Hoppy Easter!

There are plenty of reasons to be in Gruene leading up to and during Easter weekend...

 Get a head start on your holiday décor with a trip to Lone Star. Not only do they have perfect basket stuffers for the Easter Bunny to pick up, they also have a multitude of home decorations that will be sure to impress your guests. For fun Easter recipes or DIY projects, visit Gruene’s “Celebrate the Seasons” Pinterest board.

Not only do we have plenty of Easter shopping around town, but we also have live music all weekend, which is the perfect way to entertain family and friends. Spend your Good Friday afternoon at the Friday Afternoon Club at Gruene Hall. KNBT will broadcast live, and they will also have Aaron Watson in house for an interview before his show later that night. Prizes for the March 29^th FAC will include a $25 Mozie’s gift certificate, a $30 Cantina del Rio gift certificate, a $25 gift certificate to Cotton Eyed Joes, a $25 gift certificate to The Grapevine, 2 tickets to the Aaron Watson show, 2 tickets to see Junior Brown and more!

Live music through the weekend continues with a free show from Flat Top Jones from 1pm to 5pm Saturday, Junior Brown Saturday night, Slim Bawb from 12:30pm to 4:30pm Sunday, and Susan Gibson from 5pm to 9pm Sunday evening.

There will also be live music from Dan McCoy in the garden at The Grapevine from 3pm to 6pm Saturday. With their new addition of craft brews on tap, you can really have a Hoppy Easter!

Last, but definitely not least, The Gristmill, Mozie’s and Cantina del Rio all have Easter specials on Sunday, March 31^st.
 

Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar  1287 Gruene Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 606-1287, GristmillRestaurant.com; Open daily at 11am.

Off-menu lunch special - Pulled Pork Sandwich! Marinated pulled pork on choice of bread and topped with fresh slaw and a vinegar barbeque sauce. Served with chips or onion rings and a side of sauce ($10.99). Available 11am – 4pm.

 

Cantina del Rio 1299 Gruene Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 515-1950, CantinaInGruene.com; Open daily at 11am.

Have the perfect Mexican Easter dinner with delicious pork tacos! Grilled diced pork, red onions, cilantro and lime on your choice of fresh flour or homemade corn tortillas served a la carte (just $2.75 each). For a heartier meal, have two tacos with a side of rice and beans.

 Mozie’s 1601 Hunter Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 515-1281, MoziesBarAndGrill.com; Open daily at 11am.

Featuring the new off-menu special, Panko Parmesan Chicken! Juicy, marinated chicken breast rolled in our special mixture of panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese, fried to perfection and served with angel hair pasta tossed in a creamy chipotle sauce with red peppers, fresh spinach and tomatoes ($8.99).

Spring Break - Texas Style!

Still searching for the perfect spring break plans? Gruene Historic District offers an eventful Texas getaway – no airline reservations required! With a week full live music every day at Gruene Hall and events that cater to everyone, Gruene makes the perfect close-to-home vacation. From rockin’ with Ryan Bingham to floating the Guadalupe, Gruene is the place to be!

Every Friday from March through October for fifteen years, the Friday Afternoon Club at Gruene Hall has helped start the weekend the right way with a happy hour & prize giveaways, but the focal point of this popular meet up for locals and visitors features Texas tunes broadcasted on-site live by KNBT 92.1FM Radio New Braunfels from 4-7 p.m!  Bart Crow will be an on-air guest before his show on Friday, March 8^th.

Kick off the break with musical legends, Texas Tornados, at Gruene Hall on Saturday, March 9^th. With hits like “A Little Bit is Better Than Nada” and “Hey Baby Que Paso,” the ultimate Tex-Mex super group is back! The Texas Tornados with their infectious, party-ready sound, blending early rock & roll, Mexican folk music, R&B, blues and whatever other roots music crosses their paths are going to rock the legendary stage of the Hall.

The second Sunday of the month means the Gospel Brunch with a Texas Twist at Gruene Hall. Scheduled for Sunday, March 10^th from 10:30-noon, The Gospel Brunch features live music from Austin Gospel group, The Gospel Silvertones, coupled with a mouth-watering buffet catered by Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar. After the Hall has regrouped from brunch, country artist Bret Graham will take the stage from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., shortly followed by The Whiskey Sisters CD Release at 5 p.m. – both are free shows.

 

 

 

Visitors can opt to take it easy on any day of the week with a leisurely float down the Guadalupe with Rockin’ R River Rides or a casual day of shopping at a few of Gruene’s diverse shops. Gruene Antique Company offers unique finds from thirty different independent dealers, while Lone Star has an eclectic blend of Texas gifts and accessories. For a little lunch break or an ice cold drink, Mozie’s offers a full bar along with a variety of delicious classics such as a ‘50s style charbroiled burger and Cantina Del Rio boasts some of the best burgers, Tex-Mex food and margaritas in town. Gruene Hall has live music every night of the week.

Wednesday, March 13^th marks the long awaited return of Ryan Bingham to the Gruene Hall stage. By the time Bingham came to Gruene Hall in 2005, he was already a veteran at heart. At 24 years old, the kid from Hobbs, New Mexico had already traveled the world and soaked up enough song writing material for a lifetime. Bingham played four-hour gigs in the front room of Gruene Hall and wanted more. Now an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy winner, he is an artist to see in the intimate setting of the Hall. The show is sold out, so we hope you have your tickets…

On Friday, March 15^th, Roger Creager will stop by the Friday Afternoon Club before he takes the stage for his Texas Fiesta. For more than a decade, Creager has built a reputation on his distinctive brand of rousing Texas Country music based on his rich, full-bodied voice that can carry a tune for miles. Creager is playing both Friday and Saturday nights, and tickets are $25.00 apiece. Arrive when doors open for a special acoustic set as well as fun times and games with Roger!

Before you head over to the Hall on Saturday afternoon, make sure you stop by The Grapevine to sample a few favorite Texas wines and, new this year, craft beers on tap. Offering up to three complimentary samples daily, the Texas tasting room offers a large selection of wines from all over Texas, so they bring the wine tasting tours to you in one convenient place! Enjoy your wine or beer on the front porch, the patio or out in the garden to the tune of live music on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. with Bret Graham.

On the way out of town Sunday, make sure to stop by Old Gruene Market Days, which features nearly one hundred vendors offering a wide variety of unique items, collectibles and packaged Texas foods. The Market is open both Saturday and Sunday, March 15^th and 16^th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on Gruene Historic District, please visit http://www.gruenetexas.com.

Introducing...Craft Beer at The Grapevine!

In honor of The Grapevine's new craft beers on tap, we thought we would enlighten everyone on what goes through the mind of a craft brewer. We interviewed Brad Farbstein, owner and brewer at Real Ale Brewing Comany to find out how he got interested in the business, what his favorite beers are and the real difference between microbrews and mass produced beer...

How did you get so interested in brewing?

I played Lacrosse for the University of Texas at Austin and one of my teammates was a home brewer.  One afternoon, after practice he invited me to his house to brew up a batch of homebrew.   From that point on, I was hooked and continued to homebrew in college over the next 4 years.  After graduating, I did like most UT grads and I worked as a waiter and a bartender in Austin for a couple of years while I continued to refine my skills as a home brewer.  After two years in the service industry I decided that I wanted to open a microbrewery, but lacked the experience and the money to get started.  I approached by parents about my new found destiny and my parents were encouraging about me following my passion and dreams, my dad's only advice was to go and work for another established brewery for a while and "learn on someone else's dime ".  I thought this was great advice and started to harass the guys who opened up Saint Arnold Brewing Company in Houston to give me a job, of any kind.  After six months of courting I was finally offered a marketing and sales position with Saint Arnold based in the Austin market.  I worked for them for about 1  1/2 years until I was hired away by a small craft beer distributor in Austin by the name of Microbility Beverage.  Microbility represented a lot of Texas Craft Brewers at the time as well had some Colorado craft products and some imported beers.  One of my favorite brands that Microbility carried was Real Ale from Blanco, under the management of the previous owner. Phillip and Diane Conner.  I would work during the week at Microbility selling the entire portfolio and on the weekend I would go out to Real Ale to help Phillip and his son Charles, brew, bottle and keg.  My passion was definitely more on the side of brewing than on the distribution side of the business.  One afternoon while I was at Microbility I got a call from Phillip, he informed me that they were going to be selling the brewery and he wanted to see if I could help them  find someone interested in the purchase,  I immediately responded that " I was his man".  He quickly responded that I did not have any money, but seeing that there was interest, Phillip worked with me to find a way for me to ultimately take over the business from him and his family.  That was back in the summer of 1998, two years after the opening of the brewery by the Conners.

Most people are rather ignorant when it comes to beer drinking, and knowing what a great beer is. What are the qualities you aim for when making beer?
Beer is 92% water and so the first thing is starting with high quality water.  The Conner's originally picked Blanco for two reasons, first high quality water which is drawn from the Blanco River and a low cost of commercial rental space.  So water is extremely important as well as starting with high quality ingredients, since there are only four ingredients in beer (water, barley, hops and yeast) you need to ensure you are starting off with the best.  In addition, consistency is extremely important in order to maintain your customer base.

In your opinion, what is the key difference between mass-produced beer and microbrews?
Love and passion….now the reality is that both are well made beers.  The big boys mainly focus on the lighter style lagers and the majority of craft brewers focus on more flavorful ales.  That being said a lot of us still make lagers but most of our beers are full of malt flavor and hop character, which is significantly different from the mass-produced beers

Of all the beers you craft, which is your favorite? Why?
They are like children to me so picking a favorite is difficult to do.  For me, my preference changes based on what I am doing and eating.  

If I am sitting around and mowing the yard or hanging out with some friends I am likely to drink :
Firemans # 4
Rio Blanco Pale Ale
Hans Pils

If I am eating I am more likely to open up :

Full Moon Pale Rye Ale
Lost Gold IPA
Brewhouse Brown
Devil's Backbone

Fireman’s 4 has become a widely popular beer – how has this effected the brewery?
Firemans #4 allows the brewery to venture off into the more esoteric beer styles that we make such as the Mysterium Verum line of barrel aged beers (http://realalebrewing.com/beers/mysterium ) or brewer's cut (http://brewerscut.com).  That being said I think it also is a great beer on it's own,  I think we were able to balance the malt and hop profile to make an interesting beer that appeals to a larger audience.  Firemans makes up about 60% of all of our production, so it is a very important part of our business.  It is also the reason that we installed a can line last summer, so that we could offer our customers a can option to take places where a glass bottle is not the appropriate package style.  (beach, pool, golf course, sporting events, live concerts, etc )

 

Come & Taste It on Thursday, February 21st from 5-8 p.m. Not only will a rep from Real Ale Brewing Co. be there offering samples, but we will also have Texas Hills Vineyard there - you don't want to miss it!

Love is in the Air in Gruene!

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and Gruene is ready! Are you?

 

Shop! In the Name of Love...

 

To celebrate the month of love, we’ve introduced the Lone Star Lovers Valentine’s Countdown. For each of the first 14 days of February, enjoy a special treat! It’s like an advent calendar, but better. Be sure to check Facebook to get the daily deal.

Today (February 5^th) is the Sweetheart Special – 10% off anything in store with a heart on it!

 

And we’ll give you a hint – tomorrow’s special starts with a “T” – any guesses?

Then, head over to The Grapevine for great gifts for your wine-loving gal pal or spouse. Or, if you’re spending Valentine’s Day solo, you might need a glass (or bottle) of wine to get you through all the cheesy romance.

 

Eat Your Heart Out

Whether you’re in the mood for a romantic dinner fireside at The Gristmill or a margarita and sizzlin' fajitas for two, we have something for everyone during the most romantic time of the year.

Gristmill RiverRestaurant & Bar (Special Available February 14th thru 17th)

1287 Gruene Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 606-1287, GristmillRestaurant.com; Open daily at 11am.

A tender and juicy 8 ounce New York Strip accompanied by the Gristmill’s award winning bacon-wrapped stuffed Texas gulf jumbo shrimp. Served with loaded mashed potatoes and served with an iceberg wedge salad ($23.49). Don’t forget dessert…Indulge yourself with a most decadent favorite…Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake, creamy cheesecake with rich fudge, topped with caramel, pecans, chocolate chips and whipped cream. Served with two spoons, just the right ending to a truly romantic meal. Available Thursday through Sunday.

Cantina del Rio (Special Available February 13th thru 17th)

1299 Gruene Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 515-1950, CantinaInGruene.com; Open daily at 11am.

Featuring a Sizzlin’ Valentine’s Special all weekend with happy hour prices and $1 off tender chicken or beef fajitas marinated in our special fresh squeezed lime marinade, served with beans, rice, real guacamole, fresh pico and your choice of fresh flour or homemade corn tortillas. $8.95 for one or $17.95 for you and your sweetie. Enjoy a frozen margarita or sangria (for just $3) or an ice cold beer ($2.50-$3.75) on our relaxing deck tucked into the trees of Gruene Historic District. Available Thursday thru Sunday.

Mozie’s (Special Available February 14th thru 17th)

1601 Hunter Rd., Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 515-1281, MoziesBarAndGrill.com; Open daily at 11am.

Steak! Specials include a succulent 6 ounce filet and a 16 ounce porterhouse T-bone. Both flat top grilled, covered in Hoffbrau lemon butter and served with a bleu cheese wedge salad and a choice of side ($28.99). To “sweeten” your dining experience, try specialty martinis, including Strawberry Cheesecake, Godiva Chocolate or Key Lime Pie! Available Thursday through Sunday.

Swing with your Sweetheart

After you’ve had your fill of dinner and shopping, head over to the dance hall for a free concert and dance featuring Rodney Hayden Band. What better way to spend the evening than in Texas’ Oldest Dancehall?

 

January No Cover Shows at Gruene Hall!

Did you spend all your extra cash on Christmas presents and traveling? Well, don’t sink into the New Year at home just yet…. Gruene Hall has 37 no cover shows! That’s right!! Enjoy 37 shows for free in just the month of January. YES, we are pretty sure that’s more shows than days in the month! J Put on your rain boots, snow boots or dancing boots…because we all know how the weather in Texas is, and join us at the oldest dance hall in Texas! Gruene Hall.

Bret Graham, a long time Gruene Hall favorite, will be joining us for more than two Monday evenings.  Alone on stage with just a guitar and harmonica, this local musician can win over any crowd. And don’t miss the Tuesday night song swaps. A great group of singer/songwriters will take ya back in time. Some seen in 2012 on Tuesday nights included Tom Gilliam, Jess Klein, Ed Jurdi and more. Warren Hood & the Champeens will fill up Wednesday nights this month with their Texas swing tunes! And with different singer/songwriters on Thursday through Sundays this month expect surprises! 

Get your boots on and come on down to Gruene!

‘Tis the Season for Shows

Boy, do we have a great line up for you at Gruene Hall these next few weeks! If you’re in town around Christmas, Gruene Hall has a special performance for you. Each name speaks for itself, yet here is a little telltale of each show!

And for all of those that get the Christmas break off of work or school, we have daytime shows at the Hall and walking distance from the Hall on the grounds of The Grapevine December 26^th– January 6^th.

 

The weekend before Christmas is a family affair at the Hall with two brothers from Bandera. Starting with truly the“Life of the Party”, CharlieRobison on Friday Dec. 21^st. We have had the fortune of hosting Robison in countless unforgettable performances. Charlie is a hard touring mainstay that has added much more to the music scene than he has taken. His music? In trying to describe to a new fan, you can’t quite put your finger on it. A little country, a little rock-n-roll, with some blues mixed in could be one way. We just suggest going to a show and if you don’t like it, well... you’ll like it. His shows are littered with sing-a-longs such as “Barlight”,“Life of the Party”, and or course “My Hometown”. But it is the rockers and confessionals such as “Loving County” and “Desperate Times” that really depict Charlie at home. Tearing away at his guitar, letting his band blaze through solos, and being the best host of a two hour house party is where he seems at ease. He never lets it get out of hand and knows exactly how to channel energy from The Hall and band into a stellar performance. Check him out live with The Statesboro Revue opening!

 

Saturday Dec. 22^nd, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis are holding their annual Christmas Show at the Hall, including holiday numbers –some original, some covers – and other material drawn from the couple’s extensive catalog. Robison and Willis have been performing their Christmas show for many years now, and it’s become a hot ticket. They’re both top entertainers on their own, but it’s a special treat when Robison and Willis blend their styles and perform together. This is a limited seating concert with chairs set up on the dance floor, so get your tickets now!

 

After the presents are opened, and Santa has returned to the North Pole… You’re invited back to the Hall on Thursday, Dec. 27^th to Cody Canada and The Departed’s official coming out party with their new album Adventus!  This new album may have a few hints of Ragweed, but this is not Cross Canadian the sequel! At the start, the band billed themselves as Cody Canada and The Departed, but the Adventus cover just says The Departed. Canada is still the leader behind the group in many ways, but he’s not the only one. Close to half the tracks on Adventus have Seth James as lead singer. You still see reference to this, but there seems to be a subtle shift. This is something new, something better. The music rocks, shimmers, simmers; amplified by the heat of the Texas sun Adventūs signals the arrival of The Departed.

 

  Reckless Kelly is one of those bands who has been around the block and knows what they want. The band, which takes its name from notorious Australian bank robber Ned Kelly, was founded by brothers Cody and Willy Braun. The Braun brothers may be from Idaho but over the past decade their music has been woven into the fabric of Texas Music. And they’re reputation of never shying away from speaking their mind is evident with their latest, “Pennsylvania Avenue.” Throughout the years their old school approach to recording has always adhered to one main objective: make each record better that the last. With ten new songs that capture the essence of a road worn and battle scarred band of brothers that aren’t afraid to take risks and tell it like it is. That’s country rock. That’s old school. That’s Reckless Kelly. LIVE at Gruene Hall on Friday,December 28^th.

 

Roger Creager thinks of “Texas Country as a flower bed.” He is, of course, a “really nice flower,” in the big ol ‘bed. We must agree! Roger is a Hall favorite and staple in the Texas Country Circuit for the past 14 years. He may have taken the road less traveled but, he knows how to grab life by the horns. Creager is not one to watch the world pass him by. He’s an adventurist; whether it’s jumping off his boat to snorkel with dolphins, snow skiing in Colorado or surfing in Coats Rica, he has a desire to get what this life has to offer. All of this finds its way to Roger’s music and shows. His passion for life captures everyone around him especially his fan base. Those who get hooked by the charisma and energy are back show after show, year after year and song after song. Gruene Hall is hooked, which is why we have to have him come for a little visit every time we can! Creager and his posse will be hittin’ The Hall stage Saturday, Dec. 29^th!

 

Casey Donahew and his band are back in Gruene, Texas Sunday, Dec. 30th for some rollicking Texas Country. If history serves us right, this is sure to be a sold out show. Donahew is fast becoming an upper-tier talent on the Texas music scene, with good reason. His albums are good, (his latest, ‘Double-Wide Dream’, hit the top 10 on the US country charts), with songs that everybody can sing along to. With the band’s achievements and ability to pack a house, their everyman persona and remarkable ability to connect with fans are what really make the band a bona fide rock star on the Texas music scene.

 

 

To end it we are short on words with these….

New Year’s Eve. Stoney LaRue. Gruene Hall. Enough Said.

 

If you won’t be able to make it to any of these shows or if you are just in town for the day, don’t worry. There is still plenty of live music to be heard! Check out GrueneTexas to see the complete schedule of FREE afternoon shows at the Hall and The Grapevine!

Get your tickets here!

  

 

 

‘Tis the week before Thanksgiving, folks! Are y’all prepared?!  Whether your answer is no, or OH NO!,  get out of the house and join us in Gruene! Boy, do we have a lot going on that will satisfy you and any one of your unexpected visitors.

Before you head to town you will want to check out these two events going on right now! Gruene is calling All Young Artists 12 and Under! We want to see what the “Holidays in Gruene” mean to you in our first ever Holiday Art Contest! Find all rules HERE. Hurry, you must get your entry in on or before December 19, 2012 to be considered. Good Luck!  And last, print ya off some Kringle Cash which will get you discounts to Gruene Shops.

First, we will kick it off November 17^th and 18^th with Old Gruene MarketDays and Photos with Cowboy Kringle. Yes, we know you’re thinking… What?! Christmas already? But hey, come on down and you can get some shopping and pictures with Cowboy Kringle taken care of early! And between shopping and picture taking, stop by The Grapevine, where you can sit out by the fire and enjoy live music from one of Gruene Hall’s favorites, Bret Graham. Then, walk to the middle of town into Texas’ Oldest Dancehall for two nights of true red dirt music with Jason Boland & the Stragglers and Dirty River Boys.

Now that you have shopping and pictures out of the way, you can enjoy the line up at the Hall the week of Thanksgiving! Trust me; you will want to get your tickets right now! On Thanksgiving Eve, Emily Bell opens for the award-winning songwriter and a man with enough humor to win over any crowd, Hayes Carll. Thanksgiving Day get your running shoes on and join us for the 4^th Annual Gruene Turkey Trot! This 5k run/walk & ¼ mile Kids’ Turkey Chase begins and ends in front of Gruene Hall and is fun for the whole family! The funky, fun rocker, Bob Schneider, will rock the Hall Friday night to help you shake off those pumpkin pie calories!

Head back to the Hall Saturday night to hear the heartfelt songs of Wade Bowen. You never know who might show up and jump on the stage with Wade! Willie Nelson returns to the Hall on Sunday, November 25. Hopefully you already have your tickets in hand for this SOLD OUT show!

 

Whew, what a week this will be in Gruene! Grab your boots & loved ones & come have a kickin’ good time! Now this might sound like a lots going on and YOU’RE RIGHT! But this is just the start of Holidays in Gruene. We’ll be celebrating all the way till the kids head back to school January 7^th. Check HolidaysInGruene.com for a full listing of events and plan your trip today.