Food + Beverage

Two Tables, One Vision

Local Sweethearts Bring Rich Hospitality to the Hill Country Article by Samantha Daviss | Photography by Twinty Photography and Taste on Main Long before Tamra and Travis Tindol shared restaurant kitchens, dining rooms and dreams, they shared history. They dated in junior high, reconnected 25 years later and married in 2011. Their partnership eventually became the foundation for two distinctive Hays County restaurants—and a hospitality story built on experience, instinct and grit. ...

Life + Culture

The Spirits of Buda

Local Liquor Business Values Faith and Community Article by Julie Fustanio Kling | Photography by Twinty Photography If you like buying beer at H-E-B, ordering a spicy margarita at a local restaurant, or bringing home a bottle of red wine for dinner when you stop for lunch, you can thank Rebecca and John Hatch, longtime Buda community activists and owners of Proof Liquor & Deli. The two began their love story as civil servants. Rebecca was working for the Texas General Land Office and John...

Life + Culture

Powering Central Texas

LZ Electrical Services builds its reputation through craftsmanship, timeliness, and personal Attention Article by Samantha Daviss | Photography by Twinty Photography For Mathew Ellzey, becoming a master electrician began with a simple introduction. At 21, his future brother-in-law was working in the electrical trade and encouraged him to give it a try. Ellzey quickly discovered that he enjoyed the work and began what would become a nearly 30-year career built around solving problems, serving...

Life + Culture

Built Here:The Legacy of CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright

Longtime School Leader Retires, Leaving the Schools Safer, More Scholarly Article by Julie Fustanio Kling | Photography by Moses Leos Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright rang the proverbial first day of school bell for the last time in his 9-year tenure as the second-longest serving superintendent of Hays CISD. His exceptional community-building skills and loyal service led Hays CISD through tough times – the pandemic, a fentanyl crisis, a fatal school bus accident and reading score deficiencies...

Life + Culture

Connected By Community

Community living opens the door to friendship, purpose and new possibilities Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Parker Mayland Parker Maryland, community sales manager at Mariella of Sage Spring Senior Living in San Marcos, talks about how seniors thrive in their community. Q: What are some unexpected things residents discover they enjoy about community living? A: Many residents are pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoy the dining experience. They love having delicious...

Life + Culture

Texas Wine Pioneers

Driftwood Estates Looks to the Future Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Hays City Lifestyle For nearly three decades, Gary Elliott and his family have watched the Texas Hill Country wine industry grow from a small, largely experimental enterprise into one of the most dynamic agricultural and tourism industries in the state. At Driftwood Estate Winery, they have experienced that evolution, often leading the way. As they approach 30 years of winemaking, they’ve earned a reputation for...

Food + Beverage

The Zoi Pain Killer

A Mocktail Built Around Pain Release Article by Jill King | Photography by Meridian This October, Meridian, located in Buda, TX, is featuring The Zoi Pain Killer, a mocktail built around Pain Release, one of the newest tinctures from Zoi Medicinals. Zoi Medicinals Pain Release Formula is a blend of Chinese and Western herbs designed to support the body’s natural response to pain and inflammation through multiple pathways. Unlike products that rely primarily on a single mechanism, Pain Release...

Food + Beverage

Boots to Bottles

Cowboy Boot Maker Buys Wine Castle to Boost His Brand Article by Julie Fustanio Kling If Chris Conrad has lived a big life, this year was the biggest. In January, he bought a castle just outside Johnson City, built a boutique hotel modeled after a Spanish colonial fortress that protected the mission system in the early days of the republic and started Conrad Family Wines. This fall he is introducing eight varieties of Texas Republic wines that his patrons can sip while immersing themselves in...

Life + Culture

Round Top Mamas

Local Vintage Stores Curate Boho-Chic Style with Substance Article by Julie Fustanio Kling The Round Top Antiques Fair in Fayette County is a feast for vintage junkies who love a good story behind an antique or a garment. Shoppers travel from all over the world to Round Top, the smallest incorporated town in Texas, to sift through treasures. Vendors display their wares in barns, tents and small buildings stretched over 11 miles along Highway 237. The renowned city with a population of 87...

Style + Beauty

From the Top

Where hair is more than a service – it’s a transformation Article by Samantha Daviss | Photography by Twinty Photography Rebecca "Bek" Acosta Ojeda knew she wanted to become a hairstylist long before she ever stepped behind a salon chair. As a junior high student, she dreamed of cosmetology, but teachers discouraged her, insisting it wasn't a "real career." She followed the traditional path, enrolling in junior college, but quickly realized she was miserable. "I finally went to cosmetology...