Amarillo Magazine | February 2010

special advertising section: BRIDAL PREVIEW 2010

FEBRUARY 2010 • amarillomagonline.com

Love, defined.

Turning love into a way of life

Louisa and lesley metz

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contents

On the cover 42 Love, defined.

Love can be expressed in a multitude of ways – between two sisters who bring their passions together to give to others, by the giving of time and energy to a worthy cause, and by a mother who traveled across the globe to find her children. This month we meet people who have turned love into a way of life.

Features 23 Your Dress

If your wedding bells are ringing this year, relax and know that there is a dress that fits not only your personal style but also your budget. This month we bring you an array of designs and prices tailored for any bride-to-be.

48 The Power in

Choosing Love

With understanding and patience, you can break the cycle of divorce and find harmony and passion in your remarriage. Successful Stepfamilies founder Ron L. Deal offers simple ways you can build lasting step-relationships.

56 Fondue for Two

Create an at-home table-for-two Valentine’s fondue meal that will melt your honey’s heart. This three-course dinner is simple to prepare and fun to eat. Half the fun is in the sharing.

sections

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

Voices/Online............. 6 Out & About............... 8 The Way I See It....... 16 Get Involved............. 18 Dress Code............... 21 To Your Health.......... 34 Inside...................... 36 Outside.................... 38 MODEL: LAUREN COOPRIDER PHOTO BY BEVINGTON STUDIO HAIR & MAKEUP BY ELISA RODRIGUEZ

Inspire..................... 50 Book Nook............... 54 What’s Cooking?....... 56 Events..................... 59 Let’s Eat!................. 63 Retro Rewind........... 76 Local Exposure......... 78 Spotlight.................. 80

editor’s letter

Publisher

Editor

Features Writer

Creative Services Manager

Les Simpson Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com Jennie Treadway-Miller 806.345.3223 jennie.miller@amarillo.com Steven Adams

Designers

Jeremy Say Livia Woodburn

Staff Photographer

Kevin Briles

Advertising Director

Mike Distelhorst

Classified Sales Cindy Brown Manager

Retail Sales Manager

Jaime Pipkin

Online Sales Manager

Kendra Barrett

Dewey Shanks

Major/National Accounts Manager

Account

Representatives

Kimberly Barclay Laura Collins Sharon Denny Trish Faris Cory Griggs Rick Miller Hailey Morrison Michelle Parsons Marcy Weldon Cindy Ledesma Austin Ridling Patrick O’Rand

Ad Services Manager

Jennifer Thomas 806.345.3226 jennifer.thomas@amarillo.com

Sales Assistants

Natasha Reavis Charla Moore Sarena Poor Cassie Mendoza

Patrick Ayala

Online Production Manager Programmer

Tosh Lyons

To advertise in Amarillo Magazine, please contact Jaime Pipkin at 806.345.3432 or jaime.pipkin@amarillo.com To advertise on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Kendra Barrett at 806.345.3472 or kendra.barrett@amarillo.com

Production Director Mike O’Connor Circulation Director David Brown Division Controller Mike Clayton 900 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of Amarillo Globe-News Custom Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

F

ebruary invariably brings to mind wine, roses, hearts, chocolates and lovers in the moonlight. I don’t know about you, but I don’t buy into all that jazz. Not that I don’t adore my husband, because I do, or that I don’t like the occasional “just because” surprise (honey, take note). But that’s the thing. I feel that it’s the every day that counts, more so than a hyped-up holiday. Why not let our significant others off the hook this year by showing them how much we love them every day? After all, we have no guarantee for tomorrow, so let’s live every moment to the fullest, making sure that our loved ones know they’re appreciated.

This is why I love our cover story this month and why we chose to go a nontraditional route when exploring the idea of love. They inspired me with their selflessness and their ambition to live a passionate life.

If I sound like I’m in counselor mode, it’s because I’ve so enjoyed reading Ron Deal’s book, The Smart Stepfamily. I learned so much that I wish I would have known when we first started a stepfamily of our own.

If you live with a stepfamily and all the challenges that brings or you’re planning on getting remarried, I highly recommend it. We’re honored that Ron agreed to be a part of the magazine this month.

There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a young bride. If you’re planning a wedding in the near future, I hope you’re inspired by the stunning gowns and our equally stunning model in this month’s “Dress Code.”

If your wedding bells rang many moons ago, perhaps you’ll be able to recall how you felt as you walked down the aisle to your own Mr. Right.

I love looking at my parent’s wedding pictures. I got them all out after we’d finished the photo shoot. With a little work, my mother’s hand-made lace gown would be considered stylish today. It’s funny how fashions always seem to come back around.

Thanks for reading,

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amarillo voices

I

❰ we ask, you answer ❱

just read Rita Morrow’s article, FAT “New Year’s Revolution.” Bottom line, it’s one of the best, most refreshing, articles I’ve ever read! It’s nice to see an article that reminds us what’s really important in life. Thanks for printing it.

Thomas Jones ING SECTION: SPECIAL ADVERTIS

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• amarillomag online.com JANUARY 2010

is the

EXCLUSIVE THREE FAMILIES OF SHARE THEIR STORIES Y DEBT AND RECOVER

(We’re talking money.)

D FINSTORE

Last month we asked readers to tell us about the most romantic Valentine’s Day gift they’ve either given or received.

Congratulations to Chris who sent in the winning answer.

A THRIFT

NEAR YOU

MONEY

MANAGEMENT TIPS

from local experts

E SE KIDS EAT WHERE

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I KNEW YOU WOULD COME delivering

We spent an afternoon on Wheels. food with Meals

SHOP SMART

a How you can buildstarting professional wardrobe with the basics.

FEED A LOT FOR A LITTLE

food weekly cost of Scale back the inexpensive meals. with four hearty,

I love reading all the interesting things about my home in Amarillo Magazine.

Patricia Hemby I love your magazine.

I’ve lived here for five years and your magazine has helped me find things to do and see.

It was not often that me and my wife, Lita, could have lunch together during the work week, but on February 14, 2007, we did. I was downtown for work and since Lita needed the car, she said she’d be back to pick me up. It began to snow that morning and by lunchtime it had already snowed four inches and was still coming down. When I went outside, our SUV was parked nearby, and to my surprise, my lovely wife was waiting in the back. When I opened the door, I saw the middle seats folded down as a table and she had prepared a Valentine’s Day picnic with the fixings: soup, salad, dessert, chocolate, red and pink plates with coordinating napkins, romantic music and a beautiful card. We laughed about the weather, especially since I could picture her scurrying around town in the snow to get this all set up. We enjoyed our picnic in the snow, and when I returned to work, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was so special to me because I knew how hard Lita worked to make it all come together, showing how creative she is and how much our love means to her.

I love Amarillo Magazine. I pick up new hints and ideas with every issue. I manage a credit union branch and have even used some ideas at work from articles I’ve read about others in business in town.

Ginger Rowell

Rebecca Lamb

Chris Hayes

Corrections:

In the “Dress Code” section of the January issue (page 24), we neglected to give the make-up artist proper credit. Special thanks to Patti Stapp, First Impression.

In the “Calendar of Events” section of the January issue (page 57), we incorrectly named Tom Coolen as the Gorilla’s Head Coach. The current coach is Brian Pellerin.

amarillomagonline.com

Your Dress View an extended online gallery of photos from our bridal shoot and see close-up shots from the “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” image piece.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

Reader Props Some of our readers have a real eye for photography, so we decided to put them in the spotlight. We pulled the best from our Flickr group and put them online for all to see. Keep them coming! (www.flickr.com/groups/amarillomagazine)

out & about

Children’s Learning Center Poinsettia Luncheon The Children’s Learning Center of Amarillo held its annual Poinsettia Luncheon on December 10th at the Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza. Funds raised from the luncheon help the center improve each of their facilities around Amarillo. This year, they celebrated the opening of their newest center, The Curtis Flemming Center, located on the campus of First Christian Church. Guests were entertained by Chuck Alexander, accompanied by the children who attend the CLC. Members of the Palo Duro Choir sang a few traditional Christmas songs as well.

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1. Cindy Beard and Nakia Wright, 2.Dennis Beene and Marilyn Ault, 3. McClellan Kids Choir, 4. Ellie Willis, Whitney Leal, Michelle Mendoza, Demi and Tina Hoang, and Kimberly Chou of the Palo Duro Choir, 5.

Esmerelda Cortez and Clayton Phillips, 6. Daniel Pemberton, 7. (from left) Wendy Curry, Terri Vinson, Carol Nevins, Janice Trew, Lucille Dunn, Janna Williams, Charity Myers, and Annette Asencio, 8. Fred Byers

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY Kevin briles

Possibilities

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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out & about

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The Bridge 20th Anniversary Celebration

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The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center hosted a 20th Anniversary Celebration on December 10th at their facility. The Bridge offers victims of child abuse a comforting place to tell their stories and start the healing process. The Bridge sees about 1800 clients every year, and 86 percent of the children that come to the Bridge are victims of sexual assault. Of that percentage, 87 percent have been abused by a parent.

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1. Rusty Conway, Bonnie Lasher, and Jason Reep, 2. Lt. Tam Butler and Chief Robert Taylor, 3. Lt. Martin Birkenfeld and Sgt. Kyle Hawley, 4. Melissa Hill and Claire Moore, 5. Jennifer Jones and Matthew Coggins, 6. Lexi Ellis and Jessie Gunn, 7. Stephanie Rhoden and Perry Ferguson, 8. Lynda Gray, 9. Chuck and Courtney Slaughter

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

9 PHOTos BY Kevin briles

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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out & about

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Bride’s World

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The 27th Annual Bridal Show was held January 10th at the Civic Center and remains the largest bridal and wedding exhibition in the Panhandle. More than 1500 people, 500 of them brides-to-be, attended the show to get planning ideas from 100 vendors and area merchants. Proceeds from the show benefitted The High Plains Marriage and Family Coalition.

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1. April Thomas, 2.Carmen Mendoza and Martha Aguillar, 3. Jennifer and Maryann Barenberg and Rachel Chapman, 4. Kara Stephens and Branda Bagot, 5. Bethany Womble and Dane Hamrick, 6. Herb and Travis Crowell, 7. Lori, Caity and Cheyenne Thomason, 8. Jami and Kristina Burgin and Darcy Fisher, 9. Dana Railsback, 10. Angela Baker and Joseph Peterson

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY donna alexander

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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out & about

No Evidence of Disease Concert N.E.D is a band made up of six gynecologic oncology surgeons from around the country whose concerts raise money to support cancer research. Dr. William “Rusty” Robinson, who plays bass and harmonica, is the director of clinical research at the Harrington Cancer Center in Amarillo. N.E.D. performed at the GlobeNews Center for Performing Arts on January 17. In addition to the concert, cancer survivors and their families gave cardboard testimonials. All proceeds from the concert benefitted the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and Princess Warriors.

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1. Margaret Gail Barbour, 2. Kelly and Sarah Dannels, 3.Nimish Nagarsheth MD, 4. Joanie Mayer MD, 5. William “Rusty” Robinson MD, 6. Will Winter MD, 7. Leann Marr, 8. Janet Dietz, 9. John Soper MD, 10. John F. Boggus MD

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY jeff harbin, life of riley photography

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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the way i see it

Jon Mark Beilue

Can We Just Please Play the Game?

T

here are not many things I know beyond the shadow of a doubt to be true -- the earth is round, my singing is flat, and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” won’t be cleaning up at the Oscars later this year.

Add another one. I will dread this week. It will be the longest week of the year and I will be so glad when it’s Sunday that I may do a little end zone dance in the kitchen.

It’s been that way now for a long, long time.

What did the first week of February do to be so despised?

Nothing against February. For many years it was the last week of January. The common theme here is it’s the beginning of Super Bowl week, a tedious mind-numbing hype-infested crawl to next Sunday’s Big Enchilada or Super Bowl XLIV (that’s 44, I believe).

I make this bold prediction in the early days of January, fully confident that when Super Bowl week arrives it will be like media water boarding to get to next Sunday.

I don’t know yet who’s playing, but has it ever mattered? All of America will be wearily staggering to Sunday’s 5:18 p.m. kickoff when, yes, an honestto-goodness football game will emerge from Miami.

I love football, but by Wednesday I will be waving the white flag, having overdosed on so much pigskin saturation that my eyes glaze over.

And there will still be four days to go. I’ll have seen it all, read it all, and heard it all. There’s only so many storylines that can be explored, only so many questions that can be asked and answers that are repeated. No stone will be left unturned.

This country officially went Super Silly a few years ago when the Super Bowl was in Houston. Former Green Bay Packer great Jim Taylor was interviewed at length on ESPN radio because he was a judge to see who had the NFL’s loudest snore, a contest that was obviously sponsored by a nasal strip company.

That, my friend, is a sports world that has too much time on its hands and way too many people there to report it. There will be nearly 5,000 credentialed media on hand this week in South Florida, and this is when many outlets are hurting financially. That many people on an expense account for a whole week is a dangerous thing.

It’s made worse when all that’s offered up is canned material and carefully orchestrated information from the NFL. A whole lot of not much.

And with everyone from 10-year-old kids from Nickelodeon to MTV vee-jays to foreign journalists at Media Day in a wedding dress and high heels, there’s not much chance of escape.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

To limit information overload, I try to avoid the usual communication lines while still trying to function fairly routinely. It can’t be done, not with nearly 600 hours of TV programming devoted to the Super Bowl.

I’ve been of the belief for some time the best way for football fans to really gear up for the Super Bowl is to join an Amish community somewhere in Pennsylvania just after the AFC and NFC championship games. Think about it. No TV, no radio, no Internet, no newspapers and you know ol’ Silas isn’t going to be badgering you about whether The Who is suitable halftime entertainment.

Get up at 4 a.m., got to bed at 8 p.m.

Milk cows, build a barn, can some beets. On Saturday, go home and feel refreshed and excited about the game. Tired, but excited.

Now we’re just tired. Tired of the endless stories of the obvious, tired of the wait, tired of former NFL players crawling out of the woodwork who hated the media now trying to pass themselves off as members of the same. Kickoff now is like the finish line of a marathon…yes, there it is, I see it…just a little further…focus, focus…two more days…one more day.

The BCS college football championship game has it about right. Extended coverage begins about three days out. Material is new.

Story angles are fresh. The build-up for the game heightens the fans’ anticipation, not wears them out.

But, hey, this is the Super Bowl. I get it.

It’s a national holiday and Super Bowl week ushers it in. Railing against Super Bowl overkill is like griping about the wind. Nothing is going to change and it will probably get worse.

Four of the top 10 TV ratings events ever are Super Bowls. More than 95 million are expected to watch at least a portion of next Sunday’s game and more than 700 million dollars are expected to be wagered on it.

The Super Bowl is big, bloated and Ashton Kutcher and Paris Hilton will probably show up. But it’s America, so why just do it when you can overdo it? am Jon Mark Beilue is a columnist for the Amarillo Globe-News. He can be reached at jon.beilue@amarillo.com or (806) 345-3318.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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get involved

A mountain of blessings Volunteering at the Downtown Women’s Center

ALMA MCCUISTION

by Michele McAffrey

DIANN GILMORE

A

t the beginning of every year, I tend to get a little antsy. After the rush of the holidays, my house is usually trashed and I’m inevitably trying to find places to cram all the new Christmas gifts. When I have time, I’ll begin a massive project that encompasses cleaning out every cabinet, closet, drawer – basically every nook and cranny. My family dreads it, and the entire time I’m purging, I wonder, “Where did we get all this stuff and why do we feel like we need more?”

It’s been my practice for years to donate items to a local charity rather than go through the hassle of putting together a garage sale. I’ve always liked knowing that the things we aren’t using can meet someone else’s need rather than just taking up space.

I say all of this because it got us thinking about the process involved in donating items to a non-profit agency for resale.

I spent a couple of hours at Downtown Women’s Center’s Thrift City on 10th Street to see how they process donations. Diann Gilmore, the executive director of the DWC and founder of Thrift City, took me on a tour of the facility before we got to work. True to form, Diann had a hug and a word of encouragement for every employee and volunteer working that day.

First I met Wade Mathis, the DWC truck driver, the one who traverses the city picking up donations.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

MICHELE WITH DIANN GILMORE

Wade had a contagious smile the entire time we worked and I was surprised to discover that even though it was his day off, he was still there to lend a hand.

When we made our way into the sorting area, I was stunned by the mountain of donations. Plastic bags and boxes were piled to the ceiling waiting to be sorted. (And I thought my own clean-out project had been daunting!)

Suffice it to say that the DWC needs help. They provide jobs to 30 employees at Thrift City, but the help of volunteers will make getting items out of bags and onto the sales floor a much quicker process.

Two faithful employees, Ashley Truelove and Alma McCuistion, were tackling the arduous task of inspecting all the clothes before they are sent to the hanging room. Diann and I both grabbed a bag and got started while Alma filled me in on the rules. The DWC has very strict standards for the items that end up on their sales floor. Everything must be clean and in good working order. Clothing can’t have any holes, missing buttons, broken zippers or stains and must be current season. If not, they throw away soiled or damaged clothing and bale the rest to be sent on to third world countries and other places across the U.S. Needless to say, I quickly learned donating etiquette, something I hadn’t given much thought to in the past, as I’d clean out my junk, throw it in a bag, and call someone to pick it up. It’s going to help the needy and my closets are nice and tidy so that’s all that matters, right? Wrong. The longer I worked, the worse I felt about how careless I had been. The containers that had been carefully packed with folded, freshly laundered or dry-cleaned items made my job much easier, as opposed to when volunteers had to sort through wet, soiled and damaged clothing. The bottom line is if something needs to be thrown away, throw it away. And if you wouldn’t wear it, don’t send it.

PHOTOS BY JEFF HARBIN, LIFE OF RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Diann was quick to tell me that even though the task seems overwhelming, every item that people donate is a “blessing” and she’s thankful for each one. In fact, every time she sorts donations, she says it reminds her of being a little girl and hunting bird eggs with her grandmother. She enjoys the thrill of opening each bag, not knowing what surprises might await her. Diann’s joy is infectious, and we had such a good time together as we worked. All of the employees and volunteers that I met were invariably kind and treat each other like family. In spite of the fatigue involved in the endless sorting, they laugh, chat and enjoy each other’s company. It’s clear they are committed to their work.

This kind of volunteer work is perfect for those of us who get a rush from setting things in order. From the sorting room, to the hanging room, to prepping and pricing, there’s plenty of work to be done. You can leave at the end of a work day feeling like you’ve accomplished something tangible.

And who knows? You might just leave with a few new treasures of your own. I was happy to pay an Uptown Shoppe rate of only $8 for a brand-new (price tags still attached) jacket from Steinmart! am

If you have a volunteer opportunity available and would like to see it featured, contact Michele at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com THIS POSTER HANGS IN THE SORTING ROOM AT THE DWC.

You Can Help DWC’s three retail stores employ five full-time people and 29 part-time. Many of the part-time employees are elderly, disabled, or considered unemployable’ by mainstream businesses.

More than 60 Texas Panhandle agencies refer individuals and families in need to Thrift City for clothing, furniture, and appliances. More than $300,000 in merchandise has been given away since November 2003.

The income generated from sales at DWC’s stores supports the homeless women in recovery and their children, the elderly, the handicapped, and the mentally disabled.

DWC’s programs provide housing and social services for more than 150 individuals each month.

How can you help?

Your donations of clothing, beds, furniture, linens, kitchen items and small appliances allow DWC to help those in need. When you shop at Thrift City, Thrift City 2, and The Uptown Shoppe – you’re not just shopping, you’re shopping for a good cause.

For more information regarding volunteer opportunities, contact the Downtown Women’s Center at 372.3625, or log on to amarillomagonline.com for a list of ways you can help.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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 

   

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        

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN.

TRIPP’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON

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dress code

dramatic princess elegant

modern vintage ethereal classic chic minimal romantic extravagant

I

f your wedding bells are ringing this year, relax and know that there is a dress that fits not only your personal style but also your budget. It’s a matter of determining what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to pay for it. This month we bring you an array of designs and prices tailored for any bride-to-be.

PHOTOS BY BEVINGTON STUDIO FLOWERS COURTESY OF THE SECRET GARDEN

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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chic $650

One-shoulder style of crisp, luxe taffeta in a soft pearl tone, the entire bodice and hip are wrapped in a roushed diagonal pleating. $650, Brides Carolee pearl earrings $45, Dillard’s Lace-look jeweled cuff bracelet $26, The Loft

MODEL: LAUREN COOPRIDER HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ELISA RODRIGUEZ LOCATION AND FURNISHINGS COURTESY OF HERRING NATIONAL BANK

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

romantic $1050

Oleg Cassini strapless sweetheart beaded-lace trumpet gown with shirred tulle bodice and sweep train. $1050; Michaelangelo lace peep-toe pumps $65, David’s Bridal Carolee drop earrings $38, Dillard’s Nakamol handmade pearl necklace $157, Raffkind’s

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

elegant $950

Strapless gown with diamond-white satin pleated detailing and a starburst at the hip with beaded accent. $950, Brides Cezanne crystal and pearl chandelier earrings $40, Dillards

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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minimal $750

Galina Signature taffeta high-collar side-draped trumpet gown with beading, button back detail and chapel train. $750, David’s Bridal Carolee drop necklace $50; Carolee drop earrings $38, Dillard’s

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

classic $895

Folded draping on a delustered satin, A-line gown. $895, Brides Hair comb with feathers $49, David’s Bridal Robert Rose chandelier earrings $18, Dillard’s

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

extravagant $1325

Pattern of symmetrical pleats on a strapless bodice of ivory soft satin and organza with hand-beaded neckline insert and linear patterns at the midriff pick-up skirt flowing into a cathedral train of lavishly beaded organza. $1325, Brides Carolee pearl necklace $50; Cezanne pearl earrings $26; Michelle D jeweled heels $49.99, Dillard’s

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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princess $850

Oleg Cassini classic sweetheart bodice strapless tulle over satin ball gown. $850; jeweled headband with feathers $99; Chinese Laundry heels $65, David’s Bridal Roche pearl cluster necklace $230, Panache

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

GRAND OPENING

Owners: Juli Howard, Debra Posey Hair Designers: Abbe Garrett, Danette Fisher, Katy Neely Isela Nevarez, Tiffany Flores, Damaris Bautista,Allison Altman Massage Therapist: Heather Cooper

2921 I-40 West #100 • 806-354-8100 www.salonatwolflinpointe.com

Marketing & Media LuLu Web Designs - Elizabeth Liles

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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dress code

Something

Borrowed,

Something

Blue

W

ith every dress comes the required accessories that are said to bring the married couple good luck. You know the rhyme – something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new. Vintage bags, costume jewelry pieces and romantic fragrances all fall into one or more of these categories, so if you take care of the borrowed, we’ve taken care of the rest.

Clockwise from top: Nakamol handmade pearl necklace $265, Raffkind’s Nina heels $89, Dillard’s Vera Wang “Bouquet” eau de perfume $90, Dillard’s Antiquities pearl-encrusted bag $81, Et Cetera Jones New York wrap $38, Dillard’s Gunmetal blue bag $68, j. Winston Vintage necklace $85, Et Cetera Jeweled mesh cuff $39, The Loft Linen handkerchief $30, JBS Linens Golden sparkle clip $19, The Loft Lordane chandelier earrings $110, j. Winston

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

33

to your health

T

oday we’re learning more and more about the way our health needs change over time. While some things never change, like the need for a healthy diet, regular exercise and a positive attitude, other aspects of your health are simply due to your stage of life.

Age, however, can be deceiving. We often see patients who have experienced heart-related incidents at age 35 and younger.

With that in mind, make it your goal to know your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers as well as you know your dress size and shoe size. Instead of counting wrinkles (not that you have any) keep an eye on your calorie count - and eat from each of the six food groups as recommended by the USDA and the American Heart Association. Above all, remember: your body and current state of health are as unique as you are. That’s why it’s so important for women to find realistic heart health goals with the help of their doctors and to be aware of the lifestyle choices that can decrease the risk of heart disease.

The more thoughtfully you protect your heart, starting as early as your 20s, the less likely you’ll face the life-threatening challenges posed by cardiovascular disease. No matter your age or where you feel you are in life, the best time to take action and get healthy is always right now.

From jogging with your friends, to swapping healthy recipes, to keeping up with loved ones and learning your family history, your heart health depends on a life-long commitment. As always, the first way for you, as a woman, to Go Red is to take good care of yourself every day.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

The information you find here will help you take charge of your health so you can continue to renew your commitment to fight back against heart disease in all forms. During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your “numbers,” including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more.

Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you’re making toward a healthier you. To get a quick overview of numbers you need to know and the goals you need to reach, start with the following chart. If you choose, you can even post it on your refrigerator as a reminder to love your heart. Then read on to learn the steps you can take to reduce your risk for heart disease. Once you know a few key facts about your numbers, you’ll be on your way to mapping out a heart-healthy lifestyle for you and your loved ones.

Keep Your Numbers in Check The first step to a healthy heart is learning the simple things you can do every day. By getting involved in fun physical activities and enjoying nutritious meals, you can help reduce your risk of heart disease. But don’t do it for the “numbers,” do it for you!

Get-Physical One of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is to start getting regular, moderate exercise at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. Of course, if it’s been a while since you’ve been physically active, the hardest part is just getting started. Moral support and accountability increase your chances of success, so find a co-worker or friend to get physical with.

Factor goal Total Cholesterol LDL (“Bad”) Cholesterol Optimal Near Optimal/ Above Optimal

Diet & Nutrition Make good food choices. Healthy food habits can help you reduce three risk factors for heart attack and stroke: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight.

• Eat a balanced diet • Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol • Drink unsweetened, 100 percent fruit juice instead of soda.

• Enjoy a large glass of ice water, hot tea or another calorie-free beverage. Garnish with a twist of lemon or lime.

• Divide the extra portions of recipes into containers to eat throug out the week.

• Eat with other people. You’ll eat less than if you eat alone.

• Know your snack “triggers” and plan ahead. Fight the urge for high calorie/high-saturated-fat and trans fat foods by grabbing pre-cut carrots, celery and other raw vegetables when you’re on the run.

• Shop for heart-healthy foods

Quit Smoking Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes, you have a higher risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and other diseases. What’s more, constant exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke increases your risk, even if you don’t smoke. The good news is that when you stop smoking, no matter how long or how much you’ve smoked your risk of heart disease and stroke starts to drop. It’s cut in half after one year without smoking, then continues to decline until it’s as low as a nonsmoker’s risk. So if you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, love your heart and quit today.

By the numbers, heart disease continues to be the number one killer of American women. We encourage you to sit down with your physician, to understand your numbers and for you to take control of how heart disease will impact you and those you love. am

Less than 200 mg/dL LDL cholesterol goals vary.

Less than 100 mg/dL 100 to 129 mg/dL

Borderline High

130 to 159 mg/dL

High

160 to 189 mg/dL

Very High

190 mg/dL and above

HDL (“Good”) Cholesterol

50 mg/dL or higher

Triglycerides

Less than 150 mg/dL

Blood Pressure

Less than 120/80 mmHg

Fasting Glucose

Less than 100 mg/dl

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Less than 25 Kg/m²

Waist Circumference

Less than 35 inches

Exercise

Minimum of 30 minutes most days, if not every day of the week

Don H. Thompson

Don is the CEO of the Cardiology Center of Amarillo, LLP. He is also the Board Chairman for the local chapter of the American Heart Association.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

35

inside outside

My Furry Valentine

D ApprPet oved

F

or the one who waits at the door to welcome you home and doesn’t mind if dinner’s a little late, the one who thinks you’re just as lovely dressed up as you are in your jammies, and the one who thinks your morning breath is no big deal… Give the one who loves you unconditionally a special spot to rest his head.

1. Repurpose an old standard pillowcase by filling it loosely with

2. Cover both sides of the pillowcase with batting to add

3. Cut out a square on each corner and one-inch strips along

4. Use a spare piece of fleece to cut out a heart, your furry

cedar chips. Use a liquid fabric glue to secure the opening to prevent them from spilling out.

each side. Tie the top and bottom fleeces together with these strips, securing the cedar chip-filled pillowcase inside.

additional cushion. Fit the pillowcase to a top and bottom piece of fleece, leaving five inches of border around it to cut the ties.

Valentine’s name or initials, or another pattern of your choosing, and affix it to the top fleece with the liquid adhesive.

Special thanks to Patch for her eager participation.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY donna alexander

Crane Invitations • Blenko • Fiesta • Juliska Kitchenaid Appliances • Royal Copenhagen

Nambe’ • Sasaki • Jan Barboglio • Home James Tuttle • Magppie • Oneida • Beatriz Ball • Wallace

Towle • Waterford Marquis • Spigaleau • Spode • Wilton Armetale • Skyros • Couzon Royal Crown Derby • Johnson Brothers • Portmerion • Blenko • Reed & Barton

Wedgwood • Vera Wang • Waterford • Anna Weatherly • Herend • Mottahedeh L’Objet • Raynaud • Bernardaud • Jars • Pickard • Match • Arte Italica • Gien

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• Free delivery of gifts to showers within Amarillo

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february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

37

inside outside

Winter Splendor T

he Panhandle may be a stark patch of land in winter, but we still find things to love about our home. From the snow-kissed ranches to the lonesome trees bitten by the wind, the Amarillo landscape is vast and mostly untouched. Unique in its beauty, the parched, level ground creates an ocean of crisp air tangled in a bright blue sky.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY Kevin briles

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

39

love is...

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

f

ill in the blank. It’s a noun, a verb, and a term of endearment.

It’s an act of passion and sacrifice, sometimes expensive and invariably complicated. It’s pleasurable and painful, strong and scary. This month we look at love three ways – through the eyes of a woman who traveled across the globe to find her children, in the relationship of two sisters whose business benefits others, and in two men who give their time to a cause that became their passion.

This is love defined.

40

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

PHOTos BY jeff harbin, life of riley photography

cover story

love is...

traveling across the globe to find your children

W

hen I arrived at Lesley Metz’s house, I was immediately greeted by her daughter, Louisa, in a Disney Princess nightgown.

“Come here,” commands the three year old, grabbing my hand, leading me right past her mother and into the master bedroom where “Cinderella” is on television. Within two minutes, I’ve gotten the full, albeit quick, tour of their home by the most enchanting and sociable little girl. I even got a glimpse of her miniature pink Christmas tree, which was left up past the holidays intentionally for Louisa to enjoy in her perfectly pink bedroom.

photo of a little Chinese baby, saying, “I’m adopting and I’ve been waiting for my referral for two years and I just got it.”

“The funny thing is that I always said that if I won the lotto that I would adopt a baby,” she laughs. “But I never played the lotto, so I guess I wasn’t really trying, and that woman said she had always said the same thing.”

Upon arriving in Amarillo, Lesley drove to her father’s office downtown and ended up telling him about the encounter with the woman at the airport, to which he immediately responded, “You should do that.”

Later that same afternoon, Lesley heard about another family who adopted a little girl from China, and then there was a conversation about Steven Curtis Chapman,

I know there are people who don’t get it, but I’m doing what I feel called to do. I love that God thinks out of the box . . . He matches you up with the people you need to be with.

Before being pulled back into the living room for more show-and-tell, I notice atop the shelf in her bedroom a book, “When You Were Born in Vietnam,” which is undoubtedly a token commemorating Louisa’s birth and subsequent adoption just a few years prior.

“If you would’ve told me six years ago that I’d be a single mom living in Amarillo, I would’ve said you were out of your mind,” says Lesley on the couch opposite me. Louisa, after asking my name, found a spot to relax back in her mother’s bedroom.

This life is nothing of what Lesley intended, at least, not when she lived in New York City for a spell before settling in Dallas as a flight attendant for American Airlines. Her priorities, early on, were work and travel.

That all changed on Fourth of July weekend in 2005.

Lesley was filing through security to board a flight back home to visit her parents and family in Amarillo. While waiting in line, a stranger tapped Lesley on the shoulder and asked if she would like to see a picture of her baby.

Not wanting to be rude, she indulged the obviously proud mother and said yes. Quickly, the woman pulled out a tiny

42

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

the gospel singer who has three adopted daughters from China. In a span of several hours, Lesley’s head was spinning and the seed of international adoption was planted.

She returned to Dallas the following week and told her best friend that she felt a call to adopt, even though she felt like the least possible person of choice to go on that journey. With reassurance from her parents, family and friends, Lesley started taking the first steps to adopt a child from wherever there was one available.

“I originally submitted my paperwork to El Salvador, but that process was going so slow. The agency asked me

if I’d be interested in Vietnam because it had just recently been reopened,” Lesley recalls. “I said yes, and I remember it so clearly. I got the referral the day before Thanksgiving in 2006.”

By referral, she means her very own tiny photo of a baby. Like the stranger in the airport, Lesley had waited a significant amount of time to see the face of the child she would eventually call her daughter. On March 18, 2007, she flew to Vietnam. The next day, Lesley held then-six-monthold Louisa for the first time.

“She was such a little wiggle worm,” she remembers, smiling and glancing up at the ceiling. “She really was the cutest baby I’d ever seen. And I know everyone says that, but she really was.”

To make single motherhood manageable, Lesley sold her home in Dallas and bought a house two doors down from her parents’ in Amarillo. Still a flight attendant, her flexible schedule provides not only plenty of time at home with Louisa, but also sufficient income and provisions for the soon-to-be family of three.

Lesley spent most of December 2009 in Kazakhstan, a country sandwiched between Russia and China, reflected by a diverse mélange of cultures. The southern sections of Kazakhstan echo Mongolian culture, and it is there, in a little town called Shymkent, where Lesley’s second daughter, Lucy, was born.

“I knew I wanted to adopt again, and I knew I wanted another Asian girl, but Vietnam had closed,” she says.

“I found another adoption agency here, which was right under my nose, and I found out about the referral right before Thanksgiving, just like Louisa’s. I was there to meet her by December 7th.”

The rules of international adoption vary from country to country, so the process of bringing Lucy home has been longer than it was with Louisa. Just after New Year’s, Lesley had to leave Lucy in Shymkent for an additional four weeks, which has been hard for her mother’s heart to bear.

“I know she’s being taken care of,” says Lesley, just as Louisa finds her way back to the living room. This time, she squeezes herself on the couch next to me.

“What’s your name?”

Louisa asks.

“Jennie,” I tell her for the third time. She asks for my pen and begins scribbling on the blank pages of my notebook. Lesley is quick to intervene, but I am quick to say, “No, really, it’s okay.”

She asks me to draw Frosty the Snowman and I do my best to make her proud. More buttons, she says, so I add more buttons.

Lesley brought home a handful of toys and keepsakes from each Vietnam and Kazakhstan because she believes it’s important to honor each of her daughters’ heritages. She kept part of their original native names as middle names, and when it comes to navigating the road of the adoptive parentadopted child relationship, she says, “We’ll just work though it together.”

Louisa slurps down a Go-gurt as we continue talking and drawing circles, flowers and names in my notebook. She digs through my purse to find my cell phone and together we flip through all of the photos until she knows who everyone is.

Lesley laughs, calling her precocious daughter an “old soul.”

“I know there are people who don’t get it, but I’m doing what I feel called to do. I love that God thinks out of the box,” she says. “He matches you up with the people you need to be with.” •

This page: Louisa and Lesley share a laugh in bed.

Opposite page: Louisa shows off a photo of her little sister, Lucy.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

43

cover story

love is...

two sisters whose yield is another’s gain

A

This page: Heidi and Holly give each other a squeeze in their shop, 2 Sisters.

Opposite page: Heidi whisks up a batch of spoon fudge at the shop while Holly sews woobies and other baby gifts at home.

44

ll Holly Robinett wanted to do was send a few blocks of fudge to school with her children as gifts to their teachers. One recipe and eight years later, 2 Sisters is a thriving, homegrown business run by Holly and her younger sister, Heidi Ochs. Together, the two run their shop, located behind Hobby Lobby, full of homemade spoon fudge and handcrafted baby gifts.

But let’s go back to the beginning, back to when that generic fudge recipe just wasn’t good enough.

“I just wanted to make fudge to give to my kids’ teachers but none of the recipes were good. They were all hard and dry,” says Holly, sitting in the office at a small table, a nook of space between the shop and the kitchen. “I played around with it until it was soft and creamy and spoonable. I shared the recipe with Heidi and she started making other flavors.”

“I was in Ft. Worth as an accountant at the time,” adds Heidi.

“I’d take goodies to all my clients and they told me I was in the wrong business.”

While the idea for spoonable fudge was born in Holly’s kitchen, cooking had never been her passion.

A seamstress since the eighth grade, she preferred to sew and was known for giving new moms embroidered burp cloths and hand-stitched security blankets, lovingly named Woobies, as gifts. Just as Heidi created a fan base with her edible treats, Holly’s crafts were equally as popular. The sisters had casual conversations about going into business together, but it didn’t feel like a concrete idea until they enjoyed the Fourth of July weekend together in 2008.

“We got together in Norman, Oklahoma, where I was living, and had another conversation about going into business,” says Heidi. “We decided it would just be an internet business and we’d travel around for craft shows. I would make the fudge and Holly would sew and we’d just ship everything from Amarillo and Norman.”

A quick website was pulled together, which Heidi admits was “pitiful,” and they signed up for their first craft show. That, too, was “horrible.”

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

“We bought little round tins for the fudge, but it was so ridiculous. Have you ever tried to tie a ribbon around a round tin?” laughs Heidi. “We show up to this show in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it was miserable. There had to have been a cow show that week or something because there were so many flies. We were shooing them the whole time.”

“There were dead flies all over the ground and on our table,” adds Holly. Now the sisters are laughing, sharing those moments of hilarity, the lack of sleep and hours of preparation, late nights and brainstorming packaging ideas.

Their creativity paid off, however, when they made a $500 profit.

Holly and Heidi went straight home and put that money to work on their budding business. The following month, they met in Amarillo to do Christmas in October, tripling their sales. By November, Heidi was back in Amarillo with a car full of spoon fudge for Christmas Roundup. Their goal was to sell 100 tins of fudge a day. Instead, they sold 850.

“That whole thing was a big blur. We slept four hours each night because we needed to stay up and make more fudge,” says Heidi. “We got so stupid. Laughing and crying… It was crazy.”

Holly’s handmade baby gifts were a hit, too, but the problem continued to be geography. With Heidi, her husband and their four children still living in Oklahoma, and Holly, her husband and their own four children in Amarillo, it was hard to keep up the momentum. This meant it was time to answer the big question: Go for it or call it quits?

“I told Heidi, ‘You’re either moving to Amarillo or I’m done with this,’ because the fudge was just taking off and I hate to cook,” says Holly. “I needed her here.”

“We knew it wasn’t the original plan,” adds Heidi, “but it was either now or never.”

By the beginning of 2009, with the Ochs family now living in Amarillo, 2 Sisters was soon a fast-growing wordof-mouth business, and after securing the perfect location for a store, they readied themselves for a June opening.

With fixtures from the former Kitchen Gallery, a brand new commercial kitchen, and a splattering of bright green and pink paint, the shop opened with shelves of fudge and racks of Woobies.

“It was scary because once you have overhead, it all changes. That picture,” says Holly, choking back tears, pointing to a black and white framed photo of her and her sister on a small wall mount in the office, “was taken on the day we opened.“ Heidi tears up, too, grabbing her sister’s hand and giving it a squeeze. Before the shop opened, they decided that

“The only way this will fly is if we give. Even when we’re broke, that’s the least we do,” adds Heidi.

The two nearly went broke just a short month after they opened. July and August were slow, so slow that they feared having to close. They brainstormed and came up with a few ideas to carry them through until the holidays, specifically take-home casseroles and soups. It worked, and as soon as all the holiday orders started rolling in, Holly and Heidi breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s clear after sitting with the pair for more than an hour that their relationship, not just as business partners but also as sisters, has been stretched. In the unpredictability of running a business, only the strong survive.

“Look how far we’ve come,” says Heidi. “We’re so thankful, even if this is all it ever is. It’s been hard on our relationship, but there’s no one else I’d rather be with.”

“I mean, we had a big blow out last week, but it’s just the stress of it. I either get fired or quit every day and so does she,” adds Holly, giving her sister a smile.

When we were in Stillwater for that first craft show, we decided we’d give...

Even if we only make $30, we’d still give $3. - Holly Robinett

2 Sisters wasn’t going to be only for their benefit. Early on, Holly and Heidi committed to give 10 percent of their gross profit to K-Love Ministries, and in February 2009, they began a partnership with the High Plains Children’s Home. Every child, upon entering the home, receives a tin of spoon fudge. In addition, one dollar from each sale of a tin is donated to the home. They call their mission to give back The Golden Spoon.

“When we were in Stillwater for that first craft show, we decided we’d give,” says Holly. “Even if we only make $30, we’d still give $3.”

While they have goals for their business, whether it be franchising or collaborating to create Starbucks Spoon Fudge, Holly and Heidi are quite content in their little shop, created by combining each of their passions and deciding from day one to send a little love to their community.

“This is God’s timing, not ours. We’re just along for the ride,” says Heidi. •

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

45

cover story

love is...

giving your time to a person in need

V

olunteerism. We’ve all rolled up our sleeves a time or two, perhaps to help a friend in need or to serve alongside others at an annual organized event to benefit a charity. An hour here, an hour there, and then we’re done for a while because life, as we all know, gets busy.

For Carl Arthur and Tom Cummings, the term “volunteer” is a weak description. It barely scratches the surface. Super Volunteer? Maybe. Advocate? Sure.

Passionate? Absolutely.

Carl began his work at the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization nine years ago after a close friend of his died from complications with the disease. Having seen how PASO helped his friend live out his remaining years, Carl, a nurse, decided to offer his time and clinical skills to the organization.

Carl Arthur and Tom Cummings stand in front of the AIDS quilt at the PASO office on Taylor St.

46

“I originally wanted to help on the clinical side of things but I ended up being asked to be on the board of directors,” he says in Michael Timcisko’s office, PASO’s eight-year executive director. “Once I got on the board, I got even more involved. Our whole board is very dedicated. They all donate a lot of their time.”

Tom, who sits adjacent to Carl, is one of those board members who is always around the office, ready and willing to lend a hand.

“I started at PASO five years ago when Carl asked me

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

to help build a set for Turnabout,” he says. “Then I just got more involved and became a board member.”

Turnabout is one of three major fundraisers PASO holds each year. While the other two, Friends of PASO and Wine and Dine, provide a more relaxed and classy atmosphere, Turnabout is an all-out cabaret-style production traditionally held at the Sunset Center and, just last year, brought in more than $30,000 for the agency. Don’t expect to see the board members tucked away at their own table either. They will more than likely be serving your food or making an appearance on stage.

As the president of the board of directors, Carl oversees the distribution of all donated and grant funds, as well as organizing annual board meetings and fundraisers. Both speak modestly about their work with PASO, as if the time and energy spent doesn’t faze them at all.

With nearly 500 logged volunteer hours last year between Carl and Tom collectively, it begs the question – why?

“I became aware of what PASO stood for. I’ve known people who were affected by AIDS or had a loved one who was infected,” says Tom. “The more I’m around the agency, the more I see what’s involved. We help save people’s lives by giving them resources to keep on living.”

The estimated number of people living with AIDS in the Texas Panhandle is 431, but that only reflects known cases and doesn’t include those diagnosed with HIV. Currently, there are 252 people receiving medical, dental and housing assistance from PASO, part of the thousands they’ve helped since it began in 1987. This is the largest case load the agency has ever had in its 22-year history.

“I don’t know what some of these people would do if it weren’t for PASO,” says Carl. “That’s why we work so hard.”

“We save lives,” adds Tom. “This organization saves lives.”

The flip side of working with an organization like PASO is that losing a client, friend or loved one is all too common. Such was the case a few years ago when Carl chatted with a client at one of the fundraisers, and at the time, he seemed to be doing well. Carl was surprised, then, to hear the client died the following week.

Then there’s the stereotypes, one of the biggest being that HIV/AIDS is a disease that only affects homosexual men. It is this kind of misinformation that leads to the rising number of infected persons. The reality is that PASO is seeing an increase in younger clients, both male and female, of all races and sexual orientations. The disease doesn’t single out, exclude, or pass over anyone.

“You know, people are living with AIDS in the way they haven’t before,” says Tom. “But that also makes people think it isn’t a big deal anymore.”

This brings us back to the passion, the reason why someone would spend hours every week, for years, giving his time and resources freely, especially when the subject matter at hand is hard on the heart.

“I don’t think you can do anything like this if you don’t love it,” says Tom. “We make a difference, and if I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t do it.”

Carl nods, “I agree with that. We both love what we do.” am

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ars 40 Yoef

ity Qualre Ca

Seated from L to R: Todd Ellington, M.D.; Bill Byrd, M.D.; Janet Schwartzenberg, M.D.; Bruce Baker, M.D.; Teresa Pattison-Thomas, PA-C; Sean Milligan, M.D. Standing from L to R: Bill Ledford, FNP-C; Tommie Buchanan, FNP-C; Gary Polk, M.D.; Holly Mitchell, M.D.; Rush Snyder, M.D.; Patsy Thomas, R.N.; Tom Johnson, M.D. Back row from L to R: James Lusby, M.D.; Susan Wingo, M.D.; Daniel Beggs, M.D.; Timothy Mooring, M.D.; Jake Lennard, M.D.; Alan Kennon, MSFE; J. Taylor Carlisle, M.D.

Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic, P.A.

6700 W. Ninth • 358.0200 • www.adcpa.com

Gift

ideas for your

sweetheart

Unique Designer Fashions · Jewelry

Bra Sizes 32D - 46H

Bustiez Bra Boutique & Apparel 3501 - D 45th (behind Abuelo’s) 1-806-544-0811

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

47

special feature

The Power in

Choosing Love Build Harmony and Passion into a Remarriage

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

L

Amarillo’s March Madness Event for parents, educators and professionals March 29 at the Civic Center 8 a.m.- 4:20 p.m., 6:30-8:20 p.m.

Hear Ron speak, along with other national and local speakers, in break-out sessions on stepfamilies, single moms, diagnosing disabilities, divorce-proofing your marriage and other issues facing today’s families. For more information, log on to getinthegameamarillo.com.

48

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

et’s say a divorced woman with children marries a divorced guy. He has the best intentions when it comes to her children, but the kids come to her complaining about how he disciplines them. She approaches her husband and asks him to deal with them another way. She feels guilty, he feels like an outsider, and the newly made stepfamily begins a slow ruin.

It’s a common equation these days, families being rearranged and reshaped, and usually all orchestrated out of love. However, the statistical truth is that the divorce rate among remarriages is 10 to 15 percent higher than that of a first-time marriage.

“It’s clear that people remarry because they’ve fallen in love with someone, but they divorce because they cannot deal with the complexities of the stepfamily,” says Ron L. Deal, founder of Successful Stepfamilies and author of several books, including The Smart Stepfamily and The Smart Stepmom. “Couples get blindsided by that, but the good news is that remarriages can be just as close and intimate and lasting as first marriages.”

Ron’s counseling background began in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and includes more than 20 years in family ministry and marriage enrichment. Over the course of being involved with hundreds of families and their varying relationships, he found that stepfamilies could do well if given proper guidance and help. Ron and his wife, with their three boys, moved to Amarillo nearly four years ago and he currently counsels in a small practice where helping stepfamilies is his specialty.

Six years ago, Ron was contacted by Dr. David Olsen, a nationally recognized marital researcher in Minneapolis, to partner with him on a project analyzing data from the largest study ever done on remarriages. The study involved 50,000 couples – 100,000 people who were divorced and forming stepfamilies – focusing on what predicts healthy remarriages and what predicts those who are unsuccessful. The results have been published in their recently released co-authored book, The Remarriage Checkup.

“Our study validated the belief that we’ve had for a long time that the remarriage is not just about the couples’ relationship. It is as much about the family, stepfamily, the step-parenting and the ex-spouses,” he says. “There’s a reason why the remarriage divorce rate is higher. It’s because of their past, their fears about a breakup, and complications that come from living in a stepfamily.”

Many couples don’t realize that the remarriage is interdependent on the health of the stepfamily and that the struggles they face are unique to each family.

Instead of a family tree, stepfamilies are more like a forest with additional sets of parents, grandparents, and extended families, ex-friends, new friends, and all of the traditions, experiences and expectations that go along with them. A couple may have a great relationship between the two of them but because parenting each other’s children and navigating the intersection with former family members is more complex than they anticipated, the stepfamily as a whole can suffer.

When offering advice on how to form a healthy, lasting stepfamily, Ron often uses this analogy: “How do you cook a stepfamily? Not with a blender because someone always gets creamed. Instead, you cook a stepfamily with a Crockpot. It’s a slow process, taking years to create integration and a family identity,” he says. “Some warm up to others more quickly, and some take more time. Relationships today may not be

PHOTos BY jeff harbin, Life of Riley Photography

what you want them to be, but that’s because they’re still cooking.”

While fear and jealousy are the predominant emotions that can hinder the success of a remarriage, and understandably so, Ron encourages couples to keep a positive, yet realistic perspective.

“Continue to choose love. The greatest thing I’ve learned from stepfamilies is the power in choosing love,” he says. “When you’re a stepfamily, you have the opportunity to choose a connection that far exceeds just being born into a family. You might have to say to yourself, ‘We are still a family even though we’re not as close as I’d like us to be, but we’re still cooking.’ It’s only when a couple gives up and re-divorces that the family stops cooking.”

The Remarriage Checkup is not only a review of the study previously mentioned, but it’s also one chapter after another focusing on the specific and proven strengths of a happy, healthy remarriage and subsequent stepfamily. Each ends with tangible advice and an exercise for couples to do together. Just like your car, and even your physical health, every marriage needs a regularly scheduled checkup.

“There is a short list of a few things that couples and ex-spouses can do to dramatically improve the chances of the remarriage and stepfamily lasting,” says Ron. “Harmony and passion really can exist, and the more understanding you have, the better off you’ll be.” am The Remarriage Checkup is available at all major book-sellers and at successfulstepfamilies.com

The Deal on Remarriage and Stepfamilies Notes from The Remarriage Checkup • The dating experience of a couple is not predicative of what the marriage will be like.

Sometimes things change with the ex-spouse after the remarriage takes place. Study and learn as much as possible about stepfamily living so when the challenges arise, you stand a better chance of managing them.

• Children are about a year behind the couple, which means that if the couple is ready to get married, your children need another year. It’s not an exact time table, so just go slow.

• Cohabitation blurs the boundaries of every relationship involved in a remarriage and formation of a stepfamily. It is not an accurate picture of what life will be like.

• Be very intentional during the dating process.

You’re obviously going to meet the other person’s children, but it is only after becoming engaged and moving towards marriage that you should start developing a bonded relationship with them. There is a hazard in bringing people around children five years old and under, because if the relationship doesn’t work out, that becomes a serious loss for them.

• Never underestimate the importance of fun, which is on the list of what predicts remarriage success. Be diligent about enjoying time together. After all, that’s how you fell in love in the first place.

• Some things you just need to let go, and that’s often the case when dealing with difficult ex-spouses. There are things you can do to manage the stress of it, but chances are she or he won’t go away or suddenly change for the better.

• One of the best gifts you can give your children is the permission to like and respect – even love – their stepparent.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

49

inspire

Love is a

Full-Speed Hug Jason Boyett

W

hat is love? According to Hollywood and greeting card companies, love is something that fills the air every February. Love is a bouquet of roses and a candlelit dinner. Love is romance. When most people hear the word “love,” they think of people who are in love.

Good enough. But when I think of love, I think of something else. Not romance. Not even—forgive me—my beautiful wife. No, I think of the airport.

Due to my side career as an author, I occasionally get invited to speak to church groups or add commentary to a cable TV documentary. These are usually solo trips.

It’s fun to meet new people and I’m always a fan of free publicity for my books, but as soon as the trip begins I start counting down the hours until I get home. Being away from my wife and kids is hard. It’s hard for them, and hard for me, too.

Which means the best part about traveling is coming home. Why? Because of the magic

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

that happens when I get off the plane. As soon as I reach the security gate, I look for my kids, waiting at the far end of the terminal in the shadow of the Rick Husband statue. We see each other. Their eyes light up and they burst into an all-out sprint toward their daddy.

I know what to do: take a breath, drop to one knee, and prepare for the flying, four-armed, two-child onslaught. If I don’t brace myself, they’ll knock me over. The best homecomings occur at the receiving end of a running hug.

That is love.

Love is when seeing a person makes you so happy you can’t do anything else but race toward them—without giving a thought to how you look, or whether or not an accidental tackling is imminent.

Because I write books about religion and the Bible, the joy of an arms-wide-open airport sprint always reminds me of a better-known homecoming story. This one was originally told by Jesus. We call it the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” but don’t let the title fool you. It’s not about the kid. It’s about the dad.

A son asks his father for an advance on his inheritance—in other words, he tells Dad to drop dead. In first-century Jewish culture, such disrespect would have humiliated the father. Many families would have disowned the son right then and there. But this father actually gives the kid the money. The son leaves home, blows the cash on unsavory activities, and ends up broke.

PHOTOS BY JEFF HARBIN, LIFE OF RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

The prodigal shuffles home, a wrecked failure. But wait. “While he was still a long way off,” the parable says, the father saw the son and felt compassion for him. That’s not all, though. “He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

The dad saw the kid from far away. He was waiting for him, peering into the distance for that first glimpse. And then? He launched into a dusty sprint like a happy little kid. He forgot the humiliation. He ignored the financial failure. He overlooked the reckless behavior.

All he did was throw himself at the prodigal in a sprinting hug.

That, too, is love.

Romance is an important element of love, and one we rightly celebrate in February. But love is far more than valentines and roses.

Love is the joy that erupts at the return of a prodigal son or traveling dad. Love is what keeps us on the porch, our eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting and hoping and praying.

In the end, love doesn’t care where you’ve been. It doesn’t care what you’ve done. It only cares that you’re home. If you need that kind of love, swallow your pride and return to it. If you can offer that kind of love, then share it— as often as possible.

Find someone you love, open your arms, and run. am

Jason Boyett

Jason is a professional writer and graphic designer in Amarillo whose latest book, O Me of Little Faith, releases in April. He blogs about faith and culture at jasonboyett.com.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

51

inspire

Three

Circus T.J. Lloyd

52

I ask, whose place is it to Judge, Whose place is it to decide, Whose place is it to validate Who I am.

Or too black to date Your daughter, sister or cousin.

Too black for the woman who can’t ever find a good man And who is too afraid of the dark to go in and look.

More so, who is to tell me How black I am.

It’s a shame that in all circles My skin is my sin.

To this woman I say: Darkness came from the light So if you ever get the courage to search the darkness, Keep going till you see the light.

In circle one, You have those who I am too black for...simply because I am.

Too black to help in Radio Shack.

Like my blackness mixed with green Lessens the value of a dollar.

Then there is the second circle: In this circle, I am not black enough.

Cause you see...my clothes fit.

My diction is what it should be.

Because I hang with other backgrounds Like a collage on the wall.

But you see, life isn’t always picture perfect.

Some times eclectic is more realistic.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

If God wanted us all to be the same, We would be wallpaper patterns in his great hall.

And the raspberries would taste like raspberries And the shnozberrys would taste like shnozberrys, And all of creation could finally ride shotgun Instead of taking a back seat to the uniqueness of an individual soul.

This circle is complex: If I don’t listen to music that consist of rims, ice, women, and pushing weight, That makes me a punk.

But when I can name Bob Dylan, Incubus, Kill Switch, or August Burns Red, Confusion sets in.

Like there is a “No Coloreds” sign on that section of music.

I don’t smoke or drink cause I like to stay of sound mind.

That makes me weak.

If I can’t dance or play a sport with a ball, I get, “Well I thought that gift was givin to all y’all.”

If that were the case, we would all be in “Soul Train” dance lines And NBA starting line-ups.

Like I should either be krumping or dunking.

But let’s just say for a second that life was a sport.

It is almost impossible for even the very best To play against two teams.

Then there is the third circle: Or the Goldielocks.

Them I hate the most Cause like her third choice, My being black makes me “Just Right.”

So send in the clown So that I may tell them I am from America. I speak English not Jive.

That if you’re looking for a good man, Than that’s exactly what I am.

A man. I stand tall and speak strong.

I laugh loud and love hard.

That I am black and I love black people.

I only want the very best for us.

We are more than what’s on the news, Than the cars we drive, The music we listen to, And what we teach...or not teach our children.

In the past, I spoke with the future and the message was that we are good at raising guns and can’t raise our sons.

I am not less because I want more than this. am

T.J. Lloyd

T.J. has been writing both poetry and rap for more than 10 years. He competes in The Poetry Slam in Amarillo and nationally.

Here I get picked first on almost any sports team.

Must be that extra bone or muscle that we have in our legs.

Here she will date me just because I’m black, Either just because she prefers it or...that extra muscle.

Here people automatically speak jive to me Like once in a certain radius of me, they just can’t help it.

Here I get requests bordering on “Hey do that one black thing that you do that is so funny.”

Crazy that something that should be a symbol of ancestral pride Could turn into a Three Ring Circus.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

53

book nook

Non-Fiction

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

By Elizabeth Gilbert Viking Adult, 2010

At the end of her best-selling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert shared with readers her love for and new non-marital relationship with Felipe, the man she met while in Indonesia for four months.

In Committed, she tells the story of how and why they finally wed, as well has how they tackle the obstacles of this second marriage. True to her style, this memoir is scattered with her trademark wit and unabashed honesty. unabashed honesty. is scattered with her trademark wit and marriage. True to her style, this memoir they tackle the obstacles of this second and why they finally wed, as well has how In Committed, she tells the story of how met while in Indonesia for four months.

Fiction

Too Much Money

54

Non-Fiction

By Jane Yolen; illustrations by Mark Teague The Blue Sky Press, 2009

By Diane Hales Broadway, 2009

How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

By Dominick Dunne Crown Publishers, 2009

Bringing back characters from People Like Us, Dominick Dunne tells the story of high-society journalist Gus Bailey, a man who can’t close his ears to any amount of gossip. When he retells a fake story on a radio program, his troubles are only beginning. Juggling the stress of a lawsuit and the pressure to write a novel on the suspicious death of a billionaire, Gus finds that life on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is almost more than he can bear.

Young Readers (Ages 4-8)

This award-winning duo will captivate young readers again with their beloved and sometimes naughty dinosaurs who often need a little redirecting. In this prehistoric tale, the charm of a little dinosaur will always win over the love of a parent.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language

Journalist-turned-author, Diane Hales, turned her passion for everything Italian into a love letter to the country, immersing herself in a culture that is as captivating as it is mysterious. From food and literature to the language itself, Hales takes the reader on a love affair journey through Italy.

Board Books

By Rosemary Wells Viking Juvenile, 2009

For your littlest Valentine, share the sweet story of Max and Ruby, the little brother-big sister bunnies who Rosemary Wells created some 40 books ago.

In Love, readers try to discover who baby Max loves the most.

How-To

The Allergen-Free Baker’s Handbook

By Cybele Pascal Celestial Arts, 2009

Sports

Self-Help

By Lars Anderson Random House, 2009

By Michael Gates Gill Gotham, 2009

The First Star: Red Grange and the Barnstorming Tour That Launched the NFL

Love (Baby Max and Ruby Series)

Author and Sports Illustrated journalist Lars Anderson dives deep into the history of how professional football was born and became an American obsession starting with three men: Harold “Red” Grange, player from the University of Illinois, George Halas, the crass boss of the Chicago Bears franchise, and C.C. Pyle, a classic 1920s dapper theater promoter who promised the athletes an abundance of gold and glory.

Food allergy sufferers take note: You can enjoy sweets from your Sweet this Valentine’s Day with recipes suited to fit your dietary needs.

Allergens – from gluten and nuts to eggs and milk – are all given the boot with many alternatives for replacement ingredients.

Pascal also gives information on why certain foods should be avoided and where you can purchase specialty ingredients.

How to Save Your Own Life: 15 Lessons on Finding Hope in Unexpected Places

While there may not be anything new about advice like, “Live each day like it’s your last,” author Michael Gates Gill has a unique way of making things like that seem possible. In his second book, following How Starbucks Saved My Life, Gill offers 15 simple ways you can find hope, possibility, and satisfaction in a life you create through your own perspective.

Humor

Dear Old Love: Anonymous Notes to Former Crushes, Sweethearts, Husbands, Wives & the Ones that Got Away

Non-Fiction

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

By Andy Selsberg Workman Publishing Company, 2009

By Gretchen Rubin Harper, 2009

If you’re in love, have ever been in love, or hope to be in love someday, take heart in the humor of pathetic, witty and creative love notes. Some will leave you with feelings of sentiment and remorse while others will have you aching in laughter. Enjoy the brevity of a break from reality and revel in the mistakes mistakes of of others. others.

When Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany on the city bus – that days are long, but the years are short – she decided to spend one solid year pursuing happiness. Setting monthly resolutions and testing the wisdom of the ages, Rubin discovered that small changes really can bring big results.

break from reality and revel in the in laughter. Enjoy the brevity of a while others will have you aching feelings of sentiment and remorse notes. Some will leave you with

Self-Help

Love & War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of

By John and Stasi Eldredge Doubleday, 2009

This best-selling Christian couple describes marriage as the perfect storm that brings together the basic differences between men and women.

In their latest book, the Eldredges bring home the point that your spouse isn’t the enemy, being honest is of upmost importance, and that staying married is not only doable but entirely worth it.

Sponsored by: For more selections, to check availability, or to order online, visit gohastings.com

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

55

what’s cooking?

C

fonduefortwo 56

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

reate an intimate, table-fortwo atmosphere for your sweetie with an indulgent yet simple three-course fondue menu. am

Crab Fondue

Traditional Swiss Fondue

Savor y Broth

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

57

what’s cooking?

Traditional Swiss Fondue

Crab fondue

1 cup white wine 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 7 ounces Gruyere cheese, cubed 7 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, cubed 7 ounces Emmentaler cheese, cubed

3 6-ounce packages cream cheese ½ cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 clove finely minced garlic 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning ½ cup dry white wine 2 teaspoons lemon juice ¾ pound lump crab meat ¼ cup chopped parsley

Bring the wine to a boil in a small saucepan. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid sticking and burning. Once the flour is cooked, stir the wine into the flour mixture slowly. Use a whisk to smooth the mixture. Slowly add cubes of Gruyere, Cheddar, and Emmentaler cheese; stir until cheese is melted. Transfer cheese mixture to fondue pot. Keep warm over low flame. Serve with various breads and vegetables.

Slowly heat the cream cheese, mayo, cornstarch, garlic, Old Bay, and mustard in a double boiler until the cheese is completely melted.

Slowly stir in the wine and lemon juice. Simmer several minutes to let the alcohol cook out. Then, slowly stir in the crab meat and parsley.

Transfer to a fondue pot and keep warm. Serve with various breads and vegetables.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue

Savory Broth

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup sugar ½ cup milk ½ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter

2½ cups beef or chicken broth 1 clove garlic, cracked 1 twig each of thyme and rosemary 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

In a heavy saucepan, cook and stir the chocolate chips, sugar, milk and peanut butter over low heat until smooth. Transfer to a fondue pot and keep warm.

Serve with bite-size pieces of pound cake, brownies, strawberries, bananas, rice cereal treats, apples or marshmallows.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes.

Transfer to fondue pot and keep hot with a high flame. Use to cook bite-size pieces of beef, chicken, pork and sturdy vegetables like potatoes, carrots and broccoli.

(Cut meat pieces smaller to ensure they are cooked thoroughly. Wash fondue forks prior to using with other dishes.)

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

february

FEATURED EVENT

WTAMU

West Texas A&M University’s history is being celebrated with an array of monthslong exhibitions at the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. On February 13th at 7 p.m., the university will hold its Centennial Gala.

The 75th Anniversary Time Capsule Opening and Founder’s Day Birthday Party will be on February 17th from noon to 2 p.m. at the student center.

PPHM Exhibits WT Centennial Exhibit, Harrington Gallery – now through October, 2010 WT Sports Exhibit, Museum Balcony – now through October, 2010 Gort Rushmer Exhibit, Alexander Gallery – now through August, 2010 WT 10 @ 10 Exhibit, Foran Art Galleries – April through August, 2010

PHOTO BY JEFF HARBIN, LIFE OF RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

WT Furniture Exhibit, Furniture Gallery – April through September, 2010 WT-Related Clothing Exhibit, Textile Gallery – September 2010 through Febrary 2011 Roundup Regionalism Exhibit, Foran Art Galleries – September 2010 through February 2011 For more information about WTAMU’s Centennial Events, call 651.2020 or log on to wtamu.edu

To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com or fax a press release to 806.345.3282.

VIEW AN UPDATED LISTING OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY AT AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

59

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT February 4

Circus Gatti 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Light in the Piazza 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theater 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

February 5

Amarillo Opera “Lift Every Voice” 7:30 p.m.

Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Circus Gatti 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Peddler Show 3-8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Light in the Piazza 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theater 2019 Civic Circle 355.9991 Cycle City Promotions presents Kicker Monster Trucks Nationals 7:30 p.m. Amarillo National Center 10th and Grand, 376.7767 First Friday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. The Galleries at Sunset 3701 Plains Blvd., 353.5700

February 6

Circus Gatti 12, 4, and 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Peddler Show 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Cycle City Promotions presents Kicker Monster Trucks Nationals 7:30 p.m. Amarillo National Center 10th and Grand, 376.7767

February 7

Circus Gatti 2 and 6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Peddler Show 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Light in the Piazza 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theater 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

February 8

Broadway Show “Riverdance” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 9

Broadway Show “Riverdance” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 10

Broadway Show “Riverdance” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

The Perfect Midday Escape

Lunch: 11:00 - 1:45 Mon-Fri

February 11

Slim Goodbody Show 10 a.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 12

Spa and Pool Show 3-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

2203 S. Austin | 806.355.7838 | To see full menu visit www.blbistro.com 60

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

The Light in the Piazza 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theater 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

February 13

Lone Star Ballet presents “The Best of MOMIX” 8 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 26

February 14

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival presents “Parking Lot Babies” 11 a.m.

Performed by a group from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

The Light in the Piazza 2:30 p.m.

Amarillo Little Theater 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre 10 Minute Play Festival 6 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

February 18

February 27

Spa and Pool Show 3-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Spa and Pool Show 3-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Third Thursday 6:30- 9 p.m. Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren, 371.5050

February 19

Amarillo Symphony Presents “Discover America” 8 p.m. GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 20

Amarillo Symphony Presents “Discover America” 8 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 24

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival presents “And the Rain Came to Mayfield” 11 a.m. Performed by a group from Midwestern State University. Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival presents “Eurydice” 8 p.m. Performed by a group from Sam Houston State University. Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

February 25

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival presents “Noises Off” 8 p.m. Performed by a group from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

Region IV Kennedy Center/ American College Theatre Festival presents “Awake and Sing” 10 a.m.

Performed by a group from University of Arkansas at Ft. Smith. Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

Region IV Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival presents “Machinal” 5:30 p.m. Performed by a group from University of Central Arkansas. Hosted by the Amarillo College Theatre Program. GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan. To purchase tickets, call 371.5359.

BENEFITS & FUNDRAISERS February 5

EXCLUSIVE TANNING!

Power of the Purse 11:30 a.m.

Luncheon and designer purse auction benefitting the InfantRisk Center.

The luncheon will honor First Lady Laura W. Bush and features guest speaker Jenna Bush Hager. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 354.5546

February 6

Symphony Ball 6:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 13

Martha’s Home Second Chance Prom 8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 16

Good Scout Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

5 Top-of-the-line Ergoline tanning beds

Menti on thi s ad & rec eive 1 5% o tannin g pack ff ages

2921 I-40 West #100 • 806-354-8100 www.salonatwolflinpointe.com

Marketing & Media LuLu Web Designs - Elizabeth Liles

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HYDRA HYDRATE

February 17

LUXIVA® NIGHTLY MOISTURE CREAM New super-hydrating nighttime cream with exclusive Merle Norman Bio Moisture Complex.™ Use with the LUXIVA® Daily Moisture System for optimal results.

Go Red For Women Luncheon 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage and Regency Rooms 401 S. Buchanan, 457.0090

February 18

March for Babies Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 27

February 16

February 27

Family Support Services Mardi Gras Party 7-11 p.m. Mardi Grasstyle event with casino games, Cajun food, live music and a silent auction. Family Support Services Barrel Building 1001 S. Polk, 342.2503

The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band 8 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

CLASSES & SEMINARS February 4

Tommy Gallagher Band 10:30 p.m.

Hoots Pub 2424 Hobbs, 358.9560

MUSIC February 1

February 5

Polar Bear Hike 5p.m. What can you see on a winter evening in the canyon? Find out by joining park staff for a hike on the Juniper Riverside Trail, weather permitting.

Group size limited to 40, no pets please. Reservations required, deadline Feb. 25th. 488.2227, ext. 106.

SPECIAL EVENTS February 13

Career Expo 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Virgil Henson Activities Center Ballroom, WTAMU, Canyon, 651.2345

Johnny Cooper 10 p.m. Midnight Rodeo 4400 S. Georgia, 358.7083

February 6

Iron Horse 9 p.m. Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 Independence, 467.8500

Centennial Gala 7 p.m. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, 651.2070

February 6

February 17

Seed Starting Class 10-11:45 a.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens with instructor Janean Thompson. Experience the fun and anticipation of starting plants from seeds. Learn about seed collection, storage, planting and maintenance.

Includes a hands-on seed starting project. Materials will be provided.

Class limited to 20 attendees. 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513

February 11

Pioneer Hi-Bred Conference 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 20

Rodney Parker and 50 Peso Reward 8 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

Iron Horse 9 p.m. Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 Independence, 467.8500

February 12

Lee Scheetz & Boarderline 9 p.m.

Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 Independence, 467.8500

February 13

February 9

Amarillo College Distinguished Lecture with Cal Ripkin, Jr. 6:30 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 371-5000 Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

75th Anniversary Time Capsule Opening and Founder’s Day Birthday Party 12-2 p.m. Jack B. Kelley Student Center WTAMU, Canyon 651.2050

SPORTS & RECREATION February 12

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Allen Americans 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Charlie Shafter & The Gnomes Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, February 14 374.9237 Amarillo Gorillas vs. Arizona Sundogs 4:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Lee Scheetz & Boarderline 9 p.m.

Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 378.3096 Independence, 467.8500

Basic Orchid Growing 10-11:30 a.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens with instructor Ken Pirtle.

Orchid growing basics such as lighting, temperature, humidity, fertilization, growing medium and February 19 more will be covered. Will include a Rock Bottom Band 9:30 p.m. Duke history of orchids and a propagation Tracy’s 3101 W 26th, 351.0757 demonstration. 1400 Streit Drive, Krackerjack 9 p.m. Lowery’s 352.6513 Saloon & Dance Hall 609 Independence, 467.8500 February 25 Nursing Career Fair 1-3 p.m. Virgil February 20 Henson Activity Center Ballroom Krackerjack 9 p.m. Lowery’s WTAMU, Canyon, 651.2345 Saloon & Dance Hall 609 LITERARY & LECTURE Independence, 467.8500

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February 27

Distinguished Lecture Series Buster Bledsoe Band 9 p.m.

7 p.m. “Gender Violence Prevention” Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall with media scholar Jackson Katz.

609 Independence, 467.8500 WTAMU Mary Moody Northern Recital Hall, 651.2800 February 28 Hootenanny 2-5:30 p.m. Enjoy a February 22 casual folk music concert. The American Renaissance Society Galleries at Sunset 3701 Plains 7 p.m. Join the Society for Blvd., 353.5700 conversation and philosophical discussion. Barnes and Noble NATURE Booksellers, 352.2300

February 26

Buster Bledsoe Band 9 p.m.

Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 Independence, 467.8500

February 19

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 20

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Missouri Mavericks 4:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

February 27

Roller Derby 7 p.m. Rex Baxter Building on the Tri-State Fairgrounds 10th & Grand, 336.3913

let’s eat!

RESTAURANTS • FOOD • SPIRITS

BL Bistro

The menu at BL Bistro changes with the seasons to ensure restaurant goers and resident foodies are offered only the freshest ingredients and the brightest flavors. Staying true to its Greek and Italian roots, 2010 will bring even more select cuts of beef and seafood.

For your Valentine, there is no better place to take her (or him) than BL Bistro for a posh and intimate dinner.

Imagine an 8-ounce Angus filet with Russian King Crab, blue cheese risotto and roasted baby vegetables. Or perhaps you and your sweetie prefer the pecan-crusted salmon with a raspberry sauce? Either way, there are several Valentine’s Day packages to choose from, which means if you want a table, make your reservations now.

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees over $21

RESTAURANT KEY Outdoor Dining ☎ Reservations Recommended T Live Music y

c Full Bar C Beer and/or Wine only ^ Best of Amarillo Winner

NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

The Let’s Eat! Guide is a reader service compiled by the Amarillo Magazine editorial staff. The magazine does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for a listing. The guide is updated regularly. To correct a listing or recommend a restaurant for consideration, contact Michele McAffrey at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com.

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy The authentic atmosphere and generous portions make for an enjoyable lunch or romantic evening out. If you’re stumped by all the choices, try the Enchiladas de Cozumel, three crepes filled with guacamole and topped with bountiful seafood, fresh spinach and roasted peppers. As a rule, always get the queso. 3501 SW 45th 354.8294 abuelos.com $$

^c Antonio’s Bistro Italiano If it’s authentic Italian food you’re after, drive over to Antonio’s. The tiramisu is made fresh daily, and that’s reason enough to go. Not to mention you can totally reenact the spaghetti scene from Lady & the Tramp with your sweetheart. 2734 Westhaven Village 331.4996 $$ C ☎ T BL Bistro The intimate, cozy atmosphere creates the ideal date place, not to mention the food is plated perfection. Note: you might want to leave the kids with a sitter. 2203 S. Austin 355.7838 blbistro.com $$$

c☎ ^

MON-FRI: 9:30-5:30 SAT: 10:00-5:00

3690 S. SONCY

|

467-9800

(BE T WE E N 34 TH & 45TH)

y

Belmar Bakery Open since 1965, Belmar Bakery is definitely an Amarillo tradition. Loyal customers abound, and each one has a favorite treat they return for again and again (we’re big fans of the thumb print cookies). The newly remodeled café offers a cozy place to meet for early morning coffee and pastries or tasty lunch with friends. 3325 Bell 355.0141 $ ^ The Big Texan Steak Ranch Everyone knows about the 72-ouncer, but did you know the breakfast buffet is only $8.95? Yes, you read that right. Every morning from 7-11 a.m. you can pile your plate high with pancakes, sausage, and skillet potatoes. Top it off with a trip to the Omelet Bar before leaving completely satisfied.

7701 I-40 East 372.7000 bigtexan.com $$ c ☎ ^ T Carolina’s Wood Fired Italian Despite the small interior, Carolina’s is great for a date or even the whole family. Start your meal off right with their first-rate Caesar salad and garlic bread. You can’t go wrong with any of the authentic pasta entrees. 2916 Wolflin Avenue 358.2099 $$ C Cheddars There’s a reason that there is always a crowd at Cheddars. They serve outstanding American-style food at prices that won’t break your budget, which makes it the perfect place to bring the whole family.

Treat yourself to a basket of buttery honey-kissed croissants with your meal, and no matter what you order, you’ll discover that everything’s good. 3901 I-40 West 358.2111 cheddars.com $$ c ^ Chili’s Start with the bottomless chips and salsa while you ponder the rest of the menu. There are countless go-to meals at Chili’s, namely the Mushroom Jack Fajitas (with guacamole, please), as well as the Big Mouth Bites with sautéed onions and Ranch dressing. 5016 S. Coulter 353.2992 / 3810 I-40 West 359-5000 $$ ^ c NEW Chop Chop Japanese Steakhouse Chop Chop’s slogan is “Simple. Fresh. Fast.”

And that’s exactly what you get when you order their hot teppan-yaki-style Japanese cuisine. They’ve

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renovated the dining room and offer both a quick drive-thru and delivery options so you can decide how you want to dine. 3300 Coulter, 457.0700 $ Country Barn The Country Barn serves up more than the expected steaks and BBQ. Home of the ultra tender Bonsmara beef, their steaks are sliced up and cooked fresh daily and served in an authentically western atmosphere. 8200 I-40 West 335.2325 countrybarnsteakhouse.com $$ c Crazy Larry’s BBQ A visit to Larry’s isn’t complete without an order of Frito Pie – make it a “moose” with the works. Their authentic Texas-style BBQ is fingerlicking good, and everything on the menu is delivered with some of the friendliest service in town. The prices are reasonable too. 4315 Teckla 359.3176 $ Crush Wine Bar & Deli Have you always wished for your very own Cheers? A place where everybody knows your name? Forget the beer and peanuts, Crush Wine Bar & Deli has that beat by a mile. Not sure how to choose from the extensive wine list? No worries, they’ll school you on their favorites, and you can try a smaller pour just to be sure. Also try the excellent tapas, sandwiches and desserts, 701 S. Polk 418.2011 crushdeli.com $$ c y ^ David’s Steakhouse The elegant renovations have even carried over to the revamped menu.

New and improved is great, but David’s signature marinated filet is outstanding. For die hard Seafood Galley fans, you can still get their yummy fish and chips. 2721 Virginia Circle 355.8171 davidssteaks.com $$

c☎

Eat-Rite The food at Eat-Rite isn’t just good for you, it’s delicious as well. Feast on the organic salad bar or choose from a variety of tasty sandwiches. 2441 I-40 West 353.7476 eat-rite.com $ Eddie’s Napolis Napoli’s has created an oasis in Amarillo that cannot be missed.

Indulge yourself in the homemade bread while you browse the ample menu. We gently nudge you towards the Amarillo Special or a personalized New York Style Pizza. 700 S. Taylor 373.0927 napolisonline.com $$ c ☎ Ty^

Famous Dave’s If you live in a house that’s divided over which barbecue style is best,

make peace at Famous Dave’s. Not only can you choose the type of meat, but you can choose your sauce as well. They truly have something for everyone. 8518 I-40 West 358.3283 famousdaves.com $$ c NEW Fernando’s Restaurant & Cantina Family-owned and operated, Fernando’s serves up classic Tex-Mex with a twist. They offer a self-serve salsa bar that caters to the tastes of even the most delicate diner.

From spicy to mild, zesty to sweet, there’s something for everyone, even cucumber and chipotle salsa. 2028 Paramount Blvd., 356.0342 $ c Fire Slice Brick Oven Pizzeria You’ll know you’re in for a good time at Fire Slice when you see the menu.

Choose from pizza specialties like “Tommy Boy” and “Hot Momma” or build your own. Each pizza is made fresh in their custom-built pizza oven.

7306 SW 34th, Space 10 (behind Chop Chop) 331-2232 fireslice.com $$ C Golden Light Café As the oldest operating restaurant in Amarillo, the Golden Light has been in business since 1947, all in the same location. For a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. 2908 SW 6th 374.9237 goldenlightcafe.com $$

C^ T Goody’s Bar & Grill Pull up a chair and get ready to savor traditional comfort foods like chickenfried steak, pork chops and prime rib with Goody’s trademark modern twist.

The relaxed atmosphere of the bar area carries over to their cozy dining area. We’re wild about the Bananas Foster. 4000 I-40 West 352.1498 $$-$$$

c Hoffbrau Steakhouse Family-owned Hoffbrau has been serving Texas-style steaks and beer for three decades. We recommend one of their Gr8 Steaks or something from their Hill Country Favorites list upon your first visit. Guaranteed, you’ll go back again. 7203 I-40 West 358.6595 hoffbrausteaks.com $$ c Jamaican Flame You’ll feel like you’re on vacation in the Caribbean when you visit Jamaican Flame. It’s off the beaten path but worth the effort spent finding it. Feast on favorites like Jerk ribs, chicken and pork along with sandwiches, pasta, rice dishes and even bread pudding. Vegan friendly and you can BYOB. 4132 Business Park Dr. 322.1043 $-$$

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let’s eat!

Joe Taco Great atmosphere and a variety of southwest favorites make Joe Taco a great place to sit and relax. Especially while enjoying one of their signature margaritas. 7312 Wallace Blvd. 331.8226 joetaco.net $$ C ☎ T y Johnny Carino’s For the taste of Little Italy, we recommend one of the house specialties like Angel Hair with Artichokes and Shrimp and an Italian Margarita.

Don’t forget the excellent cheesecake as the perfect finish to a great meal. 8400 I-40 West 468.9375 carinos.com $$ c Jorge’s Mexican Bar & Grill If you’re in the mood for fajitas, look no further than Jorge’s Mexican Bar and Grill, specifically their new location at Hillside and Bell. Portion sizes are generous and prices are reasonable. 6051 S. Bell 354.2141 $$ c y ^ NEW Kabob Restaurant Take a break from your everyday routine and give Kabob Restaurant a try. It’s anything but ordinary. Choose from a variety of traditional Middle Eastern entrees like beef or chicken kabobs, meatball stew (our favorite) and stuffed grape leaves. It’s all delicious. 4925 S. Western, 331.6771 $ Kabuki Romanza Who says you can’t enjoy fresh sushi aboard a boat in the heart of the Panhandle? Kabuki Romanza serves teppan-style cooking and fresh sliced sushi in a dining area that resembles a boat, surrounded by special effects that add to the tropical feel. 8130 I-40 West 353.4242 kabukiromanza.com $$-$$$ ^ C La Fiesta Grande Authentic taste and a lively atmosphere make La Fiesta a great place to take the whole family. From nachos to barbacoa, there’s something for every taste. 2200 Ross 374.3689 / 7415 SW 45th 352.1330 lafiestagrande.com $$ C Las Brisas Las Brisas is the perfect place to unwind at the end of a hectic work week. Relax with friends, a great glass of merlot and a juicy steak served on sizzling butter. Heck, who needs to wait for the weekend?

3311 Olsen 331.2800 lasbrisassouthweststeakhouse.com $$ c ☎ y

Leal’s If Mexican food is what you crave, Leal’s serves several dishes that blend the traditional flavors of Mexico with a few new twists that will delight you. Try excellent non-traditional items like quail and salmon along with new sauce combinations and desserts. Let’s not forget about their freshsqueezed lime margaritas, some of the best margaritas anywhere. 1619 S. Kentucky 359.5959 lealsmexicanfoods.com $$ c Macaroni Joe’s Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal.

The Tuscan inspired rooms are the ideal place for creating memories. Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, Joe’s offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. They’re at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky, Suite 1500 358.8990 macaronijoes.com $$-$$$ ^ ☎ C y Marty’s Stop by for Marty’s expansive Sunday brunch, and you’ll leave satisfied and ready for an afternoon nap.

Their made-to-order omelets are definitely worth the trip. If you’re not in the mood for traditional breakfast fare, try the prime rib and Canyon Rose chicken. 2740 Westhaven Village 353.3523 $$ T ^ c OHMS Café & Bar Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves lunch buffet style and dinner in style. The chefs feature specials each week that range from seafood to smoked duck to grilled beef tenderloin. Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger. 619 S. Tyler 373.3233 ohmscafe.com $$$ ☎ T ^ C

Outback Steakhouse Let’s just start with the Bloomin’ Onion. We could actually end there and be completely satisfied, but what’s a trip to Outback without a Wallaby Darned and Pepper Mill Steak? Speaking of completely satisfied, leave room for the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under. 7101 I-40 West 352.4032 outback.com $$ ^ c Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim offers a variety of Asian Fusion cuisine in a unique setting. One of the best things about this place is the greeting you’ll get from Andy when you walk in. But let’s talk food. Their lettuce

wraps are outstanding. In fact, everything is good.

They even offer speedy delivery. 2061 Paramount 353.9179 pacificrimam.com $ C Red Lobster Seafood is a real treat in the Texas Panhandle and Red Lobster is an old stand-by when you have a hankering for shrimp. Our favorite? The scampi swimming in delicious garlic butter complemented by their tasty garlic cheese biscuits. 3311 I-40 West, 353.9596 $$ c Red Robin We recommend one hand for a gourmet burger and the other for the bottomless fries and onion rings. (And plenty of napkins.) You’ll leave happy if you finish with a raspberry shake. They are creamy goodness. If your family needs room to spread out, Red Robin is perfect for large gatherings. 8720 I-40 West 359-9800 redrobin.com $$ ^ c Roosters Espresso Café Roosters offers more than just a good Cup of Joe. Stop in and plan on staying for a hot breakfast pastry or one of their delicious lunch specialties.

It’s the perfect place to relax with your friends for lunch. 3440 Bell 353.7309 $ y Sakura Choose from an extensive sushi menu that includes Nigiri style, cut rolls, special rolls, spicy rolls, sushi salads and for the beef lover, Texas sushi. At Sakura, be ready to be entertained by the chefs who prepare your meal at the table. We wholeheartedly recommend the swordfish. 4000 Soncy 358.8148 sakuraamarillo.com $$-$$$ c Thai Arawan You’ll get your fill of fresh, authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Arawan. We recommend the angel noodle and the chicken fried rice. Consistently good flavor and friendly service make this one of our favorites. 2834 Wolflin 463.7167 $$ ^ Village Bakery & Café The Village offers a large selection of hand-made European pastries and breads to complement their fresh gourmet-style breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The casual bistro setting makes it the perfect place for a special lunch date. 2606 Wolflin Village 358.1358 villagebakerycafe.com $ ^ y

DINING SPOTLIGHT

Amarillo Legends Serving up some of the most flavorful comfort food in town, plan on loosening your belt when you sit down for a meal at Legends. Our favorites include old-fashioned, home-cooked bites like the chicken-fried steak, patty melts and pot roast. The portions are generous and the prices are modest.

Breakfast is served all day and, as a bonus, kids eat free everyday. 2909 I-40 West, 322.3663. $ c 66

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

taste of the city

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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bridal section intro

bridal section 1

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bridal section 3

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FEBRUARY

retro rewind Built in 1930, the Double Dip Drive-In was one of Amarillo’s most popular hangouts for more than 40 years.

Located across from the old Amarillo High School on Polk Street, the drive-in originally served only ice cream.

By the middle of the first year, owners Sam Stinson and J.E. Jenson added hamburgers to the menu. The first carhop at the Double Dip was Georgia Curtwright who left Amarillo to marry film screenwriter Sidney Sheldon, known for successful television shows like The Patty Duke Show, Hart to Hart and I Dream of Jeannie. The drive-in closed in February 1971, and the building was subsequently torn down in 1980.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

GEORGINA ESTEFANIA

Luxury Knits

...just a little different, just a little more fun...

352.7575

2500 Paramount

february 2010 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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local exposure Staff Photo / Amarillo Magazine

Faster than a Speeding Train From nearly anywhere in town, you can hear a tank engine blowing in the distance. The railroad has always played an integral part in this city’s economy, from it’s inception in the late 1800s to today. This image was taken east of Amarillo on I-40 westbound by a passenger in a car going just a little bit faster than a speeding train.

Do you have a photo to share? Upload your “Local Exposure” shots to our Flickr® group for consideration. flickr.com/groups/amarillomagazine

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • february 2010

spotlight

Prenis Williams When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is…

“Gospel Legends.”

My friends and family call me… P.W. My favorite meal to make from scratch is… breakfast.

In an alternate life, I would’ve been… a musician.

The most famous or interesting person I’ve ever met is…

Darrell K. Royal, the winningest football coach in University of Texas history.

If I had an open plane ticket to anywhere, I would go to…

Jerusalem.

After a long, hard day, I love to… take a long hot shower.

One of my favorite childhood toys was… my Silver King Bicycle.

One movie I could watch over and over again is…

“Tuskegee Airmen.”

If I were a character in a book, I would be… Paul Robeson in “Showboat” or Coach Herman Boone from “Remember the Titans.”

When Prenis Williams arrived in Amarillo in 1998, it was only supposed to be for a short stay. His mother had passed away and he needed to settle her affairs. However, 12 years later, Prenis is still here and has made a concerted effort to be involved in this community as much as possible.

“At one point I served on something like 12 to 14 boards, but that really lends itself to ineffectiveness,” says Prenis in the lobby of the Amarillo College student center. The 74-year-old retiree currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Regents for AC. “Right now I’m on about 10 boards, but some of those will be ending soon. It’s my intent to cut back, to get it down to a manageable level.”

Before the community activist, or Professional Volunteer, as his wife, Linda, likes to call him, came to Amarillo, Prenis spent the bulk of his adult life serving the community in other ways. His lifetime resume will show nearly 20 years as a football coach, spending four of those years working alongside Darrell Royal at the University of Texas at Austin coaching Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell. Prenis has been a Parole Supervisor, the Program Director for Parks and Recreation in Austin, with the Texas Education Agency and, as a retiree, a golf-savvy employee at Golfsmith International.

“When I retired I wanted to find work in something that I liked,” he says.

“I would probably still be there if my mother had lived.”

Since making Amarillo his home, Prenis has been on a number of boards, committees, and councils, a list that rivals any other top philanthropist in town and it’s simply because he believes in the importance of being involved.

“I’ve accomplished much of what I intended,” says Prenis. “I’m retired, but I’ve never stopped working. It’s true that if you don’t use it, you lose it.” am

The greatest piece of advice I’ve ever received is…

“To do less than your best is degrading.”

When my children grow up, the one thing I want them to always remember is… to develop and maintain a good work ethic.

You may be surprised to know that I… like singing.

One habit I wish I could break is… procrastinating.

My guilty pleasure is… sometimes I listen to risqué comedians.

I know every word to… many songs.

If I had the time, I would… travel.

My favorite bad-for-me-food is… ice cream.

When I get online, I always go to… the news.

The most unique place I’ve ever been to is…. London, England.

For the extended story on Prenis Williams, log on to amarillomagonline.com PHOTO BY JEFF HARBIN, LIFE OF RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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