Issuu

FULFILLING A DREAM

MUELLER MANATEES SWIM TEAM

ALL ALL SUMMER SUMMER KIDS KIDS

MAY 25 MAY 25 - JULY 31 - JULY 31 th th stst - JULY 31st

SCAN TO CONNECT

20 Fulfilling a Dream Francisco Cortez and Jesus Hernandez came to the U.S. with little, but made a beautiful life with the help of their business, Santa Catarina Mexican Restaurant.

24 The American Experiment At the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, visitors can take a look into the ongoing experiment that is American democracy, inspiring them to stay engaged in civic life and community. IN THIS ISSUE

4 PUBLISHER’S NOTE Honoring Milestones

8 WHAT’S NEW Celebrating Independence Day!

10 MEET ME AT THE MARKET Say “Cheese” 16 LIVING WELL Splish-Splash and Swim!

PERSPECTIVES Listen

PHOTO OP Where Nature Meets Art

“My neighbor’s an athlete at Athletic Outcomes.” Soon, you could be too.

wHONORING MILESTONES

WITHOUT GIVING away my age, I can say that I’m old enough to remember the Bicentennial celebration in 1976 (although I was very young!). It’s hard to believe that 50 years have passed and we’re now gearing up to celebrate America 250.

What better way to honor this milestone than by partnering with one of Austin’s own treasures, the LBJ Presidential Library. Their new American Experiment exhibit is a must-see this month. In this issue, we take a look at the exhibits,

programs, and events the library has planned as our nation begins this historic celebration.

We also sit down with the dedicated team behind Santa Catarina on Manor Road. Their journey from a small town in Mexico to building three successful restaurants in Austin is a remarkable story and a true example of the American Dream in action.

Have you noticed the signs featuring adorable manatees popping up around Mueller? They represent supporters of our new youth swim team, the Mueller Manatees. What began as the vision of a group of dedicated parents has quickly grown into an exciting community program. In this issue, we dive into the story behind the team and the people who made it happen.

And finally, Carmen Gray introduces us to Peace Cheese in this month’s Meet Me at the Market. Their handcrafted vegan cheeses are winning over even the most devoted dairy lovers.

It’s a month of fun celebrations, inspiring stories, and plenty of community spirit. We hope you take some time to enjoy it all.

Liz Reingold Publisher

muellermagazine.com @muellermagazine

Mueller MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher

Liz Reingold

Writer

Carmen Gray

Photographer

Margarita Garcia Acevedo

Marketing Coordinator

Nicole Higgins

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman

Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

SVP, Group Publisher

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy

Maria Regan

Creative Director

Kijoo Kim

Art Director

Rosemary O’Connell

Executive Editor

Elaine Quilici

Associate Editor

Sophia Carlisle

Advertising Services Director

Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director

Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager

Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

Mueller magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Mueller, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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DIRECTORY OF SPONSORS

Many thanks to our committed sponsors, who make it possible for us to bring you high-quality local stories each month. Shopping and doing business close to home are excellent ways to support our community. When you visit our sponsors, please tell them Mueller magazine sent you!

Alite Laser

Austin’s locally owned, family-run laser clinic for over 30 years. Offering expert laser hair removal and electrolysis, ethical treatments, real results, and payas-you-go care. Look good, feel great, be confident. 512-328-1555 | alitelaser.com

Dish Society

Dish Society is a Mueller neighborhood favorite for locally sourced food, everyday feel-good meals, good vibes, and great company

512-623-1498 | dishsociety.com @dishsociety

Floyd’s 99 Barbershop

Floyd’s 99 Barbershop offers expert cuts, shaves, and color for everyone—set in a fun, family-friendly space with our iconic poster wall and lively music. 325-268-5906 | floydsbarbershop.com @floyds99atx

Nature’s Treasures

Explore the beauty of Nature’s Treasures, your iconic rock and crystal shop since 2000, and invite nature into your daily life with home and garden décor, jewelry, sage and pocket stones. 512-472-5015 | ntrocks.com @naturestreasurestexas

Mexican Restaurant

Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina is a boutique family restaurant with homestyle cooking from South Central Mexico. Our bar features 100% Agave tequilas and Mezcales. All of our juices are homemade: no sugar added. 512-291-7154 | santacatarinarestaurant.com @santacatarinatx

Carlin Wealth Management

Carlin Wealth Management Group helps families optimize the efficiency of their finances. It also introduces Empowered Café, creating opportunities and inclusion for a staff with Down syndrome. 512-688-7414 | carlinwmg.com

Empowered Cafe

Empowered Café is a full-service coffee house, also offering juices, soup, sandwiches, and pastries from a friendly staff of individuals with Down syndrome 512-855-1222 | empoweredcafeatx.com

Kuper Sotheby’s

A distinguished real estate advisor and proud Mueller resident, offering expert guidance whether you’re buying, selling, or exploring the neighborhood. 512-831-6577 | sotheybysrealty.com @soud_twal

Origin Hotel

Discover Origin Hotel Austin, blending Texas charm with modern comfort, stylish rooms, and all-day dining from Blue Lacy right in the heart of Mueller. 512-861-1140 | originhotel.com @origin_austin

St. Austin Catholic School

Since 1917, St. Austin has partnered with families to form Christ-centered, academically strong, moral community leaders through faith, service, scholarship, and a nurturing Catholic environment. 512-886-1756 | staustinschool.org

Crane & Holtzman

Crane & Holtzman is a boutique, full-service accounting firm providing tax, consulting, and accounting services to individuals, businesses, and trusts. 512-215-0057 | craneholtzman.com

European Wax Center

European Wax Center is the numver one safe place to start removing hair safely and effectively at an incredibly affordable price. First Time Guests can try it for free. 512-617-9157 | waxcenter.com/pages/first-wax-free @europeanwax

Mueller Silent Market

Since 2008, the Mueller Silent Market Team has specialized in Mueller and Central Austin real estate, offering expert guidance on both public and private listings. 512-913-8642 | muellersilentmarket.com @muellersilentmarketteam

Parkside Family Vision

Parkside Family Vision provides comprehensive, familyfocused eye care in Mueller offering routine exams, advanced myopia management, and stylish eyewear with warm, personalized service to help your whole family see their best. 512-276-6117 | parksidefamilyvision.com @parksidefamilyvision

Texas Mutual

As the state’s leading workers’ compensation provider, Texas Mutual Insurance Company is dedicated to protecting employees, supporting local communities, and fortifying the state economy. 512-224-3800 | texasmutual.com @texasmutual

CATARINA SANTA

The Herb Bar

The Herb Bar, Austin’s oldest apothecary, has served the community for nearly 40 years with teas, tinctures, organic body products, and holistic workshops focused on wellness and connection.

512-444-6251 | theherbbar.com @theherbbar

ThoroughFare

Fresh made from scratch food made from all clean ingredients in a full market experience including a bakery, cafe, deli, and grocery. thoroughfare.com | @thoroughfare

Thinkery

Thinkery, a nonprofit children’s museum and home to Little Thinkers Preschool, sparks joyful, play-based STEAM learning so ALL children cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

512-469-6201 | thinkeryaustin.org @thinkeryatx

Vaura Pilates

Vaura Pilates fuses reformer precision with athletic training in a sensory rich studio. Energize your body, elevate your mind, and awaken within. 512-481-2795 | vaurapilates.com | @vaura-mueller

VIO Med Spa

Feel great, look amazing at VIO Med Spa. Our medical professionals specialize in skin rejuvenation, Botox, cosmetic injectables, skin care, weight loss and body contouring.

521-900-1051 | viomedspa.com @viomedspa.mueller

Celebrating Independence Day!

Take a look at past and present celebrations in Mueller.

LEARN MORE

The Mueller Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit building a strong, inclusive, and connected community through events, activities, advocacy, and outreach. To learn more about Mueller, visit muellerneighborhood.org.

Say “Cheese”

Inside Peace Cheese, a dairy-free and vegan shop that packs all the favor and fun of standard cheese.

BY CARMEN GRAY

WHAT SETS THE Texas Farmers Market at Mueller apart is its diverse selection of local vendors, including businesses that cater to vegan and dairy-free lifestyles. Among the market’s standout vendors is Peace Cheese, a plant-based cheese company. For shoppers searching for dairy alternatives that still deliver the texture and comfort of traditional cheese, Peace Cheese has become a favorite stop.

The business began with founder Sexton’s own experience

transitioning to a fully plant-based lifestyle. Before going vegan, Sexton loved dairy cheese and found it to be one of the hardest foods to give up. Many of the vegan cheeses available at the time weren’t high-quality. They did not slice, melt, or shred the way dairy cheese did. Frustrated by the lack of satisfying options, Sexton decided to create a product that could replicate the familiar experience of traditional cheese while remaining completely plantbased.

What started as personal experimentation quickly evolved into something bigger. Sexton spent countless hours researching ingredients and testing recipes, documenting the process through TikTok videos. The online audience steadily grew as viewers followed the journey of trial and error behind the cheese-making experiments. In 2021, a local food truck noticed Sexton’s creations and invited them to host a pop-up shop at a vegan farmers’ market.

STARTING SMALL

For that first event, Sexton prepared batches of cheese and set up a small stand. The response was surprising. By the end of the day, the products had completely sold out. This experience proved there was a strong demand for high-quality vegan cheese in Austin and gave Sexton the confidence to continue building the business.

By 2022, Sexton was balancing work at Counter Culture, one of Austin’s oldest vegan restaurants, while also expanding Peace Cheese through farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and local food trucks. As the business grew, so did Sexton’s connection to the Austin vendor community.

“My first time visiting the Mueller farmers market was in 2020, before I officially started Peace Cheese,” Sexton says. “I loved meeting all the small business owners and trying different products, and thought what a dream it would be to become a vendor here.”

After that first visit, Sexton began vending at smaller pop-ups and art markets before officially joining the farmers’ market scene. Barton Creek Farmers Market in South Austin became Peace Cheese’s first regular market in 2021.

“It took me time to learn,” Sexton explains. “I purchased most of my market equipment from Facebook Marketplace and cobbled together what I could, but I stayed persistent. Over the last five years, I have vended at just about every farmers’ market in the Austin area.”

Despite appearing at markets throughout the city, Sexton says the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller remains a favorite because of its welcoming atmosphere and diverse community. According to Sexton, the market feels vibrant, inclusive, and deeply supportive of local entrepreneurs.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a retired teacher, published author, and freelance writer.

Splish-Splash and Swim!

The Mueller Manatees swim team offers a place for kids of all ages to enjoy the water this summer.

HAVE YOU NOTICED the curious signs dotting the neighborhood featuring a friendly-looking manatee? Ever wondered what they mean? Those signs represent the supporters of the new Mueller Manatees youth swim team, a program that has quickly become an amazing neighborhood success story. What began as the dream of a dedicated group of Mueller parents to create a swim team for local youth has grown into a popular community program in a remarkably short amount of time.

Opposite page, top: Board members Jenn Moyer, Michelle Wallis, Natalie Clark, and Emily Reed

A LOVE FOR THE WATER

Don’t just take our word for it; hear from the kids themselves about why they love the Mueller Manatees!

Watching these kids push through the challenges that certain strokes present really inspires me both as a person and as a Coach.” - Assistant Coach, age 16

“I like the Mueller Manatees because it’s a fun, engaging opportunity to learn and grow with friends.” – age, 12

“I have 8 new friends on the swim team.” – age 10

“Swim team is the best! I love the coaches, I always get to hang out with my friends, and my swimming improves every day!” – age 11

“Why do we have to do swim team for 8 weeks? I want to do it for a million weeks, not just eight.” – age 6

Mueller hopes that the inaugural season of the Mueller Manatees is the first of many more years to come!

DIVING IN

Spearheaded by dedicated parent, former swim coach, and Mueller Manatees Board President Natalie Clark, the team is 148 swimmers strong in its inaugural season, with a waiting list. About 75% of the swimmers are Mueller residents, while the remaining participants come from nearby neighborhoods including Cherrywood and Windsor Park. Children ages 5 to 18 participate, and swimmers of all skill levels are welcome.

The goal from the beginning was to create an inclusive and accessible environment where kids of all ages and abilities could enjoy a fun, healthy activity. “Mueller is such a diverse community,” says Clark. “It was incredibly important for us to recognize and honor that by offering financial assistance to children from Mueller’s Affordable Housing Program.” Currently, scholarships are provided to

SWIM AWAY!

Practices take place at two Mueller pools:

• Mondays — Ella Wooten Pool

• Wednesdays — John Gaines Pool

These days were chosen because the pools are closed to residents on these days, so resident swim will not be impacted by swim team practices.

20% of participating swimmers.

The Mueller Manatees are truly a community effort. Practices take place at the pools at John Gaines and Ella Wooten Parks, rotating between the two locations so that one pool always remains open for Mueller residents. The team is coached by former competitive swimmer and veteran coach Rodrigo Elizondo Santos, with assistance from a group of high school and college students who help support practices throughout the season.

Parents also play an important role in the team’s success. While they do not participate in practices, families are required to volunteer during swim meets, helping ensure events run smoothly and swimmers are well supported. The team competes in the Capital City Summer League, swimming against teams from across Austin and neighboring communities.

The benefits the team has brought

to Mueller extend far beyond the pool. Whether children are trying competitive swimming for the first time or simply looking for a fun way to spend time with friends, the Mueller Manatees provides an opportunity to build confidence, learn great skills, and form lasting friendships. In our neighborhood, known for a strong sense of connection, the Manatees have created yet another space where kids can grow, encourage one another, and make memories that will stay with them long after the final race of the season.

But the best way to explain the benefits this team has brought is to hear it directly from the people it has impacted the most, the youth.

“Mueller Manatees is unlike any other swim team I have ever been a part of. The kind, fun, and supportive community fosters an environment that allows for all of our swimmers to grow.

Fulfilling a Dream

Francisco Cortez and Jesus Hernandez came to the U.S with little, but they made a beautiful life with the help of their business, Santa Catarina Mexican Restaurant.

IIN A SMALL RURAL town southwest of Mexico City, life revolved around family, tradition, and the kitchen table. Long before they became owners of Santa Catarina Mexican Restaurant, Francisco Cortez and Jesus Hernandez spent their childhoods helping their families milk cows, gather eggs, herd livestock, and harvest herbs and spices from the land around them. The work was hard, but the lessons were lasting.

Meals in their hometown were never rushed. Mothers and grandmothers prepared recipes passed down through generations while children worked alongside them, learning not only how to cook, but how food could bring people together. Family gatherings, celebrations, and community events almost always centered around the kitchen.

“Food was connection,” Jesus shares. “It was how people showed love, hospitality, and care for one another.” Though they could not have known it at the time, those experiences would eventually shape the foundation of the restaurants they would one day build together in Austin.

While their upbringing was rich in

culture and tradition, opportunities were limited. Francisco remembers watching his parents work tirelessly just to provide basic necessities for the family. Some mornings, even eggs were scarce, and his mother would stretch meals by mixing vegetables into a few eggs so breakfast felt fuller for everyone around the table.

As teenagers, both made the difficult decision to leave Mexico and come to the United States in search of opportunity and a better future. Francisco, being the older cousin, arrived first, and Jesus followed years later. When Francisco arrived in Austin, he found work in various restaurants, learning all about the Austin food scene.

Jesus had dreams of going to university in Mexico, but it was financially out of reach, so coming to the United States seemed like the right thing to do. When he arrived in America, he relied on his cousin to help him find work. Together they worked hard, but, at the same time, they had a dream to one day open a restaurant of their own that reflected the food, warmth, and traditions they grew up with in Mexico.

CHASING A DREAM

That dream became reality in December 2010 when Francisco and Jesus opened the first Santa Catarina Mexican Restaurant location in Lakeway. The early years were anything but easy. Hidden inside a strip mall and funded through personal savings, the restaurant struggled to gain traction. Many diners were more familiar with traditional Tex-Mex cuisine than the authentic regional Mexican dishes Santa Catarina offered. For nearly two

years, the restaurant fought simply to stay afloat.

Francisco and Jesus refused to give up. They remained committed to the authentic flavors, quality ingredients, and the kind of hospitality they grew up with in Mexico. Slowly, word began to spread, and Santa Catarina developed a loyal following. Customers came not only for the food, but also for the atmosphere and experience. In 2016, they expanded with a second location, continuing to

refine the brand while staying true to the traditions that inspired it from the beginning.

Then in 2024, they opened their newest location right near Mueller on Manor Road in Cherrywood. The restaurant reflects years of growth and vision. Francisco and Jesus personally designed the space, blending modern aesthetics with the warmth and soul of the Mexican hospitality they remembered from home. That connection to family

remains deeply woven into every aspect of Santa Catarina.

Many menu items are inspired directly by recipes and techniques learned from their mothers and grandmothers in Mexico. Traditional ingredients such as guajillo and ancho chiles, achiote seeds, huitlacoche, fresh herbs, and agave nectar appear throughout the menu, alongside fresh seafood and carefully sourced ingredients. For Francisco and Jesus, cooking with fresh ingredients is not

about trends or marketing. It is simply the way they were taught food should be prepared. Even the restaurant’s fresh cocktails draw inspiration from their upbringing. The mezcal and aged tequila offerings reflect memories of traditional Mexican cantinas where family and friends gathered to share stories, laughter, drinks, and meals.

But beyond the food itself, Francisco and Jesus believe hospitality is what truly defines Santa Catarina. “When guests came to our homes in Mexico, they were welcomed immediately,” they explain. “Our fathers offered drinks, our mothers and grandmothers prepared food, and everyone gathered together. There was always

a sense of warmth and care.” That spirit remains the heartbeat of the restaurant. From the moment guests walk through the doors, the goal is for them to feel not like customers, but like family.

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Even the restaurant’s name itself carries special meaning. Santa Catarina translates to “Saint Ladybug,” inspired by a belief from their hometown that a ladybug landing on you brings good luck and prosperity. Today, hidden ladybugs can be found throughout all three restaurant locations, serving as quiet reminders of where the journey began and the faith that perseverance and hard

work can create opportunity.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Francisco and Jesus reflect on their own journey with gratitude. For them, America represents possibility. They arrived as teenagers with little more than determination, family values, and the lessons learned in their hometown kitchens. Through years of sacrifice and persistence, they built careers, became American citizens, raised families, and created a successful restaurant brand rooted in their heritage.

Jesus even fulfilled his dream of attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied civil engineering while raising a

family with his wife and children. Francisco achieved his dream of becoming a business owner, creating opportunities for future generations of his family. His children have graduated from universities, including the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

Their story reflects a version of the American Dream that feels especially meaningful this year. Like our nation, it was not built overnight, but through resilience, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to honoring where they came from while building something new for the future.

Francisco, Daniel and their family.

The American Experiment The American

At the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, visitors can take a look into the ongoing experiment that is American Democracy, inspiring them to stay engaged in civic life and community.

AAS THE UNITED STATES marks 250 years since its founding, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library is joining in on the celebration. Through an ongoing series of exhibits, events, and activities, they are inviting visitors not simply to look back, but to step directly into the ongoing story of American democracy.

The American Experiment, as they are calling it, is the Library’s current exhibit designed to explore our country’s history as a living, evolving narrative of identity, civic

participation, and national debate that continues to be written today.

Rather than presenting history as something fixed behind glass, the LBJ Library is intentionally centering dialogue between past and present, archives and audience, national milestones and individual experience. The goal is to create experiences that feel open and accessible, whether a visitor arrives as a seasoned historian or simply someone curious about how their own life fits into the broader American narrative.

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT

“We’ll be bringing together exhibitions, public programs, conversations, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that invite visitors to think about how the American story is still being shaped today,” says Lara Hall, Head Museum Curator. “One of the things I’m most excited about is the opportunity to place original historical documents and personal stories into conversation with contemporary questions about belonging, citizenship, public service, and participation.”

That spirit of accessibility carries through the library’s ambitious public programming lineup. Sarah McCracken, Director of Public Programs, describes a series of evening events designed to bring major thinkers and cultural voices into conversation with the public.

“We are hosting a free series of substantive evening events exploring American history and culture,”

McCracken says. “Our first will be on June 30 with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Beverly Gage and First Light Books co-founder Taylor Bruce taking a road trip across America, exploring 13 places and moments that define America’s successes and failures.”

Later in July, the series continues with a conversation between James Beard Award-winning author Adrian Miller and Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, examining how food, tradition, and regional identity have helped to shape the American story.

The programming reflects a broader intention: to make history tangible, relevant, and rooted in lived experience. And for McCracken, that means designing for all ages and entry points, including families, students, lifelong learners, and first-time visitors alike. “Throughout the exhibit’s run, we will host public programming to explore the ideas, tensions, and traditions that continue to shape American life,” she says.

Top: An original patent drawing for the Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine. Above: An original patent drawing for Thomas Edison’s lightbulb

BEHIND THE EXHIBIT

Few figures embody the complexity of those themes more than Lyndon B. Johnson himself. His presidency, marked by sweeping domestic reforms and deep national conflict, serves as both backdrop and guidepost for the Library’s America 250 approach.

“The Johnson years remind us that democracy is not abstract,” Hall says. “It is deeply personal, complicated, and constantly evolving.” LBJ governed during a period of profound transformation during which time civil rights, voting access, poverty, education, immigration, and war all converged in national debate. Many of those same questions, Hall notes, continue to resonate today.

As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, the LBJ hopes to emphasize the central idea that democracy is not a completed project but a continuing one, which is shaped not only by presidents and policymakers but by citizens across generations.

We want to encourage visitors to

think about democracy as an ongoing experiment,” Hall says. “The story is unfinished, and every generation helps define what the country becomes next.”

That invitation extends beyond the museum walls and into the surrounding community. In a city as dynamic and civically engaged as Austin, the goal is to make the LBJ feel like a shared civic space that fosters conversation, reflection, and participation. People can see the library not just as a place that preserves history, but as a place where meaningful conversations about democracy, culture, and community can happen.

“I hope our neighbors in Mueller as well as the greater Austin community will make a point to stop by,” McCracken says. “We’ll have something for everyone, whether it’s history about our founding fathers, talking about barbecue and its place in our culture, or family-friendly crafts and activities that help tell the story behind the documents on view.”

Ultimately, both curators are passionate about this programming

and understand the impact it can have on the hearts and minds of Austinites. They both highlight the shared hope that visitors leave with a deeper understanding of American history not as a fixed narrative, but as a collective, ongoing process. “I hope visitors leave with a deeper sense that American history is both shared and unfinished,” Hall says. “If visitors walk away feeling more curious, more empathetic, and more invested in their role within their community and civic life, then I think we’ve done something meaningful.”

McCracken echoes that sentiment, framing the America 250 initiative as both a commemoration and a call to action.

“This special exhibit and related programming will show our struggle toward becoming a ‘more perfect union’, often traveling forward, sometimes falling backward,” she says. “As we consider our past and look toward our future, we hope visitors will think about what role they might play in our American Experiment going forward.”