Replies

1. 
   pzgren | Apr 19, 2007 11:28pm | #1

   Dave,

     Used to live there for a few years.

     Do a Google search for woodworking in San Antonio; I can't find the links at the moment, but there are a couple of WW schools/shops doing interesting stuff. There are also several museums. Try the Witte Museum; they have rotating displays of all manner of stuff, including furniture, etc., that may interest you.

     If you want some good regional Mexican food, try The Picante Grill on Broadway by the zoo and Universities. Nice family-run restaurant with very good food, decent service, and reasonable prices. Tomatillos is also good, but I liked the Picante better.

     The Alamo is worth seeing, as are the old Spanish Missions. The largest one in the south central part of the city has some fine examples of old (original) Spanish colonial style furniture and carpentry that you may find interesting. (At least they did when I lived there, about 5 years ago.)

     It's a great town, lots to do and see, along with a very wide variety of types of food. You'll have a great time. (There's even a Woodcraft there.....)

   .

   Tschüß!

   James

    

   "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that...."

    

   -- A.C. Clarke

1. 
   Dave Worsencroft | Apr 20, 2007 06:02pm | #4

   Thank you.  I will look up the Witte Museum to see what is showing.  The Picante grill sounds great also.

   Dave

1. 
   harold12 | Apr 20, 2007 06:05pm | #6

   Look up Rudy's Country Store, for good BBQ, its about 20-25 minutes outside of town.  Food is great, best BBQ in the area.  Its on 10 west, just off the highway.  (210)698-7177

    

1. 
   Dave Worsencroft | Apr 20, 2007 06:09pm | #8

   Thank you for the info on Rudy's.  My wife is really into dining out.

   Dave

1. 
   SpeakerScott | Apr 22, 2007 03:09pm | #11

   The Rudy's is in Leon Springs. My wife spent most of her formative years in Boerne which...if you miss the Leon Springs exit badly enough...you'll hit Boerne (pronounce Bernie...like a combination of Bert and Ernie).I'll second it's recommendation....it's attached to a gas station...but it will be jam packed...Scott

2. 
   TXJon | Apr 25, 2007 05:16pm | #14

   Rudy's has good bbq, but if you are looking to "dine out" you might be disappointed.  There are no plates, no waitstaff, plastic silverware, maybe you get the idea.

   I recommend the extra moist brisket.  Outstanding stuff.  The beans are very good, too.

2. 
   mudman | Apr 28, 2007 07:07am | #16

   Dont you know that Rudy's has "The worst Bar-b-que in Texas".

    

   Heah hah.

   I was just in San Antonio last weekend . My wife is a glass artist and we were in a show. There were some good wood workers there. The Alamo has some furniture, but in general there isn't a lot of amazing furniture 'round here.

   If you get to Waco there is an a museum dedicated to the Brownings on the Baylor campus. Very nice.

    Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

3. 
   mudman | Apr 28, 2007 07:10am | #17

   PS there is a Rudy's on I 35 just north of Loop 1604. It is closer than the one on I 10.

    Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

2. 
   doorboy | Apr 20, 2007 12:46am | #2

   There's a little German town nearby called Greune--pronounced 'green' that has a couple of custom furniture stores and a lot of crafty things. It's a fun side trip, but you would have to dedicate a day for doing it.
   For a short trip to San Antonio, I'd stick to the Alamo--don't forget to remove your hat--and also the Menger Hotel right next door to it.
   Just my opinion, but there's only three large cities in Texas that have soul--Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.

   "Roger Staubach for President"

1. 
   Dave Worsencroft | Apr 20, 2007 06:05pm | #5

   The Alamo will be on the list.  Will look up the Spanish Mission.  The town of Greune sounds very interesting and I will research that one.

    

   Dave

2. 
   TomT226 | Apr 28, 2007 03:10pm | #18

   Yep, gotta go to the Menger and have a beer in the "Roosevelt Bar." 

3. 
   steveky | Apr 20, 2007 07:23am | #3

   As for your question about “unique woodworking” in the San Antonio area, sorry I can’t tell you a thing but I do know a little about the place.

   I attended a business meeting in San Antonio about 15 years ago and was surprised that the Alamo was surrounded by city buildings. From the pictures I had seen over the years (taken at a certain angle), I expected the Alamo to be out in the middle of nowhere. I stayed at a hotel across the street and every morning when I got up and looked out the window, there it was - the Alamo. They also had a water-way running through the downtown and you could ride boats on a sight seeing tour. I believe it was called the Riverwalk. We were in town during spring break and the college girls were there in force. Since I was younger then I probably could have had a real good time but unfortunately this was the year my company decided to economize and I had to share a room with a fat guy who snored like a freight train (ha).

1. 
   Dave Worsencroft | Apr 20, 2007 06:06pm | #7

   The River Walk and the Alamo are on the list.  Thank you for your input.

   Dave

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 20, 2007 06:23pm | #9

   steveky,

   fat guy who snored like a freight train

   You made me wake up the dogs with that one! :-) :-)

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   steveky | Apr 20, 2007 06:46pm | #10

   The best humor is always based in truth and unfortunately that story is true. However you have not heard the best part of the story. Keep in mind this happened when I was younger - I’m not an old fool and I would not chase college girls today. While I was in San Antonio I ran into 2, not 1, but 2 college girls on spring break and they wanted to party but I had no where to take them because I had a fat, freight train for a roommate. That is the one and only time that ever happened in my life. I had a chance to live every young man’s dream but my cheap company would not give us our own rooms. I’m still mad about it!

4. 
   HoustonHeights | Apr 23, 2007 11:38pm | #12

   I also recommend a trip out to Rudy's.  I can't recall having better 'que anywhere.  I'm especially fond of their cream corn (aka heart attack corn).

   As far as the missions (of which the Alamo is one), I recommend following the mission trail and touring all five missions.  http://www.nps.gov/archive/saan/saan.htm  If you start at the Alamo and follow the trail (hike, bike, or short car rides depending on how much exercise you want) to the other four missions you will get a sense of what it must have been like living in that area in the 1700's.  Plus, it is interesting that by the time you get to the last mission, you are outside the highly developed area of the city (unlike the Alamo which is smack in the middle of down town), and it is much easier to imagine the mission as an isolated outpost in the new world.

1. 
   epearso | Apr 24, 2007 11:17pm | #13

   Ah, Rudy's...I miss that place!  The BBQ sauce is outstanding!

   Boudreaux's on the Riverwalk is a great place.  The JailHouse Cafe makes cinnamon rolls the size of basketballs.  The Havana Riverwalk Inn is a quaint B&B right on the Riverwalk.

   I second the side trip suggestion to Gruene.  When I lived in Austin we'd drive down for Old Greune Market Days, which was the second weekend of the month I think?  The Gristmill in Gruene is one of the best places to eat there.

5. 
   TomT226 | Apr 28, 2007 02:57am | #15

   Live up the road from SA in Bastrop county, and we visit people there all the time.

   The Witte is good, and be sure to go to the Mercado downtown.  Kind of toursty, but worth it.  The old Hemisfair Plaza is interesting.

   Try the Alamo Cafe for Tex-Mex.

   There's people there doing a lot of work with Mesquite and distressed/old Long Leaf Pine.  I think it's called Ranchers Furniture.