Consider this your money saving tip of the year. | Photo provided by Public Auctions of Texas
Did you know? Nearly 5 billion pounds of new-and-used goods from online e-commerce returns end up in landfills each year. It’s a problem that’s only growing as Americans make more online purchases (and returns).
Enter: Public Auctions of Texas — a San Antonio-based business on a mission to change that. How? By offering weekly online auctions of returned e-commerce goods that give a second chance to items that would otherwise end up in landfills (at some pretty killer prices, we might add).
Good for the environment:
We all want to do our part — but who knew that returned pot with a scratch on the lid didn’t make it back to the warehouse?
The magnitude of returns that end up landfills stems from high online return rates. Items purchased online have a 2x higher return rate than products purchased in-store — which translates to over 5 billion pounds of waste + 15 tons of carbon emissions.
Since opening in 2021, Public Auctions of Texas has saved more than 475,500 pounds of goods from heading to the landfills.
Good for consumers:
Inventory changes weekly and includes almost anything under the sun you can imagine — electronics, furniture, appliances, clothing, home improvement goods, decor, and more.
All items are listed in brand new, like new, used, or as-is condition, and bids start at just $2.50. Think: An Apple laptop for $275 (originally $599) or an LG flat-screen TV for $700 (originally $2,199).
Woven | Monday, Jan. 16 | 5:30-7 p.m. | San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl., San Antonio | $15-$25 | Listen to a concert featuring composers who weave the sounds and spirit of their cultural heritages into contemporary classical works.
Tuesday, Jan. 17
Bexar County Grant Program Info Session | Tuesday, Jan. 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Register for this session to learn how you can gain access to small business grants.
Wednesday, Jan. 18
The Big Texas Read | Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join in on a talk with 2022 National Book Award Finalist Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, author of “Look at This Blue.”
Thursday, Jan. 19
Geeks Who Drink Pub Trivia | Thursday, Jan. 19-Thursday, Jan. 2 | 7-9 p.m. | Tech Port Center, 3331 General Hudnell Dr., San Antonio | Free | Bring your friends for seven rounds of audio, visual + live-hosted trivia.
Friday, Jan. 20
“RENT” | Friday, Jan. 20-Sunday, Jan. 22 | Times vary | Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir., San Antonio | $49-$99 | Follow a year in the life of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side.
Saturday, Jan. 21
BLAST with Judy | Saturday, Jan. 21 | 10-11 a.m. | Yanaguana Garden, 434 S. Alamo St., San Antonio | Free | Move your body in this community workout class hosted by Judy.
SoBAR Nights | Saturday, Jan. 21 | 8 p.m. | Rise Recovery, 2803 Mossrock, San Antonio | $5 | Come out for a sober and fun-filled night, featuring mocktails, music, and a 360 photobooth.
Sunday, Jan. 22
All Shostakovich | Sunday, Jan. 22 | 3-5 p.m. | Diane Bennack Concert Hall at the University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio | $20 | Explore the chamber music of enigmatic Soviet-era composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
Plan Ahead
Providence Casino Night & Gala | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 6-11 p.m. | Pedrotti’s Ranch, 13715 FM1560 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.
The City of San Antonio approved grants for small businesses affected by construction around the city. Eligible business owners can apply for a one-time cash payment starting Mon., Feb. 13 and receive $10,000 to $35,000 based on losses and other criteria. đź’µ (San Antonio Business Journal)
Community
The San Antonio River Authority will introduce a new floodplain map for the first time in over a decade. Homeowners in areas just west of Mission ConcepciĂłn will most likely have to buy flood insurance. A public meeting on the matter will be held on Wed., Jan. 18.đź’§ (San Antonio Express-News)
Coming Soon
Italian eatery Piatti is slated to reopen at Alamo Quarry Market on Thursday, Jan. 19 with an updated menu and redesign. Piatti Provisions, a new retail shop connected to the restaurant, is also in the works and will offer specialty pasta, gourmet meal kits + more. 🍝 (San Antonio Current)
Traffic
Heading to the Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration today? Traffic on the East Side will be heavily congested as people make their way to the march. Check out what else you need to know with this guide. 🚧 (San Antonio Report)
Real Estate
New data shows an uptick in discounted homes in San Antonio when one year ago people were offering well above the asking price. See how values have changed since the start of the pandemic. 🏡 (KSAT-12)
Eat
Restaurant Weeks have kicked off in SATX. Nearly 90 eateries across the city have partnered with Culinary to bring delicious, new menu offerings for a limited time. Three-course meals will range from $20 to $50 depending on time and location. 🍽️
Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🥕 *
If you’ve got sticker shock from your winter energy bills, it’s time to break out the space heater. Solve chilly mornings the energy efficient way with the Dr. Infrared Heater that warms objects, not the air. Hello, cozy legs. Bonus: Heat your patio with infrared, too. 🔥*
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Join one of the 200+ at the annual DreamWeek Summit | Photo by Sarah Lyons
DreamWeek is almost here. The citywide summit builds on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., inspiring civic engagement to embrace ideas and dreams.
The annual summit kicks off on Friday, Jan. 12 with a breakfast at The Briscoe, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 29. Don’t miss out on the 200+ events scheduled over the two week period.
Here’s what you need to know:
This year’s theme is The Compassion Drive — it’s what makes our city unique.
Events will take place across the city and can take a variety of forms including symposiums, panel discussions + debates, film screenings, concerts, and art exhibits.
Editor’s pick: Want to hit up as many restaurants as you can in one go? Pearl will host the largest number of eateries participating in Culinaria’s Restaurant Weeks in one place — nine, to be exact. It’s go time, foodies.
Missed our last newsletter? Honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy with these volunteering opportunities.
Connect with us.
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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