Like the food nerd that I am, I researched all 32 participating chefs weeks before the event. I…read moreconcentrated on their culinary training, foods they like to eat themselves, & heritage even. This was my Superbowl! I needed to know stats to build a game plan. I made notes and drew out plans of attack. I went over it many times with my eating assistant (aka my husband) and felt confident that we would be able to hit up every station, take great photos, try all the amazing food, & chat with the chefs. November 3rd... Game Day - Meatopia was finally here. I was pumped! We arrived at 11:58am. Easily found parking off Grayson. Crossed the street to the event area and was immediately accosted by the wonderful aromas of grilled and roasted meats....aahhhh...happy dance! Butterflied carcasses, organ meats, musicians, the media, foodies, chefs & assistant chefs galore...water stations, beer stations, food stations... it was a lot to take in at once. I started to take pictures of where we entered - by the big yellow Pearl can. My "assistant" was supposed to trail after me and help take notes, carry my bags etc. Next thing I know, he's in my frame and was heading towards the food like a hypnotized man. He was grabbing lamb chops, quail, ribs, chicken feet and was devouring everything like the Tasmanian Devil. Dude...we had a plan!!! So I spent the next few hours sampling like crazy without having a clue as to what I was eating exactly. My husband would dash off, grab something & dash back to me with several offerings. "Honey, which station did these come from?" I'd ask. "Don't remember," he'd reply in between greedy bites and satisfied sighs. Oy vey! Each portion was very generous. Some beautifully garnished. All tasting pretty darn good! Overall, I don't remember any clunkers. There were some standouts for me such as the lambs chops by HEB, sigsig by Chef Paul Qui, the breast, shoulders, knees, and toes of chicken by Chef Ford Fry, grilled lamb ribs by Chef Ned Elliot, the chicken by Chef Jeff Balfour and the bacon (yes, BACON!) brownie by Chef Laura Sawicki. I shared each plate with my husband. But there was one dish that I had to go back for more of and that was the Trifongo by Chef Nelson Millan. I want that recipe! The event was a home run in terms of food, entertainment, and layout. The lines moved quickly and we never felt squashed. However, the entry points and staff could use some tweaking and extra training. We were eating our way through Meatopia for almost half an hour before we realized we didn't have wristbands like everyone else. Doh...we totally forgot to check-in and no one called us out on it! In addition, we'd ask people in gray Meatopia Tshirts where XYZ was located and many would not know. Great 1st run overall. PLEASE COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, MEATOPIA!!!!! I have a game plan! Need to find a better assistant though :\

A carnivore's carnival! A meaty adventure! A protein spectacular!…read more Here's how it works: You buy a ticket, and you never get your wallet out again! It's a block party in Pearl Brewery, so even though there were close to 3,000 people in attendance, it was never shoulder to shoulder and the lines moved swiftly. Parking was, well, parking. They did their best to keep it organized and as uncomplicated as possible. Suffice it to say that the bang for your buck is pretty freaking remarkable at this event. $75 (they were even selling $50 tickets at times) for all you can eat and drink, and these chefs weren't skimping on the portions. My friends and I were wishing we hadn't eaten anything that day in preparation. These aren't measly bite-sized samples, but rather full on appetizer-sized servings per person. Adam Perry Lang's slider, as simple as it sounds, was barbecue comfort food at its finest. Those homemade spicy pickles kicked it up a notch. The lamb neck gyro from The Whole Beast was like melt in your mouth lamb barbacoa. And, of course, our local SA chefs represented our fine city wholeheartedly! Stuffed veal breast from Andrew Weissman, lamb heart anticuchos from The Monterey, Porchetta from Jason Dady, whole hog gumbo from Steve McHugh. Our guys are truly special, and I believe it's because of people like them that Meatopia chose San Antonio as it's Texas location. It's a pretty big honor! What I would change: I know better than most how things work when you have a beer sponsor situation and that when it's free, beggars can't be choosers, but I would have rather paid to drink better beer than Corona or Michelob Ultra. There were so many amazing chefs serving elevated meat dishes that better beer would've just rounded out the entire experience. Again, even if I had to buy it at the bar.

I'm so upset that some people can just have no regard for other living beings. I sincerely hope…read morethose jerks (keeping it PG, folks) are caught soon! And that they get what they deserve. On my weekend runs/walks down the Riverwalk, I would usually see him perched by a tree or wandering about minding his own business. On the rare times I'm at the Riverwalk at its busiest, I've caught him making rounds to different tables - basically looking for any scraps any friendly person was willing to give him. He was such a sweet duck and I'm gonna miss seeing him hangin' out. Hopefully, he's found happiness in that big duck pond in the sky. RIP, Georgie.

I miss George! It's too bad that he was taken away from the…read moreCity of San Antonio too soon. He was somewhat of a mascot on the Riverwalk. But some out of towners took it upon themselves to dispose of this duck. It's too bad. I really miss George. He used to quack along the river to all of our tourists. Now, there's a memorial to him somewhere along the river. We're going to miss you, George!

Just snap a pic as you walk over the bridge. Not a place to spend any time or make a point to visit…read moreon purpose if it's out of the way.

I visited this small San Antonio bridge dedicated to love right after a breakup, and it stung like…read morea thousand needles hot off a fire. Too soon. But, man, it was just so romantic to see the thousands and thousands of locks that lovers had dedicated to the fences on both sides of the bridge. Locks of all shapes and sizes, from super elaborate to basic in design, all with initials, symbols, small love letters, and names from couples all over the world, were left right here. This small spot on earth where love has been cemented. It was a pretty cool sight to see, even during sadness. And it's a whole lot better than The Gum Wall in Seattle, where people collect and leave their smelly, sticky gum. Yuck!

I blinked and missed it. I tried coming here. I put the address found on the Yelp page into my…read moreGPS. I didn't see any mansions. Maybe it was my Asian driving? It couldn't be. I made three passes into the area. Where were all the mansions at? My phone GPS can't be wrong! OK is a good rating for this district...Okay...where is it? Okay, are we there yet? Okay, I look for it the next time I go to San Antonio. Don't use the address on Yelp. It got me lost. Go to the King Williams Association website and print out a walking map to find this place! https://www.ourkwa.org/

Beautiful old homes. And the people are so nice. I just love all the older things in that place…read more Wish I could live there

It was my first time since I was very young visiting SATX and I am so grateful to have visited the…read moreHistoric Market Square while I was in Texas. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip and I would highly recommend visiting to anyone in the area, and I hope to go again in the future! The parking nearby was a short walk but nothing crazy, and once we got to the Market it was shaded very well and had such a variety of stands both inside and outside of the buildings which I loved. It was a little hot outside so it was nice to be able to rotate between both areas. There was also such a great mix of stores, restaurants, snack stands, and artisans and crafts throughout. We grabbed some aguas frescas to sip on while we explored and they were delicious and a great price for how big they were. We had a big breakfast but it would be nice to try some of the many lunch spots they had throughout the market. The stores had everything but I loved the amount of talavera pottery to choose from and stocked up as much as my suitcase would allow. Prices are super reasonable as well considering these are handmade artisan pieces. I use my tazas everyday and they are the best coffee cups I have ever had. The merchants are super friendly and helpful as well. Everyone was very welcoming and made it a great experience. I hope to be back in the future!

For my trip to San Antonio, this was one of the places I was super excited to visit. Thankfully we…read morecame on a Saturday where they have Market Square Weekends from 10am - 6pm. There were food, drink, and craft vendors selling in the outdoor market which made the ambiance very lively but not too crowded, as well as live music. Unfortunately, the vendors' food was underwhelming and expensive. I was coming from California and was excited to compare Mexican street food in Texas, but the options were very bland. Esquites - $12, 5 street tacos - $18, Chicken Gorditas -$11, Agua Fresca -$10 I did enjoy looking inside the markets (don't forget there are 2 different buildings for you to do your shopping). You can find some inexpensive souvenirs mixed in with some of higher price points.

While I temporarily lived in San Antonio for a few months, the only reason I would make a trip to…read morethe Pearl was to stop by Stable Hall for a show. There's so much more that the Pearl has to offer. On the weekend, they run one of the best Farmers Markets in the city, and when that's not going on, it's a fantastic space to exist with places like Bakery Lorraine and Local Coffee for some drinks and pastries, Pullman Market or Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery for some good eats, Lick if you need a little treat, Jazz, TX for JAZZ MUSIC, and of course, Stable Hall for an incredible space with a consistently fantastic lineup. That's just the tip of the iceberg at the Pearl. The former spot for the Pearl Brewery has become one of the best mixed-use spaces in the 210. There is now the recently opened Pearl Putt mini-golf space for a quick recreational activity, Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, cute locally-owned shops, plenty of green spaces to run around in and relax, a book shop, a wine bar, and so much more. There are plenty of outdoor bars, with some connected to the larger establishments, to grab a drink at and wander. The Pearl District is the new Riverwalk without feeling like a tourist trap. It's such a beautiful area of town and a spot that makes San Antonio remain one of the best major Texas cities (outside of Austin, of course). The Pearl forever. RIYL: The best 25 acres in the 'tone.

One of the best shopping areas in SATX. Has lots of charm to it and great qualities. It's a place…read morefor almost everyone. Here's the break down Shops: 5 stars They offer a wide variety of places to shops. Food, books, clothes, keepsakes, and more. The shops here aren't your typical shops you find at the mall which makes the pearl really attractive to me. Although I believe that they have a rather small collection they frequently have vendor pop ups which is a must to experience! Ambiance: 5 stars I truly adore the outdoor concept of the pearl as it's beautiful done. Including greenery, fountains and outdoor seating. It's all very pretty and well put together. Each store front looks very timeless and elegant. Despite this, it also makes for a harsh visit during the summer and most shops do close before sun set so that's a little bummer but if you pick your day wisely all is perfect!

I am a such a history buff, and this place didn't disappoint. I loved how well they preserved the…read moreintegrity of the structures and told the story of the Alamo. We opted for the self-guided tour. My sons hunted for the markers actively and couldn't wait to hear the story. The tickets are well underpriced for the value. I highly recommend you go in the fall or winter. You need at least 4 hours to enjoy the entire grounds, but the summer heat took the wind out of sails after about 2.5 hours. Overall, I want to go back and experience it again. It was phenomenal.

So glad we were able tp bring our three grandchildren to see the Alamo and go over the history of…read moreit. Had a chance to walk around the old church mission and see all of the new things they are doing to make the Alamo and the area improve so it will be around for many years to come to preserve our young history of this country. It was odd to hear that Americans were call "Immigrants" when they were coming into the Mexican republic. Many a hero died that day at the Alamo, 200 AMERICANS gave their life for the Republic of Texas in it infancy. Gift store had plenty of options to pick from and the staff was very helpful throughout out our visit.

St Mary Street is a mural center in San Antonio. Definitely a must stop place and enjoy the food…read moresurrounding. This greeting is located at French Place and St Mary Street. The sign is popular. Many come to here to get a shot that they have visited San Antonio. Along the St Mary Street, you can find cowboy riding armadillo, Beastie Boy, let fiesta, king portrait, raven, guitar men, and more mural. It is definitely a street to visit. And don't forget to visit the St Mar Street below I-35. The pillars are mural by various artists.

such a great mural if your visiting san Antonio area. i do try to remember and make it a habit…read morethese days where ever i go i try to find a mural of that city and take a picture, this is one of them that i have been able to visit with my kids. this mural is right on the main road with occasional traffic, its kind of a bit hard if you want a straight picture being its not much sidewalk, you would have to somehow go on the street to get a good shot with the family or friends. but i dont recommend you doing that be safe doing so. the area as some really narrow streets with cute little homes and few places to eat and drink and its only few minutes away by car from downtown. if your into art this a good spot to see along with other murals painted around the area.

Historic sculpture on the Commerce Street Bridge. Commissioned by the San Antonio Express, Waldine…read moreTauch created a seven foot tall sculpture to honor the Native Americans. Ms. Tauch was a very well known sculptor in Texas. She was paid $1000 for her sculpture. The sculpture features a First Native American in a full headdress holding shallow bowls in each hand. Each bowl served as public drinking fountains at some point. Pause to think about the historical significance and history that happened here as you visit the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Yanaguana! This is one of my favorite places to hang out…read moredowntown San Antonio. If you can figure out how to get here without a car, this is a great vantage point to see San Antonio, and a great place to start off an adventure downtown. I've always wondered who built this, and Helene S.'s review was quite illuminating! So this sculpture is next to Sebastian's International Torch of Friendship, a maybe 30-40' high red sculpture that's hard to miss. Between this sculpture and that one is the famed Portland Loo- an outdoor free restroom. There's also the elevator that takes you down to the Riverwalk here. Standing on the bridge where this First Inhabitant sculpture is, this is a good spot to eavesdrop on the river cruises below, or just smell the Mexican food coming from Casa Rio. The Indian depicted in this carving must be a Yanaguana Indian chief, as they were the first Indians who were known to inhabit the San Antonio River area thousands of years ago. They covered an area a bit more up river near the University of Incarnate Word down along this river to where the Missions are today. Today, down the street at Hemisfair Park, you'll find Yanaguana Gardens, which celebrates this tribe.

Cool spot with incredible artists, tons of photo ops. There is a community of artists all around…read morethe area too. Love taking my dogs out here to snoop around & see what's been added.

Amazing artist and experience. Culture and cohesion in a medium of art that helps create unity in…read morethe art community.