THE GREAT HILL COUNTRY PUMPKIN PATCH, MEDINA, TX
Publisher/Designer: Karyn Lyn Managing Editor: Greg Forest (RIP)
Design & Layout: Lonesome Dove Design Studio Columnists & Contributing Writers: Karyn Lyn, Greg Forest, Kathleen Hudson, Joe Herring, Jil Utterback, Gary Lockte, Mary Schenk, Betty Sharp, Homer Stevens, Colleen Brooks, Carlotta Schmittgen & Jack Armstrong. Proof Readers: Jil Utterback, Guy Barzetti, David Baroffio Layout & Web: Lonesome Dove Design Photographers: Karyn Lyn, Nancy Essary, Mary Bradley Sales: Karyn Lyn, Mary Bradley, Colleen Brooks, Guy Barzetti, Miranda Montemayor
Contact Heart Beat:
texasheartbeat.com | PO Box 1204 | Bandera,TX 78003 Karyn (210) 316-2986 karyn@texasheartbeat.com
Chocolate Does it All: By Betty Sharp
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"Romance and comedy, mystery and history, comfort and indulgence. All from the cacao plant from which we derive that miracle of miracles, chocolate..." History, recipes, books, and more, all about chocolate!!
The Aroma of Fall is In The Air: By Mary Allyce
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" Ah, the aroma of fall. Before long there will be pumpkin cookies, bread, and muffin mixes, pumpkin spice coffee creamer, pumpkin beer, pumpkin cheesecake, assorted pumpkin décor, canned pumpkin, and the real thing – fresh pumpkins of every size and description..."
The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country is published quarterly by Heart Beat Publishing PO Box 1204, Bandera, Texas 78003. Opinions expressed in articles may not be those of the publisher and editor of the The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country, its advertisers, writers or contributors. All content is copyrighted by The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the publisher. The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country is not liable for editorial content, typographical errors and any statements or claims by advertisers or columnists. Subscriptions are $25 per year payable to The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country at the above address.
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Mary Bradley: What's New in West Kerr County Mary informs us of the "Revitalization of Kerrville's East End." See what's happening with Wilson's Icehouse, River Trail Cottages, and East End Market! "The Howard family businesses are growing numbers of customers and interest in a part of town that for years had been overlooked..."
Jil Utterback: Fall Recipes Jil's Fall recipes showcase the homey, hearty comfort food you’ll want to cozy up to this season, so warm up on a crisp Autumn day with her Chicken Bow Tie Pasta and Calico Squash Casserole!
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Joe Herring: New Life for Kerrville's Arcadia Theatre: By Joe Herring
" If all goes as planned, Kerrville will soon have a new music venue in a restored historic building downtown: the Arcadia Theater. A group called "Arcadia Live!" has developed plans to renovate the 1920s-era venue. building into a performance hall...." Take the Plunge! By Karyn Lyn & Greg Forest "The Texas Hill Country has more than a few rivers, springs, and lakes to take the edge off the heat and enjoy during the Fall season. From the banks of the Guadalupe River and tubing in Gruene to the springs in San Marcos, there are lots of ways to take the plunge into a bit of cool water."
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What's Brewing in the Hill Country
Our newest section features local breweries, distilleries, liquor stores, and wineries throughout the Hill Country; the latest craft libation hot spot for travellers and locals with a taste for qualilty hand crafted beers, wines, and spirits. Cheers to Fall! texasheartbeat.com
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Open Every Saturday, Sunday, & Monday In October
AdMISSION $6.00--Includes:
13558 Hwy. 16 North Medina, Texas, 78055 1-800-449-0882
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Polka Capital of Texas!
The Rock Box 1223 E Houston, San Antonio, TX
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If all goes as planned, Kerrville will soon have a new music venue in a restored historic building downtown: the Arcadia Theater.
local audience. This will enhance Kerrville's reputation as a music center, which began in the early 1970s with the Kerrville Music Festival.
A group called "Arcadia Live!" has developed plans to renovate the 1920s-era building into a performance hall. This group is better known for its July 4th productions in Kerrville, which have featured Robert Earl Keen.
Live music has been a part of the Arcadia's history, with famous performers like Jimmie Rodgers performing there in the 1920s. Numerous local musicians performed there, as well.
The Arcadia Theater opened its doors in 1926 as a movie theater. The first movie shown there was "Irene," a romance film which featured a new innovation: Technicolor. Movies were shown at the Arcadia until 1987. Since then it has been empty, though several groups have made attempts to bring the building back to public use.
Other entertainments were presented there over the years, including vaudeville acts, boxing matches, beauty pageants, political speeches, and at least one traveling fortune-teller. I'm hoping this new group gets the Arcadia Theater open and thriving again. Having a new music venue in downtown Kerrville will be a bonus for the entire Texas hill country. Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who has fond memories of the Arcadia Theater.
This new group has already secured more than $1 million in commitments, mostly from public funds set aside for tourism and municipal quality of life projects. Enthusiasm for the project is widespread, from those who remember the Arcadia as a movie theater, to those too young to have ever set foot inside the old building. The current idea is to create a vibrant performance space for live music, with regularly scheduled shows aimed at a
SPRECHEN SIE FUN?
NOVEMBER 1st–10th, 2019
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wurstfest.com FALL 2019
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Various Accommodations Horseback & Pony Rides 18-Hole Golf Course 18-Hole Putt-Putt Onsite Restaurants & Bars
675 Flying L Drive www.FlyingL.com
Multiple Venues for Weddings, Parties, Family Reunions, Events & Corporate Meetings Western Entertainment Live Music & Karaoke
Bandera, TX 78003 830.796.7745 @FlyingLRR #flyinglranchresort
Full Bar & Menu LIVE Music on Fridays 4 Screens Karaoke
Happy Hour Drink Specials Family Friendly Special Events
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BANDERAGERNERALSTORE.COM
15% OFF VINTAGE BOOTS!
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The Hill Country has more than a few rivers, springs and lakes to take the explore-from the banks of the Guadalupe River and tubing in Gruene to the springs in San Marcos there are lots of ways to take the plunge into a bit of cool water. This list of favorite swimmin' holes is hardly comprehensive - there are lots of options not listed here but this is a pretty good place to start. Many of the best plunges are in Texas State Parks. If you are going to visit the state sites, you might want to look into a yearly pass for considerable savings. Remember to take your trash with you and help keep Texas rivers & springs clean and ready for the next visitor. You can check texasheartbeat.com for more aquatic adventures. Stay wet.
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HAMILTON POOL This Travis County plunge is so popular that reservations are required to jump in. In the summer, due to the proximity to Austin, the park is packed with sun seekers. The grotto features a 50-foot waterfall into an emerald green pool. Ferns and moss adorn the roof of the grotto giving it a jungle-like experience. Hamilton Pool is part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and is a protected environment.
MEDINA RIVER Up Medina and Bandera way is the Medina River which meanders for miles through a canopy of old cypress trees that afford plentiful shade on your downstream journey. To say it's been a local favorite is underlined by the fact the river was named in 1689. The Medina is primarily fed by springs that bubble up from the Balcones Fault, keeping the water cool year round.
FOOD TRUCK FEATURE
FRIO RIVER IN CONCAN The spring-fed Frio River offers crystal clear water and, depending on the flow, some of the best kayaking and swimming in Central Texas. With a variety of in and out points on the river, you can decide how long you want to stay in the water before hopping in. With lots of accommodations and only a hop skip and jump from Garner State Park, staying cool is a breeze. Local counties may be dry so be sure to fill your ice chest on the way to the river.
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Blanco State Park, along a mile of the Blanco River, is a 104.6-acre park on the southern edge of Blanco, Texas. A favorite for decades with locals, the park has many amenities including camping, picnicking, screened shelters, swimming, tubing, nature trails, and a wildlife viewing station. Its less than an hour from both San Antonio and Austin. The fishin' is almost as good as the swimmin' with anglers casting for bass, catfish, sunfish and rainbow trout (stocked in winter). Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country Summer 2019
GARNER STATE PARK
Garner State Park is probably the most popular natural water destination in the Texas Hill Country. From Spring Break until the onset of Fall, the park is floating thousands of sun-loving rafters, kayakers and tubers. Be sure to bring your own alcholic beverages and lots of sunscreen.
INKS LAKE STATE PARK Ink's Lake State Park has it all - you can swim (no lifeguards on duty), boat, water ski, scuba dive and fish to your heart's content. The park also has a large, no-wake zone for paddling. The re are 9 miles of hiking trails and is also home to the famous Devil's Waterhole. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, one- to two-person kayaks, life vests and paddles at the park store. texasheartbeat.com Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country
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Can you smell it? As I write this we’re not past Labor Day and already pumpkin spice candles are in stores. Ah, the aroma of fall. Before long there will be pumpkin cookies, bread, and muffin mixes, pumpkin spice coffee creamer, pumpkin beer, pumpkin cheesecake, assorted pumpkin décor, canned pumpkin, and the real thing – fresh pumpkins of every size and description. It used to be easy. You went to a farm or store and picked out a nice, orange pumpkin, the biggest and best shape you could find, took it home and carved it into a toothy, slanteyed Jack o’ lantern. For pumpkin spice scent, you bought smaller cooking pumpkins for homemade pumpkin bread and pie. Those halcyon days were before marketers discovered the vast number of ways to work the scent, flavor, and look of pumpkins into our lives. Then they got trickier and began offering all manner of exotic pumpkin shapes and colors. You can still find traditional orange fellows, but there are also striped ones, green, bluish, and grey to white colors, oddly shaped ones, and some with what look like warts all over them. If they don’t smell right, you can create the ambience out of appropriately scented spray cans or the aforementioned candles. But is there a candle that can come close to the aroma of warm pumpkin pie, just out of the oven, with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves? Can any imposter approach its earthy sweetness? Never mind “visions of sugarplums," the minute I see the first pumpkin in stores, I’m going to be transported to visions of my Thanksgiving table. Fall is all about anticipation and I love it. Who isn’t looking forward to cooler temperatures and the fall colors they bring? The intense red, orange, and gold of my Midwestern youth, or the softer, more muted, later appearing color of the Texas Hill Country, golden cornstalks and multicolored Indian 28
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corn, all the variations of gourds, are among nature’s most beautiful and evocative labors. Fall also ushers in the promise of the holiday season with multiple events. Speaking of pumpkins again, Medina will host its traditional Great Hill Country “Pumpkin Patch” at Love Creek Orchards, offering lots of family activities, food, and an assortment of pumpkins, gourds, apples, and cornstalks, beginning the first Saturday in October. The Bandera Marshal’s Office holds its hugely popular National Night Out – “A Nightmare On Maple Street” – in Bandera City Park, 5:30 – 10 p.m., October 31st. It’s safe, supervised Halloween fun with plenty of spookery and candy. The Bandera County Chamber of Commerce welcomes hunters back to Bandera with the annual “Buck Fest," November 1st at Mansfield Park. Music venues kick off the party with a variety of bands to suit every dancer and every ear. Check out all the activities in this publication, Facebook pages, websites and the Community Calendar (CVB) available online and at many local businesses. Fall is about a lot more than pumpkin spice, but I confess that first candle I saw got me in the mood. I’m getting out the fall decorations, dusting off my witch’s hat, digging out the pie recipe, and thinking about how I want to carve the pumpkin this year. It’s that anticipation thing again and the Thanksgiving turkey will be in the oven before you know it. Wait! What was that nestled up against the papier-mache pumpkins and the Halloween costumes at the store yesterday? Cinnamon scented pine cones? Really? Give us a moment to absorb and enjoy all the colors and aromas of fall, the family fun and heartiness of this wonderful season. And don’t forget to give thanks, even for your pumpkin spice latte, if that’s your style. Happy fall, y’all! FALL 2019
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Platinum Sponsor
Annual
Hosted by:
Kiwanis of Bandera
$20 at the Door $15 Pre-Sale OCTOBER 12, 2019 www.outhousetickets.com 8:30pm Live Auction Benefitting
Doors Open at 6pm Music at 7pm Dinner by
Bandera Kiwanis Scholarship Fund R
Gold Sponsors JASTRA Enterprises
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Silver Sponsors Mobile Diesel Service - Mayan Dude Ranch Camino Real Insurance Agency Hondo National Bank - Texas Hill Country Bank Deffenbaugh & Lange CPA - Legacy Employer Solutions Bandera Beverage Barn - Cecil Atkission Motors El Jacalito - Frontier Family Dental Heartbeat of the Hill Country Magazine Winters Electric LLC
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Are we ready for fall weather yet? As I type this we are on a run of many 100 degree days in a row and the grass is dry and crunchy. We had a wet spring but that is a distant memory at this point. The gardens are pretty much done and we are waiting for the cooler Fall weather for Fall gardens. As we head towards Thanksgiving I look through my recipes for that cooler time. I love this first recipe, I divide it in half and make one half with chicken for my family and the other half for me without! Or just make this without chicken for a side. I wouldn’t say it is super healthy but I make some modifications to make it a little more so. Of course if you have leftover holiday turkey it can be used! For busy families it is quick and easy to make this with a store bought rotisserie chicken.
In saucepan combine 1st 5 ingredients and ½ tsp salt. Cover and cook until squash is tender. Drain and set aside. Combine crumbs and butter then spoon half into a greased shallow 1 ½ qt baking dish. Combine soup, water chestnuts, carrot, mayo, pimentos, sage, other half salt and pepper. Fold into the squash mixture then spoon it over the crumbs in the baking dish. Sprinkle cheese and remaining crumbs on top. Bake uncovered on 350 degrees for 30 minutes until lightly browned.
Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and return to pasta pot. In large skillet, stir in olive oil and garlic and saute for one minute. Add cream and cream cheese and cook, stirring often, until melted. Add the parmesan and whisk until well blended. Gently stir in the artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes. Add the spinach, shredded chicken and salt and stir until spinach is cooked. Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and gently toss to coat. Don’t over stir. As serving garnish with freshly ground pepper. *Note I used 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup vegetable broth to make this a little lighter!
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Mac and Earnie’s Roadside Eatery, Tarpley, Tx
Lunch on Fridays and Saturdays includes cheeseburgers and their famous Cabrito Burger. Dinners on Friday and Saturday night feature steaks, catfish, ancho chile honey basted quail and specials such as grilled pork tenderloin with a sweet-tart Vietnamese dipping sauce or grilled Tuna with roasted Jalapeno Mayonnaise. 830-562-3727 11804 FM 470 (junction of FM 470 and FM 462)
Gravity Check Saloon and Arena, Kerrville, TX
Gravity Check Saloon & Arena is a full service bar, grill, and event space for all ages to enjoy! They have live music and spacious dance floor for weekly entertainment. There is a large outdoor patio setting and outdoor arena to watch equine and cattle events while you enjoy your meal. 3979 Bandera Hwy (173) Kerrville, Texas. (830) 634-3075. Grill hours: Mon-Thurs 11am - 9pm Fri.&Sat. 11am-10pm Sun.12pm-9pm
1011 Bisso, Kerrville, Tx Voted the best restaurant in Kerrville, Texas! 1011 Bistro is a fine dining experience with the best outdoor seating with views of the Guadalupe river! Their elegant menu includes appetizers, steaks, seafood, pasta, and an extensive wine list. Please call for reservations: (830) 895-1169 - 1011 www.1011bistro.com Guadalupe St. Kerrville, TX 78028 HOURS: Tue-Sat 4:30–9:00 pm
Monroe’s East End Grill, Kerrville,Tx
Barista - Good Eats - Pastries. Classic diner offerings, sandwiches, specialty hot dogs and wraps, salads, great coffee and in house pastries. Watch the game on any one of their big screen TVs or enjoy some down time in our cozy coffee lounge. Drive-Thru! Award winning wings and Wine-A-Ritas! 1700 Water Street Kerrville, Texas (830) 955-5572. Visit their facebook for updates and specials!
Wilson’s Icehouse, Kerrville, Tx
Wilson’s offers some of the freshest gulf oysters and shrimp, as well as flat bread pizzas, sandwhiches, black bean nachos, desserts, and more. Full bar with indoor and outdoor patio seating available. Rotating Texas craft beers on tap and daily specailty drinks. (830) 955-9611. Open daily 10am-12am. 1621 Water Steet Kerrville, Texas.
Alamo Springs Cafe,
edericksburg, Tx
Alamo Springs Cafe was immortalized on the cover of Texas Monthly a while back with a shot of their monster burger. The Cafe, which is right next to the famous bat tunnel, is famous for its burgers and other Texas comfort food. It is outside Fredricksburg and a bit off the beaten path but well worth the drive. Seasonal live music on weekends. 107 Alamo Rd, Fredericksburg, TX (830) 990-8004 Visit them on Facebook!
If you would like to be included in our Menu Board, “Where to Eat in the Hill Country” section, please contact Karyn @ (210) 316-2986
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1868, and their strudels are out of this world! Wurstfest will be going on November 1 – 10, so gather up your lederhosen and dirndl and practice up on your chicken dance! When Landa Park isn’t home to Wurstfest, it’s a tranquil destination with a Wimberley is a thriving arts community children’s train, picnic areas, paddle boats, with an abundance of art galleries, live the- a hiking trail, and miniature golf. ater, and Wimberley Glass Works, where Finally, a trip to Gruene is simply magical! you can catch a live glassblowing demonstration. New to the scene in Wimberley is Once upon a time, Gruene was a cotton Texas Hills Leather - stop in and watch vet- gin town until it was devastated by fire, the eran Nick Dowell handcraft beautiful leath- boll weevil, and The Great Depression. Its er purses, wallets, belts, and more. Wim- buildings were shuttered for many years berley is also home to Wimberley Zip Line, until an architectural student stumbled onto Jacob’s Well, Mount Baldy, and Blue Hole them in 1974. Today it’s a beloved destinaRegional Park – in addition to several brew- tion that rightly proclaims its spot on the Naeries, distilleries, and a winery. Just down tional Register of Historic Places. Gruene the road from Wimberley is The Salt Lick is home to Texas’ oldest dance hall, Gruene BBQ, which has been featured on the Food Hall. Be sure to stop by this charming landNetwork numerous times. After satisfying mark to enjoy a drink, take a two-step or your appetite, stop into the Driftwood Estate waltz around the original dancefloor, or just Winery and enjoy a glass of local wine or to check out their memorabilia – it certainly champagne from their bluff overlooking hill is a testament to their impressive history of country. This, my friends - is perfection! notable performances! You can even catch a live performance - visit their website to see their upcoming lineup. I highly recommend dining while in Gruene. The Gristmill Restaurant now occupies what was left of the former cotton gin building, and the treetop views of the Guadalupe River are incredible - in addition to their steaks, burgers, salads, and Texas-sized onion rings. As if that wasn’t enough, they also have an extensive drink menu. Welcome to Texas Hill Country! You’ve come at the right time of year to experience all this area has to offer! Here are a few charming towns you’ll want to check out during your stay:
New Braunfels also has a lot to offer. It’s home to Natural Bridge Caverns, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Texas Ski Ranch (which is also home of the Sylver Spoon Dinner Theater), Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo, the McKenna Children’s Museum, Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, and Texas’ oldest bakery, Naegelin’s. They’ve been using the same family recipes since 48
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This time of year is widely celebrated by Texans after enduring a long, hot summer. Enjoy your time here and all that our great hill country has to offer! We’re so glad you’re here!
COME VISIT wimberley.org FALL 2019
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SALOON & ARENA SALOON AND ARENA HOURS: SUN-FRIDAY 11AM-MIDNIGHT SATURDAY 11 AM-1AM
3979 HWY 173 KERRVILLE TX 78028
GRILL HOURS: MON-THURS 11AM-9PM VISIT US ON: FRI & SAT 11AM-10PM SUNDAY 12PM-9PM
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NEW LOCATION! 1014 Front Street COMFORT, TX
HALLOWEEN PARTY WILL BE OCTOBER 27TH
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The Boys of Summer was more than a Don Henley hit – for me, it was my Summer of 2019. We had just made a major move from Texas to the Raleigh, North Carolina, area, accomplished in a quick two months. I yearned for a real vacation away from the lingering boxes. While perusing an email from Tanglewood, the Western Massachusetts summer home for the Boston Pops, I discovered Josh Groban was going to be there in concert July 2nd. It would be an easy day and a half drive from our new abode. I didn’t have to twist hubby’s arm; it’s his favorite singer. The concert was awesome. Josh bantered with the audience between sets and the two hours flew by. Next was finding a small town to view 4th of July festivities. I hit the jackpot – a parade in my hometown – Williamstown -- and fireworks after a New England Collegiate Baseball League game in North Adams, the next town over. I had actually marched in the Williamstown parade back in the late 50s! Things sure had changed. No baton twirlers like me, but many more participants, including the baseball team playing that night--and instead of just at the elementary school, it was a sixteen minute walk to Spring Street. After the parade, we looked for a place to eat a late lunch, which was not easy on a holiday. After trying several places with indefinite waits in Williamstown, we drove to North Adams and discovered the Trail House. While waiting on my burger, I gazed out the window to the people eating in the outdoor seating. Just like a magnet, I zoomedin to a party of three. One was wearing a Vermont Mountaineers T-shirt. Our waitress confirmed the wishes racing through my mind – the baseball teams frequented the restaurant. “I’ll be right back.” “You’re not….” my husband interjected. I was already on the patio! It turned out that it was the parents of the starting pitcher for Vermont that night and his twin brother Matt. I learned that Ryan Murphy was a top prospect and playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the summer. Unfortunately, their food came right as I learned Ryan had broken Matt’s nose while throwing. Bad timing by the kitchen!
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We got to the ballpark right as the Vermont Mountaineers’ bus was unloading. I wondered how many of these kids I would see in the big leagues in a few years. According to Ryan’s dad, his son would be. Once inside, I headed to the 1st base side where the North Adams Steeplecats were warming up and stretching. The great thing about the collegiate league is that pre-game, the players chat with the fans. It was there I met Alex Gomes. I knew immediately by his right arm that he was a pitcher. He was impressed. I laughed and said, “Catcher was out – you’re too tall.” I bragged to him that I knew Bobby Witt, retired Texas Rangers “rightie” and that his son Bobby, Jr. had just been drafted 2nd in the MLB draft. Alex said, “Oh! You need to meet our Mason Ronan! He was drafted by the Red Sox last year but he’s staying at Pitt to honor his commitment there. Mason! I’ve got someone I want you to meet!” The next thing I know I’m shaking hands with the leftie and Alex is positioning us for a picture together! The game started as Ryan’s dad predicted. Ryan shut down the Steeplecats, holding them to two runs (only one of them earned) and striking out five in five innings. Once he left the game with a 4 – 2 lead, North Adams began their comeback. The relievers held the Vermont team scoreless while the offense chipped away inning by inning. Our excitement wasn’t just the comeback; it was when four of the players came up in the stands and Alex was one of them. They were selling chances at fifty cents each and the number drawn would split the winnings with the team. Alex smiled as Rick dug out his bills and pulled out a ten. “Good luck, Sir” and winked at me. It was fun watching the players interact with the fans. After North Adams won 5 – 4, the team came into the stands and shared high 5’s with fans! It was an incredible night of the baseball that we knew back in to the 60s before money and celebrity took over. Long live the Collegiate Baseball Leagues!! Yes, it was a summer to remember – Ryan, Alex, Mason, and the other Boys of Summer!
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LIVE MUSIC IN THE HILL COUNTRY KERRVILLE
4 Way Bar & Grill 9742 FM 1283 Lakehills, TX (830) 751-3400
Kerrville Festivals 3876 Medina Highway, Kerrville, TX (830) 257-3600 Texas Heritage Music Foundation 2100 Memorial Blvd, Kerrville, Texas (830) 792-1945
FREDERICKSBURG Luckenbach 412 Luckenbach Town Loop Fredericksburg, TX (830) 997-3224
Flying L Ranch Branding Iron Bar & Grill Every Friday 7:30pm
The Ridge Marketplace 13439 S Ranch Road 783, Kerrville, TX (830) 896-0420 Pier 27 1521 Junction Hwy, Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 896-7437
Chuck Wagon Dinner & Show Saturdays 6:30-8:30pm *Reservations only Flying L Ranch Resort 675 Flying L Drive 830-796-7745
Azul 202 Earl Garrett St, Kerrville, TX (830) 896-9338
Jake’s @ Polly's Peak 3810 Hwy 16, Bandera, TX (830) 535-6699
Callioux Theater 910 Main Street, Kerrville, TX (830) 896-9393
Bandera Ale Project 3540 Hwy 16, Bandera, TX (830) 522-4226
Ol Watering Hole 1109 Broadway, Kerrville, TX (830) 257-4653
The Shindig 3719 TX-16, Bandera, TX 78003 (830) 460-0636
Gravity Check Saloon & Arena 3979 Hwy 173, Kerrville, TX gravitychecksaloonandarena.com
BOERNE/BLANCO
BANDERA Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar 308 Main Street, Bandera, TX (830) 796-8826 11th Street Cowboy Bar 307 11th St, Bandera, TX (830) 796-4849
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Blanco Riverside Bar 18 Main Street, Blanco, TX 78606, USA (830) 833-0208
COMFORT/CENTERPOINT
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Hondo’s on Main 312 W. Main St. Fredericksburg, TX (830)-997-1633 The Rockbox 109 N Llano St, Fredericksburg, TX (830) 997-7625 Silver Creek 310 East Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX (830) 990-4949
Cave Without A Name Frequent Concerts in the Cave 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX (830) 537-4212
Wilson's Icehouse 1621 Water St, Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 955-9611
Crossroads Saloon and Steakhouse 305 W Main St, Fredericksberg, TX (830) 992-3288
Cocky Rooster 7 US Hwy 87, Comfort, TX (830) 996-5501
Toucan Jim’s 5814 Texas 27, Center Point, TX (830) 634-2640
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El Milagro Twenty Twelve 249 East Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX Phone:(830) 307-3051 Auslander Restaurant 323 E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX (830) 997-7714
INGRAM / HUNT Roddy Tree Ranch 820 Texas 39 Ingram, TX 830-367-2871 Crider’s Dancehall 2310 hwy 39 Hunt TX (830) 238-4441 Encore Restaurant 122 Pointe Theatre Rd
Old Mexico Cantina 3130 Junction Hwy, Ingram, TX (830) 367-3088
NEW BRAUNFELS GRUENE Gruene Hall 1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX (830) 606-1281 Billy’s Ice House 1193 Loop 337 New Braunfels, TX Freiheit Country Store 2157 FM1101 New Braunfels, TX Gruene’s Grove 1263 Gruene Road New Braunfels, TX Tavern in the Gruene 830 Gruene Rd New Braunfels, TX The Brauntex 290 West Seguin New Braunfels, TX Watering Hole Saloon 1390 McQueeney Rd New Braunfels, TX
CONCAN/UVALDE House Pasture Cattle Co 2 River Rd, Concan, TX (830) 232-6580
The Hunt Store 1634 Highway 39, Hunt, TX (830) 238-4410
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The Revitalization of Kerrville’s East End by Mary Bradley Bringing new life and vitality to a neighborhood or district is a massive undertaking - usually taking decades to accomplish. Having lived in and around Kerrville for 30+ years, Larry Howard understood the need for a renewal of this seemingly forgotten part of town - the East End District of Kerrville. Armed with a Real Estate background and a vision, a vision of bringing people to a location that blends entertainment and accommodations, Larry began the task of “redefining” the East End District of Kerrville. Adjacent to downtown Kerrville with the beauty of the Guadalupe River and the new hike/bike River Trail running alongside, Larry, along with brothers Lee and Jim and Larry’s daughter, Kate Howard-Marlow, jump-started this revitalization with the purchase of a 100 year-old building on the corner of Water St. and G St. After repairing and restoring what was formerly Mulligan’s, Wilson’s Ice House opened in late 2016. Brothers Lee and Jim Howard, both with successful histories in the food industry, were determined to create a “unique” bar & grill unlike anything in Kerrville. And that, they did. Wilson’s offers a full bar with craft beers on tap served by the friendliest bartenders - each seems to have a specialty drink that they prepare just for you. The menu offers everything from nachos and pizza to fresh oysters and some of the best shrimp dishes found anywhere. Voted “Best Happy Hour,” in Kerrville, Wilson’s Ice House has quickly become a “favorite” of locals and visitors alike. Open everyday from 10a.m.-12a.m....a great place to meet friends or make new ones. Building on the momentum of Wilson’s success, Larry Howard purchased the property on the East side of G St., opened in 1928 as Kerrville MotorCourt. With well over 500 ft. of Guadalupe riverfront, direct access to Kerrville’s River Trail (miles and miles for hiking/biking), yet just a few blocks from downtown Kerrville, the location was clearly another winner. In August of 2017, after extensive reconstruction and renovation, River Trail Cottages welcomed their first guests. Now consisting of 22 cottages, two refurbished vintage R.V.’s, nine R.V. hook-ups with river views and an on-site event center, River Trail is a desirable blend of “nostalgia and new,” reflecting the feeling of yesterday with all the amenities of today. The new accommodations have HD satellite TV, microwave, coffeemaker, refrigerator and WiFi. You can reserve bikes and kayaks upon booking to make your stay the perfect Hill Country getaway. The hospitality of general manager and host Blake Bingham ensures your return- just read the reviews. For booking information, call Blake at 830-928-9002. The next addition to the East End revival was formerly a bowling alley, a car dealership, a roller rink, then Kerr Crafters. New owners Larry and Kate Howard-Marlow took on the task of re-purposing what was an upholstery and furniture plant. Continued on the next page... 68
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In August of 2018, The East End Market opened. The Market is a multi-vendor vintage marketplace with a wide range of all things “unique”~ from old doors and windows to antique furnishings and vintage clothing. Kate opened with two vendors, in just one year, and that number has grown to over 16 vendors, occupying over 6,000 sq. ft. Kate has an unmistakable design sense which is clearly evident as you meander through the marketplace. Creatively displaying the “uncommon," there are a variety of timeless treasures around every turn. Described as “a feast for the eyes” and “a shopping adventure,” The East End Market is a place you will want to return to ... again and again. The Market is open Tues-Sat 10am-6pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. The latest venture of the Howard brothers was the purchase and redesign of the Kerr Crafter furniture showroom located adjacent to The East End Market, on the corner of Water St. and G St. With transformation completed, Lee and Jim open Monroe’s East End Grill in November of 2018. Open daily at 6am, you can wake up at the coffee bar. Choose from a variety of coffees, either hot or Iced or even “customized” to your taste. The pastries are “made from scratch” and complement any meal. A visit to Monroe’s wouldn’t be complete without sampling their award winning wings topped off with a selection of sauces with varying degrees of “hot.” Wings can be ordered for one or one hundred ~ perfect for holiday entertaining. Lunch specials are featured daily, or build a burger~ your way. Offering a full menu of great dinner options, Monroe’s has an extensive selection of beer and wine to complement your meal. Watch the game from any one of the big screen tv’s. Dine in or enjoy patio seating as the weather cools, or if you’re “on the move,” use the easy drive~through. Whenever you visit Monroe’s, you can find either Lee or Jim working hands-on in the kitchen along with a few dozen employees. Open daily 6am-10pm. In addition to providing new employment opportunities, the Howard family businesses are enticing growing numbers of customers and interest in a part of town that for years had been overlooked. Come and see for yourself...The Revival of the East End District. A Neighborhood “Block Party” will be held this Fall. Follow on Facebook for time and date. Hosted by: Wilson’s Ice House, River Trail Cottages, The East End Market and Monroe’s East End Market.
What’s New in West Kerr? By Mary Bradley SAVE THE DATE! Date: Sat. Sept. 21 5:0011:00pm Location(s) Old Ingram Loop and Creek Boutique - The 3rd Annual Street Dance (free). Vendors and food trucks line the street. Shops will have extended shopping hours. Live music featuring The Drugstore Cowboys and country singer, Bob Stewart. Don’t miss a stop at The Creek Boutique (just outside the Loop, but their gifts are “In”credible). Hosts and a Sponsor of the Dance, Laura and Adrian, will be offering food and beverages and special discounts. Date: Sept 13 & 14 Gravity Check Saloon and Arena GRAND OPENING!! Location: 3979 Bandera Hwy. Sept 13 10am-Ranch sorting. 6pm-Music by Neon Dogz playing BAD to the bone Blues. 8pm-Music by Mark Searcy, diverse influences from Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix. Sept 14 10am-Arena events begin. 5pm-Ranch sorting. 7:30pm-Jimmy Lee Saurga known as the Korean Elvis and Terry Segura, singer/songwriter playing the best in Country music. 8:30pm-Ricky Adams Band, known throughout Hill Country, playing Country, Classic Rock, Blues and 50s & 60s sounds. Date: Sat. & Sun. Sept. 28&29 10:00-4pm Location: The Hill Country Arts Foundation 120 Point Theatre Rd., Ingram Tx - The Texas Arts & Crafts Fair, The “official” state arts & crafts fair of Texas is a celebration of all things made “by
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hand” by Tx. artists. Over 150 artists, gourmet food, craft beer, live music, kids activities and art demonstrations. Admission: $10. Students $5. Children under 12 are free! Date: Sat. Oct 12 @ 8:00am Location: The Ridge Marketplace, Ranch Rd. 783 - 1st Annual Rock’N’The Ridge 5K fun-runwalk for the cure. Proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer division at Peterson Hospital & Tierra Linda VFD. The run will loop through Tierra Linda Ranch and end at The Ridge, followed by live music, booths offering local wine, beer and food. To participate or sponsor (3 levels of sponsorship), call Katieann Stevens, Marketing & Events Director at 210-912-5691. Participation preregistration is $30 or $35 the day of. athleteguild.com Date: Sat.Oct. 26, 11:00-2:00pm Location: The Ridge Marketplace, Ranch Rd. 783 - The Ridge Fall Festival is a fun family event. Games, prizes, candy, a mini hay maze and even a petting zoo. This is the perfect opportunity for photos! Come out with the family and meet the neighbors. Date: Tues. Oct. 29 4:30-8:00pm Location(s): Old Ingram Loop and The Creek Boutique Girls Night Out! (Guys are welcome too.) An annual event where all the stores stay open late. Food, drink, live music, giveaways, discounts and more. Stop by The Creek Boutique for special discounts. Located just outside the Loop but their gifts are “IN”credible!
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RITA'S Cantina
HEART BEAT ADVERTISERS We've grown like a weed over the past six years and have our awesome advertisers to thank. Recognizing the value and doing their part to support Texas Music and Hill Country tourism, some of them have been with us since the 1st issue and for this we are grateful. Please do your part to support our mission and theirs by supporting our advertisers. Tell them you saw them in Heart Beat!
19th Hole 4 Way Bar & Grill 1011 Bistro 11th Street Cowboy Bar Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Austin City Limits Music Fest Authentic Indian Jewelry Back in the Saddle Bandera Ale Project Bandera Bank Bandera Bunkhouse Bandera Chamber Buck Fest Bandera General Store Bandera Meat Market Bandera Paint and Body Bandera Wine and Spirits Biker Rallies of Texas Branding Iron Western Gifts Branding Iron Bar & Grill Buddy's Water Well & Septic Buffalo Nickel Bar & Grill Cartridge World Cocky Rooster Dancing Bear Cantina Deep Eddy Vodka Frogs for Freedom Frontier Times Museum Flying L Ranch & Resort Gibson's Discount Center 74
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Gravity Check Saloon & Arena The Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch Gringo's Burritos Gruene Hall Hill Country Distillers Hill Country Referral Services Hunt Real Estate HYO Silver Kerrville Chalk Festival Larry Allen Concrete Construction Luckenbach Texas Monroe's East End Grill McKenna Children's Museum Oasis Outback Pier 27 Real Ale Brewing Rio Bella Resort River's Edge Gallery San Martin Creek Schreiner University Spirits of Texas Texas Hill Country Music Fest Texas Renaissance Festival The Apple Store and Patio Cafe The Creek Boutique The Ranch House The Resort at Schlitterbahn The Ridge Marketplace The Shindig The Silver Sage Thunder in the Hill Country Toucan Jim's True Value Hardware Twin Liquors Fine Wine & Spirits Western Trail Antiques Wildseed Farms Wilson's Ice House
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So much has been written and verbalized regarding climate change in all forms of media that the summer "Conservation Note" edition was used to point out some basic scientific points whose balance is fundamental to maintaining a stable environment. As has been stated before, if not taken too seriously, politics and the antics of politicians can be entertaining. The significance of eliminating cow farts or any other kind of farts as a technique to inhibit changes in the global climate could be considered amusing. However, keep in mind that more than one of these advocates has been elected to national public offices.
After mentioning deer problems, Turks Cap comes to mind as a topic for tidbit knowledge. Prior to transplanting a wild plant from Kathy's family homestead in Hondo to our backyard, there was not a single wild plant on our Farm property here in the Medina area. This could be because they have proven to be, somewhat surprisingly, a deer delicacy of the highest order. Turk's Cap is a dark green plant whose color contribution consists of small, but frequently numerous, tufts of bright red flowers that resemble a turk's cap. The plants can become quite large and will fill a significant part of a native planter bed. In protected situations they will survive the winter, but typically die back when cold weather arrives. Their contribution to greenery and the pool area has been disappointing only because it took several months into the spring to get the deer effectively fenced away. Turks Cap grows in all parts of the state and in a wide variety of soils.
The Texas Farm Bureau's news magazine recently published its own scientifically supported study relating to agriculture's role in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). While this study might be construed as being biased in favor of the agriculture sector, how can it be proven incorrect? The entire article is worth scrutiny. The significant central statistic stated that only 9% of total GHGs could be attributed to animal agriculture. Establishing a ratio between the GHGs emitted in the cultivation processes and the photosynthetic activity created might be interesting. An example might involve the photosynthetic activity of a hundred acre field of corn. How much oxygen is put back into the air as compared to the GHGs produced during land prep, cultivation and harvesting? Another magazine that comes to the desk on a monthly basis is TPO, "Treatment Plant Operator." This is the result of having to dispose of effluent from 72 RV sites. The magazine provides info on much of the new technology and equipment needed to operate a wastewater treatment facility. While most of their examples are way above the level of the little farm facility, there is much interesting information. The most recent article that caught attention was titled, "The Bottled Water Boondoggle." The gist of the article is to point out that most of the water being sold in plastic bottles is no better than regular tap water, and that the negative environmental effects of producing the plastic containers is significant. The article does not fail to point out contributions to disposal created by these same containers. Actually there is a first-hand account of an operator who, in a hurry during a busy week, decided to cut corners in submitting his required monthly test to TCEQ by taking the contents of a well advertised bottled water company to the testing lab. It failed! The point here is that there are many, many factors that are contributing to our environment's constant changes whose curtailment would not have drastic effects on either the economy or lifestyles that we enjoy. Folks need to educate themselves and make decisions based on facts. More laws and regulations are not likely to be of much help. There were lots of tempting choices for tidbit, chronologically obtained knowledge this quarter. Walking around the grounds of evergreen sumac, yellow belles, and more than one variety of crepe myrtle are contributing significantly to both color and shade around the restaurant porch. Possum Haw and Turks Cap are doing well at home and other areas of the grounds. but have proven to be deer delicacies. In recent years fencing deer out has only been moderately successful. 78
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Romance and comedy, mystery and history, comfort and indulgence. All from the cacao plant from which we derive that miracle of miracles, chocolate. “Chocolate doesn’t ask silly questions. Chocolate understands,” so reads a decorative sign on my kitchen windowsill. There is no author credit but I suspect whomever wrote that was having a good cry one day, then wisely decided to eat a large bar of chocolate with a cup of strong coffee. Problem solved. Rhoda said it best in a Mary Tyler Moore episode titled “Put on a Happy Face.” Her usually--often irritating--perfect-life, Mary is describing her rotten day to Rhoda as they pick up a bagful of dropped groceries. “Eat some candy,” Rhoda suggests. “Oh, Rhoda,” Mary whines, “chocolate solves nothing.” Rhoda answers: “No, no, cottage cheese solves nothing. Chocolate can do it all.” Rhoda got that right. The best depiction of the romance and comedy, the indulgent comfort and the mystery of chocolate is the wonderful 2000 movie “Chocolat.” An unconventional single woman, Vianne, and her daughter appear in a French village, circa 1959, and open a charming chocolate confectionary during the Lenten season. Vianne appears to have magical powers, which she transfers to her delicious chocolates. As she speaks with the villagers, she guesses which chocolate confection they most need, and changes begin to disrupt their lives. Or is it that her customers, in allowing themselves the simple indulgence of tasting something new, find a pathway out of dullness and restriction? “Chocolat” is a perfect movie to watch with a glass of good Texas red wine in one hand and a piece of dark chocolate in the other. I have a great suggestion for where you can 80
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buy superb chocolate in the Hill Country. Of course, there are several great chocolatiers throughout the Hill Country, all worth your time. For me, however, the one that comes closest to Vianne’s magical shop is Quintessential Chocolates on Main Street in Fredericksburg, conveniently located next to the Fredericksburg Winery. What more could one ask? Well, you can watch the chocolate being made, for one thing, and, oh my goodness,
do a PBS series on the wonders of cacao and how it migrated from the Aztec Empire to Spain, and eventually ended up in Hershey, Pennsylvania in the form of little kisses in silver foil. I have hopes that will happen because it is a fascinating story with roots in cultures as old as 5,000 B.C. in Central and South America and Mexico. Most people were taught in grade school that Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes was so taken with Montezuma’s “beverage of the gods” that he introduced it to the Spanish Royal Court and off we went worldwide with our passion for everything chocolate. I think there’s a lot more to be learned from the story of cacao than that. As for hope, I was heartened to read the inside wrapper of a delicious chocolate bar— Deep Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate—by Alter Eco. They had me at the phrase “enlightened indulgence” on their outer wrapper. On the inside, they write about a method of replanting the forests in Peru and Ecuador where the cacao they use is grown. It is called carbon insetting, a method of planting native shade and fruit trees alongside the cacao crops. This not only gives the farmers additional crops to sell but re-establishes the forests, creates soil biodiversity, decreases erosion and aids in putting carbon back in the soil instead of in the atmosphere. There is hope that humans will learn to be better stewards of the earth. It is interesting that one of earth’s most pleasurable plants might lead the way. For adventurous cooks, cacao offers diversity and uniqueness in recipes ranging from mole sauce (hot chilies and dark chocolate) for enchiladas to herbed chocolate puddings. Commercial hot chocolate mix may be acceptable, but compared to homemade Mexican hot chocolate with bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon and chilies, topped with real whipped cream, it doesn’t stand a chance.
treat yourself to the samples for a small price! The display cases are gorgeous and mouthwatering, and a special section is filled with adult only selections you won’t find anywhere else. Those would be the “European style Liquid Center Chocolates,” to quote the Quintessential website, which says that their process for making a chocolate sugar shell that holds liquid is 200 years old. I was there with a friend a few months ago and we had a ball choosing among the Strawberry Irresistible Tequila Rose, the French Cognac, the Double Chocolate Vodka and so many others. Then there is the wine filled chocolates---Cabernet Sauvignon, Spiced Red Wine—and next to come, the fruit nectars, like Black Cherry. The ladies in the shop will advise you and even teach you the proper way to enjoy such special chocolates.
Gourmet cooks will want a molinillo to whisk up the beverage into a froth. The Old World gave us chocolate and in return the New World gave us this cross between a pestle and a whisk, traditionally beautifully carved from wood. Montezuma poured his beverage from vessel to vessel to froth it, but the molinillo was an invention that provided a smooth bottom surface for grinding the cacao bean and a thin handle surrounded by rings that make a pleasant rattle as they froth the drink. Frothing supposedly invokes the spirit of the drink and enhances the experience. Be careful, however, because in Chocolate a la Murder: A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery, museum owner Maddie Kosloski comes across a haunted molinillo. It rattles every time someone tells a lie. And wouldn’t that be a useful tool? On the other hand, these days the poor thing might rattle itself to death. Whether you decide to stay with grocery store chocolate or try something new, just remember the most important thing. As author Linda Grayson wrote: “There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
As for history, I am hoping Ken Burns will FALL 2019
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All Products Hand-Crafted in TEXAS. All of or Books are about TEXAS. Come Out for Taco Tuesday With every $25 purchase or more recieve a chip for FREE Tacos at Gringo’s Burrito ($7.99 value)
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