Waxahachie: A delightful getaway from DallasCome for the History…Stay for the CharmBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadyI have driven through Waxahachie a zillions times—whenever I go to Austin or San Antonio and the summer when my daughter worked at Scarborough Faire I would drive up twice each weekend. But I was never smart enough to stay there. Until Recently. And I felt like a discovered a charming little getaway, with delicious food, great shopping, and friendly locals. Waxahachie is only 35 minutes from downtown Dallas (closer than some of the suburbs) and offers a perfect afternoon for a girls shopping spree or a memorable night in a cozy b and b. Shopping Around the Square
Chatfield & Co.
Browse around the square and I know you will find your own personal favorites and treasures. I am still sorry I did not buy the three strands of pearls for $3.50. What was I thinking? You can never have too many pearls—especially at that price. Don't MissIf you are lucky enough to find the Webb gallery open, be sure to stop in. Locals fondly call this their folk art museum. I walked by twice before a local convinced the owner to let us peek in. Official hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm, but it is open by appointment Webb Gallery Delicious Dining
Dove’s Nest Best Barbeque There is a lot of buzz about a newer restaurant, Hennington’s—but I have not tried it yet. One Fine DayI ended my delightful day in Waxahachie at the OneFineDay Day Spa Salon, Salon, Boutique and Tanning Center. They offer Platinum, Gold and Silver packages designed to soothe the working body or improve and enhance yourself. I only had time for a pedicure (which is called a foot facial and includes a natural sugar exfoliating scrub), and my toes were tickled prink (actually OPI Sweetheart) with the results. I will be back for more. OneFineDay Day Spa, Salon, Boutique and Tanning Center Other Things To DoIf you are a history and heritage buff, you might enjoy the self-guided Downtown Walking Tour. It starts at the Old Ellis County Jail and brochures are available in the courthouse and almost every restaurant and store. The Waxahachie Courthouse square and its immediate vicinity contain one of the finest concentrations of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture in the State. The downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is dotted with Texas Historical Medallions. It evolved because the crisscrossing of several rail lines in the 1870’s and 80”s gave cotton farmers in the productive backlands around Waxahachie a convenient means of shipping their crops to market. With their newly acquired wealth these farmers and their families demanded quality goods and services. The mercantile trade responded and a thriving town sprang up where a few years before their had only been native grasslands. As you take the walking tour, picture yourself in the midst of a bustling street scene in 1900. The newly completed Ellis County Courthouse is the hub of the downtown and its lawn is dotted with groups discussing the current price of cotton. Small boys dart around the gaslights, and buggies and wagons line the brick and wood-block paved streets.
It is impossible to view tall buildings from their front sidewalks. One of the best ways to see the entire square is by talking around the sidewalk bordering the Courthouse lawn. Look beyond the alterations. Lower levels were often changed in an attempt to “modernize” for business purposes. Learn to see beyond these changes and find the original spirit of the architecture. Where a building has escaped remodeling at street level, inspect the high quality of carpentry (entry doors, window framing). Where To StayI always say I like to stay at places where they put chocolates on my pillow. The Bonny Nook Inn goes one better with giant chunky chocolate chip cookies on the dresser. I asked owner Bonnie Franks for the recipe, but she would not share. But she does share all the wonderful things in her beautiful B and B, The BonnyNook Inn which offers old world elegance with 20th century comforts. The morning starts with a candlelight breakfast. The day I was there we enjoyed fresh orange juice, a cheesy herb soufflé, warm fresh peaches with almonds, and a shoe fly coffeecake. If you are a super gourmet you can plan ahead for the Diner’s Delight—nouveau Victorian haute Texas Cuisine in a seven course private dining menu for $45.00 a person. You get a choice of entrée and dessert; the other courses are chef’s surprise. Between meals, enjoy a Victorian parlor with game table, piano and comfortable seating areas. The upstairs and downstairs porches overlook gardens and historic homes. Each of the five bedrooms is unique. Most of the bed covers were hand knit by Bonnie’s mom. There are interesting Jacuzzi tubs and features in the rooms. Ask for a description when you make your reservation. It is a romantic weekend you might want the room with a two-person tub. If you want to sleep late, you may want an upstairs room. I woke up at 7am in my large downstairs room because it is close to the road. This was the first b and b in Waxahachie When To Visit Waxahachie
History lovers will enjoy the spring Scarborough Faire, which starts the weekend after Easter and runs through May. Open Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day Monday 10 am to 7 pm Begin your holidays with the Candlelight Home Tour. Brighten your spirits by strolling the glimmering streets of Waxahachie. Twelve unqiue homes, spanning over two centuries don their holiday finery for three weekends. Each dazzling weekend showcases four bedecked properties. Bring Home Some Great RecipesThe Dove's Nest Restaurant Cookbook GINGERBREAD AND ALL THE TRIMMINGS. The cookbooks can be purchased at the Ellis County Museum, 201 S. College, Waxahachie, TX 75165, 972-937-0681. They are also available at the Chamber of Commerce. They are a fundraising project for the Waxahachie Junior Service League. Know Before You GoFor more information 972-938-9617 Directions From DallasWhen coming from the north, head south on I-35E, you will take exit 401B - 287 Business. You will want to turn left on 287 Business which will turn into Main Street. Turn right at Elm Street, then turn left on Jefferson which will be 2 streets down. You will find the Dove's Nest parking lot on the left before you reach College Street. |
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Why does little town seem to have so much fashion savvy? Maybe it is because of relative newcomers like Robin Chatfield, owner of Chatfield Designs. Dressed in a flowered Ralph Lauren denim jacket, pin stripe capris and a hot pink top, she looked like something out of a Santa Fe fashion magazine when she met me for lunch at Dove’s Nest. No surprise that she lived in Santa Fe for years before moving to Dallas to work in the Dallas Design District. Robin oozes taste out of every pore. And her kind of style seems to be the new direction for some of the trendier stores around the square. She shows her stuff in a space that is half “loggia” (the trendy word for her open garage space) and a small boutique. The good news is the Robin consults and can help you make your life look as wonderful and inspired as hers. She does hard surface design for remodel and new home construction. 
If you want to makeover your wardrobe at a reasonable price you will love Backroom Raggs. This consignment shop offers top brands at very fair prices. And if items don’t move quickly, prices go down each month. I saw a two piece linen Chico’s outfit for $21. I am a big Chico fan and was impressed by how much Chico’s stuff they had. I was tempted by two necklaces, one antique with earrings ($18) another a silver woven mesh lariat ($11). But the best buys are in the backroom, where I saw a coat by a famous Finnish designer that I know originally cost over $300 and was marked down to $12.
Backroom Raggs
The Dove’s Nest is a legend. I would drive back just for the apricot chicken salad and certainly for the berry bread pudding. Desserts past the highest test—I had just come back from eight days of sampling bread puddings in New Orleans and I judged Dove’s Nest Bread Pudding the winner of the entire South. ( I will however, continue this research, so if you know any other exceptional bread puddings, please let me know.
The Dove’s Nest offers more than food. It is a gathering of New American Cuisine, Antiques, Home Accents, Gifts and Browsing. Owners Cindy and Andrew Burch live in a loft upstairs.
Be sure to look up because the buildings were designed to be viewed by a person on foot or in an open carriage. Vision overhead as not hampered by automobile roofs so builders devoted greater attention to the rooflines, and cornices were lavished with details.
If you are a house tour buff, you will love the Gingerbread Trail Historic Home Tour and Arts and Crafts Tour the first weekend in June.