Greetings Marguerite! I have live in SA for over sixty years and walking the river at night is a great experience with lights etc. When you are on street level, walk Houston Street and you will eventually get to an area that has all kinds of boutiques and other stores that are great to browse but NO QUILT Stores. Las Colchas is a people friendly quilt shop but is definitely not within walking distance from the riverwalk. It is located on Ogden St, BTW. Besides the Alamo there is the Institute of Texas Cultures, Hemisfair Plaza, Market Street. Go to Casa Rio Restaurant, fine mexican cuising, and ask any of the locals. From there you go up to street level and you are very close to Market Square. La Villita also has stores to browse. Have a great time and let me know if this helps.