November 2020
Married for
50 years
Realtor, musician, painter
- what a guy
Waffle Love
a unique Thanksgiving meal
RR
Table of Contents Fifty years of being grounded in faith, living the joy in Round Rock
6
Jeff Hayenga and his artful life made of color, texture and passions
8
Waffle Love offers unique Thanksgiving dish Well-SeasonedPrivate Chef - Shepherd’s Pie
10 11
Chorus Austin singers find new ways to share their voices Movies & Theater
12
14
At-Home workouts are easily accessible online for all ages, all levels of health New books can help children cope with coronavirus restrictions
16
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions facility set to open on November 12 Farms provide day-trip ideas for families at holiday time New in Round Rock
19 20
Annual Trail of Lights at Zilker Park to be a drive-through event
21
Round Rock’s safest parks for toddlers
2
17
18
Jammin’ safely during a pandemic with the MoPac Traffic Jams
Round Rock Living magazine is direct mailed to homes and distributed to lobbies and stands throughout the Round Rock area.
15
ADVERTISING INFO Call 512-380-1611 for advertising rates, information and closing dates. Email info@amcpublishing.net or visit Roundrockliving.net
22
PHOTOS & SUBMISSIONS We enjoy publishing Round Rock related items and photos from the community. Please do not send material protected by copyright. Email items to: editor@roundrockliving.net
FOLLOW US Join other Round Rock residents and stay up-to-date on daily happenings by following us. @roundrockmag Round Rock Living Magazine
SUBSCRIPTION To subscribe to our digital edition, please email digital@roundrockliving.net
RR
Letter From The Editor Pamela A. Cosel Welcome to the pages of the November 2020 issue of “Round Rock Living Magazine.” I am honored to be in the role of Editor for this publication, which is part of the Made Media Group. It is my hope readers will find stories that are significant to the lives of family members and friends, such as information about schools, activities, great food, and wonderful people, all living and working in the Round Rock and Williamson County area. The magazine in future issues will regularly share stories about individuals who contribute to making life in Round Rock special. Our cover story features the Randy and Becky Baker family of Round Rock. The couple has been married for 50 years and base their relationship on faith in God. Each of their four adult children has relocated to Round Rock over the years, and with six grandchildren in the mix, they lead a busy, loving life. Raised in different parts of the world, theirs is a marriage made in heaven. Another special story is about Jeff Hayenga, who lives in Austin and sells homes in Round Rock and the surrounding area as a Realtor. He is also a talented bass guitar player, and during these times of COVID-19, he has rediscovered his talent of painting portraits. He has completed a terrific image of famed musician Stevie Ray Vaughn, which will be auctioned off as a fundraiser for Addicus’ Legacy Dog Rescue. In this time of social distancing, many miss the camaraderie of live music. Stories in this issue shares with readers where everyone can go to have fun and be safe, while still celebrating the holiday season. Want to stay at home? Read about the online concerts that Chorus Austin has coming up in November and December, available to view free of charge. As a former longtime journalist, last year I was blessed to become a best-selling author as a co-writer of two novels in 2019. In these times of COVID-19, writing about people and how we have all been affected (and in some way, blessed) by the pandemic is something I have not encountered since my first news article was published in 1980. This year of 2020, as we all know, is unlike any other. Yet we must all live our lives, love our families, take care of our responsibilities. It is my desire to provide readers something to feel good about, warm hearts, and something to look forward to with each issue. Stay safe. Be kind to one another. Smile. Sincerely, Pamela Cosel, Editor
Advertise with us Summer
512-380-1611 sales@roundrockliving.net
2017
www.Roundrockliving.net RoundRockMagazine Roundrockmag
Special Edition
3
CONTRIBUTORS
RR
Catherine Carpenter
Catherine Carpenter, “The Well-Seasoned Private Chef,” has been working with food in Austin since 1995, proudly in service to Texas Governors, members of the Texas House, small business, families and individuals throughout Central Texas. She locally sources and handcrafts meals and baking, one happy client at a time. A small-business owner specializing in food as a healing art, she is skilled in cuisine for state dinners, special events, and meals for family. Catherine is active in sourcing from Texas farms and vendors, keeping it local and Texan whenever possible. She can be reached at catherinemarie@onebox.com.
Lance Catchings
Lance Catchings is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. His writing career includes stops at The Port Lavaca Wave and The Liberty Hill Independent along with various freelance opportunities. Originally from Victoria, TX he relocated to the Austin area summer of 2015. An avid hiker, biker, and lover of all things fitness related. A long-time motorcycle track day enthusiast, football fan and beer connoisseur.
April Kelley
April S. Kelley has been documenting the stories of local communities as a working journalist for over a decade. A little over a year ago, she followed her love for music from Louisiana to the Austin area. You can probably find her roaming parks or trails in the area or listening to music way too loudly at her home in Round Rock.
Cutest Kids Cover Contest
Enter your child’s photo today! Send us your cover ready photos and your child could be our next cover star! Email 1-2 of your very best cover ready photo to editor@ roundrockliving.net (Please get permission from your photographer)
For Contest details visit www. roundrockliving.net
Yes!
We use real k i d covers, opener s for s, and pictorials
SPECIAL FEATURE
RR
Fifty years
of being grounded in faith, living the joy in Round Rock By Pamela Cosel Editor | Round Rock Living Magazine
T
heirs is a love story made in heaven. Randy and Becky Baker just celebrated fifty years of marriage this past August, and through the ups and downs, have always relied on their faith in God to see them through any challenges. The couple moved from San Diego to Round Rock nine years ago after their oldest daughter, Celise, 40, and her husband, Robbie Ketch, moved to Round Rock from Dallas. He works as the general manager at Lasco Acoustics and Drywall, Inc. in Round Rock, while she is a substitute teacher for Fellowship Preschools at two locations, one in Round Rock and the other in Hutto. They have three children. Next, their son, Aaron, 43, and his wife, Angela, fell in love with the area, and they too relocated, but from Orange County, California. Angela was eight months pregnant at the time with their son. He is an account executive at KXAN TV, while she is the assistant director at Fellowship Preschool in Hutto, and can stay connected with her sister-in-law there, as well. Becky and Randy realized they were missing out on all of the family fun, so within months, after a three-day road trip from San Diego, they too landed in Round Rock, moving vans full. As grandparents, they knew they had to be close to the grandkids, and at the time, there were just three of them. The count has doubled since then, and they brag about six wonderful grandchildren these days. But wait, there’s more. Daughter Briana, 32, next jumped on the bandwagon and followed the family, moving to Round Rock from southern California. She is working as a rental sales specialist at RDO Equipment Company in Pflugerville. Her three-year-old twin boys keep her busy, and there are a lot of cousins to teach them how things are done. Next there’s Chris, 38, owner of Lionshare Partners, a financial planning firm. Adopted into the family when he was age 18 and a high school friend of Briana, he was the last of the clan to land in “The Rock” long after college, where he had earned a four-year, full-ride scholarship to UCLA. The rest of his family was living there, so why shouldn’t he? The Bakers love every minute of being together, their five different homes a short distance apart from each other. Whether it’s babysitting for young ones, or just gathering for dinners, birthdays and holiday celebrations, they are close-knit. That is, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area.
6
“The separation from one another (was hard),” Becky said, describing the situation at the beginning of social distancing time, “even though we were physically within two miles of each other’s houses.” They slowly learned how to reconnect safely. “We love backyard barbecues and swim parties, card games, an Express baseball game on the grass, and an occasional vacation all together. There is also so much to do in Round Rock – there’s always a new spot or restaurant or play area to discover and explore. We love Round Rock and are so grateful God led us here,” Becky added. Randy and Becky met while attending Biola University in California. That God brought them together from different parts of the globe illustrates their connected destinies. Randy was born in Bethesda, Maryland but grew up in southern California, the son of an aeronautical engineer at Vandenburg Air Force Base. Becky was born in Santa Barbara, but raised across the continent in Belize, Central America as the child of Baptist missionary parents. “I was really upset when my folks brought my brother and me up from Belize and deposited us in college,” Becky said. “I picked a major I knew well – Spanish -- to get out of college quickly. Well, God’s little joke. He used that major to give me a wondrous 45-year career teaching high school Spanish. Along the way I started professional motivational speaking and doing a comedy routine that spanned 30 years in both secular and Christian venues.” She retired a few years ago from teaching at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville and also at Running Brushy Middle School in Leander. “Randy got an early start as an entrepreneur, opening one of the very first private mailbox/package shipping businesses,” Becky continued. “He went from that to a 13-year run with three small loan stores in San Diego. He also helped found a video production company.”
RR
SPECIAL FEATURE
Truths the Bakers have learned along the way of a 50-year marriage
The couple is bound together by their faith. It is rare in our culture to be married for 50 years, and they believe the most important thing that binds them together is their faith in Jesus Christ and their relationship “first and foremost with Him.” The entire family celebrated the momentous anniversary, even with social distancing rules in place, with a special dinner at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. “We went into marriage agreeing never to use the ‘divorce’ word – we would work out whatever differences we had. And believe me, there were plenty! We also had the essential mantra of ‘Be Kind,’ and lived by Ephesians 4:29 that says, ‘Say only what is good and kind and will build each other up according to their needs.’” With regard to the motivational speaking program Becky and a longtime friend, Katie Blackburn, developed years ago, “The Bessie and Beulah Show” combines comedy with truthful life lessons. Since 1989, the women have presented to corporate groups, school conventions, chief surgeons, Boeing engineers, and women’s groups, to name a few. They begin the show dressed as dowdy, outspoken old ladies, then take off the outer layers of clothing to reveal their true beauty beneath. The theme of the talk, Becky explained, is about “choosing joy and training yourself to see the humor in life, while learning to extinguish the four joy killers: fear, anger, stress and guilt.” As for the joy within the Baker family, it’s written all over their Christmas cards. For the past 43 years, they all get together to pose for a photo that is sent out to family and friends. They have been doing this since their first child, Aaron, was born. “My birthday is a week before Christmas, and they know by now what my birthday request is!” Becky said. “We are a family grounded in faith in Jesus Christ. He makes all the difference in enabling us to give grace to one another as needed.” One could say they lives are grounded on the one true Rock.
1. When God allows you to see someone else’s faults, it is for the purpose of intervention (prayer), not judgment. Have I prayed for this person instead of criticizing? 2. Love mercy. In Micah 6:8 it says there are three things God requires of man: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God. The last part -- your healthy relationship with God through Christ Jesus -- is the most important. And it produces the other two: acting justly and showing the kind of mercy that Jesus portrayed in all His dealings with people on earth. 3. Be unoffendable. Takes hard work. It is no fun to live with someone that you have to walk on eggshells around. Unconditional, faithful love is desperately craved by all. 4. Laugh together. The Bible says “rejoice always.” “In” all things, not “for.” Even in failures. One definition is : Comedy = tragedy + time. 5. Speaking of time: Go the distance. Don’t throw in the towel too early. Persevere. People mellow with time, and priorities straighten out. 6. Marry a person with the same basic values, not necessarily hobbies or interests. Randy has never wanted to go to Jazzercise. I have never wanted to go fishing. But we love God, love family, value hospitality and friends, value individuality. 7. Be kind. Always. Every single email I send out, both business and personal, has this quote by Mother Teresa: “Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”-Mother Teresa A 30-year study of married couples at the University of Washington came up with a formula whereby they could predict with 94 percent accuracy who was going to get divorced and who wasn’t. The formula was five positives to one negative. The found out it worked for all relationships: boss/employee, friend/friend, parent/ child. To have a healthy, thriving relationship you have to give five positives for each negative. We tend to do the reverse, especially with children. 8. Trust that God is always working! Even when He is silent. Randy and I had been married seven years, trying for the previous four years to get pregnant. We made the mistake of going to church on Mother’s Day in May 1977. After all the roses being handed out to every variety of mother imaginable (Who is the mother with the most kids? Who is the youngest mother? The oldest grandma?) I came away shaking my fists at God, crying, “Why don’t you answer me, God? Why don’t you care?!” That summer a friend of mine who was a counselor at the church bailed on our beach date. When I quizzed why, she said she had a client who decided at last minute to put her baby up for adoption, and she needed to find parents. Hellloooo!!! And you cannot imagine the sheer joy, gratitude, and humility I felt when our first child was placed in my arms at the age of one day old, three months after I was screaming at God. I didn’t even have to do the nine months! He is working for you. Like the song says, “He never stops working”!
7
SPECIAL FEATURE
RR
Jeff Hayenga and his artful life made of color, texture and passions By Pamela Cosel
AUSTIN, Texas – This man is an artist in so many ways. He knows the art of selling homes because he is a Real Estate agent. He knows the art of playing music because he is one rocking bass player. And as of late, he knows the art of getting showy with a paintbrush; being quarantined due to COVID-19 restrictions, he has rediscovered his talent of oil painting.
J
eff Hayenga – known as Jeff Hayes when onstage – seems to do it all. A showman at heart, Jeff is also a storyteller with a big heart and a loving, supportive wife named Christina, who works in the restaurant business while being his best friend in all of his adventures. Jeff said she is his “rock” and thoroughly supports his three-pronged career. He is into rock-n-roll but feels the blues more, swinging his bass guitar since his days growing up in Fargo, North Dakota nearly fifty years ago. “My best friend John and buddy, Kent, lived on my block,” Jeff explains. “John was already playing drums at school for several years. Kent 8
picked up a guitar and began noodling on it around 1984. I said, ‘If I got a bass guitar, we could have a combo.’ I went and put a bass and amp on layaway that week. Our first band, ‘The Vagrants,’ played at the church and high school functions until college in 1991.” In 1995, he joined a band called “Kid Jonny Lang and the Big Bang” and moved to Minneapolis. In 1998, he moved to Austin, in part because of music legend Stevie Ray Vaughn. “Mike and Ted Larsen, drummer and guitar player in ‘The Big Bang,’ and I had visited Austin in 1992 as sort of a ‘Stevie Ray Vaughan’ pilgrimage. We just had to see where he played and lived. The Fabulous Thunderbirds and the
legend of Clifford Antone were huge inspirations, as well. We spent an incredible week, and had to drive back to Fargo, vowing that I would move to Austin some day.” Little did he know his passion for Stevie Ray Vaughn would be connected in a bigger way to his life twenty-seven years later. See, aside from his musical talents, Jeff is a painter. Not houses. Portraits. In particular, one recent painting of Stevie Ray Vaughn has been a big hit. He donated the first one of SRV to Jeff Parks at “Mud Bugs” in Buda. The cajun-food restaurant is now staging a fundraiser to auction off the painting to benefit Addicus’ Legacy Dog Rescue orga-
RR
nization. The event is set for November 13 and 14 with two dinner seating times each night. Prior to painting the SRV portrait, Jeff did one of the famed travel reporter, Anthony Bourdain, which also hangs on the wall of Mud Bugs. He was then commissioned to paint a portrait of a friend’s dog, “Cowboy.” Thus, the fundraiser combines two of his passions – painting and dogs; he owns two of the latter, Rebel-Sue, and Lenny, who is named after SRV’s first wife. “If one thing came from this pandemic, it’s that I was able to pick up acrylic paint and a brush again, after a 30-year break,” Jeff explained. “I was a Fine Arts major in college with a music minor…I was shocked, myself, how quickly my painting skills came back. I’ve begun selling commissioned works for friends and local restaurants. It’s cathartic capturing the expressions of my favorite musicians and pets on canvas. “I first realized that I had artistic talents early on. Maybe around five, six (years old) when I would draw chalk pictures on the sidewalk or excel in first grade art projects. The teachers let me know pretty clearly that I was different. As I grew up, I became ‘the art guy’ for my grade level. I later made the art for my band’s t-shirts and for my senior year’s ‘Spring Blast’ event. It was only natural that I would take it to the local college and see where it took me. I also didn’t see myself using my talents for ‘commercial’ applications. It seemed like somebody telling me to ‘do it again’ or ‘change this’ wouldn’t feel like “art.” Now I’m enjoying painting and selling my pieces because nobody has told me to change anything.” There was a time, however, when Jeff nearly lost it all.
In 2004, he was struck from behind by a car while riding his motorcycle on Congress Avenue in Austin. He should have been dead. He lost thirty days of his memory as he lay in a coma for a short time, banged up, with a few skull fractures. He had flipped off the motorcycle backwards and his head went through the windshield of the car that hit him. The alleged drunk driver of the car fled the scene, but police were able to track him down as the vehicle’s bumper lay nearby, the vehicle identification number evidence of who had been driving. Jeff learned a lesson: to wear his helmet each time whenever he is on his bike. Christina kept watch at his bedside after the accident while he healed, praying for his recovery, tending to his needs. He recovered and knows what a close call he had. The couple has “a great partnership,” Jeff said. They renewed their wedding vows this past year in Las Vegas where they were first married twenty years ago. He continued playing music once recovered from the injuries and found a new passion: selling houses as a Realtor. He’s been doing that the past ten years. “After touring with Bernard Allison for a few years,” Jeff said, “I decided I needed something more solid as a career. I always said, ‘If I’m not in the Black Crowes by my thirtieth birthday, I didn’t make it in the music business.’ I returned from a European tour, just before turning thirty and decided I was done with the road. I sold cell phones and cars for a few months when a co-worker mentioned Real Estate. I found I was great with people, so it was an instant success. “I really like being a Realtor because I’m not ‘selling’ anything. I’ve made my clients
SPECIAL FEATURE
thousands of dollars in equity and saved them from losing it on rent. Win-win.” Currently Jeff is with Sky Realty in Austin. He has sold homes in Round Rock, Austin and the surrounding area. He says that Round Rock / Pflugerville and Buda / Kyle are two of the hottest Real Estate markets in the country right now. “Homeowners are leaving Travis County to escape higher taxes and unaffordability,” he said. “Central Texas is growing at an incredible rate.” “It’s been easy to sell in Austin,” Jeff explained. “Some years have been better than others, but the weather, food, culture, and live music are unlike anywhere else I’ve been (pre-pandemic). The values continue to go up, making good investment sense to my clients.” Asked what motivates him to keep on track with music, selling homes and painting in these strange times, he said this. “I’m motivated by the reaction of the listeners, I’m rewarded by applause and appreciation for a good, entertaining show. In my business, I’m motivated to earn a comfortable living and provide excellent service to my clients and friends. “I really don’t have any regrets, looking back on my life,” he added. “I’m married to my best friend and have an incredible life, here in Austin. Music, art, Tex-Mex, great friends, my dogs, and my Harley Davidson round out a solid schedule of living life to the fullest.” He also said he doesn’t miss the snow of Fargo and Minneapolis. A friend perhaps put it best when he said to Jeff, “It’s an artful life.” Indeed it is, full of color, texture and passions. 9
RECIPES
RR
Waffle Love offers unique Thanksgiving dish Waffle Love thankful to community, offers Friendsgiving Pack for Thanksgiving Holiday By Lance Catchings
R
ound Rock is simply one of the gems of Central Texas. It is a sprawling community that attracts new restaurants. Waffle Love is one of those new, up-and-coming restaurants in the area, and it didn’t end up in this community by accident. “I was the general manager of one of the Waffle Love restaurants in Utah,” said Waffle Love franchise owner Katie Burton. “We decided to expand the first franchise,” she said. “I did some extensive research and landed on the Austin area. We brought the food truck in October 2017. We operated as a food truck in the area for two and a half years.” After finding success on the food truck scene, the natural progression for a restaurant is to find a brick-and-mortar location, but that proved harder than initially thought for the folks at Waffle Love. This is where the city of Round Rock showed them it is the place for up-and-coming restaurants. “We had never had a brick-and-mortar (location) in Texas, so we got turned down by a lot of the places we applied to,” Burton said. “Nobody was willing to take a chance
10
on us. My real estate agent gave us a list of forty places and our current location was the last one on the list. It was the only place that would accept us, and we were so grateful. Our location has been a great spot for us so far and we’ve been so happy that we chose Round Rock.” Waffle Love opened its business in March 2020, but it wasn’t open long. After just two weeks the restaurant was forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the country. Burton and her team immediately got creative and came up with something called the “Quarantine Pack.” It was a way for customers to sample multiple waffles from their menu in a to-go type of presentation. “That was something that really saved us in the beginning,” she said. “When things shut down, we were really nervous that we might just be one of those restaurants that come and go. The city of Round Rock really rallied, and we have been so grateful that everyone focused on the small businesses instead of doing their to-go orders from the large chain restaurants. When we opened back up in June,
I think the community was ready to try what we had on the menu. We are so thankful for the Round Rock community and grateful we have survived.” This Thanksgiving holiday Burton and the crew at Waffle Love are providing a special treat. They are bringing back the concept from earlier this year by creating the “Friendsgiving Pack.” It is a full Thanksgiving meal...waffle style. “We will have the Thanksgiving Waffle, which is a sausage-and-sage-stuffing waffle,” Barton described. “We make it from scratch and put it directly on the waffle iron to crisp it. A side of mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. A Pumpkin Pie Waffle with pumpkin spice cream. An Apple Strudel Waffle with the apple sauce and icing on the side so you can build it on your own at home. We’ll be offering this as a fun way to have your quarantine Thanksgiving, whether it’s you, friends or your family to make things easier.” Waffle Love is located at 1300 Gattis School Road, #100, Round Rock, Texas 78664. Find more information on their website.
RR
The Well-Seasoned Private Chef
Shepherd’s
Pie Catherine Carpenter
RECIPES
Shepherd’s Pie Recipe INGREDIENTS 2 T olive oil 1 large onion, chopped small 3 stalks celery and 3 carrots, chopped small 2 pounds ground beef or lamb 4 large garlic cloves Herbs of choice (I use oregano or Herbs de Provence) 3 bay leaves 2 T toasted tomato paste 1 teas. Cinnamon Golden raisins (optional) 2 ounces beef broth (or broth of choice) 1 ½ cups water 1 cup frozen peas 4 T chopped Italian parsley Mashed potatoes mixed with butter, milk of choice, and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
RECIPE PREPARATION
History of Shepherd’s Pie
S
hepherd’s Pie (typically lamb), cottage pie (typically beef), is a dish of English/Irish origin dating back to 1854, according to Merriam-Webster. I personally believe probably it was created years earlier. There is a French version called hachis Parmentier. It is a ground meat pie topped with a mashed potato crust of sorts. Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie were terms used interchangeably for whatever the meat choice. However, since the 21st century in the UK, the term “Shepherd’s Pie” is used when the meat is lamb. The pies are a peasant’s dish evolving from the need to incorporate leftover meat and potatoes into the next hearty meal. The recipe has appeared in cookbooks in variations, with its defining ingredients being ground red meat cooked in a sauce with onions, celery, carrot, often mushrooms, and topped with a layer of mashed potato, then baked to a golden delight. Sometimes other vegetables are added to the filling, such as peas, or whatever one has available from one’s kitchen. My version of Shepherd’s Pie does not include mushrooms. Enjoy this hearty recipe, fitting for the season!
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat oil in heavy large iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and carrots, sauté about 8 minutes. Add meat, garlic, and bay leaves to the skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat until animal protein is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and raisons. Mix in bone broth and 1 1/2 cups water. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add peas; simmer until just tender, about 5 minutes longer. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix in 3 tablespoons parsley; season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with the mashed potatoes, add any decorative markings, then bake for 2040 minutes until peaks of potatoes are golden brown.
11
MUSIC
RR
Chorus Austin singers find new ways to share their voices Anyone who has ever attended live performances of choral singing knows the power that comes from voices together raised in harmony. Overtones, reverberation from a performance hall, emotions and the visuals presented by the singers’ expressions are uplifting and inspiring to audiences who are often left breathless in the experience. Singers themselves are fulfilled in the camaraderie of a choir. Joy, beauty, peace and excitement are shared in a group whose purpose in coming together is to make beautiful music. 12
C
horus Austin is now in its 56th season. Membership is not limited to only Austin residents. Six members of the group live in Round Rock and have been involved for many years. Alto Fran Rush, for example, has a background like many of the members: she has been singing since seventh grade. She auditioned for what was then named the Austin Civic Choir when her youngest child left for college. Rush joined two other singing groups, and again auditioned for Chorus Austin in 2007, and said, “I have been happily singing ever since.” The COVID-19 pandemic, however, put a temporary stop on such in-person choral gatherings. Due to the natural expulsion of droplets that singers project, mouths open, diaphragms thrusting air up and out caused conditions that were not safe for close-contact
RR
rehearsals and performances. A new way of singing together had to be found. Therefore, online the members of Chorus Austin all went, to stare at computer screens, to sing in solitude from their homes, with its music director and fellow singers in view. They cannot be together standing close to one another in a room for many months yet to come. But the shows go on. “In these times of isolation, Chorus Austin has been forced to move to the virtual world, something never before thought of for musicians,” said Chorus Austin’s Music Director Ryan Hell. “I am so proud of our singers for pivoting to coming together online, to connecting with one another and our community at large, and for being willing to explore new ways of how we can be of service.” Its virtual concerts are posted online and donations to Chorus Austin are requested, but
not required to view the videos. From November 7 through November 21, “Stronger, United” is available to anyone. It is a combination of new and previously recorded pieces from the Chamber Ensemble, the smaller group of singers. The Symphonic Chorus is the larger. The non-profit organization is now preparing for its annual holiday concert, “On a Winter’s Eve,” which will debut online on Saturday, December 19. Warm-ups and music notes are given each week to the choir in the same way Heller does it in person. “Breathe here.” “Make that ending quarter note an eighth note.” Such markings help a choir sing unified, of course. “While challenging, these times have afforded us the opportunity to use digital rehearsals to get to know one another more,” Heller continued, “to spend more time in the mechanics of singing or the details of a piece,
MUSIC
and even to have special guests with us...including celebrated composer Dr. Roland Carter, and Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Peter Bay.” Rush, a former Chorus Austin president, expressed thoughts about Heller that each of the members share. “It has been a pleasure to have an artistic director who keeps moving the bar up so that the entire chorus will someday match the choir in his head.” Round Rock resident and Soprano section leader Mary Takvam agreed. “It has been a joy to see how much we have grown, in so many ways. Ryan Heller has made making music with our voices a thrill. He has taught us how to produce a beautiful sound that is united and free, while at the same time, a joy to be part of.” Audition information for interested singers will be available in the near future. 13
MOVIES/THEATER
RR
New movies for the 2020 holiday season
The shows go on at Georgetown Theater for holiday season Though closed down for a number of weeks after the pandemic hit the Central Texas region, Georgetown Theater found a way to adhere to social distancing guidelines and still hold performances. “Outdoor at the Palace Courtyard” is how the historic venue has made it work. The non-profit organization has a mission of providing quality and affordable entertainment, as well as educational opportunities” for audiences. Many local singers and actors have graced the stage at the theater. Performances are staged behind the actual building in the events, with lights in the trees creating a soft ambiance for guests. Masks are required to be work when patrons are not in their seats, and social distancing requirements are in place. Some chairs are provided, and guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, as well as snacks and drinks. There is a concessionaire on site. Upcoming Productions:
Soul Party: 60s and 70s Hits with Neal Sharpe The big movie release seasons are traditionally summer and at Christmastime. As anyone knows, this past summer was anything but normal. Movie theaters were closed and consumers turned to online streaming platforms for old and new offerings. This holiday season, some regions have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and now rules allow theaters to be open to the public, with limited capacity in effect. In addition, some made-for-TV releases can be watched from the comfort of that cushy couch if sitting inside a movie theater still seems unsafe for some. While audiences will have to wait until Spring 2021 to see Disney’s new Pixar film, “Raya and the Last Dragon”, the company will release “Soul”, on Christmas Day. The story is about a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. Actor Jamie Foxx is the voice behind lead character Joe Gardner. Currently in theaters is “The War With Grandpa”, starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley and Cheech Marin. It’s a story about a young boy who has to give up his bedroom when Grandpa Jack moves in with the family. The war happens when the boy and his friends devise ways to try to get Grandpa Jack to move out. This comedy film is rated PG. “Holidate” is available on Netflix, starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, two single people who agree to serve as dates for each other at every holiday party. This romantic comedy combined with ugly sweaters and all is fun and predictable as the pair end up caring about each other. Another new holiday film on Netflix is “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” starring Forest Whitaker. It is a heart-warming story about a toymaker who needs a miracle. Produced by John Legend, the film also stars Phylicia Rashad, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Nono Rose and Keegan-Michael Key. Betrayed by his apprentice, the toymaker finds new hope when his granddaughter gets shares her ideas and together they create a magical invention. Rated PG. 14
Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Neal Sharpe has been a performer for more than 45 years and has shared the stage with Archie Bell and the Drells, The Drifters, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Mark Farner, Al Green and others. Featuring a former member of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Jamie Hilboldt, on keyboards, Sharpe is also joined by Ken Hall on drums and Lannie Hilboldt on bass. Seating is general admission.
Hits of Broadway Sunday, November 15 at 2:30 p.m. Palace performers will dance and sing to music of Broadway plasy, such as “Mamma Mia,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Chicago,” “Hairspray,” “Spamalot,” “Man of la Mancha,” “A Funny Thin Happened on the Way to the Forum,” and more. The performances will be outside in the Palace Courtyard. Seating is general admission and based on your arrival time. Masks are required at all times unless eating or drinking.
Indoors on Springer Stage: A Tuna Christmas Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 20 This comedy is set in a town called “Tuna, Texas,” and the plot centers on the annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, which has been won for 14 consecutive years by Vera Carp, when a “Christmas Phantom” has the contestants on edge, due to his vandalizing the displays. As this event is indoors, there will be a two-seat separation between groups and empty rows every other row. Masks are required, hand sanitizer given to every patron, and the theater’s air handling system completely changes out the air in the building twice each hour.
RR
FITNESS
At-Home workouts are easily accessible online for all ages, all levels of health AUSTIN, Texas – Whether your way to keep fit involves being outdoors and active, or at home in solitude, technology lets everyone access to classes and workouts that allow to each maintain a certain level of fitness. In times of COVID-19, being part of an in-person class has been a challenge in many ways, due to req uired social distancing. In many cases, workout facilities were closed for a time and only recently reopened. One national company that was prepared to offer both at-home and in-person classes is ClassPass, using the model of a paid pass that allows access to numerous classes and facilities via the company’s app. The business was founded in 2013 by Payal Kakadia and Mary Biggins. The company is partnered with more than four hundred studios in the Austin area that offer yoga, barre, cycling, Pilates, kickboxing and strength training. Livestream classes are also available, and the ClassPass can be also used for purchasing massages. In the Round Rock area, ToddPilates & Barre, 2000 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, accepts the ClassPass. In Cedar Park, LA Fitness, 825 W. Whitestone Blvd. is also a partner, as is PURE Yoga Texas at 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., #185. There are more than four thousand on-demand workouts, according to the company’s website, and new members are allowed a seven-day free trial that includes four classes. Costs for the ClassPass range from $9 per month to $159 per month, with different quantities of credits with which to book classes. Different classes have different levels of credits assigned to them, for example “a megaformer class is different than livestream yoga,” according to the ClassPass website. The pass also allows users access to the company’s on-demand library of more than four thousand free workouts. Classes via livestream are offered by more than one hundred of the partnered fitness businesses in Austin and the surrounding area. 15
Elementary
RR
New books can help children cope with coronavirus restrictions Parents are dealing with much stress and uncertainty these days, many working full-time while also home-schooling their children. “Will the schools open soon?” “How can I teach my children when I have to focus on my job?” “Does learning on the computer help or hurt my child’s studies?” Just a few questions that parents whose children cannot yet return to the classrooms at school are asking.
A
few new children’s books have been released which be helpful to parents and children in times like these. They are each written from a child’s perspective, expressing feelings and worries about wearing masks, social distancing, and what it means to be living in times of a pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on its Healthy Children website has been advising for months that children ages two and older wear face coverings if indoors or outside if the cannot stay a distance of six feet or more away from others. Suggestions for parents of infants include carrying a baby in a swaddler or baby backpack when having to multi-task while caring for an infant. With toddlers, AAP suggests setting up “stations” that young children can rotate through to help keep their short attention spans focused. For school-age children, it is recommended to create family routines and a schedule to reduce anxiety and improve behavior. Books for children that may help them to cope with the various emotions they are feeling about the changes in routines include:
“Paula and the Pandemic” by Dorothea Laurence
“Rona Stole My Fun!” by Chandra Clements This book was written by the author and her four-year-old daughter, Tara. It discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on lives, changes for children and its global impact, and how the child has processed the changes in her world. Tara’s drawings are used in this rhyming book. Tara helps her friends from around the world better understand that staying at home helps protect her grandparents, also. The character of “Rona” proves to be no match for the little people in the story.
¨Lucy’s Mask” by Lisa Sirkis Thompson In this story, needing to wear a mask turns into playtime as Lucy dons costumes and her imagination soars into make-believe adventures. The book is meant to help parents reassure their children about the changes in life due to the virus and give them comfort. It is meant to help children understand their emotions and make the new reality less frightening. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book are being donated to frontline works and first responders. 16
This is a story that helps teach children patience. Paula is unhappy that she is no longer able to do the things she loves because of the pandemic. The book uses the analogy of planting a sunflower seed and letting it grow, with the knowledge that eventually something beautiful will come from it. The book is also intended to support parents in helping them explain about social distancing and its importance.
“A Little SPOT Stays Home” by Diane Alber This is a story about viruses and safe distancing and dedicated to essential workers. It answers for children what a virus is, explaining they are so tiny they can only been seen with a microscope. The author’s intentions were to provide education, gratitude and hope to parents and to help children understand why staying home and keeping socially distant is important right now. Parents will find this story can help children overcome emotions of sadness and anxiety.
RR
Family
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions facility set to open on November 12 ROUND ROCK, Texas -- It’s an interesting thought, to spend Thanksgiving at a waterpark, and that is just what the new “World’s Coolest Indoor Waterpark” in Round Rock is offering as it opens in November after two years of construction. The project was first approved by the Round Rock Planning Commission in March 2018 after the company announced plans in June 2016 that it planned to build a facility in Round Rock. Set to open on Thursday, November 12, holiday buffets will be offered for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve this year at the new Kalahari Resorts & Conventions facility. Meals will be staged inside the Convention Center, according to information posted on its website. Turkey, prime rib, yams and green bean casserole, plus dessert, are all available. Reservations are required. Costs for the buffet range from $14.99 for children ages four to 12, adult tickets are $49.99 for ages 13 and older, and children ages three and younger are free. Of note is that a 24 percent service charge and sales tax are added.
There are twenty-two different amenities and water rides in 223,000 square feet that make up the vacation destination. It is located at 3001 Kalahari Blvd., across from the Dell Diamond on U.S. Highway 79. The Zambezi outdoor waterpark area features bungalows, basketball pool, swim-up bar, and outdoor waterpark dining. Having indoor amenities allows the facility to be open year-round. Aside from food, Kalahari is selling passes for the season, with an offer to purchase thirty days in advance and save 25 percent. Kalahari is offering 30 percent off bookings for opening night stays at the hotel. Check-in time is 4 p.m. with check-out the next morning at 11 a.m. Waterpark use is included in the cost of a room. The owners of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Wisconsin residents and high school sweethearts Todd and Shari Nelson, were inspired to create its waterparks based on exposure to the culture of Africa. The brand was created in 2000 and is a family adventure, with their children also involved as owning members. They created the Nelson Family
Foundation in 2014. The company gives back to African craftsman and artists, supports the Mandela Poster Project, and partners with Ithateng Mokgoro of Gamatong Foundation via a design competition and exhibition that features winning designs of the competitions in the company’s various resort locations. The Nelsons donate to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Clean the World, and also have an exchange program wherein African college graduates participate in a year-long cultural and work program at each of the resort locations. Other facilities are in the Pocono Mountain, Pennsylvania; Sandusky, Ohio; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Each facility hosts private events, an arcade, restaurant, piano bar and lounge, Marrakesh Market Eatery inspired by the village shops in Morroco, the Last Bite where baked goods are available, and the Java Manjaro coffee stand. The City of Round Rock has estimated the facility will generate $4.7 million in tax revenue and more than seven hundred jobs for the area. 17
TRIPS
RR
Farms provide day-trip ideas for families at holiday time ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Cooler temperatures, if only temporary in Central Texas, means it is getting close to holiday time. With Halloween just a few days away, followed closely by Thanksgiving, it’s time to think of pumpkins, turkeys and apple pie. Less than an hour’s drive away, local farms are offering visits to pick pumpkins, fruit, participate in games, and more. Sweetberry Farms: Brungot Farms: Located in Cedar Park, this farm features precut Christmas trees, wreaths, boughs and decorations. In addition, they sell homemade maple syrup that comes from the trees on the farm. Starting November 1, the business features a “Great Christmas Giveaway” where they will be giving away 78 prizes. Their “HOPE for Christmas Program” seeks to raise $14,000 to provide wreaths and trees to 188 families in Central Texas. The “Magical Evening with Santa” features a visit from Santa Claus. The farm is located at 204 E. Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park, Texas 78613. 18
Celebrate Thanksgiving season at Farms in Marble Falls. The location features hayrides, berry bounce, train rides, flower picking, photo opportunities and pumpkin painting. The Barnyard Maze and Candy Corn Kid Maze, as well as an Texas Adult Maze, take place on the 60-acre property. Facial masks are recommended, but not required. The site is open for its Thanksgiving Celebration 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, from November 12 through November 29. Sweetberry Farms is closed each Wednesday. It is located at 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls, Texas 78654. Seasonal jobs are also available. There is no entrance fee, though there is a ticket system for all of the activities. Not pets are allowed at the site.
Evergreen Farms: Located in Elgin, the Pumpkin Hunt takes place through November 1. Pumpkins are available for purchase and for photo opportunities. Tickets are $3 and can be used for the hunt, launcher, train ride, fishing pond, spinner, bounce track, kid zipline, mazes, and the Famous Striker. Military members and First Responders get a ten percent discount on tickets; an ID must be shown. Evergreen Farms has been in existence since 1989, with the first pumpkins harvested in 1996. The owners also have a donkey, goats and barn cates on the site. Sales of Christmas trees begin the day after Thanksgiving and on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to dark, with Sunday and weekday hours set at 12 p.m. to dark. Guests can choose and cut their own trees, or choose to buy a precut Noble fir or Fraser fir. The farm furnishes all the cutting tools. Also available are Tetherball, Hopscotch, Bean Bag Toss and Cornhole games, as well as a Nature Trail to hike and shopping in the gift store. Evergreen Farms is located at 242 Monkey Road, Elgin, Texas 78621.
RR
NEW IN RR
World-famous Round Rock Donuts plans to open second location after nearly 100 years CEDAR PARK, Texas – In just four short years, this sweet business will celebrate its 100th birthday of being in business, and that’s a testament to how much people love their products. Donuts. Sweet, mouth-watering donuts. That’s what Round Rock Donuts sells. By the dozens. And by the Baker’s Dozens. Their color comes from the fresh eggs the bakers use, and the yeast makes them special, unlike those made with baking powder. At least that’s what the bakers say. And that yeast must make the specialties rise pretty good, ‘cuz those giant donuts are something to behold! This world-famous business located on Main Street in Round Rock will take a step forward by soon opening a second location in Cedar Park as reported by WilliamsonReporter. com. The new location will be located at the intersection of East Whitestone Blvd. and US Highway 183. The new facility will have walk-
up and drive-through windows and be about 6,000 square feet in size. Round Rock donuts are also currently available for purchase at Settlers Express in Round Rock, at the H-E-B grocery store on Gattis School Road, and in Austin at the H-E-B on East Riverside Drive. The business has changed its name and location over the years. It was first built and operated as Lone Star Bakery by Reinhold R. Moehring on Round Rock’s Main Street in 1926. In the early 1940s, the bakery staff developed its popular Swedish rye bread. In 1960, the business was sold to Louise Johnson, and the original owner stayed on as a part-time baker. It was 1965 when their donuts were named the best donut in Texas by Texas Monthly. A
new location was necessary to increase the amount of parking at the business, and in 1970, Lone Star Bakery relocated to its present location at 106 W. Liberty Ave. Current owners are Jan and Dale Cohrs, who have run the business since 1978. Round Rock Donuts sells traditional donuts, Texas-sized donuts, donut holes, filled and fancy donuts, apple fritters, cinnamon twists and rolls, cupcakes, cookies, kolaches, muffins. In addition, wedding cakes and other varieties can be ordered in advance. If you’re a visitor in town, don’t leave without specialty merchandise from the store, ranging from hats to shirts, caps and visors, along with whole bean coffee.
Car parts manufacturer, Saleen Performance Parts, relocates to Round Rock
ROUND ROCK, Texas – Southern California’s loss is Round Rock’s gain as Saleen Performance Parts announced this month it is relocating its manufacturing operations to Texas. The announcement was made by Opportunity Austin, which is an initiative of the Greater Austin Chamber’s five-county economic development initiative. More than 150 manufacturing-related jobs will be added in the coming years at the 20,000-square-foot facility that will also house offices. It will be located at 900 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Building 3. “After a multi-year nationwide search, we are excited to expand our parts manufacturing to Central Texas,” said Saleen Performance
Parts President Molly Saleen. “As a domestic manufacturer, we have unique criteria that needed to be met in our site selection including community participation, and we feel that the Austin area meets all of our requirements to match our current growth and business operations.” The company introduced its original Saleen Mustang in 1984 with the goal of “giving drivers maximum performance and pleasure,” according to SPP’s website. Products available from Saleen include car overs, differential covers, “Monaco” wheel, clothing, brakes, drivetrains, engine parts, car body packages, grilles, stripe set, rear wing, and much more.
Style and improved aerodynamics, improved handling, and maximum braking are at the heart of Saleen’s products. With the Circuit of the Americas track located in Austin, this asset will benefit from having a parts manufacturer in the nearby region. Saleen Performance Parts manufactures plastic injection and advanced composites for house brands, such as Xenon and 3dCarbon, as well as does contract manufacturing for specialty equipment products. The company’s financial benefit to the area is expected to be more than $45 million direct and induced local benefit, according to the City of Round Rock’s website. 19
EVENTS
RR
MoPac Traffic Jams, an Austin Americana Folk-Grass jam band, plays at The Brass Tap on Oct. 24, 2020. From left to right are Camille Cartright, Kevin Cartright, Bob Cartright, Fred Spence and Jon Lundbom.
Jammin’ safely during a pandemic with the
MoPac Traffic Jams By April S. Kelley
“It’s been a mixed bag,” according to Bob Cartright, the frontman for Americana Folk-Grass band MoPac Traffic Jams.
L
ike all musicians and artists, the coronavirus pandemic halted everything, including practice, for Austin’s MoPac Traffic Jams. Singing lead vocals and playing mandolin, Cartright says the band had only just begun to book significant shows when things changed. “We’ve been at it for a little over a year now,” he said, explaining that the band formed around October 2019, with two of his adult children in the band along with two renowned Austin musicians. The folk-infused quintet features Bob’s daughter, Camille Cartright, playing guitar and lending rich vocals, harmonizing and contrasting her father’s more gritty tones, while his son, Kevin Cartright, contributes vocals and takes on percussion via a cajon -- a South American box-shaped instrument. Adding that banjo kick that grassroots music is known for is national recording jazz artist Jon Lundbom, who has more than eight
20
studio albums to his credit, amongst a myriad of other musical accomplishments. On the upright bass, New Orleans native and well-known Austin musician Fred Spence balances out all the treble and percussive sounds to create the jam-band aesthetic. Prior to the pandemic, MoPac Traffic Jams had five shows booked at Threadgill’s, the legendary music venue that helped launch the career of Janis Joplin. The restaurant, unfortunately, had to shut its doors in April due to the pandemic. Only recently having started to play live gigs again in the Central Texas area, dad Cartright said the band plans to book only at outdoor venues for the foreseeable future. “I think at the end of the day safety is first, for the band and for the public,” he said. “We want to book with venues who share those priorities.” Luckily for audiences, The Brass Tap in Downtown Round Rock boasts a picturesque
patio area with twinkling lights and a small stage for bands on which to perform, like MoPac Traffic Jams. Cartright said the band has also set up a residency at Round Rock’s recently-opened Cork & Barrel to play one Sunday each month. “We like to incorporate a lot of different genres of music,” the bandleader said. MoPac Traffic Jams showcase impressive musicianship, meshing multiple genres into a stomping-good time, through playing original songs and classic covers. Cartright said the band was formed under one premise, and one premise only: “Work hard, play good music and have a good time.” Check out original tunes by MoPac Traffic Jams via ReverbNation, follow them on social media and be on the lookout for upcoming shows at The Brass Tap, Cork & Barrel and other Central Texas outdoor live-music venues. PHOTO CREDIT: April S. Kelley
RR
EVENTS
Annual Trail of Lights
at Zilker Park to be a drive-through event AUSTIN, Texas – The 56th annual Austin Trail of Lights is one of the rare events not canceled this year due to the pandemic; however, it will have a different look for 2020. The organizers have changed the layout to make it a drive-through event in keeping with safety over concerns about the transmission of COVID-19. The Austin Trail of Lights, sponsored by H-E-B and hosted by the Trail of Lights Foundation, is the longest running holiday tradition of its kind in Austin, according to the Austin Trail of Lights website. Thousands from around the area have in past years walked through Zilker Park amidst the various holiday displays of more than two million lights on displays, such as sleighs, holiday trees and lighted tunnels. The event is open from November 28, 2020 through January 3, 2021. Private nights with free entry are scheduled for more than thirty non-profit organizations along with free passes to families identified by Austin Independent School District who are unable to purchase tickets. During the drive-through, guests will be able to listen to holiday music and highlights and history of the Trail via car radio.
There are three types of tickets available for purchase. • Premiere Night entry on November 28 is $95 per vehicle. The ticket includes a box of cookies, a commemorative ornament and ATX Lights Savings Card which provides discounts at participating restaurants and retail partners. Passes for opening night are limited. • Prices per vehicle for other dates range from $25 to $35, based on the day of the week. Access per car begins at 7 p.m. with timed entry. • A Dash Pass for $60 allows entry between 5:45 to 7 p.m. and includes a free box of cookies and an ATX Lights Savings Card. This pass is sponsored by Northern Trust.
21
OVER 40
RR
Round Rock’s safest parks for toddlers By April S. Kelley
The Texas Hill Country is home to some of the best parks in the state, and Round Rock is no exception. From expansive fields and trails in some of the most beautiful green spaces, to unique playscapes, Round Rock is home to every type of park that residents might want. However, finding a safe playground for the littlest humans is not always easy. Here is a list of some of the safest and most fun play areas for toddlers, all within city limits. Chisolm Valley Park, located at 1201 Trey On the West side of Round Rock sits a little park, nestled in a residential area off of McNeil Road. Though it requires street parking, Chisholm Valley Park offers two play areas, two toddler swings, seesaws and a giant sandbox, making it worth the hassle of parking on the street. The sandbox really sets this park apart from the others. Be sure to bring buckets and shovels to this play area; the children are sure to enjoy it.
Chisholm Valley Park Photo Credit: April S. Kelley Chisholm Valley Park, located at 1201 Trey, is a neighborhood park offering two toddler-friendly play areas, two toddler swings and a large sandbox.
KinninghamPark Photo Credit: April S. Kelley Kinningham Park, located off of Southcreek Drive, is a hidden gem in Round Rock, offering two play areas, two toddler swings and a dinosaur to climb.
Kinningham Park, located on Southcreek Drive, between Redwing Way and Juniper Trail Kinningham Park is a hidden gem off of Southcreek Drive, with two play areas, two toddler swings and also a little dinosaur on which the kiddos can climb. Several tic-tac-toe games make for plenty of learning opportunities, and the three tube slides are sure to create the sweetest little laughs. Though the parking lot offers plenty of space, it may be a bit difficult to find. The park is located off Southcreek Drive, between Redwing Way and Juniper Trail. GPS may show directions to an apartment complex instead, meaning this park is likely one of the lesser known in Round Rock. Memorial Park, located at 600 N. Lee St. Without a doubt, Memorial Park is the crown jewel of parks in Round Rock with its scenic views and trails alongside the trickling waters of Brushy Creek, and, of course, the town’s namesake, “Round Rock.” The park is also home to some of the best toddler-friendly equipment. With one high-back full-bucket toddler swing and two play areas, one area is meant only for younger children. Parents will enjoy watching their young children learn to maneuver among the equipment and play while they themselves relax beneath the trees. 22
Memorial Park Photo Credit: City of Round Rock Memorial Park, located at 600 N. Lee St., offers two play areas and one toddler swing in a scenic natural setting.
Pet of the month
Contest Enter your pet’s photo today!
Email 1-2 of your cutest pet’s photos to editor@ roundrockliving.net
For Contest details visit www. roundrockliving.net
L I V E . W O R K . P L AY
Round Rock Living Magazine is the premier family, lifestyle magazine exclusively celebrating authentic Texas living. Each month we bring a high quality, informative print & digital publication with intriguing articles that showcase the best that Round Rock and Williamson County has to offer.
CONNEC T WITH US. @roundrockmag
C O N TA C T U S .
Have an interesting story idea or business announcement?
roundrockmag
Round Rock Living Magazine
SUBSCRIBE.
Get local news and information delivered straight to your inbox.
info@amcpublishing.net
ADVERTISE.
Make an impact with print and web advertising opportunities.
