July/August 2023 County Line Magazine

FEATURES

6 Cedar Creek Lake

Find refreshing relaxation and small town adventures at Cedar Creek Lake. By P.A. Geddie

12 Top Golf Destinations

Regional golf resorts provide fun for the whole family. By Lisa Tang

18 A Queen’s Getaway

The Redlands Hotel is a destination fit for a queen in Palestine. By Tracy Torma

DEPARTMENTS

3 Editor’s Note

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

22 Caddo Mounds Culture Day

23 Anita Hill Hits Genealogy Jackpot

ARTS & CULTURE

24 ‘Observations’ by Melissa W. Miller

25 Photography With Mid-Century Vibes

26 LMFA ‘BLOOM’-ing With Art

On the cover: Cedar Creek Lake. Photo by Robin SykoRa

PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR

P.A. Geddie

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lisa Tang

CONTRIBUTORS

William Davenport

Rachel Gross

Mickey Hammond

Kathy Hutchins

Gary L. Pinkerton

Dave Shulz

Robin Sykora

Lauren Wacaser

Katie-Rose Watson

ADVERTISING

pa.geddie@countylinemagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

www.countylinemagazine.com/subscribe

County Line Magazine eEdition is published every other month, 6 times a year in digital format. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles or advertising appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 705 Winnsboro, Terxas, 75494 Phone: (903) 312-9556. E-mail: info@countylinemagazine.com Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Free listings are entered on a space available basis. Advertising space may be purchased by calling (903) 312-9556. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem incompatible with our mission.

At County Line Magazine we take pride in sharing the best of the region that we affectionately call the Upper East Side of Texas. Sometimes we present people and places we already know from new angles, but we’re just as excited to cover new places or perspectives.

Historian and author Gary L. Pinkerton explores this theme in this issue’s Literary section. He explains that his historical discoveries are fueled by curiousity and serendipity and take shape gradually as stories in the books he writes.

Magazine production follows a similar process. As journalists we rely on our own experiences and ideas when planning stories for a new issue. Our research is through first-hand experience, interviews, or reading a variety of sources — or a combination of all three.

Our stories are also sometimes personal and poignantly meaningful to us. My friend Tracy Torma writes about attractions available on a weekend in Palestine. The historic town is one of her favorite getaways because it’s also her adopted home.

My story about great golf resorts is also based on first-hand experiences. It even feels like a love letter to my family recalling those times. I still savor the memories we gained while my husband Mark energetically hit and chased his ball down one fairway and the next.

Once we watched a family of deer grazing between the fairway and Lake Fork at the Links at Lands End as we drove in our golf carts. Our visit to Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma last year was also enjoyable because there was so much to explore.

Our kids and I didn’t always participate in the game but we enjoy riding in the cart, looking for golf balls, and exploring wildlife. I also enjoyed practicing photography and sometimes let the kids take a few pics. Others might enjoy sketching, collecting wildflowers, or playing “I Spy” games along the way.

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These local destinations are not elaborate theme parks or cruises — but time spent together with our loved ones can be just as special. —

Lisa Tang

CEDAR CREEK LAKE

Water Fun And Small Town Adventures

By P.A. Geddie

Cedar Creek Lake covers parts of Henderson and Kaufman counties. It offers a wealth of water recreation opportunities, beautiful views, and provides a vacationlike backdrop for many residents and visitors alike from country inns, lakeside Airbnbs, and nearby resorts.

The lake is popular for fishing, boating, and other water sports. Several marinas and public beaches and picnic areas provide access to the lake.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department maintains three islands in the lake as wildlife management areas for aquatic birds. While the islands are off limits to the public, birdwatchers enjoy viewing from boats or from the shore.

Along the water’s edges are popular restaurants. Other dining destinations are sprinkled throughout small towns near the lake, as are shopping boutiques and

lodging. The area has plenty of vacation rentals.

Attractions include a skate park, movie theater, bowling center, three golf courses, and a family fun park with an arcade, batting cages, bumper cars, go-karts, kiddie cars, laser tag, miniature golf, a rockclimbing wall, and a game room.

Each small community around the lake has its own unique attributes. The towns include Kemp, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Payne Springs, Enchanted Oaks, Eustace, Caney City, Malakoff, Star Harbor, Trinidad, Tool, and Seven Points.

Tom Finley Park sits on a centrally located island in Cedar Creek Lake with beautiful views of the surrounding natural setting. The family-friendly park has a dedicated swimming area with a sandy beach and a playground for children. Shaded picnic tables with grills, boating docks, a fishing pier, and pavilions for groups are available.

Gun Barrel City has a new waterfront development underway with a threelevel building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the lake that offers venues for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The design allows the ground floor to provide access to 40 boat slips and a 4,000-foot signature restaurant on the top floor. Part of the plans also continued page 8

Above: Boating on Cedar Creek Lake. Photo by Robin SykoRa Opposite page, top (clockwise from left): Cedar Creek Lake Residents park boats on lakeside docks accessible from their homes. Photo by LiSa tang A similar dock near Malakoff. Photo by WiLLiam DavenPoRt The brightly colored dockside bar at Vernon’s Lakeside restaurant is a favorite hangout for Cedar Creek Lake residents. Photo by LiSa tang Lower right: The Calaboose jail in Kemp where outlaw Bonnie Parker likely stayed the night on April 19, 1932. Photo by PanoRamio Lower left: A sunset on the lake at Long Cove. Middle left: Triple N Ranch Winery near Trinidad. CouRteSy

Photo

LAKE continued from page 6

include a food court on the second level and outdoor seating for all three stories. The outdoor area next to the lower level features a splash park and amphitheater, and there is ample room in the surrounding grounds to accommodate large events.

Near Trinidad, visitors enjoy the Triple N Ranch & Winery on 12 acres, featuring a herd of longhorn cattle, a vineyard, a first-class tasting room, food pairings, concerts, and special events. Guests enjoy wines with brick-oven fired pizzas, charcuterie trays, Italian-style salads with fennel and arugula, panini sandwiches, baked cookies, and s’mores along with occasional multi-course dinners presented by area chefs.

A popular Seven Points business is Cedar Creek Brewery, offering award-winning beers, live music, and special events throughout the year.

In the countryside of Kemp, visitors find a working dairy farm featuring some of the best artisan and farmstead cheeses and cheese spreads in Texas. Full Quiver Farms is operated by a Mennonite farming family that has a small store on the property. Their products are also sold at popular grocers across the Southwest and at regional farmers’ markets.

One piece of history in Kemp is an old “calaboose,” or jail cell, behind the current city hall, where notorious outlaw Bonnie Parker allegedly stayed overnight on April 19, 1932. The legend of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow as robbers and murderers is a big part of the history of the Upper East Side of Texas. Their actions gained enormous media attention and people from all over the region were emotionally invested as the Barrow Gang committed their crimes in the early 1930s.

The City of Tool has a new inclusive community park in the works with an amphitheater, a walking trail, and a

splash pad. A unique play area for kids incorporates music, climbing, and nets. Also included in the complex are a veterans memorial, dog park, botanical gardens, butterfly garden, mural wall, a food truck court and a fishing pond.

Malakoff is home to the Star Harbor Watercolor Society. The artists present their work at events during the year, often along with live music, art demos, and refreshments. The town hosts the annual autumn Cornbread Festival.

Nearby Eustace is the gateway to Purtis Creek State Park with a 350-acre lake offering bass fishing, swimming, boating, camping, and nature trails.

Special events take place around the lake each year, including the Wildflower Festival in Kemp, July Fest in Gun Barrel City, and Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow.

For more information about visiting Cedar Creek Lake the City of Gun Barrel City is a good place to start. Visit www. gunbarrelcity.net.

Photo by Robin SykoRa

We at Winnsboro Center for the Arts in Winnsboro established a relationship with P.A. Geddie and County Line Magazine over five years ago. They worked with us then in developing an advertising plan and continue to work with us now on ad content and direction. CLM has always been responsive with the changes and edits that are a part of the changing needs of advertising and promotion. The staff at CLM has a passion for promoting the Upper East Side of Texas and all of the many events, concerts and activities in it. They have created a truly excellent magazine and it's not unusual for folks to tell us that they saw us in County Line Magazine.

Jim Willis, Director of The Bowery Stage Winnsboro Center for the Arts

County Line Magazine is our “go to” publication for marketing Mineola, Texas, to our target audience in the North by Northeast Texas area. We know that County Line Magazine will present our entertainment and leisure information in the best light possible with attractive ads and interesting articles that its readers will notice and enjoy. Visitors to our city often comment that they saw our information in the County Line Magazine. Fast response on ad proofs and changes make working with staff a pleasure. We love County Line Magazine.

Lynn Kitchens, Director of Marketing Asst. Director Economic Development City of Mineola

County Line has always been and continues to be a significant partner to our community. The magazine is beautifully laid out, filled with relevant information, and reaches our most important target market — the Northeast Texas drive market. The County Line Team is always very professional and the magazine is a great asset to the entire area.

Kevin Banks, Manager, Greenville CVB

P.A. Geddie and the County Line are a tremendous asset for us at Four Winds Steakhouse. We have worked together for about 14 years. Through the years I have seen the publication grow and consistently get better. It has been a great local tool for our business and its reach continues to grow. They do a great job putting our ads together and I enjoy working with P.A.

Frank Rumore, Four Winds Steakhouse

Enjoy a Great Golf Vacation

The Upper East Side of Texas Is Home to Many Resorts

By Lisa Tang

The region is home to many golf resorts and courses open to the public. Several offer amenities suitable for a family or couples’ vacation and can rival top resorts nationwide. A trip to one of the many golf resorts in the Upper East Side of Texas is more than just a good economic choice — it can also be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Some courses include challenging designs by elite players and boast national awards. Examples include the course at Tanglewood Resort in Grayson County designed by Arnold Palmer; another is Pine Dunes in Anderson County, which features a championship fairway and is highly rated by professional golfers. There’s also plenty of evidence for the growing enthusiasm for golf across the region. In 2022 the Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) opened its new headquarters in Frisco, Texas, and Dallas-based Top Golf — an entertainment venue that combines the competitive fun of driving balls with opportuni-

ties to enjoy food and drink in a relaxed setting — continued opening franchises across the globe.

PGA established August as National Golf Month in 1993 to commemorate the sport’s popularity among players of all ages, abilities, and skill levels. Three decades later the game is still gaining players and fans. Local resorts and courses sponsor tournaments and sports camps, and Dozens of semi-private country clubs in the region allow the public to play green fees at relatively low rates

The value of golfing in the region is hard to beat. Green fees vary but often include use of a cart; discounts are available for youth and seniors; and many courses allow spectators for no additional fee as long as they ride with a player or two.

The benefits of golfing are many. It’s great exercise and offers physical, mental and social benefits. Chance meetings on the course are common, as golfers with lower skills must yield to others racing through. New acquaintances are often made at the clubhouse, restaurant, or

pro shop. Even those who begin playing alone often team up with others they meet on the course to make the game more interesting.

Physical benefits include low impact exercise from walking, increased heart rate, and Vitamin D absorption that comes from spending time outdoors. The game is also mentally challenging because it requires strategizing and keeping a level head to stay in the game. Beginning players and youth who stay the course for nine or more holes can build confidence in their athletic abilities and gain a sense of accomplishment.

Playing golf also allows time for bonding among friends and between parents and children. A parent, grandparent, or other relative who plays with a young

continued page 14

Above: Garden Valley Golf Resort in Lindale offers a challenging course on its scenic fairways. Opposite page: Matthew (left) and Mark Tang (right) enjoy playing a short game of nine holes at Garden Valley.

PhotoS by LiSa tang

golfer can share their knowledge and appreciation for the sport while providing valuable coaching and together time.

Learning the game’s rules allows youth to learn discipline and sportsmanship while they also gain self-confidence. Some resorts offer competitive opportunities for youth through participation on teams and state and nation tournaments.

Almost all resorts in the region provide sweeping views of majestic scenery and wildlife with tall pines, ponds, lakes, and waterways. These are complemented by spacious and family-friendly accommodations with access to activities such as swimming, tennis, hiking, and pickleball. Many resorts offer much more than golf — they provide a relaxing experience and a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by couples, families, and other groups — including those just along for the ride. Guests can enjoy photography, sketching, or bird watching as they encounter wildlife and native plants.

Resorts offering a variety of amenities in addition to public golf and overnight lodging include Crown Colony Country Club in Angelina County, Garden Valley Resort in Smith County, the Links at Land’s End in Wood County, Pine Dunes in Anderson County, Tempest Golf Club in Gregg County, and Rayburn Resort in Jasper County.

Crown Colony Country Club

Crown Colony offers spacious villas outfitted with large sleeping areas, kitchenettes, washers and dryers, separate sitting rooms, and patios with tables and views of the golf course. Guests who stay at the villas — rates begin at $150 per night — can access the club’s facilities and restaurants. Pet-friendly accommodations are also available.

The resort offers both fine and casual dining and hosts special events. The grounds include six lighted tennis courts, an exercise room, and an Olympic-sized pool. Tennis and golf lessons are available.

The club started its Junior Golf Club in 2011 with the goal of providing com-

continued page 16

Above: Junior golf camps at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin offer opportunities to play on teams and compete in regional championships. CouRteSy Photo Below: A cabin at Garden Valley offers nightly lodging for groups large or small. Opposite page, top: Garden Valley’s waterways offer picturesque views.

PhotoS by LiSa tang Opposite page, bottom: The Links at Lands End offers spacious lodging indoors and out. CouRteSy Photo

petitive play for teams of young players. The program has grown to a PGA Junior League with four or more teams. Crown Colony also offers summer sports camps for kids that include tennis, swimming, and fishing. For information call (936) 637-8811 or visit www.crown-colony.site.

Garden Valley Resort

Garden Valley near Lindale features the Dogwood Course designed by architect John Sanford of Florida whose courses are found around the U.S. and Middle East. The challenging course features picturesque waterways and receives praise from both local golfers and national organizations.

The venue hosts weekend golf retreats, corporate events, and private events such as weddings. Lodging costs an average of $500 per night in the club’s private cottages that comfortably sleep 10 to 12. Cottages are equipped with kitchens and lunch is served at The Perfect 19th Hole Thursday through Saturday. A small swimming pool overlooking the course is also available. For information call (800) 443-8577 or visit www.gardenvalleytx. com.

Links at Land’s End

Golf at The Links offers spectacular views of nature and wildlife. The 18hole course fairway begins on land and continues along a peninsula with expansive and picturesque views of Lake Fork. Birds and deer are frequently seen grazing near the fairways.

Cool breezes from the lake and shade from the surrounding trees offer respite on sunny days. An outdoor swimming pool near The Lodge offers welcome relaxation after a game and welcome play time for families with young children. The Lodge is spacious with rates starting at $125 per night during the week. The Links are designed as a challenging course with water hazards, strategically placed sand bunkers, and specialty Bermuda grass. Dining is available at Jacky’s Pub and Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information call (903) 383-3290 or visit www.golflakefork.com.

Pine Dunes Resort

Pine Dunes in Frankston is noted by professional golfers such as David Frost as a challenging course with a unique landscape. It is also rated as the No. 1 public golf resort in Texas by GolfWeek Magazine and America’s No.1 “hidden gem” by the Golf Channel in 2021. Its contoured fairways were designed by Jay and Carter Morrish and combine a landscape of rolling sand bunkers with 100-year pine trees.

Green fees are $89 per person and up. The resort offers a variety of accommodations — from single rooms starting at $89 per night to condominiums next to the fairway to upscale lodging in the Double Eagle Lodge at $395 per night. The clubhouse is open for dining every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The resort is located about 10 miles north of Palestine, which offers many options for dining and entertainment. For information call (903) 876-4336 or visit www.pinedunes.com.

Rayburn Resort

Rayburn Resort is located in Brookeland in Jasper County on the edge of the state’s second largest lake so activities naturally involve more than just golf. The Sam Rayburn Reservoir has a surface area of 179 square miles and is home to one of the state’s fisheries.

Golfers can play the Front and Back Nine courses — both newly renovated with new greens, tees, bunkers, fairways, and 150 feet of elevation. The so-called Family Nine is still under renovation.

The resort offers several lodging options — from private cottages to rooms in the lodge for $109 per night. The resort boasts a variety of other activities — boat rentals, water sports, a private beach, a swimming pool, and superb fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn.

Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are other activities at the resort. Restaurants and large event rooms for fine dining and private parties are available. Renovations for new activities and facilities are ongoing. For information call (409) 698-1002 or visit www.rayburn.com.

Tanglewood Resort

Tanglewood offers several family-friendly amenities in addition to championship golf on a course designed by legend Arnold Palmer and architect Ralph Plummer.

One of the main attractions is the spacious and enticing swimming pool with a multi-level design and an enclosed slide. Kids enjoy going from one pool to the

Above: Fine dining is offered at Rayburn Resort in Jasper County. CouRteSy Photo

next and adults enjoy dining or lounging on the comfortable furnishings. There are fire pits, indoor and outdoor dining at the grill with an open view of the swimming area, a Tiki bar, and fine dining with views of Lake Texoma.

A small outdoor playground and an indoor game room are also located in the pool area. Hotel rooms, suites, and luxury villas are available starting at $129 per night. There’s also plenty to explore indoors and out. The luxury villas offer both full-sized kitchens and outdoor gathering spaces. Tennis courts are located near the hotels and the marina is only yards away from the resort.

The 18-hole Tanglewood golf course bears the distinction of becoming the first regulation course in the nation to install Diamond Zoysia hybrid grass. The Zoysia was developed at Texas A&M University and stays green all year despite extreme heat. For information call (609) 798-7148 or visit www.tanglewoodresort.com.

Tempest Golf Club

GolfLink.com rates The Tempest as the longest and best golf course in the Longview area with 18 holes and 7,070 yards. Formerly known as the Southern Hills Golf Club, The Tempest reopened in 2018 after a renovation and redesign by Bill Webb and Architect Jeff Brauer.

The course is also recognized by The Dallas Morning News as the “best outlying course outside Dallas Ft Worth.” Golf Digest has ranked The Tempest as the “18th Best Course in Texas You Can Play.”

The daily rate for 18 holes is $65 Monday through Thursday and $89 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Food service is available at the Neptune Grill & Bar, which offers a happy hour and indoor and outdoor seating.

Short-term and extended lodging are available at The Tempest. Stay and play packages begin at $600 for a one-night stay in a condominium with green fees for four. The course is open to the public and group tournaments. The Tempest also offers lessons for adults and young golfers, who have opportunities to play in competitive tournaments. For information call (903) 984-9335 or visit www. tempestgolfclub.com.

Above: Pine Dunes in Anderson County offers a range of accommodations. CouRteSy Photo Lower right: Tanglewood Resort features a three-tiered swim area where it is easy to keep an eye on young swimmers while relaxing or enjoying a meal. Photo by LiSa tang

THE REDLANDS HOTEL

Enjoy a Small Town Getaway Fit For a Queen

By Tracy Torma

Those looking for a quiet weekend getaway promising history, charm, and fine dining experiences fit for a queen (and king), need to check out The Redlands Hotel at 400 N. Queen Street in Palestine, Texas.

The Redlands Hotel anchors the 44-block Main Street District in Palestine, featuring historic buildings and churches and a variety of local shops and restaurants.

The Redlands Hotel is one of the city’s most significant landmarks. The tallest building in town, it was built in 1915 when the city called itself the “Queen City of East Texas.” City forefathers helped finance construction of the fivestory, brick luxury hotel located on the mainline of the International & Great Northern Railroad (I&GN). Memorabilia from the city’s rich railroad history is featured in displays on the second floor.

But world events — the flu pandemic and World War I — left the hotel without guests only a few years after its opening, and the I&GN Railroad (now Union Pacific) leased the building for its general offices and shops for the next 37 years. After the railroad vacated the building for newer facilities nearby, the grand dame lost its luster as it sat vacant for 20 years. After current owner Jean Mollard and family bought the hotel in 1977, it has been lovingly restored — floor by floor — to its former grandeur. It makes a perfect setting for a weekend getaway in small town America, where traffic is at a minimum and decompression from the daily grind is at a maximum.

The hotel’s 86 rooms were turned into 19 modern one- and two-room suites, with full kitchen and living areas, smartly decorated for a relaxing vacation. Some suites have private balconies and thirdfloor rooms open up to an outdoor patio, where guests can relax under the stars or

visit with family and friends. During the busy holiday season in November and December, when 60,000 people visit Palestine to ride the popular Polar Express train ride, Mollard and her staff decorate a Christmas tree in each suite and throughout the lobbies — just some of the special seasonal touches guests have come to appreciate.

Downstairs, guests can enjoy casual luxury dining at the Queen St Grille. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, the restaurant rivals any fine dining experience found in major cities.

Those lucky to be visiting the first Saturday of the month, can make reservations continued page 22

Above and right: The Queen St Grille inside the Redlands Hotel offers a classic fine dining atmosphere and spectacular views of Palestine nightlife in the restaurant’s original location. PhotoS by Dave ShuLtz

for the First Saturday Brunch Buffet, featuring handmade omelets and crepes prepared by the restaurant’s chef, along with cheese grits, breakfast potatoes, and bacon and sausage. Add The Queen’s Bloody Mary or a mimosa for a special treat.

The Queen — as locals like to call the restaurant — also hosts special dining adventures throughout the year, including a Kentucky Derby Brunch and special dinners pairing spirits with each course, such as TAH Whiskey Dinner, a Craft Beer Event and the Taste of Spain Wine Tasting Dinner. (Check the restaurant’s website for upcoming events.)

For lighter fare, guests enjoy appetizers or a charcuterie board next door at the Queen Bar, which offers a variety of libations and specialty drinks, including the Queen’s Martini and TAH’s Old Fashioned, in a cozy setting.

The Queen shares the first floor with two specialty shops. The Gallery at the Redlands features artwork in a variety of mediums by Texas artists. It is continuously updated with new works, artists, and art classes. The Redlands Boutique is located in the guest registration office and offers a gift selection that includes home fragrances, casual jewelry, and clothing accessories. The hotel can arrange for delivery to guests’ rooms if an item is needed beyond its inventory, such as flowers or other requested gift items.

The Redlands is the perfect place to curl up with a good book. There’s a lending library in the hotel’s basement featuring 1,200 books ranging from children’s to history to novels. Others can binge watch favorite Netflix shows in the comfort of their suites.

There are many sites to see within walking distance of the hotel, making it a perfect destination for girlfriend groups, golf buddies, or couples and families riding the Texas State Railroad.

Surrounded by History

During a stay at the Redlands, guests are surrounded by the history of the city of Palestine, which boasts one of the largest number of historic structures in the state, second only to Galveston.

Top: The Redlands Hotel is part of Palestine Main Street’s early 20th century architecture. Middle: Guests can enjoy the hotel’s inviting rooftop balcony on the second floor. Bottom: Suites inside the Redlands Hotel are luxurious and tastefully appointed.

PhotoS by Dave ShuLtz

Across the street from The Redlands on the east side of the hotel is the historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church, designed by famed architect Nicolas Clayton. On the north side of the street is the newly renovated Carnegie Library, one of 13 remaining libraries built by steel tycoon and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in the state of Texas. Dedicated in October 1914 and used by the library for 71 years before its use as office and event space, the library reopened its doors in June 2023 after a $1.8 million renovation.

The 44-block Main Street district stretches from the Palestine Visitor Center at 825 Spring Street on one end to the historic Anderson County Courthouse, 500 N. Church Street, on the other. In between, visitors find boutiques and antique stores, locally owned bakeries and restaurants, and outdoor art sculptures and murals.

A stay at the Redlands Hotel offers history, art, music, food and wine, and good times. For information call (903) 7292345 or visit www.theredlandshotel.com.

Above: Guests can see exquisite art at the first floor’s Gallery at the Redlands. The green steel sculpture in the center is titled Meditations by artist Jeffie Brewer of Nacogdoches. Photo by Dave ShuLtz

Caddo Culture Day Returns to Historic Site

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site hosts Caddo Culture Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 2 to encourage learning and appreciation of Caddo culture. The historic location is an archaeological site near Alto in Cherokee County operated by the Texas Historical Commission.

Activities include a Caddo Basketry Revival student presentation and show; a traditional cooking demonstration with Chase Earles; and an archeology tour with Victor Galan, PhD. The event also features artists, vendors, activities, and food.

The Caddo Nation is located near Binger, Oklahoma, but many members visit the ancestral homeland site in Cherokee County. The tribe lived at the Hasinai village site more than 1,200 years ago. Located roughly 25 miles west of Nacogdoches, the historic site was the southernmost ceremonial location of the Mound Builder culture.

A new visitor center is under construction to replace the one destroyed by a tornado in 2019. Last year volunteers helped rebuild the grass hut. Others work year round on various cultural preservation and improvement projects such as Snake Woman’s Garden, nature trails, and bird blinds.

Admission is free to the Culture Day event but donations to the Friends of Caddo Mounds are appreciated. For information call (936) 898-3218 or visit www.thc.texas.gov.

Above: Snake Woman’s Garden and the new visitor center is under construction at the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Cherokee County. Below: A traditional bowl is an example of the ancient Caddoan culture.

From Humble Roots to Universal Honors

Anita Hill’s Ancestry Traces Back to New Boston

By P.A. Geddie Bowie

County

(home

to Texarkana, New Boston, and De Kalb, Texas) is one of only three known counties in America that documented the actual names of its enslaved residents in 1850. Everywhere else, they were only listed by age and gender.

As Henry Louis Gates, Jr. points out in an episode of “Finding Your Roots“ on PBS TV, that rare occurrence in New Boston, Texas, led to finding the ancestry of attorney, gender equality leader, and author Anita Hill.

“You have won the genealogical jackpot,” Gates tells her during the show, “because some county clerk or census taker decided that it was important to write down the names of the enslaved people on a slave schedule. But only in three counties (the other two were in Tennessee and Utah) in the United States in 1850 did that happen. And it happened where your great great grandfather was living and that’s why you are able to see his name. That is a miracle.”

Anita was happy to see the names of her ancestors, Grandison and Penny Lewis.

“I can’t explain it,” she said. “It really just goes to something deep inside me that feels like I’m connected. This is like winning the lottery.”

Anita was born July 30, 1956. Not only were her great great grandparents enslaved, but her maternal grandfather Henry Elliot and all of her great-grandparents were all born into slavery in Arkansas.

Her parents, Albert and Irma Hill, were farmers and she was raised as the youngest of 13 children in and around Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. They had no running water or indoor plumbing until she was 12 years old.

Her mother encouraged her to be optimistic about her future and wanted her to go to college. Anita became valedictorian of her high school class, got a degree with honors in psychology, and studied at Yale Law School getting her degree with honors in 1980. She began her law career in Washington D.C. and a few years later became a university professor. In 1989, she became the first tenured African American professor at Oklahoma University.

Professor Hill became a national figure in 1991 when she accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Her testimony inspired generations of women to speak out against harassment and led to more women in U.S. politics.

Professor Hill is currently at Brandeis University in Massachusetts teaching social policy, law, and women’s studies.

She’s written several books including Race, Gender and Power in America: The Legacy of the Hill-Thomas Hearings (with Emma Coleman Jordan); Speaking Truth to Power; Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, and Finding Home; and Believing: Our ThirtyYear Journey to End Gender Violence.

She has received numerous awards and honorary degrees and even has a planet named in her honor, 6486 Anitahill.

From humble beginnings to universal recognition, Anita Hill continues to advocate for women and all human rights.

Above: Professor Anita Hill at the Power Women Summit in Los Angeles. Photo by kathy hutChinS

‘Observations’ Spotlight Environmental Anomalies

Austin artist Melissa W. Miller enjoyed drawing animals in her youth but as the decades progressed she grew determined to show how their habitats are affected by the changing environment. Observations: Works by Melissa W. Miller is the title of her solo exhibition at the Tyler Museum of Art on display through August 6.

Miller’s techniques include bright colors, a combination of delicate and broad brushstrokes, and a variety of media. Her subjects skillfully spotlight how pollution, climate change, and displacement by commercial agriculture are affecting animals in myriad ways — from waste littering the ocean floor to destructive forest fires of the Western U.S.

The exhibition includes Miller’s works from museums created over the past four decades and currently in collections around the nation. Several that spotlight environmental changes are both poetic and graceful yet absurd and disturbing.

In “Wild Grapes and Tulip Magnolias” (2011), a roadside tulip tree blooms next to barren grapevines that contrast with a garish orange traffic cone and discarded construction netting.

Another work titled “Plate Coral” (2015) juxtaposes a discarded broken cup below the graceful beauty of a coral reef.

Miller’s art portrays a serious mission and appears at once alarming and insightful. “My more recent portrayals of predator and prey are rooted in actual circumstance and observable reality,” Miller says. “I understand my current narrative position akin to that of a reporter.”

Miller is the recipient of many awards. She was named Texas State Visual Artist of the Year by the Texas Legislature in 2011. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the Modern Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution,

and other prominent collections. The Tyler Museum of Art is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1

to 5 p.m. For information call (903) 5951001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

“Wild Grapes and Tulip Magnolias” (2011) oil on canvas by Texas artist Melissa W. Miller is one of more than two dozen paintings and multimedia works on display at the Tyler Museum of Art through August 6.

‘The Good Life’ Exhibit Portrays

Town’s Surreal

Mid-Century Vibes

Nancy Baron: The Good Life is a photography exhibit at PDNB (Photographs Do Not Bend) Gallery in Dallas through August 22.

The surreal photographs of homes and suburban life in Palm Springs, California, transport viewers as though they are boarding a time machine to glimpse life in the 1950s.

The architecture and mid-century style of Palm Springs make it a popular resort destination so it is experiencing a revival of sorts.

Visitors enjoy dressing up in 50’s fashion and living the leisurely lifestyle of Palm Springs — even though the rest of the world has moved into the 21st century.

The photographs show a world that seems frozen in time. One photograph titled “Piazza de Liberace” features a white vintage Fleetwood Cadillac parked in front of a white period home.

In a striking photograph titled “Backyard Morning,” a woman in a sweeping floral dress walks by a suburban backyard swimming pool.

Baron’s interpretations of this enigmatic desert community have been published in three books: The Good Life: Palm Springs; Palm Springs: The Good Life Goes On; and Palm Springs: Modern Dogs at Home.

PDNB Gallery is located at 150 Manufacturing Street, Suite 203 in Dallas.

The gallery’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For information call (214) 969-1852 or visit www.pdnbgallery.com.

Works by Nancy Baron include “Charlie” (top), “Bob’s Closet” (middle), and “Backyard Morning.”

‘BLOOM!’ Celebrates Floral Beauty at LMFA

Bloom! Is an exhibit showing at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts (LMFA) through August 26. It is an annual curated and juried exhibition by the R.W. Norton Art Gallery of Shreveport that celebrates the natural wonder and beauty of blooming flowers.

The competitive exhibit drew submissions from more than 350 artists from 16 countries. Only 50 works were chosen by R.W. Norton Art Gallery Curator, Emily Feazel.

The exhibit includes a range of abstract and representational art in a variety of media — from landscapes to persons blooming.

The competition at the Shreveport gallery awarded the top three prizes to “Through the Fields of Cosmos,” 16 by 20 inches in oil by Jason Bailey; “Presence” 11 by 14 inches, oil on wood panel by Rebekah May; and “Hua” by Jiajia Li, 11.5 by 16.5 inches, mixed media..

For information call (903) 753-8217 or visit www.lmfa.org.

‘Allure of Watercolor’ Shows Art by Davis and St. John

Allure of Watercolor is on display through July 22 at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts in downtown Winnsboro. The exhibit features two talented artists, Walt Davis and Sandra St. John.

Davis began painting in watercolor more than 30 years ago. He is inspired by the beauty that nature produces when left to express itself according to its own needs and potentialities. He attempts to recreate those elements in his paintings and challenges himself to choreograph a delicate dance between art and nature coaxing the fundamental truth of one to illuminate the fundamental truth of the other.

Play, joy, and appreciation of the visual world find their place in the watercolor paintings of Sandra St. John. Her work includes florals and still life images,

as well as the occasional landscape or cityscape.

St. John enjoys responding in the moment to things, whether in the studio or outdoors. Painting lets her take a closer look at what is before her, seeing more clearly and increasing her understanding. She captures a bit of what is ephemeral, such as a flower which will die but continues to live on in a painting. Her paintings portray a taste of the beauty in the world, as well as its light-hearted moods.

The exhibit is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call (903) 342-0686 and visit www.WinnsboroCenterForTheArts.com for more information.

“Homage to Greece,” in watercolor by Sandra St. John is on display in the Allure of Watercolor exhibit at Winnsboro Center of the Arts through July 22.

“Twilight Nocturne” by Erica Branch

Winnsboro Exhibit Is Off the Wall

Chris Brown of Modern Country Gallery in downtown Winnsboro asked his artist friends to submit artwork depicting their interpretations of “Off the Wall.” The resulting exhibition on display now through August 26 is a “fun house themed” show enjoyed by all ages.

The vibrant, light hearted exhibition was created to make the viewer smile at a zany collection of abstract paintings, paintings of spirit animals of all sorts, art glass, sculpture, pottery, resin art, digital photography, assemblage art and jewelry. One of the collections is “The Boneheads Choir,” by Georgia Moore, showing bodies made of terracotta with heads made of miscellaneous cow bones.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For information call (214) 564-2411 or visit www. moderncountrygallery.com.

Jason Eady & Jamie Lin Wilson

“Leon the Llama,” by Rachel Brown

Theater Takes Center Stage This Summer

Many onstage performances are returning around the Upper East Side of Texas this summer — the perfect time to escape the heat while enjoying live theater. Several nonprofit theater organizations from communities around the region recruit folks of all ages and backgrounds to act, sing, dance, direct, and work behind the scenes in entertaining productions that continue to amaze and impress audiences year after year.

On and Off Broadway

Broadway musicals are the source for many productions around the region this summer. Former Broadway hits including Matilda the Musical, Seussical Jr., The Music Man, and Plaza Suite top the list in July and August.

Matilda the Musical ran on Broadway four years starting in 2013 and takes the stage in Sulphur Springs at the school district’s

high school auditorium at 7 p.m., Friday, and Saturday, August 4-5, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 6. The performance features several young actors and is produced by Shining Star Productions

The play is based on the original book Matilda by Roald Dahl. A Netflix movie starring Emma Thompson and Alisha Weir brought the beloved musical to the big screen in 2022 and likely broadened the play’s appeal.

The plot tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, an exceptionally bright and strongwilled child whose parents take no interest in her and send her to boarding school.

There she confronts the evil Ms. Agatha Trunchbull and gains allies among the friendly Miss Honey and the cast of young characters — the so-called “Revolting Children” — who are ready to

sing and dance their way free from the school’s tyranny.

Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased at Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs or online at www.bit.lyMatilda23. Tickets are also available at the door for $15 each. For information visit Shining Star Productions on Facebook.

Palestine Community Theatre also performs Matilda the Musical based on Dahl’s book beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 21 to 22, at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 23, 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, July 28 to 29, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.

Performances are held in the Texas Theater at 213 W. Crawford Street in the historic Main Street district and cost $15 for adults and $10 for youth. For information visit www.thetexastheater.com.

Bailey Fisher (left) plays Matilda and Ruby Tovar plays Miss Phelps in the summer performance of Matilda the Musical by Shining Star Productions in Sulphur Springs. CouRteSy Photo

Greenville Family Theatre presents Meredith Willson’s The Music Man — one of the most popular Broadway musicals ever — beginning at 7 p.m. on July 14 at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. The show runs at various times through July 22. Tickets are $10 to $25 each. Visit www.showtimeatthegma.com for information.

Theatre Longview also presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical August 4 to 6 and 11 to 13. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. The Lightning Thief is based on the imaginative bestselling children’s series by Texas author Rick Riordan. It enjoyed a brief 16-week run on Broadway and a national tour. Performances are held at the Longview Community Center at 500 E Whaley Street in Longview. For information call (903) 387-3736 or visit www.theatrelongview.com.

The Main St. Theatre Community Players in Sulphur Springs are producing Seussical Jr. Performance dates begin at 7 p.m., Friday, July 14, to Sunday, July 16, and continue Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the next weekend through July 23.

Seussical Jr. is a musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and based on several children’s books by Dr. Seuss. It had a short run on Broadway in 2000 and has since been performed at schools and community theaters nationwide.

The performance is a culmination of weeks of acting and technical workshops, auditions, and rehearsals held in June for students 7 to 18. The annual Children’s Workshop allows youth to experience play production from start to finish. Performances are held at the Main Street Theatre, 225 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. For information call (903) 8850107 or visit www.communityplayersinc.com.

The Sherman Community Players Theatricks present

The Elevator Family adapted by Douglas Evans July 7 to 16. This off-Broadway play tells the story of a quirky family who adopt an elevator as their home and joyfully share it with everyone who enters. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students.

The players hold their Summer Benefit Dinner Theater featuring Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite on July 28 to 30 and August 4 to 6. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows begin at 1:30 p.m.

Plaza Suite is a trio of loosely-affiliated one act plays that opened on Broadway in 1968 and ended in 1970. The show includes a three-course meal at the Honey McGee Playhouse at 313 Mulberry Street. Tickets are $75 per person. For information call (903) 892-8818 or visit www.scptheater.org.

Tyler Community Theatre presents two former Broadway musicals — Footloose July 21 to 23, 27 to 30, and August 3 to 6, and the original British comedy Noises Off September 8 to 10, 14 to 17 and 21 to 24. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and students. Tyler Civic Theatre Center is located at 400 Rose Park Drive. Call (903) 592-0561 or visit www.tylercivictheatre. com for information.

Much Ado About Shakespeare

The Texas Shakespeare Festival continues this summer with a variety of performances at the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center at Kilgore College. The troupe’s major performances include The Comedy of Errors, Pride & Prejudice, Lear, Something Rotten!, and Todrick the Terrible — all of which run several dates throughout the month of July. Tickets range from $30 to $38 and can be purchased online. For information call (903) 983-8601 or visit www.texasshakespeare.com.

At Winnsboro Center for the Arts, the Bowery Players present a creative rendition of Much Ado About Nothing. Director Dr. Johan A. Price adapted the original play by William Shakespeare to a Vietnam-era M.A.S.H. unit environment. Shakespeare’s timeless language and storylines are accompanied by classic rock and Motown hits of the period. The first-ever performances of this adaptation take place Friday, September 8, to Sunday, September 10, and Friday, September 15, to Sunday, September 17, on the Bowery Stage. For information call (903) 342-0686 or visit www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare takes place September 22-24 and September 29 to October 1 at The Select Theater in Mineola. Directed by Kay Lamb, the show features all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, performed in 97 minutes, by three actors. Fast paced, witty, and physical, it’s full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike. For tickets and more information visit www.lakecountryplayhouse.com or call (903) 569-2300.

“Roadrunner near Marfa,” 2007, Oil on canvas, by Billy Hassell, TMA Permanent Collection www.tylermusem.org (903) 595-1001

Tyler Museum of Art

Serendipity and Curiosity Drive Author’s Discoveries

by Gary L. Pinkerton

Many people may think the life of one who writes about history involves highceilinged libraries and musty archives, but that is not the whole story. My life as an author is the story of what happens when you mix serendipity and curiosity with some tenacious, ground-level research.

In working on two published works and with two others coming next year, I have driven thousands of miles on back roads and walked the woods with landowners who may hold land crossed by an ancient trail. My research on a man who claimed to be the world’s greatest underwater treasure hunter led me to drive across the Mojave Desert to talk to a former hard hat diver in Arizona. Television programs on Texas Country Reporter and The History Channel highlight sto-

ries I have told in my two books, Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North (2016) and True Believers: The Treasure Legend of Hendricks Lake (2017).

While researching the old road from the early 1800s, Trammel’s Trace, I learned about tales of Lafitte treasure at the bottom of a small lake along the trail near the Sabine River. My curiosity about that bit of folklore pulled me toward a group of men who believed the legend enough to search for the treasure in the 1950s and 1960s. Their story evolved into my second book, True Believers: The Treasure Legend of Hendricks Lake.

As with many similar legends, the reported treasure has never been found in 200 years of searches, attesting to the fact that “legend remains victorious in spite of history.” The treasure of Hendricks Lake became the focus of the first

Gary Pinkerton’s research led him to investigate the legend of Jean Lafitte’s treasure at Hendricks Lake in Rusk County. Photo by miCkey hammonD

episode of “Beyond Oak Island” on The History Channel in 2020. With drama and backstory made for TV, the program focused on Lafitte himself and included a modern-day underwater search by a skilled diving team. With sonar and underwater metal detectors guiding the search, the divers found their determination renewed but did not turn up any treasure. A documentary about the treasure legend will also be released in early fall.

By actively engaging others who are interested in learning more about these histories through social media and speaking engagements, the support and interest in these stories has grown. In 2018, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas dedicated a beautiful Trammel’s Trace marker in Nacogdoches. In response to interest in the trail’s route across eight East Texas counties, I released a downloadable article, Finding Trammel’s Trace, A Guide to Roads, Ruts, Trails, and Swales, which connects the historic route to the current landscape and presents the trail via Google Maps.

Research on these projects has directly led to two other books set for publication in 2024. Bridles & Biscuits: The Contraband Culture of Spanish East Texas (Texas A&M University Press) explores the network of smuggling trails and contraband trade in the late 1700s near the end of the Span-

ish era in Texas. While contraband of that period included guns, horses, and tobacco, the trade in petticoats, kitchen utensils, and deerskins was just as brisk.

Another work that was a direct outgrowth of the Hendricks Lake research is tentatively titled The Paper Diver: How the World’s Greatest Underwater Treasure Hunter Never Got Wet (McFarland Publishing). It is the story of Harry Rieseberg, an author and treasure faker whose many false claims included killing giant octopi and

being chased by cannibals.

Doing research and writing stories that others might want to read are two very different tasks. The importance of story in being able to connect people to both the facts and the emotion of history is what drives me to become a better communicator and storyteller. Many people have their own stories to tell so my next efforts will focus on offering my services as a researcher, writer, and website designer to individuals and organizations who want to produce a finished work.

I’ve learned that history is like a tapestry. As life happens in real-time, that tapestry is finely woven into a multi-colored design of brilliant hues and varied textures. Over time, the tapestry begins to fray and fade. People forget how beautiful it once was. My interest in history results from pulling threads in that historic tapestry. Not every thread is still connected to something inherently meaningful or interesting but knowing that it could be is what fuels my ongoing research and a deepening appreciation of what might yet be discovered and shared with others.

Gary L. Pinkerton is a Texas historian and author. For more about his books go to www.trammelstrace.com.

Bob and Kelly Phillips of Texas Country Reporter featured Trammel’s Trace on a recent program. CouRteSy

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Check the County Line eMagazine for an extensive list of events and things to do.

www.countylinemagazine.com

Regional Venues Host Hot Summer Music Events

From grand auditoriums to free community concerts under the stars to boot scootin’ dance halls, hot music is filling the air at several venues around the region this summer. No matter how visitors best enjoy listening to music, the Upper East Side of Texas offers something for everyone.

Main Street Rhythms

San Jacinto Music Series in Downtown Rockwall shows that the state’s smallest county is big on live music. Free concerts take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night through October 28. Visitors can find a seat at one of the many café tables or bring a chair or two. Several establishments offer food and drink in the area where guests can sit back and enjoy the tunes. Visit www.rockwall.com/mainstreet_music. asp

Denison’s Music on Main series happens at 7:30 p.m. every Friday night

through July 28. The free concerts are held at Denison’s Forest Park and can be enjoyed with fare purchased from food trucks or local eateries. Visitors can bring chairs to relax on the park lawn or surrounding sidewalks. For information visit www.DenisonLive.com or call (903) 464-4452.

Downtown Sherman’s Hot Summer Nights concert series continues with three live concerts in July. Cheap Trick performs Thursday, July 3 to a Lights on the Lake celebration at Pecan Grove Park. Two more July performances held at Lucy Kidd-Key Park include Randall King on July 13 and Pat Green on July 20. For information visit Sherman Hot Summer Nights on Facebook.

A stunning ceremony featuring classic patriotic music can be experienced in Sulphur Springs at the city’s 4th of July Celebration. The Northeast Texas Sym-

phony Orchestra performs live to a free fireworks display while guests watch from the Hopkins County Courthouse Square. Bring lawn chairs and arrive before sundown to ensure a spot where you can enjoy the show or view it from a table at a downtown café. For information visit www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.

Toe-Tappin’ Joints

Several restaurants in the region host performances by local bands as patrons come from miles around to enjoy their fare.

The Back Porch Stage on Broadway in Kilgore offers a smaller setting with a full line-up of talent on Fridays and Satur-

Above: Summerfest at Music City Hall in Linden features Hickory Hill August 19. Opposite page, top: Curtis Grimes, Sunny Sweeney, and Lyrical Valor perform at the Back Porch on Broadway in Kilgore this summer. Bottom: Mike Ryan plays at Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches. CouRteSy PhotoS

days in July from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hear music by Lyrical Valor July 7, Curtis Grimes on July 8, Jenn Ford & the WideEyed Devils on July 14; The Gary Patrick Band July 15, The Usual Suspects Band on July 21; Bart Crow on July 22; Sweet Pain Rocks on July 28; and Cooper Wade on July 29. The Tuxedo Cats take the stage Saturday, August 4, followed by Sunny Sweeney Saturday, September 2. For information call (903) 984-8141 or visit www.thebackporchkilgore.com.

Lindale’s Texas Music City Grill and Smokehouse hosts the Kid Icarus Project on July 15 and September 16, the Tuxedo Cats on July 22, the Cody Wayne Band on July 29.

Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches hosts performers almost every weekend, including Mike Ryan at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 8. The Fredonia Brewery also hosts a variety of local bands at 6 p.m. on Saturdays in July and August.

Other live music/restaurant venues to check out include Stanley’s Famous Pit B-B-Q in Tyler, The Tattler in Quitman, The Rockett Café & Club in Waxahachie, and Southern Junction Royse City.

Venues Large and Small

The Bowery Stage at Winnsboro Center for the Arts in Wood County is a 120-seat performance hall with superb acoustics. Jason Eady and Jamie Lin Wilson take the stage as part of their Old Friends Tour on Friday, July 7. Fiery roots-rock singer-songwriter Scott Miller performs there Saturday, July 29. The stage also welcomes folk duo Clay Parker & Jodi James of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, September 2. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For information call (903) 342-0686 or visit www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.

For another intimate Wood County venue, visit the Red Rooster Ice House in Hawkins, where Uncle Lucius performs at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 23. The restaurant offers a full dinner and beverage menu. For information call (903) 769-0707 or visit www.redroostericehouse.com.

The Sanctuary Music & Events Center in McKinney is a boutique performance venue that offers an intimate concert experience and concessions available from Rick’s Chophouse. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances begin at 8 p.m.

This summer The Sanctuary welcomes Austin music scene phenom Monte Montgomery and guest Jason Lovell of Buffalo Ruckus on Friday, July 7; Patrice PIke and the Maylee Thomas Band on Saturday, July 22; and legendary guitarist Greg Howe and special guests The Adam Nanez Band on Saturday, August 12.

British-born 1980s rock star (The Babys and Bad English) and solo recording artist John Waite (“Missing You,” “When I See You Smile”) performs at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 25, with The Imaginaries. For information call (972) 540-6420 or visit www.theguitarsanctuary.com.

Greenville’s Texan Theater is another boutique music venue that hosts intimate performances by renowned musicians. Country western and Americana singer/songwriters Scott Sean White and Tony Ramey perform from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 14. Tickets are $30 and available online. For information call (903) 259-6360 or visit www.texantheatergreenville.com.

Nearby is the Greenville Municipal Auditorium (GMA) opened in 1939. The Art Deco style auditorium is one of the largest in the region with 1,400 seats. GMA welcomes a trio of classic country greats this summer. Country western

chart-topper John Conlee returns to the venue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 29. The legendary Gene Watson croons onstage at 7:30 p.m. on August 12. Jimmy Fortune, former member of the Statler Brothers, performs at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 18. For information call (903) 457-3179 or visit www.showtimeatthegma.com.

Mineola’s Select Theater offers seating for more than 300 and continues to draw audiences after more than 100

years. The theater’s Lake Country Playhouse welcomes oldies performer Dale Cummings at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 29. Cummings performs hits from the 50s, 60s, and 70s with unique joy and energy that gets audiences on their feet to dance and sing. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. For information call (903) 569-2300 or visit www. lakecountryplayhouse.com.

Music City Texas Theater in Linden is Cass County’s premier music

Above: Folk duo Clay Parker & Jodi James of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, perform at The Bowery Stage on Saturday, September 2. Below: Mike Ryan (left) and John Waite (right). Opposite page: Blacktop Mojo rocks the Texas State Railroad in a special event July 8. CouRteSy PhotoS

hall where musicians Don Henley — longtime drummer and vocalist for the Eagles — and Richard Bowden — former guitarist for Linda Ronstadt — performed as youth.

The theater seats 288 to 400 people and hosts many renowned artists, including country music artists Sarah Hobbs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, and Daniel Andrews at 8 p.m., Saturday, August 5. The venue’s annual Summerfest features bluegrass music by Hickory Hill on Saturday, August 19. For information call (903) 756-9934 or visit www.musiccitytexas.org.

Liberty Hall in Tyler also offers hundreds of seats for guests who come to enjoy live music or favorite films — or both. At 7 p.m. on Friday, July 21, the Liberty hosts a live sing along to Hairspray — the 2007 movie musical starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken. Another sing along to Grease is set for 7 p.m on August 5.

Liberty Hall also welcomes electric blues band Texas Flood at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 8; classic country crooner John Conlee at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25; and

former Statler Brothers member Jimmy Fortune at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16.

Two tribute shows also take place there in August. Elvis Gospel and Beyond — a tribute performance starring the Blackwood Quartet and Elvis tribute artist Kraig Parker — is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 4. A second tribute show featuring the music of Patsy Cline is performed by Lisa Layne at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 10. For information call (903) 595-7274 or visit www. libertytyler.com.

Memorial City Hall in Marshall is another grand venue with seats for large audiences. Their 2023-2024 season begins with a performance by country western music legend T. Graham Brown at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, September 16. For information call (903) 934-7992 or visit www. memorialcityhall.com.

Rockin’ the Rails

Southern hard rock band Blacktop Mojo performs concerts at two venues in East Texas July 7 and 8 before heading out on a nationwide tour. Camp Mojo Day 1 occurs at 8 p.m. on July 7 at the Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse in Lindale.

Day 2 on July 8 is known as Rockin’ the Rails in which the band plays for passengers at the Texas State Railroad Depot in Rusk. Passengers board the train in Palestine at 5 p.m. and take the historic route to Rusk while enjoying concessions and beverages for sale in each car. VIP packages are available in which guests can sit for photo ops and enjoy acoustic performances on the return trip.

The band hails from Palestine and often returns home to perform their own brand of post-grunge, metal, and classic rock — similar to bands like Soundgarden, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Blackstone Cherry. The band has produced four albums over the past decade. Recent hits include “Where the Wind Blows,” “Dream On,” and “Can’t Sleep.”

Blacktop was formed by lead singer Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis in 2012 and now includes Matt Curtis on bass and guitarists Chuck Wepfer and Malcolm Booher. After playing two days of Camp Mojo the band travels to Oklahoma City then to several venues in the Midwest. To hear Blacktop Mojo live in East Texas visit their website at www. blacktopmojo.com.

VIDEO

Enjoy a Fresh Farmers Market Garden Lunch

By Katie-Rose Watson

Looking for inspiration for your farmers market haul or a lovely garden lunch? You found it. I picked up so many goodies at the Downtown Rockwall Farmers Market on Saturday that inspired this gorgeous lunch in the garden.

I set the table with a very old white lace tablecloth, which I thought looked very French. I added a white outdoor lantern, pastel snapdragons from Paper Bird Flower Farm that I picked up at the farmers market, and some mint from my garden.

I kept the place settings very simple with my white bubble melamine plates and gold napkins tied with twine. I chose the napkins because they look like squash blossoms and I was going for a casual summer lunch look.

This is such an easy portable menu that can be used for a picnic.

Carpaccio di Zucchine e Limone e Mente

This is a Rose Table classic. I make it so often in fact that it’s even in The Rose Table Cookbook. It’s as healthy as it is delicious and so easy to make. I was inspired to try this when I read the description in a book set in Italy a few years ago and just had to try it. I serve it all summer long when zucchini is cheap and mint is overflowing in the garden.

This is such a no-stress dish. Peel zucchini into ribbons right on a serving platter. Squeeze with lemon juice, drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, chopped garden mint, and then zest some lemon right on top. That’s it. So easy.

Note: I wrote this up for a single zucchini, which was the perfect amount for two people. This recipe scales up easily to serve a crowd.

Summer Sausage, Goat Cheese & Crackers

If Ina Garten has taught me anything, it’s that: one, you don’t have to make everything; and two, killer ingredients are key. I served jalapeño summer sausage from Tate Farms with the best goat cheese I’ve ever had — garlic goat cheese from Lost Ruby Ranch. If you see these guys at a farmers’ market, get the goat cheese. Just trust me.

Artichoke & Olive Pasta Salad

I got the idea for this pasta salad after buying the most gorgeous artichokes and Kalamata olives from Amanida USA at the farmers market. This pasta salad is simple and easy to customize.

Ingredients

1 pound pasta

1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, quartered

1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped

1/4 cup feta cheese

2 Tbsp fresh basil

Italian dressing (recipe follows)

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions and let cool. Toss with quartered

artichoke hearts, chopped Kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh basil, and Italian dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Italian Dressing

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/8 cup white wine vinegar

2 shakes dried basil

2 shakes dried oregano

1 tbsp water

Pinch sugar

Salt, pepper

Whisk together all ingredients, seasoning to taste.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

They’re the perfect picnic dessert because they’re so easy to pack. Mine have dark chocolate and sea salt but it’s the method that makes them exceptional: you pull them out when the dough is still wet in the center and let the residual heat from the cookie sheet finish them off. The result is the softest, most luscious chocolate chip cookie you’ll ever have.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tsp Mexican vanilla extract

2 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

2 cups dark chocolate chips

More sea salt for sprinkling on top

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt in a small bowl. Cream together butter and sugars in a stand mixer until combined.

Scrape down the sides of the mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Slowly mix in dry ingredients until combined. Stir in dark chocolate chips.

Roll cookie dough into large balls (exactly 24!) and place twelve on two cookie sheets. Sprinkle each cookie with sea salt.

Bake for about 8-10 minutes and pull them out when they are browning on the edges but still slightly wet in the middle. Let cool completely on the cookie sheets, about 15 minutes.

It was such a nice afternoon and we enjoyed the garden for hours. I hope you enjoy this menu as much as we did.

Katie Rose-Watson is the author of The Rose Table cookbook and the cooking and entertaining blog, www. therosetable.com.

Healthy Greens Sprouting at Local Farmers’

Markets

By Lauren Wacaser

Microgreens are popping up at farmers’ markets around the region. Vendors who sell them usually offer a selection of them as well as sprouts at their booths.

Sprouts are the beginnings of a plant — typically two to five days old — and can be grown simply with water. A variety of sprouts are available such as broccoli, alfalfa, mung bean, radish, and more. They are tender, fresh tasting, and offer outstanding nutritional benefits.

Microgreens are the next phase of a plant, right after sprouting, and are typically grown in soil. They come in many varieties. My personal favorites are beet sprouts, kale, and pea shoots. They are a bit more flavorful and delicate in texture.

Studies show that juvenile plants can offer up to 50 times more nutritional benefits than their mature form. Oregon State University found that a single cup of broccoli sprouts can offer the same health benefits as 50 cups of broccoli.

In addition to offering more nutrient density, sprouts and microgreens are much gentler on the digestive system. Potential nutritional benefits of consuming a young plant are attributed to the variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants they provide.

Both sprouts and microgreens are a delicious addition to almost any meal. We love them on pizza, tacos, salads, soups, and even in smoothies. They can easily be grown at home, bought in a store, or purchased at a local farmers’ market.

Quality vendors can explain how the greens were grown and the methods of sprouting they use. Once purchased, keep the greens in the refrigerator and consume them shortly after purchase, typically within three to four days.

Avocado Toast With Rainbow Microgreens Recipe

Ingredients

Sprouted Multigrain Bread

Avocado

Tomato

Everything Bagel Seasoning

Microgreens (Rainbow greens pictured)

Directions

Toast bread on both sides to desired amount. Top each toast with avocado slices and tomato. Season lightly with Everything Bagel seasoning, or salt and pepper. Garnish with your favorite microgreens or sprouts. Enjoy.

Find more recipes and videos by Lauren Wacaser on the Facebook group “Let’s Eat Well.”

Photo by LauRen WaCaSeR