EXPLORE - June 2023

June 2023

point, tx: + center central provisions

& zanzenberg tavern

+ just peachy of: + art glass blowing WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM

| JUNE 2023 |

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TABLE OF CONTENTS WHAT’S IN A NAME: KINEMATIC BREWING CO.

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June 06

MUSIC

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GOOD EATS: JUST PEACHY

JUST FOR FUN

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26

BOOKS

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ART OF

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EVENTS

PROFILE: CENTRAL PROVISIONS

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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PUBLISHER Lauren Stumberg lauren@distinctmediatx.com

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FUN & GAMES

Like EXPLORE? You'll Love Our Sister Publications too!

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY Megan Smart megan@distinctmediatx.com ADVERTISING SALES (210) 219-6735 info@distinctmediatx.com EXPLORE magazine is published by Distinct Media LLC in Boerne, TX. EXPLORE Magazine and Distinct Media LLC are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EXPLORE and/or Distinct Media LLC. Copyright 2023 Distinct Media LLC, Boerne, TX 78006.

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MUSIC

“Even though Gilliam and I have been good friends for a number of years now, I wanted to interview him for this column for some time, and am happy to share more about him here with you.”

by Matt Kersh

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early a decade ago, when I moved back home to Texas, a primary goal of mine was to begin playing music full time. Being born and raised in the great Lone Star State, I was around live music all the time growing up. I played my first “out in the real world” gig 25 years ago at Scenic Loop Cafe, and immediately knew I had found a special home singing with my guitar on stage.

I began to write “non-Christian” songs around the time I was 16 or 17, but virtually all of my playing was for church. After graduating high school, I went to college out in Southern California, where I would remain for the better part of 12 years.

Music for me continued to revolve around church life. However, I knew playing original songs of mine, along with other songs that meant something to me that I reworked into my own unique renditions was something that I really needed to do.

After getting back to the Hill Country 10 years ago, I hit the ground “running” with playing. The first couple of years were “blood, sweat, and tears” years of pounding the pavement and building relationships with area venues to get myself in the mix of the music scene. In 2015, I began building friendships with musicians around my age that had been getting established in the area for a handful of prior years.

One of the first people I met was our artist of the month. Also a great bear of a man, charismatic and authentic, Austin Gilliam and I connected right away. In life, there are folks we meet that are just a challenge not to like, and Gilliam is one of those people. Beyond being a hell of a great guy, he is one of the most talented musicians you will find.

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As a performer and lifelong player of the guitar, I am always astounded by someone that sings and plays lead guitar while completely carrying the melody of the music alone with only a bassist and a drummer behind him. Austin is one of those artists that is adept at doing so. At his core, he is rock and roll. He can absolutely shred an electric guitar, has one of the more powerful voices around, and is a truly gifted penner of tunes.

He went out of his way to make me feel welcome among the group of musicians and asked me within a couple weeks of our blooming friendship to open for his band at Billy’s Ice in New Braunfels. That meant more to me than he knew at the time, and helped open the door a little wider to me playing in the thriving music scene of the town of two rivers.

Even though Gilliam and I have been good friends for a number of years now, I wanted to interview him for this column for some time, and am happy to share more about him here with you.

“I grew up with my parents and my brother constantly playing different kinds of music around the house. My mom’s thing was mainly 80’s Rock and Pop. My dad listened mainly to Country, and my older brother was into grunge in the early days of the genre. I was getting a healthy dose of pretty much everything that shaped me musically.”

Even as a toddler, Gilliam’s mom told him that he would try to sing and dance all over the place when songs he liked came on. “One day, I was watching MTV and decided I wanted a guitar. Mom told me we had one in the house, and the journey began. I still have that guitar.”

Austin began honing his ear for understanding and picking up on songs from age 9, which is a true indication of talent to naturally begin studying music in a non-conventional method of learning by ear. “I started dabbling in guitar at 9 and taking all I could from music videos, listening and watching closely. When I was about 13, things really started to ‘click,’ and I was on my way. At 15, I joined my first band as the second guitarist.”

“After high school, I was pretty stagnant with music. I played in a Country/ Blues band for a short period of time, but that was only for a few months. Bouncing

“In life, there are folks we meet that are just a challenge not to like, and Gilliam is one of those people. Beyond being a hell of a great guy, there is one of the most talented musicians you will find. “ around from job to job, I really didn’t play much at all in a live setting. In 2006, I joined the Scott Wiggins Band with the agreement that within 6 months we would move the band to New Braunfels, San Marcos, or Austin. New Braunfels won, and that’s where I’ve been ever since.”

Gilliam credits Slash, Rod Stewart, and Jason Isbell as three of his main influences, which just further shows the influence of an array of genres which help make his music interesting and eclectic.

Like most artists, there are periods where it is challenging to make ends meet due to a number of factors. Being that so much live music happens outdoors, the weather has a significant impact on our livelihood through the 3-5 “cold” months. Believe me, when it gets even into the low 50’s in temperature, playing the guitar kills your hands and your voice is quickly shot.

Not to mention COVID clearing our performance calendars for an entire year back in the 2020-2021 period, which left more of a halt of momentum in its wake than is easy to clearly quantify. Gilliam shares, “There is still a balance between holding

down steady employment alongside music and still being able to play gigs regularly.

Thankfully, the balance has begun to shift back to me being able to play music out more on a regular basis again.” The ears of music fans are grateful for this.

When needing to take time for himself away from the noise of daily life, Austin says, “I really enjoy playing chess online.

Either that, or I really am down not doing anything at all in particular and just enjoying the quiet.”

Austin is a self-proclaimed foodie, and has even had a sandwich and wing sauce/ rub combo named after him at a couple of New Braunfels eateries. “My Instagram is loaded with as many pictures of food as it is music.”

I’ll always be grateful to Gilliam for his willingness to help me get going with music when I came back to Texas, and for his ongoing friendship. He really is a special person, and I hope you’ll do yourself a favor and check his music out and do your best to get out and catch him sometime for a show. I promise it is a real treat.

Website: AustinGilliamMusic.Com • Instagram: @AustinGilliamMusic • Spotify/Apple Music: Austin Gilliam WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM

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JUST FOR FUN

WHERE HAVE ALL THE

Fireflies

GONE?

by Lauren Stumberg

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ot all too long ago, fireflies and summer nights went hand-in-hand. I remember as a child after a long day of playing in the Guadalupe River, the sun would begin to go down and the fireflies would come out, lighting up the night with their fantastic flickering. Like me, I am sure many of you have cherished childhood memories of spotting and catching these captivating creatures. However, I bet my own children have probably only seen fireflies a handful of times. These days, it seems that these lightening bugs are few and far between and it got me to wondering why?

As it turns out, like bees and butterflies, fireflies are also dwindling in numbers. While the exact reason in unknown, it seems that three factors are to blame for the decline in numbers: habitat loss, chemicals/pesticides and light pollution.

If you are interested in creating an environment in your own yard where fireflies can flourish, here are a few tips that might help attract these luminescent insects to your yard.

come together. That being said, the addition of a water feature to your landscape will go a long way to entice them to your yard.

TURN OFF THE LANDSCAPE AND OUTDOOR LIGHTS

Exterior lighting interferes with the firefly’s glow. Their glow is used to attract mates and to ward off predators. If you provide them with a nice, dark environment they are more likely to thrive.

Other ideas that are helpful in creating a healthy habitat for fireflies include leaving piles of leaf litter around the yard, reducing the use of pesticides, and allowing slugs and snails to live – fireflies love to eat them!

Implementing some of these tips may just set your yard aglow this summer!

DON’T MOW THE YARD SO OFTEN

Fireflies are attracted to tall grass. They rest on the tall blades during the day, so mowing often will reduce the number of them in your yard.

PLANT PINE TREES

Native Pine Trees create the perfect environment for fireflies to flourish. They mate and lay their eggs in the canopy of the trees and the needles offer a great place for the larvae to grow. They can also offer a safe, dark place for them to rest during the day.

WATER IS KEY

Lightening bugs are especially attracted to warm, humid climates. They find standing water like marshes, ponds and lakes extremely attractive and love the spots where fields and streams

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LIGHTNING BUGS, OR FIREFLIES, LIGHT UP AT NIGHT BY PRODUCING A CHEMICAL REACTION INSIDE OF THEIR BODIES. THIS TYPE OF LIGHT PRODUCTION IS CALLED BIOLUMINESCENCE. THIS CHEMICAL REACTION IS CAUSED BY A CHEMICAL COMPOUND IN THEIR ABDOMENS CALLED LUCIFERIN.

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CRAFT BREWS

What's In a Nam e?

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KINEMATIC BREWING COMPANY 50140 Interstate 10 Frontage Rd Comfort, TX (830) 995-2001 www.kinematicbrewingco.com

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he Texas Hill Country has no shortage of amazing craft breweries – most of which offer up some oh-so-fun and incredibly interesting names for their signature selection of brews. That being said, did you ever wonder how some of these local beers got their names? Well, we sure did so we set out to ask these local brewers the stories and the process behind a few of their favorites. This month we feature Kinematic Brewing Company which is located just on the outskirts of Comfort, Texas.

Brewer and co-owner, Jon Beaumont, is the mastermind behind the beers and their names at Kinematic Brewing Co. If you have ever chatted with Jon for any length of time, you know how passionate he is about beer and many other things in life, including music, art, history and literature. As he brews, Beaumont keeps a log of all the typical things like temperatures, times, etc. However he also writes down anything he thinks about or is inspired by during the process – things like words, songs, poems, etc.

The beers don’t get named until after they are brewed and

tasted. According to Jon, “It is only after the beer is finished that it tells me what it wants to be named.” The folks at Kinematic admit that might sound a bit odd, but they insist that everything from their name and logo to the beers they brew have a lot of thought and meaning behind them. According to Jon’s wife, Jaime, “I often tell people that Jon takes longer to name a beer than he did our children!”

Currently, Beaumont is working on a series of IPAs inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The first in the series, Water Sinking Into Fire, is currently on tap. The second one, Fire Sinking Into Air, has been brewed and will be making its debut very soon!

Although the names in this current series have some serious depth to them, you will find more lightheartedly named beers, such

“The beers don’t get named until after they are brewed and tasted. According to Jon, “It is only after the beer is finished that it tells me what it wants to be named.”

as one of Kinematic’s fan favorites, Working Class Playwright ESB, which was named after one of their favorite Monty Python skits!

Jon and Jaime are proud to say that truly everything at Kinematic has thought and purpose behind it. They invite guests to stop in and experience everything the brewery has to offer and to never be afraid to ask, “What’s in the name?”

WWW.HAUTEAIRBOERNE.COM

FOR ALL OF LIFE'S CELEBRATIONS

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BOOKS

Juliette Marhofer-Dugger

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uliette is the published author of Watershed Warrior, with The Fedd Agency, located in Austin, Texas.

As a life coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and thought leader, her obsession with Soul Care in her own life, shaped her work and points others to rewrite their story and not to relive history. She has committed her life to helping others recover their breath in the middle of the war in their soul, not after it ends! Juliette is the founder of WildWell Company—a movement of freeing the mind and healing the body through Soul Care for females affected by childhood and adulthood trauma, systemic cycles and patterns of mental, emotional, spiritual abuse, and betrayal trauma.

Juliette and her team are passionate about reframing how we connect to faith, ourselves, and others to create a life of wonder through coaching, community, and retreats! After growing up in The Woodlands, Texas, she relocated to the Hill Country nearly twenty years ago.

Juliette encourages every human to pause, breathe, and realize they are worthy of beginning their own journey to wholeness!

•INSTAGRAM: @juliettemarhoferdugger •WATERSHED WARRIOR: Available on Amazon, Audible, iTunes, Kindle •PODCAST: Yellow Soul available now on Apple and Spotify •DISCOVER MORE HERE: www.wildwellcompany.com

Visit The Boerne Bookshop 153 S. Main St. #120 Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 249-0000

TheBoerneBookshop.com

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PROFILE

CENTRAL PROVISIONS & ZANZENBERG TAVERN

ARE PUTTING CENTER POINT, TEXAS

ON THE MAP

If you haven’t been to downtown Center Point, Texas lately then it is about time you head for the hills and check out these two new businesses that are making this quiet hill country town oh-so-cool!

Central Provisions

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his specialty market has a comfortable, downhome vibe.

It’s a casual space where you can grab a cup of coffee, a bite to eat and even an adult beverage. Business partners Kayte Graham and Elizabeth Bryson love all things local and have devoted this space to offering up a carefully crafted selection of local foods, wine, beer, coffee and even vintage finds and fun antiques.

According to Kayte, “My husband and I actually created the Kerrville Farmers Market and it was there that I met Beth.

She was selling her vintage goods and antiques and I was selling our local food items. We became fast friends and it didn’t take long for us to dream of opening our very own local farm store where we could not only sell our products, but goods from

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other local farmers, bakers and artisans. We found the space here in downtown Center Point, which was being renovated at the time, and the plan for Central Provisions all came together!”

The menu at Central Provisions is simple but delightful. They offer a selection of charcuterie boards, paninis, pastries, cookies and breads along with grab and go foods that you can easily pick up and take with you for a meal on the go. “You can even come in, grab some food, some wine, create your own little picnic basket and head down to the river for a fun lunch or dinner,” added Kayte. “A local baker

out of Fredericksburg delivers bread to us on Fridays. He makes the bread for our paninis and we have customers who call and reserve loafs. All of our meats, veggies and cheeses are locally sourced as well.”

For the vintage finds and antiques side of the business, Beth’s goal is to fill the store with unique items. “I am drawn to beautiful items that tell a story. I want to fill our shelves and walls with an eclectic

FUN FACT: The original name of Center Point was Zanzenberg, named after the ancestral home of the town founder, Dr. Charles Ganahl. The town was eventually renamed to Center Point due to its location on the trade routes between Comfor t and Kerr ville and Bandera and Fredericksburg.

collection of locally sourced items that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. If you can see in the object the hand or workmanship of the person that created, it even better,” said Beth.

Central Provisions also offers fun weekly events like live music, family game nights, books signings and pop-up events like their Porkchop Pop-Ups or Pizza Pop-Ups. They also offer Farm Dinners at Zanzenberg Farms, which is owned by Kayte and her husband Justin.

“As you can see, we offer a little bit of everything,” said Kayte. “Ultimately our goal is just to drive culture in a community that has been dormant for a while.” continued on page 16

Visit Central Provisions at 227 FM 480 – Center Point, Tx Wed/Thurs 11am to 6pm Fri/Sat 11am to 8pm Follow them on Social Media @centralprovision_tx for their monthly schedule of events, Pop-Ups and Farm Dinners CentralProvisionsTx.com

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Zanzenberg Tavern

C

hef Brian Montgomery has brought to life the oldest building in Kerr County through his hill country eatery and bar with a menu that focuses on locally sourced food and drinks from around the region.

Montgomery is a pioneer in farm-to-table dining and wows his patrons with an evolving menu that includes everything from steaks and burgers to empanadas. “Fresh, local ingredients are key in our signature dishes. We use only Wagyu beef from Peeler Farms and get our pork from Zanzenberg Farms,” said Montgomery. “Zanzenberg Tavern offers Pint and Plow beer, a fine selection of wine and is very cocktail forward. In fact, we just recently solidified our cocktail menu that took months to develop.”

“We have also recently added First Sunday Brunch, Reverse Happy Hour and Woodfired Wednesdays where we cook everything outside on the woodfired grill,” added Brian.

The atmosphere at Zanzenberg Tavern is enhanced by its beautifully restored, historic setting. The Story family recently renovated this former mercantile store and post office, bringing it back to its original beauty. According to Montgomery, “The twenty-four-inch-thick limestone walls, rough timber framing, expansive zinc bar and a lush patio full of locals, travelers and often live music really create the perfect backdrop for what we envisioned for this tavern.”

Make a reservation for a delicious meal, stop in for a carefully crafted cocktail, or make plans to attend one of their special events!

ZanzenbergTavern.com 217 FM 480 – Center Point (830) 634-2619 Wed/Thur 5pm to 10pm Fri/Sat 5pm to 11pm Sun 11am to 3pm

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Call for Cold, Refreshing Fun Drink Specials Sunday & Monday $4 TX Beer $4 Wells

Whiskey Wednesday $4 Fireman’s 4 - $4 Bulleit $4 Rebecca Creek

Friday $3 Dos XX Draft & Bottle $6 Sloe Gin Fizz

Truly Tequila Tuesday $4 Truly $4 Ranch Water

Thursday is Girls Night Out $5 Martinis, Margaritas & Cosmos

Saturday $3 Miller Lite Draft & Bottles $4 Deep Eddy Flavors

5 1 2 R I V E R R DWWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM . | BOERNE, T X

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ART OF

ART OF glass blowing Moore on Art by Deva Moore

It has been reported that glass blowing is one of the oldest art forms, if not the oldest art forms in the world. It is unique and delicate, while being a distinct hardy art. So please do not “blow” off enjoying this month’s art and artist!

T

im Lotton comes from a quite prestigious line of glass blowing artists. His grandfather, Charles Lotton, a well known glass blowing artist began the empire of Lotton Art Glass for the next three generations and I am certain that the art will continue pleasing art lovers for years to come.

Charles was instrumental in glass blowing and creating his own style and tools in his backyard.

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He included his sons and the next generation of talent with his grandson, Tim. The actual chemistry of the glass is unique to Lotton Art Glass. The special bold, inventive colors, glass components and style are easily identified as Lotton glass worldwide. Tim is especially proud of the attention in the art world and the reputation that his grandfather began and continues today. Charles passed away in 2021, but his talent lives on in Tim and Tim’s dad and uncles.

In my opiunion, glass blowing art is treasured and should be in everyone’s art collection. Tim offers some beautiful vases, display pieces, sculptures and many other extraordinary blown glass pieces. Glass blowing is an art in itself and the magic colors that Tim’s grandfather created and passed the secret down to his sons and grandson has drawn the attention of art collectors all over the world.

Glass blowing is a difficult and magical process. Special pristine sand from select beaches and areas all over the world are used in the melting to create the glass used in glass blowing. Tim follows his grandfather’s traditional talent of mixing unique and

bold colors to make the designs and art desired by many. No one else is able to recreate the beauty and pop of Lotton blown glass.

The process Tim shared with me is quite special and creates a delicate, yet sturdy art for generations to enjoy. Some pieces may only take Tim a few hours to create while other pieces require days or even longer to complete. Once the project is begun, the many steps to complete it require patience and structure. Tim gets his inspiration from his grandfather, dad and uncles but has created his own niche in the glass blowing world. Vases, structural abstracts, and even sculptures all carry Tim’s unique style and beauty.

The process for Tim, as with all artists starts as a thought or idea in his mind. Many artists share that the mind is the most valuable tool in the toolbox. The visual form begins the art creation. From that idea comes the planning and executing of the idea. Gather the materials, plan the colors, melt the sand with the necessary components to create a pristine glass. Mix the fluxes with the sand to create the beautiful designs. Glass blowing requires the knowledge of layering. The process is not just a simple creation!

I would like to enlighten you on Tim’s path of being an artist.

His teen years were spent in countless hours of being mentored by his talented family. But at the young age of eight he had already realized his talent was just as strong as his mentor family and that glass blowing art was also his destiny. His first art projects were paperweights that drew expansive attention. By the time Tim graduated high school, he had begun his artistic pursuits and his art was being exhibited and sold in many prestigious art galleries across the nation.

Glass blowing is a layered art. It requires the understanding of melting, mixing, annealing, sanding, layering and so much more!

While I was mesmerized by Tim’s expertise and knowledge, I was lost in the talent that he exhibits. This is not a kit one can buy at Walmart! The colors that the Lotton family create have such boldness and beauty that I have not seen reproduced by anyone else in the art world. Tim enjoys the challenges that glass blown

art provides. The small paperweights to the very large sculptures all share Tim’s unique style that is recognized as a Lotton original, although Tim has his own special “signature” that is easily identified.

He has a private studio that he does not currently open to the public, but his work is exhibited at the Texas Treasures Gallery in Boerne. Texas Treasures is located at 919 State Hwy 46 East, Suite 102. One can contact them at 830-816-5335 during their business hours or view their website at www.texastreasuresfineart. com. Texas Treasures has an entire gallery of talented artists and their art for sale.

Tim has been creating his path to perfection and he has mastered it well. He never turns from a challenge and only sees each project as its value emerges and he quickly fine tunes any steps that he experiences as sharpening his skills. Like most artists, the current is a favorite, but he is always improving what he feels can only make his art better. I found flawless beauty, as does all of his previous and current audience of appreciative art lovers find in Tim Lotton glass blown art.

Tim shared with me that the glass blowing art is traditionally the same as it was 100 years ago with little need to improve the vast majority processes. With the Lotton family influence and design on color formation, the art is expressive and beautiful. Tim is proud of his family’s contribution and proud to continue the

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“Glass blowing is a layered art. It requires the understanding of melting, mixing, annealing, sanding, layering and so much more! “ work. His goal is to share his talent with the world making them happy with his glass art. Tim has an Instagram that can be found @TimothyLottonGlassWorks.

Tim’s work ranges from traditional to contemporary and everyone can find a treasured beauty for themselves. A very unique fact about Tim that I found out is that he creates his own sand and his art is completely from “scratch” so to speak. He creates the glass, the colors, the entire piece of art is Tim Lotton completely.

So if you need to add some excitement to your art collection or even your life…just “blow” up some excitement and look through the looking “glass” for your own beautiful art magic. Tim can brighten your world with his uplifting talent of blowing glass art pieces. Glass blowing is an art as old as time, so do not let time blow away before you get yours…the sands of time are slipping away.

same quality for three generations.

Glass blowing art is most successfully created indoors. It is necessary to control the conditions related to temperature, wind, space, environment and attendance. Tim enjoys music as a motivational aspect, but shared with me that it can also be distracting at times. He assured me that with proper supervision this art is quite suitable for children. He was quite comfortable with his guidance as a child and always felt that he was given the proper understanding of all aspects and instructed in safety continually.

Tim’s art is all over the world. It has been collected by art enthusiasts from the United States to Singapore to South Korea and more. This makes it even more important to own a piece of Tim Lotton glass blown art now. Make your plans to visit the Texas Treasures Gallery soon. Tim offers some commissioned pieces, but one must contact him for a consultation first. He sees his joy in his art collector fans faces when they clamor for his

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EVENTS

BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS has announced its 2024 Season

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NOTHING COMPARES.

he 12th Year of Boerne Performing Arts will include a Three-Concert Series for 2024 and a Special Event taking place at the end of 2023. Artists from around the world include Time for Three, The Swingles, Drum Tao and Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

Currently, Special Event tickets for Time for Three are available only with the purchase of 2024 Season Tickets. Single event tickets will go on sale November 1, 2023. Season Tickets are now available to order at www.BoernePerformingArts.com.

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GET OUT AND ENJOY THE GREAT TEXAS HILL COUNTRY!

June Calendar of Events

Bandera Saturdays Cowboys on Main

MAIN STREET

10:00am to 2:00pm Expect to see and interact with a sample of the old west cowboy lifestyle on Bandera Main Street.

Hosted by Bandera Business Association.

listen. Pickers who play cowboy, Texas, or Western swing music are welcome to sit in. banderacowboycapital.com June 25 Frontier Times Fourth Sunday Jamboree

FRONTIER TIMES MUSEUM, 510 13TH ST.

Saturdays Bandera Cattle Company Gunfighters

On the fourth Sunday of each month, the Frontier Times Museum hosts this afternoon jamboree with live music, storytelling, and fun for all ages. frontiertimesmuseum.org

11:00am to 1:00pm Bandera Visitors Center - 830-796-3045 Bring the kids and have them get deputized after the show!

Boerne Every Friday & Saturday Night Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort SINGER/SONGWRITER SERIES

BANDERA VISITORS CENTER, 126 HWY 16 S.

June 2-Aug. 25 Riding on Faith Friday Night Summer Series Rodeo

MANSFIELD PARK ARENA, 2886 SH 16 NORTH This open rodeo on Friday nights features bullriding, mini-bulls, barrel racing, and roping. facebook.com/ridingonfaithrodeoseries June 3 Bandera Market Day

BANDERA COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 500 MAIN ST. On the first Saturday of the month, arts and crafts vendors set up their pop-up shops along Main Street.

Artists and craftspeople present original works while farmers sell produce, canned goods, and baked goods. banderabusiness.com June 3-July 29 Chuckwagon Dinner and Show

FLYING L RANCH AND RESORT, 675 FLYING L DRIVE A barbecue dinner with all the fixin’s, live country music, dancing, and Western entertainment are part of the fun at this chuckwagon dinner and show on Saturday evenings. flyingl.com June 6 Cowboy Opry

SILVER SAGE, 803 BUCK CREEK DRIVE Silver Sage community and senior center hosts this Grand Ole Opry-style show on the first Tuesday of most months. Along with the entertainment, the event offers refreshments and door prizes. silversage.org June 15 Third Thursday Cowboy Camp with Lew Peterbaugh

BANDERA BEVERAGE BARN, 1407 SH 16 NORTH Bring your guitar to play along or simply come to

24 | EXPLORE

1 RESORT WAY

6:30pm to 10:30pm at La Cascada Table & Bar Kick back at La Cascada Table & Bar and enjoy pure Texas fare, a refreshing beverage, and live music from talented artists Friday and Saturday evenings. tapatiosprings.com Live Music at Dog & Pony Grill

1481 S. MAIN

Weekends in June – See Ad on Page 2 for full schedule Saturdays A Day at the Farm and Farmers Market

HISTORIC HERFF FARM, 33 HERFF ROAD

Whether you want to hike the trails, shop in the open air, get gardening inspiration, take classes on growing your food, help the Cibolo Center for Conservation maintain the land through volunteer service projects, or get new recipe ideas, the Farmers Market at Herff Farm is open rain or shine every Saturday throughout the year. cibolo.org/locations/herff-farm Old Jail Museum Tours

KENDALL COUNTY HISTORIC JAIL, 208 E. SAN ANTONIO AVE. The Kendall County Historic Jail was constructed in 1887 and served for a century as the county jail.

In recent years, the Friends of the Kendall County Historic Jail have restored the space, bringing it back to life as a one-of-a-kind museum of Kendall County history. The jail is open for tours every Saturday. thejail.org June 3 Moondance Concert

CIBOLO CENTER FOR CONSERVATION, 140 CITY PARK ROAD Moondance is a longstanding, beloved tradition at the Cibolo. Grab your lawn chairs, coolers, and friends, and come enjoy live music from local bands under the

oak trees. This summer welcomes back some of the center’s favorite music groups and food trucks from past Moondances, and also welcomes new soon-to-be favorites. cibolo.org/moondance June 4 Bellamy Brothers in Concert

THE ROUNDUP OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE, 531 FM 3351 NORTH The love still flows for the Bellamy Brothers. Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they’ve ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself—music they have been playing for 40 years. therounduptx.com June 10-11 Market Days

MAIN PLAZA, 100 N. MAIN ST. On the second weekend of each month, spend a day browsing the market and visiting the many downtown boutiques, galleries, and restaurants for a unique Hill Country experience. There are a variety of bargains to be found on items such as jewelry, plants, art, handcrafts, collectibles, and antiques. boernemarketdays.com/boerne.html June 10, 24 Bluegrass Jam at The AgriCultural

THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM AND ARTS CENTER, 102 CITY PARK ROAD Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, bring your instrument and play along or just come to listen to the Bluegrass Jam at The AgriCultural (formerly the Agricultural Heritage Museum). theagricultural.org/bluegrass-jams June 10, 24 Kuhlmann-King Museum Tour and Programs

KUHLMANN-KING MUSEUM, 402 E. BLANCO ROAD

The Kuhlmann-King house gives the public the opportunity to step back in time to see what a historic Boerne home looked like “way back when.” Monthly events and themes vary. bahpsboerne.org June 13, 27 Abendkonzerte

MAIN PLAZA, 100 N. MAIN ST. Come hear traditional German music and stories of Boerne’s historic past at these summer concerts featuring the Boerne Village Band. ci.boerne.tx.us/1104/concerts-in-the-park June 17 Music in the Cave: Summer Solstice

CAVE WITHOUT A NAME THRONE ROOM, 325 KREUTZBERG ROAD

Enjoy a variety of acoustic, world-beat music

styles featuring the words and music of singer and performance artist Rudi Harst (vocals, acoustic guitar, Native American flute, dulcimer, harmonica, Tibetan bowls) surrounded by the Rudiments. The combination of Rudi and the Rudiments and the Queen’s Throne Room at Cave Without a Name makes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, no matter how many times you go. cavewithoutaname.com Comfort June 10 Second Saturdays at America Reclaimed

AMERICA RECLAIMED, 810 AVENUE A

Shop reclaimed lumber, antiques, vintage signs, custom furniture & more. Live Music!

Complimentary Adult Beverages! And lots of fun!

Americareclaimed.co June 13 Music in the Park

COMFORT PARK, 423 MAIN ST.

On the second Tuesday of the month, embrace the warm summer weather with a free outdoor concert.

Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged, and tips for musicians are accepted and appreciated. comfort-texas.com Fredericksburg June 1-4 Hill Country Film Festival

HOFFMAN HAUS, 608 E. CREEK

“The Best Little Film Festival in Texas” is a celebration of independent film in the Texas Hill Country. The festival screens over 85 independent films (short and feature length) as well as hosts revealing Q&As, filmmaker panel discussions, and opportunities for attendees to rub elbows with filmmakers. Locations include the Hoffman Haus and Admiral Nimitz Ballroom. Hillcountryff.com June 1-29 Little Pioneers Homestead Adventures

PIONEER MUSEUM, 312 W. SAN ANTONIO ST.

The Gillespie County Historical Society and the Pioneer Museum introduce Little Pioneers, which includes activities that take place every Thursday and teach children pioneer ways. Children ages 10 and under can enjoy a different hands-on craft each week. Parents learn along with their children. pioneermuseum.org June 10 Craft Beer Festival

MARKTPLATZ, 100 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN STREET Save the date for the second annual fundraising festival designed to bring Texas craft beer breweries to town.

Enjoy Texas craft beer, meet brew masters, relax in the Marktplatz Biergarten, attend Brew and Taste cooking sessions, visit food concessions and a home brewers DIY area, participate in the Stein Hoist competition, and hear live music. fbgcraftbeerfestival.com June 16-18 Trade Days

TRADE DAYS, 355 SUNDAY FARMS LANE Shop more than 350 vendors in seven barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, shabby chic, primitives, ranch furniture, hunting accessories, candles, unique clothing, jewelry, food, and other items. fbgtradedays.com

Enjoy a free Sunday evening concert featuring a different genre of music each time. You’re welcome to bring your chairs, eats, and drinks. visitfredericksburgtx.com Hunt May 27-Sept. 2 Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall

CRIDER’S RODEO AND DANCEHALL, 2310 SH 39 For 95 years, Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall has been a entertainment spot along the banks of the Guadalupe River each summer, with seasonal rodeos, live music, and dancing on Saturday nights. The season kicks off on May 27 with a rodeo followed by dancing and live music by Mike Donnell. cridersrandd.com Ingram June 9-11, 16-18, 23-24 Disney’s “Newsies”

HILL COUNTRY ARTS FOUNDATION, 120 POINT THEATRE ROAD Set in New York City at the turn of the century, the Broadway musical “Newsies” is a rousing tale about Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of “newsies,” who dream of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. hcaf.com June 30-July 28 Summer Art Market

HILL COUNTRY ARTS FOUNDATION, 120 POINT THEATRE ROAD More than 20 artists and craftsmen display their handmade wares. hcaf.com Johnson City June 24-25 Market Days

June 3 Kerr County Market Days and Hill Country Swap Meet

KERR COUNTY HILL COUNTRY YOUTH EVENT CENTER, 3785 SH 27 Market Days continues to feature artists and crafters bringing their own original handcrafted items. Hill Country Swap Meet is a community garage sale/flea market. Kerrmarketdays.org June 9-10 Open Pro Rodeo

KERR COUNTY HILL COUNTRY YOUTH EVENT CENTER, 3785 SH 27 See exciting rodeo events including bareback and saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, ladies barrel racing, bull riding, calf scramble, and mutton busting for the kids. lmrodeo.com June 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 “Beer For Breakfast”

PLAYHOUSE 2000 VK GARAGE THEATER, 305 WASHINGTON ST. Celebrating its 20th year, this exhibition offers works by some of the finest professional artists and craftspeople from Texas. texasmasters.com June 23 Concerts by the River

LOUISE HAYS PARK, 202 THOMPSON DRIVE Pack up your lawn chairs and picnic blankets and come out to the park to enjoy a summer concert along the banks of the beautiful Guadalupe River. This month’s featured artists are Landon Lloyd Miller and Rebecca Loebe. kerrvilletexascvb.com/events

BLANCO COUNTY COURTHOUSE SQUARE, 101 E. PECAN DRIVE Held the fourth weekend of the month, this openair market features vendors and artisans selling handmade or locally produced products in the heart of Texas wine country. johnsoncitytexas.info Kerrville June 1-June 11 Kerrville Folk Festival

QUIET VALLEY RANCH, 3876 MEDINA HIGHWAY This annual festival features 18 days and nights of music from songwriters of national and international acclaim. One of the longest continuously running music festivals in the U.S., the festival has activities for all ages with a focus on nurturing and developing artistic expression, especially the art of songwriting, in a loving family-friendly environment. kerrvillefolkfestival.org June 3-4 Shakespeare in the Park: “Richard III”

LOUISE HAYS PARK, 202 THOMPSON DRIVE

Playhouse 2000 partners once again with the city of Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department and the Tivy High School Technical Theater Department to bring Shakespeare to the community free of charge.

This year, for the first time, the theater company delves into the bard’s history plays, presenting perhaps his most famous. Discover what follows “the winter of our discontent.” caillouxperformingarts.com

hillcountryexplore.com (210) 219-6735

June 25-Aug. 27 PCAA Concerts in the Park

MARKTPLATZ, 100 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN STREET

WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM

| JUNE 2023 |

25

GOOD EATS

N

othing says summer quite like roadside stands filled with fresh fruits and vegetables – watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and of course – fresh, juicy peaches!

We know that this area of the world, especially around Fredericksburg and Stonewall, is a prime location for these fuzzy little fruits, but what exactly is it that makes the Texas hill country the ideal spot to grow these oh-so-sweet peaches? Well, as it turns out, the area around Gillespie County has just the right combination of conditions to create the perfect peach – hot

summers, cold - but not overly cold - winters, just the right day to night temperature variation and limestone-rich soil that is full of micronutrients and minerals.

Years ago, this area was known for growing not peaches, but peanuts! Then around the 1950s, the area farmers needed a new crop to focus their efforts on as peanuts became hard to grow, and harder to make a profit on. Local farmers took note of how well their peach trees performed and shifted their focus. Today, peaches are the leading deciduous fruit crop in Texas. In Gillespie County alone there are some 600 acres of peach trees! continued on page 28

THE LOCAL PEACH GROWING SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM MID-MAY THROUGH AUGUST

26 | EXPLORE

GERMAN SETTLERS BROUGHT PEACH SEEDS WITH THEM AND PLANTED THE FIRST PEACH TREES IN THIS AREA IN THE EARLY 1800S. PEACHES ARE ACTUALLY NATIVE TO CHINA, BUT QUICKLY TOOK OFF IN OUR LOCAL CLIMATE AND SOIL CONDITIONS.

Unplug with a Good Book in Kendall County’s Bookstore

Open 10-6 Sunday-Thursday 10-8 Friday & Saturday 153 S. Main St. #120 Boerne, TX 78006 830-249-0000 www.TheBoerneBookshop.com Dale@TheBoerneBookshop.com

We focus on a high-quality experience with books that appeal to all readers.

Having a wide range of topics and an eclectic mixture in all areas is a point of pride for us. We want to both provide the books our customers are seeking and expose them to books that will intrigue them. To this end we seek to engage with our customers on what they read and the topics that interest them. And if we don’t have something you want, we can get it.

Visiting Authors on Saturdays 1-3 pm | Wine & Write on the last Thursday of the month 7-9 pm WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM

| JUNE 2023 |

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continued from page 27

Grilled Peaches PLACING PEACHES ON THE GRILL HAS A WAY OF INTENSIFYING THEIR NATURAL SWEETNESS DIRECTIONS

Cut the peaches in half, de-pit them and place on the grill at low to medium heat for the perfect summer treat.

Keep it simple with only fresh peaches and little bit of olive oil, or take it up a notch and create a mixture of butter, cinnamon and sugar.

28 | EXPLORE

FUN TIP:

For some salty-sweet goodness, sprinkle your grilled peaches with specialty salt from the Texas Salt Co. They offer a Peachwood salt that would pair perfectly, or add some spice with one of their smoked salts with heat, like the Habanero Smoked Salt.

Fresh Peach Dump Cake

DON’T MISS THE 62ND ANNUAL STONEWALL PEACH JAMBOREE & RODEO JUNE 15TH-17TH

EVERYBODY LOVES A PEACH COBBLER, BUT WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT. THIS DESSERT IS NOT ONLY DELICIOUS, BUT COULDN’T BE EASIER! INGREDIENTS

4 cups fresh peaches – peeled and cut ¼ cup water 1 box of yellow cake mix 1/3 cup of sugar ¾ cup of butter – sliced thin Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 2. Peel and cut the peaches and place in a bowl with the sugar for around 20 minutes 3. Add in the water 4. In a 9x13 baking pan, pour the peach mixture and sprinkle the yellow cake mix over the top 5. Place the slices of butter evenly over the cake mix 6. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top is a golden brown.

WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM

| JUNE 2023 |

29

FUN & GAMES

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30 | EXPLORE

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WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM MAKE YOUR HOME AN EXPERIENCE!| JUNE 2023 |

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THE LARGEST POWERSPORTS SUPERSTORE IN SOUTH TEXAS! FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 50+ YEARS

Alamo Cycle Plex is one of the area’s premier powersports dealers! Come meet our professional sales members, finance experts, service technicians and knowledgeable parts and accessories staff. We pride ourselves on having well-trained experts here to support you!

SALES, SERVICE, PARTS & ACCESSORIES | (210) 696-2000