Archives for January 2014

Lake Travis Area Arts Guide: Virginia Grumbles Art Exhibit at Lake Travis Community Library

Written by Mandy Spivey | January 10, 2014

A splash of cerulean blue paint clashes against streaks of red and gold acrylic. Marbled swirls of deep hues of red and navy dance across the white gessoed canvas. These works of art are more than eye-catching original paintings; they embody the resourcefulness and beauty that is found all over the hills of Central Texas.

Welcome to the very colorful world of Virginia Grumbles: Artist, instructor, world traveler, charter member of the Lake Travis Arts League and retired Lake Travis High School art teacher. She is a fifth generation Texan, and counts the beauty of the Texas Hill Country as one of her inspirations for many of the paintings she has displayed in recent years.

Thinkery: The New Austin Children’s Museum

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | January 9, 2014

If you haven’t made a trip to the Thinkery yet it’s a definite on the to-do list with kids.

The new Austin children’s museum, which opened December 7^th in the Mueller Town Center District, replaces the previous downtown museum. It’s bigger, better and full of interesting, educational and fun activities for kids of all ages.

I love the new location. We had no problems parking on a nearby street, but free parking is also available at the nearby Mueller Town Center parking garage.

The modern, state-of-the-art building sits next to an open field with ample outdoor space, including a small pond and really cool outdoor playground.

Best Coffee Shops in the Lake Travis Area for Getting Work Done

Written by Mandy Spivey | January 8, 2014

When you need to get some heavy work done but your home office is too distracting, sometimes venturing out into the spaces that others use for productive time is the best answer. It’s a secret I learned in college that stayed with me throughout the years—go to where great minds are brewing and you will be in a better mood to power through your own piles of work.

For some reason, cafes and coffee shops seem to dominate my list of productive meet-up spots. But over the years, I have narrowed down the necessities vital to assisting in an effective work session.

In addition to energizing beverages and light snacks needed for powering brains for several hours, one can never have enough table space or power outlets. Trust me. When your laptop is teetering on the edge of an economics book and your third latte just arrived, you’re going to wish you had snagged that 4 person table.

Atmosphere can make or break a meet-up spot. If the tunes are too caustic, the crowds too loud, you cannot read, let alone work for hours. That’s why it helps if there is some quiet (or at least some decent music) to drown out the sounds of espresso machines and drinks clanking.

So here they are, the best coffee shops in the Lake Travis area for getting productive and getting work done.

Fab’rik: Keeping Lake Travis Fashionistas Stylish

Written by Cathy Hale | January 7, 2014

You could say Fab’rik is a popular national franchise with a huge local presence. From the pages of Austin Monthly to the catwalks at local fashion shows and galas, looks from Fab’rik can be spotted all over Austin including the Lake Travis area. Since the Hill Country Galleria opened its doors, Lake Travis fashionistas have enjoyed shopping at Fab’rik. This boutique offers everything a gal needs from the perfect cocktail dress for a night on the town to cute threads for a laid back weekend.

One of the great things about shopping at Fab’rik is the lack of sticker shock. You may have seen it on the runway, but you won’t be paying runway prices. Part of the concept of Fab’rik is offering stylish clothes under $100, except items in their denim collection. (But hey, any Citizens of Humanity enthusiast understands that, right!?)

If you see the perfect silky blouse in that amazing emerald green color or the to-die-for peplum top you’ve just gotta have, get it while it lasts. Fab’rik offers a great selection of items, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. This is good news for shoppers because chances are you won’t see every gal in Lake Travis wearing the exact same piece. Fab’rik can help you build a wardrobe within your price range and that wardrobe will be unique. If you need a little bit of help finding the right fit or the best way to buy functional pieces, Fab’rik offers stylist services as well.

Bee Cave Coffee: Serving Spicewood Roasted Cuvee Coffee and More

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | January 6, 2014

Bee Cave Coffee Company, now open in the Hill Country Galleria, is the perfect spot to stop when you need that caffeine pick me up. The local, freshly roasted fair trade beans make every drink on the menu delicious. However, while the drinks are great, I was thrilled to discover Bee Cave Coffee Co. serves much more than just coffee. They also offer a full breakfast and lunch menu.

For breakfast you’ll find a variety of tacos made with cage-free eggs, burritos, croissant sandwiches and more. For lunch there are salads and sandwiches including a cage free fried egg grilled cheese sandwich with jalapeno bacon. Wowzers! The food is not the typical day-old danish that you’ll find at some coffee shops. Even the pastries are delicious and fresh (I should know—I happily finished my daughter’s giant blueberry muffin for her).

Archives for January 2014

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