The 2013 McNay Art Museum Fair was early this year, March 2 and 3. It was in the high 60s or low 70s everyday and just beautiful.

Ours was the booth between the entrance doors. In particular there was interest in work by William Baziotes, Peggy Bacon, Franz Kline, Angelo Pinto, Anne Ryan, Louis Schanker, and Helen A. Strojny. The fair is located just across the hall from the mid-century American room -- we could practically see Baziotes’ White Bird of 1950, from our booth.

With a few hours to play tourist we visited the site of the nineteenth-century Pearl Brewing Company. Currently developed as a multi-use residential community, the clear standout is the 1894 circular stable, now a banquet hall. (Of course, I’m also crazy about the Hancock Shaker Village, Massachusetts, round barn from 1826. However, the Hancock barn was for cows and was drastically more intricate.)

On a drive south of San Antonio we visited The Espada Acequia built by Franciscans and Native Americans in 1731. Water from the aqueduct powered a mill at Espada and irrigated surrounding fields (as it continues to do). In accordance with ancient Spanish law excess water was returned to the creek.

It was mountain laurel (sophora secundiflora) season. A tall-growing scrub related to the pea family, its violet-colored flowers smell like grape soda. Once identified, it’s found everywhere and is always stunning.

At the San Antonio International Airport for our return trip we encountered the newly installed Suitcase Wheel by The Art Guys. Made of 75 vintage Samsonite cases, it is sixteen feet across. In the departure lounge we found rows of seats with cup holders and windows that were part of Gateways, Four Directions, by Rolando Briseno, installed in 2010. Naturally, the McNay window was our favorite.