Views of the Neighborhood – Book and Bees Festival

We are going three miles down the road to Bee Cave Texas. We are visiting Bee Cave’s first-ever book festival, Books & Bees. As a hub of literacy for children and adults, the Bee Cave Public Library hosts programs year-round that serve hundreds of families in the area and beyond. The City of Bee Cave is dedicated to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. The one-of-a-kind Books & Bees Festival will help Bee Cave accomplish two missions – share fantastic literature with kids and adults alike, featuring high-profile, bestselling authors – and teach residents and their kiddos more about bees. We are catered by Josephine House of Austin. Our entertainment is Roy Orbison.

Menu

English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich – Chicken sausage, harissa aioli, Grafton cheddar & scrambled egg

Steak & Eggs – 44 Farms bavette steak, roasted marble potatoes, red chimichurri, sunny side up egg

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes – Strawberries, blueberries, maple syrup, house cultured butter

Egg Salad Tartine – Dill, radish, sunflower shoots, capers on seeded wheat toast

Avocado Toast – House-made hot sauce, lime zest & sunny egg

Josephine House Burger – House-made bun, Grafton cheddar, greens, grilled red onion, harissa aïoli, frites

HuevosRancheros – House-made corn tostada,sunny side up eggs,black beans, ranchero sauce, queso cotija, cilantro

Shrimp & Grits – Barton Spring Mills grits, lemon, thyme, red pepper flake

Big Chopped Salad – Roasted chicken, pepitas, blackberries, goat feta & citronette

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s get going.

Here is the front of the library all decorated for the festival.

Yup, we are in the right place for the Books and Bees Festival.

This proves it.

A shot of the tents set up on the green.

The welcome tent.

Where you can get a bee finger puppet. (They wouldn’t let me have one.)

A lot of folks around that tent.

No wonder. It’s where headbands can be made.

Here is author Laekan Zea Kemp talking about her book.

There are author panels too. Here Eric Pohl takes a question

And for the bees nice flower seeds to be planted

Here is the Barnes & Noble crew getting ready to sell some books.

I hope you enjoyed the trip to Bee Cave. Now is the time for a cold one, food, and music. I hope you have a great week.

98 comments

  1. What fun! I love these events.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So true. Thanks, Darlene

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Lovely photos. Thank you 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 😁 Thank you for the comment, Asitha.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, John 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Looks like a lot of fun. Interesting combo with books and bees too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think they got an alliteration theme going.

      Like

      1. Alliteration always seems to work.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It does. 😁

        Like

  4. What a fun idea! Your neighborhood really is quite creative and you definitely help to advertise their works!!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Your community has the best events, John! I’m sorry you didn’t get a finger puppet. They looked cute! Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maybe next year. The kids sure liked them.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. What a great day. I too think you earned a finger puppet. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Lauren. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  7. What a fun event! (Except for denying you a finger puppet, of course.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Liz.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, John.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. henhouselady · ·

    Thank you for sharing your adventure. Our festival season in Indiana starts this month.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well, I hope you enjoy it Molly Shea.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Pancakes, please, with a side of honey. Did they sell honey?
    Such a great cause. I love watching the bees visit our multiple hydrangea plants. Just starting to see buds so it won’t be long.
    Roy Orbison, what a talent. Loved his music from ‘Crying’, ‘Ooby Dooby’ to the Traveling Wilburys.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I loved Roy too, Steve. This video is a good one. There are stars galore as back up singers.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. John, I did Ty, or couldn’t, find the video in your story. But I know the concert you’re referencing. I believe it’s the night club B&W. Let me know if I missed it somewhere.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. You are the first to mention that it is missing. It is there now.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. That’s what friends are for! (Who sang that line? It wasn’t Roy.)

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Stevie Wonder.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Of course. I knew
        you’d know.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Goodnight, John.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Good night, Steve.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. What a fun event, John, and those Lemon Ricotta pancakes sound like a delicious splurge. 🙂 Happy May!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I would like to try those for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Looks like a nice outing with a worthy purpose. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was fun. Thanks, Tim.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. No finger puppet for you? Darn! 🙂 Sounds like a fun time for all.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. it was fun, Joan. Thanks,

      Like

  13. Gwen M. Plano · ·

    Nice event, John. But I’m befuddled as to why they didn’t think you a child, most worthy of a bee finger puppet. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know right. maybe it was the cigar. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I’m tempted to check this locale out…I adopted “Ms. Bee” for my substitute teacher alter ego! Ha!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ms. Bee sounds like a good one.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. What a lovely event! Did you sell some books there? Today I think I’ll see how Texas-style shrimp and grits taste!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I was not invited to attend, Noelle. These were all Barnes and Nobel authors.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Well, pooh!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    What a great event! I love the name Bees Cave too. Thanks for taking us along.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Was named for the caves that have bees in them.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

        I like it!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. A great combination – books and bees! And wildflower seeds to feed the bees. It looked like a beautiful day. Thanks for a lovely brunch!

    Like

    1. It was a beautiful day. Rain threat in the morning then beautiful afternoon. Thanks, Jo. I hope you have a super week.

      Like

  18. Maybe if you’d have displayed the finger puppet on a different finger???

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That was probably the reason.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Sorry they wouldn’t give you one of those finger puppets, John. Bet Lucy and Twiggy would’ve enjoyed seeing that! Looks like a great day for a festival — nice to see there are so many opportunities for fun/educational events in your area.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Debbie. Yes ther are a lot of things to do.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Any festival that involves books must be good!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. That looks like great fun, John. I can see that one of the wonderful things about Texas is the sunny weather. The event looks bright, colorful, and welcoming. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes we do have sunny weather for sure. Thanks, Diana.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for sharing, Michael.

      Like

  22. I looove your way of celebrating, John! The photos are showing a fireworks of creativity. Thanks for sharing these wonderful impressions, and have a nice rest of Sunday! Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you , Michael. have a lovely evening.

      Like

  23. Bees & books, what might be better, dear John?! Two “b” or not to “b”. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Excellent question, Dear Maria.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 😁😁😁

        Liked by 1 person

      2. 🍻🍤🍤🍤

        Liked by 1 person

  24. petespringerauthor · ·

    Hopefully, it will become an annual event. Protect our books and our bees.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes I think it will be.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. What a great event, John. It’s so nice that you have these sorts of events in your community.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We do enjoy them. Thanks for going along, Robbie.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. It looks like it was fun! Too bad they didn’t have enough bee finger puppets for the big kids at heart too. 😀 The image of it works though.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Deborah.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. This looks like so much fun! What a wonderful way to get kids to the library.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know right?

      Liked by 1 person

  28. This guided tour was the bee’s knees Boss.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you came along.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. What a nice outing, John. That finger puppet is cute – I hope they had more in stock!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They has tons. Thanks, Barbara.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. I’m glad it was successful.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. This looks like a really fun festival!! It would have been a great place to have a booth! One to keep in mind for next year!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This was by invitation only. Barnes and Noble directed

      Like

  32. This looks like so much fun. And the food! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Debby.

      Liked by 2 people

  33. […] Weather     By Matt Goff, Sitka Nature: You Are Here, Now         By John W. Howell, Fiction Favorites: Views of the Neighborhood – Book and Bees Festival         Workplace Coach Blog: Caregiver Wipeout: Caught in a Vise Between My […]

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    1. Thanks for sharing my post.

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  34. Thanks for a wonderful outing, John. And I can’t resist saying — you’re the bee’s knees!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha ha ha. Good one Teagan. Thanks.

      Like

  35. Bees and Books – talk about a perfect pairing. Thank you for the tour, John. I keep trying to do my part for the bees.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m glad you do. Thanks, Dale

      Liked by 2 people