Celebrate the holidays at Miracle on Commerce Street inside the Esquire Tavern. | Photo by Embark Marketing
No cotton-headed ninnymuggins over here. We’re ready to celebrate the holidays with a festive drink or two with Santa and friends, and these five pop-up bars around the Alamo City are sure to bring in the seasonal cheer.
Chill out at the Holiday Hideway Pop-up, a lodge-inspired getaway. Cozy up and enjoy summit views, outdoor fire pits, and a cocktail menu with 10+ festive drinks. Reservations are required.
Merrymakers can enjoy whimsical drinks, limited edition eats, and photo opportunities throughout the grounds of this outdoor bar. Plus, don’t miss Thoughtful Gift Thursdays, a handmade gift crafting series including candle-making with Wila & Co. tonight.
Enjoy the Miracle on Commerce Street at this downtown bar through the rest of the month. Sip on the festive drink menu including Hot Buttered Rum, Rudolph’s Replacement, and Yippie Ki Yay Mother... you know the rest. Pro tip: To guarantee a table, make a reservation.
Shop, dine, and support local art | Thursday, Dec. 11-Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | La Villita Historic Arts Village | Free | Support local bizzes in the thriving art community of La Villita, one of San Antonio’s oldest historic neighborhoods.*
San Antonio-based USAA delivered $3.7 billion in financial rewards to its members this year, a record-breaking number for its rebates, dividends, and rewards programs. The member-owned military banker paid out $230 million alone to 1.2 million members in Texas. (My SA)
Transit
VIA Metropolitan Transit rolled out a new VIA Link southeast zone this week, bringing on-demand ride service to a 13.8-square mile area of southeast San Antonio. Fees cost $1.30 per ride, and this is the sixth service zone in SATX.
Closing
The Growler Exchange will permanently close its location at 914 E. Elmira St. this Saturday, Dec. 13. Fans of the craft beer bar can get $5 pints and 30% off of growlers until then, but the kitchen is closed. Don’t worry, the Broadway location will remain open. (My SA)
Now Open
The first San Antonio location of Paris Baguette, a popular South Korean bakery chain, is now open at the Gunter Hotel downtown. Visitors can expect custom-blend coffee, daily fresh-made baked goods, and treats galore.
Sports
Smithson Valley High School’s Gunnar Shoquist earned the No. 1 spot in Sports Illustrated’s Texas Offensive High School Football Player of the Week last week. The Spring Branch player was noted for running 153 yards in the school’s 30-14 win over Pieper High School earlier this month.
Stat
17.2%. That’s the percentage of SATX home sales that came from 10 master-planned communities in the past year — accounting for 3,200+ home closings. The far northwest side’s Riverstone at Westpointe alone claimed 576 home closures, taking the top spot. (San Antonio Business Journal)
Listen
Did you catch that Spurs vs. Lakers game last night? Catch up with the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440, where 4.5 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. It’s free to subscribe.*
Older Adults
Are you taking advantage of these stellar senior discounts? From savings with Walgreens to a discounted Amazon Prime membership, we found 20 hacks all older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth.*
Home
Say goodbye to ladders and wet leaves when you elevate your home’s safety + value with a lasting gutter guard solution. Over 410,000 happy homeowners have already made the switch. Discover how it works and access direct local pricing.*
Finance
If you’re paying interest on credit card debt, take this as your sign to stop. Instead,get this leading card for 18 months of 0% interest on a balance transfer. You’ll even earn cash back perks on additional purchases. Stop stressing about debt — apply now.*
Add this to your to-dine list — San Antonio’s own 2M Smokehouse may just have one of the best dishes in America.
The New York Times included the barbecue staple’s picadillo macaroni and cheese on its list of the best dishes its food writers tried this year. They said: “Imagine Hamburger Helper, but spicier, punchier and even more luxuriously creamy.”
$7.1 billion. That’s how much philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated to nonprofits this year. Here in San Antonio, you don’t need deep pockets to do your part. You can give your time, kindness, or a few hours of hard work to one of these deserving volunteer opportunities instead.
}})
