G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g
October 2020
Hero Clix at z’s toys
Local tabletop players share their favorite tabletop games
The art of
Bed & Breakfast Erin Ghedi tells the Magnolia ghost story and shares how they re-opened their doors
Damascus with Randy Levensailor
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in this issue October 2020
FEATURES 10 JUAN SEGUIN
A brief history of the city’s namesake
14 LEVENSAILOR BLADES
Randy Levensailor shows his beautifully crafted designs of Damascus steel
18 MAGNOLIA HOTEL BED & BREAKFAST
UNDER THE HOOD 22 1954 FORD COUNTRY SEDAN
10
A tour with the Ghedis at their quaint historical hotel, with a paranormal twist
Donald Carley’s adventure to make a shiny, yet loved, station wagon reliable
14
CULINARY CREATIONS 26 PEANUT BUTTER CUP FUDGE
Easy and decadent chocolate fudge combined with a classic Halloween treat
ON THE SCENE 30 TABLETOP GAMING AT Z’S TOYS
Where friends, Tiger and Marcus, get together to enjoy their favorite games
AROUND TOWN 32 FAVORITE FINDS
Unique items from local small businesses
34 FACES OF SEGUIN
4
Submitted photos from our readers
SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
on the cover Photo by Lizz Daniels
Randy Levensailor creates each of his knives from his home workshop where he spends countless hours on his craft.
18
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G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g
Vol. 7, No. 5 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette. Publisher
Elizabeth Engelhardt Editor
Desiree Gerland PHOTO Editor
Lizz Daniels Graphic Designer
Bethy Male Writers
Dalondo Moultrie Felicia Frazar Joe Martin Lizz Daniels Michael Pape ADVERTISING
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SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE All material herein c. 2020 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Road, Seguin, TX, 78155. All rights reserved
hot tip
THRIFTING FOR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES IS A GREAT WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND ENSURE YOUR COSTUME WILL BE UNIQUE 6
SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
An INSIDE look from our
WRITERS
“Unique” is a word used by many, often for things that aren’t really that rare. But owners of The Magnolia Hotel in downtown Seguin have a unique business and building on their hands. The centuries-old property is said to be haunted and offers the only bed-and-breakfast/hotel stay in the historic downtown district. It’s right there for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike. Visit the place if you’re looking for a rare treat in walking distance of the heart of the city. – Dalando Moultrie After I interviewed Randy, he and Crystal invited me into their home, introduced me to their squirrels and we shared a few good laughs. They are genuine, down-to-earth, people who put their heart and soul into what they create. Randy is, I think, a romantic at heart and it’s that quality that enables him to produce pieces of such fine practical - and artistic - value. – Lizz Daniels As a lover of all things history, having the opportunity to sit down and speak with the Heritage Museum’s great John Gesick about the namesake of this magical town was riveting. Juan Seguin’s influence is vast, and it was eye-opening to walk in his shoes as John spun Seguin’s tale. Not many towns have the privilege of being almost able to reach out and touch its own history in the way this city does, and I am proud to have been able to share what I learned. – Joe Martin
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7
FROM THE
Editor
I
t’s the beginning of fall, and a favorite time of year for many, including yours truly! Although we don’t see as drastic of a change here in Texas, beautiful fall colors and the feeling in the air still give a sense of the season. More importantly though, HALLOWEEN! Spooky season is upon us and you know what that means…. CHOCOLATE! COSTUMES! AND SCARY MOVIES! There is something incredibly special about the excitement of children (and adults) getting their costumes ready for trick-or-treating or a good ol’ fashion Halloween costume party. I know many of you may be worn out and tired of all this social distancing, fortunately protective masks can be incorporated into just about any costume. I am especially excited to see all of the creative Halloween hacks to keep everyone safe. This month’s magazine is full of fun, creative, and spooky-ish articles that are perfect for the season. Z’s Toys takes us into the gaming realm where we meet up with a few friends that enjoy spending their free time playing tabletop games. The Magnolia Hotel shows us around their haunted bed & breakfast. Learn about Levensailor Blade’s beautifully crafted Damascus steel knives. Plus, a dive into a bit of Seguin’s history, a classic 1950’s station wagon, and a spook-tacular chocolate peanut butter fudge that is devilishly delicious. So, get cozy in your favorite fall comfy sweaters, open the windows to let the cool air in, and bust out all the Halloween decorations. We’re going to make this the best Halloween ever, and look good doing it! You’re boo-tiful, Seguin!
Desiree Gerland
Desiree Gerland, Editor
8
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of a
the
legacy
political warrior Story by Joe Martin
M
ost Texas high school graduates may perk their ears when hearing the names of Texas history legends like Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Jose Antonio Navarro and Stephen F. Austin. However, one Texas icon from the textbooks is often overshadowed or even unknown by many, and his name can be seen all over town: Juan Nepomuceno Seguin.
Born in Mexico on Oct. 27, 1806, to Don Erasmos Seguin and Doña Josefa Becerra, Juan was a successful politician and warrior who helped bridge the gap between Texas and Mexico during his lifetime. “Juan Seguin’s father was a don, which means he was a very highly respected person,” Seguin Heritage Museum executive director John Gesick said. “And he led his son into his early years of adulthood — his mother loved him very dearly as well.” Once Juan Seguin moved to Texas — most likely to the San Antonio area — alongside his mother and father, he quickly garnered a love for the outdoors. “[People] were moving from Mexico to Texas, and so they were seeking places that they felt very comfortable,” Gesick said. “When [Juan and his family] moved to Texas, Juan basically grew up on his two legs and the four legs of a horse. It was the horse
that his father had given him that made him realize how much he enjoyed riding a horse and exploring the land and learning the ways of wildlife and camping out at night in different areas.” Although the Seguin family was most likely wealthy in Mexico, it was not unusual to seek land in Texas.. “San Antonio was the go-to place for South Central Texas,” Gesick said. “And that extended all the way down to the river — or the border — and into Central Texas to Austin. Because of the importance of San Antonio through the Alamo, the cathedrals, the missions, it became a hub of transportation. San Antonio became very important, especially with the missions, and [it] became the hub of South Central Texas and the gateway to Mexico.” Once Juan Seguin grew into young adulthood, eventually meeting historical figures such as Stephen F. Austin, he quickly realized the power in language.
“He learned that English and Spanish were not the same languages, but they could be complemented with each other, and Juan Seguin was very good at that,” Gesick said. “Stephen F. Austin developed a very good relationship with Juan, and that would carry all the way through The Battle of the Alamo.” Juan Seguin also created friendships with Texas revolutionary Jim Bowie and his wife, Ursula Maria De Veramendi. “Veramendi was politically very strong in Mexican Texas,” Gesick said. “And so it was under these circumstances [and meeting all these historical figures] that he began to evolve as a young man. And then, of course, he became involved with the Battle for San Antonio.” Throughout Juan Seguin’s life, he achieved many victories that vary on and off the battlefield. He was involved in various military
“
exploits that span Texas history, such as the Siege of Bexar (the Battle for San Antonio) and the Battle of the Alamo. “I think he may have left [the Alamo] before it fell, but nobody really looks at that as betrayal, he had family,” Gesick said. Juan Seguin also found success in Texas’ political landscape, even becoming one of the earliest mayors of San Antonio. “He did what a lot of people should have done of other ethnicities,” Gesick said. “And that was that he learned English. He could speak Spanish, and he knew how to treat people with respect. That was his trademark, and he was a warrior at the same time, but only if needed or to give his insights.” Juan Seguin’s triumphs paved the way for the political future of Mexican-Americans. “There were many other
...he knew how to treat people with respect ... and he was a warrior at the same time
12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
”
people like the Navarro family who were very important to the evolution of the Hispanic population,” Gesick said. “[Juan was] a driving force because the Navarro family became even more involved than the Seguin family, but the Seguin family was always there at the top.” The area now known as Seguin initially was known as Walnut Springs, and while that name still carries weight to this day, it was changed sometime in the late 1830s. The naming of the area could be the result of Juan Seguin’s fame around that time, Gesick said. “I guess because of the Texas Revolution, that’s where he gained his face and his notoriety as being one heck of a leader,” Gesick said. “Not only did he have [strength] in battle, but he had it in politics. He had it in religion. He had it in family.”
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Damascus Knives by
Levensailor Blades Story a nd Photos by L i zz Da ni e l s
W
alking into Randy Levensailor’s knife workshop when the furnace is burning feels a bit like taking a stroll on the sun’s surface might. Within moments of the fire coming to life, sweat begins to pour, and the heat becomes almost overwhelming. That’s when he draws a red-hot piece of steel from the forge and dips it in oil to cool. Steam billows up in a whooshing cloud, and that’s when it’s obvious –– Randy Levensailor is the real deal. His tin-sided shop sits in a shady patch of trees near his home and was a horse barn before it was remodeled. Levensailor spends countless hours in the heat of his shop, forging Levensailor Blades for clients worldwide. Levensailor began his metalwork career as a welder handshaping and bending thick steel bars together into gates, banisters, and more. “Back then, I had a lot of free time on my hands at night, so I started making some decorative art pieces,” he said. “That’s when I really started piddling with knives. I started buying books and reading about Damascus (steel) and knife-making. When I moved houses, my landlord let me and a couple of friends remodel the barn and turn it into my workshop. The rest is history.” Levensailor’s interest in bladesmithing began during his childhood, where he had unhindered access to the public library. He buried himself in the stacks, taking in all the information he possibly could, dreaming of worlds far from Seguin. “I always loved Native American art, so much so that I would run around with my mom’s lipstick on my face and feathers in my hair,” he said. “I was making bows and arrows when I was 10 years old. I made my first blade when I was 16 with a piece of stainless steel I found. When I stumbled across Damascus steel, it was beautiful. It became the love of my life.” Levensailor spent years dreaming of Damascus’ distinct patterns –– swirling banding that looks more like flowing water than hardened steel. Years into his adulthood, he discovered the art of modern-day Damascus.
When I stumbled across Damascus steel, it was beautiful. It became the love of my life. The steel, named for Syria’s capital city, originated in Southern India sometime in the third century. The art of its forging was considered lost by many when changing trade routes in the 1700s caused production to decline. As traditionally forged Damascus blades became more rare, the legend surrounding them grew –– so much so that an internet search in 2020 reveals many online users believe the steel to be nothing more than mere fantasy. While the metal may have origins worthy of myth, it is very much real and has withstood the test of time. However, forging requires time and patience, even with the benefits of modern tools like a power hammer. “To make Damascus you’re taking steel that’s already hard and you stack it up, hammer it together, making it harder,” Levensailor said. “You fold it, hammer more, and it gets even harder. It’s a lot like what the Japanese did in making Samurai swords. You fold layers on layers. The process produces a high quality, hard-edged steel.” The blades require hours of physically demanding work and exposure to intense heat. Despite its clear challenges, Levensailor loves it and puts the same amount of care into his straight carbon knives as his treasured Damascus. On his YouTube channel, Levensailor demonstrates the strength of one of his knife’s by hammering it through a stainless steel bar on his anvil. “When I finished, it didn’t have a scratch on it,” he said. “I 16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
have people tell me all the time, ‘man, they hold an edge like crazy!’ I mean, if you can take a knife and clean two to three deer and it still shaves hair off your arm, then you’ve got a good knife.” The entire production process happens from start to finish in Levensailor’s workshop and inside their home, where his wife, Crystal, steps in to help. “I do the sheaths and Crystal helps me do the wet sanding on the blades because that’s something I just got burned out on,” Randy said, laughing. “She gets all the scratches out; then, we stamp them and heat treat. After that, Crystal polishes them up before they go in the acid etch –– that’s what brings out the beautiful patterns in them. Then we assembled them.” When he first started the business, Randy said he couldn’t give his knives away. Now celebrities — like singer Ted Nugent — commission his work and game ranches custom order knives as gifts for their hunters. “Their reputation speaks for itself,” Randy said. “This is old-school, handmade.” The dark stamp of the Levensailor logo sits in stark contrast with the shine of a sharp edge as Randy slips his knife into its sheath, leaving only its wooden hilt exposed. It is a thing of beauty, forged in blistering heat, with a lifetime of passion in each measured blow required to bring it into existence –– a relic from the past, reimagined for a new generation, brought to life by bladesmith Randy Levensailor.
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Haunted
&
Historical
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DALONDO MOULTRIE
W
hat turned out as an Austin couple’s effort to scare up extracurricular activities for themselves has turned into a good time for many locals and visitors to Seguin. When Erin and Jim Ghedi bought the old Magnolia Hotel in downtown Seguin in 2012, Erin said they really didn’t know what all they had in store. “When we found the hotel, we actually were looking for an old building to restore just as a weekend hobby,” she said. “We discovered this hotel. We went ahead and bought it. We decided we were going to restore it back to its 1850 glory.” At first blush, the Ghedis had no clue what all they would uncover at the historic building. They did know it was in poor condition and needed a lot of tender loving care. The Magnolia was destined for demolition, had a bad reputation and was a bit of a blight downtown. “It was completely abandoned, and it was in very bad shape when we bought the hotel,” she said. Erin, a museum curator and a researcher, and Jim, a preservationist and antique restorer, quickly discovered the Magnolia wasn’t just some old, worn down building.
They got a brief history of the building during a walkthrough in the purchasing phase, but soon, the couple would unearth even more of the Magnolia’s history. Their first hint of things to come was the big splash a local publication made about the Ghedis’ acquisition. “When we bought it, we were on the front page of the Seguin Gazette: ‘The Magnolia Hotel has been purchased,’” she recalled read-
“
built a white, limecrete building at the original Magnolia. The portion of the property Johnson made still stands today. “It’s one of the oldest limecrete buildings in Seguin,” she said. “It was a three-room hotel. It was the first hotel in Seguin.” A couple bought the property a few years later and added a two-story, wood-framed hotel attached to the log cabin. Thus began the glory days of the Magnolia.
...when we started restoring it, everybody in
”
the world wanted to come see this building, ing. “We were like, ‘Oh my God, what did we do.’ From that point forward, we realized we had a Texas landmark. It couldn’t just be a hobby. We knew we had to take care of this building and preserve it.” Still, the couple intended to preserve the building, mostly for themselves. They planned to do the work and, presumably, marvel at their accomplishments; however, the public had other things in mind. “We had no intention of opening up a bed and breakfast,” she said. “We weren’t even supposed to open it to the public. It was supposed to be a hobby, and we wanted a place we could come on the weekends.” While rehabbing and researching the property, Erin said she found some fascinating information. She discovered that a cofounder of Seguin, James Campbell, built the Magnolia. Campbell was a frontiersman who fought many battles, including a famous one against Comanches in San Antonio. Campbell constructed an Indian raid shelter under the log cabin that stretches the length of the original two rooms he built. According to Erin, Comanches eventually killed Campbell. Soon after, businessman Joseph F. Johnson bought the property. Johnson turned the log cabin into a stagecoach stop, and in 1847 20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
“That’s when it came to its peak in 1850,” Erin said. Following those good times and the passage of many years, the property eventually fell on tough times. The Ghedis, in their pursuits, purchased the Magnolia and spent much time and even money restoring it. Even before they completed their work, tons of curious people began showing interest in what was taking place at the Magnolia Hotel. “The thing that happened was when we started restoring it, everybody in the world wanted to come see this building,” she said. “When we started restoring it, everybody wanted to come in. We’re like, ‘we’re not open; this is our home.’” Along with finding throngs of people interested in the Magnolia’s makeover, Jim and Erin found artifacts on the property. They even unearth a little bit of paranormal activity. With increased interest, the couple decided to allow occasional access to view the building. Word spread, and fame grew for the Magnolia Hotel. “One of the most famous things about our building is she’s incredibly haunted,” Erin said. “When everybody found out about the haunting, every paranormal enthusiast in the world wanted to come check her out.”
Now, management at the hotel provides guided ghost tours along with the bed-and-breakfast amenities and overnight stays. Party sizes of up to four, no more than five, guests are permitted during overnight visits to the bed and breakfast. Guests get the entire second floor of the hotel to themselves for their stay and are treated to a trip back in time to the 1800s. “We have information throughout the entire second floor,” Erin said. “When you come and stay, you can see the history and learn about people who stayed there and owned it.” The historical aspect draws the majority of the guests to stay at the facility. People want to see what it was like to live in the 1850s. Guests get to use an antique foot warmer such as was popular in centuries past. The bed and breakfast has artifacts like a bowl and pitcher people used in the olden days to wash their faces. “It makes you feel like you have no electricity and no water flowing, although we do,” Erin said. “It has all of the modern amenities, but we make you feel like they did (in the 19th century).” However, guests won’t find things like wifi or cable television, which gives them a sense of what it could be like to be “off the grid” for a short while. Usually, people who stay at the hotel don’t miss those amenities; they’re too busy playing games, reading and enjoying each others’ company. People also enjoy the haunted aspect of the Magnolia. “I think that’s what makes us unique,” Erin said. “We’re historical and also paranormal. You choose what you want.” With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, owners of the Magnolia halted the ghost tours. They’re restarting them in October, a scarily appropriate month if the owners do say so themselves.
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UndertheHood
Whitewall
classic STORY AND PHOTOS BY FELICIA FRAZAR
D
onald Carley has an affinity for classic cars and fixing them up. He prefers those that haven’t been worked on before he gets his hands on them. “I’ve worked on cars all of my life, and I’ve never had a car that somebody else had worked on before me,” he said. “It’s an adventure because you don’t know what they could have done, might have done, maybe shouldn’t have done until it jumps up in front of you and you have to address each thing as it comes along.” For the past year, Carley has worked to get his 1954 Ford Country Sedan up and running smoothly and safely. He purchased the car after his daughter M’Kenzi Carley found it on the internet. When it came in from Midland, Donald said it was drivable, but not reliable. “It had a whole lot of issues,” he said. “I’ve been working on it pretty much ever since then.” From a faulty gas gauge to a wobbly steering column, an untrustworthy transmission, a leaky airbag suspension system and various other issues, Donald had his work cut out for him. “I’ve just been trying to get it to where I can enjoy it a little bit,” he said. “I replaced everything but the bags on the air system. The engine compartment was ugly; it had bad wiring under the hood. I replaced a lot of that. I put in a different distributor, a different transmission, new valve covers, spark plugs, dressed up the engine compartment some.” The sedan sports an ’84 Ford 351 Windsor motor, ’67 C4 Transmission, ’58 Ford 9-inch rear end, and airbag suspension. It hosts ’56 Oldsmobile taillights and a ’53 Mercury front bumper. The blue paint is original, just buffed and shined. “When I got the car, it had a lot of dead paint; it was real chalky,” he said. “So, I buffed on it for about a week, and I got all of the dead paint off, and it still didn’t have a nice shine.” Donald used a tried and true technique to shine up his car. However, he’s tight-lipped about what he does to give his car a natural shine.
The sedan sports an ’84 Ford 351 Windsor motor, ’67 C4 Transmission, ’58 Ford 9-inch rear end, and airbag suspension. It hosts ’56 Oldsmobile taillights and a ’53 Mercury front bumper.
24 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
He chooses not to repaint the classic wagon, giving it a patina look that is pretty popular among restoration enthusiasts, Donald said. “That is something I had to get used to,” he said. A feature that sticks out to him is the wide whitewall tires and steel wheels his car sports. It’s a nod to the classic ‘50s style. “When I grew up, I used to see ‘50s cars with the wide whitewalls,” he said. “Back then, there were very few cars that had mag wheels or anything. You might see one with chrome steel wheels, but not anything fancy. The wide whitewalls and the steel wheels, trim rings was all stuff I used to see when I was growing up, and I liked that stuff.” The airbag suspension system is a more modern aspect on the Country Sedan. The white interior was given a little bit of love and has a little more to go, but Donald said that would come in due time. The ‘50s era classics are favorites of Donald’s, and this one, in particular, has a unique look that is becoming rarer to find. “It’s got a neat look. You don’t see that many station wagons,” he said. “I love ‘50s cars. They’re probably my favorite. I like that look. This is a classic cruiser. The whole car has an appearance to it.”
FALL TRADE DAYS
IN seguin
October 24, 2020 10am-4pm Central Park, 201 S. Austin St. www.visitseguin.com
Father Christmas Shop
Grand Opening Sale October 10 & 11 We want to help the local Christian Cupboard and the Guadalupe County Humane Society! Bring us nonperishable human can food or cat and dog food and we will discount your entire purchase 15% off! Sale valid Saturday and Sunday October 10 and 11! Please help us make a difference in Seguin.
101 South River Street Seguin, Texas 78155 830-243-1430 ◆ www.fatherchristmasshop.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25
CULINARYCREATIONS
TIVE
ADDIC t s o m , T S E H IC R , THE EASIEST
P U C R E T T U B T PEANU S t ory a n d P h o t o by M ICHAE L PA P E
A
h, Halloween. The most candy-filled holiday of all. What does a holiday known for sweet things need? That’s right, more sweets. For the month of my favorite holiday, I present to you a fudge concoction with my absolute favorite treat. To make things even sweeter, this is a very easy recipe. It’s scary how easy it is. Your inner-childspooky-tooth is going to love it. Seriously, it’s to die for.
- Ingredients -
3 cups milk chocolate chips 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
24 Reese’s peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- Instructions Before anything else, get your Reese’s in the fridge! It will make them more manageable. Grab an 8x8 glass dish, line it with foil, and spray with a nonstick cooking spray. It’ll make it easier to pop your fudge out when you’re ready to cut and present it. Grab 16 Reese’s from the refrigerator, and start unwrapping. If you bought enough cups to spare one, grab 17 from the fridge, unwrap
e g d Fu them all, and eat one. You deserve it. Line your glass dish with the 16 peanut butter cups, put it to the side, and grab eight more Reese’s from the fridge. Unwrap them, dice them, slice them, chop them, and put them back in the fridge for later. Get a large microwave bowl, and dump those tasty chocolate chip morsels into it. Pour your sweetened condensed milk in the bowl with them, and give them a quick stir. Now pop the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until your chips and milk are completely melted together and smooth. Grab your dish with the 16 peanut butter cups, and pour the melted chips over it. Use a spoon or soft spatula to smooth the top. Take your leftover, chopped, diced, and sliced Reese’s from the fridge, and press into your fudge while it’s still warm. Let your fudge sit until it reaches room temperature, then place in the fridge to properly harden. It usually takes an hour to reach room temperature, and about five hours to fully solidify in the refrigerator. I’m impatient for you to eat this fudge, so let’s get it out of that pan! Use the foil to easily remove the hardened fudge, pop it off the foil and onto a cutting board, then cut into squares! This stuff is incredibly rich and fudge-y, so I recommend 1 inch squares. Serve, eat, repeat!
- Notes -
I use normal/snack-sized Reese’s for this recipe, but I fully expect you to do some beautiful experimenting. We live in a world with small fun-size cups, thin cups, white chocolate cups, BIG CUPS, dark chocolate cups, Reese’s Pieces cups, and crazy holiday peanut butter cups. Don’t go buying individual Reese’s cups! That’ll cost a fortune. There are 5-packs for $1 at most stores, or spend $10 for 60 cups. I see you drooling at my Halloween-y fudge picture, and with a keen eye to notice I added some pizzazz! Sprinkle some peanuts on top, to give it a little extra texture. Heck, forget the Reese’s on top, and add some leftover Halloween candy to go with those peanuts. What’s that? You’re taking my oft-given experimentation advice, and want to use a different candy as the base for my fudge recipe? I’m so proud. Twix, Almond Joy, Snickers, and all of the delicious chocolate bars hiding in your child’s candy bag would make an excellent fudge bottom. Oh, how I love to tinker. I hope all of you have an excellent, fudge-filled, and Happy Halloween!
ontheScene Hero Clix is the favorite of Z’s Toys regulars, Tiger Villareal and Marcus Stovall. During their free time, they head to the shop and take on owner Tom Villareal in the Marvel-themed collectible miniature game.
Z’s House Faves A few favorite games that get the most play around Z’s Toys are “Fantastic Four, Comic Clash” and“Settlers of Catan.” Their number one shop favorite is “Mansions of Madness,” an app-assisted horro game. With the work of H.P. Lovecraft behind it, “Mansions of Madness” is perfect for a spooky October evening.
Heroes TOP Table S t ory by Li zz Da n i e ls
T
abletop games have united players to experience excitement around playmats, game boards, and dungeon maps since the first dice toppled out of a gambler’s palm. While most games today are designed for fun, not winning money, more people than ever find ways to play together. In Seguin, tucked away on Heideke Street just off of Kingsbury, is Z’s Toys. The small blue shop doesn’t have any massive signs drawing attention to it –– you have to know it’s there. For regulars, it’s the best spot in town. “There are a lot more people that are into this stuff than meets the eye,” Tiger Villareal said. “Whenever people come in and see we have a place like this, it’s crazy. Sometimes they just come in and buy stuff because not
Photos by Ja rre d Ki ndl e s
everyone is a sit here and play all day kind of gamer. The culture is great. We all know each other, we are all friends. It’s kind of like a bar vibe.” Tiger and his friend, Marcus Stovall, both like to head over to Z’s Toys after a long day of work and kick back with a few games of Hero Clix, one of the shop’s most popular games. The game was initially released in 2002 by WizKids and is a collectible miniatures game. “Hero Clix is based off of comic characters,” Marcus said. “My dad raised me through comic books. I hated to read, but if he showed me a comic, I had to know what was going on. I was always looking at toys, and came across a large statue that was actually a Hero Clix. I couldn’t find anybody that sold them, so when I met Z’s owner, Tom, he ordered
some. We learned the game and just started playing.” At the time, store owner Tom Villareal (Tiger’s uncle) said he had an average of only four customers coming into the store a month, but once Marcus introduced him to Hero Clix, things changed rapidly. When Z’s first opened, Seguin didn’t have a local gaming and card shop. There was nowhere to go to play card games like Magic the Gathering, the shop’s first real staple, or other games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon. These are substantial cultural icons within the tabletop community, and Tom realized he needed to embrace it to get the right people in the door. “When you own a store you’ve gotta change sometimes,” Tom said. “There wasn’t a place for this in Seguin that would stay open late.
Growing up I was always shy. I didn’t like to talk to anybody. Here, you get to meet people slowly, and be integrated at your own pace. If you’re socially awkward, it allows you to open up.
The people that play games usually work during the day, but want to play at night. We are open until at least midnight, usually. That way gamers can get a couple rounds in before heading home to sleep for a few hours before going back to work.” This willingness to cater to the community has kept Z’s open and new players engaged even as Tom told distributors he was closing –– multiple times. “I’ve tried to close four times,” he said. “I thought last time we were closed for good, but people keep coming in wanting to play together.” The space itself is open with tables set in the middle covered in maps, dice, chips and of course, Hero Clix. The game figures vary in size from “tiny” to “colossal,” as the Hero Clix website describes them, and are as diverse as the characters they are modeled after, with impressive detail styled into each playable piece. This quality of craftsmanship, the cleverness of Hero Clix gameplay, and the culture of Z’s Toys help come together to provide an environment where
30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
store patrons keep coming back for more. It’s welcoming, and in a new, socially-distanced world, it’s one of the few ways people can still go out in public to socialize safely. “Growing up I was always shy,” Marcus said. “I didn’t like to talk to anybody. Here, you get to meet people slowly, and be integrated at your own pace. If you’re socially awkward, it allows you to open up.” It is that opportunity to interact with others that continues to engage players who find themselves drawn to tabletop gaming. Whether playing a round of Settlers of Catan at family game night or competitively smashing friends at Hero Clix, Seguin’s tabletop community continues to go strong while playing from their favorite home base, Z’s Toys.
Hero Clix is similar to other tabletop games in that it uses counters, and other markers to track damage and health. One of the more unique elements of a Hero Clix piece is that the base of the model includes an interactive clicker that allows players to see stats right on their figure.
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