Now the 7th largest city can fit into the palm of your hand with Downtown Alliance San Antonio’s new free mobile app for smartphones. Based on the non-profit’s website, www.downtownsanantonio.org, the app features a downtown business directory with maps, GPS enabled directions, events, mobile coupons and more.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 23, 2010) – At the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, Latin American cuisine has always been the order of business at both the Achiote River Café and the trendy hot spot Bar Rojo. So when the premier downtown hotel launched Sansei Sushi at Bar Rojo in April, the first thought was…huh? “We did some research and discovered that Sansei are third generation Japanese, born in South America, who take regional Latin American influences and ingredients and meld it with traditional Japanese sushi preparation techniques and culture,” explains Executive Chef Jeffrey Axell. “It is wildly popular in Brazil.”

For several decades, downtown San Antonio has performed admirably as a tourism destination, pulling in visitors — and their dollars — in the manner of a big economic magnet. But at the same time, residents, along with major employers, have spiraled out to the suburbs in massive numbers. How to change the locals’ experience of downtown, and why it even matters, has become Topic A for many — in particular for Mayor Julián Castro, who has taken up the role of downtown booster from former Mayor Phil Hardberger and is making the cause his own. “Downtown is the heart of the city,” Castro said. “A great city is defined by a great downtown for both residents and visitors. For the past four decades, it’s been about the visitors.” Read full article>>

Held June 16th at the Radius Building, the Annual General Membership Meeting provided members of the Downtown Alliance with a review of activities and accomplishments over the past year and an outlook of next year focusing on the new Centro Partnership. Representatives from both public and private entities spoke on the topic, including Don Frost, Mayor Julián Castro, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, and Director of Economic Development for Bexar County David Marquez.

Coming soon... downtown in the palm of your hand! Downtown Alliance is working with BiBiSi Mobile to introduce a new downtown app for smartphones that will provide a downtown business directory with maps, GPS enabled directions, news, events, mobile coupons and more. For more information, please call (210)225-3869 x109.