Archives for June 2016

Lost dog? Electrician? Piano lessons? Connecting with Your Lake Travis Neighbors

Written by Cathy Hale | June 30, 2016

Do you need a handy man who can hang that heavy mirror over the sofa in your living room?

Did a cute kitty wander up to your front door without a collar?

Did you just buy a new home with a pond and you’re wondering how to maintain it?

Did you spot a bobcat or mountain lion in your yard?

Is your sprinkler system on the fritz?

Every so often we need to exchange information with our neighbors because they “get it” — they live here too.

Although it seems like a nifty idea, you can’t really roam the neighborhood with a megaphone shouting, “I need a reliable plumber!” or “I just saw a snake! Who can tell me that quote about ‘red touch yellow, kill a fellow?!?'”

This is when social media networks and Facebook groups for neighborhoods come in handy.

Spicewood Arts Society: A Non-Profit Brings Art to the Lake Travis Area

Written by Mandy Spivey | June 29, 2016

When you think about going out to enjoy some art, where do you go?

It’s easy to hop in the car and head to downtown Austin to find your taste of live music, colorful paintings and even a theater performance or two. But what about the spectacular art happening in your own backyard?

Spicewood is our neighbor to the southwest that just seems to be teeming with artists of all kinds. From guitar pickin’ musicians to blown glass artists to writers, it’s a very vibrant world in the Hill Country, and the Spicewood Arts Society has been working since 2000 to bring these works to the Lake Travis community.

7 Signs You Might Be From Hudson Bend

Written by Mandy Spivey | June 23, 2016

Every neighborhood has its certain flair or personality, especially Lake Travis area community, Hudson Bend.

Settled in the early 1850s by Wiley Hudson and his family from Arkansas, the area was initially used for farming and agriculture. This was up until the 1940s when Marshall Ford Dam was built, now Mansfield Dam. Close to half of Hudson Bend’s land was flooded when Lake Travis was created, and the area slowly changed from agricultural to residential. The faces of Hudson Bend were changing.

Now over 2,300 people call it home, from retirees to Austin commuters. It’s got it’s special kind of style, with houses of all styles and many different types of businesses have made their headquarters here. If you’ve been around one of the many marinas on Hudson Bend on the weekend or if you’ve been to the area for dinner, maybe you’ve experienced it yourself.

Whether you’re on a mission to find the best place to launch your boat or want a great place to stop and enjoy near Lake Travis, Hudson Bend has what you need. Catch a sunset and a round of mini golf or two, or just grab a beer at nearby Infamous Brewing Company to get an idea of that Hudson Bend spirit. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling like a local.

And from a Hudson Bend local who has been around the block to absorb some of its unique flavor, here it is, the 7 Signs You Might Be from Hudson Bend:

Eco Estate Jewelry: Antique and Estate Pieces With a Story

Written by KT Tubb | June 22, 2016

If you’ve ever found yourself wandering the shops of Lakeway Commons, chances are the entrancing finds at Eco Estate Jewelry have caught your eye. Their jewelry collections make it impossible to not step into the store.

The shop — which they are quickly outgrowing — opened in June 2015. They recently celebrated their first anniversary with a sensational bang!

Trays of white wine and champagne sparkled like diamonds as lucky Lakeway residents nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and cake pops. Out front a banner from the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce adorned the drive and a ribbon cutting added to the festivities.

Eco Estate Jewelry is jam packed with a plethora of earth-friendly antique and estate jewelry. Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are just the beginning of the timeless pieces you’ll find beneath the glass counters.

Briarcliff Bistro & Bacon Bar: A Labor of Love (with bacon)

Written by Mandy Spivey | June 16, 2016

Playing with your food can get you a lot of strange looks from around your table, but what if the person who is braiding your bacon is the cook?

Welcome to Briarcliff Bistro & Bacon Bar in Spicewood, one of the Hill Country’s best-kept secrets for cool beers and bacon-themed food items. If you’re a fan of the salty sow’s back fat, get ready to meet the eatery that includes bacon in every dish, from Bloody Mary drinks to bacon-covered burgers.

Whether you’re on your way back from a long day of Hill Country wine tasting or you’re on your way out to Pace Bend Park, there are plenty of reasons to want to stop for a bite and a drink here. Live music makes the outdoor stage come alive with Texas tunes, while inside is cool and where most of the lively conversation takes place.

I got together with one of the trio of founders of the restaurant, Jennifer Halpine, to get a little bit of history of the bacon bar and just how it got to be such a famous Spicewood staple in recent years.

Archives for June 2016

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