What it’s like to grow up in San Antonio

As much as I like to compare my hometown to the “hip” Austin I’m living in now, I’ve come to realize that San Antonio gave me a really good childhood. San Antonio, affectionately nicknamed the Countdown City because of the area code (210), has given me memories unique to the city and the people that I grew up with. From experiencing my first Spurs game to becoming a seasoned veteran at Fiesta, the traditions of San Antonio are a rite of passage for anyone who grew up there.

Friday nights were dedicated to high school football

Every Friday during the football season was dedicated to pep rallies and tailgates. Though you may not have liked football, there was a chance that you would get out of class early to send off the football team. If you were really lucky your school was featured on the local news station, WOAI, for the Kiobassa tailgate party. From there, “Friday Night Fever” would kick-start the evening long coverage of high school games around the city. You quickly learned that football was a religion and Friday was the day of worship.

Taco Tuesday was definitely a thing

Friday was for football but Tuesday was for tacos. Either before school or after, you would convince the person in your friend group, who could drive, to take you to the local taco shop. Las Palapas, Taco Cabana, Los Robertos, or Gueros, any place would do.

SeaWorld

You secretly always wondered why there was a SeaWorld in San Antonio.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Going to Fiesta Texas for the first time without your parents was a step toward your independence. You still remember the first time you rode the Superman and how your back felt after riding the wooden, Rattler. Either way, you appreciated the park and don’t know what your childhood would have been like without Fright Fest, Holiday in the Park, or the summer concert and firework series.

If you are a Spurs fan, you are a part of the Spurs family

The Spurs have been really good to the city of San Antonio. Winning five championships since 1999, you have been a part of the Spurs family from when they played in the Alamodome to when they transitioned to the AT&T Center. You probably stood in line at an Academy after the winning championship game, listening to people celebrate by honking their car horns and buying championship t-shirts. The city as a whole celebrated at the Riverwalk parade. Today you have no problem going up to someone and saying “Go Spurs Go” if they are wearing a Spurs shirt or cap.

You probably met a Spurs player or took a picture with the championship trophies at an HEB

HEB runs a lot of local promotions with the Spurs team. From TV commercials to collectable Spurs coins, HEB has always had your back. However, HEB really came in clutch with free autograph signings and pictures with the championship trophies. What other city has meet and greets at a grocery store?

 You remember the gift shop better than you remembered the Alamo

Texas history has been a part of the school curriculum for as long as you can remember. However, the only thing that really stuck was “REMEMBER THE ALAMO.” You’ve taken at least one field trip downtown to visit the historical landmark and might have been a little underwhelmed. However, the massive gift shop with Davy Crockett hats and pop-guns were something that you appreciated.

You always had Friday off when Fiesta rolled around

Every year you had a Friday off in April for Battle of the Flowers. Though you may not have known what the day was celebrated for, you knew that it was the start of a city wide Fiesta. You still remember your first heavenly tortilla from Maria’s Tortillas at NIOSA and the pride you felt to be a San Antonian while watching the parades downtown. Breathing in the smells of the local food stands and listening to the sounds of laughter mixed with live music, you knew that there really was no place like home.