As seen on SA Live - Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026

Today @ 10:30 a.m., Magic for grown-ups, a food drive and big decisions for 2027.

AN EVENING OF TALL TALES WITH PETER FABIAN

Magician, mind reader and storyteller Peter Fabian turned the first block into a pop-up speakeasy, complete with coasters printed with whiskey, beer and wine. He had the show’s producer mentally lock in a drink, then produced a $100 bill with a note already written on the back predicting the whiskey. A second routine went further: he read a host’s imagined margarita, then named the celebrity she had pictured sharing it with. Fabian, a San Antonio resident who credits a loud Hispanic household for his storytelling instincts, called it the first magic show of its kind in the city. An Evening of Tall Tales is set for Friday, November 13 at the Devils River Distillery. It is 21 and over, and chic cocktail attire is required.

VARA CHEVROLET FOOD DRIVE

This segment was sponsored by Vara Chevrolet. The dealership is collecting non-perishable food through the end of November for St. Vincent de Paul’s friendship food pantry, a neighbor in the same part of town. Thanksgiving staples are the focus: stuffing, cornbread, pumpkin pie puree and the like. Donations can be dropped off at the dealership, where the manager said visitors are welcome to pan dulce and coffee while they are there. The dealership is family owned and operated, nearly 37 years in, with three generations of the family involved. It sits at 8011 IH 35 South, and more is at vara.com.

THE JAPANESE TEA GARDEN

A 300-year-old Japanese tea tradition comes to the Japanese Tea Garden on Saturday, November 14. Master tea artisans from Shizuoka, Japan will demonstrate tomomi, the rare art of hand rolling tea, a four-hour process that runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event itself goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tea tastings and cultural activities.

SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK AND MANUFACTURING CAREERS

This conversation looked at the local manufacturing boom and the training that feeds it. A senior HR manager at Toyotetsu, which has been in San Antonio for 20 years, said the region is a manufacturing hub right now and companies need mechanical technicians, production leaders, quality inspectors and safety staff, with high school, community college and internship pipelines feeding into those jobs. A communications administrator with the city’s Workforce Development Office explained that Ready to Work pays for training and can also help with child care or transportation so participants finish. Many manufacturing roles need a certification, not a bachelor’s degree. Eligibility: live within San Antonio city limits, or within Bexar County if military involved, be 18 or older, and earn less than $39,000 as an individual or $82,500 for a family of four. The city said the average participant who lands an in-demand job increases earnings by $33,500. Details are at readytoworksa.com or by calling 3-1-1.

HEALTHSPRING AND THE MEDICARE ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD

HealthSpring walks through the Medicare annual election period, which runs October 15 through December 7 for coverage taking effect January 1, 2027. HealthSpring is part of Health Care Service Corporation. The 2027 Medicare Advantage plans discussed can include a zero monthly plan premium, zero-dollar primary care visits, no or low copays on many drugs, a Part B giveback that returns money to a beneficiary’s Social Security check, an over-the-counter allowance, a fitness program, dental, hearing and vision services, and up to $300 in rewards for healthy activities. Her three tips: review the annual notice of change mailed each September, weigh the extras original Medicare does not cover, and confirm your doctors, hospitals and specialists are in the plan’s network. More is at local.healthspringmedicare.com/aep.