Events

Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays every week

Austin-based artist, Kara Manza, brings joy and warmth to everyday moments through her impressionistic paintings. Raised in Port Huron, Michigan, and shaped by 13 years living overseas and across the U.S., her vibrant palettes and fluid brushwork reflect a lifelong love of travel and beauty in the ordinary. Her father, Terry Henline—a retired General Motors designer and Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society—remains her greatest mentor, offering thoughtful critiques that continue to guide her artistic growth.

Kara specializes in custom paintings based on personal photographs, transforming cherished memories into expressive works filled with emotion. Her popular “Merri Minis,” small and whimsical originals, capture simple moments with charm and immediacy. Working primarily in acrylic, she often incorporates stencils, oil pastels, and collage to create rich layers of texture and light.

Since beginning her art journey after retirement, Kara has studied with Robin Cheers, Carol Marine, Sarah Sedgwick, Melanie Morris, Kara Bullock, and The Contemporary Austin. A member of the Creative Arts Society of Austin, she continues to refine her intuitive, joyful style through ongoing practice.

Her work has appeared on a Times Square electronic billboard and in Tarrytown Stroll, Artist CloseUp, and Artist Talk Magazine. She has created bespoke pieces for Jo Malone London and regularly exhibits in Austin.

Kara also shares her heart through service, donating art to local and global organizations. Ever curious, she calls her creative journey “chasing butterflies” and lives by Mother Teresa’s words: “Do small things with great love.”

Food! Food! will be closed for Thanksgiving and Black Friday so that we may spend the holidays with our families 🥧

Happy Holidays to all of our fans! Join us with family and friends!