San Antonio - In Brief

 

TIME ZONE: Central
AREA CODE: 210
FOUNDED: 1691
POPULATION*: 1.9 million
GET AROUND: River Walk cruisers; VIA bus
AIRPORT: San Antonio International Airport
WEBSITES: www.visitsanantonio.com  
* Greater San Antonio area

BY THE NUMBERS

32 shops at Historic Market Square's El Mercado, the largest Mexican marketplace in the country. Browse pottery, jewelry and other authentic goods.

5 local Catholic missions established by the Spanish in the 1700s, including the famed Alamo

343.7 size (in acres) of Brackenridge Park, home to the San Antonio Zoo, Japanese Tea Garden and the open-air Sunken Garden Theatre

750 height (in feet) of Tower of the Americas at HemisFair Park

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CULTURE CALENDAR

Through May 8
NEW IMAGE SCULPTURE
Forget marble and bronze. Styrofoam, cardboard and duct tape come together in this exhibit at the McNay Art museum showcasing whimsical works from emerging artists. www.mcnayart.org

April 7-17
FIESTA SAN ANTONIO
Over the last 120 years, this event has grown from a single parade honoring the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto to the city's largest festival, with more than 100 happenings. This year is extra special: It's the 175th of the Battle of the Alamo. www.fiesta-sa.org

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NEWS FLASH

Cook, Eat, Love • Last October, the Culinary Institute of America opened a new San Antonio campus in the historic Pearl Brewery on the Riverwalk. Classes are available for traveling foodies, including knife skills (April 30) and a healthy-eating boot camp (May 16-19). www.ciachef.edu + Swing into Texas • This year marks the second time the Valero Texas Open — a San Antonio tradition since 1922 — is taking place in April. See some of the PGA Tour's best players in action April 11-17. www.valerotexasopen.org