GRAPES NOT GATES

Gruene Music & Wine Fest returns for milestone 40th year

Robert Earl Keen headlines this year's Gruene Music & Wine Festival.

Robert Earl Keen/Facebook

As much as we all admire the bratitude of Charli XCX, some folks just can’t handle A CL crowds. For those who want to remain sociable without being jostled by shirtless bros, the 40th annual Gruene Music & Wine Festival offers a much gentler fall experience.

The annual shindig is returning October 8-11, offering four days of tastings, live music, and artisan markets centered around the town’s charming historic district. Tickets are now on sale.

The Hill Country tradition began in 1987 as a one-day showcase of Texas country and Americana music before growing into a four-day affair. In the subsequent years, the organizers drafted breweries and wineries to join in on the fun.

This year brings some familiar favorites to the musical lineup, including Robert Earl Keen, Shane Smith & the Saints, The SteelDrivers, and Dos Borrachos featuring Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager. Yes, that’s a lot of Americana and country, but anyone who has ever listened to “The Road Goes on Forever” knows that hardly means sedate.

The festival is a fundraising powerhouse for the United Way of Comal and Guadalupe Counties’ programs addressing food insecurity, mental health, housing support, and more. In 2025, the event raised $214,500, a goal it hopes to break in its milestone year.

As always, festival passes are à la carte. Those who want to discover a new favorite Pinot Noir or IPA need to purchase tasting tickets and stroll through dozens of booths. Individual shows are priced separately to let guests pick and choose their favorites. And if daytrippers simply want to soak up the quaint atmosphere, Gruene’s restaurants, bars, and boutiques will be open for business."

At its heart, Gruene Music & Wine Fest has always been about bringing people together," said Cami Lehmann, Vice President of Marketing for organizers Momentous Concepts, in a statement. “We're excited to make this year's festival our best yet."

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FLIGHTS OF FANCY

Southerleigh, Bakery Lorraine debut at San Antonio airport

Southerleigh/ Facebook

The airport Southerleigh will serve salads and signature pretzels.

Boarding a plane may be a hellish gauntlet of bumped knees and scrambling for overhead space, but at least San Antonio International Airport (SAT) passengers now can have a much more pleasant experience before a flight. Bakery Lorraine and Southerleigh will open July 20 in Terminal B.

The Bakery Lorraine is an edited version of its other locations, selling flaky French pastries and boxes of rainbow macarons. A grab-and-go case stocks salads and sandwiches for the harried traveler, while a full coffee bar gives wings to those taking a red-eye.

Although its offerings aren't quite as extensive as its Pearl flagship, Southerleigh is much more full-service operation. The menu is a collection of greatest hits, from appetizers such as pimento queso and soft pretzels with beer cheese to entrees like a southern-fried chicken sandwich and crispy redfish filet. Unlike Lorraine, it has a full bar serving cocktails and the restaurant’s beer, which might make the abovementioned boarding process both more enjoyable and more precarious.

SAT has long relied on national chains for its hospitality and retail outlets. However, it is increasingly taking the lead of other regional hubs, like Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, to center local culture. A bevy of San Antonio-owned concepts have debuted at the airport in recent months, including Pharm Table, Tre Trattoria, and chef Johnny Hernandez’s Southtown Market.

That meant that some chain eateries — Alamo Alehouse, Charleys Cheesesteaks, Pronto!, and Sbarros Pizza — got the boot. But it’s a small price to pay for restaurants that James Beard and Michelin recognition under their belt. And, besides, there will soon be a new Popeye’s.

The dining additions are part of a $2.5 billion plan to expand and modernize the airport. Construction on the cornerstone project, a third terminal, began in December 2024 and is expected to debut in 2028.

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