amarillomagonline.com JUNE 2017
Life
on the
line An inside look at one of the city's most challenging professions
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Father's Day Gifts Reel & Heal: Introducing cancer survivors to fly-fishing $1.95 US AMARILLO MAGAZINE
xcel energy Working foreman Randy Perez
Cooking with fresh herbs
Stunning Pieces of Timeless Stature
100 Westgate Parkway | Amarillo, TX 79121 806-355-9874 • www.barnesjewelry.com
Contents
25 32
22
18
35 Features On the Cover
25 Life on the Line What does it take to keep the lights on? We explore the day-to-day duties of journeymen linemen.
Sections 18
Leather Goods With Father’s Day around the corner, we picked out a few leather essentials any man will love.
22
Garden Variety Embellish your greenery with some of these delightful garden accessories.
35
Herb Life Which small detail takes a dish from something people quickly forget to something they won’t stop talking about? Turn to page 35 to find out.
By Jason Boyett
Photos by Shannon Richardson
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Catch and Release A new local organization introduces male cancer survivors to fly-fishing.
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Contributors....................4 Online............................. 8 Out & About...................10 The Way I See It.............16 Dress Code.....................18 Home............................20 What’s Cooking?........... 35 Events........................... 43 Let’s Eat!........................ 59 Retro Rewind................. 66 20 Questions................. 68
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Co n t r i b u to r s
Jason Boyett Jason wrote “Life on the Line” on page 25, and “Catch and Release” on page 32. He is a journalist, copywriter, ghostwriter, and the author of more than a dozen books. His most recent is “12 World Religions: The Beliefs, Rituals, and Traditions of Humanity's Most Influential Faiths”, published by Zephyros Press. Learn more at jasonboyett.com.
Andy Chase Cundiff Andy, a local artist, singer and songwriter, has called Amarillo home for more than 20 years, and plays at a variety of venues around the Panhandle. See his artwork every month with Jon Mark Beilue’s column (page 16). Contact Andy at 376-7918.
Shannon Richardson Shannon photographed “Leather Goods” on page 18, “Garden Variety” on page 20, “Taken by Travel” on page 22, “Life on the Line” on page 25, “Herb Life” on page 35, “Let’s Eat!” on page 66, and “20 Questions” on page 68. He has been photographing commercial/advertising work for more than 20 years. Shannon’s 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 has also published a photographic book about Route 66. See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.
Mason Dudley Mason photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 10. An Amarillo native, he has had an interest in photography since his high school days, and especially enjoys capturing images of nature.
Chance Gilmore
Neil Starkey
Chance photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 10. He picked up photography while living in Austin. Now living in the Amarillo area, Chance continues to pursue his interest in a variety of genres such as product, architecture and portrait photography.
Neil photographed some of the events in “Out & About” beginning on page 10. He has a degree in television production from Rogers State College in Claremore, Oklahoma, and has been a photographer for more than 20 years. After moving to Amarillo in 2005, Neil started his video and photography business, For the Generations. Contact Neil at ftgvideo.com.
Shaie Williams Gunnar Widowski Gunnar photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 10. He is a professional photographer and filmmaker born and raised in Amarillo. See Gunnar’s work at gunnarwidowski.com.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Shaie photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 10. A professional photographer born and raised in the Amarillo area, Shaie enjoys telling stories through photography. His work ranges from editorial to portraiture with both film and the latest digital processes. See Shaie’s work at williamspics.smugmug.com.
E d i to r ’ s L e t t e r
Publisher
Les Simpson
Director of Specialty Michele McAffrey Products/Editor 806.345.3256 michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com
Designer
Kayla Morris
Contributing Writers Jason Boyett Jennie Treadway-Miller Contributing Mason Dudley Photographers Chance Gilmore Shannon Richardson Neil Starkey Gunnar Widowski Shaie Williams Graphic Artist Mary Anne Garcia
VP of Sales
Digital Sales Director
Major/National Accounts Manager
Cindy Brown Tim Horton Dewey Shanks
Inside Sales Manager Cindy Ledesma
Account Eric Bravo Representatives Natasha Cartwright Sharon Denny Trish Faris Misti Newsom Jaime Pipkin
Executive Administrative Assistant
Sarena Poor
Sales Assistants
Heather Contreras Yolanda Gallardo
To advertise in Amarillo Magazine or on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Cindy Brown at 806.345.3373 or cindy.brown@amarillo.com.
Vice President of Audience
Barton Cromeens
Mike Clayton
West Texas Controller
900 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of AGN Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
B
efore I met my husband, Jerry, I hadn’t considered the risks that linemen face every day. My experience with the electric company never went beyond getting a bill in the mail every month. I had no idea what it took to keep the lights on. Jerry was a lineman in Amarillo for 25 years. He – and every lineman I’ve met – has always been the bravest and hardest working man. He and his crew were called out during the roughest weather, at all hours of the day and night, often responding to harrowing situations like car wrecks (when a pole was involved), house fires, thunderstorms, tornadoes and ice storms. When we were first married, an ice storm shut down most of the Panhandle, and crews from Amarillo worked to rebuild snapped poles for weeks. He was away from home for days at a time because the damage was so widespread. Still, he loved the work. Linemen are heroes that are often taken for granted, and so I’m thrilled to share this month’s cover story. Photographer Shannon Richardson captured the image on our cover, and it’s one of my favorites to date. Shannon will do just about anything to get the perfect shot, from climbing into a hot air balloon to trudging through a muddy stockyard. This photo was taken from the bucket of an Xcel Energy service truck (see page 8) while Working Foreman Randy Perez worked on an adjacent pole at Xcel’s training facility. And writer Jason Boyett did a fantastic job condensing a wealth of information into a seven-page feature. You’ll learn about what it takes to be a lineman, the gear that protects them, Xcel’s apprenticeship program and more. Our friends T and Andy Price are back in our pages this month. They share their favorite ways to preserve and cook with fresh herbs in “Herb Life” on page 35. We could not get enough of their scrumptious vegetable dip, marinated feta, and herbed butter. Our staff feasted on fresh veggies for an entire day! We enjoy hearing from our readers. Please contact me at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com to let me know what you think about Amarillo Magazine or share story ideas. As always thanks for reading,
9 a.m. Center City’s Community Market
12 p.m. Route 66 Kid’s City on the Potter County Court House lawn 6 p.m. Music featuring local bands and a 150-voice community choir 9:45 p.m. Fireworks display that will be twice as large as previous years We will be partnering with the Historic 6th St. Association this year. Find live music, vintage cars and a swap meet on Sixth Street and take a shuttle from Sixth Street to join the celebration downtown. For more information, contact Susie Self at 806.345.3363, susie.self@amarillo.com
Online
amarillomagonline.com O nline
e x clusives
See more photos of local linemen at work in the grueling conditions they often face.
Get Amarillo Magazine on your iPad! Keep Amarillo Magazine on hand by downloading the Amarillo Globe-News iPad app. Browse the magazine at your leisure and enjoy visually pleasing features all month, every month (subscription required).
Behind the Scenes
We post photos of Amarillo’s best events – and the people who enjoy them – every week in our “Out & About” section. Watch for updates on our Facebook page!
Our staff documents our day-to-day experiences around town and at photo shoots with our talented contributors. Check us out by following us on Instagram – @ama_mag.
Register to win Submit your name and contact information to amarillomagonline.com/contest this month for a chance to win a $100 gift card to United! Last month’s winner was Rita Fortenberry.
C onnec t
F ollo w
us
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, and stay up to date with our latest online features.
Subscribe Email michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com to receive Amarillo Magazine by mail.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Out & About
Golden Nail Awards Gala The Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council Arts Committee presented its annual Golden Nail Awards Gala on April 6. This year, 15 individuals and businesses were honored. Photos by Shaie Williams
Jennie Lynn and Mark Hodges
Vickie McLean and Craig Henderson
Clay and Elizabeth Carter
Bert Ballengee and Freda Powell
Shirley and Ed Fancher
Froning Bridges Kickoff Dinner On April 7 Amarillo National Bank hosted the Froning Bridges Kickoff Dinner at the ANB Sklyline room. All proceeds benefited Mission 2540. Photos by Mason Dudley
Sunny Boyett, Hillary and Rich Froning, and Luke Boyett
Cody and Lynsey Earle
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
JoDeane and Mike Boyett
Melissia and Ryan Birge
WTAMU Distinguished Alumni Awards On April 22 West Texas A&M University presented its annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. This year, four people were honored: Spanky Assiter, Alex Fairly, Dr. John Meason, and Debra Summers. Photos by Neil Starkey
Caroline, Chase and Maddie Fairly
Zenobia and Darvell Bivens
Darla and Jack Carthel
Pam Walker, and Sarah and Benton Allen
Krystyna Whalin, Caitlin Ahlenius and Ally Fairly
Martha’s Home Second Chance Prom Martha’s Home Second Chance Prom was held on April 22 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. This year’s event was themed “Alice in Wonderland.” Photos by Shaie Williams
Alissa Von Theumer and Micah Smith
Dan and Malisia Broom
Sarah and Elton Jones
Konni and Stacey Murphy
Susan and Kenny Knight JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Out & About
Best of Texas Storyteller Gala On April 28 Junior League of Amarillo hosted its Best of Texas Storyteller Gala. Held at the Derrick Event Center in downtown Amarillo, proceeds benefited the Junior League. Photos by Shaie Williams
Cindy Allen, Nancy Allen and Brooke Rodrigues
Meg Hutchens and Desirae Hughes
Cenee Graham and Brooke Robason
Tyler Rufenacht and Molly Offutt
Jason and Brooke Alvis
“Great Gatsby” Party Amarillo Little Theatre Guild held a “Great Gatsby” Party on April 28. The adults-only fundraiser included food, dancing, and performances from ALT talent. Photos by Chance Gilmore
Stephanie Love, Lesley Munsell, Molly Zimmerman and Jessica Harrelson
Jason Crespin, Joy Peacock and Michael Froschheiser
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Paul and Cymanthia Evans
Kristen Loyd, Tony Brazell and Christeen Hodson
Potter County Steak Out 2017 On April 29 the Potter County Buyers Club presented Potter County Steak Out 2017 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The fundraiser included live music from Ken Stonecipher and The Wooden Nickel Band with Danny Cadra. Proceeds benefited 4-H and FFA Chapters in the Texas Panhandle. Photos by Chance Gilmore
Tina Collins, Rickey Bates and Alice Deeds
April Albracht and Kylene Reed
Kat Hales and Tom Schooler
Carlos and Alisha Lugo
Sarah Young, Tara Hendrix and Jerry Proffitt
Amarillo Heart Ball American Heart Association-West Texas hosted the Amarillo Heart Ball on April 29. The evening included live and silent auctions, a survivor speaker, and dancing to the live music of Velvet Funk. Photos by Mason Dudley
Stephanie and Joe Price, and Marsha Hughes
Joel and Dawn Owens
Judy Cato and John Luciano
Cathy Tate and Rickey Gonzales
Megan Isabella and Colby Kitchens JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Out & About
First Friday Art Walk The Galleries at Sunset held its monthly First Friday Art Walk on May 5. As part of National Tourism Week, staff and guests of the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Center attended the art walk. Photos by Mason Dudley
Rob Crow and Tricia Clifton
Halie Unrien and Brian Broadbent
Chaney Cozart and Ben Allen
Priscilla Mendoza and Darryl Burgess
Jill and Leon Carey
Cinco de Mayo Fajita Festival On May 5 the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted a Cinco de Mayo Fajita Festival. The annual celebration included a fajita cooking competition and live music. Photos by Gunnar Widowski
Marissa Montoya and Alexis Morales
Cheyenne Heredia and Larissa Benson
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Lisa and Joe Martinez
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Domingo and Isela Gonzalez
Mariela Mendoza and Humberto Juarez
Chamber Music Amarillo Spring Fundraiser Chamber Music Amarillo held its Spring Fundraiser on May 5 at Vintage Autohaus & Imports. Themed “Havana Nights”, the evening event included food from Catering by Roy, and live and silent auctions. Photos by Mason Dudley
Charles and Ashley Murphy
Destiny Newton and Dominic Pinis
Alejandra Alderete and John Attebury
Sandy Storey and JoAnn Pruitt
Ginger Denney and Guglielmo Manfredi
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Learn more at
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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. 170007
JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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T h e W ay I s e e I t
Jon Mark Beilue
Soft voice, painted canvas equals total bliss
B
ob Ross, where have you been all my life? With his brillo hair, brush in hand, and his soft soothing voice, he is a calming gift at the end of a stressful day. He is visually what listening to a CD of ocean waves rolling in is to the ear. Bob Ross, you say. Who’s Bob Ross? Well, allow me. He is a wee little man who had a show on PBS, out of WIPB studio in Muncie, Indiana, in the 1980s and early 1990s, “The Joy of Painting.” For 30 minutes, he would show his audience how to paint a winter landscape, a mountain range on a spring afternoon, a babbling brook in the woods, and whisper everyone into total relaxation. I remember catching a few minutes of it here and there back in the day more out of curiosity than anything. It was kind of fascinating, but then I whizzed on to ESPN or some murder mystery. Still, it was hard to forget Bob as the number of painters I’ve seen with six-inch permed hair is exactly one. A few months ago, I was looking to see what Netflix was offering, and, lo and behold, under “New Releases,” was a picture of old Bob under two separate “Joy of Painting” selections – “Winter Chill” and “Beauty Everywhere.” Hmmm. What the heck. Let’s give it a looksee. “It’s a fantastic day here and I hope it is wherever you are. …” Bob then proceeded to tell us the paint colors he would be using on the canvas: Titanic White, Alizarin Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Midnight Black, Phthalo Blue, Dark Sienna, Sap Green, and Prussian Blue. The scene was “Mountain Rhapsody” and as he began to make a lovely little scene out of a blank canvas, I felt the tension leave my body. And the quiet talk as he explained what he was doing – oh my gosh – in a matter of minutes, my eyes were heavy and saliva started to form on the edges of my mouth. It’s like trying to read in bed and staring at the same paragraph for about a minute. I started to fade. “Juuust … like… so …” “There we are. Just like that. ...” “Now, let’s build us some clouds. …” I know nothing about painting. My artistry consists of tracing a turkey from the outline of my hand and some occasional paint by numbers when I took pride in not painting outside the lines.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
I admire people who can do things I can’t do – which is pretty much, you know, everything. Bob is an incredible talent. And this is quite a bit out of my normal circle of interests that I feel like a renaissance man. But it’s Bob’s delicate whispers and the way he repeats a phrase that just drains the tension right out of me. It’s the best and cheapest stress reliever around. “Take the least little Cad Yellow and it put it right there, but not much … not much.” “We cover it up … cover it up.” “When you do your painting, you decide … you decide.” Bob has a wild side too – “that’s so much fun, let’s get crazy,” when he adds a few more clouds. He will also give into temptation when deciding upon adding another peak. “Now, let’s get crazy. You know me ... you know me.” There’s a two-part reward to the 27 minutes of “Joy of Painting” – watching Bob complete a masterpiece and seeing the method of all his strokes, and the cationic state of near-sleep his voice puts me in. It’s a battle to say awake long enough. There’s 52 episodes in all, and I’m bound and determined to put my feet up and watch every blessed Bob Ross winter scene. My wife doesn’t get it. She’ll come into the living room from the store or from down the hall and look at the TV. “Oh my gosh – again?” she said. Again. Bob, while in the Air Force in Alaska, was also a part-time bartender. It was then he discovered the show, “The Magic of Oil Painting,” by a German named Bill Alexander. He soon studied under Alexander, retired from the Air Force as a master sergeant, and began a lifetime of painting using the wet-on-wet technique. Alas, Bob died of lymphoma on July 4, 1995 at age 52. But his soft voice and talented brush live on via Netflix, which began streaming his episodes a year ago. “So from all of us here, I’d Jon Mark Beilue is a really like to wish columnist for AGN Media. all of you happy He can be reached at painting and God jon.beilue@amarillo.com or 345.3318. bless, my friend.” Excuse … me … while … I … watch … the … rest … of … Bob … Ro –
FRIDAY, JUNE 9TH 8:00 TO 11:00 PM
$10 ADULTS | KIDS $5 | 4 & UNDER FREE
Explore PPHM in the dark. Bring your own ashlight!
Dr e s s C o d e
Leather Goods D
urable. Distinctive. Detailed. There’s a reason a sharp-dressed man almost always includes an element of leather in his wardrobe. With Father’s Day around the corner, we picked out a few leather essentials any man will love. Photos BY SHANNON RICHARDSON
Barrington wallet $90, Panache
Hari Mari flip flops $60, Top Notch Outfitters
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Handmade belt $135 (buckle sold separately), Oliver Saddle Shop
Ashton classic briefcase $385, Marcella Furs & Leather
Orvis Dopp kit $109, Top Notch Outfitters
JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Home
Garden Variety I n the summer months, a Texas Panhandle garden may be bursting with blooms, butterflies, and other pops of color. But a well-decorated garden doesn’t have to be entirely organic. Embellish your greenery with some of these delightful garden accessories. Photos BY SHANNON RICHARDSON
Talavera birdhouse $49.98, Coulter Gardens & Nursery
Nana Bell $16.99; hook $1.99; Nana bell with charms $29, Pete’s Greenhouse
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Figurine $50.95, Urban Giraffe
Standing lantern $75, Neon Moon
JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Home
Taken by
Travel O
ne way to indicate your love for travel is to display a Moroccan rug in your living room, beneath a painting you bought in Amsterdam. Haven’t yet been to those places? Then show your love for adventure with a travel-inspired home interior. Here are a few of our favorite pieces of decor from local boutiques. Photos BY SHANNON RICHARDSON
USA wall sculpture $187.50, Urban Giraffe
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Route 66 pillow $68, The Nat
Map box $20, Pete’s Greenhouse
Globe bookend $96, Pete’s Greenhouse
JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Your chance at life. Your choice is Baylor. If you’re facing advanced disease of the kidney, liver, lungs, heart or pancreas, hope is closer than you think. One of the nation’s largest multi-specialty transplant centers is in Dallas-Fort Worth – Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute. We have performed more transplants than anyone else in the Southwest, and the transplant surgeons on our medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth are internationally known. Our researchers are leading the way in innovative treatments, changing the way transplants are performed. Plus, we’ve taught and mentored countless surgeons who are now saving lives across the country. If you’re looking for your second chance at life, follow the leader. We’re Changing Transplant Care. For Life.®
For more information about our services offered in Amarilllo, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit us online at BSWHealth.com/Transplant. Baylor Health Center at Amarillo 1901 Medi Park Dr., Suite 2051 Amarillo, TX 79106 Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers, Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2017 Baylor Scott & White Health. ACHC_660_2017 CE 05.17
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An inside look at one of the city's most challenging professions
Provided photos
By Jason Boyett Most homeowners with any degree of do-it-yourself spirit have worked around electricity. They’ve connected wires, replaced a light switch, or installed a ceiling fan. It’s not particularly difficult, but it requires attention to detail and a healthy respect for electricity. Maybe you’re on a ladder. Maybe you’re juggling tools. Regardless of the circumstances, you have to pay attention. Even a small amount of electricity – like the 110 volts of an electrical outlet – can be risky. Now imagine doing similar work while strapped to the top of a wooden utility pole. You’re 45 feet in the air. It’s dark outside. You’re in blizzard conditions, as high winds pelt you with snow and sleet. Instead of a 10-pound ceiling fan, you’re attaching an 800-pound transformer. And the current running through those electrical wires may be in the tens of thousands of volts. It’ll kill you.
The stakes are higher, too. You’re not just hoping a light will come on when you flip the switch. You’re tasked with bringing electrical power back to an area’s homes, hospitals, businesses and schools. An electric utility lineman isn’t just one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States, it’s also one of the most technical. “Our linemen possess a unique set of skills that combine athleticism, critical thinking, communication, and even a little bit of psychology,” says David Hudson, president of Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “They also are highly trained. To reach the level of journeyman, our linemen go through a four-year apprenticeship training and continue their education throughout their career.” That training prepares these hard-working professionals to do whatever it takes to restore power when the city’s lights go out. JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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High-Tech on the High Plains
“During certain times, linemen become the most important people in the world,” says Wes Reeves. Based in Amarillo, he’s the media relations representative for the Texas and New Mexico region of Xcel Energy, one of the largest utility companies in the United States. He’s not a lineman, but he speaks on their behalf all the time. “I really believe they like to help people. I think there’s something inside of them that feels, ‘I can do something with my hands and it helps somebody.’” Of course, there’s much more to being a lineman than “doing something” with their hands. It’s a physically demanding job. It’s a mentally taxing job. It can be a high-pressure job that is sometimes performed in the worst of environmental conditions – during an ice storm, or in a smoking field following a grass fire. That’s why safety is the absolute primary focus of every single one of Xcel’s nearly 300 line personnel serving a 50,000-square-mile local territory. “We have to stay safe no matter what we’re doing,” says Mark Palacio, who spent 12 years as a lineman before completing his master’s degree and becoming one of Xcel’s training instructors. Now the supervisor of technical training, Palacio operates out of Xcel’s Technical Training Center on I-40, east of The Big Texan Steak Ranch. A small complex of non-descript white buildings hides a technical wonderland, complete with heavy equipment simulators, a high-voltage hands-on training lab, a substation lab, and a pole-climbing yard. Here, apprentice linemen don’t just learn to scramble up utility poles, but to actually install and equip them from the ground up. In short, they learn to keep the lights on without compromising safety in any way. The nearly 8,000-square-foot training facility is the heart of Xcel’s Electrical Line Apprentice Program. Entry-level linemen can enter the program as a first-year apprentice. After an immersive multi-week introduction to the work, they refine their on-the-job skills while attending classes over the next four years (see page 28). Only after a four-year apprenticeship do they attain the title of journeyman lineman, which allows them to work without supervision. Along with foremen, the Texas-New Mexico segment of Xcel has around 200 journeymen and 60 line apprentices. Most in-town crews consist of a journeyman working alongside an apprentice or two. The Xcel training facility is just a few years old. In fact, Xcel Energy itself is also relatively new – at least in its current form. The company was created in 2000 following the mergers of the Minneapolis-based Northern States Power Company with the Public Service Company
of Colorado and the Amarillo-based Southwestern Public Service (SPS). But under one name or another, SPS has been providing steam-, coal-, and now wind-generated power to Amarillo residents since 1925 (see timeline on page 30).
Transmission and Distribution
To power a home’s computers, lights and toasters, electricity must travel through two types of lines. Transmission lines are the big ones. Held aloft on steel structures that may be up to 120 feet high, these high-voltage lines carry electricity directly from a generating station to city substations and other industrial operations. Linemen refer to the power lines as “beer can wire,” which offers an idea of the thick diameter. Primarily existing along rural stretches of highway, these lines and structures are installed by traveling crews of linemen using heavy equipment. The second type is a distribution line. These carry lower-voltage power from the substation to a local home or office, atop the 40- to 45-foot wooden poles that parallel Amarillo’s alleyways and city streets. “Linemen are trained on both sides,” says Palacio. “You’re either out on transmission or you’re in distribution. New construction, maintenance, troubleshooting, and outages usually belong to the distribution side.” Palacio spent six years as a transmission lineman and six as a distribution lineman. He says the transmission jobs, which usually involve weeks of travel and much more intense manual labor, typically go to the younger and less experienced linemen. “You’re more scheduled on transmission than on distribution, unless a huge tornado comes through and knocks down a bunch of lines.” Because the structures are so big, they require large installation equipment and, in most cases, the lines aren’t “hot.” Typically, the power doesn’t turn on until a transmission line is installed or repaired. Not so with distribution lines in and around the city. Distribution work falls to the veteran journeymen for a couple of reasons. First, it keeps them closer to home. “It tends to be more desirable because when people want to start families and have more of a so-called normal life, it’s easier to be a distribution lineman,” says Reeves. “You’re traveling less.” Within the city environment, the work becomes less labor-intensive but far more technical, because in many cases distribution lines may still be conducting electricity. And while a lineman may not be on the road for weeks at a time, he’s still on-call, hour after hour. “Nights and Sundays – it seems that’s where you get most of continued on page 28
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Provided photos
Crews occasionally find signs of appreciation while on the job.
Hard hat
[ Tools of the Trade ]
Head protection against scrapes, bumps, hailstones and electric shock
Protective Eyewear
Fire-resistant clothing
Rated by the nonprofit American National Standards Insititute (ANSI). Blocks bright sunlight and offers protection from rain and sleet.
Required by law for electrical utility employees exposed to “incident heat energy.” A voltage spike can cause an electrical arc flash. For a fraction of a second, these blasts may be hotter than the surface of the sun. These result in 77 percent of electrical injuries, and can severely burn unprotected skin.
Mike Cline is the most tenured lineman in Amarillo. He joined Southwestern Public Service Company as an apprentice lineman in 1982, on the Monday after Mother’s Day. The evening before his first day on the job, a tornado hit Bushland and destroyed a number of transmission and distribution poles west of Amarillo. Cline says it was the start of many years battling the twin forces of Mother Nature and gravity, both of which are “seeking to tear down everything we build.” In this photo, he displays the typical gear of a lineman responding to a callout – including the protective items that have kept him safe throughout his 35-year career.
Gut strap
20,000-volt gloves
A belt-like leather strip worn across the waist. Its straps and buckles act as mini-suspenders to help support the body belt.
Specialty gloves offering highvoltage hand protection for linemen. These have a durable leather outside to protect against abrasions and punctures, with insulating rubber inserts that have been tested up to 20,000 volts.
Body belt A customized, high-quality tool belt. Featuring built-in suspender rings and tool loops, it weighs more than five pounds before tools are added.
Primary climbing safety Regardless of experience, every climber has the potential to fall. This adjustable leather strap secures a lineman to a pole, allowing him or her to work and maneuver hands-free. The strap includes a choker feature that secures to the pole, preventing drops of more than two feet.
Tool pouch Contains a lineman’s hand tools with insulated grips. These include multiple types of pliers, electrical skinning knife, wire cutters, small crimping tools, screwdriver, and more.
Secondary climbing safety A back-up tether used to restrict falls on sections of a pole where the primary strap device may not work due to ice or other obstructions.
MD6 manual crimper A heavy-duty tool used to install a variety of squeeze connectors and conductors. Weighing around six pounds, this important device is two feet long and has a crimp force of 9,000 pounds.
Gear bag A weatherproof bag containing a lineman’s essential gear, which must be carried from one callout to the next.
Shotgun stick Photo by Shannon Richardson
Also known as a “hot stick,” these fiberglass-insulated poles are used to protect linemen from electric shock while handling live power lines – or lines that are not known to be deenergized. In addition to insulating the lineman, they physically separate the lineman from the line to reduce potential burns from an electrical arc. A variety of tools can be fitted to the end of these sticks, some of which may telegraph up to 30 feet in length.
Climbing boots Waterproof work boots with protective, high-traction outsoles designed for climbing. The soles must be sticky enough to grip a metal pole and comfortable enough to use with gaffs on a wooden pole. JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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A Different Kind of “College” – The Path to Journeyman After four years on the job in Xcel Energy’s Electrical Line Apprentice program, an apprentice can become a certified journeyman lineman. While some utility companies require their linemen to pay for their own education, Xcel offers the hands-on training as part of its U.S. Department of Labor-registered program. Entry-level apprentices learn the basics during a probationary period, then go to work alongside a more experienced crew. With each year of education, they are released to perform additional tasks. “You can do a little bit more all the time, as you learn, until you’re a journeyman,” says training supervisor Mark Palacio. Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or GED, plus the ability to pass a few physical and mental aptitude exams. Entry-level, first-year apprentices start at a base of around $26 an hour, plus a competitive benefit package, paid holidays and vacation, and the potential for plenty of overtime pay. “Apprentices get a pay increase every time they advance,” says apprentice coordinator Lisa Thomas. These pay raises culminate with the journeyman certification. “In four years, they can go from $26 to $40 an hour.” After that, wages increase a percentage every year. Wes Reeves says the journeyman program is an excellent option for hardworking high school graduates who may not be interested in earning a traditional college degree. “A lot of kids aren’t ready for college. When we talk to high school kids, we tell them this is another higher education option,” he says. “We are [like] a college in so many ways.” The only difference is that Xcel’s lineman “students” work full-time and get paid while earning their four-year certification. And because Xcel pays for the training, “you’ll graduate without a student loan,” says Thomas. Xcel also offers a college reimbursement program that covers 80 percent of an employee’s tuition if they do choose to earn a traditional degree while with the company. That’s how lineman-turned-supervisor Palacio completed his college degrees. “While I was a lineman, I was going to school at night and got all the way through to a master’s degree,” he says. He knew he wanted to get into management someday. “Xcel helped pay for that.”
Xcel's pole climbing yard
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your callouts,” Palacio explains. “Whenever you have something planned at home, you’re going to get a callout. Kids’ birthdays, funerals … that’s the toughest part of that particular job.” The second reason veteran linemen typically get the distribution jobs is because the presence of energized wires – despite being a lower voltage – means the potential hazards are greater. “Out there, it’s a lot of labor. In town, you have to be really careful what you’re doing,” Palacio says.
Long Hours and Extreme Caution
“Before I took this job, I spent three consecutive Thanksgivings and two Christmases working,” says Tanner Dunlap, a former journeyman lineman, who is now a technical instructor for Xcel. Before joining the company, he worked for an unrelated electrical cooperative in southeast New Mexico. “I spent seven-and-a-half years there. We were constantly being called out. My last five to six months I turned in 770 hours of overtime.” Dunlap says a tornado event in 2007 required him and his crew to work 32 hours straight, followed by an eighthour sleep break, and then another 20 hours in the field. That wouldn’t happen at Xcel. Even the most experienced linemen know attention to detail starts to diminish after hours of grueling work. When focus drifts, safety declines. Even in times of inclement weather or other disasters, Xcel doesn’t keep its linemen on the job for days at a time. “The main rule of thumb is that, at 16 hours, they’ll find a way to shut you down and send you home to sleep,” Palacio says. “In small regions there are instances where they may be asked to work a little bit longer, but at any time the employee can say, ‘I’ve had it. I’ve got to go.’ There’s never an issue sending an individual home when they’ve had enough.” Despite being on-call, linemen typically get to choose whether or not to work during non-emergency situations. “If we find poles or wire down, they call a crew and we have an overtime list,” Dunlap explains. “Whoever is highest on the overtime list will get the last call. The lowest overtime gets the first call. He doesn’t have to take it, so they just work their way down the list until somebody accepts the call and heads out.” Sometimes it’s those non-emergency situations that can present the most hazards. “Oddly enough, we have fewer accidents when it’s a big storm than we do in our everyday work,” says Palacio. In hazardous conditions or the wake of a weather event, the adrenaline rush can improve concentration. But on a normal day in bright Amarillo sunshine, it’s easier to take safety for granted. “You do the same thing for three days in a row, by the third day you might get complacent.” That’s why Reeves says the safety focus at Xcel involves more than just limiting a lineman’s hours. At the core, it’s about hiring and training the best personnel available. At the New Mexico co-op, Dunlap only made time-and-a-half for his 770 hours of overtime. Xcel employees in the field may earn double time, double time-and-a-half, and even triple time on the rare opportunities they work beyond 16 hours straight. Offering competitive pay to journeymen and apprentice linemen ensures an attentive team built from the best of the best. “The focus on safety is almost like a religion here,”
Photos by Shannon Richardson
A lineman's secondary climbing safety
says Reeves. “Every meeting we have starts with safety. At every directors’ meeting, the first report you have is do you have any injuries? Even the most minor things get reported.” He says Xcel realizes, as the area’s sole source of power, it doesn’t have any competition. “If we’re going to be your sole provider, we’re going to do a world-class job of it.” In other words, a company like Xcel can’t take care of its customers if it doesn’t also take care of its employees. “We hire the best, and we provide the best training, because the work of a lineman is one of the most important jobs in our society when you consider how dependent we are on electricity in our homes and businesses,” says Hudson, the regional president. “They’re the ones spending long days in awful weather to ensure our comfort and safety. But in spite of the hardships, it is a fantastic career.”
Harsh Working Conditions
Those hardships can definitely take their toll on linemen, especially in a place where residents are more likely to describe “awful weather” as plain-old, normal Texas Panhandle weather. This year has already brought its share of trials. Only halfway into 2017, Xcel’s linemen have already endured a huge January ice storm, a tree-snapping snowfall in late April, and a devastating series of local wildfires. Ice may be more destructive to the overall system, but fires – or the smoke-filled aftermath of fires – are among the most difficult conditions linemen face. “That’s the worst environment to work in,” says Palacio. “We go in after everything is burned up and it’s just solid black haze. The wind picks up all the ash. You have to use a respirator and you’re just covered in black soot. Every time I hear there’s a big fire and we’ve got structures down, I think of those guys out there.” Palacio and Dunlap have worked in temperatures far below freezing, have rebuilt lines after tornadoes, and have battled snow and sleet. But Dunlap says an otherwise calm, uneventful summer day isn’t always a walk in the park, either. “[Linemen] have to wear fire-retardant
clothing, so in the middle of August you’re in long sleeves,” he says. Journeymen and apprentices might find themselves working hard while wearing thick, rubber-lined gloves in triple-digit heat. “That can be uncomfortable, too.” But it’s not always a chore. Regardless of the weather, a lineman spends his days outside. On a daily basis, he completes important, physical tasks. That’s enough of a draw for individuals who aren’t interested in desk work, says Lisa Thomas, Xcel’s apprentice coordinator. “People who find it gratifying to do things with their hands” tend to be ideal candidates for the company’s lineman apprentice program. “At the end of the day, they can say they’ve built or repaired something and they take pride in that,” says Thomas. “That’s huge,” Dunlap adds. Especially since linemen are doing a job few others can do.
Military Precision
The specialized work and commitment to its personnel means an almost military-style commitment to logistics during storm events. Xcel has its own Denver-based staff meteorologists who are constantly monitoring forecasts in its service area. It keeps tabs on supply lines while a dispatch center in Lubbock fields calls. When big storms are on their way, materials and personnel go on the move. “If we have a snow event, we watch the weather models,” says Reeves. “If we see that the core of a storm is going to hit Perryton, then a day ahead we move people out there. We move supplies there, too. We work with our vendors. We’ll have these calls and say we have to get X amount of poles, and X amount of conductor into the Perryton service center. It becomes very much like a military operation.” As the media representative who will be contacted by television news crews to discuss power outages, Reeves joins those planning calls before the event, along with the coordination calls once a storm hits. “A lot of the conversations are about guys who have been working 16 hours, and whether we have the ability to bring other people in. We’ll JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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try to pull people off [non-essential] jobs and move them in. The customer who is out of power wants to see that we’re working all night.” At the same time, Xcel doesn’t want to compromise the well-being of any lineman. “We have to stay safe no matter what we’re doing,” says Palacio. “We want to hurry up and get their lights back on, but we’re not going to hurry so much that we make anything unsafe for us or our employees.” He explains that the work of restoring power doesn’t always mean sending a lineman up a pole to reattach a line or replace a transformer. Sometimes it’s two men on the ground planning a strategy. “They may not be doing a whole lot from your vantage point, but they’re actually having to think about what they’re fixing to do. They’re job planning or safety briefing. It’s highly involved work and they have to follow the correct process.” Lisa Thomas compares line repair to a chess match. “It’s very technical and risky,” she says. “You know what you want to happen and what the moves are but you have to have it planned out ahead of time.” And like many public organizations, the power company works to impact the most people first. During large-scale outages, Palacio says Xcel’s dispatch system will prioritize restoring power to 100 people ahead of restoring power to one or two people. The unique arrangement of the power grid sometimes leads to public confusion. “You may be a mile from the one or two [people] and they may be asking ‘Why aren’t you coming to fix my lights? You’re just down the street!’ Rather than our crew spending five hours getting power on for two people, they’re going to [work on] the largest outage and make the biggest impact they can.”
Public Gratitude
Despite occasional misunderstandings, Xcel’s linemen and instructors say the people of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle are quick to show appreciation. Locals are grateful for law enforcement and medical personnel during times of crisis, and they often show the same response to linemen – who comprise a kind of technical first response team. “We saw that in the ice storm we had in Perryton,” Reeves says, referring to the weather event in January 2017 that left thousands without power around the cities of Pampa, Borger and Perryton. “The town brought food – a dessert bar with homemade brownies – one night. We had upwards of a thousand linemen personnel there at the [Ochiltree County] Expo Center in Perryton. They weren’t all our people. A lot of those guys were from out of town, and they said they’ve never been treated like that.” Likewise, Xcel has sent its own linemen to assist with other natural disasters far outside its service area, like when a team of local journeymen headed to Long Island, New York, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Traditionally, New Yorkers haven’t always been happy with their local utility companies, but they adored the Xcel team. “We had these slow-talking cowboys from Texas and New Mexico show up,” Reeves says. “So these people loved the cowboys.” By that time, residents of the outer boroughs were annoyed that local utility companies were taking so long to restore power. He heard from a writer at NYU whose mother was on life-support and had been without power for three days. An Xcel employee arrived and said, “We’ll take care of it.” He had the power back on within 10 minutes. “It just so happens that the fix was easy, but nobody had bothered to stop by their house,” Reeves says. “Our guys enjoyed that.”
[ Xcel energy timeline]
The Amarillo Light & Water Company brings the first electrical service to Amarillo.
1903
1960s line crew
Roswell Public Service Company purchases Amarillo Light & Water, plus electrical systems in Pampa and Panhandle. Under the new name Southwestern Public Service Company, the new utility company headquarters in Amarillo. Roswell Electric Light Company turns on the lights in Roswell, New Mexico. It is later renamed Roswell Public Service Company.
1904
1925 1942
1942 servicemen 30
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SPS links local systems in Texas and New Mexico into the same electrical grid.
A Changing Industry
Palacio and Dunlap have both seen enormous changes in the industry since they transitioned from journeyman linemen to instructors. The standard H-shaped wooden utility pole may remain the same across the decades, but the technology continues to improve. Distribution linemen carry tablet computers to let dispatch know as soon as an outage is cleared. Automated computer systems monitoring the grid can sometimes clear outages and restore power by redirecting the flow of electricity. A lineman shows up to address the issue, but electrical service has already been restored. “In the older days, we would go fix a problem,” says Palacio. “Now we can switch it around, get everybody back on, isolate the problem, and then go fix it.” For instance, a couple of decades ago, a fallen tree branch could take down a line and leave a thousand people without power. An employee would have to go to the site, determine what happened, and communicate back to dispatch. Customers may have been without power until a team could then repair the utility pole and its connections. Today, Xcel’s computer systems can typically reroute electricity within 30 minutes or an hour – the same amount of time once required for a search man to figure out what happened. Power gets restored quickly to thousands, and only five customers may have to wait for the actual repair to return their electricity. As a result, a lineman during the 1980s may have spent most of his days 40 feet in the air. Today, that’s not the case. In the city, new construction of distribution lines tends toward more durable steel poles rather than the older wooden ones. Even in older neighborhoods,
After Amarillo’s tallest building is completed, SPS moves its headquarters into the 31-story tower on Tyler. Now called Chase Tower, it was known locally as SPS Tower for several years.
1971
1976
SPS opens Unit 1 of Harrington Station, its first modern coal-fired plant. Unit 2 opened two years later.
bucket trucks can easily access the tops of the wooden poles. “If you’re in distribution, you could climb every day or you might not climb for two or three months,” says Dunlap. “It depends on the area.” Even so, a lineman always has to maintain climbing skills, just in case. Learning to climb safely is a huge part of the apprentice program and remains a priority throughout a lineman’s career. It’s been essential to the job for a century. A lineman’s climbing equipment may not have changed much over the years (see page 27), but that’s not the case with other tools. “Just in this department, we’ve introduced five brand-new tools that our guys didn’t know existed. We’re finding new tools all the time,” Dunlap says. That’s why even journeyman linemen still must take regular refresher courses, to ensure they stay up-to-date on new technologies – and how to use them. “The big push right now is productivity through technology,” says Reeves. “What kind of tools can we use to get the job done either faster, safer or cheaper? We want to be an early adopter of technology where it makes sense.” The technology and systems may improve from year to year, but the personality of Amarillo’s utility line workers hasn’t changed in decades. They enjoy being outside. They don’t mind a little wind or snow. They like helping people. They aren’t afraid to work holidays or odd hours. And they are always, always committed to safety. “The ultimate goal is safety. Every class that Tanner and Mark do, safety is always No. 1,” says Reeves from inside the state-of-the-art training facility. “If you can’t do it safe, then you don’t do it.”
SPS merges with Public Service Company of Colorado to form a new company, New Century Energies.
1997
2000
2017
New Century merges with Northern States Power Company to form Xcel Energy, which serves customers in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico.
1963 lineman
2015 Xcel announces the construction of a $42 million multi-story office building and parking garage on Buchanan Street, in downtown Amarillo, to serve as its regional headquarters.
Upon completion of the new building, Xcel staff begin the relocation process from Chase Tower into the new offices.
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F e at u r e
Catch and Release
Why local cancer survivors are turning into fly fishermen By Jason Boyett
A
Provided photos
fly fisherman artfully casting a slender line across the surface of a mountain stream is one of the most poetic of outdoor activities. The graceful curve of the filament, the flowing water, the scenic natural backdrop – these give fly-fishing a widescreen, cinematic quality. But actually doing it requires a much more narrow focus. Ankledeep in a cool river, rhythmically commanding a rod and line and fly, a fly fisherman thinks of nothing but the present moment. The accuracy of each cast. The presentation of an artificial fly. The drift of a transparent leader above the head of a visible trout. For its adherents, in these moments, fly-fishing becomes a form of meditation. Medical research backs this up. Neurologists have praised the activity as a natural stress reliever, because fly-fishing requires rapt attention. In doing so, it calms the brain and gives participants a reset from daily thinking. That has led to the growing popularity of a national fly-fishing nonprofit called Casting for Recovery, which guides breast cancer survivors on fly-fishing retreats. For women, the casting motion itself provides therapy for the shoulder and chest muscles impacted by mastectomies. But the meditative activity offers another kind of mental and emotional therapy. Amarillo’s 24 Hours in the Canyon Cancer Survivorship Center has sponsored women to take part in Casting for Recovery retreats in New Mexico. But what about men? That’s the question Ryan Parnell, the center’s director, began to discuss this past fall with Dr. Kirk Coury, an endodontic surgeon in Amarillo. An avid fly-fisher, Coury believed
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men who were at various stages of survivorship – a term that includes people at every phase in the journey, from diagnosis to remission – could also benefit from the activity. “Casting for Recovery was the incubation,” Coury says. “We have so much respect for that organization. But there’s nothing really for men to do.” So Coury and Parnell teamed up to create their own local organization. In January of this year, they founded Reel & Heal. Its mission is to “help men in the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of fly-fishing.” Reel & Heal held its first event in early March, inviting around a dozen cancer survivors to River Falls, a private community east of Lake Tanglewood, on the north end of Palo Duro Canyon. Each survivor was paired with an experienced fly fisherman as a guide for the day, and together the men enjoyed a beautiful natural setting and a catch-andrelease pond freshly stocked with trout. One of those men was Ronald Mashburn, a 70-year-old survivor of prostate cancer. Diagnosed in 2006, Mashburn chose to have a radical prostatectomy – removal of the entire prostate gland. “We caught it early so my experience was successful,” he says. But prostate removal leaves men with significant side effects, including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. “There are always some things you have to live with afterwards. I deal with that day to day.” Mashburn isn’t the only member of his family to battle cancer. His wife, Deanna, is a 14-year survivor of breast cancer. Their son, Sean, died last year after a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone
cancer that developed in his jaw. “I’m still dealing with that, too,” Mashburn says. A full-time technology instructor at Frank Phillips College, Mashburn retired after 32 years in the Texas A&M system and had experimented with some self-taught fly-fishing in the past. He says the event proved to be educational, especially after he partnered with expert volunteer Bryan Collins, a local periodontist. The two had met in the past when Collins provided Mashburn’s dental implants. “He worked with me and I thought I would just be learning a few tricks,” Mashburn says. “But it turned out I learned a whole bunch of new fly-fishing techniques from him. Everything from learning to tie knots to how to use different types of flies and what to look for.” Mashburn ended up landing four trout, four crappie, and the first bass he’d ever caught on a fly rod. “I had a pretty successful day,” he says. “There’s nothing like being outdoors and dealing with nature to make you see the perspective of things.” According to Coury, that’s the core therapy he was hoping Reel & Heal could provide participants. “You can’t think of anything else,” he explains about fly-fishing. “All you can think about is what’s happening while you’re fishing. In that lies the magic – being able to totally disconnect from any personal problems or issues, whether it’s emotional or physical or mental, and just focus on what’s going on.” Parnell says much of the magic came from the location itself, as the men fished quiet waters below red-rock canyon cliffs. “It was gorgeous,” he says. “It doesn’t even feel like you’re in the Panhandle. And they’re catching some of the largest rainbow trout that they’ll ever catch on a fly rod.” Beyond the successful outing and the location, the retreat gave men the opportunity to spend quality time with other men who were facing similar circumstances. “It’s hard sometimes to get men to be involved in activities we do,” Parnell says. The Cancer Suvivorship Center offers a variety of support groups for all ages, including book clubs, art clubs, nutrition classes, exercise classes, and other wellness activities. But a majority of participants tend to be women, who may value socialization more than their male counterparts. “Men are sometimes difficult. They’re tough and don’t feel the need to open up,” he says. “But cancer is one of those diseases where sharing experiences – this is what I did or this is how I coped – makes a big difference. Hearing from another guy who’s been through the same cancer, or just cancer in general, can provide some reassurance.” You can’t force those conversations to happen. But you can facilitate them with a purposeful retreat. While pursuing a relaxing activity in a beautiful place, those conversations tend to happen organically. “When you get cancer survivors together they really do open up, regardless of whether it’s men or women,” says Parnell. “In this case it was nice to see men talking about their illness or things they’ve been through and how they did what they did.” Some of those conversations were one-on-one, among a cancer survivor and his fishing guide. But many of them happened during a lunch break when the entire group came together. Parnell explains that cancer survivorship covers a broad spectrum of time. “To many people, when you say the word ‘cancer survivor,’ that means you are 10 years or five years out of treatment,” he says. “Actually, the definition of a cancer survivor is from the moment of diagnosis. They’re surviving with cancer all the way throughout their treatment and beyond.” The men participating in the retreat were at various stages of the journey. Some had been recently diagnosed. Others, like Mashburn, were several years into remission. Coury says the differences don’t matter much. “You have some people who are terminal. Some that have survived it and kicked it. Some that are in the middle of treatment and don’t know what their outcome will be,” he says. “You’re putting all these people into one pot. For some reason, everybody feels better – about each other, about themselves. It gives hope for their future.” Part of that hope came from Bob Attaway, himself a fly fisherman and survivor of prostate cancer. Attaway presented a short talk that related the art of fly-fishing with the process of dealing with a cancer diagnosis. “I didn’t want to bore these guys at all,” says Attaway, a groups and recovery pastor at Hillside Christian Church. “But are there certain principals with fly-fishing that also apply to cancer survivorship and recovery?”
About the Cancer Survivorship Center The 24 Hours in the Canyon Cancer Survivorship Center began with an annual 24-hour bicycling event that raised funds to provide mammograms for women without insurance. Eventually it led to the establishment of a full-fledged community center built around free services for Texas Panhandle adults, children and family members during and after cancer treatment. “Nothing like this was being offered,” Parnell says. The Center began in 2015 and is funded by the 24 Hours in the Canyon bicycling event and the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible. www.24hoursinthecanyon.org www.hchfamarillo.org
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It turns out there are. Fly fishermen must trust their equipment and their guides. Cancer patients must put their faith in chemotherapy, radiation and their doctors. Both groups must approach the process with patience and also have to relinquish control. “In fishing, I can see a rock and know there’s a fish sitting right there ready for my fly,” Attaway says. “I’m going to put my fly as close to that rock as I can get it. But even if I have a great cast and get it right where I want, I have no control of what happens under the water. I have no control over whether the fish is feeding or not. With cancer, it hits you and you’re not in control.” He told the fly fishermen that turning over control was an essential aspect of the journey. This can be a struggle for men, Parnell says, especially those who are accustomed to being in charge or are proudly self-sufficient. “From the moment of diagnosis, survivors turn their control over to their treating facility,” he says. “You have to realize that someone else is in control. But ultimately their control is what’s best for the patient.” For survivors like Mashburn, the retreat was exactly what he needed. He is already a member of the Center’s prostate cancer survivor group, but says the retreat’s activities and atmosphere offered a different kind of opportunity. “Something about talking to other men and being in that environment opens you up to discussing things a bit more than in other situations,” he says. “Some there were fighting it more severe than me, so you feel how blessed you are when you listen to some of the other stories.” Though the young organization has only had one retreat so far, Coury says additional gatherings are on the horizon. “It’s still evolving,” Coury says, but he looks forward to introducing more survivors to the meditative art of flyfishing. Among other things, that means recruiting additional fly-fishing experts (see sidebar). Regardless of the destination or people involved, Parnell promises Reel & Heal will always focus on providing men an enjoyable few hours of fishing. “Survivors miss a lot of fun things when they’re going through treatment. This was a great opportunity for them to be engaged in something that’s really fun.”
Get Involved The Texas Panhandle’s proximity to world-class fly-fishing in New Mexico and Colorado has resulted in a significant community of passionate local fly fishermen. Reel & Heal hopes to hear from as many of them as possible as they plan upcoming events. “Fly-fishing enthusiasts can definitely get in touch with us as we do more of these,” says Parnell. “We’d love other fly fishermen to volunteer and give back and share their skills.” Contact Parnell at the Cancer Survivorship Center by calling 806-331-2400 or emailing ryanparnell@hchfamarillo.org.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
W h at ’ s C o o k i n g ?
Herb Life
T
he best chefs in Amarillo and around the country have a secret. It’s not a particularly well-hidden secret, but it’s the kind of small detail that can take a dish from something people quickly forget to something they won’t stop talking about. It’s the ingredient that makes the difference between simply appreciating a meal … and begging for the recipe. The secret? Fresh herbs. “We use a ton of cilantro and parsley and dill,” says T Price, who caters and operates a home bakery called Real Food Company with her husband, Andy. “You can almost get them all year long, plus you can grow those easily in a pot. They’re not real fussy, and then you always have something fresh.” She shares with us her favorite herb-infused butters and dips, a delicious vinaigrette-marinated feta cheese, and an ingenious method for freezing fresh herbs for use during the winter months. Photos by Shannon Richardson Recipes courtesy of T and Andy Price, Real Food Company
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Herb Dip
(photo on previous page) 2 cloves garlic 1 cup packed mixed herbs 2 fat squirts honey Juice of 1 lime 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt, silken tofu, or sour cream Salt and pepper to taste In food processor, blender or Ninja, process garlic, mixed herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley, basil are our favorites), honey, and lime juice until mixed; add Greek yogurt, silken tofu, or sour cream and pulse a few times to blend; add salt and pepper to taste. This is great as a dip or sauce for vegetables, fish, chicken, tacos, falafel, and so on.
Herb Marinated Feta Juice of 2 lemons 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon honey ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup chopped herbs ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon cracked red pepper 6 to 8 ounces cubed feta cheese Whisk together lemon juice, garlic, honey, olive oil, herbs (cilantro, mint, parsley), salt, pepper, and cracked red pepper. Pour over cubed feta cheese; toss gently and refrigerate a couple of hours. Let come to room temperature before serving with crackers or flatbread.
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Herb Pesto You get to decide what’s in your pesto, which is so much better than store-bought. Just start with a basic formula: ¼ cup toasted nuts ¼ cup firm grated cheese ¼ cup olive oil 1 to 1 ½ cups herbs 2 garlic cloves 2 tablespoons vinegar or citrus juice Salt to taste Combine in food processor and pulse together, adding a little more oil if necessary to get the consistency you like. Keep in a jar, covered with olive oil, in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature to use. Favorite combinations: Pepitas, Romano, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice Walnuts, parmesan, basil, and red wine vinegar Tarragon, parsley, pistachio, asiago, and balsamic vinegar Pesto is good on so many things. Toss with hot or cold pasta, serve with eggs, on bread, or on meat. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
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Herbed Salt The combinations are endless here; this is a great way to preserve herbs. 2 cloves garlic Zest of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons rosemary 2 tablespoons parsley 3 tablespoons coarse sea salt Chop together garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, parsley and sea salt until all the same size; spread on a plate and let dry overnight, uncovered. Store in a jar.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Herb Butter 1 stick softened butter ¼ cup finely chopped mixed herbs ½ teaspoon each coarse sea salt and ground black pepper In a bowl combine butter, mixed herbs, sea salt and ground black pepper. Transfer onto piece of waxed or parchment paper, shape into a log, and seal ends by twisting, or pack into a ramekin and cover with plastic. Chill in refrigerator until firm, at least an hour. Keep in refrigerator for about 2 weeks, or freeze for a couple of months. Herb combinations: Garlic, basil, parsley (great for garlic toast) Tarragon, dill, lemon zest (good on fish) Garlic, cilantro, lime zest, jalapeño (favorite for chicken)
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Herbs Preserved in Oil Fill ice trays with herbs, cover with preferred oil, freeze, pop out and store in freezer bags. Add frozen right into sauces and soups.
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
Meet the Cooks
A
Andy and T Price of Real Food Company
marilloans Andy and T Price first met more than two decades ago when both were pursuing careers in local film production. She was a freelance make-up artist and he worked in lighting. “We were traveling a lot when I got pregnant with our daughter,” T explains. “We wanted to find a business that would keep us here locally.” So in 1995, they opened a coffee business inside Northwest Texas Hospital, which eventually grew into their Coffee Cartel cafe. Desserts came next, and they began selling their delightful pastries at restaurants like BL Bistro, Crush, and 575 Pizzeria. In 2009, Andy and T expanded to crepes, which they served inside Kitchen Gallery and then Blue Sage Art Gallery. Then, in 2012, the Prices opened Real Food Cafe, a beloved Sixth Street restaurant that focused on high-quality food served with organic sauces, dressings and desserts. “We’re self-taught home cooks,” T says. “We’ve always loved cooking together and trying new things together. We love what we do and we want to keep it fun and fresh.” Around this time last year, however, they closed the cafe to open up space in their busy lives for other opportunities that revolved around their “real food” philosophy. After
taking a little time off, they’ve embraced those opportunities. “We are loving the diversity of our lifestyle now,” she says. Together, the husband and wife have stayed busy catering private dinner parties, baking at home, and partnering with their daughter, Andrea Price, organizing yoga, food and nature retreats in Taos. “We cook all the meals for participants,” says T. But most of their time revolves around the Price’s home bakery, which they have named Real Food (look for “Real Food Company” on Facebook). In recent years, the state of Texas has loosened its “Cottage Food Law” restrictions, allowing home bakers to sell their products at farmer’s markets and other locations. Andy and T gained a huge following last year after setting up a booth in the inaugural season of the Amarillo Community Market, and will begin serving their delicious goods again when the market reopens on
June 10. (It’s in operation from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but if last year was any indication, many of the products at the Real Food booth – including its homemade granola and chocolate-coconut macaroons – will sell out quickly.) The Prices also spend time baking custom orders for business clients. “What we love is getting a corporate order for 25 of the same thing,” she says. That may include everything from walnut bars to espresso brownies. “We have one client who orders 50 of our flourless chocolate souffle cakes. They’re wonderful as gifts.” When T is not baking cakes and brownies, she’s freezing fresh summer herbs for use out of season, as detailed in this issue. “You can pack the ice cubes full of whatever herbs you want, even a combination of them, and then cover them in olive oil and freeze it,” she says. “Then you’ve got two tablespoons of rosemary or basil to toss into something. Throw it in a stew in winter or finish off a nice sauce with it. It’s awesome.”
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JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Congratulations 2017 Golden Nail Award Winners Summit Award Laura and Joe Street
Individual Awards
Louise & Gene Rahll, Dalhart Lori and Steven Beckham
Business Awards
Newcrest Image/Embassy Suites/Courtyard Amarillo Downtown FirstBank Southwest
Foundation/Non-Profit Organization Awards Gayden Family Foundation, Dallas Amarillo Area Foundation
Distinguished Volunteer Awards Jackie Gilley, Midwest City, Oklahoma Dorinda Creel
Up and Coming Distinguished Volunteer Awards Angie Hawkins, Canadian Britny and Alfonso Zambrano
Golden Touch Award Winners
Citadelle Art Foundation’s “The Citadelle Roadshow Art Traveler” Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum’s “The Heart of Texas Art” Amarillo Museum of Art’s “An Evening With Cheech Marin” We would especially like to thank the following whose generosity helped make this gala possible: Alexander Valley Vineyards Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council Amarillo Opera Civic Amarillo Culinary art students from Amarillo ISD and Canyon ISD Duncan & Boyd Jewelers Freeman’s Flowers Glazers Wholesale Distributors Golden Nail Awards Committee Joe’s Catering Mr. Chuck Alexander The Anonymous Golden Nail Awards Jury The Martinis
June
Photos courtesy of The American Quarter Horse Journal
Events
Merial AQHA Region Eight Championship
A
merican Quarter Horse Association Region 8 exhibitors are preparing for the 2017 Merial AQHA Region Eight Championship, which is slated for June 14 through 18 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds’ Amarillo National Center. The Merial AQHA Region Eight Championship will provide American Quarter Horse enthusiasts a chance to test their horse-showing skills, and will feature a variety of classes, starting with Working Cow Horse on June 14. AQHA judges Bob Kail, Marilyn Randall and Tracy Willis will judge the event. For a full show itinerary, visit aqhar8championship.com. The regional championships are a series of shows that allow exhibitors to compete for a chance to win prizes from AQHA’s team of corporate partners and sponsors. Awards will be provided by for first- through third-place in each of the eight core classes in Level 1 youth 13-and-under, Level 1 youth 14-18, Level 1 Amateur and either Rookie or Select amateur, and buckles for the all-around winner in each group. To see the show schedules and find out more about each regional championship, visit aqha.com/regionalchampionships. June 14-18, 7:30 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center 3301 SE 10th Ave. 376.7767 tristatefair.com View an updated listing of events throughout the month at amarillomagonline.com. To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com or fax a press release to 806.345.3282.
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Arts & Entertainment “Texas” dinner at 6 p.m.; show at 8:30 p.m. Show runs every Tuesday through Sunday through Aug. 19. Palo Duro Canyon State Park Pioneer Amphitheatre, 11450 Park Road 5, 655.2181
June 2 First Friday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. The Galleries at Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd., 353.5700 The Edge Dance Recital 6:30-9:30 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 3 The Edge Dance Recital 2-5 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 8-9 Broadway Spotlight Series presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 15 FOSA: An Evening with the Permanent Collection 5:30-7 p.m. Wine and cheese reception along with a seminar led by Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs Michael R. Grauer. The seminar will educate the attendees in the quality, breadth and depth of the museum’s extensive fine art collections. Reservations are required. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave., Canyon, 651.2244
Benefits & Fundraisers June 2 Canyon Chamber Annual Golf Classic 12-8 p.m. Palo Duro Creek Golf Course, 50 Country Club Drive, 655.7815 24 Hours in the Canyon 4 p.m. Optional day will include packet pick-up from 4-9 p.m., dinner in the Mack Dick Pavilion from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Night Hills Climb Challenge at 10:10 p.m. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5, 24hoursinthecanyon.org
race, adult race and dinner. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5, 24hoursinthecanyon.org
June 4 24 Hours in the Canyon 12 a.m.-1 p.m. Simultaneous 24-hour road and mountain bike second day will include adult races, Red Eye Rider Challenge, and awards ceremony. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5, 24hoursinthecanyon.org
June 10 Kars4Kids Car Show 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fifth annual car show will benefit AAYC. Event is free to the public and will include food and games. AAYC Community Center, 806 S. Van Buren St., 373.2292 Panhandle Volunteer Firefighter Benefit 10 a.m. Fundraiser will include live music, food and beverages, a raffle, live auction and kid-friendly activities. Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 567.1279 Blondes vs. Brunettes 5-11 p.m. Organized flag football game will raise funds to benefit the care, support, advocacy and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. Victory party will be held at the Piehl Barn. Bushland Falcon High School Stadium, 999 FM 2381, 372.8693
June 11 47th Annual Beef-a-Thon 3-6 p.m. In partnership with Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will host its annual televised auction in a live broadcast on KCIT FOX14. Featured auction items will include custom-cut quarters of beef, 15-pound boxes of 90-percent lean ground beef, as well as a variety of other items. Funds raised will benefit programs, services and research that directly impact individuals and families affected by MS. 806.340.7535 or 800.227.5292, nationalmssociety.org
June 16 BBB Scholarship Golf Scramble 2 p.m. Comanche Trail Golf Complex, 4200 S. Grand St., 378.4281
June 17 14th Annual Marion McCartt Golf Classic 8 a.m. Ross Rogers Golf Complex, 722 NW 24th Ave., 378.3086
June 3 24 Hours in the Canyon 7 a.m.-11:45 p.m. Simultaneous 24-hour road and mountain bike first day will include a kids
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June 23
June 7
Rise: A Celebration of Men 7-11 p.m. Event will include key note speakers, dinner, live entertainment, and scholarship presentation. Ashmore Inn & Suites, 2301 I-40 East, 374.3344
High Noon on the Square: Andy Chase Cundiff 12-1 p.m. Free concert series with an $8 lunch catered by Youngblood’s Cafe. Potter County Courthouse lawn, 501 S. Fillmore St., 372.6744
June 25
June 8
Panhandle Pride Festival 2017 12-6 p.m. Community celebration will include a picnic, music and family-friendly activities. Memorial Park, 2501 S. Washington St., 414.5704
Music in the Gardens: Sadies Rangers 7-8 p.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513
Music
June Jams 7:30-9 p.m. Hosted by Canyon Main St.; beverages, food and chairs are welcome. Historic Randall County Courthouse, 501 16th St., Canyon, 656.6833
June 1 First Thursday Art + Music 7 p.m. The 806, 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806 Andrew Leahey & The Homestead 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237
June 2 Barnyard Stompers 10 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840 Early Morning Reign 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163 The Mag 7 with Loudmouth Lisa 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237
June 3 Michael Player 8 p.m. The Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 SW Sixth Ave., 373.9149 Rich O’Toole 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237 Lee Scheetz & Borderline 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163 Strange Saints with Ace E. Rodriguez 10 p.m. The Western Horseman Club, 2501 I-40 East, 379.6555, ext. 2999 Flobots 10 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 6 Starlight Theater: The Skeleton Krew 7-9 p.m. Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave., 368.3036 June Jazz: Polk Street Jazz 7:30 p.m. Amarillo College Main Lawn Outdoor Space, 2201 S. Washington St., 371.5340
Music Event 7 p.m. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, 352.6007
June 9 Corey Hunt Band 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237 Skeleton Krew 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163 AKA Faceless 11 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 10 Jack Nelson 8 p.m. The Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 SW Sixth Ave., 373.9149 The Kirks 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
June 13 Starlight Theater: Smokey City Rhythm Revue 7-9 p.m. Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave., 368.3036 June Jazz: The Martinis 7:30 p.m. Amarillo College Main Lawn Outdoor Space, 2201 S. Washington St., 371.5340
June 14 High Noon on the Square: “Texas” the Musical Drama 12-1 p.m. Free concert series with an $8 lunch catered by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and Texas Tea. Potter County Courthouse lawn, 501 S. Fillmore St., 372.6744 Greenbeard 11 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 15 Music in the Gardens: Polk Street Jazz 7-8 p.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513
June Jams 7:30-9 p.m. Hosted by Canyon Main St.; beverages, food and chairs are welcome. Historic Randall County Courthouse, 501 16th St., Canyon, 656.6833
June Jams 7:30-9 p.m. Hosted by Canyon Main St.; beverages, food and chairs are welcome. Historic Randall County Courthouse, 501 16th St., Canyon, 656.6833
Shane Smith & The Saints 10 p.m. Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548
June 23
June 16
Josh Ward Band 10 p.m. Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548
Bentwood Rockers 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
Hangman 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
June 17
The Flying Elbows 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237
HPPR Living Room Concert Series: Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp 5 p.m. Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A, 576.2480
June 24
RagTown Chiefs 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
Mike Fuller 6-10 p.m. Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A, 576.2480
Power Move Tour 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237
Hellbilly Homicide 8 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 18 Waymore’s Outlaws 10 p.m. Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548 Spencer Ryan 11 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 19 Ian Fitzgerald 11 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 20 Starlight Theater: The Dust Jackets 7-9 p.m. Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave., 368.3036 June Jazz: Patrick Swindell 7:30 p.m. Amarillo College Main Lawn Outdoor Space, 2201 S. Washington St., 371.5340 Matthew Frantz 9 p.m. The 806, 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806
June 21 High Noon on the Square: Mike Fuller 12-1 p.m. Free concert series with an $8 lunch catered by Crush Wine Bar & Deli. Potter County Courthouse lawn, 501 S. Fillmore St., 372.6744 Kung Fu Vampire Locksmith North American Tour with Special Guests 7 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 22 Maury Ave. 5 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840 Music in the Gardens: Tennessee Tuckness 7-8 p.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513
Maury Ave. 8 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305 Tommy Gallagher Band 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
June 27 Starlight Theater: The Prairie Dogs 7-9 p.m. Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave., 368.3036 June Jazz: Jim Laughlin 7:30 p.m. Amarillo College Main Lawn Outdoor Space, 2201 S. Washington St., 371.5340
June 28 High Noon on the Square: Summer Youth Musical “Fiddler on the Roof” 12-1 p.m. Free concert series with an $8 lunch catered by AQHA cooking team. Potter County Courthouse lawn, 501 S. Fillmore St., 372.6744
June 29 Music in the Gardens: Insufficient Funds 7 p.m. Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513 June Jams 7:30-9 p.m. Hosted by Canyon Main St.; beverages, food and chairs are welcome. Historic Randall County Courthouse, 501 16th St., Canyon, 656.6833 James Cook 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237 Burlesque 11 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840
June 30 The RagTown Chiefs 8 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305
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AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
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YOUR WISHES ARE OUR PRIORITY!
WHOLESALE FURNITURE
Roger Pressure 10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163
Nature June 2 Toddler Tracks 10-11 a.m. Program will include storytime and exploration through play and crafting. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, 352.6007
June 3 First Saturday Hike 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The hike will be 1.7 miles; bring a snack to eat midway and a water bottle. Binoculars and cameras allowed. Sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate apparel are recommended. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, 352.6007
June 14
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Sunset, Wildflowers and Wine 7 p.m. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, 352.6007
June 18 Father’s Day at the Zoo 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission for dads and a free snow cone. Amarillo Zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911
June 22 Cultural Conversations 7 p.m. Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, 352.6007
Special Events June 1 Coors Cowboy Club Longhorn Cattle Drive 6-7:30 p.m. Longhorns, along with other non-motorized groups and accompanying riders, will traverse Polk Street downtown toward the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Visitors are welcome to cheer on the cattle and riders from any point along the way. Sponsored by the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council. 11th Avenue and Polk Street to the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 374.1497
June 2 Pink Carpet Event 6-10:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Hospitality Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 3 High Plains Ranchers & Breeders Association Horse Sale 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 235.3776
June 4 Miss and Teen Amarillo Texas Latina 2017 6:30-9:30 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 7 APD Summer Camp 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 8 Chamber After Hours 5-7 p.m. Nistler’s Lawn & Landscape Inc., 11701 Truman St., 373.7800
June 9 Night at PPHM 8-11 p.m. Role players and storytellers will come to life in all areas of PPHM to show visitors what life was like on the panhandle plains during several decades in history. The event is designed as an opportunity for patrons to explore the museum in the dark and talk to characters within the exhibits. Bring your family and flashlights. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave., Canyon, 651.2244
June 9-10 Texas Mission of Mercy 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 10 Letters from Home 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn the importance of letter writing. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave., Canyon, 651.2244
June 14 Police Academy Graduation 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 15 Chamber Summer Celebration 5-8 p.m. Networking event includes all you can eat and drink with live music. Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, 1000 S. Polk St., 373.7800
June 21 Rural Health at the Crossroads 12-5:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096 Back Row: Gregory May, MD; Cullen Hopkins, MD; George Barnett, MD; Dudley Freeman, MD; Jamie Wilkerson, MD; Front Row: Haylee Devries, PA-C; Sarah Bergeron, WHNP; Brenna Payne, WHNP
7620 Wallace Blvd. Amarillo, Tx. 79124 • 806-359-5468 46
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
June 22-23 Rural Health at the Crossroads 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
June 24-25 Discover the Dinosaurs 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Hands-on exhibit will give guests the opportunity to see dinosaurs in a walk-through exhibit designed to bring you back in time to a landscape where dinosaurs lived. Along with the animatronic dinosaurs, dinosaur replicas are featured throughout. Beyond the exhibit, additional activities are available for kids of all ages. Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 378.3096
June 29 National Credit Union of the Year Party 5:30-7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Regency Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096
Sports & Recreation Family Night at Thompson Park Pool 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 9. Thompson Park Pool, 2400 N. Polk St., 381.7919 Family Night at Southeast Pool 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Aug. 15. Southeast Pool, 3400 S. Osage St., 342.1564
Amarillo Venom vs. Centex Calvary 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 350.7277
Sammy’s Birthday Party 7-8:30 p.m. Celebrate Sammy the seal’s 11th birthday with family-friendly games. Southeast Pool, 3400 S. Osage St., 342.1564
June 14 Sammy’s Birthday Party 7-8:30 p.m. Celebrate Sammy the seal’s 11th birthday with family-friendly games. Thompson Park Pool, 2400 N. Polk St., 381.7919
june 29th insufficient funds
july 6th
Next to kin
july 13th
the martini's
july 20th the solano project
july 27th shandy bandits
august 3rd comanche moon
august 10th
patrick swindell & pizzazz
Merial AQHA Region Eight Championship 2017 7:30 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767
June 15 Sammy’s Birthday Party 7-8:30 p.m. Celebrate Sammy the seal’s 11th birthday with family-friendly games. Southwest Pool, 4800 Bell St., 359.2082
$10 Non-members
$5 members
12 & under free
June 23-25
June 24
Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo 12-10 p.m. Ticket includes dinner, rodeo and dance to follow. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 378.3096
Fish Derby 7:30-10:30 a.m. Annual fishing event for kids ages 3 to 16 will include prizes for the biggest, smallest, ugliest, and most unique fish, along with a bounce house. McDonald Lake, 45th Avenue and Coulter Street, 378.9391
Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Ticket includes dinner, rodeo and dance to follow. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 378.3096
tennessee tuckness
June 14-18
June 2
June 3
june 22nd
Michelob Ultra Men’s City Championship 8 a.m. Ross Rogers Golf Complex, 722 NW 24th Ave., 378.3086
Happy State Bank KVII Tall Tower Open 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Ross Rogers Golf Complex, 722 NW 24th Ave., 378.3086
Miller Lite Open 9 a.m. Comanche Trail Golf Complex, 4200 S. Grand St., 378.4281
june 15th
Polk street jazz
NCHA/PCHA Cutting 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Bill Cody Arena, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 378.3096
Family Night at Southwest Pool 7-9 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 24. Southwest Pool, 4800 Bell St., 359.2082
June 2-4
june 8th
sadies rangers
June 9-11
June 13
music from 7 - 9pm
gates open at 6:30pm
Panhandle Team Penning & Sorting 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Bill Cody Arena, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767
June 24-25 McCracken Team Roping 9 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767
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JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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8
06 Inc. is the newest source to help business leaders in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle learn how to succeed and thrive. Those who become part of 806 Inc. will have the following benefits:
Introducing
806 Inc . offered by AGN Media
• A quarterly magazine debuting in summer 2017. • Invitations to special events focused on crucial business topics. • Exclusive weekly e-mail full of the latest business news and trends. • Opportunities to network and develop relationships with other local businesses. • Access to podcasts featuring interviews with local business leaders. • Exclusive opportunities to reach other businesses through direct mail, digital and other forms of targeted advertising.
To become a member of 806 Inc., register at Amarillo.com/806inc
The ONLY freestanding Emergency location operating under a hospital license! NORTHWEST EMERGENCY AT TOWN SQUARE HAS: • 12 treatment rooms
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ER Reserve should be used only if you decide your care can wait until the time you select. Do not wait if your symptoms or conditions worsen or if you need immediate care since delays may complicate your condition. If you are unsure of your condition or if your condition worsens, then please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Some insurance plans may not cover an ER visit if it is deemed urgent care or may apply a different copay. Please check your covered benefits with your insurance provider for details. 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. 170007 6/17
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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
S P E CIAL AD V E R T I S I N G S E C T IO N
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Miracle-Ear
H
earing Instrument Specialist Stephanie Grawunder wants everyone to know that hearing is not a luxury. Rather, it’s an integral part of one’s overall health and mental strength. Recent studies have shown significant links between hearing loss and dementia, which is why Grawunder spends each day at Miracle-Ear teaching her patients how improved hearing leads to an improved life. “The ear is just the mechanism that delivers the sound, but it’s our brain that distinguishes pool from fool and cheese from Wisconsin from she’s from Wisconsin,” she says. “My patients have been without sound for a long time, so when we reintroduce sound we have to inform them that the hearing aid will send the sound but it’s their brain that has to relearn.” With aural rehabilitation combined with the technological advances of Miracle-Ear products, patients can expect to receive more than enhanced hearing volume. They can expect improved communication between family members and friends, and a renewed desire to be involved in community activities. They can
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anticipate feeling included again. “What we’re learning is that our social lives are just as important as eating well and exercising. People get tired of going to church and not hearing the minister. Their family and loved ones get frustrated so they don’t call Mom or Dad as often. They hurt socially,” says Grawunder. “That’s where my heart is – helping people reconnect.” Miracle-Ear provides free hearing tests, hearing rehabilitation and a lifetime of follow up care. We customize solutions designed to meet individual needs and budget. In addition, Miracle-Ear partners with the Miracle-Ear Foundation to provide hearing aids to children and adults who have exhausted all resources for their hearing health. “Hearing directly affects your quality of life”, she says. “The first step is to come in for a free hearing test and then together we can find the best solution for your needs.”
Miracle-Ear 3300 S. Coulter St., Suite 4 | 839.6918 | miracle-ear-amarillo.com
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Why choose Miracle-Ear? • Personal relationship with a local hearing care professional • Industry-leading limited 3-year warranty † • FREE hearing evaluations & follow up care for life • Customized solutions designed to meet your individual hearing needs We
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Miracle-Ear Center–Summit Shopping Center ®
Stephanie Grawunder
Hearing Instrument Specialist † Does not apply to Audiotone Pro.
3300 S Coulter St, Ste 4, Amarillo, TX 79106 806-319-9412 • www.Miracle-Ear-Amarillo.com
Promo Code: 118UT05A
local SENIOR CARE
Park Central Community
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estled within downtown Amarillo, Park Central is the region’s premier continuing care community for seniors 55 and older. Locally owned and operated by Baptist Community Services, Park Central provides exceptional living and services in a loving, secure Christian atmosphere. Park Central takes a comprehensive approach for caring for its residents by offering a continuing range of services from income-based apartment living for those 55 and older to a variety of Apartment residences for clients 62 and older with amenities that include delectable three meals per day, 24-hour resident assistance, activities, housekeeping, and all utilities. With several levels of care, Park Central’s purpose is to provide the highest level of care, service and safety for each individual. In addition, the Nurse Navigator program provides free medical assessments, illness checks and coordination of physician or emergency care. “Park Central communities provide apartment living for seniors who desire friendship and fellowship in a Christian atmosphere,” says Vicki Brooks, corporate communications director. “Seniors who need to graduate to higher levels of care, such as assisted living, long-term care for seniors who require 24-hour nursing care and assistance,
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and our newest community, opening in late summer, The Sycamore at Park Central for Memory Care, which provides continuing care in one location for loved ones.” In addition to apartment living other amenities on campus include: salon services, convenience store, pharmacy, senior-friendly wellness center with a personal trainer, The Grill Cafe for fresh, delicious food, La Spa for relaxing facials and massage, and the BSA CareXpress Urgent Care Clinic located on the campus. “One thing I love is when my Dad moved to Amarillo and visited Park Central, he wanted to live here. I thought he’d live with me!” says Brooks. “It’s not just about a person or number but actually family. This is what Park Central is all about.” Additionally, Park Central’s sister campus, The Arbors, located near the Harrington Medical Center, provides Medicare short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to allow seniors to return to their homes in the shortest amount of time after a hospital stay.
Park Central Community 1300 S. Harrison St. | 337.5700 | parkcentral.org
local SENIOR CARE
Jan Werner Adult Day Care
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or the retired senior that desires companionship, activities and wants to maintain their independence, the Jan Werner Adult Day Care program is an ideal solution. The center was created in 1978 to fulfill a need for an able-bodied aging population in Amarillo with little to do and a desire to stay in their own home. Today, it boasts two successful community programs, Adult Day Care and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and heartily sees more than 250 clients in a stateof-the-art, beautiful center with a private, landscaped park for outdoor activities and enjoyment. On staff are myriad specialists, from a nutritionist and primary care physician to nurses and an occupational therapist. There are plenty of professionals on hand to assist clients with daily medical and medicinal needs, to help meet dietary and exercise goals, and address other health care concerns. That’s in addition to the day-to-day activities, such as yoga and tai chi, Wii bowling, and board games. “The Adult Day Care program provides nursing care and transportation to and from the center for those who need it. We’re lift-equipped with walker and wheelchair access,” says Executive Director Alana Chilcote. “We have people who’ve been coming here
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for more than 10 years. Some folks live alone but this keeps them active. The benefits are wonderful because they have friends and something to do.” While the Adult Day Care program is designed for pastime activities with accompanied nursing care, the PACE program offers an extra layer of medical attention for those who qualify to go to a nursing home, but intend to remain at home. For those 55 and older and who live in the Amarillo and Canyon area, qualifying clients can receive comprehensive primary care along with additional services, including acute care, optometry, audiology, and dental care. The goal of PACE to help people stay in their homes for as long as possible. Whether the client’s medical needs are extensive or minimal, everyone can benefit from the camaraderie and activity available at Jan Werner Adult Day Care.
Jan Werner Adult Day Care 3108 S. Fillmore St. | 374.5516 | janweneradultdaycare.org
local SENIOR CARE
Ormson Hearing Health Care
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earing loss affects different people in various ways. Committed to meeting every patient’s individual needs, family-owned and -operated Ormson Hearing Health Care has provided the Amarillo community with personalized hearing solutions since 1978. Dr. Kerry Ormson and his staff realize the detrimental and dramatic effects hearing loss has on an individual, and strive to provide each patient with the diagnostics, education, products and rehabilitation necessary to improve the quality of their life through better hearing. “We find great satisfaction in helping someone who has difficulty hearing to understand speech again and get back into the flow of their
family, job or social scene,” says Dr. Ormson. “The look on a patient’s face when they realize they can hear again is what drives our passion.” As part of its comprehensive service, Ormson Hearing Health Care offers a full selection of hearing aids and assistive devices, including new, advanced and cosmetically appealing styles and digital models. Additionally, Dr. Ormson’s staff includes Dr. Kristian Ormson, Dr. David Cahill, and Dr. Maegan Laughlin.
Ormson Hearing Health Care 5501 SW Ninth Ave. | 468.4343 | ormsonhearing.com
Hear Clearly Our dedicated staff focuses on your individual satisfaction to improve the quality of your life through better hearing.
5501 W. Ninth Ave., Amarillo | 806.468.4343 www.ormsonhearing.com
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Restaurants • Food • Spirits
photo by Shannon Richardson
D Le ep ta’rst Emaetn! t
Pan-seared salmon with a spring pea puree atop carrot risotto; brown sugar panna cotta with poached rhubarb, strawberries and chamomile sorbet
Imperial Taproom
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eaturing fresh, in-season ingredients and an extensive craft beer and wine list, Imperial Taproom is Canyon’s hippest eatery. You'll want to linger over lunch or dinner, with brunch served every Saturday and Sunday. Imperial’s new summer menu is packed with the earthy flavors of produce like spring peas, carrots, wild mushrooms, and rhubarb. The restaurant and bar has partnered with a handful of local farmers to keep the menu light and colorful during the summer months, with meats served with tantalizing smoked flavor. Imperial also promises a bounty of fresh seafood offerings. Also new this summer: Look for Imperial on OpenTable, making it the first restaurant in the area to utilize the reservation service.
410 15th St., Suite 100, 452.8004, imperialtaproom.com
PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees over $21 RESTAURANT KEY y Outdoor Dining ☎ Reservations Recommended T Live Music c Full Bar C Beer and/or Wine only ^ Best of Amarillo Winner NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE
Updated entry
Open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11:59 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 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.
JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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Amarillo 575 Pizzeria Toppings runneth over at 575 Pizzeria, not to mention the specials that rotate every month. (Check the board when you walk in.) 575 is family-owned and family-friendly, so it’s a great Friday night dinner choice. 2803 Civic Circle/ 7320 Hillside Road, 322.5575, 575pizzeria.com $$ C T ^ 7 Grill & Bar Seven is the magic number at 7 Grill & Bar. The lunch menu consists of $7 entrees, from burgers and sandwiches to pasta and seafood. It’s the ideal place to meet friends and root for your favorite team. 3130 S. Soncy Road, 358.2222, 7grillandbar.com $ c T y 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza This fast-casual restaurant keeps the budget-minded diner in mind. Much like a Subway chain, 1000 Degrees offers build-your-own pizzas with your choice of six sauces, seven cheeses, 20 vegetable options, and nine meats, as well as classic fired-fresh Neapolitan-style pizzas and salads. 2207 S. Western St., 803.9436, 1000degreespizza.com $ Abuelo's The authentic atmosphere and generous portions make for an enjoyable lunch or romantic evening out. If you’re stumped by all the choices, try the Enchiladas de Cozumel, three crepes filled with guacamole and topped with bountiful seafood, fresh spinach and roasted peppers. As a rule, always get the queso. 3501 W. 45th Ave., 354.8294, abuelos.com $$ c ☎ ^ Aspen Creek Grill One of only nine locations nationwide, Aspen Creek’s Amarillo restaurant offers its signature made-from-scratch food in a family-friendly atmosphere. Step into the mountain-lodge inspired decor and you can expect to be greeted warmly by the friendly staff, receive excellent service, and over-sized portions on everything from appetizers to entrees to dessert. The Happy Hour at Aspen – one of the most affordable in town – is a welcome break after a challenging work day. 4110 I-40 West, 398.2776, aspencreekgrill.com $-$$ c ^ Atomic Sports Grill & Entertainment Center Get your fill of typical sports bar fare at the city’s newest sports/entertainment venture. Fried food, burgers and pizza dominate the menu, with a few salad options thrown in for good measure. Burn off all the calories with enough billiards, video games, dancing, and laser tag to fill an evening out with friends. 2523 Britain Drive, 355.2100, atomicsportsgrill.com $ c
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B L Bistro The intimate, cozy atmosphere creates the ideal date place, not to mention the food is plated perfection. Note: You might want to leave the kids with a sitter. 2203 S. Austin St., 355.7838, blbistro.com $$$ c ☎ y Bangkok Restaurant When you’re looking for authentic Thai, Bangkok delivers. Start with the sticky rice, move on to the cucumber salad, and finish with the chicken larb. Your kids will love watching the big fish tanks while you wait for your table. Warning: Spicy means spicy. Bangkok means business. 5901 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.9008 $ Big Daddy’s Bar-B-Q This family-owned barbecue joint offers a variety of Texas barbecue in addition to non-traditional items such as baked potatoes and garden salads. The homemade barbecue sauce perfectly complements the meats. 400 E. Hastings Ave., 383.9731 $ 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/ 5060 S. Coulter St., 322.3888, blueskytexas.com $ C y ^ The Burger Bar The Burger Bar offers a simple menu that includes shakes, floats and, of course, burgers and fries. You may be tempted to forgo the aforementioned and give the ripper, a deep-fried hot dog, a shot. Have your fill of feel-good food for an early lunch or late dinner. 614 S. Polk St., 376.4700, theburgerbaramarillo.com $$
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Cafe Marizon Cafe Marizon serves up great, homecooked taste with consistently delicious specials of the day. Go early so you can have a piece of the homemade pie or cake. 6151 Hillside Road, 352.2046 $ y C Carniceria y Taqueria la Popular Part supermarket, part restaurant, Carniceria y Taqueria la Popular is a tasty little gem a few blocks east of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Head to the small, sit-down dining area at the back of the store for lunch and dine on a variety of simple, authentic Mexican dishes such as chile rellenos, tacos and fresh-made tamales. Finish with a sweet treat from the bakery. 1505 SE Third Ave., 374.6451 $ Castaways This casual bar and grill serves fried seafood, steaks and burgers for dinner, with a smaller menu for lunch. Hang out on the weekends for live music, and relax outside on the patio when the weather is nice. 4523 Canyon Drive, 356.7777 $ T c
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
City Cafe Tucked in the basement of the Amarillo Police Department, this cafe is open to all. A full breakfast and lunch menu keep downtown visitors going back for more. Start your day with a breakfast burrito, sandwich, omelet or pancakes. 200 SE Third Ave., 378.6104 $
Eat-Rite The food at Eat-Rite isn’t just good for you; it’s delicious as well. Pile your plate high from the organic salad bar or choose from a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups and entrees. The marinated carrots are pure, tasty goodness. 2425 I-40 West, 353.7476, eat-rite.com $$
Chop Chop Rice Co Chop Chop’s slogan is “Simple. Fresh. Fast.” And that’s exactly what you get when you order the hot teppan-style Japanese cuisine. There’s a casual dining room, quick drive-thru and delivery options so you can decide how you want to dine. 3300 S. Coulter St., Suite 1, 457.0700, chopchoprice.com $
El Manantial For truly authentic Mexican food, this is the spot. A little off the beaten path, a visit to El Manantial is worth a visit. Start with light-as-air corn chips and salsa. Every entree is cooked-fresh delicious, especially the barbacoa, seafood and homemade chile relleno. We can’t say enough about every scrumptious bite. 3823 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.1852 $ C
Crazy Larry’s Fine Texas BBQ A visit to Larry’s isn’t complete without an order of Frito pie – make it a “moose” with the works. The authentic Texas-style barbecue is finger-licking good, and everything on the menu is delivered with some of the friendliest service in town. The prices are reasonable, too. 4315 Teckla Blvd., 359.3176, crazylarrysbbq.com $ ^ Crush Wine Bar & Deli Crush’s excellent tapas, sandwiches, entrees and desserts are a big enough draw. Add an extensive and impressive wine list, one of the few covered patios in town, and excellent service, and you’ve got one of the city’s premier hang-out spots. The Saturday morning brunch is hard to beat, too. 701 S. Polk St., 418.2011, crushdeli.com $$ C y ^ T NEW Daniel’s Drive-In Located on old Route 66, Daniel’s offers old-fashioned drive-in fare. Freshcooked burgers, tots, onion rings and plenty of soda fountain drinks make this the ideal spot for a sunny-day lunch or afternoon snack. 2911 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.0066 $ NEW Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Dickey’s serves its original slowsmoked meats alongside homestyle sides like macaroni-and-cheese and jalapeño beans, fresh rolls, and plenty of ice tea. Founded in Dallas in 1941, the national franchise also gives back – its foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, benefits law enforcement and firefighters in the local community. 6015 Hillside Road, Suite 100, 322.0127, dickeys.com $$ Drive By Pizza Pie This evening-only drive-up offers 10- and 14-inch pies, calzones, wings and salads. Brave souls can tackle The Ring of Fire – topped with spicy marinara, assorted meats and vegetables, jalapeños, and chili sauce. Wash it down with a flavored tea from the tea bar. 4602 SW 45th Ave., 437.1036 $-$$
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 draft beer and margaritas on the rocks during Happy Hour. 5807 SW 45th Ave., 352.2570, elpatronrestauranttx.com $ c El Vaquero Customers rave about the breakfast burritos at El Vaquero. The filling burritos, served with beans and papas, are a steal. In business since 1999, the restaurant opens early for breakfast and serves lunch until 2 p.m. 2200 SE Third Ave., 376.6585 $ English Field House Restaurant Visit a piece of Amarillo history at the English Field House. Named for the city’s first airfield, the restaurant offers great, cooked-fresh cafe food. Take the family for Sunday breakfast. It’s worth the drive. 10610 American Drive, 335.2996 $ Evocation Coffee You’ll find a thoughtful, simple menu at Evocation Coffee. Pour-over coffees and espresso dominate, but you’ll also find tea, cold press juices, fresh in-house waffles with a variety of spreads, and thick-sliced toast drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Visit Evocation for expertly roasted and brewed coffee and a snack. Hang out because of the peaceful, modern vibe. 3300 S. Coulter St., Suite 5, 418.8968, evocationcoffee.com $ Fab Foods Fab Foods serves straightforward, homestyle meals with busy families in mind. Dine-in, call ahead, take-and-bake, delivery and catering are available for breakfast and lunch. And choose from a rotating daily menu of sandwiches, wraps, salads, hot entrees, and desserts. With those kinds of options, you’re guaranteed
to please the whole family – no matter how large. 5901 S. Bell St., 398.3663 $ Five Guys Burgers and Fries Order a la carte from the simple menu at this fast-casual eatery, choosing from burgers made to order with your choice of toppings (try one “all the way”), sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. 2313 Georgia St., Suite 37, 398.0582, gofiveguys.com $ Frank’s Bakery Transport yourself to Europe at the only boulangerie in Amarillo. No matter what you choose, you can’t miss with French specialties like fresh baguette sandwiches, quiche, feuillete (a puff pastry filled with chicken, bechamel, and mushrooms), crepes, and croissants – if you can break away from the divine pastry case to order an entree. We’re big fans. 1923 S. Western St., 352.8089 $ y Furrbie’s You’ll find old-fashioned grilled onion burgers and an array of sandwiches, salads, seafood and ice cream treats at Furrbie’s. Hot dog enthusiasts will love the famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs, the originals from Coney Island, New York, made with 100-percent kosher American beef. Looking to cool off? Choose from fruity-flavored ice treats or ice cream. 210 SW Sixth Ave., 220.0841 $ Girasol Cafe & Bakery If you’ve missed having an artisan bakery in Amarillo, you’re in luck. Head over to Garisol Cafe and enjoy fresh baked goods along with a rotating menu of salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees – many with a Latin influence. Check the bakery’s Facebook page for daily featured items. 3201 S. Coulter St., 322.0023 $ The Golden Light Cafe As the oldest operating restaurant in Amarillo, The Golden Light has been in business since 1946, all in the same location. For a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. 2908 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237, goldenlightcafe.com $ c T
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Gooney’s You won’t get bored with Gooney’s menu. This downtown eatery and lounge cooks up pretty much every Asian dish you can think of – egg rolls, lettuce wraps, the always-reliable Charlie’s Special, chow mein, curry wings, even hot-off-the-grill rib-eyes and steak kabobs. 705 S. Polk St., 367.9585 $ y c 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, chicken-fried steak 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 $$ ^ T
Happy Burrito A small dine-in and take out restaurant, Happy Burrito is sure to improve your mood. With most menu items priced at less than $5, you can feast on burritos, hamburgesas, totas, tacos, and parrilladas. 908 Amarillo Blvd. East, 379.8226 $ NEW Havana Rincon Criollo You’ll find traditional Cuban fare at Havana Rincon Criollo. Nestled toward the west end of historic Route 66, the eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t be afraid to experiment at Rincon Criollo Havana. Flavors range from sweet to spicy to savory, with standouts like ropa vieja (shredded beef), empanadas, and fried plantains. 3700 SW Sixth Ave., 206.8482 $y Hoffbrau Steaks Family-owned Hoffbrau has been serving Texas-style steaks and beer for three decades. We recommend one of the Gr8 Steaks or something from the Hill Country Favorites list upon your first visit. Guaranteed, you’ll go back again. 7203 I-40 West, 358.6595, hoffbrausteaks.com $$ c
Coney Island Hard Root Beer is a new twist on an old favorite. With hints of vanilla, licorice and birch, this root beer will bring you back to the boardwalk.
Hop Slice Housed in Midtown Kitchen’s former location, Fire Slice Pizzeria owner’s newest project offers a simple pizza and pub-inspired menu. And when we say simple, we don’t mean there’s a lack of quality ingredients; rather, the menu is limited and carefully curated. You’ll find gourmet wood-fired pizzas, small plates, homemade ice cream, and a healthy craft beer and wine list. 2818 Wolflin Ave., 418.4852 $$ C Hummer's Sports Cafe 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 Blvd., Suite B2, 353.0723 $$ c y ^ I Don’t Know Sports Bar and Grill This Sixth Street grill has a little bit of everything. Chicken-fried steak, catfish, burgers, steaks, sandwiches, wraps, breakfast – there’s a lot for hungry diners to choose from. Enjoy fresh, homestyle meals, extra-friendly service and a casual, laid-back atmosphere while you watch your favorite sports on the flat screen TVs that line the dining room. On your first visit, try the pizza fries, a sinfully delicious combination of french fries loaded with pepperoni, jalapeño bacon, marinara, and mozzarella cheese. 1301 SW Sixth Ave., 331.7985, idksportsbar.com $ y c ^ Ichiban Noodle Bar & Asian Cuisine With the inner workings of its kitchen on display, Ichiban makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of a bustling noodle bar on a street in Asia. Endless choices of cold noodles and hot dishes make
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JUNE 2017 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine
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your dinner decision a tough one. 3309 Wimberly Road, 355.5031 $ Indian Oven The moment you enter Indian Oven, you’ll be enveloped by the fragrances of cardamom, ginger, anise, garlic and chili wafting from the kitchen. Start your meal with a generous portion of naan as you work your way through the extensive menu. Select a chef special such as chicken tandoori or chicken tikka masala or try a little of everything on the lunch buffet. Finish up with the to-die-for rice pudding. Don’t leave without sipping the mango lassi. 5713 SW 34th Ave., 335.3600, indian-oven.com $$ It’s a Punjabi Affair If you were among the many Indian food fans that despaired when Amarillo Hut closed its doors, brood no more. Punjabi Affair serves Indian-style street food, available for dining in or to take out. Savor classics like flat bread, butter chicken and samosa, and a few you might not be accustomed to like lamb curry, or marinated and fried tilapia. You’ll also find options for vegans and vegetarians. The menu will change with the seasons in order to offer fresh local ingredients. 4201 S. Bushland Blvd., 414.2114, itsapunjabiaffair.com $ 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. Soak in the sun on the patio when the weather is nice. 7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226, joetaco.net $$ c T y ^ Jorge's Mexican Bar & Grill In the mood for fajitas? Look no further than Jorge’s. Portion sizes are generous and prices are reasonable. 6051 S. Bell St., 354.2241, jorgesmexican.com $$ c T Kathy’s Kitchen This is the simple, Texas Panhandle homestyle food locals crave. Grab the napkins and tackle the brisket burger, a hamburger patty topped with brisket and smothered in barbecue sauce, cheese, and two stuffed jalapeños. Generous portions, daily specials, and low prices will keep you going back for more. 4517 Highway 136, 383.2513 $
7400 Wallace Blvd. • 806.353.8333 7010 W. Ninth Ave. • 806.351.8480 amarilloimaging.com 62
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
La Fuente Torteria Served on fresh bolillo bread, La Fuente’s hearty torta’s are filled with everything you might expect to find in a burrito. Choose from ham and cheese, pork shoulder, sausage and asada beef. You’ll also find traditional tacos, burritos, tamales, and menudo (only on weekends). 511 S. Grand St., 444.6761 $ NEW Las Parrilladas Norteñas With cuisine typical of northern Mexico, Las Parrilladas Norteñas features parrilladas, mixed grill items designed to
feed more than one person. Grill plates come with chicken, beef and pork. Or feast on the parillada de mariscos, a plate brimming with shrimp, crab legs, oysters, lobster, tilapia, and ceviche, which feeds four people. Customers love the buffet with traditional Mexican entrees and sides. 1706 Amarillo Blvd. East, 803.9566 $-$$ T C Los Braceros Mexican Grill For more than 11 years, Braceros has provided hungry patrons with delicious meals and great, traditional Mexican food. The nachos con carne appetizer and a michelada are a must. If you have big eaters to feed, try the parrillada. 3303 Bell St., 355.0889 $$ y c Ly’s Cafe If you’ve never tried Laotian food, head over Ly’s Cafe and fill up on authentic, fresh and delicious food. Handmade sausage, beef jerky, duck – add the essential sticky rice and a hot tea for a classic meal. The friendly staff will help you choose from the ample menu if you’re stumped. 5615 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.1569 $ 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 St., Suite D1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$
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NEW Metropolitan – A Speakeasy Start your day with a coffee and pastry at Metropolitan. If a midday lunch with colleagues is in order, impress them with Metropolitan’s twist on classic favorites like a BLT. Or celebrate the end of a productive workday with a classy cocktail, savory small plate, or scrumptious homemade dessert. The menu changes frequently so check the club’s Facebook page for updates and special menu offerings. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201, 242.0117 $$ c y T MJ’s Saloon & Grill When two best friends become partners in a saloon, you’re sure to have a good time. With 20 big screen televisions, an arcade, pool tables, and plenty of cold beer and bar grub, the hours will slip by at MJ’s. 3705 Olsen Blvd., 398.0634 $ c My Thai It’s hard to find authentic Thai cuisine that compares to My Thai. We recommend the angel noodle with sauteed tomatoes and mushrooms for a tasty alternative to fried rice. 2029 S. Coulter St., 355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $ ^
Napoli’s Fine Italian Restaurant Napoli’s has created an oasis in downtown Amarillo. Indulge yourself with the house-baked bread while you browse the ample menu. Try the hearty lasagna or one of the over-sized calzones while enjoying live music on the spacious patio. 700 S. Taylor St., 220.2588, napolisofamarillo.com $$ c T y ^ Nu-Castle Diner Patrons gather at Nu-Castle for classic American cooking. The small, downtown breakfast and lunch spot stays crowded with regulars. You can’t go wrong with a chicken-fried steak breakfast or a Dusty Burger. 518 E. 10th Ave., 371.8540 $ OHMS Cafe & Bar Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves a buffet-style lunch then switches to wait service in the evenings. The chef features specials each week that range from seafood and smoked duck to beef tenderloin. Start with daily Happy Hour and give the Bar Burger a try. (It’s not on the menu, but it might be the best burger in town.) Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger. 619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$$ ☎ c y The Original Stockyard Cafe This cozy cafe has been located inside the Amarillo Livestock Auction building for decades. Fill up on homestyle favorites like biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, fried catfish, burgers, and zesty enchiladas. Finish with the homemade cobbler. 100 S. Manhattan St., 373.7999, amarillostockyardscafe.com $ Pancho Villa Restaurant This unassuming little eatery might not capture one’s attention, but it’s worth a visit to Pancho’s. The casual restaurant caters to Mexican and Tex-Mex enthusiasts with authentic offerings like caldo de res (beef soup). 4601 River Road, 381.0105 $ Pan-Handlers Cafe Kick your lunch experience up a notch at Pan-Handlers. Settled in the basement of Amarillo National Bank Plaza One, this family-run restaurant supports the community by using farm-fresh produce. With a list of daily specials ranging from Mexican to seafood and cleverly concocted sandwiches (try the ANBLT on ciabatta bread), your dining experience will be anything but bland and boring. After work, head to the cafe for Happy Hour, Wednesday through Friday. Sample snacks from the bar menu while you sip on beer and wine. 410 S. Taylor St., 352.2590, thepan-handlers.com $ C
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The Plaza Restaurant & Bar A long-time Amarillo favorite, the many loyal customers of the Plaza attest to the great food and affordable prices. Eat your fill of fresh chips and hot sauce and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. Perfect for a family night out, the menu offers enough variety to suit the pickiest eaters. 2101 S. Soncy Road., 358.4897, theplazaamarillo.com $ c Public House You’ll want to take your time to enjoy the ambience and upscale Southern comfort food at Public House. Savor the house favorite, a generous portion of meatloaf comprised of ground duck, pork and beef with mashed potatoes, a house-made pimiento grilled cheese sandwich, or enticing nightly specials. 3333 S. Coulter St., Suite A, 398.7777, publichouseamarillo.com $$-$$$ c ☎ Rain Premier Sushi Bar & Lounge Rain lights up Polk Street with its sleek, energetic ambience and exceptional menu of contemporary Asian cuisine. Grab the gang for an evening of flavor and fun.
www.amarillomakeup.com
photo: Craig Stidham
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817 S. Polk St., 331.1155, rainamarillo.com $$ c y
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RibCrib BBQ & Grill RibCrib has your hankering for smoky barbecue covered. Choose from chicken, pork and beef on the Crib’s extensive menu, with a variety of sauces as well. Visit early for Happy Hour and stay to enjoy the Pigman, a half-pound sandwich heaped with slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage, then covered in sauce, pickles and onions. Quench your thirst with a glass of refreshing lemonade. 5050 S. Coulter St., 803.9360, ribcrib.com $$ c y Roosters Restaurant and Catering Roosters offers more than just a good cup of Joe. Stop in and plan on staying for a hot breakfast pastry or one of the delicious lunch specialties. It’s the perfect place to relax with friends for lunch. 3440 S. Bell St., Unit 110, 353.7309, silver-fork.com $ y Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen Ruby’s is Tex-Mex at its finest. Fajita burritos, crispy tacos, stuffed poblanos and savory meats off the grill are just a short list of what the Kitchen offers. You’ll enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with a margarita in hand. 2001 S. Georgia St., 358.7829/3616 S. Soncy Road, 463.7829, rubytequilas.com $$ T y c ^
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Saigon Restaurant If you’re in the mood for authentic Vietnamese cuisine, this is the place to dine. Even the pickiest eater can find something they like at Saigon. The extensive menu, which consists of traditional Vietnamese favorites such as pho, spring rolls and Korean barbecue ribs, is vegan-friendly, too. 2909 I-40 West, 373.3456 $ 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 St., 359.7330 $y^ Smokey Joe’s Texas Cafe A welcoming bar and grill located in the historic antique district on Route 66, Smokey Joe’s is one of Amarillo’s bestkept secrets. With an outdoor patio and live music on the weekends, this is the place to be. 2903 SW Sixth Ave., 331.6698 $$ c y T
Call 806-376-5881 or email circulation@amarillo.com.
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Sushi Express With more than 150 types of sushi – cut, fried, baked, rolled, nigiri, and sashimi – you can spend each visit to Sushi Express finding your new favorite style. Sit at the bar and relax after the end of a long day,
while you watch the chefs create beautiful cuisine. 7402 SW 34th Ave., 584.7905 $-$$ C Tacos Garcia At Tacos Garcia, 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 going back time after time. Try the Swiss enchiladas or the chile relleno lampriados. You won’t be disappointed. 1100 Ross St., 371.0411, tacosgarcia.com $$ c y ☎ Taste Dessert Bar You’ll find big city vibes and small-town charm at Taste Dessert Bar. With its cozy, chic decor, small savory plates, handcrafted cocktails, full wine and beer list, and variety of from-scratch desserts, we guarantee you’ll want to linger at Taste. 1909 Georgia St., 398.2000, tastedessert.com $-$$ c T y Thai Arawan You’ll get your fill of fresh, authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Arawan. We recommend the angel noodle and the chicken fried rice. Consistently good flavor and friendly service make this one of our favorites. 2834 Wolflin Ave., 463.7167, thaiarawan.com $$ Trail Boss Ranch Cooking With a menu aimed to please anyone from diehard barbecue enthusiasts to those with lighter appetites, this small dine-in or takeout restaurant promises you won’t leave hungry or “it’s your own dang fault.” Offerings include certified Angus beef burgers, brisket and steaks, calf fries, daily specials and homemade cobbler. There’s even all-you-can-eat ribs and live music on the weekends. 4925 S. Western St., 352.2500/ 2813 SW Sixth Ave., trailbossranchcooking.com $$ T C Tyler’s Barbeque Going back to the basics, Tyler’s Barbeque combines a straightforward menu with a relaxed atmosphere. We suggest the mouth-watering Man-Sized Double Meat Sandwich or the tasty Frito pie. 2014 Paramount Blvd., 331.2271, tylersbarbeque.com $ ^ y Urbana Coffee Works Southwest Amarillo can get its caffeine fix a little closer to home with the opening of Urbana Coffee Works. Hang out with a fresh brew and breakfast pastry, or enjoy lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily with hearty, hot sandwiches, tapas, soups and salads, and desserts like gelato or cupcakes. In the evening, listen to live music while you sip. 5215 S. Coulter St., Suite 100, 803.9022, urbanacoffeeworks.com $ T Virdinski’s Rub Shack The folks at Virdinski’s clearly know their way around a kitchen. You’ll find
impressive steaks, chicken-fried steaks, generous salads, seafood, catfish, outstanding burgers and owner Chris Virden’s award-winning hickory smoked barbecue with all the fixings. The presentation – down-home comfort food meets gourmet styling – makes an impression as well. We recommend saving room for the homemade banana pudding. We’re big fans. 3701 Olsen Blvd., Suite B, 318.3382, virdinskisrubshack.com $$ C NEW Windy Cow Cafe and Dessert Bar This family-owned cafe is located in Wildorado, less than a 15-minute drive from west Amarillo. Fill up on all-youcan-eat catfish on Friday and Saturday, from-scratch comfort food, and delicious homemade pie, cake, cookies, brownies and more. 709 I-40 West, 426.3001 $ YCSF Craft YCSF Craft serves its popular gourmet eats for lunch and dinner. The diverse but limited menu boasts burgers, tacos, and daily specials, and features craft beer and a well-rounded wine list. 2916 Wolflin Ave., 353.9273 $-$$ C
Canyon Buffalo’s Cafe You’ll leave your hunger behind when you visit Buffalo’s. Offering hearty
2100 N. Second Ave., 655.2711, feldmansdiner.com $ c y
eats with choices such as hamburgers, Tangled Texas Twists, and Smoky Mountain Nachalos, or The Big Round Up, a quarter rack of slow-roasted baby back ribs, traditional style or boneless buffalo wings, blackened shrimp and all the fixings. 2811 Fourth Ave., 655.4400, buffalos.com $ c
Imperial Taproom Imperial Taproom has quickly made fans in Canyon. Featuring fresh, in-season ingredients and an extensive craft beer and wine list, Imperial provides a hip, industrial-chic vibe to linger and enjoy your meal. Feast on entrees with an upscale presentation that are pleasantly easy on your pocketbook. 410 15th St., Suite 100, 452.8004, imperialtaproom.com $$ C ☎
Chop Chop Japanese Steakhouse Chop Chop’s slogan is “Simple. Fresh. Fast.” And that’s exactly what you get when you order the hot teppan-style Japanese cuisine. There’s a casual dining room, quick drive-thru and delivery options so you can decide how you want to dine. 2201 Fourth Ave., 457.0700, chopchoprice.com $ Fat-Boys BBQ Fat Boys has been dishing up delicious Texas-style barbeque since 1988, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing. The meat has the perfect amount of smoky flavor. Top it with sweet barbecue sauce and add a few homemade sides. Your taste buds will thank you. 104 N. 23rd St., 655.7363 $ Feldman's Wrong Way Diner Feldman’s fun, casual atmosphere and model trains that run a course along the ceiling make it a great place for the whole family. Try the made-fresh burgers or the Tortugas chicken, satisfaction guaranteed.
The King and I of Canyon Craving fresh sushi? The King and I will surely satisfy. Try the customer favorite, the Canyon Roll, and savor every scrumptious slice of crab, tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese topped with red tuna, white tuna, shrimp and eel. If you still have an appetite, order the fried bananas covered with powdered sugar and strawberries. 104 15th St., 655.2491 $$ C Ranch House Cafe The Ranch House Cafe has a small-town, family atmosphere. The Cafe offers breakfast all day, every day, and lunch, dinner and made-from-scratch desserts, as well as specials seven days a week. 810 23rd St., 655.8785, theranchhousecafe. com $
Ribs N More Ribs N More’s claim to fame is its boneless ribs. But don’t stop there. The savory smoked meat loaf is noteworthy, especially when paired with the juicy and flavorful firehouse corn. 1205 23rd St., Suite 6A, 452.8227 $ Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe Located on the square, the Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe offers classic soda shop fare like French dips, pulled pork sandwiches, or a grilled cheese sandwich. Cool off with a specialty drink or ice cream sundae. 404 15th St., 655.3381 $ y Sayakomarn’s Restaurant Sayakomarn’s offers a variety of traditional Thai dishes with daily lunch specials that won’t empty your wallet. Be sure to try their boba tea made with tapioca balls and shaken into fruit-flavored or milk tea. It’s yummy. 421 16th St., 655.2698, sayakomarns.com $ c Sharky’s Burrito Company Sharky’s newest location joins a few other Amarillo favorites inside WT’s JBK food court. Expect the same excellent food and service. 2501 Fourth Ave., JBK Food Court, 651.2885 $
Carry-out and Catering Available
brings people together!
Brunch Menu
Lunch Menu
Happy Hour
Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mon.-Thurs. & Sat. 4-7 p.m.
Serving the Amarillo area and the Texas Panhandle for more than 25 years.
lafiestagrande.com I- 40 & Ross • 374.3689 45th & Coulter • 352.1330 Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. • Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
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image from Amarillo Public Library Archives
Retro Rewind
C
City Street Crew
ontrary to what many readers might think, this is not a current photo of road construction in Amarillo. Instead, this image of a city street crew dates back to an early paving project in 1928. Operator Howard Lawrence has been identified by the unknown owner of the original photo. Lined by wooden sidewalks, Amarillo’s earliest roads were paved only with a hardened layer of dirt. The town’s normally dry weather and constant wind meant permanently dusty downtown streets. Wagons and carriages negotiated potholes and left deep ruts. When it rained or snowed, however, that dirt turned to mud – and made a huge mess. Early residents referred to Polk Street as “Loblolly Polk,” 66
Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JUNE 2017
referencing an old-fashioned word for gruel. Then came the automobile. By either 1903 or 1904 – the reports vary – the first horseless carriage arrived in the city. It was either a onecylinder Cadillac owned by Dr. W.A. Lockett or a one-cylinder Oldsmobile owned by Charles Tolleson. Regardless, as these vehicles began to grow in popularity, local drivers wanted better streets. In 1910, citizens voted to lay brick paving across 20 or so blocks downtown. Today, approximately 16 miles of those original brick streets remain. By the late 1920s, most new roads were being added with blacktop, asphalt-based paving. The location of this photo is unknown.
AMARILLO READS in the Summer offers kids, teens, and adults the chance to take part in fun programs and earn prizes for daily reading. Summer Reading is FREE and open to readers of all ages, so stop by any Amarillo Public Library location to enroll. To learn more, call 378-3051, visit amarillolibrary.org, or find us on
20 Questions
with
Judy Whiteley Senior Vice President, FirstBank Southwest
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Photo by Shannon Richardson
What is the best advice you received when you were beginning your career? Embrace failure; if you don’t fail or make mistakes you are not doing your job. How do you use social media to grow your network? I like social media, but prefer the old-fashioned way of building my customer base: networking. How do you maintain balance? I don’t think I do a very good job at maintaining balance. I try, but it just doesn’t seem to work. What has been your wisest investment? Networking. I love to talk. How has your past work experience shaped you into a leader? I don’t know if I am a leader. But I have been blessed to have so many people I respect that affected my life in a positive way. What is the best part about your job? Meeting so many wonderful people. How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and private life? Throughout my career I have had several great mentors. I give them all credit for being where I am today. Which living person do you most admire and why? My favorite person is Gay Monroe. She taught me that ethics and hard work never killed anyone. Which overused word or phrase makes you cringe? Irregardless – makes me crazy! What is your business philosophy? Treat people the way you want to be treated. And do what you promise. Which quality do you most value in an employee? Honesty, caring, and follow through. What personality trait has most helped you succeed? Making sure I do the best I can for my customers, friends and co-workers. Who is your favorite author? I’m a little embarrassed to say it, but Dean Koontz. His work is full of suspense, horror and fantasy. What did you learn from your best boss? Dress every day like you are going to have lunch with the CEO. Your worst? Several years ago when I was offered the opportunity of business development, I was told by a wonderful person to not take the job. They told me there had never been a woman business development person, and felt I was being set up for failure. I took the position, and 27-plus years later I still love my job. It opened so many doors for me to succeed. How can Amarillo improve its business environment? Hopefully, with the new commissioners and mayor, things will start improving. We have to fix our problems or we will never get new business to move to Amarillo. Most important tech tool: Of course, my iPhone. Best time management tool: When I figure that out I will let you know! I can’t live without my: God, family and friends. My favorite thing about Amarillo is: the people of Amarillo and the Panhandle. Most unusual job or task: My first job was a paper route. I wouldn’t shut up about wanting one until I got it. Then I hated everything about the job. But my father said I had to keep it for one year. The experience taught me a lesson.
2017
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