GeorgeTown&Country Magazine Spring 2009 by Lucas Adams

Spring - Summer 2009

Welcome to the fifth issue of GeorgeTown & Country Magazine, a resource for residents and newcomers alike. The magazine’s primary focus is on Georgetown and secondarily, the beautiful Hill Country area. In this issue, we're proud to feature the 10th annual Red Poppy Festival, a local significant archeology site and a look at Georgetown’s glass studios. For the adventure seekers, there’s a day trip to Spicewood near Austin for the perfect trifecta: a zip-line tour, visiting 2 wineries and great barbecue. We have information on Segway tours that are now available in Georgetown. Local antiques stores are treasure troves, and we’ve got ‘em covered. For those interested in cultural events, there’s a performance at Southwestern University – the Color of Dissonance, as well as listings for other Southwestern events. The annual Festival of the Arts music festival and related schedule of events are included, too. Our featured artist in this issue is a new young painter, 4-year-old Carson Mathis. And the winner of the photography contest is Richard Cutts, with “Corn Hill Sunset.” Again, I would like to say thanks to our advertisers and contributors for their support with the magazine. And, I especially want to say thanks to my wife, Ellen, who has also worked tirelessly to make the publication an interesting one. If you would like to be an advertiser or would like to contribute an article for the magazine, please contact me at 512-863-3263. I hope you enjoy the magazine and find it useful! Lucas Adams, Publisher

Your Guide to Georgetown & the Hill Country

Red Poppy Festival

Digging Into the Past

Photography Contest Winner

10th annual event

Gault site reveals a long-gone people

Color and form

10 Glass in Georgetown Original works abound

15 Treasure Hunting Antiques and collectibles stores

18 Zip-Lining, Texas Style Day trip to Spicewood

7 23 17 8 21 3 23 3 9 28 7 12 16 21 27 25 14 9 3 13 12 20 20 16 12 28 29 25 9 23 6

Chantal’s Bistro Christ & Gabriel, Realtors Cianfrani Coffee Company Copper Ridge Antiques Framer’s Gallery Franklin & Company Jewelers Georgetown Winery Gatherings Georgetown Antique Mall GeorgeTown & Country Magazine Harper-Chesser Historic Inn His & Her Treasures Hollandaze Gourmet Inner Space Cavern Just Kidds & More Keller Williams Realty Keva Juice Laurie’s Too Lone Star Properties Nonna’s Plaka Greek Cafe San Gabriel House B&B Sweet Serendipity The Collector The Escape Tony & Luigi's Wildfire Windberg Gallery Wonderful Things Zoe’s Gifts & Accessories Zoot Pet Hospital

22 Young Artist Instant success for local tyke

24 Color of Dissonance Performance at SU Theatre, music and art rolled together

26 Festival of the Arts Week-long music event

© 2009 Lucas Adams. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without express written permission from Lucas Adams, of any portion of this publication is prohibited. Reasonable efforts have been taken to prepare this publication for accuracy, however the publisher assumes no liability for errors. Content in GeorgeTown & Country Magazine may include paid advertisements. Booklet designed, photographed and published by Lucas Adams. Phone 512-863-3263.

Business Happenings

Georgetown Winery

D’Vine Wine is changing their name and location this spring! The new name is Georgetown Winery and the new location will be at 715 Main Street, where Cianfrani Coffee Company used to be, on the east side of the downtown Square. Phone 512-869-8600.

Zoot Pet Hospital

Located just west on Highway 29, Zoot Pet Hospital is Georgetown’s newest state-of-the-art pet facility. In addition, they offer all suite boarding, grooming, day care and training on 4 private acres. Phone 512-864-9668, or visit www.zootpets.com.

Silver & Stone

Tamiro Plaza is home to Georgetown’s newest upscale restaurant, Silver & Stone. Located on the fourth floor, the view of the surrounding area is really nice. There’s also a private banquet room for meetings and parties, as well as a full bar. Phone 512-868-0565.

Chantal’s

Located in the historic Anderson house, Chantal’s Bistro and Wine Bar has reopened after a short closing during December and January. They have new hours and days, including a Sunday brunch, as well as a modified menu. Exciting new dishes from their new chefs, Brandon Belmarez and Adam Seerley will be introduced in months to come. Phone 512-535-6143.

Copper Ridge Antiques

Formerly known as the Antique Mall at Copper Ridge, on Highway 29, Copper Ridge Antiques is now located in Georgetown at 3700 Williams Drive. For more information, phone 512-868-2112.

Novitá Spa

Novita Spa is expanding to an additional location at the Vineyard at Florence (see the article about the Vineyard in the previous issue of this magazine). They will be offering the same high-quality spa experience as the Georgetown location on the Square. For more information call 254-793-2772.

Nonna’s

Nonna’s is now offering “Take and Bake Meals,” which include a choice of 7 different entrees, salad and bread, at a very reasonable price. Take it home, pop it in the oven and 25 minutes later you have a great meal! Phone ahead to order, at 512-863-3442.

BB’s Home Cooking

Now open in their new location at 4701 Williams Drive next door to Hollandaze Gourmet, BB’s serves good home-cooked meals! For more information on their menu and hours, phone 512-868-6700.

His & Her Treasures

Under new ownership, Treasures has changed their name to His & Her Treasures. They have expanded their merchandise to include fine cigars and pipe tobaccos. Need more info? Phone 512-868-3288.

The 2009 Red Poppy Festival will be held on April 25th and 26th, kicking off

with the Red Poppy bike ride and a downtown parade. Over 100 arts and crafts vendors will set up downtown amidst the backdrop of the beautiful Victorian buildings, while live music and dance performances on two stages will entertain the crowd. For the car enthusiasts, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a car show featuring just about any kind of car you can imagine, and for the runners, RunTex is sponsoring the Red Poppy 5K on Sunday. The featured performers at the Saturday evening street dance and concert this year will be the Bellamy Brothers. There will also be a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s area and a tasty food court.

Free Saturday evening street dance and concert Interested in ordering a T-shirt with this new Red Poppy Capital of Texas design? See page 23!

Georgetown Event

Archaeological sites close to Georgetown providing valuable clues about the first Americans When did people get to the Americas? Where did they come from? What was their life like? Many local residents are surprised to learn that some of the answers to these questions are being found at archaeological sites not far from Georgetown. “Research going on now in Central Texas is contributing to worldwide knowledge of the peopling of the Americas,” says Michael Collins, a research associate with the Texas Archaeological Laboratory. Collins explains that popular theory held that the Americas were populated by the so-called Clovis people who migrated from the Russian steppes 13,000 years ago by walking across a land bridge over what is now the Bering Strait. Clovis refers to a site in New Mexico where a unique style of projectile points was found with mammoth bones in the 1930s.

Volunteers at work at the Gault site near Florence

“This was a very simple, elegant theory,” Collins says. “The problem is that almost every part of it is wrong.” For example, Collins says that the theoretical route from Russia to the Americas would not have been possible in the warmer months due to thawing of the permafrost. And in the cooler months it would have been too cold. But perhaps the biggest flaw in the theory came when sites in both North and South America were found that pre-date the Clovis site by 1,000 years. Collins has spent more than 30 years working to disprove the so-called Clovis-First theory. When he first presented his ideas to professional colleagues, only about five percent of them would consider them. “Today, however, only five percent of archaeologists don’t accept that there are flaws in the theory,” Collins says.

archaeologists have found human remains dating back 10,000 years. “Three of the 30 skeletons found in the Americas that are more than 10,000 years old are from these two sites,” Collins says. “That’s 10 percent of the early human skeletal record right here in Central Texas.” The Gault site was first dug by UT archaeologist J.E. Pearce in 1929, but later fell prey to looters, a few of whom literally came in with bulldozers. Archaeologists feared that all valuable artifacts had been taken, but it turned out that the looters had only scratched the surface. The most valuable artifacts – believed to date back more than 13,000 years – were below the level that was disturbed.

Much of this is due to artifacts found at three archaeological sites in Williamson, Bosque and Bell Counties – the Wilson-Leonard site off Hwy. 1431 between Round Rock and Cedar Park, the Horn Shelter site on the Brazos River near Lake Whitney, and the Gault site on Buttermilk Creek between Florence and Salado. “The earliest sites in Texas are distributed in valleys and canyons along the eastern and southern edge of the Edwards Plateau,” Collins explains. “The floors of these valleys and canyons are well watered and there are abundant natural plants and animals.” In addition, Collins says, the area around Georgetown was an excellent source of flint (chert), which was used for toolmaking. At the Wilson-Leonard and Horn Shelter sites,

Protective enclosures over the site Collins began a systematic excavation of the site in 1998, and has since recovered more than 1.6 million artifacts. “The site has produced a wealth of information,” he says. “It is the thickest Clovis deposit known in America. We have learned as much from this site as from all 2,000 other Clovis sites in the United States.”

Continued on page 5

Local History

...

continued

Collins speculates that the site was a toolmaking compound in Clovis time. A wide variety of tools have been found at the site, many of which have not been found at other Clovis sites. Among the artifacts found at the site are 100 stones with mysterious lines drawn on them. Researchers are still trying to decipher what the lines mean. Beneath the Clovis artifacts, archaeologists have found entirely different artifacts. “There were people here earlier who made stone tools differently from the Clovis people,” Collins says. “There may be deposits at this site that go back 15,000 years. It is absolutely clear that Clovis wasn’t the first culture in the United States.” Collins believes that the peopling of the Americas occurred as the result of migrations of people from Europe as well as Asia, perhaps 16,000 to 17,000 years ago, possibly more. “We don’t have all the answers yet, but I think we’ve made a lot of progress in the last 20-30 years,” he says. Collins purchased the Gault site in 2007 and donated it to the Archaeological Conservancy to make sure it would be permanently protected. He established the Gault School of Archaeological Research to direct research at the site on behalf of the Conservancy. Eventually, Collins hopes to set up an interpretive center on the site where schoolchildren and others can come learn about what has been discovered there. “I want the next generation to help understand our past and preserve it for the future,” he says. – Ellen Davis

Since 1999, more than 4,000 people have volunteered at the Gault site outside Florence, helping researchers in their quest to discover more about the early inhabitants of Central Texas. Volunteers have come from all over the country, as well as the rest of the world. I decided to give it a try to get a better feel for what the project involves. My day of volunteering began at 8 a.m., when I met volunteer coordinator Cinda Timperley at a house near the entrance to the site, which is about 25 miles from downtown Georgetown. I picked up some breakfast tacos en route at a great new Mexican market in downtown Florence. Our volunteer team for the day consisted of seven people – four volunteers like myself and three staff people affiliated with the Gault site. As we drive down toward the site itself, we meet up with project director Michael Collins in a metal building that serves as a storage shed for equipment and artifacts. We park our cars and walk the rest of the way to the site. Arriving at the site, it is hard to believe that a major archaeological site lies beneath land where a pair of longhorns are peacefully grazing. The only signs that this is an archaeological dig site are two large canvas Quonset huts. We open the nearest hut, which will be our work site for the day. Collins tells us his team has been digging in this location for a year, and is down to a level where they are finding artifacts from the Archaic period, about 9,000 years ago. Their goal is to get down to where they will find artifacts from the Clovis period, about 13,000 years ago. The site has been segmented into squares about a yard wide. We are divided into teams of two and each team is assigned to a different square. Our task for the day consists of drawing a map showing the location of any interesting artifacts in our area, bagging up the artifacts, and recording the depth of where the artifacts are found. This will allow researchers to precisely reconstruct the area if they want to. While most of what is in our square appears to be nondescript rocks, closer examination reveals that these rocks have been burned – a sign of human occupation. “We’ve found three hearths in this area,” Timperley says.

the Gault site For more information on the Gault site, visit www.gaultschool.org. Memberships in the Gault School of Archaeological Research are available to anyone who would like to support the research at the site. A video about the site, titled “An Adventure in Time,” is available in DVD format for $15 by writing Education Coordinator Nancy Littlefield at 5000 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756. The 21-minute film is available to teachers for free.

We are given a clipboard with several pages of paperwork that we will need to fill in to document our area. Before we get to work, we learn how to use a laser level, which is used to determine the depth of the artifacts. We also learn how to use a plumb line and measuring tape to get precise coordinates of each artifact. It takes a while to get used to the fact that all the measuring is done in centimeters! The work proceeds slowly as we try to make sure we are doing everything right. We take a break for lunch at some picnic tables that have been set up under a large pecan tree.

The highlight of the day for me comes when I take a break to help Collins remove some dirt from an area he is working on, and find a piece of stone that has obviously been worked by human hands – a process known as flint knapping. Collins explains that the piece is called a “biface,” and would have been used for scraping. Later in the day, Collins found a projectile point in the same area. Projectile points are what lured looters to the site before it was protected. At 4:30 p.m. we begin wrapping up for the day. We turn in our completed paperwork, clean all the tools we used, and load all the equipment into wheelbarrows to walk back to the shed. Of the two squares that were being worked on this day, neither is much deeper down that it was when we arrived. I can see why Collins says they will be here for a long time! – Ellen Davis

Comprehensive Pet Care On Four Private Acres

at the Gault site No experience is needed to volunteer at the Gault site. If you are interested in volunteering, contact volunteer coordinator Cinda Timperley at ctimperley@austin.rr.com or 512-471-5982. Work days at the site are held most Saturdays. Additional volunteer opportunities are available at the Gault site lab, which is located in UT’s J.J. Pickle Research Center in North Austin.

Zoot Pets

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And the Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the first GeorgeTown & Country Magazine photography contest! It was a difficult choice with so many good photographers out there, but our judge, professional photographer Larry Simpson, found the imagery of Corn Hill Sunset by Richard Cutts to be the best composition and most memorable of all the entries. On a related note, did you know that anyone can have their photo put on a legal postage stamp? For more information, go to www.stamps.com to find out how.

is...

Photography contest winner, “Corn Hill Sunset,” by Richard Cutts

both utilitarian and decorative applications. The frozen liquid we know as glass has stood the test of time and new techniques and methods for decoration have only made it more desirable. Georgetown is fortunate to have two dedicated glass studios: Inspiration Glass Studio and Curious Glass & Gallery, which is new to the downtown Square. Both of these studios work in glass, but in a different manner – Inspiration does traditional stained glass, while Curious uses a fused glass technique. Or, if you are an aficionado of blown glass, The Escape, on the east side of the downtown Square, has a nice selection of different artists’ fine glasswork from around the country. For glass jewelry that is original and unique, check out Zoe’s Gifts on East 7th Street.

Blown glass at The Escape

Made from one of the most abundant materials on the planet – silica – glass has many properties that are useful in the medical, industrial, home, scientific and art fields. In its normal form, glass is clear. The internal color comes from miniscule amounts of powder of

Fused Glass by Donna Sarafis

One of the oldest mediums known to artists, glass has been used for centuries in

other elements, such as iron oxide, gold, titanium dioxide, etc., that are infused into the glass while it is molten. External color comes from thin-film coatings of elements applied to the outside of the glass, known as dichroic glass. Dichroic looks iridescent, changing color slightly when viewed from different angles. Glass can be worked in many different ways, using heat to form, sculpt, or assemble pieces. It can be melted on the end of a hollow steel rod and then blown and twisted to form decorative as well as utilitarian bowls and vases.

Inspiration Glass Studio uses the assembly process of cutting pieces of flat glass and holding them together utilizing soldered metal strips to form decorative windows, lamp shades, and window decorations. A pattern is first drawn on a piece of paper and the different sections are numbered to indicate which color goes where. Pieces of glass are then cut using a tool that scratches (scores) the surface of the glass, which can then be broken cleanly along that line. Next, the glass pieces are put together and joined by creating a solder joint using a soldering iron. The result is a classic piece of art that brings color into any room via a window or a lamp. Inspiration Glass Stained glass at Inspiration Glass Studio also repairs stained glass Continued on page 11 windows and door panels.

Around Georgetown

Continued from page 10 Curious Glass & Gallery uses a process of cutting pieces of glass, laying them in an openfaced concave or convex mold to form a pattern, or on a flat Fused glass jewelry at Curious Glass surface inside of the kiln, and then fusing them together at high temperatures. The designs can be so intricate as to create a representative painting in the glass itself. In fact, powdered frit (crushed glass) instead of cut glass can be used to literally “paint” and fuse an image into the glass. Or, geometric patterns of lines, textures and shapes create free-form abstractions of great visual interest. Recent hi-tech coatings for glass have resulted in an abundance of dichroic glass which lends itself well to this particular process, such as the jewelry above or the large plate at the first of this article. The glass bead jewelry process, called lampwork, involves using a torch to melt the glass while adding different colored glasses to the melt, creating swirling patterns, floral designs or layers of color. Earrings, pendants and broaches Lampworking glass made in this manner become original works of art, no two being the same. The results from all of these techniques can be quite stunning, highly decorative and very collectible – for instance, Tiffany glass. The various techniques of working glass achieve the same thing in the end, beautiful compositions for the decoration and enhancement of our lives and our homes. The other nice thing about having two wellequipped glass studios in Georgetown is that you can take classes from knowledgeable professionals and utilize their equipment and space

Blown glass at The Escape

at a fraction of the cost of setting up your own facility. Even if you aren’t interested in classes, go by and check out their galleries and the other stores that carry glass art and jewelry. You’re sure to find it fascinating! For more information: Inspiration Glass Studio 211 West 8th Street 512-869-6630 www.inspirationglassstudio.com Curious Glass & Gallery 820 S. Austin Avenue 512-863-8200 www.curiousglassshop.com The Escape 713 S. Main Street 512-930-0052 www.shoptheescape.com Zoe’s Gifts & Accessories 109 East 7th Street 512-863-2379

Lampwork jewelry at Zoe’s Gifts

Stained glass at Inspiration Glass Studio

Photography by Connie Watson

The Brushy Creek Regional Trail celebrates the opening of its newest phase

that brings the trail to an impressive length of six miles.Â The trail meanders along Brushy Creek from just east of Great Oaks Drive west to Twin Lakes Park at US 183 in Cedar Park and offers a relaxing atmosphere with the convenience of being minutes away from many bustling communities. Several parks located along the trail provide amenities accessible to walkers, runners and bikers consisting of splash pads, swimming areas, climbing rocks, fishing docks, canoeing and kayaking, restrooms and multiple picnic and pavilion areas.

Photography by Sallie Burchett

The trail links residential communities, businesses and retail centers and existing and proposed parks while promoting conservation and stewardship of open space, greenbelts and wetlands. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Codie Savage

Have you ever seen something new that you would like to try, but aren’t sure where to go for the experience? Like,

the Segway, for example – the motorized thing with only two wheels that was invented seven years ago. We’ve all seen them and wondered about them, but up until now you had to go to Austin to try one out.

Well, there’s a company that can satisfy your curiosity right here in Georgetown. You can be up and riding in a matter of minutes, especially if you are good at standing and leaning forward or backward a little. It does take a little getting used to. It’s surprising how cool these little people-movers are, and Hill Country Segway Tours now offers tours of areas that you‘re interested in. The range is about 20-24 miles, which means you could go all the way to the lake and back on the hike and bike trails. At 4 miles an hour, you’re looking at 3 hours. For more information, contact Hill Country Segway Tours at 512-784-5977, or visit www.hillcountrysegwaytours.com.

Antiques shopping in Georgetown Residents and visitors usually expect to find antiques stores in towns with historic downtowns,

and Georgetown doesn't disappoint them.

Several excellent antiques stores are located on or near the Georgetown Square, and a new store recently opened on Williams Drive. Antiques stores located on or near the downtown square include the Georgetown Antique Mall, Rough & Ready Antiques, and Cobblestone. Two others, Gatherings and Collectors Market, are not on the Square, but they are very close – Gatherings is two blocks south of the courthouse on Austin Avenue, and Collectors Market is just around the corner on University Avenue. There are several other stores that carry a few quality antiques as well as their other merchandise, such as His & Her Treasures, Sweet Serendipity, The Collector and A Floral Expression, and some of their antiques are quite nice. Don't overlook these stores in your quest for antiques – you might be surprised! The Georgetown Antique Mall, located on the south side of the Square, is one of the most established, in business since 1992. Owner Carolyn Martin's knowledge of antiques is the product of years of experience and research in a field that she loves, and it shows. She says, “I try to maintain high-quality antiques in the store – pieces that don't need refinishing – and offering services such as certified appraisals and Gene's caning are appreciated by my customers.” As we're talking I look in the back of the store, and sure enough, there's her husband, Gene, working to restore a fine old chair. Checking out his work, I'm amazed at the intricacy. Rough and Ready Antiques, which is located on Main Street, specializes in a wide range of vintage items and antiques, in the colorful atmosphere of a rustic building. Owner Shirly Barber has been in business about 12 years now, and says, “I love the aspect of recycling these unique things from the past.” The old lawn furniture on the sidewalk outside the building amidst colorful plants is very eye-catching, and is also a great place to shoot a picture or two. Visiting the store is always interesting. Cobblestone, on the west side of the Square, has collectibles and antiques upstairs as well as downstairs. The store has an interesting claim to perhaps having a ghost or two around, which makes perusing the aisles an experience somewhere between Ghost Hunter and Antiques Road Show. Owners Susan Ney and Katie Ney-Zezulka can tell you stories – we’ll have to save that for a future issue. Ney says, “We have over 18 vendors and by the way, one of the ghosts is named Clarence and the other is LeeAnn.” Note: If you visit the store and have an encounter, I would love to hear about it. Gatherings opened a couple of years ago and has rapidly filled up from floor to ceiling with an eclectic mix of antiques and collectibles. And I do mean filled up – the first

time I was in their store they were just getting ready to start bringing in merchandise, and I wondered how they would be able to fill such a large space. They truly have. One of the owners, Stephanie Ehrhardt, says, “I just love old stuff – who used it, who read it or who wore it, the story behind it. I’ve done this for 25 years, and we have some of the most unique and affordable things of interest.” Her partner, Cathy Slobod, agrees. There are a lot of interesting things in their store that catch the eye and every week it seems to change. Some of my favorites are the old cameras. Copper Ridge Antiques recently moved to Williams Drive from its previous location several miles west of Georgetown on Highway. 29. The new store was built around an existing house, which provides for some interesting retail spaces. The original kitchen, for example, has been maintained to display collectible culinary merchandise. Copper Ridge specializes in quality antique furniture, all of which is very reasonably priced. “Our emphasis is on providing personal service to our clientele,” says owner Bebie Cole. In addition to furniture, the store has a wide selection of jewelry, clocks, collectibles and glassware. Copper Ridge isn’t just for antiques lovers, though. Cole has turned the upstairs of her store into a boutique that sells apparel including Yellow Box shoes. They also offer facilities for group events. For more information: Georgetown Antique Mall 110 West 8th Street 512-869-2088 www.georgetownantiquemall.com Copper Ridge Antiques 3700 Williams Drive 512-868-2112 Gatherings 1009 South Austin Avenue 512-930-2600

Around Georgetown

Rough & Ready Antiques 602 Main Street 512-819-0463 Cobblestone 712 South Austin Avenue 512-863-9607 Collectors Market 505 West University 512-930-0185 Sweet Serendipity 710 South Austin Avenue 512-864-1511 www.sweetserendipityinc.com His & Her Treasures 112 West 8th Street 512-868-3288 www.treasuresgeorgetown.com The Collector 109 East 8th Street 512-864-7787 www.thecollectorrarecoins.com

Zip-lining, Texas Style One of the things my husband and I enjoyed

on a recent trip to Belize was a zip-line tour, so when we heard that a zip-line tour outfit had opened in Central Texas, we had to check it out. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours is located in Spicewood, a small community about 34 miles west of Austin off Highway 71. It’s about a 50-mile drive from Georgetown. The easiest way to get there is to take Interstate Highway 35 South to FM 620 and go west on 620 until it hits Highway 71. From there, Cypress Valley is 13 miles west on Highway 71 and 1 mile north on Paleface Ranch Road. Just as the name implies, the zip-line course was built through a small oasis of bald cypress trees lining a creek bed. The trees are 500 years old and some are as large as 10 feet in diameter. David Neal Beilharz and his wife, Amy, built the course on their 86-acre property. Cypress Valley has three zip-line tour options – the Canopy Tour, the Canopy Challenge and the Sunrise Birding Tour. The Canopy Tour, which we did, is a 1 1/2 hour tour that features six zip-lines, the longest of which is 350 feet. For the more adventurous, the Canopy Challenge takes guests through a series of longer zip-lines and multiple canopy challenge events. Like the challenge course in Georgetown, it’s designed to help individuals and groups learn to deal with adversity and approach challenging situations at home and at work. The Sunrise Birding Tour, which is offered only on Saturday mornings, combines zip-lining with bird watching. The Cypress Valley website lists 40 birds that have been seen on the tours. Our tour started with 30 minutes of ground school, during which time we learned the basics of zip-lining, such as how to hold your hands and how to brake, as well as how to pull yourself to the next tree if you come up short by braking too much. After everyone in our group did a short test run, we climbed the steps of the wheelhouse to begin our tour. The course followed a straight line along the creek. Unlike our tour in Belize, we didn’t always go from tree to tree. There are several spots where we had to walk across a suspension bridge to get to our next starting point. Midway through the course, we came to the Lofthaven, a tree-house lodge that guests can rent for the night. It is located in the most beautiful part

Day Trip

Continued on page 19

Zip-lining... continued from previous page

For more information: Cypress Valley Canopy Tour 512-264-8880 www.cypressvalleycanopytours.com Opie’s BBQ 9504 E. State Hwy 71 Spicewood Texas 830-693-8660 Spicewood Vineyards 1419 County Road 409 Spicewood Texas 830-693-5328 www.spicewoodvineyards.com

of the course, near an overhang covered with ferns. Unfortunately the creek was dry when we were there, but if it’d been running it would have been wonderful to sleep above the flowing creek. At the end of our tour, a “zip limo” took us back to the starting point. Cypress Valley offers canopy tours from April through October. The cost of the regular canopy tour is $65 and the canopy challenge is $75. The tree-house lodge is $325 on weekends so we decided to save money and just take a day trip. There are several other attractions in Spicewood that make for a nice day trip. Two nearby vineyards offer tastings – Spicewood Vineyards and Stonehouse Vineyard. Stonehouse Vineyard is located about 5 miles up the road from the canopy tour, on the edge of Lake Travis. It offers one wine made from Norton grapes grown on the property, and several wines made from grapes grown in the Barossa Valley of South Australia. To get to Spicewood Vineyards, you need to go a little farther west on Highway 71 and then head south on CR 408. It’s not nearly as fancy as Stonehouse Vineyard, but it has a large selection of wines to taste, including four that are sold only at the Vineyard. Their most popular one is a sweet red wine called Bluebonnet Blush. If it is hot enough for swimming, there are several LCRA parks on Lake Travis near Spicewood, or you can visit Krause Springs in Spicewood, which is located off Highway 71 on CR 404. For lunch or dinner in Spicewood, check out Opie’s BBQ where you can pick out your selections of meat right out of a smoker. – Ellen Davis

Stonehouse Vineyard 24350 Haynie Flat Road Spicewood Texas 512-264-3630 www.stonehousevineyard.com

Celestial Chicken Salad 4 cups white meat chicken, diced 2 cups celery, diced 1 - 4. 1/2 oz can mushrooms, drained 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped 4 pieces bacon, fried crisp, drained and crumbled 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream 1 1/2 tsp salt 2 tblsp lemon juice Boil and de-bone chicken. Let cool, then mix chicken, celery, mushrooms, and pecans in large bowl. Blend mayonnaise with remaining ingredients except bacon. Add to chicken mixture and toss to mix. Refrigerate. Before serving, add bacon. Serves 6 to 8. Recipe from Treasures from Laurieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea Room, courtesy of Laurieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Too.

Call for Entries

By the Williamson County Art Guild Deadline: April 29th Painting with Pixels is a juried show open to local talent, for photographic digital images that are manipulated, distorted, and/or abstracted etc., in order to create an original piece of art. There will be a First place, a Second place, a Third place and 2 Honorable Mentions. Ribbons will be awarded by the judges on Thursday, April 30. All accepted work will be on display at The Framerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gallery, 610 S. Main Street in Georgetown from Friday, May 1 thru Thursday, May 30. The jurors will be Carol Watson, a professional photographer and photo gallery owner, and Michael Windberg, a professional artist, art instructor and professional photographer and cinematographer. There will be a $5 entry fee for each item entered with a maximum of 4 items per individual. The proceeds will go to the judging, advertising and ribbon expense, with any excess going to the art guild general fund for future shows. Entries must be hand delivered to the Framerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gallery Wednesday, April 29, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. For more information, call FranSina Young at 512-869-3051.

Art Guild’s Youngest Artist

A Huge Success

Carson Mathis is only 4 years old, but he already has a following of patrons. At a show at the Framer’s Gallery in the summer of 2008, Carson sold seven paintings, more than anyone else. His mom, Sonia Colonna Mathis, who’s also an artist and framer, shared her space with him at the show. After the show, Carson shared 1/2 of his proceeds with the March of Dimes. Carson’s favorite medium is acrylics and he’s been using them since he was two. (Sonia said he was allowed to use them that young since he didn’t eat them.) “He’s very color oriented and chooses color carefully before he paints – no premixing, he paints right on the canvas,” says Sonia. Carson’s cerebral palsy affects the motor skills on his right side, so he uses his left hand to paint with, and is very deliberate in his use of the brush. It reflects in his paintings, which are truly wonderful expressions of Carson’s happy inner self. To see more of Carson’s paintings, visit the Framer’s Gallery at 610 South Main Street in Georgetown.

Local Artist

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Performance at the Sarofim, The Color of Dissonance On Friday, April 3rd at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 4th at 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 5th at 3 p.m., the Sarofim School of Fine Arts will stage the premiere performance of an original operatic production titled The Color of Dissonance.

Based on the friendship between Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, and Arnold Schoenberg, this Singspiel offers a creative look into the historical significance of this modernist collaboration which had such an important role to play in the development of central European music and art. In the spirit of their remarkable and crossdisciplinary collaboration, “The Color of Dissonance” brings together theater, music and art within a single production, and features an original score composed by Jason Hoogerhyde, assistant professor in Southwestern’s Music Department. The friendship between these three figures will be recounted with dramatic and historical integrity, hopefully offering a view of this pivotal moment in twentieth-century culture that prompts the audience to engage thoughtfully with this history, and to recognize the potential of interdisciplinary efforts that transgress conventional boundaries. In conjunction with the performance of The Color of Dissonance, a one-day symposium will be held on Friday, April 3rd. The symposium features specialists from the fields of German cultural, music, and art history, and will provide a critical and historical context for the performances of the Singspiel. The schedule is as follows: 10:30

Welcome and opening remarks: Paul Gaffney, Dean of the Sarofim School of Fine Arts, SU Kimberly Smith, Art & Art History Department, SU Erika Berroth, German Program, Modern Languages and Literatures Department, SU