Rock & Vine - Spring 2020

DEEP ROOTS AT SELAH RANCH

Rock&Vine GOOD LIFE IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

FAMILY IN HUNT committed to natural growth INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER opens vault of treasures

ROCKANDVINEMAG.COM $4.95

KERRVILLE GALLERY showcases Texas artists SPRING 2020

COMMUNIT Y IS

CONVERSATION A new neighborhood of custom farmhouses that look out over the Texas Hill Country.

Your peace of home.

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reserve your lot today

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G R A P E C R E E K V I N E YA R D S

O N E W I N E D E S T I N AT I O N HWY290 | FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

NOW OPEN

H E AT H S PA R K L I N G W I N E S

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FEATURES

in every issue

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8

Slate Gray supports artists and community

Publisher's Letter

Kimberly Giles

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Contributors

Wolfmueller's Books: The place for Lone Star literature

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Ken Esten Cooke

Drinkery Maps

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Ox Ranch: Like none other Gayne C Young

93 A 1960s youth band shared big time for a brief time Michael Barr

Books photographed by Austin-based photographer Robert G. Gomez.

Rock&Vine

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Events

Find out what's happing in your area

105 End Notes

ON THE COVER: Photographer Robert G. Gomez captures the bounty of Bridget's Basket

DEPARTMENTS 34 TASTE Best burgers found in the Hill Country Kimberly Giles

40 TASTE Restaurateur finds herself rooted in her community Kimberly Giles

52 HAUS Harmony in Homebuilding Ken Esten Cooke Kimberly Giles

63 HAUS Hardscaping interiors with stone, tile, granite and flooring

71 IN THE HILLS J. David Bamberger's legacy is a lesson in land conversation Daniel Oppenheimer

78 IN THE HILLS Archery and Angling ‘til Midnight Steve Taylor

83 DRINKERY The cases for, against 100% Texas Wine movement Andre Boada

88 DRINKERY 5 Stones Artisan Brewery Lee Nichols

Kimberly Giles

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Rock&Vine

Mon. - Thurs. 10-5:15 Fri. & Sat. 10-7:15 Sun. 12-5:15 Check website for Holidays Phone: (830) 990-8747 email: wine@fbgwinery.com

www.fbgwinery.com

247 W. Main

(in town - one block west of the Courthouse) Large parking area in front RV parking in back.

Fredericksburg, TX 78624 SPRING 2020

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contributors

Rock&Vine Featuring the best life has to offer in the Texas Hill Country.

A product of Fredericksburg Publishing Company.

Publisher/Editor Ken Esten Cooke Contributing Editor Sherrie Geistweidt Design Editor Andrea Chupik Contributing Writers Michael Barr, Andre Boada, Jennifer Eggleston, Kimberly Giles, Shannon Lowry, Lee Nichols, Steve Taylor, Gayne C. Young Contributing Photographers/Artists Barney Kane, Robert G. Gomez, Kelbe Schrank, Rusty Yates Advertising/Marketing Director Kimberly Giles

So much beauty amid the unknown

By KEN ESTEN COOKE Publisher y wife and I are true word nerds. Both writers and readers, we use our vacation time to scout out bookstores and pick up local publications for ideas and inspiration. As a fourth-generation publisher, I come by this quite naturally.

It is always a good time to hunker down with good books. It is definitely time to read (or re-read) our favorite Texas authors. I am fortunate to only live 25 minutes away from Wolfmueller Books in Kerrville, which has the best selection of Texas books and collector books.

Check out my interview with the owners in this edition and then head over to downtown Kerrville, which is seeing a revival of its downtown with new shops and interesting offerings. Slate Grey Gallery next door is another must-see.

You might also want to head up to Llano and try Badu 1891, an incredible new eatery.

And if you’re feeling anxious about all the news, here’s a little perspective from my favorite Cormac McCarthy book “All The Pretty Horses”: “He said that those who have endured some misfortune will always be set apart but that it is just that misfortune which is their gift and which is their strength.”

-kec-

Account Executives Cindy G. Burdorf, Ann Duecker, Kim Jung Rock&Vine Magazine 712 W. Main St. | P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Phone 830 997 2155 rockandvinemag.com SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: $20 for two years www.rockandvinemag.com

COPYRIGHT: Rock&Vine Magazine is published by the Fredericksburg Publishing Company. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice or endorsement, but is considered informative.

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It doesn’t seem right to not greet our Hill Country visitors with a hug or hearty handshake, but rather with elbow bumps or a namaste bow. As this is being written, our Texas bluebonnets are nearing peak bloom.

(Wildflowers are still a huge part of visitor traffic to our region.)

But we are also dealing with the recommendation of avoiding gatherings. Please check websites of the individual events.

The Hill Country is full of year-round attractions and small gems both on and off the beaten path. They make this place special. They make this place alive. And we enjoy bringing them to you.

Peace and namaste.

Ken Esten Cooke –R&V– We want to know what you think about our growing publication. Please send feedback and story ideas to ken@fredericksburgstandard.com. And thanks for reading.

WRITE US

ADVERTISE

SUBSCRIBE

RockandVineMag@gmail.com

Kimberly Giles kgiles@fredericksburgstandard.com 830.285.7230 ig: rocknvine

$20 for two years Send to 712 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624 or subscribe at RockandVineMag.com

Editorial submissions: ken@fredericksburgstandard.com

Kimberly Giles is our Rock & Vine Ambassador, who is always scouting for stories in our Texas Hill Country, email her @ kgiles@fredericksburgstandard.com

Michael Barr is a retired teacher who writes a history column. Read his bi-weekly column in the Fredericksburg Standard newspaper.

Robert G. Gomez is an Austin-based, Texas-raised photographer with a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Texas and an associate’s degree in photography from Austin Community College. His work can be found at robertggomez.com.

Barney Kane is our resident ad production designer on staff at Rock & Vine Magazine.

Shannon Lowry is a freelance writer and a former editor for Texas newspapers and magazines.

Andre Boada, a 20 year veteran in the wine and spirits industry and is a certified Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

He has published articles in Wine & Spirits Magazine and is an active speaker/ in many national and international wine competitions.

Andrea Chupik is a graphic designer / art director living in Fredericksburg. View her work at designranchcreative.com.

Lee Nichols is a freelance writer based in Austin. He loves beer and two-stepping in Texas dance halls, especially with his daughter, Lucy.

Daniel Oppenheimer is a fifth-generation Texan based in Gillespie County. He is the Land Program Manager for the Hill Country Alliance.

...

Letter to the editor I just have to say... what an impressive magazine you’ve created! It’s so inspiring to read articles about people and businesses within our community and all around the Hill Country.

Sharing stories of the history that has shaped us into where we are now and new ventures arriving to the area to enhance our everyday life of Texas Hill Country living.

The look, the articles, the people, the information gathered to bring to your pages are an amazing publication to have here! Looking forward to the next edition!

Leigh Lacy Fredericksburg, Texas

...

Steve Taylor is a Fredericksburg freelance writer who works with Taylored Communications.

More information is at anntaylorcontentmaster.com.

VISIT US ONLINE AT Jennifer Eggleston of cottage industry and Southern Living's designer network. Will continue to share her insights and design advice with us in our ensuing issues of Rock & Vine's Haus section.

Gayne C. Young is a writer, hunter, and adventurer living in Fredericksburg. He is an editor and writer for numerous magazines.

rockandvinemag.com

SPRING 2020

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TASTE HAUS drinkery

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BLANCO

KERRVILLE

DRIPPING SPRINGS

COMFORT

M A R B L E FA L L S

BOERNE

H O R S E S H O E B AY

SAN ANTONIO

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NEW BRAUNFELS

SAN ANGELO

GRUENE

DA L L AS

WIMBERLEY

HOUSTON

ADVERTISE WISELY. THE HILL COUNTRY’S BEST.

Rock&Vine KIMBERLY GILES

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830.285.7230 • kgiles@fredericksburgstandard.com

ART RHYMES WITH HEART

By KIMBERLY GILES Photos by ROBERT G. GOMEZ

SLATE GRAY GALLERY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO FOUNDER/OWNER BETH MCLAUGHLIN

eth McLaughlin is not the typical gallerist. She does not come from a family of dealers or artists.

But she is an entrepreneur and philanthropist committed to promoting the arts and giving back to her community.

The inspiration behind Slate Gray Gallery in Kerrville launched more than 20 years ago when McLaughlin began visiting the Hill Country on weekend getaways from Austin. She was inspired by the natural beauty and the relaxed, artsy vibe. McLaughlin has since made the Kerrville area her permanent home and she splits her time between a second gallery location in Telluride, Colorado.

What is important for her is engaging and promoting the work of local and regional creatives, alongside the international artists. Currently Slate Gray Gallery represents about 40 local artists between the two regions in an effort for them to continue to live and create in the places they love. “I like what I like and I hope you do too,” she said.

“It’s important to promote and connect local artists with patrons and art enthusiasts and give our artists a home to display and sell their art,” McLaughlin said. “The flip side to this is that we have become a renowned destination for collectors to find the best talent that the Hill Country has to offer. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Mixed media mask by artist John Self

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Beth McLaughlin is the founder-owner.

GIVING BACK Although her Telluride gallery location features a selection of works that are more abstract and contemporary in style, her Kerrville location features both traditional realism and contemporary pieces. Both galleries opened in 2015. The Kerrville location was the first and the impetus was two-fold to promote her “friends, fellow artisans” and to assist in revitalizing Kerrville’s historic downtown.

Projects McLaughlin has spearheaded in Kerrville, other than her gallery, include opening the Schreiner Goods with then business partner Keri Kropp, and the recent restoration of the historic landmark Guthrie Building. She is serves on the nonprofit board for “Arcadia Live,” which will direct the re-opening of the Arcadia Theater to the public (after 30 years of dormancy) as an event and live music venue.

McLaughlin said it is important for Slate Gray Gallery in both locations to reinvest back into their communities and support arts-based nonprofits.

Marla Coffee-Key is an interior designer and gallery manager. (Photos of her in the restored Guthrie building)

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WE ASKED MCLAUGHLIN TO SHARE WHY SHE LOVES AND CREATES SPACE FOR THESE PARTICULAR FOUR ARTISTS.

Carol Arnold began working in pastels and expanded into oils over the past year. She is inspired by nature and is an avid traveler around Texas. “Carol just keeps getting better,” McLaughlin said. “Everyone wants to own a Carol.”

Karen Freeman is originally from Kerrville but had a long stint in Manhattan as an architectural designer. Freeman’s abstract expressionist works are mixed media that are rich with organic and architectural structure. “Karen’s wide variety of sizes and gorgeous colorations make her a favorite for interior designers and architects,” McLaughlin said.

Katherine Lott is one of McLaughlin’s longest-standing artists – the gallery was originally created for her – and a friend. Lott works in oils, cold wax, and metallic leaf.

“They are simply peaceful and beautiful, and you can feel her depth of soul through each of her varied works,” McLaughlin said. Lott is also a holistic practitioner and has strong connections to the Native American heritage.

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OUR HISTORIC OFFICE

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Lodging & Hospitality In addition to helping you find your ideal accommodation, we offer a wide selection of concierge services including grocery delivery, spa bookings, fresh flowers and Fredericksburg Gift Baskets.

BOOK YOUR STAY. GO ONLINE TO FBGLODGING.COM,

John Self is a found-object sculptor who is collected all over the country. “John is the most creative, quirky and funniest artist on deck,” McLaughlin said. “His work is exceptionally crafted and never ceases to amaze.” Self scours estate and garage sales to source his endless need for unique parts that he can craft into sculpture.

A great amount of storytelling and self-expression is nurtured by McLaughlin and her staff. “We have a gorgeous historic downtown and a long history of arts appreciation here in Kerrville that we are thrilled to be a part of,” she said. R&V

The McLaughlin Doty foundation supports non-profit charitable organizations that strives to improve educational, community and health opportunities for under privileged adults and children. It also supports selected projects of national and international significance that actively promotes positive change in people’s lives.

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CALL 1 (866) 427-8374 OR VISIT OUR OFFICE ON MAIN STREET.

WELCOME TO YOUR HOME IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. Discover our family-owned, boutique wine resort in a rustic-meets-upscale oasis in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Stay in our spacious villas with luxury amenities. Enjoy award-winning wines inspired by a founding family of Texas Wine Country.

Dine in Old 290 Brewery steakhouse-style restaurant featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a much needed get away, Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa is the perfect escape.

4064 West US Highway 290 | Johnson City, Texas 78636 855.729.0443 | reservations@cartercreek.com | CarterCreek.com

SPRING 2020 15

YOU’LL ENJOY THE CUISINE AND

savor the memories Hill Country cuisine | over 50 wineries and tasting rooms | museums & historic sites | peaches & wildflowers German heritage | golf | sophisticated shopping | festivals & events | eclectic art galleries | cycling | live Texas music

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VisitFredericksburgTX.com

TEXAS’ PREMIER ESTATE WINERY

Frederiisburg, Texas

www.augustavin.com SPRING 2020 17

Jon and Sandy Wolfmueller are leading authorities and sellers of Texas literature from their Wolfmueller Books in downtown Kerrville.

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Collectible "cowboy lit" is a popular item at Wolfmueller Books.

THE PLACE FOR LONE STAR LITERATURE WOLFMUELLER’S BOOKS IN KERRVILLE THRIVING IN ONLINE AGE

By KEN ESTEN COOKE

eed a copy of “The Mustangs,” by J. Frank Dobie? Looking for an “Old Yeller” first edition? Or what about that 1968 Larry McMurtry “In a Narrow Grave” that has only 15 surviving copies and is worth a mint?

Jon and Sandy Wolfmueller might have it or they know who does. Their used bookstore – consistently voted one of the best in the state – is becoming known as the place for lovers of Lone Star literature and lore. Their cozy, two-story building in downtown Kerrville has 30,000 titles, including new selections, an amazing choice of genres, and about anything that is important to Texas.

“We tried to create a niche, and that’s the way it worked out. We’re both interested in Texas history,” Jon said of their built-up reputation as the go-to for the state’s literature.

Photos by ROBERT G. GOMEZ

“We do have a lot of new books, but there are just titles that people want over and over. We scour and buy at estate sales or from people looking to downsize. People bring us books and we go and buy at sales,” Sandy said. “And book people are good people to deal with.”

“We enjoy our customers,” Jon said. “We like waiting on them and they like seeing us and visiting with us. If you go into a place you like and see the owner, it just makes a shopper more comfortable.

So it works for us.”

The words “friendly,” “accessible” and “unique” come up frequently when customers describe the place. Jon’s sister Jean helps out when they are away or on a buying excursion.

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IT HAS A UNIQUE BLEND OF RARE, COLLECTIBLE BOOKS. – Casey Doherty

The owners carry books and collector's items on many of Texas's 254 counties, plus copies of iconic authors like Elmer Kelton.

“It has a unique blend of rare, collectible books,” said Casey Doherty, a Houston attorney who has a home in nearby Hunt. “I’m a collector, so I have bought several titles on Texas history. They’ve helped me become educated, but also recommended just other good reads.”

Kathleen Keen of Kerrville, the wife of troubadour Robert Earl, is another frequent customer.

“Having gone into all kinds of bookstores, all those wonderful attributes of every store are present at Wolfmueller’s because they are so passionate about what they do,” Keen said. “I’ve gone through a number of areas of interest, and I can walk in there with any subject interest, and they are ready to go with recommendations.”

Keen said her two children were raised as readers and loved running down the creaky stairs to the basement selection. They also had some books rebound by the Wolfmuellers, including a sentimental family Bible. “There are some books in there that when you touch them and smell them, it takes you back in time.”

Beck Gipson has an office upstairs. He is the son of Fred Gipson, Mason’s most famous export and author of “Old Yeller.” He comes in to talk shop with the owners or visiting authors.

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The Wolfmuellers got into the book business about the time Jeff Bezos began an internet site, amazon.com. Jon said there was some trepidation, but their focus on used inventory, coupled with their knowledge of Texas literature, gave them an advantage over any algorithm.

OLD DOWNTOWN Jon Wolfmueller practically grew up in downtown Kerrville. His father had Wolfmueller Men’s Wear back in the days when the town had five men’s stores. His grandparents lived in a home at the rear of the store and young Jon had the run of the town. There was a general merchandise store, a saddle maker and hardware store near in the block.

In 1989, the Wolfmuellers bought Pampell’s Antiques and Soda Fountain, a popular, threefloor emporium that had a selection of books.

When a next-door renter moved out, they expanded the book selection. A decade later, the couple decided to go with just books and moved back into the Wolfmueller building.

LEGEND, LORE Like Texas literature, the store has a varied selection. It is full of the great books outlining the myths of Texas, but also fun buys for children, art books and a hefty selection of collectibles and author-signed editions. They always have a copy of John Graves’ “Goodbye to a River.” They keep Cormac McCarthy but also newer writers like Philipp Meyer. They have Ben Greene and Tom Lea. They have poetry, and they have classics.

WOLFMUELLER’S BOOKS Open 9-5 Monday through Saturday 229 Earl Garrett • Kerrville, TX 78028 830.257.7323

Sandy said the legend of Texas drives much of the literature, from the Rangers, to the Mexican-American stories, to histories of ranching or oil, and so much more.

Each of the state’s 254 counties seems to have lore more colorful than many entire states.

And shoppers can run into writing royalty, too.

Kinky Friedman frequents the place, as do so many authors stopping through town, like Elizabeth Crook.

They were friends with Elmer Kelton before his passing.

Stephen Harrigan held a recent signing over his epic tome “Big Wonderful Thing.” History author Don Frazier lives just down the road. Families visit and there is something for every age.

The couple has no exit strategy, nor quarterly goals. “We talk about it sometimes, but we enjoy getting up and coming to work,” Sandy said. R&V

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See it. Experience it. Savor it.

VOTED #5

RATED #1

Best History Museum USA Today

FREDERICKSBURG

Trip Advisor

A Texas Historical Commission Property. © 2020 National Museum of the Pacific War.

Girl relating to the experience

Japanese Garden of Peace

Japanese submarine from the attack on Pearl Harbor

Interactive Game

Whether you have all day or just an hour, we can enrich your stay.

PacificWarMuseum.org | Fredericksburg, Texas

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OX RANCH: LIKE

NONE

OTHER

By GAYNE C. YOUNG Photos provided by OX Ranch

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here’s no name for what the Ox Ranch is because it’s unlike any other destination in the Hill Country. Or the world.

Although it offers hunting, fishing, and safari drives, the Ox Ranch is far more than a game ranch. Despite its offering visitors the opportunity to drive and shoot World War II tanks, it’s more than a living museum.

And while it offers unparalleled accommodations, a trained chef, and incomparable amenities, it’s not a resort. It’s something else altogether different.

The dream that is the Ox Ranch began when owner Brent Oxley was looking for property to, “shoot guns, offroad and explore.” Although originally looking for around 2,000 acres, Oxley quickly fell in love with an 18,000-acre ranch that his realtor showed him on a whim. “The only problem was that the price was over six times my original budget and far more than I could afford at the time,” Oxley said.

“The negotiations went on for a year trying to get financing in order, and while this was taking place, suiters started making offers to purchase the web hosting company I founded hostgator.com. Hostgator at the time had over 1,000 employees and hosted about 2% of the internet. I ended up selling Hostgator for close to $300 million and Ox Ranch was officially born!”

That birth brought about what is widely regarded as the premier game ranch in the world.

More than 60 species of game animals from six continents roam the ranch’s picturesque landscape. Some of these, such as the Arabian oryx, Dama gazelle and addax, are all but extinct in their native habitat but flourish on the Ox. Axis deer, blackbuck antelope and scimitarhorned oryx do so well on the Ox that they roam in the largest herds found in the state. This wealth of animals attracts hunters, photographers, and animal enthusiasts from every corner of the globe and has been featured in print, online and on TV. Larry Weishuhn, co-host of Discovery Channel’s “Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” who hunted the ranch for an episode of his TV show, is one of Ox Ranch’s biggest fans. “Visiting the Ox Ranch is not unlike visiting four different continents on one large, gorgeous, rocky, well-watered property especially in terms of larger wildlife and they offer a fantastic hunt. But Ox Ranch goes way beyond a day spent in the field in pursuit of game with their excellent cuisine suited for royalty and comfortable lodging with decor reminiscent of years gone by.”

Guests of the Ox stay in historic 1800s cabins relocated from Kentucky and refurbished by artisans and craftsmen specializing in period restoration or in luxurious safari-style tents that feature a private hot tub and waterfront views.

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VISITING THE OX RANCH IS NOT UNLIKE VISITING FOUR DIFFERENT CONTINENTS ON ONE LARGE, GORGEOUS, ROCKY, WELLWATERED PROPERTY ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF LARGER WILDLIFE AND THEY OFFER A FANTASTIC HUNT. – Larry Weishuhn

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The ranch’s 6,000-square-foot lodge features two massive stone fireplaces, an antique bar, dance floor, and game mounts from the ranch and the world over. Meals are prepared by a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef and yoga classes and spa services are available as is a 5,800-foot-by-70-foot, instrument-marked and painted runway for guests flying directly to the ranch. Unique to and pioneered by the Ox is the ability to drive and shoot an array of military vehicles.

“It was a typical Saturday afternoon when my stepdad Todd approached me saying he saw a Sherman Tank for sale and asked if I was interested in acquiring it. I was in shock and responded, saying.... ‘I can own a tank? Why haven’t I’ve been told this sooner?’” Oxley said of how he entered the tank business. “Todd and I purchased the Sherman and slowly began building up an armory. Todd was confident we could get the Sherman firing legally with the proper licensing, and that’s what we did. Once we had it firing, it was a no brainer that we were sitting on a business opportunity. Todd and I partnered up and launched drivetanks.com. Drivetanks became the first company in history to allow civilians to drive and shoot fully functional tanks. I always ask people, ‘What ranch would you choose to hunt at? The one with tanks you can drive and shoot or the one without?’”

The answer for a lot of people has been The Ox Ranch. “The response has been incredible, with people flying in from all over the world to enjoy this bucket list experience. The amount of media coverage Drivetanks has experienced has resulted in millions of dollars in free advertising. We’ve been featured on the homepage of CNN, The New York Times, ABC and at least a hundred other media outlets.”

Guests of the Ox can drive and shoot an assortment of tanks including a US M4A2E8 Sherman Medium Tank, US M4A3E2 “Cobra King” Sherman Medium Tank, Russian T-34/85 Medium Tank, British FV101 Scorpion Light Tank, West German Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, and an Abbot FV433. Guests can also fire military weaponry such as a M134 Minigun, M2 Machine Gun, M9 Vietnam Era Flame Thrower, M3 Grease Gun MG and more.

Not content to only offer guests hunting, fishing, trekking, river activities, camping, shooting tanks and military-grade hardware, the Ox is always thinking ahead.

“We’re in the process of building a 1,000-acre rhino habitat,” Oxley said. “These rhinos will never be hunted and will be able to enjoy a life free of poachers. We hope to be one of the first ranches to promote rhino conservation, so this species can be saved from extinction.”

The Ox Ranch is truly a destination like none other. R&V

oxhuntingranch.com drivetanks.com 28

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Just 4.2 miles from downtown Fredericksburg, the estate features 40 acres of vineyards and nearly a dozen boutique Texas brands including the wines of 1851 Vineyards.

The historic farm, settled in 1851, is the location of the first Pioneer Flour Mill, founded by Carl Hilmar Guenther.

WWW.SLATEMILLWINECOLLECTIVE.COM Tasting Room Hours Thursday-Saturday: 11-6pm Sunday-Monday: 12-5pm Cellar tours are available by appointment:

tours@slatemillwinecollective.com For more information about our tasting room:

info@slatemillwinecollective.com

4222 S STATE HWY 16, FREDERICKSBURG, TX 78624 • 830.391.8510 SPRING 2020 29

A unique culinary experience.

Breakfast • Sandwiches • Salads • Pasta German Food • Steaks • Seafood 260 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624 www.rathskellerrestaurant.net rathskellerrestaurant@gmail.com 830-990-5858 30

Rock&Vine

Where tasteful creations begin FULL SERVICE CATERING WEDDINGS AND REHEARSAL DINNERS CORPORATE EVENTS ON & OFF SITE SERVICES HOLIDAY PACKAGES

305 South Lincoln Fredericksburg, TX info@woernerwarehouse.com 830-997-2246 SPRING 2020 31

HOURS Wednesday - Saturday 7:30am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 2pm Closed Monday + Tuesdays

607 South Washington Street ▮ Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 ▮ emmaolliefbg.com 32

Rock&Vine

TASTE A TASTE of life in our Texas Hill Country.

Chef focused, Farm inspired.

In every issue of Rock & Vine

By KIMBERLY GILES

SPRING 2020 33

taste

BURGER BURGER

Eric Bryla, owner and chef, has been in the burger business for over 12 years. Located on the busy Main Street of Fredericksburg, Burger Burger is a favorite of tourists and locals alike. Specialty burgers include the “Fredericksburger,” with Bavarian-themed toppings sauerkraut, German sausage and spicy brown mustard, as well as Bryla’s favorite, the “Farmhouse” that incorporates arugula, tomato, grilled onions, bacon, smoked ham, house-made pickles and a fried egg. One cannot go wrong with custom-built options and his options of house-made buns (Martins potato bun, jalapeño cheddar, gluten free) and plentiful “Build Your Own Burger” toppings. Along with fresh ingredients, Bryla also insists on using grass-fed beef and serves perfect house-cut fries and homemade milkshakes.

People watchers will enjoy the covered patio with one of their tasty cocktails.

Family friendly and in the middle of everything Fredericksburg. Bryla is always willing to expand his burger repertoire for his patrons.

209 E Main St • Fredericksburg, TX 830.997.5226 • burgerburgerfbg.com

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ALAMO SPRINGS

“Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere” is the tagline for owner/chef Brian O’Neill of Alamo Springs. Situated between Fredericksburg and Comfort, visitors will find a throng of people from all over the country that somehow just magically appeared to partake in what they declare with fervor “the best burger in Texas.” Burgers are thick, hand-rolled and have an artful sear on them that perfectly melds with any and all of the toppings you could ever hope for (including fried avocado and goat cheese). Along with fantastic burgers, fans will also enjoy their spicy green beans, hand-cut and hand-battered onion rings and homemade desserts. Make sure to find an evening or weekend when the outdoor music venue is open to be in good company of other burger aficionados.

107 Alamo Rd Fredericksburg, TX 830.990.8004 alamospringscafetx.com

taste

BLACK BOARD BAR B Q

Those that don’t know Jake Gandolfo and his Texasraised wagyu beef burger should make the journey to Black Board Bar B Q for this smoked, hand-ground wagyu meat. This burger differentiates itself because it is smoked, not fried or seared. Gandolfo also supports the “bun as the vessel” theory – it’s not the rock star but plays a huge supporting role and is crucial to the whole burger experience. “I just don’t think there is enough bun love out there,” Gandolfo said. “I mean, everyone has the best burger, but the bun is also really important and creates the whole experience.” Gandolfo also describes his wagyu blended burger as meat caviar.

“When you eat wagyu, you don’t really have to chew it. It just presses on the roof of your mouth like butter,” he said. You will not find all the toppings of other noted burger joints, but you will find plenty of sides that are not to be missed: Mamma’s Mac & Cheese, Texas Tater Chips, Jo’s Asian Slaw, hand-cut fries and homemade carrot cake. Make sure you try this burger on Thursday nights as Black Board donates $1 for every burger sale to the Sisterdale Fire Department.

1123 Sisterdale Road • Boerne, TX 830.324.6858 • blackboardbbq.com

BADU 1891

There is only one Burger on the menu at Badu 1891 in Llano, simply known as the BADU burger, created by chef Chandler Melia. The BADU features local-sourced beef paired with bacon jam, pepper jack cheese, tomato, arugula, basil aioli and hand-cut fries. The peppery hints of the arugula paired with the sweetness of the bacon jam awakens the palate in this layered experience of taste and texture. Along with the BADU burger, diners have two options in terms of ambiance – the interior dining, more of a formal affair, imbued with western elegance from the artwork and décor to the service. For a more relaxed environment, their outdoor patio, courtyard space and concert venue is always an option. Either way the BADU is great served with a Texas Hill Country premium wine or a locally sourced Texas beer.

601 Bessemer Ave • Llano, TX 325.247.1891 • badu1891.com

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BRIDGET’S BASKET

PINT & PLOW

For a piece of Texas Hill Country paradise and a cheeseburger to go with it, stop at Bridget’s Basket in Hunt. Bill and Bridget Symm have acres of farm-fresh produce growing year-round, always farm to table direct. The all-natural Axis burger is not to be missed as this half-pound venison patty is topped with bacon jam, Gouda cheese, tomato and greens on a toasted bun.

Enjoy the Axis burger inside the quaint surroundings of their bright and homey farmhouse or enjoy it outside on a nice day overlooking the bounty of freshly planted vegetables and fruits. Sustainable and tasty in every bite.

Nothing pairs better for an afternoon rendezvous in Kerrville than live music, an ice-cold craft beer, and the Hyphen-Burger from Pint & Plow. The HyphenBurger consists of grass-fed lean beef, cheese, greens, house-made pickles and, of course, the “hyphen” that links it all together is the made-from-scratch beer bun.

Brothers Jeremy and Jake Walther have made this a delicious destination for locals and a hot spot for visitors that wish to grab some Hill Country action along with a great burger and a sudsy brew to wash it down with. Along with their rock star burger, they also have pizzas, Bavarian pretzels, and a few beer cocktails to wash it down.

1551 Hwy 39 • Hunt, TX 830.238.3737 • bridgetsbasket.com

332 Clay St • Kerrville, TX 830.315.74684 • pintandplow.com

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“You can’t forget memories.”

-Hondo Crouch

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

312 W. Main • 997-1633 www.HondosOnMain.com SPRING 2020 37

Warm Hospitality Texas Cuisine

HERITAGE 38

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6001 Bessemer Avenue Llano, TX www.badu1891.com 325.247.1891

Weds: 4-9pm Thurs: 4-9pm Friday + Saturdays: 4-10pm Sundays: 11am-4pm

SERVING BREAKFAST ALL-DAY

Kee

l!

oca l t i g n pi

BEER • WINE • MIMOSAS BLOODY MARYS & MARGARITAS BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN!

902 South Adams Fredericksburg, Texas 830.997.5904

Open Daily 7am-3pm Sunday Brunch 8am-2pm Closed Wednesday

sunsetgrillfbgtx.com SPRING 2020 39

Bridget’s Basket C O U P L E L E D T O C R E AT E A N AT U R A L F O O D S H AV E N

By KIMBERLY GILES

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ighway 39’s two lanes that hug the Guadalupe River are home to dozens of private summer camps. And out here, one may not expect to find a culinary destination that also hosts a gourmet market. Amid sprawling acres of the freshest farm-to-table produce, Bridget and Bill Symm have created an atmosphere that extends well beyond the table. Bridget’s Basket allows visitors to experience the bounty of their land.

Bridget’s Basket was established in 2016 as a marketplace that sold seasonal harvests and local artisanal goods.

After numerous community requests, they opened the restaurant. “People probably thought I was crazy in the beginning, as I had two sons rolling in the dirt and I was just selling my vegetables. Soon they started asking me if I could make breakfast tacos or simple lunches,” Bridget said.

In this tranquil Hill Country setting, diners or shoppers will find ample outdoor space with a one-third-mile track and eight acres of their seasonal harvests that is collected for plates upon ordering. “We looked around and noticed that all this beautiful land was private and we wanted a place where people could come out, walk their dog, bring their children and experience the Hill Country by picking their own vegetables and fruit,” Bridget said.

Native Texans Bill and Bridget have a long past associated with growing up in the area and with food. Bridget’s grandmother started the first and only restaurant in Harper called the Longhorn Café. “My grandmother always loved serving people, and my mother-in-law was the lunchroom cook at Hunt school district for several years. We always grew up around food. The community was supported in good times and bad – funerals or weddings – they fed them all and made them happy.”

Carrying that hospitality on at Bridget’s Basket came naturally. “We wanted to give people something where you could bring your family out enjoy every aspect of life out here.”

As Bridget walks rapidly between the restaurant, her greenhouse and the market place, loyal patrons greet her, hug her and talk about what’s growing or what they loved on her menu. Some patrons just want to remark on how something tasted or who was at the last Sunday’s brunch. It’s an obvious tell that Bridget is a part of the community and her food resonates with all of her happily fed customers.

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taste Some favorite items on her menu include the Harvest bowl: spinach, arugula, chard, sautéed seasonal veggies, avocado, quinoa, pickled beets and green goddess dressing.

Along with salads, they also have farm-fresh eggs, housebaked breads for sandwiches, soups and indigenous meats including quail and venison (axis burger). Weekend brunches and special dinner nights make the Highway 39 jaunt worth the trip, as well as daily blackboard specials, always a surprise featuring seasonal treats.

COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE FOODS Bridget took her exploration of growing seriously in 2010 when one of her two sons was diagnosed with a severe food allergy. “It made us sit back and examine what is in our food. It became a mother-of-invention scenario because something really good grew out of something that could have been really bad.”

Bill and Bridget began growing with basic ground gardens.

Bridget’s interest in growing and learning really took root and forged lasting and rewarding friendships with other growers and farmers markets.

“I remember I was the first of two people in the New Braunfels farmers market, and the only other person was a girl that sold handmade soaps,” she said. That was years ago and New Braunfels now hosts one the largest farmers markets in the Hill Country.

From this experience, the Symms’ relocated briefly to Bryan/College Station and began getting serious with land management practices. They invested in their first tractor and bought 20 acres to farm and raise livestock. “I wanted to be like Little House on the Prairie,” Bridget said. “I baked my own my bread, canned my own vegetables and began a CSA (community supported agriculture) that reached over 300 members.”

“We learned so much about our food when our son was having such severe food allergies, we wanted people to understand what was in their food, the same way we had to learn ourselves,” Bridget said. “It’s very important to know what you’re putting into your body and we approach everything from a very simple perspective – minimal ingredients, no preservatives or artificial flavorings in our foods. Our meats have no nitrates or additives.”

Bridget’s Basket now thrives all year and has plenty of plates to fill beyond just the summer. “We realized very quickly that by just having the market and selling vegetables we would never make it. It is too difficult without mechanization to compete with the larger farms and get your harvest sold. But this has become a destination and an attraction for people to come out and enjoy the food and our location.”

Bridget’s Basket is still evolving and appreciated in all seasons. They are busy with community devotees and day-trippers looking for the serenity of a clean escape in food and locale. The Symms are back on the winding road in Hunt, a place they were rooted and where they can still serve their community in good times and bad. & RV

BRIDGETS BASKET 1551 Highway 39 • Hunt, TX Market: 830.238.3737 Restaurant: 830.238.3738 bridgetsbasket.com

It became tedious without mechanization and distribution resources, and their produce was then reallocated for the Texas A&M student farmers market. “I used to sell my vegetables out of my car, and out of tents with my two small boys. It was a lot of work to get things moved off the land and get a return,” she said.

Bridget and Bill relocated back to Hunt and realized that they had a captive and thriving community to grow for and alongside. With the camps along Highway 39, they had an active and hungry contingent of customers, diners and students throughout the summer months. They could grow, teach campers about growing sustainably and provide healthy lunches. This was encompassing of Bridget’s mission about clean food and sustainability in growing.

Inside dining option at Bridget's Basket SPRING 2020 43

THIS AIN’T JUST WINE COUNTRY. HOME OF THE FIRST LEGAL BOURBON DISTILLERY IN T E X A S A ND 2-T IM E A M E R IC A N W HIS K Y OF T HE Y E A R .

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Texas Hill Country is dedicated to making the best bourbon in the world and true Southern hospitality.

When you’re here, you’ll feel the warmth of our Texas spirit, right alongside the aroma of our sweet mash and the soothing hum of our copper pot-stills making more bourbon. Come pay us a visit.

Distillery tours are at 10, noon 2 and 4. You don’t have to take a tour to taste our bourbon though, we serve bourbon flights at our Hospitality Cabin Wednesday through Sunday from 10 to 5. Make a reservation by visiting

W W W.GARRISONBROS.COM/ TOUR

,,

If you didn’t think Texas was on the world map of great whisky, it is now.

JIM MURR AY

DRINK LIKE AN ADULT ™

garrisonbros.com

©2018 Garrison Brothers Distillery

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CABERNET GRILL An All-Texas Approach

By KIMBERLY GILES

A favorite destination for fine wine and food is Cabernet Grill in Fredericksburg. Chef Ross Burtwell has curated a dense offering of Texas wine varietals under the advisement of his trusted sommelier Elizabeth Rodriguez. This collaboration of sommelier and chef has procured an singular meld of cuisine and Texas wines. Or as Burtwell likes to say, “What grows together, goes together.” Peaches, seasonal vegetables, jalapeños, pecans, and a variety of livestock are grown and raised in unison in the Hill Country right alongside grapes.

Chef Ross Burtwell Owner/Cabernet Grill

CABERNET GRILL 2805 S State Highway 16 Fredericksburg, TX 830.990.5734 cabernetgrill.com

“These components combined are getting the same flavors down inside them, so obviously the cuisine and wine pair together naturally,” Burtwell said. His passion and commitment to supporting “local” also extends to sourced and seasonal menu offerings, but also to Texas wine makers. “They’re our neighbors, our friends and their wines are fantastic,” he said.

Sommelier Elizabeth Rodriguez adds, “Texas is very much growing it all,” with the diversity in our state’s climate and terroir, from the gulf coast to the high plains. The unique region here in the Texas Hill Country encourages varietals that are featured prominently on Cabernet Grill’s menu. Rodriguez loves that diversity, to go along with different techniques individual wine makers employ. “Texas grapes grown in our different regions offer different taste profiles and flavors that allow us to match and contrast with all of our menu offerings,” she said.

Every featured dish that Chef Ross prepares – from appetizers, to desserts – Rodriguez recommends her favorite wine pairings: Oak-smoked pork tenderloin with apples and cranberries, dates and a bourbon demi-glaze is fitting with Chenin Blanc from Fall Creek Vineyards, Tow Texas; the beef short rib with crispy onion strings is paired with a Tannat from Bending Branch Winery, Comfort Texas. Each of Burtwell’s complex dishes is matched by Rodriguez’s expertise for just the right Texas wine.

“We are pairing Texas. From field to vineyard and from fork to glass. Our inspiration is to share these skills with our guests for an elevated dining experience” R&V

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221 EAST MAIN STREET

4

FREDERICKSBURG, TX

HABERDASHERY_BOUTIQUE IG 46

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930.990.2462

4

HABERDASHERYBOUTIQUE.COM

HABERDASHERY BOUTIQUE FB

830.998.1556 • BLACKCHALKHOME.COM • FOLLOW US @BLACKCHALKHOME SPRING 2020 47

HOME SIMPLE GOODS + DESIGN

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Lemberg House: Project Name: In Town Farmhouse Photography:

HAUS We invite you into our HAUS section, where we will explore our area architects, home styles, and elegant dĂŠcor.

Top photo/ photographer Old Willow Photography Bottom photo/ photographer Reagen Taylor Photography

SPRING 2020 49

Great style starts at home.

Your home is a reflection of you.

It inspires. It comforts. It communicates who you are to neighbors, friends, and family.

Call us today to help you achieve the beautiful window creations you’re dreaming of right now. We make dreams come true. customcreationsandinteriors.com

| 830.693.8206

Kerrville window fashions SE E YOUR WORLD IN STY LE .

kerrvillewindowfashions.com

| 830.733.0041

Party of Six ...

Your table is ready.

There’s no better time to gather outdoors to enjoy family and friends. Come in to OutBack Patio Furnishings and let us help you create an outdoor space to remember.

We’re here. Right in your own backyard.

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Marble Falls | Kerrville outbackpatiofurnishings.com

SPRING 2020 51

HOMEBUILDING LEMBURG HOUSE FORGES PAST WITH PRESENT – A HILL COUNTRY VALUE Story by KEN ESTEN COOKE & KIMBERLY GILES Photos by OLD WILLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by LAUREN BOSSE

HARMONY IN

haus

FROM STAFF REPORTS Building trends in the Texas Hill Country meld historical charm with modern convenience.

Timeless details converge with today’s demands in materials, feel, and function. The Fuller family of Lemburg House tries to find that balance, all the while bringing a small-town humility to their work, their contractors and their customers.

Ben and Trish Fuller are native Texans. Trish was raised in different parts of the country, and Ben was raised in small towns across Texas. The two met as juniors at Texas A&M, married and began their company after working and surviving in Houston. Ben’s family had an agriculture background, but he had dreamed of building custom homes since he was in middle school.

With his construction science degree in hand, he

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worked on a high-end, multifamily high-rises in Houston. But Ben’s family line stretched back to the mid-1800s in Mason County and the two felt the call of the Hill Country. Ben was long inspired by his great great grandfather, who, like many fine German craftsmen of the day, built a home near Mason that has stood for generations. In this era of disposable everything, the Fullers want to bring that permanence to their craft. The Fullers liked the idea of using a family name for the business, and thought calling it Lemburg House was a tribute to the ancestral family and the region, as well as the focus on quality. “Their name carried a weight and a legacy, so we wanted to tie back to that heritage,” he said.

haus

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The log veneer wall represents iconic Farmhouse style. The chinking and half blind dovetail corners highlight the impeccable craftsmanship of our trades.

We love the beautiful juxtaposition of natural wood elements and crisp white details in this Chef’s Kitchen.

The "Cloudy White" Granite is the real showstopper though.

When your Homeowner happens to also be the architect, you achieve function and design. The open dining and living rooms represent this well and could not be more inviting to family and friends.

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After five years in Fredericksburg, the couple has three children and an expanded concept of family that includes their contractors, as well as their clients that enlist their expertise on building functional and harmonious spaces.

But juggling a marriage, three young children, a business partnership, and their client roster for residential projects can be a challenge. “The myth out there is that there is a family-work balance,” Trish said. “I think balance is the wrong word because it implies keeping the scale balanced at all times. I prefer to look at our work as family harmony. We wear a lot of hats and interchange them a lot for our needs and our clients’ needs.”

In today’s ever-changing circumstances and technologies, the Fullers strive to think through their home design process. Taking the time to understand their clients and how they evolve and transition in their homes is a lasting value, whether the Fullers are working on a remodel, a rehab or beginning new construction.

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Duel facing vanities presented a challenge but, as we collaborated with our homeowners, this unique and stylish design came together.

Our steel fabricator custom built the hanging double mirror and it quickly became a favorite element within the master suite.

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WILLKOMMEN

“Every day is a better day because we rely on each other as a family and a partnership” Trish said. They have grown their family and clients by adapting these principles of the German immigrant families and making sure they get the basics right.

And the Fullers bring a family-centered approach to clients, whether it is for a starter home to a forever home. “We carry five or six projects at the time, but the core of who we are is the focus on each client.

Each gets the same attention, whether it’s a $300,000 house or a $2 million house. They get the same treatment, same meeting schedules because the size and scope doesn’t change the core of our approach,” Ben said. “I enjoy the relational aspect of building, and that’s something I wasn’t quite getting in commercial construction.”

No matter the scope, the Fullers love to use found salvaged or historic materials and look at the clients’ needs as far as space, such as the need for a retreat or gatherings of families and friends. The Fullers’ preference is to build alongside clients instead of just for them. “Building a custom home is a challenging endeavor. There’s a big financial burden, a big emotional burden, and a big time burden. But I’ve always been attracted to custom-home building because of the complex nature and the relationships and knowing that we can be successful.”

Welcome to THE site for Fredericksburg, Texas real Estate and properties for sale.

Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg’s Small-town atmosphere, relaxed lifestyle, and the quality of life draw families and retirees from all over.

Whether you are buying or selling, or just considering the perfect place for your retirement years, I would love to serve youEVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

They employ an online portal to avoid the scattered emails, texts and phone calls with clients while working on custom builds. They get constant feedback from customers and subcontractors during and after the builds. And when projects are completed, they try to learn from each one. Then, they celebrate with subcontractors and vendors with an appreciation lunch to reflect and fellowship. “What we ultimately do isn’t about us. It’s about our clients. It’s about our subs. And it’s about the people all across the board that we care about so much. We can’t ever claim full credit for every house,” Trish said.

“I think because of our perspective about people being the cornerstone, that caring for our community in the midst of our work comes naturally,” Trish said. “Rather than placing value in one particular area, we think that harmony of all areas is a worthy cause and it is something we try to find in a better way every day.”

R&V

LEMBURG HOUSE - Building a Legacy 830.998.3383 lemburghouse.com

CAROLE REED

CAROLE@CAROLEREED.COM

830-992-9446

Broker J.R. Russel Lic# 601430 SPRING 2020 57

FELICE HOUSE

K AR EN FRE EM A N

BIG BEND RANCH Original oil on canvas 48" x 48". Prints available, inquire for pricing.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Oil on Canvas 72”H X 48”W

KERRVILLE, TX

235 EARL GARRETT STREET 830.315.3150

TELLURIDE, CO

209 EAST COLORADO AVENUE 970.728.3777

SLATEGRAYGALLERY.COM

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me Improvement - Made Easy

39 th

Anniversary

reatments|Area Rugs|Wood Flooring|Tile Floors|Tile|Back Splash

help with your am Home!

x.com | 1324 S. State Hwy. 16 burg | 830.997.8413

Let us help make your house a home...

Contact the professionals at Inside Story and make your home more beautiful

Buffy Frantzen

- WOOD FLOORING - PORCELAIN TILE - MOSAICS - BENJAMIN MOORE PAINT - AREA RUGS - WALLPAPER

April Staudt

- LUXURY VINYL PLANKS/TILES

1324 S. State Hwy 16 • Fredericksburg, Texas 830.997.8413

theinsidestorytx.com Andrea59 Behrends SPRING 2020

A R C H I T E C T

Check our website for the latest information on updated hours and events.

JONPANKRATZARCHITECT.COM

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302 E. MAIN ST. FREDERICKSBURG, TX 78624 | 830-990-1212 | WWW.LINENS-N-MORE.COM

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TILE HARDWARE FLOORING STONE

by KIMBERLY GILES

ock & Vine Magazine asks our HAUS contributor Jennifer Eggleston to walk us through the bewildering assortment of interior choices as it pertains to tile, hardware, flooring and stone. Thematically she navigates us through the bevy of choices that can confound our ability to move forward with confidence when building our own outward expressions in design and theme.

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UTILITY ROOM: So many clients crave fun patterned tiles in their utility room, whether on the floor, or as a backsplash…this is definitely a room for something a little different.

MUDROOM: Using a contrast tile on the mudroom floor can give a pop to the usual mudroom, plus help with maintenance.

RV: TILE SPANS INTO MANY THEMES FOR DESIGN; IT CAN BE DECORATIVE, IT CAN BE BOLD OR A VISUAL CONTINUATION WITHIN STRUCTURE THAT IMPLIES SUBSTANCE. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED STATEMENT OR VISION WHEN WORKING WITH TILE? JE: First, anyone who knows me knows how much I love tile. So, almost all of the above.

Clarrisa Aery of Texas Finial, Kerrville, Texas.

RV: WHEN LOOKING AT STRUCTURE WITH CLIENTS ARE YOU FOCUSED FIRSTLY ON FLOORS OR TILE? JE: I envision the whole picture, or project, as a concept first. Then, I work or ease into the details. Flooring is so much like wallspace - a backdrop, so to speak, so floors are definitely part of the jumping off point.

RV: WHEN LOOKING AT TILE OR FLOORING ARE YOU LOOKING FOR COHESIVENESS OR CONTRAST? JE: BOTH! I would answer primarily cohesive, with room for contrast.

This answer definitely depends on the space/or location.

For example, flooring should be cohesive throughout the majority of the space, to maintain that classic, timeless, cohesive backdrop; but there is room for an area to have some fun. Good examples of placing a contrast, or showcase tile are: “THE OBVIOUS POWDER BATH”: Where there is an opportunity to utilize a more dramatic tile that may be more expensive, but used in a smaller area, it can be somewhat cost effective for the effect.

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I look at tile as an artistic statement. It’s dimensional. It adds volume, texture, sheen, height, length, structure, impact, I could go on and on.

When I design a space such as a kitchen, or bathroom, I already have a tile image in mind that I want to work around.

I feel that the tile selected should look as though it was made for that space.

I am a huge fan of metallic tile, but mixed with non contemporary surroundings.

I am also a huge fan of mixing a very basic penny round or classic subway, but with a contrast grout to make it current.

RV: STONE, AGATE, GRANITE, SLATE, ETC; WHEN LOOKING AT STONE AS A FEATURE FOR COUNTERS IN BATHROOMS OR KITCHENS WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED MATERIAL? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR VEINS, LIGHT, COLOR SPECS? JE: I tend to gravitate to very natural light materials, or very dark. No in between.

Marble is gorgeous, but not feasable for everyone.

Quartz provides a wonderful material as an option to that offers so many variations on marble.

haus

I LOOK AT TILE AS AN ARTISTIC STATEMENT. IT’S DIMENSIONAL. IT ADDS VOLUME, TEXTURE, SHEEN, HEIGHT, LENGTH, STRUCTURE, IMPACT, I COULD GO ON AND ON. Soapstone is another material I love; very old school, and classic something that I just recently went back to: absolute black granite, leathered finish. Incredible texture; nice to contrast with whites and grays.

RV: HARDWARE FOR CABINETRY IS AN ESSENTIAL AND PERSONALIZED CHOICE THAT DEFINES IN DETAIL YOUR VISION FOR ANY NUMBER OF FOCAL POINTS WITHIN A HOME. WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO ADD WHIMSY? AND WHERE IS IT COST EFFECTIVE TO PICK A STANDARD STATEMENT IN REPETITIVE DESIGN? JE: Hardware selections can be so overwhelming.

If you can splurge, do so in the kitchen, and master bath. These are your impact areas, and add value for resale when it comes to real estate. Try to remain classic; nothing too over the top, and remember, not to small! I tend to use slightly larger cabinet hardware in the kitchen; mainly when the kitchen is open into a great room (think higher ceilings, larger spaces).

Inside Story, Fredericksburg, Texas. Choosing tile and stone with house plans.

Hardware selection from Texas Finial.

The powder bath is a great spot for different cabinet hardware; typically cabinetry is limited so hardware quantity is at a minimum. Basically a lot of look and impact while not acquiring a huge expense.

Mudroom cabinet, great room cabinets, and bar cabinets are great impact areas for “splurge hardware”.

When working on a budget: the laundry room does not need expensive hardware.

Areas where repetition is fine will help keep costs down. Examples are secondary or guest bathrooms This makes it very simple and streamlined. You can actually carry this concept over into plumbing and bath fixtures, as well. R&V

Inside Story, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Jennifer making client selections.

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mustard

D E Sa r Ic hG N i t e c t s

www.mustarddesign.net

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SANDRA SCHRENK FREDERICKSBURG RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST

“

“

#RELENTLESS

fredericksburg 830.997.7024

I thrive on being of service in times of transition. It energizes me to be involved in every step of the buying/selling process with my clients. My schedule revolves around my business and how I can best serve my community.

REALTOR® ASSOCIATE 830.992.9495 SANDRA@C21THEHILLS.COM

©2020 CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each OOce is Independently Owned and Operated.

Rock&Vine

830-997-5302 REPLACEMENT WINDOWS, DOORS & INSTALLATIONS

517 S. Adams St. • Fredericksburg, Texas 830.997-5302 • www.hillcountrywindowsanddoors.com

New & Replacement Windows & Doors Your Custom Specialists Kerrville, Fredericksburg and Surrounding Areas Contact us for a Free Quote today!

Locally owned & operated by certified installers SPRING 2020 67

Online Shopping

WWW.LAURENBADE.COM 229 East Main Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830.990.8266 68

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we take the meaning of craft in our cocktails to another level

live music thurs-sat

229 E. Main St. Fredericksburg, Tx 830.992.3186 www.78624thebar.com #78624thebar SPRING 2020 69

Walk with Us Enjoy our wines and views at our Winery & Vineyard.

LOCATED AT 6331 South Ranch Rd 1623 in Stonewall (830) 644-2144

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in the hills

BAMBERGER :

A STRONGLY ROOTED LEGACY

By DANIEL OPPENHEIMER

Photos by RUSTY YATES

s a child, J. David Bamberger grew up in an Ohio family without electricity or running water. Each day his mother sent him to the neighbor’s farm with a bucket to pump water from their well. “When you’re that age, walking a quarter-mile back home with a bucket full of water, you end up sloshing half of it on your feet,” Bamberger recalls, smiling. “You could say I learned the value of water conservation at an early age.”

Bamberger worked with his mother on the land. “She taught me the benefits of Mother Nature, to respect and work with her.” He learned to collect, peel, scrub, dry and then sell bundles of sassafras roots in town. This early experience in sales seeded a prolific career that led Bamberger to become chairman and chief executive of Church’s Fried Chicken.

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in the hills

Today, there no better salesman for stewarding Mother Nature in Texas than J. David Bamberger. With piercing blue eyes and infectious energy, he has captivated audiences for decades at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve near Johnson City.

Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve is a remarkable place. Once an overgrazed ranch dominated by Ashe juniper (Cedar) and bare ground, the 5,500-acre nonprofit preserve has been restored over 50 years with native grasses and other vegetation that slows and sinks precious rain into the soil and subsurface aquifer.

The word, Selah, is Hebrew from Psalms meaning “to pause and reflect.” Every year, the preserve welcomes thousands of visitors, where J. David hopes each person will pause to appreciate and consider their natural surroundings. “You have to get out here and look around.

Flowers aren’t arranged in raised beds, but they’re out here, hundreds of species.”

Selah is a story of transformation.

Working with a dedicated staff, advisors, and hundreds of volunteers, Bamberger has completed five decades of land stewardship and education. A new book, “Seasons at Selah: The Legacy of Bamberger Ranch Preserve,” documents this singular undertaking. Author Andy Sansom, notes, “The real meaning of Bamberger Ranch Preserve is to show us that there are two kinds of landowners: those that take from the land and those that give to the land.”

Through a combination of thoughtful grazing and brush management, seeding of native grasses, and creation of rock berms along the hillsides, Bamberger and his team have given much to the land, which now exhibits minimal bare ground.

With hillsides now covered with a dense diversity of native plants, the land now acts like a sponge.

It’s a cold, damp February morning at the preserve. J. David has already tinkered with a bigtooth maple project, fed the birds, and held the daily caucus by the fireplace with his partner, Joanna, to discuss the weather, politics, and ranch happenings.

Feeling deeply that the ranch is his legacy, the 91-year old land steward stays busy. “You won’t reach me until after dark, because I’m out there doing something.”

That something can range from corresponding with donors — sustaining land stewardship and education for a 5,500-acre nonprofit Preserve in perpetuity is not inexpensive — to casting native grass seed in a pasture, to speaking with a group of Girl Scouts or a gathering of renowned conservation peers.

His lessons are varied but are all tethered to a modest principle: work with, not against, Mother Nature. “Our classroom is the outdoors and it’s a place where one can experience nature as she is, pure and simple.”

What many may not know about this outdoor classroom is that the preserve proactively maintains about 600 acres of Ashe juniper woodlands. More commonly referred to as cedar, Ashe juniper is a hardy evergreen tree native to Texas. While the hardy tree has garnered a bad reputation for its ability to spread, it provides cover, nesting material, and wintertime berries for many birds and mammals.

“In the ’80s, environmentalists told me to leave all the cedar for the Golden-cheeked warblers while long-time ranchers encouraged

me to clear more of it,” Bamberger recalls. “Ultimately, we decided to take a balanced approach. We never tell people to take out all their cedar; it’s a native tree.”

In areas that were cleared of Ashe juniper and then seeded, deeprooted native grasses such as Switchgrass, Yellow Indiangrass, Big Bluestem, and Little Bluestem have become some of the all-star attractions.

“Our most prolific grass here at Selah is Little Bluestem,” said J. David. During the growing season, this base of this native bunchgrass’s stems is blue. In the fall and winter, however, the perennial grass turns to a rich, red-mahogany. In the fall, visitors may find J. David stripping seeds and casting them into new pastures.

His love for native-grasses and land stewardship runs so deeply that he has been known painstakingly to excavate entire stands of Lindheimer muhly with a shovel to demonstrate for visitors the bunchgrass’s deep roots that anchor the soil and funnel rain into the subsurface aquifer.

Once, in fact, Bamberger removed a stand of Lindheimer muhly, rinsed its roots, carefully placed it in a trash bag, and drove it to a public hearing at the Texas State Capitol.

“During my testimony to that Senate committee, the Chairman told me I had three minutes, but I took seven. And when I pulled the grass out of the bag, it tossed dirt all over the place; most of the visitors laughed, but the Senate committee chair was not amused. You should have seen it,” he said grinning as he leaned back in his office chair.

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in the hills When the rolling hills at the preserve absorb rainwater, this sparks a remarkable sequence — one that bridges the land surface and subsurface, as well as the rural-urban divide of Central Texas.

These well-vegetated hills teeming with rainwater slowly feed an underground aquifer. That rainwater then re-merges to the surface through springs that feed Miller Creek, a tributary to the larger Pedernales River.

Flowing more than 100 miles, the Pedernales River winds through Blanco County and ultimately merges with the Colorado River at Lake Travis. There, the Pedernales River provides nearly 25% of the lake’s inflow. For the more than 1 million people that rely on Lake Travis for drinking water, what happens at the preserve and other upstream ranches in the Pedernales River Basin matters dearly, in terms of water quality and quantity, as well as flood mitigation.

In 2011, Bamberger started to reach out to some of his neighbors in the Pedernales River Basin to discuss their shared interests in conserving the river. “At our first meeting, we had maybe 18 people, and since then we’ve had gatherings of over 80 landowners.”

This Pedernales Landowners Potluck continues to be a successful bi-annual phenomenon, in part, because of a guiding mantra that J. David recites readily: “We are not an organization — it’s more like a family reunion. There are no memberships, no newsletters, no dues, no file cabinets, no office, no minutes, no executive director, just interested landowners getting together to learn and to share information that may affect the Pedernales River and our quality of life.” This landowner-centric approach for bringing together neighbors over a meal has provided a model for stewards in other watersheds.

While his impact transcends river basins, J. David is quick to point out that one need not have a large ranch to make a difference. “Small acreage owners can create a place for birds, flowers, and beautiful native grasses. We can all talk with our kids about nature during breakfast and be a beacon for our neighbors.”

While the physical space and biological richness of Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve will no doubt be his lasting legacy, J. David Bamberger has also had an impact on tens of thousands of stewards old and young that have visited the Preserve throughout each calendar year.

Whether you have visited the Preserve or not, his advice is simple and ageless, across generations and seasons. “You may prefer one season over another, but there’s beauty in each one. You have to go out and look for it. Just look closer.”

R&V

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in the hills

YOU MAY PREFER ONE SEASON OVER ANOTHER, BUT THERE’S BEAUTY IN EACH ONE. YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR IT. JUST LOOK CLOSER. - J. David Bamberger

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ARCHERY AND ANGLING ‘TIL MIDNIGHT Kelbe Schrank's watercolor illustration depicts a pastime growing in popularity around North Central Texas – bowfishing at night.

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By STEVE TAYLOR

Illustration by KELBE SCHRANK

in the hills

THE UNUSUAL ART OF BOWFISHING SPRING 2020 79

L

Like to bowhunt? Like to fish? Never done either – but intrigued about the idea of trying both at the same time?

Then Marty McIntyre may be your man.

On Belton Lake, between Killeen and Temple, McIntyre operates Garquest Bowfishing Adventures.

He offers 35 years’ experience guiding new enthusiasts from around the U.S. who combine archery and angling while slowly traversing shallow waters that stay warmer and attract fish.

About 90 percent of the time, his bowfishing trips are scheduled after dark: 8 p.m.-midnight or, if children are participating, 7-11 p.m., McIntyre said.

“That’s usually when the fish are feeding,” he said.

Also, it’s harder to see fish during daytime due to the sun and sky reflecting off the water.

McIntyre leads bowfishing trips on lakes throughout the Hill Country and elsewhere in Texas. He will trailer his custom-made, 22-foot boat to most any lake a bowfishing customer wants.

Bowfishing gear is provided. All each customer needs to bring is appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks – and a current fishing license.

LIKE A CREEPY ‘IT’S A SMALL WORLD’ His boat is equipped with a row of 150-watt lights built into the outside hull, which allows bowfishers to peer into the water about 25 yards out.

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They and McIntryre, who steers the slow-moving vessel around submerged trees and rocks, carefully and constantly scan the shoreline. They look for reflections, shadows and other signs of movement by large, passing fish such as gar, buffalo, tilapia and carp that can weigh more than 20 pounds.

Bowfishers must react quickly. Fish can show themselves, then vanish in the blink of an eye. And since fish often swim together, other targets also swim quickly away and are hard to find again if they reach the dark water.

The boat lights also illuminate branches, rocks and shoreline protruding above the water line. The effect can be haunting, kind of like a creepy version of the Disneyland “It’s a Small World After All” ride. It’s also can be a thing of beauty, in a stark, nearly black-andwhite manner.

DOING LAKES A FAVOR A favorite McIntyre saying is, “Saving Game Fish, One Trash Fish at a Time.” Bowfishers on his boat target species that have no natural predators in various Texas lakes where he leads excursions.

Alligator gar is a good example. Decades ago, it is believed they migrated up rivers feeding into the Gulf of Mexico to spawn. As rivers were dammed to create Texas water supplies and cool power plant, the gar adapted and began wiping out other fish species by feeding on their eggs.

Same with carp and buffalo, which have been called “feral hogs of fresh water.”

“If a lake gets full of them, they will clean it out,” he said. “We’re doing the lakes a favor.”

JUST A SINGLE ARROW NEEDED Bowfishing dates back thousands of years, to the Aztecs, Inuits and Aborigines. Over time, they learned to tether an arrow to the bow, so it could be retrieved and reused throughout a bowfishing excursion. Today, the line tied to the arrow also is tied to a fishing reel, so the arrow can be quickly dragged back onto the boat.

When a bowfisher shoots at a fish, he or she can quickly reel in the catch … or the arrow when it misses.

in the hills

I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT – Marty McIntyre

“Unlike hunting, where you need to walk some distance sometimes to retrieve them,” McIntyre said.

The arrow’s tip is accented by two barbs pointing in the opposite direction, to secure the fish once it’s speared.

Once a fish is boarded, McIntyre takes over: he unscrews the arrow tip that’s passed through the fish and deposits the catch into a holding tank below the deck’s floor.

Water slows a shot arrow faster than air. McIntyre likes to host parents with their children on bowfishing trips, but he notes kids usually need to be eight to 10 years old to be strong enough to pull the bowstring back far enough for the arrow to penetrate a fish.

LEADS KIDS TO TRY ARCHERY First-timers are welcome and frequent. McIntyre thinks parents whose children may be interested in archery should consider starting with bowfishing.

Older participants often have a history of enjoying fishing, hunting or both, McIntyre said. Others are just “outdoorsy types who like constantly moving (around the boat), constantly watching for fish.”

People from across the U.S. have bowfished on his boat, McIntyre said. Many come from the Midwest, where bowfishing is more popular than along the coasts. A good number also are soldiers and others who work at Fort Hood, which borders much of Lake Belton.

“I see a lot of people who just want to try something different,” he said.

Bowhunting sometimes requires the hunter to “aim high” to account for gravity as the arrow streaks

toward it target. When bowfishing, the opposite is true: one must “aim low” due to refraction. Light rays bend as they enter water, making the fish seem closer to the water’s surface.

Another factor, McIntyre said, is bowfishers’ tendency to inadvertently pull the bow up while shooting the arrow.

A popular tool for helping in this regard: a laser sight to help guide shots lower than where a fish appears.

‘I’LL BE COMING BACK’ Michael, a large, friendly man clad in a U.S. Army cap and bright sweatshirt, returned one recent night to try his luck again on McIntyre’s boat – and he knows all about shooting too high.

He came up emptyhanded in 2018 after his wife gave him a Garquest trip for Father’s Day. This year’s trip was for Valentine’s Day, he said.

Like most of McIntyre’s bowfishers, Michael had no previous experience with a bow and arrow before trying bowfishing. Over four hours on his second trip, using a bow adorned with American flag images, Michael unleashed about 100 shots at fish (and one log). Despite McIntyre’s repeated admonishments to aim lower, Michael still got no closer than nicking one fish’s dorsal fin.

Meanwhile, McIntyre’s granddaughter and unofficial first mate, Riley Fornica, 13, decked a couple buffalo that ranged from five to eight pounds. But unlike Michael, she’s been regularly bowfishing with her grandfather for almost half her life.

Still, Michael enjoyed the experience. A fisherman for many years, he understands the lure of the sport isn’t dependent on how many fish are caught.

“I had a great time,” he said afterward on the dock.

“I’ll be coming back.” R&V

Information on Garquest Bowfishing Adventures is available online at www.garquest.com, via email at garquest@aol.com or by phoning (254) 931-3474.

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FINDING A BALANCE THE MOVEMENT TO ESTABLISH ‘100% TEXAS’ WINES

By ANDRE BOADA

he journey of Texas wines and legal requirements are constantly afoot looking for avenues to increase quality and recognition next to the wine-producing leaders of the world. Overall, there seems to be a ubiquitous vintner goal to build true Texas wine essence but surrounded by mixed emotions of how to achieve that practice.

The enormous question at hand: Are we at a tipping point to find that determination among vintners and grape growers or just remain status quo with federal guidelines?

Being a sommelier, I explored different Texas vintner viewpoints to help consumers understand the gravity at stake. My rationale, find a balance within the various winemaking and label standards, yet create wines that offer sense of place. The French call this simply “Terrior,” thus wine crafted with authenticity for consumers.

Carl Money walks through his Pontotoc Vineyard near Mason. He is an active voice in the 100% Texas Wine labeling movement.

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Pontotoc Vineyard's Weingarten on Main Street in Fredericksburg.

Let’s first look at federal requirements. Currently, Texas and 45 other states require 75% of grapes to be grown within the state listed on the label. While other well-known wine growing regions adhere to higher state-level appellation wines of 100%. They include California, Oregon and even France. Some would argue that using 100% grapes grown instate would build a Texas taste profile that defines the true essence behind Texas viniculture. Others maintain, the Texas grape growing landscape isn’t capable to support 100% Texas. Current Texas acreage under vine is growing yearly but still under 10,000 acres, a far cry from California with over 600,000 acres. Texas, due to under development, buys excess bulk wine often finding a home as blends for the 75% Texas wines. This excess California bulk wine is below current Texas contracts being offered and further counters a foundation to be 100% Texas.

Jeff Cope, founder of Texas Wine Lovers and long-term advocate of Texas wines, has this mindset. “While requiring a wine to have 100% Texas grapes in order to carry the Texas appellation on the label is a desirable goal, I believe Texas is still too young with the quantity of Texas vineyards and grapes available in order to achieve that,” Cope said.

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Next, let’s explore a more defined Texas arena: Wines listed as sub-regions of the state reflecting appellation (AVA) status, such as the “Texas Hill Country” or “Texas High Plains” (85% grape requirement from a defined AVA). Once again, a disconnect as neither the federal Tax and Trade Bureau or state’s Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission require the origin of the balance. The only alternatives are “Vineyard Designated” or “Estate” classifications maintaining 100% Texas fruit.

To the consumer, this 75%, 85% and even 100% bandwidth is confusing. Yet to further complicate the balance equation the Texas Legislature introduced an aggressive House Bill 4233, the “100% Texas” Labeling Bill. That proposed, fiveyear transition bill ultimately died in a 2019 committee review amidst contrasting viewpoints from Texas vintners and growers.

Carl Money, owner of Pontotoc Vineyard and president of Texas Wine Growers, has a mission to promote and protect the integrity of Texas wine by making wines solely from grapes grown in the terroir of Texas.

drinkery

CURRENT TEXAS ACREAGE UNDER VINE IS GROWING YEARLY BUT STILL UNDER 10,000 ACRES, A FAR CRY FROM CALIFORNIA WITH OVER 600,000 ACRES. - ANDRE BOADA

“In both of the past two legislative sessions, Texas Wine Growers has introduced legislation to change the law to require that wineries use 100% Texas grapes in order to label their wine as Texas wine. Unfortunately, both of our bills met defeat in the Texas House of Representatives,” Money said. Nonetheless, the Speaker of the House has charged a committee to study the issues this interim. The committee is expected to hold public hearings concerning the issue after the March primaries. “Texas Wine Growers encourages all consumers who care about this issue to participate in the process and support our mission to promote and protect the integrity of Texas wine,” he said.

Open minded and helping consumers understand the overall Texas landscape locally is Amie Nemec, founder of Perspective Cellars. She offers flights comparing Texas wines vs the same varietals produced around the world.

“Texans are known for being tough, hard-working, committed and passionate. It’s exciting to share Texas wines with people who don’t expect it to be good and are surprised in the quality and complexity coming from many of our wineries,” Nemec said.

Whether you are pro 75% or 100% there’s a quote from Richard Yates and his first novel, “The Revolution Road” that plays out in my mind regarding Texas’ future.

“The best lack conviction, while the worst are filled with conviction.”

Guess I’ll find a few of my sommelier friends, raise a glass of extraordinary Texas vino and ponder who may process vision as the future unfolds. There will always be high-risk, high-reward for being 100% but can Texas make that happen economically, especially with difficult growing conditions?

Honestly, I’m hoping that balance I’m searching for will surface, followed by helping the best succeed. R&V

Gathering for tasting at Perspective Cellars

Amie Nemec of Perspective Cellars features 100% Texas Wine. She loves sharing Texas wines with people who "don't expect it to be good" and quickly note the quality.

ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING 100% TEXAS WINES: realtexaswine.org texaswinegrowers.com txwines.org

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Faith Family & Friends

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5

STONES

Artisan Brewery

By LEE NICHOLS

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drinkery

it back in your chair. Relax. Breathe in slowly, then exhale slowly. Feel the gentle breeze against your cheek, and the sunshine on your face as it filters through the live oaks above.

Then lift your glass and take a sip of delicious craft beer.

Repeat as necessary.

That’s the prescription Seth Weatherly has for what ails you. It’s a potent one.

“We love it here,” Weatherly says of 5 Stones Artisan Brewery, hidden away down Farm to Market Road 1863, nine miles west of New Braunfels. It’s a nice little piece of heaven, and just like heaven, you’re not going to just come across it by accident.

“It’s a little difficult, it takes some effort to get here,” Weatherly said, referring to the quintessential winding Hill Country road that leads to 5 Stones. “You’re not going to stop by for just a quick beer. You’re going to come out for an hour or two, try some beers, hang out and spend some time with us.”

Indeed, between the idyllic setting and Weatherly’s very creative brews, you may never want to leave.

Five Stones itself took a bit of a winding road to get here. It originally opened up in 2013 in another picturesque setting, the small town of Cibolo, east of I-35 just north of San Antonio. But Weatherly’s creations proved a little too popular.

“When we started we were super tiny, because I just wanted to see if I could even sell beer,” Weatherly recounts. “Within a couple of years, we knew we wanted to expand. But deals we put together around Cibolo fell through. We didn’t want to go to another warehouse area or a strip center. We wanted either a historic building or to get a piece of property.

“After the Cibolo deals fell through we started looking around. Our heart was on the New Braunfels area.

We didn’t think it was realistic, but then we were out driving and found this. It was out of our range at first, but six months later it came back on the market a little bit lower. The rest is history.”

Change can be scary for a small business, but this one has worked.

“For the most part, we’ve only received positive feedback – nothing negative at all. Of course, there are times when people wish food was readily available at all times but that was not realistic for us. People want food always, but we only have food available Friday and Saturday.” (When they do, it’s good – we enjoyed Gold Stone Pizza the day we visited, which alternates with a barbecue truck and a french fry truck.

Once the new brewery was completed in 2017, Weatherly could return his focus to the beer.

“In the beginning, I wanted to build these sort of culinary-inspired beers.

I would take on different inspirations.

I tried to get a base style nailed down and then build on that to make the beer balanced and drinkable.”

Indeed they are. On this day, Love Wins – a dry-hopped IPA with floral and citra hops refermented with raspberries – was very drinkable, judging by the number of glasses seen holding the pinkcolored concoction. It was a Valentine’s Day special – “It’s a philosophy we have … ‘love wins,’” Weatherly said.

Fruit is a frequent star in 5 Stones’ beers, and of course, there are those in the beer drinking community that take a dim view of fruit beers. Don’t let that dissuade you from visiting 5 Stones: “We always remember that we’re making beer,” Weatherly says. “Not juice or a cocktail or anything like that.”

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By the time you read this article, you might be able to grab the brew Weatherly said he’s most proud of: Aloha Piña, a golden ale with roasted jalapeños and pineapple.

“It’s a beer that brings together two ingredients that are pretty difficult to work with, and we process everything ourselves,” Weatherly said.

If you’re curious, get to it quick: “We usually release it the first Sunday in May and it goes until it’s gone. It usually lasts about a month. We’re gonna pull back on distribution [to stores] because it went way too fast from the brewery last year.”

Other expected spring offerings will be Norma Jean, a golden ale with fresh strawberries; Flower Child, an amber with piloncillo sugar; Sprung, an IPA brewed with heather tips, dried elderflower and cascade hops; and Shepherd’s Juice, a variation on their Shepherd Boy (an American pale ale) but “amplified a bit” with freshsqueezed cara cara oranges.

Five Stones’ adventurousness, isolated and scenic location and the way it formerly packaged beers in artfully decorated 750 milliliter bottles may remind beer lovers of another Hill Country brewery, the highly acclaimed Jester King.

Unlike Jester King – which regularly appears on every “top 10 breweries in Texas” list – 5 Stones doesn’t seem to have captured the broader attention of the public yet.

“Yeah, it’s kinda weird,” Weatherly said. “It’s strange in that among the people that come out here, we get a lot of positive feedback, but we are still under the radar. Our visitors are very supportive.”

Even Jester King’s staff are fans.

“They turned out to be some of our biggest advocates,” Weatherly said of Jester King. “They invited us to sell our beer at their brewery and that was a big boost to us.

They were a huge part of why we distributed into Austin so early on.”

But don’t wait for 5 Stones to distribute to you. Remember: live oaks … sunshine … breeze … beer. Go to them.

“The whole goal of moving out here was to encourage people to take a load off and get away from the fast-paced life. That’s what we’re trying to achieve out here. Beyond beer, just slow down and enjoy the day.” R&V

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FOUNTAIN of YOUTH A FREDERICKSBURG ROCK BAND FLIRTS WITH THE BIG TIME

By MICHAEL BARR

The band with Governor Preston Smith.

t happened just like in the movies or on TV. Four teenagers from St. Mary’s School formed a band. They played their first gig at the Girl Scout Cabin on Austin Street in Fredericksburg. Two years later they had a recording contract. It’s the kind of story that keeps the myth of the “overnight sensation” alive.

In 1964 Lyndon Johnson was president, the Vietnam War was escalating, women’s skirts were shorter, men’s hair was longer and the British music invasion hit America like Muhammed Ali hit Sonny Liston. Young people in big cities and small towns all over the country bought guitars and drums and turned garages into muffled practice rooms, hoping to duplicate the success of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. It didn’t matter that a typical 60s garage band had a better chance of being injured by a toilet than becoming rock stars. The guys from Fredericksburg were chasing a dream close to the heart of every kid who ordered a Silvertone guitar from the Sears catalog.

In March 1964, Gary Jenschke, Ken Molberg, Gary Itri and Jimmy Panza played together for the first time.

Jenschke and Molberg had just finished the seventh grade at St. Mary’s School. Panza would be a freshman; Itri a sophomore. They called themselves The Fugitives, hoping that delinquent sounding name would offset their cleancut choirboy image.

The band with KFAN DJ Johnny Almon as lead singer

Johnny Almon, a DJ at KNAF Radio in Fredericksburg, joined the band as lead singer in 1965. When Johnny left, drummer Jimmy Panza took over as lead vocalist. The Fugitives, now called the Crossfires, performed at proms, fraternity parties and military bases. They played Pat’s Hall in Fredericksburg and the New Orleans Club in Austin.

They shared the stage with the 13th Floor Elevators and Doug Sahm. They performed on Cactus Pryor’s TV Show on Channel 7 in Austin.

In the summer of 1965, The Crossfires entered the Battle of the Bands contest in Dallas. The group finished seventh out of 78 bands, but fans and music executives took notice. This band was going places. The following summer, with Jimmy Panza’s dad Bill as manager and mom Marge as chaperone, the Crossfires packed the trailer and headed west to the land of peace, love and rock and roll. Through contacts made in Dallas, they found work in Los Angeles. They played at PJ’s on Sunset Strip and the Troubadour Club in West SPRING 2020 93

The guys from Fredericksburg rubbed elbows and traded guitar licks with the legends of rock and roll. “We played on Steppenwolf’s first album,” Molberg said. “We did a show at the Hollywood Bowl with a lineup that included Jim Morrison and The Doors. We recorded a Carole King song called ‘Take A Giant Step.’ The Monkees recorded the same song as a B-side to ‘Last Train to Clarksville,’ but Carole liked ours better. Gary Jenschke played on George Harrison’s first solo album, and he did some studio work with the Rolling Stones. One day Hoyt Axton came in. He had written a song and wanted to do a demo. I played guitar on the demo. The song was ‘The Pusher,’ later recorded by Steppenwolf.”

Hollywood.

They had to get special permission to play in some of the clubs. They weren’t old enough to get in. But age didn’t matter. These guys had talent. Success came at bionic speed. Three weeks after arriving in Los Angeles the band landed a record deal.

The man who recorded The Crossfires was Richard Podolor, better known as Richie Allen. In addition to producing The Crossfires, Richie produced Three Dog Night, Alice Cooper, Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly. Within days of signing a contract The Crossfires were in the studio. Their first single was a song called “Who’ll Be The One,” released in the summer of 1966. Meanwhile in another part of Los Angeles, NBC television put out a casting call for actors to play rock stars in a TV sitcom. The show, called “The Monkees,” was inspired by the Beatles’ film “A Hard Day’s Night.” With the help of some excellent songwriters and backed by a room full of talented studio musicians, The Monkees would sell over 75 million records. After the Monkees hit it big, their record company beat the bushes for another young group to capitalize on the success of The Monkees. The Crossfires seemed the obvious choice.

“We signed with Colgems Records in 1967,” Ken Molberg remembered. “They changed our name to Fountain of Youth although none of us liked the new name very much.” The following spring Colgems (the name is a combination of Columbia Records and Screen Gems) released Fountain of Youth’s first single, “Livin’ Too Fast.” To promote the record, the company purchased a full page ad in the March 23, 1968 edition of Billboard Magazine. Suddenly the teenagers from Fredericksburg were running with some pretty fast company.

“The Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, Steppenwolf and Hoyt Axton were often in the studio,” Ken Molberg recalled. “In those days you never knew who might walk in. Mike Curb was in the studio a lot. So was Phil Spector. I remember talking to Barbara Eden. She was a singer as well as an actress. Let’s just say that talking to her was quite an experience for a 16 year old kid.”

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Hanging out with music icons and TV stars was a thrill – for a while. But then the considerable pressures and frustrations of the music business set in. Record company executives wanted Fountain of Youth to play pop music that appealed to teenagers, but the band wanted to go in another direction. “The record company wanted us to be a boy band,” Molberg said, “but I wasn’t interested in being an imitation of the Monkees.

“I was interested in social issues and politics. There were serious things going on in the world. The music, at least the kind of music the record company wanted us to play, didn’t seem quite so important anymore. In 1968 we were practicing at Jimmy Panza’s house on Pecan Street in Fredericksburg when we heard Martin Luther King had been assassinated. A few months later Robert Kennedy died a mile from our place in California. That was enough for me.

I went back to Texas.”

Gary Jenschke left the group a year later. He and Ken Molberg formed a band back in Fredericksburg. “We played together a couple of years,” Ken Molberg remembered. “Just fun stuff. Our last performance was in 1972 at the old dance hall in Luckenbach. Hondo Crouch, one of the owners of Luckenbach, was a friend of mine. I played on his mohair float in Boerne. After that show we called it quits. We were best of friends, but we went our separate ways.”

Molberg went to law school. Today he is a judge on the state court of appeals. Jenschke became a computer programmer.

He died in 1993. Panza stayed in California to work in the music business. Today he lives in New Hampshire.

And Itri spent his life as a musician and songwriter. He played bass for Roger Miller, and he wrote “Midnight Runaway” for Three Dog Night. He came back to Fredericksburg a few years before his death in 2014.

“The four of us had a great time,” Molberg recalled. “We enjoyed playing together. We never lost our love of music. But we had other things to do.” R&V

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SPRING 2020 95

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96

Rock&Vine

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SPRING 2020 97

drinkery maps 120

Pontotoc

40 San Saba

Lake Buchanan

Tow

115

Buchanan Dam

29 29

Llano

Castell

111

29

Oatmeal

Lake LBJ

Sunrise Beach

Travis Peak

71

16

Spicewood

103

Round Mtn.

116

Cypress Mill

13 95

91

65 26 Stonewall

100

16

55

70 72

Johnson City

106 11

84

10

34

18

290

92 36

29 81 60

40 Driftwood 39 119

Sisterdale

43

98

23 10

97

Boerne

59 Bandera

22 26

183 San Marcos

Spring Branch

19

AUSTIN

71

101

Wimberley Comfort

75 Vanderpool

113

90

KERRVILLE

Center Point

Bee Cave

Dripping Springs

87

88

104

Lakeway

17 Henly 37

10 Blanco

Jonestown Lago Vista

56

82

Luckenbach

SEE PAGE 100

66

Hye

114 3

Lake Travis

Round Rock

76

Willow City

FREDERICKSBURG

51

183

45

Marble Falls

Horseshoe Bay

87

Georgetown

Liberty Hill

Granite Shoals 16

Rogers 35

85

Kingsland

33

Andice

Bertram

Burnet

108

Inks Lake

46, 79 & 94

290

109

87

Blufftown

71

Mason

Florence

281

Canyon Lake

Canyon City

69

281

35 67

35

Smithson Valley Bulverde

38

87

107

Gruene 46

N New Braunfels

31 Seguin W

112

E

S

Hill Country Wine Region The Texas Hill Country region now has over 100+ breweries, distilleries, wineries and vineyards combined and continues to grow each month. With this growth, Rock & Vine has also expanded its reach with coverage to the northern counties of San Saba and McCullouch, down south to Bandera, Kendall and Comal, out west to Mason, Kimble and Menard, and east to Hays, Williamson and Travis counties.

Highlighted areas on page 100

98

Rock&Vine

Listing numbers correspond with numbers on map. Locations are approximate not to scale.

1.

12 Fires Winery

31. Copper Star Cellars (Off Map)

62. Hye Meadow Winery

94. Sandstone Cellars (Off Map)

2. 290 Vinery

32. Cross Mountain

63. Hye Rum

95. Santa Maria Cellars

3. 290 Wine Castle

33. Dancing Bee Winery (Off Map) 64. Inwood Estates Winery

96. Signor Vineyards

4. 1851 Vineyards

34. Deep Eddy Vodka

65. Iron Goat Distillery

97. Singing Water Vineyards

66. Kerrville Hills Winery

98. Sister Creek Vineyards

67. Kinematic Brewing Company

99. Six Shooters Cellars

68. Kuhlman Cellars

100. Slate Mill Collective

69. La Cruz de Comal Wines

101. Solaro Estate Winery

100 Durango • Johnson City 300 W. Main (Hwy. 290) • Johnson City 101 Durango • Johnson City 4222 S. Hwy. 16 • Fredericksburg

5. Ab Astris

320 Klein Rd • Stonewall

6. Adega Vinho

972 S County Rd. 1623 • Stonewall

7. Altstadt Brewery

6120 E. US Hwy 290 • Fredericksburg

8. Alexander Vineyards 6360 Goehmann Lane Fredericksburg

9. Andreucci Wines

2 Locations 8898 US Hwy. 290 308 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

10. Andalusia Whiskey Company 6462 N. Highway 281• Blanco 11. Arc de Texas

4555 Hwy. 281 • Johnson City

12. Armadillo’s Leap Winery

2 Locations 134 E. Main St 6266 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

13. Augusta Vin

140 Augusta Vin Ln • Fredericksburg

14. Baron’s Creek Vineyard

5865 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

15. Becker Vineyards

2 Locations 307 E. Main St. 464 Becker Farms Rd. • Fredericksburg

16. Bell Mountain Vineyards

463 Bell Mountain Rd. • Fredericksburg

17. Bell Springs Winery 3700 Bell Springs Rd. Dripping Springs

18. Bella Vista Ranch

3101 Mount Sharp Rd. • Wimberley

19. Bending Branch Winery

142 Lindner Branch Trail • Comfort

20. Bingham Family Vineyards

3915 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

21. Blue Lotus Winery

8500 W Hwy 290 • Hye

22. Boerne Brewery

106 Sage Brush • Boerne

23. Branch on High

704 High St. • Comfort

24. Brewbonnet (inside Wildseed farms) 100 Legacy Rd • Fredericksburg

25. Calais Winery

8115 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

26. Chisholm Trail Winery

2367 Usener Rd. • Fredericksburg

27. Cibolo Creek Brewing Company 122 N. Plant • Boerne

28. Cicada Cellars

14746 E. US Hwy. 290• Stonewall

29. Comfort Brewing

523 Seventh St. • Comfort

30. Compass Rose Cellars Inc. 1197 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

13217 FM 1117 • Seguin

308 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg 8060 W. US Hwy. 190 • Rogers 2250 E. US Hwy. 290 Dripping Springs

35. Dodging Duck Brewhaus 402 River Rd. • Boerne

36. Driftwood Estate Winery 4001 Elder Hill Rd. • Driftwood

37. Dripping Springs Vodka 5330 Bell Springs Rd. Dripping Springs

38. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 1741 Herbelin Rd. • New Braunfels

39. Duchman Family Winery 13308 FM 150 W. • Driftwood

40. Fall Creek Vineyards

2 Locations 18059-A FM 1826 • Driftwood 1820 County Rd. 222 • Tow

41. Fat Ass Winery Tasting Room 153 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

42. Fat Ass Ranch Winery

51 Elgin Behrends Rd. • Fredericksburg

43. Fawncrest Vineyard & Winery 1370 Westside Circle • Canyon Lake

44. Fiesta Winery - 2 locations

147A E. Main St. 6260 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

45. Flat Creek Estate

24912 Singleton Bend East Rd. Marble Falls

46. Fly Gap Winery (Off Map)

2851 Hickory Grove Rd. • Mason

47. Four Point Cellars

10354 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

48. Fredericksburg Brewing Company 245 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

49. Fredericksburg Winery

247 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

50. French Connection

1197 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

51. Georgetown Winery

715 Main St. • Georgetown

52. Garrison Brothers Distillery 1827 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

53. Grape Creek Vineyards

10587 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

54. Grape Creek Vineyard on Main 223 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

55. Hahne Estates Winery

14802 US Hwy. 290 East • Stonewall

56. Hawk’s Shadow Estate Vineyard

7500 McGregor Ln. • Dripping Springs

57. Heath Sparkling (coming summer '19) 10591 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

58. Hilmy Cellars

12346 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

59. Hill Country Cellars & Winery 3540 S. Hwy 16 Ste 2D • Bandera

60. Hill Country Distillers 723 Front St. • Comfort

61. Horn Wineries

9953 US Hwy. 290 • Hye

11247 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye 10303 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg 817 Usener Rd. • Fredericksburg 3600 Fredericksburg Rd. • Kerrville 635 E. Hwy 46, Suite 207 • Boerne 18421 E. US Hwy. 290 • Stonewall 7405 FM 2722 • Canyon Lake

70. Lewis Wines

3209 W. US Hwy. 290 • Johnson City

71. Longhorn Cellars

315 Ranch Rd. 1376 • Fredericksburg

72. Longhorn Hills and Winery

555 Klappenbach Rd. • Johnson City

73. Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards

6009 US Hwy. 290. • Fredericksburg

74. Lost Draw Cellars

113 E. Park St. • Fredericksburg

75. Lost Maples Winery

34986 Farm Market 187 • Vanderpool

76. McReynolds Winery

706 Shovel Mountain Rd. • Cypress Mill

77. Mendelbaum Winery/Cellars

10207 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

78. Messina Hof Winery

9996 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

79. Murphy's Cellars

120 Fort McKavett St • Mason

80. Narrow Path Winery

2 Locations FM 1623 (South of Hye) • Albert 111 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

211 San Antonio St. • Mason

12044 S. Hwy. 16 • Fredericksburg 362 Livesay Lane • Fredericksburg 316 Mill Dam Rd. • Comfort

1142 Sisterdale Rd. • Boerne

6264 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg 4222 S State Hwy 16 • Fredericksburg 13111 Silver Creek Rd. Dripping Springs

102. Southold Farm + Cellar 10474 Ranch Road 2721 Fredericksburg

103. Spicewood Vineyards 1419 CR 409 • Spicewood

104. Stone House Vineyard

24350 Haynie Flat Rd. • Spicewood

105. Texas Heritage Vineyards

3245 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

106. Texas Hills Vineyard

878 RR 2766 • Johnson City

107. Three Dudes Winery

125 Old Martindale Rd. • San Marcos

108. Torr Na Lochs

7055 W. State Hwy. 29 • Burnet

109. The Vineyard at Florence 8711 W. FM 487 • Florence

110. The Vintage Cellar

6258 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

111. Thirsty Mule Winery & Vineyard 101 CR 257 • Liberty Hill

112. Timber Ridge Winery

2152 Timber Creek Rd. • Pipe Creek

81. Newsom Vineyards

113. Treaty Oak Distilling Company

82. Pecan Street Brewing

114. Vinovium

83. Pedernales Cellars

115. Wedding Oak Winery

717 Front St. • Comfort

106 E. Pecan Dr. • Johnson City 2916 Upper Albert Rd. • Stonewall

84. Pelota Wines, Inc.

3209 US Hwy. 290 • Johnson City

85. Perissos Vineyards

7214 W. Park Road 4 • Burnet

86. Perspective Cellars

247 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

87. Pilot Knob Vineyard 3125 CR 212 • Bertram

88. Pint & Plow Brewing Company 332 Clay St. • Kerrville

89. Pontotoc Vineyard

320 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

90. Real Ale Brewing Company 231 San Saba Court • Blanco

91. Ron Yates Wines

6676 W. US Hwy. 290• Hye

92. Salt Lick Cellars

1800-C FM 1826 • Driftwood

93. Safari (opening soon)

16604 Fitzhugh Rd. • Dripping Springs 214 Edmonds Avenue • Johnson City 2 Locations 316 E. Wallace (Off Map) • San Saba 290 Wine Rd., • Fredericksburg (Under construction)

116. Westcave Cellars Winery 25711 Hamilton Pool Rd. Round Mountain

117. Western Edge Cellars

228 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

118. William Chris Vineyards 10352 US Hwy. 290 • Hye

119. Wimberley Valley Winery

2825 County Road 183 • Driftwood

120. Wines of Dotson Cervantes 13044 Willis Street • Pontotoc

121. Winotus

115 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

122. Woodrose Winery

662 Woodrose Lane • Stonewall

123. Zero 815 Winery

11157 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

5479 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

9953 E. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

SPRING 2020 99

drinkery maps 102 LANE

FREDERICKSBURG FREDERICKSBURG

5

GOEHMANN

Cain City

1376

COM RD. FORT

C LU

LOWER ALBERT RD.

53 57

15

ALBER

6

RD

1623

83

Albert

HYE ALBERT RD.

GELLERMANN

7764

68 63 123

122

HAHN RD.

CITY

N BACH-CAIN .

KE RD

RD.

MEUSEBACH CREEK RD .

WOODLAND DR.

RD. CAIN

IO

Blumenthal

58 96 47 42

Hye

290

Stonewall

T

ON

9

290

118

Pedernales River

PER

14 73 71

78

LBJ National LBJ State Historical Park Historical State Park Ranch

28

UP

NT SAN A

87

20 93

110 7 44 99 24 Rocky Hill 8 CITY

OLD

105

Pedernales River

JENSCHKE LANE

290

LUCKENBACH RD.

GOEHMANN LN.

LANE

.

KLEIN RD.

16

31 21 62 30

59 24

50

52

80

OLD

Luckenbach

WINE CORRIDOR

DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG W. CENTRE ST.

PECAN ST.

ELM

W. COLLEGE ST.

TRAVIS ST.

ORCHARD ST. TRAVIS ST.

16 SCHUBERT ST.

Pioneer Museum

49

32

80 121 44 41

SAN ANTONIO ST. T

EEK S

E. CR

16 N

W

PARK ST. E

S

100

Rock&Vine

UFER ST.

74

Visitor Information Center

LINCOLN ST.

12

LLANO ST.

Marktplatz

ADAMS ST.

AUSTIN ST.

54

48

Museum of the Pacific War

15 86

MAIN STREET

9

87

S WASHINGTON

MAIN STREET

117

CROCKETT ST.

89

ORANGE ST.

MILAM ST.

AUSTIN ST.

EDISON ST.

BOWIE ST.

ACORN ST.

CHERRY ST.

SCHUBERT ST.

290

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SPRING 2020 101

Events

As this issue goes to press in mid-March, the situation with COVID-19 is affecting events every day. Please check with event organizers and websites on postponements and cancelations.

April 2-4 —Llano River Chuck Wagon CookOff, Badu Park, Llano. Traditionally dressed chuck wagon

cooks using Old West cooking methods square off on the banks of the Llano River to compete for prizes in several categories. Free admission. Meal ticket $20. 325-2475354. llanochuckwagoncookoff.com

4—LBJ 100 Bicycle Ride, LBJ National Historical

Park at the LBJ Ranch, 144 Park Road 49, Stonewall.

Starts at 9 a.m. Drink in a beautiful slice of the Hill Country on a 100-mile ride. Onside registration and packet pickup begins at 7 a.m. at registration tent on LBJ air strip. Pre-registration and information: lbj100. bike

11 —Bluebonnet Antique Tractor Ride, a

Fredericksburg, 9 a.m. start. Tractor guys and gals enjoy a day moseying around on their tractors on a 22-mile loop.

Tractor entry and participation open to the public with no age limit on tractors. 830-889-9348, 830-889-0070. rustyiron.org

14

—Second Saturday Gallery Trail , at the Square and around town, Wimberley, 4-7 p.m. Fifteen fine art galleries keep their doors open late for the monthly Gallery Trail. Enjoy wine, bites, entertainment and check out the work of local/national artists. Free monthly event. wimberleyarts.org

16-19 —Old

Settlers Music Festival,

Tillman near Lockhart. From Tanya Tucker to Sam Bush to J.J. Grey & Mofro and James McMurtry, the long weekend is packed full of live music. oldsettlersmusicfest.org

4—Hill Country Living Festival + Rainwater

Revival, Ranch Park & Event Center, 1042 DS Ranch Road, Dripping Springs, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate rainwater retrieval and living lightly in the Texas Hill Country. Free event is part education, part festival and good fun. 75 vendors and exhibitors, artisan and food market, native and drought-tolerant plant sale, acoustic music stage, handson workshops, dark night sky exhibits, 21+ tasting room. hillcountryalliance.org/rainwaterrevival/

10-12 —Bluebonnet

Festival, Downtown Square area, 229 South Pierce Avenue, Burnet. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

200-plus vendor, air show, rubber duck races, parade, live music, street dances, carnival, kids’ activities, wiener dog races, dog house races, free chuck wagon breakfast Sunday morning, 5k run, kid’s fun run, birding and wildflower show, golf tournament, gunfighters’ shootout.

Festival is free, charge for Saturday dance, derby, air show. bluebonnetfestival.org

102

Rock&Vine

16-26

—Fiesta San Antonio , is a 10-day festival held every spring in San Antonio, which originated in 1891 as a flower parade and salute to the heroes of the Alamo and San Jacinto battles. Music, food, parades and activities for all ages. fiestasanantonio.org

24-26 —Red Poppy Festival, Georgetown.

Annual festival is a bow to “Okra” Compton, a local fellow who fought in WWI and brought back red poppy seeds from Flanders Field and sprinkled them in his mother’s garden. The poppies blew and blew and sprang up all over town. Live music, art, car show, parade, kids activities, Red Poppy 5k and Bike Ride. poppy.georgetown.org

25-26 —Comfort

Antique Show,

Village

Spring

Comfort Park, TX-27, Fourth and Main. Rain/shine. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Americana antiques, farm tables, cupboards, quilts, rugs, baskets, pewter, jewelry, china, Indian, old store collectibles, advertising, architectural and gardening items for sale. Large food tent. 830-995-3670. texasantiqueshows.com.

June May 21- June 7

—49th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival, Quiet Valley Ranch, 9 miles south of Kerrville. This festival offers live music from Marcia Ball, Growling Old Men, The Limeliters and a couple dozen other musicians and band, along with activities for all ages. kerrvillefolkfestival.org

12-14 —16th

May 7-10 —Hill

Country Film Festival,

in Fritztown Cinema, Fredericksburg. This independent film event showcases feature and short films from around the world. hillcountryff.com

9

—Gillespie County Historical School Open House, Cherry Mountain at Cherry Mountain Loop, Fredericksburg, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. No admission charge. Donations gladly accepted toward preservation projects.

830-685-3321. historicschools.org/cherrymountain-school.html

Festival,

Annual Blanco Lavender

Blanco. Vendors, lavender gifts, food, music, activities, fun. facebook.com/events/blanco-texas-blancotexas/blanco-lavender-festival/550805148825908/

18-20

—59th Annual Stonewall Peach JAMboree and Rodeo, in Stonewall, TX 78671; 830-644-2735; stonewalltexas.com.

19-21 —Fredericksburg

Trade

Days,

Fredericksburg. More than 350 vendors, music, food and arts/crafts. festivalnet.com/32819/Fredericksburg-Texas/ Marketplace-Expos/Fredericksburg-Trade-Days-June

25

—Memorial Day Program, National Museum of the Pacific War, 10 a.m. to noon, Free event, Admiral Nimitz Gallery Memorial Courtyard, Fredericksburg. pacificwarmuseum.org

16 —Testicle

Festival, Castell General Store, Castell, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., live music, auction, BBQ, pizza, annual event. Local nuts, imported nuts, bull nuts, calf nuts, turkey nuts, all kinds of nuts. Go nuts and have a ball! If you're not keen on trying on these types of fare, there are other food vendors on site. 325-247-4100. castellgeneralstore.com

23

—Concert in a Cave, Cave Without a Name, Boerne. Step into the wonders of the Queen's Throne Room for an underground concert titled “To Them We Owe,” featuring the a cappella quartet Tinsel. These classically trained vocalists will sing patriotic songs, pop and jazz standards. cavewithoutaname.com

SPRING 2020 103

Der Lindenbaum the linden tree

German Restaurant Authentic German Cuisine

you will be glad you came

Where Good Times are Always On the Menu!

For a truly unique dining experience during your visit to Fredericksburg and its German-enriched attractions ... Stop by our Main Street Restaurant, where you can find American, German and other foreign-flavored dishes to appease even the most hungry of appetites. And, remember, good times and fellowship are always on our menu!

Our skillful chefs take their precious time in preparing dishes (their “masterpieces”) that you can write home about and our service staff offers their visitors — both local and out-of-town — a refreshing friendliness as they care for all their needs.

Whether in town for just a day or making Fredericksburg your home, Der Lindenbaum is ‘a must’. Our comfortable, yet elegant dining atmosphere, welcomes all tastes with open friendship.

authentic - schnitzel burgers - sandwiches home baked breads - german specialties - desserts mouth-watering After shopping, come relax in our quiet, cozy atmosphere with hot spiced wine, European pastries and more. Come join us for delicious international dishes in our comfortable dining room. We’ll be waiting for you (close to the Nimitz Museum.)

Open 7 Days a Week, 11am to 10pm Tuesdays, 11am - 4pm only Now accepting all major credit cards Travelers Checks, Personal Checks

312 E. Main, Fredericksburg, Tx. - 830-997-9126

104

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END

notes

GERMAN PIONEER BECAME TEXAS’ PLANT PAPA Known as the “Father of Texas Botany,” German-born naturalist and newspaper editor Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1849) spent many years after the Texas Revolution collecting and carefully cataloging plant specimens from various places in Texas.

Along the way, he became friends with Santana, a Comanche war chief, and many notable early Texans, including John O. Meusebach, the founder of Fredericksburg who made a lasting treaty with the Comanche.

“He bought a two-wheeled covered cart and a horse, loaded it with paper necessary to pack his plants, and a supply of the most necessary articles of food, such as flour, coffee and salt,” said geologist Ferdinand von Roemer of Lindheimer’s expeditions. “Thereupon, he sallied forth into the wilderness armed with a gun and no other companions but his two hunting dogs.”

Compiled by SHANNON LOWRY

During the Civil War, when paper was scarce and New Braunfels couldn’t get shipments of newsprint, Lindheimer never missed an edition, printing the newspaper on wrapping paper, butcher paper and even leftover paper from his supplies used to preserve plants.

The discovery of hundreds of plant species, including a milkweed, loco weed, prickly pear and a rock daisy, are credited to Lindheimer. His name graces 48 species and subspecies of plants. His plant collections are found in some 20 institutions, from the Museum of Natural History in Paris to the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis to the Komarov Botanic Institute in St. Petersburg

A CROSS MARKS THE MOUNTAIN The Comanche used the 1,915-foot hill as a signal point lookout, where they could advance news of enemy Indian tribes and later, intruding white settlers from this high point, surveying a vast swath of the Hill Country below.

In exchange for helping to guide German settlers to their new home in what would become New Braunfels, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels granted Lindheimer a plot of land on the banks of the pristine Comal River, where he married and lived for the rest of his life.

He continued collecting plants and started a botanical garden at his home. His home became a museum and his garden is still tended to this day. In 1852, he was hired as editor of what became the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, eventually becoming its’ publisher.

With his shock of black hair, fierce blue eyes and a white beard, Ferdinand Lindheimer was known as the “Father of Texas Botany.”

Photo of an old cross on Cross Mountain, date unknown, The Portal to Texas History, crediting Gillespie County Historical Society In 1757, Spanish priests traveling with soldiers on the old Pinta Trail climbed the lonely precipice and erected a wooden cross to help guide travelers on the poorly marked path between San Antonio and the mission and presidio at San Saba.

Sources: https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2013/jan/LLL_Lindheimer/ https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fli04 https://texashillcountry.com/fredericksburgs-secret-place-cross-mountain/ http://www.texasescapes.com/MichaelBarr/Cross-MountainAgeless-Sentinel.htm

SPRING 2020 105

END

notes

Ninety years later, a German settler in Fredericksburg whose plot of land included the hill, climbed to the top, found the toppled remains of the cross and named this high place Kreuzburg, which translates to Cross Mountain.

In that same year, the spring of 1847, when the leader of the colony and many of the men were negotiating a peace treaty with the Comanche near San Saba, the Indians lit fires on the hilltops surrounding Fredericksburg.

To keep their children from being afraid, German mothers tamped down the panic by saying the fires were bunnies boiling up wildflowers for color to decorate Easter eggs for the coming celebration. For many years, the story was reenacted by German settlers as the Easter Fires Pageant, and included an annual bonfire on top of Cross Mountain.

The peace treaty the German settlers signed with the Comanche withstood the test of time. It was never broken by either side.

A priest put up a more permanent wooden cross on the hill in 1848. Community Easter services were held atop Cross Mountain for decades. A large lit cross was erected by members of St. Mary’s Parish some 100 years later to celebrate Fredericksburg, the city under the cross.

In the 1970s, local preservationists Dr. Hardin and Victoria Perry bought the hill and gave it to the Gillespie County Historical Society. In 1979, the city of Fredericksburg took it over, the high school Ecology Club built a nature trail to the top, and later a group of Texas Master Naturalists built a mile of trails that wind to the top of the hill and around a nature trail at its base.

Leadership Gillespie County took on the park as a project, helping to provide signage, trails, benches and picnic tables. The Native Plant Society of Texas, Fredericksburg Chapter, built a Monarch Butterfly Garden at the Cross Mountain Park to provide nectar plants to help fuel the butterflies’ long annual journey to Mexico.

Today, mostly locals make the somewhat precarious climb to the top to gaze down on Fredericksburg and the surrounding Hill Country.

PECAN PRALINES RECIPE Two Texas women stand behind a table filled with desserts made from pecans, with the woman on the left holding a basket of pralines and a woman on the right showing off a pecan pie at the 19th Annual Texas Folklife Festival in San Antonio.

Pecan pralines (pronounced PRAY-leans), a TexMex favorite, are made up of simple ingredients heated in a saucepan: sugar, pecans, milk and butter. To get the perfect caramel-crunch praline, monitor the heat in the pan with a candy thermometer and spoon the mixture quickly. Nix any idea of making these sweets on a super humid day: they will crumble into a sugary mess. This recipe is from the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church cookbook, San Antonio YOU’LL ALSO NEED: Candy thermometer, parchment or wax paper INGREDIENTS: 2 cups white sugar 2 cups light-brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla (Mexican vanilla is best) 5 tablespoons light corn syrup 4 cups pecans 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus a little extra 2/3 cups whole milk DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients except pecans in large saucepan.

Over medium heat, stir mixture until it comes to a boil. Turn heat down to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring frequently until a candy thermometer reaches 232-240 degrees F (soft ball stage). If you don’t have a thermometer, watch for the glossiness to go away, then take the pan off the heat.

Remove from heat and stir in the pecans for another minute or until the mixture begins to thicken. Using a large soup spoon, quickly spoon mixture into round disks onto trays lined with parchment paper. Let cool for about 20 minutes.

Source: www.thedailymeal.com/recipes/pecan-pralines

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Craf t distilleries all across the count r y are working to create hand sanitizer in an ef for t to combat the cur rent shor tage crisis .

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