Emily O'Shaughnessy

8 Things to Do Indoors with Kids in the Lake Travis Area

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | November 5, 2013

Rain! After doing the rain dance all summer it seems our hard work is finally paying off. Reports state we had the wettest October on record, with more rain predicted this first week of November.

But I have to admit, even though I’m grateful for the much-needed rain after a few days the kids and I start to get a little antsy from being cooped up inside. Sure, it’s fun at first but let’s face it – there’s only so many Rainbow Loom bracelets you can make or forts you can build before cabin fever sets in.

Austin Beer Week Events at Whole Foods Bee Cave

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | October 30, 2013

One of the things I love about Austin is how it seems to effortlessly flow from one organized event or festival into the next. The month started out with ACL Music Fest, then moved on to the Austin Film Festival, Texas Book Festival and now here we are closing out the month with Austin Beer Week. Yes, there’s a week for that.

Austin Beer Week (ABW), now in it’s fourth year, is a “multi-day, multi-event, brewer-centric showcase of all things craft beer.” It benefits Texas Craft Brewers Guild , a non-profit dedicated to promoting and educating the public about craft beer.

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Austin Beer Week hosts 200+ events over a nine-day period. Activities include food pairings, special tappings, book signings, movie premieres, trivia nights, and other unique events such as a burlesque show, ping pong tournament and even keg-lifting competitions.

Many of the events are held in central Austin locations, but there are several participating venues a little further out of the city. Fortunately for those of us in the Lake Travis area, the Whole Foods Bee Cave is one, hosting four official events throughout the week. They’re also offering happy hour pricing all day on Halloween for anyone dressed in costume. So go ahead an stop by on your way home from the office – you can tell them you’re Lumbergh from Office Space. Who will argue with that? You may even get a free pint.

Schmidt Family Barbecue Now Open in Bee Cave

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | October 29, 2013

It’s open! The highly anticipated Schmidt Family Barbecue finally opened its doors in Bee Cave this week. For fans of both Kruez Market and Smitty’s Market in Lockhart this is cause for major celebration.

There’s a long, interesting backstory about how Schmidt Family Barbecue came to land at Hwy 71 and Bee Cave Road. If you’re not familiar with the infamous Lockhart “barbefeud” here’s a cliff notes version: The first restaurant originated from Kruez Market, a local meat market and grocery store in Lockhart in the early 1900s. Years later, longtime employee Edgar “Smitty” Schmidt purchased it from the Kruez family. He successfully ran the restaurant until he retired and sold it to his sons in 1984. In 1999, Edgar’s son Rick moved the market to a new location about a quarter mile up the road. Shortly thereafter, Edgar’s daughter Nina Schmidt Sells opened Smitty’s Market in the old location.

Emily O'Shaughnessy

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