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www.78209magazine.com
March 2014
78209 M AG AZ IN E
TOM FROST Banker, Leader, Leader, Model Model Citizen Citizen Banker,
Condo Living Living with with Condo Architectural Appeal Appeal Architectural
PATI RODRIGUEZ Cara Mia Mia Spa Spa and and Salon Salon Owner Owner Cara
AHISD NEWS
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CONTENTS MARCH 2014
06
Business Profile: Alamo Heights Barber and Beauty Supply
10
Profile: Melanie Shankle
14
Home: A formal, Alamo Heights home is restyled into a warm and welcoming family retreat
17
AHISD School News
20
Neighborhood News
22
78209 Restaurant Guide
23
09-Lives
24
Police Blotter
25
Wine & Dine
26
Vintage View
ON THE COVER: A lovely Pennsylvania Dutch-style dwelling built in the late 1950s in Alamo Heights.
17
10 78209 M A G A ZIN E
06 March 2014
www.78209magazine.com
Publisher J. MICHAEL GAFFNEY
Copy Editor KATHRYN COCKE
Editorial Director BEVERLY PURCELL-GUERRA
Advertising Sales STEVEN COX, JEN EARHART, MADELEINE JUSTICE, ROSANNE LIMON-KILLIAN
Graphic Design MARIA JENICEK, KEVIN HERRERA, TAMARA HOOKS Contributors RON BECHTOL, JOHN BLOODSWORTH, COURTNEY BURKHOLDER, LESLIE FOLEY, CASEY HOWELL, JENNA-BETH LYDE, BONNY OSTERHAGE, PATTI PAWLIK-PERALES, AL RENDON, JANET ROGERS
Administration & Customer Service NANCY A. GAFFNEY Printing Shweiki Media, San Antonio, Tx Advertising information: (210) 826-5375 email: info@78209magazine.com
78209 MAGAZINE is published monthly by PixelWorks Corporation (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. 78209 MAGAZINE reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. 78209 MAGAZINE does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2014 Pixelworks Corporation.
Published by
8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217 • FAX 210-826-2856 • www.pixelworkscorporation.com
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BUSINESS PROFILE 78209
ALAMO BARBER AND BEAUTY SUPPLY IS A CUT ABOVE CUSTOMERS CAN FIND THE LATEST PRODUCTS By BONNY OSTERHAGE Photography By CASEY HOWELL
In the ever-changing and fickle world of beauty, youth is considered a valuable commodity. So what keeps a barber and beauty supply shop with a vintage appeal in business past the ripe old age of 70? Well, as most people know, age is simply a state of mind. Not only surviving but thriving in today’s competitive market requires a clear vision, an understanding of your customer and your industry, and an ability to combine the latest advances with the tried and true. Pablo Suarez, owner of Alamo Heights Barber and Beauty Supply, possesses all of these attributes, along with a love of the Alamo Heights community that he has called home for the past 16 years. AGING GRACEFULLY Born and raised in Mexico City, Suarez moved to San Antonio and purchased the Alamo Heights Barber and Beauty Supply and the adjacent Oh Nine Hair Studio in 1998. It was a store with a history and a following, and Suarez made the decision to maintain the charm that had served the business so well. In fact, the only changes he initiated were to the layout of the floor plan and the quantity and quality of products he sold. Suarez kept the original sign, proudly displaying
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it above the door to his office, and he left the original hardwood floors intact. And even though dozens of bottles of old-fashioned barber products, like a rum and egg shampoo, line the shelves behind the counter, don’t let the homage to the early days fool you! This is a shop that caters to both the discerning public and the licensed professional, offering them the latest in products and equipment. A BEAUTIFUL CAREER Suarez has spent a large part of his career in the business of beauty product distribution, importing
sought-after lines from the United States, France and even China to big box retailers in his home of Mexico City. As a result, this is a man who has his finger on the pulse of the beauty industry and knows what sells. He offers hard-to-find lines such as Lucky Tiger and Clubman, as well as what he considers the must-haves, like Sebastian hair and OPI nail products. To those he adds of-the-moment and higher-end lines such as Moroccanoil, Brazilian Blowout products, BaByliss styling tools, Mason Pearson brushes and more. Over 12,000 more, to be exact.
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78209
F EATU RE
“We are the largest barber and beauty supply store in San Antonio,” says Suarez. “It’s one of the things that sets us apart.” It’s not the only thing. Many of the sales consultants are also licensed stylists and, as such, can offer customers expert advice on which products will best meet their needs. Many of those stylists are employed next door in one of the two adjoining shops: the Oh Nine Hair Studio and Suarez’s newest addition, Barber Shop of Oh Nine, which he opened in 2010.
“Many of my customers have grown up here and have been loyal to the shop for more than 50 years.” “With the salon and barbershop being an extension of the beauty supply store, we are more like a beauty super center,” explains Suarez. The salon offers customers everything from nail services to waxing and nearly every hair service imaginable, including the popular Brazilian Blowouts and hair extensions, all in a relaxing environment. The barbershop is a decidedly masculine experience. Here gentlemen can get a shave, haircut or shoeshine in a room filled with animal trophies on the walls, a large flat-screen television and leather belmont barber chairs from the 1970s. “The addition of the barbershop was the biggest change I made,” says Suarez. “The customers seem to really appreciate it.” CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT’S A CUT ABOVE Suarez understands that it is the customers that have kept Alamo Barber and Beauty Supply in business all these years. He has made it a priority not just to service their needs but to ensconce himself within their community, embracing Alamo Heights and the lifestyle it affords. “ I love the tranquility of Alamo Heights and the friendliness of the people,” says this single dad of two grown sons. Things like joining the local health club, playing tennis and taking long walks with his girlfriend through the neighborhood have given him the opportunity to meet his neighbors and customers and learn more about them. “Many of my customers have grownup here and have been loyal to the shop for more than 50 years,” he marvels. With beauty superstores like Ulta popping up in the near vicinity, Suarez makes sure to stay a step ahead by rewarding his customers for their devotion. He sends twice-weekly discount coupons via email, and if a customer wants a product or a line he doesn’t carry, Suarez will do his best to get it for them. “I think what makes our customers unique is that they will still come here to shop rather than shop online or go to another big box retailer for the same product,” he says. “This neighborhood is very committed to supporting local businesses whenever they can and putting their money back into the community.” Suarez does his part for the community as well by participating in the Cancer Therapy and Research Center’s Partners Card Program, citing it as a way not only to give back personally but also a way to offer customers the opportunity to stock up on their favorite products. An enthusiastic supwww.78209magazine.com | 7
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The salon offers customers everything from nail services to waxing and nearly every hair service imaginable,
The beauty supply store rivals bigbox centers selling hard-to-find lines like Lucky Tiger and CLubman, staples like OPI and Sebastian and of-the-moment, higher end lines like BaByliss and Moroccanoil.
porter of the Alamo Heights High School band program, he participates in a fundraising program whereby local businesses pay for the band to come in and play for their customers and employees. “It’s fun,” he smiles. “They are really good!” Giving back to the customers and community extends to Suarez’s passion, which is travel. He attends international trade shows and brings back the newest hard-to-find products, as well as plenty of knowledge and information that he imparts to his staff. Suarez realizes that with the Internet and the growth in the neighborhood, the competition for dollars is fierce. By marrying the expectations of the original customers with the demands of a new, tech-savvy clientele, he is successfully cultivating a new era of devoted, brand-loyal shoppers. “Our customer service really is what sets us apart,” he says. “Customers want that personal attention that comes from the boutique neighborhood stores. We give it to them.”
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78209 PROFILE
BIG MAMA’S WISDOM MELANIE SHANKLE SHARES LIFE’S AMUSING MOMENTS IN HER BLOG By COURTNEY BURKHOLDER
Photography by CASEY HOWELL
Some women wouldn’t appreciate being called Big Mama. But for Melanie Shankle, the nickname began as a term of endearment given to her by her daughter, Caroline, and eventually became the name that reshaped the course of her life. Author of the thebigmamablog.com, a blog site dedicated to motherhood and family, Melanie has built a business sharing the touching and amusing moments of her life. Raised in Houston and Beaumont, Melanie attended Texas A&M University, where she received her degree in speech communications and, more importantly, met the man who would become her husband, Perry Shankle. A longtime resident of Alamo Heights, he grew up in San Antonio and is the owner of Perry Shankle Landscaping Company. Married since 1997, the Shankles have one daughter, Caroline. Life in the Shankle home is the inspiration for the day-today hilarity chronicled in her daily blog. Melanie became the official Big Mama in July of 2006. “I started the blog as a way to record
my family memories,” Melanie says. “I’m not much of a scrapbooker, but I have always loved to journal. The blog seemed a good way to keep track of the little things going on in my life.” Initially, Melanie’s blog was her little secret: “I didn’t even tell Perry.
Today, the Big Mama Blog has over 125,000 subscribers who tune in weekly to read about the happenings of the Shankle household and to find inspiration in coping with their own lives. I just typed my stories at night before I went to bed. I never dreamed anyone other than my family and friends would want to read them.” But read them they did! Today, the Big Mama Blog has over 125,000 subscribers who tune in weekly to read about the happenings of the
Shankle household and to find inspiration in coping with their own lives. “I’ll never understand why so many people read it every day, but at least part of the reason is because I really try to find the humor in every situation,” Melanie says. “Life can be so hard and so serious, and I think people always like to find a minute that doesn’t feel so heavy.” After two years of writing and growing the Big Mama Blog, Melanie was ready for a new challenge. “I had always wanted to write a book, but had no idea how to go about it,” she admits. “I had a few friends in the writing industry, and I’d heard it was really hard to break in.” At a writing conference in 2008, while speaking on the topic of blogging, Melanie met a literary agent and gave him a sample of her writing. “He took me on and really walked me through the entire process of writing the book,” she says. Her first book, Sparkly Green Earrings, a memoir, debuted on the New York Times Best-Seller list in February 2013. www.78209magazine.com | 11
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“The Antelope in the Living Room is my story of two people sharing one life. Anyone who is married can relate.”
Sparkly Green Earrings is Melanie’s story about the small, seemingly insignificant moments in a mother’s life that fall by the wayside in the midst of all the chaos, but that are what truly make each of us Mama. “The good thing is there are always new moms interested in reading a book about motherhood, so there is always new interest,” she says. Last month, on February 4, Melanie released her second book, The Antelope in the Living Room, a memoir dedicated to marriage that also debuted on the New York Times Best-Seller list. “We all have those little things about our spouse that drive us crazy, whether they are literal or proverbial,” she says. “The Antelope in the Living Room is my story of two people sharing one life. Anyone who is married can relate.” In this book Melanie tackles marriage with the same insightfulness and humor that mothers found so appealing in Sparkly Green Earrings. When Melanie isn’t writing or blogging, she can be found out and about in Alamo Heights attending basketball and soccer games, shopping with her best friend, Amy Fisher (also known as Gulley, a regular on the Big Mama Blog), and performing all the normal duties that famous mom-bloggers get to do, like grocery shopping, laundry and drycleaning drop off and pickup. She is also a regular contributor to ThePioneerWoman.com, and she serves as the emcee for Lifeway’s annual DotMom conference. But her favorite job: soccer mom, right here in Alamo Heights. “I really love living in Alamo Heights,” Melanie says. “I moved around a lot when I was a kid, so I love the fact that Caroline will graduate with many of the same kids she is in school with now. I also love that Alamo Heights has the charm of a small town but the convenience of living in a big city. So many people who grew up here come back to raise their families here, and that’s a testament to Alamo Heights.”
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HOME
FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY When Sandra and Stanley Rosenberg purchased the home in 1984, much of the formality was retained, but the happiness that they brought into their new home permeates throughout. By JOHN G. BLOODSWORTH
Photography By AL RENDON
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AT HOME 78209
A lovely Pennsylvania Dutch-style dwelling built in the late 1950s in Alamo Heights featured formal rooms decorated in silver-leafed wall coverings, hung with beautiful crystal chandeliers and artisan-handpainted walls of purest pigment. The house had remained in pristine condition for decades. When Sandra and Stanley Rosenberg purchased the home in 1984, much of the formality was retained, but the happiness that they brought into their new home permeates throughout. “When I first looked at this house, I said, ‘I’m not grown-up enough for this,’” exclaims Sandra. “Orville Carr came over and said, ‘You’ll grow into it.’” And she did, but not before a little remodeling was in order. The kitchen was gutted, and new countertops were expanded so that modern appliances could be installed. A master suite addition included a sitting room, personalized storage space and bath. Outdoors, a pool was added with an outdoor fireplace, patio and pool house for entertaining. The fireplace can be viewed from the formal dining room and is often lit on winter’s evenings. A porch was converted into the breakfast room, just off the formal dining room. With a joie de vivre that envelops their home, celebrations have benefited community organizations, welcomed friends and brought family members together for almost 30 years. The Rosenbergs’ home is the setting for lighting the Hanukah menorah and conducting the Passover Seder, for festive meals on birthdays and backyard pool parties that have included the entire Alamo Heights football team when a grandson played for the school. www.78209magazine.com | 15
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78209 AT
H OM E
An expansive collection of hand-painted metal toy soldiers is displayed across one expanse of bookcase.
In the formal living room, collections of every kind find homes on built-in bookshelves and neatly arranged display cases. Many of their pieces were gifts from dear friends and clients of Stanley Rosenberg, a senior partner in the Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal LLP law firm. Stanley is an avid reader, with volumes on Winston Churchill and World War II lining the shelves. An expansive collection of hand-painted metal toy soldiers depicting British campaigns in India and the Sudan neatly marches across one expanse of bookcase in precise military parade. Framed photos of family members fill every room. Three beautiful daughters – Susan, Carol and Jill – and their husbands and children are prominently displayed with treasured pieces from both Sandra and Stanley’s childhood homes.
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In the den, a recently upholstered sofa done by Orville Carr in an aqua Asian chinoiserie cotton blend nestles in a corner of the room with cozy overstuffed chairs for relaxing. Book-laden tables are close at hand. Sunlight dapples the room from a multi-paned window that allows a massive hanging basket filled with seasonal flowers to be enjoyed indoors. It was a gift to Sandra from her daughters on Mother’s Day. Armchairs were refurbished and covered in a modern fabric. The master suite was freshened with Italian fabrics and striped taffeta. It was one of the last projects done by designers Charles Forster and Carr before Carr passed away in 2013. Carr would be pleased to know that the Rosenbergs have grown into their Alamo Heights home – beautifully.
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ALAMO HEIGHTS ISD 78209
STUDENTS DISPLAY SKILLS AT SHOWCASE OF ENGAGED LEARNING
The Showcase of Engaged Learning with Technology is an annual event that features the creative talents and technological skills of our Alamo Heights students and staff. Each year, students work individually or collaboratively to produce a variety of projects utilizing the latest software and technological tools in order to showcase the skills learned in their AHISD classrooms. These projects will be presented and “showcased” on Saturday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Alamo Heights High School, allowing parents, fellow students and staff and our AH community the opportunity to see what is being learned. Showcase attendees walk away with new tips and tricks learned from the presenters, AH students, and some of the latest tools and gadgets provided by sponsors through generous door prizes.
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Alamo Heights High School Swimming and Diving Team earned the regional title, breaking nine region and five school records in the process! The team competed at the state championship Feb. 21 and 22.
START PLANNING YOUR SUMMER AT HEIGHTS
It is time to start planning for summer enrichment with AHISD’s Summer at Heights. Designed for students ages 5 and older, courses are provided to students throughout the community by some of San Antonio’s leading artists, educators and professionals with sessions for all ages and interests. It is our goal to offer students the opportunity to experience new adventures, expand existing horizons, arouse curiosity, exchange ideas and products, stimulate creativity and give them a chance to laugh and have fun in the process. In a fun, casual summer camp environment, students can choose from a variety of creative camp options: arts and crafts, chess, theater, dance, sports, music, science, robotics and more. Courses will be offered from June 9 through July 4. The week-long sessions will be held at Woodridge Elementary, 100 Woodridge, with sports camps and courses held at AHJS sports venues, 7607 N. New Braunfels. Transportation will be provided for full-day participants from AHJS to Woodridge for lunch. There are two sessions daily: Morning sessions are 9 - 11:30 a.m.; afternoon sessions are 12:30 - 3 p.m.
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78209
A H ISD NEWS
e recess! d 22.
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 1. KIDS LOVE SUMMER AT HEIGHTS! Early registration is advised, as all classes have a limited enrollment. Online registration is recommended and is fast, safe and easy. Families who register online can access and verify their students’ schedules and receive immediate confirmation. A one-time nonrefundable registration fee of $15 per student per summer session is due upon enrollment. Completed registration forms are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The student information page must accompany registration forms. Payment in full must accompany each registration. Additional forms may be picked up at the AHISD Administration Building, 7101 Broadway, or printed from our website, www.ahisd.net/summeratheights. Forms with payment may be dropped off at Central Office, 7101 Broadway, or mailed. Please DO NOT drop forms off at participating campuses.
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78209
N EIG H BORH OOD N EW S
WHAT’S NEW IN
‘09
By LESLIE FOLEY
It’s official – and you’re reading it here — Alamo Heights Rotary Club will celebrate Alamo Heights Night’s first year as an official FIESTA event.
PARTY TIME IN ’09 festivities will take place Friday, April 11, from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word at 4301 Broadway. Skip the construction and opt for the free park and ride service from Alamo Heights High School and Alamo Heights Methodist Church (drop-off is in the AT&T parking lot across from UIW). This 28th annual event will feature those faves you long for — grilled fish on site over wood-burning pits, funnel cakes, Texas barbecue, Tecate, Shiner Beer and Dos Equis. Bring the entire family for a night of fun, food and festivities for Party Time in ’09.
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ate
e Incarn ‘09 on thus in e im p Party -T Word Cam
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Do seum — San Antonio Children’s Museum Have you noticed — or shall I say you can’t miss — the new (DO SEUM) SAN ANTONIO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM under construction at 2800 Broadway just south of E. Mulberry Avenue, across from Lion’s Field Park? We are really in the big leagues now! The new facility will nearly double in space the current 40,000-square-foot facility to 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space and will include plenty of free parking and a café. Easier accessibility and free parking will ensure a larger attendance and many more creative thinkers! Keep your fingers crossed that next summer you can drop the kids off and let them explore and appreciate this new treasure in their own backyard. Not only does all this construction make one want to detour back home, but there’s still a lot of bickering in ‘09. Referring to the controversial apartment complex at Austin Highway and Broadway, critics and advocates alike have had plenty to say about the proposed project and how it will “fit” with the rest of Alamo Heights. Now that the developer appears to have pulled the plug on this project, one wonders what is in store next for this prime real estate.
And right in the same area is ALAMO OLIVE OIL, which recently opened at 5932 Broadway. This luscious tasty treat not only flavors your foods but is great for your heart, skin, hair, complexion and diet. Step inside and be tempted by the numerous varieties of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Great gifts can be found for all foodies on your list: martini mixes, gourmet salts, organic Italian pastas, stuffed olives, cookbooks and more. Sample, swoon and salivate … so swing on by and shop!
If you have information to share, then drop me a line at leslielfoley@yahoo.com and let’s explore together.
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RESTAURANT GUIDE 78209
AMERICAN | ASIAN | BARBECUE | EUROPEAN | GREEK | HAMBURGERS | ITALIAN | MEXICAN | PIZZA | STEAKS
AMERICAN 20NINE 255 E. Basse, #940 798-9463 410 DINER 8315 Broadway 822-6246 ANNE MARIES’S BISTRO 555 Funston Place 826-5800 BIRD BAKERY 5912 Broadway 804-2473 BOARDWALK BISTRO 4011 Broadway 824-0100 BROADWAY 50/50 5050 Broadway 826-0069 CAPPY’S 5011 Broadway 828-9669 CAPPYCCINO’S BISTRO 5003 Broadway 828-6860 EARL ABEL’S 2101 Austin Highway, #175 822-3358 EZ’S BRICK OVEN & GRILL 255 E. Basse 804-1199 EZ’S BRICK OVEN & GRILL 6498 N. New Braunfels 828-1111 GOOD TIME CHARLIE’S 2922 Broadway 828-5392 J. ALEXANDER’S 255 E. Basse, #1300 824-0275 MAGIC TIME MACHINE 902 N.E. Loop 410 828-1470 MAMA'S CAFE 2442 Nacogdoches 826-8303
STONE WERKS Broadway at Basse 823-3508
LA MADELEINE 4820 Broadway 829-7291
BETO’S 8421 Broadway 930-9393
TWIN SISTERS BAKERY AND CAFE 6322 N. New Braunfels 822-0761
LION & ROSE ENGLISH PUB 5148 Broadway 822-7673
LA FONDA SUNSET RIDGE 6402 N. New Braunfels 824-4231
ZEDRICK’S 5231 Broadway 824-6000
ASIAN
GREEK
PAPOULI’S GRILL 255 E. Basse, #384 804-1118
HAMBURGERS
PICANTE GRILL 3810 Broadway 822-3797
CHEESY JANE’S 4200 Broadway 826-0800
SOLUNA COCINA MEXICANA 7959 Broadway 930-8070
CHESTER’S HAMBURGERS 1006 N.E. Loop 410 805-8600
TACO GARAGE 8403 Broadway 826-4405
FIVE GUYS BURGERS 260 E. Basse, #107 822-6200
TOMATILLOS CANTINA 3210 Broadway 824-3005
OSAKA JAPANESE STEAK AND SUSHI 4902 Broadway 822-0300
FUDDRUCKERS 8602 Botts Ln. 824-6703
URBAN TACO 290 E. Basse, #105 332-5149
P. F. CHANG’S 255 E. Basse 507-1000
LONGHORN CAFE 1003 Rittiman at Harry Wurzbach 822-7272
SUSHI ZUSHI 999 E. Basse 826-8500
ORDER UP 999 E. Basse 824-9600
HSIU YU 8338 Broadway 828-2273 KOI KAWA 4051 Broadway 805-8111 MON THAI BISTRO 4901 Broadway 822-3253
TONG’S THAI 1146 Austin Highway 829-7345
BARBECUE BUN ‘N’ BARREL 1150 Austin Highway 828-2829
THE BARBEQUE STATION 610 N.E. LOOP 410 691-3332
EUROPEAN
ITALIAN
PIZZA
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN 255 E. Basse 424-2014 FLORIO’S PIZZA 7701 Broadway 805-8646
CERRONI’S PURPLE GARLIC 1017 Austin Highway 822-2300
GRIMALDI’S PIZZA 330 E. Basse, #101 832-8288
MILANO RISTORANTE 1907 Nacogdoches 821-6373
VOLARE GOURMET PIZZA 5054 Broadway 828-3354
PAESANOS 555 E. Basse 828-5191 PIATTI 255 E. Basse 832-0300
CRUMPETS 3920 Harry Wurzbach 821-5454
SORRENTO 5146 Broadway 824-0055
NOSH 1133 Austin Highway 826-6674
FREDERICK’S 7701 Broadway 828-9050
TRE TRATTORIA 4003 Broadway 805-0333
SILO ELEVATED CUISINE 1133 Austin Highway 824-8686
HOFBRAU & BEER GARDEN 7310 Jones Maltsberger 290-8066
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PALOMA BLANCA 5800 Broadway 822-6151
MEXICAN/LATIN ADELANTE 21 Brees Blvd. 822-7681
SOUTHWESTERN CANYON CAFE 255 E. Basse 225-0722
STEAKS
THE BARN DOOR 8400 N. New Braunfels 824-0116 FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSE 255 E. Basse 824-9463 RUTH'S CHRIS 7720 Jones Maltsberger 821-5051
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LAUGH FOR LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA HONORING DR. KARLA DIAZ DAVALOS
78209 09 - LIVES
TOY DRIVE FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO AT THE ALTEZA
CLASS OF 2016 MEMBERS OF ALAMO CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE www.78209magazine.com | 23
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POLICE BLOTTER ALAMO HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal Investigations Division 6116 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-2164 FAX (210) 822-7111
IDENTITY THEFT 02/07/14 200 blk. Chester A resident reported an unknown person used his identity to open a bank account and made a fraudulent charge to another account. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 02/07/14 200 blk. Chichester A family member visiting from out of town became enraged after a family dispute and caused damage to several items inside the house before departing.The family member returned later that night and damaged a vehicle parked in the driveway. 02/09/14 DWI 5900 blk. Broadway A driver stopped for speeding and running a red light was found to be under the influence of alcohol and impaired. The driver was transported to jail. WANTED PERSON 02/06/14 6100 blk. Broadway A driver stopped for speeding was found to not have a driver’s license and an active warrant for his arrest issued by Travis County for Driving While Intoxicated. The driver was transported to the Magistrate’s office for disposition. STOLEN VEHICLE 02/05/14 4700 blk. Broadway An officer on patrol conducted a routine check on a vehicle backed into a parking slot of a business that was closed. Investigation revealed the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Antonio. The vehicle was impounded pending recovery by the owner.
ATTEMPTED SCAM 02/05/14 100 blk. Kennedy A resident received a telephone call from a person representing themselves as a collection agency for the IRS and stating they owed $14,000 in back taxes. When the resident challenged the legitimacy of the caller and his company, the caller disconnected the call. ASSUALT 02/05/14 Kampman/Cleveland Ct. A female walking her dog on Kampman during hours of darkness was approached by two male subjects in a vehicle offering her a ride. When she refused the ride, one male subject exited the vehicle and attempted to pull the female toward the vehicle. The female was able to fight off the male subject but was injured when he struck her in the face. The subjects fled the area and were not located.
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BURGLARY 02/03/14 5900 blk. Broadway A closed business was unlawfully entered during overnight hours by throwing a large rock through a front display window. Two (2) bicycles on display were stolen and another damaged by the large rock. DWI - 2ND 02/03/14 5400 blk. Broadway The driver of a vehicle stopped for speeding and swerving across traffic lanes was found to be under the influence of alcohol and impaired. The driver was booked into jail on an enhanced DWI charge due to having a previous DWI conviction. DWI - ENHANCED 02/02/14 6300 blk. Broadway A driver stopped for speeding was found to have an invalid driver’s license. Further investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol and impaired. The driver was booked into jail on an enhanced charge of DWI due to having a blood alcohol content higher than 0.15 BAC. WANTED PERSON 02/01/14 5900 blk. Broadway A driver stopped for a traffic violation was found to have an invalid driver’s license and an active warrant for his arrest issued by Bexar County for narcotics charges. VEHICLE BURGLARY 01/31/14 4900 - 5900 blk. Broadway Three (3) vehicles parked in parking lots were unlawfully entered by breaking out windows to gain access to computer bags and backpacks left in open view within the passenger compartments. VEHICLE BURGLARY 01/27/14 100 blk. Arcadia A witness reported observing a male subject in his brother’s pick-up truck that was parked in an apartment parking lot.The subject stole an iPod left in the passenger compartment before leaving in vehicle driven by a second subject. EMERGENCY CALL 01/26/14 100 blk. Elizabeth A mother concerned for her son’s aggressive behavior contacted the police dispatcher on 9-1-1 to request a police response.The son took the telephone away from his mother and would not allow her to speak to the police dispatcher. Responding police took the son into custody and transported him to jail.
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78209 W INE
& DINE
SNOW’S VIETNAM
SPRING ROLLS ARE EXEMPLARY By RON BECHTOL
For many of us, Crab 7 Ways, which opened on Broadway in the postVietnam War era, was our first introduction to the food of the formerly French-influenced nation. With the indomitable Snow Eisenhower as hostess, it quickly became iconic and then lapsed into an uncomfortable middle age. Subsequent owners did nothing to burnish the restaurant’s reputation. But the grande dame of Vietnamese cuisine is back at the helm, the place has been freshened up, and, if prices have risen and selection has diminished, there’s nevertheless reason to revisit. Snow’s (excuse the familiarity, but I knew you when) spring rolls were always exemplary — meaty, crisp and well seasoned. And, served with slabs of iceberg, cilantro and rice, they remain a mark for others to hit. Be sure to make liberal use of the classic dipping sauce when you wrap the rolls in the lettuce. For nostalgic reasons, and to recall just one of those 7 ways, I also ordered the crab and asparagus soup. It is still oddly comforting and responds well to a drizzle of chili oil from the daunting-looking container full of chili flakes on the table. At lunch, steaming bowls of pho regularly appeared from the kitchen; I intend to go back to try at least one. But as the traditional mung bean pancake known as banh xeo (and pronounced bun sel) is far less common on local menus, it seemed the obvious choice. Two very large pancakes folded over a filling of pork, bean sprouts and the occasional shrimp will be your lot if you follow suit. Feel free to tackle the pancake pair with knife and fork, as eating it the traditional way, again tucked into lettuce with branches of cilantro, is a bit of a struggle for Vietnam newbies. But I say go for it, chopsticks and all — that’s what napkins are for. There’s no getting around the awkward parking situation at Snow’s; it has been ever thus and seems now only to be exaggerated — and to have led to a kind of uneasy truce with the neighboring restaurant. But once inside, serenity prevails. My service was unflappable and friendly. And if the wines and liquors on display are, for the moment, only that, perhaps an appropriate license will one day appear. The grilled pork, recommended by the charming hostess, might go very well with a chilled rosé; the spicy chicken salad with an icy riesling. For now, stick with fragrant tea and your imagination. www.78209magazine.com | 25
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78209
Photo courtesy Alamo Heights Independent School District
VINTAGE VIEW
Alamo Heights first graders dress in costume to honor what we know as President's Day with a President’s Party and Betsy Ross flag.
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