Dooley’s 5, 10 & 25 Cent Store

Children laughing and giving toys a squeeze, adults taking a relaxing stroll down aisles, and a time honored 50 year veteran employee asking, “can I help you?” are the sights and sounds of Dooleys 5, 10, and 25 Cent store. Owned by the Dooley Family since 1923, it is a veritable treasure chest of finds. From unique children’s toys and games to gifts and oddities – you’ll find it here.

I even found a “belly button duster” in the gag gift section. We laughed our way down the aisles! And it popped into our shopping cart.

We ran into owner, Tim Dooley, who besides giving a brief history of his family’s store, proudly showed us “Blue Waltz Perfume” – a scent with a history! Blankets, hats, and even dinner ware are part of the wide selection of items that might pop into your shopping cart as well. Take a stroll through Dooleys in this video and check it out for yourself.

Slate Theory

From the moment you walk through the Hobbit-style door of the Slate Theory Winery, you are embarking on a singular experience. The concrete cellar boasts five-foot thick ceiling and walls.Private tasting rooms open to a central broad hallway allowing for intimate conversation but give you the feeling of being part of a larger celebration. Bottling only 100 % Texas grapes, the family-owned winery uses fruit from their estate and carefully selected Texas growers.

Enjoy a closeup tour of their magnificent cellar with the winemaker himself – Tyler Woltz! You’ll discover living walls, large entertaining areas, and romantic nooks – all designed for the ultimate wine tasting experience. It’s always a treat to know the background of a winery – the “whys and how’s”. Chase Jones, owner gives insight into his family’s learning curve from the oil and gas industry to winemakers. Texas ingenuity is alive and well in the Jones family!

Hill and Vine

It’s an old friend, with a completely new makeover. I always loved the Peach Tree Tearoom in Fredericksburg. How wonderful is it when a place with such a great memory of friends and family gatherings has a new vibe, but with the same Texas warmth and authenticity.

Welcome to Hill and Vine. The beautiful renovation of the former Peach Tree Tearoom provides the perfect urban background for the owner’s passion of all things Texas.

“We grew up on the best Texas flavors,” said Jesse Barter, who along with his wife Sarah runs the popular restaurant. “From tender cuts to queso to fresh fish. Nothing but the best of Texas!

Although they don’t accept reservations, you can get on their online waitlist and grab a beer, wine, mimosa, and/or margarita directly from Das Bar Bus while you wait to be seated. After many miles on the open road, the converted VW Bus now has a new life and home at the Hill & Vine patio as a full-service bar.

Grab a quick tour of Hill and Vine in this video, and if you go there – here’s a secret: the onion rings are a “must” to order!