Mueller September 2023

INSIDE SCOOP ON BIKE-FRIENDLY ROUTES

GOLF + CANTINA THE PERFECT PAIRING

BUILDING MUELLER FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

The Gift of Life

MOTHERS’ MILK BANK AUSTIN

COMMERCIAL UNITS AVAILABLE!

THE GATEWAY TO MUELLER

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Getting to Know Our Community

saving the lives of at-risk infants with her work at the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. We also continue our nod to the history of Mueller by speaking with David Weekley Homes, the first builder who broke ground in the neighborhood back in 2009, about its role in making Mueller what it is today.

This month, Meet Me at the Market is particularly important as we learn about Simple Promise Farms, which is run by and supports patients recovering from substance use disorder and helps them get their lives back on track. The organization’s work is a phenomenal community service and its booth at our Texas Farmers Market should not be missed.

Editor & Publisher

Liz Reingold

Art Director

Sue Park

Copy Editor

Nancy Fass

Contributing Writer

Preston Tyree

Photographers

Margarita Garcia Acevedo

Ryan Kutnick

Social Media Manager

Evan Hadd

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman

Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

VP, Group Publisher, Regional

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy

Maria Regan

Creative Director

Kijoo Kim

Well, we did it! The first issue in the books and now on to the second! I am so grateful for this Mueller community for its outpouring of support. Your amazing feedback has made our new community magazine a success. I appreciate all of you!

In my journey getting the magazine off the ground, I have met so many incredible Mueller residents who do so many fascinating things. This month we highlight our very own Kim Updegrove who is dedicated to

To round out the issue, we’ve included a valuable article about bicycle safety written by local expert Preston Tyree and a feature about the Fairways Cantina and Morris Williams Golf Course.

I have enjoyed hearing from so many of you, and I encourage anyone who would like to submit an article, promote their business or just say hi to contact me at hello@muellermagazine.com.

Warm regards,

Liz Reingold Publisher

Advertising Services Director

Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director

Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager

Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARGARITA GARCIA ACEVEDO

Homeowners Kellie & Mike Jackson with Bergen, Ivy, & Easton

in the Neighborhood

Brazilian Rhythms

COOL EATS FOR HOT DAYS

Nautical Bowls is now open on Aldrich Street in the Mueller neighborhood, serving açaí and other superfoods. Pick up breakfast, lunch or dinner and cool off with an awesome healthy meal from this new-to-Austin concept!

Austin Classical Guitar opens its 2023–24 season with Brazilian composer, pianist, vocalist and triple Grammy nominee Clarice Assad. She will be joined by her father, guitar legend Sergio Assad, for a night of music where the rhythms of South America meet the spontaneous energy of jazz. Experience the brilliance of this father-and-daughter duo at the AISD Performing Arts Center (1500 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Austin) on September 23 at 8 p.m. Learn more or purchase tickets at www.austinclassicalguitar.org or call 512-300-2247.

SPARK AFTER DARK!

Thinkery’s Spark After Dark: Cheers to 40 Years is a party you don’t want to miss! Guests will enjoy an enchanting evening filled with captivating storytelling, playful experiences, delightful libations and delectable food from talented local artisans. All funds raised will support Thinkery’s Open Door Initiative. October 17, 7 to 10 p.m. Learn more at www.thinkeryaustin.org/spark.

in the Neighborhood

A NEW PLACE TO GATHER FOR GOOD EATS

Mueller is excited to welcome its newest cool spot—Bottega, opened by friends for friendly people. The Italian inspired neighborhood café will feature everyone’s favorite indulgences: ice cream, coffee, savory bites and beer and wine (coming soon). Among the offerings will be Austin’s first brick-and-mortar location of the popular Merry Monarch Creamery, local favorite Casero’s charcuterie boards and its award-winning plate. Check them out at 2100 Robert Browning Street in Austin!

Hours:

Tuesday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (walk-up/outdoor) and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor)

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (walk-up/outdoor) and 5 to 9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor)

Sunday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor all day)

BOUTIQUE EYE CARE

CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST!

Join Lazarus Brewing Co. for its annual Oktoberfest celebration! Enjoy live polka music, test your strength in the stein-hoisting competition, savor mouthwatering bratwurst and taste our selection of seasonal brews.

Prizes, plenty of beer and good times are guaranteed.

September 30 and October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. Prost!

Come check out the new eye studio that is now open in Mueller. Austin Eye Studio owner and optometrist Dr. Emily Simonek has created a true boutique experience for your eye care. Austin Eye Studio offers the most innovative technologies and premium eyewear in a luxurious, convenient setting. Located at 1900 Aldrich Street in Austin. For more information, call 512-953-5838.

Hours:

Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Growing Recovery

How one Texas Farmers Market vendor uses his farm to support those living with substance use disorder

There is a story behind all the vendors at the Texas Farmers Market—entrepreneurs who pour their hearts into their businesses— but sometimes the mission transcends the products being sold and takes on a greater purpose. This is certainly the case with Simple Promise Farms.

Founded by Brandon Guinn, the father of a young man who battled substance use disorder, Guinn decided to think outside the box and try to come up with a different way to approach this disease. His son, like many others who struggle with the disease, did not have long-term success with traditional treatment facilities.

Guinn’s idea started with Ranch House Recovery, a small male-only center in Elgin, Texas, that focuses on healing through a relationship with nature, meaningful work, spiritual practice and a supportive community. This gave rise to Simple Promise Farms as a means to support that mission.

Simple Promise Farms sells fresh produce, cut flowers and more at Mueller’s Texas Farmers Market.

Community and Purpose

By starting Simple Promise Farms, Guinn discovered the path through which he can help to heal those in need. Recovering individuals tend to the farm and learn the importance of recovery through meaningful work, service and transformative relationships. By establishing a sense

of community and purpose, residents learn that personal transformation comes through dedication and a commitment to serving others.

In Guinn’s words: “At Simple Promise Farms, the goal is to foster a healthy, positive community that provides space for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol to develop a

healthier mind, body and spirit. We aim to change the stigma surrounding addiction through therapeutic gardening, animal care and sharing our story at farmers markets throughout the area. Recovery work becomes service work becomes God’s work, and grace and transformation are present throughout the process.”

Supporting Those in Recovery

The saying “Plant a seed and watch it grow” takes on new meaning both metaphorically and literally at Simple Promise Farms. All crops harvested on the farm are brought to local farmers markets and shared with the community. All proceeds go directly back to helping others in their recovery journeys. It may be through providing scholarships, assisting with costs associated with sober living or helping to cover costs for mental health treatments.

There are several ways the community at large can get involved and help support the important work being done at Simple Promise Farms. Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is volunteer day at the farm. People can go and help tend to the farm and learn about the art of growing and harvesting crops. Signing up in advance is not necessary but suggested for larger groups.

Donations are also welcome and much needed. To make a donation, please visit www.simplepromisefarms.org.

Or, of course, you can stop by the Simple Promise Farms booth, located on the outside of the pavilion facing Branch Park, at our very own Texas Farmers Market every Sunday and purchase produce to support the organization’s mission.

“The goal is to foster a healthy, positive community that provides space for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol to develop a healthier mind, body and spirit.”

– Brandon Guinn, founder of Simple Promise Farms

Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is volunteer day at Simple Promise Farms. People can go and help tend to the farm and learn about the art of growing and harvesting crops.

Brandon Guinn, founder of Simple Promise Farms and Ranch House Recovery.

The Gift of Life

Seeing a healthy, happy baby is a joy that can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. But many of us don’t stop to think about the babies who, whether born prematurely or with a host of other life-threatening ailments, struggle to survive in those critical early days of life.

Mueller resident and medical professional Kim Updegrove has dedicated her life to helping as many of these at-risk babies as possible. She has parlayed her extensive clinical background as both a registered nurse and a certified nurse midwife into her current role as the

executive director at Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin (MMBA). MMBA is a nonprofit organization with a mission to save babies’ lives by providing prescribed donor human milk.

Feeding 9,000+ Babies Each Year

Started in 1998 by two Austin neonatologists, Dr. Sonny Rivera and Dr. George Sharpe, MMBA set out to provide healthful breast milk to babies in need. Today, the organization has become the leader in the milk-banking industry. Each year, it feeds more than 9,000 babies

who are in 165 neonatal intensive care units in Texas and 26 other states. MMBA also distributes lifesaving milk to more than 500 infants per year who have either recently been discharged from the hospital or struggle with at-home nutrition.

Updegrove, who joined MMBA in 2002, has a passion for her job that is palpable. Whether you run into her in the neighborhood or visit her at the organization’s incredible stateof-the-art facility on Dillard Circle, her energy and vast knowledge of the industry are impressive.

Run by a Mueller resident, Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin provides lifesaving donor human milk to babies in need across the country.

How It Works

Updegrove loves to share what she knows about the entire process, which starts with milk donation and collection. Next, there is an intense scientific purification process at the facility, which follows strict guidelines to ensure that the milk is safe for babies to consume. Then, there is the distribution to hospitals around the country so as many infants as possible can receive the lifesaving milk. Updegrove oversees every step of the process.

Since MMBA’s move to its new facility in 2017, 746 residents in Austin have received lifesaving donor human milk—some of whom live right here in Mueller. In that same time frame, 37 Mueller residents have donated milk. According to Updegrove, “Whether you pump one extra ounce per day or 20 ounces extra, you can save babies’ lives.” She is so proud of our Mueller residents who have stepped up to donate over the years and encourages more to consider donating in the future.

“Whether you pump one extra ounce per day or 20 ounces extra, you can save babies’ lives.”

– Kim Updegrove, Mueller resident and executive director of Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin

The Impact of COVID-19

Human milk and financial donations are critical to sustaining MMBA’s ability to deliver nutrition to babies in need. Just a few years ago donations were plentiful and the milk bank full, but COVID-19 reversed that trend. The pandemic forced emergency evaluations of the entire process to ensure that the milk given to all babies was safe and virus-free. Although those determinations were made relatively quickly, valuable time was still lost. Milk donations dropped dramatically and are still working their way back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Milk can only be donated by a lactating woman within the first year after giving birth. That means MMBA constantly needs to replenish donors who rotate out

of eligibility. The process itself is quite simple: Every healthy lactating woman with an infant under one year of age could become a lifesaving milk donor by signing up at www.milkbank.org/donatemilk or by contacting MMBA directly.

When Updegrove is not helping to save the lives of babies, she enjoys living in Mueller with her husband, Dan, a retired IT executive who is a “volunteer extraordinaire!” for MMBA. The couple has two daughters who live in Colorado and two grandchildren who love to come to visit and take part in all the fun activities Mueller has to offer.

For more information about MMBA and to find out how you can make a financial gift or donate milk, visit www.milkbank.org.

Garrett Bivone and Jessica Thompson of David Weekley Homes

Creating a Neighborhood

How David Weekley Homes built Mueller from the ground up using its work for the Walt Disney Company as inspiration

Continuing with our nod to the history of Mueller, we reached out to the builders that started it all and were on the ground here before anyone else. We chatted with Jessica Thompson, senior sales consultant at David Weekley Homes, to find out what drew the company to this community and how things have changed over the years since it all began.

OF DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES TEAM MEMBERS BY SUMMER MAULDEN

What were your goals for your presence in the neighborhood?

Back in 1996, the Walt Disney Company asked David Weekley Homes to build in Celebration, a new community outside Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. There, we focused on building a variety of homes that suited our homebuyers’ needs in a community that offered easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment and promoted interaction, togetherness and friendliness among its residents. Inspired by the success of that experience, we sought to bring this concept to other communities around the country, which led us to Mueller.

When we first started construction and opened for sales in Mueller in 2007, our main goal was to live out Our Purpose of Building Dreams, Enhancing

Lives for our customers by providing them with high-quality homes and an unparalleled building experience with excellent customer service. We also wanted to provide a distinct variety of unique home styles, spanning a broad range of square footage, at a variety of price points to offer more homeowners the opportunity to own a David Weekley home. Looking back, we have built 20 different home styles, ranging from 800 to 4,200+ square feet—all within one community.

We have made a sincere effort to help create a diverse community that preserves the culture and character of Austin from the very beginning, and we have been honored to be able to build

the majority of homes in the Affordable Homes Program. This has been integral to the success of the Mueller community, and we are thrilled to have been able to lead the way on such an important initiative.

We also hoped to be building in the community from its start until its completion. As we now advance through the final section of homesites, it has been exciting to be a part of this incredible community and witness its growth for the past 16 years! We are one of two home builders that have been building in the community since its inception, and we are proud to say we have built more homes in the community than any other builder.

From left: Garrett Bivone, Paige D’Addona, Jessica Thompson, Rene Zabala and Justin Allen

How do you feel your presence here has shaped the way the neighborhood has grown and changed?

In working alongside the developer, we have always kept our focus on the long-term success of Mueller, wanting to create a diverse and environmentally friendly community that has a vibrant culture and a strong sense of connection among its residents. With our variety of high-quality homes featuring energy-efficient construction and timeless designs, more than 1,000 home buyers from various backgrounds have been attracted to our homes in Mueller. We remained true to Our Purpose of Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives for our customers by delivering on our brand promise to offer them the best in design, choice and service, and our home buyers have seen Mueller as a place to build their dream home, which we are grateful to be a part of. This helped Mueller to flourish into an incredible community with over 140 acres of dedicated green space and many on-site businesses that residents can walk to. With our homes offering easy access to these amazing amenities and all that downtown Austin has to offer, Mueller has become a place where residents can live, work and play— making it a truly unique community.

What is the most surprising thing about Mueller today that you never expected?

Our team has always believed this would be a special community, but Mueller has grown to become more extraordinary than even we could have imagined! Back when we first began building in Mueller, there were no on-site grocery stores or schools, and the future of all the wonderful green spaces and retail were just a plan of what we hoped to come. Now, Mueller has become a place where home buyers can live a vibrant lifestyle with easy access to everything they might need just steps from their front door. Residents don’t even need a car to be able to live here due to the many shops, restaurants and other businesses available within walking distance. It’s been a thrill to be able to build dream homes for our customers in this special community!

How much longer will you be on the ground here in Mueller, and then what happens next?

As of July 2023, we have fewer than 20 opportunities remaining. We expect to sell and close all our homes in Mueller by the end of this year. After we close out of Mueller, we’ll continue selling our award-winning homes in various communities throughout the Austin area while looking for more vibrant communities to build in.

Perfectly Paired

Golf and a place to gather afterward make a winning combination. Morris Williams Golf Course and Fairways Cantina are just that.

The weather is finally starting to cool a bit, but here in Austin that means there are still plenty of days on the calendar left to enjoy the outdoors. What better way than to grab some of your Mueller neighbors and head over to the Morris Williams Golf Course and Fairways Cantina.

Having a beautifully maintained public golf course right in our own backyard is a unique benefit. This course has a storied history all its own. Opened in 1964, it was Austin’s third public golf course and was named after Morris Williams Jr., a famous Austin golfer who, sadly, lost his life in the Korean War. Back in the day, the course was the home of the University of Texas (UT) golf team. And it was during that time that UT won two NCAA championships and had legendary golfers Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite on its team.

The cantina makes people want to linger after a game of golf or swing by just for the food.

Eight years ago, the clubhouse was renovated, but there were only limited food options available. In 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, avid golfer and Mueller resident Aman Jain set out to transform the cantina and make it a place for the community to come, gather and spend time enjoying great food and golf at the same time. He teamed up with fellow Mueller neighbors and restaurateurs Ashley and Sean Fric, owners of Colleen’s Kitchen. They helped him elevate the food and create a cantina that would make people want to linger after a game of golf or show up just for the food.

Their mission was simple but specific:

• Create great jobs. Employees are paid above-average wages and provided with solid benefits. By treating employees with respect and compassion, they hope they, in turn, will treat guests that way.

• Build community. Together, the golf course and cantina strive to be a place where neighbors and friends choose to gather to enjoy time together.

• Grow the game. Golf can be enjoyed by almost everyone, and the hope is to make the game approachable and inviting to all.

With these pillars in mind, the team created the current Fairways Cantina. With its homemade tacos and fresh margaritas, the cantina is a welcoming

place for guests. Comfortable seating can be found all along the wrap-around porch, which envelops the course. This encourages visitors to stay a while and enjoy the beautiful views. The facility is also available for private parties and events. For more information, visit www.fairwayscantina.com.

So, whether your vibe is playing a full 18, hitting a bucket of balls at the driving range or just enjoying fresh margaritas and tacos on the balcony, Morris Williams Golf Course and Fairways Cantina have something for you. And you won’t have to travel far. In fact, you can even walk as long as you don’t mind carrying your clubs!

Morris Williams Golf Course, a public course that dates back to 1964, is beautifully maintained. Fairways Cantina offers patio dining, golf course views, fresh lime margaritas, exceptional signature tacos and a chill vibe, as well as wraps and sandwiches to grab and go.

The Inside Scoop on Bike-Friendly Routes

BY PRESTON TYREE

Mueller was designed to be a walkable and bikeable community. Before the first shovel hit the ground, the consultant who was tasked with creating the design of our community was in Austin talking to members of the Austin Cycling Association about what makes a bikeable community. That is one of the reasons Mueller has separate and protected bikeways. Mueller magazine decided to look at the neighborhood streets and evaluate the infrastructure from a

safe cycling perspective.

Throughout the neighborhood, bikeway treatments vary, sometimes block to block. It is important to understand the various bikeways on each block to determine the safest ways to navigate the streets. Most of the streets in Mueller that do not have bikeways are two lanes with parking on both sides. The streets vary in width but almost always allow a driver to safely pass a cyclist if it is necessary.

Enjoy our helpful guide to the safest streets for cyclists in Mueller.

Inspiration from Europe

Zach Scott Street was originally designed with bike lanes and parking on both sides of a two-way street, which was best practice in 2004. However, when construction on the east end of Zach Scott was being planned, these best practices had changed. The City of Austin took a group of people to visit some of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe. The group came back wondering if we could make a street with a two-way bikeway on one side separated by a planted median and only one lane of parking. The answer of course was “We can,’’ and that is the way that the new section of Zach Scott was built. There are now plans to match the older section to the new one.

By the time Tilley Street was designed, it had the new protected bikeway design, resulting in the first two-way bikeway

intersection in Texas at the corner of the Middle School property at Zach Scott and Tilley streets.

Berkman Drive and Mueller Boulevard both have one-way protected bikeways on the sides of each street. Berkman is special because that is where major bus routes need to stop for people. The bikeways pass behind the bus stops, and clearly marked crosswalks help channel the pedestrians and alert cyclists to the crossings.

A Safe Route for Students

Biking to the new General Garwood Marshall Middle School is a great way for our kids to get some exercise while reducing the number of cars and buses circulating through the neighborhood. But keeping them safe while doing so can pose a challenge.

Even with all the effort to make

Mueller as safe as possible for bicyclists, Simond Avenue from Mattie Street to Tilley is not the safest option for bikers, with a two-lane separated boulevard with parking and one traffic lane on each side. There is no place for a driver to pass a cyclist unless the cyclist pulls over into a parking space. In a neighborhood where the maximum speed limit is 25 mph, this is doable, but it means that this is not the best option for kids heading to the middle school. Zach Scott to the south and Robert Browning Street and Philomena Street to the north are much better options for young bikers headed to school than Simond Avenue.

Whether you are an avid cyclist, an occasional hobbyist or even a student headed to school, understanding the best ways to navigate our streets by bike helps keep us all safe.

Left and top: Preston Tyree and Ani Colt enjoy Mueller’s bikefriendly streets and pathways. Above, left to right: Colt driving trikeshaw with passenger Joan Quenan; Tyree driving trikeshaw with passenger Gary Ketler.

Tyree Preston is a resident of Mueller and a longtime bicycle safety advocate, instructor and expert witness. He has certified over 1,000 League Cycling Instructors.

A Fond Farewell

Summer’s last days along Mueller Lake Park. Photograph by Liz Reingold.

Do you have photo of Mueller people, places or events that you’d like to share? We’d love to see them! Please email: hello@muellermagazine.com.

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