Want to get hitched in SA, but don't want the expense and drama associated with a wedding? Marriage Island - a small piece of land owned and operated by the City of San Antonio parks department - could be just for you. For as little as $125 (optional rehearsal of $100 available), you and your spouse-to-be can stand on the island and be married by a certified officiant before a small wedding party. Additional guests can watch from the banks of the Riverwalk. Ancient lore has it that those married on the island have a long and prosperous marriage. In the winter, the trees are adorned with twinkling lights for the holidays. For a special, intimate ceremony that won"t put you in debt, call the parks department at. SS

If you've ever wanted to see the Alamo Plaza and Riverwalk explode with light, the day after Thanksgiving is the time to do it. With a combined 137,000 lights, San Antonio is awash in Christmas-y goodness from the early afternoon well into the night.

Santa lights the 50-foot Christmas tree after 6 p.m.in front of the Alamo at the H-E-B Tree Lighting Ceremony, a free event that kicks off earlier in the afternoon with face painting, balloon artists and live music. Then at 7 p.m., city dignitaries flick the switch to illuminate the Riverwalk at the Ford Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony. Tickets for that event are $10 to $15 and can be ordered by calling 227-4262 or visiting Paseo del Rio at 110 Broadway, Suite 500. For more information, visit www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com. SS

For college students seeking experience in their chosen career, the best place to start is with an internship. An internship is a program where students work either for pay or college credit in atmosphere of industry professionals. Most are offered all year round for the fall, spring and summer semesters. For most degrees plans, a least one internship for credit is required. Yet one internship is definitely not enough. To gain more hands-on experience, a college student should seek at least two to three internships in the course of their post-graduate experience. To advance and stand out in their field, especially with the amount of competition, student need to know the strains and requirements of their craft. It is common knowledge that future employers want the best of the best, and the most outstanding candidates are ones with a substantial amount of work experience related to their field, whether paid or unpaid. With college students continually changing their majors, internships can aide students in deciding if their career of choice is a path worth continuing. To find an internship, students can begin by going to the website of the company of which they would like to intern. Usually located in the “Jobs” section of the site, company’s offering internships will most likely ask that a resume be sent to them via e-mail. It is also a good idea to call the company to show that you are interested. If necessary, leave a voicemail with the appropriate person. The more work students due on their part, the more persistence and drive the employers will see. The best possible incentive to an internship can lead to a part-time or permanent job with the company. BV

While some high school students only dream of the world of Hollywood, others are actually living it. For Harlandale High School students, that dream is their living reality. The Film School of San Antonio is located on the city’s Southside and is preparing the local community for homegrown success. The Film School already has two Emmy’s under its belt. In 2007, the student’s made their first ever trip to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The following school year, they received two Emmy Awards for their hard work. The film school is a professional school. From the equipment to the staff, only the best is offered for the learning and growing of its students. Students can learn various aspects of the television and film industry including screen-writing, production, animation, and marketing for media. These classes are taught by working professionals in the industry. These teachers have worked (and some are currently working) as producers, directors, animators, cinematographers for short and feature films. For students seeking a professional career in the world of Hollywood, the Harlandale Film School is the step needed to get there. BV