Dog Days

Local dog-sitting service, The Barking Garage, watches your pup while you shop

The Barking Garage is a dog-sitting service that watches your pooch while you shop.

Photo by Sheila Wilson

KVUE — Just outside the Nordstom Rack at the Gateway Shopping Center in Northwest Austin sits a big yellow car hauler that reads, "TheBarkingGarage.com: Park your dog here while you shop."

Mary Traverse is the owner of the new business. Last month, she decided to buy the yellow car hauler, decorate it, insulate it, and install air conditioning. She filled it with colorful cages of different sizes, all complete with water bowls.

Traverse said her idea for on-site doggie storage did not come right away. "I've been racking my brains for a couple of years," said Traverse, a chiropractor who is also a certified animal chiropractor.

Traverse said The Barking Garage came about out of desperation and need. "I live a little bit outside of town, and I love to have my dogs with me, and I just can't do it. I can't even run into the grocery store," said Traverse.

She's from Oatmeal, a small town near Bertram in Burnet County. "A lot of times, I make a special trip back into town on a Saturday to run my errands just because my dogs would be safe," said Traverse.

Last weekend was the second weekend for The Barking Garage to be open. No customers yet, but "the stores are really happy to have us here, because they're in a hard spot; they don't want to call the cops on their clients," said Traverse.

Gary Biggers owns a 55-pound huskie, but he didn't bring her shopping. He may next time, now that he's heard about The Barking Garage. "It makes life so much easier. I don't know what's in there, but I know it's cool. Huskies are hot in the summer, especially here, so I think that's a great idea and I want to see more of those pop up," said Biggers.

Right now, The Barking Garage is open on weekends: Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. Prices start at $10 an hour with a half-hour minimum.

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Read the full story and see the video on KVUE.com.

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Getting Deep

Popular Austin deep massage clinic opening new location near Westlake

Photo courtesy of AUSTINDEEP

AustinDeep is known for an intensive approach that gets results.

A gentle massage can be lovely, but some stressed Austinites need some extra oomph. They can get it at AustinDeep, a local massage clinic that specializes in a propriety technique called the Deep Method. There will soon be a third location in the Barton Creek neighborhood — the farthest outside of Austin and the largest so far.

The new location will be at 2700 Barton Creek Blvd., Ste. 110. It'll span 3,000 square feet at the Barton Creek Village, which is near the Barton Creek Country Club, St. Michael's Catholic Preparatory School, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt. This is a new market for the brand, since the existing two locations are relatively close to each other on Congress Ave and Lake Austin Boulevard.

Jessica Price AusitnDeep Masseuse Jessica Price developed a proprietary technique for AustinDeep.Photo courtesy of AUSTINDEEP

The Deep Method targets the fascia, the connective tissue that holds our muscles and other organs together. Ideally, the fascia should be flexible, but sometimes it gets tight from inactivity, overuse, or other issues, causing pain or soreness. When masseuse Jessica Price opened AustinDeep in 2002, she used her background in myofascial release — a very gentle technique — to create a new process that starts with a warming technique, and then adds in deep tissue and trigger point therapy.

The result is more rigorous and may leave clients sore afterwards. As AustinDeep practitioners explain, breaking up all that fascia is an intense workout, even though the therapist is doing much of the work. Price also learned from physical therapists, so this exacting approach that prioritizes results makes a lot of sense.

That might not sound relaxing (and fans of any intense massage techniques will confirm that they usually aren't), but the aftermath is where things start to open up. This clinic calls it getting "Massage Drunk."

Jessica Price AustinDeep Clients may leave feeling drunk.Photo courtesy of AUSTINDEEP

Despite a tough-love massage approach, the new location sounds cushy: There will be 10 therapy rooms with electric lift tables; a lounge with relaxing music and a bar for tea, wine, or even custom flower arrangements; a veranda to enjoy nootropic drinks (brain supplements) or wine; and a retail selection.

The interior design also reflects the departure from the potentially sterile massage clinic norm with lots of plants and jewel tones.

So far there is no opening date set, but AustinDeep is sharing updates when they're available on Instagram. Services start at $85 for 30 minutes. More information is available at austindeep.com.

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