What's in a toon? Well, if you're Austin-based Toonmasters, thousands of dollars. That's what the company has been fetching for their rarest of limited edition prints, dubbed the "100 Series." Ever since the release of their earliest works, Toonmasters' prints have commanded rising prices as publications have given them the moniker the "Disney of Modern Art." While this may seem like a great comparison, we'd say Toonmasters is more like Lego in some respects. For example, their acclaim has often lead to their prints selling out online as the phrase "backordered" seems to find its way to their website. The company attributes their success to decades of draftsmanship, or, a lifelong devotion to art that has melded with this new digital age. And while these museum-worthy works of art continue to rise in popularity (and perhaps value), another facet of their creations has helped them gain a growing fanbase: People tooning themselves. ...
A long time ago Whole Foods Market was a mom-and-pop grocery store. My how things have changed. Bought by Amazon, the publicly traded Whole Foods Market has roots in Austin but has now stretched nationwide to provide health savvy shoppers unique products as well as a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Speaking on the state-of-the-art Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) location at 6th and Lamar in downtown Austin, all visitors to our city witness a cutting-edge grocery store with a friendly smile. After parking in an underground garage, the escalators lead you into a giant hall bathed in light, scents, and bustling noises all pointing towards one thing, a fantastic experience. Whether you pass by the seemingly unlimited salad bar and walk into the bakery area filled with lush desserts, the sensory experience is like no other. Add to that perhaps the world's largest selection of organic foods and you have in a nutshell the reason why Whole Food...