ARW

This past week and this week were the two famous Austin Restaurant Weeks here in town. ARW goes on from Sunday-Wednesday of two weeks during the year in which notable restaurants throughout Austin present sampler three-course menus for either $15, $25 or $35. Its an amazing deal and allows residents around Austin to try restaurants they may not otherwise be able to.

Although it proves pretty difficult to find a week night to go out to dinner for students, we were able to make time last night to venture over to Ruth Chris. Although I've been here a million times with my parents, I rarely the the chance to go to a nice meal without them, especially since my boyfriend lives in a different city. Ruth Chris was a nice change, and although the portions on the restaurant week menu are much smaller, and my mashed potatoes were literally swimming in butter, the steak was incredible.

Last week, we went to a restaurant none of us had ever been to - NoRTH in the domain. It was absolutely incredible...we all got different appetizers to share, all different entrees and all different desserts. I highly recommend it. Some other restaurants I would recommend giving a try during ARW are Uchi, Uchiko, Cippolina, III Forks, Sullivan's and Ranch 616. I also really wish that Eddie V's would join in on the fun, as well as Perla's.

If you haven't visited the website and checked out the menus, I highly suggest you do just that.

J Public Relations

On Monday I received the wonderful news that I got a job this summer with J Public Relations - a San Diego based boutique PR firm with an office in New York (where I will be working starting on May 18).

I'm so excited not only to be moving to the big city this summer, but also to be working for such a wonderful company. JPR specializes in travel and hospitality public relations with clients such as the Fairmont Hotel in Whistler, Canada, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Nobu. With excellent media relations and savvy social media, JPR is really on top of the innovation game in the world of boutique public relations.

I've been to New York plenty of times over the years, but I've never experienced it the way that I will this summer and I'm thrilled to find out what it's going to be like taking the subway to work every day, living in a studio apartment and going out on the down.

Fiesta continued

Another photo of one of the Duchess' dresses from the week...

On Thursday, the San Antonio German club throws a party for all of the Duchesses, their friends and their families. The German is a festive party that used to be held at the San Jose Mission in San Antonio, but now has been moved to the San Antonio Museum of Art on the San Antonio River Walk.

Friday brings the most fun of all of the days. Local schools have a holiday for the Battle of Flowers Day Parade down the main streets of downtown San Antonio. Not only to all of the local schools participate in the parade, but so do all of the Texas Cavaliers, the Duchesses, the Queen and Princess and other local organizations. The whole city comes together for this festive event.

As all of the duchesses pass by, the crowd yells "Show us your shoes" and the girls raise their long dresses to show the original shoes that they have chosen to wear for the parade. Most wear cowboy boots or some other shoes that have some meaning to them.

Friday night after everyone leaves the parade parties and gets freshened up, the Princess and Queen host a party known as the Garden Party. This year the Garden Party was hosted at Red Berry Mansion, an old estate near down town San Antonio.

Saturday night is the last night of Fiesta and its ends with another parade and the Queen's Ball - a black tie event that lasts from 7:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. at the Menger Hotel, a local San Antonio legend. During the Queens Ball, each duchess reserves a hotel room and decorates the balcony with their name and the inside however they please. They then invite all of their friends and family up to the rooms to watch from the balcony as they have a "mini coronation" - their dad walks them around the pool in their train and dress so that everyone can see from the hotel rooms. Its a really special event for both the attendees and the duchesses. Afterwards, the party lasts until the wee hours of the morning and at dawn everyone walks over to the Alamo which is across the street for photos.

The next day is Fiesta Ultimo, one last party that ends the week with a bang.

Fiesta is truly one of the most exciting times of the year for San Antonio, and I can't wait to be a part of it next year.

Viva Fiesta

This past week was an extremely fun and exciting time for my hometown of San Antonio. During the month of April, San Antonio holds a week-long party called Fiesta. Although its proves very hard to explain every time someone asks me about it, I'll give it a try. And although everyone's Fiesta experience is likely very different, I will describe what my family and I participate in throughout the week.

The official beginning of Fiesta this year was on Saturday, April 9 with the King's Ball. Fiesta began much earlier than usual this year due to the fact that Easter was so late. The King's Ball is a black tie event, hosted by the King of the Texas Cavaliers - a group of San Antonio men who have joined together in order to give back to the city. Each year, a new King is selected (King Antonio) and the King, along with the rest of the cavaliers, not only host parties and parades, but visit local elementary schools to talk to the children about the tradition of Fiesta.

On Sunday night, the Fiesta Fireworks take place. All of our friends and their families gather at San Antonio Country Club or another venue to watch the fireworks and participate in fun Fiesta activities.

Monday night begins the real fun with the Texas Cavaliers River Parade on the San Antonio River Walk. Each river barge is decorated with a different theme, honoring different groups and organizations and beads and medals are thrown to the excited crowds. Each year, we sit at the La Villita Arneson River Theater to have cocktails and watch all of the unique floats pass by.

Tuesday is the Town Club Party - an event that I have never been to, but is sure to promise a good time.

Wednesday is the most spectacular event of the week - the Coronation. During this event, all of the new duchesses of the Order of the Alamo are presented and the new Queen and Princess are crowned.

Each girl's dress weighs over 50 lbs. and is decorated to fit a certain theme such as the Ottoman Empire. This years entire court theme was the Court of Timeless Treasures.

more to come later....