Amarillo Magazine | April 2011

Special Advertising Sections: How-to and Builder Profiles amarillomagonline.com April 2011

Nate Lax, Classic Rollers Unlimited

Welcome to theClub Area automobile enthusiasts find camaraderie, community and charity work in car clubs.

Early Blooms

The staff at Pete’s Greenhouse demonstrates how to cultivate a dish garden and bring a touch of nature inside.

Green thumbs not required.

Ripe off the Runway

Emerge from hibernation and embrace the lavender and honeysuckle hues hot off the catwalk.

A Rare Breed

The most decorated Neapolitan mastiff in U.S. history makes his way back home to Amarillo.

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Uses her green wisely.

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contents

On the cover 28 Welcome to the Club

While these club-goers initially signed up for automobile clubs over their shared love of cars, it’s the bonds they’ve formed, the support systems they’ve found and the philanthropies they’ve benefited that have kept them signing in.

cover photo by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

Features

19 Ripe off the Runway

Emerge from hibernation and embrace the lavender and honeysuckle hues hot off the catwalk. Makeup artist Patti Stapp shares tips and techniques on how to take the season’s dramatic, vibrant looks from runway to real way.

Bruno Della Vecchia Roma

26 Early Blooms

Cultivate a dish garden and bring a touch of nature inside. Green thumbs not required. Get creative with color, shape and texture by choosing plants and a container that represent your personal style.

40 A Rare Breed

After traveling across the country for the Westminster Dog Show, the most decorated Neapolitan mastiff in U.S. history makes his way back home.

48 Get Cracking

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Scrambling for new egg recipes? This versatile food makes for easy and protein-rich treats for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert.

sections

photo by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Contributors..............................6 Online Page............................10 Out & About...........................12 The Way I See It....................16 Dress Code..............................19 Home.........................................26 Special Feature.....................40

Inspire........................................44 What’s Cooking? ................48 Events........................................61 Let’s Eat! ..................................71 Retro Rewind.........................78 Spotlight..................................80

29th Annual

Golden Nail Awards

Dale Williams Emcee for Golden Nail Awards Gala

Ron Boyd 2004 Summit Award Winner

Golden Nail Awards Thursday, April 21, 2011 For more information or to receive an invitation, call Becky Zenor at 342-2010.

contributors

Jeff Harbin

Andy and T Price

Jeff photographed our cover story, “Welcome to the Club,” on page 28 and “A Rare Breed” on page 40. He is a husband, father of two little boys, a firefighter with the Amarillo Fire Department and the owner of Life of Riley Photography. He was born and raised in Amarillo and is proud to work in the community. His passion for art and the creative process began as a child and led him to his love of photography. To see Jeff’s work, visit lifeofrileyphotography.com.

Andy and T cooked up the delicious dishes in “Get Cracking” on page 48. They own Real Food Company. The couple has been creating and serving their “made-fromscratch food with a wholesome flare” for more than 10 years.

Shannon Richardson

Pam Lary

Shannon shot “Early Blooms” on page 26, “Get Cracking” on page 48 and “Let’s Eat” on page 71. He has been photographing commercial/advertising work for the past 14 years. His photography has won numerous Addy awards including three best of shows as well as being featured in the Graphis Photo Annual 2001, JPG Magazine and Shots. He recently published a photographic book about Route 66. See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

Andy Chase Cundiff Andy, a local singer, songwriter and artist, has called Amarillo home for 20 years. He currently plays at 575 Pizzeria and Blue Sky on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, respectively. See his artwork every month with Jon Mark Beilue’s column (page 16).

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Pam shot “Ripe from the Runway” on page 19. She stays ahead of photography trends through Master Photographer workshops and memberships in multiple state and national photographer associations. She specializes in commercial, newborn and contemporary children’s photography. See Pam’s work at pamlaryphotography.com.

Donna Alexander Donna photographed the events in “Out and About” starting on page 12. She is a West Texas native and has lived in Amarillo for 11 years. She received her Associates of Applied Science in Photography from Amarillo College in May 2009. Donna is a member of the Texas Professional Photographers Association and specializes in commercial, real estate, event and portrait photography. She has two daughters, Alex and Krista.

Kimberly Barclay Amarillo Globe-News

2010

President’s Club Inductee Presented annually to the top sales professionals within Morris Publishing Group, LLC.

CONGRATULATIONS! Morris Publishing Group, LLC Morris Publishing Group, LLC

Publisher

Les Simpson

Editor

Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com

Feature Writer

Drew Belle Zerby 806.345.3223 drew.zerby@amarillo.com

Steven Adams

Creative Services Manager Designer

Darren Hendricks

Graphic Artists

Brian Bussey John Earl Tyler Mitchell

VP Advertising/ Revenue Development

Mike Distelhorst

Classified Sales Manager

Cindy Brown

Retail Sales Manager

Jaime Pipkin

Online Sales Manager

Kendra Barrett

Major/National Accounts Manager

Dewey Shanks

Account

Representatives

Kimberly Barclay Laura Collins Sharon Denny Trish Faris Cory Griggs Cindy Ledesma Rick Miller Hailey Morrison Michelle Parsons Natasha Reavis Marcy Weldon

Sales Assistants

Yolanda Navarette Sarena Poor Leasa Salazar

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 Division Controller

F

or most of us, owning our first car is a momentous occasion.

I remember that first taste of freedom and knowing if I wanted to, say, go to the mall, I could go when I wanted and not have to wait for my dad to drop me off. Or worse, when it was time for him to pick me up, I occasionally got to watch him drive away because I wasn’t outside at exactly the time we’d agreed he would be there.

As a May baby, I was in a bit of a hurry when my turn at car ownership came around. I’d worked hard for several years and saved every dime I made, so I don’t really remember why I chose the car I did. It was an ugly, no-frills, dull, brown 1978 Datsun.

My square box-on-wheels barely lasted a year, if I recall correctly. One night as a lucky friend and I cruised Medi-Park, the radiator exploded, shooting water and anti-freeze out the grill and up the windshield. We scooted as far down in the seats as we could, humiliated by all the honks from passersby. Not exactly a great way to find our next boyfriends.

I guess I’ve blocked the rest of my history with that car out because I don’t remember what I did with it. All I knew was, in order to sacrifice my already shaky image, I had to find cooler wheels, fast. My first car-love came in the form of a fire-engine red 1981 Camaro. Finally, I’d have something that I could be proud of. And I was. I kept that car spotless and babied it until I had a baby of my own.

There was no way I could manage getting a car seat, much less my pregnant self, in and out of that car so I reluctantly sold it. And I still miss it. If I saw it today, I’d buy it in a second.

Each of the car enthusiasts we profile in our cover story this month (turn to page 28), share their first-car stories with us. In fact one of them, Dan Ratliff, still owns and drives his first, one he fondly named Nelly Bell after a Jeep Willys on “The Roy Rogers Show.” Spending time with each of them awakened my inner muscle-car-wanna-be desires and who knows – someday soon I might just be cruising around town in my own dream car: a 1965 Chevy Camaro.

As always thanks for reading,

Mike O’Connor 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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editor’s letter

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

P.S. Make sure you check out our website, amarillomagonline.com, this month as well. Our online staff has been busy making it more user-friendly and just plain wonderful to look at. We hope you appreciate the new design and features as well as upcoming online exclusives like our first-ever weekly tip section from local experts on subjects as varied as beauty and fashion to cooking, finances, entertaining tips and more.

online page

amarillomagonline.com Cover Story Extended Photo Gallery

Take a look at more photos from the cover story, “Welcome to the Club.”

Register to win

Submit your name and contact information to amarillomagonline.com/ contact this month for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Dillard’s.

Last month’s winner was JoAnn Daniel.

Our thoughts…

Check out our blog where Michele and Drew Belle give you the inside scoop on stories, photo shoots and more.

We’re social!

Follow us (@AmarilloMag) on Twitter and like our Facebook page, Amarillo Magazine.

We got a makeover

Take a look at our website’s new design and features. Keep an eye out for online exclusives as well as weekly tips from local experts on cooking, beauty, fashion, finance and more.

Contests, giveaways and more!

Like our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/amarillomagazine, to be eligible for weekly prizes and giveaways.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Online Exclusive:

Lone Star Ballet pays tribute to three influential women with “Lone Star Trilogy: An Epic Celebration of the Lives of Three Extraordinary Pioneer Women.” Get the scoop on Lone Star’s original performance and see photos of dress rehearsal the week of April 11.

Presenting Sponsors

LifeAfter50 E

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Saturday, April 23, 2011

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Amarillo Civic Center

ADMISSION FREE

Door prize drawings

PRESENTATIONS • ACTIVITIES • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD PRESENTATIONS • HEALTH SCREENINGS AND MORE! SEMINARS AND HEALTH SCREENINGS* Exercise Saved My Life Presented by Downtown Athletic Club Cardiac Rehab • Hospice Home Health Care • Sleep Disorders Presented by BSA Cooking For One or Two Presented by United/MarketStreet Supermarkets A Move Made Easy Presented by The Craig and more to come! *Seminars and Health Screenings are tentatively scheduled and may be subject to change.

ENTERTAINMENT

Andy Chase Cundiff • Palo Duro Metro Chorus of Sweet Adelines • Dynamite Quartet

VOLUNTEER CORNER

Come meet local representatives of volunteer groups.

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Jon Mark Beilue • Lance Lahnert • and more!

Get up-to-date information! Call 345-3432 or visit amarillo.com/lifeafter50

out & about

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Go Red For Women Luncheon Amarillo women gathered for the Go Red for Women luncheon February 15 at the Amarillo Civic Center. The event included a variety of exhibitors and Girls Gone Fit, a health and fitness expo, and Survivor Style Show, which showcased area shops’ merchandise modeled by women and children who have overcome heart ailments. Award-winning keynote speaker and cancer survivor Emory Austin encouraged the audience to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

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1. Cathy Doughten and Jennifer Dodson 2. Kerri Raper and Shannon Adcock 3. Rhonda Baskett, Edalia Mendoza and Kylee Garcia 4. Ashley Harder, Kyle Tugwell and Krista Markham 5. Aspen Scroggins, Trista Meyer and Kelcie Kuehler photos by Donna Alexander

March of Dimes Luncheon The March of Dimes held its Babies Annual Kickoff Luncheon on February 17 at the Amarillo Civic Center. The March for Babies raises money for premature babies and programs that help mothers-to-be stay healthy. Since its establishment in 1970, March of Dimes has raised $2 billion to benefit babies. The March for Babies will take place April 30 at Thompson Park.

1. Drew Perkins, Eric Spellmann, Chris Carson and Daniel Hernandez 2. Tina Beebe, Lacey Horton, April Wolterstorff and Jace Jellison 3. Quinn Alexander, Melissa Curtis, Tanya Sluder and Stewart Sutton 4. Mikalea Mendes and Izzy Garcia 5. Vicki Brockman, Jody Kile, Amber Caldron and Carisa Sullivan photos by Donna Alexander

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Ama Mag Trilogy.pdf

3/10/11

4:44:19 PM

smile, it’s springtime accepting wedding registries

342-4729 • Tues - Sat: 11 am - 5:30 pm 1408 s.w. 15th • amarillo details on facebook

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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out & about

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Mardi Gras Party Family Support Services hosted its annual Mardi Gras fundraiser February 26 at Sunset Center. The party included casino games, Cajun food and live music by Patrick Swindell and Pizzazz. A silent auction benefiting Family Support Services was also held. The winner received a trip to New Orleans.

1. Ashton Paetzold 2. Travis Kotara and Jessica Wyers 3. Kathryn Samora, Kimberly Gandy and Nelly Villagomez 4. Michael and Brandi Holliman 5. Janice Chandler and Debbie Yarbrough photos by Donna Alexander

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Symphony Ball The Amarillo Symphony hosted its annual Symphony Ball on February 5 at the Amarillo Civic Center. The event honored the Belles and Beaux, a group of high school students who volunteer for the Symphony throughout the year. Amarillo Little Theatre’s cast of “South Pacific” provided entertainment for the fundraiser, “Enchanted Evening in the South Pacific.” A live auction was held benefiting the Amarillo Symphony Guild’s programs, including Concerts for Young People, String Family and Instrument Express.

1. Hollie Hawkins, Kakki Allison and McCall Short 2. Jennifer Eades, Barbara Miner and Mary Stewart Pfeffer 3. Kimbo Ishii-Eto 4. Heather Haelzle, Rachelle Gentry, and Anna and David Browning 5. J.P. Davis, and Lisa and Will Price photos by Donna Alexander

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the way i see it

Jon Mark Beilue

Six Flags–a rite of summer passage I

n the beginning, Six Flags Over Texas was a poor man’s Disneyland. It didn’t have the Matterhorn, the Teacups, the Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

But, by golly, it had the log ride. And it was only a day’s drive.

Disneyland? California? Might as well travel to outer space.

Six Flags turns 50 this summer. It debuted in 1961. Thankfully the original name, Great Southwest Land, was scrapped. Unfortunately, so were the original prices – $2.75 for adults, $2.25 for children. Now, stepping up to the window with no discount, it’s $54.99 for adults, and $34.99 for children, plus $15 to park. Yeah, I’d say it’s been 50 years.

My family was always late to the party. We were the last one in four states to get color television. So it stands to reason that it had to be at least the early 1970s before we made our first journey to Six Flags.

Some of it was the fact my dad was a farmer, and who had time to take off in the summer to put up with whiny, tired kids 350 miles away? He could do that at home.

That first trip I was almost hyperventilating with morning excitement. Getting through the gates was a charge to Six Flags’ signature attraction, the log ride, or as it’s officially known, the Flume Ride (that’s been around since 1963). Then it was the Runaway Mine Train, and the late, great Skull Island and the Spee-lunker Cave. And we moved on to eating fried chicken at the Southern Plantation.

I never knew a day could go by so fast.

The last trip to Six Flags was just a few summers ago. Again, I was hyperventilating, but this time slumped on a bench in front of the Titan, willing myself not to throw up funnel cake on the black asphalt right next to a baby stroller.

It wasn’t so bad riding the Titan the first time. But with no long line afterward, I was pressured to jump back in again. Twice in just a few minutes nearly sent me over the edge. It didn’t help that I’d already had Batman, The Ride, Mr. Freeze, Superman Tower of Power, Flashback, Shockwave, and Judge Roy Scream scrambling my brains and intestines in the 95-degree heat.

“Dad, I think I blacked out,” said my youngest son slumped next to me. It must be in the genes.

Meanwhile, my nieces and brother-in-law were back on the Titan for their third trip. Eventually, we were among those who closed the place down. My last memory was the rest of my relatives riding Batman over and over again since there was no line. I would have preferred waterboarding. If the thrill wasn’t gone, it was fading fast.

I never knew a day could last that long.

In between the early 1970s and 2007, Six Flags, like it has been for so many, was sort of a summer rite of passage. Not every summer, but enough to lose count.

As a senior in high school, our small-town church group went on its annual van ride to Six Flags. Unfortunately, my younger sister was old enough to be considered “youth.” Do you know what it’s like to travel with your sister among your friends for the first time? Brutal.

She was, of course, acting like a 12-year-old fool, and somewhere around the big, orange oil derrick, I came to the conclusion one of us had to leave home. That one of us was me.

Some trips were literally 24-hour spur-of-the-moment excursions, combining a Rangers game and getting back before the sun came up.

Dumb things you did when single and in your 20s. Some later were well-planned weekend stays, taking the young children for the first time and spending most of the time in the kiddie section and acting all parenty.

Nearly every trip included a stop at the Chevy Show – which I think is no longer there – to escape the heat, and a Pink Thing that melted down your arm to your elbow 10 seconds after unwrapping.

On this golden anniversary of Six Flags, trips are much less frequent. I’ll return to Six Flags, but who knows when? Most of the time these trips just quickly evolve.

It could be this year, or it could be on the 75th anniversary, walking around in plaid shorts above my navel, wearing tube socks, yelling at kids cutting in line, wrenching my back getting into the log ride, licking streams of my sticky Pink Thing off my arm, and loving and hating every minute of it.

Or maybe I’ll go to Disneyland. am

Jon Mark Beilue is a columnist for the Amarillo Globe-News.

He can be reached at jon.beilue@amarillo.com or 345.3318.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

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April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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dress code

Ripe Runway off the

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s the dark days of winter drift away, we dream of spring’s bright blooms and blossoms. Emerge from hibernation and embrace the lavender and honeysuckle hues hot off the catwalk. Makeup artist Patti Stapp shares tips and techniques on how to take the season’s dramatic, vibrant looks from runway to real way.

photos by Pam Lary Photography models: Yvette Wiggins and Lauren Johnson

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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dress code

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1. Chanel Les 4 Ombres eye shadow in Regard Perlé $57, Dillard’s 2. P S Collection gloss duo $24.99, First Impression 3. P S Collection mineral blush in Rosette $28.99, First Impression 4. P S Collection lipstick in Déjà Vu $21.99, First Impression 5. NARS The Multiple stick in Portofino $39, Sephora 6. Chanel Joues Contraste powder blush in Espiégle $43, Dillard’s 7. Freeze 24/7 Plump Lips gloss in Windchill $43.99, First Impression

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8. Lancôme Color Design matte lipstick in Corset $22, Dillard’s 9. NARS blush in Orgasm $27, Sephora 10. Chanel Rouge Allure lip gloss in Génie $32, Dillard’s 11. P S Collection bronzer

in Maple Leaf $36.99, First Impression 12. P S Collection eye shadow in Glory $23.99, First Impression 13. Sephora by OPI nail polish in Cover Me in Petals $9.50, Sephora

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

All Aglow On Yvette: Chanel Les 4 Ombres eye shadow in Regard Perlé P S Collection lipstick in Déjà Vu Freeze 24/7 Plump Lips gloss in Windchill NARS blush in Orgasm P S Collection Illusion Pen under eyes

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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dress code

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8 9 6 1. Sephora by OPI nail polish in Iris I was Thinner $9.50, Sephora 2. P S Collection eye shadow in 801 $23.99, First Impression 3. Lancôme Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One Five Shadow and Liner Palette in Amethyst Glam $48, Dillard’s 4. P S Collection lip duo in Crystal Pink $24.99, First Impression 5. Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Balm $15, Sephora 6. P S Collection lipstick in Playful $21.99, First Impression 7. Lancôme Ombre Magnetique long-wear, crease-resistant shadow $25, Dillard’s

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8. Lancôme Éclat Miracle serum of light complexion illuminator $37, Dillard’s 9. NARS duo eyeshadow in Nouveau Monde $33, Sephora 10. Lancôme Color Fever gloss in 385 $26, Dillard’s

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

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Lush Lavender On Lauren: Lancôme Color Design Eye Brightening All-In-One Five Shadow and Liner Palette in Amethyst Glam P S Collection mineral blush in Rosette P S Collection lipstick in Sunberry P S Collection lip liner in Ginger tarte LipSurgence natural lip luster in Adored P S Collection eyebrow pen in Dark Taupe P S Collection Illusion Pen under eyes

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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dress code

Top Tools Use an angle brush to apply shadow as eyeliner and skip the pencils.

All pencils are made with wax and won’t stay put; shadow lasts longer.

P S Collection shadow liner #11 brush $28.99, First Impression Chanel shadow/liner brush #4 $27, Dillard’s

Where you place a contour color on eyes will vary with the look you desire. Using contour on either side of the eyeball will help draw attention to the eye and eye color; contour in the crease will give a wide-eyed look. Buxom eyeshadow brush $17, Sephora

Use a professional brush cleaner to wash brushes more gently than soap. Clean brushes as often as once a week or at least every two weeks depending on how often you use them.

Sephora Professional round powder brush $36, Sephora

The length of a brush’s life depends on how often it is used. When it no longer does the original job it was meant to or when bristles start to fall out, it is time to replace it.

Sephora Professional stippling brush $35, Sephora

Concealer and foundation brushes really help give a finished look. Think of yourself as a painter, painting on a fine canvas with the right brush.

Freeze 24/7 concealer brush $26.99, First Impression Lancôme foundation brush #2 $34.50, Dillard’s

Blending shadow is the most important step to having a soft, finished look. Use a “fluff” brush for blending so there are no lines.

Urban Decay 24/7 blending brush $16, Sephora Patti Stapp Patti and her husband, Jimmy, own First Impression, which offers makeovers, cosmetics and jewelry, including her signature makeup line, PS Collection.

Patti has worked with celebrities such as Celine Dion, Halle Berry and Patrick Swayze on “The Oprah Show” and Adam Richman from “Man vs. Food.” For the past 15 years, she has been involved with the Miss Texas Organization. Visit her website, mypseyes.com.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

home

Early Blooms Cultivate a dish garden and bring the beginnings of summer inside. Green thumbs not required.

W

hen planning your mini-landscape, consider the environment. Indoor or tropical plants don’t mind sitting in wet soil and can survive with artificial sunlight. Get creative with color, shape and texture by choosing plants and a container that represent your personal style.

Special thanks to gardening guru and greenhouse manager at Pete’s Greenhouse, Lynn Wilson, for providing these step-by-step instructions and tips on how to grow a dish garden.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Plants used

Materials needed

• Neanthe Bella Palm • Rubber Plant • Phalaenopsis Orchid • California Ivy

• Container that doesn’t drain, such as a vase or bowl • Charcoal • Quality potting soil • Sheet moss • Plants (tropical plants work best) • Watering can (small cans work best) • Fishing line

photos by Shannon Richardson

Step 1 Begin by filling the bottom of the container with charcoal. For a bowl, fill about

Step 2 Next, pour potting soil on top of charcoal until soil is about ¼ inch from the top.

Do not compress soil.

Step 3 Now it’s time to place plants into the container. First, decide if the dish garden will face the wall or sit in an open area and position them accordingly. Make sure you loosen the root balls before planting. If using orchids, leave them in the original container.

Step 4 Once plants are settled, water with a watering can. First, water around the outside

Step 5 Slightly dampen sheet moss to avoid crumbling. Pull moss apart and use pieces

Step 6 Finally, remove decorative sticks (on orchids) and replace with dried twigs for an authentic, natural look. Gently weave the twigs and orchid stems together. Anchor stems by loosely tying moss around twigs and stems with fishing line.

¼ inch from the bottom. For a vase, fill about ½ inch. Metal containers need to be lined with plastic to avoid rust.

to hide visible soil. Cover lightly as not to suffocate the soil. After the initial watering, the garden will only need to be tended to occasionally. Before watering again, touch the soil. If the top is damp, the garden does not need to be watered.

edge of the container, keeping the can’s nozzle close to the soil. Use about 1 to 1 ½ cups of water, just enough to moisten the top of the soil. Then, carefully water around the plants in the middle. Try to avoid getting water on leaves and petals.

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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COV ER

cover

S TO RY

Welcome to theClub Area automobile enthusiasts find camaraderie, community and charity work in car clubs.

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by Drew Belle Zerby

Photos by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

ooks, knitting, Frisbee, chess. No matter your interest, there’s a club devoted to it. But for this particular group of people, it’s cars that get their motors running. While these club-goers initially signed up over their shared love of cars, it’s the bonds they’ve formed, the support systems they’ve found and the philanthropies they’ve benefited that have kept them signing in.

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cover

“It’s just really, really fun to be around a group of people with a common interest. It’s fun to get out with people and do things as opposed to driving down the road by yourself.” - Kay Fields

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

High Plains Thunderbirds

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irds of a feather flock together. Or in Gary and Kay Fields’ case, it’s T-Birds. After Gary bought a black Thunderbird, Kay had to have a pink one. She ended up settling on a beautiful bronze model instead.

“I bought a ’57 [Thunderbird] back in 1970 and I’ve owned one ever since. I restored it in ’83 or was it…” Gary pauses as he tries to retrieve the escaped year. “No. ’73,” Kay quickly fills in the blank.

The couple of 35 years don’t just complete each other’s thoughts and finish each other’s sentences. They do everything together. They joined High Plains Thunderbirds the same year and are both members of four other car clubs. They attend First Christian Church together. They were even diagnosed with cancer the same year, and underwent surgery the same day. “That was not planned, but that’s what happened,” Kay assures with a smile.

When Gary and Kay were diagnosed with cancer four springs ago (Gary with prostate and Kay with ovarian), High Plains Thunderbirds members were there every step of the Fields’ recovery.

“Oh my goodness, there was so much food,” Kay exclaims. “We had people from the car club, the car council, other clubs we’re involved in. We had food forever. And [car club members] were available when I was getting chemo. A few times someone took me to treatment so Gary wouldn’t have to miss work.”

“Anything we needed, we could call,” Gary recalls with gratitude.

“Not everybody has that kind of support group and I was thinking about the families of the fire [in March], what kind of support group they have because we’re so fortunate to have this type of group to fall back on. When something like that happens to you, it’s really kind of a

hit in the gut.”

Growing up on a 40-acre farm in Pennsylvania with his parents and three brothers, Gary had to repair farming equipment and developed an appreciation for mechanics.

“We had to get out in the field, something goes wrong, you can’t always call a mechanic, so you fix it yourself,” Gary says. “I learned some of the basics there and as I grew up just messing around with cars, got a lot of experience.”

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choice. Throughout his college career at Southern Illinois University, Gary put his dream on hold. But when he graduated and took a job with Texaco in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gary was finally able to make that dream a reality.

“When I bought my first car, I joined the [Tulsa Thunderbird] club because it’s a group of people that have a common interest and I needed help finding parts and putting it back together just right,” he simply states. “It developed into a real close friendship and camaraderie. Then I moved to Wichita and I bought my wife,” Gary teases.

“Found me,” Kay corrects, trying not to laugh. “He found me.”

The couple later moved to Midland, joining the city’s antique car club and forming a Thunderbird club, then settled in Amarillo in 1998.

In 2002, High Plains Thunderbirds was established and Gary and Kay joined that same year.

While their love for Thunderbirds drew them to the club, Gary and Kay have remained members for different reasons.

“It’s not so much the cars anymore,” Gary admits. “It’s the people.

The people – very seldom do you run into anybody in the car clubs who is difficult to get along with. They’ve been a real important part of our social life all these years.”

“We enjoy the fellowship and they’re there to help each other too,” Kay adds.

High Plains Thunderbirds also participates in a number of community activities in and outside Amarillo. The club rides in the Shamrock St. Patrick’s Day Parade, West Texas A&M University’s homecoming parade, Canyon’s Fourth of July parade as well as Amarillo’s Electric Light Parade and Veteran’s Day Parade. The first Saturday of every month, all the car clubs get together for a Cruise Night.

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“It’s just really, really fun to be around a group of people with a common interest,” Kay says. “It’s fun to get out with people and do things as opposed to driving down the road by yourself enjoying your car because you have a whole group of people that are enjoying the same thing.”

But the Fields are not just in a car club for its social calendar. For the past nine years, High Plains Thunderbirds has held its annual car show, Day of Thunder, raising nearly $17,000 to benefit Martha’s Home.

“We did our first car show and had a bunch of money and were wondering what to do with it,” Kay says. “[A former Martha’s Home board member] suggested Martha’s Home would be a good recipient because they didn’t get a lot of support, that there wasn’t a regular government donation. We felt like Martha’s Home was the best recipient for our money.”

Like the rest of the car clubs in the Panhandle Council of Car Clubs, High Plains Thunderbirds also participates in the annual Make-A-Wish Car Show and assists with the Panhandle Council of Car Clubs annual Meals on Wheels Car Show.

For its philanthropic contributions, High Plains Thunderbirds has been named the Nonprofit Car Club for the month of March by Amarillo’s Welcome Pardner.

“You don’t usually think about car clubs getting honors for anything,” Kay says. “You know they’re for fun, they’re there to help out someone, like the show every year helps a nonprofit organization. But we initially chose [a program] that was not funded by the government, a local charity that depended on donations to keep them going. You just don’t hear of car clubs as really getting that kind of award very often, so it was quite a surprise to us.

“We don’t do it to be recognized,” Kay humbly confesses. “We just do it to help and to have fun.”

Classic Rollers Unlimited

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ate Lax claims he’s not a smiler. But when he hops in the driver’s seat of his 1965 black Malibu Convertible SS, revs the 350 engine and spins the wheels, not even he can deny there’s a grin on his face and a glimmer in his eye.

“I’m 62 years old almost and cars are still in my blood,” said the Classic Rollers Unlimited president. “It’s just there. I’ll probably die with it there.”

The Amarillo native grew up around cars. His father, Ervin, was a mechanic and Nate, the eldest of seven children, helped his dad moonlight on weeknights and weekends to support the family.

“At first, I didn’t like getting out of school, going home, getting up under a car and getting all dirty, greasy and oily,” Nate recalls. “But when you’re younger, you don’t think about that. When you get older, you look back and think it turned out better for you. I’ve always been that way, thanks to my dad.”

While Nate is a skilled mechanic and worked on cars throughout his 20-year-career as an NCO sergeant in the Army, he never considered joining a car club. But in the early 1990s, Nate’s former high school

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“[Being in a car club] gives me a sense of being.

I do it for the love of cars and everything we do, we do for a charity. [The club] does a lot of charity work.” - Nate Lax

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coach and assistant principal at Palo Duro High School, Ike Avery, convinced him to join Classic Rollers Unlimited. For the first few years of his membership, Nate didn’t own a classic car, but in 1993 he saved enough money to purchase a rare 1965 burgundy Malibu Convertible.

Nate had to sell his beloved classic car and eventually bought a 1964 Impala. He only kept it six months before he stumbled upon a 1965 Malibu Convertible on eBay last year and he just couldn’t resist. “[The Malibu] is something that’s different,” Nate says. “You don’t see a lot of the Malibus around. The most popular cars, in this area, are usually the Camaros, the Mustangs and the later model Chevelles. I got into those cars and have had one ever since.”

Nate came close to losing his current Malibu on a dry, windy day this past year. Planning to go to the bank the afternoon of May 10, Nate got distracted by a television show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” While his eyes were glued to the screen, he began to smell a faint scent of smoke. He quickly brushed it off, assuming it was coming from outside the city limits, and got back to his show. As the smell strengthened, Nate stepped outside and heard his neighbor shouting “Hey, your house is on fire!” and Ty Pennington was instantly put on the back burner. Nate raced across his yard barefoot, the flaming grass not fazing him, trying to extinguish the fire and remembered his Malibu, along with his truck and his fiancée’s car, sitting in the garage.

“I needed to get the cars out of the garage,” he says. “The fire was in the attic and it was spreading but the first car to come out was my old car.”

While Nate’s appreciation for classic automobiles and mechanical expertise sparked his interest in Classic Rollers Unlimited, it’s the club’s involvement with local charities he cherishes. “[Being in a car club] gives me a sense of being,” he says. “I do it for the love of cars and everything we do, we do for a charity. [The club] does a lot of charity work. Any time you go to a car show, 99 percent

of the time that show is for a charity. Classic Rollers does two to three shows a year and 100 percent of the proceeds go to one non-profit or the other.”

One of the club’s members had a relative suffering from multiple sclerosis and six years ago, the club decided to host an annual car show to benefit the charity’s local branch. Every June, Classic Rollers Unlimited hosts the show at First Bank Southwest to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society National Panhandle Chapter.

Nate has always been more than willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. If someone is in need of a meal, Nate, without hesitation, buys them one. While he was employed with the Pantex Plant, he built grills and smokers to earn extra cash and designed a custom-made smoker to accommodate a physically-disabled client.

For a fraction of the cost, Nate welded security bars for a neighbor’s house that had been robbed. And the day after fires ravaged Potter and Randall counties, he brought bottled water and packaged snacks to local shelters, because he too, has relied upon the charity of others.

“Being in the service for 20 years, a couple of times when I was there, I had to have help for emergency-type purposes when I didn’t have the money and Army Emergency Relief was there to help me, to buy me a ticket home from Germany if someone was sick or there was a death in the family,” he says. “I’ve always believed in helping other people. Eventually, the good Lord will bless me down the road somewhere because He’s already blessed me and I’ve lived as long as I have and gone through some of the things I’ve gone through.”

But Nate still enjoys showing off his “baby.” “You get some of the older folks in their 70s and 80s who say, ‘Oh, I used to have one of these when I was growing up.’ It’s a very gratifying thing,” he admits. You have people come by and look at your car and they say ‘Boy, that’s a nice car. I wish I had that.’”

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From left: Lynn, Dan and Shawn Rattliff

“You start passing people on the highway in this old Plymouth and they’re looking at you like, ‘Where’d that come from?’” - Dan Ratliff 36

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

High Plains Drifters Street Rods

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or three generations, the Ratliff family has devoted their lives to cars. Automobiles are in their blood. Loving them is in their genes.

Fifty-two years ago, J.T. Ratliff passed down his 1939 Plymouth to his son, Dan. Fifty-two years later, that car, Nelly Bell, is still here–with a new paint job and parts, of course.

“I’ve been putting gas and work in that car since I was 10 years old,” Dan states with pride. “And I’m still driving it.”

Dan, along with his two sons, Lynn and Shawn, and their uncle are the sole survivors of the High Plains Drifters Street Rods club, which revolves around street rods, rat rods and street machines.

“I joined [High Plains Drifters Street Rods] 27 years ago and now everyone else has quit and we’ve just kept it going,” Dan says.

Dan grew up with his father racing cars. Dan’s sons, Lynn and Shawn, grew up with their father working on cars, being employed with General Motors for 42 years. And now, they too, work on cars.

Lynn works at Plains Chevrolet and Shawn opened up his shop, Bad Habit Motorsports, at the beginning of this year. Shawn’s stepson Tyler is more than anxious to get behind the wheel. Donning a black T-shirt with a classic car racing across the front, the 11-year-old boasts he’s already building a 1948 Ford pickup.

When asked to recall his fondest moment with Nelly Bell, Dan looks stunned, and momentarily drifts off as he sifts through a subconscious

catalog of memories.

“I’m sorry, but all of them,” he declares, his eyes becoming misty.

“Any time you get in it, it’s just another experience. It was nice that me and the wife [Patsy] went to prom in it. My oldest son, Lynn, went to prom in it. Shawn didn’t,” he says, gaze shifting toward his youngest son. “He got a Camaro and went to prom. And then we took Nelly Bell to the class reunion we went to just last year,” he continues.

Cars are not just pieces of machinery to the Ratliffs. They are part of the family. Dan remembers when he and his childhood friend, Dennis Matthews, used to drive their cars home from football practice at Travis Junior High School, Dan in Nelly Bell, Dennis in his father’s 40 Model Ford. During a recent trip to Oklahoma City, Dan found a note lying on Nelly Bell’s window: “Dennis Matthews. Still driving a 40 Model Ford.” “[Dennis and I] met up and sat around and talked and he said, ‘I can’t April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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believe you’re still driving the same car,’ Dan whispers as he chokes up. “I mean, nobody does.” He quickly perks up and earnestly inquires, “What was your first car?”

Since Lynn and Shawn were toddlers, Dan has molded them into skilled mechanics.

“Cars are basically our family,” Lynn says. “We’ve been around cars all our lives. It’s in our blood.”

“I remember being little and [Dad] was always working on something,” Shawn recalls. “Then I got old enough and I could figure out what size the tools were. He was always telling me ‘Go get me this,

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bring me this.’ Then I got big enough to figure out what he was doing.

Then he told me ‘You’re going to learn this so if something happens you can fix it.’ And now here I am, running my own business.”

When Shawn is not at Bad Habit Motorsports, he is most likely cruising around in his black 1927 Roadster, a never-ending work in progress, according to Shawn. Shawn’s custom car of choice is the rat rod, an exaggerated imitation of early rods made between the 1930s and 1960s. Rat rods are intended to be admired for their interior, not exterior.

“Rat rods were built out of junk,” Shawn explains. “You update everything, keep it good. They’re put together, but not put together well. They’re like something you made out of your backyard. But you can put your own twist on it anywhere you want to. You don’t have to go ‘well I gotta have a pretty paint job. I gotta have this kind of wheels.’

Just prime it black and go anywhere you want to go.”

Unlike Shawn, Dan and Lynn prefer a more polished look for their vehicles. Nelly Bell stands out in a crowd. Her radiant blue and silver paint job and updated engine hide her age well, especially on the highway.

“You start passing people on the highway in this old Plymouth and they’re looking at you like, ‘Where’d that come from? What’s he doing running next to my Ford?’” Dan chuckles. “You’ll turn a lot of heads when you’re on the road.”

Lynn’s orange 1968 Chevrolet pickup is considered a street machine, which consists of late model running gear. “It’s a real inspiration to drive it,” Lynn says. “It’s nice just driving and enjoying.”

But it’s not all play for High Plains Drifters Street Rods. During the summer, the Ratliffs attend a car show nearly every weekend to help support fellow car clubs and work at the Make-A-Wish Car Show. For the past 25 years, High Plains Drifters Street Rods has hosted its Fall Foliage Tour every October at Palo Duro Canyon.

“It aint’ nothing to really do but sit around and talk and visit,” Dan says. “Nobody has to work. You just get to drive your cars. Everybody just sits and talks with each other.”

But people don’t show up just to admire cars. The real crowdpleaser is the Ratliff’s infamous banana nut bread, made by Dan’s 94-year-old mother, Minnie.

“That’s one thing people come out to enjoy [at Fall Foliage],” Dan chuckles. “Mama makes 27 loafs and we use some as door prizes. People would rather take a loaf of her banana nut bread than a load of tools.” am

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special feature

After traveling across the country for the Westminster Dog Show, the most decorated Neapolitan mastiff in U.S. history makes his way back home.

A R ar e B r e e d

by Drew Belle Zerby

photos by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

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Tony Gurrola and Janice Wolf with Bruno

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“Bruno is an exceptional dog.

He’s been the best Neo that’s probably ever been as far as showing goes.”

- Janice Wolf

hree paintings hang in the entrance of Canyon Road Animal Hospital. To the average viewer, the pictures would appear accurate depictions of charming Tuscan villas complete with lush gardens cascading down the hillsides. But not to Janice Wolf, DVM. “What’s missing,” Janice says as she points toward the wall, “is a Neapolitan mastiff lying in the shadows.”

And Janice knows Neapolitan mastiffs. In addition to her eight stay-at-home Neos, Janice is co-owner of Bruno Della Vecchia Roma, the No. 1 Neapolitan mastiff in the United States. The 5-year-old, 186 lb. mass of skin and wrinkles has taken home two Best of Shows, which is a record for the breed, according to Janice. He’s won two National Specialties in addition to five other Specialties. Bruno is also the only Neapolitan mastiff to rank in the Top 20 of the Working Group and Top 100 of All Breeds and is the first Neapolitan mastiff to receive an AKC Grand Champion Title, Janice says.

“He’s an exceptional dog,” Janice affirms. “He’s been the best Neo that’s probably ever been as far as showing goes. He’s just everything wrapped up into a nice package. He’s got movement, he’s got personality; he’s got the proper confirmation. He’s probably a once-in-alifetime dog.”

What makes an exceptional Neo comes down to complex factors.

Judges must consider the dog’s confirmation, personality and movement in addition to features that define the breed. To name a few, wrinkles, folds and dewlaps must be present; the dog’s eyes and nose must display complete and correct pigmentation; the upper lips must meet beneath the nostrils to form an inverted “V,” according to American Kennel Club standards. Measurements are also deciding factors. The ears, tail, body and limbs must measure certain

dimensions. As Bruno’s myriad of ribbons and trophies proves, he meets all of the above. “[Bruno’s] a good example of a beautiful dog, a good example of the breed,” Janice boasts. “I’ve always wanted to show a dog and be able to present a dog that’s an exceptional specimen.”

For 30 years Janice has worked with and shown a variety of breeds.

After becoming acquainted with Neapolitan mastiffs nearly 25 years ago, Janice instantly fell in love with the rare breed, appreciating what so many detested: their enormous size, folds of flesh and voluminous dewlap. She doesn’t even seem to mind the drool–that much. When a client reintroduced her to the breed five years ago, Janice knew these were the show dogs for her.

“They’re such a different-looking dog,” Janice explains. “They’re quite impressive. This was the dog that used to lie in the corners of the villas in Italy. They would guard the house and would lie there until some dangerous situation arose. The eyes, the extra skin and the ferocious look of them used to scare people away. When you take Bruno to shows, everyone is asking what he is. He draws crowds like crazy.”

Bruno was born in Southern California at Della Vecchia Roma, which translates from Italian to Kennel of Old Rome. Janice previously co-owned Bruno with an Amarillo couple, but took full ownership a few years ago. This past February, Janice bestowed the honor of April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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special feature

co-ownership to Bruno’s handler, Tony Gurrola.

“Tony watches over him like a mother hen,” Janice utters with gratitude. “I couldn’t ask for better care than what Tony gives him.”

“It meant a lot to me [to be named co-owner] because Janice knows Bruno’s a lot to take care of,” Tony says. “I figure he’s going to retire this year and he’s going to stay with me.”

The St. Paul, Minnesota native has been a full-time dog handler, or “professional dog walker” as he calls it, for 15 years, specializing in Neapolitan and bull mastiffs. Soon after the American Kennel Club recognized Neapolitan mastiffs in 2004, Tony began showing the uncommon canine, which he compares to “dinosaurs.”

It is true; Bruno is best described as prehistoric, a creature straight out of “Jurassic Park.” His snorts, snores, grunts and growls evoke an image of a Velociraptor, his tail, that of a T-Rex. Unbeknownst to Bruno, he could easily take someone out with the swipe of his paw and the swing of his tail. But unlike dinosaurs, he doesn’t feast on humans; his chew toy of choice is hotel remote controls. And beneath the flaps of fur and behind his droopy, red eyes is a friendly, faithful canine.

“Bruno is fun,” Tony assures. “Kids love him. He has a great temperament, he’s playful. He loves everyone.”

Since moving from Phoenix to Amarillo three years ago, Tony has spent the majority of his time with Bruno traveling across the United States, attending show after show, winning prize after prize. The pair has become incredibly close throughout their travels. Last year, they survived a devastating car accident, in which two of Tony’s bull mastiffs died.

“I’ve been through a lot with [Bruno]. He’s one of my best friends,” Tony admits. “He never leaves my side. He’s been with me for the last year and a half, night and day.”

Bruno and Tony’s most recent adventure was the 2011

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Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City where Bruno won Best of Breed. Last year, 10 Neapolitan mastiffs, including Bruno, attended Westminster, but this year he was the only Neo present, therefore receiving a free ride to the final Working Group. “[Other Neos] knew he was going to be there,” Janice claims. “If Bruno shows up, they don’t show up. He’s that good.”

As Janice watched Bruno and Tony’s journey at Westminster on TV in her Amarillo home, she couldn’t have been prouder. “[Bruno and Tony] did real well,” she declares. “Unfortunately, they didn’t place within the group, but it would have been very difficult to do that because there were a lot of top dogs there. And there are judges who will absolutely not put up a Neapolitan mastiff because they don’t like the breed.”

Bruno wasn’t disappointed, either. During his trip to Westminster, people treated him like a celebrity. “In front of the Hotel Pennsylvania, every time we brought him out, 30, 40, 50 people circled him, taking pictures,” Tony says, a grin growing across his face. “He loved every minute of it. He has rock star status, I kid you not.”

“Bruno loves to travel,” Janice adds. “He loves to go to the shows, the activity, the people coming up and petting him. He loves the attention. He eats it up. He really is a rock star.”

Soon, Bruno’s show-packed schedule will begin to free up, Janice says. This past year and a half was his busiest year to date, and he is dog-tired. Last year alone he won 73 group placements, including two Best of Shows, one of which Janice witnessed. In September, he received a Best in Show ribbon at West Central Oklahoma Kennel Club’s show in Elk City, Oklahoma.

“Not too many owners get to see their dogs get Best in Shows,” Tony says of his most memorable moment with Bruno, “especially this breed. He’s the first Neo in history. But I knew it would happen. It was just a matter of time.” am

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April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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inspire

Alone Dr. Howie Batson

“Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56)

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one of us really likes loneliness – well, at least, only a few of us. Deep down, we all want to be with others, don’t we? There are not many hermits in this world who choose to live in isolation, to be alone.

Many kinds of loneliness exist. There is the loneliness of moving to a new town, not really knowing anyone. We are like a transplanted tree which begins to wither because it lacks deep roots.

Or, there is the loneliness you have when you take your child for her first day of school.

No more interruptions during the day when you’re trying to vacuum: “Mommy, will you play with me?” When they go to kindergarten, loneliness sets in like a plague.

Then there is the loneliness of moving into a college dorm, realizing your parents are really going home. Or the loneliness of the loud quiet in the car if you are the parents driving away.

Worse still is the loneliness of an empty house after the funeral of a spouse.

Sure, you had your differences and your disappointments with each other. But at least he was there, his presence comforting beyond what you ever imagined. Now the house seems so big, so cold, so lonely.

There is the loneliness that comes after a divorce. That’s a loneliness accompanied by anger and emptiness.

As you read Matthew’s Gospel, there is a very quick pace in the beginning. But as you come to the Passion, the crucifixion, all comes to a snail’s pace. The rabbit steps aside and the tortoise takes control. The slow pace seems to make the loneliness of Jesus all the more profound.

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As you read Matthew’s Gospel, the closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowd.

And where are the crowds? Before we got to Good Friday, we had the crowds, didn’t we?

We had so many gathering around Jesus that He had to get into a boat to teach. Everyone wanted to be close to Him. Then there was the time on the hillside when thousands followed Him – 5,000 men, not counting women and children. They were all there and even put off physical hunger because they all wanted to crowd around Him. Just days before they crucified Him, the crowds had been shouting and waving their date palms, “Hosanna. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed are You, son of David.”

As you read Matthew’s Gospel, the closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowd.

When Jesus is doing the miraculous, the crowds seem to come. But now that He has set His face toward the cross, now that He is going to suffer, the crowds have disappeared.

But don’t worry. Jesus can count on the 12 disciples, can’t He? If everyone else is going to desert Him, surely Jesus can count on the Twelve. Well, He couldn’t count on Judas. And the remaining 11 deserted Him, too. Jesus said, “As I get closer to the cross, I’m going to be all alone.”

“Not so,” said the disciples. In fact, Peter said, “I don’t care what the rest of these do, I will lay down my life for you.” Yeah, right Peter. Look at the very last sentence of Matthew 26:56. “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”

Don’t think for a moment that I’m trying to reduce the passion of Christ down to a human emotion. I’m not. But you just can’t get past the fact that the crowds – the crowds that were there at the beginning – are gone. Now, even Peter says, “I don’t even know the man” (Matthew 26:72). Peter, even Peter, leaves Jesus all alone.

I’m sure that the blows of the fists were painful. And I’m sure that the crown of thorns that pierced His brow caused a great deal of damage. But all other pain was dwarfed by the loneliness that He felt when He saw the backs of the disciples as they fled.

Finally, in Matthew 27:46, Jesus cries on the cross – His last words in Matthew – “My God, my God. Why hast Thou forsaken me?” Even God forsakes Jesus. Thus, He is completely alone.

In order to bear our sin, to be covered with our lust, prejudice, greed, anger and hate, Jesus had to be abandoned by God Himself.

He became so filthy that even God left.

I’ve never been that alone. I’ve had the firstday-of-school experience and I’ve experienced it with three children. I’ve experienced the first day of college as I left a child hundreds of miles away. But I always knew that God was there. I have always known I could count on Him not to leave me. Jesus felt the Father turn away from Him because the Father, in His righteousness, can have nothing to do with unrighteousness. Jesus was absolutely alone.

Our Savior took that great step of loneliness and suffering so that, in the end, we wouldn’t be alone. As he steps into the loneliness of Good Friday, we awaken in the hope of Easter.

Because He was alone, we are forever with Him and those who love Him. am

Dr. Howie Batson Dr. Batson is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo. He also currently serves as chairman of the Board of Regents at Baylor University.

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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inspire

Ripped From Shore Karla Abernethy-Thetford

C

aught in a riptide, wave after rolling wave carried us further from shore. We had to work our way back, but how?

There was no ground beneath. Nothing to hold on to. Wave after wave crashed overhead taking away the air, the sky. Just beyond reach, within sight, was solid ground – safety.

Helplessness engulfed me. How did this happen? Just moments ago, we were laughing and playing. Splashing in the water. Jumping waves. Filled with contentment and joy as we let loose and threw ourselves into the ocean that beckoned us.

My daughter, Jayden, and I love the water.

As we drove along the coast of Costa Rica following a week of hard, manual labor, the sight of the ocean was breathtaking. We had just completed a mission trip where our team built the frame for a new church. It was rewarding work but it left us tired and sore.

We begged Charlie, our mission leader, to stop

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and let us frolic in the water before our time in that beautiful country ended. Though he felt uneasy about it, Charlie finally agreed.

The van driver barely put the vehicle in park before we jumped out and raced down to the water. Few tourists visited this location, and only a few locals were there this day. We squealed in delight as our toes touched the cool water.

Ah, what a life. Sunny skies – the sand between my toes – satisfaction of a job well done – wonderful friends – a pictureperfect setting.

The teenagers of our group, Jayden among them, quickly ventured out among the waves.

I waded in, content with my thoughts and a quiet swim. Soon, Jayden made her way back to me. We swam and talked of our mission experience. At that moment, I felt incredibly blessed. Jayden and I shared unforgettable memories. As we talked, a voice interrupted

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

our conversation. I turned and heard Charlie yelling from shore. At first, we thought he was saying it was time to go. But it couldn’t be; we had just arrived.

We strained to hear above the crashing waves. Charlie yelled and waved his arms. The van driver was close by, a look of concern on his face. I followed Charlie’s gaze and realized the rest of our younger group had ventured far out into the ocean, their heads barely visible.

Then, they disappeared.

Worried and afraid that they couldn’t hear Charlie’s cries from so far away, I hurried further into the ocean echoing Charlie’s instructions to head back toward shore. One girl obeyed – she was safe. Then I saw one of the boys almost to shore. Suddenly, I realized I was treading water.

A voice called out to me, “Mom!” I turned and my heart sank. My beautiful daughter was looking at me, her eyes full

of fear. “I can’t do it, Mom. I can’t reach.”

Realization flooded me; the ocean floor had vanished.

A riptide caught us. We were in trouble.

I looked back toward the shore. How did it get so far away from us? I noticed people standing, looking toward us. Jayden and I were being ripped away from shore. Panic seized me. I reached for Jayden, but soon realized I wouldn’t be able to hold us both up. The waves crashed over us. She was frightened, I was frightened. I yelled for help and waved my arms. “Please God, please, let them realize we’re in trouble.”

I tried to calm my daughter.

“Come on, Jayden, you can do it. Just swim. We can do it.” I wanted to believe my own words, but panic was winning the battle.

Constant waves of terror covered me as I went under water, then up again. Where was Jayden?

She surfaced and her eyes penetrated me – pleading me to help her. My own eyes reflected the same fear. It couldn’t end like this, it just couldn’t. “Take me but let her live,” I pleaded with God. I struggled against the fear threatening to overpower me.

Then Charlie’s son, Wayne, appeared. As a

Boy Scout, Wayne had been trained in water rescue. “Just help Jayden,” was all I could say.

He began telling her what to do, guiding her to shore. He was a calming presence, a voice of authority and knowledge. He knew what to do, how to navigate through the riptide. I followed and prayed. I continually cried out, “God, please help us. God, please help us.”

Slowly, the shore got closer until there it was – the ocean floor. I could touch. I could stand. I yelled out to Jayden to put her feet down. We were walking. I reached the beach and collapsed. Every ounce of strength left my body. Were we really on solid ground? Were we really safe?

I grabbed Jayden – it all seemed like a dream. I almost lost her and the thought was unbearable. As I sat in the van, emotion overtook me. Tears flowed down my face. I nearly lost my daughter. I hadn’t protected her. Another’s child had risked his life to rescue us. I’d been helpless to save her.

As I replayed the experience in the days to come, I began to get a glimpse of what I believed God experienced as He watched His children drowning in sin, drifting farther and farther away from Him. So far, that to save them, He had to send His Son.

As Charlie watched his son, Wayne, swim out to us, God watched Jesus live among us, sacrificing Himself, a calming presence, guiding us to God’s shore. What an awesome rescue. We were helpless in a life-threatening situation, but Jesus knew what to do, what He had to do and say, to lead us to everlasting life.

Two days after our experience, I listened as a news anchor announced that a 17-yearold boy on a mission trip to Costa Rica had drowned in the Pacific Ocean near the same spot. I couldn’t breathe.

I can never thank my friends enough for the love they showed that day – the same love that God shows us each and every day. We were drowning and He brought us safely to shore.

And though we may venture out into rough waters, He will be there to lead us back. am Karla Abernethy-Thetford Karla is the area director of communications for two conferences of The United Methodist Church and editor of The Review and Shared Voices, Northwest Texas and New Mexico Conference editions of The United Methodist Reporter. She has a background in broadcast and print journalism.

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

47

what’s cooking?

Get Cracking S

crambling for new egg recipes? This versatile food makes for easy and protein-rich treats for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. Incorporate flavorful spices and fresh ingredients for Grade AA dishes.

photos by Shannon Richardson recipes provided by T and Andy Price, Real Food Company

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Chakchouka

Eggs Benedict with Green Chile Hollandaise Sauce

Ham and Asparagus Frittata

Meringue Nests with Lemon Curd and Berries

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

49

what’s cooking?

Eggs Benedict with Green Chile Hollandaise Sauce 4 eggs 2 English muffins, split and toasted 4 slices Canadian bacon or ham, pan-grilled Hold muffins and meat in warm oven (about 200 degrees) until ready to assemble.

Hollandaise Sauce 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 large poblano pepper, roasted, skinned, seeds removed and finely chopped 1 stick unsalted butter, melted until foamy Place the yolks, salt and lemon juice in a blender and mix until smooth. Slowly add the warm butter to the mixture and blend until emulsified. Place in a bowl and fold in the chopped poblano peppers. Serve immediately or place the bowl over a pot of simmering water to keep warm, stirring occasionally.

Chakchouka 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large yellow onion, sliced 1 large green bell pepper, sliced 1 large red bell pepper, sliced 4 large cloves garlic, sliced 1- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons cumin ½ teaspoon cinnamon Salt and pepper to taste 4 eggs In a large sauté pan or skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and sauté onions until soft and a little gold. Add peppers, sauté until soft. Add garlic, sauté until soft. Add tomatoes and spices. Simmer over low heat until mixture has thickened and most moisture is evaporated, about 20 minutes.

Poach or fry eggs to desired doneness. Place meat on muffin, top with egg and sauce.

Make four indentations with the back of a large spoon in the tomato sauce; crack eggs one at a time into small cup and gently slide one into each indentation. Cover pan and simmer on very low heat until eggs are desired doneness, 3-5 minutes.

Makes two servings

Great served as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Makes two to four servings

Meringue Nests with Lemon Curd and Berries Meringue ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 4 large egg whites (½ cup) ¾ cup sugar ½ cup toasted, ground almonds 1/8 teaspoon almond extract Heat oven to 250 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Draw four (4-inch) circles on each paper. Turn over. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar together on high until soft peaks form. Slowly sprinkle in sugar a little at a time while beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in almonds and extract. Divide meringues among circles on baking sheets, shaping with the back of a large spoon. Bake nests for one hour, rotating after 30 minutes. Turn oven off and cool meringues in oven for two hours.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin or 9-inch quiche pan with cooking spray. Boil asparagus in salted water for about 3 minutes; shock in very cold water, drain and cut into about 1-inch pieces. Beat eggs, half and half and salt and pepper together. Layer ham, asparagus and cheese in prepared pan.

Pour egg mixture over top. Bake 25-30 minutes until completely set and golden.

Lemon Curd 2 large eggs 2 large egg yolks ½ cup sugar ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons) 4 tablespoons butter, diced 12 ounces fresh berries Combine eggs, egg yolks and sugar in stainless steel bowl. Whisk until light in color; stir in lemon juice, then butter. Place over pan of simmering water.

Stirring constantly with a whisk, cook until mixture thickens. Strain. To serve, spoon lemon curd into nests, top with berries and toasted almonds, if desired.

Try filling nests with ice cream, pastry cream or whipped cream and top with caramel, chocolate or fruit sauce.

Makes eight servings

50

Ham and Asparagus Frittata ½ pound ham, cut in ½-inch cubes 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends trimmed ½ cup Italian cheese blend 6 large eggs ½ cup half and half 1 teaspoon dried tarragon 1/8 teaspoon each, salt and pepper

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

These versatile, crustless quiches can be made with whatever veggies, meats or cheeses you have on hand.

Makes six jumbo muffin-size or one 9-inch frittata

The

Real Scoop

for Baby

Get the most out of preparing eggs and veggies Starting this month, our recipe gurus, T and Andy Price, will let you in on the secrets behind their gourmet-inspired dishes featured in each issue.

Poaching Eggs Use a pan that is at least three inches deep so there is enough water to cover the eggs and they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Also make sure your pan is wide enough to hold all the eggs you will be poaching to prevent them from sticking together.

Bring water to a boil then lower the heat to a faint simmer. At this point, you can add one or two teaspoons of vinegar to the water. The vinegar will help the egg whites congeal more easily. Working with the eggs one by one, crack an egg into a small cup then place the cup near the surface of the hot water and gently slip the egg into the water. With a spoon, nudge the egg whites closer to their yolks. This will help the egg whites hold together.

Turn off the heat. Cover. Let sit for 3-4 minutes until the egg whites are cooked; cook longer if firm yolks are desired. Lift eggs out of pan with a slotted spoon and drain over a paper towel a moment before serving.

2614 Wolflin Village • 806.356.7500 • Mon. - Sat. 10am - 5pm

Egg Whites Extra egg whites can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week and in the freezer for two months. One egg white is approximately one liquid ounce, so if your recipe calls for three egg whites, measure 3 ounces from your stash. For the greatest volume, bring egg whites to room temperature before beating.

Chakchouka This egg dish is traditionally made with Middle Eastern flavors and served with flatbread, but variations are plentiful. For a Southwestern taste, omit turmeric and cinnamon and add ½ pound browned Chorizo to cooked veggies along with 1 teaspoon chili powder. Top with pepper jack cheese, garnish with cilantro and serve with warm corn or flour tortillas. If you prefer a Mediterranean flavor, skip the turmeric and cinnamon and add 1 teaspoon dried oregano and a 14-ounce can of artichoke hearts, drained and halved, to cooked veggies. Add ¼ cup chopped Kalamata olives, top with crumbled feta and serve with cucumber salad and pita bread.

Asparagus Look for firm-tipped, thin stalks of asparagus. How much should you trim off? Bend a stalk until it breaks and use it as a guide to trim the whole bunch. It may seem like a lot to take off, but stringy, tough asparagus is so disappointing. Roasting is a tasty alternative to blanching, as in the Frittata recipe. Toss the spears with a little olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet and roast 8 -12 minutes at 450 degrees. Try the Hollandaise Sauce, with or without the green chile, on top of the asparagus as a tasty side dish.

Craving more cooking tips? Then visit amarillomagonline.com where you can submit questions and comments for T and Andy and get more advice, whether you’re an expert chef or a novice cook.

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

51

Skilled Nursing Home Care Aide Physical Therapy Main Office 806.351.8522 The Clairmont 806.322.0991

Canyonview Estates 806.358.0537

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

806.356.6066 www.emetabolic.com

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How-To

Profiles Choosing a hospital?

Does your plan include Northwest Texas Healthcare System? not for chickens

Great service.

Important specialties.

Affordability. developing •through Level III incubation Trauma Facility business • The Heart Hospital of Northwest Texas • Accredited Chest Pain Center • The Children’s Hospital at Northwest Texas Healthcare System • Early B. Lokey Women’s Center • The Pavilion - Behavioral Health • Partnering with Alliance Regional Health Network for exceptional healthcare providers at reasonable cost.

806-354-1000

1501 S. Coulter • Amarillo, TX 79106

www.nwtexashealthcare.com Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The system shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

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How- TO P ROF I L E S

53

How to Apply for a Home Loan

I

Shawna Bachman Vice president of mortgage loans Amarillo National Bank

Amarillo National Bank P O Box 1 378.8000 • anb.com 11ANB_AmarilloMagazine(March)_PRINT.pdf

t’s no secret that applying for a mortgage loan can be intimidating. That’s why its important to work with a bank you can rely on.

“Don’t worry,” says Shawna Bachman, vice president of mortgage loans at Amarillo National Bank. “Your mortgage lender is here to guide you.”

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE LOAN: • Be prepared to provide information. This might include your Social Security number, residence addresses and employers for the last two years, gross income and a list of assets and debts.

• Your lender will help you decide which type of loan is best for you. In general, you might receive a Conventional, FHA or VA loan. Terms available include 30, 20, 15 or 10 years, depending on the type of loan.

• Be prepared to provide documents such as payment stubs, W-2s, bank statements or other asset statements. The lender will look at your income and debts to see what you 3/9/11 3:32:30 PM can afford in a house payment.

• You will receive an approval letter to let a seller know that you have been approved for a loan.

• You will take a few final steps. Once you have a contract, the lender will order an appraisal, title work and a survey.

• The loan will close when the borrower goes to the title company to sign the final loan document and provide a cashier’s check for closing costs.

Sometimes, there are other options when each step doesn’t go according to plan. For instance, if you don’t show enough funds to close at the time of application, the lender might suggest other loan programs.

Some loan programs allow gifts from relatives, or the seller may be willing to contribute toward closing costs. You can also save up or use your tax refund.

Know what your credit report says about your financial history before you apply for a mortgage. The report plays an important role in the mortgage approval process and in determining the interest rate and other loan terms.

YOUR NEW HOME IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. SO ARE WE.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

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How- TO P ROF I L E S

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How to Select an Orthodontist

W

Dr. Philip J. Corbin Corbin Orthodontics

Dr. Philip J. Corbin 3419 S. Coulter, Amarillo 353.9862 1801 4th Ave., Canyon 655.4481

hen you’re in the market for an orthodontist, ask your family dentist to refer you to a board certified orthodontist who only specializes in braces. Also, ask your friends about their experiences with their orthodontists.

well as create patient burn-out by the end of final treatment.

QUICK TIPS:

• Severe overbites or “buck teeth”

• Choose an orthodontist who is board certified in his specialty.

• Underbites (lower front teeth in front of the upper teeth)

• Results of orthodontics are dependent on age, genetics, oral hygiene and cooperation.

• Oral habits such as finger sucking or tongue thrusting

• Teeth have memory and will relapse if retainers are not worn.

Watch out for fads and advertising when it comes to choosing quality orthodontic care.

Common fads in braces include frictionfree braces, lingual braces, ceramic braces and clear or Invisalign braces. No particular technique or set of braces has ever been documented as superior to another.

• Orthodontics can improve your selfesteem and overall oral health.

The best time to introduce a child to orthodontics is before they lose their last couple of baby teeth. Only about 10 percent of children under age 11 or 12 need to start early orthodontics. Starting most children earlier could significantly increase total treatment cost and time, as

Children who might benefit from early treatment usually have: • Cleft palates

• Self-esteem issues

Remember: If you’re not comfortable with your orthodontist’s suggestion, it never hurts to get a second opinion, especially when it concerns you or your children.

Making the

texas Panhandle

BEAUTIFUL

One Smile

at a time

Over 30 Years of experience in orthodontics Board Certified by the american Board of Orthodontics Fellow of the american College of Dentists Fellow of the international College of Dentists Visiting instructor in the Department of Orthodontics at: the University of texas Dental Branch the University of Oklahoma School of Dentistry

Amarillo 3419 S. Coulter 353.9862

Canyon 1801 4th Ave. 655.4481

Baylor College of Dentistry

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How to Select a Mattress

D

• Lay on the mattress in the store for 5-15 minutes to ensure its comfort level satisfies you.

Do you wake up feeling stiff, or with aches and pains? If so, it may be time to replace your mattress. Before you buy, educate yourself on what is available to you.

• Shop at a store that will give you good information, good service and top-quality products.

on and Dustin Roop are an awardwinning father-son business duo with a combined total of 60 years of sales experience. D&D Mattress is a business built on top-quality products and a legacy of customer service.

QUICK TIPS: • Choose from three popular styles of mattresses: innerspring, foam and air.

Dustin Roop D & D Mattress

• Ask to see a “cutaway” of the interior of the mattress so you can view the interior of the different mattresses and foundation choices.

D&D Mattress 4219 SW 45th 322.2033 danddmattress.com

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• Find out what type of warranty is offered with your mattress.

•

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• Always purchase a new mattress in a set, because an old foundation can ruin a new mattress.

“We really pride ourselves on customer service,” says Dustin. He attributes D&D Mattress’ success to great service and quality mattresses. Knowing that the market is competitive, D&D offers the best, quality products available.

D&D Mattress was just one family’s dream.

That dream is now a reality. Locally-owned and operated since 2006, D&D Mattress has been named “Best of Amarillo” for the past two years.

developing through business incubation

How to Gain a Competitive Edge

T

QUICK TIPS:

People hire coaches to: • Make significant career changes • Start or expand a business • Prepare a business for transition or investment • Reach goals faster • Be a better leader • Simplify their lives

WTAMU Enterprise Center 2300 N. Western 374.9777 incubationworks.com

he WTAMU Enterprise Center is built on the concept that behind every successful business is a strong visionary. Leaders in a company must be well coached and equipped with the right tools to make their own decisions about what is best for their company.

Business can be a dog-eat-dog existence that requires a businessperson to be focused and mentally on top of their game. This is why a coach can be quite helpful.

“Coaching is a collaborative partnership between a coach and a willing individual which connects at the deep, personal level of beliefs, values and vision,” says David Terry, executive director of the WTAMU Enterprise Network.

David says that a coach doesn’t tell others what to do or think. Instead, coaching occurs

when a person is given an opportunity to think out loud and create possibilities with his or her coach. This creates a safe environment that provides inspiration and motivation, and ultimately accelerates entrepreneurial development and business growth.

At the WTAMU Enterprise Center, coaches are, in fact, entrepreneurs who understand firsthand what it takes to grow a business personally and professionally. A coach will emphasize the client’s responsibility for the results and focuses as much on whom the client needs to be, or become, as on what business practices need to be carried out differently.

“You can ask for an initial coaching session and make sure you understand the characteristics of the coach that relate best with you,” David says.

incubation Find out how

can work for you:

The process of incubation is much more than brick and mortar. It’s a dynamic process that provides synergy and support for entrepreneurs.

Goal-oriented strategic planning and business coaching from experienced advisors.

State-of-the-art conference and training rooms and co-working space.

Reduced-cost, flexible leases with expandable space.

Access to training programs and monthly networking events.

not for chickens

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How- TO P ROF I L E S10:58:28 AM 57 10/14/2010

How to Choose a Family Physician

W

Eric Cox, MD Family Medicine Center of Canyon

hen it comes to your family’s health, you need a physician you can rely on – day or night. Family Medicine Centers knows how important it is to take care of all your needs all the time.

The benefits of choosing a family physician with Family Medicine Centers don’t end there. Their caring team of health care professionals is available at multiple locations in and around Amarillo.

QUICK FACTS: • FMC offers complete primary care from infants to elderly patients.

• FMC can treat 90 percent of your health issues at one stop. They maintain good relationships with specialists to whom they refer patients when necessary.

• FMC in Canyon is the only place to get 24-hour healthcare in Amarillo/Canyon other than the emergency room.

• FMC offers onsite labs, onsite x-rays and onsite bone density tests. They house a sonogram technician and other specialists, including a cardiologist, on specified days.

“Our patient base is broad,” says Dr. Cox of the Canyon clinic. “We take care of entire families; I’ve treated everyone from great-grandmothers down to their greatgrandchildren.

Family Medicine Center on Coulter 1500 Coulter, Amarillo 467-9777

Family Medicine Center of Canyon 911 23rd St., Canyon 655.2104

Living Well Express Care (inside United Supermarket) 5807 SW 45th, Amarillo 355.2900

Family Medicine Center on Georgia Cindy Hutson, DO 2701 S. Georgia, Amarillo 351.2000

Family Medicine Center of Pampa 3023 Perryton Pkwy., Ste.101, Pampa 665.0801

J. Anderson, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology 1500 S. Coulter, Ste. 2, Amarillo 463.5635

“We also get a lot of first-time patients. That’s the benefit of being a walk-in clinic,” he says.

Families who frequent Family Medicine Centers know that even if their doctor is not in-office when they need healthcare, the team at FMC takes care of them.

“We have electronic medical records so we always have your full health history in front of us,” Dr. Cox says.

“There’s always somebody available to see you.”

A service of

Panhandle Pediatrics 1500 Coulter, Amarillo 354.0404 JO Wyatt Clinic 1411 Amarillo Blvd. East, Amarillo 351.7200

care for non-life threatening illnesses or injuries. With a new location at 2701 S. Georgia in Amarillo, quality care with extended hours, 7 days a week, is always close to home. Our CareXpress™ Urgent Care location in Canyon, at 911 23rd Street, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

806.350.3000 2701 S. Georgia Amarillo, Texas 79109 Extended Care Hours: Walk-ins Welcome Open M-F . . . . . 8am - 8pm Sat . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am - 5pm Sun. . . . . . . . . . . 12pm - 5pm

CareXpress™ in Canyon 806.655.2104 911 23rd Street Canyon, Texas 79015 Extended Care Hours: Walk-ins Welcome 24 Hours / 7 Days a Week

For more information, check us out online at CareXpressFMC.com.

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CareXpress Urgent Care on Georgia 1500 Coulter, Amarillo 350.3000

Family Medicine Centers

CareXpress™ Urgent Care, a service of Family Medicine Centers, provides the best in quality

Now Open! CareXpress™ on Georgia

CareXpress Urgent Care of Canyon 911 23rd St, Canyon 655.2104

Don’t forget about the extended hours at:

806.355.2900 45th & Bell (inside United Supermarket) Amarillo, Texas 79109 Extended Care Hours: Walk-ins Welcome Open M-F . . . . . 8am - 7pm Sat . . . . . . . . . . . . 8am - 6pm Sun. . . . . . . . . . . 10am - 3pm

How to Choose a Hospital

P

atients are often surprised and frustrated when they realize the insurance plan they selected does not cover services they assumed it did. That’s why it’s always best to do your homework when selecting a hospital.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System 1501 S. Coulter 354.1000 nwtexashealthcare.com

QUICK TIPS: • Become familiar with the insurance plan you have selected.

• Make sure you know which hospital choices are in your plan.

• Know your deductibles.

• Make sure you use the hospital services appropriately.

Start with familiarizing yourself with your insurance plan. Some examples of services that might not be covered are trauma care, emergency care, air medical transport and some specialty services like behavioral or psychiatric care.

Be sure you understand which providers are covered under your plan. Providers include hospitals, physicians, therapists, outpatient clinics or any other health care provider.

It’s important to be aware that deductibles and co-pay amounts may vary depending on whether you utilize an in-network provider or out-of-network provider. Although you may have a number of providers in your network, the discounts and co-pays vary significantly by plan.

For example, the cost for a service in the emergency room will vary greatly from going to a clinic or your primary care physician.

A good way to start is by logging on to the Web site of the hospital you are considering to find out if it is a good fit for the treatment you are seeking.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS: • Has this hospital received national awards?

• Are the nurses certified in the treatment I’m seeking?

• Has the service I need been recognized or accredited at this hospital?

You will find comfort in knowing that the staff who will be caring for you has taken the extra steps and effort necessary to provide you with excellent care.

Choosing a hospital?

Does your plan include Northwest Texas Healthcare System?

Great service.

Important specialties.

Affordability.

• Level III Trauma Facility • The Heart Hospital of Northwest Texas • Accredited Chest Pain Center • The Children’s Hospital at Northwest Texas Healthcare System • Early B. Lokey Women’s Center • The Pavilion - Behavioral Health • Partnering with Alliance Regional Health Network for exceptional healthcare providers at reasonable cost.

806-354-1000

1501 S. Coulter • Amarillo, TX 79106

www.nwtexashealthcare.com Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The system shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

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How- TO P ROF I L E S

59

How to Know if Plastic Surgery is Right for You

N

ot everyone is a good candidate for plastic surgery. It’s a good idea to review a few general rules before electing for cosmetic plastic surgery.

First, patients need to be as physically fit and as healthy as possible before surgery.

Most plastic surgery is done using general anesthesia and patients must be medically fit to tolerate it.

Patrick J. Proffer, MD, FACS Proffer Surgical Associates

Proffer Surgical Associates 1301 Coulter, Suite 104 576.4131 drproffer.com

maintain active lives. On the other hand, children as young as five may get teased about protruding ears, and a simple ear tuck can make a tremendous difference in their self-confidence.

A patient should be aware that all surgeries that involve incisions also involve scars.

These can be very well hidden and inconspicuous, but scars are an unavoidable consequence of cutting the skin.

It’s important to understand that weight gain and weight loss alter the results of almost every surgery. A patient should be at a comfortable, healthy weight before undergoing surgery and commit to maintaining a healthy lifestyle after surgery.

Cosmetic surgery will not make people like you, or fix a bad marriage or cure depression.

But it can boost self-confidence, make clothes fit better or help to reverse some of the effects of factors like aging, pregnancy or sun damage.

There is no absolute age limit for plastic surgery. Women well into their 80s want to feel and look good in their clothes as they

That’s why it’s most important that a patient pursue elective plastic surgery for the right reasons.

Liposuction - Contouring

Hand Surgery

Plastic Surgery - Breast & Body

Facial Plastic Surgery

Patrick J. Proffer, MD, FACS WHA Building, 1301 South Coulter, Suite 104 Amarillo Texas 79106 806-352-1185 Botox - Juvederm - Radiesse

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April 5

Downtown Women’s Center 2011 Spring Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Guest speaker is Bruce Wilkinson, author of The “Prayer of Jabez.” Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 372.3625

April 7

A Night of Conversation 6:30 p.m.

WTAMU Honors fundraising event. The Amarillo Club 600 S. Tyler, 651.0000

April 9

6th Annual Chi Omega Golf Tournament 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Hosted by the Chi Omega chapter of WTAMU. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Four-person scramble flighted by a blind draw, shotgun start.

Comanche Trails Golf Course 4200 S. Grand, 358.9943

April 14

Dancing with the Amarillo Stars 6:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 16

Walk MS Registration and checkin starts at 8:30 a.m. The Walk steps out at 10 a.m. This year the local MS affiliate debuts a new indoor/outdoor walk.

Caprock High School 3001 SE 34th Ave. 468.8005

April 29

To Die For: Murder Mystery Theater 6:30 p.m. Hosted by The Bridge. This year’s theme is “The Curse of the Hopeless Diamond.” Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 372.2873 Bret Michaels in Concert 7:30 p.m.

Proceeds benefit JDRF. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Classes and Seminars April 12

Remembering Everyday Life: Documentary Photography in American Culture 7 p.m. Dr. Jessica May, assistant curator of photographs at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, will discuss the history of documentary photography in America. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Hazelwood Lecture Hall 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244

April 18-21

Week of the Young Child: 9-10 a.m., 10:15-11:15 a.m.,11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For children three to five years old and all Kindergarten students.

Monday is Nature Day, Tuesday is Indian Day, Wednesday is Cowboy Day and

Thursday is Arts Day. Each program lasts for one hour. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2249

April 30

Spring Roundup 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Experience trade commerce typical in the Old West. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 2503 4th, Canyon, 651.2244

Exhibitions Panhandle High School Student Show Open April 15 through May 1. Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren, 371.5050 Paint-by-Number Event Open through April. Residents of every age in the Texas Panhandle are invited to work on the world’s largest indoor paint-by-number art project during museum hours. All proceeds benefit the Alliance Education Fund. Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren, 371.5050 Amarillo College, West Texas A&M and Faculty Show Open through April 10.

Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren, 371.5050 Eastern American and European Art from the Permanent Collection Open April 9 through September 5. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Foran Gallery, 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 Made to Fit: Amarillo Little Theatre and the Texas Panhandle Open through November. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Textile Gallery 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 Opening the Cabinet Doors: Clothing and Accessories from the American Indian Collection Open through October. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 People and Places of the Panhandle Open through May 15. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Hazelwood Lecture Hall 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 Not Just for Show: Saddles from the Permanent Collection Open through October 9. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 From Hell Week to Homecoming: Campus Life at WT, 1953-1971 Ongoing exhibit at Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2244 Hunters of the Sky Ongoing exhibit at Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547 Amazing Bodies! Ongoing exhibit at Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547 April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Space Lounge Ongoing exhibit at Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547 Planetary Landscapes Ongoing exhibit at Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547 The T-Rex Experience Open through April. Stateof-the-art exhibit featuring robotic dinosaurs. Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547

Music April 1

AFK 8 p.m. Cattle Call Too 4000 I-40 West, 463.7900 Bakersfield Twang 9 p.m.

Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 S. Independence, 467.8500

April 2

Bakersfield Twang 9 p.m.

Lowery’s Saloon & Dance Hall 609 S. Independence, 467.8500

April 4

Red Collar 8 p.m. the 806 coffee + lounge 2812 SW 6th, 322.1806

April 8

Ray Wilson & the Texas Heat 8 p.m. Cattle Call Too 4000 I-40 West, 463.7900

April 9

The Shane Rogers Band 8 p.m. Hoot’s Pub 2424 Hobbs, 358.9560 Diamondback Texas 9 p.m. Hoot’s Pub 2424 Hobbs, 358.9560

April 14

The Suitcase Junket 8 p.m. the 806 coffee + lounge 2812 SW 6th, 322.1806

April 15

Cody Jasper 8 p.m. Cattle Call Too 4000 I-40 West, 463.7900 Ayurveda 10 p.m. the 806 coffee + lounge 2812 SW 6th, 322.1806

April 16

Tommy Gallagher Band 8 p.m. Hoot’s Pub 2424 Hobbs, 358.9560

April 21

The Heyday 8 p.m. Amarillo College East Campus 2200 S. Washington 371.5000

April 22

Average Joes 8 p.m. Cattle Call Too 4000 I-40 West, 463.7900 Reckless Kelly 8 p.m. Midnight Rodeo 4400 S.Georgia, 358.7083

April 24

Bakersfield Twang 8 p.m. Amarillo Area Singles Dance Club, VFW Club 1401 SW 8th, 373.5591

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

April 29

Tennessee Tuckness 8 p.m. Cattle Call Too 4000 I-40 West, 463.7900 William Clark Green 10 p.m. Midnight Rodeo 4400 S.Georgia, 358.7083

Nature Snake Feeding 3 p.m. every Saturday in April. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center 2301 N. Soncy, 352.6007

April 1

Lunch with the Longhorns 1:30 p.m.

Watch the park interpreter as she gives the park longhorns their daily ration.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227 Toddlers at 10: Bears 10-10:45 a.m.

Advance registration is required. For children ages 18 months to 4 years old.

Minimum of one adult must accompany a registered child. Amarillo Zoo 200 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

April 2

Bird Walks and Talks 8:30-10 a.m. Learn about the birds in Palo Duro Canyon.

Meet at the parking lot of the Palo Duro Trading Post. Weather permitting. Bring binoculars. No pets, please. Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227 Family Nature Hike 3-4 p.m. Walk the Paseo del Rio Trail with the park interpreter and learn about the canyon.

Easy trail for families with small children.

Weather permitting; no pets, please.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

April 8

Toddlers at 10: Lions 10-10:45 a.m.

Advance registration is required. For children ages 18 months to 4 years old.

Minimum of one adult must accompany a registered child. Amarillo Zoo 200 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

April 9

Evening Hike 7-8:30 p.m. Meet in the Juniper Day Use area for an evening hike. Group size limited to 30. Weather permitting; no pets, please. Reservations required. Deadline, April 7.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

April 15

Toddlers at 10: Monkeys 10-10:45 a.m. Advance registration is required. For children ages 18 months to 4 years old. Minimum of one adult must accompany a registered child. Amarillo Zoo 200 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

April 16

Birds of Prey 3-4 p.m. Come to the Visitor Center and see live birds of prey presented by Doris Mager. Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

Find That Special Something 2010

Bird Walks and Talks 8:30-10 a.m. Learn about the birds that make Palo Duro Canyon their home. Meet at the parking lot of the Palo Duro Trading Post.

Weather permitting. Bring binoculars.

No pets, please. Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

April 23

Easter Egg-citement 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the Amarillo Zoo for the second annual Easter event.

Children will be able to participate in a variety of activities. The featured event is an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.

Amarillo Zoo 200 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911 Native Plant Hike 9-11 a.m. Join an area native-plant expert and learn about plants in the canyon. Trail to be announced day of hike. Reservation required; no pets, please. Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

April 29

Toddlers at 10: Tortoises 10-10:45 a.m.

Advance registration is required. For children ages 18 months to 4 years old.

Minimum of one adult must accompany a registered child. Amarillo Zoo 200 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

3,000 sq. ft. of gifts & home decor in a most unique cabin setting.

Lizzie Mae’s Mercantile

I-40 Exit (64) | Soncy, North to Amarillo Blvd. Go West, 1 1/4 mile 806-331-1710 | 10101 Amarillo Blvd. West

April 30

Canyon Wildlife 3-4 p.m. Come to the Lone Star Interpretive Theater and learn about the animals in the park. Weather permitting; no pets, please. Palo Duro Canyon State Park 11450 Park Rd. 5, 488.2227

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

Special Events April 9

Girl Scout Day 1-4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 16

Tri-State Paranormal Convention 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Hosted by the Palo Duro Paranormal Society. See the Klinge Brothers from “Ghost Lab, psychic Ericka Boussarhane, and Jimmy Kelly Billman from Wide Awake Paranormal in Dallas.

Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 17

Amarillo Honors and Convocation Ceremony 2-4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Dudley E. Freeman, M.D. • Sarah Bergeron, RNC, WHNP George Barnett, M.D. • Cullen Hopkins, M.D. • Gregory A. May, M.D.

7620 Wallace Blvd. • Amarillo, Tx. 79124 • 806-359-5468

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

65

April 21

April 30

Golden Nail Awards 6:30 p.m. Hosted by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce.

Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Buff Baseball vs. Tarleton State University 1 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

WTAMU Summer Job Fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. WTAMU Jack B. Kelley Commons, Canyon, 651.2345

Blake Mycoskie, TOMS Shoes founder, lecture 8:30 p.m. First United Bank Center Canyon, 651.2252

Sports & Recreation April 1

April 2

Amarillo Venom vs. Colorado Ice 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 15

Buff Baseball vs. Abilene Christian University 6 p.m. Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400 Lady Buff Softball vs. Angelo State University 4 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

April 16

Buff Baseball vs. Abilene Christian University 1 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400 Lady Buff Softball vs. Angelo State University 12 p.m. Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

April 19

Saint Edward’s University 2 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

April 23

Amarillo Venom vs. West Texas Roughnecks 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 29

Buff Baseball vs. Tarleton State University 6 p.m. Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

April 1

April 2

April 9

2479 W. I-40 • Wolflin Square 806-354-2900 • www.realdeals.net

Trade Shows Just Between Friends Consignment Sale 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Buff Baseball vs. East Central University 1 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

Thursday • 10 am - 6 pm Saturday • 10 am - 5 pm

Lady Buff Softball vs. Eastern New Mexico University 12 p.m. Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

Buff Baseball vs. East Central University 6 p.m. Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

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

g is in the air...

Sprin

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

Lady Buff Softball vs. Eastern New Mexico University 4 p.m. (DH) Sports Complex, Canyon, 651.4400

Just Between Friends Consignment Sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Second Annual Ultimate Man Cave Trade Show 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 9

Healthy Kids Day 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Presented by Cumulus Broadcasting.

Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 12

City of Amarillo Job Fair 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 15

Spa and Pool Show and Sale 3-6 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 16

Spa and Pool Show and Sale 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 17

Spa and Pool Show and Sale 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

April 23

Life After 50 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Presented by the Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Builder

ProfiLes

Amarillo Classic Homes

L

eon Gillispie has been building homes in and around Amarillo for more than 30 years. A second-generation builder, Leon says that creating a beautiful and functional living space is what drives him.

“I just love building houses; I grew up in construction,” he says. “It is a new challenge every day.”

Leon has built homes in elegant areas of Amarillo including the Citadel, Pheasant Run, Westover Village, The Greenways, The Colonies, Greyhawk Landing and The Canyons. He has the distinction of building the first home in the Citadel in the 1980s. Leon has built 18 homes in The Greenways and recently completed the breathtaking Greenways sales office in Tuscany Village.

Leon says he works hard to build quality homes at affordable prices. He doesn’t limit himself to one area of town –

instead he strives to satisfy each customer’s requirements.

“We will build your new home the way you want it, in or outside the city limits,” Leon says.

“Our number one goal has never been volume, but it has been to just build good, quality homes.” Leon says. “We build homes we would like to live in ourselves.

We concentrate on quality.”

Stop by the Greenways sales office in Tuscany Village to see the quality of Leon’s work. With walls up to 19 feet high, barrel ceilings, stone and brick workmanship and exposed tresses, this structure is a unique display of craftsmanship.

Visit Leon’s parade home at 7602 Continental Parkway in The Colonies. Or view his spec homes that are for sale now at 8005 Clearmeadow in The Greenways and 8412 Kinderhook in Westover Village.

7602 Continental Parkway, Under Construction in The Colonies

• • • • • •

$419,000 Total living area per plan: 3305 sq ft.

Huge center island and eating bar in kitchen Octagon-shaped breakfast room Study off the entry hall Upstairs bonus room with walk-in closet and bathroom • Double-oversized master bedroom with door to patio • Oceana air tub and cultured marble shower in master bath • Home has two covered patios for outdoor enjoyment

Amarillo Classic Homes 806.676.1301

anD leon gilliSpie

806.676.1301

Quality • Service • integrity • DepenDability

BUILDER PROFILES 2011 • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Builder

Profiles

Nielsen Communities

T

he Vineyards boasts a Southwestern motif that is sure to appeal to the people of the Panhandle. In comparison to almost everything that’s been built in and around Amarillo, Nielsen Communities promises that this charming community is a new kind of place to call home.

With stucco homes instead of brick, complete with tile roofs instead of shingles, blocked fences instead of wood fences and individual driveways instead of communal alleys – The Vineyards is something to talk about.

“A lot of what we’re doing at The Vineyards is about families living in a low-maintenance community,” says Tom Nielsen of Nielsen Communities. The bricked fences keep homeowners from the hassle of repairing wood fences. The

Vineyards also offers the option of a desertscape instead of grass, insuring low-maintenance, lowcost watering.

“We’re creating a community where, when you pull into the subdivision, you enter through a main street with a median and no homes on it,” Tom says. “It’s an introduction to the neighborhood; once you get into the subdivision, all the homes are on cul-de-sacs. We’re creating a secure, family atmosphere at an affordable price.”

Spec homes in The Vineyards range from 1200 feet to 2200 feet. Visit The Vineyards during the Parade of Homes to see two of the five models at 1200 Shiraz Blvd. and 1204 Shiraz Blvd. Guests will preview the three-plan model, listed in the $160,000 range, and the five-plan model, listed in the $210,000 range.

The Vineyards of Amarillo

• Stucco finish • Tile roofs • Granite countertops • Nine-foot ceilings • Block walls

• Three car garages • Ceiling fans in all bedrooms • Woodlands School district

Neilsen Communities

www.thevineyardsofamarillo.com 806.383.0166

The Vineyards

Amarillo’s Newest Home Community 5 new model homes ranging from 1240 to 2200 square feet

Starting in the $120,000’s www.thevineyardsofamarillo.com OPEN TUES THRU SAT 11-7 SUN1-4 | 806.383.0166

Nielsen

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BUILDER PROFILES 2011 • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Communities

Builder

ProfilEs

Old World Construction

E

ric White started in construction after he got his driver’s license. His first job was cleaning construction sites for builders. From there, he went on to work for sub contractors and builders after high school and through college.

“I have a lot of hands-on knowledge,” Eric says.

While studying for a degree in construction science from Texas A&M University, Eric worked with a highend production builder in Dallas for a year while he got his own construction company up and running. He moved back to Amarillo and started Old World Construction in 2002. He says his clients want unique amenities in their homes.

“We aren’t just focused on building a nice interior for a home. Last year, we put a golf simulator in a house, an outdoor,

regulation beach volleyball court and an Olympic-size swimming pool in three different houses And everyone wants a theatre room in their house now. We do saunas and steam showers, too. We’ve done everything but a bowling alley, but I’m sure that’s coming up pretty quickly,” he says.

Eric works hard to keep his design ideas fresh and up-to-date. “We’re constantly trying to change the look of our houses.

We want you to see something different,” he says. “A lot of builders get in a rut. If one thing sells, they keep building it until time forces them to change. We use a bunch of designers both in town and out of town and that helps keep our product different.”

5012 Aberdeen in The Colonies

• • • • • • • •

On the parkway with wrap-around front patio Approximately 4,300 square feet Four Bedrooms Six Bathrooms Two Living areas Three Car garage Commercial kitchen Swimming pool-ready with pool bath

old World Construction, llC

806.236.2892 www.old-world-construction.com

BUILDER PROFILES 2011 • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Builder

Profiles

Cole Stanley Builders

W

ith a commitment to the integrity of each living space he builds or remodels, Cole Stanley marries the architecture of vintage Americana with cutting-edge upgrades for a modern living experience.

With 11 years of remodeling under his belt, Cole has done everything from the small bathroom remodel to relocating an old farmhouse. He is currently renovating and remodeling a building at 1015 S. Polk Street. Built in 1924, this rundown hardware store is being revitalized into a downtown loft residence.

Cole Stanley Builders is committed to bringing back the old Amarillo vitality of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction in taking something that’s old and worn out and unwanted,” Cole says. “We strip it down, clean it, add to it, and when we’re finished, it’s something of great value.”

By using reclaimed lumber from a meat packing plant in Hereford, Cole

Stanley Builders created stairs and shelving for the loft space downtown. Dedicated to green building, they also incorporate solar shades, wood burning fireplaces, high-efficiency windows, and heating and air in their living spaces.

By crossbreeding vintage Americana with modern living, they are equipped to remodel spaces in more mature areas like downtown. But with experience in custom building, they are also committed to bringing a new style of living to areas like the Greenways and the Colonies.

“The Old World, European style is well established in the new subdivisions in Amarillo,” Cole acknowledges. “But we’re ready to bring a fresh approach to those same subdivisions.”

See this builder’s innovative work for yourself. Visit 1015 S. Polk Street during the Parade of Homes. Contact Cole Stanley Builders for your next home project or custom home at 584.6175.

Downtown at 1015 s. Polk

•

• • • • • • •

Existing 19,000 sq. ft. warehouse/hardware store of which 8,800 sq. ft. was reused/recycled and refinished Full-scale culinary kitchen Saved existing freight elevator Saved existing floor/guardrails/plaster/brick accents One master suite/master bath with private entry Media center/game room Shared lower level baths Great warmth, complete with 15’ wood burning fireplace

Cole stanley Builders lTD. colestanleyhomes.com 806.584.6175

We give the customer our very best, one home at a time.

Come see our Parade home!

Downtown @ 1015 S. Polk | April 28–May 1 • May 5–8 BUILDERS

70

LTD

.

806.584.6175 | www.colestanleyhomes.com Bringing your dreams to life.

BUILDER PROFILES 2011 • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BUILDERS

LTD

.

month or let’s eat!

RESTAURANTS info • FOOD • SPIRITS

let’s eat!

Zest Eat and Drinkery

In July 2010, Zest Eat and Drinkery owner, Linda Foster, decided to open a restaurant that would provide patrons with fine, affordable dining and an upscale, fun atmosphere.

As Zest’s executive chef, Ashley Hotchkiss knows how to cater to her customers’ cravings. Before returning to Amarillo a few years ago, Ashley worked as a private chef on yachts and sailboats and learned how to please every passenger and crew member under the Caribbean sun. From succulent steaks and seafood to luscious Lollipop lamb chops, Zest goes the extra mile to make sure everybody gets what they want.

photo by Shannon Richardson

Zest Eat and Drinkery, 4000 I-40 West, 352.1498 Open Monday through Sunday, 4-10 p.m.

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.

April 2011 • 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 ^ Aldaco’s Tacos Located on historic 6th Street you’ll find this small, authentic Mexican restaurant.

Aldaco’s is filled with pictures and old posters. The wait staff is always friendly, making sure you enjoy yourself. It’s easy to have fun here, especially on live music nights. Here’s a tip: Try not to fill up on the homemade chips and salsa so you can enjoy the rest of the delicious food. 3623 6th, 374.4945 $ y T C Arnold Burgers Arnold’s is the place to visit for a hot, juicy burger. Try a variety of burgers – you name it, Arnold’s probably has it. You can even order a giant 24-inch burger. Just make sure you bring a crew to help you finish it. And for the kids, order the burger with a bun shaped like a teddy bear. 1611 S. Washington, 372.1741, arnoldburgers.com $ B L 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 ☎ y ^ The Bagel Place Whether for breakfast or lunch, the Bagel Place offers a wide variety of flavored cream cheese and bagel flavors.

Zip through the convenient drive-thru for a great, lazy morning take-home breakfast. For lunch, try the bagel sandwiches made with Boars Head cheese and meat. 3301 Bell, 353.5985 $y Bangkok Tokyo This casual, quaint place is often packed, so visit for an early dinner or a late lunch. Try the Crispy Chicken with Basil or the Bangkok Tokyo Fried Rice. Neither disappoints. 2413 S. Western, 353.4777 $$

Weddings • Parties • Decorations & Catering Available Have your special event on beautiful grounds west of Amarillo Large custom pergola and 2400 sq. ft. tent • Call Marci for consultation 236-1799

moonwater-weddings.com

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Sara Willis Photography

Belmar Bakery Open since 1965, Belmar Bakery is 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 café offers a cozy place to meet for early morning coffee and pastries or tasty lunch with friends.

3325 Bell, 355.0141, belmarbakery.com $^

Biti Pies Biti Pies are miniature versions of traditional pies everyone loves. It’s just the right size for one person and possibly a friend –­ that is if you feel like sharing. Don’t miss out on this bite-sized treat that is melt-in-your-mouth good.

604 S. Maryland, 367.6413, bitipies.com $ Blue Sky Blue Sky’s burgers and homemade fries are the perfect companions to a Lone Star Beer or an Oreo shake. Be prepared to share the one-size-feeds-a lot cheese fries. 4201 I-40 West, 355.8100, blueskytexas.com $ C y T ^ Café Marizon Enjoy the quaint café atmosphere in an historic building on Polk. Café Marizon serves up great home-cooked taste with consistently tasty specials of the day. Go early so you can have a piece of the homemade pie or cake. 705 S. Polk, 374.3058 $ y Carino’s Italian For a 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: Cheesecake is the perfect finish to a great meal. 8400 I-40 West, 468.9375, carinos.com $$ c Celia’s Cocina Celia’s serves some of the best authentic Mexican food in Amarillo. It’s well known for delicious chile rellenos, enchiladas and guacamole. Much of the food is prepared by Celia herself and it’s sure to satisfy. 2917 6th, 491.5632 $$ Chop Chop Japanese Steakhouse Chop Chop’s slogan is “Simple. Fresh.

Fast.” And that’s exactly what you get when you order the hot teppanyaki-style Japanese cuisine. There’s a renovated dining room, quick drive-thru and delivery options so you can decide how you want to dine. 3300 S. Coulter, 457.0700, chopchoprice.com $ ^ Cricket’s Casual Dining Cricket’s is owned by Deborah and Gary Hodges who have been serving Amarillo since 1987. Stop in and try appetizers such as beer battered onion rings or hotzzarella cheese sticks. Follow with any of the traditional American favorites like gourmet burgers, hot dogs or a delicious entrée. 3301 Olsen, 358.3812 cricketscasualdining.com $ C Dale’s Grand Burger Looking for a quick stop to grab a tasty lunch? Then try locally-owned and operated Dale’s Grand Burger. You can’t miss with the famous Grand Burger and homemade onion rings.1900 Bell, 358.8228 $ y

Dyer’s Bar-B-Que If you’re a meat lover, Dyer’s is the place for you. The all-you-can-eat lunch special is hard to beat. Wash it all down with sweet tea and finish up with a heaping bowl of hot fruit cobbler.

1619 S. Kentucky, 358.7104 $$ ^ 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 $ El Patron When you’re looking for friendly service and flavorful Mexican cuisine at a reasonable price, you can’t beat El Patron. Prepare yourself for its morethan-generous portions, such as the restaurant’s namesake, which includes a 10-ounce rib eye steak, two enchiladas, rice, beans, lettuce, tomato and sliced avocados. Just looking to unwind? Then enjoy El Patron’s 99 cent draft beer and margaritas on the rocks during Happy Hour. 5807 SW 45th, 352.2570 $ c Embers Steakhouse A brand-new steakhouse has come to town. Embers offers an array of cuisine from hamburgers and steaks to mahi mahi and swordfish. We have our eye on the goat cheese and applewood smoked bacon burger. Enjoy the extensive wine list and food pairing suggestions while relaxing on the patio.

Give Embers a warm, Amarillo welcome by stopping by for lunch or dinner, seven days a week. 2721 Virginia Circle, 350.3303 $$ - $$$ c y English Field House Restaurant Visit a piece of Amarillo history at the English Field House. Named for Amarillo’s first airfield, the restaurant offers great, cooked-fresh café food.

Take the family for Sunday breakfast. It’s worth the drive. 10610 American Drive, 335.2996 $ Fatcat Fish & Grill From seafood and coleslaw, to cheeseburgers and steaks, Fatcat Fish & Grill offers fresh-cooked food at a reasonable price.1309 N. Fillmore, 373.3581 $ Fernando’s Restaurant & Cantina Family-owned and operated, Fernando’s serves up classic Tex-Mex with a twist.

The self-serve salsa bar 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, 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 a custom-built pizza oven. 4706 34th, space 10 (behind Chop Chop) 331.2232, fireslice.com $$ C Golden Light Café As the oldest operating restaurant in Amarillo, the Golden Light has been in business since 1947, all in the same location. For a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. 2908 6th, 374.9237, goldenlightcafe.com $CT^ Green Chile Willy’s As the owners say, the way you like it is the way they fix it. Hand-cut grilled steaks, excellent burgers and grilled chicken; you name it, Willy’s has it. And you can’t beat the country atmosphere for a relaxing, good time. 13651 I-27, 622.2200, greenchilewillys.com $$ ^ Hayashi Japanese Restaurant Hayashi offers a fun atmosphere for a night out with friends or family. Cook tables allow diners to watch the chef in action or sit back and relax in the Tatami room with low tables and floor seating.

The cuisine is Japanese-style with a sushi bar. 3401 I-40 West, 322.8988, hayashiamarillo.com c $$ Home Plate Diner Take your favorite baseball fan out for a baseball-inspired meal. The walls at Home Plate are covered in local and national baseball memorabilia, and Home Plate serves everything you might order to eat at a game at prices that are easy on your wallet. 5600 Bell, 359.4444 $ Hummer’s Sports Café Hang out with friends and eat your fill of Hummer’s great appetizers. Start off with a platter of raw oysters and a bucket of beer. We highly recommend the steak. 2600 Paramount, 353.0723 $$ c y ^ Indian Oven The moment you enter Indian Oven, you’ll be enveloped by the fragrances of cardamom, ginger, anise, garlic and chili wafting from the kitchen. Start your meal with a generous portion of Naan as you work your way through the extensive menu. Feast on chef specials like Chicken Tandoori and Chicken Tikka Masala or try a little of everything on the generous buffet. Finish up with the todie-for rice pudding. Don’t leave without sipping the Mango Lassi.

11000 I-40 East, 335.3600 $$

exclusively at

2613 Wolflin Village

806.358.2457

April 2011 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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NEW Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches A recent addition to Amarillo, Jimmy John’s prides itself on its fresh ingredients and friendly service. Feeling healthy, but can’t bear to pass up the homemade French bread? Then try the 8-inch vegetarian sub layered with provolone cheese and packed with alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, lettuce, tomato and real avocado spread.

2330 S. Soncy Rd., Suite 500, 354.9200, jimmyjohns.com $

Give your windows a new view!

Joe Taco Great atmosphere and a variety of Southwest favorites make Joe Taco a great place to sit and relax. Especially while enjoying a signature margarita.

7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226, joetaco.net $$ c T ☎ y

Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation

Jorge’s Mexican Bar & Grill In the mood for fajitas? Look no further than Jorge’s Mexican Bar and Grill, specifically the new location at Hillside and Bell. Portion sizes are generous and prices are reasonable. 6051 S. Bell, 354.2141 $$ c y ^

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Jorge’s Tacos Garcia At Jorge’s, serving authentic Mexican food is a family affair. In the same location since 1999, the Veloz family serves up traditional favorites that keep loyal customers coming back time after time. Try the Swiss enchiladas or the Chile Relleno Lampriados. You won’t be disappointed.1100 Ross, 372.0411, tacosgarcia.com $$ c K-N Root Beer If you’ve tried K-N’s yummy burgers and floats, then you know why it’s been a success for more than 40 years. The K-N Special, a double meat, double cheese burger melts in your mouth. You can’t beat the old-fashioned icy mug of root beer. 3900 Olsen, 355.4391 $ 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 entrées like beef or chicken kabobs, meatball stew (our favorite) and stuffed grape leaves. It’s all delicious.

4925 S. Western, 331.6771 $

Clothiers since 1985

74

at 2500

2500 Paramount 359.4156 Mon - Sat: 10 - 6

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

Kolache Café If you like authentic beirox, you’ll be delighted with the Kolache Café. And it doesn’t stop there. Choose from a variety of meat and fruit fillings for a filling breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Everything on the menu is baked fresh daily and so affordable that you can grab a dozen kolaches to go for a quick and tasty meal. 2207 S. Western, Suite B1-90, 322.3279 $ y

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 Leal’s Leal’s serves 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 the fresh-squeezed lime margaritas, some of the best margaritas anywhere. 1619 S. Kentucky, 359.5959, lealsmexicanfoods.com $$ c T ^ Lone Star Bar & Grill Visit Lone Star Bar & Grill for classic American grill-style food including savory steaks, burgers, chicken sandwiches and more, all at an affordable price. You’ll also enjoy down-home friendly service. Lone Star’s guarantee: No hot beer and no small steaks. FM 1151, 622.9827 $$ c Macaroni Joe’s Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal. The Tuscan-inspired rooms are the perfect place for creating memories. Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, the restaurant offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. It’s at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky, Suite 1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$ - $$$ c y ☎ ^ Malcolm’s Ice Cream & Food Temptations Malcolm’s offers the ultimate in classic soda-fountain food: burgers, sandwiches and salads – everything’s good. Be sure you save room for dessert. Better yet, start with a treat. After all, it’s the most important part of the meal at Malcolm’s.

2100 Paramount, 355.3892 $ Menchies If you’ve been longing for a Filipino feast, then long no more. Menchie’s, Amarillo’s sole Filipino restaurant, is open for business. For meat lovers, try the Lechon (roasted pig) or Paksiw Na Lechon. But all you vegetarians don’t fret; Menchie’s has more than one healthy dish for you. Mix it up and give the Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet) a shot. If you’re up early enough, stop by for Menchie’s Filipino Breakfast.

3700 SW 6th, 373.4992 $ My Thai It’s hard to find authentic Thai cuisine that compares to My Thai. We recommend the Angel Noodle with sautéed tomatoes and mushrooms for a tasty alternative to fried rice.

2029 S. Coulter, 352.9014 $ ^

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 ^

NEW Red Hana From Lubbock comes the Asian restaurant Red Hana. Nestled inside Bell Plaza, Red Hana offers an array of dishes from sushi to Mongol-andHibachi-grilled items. The Mongolian barbecue will certainly hit the spot. Stop

by Monday through Sunday for lunch or dinner or even just relaxing in the sake lounge. 5807 SW 45th, 356.7045 $$

Oscar’s Burritos Oscar’s Burritos doesn’t take up a lot of space, but what it lacks in room is made up with big taste. With everything homemade and fresh, the authentic cuisine is sure to satisfy any craving.

Stop by the drive-thru and pick up one of the famous brisket specialty burritos or go in and enjoy a delicious stuffed avocado. 4206 SW 45th, 350.4400 $

Rio Grande Grill With food this good, it’s a shame the drive-thru restaurant isn’t open on weekends. The breakfast burritos will give you enough fuel to last until lunch.

If lunch suits you better, the nachos supreme taste like Grandma made them from scratch. We are big fans.

909 S. Madison, 372.2950 $

Pacific Rim Pacific Rim offers a variety of AsianFusion cuisine in a unique setting. One of the best things about this place is the greeting you’ll get from Andy, the owner. But let’s talk food. The lettuce wraps are outstanding. In fact, everything is good. Pacific Rim even offers speedy delivery. 2061 Paramount, 353.9179, pacificrimam.com $ C Pancake Station With breakfast this good, you’ll be glad to know that the Pancake Station serves it all day long. The restaurant also offers great café-style meals. We recommend the huge omelets and fresh pancakes.

2800 Virginia Circle, 355.0211 $ ^ Pattaya Searching for great Thai food and attentive service? Look no further than Pattaya. Begin with the tasty Crabby Cheese Rolls, then move on to the sticky rice with Pattaya’s special sauce. Be sure to end your meal with delicious, homemade coconut ice cream.

6204 Hillside, 354.8292 $ Pescaraz Italian Restaurant Come ready to linger when you visit Pescaraz. From the charming décor and impressive bar area to the array of entrees, soups, salads and impressive wine list, you’ll want to take time to savor every bite. Enjoy excellent service and live music in the evenings.

3415-K Bell, 350.5430, pescaraz.com $$ c T Pho Van When we say Pho Van is the place in town to find authentic Vietnamese food, we mean it. You’ll find spring rolls, Pho (noodles in Vietnamese), and delectable pork chops in this small hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Owner, Em, stands by his wife’s garlic chicken wings, promising you won’t find their equal anywhere.

5625 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.6552 $

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 the delicious lunch specialties. It’s the perfect place to relax with your friends for lunch. 3440 Bell, 353.7309 $ y Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q Rudy’s serves up the same original recipes that they’ve used since 1989: brisket, ribs, turkey, pork loin and sausage slow-smoked over an oak fire, seasoned with a secret dry-spice blend and topped with “Sause.” Plenty of sides and delicious desserts ensure that you’ll need lots of napkins. 3751 I-40 West, 677.7452, rudys.com $$ Sakura Choose from an extensive sushi menu that includes Nigiri style, cut rolls, special rolls, spicy rolls, sushi salads and for the beef lover, Texas sushi. At Sakura, get ready to be entertained by chefs who prepare your meal at the table. We wholeheartedly recommend the swordfish. 4000 Soncy, 358.8148, sakuraamarillo.com $$ – $$$ c Saltgrass Steak House Certified Angus Beef + Sidewinders = mouthwatering taste. Saltgrass has plenty of steaks to choose from and you can pair it with juicy Gulf shrimp or try the Seafood Fondeaux with Shiner Bock Beer Bread. Take our advice: Save room for the Two-Fork Cheesecake. It’s a piece of heaven that melts in your mouth.

8300 I-40 West, 351.0349 saltgrass.com c $$ ^ Scott’s Oyster Bar If you are a fresh oyster connoisseur, Scott’s is the place for you. Even though it’s a little on the small side, the quick service and excellent seafood make it one of our favorite places to hang out.

4150 Paramount, 354.9110 $$ y C

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Sharky’s Burrito Company Think of Sharky’s as a burrito assembly line, a place where you call the shots and load a tortilla (flavored or not) with all your favorite toppings. Start with the meat and work your way through a plethora of options including beans, rice, veggies and cheese. The endless combinations will keep you going back for more. 1612 S. Georgia, 359.7330 $ Texas Chicken Wok Texas Chicken Wok offers fast service with even lower prices. The always-fresh vegetables compliment one of our favorite dishes, the house stir-fry. No matter what you choose, the restaurant delivers an experience that seasons anyone’s taste buds. 2406 Paramount, 351.2600 $ Texas Firehouse Sports Bar & Grill More grill than bar, Texas Firehouse offers everything from a delicious fried green bean appetizer to steaks, all in a family friendly smoke-free environment.

Watch all your favorite sporting events while you eat. 3333 S. Coulter, 351.1800 C $ - $$

NEW Thai Taste If you’re feeling a bit finicky, Thai Taste will fix that. With more than 20 lunch and dinner entrees, you’ll certainly find a dish that satisfies you, whatever your craving. To spice up your night, try the Chili Special. 7710 Hillside, Suite 100, 352.4444 $ Tyler’s Barbecue Going back to the basics, Tyler’s Barbecue combines a straightforward menu with a relaxed atmosphere. We suggest the mouth-watering Man-Sized Double Meat Sandwich. But don’t forget to save room for the delicious cobbler before you leave. 2014 Paramount, 331.2271, tylersbarbecue.com $ ^ Village Bakery & Café The Village offers a large selection of handmade European pastries and breads to complement fresh, gourmetstyle 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

Wheels, Chicken & Waffles You’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time to a quaint old-fashioned diner when you visit Wheels. The inside is covered with vintage car memorabilia and wheels galore. We love the southernfried chicken with waffles. The mix of savory and sweet is delicious. Save room for dessert when you dine because you won’t want to miss the waffle cheesecake. It’s a big Belgian waffle piled high with cheesecake filling, whipped cream and both chocolate and caramel syrup. 2710 10th, 342.5400 $ Willie’s Bayou Grill You’ll be blown away by the aroma of Cajun spices as soon as you step into Willie’s. Have fun with your meal when you choose Peel-um & Eat-um Shrimp, fried alligator or oysters (either baked or on the half shell). Their po’boy sandwiches are sure to fill up the hungriest belly. And of course, classic dishes like Shrimp Creole and Crawfish Etouffee won’t disappoint.

3819 I-40 West, 242.3474, williesbayougrill.com $ y

Wing Stop Wing Stop cooks up some of the best chicken wings around. There’s a flavor for every palate. And if you haven’t had sugared French fries, you just haven’t lived. 6000 SW 45th, 356.9464 / 3300 I-40 East, Suite P, 331.9464, wingstop.com $$ C ^ Young Sushi Rocks The friendly greeting you receive when you walk into Young’s is your first clue that your experience will be a good one. The helpful staff is always willing to offer suggestions regarding the sushi. If sushi’s not your thing, try the authentic Thai cuisine. 202 SW 10th, 371.7200 $$ C ^ Zest Eat & Drinkery The chef at Zest Eat & Drinkery puts a delightful twist on classic dishes. The menu has everything from duck and lamb, to steaks and seafood. With an array of food options and full bar with daily drink specials, Zest presents a lively atmosphere and upscale dining. Plus, you’ll enjoy an affordable yet excellent wine list. 4000 I-40 West 352.1498 $$ c ☎

taste of the city SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Kabuki Romanza

Kabuki Romanza would like to introduce wine dinners at Kabuki, an evening filled with exquisite dining and perfectly balanced wines to compliment. We hope you will join us in the exploration of fine wine and exquisite cuisine at future wine dinners. Each wine dinner will feature a unique dining experience balanced with tantalizing wines, perfect for any occasion. Call Carey or Venita at 353.4242, ext. 6 for more information. Open seven days a week.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

8130 I-40 West, Amarillo, 353.4242

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

7312 WAllAce Blvd. | 358-8990 | joeTAco.com

JOE’S ViOLATED CHiCKEN

EL(THEJEFE BOSS)

APRIL 6 6 P.M.

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WINE TASTING HORS D’OEUvRES PARTY KUnde WInes Is one oF THe ToP sUsTAInABle WInerIes In THe coUnTrY

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JOE’S SURF AND TURF

APRIL 7 5:30 P.M.

SCOTCH TASTING HORS D’OEUvRES PARTY In THe vIno loUnGe And PATIo WITH cIGArs oUTsIde

April

photo courtesy of Amarillo Public Library Archives

retro rewind

Downtown on the Move

Pedestrians and cars share the busy intersection of Third Avenue and Polk Street in a snapshot of a thriving downtown. Three quarters of a century later, of the prominent buildings in this photograph, the Amarillo Building is the sole survivor. It is now home to business and law offices.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

i need to go to the

are we there yet?

i’m thirsty

bathroom

MOM!

2011 Nissan Quest

he won’t

stay on his side

no complaints here

not about the car anyway

McGavock Nissan 4401 South Georgia, Amarillo, TX | 354-3550 | www.mcgavocknissan.com

spotlight

Alfred Gonsalez A

photo by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

lfred Gonsalez’ life revolves around cars. Originally from La Junta, Colorado, Alfred moved to Amarillo just over a year ago and started working at Vintage Autohaus & Imports as a detailer.

Alfred didn’t have much of a choice when it came to loving cars. With car restoration being the family business, he airbrushed his first car at the age of 13 and he has been addicted ever since. “Working with cars is in my blood,” he says. “I’ve been doing it forever and I’ve always been pretty creative.”

When Alfred finishes his workday at Vintage Autohaus, he doesn’t plop down on the couch and watch TV, but goes straight to his shop and fixes up cars and choppers with the help of his assistant, Madison, his twoyear-old daughter. Alfred is also staying busy coordinating his new car club, Latin Lifestyle.

“My friends and I are trying to get the club going and trying to build up a lot of custom cars and have them ready for Cinco de Mayo,” Alfred says.

The rare moments Alfred is not working on cars, he, Madison and his wife, Dana, enjoy camping in the mountains. am

Q&A My friends and family call me… Pimp My Ride. Because of all the kick-ass rides that come out of my shop.

The most famous or interesting person I’ve ever met is… John Elway. I worked for him.

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

Right now, I’m listening to… Barney.

The greatest piece of advice I’ve ever received is… Never look back, always forward.

My favorite bad-for-me-food is… candy. A lot of it like a kid.

I’m secretly addicted to the TV series…

“Cut Off.” If I had a time machine I would travel to… like I said, always forward.

My Facebook friend count is… I don’t have one or a cell phone.

For the full story, log on to amarillomagonline.com 80

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • April 2011

My go-to stress reliever is… airbrushing cars.

www.street-toyota.com 45th & Soncy • 355-9846 1-800-6STREET