Playhouses & Forts

Sometimes for kids, it’s the simple things that make them happy.  Take Vista Ridge for example.  Sure, it’s a child-friendly apartment community and kids can have all sorts of fun here, but even with beautifully landscaped grounds and a resort style pool to lounge around at, a kid my just want to swing or climb around on some playground equipment.

If that sounds like your child, you might be interested in the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s latest exhibit, Playhouses & Forts, open through October 24.  At the exhibit, you will find eight unique, interactive playhouses and forts put together by members of the local San Antonio design community.  This is a fun family activity where a kid can really let loose and be a kid.

“Playhouses and Forts simply invites visitors to have fun. Each year we see more and more families enjoy coming to the Botanical Garden and these interactive creations will intrigue the visitors throughout the summer and into the fall,” says Garden Director Bob Brackman.

San Antonio Botanical Garden admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children.  They are located in the heart of San Antonio, conveniently accesible from Vista Ridge on Interstate 10.  The address is 555 Funston, San Antonio, TX 78209.  Have fun!

Canoeing on the River Walk

Is anyone out here at Vista Ridge big on water sports…particularly canoeing?  You might want to head down to the San Antonio River Walk next weekend for the Ford Canoe Challenge on Saturday, August 14 from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  Here’s how San Antonio Events describes the event…

Over 90 canoe teams compete in the FORD Canoe Challenge…local celebrities, city officials, Corporate teams and Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts compete in timed heats. The race begins at the Chamber of Commerce, heads east through and around the Convention Center Lagoon, through the River Center Mall Lagoon and ending back at the Chamber of Commerce.

This is pretty much the only time of year that anyone is allowed to canoe in the San Antonio River Walk.  It should be cool to see all of the boats in there.  The event is free to the public and if you need more info, you can call 210.227.4262.

(Photo Credit: SA Events)

Congrats to Northside Independent School District

It seems that a congratulations to Northside Independent School District (NISD) is in order.  They have been given the high distinction of Texas Recognized District byt the Texas Education Agency.  I’m not terribly familiar with the San Antonio public schools, but the districts ratio of Exemplary campuses to Recognized campuses seem to be far more than the average of what one might expect for the state of Texas.

Here’s a summary from the press release they put out last Friday.

Northside ISD has been named a Texas Recognized District for the third year in a row by the Texas Education Agency. It is also notable that NISD has the most number of Exemplary Schools in District history and the least number of Academically Acceptable Schools ever. (Northside has no schools rated below Academically Acceptable.) NISD is one of the largest and most diverse districts in Texas to earn a Recognized rating.

The District has a total of 51 Exemplary campuses, 37 Recognized campuses, and 4 Academically Acceptable campuses. No campuses were rated Academically Unacceptable. Those numbers compare to last year’s 42 Exemplary campuses, 37 Recognized campuses, and 10 Academically Acceptable.

What do you think are some of the better schools in the NISD?  What grade do you give them?  Are there academic areas you feel are more important than others to our children’s public education?  Hit me with a comment.  Individual schools will post their own accountability ratings and campus TAKS scores by August 28.

(Photo Credit: orangeacid)

Wedding Traditions

Fiesta Noche del Rio

I don’t think you can be a true San Antonian without having at least one Fiesta Noche del Rio under your belt.  “What is it,” you ask.  It’s only the oldest outdoor performance in the United States.  2010 marks the musical extravaganza’s 52nd year.

Held at the historic Arneson River Theatre (418 La Villita; 210-207-8610), the outdoor show features songs and dances of Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Texas in a seven-act performance.  The show runs on Fridays and Saturdays through August 8 from 8:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and you can purchase tickets either at the theatre or online.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Rita’s on the River is actually running a “dinner & show” special too.  You can get dinner for two and reserved seating for the show, all for $50.  What do you say Vista Ridge, are you up for a little bit of fiesta?

Photo Credit: (fiestanochedelrio.com)

“Uncork for the Cure” at Cavender Audi

On Thursday, July 22, make plans to join the Lone Star Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as they hold their Uncork for the Cure social at the Cavender Audi showroom (15447 IH10, San Antonio, TX 78249 (south of Loop 1604)), just a few minutes away from Vista Ridge.  The event is from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It will be a light and festive evening for friends to relax and enjoy savory varietals, specialty beers, and hors d’oeuvres in a unique atmosphere.  This will be a guayabera casual attire styled event with culinary delights from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse and Green Fields Market along side some exclusive wine and specialty beer pairings for an optimal tasting experience.

The evening will be hosted by Rick Cavender and emceed by Tanji Patton from Good Taste with Tanji. Everyone from wine lovers to specialty beer enthusiasts will experience an evening of live music performed by Grammy-award winning percussionist and international recording artists Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz,

Tickets are only $40 when purchased online at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website.  For more information, call Shanna Puente at (210) 829-7267.

The Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelly Bus Tour comes to La Cantera

When is having a smelley bus come to your town a good thing?  When it’s the Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelley Bus Tour!

If you have young children that like to read, chances are that they’re probably fans of the Junie B. Jones book series.  On Monday, June 21 at 6:30 PM at the Barnes & Noble at La Cantera will host the “Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelly Bus Tour” sponsored by Random House Children’s Books.  Junie B. will appear live and in-person to meet her fans.  The best part is that she will arrive in the stupid, smelly bus that has made her so popular.  Young fans will be eligible for cool Junie B. giveaways, and an official “book stamping.”  For more info, you can call 210.558.2078.

If you have a young reader here at Vista Ridge, I’m sure they would love it if you took them.  La Cantera is only a short drive from here.  I have a 5 year-old that recently started reading and she’s very excited about it.  Her favorite book is the one where Junie B. gets ready for 1st grade and needs glasses.  If you’re child is a Junie B. fan, which is their favorite story?

Lifetime Fitness Class Schedule: Week of 5/24

For all of the members of Lifetime Fitness located at the The Rim, I’ve posted the group fitness schedule here for you.  Just double-click the image and you will see it in a PDF format that you can view or print.  Hope that helps.   Have a great workout week!

When they shine, you shine!

With the unemployment rate across the nation still sky high, many of us are just happy that we’re working.  But that doesn’t mean that we need to put advancing our careers on the back burner either.  If you’re working hard and have shown that your ready for the next level of responsibility, you shouldn’t hesitate to make the moves necessary to show that you have what it takes.

I came across this article on Yahoo.com that gives great tips on how to move up the career ladder.  Here’s one of the tips:

“Find out what your boss’s boss expects of him, and do what you can to help your boss shine,” advises David Wright, the author of “Get a Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves.” “If you help your boss look good to his boss, you look good to your boss.”

If you think you can use the rest of the 9 Tips for Getting a Promotion, follow the link and check it out in its entirety. And if you have any good career advancement tips of your own, please leave a comment and share. Good luck!

A View from the Bridge

So who here at Vista Ridge has been to an opera before?  I’m wagering that maybe a few have, but not everyone.  Me personally…never.  While they’ve always seemed remotely interesting with their complex mix of stage drama and high pitched vocal exercises, I’ve never fully committed to actually checking one out.

But I’m all for trying new things and I just found info on a new opera that will be performed here in San Antonio at The Empire Theatre (Friday, April 30 at 8 p.m.).  It’s called “A View from the Bridge” by William Bolcom.  Here’s a little description I found online.

“The opera, a faithful adaptation of Arthur Miller’s tragic play, is set among a community of illegal Italian immigrants in 1950s Brooklyn.  Miller contributed to the libretto for Bolcom’s opera. Bolcom, known for his seamless fusion of American idioms with serious art music, won critics and audiences over with his lyrical and vibrant score. John Stearns of USA Today called it “the opera that Bolcom was born to write.”

I’m thinking about checking it out.  Tickets start at $25 at ticketmaster…not bad.  It’s time I broaden my horizons. Life isn’t just about football, you know…although it should be

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