Riffs: Plankenhorn, O’Connor at Susanna’s Kitchen Jeff Plankenhorn and Michael O’Connor cinched the moon Thursday night with an intimate performance at Susanna’s Kitchen, part of their Nothing to Prove tour. Any distance between them and the crowd was immediately dissolved when Plankenhorn quipped, as he often would throughout the evening: “I can hardly wait to hear us after that warm welcome.”
After two songs into their set list, “Ramona” and “Sing,” from their album “Nothing to Prove,” they abandoned their plan for the night and let the evening flow. While O’Connor stayed in a more private space, Plankenhorn, dubbed “Plank” by his friends, joked, shared tales from the road, spoke of their collaborations and told stories from their lives. By the end of the first set, their music, full of introspections, longings, and love for what they do, seemed to have been embraced by the audience.
During the evening, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe Ely, Gabriel Rhodes, Susan Gibson, Slaid Cleaves Terri Hendrix, Steve James and other music legends were mentioned in their easy patter between songs, revealing the deep roots both men share in the music of Texas and Austin as musicians, singers and songwriters.
To learn more about these award-winning musicians, go to mocmusic. com and jeffplankenhorn. com. Plank can also be found on patreon.com where, for a monthly or annual fee, fans can support creators like him.
Roams: around Fredericksburg
Wildflowers and the Willow City Loop If your urban cowboy existence has gone a little gritty, there is a remedy for that particular kind of fatigue. Climb behind the wheel, put a few snacks on board and take in the Willow City Loop.
Northeast of Fredericksburg on Route 16, the loop is a mecca for artists and naturalists who seek it out for its scenery and display of Texas wildflowers. The loop itself is flanked on both sides by private property, and you’ll see plenty of signs advising you to keep your distance, but your eyes can freely roam the surrounding Hill Country bluffs, outcroppings and riparian habitats.
So lovely is this stretch of Hill Country, the artist in you will see one composition after another — whether for the easel or the lens. It has inspired countless others, evidenced by the fine art that can be found in the stunningly beautiful Insight Gallery at 214 West Main Street in Fredericksburg. Insight represents a very select group of painters and sculptors who can be found frequently in “Southwest Art’’ and other magazines.
The loop winds for 13 miles but seems much longer once you take yourself, even from your car, further into the natural world simply by gazing. To learn more, search Willow City Loop and visit insightgallery. com.
Country Schools If you have more time at your disposal, consider taking the Country Schools Driving Trail around Fredericksburg. If you want to know more about the German history of the Hill Country, this excursion will open your eyes to a rare grassroots preservation movement in Gillespie county.
In the early 1900s, there were 44 rural schools teaching the three Rs to children in the area, but after 1949, when schools were consolidated, these “schules” lost their original purpose. Twelve of the schools on the trail continue to be used as community centers, polling places and event venues. The one-room schoolhouses conjure rich images of a bygone Texas culture and the stone buildings are beauties in and of themselves.
On April 1, two schools will host open houses: Willow City and Rheingold. In May, to celebrate Historic Preservation Month, other schools on the Trail will hold their own open houses. To learn more, go to historicschools.org.
Texas Meadworks If you find yourself undone by the number of wineries that have emerged along west US Highway 290 going towards Fredericksburg, contemplate ditching the grape for the handiwork of the bee.
Texas Meadworks in Hye produces mead, a drink made by fermenting honey, that begs to be added to every home liquor cabinet and bar. In their wine-barrelshaped tasting room, visitors can sample traditional meads, along with flavors such as peach or raspberry and blends like blueberry jasmine or their delicious jalapeño. According to mead maker and owner, Melissa Poole, mead pairs nicely with meats and cheeses.
Discover their wines too, if the notion arises, made under the name of Blue Lotus Winery.
Texas Meadworks is a good stop to make if you’re traveling with dogs, as picnic tables under the towering oaks provide a good place to relinquish the road. For more information check out bluelotuswinery. com.
Raves: BubaLux Bakery If you’re on the search for baked goods, go no further than Allie Teegardin’s BubaLux Bakery in Buda. While matzoh and macaroons rule during Passover, she offers Passover trays that can be enjoyed during the annual observance in April.
“BubaLux Bakery is a business built from love in my home kitchen, she said. “I wanted to share traditional Jewish foods with my friends in the community, so I started with the classic recipes and then, over time, began to put a little modern twist on them!”
Her cottage bakery offers seasonal specials for Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah and the Thanksgiving holidays. If you crave babka, challah, black and whites and other goodies, give Teegardin a call. She is a small-batch baker who can accommodate custom orders on a non-commercial scale. For more information, go to bubaluxbakery.com or call (737) 312-8079.
