Austin, TX June 2024

THE MEN'S ISSUE

with Philip Payne, Ethan Diamond and Stevie Hendrix

LIFE + CULTURE

ALSO FEATURING TOM SEGURA, BERT KREISCHER, MRBALLEN & MORE...

Photo

LIFESTYLE LETTER

The Men’s Issue

We’re making the start of summer even hotter with this month’s issue celebrating men of Austin. The three who grace our cover, Philip Payne, Ethan Diamond and Stevie Hendrix are stand-up men who exude charm – it’s no wonder they’re partners to superstar women Iskra Lawrence, Amber Lee Diamond and Sazan Hendrix. We went shopping with the guys (something they all easily admit they love to do!) before spending some time at down town restaurant The Statesman. Inside the issue we chat with them about fatherhood, Austin – and what they really want for Father’s Day.

Elsewhere, we catch up with current-day comic legends Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer. In tandem with selling out stadiums on tour around the country, these comedy BFFs launched a premium vodka called Por Osos. They shared insight into that process and opened up about what makes their friendship so special. We also spoke to MrBallen, who anyone into true crime probably knows – and if they don’t, they should. In addition to being extraordinarily interesting himself, the former Navy SEAL is also really philanthropic and overall inspiring.

Speaking of inspiring philanthropy, we look back at The Kindness Campaign’s Art of Kindness Gala, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden Party and get a glimpse inside Lauren Zima’s fundraiser to open Texas’s first Experience Camp in 2026. Experience Camp is a nonprofit that puts on healing summer camps for grieving children – kids who have lost a parent, primary caregiver, or sibling – and $1 million is needed to open here. Austin Chef Kevin D’Andre was on-site cooking up food at the event. Chef Kevin, as well as Austin’s Amanda Turner, one of the competitors on the current season of Top Chef and there are watch parties, complete with 3-course meals, at Top Chef’s new host (and former winner) Kristen Kish’s restaurant, Arlo Grey in The Line Hotel, every Wednesday! More on that in 5 Favorite Things on the last page of the issue.

Enjoy, stay cool and see you next month!

Cheers,

JENNIFER BIRN, EDITOR @AUSTINLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

PS: Dress in editor's letter from Alice + Olivia and the shoes are from Sazane, both on Music Lane. Sazane is technically a pop-up only slated to be in its current location until September - if you haven't gone, I recommend checking it out.

June 2024

PUBLISHER

Joe Kerby | joe.kerby@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Jennifer Birn | jennifer.birn@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dominique Bejarano

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Jenna McElroy

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Laura Paige

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

GRAND OPENING

January 3, 2024

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inside the issue

Tom

Stylist:

Ethan,

Austinite

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Andra Liemandt, founder & CEO of The Kindness Campaign and her daughter Kate 2: THEBROSFRESH performed at The 5th Anniversary of The Art of Kindness Gala 3: Olivia Van Der Beek dazzled the audience with three songs, including "Walking on Sunshine" 4: Erin Cahill and Paul Freeman emceed the gala at The Line Hotel 5: Chris Harrison & Lauren Zima hosted ‘Cocktails for Camp’ to announce Experience Camps. 6: Experience Camps is a non-profit that puts on healing camps for children. 7: Nancy Shyi, Jonathan Todd, Carrie Fruge, Tierra Neubaum and Dale Huggins with the Siren Sisters Auctioneers at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum’s 25th Annual Garden Party

BEN PORTER BEN

THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer created a vodka for their community to foster community

Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer are each crushing comedy with successful specials, sold out tours and individual TV and film projects in various stages of production. They have legions of fans who love their brand of often crass comedy and they dish it out together co-hosting popular podcast ‘2 Bears, 1 Cave.’ Recently, Bert and Tom, friends for the better part of two decades, have entered the spirits business together, with their new vodka Por Osos, translating to ‘By Bears.’  We caught up with them for real talk about their friendship and their vodka – both in which they’re very invested. Rather than take the easy route of white labeling (where they just put their name on a brand’s product), they went all in and chose a route where they’ve been hands-on at every step, from choosing the Texas-based distillery for their gluten-free premium vodka, to the honeycomb top - because bears love honey.

DID YOU TOSS AROUND OTHER NAMES OR WAS IT ALWAYS POR OSOS?

Tom: We were going to do Dos Osos, but there’s a small brewery that has Dos Osos Beer.

Bert: Tom is fluent in Spanish, so we wanted to incorporate that as well and give a little nod to his mom’s Peruvian heritage.

YOU HAVE A PODCAST “2 BEARS, ONE CAVE,” WHAT DO BEARS SYMBOLIZE TO YOU?

Tom: The vodka is Por Osos, which is by bears, so it’s by us, we’re the two bears. The podcast and all of this starting was a happy accident. We were going to try the podcast and maybe do it once a month and then we went to twice a month and we had to figure out what to call it and it just became our identity. At the time, we were substantially fatter, we were two husky guys with beards and we just embraced it.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO THE SPIRITS INDUSTRY?

Bert: We’d been approached with different deals and it’s a natural fit.  But, Tom said if we’re going to do this, we’re not just going to slap our name on a label, we’re going to really invest our money and make this product and have it be something we can stand behind and are passionate about. It took a while to figure out what kind of alcohol we would do, but we felt like vodka was a little open space for us. So, we tasted 14-16 different vodkas from a Texas distillery we found and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, not even investment-wise, but because it’s just been so much fun.

Tom: It has been so much fun and to reiterate what Bert said, just white labeling stuff is not appealing to me. I know a lot of people do it and it’s obviously easier, but it just didn’t feel right. Getting the chance to do this, everything from finding the distillery and to the actual shape of the bottle, it really feels like we can stick our chests out with this thing to anybody and we’re thrilled with it. It’s made in Texas and a really high-quality product.

THE TAGLINE FOR POR OSOS IS ‘MAKE FRIENDS.’ HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FRIENDS?

Bert:  I met Tom just after my daughter Georgia was born, so 19 years. I’ve been with Tom as long as I’ve been with my wife.

DID YOU GUYS MEET DOING COMEDY?

Bert: We did. We were opening for the same guy and I walked in the green room and Tom was watching a Florida State game. I told him I went to Florida State, he said,  ‘That’s my favorite team.’

Tom: Then we toured together for a while and our careers evolved from there, but we were broke as a joke and just comics trying to find our way.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST ABOUT YOUR FRIENDSHIP?

Bert: One of the coolest things in this business that you can get is someone you can trust, who you can ask questions to and confide in about where you are in your career and where you’re going who will know the right decisions to make. And Tom, despite being younger than me, blew up before I did. His podcast got money before I did and his tour was bigger than mine. When it started to happen to me, there was no ego involved, ever. I could always ask him any question and he gave me the right answer, and I knew that I could trust it, and I’ve known that I could always trust Tom. Whenever I have a deal going through Hollywood I always talk to Tom and I know it’s a brotherhood of trust in that no one is going to tell their agents, no one’s trying to pivot to get one up on each other, which does happen in this business. Honestly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and I’m being dead serious.

Tom: That’s very sweet. I also feel like there’s something where when you meet somebody and they’ve just had their first child, it’s a different type of dynamic in your friendship. I’m not just friends with Bert, I’m friends with his family. I’ve seen his family grow and he feels like family to me. We talk to each other more like siblings would than friends and we have a lot of fun. We tease each other and we talk trash to each other, but ultimately, we really celebrate each other.

POR OSOS TAGLINE IS “MAKE FRIENDS.” WOMEN TEND TO DO MORE SOCIAL NETWORKING MIXERS THAN MEN AND IT’S DIFFICULT FOR MEN TO MAKE FRIENDSHIPS AS ADULTS.

Bert : I was just up speaking at Harvard speaking on behalf of Por Osos and I jokingly said we

should have an app like Tinder, but for dudes to make best friends.

YOUR GO-TO VODKA DRINK?

Bert: Vodka and soda

Tom: Since I’ve learned more about vodka, I’ve learned the premium ones like the one that we have, which is wheat-based, has a better flavor and you can have it just straight up and can sip it just on ice. That’s actually my preference.

POR OSOS SAYS IT’S MADE WITH SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY

Tom: Premium vodka is premium because of how intense the distillation process is, and Persedo, the distillery that we work with, has a proprietary super high-level process and it also injects nitrogen, so it strips out all of what you don’t want and gives it a boost.

Bert: I will say this - I’ve been enjoying our drink every evening lately, and I’m working out at 7am every morning and I’m feeling freakin’ awesome. It’s a very clean vodka and I can get up and perform the next morning and have a great day. I am filled with joy today and I was partying pretty late last night.

Tom: That’s a nod to Persedo and what they do because if you have a cheaper or less refined vodka you’re going to feel worse, the premium stuff you just don’t. That doesn’t mean you should drink a gallon at a time, but you definitely can have a few and you don’t feel like you’re beat up.

Check out Tom and Bert’s June and July tour dates on their respective websites and find Por Osos at local liquor stores and restaurants and bars around town.

Families and children experience homelessness, too. Help us fight this hidden crisis.

Your support creates brighter futures for thousands in need. Scan the QR code to donate today.

Por Osos Two Bears One Cave

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIQUE BEJARANO

While experimenting with Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer’s new spirit, Por Osos, which translates to ‘by bears,’ the staff at The Statesman created a berry beary concoction completed with brandied berry jam “because of the tie-in to bears,” owner Craig Ley says. Then they named the signature cocktail after the comics’ podcast.

TWO BEARS, ONE CAVE Ingredients

• 1.5oz Por Osos vodka

• .5oz lemon

• 1oz Brandied Berry syrup (1pt Brandied berry jam, 1pt sugar, lemon peels, water)

• .25oz simple makes (if want it sweeter)

Directions

Shake, pour over ice and add a splash of soda

Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and a berry

The Statesman: 710 West Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701

THE STATESMAN CREATES A COCKTAIL INSPIRED BY THE BEARS BEHIND THE VODKA

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA MCELROY

“I've always been a shopper. I was my mom's shopping buddy growing up and it rubbed off on me.” -Stevie Hendrix

Role Model-Worthy Austin Men

Ethan, Philip and Stevie on life, fatherhood, fashion and being married to strong, successful women

Ethan Diamond, Philip Payne and Stevie Hendrix have a lot in common. The obvious is their movie-star looks (although none of them are actors) and the kind of boyish smiles that make a smile contagious. They’re also married to powerhouse influential entrepreneurs and are the ultimate supportive husbands and hands-on dads. The idea for this shoot began with a promise to bring Ethan and Philip to check out Estilo Men, so that’s where the shoot began. Estilo owner and stylist Stephanie Coultress O’Neill pulled pieces she thought they’d like, both in and out of their comfort zone, and the guys had no problem sharing their opinions, with Ethan at one point being told he looked like he was auditioning for “Peaky Blinders.”

But, we don’t think that’s a bad thing. They had a great time and it wasn’t contrived. Asked if shopping for clothes is something they enjoy or endure, not one of them paused before proudly admitting they love shopping. “I’m definitely a shopaholic and the

bougie parent when it comes to this stuff,” says Ethan. “For Amber, this is her job. She models and markets and influences like crazy, but when I get the opportunity to shop, I’m all about it.”

Stevie says, “I’ve always been a shopper.  I was my mom’s shopping buddy growing up and my dad is the total opposite, you will never find that man shopping. But my mom loves it and it rubbed off on me, so I’ve always shopped for my own clothes and been very particular. My clothes are special to me. I view them as those really cool dad pieces that I’ll never get rid of and pass down.”

Philip concurs, “I do enjoy it. I loved being able to find a new style at the shoot. It was very, very fun. And, it was really cool to just hang out with the guys.”

Afterward, we headed to The Statesman, a neighborhood bar and restaurant that opened earlier this year, to hang out, get some food, and learn more about their thoughts on being dads, what they admire about their wives, love about Austin and more.

ETHAN DIAMOND

WIFE: AMBER LEE DIAMOND KIDS: SCARLETT, 9 AND SERENA, 6

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A FATHER?

I love sharing experiences and building core memories. That’s the coolest part because you can tell when they’re happening.

WHAT’S A GIFT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR FATHER’S DAY?

A practical gift would be a new golf bag. A nonpractical gift would be 24 hours of no screaming. I’m a girl dad.

WHAT’S A LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED FROM YOUR CHILDREN?

Patience.

YOU AND AMBER MET 10 YEARS AGO ON MTV’S  “ARE YOU THE ONE?” HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

Our ten-year anniversary is in September.

THAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A COUPLE WHO MET ON A REALITY SHOW.

Yeah, especially because nowadays people have a hard time staying together no matter how they met.

DO YOU AND AMBER WATCH ANY DATING REALITY SHOWS?

Oh my God, yes. Being on a reality TV show and knowing what it’s like when you have on-the-fly interviews and storyboard

producers, and you’re reviewing days and talking about your feelings, it’s really fun for Amber and me to watch how that develops on the end product. We like to say, ‘What would you say in this situation?’ We watch ‘Love Is Blind’ and ‘The Bachelor’ and any other show similar to ours.

DO YOU HAVE ANY RULES TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP YOU THINK HELP KEEP IT SUCCESSFUL?

I think it’s probably listening. Amber calls it mansplaining. I’m always trying to solve her and the girls’ problems, but need to listen to understand and know that maybe there’s not a solution to be had here.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU ADMIRE ABOUT YOUR WIFE?

Her passion for kindness and love.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING AND RAISING A FAMILY IN AUSTIN?

I think it’s really cool to be part of the blueberries in the bowl. Austin is a great community of thriving, successful, strong women, and it seems like a lot of people from New York, California and all over are finding that in Austin too. I’m just proud to be a part of it.

GO-TO COCKTAIL?

I don’t drink anymore, I’m a non-alcoholic guy, so I love Topo Chico or a mocktail with ginger beer. Before we had Serena, right after we had Scarlet, I was drinking all the time, so I stopped drinking, and I stopped eating as much junk and I lost 60lbs. We refer to those days as Fat Dad Days.

Ethan captures content of his wife at estilo

PHILIP PAYNE

WIFE: ISKRA LAWRENCE

KIDS: ALPHA, 4, AND A GIRL ON THE WAY

YOU PLAYED FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN AUSTIN? Since 2006.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING AND RAISING A FAMILY IN AUSTIN?

I love how active the community is. There are so many great places to eat outside. My favorite thing to do is eat on a patio, now especially if there’s a playground too.

YOU’RE EXPECTING BABY NUMBER TWO, WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A FATHER?

I love that I get to advise and I get to watch the little milestones. I love seeing the growth not only in their physical abilities but their mental and emotional abilities. I love seeing little glimpses of myself and Iskra. It’s so humbling and reminds me of my responsibility as a parent to show them how to do things the best way.

WHAT’S A GIFT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR FATHER’S DAY?

To go to a place I haven’t been for brunch.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU AND ISKRA BEEN MARRIED? Since 2020.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU ADMIRE ABOUT YOUR WIFE?

Her resilience and her ambition. Throughout my dating history, I never knew that ambition was a check on my list, until I met her. She inspires me, she pushes me without necessarily saying anything to me, but by the way she lives her life. I think above love, above my admiration for her, I respect her, and I hold that dear to my heart. My respect for her is extremely high because of the way she lives her life, the way she treats people and the way she balances being a mom while also accepting her responsibility with her platform and the people who look up to her. She does an incredible job at that and I just love her character and the person that she is.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE WORKING ON NOW THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT?

As far as my company, Plan A, I feel like we’ve attached ourselves to artists who really have a chance to build sustainable businesses outside of a major label, and it’s fun helping them truly monetize their music and helping them deepen the connection with their fan base. I’m also really excited about a new brand I co-founded with some amazing creators called Feel Trip. We’re shining a light on up-and-coming, tasteful R&B music through live events, activations, playlists and showcases.

STEVIE HENDRIX

WIFE: SAZAN HENDRIX

KIDS: VALENTINA, 6, AMARI, 3, OLIVER, TURNS 1 JUNE 23

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A FATHER?

One thing I love that is also the greatest challenge is that your focus is no longer on you. You focus a lot of your effort, time and energy on your kids. I think the coolest thing about being a dad, or a mom, is being able to create the world your kids live in by doing things with them that they wouldn’t do on their own, introducing them to art and sports and travel. That’s your gift and your responsibility.

WHAT’S A GIFT YOU LIKE FOR FATHER’S DAY?

Ralph Lauren’s double RL brand is my favorite brand aesthetic, so anything from there is always a win for me.

YOU AND SAZAN ARE COLLEGE SWEETHEARTS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

It was nine years in May.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU ADMIRE ABOUT YOUR WIFE?

I admire her output, her effort for life, for being a mom and for being an entrepreneur. She’s an absolute go-getter and she puts a

110 percent into anything and everything she does. She’s hard to keep up with in that regard. She’s a force.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY RULES FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU THINK HELP IT BE SUCCESSFUL?

We do check-ins with each other and we try to have at least two or three date nights every month. I think having certain rhythms acts as a safeguard so that we don’t let our lives get too busy or too hectic without spending quality time together. I notice that when we keep those rules to spend that time together to talk and assess how we’re doing, it really keeps the relationship much healthier.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LOVE ABOUT RAISING A FAMILY IN AUSTIN?

Growing up here, I wished Austin was a cooler city and now Austin is the cool city. It’s crazy to see how it’s grown since I’ve moved back. Two things that I specifically love about Austin are that it’s a very health-conscious city, and being active is part of the culture here now, but at the same time, it’s a very food-indulgent city.

ANYTHING YOU’RE WORKING ON THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT?

Sazan and I are doing a soft relaunch of our book, “A Real Good Life: Discover the Simple Moments that Bring Joy, Connection, and Love.” It’s available everywhere books are sold.

The shoot team with the women behind the men: Photographer Jenna McElroy, Iskra, Amber, Sazan, editor/creative director Jen Birn and stylist Stephanie Coultress O'Neill

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MEET MRBALLEN

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

Austinite John Allen achieved

viral social media success –and turned it into an empire

John Allen, more widely known by his pseudonym MrBallen, has nearly nine million subscribers on his YouTube Channel, that has garnered nearly two billion views. He has roughly 8.5 million followers on TikTok – both of which he started during the pandemic, sharing true crime stories and mysteries.

The social media success led MrBallen, a former Navy SEAL who was hit by a grenade while serving in Afghanistan and earned a Purple Heart before leaving the Navy in 2017, to co-found Ballen Studios. It includes his podcast MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories , which he launched in February 2022. By October 2022, he was nominated for four YouTube Streamy Awards in the Creator of the Year, Breakout Creator and Podcast Categories. His nonprofit, the MrBallen Foundation, was nominated for the Social Good Award. Founded in 2022, its mission is to honor victims and support families of heinous crimes through education, training and financial support.

More recently, in September 2023, MrBallen released MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries, described as “a podcast that shares medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are designed to be intriguing and chilling,” covering topics from unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths. New episodes are published every Tuesday.

Coming up, MrBallen, Ballen Studios and Ten Speed Graphic announced they’ll release the graphic novel MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious, MrBallen’s first book, on October 1, which is also MrBallen’s 36th birthday. It will contain graphic adaptations of the mysterious stories based on true events from their podcast and YouTube channel, as well as additional new, exclusive

Nick Witters and MrBallen

YOU MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN?

My manager and business partner, Nick Witters, was here, and it just seemed like a really cool place to live. So yes, I’m 100% one of the people who recently found Austin and totally jumped on that bandwagon.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

My favorite part of Austin is being able to go swimming in the winter months. I grew up in the northeast where it was basically cold all the time so to me that’s a luxury!

WHEN DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN THE TRUE CRIME GENRE?

I met my wife Amanda in college back in 2010 and she was obsessed with this true crime investigatory TV show called  Forensic Files . So, in dating her, I watched a lot of  Forensic Files , and in time really developed an interest in the genre. I’ve also always been interested in the strange, dark and mysterious occurrences that happen in our world.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BETWEEN RETIRING FROM THE NAVY AND MAKING YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND TIKTOKS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

After leaving the military at the end of 2017 I co-founded a veteran focused charity that helps connect transiting veterans with employers who are hiring. The charity is called Elite Meet and it’s still up and running today, helping lots of vets! I also co-founded another organization, called Operator’s Association, which is a mentorship group for those who want to try out for a special forces unit.

CONTINUED > stories. And, he’s not done yet. MrBallen has plans to expand into film, television, consumer packaged goods, and books, with additional audio content to be launched in 2024. He’s also married to his college sweetheart and a father of three. And that’s just his resume. Here’s more from Austin Lifestyle’s i nterview with one of Austin’s most interesting men.

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOUR FIRST VIDEO WENT VIRAL?

I was so shocked. I had been trying to “go viral” for a few years but nothing had come close so I assumed it would never happen. When it did, I just stared at my phone in disbelief. I still can’t believe this many people actually want to listen to what I have to say. I’m forever grateful, and I’ll always be dedicated to raising the bar with the art of storytelling and bringing our audience really engaging, authentic stories wherever they want to tune in.

Right now, I couldn’t be more excited to show our community these stories in a more visual format with the upcoming publication of my graphic novel.  I want my audience to be able to see exactly what I see when I tell these stories.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?

“We do not rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” — Archilochus

I read this quote a lot during my Navy SEAL training days.

The Pairing Behind The Violet Crown

OWNED BY HUSBANDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS CHRIS NAGELHOUT AND GRANT RICHARDSON…

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

The Violet Crown started serving up natural wines and quality coffee last year. We had a chat with them to learn more about the people behind the place.

WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME VIOLET CROWN?

Grant: It’s a reference to the original name of the Crestview/Brentwood neighborhood: Violet Crown Heights. It’s also an homage to the business that operated this space before us, The Violet Crown Clubhouse. They did a great job establishing this space as a community hub, and that’s something we’re passionate about continuing. I believe the original reference is to an Austin poet from the 1890s who wrote under the pen name O’Henry and described the Austin sunsets as “a violet crown” over the city.

IS ONE OF YOU MORE OF A COFFEE DRINKER AND THE OTHER A WINE DRINKER?

Grant: While we both enjoy coffee and wine, I’m more the wine guy and Chris the coffee guy. As a wine professional, I’m always excited to explore new wines, really understand each bottle and why certain production methods, vintages, and farming decisions might influence how the wine shows up. While Chris has a great palate, he typically just wants something delicious. The tables turn a bit for coffee: for me, coffee is a ritual about getting the day started while getting our daughter Lillie ready for school. Chris is the one who can crank out top-notch espresso drinks and understands the science of great coffee.

WHICH DID YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED FIRST, A COFFEE BAR OR A WINE BAR?

Grant: The wine bar came first. We have always been attracted to the French “cave à manger” model that is a hybrid of bottle shop and wine bar and knew we wanted both components to be a part of The Violet Crown. We also knew we wanted to be open during the day and offering coffee service was the perfect way to bring folks into the space earlier in the day.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINES YOU CARRY?

Grant: Clean farming practices and low-intervention winemaking are a must. Beyond that, we really like to advocate for inclusivity in the wine industry by highlighting winemakers from marginalized communities.  We also want to support small-scale winemakers. You can get a really intriguing bottle of wine for $25 with a great story and people doing good things for the planet and their community. We feel it’s our job to seek these out and share them with our guests.

Chris: We don’t sell anything in the shop that we wouldn’t like ourselves.

MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?

Grant: It’s hard to complain about your colleague to your spouse when that colleague is your spouse.

BEST PART ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?

Grant: There’s something really satisfying about getting to see your partner ‘in the zone.’ Not many people have an understanding of what their partner’s work life is like, so getting to understand intimately what your partner does for work and seeing them succeed in it is a special part of our relationship that I don’t think many people get to experience.

Chris: It’s such a wonderful feeling looking around, seeing folks enjoying the space. Grant and I will tell each other, ‘You know, we made this.  We really created something special.’ I wouldn’t trade those moments for the world.

“You can get a really intriguing bottle of wine for $25 with a great story and people doing good things for the planet and their community.”

GROWING THE LOVE... & COOKIES

ARTICLE BY DOMINIQUE BEJARANO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MACKENZIE SMITH KELLEY

BAKER & ENTREPRENEUR ASHLEY CAMERON

SHARES HER LOVE FOR FAMILY AND BAKING AND HER JOURNEY FROM HOME KITCHEN TO HER SECOND STOREFRONT

Love & Cookies, a popular bakery in Lakeway, has expanded its cookie empire with a second location on South Lamar. Owner and baker Ashley Cameron has already gathered a loyal following with her irresistible treats, including award-winning cookie dough (that’s also available at HEB) and that’s sure to grow with shop number two, adorned with a cute blush pink heart over the front door. The handle is a giant spoon.

The brand was born from a bond between a mother and her son. “When my son Charlie was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease (the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children), we started baking my grandmother’s cookie recipe regularly,” Ashley shares. “We were using the best possible ingredients to make sure he was eating really high-quality cookies. The whole experience was really therapeutic for us to create something joyful during our day. His younger siblings, Carlyle and Hank, joined in the fun, and our kitchen became our haven.”

The business grew organically from these family moments. “What began as a healing journey with my children ignited a spark within me,” she says, “I wanted to share our family’s story with the world, spreading awareness about Kawasaki Disease while also spreading joy through our cookies.”

Family is evident in every recipe and every cookie is named after a family member. “I cooked and baked with my great-grandmother Audrey, grandmother Betty-Jean, and my mom Susie,” Ashley says, adding, “Our seasonal Lemon Lavender flavor, known as the Audrey, after my great-grandmother, is inspired by Texas Hill Country spring. My personal favorite cookie is our Betty Jean, named after my grandmother, with vanilla, chocolate chips, and pecans.” We also spotted cookies adorned with Longhorns, perfect for those seeking spirited treats at the start of football season.

For aspiring entrepreneurs in Austin Ashley confesses, “The late nights, early mornings, and time away are worth it,” and says what must be a signature line, that “No matter the journey, life is what you bake it.”

In addition to spreading joy through fresh baked goods, Love & Cookies is committed to giving back to the community. “Our mission is not just to sell the best cookies, but to sprinkle a little love and awareness about Kawasaki Disease into the lives of everyone we meet,” Ashley says. Love & Cookies supports the Kawasaki Kids Foundation, donating proceeds and supporting programs like the Backpack Program that directly benefit children and families affected by the disease.

The new location, at 1701 S Lamar Blvd has also partnered with Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, so visitors will find it a welcome escape from the Texas summer heat and a charming neighborhood spot to cool off in all summer long.

Sylvester Wilson Construction

Cohart: Community for Art-Lovers

AUSTIN-BASED PAINTER C.R. KELLY’S

AN EARLY ADAPTER TO THE PLATFORM

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

Cohart co-founders Kendall Warson and Shyevin S'ng

Austin artist C.R. Kelly

Cohart is a platform to discover, buy and sell art via an app or online, as well as a social marketplace, launched last year by global art curator Kendall Warson and gallerist and art dealer Shyevin S’ng. Kendall tells Austin Lifestyle , “Before building Cohart I built something called Wonderspaces, working with artists around the world and seeing that only about 15 percent of artists had gallery representation and the other 85 percent were using Instagram as a place to build their brand and their business.” The problem with that, “Instagram was never built for the needs of artists,” she says, “They’re small businesses and they need tools to grow their businesses and credible tools to sell their art. So, the original idea was to provide a platform for artists to be able to sell directly to their collectors, but also have that community you have on Instagram.”

Since December 2023 the platform has gone from 500 monthly active users to 12,000 monthly active users as of press time, of which 300 are verified artists who are selling. Kendall says about 10-15 artists are signing up every day. She explains that Cohart is different than other platforms where people can purchase art because “Cohart is a social marketplace. We really emphasize discovery, connection, engagement and storytelling so that you can discover artists. It’s very much a community-driven marketplace that prioritizes connection.”

You can find art on Cohart ranging from $500 to $50,000, with Kendall sharing that the average sale is around $7,000. “We’re targeting middle-market and work with artists in the mid-phases of their careers who want to have direct connections to their

collectors,” Kendal says. They currently have about 20-30 artists in Austin, a place Kendall thinks, “has an exceptionally vibrant art scene with a lot of really interesting artists and buyers.”

One of those artists is Christopher Kelly, aka C.R. Kelly, a full-time abstract artist who made the transition from his own business designing wine bottle labels to his childhood passion of painting during the pandemic. We sat down with him at Bufalina (where his wife is the general manager and his work can be found on the walls) for a chat about his art and experience with Cohart. He says being an artist is “a business 90 percent dominated by marketing and being a CEO,” so when he was connected to Kendall shortly after their launch it proved helpful in solving problems from discovery to shipping, giving him more time to paint.

So far, he says, “My experience with Cohart has been great! It’s new and I’m excited to see how it grows and to grow with it. It’s been nice referring people to it who may not feel comfortable buying art on Instagram. Cohort solves a lot of problems like that for burgeoning artists who are trying to sell more work. And, they take 25 percent compared to a gallery that takes 50 percent or more and the shipping is taken care of, so it eliminates a lot of the hassle.” Kelly has sold a few pieces on the platform, is helping plan an event in Austin soon and says, “I’m really excited about the future of Cohart and the accessibility to more people other than art people. It allows people to dive deeper and find something unique.”

Find C.R. Kelly’s storefront and more about the platform at Cohart.com or on Instagram at @joincohart.

“The idea was to provide a platform for artists to be able to sell directly to collectors, but also have that community you have on Instagram...We emphasize discovery, connection, engagement and storytelling.” -Kendall Warson

FAVORITE THINGS 5

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BIRN

1. THE LAST GOODBYE: Say hello to the retro cocktail and patio bar in a complex of the same name that includes Fleet, La Santa Barbacha and Howdy’s Vintage. 2808 Manor Rd. Austin TX

2. H-E-B TACODELI QUESO: Tacodeli, founded by chef Roberto Espinosa and partner Eric Wilkerson, now has their queso, salsa and dips available at 290 H-E-B stores across Texas.

3. THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE: Top your summer reading list with this gem from bestselling author and journalist Jo Piazza. It’s a thrilling mystery that incorporates her own family history.

4. FOLIEPOPS TARTLETTES: Austin chef and current season’s Top Chef contestant Kevin D’Andre’s delicious shortbread cookies with a creamy or fruity filling and a chocolate topping. Find them at H-E-B!

5. TOP CHEF “WEDNESDAY WATCH PARTY” AT ARLO GREY: A 3-course meal while watching the Top Chef winner and new host Chef Kristen Kish at her lakeside restaurant. Tickets available on OpenTable.

Photo by: Richard Casteel