Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/12999
parades and concerts held throughout the city. On my third day, I explored the La Villita Historical Arts Village, an original settlement, now home to artists, craftsmen, shops and restau- rants. A 1930s WPA Project, the scenic area is adjacent to the River Walk and was built to bring more economy into the city. With its 28 shops and three restaurants, the village’s beau- tiful plazas and historic buildings are ideal venues for private parties or themed events accommodating up to 20,000 people. be debated, it remains a symbol of a historic struggle against all odds. It also is the site where legends Jim Bowie and David Crockett lost their lives. I decided to check out the northern part of the city and visited the historic Pearl Brewery, which produced beer in San Antonio up until 2000. Today, the sprawling grounds have been transformed into a culinary and cul- tural gathering place, adjacent to the flowing San Antonio River. If planning an event, The Pearl Stable, a soaring 5,500-sq. ft. central space ringed by an 800-sq. ft. mezzanine, provides ample room for up to 500 guests. My tour guide told me a lavish window that featured singer Al Green as the entertainment, culminating with the bride and groom leaving in a heli- copter The complex features The Pearl Studio, Cibolo Moon Restaurant My next stop was a visit to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, a state-of-the art facility voted “Best Convention Center in the Industry” by Meeting South Magazine. Within walking distance of histor- ical attractions and surrounded by waterfalls, reflecting pools and public art, the facility has more than 630,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; more than 438,000 contiguous sq. ft. of exhibit space; three ballrooms, including a 40,000-sq. ft. grand ballroom; 63 breakout rooms; and the 2,500-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre, currently under renovation. For lunch, I dined at the Grand Hyatt’s Achiote River Café, which bills itself as a “pan Latino” restaurant and which serves tasty sabores from south of the border. The cafe reflects the hotel’s blend of modernism and Latin culture and is in a river-level set- ting. The hotel has 1,003 stylish guestrooms and suites and over 115,000 sq. ft. of func- tion space. No trip to San Antonio is complete with- out a visit to The Alamo, and on my third day, I explored the rich history of that land- mark site. Built in 1724, the site originally was home to missionaries and their Indian converts for 70 years, before playing a critical role in the Texas revolu- tion. While the facts surrounding the events there continue to Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Sogno restaurant, offering authentic Italian fare found in the trattorias and osterias of Rome and Florence. For more information on San Antonio, visit www.visit-sanantonio.com. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 45 soon to be a LEED Certified Building, offer- ing engineered acoustics, state-of-the-art sound, wireless communication and web- casting capabilities. Nearby is the weekly Pearl Farmer’s Market, which offers pictur- esque fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. If visiting, stop by Al’s Gourmet Nuts, where CEO Margaret W. Anaglia will be happy to let you sample a variety of tasty pecans, almonds, etc. If hungry, check out the Texas Farm to Table Café, or partake of world-class Chef Andrew Weissman’s iL