Features

Posted submitted by Texas Performing Arts

BACK TO SCHOOL GIVING

With back to school in San Marcos set for Tuesday, Aug. 15, a tradition I like to celebrate is to take a back to school supply list and get the items, and then donate these to one of the area organizations providing assistance to families. Back to school shopping for me as a youngster growing up on the Southside of Chicago was always a time to look forward to, in that I had babysitting funds to use for 64-count crayon boxes and new Shaeffer fountain pens with turquoise ink cartridges, and later, in high school in New Jersey, I had to buy my own school books, as I was a scholarship student at Oak Knoll in Summit, N.J. This weekend local stores will be crowded and staff busy as parents and children go item by item and get ready for the new school year. Think about paying it forward to the car in back of you in a drive-through or if you can help a family in need in paying for supplies. Be extra considerate of those trying to get those lists taken care of this weekend especially. Summer may be winding down but there is still some joy that can be spread around if you are looking for the opportunity.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Southside Community Center and Methodist Healthcare Ministries will host its Back to School Bash on the center’s grounds located at 518 S. Guadalupe St. This event, which is co-sponsored by Texas Preparatory School - San Marcos, will feature free haircuts, bookbags and school supplies, as well as complimentary food and drinks and a special gift distribution. If you happen to be out for the Farmer’s Market on The Square, grab some fresh produce, some pastries and a cup of coffee from the Coffee Bar, then head down to Southside Community Center to support local families getting ready for the 2023-2024 school year. Southside encourages those with school-aged children to arrive early because supplies will be available in limited quantities.

Later in the evening, Wake the Dead Coffeehouse will host its monthly Abracadavar Witches’ Market starting at 5 p.m. In addition to locally-made art and jewelry, this weekend’s market will feature sweets such as candy apples, caramel apples, cakesicles, dipped oreos, pretzel rods and rice crispy treats: perfect to put us in the mood for fall, which I promise is coming and hopefully soon.

CHARLIE AT THE AIRPORT

Today, the taxiway known as Charlie will be the highlight of an event at the San Marcos Regional Airport at 9 a.m. San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson will deliver remarks and those on the scene will have a fine opportunity to see and experience the excitement associated with this first reconstruction of the historic taxiway, since its installation during WWII. While I will not be there this morning, I am planning to go out to the airport on Saturday for my first visit. All things aviation history are important to me and usually I make it a point to go out to regional airports, especially to understand how these contribute to the vitality of a community. We are fortunate in that our airport is a growing, vibrant part of Central Texas. The taxiway reconstruction alone is definitely something to be celebrated, but there is so much more to see at our airport and I encourage more of us to take the time to explore it. To learn more about Taxiway Charlie, visit sanmarcostx.gov/news.

SHAKING IT , BAKING IT

The original Shake Shack opened in New York’s Madison Square Park in 2004 with the goal to serve “elevated versions of American classics: burgers, fries and shakes.” Since then Shake Shack has opened 470 locations worldwide, and until recently, the closest one was in Austin. However on Friday, Tanger Outlets will open its own drive-thru version of the burger franchise, much to my husband’s delight. Ever since the sign went up in the Tanger parking lot, he’s been talking up Shake Shack’s burgers, so that is where we will have lunch. Also on Friday, True Pure Refillery & Craft Bar will be having a sourdough starter workshop at 6 p.m. Guided by sourdough expert Haley Anderson, this beginner’s class includes starter, a glass of kombucha and light refreshments. All participants will go home with a quality sourdough starter. Fee includes all supplies and is $28. On Saturday, True Pure Refillery will host a sip and paint workshop where participants can create their own golden-hour cactus on an 8x10 canvas. All materials and beverages are included. Three times slots are available at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Each workshop will last about two hours. The fee is $45.

For information or to register for either event, visit the website at trulypurerefillery.com.