The Round Top Girls Weekend Trip
In mid-October, the Round Top Register team, aka the Round Top Girls, descended on the area to participate in the first-ever Round Top Wedding Show. (For the record, the Wedding Show is soooo worth the trip. I can’t wait for next year’s version.) Although it still isn’t clear whether we were working at playing or playing at working, our destination was back roads fun. To my fellow Round Top Girls, Katie, Lorie, art director extraordinaire Jennifer Pickard, and phenomenal photographer Dixie Ray Hamilton, from me, Cammy Jones, lifestyle editor, “Remember, what goes on in Fayetteville stays in Fayetteville.”
A former Texas Governor’s daughter, Ima Hogg, and friends discovered Round Top in the 1960s, moving in prized, historic “Texas” houses and buildings to create a village perfect for weekend gatherings. Creative visionaries continue to make Fayette County a charming hub for preservation using former commercial and residential buildings for overnight accommodations, award-winning restaurants, shops and entertainment and wedding venues.
The five of us from Austin, Houston and beyond met up at lovely Prost!, a beautiful downtown wine bar situated on Round Top’s soon-to-be famous “Block 29.” We enjoyed festive pink sangria and an artisanal cheese plate on the patio as our girlfriends gathered from hither and yon.
From Prost!, we headed over to Teague’s Tavern where the owners encourage everyone to “eat, drink and be joyful!” Mission accomplished. We feasted on huge burgers laden with everything from chile con queso to “griddled” jalapenos. The wine was cold and the conversation lively. Area musicians play regularly at Teague’s. This friendly spot was the perfect casual dinner locale for our group to relax, laugh and to re-connect with each other—and ourselves.
From dinner, we caravanned to Fayetteville for our stay at the incredible Red and White Inn above the Red and White Gallery. The footprint of the Red and White encompasses a former movie house and the oldest commercial building in Fayette County. The historic buildings were carefully and artfully restored by Joan and Jerry Herring of Houston. Each guest room is decorated in (and named for) a specific color palette. All are appointed with luxurious bedding, fluffy linens and filled with amazing photography and incredible, eclectic art. The inn features four guest rooms, all with private baths, and a wonderful common area where we gathered in our pj’s for bubbly champagne, catching up and more laughter.
Before settling in for the night, we strolled across the street to Lickskillet, one of Fayetteville’s signature festivals. The Black Cat Choir was playing at the street dance, so we had a live soundtrack for our entire evening.
Breakfast at the Red and White Inn was another bright spot in our girls-only weekend. A wide assortment of help-yourself local treats were available in the well-stocked, beautiful, sunny kitchen filled with antiques and more great art. Guests enjoy coffee indoors around comfy dining tables or outside in the lovely screened porch.
Grab your girls—mothers, daughters, sisters and friends—for an amazing weekend in Fayette County.
The Round Top Girls’ Perfect Weekend Packing List
NEW pajamas (A good excuse to trade in a worn out t-shirt for cute pj’s.)
A cooler full of sparkling water, champagne, good cheese and chocolate!
Fun paper goods such as cups and cocktail napkins (If you forget your stylish supplies, red Solo cups and paper towels work fine in a pinch.)
Magazines to share (The Round Top Register is always an excellent choice.)
A word game and cards
Sun hat, sunscreen and a rain poncho for outdoor adventures
Party favors (Think monogrammed koozies, candles, perfume, bubbles, cheese wafers and more chocolate!)
Cash (As we discovered, sometimes the Internet in the Roundtopolis™ goes down, and you need hard, cold cash to buy sangria and other necessities.)
The Round Top Girls’ Get Advice
Practical advice from 17-year-old Will Cantu to his party-going, old-gray-mare of a mother, Lorie
1) Don’t dance on the table. Your balance isn’t what it used to be.
2) Don’t mix sweets and liquor. Remember that ugly red velvet cake incident on your 21st birthday.
3) Don’t let a woman who has been drinking paint your toenails. This should be self-explanatory.
4) Don’t have a pillow fight in your underwear. It’s nobody’s fantasy.
5) If you decide to do something stupid, social media is not your friend.
The Round Top Girls’ Recipe for a Savory Snack
Freddie’s Cheese Wafers
½ cup (1 stick) softened butter
2 ½ cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon hot sauce, or more to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
pecan halves (optional)
Cream the butter using a fork. Mix in the cheese and sauces; stir to blend. Slowly stir in the flour until just blended. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a roll about 1 ½” around. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for several hours.
When chilled, slice the dough into ¼ inch coins and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. If desired, press pecan halves into them.
Bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and lightly crisp.
The Round Top Girls’ Recipe for a Sweet Snack
Lorie’s Gingersnaps
¾ cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
sugar for rolling the cookies
Cream shortening; gradually add 1 cup sugar beating at medium speed of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda, salt and spices; mix well. Add about ¼ of dry mixture at a time to creamed mixture, mixing until smooth after each addition. Chill dough at least 1 hour. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for about 8 minutes for soft cookies and up to 10 minutes for crunchy cookies. (Tops will crack.) Cool on wire racks. Yield: 4 ½ dozen.
Baker’s Note: For added decadence, serve the cookies alongside a block of cream cheese topped with peach preserves. The contrasting colors are striking, and the combination mimics the rich goodness of cheesecake.
Let Your Hair Down
“You said you and me was gonna get outta town and, for once, just really let our hair down. Well, darlin’, look out, ’cause my hair is comin’ down!”
Thelma Dickinson Thelma & Louise
by Cammy Jones
photos by Round Top Girls