Austin, TX April 2024

Sitting down with the Father of Biohacking: DAVE ASPREY

Photo Credit:

The Investment Issue

Welcome to our first annual Investment Issue. No, you won’t find any hot tips on stock investments inside these pages, but you will find ways to invest in your health, read about a couple investing in building a community in Bastrop – using historic houses as the foundation – an Austinbased VC investing in CPG, many of their brands locally-owned, pieces to invest in to round out your spring wardrobe and more.

Our cover star, the father of biohacking himself Dave Asprey, had a wealth of knowledge to share on ways to optimize your mental and physical health as well as your longevity at a range of budgets – from $500 blood test panels to $2500 full-body MRI scans to $20,000 to attend 40 Days of Zen. Asprey has been studying how to live longer, better and smarter for over a decade. The article clocks in at 7 pages, but could easily have gone longer. For more, check out his podcast The Human Upgrade, or one of his books. You can also visit his new Upgrade Labs outpost that recently opened in Austin to put some of his hacks into practice.

And, there are plenty of worthy places to invest your time this month! I’m sure you’re aware by now that Austin is on the path of totality for the rare solar eclipse. Check out our story on places to watch it for a great view with your crew. We can’t wait for the hottest names in country (and hopefully a few genre-bending mashups to rival last year’s) to take the stage when the CMT Music Awards return to Moody Center, once again hosted by Kelsea Ballerini. Last, but certainly not least, The Moontower Just for Laughs comedy festival is back for nearly half the month! We can’t wait to check out some of our favorites at the headlining shows and club hop discovering new talent.

Enjoy, and see you back next month for the annual May Issue celebrating female friendship and some of the fabulous women of Austin. Cheers,

JENNIFER BIRN, EDITOR @AUSTINLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

1: Abel Marron Rodriguez ran the Austin Marathon joined by his Austin Angels mentor Connor Copeland. 2: Abel was joined by his parents, siblings and a new car at the finish line. 3: Austin Angels, an organization dedicated to better foster outcomes, partnered with a local car dealership 4: to surprise the former foster child, now a student at UT-San Antonio, with the car Photography by Black Diamond Photos

1: JoyRx is an organization that helps support hospitalized children and teens through music programs in Austin. 2: Joss Stone performed at the annual benefit concert for JoyRx at ACL at the Moody Center. 3: Le’Loni Brown, Kate Longoria, Reese Cisneros, Cynthia Aguillón Bernard and Taylor Ellison attended. Find more information at: joyrx.org. Photography by Sean Mathis

Want to be seen in the magazine?

TAG YOUR INSTAGRAM PHOTOS WITH @AUSTINLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

2D/3D/4D

CMT'SARE BACK INAUSTIN

Country music superstar Kelsea Ballerini returns to host the CMT Music Awards for the fourth time –her first time as the solo host. She’ll again also be a performer at the entirely fan-voted awards show that will air live on CBS and be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. Nominations had not yet been announced at the time of printing, but expect a line-up stacked with a Country’s hottest stars and some surprises. Last year the show moved to Austin, marking our city’s first-ever major televised award show and featured genre-crossing performances including collaborations from Alanis Morissette + Ingrid Andress, Gwen Stefani + Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker + Black Crowes and an epic finale tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd from Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Slash and more. Stay updated on nominees and performers for 2024 following @CMT on Instagram. Tickets are available at Tickemaster or MoodyCenterATX.com

Kelsea Ballerini returns to host the awards show when it returns to Moody Center April 7

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SHEARER

Kelsea Ballerini photo by John Shearer for CMT

The Father of BioHacking

Biohacking is “biological experimentation done to improve the qualities or capabilities of living organisms” outside of traditional medicine. Dave Asprey coined the term more than a decade ago. His name is even included in the Merriam Webster dictionary, next the term biohacker. Asprey’s goal is to live until ‘at least’ 180-years-old, and he spends his life working towards that and teaching others how to as well via interviews on his podcast The Human Upgrade, books (his latest is Smarter Not Harder), Upgrade Labs springing up around the country, (the most recent opened last month in Austin!), an annual biohacking conference (this year’s late May in Dallas)  40 Years of Zen, a company he founded that has four patents in neuroscience, and for the elite, $100,000/year mentorship collective The Apollo Group. Asprey invited Austin Lifestyle to where he lives in Austin (after setting up a house here just shy of two

years ago) to check out his million-dollar home biohacking lab and share ways he suggests people invest in their health to live longer, healthier and happier.

WHY DID YOU MOVE TO AUSTIN?

There were several things I was looking for: One, I wanted a vibe of excitement about the future. This is something that was present in Silicon Valley when we built the Internet the way it is today and we were hopeful we were changing the world and making it a better place. I feel like that vibe is present in Austin in a way it’s not in Silicon Valley anymore. And I lived on a small farm in Canada for 15 years and wanted some sunshine and people. There are tons of awesome people in Texas and the hospitality is amazing. I’m also from the Southwest originally, so it just feels like home.

LONGEVITY EXPERT DAVE ASPREY SHARES WHERE YOU SHOULD INVEST FOR A LONGER, HEALTHIER, HAPPIER LIFE

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WESTON CARLS

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT AUSTIN?

I like the culture, the people are welcoming and it’s just generally fun. There’s a lot of places in the world you can go to, like the Bay Area, where you’re never going to know your neighbors and people don’t really talk to you. There’s a unique combination of friendly and polite here that you just don’t see in a lot of the world, so I really like the vibe here. I also like that it’s got the traditional conservatism of Texas along with some of the craziness of Austin, so it’s not too homogeneous.

HOW DID YOU BECOME THE FATHER OF BIOHACKING?

I started the biohacking movement in 2011. I’d been thinking about it for almost 10 years, how to bring longevity people like me, neuroscientists, professional athletes, people into consciousness, Navy Seals and astronauts all together to figure out how we can get control of our own bodies so that we can do the things we want to do,  whether it’s run fast or climb really well or live really long or just be at peace.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A LONGEVITY PERSON?

I learned the longevity industry from people in their 80s when I was in my 20s. I was learning from them because I was pretty sick. I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and arthritis and pre-diabetes in my 20s and I weighed 300lbs. When I recovered, I wanted to give back and I needed a name for longevity that was accessible because if you’re 25, do you really care about living forever? No, you care about getting a raise and getting a date. Those are core biological things, but biohacking is about being in charge of yourself, and this is something that all humans want, you can be a grandmother or a hard-charging hedge fund manager, it doesn’t matter, we all want to be in charge ourselves. So, that was what was behind it. People call me the Father of Biohacking because I wrote the definition. In 2018, Webster’s Dictionary added biohacking as a new word in the English language and my name is in the online dictionary. I also started the first biohacking conference, which is now in its 10th year.

WHAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT FOR YOU TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH WHEN YOU WERE IN YOUR 20S AND 300LBS?

I had a couple of tipping points. One of them was I had three knee surgeries by the time I was 22-yearsold. I was obese and had arthritis and after the second knee surgery, I decided I was going to lose the weight. I never want to have another knee surgery. So, I went to the gym six days a week for 90 minutes/day for 18 months straight, no matter what – it didn’t matter if I was sick, whether I was studying or had work, it was my top priority every day. And I went on a low-fat, low-calorie diet. After 18 months, I still had a 46-inch waist and I still weighed 300lbs. Then I decided to do something very risky. I played laser tag. It was the first time I decided to try lateral movement - and I blew my knee out again. I had to have another knee surgery. I was so mad! In fact, my most recent book is kind of my revenge. I spent 702 hours in the gym without losing weight! And, even though my muscles were big, my knee wasn’t stable. Now I’m six percent body fat, I’m in incredible shape and I spend 20 minutes a week working out.

“Now I’m six percent body fat, I’m in incredible shape and I spend 20 minutes a week working out.”

I’d also started getting profound brain fog. I was in Silicon Valley, my career had taken off and I couldn’t remember anything. I actually bought disability insurance when I was 26! My career was going up and to the right, but the reality was, my career was growing because my brain was so screwed up that if I didn’t talk all the time, I couldn’t pay attention. So, I would be the guy who talked in meetings so much they eventually would give me a promotion. I got to the point of desperation, so I started hanging out with people in their 80s who had reversed their age and were more energetic and had better brains than I did and they taught me their secrets. So, I became an expert in longevity before it was cool, because I saw it happen in front of me.

WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU MADE THAT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT?

The single biggest thing that I did to change was when I was going to Wharton Business School for

my MBA. I was going fail out and I thought something was wrong with my brain. So, I went to see Dr. Daniel Amen to get a brain scan and learned I had toxin-induced brain damage. I thought to myself, ‘Thank god, I have a hardware problem, I can heal this.’ Before, I just thought I was dumb or I just wasn’t trying hard enough. Just knowing I had a hardware problem and deciding I was going to fix myself, was a major turning point for me.

YOU’VE SPENT CLOSE TO $2 MILLION DOING ALL KINDS OF TESTS, WHICH DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR DIFFERENT BUDGETS?

At the very low end, if you were to get your C-reactive protein and your Homo-16 levels tested, those are going tell you whether you have the two most dangerous kinds of inflammation, and if you get those under control your chances of feeling good and living a long time go up dramatically. After that, a thyroid test, which tells you if your body is making enough electricity and heat to be at full power as human being. It’s often off. The one after that would be a sex hormone panel that measures testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. By the way, everyone is low on testosterone right now because of the things that we’ve allowed in our skincare products, in our environment with plastics and things like that. For instance, 20-year-olds today have a third the level of testosterone of someone 30 years ago and it’s affecting our fertility as a species. Knowing where your energy hormones and testosterone, which is a hormone

of desire -  in the bedroom, but also desire to make a difference in the world – is important. If you know you don’t have inflammation, have enough energy and have enough testosterone to be a happy, joyful, functional human being, which is important for men and women at different levels, you’re pretty much in a sweet spot.

WHAT’S YOUR TOTAL COST FOR THAT GOING TO BE?

If you order it yourself and online, it’s probably in the neighborhood of $500.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PRONOVO MRI SCANS?

I like it because it detects 500 kinds of cancer, early stage, and a whole bunch of other health things you’re unlikely to know about. If you’re walking around with a stage one cancer, you’re not going to know it, but they will, and then you can treat it. And treating stage one cancers is pretty easy.

So, I believe in doing a whole-body MRI test, like a Prenovo, every couple of years if you can afford it, It’s about $2500.

THIS IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR ANNUAL BIOHACKING CONFERENCE, HOW EXPONENTIALLY HAS IT GROWN?

The first conference was 100 people at a bar in San Francisco. Now I’m expecting about 3000 people. It’s grown and grown and next year we’ll probably have to find a way to fit another 1000 people.

“The community is the big win for me.”

WHY DO PEOPLE GO TO THE CONFERENCE?

Because they get to try the technology and they get to meet other people who are interested in taking control of themselves so that they’re happy and don’t have stress and can be a peace and can have energy and live a lot longer. The community is the big win for me.

AT YOUR HOUSE YOU HAVE A SAUNA, COLD-PLUNGE, HYPERBARIC CHAMBER AND MORE. WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND PEOPLE INVEST IN IF THEY CAN?

The first thing to invest in is something that’s going to give you a daily signal for how well you did the night before, that’s usually either a Whoop or an Oura sleep and fitness tracker. Don’t worry about the fitness side, it’s not that important, it’s the sleep tracking. It’s going to tell you how good of a job you did

getting sleep last night. It’s going tell you how recovered your nervous system is, and just based on that one number, called your readiness score, it’s going to tell you if you want to take it easy today, or if those three glasses of wine last night really did ruin your sleep.

HOW MANY SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE A DAY?

I take 150 supplements on an average day.

YOU’VE SAID THEY’RE NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL, BUT ARE THERE ANY SUPPLEMENTS THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE?

There are two universal supplements. One of them is Vitamin Dake, and you can find the information on that at VitaminDake.com . The other one is Minerals 101, a broad spectrum mineral supplement that covers all the major minerals. CONTINUED >

YOU STARTED BULLETPROOF COFFEE

NEARLY 15 YEARS AGO AND NOW HAVE DANGER COFFEE.WHATWAS THE EVOLUTION?

I’ve been off the Bulletproof Board of Directors and not working with them for about three years. It’s a company I built and can always be my baby, but I don’t have any control over what they’re doing. Danger Coffee came about because I wanted a higher standard for toxicity where I could really measure more toxins with all the stuff that I’ve learned. I also wanted to add really high-dose trace minerals. You’re getting a large dose of broad-spectrum trace minerals every time you drink Danger Coffee.

WHY IS IT CALLED DANGER COFFEE?

Because who knows what you might do. You just feel so good, like you could do anything.

WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?

I wake up at 7ish and I have my thyroid medication that needs to be on an empty stomach. I wait 20 minutes for it to absorb and then I have my espresso made with Danger Coffee. Sometimes I put butter and MCT in it, sometimes I wait to do that until later. Then I choose a biohack to do, sometimes the infrared sauna, then a cold plunge in the backyard, sometimes wholebody vibrations, sometimes I’ll use the AI cheat machine and sometimes I’ll do the AI bike, but it’s always a brief period of that, because it doesn’t take very long to get the benefits of those things. And, quite often I’ll just sit down in the front room and I’ll put on headphones and do 40 Years of Zen. That’s actually my favorite. It’s a half-hour of just crazy good meditation. Then I’m good to go.

WHAT IS 40 YEARS OF ZEN?

It’s a neuroscience company based in Seattle where people come and spend five days doing intense neuro-feedback journeys, kind of like going to a psychedelic place, but you don’t need psychedelics, you just need to be shown what your brain is doing and it causes you to have the same brain states as someone who’s meditated for decades every day. It’s just very fast meditation.

I have all the gear for that at home of course, so I do that on myself. That’s one of the reasons I can do the things I can do, because I’ve spent six months of my life with electrodes on my head. That’s multiple lifetimes of meditation.

YOU SAY YOU WANT TO LIVE TO AT LEAST 180?

Today our best is 120. If that’s our current best, maybe we can do 50 percent better over the next 130 years. Today, the amount of knowledge we have about biology doubles every 72 days and it’s accelerating. No human, no doctor, no researcher can know everything that we know, but you can plug it all into AI it will help you figure out what you need to know really fast. We have more tools than ever before. This stuff I have in my house, yes it’s a million dollar biohacking lab, but it would have cost $50 million to do this 20 years ago. The costs are coming down.

QUICK FIRE

CRYOTHERAPY OR COLD PLUNGE?

Cryotherapy

INFRARED SAUNA OR TRADITIONAL SAUNA?

Infrared sauna

WHICH HUMAN UPGRADE PODCAST GUEST HAS LEFT THE BIGGEST IMPRESSION?

There are two who come to mind. One is Eric Kendall, a Nobel Prize winner who discovered neural plasticity,

because he was 94-years-old when I interviewed him and he was so fit and focused and sharp and excited and just inspiring.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL?

Grass-fed, grass-finished ribeye served rare, and since it’s my last meal and I’m not going to have to deal with the consequences of it, I’m having a huge piece of cheesecake, some really good dark chocolate, and an espresso.

WHERE DO YOU BUY MEAT IN AUSTIN?

Holy Cow or Central Market

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN AUSTIN?

The Well, and Kimble Musk is opening a restaurant here I’m really excited about, The Kitchen downtown.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I already have lots of them but probably the most interesting one would be Wolverine’s regenerative stuff, just because I’m planning to live until at least 180, and if a truck hits me, I would really, really like the truck to fall in half instead of me.

CONTINUED >

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIN

SPRINGDALE VENTURES CO-FOUNDER GENEVIEVE GILBREATH SHARES HOW THE VC FINDS STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS AND MORE…

INVESTING IN AUSTIN & CPG

Genevieve Gilbreath and products Springdale Ventures has invested in

Every person with a great idea has wondered how to get the capital to fund it. For those among us who aren’t independently wealthy, have family to fund our ideas and couldn’t possibly either get the loan or borrow enough from a bank to realize our dreams – there’s venture capital. But, being backed

With early-stage consumer brands we scrutinize the quality of the product, look deeply at the CEO and founding team and we gauge how attuned the team is to consumer feedback from the target market when building the brand and iterating on products. We also assess whether the product cat-

“AUSTIN'S CULTURE MAKES IT AN IDEAL BASE FOR A VC FIRM THAT THRIVES ON INNOVATION.”

by a VC doesn’t come easy. We spoke to Austin-based Springdale Ventures co-founder Genevieve Gilbreath to learn more about what they look for in companies they invest in, why they chose Austin as homebase and more.

HOW AND WHEN DID SPRINGDALE VENTURES START?

My co-founder Dan Graham and I both built consumer businesses and repeatedly observed a shortage of early-stage strategic capital for emerging brands and identified a substantial opportunity in early-stage consumer investing. So, in 2019, we joined forces to launch our own fund, Springdale Ventures, and are now investing out of our second fund.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN BRANDS YOU INVEST IN?

I often say that winning at early-stage consumer investing is similar to opening a combination lock. Does the brand have the five or so key elements necessary to unlock a unicorn?

egory is ready for disruption and if the addressable market is substantial enough. Investors will also always consider the presence of a clear exit strategy.

HOW DO YOU DISCOVER MOST OF THE BRANDS YOU INVEST IN?

At Springdale, we see over a 1,000 deals a year. We’re deeply integrated into the consumer sector and our extensive network combined with our proactive approach helps us uncover and support founders and brands that promise and deliver innovation and make life better for consumers.

WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE CHECK SIZE?

In December 2023 we closed a $40 million Fund II to invest in early-stage consumer brands across the food, beverage, pet, health, and beauty sectors. Our focus is early stage consumer brands at seed stage up to Series A, with an average check size of $1 million.

CONTINUED >

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BRANDS ARE AUSTIN-BASED?

Thirteen of our 46 brand partners, so 28 percent,  are Austin-based and many more have key team members here, reflecting the city’s burgeoning status as a hub for creativity and entrepreneurship. It’s not just about

WHY DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING BASED IN AUSTIN?

The city’s dynamic, innovative ethos perfectly aligns with what we stand for at Springdale. Austin’s culture, coupled with its emerging reputation as a nurturing ground for startups and entrepreneurs, makes it an ideal base

“WE ARE ON A JOURNEY TO NURTURE GROWTH, INNOVATION, AND COMMUNITY.”

the location; it’s about being part of a vibrant, innovative ecosystem that Austin embodies .

WHAT ARE SOME BRANDS YOU’RE INVESTED IN?

There are so many brands that we’ve invested in that we are excited about. We’re proud to have local portfolio companies like Beatbox, Literati, First Day, Eterneva, Fitjoy, Maev, Atlas, Canteen, Maxine’s Heavenly, and Mosie Baby. Some of the biggest brand names are Goodles and Mr. Beast’s Feastables. Most recently, we’ve invested in the Asian-inspired hard seltzer company Nectar, whiskey brand Big Nose Kate, BloxSnacks, a kids’ snacking brand partnering with leading YouTube creators and Zero Proof.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR START-UP BRANDS LOOKING FOR INVESTORS?

My advice is centered on keeping your message clear, simple yet passionate and to focus on building a solid business foundation. Understand your numbers, ensure your growth is sustainable and strategically driven, and remember, investors are looking for a strong business model, a capable team, and a clear vision for growth, not just a great product !

for a venture capital firm that thrives on innovation and transformative growth

WHAT DO FIND MOST SATISFYING ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Witnessing the transformative journey of the brands we support. I love seeing these brands evolve, adapt, scale and make a real connection with consumers, backed by innovative products and sustainable business models.

SPRINGDALE DONATES 1 PERCENT OF PROFITS TO NATURALLY AUSTIN, CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO?

It’s a testament to our dedication to nurturing not just businesses but also the broader ecosystem. Naturally, Austin focuses on building a collaborative community that supports the growth of sustainable, natural, and healthy consumer brands in Austin, mirroring our holistic approach to business and community development

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

In essence, Springdale Ventures is more than a venture capital firm. We are on a journey to nurture growth, innovation, and community, deeply rooted in the vibrant spirit of Austin and driven by a commitment to transforming the consumer brand landscape.

PREP FOR THE ECLIPSE

Austin is privvy to be on the path of totality for the solar eclipse, it's cause for celebration

ARTICLE BY DOMINIQUE BEJARANO

April 8 Austin will witness a celestial show with a total solar eclipse —the last of its kind visible in the United States for the next two decades! This rare event, occurring only once every 375 years, promises to be a captivating experience and Austin, on the path of totality, is gearing up to offer a unique experience for skygazers. From Austin to the Hill Country, viewing parties are set to turn this spectacular event into a celebration.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself directly between the Sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun’s face. It will take place beginning at 12:17 pm and go until just before 3:00pm, reaching totality at 1:36pm. Prime locations like Downtown Austin, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Round Rock,  Georgetown and Kerrville fall within the path of totality and are expecting an influx of visitors, Cartographer Michael Zeiler estimates Kerrville alone will see hundreds of thousands of people visit for the eclipse as NASA will livestream the eclipse from there, making Kerrville one of the three chosen cities in the U.S.

A staggering 12 million people are within the eclipse’s path of totality in Texas, the largest population compared to any other state, according to the Great American Eclipse. In 2017 88 percent of US adults watched the eclipse. NASA promises a more exciting experience this time due to “variations in the path, timing, and scientific research”.

Eclipse-themed viewing parties are being organized throughout Austin and the surrounding area. Here are a few:

Eclipse & Sips Rooftop Viewing Party at Hilton Austin Indulge in eclipse-themed cocktails and mocktails at this free event with complementary eclipse viewing glasses provided.

Total Eclipse of the Horns at UT Austin   Join the UT Austin community for an eclipse viewing extravaganza, complete with distributed glasses, live broadcasts, and musical performances. Check eclipse.utexas.edu for more details.

Long Center Eclipse Viewing Party Hosted by Radiolab’s Molly Webster, engage with astronomers, celebrate with the community, and enjoy the festivities. More information at thelongcenter.org.

Kerrville Eclipse Festival at Louise Hays Park, Kerrville

Just miles from the center line of totality, this free event includes scientific speakers, live music, children’s programming, and a rare 4 minutes and 25 seconds of totality. NASA will livestream the eclipse, making Kerrville one of the three chosen cities in the U.S. More details at kerrvilletx.gov .

Texas Eclipse Festival at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet

A four-day festival featuring Paul Oakenfold and a diverse set list across seven stages. The festivities offer a fusion of a science fair, a captivating circus and TED-style talks with astronauts from NASA, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. Visit seetexaseclipse.com for details.

Note: Safety during the eclipse is paramount, and NASA is an excellent source to ensure that your viewing glasses are adequately equipped for the solar event. Public libraries in Austin will be distributing free glasses or grab some on campus at UT Austin where they will have various stations set up to hand out free glasses. Or, splash out on HALO eclipse glasses, a safe, stylish, and sustainable option for staring into the sun, now available with multiple lenses including blue light blocker lenses and polarized sunglasses lenses, in addition to the eclipse lenses that meet the ISO 12312-2:2015 standards for solar safety. HALO also offers paper glasses for kids (or a less expensive option great for people hosting parties) with designs (that can be colored in) created by local artists. Learn more about HALO glasses: https://haloeclipse.com For more information on the eclipse visit https://eclipse2024.org/

INVESTING IN BASTROP

Tom & Lori Dickey are preserving history & building community with Harmony Ridge on the River

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

Tom and Lori Dickey, (who met in Japan while both working at Intel!) have lived in Austin for more than 20 years. Six years ago they bought Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard in Bastrop, and then the surrounding property they’ve coined “Harmony Ridge on the River.” We caught up with them to learn more about the historic property and plans for the future.

“It’s our community that makes Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard the “Cheers” of Bastrop, and that's worth toasting.”

HOW BIG IS HARMONY RIDGE?  It’s just over 2.5 acres of Colorado Riverfront property, located at the eastern end of the iconic Old Iron Bridge, serving as a welcoming gateway into downtown Bastrop.

HISTORIC HOUSES FROM MILES AWAY POPULATE THE PROPERTY, HOW DID THAT COME TO BE? The credit for the neighborhood of buildings goes to the previous owners Tommy & Judi Hoover who began developing the property in the early ‘90’s.  The Hoovers developed many rescue/restoration projects in the Bastrop area and we have photo collages for the 9 buildings they relocated here. Each of the buildings has their own story, a personal residence, a one-room schoolhouse, a bordello and even the old City Market from Winchester, about 20 miles East of Bastrop.

WHICH BUSINESSES AT HARMONY RIDGE DO YOU OWN AND OPERATE?  Neighbor’s Kitchen and our brewpub, Iron Bridge Icehouse. We currently

produce 17 different beers at IBIH which are sold exclusively on tap at Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard.

HOW DID YOU SOURCE THE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD TAKE RESIDENCE IN THE OTHER BUILDINGS?  When we originally acquired the property from the Hoovers in 2021, Lori & I explored several different themes for the property.  The post-pandemic world was filled with uncertainty, so we agreed to focus on the restaurant and brewery (Iron Bridge Icehouse est. 2019).  The remaining buildings were leased to a variety of local entrepreneurs in the hospitality, service & retail industries.

WHAT’S YOUR VISION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? At a high level, we want Harmony Ridge on the River to be a destination for the local community & our growing flow of visitors.  It’s one of the most beautiful properties on the Colorado River between

CONTINUED >

Austin and the Bay and we want to create a destination for our guests which highlights Mother Nature’s amazing work.

IS THERE A BUSINESS YOU’D LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO? I can’t speak for Lori, but I would like to see a recording studio on the property.  We’ve met some amazing artists over the years and many of them come back every season to play in our Yard.  We are one of the host venues for the annual Bastrop Music Festival and we even renamed the property Harmony Ridge in recognition of the vibe that music brings to the property.  This is way out of our lane but finding the right partner to create this venue on the property would be special.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY FROM WHAT YOU’VE BUILT?  One can get pizza & beer in many different places, but it’s our community that makes Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard the “Cheers” of Bastrop and that is worth toasting.

Address: 601 Chestnut St Building C, Bastrop, TX 78602 Phone: (512) 988-7036 Website:  neighborstx.com

Instagram: @neigbors_tx

Sylvester Wilson Construction

Moontower JUST FOR LAUGHS

THE WORLD-CLASS COMEDY FESTIVAL IS BACK APRIL 10-21 WITH A LINEUP OF HEADLINERS & EMERGING COMICS

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

Margaret Cho

Desi Banks

Alan Ruck

The uproariously funny festival kicks off with a week of marquee names like Andrew Schulz, Shane Gillis, Jeff Ross, Margaret Cho, Desi Banks, Mike Birbiglia, Amy Sedaris, Marc Maron, Kathy Griffin, SNL’s Sarah Sherman and Chloe Fineman, Tim Robinson and more doing shows at larger venues like The Paramount Theatre, Stateside at the Paramount, Moody Center, H-E-B Center and Bass Concert Hall - where Ronny Chieng will be April 20.

The festival closes out with a 4-day comedy binge April 17-20 where comics you

know and emerging comics you may not along with several talented Austin-based comedians including Avery Moore, Bryson Brown, Casey Rocket, Danny Goodwin, Kam Patterson, Mac Blake, Sam Lopez will be performing at clubs throughout the city at venues that usually include Cap City Comedy Club, Antone’s The Creek and the Cave and Fallout Theatre among them.

Club Badges are available for the four days of comedy club shows starting at $150 for access to all club shows as well as access to buy pre-sale tickets to headlining shows. They go up to $1250, which gets you front row at every show and 96-hour pre-sale access to buy tickets for

the headliner shows. Don’t sleep on the more intimate shows, some of the funniest comics are the ones you don’t know about yet who will perform at a show you may not have planned to see. This festival is a great opportunity to step out of your comedy comfort zone.

There will also be live podcasts, sketch comedy and a screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off hosted by Alan Ruck, who in addition to starring in the acclaimed film most recently was on HBO’s Succession.

Festival badges are available for purchase at  moontowercomedyfest.com and at the Paramount Theatre box office.

Kathy Griffin

Ms. Pat

Nicole Byer

Amy Sedaris

Mo Heart

Ready, Set, Startup!

SUPPORTING VENTURELAB’S MISSION TO TURN GIRLS INTO ENTREPRENEURS

& James Weir

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

VentureLab is a non-profit on a mission to create the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers by making entrepreneurial education accessible to all youth. Their Third Annual “Ready, Set, Startup!” Gala to Launch K-12 Girls into Entrepreneurship will take place Saturday, April 6 at Brand Park Pavilion. Presented by Brown Advisory, they describe the gala as a community celebration to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit while raising funds to provide all students access to achieve their fullest potential and shape the future by diversifying the entrepreneurial landscape and making entrepreneurship accessible to all.

Kellie Zesch Weir, an Honorary Chair at this year’s event, said in a recent LinkedIn post, “As a mom and investor, I believe entrepreneurship education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our youth, especially for young girls who are often underrepresented in the world of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship education goes beyond teaching business concepts; it instills creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These skills are essential not only for future business leaders but also for future innovators who will contribute to building a better world. Empowering young girls with the tools and mindset needed to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape is crucial for gender equity and fostering diversity, inclusivity, and innovation. VentureLab is at the forefront of this mission, providing a platform for young minds to explore their potential, unleash their creativity, and develop the skills necessary to become the leaders of tomorrow. Ready, Set, Startup! is not just a celebration of entrepreneurship; it is a testament to the power of education in transforming lives and shaping a brighter tomorrow.”

For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit  https:// www.betterunite.com/readysetstartup.

Kellie

MEET AT THE METEOR

It’s hard, and unnecessary, to describe it better than they do themselves. The Meteor is “an unexpected mash-up of all-day cafe, natural wine shop and boutique bike shop.” Founded by friends Doug Zell (the founder of Intelligentsia Coffee!) and Chris St. Peter, a former attorney, who are both avid cyclists, they say they wanted to create a place that housed things they personally loved,

Whether in the market for an orange wine or a matcha, pizza or a pastry...

“thoughtfully chosen wine, carefully prepared coffee, bicycles…and perhaps more importantly, a community that enjoyed these same pursuits.” They’ve been successfully doing just that at their flagship South Congress location since it opened October 2019 and they’ve since expanded, adding locations in Bentonville and Fayetteville, Arkansas and another in Dallas, Texas.

ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE COULTRESS O'NEILL

Invest in These Pieces for Spring

Cargo Skirt

It replaces the basic silk skirt as an essential for spring. The more pockets the better with this utility trend which makes it functional in addition to fashionable.

Chic Tweed Shorts

Tweed is always a spring must and we love it in a short. The look can be elevated with a blazer or silk top or made more casual chic with a t-shirt.

Denim Maxi or Midi-Skirt

This style has made a comeback and looks great paired with a plain white tee or a dressy top. Wear with sneakers for a more casual vibe or dress it up with platforms or booties.

Platform Shoes

This comfortable shoe is perfect with lightweight jeans, skirts and dresses. They’ll elevate just about any look.

White Sneaker

Their versatility and comfort make them essential. This spring staple can be paired with anything from dresses to skirts, shorts and jeans.

FAVORITE things 5

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

1. DANGER COFFEE:

Dave Asprey’s remineralized, guaranteed moldfree coffee. Pictured in a Casa Zuma Ritual Mug. https://dangercoffee.com/

2. CHASE SAPPHIRE LOUNGE AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM AIRPORT: It’s not fancy, but a nice perk for cardholders to grab a complimentary cocktail, water and healthy meal or snack pre-flight.

3. CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION: Provides prevention, justice & healing for abused children of Travis County, seeing 3-5 new children every day. https://centerforchildprotection.org

4. DAVINES:

A clean beauty company with shampoos, conditioners, masks and more. Available at Modern Muse Beauty Collective in Austin or on https://us.davines.com/

5. PET HONESTY:

An Austin-based pet wellness brand that launched a Restore + Soothe line featuring an all-natural pure, elemental silver that eliminates bad bacteria. https://www.pethonesty.com/

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER

This is our Oyster case, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch case, conceived by Rolex in 1926 and patented. A one-of-a-kind feature, which holds within it an intricate world of cogs and minutely crafted parts. Made of some of the most refined alloys, the Oyster case is incomparably resistant to all sorts of external aggressions. Yet no object so hermetic, so immovable, has ever opened the door to so many

possibilities. With its original patented design consisting of a bezel, a case back and a winding crown screwed down against the middle case, it profoundly changed the course of watchmaking history and set new standards of waterproofness for all wristwatches. To this day, the Oyster case continues to protect our watches and our movements within them. It stands as undeniable proof of our constant quest for reliability.