From the first Taco Cabana in San Antonio to the company’s first World Taco Eating Championship: We’ve come a long way, baby. | Photo by the San Antonio Public Library
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month.
Let’s start with some not-to-be-missed autumnal events for the whole family.
Labor Day Weekend Celebration | Monday, Sept. 1 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Historic Market Square | Free | Honor the contributions of workers with the city’s Labor Day Celebration — and enjoy live music, shopping, amazing food vendors, and fun for the whole family.
Oktoberfest at La Villita | Friday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Maverick Plaza | Free | This family-friendly celebration of culture and community is in its second iteration this year — don’t miss the flavors of Europe paired with face painting and fun for all ages.
Taco Cabana’s World Taco Eating Championship | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 12 p.m. | Taco Cabana | Free | Make history going against the best professional eaters in the world, or just watch and be part of the inaugural World Taco Eating Championship — there are cash prizes to win.
Thursday Night Tango with Bobby and Leah | 1 p.m. | Sway Dance Club | $10 | This one-hour guided instruction with San Antonio’s own Leah Gundrum and Bobby Duran is followed by a one-hour Argentine Tango practice.
Friday, Aug. 29
“Sweeney Todd: The Musical” | 7:30 p.m. | Wonder Theatre | $18+ | It’s Opening Night — step into the deathly circus and experience the tale of Sweeney Todd as you’ve never before.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Sensory Saturday | 9-11 a.m. | Witte Museum | Free | Enjoy a special before-hours experience designed for individuals and families with disabilities or sensory processing differences, with smaller crowds, sensory tools like earplugs, and a “Chill Zone.”
Sunday, Aug. 31
Bat Flight and Cave Tour | 5 p.m. | Natural Bridge Caverns | $58.75+ | See the largest bat colony in the world as it gathers at Bracken Cave and takes flight every night into the south-central Texas sky on this guided tour.
Monday, Sept. 1
Labor Day Weekend Celebration | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Historic Market Square | Free | Honor the contributions of workers with a free three-day Labor Day Celebration — and enjoy live music, shopping, amazing food vendors, and fun for the whole family.
The state’s General Land Office has just purchased San Antonio’s historic Menger and Crockett hotels. The two hotels’ combined value is ~$55 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District. In a statement, Texas officials said they hope to integrate the hotels more thoughtfully into the average tourist’s full Alamo experience. (San Antonio Culture Map)
Community
“We’re not closed.” That’s what small business owners in Kerr County towns want you to know, even in the wake of July’s floods. Plan your next weekend day trip around shopping local in Comfort, Kerrville, or Center Point. We recommend the 8th Street Market in Comfort. (San Antonio Business Journal)
Opening
Sweet Serenity coffee shop’s grand opening will be this Saturday, Aug. 30 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. The cozy new crepe and coffee spot is operated by the owners of Comfort Cafe on Bandera — and, like its sister shop, has a unique pay-what-you-can model supporting the owners’ nonprofit, SerenityStar Recovery.
Eat
The Fajita Lounge Showdown is back Sunday, Aug. 31 at Southtown bar Gimme Gimme. In this competition (featuring free fajitas), local chefs square off with their fajita-making chops — for a $500 cash prize. This year, Texas Monthly Taco Editor José Ralat will be a judge awarding the top prize. (San Antonio Culture Map)
Trending
It’s a love story, baby, just say yes... Bill Miller Bar-B-Q jumped the bandwagon of excitement for our queen Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, offering to cater the upcoming wedding. Whataburger, H-E-B and other Texas staples got in on the fun with social media posts about the famous engagement. (MySA)
Travel
Use caution. From Tuesday, Sept. 2 until Friday, Sept. 19, southbound traffic on North Presa Street between College Street and East Crockett Street will be closed for bridge rehabilitation work, according to the San Antonio Public Works official X account.
Kids
Coach Ken Dickson, the founder of the Westend Redwolves, offers free cheer and football programs to young athletes in the West Side’s 78207 zip code. About 150 kids currently participate, while Dickson — a West Side native himself — hopes to get more community support to expand programming. (KSAT)
Sports
Texas A&M fans are stunned by Jerome Myles’ injury. Can the Aggies overcome this setback in their season opener against UTSA? Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Texas A&M Aggies with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Finance
Thinking about trading in your car? Avoid ending up upside down — that’s when you owe more than your vehicle is worth. Before signing anything, take a few smart steps to stay in the driver’s seat financially. These seven tips from United Texas Credit Union make navigating the process a lot smoother.*
The institutional firms that backed Uber and Venmo also invested in Pacaso, whose co-ownership tech revolutionizes the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. Pacaso has earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Invest for $2.90/share before the opportunity ends Sept. 18.†‡*
Biz
Ready to launch ads in your pajamas? Our Self-Service Ad Portal gives you instant access to thousands of engaged readers — click, create, conquer. Got a real estate listing or a local event? Get it seen, stress-free.
Job
Hey San Antonio — we’re hiring. Looking for a seasoned sales closer to join our squad. Perks? 401k match, uncapped commissions, amazing culture. Let’s make moves. Apply here for our Sales Executive position.
Jobs of the Week
Looking for a sweet new marketing gig? Never fear. We’ve rounded up some of the best local jobs in marketing — so you don’t have to.
I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings...Rosario’s Mexican Restaurant on St. Mary’s Street for sure understood the assignment with this adorable Instagram post celebrating Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement. Congratulations, you win the internet.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Today seemed as good a day as any to showcase the time my 5-year-old asked me to make an “Anakin losing his arm and both legs and then catching on fire in the Battle of Mustafar” birthday cake. | Photo via Donna Provencher, SATXtoday
This is not a drill. Did you know SPACECON is coming to San Antonio October 24-26? Well, if you didn’t, you do now.
Not only can you meet Marvel superheroes like Brie Larson and Elizabeth Olsen, but meet original Star Wars actors like Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian). Buckle up and enjoy a galaxy far, far away.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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