EXPLORE - January 2023

This issue marks the beginning of a new chapter for EXPLORE. Not only is this the start of a new year, but it is the first official issue under new ownership. I am excited for what the future holds as we set out to EXPLORE all that the Texas hill country has to offer.

The goal as we forge this new path is to reach beyond just the Boerne area and find the cool, the quirky and the charming people, places and things that surround us.

With each issue we hope to share with you new experiences to be had or remind you of things you may want to do again. We want to share with you the amazing artists, concerts, festivals and events that are taking place. And most of all, whether you live here or are just visiting, we want to encourage you to simply enjoy being in the hill country.

Ultimately, our mission is to craft one really cool publication for one really cool area of Texas!

Happy New Year, Lauren Stumberg

Owner/Publisher

You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.

– Dr. Seuss

Sunday 1/1 - Brandon Padier 12-3pm Friday 1/6 - Marcy Grace 6-9pm Saturday 1/7 - Timothy Branch 6-9pm Friday 1/13 - The 501’s 6-9pm Saturday - 1/14 - Shawn Hart 6-9pm Friday - 1/20 - Chuck Wimer 6-9pm Saturday 1/21 - Bru Erdman 6-9pm Friday 1/27 - Alexia Dalton featuring Justin Bryant 6-9pm

The Art Danceof

by Deva Moore

BRINGING THE ART OF BALLROOM DANCING TO BOERNE,TEXAS FOR ALL AGES

Under the auspices of Bertus Stiehle

Atale as old as time or rather an art as old as time. Dance has been around for many years, thousands of years as a fact, back as far as 8000 BC. The first known act of dance was performed for religious reasons then quickly became for entertainment. The beauty of dance shares many purposes from entertainment to fitness and so much more…

Dance has a language of its own and anyone can speak it fluently. Bertus Stiehler brings a beautiful dance to Boerne, Texas. He has a deep love and education, creating the stage if you will for anyone who wants to dance. Say you can’t dance, well say that no more…Bertus promises that everyone and anyone can dance. Not every dancer will master each level to its max, but every dancer can dance!

Bertus explained that as a young man in higher education, he realized that the girls were drawn to the gentlemen

who could dance proficiently. Bertus knew that to compete for a girl he had to learn to dance and not just learn, but excel at dancing, and so his dancing shoes were acquired and his mystical magical dance career began!

He sought every institute that could propel him to the top of the class, dancing his way to popularity. He attended the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, he traveled Great Britain learning all he could about dancing, which led him to being sponsored as a valuable teacher to come to the states and teach dance. Bertus’ talent and mastery of dance finds him in the high ranking of sought after instructor extraordinaire…one must be the best and bring to the states a level of talent that cannot be found here in order to find a sponsor anxious to support the art and artist!

Bertus is certified through the International Dance Teachers Association. He has been dancing since he was 19 going on 20 years old. He

offers dance classes to most everyone. Small children are welcome if they can walk. He says if you can walk then you can dance!!! The performing arts competitions start at about age 6 and by age 30, the stage begins looking for younger fresher performers.

Ministry of Dance, Bertus’ studio, is unique and develops the dancer as well as the dance. Bertus offers dance from Latin and Ballroom dancing at every level. He shared that dancing is not only a beautiful art, but a healthy one as well. Dancing is good for the body, mind and soul. Bertus assures me that the art of dance is the perfect combination of physical activity, social interaction and mental stimulation. Dancing enhances your life in so many ways: health, confidence, selfexpression, social, relaxation and just plain fun! Ministry of Dance was the perfect choice name for Bertus’ dance venue as the studio has found a home in the Baptist Church building on Main Street…615 S. Main to be exact. Anyone is welcome to come

observe, visit, go online at info@ mnistryofdance.usa or give him a call at 830-331-2221 to become more familiar with the professionals that Bertus employs. His exceptional staff are comfortable with private lessons, group lessons, being the partner if one does not have one, or just observing and making recommendations. A full service talented dance studio at its finest!

He keeps his class sizes at somewhere between 10-30 dancers to allow full personal attention to each dancer. Dancing is a personal art and can be shared by a couple or several in a line dance…yes they teach line dancing, Waltz, all Ballroom dancing, Latin dancing and so much more. Bertus explained that there are competitions all over the state and many of those taking classes compete successfully and have won many awards.

Attire for dancing is varied… comfortable clothing is necessary and ballroom dancing competitions are formal with beautiful gowns and tuxedos or suits. Bertus provides dance events a couple of times during the month for just a relaxed practice dancing evening. Singles or couples come and dance to their hearts content. Sounds like a fun evening! Check his website for more details. Bertus also has a facebook page Ministry of Dance where all the social information can be found! It is important to note that attire for those events is enforced…dancing should be performed in comfortable shoes or cowboy boots and never in flip flops or even tennis type shoes that may stick to the floor or sloppy attire! Dress for dance success!

Bertus wants to remind current and future dancers that one is not

necessarily born with a dance talent but it can most certainly be a learned art! Dancing with the Stars takes its show showcasing talent from professional dance classes such as Bertus’ dance talent proving that dance classes really do provide a spectacular event!

Bertus has been settled in Boerne for the last year and a half and he is impressed by the talent and exposure to dance that he has welcomed into his Ministry of Dance! Whether one is an amateur, pro or just wants to learn the basics of dance, Bertus at Ministry of Dance should be your next contact.

The dancers from Ministry of Dance are available for exhibitions, parties, or practice events. Want to sharpen those dance skills for your wedding or even as a guest at an event? Set up a consultation with Bertus or one of his fine staff and find your bliss!

Bertus taught in California and was exploring other states and options before deciding that Boerne and Texas was a viable option! Covid affected him as it has many others, but Bertus has overcome that obstacle easily…

Bertus is devoted to his love of dance and works from early in the morning around 8 until after 9 pm at night!!! His work ethic is amazing and his talent is spectacular. He has made his accessibility online and in person very easy and contacting him or booking your next adventure is simple. Bertus originally hails “from South Africa and stated that …“America is culturally like my home…different areas of culture and quality exist everywhere…” Bertus strives to be a one stop shop for the art of dancing, if you desire a certain type dance or to learn something new then just discuss it with him as he wants to

offer the entire package for the art of dancing. Bertus tries to accommodate every request he gets.

He shared with me that the Ministry of Dance Mission is “to change the world one dance at a time.” This author strongly believes that Bertus can and is doing just that in Boerne and everywhere his dancers perform. Bertus’ vision is to be the industry leader renowned for integrity and dependability. Ministry of Dance under the leadership of Bertus Stiehler does just that. If you are looking to spice up your life come learn to Salsa, if you are looking to glide across the floor like royalty then come learn to Ballroom dance, if you are looking to add some exercise to your life and be more healthy then just join a dance class and find your bliss in the Ministry of Dance. This author strongly suggests that you just up your social game and see what Bertus has to offer. You just might end up being the life of the party, at the least you will learn some new dance techniques to impress at the next party! We all want to “Dance with Somebody” so put on your dancing shoes and meet at the Ministry of Dance for some amazing fun, you never know who you might meet there!

615 South Main Street – Boerne (830) 331-2221

Calendar of Events

Bandera

Through Febuary 25

Cowboys On Main Main Street

Every Saturday, see free cowboy fun in downtown Bandera. Activities can include chuckwagon storyteller, hopping on a saddle-broke Longhorn, or a horse-drawn wagon tour of Bandera. Most Saturdays the Bandera Cattle Company perform gunfights at Rattlesnake Ridge located behind the Visitors Center. Banderabusiness.com

January 19

Cowboy Camp with Lew Peterbaugh

Bandera Beverage Barn, 1407 SH 16 North Bring your guitar to play along or simply come to listen on the third Thursday of the month. Pickers who play cowboy, Texas country, or Western swing music are welcome to sit in. banderacowboycapital.com

January 22

Frontier Times Fourth Sunday Jamboree

Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th St.

On most fourth Sundays of the month, the Frontier Times Museum presents an afternoon jamboree featuring live music, storytelling, and fun for all ages. frontiertimesmuseum.org

Boerne

Every Friday & Saturday Night

Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort SINGER/ SONGWRITER SERIES

1 Resort Way – Boerne 6:30 - 10:30 PM

at La Cascada Table & Bar Kick back at our La Cascada Table & Bar and enjoy pure Texas fare, a refreshing beverage, and live music from talented artists Friday and Saturday evenings.

Live Music at Dog & Pony Grill

1481 S. Main – Boerne Weekends in January – See Ad on Page 5 for full schedule

January 14-15

Boerne Market Days

Main Plaza, 100 N. Main St.

On the second weekend of each month, hundreds of festive booths display everything from collectibles and remembrances of the past to modern innovations that bring a smile of wonder to those who stroll past. boernemarketdays.com

January 14, 28

Bluegrass Jam at the AgriCultural

The AgriCultural Museum, 102 City Park Road Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, bring your instrument and play along, or just come to listen to the musicians participating in the Bluegrass Jam. theagricultural.org/bluegrass-jams

January 14, 28

Kuhlmann-King Museum Tour

Kuhlmann-King Museum, 402 E. Blanco Road

On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, the Kuhlmann-King house gives the public the opportunity to step back in time to see what a historic Boerne home looked like “way back when.” Monthly events and themes vary. facebook.com/kuhlmannkinghouse

January 21

Salvador Dobbs 5th Anniversary Party 512 River Rd, Boerne, TX

Help Salvador Dobbs celebrate 5 years in business! Live music by the Jessee Lee Band. Doors open at 3:00pm

Comfort

January 14

Second Saturday at America Reclaimed America Reclaimed, 810 Avenue A

Come shop reclaimed lumber, antiques, vintage signs, custom furniture & more.

Live Music! Complimentary Adult Beverages! And lots of fun!

Americareclaimed.co

Fredericksburg

January 14

Hill Country Indian Artifact Show

Pioneer Pavilion at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, 432 Lady Bird Drive

Featuring a wide variety of some of the finest Native American artifacts from Texas and the United States, including arrowheads, pottery, beads, and books. hillcountryindianartifacts.com

January 15

Take 3 in Concert

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano St.

Fredericksburg Music Club presents Take 3, a trio (Lindsay Deutsch on violin, Susan Boettger on piano, and Lila Yang on cello) that performs a multifaceted program including tangos; music from movies, Broadway, and TV shows; and familiar classics— presented with a flair for the wild and unexpected. fredericksburgmusicclub.com

January 21-22

Hill Country Gem and Mineral Show

Pioneer Pavilion at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, 432 Lady Bird Drive

The Fredericksburg Rockhounds hosts this 52nd annual gem and mineral show, where you can find artifacts, exhibits, demonstrations, jewelry, minerals, fossils, and collectors. fredericksburgrockhounds.org

January 30-Feb. 24

Wine Lovers Celebration

Various locations

Love is in the air, wine is in your glass, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Take time this February to relax and discover all that wineries in the Texas Wine Country have to offer during this seasonal celebration. texaswinetrail.com

Febuary 17-19

Trade Days

Fredericksburg Trade Days, 355 Sunday Farms Lane

Shop more than 350 vendors in seven barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, shabby chic items, candles, unique clothing, jewelry, and food; plus, enjoy a biergarten and live music. Located 7 miles east on State Highway 290 across from Wildseed Farms. Fbgtradedays.com

Gruene Everyday Gruene Hall

LIVE MUSIC EVERY DAY! Call 830-629-5077 to confirm ticket prices and information.

Kerrville

January 7

Symphony of the Hills

Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St.

Symphony of the Hills presents “POPS: Western Swing,” celebrating the music of Western swing, that delightful blend of country, big band swing, and blues that was named the official music of Texas in 2011. symphonyofthehills.org

January 20

Camerata San Antonio String Quartet

First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St.

Grammy-nominated Camerata San Antonio is a flexible classical chamber music ensemble serving San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country. This month, the group performs “All Shostakovich” featuring compositions by the Russian composer: Viola Sonata, Op. 147, selections from 24 Preludes (arranged by Lera Auerbach for cello and piano) and Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67. cameratasa.org

January 21

ZUZU African Acrobats

Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St.

The ZUZU Acrobats are a Tanzanian troupe that bases performances on 2,000 years of history. They bring modern art, culture, and passion with them everywhere they go. caillouxperformingarts.com

January 21 – Februry 5

KERRVILLE

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Date: Jan 21 - Feb 05, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

River Star Arts & Event Park 3785 TX-27 Kerrville, Texas 78028

The Kerrville Renaissance Festival recreates a medieval marketplace, where guests are encouraged to dress in costume and join the merriment that will include strolling musicians, magicians, jugglers, and storytellers. Guests will be able to shop at the Renaissance Festival Marketplace, with more than 30 shops offering handmade crafts such as wooden toys, leather accessories, clothing, hats, glassware, jewelry, and gifts. The Food Court returns to the main pavilion, offering funnel cake, cinnamon-roasted nuts,

chocolate-covered cheesecake, fresh donuts, turkey legs, kettle corn, jerky, deepfried caramel apple, deep-fried Oreos, and deep-fried pecan pie. This season guests will also be able to enjoy craft beer, wine, and mead.

January 28-29

The 8th annual Kerrville Winter Market

Bringing the best in clothing, jewelry, gifts, accessories, Texas handmade, gourmet food, photography, Scentsy, home decor and so much more. Admission $5 with your non-perishable food donation to Christian Assistance Ministries of Kerrville. Admission is good for both days and kids 12 and under are FREE.

Sat. 10am-5pm Sun. 11am-4pm Inn of the Hills Hotel & Conference Center 1001 Junction Hwy – Kerrville

Luckenbach

January 14

Blues Festival

Luckenbach Texas, 412 Luckenbach Town Loop

The 16th annual Luckenbach Blues Festival showcases an all-day lineup of blues musicians and bands. luckenbachtexas.com

FUN FINDS, GOOD TIMES & GREAT DESIGNS

Do you love a good vintage find? Does reclaimed lumber make your heart pitter-patter? If the thought of taking something old and restoring it to make something new makes you smile, then get yourself to Comfort, Texas and check out America Reclaimed!

As you stroll through this historic, 10,000 square foot lumber yard you’ll find architectural and salvage items, antiques, custom hand-made furniture pieces, all sorts of signs, lots and lots of reclaimed lumber and even vintage trucks!

Brian and Sarah Kleinwachter, owners of America Reclaimed, relocated from Round Top, Texas –the antiques Mecca of Texas – bringing with them all sorts of fabulous finds. “Brian grew up in the business, his mother is still an antiques dealer. It’s in his blood,” said Sarah. “When we decided to start our own business, we knew Americana antiques was the direction we wanted to go, thus the name America Reclaimed.”

According to Sarah, “What you find here are not your grandma’s antiques. We have really cool, unique pieces from all over America.” In addition to the vintage pieces sold, America Reclaimed offers a huge selection of reclaimed lumber that is shipped in from the Midwest. They actually have pickers that take down barns and then ship the lumber to Texas. “This location was perfect for us. Being an old lumber yard, it has the lumber bay storage so we can display our wood in an organized manner. We sell this for retail, but also in the construction and design aspect of our business.”

The Kleinwachters offer both historical restorations and new design/builds, in which they shoot for the buildings to be constructed of approximately seventy-five percent reclaimed materials.

Custom hand-made furniture pieces are also a large part of what America Reclaimed offers. Customers can pick out their lumber and work with their design

team to create anything from dressers, vanities, night stands, farmhouse tables, bars or pretty much anything else you can imagine.

“Our signs are also very popular,” added Sarah. “We have a lot of authentic historical signs, and then we offer handmade signs also. These are created by a local artist who uses antique windows and doors in the designs.”

While most everything at America Reclaimed is from America, the do import about ten percent of their items such as Peroba wood table slabs and the antique teak doors from mainly Thailand, Costa Rica and India.

AMERICANA

Artifacts and items associated with the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of America, especially the United States.

Brian and Sarah have such a great space, right in the center of Comfort, that they want to be much more than a retail store. “We want to be part of the hill country community, to create an experience and a destination for our customers and our friends. We have started hosting a Second Saturday event where there is live music, complimentary adult beverages, food trucks and just lots of fun! We hope you will come join us!”

Stonehenge II

Ascenic drive to Ingram, Texas is sure to lead to lots of interesting finds along the way. However, one of the most interesting sights has to be Stonehenge II. This unusual structure was built as an art project by the late Al Shepperd and his neighbor Doug Hill, more than 30 years ago on Sheppard’s land in nearby Hunt, Texas.

The structure is not a replica, as it is roughly two-thirds the size of the original Stonehenge monument and is not oriented to the sun. It took approximately nine months for Shepperd and Hill to build the structure, which is 90 percent the height and 60 percent the width of the original 5,000 year old circle of stones on the Salisbury Plain in England.

The structure, made of steel and concrete, has become a worldwide tourist attraction and has been visited by thousands of interested onlookers. In addition to Stonehenge II, Shepperd and Hill also created two 13-foot Moai, or Easter Island head replicas.

After Shepperd’s death, the megalithic circle and it’s Easter Island friends needed a new home. In an effort to preserve this true Texas landmark, the sculptures were relocated stone-by-stone to their final resting place beside the Guadalupe River on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram.

The site is open daily from dawn until dusk and all are welcome. You may want to call in advance just to verify that the site is open on the day of your visit. Admission is free, except during the Texas Arts and Crafts Fair which takes place on the last weekend in September each year.

APRIL 8, 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSE

Stonehenge II sits directly in the path of the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse! The HCAF is planning a fun event and festivities to celebrate this monumental occasion. Details to be announced.

Hill Country Arts Foundation is located at 120 Point Theatre Road – Ingram, Texas

ERIC WOOD AND JOSH MCCOY OF QUINCY TODD

singer-songwriter over the last decade is the amazing musician friends with whom I am blessed to forge meaningful relationships. Over the course of the last 4 years, most of my columns here have featured “individual artists,” and to close out 2022/kick off 2023, I wanted to give some love and recognition to an exciting up and coming group comprised of some truly quality guys.

In particular, the lead guitarist of this group is someone I consider a real friend. Even though we don’t see each other all that much these days, we are kindred spirits and have had the pleasure of sharing the stage together a chunk of times when he has joined me for full band shows. This month’s column features Quincy Todd, whose members are:

Eric Wood: Vocals

Josh McCoy: Guitar

Shawn Hart: Bass

Nathan Lorraine: Drums

musicians as I have.

I would love to hear more about how you first began to really get pulled in by music? What are some of your early memories of music affecting you?

ERIC: Well, my first “emotional” memory of music was when I was very young, I cried in the middle of La Bamba when I found out Ritchie Valens died! As far as being first pulled in by a song, when I was a kid, my oldest brother used to turn off the lights in the bedroom, and made me lay down on the floor and listen to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” album, and it changed everything. I realized how much more connected I was to music than anything else from that moment forward.

JOSH: The first song I remember hitting me emotionally is “Bad” by U2, way back when I was probably 10-11 years old. I specifically remember hearing the emotions of the melody and lyrics, and just feeling the singer’s pain as he was singing the song. Really, from that point forward, I’ve been more drawn to dark, emotional songs, as opposed to anything upbeat or

ears, and had no idea what I was capable of, even when they gave me the ticket to Hollywood. I still didn’t really have a full grasp of what I was capable of until I met Josh and played with a group of local guys from Devine, Texas. That’s where I got my first taste of performing original music with genuinely talented musicians. Josh, Nathan, and the rest of those guys helped me shed my insecurities; they helped me actually open up and find my true abilities with singing and songwriting.

JOSH: I started playing at 15, joined my first band at 17, and have been playing off and on with bands and solo gigs for almost 16 years now…I want to piggyback off of meeting with Eric and our old band, From Kings. Immediately, we felt the chemistry of our music and we began writing songs. Even though things didn’t work out with that band, Eric and I became very close and continued writing and playing acoustic shows here and there for years. As time went on, we started calling ourselves Quincy Todd, which is a play on both of our middle names. Last year, we finally put together this band,

and hit the live music circuit hard across several venues in Austin. It had its ups and downs, but opened a lot of doors for us. We welcomed Nathan (Lorraine) and Shawn (Hart) into the band this year, and the chemistry of the four of us has grown immensely with each show we’ve played. All four of us believe in our original songs, and love playing them together.

What was your journey like musically that led you to where you are now?

ERIC: After realizing I actually had potential as a vocalist and songwriter, my chemistry with Josh and our ability to inspire one another in creating music lit a fire that has grown into a true passion and life calling that has given me an outlet and a way to express emotions and ideas. To a point now, everything I do is based on “how can I put this in a song.” The connection, friendship, and musical relationship that Josh and I found almost immediately exposed a part of me I never knew existed. From that point on, I never realized I had so much to say. I shed all of my insecurities and found comfort and freedom to just create. It’s like where I lack, he has strengths. Where he lacks, I have strengths. And now, with Quincy Todd forming, all of the endless hours in a back room on GarageBand has developed an undeniable original sound that I can only describe as “genuinely me.”

JOSH: I started out playing guitar...from very early on, I had a natural knack for playing more complex guitar parts than most of my peers, even the guys that had been playing for years. While I was in my first band, I ran into a songwriter in Devine, and sat and watched him craft melodies and lyrics from feelings and emotions, and a lightbulb clicked. I didn’t know it was possible to just write music and songs out

of thin air! I became a student of melody, and what it takes to craft a song that people can connect and sing along to. My focus shifted away from just playing lead guitar, into writing and playing my own songs. I had great partnerships along the years, but when I met Eric, an immediate connection formed that I had never encountered before. It sounds cliche, but it’s like Eric and I are the same person when we’re writing and playing together. We feel what the other person is pursuing, and each of us can fill the spaces as we’re crafting ideas in our songs. We’ve been playing together in bands and solo shows for 7 years now, but Quincy Todd is the final product and perfect representation of all of these years of working together and feeding off of each other.

Who would you classify as 2-3 of your most significant musical influences?

ERIC: Chris Cornell, Caleb Followill, and Lane Staley. Each of these vocalists have so much emotion and pain in their voice, and always drew me in in such a way, that I wanted to be able to touch people with my music in the same way that they touched me. To me, there’s nothing more beautiful than pain in a song. I aspire to be as influential and powerful as Chris Cornell was in everything that I do. For songwriting, I find that I most often think and talk in metaphors, and once I found Caleb Followill and Kings of Leon, I started dissecting their songs. I realized how similar we were in our delivery and vocal style, and found a completely new inspiration for songwriting. A band called Manchester Orchestra is also responsible for a large part of my style of songwriting. I like to think if you dissect my vocals and the writing of our original songs, you’ll find every one of these folks in there.

They’re all “hopeless romantics with too much pain to write a love song,” if that makes sense.

JOSH: Mine’s in two parts: For guitar, David Gilmour and John Frusciante. Both of them have a special type of phrasing with their instruments that’s both inyour-face, yet absolutely melodic and beautiful. If you dissect my guitar in any of Quincy Todd’s songs, you can definitely hear the inspiration of those two artists. For songwriting, the most significant influence is a man named John Campsey, who was a dear friend, and an absolute prodigy for conveying emotion, gorgeous melody, energy, and storytelling in his music, especially in his band Sleepway. John passed away a few years back, and I like to think his presence is in every lyric and melody that I write.

What are some of both the most challenging and rewarding aspects of being a full time (or part time) singer songwriter? What does incorporating music into life mean/look like now?

ERIC: Music and songwriting has given me an outlet and escape from the stresses of everyday life. Nothing is more therapeutic. The energy that it takes to get everyone on their feet, dancing, and singing along... there’s an equal and opposite energy of silencing an entire room. I know what it’s like to be in a crowd and not be able to speak from being so captivated by what I’m experiencing. To be the one that’s delivering that for someone else is the biggest reward for me.

JOSH: Music is therapy. Every lyric that I write is an experience that I’ve overcome

in my life. It’s a great feeling to be able to share my story, and hopefully move someone that’s going through something similar when they hear something that I’ve written.

What do you enjoy that takes your mind away from the music/and work (business) when you need to recharge?

ERIC: Honestly music is how I get away; when I’m not engulfed in the music, I enjoy disc golf with my buddies, sitting on the river under Faust Bridge listening to reggae, and letting everything go. If it’s not that, I honestly like to just turn on the radio, get behind the wheel, drive down some backroads with the windows down for a relaxing smoke.

JOSH: For me it’s my wife Lauren, and my daughter Emery. Everything I do in my life is for them. They’re the reason I get up every morning and the reason I want to continue to get better and be the best possible version of myself. Love is what makes me who I am, and the love I feel for the two of them is indescribable. And that love is only going to grow from there, as Lauren is currently expecting our first baby boy in March!

What are one or two things most people don’t know about you?

ERIC: If I’m being honest, I’m a deeply self-conscious man who has struggled with addiction. And as shameful as it is, I am not a native Texan.

JOSH: Here’s one that very very few people know. Eric was the Best Man at my wedding, and for his Best Man speech, he sang “Friendship” by Chris Stapleton. Needless to say, he brought the house down with his performance and completely outshined me and my wife on what was supposed to be our day. I still haven’t forgiven him for that.

ERIC: Ummmm I conferred with your wife for that, and made damn sure she was okay with it, and ensured me that she was on board.

JOSH: Still don’t forgive you. How do you juggle life responsibilities with art and creativity?

ERIC: I don’t. There’s no middle ground for me. I’m a bipolar, manic human who

literally lives in the moment and struggles to look ahead of himself. Very rarely do I plan, because plans very seldomly are followed through within my world.

JOSH: It’s definitely tough... but life responsibilities are the catalyst of art and creativity. Without the challenges of the ups, downs, successes, failures, love, loss, and hardships of life, my music and art would not exist. Every lyric that we write comes from a place of truth and real-life experience. So I welcome the challenge of juggling what happens in my life with our pursuit of music. It’s a safe space when I need a place to escape, and it’s a rush being able to share my stories with anyone who’s willing to listen.

Special Note:

JOSH and ERIC: We want to give a special shout out to the other two members of Quincy Todd, Nathan Lorraine, and Shawn Hart. Nathan is an absolute animal and is the hardest working member of the band, and the backbeat of our sound. Shawn Hart is on bass. He’s so much more than just an incredible bass player. He’s a full time musician and singer/ songwriter on his own. Quincy Todd would not be where they are today without the special sounds and presence of these two fine gentlemen.

The enjoyment of music is a gift, and the opportunity to do so when you feel as though you “know” the artists a little bit more, and can see that they are genuine human beings possessing both natural talent and hard-earned skill make it all the more special.

Quincy Todd is planning to release their debut album “Honey” in March and will be released on Spotify, Apple Music, and in physical formats.

Folks can find them at www. quincytodd.com, facebook. com/quincytoddofficial and @quincytoddofficial on Instagram.

The band holds a residency for every other 4th Saturday at Billy’s Ice in New Braunfels that you should attend at your earliest availability.

Big thanks to these wonderful guys and good friends, and I wish you all God’s blessing, peace, and joy in 2023!

Hill Country Bucket List

This year, instead of making a bunch of resolutions you most likely won’t keep, why not make it a point to get out and enjoy some of what the Texas hill country has to offer. Maybe you’ve never done some of these, or maybe you have but it’s been a while… either way, putting the following experiences on this year’s Bucket List will ensure you have a fun and adventurous 2023!

EXPLORE THE WORLD DOWN UNDER:

The hill country has several magnificent caves to explore. There is Cascade Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns, Longhorn Cavern State Park, and Cave Without a Name just to mention a few. The sights of the stalactites, stalagmites and soda straws are impressive and the natural acoustics of the caverns are incredible too. Several of the caves even host regular concerts! Caves in our area also keep a constant temperature of around 65 degrees, so keep that in mind when you are looking for a cool summer excursion.

ATTEND A SMALL TOWN RODEO:

For a true Texas experience, why not load up your family and friends and head out to a small town rodeo? If you are not sure where to go, why not try out Crider’s Rodeo in Hunt, Tejas Rodeo in Bulverde, the Mansfield Park Rodeo arena in Bandera or the Lester Meier Rodeo Company hosts a handful of rodeos around the hill country each year and many of the county fair’s in our area have a rodeo or two to attend!

GO TUBING:

Nothing gives off that lazy summertime vibe quite like a leisurely float down the Guadalupe, Frio, Comal or South Llano. There are multiple places with shuttle services to drop you off and pick you up, rent you a tube and pack your cooler full of ice-cold drinks. We suggest you go earlier in the summer when the rivers are more likely to be flowing!

DRIVE WILLOW CITY LOOP:

This iconic scenic drive will impress you all year round, but during a good wildflower season (March-May), you will find its beauty even more abundant as the vibrant colors from Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, Mexican Poppies, Sunflowers, Winecups, Verbena and more, light up the landscape with a host of beautiful colors. The narrow, two-lane road is 13 miles of some very unique geology – deep canyons, amazing views and spectacular meadows are sure delight the senses!

WATCH A PLAY AT THE POINT THEATRE:

The summer productions at The Hill Country Arts Foundation Point Theatre in Ingram are not to be missed. Located on the banks of the Guadalupe, the outdoor theatre is truly spectacular and offers 520 seats and two skyboxes. Watching a quality production under the Texas night sky is an experience to be had.

HORSE RACES IN FREDERICKSBURG

The Gillespie County Summer Horse Races are four big weekends of exciting, live Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing. Attendees can pick their favorites to win, place their bets and cheer from the stands as the horses and jockeys race around the track! These events usually take place during the months of July – August and are HOT… but oh-so-much fun!

EXPLORE A SMALL TOWN OR TWO:

The hill country is full of small towns with big character! You never know what you might find if you take some time to prowl around in a town that is just a short drive from your own. Make a fun day of it or even better, why not a weekend getaway?

WINERY, DISTILLERY OR BREWERY TOUR:

This area of Texas has become a hot spot for wineries, distilleries and breweries. It seems that there has been an absolute explosion of these establishments in the past few years. Visit them on your own or take a tour with one of the many shuttle-based services that will take you and your friends around for tastings at multiple locations!

There is certainly more fun to be had, but we’ll stop here… this is sure to keep you busy for a while!

LIFESTYLE MEDICINE:

AN EMPOWERED HEALTH JOURNEY

by Adam Soyars

The blank squares on a new calendar vibrate with potential. If this January is like most others, you’re feeling a renewed sense of focus and connection to your health and well-being. Convert the squares of potential into squares of action. There is no better time to take charge of your health than today.

WHERE TO START

In a culture where we are inundated with information and recommendations, it is easy to get stuck. Where do I start? What should I do? Who should I listen to?

Every expert seems to have opinions of what nutrition or diet plan is the “best.” Unfortuanately, when it comes to health, especially nutrition, broad generalizations lead to frustrating outcomes. They fail to appreciate that our goals, our lifestyles, our habits, our unique physiology, and our DNA are highly personal. What works for your friend or your favorite social media expert may not work for you.

How can you take control of your health and learn how to optimize well-being? We have highlighted the five steps of a self-determined health journey. We’ve also given you several high-yield practices to implement TODAY!

It’s time to fill the potential with action!

STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR WHY

WHY do you want health?

Finding your “Why” is, likely, the single, most important piece of your health puzzle.

Your why will keep you centered; it will give you motivation, it will keep you focused, and it will give you inspiration when faced with challenges.

STEP 2: TAKE CONTROL

You are the CEO of your health. Sure, that’s incredibly philosophical and somewhat cheesy, but it is true. Employ and assemble the Healthcare Team that will help you achieve your goals and fulfill your life purpose. Remember, a CEO is not an expert in every facet of their business; however, they are usually exceptional with regards to piecing together the best support team. Trust your intuition.

STEP 3: MEASURE

What gets measured, gets managed.

Work with your Healthcare Provider to measure your blood work. Of course, that’s the bare-minimum. You need to know how your body is functioning based on your current lifestyle and inputs. This will help direct your focus, and it will inform you where to make lifestyle pivots.

STEP 4: GET TO WORK

The only way to make change is to start practicing.

Health is not an easy pursuit. You don’t have to be perfect. While we emphasized the importance of individualized recommendations, we’ve assembled some general guidelines that will serve almost anyone. These tips will help jumpstart your progress until you start working with your Healthcare Professional.

MOVEMENT

There is no single greater health intervention than exercise. No matter your health status (whether you’re overweight or a lean-mean biohacker), walking for 30-60 minutes per day has profound health benefits. For most, it’s hard to find that block of time so break it up!

HYDRATE

Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water (180lbs = 90oz). 75% of us are chronically dehydrated. Experiencing a craving? Don’t confuse thirst for hunger. Try some water with electrolytes first.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM RESET

Circadian rhythm regulates hunger, digestion, metabolism, production and release of hormones, and more. Get direct sunlight exposure in the morning (stacked benefit if you combine with a morning walk).

NO CALORIES WITHIN 3 HOURS OF BEDTIME

Improves sleep quality by facilitating a lower Resting Heart Rate (RHR), increased DEEP/slow-wave, and improved Heart Rate Variability (HRV).

PRIORITIZE YOUR SLEEP WINDOW

Sleep is a lever that impacts every pillar of health. We are not 100% efficient. Obtaining 8 hours of sleep will, commonly, require a 9-hour sleep window. Poor sleep leads to weight gain, irritability, cravings, fatigue, poor-health decisions, and many other detrimental outcomes.

ELIMINATE INFLAMMATORY OILS

Stick with EVOO and Avocado Oil. They are rich in Omega-3 (antiinflammatory) and low in Omega-6 (tend to be pro-inflammatory).

CONSOLIDATE YOUR FEEDING WINDOW

Take, at least, a 12-hour break from calories every day. Reverseengineer your optimal feeding window based on your bedtime. If your goal is to be in bed by 10pm, stop all calorie consumption by 7pm. Your first calorie intake should not come before 7am the following morning.

NO SITTING AFTER MEALS

This gets back to movement. A walk, air squats, lunges, jumping jacks, etc.. Movement after a meal will blunt the rise of blood glucose, and make you more insulin sensitive. Low glucose variability is associated with longevity.

STEP 5: BUILD SUPPORT

Find your community.

Lifestyle changes are hard. Building support increases success and joy along the way. In fact, a 2021 study compared the success of lifestyle interventions among Type 2 Diabetics; the results showed that the odds of success more than doubled for those who participated in an online support group.

Our community is FULL of different interest groups whose mission is to serve health and wellness. Find an accountability partner and link into any or multiple of these groups. With support and effort, health will become your lifestyle.

Remember, you’ve GOT THIS! Hold onto your WHY. When things get tough, which they will, lean into your support system and your community! We want to see you WIN!

Located in the former Boerne Wine Company building

TREAT YOURSELF!

Michoacán A Pedir de Boca – Boerne

What’s life without a little splurge every now and then? You can’t be all work and no play, or even worse, all diet and no dessert! Michoacán A Pedir de Boca (MAPDB) in Boerne is one of the best new spots to stop in for a tasty treat or salty snack.

Partners Eric Jimenez and Armando Olivarez opened MAPDB in August of 2022. “We came to San Antonio to go to college and loved the area. We knew that eventually we would like to live on the outskirts of San Antonio though. Our friend had recently opened a business here in Boerne and raved about how wonderful the community is,” said Eric. It didn’t take much convincing for Eric and Armando to decide that Boerne was where they wanted to be.

“We are from the border of Texas and there they have Mexican snack places everywhere. When we came to Boerne we realized that was something that seemed to be missing from the community,” Eric added.

So, with tons of hard work and learning a lot about the ice cream making process, Armando and Eric brought a Michoacán A Pedir de Boca to Boerne. Not only are the treats delicious, but the atmosphere of the store is noth-

ing but fun! Inside you will find homemade ice cream in just about any flavor you can imagine, paletas, fresh waters, bountiful fruit cups, mangonadas, nachos, corn in a cup with hot Cheetos, crepes, churros, bubble waffles, tostilocos, Mexican candy and more!

In addition to being mouthwateringly wonderful, everything you get from MAPDB Boerne looks like a work of art. A scroll through their social media will leave you wanting to try it all. Each picture and video makes it harder and harder to decide what you will order when you visit MAPDB!

“Everything offer, except for the chips, are made fresh here daily. We make all the ice cream, paletas, the fresh waters, and even the yogurt and cream. All of our snacks are made to order so sometimes the wait may be just a little bit longer during our busy times. However, if you are in a hurry, just give us a call and place your order and we can have it ready for you when you arrive!”

MAPDB Boerne is open seven days a week and are open late too! So whether you are stopping in for a celebration, a quick after school or after sports snack, date night or for no special reason at all, you won’t be disappointed by the delightful offerings of Michoacán A Pedir de Boca!

SO WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Michoacán de Ocampo is a state in central western Mexico and A Pedir de Boca translates to “when something turns out perfectly.” After one bite, you’ll agree that Eric and Armando’s sweet and salty snacks are in fact, perfect.

Trainer, Martial Artist, Medic, Architect … Author

C. Kevin DURIO

by Tracy Tully

Maybe it’s because of Kevin’s varied background that a book might be warranted … or

maybe it was just time that some kind of story came out of all these experiences. Whatever the reason, a book did finally happen … and with a couple more coming.

Kevin started his martial arts and fighting career when at the age of six he watched Bruce Lee on TV as Kato, The Green Hornets valet and sidekick, finally starting formal training at age 11 with his first Master Instructor in Longview, Texas. Watching Chuck Norris and all the great karate / kickboxers of the early 70’s was the driving force behind Kevin’s motivation, as well as eventually leading him into a career of fitness. Besides being the best martial artist he could be, his second dream was to be an Architect, which came to fruition in Dallas in the mid 80’s with a couple of small firms and then landing at HKS Architects for several years. Kevin’s love of backpacking led him to take an advanced first-aid class for a planned extended trip. Yet again the need to learn and be the best he can be at something, made Kevin go further and complete a full Paramedic program … while still working at HKS.

An opening in the city of Grand Prairie’s EMS service came available and just to satisfy the need to compete and test his abilities, he tried out for the spot and to his …

surprise … seriously surprised … he got the job. While there, started to train and work with a few of the local police officers doing defensive tactics – self defense / hand-to-hand skillswhich led to an introduction to a SWAT training organization and began his journey in training Law Enforcement throughout Texas.

Currently, Kevin is a Professional Fitness Trainer with 23 years of training experience, certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and The Cooper Institute, as well as a trained instructor in law enforcement, military and fire service fitness issues through Cooper Institute & Tactical Strength And Conditioning (TSAC). Kevin is a certified boxing coach under USA Boxing, the governing body of International Games, Pan Am games and Olympic boxing, and has 50 years of Martial Arts training, holds a 5th Degree Black Belt and has training in a number of diverse Arts. Kevin is also a Certified Ropes/Challenge Course Facilitator and public speaker on health and fitness related topics as well as personal safety issues. Kevin is the Founder of URBAN DEFENSE TRAININGUDT, a training and certification organization that travels to police departments and military bases to train those personnel in fitness, fighting & first-aid.

Kevin lives in Boerne, Texas, where he continues to do fitness trainings with clients all around the Boerne area and at a couple of gyms, The Clubs of Cordillera and Grind House Training Facility, where he teaches boxing, martial arts and self defense classes. Kevin occasionally makes speaking appearances, is currently working on Naked Fitness II – How to Be Your Own Trainer and a self defense book, is an avid backpacker, loves a good road trip, cartoonist, makes great beef jerky and plays the Didgeridoo.

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

www.TheBoerneBookshop.com

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