Round Top Round Up
Come along with me for a Saturday morning in this whimsical town. The magic of Round Top is a Texas delicacy to be tasted.
Nowadays, Round Top is the hip, high profile Texas destination that has attracted those of the wealthiest Texas zip codes, bachelorette parties, and Mercedes SUVs that wouldn’t usually be getting any mud on their tires. But would you believe me if I said not even a mere 10 years ago, my friends and I would dare to step out onto Henkel square in the Spring without an expensive felt cowboy hat, fringed coats or our Lucchese boots?
The Round Top of yore always had a flair unlike any other Texas town, but it was far from the “Aspen of Texas” that it has in a way become, as I heard a local describe it. If you’ve been around the area for a while, you will remember the fudge shop on the square, the what feels like millions of different restaurants that called Mandito’s home, Bud the Pie Man sitting out in his rocking chair on the front porch of Royers as you waited in a long line of people in regular t-shirts and Justin’s boots for a table. You might remember signing up to buy pies from Royers to send to troops overseas at the holidays. Or maybe you’d remember that glorious day that Royers Pie Haven opened on Henkel square… you no longer had to wait in a line of people to get a slice of pie?! Life changing.
I "headed for the hills," as they say, this weekend to spend a morning in this magical place. I have had the privilege of spending a large part of my life in Round Top by way of my grandparents living in Carmine, a town so close that the local school is Round Top-Carmine High School. Now, it seems every woman I know from Austin or Houston with a fashionable bone in her body is heading for Round Top a few times a year for the historic antique shows. However, if Round Top played a big part in your childhood like it did mine, you'll be happy to hear that this unique Texas town is still as down to Earth as ever.
As I roamed around Henkel Square in the early morning hours last Saturday, I found myself in front of the old Haw Creek Chapel, looking up at the old branches that drape over it like a canopy. As I was lost in my camera's viewfinder, a friendly voice spoke over me, "If you like trees, you should go see the old oak on the other side of the gardens." He was a local, someone who lived nearby and was leaving the Chapel. I told him about the years I had spent in Round Top and memories of my uncle getting married at the chapel and subsequently riding a horse over to the Round Top Inn for the reception many years ago. He was proud to tell me that the chapel now houses a church community on Sundays, breathing life into the historic building.
I wandered back toward "Highway" 237 (I say this in quotes because as someone living near the Museum District in Houston, highway seems like the wrong word), and stumbled upon a new spot boasting coffee and GREEN SMOOTHIES! Gasp... I couldn't believe my eyes. A green smoothie right across from Royers? Why hasn't this been here sooner? The idea of starting my day with a green smoothie and ending it with a piece of Bud's Chocolate Chip Pie seemed too good to be true. Casa Blanke, home of said smoothies, transported me to California or River Oaks the moment I walked in. Incredible interior decorating mixed with ingredients like local honey contrasted beautifully with the Texas wildflowers in glass jars on the table. I grabbed my smoothie and headed over to do some shopping at Southern Beasts and Starr'z Home in the old Teague's Tavern building.
I was so excited to finally visit Southern Beasts, a store open year-round that is full of colorfully textured "beasts" designed and created by artist and local, Mary Lou Marks. As I marveled at her creations in her store full of her art, recovered furniture and thrifted clothing, another local in the store shared that many of the fabrics adorning the beasts can be dated back to the 1800's. Her store was somewhat of a textile Heaven mixed with other worldly pleasures like homemade pasta sauce, thrifted Willie Nelson shirts, beautiful framed art and classic fringe cowboy coats and boots. Located one story above Southern Beasts is Starr'z Home, a collection of sophisticated and unique finds from estate sales and beyond. Starr'z Home was, in the opinion of a seasoned resale shop and estate sale addict, perfectly curated. If you're not one for digging through shelves of ugly things at a resale shop, or if you just love beautiful things... this is the store for you! I was incredibly impressed by the fair prices and collection of items. I waltzed out with amazing matador plates that will look fabulous on a wall.
On my way out of town, I grabbed a slice of pie from Royers Pie Haven and stopped by a Spring show roadside vendor to admire some severely overpriced and rusted iron chairs. Driving down 237 is a unique feeling. You're surrounded by so much culture in such an unassuming place. As you weave through the winding roads, you pass the Round Top Festival Institute that welcomes music students from all over the world each year. You drive through historic German settlement areas while antiques from all over the world fill the pastures on either side of the road. Round Top is an original Texas treasure to be preserved, all the while still worthy of the high standard it's risen to in recent years. Don't miss this town in the hills.