Town Lake  Lake Austin  Lake Travis  Lake Marble Falls  Lake LBJ  Lake Buchanan

Spring 2007

Krause Springs
 Artfully uniting
extraordinary properties
with extraordinary lives.

On the Beach...
The Ocean Club - Flamingo Bay,
Costa Rica

In the City...
Clarksville Cottage

In the Hill Country...

Rob Roy

Stephanie A. Taylor
Realtor/Partner
stephanie.taylor@sothebysrealty.com

Your life is a collection of extraordinary moments, past and present...

Contact Stephanie...
live the moments. 512-633-5311
www.CapitalCitySothebysRealty.com
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
 Spring
Waterways Magazine
107 RR 620 South, C-34, Austin, Texas 78734
waterwaysmagazin@aol.com

2007
Editor/Publisher Cathie Parssinen 512.785.6313
Designer Lisa Woods lisa@lwoodsdesign.com
Contributing Writers Keija Parssinen, Catherine Settles
Contributing Photographer Paige Bristol of Paige In Time Photography

On The Waterfront
8 8 Krause Springs | by Keija Parssinen
10 VIP Boat Show Reception | by Cathie Parssinen
12 2007 Austin Boat Show | by Cathie Parssinen

Travel
18 Napa Valley...Auberge du Soleil
California Wine Country’s Premiere Inn and Spa
by Catherine Settles

The Arts
26 22 TexARTS 2007 Preview Party | by Cathie Parssinen
24 Big River | by Cathie Parssinen

18
26 Mallorcan Artists | by Cathie Parssinen

Charity Among Us
28 Seton Gala Cocktail Party | by Cathie Parssinen
32 Seton 25th Anniversary Tea | by Cathie Parssinen
34 Austin Childrens’ Shelter | by Cathie Parssinen

Spring Real Estate Feature

39 Reverse Gold Rush California immigrants find
“gold” in Austin’s Hill Country | by Cathie Parssinen

39

28
4 Waterways | Spring 2007
 512.402.1846
900 rr 620 south, A108
l akeway, texas
www.casabell ahf.com

in the l akeway commons

shopping center

Open Tue–Fri 10 to 6
Saturday 10 to 5

upholstery • lighting
floral • antique reproduction
furniture • beautiful old-world
inspired pieces
 Are we having fun yet? Valerie Gilmore, Gail Snowden, Melissa Dawlett, Mary Amsler, Sarah Phillips, Karen Winvorn, and Sandra Tillman

Melissa Dawlett with

Shelley Ohnstad

Girls’ Night Out

story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

A
t the Lake Travis Education Foundation Gala in February 2006,
Melissa Dawlett and Sandra Tillman placed the winning bid on a Girls’ Night Out auction
item provided by Bobby and Vanessa Baker, owners of Lush Salon, and Mary K Oglesby,
owner of FeFe’s. Lush donated hair and makeup services for nine while Mary K contributed wine,
champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a stretch limo to chauffeur the girls...once suitably gorgeous..for
a night on the town. Coordinating schedules for nine busy ladies proved to be an 11-month chal-
lenge! Finally, at the tail end of January ‘07, just weeks from the 2007 Crystal Ball, the long-awaited
redemption took place!

Kelly Christianson, Lisa Black,

Mary Amsler, and Valerie
Gilmore, Karen Winvorn

Melissa Dawlett, Sarah Phillips,

Gail Snowden, and Sandra Tillman

Vanessa Baker, Stacy Putnam

and Ashley Green of Lush Salon

Bobby Baker working his magic!

Sandra Tillman and

Melissa Dawlett

6 Waterways | Spring 2007

Private Country French Estate

206 Sendera Bonita

in Arbolago

Please call me for more info. on this beautiful property.

Bertina Schreiber CONTEMPORARY CASUALS & FINE ACCESSORIES

REALTOR® 900 RR 620 S. Lakeway Commons

Mon -Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5 Sun closed
512.796.5740
Bertina@Moreland.com (512) 263-0329

The ShopS aT The Galleria

at the intersection of Hwy. 71 West and R.R. 620 South
www.SolariaDaySpa.com
512.263.2797
massage facials
Swedish & Prenatal Sonya Dakar Ultimate Anti-Aging
Deep Tissue Sonya Dakar Clarifying
Hot Stone Microdermabrasion
Scalp, Shoulders & Back Alpha Hydroxy Acid Peels

body treatments
Micro-Buff Body Polish Deep Sea Cell Body Refinisher
Scrub and Massage Combination Buff and Bronze
European Rose Body Wrap Body Butter Wrap
Open
Tue–Sat 10 to 6 magic tan sunless tanning
Sun 12 to 5 waxing services :: nail services
 The Timeless Allure
of Krause Springs
Story by Keija Parssinen | photos by Cathie Parssinen

P
eople who grow up near a coastline often harbor pity
or disdain for those of us who must face the summer land-
locked and without the possibility of an ocean or gulf’s salty
reprieve. These coastal folk have little regard for the modest refresh-
ment found in local swimming holes, small and waveless as they are. But
where beaches are expansive, noisy, and hard to miss, swimming holes
are typically small, secret spots where stillness makes room for swimmers’ private
enchantments. Krause Springs, tucked just off the highway in Spicewood, has for cen-
turies captivated locals with its sheltering beauty, dating back to the days when the
Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche tribes used it as a water source.
In the 1950s, Jane and Elton Krause bought the acreage from a relative. Previously
used as a hog farm, the spread includes several natural springs that the Krauses have
managed to transform into a public spot without sacrificing the springs’ quiet magic.
Even on busy summer days, visitors’ voices seem somehow muted, as if caught and held
in the ferns and heavy hanging branches of the cypress trees lining the lower pool.
The Krause home sits on the property’s crest, overlooking the stone swimming
pool and picnic tables. Hidden from view under the lip of a small cliff, a large natural
pool forms from the springs and feeds into Little Cypress Creek. When I paid a visit
last summer, a local high school volleyball team had converged under the waterfall
that spills from the upper pool into the lower pool. With the water falling around them
and the music of their laughter, they were like naiads singing to the other swimmers
sunning themselves on rocks. I had just spent a week at a popular beach on the East
Coast, and I couldn’t help but think how I preferred the sweet, unobtrusive sounds of
the waterfall and the tittering girls to the boardwalk crowds and crashing surf.
Thanks to the Krause family’s diligent maintenance and organic beautification
efforts, the springs are an inviting and clean natural wonder. Absorbing the warmth of
the hot, flat stones as you dry off along the bank, you can feel the history of the place
as it moves through the body, regenerative and alive.

Cover model Blair Nylor, photo-

graphed for this issue at Krause Springs, is an
English major at the University of Texas at Aus-
tin. Within her discipline, she combines a love of
literature with a passion for theater. She was one
of a handful of students accepted into an upper
level class for English majors called “Shake-
speare Through Performance,” in which students
immerse themselves in the timeless rhetoric of
Shakespeare and will perform HENRY IV, parts
1 and 2, in Winedale at the end of the semester.
Coincidentally, Blair, like others featured in this
issue, is also a California transplant to Austin.

Blair Nylor, photographed by Cathie Parssinen Premium denim

shorts by RED ENGINE, top by SWEETEES, crystal necklace by
EMILY RAY. All available at SMARTIE PANTZ, in the Galleria of
Shops at Hwy 620 and 71W.

8 Waterways | Spring 2007

“A Relaxing Hill Country Experience”
vPanoramic hill country views
vPersonable service & intimate unique charm
vConvenient to Lake Travis & Lakeway
v36 beautiful guest rooms, 4 suites and a 3/2 fully furnished guesthouse
vAll patios overlook the Balcones Canyonland Nature Preserve
vConference room ideal for small business retreats
vHigh speed internet access
vComplimentary continental breakfast
vSurprisingly affordable rates

3573 Ranch Road 620 South (one mile north of Hwy 71)

�
512.263.2010 Toll Free 1.888.263.2010
www.mountainstarlodge.com

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pecializing in South Lake Travis Waterfront,on historic Main St.
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Kids
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ory & Travertine Floors, Pool, Baby Nay
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cess w/ Boat Ramp in desirable Naumanns Point & Manhatten Toys
Stonehouse Vineyard $329,000 Bunnies by the Bay
Bee Creek Rd @ Hwy 71 West • www.beecreekrealty.com
Seven for all Mank
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Sail & Ski’s Rod Malone and Buzz Watkins with Proudly Representing Co-Sponsor, Miller Lite!
Gayle & Don Canada, Austin & San Antonio Boat Show Organizer

Austin Convention Center Hosts

Boat Show VIP Cocktail Reception
P
articipants at the 2007 Austin Boat Show and their guests were treated to
Robert Barlow of Texas Sailing with guest
a royal VIP Cocktail Reception on the second evening of the Boat Show, hosted jointly by the
Austin Convention Center, Miller Lite and Town Lake Productions. The private party, held
just off the Waller Creek Terrace, featured a lavish selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and
free admission to the Boat Show. The event was heavily attended, and the mood was festive as veteran
boaters traded tall tales and mingled with those eager to join the boating life style that so defines
Austin and other areas that surround the Central Texas chain of lakes.
Robert Hodge, Managing Director of the Austin Convention Center, wanted to do something very
special for the Boat Show, as one of the Center’s oldest, biggest and most successful events.

Mark Kutscherousky, David Alan Thomas, and Doug Malone Don & Gayle Canada with Robert Hodge; Director, Austin Convention Center

10 Waterways | Spring 2007

 1 F r e e m o n T h w i T h 6 - m o n T h r e n Ta l !
E.H. “Bubba” Breazeale
Professional Real Estate Services

WINE STORAGE
The Finest Facility
in Central Texas
• Temperature maintained
at (55°)
• Humidity maintained
at 65-70%
• Dedicated back-up
generator
• Multi-camera video
Listing and selling properties in Lakeway,
surveillance Lake Travis, and the surrounding area
• Computer-controlled
access, and more! 30 years of experience

E.H. “Bubba”Breazeale, Realtor®

(512) 517-4247 b_breazeale@msn.com
Located within Hill Country Climatized Storage
www.hillcountryclimatizedstorage.com www.lakewaytexas.com

More Than Just A Boat Store...

We’re A Lake Lifestyle Store!!
Wakeboards Water Skis Kayaks
From the best selection
of boat parts to the best
selection of bathing suits,
sunglasses, sandals,
Jet Skis Sea Ray Nautiques and everything else you
need to enjoy the lake—
we’re your store!

www.sailandski.com

LAKEWAY AUSTIN
512-266-1515 512-258-0733
1106 Ranch Rd. 620 12971 Research Blvd.
On the corner of Stewart Rd. and RR620 6mi. N. of Mopac on 183: McNeil/Spicewood exit
 2007
Boat Show
O
ooh,  the goodies were up close and personal at
the 2007 Austin Boat Show! Fortunately, the show
wrapped up on Sunday evening, just before the ice
storm descended on Austin and the Hill Country in full force. The
rain on Saturday and the very cold temperatures for the dura-
tion of the event made a trip to the show a welcome outing for
many families and for boating enthusiasts who were undoubtedly
dreaming of the warm waters, sunshine and balmy temperatures
that lie in wait this spring and summer. And, in Austin, absolutely
no one is complaining about precipitation, whether it comes in the
form of rain or ice.

Karen Raven Brooke Simpson and Tracy Zbranek

Grant and Chase Saxon,

Roger Duffy, and Tammy Saxon

Lara and Jim Melsha

Chase, Reed and Grant Saxon

Clayton Raven & Boat Town Associate....doing the numbers!

12 Waterways | Spring 2007

 An Austin Tradition Since 1961
Boat Town now has two locations to better serve you.
Please visit us at our new location
at Hurst Harbor Marina.

BOATS & YACHTS

Main Store: 4630 S. Lamar,

512.892.2220
Lakeside Store: 16405 Clara Van
512.266.1210 Serving Lake Travis
www.Boattown.com Marinas and Private Docks
2005
2006
Visit Website for Pricing
www.firstclassmarinedetail.com
Call (512) 587-0037

A BEAUTIFUL HILL COUNTRY SETTING FOR YOUR SHOPPING AND DINING.

WELLS FARGO BANK

STARBUCK’S
CASA BELLA HOME FURNISHINGS
ROCCO’S GRILL
SPA AT THE LAKE
SUZIE D’S
CRISTIANI’S JEWELERS
AUSTIN TROPIC TAN
MAD ABOUT SHOES
TURNQUIST PARTNERS REAL ESTATE
MULLIGAN’S
DOMINO’S PIZZA
FLIPPER’S PETS
EXPRESSIONS FINE CHOCOLATES
VINO 100
EDWARD JONES
PARADISE ICE CREAM
CAFE CASTRONOVA
PREMIER MARTIAL ARTS
PAKMAIL
REID’S CLEANERS
DR. WINSTON EADDY, DDS
LAKEWAY EYE CENTER
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE
HEART HR
COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS 900 RANCH ROAD 620 SOUTH AT LAKEWAY BLVD.
ALPHA GRAPHICS LAKEWAY, TX 78734 | 512.266.3163 PHONE
WWW.LAKEWAYCOMMONS.COM
 Nightly entrée specials
supplement the regular dinner
menu. Crab-stuffed Shrimp
and the Angus Tenderloin Filet,
topped with a Jumbo Lump Crab
Cake, have been crowd pleasers.

Rockin’ Happy Hour at Rocco’s Grill

story and photos by Cathie Parssinen
Charlotte Foster, Carol Wolfe,

W
Ellen Dawson, Alice Dobyns,
hat is it that creates the boomin’ bar and rockin’ happy hour at Rocco’s? It’s not just the great
and Debbie Sheppard
drinks, although the “U.T.ini,” Bella Linda and the Mexican Martinis bring the house down. The lazy,
S-shaped bar that occupies a prominent, inclusive place in the middle of the restaurant is part of it.
No one likes to drink alone (!) and, at Rocco’s, the bar experience is fully integrated into the heart of the restaurant.
Clusters of high bar tables and bar stools, adjacent to the bar itself, extend the bar scene, offering an inviting place
for small groups to congregate over steaming platters of shrimp and oysters, heaping plates of mushroom brus-
chetta, the best Italian pizza this side of Rome, and, of course, the Bella Baci, mesquite-grilled shrimp, adorned
with jalapenos and Fontina cheese, wrapped in bacon and served with a cool, cilantro-sour cream sauce.
Rockey Piazza, in his unmistakable chef’s pants, works the crowd. Effusive, comfortable, he fusses over his
extended family of guests, stopping to visit tables of friends…the true Patrón of the establishment. There is a
sense of warmth, a feeling of community among familiar faces. Everyone seems to know everyone else. And if
they didn’t when they arrived, you feel sure they will before they leave. There is a distinct sense of camaraderie…a
buoyancy to the atmosphere…that makes it a fun place to hang out.
The heated veranda offers a
romantic, cozy dining environment
Co-owners, Ani and Ally Piazza, each contribute to the smooth operation of the in the winter and opens up to a beau-
restaurant. Ally Piazza coordinates all events at Rocco’s Grill, including parties tiful view overlooking Yaupon Golf
customized to accommodate special requests, theme decorating services and large Course. In the spring and summer,
party catering for special occasions. The Wine Room offers an intimate experience
this magical veranda offers outdoor
in private dining. Ani Piazza Ray is Director of Public Relations & Marketing.
dining at its best.

Tom Wilkinson, Bob Laws, and Sue Potter Tim Dalton, Mike Maroney, and Kaye Byland

Trent Collins, Rockey Piazza, Jared Truair, and Kole Ray

Carol Burns, Rockey Piazza,

Cheryl Ray, Ally and Linda Piazza

Juan, Rockey, Romero,

Pedro, Sergio and Manuel

14 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Mediterranean Courtyard Homes
Austintatious Living 30 Years Experience

ROCKY NAVARRO, REALTOR®

Central Texas... Where the STARS really shine!
mobile 512.694.5700 office 512.264.3700
www.RockyNavarro.com www.HomesAtLakeTravis.com

San Gabriel
Builders

Buying and Selling Don Fry, REALTOR®

Made Easy! (512) 944-9274

Sellstate Realty
“It doesn’t cost any more to hire the best!”
www.DonSellsAustin.com
 TRY US ON FOR size...

• Circuit Training • Cardio Equipment • Massage

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• Fitness Boutique • Managed Weight Loss Program

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TOTAL BODY
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2422 RR 620 South, Ste. A 140
(512) 263-3600 THE
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512.266.8484
Liberty Center • 107 RR 620 South
(Across from Johnny Fin’s and next to China Pacific)

Fitness • Weight Loss • Wellness

 sharing helpful
information on over
Your Neighbor…
5,000 kitchen Your Realtor…
products 40 Water Front Ave.
Luxury Lake Living
Call for details

SANDY CARY
Keller Williams Realty
1927 Lohman’s Crossing, Ste. 102
Austin, TX 78734 (512) 589-1002
www.sandycary.com

1501 Ranch Road 620 N. Suite A

Lakeway, TX 78734 | 512-266-5666
WWW . FARADAYSKITCHENSTORE . COM

Austin’s Premiere Game Room Furniture Store

Billiard & Game Tables, Bars & Bar Stools,
Lamps, Accessories & More!

----------------- now in bee caves next to the Backyard -----------------

Highway 71 at 620 www.billiardfactory.com 512.263.2878
 AUBERGE DU SOLEIL:
The Grande Dame
of Napa Valley’s Luxury Inns
Photos compliment of Auberge du Soleil
I
t’s a gray, winter afternoon in Napa Valley, and
there’s a slight mist coming down. Off-season in wine country
is the best. The roads are less traveled, and there’s no traffic as
my fiancé and I drive up from San Francisco. After we check in, we are
personally escorted to our room, the King
Suite, where the door opens to reveal a lux-
urious haven appointed with everything we
could want and more. A crackling fire burns
in the grate and, before curling up to enjoy
it, we open the welcome bottle of Cabernet
Sauvignon and toast to our getaway.
We are staying, of course, at the famed
Auberge du Soleil, that beacon of quiet
sumptuousness nestled on a 33-acre hill-
side olive grove where everyone from Christina Aguilera to CEOs
escapes. Private cottages, or maisons, make up the Auberge, which San
Francisco restaurateur Claude Rouas and his business partner, Robert
Harmon, opened in l985. It won multiple awards—and continues to do
so—and in 1988, it joined Relais & Chateaux, perhaps the best collec-
tion of small luxury hotels and restaurants in the world.
18 Waterways | Spring 2007
Article by
Catherine Settles
It’s obvious why the Auberge du Soleil is part of this collection. The
maisons are lovely, and the bathrooms are luxurious. I draw a hot bath
for myself in the huge tub, pouring generous amounts of the Lemon
Bath I found in the tin of Dr. Hauschka’s holistic therapy baths. I turn
on the 15” LCD TV to the jazz station and
gaze up at the rain falling on the skylights
while soaking in the suds. After the bath, I
swath myself in bathrobe and slippers and
phone the spa to make reservations.
The Spa du Soleil, available only to
guests, expresses the understated elegance
of the inn. Its treatments rejuvenate and
relax and are designed specifically to incor-
porate regional offerings, utilizing herbs
and flowers from its private garden. I decide on the Warm Grapeseed
Oil Massage, followed by the Champagne & Rose Manicure and
Pedicure, while I sip a little bubbly and unwind.
As I walk from the spa back to my maison, I explore the grounds
and enjoy the French feel of the countryside. The olive trees and lav-
ender that line the path pay a fitting tribute to Provence. The grounds
 8401 Big View Dr. ~ $999,000 12910 Park Drive ~ $2,500,000 6719 Cuesta Trail ~ $869,000
Across from Lake Austin Lakefront with Boat Dock Over 1 Acre Lot

Custom Built by

1448 Buffalo Gap Rd. ~ $849,000

Sendero Homes 1452 Buffalo Gap Rd. ~ $829,000
Cove Front; 1 Acre Lot Boat Dock Capability; 1 Acre Lot

S
ince 1994, Sendero Homes has
been building custom homes
with open, innovative floor plans
using the finest materials available. Our
management, marketing, and design
teams have all been carefully selected
based on their individual talents and
resources within the high-end custom
home industry. It’s this combination of
people that will assure that our cus-
1444 Buffalo Gap Rd. ~ $799,000 15089 Dorothy Dr. ~ $559,000
tomers have a positive home building
Access to Lake Travis; Over 1 Acre Lot Views, Views, Views
and buying experience from beginning
to end.

Sendero Homes has the pleasure of a

close working relationship with the pro-
fessionals at Moreland Properties. Our
preferred Realtors welcome the oppor-
tunity to assist you in the sale of your
current home and make the transition
to your new Sendero Home as smooth
as possible.
1306 Sledge Dr. ~ $449,000 1310 Sledge Dr. ~ $469,000
Great Location Huge Backyard

You can’t buy happiness, but we can certainly

build it for you.

Jenny Palmieri Christine Prater Melissa Shipman Kim Stock

REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®
560-6104 cell 413-5855 cell moreland.com 659-7288 cell 656-5618 cell
jenny@moreland.com cprater@moreland.com melissa@moreland.com kimstock@moreland.com

Please call for more details on any of these fine properties or for any of your real estate needs.
 AUBERGE DU SOLEIL (continued)
are also home to one of the largest collections of outdoor sculpture
for viewing and sale. There are almost 110 works from California artists
in a variety of mediums, creating a unique flow between art and nature.
This focus on art completes the Auberge’s defining philosophy that all
the senses must be pleased. George Goeggel, Managing Partner, sums
up this belief by saying that “the true connoisseur’s appreciation should
include not only fine food, wine and hospitality, but also fine art—for
which the Napa Valley is likewise renowned.”
The sun is setting and before we leave for dinner, we head up to the
Main House to admire the view from the terrace. It’s one of the most
stunning in Napa, a panoramic look across the valley vineyards with the
fog rolling in gently. I could stay there forever but my stomach growled
loudly—reminding me about our reservations at Syrah, a highly recom-
mended restaurant in Santa Rosa. It’s a bit of a drive, but the time flies
by as we marvel over the haunting beauty of the region
20 Waterways | Spring 2007
Syrah did not disappoint. It serves French-California cuisine, like
many restaurants in Sonoma and Napa, and diners are tucked into a
warm, rustic dining room. We start with a bottle of Viognier (a deli-
cious, citrusy white wine) and a cheese plate. California makes an
array of wonderful cheeses, and we love anything from San Francisco’s
Cowgirl Creamery. For dinner, I choose the pan-roasted duck breast
with winter squash and chorizo and am amazed by the tenderness and
subtle compliment of flavors. Duck can be hit or miss, but this is defi-
nitely a hit. To satisfy our sweet tooth, we share the warm fall pear crisp
with honey and cinnamon ice cream. Cinnamon ice cream is a rarity on
any menu, and this crisp is unique and utterly delectable.
Real life is a distant journey in my mind and, in the car back to Napa,
I smile as I think about what’s in store for us these next few days.
The Auberge has hired a car service to take us to sample wines from a
number of different vineyards, including a private tour at Schramsberg
Vineyards, known for its world famous sparkling wines (enjoyed by
presidents no less!); a tasting tour at Stags’ Leap Winery for their
Cabernets; and a trip to Sonoma to taste Rochioli’s wines.
Back in our cozy maison at the Auberge, we are drowsy, relaxed
and wonderfully full. I was going to start another fire and dig into my
new book, but the big, fluffy duvet and high-thread count Italian linens
forced my surrender to deep sleep and wine-country dreams.
Make this Provencal-inspired dream come true and treat yourself to
the ultimate in discreet elegance. Visit the Auberge du Soleil and the sur-
rounding vineyards for yourself.
Auberge du Soleil
180 Rutherford Hill Rd.
Rutherford, CA 94573
800-348-5406
 Lakeway
Resort and Spa R OSA —A LOVELY MIX OF ROSE AND MUSK ,

I
f Napa Valley and the ultimate wine country resort, Auberge UNAPOLOGETICALLY ROMANTIC AND CHARMING .
du Soleil, with its luxurious spa, (see adjacent story) aren’t pen-
ciled in on the calendar for you anytime soon, don’t fret. The resort
spa experience is now available at the Lakeway Resort and Spa.
The dramatic transformation of this legendary property, undertaken
by investors, Behringer Harvard Funds, includes plans for a full resort
spa. San Saba Spa is now open. Along with a state-of-the-art fitness
center, the Resort assumes a position in the company of a select few at
the apex of the beauty and wellness industry. A review of six pages of
small-type listings of beauty service businesses in Austin reveals few
spas. Among these, many are small establishments with minimal staff
that offer only limited spa treatments. With the newly opened San Saba
Spa, perched at the water’s edge, The Lakeway Resort and Spa is staking
an ambitious claim on new territory, serving a growing demand for per-
AVAILABLE AT
sonal luxury services. Designed to enhance in-house amenities for Resort
guests, services at the spa will also be available to the public.
The “Triple-S” factor defines most purchases in the marketplace: sub-
stance, service and setting. Consumers want superior products; they want
to be treated like royalty during the transaction process; and, especially LAKEWAY PLAZA 1310 RR 620 SOUTH
in the luxury market, they want a setting that adds value to the purchase. WWW.AROMABASICS.COM
At this superb location on a finger of land surrounded by Lake Travis, the 512.263.7556
San Saba Spa makes a debut in a matchless setting.
 Lawrence Hamilton, Nancy Nichols, and Robin Lewis

Mr. and Mrs.

Steve Sandell
and Maddie
Blankenship
Robin Lewis and Todd
Dellinger with hostess
Mimi Blankenship

Marianna Dydek, Chris Hester and Cindy Lind

Danielle Green with Andy Richardson

Cindy Abell and Lisa Sikora

TexART 2007
Preview Party
story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

M
Norm Smith, Renee Green, Dave Sikora, and Sharon Kronberg
att and Mimi Blankenship offered their Lake Austin
waterfront home to host a “2007 Preview Party” for TexARTS
donors and supporters. Lawrence Hamilton, who gave a magnetic
performance as Jim in TexARTS BIG RIVER at the Paramount in January, also
joined the group as a special guest. Hamilton’s Broadway resumé includes star-
ring roles in Broadway’s Tony-winning RAGTIME, as well as JELLY’S LAST
JAM, PLAY ON! and PORGY AND BESS.
TexARTS’ Academy students, selected to perform alongside Hamilton in BIG
RIVER performances, treated guests to selections from the production.
Co-sponsors of the event included Cindy and Greg Abell, Raman and Becky
Dewan, Julie Fiedewald, Rene and Robin Green, Cindy and Mike Rapisand,
Michael and Joanna Dogherty with Mike Maroney
Dave and Lisa Sikora, Connie and Ralph Spagnola and Larry and Linda York.

Elaine and Roger Hamm with Julie Friedewald

Kelly Abell, Liz Sikora, and Monique Huff Janet Wright and Ann Neighbors

22 Waterways | Spring 2007

 BIG RIVER…
Stepping Stone to a Vision

TexARTS… “In Austin, By Austin, For Austin”

story by Cathie Parssinen

stage photos compliments of texarts

T exARTS received high praise for its performances of BIG RIVER at

the Paramount in January. Preceded by a one-night, concert version
production of THE MUSIC MAN last June, BIG RIVER delighted
Austin audiences with three performances, staged with full sets and costumes,
at the Paramount in January. Expanding on this record of success, TexARTS will
present five performances of CAROUSEL, boasting an even larger orchestra and
elaborate sets and costumes, during the third
week of June.
In its presentations of American musical clas-
sics, TexARTS is committed to a showcase of Austin
talent, both onstage and backstage, supported by
Broadway professionals of star quality. Rebecca
Luker and her Broadway costar, James Walton,
gave brilliant performances in THE MUSIC MAN,
and Broadway’s Lawrence Hamilton wowed the
crowd as Jim in BIG RIVER.
A growing number of students, attracted to
classes taught downtown and in Lakeway by
TexARTS Musical Theater Academy, reap the
benefits of exposure to the best and brightest tal- Damian Green

ent from the Broadway stage. These include not

only instruction from choreographer and Broadway star, Robin Williams, but
also from Tony Award nominees, directors and agents brought to them by the
Academy’s Broadway Guest Artists program.
TexARTS will open three beautiful new studios at Oak Grove Plaza to house
Academy classes and community outreach events supporting the visual and per-
forming arts. This space will provide an interim home for TexARTS as it pursues
a broader vision of building a première visual and performing arts facility with
a national focus. The concept envisions a state-of-the-art theater, a blackbox
theater, studio spaces, a sculpture garden and art galleries anchoring a “Town”
center for the arts with restaurants and retail space included as well.

24 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Pat Doucet and Glenda Foreman Dayna and Gary Mosier

David and Mimi Douglas Kenny Vise and Christi Carlin

Lawrence Hamilton and Michael Doherty

Linda York, Robin Lewis (TexARTS Academy Director & Co-founder),

and Alexandria York

Joy Franco and

Bob Miltenberger

Michael,
Sharon and
April Craig

The Spagnola Family (l-r) Danielle, Ralph, Ann, Ralph, Marlo and Conni

Brendle Pate, Cindy and Cliff Lind, with Ginger Pate

Alan and Paula Tye, Joann and Jimmy Anderson, Ann and Bob Neighbors

Spring 2007 | Waterways 25

 George Attal, Billie Martin, artist Pep
Sierra Mireles and Ron King of Bo Salon
Suari and Jennifer Matz
with Ann Attal

Artists
of Mallorca
story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

Bobbi Topfer and Joe Burke
A
huge crowd of art lovers, patrons of Austin Galleries
and friends of owners George and Ann Attal showed up to wecome
Mallorcan artists, Borja Fernandez, Bartolome Sastre and Pep
Suari at a cocktail reception in their honor. George Attal is responsible for
their introduction to an Austin audience whose appetite for their works grows
steadily each year. Their annual visit to Austin has become a tradition antici-
pated by many. All of the artists speak English, French and, of course, Spanish,
and they converse comfortably about the world of their work, their travels and
a multitude of interests that connect them to this group of admirers in Austin,
Texas. Several people from Austin have even travelled to Mallorca to visit the
artists at their homes in Spain. If you are unfamiliar with the artists, a visit to
Austin Galleries to see their new works is well worth the trip.

Cathie Parssinen

Gail Sanditen with

Bartolomé Sastre

Beau Theriot
and Sue Shearer

Ryan Doty with guests

of the Gallerie

Bill Staehely

26 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Susan Sumners

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 l-r: Co-Chair Dottie Stevenson; Barbara Helmueller,
President, Lakeway Associates of the Seton
Development Board; Co-Chair Debbie Snetzer;
and Diane Jackson

Dottie and Martin Stevenson

Ben Farrell and DeeAnn Burns Diane and Mike Jackson

Va-Va-VOOM!
Seton Development Board’s annual fundraising drive
story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

T
his year, the Lakeway Associates of the Seton Development Board accel-
Hosts Monica erated their annual fundraising drive with a gala cocktail party designed to
and Jeff DeCoux
turbo-charge efforts to increase giving to Seton. Jeff and Monica DeCoux
graciously responded to the Board’s search for a lavish location to host the new event,
offering their magnificent waterfront home for the party.
The event raised over $27,000 that will go to support Seton Shoal Creek, the only
acute care, psychiatric hospital in Austin offering quality mental healthcare for chil-
dren, teens and adults through both in-patient and out-patient programs. Monies
raised by this event will assist the underserved and the underinsured.

The following local businesses and individuals contributed in-kind donations

for the event: Abuelo’s, Bee Cave Bistro, Central Market, Vera Engert, Expressions
Chocolate, Sheila Dziersk, Johnnie Fields, Hudson’s On-The-Bend, John-Williams
Interiors, Lakeway Associates, Lakeway Inn, Lakeway Market & Deli, Lakeway Spirits,
Sweet Tooth Catering, Karen Schultz, Young Chef’s Academy

Major donors include: American Bank of Texas, DeeAnn Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan
DeCordova, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Doherty, Verna Eddy, Mary Ann Funk, Mr. and
Mrs. Mike Jackson, Gil Boyd and Gretchen Nearburg, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Renneker,
Janice Skiles, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Snetzer, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Stevenson

28 Waterways | Spring 2007

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 l-r: Carol Brunworth, Diane Jackson, DeeAnn Burns, Bee DeCordova, Marie and Herb and
Dottie Stevenson, Joi Hyink, and Debbie Snetzer Richard Drury Verna Eddy

David and Wilson and

l-r: Barbara Helmueller, Alan and Cindy Isaacson, Monica and Jeff DeCoux, Cindy Balfour Pat Smith
and Seton VP Deanna Resnik

Barbara Helmueller welcomes guests.

Diane and
Bubba Breazeale

Karen and
Mike Schultz

Joy Peters and Jill Pickren

l-r: Glenda and Boyce Foreman, Hessie Owen and Sister Gertrude Levy
Mike and Jeri
Archuleta
l-r: Jerry and Penny Hudgeons
with Nancy and Lewis Coco
l-r: Diane Jackson and Lynn Mandola with Damian Mandola,
Celebrity Chef and owner of Carrabba’s Italian Grill

30 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Smile DeSignS
A Cosmetic and General Dentistry Practice

Dr. Todd Ehrlich offers you

from left to right: Sunny Cardenas, Office Manager; exquisite results in a single visit.
Kristine Ehrlich, Office Manager; Dr. Todd Ehrlich; Kenla
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Our focus is on you and on your total experience. We

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 High Tea, High Stakes
and High Humor
“Tropical Night by Copper Palm”
Laina Cadro & Susan Miller

back row l-r: Brooke Stevenson, Diane Jackson, Joi Hyink

front row l-r: Dottie Stevenson, Debbie Snetzer, Anna Sinsigalli

story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

“Happy Birthday!” Karina & Chloe Machnacki

S
eton Associates of Lakeway marked a 25th anniversary with a celebration tea fea-
Co-Chairs, Debbie Snetzer
and Dottie Stevenson
turing 22 showcase tables decorated by local clubs and businesses to benefit Seton’s Shoal
Creek Psychiatric Hospital. It was a tea to end all teas...the stakes were high; the competition
was keen, and the race for prizes was ferocious, with over-the-top table designs, featuring exquisite
table settings and centerpieces. To her credit, even Sister Gertrude Levy, Seton’s representative for
Patient and Guest Relations, didn’t bat an eye at the table of eight “Vestal Virgins” who sat, ever so
demurely, at the “Brides’ Table,” designed by Gretchen Nearburg for the Sing Along Group!
The Seton Heathcare Network is the only non-profit hospital system in Central Texas committed
to providing quality healthcare to all Central Texans regardless of their ability to pay.

Shirley Cornet, Pat Smith, Annette Tyson, Jan Collier, Gretchen Nearburg, Gayle Laminack, Glenda Foreman, JoAnn Anderson

“Fun in the Sun - Babes of Lake Travis”

“High Tea High “A Royal Affair” Lakeway Resort & Spa “Travel Dreams” Navigant Vacations
Fashion” Worthwear

32 Waterways | Spring 2007

 AwakenYour Senses
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 ‘A Season of
Change’ for the
Austin Children’s
Shelter
story by Cathie Parssinen | photos by cathie parssinen
and Paige bristol, paige in time photography

Jeanna Rochner with Austin Mayor Will Wynn

“There is an appointed time for everything, and a season
for every affair under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3; 1

T
he nonprofit Austin Children’s Shelter’s recent gala, “A
Season of Change,” celebrated a number of appointed times: a time to heal, a
time to build, a time to dance, a time to seek, a time to keep, a time to speak
and a time to love. Fittingly, the Four Seasons Hotel hosted this first year event for the
Shelter, and tables were appropriately decorated to represent the four seasons. Judy
Maggio, news anchor with CBS 42 KEYE, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
More than 300 guests attended the elegant black tie affair, and their generosity raised
a net amount of $330,000 to support the needs of the Shelter. These needs are prompted
by a mission to provide emergency shelter, high quality care and hope for the future to
the children of Austin and Central Texas who have been removed from their homes due to
serious neglect, abuse or abandonment.
Speakers told compelling stories of their personal experiences with the Shelter.
Stephany Bryan is the mother of three children who were removed from her and her abu-
sive husband. This intervention gave her the opportunity to leave a dangerous relation-
ship and begin her life again. Stephany said of ACS, “It was not just a refuge or a place for

“SUMMER”
“SPRING”

“FALL”

34 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Unlocking Your
Real Estate
Possibilities!

Joan Barry Bockenkamp, Realtor®

JoanBockenkamp@TurnquistPartners.com
512.799.2907

512.263.4606
14360 Falconhead Blvd. Tues - Fri: 10am - 7pm
RR 629 next to FalconHead golf course Sat: 10am - 5pm E C H 
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now carrying:
 Bill and
Venus Strawn
‘A Season of Change’ for the
Austin Children’s Shelter, cont’d
cover; it was a sanctuary, a nurturing place of safety where all three of my
children could live together.”
Dawn Nye spoke of a story of triumph that began for her at the Austin
Children’s Shelter when she was in the 7th grade. “My time at the Shelter
made a huge difference in my life…and gave me hope and helped me to
begin to believe in myself. I believe the Austin Children’s Shelter helped me
to find courage and love.”
Four Seasons Executive Chef, Elmar Prambs, has been a devoted sup-
porter of the Shelter, serving meals to the children of the Shelter every week
for nearly seven years. He spoke eloquently of his experience of service. His
personal donation of the preparation of dinner for a private party ignited
a fast and furious bidding war. Chef Prambs generously offered a second
opportunity, and his donation of two private dinners raised more than
$8000.
Directors, members and supporters of the Austin Children’s Shelter,
facing their own season of change, courageously confront the daunting
challenges of raising the funds they need to grow and expand and to bring
more services to an increasing population of children who desperately need
shelter and support.

For more information on the Austin Children’s

Shelter visit www.austinchildrenshelter.org.

Kelly and Rhonda Gray Beth and Frank Stabile

Gena VanOsselaur and

Four Seasons’ Executive
Chef, Elmar Prambs

Dick and Sara Rathgeber, Gina VanOsselaer,

“WINTER”
ACS Executive Director, and Steve Anderson,
Deputy Director of Development

36 Waterways | Spring 2007

 IS�
THIS IS�
THIS

SPRING INTO SUMMER 07�

M�AR�
VISIT
VISITWWW.TEX-ARTS.ORG�
WWW.TEX-ARTS.ORG�

MUSICAL THEATER�ACADEMY�
SPRING SEMESTER CONTINUES�
Music, Dance & Theater instruction by professionals from the Broadway stage, film, television as well as top Austin pros, for ages 7-adult�

APR�
Star of the current Broadway revival A CHORUS LINE,�Chrissie Whitehead worked out TexARTS students summer, 2006 just before heading into rehearsal in New York.�

MUSICAL THEATER ACADEMY�SPRING SEMESTER�

CONTINUES�

MAY�
Television’s “GREASE Academy”�featured teacher, Broadway veteran and TexARTS friend Scott Fowler worked with TexARTS Lakeway students summer, 2006�

12�
GRAND OPENING�TEXARTS STUDIOS/OAK GROVE PLAZA!�
A day full of art!� Academy student showcase performances early... Family entertainment mid-day... Professional live music, fine art and dancing into the evening!�

4-22�
TEXARTS PRESENTS�CAROUSEL�
JUNE�
MUSICAL THEATER ACADEMY�INTENSIVE�

21-24� AT THE PARAMOUNT!�

Tickets for this professional, fully-staged American classic on sale in April - see www.Tex-ARTS for details!�Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Carousel” is one�
of the pillars of American Musical Theater - a classic love story including great classics such as�When You Walk Through a Storm.... June is Bustin’ Out All Over...�
If I Loved You...�And more - a Tony Award-winning gem that will grace the Paramount stage with a Broadway star as Billy Bigelow and an otherwise all-Austin cast!�

SPRING�INTO TEXARTS�- VISIT WWW.TEX-ARTS.ORG�

 Terry Williams, GRI, CLHMS
Real Estate Consultant
“Sell” 699-4868
Ofc. 263-3282 x202
Terry@Moreland.com M E M B E R

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 Special Real Estate Section

Reverse
Gold Rush
story and photos by Cathie Parssinen

Californians have found a different sort of gold

in our legendary hills—property.
Early Immigrants  Before 1500, tribes of Indians occupied the and they will exit as quickly as they came if Austin does not maintain the
region between the Rio Grande to the south and the Red River to the quality of life issues they hold dear. Growth, that double-edged sword
north, and throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, Spanish, French and that simultaneously enriches people and institutions yet can impover-
Mexican explorers embarked on Texas adventures. In the 18th century, ish landscapes, presents serious challenges for Austin and Texas gener-
Spain established a network of Catholic missions throughout parts of ally. Governor Perry moved earlier this year to fast-track permits for 17
Texas. The 19th century witnessed the inexorable push of American set- new coal-burning power plants and one petroleum-coke power plant,
tlers flowing east into Texas and beyond to other westerns territories. all of which will use old, “dirty” technologies instead of newer technolo-
In 1823, Moses Austin applied for and gies based on coal gasification that are 70-90%
received a concession from the Mexican cleaner than the plants proposed for Texas.
government for 4,000 acres for a party of You might also want to try to According to Wade Goodwyn, NPR’s Business
300 Anglo settlers, known as the “Original guess which of these men gave Correspondent, the new power plants in Texas
Old 300.” The rigors of the trip ultimately me the following quote: “I’m would emit annually about the same amount of
took the life of Moses Austin, and his son, sick of two things in my life in carbon dioxide (the primary global warming gas,
Stephen F. Austin, stepped forth to lead California…perfect weather… still unregulated by the federal government) that
this settlement of pioneer Texans. Other and perfect breasts! You can would be produced by 19 million automobiles, as
settlers, including German, Czech and laugh, but that’s kind of the well as tons of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and
Lebanese immigrants, sailed from their way it is in California.” mercury, all aggressive air pollutants. Houston
respective homelands to flood Texas in So then, y’all…welcome already competes with Los Angeles for the dis-
waves during the 19th century. to Texas, land of dramatic mal distinction of some of the sorriest air in the
weather: magnificent nation. Opponents of the proposed coal plants,
21st Century Immigrant & thunderstorms, freak ice who include ranchers, dozens of Texas mayors,
Austin’s Reverse Goldrush storms, flood, drought, hail environmentalists and watchdog groups, are
and the occasional tornado!
Now, in the early 21st century, another lining up to fight the big utilities and the Texas
(I reserve my opinion about
crest of immigrants bursts upon Austin and state government. And we shall see what the
the breasts.)
the surrounding Hill Country. Some come outcome is. The fact of the matter is that there
from Mexico and find work with a multi- are some things individual money can’t buy. The
tude of businesses hungry for unskilled, opportunity to buy a luxurious home in a presti-
cheap labor. Others come from a place gious gated community can’t buy the chance to
that, while not a foreign country, is argu- see the stars in a clear night sky, or protect your
ably as exotic as any faraway land. In a sort pregnant wife from mercury in the fish in our
of “Reverse Goldrush,” a phrase coined by lakes, or safeguard your children from breathing
Realtor Rocky Navarro, Austin is benefit- noxious air that contributes to asthma. So let’s all
ing from a significant influx of Californians hope that Austin and the great state of Texas gets
who have found a different sold of gold in it right when it comes to the beautiful and cun-
our legendary hills. That gold is not found ning challenges of growth.
in nuggets of metal but in property, people Read the stories of some of our new Texans on
and a priceless quality of life. the following pages as they share why they left the
These newcomers have come here to great “Golden State” and what they found here to
enjoy the superb lifestyle they feel Austin replace the pleasures of the reputed “land of milk
offers. Most of them can live anywhere, and honey.”

Spring 2007 | Waterways 39

Bobby & Tisha
B
obby and Tisha Anderson and their two young
sons, Reece (5) and Vaughn (2), are building a new home in
the Enclave at Rough Hollow in Lakeway. Bobby grew up in
Lake Tahoe and went to UCLA. Except for a brief stay in San Francisco,
he has lived exclusively in Orange County since he graduated from col-
lege. Tisha grew up in Fountain Valley, and she and Bobby will move
from their Foothill Ranch home, nestled in a canyon right up against
the Saddleback mountains, to move to Austin. “We really love Orange
County,” confesses Bobby. “It’s just a beautiful place to live.” So then…
why Austin?
A variety of reasons prompted the Andersons to assess other options.
Traffic and congestion that, as Bobby frankly admitted, are “over the
top” even in Orange County, were minor factors in their decision. Even
the fact that they are able to build a much larger home in Rough Hollow
than the one they are leaving behind in Southern California was not the
determining factor. “Quality of life issues, for us, are far more impor-
tant. We’ve got two young boys, and we figure we want to slow our
lives down a little bit,” Bobby explained. As Tisha remarked, “It’s really
important for us to live in a place where we can do things with the boys,
a place that’s very family-centered.” On one of their recent trips, they
stopped at a Green Mesquite BBQ and observed other children dancing
to live music and just knew that their boys would fit right in. “It was
just adorable to watch,” Bobby exclaimed. “There really are no restau-
rants like that in Orange County where kids can just run around and
have fun. It was really so nice,” Tisha recalls.
Bobby and Tisha saw a house in The Heights of Falconhead that
they really liked. There was a sign for the architect but no listing for
a Realtor. The home had already been sold, but architect, Alberto
Jauregui, referred them to Realtor Sandy Cary for more information
about the Lakeway—Lake Travis area. They hit it off immediately, and
Sandy began talking with them about what they were looking for. It
didn’t take her long to suggest Rough Hollow as a potential community
that might meet their needs, and it did…perfectly.
40 Waterways | Spring 2007
“I feel Austin is so fortunate to be able to attract families
like the Andersons. They will definitely enrich out
community. Working with them has given me a fresh
appreciation for the treasures we enjoy in Austin.”
—sandy cary, Realtor®
®
Another major reason the Andersons cite for their move is the
people of Austin. “We have just met the nicest, most welcoming,
friendliest people here, people who have gone out of their way with all
sorts of offers to help make our move easier. There are a lot of nice
people in California, but it’s just different. People there seem a lot more
self-absorbed and not very willing to invest in community and friend-
ship. And that’s very important to me personally,” Bobby confides.
He continues, “I remember one Friday talking with Brady Baird, the
Community Sales Manager for The Enclave at Rough Hollow. He men-
tioned that he was going to the high school football game that night.
Later we met several other people who all talked about the game. In
California, no one goes to a high school game except the students and
parents of the kids on the team.” “Yes,” Tisha added, “out here it seems
to be a big community event, and I think we’re really going to love
that.” Schools were also high on the Anderson list of priorities. They
were directed to two districts: Eanes and Lake Travis. “While we don’t
have anything against sending our children to private schools, both of
us went to public schools ourselves,” notes Tisha. “Yeah…and we both
made it out,” laughs Bobby.
Bobby Anderson sells medical devices used by cardiac surgeons in
open-heart and minimally invasive procedures. He recently sold his
company in California and started working with a small company out
of Raleigh, North Carolina called nContact Surgical. They have devel-
oped a system that ablates the posterior side of the heart in patients
with chronic atrial fibrillation, a major cause of stroke. According to
Bobby, this condition presents a huge, unmet clinical need in medi-
cine. “I really think we’re onto something,” Bobby shares. “In Germany
and Poland, we’ve recently operated on 33 patients and converted 30
patients to normal sinus rhythm.” Working from Austin places Bobby
almost directly in the center of the country, offering easier access than
California for business-related travel. Furthermore, Bobby notes that
Houston is one of the best heart surgery markets in the U.S., represent-
ing more total cases than Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii
combined. In addition, the Temple-Austin-San Antonio-Laredo-Corpus
Christi corridor also performs a large number of open-heart surgeries.
The Andersons looked seriously at Denver/Evergreen, Colorado;
Bend, Oregon; areas adjacent to Phoenix; Lake Tahoe and Kansas
City. “But when we got here, this just pretty much blew everything
else away: the beauty, the people, the schools and the opportunities in
combination,” concedes Bobby. Tisha smiled as she said, “When it got
down to it, it was pretty much between Denver and Austin, and Bobby
asked me, ‘Do you want hot or cold?’ I said I wanted hot, and he said
okay!” “Yeah, quiet, compliant husband that I am! I figure God gave
me two ears and one mouth so that I could listen twice as much as I
speak. Hey, we’ve been married 10 years, and this week she likes me!”
Bobby laughed.
Look for the Andersons with Reece and Vaughn in tow at the High
School football games next season!
Todd & Taylor “Working with my new friends from California
has been rewarding and reaffirming. I’ve had

T
a long-running love affair with Austin and
odd Sucherman, drummer with the multi-platinum Lake Travis and I could tell from the minute
band Styx, met vocalist Taylor Mills while working in Chicago they arrived that they felt the same way—they
with musician Steve Cole in 1998. Todd had moved to L.A. from totally ‘got it.’”
Chicago in l997 and began work with Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys) —Peggy Schatz, Realtor®
®

during a brief hiatus from Styx. Taylor was hired as a backup vocalist
for the Brian Wilson tour as well, and they fell in love during rehearsals.
Upon the tour’s conclusion, she joined him in Los Angeles where they
cold,” Taylor concludes. Austin seemed a logical place to look. “We
lived in the Hollywood Hills and later in Sherman Oaks. Todd has held
came here for a week to explore the city and to look for homes, and we
his position in Styx for ten years, and Taylor has toured the world with
were just charmed by the city and charmed by the topography. Both of
Brian Wilson for the past eight years. Their touring schedules are hectic,
us grew up in the Midwest, and, obviously Austin’s not the Midwest,
and Todd is on the road for the better part of nine months a year. They
but we connected with that midwestern feeling we found here. It has
enjoy home time together, but it can be tricky while one or the other is
that small town vibe, but it also has a vibrant art and culture scene,”
on tour. Taylor explains, “When it gets to be 17 or 18 days, someone is
Todd notes. “And great restaurants!” Taylor adds. “The lakes, the roll-
going to fly somewhere, even it it’s just for 24 hours together!”
ing hills, the palm trees…and the nice people did it for us. There are
While the value of their home in Sherman Oaks soared during the
plenty of nice people in L.A., and we have dear friends and people we
first five years of 2000, the value of quality life in L.A. seemed under
love there. But in terms of the general public…the people we have met
assault. A comparison of what they might purchase in another mar-
in shops and markets and banks…are totally different from the people
ket from the sale of their L.A. home, plus the prospect of significantly
who hold those same types of jobs in L.A.,” Todd explains. Taylor
improving the quality of their lives, definitely caught their attention.
elaborates, “Everyone here seems so genuine and friendly…possibly
They realized that, although they travel
because they’re not embittered, would-be actors, film makers, singers
and tour a lot, they could theoretically
or song writers!”
live anywhere. “We wanted to be some-
Both Todd and Taylor contrasted the tension and problematic ener-
where where there was a vital music
gy required by living in L.A. with the ease and peaceful quality of life in
scene, and we also wanted to be some-
Austin. “When I come home here, my decompression starts the minute
where warm,” Todd explains. “Chicago,
which we both know and love, has a
terrific music scene, but it’s just too
Todd and Scott Bennett of the Brian Wilson
band have just produced Taylor’s first album,
a pop rock, adult alternative collection that
has generated a lot of excitement in the
Sucherman home. In a switch, Brian Wilson
guests on backup vocals on two cuts, and
Tommy Shaw from Styx sings backup on one
tune. The album, titled “Lullagoodbye” will
appear in the spring and will be available
on Amazon.com, Itunes, Cdbaby and other
online retailers. More work with Brian
Wilson is on the books for Taylor, and Todd
with spend most of the year on the road with
Styx and will appear at drum and percussion
festivals throughout the world. More info
at Toddsucherman.com and Myspace.com/
taylormills1

Spring 2007 | Waterways 41

I walk into the airport, whereas in L.A., LAX was a battlefield, and the their kids’ tuition at private
405 that took me home to Sherman Oaks was another battlefield. Right grammar schools in L.A.,”
now, we’re 20 minutes from downtown. In Sherman Oaks, it took us Todd confides.
20 minutes to fight our way to the local grocery store or the local bank. “Tommy Shaw, also
If Taylor tells me, ‘Honey, I forgot the asparagus,’ then I say, ‘I’ll see with Styx, referred us to
you in 90 seconds!’” Todd jokes. “We hope to start a family soon and Peggy Schatz. Tommy’s a
another big factor for us is the great school system here. The schools in good friend of Billy Bob
L.A. are terrible. You live in L.A., and it has to be private schools. Friends Thornton who used Peggy
of mine are paying the equivalent of what my dad paid for my college for to help him find rental
accommodations for actors
and stage people who came
here to work with him on
The Alamo. Peggy was just
amazing, and we hit it off
from the get-go. We found
a house we liked pretty quickly but, since there was
no suitable place for a studio within the home, we
wanted to make sure we could build a freestanding
studio on the property before we bought,” Todd said.
At this point, he leaned in toward the microphone
and said clearly, “Don’t worry, it was all DONE TO
CODE.”
“Nine months on the road makes Austin still
feel very fresh and new to us. We still have a lot to
explore. This is truly our sanctuary…a place where
we rest, recuperate, do laundry and pack up again!”
Todd says with a grin.

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 Ricky Phillips
R
icky Phillips, a professional musician who plays bass
and guitar for Styx, lived in Los Angeles for 25 years. Now
a new resident of Lake Travis, he remembers a 1979 trip to
Austin, playing with a band called the Babys. “Austin was very small, a
totally different town from what it is now, but it was so charming and
electric. It had a vibe, and I never forgot that,” he recalls. Ricky toured
and recorded with many other artists after The Babys and was a found-
ing member of Bad English with Neal Schon and John Waite. Soon after
that he worked with Jimmy Page and David Coverdale on their release,
Coverdale/Page. He then began producing and developing acts as well
as continuing work as a session bass player. He found himself exclu-
sively doing studio work, including writing music for TV and film. “I
truly thought my road shoes were hung up,” he reflects. That all changed
in 2003 with a call from Styx. “That was extraordinary. That just doesn’t
happen. Bands like Styx, that have this amazing longevity, don’t open
the door very often. So the fact that they called me asked me to be ‘the
guy’ was just something I never would have dreamed would happen. It
didn’t take me long to say ‘Yes’. Plus, it’s a great organization, and play-
ing live is still the best bit of all. It’s really why you go into music to start
with,” Ricky confides.
Now tied to the road, Ricky Phillips found himself liberated from
Southern California. He began to make a freedom list: Austin, Atlanta,
Myrtle Beach, Park City and the Oregon Coast. Eventually, everyplace
got checked off the list except for Austin and the Oregon Coast. Austin
won out in the end because Ricky thought the 2 hour trip + from the
airport up and down the coast might turn him suicidal after weeks on
the road when all he craved was getting home.
A referral from Todd hooked Ricky up with Realtor, Peggy Schatz,
and they began to look for properties in earnest. They hit the ground
running, with each of them scouring the Internet for listings. When Ricky
had a break, he’d fly to Austin for five days, and the two of them would
Special Real Estate Section
visit 10-13 properties a day. After several of these trips, Peggy began
to despair that she would ever find just the right property for Ricky. “I
was looking for a home, and it had to be perfect…for me. Peggy thought
that, because Ricky is single, he might enjoy the downtown scene where
there’s more action. But performing live nine months a year gives Ricky
plenty of action…what he wanted was a place to unwind. They looked at
extended acreage in Dripping Springs and Spicewood, but, in the end,
it was the draw of Lake Travis that most interested Ricky. “I grew up in
Redding, a small town in Northern California, and Lake Travis reminds
me of a mini-Lake Shasta,” he explained. By that time, Peggy wasn’t sure
just what Ricky would like. To make matters worse, he had just blown
out his Achilles tendon onstage performing. Peggy sent Ricky pictures of
a home high on a hill overlooking the lake shortly before his next sched-
uled trip to Austin. He was on crutches, recuperating, and asked both
Peggy and friends in Austin to go look at the house. “If it’s as good as
it looks in the pictures, then this is it.” When his friends told him “This
is you,” he put his house in North Hollywood, just off Laurel Canyon,
on the market and sold it in one day. Elated, he called Peggy to tell her
he had sold his house. “Great,” she said, “but I’ve got some bad news.
As of today, there are already two other offers on the house.” As Ricky
explained, “I figure the first offer came in below, and the second
guy, unless he was an idiot, met the asking price; so I actually
offered above the asking price.” The buyer agreed to give Ricky 24
hours to fly in and see the property. When Ricky saw the house for
the first time, he thought, “This is the place…this
is home.” Despite some initial misgivings due to
the pressure of the situation, there was a voice
in his head that said, “This is a good move. This
is what you need to do.”
Ricky’s possessions arrived in a semi on an
unseasonably hot and humid day in March.
Since it was impossible to maneuver the semi
up the steep hill, everything had to be unloaded
onto a smaller truck for what seemed like end-
less trips to the house. The next day, he took his buddy to the air-
port and returned to a shamble of boxes, stacked floor to ceiling.
He thought, “What in the hell have I done!” The he walked to the
fridge, popped open a beer and went out on the deck. “I looked
out at the lake, and I saw a couple of sailboats and a pair of hawks
gliding over the canyon…and there was a little deer munching
below the deck, and I thought, ‘Hold on…this ain’t so bad. I can
handle this!”
Seated at his antique 1850’s Chickering Piano, the exact dupli-
cate of the piano that graced the Lincoln White House, Ricky reflects on
life in Austin: “One of the best things I’ve found with my move to Austin
is a refreshing freedom from the L.A. obsession with ‘The Industry.’
With the people I’ve met here in Austin, we don’t talk about film, televi-
sion, music, the industry. We talk about stuff, about other things that
are important to us, about our loves and life.”
Cautionary Note from a Newcomer: “The Hill Country here fasci-
nates me, and I just hope that everyone here protects it, because I see a
lot of construction and what I think may be a lot of overbuilding that is
happening awfully quickly, noticeable to me even since I’ve been here.”
Spring 2007 | Waterways 43
 Ron Wikso Special Real Estate Section

and my youngest is doing great in 1st grade at Dripping

Springs Elementary.”
“My wife and daughter, Jordyn, have always wanted to
start a boutique. They opened Jordyn’s Closet (www.jordyn-
scloset.com) last June, and they’re doing very well with their
lines of women’s, juniors’ and kids’ clothes, as well as acces-
sories and bath and body products. All in all, the bottom line
is that our move has given us a major improvement in our
quality of life, and we are very happy with the results!”
Ron’s work touring with the Gregg Rolie Band translates
into quite a bit of air travel. He thinks the Austin airport is a
great airport. “I used to have to allow three hours to get from
my home in Santa Clarita to LAX, and the more I had to go
through LAX, the less fun it became. Now, I can get to the
Austin airport, park my car, get through security and every-
thing else in about an hour. I don’t miss the whole stress of
life in L.A. and the pace of it.”
“I got Peggy’s number from Ricky Phillips, and she was

D
just great. Since moving here, we’ve all stayed friends with
rummer Ron Wikso (www.ronwikso.com) has
her and her family, and I even built a website for her. She took us
played with Cher’s band, with Foreigner, with David Lee
everywhere, and we found this house, as it was in the process of being
Roth (of Van Halen), with a band call The Storm that
built. It was a good thing too, because our house in L.A. had sold in
included two members from Journey, with Richie Sambora (of Bon
four days, and we were already in escrow! We made the offer to buy
Jovi) and with Gregg Rolie, the original keyboard player and lead
it on my birthday, Nov. 18, 2005, and we were moved in by Dec. 21st.
singer for Santana. Remember “Black Magic Woman,” “Evil Ways,”
Then I gave Peggy’s number to Gregg Rolie who bought property and
“Oye Como Va?” That was the voice of Gregg Rolie. A few years ago
is building a home here. And Gregg gave her number to his brother,
Ron Wikso co-produced a record for Rolie and, shortly thereafter,
Steve, who also bought property here. Many other people have asked
began touring with The Gregg Rolie Band (www.greggrolie.
com). Ron Wikso is yet another professional musician and for-
mer Californian who now happily calls Austin home.
“My wife, Debby, and I started looking 1½ years ago,” Ron
explained. “L.A. has gotten very, very crowded and very, very
expensive. We bought a 1,950 sq. ft. home not too far from
Magic Mountain in l998 for $175,000, and we sold it in 2005 for
$700,000. The house we found here is 3,400 sq. ft. and, with the
600 sq. ft. studio we built, is twice as big as our old house, plus
it sits on almost two acres. And we paid far less for this brand
new home with all these really nice features than we got for our
40-year old California house. So the financial part of the move
was a no-brainer. One of the things that we really didn’t like in
California is the trend of building most houses about five feet
from each other. Not that we’re unsociable, but we wanted a
little space. We were looking for privacy and room for the kids
to run around, but we still wanted to be in a neighborhood set-
ting where they could play with their friends. One of the things I
know for sure is that there’s not going to be another house built
right on top of me, because this subdivision has minimum lot
requirements.”
“Schools were another huge consideration,” Ron continued. “My me ‘What’s so great about Austin?’ A bunch of us have talked among
two older kids were in a school that served only three grades (10-12) ourselves about whether we should tell anyone else! Austin will prob-
that had over 4,000 kids. Now they are in Dripping Springs High ably grow a lot, but it’s got a long way to go before it gets to where L.A.
School with 1,100 students. They’re getting a much better deal here, is…and that’s a good thing!”

44 Waterways | Spring 2007

 Get ready to jump
for joy!

Just Listed
223 CORINTHIAN, LAKEWAY, TEXAS
One of the finest waterfront homes in Lakeway is now on the market and just in time to start planning
your summer bash! In a waterfront world where everyone is looking into their neighbor’s backyards, this
home is situated with the utmost privacy—you can get sunburned in places you never thought possible!
This 5 bedroom, 5 bath contemporary home has floor to ceiling windows to accentuate the breathtaking
views and it comes complete with 2 huge decks to applaud the gorgeous Lake Travis sunsets. An enor-
mous open kitchen and living room with 17 foot island makes this the perfect spot for entertaining. Live
here and you’ll agree—Life doesn’t get any better than this!

Call Peggy Schatz for a private showing at 512-461-8266

. . .I can help.

PEGGY SCHATZ, REALTOR® WWW . PEGGYSCHATZ . COM

A kickin’ closet is a must.

Austin home buyers

have unique tastes.
We get it.

(512) 263-3282
(888) 997-3282
1005 Ranch Road 620 South

www.moreland.com