Mandy Spivey

Running Free: Lake Travis Area Dog Parks

Written by Mandy Spivey | January 21, 2014

Sometimes you just need to get your dog out of the house, out of the yard, and give him the space to run and get social with other pooches. If you live in an apartment or condominium without a yard, you’ll likely find that Lake Travis area dog parks will become regular destinations for both you and your furry friend.

Our dog Moses has been to many dog parks in Austin and around the Lake Travis area, so I think he is a pretty good judge of which ones are winners. We are lucky to live close by a couple of his favorites — the dog parks in Lakeway and Bee Cave.
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Dell Children's Storybook Gala: Raising Funds and Hope for Texas Children

Written by Mandy Spivey | January 16, 2014

Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas is gearing up for their annual Dell Children’s Gala, Storybook, Saturday January 25th at Austin Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom. Hosted by Laura and Tommy Craddick, Jr., this is the first fundraising occasion of the year for Dell Children’s Medical Center, which in past years have raised more than $1 million to support and maintain its kid-centric atmosphere.

This year’s gala will follow in the theme of child-like whimsy. “Storybook” is a homage to all of the stories and lives the medical center has touched throughout its years of being the premier medical center of Central Texas. Over the years, more than 140,000 injured and sick children have been served by DCMC, and it is fundraisers such as these that give them the chance to touch so many lives.

The City of Lakeway's First Big Band Bash of 2014

Written by Mandy Spivey | January 14, 2014

Break out your good dancing shoes! This Monday January 13th was the the City of Lakeway’s first Big Band Bash of the year, and it was a packed house. Locals bee-lined to Lakeway Activity Center for the free dance and big brass tunes. Led by the talented and entertaining Lisa Clark and David Cummings, the Republic of Texas Big Band wowed crowds with their renditions of classics such as Georgia On My Mind, I Get a Kick Out of You, and more waltzes than you can handle.

The impressive 17-piece band, which has changed leadership and members throughout the years, is now comprised of 4 saxophones, 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, a guitar, piano, bass and drums. Singers Lisa Clark and David Cummings fill in for the vocals, and the rest is just details.

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.

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.

Mandy Spivey

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