Springtime at the Mansion brings a special meaning, especially as hints of warmer weather conjure up anticipation for a rush of beauty and rebirth. In the Spring, the days get a little longer. Light shines through the beveled window panes at a new angel that awakens the greenery and the energy of almost every living thing. It’s in this season we’re reminded of the fun filled days that transpired in this same sunlight, almost a century ago.

E.H. Perry gave much to the City of Austin throughout his years as a successful entrepreneur and civic leader. It can be argued that Perry’s own personal character served as a template for Austin’s: it’s one of vision, imagination, and humility. Perry saw details and possibilities in everything, and he wasn’t afraid to take action. Like Perry, in all his accomplishments that remained understated, Austin keeps itself authentic while earning fame as a hotspot for world technology industries and other market drivers. Get to know a few of Perry’s signature traits and you’ll begin to see a bit of the Commodore in the personality of his beloved city.

There are so many qualities that distinguish “Commodore” E.H. Perry as a man of tremendous character. So it should come as no surprise the Commodore's marriage to wife, Lutie Perry, was more like a lifelong romance. We think it fitting to shed light on their life together to inspire romance in the hearts of all that seek it.

It is often said that artists hold up a mirror to society. If this is the case, then their art serves as a prism through which we can view the times we live in, often from an entirely new perspective. In the Auberge ArtSalon series, six emerging artists will turn their own unique gaze on six iconic Auberge retreats to create art installations that reflect each property’s individual character, setting, heritage, and place in the world today.

I’d come to Austin for a chance to kick back and take in some of the stunning hill country scenery but my day soon took a twist I hadn’t anticipated. I’m taken in by the history that surrounds me at the estate – built as a country home by Edgar “Commodore” Perry, a longtime Austin real estate developer in the late 1920s – and I stop to talk with Jackie to learn more.

I’ve been standing outside the doors to the Round Top Antiques Fair for 30 minutes, but if you’re not here before the doors open, you’ll miss your chance on the best items. I’ve been coming to Round Top since I was a little girl, when my mother, aunt, and I would drive over from Louisiana. Since those early days, Round Top, just an hour and 15 minutes outside of Austin, has evolved from a flea market into a European antiques fair, with big-name dealers coming in from all around the world to sell their rare collectibles.

My husband and I are driving the backcountry roads that wind through the Texas Hill Country, heading to Fredericksburg. An hour and a half west of Austin, the country drive takes us past Texas Longhorn cattle with three-feet-long horns, and enticing mom-and-pop antique shops that will have to wait for another time. On these last days of summer vacation, we are on a mission to eat the peaches that Fredericksburg is famous for. That rose-gold fruit has always represented summer to me - the long, slow days of youth that stretch out forever - and I’m nostalgic for the floral fruit.

Walking these halls each day, I’m always taken in by the attention to authentic historical detail that greets me at every turn – from the incredible Mediterranean-style architecture and design to artful décor and landscaping that all pay homage to the estate’s rich past and the vision of its original owner, Edgar Howard “Commodore” Perry.