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Community Corner

🌱 Phase I Of Hemisfair Civic Park + SA SOLI Debuts 'Planetscape'

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in San Antonio.

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Gabriela Cantu Couvillion, Neighbor
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Get on up, San Antonio! Let's get this Friday started. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in San Antonio.

First, today's weather:

Breezy in the morning. High: 58 Low: 33.

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Here are the top stories in San Antonio today:

  1. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, construction of San Antonio's $27 million Civic Park at Hemisfair began, marking the beginning of Phase I of the project. Scheduled to open in fall 2023, this first phase "features 5 acres of public parkland, including a shaded promenade, the Shallows water feature, and the Great Lawn for large events capable of hosting 15,000 people." The park was designed by GGN landscape architecture firm, and "The City of San Antonio Public Works Department contracted Skanska USA Building Inc. to construct" it. In addition to public and private funding, the city received "philanthropic contributions" to help cover the project costs, "including a $1 million donation from the Mays Family Foundation for the creation of the Peggy Mays Garden." GGN's design principal David Malda said, "Civic Park's design relates to the broader stories of land and water that are at the heart of this region, all of which come together to shape a park that is all about San Antonio while offering something very new." Cara DeAnda, chair of the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation's board of directors, said "We're grateful to our partners at the City of San Antonio, GGN, and Skanska for working with us to deliver on our promise of creating one of the world's great public places." For more information on the project, visit: (culturemap.com)
  2. On Monday, Jan. 31, San Antonio's SOLI Chamber Ensemble will debut a piece titled "Planetscape" by San Antonio composer Brian Bondari. The group will also perform music from "the North American continent, including "works by Carlos Simon (America), Jocelyn Morlock (Canada), Arturo Márquez (Mexico), Malcolm Forsyth (Canada) and Gabriela Ortiz (Mexico)." The concert will be held outdoors at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, located at 555 Funston Place, and guests can bring low lawn chairs or blankets to sit on during the show. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $15 per person. For more information, please call 210-536-1400 or visit solichamberensemble.com and go to: (San Antonio Current)
  3. Annette McNamara "is on a cross-country tour spreading her message of self-love and empowerment." The 41-year-old photographer spent approximately $45,000 "to convert a 2001 school bus into her studio on wheels," and she named it Atticus, after Atticus Finch from the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." "As part of her 'Beautiful Strength' photo project," she documents the stories of those who visit her studio by taking their pictures and handing them "an iPad displaying their portrait with a stylus to doodle notes, quotes, or any other advice or reminders to their selves around their shot." Her project began in 2018, but the bus studio series started in April 2021, and since then she has taken about 600 photos and plans to take 1,000 more this year. McNamara hopes to travel to every state except Hawaii during her photo journey, and she plans to open a gallery of all the "portraits and stories of people she has met along the way." For more details, visit: (mySA)

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Today in San Antonio:

  • Coffee with The Chamber in Selma. (7:30 a.m.)
  • Youth Symposium at Anne Frank Inspire Academy. (10 a.m.)
  • Time to Shake the City at Callaghan Tower-2nd Floor Conference Room. (Noon)
  • Cooper Greenberg in San Antonio at The Rustic. (6 p.m.)
  • Carmen's Winter Flamenco Series at Carmens de la Calle Cafe. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • "The investigation and search for Lina Khil continues. Lina is an active missing person. The San Antonio Police Department asks anyone with information on Lina's case to contact their Missing Persons Unit at 210-207-7660 or Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867." (Facebook)
  • "Hazel is the queen of 'Puppy Dog Eyes' at San Antonio Pets Alive! This sweet girl is a little over a year old and is currently at our Medical Care Center at 9107 Marbach Road, Suite 109. Hazel would greatly benefit from being in a loving foster home until she is ready to be adopted by her forever family. If you are interested in fostering Hazel, please fill out a foster application or make an appointment to visit her at our Marbach Care Center. Foster Application at: Foster –San Antonio Pets Alive! Appointment Link for Medical Care Center at: Welcome to SAPA! Marbach Adoptions | Waitwhile." (Instagram)
  • "On Saturday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., there will be plenty of fish in the sea at San Antonio Zoo's single night, Meet Your Next Ex! Let nature take its course for a fun night of specialty drinks, wild speed dating, amazing animal interactions, and free giveaways! For tickets, click here." (Instagram)
  • "Is it too soon to plan for St. Patrick's Day? We are dreaming of warmer days and a weekend full of green festivities. Join us for our St. Patrick's Day River Parade at The San Antonio River Walk on Saturday, March 19 from 4-5 p.m. A procession of 12 Irish-themed decorated floats filled with Irish entertainment can be viewed from anywhere on the parade route. Several bagpipers will grace the floats along with other entertainers, and the best part? This parade is free to attend." (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!

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