an afternoon in gruene...

is simply divine. if you haven't ever had the opportunity to visit this little hill country treasure, i urge you to do so ASAP! you'll thank me for it. gruene, texas has always been a special town to me and my adoration for it has grown over the years. for one thing, it is the definition of quaint texas charm, for another, you wouldn't believe how much there is to do there! although it has become a huge texas tourist destination, as the town saying goes, "gently resisting change since 1872." i, for one, think the town has managed to do an incredible job preserving the spirit and hospitality of this texas landmark.

i have been out to gruene countless times (some of the best times of my life) and i've found my favorite places to visit. if i were you, i'd be sure to check out adobe verde for an afternoon on the patio with some amazing chips and queso and a fantastic drink, but you MUST have dinner at the gristmill (that one's a rule.) for shopping, i'd recommend the gruene general store for kitschy texasesque memorabilia and an old fashioned soda pop, cactus jack's for fine home furnishings, and lone star for fun clothes and gifts. pre-dinner, i suggest sitting back with a glass of wine from a texas vineyard at the grapevine or celebrating happy hour at tavern on the gruene. then, you MUST visit lonestar music (maybe you'll get lucky and see someone famous!) and you MUST check out a show at the legendary gruene hall. if you're really lucky, maybe you can splurge on a room at the gruene mansion inn (go for the river view) so that you won't even have to drive home!

here's a few pics from yesterday with cori jo and ali-gator:


in front of the hall...they just put a fresh coat of paint on this thing too...it's so white now it's blinding!


she gets really excited in the general store...


this is SO COOL! every thursday, the grapevine does a wine tasting and features a texas winery with live music out in the garden. guess who the featured winery was yesterday? LLANO ESTACADO! it was fate!


sitting on my swing.


saw this in the general store...don't get mad at me dallas friends, but i gotta say an amen to this one!! i wouldn't last a week...

josh grider trio playing "rock and roll tonight" at a free show in the hall!