We just received word of a trio of good events planned in Kerrville for April 12...three good reasons to visit this Hill Country town!
Wild4Art
“Wild4Art,” an outdoor celebration of art, will sprawl along the 800 block of Water Street downtown and feature the work of 10-15 gifted Texas artists who will demonstrate their talents in oils, pastel, pen and ink, screen printing, woodcarving, flint knapping, beading, and pottery making. Children can gain an appreciation of art as they have fun dressing up, playing in a teepee, and beading. Wear your own authentic Western garb and smile for the camera…a professional photographer can create a work on canvas you can buy as a great keepsake. You'll also have the chance to meet the friendly crew from 94.3 Revolution Radio, who will be live on site from 11-1. Pick up a free hot dog and lemonade, plus register for some Norman Rockwell prints.
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Rivers Edge Gallery, 832 Water St., Kerrville (830) 895-5184 www.riversedgegallery.net Admission: free
Western Heritage Day
Western Heritage Day” will be hosted by Museum of Western Art. Internationally known trick roper Kevin Fitzpatrick will entertain with amazing rope stunts, and Mountain Man Roy Neal will demonstrate axe and knife throwing…and Clifton Fifer will be on hand to relate tales of the Black Cowboy.
You can also have fun with a washer toss game, watch rope making, cotton gin and beading demonstrations, check out some chuck wagon vittles, crawl into a teepee or climb up into a chuck wagon, and much more.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Hwy, Kerrville (830) 896-2553 www.museumofwesternart.org Admission: Admission 12 and under - free; 13 and up - $5.
2nd Saturday Art Trail
Taking place in both Kerrville and Ingram, this event features 12 art galleries. Pick up a passport at any participating gallery, visit at least 7 galleries and collect a “stamp” at each, then be eligible for the drawing of a magnificent three-piece Travis 1831 silver buckle set, handcrafted by Clint Orms Engravers and Silversmiths and valued at $930!
When: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: Good starting point: Kerr Arts & Cultural Center, 228 Earl Garrett, Kerrville. For more information, visit Art in the Hills (830)895-5184 Admission: free admission to all locations except the Museum of Western Art
This massive oak tree dates back about 400 years and is listed as one of the most famous trees in Texas. Called Wedding Oak, the tree is located about a mile north of San Saba on China Creek Road.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 19, 2008, the opening of Dinosaur Mummy CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation, a new exhibit planned by the Houston Museum of Natural Science in association with the Judith River Foundation. The museum will develop and tour a world premiere exhibition featuring Leonardo. Just who is Leondardo? The most perfectly fossilized plant-eating dinosaur ever discovered—with almost all of his skin still intact.
After the premier in Houston, the exhibit will tour the country with a replica of Leonardo...but to see the real thing, you'll have to come to Houston!
Leonardo was discovered in 2000 on a cattle ranch north of Malta, Montana. The 77-million-year-old dinosar was named after graffiti found on a nearby rock that read: “Leonard Webb loves Geneva Jordan 1916.”
Along with Leonardo, the exhibition will feature several other real specimens including another duckbill named Peanut—a teenager that will illustrate their species’ body structure; an Ichthyosaur mummy, which has contents of her intestines and four babies preserved inside her body; and the only mummified Triceratops skin ever found, which will also be on display for the first time.
Exhibit Dates: The world premiere of Dinosaur Mummy CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2008 through Sept. 7, 2009 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
For more information (and a video): • visit www.hmns.org/generic/dinosaur_mummy_press_room.asp Tickets: Tickets for the special exhibition are now on sale; $15 for adults; $12 for children (3 – 11), $10 for seniors (62+), and college students with a valid ID; $8 Museum members; $5 school groups; and $9 for groups of 20 or more.
For tickets: • visit www.hmns.org • call (713) 639-4629
Leonardo mural photo courtesy Houston Museum of Natural Science
Texas Bed and Breakfasts Offering Free Gas Promotions
With today's rising gas rates it can get harder to get away...but some creative B&Bs in Texas are offering unique promotions to help with those gas prices. We received word from Austin-based BedandBreakfast.com that some of their TX members are offering some good promotions:
Biscuit Hill Bed & Breakfast, Canyon Lake. From May through September, this B&B will offer a discount of $25 per night (up to $50) to help with gas costs.
Inn on the Riverwalk, San Antonio. Through December 25, spend two nights or more (Sunday through Thursday only) and get $25 off your room rate.
Utopia on the River, Utopia. Through the end of June, take $30 off your bill with a two-night minimum.
This historic log cabin stands in Austin's Zilker Park in the Botanical Gardens. Built in 1838, this cabin was built by a Swedish settler who encouraged immigration to the region.
It's still a little bit early but the coming weeks will bring plenty of travelers to Willow City Loop, one of the top wildflower drives in the state. The loop is located between Fredericksburg and Llano off TX 16; from TX 16, turn onto FM 1323 and enjoy the slow, winding drive.
32308: Weslaco's Onion Fest is Nothing to Cry About
Everything's sweet about Weslaco's Onion Fest, the April 5 celebration of the sweet 1015 Onion. If you don't know, the 1015 Onion is one developed by Texas A&M University in the 1980s as a sweet onion that wouldn't cause tears. And why the name 1015? Because October 15 is the suggested planting date.
The annual onion fest puts this fragrant plant on center stage with a full day of mariachi music, horsemanship demonstrations, children's activities and more. For all the details on this year's event, check out our Onion Fest article.
What's the best place to stay with your pet? According to Animal Fair, the nation’s first lifestyle magazine and website for animal lovers, it's Austin's Driskill Hotel. The historic hotel won top hotel honors in the Fourth Annual Cesar® Five Dog Bone Awards. Here's what the magazine had to say about this downtown property:
Pet-Friendly Hotel: The Driskill Hotel (Austin, Texas) There’s going to be a huge stampede of vacationing pets and their owners visiting The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas after the word gets out that Animal Fair’s readers have honored this historic hotel with the coveted 2008 Cesar® Five Dog Bone Award for Pet-Friendliest Hotel. While staying in their Victorian decorated suites, guests will feel like royalty, and so will their pets. Celebrities such as President Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Paul Simon and The Dixie Chicks have rested their cowboy/girl hats at this fine animal-inviting establishment. The Driskill’s Pampered Pet Program offers a comfy custom-designed, pet bed with the Driskill logo, delicious-looking food and water bowls, bottled water, gourmet pet treats and a chew toy. They also celebrate an “I Love My Dog Better” singles pet package that also includes a robe, champagne and chocolate-covered fruit for the pet’s master. Texas is known for doing everything big – and Animal Fair’s readers agree that the Driskill Hotel is large on being graciously pet-friendly.
ARTS Encounters at Johnson City's Benini Sculpture Ranch
Next weekend, The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch will be celebrating ARTS Encounters with two days of speakers. The event will feature the new monumental limestone and steel sculptures by Austin's Patrick Lysaght. The sculptures being installed on the Benini Sculpture Ranch include two carved heads; one weighs 8700 pounds, the other 7800 pounds, and they will sit atop steel poles.
When: March 29 and 30 beginning at 1:30pm Admission: Free Where: 377 Shiloh Road, Johnson City
You'll no longer see any marble waterfalls in Marble Falls but you will see a beautiful, constant level lake: Lake Marble Falls. The small lake is one in the series of Highland Lakes that begins with the massive Lake Buchanan and winds its way through the Hill Country and into Austin.
The Holy Trinity Catholic Church, easy to spot with its twin spires, is the most noticeable building in New Corn Hill, a small farming community located northeast of Georgetown near Walburg and Jarrell. And why is this NEW Corn Hill? Well, because there was once an Old Corn Hill, located to the west closer to Jarrell.
We love the Omni La Mansión del Rio thanks to its distinctive atmosphere, perfect location on the River Walk, and excellent dining. The last time we visited the hotel, renovations were just about to get underway and now we understand that the $6 million refurbishment is completed.
The 338 guestrooms, as well as the lobby, have undergone a facelift with colors of soothing earth tones such as burnt orange, olive, gold, and nutmeg. New hand-carved pieces such as the concierge desk, cabinets and reception desk have also been incorporated into the renovation. Accents in granite, iron, limestone and bronze are seen in decorative pieces throughout the space in ceiling fixtures, and sconces.
The rooms include new carpeting, draperies, wall finishes, and a 32” plasma television sitting on a low rise credenza. Balcony French doors have also been replaced with new sound-insulated doors that feature double paned glass which will reduce downtown noise intrusion by more than 50 percent. Rooms are complete with Omni’s signature pillow top bedding.
Now we've got another good reason to plan our next San Antonio getaway!
This statue which commemorates the first shot fired in the fight for Texas independence stands in Gonzales, Texas. The 1910 work was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini, the Italian-born and Florence-trained sculptor who later came to Texas and today is buried in San Antonio.
The film festival at Austin's SXSW just wrapped up but already eyes are turning to AFI Dallas International Film Festival, scheduled for March 27-April 6. Last year marked the festival's debut with over 30,000 attendees with over 40,000 expected for this year's event.
This year, the AFI DALLAS Star Award will be given to Helen Hunt, Jack Lemmon, Mickey Rooney, Todd Wagner and Charlize Theron.
Eight feature films will be making their world premieres at AFI DALLAS 2008. Those films include:
• Bowling for Soup--Live and Very Attractive • Fat Man Walking • Fissure • Frag • The Last Lullaby • Split: A Divided America • Stop the Presses: The American Newspaper in Peril • Tracing Cowboys
We've just added a new video player on TexasTripper.com, showing the most recent videos. Have a look on our video page or just click on any of the videos below:
The Regency Bridge, located north of San Saba or west of Goldthwaite, is one of the last suspension bridges for vehicular traffic in Texas. If you'd like to hop aboard for a ride across the bridge, check out our video of this interesting country bridge.
31708: Austin Offering GPS and Sign Language Tours
We've just received word that the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and locally-based BarZ Adventures have teamed up to offer a new GPS tour of the city as well as an American Sign Language tour.
GPS Tour: The GPS Ranger™introduces visitors to Austin’s historical and cultural attractions with a walking tour piloted by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. The audio and video tour, which is narrated by KXAN News Anchor Michelle Valles, guides visitors to more than two dozen points of interest.
How does it work? As you approach each point of interest, the GPS Ranger™ triggers location-based content, telling the story of the site or attraction using both audio and video. Attractions highlighted on the tour include the Texas Capitol, Sixth Street, Zilker Park, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Moonlight Towers and the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, along with the city’s famed bats. Events and local flair are also featured with narration on the “Keep Austin Weird” campaign, O. Henry Pun-Off, Spamarama and more.
Price: Tour cost $11.95 each. They are available at the Austin Visitor Center at 209 E. Sixth Street. One lightweight handheld device with a 4-inch screen can be shared by several people.
Sign Language Tour: The Austin tour is also the first GPS tour to also be made available in American Sign Language. Working with Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD), a national private nonprofit agency providing services to the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities, Austin CVB and BarZ Adventures adapted the tour to make it accessible to the deaf.
For more information on the Austin GPS Ranger™ video tour: • call the Austin Visitor Center at 512-478-0098 • visit www.austintexas.org For more information on BarZ Adventures: • call 512/732-0135 • visit www.barzadventures.com
It won't be long until bluebonnet season; we should start seeing the first of the bluebonnets toward the end of March. This shot was taken along RM 1431 last year (which was a big bluebonnet year). It's hard to say if this year will boast a good crop of bluebonnets but we're not expecting one since it was such a dry winter. Even if the bluebonnet fields are sparser this year, however, expect to see some pretty scenes in the coming weeks.
Spring has sprung across most of Texas and East Texas is celebrating with the annual Azalea Trail, running through April 6. While you might associate Tyler more with roses, the city also hosts a three-week azalea trail that features the colorful blooms as well as plenty of other activities, from Victorian teas to candlelight strolls. We've just added a new festivals piece covering Tyler's Azalea Trail.
Camp Verde was the site of one of the most unusual experiments in the Texas Hill Country: an attempt to create a Camel Corp at Fort Verde in 1856. The camels didn't last but the store did; today the General Store is a fun place to shop or grab a Coke.
3132008: San Antonio to Celebrate Luminaria: Arts Night
On March 15, San Antonio will celebrate its rich art scene with Luminaria: Arts Night in San Antonio. This free artist-driven event showcases multi-media, visual, theater, dance, music and other art forms with everything from Latin to jazz, paintings to sculpture.
When: The downtown celebration will take place 6 pm to midnight, March 15, 2008
The event will include stages and gallery exhibitions along Alamo Plaza and Houston Street, unique performances throughout the streetscape, and at Magik Theatre.
Based on the success of international events such as Nuit Blanche in Paris and Noche Blanca in Madrid, Luminaria will be the first in Texas and only the second in the nation with such simultaneous and innovative programming throughout the city. Founded by Mayor Phil Hardberger, Luminaria has been organized by arts leaders along with the City of San Antonio, Office of Cultural Affairs, San Antonio Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, theFund, and community sponsors.
Alamo Plaza: Alamo Plaza will be transformed with several stages. Loretta Young Medellin will turn the gazebo into a living kaleidoscope. See the glimmering sculpture by Susan Dunis enhance the windows at Dillard’s and witness a live demonstration of lampworking and glass beadmaking by the society of Artisan Lampworkers in San Antonio. The central stage at Alamo Plaza will feature the the San Antonio Symphony for a unique outdoor performance in front of the Alamo in conjunction with a spectacular light show presented by Bill FitzGibbons, the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, and an original composition premiered by world renowned pianist, Fernando Herrera.
Houston Street Stage: A blend of Latin, jazz, Tejano, opera, and blues will be presented at the Houston Street Stage. Featured artists include Grammy award-winning Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz with special guests Augie Meyers and Flaco Jimenez. In addition, this stage will host an electric mix of three tenors with piano accompaniment from the San Antonio Opera, Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legends, a performance by Urban 15, and many more.
Encounter art along Houston Street in storefronts transformed into art galleries, streetscape performances, and a Film Slam at the Kress building. Downtown's historic Peacock Alley will be transformed into a vibrant interactive urban arts crevice as created by such artists as Charles Harrison Pompa and metal sculptor Luis "Chispas" Guerrero, Dwayne Bohystav, and David Biancas. Alley exhibitions will include a historic unveiling by renowned artist, Jesse Treviño, premiering his new painting, "Mexicano Chicano Americano - Removing the Hyphen." At the street level stage, the musical talents of Bombasta, The Psychics, DJ work of Gabe Quintero Velasquez, and Mombasa Code will explore sound as film artist Trey Moore debuts a film montage on the facade of the Historic Neisner's Department Store.
Jefferson Stage: The Jefferson stage will host several diverse artists in a parking lot with an incredible laser installation to follow by George Cisneros and Tim Walsh. Conjunto Heritage Taller, San Antonio Blues Society, and many more will turn this stage into the ultimate parking lot celebration! HemisFair Park will fuse together music and dance from various genres. From the folk singing D.C. Bloom, to the original Americana family band The Lavens, Ballet JovenesArtes will feature children performing Flamenco dance, and several others will turn HemisFair park into a music lovers playground highlighted with sculptures.
Magik Theatre: The Magik Theatre will feature performances by ballet companies, theaters, modern dancers, classical piano, Argentine Tangos, poetry, tap dancers, Indian dance, multimedia performances, as well as an exhibit of set and costume designs by San Antonio artists. Organizations such as Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, the Magik Theatre, San Antonio Theatre Coalition, the Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre, the Viva Tango Quintet, The Ballet Conservatory of South Texas, the Arathi School of Indian Dance, Magik Theatre Teen Rep, St. Phillips College, Katherine Cartwright and F-Pack, the 24th Street Experiment, Jayne King, Sheila Rinear, David Morgan, and local legend Ricky Hernandez playing compositions from “Recuerdos” will demonstrate the diversity of San Antonio’s performing arts.
PassPort: You can visit various PassPort information booths hosted by theFUND located throughout the downtown celebration. Receive six stamps at identified kiosks and register to win over $2,000 in prizes!
Parking: Free parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at Alamodome Parking Lot A, Durango street city parking (across the Federal Building), and St. Mary’s Street garage. There will also be free VIA trolley service from the Alamodome and Durango to the downtown event.
This is the view from atop Mount Bonnell, which is perched about 780 feet above sea level. (It's not nosebleed territory...although you might feel like it is after a hike up the steps from the parking lot.) The park overlooks Lake Austin and it has been a popular site with visitors since the 1800s.
During this week, known as Texas Week since most Texas public schools and universities are off for Spring Break, attention turns to South Padre Island. This spring break hotspot is named for Padre Jose Nicolas Balli who inherited the island from his parents and established Rancho Santa Cruz here. This statue of Padre Balli can be seen at the eastern foot of the Queen Isabella Causeway.
3122008: Cowgirl Getaway Planned by National Cowgirl Museum
It's time for the third annual "Kindle the Cowgirl Spirit" Retreat from Fort Worth's National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. This year's event takes place May 8-11 at Simmons' Ranch, a 2,000-acre ranch in Burnet.
This event, which is for beginnners and experienced horsewomen alike, allows you to bring your own horse or rent one for the weekend. Activities center on horsemanship skills taught by the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees with tips on how to assess, handle and care for a horse firsthand from some of the nation’s top horsewomen. Retreat-goers dine on gourmet-ranch cuisine and sleep in comfortable guest homes on the ranch.
Cost: Cost per participant is based upon your accommodations: • $1,500 for shared room/shared bath with twin bed • $1,800 for shared room/shared bath with double bed • $2,000 for private room/shared bath with double bed • $2,200 for private room/shared bath with king bed • $1,200 if you bring own horse and sleeping trailer (hookups provided) • $300 for horse, gear and tack rental
On our Texas travels, we've seen a lot of historical markers but this one is definitely unique thanks to its grindstone. This marker for Chadwick's Mill, located on US 190 about nine miles west of Lometa, remembers Chadwick's Mill. This mill, used as a sawmill, flour mill and cotton gin, was built here in 1874 by Henry Chadwick and his son, Milam, and powered by a dam across the river. For a while the site was so popular it became a resort with a hotel and dance platform but a change in the river course in 1915 caused the mill to be abandoned.
Bryan's Messina Hof is celebrating its 31st anniversary annual Harvest this summer. The event will take place from July 18 to August 17, 2008 and includes a full schedule of activities, from hand-picking grapes to vintner's dinners.
Events:
Moonlit Harvest Friday, July 18, 2008 This second annual Moonlit Harvest will kick off the first harvesting of the grapes as guests pick grapes from the vineyards, then stomp them at sunset on Friday, July 18, 2008. Guests also receive a Messina Hof Harvest souvenir t-shirt to imprint with their purple feet after stomping. After the grapes have been crushed, visitors enjoy a multiple-course special dinner at The Vintage House Restaurant
Harvest Saturday, July 19, 2008 – Sunday, August 17, 2008 (Saturday and Sunday only)
Murder Mystery Dinners Saturday, July 21, 2008 – Saturday, August 18, 2008. (All Murder Mystery Dinners begin at 6:30 PM) Mystery Dinner themes are as follows:
July 19 - “Pirate Murder Mystery” July 26 – “Celebrity Celebrations” August 2 – “Storm Survivors” August 9 – “Case of the Missing Matchmaker” August 15 – “Murder on the Mound”
Harvest Vintner’s Dinners Friday, July 25, 2008 – Saturday, August 16, 2008. (All Vintner’s Dinners begin at 6:30 PM). Harvest Vintner’s Dinners are as follows:
July 25 August 1 August 8 August 16 – Grand Finale
Location: Messina Hof Winery is located at 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan.
For more information: • call (800) 778-9463 ext. 34.
This weekend we visited the W.M. Brook Park in Lampasas, just starting to show the first signs of spring. The 100+ acre park is located just blocks from downtown on Sulphur Creek and offers fishing, picnic grounds, and a large playscape.
This weekend we made a trip up to Lampasas, Lometa, San Saba, and Goldthwaite. Along the way, we had the chance to drive across the Regency Bridge, one of the last suspension bridges open for vehicular traffic in Texas. Hop aboard for a drive across this grand bridge located miles down a dirt road:
You may not be in Washington, DC for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll but you can take part in a presidential Easter egg hunt thanks to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. On Saturday, March 15, the library will host an Easter egg hunt for ages 7 and under. The fun starts at 9:30am with the egg hunt starting promptly at 10am at the library (and it will take place rain or shine).
The event will include plenty of family fun including face painting, storytelling, an egg roll, egg toss, and even photos with the Easter Bunny. You'll find parking at Research Park and can access the museum via Research Drive, Discovery Drive or John Kimbrough Boulevard. There's also a drawing for prizes; entry forms can be found on the library website.
Easter is just around the corner, and Austin's most historic hotel, The Driskill, is hopping with holiday plans. The hotel will host its elaborate buffet brunch on Easter Sunday, March 23, a longtime tradition. The event will also include a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt in the grand Victorian Room for kids. The Brunch: Easter Brunch, complete with complimentary champagne and accompanied by live music, is served on the hotel's Mezzanine, with seatings from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The event will include carving station with rosemary prime rib, leg of lamb and baked ham; an omelet and waffle station featuring omelets to order and Belgian waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries; a creperie station; and traditional breakfast and lunch entrees, along with a cold seafood display and raw bar. For the first time, this year's brunch will include a commal grilling station with coriander-crusted ahi tuna prepared on a flat griddle. It's all followed up by a big selection of desserts, including the hotel’s signature 1886 Chocolate Cake.
Price: Prices are $58 for adults, $24 for children ages 6-12 and complimentary for children under age 6. A special children’s buffet is available.
In the predawn hours of March 6, 1836, the fall of the Alamo took place in San Antonio. Today the site is San Antonio's most visited attraction. [Read more about the Battle of the Alamo.]
03062008: Spring Break Fun at Houston's Xploration Station
Looking for some fun activities for the upcoming Texas spring break? Most kids are off for the week starting at the end of the school day on Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 22. To celebrate the event Houston's Xploration Station, an educational satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, has some special events planned with everything from edible bugs to cockroach races.
Friday, March 14: Learn more about the 12 giant dinosaurs on display with dinosaur tours every hour. Kids can also make and paint casts of dinosaur footprints.
Saturday, March 15: Free Admission. Grand Opening of Paleontology Prep Lab with Dr. Bakker. Dig for fossils of the fearsome Dimetrodon, the largest pre-dinosaur predator, which Museum paleontologists discovered in Seymour, Texas. Learn to identify and sort fossils, make casts of dinosaur footprints, and tour the 12 giant dinosaurs on display. Sunday, March 16: Insect Day – race cockroaches, handle live insects, sample bug delicacies and tour the live insect exhibition.
Monday, March 17: Learn more about the 12 giant dinosaurs on display with dinosaur tours every hour.
Tuesday, March 18: Discover frogs and insects from all over the world with tours of the new frog exhibition and the insect exhibits every hour.
Wednesday, March 19: Insect Day - tours of the live insect exhibitions will be available every other hour.
Thursday, March 20: Learn more about the 12 giant dinosaurs on display with tours every hour.
Friday, March 21: Chemistry Day: Discover the surprising properties of common materials all around us in chemistry demonstrations at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and learn to make slime all day.
Saturday, March 22: This year, Easter comes a day early for paleontologists. Celebrate by digging for dinosaur eggs at the Xcavation Station.
Location: The Woodlands Xploration Station is located on the lower level of The Woodlands Mall, across from Sears.
Admission: Admission is $5 for children (3 – 11) and $10 for adults; free for Museum members. For more information: • visit www.hmns.org • call (281) 364-7200
Fredericksburg
