National WASP Museum

About an hour west of Abilene in Sweetwater.



“Grace under fire” took on new meaning Memorial Day weekend 2011 at the National WASP Museum in Sweetwater, Texas.

Twenty former World War II women pilots took their seats in the museum’s hangar for a performance of nearby Highland High School's one-act play about the life of Jackie Cochran, the first Director of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots organization.

Cochran was a contemporary of Chuck Yeager’s, and by all accounts cut from the same daredevil cloth, with extreme flying abilities. She was the first woman to break the sound barrier and won flying races in the late 30’s - 60’s against other elite men and women pilots.

The group of women in their 80’s and 90’s moved with a gracefulness and assurance that perhaps can be attributed to being members of the Greatest Generation with its focus on dignity and perseverance. Their contained, yet assertive panache was likely also because of their unique experiences as a result of being already determined, gifted people who overcame multiple odds and contributed selflessly to others.

A good example of desire and need combining, the women’s stories of becoming pilots involved a fascination with the sky and marked motivation and dedication to learn to fly at a time when not many people were doing so, not to mention many women.

Find some of their individual biographies on Wikipedia or at the museum website. I’m also curious about a documentary about Hazel Ying Lee the first Chinese American woman to fly for the United States military.

Around 1942, the women were recruited as experienced airplane pilots to help the war effort, for example by ferrying planes to forward locations or around the U.S. during 1943 and 1944.

Military training took place at Avenger Field in Sweetwater which is now the site of the museum and the butt of a joke in the script about the dust, wind, scorpions and rattlesnakes found in the area.

One former WASP wearing a sunshine yellow pantsuit, bent over from osteoporosis, slowly walks to her seat in the front row. She is instantly surrounded by a large group of adoring fans.

These high school actors are fascinated to meet her after researching her life and exploits while preparing for their play. She holds court for a few minutes and they all talk animatedly, using fist pumps and lots of smiles. The young girl actresses have their long brown or blond hair in rolled forties style or braids. The older “girls” in the audience have windblown white curls, a gray bob held with a clip, or a low chignon fastened with a decorative clasp.

Old and new - but the same - are represented by a female active-duty Air Force member in a camouflage uniform escorting one of the veterans to her seat.

Appreciation for service and sacrifice and a fun time were had by all. Thanks to much planning, organization and effort behind the scenes.


I have added this movie about the WASP to my netflix queque Fly Girls.

Museum website.


The play "The Fastest Woman Alive" adapted from the full-length version, written by Karen Sunde and published by Dramatic Publishing.

The Riverwalk

Start at the Blue Star Brewery, and walk along a quiet section of the riverwalk. You can also begin a bike route of the Mission Trail near here. Notice the drinking fountains for dogs. Enjoy the backs of the large, distinctive historic homes of the King William district.

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The McNay!

I feel happy after every visit. The gorgeous grounds, the beautiful artwork, the fascinating house and courtyard garden. Plus, I think every single time we're there we see a bride, or a girl in her quinceanera dress getting photos taken by the fountain.

Highlights include the outdoor sculptures and water features, and inside are stunning or subtle paintings, sculpture and other creations.

There are high-quality, well-presented traveling exhibits.

While you're there, be sure to check out the downstairs restrooms in the new wing. You'll see why when you get there.

More info here.

The Guenther House

The Guenther House has a very pleasant restaurant with good food and service, but the place and ambience get the most visiting points. Set in the home of the original owners of the Pioneer Flour Mill, the architectural details are what make the restored house a work of art. There's a dragon motif on the sconces and chandeliers in one conservatory-like room with tables. Look for pleasant leafy, or a sheaf of wheat stained glass. Gifts include many that are related to baking or flour. Take your pager and shop, or wander around looking at all the old touches.

The Historic Menger Hotel

A step back in time, in a good way!

Some rooms with balconies overlooking Alamo Plaza.

Gorgeous interior architectural touches.

A grand marble lobby.

An Irish pub imported piece-by-piece, where evidently Teddy Roosevelt met with the Rough Riders.

Lovely atrium with decorative metal banisters, stairs spiraling up four floors.

It's brochure uses the words, "sophisticated and tasteful" and I agree. Victorian decor looks right with modern renovations.

Original section built in 1859 right next to the Alamo (50 rooms). There are now 350 rooms.

I didn't realize until visiting that it actually connects to the Rivercenter Mall.

Oldest Grocery in San Antonio

Yesterday I was able to pop in and check out Maggot's Grocery, the city's first grocery store, established in 1883 by Theo and Pauline Magott. I met Larry Maggot (pictured) their grandson, who told me that not much has changed over the years. The size of the place is basically the same, there are old, old wooden floors and a low ceiling. The meat section was moved from one side of the back wall to another when they needed to put in drinks coolers in the 60's. I was able to find strawberry wafer cookies that I couldn't find recently elsewhere. The store is in the shadow of the Tower of the Americas, if you're standing across from it looking south. Even though the location has always been the same, the address number changed from #814 to #1314 Commerce after Hemisfair buildings were built in 1968. Larry told me that The Institute of Texan Cultures has a display featuring his grandparents, including information about how Theo contributed to the Polish language newspaper of his day.

Temple Beth-El

I find this building fascinating. A Jewish synagogue here in town, on West Ashby Street.

Also nearby is San Pedro Park. The second oldest park in the nation! There is a natural spring public swimming pool that is FREE!

Woodlawn Park Island & Lake

Woodlawn is such a great park! (Thanks K, for telling me about it!) There's a lake with a decorative lighthouse in the middle of it, which has a working light. If you stand on the west bank you'll see some of the largest buildings of San Antonio's skyline, including the Tower of the Americas, shooting up beyond the dramatic roofs of the Basilica of the Shrine of the Little Flower behind the trees in the foreground.

There's a nice, winding walking/jogging path around the perimeter of the park, on which we saw hundreds of joggers, walkers and baby strollers. There was a very active basketball game; people feeding ducks and geese off two short wooden piers; and two ice cream trucks serving goodies.

Neighbors were out in droves enjoying the "cooler" (90's instead of 100's) air, landscape and trees.

Botanic Garden

photo by Christopher Borchardt

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is great!  I like all the different themes.  This shot is from the Garden for the Blind, where everything can be touched - much from waist height - and is included specifically for it's scent and/or texture.  This photo is of a decorative sandcastle.  There was even a touch map of the garden.  They also have a rose garden, an Asian-themed garden and a children's (planted by small hands) vegetable garden.

www.sabot.org

Interesting Ceremony at Mission Espada

So on Memorial Day we were with some friends visiting Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada.  At Mission Espada, we pulled up just as some people were organizing for a ceremony with drums, incense and elaborate feathered costumes.  They gathered beside the parking lot and then walked together to the front of the main entrance of the Mission building, where they chanted and turned together in a prescribed pattern. Then at some point, a classically dressed monk walked by the group of what looked like some kind of Aztec-influenced Native Americans.  No, this wasn't a staged show at Disneyland.  It was Texas, U.S.A.  Sometimes in life, you just hush up and watch.

* photo by Dave Rogers

Shrine of the Little Flower

I happened on this place one day when I was searching for other stuff around town.  It's such an old-looking, European style building compared to it's surroundings (ordinary street with a modern school, convenience stores).  A lady who lives nearby told me that when the Pope comes to town, he comes here.  Is driven a special route from the airport.  I'll leave it to you to visit for yourself and see what's inside the main sanctuary.

San Anto Mural Project

I was curious about this when I first heard about it. Was finally able to join a tour last month along with a large group of Hispanic Studies students.

These are a series of murals on walls of businesses mostly, in an area on the West side of San Antonio. The idea of this non-profit organization is to decorate public spaces, plus give local young artists an outlet for creativity and expression. Plus I think to contribute to the public debate.

As well, we heard that at one store, the presence of the murals has prevented "tagging," which is gang members spray-painting their signs/initials on places around town.

Most of the murals done by this organization are the "narrative" type. I was expecting more Graffiti Art (you know, big, bright letters basically). Instead, their murals tell a story with images.

One project was actually a mosaic. Many pieces of glass were assembled off-site and then mounted onto the side of a house. This piece was very heavy and needed a crane to lift it.

Thank you to Ruth for taking us around with her megaphone.

www.sananto.org/mural-tours.html

Brackenridge Park

...is a jewel of San Antonio. It's such a great place. On weekends it's packed to overflowing with birthday parties. Every picnic table throughout the large park is staked out and decorated with balloons, streamers, colorful tablecloths and often a pinata. Parking can be an issue, so be ready to walk.

The river winding through is open for fishing and offers lots of variety, including lily pads, different breeds of ducks and walls for sitting along its banks. At one part cars can drive through a section of shallow water to cross to the other side.

The zoo is next door to the park section. Some birds are visible in trees overhanging the fence.

A golf course is here.

A bright red miniature train runs a two-mile course through the park.

There are baseball fields and open areas for soccer.

Miles of biking/walking paths run through.

A great playground is adjacent to a large stone pavilion with rows of picnic tables.

It's just very pretty, with lots of shade, trees, paths, the picturesque mini-train and sloping river banks. Lots of green.

* This bridge is just one of the faux bois (fake wood) creations all over town done by the Cortes family.  There is a bus stop on Broadway, a pavilion at Landa library, benches at La Cantera shopping center, among others.  I find them very fanciful structures.  They remind me of woodland fairy furniture.

McAllister Park

A San Antone green lung. You'd think you were in the country, except for sometimes the giant belly of a jet flying low overhead. The airport is adjacent to the acres set aside for the park.

Has extensive bike trails - paved and rough. Plenty of party pavilions and sports fields.

A highlight is the dog park. There's a small playground (with canine play equipment). The place is well-frequented and you might want to go watch the antics even if you don't have a pet. So many different breeds to see.

Tower of the Americas/Chart House Restaurant

We ate here for a special family dinner. Although it appears to be a very swanky restaurant and we did enjoy the quality of our food, there was actually a variety of priced items to choose from on the menu, as well as a variety of levels of dress among the clientele. We wore middle-of-the-road clothes and saw both tourists, in shorts and t-shirts, and young couples in cocktail dresses and jackets. A few tables had large bouquets of roses which can be ordered when you make a reservation, to be delivered during the meal. We made reservations, but I saw a few people walk-in. This was in January.

The whole experience was much more fun than I thought it would be. The entire restaurant rotates around about once an hour. I've been up in tall buildings to look at cities before, and really am not that interested after a short while. The difference for me here, was that you can sit and have the view present itself slowly in a circle, plus eat and talk while looking out the windows. Also, there were Christmas lights at the time we were there, and we were there right at sundown, so were able to see the city view during daylight and at night, and watch the sky change.

There is not much room to walk around the tables, so I think it's a challenging job for the waiters. You do feel a little off-balance walking, after the moving meal.

This is "our tower."  San Antonio's skyline is enhanced by this structure, which was built for the World's Fair in 1968.

San Antonio Swing Dance Society

A friend told me about this organization. I haven't checked it out in person.

It sounds like they have a lot of fun. Teaching different dances around town and meeting to socialize and do the Lindy Hop or the Charleston and other swing dances at rotating locales.

See the website for more information.

Carver Community Cultural Center

I watched a performance of the Garth Fagan dance troupe here. It was incredible.

From what I can tell, they book great acts.

www.thecarver.org

Southtown

Southtown is a group of artists.

Artists tend to group together for inspiration. The fact is, human beings draw creativity from one another – the mysterious process of being known and being in a community leads to ideas and the expression of those. Observations about life, which is a lot of what art is, cannot really be experienced in isolation.

Check out this area of town next to the King William district.

There are some good restaurants around there (Rosario's - Tex Mex).

The group of shops and galleries along South Alamo Street and North Saint Mary’s represent a nice cross-section of San Antonio's mediums and styles.

The feel of the place is a mix of young and trendy, with fun and creative.

It has a lot of rough, colorful character in its buildings.

www.southtown.net

Guadalupe State Park

Felt like we were in the land of Narnia. These big, bleached grey trees were down at the edge of the (low water) river. They had tangled roots above ground and wind-woven branches.

The river was clear, green, wide.

It was very quiet the day we went and we heard rippling water, screechy birds, crunchy leaves, sausages sizzling, and the bang of kids' feet on a slide.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Even if you’re not generally into amusement parks, there is fun to be had at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

To begin with it's built into an interesting location in a former quarry. Stripped rock walls surround the blue, or red metal spirals of The Rattler and Tony Hawk’s Big Spin.

Tweens and teens have voted their favorite ride The Superman, because of its twists, turns and hills.

The Goliath is fun and scary in a good way, for those with older necks and backs. It spins and dips but is also smooth.

In the Boardwalk section, The Frisbee spins and swings almost upside down. It is much more fun than you’d think to look at it.

One might want to sit underneath The Scream and watch people’s faces. The ride teases people with fear.

It goes half-way up, then plummets back down . Then zooms all the way back up to pause for an extra few moments at the very top, before plunging all the way to the ground again.

Shocked, screaming, big-eyed expressions, turn into huge smiles as people unbuckle at the bottom.

During off-season you’ll find shorter lines. There are places to cool off and take a break. Six Flags is a good opportunity to literally hang out together, your feet dangling.

There are decorated plastic bottles for sale on site for $13, and these can be re-filled for $1 with your choice of drink throughout the season.

Although this is a higher cost outing, a good thing is that there’s no long drive. San Antonio is this close to thrill rides.

There are also concerts held throughout the year.

www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas