May 2009

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002houston | may 09 | volume 11 | issue 125

hip.current.cool guide

002mag.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 06 08 10 12 13 14 16 18 20 21

table of contents letter from the editor houston map downtown map news worthy | uptown map scene calendar museum district art houses+museums+exhibits living smart |scene spacetaker

56 58 architecture + design: whitebread wilkinson pantone® mugs 59 scene

60 002 BUSINESS PROFILE: QUINN BISHOP

22 22 GALLERY: CAVIART GALLERY 24 25 26 30 32 34

baby love gish at the movies nonprofit: hits theater born cool. grow hip people of houston costumes for cocktails

60 61 62 63 64 65 66

finance wise guy scene vroom vroom tools+toys+gadgets restaurant listings

68 36

36 IT’S COOL TO TAKE A GOOD SHOT 40 HANGING OUT

68 DINE WRITE: TILA’S 69 appetite stimulus special 70 new restaurants

72 CHEF’S SPECIAL: MIKE POTOWSKI

40 42 things i love

44 WHEN WORDS LEAVE OFF, MUSIC BEGINS…

72 74 sip codes 76 club review: anvil 78 002 nightlife

80 RECORDING: ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

44 54 where to live

56 ARCHICHAT: SAM NASH 4. may09 002houston

80 81 cd reviews 82 crossword puzzle | scene

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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Photography by Sofia van der Dys |Hair by Elia Graves at Jose Eber salon and Makeup by Pati + Trixi

T

he past few months have seen the world in a crazy state. Pirates thinking they really had a chance against Navy SEALS? Mid-April and Houston is still cool? And on the more serious side, it seems our streets are more dangerous than ever. We were touched a few times in the last few months personally when I was almost car-jacked on Allen Parkway and my brother was assaulted and had his car stolen.

CARLA VALENCIA de MARTINEZ

My intent is not to scare, but through conversation, I was surprised that everyone I mentioned this to had a similar story to tell about someone close to them. It’s a crazy world we are living in, and as times get desperate so do people.

I’m not quite sure what the solution is, but we need more protection out on the streets. So be conscious of your surroundings and take care of those you love!

This is our arts and entertainment issue and, boy, could I use a dose of that. Luckily in my field, I’m surrounded by the stuff every day! My arts + entertainment is an evening with no phone, TV or Internet with a nice glass of wine and a STACK of my magazines! Vogue, Glamour, In Style, Yoga Journal, Lucky and Departures and I am in Heaven!

We had the most fun day shooting our cover subjects, as well as a few other musical types, alongside some interesting art choices. Turn to page 46.

It’s cool to take a good picture FINALLY teaches you how to use your darned, little camera and take a good picture rather than a mediocre one.

Our foodie Jenny Wang dishes on the newest taqueria-type options in honor of Cinco de Mayo.

And even our DineWrite has a Latin flair!

This month is also Citizen Lounge’s 1-year anniversary, so join 002houston on May 16th to celebrate! We’ve also got an official kickoff party for SUMMER FUN! On May 21 at Momentum Audi. We’ll have fashions, food, drinks, music and of course the most beautiful people in Houston. So if you’re not on our email list, you just might want to be – sign up at www.002mag.com.

volume 11

issue 125

PUBLISHER alejandro martinéz ext 16 a.martinez@002mag.com EDITOR AT LARGE | FASHION DIRECTOR carla valencia de martinéz ext 13 c.valencia@002mag.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR victoria bartlett ART DIRECTOR alex rosa ext 17 arosa@002mag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR | EVENTS beatrice valencia ext 11 bvalencia@002mag.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER william king ext 18 w.king@002mag.com ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES carlos valencia ext 12 cevalencia@002mag.com jarrod klawinsky ext 15 jklawinsky@002mag.com terri-ann chen tchen@002mag.com

isabel terraso ext 14 isabel@002mag.com beenish ahmad beenish@002mag.com PHOTOGRAPHERS kim coffman, emily dwyer, kennon evett, jill hunter, gabriella nissen, daniel ortiz, jack potts, anthony rathbun, aaron m. sprecher, sofia van der dys, michelle watson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS bernard bauri for lastnightpics.com, cody bessjaime lagdameo, wayne sandlin, jenny wang CONTRIBUTING WRITERS michael andre adams, leigh bell, michael garfield, sarah gish, patricia gras, sandra gunn, travis jones, hal lynde, nadia michel, tim moloney, jenni rebecca stephenson, kristina vaquero-nemec, lance scott walker, jenny wang, scott ward INTERN wilbert chinchilla FOR SUGAR LAND SALES

Cover Sofia van der Dys Assisted by Aaron Courtland Styled by Ali Marie Kahn Hair & Makeup by Carol Wagener Taxidermied animals by Elaine Bradford OOPS! In April’s Spacetaker we miscredited an image. The image was a video still by D. Patton White of Several Dancers Core “Absence/Presence” performance at the MFAH. Arcichat’s image should have been credited as Troy Campa, principal|Clint JOhnson, assoc. | Sandra Gunn | Ken Newberry, senior principal 002houston Magazine is published monthly by NODO Magazine, L.L.C., 1310 NANCE ST. STUDIO C, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002. Copyright © 2009 by NODO Magazine L.L.C. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

002houston Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear.

For subscription information, call 713.223.5333x14 or send a check or money order for $35.00 to 002houston Magazine, 1310 NANCE ST. STUDIO C, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002.

Carla Valencia de Martinéz- Editor at Large Fashion Director 6. may09 002houston

002HOUSTON MAGAZINE 1310 NANCE ST. STUDIO C | HOUSTON, TX 77002 713.223.5333 | FAX 713.223.4884 | LETTERS@002MAG.COM WWW.MYSPACE.COM/002HOUSTON | WWW.002MAG.COM

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Downtown......................................1 Holocaust Museum.........................2 Galleria..........................................3 Uptown Park..................................4 River Oaks Park.............................5 Rice Village....................................6 Highland Village............................7 Memorial City................................8 Town & Country Village..................9 Loehmann’s................................10 Sam Houston Race Park..............11 Katy Mills...................................12 Sugar Land.................................13 Zoo ............................................14 Museum District..........................15 George Bush Intl. Airport............16 Hobby Airport.............................17 Space Center Houston.................18 Kemah........................................19 Miller Outdoor Theatre................20 Contemporary Arts Museum........21 Houston Museum of Fine Arts......22 Children’s Museum......................23 Houston Museum of Natural Science..24 Houston Arboretum.....................25 Houston Theater District..............26 The Woodlands............................27

HOUSTON MAP

What's hip.current.cool? Get on our list, e-mail us at events@002mag.com to make sure you're invited.

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NEWS WORTHY ART LEWIS & MAESE AUCTION COMPANY secured the opportunity to offer at auction several rare Warhol pieces belonging to a Houston-based art collector. The pieces have been in this private collection for over 30 years and include the iconic “Campbell’s Soup II, Hot Dog Bean” a serigraph, as well as the rarer “Campbell Soup BoxOnion Mushroom,” acrylic/silkscreen; an image of Ronald Reagan, entitled “Van Heusen” (part of Warhol’s ads suite); and “Plains Indian Shield” silkscreen. Lewis & Maese will offer the Warhols for sale (along with a large selection of work from other high-profile artists) on May 6 at 6:30pm (preview times listed on website LMAuctionco.com), 2301 Sabine Street, Houston, 77007.

GASTRONOMY LIKE FOOD AND WINE? Don’t miss the 5th Annual Wine & Food Week scheduled to uncork May 26 – 31, 2009, in the piney woods Houston suburb of The Woodlands. This year’s epicurean adventure explores the tastes of Texas. On hand will be national and international winemakers, culinary experts, gourmands and those who just want to savor the flavor while learning something new. With 40 sensational events, a myriad of wine and culinary icons are flocking to Houston to take part in this elite event… toasting the novice to the enthusiast. Renowned chefs from throughout Texas and beyond showcase their culinary expertise partnered with hundreds of wines from around the world.

For ticket information and a complete schedule, visit www.wineandfoodweek.com or call 713.557.5732.

PARKS Last month Houston’s HERMANN PARK (hermannpark.org) revealed its $11 million transformation to the Lake Plaza area on the eastern edge of McGovern Lake. Facilitated by Hermann Park Conservancy, a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the improvement of Hermann Park, in conjunction with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Lake Plaza project includes several components: a newly constructed Kinder Station (the Hermann Park train’s main station), The Tiffany & Co. Foundation Bridge, Little Bigs café, dining terrace, public restrooms, gift shop, boathouse and volunteer and maintenance building. Hermann Park’s newest improvements, completed over the past year, offer magnificent views of the 7.5acre McGovern Lake and boast newly landscaped grounds for Park visitors, train passengers and diners.

VINTAGE PARK, an Interfin-developed lifestyle shopping center located off Highway 249 and Louetta Rd., is now hosting a monthly, outdoor movie night called Cinema Al Fresco. The family-friendly movies are shown in the piazza on the second Saturday of each month.

In conjunction with each movie night, Friends of BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care) will have a mobile pet adoption set up in the piazza from 2pm until the start of each movie where there will be adoptable cats and dogs. The schedule of films as of print are as follows: May 9, Ratatouille; June 13, Raiders of the Lost Ark; July 11, A League of Their Own. Please check the website for times and changes in the lineup at vintageparkhouston.com.

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Photography by Kennon Evett

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EVENT COCKTAIL RECEPTION OF CHEZ ROUX WHY CELEBRATE THE DEBUT OF CHEZ ROUX WHERE CHEZ ROUX, LA TORRETA DEL LAGO, CONROE WHEN MARCH 7 Chez Roux is now open for business and its stand-alone waterfront fine dining venue is the first restaurant in the US to represent the famed Roux name. Master Chef Albert Roux and French Quarter Hospitality’s Ronnie Ben-Zur hosted the reception at the site located on the grounds of the new $130 million La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa on Lake Conroe. Boasting over 300 people in attendance – consisting of locals and out-of-towners – guests took the festivities to the Piano Bar to wind down the festivities.

Adriana and Jose Berlanga

Elizabeth Van Kleef, Zach Hunt

Chef Albert Roux

Katherine Orellana, Larry Goldenthal

Luvonne Sharr, Ronnie Ben-Zur

Rincon and Nicole Ender

Roz Pactor, Susan Vick

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may 2009

SUNDAY

MONDAY

May 2, Spring Annual Gala for AMIGOS de las Americas at the Hotel ZaZa. For more information on AMIGOS, visit amigoslink.org/.

May 2, The Drowsy Chaperone, 3pm & 8pm at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House. thegrand.com.

May 2, Walk for the Mind of America! in Sam Houston Park along Allen Parkway in downtown Houston. Three-mile rain-or-shine event to raise funds and awareness for the cause of mental health. Register online at namimetrohouston.org.

May 2-3, 14th Annual Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance at the Lakewood Yacht Club. Visit keels-wheels.com.

May 2, EAST MONTROSE HOME TOUR and ART WALK, 10am-4pm. eastmontrose.org, or call 713.528.5614.

PERFORMING ARTS + CONCERTS + SPORTS + FESTIVALS + GENERAL INTEREST

Alley Mauritius 2:30 & 7:30pm | Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 7:30pm CWMP Kenny Chesney 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Rent 2 & 7:30pm Jones HS: Slatkin’s Beethoven Eighth 2:30pm MOT Comite Patriotico Mexicano: Cinco de Mayo 3pm Wortham HGO: Brief Encounter 3pm | Doctors Orchestra of Houston: Sounds of Joy 5pm

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May 7, Treasures of Texas Gala 2009, 7:30pm at the Westin Galleria Grand Ballroom. Benefiting the Mental Health America of Greater Houston. For more info, call 713.523.8963 or email gala@mhahouston.org.

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 7:30pm CWMP 94.5 Buzzfest XXII 12pm Hobby Ars Lyrica: Il Trionfo del Tempo 5pm | IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 3 & 7:30pm Jones Beethoven’s Violin Concerto 2:30pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 3pm | Scapino! 3:30pm MOT HB: Classically Contemporary 8pm Minute Maid Astros vs. San Diego Padres 1:05pm Warehouse Kevin Divine 7pm Wortham The Ensemble Theatre: A Rose Among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks 5pm

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Hobby HCS: An Evening of Romantic Concertos 7:30pm MOT HGO: Romeo and Juliet 11am Verizon All American Rejects 6:30pm

ALLEY THEATRE alleytheatre.org

CWMP- 20th Season Coming Soon!

Check website for 2009 season! woodlandscenter.org HOBBY CENTER 713.315.2525 thehobbycenter.org

HOUSE OF BLUES hob.com

JONES HALL 713.227.3974 joneshall.org MAIN STREET THEATER 713.524.6706 mainstreettheater.com

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm H obby IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 8pm Jones Yo-Yo Ma 8pm MOT HGO: Romeo and Juliet 11am Wortham Dance Houston: Vida del Baile 7pm | HGO: Brief Encounter 7:30pm

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May 8-9, J. Silv er w elcomes Inter nation al Design Phenomenon Chan Luu. Partial proceeds from the trunk show will benefit Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP). For more information on J. Silver, jsilverdesigns.com or call 713.807.1644.

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm HOB Katy Perry 7pm Warehouse Nightwish 7pm

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May 16, Assistance League® of H ouston’s 41st annual fundraising event, “Moonlight and Stars” Gala at Lakeside Country Club. For more information, call 713.526.7983 or e-mail adminassist@assistanceleagueofhou.org.

May 16, Party in the Stacks benefiting the Houston Library Foundation, 7pm at the Houston Central Library. For more info, please call Susan Bischoff at 832.393.1450 or email sbischoff@houstonlibraryfoundation.org.

May 16, The Capitol Steps, 8pm at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House.

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MERIDIAN meridianhouston.com MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE (MOT) milleroutdoortheatre.com MINUTE MAID PARK houston.astros.mlb.com MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS mfah.org MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE hmns.org STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE 713.527.0123 stagestheatre.com

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 8pm H OB Snoop Dogg w/ K’naan & The Hustle Boys 7pm Jones Flight of the Conchords 8pm MOT HGO: Romeo and Juliet 11am Minute Maid Astros vs.

Chicago Cubs 7:05pm Wortham @ the Grand Foyer Da Camera: A Little Day Music 12pm

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 2 & 7:30pm Jones Respighi’s Pines of Rome 2:30pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 3pm Stages Grey Gardens 3pm Warehouse The Dears 7pm

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HOB The Crystal Method w/ L.A. Riots 7pm Warehouse Andre Legacy 8pm

May 24-30, Nicky’s Week at RA Sushi.

All proceeds from select food and beverage items benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

RAsushi.com.

H obby Masquerade: Evita 2pm | TUTS: Happy Days 2 & 7:30pm HOB Gavin Rossdale w/ Nico Vega 7pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Texas Rangers 1:05pm Stages Grey Gardens 3pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm H obby Project Divisi: Behind the Iron Curtain 8pm | TUTS: Happy Days 8pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers 7:05pm

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May 22, Girl Shy Performance by Two Star Symphony, 8pm, part of KUHF’s Silent Film Concerts at Discovery Green Park. Admission is free. Discoverygreen.com

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Hobby BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 8pm

CWMP No Doubt 7:30pm Hobby Masquerade: Evita 2pm | BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 2 & 7:30pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 3pm Stages Grey Gardens 3pm Wortham HB: Of An Era 2pm 14. may09 002houston

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THEATER DISTRICT OUTDOOR cityofhouston.gov TOYOTA CENTER 1.866.4HOU.tix houstontoyotacenter.com VERIZON THEATER verizonwirelesstheater.com WAREHOUSE LIVE warehouselive.com WORTHAM CENTER 713.237.1439 worthamcenter.org GENTE DE TEATRO gentedeteatro.org RELIANT PARK reliantpark.com

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 7:30pm Meridian JMG Presents Mad Sin: Phantom Rockers 7:30pm MOT HGO: Romeo and Juliet 11am Minute Maid Astros vs. Chicago Cubs 7:05pm Warehouse Old Crow Medicine Show 8pm Wortham HGO: Brief Encounter 7:30pm

May 7, Houston SPCA 2009 Animal Talk Luncheon at Hotel ZaZa. Individual tickets and sponsorship table tickets can be purchased online at houstonspca.org.

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May 13, Making a Difference Luncheon at the River Oaks Country Club benefiting El Centro Corazon. For more information, Ellie Francisco at 713.825.5708.

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm HOB Live 7pm Jones Respighi’s Pines of Rome 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 7:30pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm Verizon Bonnie Raitt 8pm

May 14-30, The Third Side presented by Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company.

Shows run Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8pm at DiverseWorks Art Space. mildredsumbrella.com

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THURSDAY

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, PLEASE CONTACT:

May 2, Kristine Mills’ bossanovafied official album release party at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. Two shows starting at 7pm & 10pm. For more info, visit kristinemillsmusic.com.

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WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers 7:05pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 7:30pm CWMP The Houston Symphony Presents Dancin’ beneath the Stars 8pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm HOB Letters to Cleo w/ Cruiser Weight 7:30pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 7:30pm Meridian Isis w/ Guest***Pegstar.net Presents In Houston 8pm MOT Dancin’ in the Street…Motown & More Revue 8:15pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers 7:05pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm

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Hobby BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 8pm Meridian Bob Log III: Willem Maker 8pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm Warehouse Twiztid 7pm

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Hobby BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 8pm HOB Brandi Carlile 7pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 7:30pm Stages Grey Gardens 7:30pm Wortham HB: Of An Era 7:30pm

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NOT SURE WHAT TO DO? TRY ONE-STOP SHOPPING AT HOUSTONTHEATERDISTRICT.ORG

FRIDAY Alley Mauritius 8pm | Rock ‘N’ Roll 8pm CWMP Dave Matthews Band 7pm Hobby DWDT: Wolfgang Amadeus 7:30pm | TUTS: Rent 8pm HOB Ximena Sarinana 7pm Meridian Little Ed and the Blues Imperials 7:30pm MOT Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance: The Gold 8pm Verizon Soulja Boy 8pm Warehouse Over the Rhine 7pm Wortham HGO: Brief Encounter 7:30pm | Houston MET: Mixing It Up 8pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 8pm Hobby IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 8pm HOB Zoso – The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience 10pm Jones Beethoven’s Violin Concerto 8pm Main Street Scapino! 7:30pm MOT HGO: Romeo and Juliet 11am | HB: Classically Contemporary 8pm Minute Maid Astros vs. San Diego Padres 7:05pm Wortham SPA: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 8pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 8pm CWMP The Houston Symphony Presents Four Italians 8pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT HGO: Rigoletto 8:30pm Stages Grey Gardens 8pm Warehouse Grupo Fantasma 8pm Wortham Mercury Baroque: Lully’s Armide 8pm

May 15-17, The Houston Fringe Festival.

Festival will be at various locations in the Montrose neighborhood. houstonfringefestival.org.

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Alley Mauritius 2:30 & 8pm | Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 8pm Hobby DWDT: Wolfgang Amadeus 7:30pm | TUTS: Rent 2 & 8pm HOB Bob Schneider w/ Charlie Mars 8pm Jones HS: Slatkin’s Beethoven Eighth 8pm Main Street Theatre Sideway Stories from Wayside School 1 & 4pm Meridian Cinco De Mayo w/ Andy Vargas & David Delegarza 8pm MOT Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance: The Gold 8pm Toyota Fleetwood Mac 8pm Warehouse Fonseca 9pm Wortham HGO: Rigoletto 7:30pm | Da Camera: After Bach 8pm

Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 8pm H obby IMRP: Je’Caryous Johnson’s Love Overboard 3 & 8pm Jones Beethoven’s Violin Concerto 8pm Main Street Scapino! 7:30pm | Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT HB: Classically Contemporary 8pm Minute Maid Astros vs. San Diego Padres 6:05pm Stages Peter & the Wolf 2pm Wortham SPA: Hot Peas ‘N Butter 2pm | HGO: Brief Encounter 7:30pm May 9, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, 8pm at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House. thegrand.com

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 8pm Hobby Musiqa: Around the World with Musiqa 2:30pm | TUTS: Happy Days 2 & 8pm HOB Fischerspooner w/ SSION 8pm Jones Respighi’s Pines of Rome 8pm Main Street Sideways Stories from Wayside School 1 & 4pm | Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT HGO: Rigoletto 8:30pm Stages Peter & the Wolf 2pm | Grey Gardens 8pm Verizon James Taylor 8pm Warehouse The Crisis – CD Release Party 8pm Wortham Mercury Baroque: Lully’s Armide 8pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 8pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 8pm | Masquerade: Evita 8pm HOB Queensryche 7pm Jones Dancing with the Symphony 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT Dancin’ in the Street…Motown & More Revue 8:15pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Texas Rangers 7:05pm Stages Grey Gardens 8pm Verizon Indigo Girls 8pm

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Alley Rock ‘N’ Roll 2:30 & 8pm Hobby TUTS: Happy Days 2 & 8pm | Masquerade: Evita 8pm Jones Dancing with the Symphony 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT Dancin’ in the Street…Motown & More Revue 8:15pm Minute Maid Astros vs. Texas Rangers 3:10pm Stages Grey Gardens 8pm

Hobby BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 8pm | Masquerade: Evita 8pm H OB Emory Quinn w/ Texas Renegade and Casey Berry & the Live Texas Mosquitoes 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 8pm MOT SPA: Ritmo Latino 8pm Stages Grey Gardens 8pm Warehouse Kate Voegele 7pm

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Hobby BIH: Fiddler on the Roof 2 & 8pm | Masquerade: Evita 8pm Main Street Awake and Sing! 8pm Meridian King’s X 8pm Stages Grey Gardens 8pm Verizon Frank Caliendo 8:30pm Warehouse Mr. Lif 8pm Wortham HB: Of An Era 7:30pm

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May 30, Steve Tyrell, 8pm at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House.

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MUSEUM DISTRICT 1. THE MENIL COLLECTION menil.org

Opens May 9 – Drawings on Site includes drawings for proposed public monuments by American artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Drawings were created through an exchange of words and pictures and refined by Oldenburg sketches and van Bruggen’s molding ideas; both signed each drawn large-scale sculptures piece collectively. Conversations: Claes Oldenburg and Bernice Rose on Drawings on Site – Sunday, May 10, 7pm. Thru June 21 Marlene Dumas: Measuring Your Own Grave. Thru August 2, American Tableau; catch a panel discussion on Tuesday, May 12, 8pm.

2. HOUSTON CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY hcponline.org

HCP 2009 fellows Natan Dvir and Prince V. Thomas present their works at an opening reception Friday, May 15, at 6pm. Dvir presents Shelter, an investigation of global proportions that sifts through refugees that have been displaced by their countries experiencing conflict and persecution including his recent studies in Israel and Colombia. Thomas will present On Joy, On Sorrow through the medium of two-channel video installations accompanied by a music score from Joel Love. This piece will assume the role of comparing the two seemingly contrasting emotions. Opens May 15, Infected Landscape, works by Shai Kremer. Human Nature runs thru May 10 along with an accompanying exhibit, Human Nature-Collaborations VI: Food, featuring art from 18 students from 9 Houston area high schools.

3. THE ROTHKO CHAPEL rothkochapel.org

Friday, May 15, 7 pm – Song Salon: Gnosis in Song is a presentation of Gnostic Gospels through music and discussion in collaboration with Rice University religious scholar April de Conick and Divas World Productions.

With Becky Baxter playing the harp in conjunction with Sonja Bruzauskas’ vocals, patrons will journey through the contemporary composition of once ancient songs.

Another vocal event in collaboration with Yoga for Peace is Kirtan (Kirtan means repeat in Sanskrit).

Harmoniously join patrons to chant for peace, love or even enlightenment on Sunday, May 17, 1pm. There is a suggested contribution of $5 – $10.

4. BYZANTINE FRESCO CHAPEL MUSEUM menil.org/Byzantine

The only intact examples of 13th-century Byzantine wall painting of this size and importance in the Western Hemisphere, these masterworks were stolen by thieves from a chapel in the Turkish occupied town of Lysi, cut into pieces and smuggled off the island of Cyprus.

Rescued and restored by the Menil Foundation, the dome and apse now reside on a longterm loan from the Church of Cyprus in an intimate chapel designed by award-winning architect Francois de Menil.

5. HOUSTON CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT crafthouston.org

Literally Figurative runs thru July 3 and presents the first invitational exhibition showcased at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. A variety of medium and artists from across the globe are presented in this exhibit, there is sure to be a piece to explore all aspects of human life in a Literally Figurative way.

6. LAWNDALE ART CENTER lawndaleartcenter.org

Round 3 is an exhibit presenting the works of resident artists within the Lawndale Artist Studio Program. Kevin Curry, Amber Eagle and El Franco Lee II will be presenting their completed pieces during their third year. Washington Avenue: Forgotten to Gentrified showcases photographs, interviews, historical notes and recorded physical changes to Washington Avenue and its citizens. Robert Sennhauser’s photos taken from Houston Avenue to T.C. Jester portray a dying neighborhood’s identity due to gentrification. With one identity dying, another is born in Regarding Discards, works by Stephanie Martz including drawings, photography and collected pages from books. Out of Site explores the conflict in Israel-Palestine. All exhibits open May 8 and opening receptions begin that Friday at 6:30-8:30pm. Artist talks begin at 6pm.

7. BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM buffalosoldiermuseum.com

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum pays tribute to African-American military history from the Revolutionary War to modern times. During the 1860s, soldiers of the 10th U.S. Calvary were nicknamed “Buffalo Soldiers” for their fierce fighting ability and bravery.

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8. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON hmh.org

On May 4, Senator John McCain will receive the 2009 Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award for his commitment to the U.S. Navy and to the decisions he makes at the U.S. Senate. Through the month of May, Theatre New West in conjunction with the Holocaust Museum will show the play The Timekeepers by Dan Clancy. Tickets are $20 each and performances are located at the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Theater located within the Morgan Family Center at the Holocaust Museum. Thru July 17, Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust.

9. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON cmhouston.org

With the recent additions to the museum comes the new exhibit Powerplay which focuses on getting kids active and helping them understand the relationship between exercise and health. This engaging exhibit houses a three-story climbing installation called the PowerTower and a dancing/twister mash-up called Stretch It Out. A total of fourteen galleries pack the museum that lets kids become adults in Kidtropolis, inventors in Invention Convention and water technicians in Flow Works.

10. THE HEALTH MUSEUM thehealthmuseum.org

Throughout May you can experience Expedition 3D: The Cell and examine how cells fight disease at Houston’s first 4D theater.

You: The Exhibit uses the latest multimedia and special effects in technology to help visitors understand what is the makeup of you.

This exhibit explores your physiological traits that have helped create what you are. If you are brave enough, you can experiment with Forces Unleashed where you can be a superhero’s sidekick and help stop evil villains with the help of Newtonia.

11. HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE hmns.org

Opening May 8, Houstonians will have the chance to not only understand The Nature of Diamonds but perceive the cultural aspects surrounding them. Opening May 22 is one of the top 10 museum exhibitions of 2008 as declared by Time Magazine – the Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor. These warriors were said to guard China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, and they are one of the biggest discoveries within the 20th century. Through May 31, The World is Full of Wonders will present the photographs of Sam Gainer who has successfully combined travel and pho-

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tography to recreate the beauty of many remarkable sites visited that include canyons, gorges and natural and man-made structures.

12. HOUSTON ZOO houstonzoo.org

The ongoing efforts of bringing forth environmental awareness can be continued through conservation; who better to continue this life lesson than kids in grades 8-12.

Each month the Conservation Crew helps protect habitats around Houston such as beaches. On May 9, there will be a Conservation Crew – Beach Clean-up beginning at 8am; tickets are $10.

Community Group Night Prowl gives people the chance to experience the Houston Zoo at night after 7pm – Sunday, May 10. Limited to a group of 45. This program is open to children ages 7 years of age and older. To register, call 713.533.6550.

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within the city of Houston. Opening May 15 is Perspectives 166: Torsten Slama whose works include drawings on papers as well as new work created just for this exhibit. This Berlin-based artist embodies the narratives of individuals and civilizations that address Slama’s concerns of the past, present and future, like his past colleagues George Grosz or Otto Dix. 16. THE JUNG CENTER OF HOUSTON junghouston.org

May 2 – 26, the Jung Center presents Form and Space by artist Mary Wilbanks. The space of the Jung is certainly an ideal locale for the rugged works of Wilbanks that explore the space given to her by rocks, art, music and language.

17. CZECH CENTER MUSEUM czechcenter.org

The Czech Center Museum Houston works to preserve, record and celebrate the language, scholarship and

13. RICE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY ricegallery.org

Rice Gallery is dedicated to the creation and exhibition of site-specific installation art. The gallery is located on the ground floor of Sewall Hall, near the main entrance to one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses.

Thru May 9, Henrique Olivera: New Installation.

14. THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON mfah.org

Amy Blakemore: Photographs 1988-2008 runs through May. This talented, Houston-based photographer’s work is catalogued at the MFAH through the spaces in time she has completed each piece by decades. As if birthing, contrasts in her works from the 1980s focus on black & white photos and then grow into hues during the 1990s photos that explore color through different uses of light. Don’t miss the other engaging exhibits on display at the MFAH: Thru May 10, The Plains of Mars: European War Prints, 1500-1825 Thru May 17, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul Thru May 24, Eye on the Third Ward: Jack Yates High School Photography 2008 Thru May 25, Wrapped in Color: Lithographic Book Covers and Jackets, 1890-1970 15. CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON camh.org

KEY TO SYMBOLS



PARKING RESTAURANT SHOPPING SNACKS FREE ADMISSION

No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston is a plethora of visual art pieces presented by 15 individual and collaborative teams that include performance, lecture and video screening space.

Opening May 9, this exhibit explores the beauty and art of urban structures 17. may09 002houston

arts of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and Slovakia. There will be a featured film series showcasing The Power of Good, the documentary of Nicholas Winton’s exploits saving Czech children from Nazi tyranny, and Citizen Havel Goes on Vacation.

18. JOHN C. FREEMAN WEATHER MUSEUM wxresearch.org

The John C. Freeman Weather Museum is helping support the National Weather Service in its efforts to educate families about hurricanes in Remembering Ike – 2009 Hurricane Workshop, Ready or Not on May 30 at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 10am – 2pm. This event, free and open to the general public, will have a kids zone activity center, free hurricane preparedness video and items, and R.O.N. (Ready or Not), the interactive robot.

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ART HOUSES+MUSEUMS+EXHIBITS 1. vaughan christopher gallery| 2. art league houston | 3. thornwood gallery

MUSEUMS ART CAR MUSEUM artcarmuseum.com 140 Heights Blvd. 713.861.5526

BLAFFER GALLERY class.uh.edu/blaffer UH Campus, Ent. 16, 713.743.9530

GALVESTON ARTS CENTER galvestonartscenter.org 2127 Strand St. 409.763.2403 HERITAGE SOCIETY heritagesociety.org 1100 Bagby 713.655.1912 opens May 5, Retablos: Art for the Masses

HOUSTON FIRE MUSEUM houstonfiremuseum.org 2304 Milam 713.524.5395 MUSEUM OF PRINTING HISTORY printingmuseum.org 1324 W. Clay 713.522.4652 opens May 14, Filigrane: a History of Watermarks thru May 9, Pulled from the Vault ORANGE SHOW orangeshow.org 2402 Munger 713.926.6368 opens May 9, Houston Art Car Weekend PROJECT ROW HOUSES projectrowhouses.org 2501 Holman 713.526.7662 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM tsu.edu/museum 3100 Cleburne Ave. 713.313.7145

ART HOUSES 18 HANDS GALLERY 18handsgallery.com 249 West 19th St. 713.869.3099

AEROSOL WARFARE GALLERY aerosolwarfare.com 2110 Jefferson ANYA TISH GALLERY anyatishgallery.com 4411 Montrose 713.524.2299

APAMA MACKEY GALLERY mackeygallery.com 628 East 11th Street 713.850.8527 ARCHWAY GALLERY archwaygallery.com 2305 Dunlavy 713.522.2409 opens May 2, Bede Van Dyke/Gene Hester ARTSCAN GALLERY rudolphprojects.com 1836 Richmond 713.807.1836

ART LEAGUE HOUSTON artleaguehouston.org 1953 Montrose Blvd. 713.523.4080 opens May 8, Vulnerable Ecologies by Susan Stockwell opens May 8, ConcealDisclose by Hagit Barkai and Tala Vahabzadeh

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3.

BARBARA DAVIS GALLERY barbaradavisgallery.com 4411 Montrose 713.520.9200 thru May 16, Other Arrangements by Helen Lessick BERING & JAMES GALLERY beringandjames.com 805 Rhode Place #500, 713.524.0101 opens May 14, Roma Home Decor BETZ GALLERY betzgallery.com 1208 W. Gray 713.576.6954

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BLAFFER GALLERY class.uh.edu/blaffer 4800 Calhoun Rd. 713.743.9521 opens May 16, Existed: Leonardo Drew BOOKER-LOWE GALLERY bookerlowegallery.com 4623 Feagan St. 713.862.8364 CANAL ST. GALLERY canalstreetgallery.com 2219 Canal St. 713.223.2219

COMMUNITY ARTISTS’ COLLECTIVE communityartistscollective.org 1501 Elgin 713.523.1616 COMMUNE ON NORTH communeonnorth.com 2445 North Blvd.

CAROLINE COLLECTIVE carolinecollective.com 4820 Caroline 713.825.4613

CTRL GALLERY ctrlgallery.com 3907 Main St. 713.523.2875 thru May 30, Heimir Björgúlfsson–New Collages and Sculptures DAKOTA GALLERY dakotaframing.com/dfp/dakotagallery.asp 2324 Shearn 713.523.7440 DARKE GALLERY darkegallery.com 5321 Feagan 713.542.3802 Opens May 2, Janet Wayte–Nextures DEBORAH COLTON GALLERY deborahcoltongallery.com 2445 North Boulevard 713.869.5151 thru May 7, Molly Gochman–Spring DESANTOS GALLERY desantosgallery.com 1724 Richmond 713.520.1200 DIVERSEWORKS diverseworks.org 1117 East Main at Naylor 713.223.8346 opens May 1, New Art in Austin: 20 to Watch DOMY BOOKS domystore.com 1709 Westheimer 713.523.3669 opens May 9, Casual Encounters

FOTOFEST fotofest.org 1113 Vine Street 713.223.5522 thru May 13, Traveling Exhibition–Viewfinder: New Images by Texas Artists opens May 17, Literacy Through Photography G GALLERY 301 redbudgallery.com/gGalleryIndex.html East 11th Street 713.822.4842 opens May 6, Worn In: Patric Marino and Katy Anderson GALLERY 1724 gallery1724.com 1724 Bissonnet 713.523.2547

GALLERY SONJA ROESCH gallerysonjaroesch.com 2309 Caroline 713.659.5424 opens May 16, Jan van der Ploeg

HOUSTON LANDMARK GALLERY houstonlandmarkgallery.com 1200 McKinney 713.927.8800 HOUSTON STUDIOS 707 Walnut St. #100, 713.223.0951 HOLLYWOOD FRAME GALLERY hollywoodframegallery.com 2427 Bissonnet 713.942.8885

HOOKS-EPSTEIN hooksepsteingalleries.com 2631 Colquitt St. 713.522.0718 opens May 2, Teresa Dunn opens June 6, Kelli Scott Kelley

GITE GALLERY thegitegallery.com 2024 Alabama St. 713.523.3311

JOAN WICH & CO. GALLERY joanwichgallery.com 4411 Montrose 713.526.1557 opens May 28, Patricia Gonzales thru May 23, Rabéa Ballin

GREEN HOUSE GALLERY greenhouseartgallery.com 716 W. Alabama St. 713.535.6462

KOELSCH GALLERY koelschgallery.com 703 Yale 713.626.0175

GOLDESBERRY GALLERY goldesberrygallery.com 2625 Colquitt 713.528.0405

KINZELMAN ART CONSULTING kinzelmanart.com 3909 Main Street 713.533.9923

GREMILLION & CO. FINE ART gremillion.com 2501 Sunset Blvd. 713.522.2701 thru May 10, Christian Renonciat opens May 14, Richard Koci

LAURA RATHE FINE ART laurarathe.com 2707 Colquitt 713.527.7700 opens May 2, Ray Phillips–Uninvisible

GUTHRIE CONTEMPORARY 2734 Virginia St. 713.522.8086

HCC-CENTRAL GALLERY centralfinearts.info 3517 Austin 713.718.6570 18. may09 002houston

LAURA U COLLECTION lauraucollection.com 1840 Westheimer 713.522.0855

LAZZARA ART GALLERY gallerialazzara.com 5400 Mitcheldalle 713.681.0681

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LOVETT INN ART GALLERY lovettinngallery.com 501 Lovett Blvd. 713.522.5224

M2 GALLERY m2-houston.com 325 W. 19th St. 713.861.6070 opens May 6, “Degrees”

McCLAIN GALLERY mcclaingallery.com 2242 Richmond 713.520.9988 opens May 7, The Art Guys: New Clichés McMURTREY GALLERY mcmurtreygallery.com 3508 Lake St. 713.523.8238 opens May 2, Dornith Doherty–Archiving Eden MEREDITH LONG GALLERY meredithlonggallery.com 2323 San Felipe 713.523.6671

MIDTOWN ART CENTER midtownartcenter.com 3414 La Branch 713.521.8803 MOODY GALLERY moodygallery.com 2815 Colquitt 713.526.9911 opens May 2, Lucas Johnson

MOTHER DOG STUDIOS home.earthlink.net/~motherdogstudios/ motherdogstudios 720 Walnut 713.229.9760 MOXIE moxiehouston.com 2307 Dunlavy 713.807.7994

NAUHAUS GALLERY texascollaborative.com 223 E. 11th St. 281.615.4148 opens May, Trey Speegle

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RETRO GALLERY retrogallery.com 1839 W. Alabama 713.522.7074 RICE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY ricegallery.org 6100 Main St. 713.348.6069 thru May 9, Henrique Olivera–Tapumes RUDOLPH PROJECTS I ARTSCAN GALLERY rudolphprojects.com 1836 Richmond 713.807.1836 SICARDI GALLERY sicardi.com 2246 Richmond 713.529.1313

SPACE 125GALLERY haatx.com 3201 Allen Parkway 713.527.9330 STUDIO 1107 East Freeway 713.224.5555

TALENTO BILINGUE tbhcenter.com 333 S. Jensen Drive 713.222.1213 TANSU tansustyle.com 321-B West 19th 713.880.5100

THE ARTFUL CORNER theartfulcorner.com 3423 White Oak Drive THOM ANDRIOLA newgallery.net 2627 Colquitt 713.520.7053 opens May 2, Terri Thomas THORNWOOD GALLERY thornwoodgallery.com 1201 Birdsall 713.861.2787 opens May 2, Folding Planes by Kevin Box

NOLAN-RANKIN GALLERIES nolan-rankingalleries.com 6 Chelsea Place 713.528.0664

VAUGHAN CHRISTOPHER GALLERY vaughanchristopher.com 1217 South Shepherd 713.533.0816 opens May 7, Works by Paul Manes

PARKERSON GALLERY artnet.com 3510 Lake St. 713.524.4945

WADE WILSON ART wadewilsonart.com 4411 Montrose #200, 713.521.2977 thru May 16, Beneath the Seen opens May 30, Javier de Villota

O’KANE GALLERY uhd.edu One Main St.@UHD 713.221.8042

PEEL GALLERY SHOP peelgallery.org 4411 Montrose Blvd. 713.520.8122 POST GALLERY postgallery.com 2121 Sage, Ste. 390, 713.622.4241 "by appointment only"

POISSANT GALLERY poissantgallery.com 5102 Center St. 713.868.9337

PROJECT ROW HOUSES projectrowhouses.org 2519 Holman St. 713.526.7662 REDBUD GALLERY redbudgallery.com 303 E. 11th St. 713.862.2532 opens May 2, Broken Brushes

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY watercolorhouston.org 1601 West Alabama 713.942.9966 May 8, May Monthly Show opens May 30, Jerrie Gast–Slipping and Sliding on Yupo WINTER STREET STUDIOS winterstreetstudios.net 2101 Winter Street 713.862.0082 XNIHILO GALLERY 2115taft.org 2115 Taft St. 713.622.1846

ZARPOSH INDIA GALLERY zarposhindia.com 1951 Richmond 713.668.2948

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Photography by Wayne Sandlin

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The works of the two most inspirational pop artists in American history helped launch the first spring exhibit for the Vaughan Christopher Gallery. One of Houston’s newest galleries, Vaughan Christopher is already causing quite a buzz showing the works of Chagall, Haring, Hirst, Manes, Matisse, Quinn, Sultan and a series of ten one-of-a-kind hand colored flowers by Andy Warhol – all available for your home!

EVENT MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF WARHOL AND HARING WHY TO PRESENT THE FIRST LAUNCH EXHIBIT OF VAUGHAN CHRISTOPHER GALLERY WHERE VAUGHAN CHRISTOPHER GALLERY WHEN MARCH 5

Megan Doucette, Shannon Clark

Brian and Nancy Heitshusen

Matt Massey, Jay Haber

Christina and Tom Hand

Laura Sweeney, Eric Andell

Stephanie Block, Nicole Fertitta, Jessica Laviage

Erin Langley, Carmela Lussky, Eric Peterson

Luis Gonzales, Amy Vaughan King, Tiffany Gonzales

A

LIVING SMART WITH PATRICIA GRAS

Living Smart with Patricia Gras airs on Sundays at 3pm and Thursdays at 10:30pm on HoustonPBS Ch. 8.

JEFF YEAGER ULTIMATE CHEAPSKATE When news of the economy began to fill the airwaves as we sit here today. A third is undernourished, and last year, I chose not to watch TV at all and proceeda third is well fed. Most Americans are still very fored to find information that would empower me to feel tunate to be in that top third. I think we need to keep better about the state of the economy. Then I that in mind as we go through this economic read Jeff Yeager’s book, “The Ultimate upheaval – yes, it’s bad, but it’s all in a relaCheapskate.” I laughed a lot and tive sense,” says Yeager.

HOW MANY learned many useful tips on what to do THINGS ARE THERE about everyday spending. Jeff Yeager One of the most practical bits of advise he WHICH I DO NOT shares is to think about how many things was a CEO and fundraiser for the nonWANT? profit sector, operating in an environwe can actually do on our own. “I’m a big —Socrates ment where money was often scarce. In do-it-yourselfer. Obviously, we spend a lot of those years he learned that we had become time earning money to pay people to do other a nation focused more on amassing a quantity of things for us. What I write about is not about sacristuff than on creating quality of life, so he decided to fice. It’s about choice. It’s about leading a fuller life teach people a new philosophy, a new way of life. by spending less. In this case I’m just saying – again, you have only so much time here on earth – wouldn’t I invited him to Living Smart so he could share some you like to learn to do some different things for yourof his ideas on living more with less! “I try to write self, from cooking, to home remodeling, things that with a real laugh track to engage people in a very happen to also save you money, but different skill sets serious conversation. I’m never making light of people than simply learning how to do your nine-to-five job?” who are genuinely hurting. In the world context, that’s really much fewer Americans. Do you know that half As for the connection between making a lot of money the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a and happiness, Yeager suggests we focus more on our day? A third of the world is literally starving to death passion than on making money. “Can you choose 20. may09 002houston

PATRICIA GRAS + JEFF YEAGER

your passions? Can you choose what interests you in life, your hobbies and so on? Can you try to steer those in a specific way, for instance if you have a passion for cooking (which is one of my great joys in life) not only do you find it extremely pleasurable, but it saves you all kinds of money. You buy fewer meals out. Think of the money that would save you.” On Living Smart Jeff Yeager will discuss how to enjoy life more by spending less.

Share your experiences by either calling 713.743.8513 or emailing livingsmart@houstonpbs.org. If you miss this program, or if you would like to view streaming videos of past Living Smart shows go to our website www.houstonpbs.org/livingsmart and click on the guest name. Patricia Gras is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the producer and host for “Living Smart with Patricia Gras” and “Latina Voices: Smart Talk.” You can learn more about both these shows on www.patriciagras.com.

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SPACETAKER ARTSCENE

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By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

THEY say April showers bring May flowers. Though, in Houston, the showers don’t obey schedules. Spring may herald changeable weather for many places, but the meteorological confusion is year-round for our fair city. To be prepared Boy Scout-style is to leave one’s house with a sweater and canoe. The one thing of which Houstonians may be certain is that after May, the thermometer will start making its ascent to the hell-worthy temperatures of summer. (Still, how much better to be in a place where people are always taking clothes off, as opposed to putting more on!) April’s showers brought both flowers and a fair share of festivals, so enjoy this respite from the heat and humidity and spend your days out of the house and at one of this month’s cool art events!

MAY 1, 6-9PM – OPENING RECEPTION FOR NEW ART IN AUSTIN: 20 TO WATCH DiverseWorks’ Co-director Diane Barber partners with Eva Buttacavoli (Austin Museum of Art), Bill FitzGibbons (Blue Star Contemporary Art Center) and Dennis Kois (Grace Museum) to select artists for New Art in Austin: 20 to Watch, the third in a triennial exhibition showcasing emerging Central Texas artists whose work stretches the boundaries of contemporary art. The resulting colorful and energetic multimedia exhibition features a diverse lineup of rising Texas visual artists including Yoon Cho, Maggie Chou, Ali Fitzgerald, Alyson Fox, Buster Graybill, Jules Buck Jones, Baseera Khan, Andrew Long, Kurt Mueller, Jen Hirt, Scott Webel, Jill Pangallo, Scott Proctor, Matthew Rodriguez, Shawn Smith, Xochi Solis, Sarah Sudhoff, Raymond Uhlir, Stephanie Wagner, Rebecca Ward and Eric Zimmerman.

DiverseWorks- Free. diverseworks.org MAY 7, 6-9PM – OPENING RECEPTION FOR SPACETAKER’S COME WHAT MAY Three female artists join forces for Spacetaker’s artist showcase presented at Mo Mong during the month of May: Weihong, Sam Sartorius and Leticia Balli. The combination of work from the three women, evolving from random to deliberate, embodies a feminine edge, ranging from capricious to playful and romantic. Balli’s work emerges from the subconscious – themes bubbling to the surface through the initial chaos, whereas the paintings of Sartorius bestow emotional landscapes, in which “real and unreal can coexist through a sensuous viewpoint.” Born in China and shown extensively throughout the world, Weihong asserts her art involves basic principles – the importance of line, form, flow, yin and yang through a fusion of East/West visual vocabularies. Mo Mong- Free. spacetaker.org MAY 10, 5PM - ARS LYRICA PRESENTS IL TRIONFO DEL TEMPO Which is more enduring, Beauty or Pleasure? Ars Lyrica seeks to answer that question with their stunning setting of Handel’s first oratorio, starring sopranos Ava Pine and Melissa Givens, countertenor Gerrod Pagenkopf and tenor Joseph Gaines. Artistic Director Matthew Dirst leads Houston’s finest early music ensemble through an afternoon of potent questions, sly asides and soaring music. See for yourself whether Beauty can outlast Pleasure. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center- $35. For tickets, call 713.315.2525 or visit arslyricahouston.org.

MAY 15-17 – HOUSTON FRINGE FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY BOOTOWN Houston has a fringe festival?! Indeed it does, thanks to the audacious gang at BooTown bringing us a playful weekend of

brand-spankin’-new theatre, film, improv, music and whatever else strikes their fancy. All will be produced and performed by individual artists and some of the wildest groups on the Houston arts scene, such as Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company, Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre, Melusine Theatre, Brazosport Lazer Panthers and more! (To further sweeten the deal, a percentage of the festival’s profits will be donated to Writers in the Schools.)

Westheimer/Taft area-$7–55. houstonfringefestival.org MAY 21-30 – OPERA VISTA FESTIVAL Opera about love and myth? Typical perhaps—but alien abduction and anorexia? These are a few of the themes covered in the 2009 Vista Competition, the cornerstone of the 2nd annual Opera Vista Festival presented by Opera Vista and Nova Arts Project. This American Idol-style competition is the only one of its kind in the world, and jury members will include the President/Artistic Director of the Shanghai Opera, Mr. Zhang Guoyong, and Bechara El-Khoury, an internationally renowned French/Lebanese composer. The festival will also highlight performances of the two winning operas from the 2007 Vista Competition: Edalat Square by R. Timothy Brady and Soldier Songs by David T. Little. Wortham Theater @ UH- $25–100. operavista.org MAY 22, 6:308:30PM – OPENING OF NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM @ BARBARA DAVIS GALLERY Novus ordo seclorum (Latin for “New Order of the Ages”) appears on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, first designed in 1782 and printed on the back of the American dollar bill since 1935. The phrase becomes the title of Barbara Davis Gallery’s next show featuring an interactive multimedia installation of works by artist Anthony Thompson Shumate. Through the duality of beauty and commentary, the installation evokes a proud and mixed nostalgia, while opening a powerful dialogue about the concerns of our future sovereignty and the aesthetics of currency and its iconography. Exhibited extensively throughout Texas and the United States, Shumate is the recipient of several awards, including the 2006 New Works Fellowship for Emerging Artist from the former Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County. On view May 22 – June 27, 2009. barbaradavisgallery.com *Stay tuned for the winners of the Hunting Art Prize, which will be announced on May 2nd at the Hunting Art Prize Gala held at the Decorative Center in Houston. Among this year’s finalists is artist Emilie Duval, a gift to Houston from Paris, and her piece The Great Corridor. huntingartprize.com 21. may09 002houston

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By Wilbert Chinchilla Photography provided by Caviart Gallery

CAVIART GALLERY @ THE RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTER 2337 bissonnet st., houston, tx 77005 | 713.395.3301 | ourtx.org/gallery | ourtexasinc@gmail.com | m – f 8:30am – 6pm, sat 10am – 3pm, sunday closed

C

AVIART GALLERY, LOCATED WITHIN THE RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTER, SHOWCASES RUSSIAN AND RUSSIAN-AMERICAN TALENT FOR ALL OF TEXAS TO ABSORB.

The gallery’s continuing exhibitions reinforce its standing as a foremost authority on Russian arts in the Texas nonprofit community, garnering respect and support from Houstonians such as Andrea White and Hans Graf. With a rich history to draw on, it’s no surprise that these local influentials have come to be transported to St. Petersburg or Moscow.

During the humble beginnings of this gallery, open-call exhibitions were put on display at venues such as Jones Hall, The Jewish Community Center and The Wortham Center. The two-yearold gallery invites influential artists from Russia to present their artwork. The gallery is not limited to paintings but also showcases sculptures, miniatures or “icons,” and both aesthetic and informational films. The icons are socially important because they depict political, religious and folklore figures that only appear in the specially crafted Russian lacquer art jewelry pendants and boxes.

This art form began after the spread of Orthodox Christianity in Russia and followed a method developed by Byzantine art. Icons remain a regarded art form as they possess religious symbolism and tradition after more than three centuries. Works that are put on display often reflect the deeply rooted effects of history, religion and Russian folklore that can even be seen in the modern pieces. Often coupled with a theme, the Caviart Gallery follows national Russian holidays and celebrates these days at the gallery – typically with an exhibition.

With the foundation of Russian arts rooted with the likes of writer Aleksandr Pushkin, portraitist Valentin Serov and composer Petr Tchaikovsky, the gallery continually aims to praise these pioneers through its layered exhibitions like Pushkin in My Life and celebrating Tchaikovsky’s Birthday. For example, when celebrating a composer’s birthday, the gallery shows the life of the composer via a documentary film; and to finalize the celebration, an invited musician regales patrons with a live performance for the night. The gallery does show films other than composer documentaries and boasts a large group of film buffs coming to appreciate recent releases from Russian cinema in Houston.

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Caviart Gallery’s offerings include a variety from abstract paintings to black and white photography from artists currently living in Russia as well as local transplants. White, blue and red – symbolically the colors of both the Russian and Texas flags – are used to produce a remembrance of life from Russia. The themes most often seen involve nature with the uses of snow and water, snow being a focal point, and the impressive man-made cities throughout Russia.

The gallery fulfills the mission of the Russian Cultural Center and side-byside they have been pressing for the best works of Russian-speaking and internationally known artists of various styles and media. Typically, exhibits change at least four times a year. With approximately 55,000 Russian-speaking people in Houston and approximately 100,000 throughout Texas, Caviart may be a familiar locale for this group, but the ultimate mission of this gallery is to welcome all types of Texans from any background and expose them to the artists’ aspects of culture in Russia’s past, present and future.

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BABY LOVE W

By Leigh Bell

lines, and figured conceiving or adopting, if not both, would take a while. We never imagined both dreams would come true at the same time. Until they did.

We have two babies on the way. Coming two months apart.

hile other little girls dreamed of getting married, having a baby and playing Mommy, I imagined myself remaining single and, eventually, adopting a child. I can’t explain why. It just was.

Jeff and I learned we’re pregnant in December. Baby due August 12. Two months later, we got a phone call. An African-American birth family with a baby due June 6 had selected us as the adoptive parents.

I never experienced the desire to have a child – I mean conceive, give birth, the whole deal – until I met my soul mate, husband Jeff. Blame unconditional love and a ticking biological clock. My hope to adopt, however, never faded. Together, Jeff and I decided to build our family through conception and adoption.

If all goes according to plan, we’ll have two newborns in a single summer. The adopted child will be black, like his/her birth parents. The biological child will be white, like Jeff and I.

Last fall, we set out to do both – have a baby and adopt one.

Both will be loved beyond belief. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’d heard horror stories of infertility and year-long adoption

IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY IN 1983.

In those days, a Cabbage Patch doll was a prize given only by dedicated – and near-senile – parents who waited in bitter-cold lines at 4am until Target® or Toys R Us®

are white, and statistics show only 10 percent will consider adopting a black child. That greatly reduces the chance that a black child in need of a happy adoptive home will actually find one.

opened. My mother was one of them.

The heartfelt reason started with a black Cabbage Patch Kid back in 1983.

I can recall opening that gift. Losing patience with the card from Santa, tape that wouldn’t loosen, and two layers of chintzy wrapping paper. Anticipation swam throughout my 7-year-old body. Finally! The paper ripped apart to reveal the box: soft yellow. And then the name: Cabbage Patch Kids swirled in bright green.

I’ll be honest. When I first saw the doll, my stomach sank with disappointment. I wanted a white Cabbage Patch Kid that looked like me. A doll I could relate to. A black Cabbage Patch Kid for a little white girl? Wouldn’t people think I was weird?

I flipped it over as quickly as a coin, hoping the doll had brown hair and eyes, just like me – just what I asked for.

And she did have brown hair. Brown eyes. And even brown skin.

Hershey’s Chocolate-brown skin. My Cabbage Patch Kid was black.

When I turned 30 years old without a single husbandly prospect and no cash for a sperm donor, I decided my youthful vision to adopt a child was prescient. Destiny. I would adopt. And I would try to adopt a black child.

The logical reason to adopt a minority child is statistical.

The vast majority of adoptive families in the United States

Gertie became my doll. She wasn’t black. She wasn’t nonwhite. She was just Gertie, my baby doll.

Going back to school after Christmas break, I dressed Gertie and myself in our finest and, together, we loaded the school bus. I spotted my friend April in the front seat back, braiding the blonde hair of her blue-eyed Cabbage Patch Kid. I squeezed in beside her and put Gertie in my lap. April looked over inquisitively.

Before she could saw a word, I belted out: “Isn’t she gorgeous?”

April nodded.

I veiled my discontent with Mom and Dad. Like a B-level actress, I dressed up my Cabbage Patch Kid, sat with her at the dinner table, and carried her to my room each night (and then hid her under my bed). I even disregarded the birth certificate that came with the doll and named her myself. Gertie. (From Drew Barrymore’s character in the 1982 “E.T.” Loved her!)

And Gertie was gorgeous. I kept thinking so, long after I outgrew Cabbage Patch Kids. Gertie didn’t make me colorblind. She made me see color as beautiful. To see color with respect. Gertie inspired me to embrace and love someone who looks different from me, and to do so without a concern of what others thought.

But my heart wasn’t in it.

I would realize this years later.

Then things changed. Gertie made it from beneath my bed to in my bed. I loved twirling her wiry, beautiful hair. I fell in love with her coloring, which I decided was more like a crushed Rolo than Hershey’s chocolate. More caramel, soft and sweet.

Gertie is the foundation of love that I already feel for our adopted baby. A baby Jeff and I will take as our own, love as our own. The baby we chose, just as my mother selected Gertie from a shelf of white Cabbage Patch Kids that Christmas season in 1983.

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By Sarah Gish

MOTHERING and ARTISTRY I’m excited to announce screenings of a special film that is near and dear to my heart because it highlights women artists: Who Does She Think She Is? will be onscreen only two times at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (mfah.org), Saturday, May 9, at 7pm and Sunday, May 10, at 3pm. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll will be in attendance at both screening. This documentary addresses the oft-felt quandary of women artists – do we choose mothering or working? Exploring the lives of five fierce women who refuse to choose, the film looks at some of the most problematic intersections of our time: mothering and creativity, partnering and independence, and economics and art.

This presentation is co-sponsored by the Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), Women in Film and Television/Houston, Friends of Women’s Studies and the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Houston, with support from the Houston Arts Alliance. And over at the Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks/Mason Park (drafthouse.com) and the Studio Movie Grill (studiomoviegrill.com) there’s so much going on this month that you’ll just have to check their websites for all the film scoop!

FILM DRIBBLE and AURORA PICTURE SHOW File these under “Film Tidbits That May or May Not Be of Interest to You”. For those film fans that want to see cool independent films with a group of like-minded friends, join the Houston Film Snobs Movie Meetup Group (arthouse.meetup.com/110) founded by Jim Werner. Now everyone’s blogging, including the Angelika Film Center (angelikablog.com), which has one with their latest news including what stars are hanging out there (like “it boys” Jonas Brothers), and check out the film-sharing and -viewing website ikipz.com – heavy hitters such as artist Julian Schnabel are on their advisory board. And here’s some news you can really get excited about: Delicia Harvey, executive director of Aurora Picture Show, is expecting a bouncing baby boy in May. Speaking of the Aurora (aurorapictureshow.org), they are blowing and going with lots of events this month, including the very cool “Soul Night” on Saturday, May 2, at 8pm at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. The evening features classic and rare performance footage of soul greats like James Brown, Etta James and Ike & Tina Turner. Chalk will be screened on Sunday, May 17, at 1pm at the Aurora Video Library; on Friday, May 29, at 7:30pm, Found Magazine will host a screening at Saint Arnold’s Brewery; and on Saturday, May 30, at 7pm there will be a screening of “Slant 9: Bold Asian American Images”, location tba.

RIVER OAKS and other screens The Landmark River Oaks Theatre (landmarktheatres.com) has some cool midnighters scheduled this month: Alien: The Directors Cut (5/1 and 5/2); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (5/9) and The Terminator (5/15 and 5/16). Also unrolling on their silver screen is Lymelife (5/1); Shall We Kiss (5/8); Summer Hours (5/22) and Every Little Step (5/29). The Holocaust Museum Houston (hmh.org) is hosting a members-only screening of the very moving Holocaust film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas on May 20 at 6:30pm. The Center for Healing Racism (centerhealingracism.org) is hosting a special program that includes a video screening and discussion on Saturday, May 16, from 9am-3:45pm at HCC Central Campus. The program is titled “Race – The Power of an Illusion” and all are welcome to the free event. The CG-animated science fiction action adventure Battle for Terra opens May 1 and the Angelika Film Center is featuring Lemon Tree, Is Anybody There and American Violet (all 5/1); Skills Like This and Tyson (both 5/8); Rudo y Cursi (5/15) and Adoration (5/22). This month’s film at the Italian Cultural and Community Center (iccchouston.com) is Parlami d’amore (Let’s Talk about Love) on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30pm.

ART FILMS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL… TAKE A FRIEND TO ONE!

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NONPROFIT

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By Nadia Michel Photography by Code Bess

HITS THEATER: TEACHING KIDS TO SING, DANCE AND A LOT MORE TOO.

"

roadway’s not dead. Broadway’s just moved to Houston.”

That’s according to Ryan Jacobs, a 15-year-old musical theatre actor and Broadway aficionado. As Lefou in HITS Theatre’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Miller Park Theatre last month, Jacobs delighted audiences with his singing and dancing. After four years of training with HITS Theatre, Jacobs has found his niche.

comes with a lot of hard work, though. “I barely get 6 hours of sleep per night,” says the high school student. After long rehearsals 3 to 4 times a week, Rice has to make time for homework, in order to ensure he keeps his straight-A average.

The nonprofit organization provides musical theatre training for children ages 6 to 19 with a focus on production. GROUP CLASSES, INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AND PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE IN HITS’ THEATRE, WHICH IS IN THE HEART OF THE HISTORICAL HEIGHTS AREA OF HOUSTON. Many of the children who participate in the after-school program go on to musical theatre college degrees. “Every single one of my private students has made it into the college program of their choice,” says JoAnne Woodard, Artistic Director, who offers extra one-on-one coaching in preparation for college entrance auditions.

Not all the students end up using their acquired performance skills on a stage, though.

“Many people in Houston who are now doctors or lawyers talk about the life lessons they got from HITS,” says Ellen Efsic, Executive Director, about the 29-year-old program. “Kids learn about public speaking, taking direction, thinking creatively and flexibility,” she adds.

Eleven-year-old Bram Lowenstein, who played a talking book in HITS’ Beauty and the Beast, has seen the benefits firsthand. His public speaking skills improved so much since joining the program he ran for student council at his school. His interest in acting has also led to other ideas. “I’d like to be a movie director,” he says of future goals.

Every session, HITS classes prepare a Broadway musical, culminating in a performance for friends and family. Accompanied by professional orchestras and with elaborate costumes, the shows are smaller-yet-serious versions of the originals. This summer’s productions will include High School Musical 2 and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Each spring since 1987, HITS has produced a Broadway musical at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre, FREE-OF-CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC. The professional level presentations feature some of Houston’s most talented youth. Students and professional actors attend open auditions in hopes of becoming part of the cast. “Things get done quicker, you know everything is going to be okay,” says 16-year-old Adam Rice, who landed an ensemble role and was the understudy for the coveted Beast role in this year’s show. The prestige

HITS’ Miller Theatre productions give young actors the opportunity to work side by side with professionals. “In our theatre, we have actors who’ve mentored students,” says Woodard. “The plane at which you work, and the expectations, are higher,” says Jacobs. The size of the audience – which has reached 6000 at some past performances – is also a factor. Over the years, HITS has become a kind of necessary stepping-stone for Houston’s future Broadway actors. Some alums, like K.C. Leiber (who we interviewed last month), are now on national tours with big Broadway productions. Leiber is currently appearing in The Wizard of Oz. Woodard is thrilled about HITS’ success. “At a time when theatre is struggling, we are burgeoning at the seams,” she says. “The teenage population here was never huge, but that is changing,” she adds. Woodard attributes HITS’ success to the theatre’s commitment to education. “I am about a process and an end result. It’s important to give everybody a chance,” she says. “It’s not always the same kids who get the lead roles,” she explains.

AUDITIONS FOR HITS’ NEXT BIG SHOW, VIOLET, WILL BE HELD IN JULY. Although the majority of the actors are from the program, professional actors are invited to attend. Lead roles often go to equity actors.

HITS programs serve more than 500 students annually, 20% on partial or full needs-based scholarship. The theater is a non-Equity, 501(c)(3) organization with generous support from individual donors, corporations and foundations including the Houston Endowment, Inc., the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, the Brown Foundation, the Wortham Foundation, the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board and Houston Arts Alliance.

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For more information, see www.hitstheatre.org

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O.

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born cool. grow hip.

Get your pint-sized Picasso started off on the right side of the brain.

It’s never too early to cultivate his creativity and capture his imagination as long as you have the right tools. Crayola®’s 2009 collection has something for everyone six months to sixty! From GIANT dualcolored 3-D sidewalk chalk and crayon towers, to finger paints that promise mess-free hours of fun because the only place you’ll see the color is on the special Color Wonder™ paper it comes with! And don’t forget the inspiration ... these adorable hand knit bird rattles (with names like “octavio” and “sonatina”) by BlaBla Kids make the perfect “still” life.

Photographed by Gabriella Nissen

by Kristina Vaquero-Nemec

Crayola has even found a way to get baby into the art action by creating a new line that allows the mini Matisse to use his senses and natural motions to explore and manipulate color with its new Crayola Beginnings Baby™ line. Products like their TaDoodles™ TaDoodler™, Drop and See™ and Rainbow Tower put him in control of a colorfully fun experience that excites the senses.

All Crayola products are available through www.crayola.com and bird rattles are available at BlaBlaKids.com

Keep Mom organized and artsy with Jonathan Adler’s line for Barnes and Noble. Not only will these stylish stationery and office accessories infuse some serious color in her day, they also take the humdrum out of keeping life in order! Prices range from $7.95-16.95 and available at Barnes and Noble stores.

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1

PEOPLE OF HOUSTON

2

RULA SAWAF

KENNY BENITEZ

age 22 sign Capricorn origin Lebanon occupation Student (not for long!)

age 27 sign Leo origin New Orleans occupation Director/Designer

Photography by Daniel Ortiz

3 JOE CLEMENTS age 31 sign Aquarius origin Houston, TX occupation Marketing Agent

1. RULA SAWAF •WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO A PERSON? A great sense of humor and easy-going personality. “If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.”–Marilyn Monroe •WHAT IS THE WORST FASHION TREND YOU LOVED? Bejeweled jeans! I was so guilty.

•WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? My BlackBerry – way too addicted. I feel like you could run a country or spaceship on it.

•IF YOU COULD ONLY WEAR ONE COSMETIC PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Chapstick!

2. KENNY BENITEZ •WHAT IS THE WORST FASHION TREND YOU LOVED? Shutter Glasses!

•WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIAN? My brother Stephen. He scores the bulk of my work and makes my job easier.

He is also one of the most talented people I know.

•WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Being a part of the Emmy award-winning team of Sportscenter on ESPN. •WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO GO ON YOUR NEXT VACATION? Havana, Cuba

3. JOE CLEMENTS •WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TREND? Internet Marketing •WHAT IS THE WORST FASHION TREND YOU LOVED? Tight rolling my pants in Junior High •IF YOU COULD MEET A CELEBRITY, WHO WOULD IT BE? Dave Matthews •IF YOU NEVER HAD TO WORK, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Sleep past 6am

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COSTUMES FOR COCKTAILS

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Styling by Beatrice Valencia Photography by Gabriella Nissen Illustration by Cynthia Bogart

DSW Shoe Warehouse, 9419 Katy Freeway, 713.465.8923 – A recessionista’s secret to great designer or designer-look shoes at affordable prices.

HEB, 9710 Katy Freeway, 713.647.5900 Neiman Marcus, 2600 Post Oak Boulevard, 713.621.7100 Sephora, 900 Memorial City Way, Suite # 700, 713.932.0848 YSL Houston Galleria, 5015 Westheimer Rd., 713.621.0013

ARE YOU DOING SOME SPRING WARDROBE CLEANING BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START? Need wardrobe inspiration that doesn’t involve a shopping spree? Then Marianne Mayeux is your answer! She is a personal styling, wardrobe consulting and closet cleaning queen! Contact her at mariannemayeux@yahoo.com for all fashion-related inquiries!

A CLASSIC REVISITED…

A DENIM JACKET IS IN EVERY GIRL’S WARDROBE AND WHILE ITS USE HAS BECOME VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT, IT’S TIME TO PUT IT TO GOOD USE ONCE AGAIN. WHILE SOME OF YOU GROAN IN OPPOSITION, I’M DELIGHTED; A DENIM JACKET IS THE PERFECT TOUCH TO ANY DRESS FOR A COOL SUMMER FEELING.

The busy pattern on this dress is the main attraction of this outfit. Keep the rest simple. Milly zig zag strapless tab dress @ Neiman Marcus | I know this revival is painful for some but to me, it’s a welcome comeback. A classic staple in your wardrobe, the weight is perfect for summer nights. Gap denim jacket – stylist’s own | I tested many self-tanners to find the one that gave me the most realistic tan in the shortest amount of time with a minimal margin of error. At $36, it’s no bargain but it’s perfect for special occasions like weddings! Bliss “A tan for all seasons” self-tanner $36 @ Sephora | I love pink nail polish but the perfect pink is hard to find. This one suits my medium skin tone quite nicely. OPI nail polish in “Make Love” $8.50 @ HEB | I am really into turquoise this season. I love adding little touches of it not necessarily wearing it clothing-wise. Sterling silver & turquoise cuff – stylist’s own | If I have something overtly girly I have to add something rough looking. These wooden bracelets are not only sentimental (each given to me by my boyfriend, mother or sister) but also add an organic touch. Assorted wooden beaded bracelets w/ charm – stylist’s own | Nude shoes are a favorite of mine for their elongating effect and ability to complement any color palette. Steven nude elastic strap and suede heels $70 @ DSW | The perfect luxe messenger purse in chocolate brown with gold details is perfect for my on-the-go but hands-free mentality. YSL Muse shoulder pouch @ YSL | 34. may09 002houston

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take a good shot IT’S COOL TO _____________.

eese!

ch Say

As told to 002’s confused photo- taking fool by photographer Sofia van der Dys, who happens to be a reputable source as she’s shot limitless covers for not only 002houston magazine, but a few other locals as well. Van der Dys is a proud member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), a board member of the Houston Chapter and a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

When the person or subject you are trying to photograph is in the shade and the background is bright, make sure and turn the flash on your camera on to light the subject. If not, you’ll just get a black silhouette and the background becomes the point of focus.

MOVE OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE FRAME USING THE RULE OF THIRDS. SIMPLY PUT, THE RULE OF THIRDS STATES THAT IF YOU DIVIDE ANY CANVAS INTO THIRDS HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY, THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE DIVIDING LINES WILL BE THE AREAS OF GREATEST VISUAL INTEREST – SO PLACE YOUR SUBJECT THERE!

By far one of the biggest problems with point-and-shoot cameras is camera motion resulting in blurry images. Pro photographers hold their camera carefully and keep it pressed against their eye, not only to see through the viewfinder but to keep the camera stable to get sharp images.

You need to become a human tripod! Hold the camera against your forehead, keep your elbows against your sides and stand with your feet apart. Many of the new cameras have image stabilization but that is not a substitute for good technique.

Use focus lock. It will prevent blurry photos.

A common mistake with pointand-shoot cameras is that they focus on what they think is the subject. So if you are trying to compose your image with the rule of thirds in mind and the focusing bracket is in the middle, the camera will focus in the center of the frame, therefore your subject will appear blurry and your background will be sharp.

To avoid this problem you need to focus on the subject with the bracket while pressing the shutter halfway and recomposing the shot to achieve the image you have in mind. Once everything is where you want it, finish pressing the button all the way and this causes the subject which is not in the center to be sharp and the background to remain blurry.

*Tees by OVERACHIEVERS, available at www.iamoverachiever.com

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Worn Free’s t-shirts combine art and rock and roll with pop culture in the most chic and soft t-shirts we’ve seen! Kurt Cobain’s Hi How are You? And Debbie Harry’s Camp Fun time tee both at wornfree.com. It’s OK to “heart” Houston tee at Hello Lucky – a super chic boutique full of one-of-a-kind finds. Last 2 are by OVERACHIEVERS whose bold images, graphics and undeniable statement compositions bring social awareness to the forefront. The debut collection, War Child, is focused on bringing more awareness to the plight of child soldiers in Africa, Afghanistan, Colombia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. www.iamoverachiever.com.

Bottom line: first two available at Hello Lucky. The original space cowboy – Snoopy! Red NASA vintage t-shirt commemorates Apollo 10’s mission anniversary this May. Available at www.boutiquetoyou.com. Joey Ramone’s NYC by Worn Free and last one at Hello Lucky.

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HANGING

O • U •T Photography by Kennon Evett

Blue shirt in basket by OVERACHIEVERS, Purple shirt draped on chair at Hello Lucky. On chair back, Miguel Adrover Tee benefiting the Grameen Foundation Knitwear’s Shikkha project in Bangladesh. The project was started by the Grameen Bank to promote rural education and provide educational loans and grants in Bangladesh.

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THINGS I LIKE LOVE

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By Carla Valencia de Martinez Photography by Sofia van der Dys

OK, I don’t eat raw or anything like that, but this book is great! The Raw Cookbook 2nd edition has some great, easy fast and fresh recipes for salads, dressings and more to get you out of a salad rut!

Tons of the country’s most respected raw chefs contributed their favorite recipes.

CHANTECAILLE’S ROSE WATER IS SIMPLY NOSTALGIC. IT SMELLS LOVELY AND A SPRITZ REFRESHES AFTER A LONG DAY, WHICH HASN’T EVEN ENDED AT 5PM, LET ALONE 6PM IF WE’VE GOT AN EVENT. AVAILABLE AT NEIMAN MARCUS.

I have a thing for PJ’s, the minute I get home I want to lounge! I’ve been on a loyal kick with Anthropology’s pickings lately. I love the punchy colors and fabrics. These come in silk too. Anthropology.com

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I discovered this stuff after the 002 sponsored 4 the Park Fun Run last month and am addicted!

Banyan Food’s Tofu Rice rocks! I haven’t met one person who doesn’t like it. You don’t even have to like tofu to like it. Available at Whole Foods.

Don’t pretend you haven’t secretly been dying to order one from the infomercials. I’m not afraid to admit I have a Topsy Turvy. I recently planted some tomatoes in my greenhouse in a pot to no avail, but the day after I transplanted them to the gravity defying Topsy Turvy, I had 3 baby bulbs on it! I’ll let you know how they taste as soon as they ripen.

Topsyturvy.com

Besides the fact that Martha Stewart is awesome, I love all her crafty things sold in collaboration with Michael’s. These glass glitters are beautiful! Trust me, once you see the wall with all the color options at the store, you won’t be able to pick just one. A warning to my family, if you get any correspondence from me, expect loose glitter in it….

I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ADDICTED TO MAX FACTOR’S 2000 CALORIE EXTREME MASCARA. (YES, THE ONE PICTURED IS MINE.) MY SISTER AND I GET ASKED CONSTANTLY “ARE THOSE YOUR EYELASHES?” EVERY TIME WE WEAR THE STUFF. IT DOESN’T CLUMP AND GLIDES ON SMOOTHLY. AND YOU CAN BULK BUY SINCE IT’S WALLET FRIENDLY! TO BUY NOW, VISIT A LOCAL RETAILER NEAR YOU OR MAXFACTOR.COM. 43. may09 002houston

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, h (Heinric

.

Heine)

IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES, WE BLEND THE ART OF WENDY WAGNER, ELAINE BRADFORD AND TARA CONLEY WITH THE MUSICAL ARTISTRY OF VARIOUS MUSICIANS FROM THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY AND MERCURY BAROQUE WHOSE TALENT LEFT US SPEECHLESS.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sofia van der Dys ASSISTED BY Aaron Courtland ART DIRECTION BY Alex Rosa & Carla Valencia de Martinez ART HANDLER Beatrice Valencia STYLED BY Ali Marie Kahn ALL CLOTHING AVIABLE AT Neiman Marcus in the Galleria MAKEUP AND HAIR BY Carol Wagener Q & A’S BY Wil Chinchilla

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OLEG SULYGA MERCURY BAROQUE VIOLIN II Photographed with Wendy Wagner’s Qwerkys and Tara conley’s hippo lounger

ative of Moscow, Russia, Oleg Sulyga began his music education in Moscow Central Music School, later continuing it at SMU in Dallas; Paris, France; and the University of Houston under guidance of professor Emanuel Borok. Mr. Sulyga was a member of world-renowned ensemble “The Moscow Virtuosi” led by Vladimir Spivakov, with which he traveled extensively and performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls. As a chamber musician he performed with the principals of the Wiener Philharmoniker.

As orchestral musician he has performed in the Chicago Symphony and the Houston Symphony.

Currently Mr. Sulyga is a violinist of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, member of the Mercury Baroque and a frequent chamber musician. During the last few seasons he was an Affiliate Artist at the University of Houston, teaching violin and assisting in the quartet in residence program.

WHILE IN THE PHOTO SHOOT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THE ARTS. HOW PASSIONATE ARE YOU ABOUT THE ARTS? Oh, I love it. That’s my life and I try to incorporate and fit everything around it.

IS THE VIOLIN YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENT? That’s my primary instrument, that is what I play most of the time. I play a little bit of viola and a little bit of piano as well but violin is my favorite. It has such a charming appeal to the audience and I love to play it.

WHAT CAME TO MIND DURING THE PHOTO SHOOT? As we were shooting I was playing por una cabeza by Carlos Garbel and it is a tango, and for some reason it came up as I was looking back at you guys as you were looking back at me.

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MYUNG SOON LEE

CELLO

rowing up in Seoul, Korea, with her family that liked classical music, Myung Soon Lee loved hearing the music of Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Caliapin, Caruso, Schubert, Ravel and others on an old wind-up phonograph player.

Even as a 5-year-old, the Andante Cantabile movement from one of Tchaikovsky’s string quartets awakened a sense of mystery and made her ponder what might exist beyond this world. In Busan during the Korean War, she taught herself to play harmonica, her first musical instrument. At the age of 14, she saw a cello for the first time when she attended Piatigorski’s recital.

With the encouragement of a high school music teacher Soon Lee began taking cello lessons at 16. After winning a prestigious music competition in Korea, she investigated opportunities abroad. In 1963 during junior year at Seoul National University, Soon Lee transferred to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where she later received her bachelor’s degree and went on to the New England Conservatory in Boston for her master’s. Soon Lee joined the Houston Symphony in 1976 after playing with several other orchestras. As a musician Soon Lee brings warmth and enrichment to the listener.

IS THERE ANY INSTRUMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE PLAY? If I had to start all over, I would like to play the oboe.

HOW DOES THE MUSIC CULTURE IN KOREA DIFFER FROM THE MUSIC CULTURE IN HOUSTON? I think the climate has changed nowadays. Korean conditions are really excelling. When I was getting started it was still in the beginning stage. When I was going to school, there were still lots of good orchestras but I did not have the chance to know just how good they were. The Korean people in general love music; they sing all the time. So I think their enthusiasm for classical music never differs, it’s always enthusiastic.

Houston is becoming a very international city so I think just a matter of time.

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ANTOINE PLANTE MERCURY BAROQUE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Photographed with Elaine Bradford’s taxidermied animalart

raised by audiences and musicians alike for his conducting verve and innovative programming, Antoine Plante is a young conductor who has garnered accolades for bringing Baroque music to life. Plante is a founder of Mercury Baroque, a Houston-based orchestra that has experienced remarkable audience growth over its eight-year history. In that capacity, Plante has become known for his deftness in balancing a repertoire of great works with lesser-known and reconstructed pieces. Equally important, Plante has earned a reputation for coaching musicians in period performance technique. Musicians that have worked with him form the core of a burgeoning early music performance scene in Houston. He is also a passionate supporter of classical music education and has led Mercury’s educational outreach program – a significant effort that includes classroom music education in under-served elementary schools, master classes for school orchestras and performances for schoolchildren. Plante is experienced in directing orchestral pieces as well as works for voice, and has conducted several operas and ballets. He worked with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater to create a score for the Dominic Walsh ballet Romeo and Juliet. Recently, Plante has conducted Handel’s complete Messiah and Water Music, as well as Caldara’s Missa Commemorationis. His opera repertoire includes Rameau’s Pygmalion and Handel’s Acis and Galatea. His experience is not limited to Baroque pieces, however, and his repertoire includes classical works such as Mozart and Haydn symphonies. In addition to his work with Mercury, Plante has conducted the National Symphony of Ecuador and Atlanta Baroque.

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HOW DO YOU FEEL AS A CONDUCTOR, THAT YOUR PLAYERS ARE HERE FOR THE PHOTO SHOOT? We love doing this. We have a really young and dynamic orchestra that houses a new kind of classical musician – ones really willing to go out there and make sure our music is accessible to people.

HOW HAS THE RECEPTION BEEN IN HOUSTON? It has been wonderful. We have been really lucky to have a lot of support. So in a short amount of time we are able to build something that is quite strong and has a really broad base of support.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENT? I’m not sure I have a real favorite but I did study the double bass the most and so I definitely have an affinity for playing the low string instruments.

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ANA TREVIÑOGODFREY

aptivating and versatile soprano Ana Treviño-Godfrey is a founding member of Mercury Baroque and has sung with the ensemble since its inception, performing concerts and operas in both the US and abroad, including performances at the 2003 Cervantino International Music Festival in Guanajuato and León, Mexico. Her kind nature and beautiful voice had 002houston staff in perpetual chills during our photo session. Equally proficient with other styles of music, Ms. Treviño-Godfrey was a featured soloist with both the Houston Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra X. She has also sung on numerous occasions with the Houston Chamber Choir. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, she has won many vocal competitions. Her opera roles include Galatea from Acis and Galatea, Colette from Le Devin du Village, Serpina from La Serva Padrona, Grisostomo from Don Quixote, Gasparina from La Canterina, Adele from Die Fledermaus, Adina from Elisir d’ Amore, Zerlina from Don Giovanni, Susanna from Le Nozze di Figaro, Despina from Così fan Tutte and Belinda from Dido and Aeneas. Ms. Treviño-Godfrey is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University where she is researching Mexican Baroque Music.

SOPRANO Photographed with Wendy Wagner’s Qwerkys and Tara Conley’s starflower fence

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BE A VOCALIST? NATURAL TALENT OR UNTIRING EFFORT? I have been singing all my life! I love to sing. I did not pick to be a musician. When people ask this question, I always say that music selected me. It has been a part of my daily life since I was very young. I love to learn new works, and also to perform pieces I am very familiar with. To be a musician, you have to have natural talent. You can’t decide to be one in college. It takes years of preparation and hard work. It is a profession that requires hard work but it is extremely rewarding. Music speaks to the mind and the soul! It is a wonderful language!!

IF YOU WEREN’T A VOCALIST, WHAT OTHER JOB WOULD YOU HAVE? I would be a medical doctor. I have always LOVED anatomy and learning about how our body functions. I am amazed by the human brain!!

YOU BROUGHT YOUR CHILD. ARE THERE HOPES FOR HIM TO BECOME A MUSICIAN? Music is a part of my family. My husband, Jonathan Godfrey, is the concertmaster for Mercury Baroque and the Bach Society, as well as the assistant concertmaster for Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet Orchestra. One of us practices in front of our children every day. It is a part of our daily life. Music is a part of the environment for our children.

Our daughter Isabella (5 years old) plays piano. Sebastian (8 months) loves to be sung to. We will support our children if they choose to pursue music. Music is very comforting in our household. Both Jonathan and I are founding members of Mercury Baroque.

Wendy Wagner’s art possesses a lighthearted curiosity and silliness. It was a natural progression for her as a painter to birth her characters into life. Wagner’s QWERKYS™ for both children and adults are a collection of adorable, humorous creatures that travel to Earth through a portal from their nearby dimension. Tootie can be quite precocious. Ideas and creativity “toot” out of her spout when she gets excited. Tootie was born from a “Tootie Egg.” She is used to getting her way and is well liked. Featured in the shoot are also Froggee, Miss Pretty and Mr. Look at Me. Created by Kenneth Finch & Wendy Wagner, www.qwerkys.com or call 713.459.2120

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Tara Conley is originally from Bath, New York, but now the sculptor lives and works in Houston. She has shown her work from coast to coast with major exhibitions in Houston and New York.

Inspired by children’s literature and the natural world, her work varies from her Words-in-Form collection to her Bronze Bunnies currently on display in New Orleans to her collection of indoor/outdoor pieces featured on these pages. www.taraconleyart.com

ERIC LARSON DOUBLE-BASSIST Photographed with Tara Conley’s Bird bath and sad bunny

ouble-Bassist Eric Larson has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999. Originally from Westminster, Maryland, Larson received his early training from Owen Cummings, a member of the Baltimore Symphony, and pursued undergraduate studies with Edwin Barker at Boston University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in music performance. Before moving to Houston, Larson did his graduate work with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Hal Robinson. While living in Philadelphia, Larson was Principal Bass of the Haddonfield Symphony and taught at the Settlement Music School. Eric Larson has participated in the Tanglewood, Grand Teton and Schleswig-Holstein music festivals, as well as the National Orchestral Institute. As an avid teacher, Larson currently spends his summers in Wabash, Indiana, teaching at the Wabash Institute for Double Bass and in Western Massachusetts teaching double bass and coaching chamber music at the Boston University-Tanglewood Institute.

WHAT DROVE YOU TO PLAY THE DOUBLE BASS? I have very large hands so my music teacher picked me. I sort of fell in love with the instru-

ment. I love playing music, tried to play piano but it wasn’t for me. The double bass just seemed to fit. Double bass and piano are pretty much what I know.

HOW IMPORTANT IS A DOUBLE BASS IN AN ORCHESTRA? We are sort of the foundation of the orchestra. We are the lowest of the string instruments and we are just like the granddaddies, the rock solid foundation of the orchestra. It provides the tonal foundation of the entire ensemble.

IS THERE ANY INSTRUMENT YOU WANT TO LEARN? I always wanted to learn mandolin or banjo.

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING CREATIVELY IF YOU WEREN’T PLAYING BASS? Probably want to be a chef. I love cooking; I love the artistic world that is the food world and sort of bring food to that aspect. I love to eat too.

YOU TOLD ME YOU LOVE 002 A LOT – TELL ME MORE. I love what you guys do for clubs and for bars and just getting exposure of up-and-coming places in town. I look at the magazine to see what the pulse of the community is all about. I enjoy reading the magazine. It looks well produced. I love the food column especially, since I’m a foodie!

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Elaine Bradfor d received he r MFA the Arts in M ay 2003, afte from California Institute University of of r receiving he Texa r BFA from Th e recent work in s at Austin in May 2000.

Bradf volv animals. She es crocheting sweaters fo ord’s most r taxidermied ha s sh ow n ex States. The an imals shown tensively across the Unite d he re “Museum of Unnatural His are from her solo exhibi tion to ry ” at Art January 200 9. www.elain League Houston in ebradford.com

ARALEE DOROUGH FLUTE Photographed with Elaine Bradford’s taxidermied Animalart

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ralee Dorough first appeared as soloist with the Houston Symphony in 1992, at the beginning of her second season as principal flute of the orchestra. The occasion was the season’s opening gala, and the piece was Mozart’s Concerto in C Major for Flute, Harp and Orchestra featuring internationally renowned harpist Marisa Robles and led by then-Music Director Christoph Eschenbach. One year later she performed Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major with Eschenbach and the orchestra in Stude Hall in an all-Mozart wind concerto series. With the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, she has traveled throughout Europe and Japan and appeared at the Ravinia Festival, frequently in collaboration with Christoph Eschenbach at the piano. Aralee Dorough grew up in a musical family – her father is jazz artist Bob Dorough, composer of Schoolhouse Rock. She received her undergraduate degree in 1983 from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Robert Willoughby. She then studied with Thomas Nyfenger as a scholarship student at the Yale School of Music, winning the position of second flute with the Houston Symphony in 1985. She and her husband, oboist Colin Gatwood, have a son, Corin.

IS THE FLUTE YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENT? It’s my favorite instrument even though I don’t think of it that way. When I was a little girl I heard the flute in 3rd grade when they brought all of the little kids to the auditorium. Inside were a father and son who owned an instrument store and between the two they could play any of the instruments. For some reason I picked the flute but later I reflected on the fact that they placed gender on each instrument. When I was getting ready to go to music school and saw the competition for flute, I realized it was such a popular instrument and I said, “Maybe I should have played the trombone. I hope I didn’t miss out because they said it was for boys.” I think it was the sound of the flute, something about the sound attracted me about it. I think it’s always funny how musicians choose their instruments.

DO YOU AND YOUR FATHER JAM? Yes. We even have a CD we made here in Houston at Sugarhill Studios. It’s

all arrangements my father created for me and my husband who plays the oboe in the Houston Symphony. We are playing with my father who is playing piano, bass and drums. Jazz arrangements that just happen to feature flute and oboe, which is pretty unusual.

YOU CAME FROM A FAMILY OF MUSICIANS. DID THIS HAVE ANY ROLE IN CHOOSING MUSIC RATHER THAN TAKING ANOTHER PATH? It was definitely an influence because there was always music around and performing. My mother was an acrobatic dancer and used to perform in places like the Catskills and the Poconos. She was very glamorous and very exuberant, a real performer, so she encouraged me to do anything that was performing. But I was pulled in a lot of directions growing up. Besides music I liked art and I was studying painting so it was hard to decide where I was going. I decided to focus my energy on the classical flute training rather than jazz which is what my father does.

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ANTHONY PRISK

PHILLIP FREEMAN BASS TROMBONE

TRUMPET

Photographed with Wendy Wagner’s Qwerky

hillip Freeman joined the Houston Symphony in September 2007 as the orchestra’s bass trombonist. Prior to his appointment to the HSO he was an active freelance musician, performing in a broad range of classical and commercial settings. In addition to performing with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra for six seasons, he has also performed with Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Houston Ballet. At the other end of the spectrum, he has played several of the musical tours to come through Houston, as well as several performances with the Texas Music Festival Jazz Project. A native of Houston, Mr. Freeman began his musical studies on euphonium before taking up bass trombone during his senior year at the University of Houston. After completing a degree in composition, he continued his study of the bass trombone at the Manhattan School of Music. He was awarded fellowships to the Tanglewood Music Center and the Spoleto Festival USA. Mr. Freeman has taught privately for several years and is currently on the faculty of the American Festival for the Arts.

nthony Prisk is the Houston Symphony’s Second Trumpet. He joined the orchestra in 2002. Anthony grew up in Lombard, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He began playing trumpet in the local school band program at age 10. After high school he attended the University of Illinois where he studied trumpet with Ray Sasaki and Michael Ewald. He received his Bachelor’s degree in music in 1996 and moved to Montreal to study at McGill University. While in Montreal, Anthony studied orchestral music with Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet of the Montreal Symphony. After completing his Master’s degree in music he was accepted as a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach where he trained with leading orchestral musicians from around the country. Anthony’s many teachers include Michael Sachs, Adolf Herseth, David Bilger, Mark Gould and John Hagstrom. Anthony lives in the Houston Heights with his fiancée and enjoys many aspects of Houston culture. His pastimes are working on Corvettes, running at Memorial Park and enjoying time with friends and colleagues.

WHY BASS TROMBONE? It wasn’t my first instrument. I started playing bass trombone my senior year of college because I liked it and it was an easy change from the instrument I already played, the euphonium. The only job for the euphonium would be in a military band; I did not see myself fitting into that kind of lifestyle. It was either pick another instrument or join the military.

WHAT IS THE HOUSTON CROWD LIKE? I love the people and it’s a great mix. It’s a very metropolitan city. I come from a big city also (I’m from Chicago) and down here is a much different mix of people in a very good way.

WHAT IS THE EUPHONIUM? It’s a tenor tuba.

HAVE YOU PLAYED MUSIC YOUR ENTIRE LIFE? I joined band in 6th grade and we were surrounded by music quite a bit. My dad is a guitarist and we had music in the house when we were very young.

WAS FAMILY AN INFLUENCE OR WERE THERE ANY OTHER DEFINING FACTORS THAT LED UP TO PLAYING MUSIC TODAY? When I applied to college I got into both the music and architecture schools at UH and UT and I was set to go to UT for Architecture – I had enjoyed music and played it all through school – but I did not decide to pursue music as a degree and then as a career until July before I was going to start college – when I decided I will just do music.

IS THERE ANY INSTRUMENT YOU WOULD WANT TO TRY AND LEARN? OR IS THERE ANY OTHER OBSCURE INSTRUMENTS YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY? At this point, nah. Man, I know enough instruments. I don’t think I am going to pick up anything else.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PLAY TRUMPET? I actually started to play trumpet in 4th grade. My twin brother and I went into a band office and they gave me a clarinet and they gave him a trumpet. We both tried playing and couldn’t make a sound on the instruments at first!

IS YOUR TWIN BROTHER ALSO A MUSICIAN? No, he is an orthopedic surgeon. We are twin brothers but we went a completely different route. He’s a body builder and an orthopedic surgeon.

HOW DIFFERENT DOES IT FEEL PERFORMING ON STAGE THAN IN FRONT OF A CAMERA? There’s a lot less pressure. We have done quite a bit with the orchestra and I feel pretty comfortable doing it. I actually really enjoy it. Because I like being me. And being in front of a camera I think you can be artistic in a lot of other ways too. You can express yourself in other ways, even in front of the camera which is kind of neat. I have embarrassed myself before and hopefully I won’t embarrass myself again.

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WHERE TO LIVE

LOCATION

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DEVELOPERS + BUILDERS PLACE YOUR PROPERTIES HERE – EMAIL US AT LETTERS@002MAG.COM

DOMINION POST OAK

2125 YALE

ALEXAN UPPER KIRBY

"LUXURY LIVING AT AFFORDABLE PRICES"

2125 YALE ST. NEW IN THE HEIGHTS, JUST NORTH OF THE GALLERIA

KIRBY DISTRICT, 2300 RICHMOND AVENUE, 77098

2323 McCUE ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77056

AMBIENCE

AMENITIES

UNITS/ROOMS

WITHIN REACH

PRICE

CONTACT

We make you feel at home! Comfortable atmosphere with Resident Socials to create a sense of community and home! Affordable Luxury!

Luxury Mid-Rise in the Heights Inner Loop, just minutes from everywhere you want to be

Where high style and optimum elegance meet; rendezvous on the avenue.

Lobby with 24hr Concierge, Library, Clubroom, Business center, Boardroom – all Wi-fi hot spots, 7th floor pool deck, on-site shoe shine, housekeeping services, pet services, Bell-Captain services, 24hr Life-fitness Center, complimentary fitness and Yoga classes, Starbucks Coffee Bar

Parking garage with controlled access gates, conveniently located elevators from living level into parking garage, stainless steel appliances, granite throughout, cabana off pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, walk to local shops and eateries

Rendezvous in the pool lounge for cocktails with friends.

Meet at Club Alexan to work out, cue up or take a cooking class. Get together for cafe au lait, power shopping or gallery hopping – all in the neighborhood. Located in one of Houston’s most exciting urban areas, Alexan Upper Kirby is at the center of the chic, sophisticated, social-set scene. On both sides of your door, there’s a world of reasons to rendezvous.

Several to choose from

Stylishly designed 1 and 2 bedrooms, complete with upgraded lighting packages, walk-in closets, washer and dryer included

Chic 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans with multi-level parking garage that allows direct access to same floor

Uptown/Galleria. Within walking distance to Galleria Mall, Canyon Cafe, Maggianno's, Gallery Furniture; in the heart of fine dining, shopping and entertainment.

Walking proximity to Post Oak 1, 2 and 3 for work.

Minutes from Downtown, Medical Center, Galleria, Midtown, Minute Maid Park, University of Houston, River Oaks

Located in one of Houston’s most exciting urban areas, Alexan Upper Kirby is at the center of the chic, sophisticated, social-set scene within minutes of Downtown, Greenway, River Oaks, Memorial and the Med Center.

From $1250-$6500

Price starting at $1125 with great new SPECIALS!!!

$1200s per month

For more information, contact the onsite management at 713.629.5100, or visit them on the web at dominionpostoak.com.

2125yale@ores.com 713.864.2125 www.2125yale.com

AlexanUpperKirby@Greystar.com 713.528.3311 www.AlexanUpperKirby.com

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ARCHICHAT

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By Sandra Gunn, a native Houstonian and Realtor. Her firm, Sandra Gunn Properties, specializes in the unique and prides themselves on being architects of community. sandragunn.com Photography by Jaime Lagdameo | Hair by Shelly Burgess at French Twist

SAMUEL W. NASH | STUDIO 8M

EDUCATION BACKGROUND: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: ULI (URBAN LAND INSTITUTE) CEO SPACE HONORS/AWARDS: 4TH GRADE HONOR ROLL STUDENT SPECIALTY: RESIDENTIAL, SMALL TO MEDIUM SCALE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DESIGN

A cast of many longtime Houston residents bring this story to light. Keep the players in mind because there is a test later. Joe Martin, who started pdq.net and brought the word “internet” and the concept that real estate brokerage was going to completely change and I better get with it to me 17 years ago.

He set up my first website and helped me launch houstonlofts.com before anyone saw us coming. David Walker, owner of Zydeco Restaurant Downtown, who called me to sell an amazing warehouse conversion loft on the East End. And Sam Nash.

I received a call one Saturday afternoon years ago from a man – said his son

lived at Bayou Lofts, had researched Realtors and felt I was best to represent them in locating a spot in Houston for their second home. He also said his son was studying architecture and would be with us on the search to give his input. I met the couple and their son Sam. Found the right home for them that day and all was lovely. A few years later, I take another call from Mr. Nash. His son has finished school and designed a green contemporary, patio home complex they would like me to review. Sam comes to the meeting with the most amazing drawings and spatial concepts. I was blown away by his passion and innate style. About the same time, I listed David’s loft which from the street still looks like a concrete warehouse except when you get past

the iron gate: It is operable glass walls, concrete floors, commercial kitchen, large living areas, no doors, looking into a courtyard. Joe and his then wife drop by my office in a classic pickup truck and later meet me at the open house and they buy it. David buys a piece of land and asks for a recommendation of a young architect who can create the same feel as the warehouse conversion hidden behind a wall, that can fit in the East End. “David, you need to meet Sam!” 002 readers...so do you! I bring you, Archichat’s Rising Star, Sam Nash....and Joe Martin’s pickup truck...at the Walker’s new Studio 8M-designed residence located in the midst of new townhomes, a few shanties and the Oak Farm Dairy east of Downtown.

WHAT DROVE YOU TO ARCHITECTURE? WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT IT? A life-long obsession with movies that inspired many role-playing games with my brother in elaborate forts that I would build for us. I find satisfaction in defining space and creating atmosphere.

WHAT DROVE YOU TO “GREEN” ARCHITECTURE? I think it’s the honorable thing to do. As much as we’ve advanced intellectually, we really have no excuse not to pursue more sustainable lives.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT IT? Knowing that I’m doing the right thing for my client and the planet.

CURRENT PROJECTS: An addition to a mid-century modern home, a highend custom home, a restaurant addition, a development of 4 patio homes, possibly a youth center for a local church and producing a feature film.

RECENT PROJECTS: Renovation of a mid-century modern home, 2 custom homes.

SO, THINKING BACK TO THOSE DRAWINGS YOUR MOTHER HAD UP ON THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN YOU WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...WHAT WERE THEY? Ironically, I didn’t draw that much.

HOW DID YOU COME TO LIVE/WORK IN HOUSTON AND WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO MAKE THIS YOUR HOME? Moved to Houston when I was a child. I started my company in college by doing freelance graphic design and contract drafting work for a few local architects and business grew from there. Haven’t had a reason to leave yet.

HOUSTON IS A VERY UNIQUE CITY. NO ZONING, ONLY A RECENT SENSE OF URBANISM, LACKING IN TRUE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PLENTY OF “COOKIE CUTTER” CONSTRUCTION. HOW DO YOU DESIGN AROUND THIS? I just design. If there is something about the surrounding architecture that I can relate to in my designs I’ll use that. Otherwise, I focus on designing functional, practical and appealing interior spaces as a priority, with the exterior being more of a reaction to the functional layout of the building.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ARCHITECT AND WHY? Past, probably Mies van der Rohe. Present, Scott Strasser and Eric Ragni. They unlocked my potential and taught me so much about how to think and design.

WHAT STRUCTURE DO YOU WISH YOU HAD DESIGNED? WHY? Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe. There’s just something so peaceful and balanced about it.

BEST PLACE IN HOUSTON TO HANG OUT? Hermann Park. I go there with my wife almost once a week. It’s very rejuvenating.

HOW CAN CHILDREN BE ENCOURAGED TO APPRECIATE ARCHITECTURE? Good question.

Perhaps fostering a heightened awareness of the objects that we spend the vast majority of our time on Earth inside of would be a good start.

ITCHING TO WORK ON? I like converted spaces. I would love to design a loft.

WHAT CAN THE NEXT MAYOR FOCUS ON TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? Public transportation, incentives for incorporating green elements in our buildings.

IF YOU WERE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, WHAT ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WOULD YOU FOCUS ON? Solar energy. It’s limitless.

TELL US, WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG, LINCOLN LOGS OR ERECTOR SET? Construx, cardboard boxes, bed sheets, string, tape and thumb tacks.

IF YOU HAD TO LIVE OFF THE LAND, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? Near a busy inner city intersection.

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ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

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Photography by Sofia van der Dys

WHITBREAD WILKINSON PANTONE® MUGS PANTONE®™ IS BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR COLOR MATCHING SYSTEM, A PROPRIETARY COLOR SPACE USED IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES PRIMARILY PRINTING (HENCE OUR FASCINATION WITH THESE BAD BOYS) THOUGH SOMETIMES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLORED PAINT, FABRIC AND PLASTICS. IN OCTOBER 2007, X-RITE INC. BOUGHT PANTONE FOR $180 MILLION.

These mugs, designed by Whitbread Wilkinson under license from Pantone®, have staffers plotting! We literally had to keep them in lockdown during the photo shoot so the photographer wouldn’t run out with them! They come in a variety of sets: Pantone® (references for the mugs are as follows: Red 186C, Spearmint 3395C, Royal Blue 286C, Lime Green 388C, Pale Blue 549C, Lilac 2583C, Olive Green 5757C, Black 4C, Orange 021C, Process Yellow C); ; ; and .

Fans can buy the mugs online at www.w2products.com

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Photography by Daniel Ortiz

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EVENT DISCOVER THE NEW YSL BOUTIQUE WHY TO BENEFIT THE ANDRE SOBEL RIVER OF LIFE FOUNDATION WHERE YVES SAINT LAURENT-GALLERIA WHEN MARCH 26 Fashion-savvy guests were aplenty at the newly renovated Yves Saint Laurent store in the Galleria. The Opium-inspired space is a rich translation of the classic lacquered bottle. Sleek, shiny shelves and modern glass cases are the perfect backdrop for the latest collection of the famed French design house.

Many indulged in Tributes, Muses and more – Oh, my! And all to benefit the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation.

Anne Swire, Lois Stark

Cindi Rose

Josie Iriarte

Rose Mutombo

Micheline Newall, Liliana Rendon

Tatiana Green

Timothy Moloney, Gregory Burke

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BUSINESS PROFILE

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Photography by Dan Mohr

QUINN BISHOP | CACTUS MUSIC AND THE RECORD RANCH | YEARS THERE: 20+

IS THIS YOUR INTENDED CAREER PATH? IF NOT, HOW DID YOU GET HERE? No one makes plans to run the record store at the end of the universe. It just kind of happens. But seriously, I do think that I was meant to own or operate an independent business. I enjoy the freedom to make decisions and act quickly. Cactus is never boring and, for many of our customers, we are their “third place.” It is a rare thing and I am proud that we are one of the Houston’s unique businesses.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? An astronaut, then a football player, then an artist, then a musician.

WHY HOUSTON? Conveniently, I live here. I do love Houston. It is the most culturally diverse Texas city and is a wonderful destination for the arts. I don’t think that you find an “attitude” in Houston like you do in other cities. I think that trait can be directly attributed to humidity. When everyone is having a bad hair day, it’s difficult to “cop a ’tude.”

FAVORITE BOOK? I rarely have time to read anymore. When I do, I gravitate toward music-related books. My wife says that they are not “real” books. I think she may be right. Any of Peter Guralnick’s books on American music are the tops. His Sweet Soul Music book is my favorite. We always have it in stock at the store. I like Greil Marcus too. That’s probably a bit too obvious for music geek types.

FAVORITE BAND? A tough question. I’ll say the Kinks, but my friends know it’s the Bee Gees.

WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION? My family.

BIGGEST LIFE LESSON LEARNED? Get your money where you have your fun.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED? This really doesn’t seem like a very business-profile-type question.

WHO WAS YOUR ROLE MODEL? I have quite a few. I work with many incredibly talented business owners through the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and I routinely find myself borrowing their ideas to re-engineer what we do at Cactus.

They are very community-minded individuals who run some of the coolest retail stores in the country.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? At the Texas Renaissance Festival. That was different. I would generally advise against a medieval festival/fair occupation. Unless, of course, that is your thing.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING WHEN YOU RETIRE? I’ll be busy doing something else. Most likely, musicrelated.

WHAT LUXURY (ITEM OR SERVICE) DO YOU WISH YOU COULD INDULGE YOURSELF WITH? “A Googlephonic Stereo, with a moon-rock needle. Not bad for a car stereo…wouldn’t want it in my house.” – Steve Martin WHAT DEFINES HOUSTON AS YOUR “HOMETOWN”?

I think I already answered this one.

HOW MANY MAGAZINES DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO? One. Mojo. It’s a music mag. Newsflash.

There’s a buncha those Pottery Barn things that keep showing up. That’s kind of like a magazine. You get one every month if you bought a candle there a decade ago

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT IN HOUSTON TO SHOW OFF TO A VISITOR? David Adickes Sculpture Studio on Summer Street. It’s just around the corner from my house, so it makes a nice detour. The lot outside his studio is filled with his work including the gigantic heads of American Presidents that he prepared for visitors centers at national parks. It’s just so funny and cool. It is especially surreal at night.

TEXANS STILL HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BRAGGING. WHAT WOULD YOU BRAG ABOUT? Texas seems to be doing better than most other states regarding the economic downturn, but I don’t think it would be appropriate to brag about that.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A HIDDEN TREASURE OF HOUSTON? That you can have a mind-blowing, ethnic culinary adventure at a nondescript strip mall.

IF YOU OWNED A HOUSTON SPORTS TEAM, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THEM? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t let them play at Crappy Cell Phone Arena or Crappier Soft Drink Stadium.

FAVORITES SONG EITHER OR SPORTS TEAM ASTROS DESTINATION INT’L – IRELAND. DOMESTIC – CHICAGO DRINK (ALCOHOLIC OR NOT): ST. ARNOLD CARTOON BULLWINKLE 60. may09 002houston

002houston May 09:002houston

FINANCE

4/20/09

4:53 PM

Page 61

By Hal Lynde, Managing Director, Morgan Keegan Photography by Daniel Ortiz

TOO OLD/YOUNG TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT? THIS QUESTION IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON YOUR INCOME AND ASSETS, YOUR GOALS FOR RETIREMENT, AND MANY OTHER FACTORS. IDEALLY, YOU SHOULD BEGIN SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IN YOUR 20’S. MORE TIME TO SAVE ENHANCES YOUR CHANCES OF HAVING THE KIND OF RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE YOU WANT. If you’re in your 40s or older and haven’t saved much (or anything) yet, you may face a challenge in buildhal lynde ing the retirement fund you need. The shorter your time frame, the less room you have for error. But don’t panic – it’s never too late to start saving. You may still be able to secure a comfortable retirement for yourself, but you may have to make some tough choices to do so. Here are a few tips if you’re getting a late start.

SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE: The more you save, the more you’ll have when you retire. Try to maximize your contributions to IRAs, 401(k)s and other taxadvantaged vehicles. Then supplement your retirement fund with mutual funds, savings accounts and other investments.

CUT CURRENT EXPENSES: Chances are, not all of your expenses are absolutely essential. If you can wipe out or trim certain expenses (such as videos, expensive coffees and daily lunches out) you’ll free up more money to invest for retirement.

INVEST MORE AGGRESSIVELY: This can help you build a large retirement fund in a short time. Certain stocks and mutual funds may enable your savings to grow more rapidly. The tradeoff is these investments are subject to market risk which will expose you to greater volatility, including a possible loss of principal.

An investor with a shorter time horizon is at greater risk of having losses when it comes time to rely on their retirement funds. This is risky!

DELAY RETIREMENT: You may have no choice but to delay your retirement until after age 65. This strategy will buy you more time to build your nest egg. Plus, the more years you work, the fewer years of retirement you’ll have to fund.

RETHINK YOUR RETIREMENT GOALS: Set more realistic goals for your retirement (no beach house on the Riviera, for example). That way, you won’t need as much money to fund your retirement.

If you fear you’re getting too late a start, or you’re not sure where to start, consult a financial professional. He or she can help you map out a plan to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you need to be when you retire. Even if you are getting started in your 20s, consulting with a professional will help you avoid making mistakes. Investing with a plan usually delivers better results. To quote Yogi Berra: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up somewhere else.”

Need help with a retirement plan rollover? Are you planning to retire in the next ten years? For a free review of your current investment situation, contact Hal Lynde / 713-840-3640. hal.lynde@morgankeegan.com. Listen to Hal’s daily stock market report at 6:45am & 3:45pm on 94.5 The Buzz.

DON’T MISS HAL’S MARKET UPDATES AT 6:40AM AND 3:45PM AS CAPTAIN CASH ON 94.5 THE BUZZ.

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002houston May 09:002houston

4/21/09

2:39 PM

Page 62

WISE GUY

DON’T BE A CHACHI

by Tim Moloney

CAN YOU BELIEVE 2009 IS ALREADY ONE-THIRD OVER? RIDICULOUS! BY NOW, YOU’VE PROBABLY BROKEN OR FORGOTTEN YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, OR EVEN WHAT YOU GAVE UP FOR LENT, YOU CATHOLICS. Where was I going with this again? Oh, yeah, resolutions. If you’re going to make one resolution going into the summer party scene, make it this one: I will NOT wear those stupid, tired dragon-printed shirts. You know what I’m talking about. Every $30,000-a-year millionaire’s closet is packed with them. So hip. So edgy. So long! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the website www.downwithdragonshirts.com. It features dozens of our town’s style violators in all their dragon-shirted, chachi glory.

It’s a very clever site, and its creators organize judgmental social events that demonize the dragonistas.

Get on their email list pronto.

Ok, now you know what not to wear. But, on the flip side, what should you wear? If you’re still at your computer, head on over to thesartorialist.blogspot.com. Created by Scott Schuman, this site has been selected as one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Style Influencers. Schuman started the site to share photos of people that he saw on the streets of New York who he thought looked great. “When I worked in the fashion industry,” he says, “I always felt that there was a disconnect between what I was selling in the showroom and what I was seeing real people (really cool people) wearing in real life.”

Schuman knows his stuff. Since starting the blog, he’s also been given a monthly page in GQ, plus he provides commentary and video for www.style.com. Not everyone can carry off the looks that he features, but the ideas and the people behind them can be pretty inspiring. I went through the archives and could not find a single chachi.

ALL DRESSED UP AND SOMEWHERE TO GO I’ll admit it: I’m the last person you’ll find in a club. Those days are long behind me, much like my 31-inch waist. Nowadays, I’m one of those boozy dinner-withfriends types, but I still like to know what’s going on in the outside world. And if you’re looking for something to do this month, you can’t go wrong by staking your place on Allen Parkway for the 22nd Annual Houston Art Car Parade on May 9. Watch as more than 250 wheeled wonders turn concrete into a colorful canvas that celebrates the artist in everyone…including, it’s rumored this year, our old pal William Betts. Word on the street is that he’s helping a group of kids put together an art car for Recipe for Success (www.recipe4success.org), Gracie Cavnar’s great organization that teaches kids about nutrition and healthy food/lifestyle choices. Bravo, Betts! And Grazie, Gracie!

BEST FOOT FORWARD If you’ve been watching trends for the past few months, you know that tortoise shell anything is hot for spring and summer.

Ray-Ban has re-issued several of its classic sunglass styles in this prep favorite, and now our pals at Gucci have come up with the most insane shoe of the year: a tasseled moccasin with a tortoiseshell heel. As Rachel Zoe would say, “Bananas!” And she’s right. The first day they arrived at Neiman Marcus, the shoethority himself, Kent Poole, steered me right over to them and it was love at first sight. With a hefty price tag of $645 (but worth every penny), they are easy to afford once you give up buying all those damn dragon shirts.

THE GIRL THAT GOT AWAY Before I go, I want to give a shout out to my favorite sexy party girl, Amanda Mills, who is leaving Houston for the greener (and decidedly gayer) pastures of West Hollywood. I am going to miss Miss April Hawaiian Tropic like you would not believe, as will her many friends, paramours and admirers here in the Bayou City. Things will be a little less fun, a lot more tame, but at least we’ll have a place to crash when we’re in LA and she snags tickets to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Until next month, guys…stay cool and don’t be a chachi.

62. may09 002houston

Photography by Bernard Bauri from lastnightpics.com

002houston May 09:002houston

4/20/09

4:54 PM

Page 63

EVENT FIT + 002HOUSTON INVITE YOU TO GET FIT! WHY WHY NOT? WHERE FIT ATHLETIC CLUB RIVER OAKS WHEN MARCH 19 Working out may be tedious for some and religious for others. From seculars to believers, all were invited to work out with at FIT during happy hour without giving up the ultimate sacrifice.

Yes, we will admit it’s rather odd to pair beer and exercise, but most of you enjoy both, so why not pair the two? Guests enjoyed Budweiser Select (with only 99 calories!), hempanadas and hemp brownie bites by Ruggles Green, and music by DJ Hector. Most stayed to burn some of those calories, indulging in fitness classes that ranged from the newly popular Krav Maga to classic Pilates.

Diana Warren, Venus Aviv Hicks, Starla James

Scott and Kathy Wells

Sofia van der Dys, Nicole Sanchez, Gabe Canales

Jeffery Griffin, Lisa Goe, Kim Degerstrom, Ernest Cizcano

Talisa Hartley, Kelley Davidson, Olivia Landes

Joy Winkler, Natasha Bjoerndal

Fernando Aramburo, Sarah Walters

Beth Carroll, Dianna Wilde, Sara Saremi

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002houston May 09:002houston

VROOM, VROOM

4/21/09

2:40 PM

Page 64

By Michael Andre Adams

"BIG WAGON. LITTLE WAGON"

2009 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN

2009 VOLVO XC70 T6

Wow, those who opt out of cookie cutter designs in general tend to love the sight of a Mini Cooper, and with the new enhancements, both the style mavens and handsome hunks that don’t already own one will especially love the new Mini S Clubman.

Until now, I’ve never really been a big Volvo fan. Sure, they maintain their reputation as one of the safest cars on the market, but too often (in my opinion) they lack the luster, or bling, we’ve come to expect from foreign luxury car manufacturers. The new XC70 T6, however, has changed all of that!

Undisputedly one of the most unique cars in the industry both yesterday and today, the S Clubman – with its racy stripes over the hood and roof – somewhat reminds me of little Napoleon trying to convince everyone of his status.

Fortunately, this model does not have to try nearly as hard since it is what it is, which is a good thing for sure.

The slanted hood, with lower encased fog lamps, full lower body trim ending at the tail lights, which outline the upper rear corners high above the dual exhaust pipes will add sex appeal to any driver!

PRICE $23,700 MSRP / $35,200 Loaded MPG 26 city / 34 highway ANNUAL FUEL $1,180 (15,000 miles @ $2.28 per gallon-premium unleaded)

PRICE $39,500 MSRP / $46,985 Loaded MPG 15 city / 22 highway ANNUAL FUEL $1,710 (15,000 miles @ $2.05 per gallon-regular unleaded)

With a turbo-charged 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder engine racing with 172 horses, the six-speed manual transmission will have you looking forward to every weekend!

And for the loaded price shown above you can expect necessities such as a big, bodacious, circular navigation system located dead smack in the center of the dash, followed by Bluetooth, satellite radio, xenon automatic headlights, rain sensor wipers, park distance control, a dual panoramic sunroof rain, all dressed up in 17-inch alloy spoke web wheels.

And while all that sounds nice, the real deal is all about the true feel that comes from being behind the wheel of a Mini (and no, I did not intend to rhyme! LOL). It sits kind of low to the ground, but has a certain flow of sexiness. If it were a person we’d say it has a certain je ne sais quoi, as in an unexplainable, alluring attraction.

Stay tuned for this summer’s review of the other hot version – the Mini Convertible.

So, yes, it’s a wagon, a word that became taboo when SUVs took center stage, becoming the way, the truth and the life of city people. That’s especially funny since SUVs were created for off-road driving. Anyhow, wagons are now making a comeback. Test drive this one in particular and you’re likely to pull up in the driveway with one of your own.

The XC70 T6 is powered by a 3.0 liter, 281 horsepower 6-cylinder ultra low emissions engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission, which even though it shifts as smooth as butter, doesn’t do too much for gas mileage. Thanks in great part to all-wheel drive with instant traction, it handles like a champ on the road – city and highway, with a definite sport-ness and cushy ride to it.

The interior is clean (think less is more), with a dash that’s way too easy to maneuver. Dressed in 17” wheels, with high pressure cleaning active dual xenon headlights that will follow you as you drive, rain sensor wipers, a power glass moonroof, rear view mirror with compass and wood interior inlays, all I can say is go Volvo!

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002houston May 09:002houston

4/21/09

TOOLS+TOYS+GADGETS

2:41 PM

Page 65

By Michael Garfield

AQUAZONE

ION DRUMS Rock Band continues to be a popular video game for the Xbox, Playstation and Wii platforms. The constant noise upstairs in my home comes from my kids banging on the plastic drums, guitars and microphone included in some versions of the game.

For a really rocking experience, upgrade to the Drum Rocker from ION Audio. This drum set was built by electronic drum engineers and is designed to take a real beating, with all the positioning flexibility that professional drummers demand.

While the other Rock Band drums controllers lock you down to a premolded plastic array of pads, Drum Rocker’s aluminum metal drum rack lets you position your snare, tom and cymbal pads wherever you want. And when you’re ready to move to playing in a real band, you can swap the game controller module with a real audio controller. My kids have yet to break the Drum Rocker.

Wish I could say the same for my eardrums. $299 | www.drumrocker.com

ARC MOUSE A computer mouse is like a steering wheel. If it is comfy in your hand then you have the power to drive faster and more efficiently. Using this analogy makes Microsoft’s Arc Mouse a Porsche in the wireless controller industry.

The name is fitting: the Arc is a symmetrical, semicircle shape that can fold up like a flip phone for easy storage along with an auto-shutoff when closed shut.

It works well for desktop PCs but laptop users may benefit more from the micro-USB transceiver. It wireless-connects instantly and is so small you can leave the USB plugged into your PC. It has a 30 ft. range and has a battery status indicator located between the left- and right-click buttons.

Vroom vroom! $39.99 | www.microsoft.com

Have you ever wanted an aquarium filled with exotic fish and sea life but the time, cost and maintenance of a real tank was too much? Leave it to technology and download Aquazone. Made for both PCs and Macs, Aquazone is a virtual aquarium on your desktop. There are no less than seven different versions of the software, each with its own type of sea life. Open Water offers 39 species of fish with a 360-degree view of realistic environments. Seven Seas Deluxe showcases dozens of other species including sharks. Most of the programs operate as a screensaver or an interactive application. My kids enjoyed “tapping” on the glass and “feeding” the fish with a virtual shaker. I personally enjoyed the fact I did not have to change the water. $19.99 – $39-99 | my.smithmicro.com

AQUA SOUNDERS It won’t be long before summer is here, so prepare yourself for some poolside partying with the Aqua Sounders wireless speaker and mood lighting ball. Just throw these speakers in your pool or Jacuzzi and listen to hours of music in and out of the water. The Aqua Sounders will not only transmit your MP3 player tunes from a dock positioned up to 150 feet away, it will also provide ambiance with two LED mood lights.

The batteries provide up to 10 hours of nonstop music and it’s completely submersible. You just might be tempted to use it for a game of pool dodge ball, but I would have to caution against it. $149.99 | www.gracedigitalaudio.com

MICHAEL GARFIELD is known as “The High-Tech Texan®” to millions of radio listeners and TV viewers. His radio program airs in Houston on The 9-5-0 weekdays from 9am-11am and Saturdays 11am-2pm.

Visit his website at www.hightechtexan.com.

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002houston May 09:002houston

4/20/09

4:57 PM

Page 66

RESTAURANT LISTINGS american

*17 inside Hotel Alden 1117 Prairie. 832.200.8800 aldenhotels.com Artista In the Hobby Center 800 Bagby. 713.278.4782 cordua.com

Table 7 720 Fannin St. 713.227.4800

spindletop

Boom Boom Room 2518 Yale St. 713.868.3740 theboomboomroomhouston.com

Daily Review Café dailyreviewcafe.com 3412 West Lamar. 713.520.9217

La Strada lastradahouston.com 322 Westheimer. 713.523.1014

ruggles green

Ruggles Green rugglesgreen.com 2311 West Alabama. 713.533.0777

Bedford bedfordrestaurant.com 1001 Studewood. 713.880.1001

Gravitas gravitasrestaurant.com 807 Taft. 713.522.0995

Auntie Chang’s Dumpling House 2621 S. Shepherd.

713.524.8410 auntiechangs.com

Quattro fourseasons.com inside The Four Seasons Hotel 1300 Lamar. 713.276.4700

Benjy’s benjys.com •2424 Dunstan. 713.522.7602 •5922 Washington Ave. 713.868.1131

Glasswall glasswalltherestaurant.com 933 Studemont. 713.868.7930

26ten Sushi [japanese] 2610 Sage. 713.974.4000

Polo’s Signature 3800 Southwest Frwy. 713.626.8100 polosignature.com Post Oak Grill postoakgrill.com 1415 S. Post Oak. 713.993.9966

Tart Café tartcafe.com 4411 Montrose. 713.526.8278

Textile textilerestaurant.com 611 W. 22nd Street. 832.209.7174 The Oceanaire Seafood Room 5061 Westheimer. 832.487.8862 theoceanaire.com Shade shadeheights.com 250 W. 19th St. 713.863.7500 Skyline Bar & Grill Hilton-Americas 1600 Lamar. 713.577.6139

bakery+ coffee+tea+others

asian

Open City ochouston.com 2416 Brazos. 713.522.0118

Barnaby’s barnabyscafe.com •5750 Woodway. 713.266.0046 •1701 S. Shepherd. 713.520.5131 •414 West Gray. 713.522.8898 •604 Fairview. 713.522.0106 •602 Fairview. 713.522.4229

Bowl eatbowl.com 607 Richmond. 832.582.7218

Voice inside Hotel Icon 220 Main. 832.667.4470 hotelicon.com

Noe noerestaurant.com Four Riverway. 713.871.8177

Americas cordua.com •1800 Post Oak Blvd. 713.961.1492 •21 Waterway Ave. 281.367.1492

Zush [japanese] 5900 Memorial Dr., #102 713.861.5588 zushihouston.com

The Grove thegrovehouston.com 1611 Lamar. 713.337.7321

Monarch inside Hotel ZaZa 5701 Main. 713.527.1800 monarchrestaurant.com

Antone’s •810 Capitol. 713.224.4679 •2724 West T.C. Jester. 713.686.4338 •4520 San Felipe. 713.623.4464 Antone’s Catering. 713.977.4000

Bistro Lancaster 701 Texas Ave. 713.228.9502

SoVino sovinowines.com 507 Westheimer. 713.524.1000

McCORMICK AND SCHMICK’S •1151 Uptown Park. 713.840.7900 •1201 Fannin St. [Houston Pavilions] 713.658.8100 mccormickandschmicks.com/houston.com

Fish [japanese] fishhouston.com 309 Gray. 713.526.5294

Avalon Drug Co. & Diner •2417 Westheimer. 713.527.8900 •12810 Southwest Frwy. 281.240.0213

The Breakfast Klub thebreakfastklub.com 3711 Travis. 713.528.8561

The Coffee Groundz coffeegroundz.net 2503 Bagby. 713.874.0082

The Buffalo Grille thebuffalogrille.com •3116 Bissonnet. 713.661.3663 •1301 S. Voss. 713.784.3663

Tiny Boxwoods tinyboxwoods.com 3614 W. Alabama St. 713.622.4224

Diedrich Coffee diedrich.com 4005 Montrose. 713.526.1319

Inversion Coffee House 1953 Montrose, #A. 713.523.4866 inversioncoffee.com

LES GIVRAL’S KAHVE [vietnamese] 801 Congress St. 713.547.0444 lesgivrals.com

Kraftsmen Baking kraftsmenbaking.com 4100 Montrose #C. 713.524.7272

Pagoda [vietnamese] pagodabistro.com 4705 Inker St. 832.673.0400

RA SUSHI [japanese] rasushi.com 3908 Westheimer. 713.621.5800 Uptown Sushi uptown-sushi.com Uptown Park. 713.871.1200 Zake [japanese] 2946 S. Shepherd.

713.526.6888

66. may09 002houston

Crave Cupcakes couture-cupcakes.com 1151 Uptown Park Blvd. 713.622.7283

zushi

DON DIEGO COFFEE dondiegocoffee.com 208 Travis. 713.228.3560

Kubo’s [japanese] 2414 University Blvd. #200. 713.528.7878 kubos-sushi.com

Monsoon Wok & Lounge ra sushi 1200 McKinney, #103.

713.571.SAKE monsoonhou.com

SPINDLETOP Hyatt Regency Houston 1200 Louisiana St. Houston, TX 77002 mccormick and The Lake House schmick’s 713.375.4775 1600 McKinney. 713.337.7320 spindletopathyatt.com thelakehousehouston.com Spindletop, atop the Hyatt Regency Houston, features innovative steak and Mariposa inside Neiman Marcus seafood fare. The elegant atmosphere cre2600 Post Oak Blvd. 713.621.7100 ext.2166 ates the perfect setting for business dinners and special occasions. CLOSED UNTIL FURMax’s Wine Dive maxswinedive.com THER NOTICE. 4720 Washington. 713.880.8737

Bright & Early 4825 Washington. 713.934.8234

pagoda

Mak Chin’s [pan asian] makchins.com 1511 Shepherd. 713.861.9888

breakfast 11th St. Café 748 E. 11th St. 713.862.0089

Gigi’s Asian Bistro 5085 Westheimer. 713.629.8889 Kam’s [fine chinese cuisine] 4500 Montrose Blvd. #C. 713.529.5057

Thelma’s 1020 Live Oak @ Lamar. 713.228.2262

Antidote Coffee 729 Studewood. 713.861.7400 myspace.com/antidotecoffee

Café Brasil 2604 Dunlavy. 713.528.1993

Azuma [japanese] azumajapanese.com •909 Texas. 713.223.0909 •5600 Kirby. 713.423.9649

Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue pizzitolasbbq.com 1703 Shepherd. 713.227.2283

Mango Beach [snow cones] 2304 White Oak Swirll [frozen yogurt] •1944 West Gray •15955 City Walk swirlls.com Taft Street Coffee 2115 Taft. 713.522.3533

Te House of Tea teaagora.com 2402 Woodhead. 713.522.8868

bar-b-que

Beaver’s beavershouston.com 2310 Decatur St. 713.864.2328 Goode Company Texas Barbecue goodecompany.com 5109 Kirby. 713.522.2530 les givral’s kahve

Luling Bar-B-Q Bar 138 West Gray. 713.520.6400

Empire Café empirecafe.net 1732 Westheimer. 713.528.5282 Fountain View Café 1842 Fountain View. 713.785.9060 Rustika Café 3237 Southwest Frwy. 713.665.6226 Tiny Boxwoods 3614 W. Alabama St. 713.622.4224

cajun+creole+ southern

BB’s Kitchen thebetterbite.com 2710 Montrose. 713.524.4499 Houston’s This Is It Soulfood 207 W. Gray. 713.659.1608 thisisithouston.com

Mardi Gras Grill mardigrasgrill.net 1200 Durham. 713.864.5600 Soul On The Bayeaux 3717 Dowling. 713.528.0732 Treebeards •315 Travis. 713.228.2622 •1117 Texas. 713.229.8248 •1100 Louisiana. 713.752.2601 •700 Rusk. 713.224.6677 Zydeco Louisiana Diner 1119 Pease. 713.759.2001

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european+french Brasserie Max and Julie [french] 4315 Montrose. 713.524.0070 maxandjulie.net

Café Montrose [belgian] cafemontrose.com 1609 Westheimer. 713.523.1201 Charivari Specialty Restaurant [european] 2521 Bagby. 713.271.7231 charivarirest.com

indian

Indika indikausa.com 516 Westheimer. 713.524.2170

Kiran’s kiranshouston.com 4100 Westheimer. 713.960.8472 Narin’s Bombay Brasserie 3005 W. Loop South. 713.622.2005 narinsbombaybrasserie.com El Tiempo Cantina [mex] •3130 Richmond. 713.807.1600 •5602 Washington. 713.681.3645 •1308 Montrose. 713.807.8996 eltiempocantina.com

Shiva Indian Restaurant 2415 Times Blvd. 713.523.4753 shivarestaurant.com

italian

ARCODORO arcodoro.com 5000 Westheimer. 713.621.6888 ARTURO’S ITALIANO arturosuptown.com Uptown Park. 713.621.1180 Divino Italian Restaurant 1830 W. Alabama. 713.807.1123 divinohouston.com Mia Bella 320 Main. 713.237.0505

Lucio’s [new american latin] 905 Taft. 713.523.9958

Maria Selma [mex] mariaselma.com 1617 Richmond. 713.528.4920

Escalante’s [mex] escalantes.net 4053 Westheimer. 713.623.4200

GUADALAJARA HACIENDA •1201 San Jacinto. 713.650.0101 •9799 Katy Freeway.

713.461.5300 •2925 Southwest Freeway.

713.942.0772 •27885 I 45 North. guadalajara 281.362.0774 hacienda guadalajarahacienda.com

Mingalone Italian Bar & Grill 540 Texas. 713.223.0088 mingalone.com Ristorante Cavour inside Hotel Granduca. granducahouston.com 1080 Uptown Park. 713.418.1000

latin Café Piquet [cuban] 6053 Bissonnet. 713.664.1031 El Meson [cuban] 2425 University. 713.522.9306 El Patio [mex] •6444 Westheimer. 713.780.0410 •2416 Brazos. 713.523.8181 El Rey [cuban-mex] •233 Main. 713.225.1895 •910 Shepherd. 713.802.9145

Irma’s [mex] •22 N. Chenevert.

713.222.0767 •1314 Texas. 713.247.9651

Ninfa's The Original 2704 Navigation Blvd. 713.228.1175 Picazo Restaurant Bar & Grill 1421 Preston. 713.236.1300 picazodowntown.com Rioja Spanish Tapas riojarestaurant.com 11920 Westheimer. 281.531.5569

tio pepe

The Lemon Tree [peru] 12591 Whittington 281.556.0690

Tacos a Go-Go tacosagogo.com 3704 Main. 713.807.8226

mediterranean+ greek

TIO PEPE [spain] 5213 Cedar St. Bellaire, TX 77401 713.667.4409 tiopeperestaurant.net Best PAELLA and SANGRIA in Houston!

Houston’s original and still most authentic Spanish cuisine.

Newly renovated. Under new management.

TILA’S [mex] tilas.com 1111 S. Shepherd.

713.522.7654

Molina’s Cantina [mex] 4220 Washington. 713.862.0013 molinasrestaurants.com

Droubi Bros.

•507 Dallas. 713.625.0058 •919 Milam. 713.571.6800

Cafe Lili [lebanese] cafelili.com 5757 Westheimer. 713.952.6969 Niko Niko’s nikonikos.com 2520 Montrose. 713.528.1308

Saffron Moroccan Cuisine 2006 Lexington. 713.522.3562 saffronhouston.com tila’s

el tiempo 67. may09 002houston

pizza

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille 9827 Katy Freeway. 832.358.9000 perrysrestaurants.com

Candelari’s candelaris.com 6002 Washington. 832.200.1474

Spencer’s Steaks & Chops 1600 Lamar. 713.577.8325 spencersforsteaksandchops.com

Dolce Vita Pizzeria y Enoteca 500 Westheimer. 713.520.8222 dolcevitahouston.com

Strip House theglaziergroup.com 1200 McKinney. 713.659.6000

Frank’s Pizza frankspizza.com 417 Travis. 713.225.5656

Pink’s Pizza pinkspizza.com •710 West Gray. 713.521.7465 •1403 Heights Blvd. 713.864.7465

SHULA'S STEAKHOUSE Hyatt Regency Houston 1200 Louisiana St. Houston, TX 77002 Reservations: 713.375.4777 Private Dining: 713.375.4709 Shula's is known for serving premium steaks as well as an impressive roster of seafood and chops.

Reserve one of three private dining rooms for business meetings or special occasions. shula’s

Romano’s Flying Pizza 1528 W. Gray. 713.526.1182

Star Pizza starpizza.net •77 Harvard. 713.869.1241 •2111 Norfolk. 713.523.0800

steak+chops Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House delfriscos.com 5061 Westheimer. 713.355.2600 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse •2405 W. Alabama. 713.520.5999 •788 W. Sam Houston Pkwy North 713.827.1120 flemingssteakhouse.com Morton’s mortons.com •5000 Westheimer. 713.629.1946 •1001 McKinney. 713.659.3700

FACT: THE MOST POPULAR DAY TO EAT OUT IN THE U.S. IS SATURDAY. SECOND IS FRIDAY, THIRD IS SUNDAY. MONDAY IS THE SLOWEST DAY FOR RESTAURANTS.

Pappas Bros Steakhouse pappasbros.com 5839 Westheimer Rd. 713.780.7352

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By Jenny Wang of imneverfull.com Photography by Kim Coffman

DINE WRITE

CUISINE ON THE CURVE

1. owner tila hidalgo 2. scarlet snapper 3. chile en nogada

1111 S. Shepherd (on the curve) Houston, TX 77019 | 713.522.7654 info@tilas.com | www.tilas.com

HOURS:

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 10am-11pm

sample menu selections antojitos • Salmon borracho: Fresh salmon (Gravlax style), marinated in a little tequila...or "cured," as we like to think of it...thinly sliced and served with a delicate lime-cilantro sauce and a bolillo tostado. Proper I.D. may be required.

sopas • Sopa de fideos: Thin spaghetti-like pasta in a delicate chicken and tomato broth. Garnished with freshly sliced avocado, sprinkled white cheese and a dab of chipotle salsa and lime.

entrées • Carne Asada: A carnivore's dream. Flank steak charbroiled and served with chile garlic lime butter.

Choose between “mojo de ajo” or “a la Tampiqueña.”

postres • Tres chocolates: The Casanova of dessert! Three luscious layers of dark, semi-sweet fudge, white chocolate and mousse, adorned with roasted almond slivers and chocolate shavings. Designed to seduce even the most loyal Atkins fan.

1

2

T

ila Hidalgo loves pigs so much she owns two Vietnamese potbelly pigs. This should explain all the eccentric pig paraphernalia hanging inside the enchanting, terra-cotta hued, adobe-fashioned restaurant on the Shepherd curve named after its owner. We’ve driven by it a million times. Tila’s has been there for eleven years and frankly, I couldn’t imagine Shepherd Drive without it. On this particular visit, there were also stuffed bunnies between all the cute tchotchkes reminding me that Easter was around the corner.

The restaurant décor is a clear indication of the creativity Hidalgo also harbors in the kitchen. Tila’s is actually Hidalgo’s second restaurant in Houston. Her first, Tila’s Cantina and Taqueria, opened in 1992 on lower Westheimer where Katz’s resides now. It was the first restaurant to bring interior Mexican cuisine to Houston and was open five years before Tila’s opened the following year in its present location. Billed as Mexico City Continental cuisine the menu integrates inspiration from other cuisines using cheeses like manchego, brie and mozzarella, and flaunting a Swiss Cheese Soufflé that would make Julia Child roll over in her grave.

3

kled with chile salt and lime, and topped with a little chipotle puree.

Scarlet snapper was an off-menu special with lots of green onions and roasted garlic in a white wine butter sauce. The snapper filet was served skin-on, skin-down on a banana leaf with roasted garlic red potatoes and fresh veggies grilled al dente.

Another off-menu special, Chicken Manchego, was a chicken breast stuffed with aged manchego cheese, cilantro and onions. The cheese was completely lost in the dish but the whole culinary contraption was topped with the most delicate red mole poblano, a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds and a whole roasted scallion which I chose to enjoy small bites of.

Ancho fudge pie was made in the style of a flourless French silk pie with ancho chile in the pie filling and crème fraiche on top. The ancho was subtle, making itself known on the back end of my first bite. The pie crust was thin, flaky and contained a tad more salt than usual making this dessert even more memorable.

My visit started off with a heady, house-cured gravlax marinated in tequila, whimsically listed on the menu as “Salmon Borracho.” The thin slices of pink salmon were served with bolillo crostini, capers, onion and a tasty, zippy lime-cilantro sauce with a healthy dose of Dijon mustard.

Tres leches was delightful with fresh strawberries enclosed between two pieces of pound cake and topped with lime meringue. This cube of confection was dense, yet somehow lighter than usual and definitely less saccharine. The addition of strawberries was a welcome one.

A lump crabmeat tostada appetizer was a confusing medley of flavors with manchego, chipotle and garlic butter all layered together and a reminder that sometimes simplicity is better. Such case is Tila’s elote or roasted corn-on-thecob, one of my favorite Mexican street vendor foods to indulge in. I’m glad to know I don’t have to trek out to one of the larger Fiesta Marts in town to hunt it down now.

Tila’s version is slathered in butter (instead of mayo), sprin-

Most neighborhood denizens are already familiar with Tila’s signature drink – the “Mexico City Style” margarita served straight up. These potent potables are concocted from freshly squeezed limes and house-made sweet and sour mix. Tila’s also boasts a selection of 85 tequilas and has one of the best patios around. Which is handy information to have in May, in my book the month of the margarita.

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APPETITE STIMULUS $PECIAL$

By Jenny Wang

FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THE ECONOMY? HERE ARE SOME RECESSION DINING DEALS AROUND TOWN THAT ARE HEAVY ON TASTE, BUT MUCH LIGHTER ON YOUR POCKETBOOK. • CHEZ NOUS FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: 3-course pre-set menu accompanied by two glasses of wine, $35

• FLEMING’S 5-6-7: 5 for 6 ’til 7 happy hour – 5 cocktails, 5 glasses of wine and 5 appetizers each for $6 dollars offered until 7pm. Be sure to check out new Town & Country location.

• GIGI’S ASIAN BISTRO $12 “all-you-can-eat” dim sum on Sat & Sun $12 lunchtime “Bento Bailout Box” that includes egg fried rice, mixed green salad, three dim sum items and a protein dish of the day (chicken, pork, fish, etc.)

• GRAVITAS “KEEP YOUR SHIRT” PROMO: 5-course dinner degustation menu, $35 3-30 lunch special includes 3 courses in 30 minutes for only $19 All blue plate specials are now $12.

• MONARCH @ Hotel Zaza GO “HALF Zs” – Mon nights: entire wine list is half-off Wed nights: half-off all menu items • OCEANAIRE 3-course dinner prix fixe menu for $32.95

• STRIP HOUSE Pre-theater 3-course prix fixe menu for $45 (5 – 7pm)

• PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE 3-course meal featuring Chopped Salad, Perry’s Famous Pork Chop and a Trio Dessert, for $19.79 per person from 4pm until closing on Sundays and Mondays

• THE RAINBOW LODGE 3-course $14.95 Business Lunch 99-cent mimosas during Brunch on Sundays 1/2-price wines on Sunday after 5pm $15 Sunday Supper Special

• TONY’S TUESDAY NIGHTS: 4-course dinner for 2 includes famous soufflé for dessert, $89.95, and 50% off bottles of wine under $200 69. may09 002houston

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NEW RESTAURANTS

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By Jenny Wang Photography by Jenny Wang

NEW RESTAURANT? EMAIL US AT LETTERS@002MAG.COM

EL REY TAQUERIA 9742 KATY FREEWAY #D-100 | 832.359.8100 elreytaqueria.com

BODEGAS TACO SHOP

EL TACO TOTE

1200 BINZ ST. #160 | 713.528.6102

6154 WESTHEIMER RD.| 713.706.3233 tacotote.com

CUISINE CUBAN/MEXICAN

CUISINE MEXICAN

CUISINE MEXICAN

CHEF N/A

CHEF N/A

CHEF N/A

EL REY HAS SPREAD THEIR TACO WILES WESTWARD. IN A BRAND-SPANKING-NEW STRIP MALL OFF BUNKER HILL, Manny Diaz, owner of the local Cuban/Tex-Mex fast-food chain, has set up the fourth outpost of El Rey. Houston can’t seem to get enough! Honestly, you can’t go wrong with the menu. Breakfast tacos are just the way to start your day with Eggs Mexicana scrambled with pico de gallo to which I choose to add bacon and guac. I prefer mine wrapped in warm wheat tortillas because they’re tasty and, let’s face it – I can use all the help I can get. Add a cup of Colombian joe and I’m good to go.

Shrimp tempura tacos tempt me after 10:30.

Accompanied by shredded cabbage, cilantro and creamy cilantro sauce, these tacos can transport me to SoCal for a few precious moments. El Rey’s tortilla soup has always been tops on my soup list with generous amounts of pulled chicken, cheese and avocado in a savory broth. Rotisserie chicken was as good as rumored – tender, juicy and flavorful with spices including dried tomatoes and garlic. Together with maduros (sweet plaintains), fluffy white rice and hearty black beans, the rotisserie chicken platter was deeply satisfying on so many levels. If you’re a bigger fan of the other white meat, choose the Havana Platter with crispy chunks of pork in a mojo criollo with the same accoutrements.

Finally, there’s another dining option besides Cafe Express in the Museum District. Housed in the Plaza Medical Center building, a large, cheerful (and completely out of place) neon sign on Caroline will point you to the front door of this shop of tacos and so much more. Just like Chipotle, IT’S A BUILD-YOUROWN-BURRITO (OR TACOS, NACHOS, QUESADILLAS) BUT PROTEIN OPTIONS ARE BETTER THAN THE USUAL SUSPECTS: fajita meat, spicy ground sirloin, pork carnitas and rotisserie chicken. Where Bodegas really shines is in their ten homemade sauces. I was impressed with bacon-y avocado ranch, soulful ancho honey, fiery papaya habanero and creamy cilantro lime with just the right amount of zip. The menu also offers two soups including a super-rich and creamy roasted poblano soup and entrées with no crafting required such as better-than-average grilled tilapia fish tacos. Drinks here were outstanding. Pepino y limonada (cucumber lemonade) was cooling and refreshing. Horchata wasn’t overly sweet or watery. A tamarind margarita was pleasingly tangy and well-balanced. For those in need of a lesson in tequila (or a quick buzz), tequila flights are served with a homemade sangrita chaser. The cocktail menu is full of delightful drinks that I can’t wait to try one by one, including the paloma made with tequila and grapefruit soda. A weekday happy hour until 8 pm will give me that time to do it while enjoying their large patio.

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“The Big Taco” is how its moniker translates and the tacos are good here in a big way. This chain of 23 restaurants started in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, which speaks to its authenticity. The menu totes twelve tacos and I diligently tried each one. THE BEST WERE PORK ADOBADO, BARBACOA, SIRLOIN STEAK AND FISH, WHICH WAS CHICKEN-FRIED. BUT WHY WERE THESE TACOS SO GOOD? LET’S DECONSTRUCT. The foundation: Tortillas. Corn tortillas are made inhouse. The evidence is in the kitchen (which is in full view from the dining room) where tortillas are being rolled out all day. Super-thin flour tortillas were even better. The filling: Well-seasoned, quality meats.

Nothing dry or overcooked. The adobado seasoning was fantastic and I was told the marinade takes 24 hours to prepare. The meat marinating process takes another 24. Barbacoa is soft and tender. Sirloin steak is just damn good and a nice change from ubiquitous fajita meat, even though that was pretty good too.

Condiments: A self-serve veggie and salsa bar.

Roughage includes lettuce, tomato, pico de gallo, cilantro and onions, but the kicker is shaved radishes and cucumbers. Six salsas are made on the premises every day and have gringo-friendly descriptions labeling them mild, medium or hot and also providing suggestions on what meats to enjoy them with. I saw the kitchen deseeding a huge lot of cascabel peppers while I was there. Forget Taco Cabana. This place is open late too.

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THE CHEF’S SPECIAL

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Photography by Kennon Evett

CHEF MIKE POTOWSKI | RESTAURANT BENJY’S ON WASHINGTON cuisine modern american | private room yes | catering no | attire casual address 5922 washington ave, houston, tx 77007 | phone 713.868.1131 | website benjys.com

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE HUGELY POPULAR BENJY’S RESTAURANT IN THE RICE VILLAGE, HOUSTON RESTAURATEUR BENJY LEVIT BRINGS HIS CELEBRATED BRAND OF MODERN AMERICAN CUISINE TO THE WHITE-HOT WASHINGTON CORRIDOR WITH REMARKABLE RESULTS. FEATURING INTERIORS BY CELEBRATED DESIGNER JOEL MOZERSKY AND BENJY’S SIGNATURE LOUNGE SCENE, THE NEW LOCATION HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ANOTHER MUST-EXPERIENCE DINING DESTINATION. THOUGH ROUGHLY 75% OF THE MENU AT BENJY’S ON WASHINGTON MIRRORS THAT OF THE ORIGINAL LOCATION, THE NEW MENU ALSO FEATURES THE CREATIVE CULINARY SKILLS OF THE RESTAURANT’S JAPANESE-BORN EXECUTIVE CHEF, MIKE POTOWSKI. TO THAT END, DINERS CAN ENJOY A DECIDEDLY SEXY LINEUP OF NEW OFFERINGS FEATURING BOLD, ASIAN-INFLUENCED FLAVORS, CLEAN PRESENTATION AND SERIOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL. BEFORE JOINING THE BENJY’S FAMILY AT THE ORIGINAL VILLAGE LOCATION, POTOWSKI SERVED AS SOUS CHEF UNDER RENOWNED CHEF ROBERT GADSBY AT THE OMNI HOUSTON HOTEL’S NOÉ RESTAURANT.

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SPOT FOR A BITE? Genji’s (like benjy’s but with a “G”). It’s a Japanese bar with home-style Japanese food – the Japanese equivalent of Southern home cooking.

BEST BREAKFAST? I don’t think I’ve ever been out to breakfast in Houston, and I really don’t think IHOP qualifies.

BEST BRUNCH? Benjy’s in the Village. Benjy Levit revolutionized the brunch business in this town. He created a cool atmosphere – a place to be seen, which is something that had never really been done with brunch before.

WHAT’S YOUR PET PEEVE? Cleanliness – or rather a lack of it. I can’t stand it when people aren’t clean.

I can’t concentrate when things are dirty.

WHAT UTENSIL CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My deba. It’s a fish-filleting knife. I deal

with so much seafood that without that knife I can’t really do much of anything.

WHAT INGREDIENT CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT IN THE KITCHEN AND WHY? Bonito flakes. It’s the ingredient that makes dashi – the Japanese “golden broth.” I cook pretty much everything in dashi.

FAVORITE AFFORDABLE WINE? Vodka. I’m not a wine-drinker. I’ll drink wine when I’m out with my girlfriend, but I don’t purchase it for home. I prefer to go out and have wine recommended to me by someone who knows something about it.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE CHEF, RESTAURANT AND DISH? Marco Wiles. My last great dining experience was at Da Marco. I had ricotta and egg yolk ravioli that he served with truffle au jus.

FAVORITE PLACE FOR DESSERT? Benjy’s on Washington. I think Armando Ramirez (benjy’s corporate pastry chef) is wonderful. He and John Wesley – our house pastry chef at benjy’s on Washington – are incredibly talented and creative.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TELL US YOUR WORST CLIENT EXPERIENCE. I had an Asian guy come into a sushi bar where I worked and yell at me because I wasn’t “Asian enough” to make his sushi, and that it should only be made by Japanese people. Strangely enough, I was the only Japanese person working at the restaurant – everyone else was Korean, Chinese or Vietnamese. He told me he spoke old Japanese. Who speaks “old Japanese”?

That’s like someone saying they speak “Ye Olde English.”

BENJY’S

FAVORITES MUSICIAN THE PHARCYDE – THEY’RE A FREE-STYLE HIP HOP GROUP OUT OF SOUTH LA. THING TO DO ON A DAY OFF GO OUT AND EAT OR GO TO H-MART, A KOREAN SUPERMARKET OFF OF BLALOCK. PLACE TO RELAX BY THE POOL. SHOE MICK FANNING FLIP-FLOPS BY REEF – THE ONES WITH THE BOTTLE OPENERS BUILT INTO THE SOLES. CAR INFINITY G37 72. may09 002houston

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SIP CODES

By Beatrice Valencia

4/21/09

2:46 PM

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Restaurateurs, club/bar owners, pubbers, etc., if there is a special event or something you would like the public to know about, email me at bvalencia@002mag.com and I will help spread the word for you. See you out!

BASKETBALL AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER WERE MY EXCUSES TO ENJOY SOME MEALS OUT LAST MONTH. YES, TIMES AREN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING UP AND WE ALL NEED A TREAT TO BOOST MORALE. IT’S LIKE WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND I KNEW FRIDAY NIGHTS WERE PIZZA NIGHT! YOU SAVE YOURSELF ALL WEEK AND COME FRIDAY YOU ARE BOILING OVER FROM SHEER ANTICIPATION! THIS IS THE KIND OF MORALE WE ALL NEED. YOU WORK HARD ALL WEEK AND THEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR REWARD OF A NICE MEAL, NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN OR VISIT TO THE BEACH. IF LEAVING THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME TO GO OUT AND VENTURE INTO CROWDED DINING ROOMS ISN’T YOUR THING, I UNDERSTAND. I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF ORDERING TAKEOUT. YOU ORDER, SECRETLY PRAY THEY GET THE ORDER RIGHT, WAIT FOR YOUR YUMMY MEAL TO ARRIVE AT YOUR DOOR, OR PICK IT UP. THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS JUST LIKE WAITING FOR THE PIZZA TO FINALLY GET DELIVERED ON THOSE NOSTALGIC CHILDHOOD FRIDAYS. WE SHOULD ALL REWARD OURSELVES MORE OFTEN WITH FRIDAY “PIZZA” NIGHTS. ORDERING IN… Carrabba’s- 3115 Kirby Dr. 713.522.3131 www.carrabbas.com The night before the first-ever Four the Park 4-mile run, we decided we should save our energy, eat a yummy meal and hit the hay at a decent hour. I had Carrabba’s on the brain so I thought, why not browse the menu online. Pointless because I know the menu and I know what I like but every now and then, I like to try new things. Grilled salmon flashed on the screen like a sign from above. Not finding it on the menu, I called and hoped they’d have something comparable and, boy, did they.

I had the most amazing salmon with a cucumber lemon garlic sauce. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the sauce was light and refreshing with diced tomato and cucumber placed atop the salmon. I had a side of spaghetti pomodoro to accompany my entrée. I placed the order for curbside takeout and the food was just as good had I gone in to have dinner.

The portions were also perfection. Not too much and not too little. It never hurts to ask and see if they can accommodate your craving. Lesson learned!

Pink’s Pizza- 710 W. Gray St. 713.521.7465 www.pinkspizza.com This is usually how the day ends after being at a bar watching some sporting event and the next best idea after numerous beverages is… . This translates to being home, watching the guys play while we watch them and laugh. A few of us have attempted singing and that “career” move was short-lived. Nothing like to work up some hunger.

Pink’s is conveniently located right down the street from us and at this point, delivery is the smartest idea. I have to be honest, the first time I tried Pink’s I thought it was mediocre but that also could have been my plain cheese preference. This time I was able to pull off a half of their veggie supremo on one of our pizzas. Definitely a smart choice on my part. A cheese pizza is “loaded in fresh onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives and fresh tomatoes.” They are not kidding when they say “loaded”

either. It’s absolutely heavenly and I have no clue how I’m going to pull off getting half orders of it because I’m hooked! If only everybody enjoyed their veggies as much as I do…

DAY TRIP TO THE BEACH… Casey’s Seafood Café- 3828 Seawall Blvd. 409.762.9625 www.gaidosofgalveston.com The best Sunday idea I’ve had in a while was driving down to Galveston for lunch. I woke up craving seafood and the day happened to be beautiful so we packed up and headed out. We worked up an appetite after a walk along the seawall and beach. After seeking out recommendations via Facebook, the overwhelming response was Gaido’s. We wanted to sit outside so we opted for their casual dining at Casey’s. Greeted at the entrance by the hostess, we decided to sit on the patio to take full advantage of the gorgeous day. Located right across the street from the seawall, your view is of the beach. You would think being this close to the water the seagulls would be an issue but really this isn’t the case at all.

After ordering a cold Bud Light, I decided on the seafood platter #4. I got a salad with their honey vinaigrette with my order to start. The vinaigrette was light and not sweet. My seafood platter consisted of gulf shrimp, baby bay shrimp and tilapia, deep fried, and waffle fries. It wasn’t a thick, greasy deep fry. I was able to peel some of it back and get to the fresh steamy tilapia underneath for some amazing bites. All the seafood was outstandingly fresh and paired nicely with both the cocktail and tartar sauce. Next time this idea pops into my head, I’m checking out Gaido’s. I can only expect bigger and better surprises from a non-casual dining experience.

MARCH MADNESS… Cahill’s On Durham- 903 Durham Dr. 713.864.9400 I met up with the boys while they were taking in what seemed like the millionth game of basketball in two days. I had no problem with the place being Cahill’s. It’s a diamond in the rough when it comes to food. The boys rave about the jalapeno burger but I’m hooked on their grilled chicken sandwich. Served on a buttery bun, a generous piece of chicken with lettuce, tomato and mayo is basic but amazing! You would think that a chicken sandwich is easy to make and how can places possibly get it wrong. Two words, people: funky chicken. If I can’t eat the whole thing without cutting off questionable pieces of chicken, then something’s not right. I devoured this one without even sharing or bothering to let anyone taste the deliciousness. It’s the BEST grilled chicken sandwich. I know that’s a bold statement but every time I’ve been it is the same outstanding quality. I can’t argue with consistency. And at press time, I went and had one for lunch and it just confirmed that bold statement. Writing about food makes me hungry! I can’t help it!

PANDA-MONIUM BREAKFAST… Houston Zoo- 1513 N. Macgregor Dr. 713.533.6500 www.houstonzoo.org I had the pleasure to be invited to our Houston Zoo for a breakfast date with the world’s cutest panda, Toby! After grabbing some coffee, fruit and pastries, the moment for the media’s introduction arrived. Located in 74. may09 002houston

the old Koala home, Toby roams the whole section making sure he marks his territory often. With the arrival of spring came the arrival of Toby and numerous babies at the zoo. Miles, the giraffe, three baby bongos, a rare baby lemur are just to name a few. Also new to the zoo is their young supporters group, Flock. Primarily for those 21-40 years of age, this group allows you to become more involved with the zoo, learn about its conservation mission and get involved with others who share your same love for this Houston institution. Just last month they held their first-ever “Join the Flock” event by the reflection pond with music, light bites and drinks so members could meet and mingle. I believe 2 more events are in the works so there’s still time to join. Check out the Houston Zoo website to learn about the perks that come with being a member. How long has it been since you’ve visited the Houston Zoo? Open until 7pm in the summer, now is the time to get reacquainted.

LEISURELY LATE LUNCH… Shandy’s Café- 5814 Memorial Dr. 713.426.2675 I can’t get enough of their sandwich, soup, salad combo! I’ve tried to order something different but this combo satisfies all my cravings usually. I like to get the turkey sandwich, black bean soup and Caesar salad. The turkey sandwich comes out warm on ciabatta bread with lettuce, tomato and a smoky/spicy mayo which complement the super hot and spicy black bean soup and cool, mild Caesar salad perfectly. My mouth is constantly battling with the warm and spicy feeling so my favorite beverage of choice to wash it all down is their fresh limeade. It’s really tangy, so beware. Should you be in for dessert and you like cookies, they warm up the chocolate chip cookie before serving it – it’s nice and gooey. Located in a shopping center, the space may be small but Shandy’s packs big flavors into delicious, fresh food. Shandy’s Cafe is perfect after a workout, for a business lunch or even a relaxing evening out. If you haven’t made it in, please do yourself a favor and at least try it once. Something tells me you’ll be back…

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CLUB+LOUNGE REVIEW

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By Travis Jones Photography by Aaron M. Sprecher

ANVIL BAR + REFUGE | 1424 westheimer, houston, tx 77006 | 713.523.1622

PASSION & PATIENCE MEET NOSTALGIC KNOW-HOW

A

NVIL BAR & REFUGE WAS BUILT WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MIND. SOMETHING REMINISCENT OF AN ERA LONG PAST, IN WHICH HARD WORK WON OUT OVER THE EASY FIX, QUALITY MATTERED MORE THAN QUANTITY, THE GOOD GUY GOT THE GIRL, AND SOMETHING CRAFTED BY HAND REFLECTED THE PASSION AND PATIENCE OF THE CREATOR.

That passion and care are immediately evident when you walk in, and although relatively small and quaint, Anvil’s ambience delivers big. All industry up top with exposed duct and brick work, and all Pier 1 catalogue on the floor, the mood of Anvil is seductively simple. The space has an easy layout, lined with comfy leather couches and love seats, each with nearby tables and chairs cocooned by flickering tea-candle light from ornate wicker fixtures. The musical backdrop of jazzy and eclectic tunes remains a highlight, instead of a blaring focus, which is refreshing to bar patrons who actually enjoy hearing a date speak or the latest gossip about town.

Big deal, right? I get what you’re saying – if you wanted that sexy and sophisticated atmosphere tonight, you would have just scrubbed the pizza sauce off the High Life poster, flipped on the blacklight, jacked up the Skynyrd and called some honeys. Well, hang in there, Houston – we’re getting to the good part.

Pimm’s Cup. First Growth. The Martinez. No, I’m not referencing those videos under your bed you told your girlfriend you’d get rid of. Those are just a few of Anvil’s many tantalizing cocktails and they’re what sets Anvil apart from any place you’ve ever been. Way apart. Anvil isn’t the kind of place where you clamor to the bar and wait impatiently for your next watered-down well rum and Coke so you can get back to the action. At Anvil, the drinks, and the way they are prepared, are the action. The gentlemen behind the bar (bartenders doesn’t quite say it) use Anvil as a stage. Night after night, they put on a laborious show that takes patrons back to

a time when the relationship between the professionals behind a bar and their following was more than just buzz seeking mayhem. Anvil Bar & Refuge wants to take care of you, speak to you, learn from you and educate you – one drink at a time.

Take the effort that goes into a single drink, from order to pour. You’re greeted with a smile and an attitude that makes you feel as if they knew your name before you even arrived. Your glass, possibly an antique, was hand selected and looks just a little different from every other one you see. The gentleman preparing your drink speaks to you and tells you about the history of what you’ve selected. He tells you that they don’t use pre-infused liquors at Anvil and that the bitters, herb-infused honey and candied cherries he is using are homemade. He opens a mason jar, wraps a lemon peel around one of the crimson gems then spears it and slides it into your drink. While you’ve been at the bar, sure you could have gotten two lukewarm beers in that time at your local pub-n-grub, but this was worth it. What’s been even better, the crowd of well-dressed, 25- to 40-year-old Houstonians behind you hasn’t been breathing down your neck, trying to cop a feel or screaming incoherently at a buddy who must have gotten lost inside your ear. They’ve been in awe, listening and watching intently, this cocktail Pied Piper of Houston.

Of course, you could always just order a beer. But not just any beer. In fact, you won’t find a single one of your typical American Beer Lites here – the creators of Anvil have put too much thought into this place. Their rotating brewsky selection is diverse and meticulously cultivated, ranging from locally produced microbrews to bold, foreign beasts with too many x’s and z’s in the name for you to try and pronounce. Let them do that – you might learn something.

We live in an era where quality wanes as production increases, the bad guy steals the girl, and passion for a craft often gets thrown out the window in favor of the easy out. Anvil Bar & Refuge reminds Houston that if we slow down and let patience and care meet passion half way, the end product is one great cocktail.

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002NIGHT LIFE downtown

A+ BAR inside Alden Hotel 1117 Prairie. 832.200.8800 aldenhotels.com BANK BAR 220 Main. 832.667.4477 hotelicon.com

CABO 417 Travis. 713.225.2060 cabomixmex.com COPA CABANA 114 Main. 713.223.COPA copacabanalounge.com

C&F DRIVE INN 6714 N. Main. 713.861.0704 CHAR BAR 305 Travis. 713.222.8177 charbarhouston.com CLUB ICE/MANTRA 711 Main. 713.225.3500 mantrahouston.com

THE COTTON EXCHANGE 202 Travis. 713.213.1141 cottonexchangelounge.com

DEAN’S CREDIT CLOTHING 316 Main. 713.227.3326 myspace.com/deanscreditclothing

DIVE LOUNGE inside the Aquarium 410 Bagby. 713.223.3474 EIGHTEEN TWENTY 1820 Franklin. 713.224.5535 myspace.com/1820bar ETTA’S LOUNGE 5120 Scott. 713.528.2611 FLYING SAUCER 705 Main. 713.228.7468 beerknurd.com

GLO 505 Main. 713.223.3456 club-glo.com

HEAT 511 Main. 713.225.8020 myspace.com/clubheat_houston HOUSE OF BLUES 1204 Caroline. 1-888-40-BLUES hob.com/houston JAZZ AT THE MAGNOLIA 1100 Texas. 713.221.0011 magnoliahotels.com

BARS + CLUBS + LOUNGES + WINE BARS JET LOUNGE 1515 Pease. 713.659.2000 myspace.com/jetlounge

LA CARAFE 813 Congress. 713.229.9399 LEVEL 412 Main. 713.227.0410 myspace.com/levelhouston LIVE SPORTS CAFÉ 407 Main. 713.228.5483 livesportscafe.com

LONE STAR SALOON 1900 Travis. 713.757.1616 MOLLY’S PUB 509 Main. 713.222.1033 mollyspubs.com

NOTSUOH 314 Main. 713.237.8220 myspace.com/notsuohmusic

RED CAT JAZZ CAFÉ 924 Congress. 713.226.7870 redcatjazzcafe.com

RESERVE 101 1201 Caroline. 713.655.7101 reserve101.com

SAMBUCA JAZZ CAFÉ 909 Texas Ave. 713.224.5299 sambucarestaurant.com SHADOW BAR 213 Milam. 713.221.5483 theshadowbar.com

SHAY MCELROY’S 909-A Texas. 713.223.2444 mcelroyspub.com SKYLINE BAR & GRILL 1600 Lamar. 713.577.6139 (inside Hilton Americas)

STATE BAR & LOUNGE 909 #2-A Texas. 713.229.8888 thestatebar.com

THE TREEHOUSE Discovery Green 1611 Lamar. 713.337.7321 thegrovehouston.com THE VAULT 723 Main. 713.224.6891

TOC BAR 711 Franklin. 713.224.4862 myspace.com/tocbarhouston

VENUE 719 Main. 713.236.8150 venuehouston.com

THE TASTING ROOM 1101-18 Uptown Park. 713.993.9800 114 Gray. 713.528.6402 2409 W. Alabama. 713.526.2242 tastingroomwines.com

galleria + uptown

BAR 12•21 MORTON’S 5000 Westheimer. 713.629.1946 mortons.com

BLANCO’S 3406 W. Alabama. 713.439.0072 houstonredneck.com

BELVEDERE 1131 Uptown Park. 713.552.9271 belvedereinfo.com

BLVD 610 LOUNGE 3005 West Loop S. 832.875.3997 blvd610.com THE BLACK SWAN 4 Riverway. 713.871.8181 (inside the Omni Hotel)

UROPA 3302 Mercer. 713.627.1132 cluburopahouston.com

WILD WEST 6101 Richmond. 713.266.3455 wildwesthouston.com

heights + washington BLUE LABEL LOUNGE 4500 Washington bluelabellounge.com

BLOCK 21 2420 Washington. 713.337.1410 BOOM BOOM ROOM 2518 Yale. 713.868.3740 myspace.com/ boomboomroomhouston

CLUB 26 TEN 2610 Sage. 713.974.4000 myspace.com/club26ten

IDENTITY BAR 5959 Richmond. 713.785.0999 PLANETA BAR-RIO 6400 Richmond. 832.251.9600 bar-rio.com PAPARRUCHOS 3055 Sage. 713.212.3178 paparruchos.com

CHAISE LOUNGE 4219 Washington. 713.861.2300 chaiseloungehouston.net

CITIZEN LOUNGE 4606 Washington. 713.862.4448 THE CORKSCREW 1919 Washington. 713.864.9463 houstoncorkscrew.com CORLEONE BAR & GRILL 813 Jackson. 713.863.8223 (behind Patrenella’s) patrenellas.net

RA SUSHI 3908 Westheimer. 713.621.5800 rasushi.com

REMINGTON BAR 1919 Briar Oaks Ln. 713.403.2631 (inside St. Regis Hotel) theremingtonrestaurant.com ROXY 5851 W. Alabama. 713.850.ROXY myspace.com/roxyhouston

COSMOS CAFÉ 69 Heights. 713.802.2144 cosmoshouston.com

DAN ELECTRO’S GUITAR BAR 1031 E. 24th St. 713.862.8707 danelectrosguitarbar.com

DARKHORSE TAVERN 2207 Washington. 713.426.2442 dhtavern.com THE DIRT 222 Yale. 713.426.4222 myspace.com/dirtbar

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THE DRAKE 1902 Washington. 713.861.9600 thedrakebar.com

EL TIEMPO CANTINA 5602 Washington. 713.681.3645 eltiempocantina.com KOBAIN 33 Waugh. 713.862.9911 kobain.net

MOLINA’S 4720 Washington. 713.862.0013 molinasrestaurants.com ONION CREEK 3106 White Oak. 713.880.0706 onioncreekcafe.com

PEARL BAR 4216 Washington. 713.863.5337 pearlbarhouston.com

THE SOCIAL 3730 Washington. 713.426.5585 thesocialinfo.com

midtown

13 CELSIUS 3000 Caroline. 713.529.8466 13celsius.com

3RD BAR 2600 Travis. 713.526.8282 BLOCK 21 2420 Washington Ave.

BOND 2700 Milam. 713.529.2663 bond2700.com

COACHES 2204 Louisiana. 713.751.1970 CHRISTIAN’S TAILGATE 2000 Bagby. 713.527.0261 DECO 510 Gray. 713.659.4900 decohouston.com

EL PATIO 2416 Brazos. 713.523.8181 elpatio.com EPIC 3030 Travis. 713.862.4810

FIX LOUNGE 2707 Milam. 832.281.2101 fixlounge.com FRONT PORCH PUB 217 Gray. 713.571.9571 frontporchpub.com

HOWL AT THE MOON 612 Hadley. 713.658.9700 howlatthemoon.com

IBIZA LOUNGE NEXT DOOR 2450 Louisiana. 713.520.7300 ibizaloungenextdoor.com KOMODO’S 2004 Baldwin. 713.655.1501

LEON’S LOUNGE 1006 McGowen. 713.659.3052

THE MAPLE LEAF 514 Elgin. 713.520.6464 themapleleafpub.blogspot.com THE MINK/THE BACKROOM 3718 Main. 713.522.9985 themink.org

OPEN CITY 2416-A Brazos. 832.483.8357 ochouston.com RED DOOR 2416 Brazos. 713.225.0640 reddoorhouston.com

RICH’S 2401 San Jacinto. 713.759.9606 richshouston.com

SAMMY’S 2016 Main. 713.751.3101 sammysat2016main.com

SAINT DANE’S BAR + GRILL 502 Elgin. 713.807.7040

STATUS 2404 San Jacinto. 713.659.5400 myspace.com/statushouston SWIVEL 2621 Milam. 713.222.2057 swivelhouston.com THE ROOF 2600 Travis. 713.522.4900 roofbarhouston.com

002houston May 09:002houston

THE WET SPOT 160 W. Gray. 713.523.7768 wetspot-houston.com TIPSY CLOVER 2416 Brazos. 713.524.8782 UNION BAR 2708 Bagby. 281.974.1916 myspace.com/unionlounge WHISKEY CREEK 2905 Travis. 713.526.4225 whiskeycreekhouston.com

XO BAR & LOUNGE 2611 San Jacinto. 713.651.9900 myspace.com/xohouston

ZEPPELIN 3101 San Jacinto. 713.521.7300 myspace.com/zeppelin713

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5:03 PM

THE DAVENPORT 2115 Richmond. 713.520.1140

THE FLAT 1702 Commonwealth. 713.521.3528 ETRO 1424 Westheimer. 713.529.3449 myspace.com/etrohouston GRIFF’S 3416 Roseland. 713.528.9912 griffshouston.com

THE HARP 1625 Richmond. 713.528.7827 LOLA’S 2327 Grant. 713.528.8342

BOONDOCKS 1417 Westheimer. 713.522.8500 myspace.com/boondocksbar BYZANTIO 403 W. Gray. 713.520.6896 byzantiohouston.com

CATBIRDS 1336 Westheimer. 713.523.8000 catbirds.com CEZANNE JAZZ CLUB 4100 Montrose. 713.522.9321 blacklaboradorpub.com

GUAVA LAMP 570 Waugh. 713.524.3359 myspace.com/guavalamphouston

VINTAGE 2108 Kipling. 713.522.4200

ZAKE LOUNGE 2943 S. Shepherd. 713.526.6888 zakerestaurant.com

ZIMM’S MARTINI & WINE 4321 Montrose. 713.521.2002 zimsbar.com

METEOR 2306 Genesee. 713.521.0123 meteorhouston.com

BOHEME WINE & CAFÉ BAR 307 Fairview. 713.269.0859 barboheme.com

VELVET MELVIN 3303 Richmond. 713.522.6798 myspace.com/thevelvetmelvinpub

MCELROY’S PUB 3607 Sandman. 713.524.2444 mcelroyspub.com

AGORA 1717 Westheimer. 713.526.7212 agorahouston.com

BARTINI 1318 Westheimer. 713.526.2277 clubbartini.com

THE TAVERN 1340 W. Gray. 713.522.5159 thetavernongray.com

LZ PUB 2239 Richmond. 713.522.7118 MARFRELESS 2006 Peden. 713.528.0083

AVANTGARDEN 411 Westheimer. 832.519.1429 avantgardenhouston.com

THE STAG’S HEAD 2128 Portsmouth. 713.533.1199 stagsheadpub.com

museum district

montrose + shepherd

ABSINTHE 609 Richmond. 713.528.7575 absinthelounge.com

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THE NEXT DOOR 2020 Waugh. 713.520.1712 myspace.com/thenextdoorgallery NUMBERS 300 Westheimer. 713.526.6551 numbersnightclub.com

PRAVADA 2815 S. Shepherd. 713.533.1200 pravadahouston.com PRIVE 910 Westheimer. 713.526.6551 privelounge.com

POISON GIRL 1641-B Westheimer. 713.527.9929 myspace.com/poisongirlbar.com SOUTH BEACH 810 Pacific. 713.529.7623 southbeachthenightclub.com

SLIDER’S BAR 1424 Westheimer. 713.528.2788 slidersbar.com

SCOTT GERTNER’S SKYBAR 3400 Westheimer. 713.520.9688 msypace.com/scottgertnersskybar

MONARCH LOUNGE 5701 Main (inside Hotel ZaZa) 713.526.1991 monarchrestauranthouston.com

outer loop

rice village

ARMADILLO PALACE 5015 Kirby. 713.526.9700 thearmadillopalace.com

BAKER STREET PUB 5510 Morningside. 713.942.9900 bakerstreetpub.com BAM BOU 2540 University. 713.521.7222 bambouhouston.com

BRIAN O’NEILL’S 5555 Morningside. 713.522.2603 brianoneills.com BRONX BAR 5555 Morningside. 713.520.9690 ERNIE’S ON BANKS 1010 Banks. 713.526.4566 erniesonbanks.com

THE GINGER MAN 5607 Morningside. 713.526.2770 gingermanpub.com JOHNNY’S SPORTS BAR 2511 Bissonnet. 713.521.9928 myspace.com/joialounge

KAY’S LOUNGE 2324 Bissonnet. 713.528.9858 300 HOUSTON BOWLING 925 Bunker Hill 713.461.2431 300houston.com DENIM BAR 16090 City Walk. 281.275.5925 (inside the Burning Pear) theburningpear.com THE DERRICK TAVERN 1127 Eldridge. 281.759.4922 thederricktavern.com

FIREHOUSE SALOON 5930 Southwest Frwy. 713.977.1962 firehousesaloon.com HUSH 15625 Katy Frwy. 713.330.4874 hushonline.com

VINE WINE ROOM 12420 Memorial Dr. 713.463.8463 vinewineroom.com VINO 100 11693 Westheimer. 281.759.4100

LITTLE WOODROW’S 5611 Morningside. 713.521.2337 littlewoodrows.com THE LOUNGE AT BENJI’S 2424 Dunstan. 713.522.7602 benjys.com

VOLCANO 2349 Bissonnet. 713.526.5282

river oaks + kirby

AZTECA’S BAR & GRILL 2207 Richmond. 713.526.1702 aztecasbarandgrill.com THE BIG EASY 5731 Kirby. 713.523.9999 bigeasyblues.com

COVA 5600 Kirby. 713.838.0700 5555 Washington. 713.868.3366 covawine.com DOWNING STREET 2549 Kirby. 713.523.2291 downingstreetpub.com

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KENNEALLY’S IRISH PUB 2111 S. Shepherd. 713.630.0486 irishpubkenneallys.com LIZZARD’S PUB 2715 Sackett. 713.529.4610

MEZZANINE LOUNGE 2200 Southwest Frwy. 713.528.MEZZ mezzaninelounge.com MUGSY’S 3200 Kirby. 713.526.5595

RICKSHAW BAMBU 2810 Westheimer. 713.942.7272 rickshaw-bambu.com ROLL-N SALOON 4200 San Felipe. 713.622.7487 TACO MILAGRO 2555 Kirby. 713.522.1999 taco-milagro.com

THE WINE BUCKET 2311 W. Alabama. 713.942.9463 thewinebucket.com

warehouse district

EIGHTEEN TWENTY 1820 Franklin. 713.224.5535 1820bar.com

LUCKY’S PUB 801 St. Emanuel. 713.522.2010 luckyspub.com THE MERIDIAN 1503 Chartres. 713.225.1717 meridianhouston.com

NEXT 2020 McKinney. 713.221.8833 whatsnexthouston.com PASHAA ULTRA LOUNGE 2010 McKinney. 713.344.0305 myspace.com/pashaahouston

WAREHOUSE LIVE 813 St. Emanuel. 713.225.5483 warehouselive.com

002houston May 09:002houston

RECORDING

4/21/09

2:49 PM

Page 80

Interview by Lance Scott Walker Photography by Anthony Rathbun

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT JONATHAN BARBER AND ART PINSOF MAKE NOISE. LOTS OF IT. TONS OF IT, ACTUALLY. SOME FOLKS DON’T GET IT WHEN THEY HEAR IT RECORDED. SOME FOLKS DON’T GET IT WHEN THEY HEAR IT LIVE. BELOW IS A PEEK INTO WHY. SO YOU’RE GIVING AWAY YOUR NEW ALBUM, HYRDROGEN BOMB, ONLINE. WHAT GIVES? JOHNATHAN: Well it comes down to this really: no one buys music anymore and it is almost impossible to make a profit unless, of course, it’s approved by Pitchfork. Also, it is a very experimental record that many people just won’t get. I am releasing two physical albums coming soon on Union Without Nation records. I also wanted it to make it 50/50 when it comes to releasing records. 50% free and 50% to purchase.

ART: We just figure it’s good promotion to get something out there. Hydrogen Bomb is pretty different from past and forthcoming ATP albums. Most of our music takes a year or two to become an album and this was done within a week or two, I believe.

not an insult to Ryan; it is just he found his way to be happy and I understand because making music that you hear in About This Product albums is really something that takes a lot out of you. For music, you give your heart, soul, mind and blood to really be crazy enough to do this.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IT’S NOT JUST A DOWNLOAD. IT WILL BE PHYSICAL AT SOME POINT. IS THE DIGITAL ALSO THE PHYSICAL? TAKE THAT HOWEVER YOU LIKE. JOHNATHAN: I hate to say that I only own an iPod shuffle to run with listening to music. I personally am a big fan of releases. It is not the same having a virtual file compared to having something you can hold and cherish. I know physical releases are becoming obsolete and I am saddened by it. In the end I am a hypocrite in a way ’cause I download tons of music because the albums that I find really amazing are very hard to find, especially in Houston.

WHAT DOES MAKE YOU CRAZY ENOUGH TO STILL DO IT? JOHNATHAN: This is a tough question really. Sometimes I really think I’m nuts for trying so hard. Basically I just love making music. It’s sort of like therapy to me. Sometimes our shows get a bit crazy but the reasons why are – because once you’re done with a show that was pretty nuts you have this great euphoric feeling, like getting something off your chest that you have been keeping secret for years.

When people see laptops, people that normally would never listen to computer music, sometimes you got to show them that there still can be this punk rock energy involved with playing music from a computer.

SO NOW IT’S YOU AND ART? NO RYAN? JOHNATHAN: Well, I have known Art for a long time and he really is a genius and I am proud to have him in About This Product. For a while me and Ryan’s friendship was slowly falling apart. It was sad because he was my best friend and like a brother, but I believe the passion of doing anything it takes to produce a top product was leaving him.

So now he is doing his thing and I hope everything is well with the guy since we do not talk. I just cannot have someone in the band that is not 100% loyal to the music. This is

ART, HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU, REPLACING HALF OF AN ENTIRE BAND? ART: It’s been fun. I also make music on my own under a few different names (Caglioso, Groggy, 1 Bit Wizard), so for me it’s been a lot of fun to be involved in a band where I’m supporting someone else’s initial vision. Aside from that, I think our musical perspectives complement each other’s pretty well. I tend to focus on the melody and rhythmic changes of songs and Jonathan has a great talent in creating interesting textures and complex structures that I 80. may09 002houston

like a lot. We’re also fans of a lot of the same music. I was worried at first that we might have some clashing ideas when I joined, but it’s been a very natural feeling collaboration where we both enjoy what each other has to add.

WERE YOU A FAN/FRIEND BEFORE? ART: Yeah, I’ve been friends with John for a while. I knew him in high school but didn’t start becoming good friends with him until a few months before we started making music together. I have been a fan of his music and About This Product as him and Ryan for a long time. I remember always leaving their shows feeling like I just had 10 cups of coffee; it was just so energizing. It’s fun to be on the creative end of that now.

AND HOW IS IT THAT ABOUT THIS PRODUCT, EVEN PLAYING THE MOST DOCILE (ELECTRONIC) OF INSTRUMENTS, HAS SUCH ATHLETICALLY INSANE LIVE SHOWS? ART: I know John used to play with a desktop live and smash the keys off his keyboard into the audience (and pick them up after the show to glue them back on later). I think of our music as a meeting ground between techno and free jazz mostly, both of which I think make people want to move (though only techno gives the social permission to do so). When you’re on stage playing some loud music that’s pretty much designed to put you in a state of mental, emotional and physical exhilaration, you can’t help but act the fool a little bit. You know what I mean? www.myspace.com/aboutthisproduct

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CD REVIEWS

4/20/09

5:04 PM

Page 81

By Lance Scott Walker

UGK UGK 4 Life (Jive) The really sobering thing about this release is that it highlights just how talented of a rapper Pimp C was. Nevermind his production, which has been as consistent and recognizable as his speaking voice over the past 20 years, what was truly compelling about Pimp C is how much he flew under the radar as a rapper throughout his entire career. Truth be told, Bun B was half the MC he is now when the duo first started in the late 80s and early 90s. But the late Chad Butler has been so reliably brilliant as a lyricist and rapper that each new release only helps to further carve out his particular flavor of country rap. UGK 4 Life might not be a fitting end to the duo—a hand forced by Pimp C’s untimely death in late 2007—but then again, nothing would be. That’s because both rappers were always feverishly prolific.

A UGK record starts and stops, but it never really begins or ends. You get the feeling that Bun B and Pimp C just set down the microphones and turned off the drum machines at a certain point; that, if allowed, every record would be four discs with a bevy of outtakes that they only kept off of there by necessity. UGK 4 Life is a direct example of that: there is no sendout, no wave goodbye, no swansong.

This record inhales and exhales exactly as Pimp would have seen it through to doing when he was alive—and he sounds as filthy as if he were still breathing. While the beats echo of Bill Withers, Willie Hutch and the Isley Brothers (Ron Isley even guests on the brilliant “The Pimp and The Bun”) and the vocal melodies harken (surprisingly) back to late 80s R&B ala New Jack Swing, Pimp’s lyricism conjures up echoes of blaxploitation ala Ralph Bakshi, Luther Campbell’s sexual musings and Richard Pryor’s realism all bundled into one untouchably original package. Because of that, Pimp C is set to become posthumously known as unpredictable, brilliant and enduring. And while we will probably see another decade’s worth of “new” releases by Biggie and Tupac, one can expect this to be UGK’s official, classy finale. It’s odd for some to associate the word “integrity” with a pair whose output was so rife with filth at points, but it’s exactly like UGK to leave you wondering which were the high points and which were the low. It’s all been printed now. You’ve got a long time to figure it out.

THE THERMALS Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars) Now we can see that you keep making the same record over and over again. Respect: Kathy Foster not only holds down her usual bass playing duties herein, but she also plays drums on the entire record, and finally steps up to the mic. The water has gotten deeper around her and lead singer Hutch Harris. Problem is, they’re still standing in a puddle.

SLIM THUG Boss of All Bosses (Koch) Once Slim broke from Interscope last year, every one of his fans wrung their hands and slapped them together to see the chalk scatter.

Interscope was Slim’s crutch; the very thing that launched his career was also the thing that crippled it. Already Platinum didn’t sound like Houston, and yet Slim did. It wasn’t a good mix. From the opening seconds of Boss, however, he sounds calmer, more confident. Relaxed. He sounds like a rapper that towers over the rest—and that’s not merely a reference to his height (that gets old) but more a testament to how limber and flexible his style of rap is amongst his peers. His lyricism, flow and prowess always had muscle, but here the beats actually hold him up: lots of big, nasty, fuzzy synthesizers accented by strings and beats that crawl around somewhere between the speed of super-hyped club beats and the pace of old Screw tapes. “Smile” is destined to be a club classic. And on the subject of his peers—they are present. Devin the Dude, UGK, Kyleon and a ridiculous, 9-minute closer that features (and I list in its entirety): Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Pimp C, Bun B, Lil Keke, Z-Ro, Trae, Rob G, Lil O, Big Pokey, Mike D and Yung Redd. Maybe it’s his way of saying “welcome back.” As in… “please welcome me back.”

SUPERCHUNK Leaves In the Gutter (Merge) Here’s the deal: if you release an album every year or two during your career and then you take a break for 8 years, you gotta come out swinging. You gotta sweep the legs. Knock out some teeth. For the fans.

Superchunk has not done that here. But, they also haven’t yet committed themselves. This is an EP of stuff that the band needed to squeeze off before heading into the studio for a full-length recording, a few songs that they’d been kicking around during their one-off shows the past few years. Of those, “Learned to Surf” is a gem. Of the rest, there are no blanks fired, but one can (in all of one’s faith in Superchunk) imagine, easily imagine, why these songs were swept off before something more cohesive was put to tape. “Misfits and Mistakes” was actually released as a single two years ago, and it works as such, but Superchunk of all bands has always had a strange way of releasing really largely tepid songs as singles and then allowing the brilliant ones to simmer under the surface once you get the full album. One thing, though – 8 years in the making, and your voice still hasn’t gotten any deeper, Mac?

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What is St. Paddy’s Day without Bailey’s Irish Cream, Bushmills Irish Whiskey or Guinness Irish Stout? All the classics were available at the green celebration during the happy hour that of course would not be complete without bagpipe players, shamrock tattoos and pot-o-gold prizes available from BCBGMAXAZRIA, Forever XXI and Books-A-Million.

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EVENT ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY WITH 002HOUSTON MAGAZINE WHY CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY WHERE MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & HOUSTON PAVILIONS’ CENTER COURTYARD WHEN MARCH 17

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OO2CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Vampire teeth 6. Dovetail 10. BBs or bullets 14. Texas shrine 15. Creme-filled cookie 16. Precious 17. Japanese film opening at the Angelika May 22 19. Tibetan priest 20. Rap sessions with the dead?

21. Orchestral maneuver 23. From whence the Magi came 25. Bottomless pit 26. Noted art space in downtown Houston 32. Partner with ivory 33. Double-reed woodwind 34. Local education org.

37. Ticket 38. Fundamental 40. Paint layer 41. Poem of praise 42. Pub projectile 43. Jazz ensemble 44. Showplace for mobile masterpieces 47. Wavy pattern in silk

50. Vice squad visit 51. Funded for the future 54. Eats 59. Stead 60. Houston institution dedicated to a fruit 62. Springsteen’s nickname, with “The” 63. Pleasant 64. Actress Dern 65. Poker payment 66. Hastened 67. Like a cloudless day DOWN 1. Temporal trends 2. Out of the wind 3. California wine region 4. FBI guy 5. Harry Potter’s specialty 6. Hair foam or dessert 7. Mess up 8. Tarot card turner 9. Stockings 10. Works without a script 11. Substantive 12. Half a ‘60s singing quartet 13. Face-to-face exams

18. Oolong and Earl Grey 22. “Let them eat ___“ 24. So-so rating for a movie or restaurant 26. Art ___ 27. Footnote abbreviation 28. Something to cast 29. Opposite of WSW 30. Kimono sash 31. Fabulous bird 34. Fleshy fruit, like an apple or pear 35. Forbidden perfume?

36. Molecular building block 38. Diamond club 39. Joan of ___

40. Comedian Bill, informally 42. Comic Carey 43. Shillelaghs 44. Pique 45. Showered 46. Artistic Chinese dynasty 47. R&B diva Moore 48. Parody newspaper “The _____“ 49. Counterpart of “exempli gratia” 52. Many millennia 53. Faucet sound 55. Jacob’s twin, in the Bible 56. Ostracize 57. Like a ticket stub 58. Influence 61. Hole in one

APRIL ANSWERS

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Photography by Michelle Watson from lastnightpics.com

002houston May 09:002houston

Photography by Michelle Watson from lastnightpics.com

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002houston May 09:002houston

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