The San Antonio Food Bank team harvesting red + green peppers for the fall season. | Photo by SATXtoday team
Newsletter Editor Nicholas here. I got to spend some time last month at Mission San Juan where the San Antonio Food Bank manages 45 acres of farmland.
After a tour with Director of Food Sustainability Mitch Hagney and President and CEO Eric Cooper, I was able to help harvest a fresh batch of crops with the Food Bank’s team which would then be distributed throughout the Alamo City.
Let’s grow into it.
Fun fact: The Mission San Juan Farm uses a 300-year-old acequia to irrigate the land — the same way the San Juan stewards used to do all those years ago.
Photo by SATXtoday team
The farms
The San Antonio Food Bank manages two farms; its HQ at 5200 Historic Old Hwy. 90, and — through a land use agreement with the National Park Service — at Mission San Juan, totaling over a combined 70 acres of agriculture space.
At Mission San Juan, the crops are in constant seasonal rotation. This season in particular I witnessed a harvest of red + green peppers, lettuce, broccoli, figs, and amaranth.
How The Grinch Stole 2nd Thursday | 5-10 p.m. | Brick at Blue Star | Cost of purchase | Add to your wardrobe with Countdown City Flea and Abandoned Apparel for a vintage clothing market.
Twilight Farmers & Artisan Market | 6-10 p.m. | Confluence Park | Cost of purchase | Spend the evening shopping from local artisans as you look for last-minute gifts.
Holiday Lights in the Sky | Friday, Dec. 13-Saturday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Legacy Park | Cost of purchase | Witness the nighttime spectacular take the sky for three different drone shows.
Saturday, Dec. 14
December Holiday Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | PRESS Coffee, Castle Hills | Cost of purchase | Grab a last-minute locally made gift at this market.
Home for the Howlidays | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | City Of San Antonio Animal Care Services | Adoption fees | Bring a new pet home for the holidays and experience festivities like Santa portraits, ornament decorating, and a Paw’p Up holiday market.
Pooch Parade | 2-4 p.m. | Igo Library | Free | Dress up your furry best friend for a festive costume contest with a chance at winning prizes.
Culinaria’s Winter Restaurant Weeks returns on Saturday, Jan. 18 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 1. Expect three-course brunch menus for $25, lunch menus for $20 and $30, and dinners at $35, $45, and $55 at hit restaurants around town. Map out your restaurant picks.
Announced
The Blue Start Arts Complex will soon be installing paid parking options at its free lot. Expect the LAZ Parking Text to Park system to arrive in 2025. The complex is still ironing out the details to determine if paid parking is going to be full time or just for events. (MySA)
Tech
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) won a $26.1 million grant from NASA to develop tools that measure space weather. SwRI is one of the Alamo City’s top employers with 3,100 working. For more info on our city’s top employers, check out our guide. (SA Business Journal)
Sports
San Antonio FC is celebrating their 10th anniversary for the 2025 USL Championship. Next season will feature a special anniversary logo, re-imagined jerseys from past seasons, new merch, player tributes, and more. The festivities kick off spring 2025 with season passes on sale now.
Family
“Monster Jam” is returning to the Alamodome on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26 for its Stadium Championship Series East. Tickets are on sale to see these giant trucks in action, and start at $23.
Seasonal
Need a spa day? Spa Plaza at the Plaza Hotel is offering 12 days of deals for its treatments. Today’s offer is a buy one get one free Anaqua Signature Body Treatment. Stay up to date with future deals by keeping an eye on its Instagram.
Travel
Amazon is now selling cars in San Antonio. We’re not joking — Amazon Autos is available in just 48 metro areas, meaning you can shop Hyundai vehicles online and pick them up at a local dealer.
Listen
The Longhorns are now four games away from winning a national championship. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Feel Good
Do you love SATXtoday? We’re calling on you to help support our mission to create free, unbiased local media. Donate now — your generosity will help support us, your SATXtoday team.
Shop
Looking for a gift the kiddos will actually use? Enter: Dribbleup’s Smart Basketball. It features guided coaching sessions so they can train anytime, anywhere. Psst — it’s 60% for the holidays.*
The Buy
The Buy
Not sure what to gift for the holidays? Browse ideas from this year’s top 100 gifts on Amazon:
My holiday shopping is finally complete. Each year I try to stick to a budget but — as always — I go slightly over. However, this year was the most I shopped from local businesses for my gifts. I wrapped gifts in custom wrapping paper from Belle and Union, and shopped from Nowhere Bookshop. To name a couple.
Answered
Answered
What are your thoughts on the new terminal at SAT?
Check out the updated renderings for the incoming Terminal C.
Rendering by Corgan, Lake Flato via San Antonio International Airport
54% of readers believe the upgrades are long overdue, 36% are looking forward to the improvements but are anxious about traffic, and 10% say SAT is fine the way it is.
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