Riffs: Guitarrista Kelly Guitarrista Kelly hypnotized the crowd at the Wimberley Inn’s outdoor deck on March 1 with his fusion of classical, flamenco, rock and jazz guitar. By nature an introverted performer, I pictured him as a weaver sitting inconspicuously behind his loom cutting out the melodies from songs we know by heart and reweaving them into a carpet hung together with flourishes of flamenco, classical riffs, bits of dreams and a little reverb. It’s not too much to say that the effect is something like a magic carpet ride, contemplative, meditative and very, very good. For some of the listeners, his music was said to be “soul expanding.” However it was experienced, his appreciative audience clapped warmly and generously fed the tip jar.
It seems obvious Kelly spent years with his guitar in serious pursuit of its secrets.
“Hotel California,” by the Eagles, “Amarillo by Morning”, the George Strait version, “Something,” by the Beatles and “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd all got the Guitarrista treatment, evoking at times, the Willie and Lobo instrumental CD “Fandango Nights,” and at other times, the Gypsy Kings.
One of my favorite moments in the evening was just after he finished playing “Amarillo by Morning.” A worker in the kitchen picked up the melody and whistled it softly to himself through the open window between the kitchen and the stage. The music is addictive and trance-worthy — definitely not dull. Kelly plays to his own pre-recorded tracks, managed by multiple pedals on a board in front of his chair.
Guitarrista Kelly plays at the Wimberley Inn on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. with no cover charge.
Roams: Austin
Austin in the Springtime. It’s a great time to take in some of the iconic events that help define the town we love to love.
Rodeo Austin
Rodeo Austin opens this Friday, March 10 and finishes up Saturday, March 25. This true Texan event attracted nearly half a million people (450,000) in 2022. It’s a professional rodeo, a livestock and horse show, a carnival and a live music event. Topranked rodeo athletes compete for the title of champion in the bracket- style format during a nail biting, 90-minute rodeo each evening at 7 p.m. If you’ve never been to a professional rodeo and want to witness the official sport of Texas, here’s your introduction to the real deal. If you’re not sure what bareback riding, mutton bustin’, saddle bronc and bull riding looks like, you’ll get an eyeful.
Rodeo Austin’s mission is to foster Western traditions and values and to provide support for children and youth. Since 1938, Rodeo Austin has raised millions to support Texas children with scholarships and agricultural education.
General admission tickets are $25; ProRodeo tickets range from $30 to $175; carnival-only tickets range from $20 to $40; fairground tickets range from $5 to $30; and parking is $15. Rodeo Austin is located at 9100 Decker Lane in Austin. For more information, visit rodeoaustin. com.
SXSW
SXSW, the mega event that showcases music, film and interactive media also opens Friday, March 10 and continues through March 19. A long list of conference keynote speakers is eclipsed only by the number of musical artists slated to perform. While tickets for the event itself are over $1,000, there are plenty of unofficial events, performances and pop-ups for free around town. Go to sxsw.com to learn more.
Sherwood Forest Faire The Sherwood Forest Faire near Bastrop opened March 4 and will continue through April 23.
This “Theatre of the Forest” takes place in a locally owned medieval- style village of over 100 permanent buildings near Bastrop. On 25 acres, it’s the original immersive experience for kids and adults without the eye-bending technology of virtual immersive events.
Actors engage in jousting, falconry, fire juggling, knife throwing, sword fighting, a castle siege and, according to their website, song, dance and comedy. The comedy tends toward the rude and crude, but there is one interactive event that might be worth the $23 entry fee and $65 ticket cost: The Hawk Walk. Here, a falconer takes a small group to walk the grounds, flying the hawks from the trees to the gloved fist of each participant. For an hour, the group receives a historical lesson in falconry and experiences interacting with a bird of prey.
The Faire is open Saturdays and Sundays, March 4 – April 23 and on Friday, March 17. To learn more, go to sherwoodforestfaire. com.
Raves: Arnosky Family Farm
After plenty of whiplash weather, we can finally say spring weather has arrived, although March, unpredictable as ever in these parts, can still bring wild variations in temperature.
This Sunday, we spring forward one hour to observe daylight savings time, and the gardeners among us have been pruning, clearing leaves, preparing beds and otherwise getting ready to plant.
The search is on for vegetable transplants. Outside of Blanco, the Arnosky Family Farm has tomatoes, lettuces and cabbages ready to plant. Ready for purchase are Black Cherry, Jaune Flammee, Juliet, Sweet 100’s and Jet Star tomato varieties for two dollars each at their self-serve Blue Barn. Next Friday, March 17, pepper, chile, eggplant, squash and melon transplants will be available to buy.
Ranunculus, the deeply hued, single bloom cut flower spiraled with multiple petals is also available now. Bouquets are $10 each, and the signs on the flower buckets declare, “Yes, we grew all of these!” One of their winter flowers, the ranunculuses precede their spring lineup of cut flowers that are due to be harvested in the next month or so: dianthus, iris, larkspur, snapdragons, tulips and various Texas wildflowers.
The Arnosky Family Farm, run by Frank and Pamela Arnosky, is the top producer of cut flowers in Texas, growing 60 different varieties. Their handmade bouquets are sold in more than 40 retail outlets. Once harvested, the flowers are bunched, wrapped in cellophane and delivered to three Central Market stores and 40 H-E-Bs within 48 hours. They also sell directly to brides and retail their flowers at Austin Flower Company.
On top of that, it is one of the largest growers of marigolds in the country, producing more than 200,000 plants each year. The Arnoskys’ work over the years has shifted the cut flower wholesale market, once dominated by imported flowers, to a market that supports US growers. Their Blue Barn also hosts dances, community potlucks and other events, including partnering with American Grown Flowers and H-E-B Blooms in 2022 to host a memorable Field to Vase Dinner. Each year, the Arnoskys build a large Day of the Dead altar inside the barn, using the marigolds they grow.
The Arnosky Family Farm is a mere 16.5-mile drive from Wimberley. They open their gates at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. To learn more, go to texascolor. com.
