Community Calendar

Gem of the Hills will host a thoughtful, engaging discussion about the power of purpose with author Steve Bartlett, moderated by Gloria Campos Brown.

What does it mean to live life with purpose? Purpose can be found in big moments as well as small, daily choices that align our actions with our core values. Hear from the author of “AH HA! The Power of Purpose,” Steve Bartlett, to uncover the value of living life with purpose.

Steve is an award-winning author, former congressman and mayor; full-time husband, dad, grandfather, adventure traveler, and disability inclusion advocate.

Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

This is the third of five guest lectures for Trinity University's 2026 Lennox Seminar series in honor of the nation's semiquincentennial: "The United States at 250: Remembering and Forgetting." Dr. Lurie will be presenting a lecture titled “Hamilton: In History and On Stage," followed by a Q&A.

This installment of the lecture will take place as a webinar.
Registration link: https://trinity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kIdaEncETGSyok-qqEk3Kg

Shira Lurie (she/her) is an Associate Professor of American History at Saint Mary’s University in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia). She is the author of The American Liberty Pole: Popular Politics and the Struggle for Democracy in the Early Republic. Her writing has also been published in The Journal of the Early Republic, The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, and The Toronto Star. She is currently at work on her next book, tentatively entitled Barnum: The First Celebrity Politician, which explores P.T. Barnum’s political career.

The San Antonio Housing Trust and UT San Antonio's School of Architecture and Planning invite the community to the Keynote Presentation of the Missing Middle Housing Summit. Join us on the evening of October 13 to hear from Charles “Chuck” Marohn, the founder and president of Strong Towns and the bestselling author of “Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis.” A land use planner and civil engineer with decades of experience, Marohn is a leading national voice on helping cities become stronger, more prosperous, and more responsive to the needs of their residents.

Marohn will discuss the roots of the housing crisis that pervades North American cities, which are prone to a never-ending cycle of boom and bust. He will share an alternative vision of a housing ecosystem that is developed incrementally to create a more resilient community.

5:30-6:00 pm: Missing Middle Housing Project Gallery

6:00-7:30 pm: Presentation and Q+A

This event is free and open to the public.

RSVP is required

(Doors open: 6:45pm)

One hundred years after Harry Houdini’s death, the question remains: can the living communicate with those beyond? Join the Austin Séance at historic Villa Finale for an evening that blurs the line between history and the supernatural. Explore the mansion during a ghost hunt, learn about Houdini’s complex relationship with spiritualism, and take part in a live séance inside the house. Light refreshments and beverages are included. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this is a Halloween season experience you won't soon forget.

Join the League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area for a luncheon featuring speaker Lindsey Cormack, PhD, author of 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘯 (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘜𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵). The program includes an engaging conversation on empowering the next generation of informed and active citizens. Audrey Castoreno, morning anchor with KENS 5, emcees.

Event sponsorships, tables, and tickets are available through lwvsa.org. All proceeds benefit the League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area’s mission to encourage informed and active participation in government through voting.

The Sierra Club Alamo Group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of most months (excludes November and December) to discuss timely and interesting topics pertaining to the natural and human environments. Always free and open to the public.

Meetings generally consist of a meet-and-greet followed by a presentation by an invited speaker, with discussion. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/alamo

On the 221st anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, step into the world of Napoleon Bonaparte through the extraordinary Napoleon collection at Villa Finale. Explore the rise of the charismatic emperor whose military genius conquered much of Europe and whose legacy continues to captivate historians today. Along the way, uncover fascinating anecdotes and surprising details about the man behind the legend.

Join the Institute of Texan Cultures and Casa Navarro State Historic Site for a walking tour exploring the history, cultural significance, and lasting impact of corridos and conjunto music in Texas and the greater Southwest.

"Corridos" are traditional Mexican narrative songs that tell stories about historical events, everyday life and notable people.

Participants will discover how music served as a powerful form of storytelling, community connection, and cultural expression, while traveling between two historic downtown sites.

The tour will be offered as part of Downtown West's "Journey West Guitar Wars" urban activation. The ITC portion will include a performance and conversation with musician and historian Juan Tejeda. The price of admission will be discounted to participate in Downtown West’s $5 Deal, which includes admission to both venues.

This is the fourth of five guest lectures for Trinity University's 2026 Lennox Seminar series in honor of the nation's semiquincentennial: "The United States at 250: Remembering and Forgetting." Dr. Johnson will present a lecture titled “Remembering Revolutionary Alliances: The Forgotten Soldiers of Saint-Domingue during the American Revolution," followed by a Q&A.

Ronald Angelo Johnson is the Ralph and Bessie Mae Lynn Professor of History at Baylor University and the 2026-2027 Mellon Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the American Antiquarian Society. His latest book is Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution (Cornell University Press, 2025). Dr. Johnson is currently working on a new book, We Are All Equal: Turmoil and Triumph in the Early United States and Revolutionary Haiti (under contract with Princeton University Press), a diplomatic history of race and revolution, illustrating that Americans and Haitians shared important understandings of liberty.

Join us for a book club that gives you the opportunity to be with other readers without the pressure of required reading or discussion. Light refreshments will be provided by the library. We will meet at the Thousand Oaks Branch every first Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm.

5:30-6:00pm - Share what you're reading (if you like), grab snacks/drinks, settle-in
6:00-7:00pm - Quiet reading hour
7:00-7:30pm - Socialize or keep reading - whatever your preference