Category Archives: Feature

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys NKOTBSB Summer Tour

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To say my sister was a Nick Carter / Backstreet Boy fan would be the understatement of the century. When she first became a fan, we were living in Washington State. My dad was in the military – we were moving to Germany. But wait! Backstreet Boys had JUST scheduled one of their earliest tours…and they were coming to a city near us, a day AFTER we were supposed to fly to Germany. Panicking, my sister threw herself to the mercy of the court and my incredible mother changed our orders, my dad flew to Germany ahead of us, and my sister and mom stood for 6 hours outside hoping to catch a pre-concert glance of the band. She loved the concert and actually, after we moved to Germany, my mom drove her and a friend 4 hours to their European tour where they got there early enough to talk to one of the group’s roadies, got BSB swag, and enjoyed almost front row mosh pit placement for the next concert. Her room did not have walls but was a Nick Carter shrine. There was literally not an inch of real estate that was not covered w/ posters and fan gear. My best friend DJ was not as openly obsessed…but she did have a certain pillow she lovingly snuggled with.

When I heard about their reunion tour, there was NO way I could let my sister miss it. If not just for old time’s sake. I cannot wait until they come to San Antonio’s ATT Center.

Check out my next blogpost on how to get tickets presale before this event sells out! Already sold out in 5 cities, tickets went on sale 1/11 in some venues!

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys NKOTBSB Summer Tour

Buy on Ticketmaster
now!

Fan Website:
http://nkotbsb.com

Twitter:
@nkotbsb

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Kids-on-the-Block-Backstreet-Boys/115140378548282

BackStreet Boys

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys NKOTBSB Summer Tour

Fan Website:
http://www.backstreetboys.com

Twitter:
@backstreetboys

Facebook:
http://facebook.com/backstreetboys

YouTube:
http://youtube.com/user/bsbofficial

Backstreet Boys Twitter
Brian Littrell @brian_littrell
AJ McLean @skulleeroz
Nick Carter @nickcarter
Howie D @howie_d

New Kids on the Block

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys NKOTBSB Summer Tour

Fan Website:
http://nkotb.com

Twitter:
@NKOTB

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Kids-On-The-Block/15545737965

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nkotbofficial

YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/nkotbdotcom

New Kids on the Block Twitter Facebook
Danny Wood @dannywood
Jordan Knight @jordanknight Fan Page
Jonathan Knight @JonathanRKnight
Joey McIntyre @joeymcintyre Fan Page
Donnie Wahlberg @DonnieWahlberg

Windcrest Christmas Lights | San Antonio, TX

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So, I should be ashamed because after living in San Antonio, TX since 2001-ish, I have never been to drive through the Windcrest Light Up (link to official website…) and marvel at the Christmas lights.  This year’s Light Up theme was “A Star-Studded Christmas” and there were tons of “stars”!  One yard boosted everyone from the Beatles to basketball players and everyone in between!  One house had music that you could tune into while you watched the lights flash in time w/ the music.

WARNING:  I went on Christmas night and it was pretty bumper to bumper.  Some people walked through the neighborhood which was fairly good sized.  I know though, the people walking made GREAT time and although they may have been chilly, they would have enjoyed the lights far more quickly than anyone sitting in traffic.  I’m not sure how residents deal w/ the traffic, Fenwick was bumper to bumper for 45 minutes!  Bring snacks, activities, and don’t go before the kids have gone to the restroom.  The lights were incredible and even the side streets w/o winners had many neighbors in the holiday spirit.

Check out the google map below, based on the winners list found on the website, I have plotted where each of the houses is for easy Garmin GPS entry. :)

According to their website, the City’s official map of the lighted neighborhood is here.

View 2010 Windcrest Christmas Lights – San Antonio, TX in a larger map

City of Windcrest

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/CityofWindcrest

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Windcrest/356850095710

Michaels Craft Challenge | Ginger Bread House

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Feeling particularly ambitious for some reason, Jaden and I decided to enter Michaels’ Weekly Craft competition.  We enjoy making Gingerbread Houses in the past and thought since the 3 supplies this week were gingerbread house related, we could not pass on the opportunity!

Check out the entry on Facebook here, please take the time to view and “like”.  :D

Shape candy canesMichaels' Make Gingerbread House

Christmas Gift Card Rewards

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Back by popular demand (from this article last year), here’s all the gift card purchases you can buy for loved ones (or yourself!!) that are accompanied with extra incentives to buy.  Gift cards can still be an incredibly thoughtful gift without taking up too much space or time.  Since you’re going to be getting the gift cards anyways (or if you want to save additional money when you make purchases for yourself…) check out these great seasonal offers that will not only bring a smile a friend to the person receiving the gift, but also the one giving (FREE stuff for you!!):

*For those gift cards that I missed, here’s a link to 54 more gift cards w/ a comparative checklist.

Maggianos gift card reward

Retailer/Restaurant Gift Card Reward
California Pizza Kitchen Purchase $100 in CPK Gift Cards and receive a $20 Rewards Card.
Kids Foot Locker Through 12/24, get $10 rewards card w/ gift card purchases >$50
DSW Through 12/24, get $10 rewards card w/ gift card purchases >$50
The Palm For every $250 you spend on gift cards, you’ll receive a $50 thank you card that can be used at The Palm from January 1 to April 30, 2011.
Godiva FREE $10 gift card w/ every $50 purchase
IHOP $5 rewards with every $25 gift card purchase
L.L.Bean FREE $10 gift card w/ every $50 purchase
Morton’s Steakhouse Buy $300 gift card and get $50 or buy $500 to get $100
Outback Steakhouse FREE $20 gift card w/ every $100 purchase
Hancock Fabric For every $100 or more single transaction between 12/11/2010-12/24/2010 you will receive a $20 BONUS BUCK card towards your next purchase between 12/26/2010-1/12/2011
Maggianos FREE $20 gift card w/ every $100 gift purchase
The Children’s Place Receive a $10 coupon when you purchase $40
Amazon Gift Card Spend $50, get $5
Roaring Fork, Wildfish, (Eddie V Restaurants) FREE $20 gift card w/ every $100 gift purchase
Brunswick Bowling Alley Free $5 Brunswick bonus certificate with every $25 gift card purchase
Dave & Busters Spend $25, get $5; spend $50, get $10
Chucke Cheese’s Get 20 free tokens for every $25 gift card purchased
Benihana Spend $50, get $10
Fox and Hound Spend $25, get $5
Sky Mall Spend $100, get $50

SeaWorld San Antonio Fan Search

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Website:  http://www.seaworldfansearch.com

SeaWorld San Antonio wants your pictures!  You could instantly become a “local celebrity” if your fan photo is featured on a digital billboard!

Starting this Friday, May 28, 2010 through the remainder of the year, you’ll be able to take fun, happy pictures at SeaWorld San Antonio, upload them to the Fan Search website, vote on your favorites, and enter to win, multiple times!

Based on the number of votes, SeaWorld is looking for pictures that embody having a GREAT time at their park!  Come with film (SD cards) and a huge smile!

Seaworld San Antonio Fan Search

Twitter:  @SeaWorldTexas

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SeaWorldSanAntonio

Flickr:  SeaWorld San Antonio group

Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park | San Antonio, TX

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San Antonio has a NEW park complete with 2 dog parks (large dogs and small dogs nicely separated), a beautiful playground, and several short walking trails shaded by the harsh rays of San Antonio sun! Last Thursday I was invited to preview a park envisioned by the former Mayor Phil Hardberger, who proposed using the property to establish a world-class park!

Website: http://www.philhardbergerpark.org

Twitter: @hardbergerpark

Facebook: Join their Group!

Dog Park

  • Separate areas for large dogs and small dogs
    • Includes separate entrances although you can walk from one to another
  • Water troughs to water and wash of canines
  • Ramps, dog houses, limestone benches
  • Everything is lined with thick mulch

Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park water fountains

Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park dog houses

Playground

  • Rubber areas
  • Slides, hopscotch, swings
  • Climbing rocks, twisty things, and jungle gyms

Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park san antonio playgrounds

Walking Trails

  • Although no trail is longer than .8 miles, you can hook into longer paths at the end of the trail
  • Shaded with lots of opportunities to see the flora and fauna including walks with local nature groups

.Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park walking trails

Phase 2 – which starts the summer of 2010

  • Permanent restrooms
  • Permanent education classroom where weekend classes will be offered to students and adults
  • Recreational fields for pick up football games
  • Scenic clearings
  • Another park entry

*Check out their website for all the developmental news!

Phil Hardberger Playground and Dog Park Park map

I posted all the pictures in a Facebook Album: Phil Hardberger Park | San Antonio, TX

Broadway 5050 | San Antonio, TX

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Tasty Byte: Broadway 5050

I enjoyed trying Broadway 5050 with my sister for the first time last week.  Although our server was moving in a slow pace, it did not seem to be the theme among the rest of the staff at the Colonnade location.  Giving her a benefit of a doubt, we enjoyed the rest of meal in the diner/sports bar feeling restaurant.  The food was good, large portions, and all for a good price.  Although neither of us had tried it before, we’d probably go back with friends another time.  (I’d like to investigate their dart boards – would also be fun to take in a sporting event!)

Website: http://five0five0.com

Colonnade Location

Address: 9837 IH-10 West, San Antonio, Texas 78230 { Map }

Phone: 210.691.5050

Alamo Heights

Address: 5050 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209 { Map }

Phone: 210.826.0069

Tasty Bytes

  • Although the service was slow as molasses (only our server, others seemed very unsloth-like) the food and portions were large and tasty
  • Shoestring fries were crispy and tasty
  • Garlic mashed potatoes were delicious, packed a solid seasoned punch!
  • Chicken fried chicken was LARGE and in charge
  • Green beans were crisp and tasty
  • Chili burger, although unexpectedly rectangular was topped with fresh tasting chili

Email List: here

*Did not find them on Twitter or Facebook at the time of this post…

Broadway Fifty-Fifty on Urbanspoon

2010 Fiesta San Antonio

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Starting in 1891 with one parade, Fiesta has exponentially expanded into an incredible city-wide celebration lasting 11 days with more than 100 events (benefitting more than 100 local nonprofit organizations!!) and 3.5 million people take place!  Read more about or the history…


2010 Fiesta Events

Get the latest Fiesta news

  • Frequently updated with interesting information
  • Posters from the past 29 years

Volunteers

Fiesta Store

Fiesta Transportation

Social Media and Contact Information

  • Traditional Contact Information includes by phone (210-227-5191), fax (210-227-1139), mail (The Fiesta San Antonio Commission | 2611 Broadway | San Antonio, TX 78215-1022)
  • Twitter – @FiestaSA
  • Facebook Fan of Fiesta
    • Fiesta Flambeau Parade fan
    • Fiesta Cornyation fan
    • Fiesta Arts Fair fan
    • A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) fan
    • Fiesta Oyster Bake fan

    YouTube
    Mobile Version of website

Tickets

  • Tickets to parades
  • Other Events (can be purchased at the Fiesta Commission office for the following events:
  • NIOSA main page ticketsAdvance Tickets (Online/Mail – DEADLINE for BOTH by April 11th)
    • Adults $10.00
    • Children $1.50

    Purchases at the Gates (open at 5:30 p.m.):

    • Adults $12.
    • Children $ 2.
    • Children under Six: FREE
  • Fiesta Carnival Sign up for discount coupons!

    Dollar Days – Wednesday, April 14 & 21, ALL rides are only $1 each, all day!

    Discount Wristband – purchase at HEB before April 13th!

  • Coronation of the Queen
  • Battle of the FlowersFrom Friday, March 26, 2010, tickets may be purchased in person at the Fiesta Store, 2611 Broadway, 78215.  Hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday – Friday, 10 am – 3 pm Saturday.
    • Battle of Flowers Band Festival Tickets
      • $7.00 for box seats
      • $5.00 for reserved seats
      • $4.00 for general admission
      • $2.00 for students

    Beginning Friday, March 26, 2010,  tickets may be purchased in person at the Fiesta Store, 2611 Broadway.  Hours are 10 am – 6 pm, Monday – Friday.  Saturday 10 am – 3 pm.  Tickets will also be available at the Alamo Stadium Box office on April 21 and 22, 2010.

  • Fiesta Cornyation (Cornyation Inc.) on Ticketmaster
  • Fiesta Gartenfest (Beethoven Maennerchor) (become a Fan on Facebook)
  • Fiesta Oyster Bake (St. Mary’s University Alumni Association)*Tickets are $20 at the gate and $16 at ALL HEB stores AND the Fiesta San Antonio commission office

    { PDF } 2010 Fiesta Oyster Bake Information Packet

    *100,000 oysters were consumed last year

  • Fiesta in Blue (USAF Band of the West)
  • Incognito Ball (Urban-15 Group) tickets
  • King William Fair (King William Neighborhood Association) helpful FAQ
  • A Taste of New Orleans (San Antonio Zulu Association)$12 at the gate, $10 advance purchases from HEB
  • WEBB Party (San Antonio AIDS Foundation) check out their brochure and think about VIP tickets!

2010 Fiesta San Antonio events and information

2010 US Census | Importance & Information

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10 simple questions… Find detailed information about the questions in the form here.

According to the Constitution, a US Census is required every 10 years.  Why do we need to fill out the survey that’s still mailed to us?  (They’re currently experimenting with Internet response forms for the future; maybe by 2020 they’ll have progressed…)


$400 billion in federal funds will be allocated to different cities, based on the responses.  This money can be used for:

  • Hospitals
  • Job training centers
  • Schools
  • Senior centers
  • Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
  • Emergency services

The 2010 Census form is just 10 questions pertaining to:

  • Name
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Date of birth
  • Hispanic origin
  • Race
  • Household relationship
  • If you own or rent

Contact Us (them, not me!)

If you did not receive a form (or LOST it…), call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center at 1-866-872-6868 unless you prefer a Spanish-speaking operator, then dial 1-866-928-2010 between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week from February 25, 2010 through July 30, 2010.

For the hearing-impaired, TDD 1-866-783-.

It’s against the law to NOT fill out the census form…otherwise you might be visited by the census taker.  Here’s how to prepare for a visit from them.

Check out key dates including how and when to volunteer, seek employment, turn in your form, etc.

Social Media

First Annual Lemonade Day in San Antonio, TX

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Last summer, while visiting my sister in Houston, I vividly remember reading a front-page story that made me so excited!  It was about Lemonade Day, sponsored by Prepared4Life.org (P4L), a program the entire city of Houston supports that encourages kids to become young entrepreneurs, from kindergarten through the 12th grade, by teaching the fundamentals of business and financial planning.

Lemonade Day is a citywide program designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own lemonade business.2010 lemonade day san antonio prepared 4 life organization

My daughter, imaginative and resourceful, has always wanted her own lemonade stand.  This program not only gives kids (many from high-risk neighborhoods) the opportunity to have a stand of their own, but empowers them with important planning information to maximize their potential for success.

It provides an opportunity for families, businesses, faith-based community organizations and schools to come together for a common purpose – to train the next generation of entrepreneurs through a free, fun, engaging, experiential activity.

Prepared 4 Life Lemonade Day San Antonio, TX

When:  May 2, 2010 | First Sunday in May

Background Information

Originally started in Houston by Michael Holthouse (the founder of P4L) a master entrepreneur himself.  After creating a company that surpassed the $100 million mark, 6 years after starting it from scratch (Paranet),  Holthouse created:

He created the Holthouse Foundation for Kids to help at-risk children acquire the skills and habits they need to become successful adults…He and his wife, Lisa, later founded Prepared 4 Life, a non-profit organization that started by offering after-school programs for at-risk middle-school children in Houston.

He got the idea from his daughter who woke up early in the morning, excited to start her own lemonade stand.  Together they put together a business plan taking into consideration marketing, location, and paying back her investors and from the ashes Lemonade Day was born:

The ideas was to give kids an engaging workbook that would guide them through the process of setting up a stand.  An adult member would help walk each child through the process, but would be asked to leave most of the problem-solving to the kids…It would teach young kids the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurial startups: setting goals, planning for success, securing a loan, choosing locations, procuring supplies, making their product, and turning a profit.

San Antonio TX Lemonade Day's Backpack Pickup Locations

Every Lemonade Day participant picks up a bag at a local station that includes a workbook for the kids and another one for the parents.

Although the kids are allowed to keep all of their profits, their encouraged to not only pay back their investors, they also are encouraged to donate a portion of their profits to a charity of their choice.

Exponential Success Over the Past 3 Years

Lemonade Day 2007

Lemonade Day 2007 - 2600 Participants

Lemonade Day 2008

Lemonade Day 2008 - 11,232 Participants

Lemonade Day 2009

Lemonade Day 2009 - 27,389 Participants

Lemonade Day San Antonio

Check out San Antonio’s local website: http://sanantonio.lemonadeday.org/home

Contact information (local & national):  http://sanantonio.lemonadeday.org/contact-us.aspx

*I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sara from the CE group who is San Antonio’s project manager for this HUGE undertaking!  By using the link above you can also contact her for more information on sponsoring, volunteering, etc.

**Local Restaurants - our volunteers will need refreshments!  Join the movement by donating meals/snacks for volunteers, your location could become a Lemonade Day backpack pickup location!

Sign Up Here!

I’ll be updating with more information as I get it as well!

- 2010 Lemonade Day | Informational Video -

- 3rd Annual Lemonade Day | Houston, TX -

Listen to why all the kids LOVED Lemonade Day in Houston, TX last year!


I Love Lemonade Day from Geekette Bits on Vimeo.