April 26, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

Become an expert on native flowers

Black-eyed susans are similar to Europe-native daisies and can be found in the Alamo City. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

You love San Antonio food, music, business, and art — so while you’re planning your garden this spring, why not choose local plants, too?

Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate, provide sustenance to native wildlife, and save water by thriving on normal rainfall. Plus, they’re more visually diverse than, say, lawn grass.

Consider planting some Central Texas flora this spring. We’ll get you started.

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Water needs: Moist, dry
Light needs: Sun, shade, part-shade
Bloom time: May-September

Growing tips: Butterfly weed attracts aphids, which you can deal with by spraying with soapy water, blasting with high-pressure streams, or by leaving the aphids for ladybugs.

Attracts: Hummingbirds and butterflies (Monarch + Grey Hairstreak).

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Water needs: Dry
Light needs: Sun, part-shade
Bloom time: April-September

Growing tips: Suited to northeast Texas, purple coneflower thrives in lean soil with ~six hours of direct sunlight daily.

Attracts: Hummingbirds and butterflies.

Texas Bluebonnet

Lupinus texensis

Water needs: Dry
Light needs: Sun
Bloom time: March-May

Growing tips: While bluebonnets only bloom their signature flower heads in spring and summer, it also forms rosettes in the winter.

Attracts: Bees and butterflies (Hairstreak + Elfin).

A person sits in a field of vibrant blue flowers. — Bluebonnets are the best state flower, hands down (we might be a bit biased).
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Photo by @photofishtexan

Wild Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Water needs: Moist, dry
Light needs: Shade, part-shade
Bloom time: February-July

Growing tips: Plant columbine in thin, well-drained soil to ensure a long lifespan. This flower struggles in heat, so plant in the shade before temperatures climb in spring.

Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, hawk moths, finches, and buntings.

More native flowers

Events

Friday, April 26

Fiesta Bacardi Rooftop Party | Friday, April 26 | 4-6 p.m. | Rosario’s, 722 S. Saint Mary’s St., San Antonio | Cost of purchase | People 25+ can celebrate the Battle of Flowers with exclusive specials, tastings, and Bacardi Mojito cocktails on this restaurant’s rooftop.
La Semana After Party | Friday, April 26 | 4 p.m.-2 a.m. | Francis Bogside, 1170 E. Commerce St., San Antonio | $10 | Wear your La Semana wristband to gain free entry for live music, Fiesta-themed food, and drink specials.
International Pretzel Day | Friday, April 26 | 5-9 p.m. | Cool Crest Miniature Golf & Metzger Biergarten, 1402 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio | $6-$9 | Grab a seven or 10-inch pretzel and play a few rounds of mini golf.

Saturday, April 27

Festival De Animales | Saturday, April 27-Sunday, April 28 | 9 a.m. | San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. Saint Mary’s St., San Antonio | $0-$32 | Get wild with our local zoo as you celebrate animals, culture, and food from south + central America.
Independent Bookstore Day | Saturday, April 27 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Nowhere Bookshop, 5154 Broadway, San Antonio | Free | Celebrate all things books with exclusive merch, cafe specials on cupcakes and rosé, a free Fiesta medal with purchase, and more.
2024 Fiesta De Los Spurs Run | Saturday, April 27 | 4 p.m. | Intersection of Evergreen and Main Street, San Antonio | $10-$50 | Dawn a costume and run 3.1 miles before the start of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade.
Contra Dance | Saturday, April 27 | 7-10 p.m. | MARC at OLLU, 411 SW 24th St., San Antonio | Free | Take to the dance floor and learn the New England-style contra dance with live music.

Sunday, April 28

Siesta Half Marathon | Sunday, April 28 | 6:15 a.m. | Mission County Park, 6030 Padre Dr., San Antonio | $40-$199 | Run a .05k fun run, 5k, 10K, or half marathon at this Fiesta-themed racing event.
River Walk Brunch Cruise | Sunday, April 28 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Zocca Cuisine d’Italia, 420 W. Market St., San Antonio | $75 | Float down the San Antonio River with friends and family while enjoying a morning meal with drinks.
Camp Belles & Chimes 2024 | Sunday, April 28 | 2-6 p.m. | What’s Brewing Roastery & Cafe, 138 W. Rhapsody, San Antonio | $15 | Don’t land in the gobble hole and join this community group for a scout-themed pinball tournament.

Events calendar here

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Biz

Do or delegate? 3 ways to achieve more

a woman sits at a large white table and works on a laptop

Athena vets 30,000+ assistants, and under 1% make it to its four-week training program, where they learn Athena’s proprietary delegation system, AI tools, and playbooks. | Photo via Pexels

Most people don’t know how or what to delegate. Their “I can do it myself” attitude or mediocre experience with a virtual assistant limits their ability to move from doing to delegating. Athena gets to know your personal + business life so you can achieve more.

Here are three tricks to kickstart your delegation journey:

Use voice notes to delegate.
Record videos of repetitive tasks to turn into a standard process.
Stop thinking it’ll be faster to do it yourself.

Achieve more + get a $1,500 credit

News Notes

Civic

San Antonio City Hall and most municipal offices are closed today in observance of the Fiesta San Jacinto Holiday (Battle of Flowers). Public safety + emergency services (police, fire, and EMS) will remain in operation. Other City services will operate including Animal Care Officers.

Announced

The San Antonio Parks Foundation added two members to its 2024 Board of Directors: Roy Hock from Valero (Director of Risk Finance and Casualty Insurance) and Bryan Mask from Dunway (Manger | Principal). Both new members bring a wealth of experience + dedication to the foundation’s mission.

Coming Soon

A new brewery is coming to the Alamo City called Silver Lining Brewing. Previously Second Pitch Brewing Co., local entrepreneur Carlos D. Valadez announced the acquisition + revamp of the beer hall via Instagram that features a new logo and an outdoor facade. The grand opening details are currently not available. (MySA)

Network

The Down Market is hosting The Creative Futures Brunch Vol. 4 at Geekdom on Wednesday, May 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come for a podcast panel discussion led by industry experts, and stay for a full brunch menu by Chef Melissa Valenzuela, and coffee from Pulp Coffee. RSVP today for the free event.

Environment

$250 million. That’s how much money a collection of Texas cities + counties will receive from an Environmental Protection Agency grant for solar resources. Tarrant County teamed up with Harris, Dallas, and Travis counties and the city of San Antonio to apply for the $7 billion Solar for All program.

Learn

The Camera Exchange released its lineup of seven free classes as part of its Spring Expo beginning Friday, May 3. The classes include Fundamentals of Rigging and Mastering Wireless Audio. In addition to the classes, check out exclusive deals, free gift cards + giveaways, and in-store demonstrations. Sign up today.

Eat

It’s party time. Cake Thieves Bakery is celebrating its second birthday. Today from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., the local vegan bakery is offering free birthday cake donuts, merch for sale, and vendors (11 a.m.-2 p.m.). You can find them at 1602 E. Houston St.

Drink

Twang and Alamo Beer Co. partnered up to create a new beer: Spicy Michelada. The flavored VIVA Beer is launching on Sunday, May 5 and is crafted with Twang’s Spicy Michelada Mix. You purchase it at Alamo Beer Co. in 19.2 ounce tallboy cans at the launch party and from the brewery.

Sports

As a part of the Big 12-Big East Challenge, the Bears will take on two-time defending national champion UCONN in Storrs in 2024. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Baylor Bears with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Edu

Did you know? Somerset Academy Collegiate offers a SLAM program where students can gain experience in their industry of choice (with an internship opportunity senior year). Programs of study include Healthcare Therapeutics, Exercise and Wellness, Business Marketing and Finance, and Digital and Multimedia. View courses + career opportunities.*

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Watch

For the first time ever, Hulu Live TV is offering a three day free trial. Get 33 of the top 35 cable channels, Hulu on demand, Disney+, and ESPN+.*

Today is

The Battle of Flowers

SATXtoday: Battle of flowers parade royalty

Check out all of the Fiesta royalty during the Battle of Flowers parade. | Photo courtesy of Battle of Flowers Association, Javier Fernandez, and Jon Alonzo.

Ever wonder why San Antonians flock to the Battle of Flowers celebration every Fiesta? Most of the Alamo City is closed for the historic holiday allowing 550,000 people to attend the event. Origins can be traced back to 1891, making it one of the largest + oldest parades in the country.

The Battle of Flowers Association can be traced back to Ellen Maury Slayden, wife of Congressman James L. Slayden. Ellen wanted to commemorate the fallen heroes at the Battle of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto.

With the help of J.S. Alexander and the San Antonio Club, they decorated horse drawn carriages + buggies with live flowers. The group met in front of the Alamo and threw flowers as the parade went by, and thus the annual parade was born.

Fast forward to 2024, you can expect:

Ticketed seating
Fiesta food and drinks
Colorful floats with Fiesta royalty towed by trucks and jeeps
Local + national marching bands, organizations, and businesses

The Buy

A women’s pastel, oversized button-down — because you can’t go wrong in it for spring. Bonus: This one’s 100% cotton.

Answered

What about the new Pullman Market excites you the most?

SATXtoday: interior Pullman Market — Browse through the locally sourced food and goods inside the Pullman Market.
|
Photo by Robert Lerma

50% of you are excited for locally sourced food + retail goods | 18.8% are looking forward to the four new restaurants | 15% can’t wait for the five quick-service eateries | 12.2% chose other | 6.2% want to try the on-site tortilleria

Pullman Market details

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Adriana

From the editor

City Editor Nicholas and I will be out at the Battle of Flowers Parade this morning and at La Semana Alegre in the afternoon. Come say hi and answer a question or two to get a free SATXtoday sticker. Pro tip: To avoid the traffic and parking downtown, you can ride with VIA to both events.

See y’all soon.

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