More Texas treats...
San Antonio has a lot of fun things to do. You don’t want to spend your entire day having DestiKNITions adventures, but you don’t want to miss out on some local treasures, either. Here’s a second day schedule that will still leave you a nice block of time to take in the River Walk (a very nice place to knit in public, by the way), the Alamo, or other San Antonio goodies.
Start your day at:
Sol Y Luna Baking Company
4421 De Zavala Rd
San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 492-5777
They are known for their breads—especially the delicious Monkey Bread—but there are a variety of mouth-watering cupcakes, muffins, bars, and cookies to choose from. There are even sandwiches if you don’t do “morning food.” I had the massive, scrumptious bread pudding and got nearly three meals out of it! A sweet little place (pun intended) with a friendly staff.
After that, head the short drive to:
Yarnivore
2357 NW Military Hwy
San Antonio, TX 78231
(210) 979-8255
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| Caryn on the left with yours truly |
Longtime customer turned owner Caryn Moir took over the store with her husband Martin roughly a year ago, and her passion for inspiring people shows up strong.
“I was crocheting before I could read,” Caryn shares, which makes this not only a great knit shop, but a truly crochet and weaving-friendly establishment. “We’re fiber obsessed,” she confesses—and aren’t we all?
The store boasts both a strong female and male customer base, as well as an enthusiastic staff. “We strive to create a judgement-free zone where friends of fiber can come try anything they want.” A regular core of classes is offered year-round while other classes rotate by season or demand. There’s also a six-month intensive class for students seeking a comprehensive education in the craft.
It’s an organized, welcoming space. “I don’t want anyone to feel overwhelmed. This place should feel like a refuge for fiber fans—we’re investing in each other,” Caryn says. One of the store’s unique features is providing customers with a yarn’s price per yard. “Customers looking for value love that information” she relates.
Make sure you take a look at these when you visit:
Weaving Scarves
If you’ve ever wanted to take up weaving, here’s the perfect project to get you started. A solid warp combined with a color-changing weft teaches you not only the skill of weaving, but the basics of color theory as well. A very fine bamboo fiber makes for a luscious accessory that feels as good as it looks.
Dawn’s One Ball Shawlette
Who wouldn’t like to crochet a rainbow for their shoulders? Of course, it could be anything depending on whatever ball of yarn you choose, but a self-striping will give you the most cheerful results. Crochet always makes great little trims possible, and this shawlette is no exception.
Crocodile Stitch Cowl
How much fun is this? For best effect, grab one skein of Manos de Uruguay Fino sock weight in a reptilian color and stitch up this eye-catching crochet piece. Or go for a marine color and mimic fish scales? Floral to look like petals? Brown for a pine cone? Brightly colored mariachi ruffles? The possibilities are endless!
Yellow Rose Mitts
We are in Texas, after all, so why not join me in this knit-along project of Yellow Rose Mitts? Any sock weight yarn (no, it doesn’t have to be yellow) will produce pretty-yet-substantial fingerless mitts guaranteed to help you embrace cooler temperatures but still text and dial (or knit?). If you want a nice, dense fabric, make sure you use 00 needles.
Malabrigo Rasta Brioche Hat
The favorite chunky fiber of many knitters, Rasta knits up fast to create this cleverly ribbed beanie. Go for solid, a multi-color, or school-color stripes to keep your favorite noggin toasty.
Gadget Recommendation
I’ve got pins, I’ve got blocking wires, but these Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers beauties are something in between. Each “blocker” has a stretch of pins—either 8 or 4 pins—to keep points from showing up where you don’t want and reduce tension to any single spot on your garment. A great tool!
Not too far away is the perfect spot for lunch:
Green Vegetarian Cuisine
10003 Nw Military Hwy, Ste 2115
San Antonio, TX 78230
(210) 233-1249
Now, I am not a vegetarian, and I confess to a bit of skepticism before I ate here. I’d heard the dessert tray was worth the trip, but I wanted good, healthy veggie-rich food after all the meat I’d been eating. I love orange chicken from my favorite Chinese restaurant, so I took the server’s word that I’d enjoy the Sesame Chik-N meatless entree—and I did!
The outdoor seating at this location (and also at a sister location at yesterday’s Pearl) makes the experience especially pleasant. Dog friendly, too. And oh, the cupcakes—my sources tell me really good vegan cupcakes are a rare find, and these were outstanding.
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| Travel Channel photo |
Spend your afternoon taking in the River Walk or any other classic San Antonio sites. There are a hundred great places to eat right there on the River Walk.
If you need a shot of energy once you head away from the river, get a great one at:
One last recommendation for dinner:
If you need a shot of energy once you head away from the river, get a great one at:
CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery
118 Davis Ct
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 560-2955
A really lovely little place with lots of charm and a great assortment of indoor and outdoor seating. I had lunch there—the delicious CommonWealth salad with the Fondant au Chocolat cake for desert. A great atmosphere for a chat or for getting some work done.
Max’s Wine Dive
340 E. Basse Rd Ste 101
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 444-9547
Okay, it’s not really a “dive,”—it’s actually in the snazzy Quarry Village shopping center—but my sources tell me this is THE place to get fried chicken. I needed to eat bison burgers for some book research, too. Thankfully, my helpful server arranged for me to get a bit of both—and each was tasty. The fried chicken is perfectly crispy but not greasy, and the slightly crispy, buttery brioche buns on the bison sliders were nothing short of heaven. What sounded like the most fun was “Bunch Before Bed,” served 10pm - 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.
These stops wrap up two days in a terrific city I look forward to revisiting as soon as I can. San Antonio serves up some tasty adventures, charming shopping, and a pair of fabulous fiber finds.
Next up, we meet this month’s Reader Who Knits, then cast on the Linen Stitch Bag from Unraveled.
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