[caption id="attachment_36494" align="alignright" width="460"]Art Amore Art Amore’s new location within Jester Village offers the business more space.[/caption] Art Amore Since Art Amore co-owners Kathy and Elyse Barmettler relocated their art studio to a larger suite within Jester Village in September, the mother-daughter team has expanded its list of classes. Art Amore, located on Jester Boulevard near FM 2222, began teaching classes for children age 18 months through 2.5 years old in October. The goal of the classes is to teach children basic art theory, shapes and color, Kathy said. Kathy, a former science teacher, and Elyse, who has a technical theater background, said they hope to provide a sense of science, technology, engineering, art and math to their students. “[Science] just adds another level of interest, especially in this day and age,” Elyse said. “We’ll teach the older students digital art so that they understand where the art world is going when they go into high school and college. It gives them a lot more opportunity.”

Lake Creek 7

[caption id="attachment_36503" align="alignright" width="220"]Lake Creek 7 Discount theater Lake Creek 7 is expected to begin offering beer and wine in 2015.[/caption] Southwest Theaters’ Lake Creek 7 will offer moviegoers more concession choices in 2015 as the business expects to receive its permit to serve beer and wine in the first quarter of the year. Nathan Searer, chief operating officer for Southwest Theaters, said the business recently began offering Gold Leaf teas and now has 125 beverages available at its concession stand. Searer said the theater has been successful at its Northwest Austin location. “It has been a word-of-mouth hit,” he said. “We get a lot of great feedback from our guests.” The discount movie theater—located in the former Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek spot on Research Boulevard—has seven theaters, which can seat between 150 to 350 people each. Lake Creek 7 airs second-run movies, and tickets for matinee shows before 6 p.m. are $2. Shows after 6 p.m. are $3, and movies shown in 3-D are an additional $1.50 per ticket.

Mill & Leaf

Since opening furniture and art gallery Mill & Leaf in late August at the Arboretum, owner Deb Otto said she has been stocking additional items and artists’ work. Mill & Leaf sells artwork from about six to seven local artists in an Artist of the Month exhibit. Beginning Feb. 8, Melanie Hickerson, an Austin Community College art teacher, will showcase her work. “We’ve been on a little bit of a roll,” Otto said. “Each month we are doing better than the month previous.” Mill & Leaf allows customers to customize furniture purchased in the store with different fabrics and styles. Otto also teaches two art classes per month in which participants create their own artwork. The classes focus on abstract and contemporary nature art, she said. Otto encourages attendees to bring photos for artwork inspiration.

HID Global Corp.

HID Global Corp., a manufacturer of secure identity solutions, received several design accolades in the year since the opening of its North Austin–based world headquarters in January 2014. Jason Bohrer, vice president and general manager of the Austin Genuine HID Operations Center, said the company has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum-level certification and garnered a four-star rating for green building from Austin Energy. The company has hired about 250 employees locally and plans to hire at least 50 more employees in 2015. “Now that we’re here and we have all of our capabilities in one site, we’re starting to see some opportunities arise, specifically in the government ID business,” Bohrer said.