Take a spooky tour of San Antonio's past. Sit back and let a Broadway show transport you to wartime Vietnam. And rediscover David Bowie's take on music and fashion.
First off, Fred Garza Guzman of Curious Twins Paranormal said Friday you should head to the East Side.
"We have our haunted historical tour of City Cemetery #1, which is on the East Side of San Antonio,” he said. “We basically bring people over and share with them the history of our city via the cemetery."
The walking tour reveals a side of San Antonio you may have never seen.
"People get to explore something that they don't always explore on a day-to-day basis," Guzman said.
Quirky things like the curious coffin of Ms. West.
"Sandra West — she was a socialite, and she had created her will to say I want to be buried in a convertible, in a nightgown, and in order for my brother-in-law to inherit the rest of the fortune, he has to agree to do this," he said.
And yes, that brother-in-law did inherit. Guzman says that on the tour you see a lot, but you won't have to walk far.
"You're strolling for about an hour and 10 minutes, but you walk like a quarter of a mile," he said.
If you've got an interest in this kind of thing, not going would be a very grave error.
IF YOU GO What: Cemetery Walking Tour Where: 1906 E. Commerce When: 6:30 p.m. Friday Cost: $13-$15
Also, Friday through Sunday, Emily Bautista recommends the major Broadway smash that’s playing at the Majestic.
“So the story of Miss Saigon is the last couple of days of the Vietnam War,” she said. “It shows the evacuation of Saigon, and it for the most part follows Kim, Chris and the engineer, and their struggles at this time.”
Bautista plays the lead in a role full of conflict and intensity.
"Yeah, it really is. It's a really big, dramatic spectacle of a show in the way that it portrays a tough time in American history, American and Vietnamese history," she said.
Her favorite scene is one that you probably saw play out in the news.
"I love the Nightmare scene. The Nightmare scene shows that final helicopter leaving Saigon. It's just so intense, so dramatic and it really transports you out of your seat,” Bautista said.
And despite such heavy scenes, she says there's an underlying positive vibe.
“It's make you laugh; it'll make you cry. It'll make you believe in love. It's a Broadway calibre show out here on the road to San Antonio," she said.
IF YOU GO What: Miss Saigon Where: Majestic Theatre When: 8 p.m. nightly (with matinees) Friday through Sunday Cost: $26-$99
Then, on Saturday night, Jillian Gomez is putting on a tribute to one of music's most talented artists.
“I like to call him a renaissance man, creatively," she said.
Gomez has produced and performed in the recurring David Bowie Tribute show for the last three years.
"He sort of did everything. He was a model. He was a musician. He was an actor. He was a writer. He was a painter," said Gomez.
His death three years ago hit her hard, and the yearly event is a reminder to all of why he still matters.
“He inspired people I think to not play to the norm. And I've always been inspired by that,” Gomez said. “It's by Bowie fans for Bowie fans. And it's just a night where we can all come together. We sing and dance to his music."
As to what you can expect to hear, it will of course be all David Bowie music.
“There's going to be two performers. We are the Goon Squad, so we do a first set, and in the center there's going to be an intermission set by Charbon,” she said. “And we will do the final set, and it's all music by David Bowie.”
In typical Bowie fashion, fashion and whimsy will have a role.
"We have some costume contests, face-painting. It's just a big, fun celebration for everyone," she said.
The Bowie Tribute show is at Paper Tiger, and it's adults only.
IF YOU GO What: David Bowie Tribute Concert Where: Paper Tiger When: 8 p.m. Saturday Cost: $5-$25
Jack Morgan can be reached at Jack@TPR.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii.
