Alamo City Ghost Tour

In the city of San Antonio, there is an overabundance of history that contributes to the idea that it may be extremely haunted.  The Alamo City Ghost Tour shows you that history, and sometimes even proof. Voted as one of the top ghost tours in America by Tripadvisor, it is no surprise that this tour is full of fun and surprises. The tour is 7 nights a week, starting at 9pm. You must make a reservation prior to participating (210-336-7831), and each ticket costs $15. You get to visit the scenes of many horrific crimes, murders, and ghostly happenings. The tour walks along the streets and back alleys of downtown San Antonio while the guide tells the stories of the chilling history of the past. Everyone on the tour gets to use ghost hunting equipment, which included an EMF detector that measured electromagnetic fields, and a temperature measuring device. 

Coppage, Taylor. Ghost Hunting Equipment

I participated in the ghost tour on December 1st, and was among only two other participants. Since it was such a small group, we got to go inside many of the hotels and buildings that were deemed as “extremely haunted”, including the Emily Morgan, Hotel Indigo, the Menger, the Alamo, and the San Fernando Cathedral.

Coppage, Tayor. San Fernando Cathedral

 While listening to the tour guide tell the disturbing tales that took place in these locations, we used our equipment to search for troubled spirits. Not only were we learning about important Texas history- we were having fun while doing it. During the 90 minute tour, I acquired a new knowledge about the city that I was previously unaware of. Along with the battle at the Alamo, many other horrific acts have taken place. For anyone that doesn’t know much about Texas’ past or wants to deepen their understanding of what they already know, I fully recommend taking part in this tour. You may be shocked by what you discover!

-Taylor Coppage 

13th Floor Haunted House

The building where the haunted house is held

During Halloween time in San Antonio there’s a lot of things to do and see in San Antonio. Among the haunted houses and ghost tours going one around town there is one that has been known for years as one of the best the 13^th Floor Haunted House. Located on the 1203 East Commerce Street on the west side of San Antonio 13^th Floor is a haunted house experience that has been around San Antonio for years. General Admission tickets cost $20 for general admission during the week and $22 however the VIP passes which cost a little bit more about $5 more on each price can be used to bypass the long admission lines that usually build up.

The haunted house is awesomely decorated and the performers at the haunted house put on a great show and really make the experience awesome. The ambience and atmosphere inside the haunted house is really unsettling and creates a real haunted house experience. There are three floors in the haunted house all with a different theme and surprises around every corner. My group of friends and I who attended the event paid for VIP passes which is a way better deal because the lines to get into the event especially during the Halloween season are really long.  After you go through the haunted house you can take pictures with some of the performers at the event. This haunted house is something that I feel a group of friends could enjoy during Halloween. I highly recommend attending this event if you are looking for a great way to enjoy an evening with friends.

- Isaac Martinez

Wurstfest

Sprechen Sie Fun? If you’re looking for a unique, family friendly experience, look no further than New Braunfel’s Wurstfest. The event is a ten day long annual celebration of rich German culture starting November 1^st thru the 10th. With admission being only $10, it is an event you can’t afford to miss. On November 8th, I attended Wurstfest to see the 52 year old tradition for myself. If you chose to not take advantage of their available “Wurswagon’s”, you could park in a nearby lot from anywhere between $5-10. Once you enter the grounds, you can already feel the atmosphere of the giant party surrounding you.

Coppage, Taylor. Wurstfest Directory

The festival included a small carnival with rides and games, two tents for the music entertainment, and countless booths that served authentic German specialties of food and beer. Once you had your filling of strudel or sauerkraut (or both), you could listen to one of many musical entertainers that they had scheduled for that night. 

Coppage, Taylor. Biergarten Ceiling

During my visit, the group that had the crowd dancing all night long was an all-German, all-female group called Die Bayrische 7. The band featured the women playing the piano, drums, tuba, trumpet, French horn, saxophone, guitar, and singing as well. They played traditional German songs, as well as popular American hits as well, including Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” (which was played three times that night). It was the perfect occasion to let your hair down, have a few Hefeweizens, and sing at the top of your lungs amongst good company. Regardless of what your idea of ‘fun’ may be, Wurstfest is sure to fulfill your needs for an incredible night that can be enjoyed with both family and friends. See for yourself on November 7-16th, 2014. 

-Taylor Coppage 

Facing Forward, Local Cover Band

          Facing Forward is a local band that plays at Stonewerks Bar & Grille twice a month. In the past, they played at the Stonewerks at the Vineyard location (1604 and Blanco). Lately, they have moved to the Stonewerks at the Rim location (5807 Worth Pkwy). The band is made up of professional musicians and songwriters. They play a variety of cover songs from several genres so everyone gets to hear songs they like. The band tries to play songs that everyone is familiar with, from the upbeat songs of Stevie Ray Vaughn, to the catchy melody of Sweet Caroline.

            The atmosphere at Stonewerks is very fun and inviting. The prices are slightly more expensive, so I suggest eating a meal before you go, and just ordering drinks of an appetizer at the restaurant. The band starts playing at 8:00pm and plays until midnight. Their shows take place on Friday and Saturday nights.

Source: facingforwardsa.com

            The band members are Kerry Neubauer (Keyboard and Lead Vocals), Bob Rivas (Bass Player), Bobby Rivas (Lead Guitar and Vocals), Randy (Drummer), and Travis Rigby (Keyboard and Drums). The band website is http://www.facingforwardsa.com. Their next show is on December 20^th, and they will be having a guest country artist join them for a few songs.

I really encourage taking the time to come and hear the band. The music is great, the food is tasty, and the opportunity to enjoy yourself after a long week of studying is one every student should take once in a while.

If you are looking for something to do, come on out and listen to Facing Forward!

 

 

-Colleen Miller

Shelby Neubauer, Local Folk Rock Artist

       Shelby Neubauer is an aspiring folk rock artist who recently graduated from Belmont College of Music in Nashville, Tennessee. Shelby was born in San Antonio, Texas to a very musical family. She started singing at a very young age, and started taking Classical Voice lessons at age ten. She began singing in venues such as Stonewerks Bar and Grille and Leon Springs dance hall when she was in high school. When she was seven, she recorded her first cover album.

            Shelby recently performed at Stonewerks Bar and Grille. Since she currently lives in Nashville, she tries to perform every chance she gets here in San Antonio during holidays and vacations.  She performs familiar country-rock songs like Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac and Last Name by Carrie Underwood. Since she is in the process of writing new music, she is not performing originals at this time. Shelby has also performed “old” songs with her band, but she put a modern twist on them, making them more fun to listen to for a younger generation, yet still enjoyable for the older generations who are present at the restaurant.

I got the chance to talk with Shelby when she performed at Stonewerks, and asked about her music and her plans in the future. She said she is excited about the music she is writing, and wants to spend the present time honing in on exactly what she wants to sound like, and establishing her brand. 

Shelby has an amazing talent, and I encourage everyone to go listen to her perform if the chance comes up. She is also very friendly, and will not hesitate to say hello or take a picture with you. The picture on the right was taken on November 30^th when she performed at Stonewerks.

You can follow her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/shelbyneubauer for all the updates on her music and when she will be performing again. You can also look her up on YouTube for videos posted by fans.

 

 

-Colleen Miller

Alamo City Comic Con 2013

A Banner for the Event Photo By Rene Guzman/San Antonio Express-News

I wanted to go to an event this year that would be different but still be affordable and appealing. As I was searching for something to attend I found the perfect place to check out the 2013 Alamo City Comic Con! It was the inaugural year for Comic Con in San Antonio and they did a great job with the planning, promotion, and execution of the event. It was held over a period of three days from October 25-27

at the Henry B. Gonzalez center in downtown San Antonio. This was a really great event to attend, unfortunately I only got to go on the opening day Friday but there was still much to see and do. 

A fan dressed up as a character from the popula
video game series Mass Effect photo By Helen L. Montoya/San Antonio Express-News

Each day the cost of attending was different you could’ve paid $70 for a pass which would’ve got you into the event all three days or you could’ve paid for a ticket to get into the day you choose to attend. By using a promo code I got from the San Antonio radio station 99.5 KISS I was able to save $5 on my ticket purchase so I only paid $15 for my ticket a great deal if you ask me. Considering how much there was too see and experience while there. With “nerd” culture and comic book/superheroes becoming mainstream and more popular this event would appeal to almost anyone that has even a fleeting interest in that kind of thing. They had panels and booths set up around the whole event with a variety of things to look at, experience, and purchase. They had everything from panels with the cast of the popular TV drama “The Walking Dead” to booths were lesser known comic book companies could show off some of their art/works. Going to one of these events is an experience that you cannot put a price on from seeing all the great art, booths, and panels to seeing all the amazing and crazy costumes people wear this is an event that I would recommend anyone with the time and money to attend. For sure I will be attending next year and will be looking forward to what is in store for Alamo City Comic Con 2014! 

- Isaac Martinez

San Antonio Clay Arts Festival

    

Herrera, Teia. "Vendor Booths."

Two weeks after the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration I attended the San Antonio Clay Arts Festival on November 16, 2013. This event was also free, fun, and family friendly. The Clay Arts Festival started at 10 am and ended at 5pm and was put on by the San Antonio Museum of Arts. I arrived around 1pm and was just in time to sit down and sculpt a little bowl to hold my knick-knacks. This was an opportunity awarded to everyone who walked through the front entrance. This outdoor event gave potters the chance to showcase their art, musicians the chance to display their talent, and children and parents entertained. While the adults walked around from booth to booth the children were kept busying sculpting their own pinch-pot sculptures and what ever else they decided to make. Their was approximately 13 vendors each selling a different form of pottery. The pottery varied from cups and masks to vases and bird houses with a little bit of everything in between.  Off to the side of the vendors booths their were two food trucks offering either New York styled pizza or a Greek gyros. I got the gyro and it was delicious! This event was yet another great opportunity to get out the house and involve your friends or family. As I walked around observing the vendors and those who attended the event I noticed that everyone was enjoy the event. The Clay Arts Celebration had a very laid back, move at your own pace feel. This is the type of event that is perfect for a saturday evening were you have   nothing else to do but want to get out the house and pay absolutely nothing! You could attend this event and not pay a dime if you wanted. Unless, you wanted food or to purchase pottery which was reasonably priced. Prices for the pottery ranged from $10-$135 and the food prices varied. While everyone is walking around or making a pinch pot there is also San Antonio locals performing on the stage to provide soft music to add to the laid back feel. I plan to attend more SAMA events to keep everyone updated not the fun and free events both family friendly and not!

-Teia Herrera 

Dia De Los Muertos

Davis, Vincent T.. Day of the Dead comes alive at Market Square.

On November 2, 2013 I attended the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration located in the Square Market here in San Antonio. It was an event that started at 10 am and ended at 5pm. The Dia De Los Muertos Celebration was a free event the only thing I had to pay for was the $5 dollar parking and any food or fun I wanted to take part in. The event kicked off with a parade that had float decorated with sugar skulls and skeletons. The people on the floats were dressed as skeletons and had detailed face painting. Since the celebration was on saturday and sunday the normal events going on in the Square Market added to the    festivities of the event. After the parade everyone just walked around and enjoyed all that the Square Market had to offer on this day. Both children and adults flooded the Square Market walking around in costume and face paintings to make them look like the sugar skulls and skeletons. Along the sides of the Square Market there was face painting, food, vendors selling paintings, jewelry, and hair wrapping. I decided to get my hair wrapped with color strings and enjoy a cup of street corn. This event was a fun and free event that had many opportunities to partake in the festivities of your choice. The Dia De Los Muertos Celebration is the perfect event to have fun and get a taste of the culture that San Antonio has to offer. I recommend that anyone who is looking for some San Antonio fun attend this event next year.

-Teia Herrera 

Welcome

Welcome to our blog, The Eventation! Over the next few months we will all be updating you on what is going on here is SA with text post & pictures. Be sure to follow our Twitter (@Events_In_SA) & add us on Facebook (The Eventation) for more information and pictures!

Writer Bios

Isaac Martinez

Hey everyone my name Isaac Martinez I'm a sophomore at UTSA and here to tell you about all the cool affordable things there are to do in San Antonio. I'll be making posts throughout the semester detailing the different events I have attended and how to get there and what other events there are like it.

Teia Herrera

Hey! My name is Teia Herrera I'm a junior technical communications major at UTSA & I'll be one of the four bloggers on here that will writing about what "college student affordable" yet still fun events will be going on here in San Antonio! Hope you all enjoy my post :)

Taylor Coppage

Hey, my name is Taylor Coppage and I'm a junior at the University of Texas San Antonio majoring in communications. Together we'll be bringing you information on the fun events happening in the city of San Antonio. We hope you enjoy and can possibly join these events yourself!

                                             

Colleen Miller

   Hey y'all! My name is Colleen Miller and I am a Science-Education major at UTSA! I will be writing the articles about local bands in San Antonio. As a musician myself, I look forward to attending these bands various performances and relaying the information to our readers. Thanks for checking out our blog!