Lockhart wants you to know it’s not just for smoked meat.

We usually try to make our annual trip to Av’s personal Mecca: Lockhart, Texas, and this year, he and Shugie hit the big three (Black’s, Smitty’s, and Kreuz).

While those two were collecting the finest smoked meats in all the land for our sampling later on, Shug and I decided to spend more time exploring downtown.

Many of my friends growing up considered themselves whatever we called latchkey kids, but I was a library kid. They were my free, public babysitter where I could entertain myself very happily for hours. Grateful for that experience, and while I know people who don’t enjoy that environment (let’s face it, library atmosphere depends a lot on the architecture and interior…coziness) but I’ve maybe never met one I didn’t just love.

This is the Dr Eugene Clark Library, dedicated 1900, in downtown Lockhart:

Dr. Eugene Clark Library, Lockhart TX

It’s the first city library in Texas, and the longest continually-operating library in the state.

Dr. Eugene Clark Library, Lockhart TX

Dr. Eugene Clark Library, Lockhart TX

Dr. Eugene Clark Library, Lockhart TX


Sidenotes:

Caldwell County Courthouse, Lockhart TX

The Caldwell County Courthouse is beyonddd

Bluebonnet Records, Lockhart TX

Bluebonnet Records, Lockhart TX

Dead Kennedys on vinyl, beside Fleetwood Mac Rumours

Really enjoyed Bluebonnet Records

The Culinary Room, Lockhart TX

Reeses Cookie, The Culinary Room, Lockhart TX

had one of the great cookies of my life at The Culinary Room

beyond thrilled to visit Commerce Gallery while the Leslie Lewis Sigler show was up — here in Texas Monthly.