LOCALE Austin - October 2015 by FingerPulse Media

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The ultimate Guide to FALL in Central Texas the ultimate homE remodel TALES FROM a DRIPPING SPRINGS BREWERY TOUR Fun Fall Festivals you don’t want to miss an entreprenuer’s dream House

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hether you view buying or selling your home as an exciting life experience or as an important financial transaction, Schmitz & Smith at KW-Austin Portfolio Real Estate are prepared to get you results. We’re there from start to finish. We’ll help you identify which property in what neighborhood will serve your needs best, we’ll navigate to help you find the best lender for your situation and we will fiercely negotiate until we have the best possible outcome for you. Call us today at 512-794-6700 to find out what it’s like to have us on your team.

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Thank you for picking up our magazine! Is there anything better than Austin in the fall? The reprieve that comes after the Austin summer heat begins to subside is a delight to all of the senses. Hectic end-of-summer schedules turn in to more of a natural rhythm. We have lots of great articles to help you have the best fall ever. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re covering some of our favorite just-off-the-beaten-path festivals and the ultimate guide to fall is sure to offer some unique ideas for outings. You will be inspired by an amazing remodel executed by Revival Austin for one of our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recent purchase in Lakeway and take a peek inside a home large enough to fit 30 cars in the garage. Finally, we take a tour of the breweries in Dripping Springs and share some of the stories we got from the brewmasters. If you have a moment, please drop us a line and let us know what you think of our magazine!

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CONTENTS ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL

AN INTERVIEW WITH CO-FOUNDERS, CAITLIN MCFARLAND AND EMILY GIPSON

FALL FESTIVAL FUN

BETTER THAN NEW

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FALL

THE DREAM HOUSE

SOMETHING’S BREWING

YOU KNOW ABOUT SXSW & ACL BUT YOU MIGHT BE MISSING OUT ON THE BEST FUN IN ATX

OUR CLIENTS MAKE OVER THEIR LAKEWAY HOME THE RESULTS ARE AMAZING

LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO CELEBRATE AND ENTERTAIN THIS FALL? LOOK NO FURTHER

PHOTO: EVAN GEARING

CHECK OUT THIS TRULY UNIQUE HOME - YOU’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT - GUARANTEED

SCHMITZ & SMITH MARKETING TOOK ON THE DIFFICULT TASK OF TOURING THE BREWERIES IN THE OFFICIAL AUSTIN GUIDE 2015 | 5 W W ALL W . S C ABOUT H M I T Z A N DITS M I T H . C O M DRIPPING SPRINGS TO TELL YOU

SIX THINGS YOU CAN COUNT ON... NOBODY COMES CLOSE. Relax. You’ve hired the best, our clients get our undivided attention. We can’t help it. We’re passionate about our work and it shows in the care we give our clients - long after a deal has closed. That’s what sets us apart from our competition.

WE MOVE MOUNTAINS. We know what it takes to move a property. In fact, we market more creatively than any firm you’ll find. We’ll make sure that your home gets seen in the Austin, Dallas and Houston Multiple Listing Services (MLS) and in numerous mailings to buyer’s agents and targeted neighborhoods. We cover every base - twice over. We are the masters of packaging, pricing and promoting… And it shows in our results.

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IT’S COVERED.

WE’RE LISTENING.

From Georgetown to San Marcos and everything in between, Schmitz & Smith covers Austin and the surrounding hill country. We know these neighborhoods intimately, and we know that certain buyers from specific areas are good candidates for others. With our vast network and knowledge of the relocation market, we have often been able to bring potential buyers before a home even hits the market.

Schmitz & Smith is an experienced group. Among us you’ll find almost 40 years of collective experience. Each of us has earned our Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation which represents the top 1 percent of Realtors® nationwide. Everyone in our group will become individually familiar with your property, so anyone on our team can handle questions and watch for opportunities.

INTERFACED, LINKED AND PLUGGED. You name it, we’re doing it. We are a group that believes in leveraging technology. We don’t just have a website, we utilize blogs, e-magazines, video and social media. This allows us to respond, react and recruit buyers faster and with great ease to you. Our investment in technology reflects our investment in you.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE FOUND US... You can’t miss us. And neither will they. We’re easy to spot, easy to find and impossible to forget.

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Produced by FINGERPULSE MEDIA, INC. Creative Director JENNIFER ASBURY-HUGHES Layout Designer CASEY JONES Writers-at-Large BRENDA MASSE

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JENNIFER ASBURY-HUGHES THERESA HOLDEN Contributing Editors JENNIFER ASBURY-HUGHES BRENDA JOHNSON MASSE Contributing Photographers EVAN GEARING ANA CAROLINA FOTO KELLI BECHTOL FINGERPULSE MEDIA, INC.

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When Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson put their experience and creativity together, the result was a festival unlike any other…anywhere. The two Texasborn television industry pros co-founded a festival focused on the medium of television – its past, present and future – and in so doing filled a gap in the festival marketplace that has quickly become a Mecca for TV lovers, fans and industry folks alike.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL

AN INTERVIEW WITH CO-FOUNDERS, CAITLIN MCFARLAND AND EMILY GIPSON WRITTEN BY: BRENDA MASSE

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While the format is familiar to music and film fest junkies, ATX TV is unique in its intimacy, access, and interaction among fans, aspiring TV-makers, actors, directors, creators, writers and executives. The festival has its home base at the iconic Stephen F. Austin hotel downtown, giving easy walkable access to venues like the Alamo Drafthouse and Paramount theaters. Events consist of panel discussions, screenings, and special events spotlighting classic shows, never-aired pilots, cancelledtoo-soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series. For aspiring TVmakers, the festival hosts an “American Idol” style Pitch Competition that gives the winner a chance to pitch their ideas to major studio execs.

You are both Texas girls, right? C: Yes, we are! I’m from just outside Houston.

Mondays wouldn’t exist in the sense of it not being a day that you dreaded.

E: I’m from Wichita Falls. But we met each other in LA.

C: We would love what we’re doing so much that it would never be a dread to go back to work after the weekend. It would be exciting.

Is your office based here in Austin? C: Yes, our production company is called No Mondays Productions.

Is there a story behind the name? C: There is! We met as assistants in Los Angeles on the Fox lot. I worked for a director and Emily worked on the – E: I was on the feature film finance side.

When we caught up with Caitlin and Emily, festival production had kicked into high gear for the “premiere” of ATX Television Festival: Season Four, which wowed TV fans from all over the country and received rave reviews, huge press and extensive social media coverage. ATX Festival is well on its way to becoming the next big thing in Austin, and we’ll be following them closely!

C: And then I ended up in New York for three years and Emily was still in LA working for various networks and studios, but we would always chat on IM and come every Monday we would bemoan our existence about how much we hated Mondays, and how when we started a company, we wouldn’t work on Mondays. We would have a three-day weekend. We would have some sort of production house and, you know, dogs would be welcome, and it would be like this perfect existence, sort of a creative co-op. The joke is now – I guess, there are no Mondays because we work 7 days a week. So like Saturday, Monday…who really cares. So it does exist in a way.

E: There was always the idea that

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E: That part came true. I think that’s even better. A three-day weekend is great, but loving what you do is better. C: Agreed. I read - and this is so surprising to me - that there really aren’t any other festivals focused on television. What made you choose television? C: We had been assistants for about ten years and I was coming back from New York where I had worked for Nora Ephron and Mira Nair and a number of female directors, but I had also worked at Tribeca Film Festival. Coming back through Texas on my way to LA, I sort of made a pit stop that I never quite left and tried to figure out what life was going to be like in Texas. How could I still have a creative employment? And got into the idea of a festival. I looked into the festivals that are in Austin – there are quite a few events in Austin – and realized through that process that what Emily and I were really talking about, and what my friends and family were talking about,

You used a Kickstarter campaign to get started. Can you talk about how that worked for you? E: Even four years ago Kickstarter had kind of a different connotation than it does now. People were really using it for grass roots efforts. I think some people see it differently now as bigger named people are using it, but it really felt grass roots then. We wanted to use it as both a PR tool and a way to raise money. It was a way to start getting a following, start getting a fan base, and start connecting with people that were going to be – and still are – our core attendees and our core audience. And so we set it for $25,000. We figured, worst-case scenario, if we could get close to it, we could get

PHOTO COURTESY OF: ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL

was much more concentrated to our DVRs than the theater. And could there be a television festival? In looking for one – to work for, to attend, anything – and not finding what we were looking for, there were various versions that had aspects of it, but it was either a fully “fandom” convention or it was industry focused in more of a business way, and we wanted that Tribeca/Sundance world that is both TV lovers and the industry coming together. And I very casually pitched that to Emily, and she very quickly had ideas as well. So it became a “we” very quickly. It was a gap in the market and the fact that we love television and wanted to go to a festival like this ourselves.

family and friends to contribute the rest. Fortunately we didn’t need to – we went over by a couple thousand. And that was the core of the first year – what we were able to do the first year on. So year one, we distributed our badges through it, as a way to get people involved and really hear their voices from the beginning. Kickstarter is great for being able to communicate with people and let them talk back to you about what they want and how they see your vision. After we did the first festival, we

needed to raise a bit more money, so we did a second Kickstarter campaign to raise the additional funds, which was really great, because at that point people had come to the festival and they knew even more what they were getting into. The fact that we raised the second amount so easily, just based on people coming to the first one and wanting to see it again, also helped us feel like, OK we should keep doing this. People had a good time; they still want to contribute. They want to see it succeed. And that was awesome. THE OFFICIAL AUSTIN GUIDE 2015 | 11 W W W. S C H M I T Z A N D S M I T H . C O M

It seems like such a passion project for the two of you, and the people who participate are just in love with this festival. C: That’s the only way that it works. How did you find the first participants? Who did you ask to be panelists and speakers for year one? C: As part of the Kickstarter campaign, we wanted a visual element. We wanted videos of people that had recognizable faces or names. 1) We didn’t want to be in the video ourselves and 2) Our names don’t carry a lot of weight – or didn’t then. We worked in the industry for ten years as assistants; so we had contacts. My first boss was Betty Thomas - Emmy award winner, worked on Hill Street Blues, and filmed all these pilots – she’s amazing. We built an advisory board first with people like that. Richard Linklater here in Austin – by just pitching the idea. And I think, being passionate about it ourselves, and people recognizing as television fans that this type of festival didn’t exist, and recognizing it as a unique idea. And then they oftentimes asked other people to participate. In terms of panelists we used our advisory board, the Kickstarter video, people we knew, and then Twitter. 12

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For example, we were introduced to Liz Tigelaar through my friend Arielle Kebbel, who had been in Life Unexpected. She asked Liz and also Julie Plec from Vampire Diaries to be on the advisory board, and they both did a video and came to the festival. Austin was a big selling point. We said, “What’s the worst that can happen? You’re spending the weekend in Austin having margaritas. It can’t be that bad.” So we kind of sold it as a vacation. “I’ll do this panel, hopefully it’ll be fun, but if not, I’ll invite my friends and we’ll all go down to Austin together.” And people talking about it on Twitter – I remember that’s how we got Jane Espenson, the writer. I think Liz [Tigelaar] was tweeting about it and Jane saying, “Oh, I can go.” And just sort of rolling people with their friends. We got Mae Whitman because Jason Ritter was coming. We just kept steamrolling people by connecting them with various friends. I like that you used Austin as a selling point. E: It is, it still is. Austin is a big part of it. So how is planning coming for Season Four? E: This is the time that is the most overwhelming, the most exciting. Because this is when - now ten weeks

out - people are really making final decisions. We have gathered all the programming, and now come the final confirmations. These are definitely the shows we’re doing, these are the people who are coming with it, and then form all the confirmations into an actual festival. I want to say it’s the fun part, but… C: It is, it is. It’s stressful and anxietyridden because I think you’re always waiting for the bottom to drop out a little bit, but at the same time it’s when people prioritize the calendar and people can see to June. It’s hard for them, in October, to see to June and commit 100 percent. E: It’s also hard to see what shows are going to be doing well. I mean, Empire didn’t exist this fall and now it’s the biggest show on television. So that’s one of the examples of people knowing what shows are doing well, what shows to push, what shows won’t be coming back, finales happening, people filming pilots. The television industry is now completely year round, so it’s a matter of people being able to see what June looks like for them and their shows. We can at least kind of start predicting now. Which pilots are getting the buzz. Speaking to that, I love that you have both said that the festival is meant for 50 percent fans and 50 percent industry, and that seems to have played out well in the first three seasons. Is that a difficult balance to

maintain? Is that always on your mind or does it naturally happen? E: It really naturally happened the first year. I don’t know, maybe just because we were so small. The fans are so knowledgeable about television, and I think that’s partly why: the panels that we bring and that they really are the showrunners and the core cast – but not necessarily always the big name flashy cast – the people who are behind the scenes.

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It is something that we strive for. I don’t know how we exactly keep that magic going, but it’s definitely

something that is important to us. Because it’s such a great mix when you have these industry people coming out that are such television fans themselves, and they want to geek out about things. You feel that at the festival. You don’t feel that there’s a division – you feel that everyone is there for the same reason. C: I can remember having conversations with Emily in planning the first year, and wanting that to be the balance. The two statistics I can remember us spouting as a goal were 50 percent fan/50 percent industry, and a third past, a third current,

and a third premiere programming. Those were concepts that we had from the beginning. I don’t think it’s possible beyond the fact that we are both fan members and industry members. We’re lucky and humbled by the fact that the fans that come are interested in the industry and very smart, sort of “DVD Extra” fans, and we’ve found that industry people are fans of TV in a way that – it seems like that’s always the way it’s supposed to be, but it’s always surprising on every level, from Executive to Agent to Showrunner – they love television; they’re watching a lot of it.

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why I played this clip when they’re not here.” And you kind of heard the audience mumble. And he says, “I have a surprise for you.” And Kyle and Connie walk out and the entire audience is on its feet cheering and crying – crying! Including Connie. And it was just this lovely, wonderful moment. E: And twitter explodes. It was already a full room just with love of the show and then to be able to give people Coach & Tammy – I don’t think there are two more beloved characters from a beloved show.

From the first three festivals, can you name a winning moment? A moment where you said, “YES! This is what this festival is about.” (Both talking at once) C: We both have ideas – I wonder if Emily is going to say the same one as me – E: Friday NightC: Yeah! Year two, we did – well, we have celebrated Friday Night Lights every year. It is one of the best shows ever on television. The cast, creators, and producers are all amazing people, and I don’t think it’s possible to love a show any more. So, year two we decided to do a big panel. We had a lot of them coming and 14

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we announced one producer and about 8 or 10 cast members, and we put it in our biggest venue. We weren’t worried about people going to it, or needing to send people there – we knew it would be full on its own. So we just announced a few people. What we didn’t announce was that Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler were going to be there. So everyone comes out – everyone except Kyle and Connie – and the producer that’s moderating the panel tells everyone, “We’re going to play a clip, and then the people in the clip are going to talk about it.” He plays the first clip, and it’s a scene with Connie and Kyle. The clip ends and he says, “I guess you’re wondering

C: And I would say for Emily and I – we’ll probably never top that moment, but also we do try to surprise people. Like last year we did a Parenthood panel, and we didn’t announce Lauren Graham and Peter Krause. And we did The Strain, but we didn’t announce Guillermo del Toro. We like to reward true fans with big names as opposed to filling theaters with those names. We think people should be going to the panel because they love the show and they love the writer. Who knows who may show up, is the mind set that we’ve built. Another big moment was the Achievement in Television Excellence Award last year being given to Henry Winkler. C: Yes! He’s the best person on the planet!

C: We have a new awardee this year and it’s going to be great. But I don’t think anybody can top Henry as a human being. He is the best first award ever. On the other end of the spectrum, I love that you have a pitch competition as part of the festival. Can you talk a little bit about that? Where do you find entrants? Have you kept up with the winners? E: We started out wanting some sort of a submission process. We were receiving all kinds of calls and inquiries about whether or not people could submit television shows for the festival, but we’re not programmed that way – we don’t really take independent shows. But because there were so many people coming that wanted to get involved in the industry, we wanted to provide them with something to get them access, so we decided on the pitch competition where people would submit a 90-second video via YouTube with whatever script idea they had. It could be any kind of format – there were no limitations – it just had to be scripted, and they had to pitch it within 90 seconds. We decided to launch it in year two

of the festival and it went over really well. We got over 100 submissions and narrowed it down through screeners to 25. The top 25 were judged by industry executives and then the top 10 came to the festival and pitched live. They got 3 minutes at the actual festival to pitch live to judges. Then the winner got to be mentored by one of the judges in order to hone their pitch and then were given the chance to pitch to some of our studio network partners. And really the idea was taking someone from Nowheresville straight to being able to pitch in a way that they wouldn’t have normally. A great idea can come from anyone, anywhere. Over the years we’ve had Sony, Comedy Central, Fox, NBC, Happy Gilmore Productions.

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E: I will say that every year there are a couple of moments when you’re really present in the moment – and that was a moment like that, as Henry was coming on stage.

“AUSTIN WAS A BIG SELLING POINT. WE SAID, ‘WHAT’S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN? YOU’RE SPENDING THE WEEKEND IN AUSTIN HAVING MARGARITAS. IT CAN’T BE THAT BAD.’”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL

really hands on and interactive and give people a different look into the world of television – and how many people have never seen a pitch before? Never experienced it – heard it, seen it, done it. So the first year, I think so much of the audience came because they were like, what does a pitch sound like? How does someone pitch a show? It ended up being this great forum to talk about pitching in general and how shows get made that it became even more than we thought it could be. The prize has been to give them access to decision makers, getting in the room, working with a mentor and getting to pitch.

“A GREAT IDEA CAN COME FROM ANYONE, ANYWHERE. OVER THE YEARS WE’VE HAD SONY, COMEDY CENTRAL, FOX, NBC, HAPPY GILMORE PRODUCTIONS."

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C: It was a surprise the first year, we weren’t sure anyone would go to it, but to watch people pitch is kind of an American Idol situation. It’s frightening for those pitching, you have the board of judges – it’s got a theatrical element to it, so it’s one of our more popular sessions, and industry people go to it to watch. It definitely skews to a certain kind of person being able to do that pitch in front of an audience. We’ve been told by Liz [Tigelaar] and other writers that pitching is so against the writer’s mentality when it’s in front of like 3 people, let alone a hundred. But it does seem to work. E: It’s also really cool in a way that we didn’t realize going into the competition. One of the many things we wanted was for it to be

You know the old fantasy dinner table question – who would you invite to dinner across time, living or dead? Who would be your dream television panel, across time, living or dead. Who would you love to have on stage? C: I have two answers. Reunion-wise it would be The West Wing. Oh my god. C: And I’m working on it. Gasp! C: And a panel, like I’m such a classic – I grew up in a pop culture household, my dad had me watching TV and movies from a very young age, so mine would probably have something to do with Lucille Ball and Dick Van Dyke. Some kind of 50’s television show, even maybe variety show because I think they both did that. The Dean Martin Show, some variety show aspect of classic

E: I have no idea. I feel like we have our dream list, but… The ultimate reunion for me would be Buffy (The Vampire Slayer). I was totally going to bring that up. E: We’ve talked about this in general, about how we would do it because… it has had Comic-Con; it is a cult favorite; people talk about it a lot, and they do things with it a lot. So I would want to do something super special with it, and I don’t know exactly what that is yet. I’m kind of waiting for that magic light bulb to go off – what is that special, present-it-in-a-new-way thing, but I think finding the best way to highlight and spotlight that show is definitely a top goal of mine, and we’ll see how that plays out. The Creators that we often tout are JJ [Abrams] and Joss [Whedon]. They are our ultimate to sort of build multiple programs around – I would like a Bad Robot year.

C: “A Conversation with Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams!” Together… There you go! E: One panel - that’s the whole festival and we’re fine! C: Drop the mic and leave the stage. E: I have to say, I don’t want them now because if they come now I’d have to quit! How do you see the festival evolving? 5 year/10 year plan? Maybe you can answer that, maybe not. It really feels like a labor of love. Is it sort of informing itself? C: It absolutely is. It’s something we talk about a lot and every year after the festival, we go on a retreat to Marfa, Texas, and talk about everything that has happened and everything that will be, and we sort of alter those five and ten-year marks. I think it really is about trying as hard as we can and for as long as we can to keep the intimate and accessible feel while still having a great value via the media and online and Twitter, and using all those tools to kind of feel bigger than we are. And be important and be useful to the marketing machines that help us keep going, but to keep the rooms and the size small because that’s really where the magic is. It allows panelists to let down their guard and be comfortable. It allows attendees and badgeholders to have an experience that is unlike Comic Con

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television from the 1950’s. I Love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke are truly two shows that I have seen all the episodes of, and every time I watch them, I laugh out loud. Friends can be in there too, something that I can always watch, but for those two shows – so simple. Lucy onscreen is just so timeless – and she ran a studio for crying out loud – so I would even narrow it down – a “Conversation with Lucille Ball” – in the 50’s, in the height of that. That would be my dream.

or SXSW. Not only where we feel comfortable personally, I think it’s also what makes us very different from those other events. And to start, really, in the No Mondays Productions side, since that’s where we started is – Emily and I are creative people that started in the industry wanting to make content as well. So whether that’s leveraging the content from the festival but ultimately making scripted TV as well – having multiple arms of what this business is and utilizing the festival as well as creating and working with these people in a more production element. We’ll see where that goes.

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Fall 2015

Austin Festivals

PHOTO BY: KENNY BRAUN

You already know about SXSW and ACL, XGames and F1. Clearly, Austin has long rivaled major cities as a destination point for the best festivals in the nation. There are music festivals, film festivals, and food festivals to name a few. But do you know about the OTHER festivals that make Austin great? We chose a few of our favorite fests thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give you a glimpse of the many things people celebrate here in Austin. From beer to barbecue, cutting edge music to the best in comedy, fantastic new films to the most talked about booksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;these festivals will take you anywhere you want to go!

OUT OF BOUNDS COMEDY FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 1 – 7 Austin’s longest-running comedy festival celebrates its 14th birthday and, like a moody teenager, demands a weeklong celebration. Over the seven days leading up to Labor Day, more than 500 performers from across the nation hit the stage for a showcase that spans improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy. This year’s featured headliners included legendary comedy maven Mick Napier of Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre as well as The New York NeoFuturists. Topnotch comedy talent is also on hand to teach workshops and play a round of mini-golf in the festival’s annual tournament. outofboundscomedy.com/ TEXAS CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 19 The best brewers in Texas come together at Fiesta Gardens to celebrate their craft with live music and local food. Situated on the banks of the Colorado River, this annual event draws a lively crowd ready to quench their thirst and learn what it takes to make their favorite beers. texascraftbrewersfestival.org/

FANTASTIC FEST SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 Variety called it “The geek Telluride” while Texas Monthly decreed it “the most important film festival in North America.” Undeniably, Fantastic Fest showcases the hottest, most talked about movies in the horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action genres from around the globe. Alamo Drafthouse hosts this event that draws heavy hitters from the film industry along with A-list talent to promote the films. The festival has presented the world premieres of such movies as There Will Be Blood and Zombieland. Attendees can expect panel discussions, special events, and a videogame arcade. fantasticfest.com/ PECAN STREET FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 26 – 27 Austin’s oldest and most beloved arts festival returns for its fall edition. Free and family-friendly, Pecan Street Festival gathers hundreds of local and national artisans to present and display their original creations. Attendees can peruse an extensive selection of jewelry, pottery, paintings, photographs, toys, furniture, and sculpture. The kids’ area features a petting zoo, rides, games, and other activities. Adult festivalgoers can take in the live music and partake in a variety of food offerings. pecanstreetfestival.org/

October AUSTOBERFEST OCTOBER 17 Entering its third year, AustOberfest (Austin + Oktoberfest) has already been dubbed “Best Cultural Event” by Austin Monthly Magazine. A festival ticket grants all-you-can-eat sausages and sides from some of the best butchers and meat purveyors in the city. Last year’s vendors included Black’s BBQ Miller’s Smokehouse, La Barbecue, and Southside Market to name a few. This year expect Salt & Time Butcher Shop and Salumeria to make an appearance. Music from Minor Mishap Marching Band, “a renegade circus brass band… Bourbon Street meets Budapest,” kicks off the festivities at the Austin Saengerrunde. Don your lederhosen and prepare to polka. austoberfest.com/

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September

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AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 5 Known as the “Writer’s Festival,” the Austin Film Festival draws cinephiles and movie buffs from all over the map to partake in the city’s best screening venues and finest restaurants. The festival organizes an array of world premieres and advance showings of narrative, animation, and documentary features and shorts. Screenings are followed by Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers, which always draws an impressive list of Hollywood A-listers in addition to upand-coming talent. austinfilmfestival.com/ 20

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AUSTIN BEER WEEK OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 1 Austin Beer Week is exactly as advertised: a weeklong appreciation of the best in beer. Expect delicious food pairings, unique tastings, educational workshops, and intriguing contests. In the past Alamo Drafthouse teamed up with Hops & Grain for a movie and dinner event. A long list of local, regional, and national independent craft brewers will be on hand to showcase and serve an encyclopedic listing of craft brews. austinbeerweek.com/2015/

PHOTO BY: JUSTIN SCARTH

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL OCTOBER 17 – 18 Every year bookworms and literary lovers flock to this festival to get the lowdown on what’s new and hot in the publishing world. This year’s headliners include literary luminaries, Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Sandra Cisneros (The House on Mango Street). Rabid fans of pop culture can also partake in readings by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) and popular essayist Sloane Crosley (I Was Told There’d Be Cake). This year’s festival has assembled a stellar panel of the best and brightest in YA fiction. The newest in poetry, graphic novels, and cookbooks will also be represented in panels and readings. Live music, food trucks, book signings and sales round out the festivities. texasbookfestival.org/

November TMBBQ FEST NOVEMBER 1 Every year Texas Monthly celebrates all things barbecue with the TMBBQ Fest. The recipe is simple. Invite each restaurant from the magazine’s venerable list, “Top 50 BBQ Joints.” Stir in live music and cold beer, simmer with the best pitmasters the state can summon, and serve up an event like no other. TMBBQ Fest welcomes barbecue connoisseurs and neophytes alike to bicker about the best brisket. tmbbq.com/events/tmbbq-fest-2015/

FUN FUN FUN FEST NOVEMBER 6 – 8 Fun Fun Fun Fest has garnered an international reputation since its inception in 2006. F3F or FFF is known for featuring independent acts, emerging talent and both rarely seen and highly anticipated reunion acts. The festival takes place at Auditorium Shores and hosts separate stages for everything from hip hop to heavy metal. It started in Waterloo Park with 25 acts over two days, F3F grew quickly. Last year’s festival included 92 different acts as diverse as Judas Priest, Wiz Khalifa, and Modest Mouse. By no means a “small” or “lesser known” festival, it’s just not SXSW or ACL. F3F likes it that way. funfunfunfest.com/ EAST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR NOVEMBER 21 – 22 The East Austin Studio Tour is one of the area’s most anticipated art events. Big Medium presents this free, self-guided tour, which takes place over two weekends in November. The festival includes both ongoing tour stops and scheduled events. Attendees are invited to discover new artistic talent, visit working studios, learn about artists’ tools, techniques, and inspirations, while exploring unique exhibition spaces and local businesses. Big Medium is a local non-profit that supports artists, and the East Austin Studio Tour has become an essential source of cultural awareness in Austin as well as a means of connecting artists to audiences. east.bigmedium.org/

15317 SPILLMAN RANCH

F A L C O N H E A D

2100 GRISWOLD LANE

T A R R Y T O W N

707 CARDINAL LANE

7 8 7 0 4

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A Firebird Gets its Wings

The McDonalds’ busy household demanded functionality as well. Hidden behind barn sliding doors is a home office for Kimberly.

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The kitchen is such a personal space. So much life happens there. To anchor the kitchen, the McDonalds custom built a dining table attached to the island to welcome everyone in the space.

Bruce and Kimberly McDonald love the thrill of buying a house. In fact, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve purchased and sold three homes with Shannon Schmitz in the past. This time they were searching for a simpler lifestyle with the quality of life only Lake Travis could provide. Bruce and Kimberly were definitely visionaries when they purchased their home on Firebird. The dated ranch-style home already had a few questionable renovations. The home featured an awkward layout, outdated kitchen and bathrooms and poorly finished concrete floors. While the renovations were nothing to get excited about, the promising views of Lake Travis put a smile on the McDonaldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces. Despite closing on the home with the lake at record low water levels, they still managed to find themselves with a stunning view. They were hopeful that someday the lake would fill once again. THE OFFICIAL AUSTIN GUIDE 2015 | 23 W W W. S C H M I T Z A N D S M I T H . C O M

The lounge is a cozy spot overlooking the lake where Bruce and Kimberly can have a morning cup of coffee or unwind with a glass of wine after a long day. Â

The hanging bed on the porch conveys the ultimate lake experience. This is a favorite place for Bruce to unwind and watch the sunset each evening.

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Before

Loaded with lots of natural light, the McDonalds went bold with color in their kitchen. Finding the perfect shade of blue was necessary to pull such a bold color off. The search ended with Farrow and Ballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hague Blue.

After

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The living room serves as the ultimate lounge space. With stunning views of the lake, the oversized sectional provides the perfect place to relax and take in the views.

After

The bar is the main attraction in the open concept plan. 26 | THE OFFICIAL AUSTINÂ GUIDE 2015

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Before

After

Knowing the long road ahead, Kimberly took on the role of project manager over the major home renovations. There were lots of selections to be made. One of the most important decisions was choosing an interior designer. The McDonalds had a vision for what they wanted but needed help pulling it all together. After interviewing a few Austin designers, they were excited to partner with Tara Camp of Revival Design. The vision called for a more open layout—a space that was livable and kept the sole focus on the lake. After months of renovations, the McDonalds finally have a place to call home. As an added bonus, record rainfalls have filled up the lake and fulfilled their ultimate vision—an open concept plan that is modern and flooded with light. Interiors done by Tara Camp at Revival Design

Before Revival Texas, created in 2010, is constantly looking for unique, cool and vintage items to repurpose, recycle and transform into one-of-a-kinda artistic pieces to sell to the public. They have a big patio, succulent bar, playground, a rooster, a pig and a large property where you can peruse their creative designs. Who knows? Maybe you will find the perfect iron front door, rusty steel lion head or even Hamlet their playground pig!

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Why we’re better than

Trulia, Zillow and other online real estate sites can be useful tools in the beginning stages of your home search, especially if you’re really not sure what you’re looking for. But these sites can also be dangerous. Some things just can’t be automated. There is a reason we don’t have self-driving cars – human beings are needed to make judgement calls and react in the moment to a changing environment. You need human beings to expect the unexpected. More than just humans, you need experts to get you the most accurate, up-to-date information, and to understand your human needs as you are looking for a home. Here are the ways the experts at The Schmitz & Smith are better than Trulia and Zillow.

1. Real Time When you’re working with us, you get information as soon as it happens – not based on a computer algorithm. We can keep you updated about homes coming available before they hit the market. We have real connections, we’re not just based on MLS searching.

2. We’re Local We live and work in Austin, and we will give you a real perspective on what it’s like to live in a specific neighborhood. We can give you accurate information about Austin neighborhoods, schools and communities. We know about the local job market and the economy and can give you information based on our experience as business owners and home owners in Austin – not generated by a marketing company.

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KW - Austin Portfolio Real Estate

512-794-6700 | www.SchmitzAndSmith.com

Trulia and Zillow

3. We’re Human

It’s hard to convey a feeling, a desire or a need to a computer. Your internet search doesn’t pick up on nuance. We listen to you and ask informed questions to gain a clear picture of what you’re looking for in a home. We also aren’t relying on one set of data that automatically populates in a digital list – our information is based on multiple local and national resources as well as our relationships with social and business leaders. Your internet search is never going to get into a car and drive the neighborhood for you to get live information.

4. We’re Accurate Information on these search sites can be old and outdated. In this fast-paced market, you need to move quickly to get the best deal on the property you want. You can’t waste time chasing down up-to-date information. We have access to the most current information about properties in Austin. We can give you the information you need, when you need it. If you or anyone you know is looking to make any kind of real estate transaction, please give us a call. Partners Shannon T. Schmitz and Morgan Smith have more than 30 combined years of experience in real estate. in this fast-paced, growing market, you need to be sure you hire a tenured professional to watch out for your best interest. Shannon and Morgan have a reputation for guiding and advising their clients to make the best possible deals. Give them a call today to see what they can do for you!

Schmitz & Smith KW - Austin Portfolio Real Estate

512-794-6700 | www.SchmitzAndSmith.com

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: THE WHEEL

Austin's ULTIMATE GUIDE

TO FALL FUN

At LOCALE Austin, we’re always touting the wealth and diversity of fun to be had in the city. We talk about all of the major events and festivals held here each year. We write stories in each edition of LOCALE about interesting places to visit, sights to be seen and activities to experience. So when it came time to write about the best ways to get out and enjoy fall, there were a lot of wonderful – and obvious – choices. We decided to skip over the usual suspects that you can find out about anywhere and cover some great things to do that surprised even us! You’re welcome. 30

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ON THE FARM Fall Family Fun Festival at Crowe’s Nest Farms 10300 Taylor Ln. | Manor Every October Crowe’s Nest Farm opens its doors to the general public with the Fall Family Fun Festival. Don your best flannel and overalls and take part in some sheep shearing, corn shucking and cow milking. Local vendors gather to sell everything from homemade bread to honey. Live music and hayrides round out the festivities. Meet the animals and tour the property! crowesnestfarm.org/

Harvest of Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm 1801 FM 1980 | Marble Falls Don’t think a trip to Sweet Berry Farm is limited to just spring and early summer! In the fall, the farm hosts the Harvest of Fall Fun where kids can meet cute farm animals, peruse the pumpkin patch and tour the farm on a hayride. Because everything’s bigger in Texas, the farm boasts a four-acre field maze in the shape of our great state! Game cards are provided at the entrance with the objective of finding all the signs representing major Texas destinations. Give yourself at least an hour to navigate. It never hurts to bring along a warm drink! sweetberryfarm.com/

IMBIBE Water 2 Wine 4036 S. Lamar Blvd. | Austin 3300 W Anderson Lane | Austin Did you know you can make and bottle your own wine right here in Austin? Water 2 Wine buys grapes from all over the world and then blends and ferments in-house. You can enjoy over 90 different varietals bottled by Water 2 Wine, or you can create a batch of your own! The staff will help you taste and create the perfect wine to suit your palate. Next just customize your own label and wait 6-8 weeks while your wine ferments. Once it’s ready, you return and have a bottling party before taking your custom wine home! water2wine.us/

Deep Eddy Distillery 2250 E. Hwy 290 | Dripping Springs Did you know Austin’s own Deep Eddy Vodka opened a distillery and tasting room? Taste all the Deep Eddy famous flavors like Sweet Tea, Ruby Red, Lemon and Cranberry while enjoying Hill Country views from the beautiful lounge and covered patios. Open to the public FridaySunday or for private events and tours. Make sure you check the calendar for live music and special events. deepeddyvodka.com/2.0/deepeddy-vodka.html#distillery The Wheel 1902 E. MLK Blvd. | Austin Besides being a charming East Austin drinkery with a killer beer and cocktail selection, The Wheel is also the perfect stop for cyclists headed to or from the Southern Walnut Creek Trail. The bar offers bike service stations on the patio where riders can tune up while they refresh. thewheelaustin.com/ Dog House Drinkery & Dog Park 3800 Country Road 175 | Leander This locally owned dog park/bar is a peaceful, shady oasis for dogs and their owners. Dog House provides a large, fenced in area with toys, water and activities. Friendly dog lovers staff the bar to keep watch and make sure everyone is getting along. Other conveniences include a spacious patio, multiple TVs for watching sports

and a fully stocked bar. Nothing like enjoying a cold one while the pooches play! doghousedrinkery.com/

HAPPINESS IS A WARM CUP Cuvée Coffee Bar 2000 E. 6th St. | Austin Craft coffee company Cuvée challenges customers to choose each element of their coffee experience and compose a cup like it’s a symphony. The gorgeous space hosts twelve different taps— nine serve craft beers, two spout specialty wines and one is reserved for their nitrogenated specialty cold brew. Pastries from Walton’s Fancy and Staple and meat and cheese plates from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop complete the experience. cuveecoffee.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF: CUVÉE COFFEE BAR

Hausbar Urban Farm & GuestHaus 330 Govalle Ave. | Austin The perfect day out or overnight stay-cation—Hausbar Urban Farm provides a unique natural food experience right here in the city. You can wander the gardens; visit with goats, donkeys, bunnies and chickens; or take a workshop about gardening, homesteading, composting, chicken raising, or aquaponic agriculture. Overnight guests at the property’s picturesque bungalow can make use of HausBar Farm’s organic eggs and produce to make a farm-fresh meal on the outdoor grill or in the kitchen. hausbarfarms.com/

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Departure Lounge 311 W. 5th St., Ste. 102 | Austin It’s not quite a coffee shop, not quite a wine bar and not quite a travel agency. Departure Lounge combines all three experiences into one hybrid, billing itself as “an upscale interactive travel discovery zone.” With a global array of organic coffees and artisanal cheeses, this jetsetter’s coffee shop is the perfect place to rest in between trips. Available on site is their very own travel advisor who can help plan and book your next vacation. departurelounge.com/ Friends & Neighbors 2614 E. Cesar Chavez St. | Austin This charming eastside locale doubles as both café and boutique. Venture through each room of the house perusing the various sundries. Vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry abound in the living room while beauty products and soaps hold court in the bathroom. Stumptown Coffee is their bean of choice and the backyard is not to be missed. Go there and get lost. friendsaustin.com/ Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca Rd. | Austin In need of a 24-hour coffee fix, generous Wi-Fi and a quiet crowd that won’t get in the way of a necessary work session? Strange Brew not only has the space and the tables but also enough electrical outlets to accommodate the majority 32

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of its customers. If that doesn’t sway you, there’s also a Quiet Room (no talking allowed) cut off from the building’s main speakers. After your deadline is met, grab a beer and go next door to their live music venue. strangebrewaustin.com/

AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL Pony Tales 9606 FM 1826 | Austin Pony Tales offers the perfect showand-tell experience for kids headed back to school. The literacy program, run by Texas Trail Rides, invites kids to cozy up with a pony and a good book. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade can practice reading skills, build confidence and forge new friendships with these friendly, curious creatures. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Sign up in advance for a free 15-minute time slot. ponytalesatx.org/ The Little Yoga House 1211 Parkway | Austin Looking for a new after-school activity? The Little Yoga House offers a wide variety of classes and programs for children, teenagers and families. Nutrition classes, storytime yoga and evening yogasitting are just a few of the features of this Clarksville establishment. You can drop off the kids and run errands. Or better yet, enroll and unroll alongside your little yogi. thelittleyogahouse.com/

Thinkery 1830 Simond Ave. | Austin Tickle your brain and delight the senses at Thinkery, Austin’s riff on a children’s museum. Science, technology and the arts collide through interactive exhibits that run the range from nibbling on edible minerals to building a light structure with magnets and LEDs. Workshops and demos change seasonally to satisfy the demands of future problem solvers and the eternally curious alike. thinkeryaustin.org/ Toybrary Austin 7817 Rockwood Ln., #101 | Austin Toybrary is a revolutionary idea, saving Austin families both money and clutter space! It’s a toy library and play center that allows kids to check out age appropriate toys and return them, just like a book library. Adults can meet and enjoy a cup of coffee while kids play in the play area, then choose some toys to take home. They also host special events like birthday parties, puppet shows, book readings and more. Brilliant! toybraryaustin.com/

MAGICAL MUSEUM TOUR BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life Texas Museum of Science and Technology | Cedar Park WARNING: This museum exhibit is not for the faint of heart! BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life showcases actual human specimens freeze-framed

ACTION & ADVENTURE Stunt Ranch 13317 Fitzhugh Rd. | Austin Want to feel like a star in your own action movie? Stunt Ranch is a 22acre events center where you can stage an explosion, have a paintball war, fly on zip lines, conquer your fears on a ropes course and take aim

Four Elements Aerial Classes 314 S. Congress Ave., #200 | Austin If traditional yoga isn’t exciting enough for you, you may want to take to the air at Four Elements Yoga & Fitness Studio. Climb, spin, dangle and wing through the air in beginner to advanced classes. They also offer pilates, acrobatics and pole dancing classes in addition to traditional yoga on the ground. Wow! fourelementsaustin.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF: FRIENDS @ NEIGHBORS TAKEN AT THE STORE

Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles! LBJ Presidential Library | Austin Beatles fans should check out “What Goes On” at LBJ Presidential Library this fall. Curated by Fab Four Exhibits and the GRAMMY Museum, the traveling exhibit explores The Beatles’ impact on the music, media, art and fashion of American popular culture. The collection boasts more than 400 items and artifacts pertaining to Beatles history and folklore. Stroll down memory lane and leave your recollections in the oral history booth. Or drop some tech with the #BeatlesatLBJ hashtag. The exhibit runs through January 10, 2016. lbjlibrary.org/exhibits/ladies-andgentlemen-the-beatles

on a pistol range. Stunt Ranch hosts events for kids and adults – parties, corporate events, team building and school trips. stuntranch.com/

PHOTO BY: LAUREN GERSON AT THE LBJ PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

in various states of activity and repose. The bodies are preserved through Plastination and then posed to demonstrate the extraordinary mechanics of our ordinary movements. Check out this cultural phenomenon before its run ends on September 20! txmost.org/

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PHOTO BY: STEVE WOLF

into an academy with more than 75 classes per semester. Artists can master their craft and amateurs can try their hand at simple jewelry making. You can attend regular classes or plan private events for groups. Either way, you’re leaving with high quality, handcrafted jewelry. creativeside.org/

Longhorn Racing Academy 2840 Harris Hill Rd. | San Marcos Have you dreamed of driving a Ferrari, McLaren, or Corvette around a real racetrack, hugging the turns and breaking the sound barrier? You can totally do that at Longhorn Racing Academy! Book time at the track or make a group reservation for birthdays, bachelor parties, team building, or just to work out your need for speed! longhornracingacademy.com/ Weekend Canyon Tours at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd. | Round Mountain Get your heart pumping and your blood flowing with a guided hike through the Texas Hill Country. Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center 34

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offers weekend canyon tours for hiking enthusiasts of all skill levels. The trail takes you through several landscapes including an arid savannah, limestone crevices and the lush vegetation of a sheltered canyon. The 40-foot waterfall emptying into an emerald pool is not to be missed. Make sure to contact the facilities before visiting. westcave.org/visit/weekend-publictours

GET CRAFTY Creative Side Jewelry Academy 321 W. Ben White Blvd. | Austin Creative Side started when owner, Courtney Gray, decided to open her own professional jewelry studio to other artists to collaborate and learn from each other. It has flourished

Craft 1628 S. 1st St. | Austin Feeling crafty? You don’t have to be a “crafter” or intense hobbyist of any kind to have a blast at Craft. It’s a studio on South First Street that provides all the supplies, equipment and even inspiration to create fun, wacky, beautiful pieces. Craft describes itself as a “DIY, walk-in craft studio for adults.” Whether you’ve always wanted to blow glass, sew prayer flags, handprint invitations, or make glitter animals, Craft has the stuff to make that happen. Oh and you can BYO wine! craft-austin.com/ Clayways Studio 5442 Burnet Rd. | Austin Adults and kids can learn to throw, form, paint and kiln their own pottery at Clayways. This is the real deal, not just painting and firing ready-made pottery – this is from scratch bowls, plates, bottles and sculptures. They offer 8-week classes year round as well as classes for kids. You’re picturing that scene from the movie Ghost, right? The pottery part. clayways.com/

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13008 WINDING CREEK ROAD AUSTIN, TX 78736 At Schmitz & Smith, we approach each home we represent with a unique perspective. Every home for sale is in transition between the story of the people who have lived there before and a new story to be created by the people who will live there next. Once in awhile, you find a home that is ripe with opportunity for that perfect person or family and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to find out what adventures they will have there. 13008 Winding Creek Road in Austin is that home. Do you ever drive through neighborhoods imagining the stories of the people who live in the homes you see? We can imagine the people who will love 13008 Winding Creek Road and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to meet them. We came up with three distinct types of people for whom this could be the perfect home: 1) A producer who wants to run a music, film or video production company from home; 2) An entrepreneur who could use office, warehouse and storage space to run a manufacturing business from home; 3) A corporate CEO who would use the home as executive guest housing as well as a corporate event space.

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FIRST

here is a brief explanation of the house. There are three floors built into the side of a hill country bed rock using commercial-grade steel beams. The grand entryway leads to the main part of the home, a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath luxury living space that feels like an Italian Villa. This first floor is a complete home in itself, with a large, open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, huge master suite with spa bath and steam shower - all with sweeping views of the hill country through floor to ceiling windows that lead out to the massive wrap-around porch. The house would be fantastic even if it stopped there, but the next two floors get really interesting. One floor down is an open studio space, which is ready to be used in a variety of ways: offices, production studio space, artist workrooms, a home gym, a yoga studioâ&#x20AC;Śthe possibilities are endless. There is also a bedroom, bath and full kitchen. One floor down from there is a 4,000 square foot shop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fully zoned, wired and built to house heavy, industrial equipment. This space is ready for someone to build custom choppers, restore classic cars and house heavy machinery.

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THE PRODUCTION COMPANY

The first person we can envision living at 13008 Winding Creek is a creative entrepreneur, looking for a place to live and work away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but with easy access to Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thriving production scene. The luxurious first floor feels like an Italian villa, complete with columns and arches. The owner could live here or use the living space to house visiting artists. The production company could have custom studio spaces and professional offices on the middle floor and the ground floor provides warehouse space with plenty of room for storing equipment, building sets or even parking cars. From the enormous lot with sweeping green space to the dramatic, unobstructed hill country views, this is a home in which to find inspiration. The massive outdoor patios (close to 2,000 square feet) are perfect for entertaining, feeding staff and crew or any outdoor production needs.

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HOME BASED BUSINESS AND WAREHOUSE

The next potential buyer for this unique space is a business owner who needs commercial-grade warehouse space. We can imagine a furniture builder or restorer, a small to

medium sized manufacturer, a classic car shop or a machinist. The ground-level warehouse space was built with commercial grade materials to house a professional machine shop. The home is wired to run heavy, industrial machinery like a 4,000 lb table saw, hydraulic lifts and pneumatic drills. With two large bays and room to park more than 20 vehicles, this is an extremely versatile functional space for a home business. The home was built into

the side of the hill country bed rock using 6 x 6 steel beams, which makes it extremely structurally sound. You could literally park a forklift in the kitchen. The middle floor could be used for offices and/or meeting space and the main living quarters could be used by the owner or as a stylish way to house visiting guests. THE OFFICIAL AUSTIN GUIDE 2015 |

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just fantasizing with these potential uses of this amazing home - the enormous amount of space and location would allow for any of our imagined homeownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dreams to come true. The original owner built 13008 Winding Creek as his dream house where he could run his contracting business with room for carpentry and a machine shop, have his offices and professional space and a beautiful home in which to live.

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convenience of Austin only minutes away. As a bonus, the neighborhood is home to internationally recognized breweries Jester King and Argus Cidery, which is considered the start of the Texas Wine and Brewery Trail along Highway 290 all the way to Fredericksburg – a huge draw for visitors to the Texas Hill Country.

The accouterments of both the living and workspace are firstclass and would be an enviable home for a growing business. The indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces make this an ideal venue for elegant corporate events, with plenty of space for caterers to work behind the scenes.

Executives will love luxury touches like the massive master closet, spalike master bath, Chef’s kitchen and private balcony with sweeping hill country views. The home has the feel of a private getaway with the

A company could have its offices in the wide-open studio space, equipped with a full kitchen, bath and apartment – completely separate from the main living quarters. The functional space could be utilized for virtually anything a business owner might need – storage, workspace, parking, you name it.

The home, built into a cliff face and powered by propane, is extremely efficient, operating at very low cost for such a large space. (The original owner reports all electrical, heating and cooling costs to be around $500/month for over 10,000 square feet!)

OFFICE SPACE WITH A DAZZLING CORPORATE HOME

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For more information about these or other great properties, contact:

Schmitz & Smith

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8505 NAVIDAD DRIVE

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For more information about these or other great properties, contact:

Schmitz & Smith

Austin Portfolio Real Estate - Powered by Keller Williams Luxury International 512-794-6700 | www.SchmitzAndSmith.com

41 WOODSTONE SQUARE

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LIST WITH THE BEST IN THE U.S. REIGNING NATIONAL LUXURY HOME MARKETING AWARD WINNERS

COMPLETE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED FOR EVERY HOME • Beautifully Designed Brochures • Virtual Tours that Capture the Essence of your Home • Inclusion into Local Area Tours • Open House Events • Just Listed Postcards • Targeted Direct Mail Campaigns • Lifestyle Video “Mini-Movies” • Featured Property on LuxuryRealEstate.com • Featured in LOCALE Austin Magazine • Email Marketing Campaigns • Entered in up to Three MLS Systems (Houston, Dallas AND Austin!) • Syndication to the Major Real Estate Sites on the Web

Schmitz & Smith

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Austin Portfolio Real Estate - Powered by Keller Williams Luxury International 512-794-6700 | www.SchmitzAndSmith.com

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SOCIAL MEDIA • 7 Facebook Platforms • 3 Twitter Pages • LinkedIn, Pinterest & 22 other Media Outlets

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We’re sure that you’ve heard all the buzz about all of the breweries populating the Dripping Springs area these days. Many of these places have amazing outdoor areas where you can play lawn games, sip on a well constructed brew, listen to the great tales of the brewers or cozy up in an adirondack chair and relax. We took on the *difficult* task of touring a few of these places... all in the name of *research*, of course.

LAST STAND BREWING COMPANY - I, 12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737 ARGUS CIDERY - 12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737 TWISTED X BREWING COMPANY - West 150, 23455 Ranch Rd 12, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 JESTER KING BREWERY - 13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736 REVOLUTION SPIRITS - 12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737

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Something's

BREWING

PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

by Theresa HOLDEN

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Last Stand began in 2010 as the passion project of husband and wife, Kerry and Mandi Richardson. After attending a brewing technology course at Chicago’s Siebel Institute, Kerry returned to his native Texas to take finance courses at St. Edward’s University. Equipped with business and brewing smarts, 50

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PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

It was probably for the best beginning our Dripping Springs brewery tour with Last Stand Brewing Company. Had we ended there, we probably never would’ve left. Though the origin story behind the name remains a company secret, think of Last Stand as the place you want to end up after a long, hard siege of a workweek. Its welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere reminds: you’ll live to fight another day.

Last Stand’s chief production beers are the Belgian Pale Ale, the Coffee Porter and the IPA. You’ll want to make a special taproom trip to sample their expanded menu, which includes a Wheat, a Saison, a Barrel-Aged Porter and a BarrelAged Double IPA. They’re big beers that “don’t drink like a big beer,” says Richardson. No matter the style, each swallow finishes clean, demonstrating the beers’ immense drinkability.

Last Stand crafts the types of beer that’ll make you want to sit a spell and tell stories. Gros led us on a tour of the warehouse and property. Her much coveted lime green

Toyota Land Cruiser was the first sight to welcome us as we drove up. Last Stand’s spacious sitting area is furnished with Technicolor palette furniture fashioned out of reclaimed wood. Dogs and children have room to run around. A disc golf playing field sits on the other side of the road and a food truck, Greaux’s Specialties, also perches on the perimeter. Gros explained they wanted to host a backyard feeling. This backyard had everything we could possibly need.

PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

the Richardsons joined forces with fellow brewing enthusiast, Mignonne “Migs” Gros, to complete the team. All three combined have 25 years of brewing experience and the beers express this seasoned craftsmanship.

LAST STAND BREWING COMPANY

Seasonality is a big part of Last Stand’s approach to beer. When asked about his current favorite, Richardson looked down to check his watch. The exact hour of the day dictates which choice is best. That doesn’t mean Last Stand cares to follow every tradition. Though the Porter is usually reserved for winter, both Richardson and Gros disagree with that perception. For them Porter means dessert. Last Stand’s Coffee Porter makes a great nightcap for anyone.

Last Stand Brewing Company consciously forgoes whizz-bang marketing. Word-of-mouth may very well be their best advertising. And why not? The beer speaks for itself. The Last Stand approach is undeniably purist, emphasizing quality above everything else. In a town like Austin, with its hipster proclivities and tidal trends, should a brewery emblazon itself with novelty narrative? Drinking Last Stand’s BarrelAged Double IPA was a light bulb moment. Its vanilla-coconut-caramel flavor should’ve been as sweet and heavy as congealed Dulce de Leche after a midnight Quinceañera. But it was light and aromatic—a liquid enigma. Last Stand’s beers need to be tasted to be believed. Afterwards,

ARGUS CIDERY The future remains super secret for Argus Cidery. Though they’ve temporarily closed the tasting room to put in more fermentation tanks, Argus’ production of sparkling ciders and bottled fermentables has expanded into 12 different markets since last July. Business is booming thanks to Argus’ elevated approach to brewing cider and the Mickel Brothers, Wes and Jeff, are keeping future plans under wraps for now. The company’s distinct brewing process brings a wine approach to ciders with the fruit featured first and foremost. While there we tasted both flavors of the Argus Fermentables, Ciderkin and Ginger Perry. The Ciderkin is tart, dry and crisp. Its brightness won’t burn out your palette. Jeff refers to the Ciderkin as “our grilled cheese.” It’s standard yet versatile, suitable for a variety of occasions and cuisines. The Ginger Perry is akin to a ginger beer and brewed in a similar fashion, though Argus’ spin is to ferment ginger inside a pear. And that’s it. No sugar is added to any of their products. Both of the Argus Fermentables can cut through Texas-style cuisine with the crispness of a vinaigrette.

Wes admitted the trick in creating and developing the ciders involves attuning to preconceived notions of a fruit juice before subverting that expectation. Argus’ most recent addition is a Tepache, a sparkling pineapple wine. Though the brothers admitted that the Tepache is still finding its footing (most don’t know what to do with it), I thought it was the most exciting flavor. Expecting a carbonated version of sweetened pineapple juice, the Tepache delivers an earthy, caramelized bite. I was instantly reminded of my mother reducing a pot of boiling pineapples to make sweet and sour sauce. The Tepache pairs equally well with barbecue or Thai food. Look for more flavor experiments in the future. The brothers are awaiting a batch of fermented peaches that should be ready later this fall. Wes employed a red wine technique on the peaches called carbonic maceration. He also hinted that a fermented riff on prickly pears seems inevitable. The fermentation possibilities are endless.

PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

We were lucky enough to taste a rare batch of Last Stand’s BarrelAged Double IPA, already forecast to sell out by tomorrow evening. It surprised us with its vanilla-coconutcaramel flavors. By day’s end it still remained a standout. Gros explained that brainstorming and collaboration are crucial to Last Stand’s process. “Experimentation is the fun part,” she says.

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When Twisted X Brewing Company relocated its licensing from the former Cedar Park location to its current Dripping Springs digs, founder Jim Sampson couldn’t anticipate shutting down production for three months. There was no telling when the licensing stork would magically drop off the new permit. Once it arrived, all production at the Cedar Park location had to halt while the notfully-occupied Dripping Springs building got the green light. It was an act of bureaucracy Sampson couldn’t plan for. With the current facility running smoothly for the past two years, that delay must make the success taste sweeter. Of all the breweries we visited, Twisted X is the biggest and most ambitious. The tasting room is open seven days a week. On a Friday afternoon, the place was bustling 52

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between our arrival and departure. Air-conditioned indoor seating was prized real estate. The bar was standing room only. Newcomers were content to grab a beer and sit at the many outdoor tables. As Sampson tells it, the destination facility attracts a lot of passersby. Drivers see the signs from the road. Then curiosity and thirst take care of the rest.

sitting outside the window, David explained the dying oak was on the verge of being chopped down when the company decided to hire a chainsaw artist to carve it. The tree bears the mascots of Twisted X’s signature brews: the sleeping chameleon of Siesta, the gargoylereminiscent Chupahopra, and the sombrero-wearing skull of Señor Viejo.

Twisted X initially began with three types of small batch brews: Twisted X (their TexMex take on Mexican lager), Cow Creek (a Vienna-style lager), and Fuego (a jalapeñoinfused pilsner). The selection then expanded with the next generation of Twisted X: Chupahopra (a dryhopped IPA), Siesta (a prickly pear lager), and Señor Viejo (an imperial black lager aged in Dulce Vida tequila barrels). When we visited, we tasted a beer flight consisting of ten current varieties.

Though the production process has expanded to a 30-barrel brew house with 120 barrel fermenters, Twisted X still maintains its 3-barrel pilot system for research and development. One of the more imaginative flavor experiments to come out of the Twisted X brew lab? David called it “Hop Tart,” a fermentation of strawberry-flavored pop tarts that tasted more like the breading than the filling. He said next time they’d maybe try the brown sugar kind.

As if the beers weren’t tasty enough, we also fell head over heels for Twisted X’s take on the Michelada. Made with Fuego, the Twisted X Michelada was zesty and balanced, delivering a perfect hit of heat at the end. It made us think twice about ordering a Bloody Mary ever again. David, one of the brewers, talked about putting his stamp on the menu with the delicious Dripping Oak (a IIPA). Named for the tree

PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

TWISTED X BREWING COMPANY

Surely by now most of Austin has spent a Saturday at Jester King Brewery. In case you haven’t, Jester King is one of the most talked about brewery destinations among those who know. Walking up the slight gravel slope of the entrance leads directly to the Tasting Room. On the right you’ll pass Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza, close at hand to make your stay a little longer should you feel peckish. Countless picnic tables occupy the rocky terrain with the hill country landscape pushed into the background. Co-founder Jeff Stuffings imparted the secret that nature trails lay buried in the woods beyond. Jester King is a farmhouse brewery in the most rustic of Texas settings. It’s no surprise that its approach to craft brewing is all about the landscape. The brewery takes advantage of locally grown grains, native yeasts, and the property’s well water to remain in sync with the surrounding land. According to Stuffings, the aim

is to give you “a sense of place in a glass.” Or a postcard in a pint. Or maybe a haiku by way of hops. You get the point—the scenery inspires. We became poets. Stuffings explained that their farmhouse brewery style was a callback to the rustic farmhouse ales of yore. Ales and beers were created for practical purposes, oftentimes being safer to drink than local water. Jester King beers are known for exhibiting a funky, fermented taste. The bottles’ artwork certainly reflects this. The brewery employs a full-time artist, Josh Cockrell, to design the labels. Think of an art school-trained aesthete taking a mythical folklore class. Her sleeping pill dreams decorate the bottle. Originally the metal structure of Jester King’s main building had been purchased in Houston, disassembled into stacks of flat sheets, driven to Austin in shifts by the Stuffings Brothers, and then reassembled under cloak of night to escape the day’s blistering heat. After all the sweat and toil the founders put into the place, the future looks bright for the business. Though the brewery works hard, Stuffings wants people to know that Jester King still represents a welcome, laidback break from the city. Watch as the menu continues to multiple with flavor experiments and culinary collaborations.

REVOLUTION SPIRITS Revolution Spirits was not fully set up as a gin distillery when their Austin Reserve Gin took bronze in the 8th Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits. Though the team still maintains day jobs, this distillery is on the cusp of becoming the next big thing in Austin’s craft community. Plus we’d be committing a journalistic disservice by not reporting on hard liquor, right?

PHOTO BY: KELLI BECHTOL

JESTER KING BREWERY

When we entered the premises, the ever-humble Mark Shilling was blasting rock through the speakers. He had zero trace of sweat on his brow, an absolute feat in the 100-degree weather. Though his business card betrays no company title and his job on Revolution’s website says dishwasher, Mark’s bio tells a different story. He “serves

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as President of the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas, sits on the Government Affairs Committee of the American Craft Spirits Association, and is a frequent speaker for the American Distilling Institute, working with distillers around the country on legislative and regulatory issues.” Shilling has a relaxed way of speaking, though his passion is evident. Like most brewers, he could talk about distilling all day. Revolution distills its gin using six different botanicals (Italian juniper, rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, pink peppercorn, and the dried peels of Texas grapefruits) to synthesize its signature. The distillery’s newest concoction is a coffee liqueur made from Cuvée coffee beans. It works great as a mixer but, more impressively, can stand alone being sipped. Though the company values its team dynamic, each of the distillers maintain individual distilling interests. Shilling compared them to a band’s various side projects. Shilling wants to distill new spirits by looking to past gins and genevers throughout history. The company’s name was born out of a desire to push boundaries and experiment. Consider Revolution Spirits the gin pioneers of Austin, Texas.

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What our clients say about us... “Morgan worked with us through the home search and purchase process and did an excellent job. Very professional and without her we would not have had such a positive experience. I recommend her to anyone who is looking for a home in the Austin area.” - Robert, Hyde Park “If you’re looking for a real estate professional, Shannon Schmitz is the Gold Standard. She’s smart, honest, hard-working, creative, and genuinely enjoys guiding clients through the process of searching & buying, staging/presenting/selling. Shannon helped us sell one home (after it had little activity with another realtor), and she has helped us purchase 4 others... not kidding, FOUR. This lady is your kind of real estate advocate! And don’t think that closing day is when she disappears - our whole family now considers Shannon a friend, and a valuable resource! So if you’re thinking of hunting for real estate, or you’re considering selling what you have, give her a shot, and find out what it’s like to be well taken care of.” -Kimberly, Repeat Client Morgan was a pleasure to work with, her knowledge of Austin is tremendous and the houses she showed us were exactly what we were looking for. I will work with Morgan on my next home purchase and recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell their home! - Patrick, Bee Caves “We wanted to express our appreciation to Shannon Schmitz for “showing us Austin” during our recent trip to explore Austin as a potential retirement location. We initially identified her via the Platinum 50 top realtors list in Austin. We met her early in our stay and had a whirlwind experience studying Austin neighborhoods and homes that represented our profile interest. Shannon was extremely friendly and vivacious, clearly knowledgeable of the Austin markets, and attentive to our requests. We have no doubt that Shannon would be “willing to knock on doors” to help us find the right property! Many thanks to this Ambassador for Austin!” -Brian, Pebble Beach, CA

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AUSTIN

SCHMITZ & SMITH

AT AUSTIN POR TFOLIO REAL ESTATE

TRACY TREVINO-LOUGHREY

SHANNON T. SCHMITZ

MORGAN SMITH

TRACY@SSGAUSTIN.COM (512) 784-6001

SHANNON@SHANNONSCHMITZ.COM (512) 426-9069

MORGANSMITH@KW.COM (512) 466-5224

BUYER’S AGENT / REALTOR®

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