 THERE’S PLENTY TO
DO AFTER FIESTA
Museum Reach opening,
Folklife Festival keep
May and June lively
By LEIGH BALDWIN
Let’s hope no one burned out during our famous Fiesta, as cultural highlights and can’t-miss events abound during May and June. There’s so much to see and do downtown this spring that you’ll need to start penciling it all in right away. Take a deep breath and try not to miss anything!
The San Antonio River takes center stage with riverfront events and a new extension opening. The biggest news of 2009 is the opening of the San Antonio River Improvements Project — Museum Reach Urban Segment. Running from Lexington Avenue to Josephine Street, the Museum Reach is a $72.1 million community investment in flood control, amenities, ecosystem restoration and recreational improvements. It will open in May.
The Museum Reach links several new and rediscovered institutions along the northern banks of the river to the vibrant downtown scene. River barges and taxis will wind their way along this peaceful urban oasis through park-like settings filled with public art and native landscaping.
The end point is the revitalized Pearl Brewery. In addition to the highly touted Pearl Stables, Texas Farm to Table restaurant, Aveda Institute and Culinary Institute of America Center for Latin American Foods, the Pearl complex has recently opened several unique shops.
Run Wild Sports is a men’s and women’s athletic store that sponsors weekly runs through nearby Brackenridge Park. Synergy Studio, a long-time Monte Vista institution, has relocated to Pearl and expanded its repertoire of yoga, Pilates, NIA and other healthy classes. Cookbook author and television star Melissa Guerra has opened her Tienda de Cocina, a mercado-like boutique filled with culinary tools and recipes, authentic artwork and handmade goods from Mexico and Latin America.
 On May 16, the Pearl Brewery will celebrate the new Farmer’s Market, a perfect complement to the health, environmental and culinary concerns the complex is known for.
Another brewery reborn, the San Antonio Museum of Art, inspires the Museum Reach designation and sits at the heart of the new expansion. It will debut a new riverside entrance with both pedestrian and river barge access this May. An outdoor covered pavilion and terrace will offer cool, shady seating for events, parties, lectures and more, directly on the banks of the river. In addition to a celebration of this new construction on May 13 called the “Back Yard River Bash,” SAMA has been working closely with the San Antonio River Foundation, the entity bringing 12 new public art projects by eight local and international artists to the Museum Reach.
On May 30, SAMA and SARF will team up for a panel discussion with all of the artists involved, led by SAMA curator of contemporary art David Rubin, and on June 7, will co-sponsor an exciting family day at SAMA focusing on the art and ecology of the Museum Reach extension.
But the really big news is the citywide grand opening weekend celebration for the Museum Reach Urban Segment on May 30 and 31. San Antonians and visitors alike can enjoy this new 1.5-mile river expansion. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with an event featuring Mayor Phil Hardberger, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, San Antonio River Authority board member Sally Buchanan and San Antonio River Oversight Committee co-chairmen Lila Cockrell and Irby Hightower.
Immediately following the opening ceremony there will be an afternoon filled with music, food and fun for the whole family. River barge rides and walking tours will be available. In addition to the public festival along the river, there will be activities taking place at adjoining properties (San Antonio Museum of Art, The Pearl, Turner Bowling Alley, El Tropicano Hotel and others) providing family fun throughout the Museum Reach all day long.
 On Sunday, May 31, there will be additional celebrations and events, such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Walk and Roll on the River taking place at The Pearl and a special brunch co-sponsored by the San Antonio Parks Foundation honoring Mayor Phil Hardberger at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
After the buzz of the Museum Reach opening dies down, it will be time to return to a classic summer outing — the Texas Folklife Festival. I remember attending this wonderful embrace of Texan heritage even as a child. My little brother, then around 4 years old, was the 1,000th person through the gate and was asked by a local TV crew what his heritage was. He promptly replied, “Well, my dad’s an Aggie.” It’s a family joke we never get tired of telling. Make your own family stories at this year’s festival on June 12, 13 and 14.
The Texas Folklife Festival is the signature annual event of the Institute of Texan Cultures. The three-day festival showcases the Lone Star State's diversity and rich heritage. It features delicious foods, multiple entertainment stages, family activities, special exhibits, artisan demonstrations and attractions.
A good game plan? Get the map and identify your top foods and performances — there’s so much available, you’ll miss something otherwise!
|
