Dia De Los Muertos

As a transfer student from a small university and city and making the jump to a big city like San Antonio I understand how hard it can be just to get out there and explore but hey look no further...because like any good city San Antonio has lists upon lists of activities and events going on in the San Antonio community often. One event that I was blessed to attend was the festivities and activities and events going on in the community. One event that I was blessed to attend was the festivities and activities for the celebration of Dia de los Muertos at La Villita. The celebration of Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican Catholic tradition where the living comes together on November first and second in order to commemorate and celebrate the dead. It is a holiday for remembering and honoring those who have passed. Dia de los Muertos is a similar in nature to the common American practice, to leave lowers and reconnect with their loved ones meaning that anyone can celebrate in the festivities. Dia de los Muertos allows the dead to live once again amongst the living. During this time it is believed that the deceased return to their earthly homes to visit and rejoice with their loved ones

Dia de los Muertos traditions

1. -    Setting up an alter filled with offerings
2. -       Cleaning and decorating graves
3. -       Holding graveside vigils
4. -       Telling stories about the deceased
5. -       Making or purchasing sugar skulls and other sweets

For this year I visited the La Villita celebration and let me tell you it was something in the middle of the plaza what could be seen was surely something to marvel. The square was taken over by a massive alter, table used to remember the dead with assorted items or personal belongings, surrounded by tons of other colorful and creative smaller alters which are for display for the alter competition to see who in the community could come up with the most authentic looking piece. The streets were filled with mariachis, workshops, folk, dances, poetry performances, and more processions are planned throughout the day. The culture, colors, music, and fun jump at you each way you turn with no stop at end alas the day must come to an end but, the party isn't over because now the live band performances begin bringing together a wonderful end to terrific evening with many laughs and tears of joy.  

CSI: The Experience

CSI: The Experience, a museum event that is making its way across the U.S. will be making one of its stops at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway St. San Antonio TX, 78209. The price of Admission being ($6-$8) surcharge on top of regular Witte admission ($7-$10). The exhibit immerses guests in a hands-on experience into the world of forensic science while leading you through the steps agents go through on the show.

Lab Microscope Lab 1

Tools and Technology

1.     -Video monitors with scenes from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation actors and real-life scientists

2.     -Microscopes

3.     -Magnifiers, templates

4.     -Computer Database

5.     -PC with touch screen technology

6.     -UV light sources

7.     -Cell phone seizure kit

8.     -Chemistry equipment

9.     -DNA instrument systems

10. -Ballistics Identification systems and bullet trap

With these tools to their disposal guests are encouraged to take the challenge and see if they have what it takes to step up to the plate and solve the crime with the same methods as crime scene investigators and forensic scientist.

After my visit to the Witte Museum I immediately felt like Sherlock Holmes put me on the case I’ll find the culprit! After that experience anything was possible thanks to the wonders of science and technology the interactive exhibit, which is based on the CBS hit TV show opened its doors to the San Antonio community for the public on Fall 2013 and has not disappointed. 

Autopsy Room

The exhibit is built around three crime scenes, First you make your way into the exhibit and are immediately placed into the briefing room where show creator, Anthony E. Zuiker, greets you. Next you are briefed on the crimes by none other than actor William Peterson who plays detective Gill Grissom on the hit TV series and a real-life forensic scientist briefs you on the tools that will be used. Finally you’ve made it you’ve been given the green light and are now on the CASE! Guests are assigned to a scene (House Collider, Who Got Served?, and No Bones About It) it is your job to unravel the mystery behind these deaths and tragedies keep an open mind and remember let the evidence speak for itself. Once you have finished you are taken to Lab 1 where you are able to analyze and strategize your evidence using the latest in forensic technology. In Lab 2 you map out your plan of action with more equipment and even an Autopsy room to get under the skin and find any hidden clues. The dead can’t speak for themselves so its time to visit Grissom and submit your final analysis find out if you were able to correctly analyze your evidence and catch the killer. I highly recommend any student here at UTSA to visit this science wonder and see if you got what it takes to crack the case at CSI!

¡El Fiesta de las Luminarias!

As we all know, San Antonio is a city riddled with rich tradition. This holiday season, San Antonians can participate in a century old tradition known as "El Fiesta de las Luminarias" (The Festival of Lights). This is one of the oldest traditions in our city, and always bears thousands of participants!

So, what's so special about this tradition? Basically, the entire River Walk is outlined with over 6,000 warmly glowing candles, lighting up the lush banks of San Antonio's trademark tourist attraction. This is immensely important to those of Mexican descent, as the lighting of the River Walk symbolizes the "lighting of the way" for the Holy Family.

A brief segment of the illuminated River Walk

      

So bring your friends and family to the River Walk between the 20th and the 22nd, and experience San Antonio's oldest (and brightest) traditions!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Winter is finally here! With the sudden drop in temperature, San Antonio is now officially in holiday spirit, and the whole city is electric. Now that it actually feels like December, all the Christmas lights and holiday decorations are strewn across the city in a beautiful display of festivity. But what else helps get people really festive this time of year is music! But not the same boring renditions of Jingle Bells, or Deck the Halls that we've all heard a thousand times - but the heavier, rocking sound of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. That's right, TSO is coming to our very own AT&T Center!

Catch this incredible group of musicians on December 28th, at 3:00 p.m. and witness a truly unique fusion of classical and heavy rock sounds, coming together in a magnificent sound of holiday cheer.

Run A Tab Pub Run

How does jogging sound to you? Let's be honest, that probably doesn't sound like much fun. That's okay, I'm personally not quite a jogger myself. But jogging from bar to bar with a bunch of friends, drinking, and having a good time does sound like quite an adventure. That's right, bar-hopping and jogging. We Run San Antonio is the original host for the event Run A Tab Pub Run, that occurs every first friday of the month. It takes place in San Antonio's beautiful and historical downtown. All joggers will get a tour of all downtown San Antonio bars. Everyone first meets at the Beethoven Beer Garten.

               

You're probably wondering what kind of attire you'd need for an event like this. Many people like to wear work-out clothes to be comfortable, but its actually themed. The themes vary anywhere from the 80's, to Halloween costumes, and this month's is tacky sweater themed! If there is anything more wonderful than not taking hours deciding on what to wear on a night out to a bar, it definitely being at a bar in comfortable clothes.
                                               

 The Pub Run will take you to ten different bars in between your jogging. Quite frankly, there is more of drinking involved than jogging. After my fourth bar I found myself walking to the rest of the bars instead of jogging. The drinks are a little pricey in most of the bars but from 8-9 P.M. there is dollar wells in all bars. Oh, the joy of happy hour. This is the perfect place to take your out-of-town friends out to, giving them a little taste of San Antonio while catching up over some drinks. So bust out your running shoes and let the fun commence!

                                           

The Block

The block is a patio bar that is bringing the college community together, and by together, I obviously mean inexpensive beer, fun, and irresistible food that will leave you feeling guilty; possibly finding your jeans a little too tight by the end of the night, but without a doubt worth it.

They have a variety of choices of beer on draft, bottled beer, and shots-- fruity dollar shots such as jello shots. I must confess that I am just a tad dissatisfied with the fact that they serve no liquor. But their prices on the draft beer are fairly satisfying that it doesn’t leave me with much room to complain about them serving no liquor. I mean let’s be honest, most college student have a poor amount of money to their names, leaving us without the luxury to splurge money on alcohol.

Food is definitely my favorite part from The Block. They have about seven food trucks that rotate throughout the week. I unfortunately have not tried every single food truck, but I have tried food from three of them. Allow me to introduce you to my favorite plate; nachos. Now these aren’t your average basic Taco Bell nachos, these are one of a kind. These heavenly nachos can feed about three people for only five dollars. It’s a big plate of nachos served with flavorful pork meat, sour cream, cheese, and much more. The taco food truck is a very popular one, they sell Mexican street tacos. Small tacos served with fajita meat, grilled onion, cilantro, and your choice of salsa. The wing food truck has hot wings, and it is the perfect ideal food to have on game days. Their wings are tossed in their mouthwatering hot sauce that go so well with a tall glass of beer, treat yourself to a little indulgence.

                   

Not only are they supporting local businesses such as the food trucks, but they also support the Greek students with their philanthropies. Last month I attended to an event hosted by The Block that was advocating Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity with their philanthropy. The event was called "bring a book make a difference" and a very successful one I must add. The fraternity gathered over 200 books solely based off the students from the university. The Block isn't just fun and games, its brings us together and helps the community out.