12.04.2023

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Today’s Forecast

53º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:29 a.m. | Sunset 5:48 p.m.

Zoo news ensues

San Antonio Zoo opens transformed entrance

The San Antonio Zoo opens its renovated entrance. | Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo

It’s time to hippo-party-mus. After announcing some turtley awesome news in late 2021, the San Antonio Zoo unveiled its new $13 million entrance, and we’ve got the inside scoop. Let’s get wild.

What’s all the roar about?

This is part of Phase 1 of the zoo’s master plan which includes improving its infrastructure, ADA accommodations, safety, and ease of use for visitors. This is the first time the entrance has seen updates since being built in the 1950s.

The new entrance includes:

The H-E-B Plaza
A lemur skywalk
A designated entrance for school groups
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Zoo Entrance LEGO-Model

Additionally, after closing the Monkey House in 2018, the historic building was renovated and re-purposed to include a café, stroller rental + sundry counter, and accessible restrooms.

The new entrance features a lemur skywalk and the H-E-B Plaza.
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Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo

Show me the money

How’s a project like this being funded? Glad you asked, the master plan of the San Antonio Zoo is estimated to cost upwards of $250 million. These funds will improve the park over the next 10-15 years. The zoo is currently taking donations for its event center project and has raised $47 million of the $67 million needed to complete it.

Other cash flows contributing to the project come from revenue generated by rides, merchandise, parking fees, etc., as well as state + local taxes.

What’s next?

The biggest next step for the zoo is the reintroduction of the gorillas for the first time since 1990. The new gorilla habitat + event center will open in 2025.

Fun fact: The gorilla enclosure will be the largest in the country.

Are you excited for the additions? Let us know.

Events

Monday, Dec. 4

Mimosa Mondays with Goat Cuddles | Monday, Dec. 4 | 8-11 a.m. | Screaming Goat Yard and Tap, 4 Sun Valley Rd., Spring Branch | Price of purchase | Start off the week sipping on a classic brunch drink and cuddle up with some cute farm animals.

Tuesday, Dec. 5

Grinch Pop-Up | Now-Sunday, Jan. 14 | 4 p.m.-12 a.m. | Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen, 103 E. Jones Ave., San Antonio | Price of purchase | Stop by this beer garden for limited-time drinks + eats — it may just make your heart grow three sizes.
Adult Ornament Decorating | Tuesday, Dec. 5 | 4:30-6 p.m. | Collins Garden Library, 200 N. Park Blvd., San Antonio | Free | Spruce up your tree with a hand-decorated ornament.

Wednesday, Dec. 6

Discover Winter Growing Succulents | Wednesday, Dec. 6 | 6-7:30 p.m. | San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, San Antonio | $90 | Struggle to keep plants alive in the winter? Learn about the world of winter-growing succulents.

Thursday, Dec. 7

Teatro Audaz presents “It’s a Wonderful Vida” | Thursday, Dec. 7-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | McCreless Theater, 799 W. Dewey Place, San Antonio | $15-$35 | Take in this satirical play set in Corpus Christi that examines an immigrant family trying to assimilate and achieve the American dream.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

Why buying via auction just makes sense

All this and more could be yours. | Photo provided by Public Auctions of Texas

Some things just make sense — like making big purchases (refrigerators, couches, washers + dryers) at Public Auctions of Texas, where you can personally set the value of a product and decide how much you want to pay.

What else does buying via auction mean? The possibility of securing an incredible deal — and you know how we feel about a good deal.

Public Auctions of Texas holds weekly auctions every Wednesday + Friday, along with in-person product previews on Sundays and Mondays, so you can plan your next great buy.

See how it works

News Notes

Transit

In an effort to update its bike plan, the City of San Antonio’s transportation department recently unveiled an updated bike website to local advocates. Provide feedback on the plan via an online survey, which is set to close Jan. 15. (San Antonio Report)

Try this

In case you missed it, Ballet San Antonio’s production of “The Nutcracker” opened last Friday, Dec. 1 + will run through Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Don’t miss the Sweets and Treats Party on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Watch

Slab Cinema will be showing holiday classics all month long — just remember to bundle up. Catch “Miracle on 34th Street” on Friday, Dec. 8, “Home Alone” on Monday, Dec. 11 for Free Movie Mondays, plus all your favorites playing at various theaters across San Antonio. (KSAT)

Community

The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services released a searchable map of dangerous dogs, defined as “an animal that makes an unprovoked attack outside the owner’s property.” The map will be updated as more cases occur. (KSAT)

Asked

Voting for round two of our “Best Tortilla Bracket” competition ends tomorrow, Dec. 5. Get your votes in: We’re down to Culebra Meat Market vs. H-E-B and Fiesta Bakery vs. San Antonio Bakery.

Finance

Masterworks is a platform that helps you invest in multi-million dollar art by names like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, for just thousands – not millions. When Masterworks sells a painting, like the 16 it’s already sold, investors can get a return. 6AM City readers can skip the waitlist to join.**

**Investing involves risk and past performance is not indicative of future returns. See important Reg A disclosures and aggregate advisory performance masterworks.com/cd.

Plan Ahead

Shipping deadlines for the holidays

Don’t miss these shipping deadlines for the holidays

Snail mail may be faster than Santa. | Photo by Element5 Digital via Pexels

Get wrapping. It’s time to send your holiday presents. Don’t forget — Hanukkah is Dec. 7-15, so plan to ship ASAP.

Have packages that must arrive before Dec. 25? We’ve got when and where to ship them.

FedEx deadlines

Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Ground economy
Friday, Dec. 15 | 5-Day shipping
Monday, Dec. 18 | 4-Day shipping
Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 3-Day shipping (ground) + express saver
Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 3-Day shipping (home) + 2-Day shipping (ground)
Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2-Day shipping (home) + 1-day shipping (ground)
Friday, Dec. 22 | 1-Day home delivery + same day

Find your nearest FedEx.

UPS deadlines

Tuesday, Dec. 19 | UPS 3-Day Select
Wednesday, Dec. 20 | UPS 2nd Day Air
Thursday, Dec. 21 | UPS Next Day Air

Find your nearest UPS.

United States Postal Service deadlines

Saturday, Dec. 16 | USPS Ground Advantage + First-Class Mail
Monday, Dec. 18 | Priority Mail
Wednesday, Dec. 20 | Priority Mail Express

Find your nearest Post Office.

Last year, Amazon delivered more packages to homes than both UPS + FedEx. If you’re looking for last-minute gifts, check out our Editors’ Picks.

The Buy

The Buy 12.04.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A fun and useful gift that’s sure to get the holiday party started: a margarita machine.

Answered

What’s your favorite holiday coffee order?

CoffeeCrush Holiday Drinks.jpg — Find the Mr. Grinch matcha latte at Coffee Crush along with other festive favorites.
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Photo by Coffee Crush

Last week, we asked for your winter coffee order, and here’s what you said: 54% of you enjoy a peppermint mocha latte, 25% love an eggnog latte, 13% sip on a gingerbread latte, and 8% cozy up with a raspberry white chocolate latte.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Nicholas

From the editor

I recently tried the tortillas from La Luz Tortilleria and oh my goodness, those were so soft, fluffy, and delicious. I’m excited to see who the final two will be in our flour tortilla bracket challenge.

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