Arts + Culture

At Home With Art

Cara Hines on Living With Story, Energy and Human Expression Article and Photography by Amy Tucker For Cara Hines, art is something to live with; something that carries energy, memory and human presence into the spaces people inhabit every day.    Hines, an artist, owner of MixHaus Gallery and co-owner of the historic Hotel Giles in Comfort, approaches art not as decoration, but as an active participant in daily life. Her curatorial philosophy centers on work that feels physically and...

Food + Beverage

William Chris Brings International Wine Award Home

Gilelspie County winery keeps it Texas, keeps it home Article by Andre Boada | Photography by William Chris Vineyards “Hear Ye – Hear Ye”, good people of Texas, there’s a movement in the wine industry where Texas is getting recognized as a top region destination of the world. Yes, indeed, the world ! And leading the charge, a white knight with sword drawn named William Chris Vineyards.    William Chris Vineyards, founded in 2008 with its first release, was a vision of two men, William “Bill”...

Local Services

Home and Property Guardians

Fredericksburg Fire & EMS stand strong to protect us Article and Photography by Brent Ryan Burgess Gillespie County’s homes and surrounding areas have felt the fear of natural disasters in recent years. Wildfires, hailstorms, high winds and, most recently, devastating floods have all taken their toll. But the steady guard of our local fire and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) teams keep our homes safe and us feeling a little more secure when these dangers show up.    Gillespie County fire...

Home + Design

Perfecting Your Home

Design team listens first, then creates your space Article by Amie Nemec Homeowners can be hesitant to hire an interior designer. Perhaps they fear the services are purely aesthetic and frivolous. Or they might feel concerned the process will take too long and cost too much. A designer might completely take over with their own style and preferences. Not to mention, home design television shows often reveal drama and frustration in designing, or redesigning, a home. These concerns can create...

Life + Culture

Two Locations, One Beautiful Vision

A local family venture Article by Andre Boada There is a new fold in Kerr County winery development pushing the throttle of excellence. Once, only known as Turtle Creek Olives and Vines in downtown Kerrville, Proprietors Dan and Sue Schulse have now unleashed a new working winery built around 17 acres of pristine terraced vineyards. The Winery Estate    Turtle Creek Vineyards, located on the edge of Kerrville, has been a work in progress since the purchase in 2015. The family vision now...

Arts + Culture

Hill Country Hues

How Marcy Vreeland Brings the Hill Country to Life Article and Photography by Amy Tucker When artist Marcy Cook Vreeland relocated to the Texas Hill Country, she discovered a landscape that reshaped both her creative process and her connection to the Fredericksburg community.    Currently immersed in a love affair with the irises she cultivates in her artist’s garden, she continues to draw from the region’s flowers, grasses and wildflowers. These elements appear throughout her paintings...

Food + Beverage

Sparkling People

Couple brings bubbling businesses to town Article by Amie Nemec | Photography by Brent Ryan Burgess Sometimes a place conjures dreams of a new future. A town evokes the vision of a different lifestyle. Strangers eventually become friends, and a new place begins to feel like home. Fredericksburg had this effect on Melissa and Bobby Humphries.    The two met on eHarmony in 2008. A long, late-night phone call soon led to a hunt for the perfect wedding venue. As wine lovers, Fredericksburg’s...

Arts + Culture

Little Live Music Town

Locals enjoy a rich music culture Article by Brent Ryan Burgess Fredericksburg is a live music town. Just a short drive from Austin, a city nationally dubbed the “live music capital of the world,” Fredericksburg would rival the nearby metro with the vibrant sounds of singing and guitars ringing throughout downtown. Here we mention three local performers sure to entertain. Mike Blakely    Combination cowboy poet, novelist and songwriter, Mike Blakely has built himself a gathering family of...

Home + Design

Lenard Crafted Homes Breathe Easy

The family builder who came home Article by Ada Broussard | Photography by Aaron Yates at KerrvillePhoto.com and Ashley Lenard Before Craig Lenard ever learned to swing a hammer, he learned the rhythm of a job site. As a kid in the late 1980s, he rode in his dad’s truck to job sites, the Hill Country passing by in early morning blue. His earliest memories are less playground and more plywood - picking up trash, sweeping sawdust, being “paid in donuts,” as he puts it. “I was raised in this...

Food + Beverage

Desert Calm Citrus Cooler

Start the year right with Ocotillo mocktail Article and Photography by Ocotillo is passionate about creating beautiful, healthy ways to unwind. The menu features mocktails using adaptogenic herbs and soothing botanicals - ingredients traditionally used to calm the nervous system, quiet the mind and balance the body. Whether you’re catching up with friends or settling in for a peaceful solo moment, Ocotillo offers a warm, grounding, “chill vibe” where wellness and flavor meet in every sip. ...