Education

Enjoying Outdoors Safely in Texas

When Heat Exhaustion Becomes an Emergency Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Ally Medical With the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, including rivers, creeks, and springs, it’s no surprise that folks love to venture outside to play. In fact, Buda has recently earned the title of the Outdoor Capital of Texas. Scenic parks, hiking and biking trails, and open green spaces beckon residents to spend time outside all summer long enjoying everything the city has to offer. From cooling off at...

Finance + Legal Services

Compassionate Leadership

Financial Services Entrepreneur Leads by Example Article by Julie Fustanio Kling | Photography by Iris Castro Sam (not his real name) was in his 40s when he decided to increase the premium on his life insurance policy. Business at the restaurant was going well and his family ranch had a mortgage with a favorable interest rate. Less than a year later, he passed away suddenly.    “His wife always thanks me because she never imagined they needed so much,” says Gabriel Tovar, Austin native and...

Travel

Lockhart Vibes

A Small Town with Big Austin Style Personality Article by Julie Kling | Photography by Lisa Hause/City of Lockhart Lauren West has seen a huge transformation in her historic hometown, which she describes as part hipster and part honky-tonk. As a kid she used to take daytrips outside of Lockhart. Now that she’s a mom, Lockhart’s charm has been discovered. There’s always something to do in town. “A lot of people compare Lockhart to the old, old Austin,” says West, the business development...

Home + Design

Life's Better Poolside

Where Family and Friends Come Together to Overcome Challenges and Celebrate Article by Julie Kling | Photography by April Rankin & Tiffany Baird Now that school’s out, pools are in. Pools are the best way to stay cool in the summer. When you have a pool in your backyard, there is so much more to explore. For extraverts – games, parties and backyard barbecues become weekly activities. For introverts – quiet time underwater is soothing, a way to prepare for your day, reset, or put your worries...

Life + Culture

Where Giants Roam

From Rwanda’s Gorillas to East Africa’s Iconic Safaris, an Extraordinary Journey Awaits Article and Photography by Kristen Meckem Few travel experiences genuinely alter your perspective. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is one of them. Combined with a safari in Tanzania or Kenya, it creates one of Africa’s most compelling luxury itineraries, blending outstanding settings, adventure, and extraordinary wildlife encounters. Most journeys begin in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, where first impressions are...

Food + Beverage

Hays County Dining Guide

Where Dads (and Moms) Dine Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Hays City Lifestyle Give your father what he would most enjoy—time with the family and a delicious meal. Treat him to one of these special eateries in Hays County. “Being a dad isn’t just about feeding your kids, it’s about feeding their souls.”   Taste on Main Taste on Main is downtown Buda’s newest steak and seafood restaurant in a freshly designed 100-year-old building. Featuring classic steakhouse fare, a raw bar...

Life + Culture

Coffee and Cars, Wimberley-Style

A monthly gathering featuring over two hundred cars and car-lovers Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Michael Cochran Just after sunrise on the first Sunday of every month, something special happens in Wimberley. The parking lot outside of Blanco Brew and Brookshire Brothers—both sponsors of this beloved event—fills quickly, the line for hot coffee forms, and the conversations start before engines even cool. It’s called Coffee and Cars—and if you think it’s just for serious gearheads...

Education

A Buda Barber’s Quiet Legacy

Stories From the Chair Article by Samantha Daviss | Photography by Jeremy Tome In the small but growing town of Buda, Texas, tucked between the hum of Austin commuters and the rhythm of local life, there’s a barber chair that has witnessed decades of transformation—not just in hairstyles, but in people.  For this barber, Ronnie Ojeda, now working out of Salon 112 with his wife, the chair has become more than a place of business. It’s a front-row seat to human experience. His story begins in...

Food + Beverage

A Brew with a View

Mom and Pop Brewery Celebrates the Hill Country Lifestyle Article by Julie Fustanio Kling | Photography by Alex Pasternack When the Pasternack family raised the red barn to create a brewery on their family’s 50-acre ranch, they wanted to celebrate the Hill Country’s undulating landscape. Little did they know they would uncover a secret: a limestone cave that they are now excavating.   The secret that’s been discovered is their tasty brews, served with a view. “Initially it was a creative...

Professional Services

Best Thing About Being a Dad

Hays County Dad's Reveal a Tender Heart Article by Jill King Steve Rose Being a dad is the kind of job where the rewards don’t come in paychecks, but in small moments that end up meaning everything. It’s challenging, messy, and exhausting - but so meaningful.   Rob Dahse Watching my three children grow into young adults with my wife, Rebecca, by my side has been a joy and blessing. I’m blessed to not miss a single moment, and I’m VERY thankful!   Jeff Jones It’s the most...