Should I be embarrassed that my favorite block in Monte Vista has more to do with taste than architectural design? But let me make this clear, what gives this block so much curb appeal is not the aesthetics of its structure, but the core of its yummy factor.
Ok, OK, what drew me in first was the quaint, inviting character of the building. The sign on the door read ‘The Foundry’. It had the semblance of the original little coffee houses where flower power and Peter Max posters decorated otherwise dingy walls.
So I stopped.
What I discovered was that I wasn’t far off, but right on. The Foundry has that wonderful, open ‘anything goes’ nature. From the eclectic assortment of comfy, cozy furnishings, to the good-natured attitude of the staff, this place says everyone is ‘Free to be you and me.’
Located at 2720 McCullough, The Foundry serves up everything from mocha lattes, mango smoothies, frozen chai, the Elvis Drink ( a concoction of peanut butter and banana blended with a Mocha Frappuccino), and Orange Creamsicle (orange juice and Ghirardelli White Chocolate sauce) to tacos and smoked turkey paninis.
But here’s the thing: The Foundry is a non-profit, mostly-volunteer run, free-trade, green-living establishment owned by the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. And when you purchase their $1 coffee (Yes, I said $1) that money goes to the charitable flavor of the month. Outreach manager Cindy Boynton chooses the particular campaign.
Originally The Foundry had limited hours, but responding to the welcoming Monte Vista neighborhood, and other fans like myself, they recently expanded their hours. If you are looking for an awesome little place to chill, study, breakfast or lunch, The Foundry is now open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus they have live music on Thursdays until 9:30 p.m.
The other half of this convivial little block is occupied by the wonderful Lily’s Cookies. The first thing that will draw your attention to this establishment is the colorful bouquet of balloons positioned out front. That means there’s a party inside. Well, not a slap-on-the-back, confetti-to-the-sky party, but with these sweet little gems inside any event could be just that.
Owner Christine McCrae Kelly mixes up batch after batch of the most tempting confectionaries you will ever want to bite into. And - speaking of ‘flower power’ – take a look at how Christine uses her artistry (This San Antonio native has an MFA from the school of Art Institute of Chicago) to embellish winsome butterfly and flower shortbread cookies. It’s a substantial cookie with swirls of whimsical shapes and patterns created in vibrant, deliciously tempting colors.
At the cookie bar, choose from Mexican Fiesta cookies, Rosemary shortbread, chocolate Mexican wedding cookies, Lavender Cookies, Decadent Chocolate Shortbread, sugar cookies, Gluten-Free Ranger Cookies, and the irresistible Cowboy Cookie made with oatmeal, chocolate chips and pecans.
But, Christine says her best-selling cookies are her pre-ordered specialty shortbread cookies. She will make you a batch of custom decorated cookies for any party theme or corporate logo. Custom orders account for about 70 percent of her business.
When Christine first began her baking enterprise she was renting Silo’s commercial kitchen to make her yummy creations. But, by word of mouth Lily’s Cookies grew, and in 2008 she set up shop at 2716 McCullough. She lives in the neighborhood and says the new location is convenient for her. She says the residents have been very supportive and friendly, stopping in as they head back and forth to work or school.
Naturally, I asked Christine what’s new on her plate. She said look for special summer peace and love flowers, flip-flops and sunglasses; end-of-semester schoolhouse and apple ‘Thank You’ cookies; and of course dapper neck-tie and sporty, golf-themed Father’s Day cookies.
Lily’s Cookies opens their door on weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
So, next time you are in or near historic Monte Vista, stop in at these two local establishments, sample their fare, and see if you, too, find this the sweetest block in the neighborhood.
