Northwest Austin Edition | May 2025

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Northwest Austin Edition VOLUME 19, ISSUE 4 MAY 30JUNE 27, 2025

Food truck parks roll in to Northwest Austin

operating within the city. Quatro Wyatt, Pink Flamingo’s owner and a third-generation Austinite, said the Northwest Austin area has “exploded in the last 20 years.” “We have multiple tenants that have moved from high-volume locations downtown to us because they believe in the community around this area,” Wyatt said. “I think we can all agree that it is underserved in cool outdoor spaces.”

Two new food truck parks have launched in the community this year alone. Pink Flamingo Food Court o McNeil Drive opened in March with a handful of new and seasoned food truck operators, and another food truck park o Anderson Mill Road is slated to open by this summer. In 2024, Austin ocials estimated that there were over 1,500 mobile food vendors

Food trucks have become a signicant part of Austin’s culinary scene, and these mobile vendors are gaining traction in Northwest Austin. BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

CONTINUED ON 14

183

Also in this issue

Ali Berkay (left) and Huseyin Aktas opened their rst food trailer at Pink Flamingo Food Court this year, serving Mediterranean cuisine. (Brittany Anderson/ Community Impact)

Impacts: Mexican Sugar to take the place of Museum of Ice Cream in The Domain (Page 6)

Development: See how developers plan to change a former Apple campus (Page 13)

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Impacts

TOLL

by Forever 21, which closed in September. Customers can find women and men’s clothing, accessories, shoes and wellness products, plus home decor and music products including vinyls, record players and more. • Opened May 8 • 3409 Esperanza Crossing, Austin • www.urbanoutfitters.com

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CENTURY OAKS TERRACE

Coming soon

4 Burlington Coat Factory The company has taken over two former Joann locations in Austin including one in The Shops at Arbor Walk. The discount store sells clothes, accessories, home decor, shoes, makeup and more. • Opening TBD • 10515 N. Mopac Expy., Bldg 1, Austin • www.burlington.com 5 D1 Training The athletic facility offers strength and conditioning options for athletes of all ages through one-on-one training, group or family classes. • Opening in June • 11521 N. RM 620, Ste. 800, Austin • www.d1training.com 6 Mexican Sugar The restaurant is part of restaurant group FB Society alongside Haywire and Sixty Vines, which also reside in The Domain and Domain Northside. As the new restaurant moves into the space, Museum of Ice Cream is looking to relocate after four years of occupancy at the shopping center. • Opening in 2026 • 11506 Century Oaks Terrace, Ste. 128, Austin • www.mexicansugarcocina.com

MOPAC

620

FOUNDATION RD.

WALNUT CREEK PARK

7 16

1 4

360

183

COLLINFIELD DR.

FAR WEST BLVD.

BROWN LN.

FERGUSON LN.

AUSTIN CENTER BLVD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

2 Halal Joy The food truck offers rice bowls with beef or chicken shawarma, falafels and more. • Opened in February • 8925 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • Instagram: halal_joy_austin 3 Urban Outfitters The business is located in the space previously occupied

Now open

What’s next

1 Cloth and Steele Boutique The boutique owned by Crystal Hamilton features upscale clothing, accessories, shoes and candles from over 15 designers, some exclusive to her store. • Opened April 21 • 10515 N. Mopac Expy., Ste. 105, Austin • www.clothandsteele.com

7 Aburi Tora Sushi The sushi restaurant is expected to begin construction at the East Village development in June with completion in December, per a permit filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

For more information, call 311 or visit www.AustinTexas.gov/Bond2026

A General Obligation (GO) Bond is a funding tool that allows cities to borrow money to pay for major community projects like streets, libraries, or open spaces. Influence how bond dollars are invested. Participate in meetings, take our survey, and share your thoughts online to help inform the decision-making process.

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BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, DACIA GARCIA & HALEY MCLEOD

• 3500 E. Parmer Lane, Ste. 8010, Austin • www.aburitora.com

Now open

Coming soon

8 Neon Belly A permit filing with TDLR shows North Austin residents can look forward to a new coffee shop and bakery with outdoor patio space. The project is expected to start construction in May and finish in October. • 8312 Burnet Road, Unit 101, Austin • www.neonbellycoffee.com 9 Umiya Sushi A permit filing with the TDLR states the Japanese restaurant is slated to start renovating the space previously used by Baby Acapulco Tex-Mex Restaurant in June with a completion date of August. • 13609 N. I-35, Bldg. 9, Austin • www.umiyaatx.com

13 Zadok Jewelers The brand’s second location sells luxury jewelry from a range of brands including its own in-house line and offers services such as repairs, appraisals and custom-designed jewelry. The location has introduced three luxury watch boutiques to the shopping center: IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai and Tudor. • Opened May 2 • 11501 Century Oaks Terrace, Ste. 141, Austin • www.zadok.com

16 First Watch The daytime dining concept serves made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch, with specialities such as the Quinoa Power Bowl, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Chickichanga and the signature Million Dollar Bacon, as stated in a news release. • Opening in July • 3500 E. Parmer Lane, Ste. 10140, Austin • www.firstwatch.com

Relocations

10 Feels So Good The Austin-based custom screen printing shop and retailer has split into two new locations for its retail offerings and its screen printing production services. The business was previously located at 211 E. Alpine Road, Austin. • Relocated March 22 • Production facility: 9204 Brown Lane, Austin • www.fsgprints.com 11 Quantic Wenzel The electronics manufacturer creates super, high- precision electronic clocks used in space applications, naval ships, fighter jets and quantum computers. • Relocated in March • 1835A Kramer Lane, Ste. A100, Austin • www.quanticwenzel.com 12 Vital Rheumatology The office is moving from its current location at 2217 Park Bend Drive, Ste. 220, Austin, to Parmer Lane. Run by Dr. Louis Robinett, the practice offers services for a range of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and more, as stated on its website. • Relocated May 15

• 3600 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 106, Austin • www.rheumtx.com

• 8913 Collinfield Drive, Unit 1-2, Austin • www.lonestarcares.org

17 The Arboretum The shopping center is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the Northwest Austin community. • 10000 Research Blvd., Austin • www.thearboretum.com West Austin Chamber of Commerce Since its founding in 2010, the chamber has organized events to highlight local businesses and created networking opportunities for the community. The chamber celebrated its 15th anniversary in April. • www.westaustinchamber.org

In the news

14 Austin Regional Clinic Far West The clinic now has a second mammography machine and a new suite for 2D and 3D mammography screenings,

according to an April announcement. • 6835 Austin Center Blvd., Austin • www.austinregionalclinic.com

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Transportation

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

McKalla Station game day ridership soars one year after opening

North Austin Red Line

1 Broadmoor Station 2 Kramer Station 3 McKalla Station

inception and that it is a gateway opportunity into “developing better transit travel behavior,” Mukherjee said. “Someone who typically relies on a ride by a single occupancy vehicle, using very car-centric habits, they don’t really need to use transit,” Mukherjee said. “But on a game day, when the trac is really bad, this is a good way to travel. It’s socially a far better option [and] also a safe option.” Mukherjee said CapMetro ocials “learned all of its tough lessons” with McKalla during the rst 30 days, and that team members routinely volunteer on game days to help guide trac, assist riders and more. Ocials are also preparing to open new Red Line station Broadmoor Station next year.

CapMetro’s newest station, McKalla Station, marked its rst year of service in February. The station, which is situated along the Red Line, ocially opened to the public last year on Feb. 24 ahead of the 2024 Austin FC season at Q2 Stadium. Construction on McKalla began in 2022 as part of Project Connect to increase mobility and transit options in North Austin. The station was built with the primary function to service Austin FC, but also serves the neighborhoods around it including North Burnet, said Sharmila Mukherjee, executive vice president and chief strategic planning and development ocer at CapMetro. CapMetro ocials have seen an impact on travel patterns in the area since the station’s

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Opens in 2026

183

A closer look

Dig deeper

Average daily Red Line ridership

McKalla Station has upwards of 830 riders on “event days” such as Austin FC games, Mukher- jee said, compared to just under 80 riders on a regular weekday. Average ridership on Saturdays is slightly higher at about 105 riders. “There are a lot of mixed use [and] residential that essentially opened after [Q2] was open,” Mukherjee said. “So, I think we’re starting to see a lot more traction in that area. ... You would probably see that pattern coming into ridership as well.”

1,200 1,600 2,000

CapMetro’s latest station under construction is Broadmoor Station, which is expected to open along the Red Line sometime in 2026. McKalla and Broadmoor will cater to “slightly dierent markets,” Mukherjee said, with Broadmoor slated to serve the Uptown ATX community as well as provide a more direct connection to The Domain. CapMetro plans to bring lessons learned from McKalla Station to Broadmoor Station, Mukherjee said.

0 400 800

2022*

2023

2024

2025**

*2022 ONLY INCLUDES APRILDECEMBER RIDERSHIP. **2025 ONLY INCLUDES JANUARY RIDERSHIP, PER THE LATEST AVAILABLE DATA.

SOURCE: CAPITAL METROCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY BEN THOMPSON

Tens of thousands of homes and apartments, including 22,000 affordable units, were built in Austin from 2018 to 2023. However, development in that time frame still lagged behind ambitions set in the city’s Strategic Housing Blueprint six years into that 10-year plan. Austin officials moved to implement the housing blueprint back in 2017, with decade- long goals to add 60,000 income-restricted units and 75,000 more for middle- and higher-income residents through a mix of private and public funding. The city previously estimated $6 billion-$11 billion would be needed to help build the 60,000 units for lower-income Austinites by 2028. Austin was just over one-third of the way to that goal as of 2023, according to the city and nonprofit HousingWorks Austin. Austin remains behind housing goals

Dig deeper

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes credited new construction from recent housing bonds and other city programs for the progress made in District 2, which was over 80% to its blueprint goal and had nearly 2,500 more units still on the way in 2023. On the other hand, central and western council districts remained well behind the targets set in 2017, a trend that’s persisted. In District 2, more income-restricted housing was under construction than in council districts 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 combined. West Austin’s District 10, which had the second-highest goal set back in 2017, added only 72 affordable units and had less than 200 more in progress as of 2023. The Austin real estate market isn’t the same as when the housing blueprint was adopted, with rising home prices and rents coming alongside rapid population growth. Given those changes and others in the local market, the city will be updating the blueprint through a project supported by a nearly $7 million federal planning grant. Fuentes said Austin will need to continue making local investments as bond dollars quickly dry up, and with little aid expected from higher levels of government. “I’m deeply concerned about what’s happening at the federal level and potential funding cuts that we could get to already scarce and scant federal dollars that we have going towards affordable housing,” she said.

Austin affordable housing units by council district The city's Strategic Housing Blueprint called to build 60,000 new affordable housing units from 2018-28. After six years, Austin is just over one-third to that goal with most additions coming on the east side. Built Under construction 10-year goal Percentage of goal met xx%

69%

District 1

183

45 TOLL

86% 57%

District 2 District 3 District 4

MOPAC

130 TOLL

76%

360

31%

District 5

620

290

21%

District 6

35%

District 7

183

14%

District 8

30%

District 9

290

MOPAC

0.9%

District 10

130 TOLL

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN, HOUSINGWORKS AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY BEN THOMPSON

City considers how to fund homelessness response

Local marijuana policy may be repealed Austin’s voter-approved ordinance limiting local marijuana enforcement could be overturned, after a Texas appeals court sided with a state challenge to the policy. Austinites approved Proposition A in May 2022, stopping police from issuing cita- tions or making arrests for most low-level marijuana misdemeanors. Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued several cities over the adoption of such ordinances. A district court judge ruled against the state in 2024, but Paxton appealed. On April 24, the 15th Court of Appeals sided with the state’s push for a temporary injunction to block Austin’s ordinance. The case will now head back to a lower court. In early May, Austin attorneys filed for a rehearing and said the appeals court had incorrectly ruled on the case.

Officials are considering how to support their priority of homelessness response and sustain that funding. The big picture Many of Austin’s homelessness programs have been funded with one-time local spending and federal relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Officials are now looking to turn some of those one-time items into permanent investments, replace the federal ARPA funds that are running low,

and expand some services. That increase in funds could come through a tax rate election, asking voters to authorize hiking taxes beyond a state-imposed cap. “We’re just trying to maintain current efforts at that level, and ... my constituents want to increase the level of support...” council member Chito Vela said. Council is set to review a new policy May 22, after press time, and would decide whether to call one during budget deliberations.

Capacity in Austin’s Homelessness Response System City officials and local homelessness advocates hope to continue increasing the number of shelter beds and housing units available for people experiencing homelessness.

Supportive housing

Rapid rehousing

Shelter

2,000 2,500 1,000 1,500 500 0

NOTE: TOTALS DON'T INCLUDE TEMPORARY SAFE HAVEN VETERAN SPACES OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

2019

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & CHLOE YOUNG

Community members urged the board of trustees to keep Dobie Middle School open at an April 24 meeting.

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Dobie Middle School students may be able to stay at their campus next school year instead of being relocated to Lamar Middle School. The details Austin ISD administration is not currently recommending relocat- ing Dobie Middle School students, Superintendent Matias Segura said at a May 2 special board meeting. This comes amid feedback from community members and the board of trustees, he said. Instead, the district is consider- ing internally restarting the school AISD reconsiders closing Dobie Middle School

through restructuring or partner- ing with a charter school to satisfy state requirements. The state is requiring AISD to submit a plan on how they intend to improve low student performance at Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools following two years of failed accountability ratings. What’s happening Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools received a second consec- utive year of F ratings from the state in 2023, according to ratings released by the Texas Education Agency on April 24. At the April 24 school board meeting, district ocials said TEA had extended the district’s deadline to submit a turnaround plan until June 30. The district plans to vote on the plans by June 12, Segura said.

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since increased slightly to $13.3 million due to “normal changes in the budget,” she said. The projected expenditure increases include $4.9 million built in for raises, a $1 million increase in recapture payments, a $2 million increase to address district growth and a $5 million increase for uctuating xed costs such as utilities and insurance.

A budget update and compen- sation plan for 1-3% sta raises shared at the May 1 Pugerville ISD meeting showed shortfall pro- jections have slightly increased. Breaking it down Last month, Chief Financial Ocer Jennifer Land projected a $13 million scal year 2025-26 budget shortfall. That number has

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Development

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Austin officials consider rezoning former North Austin Apple campus

Next steps

Per agenda documents, the development would be permitted to include a variety of residential, commercial and civic uses if rezoned LI-PDA, such as: • Multifamily units, condominiums, duplexes and townhomes • A cocktail lounge and entertainment space • Public or private primary and secondary educational facilities • A convention center and community club • Research testing and warehousing services Additionally, 10% of residential units are proposed to be reserved at 80% of the median family income level or less. The zoning change request will next go to Austin City Council on May 22, after press time.

The former Apple Campus site off Riata Vista Circle in Northwest Austin could be converted into a mixed-use development featuring residential and retail space, life science offices, and more. The 28.85-acre site owned by Capital City Lucky Riata includes four two-story buildings that were previously occupied by Apple, according to agenda documents. The site is currently zoned Limited Industrial, or LI, which allows for industrial uses such as manufacturing and warehouse activities. The recommendation to change the zone to Limited Industrial-Planned Development Area, which permits more land uses, was approved by the platting and zoning commission in a 8-1 vote April 15.

PARMER LN.

Apple campus

YETT CREEK PARK

RIATA PARK

“I just don’t think the benefits are balanced with the entitlements,” said Commissioner Betsy Greenberg, who voted against the rezoning.

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Food truck parks roll in to Northwest Austin From the cover

Northwest Austin food truck parks

The big picture

A American, barbecue E Mediterranean

B Caribbean F Polynesian

C East Asian, South Asian G Bakery, coee, dessert

H Fusion D Latin American

Central Austin events such as Austin City Limits and South by Southwest helped spearhead the food truck scene, which has since spread to communities around the metro, said Madison Gessner, executive director of the Texas Restaurant Association’s Greater Austin Chapter. “We’re really seeing a lot of interest in what I call the suburbs of Austin,” Gessner said. “... There’s a lot of opportunity for growth, and you really see a lot of innovation with food trucks.” Austin Public Health, which processes permits and inspections for food establishments, has also seen an increase in mobile vending over the last two years, Environmental Health Supervisor Michelle Mellor said. While Northwest Austin already has a few established food truck parks such as Anderson Mill International Food Court and Hamilton Food Park, Wyatt has worked to transform the former Pink Flamingo Plant Co. property into one of the area’s newest options. “I wanted to get the best food trailers in the city,” Wyatt said. “The truth is that a community of food trailer operators really built [the food court].”

45 TOLL

620

Anderson Mill International Food Park • 9313 Anderson Mill Road, Austin

ANDERSON MILL RD.

MOPAC

Anderson Mill Food Truck Court • 9817 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • Opening summer 2025 • Mexican, Indian, coffee and vegetarian options so far

Pink Flamingo Food Court • 7221 McNeil Drive, Austin

183

Hamilton Food Park • 5002 Hamilton Road, Austin

Lone Star Court • 10901 Domain Drive, Austin

BURNET RD.

GREAT HILLS TRL.

360

How it works

Costs*

Mobile food vendor

Brick-and-mortar restaurant

Before applying to begin the permitting and inspection process, mobile food vendors in Aus- tin must enter into an agreement with a central preparation facility, or CPF, Mellor said. Per the agreement, CPFs provide mobile food vendors with waste disposal facilities for grease, wastewater and trash; food storage facilities for dry goods or temperature-controlled items; and additional storage for equipment and supplies. The department aims to complete the per- mitting and inspection process within a month, Mellor said. Despite having a smaller footprint than brick-and-mortar restaurants, food trucks have become a critical part of Austin’s food ecosystem and culture, Gessner said. “We’ve had so many amazing stories of people who started food trucks that have now branched into brick-and-mortar restaurants,” Gessner said. One such restaurant is SLAB BBQ in North Aus- tin, which began as a food truck in 2008 before opening a brick-and-mortar location in 2014. Its truck is now mostly utilized to cater cor- porate events for vendors such as Dell and The

Application fees

$158

Included in Food Enterprise Permit fee

Food Enterprise Permit fees

$212-$239

$359-$896

Varies by type of inspection and establishment requirements $178 (pre-opening inspection fee), $221-$312 (plan review fees)

Fire Department inspection fees

$200

Other fees

None for APH

Average startup costs

$50,000-$150,000

$200,000-$250,000

*AS OF MAY 2025

SOURCES: ATX FOOD TRUCK BUILDER, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

catering client may say there will be 500 people at an event, but only 10% could actually end up eating due to an oversaturation of other food trucks present. “We collect a lot of data to gure out how much to make every day, because you don’t want to be sitting on a bunch of product at the end of the day,” Robinson said. “... I’ve seen people go out of business based on that problem because you can’t return the food.”

University of Texas at Austin, managing partner Raf Robinson said. “[There’s] the mobility of being able to go to your customer, … [and] you’re eliminating a lot of the variables that are challenging to manage in a restaurant,” Robinson said. Food trucks are also generally less expensive to start than a restaurant, Robinson said, but operators have to consider costs such as the CPF. There’s also no assurance that all of the food prepared will be paid for and eaten, he said. A

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

In their own words

Stay tuned

Anderson Mill Food Truck Court in Northwest Austin is expected to open by this summer, owner Ramin Zavareh said. Four trucks have already signed on, with some still in the permitting process. When it comes to streamlining this process, a bill led during the 89th Texas Legislature could create some consistency for Texas food establishment regulations, Gessner said. Each city or county sets its own level of regulations on top of state regulations, she said. As such, establishments operating in multiple locations could face dierent sound ordinances, public health regulations, inspection schedules and fees in each location. Senate Bill 1008 seeks to address these issues by setting various provisions for local permitting and fees, which Gessner said could “help level the playing eld,” especially for mobile food vendors who travel around.

City of Austin ocials estimate that more than 80% of mobile food vendors in Austin are operated by people of color. That diversity is reected in Northwest Austin’s food truck parks, where visitors can nd a variety of international cuisines—including Mr. Pimento, a Jamaican-inspired food trailer that opened in 2022. “One of the reasons I started this is because I noticed that here in Austin in general, there wasn’t a litany of Caribbean, particularly Jamaican, cuisine,” owner Clay Spence said. “... One of the exciting things about Austin is it’s like a brand new canvas by all the people moving in.” Mediterranean food trailer Breeze & Bites is the rst for Ali Berkay, who runs it with childhood friend Huseyin Aktas after the two moved to the United States about two years ago. Despite “higher than expected” competition that has come along with operating in a food truck court, Berkay said the spot is his “dream location.” “The reactions are really great, and the

Mr. Pimento moved from its East Austin spot to the new Pink Flamingo Food Court earlier this year.

“You need competition to give a good picture of whether this is a good spot or not. So the fact that we have all of this—that’s one of the reasons why I’m excited to be here. … The demographic is outstanding.” CLAY SPENCE, MR. PIMENTO OWNER

community is helping us so much,” Berkay said. “We have regular customers who are coming by, so it’s motivating to us.”

Senate Bill 1008

January • Bill iled March • Bill reviewed by Senate Business and Commerce Committee April • Bill passed in Senate May • Bill passed in House June • Gov. Greg Abbott could sign bill into law SB 1008 targets mobile food vendor permitting to streamline the process.

Diving in deeper

a 15%-30% commission to utilize its services. Despite the nancial impact this can have on inde- pendent restaurants and food trucks, it becomes the cost of doing business, Robinson said. “Do you want 0% of zero sales, or do you want 70% of however [many] sales there are?” Robinson said. “The answer is—even though it’s not my full margin—I can’t say no, because the business is not in a situation to say no to sales. And that’s the conundrum that most restaurants are in.”

Opting to open a food truck or trailer may yield less startup costs or overhead expenses, but Robinson said there’s a “misconception that it’s going to be simpler and easier.” The restaurant landscape has changed sig- nicantly since the coronavirus pandemic as consumer behavior heavily shifted to takeout through third-party food delivery platforms such as DoorDash, he said. These platforms typically charge businesses

• Bill could take effect Sept. 1 September

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINECOMMUNITY IMPACT

NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Dining

BY DACIA GARCIA

Mom’s Special Cooking brings unique Burmese cuisine to Austin area Since its opening in 2022, Burmese food truck Mom’s Special Cooking has attracted customers from Round Rock, Pugerville, Dallas and beyond as one of the only spots in the Austin area serving traditional Burmese bites. The backstory Owned by Yee Yee and her husband Win Bo, the food truck opened in the lot of State Farm Insurance on Parmer Lane on November 26, 2022. Before opening the food truck, Yee worked as a cook at a restaurant in Round Rock. When she rst looked into making her dream of becoming a business owner a reality, she wanted to sell fried chicken, but her son encouraged her to bring something new to the table. “My son told me, ‘Mommy, everybody

everywhere has fried chicken. You should try doing traditional foods,’” Yee said. On the menu As the sole employee at the truck, Yee said all its oerings are created using recipes which she learned online but has added her personal touches to. “My hobby is cooking,” Yee said. “I’m cooking and somebody’s eating and they love it so I’m very happy in my life.” During the week, customers can nd Salt and Pepper Shrimp and Fish, Shaken Beef, Kung Pao Chicken and more Chinese meals with some Thai entrees. On weekends, Yee makes Burmese options including Mohinga, a sh soup with thin rice noodles, and Falooda, a milk-based sweet drink typically made with ice cream, bread pudding and gelatin. Looking forward Yee and Bo said they are looking for a location closer to their home in East Austin where Yee can open a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Yee Yee and her husband Win Bo opened the food truck in November 2022.

2307 W. Parmer Lane, Austin Facebook: Mom’s Special Cooking

The Green Tea Salad features green tea, cabbage, tomato, green chili and assorted fried beans with dry shrimp or fried sh for $6.99.

The Malar dish includes chicken, shrimp, corn, meatballs, noodles, vegetables, mushrooms, lotus roots, Napa cabbage and peanuts for $11.99.

PHOTOS BY DACIA GARCIACOMMUNITY IMPACT

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316 NORTH LAMAR 914 North Lamar (512) 214-6665

ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expy (512) 342-6893

Business

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Bakery and coee shop Cupprimo has been a xture in the North Austin community since 2008, oering unique cupcakes baked fresh every day, custom desserts, breakfast quiches and a large Cupprimo brings custom cupcakes, coee and more to North Austin

coee menu. Staying local

In the 17 years since owner Amy Closson opened Cupprimo, the shop has remained in the same strip center location and expanded across three storefronts. Closson even uses the same coee roaster from when the shop rst opened, she said. “The really great thing about it is it’s the same mission—we wanted to bake fresh everyday and have great coee,” Closson said. “We’re lucky that the ZIP code we’re in can support kind of a luxury cupcake brand. That makes it easy, because our own community uses us daily.” For dessert Along with quiche, coee and other drinks, Cupprimo’s menu features seven cupcake avors available every day of the week: red velvet, blue velvet, tuxedo, strawberry, birthday cake, double chocolate and primo vanilla. The shop also has special avors only available on certain days of the week, plus vegan and gluten-free options. On top of its daily operations, the shop creates custom cakes, cupcakes and party platters for birthdays, weddings, holidays and other events, and does “a lot of corporate catering” for vendors such as Apple and The University of Texas. What’s special about it? In 2012, Closson and her then-head baker com- peted against three other bakeries on an episode of Cupcake Wars on Food Network, which she said was a “phenomenal experience.” “It was back when Cupcake Wars was all that,” Closson said. “Back at that time, anyone that was on Food Network—it [automatically] improved everything about your company. ... We would have people bring their kids on spring break to visit because of that.” Closson said she auditioned “in reverse,” because a network producer originally reached out after seeing Cupprimo’s social media account and driving by the shop while lming an episode of “Top Chef” in Austin.

Along with cupcakes baked in-house or custom made, the shop features iced and hot coee drinks.

PHOTOS COURTESY CUPPRIMO

Cupprimo oers 6- or 8-inch custom cakes, as well as custom cupcakes and party platters for a variety of events, including weddings.

Amy Closson is the owner of Cupprimo.

A family aair Closson’s husband Brad is a children’s book author and has penned two books about Cuppri- mo’s cupcakes: “Amy and the Cupcake Council” and “Icing, Icing Everywhere!” All ve of Closson’s children have also worked in the shop at some point, she said, and she typically keeps a small sta of about 15 people who can han- dle Cupprimo’s front of house and back of house operations.

183

8650 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 105, Austin www.cupprimo.com

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MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

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Events

BY DACIA GARCIA

Courtside Cares The single-elimination tournament will raise funds for BIG Love Cancer Care, a Texas nonprofit organization which helps meet the needs of pediatric oncology and hematology patients and their families. • June 7, 6-9 p.m. • $30 (general admission/spectator), $100 (two-player admission), $500+ (sponsorships) • Austin Pickle Ranch, 11000 Middle Fiskville Road, Bldg. B, Austin • www.bit.ly/4kuywiT Exotics & Elegance The Domain is collaborating with The Exotics Network to create the supercar weekend event featuring over 40 exotic cars, special promotions, a live DJ and a media wall. • June 7, 7-9 p.m. • Free • The Domain, Century Oaks Terrace, Austin • www.simon.com/mall/the-domain Tuneful Tales Austin Symphony Orchestra will perform in collaboration with a reading of “Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise” by Sean Taylor. The Spanish performance of the event will take place at 11 a.m. and the English version will begin at 11:25 a.m. • June 9, 11 a.m.-noon • Free • Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin • www.bit.ly/4k6dOpH The Art of Living - A Creative Afternoon at Maravilla Open House The senior living community’s open house will include a guided painting project, a professional chef cooking demonstration and live music. • June 13, 1-4 p.m. • Free • Maravilla at The Domain, 11001 Austin Lane, Austin • www.srgseniorliving.com/event Philippine Independence Day Gala Community members are welcome to join the Austin Filipino-American Association at the celebration which includes food, entertainment and the association’s

June

Global Running Day with ABW Run Club, Fleet Feet Austin & Brooks Community members can spend their Wednesday evening supporting Girls on the Run, an empowerment program to help girls in third to fifth grade gain social and physical skills while building confidence. • June 4, 6 p.m. • Free • Austin Beerworks, 3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin • Facebook: Global Running Day with ABW Run Club, Fleet Feet Austin & Brooks Laptop Disassembly and Repair Workshop Fix-It Austin and staff from the city of Austin’s Community PC Program will teach attendees how to understand laptop basics such as the functions of each part and how they work together. • June 5, 6-7:30 p.m. • Free • Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Lane, Austin • https://library.austintexas.gov/little-walnut-creek- branch Kidpreneur Pop-Up Children ages 18 and under can showcase their businesses featuring handmade art, treats, crafts and more by running their own personal booths and interacting with customers at MaxLiving Chiropractic’s farmers market. • June 7, 10 a.m.-noon • Free • MaxLiving Chiropractic Tech Ridge, 12314 N. I-35, Ste. 108, Austin • Facebook: Kidpreneur Pop-Up NICU Graduate Reunion, Hand to Hold Community members and families can celebrate NICU graduates of all ages with hourly grad walks, activities, entertainment, raffle prizes, stadium tours and more. A sensory-friendly grad walk will take place at 11:30 a.m. for grads who may have sensory sensitivities. • June 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free • Q2 Stadium, 10414 McKalla Place, Austin • www.handtohold.org/nicugrad

Tagalog class graduation. • June 14, 5-9 p.m. • $65 (admission), $100+ (sponsorships) • Holiday Inn Austin Midtown, 6000 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin • www.afaaonline.org/event-details/ philippine-independence-day-gala-2025 Wicked Party “Wicked” fans are invited to prepare for the second movie with trivia. • June 26, 5-7 p.m. • Free • Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Lane, Austin • https://library.austintexas.gov/event/summer-adults/ wicked-party-7764886 Star Spangled Fest Individuals can celebrate the special holiday at the 48th annual event with performances from local musicians, a taco eating contest and a fireworks show. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will perform ahead of the fireworks display which is set to begin at 9:30 p.m. • July 4, 5 p.m. • Free (general admission) • Vic Mathias Shores, 950 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.starspangledfest.com/july-4

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