Texas Monthly Preface Insult to SA, then Good Article (San Antonio: shop, company)

[tops]

I don't think comparisons to other cities is going to get us very far, whether that leaves you thinking we "way cooler" or "way lamer" than others. I love our town because of its history and the people that built the buildings and made the food and started the traditions that we hold so dear. If we look back 50 years from now, as we do with the riverwalk today, will we admire The Rim?

[cooter1869]

Originally Posted by tops

I don't think comparisons to other cities is going to get us very far, whether that leaves you thinking we "way cooler" or "way lamer" than others. I love our town because of its history and the people that built the buildings and made the food and started the traditions that we hold so dear. If we look back 50 years from now, as we do with the riverwalk today, will we admire The Rim?

Very interesting point. Same goes for La Cantera and The Quarry for that matter! And who can forget about the boots at North Star Mall...

[CelesteDF]

Originally Posted by tops

I don't think comparisons to other cities is going to get us very far, whether that leaves you thinking we "way cooler" or "way lamer" than others. I love our town because of its history and the people that built the buildings and made the food and started the traditions that we hold so dear. If we look back 50 years from now, as we do with the riverwalk today, will we admire The Rim?

Originally Posted by cooter1869

Very interesting point. Same goes for La Cantera and The Quarry for that matter! And who can forget about the boots at North Star Mall...

Cooter: I'm not sure I understand your point. From my perspective, the North Star boots (not the mall, just the boots!) are iconic - something uniquely identified with San Antonio that has had and will continue to have significance throughout the years... similar to the Riverwalk. On the other hand, I believe tops point was that 50 years from now no one is going to look at The Rim, The Quarry or La Cantera as anything more than run-of-the mill shopping centers with little historic or sentimental value. In fact, it's quite likely that those shopping centers will be remodeled or repurposed (a la Central Park and Windsor Park).

IMHO - we should value what's unique and timeless and truly beautiful about San Antonio, rather than glorifying the latest concrete homage to homogenized consumerism. (oops, I think I walked out the door in my tie-dye and birkenstocks today )

[hello13685]

When considering the number of "visitors" to San Antonio, one should note that a huge number of these are conference attendees who are FORCED to come here on business. It's not like they are true tourists. I wonder if the article's authors made the distinction between tourists and business travelers, who comprise the bulk of Riverwalk activity from what I've witnessed.

[Insomniac]

Originally Posted by hello13685

When considering the number of "visitors" to San Antonio, one should note that a huge number of these are conference attendees who are FORCED to come here on business. It's not like they are true tourists. I wonder if the article's authors made the distinction between tourists and business travelers, who comprise the bulk of Riverwalk activity from what I've witnessed.

Forced to come here? Most get a vote on where they want to have their conferences. San Antonio is a very appealing city to visitors and has something like a mid 90's% return rate for visitors.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by hello13685

When considering the number of "visitors" to San Antonio, one should note that a huge number of these are conference attendees who are FORCED to come here on business. It's not like they are true tourists. I wonder if the article's authors made the distinction between tourists and business travelers, who comprise the bulk of Riverwalk activity from what I've witnessed.

I think this would apply for all cities. When you consider all the major sporting events, S.A. holds, like the Final Four, time and time again. You seem to get the picture that it is a well liked place.

[hello13685]

I do know that tons of associations have their conferences in SA and that attendees have a very good experience.

[imaterry78259]

San Antonio overall is steps above Austin, how bias can one magazine gets. Austinites must be very jealous of San Antonio because they never say anything god about the city while the reverse is true for San Antonians

[sinsativ]

Its funny, I read that article, it was all in the past tense, it said SA used to be like that, its not anymore. I read it that we are growing, we are doing more as a boomtown.

[miche111e]

Originally Posted by tops

They got it right. While yes the trend has always been towards two San Antonios, it has quickened recently to the point where we're becoming one of those "boom towns" along with all of their traffic, commute distances, and lack of identity. Furthermore, the mass construction on the far northside is destroying the identity of the hill country. It's one thing to want to live outside a dense city and be surrounded by nature, it's another to clear a hill side, pave it all, give it a earthy name like Stone Oak, and spend the majority of your free time staring at the back of someone's bumper on your way to happy hour at Applebee's.

By no means do I think it's too late to save what we have, as the inner barrios are fixing up and filling in, but I am constantly wondering if progress is the right term for the 281/1604 interchange.

I have to agree with this. Although I am from central Texas, I've spent much time in SA and have noticed the huge growth (both there and everywhere, unfortunately). I am so tired of be green this, and be green that...if you want to BE GREEN -- RECYCLE homes and neighborhoods and quit building new homes and strip malls!