosaic tile mural entitled "San Antonio Scenes" located at river level under the Losoya Street bridge within the Paseo del Alamo. The mural, designed by Thomas Stell and installed by Charles Winans, was commissioned by the Tesoro Petroleum Corporation with a grant of $48,000.00 for the Hyatt Regency Hotel's grand opening in 1981. The mural depicts several San Antonio landmarks including the Alamo, Bexar County Courthouse, San Antonio Art Museum, and San Fernando Cathedral.
Restoration of the mural by Fine Art Conservation Services began in August 2013 and took approximately three months to complete. Work included cleaning the mural's surface, repairing the existing epoxy support, replacing missing tiles, stabilizing loose tiles, restoring original design elements, and installing a renewable protective coating. The total cost of the restoration was $22,955.00. The project was completed as part of Phase III of the River Walk Capital Improvement Project.
Below is a list of additional facts about the mural and its artist Thomas Stell.
- The mural is made up of 110,000 Venetian tiles from Ravenna, Italy
- The mural was constructed in six sections and then laid into a pre-fitted limestone façade
- Thomas Stell passed away March 30, 1981 prior to the mural's completion; Charles Winans, Stell's apprentice, completed the project
- The Paseo del Alamo links Texas' top two tourist destinations, the San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo
- Thomas Stell also created six glass mosaic panels depicting Indians of North and South America at the base of the Tower of the Americas for HemisFair '68
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Downtown Food Trucks
by Tonya Baum, Special Projects Manager
Downtown San Antonio is home to many delicious food trucks that serve all types of food. Whether you're looking for juicy cheeseburgers, gourmet sandwiches, seafood or something with an Asian flair then our food trucks will have a dish to please even the pickiest of patrons.
San Antonio food trucks are located at several locations downtown to include Main Plaza, Soledad St. (in front of the Weston Centre), Travis Park, Salinas St. near Art Pace, and Madison Park. They will be serving lunch on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with evening serving times.
For a complete schedule of food truck vending options, visit www.sanantonio.gov/dtops.
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Urban Renaissance Luncheon - Jan. 27
by Melissa Burnett, Centro San Antonio
Register Now!
Urban Renaissance Luncheon:
Towards a Walkable San Antonio
Guest speaker: Jeff Speck
Monday, January 27
Wyndam San Antonio Riverwalk
111 Pecan St.
11:30 am Check in / Networking
12:00 - 1:30 pm Lunch / Program
LUNCHEON
Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. Making walkability happen is relatively easy. Seeing exactly what needs to be done is the trick. Join us as Speck reveals the invisible workings of the city, how simple decisions have cascading effects, and how we can all make the right choices for our community.
POST-LUNCHEON WORKSHOP
The luncheon will be followed by a 2-hour interactive workshop facilitated by Jeff Speck. The workshop, "Towards a Walkable San Antonio: The Method," will be from 2pm-4pm and will cover the Ten Steps of Walkability, divided into the Useful, the Safe, the Comfortable and the Interesting Walk. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please contact Eddie Romero at 210.225.3862 for more information.
For more information, or to register, visit www.downtownsanantonio.org.
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