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...

Health + Wellness

Wellness, Reimagined: Helping Women Feel Their Best From the Inside Out

Zoi Well/Noa Sutherland shares a thoughtful approach to restoring balance in busy lives Article by Jill King An Interview with Noa Sutherland of Zoi Well 1. Many women today are juggling careers, family, and personal responsibilities. What are the most common wellness challenges you see women facing, and how does Zoi Well help address them?   The most common challenge is a general state of exhaustion and/or hormonal dysregulation—not feeling well and not knowing why. We begin by ensuring...

Health + Wellness

Creating a Beautiful Smile

Connecting Wellness and Oral Health Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro Buda Dental Professionals has been a trusted part of the community for 44 years, and Ashley Strickland has been part of that story since 2007. Fresh out of dental school, pregnant, and raising a one-year-old, she joined the practice and embraced the opportunity to carry on the legacy of its founder—her mentor—right on Main Street. Over the years, she’s cared for generations of patients, many of whom have...

Entertainment

Martinique Simmons: Practicing Balance

Committed to Embracing Her Unique Multifaceted Identity Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro Martinique Simmons, Kyle native and owner of The Simmons Group Insurance Services, exudes a lovely fusion of confidence and humbleness, strength and vulnerability. Her genuine warmth and friendliness are contagious…a refreshing trait when it comes to counting on someone to help with insurance, a word that most don’t get too excited about. On any given morning, Martinique might be...

Arts + Culture

Painting a Woman's Voice

Conversation with Ashley Dalton - A Multi-Disciplinary Artist Article by Jill King | Photography by Emily Stadler and Sharon Brown I come from a long line of strong, spirited women on both my mom’s and dad’s sides—women who were (and are) resilient, spicy, and refuse to be quieted. Their stories are filled with courage, grit, and determination— despite the limitations placed on them as women. My mom, my grandmothers, and the women before them, led with both grit and grace—overcoming obstacles...

Life + Culture

Behind the May Cover

A closer look at the vision, styling, and entrepreneurs behind this month’s cover Article by Jill King | Photography by Iris Castro There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when you pair Texas Hill Country views with the brilliance of women business owners. To celebrate the entrepreneurs who power our community, we gathered at Driftwood Estate Winery for a night defined by fine wine, charcuterie, and even finer connections. Perched on a scenic bluff at 4001 Elder Hill Road, the winery...