Mueller July 2024 by Wainscot Media

Be Cool

Yes, it’s hot, but it’s July in Austin, so it is supposed to be hot. In this, my third summer in Texas, I admit I am getting used to it and, I dare say, embracing it.

In these dog days of summer, there are lots of ways to beat the heat or at least cope with it. This issue, we look at a few of them and take a minute to learn more about Mueller history.

Indoor activities in this heat are always welcome, and yoga may be one of the best choices for summer. We meet Keith Kachtick, owner of

Dharma Yoga, the longestrunning yoga studio in Austin. He and Dharma are truly Austin yoga royalty!

We also learn about some of the iconic metal structures that grace many of Mueller’s outdoor spaces. Lauren Woodward Stanley—one of the principals of Stanley Studio, the architectural firm that created these structures— shares her personal thoughts about Mueller’s transformation into the bustling community filled with public art and design that it is today.

And when it’s hot out, what’s the first thing we think of eating to cool down? Ice cream and other sweet summer treats! We share various options for culinary cool-offs, including local ice cream and frozen yogurt choices in Mueller and the immediate neighborhood. We even feature Lotus Creamery in our Meet Me at the Market story this month since you can never have too much ice cream!

Just because the weather is hot doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all that summer offers. Have a great July and stay safe in the heat!

Liz Reingold Publisher

Mueller MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher

Liz Reingold

Art Director

Sue Park

Contributing Writers

Carmen Gray

Lauren Woodward Stanley

Photographer

Margarita Garcia Acevedo

Marketing Coordinator

Alexandra Garcia

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

Associate Editor

Sophia Carlisle

Advertising Services Director

Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director

Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager

Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

Mueller magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Mueller, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2024 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARGARITA GARCIA ACEVEDO

In the Neighborhood

COMING: MORE PUBLIC ART

Texas Mutual has gifted a mural to the Mueller community that will come to life this summer at the hands of artists Cindy Tobar and Ernesto Hernandez.

The mural, to appear on Branch Park Pavilion’s two white-brick walls that face Aldrich Street, will incorporate the theme of “Community Taking Flight.” Stop by to follow the progress as it takes place over the summer!

SANTA CATARINA IS NOW OPEN!

This new neighborhood eatery offers authentic, classic Mexican recipes with a contemporary twist. Enjoy interior and coastal specialties made from the freshest ingredients along with signature craft cocktails in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Happy hour 4 to 6 p.m. daily

2901 Manor Road www.santacatarinarestaurant.com

A MILESTONE FOR ORIGIN

The Origin Hotel is turning 2! Come celebrate with Origin and Blue Lacy all summer long. Plan a neighborhood staycation with special birthday rates and complimentary breakfast. Enjoy the brand-new food and cocktail menus—and don’t forget to bring the kids: They eat free on weekdays all summer long. Happy birthday, Origin!

THE NEW RIVETTE TOWER

Adjacent to Mueller’s iconic control tower sits a new luxury apartment complex with 345 new residences and 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Located near the corner of Berkman Drive and McCurdy Streets, the new community is developed by Ryan Companies US, Inc., and operated by Greystar. The leasing office is now open. Stop by today for a tour and ask about limited-time leasing incentives.

https://rivettemueller.com

737-260-7331

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

Wednesday nights are salsa and bachata nights at Veracruz! Bring your friends for a night filled with dancing, music and fun.

Class: 8:45 p.m.

Social hours: 9:15 p.m. to midnight All are welcome!

SPOTLIGHTING PRIDE AT THINKERY

Thinkery’s Community Spotlight: LGBTQ2S+ Family Pride event is back! Curated by Thinkery’s friends at Austin Pride, the event is hosted at Thinkery –Meredith Learning Lab. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this fun, free night of joy and family-friendly programming that celebrates Austin’s LGBTQ2S+ community.

August 6 4 to 6 p.m.

Natural Flavors From India

Henal Patel created a custom, chemical-free ice cream concoction for her son—and Lotus Creamery was born.

BY CARMEN GRAY

Austin is experiencing yet another sweltering summer, but you can find relief with a variety of unique ice cream flavors at Lotus Creamery in the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller, where each Sunday you’ll find an assortment of unusual taste combinations.

Henal Patel, the founder of Lotus Creamery, happily serves up incredibly rich flavors that are not only natural and tasty but also reminiscent of her faraway native country, India.

Born and raised in India, Patel moved to the United States at age 17. “I’ve always been passionate about cooking!” she says.

This interest began from a very young age and continued throughout her life. She trained to be a radiotherapist during college, but after becoming a mother, she stopped practicing and—after a serendipitous moment on a visit with her family to India—returned to her childhood love of food.

The Mother of Invention

The concept of Lotus Creamery came about when, as a young mother, Patel visited an ice cream shop with her husband and toddler on a trip to India.

They bought a cone with an interesting flavor, but it tasted artificial, as if filled with chemicals. “I couldn’t bring myself to give this artificially flavored food to my 2-yearold son,” Patel says. She has always been concerned about artificial ingredients and preservatives in packaged products.

But her son was eager to try it, so she wanted to provide something healthy for him instead. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. That evening, she made her very first batch of rose ice cream, driven by her desire to create a natural and healthy alternative for her family.

A Natural Fit

After Patel had embarked on motherhood, she sought some type of part-time business to get back into the workforce. The idea

of producing healthier, more natural ice cream options felt like a great opportunity for her—a perfect combination of what she needed to do and what she enjoyed.

Thus, Lotus Creamery was born. Her business is committed to providing delicious, wholesome treats that parents can feel good about giving to their kids.

“We make all of our ice creams with natural ingredients, avoiding artificial flavors, colors and preservatives,” Patel says. She also partners with local farmers to source dairy, fresh seasonal fruits and other ingredients.

You won’t find the unique flavors included in their traditional, Indianinspired creations anywhere else, as they come from her very own imagination!

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a dual-language teacher, a published author and freelance writer, and contributing editor for Latino magazine.

Henal Patel uses locally sourced ingredients and avoids artificial flavors, colors and preservatives in her creamery creations.

A Yen for

Yoga

Keith Kachtick turned from a life of writing and travel to establish the Austin area’s longest-running yoga studio.

BY CARMEN GRAY

Did you know that Dharma Yoga, located at 3317 Manor Road, at the edge of Mueller, is the longest-running yoga studio in Austin? Keith Kachtick is the proud owner of this peaceful space that offers not only classes and workshops but also an eight-week yoga teacher training twice each year.

This summer will mark the 35th teacher training at Dharma Yoga, which has certified over 700 yoga instructors since opening in 2005. Some of the teachers who have graduated from Kachtick’s program have even started their own yoga studios in Austin, including the popular

Sukha Yoga and Black Swan.

As a long-time Austinite, I remember attending Kachtick’s vibrant classes back in 2007 at his previous studio on Guadalupe, where Hopfield’s is located. Ten years ago, Dharma Yoga found its permanent home on the corner of Manor and Palo Pinto.

There are many loyal yogis who have remained with Dharma Yoga since its first iteration, which serves to keep Mueller’s unique awareness-based mindfulness community going strong. Dharma Yoga has a wonderful sangha (a Sanskrit word that means “community”) of all age groups and levels of experience.

Before opening Dharma Yoga in 2005, Keith Kachtick taught yoga and meditation in New York prisons through a Buddhist nonprofit.

A Full Life

Kachtick has a long history of writing, traveling and practicing yoga.

He graduated from UT in 1983 with a Plan II liberal arts degree, which would later serve him well as a writer. For over a decade, he was an adventure travel essayist for Texas Monthly and Esquire, and is author of the novel “Hungry Ghost” (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year) and editor of “You Are Not Here and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction.”

Before moving back to Austin to open Dharma Yoga, Kachtick taught yoga and meditation in prisons in New York through the Lineage Project, an award-winning Buddhist nonprofit based in the South Bronx.

If you take a class at Dharma Yoga, you’ll no doubt get a sense from the colorful artwork and photography in the beautiful studio of Kachtick’s varied life experiences and knowledge.

Wide-Ranging Classes

Classes range from vigorous vinyasa flow to gentle candlelit nightcaps. Classes are both fun and challenging. Kachtick and his teachers are terrific at ensuring that students are in mindful alignment while breathing deeply, but that’s not to say everything is taken too seriously. On the contrary, at some point you’ll most likely break out in a smile or a laugh during class.

Kachtick begins each session by reading an excerpt of something meaningful that sets the tone and intention for the hour. And then there’s the music, which is always great, along with teachers who will remember your name and help you to deepen your practice, whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner.

Dharma Yoga classes typically have a comfortable gathering of 10 to 15 students, so there’s always room to stretch your arms and relax.

You can buy discounted passes (five- and 10-class passes are good for a year) or try a drop-in class for $20, no reservations needed. Just show up 10 minutes early to grab a spot. If you want to try a class on Zoom, Kachtick offers Friday and Sunday virtual sessions from 10 to 11 a.m. for just $15 per class.

For more information about Kachtick and Dharma Yoga, visit https://dharma-yoga.net.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a dual-language teacher, a published author and freelance writer, and contributing editor for Latino magazine.

‘Storytelling in Texture, Shape and Color’

An architect and artist reflects on the origins of—and intentions behind—some of Mueller’s most beloved public spaces.

Who doesn’t love a story? Even better are stories connected to places familiar to us.

Most residents know Mueller’s origin story and the success that the neighborhood has enjoyed as a grand redevelopment project. Newer generations might not know about the community’s history as a municipal airport, but we can all marvel at the utter transformation of a flat expanse into a densely knitted quasi-town, thriving with life where

BY LAUREN WOODWARD STANLEY

once was monolithic tarmac.

When I moved back to Austin in 2005, the airport I once used as a UT grad student had become a place of abandon—defunct parking lots and signage anchored by a lonely blue flight tower.

Living just south of Manor Road, I often combed through what I called the Mueller Wildlands, climbing mountains of fill for sweeping views of downtown and skirting wetland ponds left by the

demolished terminal building.

Life teemed at the edges: tall reeds, white egrets, chirping frogs, roaming coyotes. Volunteer trees found purchase in rifts in the runway surface and grew tall. I watched an incidental natural place take root in slow anticipation of the intentionally designed place it would become. When the first buildings went up, it was hard to believe that this new regime would prevail.

Design and craft work have garnered recognition such as design awards from the Texas Society of Architects and AIA Austin for public spaces like the John Gaines pool. (Photo by Casey Dunn.)

Urban Repurposing

But it did, and we all watched Mueller become Mueller, from chance cottonwoods to street-lined sycamores.

I was a regular outside observer of this incremental change, eager to see each new commercial arrival and thrilled with the generous amount of green space the development afforded.

This was a place that was about more than putting up houses; it was about creating a fabric that wove together greenbelts, trails, parks, businesses and civic amenities, open to the rest of the city. This was urban repurposing at its best.

As it turned out, I would participate in this place-making directly. The bittersweet experience of watching wild

places yield to heavy equipment was mollified knowing this land would host many new experiences, in both interior and exterior worlds.

Parks were planned, and they would all need to be given form and detail. As co-owners of an architecture and metalwork studio, my husband and I had the opportunity to be some of those form-givers.

Since about 2007, we have completed a range of projects as Mueller has grown. These commissions all shared the intent to enhance the identity of their larger projects. Bringing tactility, detail and human scale to hard materials helps places feel like Places, enlivening where we live, work and play. Crafting the built world is like storytelling in texture, shape

and color.

Entrance gates for Ella Wooten pool, restrooms at Lake Park, the courtyard of Wildflower Terrace and decorative fencing at the children’s garden at Dell hospital all draw from organic and botanical forms.

The decorative screens at the mechanical pen facing the playground— as well as at two doorways around the Diamond building—pick up patterning from the Mueller airfield map. Each project presented an invitation to study its setting and respond with a design that would go further than a manufactured solution to create a sense of place. These moments can make an outsized difference in cultivating character without having to customize the entire project.

Form and Function

Public art moments generate their own drama and pull as people spots. Think of the spider and Nessie sculptures, both creations of artist/collaborator Dixie Friend Gay. How many meet-ups have happened under these creatures?

We thoroughly enjoyed adding to the most recent in this lineage, the octopus at Jesse Andrews Park, creating the shimmering purple arms that engulf the restroom building.

John Gaines Park and Swim Center was our biggest contribution to Mueller and the most engaging. As the project’s architect, our studio collaborated on the design team to envision a cohesive park and worked across scales, from landscape to detail.

Taking a cue from the nearby flight tower, we decided to embed airport stories in the project. At the playground, intersecting berms and a tunnel mimic the historic runway layout and let kids fashion their own play. We decommissioned an airport bus shelter to later reconfigure its steel trusses into a shade pavilion and shed for the community garden. Blues echo the tower’s checkerboard palette.

Sustainability, an explicit goal at John Gaines, extends the site into the future as a community place. Collected rainwater irrigates green roofs; solar panels and vines shade a central breezeway; and bathhouse courtyards allow natural light and air flow.

We put on our metalworker hats to design and fabricate gates, bathhouse doors and privacy screens, using a common motif and hefty steel construction for longevity.

We all make our own stories when we venture out into shared space. How much richer we can make our urban experience by creating an urban fabric populated by places invested with vision and craft! Mueller has captured many such moments, and surely has more to come.

Lauren Woodward Stanley shares her practice, workshop, home and chickens in JJ Seabrook with Lars Stanley and their two teenage sons, whose earliest bike

runways.

rides were across the fault lines of old Mueller

Opposite page, clockwise from left: John Gaines pool (photo by Casey Dunn); Ella Wooten Pool house; Mueller airport pedestrian shelter. This page, left to right from top: John Gaines Park community garden; Wildflower Terrace; Dell children’s garden; Jesse Andrews restrooms.

Icy Indulgences

Savor summertime’s sweet, frozen treats at local venues that offer distinct frosty flavors.

It’s July in Austin, and that means it’s hot. It also means we have the perfect reason to indulge in our favorite frozen treats. And there is no shortage of options to choose from right here in Mueller or in the immediate vicinity, each with its own unique flavors. Here are just a few to try.

YO SO COOL

Yo So Cool frozen yogurt combines the health benefits of frozen yogurt with the fun of creating your own frozen masterpiece.

Adults and kids alike can’t wait to try all 12 individual flavors and six twist combos of all natural, nonfat, low-fat, non-diary and no-sugaradded options. Add as many toppings from the topping bar as you like and you have your own individual frozen creation.

In addition to self-serve frozen yogurt, Yo So Cool serves decadent cake balls on a stick. With fun flavors such as red velvet cake, these treats make great indulgent snacks or perfect additions to parties, holidays or any sweet occasion. Visit the shop in the Mueller Regional Retail Center.

1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd. www.yosocool.com

ZED’S REAL FRUIT ICE CREAM

Right on MLK Blvd., just a stone’s throw away from Mueller, you will find a unique ice cream experience at Zed’s Real Fruit Ice Cream.

Inspired by real-fruit, all-natural, New Zealand-style ice cream, Zed’s is still very much an Austin creation. A traditional vanilla soft-serve base is combined with fresh fruits such as strawberry, pineapple, peach and more. The result is a colorful twist of deliciousness.

Pair the ice cream with Zed’s brandnew specialty coffees debuting this summer and you have more than a few reasons to bring the family and hang out in the establishment’s welcoming outdoor patio.

1814 Harvey St. www.zedsicecream.com

LICK HONEST ICE CREAM

Ice cream made of beets? Yes, please! How about Cilantro Lime or Sweet Persimmon and Sage?

Lick prides itself on using only pure, allnatural and interesting ingredients to create sustainable, artisan ice cream. No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives are ever used, and all the milk and cream come directly from family-owned local farms.

Sauces and toppings are made from scratch in-house along with Lick’s hand-rolled, individually-made waffle cones. You can taste the goodness with every lick.

1905 Aldrich St., #150, on the paseo www.ilikelick.com

Behind the sliding window at Bottega, you can find some of Austin’s favorite scoops from both Merry Monarch Ice Cream and Gati.

The delicious flavors change seasonally and based on availability, so there are often fun new flavors to try. Come in for light bites or coffee, but make sure you don’t leave without a scoop or two!

2100 Robert Browning St. www.bottegaatx.com

With so many cool options right in the neighborhood or close by, there is something for everyone. And, if you don’t feel like leaving your home for your sweet treat, keep an ear out for the familiar jingle of the Mister Softee truck, which has a usual route throughout the neighborhood. A trip to the ice cream truck keeps us cool and makes us all feel young again!

Local Tips to Beat the Heat

You can keep cool and save money at the same time. The experts at Austin Energy explain how.

Triple-digit heat has become commonplace for the Austin area. Last summer, we saw some of the hottest temperatures on record, and this summer, although it’s been a bit more temperate, we are still regularly seeing temperatures over 100 degrees.

What’s the best way to beat the heat—and the high energy costs that go with it? One answer is: Don’t go outside in the hottest part

of the day. But what about strategies at home to help you stay cool and conserve energy?

Austin Energy, headquartered right here in Mueller, is a great resource for tips and tricks to stay cool when the summer heat takes a toll. The utility encourages customers to save energy and money.

Here are some of Austin Energy’s most important summer conservation tips to use in the shelter of your home.

Notch Up the Thermostat

Raise your thermostat setting by a few degrees in the summer—which will still be much cooler than outside temperatures. For the biggest energy savings, set your thermostat even higher when you are away for two hours or more on a hot day.

Use Fans

Point fans in your direction to make temperatures around you feel about 4 degrees cooler. In the summer, switch ceiling fans to run counterclockwise to push cool air downward. Only keep fans running when you are in the room.

Clean Your Coils

…Your air conditioner’s condenser/ evaporator coils, that is. Cleaner coils lower your energy costs, extend the unit’s life and provide cleaner air for you to breathe.

Clear the Way

Keep debris and high grass away from the outdoor AC condenser. These obstacles block airflow, which makes the condenser work harder and run longer.

Block the Sun

Close shades and curtains on any windows that are hit by direct sunlight to prevent heat from getting indoors.

Shun Heavy Appliances

Avoid turning on the oven or doing laundry during the hottest times of day. Using the microwave produces less heat. Summertime heat in Austin is no joke, but with a few tips and strategies, you can keep cool and summer on!

GET CREDIT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Austin Energy offers a Power Partner Thermostat Program, a demand response program that gives bill credits to residential customers for allowing their thermostats to be adjusted on a handful of high-energy-use days.

Eligible participants can also earn credits and receive rebates for buying and installing smart thermostats. For more information on this program and how to enroll, visit https://savings.austinenergy.com.

RUN A COOLER CAR

While Austin Energy focuses on keeping cool at home, the reality is that—despite the hot temperatures—we all must leave the house sometimes, and the heat can be tough on vehicles just as it is on homes and bodies. Keep your car functioning well in the summer heat by taking these steps.

SEEK SHADOWS

Park in the shade and cover the windshield to keep interior temperatures down.

VERIFY VITALS

Make sure that your battery is functioning and that fluid levels are topped off.

INSPECT TIRES

Check your tires to make sure that pressure stays at recommended levels and that tire tread doesn’t wear from hot pavement.

CONFIRM COOLANT

Make sure coolant is at proper levels to prevent the engine from overheating.

REPLACE AS NEEDED

Check belts and hoses to make sure they are functioning well and replace any that are worn. Also make sure you have a clean air filter, especially when pollen counts are high.