San Antonio's Rockstar Turned Realtor®

Video released.

Now that Takara and her calf have had some time to rest, it looks like they're ready to enjoy their time at Sea World San Antonio.  Like most animals bonding with their mothers, the new calf has a lot to learn and it looks like Takara is ready for the task.  I can't wait to get over to San Antonio and see the latest addition to Sea World.

To the new calf: I welcome you to San Antonio and hope you have a wonderful time in our city.  Although you won't be able to stroll the Riverwalk (and if you could it would be kind of freaky), we've got a great city full of fun - and you're now part of it!

photo courtesy of jeku arce

Sea World San Antonio has a new Shamu.

Look out Shamu, you've got competition!  Sea World San Antonio announced the birth of a new killer whale calf by Takara, an 18 year old Orca.  My wife can't get enough of Sea World (map), but I have yet to visit (for some reason, I've been out of town every time we've had visitors that she went there with), but with an announcement like this, I feel a certain pride in San Antonio and the Sea World staff.  Breeding any large animal in captivity is typically not an easy feat, but Sea World has been rather successful in their efforts with killer whales, which are truly magnificent to watch (I've seen them in San Diego).  Amazing intelligence, agility, and understanding of their surroundings, it should be interesting to watch the new calf grow up through the years.

Brasserie Pavil in San Antonio, Texas

Everyone loves French Fries.  Brasserie Pavil is so French, they even call them Frites.  San Antonio's first true French-style Brasserie is taking over Twitter.  Ask any social media user in San Antonio for a list of the hottest spots for food and drink and you'll hear the name Brasserie Pavil at the top of the list.

I was introduced to the restaurant through the social circles of Twitter and loved what they were doing long before I entered their building.  Brasserie Pavil tweets daily specials, what's fresh today (especially with their oysters and fish), and let's you know what's going on in the restaurant.  If you follow them, you'll find yourself hungry every day until you finally break down and try it out.

My day at Brasserie Pavil.

I had an out of town client who came in for the weekend to see their new home.  We met with the listing agent and took a tour of the house.  Afterward, we decided to have a bite to eat and enjoy our successful transaction.

The group decided to split some oysters on the half shell (each day Brasserie Pavil tweets each day's oyster selection) and ordered some sandwiches.  Mine was a smoked turkey, ham, sopressata, and Gruyere cheese baguette with herb mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.  Absolute heaven.  There is nothing in that sandwich that I don't like.  It was made for me.  We also had some Frites which were delicious.  Thin, crispy, and perfectly salted.  Being a fan of French cooking I look forward to returning for dinner with my wife some day.

I didn't try any of their beer selection, but I've heard they have a nice range and a knowledgeable staff.  I will have to try that next time I get back there.  Being a French Brasserie, you can count on them to have an incredible wine list as well.  The best part?  Their lunch menu isn't all that expensive for the quality you receive.  Try them out and don't forget to follow Brasserie Pavil (@BrasseriePavil) on Twitter.

Brasserie Pavil is located at 1818 N. Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, Texas 78248 (map) on the corner of Huebner and 1604. 

You can call them at (210) 479-5000.

Welcome home to Stillwater Ranch.

If you're thinking of building a new green home in Northwest San Antonio, Stillwater Ranch and Imagine Homes may be the perfect place for you.  Imagine being only 2 miles from Loop 1604 (map), but feeling more like you're living in the Hill Country.  A serene setting with open spaces, a community lake, and wooded areas all around you.  Imagine Homes (along with Wall Homes and New Leaf Homes) have started building in this master planned community and once you've seen it, you'll start imagining yourself living there too.

Imagine Homes has already been recognized for it's use of green technology here in San Antonio, but have you ever experienced the difference their homes make?  Using tankless water heaters, low-e double pane windows, native Texas drought tolerant landscaping, Demilec spray foam insulation, and many other features, Imagine Homes is able to build a home that not only will save you money on your electric bills, but will also help you be a responsible steward in our community.    You won't believe how cool your attic can be until you've seen the model home (a Lilac floor plan) in Stillwater Ranch.

Of course, like any great neighborhood, Stillwater Ranch has a fantastic amenity center.  Pool, tennis courts, playground, and basketball court all combine to make this a recreation paradise.  Prefer to do some walking?  Hiking trails through out the development will continue to expand as the community grows giving you safe walking paths through the entire neighborhood.

Still in the early stages of development, you can choose your lot and build a new home to match your needs and desires.  If you've never seen Imagine Homes list of standard options, you'll be amazed at how much they offer you without adding extra to your cost.  Of course, if you want to upgrade or change, they are more than willing to work with you in making it happen.

If you'd like to take a personal tour of the model homes and available lots at Stillwater Ranch in San Antonio 78254, give me a call at (210) 240-6222 or visit my website for more contact info.

If you're looking for a purchase without going through the "build a new home" process, search for available inventory homes at Stillwater Ranch at RErockstar.com or use the handy search widget below:

Want more photos of land, new homes being built, and the area around Stillwater Ranch in San Antonio?

image courtesy of Google Maps

Methodist Stone Oak Hospital is open for business.

Its been 19 years since the last full-service hospital opened in San Antonio.  With the entrance of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital into San Antonio's medical system, a new choice has been opened to residents of the ever growing population of the Stone Oak area.  With 87 private rooms and a focus on outpatient services, Methodist Stone Oak Hospital is prepared to take on 20,000 emergency cases in its first year and is prepared to handle up to 75,000.  Because of the ever expanding nature of Stone Oak, planners kept growth in mind and the hospital can be expanded up to 350 inpatient beds.  Now that there is a full-service hospital in the Stone Oak area, expect to see more medical facilities pop up in the area.

For more information of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, visit them online at www.stoneoakhealth.com or call them at (210) 638-2000.

Today was a gorgeous San Antonio afternoon.

As I was driving to my listing at 815 Park Point, I had the windows down and was having one of those "perfect day for a drive" days.  When I pulled up to the house, the birds were chirping (they're very active right now) and I could buds on many trees and shrubs.  This is what March in San Antonio is all about.  Perfect weather and a great feeling.

This morning was a bit different.

Just as I woke up this morning and went out to have my usual coffee on the deck with my cat (did I mention we adopted a new stray?), the wind started to whip up out of nowhere and blow cold air through my yard.  Then I started seeing flashes of light off in the distance.  I just figured the neighbors were taking secret surveillance photos of me, but it turned out it was lighting.  A storm was on its way.  By the time my wife and I hit the road, the rain had begun.  Nice big drops of it pelting our car as we headed down the 410.  After dropping her off and watching her dart in Guido Brothers Construction (where she works), I went off on my usual path to work and stopped at my favorite Valero for my millionth cup of coffee.  As I got out of the car, I was able to snap this photo as the storm started to break.

All I saw was rain on my way in and it was relatively short-lived.

When I got to my office, I went inside and said hello to our receptionist, Rhonda as I do every day and set up my computer.  I went and checked my mailbox and did the usual things you do in the morning.  After getting settled in, I usually go read through my Blackberry email outside, just to get a bit of fresh air.  Guess what I spotted about 30 minutes after the storm had disappeared?

Hail has always fascinated me and if you ever want a great explanation, just watch Steve Browne on KSAT 12 News.

I love living in San Antonio - maybe I should have been a weatherman?

Two days ago, I captured this photo.

I was out getting my haircut (long overdue) and it had been cloudy all day.  When I came out of the shop with my shiny new haircut, the clouds had turned dark and gave off that ominous, foreboding look as if it were about to erupt into a thunderstorm.  It never did.  The forecast wasn't calling for rain, just a build in of humidity from the Gulf of Mexico and a perfect match of jet stream conditions and a cold front from Canada to make the recipe for rain.  Its about time.  We've been entrenched in a drought for far too long.  As you may remember from my previous post on San Antonio's drought, we've been stuck in a rut that seems like it will never end.  Well, my friends - the end is neigh.

The drought won't end, but we'll be better off than yesterday.

The mighty Steve Browne of KSAT News has said this won't be a drought buster and anyone that has been living here in San Antonio would probably agree.  No matter what, its a welcome relief from the constant high pressure cycle we've been in (and as Steve Browne reminds us, "High means dry.").  The biggest concern now is what will happen as the rains come in.  With all this dry land and the oak leaves beginning to fall, you can expect flooding and the usual mess associated with.  As we love to say in Texas, "Turn around, don't drown."  Be careful at low water crossings and if you're in an area prone to flooding - keep your eyes on the rain.  In the meantime, try to stay warm and enjoy the forgotten sight of water falling from the sky.

I've always had a fascination with highway interchanges.

When I first moved to San Antonio, I noticed the lack of them at many key intersections.  The highway system here had some problems if you ask me.  If there's one thing that San Antonio takes care of though, its our roads.  Although the constant construction is a nightmare for those of use who travel on our roads, its better to see progress (even slow progress) being made than none at all.  With all the construction, I tend to marvel at the feats of human engineering that are taking place.  Ever driven Eastbound on 410 and got onto the ramp to 281 North?  The view is unparalleled in this town.  Its absolutely breathtaking to be on that long, stratospheric ramp.

We've got some great interchanges now, but there's work to be done.

San Antonio is moving forward with its highway construction, and yes, there still is work to be done.  Even upon completion, the new Bandera Road/410 interchange will only compensate for traffic heading South on Bandera Road onto Eastbound 410 and Westbound on 410 heading North onto Bandera Road.  Its not a perfect system, but its getting there.  The biggest bone of contention in our traffic system recently has been the 1604 and 281 interchanges.  Since I've moved here, I've heard all sorts of different ideas floated around.  The one that seems to have caused the most stir was the toll road proposals that were suggested in order to fund the project.  While I have no great love for toll roads, I have seen their use in Pennsylvania as a great way to get projects funded and traffic flowing (of course our toll roads there are now out of date, so they are working on that now).  I don't like to pay for driving my car through my city, but if I need to be somewhere and it means less congestion for me - I'm apt to do it.

San Antonio makes its move at 281 and 1604.

With all of the economic stimulus money floating around, cities are trying to find ways to spend it, create jobs, and make much needed improvements to their infrastructure.  San Antonio is no different.  On Thursday, March 5, TxDOT approved funds for the construction of part of the interchange at 281 and 1604.  This area is plagued by congestion during all hours of the day.  At rush hour, I try to avoid it completely.  Without interchanges, drivers are forced to exit the highway to surface streets until they can again enter the other highway.  Add a stop light to the mix and a very popular area of restaurants and shopping and you can see why this is a traffic nightmare.

With the approval of the funds, the construction can begin in the next few months.  Expected to cost $140 million dollars and take about four years, it will get much worse before it gets better, but progress has a tendency to do that (just look at the Bandera Rd/410 interchange work).  The proposal includes four of the eight interchanges to be built - two connecting Eastbound and Westbound 1604 to 281 North and two connecting Eastbound and Westbound 1604 to 281 South.  TxDOT and the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) have decided to keep the toll road plans shelved for now as the funds are directly available to complete these projects.

About $1 billion in projects will get funded.

One of the other projects already approved is the expansion of lanes on Southbound 1604 near FM 78 near Converse.  Northbound 281 has also been suggested as a potential project (perhaps they will build the 281 "Superstreet" or go with a completely different concept) and I believe it needs to be considered sooner rather than later.  Stone Oak area has become a mess of traffic congestion and in terms of real estate, I am seeing less people interested in homes up around that area.  Hopefully, they can also fix the 1604/151 interchange (a red light just isn't cutting it), Shaenfield Rd. at 1604, finish off the 410 expansion project, the Bandera Rd./410 interchange, and the Bandera Rd./1604 interchange could use some help too.  I'm sure they have a list a mile long compared to mine.

San Antonio is growing.

San Antonio continues to grow and since I've been here, I've seen a bit of "growing pains" as we adapt to the new highway projects and interchanges.  Its rough some mornings and I want to curse at the sky, but compared to some of the other places I've lived, San Antonio is pretty on the ball with their construction projects.  As the city expands and we funnel more money into our infrastructure, I hope city, county, and state leaders take into account future growth of our great city and give us what we need to expand and become a better city in the years to come.

I definitely think that San Antonio leaders have been pro-active about our infrastructure and I applaud them for consistently trying to develop new plans when old ones fail (the 281 "Superstreet" project came out of failure of other plans).  As long as we continue with strong leadership with bold ideas, this city could become stronger, more productive, and a shining star in the heart of Texas.  We've already got the name recognition, now let's really put San Antonio on the map.

Red flag warning are serious business.

In my travels, I get to see a lot of interesting sights, but yesterday, it wasn't a sight I wanted to see.  I had stopped to get a drink after a long day of showings at a What-a-burger on DeZavala right off the I-10.  I went inside, got my drink, and as I went outside made a phone call.  As the call started, I noticed a small brush fire of the embankment of I-10.  I was getting ready to call 911, when the guy next to me made the call.  Within the minutes the entire area was thick with smoke, and you could see the flames spread quickly.  It was quite a sight to behold (men are always fascinated by fire).  You can see the smoke as it started to rise in the photo above.  Within minutes the San Antonio Fire Department was there along with several police cars (they had to slow down the flow of traffic on I-10 as the smoke was covering the highway).  They responded quickly and efficiently and I give them all a round of applause for that.

San Antonio is in a major drought and we need to be careful.

When a drought hits an area, it is serious business.  Yesterday's winds were whipping up fires all around the city (I smelled one nearby my home, but wasn't sure where it was located - but you could definitely tell it was close by the smell).  These fires start so innocently, but quickly turn into raging hot fires that spread fast.  I've seen the destructive effects of brush fires while I lived out in Los Angeles.  Now that San Antonio is in the middle of such a lengthy drought, we all need to take a minute and think about fire safety.  Cigarette butts out the window, unattended fires, unattended grills (with the warm weather lately, its been perfect time to get out there and smoke a nice brisket) - all of these can quickly turn into major fires.  Be careful out there San Antonio!