February 28, 2018Mieko Mahi

What’s new related to Hallettsville, TX – The county Seat of Lavaca County? A photographic glimpse of a multi-cultural community.

Hallet Oak Gallery is located in Lavaca County (radius is approximately 40 miles by 40 miles) is a designed specifically for cattle ranching and businesses that support a multi-cultural diverse environment which includes an array of medical practices, pharmaceuticals, a Victoria College campus for Nursing vocations and variety of restaurants.   The county has six motels, two are new  – one in Moulton called Mouton Inn and Suites and one in Hallettsville, TX, called Hotel Texas.
And has a total of 7 accessible motels:  Best Western, Budget Inn, Chaparral Motel, Hallettsville Inn, Hotel Texas, and Best Western Schulenburg Inn and Suites.
There are 6 B & B’s: Aunt Carol’s Bed & Breakfast, Cozy Country Guest House. Granny and Popo’s Haus, Texas Country Cabins, Winding Way RV Park, and Double J. Guesthouse. All nestled close to a beautiful golf course.

ARCHITECTURAL VIEWS in Lavaca County – See painted Church’s in four cities, including Downtown Hallettsville.

Noted on the National Register of Historic Places in Lavaca County: Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church, Moravia; Baker House, Yoakum; Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, Sweet Home; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hallettsville; Famous Kahn & Stanzel Building built by James Riely Gordon; Lavaca County Courthouse built by Eugene T. Heiner; Lay-Bozka House, Hallettsville; and  Saint Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Shiner. 
All are filled with life and cultural history! 

Big Festivals Small town atmosphere: Fiddlers Frolics, Hallettsville Kolache Festival, Hallettsville Festival of Lights and Christkindmarkt Downtown Hallettsville! Learn about Hallettsville Market Days, Hallettsville fashion show, wine walk downtown by becoming a member of the Hallettsville Chamber to receive event newsletters!

 

TASTE: Award winning BBQ Chicken & Beef, Salads, Sandwiches, Tacos, Kolache, and Speciality Coffee!

Drink Wine: We participate in the www.texasindependencewinetrail.com with Majek Vineyard & Winery leading as an tourist and local entertainment venue and next door is the Moravia Vineyard & Winery!

Drink Beer: Internationally known, Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas! Check out Howard’s in Shiner and Sammy’s Night Club and The Ice House in Hallettsville.

 

WALK: Hallettsville City Park to see the carved bison public art created by famous wood carver James Phillips, visit the Lavaca County Museum for a history lesson and stroll downtown to visit antique shops (Hallettsville Florists & Gifts, Found), and dress shops (GypsySpirit) and the best cup of coffee and sweets (Sweet Chic Boutique). There’s always something  you’ll find!

 

EXPLORE: Our area’s legacy Library, Museums, and movie Theatres. Each city has a “must-see” experience! Hallettsville, Yoakum, Sweet Home, and Moulton. Most recently, Lavaca County has had a new opening of The Mitchell Museum, the first museum dedicated to black history, located on FM 155. 

 
There is always something going on that involves history, art, food, and music. Our chamber webs site is www.hallettsville.com and our Gallery is www.halletoakgallery.com. Splashway Water Park & Camping offers all day fun, arrive early and miss the noon crowd. We have rolling hills of unmarked biking and running trails. The music scene promises musicians that love to perform to audiences willing to listen and dance. At the Hallet Oak Gallery, the performers we have had are of all ages from new and upcoming to established famous artist that can be found singing original music on Satellite Radio, Sun Radio in Gonzales/Austin; such as, Mark Jungers, Robert Herridge, Jason Keepers, Chuck Hawthorne, Libby Koch, Shelley King, to list a few. You might happen to find a local favorite performer, Chris Rybak  performing a line dance on the square! You might be lucky to catch Preston Pohl (The Voice Performance) visting the neighborhood! And it’s always a treat to hear and watch Los Kolaches performing local and original music.

In Fayette County, not too far away (17 miles) on Valentine’s Day I traveled to Schulenburg, to hear live music by the Pettit Brothers and enjoy a dinner at Senglemann’s Hall. Not too long ago, they had Fred Eaglesmith and his wife, Tif Ginn performing an incredible show of non-stop talent – up close where seats up front could still be had.

Hallettsville, where Hallet Oak Gallery is located, has restaurants that have affordable meals and excellent drinks: local wineries, brewery, margaritas — from a very relaxed atmosphere to upscale – we now have a new restaurant Haley’s Cakery & Cafe.

My favorite is the blueberry and strawberry salad. And also, new is an award winning “designed” gas station: Diane’s Diner where locals go every morning for breakfast. My personal favorite is the Texas sized blueberry pancake for breakfast and club sandwich for lunch.

And in our reach is the Kountry Bakery known for their sweet kolache’s. Grab bbq at Novosad BBQ & Sausage Market, Kolacy Bar-B-Q & Catering for Texas Monthly noted grilled /smoked chicken, or pre-order at Glens Packing Co – all hidden hideaways. Off the beaten path is Hodge Podge, live music for family, gatherings, date night, or couples –sitting on a swing, a deck or inside! We have new clothing stores that feature’s ladies clothing at affordable prices – all stylish: Sweet Chic Boutique that serves stylish coffee and sweets and there is also gifts and flowers from Designs by Donna where tuxes can be rented as well. In Moulton, visit the Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese, a typical small creamery of Friuli the eastern most region of northern Italy – only located in Texas and made with jersey cow milk!
 
To grab a cold beer in a relaxed atmosphere for a short or long visit – be sure to check out The Ice House downtown Hallettsville – a bikers favorite place to stop in and locals consider this their neighborhood bar or find cold beer at any of our restaurants.
 
In Sweet Home there’s a discount leather store Belt’s Unlimited— and in Shiner there’s antique stores and new one. There are several antique stores in Hallettsville – walking distance from the square, always good finds for those that love crystal and silver.

Do: Shop & Games at Brush to Bay Outfitters, Hallettsville:  Brand name apparel! In-door archery and games. Check it out! They sell guns, ammo, archery equipment, fishing equipment, outdoor apparel, knives, optics, and more. Fayette lake is the best fishery close to us in La Grange or coastal waters.

 

Our ongoing offering is our museums, our Texas history, our local brewed beer, and barbecue on a scale that has the comforts of home and pricing that isn’t going to break the bank when bringing the entire family.

Map your four day vacation today! Call each place and make a reservation – we are a small town, so make sure we are open by calling and planning in advance! Say you’re visiting the Gallery to see if you can get a “discount” for a hotel room!

Check List

  1. Food

2, Drink

3. Museum

4. Gallery  (The best days are Saturday to visit Hallet Oak Gallery: 11 AM to #PM,  yet we are open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Come in an say hi to Harley, our operations manager!)

5. Movie  Night (Three to choose from in our county!)

6.  Library Browse (Always something to see and do for free!)

7. Winery Night

8. Bar Night (Sometimes it hard to buy 1 drink without staying for at least an hour and then maybe you can buy a round for the generous folks around!)

9. Live Music Night

10. Live Plays  (Check with local chamber.)

Suggestions A – Z

a) Buy apples (what’s in season) at Farmers Market which is located across from Walmart Hallettsville! (And wear A smile!)

b) Baby stroll at our many parks! That’s four parks just in Lavaca County! Bring your tennis shoes. There’s also several open tennis courts in Hallettsville! (Plan early morning or  early evening in the summertime!)

c) Bring your camera, lots to photograph!

d) Dine at new place and try the special – including asking for the local favorite drink!

l) Lie down and relax! No chores today! We have numerous relaxing nail salons and even downtown! (Pick up a local magazine in the new stands.)

m) Your money goes a long way in small towns – bring cash or credit cards!

n) Never pass a bake sale  (It’s always “nice” to buy at least one thing – it’s for a good cause and it tastes good!)

o) Gas stations are always open! Check out Morton’s Gas Station for freshly made snacks! Or check out Hoffer’s grocery store. (These are fast places to pick up steaks to grill.)

p)  Pick up delicious pecans at the park! (But don’t shake the trees -it’s against the law!)

q) See our beauty queens  on our beautiful floats, call the chamber closest to you for when the parades are planned!

r) Run a 5 or 10 K in Hallettsville (Check with the Chamber for the next one!)

s) That’s easy, shop at a locally owned stores! )Ask the chamber where they are located!)

t) See running track and turf at a high school football game off of Hwy 90 and Hwy 530!

u) Look up at the stars and milky way! (It’s there, we promise, unless it’s cloudy, then it’s not our fault!)

v) Make a everyday a valentine with two flower shops near by! (There’s no excuses for not giving at least a yellow rose of Texas!)

w) Catch a water wave  at Splashway! It’s a 15 minute drive from Hallettsville. (Worth it! And supports our community!)

 z) Book where you want to sleep so you don’t have to drive far! So many choices!

 
(Our biggest asset is safety because of the values of the community.)

We have the best affordable movie theaters, and if you can catch a play at Gas Light Theatre – it’s an experience not to be forgotten – because of the historical atmosphere, the brewery.

 I do have a story of my car getting a flat tire, I was standing on the side of a country road wondering who to call, and within five minutes, a father and son stopped, changed the tire and took off without asking for a fee. They fixed it so fast, it was short of amazing. I didn’t know that would happen. So many people don’t want to get involved or take the time to help, and these men acted like it was their duty to help, as if they had no doubts that they would help. I didn’t hear the father telling the son what he had to do, they worked quickly as a team. They responded that fast working together.” – Mieko Mahi, Community Development Volunteer. 
Attendee at Hallet Oak Gallery buys a Larry Charles watercolor!
Attendee enjoys a student show by the Hallettsville High School art students at Hallet Oak Gallery.
Proud owner of a Larry Charle’s watercolor painting purchased at Hallet Oak Gallery!