by Phil Houseal | May 10, 2023 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country
May 10, 2023–(NOTE: Joining the scrum of fans telling their connection to Willie Nelson on his 90th birthday, I’m resharing the story of the time he came to the Texas Hill Country to film a movie.) I was perched on the low limb of a live oak tree. The sun was...
by Phil Houseal | May 8, 2023 | All Articles, Events, History, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Exclusive story for ArtsAliveSA May 8, 2023–When Chad Matthews, then a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, and producer, decided to start an independent film festival back in 2010, why did he choose Fredericksburg, a tiny Texas town far from the hills of Hollywood?...
by Phil Houseal | May 3, 2023 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
May 3, 2023–Each week I sit across the table from five gentle men. If this were a different time in American history, rather than sharing breakfast tacos, we would be trying to kill each other. One is British, a native of County Durham, England. If this were 1776, I...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 26, 2023 | All Articles, Education, People of the Hill Country
April 26, 2023–I recently decided to replace the shade tree in my front yard. It died about, oh, 28 years ago, so I figured it was time. I dutifully researched what genus of tree to get. It had to be quick growing, yet not trashy; able to get by on little water, yet...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 19, 2023 | All Articles, Events, Music, Philosophy
April 19, 2023–Music stands have always bothered me, but I couldn’t pinpoint the reason. I remember buying my first one as a 5th-grade snare drummer. It was a clever contraption that folded up to fit in a backpack. Handy. But it was also flimsy when set up. Even a...
