The Land of Milk + Honey

Story by Darline Turner-Lee

I shall deliver you from your affliction to a land flowing with milk and honey Exodus 3:17

Long ago when God made this promise to the Israelites, He sent Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, out of oppression and to a place of rest. In this day and age, we don’t suffer the same way that the early Israelites did, but many of us are tired, weary and in search of rest and relief. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin, Alissa Bayer offers a place of rest and relaxation, Milk + Honey Spa.

Bayer, who relocated to Austin from San Francisco in 2002 to attend The University of Texas Entrepreneur program, knew that she wanted to do something to make people feel good when she entered the program. It wasn’t until she got fully entrenched in her studies that she envisioned a spa for busy urban professionals and harried stay-at-home moms alike to get away from it all. As a result of that vision, Milk + Honey first opened in January 2006.

Located near the corner of 3rd and Colorado streets in the trendy 2nd Street district, I can’t say that Milk + Honey is an oasis in the midst of the urban desert, but its entrance is eye-catching enough to cause people to slow down to take a look.

When you first enter, there isn’t that feeling of calm warmth that I have come to expect from a spa. The décor is ultra modern and sleek. Light wood is the most prominent element composing shelves full of bath and skincare products, a bench and a reception desk. The trim is metallic. Modern white puff chandeliers and concrete flooring help give the foyer a chic coolness rather than the “welcome, come relax and escape” atmosphere that I was expecting. Manicure and pedicure stations complete the entry décor.

While the décor gave an air of coolness, the staff provided the warm welcome that I was expecting. Summer, a front desk attendant, greeted me promptly and with a warm and gracious smile. Bonnie Boren, director of operations and marketing, showed me around and shared with me the vision of Milk + Honey.

“Alissa wants people to take a mini-vacation when they come here. So we do our best to provide an all natural, calm and unhurried environment. Being downtown we get a lot of professionals, moms, women and men. We are doing well and want to reach out and service mother/daughter duos, bridal parties and girl’s day- out groups.”

The spa is definitely thriving, and to better accommodate its clientele, it’s undergoing expansion, adding 1000 more square feet. “We’ll add 5 more treatment rooms including another room for wet treatments and another space for couple’s treatments,” says Boren. “We’re also expanding the women’s changing room.” The renovations will be completed by January 2008 when Milk + Honey will open its second location in the Hill Country Galleria. Bayer wants to make Milk + Honey a national brand.

As I spoke with Boren and toured the facility, including the renovations, I couldn’t help but notice the wonderful aromas. “Our products are all natural,” explains Boren. “And we’re in the process of developing our own skincare line. Alissa is committed to keeping things clean, so all of our products are organic and chemical free. Even our construction materials are organic.”

After touring the facility I had the signature treatment, The Spa Partisan. It begins with a dry brushing of the skin followed by a wonderfully aromatic scrub a mixture of sugar, crushed almonds, coffee and honey. I then relaxed in a steam tent before being rinsed down in preparation for a one hour massage. My spa partisan (massage therapist) Mo really outdid herself with the massage. After being in the warm and cozy steam tent and then rinsed with a warm water spray, I nearly lost consciousness during the massage. Mo kept me warm and respected my privacy. At times I’ve come away from a massage wanting more time or more attention to certain areas. Not this time! When Mo finished, I not only felt refreshed, but I felt completely invigorated and satisfied (and my skin felt great!). There was no need for me to linger in the lounge, as I sometimes have to do, to recover.

Milk + Honey Spa truly is an urban retreat. Its lof tlike atmosphere won’t appeal to those looking for a warmer, softer environment, but its spa treatments, “spa partisans” (therapists and aestheticians) and staff provide a warm and wonderful escape.

Bayer did what she set out to do. Milk + Honey offers an array of skincare and bath products that alone, or in combination with gift certificates, make spa retreats accessible to most everyone. Products and treatments are reasonably priced and range from as low as $3.50 to over $500. Twice a month, Milk and Honey also offers complimentary skin evaluations and hosts events where people can come in, relax, learn about taking care of their skin and experience a complimentary spa treatment.

MORE INFO Milk + Honey 204 Colorado Austin, TX 78701 512.236.1115 www.milkandhoneyspa.com