History Lesson 
Indulge Yourself This Summer
A grabbag of things to do that can take the heat off your summer.
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A Votre Sante!
Become a classy wino by joining one of the rapidly growing wine-tasting clubs. The clubs usually meet once a month, sample about five different wines, compare notes, and sometimes take in a bit of cheese or a speaker on the art of crushing the grape. You can find out where one club, Les Amis du Vin, will be meeting next by contacting Mrs. Janet Alyn, 822-1618.
Texas Is a Summer Festival
For food, drink, games, dancing and general merriment swing through some of the festivals being held in South Texas during the summer. The Czech Fest will be held June 2-3 at the Comal County Fair Grounds in New Braunfels, and the Leather Tom-Tom Festival, in honor of Yoakum's leather industry, will be pounding in that town June 1-2. The Uvalde Hunter and Jumper Show, with about 300 horses competing in several events, will be held June 29-30-July 1.
Pedal Pushers
With a good bike and fair-to-middlin' leg muscles you can take a leisurely tour of the Hill Country just outside San Antonio. For a trip that won't be too tiring, but which will enable you to enjoy as much countryside as possible in a day, leave San Antonio on State 16 (Culebra Road), take a right on the Scenic Loop at Helotes, pedal to U.S. 87 and head back for the city. It's a round trip of about 35 miles, and the countryside has quite a few ups (the downs are no problem); so if you're not sure of your stamina, try some biking in the Northwest preserve or south of San Antonio.
Feelthy Movies
Always wanted to see what those triple-Xer skin flicks were all about, but didn't have the courage to walk into a theater and plop yourself down beside some guy with a twitching overcoat in his lap? There's a solution—for a price. Mr. Joe Ricco, manager of Joy Adult, King Arts Adult, Capri Adult, and Fiesta Theaters, is willing to talk about renting one of his steamy theaters for you to view the latest toad movie by yourself or with family and friends. This private type of voyeurism will cost you about $1,000, however.
Artsy-Craftsy
If you have any sort of urge to be creative, this might be the time to develop it at the Southwest Craft Center, 300 Augusta St. Practically every type of craft or art is taught at the picturesque school, including some things, such as Tarot card reading, that don't exactly fit into the Da Vinci syndrome. Take your pick from jewelry making, photography, pottery, ceramic sculpture, kiln-building, furniture design and construction, weaving, painting, stained glass, guitar, experimental 3-D painting, creative stitchery and "development of the creative individual."
I'm Dreaming of a Snow White Labor Day
Miss the icy winds of winter? The experience of snowflakes a-battering at your door? (Sometimes it's possible to miss them even during the winter in San Antonio.) Well, you can have your private blizzard the year 'round for right at $48.25 per blizzard. It breaks down this way: 200 lbs. dry ice delivered from City Carbonic Co., 1122 E. Houston, (223-6313); three 20-inch fans, $5 each, and one 100-ft. extension cord ($4), all from the closest Abbey Rents; a couple of bushels of feathers, styrofoam chips, or shredded foam rubber (about $5), from any dime store, and one laborer at $4.25 an hour (scale wages) from Laborers International Union of North America Local 93, 1306 W. Martin (227-5742). Stack the dry ice in front of your door, place the fans behind the ice, have the laborer toss the "snow" in front of the fans, and you have instant winter.
Ho, Ho, Ho!
Have a visit from Santa Claus. The Shoestring Players of St. Mary's University will furnish one of their actors to impersonate St. Nick at the rate of $5 a day plus costume and travel expenses. Tree and presents up to you. Call 433-2311, ext. 240.
Emote
Amateur theaters are largely closed during the summer, which is also when some persons have more time to indulge that urge to try on some greasepaint. But two community theaters keep their curtains open during the summer. Contact the Ft. Sam Houston Playhouse, (221-5655 or 221-2748) or Music Theater (224-2211 or 334-3822) to find out when auditions for their next production will be.
Sounds and Sweet Airs
Live classical music dies out during the summer in San Antonio. But for $125 to $200 you can have a string quartet (two violins, viola, cello) perform in your home. Contact the Musicians Society of San Antonio. Local 23 AF of M, 618 Ave. E. (227-3582).
FORT WORTH
Bicycles
The Fort Worth Bicycling Association sponsors a ride every Sunday, including every type from races and family rides to long hard rides of a couple of hundred miles. Membership is $5 a year for families or $4 for individuals. Most bike shops in Fort Worth offer 10 per cent discount to members. The club hopes to build its membership to lobby for more bike trails. Members receive monthly newsletter announcing future rides. More information: Evelyn Hill, 924-3174.
Elementary Backpacking
The Sierra Club plans some kind of trip every weekend, including camping trips in Arkansas. Learn to love dried fruit and freeze-dried beef stroganoff; everybody's doing it! For information and an outings bulletin write Ev Harding at 7040 Valhalla. The family that backpacks together...
Trinity River Float-lns
Get to know the Trinity River and you may become interested in doing something about it for Fort Worth's sake. Trinity Park has its waterspout but what about the fine white water area in Benbrook Park? The Corps of Engineers periodically releases water from Benbrook Dam which makes an exhilarating four mile canoe or innertube ride down the Clear Fork of the Trinity. This summer be alert for radio spots or newspaper publicity on short notice. It'll be one of your best summer weekends.
The Parking Lots Are Alive With the Sound of Music
Fort Worth shopping centers sponsor a couple of old fashioned fiddlers' contests every summer for fiddlers of both sexes and all ages. More fun than the contest itself is to get off into a corner and watch the fiddlers play for each other. Get caught up in it July 12-14 at Seminary South Shopping Center.
And Leave Your Sony at Home
Read up on Japanese Gardens, then spend a dollar and a peaceful hour at Fort Worth's new Japanese Garden, the 14-year-dream-come-true of the Garden Club and the city horticulturist. Note how one stone in the meditation garden is always hidden from view; ponder why none of the bridges is the shortest distance between two points. It's open Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5, with tours on weekdays by special arrangement for groups of 25 or more. Always $1 for visitors over 12.
These Infinite Spaces
The Fort Worth Astronomical Society holds its monthly meetings outside in good weather and could open your eyes to the Universe this summer. Their enthusiasm is contagious. Why not? One member, an employee of the city water department, is credited with the discovery of a galaxy. Call Bill Williams for information about meetings, fourth Thursday, at 229-0451.
Quilling
This is quilling, not quilting. The Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History has found a teacher for its new course in quilling, a form of weaving with pieces of material or paper wound on a quill, or weaver's spindle. For information call the Museum School at 732-1631, ext. 36.
After All, Van Cliburn Came from Texas
Summer is the time to develop that musical talent that you've always wanted to go back to but never had the time for. Tarrant County Junior College, Northeast Campus, offers a series of private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, organ, and strings, beginning June 11. It's inexpensive and just long enough for you to find out if you're serious about studying after all. If you haven't sung or played in a long time, don't be embarrassed: it's between you and your teacher, who will arrange lessons to suit your summer schedule. Get up your nerve and call 281-7860.
Sumo Wrestlers Need Not Apply
In addition to competitive team league sports like soccer and rugby, Fort Worth Park and Recreation centers offer classes in everything from square dancing to chess, from sports officiating to fly-tying. Recreation Superintendent Ashworth says he is on call and will try to organize any kind of class that people have interest in. Keep this in mind if your child wants to take up fencing or something equally unusual for Ft. Worth. Get a group together and call 335-7211.
Panther Hall
Everyone in Fort Worth ought to go to Panther Hall at least once; why not this summer? This country music palace is known nationwide as the site of television's Cowtown Jamboree. In fact, your Saturday night ticket will admit you to the telecast at 6 as well as to the regular show 9-1, and you can go out for dinner in between. You'll probably wind up meeting some of the West Texans who have driven in for the show, and as the night progresses, so will your good old country feeling. To find out who's playing when, call 536-2891.
DALLAS
When Was the Last Time You Saw a Sunset?
Turn off the TV. Revive the old American custom of porchsitting. Hear the crickets tune up and see if lightning bugs still light.
A Walking Tour in Dallas
A meditative meander along Turtle Creek is always good for the soul, but if you'd like a livelier stroll, here's a shady walking tour of the oldest, newest, changing areas in town.
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