Tag Archives: restaurants

What To Do in SA This Winter

November 21, 2017Uncategorizedactivities, Alamo Heights, beautiful, best, Biga on the Banks, Bill Smith, blog, Boudro’s, cheese, cheesemaking class, class, custom, custom built, Dominion, events, farm, free, green, high end, holiday, home builder, Hotel Valencia, house, houzz, Jason Gale, Jesse, lost maples, luxury, new, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, parade, parks, permaculture, personal, private, real estate, recommended, restaurants, reviews, river boat, river walk, River Whey Creamery, riverwalk, sales, San Antonio, Schertz, Stone Creek Custom Homes, Stone Oak, sustainable, sutapants, Talking Tree Farm, Texas Hill Country, top rated, upscale, Vintage OaksStoneCreekTX

Unlike most of the United States, which is already suffering from freezing temperatures, in San Antonio, it’s time to get out of the house and take advantage of this perfect time of year.

Holiday Delights

Enjoy the Holiday River Parade on November 24 in style this year. Many restaurants offer dinner packages, and there really is no better view of the parade. The best part is you don’t have to fight the crowds. Choose from restaurants such as Biga on the Banks, Boudro’s, Hotel Valencia and more. You can book your reservation here.

Although our riverwalk is a top tourist attraction, it’s easy to forget how beautiful it is, especially when they light it up during the holidays with over 100,000 lights. It’s truly a winter wonderland in Texas. You can also take a special river boat tour and see our amazing city from a whole new perspective!

Lost Maples

If you’ve never heard of Lost Maples, you’re missing out. This state park, just a few hours from San Antonio, is a gorgeous respite from city life. This hidden grove of Uvalde bigtooth maple trees is best during a two week time period in the fall when it turns bright red and gold, but it’s a fantastic place to visit all year round. Winter is a great time to go camping or explore their 10 miles of hiking trails. You can also fish the Sabinal River or Can Creek, but keep an eye out, you might see our Stone Creek Custom Homes’ guys hooking some bass.

December Permaculture Class

Learn all about natural gardening from a pro – Sylvain Clavieres of Talking Tree Farm. They offer free permaculture classes at the farm (located near Converse), typically every month. The next one will be on Sunday, December 3 from 4 to 6 pm. Find out how to start your own garden or discover sustainable techniques that will help you replenish the one you already have. The best part is they bring in a chef to prepare lunch using all of the delicious produce grown at the farm. This one is a must for a fun afternoon with the family. For more information, go to talkingtreefarm.com.

Cheese Please

IF you love cheese, get up close and personal with it at River Whey Creamery’s “Hands On Cheesemaking Class,” on January 21^st. Learn how to make a lemon juice coagulated cheese, whole milk ricotta and a cultured cheese from nationally award-winning cheesemaker, Susan Rigg. Sign up early at riverwheycreamery.com.

When you’re done adventuring, give us a call at 210-494-5400 and let’s discuss how you can love San Antonio even more in your new custom home. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

Take a Road Trip to College Station

May 17, 2017UncategorizedAlamo Heights, barbecue, bastrop, beautiful, best, bike, Bill Smith, blog, buc-ee's, college station, country, custom, custom built, dime box, Dominion, don williams, fish, geocache, green, high end, hike, home builder, house, houzz, Jason Gale, leisure, lockhart, lost pines, luxury, new, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, personal, picnic, private, real estate, recommended, restaurants, reviews, road trip, sales, San Antonio, Schertz, state park, Stone Creek Custom Homes, Stone Oak, sustainable, sutapants, swim, Texas A&M, Texas Hill Country, top rated, travel, upscale, Vintage Oaks, wings n moreStoneCreekTX

Stone Creek Custom Homes owner, Jason Gale, and his lovely family road trip it to College Station as often as they can to visit their daughter, who is currently studying psychology, with a double major in economics. Jason and April shared some of their favorite things about this familiar road trip. Even if you don’t have kids at Texas A&M, this 3-hour trip is a great way to explore Texas!

April: “The pictures [you see here] were from Bastrop to College Station, because that is the prettiest part. You cannot make this stuff up. It is Texas at its finest and beautiful. Longhorns, cows, so many churches!! It is where you turn on Texas Country or Don Williams and just enjoy. Dime Box is so small, but they are vicious about handing out tickets. You shouldn’t be speeding there anyway, as you might miss something worth photographing.”

If you’re driving through Bastrop, you might as well allow an extra day for a night of camping at Bastrop State Park, known for their “Lost Pines,” with access to the nearby lake. This gorgeous park is a great place to picnic, swim, ride bikes, fish, hike and even geocache. You can stay overnight at a campsite or in one of their historic cabins (complete with A/C).

The Gales like to stop at Buc-ee’s along the way. Whoever thought a gas station would become such a hot spot for tourists? It doesn’t hurt that they sell the most delicious caramel corn in Texas. We’re sure you’ve got your own favorite Buc-ee’s snacks.

You can take a couple of different routes to College Station. The shortest route, along 21, is close enough to Lockhart for food enthusiasts looking to try some finger-lickin-good barbecue. This town isn’t known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas for nothing. Do yourself a favor and make the detour. Between Kreuz Market, Black’s Barbecue and Smitty’s Market, you can’t go wrong.

Once in College Station, the Gale’s love to stop off for coffee [before or after a good game] at Sweet Eugene’s, or for smoothies at the Juice Joint or, as April tells it, Jason’s favorite place, Wings and More.

No matter what part of Texas you love, we’re here to help you bring your dream home to life! Give us a call at 210-494-5400 to set up a free consultation or fill out our online for to request more information.

Gems at the Pearl

September 23, 2016UncategorizedAlamo Heights, beautiful, beer, best, Bill Smith, blog, Boiler House, Botika, craft beer, craft brew, Cured, custom, custom built, Dominion, green, high end, home builder, Hotel Emma, house, houzz, Jason Gale, Jesse, luxury, Melissa Guerra, new, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, pearl, Pearl Brewery, pearl farmers market, personal, private, real estate, recommended, restaurant, restaurants, reviews, riverwalk, sales, San Antonio, Schertz, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, Stone Creek Custom Homes, Stone Oak, Supper, sustainable, sutapants, Ten Thousand Villages, Texas Hill Country, top rated, upscale, Vintage OaksStoneCreekTX

Jackie Treehorn Burger at Boiler House

The Pearl Brewery is THE place to visit in San Antonio whether you’re a resident or a visitor. With an endless list of fantastic restaurants, bars and shops, not to mention the farmers market on the weekends and access to the north extension of the Riverwalk, you could go here just about every day and never get bored. Here are some of our favorite things to do:

Boiler House

Boiler House is a cornerstone restaurant at the Pearl and one of the best places to go to dine on an array of yummy cuisine from fun appetizers like Texas Whiskey Bacon Caramel Kettle Corn and House Chicharrones to a juicy 32 oz. Tomahawk Ribeye with bone marrow butter. Our favorite may be the Jackie Treehorn Burger – this bad boy comes with foie gras peanut butter, bacon and melted cheese. So good you’ll be dreaming about it! They also have a terrific happy hour.

Melissa Guerra

Melissa Guerra is a culinary-centric shop that sells the most stunning wares from provincial Mexico and various regions of Latin America. Here you’ll find everything from tortilla presses to vibrantly-colored ceramic dishes.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

Beer lovers will delight in the fact that you can get craft brews in this historic brewery. Southerleigh, along with Hotel Emma, and Supper have brilliantly repurposed the space, utilizing items from the original brewery in new and clever ways. We recommend trying a flight of beers. Right now they’re featuring a Gold Export Lager, Texas Uncommon Ale, Darwinian IPA and Godzilla Go Juice Sake Style Beer.

Ten Thousand Villages

If you’re looking for a unique gift for that picky friend, Ten Thousand Villages is a good bet. They sell a variety of handcrafted imported goods from around the world. You’ll find jewelry, wall decorations, scarves, ceramics and even toys for the kiddos. Expect to find delights your friends will treasure forever, that is, unless you decide to keep them for yourself!

Cured

Cured is easily a local’s favorite for their housemade charcuterie. When you walk into this historic building the curing meats are showcased right next to the front door. They source locally and feature a daily farmer’s market dish made with the freshest veggies procured from the market that takes place right outside the restaurant. They also offer brunch on Sundays so don’t miss out.

Riverwalk

The north extension of the Riverwalk that abuts the Pearl is beautifully-landscaped, and the ideal place to take a stroll morning, noon or night. Head south towards the San Antonio Museum of Art, where you can pop in for a beer at The Luxury before heading back. You can also hop on a riverboat or simply sit in the mini amphitheater outside of Hotel Emma and watch the tourists. They also hold concerts and events here.

Botika

Botika is the newest restaurant to make its debut at the Pearl and has already received a four-star review from the Express-News for their inventive Peruvian-Asian restaurant created by a former chef at the Culinary Institute of America.

After your excursion at the Pearl, call us at 210-494-5400 to discuss your new custom home ideas! If you wish to be added to our private email list for our newsletter, please sign up here.

The Rise of San Antonio’s Eastside

September 2, 2016UncategorizedAlamo beer, Alamo Brewery, Alamo Heights, beautiful, beer, best, Bill Smith, blog, Cherry Street Bicycle Co-op, craft beer, craft brew, custom, custom built, Dignowity Hill Farmers Market, Dignowity Meats, Dominion, green, Hays Street Bridge, high end, home builder, house, houzz, Jason Gale, Jesse, luxury, Marco Carmona, new, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, personal, private, real estate, recommended, restaurants, reviews, sales, San Antonio, Schertz, Stone Creek Custom Homes, Stone Oak, sustainable, sutapants, Texas Hill Country, top rated, upscale, Vintage OaksStoneCreekTX

We think the Eastside, close to downtown, has had a bad rap throughout the years – some of it perhaps earned, but some has also been sensationalized by the media. In fact, the Eastside close to downtown is becoming one of the most interesting and blossoming neighborhoods in San Antonio. We’ll give you five good reasons why and suggest you don’t wait to check them out!

Dignowity Meats

San Antonio’s Eastside barbecue joint tops our list for the best reason to visit this up-and-coming part of town. Not only is the vibe of this outdoor eatery just fun and relaxing, but their KC-style barbecue is unbelievably delicious. We recommend the pork ribs – oh, my!

Cherry Street Bicyle Co-op

Friends and families can take advantage of this new downtown bike co-op where you can rent bikes for the day or purchase a monthly or annual membership to enjoy riding a variety of bikes throughout the city, including two-wheel bikes, tandem bikes, surreys and more. They even have a club house where you can grab a healthy, hand-made snack or host a party. Pretty soon, the mission trails will be easily accessible from Hemisphere Park so you ca hop on and ride miles and miles of trails without having to deal with any traffic. To get your membership and swag, go click on the link above.

Dignowity Hill Farmers Market

Sure, downtown can be somewhat of a food desert, which is why Dignowity Hill Farmers Market makes living or visiting downtown that much more enjoyable. You can shop here for fresh produce, hand-crafted edibles and more. They are located in Lockwood Park on 801 N. Olive at the basketball court. The market is held every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 9 am – 1 pm.

Hays Street Bridge

Hobbyist photographers will appreciate this beautiful walking bridge, located at 803 N. Cherry Street, that stretches over rows and rows of railroad tracks on the outskirts of downtown proper. With stunning views of the city, this bridge has becoming a popular spot to bring some refreshments and simply hang out. Expect the unexpected, such as drum circles and meditation groups to frequent this unique bridge.

Alamo Beer

Just below the Hay Street bridge is one of the neatest hang-outs in San Antonio. Alamo Beer is a brewery with an indoor and outdoor beer hall. This independent brewery features locally-made craft brews such as Alamo Golden Ale. On site, you’ll also find food trucks and often live music. We suggest grabbing a bike from the Cherry Street Co-op and riding over to Alamo Beer, where you can just kick back and be thankful you live in one of the most magnificent cities in the U.S.

If you’re looking to live in this wonderful town, call us at 210-494-5400 to set up a consultation for your new, custom-built luxury home – whether it’s on the Eastside or any side. If you wish to be added to our private email list for our newsletter, please sign up here.

Great Ways to Enjoy the Last Days of Summer!

July 21, 2016UncategorizedAlamo City Improv, Alamo Heights, art, beautiful, best, Bill Smith, blog, comedy, coney island, custom, custom built, Danielle Cunningham, Dominion, events, green, high end, home builder, house, houzz, improv, Japanese Tea Garden, Jason Gale, Jesse, Latin, luxury, mass, McNay, meditation, museum, NAO, new, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, One Mindful Maven, park, parks, Pearl Brewery, personal, private, real estate, recommended, restaurants, reviews, sales, San Antonio, Schertz, serious media, Stone Creek Custom Homes, Stone Oak, sustainable, sutapants, Texas Hill Country, top rated, upscale, Vintage Oaks, what to do in san antonioStoneCreekTX

There’s only a few weeks left of blissful summer before school starts up again, vacation’s over, and we’re back to the grind. Here are some fun and relaxing ways to make the most of the time we have left:

Zen Out

If you’re looking to find that last scrap of peace before the chaos of the new school year and fall festivities begins, you might enjoy the mass meditation coming up at the Japanese Tea Garden on August 6, from 8-9 am. Join positive-minded folks and send some love and light out into the world during this peaceful meditation, led by ONE Mindful Maven and Serious Media. The specific purpose of the meditation is to promote world peace and love through unified silence. Surrounded by the serenity of the garden, there are few better ways to appreciate your summer morning.

McNay’s Coney Island Exhibit

The McNay’s magical and sometimes dark Coney Island: Visions of the American Dreamland exhibit will be here until mid-September, and this one is definitely worth a gander. It’s the perfect summertime treat to inspire you to be creative, or at the very least, go to Fiesta Texas for one last go-around on the roller coaster. Once called “the People’s Playground,” this exhibit features a variety of paintings, drawings, prints, photos, films, posters, side show banners, carousel animals and memorabilia from Coney Island in its heyday as well as during its decline.

Last Laughs

For something a little off the beaten path, check out the Alamo City Improv’s show that takes place in the basement of the Magic Time Machine every Friday and Saturday night from 8 to 10 pm. Although this seasoned comedy troupe can easily make you smile and laugh, they can also roll out the drama in a way that’s both poignant and surprising. This is a great date night event, although not for young kids, if you’re bringing the family with you.

Summer Brunch

Enjoy a leisurely meal at NAO, which just introduced a new brunch menu that features a variety of Latin-inspired brunch dishes, such as chilaquiles in a tomatillo salsa, served with a soft egg; and Torreja, which is their version of French Toast, made with dulce de leche and served with stewed plantains. Other dishes include Duck Carnitas, and the crowd-pleasing Cuban Sandwich. Their cocktails and agua frescas are made with fresh-squeezed Latin juices, which is just the icing on the cake!

If the end of summer means the decision to buy a new house, please call us at 210-494-5400 for a consultation. If you wish to be added to our private email list for our newsletter, please sign up here.

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