Things to Do in San Antonio

Judo is one of the grappling arts, which means that it has no strikes and uses no weapons, unlike karate or tae kwon do. Judo was developed in 1882 by Jigoro Kano as a comprehensive method of physical education, and it continues to provide exercise, entertainment, and self-defense knowledge today. For fun or competition, Universal Judo provides instruction and enjoyment to practitioners of all skill levels and ages. Call ahead to schedule your first visit.

Before rushing into full-fledged competition, players at Oak Hills Lanes hone their craft with pay-as-you-go practice shots. By detecting which pins need to topple, pinsetters enable patrons to score tricky spares as they rehearse for real games or when they must knock down a neighbor's tacky lawn ornaments. Once they've warmed their throwing arms, they face off against comrades during open hours. In addition to bites such as pizza and burgers, the snack bar's cooks sling tacos, enchiladas, and even pancakes. Such noshes fuel bowlers of all ages and skill levels at various fall leagues, but soda and ice cream serve as the main power source during all-inclusive parties.

The kiln-savvy teachers at Cibolo Creek Pottery show students how to fuse colored glass, use a throwing wheel, or hand-build ceramic structures. Pottery classes build on fundamental skills, such as using glaze, wielding appropriate tools, and shaping clay into functional toupees. During scheduled classes, pupils can customize their painted clay or glass creations to yield eye-catching decorations such as those in the online gallery.

The skilled staff members at Taichi Wellness Spa Plus draw on Eastern practices and philosophies to guide their clients on the path toward wellness. Reflecting the holistic nature of this approach, the spa’s services soothe body, soul, and mind, a trio more interdependent than Burt Reynolds, his moustache, and his moustache’s modeling career. The spa’s skilled therapists ease aches while calming minds with acupressure and reflexology massages. Skincare specialists cater to both weary complexions and tense nerves with custom facials that incorporate ingredients such as honey hydrators and vitamin C.

The spa delves further into Eastern treatments with cupping and detoxifying Gua Sha oil, and its Chinese herbal soups and teas blur the line between food and medicine with their nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The meditative martial arts taught at the spa’s tai-chi center has also passed from generation to generation. Under the guidance of Master Li, students in the center’s tai-chi and Qi Gong classes develop the balance and coordination needed to pickpocket a tightrope walker.

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center began weaving itself into the fabric of San Antonio’s arts and theater scene more than three decades ago to share the richness of Chicano, Latino, and Native American art forms. Now a cornerstone of the community, the nonprofit touches the lives of more than 100,000 people each year with theater and dance performances, cultural festivals, and creative classes. The center passes down traditional forms of expression, such as Mexican Folklórico dance and cactus juggling while also embracing contemporary art forms such as photography.

Each year, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s festivals welcome large crowds of adults, kids, and multiple Waldos. Foremost among them are CineFestival, the Tejano Conjunto music festival, and Hecho A Mano, a holiday crafts and arts festival. For its members, the center organizes a wealth of educational programming, teaching everything from oil painting and guitar to karate.