Shirley's San Antonio Real Estate Blog: October 2008

DYNAMOZE INDOOR PLAY CENTER   

Whether you are looking for a good place for a kid's birthday party or just looking for a new place to take the kids for fun and play time, check out Dynamoze Indoor Play Center in the 281/Brookhollow area.

For Kids

•     Fun activities for children aged 0 through elementary.

•     A large soft play area with lots of soft play activities, a toddler inflatable activity, numerous pretend     play areas and developmental toys.

•     For the older kids, monster trikes, inflatable obstacle course, remote controlled vehicles, foosball tables and air hockey table.

•    Toys that help to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

•    Pretend play areas that help children to play interactively.

•    Activities that allow children to exercise.

•    An open floor plan that allows parents to easily keep visual contact with their children at all times. There is lots of seating available and there are also plenty of activities that parents can enjoy together with their children.

For adults

•   Comfortable leather, swivel chairs

•   Massage chairs

•   WiFi internet access

•   Current magazines

Location: 15032 San Pedro (Brookhollow shopping center)

Hours: Open play 10-7 p.m. (Mon thru Fri), Saturday & Sunday is reserved for parties only!

Admission prices: 1st child $10, sibling $6, for each additional $2. For more information and prices on a season pass discount, click on their website. 

Contact: 210-902-8679   http://www.dynamoze.com

OCTOBERFEST FREDERICKSBURG came and went this past week-end but unfortunately we were too busy to make it to this fun event. The festival celebrates the Hill Country's heritage with German and Mexican style food and beverages, polka and waltz contests, music on three stages and a kinderpark reserved for children. More than 45 artisans from across the state marketed their arts and collectibles in addition to the showcases of Hill Country artisans. I am sorry to have missed this event but there are other events of interest coming up here in San Antonio in the month of October for all to enjoy, especially if you are a fan of music.

LOS LONELY BOYS are returning to San Antonio to rock out at the Majestic Theatre October 29th at 8 p.m.  Admission prices are $35, $40, $47.  Contact:  www.loslonelyboys.com .

NEIL DIAMOND has included San Antonio on his North American tour.  Catch his performance at the AT&T Center on October 12th at 8: p.m.  Contact:  www.neildiamond.com or for admission ticket information:  http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0C004089DC616D73?artistid=734917&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL  Enjoy this musical for all ages featuring the characters of Dr. Seuss, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville on October 11 at The Magic Theatre, 420 South Alamo at 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Tuesday - Friday, and 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  

Admission: Adults - $10
Children (3-17 years) - $8
Senior/Military/Student - $9
Lap Child (Any child under 3 years of age) - $2

Contact:  210-227-2751, www.magiktheatre.org

The popular Texas Renaissance Festival opens in October 11 and runs through November 30. This acclaimed renaissance themed park is located north of Houston, an easy trip from San Antonio.

Part of this year's Renaissance Festival is their eight themed weekends. Themes include Oktoberfest, 1001 Dreams, Pirate Adventures, All Hallows Eve, Highland Fling, Barbarian Invasion and Celtic Christmas.

Besides the themed weekends, the Texas Renaissance Festival features over 200 daily performances, 300 arts and crafts shops, 60 food and beverage shops, nightly fireworks and more than 3,000 costumed characters strolling the grounds.

I took my kids and one of my nephews to the Renaissance Festival when they were in their young teens and we all have a lot of fun.  Don't miss an opportunity to attend this unique, eight-week theme park this year.

While sitting in my doctor's waiting room yesterday I picked up a magazine, Scene in S. A., and started casually flipping through it.  While scanning "News From the Restaurant Scene" the name of one of our neighbors caught my eye:  "Phillipe Place, of Las Canarias fame, has opened a haven for chocolate lovers at 18402 U.S. 281 N. at Loop 1604.  Coco Chocolate Lounge and Bistro features chocolate martinis, chocolate desserts and even a few savory chocolate goodies.  Visit sa-coco.com, or call 491-4480 for all the yummy details".

Phillipe, a native of France, his lovely Texas wife - a San Antonio native, and their two darling toddlers are our neighbors.  They only live a couple of doors down so I was surprised that I didn't know about this, especially since this new restaurant caught our eye when we drove by it recently.  My other half is the more gregarious one in our marriage and is energized by meeting and talking with lots of people so I am surprised that he didn't know about it, either.  On the other hand, I have been experiencing a glitch lately, having had a much dreaded MRI last week and a procedure performed in the hospital 2 days ago.  I will be starting physical therapy this week.  Honestly, when you are in a lot of pain you don't feel much like socializing.

This restaurant is at the very top of my list now.  It is in my 'hood where I live, work, play, and worship and I will be telling everyone about Phillipe's new restaurant.  Here is another article from the same magazine that was in the "Scene & Heard" section:

"COCO's Chocolate Bistro  Stone Oak is booming and every other day it seems another restaurant or bar is opening in some shopping center with little or no fanfare.  Tucked away in the shopping center off 281 and 1604 Lies COCO Chocolate Lounge & Bistro, a modern French bistro.  This cafe is decorated with chocolate colored couches with accents of royal red and gold.  Red chandeliers hang from the ceiling giving off a beautiful light.  When you walk in, they offer martinis.  COCO's signature martini is made of Triple Chocolate Ice Cream, Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and Bailey's Ice Cream!  Some martinis are delightfully called liquid desserts like the Strawberry Lemon Tart made of Strawberry Lemon Tart made of strawberry sorbet, limoncello and Smirnoff citrus! Yum!  Of course, the dessert list is out of this world with features such as the Grand Marnier Flambeed Chocolate Fondue served with brioche, churros and a fresh fruit assortment.  Of course, they do have a regular menu that doesn't include chocolate that was created by Chef Perdreau Cuellar, formerly of Silo.  The house champagne is Piper Heidsieck served in an old-fashion champagne glass and poured over pomegranate ice cubes.  This place really takes it up a notch when it comes to creating a special place to hang out!"

Give COCOs a try and let me know what you think.  Tell Phillipe I sent you.  Maybe I will see you there! 

Sonterra is a series of popular subdivisions in what is referred to as the North Central Corridor of San Antonio between Loop 1604 to the south and the subdivision of Stone Oak to the north

 
The Club At Sonterra is a private golf and tennis country club. To become a member, you must be nominated and sponsored by a current member of the club.

The Club At Sonterra offers a beautiful golf course, tennis courts, informal and formal dining facilities, swimming pool, state-of-the art fitness center, Kids Club playground, car wash services, etc. They also offer a book club, bridge club, singles club, moms club and other social clubs for their members with similar interests and hobbies.

For more information go to their website, ClubAtSonterra.com or call (210) 483-4292.

Sonterra Homes:
The subdivisions are gated and most of the homes in Sonterra have floorplans with 3 or more bedrooms and 2 or more bathrooms.

Some of the bigger subdivisions include the Oaks of Sonterra, Fairways of Sonterra, the Club of Sonterra, the Villas at Sonterra and the Vistas of Sonterra.

At the "lower end", homes may be in the $200,000 range. Higher end homes may be well over $1,000,000. Of course, these are the largest homes with city views, golf course views and lots of extras and ugrades.

*Sonterra area homes listed on MLS as of today range from $197,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with 2980 square feet to $1,300,000 for a 4 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 3 car garage home with 5520 square feet.

Sonterra Homeowner's Association:
Because Sonterra is located in a high-end neighborhood, the Homeowner's Association that is jointly run with Stone Oak in order to provide upkeep to all public areas including pools, the flying of the flags and to tend to area landscaping of public grounds.

The Sonterra/Stone Oak POA is located at 19210 Huebner Road, Suite 102.  You will need written permission if you plan on making any changes to your landscaping or exterior of your house.  Contact their office for information on POA/HOA fees or ask your Realtor for this information.

Sonterra Schools:
Sonterra is located in the Northeast Independent School District ,with schools that are recognized for their excellence.   In addition to public schools there are private schools located in the area, including Buckner Fanning Christian School at 975 Mission Springs, 78258.

Here is an easy and affordable way to see the most popular attractions in San Antonio.  It is called "San Antonio & Beyond:  A Prepaid Pass to Attractions and Museums."  The pass is offered at a discounted price and you can choose from three bundled packages. 

• The Downtown Pass includes entry to family friendly destinations downtown.

• The Museum Pass features many popular cultural and historic destinations. 

• The Super San Antonio Pass offers the deepest discounts and packages all participating attractions. 

The San Antonio Tourism Council developed and coordinates the San Antonio & Beyond passes and seeks to offer more full travel itineraries.  The pass gives the tourism council an opportunity to learn more about visitors to our city, learn about attractions that are popular, and receive feedback from visitors about what attractions and sites they would like to have included in the pass package.  The goal is to provide more service and facilitate the travel experience everyone.

For more information, contact the San Antonio Tourism Council at 210-886-9991.

Passes are available online at www.SanAntonioAttractions.com , and at the San Antonio CVB Visitor Information Center, 317 Alamo Plaza.  The pass is activated the first time you use it and is valid for seven consecutive days from time of activation. You may visit as many attractions as you like, but are limited to one visit per attraction per pass.  Children's passes are available for kids under the age of eleven.

You don't have to be a visitor to take advantage of the program!  San Antonio residents can buy them as well and is a great way to see those local places you have been procrastinating getting out to see.

If you don't have plans for the week-end the San Antonio Botanical Gardens has a pretty unique exhibit; entertainment the entire family will enjoy.  You may want to check it out.

Were you lucky enough to have a treehouse when you were growing up?  Or did your parents not allow you to have one?  Now through December 7, you can see nine original treehouses displayed at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens in a wonderfully creative exhibit for all ages called "Terrific Treehouses." Many of the treehouses feature recycled and sustainable materials. 

The display came into being when local designers were invited submit a prototype of their creation to the "Terrific Treehouse" contest last spring. A panel of nine judges--an architect, a parent, a student, a Botanical Society board member, a community representative, a marketing expert and members of the Garden staff--chose the winning entries. Each of the winning design teams received a stipend to construct their treehouses.

Each treehouse is uniquely designed, including "a magic rocket ship designed by a seven-year old, an inspirational feng shui garden, a whimsical flower fort, a bamboo pavilion with movable walls, a pinwheel wind catcher, a recycled and re born retreat, a humming Aeolian harp, a Greek sandbox and a treehouse illuminated by LED lights powered by solar panels." Wow, this is a varied and creative range.  Wonder what I would have come up with?  Nothing this good I am sure.

Terrific Treehouses is presented by collaboration of the San Antonio Botanical Society with the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) San Antonio and with the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department.  The Botanical Garden is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day and is located at 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels. The Bistro restaurant is located inside the historic Carriage House at the Garden and serves excellent lunches Tuesday through Friday and brunch on weekends. For more information, call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org .

You and your kids will enjoy this exhibit and you may even feel like a kid again when you see these wonderful tree houses.