The Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration in SATX is the largest in the nation. | Photo by SATXtoday team
Each year,Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January — Jan. 16 this year. The theme for this year is “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,” according to The King Center — a nonprofit founded by MLK’s wife, Coretta Scott King, to continue Dr. King’s legacy.
If you have time to dedicate to our community, here are three local volunteer opportunities:
Habitat for Humanity San Antonio | Habitat builds homes year-round and needs volunteers to help with construction Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Keep San Antonio Beautiful | Make a difference by volunteering to clean up the neighborhoods in the Alamo City. They host numerous events throughout the year that you can sign up for.
Fiesta Youth | This organization serves LGBTQ+ teens and young adults. You can donate your time by facilitating weekly youth meetings + helping with annual events.
Or participate in Mitchell Lake Audubon Center’s 2nd Saturday Habitat Work Day as members of the community come together to help manage the garden. The event will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow at 10750 Pleasanton Rd.
Don’t forget to also mark your calendar for the country’s largest MLK march in the nation happening in San Antonio on Monday, Jan 16. at 10 a.m. The march will kick off at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, followed by a community celebration at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
For the 36th Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration, you can expect multicultural performances, a health and wellness area, a youth area, food and merchandise vendors, and other information booths.
Looking for other ways to get involved? Check out more local volunteer opportunities through the link below.
River Walk Winter Artisan Show | Friday, Jan. 13 | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | San Antonio River Walk, 849 E. Commerce St., San Antonio | Cost of purchase | Shop from 40+ handmade artisan booths, including items like pottery, textiles, jewelry, paintings, and more.
Tito Muñoz conducts Beethoven | Friday, Jan. 13 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough Ave., San Antonio | $30-$65 | Rising violin star and Itzhak Perlman protégé Randall Goosby will bring his gifts to bear in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s ever popular violin concerto.
Cinema on Will’s Plaza | “Flaming Star” | Friday, Jan. 13 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir., San Antonio | Free | Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the movie on a 32-ft LED video wall.
Live Music at Q Bar – Joel Gracia | Friday, Jan. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Hyatt Regency San Antonio, 123 Losoya St., San Antonio | Free | Grab a cocktail and listen to music along the River Walk.
Saturday, Jan. 14
Nature Photography Workshop | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 9-11 a.m. | Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio | $15-$20 | Bring your camera and learn tips on how to capture great nature photos, then enjoy a hike to work on techniques learned during the workshop.
Techno Contra Dance | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 7-9 p.m. | SMASHDance, 6883 Bandera Rd., San Antonio | Free | Dance to techno and modern tunes, but with the same 64-count dances that contra dancers are used to.
Sunday, Jan. 15
MLK 5K 2023 | Sunday, Jan. 15 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Martin Luther King Park, 3503 Martin Luther King Dr., San Antonio | $10-$20 | All proceeds go directly to YMLA student organizations.
Plan Ahead
Providence Casino Night & Gala | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 6-11 p.m. | Pedrotti’s Ranch, 13715 FM 1560 N., San Antonio | Enjoy an evening of entertainment, gaming, prizes + more at this can’t-miss party supporting Providence Catholic School.*
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Do you think you have the best local pickup line? | Graphic by 6AM City
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ve got love on the brain.
To usher in the month of love, we want to hear thebest pickup lines in the city. The pickup line must include the name of our beloved city, something that our city is known for, or a local landmark. It can be so sweet that it almost gives us a cavity.
We’ll use these pickup lines for something fun soon — keep your (heart) eyes peeled. 😍
Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF reached its closest point to the sun last night. For your best odds of catching this once-in-600-lifetimes spectacle, watch northwestern dark skies during the Saturday, Jan. 21 new moon, or on the night of Wednesday, Feb. 1, when it’s closest to Earth. (Space.com)
Sports
Back home in the Dome — The Spurs will return to the Alamodome today as part of their 50th anniversary celebration. Following the game, attendees can look forward to a post-game party on H-E-B Plaza north of the Alamodome with food, drinks, live music, and a fireworks display. 🏀
Closed
Hotel Emma will be closed through the weekend due to a carbon monoxide leak on Wednesday. No other Pearl businesses were affected by the gas leak, and they will remain open through the weekend. (San Antonio Express-News)
Development
Pinstack will expand to the Far Northwest Side with a $9.5 million second location. According to a public filing, the massive bowling alley + arcade will be constructed just north of The Rim. The 53,360-sqft project will break ground in April and is anticipated to open in February 2024. 🎳
Traffic
The intersection at Harry Wurzbach and Austin Highway is about to get much easier to navigate. CoSA and TxDOT will partner to create an SPUI interchange, an advanced design that improves mobility in high traffic intersections. The first drivers will be welcomed on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Get a sneak peek. 🛣️
Civic
The Office of the City Clerk will host a City Council Candidate Application Day on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Residents interested in running for election can head to the Office of the City Clerk in City Hall, 100 Military Plaza, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Job
Pepsi will be hosting an in-person job fair this Saturday., Jan. 14 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to apply online before heading over to the event at 6100 NE Loop 410. 💼
Finance
From mass layoffs to the pandemic, people realized their jobs are not always secure. That’s why an emergency fund is so important. Work to build an emergency fund that is roughly three to six months of your living expenses, and check these nine items off your list for financial success.*
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This Valentine’s Day, you can join in the fun by donating to symbolically name a cockroach, rodent, or veggie after your not-so-special someone.
How it works 💌
For $5, $10, or $25, those who donate will receive digital downloadable Valentine’s Day card and be able to add their not-so-special someone’s name in the “person to notify” line.
For $150, the zoo will create an individualized video message of your cockroach, rodent, or veggie being fed to one of the zoo’s animals to be sent to those not-so-special someones — see this example.
Perfect cockroach candidates include: ex-partners, bosses, and besties that really made 2022 difficult. Last year, the most popular names were Jacob and Sarah.
Note: Personalized video messages are limited. You can donate online.
Editor’s pick: Will you be attending the Spurs game today? I’ve been seeing that crowds are expected to reach up to 62,000 — that’s about the same number as when Bad Bunny performed. Those attending are highly encouraged to use ride share and public transportation services. Those that aren’t attending should probably avoid downtown like the flu, trust me. See you there.
Editorial:Ivan Briones, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
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