Todd Hower

This is Where You Live

Written by Todd Hower | October 1, 2015

How lucky are you?

You live in an amazing place. There are a lot of places that are just as beautiful. But what makes them so beautiful? Hill Country and lakes? Canyons and parks? The ocean? Mountains? Sure, those all make a place beautiful.

Places that are beautiful are places that are worth checking out — and people like to figure out how to move to these beautiful places.

I’ve been there. I moved to a small mountain town in Colorado in the early 90’s. About five years after I moved there the place started to get discovered. At least in my eyes. Talk to a local that has been living there for twenty years and they would say it started to get discovered about five years after they moved there.

Developers move in and take over places that were once quiet. But the reason they move in is because the demand is there. One condo project goes up and sells out before the slab is poured. Other developers join in. Next thing you know you have more condos. Apartments. Homes. Walmart. People. Traffic. Your world changes.

Lake Travis Bucket List: 12 Things You Must Do in the Lake Travis Area

Written by Todd Hower | September 24, 2015

It’s very possible that you have your own bucket list. Go parachuting. Have an all-nighter in Vegas. Eat Belgian waffles in Belgium. Fly first class. You know, that list of stuff you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket.

But what about a list of things you absolutely must do right here in the Lake Travis area?

After having a conversation with a native Texan that had never been to a high school football game — unbelievable, right? — I started to put together the Lake Travis bucket list.

So if you’re just visiting or you’ve been here for a while, this is the list. Things you must do. Places to eat. Stuff to see.

Lake Travis Lifestyle End of Summer Giveaway with The Boardroom

Written by Todd Hower | September 15, 2015

We have another giveaway! And this one is for all the Lake Travis men out there. Or for the Lake Travis ladies to give to their LT man.

Summer is almost over — at least according to the calendar — and fall equinox is right around the corner on September 23, 2015. You may not be thinking about getting cleaned up for the start of football season, but hopefully you have a couple of date nights lined up. Either way, you deserve a manly break and this week is your chance to win the ultimate relaxed grooming experience at The Boardroom.

For this month’s giveaway, The Boardroom has stepped up to the plate with The Head to Toe Package valued at $120. You’ll get everything that is part of The Benchmark signature hair service along with the hand and foot grooming services to complete the total package.

Backdraft Pizzeria Has Arrived in Lake Travis

Written by Todd Hower | September 3, 2015

Back in 2010 the food trailer movement was taking off around downtown Austin. And it wasn’t long after that we had our very first food trailer arrive in the Lake Travis area — Hey Cupcake! set up shop at the corner of 620 and 2222 in front of Thundercloud Subs. That shiny Airstream is still satisfying our cupcake cravings today.

A couple of years later, Hey Cupcake! brought in another Airstream and set up shop on the lot catty-corner to the Chick-fil-A in Bee Cave. Not much to speak of for variety in food trailers in the area. We were surrounded by cupcakes.

But food trailers are mobile. And that Hey Cupcake! trailer quietly rolled out of town one night and left the south-siders without a chance to stock up on red velvet cupcakes.

In early 2013, the highly anticipated Dock & Roll Diner grabbed a spot at the Southside 620 Park & Eatery. But it wasn’t long before they quietly sneaked out of town and relocated to the newly opened Midway Food Park out on 360.

Except for the original Hey Cupcake!, life in Lake Travis was without food trailers.

Lake Travis Local: Meet Alicia Autrey and Decorator for Hire

Written by Todd Hower | August 27, 2015

There’s no need for me to have a big opener for the August edition of Lake Travis Local. When I sat down for lunch at The Grove in Lakeway with Alicia Autrey the other week, there weren’t any dull moments. This Texas native is as sweet, smart and sassy as they come and I’ll let you dive right in.

Lake Travis friends, meet your Decorator for Hire, Alicia Autrey:

1. What’s your story? Were you decorating and doing interior design stuff as a kid?

Well, I have never had a problem telling people my opinions since I was a kid. I have, however, learned how to be a bit more tactful about it!

I really discovered my love of design when my husband and I purchased our first home in 1999. At the time I was an event manager and had started as an independent consultant for Southern Living at Home. With each home show I did, I found myself really enjoying explaining how and where people could use our products instead of the products themselves.

Todd Hower

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