April IRA Member of the Month Kimberley Reznicek shared her IRA Annual Convention picks in the February/March issue of Reading Today, and now this San Antonio native offers out-of-town attendees ideas for things to do on their visit.
I was born and raised in San Antonio and might have some ideas for restaurants and events that are a bit off the beaten path as well as commercial tourist areas.
Tours and Shopping
River Walk
River Walk at night 
Boudro's
Chart House 
Fiesta river parade A barge ride along the River Walk is always a must when you come to San Antonio. A tour of the San Antonio Missions and the Alamo is a nice dose of history. El Mercado and La Villita are two great places to shop for souvenirs. The old Pearl Brewery has been converted into an area filled with trendy shops and restaurants worth walking through.
Restaurants
A great Mexican restaurant that is slightly off the beaten path is Mexican Manhattan. Ask to sit outside for a river view and order the chili con queso as an appetizer. Chris Madrid’s has the best burger in town in my opinion. Lulu’s Café has giant cinnamon rolls and excellent chicken fried steak. Blanco Café is my favorite Mexican restaurant for enchiladas and breakfast tacos. Boudro’s is a bit pricier but excellent. I would suggest the Guacamole salad prepared at the table. Eat dinner at the top of the Tower of the Americas in the Chart House for a rotating view of the entire city of San Antonio at night.
Fiesta
The IRA Convention will take place during the first weekend of Fiesta, a 10-day celebration in remembrance of the Battle of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Some of the following events are worth considering:
- Institute of Texas Cultures Fiesta Medal Mania
April 18-22, 10:00am-5:00pm
Institute of Texan Cultures, HemisFair Park
801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd - Witte Museum Annual Fiesta Exhibition
April 18-22, 10:00am-5:00pm
Witte Museum
3801 Broadway - Fiesta Fiesta at the Alamo
April 18, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Alamo Plaza - Exhibition Fiesta, Fête, Festival
April 19-22, 10:00am-4:00pm
McNay Art Museum
6000 N. New Braunfels Avenue - Fiesta Oyster Bake
April 19, 5:00pm-11:00pm
April 20, 11:00am-11:00pm
St. Mary's University Campus
One Camino Santa Maria - Fiesta Pops (Symphony)
April 19-21, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Majestic Theater
224 E. Houston St. - Fiesta Arts Fair
April 19-21, 10:00am-6:00pm
Southwest School of Art
300 Augusta - Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square
April 19-22, 10:00am-01:00am
Market Square 514 West Commerce St
514 West Commerce St. - Viva Botánica!
April 20, 10:00am-2:00pm
San Antonio Botanical Garden
555 Funston Place - Tejano Explosion
April 19-21, 5:30pm-2:00am
Cattleman's Square
corner of W. Houston & N. Frio Streets - A Taste of New Orleans
April 21, 12:00pm-11:00pm
Sunken Garden Theater
Brackenridge Park - Texas Cavaliers River Parade
April 22, 7:00pm-9:30pm
San Antonio River Walk
This website gives a full list of Fiesta events: http://www.fiesta-sa.org/events/date/#Mar-09.
Kimberly Reznicek is a reading specialist at Timberwilde Elementary School and an adjunct professor at St. Mary's University. Read her Member of the Month interview on Reading Today Online.
The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details. Visit the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau website for more information about the city.