EAST side Spring/Summer issue

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central-living.com See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright Š 2017 David Weekley Homes – All Rights Reserved. Austin, TX (AUSO85096)

EAST THE FRIENDLY

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OF AUSTIN

1801 East 51st Street, Suite 365-501 Austin, Texas 78722 eastsideatx.com Publisher Nillo Studios

LET US SHOWCASE WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

Creative Director Will Bowling Managing Editor Ashley Bowling Business Development Todd Meador, Marie Vargas, Jessi Devenyns Photo Editors Eric Morales, Ashley Haguewood Copy Editor Pam Bowen Contributing Photographers Aaron Rimbey, Will Bowling, Joan Brook, Parker Thorn, Matt Bradford Contributing Writers Jess Hagemann, Jennifer Simonson, Sommer Brugal, Jessica Devenyns, Sam Lauron, Ben Haguewood, Mary Bryce Illustrations Caitlin Alexander

For More Information, contact us at

advertise@ eastsideatx.com Get all that is in this issue and more every day at EASTSIDEATX.com

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Distribution info@eastsideatx.com Submissions info@eastsideatx.com Advertising sales@eastsideatx.com Copyright Š 2016 Nillo Studios, LLC. EASTside Magazine is published by Nillo Studios, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.

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eastside / publisher's letter

So Natural & So Human On the Cover The readers have spoken! We have two special editions coming out in 2017: a Community Issue & a Women's Issue. After deciding to run with a community issue as one of our special editions this year, I was left humbled and honored. Honored because I get the privilege to display the welcoming community I felt when my wife and I bought our first house years ago and the authentic community I still feel to this day. Humbled because living here only 10 years means I'm a newcomer. How could I possibly do justice to the people who have built this community and witnessed the significant change that occurred over the past six plus decades? The answer we discovered: one could never fully portray all that information unless one has experienced it, and truth be told, it would take more than a month to put together and it could never be squeezed into 52 pages.

So the goal, for this particular issue, became to show the rest of Austin what community was like here currently and touch a tad bit on the history while doing so: to bring a sense of pride to call this community home and educate the newcomers on why this place is so special and to portray what it means to live in east Austin.

This community is special to me becasue it's the place grandmother grew up in and the place my great-great-grandmother and grandfather's family laid roots. The community that they serviced with their "We Fix It" shop here off East Avenue (now I-35N). The community where my great-grandfather built many of the houses. The community where my uncle and dad marched through the woods to the lake to go fishing for dinner.

We proudly say that this magazine was founded on community, and we strive to tell the stories that are not being told and highlight this special community we call home. Over the years I have learned that "community� is so easy to say but quite harder to live. The word itself connects us with each other. It describes an experience so common that we never fully take time to think about it. It seems so simple, so natural, and so human. But the meaning of community is complex, and an effort has to be made by two parties to live it out genuinely; it's a role in the lives of people. The meaning of community requires more thoughtfulness and deliberation. A community does not require physical boundaries, but its members must actively or passively work to produce something. I've seen first hand that locals in communities here care for one another.

I don't no what it's like to live in all the communities in east Austin, but I would guess they have a similar thread--connection, community, a sense of belonging. And I can say without a doubt, that's what we have here on Giles Street in east Austin. Thank you, friends, for accepting us with open arms, decades ago on East Avenue and again 10 years ago on Giles Street, and now with EASTside Magazine and the vast community it serves.

Illustrator Caitlin Alexander is a rockstar! On a tight deadline, she executed our vision for this issue better than we could've imagined. She captured the vivid colors, rustic charm, and modern gyms that truly make the east side of Austin one-of-a-kind. From staples like Sam's BBQ and Leal's Tire Shop to modern landmarks like the Mueller Airport Tower and the African American Cultural Center, all the way to the minute details of the green birds that have made Patterson Park their home. Our community truly is beautiful. Thank you, Caitlin, for bringing it to life on the pages of this special issue.

EAST SIDE

RESIDENTIAL

With the utmost respect and gratefulness, Will Bowling

Pros To Know

PAGE 41

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eastsideatx.com

5

contents

18 features

Editor’s Note 05

18 Inside the Community

EASTside Local 08

30

Art+Entertainment 11 Go+Do 33

14 Is there Affordable

Home+Away 37

Housing left in East Austin?

Sip+Taste 47 6 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

There are many communities within east Austin, each with their unique dives, views, folks, and history. However diverse they are, they all have one common thread: people need people. We enjoy community, a sense of belonging. No matter our differences, let's face it, we need each other, and this community is one of a kind!

48 find more at eastsideatx.com

Blackland Community Development Corporation exists to preserve and advance Austin’s affordable housing options.

An Entire Neighborhood Devoted to Modern Design THE REBIRTH OF AN INCREDIBLE CONCEPT IN EAST AUSTIN.

CONTACT:

Ann Rayborn (512) 318-9567 annr@intown-homes.com 3-4 BEDROOMS STARTING AT $400K 6 mi. east of Downtown on MLK ange without notice. Square footage is approximate. No representation or warranties either expressed or implied This tocommunity as much about the people ofasany property hereinModel n herein or with respect the suitability, is usability, merchantability or conditions described.

Home: it is about the architecture. Come discover Agave.

5805 Pinon Vista Drive

eastside / local

Saving the World one resident at a time

The Austin Tenants’ Council serves 400 people a week between appointments, walkins, and those who call or email.

Did You Know?

WORDS BY JESSICA HAGEMANN PORTRAIT BY AARON RIMBEY

As Juliana Gonzales, Executive Director of the Austin Tenants’ Council, knows, “This is a critical time for housing in Austin.” With a citywide vacancy rate of less than 2% (the majority of those empty spaces being luxury condos, financially out-of-reach for the working class), Austin is “at capacity and … it’s going to break if we don’t do something to fix it.”

A

t particular risk are low-income residents and families who may have lived in Austin for decades, only to face property value inflations so outrageous that they’re being priced right out of the city. Equally vulnerable are tenants who because of their race, sexual orientation, or disability status find it harder to secure desirable, safe, and stable housing.

The Austin Tenants' Council (ATC) helps by serving those Travis and Williamson County residents who “aren’t well-protected under Texas Property Code to begin with.” Through a combination of counseling and mediation programs, ATC educates both renters and

8 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

landlords on each party’s rights and responsibilities.

ATC’s Fair Housing Department While the Fair Housing Act (1968) technically protects buyers and renters from discrimination based on factors like race and disability, it still happens. That’s why the ATC advocates for victims of discrimination, helping them to document their experiences and file formal complaints.

Disabled individuals requesting reasonable modifications to accommodate a wheelchair, for example, or the waiving of pet fees for a service animal, can meet with a housing counselor for assistance. Immigrants, minorities, and other marginalized groups benefit from ATC’s ‘secret shopper’ program (called the Fair Housing Testing Program) in which undercover volunteers visit properties around the city to witness and report discrimination.

Still other tenants receive financial settlements after ATC takes them through the conciliation process with a property manager at fault.

Department of Landlord-Tenant Services Have questions about a security deposit,

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By law, Texas tenants whose properties are in need of repair must send a certified letter of request to the landlord. Texts, calls, or emails don’t legally cut it. Busted outlets, collapsing balconies, missing deadbolts, leaking roofs, and pest infestations must all be submitted in writing. ATC will visit a renter’s home, document the issue, and work with the landlord to get it resolved.

eviction notice, or other issue related to

renting? Call ATC’s counseling hotline 5 days/ week for instant clarification. If your bilingual housing counselor can’t help you in ten minutes or less, you’ll be offered an in-person appointment usually for the very next day.

Should you have a document, like a lease, that you need a professional to look at, you can send it via ATC’s brand new online counseling portal.

The Austin Tenants’ Council also responds to tenant emergencies. It is illegal in Texas for landlords to issue a same-day NTV (Notice to Vacate), fail to provide heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, or continuously block a renter’s entry to his/her property for nonpayment of rent. Landlords may have the locks changed for nonpayment of rent, but this

PHOTO BY JOAN BROOK PHOTO BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

provision in the law is meant to facilitate a mediated landlord-tenant conversation—a service that ATC provides—rather than double as an eviction.

1640-B East 2nd Street, Suite 150 Cruz Garcia, a housing counselor, estimates that ATC serves 400 people a week between appointments, walk-ins, and those who call or email. Most of them go through Christine Castilleja, ATC’s office manager for the past 11 years. Cruz loves that her job is to “educate tenants who don’t know their rights,” and to fight against landlords who “every time the lease ends, can and do increase the rent.”

Christine loves “helping people. I put myself in the client’s shoes. If I could, I would save the world.”

contact:

1640-B East 2nd Street, Suite 150 housing-rights.org

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Visit the evershifting scenes of HOPE Outdoor Gallery: an innovative art space and community incubator. p.12

Arts + entertainment

Spring+ Summer 2017

12 arts

A ONE-OF-A-KIND ART INSTALLATION MADE BY THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING ITS WAY TO EAST AUSTIN.

eastside / art

Part Protest

Part Celebration

HOPE Outdoor Gallery is the only paint park of its kind!

WORDS BY JESSICA HAGEMANN PHOTOS BY JOAN BROOK

On Monday, the walls depict a boy reading a book, branches growing out of his forehead like the tree of knowledge. On Tuesday, he’s become a giant pink whale flashing a toothy grin.

By Wednesday, red and white painted mushrooms sprout from the city’s skyline, as a David Bowie mural closes his eyes in silent reflection. These are the ever-shifting scenes of HOPE Outdoor Gallery (HOG): an innovative art space and community incubator.

D

riving or walking by, you might have seen the HOG rear up out of its otherwise quiet, residential milieu at 11th and Baylor Streets. You might have slowed to do a double-take, unsure which part of the arresting canvas to take in first. Is it art, or vandalism? you might have wondered.

Protest, showcase, or celebration?

The answer is all of the above.

Founded in 2010 by HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) Events, a nonprofit originally dedicated to raising awareness about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, HOPE Outdoor Gallery was built on the bones of an abandoned Austin construction site. It’s the only paint park of its kind in the U.S. and was developed to provide muralists, street artists, arts education classes, and community groups the opportunity to display large-scale art pieces driven by inspirational, positive, and educational messaging.

The product of efforts by several local artists, un-

der the creative direction of Shephard Fairey (a contemporary graffiti artist and Time Magazine cover designer), today the gallery attracts over 500 visitors daily. As Andi Scull Cheatham, Founder and Executive Producer of HOPE Events, describes it, “This two-trick pony is not just a spot for tourists wishing to visit the muse, but a unique community of creatives who have defined the visual culture of our great city.”

Two of the Austin artists who have contributed to the gallery’s impermanent images include Nathan “Sloke" Nordstrom and female stencil artist Niz. When he’s not teaching art to Austin’s youth, Nordstrom can be found shaking a can of spray paint. According to Niz’s website, her ethereal portraits “are meant to connect us with the magic in nature and the mythos in every day life.”

After seven years, the paint park will be relocating to east Austin, where Cheatham says HOG will continue to “show off the weird and vibrant energy unique to Austin.”

Bring the HOPE Outdoor Gallery home with you!

Meet the walls up close and gain access to 50 community-sourced stories without ever stepping foot outside your door. $60 will get you a copy of HOPE Event’s second art book and incomparable visual archive, “These Walls Can Talk!” Visit hopeoutdoorgallery.com.

Native Knowledge: More than just artists, HOPE also brings together farmers, small business owners, and local cultural icons. The HOPE Farmers Market (the first farmers market in east Austin!) meets every Sunday from 11am-3pm at Plaza Saltillo (E. 5th and Comal). Come on out to support East Austin farmers, increase access to healthy food, and dance to live music!

[the friendly side of austin]

contact:

HOPE Events Office 1111 E. 2nd St. 78702 info@hopecampaign.org hopecampaign.org HOPE Outdoor Gallery 1101 Baylor St. 78703 murals@hopecampaign.org hopecampaign.org HOPE Farmers Market 412 Comal St. 78702 info@hopefarmersmarket.org hopefarmersmarket.org

eastsideatx.com

13

Black Is there affordable housing still left in Austin’s east side?

WORDS BY SOMMER BRUGAL PHOTOS BY PARKER THORN

Blackland Community Development Corporation, or BCDC, sits between four borders: MLK Boulevard, Comal Street, Manor Road, and Chestnut Avenue.

Founded in 1983, the non-profit set out to challenge the University of Texas at Austin’s plans to develop east of I-35, to end eastward annexations, and to further develop Austin’s affordable housing options. More than thirty years later, the non-profit’s core mission remains the same.

14 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

find more at eastsideatx.com

“O

ur primary mission was to develop and operate affordable, rental housing,” states Tim Miles, Blackland Community Development Corporation’s operations manager and CEO. While the first few years were spent contesting UT’s impending east side developments, Miles says Blackland’s founders were simultaneously organizing ways to further support that mission and the community of which they were a part.

“If they were successful in preventing [UT’s] annexations, the next steps [were] ‘how do we improve the neighborhood [and] how do we preserve affordable housing?’” Miles says the non-profit also wanted to look for ways to organize community-wide projects that promoted the neighborhood’s social cohesion and the welfare of those who lived there.

According to Miles, the non-profit formed a few allies during its disagreements with UT. Ann Richards, who was the state treasurer at the time, was one of them.

Miles says Richards was a crucial decider in the confrontation between both parties. “When [Richards]

that there’s a practical way to fight against [the influx of new residents],” explained Miles, “other than carving out our niche, doing what we do, and doing it well.” While he understands the feelings of resentment from those who’ve lived here for generations, Miles says it’s his job to ensure Blackland continues to grow. For that, he says he must think a little more practically.

Did you know?

Despite the changes in east Austin’s landscape, Miles says Blackland doesn’t plan to slow down its growth anytime soon. Instead, he says the organization must “think of ways to work together [that involve] community building, collaboration, and learning opportunities to help newcomers understand the need for affordable housing and a diverse low-income community.”

In addition to providing mental health support, financial guidance, and affordable housing, Blackland also offers family-friendly activities throughout the year. Because many households involve school-aged children, Miles says most events revolve around the academic calendar, with a party at the start of summer and another just before school starts again in the fall. And during the holidays, Santa Clause is always welcomed.

One way Blackland is doing this is through its partnerships with other local, non-profit organizations. Miles says Blackland is working with Dell Children’s Medical Center and The Austin Clubhouse to help educate outsiders and discuss ways to meet each of their goals.

Internally, Blackland also offers mental health care services, education, and support for those in the community who need it.

became governor, she had much more sway,” realized through a variety of outlets, including explained Miles, “and it was ultimately through donations and small fundraising efforts. her leadership that UT and He says Blackland also the Blackland neighborhood purchased and repurposed came to an agreement.” Miles homes with the help of “I don’t know that there’s a practical says the arrangement also volunteers and through city way to fight against resulted in the university housing funds. [the influx of new donating part of the land they When asked about the residents], other than owned east of Comal Street changing east Austin landcarving out our niche, to the Blackland community. scape, Miles has a different doing what we do, and He says the units built on that approach than most. Though doing it well.” land are still in use today. he says Austin’s attractiveness Blackland had 15 units will continue to welcome under its management when it was founded. new people to the area, he doesn’t see any Today, they have nearly 50 units on 32 lots. successful strategy that involves actively going Miles says the non-profit’s expansion has been against those new developments. “I don’t know 16 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

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BCDC has five construction projects underway.

While the non-profit uses every opportunity it finds to expand and support its mission, there’s still a lot that needs to be done for people to understand the need for and the lack of affordable housing in Austin. Miles says figuring out ways to make Austin more affordable is the only way it can continue to be successful.

contact:

Blackland Community Development Corporation Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am-3pm 512.220.8751 blacklandcdc.org

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Inside the

Community ...we call home

What does it mean to live in east Austin? As you will soon find out, there is no one answer to that question. The community here is as diverse and beautiful as they come. It's a hodgepodge of old and new catering to many different lifestyles. From the young professional looking for a vibrant urban environment, to the family seeking the outdoor lifestyle and parks these communities have to offer, to the empty nesters just enjoying the beauty of the neighborhood and friendly waves from their front porch, the possibilities are endless. Regardless, there is a strong sense of community here if you just get to know your neighbors.

You will come to find that change is inevitable. Yet, the important thing to remember is we are all human and we need each other. It's important to connect and even more important to respect the history of those who have laid the foundation, those who make this community what it is today.

WORDS BY JESSI DEVENYNS & ASHLEY BOWLING PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD, PARKER THORN, & JOAN BROOK ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAITLIN ALEXANDER

1

The Parks

Within East Riverside, you have the Zilker-sized Roy Guerrero Park, the Krieg Softball Fields with its flock of monk parakeets, the Riverside Golf Course or former Austin Country Club, and the hike & bike trail right on the water.

2

East Riverside

The Food

East Riverside is a foodie haven unto itself. You’ll find the fifth installation of Chi’lantro’s Kimchi Fries’ Empire, a new Jackalope, and the specialty Mour Cafe. Enjoy some of Austin's best and cheapest Vietnamese or Lebanese food between Willow Creek and Pleasant Valley.

This once up-and-coming neighborhood has now transformed into a haven for families, students, and young professionals alike.

I

t’s on-the-lake location and waterside biking and running trails add panache to the neighborhood, while a recent influx of food trucks and music venues has made East Riverside unrecognizable to what it was 20 years ago. As a fusion of the best of old and new Austin, you can now enjoy a mimosa on the patio and walk across the street to pick up fresh fruit from the local street vendor on Pleasant Valley.

3

The Views

Step out of your home and you’ll either be greeted with a nice sweeping view of the Austin skyline or the twinkle of Lady Bird Lake in the sunshine. For Austinites, life really does not get any better than this!

The neighborhood still houses the creative types making ends meet at a decent price point. You will still find the occasional loiterer, but with high-rise condos, master-planned communities like Edgewick, and old family homes with large yards, current residents are benefiting from living in the luxury of a lively neighborhood and beautiful running trails.

20 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

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1

The Folks

Rosewood is inclusive of Rosewood Courts, an emblem of public housing throughout the nation. Its design was lauded in America and helped improve access to affordable housing for low-income families.

2

The Festivals

The annual Juneteenth celebration is hosted in Emancipation or Rosewood Park, which was purchased by the African American community specifically for that purpose. It is the site of one of the nation’s original Juneteenth commemoration locations.

Rosewood Neighborhood

3

The History

In the early 1900s, the City of Austin adopted an official policy that segregated African Americans to east Austin - with the heart of the plan centering around the Rosewood district. Tucked into its varied landscape is the George Washington Carver Museum that serves as a nod to those who transformed the neighborhood into the vibrant cultural center it is today.

4

The Schools

Blackshear is a fine arts elementary school located in the heart of Rosewood.

It was recently awarded the designation of a national blue ribbon school.

Neighbors are welcoming and are committed to giving something back to the community.

T

hrough misguided legislation that was enacted in the early 1900s, Rosewood became a historically black neighborhood in east Austin. Though Rosewood Avenue is considered to be the “main street” of the neighborhood, the term also refers to a long string of landmarks that share the avenue’s name, making the name as much of an identity as it is a district.

This is a neighborhood with a storied past. From the public transportation boycotts 50 years before Rosa Parks to the Rosewood Courts, which represent the first real effort from the federal government to engage in large-scale neighborhood development that embraced all of the aspects of what would later become known as environmental design, this neighborhood has been an enclave of forward thinking residents. A trait that the community continues to proudly exhibit today.

Roy Guerrero Park photo courtesy of Austin Parks & Recreation; Juneteenth Festival photo courtesy of Michael Emery

All About Community

The Millennium Youth Entertainment Center hosts numerous activities for area youth on the corner of Walnut and Rosewood Avenue. A block farther east is the Austin Can Academy, where neighbors and folks all over Austin come to donate their old cars to help pay college tuition for kids who may not afford it otherwise.

[the friendly side of austin]

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Holly & East Cesar Chavez This neighborhood has one of the most vivid histories in all of east Austin.

A

s one of the most well-known east side neighborhoods due to its integral participation in the annual East Austin Studio Tour. This traditionally Mexican-American neighborhood has borne the brunt of the city’s whims: the epicenter of the former political hot potato and current eyesore, the Holly Street Power Plant. Since the power plant’s closing in 2007 as well as the neighborhood’s proximity to downtown, the lake, Rainey Street, and the

22 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

hike & bike trails, desirability and prices have skyrocketed in the area. Not to mention, the area is speckled with popular restaurants like Bufalina Pizza, Counter Culture, and Cenote.

Wandering around this neighborhood, you will see lots of people heading to one of the three major parks during the day. The Holly neighborhood is a highly residential area so single-family homes stretch as far as the eye can see.

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1

The Food

Holly is also known for its many family-owned dining establishments. It's no secret that Austin has a reputation for tasty barbeque, and there’s no better place to start than with La Barbecue.

At the corner of Holly St. and Robert Martinez Jr. St. is Launderette—a former laundromat, now converted to a retro cafe. Directly in the middle of the neighborhood is Juan in a Million, a wildly popular Tex Mex eatery open for breakfast and lunch.

2

The Folks

Up until his passing last year, Danny Camacho was a local source of pride and history. A community historian, he lived in this east Austin district for over 60 years.

3

The Festivals

From Texas Vegfest to the Ice Cream Festival and the Hot Sauce Festival to Dragon Boat Racing, there is always something fun going on at Holly’s Fiesta Gardens.

4

The Parks

Fiesta Gardens is the main public park hosting many events throughout the year. However, there is also Metz Park which has been around since 1933 and Pan American Park. Not to mention, there is a large community garden too!

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1

The Food

America’s first zero-waste grocer, in.gredients, is happily housed in this neighborhood.

There are also award-winning eateries like Dai Due and Salty Sow alongside staples like Hoover’s, El Chile, and Eastside Cafe across Manor Road in the Chestnut neighborhood.

2

The Drinks

Take a trip to Haymaker, Cherrywood Coffeehouse or Thunderbird Coffee where you can sip on a coffee, refresh your palate with a kombucha, or enjoy a lazy afternoon with a cold one.

3 Cherrywood & French Place

C

The Cherrywood neighborhood is of a more recent vintage than many of its neighbors.

onstructed in post-WWII Austin, this infill neighborhood was donated by the Giles family to serve as a residential area between older, established districts. Its “short” tenure is nevertheless marked by a pendulum of transitions from mainstream to funky and thriving to endangered.

Today its formation is reflected in the eclectic hodgepodge of businesses, residents, and incomes that cultivate an Austin-esque

24 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

atmosphere of affordable good taste. Chock full of supper clubs, art exhibitions, and coffee houses, this neighborhood is anything but cookie cutter.

As you go further south into the woods, you’ll find yourself in French Place. This triangular section of town is often considered its own micro-neighborhood. Filled with variety in every respect, this community backs up to Manor Road, a main artery of the east side.

Here, hyper-localism is the way of life.

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The Arts

This neighborhood is known for its vibrant arts scene where you can catch performances at the Vortex on Manor Road. Just south of the Vortex in the Chestnut area is Flatbed Press, Imagine Art, and the Photo Méthode Gallery. The Cherrywood Art Fair, an annual event that East-siders look forward to each year, brings in many local artisans to share their craft. To the west, there is Patterson Park where Cherrywoodstock is hosted annually to the delight of residents.

4

The Schools

Maplewood Elementary School is home to its namesake, located on Maplewood Avenue. There’s also Clearview Sudbury School, a school based on the processes of democratic governance.

MLK

Community

One of the most storied and historic neighborhoods in east Austin, the MLK neighborhood still negotiates demographic divisions.

O

nce a predominantly African American neighborhood, today this district is more like a Picasso painting. All the beauty, the history, the charm, and the perseverance of the original East-siders comprise a unique tableau when mixed with the newer residents who splash on their own stories. Still, this neighborhood is a pocket of what some would consider old east Austin.

Its industrial façade is broken up by densely populated communities and clusters of entrepreneurial operations.

1

The Music

Take a trip to the Skylark Lounge where native East-sider Johnny LaTouf bridges the gap between bygone eras and modernity. Or try the Sahara Lounge, a wooden shack that showcases Austin area blues.

2

The Food

Mr. Catfish and Country Boyz Fixin’s are neighborhood staples that offer down home cooking. Alongside these community pillars, there are Contigo and Terry’s Seafood which serve up utterly different but equally delicious bites.

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The Activities

Morris Williams Golf Course is scattered with breathtaking greens. Shaded parks like Springdale Park and Givens Park offer a place to relax in the shade while sipping some cold iced tea. If art is more your thing, catch a play or a whimsical musical at The City Theatre. eastsideatx.com

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Mueller

Neighborhood After transforming from the inner-city municipal airport into a neighborhood, Mueller is an example of a master-planned neighborhood that works.

F

eatured in publications from the New York Times to NPR, this convivial urban refuge is noteworthy for its ability to escape the utopian, Pleasantville image that so many master-planned neighborhoods emanate.

The neighborhood rejects cliches, instead infusing its gravel paths with local flavor.

From farmers’ markets to hyper local businesses, this pre-planned 700-acre neighborhood even features an innovative children's museum.

Texas A&M has even shown Mueller how to validate the gospel of new-urban planning by making the benefits measurable. It turns out that good design with sidewalks, street lighting, extensive trails, and parkland can actually improve social and physical health.

26 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

find more at eastsideatx.com

1

The Parks

Mueller Lake Park is an urban sanctuary, part of a creative ecosystem of parks that puts every Mueller resident less than 600 feet away from a community green space.

Along with shade, it has wide open spaces for kite flying on the gusty days. In addition, two city pools and playscapes are tucked within the neighborhood.

2

Govalle

Just within sight of downtown Austin’s skyline is Govalle where a drive through the streets may result in a confused understanding of the cultural hodgepodge that is evolving.

The Views

D

own some roadways, you can imagine all of Austin getting its cars fixed, picking up fast food, and getting sharked by payday loans. On other streets, you will see the outcroppings of creative companies. Yet on others, you’ll feel the security that a deep-rooted community has sown as the years have passed.

The Mueller neighborhood is serendipitously located on a plot of land with vista points that seems intentionally designed to allow you to enjoy sunsets in all their glory. Some homes even have a glorious view of our city's skyline.

3

At the same time, as a neighborhood that caters to creatives, you’ll find a growing number of galleries and cozy work spots in warehouses as well as an eclectic mix of dining and shopping.

The Food

From elevated fare like Kyoten Sushiko and L'Oca d'Oro to home-town eateries like Torchy’s Tacos and J.T. Youngblood's Fried Chicken, this community is not lacking in variety.

In addition, every Sunday from 10am-2pm, you can shop for fresh produce, get to know your neighbors, and better understand the local flora and fauna of the Central Texas region at the Mueller Farmers’ Market.

1

The Folks

What’s in a name?

For Govalle, it’s its history. Settled by Swen Magnus, a Swedish immigrant, its original homesteaded name was “Ga Valle,” or “good grazing land.” One of Austin’s oldest families lives in this neighborhood - they even have streets named after them. The Limons have 5 generation and 2000 members living in and around Govalle.

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The Food

Govalle is home to several of Austin’s urban farms including Boggy Creek and Springdale Farm which are open to the public and host weekly farm stands where one can buy groceries. Govalle also offers a variety of fare, such as Eden East's farm fresh, Grizzelda’s coastal Mexican, Justine Brasserie’s French bistro, and Sawyer & Company’s New Orleans flavor.

3

The Arts

Govalle is the hub for Big Medium’s East Side Studio Tour as well as home to ThinkEAST, a rent controlled live/work environment for Austin’s creatives. Springdale General, The Pump Project, and Creativescape are also housed here and host workspaces for the vast community of artists, artisans, craftsmen, and art galleries.

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1

The Folks

With an extremely active neighborhood association, this close-knit community is ensuring thoughtful, if not continued, improvement and growth of their neighborhood within the east side community.

2

The Parks

Swede Hill pocket park is the perfect size to gather your friends, family, booze, and a picnic.

That’s right. This little patch of green allows BYOB drinking in the sunshine.

3

Swede Hill Neighborhood

Settled by Swedish immigrants in the 1870s, this historic neighborhood is also one of Austin’s smallest albeit most visually diverse.

W

ithin its 40 acres, architecture ranges from original historic structures that were built by the 67 ancestral Swedish families to contemporary green designs. The residents are no less eclectic. The neighborhood boasts a community of professionals, artists, students, and urban dwellers.

Despite the continued renovation and

28 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

urbanization of the east side, Swede Hill has managed to stay overwhelmingly residential. This is due in part to its active neighborhood association as well as its unobtrusive size. Within its diminutive boundaries, however, there is the oldest city-owned cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery, a hidden pocket park, and a rather large and underdeveloped plot of commercial lots on its southern border.

find more at eastsideatx.com

The Food

East side staples like Hillside Farmacy, Franklin Barbecue, and Quickie Pickie reside on Swede Hill’s borders and cater to locals and visitors alike.

4

The Culture

This neighborhood is unsurprisingly flooded with history. Diverse traditions of many art forms are celebrated at galleries like the Texas Music Museum, the African-American Cultural & Heritage Center, and the French Legation Museum.

The "Burbs"

Still centrally located but also isolated enough to feel as if you are miles away from the city lights and sitting beneath Austin oaks watching fireflies dance in the wind are a few more communities that are worth the visit.

Windsor Park

Windsor Park is best known for its canopy of wizened trees and role as Dillon, Texas, in Friday Night Lights. Today, residents continue to walk the scenic avenues to enjoy the modern blend of old stalwarts like Bartholomew District Park and Paco’s Tacos as well as new additions like the Blue Starlite drive-in.

Dellwood

Though there is a lack of consensus on its spelling and exact boundaries, Dellwood has managed to forge its own identity among its residents. Home of the first auto-dependent shopping center—Capital Plaza—this neighborhood is actually the last of the three original Dellwood subdivisions that were designated in the 1930s.

Agave

Directly east of downtown, Agave offers Austin skyline views if

EASTON PARK

you turn around at exactly the right moment. With its focus on creating a community that is highly energy efficient without pricing residents out of their homes, Agave has become a neighborhood of modern, contemporary green homes where creative residents find community.

visions of east Austin. At its inception in 1941, developers described the neighborhood as “designed primarily for gentle folk of limited budget but of unlimited good taste." As far as the current residents are concerned, it has continued to live up to expectations.

University Hills

In southeast Austin, a new urban master-planned community is being constructed. Twelve miles east of downtown near McKinney Falls State Park, these 1,500 acres contain a perfect 13.1 mile loop for runners as well as 350 acres of green space for those who prefer to wander.

Currently beginning Phase 2, this neighborhood is slated to have 5,000 residences with 10% allotted to those who qualify for affordable housing.

Among these houses, plenty of built-in amenities, shopping, and parkland will be woven in to create a seamless, walkable community.

Built in the 1950s and 6 miles north of downtown Austin, University Hills is one of Austin’s most desirable neighborhoods. Prior to the move of Mueller Airport in 1999, it was, however, considered less desirable (think to planes overhead). Whether this change in desirability has to do with the rent being 3% lower than average or the centrally-located Tres Amigos is anyone’s guess.

Wilshire Woods

Wilshire Woods lies just to the west of Mueller and was one of the original subdi-

Bartholomew Park photo courtesy of Austin Parks & Recreation; Easton Park photos courtesy of Easton Park

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Easton Park

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Connect &

COLLABORATE Coworking is more than just a space to park your laptop.

With more and more people turning to self-employment, remote working and startup lifestyles, it’s no wonder that coworking has become the modern way to work. But what exactly is the benefit to sharing a space with strangers?

WORDS BY SAMANTHA LAURON

oworking is not only an alternative for those who don’t need a ton of office space but also for those who want more interaction than they would get in their home office.

Although every coworking space is different, what remains the same across the board is the sense of community each one provides. Working alongside like-minded entrepreneurs is the perfect opportunity to collaborate and connect with people across different industries and contribute to each other’s success. “We set the expectation from the start; this is more than just a desk at which to work,” says Atmosphere Cowork founder Trent Sultemeirer of his coworking space.

The key to finding your place in the multitude of coworking spaces available is to find a community that suits you and your needs. What works best for the freelance writer might not be the best fit for a growing tech start-up. You may have to do a little research and experimenting to find the space that you feel most at home, but once you do, working will never be more fun.

1

Soma Vida

Founded in 2008, Soma Vida was the first official coworking location in Austin, and there’s no doubt it’s the healthiest. “I believe we are only as successful as we are healthy,” says founder Laura Shook Guzman.

“As entrepreneurs, our health and well-being have a huge impact on our bottom line.” From the on-site wellness features like yoga and acupuncture to the variety of workspaces available, Soma Vida is the ultimate space for all types of wellness entrepreneurs. somavida.net | 2324 E. Cesar Chavez St.

2

Createscape

For the creative-minded business professionals, consider Createscape. The Tillery Street space is a perfect place to settle into for individuals from all industries, but especially if you’re in a creative field like photography, writing or design.

Perks include socials every month and a pet-friendly workspace! createscapework.co | 701 Tillery Street A-3 #21

3

Switch Cowork

After realizing there was potential for a coworking space in unused

restaurant and bar space, cofounders Christa Freeland and Jacob Morin partnered with Trackside (and recently added a second location at Rebel Pizza) to launch the first Switch Cowork space. “If they are just looking for an open, collaborative work environment, all for a ‘coffee shop’ price, then we’re the perfect solution,” says Freeland.

The bonus of working from a bar space? You don’t have to fight traffic after work to make it to happy hour! switchcowork.com | 507 Calles Street

4

ATX Factory

With members from the tech, real estate and finance fields, this is one bright coworking space.

The features of ATX Factory include sleeping pods, showers and even a community garden—everything you could ever need for the work week and then some. atxfactory.com | 5323 Levander Loop

5

Urban Co-Lab

With dedication to urban innovation and entrepreneurship, Urban Co-Lab caters to individuals and small groups making an impact in education, housing, transportation and other

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issues facing urban areas. If you’re passionate about the community, get involved with Urban Co-Lab. urbancreatives.co | 1818 E 12th Street

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Atmosphere Cowork

Atmosphere Cowork is a flexible platform for members of the digital creative industry to engage with one another’s businesses and create a strong sense of community. A unique feature to the space is the Network Catalyst sessions in which members come together to share business ideas and stories in an effort to connect.

According to founder Trent Sultemeier, “It’s a way to mindfully grow our businesses while meeting new people that could become friends, business partners or both.” atmowork.com | 2400 E Cesar Chavez #208

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Chicon Collective

Located at the old 3rd Street bus depot is a space for freelancers of all kinds—developers, photographers, writers and more. They also hold plenty of events, so stop by to visit the self-proclaimed “scrappy” coworkers and see how you like it. chicon.co | 301 Chicon St. Ste. D

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

“EARLY CHILDHOOD SETS THE STAGE FOR THE REST OF CHILDREN’S LIVES, AS 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS BY AGE FIVE. ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS CAN IMPROVE CHILDREN'S CHANCES FOR SUCCESS LATER IN LIFE.”

THE LEADERS WE WANT THEM TO BE

WHY CHOOSE THE RISE SCHOOL OF AUSTIN PRESCHOOL? • 3:1 Student to Teacher Ratio • Small Preschool Classroom Sizes:Maximum 12 Students Per Class​

The sunny windows of The Rise School shine warm light into the bustling classrooms, where eager students practice their letters and numbers or learn with their peers through play. From the interactive smart boards to the music and arts program and the master's level teachers, it offers a place for children to learn and thrive during their most crucial stage of development.

• Master's Level Teachers

Eleven months out of the year, five days a week, Rise students dive elbow-deep into science, lose themselves in literature, and learn what it means to work together. They discover the world around them and build an academic foundation that will carry them to their next learning environment, and everyone, no matter their stage of development, is included. “The first five years of a child’s life are fundamentally important,” Program Director Megen Glass explains, “The Rise staff’s ability to personalize instruction increases student engagement; and the academic supports available to all students help each child reach his/her full potential. Not only are children gaining a respect and appreciation for diversity but inclusive practices also promote optimal success for each student.”

The research-based curriculum that The Rise School embraces encourages a strong foundation of development for their students, which will shape each little learner’s future health, happiness, growth, and friendships. Due to the unique, individualized educational methods, the belief that a quality early childhood education is accessible to everyone – gifted, traditional, or developmentally delayed – is a reality.

The Rise School is a community where all children are given the tools they need to cope with and overcome obstacles that they will certainly meet along the way. Each Rise student learns necessary skills for being productive, empathetic, compassionate human beings that contribute to society in a meaningful way, becoming the leaders we want them to be.

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• Exceptional Academic, Physical & Social Curriculum • Conscious Discipline • Zoo-phonics • Handwriting Without Tears • Creative Curriculum THE RISE SCHOOL IS NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR. 512-891-1682 riseschoolaustin.org 4800 Manor Rd Building J RiseSchoolATX

find more at eastsideatx.com

• Individualized Play Based Instruction • Music & Art Program • Serving Children 14 Months to 5 Years Old

Godo+

Spring+ Summer 2017

34 do

history

THE STORY OF

AUSTIN'S TEJANO TRAILS IS ONE OF A COMMUNITY WHO COMES TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOR EACH OTHER.

Austin Bouldering Project has after school clubs! The fall semester runs from SeptemberNovember and the Spring semester runs from January-May. p.36

36 go

play

THE EAST SIDE OF AUSTIN HAS NO SHORTAGE OF FAMILY-FUN PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN BOULDERING PROJECT

ACTIVITIES FOR ALL FOR SUMMER LONG.

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Walking History

The Tejano Trails WORDS BY MARY BRYCE PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEJANOTRAILS.ORG

The east side of Austin has a long and complex history. In 1928, the City of Austin made access to regular utilities and services almost impossible for minority groups unless they lived in the area that is now east Austin.

T “The over-arching story of the Tejano Trails is of a community who comes together to provide for each other.

And from that, so many activists are born. Many of whom are still alive today. If they had done what they did in other communities, they would be in textbooks.”

ejano Trails volunteer Lori Renteria notes that despite the changes that have taken place since, there are still parallels to 100 years ago. For instance, the train went through the area around East 4th Street, and many houses and businesses catered to the needs of travelers and workers, such as offering transportation to and from the train station. “Here we are 100 years later,” Renteria says, “where the rail and a lot of those houses still exist! They’re pedicab companies now, and the horse carriage companies are putting on their equipment in the same east corridor… We’re back to where we used to be. That’s really fascinating about that part of our neighborhood.”

“People wanted to go where they could go to church and school, and that’s how they migrated east,” says Vanessa Castro, the wellness and health program coordinator at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

With aggressive zoning, the city actively prevented east Austin residents from having electricity, well-supplied schools and even paved roads. Indeed, much of the east side was unpaved even into the 1960s.

The quest for preservation and restoration of the Tejano Walking Trails began in 2007 by a volunteer group of east Austin

34 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

find more at eastsideatx.com

low-income housing in the nation.” The RBJ Senior Residential Center (which LBJ named after his grandmother) is a site on the trail and still in use.

residents who wanted to commemorate the history here and celebrate the beauty, culture and diversity that makes this area so special. Their goal is to preserve historic structures and affordable homes, educate the public on the historic significance in hopes of preserving old structures, and encourage a healthier lifestyle.

churches, houses, parks and the Holly Power Plant. Additionally, the Trail of Tejano Music Legends, which was created in partnership with the Austin Latino Music Association, is 5.6 miles and covers seven sites, which feature gorgeous sculptures that are dedicated to each legend. The final phase of the trail will be completed in 2018.

The Trails are split into three phases that focus on different aspects of local history such as affordable housing and transportation—issues that are still relevant today. Sites along Tejano Trails include

Renteria noted that President Lyndon B. Johnson played a pivotal role in east Austin history by bringing services such as community centers to residents, as well as some of the “first senior living facilities and

Some have hoped that the Trail will encourage newcomers to preserve homes and businesses that have been important cornerstones in the community for decades. Castro says that many long-time residents have since moved simply because they can no longer afford to live here. However, not only has gentrification deeply affected the east Austin community as a whole, it has also affected the trail. “There are sites that were demolished long before the project came along, and there are sites that have been demolished since… That’s why it’s so important to tell these stories,” Castro emphasizes. “I don’t think that through the trail we’re going to end gentrification, but I think it’s a great step in preserving and encouraging newcomers to have respect for this really old community.”

contact:

tejanotrails.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

EAST WOMEN’S ISSUE COMING

FALL 2017

A PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL STRONG WOMEN AND PROFESSIONALS, A PLACE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR SUCCESSES AND LEARN FROM THEIR TRIALS

Find out more about this Special Advertorial in EASTside Magazine’s Women’s Issue by emailing info@eastsideatx.com.

WWW.EASTSIDEATX.COM

EASTSIDEATXMAG [the friendly side of austin]

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best

Activities for Kids

Start planning activities to keep the kids from boredom this scorching season.

WORDS BY SAMANTHA LAURON PHOTO BY MATT BRADFORD

BARTHOLOMEW PARK

From parks to museums, there is no shortage of places for kids of all ages to stay active and engaged this summer.

1

Thinkery

Let your kids explore, create and learn at Thinkery. Pop into the Mueller neighborhood museum for exhibits, programs and classes that focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities.

From instructor-led classes to interactive exhibits, Thinkery helps mold the minds of the future generation and gives children the chance to expand their minds and learn new things—all while having fun!

1830 Simond Ave.

2

Bartholomew Pool

When the days start to heat up and you’re searching for a way to cool off, grab the kids and make your way to Bartholomew Pool. The pool comes equipped with two waterslides, a lily pad obstacle, diving board and a shallow section for toddlers--fun for everybody in the family. Austin residents can get in for $3 or less, depending on age group so be sure to grab some cash (and plenty of sunscreen!) before heading over to enjoy a day at the pool. 1800 E. 51st St. 36 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

3

Austin Bouldering Project

An activity worth checking out if your kiddos are looking for something adventurous to do this summer is bouldering: rock climbing without ropes or harnesses.

Austin’s largest bouldering gym, Austin Bouldering Project, has drawn in both new and experienced climbers since opening in 2015. ABP offers youth programs like camps and birthday parties, as well as day passes and classes. Children younger than 14 must be supervised during their visit, so grab yourself a day pass, put on your climbing shoes and join them on the boulders! 979 Springdale Rd. #150

4

Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex

If you’re looking for a fun, affordable place for your kids to hang out, then Millennium is the place to be.

The city-run entertainment complex features bowling, roller skating, a movie theater, food court and arcade games,

find more at eastsideatx.com

most of which are under $5—a more than reasonable price to pay for the amount of activities available. Kids can spend a whole day here without running out of things to do, so keep this in mind for those long, hot summer days. Millennium is open Wednesdays through Saturdays.

1156 Hargrave Street

5

East Communities YMCA

Pool time is a must during the summer months, and Eastside Communities YMCA is another great option for East-siders. Members can enjoy the YMCA facilities, which include a kid-friendly pool, complete with mini waterpark features like a slide and splash pads. The YMCA offers swimming lessons, swim leagues and open swim every day.

5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd.

6

Capital of Texas Zoo

About 20 miles east of Austin is Capital of Texas Zoo, the largest and fastest growing zoo in Central Texas. For the animal lovers in the family, the Capital of Texas Zoo is a worthwhile adventure without having to drive to major zoos in San Antonio or Houston. Plan a day trip to Cedar Creek for the kids to see more than 400 animals, from monkeys to hippos and everything in between.

376-A Jenkins Rd., Cedar Creek, TX

Gruene is a small town with a nod to German history accompanied by a winding river and perfect is a weekend escape. p.46

Home + away Spring+ Summer 2017

38home

VISIT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE WHERE MOVIE NIGHTS ARE A REGULAR THING AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

46away ESCAPE THE

HUSTLE & BUSTLE OF THE CITY WITH A 45-MINUTE DRIVE TO A SMALL TOWN ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER.

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Community First! Village WORDS BY JESSICA HAGEMANN PHOTOS BY PARKER THORN

Hosting Field Trips and Alamo Drafthouse Movie Nights, Plus Art and Service Opportunities Galore, This Neighborhood Puts Community First.

T

here’s a new neighborhood in far east Austin, unlike anything the city has seen before. Its grounds are beautifully manicured.

Its houses have been designed by Austin architects. From every front porch, neighbors wave to friends and visitors alike.

There’s an open-air amphitheater for viewing movies under the stars, flanked by one of the freshest food trailers in town. A small shop, situated among blooming fruit and nut trees, sells modestly-priced gifts handmade by the community’s residents, next door to an on-site medical center and across from an organic vegetable garden. Are you ready to move in yet?

This is Community First!, a 27-acre initiative of the Austin-based nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Developed to provide affordable, permanent housing for the disabled, chronically homeless in Central Texas, in just a few years’ time Community First! has become a true lifestyle brand. Attracting urban planners, interior designers, and volunteers from around the country seeking meaningful and sustainable service

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find more at eastsideatx.com

“Every home has a front porch and no home has a backyard,” says Thomas Aitchison, Director of Communications: “You couldn’t escape community here if you wanted to!” opportunities, today Community First! is a privately-funded $17 million dollar “mansion” with 240 “bedrooms” for displaced “friends”— the first of its kind in the country and a true “epicenter for innovation” in the fight against chronic homelessness.

Driving into Community First!, the first thing you notice is the permanent outdoor movie screen and rows of neat benches sponsored by the Alamo Drafthouse. Then you see the crisp teepees and an assortment of modern micro-homes clustered together, which serve as bed-and-breakfast accommodations for youth groups, volunteers, and the otherwise curious passing through town. Follow the wide, paved street as it curves around RVs and canvas-sided cottages, through neatly kept and brightly painted tiny homes, and you’ll find a state-ofthe-art community center in the final stages of construction. Tour the art studio complete with paints and kilns, watch the blacksmiths bent over their ovens, and pause for a quiet moment in the serene chapel. Finally, join in the home blessing as a new resident moves into the neighborhood—followed by lunch made with love in the chef-grade outdoor kitchens.

Each fully-furnished and professionally-decorated housing unit is outfitted with WiFi and electricity, and includes a crockpot, microwave,

and mini-fridge. Both residents and residential volunteers accepted into the Community First! program are offered their first choice of unit, and everyone pays rent. In true sustainable style, the program is a ‘hand up,’ not a handout, with residents and school groups, church groups and formerly-homeless individuals, working side by side to make the whole community—the one that all of us create and share—better for everyone. “The vision—the why,” says founder Alan Graham, “begins with compassion.” Community First! is about restoring dignity, and thereby a healthy community, one life and one relationship at a time.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the parent organization behind Community First!, was founded 18 years ago by Graham and five friends as a food truck ministry. Graham was inspired to start MLF after attending a particularly powerful men’s retreat, during which the “intellectual relationship that [he] had with Christ dropped into [his] heart,” prompting him to adopt a “Just Say Yes” philosophy of service. As he explains, the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes is the only miracle outside the Resurrection to appear in all four Gospels. When Jesus directs the disciples to feed a crowd of 5,000 using only five barley loaves and two dried fish, not only are the multitudes fed, but there are 12 wicker baskets of scraps left over. In other words, “All you need to do is offer up what you have,” says Graham, “and [your offering] gets multiplied.

Here at Community First!, many hands can do much work!”

contact:

Village Amenities • Amphitheater for community movie nights under the stars • Architect-designed chapel • Bed-and-breakfast for individuals and groups desiring exposure to a lifestyle of service • Chef-grade outdoor kitchen

512.551.5450 9301 Hog Eye Road info@mlf.org mlf.org/community-first

• Convenience store that sells ‘basic needs’ items, as well as gift items (like forged bottle openers and pottery) handmade by residents in the Community Works program who are working to earn a income • Genesis Gardens: three acres of “Better than Whole Foods” organic produce, made available to residents for free • Memorial garden for interring the ashes of residents who wish to be buried on-site • Outdoor play gym for visiting children • Private laundry, restroom, and shower facilities • Topfer Family Health Resource Center, affording immediate access to primary and behavioral healthcare

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benefiting benefiting benefiting benefiting

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and in support, Kids In A New Groove is launching Foster the Music!

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and in support, May Kids is National Foster Care is Awareness in support, In A New Groove launchingMonth Foster and the Music!

In A New Groove launchingMonth Foster the May isKids National Foster Care is Awareness andMusic! in support, help youth in foster care today at KidsInANewGroove.org/foster-the-music

Kids In A New Groove is launching Foster the Music!

All proceeds fromcare Foster theatMusic provide Central Texas youth in help youth in foster today KidsInANewGroove.org/foster-the-music help youthcare in foster care weekly today at music KidsInANewGroove.org/foster-the-music foster with free mentorship and instruments.

All proceeds from Foster the Music provide Central Texas youth in help youth in foster care today KidsInANewGroove.org/foster-the-music All proceeds fromfree Foster theatMusic Central youth in foster care with weekly musicprovide mentorship andTexas instruments.

Participating foster care with free weekly musicPartners mentorship and instruments.

All proceeds from Foster the Music provide Central Texas youth in foster care with free weekly musicPartners mentorship and instruments.

Participating Participating Partners

Participating Partners

SPECIAL PROMOTION SECTION

RESIDENTIAL Pros To Know

PROMOTION

RESIDENTIAL Pros To Know

CREEDE FITCH, REALTOR

I’m not your typical realtor, I’m just a regular guy with a love for modern and mid century modern homes. That’s why I choose to be a Realtor. My job allows me the luxury to be around them, become an expert on them and still earn a living. And I love Austin. I do my best to contribute to this city, to make it a better place, and of course to search out and give credit to all of the amazing artists, designers and musicians that make this such a great city.

I’m not a salesperson, meaning I’m not going to try and convince you that I’m the best person to represent you. I’m not going to send you spammy emails or call you up and ask you for people you know that might need a realtor. I won’t even try and convince you to sign a contract with me. If you like me, and I like you, then we work together. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

While real estate is my passion and my job, that’s not all I’ve been up to. I have helped clients with interior design, I’ve built kitchens and furniture, received design awards from print media, and even written for a few magazines. I also helped start up and actively worked on a mid century modern preservation committee. So yeah, I’m not your typical realtor, but I probably am the best person to help you buy or sell your next home.

CONTACT

512-954-1777 CREEDEFITCH.COM HELLO@CREEDEFITCH.COM

PROMOTION

RESIDENTIAL

NEWCASTLE HOMES

Pros To Know

REAL. LOCAL. COMMUNITY. DESIGN. BUILD.

For over 16 years Newcastle Homes has worked closely with the communities of East Austin to create sustainable, locally-designed, high-performance homes that are hand-built by local craftsmen. Newcastle Homes does not just do business in East Austin--they are part of East Austin, actively supporting community initiatives on issues that matter to locals, like affordable housing and animal welfare.

While Newcastle Homes is well-known for its modern design-build work, they also specialize in historic renovations with modern additions, helping preserve select original homes while making them as green and energy efficient as their new modern homes. Newcastle Homes covets one-of-a-kind challenges and diverse aesthetics.

“We have a special place in our hearts for these quintessentially Austin projects and a unique set of tools to excel at them. Modern or historic, we do not build houses, we craft cool, green homes for Austinites."

CONTACT

512-454-4600 AUSTINNEWCASTLEHOMES.COM NEWCASTLE512@GMAIL.COM

WOODWORK AT 17 TH Austin Evers founded “Woodwork at 17th” making furniture, objects, and spaces to bring people together. A piece of furniture doesn’t have to be solely functional, it can be beautiful, it can create conversation, comfort, relationships. This is the hope of “Woodwork at 17th.”

He was given the opportunity to cut his woodworking chops in home construction with Habitat for Humanity here in Austin. He taught volunteers how to build houses for a few years while working with some of the best people in the world. While learning and teaching to frame, roof, and trim houses, he found himself gravitating toward fine carpentry.

In 2011, he slowly began trading his framing hammer and speed square for a hand plane and chisels, and now focuses his attention on fine woodworking and detailed craftsmanship.

CONTACT

[the friendly side of austin]

512-983-2283 WOODWORK17.COM WOODWORKAT17TH@GMAIL.COM

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PROMOTION

RESIDENTIAL Pros To Know

EASTSIDE DOG WALKERS Eastside Dog Walkers is a local Austin dog walking and house sitting service catering to East Austin since 2014. From pugs to pitbulls, your pets are our passion at ESDW. We are a member of Professional United Pet Sitters, trained in pet CPR/ first aid, and always carry first aid kits with us. We are also fully insured and bonded, so you can go about your day stress-free, knowing that your pets are our top priority and will be safe and happy in our care.

We know you want the best for your furry friends, even when you are busy. ESDW offers everything from daily walks, group park visits, to overnight stays, from simple check-ins to serious playtime.

Let our awesome team of pet pros look after your dog and cat family members while you’re away.

‘Your dogs have plans today.’

CONTACT

512-968-4809 EASTSIDEDOGWAKERS.COM BREE@EASTSIDEDOGWALKERS.COM

LAUREN RAMIREZ

STYLING + INTERIORS Based in east Austin, Lauren Ramirez provides interior decorating and styling services to create spaces where life can flourish. She uses fresh, resourceful design to transform your space and help you love where you live.

Listening to each client, Lauren incorporates a modern eclectic style in a variety of ways and helps craft beautiful spaces to tell a client’s unique story. Whether you are building a new home, refreshing your existing space or dreaming up a new Austin business, Lauren would love to help you design your story.

CONTACT

44 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

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512-277-9008 LAUREN-RAMIREZ.COM RAMIREZ.LAUREN@GMAIL.COM

PROMOTION

RESIDENTIAL Pros To Know

JOY PADILLA,

REALTOR ® If you’re looking to buy a home on the east side of Austin or just getting to know the community, Joy brings exceptional service and knows the east side of Austin well. From searching for the perfect home to fulfill her client’s dreams, she offers an unsurpassed level of commitment to each client. Joy is an advocate for her clients and believes education and communication are key. Understanding people, listening, and using proven processes makes all the difference when buying and/or selling a home.

Joy brings 10 years of Sales and Marketing to her business. She understands economic and market trends and is proficient at researching the real estate market.

Her clients receive a comprehensive assessment of the market enabling them to make educated decisions about the property they are buying or selling.

“The best realtors, like the best therapists, help you see past difficulties to the promise of the future. Our future in Austin looks bright because of Joy!” -Landry Family (Redeemer Presbyterian) CONTACT

JOY PADILLA, REALTOR ® 512-968-7799 JOYPADILLA@REALTYAUSTIN.COM

ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD,

ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER Ashley is a Austin based photographer specializing in Architecture, Interiors, as well as Commercial Spaces. She uses both natural and artificial light where appropriate to artistically capture indoor and outdoor spaces. Every single image is meticulously crafted with expert attention to detail. Ashley strives to create fun, laid-back environments when shooting, whether photographing a small home or a high rise overlooking Lady Bird Lake .

When Ashley isn’t photographing architecture and interiors, she is working on exciting new projects— anything from photographing local food eateries, or documenting a story being told in local publications.

CONTACT

[the friendly side of austin]

512-431-4161 ASHLEYHAGUEWOOD.COM ASHLEYHAGUEWOOD@GMAIL.COM

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eastside / away

A Weekend In GRUENE HALL PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT FLETCHER

GRUENE

& new braunfels WORDS BY MARY BRYCE

FOR A GORGEOUS WEEKEND VACATION THAT WILL REFRESH YOU, A TRIP TO GRUENE CAN BE THE PERFECT GET-AWAY. Originally settled by German immigrants, New Braunfels and the neighboring town of Gruene still have enchanting remnants of German culture, as well as gorgeous parks, rivers and outdoor spaces that will win your heart immediately.

Friday If you’re looking to experience an oldschool hotel that still

feels like it’s stuck in the 1930s, consider staying at the historic Faust Hotel, located in the center of New Braunfels.

Alternatively, if you’re interested in staying somewhere closer to the water, Gruene River Inn is located right on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Start your day off right with some delicious baked goods from the charming

if you go...

Events

Gruene Hall features a rotating calendar of musical acts year round. New Braunfels also has a large 4th of July celebration. If 46 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

Naegelin’s Bakery.

(Be sure to try a few of their delicious frosted German pretzels.) Get a few extra pastries for a picnic and head to Landa Park where you can go on a leisurely hike and work up an appetite. For dinner, Alpine Haus Restaurant offers some filling and tasty German cooking.

Saturday For better or worse, Schlitterbahn is always worth a visit, especially if

you have kids. Even if you don’t enjoy water parks or rides, floating through the relaxing wave pool will make even the most unenthusiastic swimmer happy. If water parks aren’t your bag, consider floating down the Comal River. Be prepared for inner tubes galore, especially in the summer.

Afterwards, head to Gruene where you can eat a delicious dinner at the beautiful Gristmill River Restaurant, and try some of the fabulous chicken fried steak. If

you want to plan far ahead, The Texas Clay Festival takes place in Gruene every October.

Transportation

A car is probably necessary to get to and from New Braunfels and Gruene. Within the towns

you still have energy after a big meal, take a spin on the dance floor at the incredible Gruene Hall. Built in the 1800s, the historic dance hall hosts an array of country, Americana and blues bands nightly.

Sunday Begin the day with a cup of coffee at the

themselves, be prepared to walk (or perhaps bring your own bike.)

Forecast

Temperatures will be roughly the same as in Austin. In the summer, be prepared for heat and wear sunscreen.

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adorable Gruene Coffee Haus. Loaded with caffeine and ready to shop, Gruene Antique Company is the place to search for vintage treasures. Additionally, be sure not to miss Barn Pottery shop in New Braunfels, where you can find gorgeous handcrafted pottery. (Every fall Gruene hosts the Texas Clay Festival where potters from all over Texas hawk their wares.) Afterwards, wind down the weekend at Winery on the Gruene, where you can sample a variety of Texas wines on the beautiful patio.

Sip + taste

Spring+ Summer 2017

48 taste

feature

VISIT THE

"REVISED" CREOLE SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT THAT RUNS AS A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE FOR AN EDUCATION ON CAJUN CULTURE—FOOD AND GOD INCLUDED.

50 sip

feature THERE’S A STORY BEHIND EVERY BEER AT HOPS &

“To me, it was all about the product and how that product [could] help people connect with their communities and what they’re passionate about.” p.50

GRAIN BREWERY. FIND OUT WHAT'S IN A NAME.

eastside / taste

SOUL QUEEN Austin’s Nubian Queen is Moving Out WORDS BY JESSI DEVENYNS EXTERIOR PHOTO BY JOAN BROOK PORTRAITS BY ERIC MORALES

48 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

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Despite this, she claims, “I’m just a cook.”

Lola opened Nubian Queen on Rosewood Avenue just as a flood left her homeless. Since then, the restaurant and the east side community have been her home. “I haven’t lived in a house in 12 years,” she explains. Instead, she lives in a mixed-use night club a few streets over and still spends her time on the road. Now, however, she wanders the streets serving up soul to those in need. “That’s my hobby, getting out and feeding the public. That’s compassion to me. You know you’re giving out great tasting food, great ice cold drinks, water, coats, shoes.

Whatever you can give. It’s an honor to get out there and see the success and know that you made somebody’s day.” She also ministers to those who come and enjoy her cooking.

Even though her passionate doggedness has brought her recognition, she wasn’t always able to make ends meet. With only her own income, one “faithful volunteer” named Elly Hughes, and a whole lot of determination, it has taken 13 years for her to be able to pay her rent consistently and punctually.

It was unexpected to see the seasoned eyes of Lola Stephens-Bell swell with a fire to match the pink dreadlocks looping around her head as she began speaking about her work on the east side of Austin. A one-woman ministry of food and gospel, Lola has been serving the unseen Austin community of the homeless with soul food and compassion at the Nubian Queen for years. “I’ve been doing this since 1980,” she clarifies. “I just started being recognized for this only since I opened up the restaurant.”

T

he restaurant in question is Rosewood Avenue’s Nubian Queen. This Creole soul food restaurant runs as a one-room schoolhouse for an education on Cajun culture—food and God included. Scripture is scrawled upon the wall where colors melt into each other: a reflection of the languid heat and heady scents drifting out of Lola’s kitchen. Open doors at both ends of the shop encourage patrons and friends to pop in their heads to ask after the latest neighborhood news, grab a bite to eat, or receive a blessing. In fact, Lola’s food is the best blessing you could ever be served.

The menu is Cajun. Her fried shrimp—the tourist trap of seafood—are lightly breaded and merely sizzled in oil to preserve the plump texture of the shellfish. Her rice and beans dish is a spoonful of tough love with its spicy nature combating its comforting intentions. She also serves up a house specialty called "Cajun Tea," which rolls up fruity, tart, syrupy, light, and sweet all into one refreshing beverage. And her gumbo? The intricate relationship of a deep roux and spice defies description. Perhaps you can search for a description yourself on a Friday when you can order a bottomless bowl of her specialty.

Ironically, her ability to pay her rent on time has caused her more problems than it’s solved. “As long as it was late,” she says, “it was like, ‘Oh, okay no problem.’” Now, she says things are different. “Last year,” Lola laments, “they called the police,” and “locked up my church in the backyard.” Both these setbacks have left Lola struggling to continue her mission in the community after 13 years.

“It’s not that I’m tired of taking a stand because I never get tired. It’s just time for me to take my stand—sometimes you do all that you can do and then you can’t do no more. Your ship gets flooded, and then you’ve got to go to the next city.”

So, come this summer, Lola hopes to open her own restaurant in Taylor, Texas. “I hope to be opened, God’s will, no later than June.” The current location of Nubian Queen closed its doors on April 18, 2017.

Keep your eyes out for her grand opening in Taylor. Out there, however, she intends to use her given name, Lozina. She’s also planning on expanding her menu. “When I move from here to Taylor, God’s will, I’ll be doing breakfasts. I tried to do breakfasts here, but nobody ever came.”

[the friendly side of austin]

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eastside / sip

CANNING THE KÖLSCH

representing east austin one beer at a time

WORDS BY SOMMER BRUGAL PHOTOS BY AARON RIMBEY

There’s a story behind every beer at Hops & Grain Brewery. From the name each beer is given to the personality it evokes, every story is different, and each beer is a reflection of the greater east Austin community of which Hops & Grain is proud to be a part. And according to Josh Hare, Hops & Grain founder, the 78702 is no different.

50 EASTside | Spring/Summer 2017

“W

e started making a Kölsch because our house yeast strain lends itself well to brewing that style of beer,” said Josh Hare. “The Kölsch, and [what is now] the River Beer, were some of our early attempts at creating a house beer.”

But when the Kölsch was brought into the taproom for tasting, Hare says the beer took on a personality of its own.

The beer was popular from the start. “It even created this weird following among some of our friends,” Hare said with a smirk. One of those followers was Michael Lambert. Host of the local podcast, The Beerist, Hare says Lambert began a pseudo Twitter campaign using #CanTheKolsch. According to Hare, Lambert would periodically tweet the hashtag at the brewery, and after some time, others followed suit. Hare said that was the first time they considered turning the Kölsch into something more than just the house beer.

Despite the pressures via Twitter, it wasn’t until Hare’s close friend, Jose Velasquez, a multi-generational east Austin resident and known around the community as Mr. 02—his license plate says so—was in the taproom that the beer became what it is today.

“One day, [Velasquez] was drinking the beer in the tasting room, and he said, ‘this is a beer

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Did you Know?

According to Hare, Hops & Grain never creates a new beer with a name in mind.

He says they let customers give feedback, and they listen to what they have to say about it. Once a beer begins to take on certain personality traits, Hare says the team looks to other aspects of their lives that mirror those characteristics. The One They Call Zoe, for example, a pale lager made with dry hops, is named after a dog, the Papillon.

for the 02.’” Hare says from that point on, the name simply stuck. Today, the 78702 name lends itself to two other variants, the 7870Blue and the 7870Melon.

Though Hops & Grain has become a well-known presence in Austin, Hare didn’t get into the beer-making industry because he wanted everyone to know his brand. “To me, it was all about the product and how that product [could] help people connect with their communities and what they’re passionate about.” So when it came time to find a location for his brewery, Hare knew East Austin would be the perfect location to support his vision.

“There was multi-generational families living in the same communities,” remembered Hare, “and [residents] were proud of where they came from.” Hare has been living in east Austin since the mid-2000s and was drawn to its neighborhood-rooted community. He says Hops & Grain strives to recreate that culture with every beer they make.

When Hare set out to make beer, he was simply trying to fill a void in Austin’s beer scene: to create a beer that serviced a fit and active community. His goal was to make a product that was consistent, approachable, and friendly from a branding and storytelling standpoint. He also wanted to create a product where consumers could put their trust.

We use ingredients you can trust, from better sources, including all-natural chicken raised without antibiotics, ever. Our delicious sandwiches, tenders and wraps are fresh and made to order.

It’s fast food you can feel good about.

But, at the end of the day, Hare says the brewery and those who come to the east side have to take responsibility for what they are within the neighborhood. “We have the potential to either massively disrupt the harmony [of this community] or integrate with it and become an awesome component of the neighborhood.” All while manufacturing beer right in the middle.

Native Knowledge: Hops and Grain serves excellent coffee! They are open daily from 10am to 10pm, so stop by for a cold brew and stay for a beer.

contact:

512.914.2467 507 Calles Street #101 hopsandgrain.com

2129 E. 7th STREET, AUSTIN, TX | 512.284.8014 6539 BURNET ROAD, AUSTIN, TX | 512.243.6258 FLYRITECHICKEN.COM

hopsandgrain hopsandgrain

[the friendly side of austin]

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A few paces from the Mueller Southwest Greenbelt, a new Alamo Drafthouse, and the Aldrich Street District, this is the perfect community for the active and social lifestyle.

Homes starting from the $375s

2 bed 2.5 ba + ofďŹ ce and 3 bed 2.5 ba

512-583-9550 avionparkhomes.com 1931 E 38th 1/2 St.