April Showers Bring...

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They say April showers bring May flowers but, April also brings with it tons of exciting events that we know you’ll want to hear about. April hasn’t even arrived yet but we’re already pumped for everything that’s going on in our first full month of Spring. Are you ready for Spring? We are!

The month of April is Earth Month! Take some opportunities to step back and appreciate the world we live in and everything it gives us but also realize that we have a lot of work to do. San Antonio wants to help. On Wednesday April 6th, kick off the month with the film Gasland, a documentary centered on communities in the United States impacted by the gas drilling industry. Continue the theme on Wednesday April 13th with Tapped, a documentary about the bottled water industry and it’s connection to ocean pollution. On April 21st, Earth Day, gather at the large oak tree near ATT Science Hall for a presentation of the William Mulcahy Stewardship Award beginning at 12 PM. Learn what you can do to protect the planet we live on here and learn more about San Antonio’s Earth Month celebrations here.

One of the oldest neighborhoods in San Antonio is hosting a neighborhood-wide yard sale. This Saturday, April 2nd, you’ll be able to browse the neighborhood, bouncing from house to house and sift through the wares. You never know what you’ll be able to unearth from the piles. One man’s trash is another’s treasure and we’re sure that you’ll be able to find something that suits your fancy. If you’re planning on heading out to the neighborhood yard sale, check here for more information. Alta Vista is located about 15 minutes away from the Residences at La Cantera so you won’t have to tote your findings very far.

Calling all fashionistas: if you have a passion for brunch and fashion, Fashion Fiesta is your sanctuary. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity # 2661 are hosting the 4th annual Brunch and Style Show to kick off the fiesta. This Saturday from 9-1, get a glimpse at this season’s freshest trends from Chico’s Stone Oak Village at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Fiesta will also include a vendor market of unique fashions so you can do a little shopping while you take in the newest styles. We’re only a 12 minute drive away from this season’s trendiest fashions. To see more about Fashion Fiesta, check here.

April isn’t even here yet but we’re already fired up for all of the exciting events and festivals that are coming our way next month. What are you most looking forward to?

Easter in San Antonio

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Easter is almost upon us and that means there will be a lot of Easter-centric events going on this week. Not every family celebrates the holiday but that doesn’t mean that you can’t participate in the fun that goes along with the day of pastels and eggs. Make sure your bunny ears are on tight and your baskets are at your sides and hop to it!

Spend your Easter weekend at SeaWorld for an Easter egg hunt! From Friday through Easter Sunday, you can participate in an egg hunt at SeaWorld San Antonio. Hopefully your eyes are sharp so you can find the most pastel eggs before everyone else. In addition to the hunt, a lovely Easter lunch spread will be available for families. When you get too hungry from searching, you can retire to the picnic to get your fill. Carved brisket, BBQ chicken, hot dogs and a dessert station await you after your egg hunt. SeaWorld is only a 10 minute hop away from the Residences at La Cantera. Find out more about the egg hunt here.

Nothing brings the family all together quite like a delicious brunch spread. With so many restaurants opening their doors to us for Easter brunch, how will we choose just one? Chart House Restaurant in the Tower of the Americas is serving up fresh seafood and gorgeous views of downtown San Antonio. At Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse children ages 7-12 eat for half price and children 6 and under eat for free! The whole family can enjoy Easter brunch together this Sunday. See other brunch deals here.

You’ll have to travel a little to reach the Natalia Bluebonnet Festival and Parade but you’ll certainly have fun seeing it. All this week you can attend the festival and explore the festival grounds to your heart’s content. See live bands perform such as Roy Reyes Band, Matt Hawk, and Whiskey 2 Step. Admission to the festival is free so you can come back everyday of the festival! Learn more about the Natalia Bluebonnet Festival here.

You don’t have to celebrate the holiday itself to appreciate the traditions and events that go along with it! Everyone loves brunch. How does your family celebrate the holiday?

San Patrick's Day: Celebrate on the Riverwalk

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Two months of 2016 already come and gone! Where does the time go? They say time flies when you’re having fun so we must have been having a blast with how fast these first two months have gone. Thankfully, we’ve got the luck of the Irish on our side this month. St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner which means the festivities are piling up beginning this weekend. So whether you’re Irish or not, throw on some green and celebrate the culture and traditions of this holiday.

The San Antonio Riverwalk is always bustling with people and exciting events but this month is extra full of St. Patrick’s Day fun. From March 12 at noon until March 13 at 6 PM you can revel in the Irish festivities at the San Antonio Riverwalk for Murphy’s St. Patrick’s Day River Parade and Festival . You don’t have far to travel for Murphy’s River Festival because it’s only a 20 minute drive away from the Residences at La Cantera.

All weekend you can experience the best local bands and musical groups. Starting right at noon you’ll be able to see musical acts such as Boru Celtic Music, Fire on the Mountain Cloggers, Tennessee Valley Authority and Ravenmoor. You can find each and every one of the musical acts at the Arneson River Theater, located right on the riverfront.

You’ll want to be there at 2 PM both on Saturday and Sunday. If you’ve ever wanted to see them actually dye a whole river green, this is your chance. See the river run green with Irish pride all weekend while you celebrate.

Starting even earlier than the actual festivities is the St. Patrick’s Day Artisan River Walk Show. Admire artists hard at work and browse their projects to see what you can take home with you. The Artisan River Walk Show will last from March 11th through the 13th so you have extra time to peruse the craft stands.

Last but not least, you can’t have a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without an extravagant parade, so an extravagant parade we will have! San Antonio doesn’t do parades in a regular fashion, we take them to the river! The San Antonio River Walk’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will consist of 15 decorated barges, cruising down 2 ½ miles of the San Antonio River with bagpipes and drummers, Irish step dancers, music and Kelly singers. This is definitely not your average parade so you won’t want to miss out on this!

Find more information about the River Walk and Murphy’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival here. What’s your favorite way of celebrating this green holiday? Do you go all out or keep it quiet? Show us your green on Facebook and Twitter.

The Day of Unplugging

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Living in today’s modern world can be draining. We’re always on the go with our faces buried deep in the world of our phones, tablets and laptops. It can be hard to remember to look up every once in awhile and take in everything around you. This week, in honor of the Day of Unplugging, take a step back and disconnect yourself. Embrace the spirit of the olden days and put your phone down!

One of the best ways to get your mind off of your electronics is to take it to the outdoors. Spend some time outside and you’ll forget all about your iPhone. At the Residences at La Cantera, your very own private balcony is the best place to set the scene for your electronic escape. Lounge in a comfortable chair while you gaze out at the hilly country views. Outdoors, you’ll forget all about the obligations of your cell phone or your laptop.

The best place to forget about your phone is to go to the movies. A cinematic escape will immediately take your mind off of your electronics and the world of your cellphone. Not only will you forget about your phone but the pressure of your fellow moviegoers will prevent you from trying to peek at your phone in the middle of the movie. The Regal Cinemas Stadium 16 has everything you’ll need to relax into the world of your movie. Grab your popcorn, drink and maybe some candy too and then head into the theatre. Don’t let your phone distract you from the excitement of your movie experience.

Heading to a place where you actually can’t even use your phone is a great way to avoid it. At Six Flags Fiesta Texas, you’ll be having so much fun you’ll forget that you shouldn’t be on your phone. Thrilling roller coasters don’t bode well for cellphone use. Chuck that phone in a locker or leave it in the car because it has no place at Six Flags Fiesta Texas! This weekend is only the second that they’ve been open this season so you’ll be one of the first ones back in the park since last year.

Phones are useful in everyday life, we can’t argue that but too much dependence on it can turn it into a ball and chain. Take some time to step away from the electronic world.

Do you enjoy taking time away from your electronics or do you prefer to be always connected?

Spring Cleaning Comes Early

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Winter weather is hard on everyone. It makes it difficult to leave the house, it sucks away your motivation, it’s just downright rough! It probably also means that you’ve gotten a little lazy with your apartment cleaning. That’s alright, though. Winter is sticking around for a while so you still have tons of time to spruce up the place. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to begin in the springtime. Here’s how you can get your Residences at La Cantera apartment back in tip top shape.

Split the work up for yourself. If you try and do it all in one or two days, you’ll stress yourself out about having to get it all done. Spreading it out over the span of a week or so will let you work at a slower pace and give more attention to the details. You won’t miss any spots if you spread all the work out. Create yourself a schedule and you’ll know exactly what needs to be done on what days.

Living Room

Get into those couch cushions and vacuum in between them to get all the built up clutter and dirt out. You might even find some money in there! Take everything off of coffee, side tables and book shelves. Make sure to dust not just under the objects but the objects themselves too. Dust all light fixtures and lamp shades. You’d be surprised at how much brighter it will get in the room once you remove that layer of dust. If you have any rugs lying about make sure to take them outside and shake them out to get the dust and debris off of them.

Kitchen

You wash dishes all the time but you probably don’t think of the place where your dishes live. Get everything out of your cabinets and wipe down the inside of the cabinets as well as the outside of the cabinets and handles. Think of how many hands have been on those handles! Next, empty out the refrigerator and wipe down all the shelves and drawers. Toss anything from the fridge that you know you won’t eat or is out of date. Wipe down your stove and oven. Messes are attracted to the stove so scrub it down extra well. Clean the microwave out by first putting a glass of water in for 30 seconds. This will loosen up all of the gunk caked onto the inside walls. Don’t forget to sweep and mop to clean up all those spills from the last few months.

Bathroom

Wipe down that mirror so you can see your beautiful face in it again! There’s no point in having it if you can’t see yourself in it. Your showerhead has probably built up a lot of residue over the time you’ve used it. Take a plastic zip bag, fill it with distilled white vinegar and tie it up around the shower head using a hair tie or rubber band. Let it sit for and hour and then wipe the head clean with a wash cloth. Take stock of your beauty products and hair care products. Over the next month keep track of what you’ve used or haven’t used and at the end of the month toss everything you haven’t used. You’ll cut down on your clutter and also streamline your routine.

It doesn’t take a lot of work to keep a home clean but it does take a lot of work to get it clean in the first place. So get a head start and get your stylish, luxury apartment back in shape and from here on out you’ll only have to do small things here and there.

What’s your best spring cleaning tip? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Singles Awareness Day

Valentine’s Day might be over but today we celebrate those who don’t have a valentine to celebrate with. It’s Singles Awareness Day (Sorry to make you aware of it). Whether you’re single or one half of a couple everyone can appreciate a little time alone. There are plenty of outings that are great to do with other people but doing them alone is sometimes just much more satisfying. Doing things at your own pace, zoning out, doing whatever you please; it’s a great experience. We’ve rounded up a few of the best things to do in San Antonio all by your lonesome.

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Sure, museums are a great place to spend time with a loved one. You can walk hand in hand through the museum, marveling at the ancient artifacts together and comparing knowledge. OR you can head in alone and take as much time as you’d like wandering through the exhibits, taking your time at each fascinating thing you find along the way. You won’t have to be dragged ahead to some other exhibit or room your partner finds more interesting. You have all the time in the world to do as you please! Some of the best museums for doing that are right around us. The Institute of Texan Cultures, The Alamo and The San Antonio Museum of Art are all within a 25 minute drive of the Residences at La Cantera.

You might think that dinner and the movies is the quintessential date night idea but imagine this: walking into the movie theater and purchasing ONE ticket, hitting the concession stand and buying popcorn, ONE drink and ONE box of candy, then heading into the theater to choose any seat anywhere without worrying if there are two seats next to each other. Sounds less stressful doesn’t it? Silverado 16 is dinner and a movie all wrapped into one. Grab yourself some pizza, a burger, or a sandwich before heading into the movie of your choice. The best part of going to the movies alone is you don’t have to argue about what movie you should see! See the menu and check the movie times for Silverado 16 here on their website.

Just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy time alone and just because you’re single doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time by yourself. Being alone doesn’t mean you’re lonely!

What’s your favorite way to spend your time alone out in the city? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.

Valentine's Day Lovin'

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Valentine’s Day is almost upon us! It’s the perfect time for showing a little extra appreciation for that special someone in your life. It can feel like a lot of pressure to choose the perfect location and the perfect date or the perfect dinner. Don’t let it stress you out! We’ve rounded up the most romantic and fun dates for Valentine’s Day this year to take the pressure off of you.

If you’d like an interesting Valentine’s Day date, the 13th Floor is hosting Valentine X, a Valentine’s Day themed haunted house. You and your date had better hold on to each other for safety! It’s a great opportunity to get closer to your date also. The limited time only event will be taking place February 12th and 13th so make sure you get your tickets early! They’re sure to sell out! If you and your date have a penchant for danger, then this is the date for you! It’s located 25 minutes away from the Residences at La Cantera Apartments so you won’t have far to travel.

The 2nd annual Love Letter Celebration and Carnival is taking place at Brick at Blue Star on Saturday the 13th from 7-10PM. It’s a grown up version of a children’s carnival fit with booze laden snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn and tasty gourmet hot dogs from the Esquire Tavern. You’ll also have the chance to see some death defying acrobatic entertainment via Aerial Horizon. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to show your date to a fabulous evening. Find your tickets here.

Get away from everybody else and spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one in your own little private getaway. The Valencia Hotel on San Antonio’s River Walk is offering up a wonderful Valentine’s Day special for couples. You’ll even receive a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and a romantic rose petal turndown service. Other packages include continental breakfasts in the morning, dinner for 2 in Citrus Restaurant and complimentary valet parking for your vehicle. Book your reservation now to ensure you have a room for your romantic getaway.

Don’t let the holiday stress you out! We’ve got you covered for a romantic (or spooky) Valentine’s Day weekend.


Do you have a Valentine’s Day tradition? Tell us about your traditions on Facebook and Twitter.