February 5th, 2013 by carriagehouse
Although it is only the first week of February, it is obvious that spring is on its way!! The Tulip Trees are all blooming. The Azaleas are setting their buds and there is new growth on all of the rose bushes.
I have already started to work on cleaning out the gardens to get them back in shape for you to enjoy. As a preview of what is to come, please enjoy this video taken from last year’s blooms.
January 21st, 2013 by carriagehouse
March 8th, 2012 by carriagehouse
St. Patrick’s ”A Celtic Celebration Tasting Event“
Come on down to the KnightLight Theater and enjoy some Irish Mead from both the Enchanted Manor Winery and Red Road Vineyard & Winery. Not sure what Mead is? Mead is an old Irish Traditional Wine and is one of the wines and it is being offered to taste only at the Knight Light Theater on St Patrick’s Day.
Tickets for the St. Patrick Day Party are $5.00 and can be purchased from 1PM to 7PM.
While you are enjoying your Irish Mead, sit back and enjoy the original comedy skit featuring “Lucky the Leprechaun” from 7pm to 8pm. Later, dance the night away with live music from Borderline.
Don’t forget to put on your green for the costume contest!
$15.00 at the door for first available seating or show your wristband from earlier that day for $10.00.
Concession bar is open with desserts and food available.
Contact: 903-665-8546 or 903-445-3966 to reserve tickets.
March 8th, 2012 by carriagehouse
THE ART EVENT
The ART Event At The Bakery Restaurant, 201West Austin, Jefferson, TX, 903-665-2253
A team of art instructors will guide you using a “patent pending” teaching method which streamlines classical and traditional techniques allowing novice painters to have a good time and be amazed at what they can accomplish in just a few hours.
All supplies furnished.
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo will be served.
Bring your own wine or drink of choice (tea provided)
Fee: $45
February 4th, 2012 by carriagehouse
One of the challenges you have when you live in the swamps and wetlands of East Texas are Mosquitoes. We grow ‘em big here and when when they bite, you know it. It is a shame too! So many pretty nights our guests here at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast have been ran back inside from the pests.
We have tried everything to combat them. We have burned citronella candles. We ran the little Off fans and finally we just started putting cans of bug spray around the property for the guests to use. Nothing says a romantic evening, then the smell of DEET.
So last summer, I began a campaign to get a bat house.
We have 32 native species of bats here in Texas, and as we all know, they LOVE to eat mosquitoes. In fact, the Little Brown Bat can eat between 500 and 1000 mosquitos an HOUR!!
So for Christmas, Santa brought me a bat house and today Santa put it up for me. It is outside the Ruth Lester room in the Garden Courtyard. We positioned it in a place where the bats would be happy roosting and our guests can watch them at dusk.
So, now all I need are some bats.
February 4th, 2012 by carriagehouse
Before
After
Like everyone else, we have a project list about a mile long.
One of our many projects is to get some awesome breakfast photos for our website. So I commissioned my favorite photographer, Tom, and we had a photo shoot this morning right after breakfast. The Pasta Frittata was colorful and really did photograph well! As is not unusual for us, we were quickly distracted by cleaning and giving directions to the guests. When we walked back into the kitchen we had a surprise. The plate had been licked clean and The Bug was looking very guilty!!
February 2nd, 2012 by carriagehouse
It ain’t easy being an innkeeper. The hours are long and the laundry never seems to end. There is always one room that needs to be cleaned or needs some sort of repair. You live your life in a constant state of being one project behind where you should be.
However, there are some real pluses to the job. We LOVE our guests (really do!). We get to experiment in the kitchen a lot (not always with good results) and we get to live in a beautiful old home full of stories and charm. One of the other big pluses to the job is drinking awesome coffee…every morning.
I did not realize that I had become a coffee snob until last week.
Tom and I went to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) Innkeeping show in Little Rock, AR. It was awesome!! I got to see some friends I only see once a year and learn some amazing cool things (watch for some new stuff to come).
However, the coffee in the hotel and at the show was AWFUL. I mean really AWFUL!! I mean rot gut! Blech!!
We have been ordering our coffee from a roaster in Shreveport called Jelks Coffee for some time now. We change the flavors for the season and order whole bean so that we grind fresh coffee every morning. Right now we are working our way through Mardi Gras/ Valentines Day flavors. We drink what the guests drink and I forgot what bad coffee tastes like. YUCK!!
We spent a lot of time at this year’s show talking about why bed and breakfasts are a “Better Way to Stay” then hotels. Well here is one reason. We will NEVER serve you a bad cup of coffee ever and we will ALWAYS serve your coffee in a fabulous mug (think a Deneen Pottery Mug) not a Styrofoam cup.
A good cup of coffee to start the day really does make us a Better Way to Stay!!
January 5th, 2012 by carriagehouse
Here is a short fun video that I put together of the 2011 New Year’s Eve Ball at Jefferson’s Carnegie Library. I hope you enjoy!!
December 21st, 2011 by carriagehouse
RESTAURANTS
HOLIDAY SEASON, 2011-2012
* AUNTIE SKINNER’S RIVERBOAT CLUB & RESTAURANT
107 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-7121
Christmas Eve: 6:00 a.m.-???
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 6:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.
New Year’s Day: 6:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
* AUSTIN STREET BISTRO
117 E. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-9700
Closed: December 24-January 9, 2012
* BAKERY RESTAURANT
201 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2253
Open: Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Open: New Year’s Day: 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
* BEJE’S DINER
118 E. Henderson
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-7055
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve and Day ???
* BLACK SWAN
210 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(214) 665-1958
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 5:00 p.m.-???
* BROOKSHIRE’S GROCERY
404 E. Broadway
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-3601
Open: Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* DON JUAN’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
402 N. Walcott
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-6407
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* EXCELSIOR HOUSE HOTEL
211 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2513
Christmas Eve & Day: 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
New Year’s Eve & Day: 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Breakfast served. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
* FIVE “D” CATTLE COMPANY
Hwy 49 West
Avinger, TX
(903) 562-1291
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* HAMBURGER STORE
203 Market St.
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-3251
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* JOSEPH’S RIVERPORT BBQ
201 N. Polk
Jefferson, TX
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* KITT’S KORNBREAD SANDWICH & PIE BAR
125 N. Polk
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-0505
Open: Christmas Eve: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Open: New Year’s Day: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
* LAMACHE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
124 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2631 or 665-6177
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve:
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED @ 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m
Closed: New Year’s Day
* MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT
Hwy 59
Jefferson, TX
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Closed: New Year’s Eve & Day
* RIVER BEND RESTAURANT
Uncertain, TX
(903) 679-9000
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Open: New Year’s Day: 12:00 noon-7:00 p.m.
* STILLWATER INN
203 E. Broadway
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8415
Open: Christmas Eve: 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Closed: New Year’s Day: Closed
* TEX-STOP SUBS & GRUB
104 S. Walcott (Hwy 49 & Hwy 59)
Jefferson, TX
Open: Christmas Eve: 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Open: Christmas Day: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Open: New Year’s Eve: 6:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight
Open: New Year’s Day: 6:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight
MERCHANTS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
* CITY DRUG
109 W. Lafayette
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2521
Open: Christmas Eve: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* COOTER’S SPIRITS
Hwy 59
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-1018
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* ELLIS POTTERY
Hwy 59 South
(903) 927-1041
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* ENOCH’S STOMP
Harleton, TX
(903) 240-1587
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* FOOTSTEPS
118 N. Vale
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-3338
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
* JEFFERSON GENERAL STORE
113 E. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8481
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* JEFFERSON IMAGES & BLACKBURN’S FACTORY
OUTLET
108 E. Lafayette
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-1128
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day: Closed
Open: New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Open: New Year’s Day: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
* MADE IN THE SHADE
212 E. Austin (next to Old Mill Antiques)
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8966
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* LAFAYETTE GALLERY
123 N. Polk
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-9000
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* MY FATHER’S GARDEN
805 N. Walcott
(903) 665-6051
Closed: Christmas Eve through January
* OLD MILL ANTIQUES
210 E. Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8601
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve & Day: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
* RIVER CITY MERCANTILE
111 Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8270
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m
Closed: New Year’s Day
* ROUTE 49 MOTORCLOTHES
610 N. Polk
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-3349
Open: Christmas Eve: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* TEXSTOP CONVENIENCE STORE & GAS
104 S. Walcott
Jefferson, TX
Open: Christmas Eve & Day (24 hrs.)
Open: New Year’s Eve & Day (24 hrs.)
* TEXAS TEES
605 E. Broadway
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-7256
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* TEXAS TREASURES GIFT SHOP
214 N. Polk
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-3757
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND
Jefferson, TX
(903) 742-8095
Open: Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day through January 15, 2012
* UNIQUE MYSTIQUE
120 W. Lafayette
(903) 665-3382
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
CLOSED: New Year’s Day
* V-MART
505 W. Broadway
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2831
Open: Christmas Eve: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. ???
New Year’s Day:
* YESTERYEAR GIFTS & CLASSY GLITZ BOUTIQUE
102 S. Polk
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8692
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
ATTRACTIONS
HOLIDAY HOURS OF OPERATION
* HISTORIC JEFFERSON RAILWAY
400 E. Austin St.
Jefferson, TX
(866) 398-2038
Open: Christmas Eve: 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* JEFFERSON CARNEGIE LIBRARY
301 W. Lafayette
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-8911
Open: Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* JEFFERSON HISTORICAL MUSEUM
223 Austin
Jefferson, TX
(903) 665-2775
Closed: Christmas Eve & Day
Open: New Year’s Eve 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
* Lafayette Street Vintage Car Museum
112 W. Lafayette St.
Jefferson, TX
(903) 240-6180
Open: Christmas Eve: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: Christmas Day
Open: New Year’s Eve: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day
December 21st, 2011 by carriagehouse
JEFFERSON, TEXAS
WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT
DECEMBER 22-25, 2011
* AUNTIE SKINNER’S RIVERBOAT CLUB & RESTAURANT
Thursday, December 22 “Terry Dorgan” (Country Ballads) @ 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday, December 23: Karaoke @ 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 24: NO BAND
(903) 665-7121
* KARAOKE
Saturday, December 24 @ 8:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight
Location: The Sandwich Shop, 123 W. Austin
(903) 601-2211
* HISTORIC JEFFERSON RAILWAY
Rail of Lights Christmas Train
Thursday, December22 @ 6:00 p.m.
Friday, December 23 @ 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 24 @ 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.,
Sunday, December 25: Closed
Tickets & information: (903) 665-6400 or (866) 398-2038
www.JeffersonRailway.com or www.railoflights.com
* LONE STAR CARRIAGE COMPANY OF JEFFERSON
Historical tours of Jefferson by horse & carriage and Mule Drawn Wagon
Specializing in weddings
Monday-Friday, December 19-23
Groups and special events available by appointment
Departs from corner of Austin & Market (across from the Jefferson Historical
Museum)
(903) 926-8216
www.jeffersontexascarriage.com
Call for reservations
* JEFFERSON PEDAL POWER
122 E. Austin
Bicycles, Trikes, Tandems, Surreys & more
By reservation
(903) 926-5167
www.JeffersonPedalPower.com
* HISTORIC JEFFERSON GHOSTWALK
Friday, December 23 @ 8:00 p.m.
Location: Corner of Austin & Vale St.
Information & additional tours: (903) 665-6289
www.jeffersonghostwalk.com
* LAFAYETTE STREET VINTAGE VEHICLES CAR MUSEUM
112 W. Lafayette
Friday & Saturday, December 23-24 @ 11:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
(903) 240-6180
Call for additional tours
* CULBERSON HOUSE HISTORIC HOME TOUR
403 N. Walnut
(903) 665-7888
www.culbersonhousebandb.com
By appointment. Call for tour dates & time
* HOUSE OF THE SEASONS HISTORIC HOME TOUR
409 S. Alley
Daily @ 11:00 a.m.
(903) 665-8000
Reservations required
www.houseoftheseasons.com
* SINGLETON’S VIRGINIA CROSS HISTORIC HOME TOUR
401 Soda St.
No tour Saturday, December 24
(903) 665-3938 or (214) 725-6232
Call for reservations & additional tour dates and times
* THE GROVE HAUNTED HISTORIC HOME TOUR
405 Moseley
Closed through January 7, 2012
(903) 665-8018
www.thegrove-jefferson.com
Call to confirm tour
* EXCELSIOR HOUSE HOTEL & JAY GOULD RAILCAR TOUR
211 W. Austin
Tours: Monday-Friday @ 2:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday @ 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
(903) 665-2513
Call to confirm tour times
www.theexcelsiorhouse.com
* JEFFERSON HISTORICAL MUSEUM
223 W. Austin
Open daily: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
CLOSED: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
www.jeffersonmuseum.com
* THE GRACEFUL GHOST PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT ON CADDO LAKE
Pontoon Boat tours @ Tuesday-Friday @ 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
Saturday @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Graceful Ghost Paddlewheel Steamboat CLOSED during Winter Season
Location: Shady Glade Marina, 510 Cypress Drive, Uncertain, TX
(903) 789-2238
www.gracefulghost.com
Call for reservations & additional tours
* BILLY CARTER’S GO-DEVIL TOURS ON CADDO LAKE
Location: Johnson’s Ranch in Uncertain, TX
(903) 789-3213
Call for reservations
www.caddoguideservice.com
* CADDO OUTBACK BACKWATER TOURS
Personalized Tours of Caddo Lake
Uncertain, TX
(903) 789-3384
Call for reservations
www.caddooutback.com
* CAPTAIN RON’S GATOR PARK, PETTING ZOO & GARDEN
FM Rd #2198
Uncertain, TX
(903) 789-2100
Open: Tuesday-Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
* JEFFERSON CARNEGIE LIBRARY
301 W. Lafayette
Monday-Thursday @ 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Friday @ 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
(903) 665-8911
www.jeffersoncarnegielibrary.com
Free internet access
* TURNING BASIN RIVERBOAT TOURS
200 Bayou St.
CLOSED until further notice due to low water levels
(903) 665-2222
www.jeffersonbayoutours.com
* CADDO LAKE PADDLEWHEEL TOURS “THE SWAMP THING”
Uncertain, TX
(888) 325-5459 or (903) 789-2101
CLOSED through February 29, 2012
www.caddolakepaddlewheeltours.com
