Arts + Culture

The Gift of Perspective

IMXP founder Mitch Morales looks to the cosmos to reconnect humanity with wonder, gratitude, and each other. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Provided There is something wonderfully simple about Mitch Morales’ prescription for an increasingly complicated world: Look up. The Austin native and founder and CEO of IMXP has built a company around immersive experiences that bring people together for extraordinary natural phenomena, particularly total solar eclipses. Its recent Iceland...

Life + Culture

A Welcome Home, Decades Later

Honor Flight Austin gives veterans the recognition, connection, and homecoming many have waited decades to receive. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Beal Photography The crowd begins gathering before the veterans arrive. Families wear red, white, and blue and carry handmade signs. Service organizations take their places. Strangers offer flags to anyone who came empty-handed. Then the music starts. “When the veterans arrive, you get to see the surprise on their faces,” volunteer Alexa...

Life + Culture

Forty Years of Changing Smiles

Austin Smiles celebrates four decades of transforming lives as it looks toward its next chapter. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Ellise Nicole Photography For four decades, Austin Smiles has built its mission around a simple idea: children born with cleft lip and palate deserve access to comprehensive care, whether they live in Central Texas or Latin America. For board member and 40th anniversary gala co-chair Dina Melhem, that mission is deeply personal. Born in Lebanon with...

Home + Design

The Art of the Thanksgiving Table

Beautiful details for a more meaningful gathering. Article by Julie Royce Thanksgiving is more than a meal. It’s a chance to slow down, gather the people we love, and set the tone for a warm, welcoming celebration. With a few thoughtful details, you can design a setting that feels elegant, inviting, and unforgettable. Here’s how to bring it all together. 1. Start with a Foundation A linen tablecloth or runner creates an instant sense of occasion. Choose a neutral base and let natural...

Home Services

Service Beyond the Station

Fireman Dryerman brings a firefighter’s mindset to home safety, prevention and a business built on trust. Article by Julie Royce For Parr Brookover, fighting fires and preventing them are two sides of the same calling. Brookover owns Fireman Dryerman, an Austin-based dryer vent cleaning company staffed almost entirely by professional firefighters. He joined the business in its early days, after another firefighter recognized a recurring problem while doing handyman work: Customers with long...

Arts + Culture

The Care Behind the Music

HAAM Day celebrates Austin’s musicians while helping provide the health care that keeps them performing. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Dave Hawks Austin’s music scene depends on the people behind it. Each September, HAAM Day brings musicians, music lovers, and local businesses together to support the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. Founded in 2005, HAAM helps Austin-area musicians, DJs, and music teachers access affordable health care and wellness services, including primary...

Food + Beverage

Pearls of Progress

Austin's growing appetite for oysters says as much about the city's evolving palate as it does the seafood itself. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Provided There was a time when Austin's culinary identity could be summed up in three words: tacos, barbecue, and Tex-Mex. Those staples still define the city, but on any given evening, another scene is unfolding. Diners crowd around raw bars, martinis in hand, while trays of glistening oysters arrive over crushed ice. Before the first...

Travel

Where Texas Whiskey Finds Its Soul

A short drive from Austin leads to Milam & Greene, where award-winning whiskey, Hill Country hospitality, and two remarkable women redefine Texas spirits. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Courtesy of Milam & Greene About an hour west of Austin, something changes. The traffic fades. The rolling hills open up. The pace slows. And somewhere west of Dripping Springs, visitors often do exactly what Milam & Greene Whiskey owner Marsha Milam hopes they will. "They exhale," she says. "When...

Food + Beverage

Coffee, Cookies, and a Little Kung Fu

Neon Belly brings bold flavors and vibrancy to Burnet Road. Article by Julie Royce | Photography by Neon Belly There’s a bright pink coffee shop on Burnet Road where the latte tastes like baklava, the sourdough might come stuffed with pepperoni and mozzarella, and cartoon cats with martial arts skills are part of the décor. Welcome to Neon Belly Coffee & Bakery, where owners Kat Wainwright and Tony Latto have created a neighborhood gathering place that is intentionally colorful, decidedly...

Food + Beverage

Discover NORTHSIDE Dining

Explore four standout restaurants serving unforgettable flavors at Domain NORTHSIDE Article by Alison Goodman | Photography by Emily Piraino Photography Whether you're meeting friends for happy hour, grabbing a quick lunch between errands, or planning a memorable dinner out, Domain NORTHSIDE has become one of Austin's go-to destinations for dining. The walkable district brings together an impressive mix of locally loved concepts and nationally recognized favorites, offering everything from...