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Beverages from el Jimador tequila, Old Forrester bourbon, Starlite Vodka and Graham’s Texas Tea
Sponsor giveaways and silent auction items including top of the line golf gear and a round of golf with a celebrity
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BENEFITING CHARITIES American Heart Association Andy Roddick Foundation Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Children’s Museum Back on My Feet
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Hand to Hold
The Nobelity Project
Healincomfort4achange.org
The Rise School
Mamma Jamma Ride
Wonders & Worries
SafePlace
Zero Prostate Cancer Run (formerly Dash for Dads)
The First Tee of Greater Austin
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“I recently changed my banking relationship to Benchmark Bank and the transition was so much better and easier than I expected. The team anticipated our questions and was highly proactive in making sure we had what we needed. I wish they had been in Austin sooner.” - Joe Udell Benchmark Bank is raising the standard for a remarkable customer experience. At Benchmark, we believe knowing our customers goes beyond their visit to the bank. We personalize each customer’s experience by coming to your location and encouraging you to attend our charitable and networking events. We know that exposure in the community helps your business grow, so we host and attend events in Austin to support your efforts. A Texas family owned bank since 1964, Benchmark Bank’s outstanding personalized customer service will be around for decades to come. We invite you to come meet the Benchmark team and quickly see how our standards align with yours.
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Contents april
On the Cover downside 62 The of going green
Photo by Cody Hamilton.
EnviroMedia founder Valerie Davis is out to kill the “eco-friendly” movement. By Jennifer Hill Robenalt
Feature Bird’s 68 Lady Legacy
Springing from roadsides and parks throughout the nation, wildflowers in bloom showcase the work of the visionary first lady. By Gwen Gibson.
Contents a pr il
88 on the scene
46 shopping green Environmart.
savvy woman
20 5 things not to miss this month
48 green living Sustainable design.
80 you should know
22 spotlight event The University of Texas
gourmet
82 entrepreneurial life Finding the
fashion show.
24 philanthropy Live from Camp Mabry: An
50 nutrition Healthy mind, healthy body.
84 working green A Hill Country
Evening Under the Stars.
54 Festivals Austin Food & Wine Festival.
Renaissance Woman.
28 philanthropy Mack, Jack &
perfect summer camp.
to your health
86 collaboration Aerial Perspective. 88 last word Goodbye winter, hello spring.
McConaughey.
56 fitness PMS got you down?
32 Around town Photos from Austin events.
58 green living Clean green and be merry.
on the cover
36 Horoscopes Happy birthday, Aries.
60 wellness Caring for your aching feet.
style
opposite sex
Photo by Cody Hamilton. Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, raecosmetics.com. Hair by Maegan Foster, Avant Salon, avantsalon.com.
40 style NYFW fall preview.
74 memo from JB The world has come
42 Roundup Spa week and beauty products that
to Austin.
make a difference.
76 simply irresistible
44 beauty Chic cheeks.
78 Relationships
10   Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
Rick Cofer.
What do men really want?
Gibson linen blazer, $88, and Paige denim jeans, $189, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500. Y&I Brand orange silk top, $59, and Chameleon teal pendant, $49, available at Y&I Clothing Boutique, 1113 S. Congress Ave., 512.462.0775. [Previous page] Roberto Cavalli top, $745, and Stephen Dweck cuff, $690, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.
Illustration by Sarah Quatrano.
26 philanthropy Eat, Drink, Woman!
Women of Distinction.
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Volume 11, issue 8 Co-Founder and Publisher
Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher
Christopher Garvey associate publisher
Cynthia Guajardo Co-Founder
Samantha Stevens Executive Editor
Deborah Hamilton-Lynne Art Director
Victoria Millner ad designer
Jennifer Day marketing and operations director
Sadie Flynn marketing and operations associate
Rhonda Rushing Account Executives
Erin Henry, Kimberly Ruka, Charmie Stryker, 512.328.2421 associate editor
Molly McManus copy editor
Chantal Rice art assistant
Katie Holmstrom Contributors
Rudy Arocha, Cheryl Bemis, Malia Bradshaw, Jill Case, Amory Casto, Stephen Paul Connor, Andy East, Gwen Gibson, JB Hager, Cody Hamilton, Ashley Hargrove, Chrissie Jarrell, Cathy Johnson, Caleb Kerr, Eric Leech, Adam Linehan, Deborah Mastelotto, Molly McManus, Rachel Merriman, Mae Newcombe, Sarah Quatrano, Jennifer Hill Robenalt, Kristi Willis, Natalie Yerkovich, Jean Yoo
GOING DOWN ON ONE KNEE
SHOULDN’T COST AN ARM AND A LEG.
Interns
Malia Bradshaw, Amory Casto, Jessi Coronado, Andy East, Lauren Lara, Adam Linehan, Lindsey Troop, Jean Yoo Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at more than 1,150 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission requirements, visit awmediainc. com/contribute. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 • 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759
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From the Editor
easy being green, but it’s the color of spring.” Kermit the Frog famously sang these lyrics in relation to the color of his skin. However, I could not help but remember the song when I read the April cover story and Valerie Davis’ contention that in today’s world, perhaps it is a little too easy to call yourself “green.” Indeed, she set me to thinking about the totality of being green and what that encompasses. “ ‘Green’ has hijacked the word ‘environment.’ It’s time to go back to the dictionary definition of ‘environment,’ which is our surroundings. That’s air quality, water conservation, recycling, and it’s also food we eat, infrastructure, access to health care and, yes, the advertising we take in,” Davis says. And so, in this issue, we set out to find ways to make it easier for you to be green. From eco-friendly makeup to healthy juicing, green home remodeling and cleaning to a green entrepreneur, we tried to look at the totality of your environment. As we drove through Austin with our highways blanketed with wildf lowers and
April launch party april 9, 6 to 8 p.m. at nothing bundt cakes rsvp aw.ticketbud.com/aprillaunch
Join us for a patio party at Nothing Bundt Cakes as we celebrate this issue’s launch with complimentary bites and beverages, and fundraising. Buy a cake and 20 percent of the proceeds will go to Ballet Austin Guild.
14 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
walked the paths around the lake that bears her name, we were reminded of the beautiful spring legacy of the “first lady of the environment,” Lady Bird Johnson, a powerful champion for all things green. We even found a Simply Irresistible bachelor dedicated to environmental pursuits. Spring also brings to mind annual events, such as the Austin Food & Wine Festival and the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction luncheon honoring the women who give their all to Austin. A favorite spring pastime is going barefoot in the new grass, which may be the reason April was chosen to be National Healthy Foot Awareness Month and one of the reasons to learn the best ways to keep your feet in top condition. Margaret Atwood once said, “In spring, you should smell like dirt.” And no one would agree with her more than lawyer and Texas Master Naturalist Helen Foster, a Renaissance woman who has devoted her life to the environment. Spring may be in the air, but summer and fall are also on our radar, and we feature suggestions for a service that pairs your children with the right summer camp, and a sneak peek at the fall fashion trends hot off the runways of New York Fashion Week. There is no better season than spring in Austin, when the earth comes alive, vibrant
Do you know a young woman to watch? We’re on the hunt for young ladies doing big things in Austin. Know one? Email us at submissions@ awmediainc.com to tell us why they are so great and why we should have our eye on them!
and green with balmy temperatures and sunny days. It may not be easy actually being green, but when I look at the quality of our environment here in Austin, I have to believe that everything we do to enhance and preserve it is worth the effort. After all, we have too much to lose not to make the effort. So consider the advice of our April cover woman, Valerie Davis, to look at the totality of our environment: the quality of our surroundings and the value of our environment to our quality of life. As for me, I plan to go to Zilker Park and walk barefoot in the grass, humming Kermit’s tune, “I’m green and it will do fine. It’s beautiful and I think it’s what I want to be.”
deborah hamilton-lynne Executive Editor
atx man golf tournament april 29 at riverplace country club register atxman.ticketbud.com/golf
Tee off with AW Media at the first ATX Man Golf Tournament. The day of fun will benefit 18 Austin charities and include contests, auction items and a delicious lunch provided by Fleming’s.
Photo by Korey Howell.
“It’s not that
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G IS EL LE MAY 10 -12
The Long Center
A story of love and forgiveness in the most romantic ballet of all time. Choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot ~ Music by Adolphe Adam Featuring the Austin Symphony Orchestra
Tickets starting at $15, visit balletaustin.org or call 512.476.2163 Production Sponsors
Season Underwriter
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Sheila Bostick Sr. Vice President
I joined Benchmark Bank because the culture aligned with my strong ideals for building community. The cliché for ‘knowing your customer’ has to go beyond their visit to the bank. Benchmark Bank personalizes each customer’s experience by coming to your location. We encourage you to attend our charitable and networking events because we know that exposing you to the community will help build your business. And as a family owned bank since 1964, we‘ll be around for decades to come.
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Education Underwriter
The Nutcracker Underwriter
D
Contributors Jennifer Hill Robenalt is a freelance writer and PR veteran. A native Austinite, she left in the sleepy late ’80s and earned her writing degree from Emerson College in Boston. She later enjoyed a creative stint in New York City, and eventually read movie scripts for executive types in Los Angeles. When she returned to Austin, she dove headfirst in to organizations like the Texas Book Festival and Texas Performing Arts. For this month’s cover story, she was deeply pleased to see Austin at the forefront of creating opportunities that merge passion, purpose and profitability. Photographer Rudy Arocha is a native Texan who moved to Austin eight years ago to pursue his education in fine arts as a sculptor. He later rediscovered his passion for photography when his grandfather gave him a camera as a gift. Rudy graduated from the Art Institue of Austin and specializes in portrait photography, with his main focus being musicians and artists. When not photographing, Rudy enjoys music, the outdoors and spending time with his fiancée, Maggie.
An old-time journalist, Gwen Gibson has covered everything from police beats to presidents. In journalism’s heyday, she worked for United Press International, The New York Herald Tribune and the New York Daily News. In recent years, she was senior reporter for AARP’s Maturity News Service. Through the years, Gibson interviewed and wrote about Lady Bird Johnson often. She moved to Austin from Washington, D.C., in 2007 to be near her daughter and granddaughter, and remains an Austinbased freelance writer and reporter. After graduating from Texas Tech University in 2011, katie holmstrom left the world of advertising seeking a new direction and a place to plant her feet. As the new kid in town, Katie has taken on the role as the magazines’ art assistant extraordinaire. Her love for typography, quick quips and bold colors makes this Dallas native excited be a part of the magazine.
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Heritage Homes Tour April 6, Sponsored by Preservation Austin View the list of featured homes and tour highlights for the 21st-annual event. There couldn’t be a better way to spend a spring Saturday than touring grand mansions, charming cottages and the gardens surrounding them.
We’ve giving away a pair of tickets to Old Settler’s Music Festival for Friday April 19, and they could be yours! Tweet @austinwoman with the performer you are most excited to see! The winner will be chosen and tweeted back on April 15. The festival features bluegrass, roots and Americana acts with 30 shows on four stages for four days (April 18 – 21).
earth day 2013
headliners
April 22 AW has the roundup on Earth Day events happening throughout the city.
Featured home for the Heritage Homes Tour
2012 Old Settler’s Music Festival
Donna Hightower Keeps on Packing Them In! Meet the 86-year-old gospel singer who headlines the 2013 Symphony of Soul Gospel Brunch April 14 at Mercury Hall. Can’t get enough of this issue?
We love exploring the city we call home, and every Friday on our Facebook page, we share five of our favorite things to eat, drink, do or see. This month, we picked our favorite juice joints around town!
Daily Juice We love the Riki Tiki Tembo, with mango, green tea, mint, lime and a kick of cayenne pepper!
Follow us
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Juicebox Party too hard? The Love Cleanse will revive you, with cucumber, kale, spinach, parsley and celery.
JuiceLand When it hits 105 degrees outside, we want their Cold Shower.
Gonzo Juice The Early Bird has carrot, orange and ginger for a good morning pick-me-up!
@austinwoman
18 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
5 Juice Spot Love Your Blood packs a punch of vitamins from beets, lemons and more.
Want to make your own concoction? See page 50 to get started, including 3 delicious recipes.
like us
Check out austinwomanmagazine.com for bonus content, including:
➥
Green city. Eco-friendly interior design, green gifts and an update on the plastic bag ban.
➥
Best of the Fests. Roundup of SXSW 2013 highlights, including must-see films, bands to watch and books to read. Plus, the best of the 2013 Austin Food & Wine Festival.
➥
The Lady Bird Legacy. Get a deeper look inside the LBJ Ranch, near Stonewall, TX.
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find us
austinwomanmagazine.com
Heritage Homes photo by J.C. Schmeil.
Fridayfaves
1
Get your free credit score and complimentary credit report. For a limited time, in stores through April 15, 2013.1 Stop by from now until April 15, 2013, to take advantage of this limited time promotion. Your credit score can be an important tool, so we can sit down with you and help you understand where you stand. Stop by your local store today to get your personal access code. You then have the option to discuss your credit score with a Wells Fargo banker, who can help you understand your credit situation and evaluate your options. Because an open dialogue can open doors.
This exclusive promotion for Wells Fargo customers provides unique benefits: • Get your credit score for free — up to 5 times, which is up to a $39 retail value • Evaluate specific factors that impact your credit score • Access your full credit report at no charge,2 with no impact to your credit score • Review your credit report and see if there are any errors • Have an optional, one-on-one conversation with a banker to talk about your credit situation
For more information, visit wellsfargo.com/freecreditscore
No purchase required. Wells Fargo may, at its own discretion, limit the number of personal access codes or cancel the free credit score and complimentary report promotion at any time. Your credit score could vary by lender depending on the type of scoring used. The credit score you receive in this promotion will be the Experian custom VantageScore and it may not be the same as the credit score obtained by a lender and is for educational purposes only. 2 With the Wells Fargo Credit score promotion, you receive a personal access code to check your current Experian custom VantageScore up to five times over a 90 day period. As of 3/1/13, the price is $7.95 for a one-time custom VantageScore score. Retail value to get this score five times is $39.75. After accessing your score five times, you will receive a message that you have reached the limit. Your score will reflect the credit score from your 5th access and will not be updated. However, if you continue to access your credit report, it will contain updated credit information. 1
© 2013 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. NMLSR ID 399801 Materials expire 4/15/13. (857107_07823)
on the scene /
5 things
4 2
5
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[ 5 things not to miss this month ] 1 eeyore’s 50th birthday April 27, 11 a.m. until dark, Pease Park Cheer up your favorite clinically depressed donkey at Eeyore’s 50th-annual Birthday Party. With six hours of live music, as well as face painting, food, drinks, games and maypoles, the celebration is set to bring a smile to the faces of people of all ages. Be sure to bring a costume, as there will be contests and prizes. The birthday bash is a fundraiser for many Austin nonprofit groups. Come out, have fun, support local nonprofits and turn Eeyore’s frown upside down. Visit eeyores.org for more information.
2 Austin 10/20 April 14, 8 a.m., The Domain No need to stress about your workout playlist for this 10-mile exercise bash, as this course is lined with 20 stages of Austin bands, including a headliner at the finish and a post-race show featuring platinum-selling grunge band Candlebox. With a different band every half-mile and thousands of dollars in prize money up for grabs, this event is not to be missed. Visit austin1020.com to register and for more information.
20 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
3 Zilker Garden Fest April 6 – 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Zilker Botanical Garden Spring is upon us, and there’s no better way to celebrate than at the 56th-annual Zilker Garden Festival. Prepare yourself for flowers, gardening and nurseries galore at the Flower Center, with judged floral designs, as well as insightful gardening talks and live music. With the interactive Children’s Corner, this year’s festivities will provide enough gardening fun for the whole family. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and share your love for horticulture. Visit zilkergarden.org for more information.
Compiled by Andy East
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HAAM Corporate Battle of the Bands
Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Exhibit
April 26, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Antone’s
April 5 – 21, Art on 5th Gallery
Work hard and play hard at the sixth-annual HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) Corporate Battle of the Bands. Eight bands comprised of business professionals from companies like H-E-B and Intel are set to rock out for a panel of judges that includes Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s, Ian McLagan, Quita Culpepper and surprise guests. There will also be a silent auction and a record-release party for Austin band Soul Track Mind. All proceeds benefit HAAM. Visit myhaam.org for information.
Although famous for iconic children’s books like The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Ted Geisel, aka, Dr. Seuss, wore many hats during his career, authoring more than 400 World War II political cartoons, 44 children’s books and hundreds of advertisements. The Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Exhibit will showcase exclusive adaptations of Seuss’ drawings, paintings and sculptures titled Secret Art, and unveil Seuss’ private hat collection. Come out and tip your cap to one of the most influential artists of modern times. Visit arton5th.com for more information.
Eeyore’s Birthday phtoo by Randy York; Austin 10/20 photo by FinisherPix; Zilker photo courtesy Austin Area Garden Council; HAAM photo by FunFunFoto; Suess photo courtesy Dr. Suess Enterprises.
3
Join us at the inaugural
Launch Party
APRIL 11 & 12
to celebrate the
first graduating class of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
April 25, Four Seasons VIP Reception at 5:30 pm Dinner at 7 pm
John Mellencamp and Dale Watson April 11th
Jack Ingram & Friends featuring Kris Kristofferson April 12th CONCERT TICKETS ON SALE NOW
www.acl-live.com
MJ&M is the first ever joint fundraising effort by Mack Brown, Jack Ingram, and Matthew McConaughey. All proceeds support organizations that positively impact the lives of children from across the country. To purchase a table, please call (512)841-4035 or email foundation@annrichardsschool.org
For questions, VIP tickets, or sponsorship information, please visit
www.mackjackmcconaughey.org
on the scene /
sp o t ligh t ev ent
Katrina Raz
Janie Kang
Albert Zhou
Transcend: The University of Texas Fashion Show April 18, 6:30 p.m., Frank Erwin Center Since 1997, the University Fashion Group has organized an annual fashion show to give student designers the opportunity to display their artistic visions in grand style at the Frank Erwin Center. Throughout the years, the UT fashion show has soared in popularity. Last year, 5,000 people, including celebrity hosts and style critics, arrived to witness dozens of original designs by some of the fashion world’s most ambitious young talent. This year is bound to draw an even bigger crowd to what may be the University Fashion Group’s most spectacular event yet. The title of this year’s showcase is Transcend, and student designers have been encouraged to push boundaries and surprise the audience with more than 120 innovative designs. Admission to Transcend is free. Visit universityfashiongroup.com for more information. -Adam Linehan B See the complete April calendar of events at austinwomanmagazine.com.
22 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
UT Fashion Show photos by Edmund Fung.
Chandler Hamilton
phil a nth ropy
Live From Camp Mabry: An Evening Under the Stars
At its new, bigger venue, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board invites you to support local clinics throughout Central Texas. By Jean Yoo The Elizabeth Ann Seton Board will host its annual Evening Under the Stars Live From Camp Mabry gala April 13, featuring performances by legendary Texas musicians Jerry Walker and The Bellamy Brothers. The event also includes live and silent auctions and dinner catered by local barbeque restaurant Lamberts. With more than 1,000 guests expected, the gala will be the largest charitable event held at Camp Mabry in more than a decade. Lori Johnson, one of the event chairs for the
Elizabeth Ann Seton Board, says the gala’s great cause and fun atmosphere—an outdoor event with a Western dress code—are what bring people back each year. “It’s a tradition in Austin,” Johnson says. The gala aims to raise money for health-care clinics throughout Austin. The event directly benefits three Seton Community Health Centers and the Michael Amy Deane Ondrasek at Sister Gertrude Levy Enand Lori 2012 Gala dowment for the Poor. The Johnson Seton Community Health Centers serve uninsured “Austin and underinsured children and adults in is such a working families. The Sister Gertrude fabulous Levy Endowment has been helping community Austin-area clinics to grow and sustain with so much services for more than 35 years. diversity and Johnson says the clinics can help unso many talinsured or underinsured people who are ented people normally in the emergency room for minor illnesses who may not have access to quality health care such as the flu. without these clinics,” says Amy Deane, event The Elizabeth Ann Seton Board has been chair for Evening Under the Stars. She says the working year-round to put the evening’s festiviboard hopes to raise $500,000 this year. ties together. The board is made up of 75 female Anyone can participate. Table sponsorships volunteers, nominated by their peers, who are start at $3,500 and individual tickets are $375, working to support services offered by the Ausand can be purchased on the website. For more tin and Central Texas clinics. information, visit esbgala.org.
Sponsored Events Petcasso April 14, 6 p.m., AT&T Conference Center The art-filled night will include silent and live auctions featuring paintings created by pets and their owners, as well as a lavish buffet dinner. The event benefits the programs and services of Animal Trustees of Austin. Call 512.298.3129 for more information or visit animaltrustees.org/ sites/petcasso.
Women on their Toes April 25, 10 a.m., Renaissance Austin Hotel The annual spring luncheon will celebrate and honor outstanding Austin-area nonprofit volunteers. All proceeds will benefit Ballet Austin. To nominate a volunteer, email wott@ balletaustinguild.org. For more information, visit balletaustinguild. org/fundraising/wott.
24 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
Association for Women in Communications Banner Brunch April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Omni Hotel The Austin chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) celebrates its 40th-annual Banner Brunch, recognizing award winners and presenting scholarships to exceptional female communications majors. For more information, visit bannerbrunch.com.
Girl Scouts Women of Distinction April 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., AT&T Conference Center Girl Scouts of Central Texas will host the Women of Distinction event to honor outstanding members of the community. Four events will be hosted throughout Central Texas to recognize women’s achievements in all 46 counties. For more information, visit gsctx.org/ support/specialevents.
Red, Hot & Soul 2013 April 20, ZACH’s Topfer Theatre, Bobbi Pavilion The annual gala starts the launching of ZACH’s 80th season. The event will be at the new Topfer Theatre, with live performances, cocktails and more. Proceeds will benefit the theater’s artistic and education programs. For more information, visit zachtheatre.org/donate/ red-hot-soul or email escott@zachtheatre.org.
Top photo by George Brainard; co-chair photo courtesy of Cheryl Muhr.
on the scene /
on the scene /
sponsor ed ev ent
Eat, Drink, Woman! On April 3, the Greater Austin Restaurant Association will honor Austin’s greatest female chefs at an event to be held at One World Theatre. The culinary star-studded evening will include a silent auction, Wall of Wine raffle, cocktails, music by Tameca Jones, and tastings provided by the participating chefs, followed by a concert featuring Austin favorite Bob Schneider. The event benefits the Texas Pro Start culinary scholarship program and One World Theatre’s scholarship program for the Berklee School of Music. To purchase tickets, visit oneworldtheatre.org.
Take a walk on the wild side Austin Water manages more than 36,000 acres of wildlands. These lands filter rainfall that flows into aquifers and the Colorado River—Austin’s source of drinking water. They also reduce flooding and maintain the biodiversity of our region by protecting native and endangered wildlife and plants. Learn more or sign up for wildlands volunteer opportunities at austintexas.gov/water
austintexas.gov/water
Participating Chefs
Kristine Kittrell
Iliana de la Vega
Alma AlcocerThomas
Mulberry 360 Nueces St., suite 20
Restaurant El Naranjo 85 Rainey St., 78701
El Alma 1025 Barton Springs Road, 78704
Cuisine: Wine bar and New American cuisine with New York and Austin influences.
Cuisine: Traditional Mexican “I can’t live without tortillas, cheese and chilies!”
“One food I cannot live without? Cheese. Aged, soft, weepy, bloomed, buttery, salty. You name it, I love it. Whether it is cow, sheep, goat milk or a blend, I can’t get enough of it.”
Cuisine: Interior Mexican with authentic ingredients. “I became a chef because I’ve always dreamed of food, even still today. I just love to cook. For the most part, my inspirations are the available ingredients, the ideas they produce and the final flavorful dish. It’s great when they all come together.”
Kelly Hamill
Reina Morris
Fabi & Rosi 509 Hearn St., 78703
Buenos Aires Café 13500 Galleria Circle, Bee Cave
Cuisine: Classic European with a modern twist. Everything locally sourced and organic. “After many years of working in the corporate world both in London and Australia, I decided at the age of 36 to attend culinary school in Austin and follow my passion for cooking.”
Cuisine: Traditional Argentinean with an international twist. “I became a chef because I have a passion for simple, fresh, handmade cuisine made with love.”
Quincy Adams Erickson Fete Accompli fetetexas.com
Vanessa Musi Edit Bakery editbakery.com Cuisine: Healthy glutenfree and low-glycemic pastries. “I am happiest when I am cooking and baking—they are my passions! I love to develop recipes, and baking is my creative medium.”
Cuisine: Catering drawing on a wealth of culinary experience and traditions. Handcrafted foods made with care and attention from a wide variety and imaginative combination of foods. “I can’t live without chocolate—high-quality only! I love to eat it. I love to drink it. I love to cook with it, and I love to share it with everyone!”
Laura Sawicki La Condesa 400 A W. Second St., 78701
Terry Wilson Foo Swasdee, Ph.D. SATAY Restaurant 3202 W. Anderson Lane, 78757 Cuisine: Refined South Asian and traditional Thai “I am a chef and food scientist, love everything about foods, from inside out.”
Cuisine: Modern Mexican
Event Coordinator 512-917-7999 Cuisine: Catering with a continental flair “Wink is my favorite restaurant. Their food is always delicious and they make me feel like a queen for the evening!”
Sway 1417 S. First St., 78704 Cuisine: Modern Thai “Work, for many people, isn’t something that’s all that much fun. But when you combine work with your true passion, it stops being something negative or arduous; it becomes fun!”
austinwomanmagazine.com 27
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It’s BIG—huge even. It’s a BIG effort, with BIG-name celebrities and BIGfun events, all with the mission to give back in a BIG way. By uniting forces, Sally and Mack Brown, Amy and Jack Ingram, and Camila and Matthew McConaughey will maximize their impact in supporting programs dedicated to empowering children throughout the nation. The inaugural two-day event will include a gala dinner, concerts, an exclusive fashion show and a golf tournament. Proceeds from MJ&M support causes associated with the just keep livin Foundation, which sets up afterschool fitness and wellness programs in inner-city high schools.
John Mellencamp to Headline Gala Evening and Concert at ACL Live, April 11 A star-studded gala evening and concert will kick off two days of unique events. John Mellencamp will be the featured performer, with Austin’s own Dale Watson opening the concert. “John is one of my all-time favorite musicians and a man I call a friend,” McConaughey says. “He’s someone who has put his best foot forward to help others in need, and I am honored and proud to have him perform at this event.” With a career that has spawned numerous hit records and platinum albums, Mellencamp is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and has 13 Grammy nominations to his credit.
Lela Rose Fashion Show at Neiman Marcus, April 12 Hosted by Sally Brown, Amy Ingram
w w w. K E I T H K R I S TO F E R . c o m
s p onsor e d ev ent
and Camila McConaughey, this exclusive fashion show event will feature Lela Rose’s popular collection. “Lela is a true visionary in modern fashion, a great philanthropist with a big heart and a true supporter,” Camila McConaughey says. “It’s a pleasure to partner with a foundation that works to empower our nation’s underserved youth,” Rose says. “I’m excited to work with a driven group of individuals that understand the importance of our future generation.”
MJ&M Celebrity Golf Tournament at Barton Creek Resort, April 12 Chaired by Mack Brown and James Street While the ladies get their fashion fix, the guys hit the links on the Fazio Foothills course at one of Austin’s finest golf clubs. Confirmed celebrities include: Raul Allegre, Earl Campbell, Quan Cosby, Manny Diaz, Ty Detmer, DeLoss Dodds, Radney Foster, Peter Gardere, Seth Johnston, Roosevelt Leaks, Colt McCoy, Mike Modano, Joe Ogilvie, Ricky Williams, Roy Williams and more! To purchase tickets and VIP packages, or for sponsorship opportunities, email rachel@jhlcompany.com, or call 512.236.1001.
Jack & Friends Concert with Jack Ingram, Featuring Kris Kristofferson at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, April 12 The Jack & Friends Concert at ACL Live will wrap up two days of MJ&M events. “Kris Kristofferson is a true music legend and I can’t wait to share the stage with him,” Ingram says. Kristofferson is a Country Music Hall of Famer who ranks among the most versatile of American talents. He’s been a Golden Gloves boxer, a Rhodes scholar, a college football player, an acclaimed actor, a military officer, a helicopter pilot and a Grammy winner. His newest album, Feeling Mortal, was released Jan. 29. To purchase gala tickets and VIP packages, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@mackjackmcconaughey.org. Concert tickets available at acl-live.com.
proudly presents
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Saturday, April 20th at 8 pm
AustinClassicalGuitar.org 512-300-2247
Diamonds and Pearls are Forever! Saturday, April 20 ZACH’s Topfer Theatre Bobbi Pavillion
Presented by Schlotzsky’s Underwritten by Osborne Advisors H-E-B, AT&T and Humana
Gala Co-Chairs Bobbi Topfer and Armando Zambrano
512-476-0594 x260 • escott@zachtheatre.org • zachtheatre.org/rhs
Caritas of Austin presents
6th Annual Speaker Series Featured Speaker
Luma Mufleh
Inspiration for The National Bestseller
Outcasts United by Warren St. John
May 1, 2013 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Hilton Austin For ticket or sponsorship information contact jluper@caritasofaustin.org 512-646-1268
Outcasts United is the real-life story of a group of refugees and a woman who, with tough love and determination, changes an entire commmunity for the better. The 6th Annual Words of Hope Speaker Series benefits Caritas of Austin, a nonprofit that serves 20,000 homeless, working poor and refugees.
Words
HOPE
The Future of San Antonio’s Southside
YOUR NEW HOME BASE
Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, Monica Peraza and Elsa Hernandez at Guitars Under the Stars. Photo by Philip Rogers.
ON ON THE THE SCENE SCENE // AROUND AROUNDTOWN TOWN
Kristin Marcum and Elizabeth Christian at the Cattle Baron’s Ball. Photo by Jenny Hartgrove.
Bob Schneider and The Texas Bluegrass Massacre playing at the Cattle Baron’s Ball. Photo by Jenny Hartgrove.
Ron Urias, Terri Nguyen, Paul Bui, and Jane Maddox at Easter Seals Casino Royale Gala. Photo By Tomas Segura. Speaker at the Go Red for Women Summit Luncheon. Photo by Anna Depperschmidt.
Debbie Johnson speaking at the Austin Gives Luncheon. Photo by Get The Picture.
Dionne Green in the Go Red for Women Summit Fashion Show. Photo by Anna Depperschmidt.
Ed Kargbo, Chelsea Woodhead, Don Kendrick and Bobby Jenkins at the Austin Gives Luncheon. Photo by Get the Picture. Allie Lockhart, Kimberly Kelly, Elyse Bigler and Izabel Wicker at Beauty Goes Red. Photo by Jonathan Garza.
Francis Diep, Jordan Torres, Aaron Torres and Maura Cahill at Austin Woman’s Spring Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography.
ON THE SCENE / AROUND TOWN
Mark and Libby Swank at CASAblanca Gala. Photo by Chad Adams and Andrew Dorer.
Trina Kahele and Rhonda Burton At Austin Woman’s Spring Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography.
Amy Holloway, Andres Perez, Catherine Robb and Chris Engle at Dazed and Confused 20th anniversary party. Photo by Philip Rogers.
Nothing Bundt Cakes at Austin Woman’s Spring Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography.
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horoscopes
Happy birthday, Aries! March 21 - April 20 Your month: It’s really hard for you to
get up in the morning and hit your day with your usual speed and energy, like a racecar in the Grand Prix. Work is demanding and stressful and lucrative, yet you can’t make yourself commit yourself physically to an office. That’s perfect. The most important work you can do for your career this month is decide what you truly want and do all the hocus-pocus, magical, secret-like visualization stuff. That’s where your power is hiding out this month, so go get it. May and June will have you back in the physical world again. April is an exciting month full of contradictions, brash and impulsive. ➺ It’s a battle for control, great ideas for radical change fighting the status quo. Change is an important component of growth, but so is stability. The key ingredient in this fruit punch of a month is the element of mysticism. Watch for signs and coincidences, and weird little synchronicities, the weirder, the better. They let you know you’re on the right path. Taurus (April 21–May 21): We like to give you guys a hard time about your traditional down-toearthiness because that is the “normal” you. But this month, we all get to witness the “para-normal” you. The power you wield is a perfect example of magical manifestation. Visions, flashes of insight and weird signs do seem otherworldly, but they’re absolutely spot on. Focus on the spiritual this month, and the practical needs of your career and finances will fall right in to place. As always, build wisely. Gemini (May 22–June 20): Until now, success depended on who you knew, and now, it’s what you can do that changes the game. Other people are less important to your decision making. Your friends still want to pull your strings, though, so be patient and try to avoid conflicts. They’re like children who act out because Mom has been too busy to play. What they don’t understand is you need to have a career that is meaningful. It’s not just success you’re after now; it’s a spiritual mission in life.
36 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
Cancer (June 21–July 22): Seventy percent of the Universal Power Flow decided to make you successful. I don’t need to tell you to focus on your career this month because you can’t avoid it. But, if the pace threatens to sweep you away, if you get caught up in the whirl of events and don’t stop to take care of yourself, you’ll pay a physical price. So, go to yoga and get regular massages. And eat your vegetables. Leo (July 23–Aug. 23): Last year, a movie came out called Limitless, in which the chief protagonist is introduced to a little pill that expands his consciousness, his world view and, consequently, his bank account. All information, no matter how complex, was immediately assimilated by his mind. That’s you this month, but without the pill. Expect your capacity for happiness, philosophy and good fortune to be limitless, which affects every other area of your life. This month, a fiery religious and/or philosophical discussion with a worthy opponent will trump a martini bar every time.
Virgo (Aug. 24–Sept. 22): This month, you get to act like a Scorpio. You get to be obsessed with sex, obsessed with death, even obsessed with managing your financial empire. Obsessing is very Scorpionic. Virgos often are obsessive/compulsive, but usually about minutia. April is financial-planning month for you, and if you have big ideas, you can borrow obsessively too. Just remember the big Scorpio lesson: The danger is over-indulgence. Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Once, a friend of mine had so many parties one night that she changed from dressy casual to formal evening wear. That’s the kind of month April is. Keep extra dress clothes in your car and a few party dresses in your closet, and pace yourself. There are lots of opportunities and not enough time. If you’re unattached, you might want to sample everything on your social menu, and that gets expensive. No wonder your finances are stressed. Save some time and energy for work. Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Contrary to popular Scorpio belief, you can’t control other people (not for long, anyway). But, you can help create a peaceful, harmonious environment so people are more willing to be on your side. Don’t try to push people around or be too aggressive. This month, when love is going well, your life feels like it’s in sync. But if you create any discord in your relationships, it’ll be more painful than usual. You need to be careful to come from love, and don’t try to control things. Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): You’re uber-creative this month, and that’s a good thing. And, yes, everyone wants you Sagittariuses to have a good time because when you’re having fun, so are we. But life is more than just the pursuit of pleasure. Overindulging always demands a price tag, usually hidden. You could get so lost in having fun
that you stress out about finances later. Also, you just happen to be more fertile than usual this month, so, you do the math. capricorn (dec. 22-JAN. 20): This month, your health should be your No. 1 priority. Pay attention to your body. Keep your poise emotionally, even though it’ll challenge you. You and family should be careful at home, though you’ll tend to be careless. Take it easy on yourself; don’t force anything. If it doesn’t need to be done now, schedule it for some other time. Right now, nothing is so important that you have to take risks. Just do what you can and then let go. Get through the month with your health and sanity intact. Everything else will work out fine. aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19): You are rapidly becoming the spiritual guru of wealth. You could give a lecture on the subject. This month, communication and hightech equipment become your way of life. You’ll be spending a lot of time in your car because you’re needed all over the place. There are so many courses you can take, and lectures to attend on almost any subject you desire. Just be careful of overstimulation; learn to still your mind. pisces (Feb. 20-march 20): Controlling your money and worldly possessions feels like an all-consuming tornado this month. Money seems to fall from the sky, and it’s pouring in from many sources. Maybe you’ve forgotten that someone owes you money and they suddenly pay you back. Or new and lucrative work projects come out of thin air. It seems that if you need cash, you only have to click your heels and repeat, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” By Deborah Mastelotto deborah@pinkaustin.com
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VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH Black/White— Reversed black background FRANKonMARTINEZ
White logo if used on solid color background, like on a colored t-shirt
Frank was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. legally at age 12. He grew up in South Florida and graduated from the University of Florida. He has a son, Giancarlo, daughter-in-law Michelle and 1 ½ year-old granddaughter, Nina.
Frank and APA Executive Director Dr. Ellen Jefferson.
Why did you choose APA?
It’s the dedication of so many people, from the board members and donors down to the cleaning crew that make sure that the animals are housed in a clean, healthy environment. And don’t forget every single one of the volunteers who give of themselves to help save lives. It’s the adopters who have opened their hearts and homes for these unwanted pets.
Most memorable pet from APA?
Photo is by Jason Youngblood.
Occupation: Retired teacher Volunteer since: 2009
Brodie, a Catahoula mix and Olympia, a Mastiff, because they were both in serious danger of getting euthanized when APA took them in and gave me the opportunity to work with them. They were rehabilitated and successfully adopted.
If you could do one thing to make things better for animals, what would it be? I would have educational programs in schools to teach children about the proper care and respect for animals. They bring us many pleasures and are our family members, not disposable objects to discard or mistreat.
Do you own any pets?
My dog Madison was a rescue found on the side of the road with her back legs and pelvis shattered. She had heartworms, ringworm and tapeworms – a mess. After a few months of not getting adopted, I decided to keep her since she was helping me work with the other fosters. She’s paid it back many times over by helping me get other dogs ready for adoption.
To find out how you can volunteer, visit austinpetsalive.org/get-involved
AustinPetsAlive.org
1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
adopt@austinpetsalive.org
Frank currently fosters Devo, a 3 year old Catahoula mix.
style /
r u n wa y p r e v i e w
Carolina Herrera
Lela Rose
Joanna Mastroianni
NYFW Fall Preview
Austin-friendly trends from the New York runways. Text and photos by Cheryl Bemis Planning my bi-annual trip to New York Fashion Week in February can sometimes be unpredictable, mostly due to the weather. Thankfully, I just missed the winter weather story of the season by flying in the day before the huge nor’easter called Nemo hit the East Coast. The snow, sleet and black abyss puddles didn’t add a delay to any of the fashion shows. In fact, the fall 2013 fashions seemed to feel right at home because of the brutal wind, cold and snow. The weather did clear
40 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
Venexiana
up and, like in Texas, it was gone in a day or so and everything was back to normal. The short fall season for Austin can sometimes make it a challenge to actually enjoy a head-to-toe fall look, so I have put together this top trend list of must-haves that are Austin-friendly for our fall. Matching jackets and dresses. If you noticed during the inauguration, Jill Biden and Michelle Obama both wore what I like to call a take on the opera-style jacket. Wear it over a casual pair of pants or take the plunge and get one that matches your dress. Think modern madmen style but updated. The good news is that these jackets are the perfect answer to looking fashionable when there is an Austin chill in the air. Pop of color. Each season, there are one or two colors that do pop. For fall, the hot magenta and pink palettes will be your perfect pick-me-up answer to your fall wardrobe. Not too difficult for color-loving Texans. Black. Every season, you hear a certain color is
Jill Stuart
the new black. WelI, I will make it easy: Black is the new black. Surprised? I was wondering after the third or fourth collection down the runway if it was going to be an all-black collection from every designer. Take all your black pieces, mix them up with tons of different textures, shine and interest, and it will put you right on trend for fall. Good news, the hot spring black-andwhite trend is moving right in to fall. Metallics. This trend mixes all the metals, copper, gold, bronze, pewter and more. Be careful not to pair it all together, but add a few touches for a mix of sparkle and shine. Updo hairstyles. While the natural look is here to stay, there is a time and place for a fun retro updo. At Carolina Herrera and Venexiana, the 1940s victory-roll look walked the runway, and at Naeem Khan, side waves with a tight twisted bun accented an opulent collection for fall. Red-carpet looks have sparkle; they are elegant. Combine both looks and you look like a modern Hollywood starlet. Cheryl Bemis is the founder of fashionablyaustin.com.
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roundu p
Guilty Pleasure
Editor’s pick: From Austin’s Woodhouse Spa the Swedish Massage, a classic stress-relieving massage perfect for reducing tension, increasing circulation and relaxing after filing those pesky taxes on April 15. This service is only $75 during spa week, or you can choose from a Woodhouse Classic Facial (pictured) or Watermelon Vodkatini Pedicure for $50. For more information, visit austin.woodhousespas. com and spaweek.com.
One Lipstick at at Time... Running low on funds to donate to your favorite nonprofit? Purchases with a charitable component are a clever and trendy way to put a little thought into the products you’re already spending money on. Radiant Cosmetics, founded by Austin transplant Nicole Marett, has taken a stand against human trafficking, “one lipstick at a time.” Twenty percent of the profits go to support Redeemed Ministries, based in Austin, with outreach, aftercare and advocacy efforts. “We choose to support Redeemed because we believe in starting locally,” Marett says. “While human trafficking is a global issue, many don’t know it’s happening in our own city.” With a full line of eye, lip and facial beauty products, Radiant has a wide selection of colors and styles to choose from, including 10 adorable shades of the popular Moisturizing Lipstick. For more information, visit radiantcosmetics.org.
less is more Beauty favorites without all the chemicals. Get some work done while you get your zzzs in. Overnight facial treatments are perfect for repair and renewal, and Alba Botanica’s Sea Plus Night Cream does the job without all the hidden chemicals. Free of parabens, sodium laureth sulfate and phthalates, the cream is marine-based to help cell nourishment and growth overnight. ($16.99, albabotanica.com)
42 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
You may not want to show off your natural hair color, but Tints of Nature will at least help you acheive your desired shade in a more natural way. They’ve removed many chemicals, including skin-irritating ammonia, from their formula, and replaced it with ingredients like a soy base and wheat proteins. We also love that it covers gray so well, all without the help of peroxides and PPDs. ($18, Whole Foods)
Radiant photos by Jennifer Crane.
Aaaahhh! Relax and rejuvenate at the bargain price of $50 per treatment during Spa Week. From April 15 through the 21, 10 participating spas and salons are offering up treatments such as massages, facials, mani-pedis, eyelash extensions, tanning and teeth-whitening sessions and haircuts with conditioning treatment and styling.
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style /
b e au t y
Chic Cheeks
make a statement Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance, $24, available at Blue Elephant, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., suite 510, 512.371.3259.
Warm up to the summer months with bronze accents and pops of pink. Photo by Caleb Kerr
radiate warmth Essence bronzer for lighter skin, $4.99, available at H-E-B. stick it to me Cargo ColorStick blush in Maui, $28, available at Ulta. natural color Mineral Fusion blush in Airy, $21.99, available at Whole Foods.
back to the basics Everyday Minerals plush mineral brush, $14.99, available at everydayminerals. com and Estelle Makeup bag, $20, available at gigihillbags.com.
New Color! sweet cheeks Rae Cotton Candy, $18, available at Rae Cosmetics, 1206 W. 38th St., suite 3102, raecosmetics.com.
Becca Beach Tint in Grapefruit, $24, available at Blue Elephant, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., suite 510, 512.371.3259.
For a more pigmented look, choose a creambased blush like the Becca Beach Tint or Cargo ColorStick. The texture also provides a little more sheen than traditional powderbased blushes.
44   Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
mix and match Paul & Joe blush in Prima Donna, $18, available at beautyhabit.com. Silky luster Everyday Minerals Rhapsody in Peach blush, $9.99, available at everydayminerals.com.
Limited budget but don’t want to be stuck in a rut? Look for products that have a blush and bronzer combination like this set from Paul & Joe.
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style /
shopping gr een
Marita Mirzatuny Recipient of the 2012 Royito’s Don’t Do Mild RISE Award opens eco-friendly trailer boutique. By Rachel Merriman, Photos by JoJo Marion In a world where designer labels are everything, imagine a place where every item carries one of these other very important labels: recycled, fair-trade, sustainable, handmade. If you perked up at the sight of these words, you’re in luck because such a place exists right here in Austin. Marita Mirzatuny, a self-described lifelong environmentalist who spends her days working in the renewable-energy industry, opened the Environmart boutique just last month after realizing the need for this kind of store. “As a frustrated consumer, I just wanted to be able to shop and know if the products I was buying contributed to habitat destruction and pollution, or unfair labor conditions around the world,” Mirzatuny explains. “I found that it was difficult to find a onestop shop where you could find these products.” Mirzatuny came up with the idea for the store nearly 10 years ago while studying environmental science in Santa Cruz, CA. It surfaced again when the Dallas native eventually returned to Texas to get her master’s degree in business from Texas State University in 2010. After graduating, she began the first version of Environmart in the form of popup shops at HOPE Farmers Market, but wanted a more permanent location. The idea of launching straight in to a large warehouse space
46 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
was daunting, so she decided to start smaller and open a boutique store in a trailer space with the help of the Royito’s Don’t Do Mild RISE Award. “When I found out about the Royito’s RISE Award, it seemed like a perfect fit to try to apply. Winning that was hugely important in terms of being able to purchase my trailer without having to finance it,” Mirzatuny says. Environmart offers a variety of recycled, fair-trade, sustainable and handmade items such as office supplies, children’s toys, clothing and beauty products. Mirzatuny is especially excited to begin carrying new soaps and lotions made by Further, a California company that produces biofuel from waste vegetable oil from restaurants and uses the glycerin byproduct to make their soaps. Mirzatuny says she strives to choose environmentally friendly products
such as these, but also items that fall in to at least one (if not many) of the four aforementioned categories. “A lot of items are new recycled items,” Mirzatuny notes. “I have wallets that are made of recycled plastic bags. They’re also fair-trade because they’re made by a group in India that is helping to bring people out of poverty.” Environmart also carries a selection of used and vintage items, which enjoy popularity not only because of their cool retro feel, but because they’re a crucial part of the “three Rs” mantra we’ve all been taught to employ: reduce, recycle, reuse. “I think that we have a lot in our waste stream, and we’ve become a really disposable culture,” Mirzatuny observes. “It’s not only fun to hunt down items that are unique and one of a kind, but it’s nice to be able to give products a sort of second life.” In addition to eventually opening a larger warehouse space, one of Mirzatuny’s goals is to make environmentally friendly products more affordable. “I’d like to see these products to not be viewed as expensive or inaccessible to people, so there will be a range of price points,” Mirzatuny says. Environmart is located in the North Austin Trailer Yard at 1012 W. Anderson Lane, and is open at varying hours on weekends and by appointment. Follow @environmart on Twitter for up-to-date information and hours.
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Sustainable Design Hop on the go-green express, with savvy homeowner tips from acclaimed remodelers CG&S DesignBuild and Austin Energy. With more than 50 years of experience remodeling Austin homes, CG&S Design-Build has done it all. From stunning bathrooms, awe-inspiring living rooms and award-winning kitchens, CG&S has transformed the lives of countless Austinites and witnessed the transformation of Austin from a small city to a burgeoning mecca of cool. “Austin has grown so much, and people are so much more informed,” reflects Dolores Davis, the general manger of CG&S Design-Build and daughter of founders Clarence and Stella Guerrero. With the increase in awareness among Austinites about design and build options, coupled with myriad City of Austin incentive programs, many Austin dwellers are opting for sustainable green projects to not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also keep some green in their pocketbooks. “Austin is a very environmentally conscious city. We’re constantly providing green options. You want to have a house that functions well,” Davis says. “There’s a lot of wasted energy coming out of homes,” points out Stewart Davis, principal architect and design director at CG&S Design-Build, and the husband of Dolores Davis. “I spoke to a person the other day that has spent $600 a month in electrical bills for a 1,500-square-foot house.” Stewart Davis emphasizes there is always a solution, and the benefits of going green extend far beyond slicing and dicing your energy bill. “If you do a green remodel and get Austin Energy to rate your house and get a four- or five-star rating, you’ll feel better about your home and it will likely increase its value,” he says. From placing solar panels on the roof, to geother-
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mal heat pumps that take energy from the ground and smart houses equipped with advanced systems that can be controlled from your smartphone, the sky is the limit when it comes to adding green technology to your home. While turning your home in to a lean, green, carbonemission-fighting machine can be expensive, Stewart Davis is quick to point out that you do not have to empty your pockets to increase your energy efficiency. “Even though they’re nice to have, most people are not interested in the sexy stuff,” he says. “They really want the basics, like a tightly sealed house, no formaldehyde in the cabinets and efficient lighting. The bottom line is that you can save a lot of money by doing commonsense, down-to-earth things.” He highlights things like an efficient use of space, natural lighting, LED light bulbs and durable materials that do not have to be replaced every few years. “Using durable materials that last 30 or 50 years is another way of going green, since you do not have to tear things off and drop them off at the landfill every couple of years,” he says. When asked about the secret to their half-century of success, Stewart Davis rattles off without hesitation, “The design-build aspect is key, and always has been.” Traditionally, when doing a remodel, a homeowner has one agreement with the architect and another with the builder, and often, the owner is caught in the middle. CG&S Design-Build has eliminated that disconnect by putting both the designer and builder under one roof, ensuring there is no drop-off in qual-
The Vale house, designed by CG&S Design-Build, was rated 5-Star by Austin Energy Green Building program, the highest rating offered.
ity between design and construction. “You have the builder on board from day one,” Stewart Davis says. “We not only provide quality design, but also quality construction because we have to build it.” Although a lot has changed since CG&S DesignBuild opened its doors in 1957, the principles and values upon which Clarence and Stella Guerrero
Photos by Andrew Pogue/courtesy CG&S.
By Andy East
Cheapest Ways to Go Green Go green without going broke. Here are some of the cheapest ways you can boost your energy efficiency and save money. 1. Kitchen and Bathroom Faucet Aerators and Showerheads (Free) Aerators help you save up to 2.5 gallons per minute compared with standard faucets and showerheads. And the best part is: If you are an Austin Water Utility Customer, they’re free. 2. Phantom Load (Free) Off doesn’t always mean off. Some appliances in your home draw power even when they are not turned on.
A phantom load is any electronic item that uses energy even when it’s not turned on. Your TV, microwave, coffee maker and cell phone chargers (even if they are not charging anything) are notorious phantom loads, and by unplugging them from the wall when not being used, you can shave between 5 and 10 percent off your energy bill. 3. Smart Power Strips ($30) Smart power strips get
rid of the “phantom load” nuisance. They are equipped with censors that can detect when devices have been turned off and automatically cut off power being drawn from that device, saving energy and dinero. 4. Shade Trees (Prices Vary) Planting a tree on the west side of your home can cut the temperature in your home by up to 20 degrees during the summer and slice your energy bill by
up to 40 percent. Some good trees to consider include Red Oak, Monterrey Oak, Cedar Elm and Texas Ash. 5. LED Light Bulbs ($30) While more expensive than incandescent light bulbs, LED bulbs more than pay for themselves during their lifespan, using less than one-sixth of the power per unit of light generated and lasting up to 50 times longer than standard bulbs.
PHOTO BY MORGAN LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY
founded CG&S have not. “My dad’s motto was ‘Doing things once and doing them right,’ ” Dolores Davis recalls. “My parents understood the value of creating strong relationships and doing things right.” Fast forward to 2013, and Austin has more than quadrupled in size and CG&S is entering its 56th year with as much vitality as ever. With countless awards for design and remodeling under its belt—including three Contractor of the Year Awards from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry already this year— CG&S Design-Build is gearing up for another big year. While the past half-century has been successful, neither Stewart Davis nor Dolores Davis is the least bit worried about the future of CG&S Design-Build. “Most people want to spend locally and not with a corporation that doesn’t care about their community,” Stewart Davis says. “We live here, we raise our families here and we care about this community,” Dolores Davis emphasizes. “That really resonates with people.” With a third generation waiting in the wings to carry on the family legacy, CG&S Design-Build and Austin residents alike will be in good hands for years to come.
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Healthy Mind, Healthy Body Detoxifying your body and mind through clean, healthy eating.
By Molly McManus, Photos by Rudy Arocha Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the hype surrounding the juice craze. From Beyoncé’s Master Cleanse to the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, the buzz on juicing continues to burgeon as people become more health-conscious, taking control of what is put into the body. Beyond the weight-loss benefits, juicing and eating “clean food” (whole, organic, non-processed) does more than lower that number on the scale. It provides you with energy and mental clarity, and above all, empowers the consumer through truly knowing what you are feeding your body. When you shop for groceries, do you consider the ingredients that go into your food? Pre-made sauces and dressings, flavored crackers and chips, even multi-grain bread can have up to 30 different ingredients, many of them unrecognizable to most consumers, ingredients we continue to put in our bodies without questioning why they are there. When you juice, you are using raw ingredients like kale, celery and apples. Each of these food items has one ingredient and one only. An apple is an apple, plain and simple, thus considered a clean food.
The Dirty Dozen (plus two) The Environmental Working Group (EWG) identifies fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide residues. In 2012, two extra foods were added to their Dirty Dozen list, which helps you identify which foods are more important to buy organic.
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Apples Celery Sweet Bell Peppers Peaches Strawberries Nectarines Grapes
However, the question of organic also comes in to play when shopping clean. Without going too much in to the politics of organic versus non-organic (or conventional) food, there is agreement that a fruit or veggie that has not been sprayed with pesticides is better for the health of the consumer. According to downtoearth.org, celery can be sprayed with 29 varieties of pesticides. Because of its thin skin, these harmful chemicals can seep into the vegetable, causing more harm to the consumer. If you are on a tight budget and organic is out of the question, consider partial organic purchases (see the Dirty Dozen list). Rule of thumb: The thinner the skin, the better to buy organic. With so much information so readily available via the Internet, it’s important to find a few sources you Laura Jack know you can trust. And no, Sun Chips, which are “all natural,” shouldn’t be one of them. Austin Woman sought out the help of Laura Jack, a transformational life coach who has a unique take on the benefits of Spinach eating clean, as well as authors Lettuce Bo Rinaldi and Steven PrusCucumbers sak, who wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Juice Fasting, Blueberries to help you in your exploraPotatoes tion of taking control of your Green health. AW also evaluates the Beans best juicers on the market and, Kale/ alternatively, selected places Greens to find juice in Austin when
Recipes from the 10-Day Detox Program Jack’s meal philosophy is to eat a medium-sized breakfast, a large lunch and a small dinner for ultimate digestion and health. We picked three recipes accordingly. Start your day with this berry smoothie.
Berry-licious Smoothie
you’re on the run and need a quick nutritional fix. the coaching philosophy Laura Jack is a life and health coach who uses a holistic approach in addressing her clients’ needs. Her coaching ranges from grief coaching to a 10-day detoxification program, all centered on creating well-being in the individual through the body and the mind. Jack’s latest endeavor is called Light After Loss, which is a service for people who have undergone some sort of loss in their life. Whether a person is recently experiencing a death of someone close to them or is dealing with divorce, a job loss or an empty nest, Jack is there to support people through difficult times.
When Jack lost her mother five years ago, her life took on a new purpose as she faced her (Smoothie Explosion grief, living with it and Recipe, part of days eventually sharing it. 5 – 7) Jack explains the imporThe added celery tance of moving through enhances the flavor grief rather than ignorof the berries just like ing it. One of the many salt enhances flavors, myths about grief is but without the added that if you stay busy, sodium. immersing yourself in your work, the grief will disappear. Ingredients: “I tried to avoid grief 1 pint raspberries and be strong for oth½ pint strawberries 1 handful spinach ers, but it didn’t work 1 handful baby kale because I didn’t have the 1 handful arugula right tools,” Jack says. 2 celery stalks Jack provides the 1 cup water tools through firstIce as needed hand experience and the comprehensive Directions: Blend approach she takes with until smooth and enjoy! the LIGHT Method. LIGHT stands for Let emotional freedom ring, Initiate forgiveness of self and others, Give yourself pure nourishment, Harness your passions and Take advantage of your life, have an adventure and appreciate how far you have come. The G, or giving you pure nourishment, is one of the most important steps, according to Jack. “At this phase in the healing journey, it is important to let go of anything that is in the way of you being your best self,” Jack says, explaining that when you rid yourself of both physical and emotional stressors, you are able to fill yourself with all things positive. This is where her
Breakfast: Berry-licous Smoothie
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Juice Fasting, by Steven Prussack and Bo Rinaldi, $14.95 Steven Prussack, author and editor-in-chief of VegWorld Magazine, teamed up with Bo Rinaldi, chef and co-owner of the acclaimed Blossoming Lotus restaurant in Portland, OR, to bring you The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Juice Fasting. The book includes fruit-juice recipes to cleanse your body, rev up your metabolism and boost your antioxidant intake. The guide also includes a collection of great-tasting chlorophyll-rich green smoothie recipes supercharged with healing properties. The authors also offer exceptional guidance on how to do short 1-, 3- and 7-day juice fasts to ease in to juice fasting, along with plans for longer, month-long juice fasts.
10-day detoxification program comes in to play. By putting positive, whole, natural foods into your body, you are allowing your body to recover and reset so your mind can clearly deal with the grief it’s experiencing. There are so many food groups— gluten, dairy, sugar, eggs and peanuts, to name a few—that can make you tired, bringing your energy down. Beyond those who are dealing with loss, the 10-day detoxification program is great for anyone who wants to give their body a wonderful cleanse. What’s even better about the cleanse? It’s doable. “I’m not in to depravation,” laughs Jack, who has made a cleanse consisting of four days of green juices, three days of smoothies and three days of raw foods. Instead of starving yourself to see results, the
program fills your body with valuable nutrients, vitamins and minerals, ridding your body of builtup toxins, healing you from the inside out. It gives your digestion system a break while also helping you lose weight, get more energy and better sleep, and improving your defense system to prevent disease and sickness. In addition, the 10-day detoxification program has shown results in softness and clarity of skin, more energy upon waking and throughout the day, control over moods, sensitivity and appetite, strengthening your hair follicles, better dental health and breath and body odor. “There are so many things that can come from juicing,” Jack says. “It helps ward off diseases: heart disease, diabetes, obesity. But eating cleanly on a regular basis is even more important to me
Lunch: Green Goddess Salad
(Whole Food Infusion, part of days 8 – 10) The avocado is a great source of fiber, potassium, vitamin E, B vitamins and folic acid. Avocado also acts as a nutrient booster by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients. Ingredients: ½ cup shelled English peas 2 baby zucchini 1 scallion 1 large handful parsley, chopped 1 small avocado 1 orange, juiced Directions: Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and slice thinly. Slice the scallions. Combine peas, zucchini, scallions and parsley in a bowl. Either mash the orange juice and avocado together with a fork or blend in a blender. Stir the avocado in with the veggies. Individual portions may be served on romaine leaves.
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than juicing. The fewer ingredients, the better.” The 10-day detoxification program includes two teleseminar recordings with Jack; daily emails throughout the cleanse; an extensive guidebook to support you through the cleanse; pre-, during and post-cleanse journaling exercises (such as identifying toxic relationships, setting goals, etc.); a complete grocery shopping list; a recipe book that explains the health benefits of each meal and exercises in meditation and breathing. “During the cleanse, I experienced a decrease in joint pain, wonderfully clearer skin and a renewed sense of taste and smell,” says Laura Martinez, a client of Laura Jack Coaching who has also lost 20 pounds during the six months she’s worked with Jack. “[Jack] provided the tools and resources I needed to succeed and helped me learn to use those tools and incorporate them in to my everyday life effortlessly. I have more energy at work and get more compliments every day. My workouts are much more effective as a result of my new, healthier eating habits.” Jack provided Austin Woman with three recipes so our readers can try them at home for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you are waiting for the right time to cleanse, it may never come, so make the commitment and get your body on the right track today. Ready to get started, but lacking a juicer? Visit austinwomanmagazine.com for reviews on our top three juicers. For more information on Jack’s services or the 10day detoxification program session, visit laurajack.com.
Dinner: Cil-apple
(Joyful Juice Recipe, part of days 1 – 4; Makes 1 quart, 32 ounces, 4 cups; counts as one meal) Cilantro is great for helping with heavy metal detoxification. Green apples and citrus are low glycemic choices for juicy sweeteners, and the kale and celery help to deliver lots of nutrients to your system, such as magnesium, calcium and vitamin K. Helpful Hint: Jack recommends using 32-ounce mason jars to store your juice. Not only does it keep all the nutrients in, the jars are the perfect size and make it easy to transport with you throughout your busy day. Ingredients: 8 stalks celery 1 large bunch kale leaves, stems included 2 bunches fresh cilantro 4 large green apples 1 large lemon, peeled Directions: Run all ingredients through juicer and serve immediately.
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f e s t i va l s
Foodie’s Delight The 2013 Austin Food & Wine Festival brings top chefs and gourmet treats to town. By Kristi Willis Put your diet on hold and forget the guilt. The second-annual Austin Food & Wine Festival kicks off the weekend of April 26 through 28. This two-day culinary extravaganza at Auditorium Shores features more than 40 cooking demonstrations and tastings from nationally acclaimed chefs and wine experts, as well as Austin’s finest culinary and wine masters. The festival was created last year through a partnership that includes C3 Presents, the producers of the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza; Texas-based restaurateurs Tyson Cole, Tim Love and Jesse Herman; and Food & Wine Magazine. Two types of passes are available for the festival: the Taste pass ($250), which includes general admission to the cooking demos, the Grand Tastings and a one-year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine; and the Savor pass ($850), which also includes early entry to the demos and Grand Tastings, and tickets to the Taste of Texas and Rock Your Taco events. Savor pass holders also have access to a special lounge area at the festival with private food-and-drink tastings and reserved parking. If you are looking for something in the middle, this year, Taste pass holders can buy tickets to the Taste of Texas and Rock Your Taco events separately. Lindsay Hoffman, festival marketing manager at C3 Presents, notes the company incorporated feedback from the inaugural festival to create a more robust experience for attendees this year. “We are really taking the festival to the next level. We have a much longer Grand Tasting so that people can have a more leisurely experience, and there is more going on in between demos,” Hoffman says. Seating for the demos has also changed. In 2012, Savor pass holders had reserved spots for the ses-
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sions, which tied up seats if they didn’t show up. This year, Savor attendees will have priority seating, but all seats at the demo will be open after a certain time period. Each of the demo tents will also be larger to accommodate more people. Many of last year’s stars like Tim Love, Andrew Zimmern, Jonathan Waxman and Marcus Samuelsson are returning and will be joined by new celebrities. Susan Feniger of STREET in Los Angeles, Graham Elliott of MasterChef and his self-named restaurant group in Chicago, and Marc Murphy, who owns several restaurants in New York City and is a frequent judge on Chopped, will all be leading demonstrations at the festival and participating in the Rock Your Taco Showdown. Other don’t-miss activities include a visit to the firepit, where chefs will be cooking whole animals, Mark Oldman will offer wine sessions and more grilling sessions with Tim Love will take place, including the Heads or Tails throwdown with Andrew Zimmern. “Last year, Marcus Samuelsson and Andrew Zimmern jumped up on stage with Tim Love at the grilling demo, so we decided to make it a formal session,” Hoffman says. Texas Chefs will be well represented in the mix, with a veritable who’s who of regional stars, including Tyson Cole (Uchi, Uchiko), Ned and Jodi Elliott (Foreign & Domestic), Aaron Frank-
Christina Tosi at the 2012 festival
lin (Franklin Barbecue), Bryce Gilmore (Barley Swine), Jack Gilmore (Jack Allen’s Kitchen), James Holmes (Olivia), Rene Ortiz (La Condesa, Sway), Paul Qui (Qui, East Side King), Laura Sawicki (La Condesa, Sway), Philip Speer (Uchi, Uchiko), Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616) and Andrew Wisehart (Contigo). As you prepare for the festivities, don’t forget the sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a decent breakfast if you plan to attend wine tastings early in the day. More importantly, Hoffman adds, “Come with a light heart and be ready to enjoy.”
Take note of these must-see sessions.
Tim Love stole the show last year with his grilling sessions. This year, there are three: It’s Tailgate Time in Texas, Heads or Tails and Grilling 101. Wine expert Mark Oldman helps you become a wine pro with Drink Like a Pro, Cinema Vino and Hard to Say, Easy To Drink.
2013 authors and cookbooks
Don’t-Miss Events
Italian, My Way, by Jonathan Waxman and Tom Colicchio: Rustic Italian recipes from a Top Chef Master, explained in a way for even the novice home cooks.
New American Table, by Marcus Samuelsson: More than 300 recipes that explore American regional cooking and international influences on American cuisine.
Wine Bar Food, by Cathy Mantuano and Tony Mantuano: One hundred recipes organized by cities in the Mediterranean, with a focus on food and wine pairings.
For Cod and Country, by Barton Seaver: With a focus on sustainable seafood, this cookbook pairs fish with farm produce by season.
Street Food, by Susan Feniger: More than 80 recipes inspired by international street food from Vietnam to Turkey and beyond.
Momofuku Milk Bar, by Christina Tosi and David Chang: Recipes from their acclaimed New York snack bar, including cereal milk ice cream and crack pie.
Reinvent the classics with John Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal at their One Pot Party demo or with Graham Elliott at American Classics 2.0. Uchi/Uchiko brethren Philip Speer and Paul Qui both have panels, as does local mixologist Bill Norris. The Rock Your Taco event has star chefs compete for top honors with their innovative taco creations.
Q+A with Chef Jodi Elliott
The Austin Food & Wine Festival brings in not only national talent, but also gives Austin’s culinary stars a chance to strut their stuff. Chef Jodi Elliott, pastry chef and co-owner of Foreign & Domestic, will dazzle the crowds with her unique dessert presentations at the Taste of Texas kickoff event Friday night, April 26 at Republic Square Park.
Austin Woman: Why are you interested in being involved in the festival? Chef Jodi Elliott: Food & Wine, as a magazine and a company, puts on festivals that are both fun and prestigious. It is definitely an honor to be asked to be a part of it. And I’m glad that there is a pastry chef point of view and that they are going out of the way to give us an opportunity to shine too. AW: What are you looking forward to most? JE: I’ve been to a couple festivals as a guest in other parts of the country and I feel like it’s a fun way for people in whatever city or town they are in to see these celebrity chefs from different parts of the country face
to face, and really get to interact with them and taste their food. I feel like the purpose of these festivals, especially Food & Wine, is to showcase what people are doing all over the country and to bring that to us in Austin while also highlighting Austin talent. AW: Is there anybody coming in from out of town that you are really excited to meet? JE: I’ve met most of the other chefs at least in passing, but I didn’t get to go to the festival last year, so I’m excited to just go and see it all come together. I’m also excited to see Andrew Zimmern again. He included us on his Bizarre Foods show and we saw him for just a little bit, but he has been so gracious and supportive of us.
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to your health /
PMS Got You Down?
Take a hike, and other tips from fitness expert Mayling Kajiya. By Chrissie Jarrell and Natalie Yerkovich Every month, most women experience undesirable symptoms during the time of their periods. Cravings, bloating, cramps, moodiness and sleepiness are just a few of the miserable symptoms we face each month just being women. How does this relate to fitness? First, PMS can derail our best intentions and fitness goals because hormones have temporarily hijacked our motivation and discipline. Second, and most importantly, fitness and a healthy diet can prevent or alleviate your PMS symptoms. So even though you might not want to do anything active or eat healthy, you’ll feel so much better if you do. For more on PMS and tips on how to make your time of the month a little more enjoyable, we sat down with fitness expert and founder of PMS supplement Girl Uninterrupted (girlu. com), Mayling Kajiya. Austin Woman: What causes PMS? Are there things we can do to prevent the symptoms, or is it just something we have to live with as women? Mayling Kajiya: PMS symptoms are the result of fluctuating hormones, namely progesterone and estrogen, which signal a shift from the ovulation phase to the luteal phase, where menstruation occurs. Since hormones affect each of us differently, a litany of symptoms, such as cramps, moodiness and bloating define PMS. PMS is absolutely not something you have to live with as a woman. There are changes you can make to your diet, such as increasing iron and zinc intake, which can help alleviate the symptoms. Another approach is to increase your consumption of foods rich in the amino acid L-Tryptophan, such as eggs, cheese, chicken, turkey, beans and chocolate. L-Tryptophan is a component the body needs but does not produce, which naturally increases serotonin levels in the brain, leading to a feeling of
56 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
fitness
relaxation and well-being.
Mayling Kajiya
AW: What are the biggest benefits of being active with regard to PMS? MK: The biggest benefit of being active with regard to PMS is an important neurotransmitter called endorphin. Your body produces endorphins during exercise and they act as a natural analgesic, which means that they help the body naturally relieve pain, which can come in handy if you experience cramps during your time of the month. AW: Are some activities better than others when it comes to preventing and alleviating PMS symptoms, or is all activity equal? MK: In my opinion, activities involving moderate impact that are also enjoyable to you versus those that are high intensity and perceived more as a requirement by you are better to undertake while you are experiencing PMS. While you can engage in strenuous exercise during PMS, I believe doing so will raise your stress levels and cause you to feel mentally tired. Activities such as yoga, Zumba or taking a hike with a friend can help you stay physically fit and mentally refreshed during your PMS phase. AW: What about diet? What are your top nutrition recommendations for PMS? MK: Diet is an extremely important part of managing one’s PMS symptoms. Foods high in zinc and iron, such as red meat, egg yolks, dark and leafy greens (i.e. spinach, collards), dried fruit (i.e. prunes, raisins) will help alleviate PMS symptoms. Staying away from caffeine is also very important since it tends to dehydrate and over-stimulate the body. For energy, try a fruit or vegetable smoothie with such ingredients as carrots, beets or ginger. AW: What are your top recommendations to motivate yourself to workout when it’s the last thing
you want to do! MK: It is critical to prepare your body and mind to work out at the same time. For the body, hydrate with a large glass of water and then loosen your shoulders, hips and knees. For the mind, put on some upbeat tunes as you change into your workout clothes. I am also a big fan of the buddy method; make working out fun while keeping yourself accountable to someone.
Chrissie Jarrell and Natalie Yerkovich, the gals who created myfitlist.com, do the grunt work for you. Well, the organizational grunt work, anyway. They work hard to connect people with the fitness groups, information and resources they need so they can grunt, sweat and tone to achieve their personal goals.
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to your health /
Clean Green and Be Merry
Great products, new initiatives and services help you go green this spring. By Amory Casto Commercial cleaning products can leave behind hazardous fumes and harmful biproducts that end up in our lakes, rivers and oceans. Not only do these chemicals alter the quality of water, but they may also affect individuals directly. The residue from a cleaning product can be left on the counter, and individuals may breathe in the toxins, or absorb them through the skin. Although the big brand names are convenient for in-home use, there are options for great products that are less harmful. These alternatives are becoming more widely available every day. To get you started on your green journey, we’ve compiled some of the best eco-friendly products, services and initiatives, as well as provided a DIY cleaning recipe—truly one of the greenest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to go green this spring.
Roux Maison Essential Laundry Roux Maison has created a line of laundry detergents that leave out unnecessary and harsh chemicals. The chemicals in conventional laundry and dry-cleaning products get embedded in fibers, coating the fabrics
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Back to the Basics
gr een li v ing
DIY All Natural Sink Cleaner
of clothes, towels and sheets. Every time you dress, dry off after a shower or lay down to sleep, you are surrounding yourself with harsh and often toxic chemicals. Roux Maison products lengthen the life of your fabrics and are hypoallergenic. The company has created a small bottle of detergent specifically for swimwear. Who’s ready for summer? Best Product: Essential Detergents, $15. Don’t let the size fool you, because one 16-ounce bottle is equal to 40 machine loads. These detergents are hypoallergenic and won’t leave a sticky residue on your favorite duds. The detergents Ambrosia, the light and airy Sweet Tea and a fragrance-free option are each made from a custom blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils. Where You Can Find It: rouxmaison.com Earth Friendly Products Family-owned and -operated, Earth Friendly Products produces plant-based cleaners. The company was the first to eliminate salts in all cleaners, first to leave out formaldehyde and first to generate more than 50 percent of its plants’ electrical needs by using solar panels. This is a green company to its very core. Best Product: Everyday Stain and Odor Remover, $6. Using this naturally based formula of enzymes will not only remove stains, it will also eliminate odors. This non-polluting cleaner is also made of plant-based ingredients. Where You Can Find It: H-E-B, Central Market, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Clubs, Eco-Wise and Newflower Farmers Market.
of soup, to the gigantic pain of a grease stain, this formula will tackle all tasks. Where You Can Find It: shaklee.com
What you will need ➜ 1 cup baking soda ➜ olive oil ➜ vinegar ➜ 2 tbs. lemon juice ➜ spray bottle ➜ scrub brush ➜ bowl ➜ rubber gloves
Natural Choices Tired of using products Directions off the shelves that ➜ Mix together bakclaim to be “safe” but ing soda and enough use toxic ingredients, olive oil to get most of Catherine Myers, crethe soda moist. Mix in ator of Natural Choices, lemon juice; it should started experimenting look like toothpaste. with her own line of enAdd the paste to the nooks and crannies of vironmentally friendly your sink. Put a little cleaning products. Her bit of vinegar in your knowledge from workbottle and spray your ing in labs, combined sink down. Once you with her husband have a sizzling sink, Marion’s chemistry scrub again. Rinse for a skills, resulted in Natunaturally sparkling sink! ral Choices products that do not use harmful chemicals, such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, petrochemicals and VOCs. Breathing in the fumes of these chemicals, especially over time, can be damaging to your health. Small amounts of residual product left on surfaces or in the air following cleaning adversely affect your home’s air quality. Best Product: OXY-DISH Automatic Dishwasher Detergent, $12.95. OXY-DISH doesn’t contain any phosphates or toxic materials, and your dishes still come out looking like the day you brought them home. In some cases, you can even use less Natural Choices detergent than you would a typical detergent. Cleaner, greener dishes at a lower cost. What’s not to love? Where You Can Find It: oxyboost.com, or at Eco-Wise in Austin, 110 W. Elizabeth St.
Shaklee Talk about a green company that has certainly earned itself some street cred. Shaklee has been in business for more than 50 years, offering home, beauty and nutrition products that are “always safe, always work and always green.” In 1960, they created one of the first biodegradable household cleaners, making the company a true pioneer in the green movement. Shaklee was also the first company to obtain Climate Neutral Certification and offset CO emissions, resulting in a net zero impact Ame’s Cleaning on the environment. You’re Earth-friendly home/office cleaning services just keep getwelcome, ozone. ting better. Ame’s Cleaning is a locally owned business serving Best Product: H2 Organic Austin and the surrounding area for more than 20 years, using Super Cleaning Concentrate, products that are VOC-compliant and have met the Green Seal $12.15. environmental standard for household cleaners. Translation: The cleaning products Ame’s uses are neither toxic nor abrasive. This 16-ounce bottle creates Ame Frezza adds, “Everything that is used in the home affects an unbelievable 48 gallons of supersafe, extremely powerful, all-purpose its inhabitants, so we steer clear of harsh chemicals to keep our clients and employees as safe as possible.” You can feel cleaner. The best thing about this po- good about getting a little help to lighten the load of your busy tent product is that you can use it on schedule while creating a nontoxic environment for you and your everything! From the smallest spill family. For more information, visit amescleaningaustin.com.
to your health /
Caring for Your Aching Feet
Feet come first in April during National Foot Health Awareness Month. By Jill Case Most people walk about 75,000 miles by the time they are 50, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. Your feet take a beating day after day, but there are things you can do to prevent problems, and there is help available when problems do occur. April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, and Austin Woman spoke with Dr. Craig Thomajan, DPM, about women’s foot care and foot problems, including the ones he often sees in his practice. Athlete’s Foot Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that grows in warm, dark areas, such as those created in your shoes. It also grows rapidly in environments that are wet and damp, like pool areas, showers and locker rooms. If you have it, you may experience inflammation, dry skin, burning and itching or scaly feet, often between your toes. Thomajan suggests wearing shoes in public locker rooms and pool areas, avoiding wearing other people’s shoes, keeping your home shower clean and changing your shoes often. You also need
Do High Heels Cause Foot Problems? This is a question many women ask, but according to Dr. Craig Thomajan, it isn’t quite that simple. He says wearing high heels can contribute to and exacerbate problems often caused by genetics and your anatomy, but they are not necessarily the cause. For instance, you may be genetically predisposed to having
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wellness
to keep your feet clean and dry, and sanitize your shoes. One very effective way to do this is by purchasing a UV light shoe sanitizer. (They are sold on the Internet or in Dr. Thomajan’s and other podiatrists’ offices. Here is a link to one accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association: sterishoe.com). These sanitizers kill germs that can cause infections, and also deodorize shoes. If your feet are not responding to foot-hygiene remedies or over-the-counter treatments within the first couple weeks of developing symptoms, you should see a podiatrist. Other conditions, including eczema and psoriasis or problems with the sweat mechanism of the feet, may display the same symptoms as athlete’s foot, and a podiatrist can determine the cause of your problem. Bunions Almost everyone has seen a bunion, especially during sandal season. Thomajan describes bunions as “bony bumps at the base of the big toe, which form when the big toe pushes against the other toes, and, over time, this causes the joint to become enlarged and crowd the other toes.” There are several things that can cause bunions, one of which is genetics—if one or both of your parents had bunions, you may be prone to them too because you have inherited the same type of foot. In addition, bunions may be caused by sports injuries or other foot injuries, flat feet or low arches. Tight
bunions, and wearing constrictive shoes or heels can contribute to your pain and aggravate the bunion. This is also true of hammertoes and neuromas. Wearing heels can create other problems you might not expect, according to Thomajan. “You can get leg effects too with high heels,” he says. “The increased pressure on the knee can lead to arthritis. Prolonged wearing of heels can also shorten calf
or constrictive shoes can further aggravate bunions. The size of a bunion doesn’t necessarily tell you how much it will hurt. Thomajan notes that one patient may come in with a very large bunion but no pain, while the next patient might have a much smaller bunion but more pain. It’s very individualized, just as the treatment is for each person. Patients who have a small to moderate amount of pain can manage it by making different shoe choices, wearing pads or straps, orthotics or shoe modifications, or with physical therapy. “Surgery is recommended when you are having pain that is controlling all activities of daily living, so pain is the criteria for surgical management,” Thomajan says.
muscles, which can cause pain in the foot, hips and knees. Most importantly, depending on how high the heel is, the Achilles tendon can become shortened and tightened.” Another condition that can be extremely aggravated and even caused by high heels or shoes with rigid backs is Haglund’s deformity. This condition causes pain at the back of the heel, and sometimes a callus or thick bump. This may become inflamed, causing bursitis.
What is Thomajan’s advice about high heels? “[High heels] are not all-day, everyday shoes, but if you are going to go to an affair, or you are going to get dressed up for Sunday or things like that—that’s fine,” he says. “You should always have a rescue shoe, and you should always have shoes that meet your sense of style and your sense of vanity that are comfortable for your feet.”
Heel Pain Heel pain may be caused by plantar fasciitis, heel spurs or Achilles tendinitis. Thomajan says his treatment for heel pain begins with taking a thorough patient history to determine the cause of the pain. “You come in with the condition, we talk to you about it: when it began, how it happened, what is exacerbating the pain, what makes it feel better, what makes it feel worse,” he says. After the history is taken and the problem is diagnosed, the first line of treatment usually includes plantar fascial stretching at home and physical therapy, along with taping, strapping, shoe inserts or orthotics. Many podiatry practices, including Thomajan’s, also use advanced treatments to treat heel pain. One of these is the PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection. This treatment uses your own blood platelets (obtained with an IV blood draw). Then the highly concentrated platelet rich plasma is injected at the site of your pain to help stimulate your body’s natural healing process. Another treatment used for pain is EPAT (extracorporeal pulse activation therapy). This non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment uses a proprietary set of unique acoustic pressure waves to enhance your blood circulation, which can accelerate the healing process.
Neuromas A neuroma is a thickening of the nerve tissue, which causes symptoms like burning pain, tingling or numbness, usually between the toes and in the ball of the foot. One of the most common types of neuroma is Morton’s neuroma, which occurs in the nerve between the third and fourth toe. Other conditions can mimic the symptoms of neuroma, including stress fractures or capsulated tendonitis, so it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. There are several ways to treat neuromas. The first line of treatment includes shoe modification, avoidance of physical activity (if that aggravates the condition), padding, strapping, orthotics and physical therapy. Cortisone injections are another way to treat the pain, but Thomajan emphasizes this should only be used after determining the exact cause and treating the underlying problem. If the pain persists, a podiatrist can use an injection that chemically severs the affected nerve. Surgery is another treatment option, with the doctor surgically removing the damaged nerve. There are many foot problems that can affect women throughout their lives, from childhood
to adulthood. It’s important to seek medical care when you have symptoms. Don’t let pain keep you from seeking out treatment. “If you are getting a nail procedure in the office, you are going to get anesthesia. We’re not going to dig around without you being numb,” Thomajan says, adding, “It’s one of those things we always try to impress on patients: At the first whisper of pain, come in and see us because we can do something that will take care of it much faster” than trying to treat it yourself at home. For more information, visit austinfootandankle. com or apma.org. Dr. Craig H. Thomajan, DPM, FACFAS, is the founding member of Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists. He is board certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Thomajan is a podiatric physician, surgeon and specialist of the foot and ankle dedicated to providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical care to patients of all ages.
Presented by
For Tickets Visit ets www.ArtBraAustin.org/Tick
Official After Party hosted by
Roberto Cavalli top, $745, and Stephen Dweck necklace, $690, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.
why being
green is just not good enough anymore.
EnviroMedia founder Valerie Davis is out to kill the ‘eco-friendly’ movement. By Jennifer Hill Robenalt Photos by Cody Hamilton Styling by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustinstyling.com; makeup by Lauren Lumsden, raecosmetics.com; hair by Maegan Foster, avantsalon.com.
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alerie Davis created her first successful social-marketing campaign more than 40 years ago. “When I was in the second grade, I won a poster contest. It was for fire prevention. I got out my crayons and I drew a picture of this house with a raging fire. And my caption was ‘Someone played with matches.’ I think I won five dollars for it,” Davis remembers. And so it began. EnviroMedia Social Marketing offers a comprehensive spectrum of communications services, including branding, advertising, market research, strategic development, marketing and public relations. In fact, it was recently named Austin’s largest PR agency in the Austin Business Journal’s 2012 Book of Lists. But CEO Davis, who co-founded the agency with longtime business partner Kevin Tuerff, isn’t out to rule the world. She just wants to change it.
“I remember attending a national advertising conference in the late ’90s and people talking about actually having advertising working with public relations on comprehensive campaigns. And we’ve had it all under one roof from the get go,” Davis says. “As a matter of fact, when we started EnviroMedia, we were thinking we’d just be PR because we started out with a big PR project, creating America Recycles Day. And then the big turning point for us advertising-wise was winning Don’t Mess With Texas.” EnviroMedia is a uniquely Austin concept. Launched in 1988, it’s a thriving business occupying 18,000 square feet in Hartland Plaza near downtown, employing more than 70 of the best and brightest communications talents anywhere. What makes
it a bit of an anomaly is that Davis is not the least bit interested in selling people things they don’t need. In fact, the business model demands the exact opposite. “We don’t want to sell travel for an airline or sell hamburgers or shoes, but if you have a sustainability story to tell authentically, we can do that,” Davis says. “We can work on anything, from breast-feeding promotion to flu protection for expectant moms to infant-mortality prevention. Tobacco prevention we’ve been working on for 12 years, and emergency preparedness.” Davis is stylish and calm, with a confident dis-
The Leanwashing Index Calls for Five Food Terms to Be Banned Stay away from products that claim to be “all-natural,” because chances are, according to EnviroMedia Social Marketing CEO Valerie Davis, they’re not. In their ongoing efforts to clarify the popular definition of “the environment,” Davis and EnviroMedia co-founder Kevin Tuerff have taken on the food, restaurant, beverage, fitness and diet industries. “We’re all for smaller portion sizes, but 100-calorie packs of crap are not healthy food,” Davis says. After successfully launching greenwashingindex.com, a free consumer-driven educational site designed to keep corporations honest about their claims to be “green” and environmentally conscious, the Leanwashing Index was born in January 2013. It’s a watchdog program dedicated to empowering
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people to understand more about the products supposedly created to help them live long, healthy lives. Anyone can visit leanwashingindex.com to post and rate food advertising. Criteria are based on whether the ad, packaging or promotion misleads with words, visuals, imagery or sponsorships. The index also asks if the product makes a health claim that is vague or can’t be proven, or if it overstates how healthy the product actually is. Finally, products are rated on whether they leave out or mask health claims that make a product sound healthier than it actually is. But the site is not only a place to share information. Davis and Tuerff want to see the industries that are promoting health and wellness immediately stop using the following top five marketing
terms, which have been identified as misleading:
Natural: This word has no nutritional or legal definition, yet appears on millions of packages, including sugar-laden sodas. Ignore it. Made With: Food products can advertise they are “made with” liquid from the Fountain of Youth, even if Fountain of Youth juice makes up less than 1 percent of the final product. Ignore “made with” unless you are willing to read the entire ingredients label to make sure it’s not also made with tons of sugar and unpronounceable chemicals. Whole Grains: Unless “whole grains” is preceded by “100 percent,” watch out. Tiny traces of grains may have prompted the
claim, and it’s especially tricky when paired with the other banished phrase, “made with.”
Light: Consumers must decide if 24 grams of sugar in a yogurt container is really “light.” Don’t let advertisers hypnotize you with this word. Read the nutrition information, read the nutrition information, read the nutrition information.
100-Calorie: Cookies, chips and other processed snacks are marketed in 100-calorie packages, leading consumers to believe what’s inside is a healthy choice. Many of these should be labeled “empty calorie” packages. To see how consumers have scrutinized and rated real ads, visit leanwashingIndex.com.
position. She’s at ease with herself, possessing an air of the authority earned after reaching the top of her field in the town she deeply loves. When she decided to “go niche” with environmental marketing, colleagues warned her it might be a huge risk. But she didn’t see it that way. In fact, it seemed like concentrating on the environment was the only way to successfully compete in Austin’s complex marketplace. The EnviroMedia office is a maze of showrooms celebrating sustainable design, featuring repurposed furniture and art, tools for healthy living and the promise that small changes can make a big impact. But it’s not at all show, or a place where frivolous perks are handed out to potential new hires. There’s a strategy to the life of the company, which promotes well-being, good health and service among employees by offering daily workouts, time for community service work during the work week and a kitchen abundantly stocked with fresh, organic produce. For any self-respecting professional who ever struggled with the question, “Is this all there is?” EnviroMedia has created a professional utopia where performance, profitability, purpose and passion are all valued in equal measure.
How Green Is Green? EnviroMedia now has a sister office in Portland, OR, another wildly environmentally conscious city, which seems like the perfect market for what Davis is trying to sell: the art of living. Both in Austin and now Portland, Davis’ focus is to redefine, through the company’s many campaigns, what being “green” really means. To Davis, simply saying you’re eco-friendly just isn’t enough. You have to walk the walk.
g Valerie Davis, in the Farmers “Look at our company For Davis, the definition Market brainstorming room of the name,” Davis points out. of “environment” requires an EnviroMedia offices. (Christopher “People see EnviroMedia updated way of thinking. Blue ivory pants, $165, Eileen Fisher and assume all our clients “Infrastructure is the sweater, $158, Stephen Dweck are green. In fact, the maintersection of health and the necklace, $690, and gold cuff, $690, jority of our campaigns are environment,” Davis says. “A available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 about public health, things walkable city with bikeways, Palm Way, 512.719.1200.) like tobacco prevention, public transportation and carimmunizations, texting and driving, and obesity sharing gets us driving less, which is good for air prevention.” quality and for our health.”
austinwomanmagazine.com 65
“It’s not our aim to be the largest. Kevin and I did not get in this business to manage people. We love our people and their passion and loyalty and galvanizing everyone. But it’s about the work that we love, and so we just want to be the best and make a difference.” And, according to Davis, it’s a little too easy to just call yourself green. “Green has hijacked the word ‘environment.’ It’s time to go back to the dictionary definition of ‘environment,’ which is our surroundings. That’s air quality, water conservation, recycling, and it’s also food we eat, infrastructure, access to health care and, yes, the advertising we take in,” Davis says. By 2007, almost 10 years after the company launched, a flood of green marketing began to make its way in to the public conversation. While it was a welcome change after years of working on environmental campaigns, Davis saw a potentially dangerous precedent being set where no one seemed to really understand the truth about environmental responsibility, and everyone wanted to cash in a socially conscious marketing vehicle. “There were suddenly tons of mainstream, expensive marketing campaigns from corporations talking about how green they are, which was great. It’s about time. And then there were a lot of bad actors, so we said, ‘Let’s put our stake in the ground,’ and that’s when we created the Greenwashing Index.” The Greenwashing Index is an initiative developed by EnviroMedia and co-promoted by the University of Oregon. It’s an online space where people can rate and share information about companies who claim to be green. Although more companies are flying an environmentally friendly flag proudly, the truth is that they may not really being doing much of anything to earn that green status. According to Davis, it’s about working on client campaigns in a marketplace that’s honest and authentic. Now Davis and Tuerff are using the success of the Greenwashing Index to extend in to the realm of authentic food marketing with a Leanwashing Index. This new index is another powerful watchdog tool designed to keep the food, restaurant, beverage, fitness and diet industries honest about what they’re selling to customers. The goal is to deflate the importance of marketing phrases like “natural,” “low calorie” and “made with.” But are these campaigns really making a difference in the
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way people live and work? And is change happening quickly enough to do any good? “Yes and no,” Davis says. “For example, since launching the Water IQ conservation campaign in 2005, our client [North Texas Municipal Water District] has been able to curb projected peak-day water use by an estimated 200 million gallons every year despite a 49 percent population growth. But politics, budgets and priorities are barriers that slow down change for our clients and us.” And that’s one area where Davis and EnviroMedia will never tread: politics. While it’s clear that Davis’ life’s work centers on protecting the environment, both in the areas of public health and the natural world, public affairs will never be a service she offers. “In everything we do here, it’s something to promote public health or the environment. There is a common ground. And so it doesn’t do us any good to go extreme right or left. Our job is to find that common ground on behalf of our clients,” Davis says. “We are bridge builders.”
Uprooted Davis a self-proclaimed “Airforce brat” who was born in Illinois. But her first childhood memories are of Okinawa, Japan. Her family moved throughout the country, then back to the States. They set up house in San Antonio, North Dakota, Alabama and upstate New York. Eventually, Davis graduated from high school in the Philippines. She put down roots in Austin in 1981 when she enrolled in the journalism program at the University of Texas. Staying in one place was a welcome change for a young woman easily uprooted most of her life. She met Tuerff when they both worked in the alumni office at UT. They brought in Tuerff to do PR, and the two eventually worked together at the Texas Natural Resource and Conservation Commission. On Feb. 10, 1997, they decided to go all in and launch Tuerff-Davis EnviroMedia. “Valerie is first a great friend, and we joke that
we’ve been working together longer than most marriages last,” Tuerff explains. “We share a lot of values in terms of what we’re passionate about and how hard we work, and really trying to create a company that makes a difference. Within the culture here that we have, Valerie’s really been great about transforming the lives of people who work here so that they really understand the importance of health on a personal level.” Davis lives with her partner, Millie Salinas, who is now the director of Hispanic marketing at EnviroMedia. In the first days of EnviroMedia, Salinas encouraged Davis to take that leap of faith to start one of Austin’s most successful homegrown companies. “We had been together a couple of years by this point, and good thing she had a good job because we went awhile without getting paid. She didn’t even blink either,” Davis says. “And I said, ‘If this falls through, and it very well could, I want to just move to Taos and I’ll wait tables and write.’ ” That never happened. It’s her leadership style that attracts longtime friends and colleagues who share her enthusiasm for improving people’s lives. VP Tamala Barksdale believes Davis’ work ethic is contagious. After Tuerff and Davis left TNRCC, where Barksdale worked, she began a three-year campaign to get a job with the new company, which was located in a small office at 501 Studios in East Austin. The two principals had an intern, an admin and even shared a desk. It would take awhile. “I always have to up my game. She’s so good at what she does. I don’t want to disappoint and she’s incredibly smart,” Barksdale says. “Her standards are always really high in a great way. It makes your work better. But we also have fun.” Twenty-five years after meeting Tuerff and 16 years after launching EnviroMedia, Davis is happy with the work her team has produced and the difference EnviroMedia has made in the lives of Austinities, Texans and people throughout the world. “It’s not our aim to be the largest. Kevin and I did not get in this business to manage people. We love our people and their passion and loyalty and galvanizing everyone. But it’s about the work that we love, and so we just want to be the best and make a difference,” Davis explains. But what really keeps her going, and how does she continue to energize her staff? “I’ve been telling our people at the end of the day, ‘Don’t forget. We’re saving babies, OK?’ ” she says. ★
DON’T CONSERVE WATER.
Bay. And of fresh water that flows into Galveston Wasting water at home affects the amount BackTheBay.org. young fish and shellfish. Learn more at
that harms
CONSERVE WATER.
Saving water at home helps maintain the delicate balance that marine life in Galveston Bay depends on. Learn more at BackTheB ay.org.
standout campaigns from
enviromedia Bay. of fresh water that flows into Galveston Wasting water at home affects the amount BackTheBay.org. young fish and shellfish. Learn more at
And that harms
Saving water at home helps maintain the delicate balance that marine life in Galveston Bay depends on. Learn more at BackTheB ay.org.
CONSERVE WATER.
➜
DON’T CONSERVE WATER.
➜
Conservation work, like this for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, is an area where EnviroMedia drives behavior change.
Hairy Tongue attachment: EnviroMedia has lead tobacco prevention efforts for Texas since 2000. This awardwinning “Spit It Out” TV spot pointed out a very real, very disgusting side effect of smokeless tobacco.
➜ EnviroMedia is the agency of record for car2go, the revolutionary carsharing business that got its start in Austin and is now in nine cities throughout North America.
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President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson walking in a field of wildflowers at the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, TX. Photo by Frank Wolfe/LBJ Library Photo.
Blooming
L a dy Bi r d’s
L e gac y
Springing from roadsides and parks throughout the nation, wildflowers in bloom showcase the work of the visionary first lady. By Gwen Gibson
In 1965, Lady Bird Johnson decided
tion effort Johnson championed for the next 42 years of her life, earning her the reputation as our environmental first lady. Today, thanks to her work, once-blighted areas throughout many cities and highways come to life in the spring with native plants and brightly colored wildflowers. But the centerpiece of her legacy is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 10 miles southwest of downtown Austin. In this 279-acre center, some 650 species of plants and trees native
to Central Texas are displayed and nurtured, and that’s just part of the picture. The center offers hiking trails, woodlands and gardens, as well as exhibits, lectures, conferences and family-friendly programs throughout the year. In addition, it operates a nationally known center of information on the sustainable use and conservation of native plants, wildflowers and landscapes. “This is the physical expression of Mrs. Johnson’s love of nature, the place where her ideals are expressed to the world,” says Damon Waitt, the center’s senior director and botanist. In 1982, Johnson and actress Helen Hayes A W i l d ly I m ag i nat i v e C e n t e r founded the National Wildflower Research Center on 60 acres of undeveloped land The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a study in contrasts. The gardens, trails and woods on this east of Austin. By 1995, having outgrown 279-acre site form a quiet retreat where visitors can commune with nature. Even the buildings “sit lightly this site, the center moved to its present on the land,” as Lady Bird Johnson once observed. But inside these buildings, skilled botanists and other professionals run the largest network of information on native plants and landscapes in North America. location. In 1998, it was renamed the Lady Known as the Native Plants Information Network (NPIN), this network offers background on some 7,371 Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. In 2006, native plants by scientific or common name. The info is available on the center’s website to everyone from it became an organizational research unit scientists to the private gardener, and the site gets millions of hits and lots of interest annually, as do two of the University of Texas at Austin, a move other NPIN services. Johnson had long promoted. One, named “Ask Mr. Smarty Plants,” invites visitors to ask questions online about how to start and maintain Born Claudia Alta Taylor in 1912 in native plants, wildflowers, gardens and landscapes. Experts usually provide answers online within three weeks. Karnack, TX, Johnson answered all her life Secondly, the Image Gallery provides the public access to images of more than 17,000 native plants. The grounds are also full of information. Every shrub, plant, tree and butterfly bush has a legend posted to the “Lady Bird” nickname given her as a nearby. With a smartphone, more information is just a click away. small child. Her mother died when she was The center, located 10 miles southwest of downtown Austin, is growing in popularity, says Saralee Tiede, five and, as her parents’ only daughter, Lady the director of communications, “because of its various activities for families.” Bird spent many hours alone in the lush A prime example is the new arboretum, where Texas’ magnificent native trees are exhibited and studied. natural fields near her rural hometown. She Red oaks and cedar elms, some more than 100 years old, and even a clone of Austin’s famed Treaty Oak often reminisced about the cypress trees linstand their ground on the trails and meadows ing Caddo Lake and the Spanish moss that of this 16-acre site. Damon Waitt, the center’s senior officer and chief botanist, calls the hung from them, forming a canopy, and she arboretum “our cure for nature deficit disorder.” fought all her life to protect such settings Another new attraction, set to open in 2014, for everyone. will be known as the Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Johnson attended high school at nearby Turpin Family Garden, in honor of the couple, who Marshall and went to junior college at St. donated $1 million to the project’s estimated $5 Mary’s Episcopal School for Girls in Dallas. million cost. The five-acre family garden will be a In 1930, she entered UT Austin, where she giant playground with dozens of attractions that promote hands-on play and education. earned bachelor’s degrees in history and “Mrs. Johnson would be pleased and excited journalism. Along the way, she metamorabout everything that’s happening here,” says phosed from shy country girl to successful Susan Rieff, the center’s executive director. businesswoman and astute political wife “This was her own backyard, and she wanted with a soft smile and iron will. everyone to come here and enjoy it.” In 1934, just 10 weeks after graduating The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday from UT, Johnson married the tall, handsome through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Wildflower Center is especially busy Lyndon B. Johnson, then a congressional aide. in the spring and summer, with programs She soon became his most influential politirecognizing Lady Bird Johnson’s legacy. The cal adviser. She also successfully ran Austin popular Spring Plant Sale and Gardening broadcasting stations from 1943 to 1972. Festival will be held this year Saturday and A mild-mannered trailblazer, Johnson Sunday, April 13 and 14. Participants can made political history in the 1964 presidential choose from some 300 species of plants bred campaign by making a 1,628-mile train trip to survive the Central Texas climate. They can also buy native trees, including hard-to-find through eight Southern states on behalf of the varieties, in 4-inch pots. Democratic ticket. She faced angry crowds For more information, visit wildflower.org. but usually won them over with her soothing
the nation’s capital needed a facelift. So, in a bold and unprecedented move, the new first lady formed the Committee for a More Beautiful Capital and filled it with wealthy private donors and political VIPs. Through this stellar committee, she saw to it that thousands of dogwood trees, daffodils and azaleas were planted in straggly parks and neighborhoods throughout Washington, D.C. Highly popular, this program grew in to the nationwide beautifica-
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smile and firm voice. It was the first time a first lady had campaigned without the president at her side. Emboldened by this successful trip, she launched her beautification program just two weeks after LBJ’s 1965 inauguration. Her goal, she said, was to put “the whole field of conservation and beautification” on the national agenda. President Johnson fully supported her efforts to beautify America and went to bat with Congress for her more controversial highway-beautification program, launched later that year. The latter program was designed to reduce the number of junkyards and billboards along the nation’s highways. This didn’t succeed as well as beautification, due to protests by the powerful billboard industry, “but I hope we tempered the spread of them,” she said in later years. Johnson never liked the word “beautification” and struggled to find something better. But the term survived and came to represent what she called “the whole broad tapestry of environment: clean air, clean water, scenic rivers, new national parks, wilderness areas.” Plugging her programs, she would argue cleaner, more beautiful neighborhoods “lessen tensions, create harmony and bring people together.” And she insisted, cannily, “Wildflowers are good for the pocketbook and the soul.” Johnson felt her programs worked hand in hand with President Johnson’s Great Society, especially his War on Poverty and Crime and his Head Start program. Clearly, their partnership paid off. During the Johnson administration, from 1965 to 1969, “over 300 conservation measures were signed in to law, forming the legal basis of the modern environmental movement,” according to a statement by the National Park Service. On July 26, 1968, President Johnson presented his first lady with 50 pens he used to sign environmental legislation she had proposed and influenced. Two other presidents recognized her achievements. In 1977, President Gerald Ford presented her with the Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian award. In 1988, she received the Congressional Gold Medal from President Ronald Reagan. Unlike many other first ladies, Johnson continued to champion her causes after leaving the White House. She worked from her office at the LBJ Presidential Library for some 25 years, sponsoring programs and symposiums on civil rights, women’s rights and the environment. She was the honorary, hands-on chairwoman of the Town Lake Beautification Committee, which directed the planting of hundreds of shrubs,
Lady Bird in Her Words
You won’t find any titillating gossip in Michael L. Gillette’s new oral history of Lady Bird Johnson; the genteel former first lady had no instinct for this. But you will find some new and intriguing insights in to Johnson’s oft-told life story. In one big surprise, Gillette discounted the repeated claim that Johnson’s nickname was coined by her African-American nurse. “Mrs. Johnson once told me that the nickname had actually come from her two black childhood playmates, who themselves were nicknamed Stuff and Doddlebug,” Gillette writes. “It was later deemed more respectable to assign credit to the nurse and avoid the impression of interracial socialization.” Johnson also reports with rare candor on the good times, zany friends and many beaus she had while attending the University of Texas at Austin. “I really did have quite a range of friends,” she admits. “Every spring, there would be some new man that I would see a lot of and be terribly interested in, but they never really amounted to much.” She is equally frank about her whirlwind courtship with Lyndon Baines Johnson, months after her graduation from UT. As a suitor, she says, LBJ “came on strong. And he was very direct and
demanding. I didn’t know quite what to make of him.” Gillette, executive director of Humanities Texas, was in charge of the oral history program at the LBJ Presidential Library from 1976 to 1991. His book, published in November 2012, is a compilation of the 47 recorded interviews conducted with Johnson from 1977 to 1996, by both Gillette and Harry Middleton, former director of the LBJ Presidential Library. Many events covered in Johnson’s voluminous 1970 book, A White House Diary, are revived here. But Johnson adds new insights, under Gillette’s questioning, especially when delving in to LBJ’s controversial political decisions. One occurred in 1956, when John F. Kennedy asked LBJ, then the Senate majority leader, to be his vice presidential candidate. LBJ didn’t want to accept and Mrs. Johnson opposed the idea at first. “I loved the Senate just as he did,” she says. “I did not know how good a number-two man he would be. …” House Speaker Sam Rayburn persuaded LBJ to accept
trees and plants around the once muddy Colorado River in downtown Austin. This is now Lady Bird Lake. And she served as chairwoman of the Wildflower Center’s board of directors until her death. “She was active here to the last,” says Susan Rieff, the center’s executive director. “Three weeks before she died, she took a tour of the gardens with Damon [Waitt]. She couldn’t talk and could barely see. But she knew everything that was going on and where every garden was.” Lady Bird Johnson died in July 2007 at age 94. She is buried next to her husband at the LBJ Ranch, 50 miles west of Austin. In 2008, as
Kennedy’s offer—which Robert Kennedy opposed from the getgo. When Gillette asks Johnson if LBJ considered asking Robert Kennedy to be his vice presidential candidate in 1964, she replies coolly, “No. He would have wanted a running mate he had warmth for.” While she doesn’t gossip, Johnson offers rich stories about the Washington political and social scenes, and former first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy and Pat Nixon. At the heart of this enduring oral history, however, is the transformation of a shy Southern girl in to a powerful political wife and an environmental champion in her own right.
Johnson wished, the ranch became a historical national park operated by the National Park Service. Everything in the park, from the Johnsons’ former living quarters to the Texas White House, is open to the public. Johnson’s environmental legacy lives on as Texans drive down highways adorned with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and colorful wildflowers, just as it does at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, at the LBJ Presidential Library and throughout the nation. Indeed, Johnson’s legacy is blooming in abundance wherever there are hosts of wildflowers and native plants adorning the nation’s highways and roadsides.
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S e e i ng L B J t h e H i g h - T e c h Way A $10 million renovation has given the LBJ Presidential Library a new 21st-century look, with three floors of high-tech, interactive exhibits that bring to life the political and personal lives of LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson. On entering the remodeled museum, visitors can download an app or chose from five hand-held guides. One is a multi-media tour, including reflections from Mrs. Johnson. Inside the museum, state-of-the-art exhibits invite you to pick up telephones and listen to clips from some 643 hours of President Johnson’s private conversations, something no other presidential library offers. Other exhibits invite you to take part in polls and surveys, hear history lessons, learn step by step how laws are passed and engage in ongoing conversations with Upcoming the library and with Events social-media sites. In the Great Hall, where the library’s archives are April 2: An evening with Representative seen in all their bright red covers, visitors can use Joaquin Castro and a touch screen to access archive materials on any San Antonio Mayor given subject. Julian Castro. The renovated library puts even more emphasis on LBJ’s Great Society and anti-poverty programs. April 9: An Evening “One of our major goals is to reach new with Sebastian Junggenerations,” says Anne Wheeler, director of er, screening Which Way is the Front communications. “So many people under the age Line From Here? The of 30 don’t understand how laws passed during Life and Time of Tim the Johnson administration like voting rights, Hetherington. Medicare, Medicaid, student grants and so much more still impact them today. We hope to tell the The LBJ library is story through this new technology so they can make open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. informed decisions.” every day except The remodeled library was opened to the Christmas. public Dec. 22, 2012, the centennial of Lady For more Bird Johnson’s birth. The timing recognized information, visit her vital role in the Johnson presidency and lbjlibrary.org. in the growth of his library. An ongoing annual tribute—the $25,000 Lady Bird Johnson Environmental Award—recognizes the former first lady’s commitment to the environment. Established in 1992 by the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, the award is also sponsored by the LBJ Library, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. It recognizes efforts of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to improve, preserve and restore the natural world in a manner “that embraces Mrs. Johnson’s style, energy and commitment to her work.” This year, the $25,000 will go to an individual at ceremonies in Washington, D.C., in April 2014. Nominations will be accepted until May 31. They should be made online at lbjlibrary.org/page/ foundation/initiatives/lady-bird-environment-award.
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Who Moved My Cheese? Get on board, people. The world has come to Austin. By JB Hager, Photo by Rudy Arocha I am going to march down to Austin City Hall and propose that every resident in the city of Austin get a copy of the book Who Moved My Cheese? If you’re not familiar with the bestseller, it’s an overly simple, almost child-level business book about how you had better adapt to change or you are going to be left behind. Many of the Austinites I know are much like Hem and Haw, the book’s mice characters paralyzed by the thought of change. I bring this up on the heels of South By Southwest this past month. I talk to friends who don’t come anymore because it’s gotten “too big and too corporate.” If by “big,” you mean more bands, sign me up. I absolutely love the direction the festival has taken. If by “corporate,” you mean those companies that bought you all those free vodka drinks and tequila shots for five days, so sorry. Most of the bands I talked to this year were playing somewhere between eight and 12 showcases in a four-day span. For locals, this meant no more standing in a line for that one showcase where you may or may not get to see your favorite band. If you wanted to see your favorite emerging artists, chances are you could, and you wet your whistle with those free corporate drinks. Win! Another event that baffled me was the local pushback on F1 weekend. I found it to be one of the most amazing events I’ve ever attended. Globally, it trumps the ’05 Texas versus USC National Championship I attended. I know it’s hard for some of you Texans to grasp but, yes, F1 is a bigger deal than college football. It was amazing going out there and mingling among people from every edge of the earth, all descending on Austin to prove to us that deodorant is not global. It also gave us a chance to show the world that Austin, TX, is not filled with a bunch of hillbillies. Deep down, we know we’re still a bunch of hillbillies, but we tricked everyone in to believing we’re
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It also gave us a chance to show the world that Austin, TX, is not filled with a bunch of hillbillies. Deep down, we know we’re still a bunch of hillbillies, but we tricked everyone in to believing we’re somewhat civilized. somewhat civilized. Hard to believe that right here in Austin, I attended a soiree hosted by Ferrari. I was asked to leave several times for pouring chocolate mousse in my pants, but I was there nonetheless. Victory. There are many other changes that have hit Austinites hard. Heaven forbid Antone’s has relocated again. We’ll survive. Just plug the new address in to your Google maps and everything’s gonna be all right. Do you remember all those tears that were shed when the old Liberty Lunch closed? Those very same crybabies are now hanging out on the mezzanine of the Moody Theater sipping appletinis while swaying to Diana Ross. Excellent.
Las Manitas gone? Are you going to tell me that you have yet to find another place for some huevos rancheros? I didn’t think so. Our skyline is more beautiful than ever. As a 35year Austinite, I get chills when I see a new building going up. Most U.S. cities have entire neighborhoods that have been abandoned, boarded up. Our worst situation is what to do with the old Microprocessor Campus. Sniff sniff. Austin feels to me like the center of the universe at times, and I love it. Oh, look, there’s some cheese. Yum. JB Hager can be heard as part of the JB and Sandy Morning Show on Mix 94.7 Austin weekdays 6 to 10 a.m.
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Rick Cofer He’s a lean, green, trash-reducing machine. Meet environmentalist Rick Cofer, who serves as chair of the City of Austin Zero Waste Advisory Commission. At 6-foot-3-inches, with a resounding voice that fills a room, Cofer is captivating, with a down-to-earth demeanor, intellectually engaging conversation and quick wit. By day, Cofer works as the assistant district attorney to the 147th District Court. From prosecuting DUI cases to identity fraud, Cofer indicts criminals day in and day out. (No, he doesn’t carry a pair of handcuffs. Ladies, please!) He started his career at the University of Texas School of Law. Cofer, at age 30, already has quite the track record with a lot on his plate, but he’s nothing but enthusiastic and grateful. “For the most part, I like being able to do two things that I’m really passionate about and enjoy. I consider myself very lucky,” he says of the hands-on nature of his two roles. In 2007, as chair of the Zero Waste Commission, Cofer launched the “ban the bags” coalition, finally seeing his six years of hard work pay off when the single-use bag ban went in to effect in March. The initiative is part of Austin’s overall Zero Waste Plan, which includes a universal recycling ordinance, restricting Styrofoam products, implementing compost services and reforming the construction and demolition ordinance to mandate more reuse and recycling. “The [Zero Waste Plan’s] philosophy is waste is not something to be buried in the ground but a resource that has value that we can utilize for the benefit of everyone. That’s why we call it, ‘Zero Waste…or pretty damn close,’ ” Cofer laughs. He goes on to explain that more than 90 percent of the things we put in the garbage have secondary uses. His prediction for the future is that there will be businesses that mine for valuable commodities of minerals, gold and silver buried in landfills. Although he’s in to garbage, he’s certainly not in to trashy. An evening with Cofer might be creating a meal and appreciating a great glass of wine. Or maybe walking around Lady Bird Lake with his corgi named Lady Bird (how appropriate), or lounging at Shangri-La, Ranch 616 or Don’s Depot. It’s tough not to go ga-ga over the green guru. With great ambition and a sustainable future in front of him, Cofer is our Simply Irresistible man of -Molly McManus the month.
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HEALTHY WOMAN FiF th ANNiVERSARY GALA
You’re invited to a very special event featuring one of the most familiar faces in Central Texas, KEYE News Anchor Judy Maggio. She will inspire and entertain you as she presents “Your Life as a Work of Art: Finding Balance & Fulfillment.”
Thursday, April 11, 2013 • 5:30-9 p.m.
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Women ofDistinction
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What Do Men Really Want? The prehistoric male psyche still rules in the modern wild.
and spread their genes. The men on the bottom, if they never took risks (including asking a girl on a date), would obviously not be successful with women. As time goes by, these guys realize they have only one shot to gain entrance in to the top echelon, and they become willing to do just about anything to get there. This includes stalking, staring at women creepily and dishing out unwelcome proposals.
By Eric Leech
He Needs the Approval of Other Men
Men are motivated by many factors in life, including sex, attention and praise, but they are also motivated by risk, competition and social acceptance. If you’ve ever wanted to know what is rooted deep inside the prehistoric male psyche, we’re going to look at a few of the popular theories. Not all men are compelled by these, but I think if you observe your guy in the urban wild, you’ll see that many of these tendencies exist.
He Wants to Combine and Conquer
He Prefers Rejected Women While studies suggest that men like the same types of women, they don’t necessarily want a woman who is popular with the majority of guys. This is unlike women, who often rate an unknown guy based on the positive opinion of other women. This is known as choice copying. When a woman has been “approved” by many men, she does not necessarily become popular, but risky. Some researchers believe that the male genitals may be mushroom shaped to aid in “scooping” the sperm of other competing males, increasing the chance of any resulting offspring coming from his own loins. This may have been necessary when dinosaurs roamed the earth and a good cavewoman was hard to find. However, today, considering there are plenty of women to choose from, when it comes to long-term relationships, most men take the road less traveled.
He is Motivated by Risky Behavior There have been a number of studies throughout the years suggesting that men prefer risk to safety. Men engage in risky behavior because they actually stand to gain the most from it. In society, men are split in to different classes. There are the men on top of the pyramid and the men on the bottom. The men on top are those who have attained success (money, recognition, fame) and are more likely to attract women, procreate
Where do you think the expression “be a man” comes from? It most likely came from a man letting all the others know that there are certain expectations he must follow in order to be considered part of the man club. Young men will often have respect withheld from their peers until they can prove they are deserving of it. This explains why some guys are hard to separate from their college buddies, as their machismo is based entirely on their continued acceptance by them.
Unlike women, who are driven by close, intimate groups, men are attracted to larger ones. A woman may be confused as to why a man would choose hanging out with his friends instead of her, and this is because it is in these groups where he stands the best chance to join forces and succeed. Studies suggest that men are drawn to these large groups because, deep down, men consider themselves to be expendable. If you think about it, it takes 10 women to birth 10 healthy babies in one year. However, it only takes one guy to get them pregnant. The way he sees it, even if something should happen to him before he fulfills his life’s goal, he can leave behind a legacy (his group), and the others will continue what he started in his honor.
He Needs to Win in Order to Feel Important Men are more likely to be workaholics and spend the majority of their lives trying to make a name for themselves. Women, on the other hand, are often content with making a name for themselves within their own intimate connections with family and friends. Equality to a man is that he who works the hardest should reap the most reward. Men think their greatest accomplishment is maintaining power in their group and being seen as a success. Being known as a sensitive and loving husband is not always perceived as gratifying.
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Women of Distinction The Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrates five notable women of the Austin community. By Malia Bradshaw
One look at this year’s Girl Scouts Women of Distinction and it’s clear: Austin is fortunate to count so many impressive women among its leaders. The honorees, chosen by a volunteer committee, have distinguished themselves as outstanding members of their community and serve as role models for girls and adults alike. “Girl Scouts of Central Texas is committed to building the next generation of leaders,” Director of Marketing and Communications Lolis Garcia Baab says. “In order for our girls to aspire to greatness in any endeavor, they must have a role model to show them the way. Our Women of Distinction are those role models.” To honor these women, Girl Scouts of Central Texas will host an event April 24 at the AT&T Conference Center. Five women in the Austin area will be honored for their individual excellence and high levels of achievement. For event registration and information, visit gstcx.org.
M.P. MUELLER Door Number 3
SYLVIA ACEVEDO CommuniCard
MEREDITH COOPER Wonders & Worries
RHODA MAE KERR Austin Fire Department
As founder and president of Door Number 3, an independent advertising agency, M.P. Mueller has spent 17 years growing her business to an $8 million company. Mueller is also a former stand-up comedian, a mother of two, a cancer survivor and a blogger for the New York Times. Door Number 3 has been committed to giving back to the community, helping nonprofits such as the Austin Humane Society and the Breast Cancer Resource Center. Mueller is currently active on the board of I Live Here, I Give Here and Foster Angels of Central Texas. “M.P. was one of our very first board members,” says Sarah Smith, in program support for the Foster Angels of Central Texas. “Since day one, she has been an enthusiastic supporter and champion for causes that benefit those in need, especially abused and neglected children. M.P. is truly one of a kind.”
Sylvia Acevedo began her career as a rocket scientist. She holds a master’s degree from Stanford in industrial engineering and has served as an executive for several Fortune 100 companies. If that isn’t impressive enough, Acevedo is now the CEO of CommuniCard, an award-winning company that produces The Learning Fairs, the largest Spanish language educational events in the U.S. The company has given away more than 45,000 books in Austin. Acevedo also serves on community and nonprofit boards, including the Austin Community Foundation and the National Girl Scouts of America. “Sylvia Acevedo sees a problem or a gap and she fixes it,” says Michelle Krejci, former executive director of the Ann Richards School Foundation, where Acevedo served on the board of directors. “She doesn’t let barriers stand in her way or slow her down. In working with her at the Ann Richards School, her ultimate goal was always doing what was best for the students.”
Meredith Cooper is the cofounder and executive director of Wonders & Worries, an Austin-based nonprofit that helps children cope when a parent faces a serious or life-threatening illness. The organization, which began in 2001, has worked with more than 1,000 families and 4,000 individuals affected by illnesses. As a certified life specialist, Cooper has served as a child and family consultant and a staff member at Children’s Hospital Austin and Brackenridge Hospital. Cooper also received the Helping Hand Home’s 2010 Champion for Children Award for her contributions. “Meredith cares deeply for each and every client family we serve, for each and every donor who gives of their time and/or their money, for each and every staff member and for each and every board member,” says Kim Fryar, program director of Wonders & Worries. “Meredith touches the lives of children and families daily in all that she does, in every aspect of her life.”
In her 30th year of fire service, fourth-generation firefighter Rhoda Mae Kerr leads the Austin Fire Department as the city’s first female fire chief. Since taking the position in 2009, Kerr has been recognized for her ability to successfully navigate the pressures of a male-dominated career, as well as face budget cuts and wildfire threats. In 2011, Kerr started the Austin Fire Foundation, which supports community outreach and public education. Ninetynine percent of funds go into the community to assist with items such as smoke alarms and firesafe security bars. “Chief Kerr is a rare combination of beauty, brains and kindness,” says Mary McKeown-Christie of Maven Marketing Solutions. “Her dedication to the fire department and the people in her life are unwavering, and she doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to doing the right thing. I’m very proud of her as our fire chief, but also very proud to call her a true friend. She’s the real deal.”
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MELINDA GARVEY Austin Woman and ATX Man
As Austin Woman’s founder, Melinda Garvey has plenty of experience coupling business with philanthropy. After launching Austin Woman in 2002, Garvey has not only utilized the publication to highlight female entrepreneurs and causes, but has led the magazine to sponsor events for dozens of organizations, including the Junior League and Women’s Advocacy Project. In 2006, Garvey was one of nine women nationwide selected to receive Office Depot’s Businesswoman of the Year award, and she is also the winner of the Greater Austin Business Community Advocate Award. She served on the board of Wonders & Worries for seven years and is now chairing the community advisory board. “She is an overachiever interested in the success of her staff, her peers, her family,” says Sadie Flynn, director of marketing at AW Media, Inc. “And she is a woman on the prowl for ultimate betterment of any situation.”
Cooper photo by Nancy Whitman; Kerr photo by Preston Culver/Austin Fire Department; Acevedo and Garvey photo by Korey Howell.
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Finding the Perfect Summer Camp
Rebecca D’Amico and Rebecca Cole, founders of Camp Sloop
Camp Sloop aids parents in matching kids with camps. By Jean Yoo After only two months since its launch, Camp Sloop, a camp-searching website, is creating a buzz around Austin. Local news channels rushed to feature the website; the number of camps registered grew from a few hundred to more than a thousand within two short months. Behind Camp Sloop’s success are two local mom-preneurs, Rebecca D’Amico and Rebecca Cole. Camp Sloop is a website founded by D’Amico and Cole in January that helps parents find the perfect camp for their children. Families can search for camps with multiple criteria, compare the results side by side and also save them for later. The name Sloop comes from D’Amico’s husband’s dog, Sloop. “The unique thing about Sloop was that despite the fact that he was blind, he was an amazing fetcher,” D’Amico says. “We were a little nervous at first that people wouldn’t understand, but we believed that it was a great match for a personal business for families like Camp Sloop.” Camp Sloop’s success is not accidental, since both D’Amico and Camp Sloop Cole are veteran entrepreneurs. Camp Sloop is a unique website that allows families to search for Cole is a founder summer camps in the Austin area. of Nurture My The website features multipleChild, a childcriteria searches and side-by-side care consultation comparison for more than a agency. D’Amico thousand camps registered in its founded Nannies database. Families can also save their favorite camps and share from the Heart, them with friends on Facebook. which helps To use the website, simply make families find an account and start searching. the right nanny. Camps can self-register by making They actuan account as well. Both families and camps can register for free. To ally met through learn more, visit campsloop.com. their businesses
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and came up with the idea to start Camp Sloop. D’Amico and Cole are both Austin moms who have struggled with searching for the right camp. “Camp Sloop was created through our own personal experiences and own frustrations,” Cole says. “We wanted to change the way parents and children search for camps.” The traditional method of camp searching usually involves reading a brief description on a flyer or website. Some camps may not have enough budgets to even advertise. That’s where Camp Sloop comes in, matching families to their perfect camps. “All you have to do is create an account and start searching for camps,” Cole says. She adds one of the unique features of the site is that searched camps can be saved and be compared side by side in different criteria. “A lot of what we parents do by hand is automated, which saves a lot of time.” Camps can do the same thing: register and feature their camps on the website. “Austin has great camps that aren’t advertised because they have no money for it,” D’Amico says. “Our website gives the camps the opportunity to get publicity so even small camps can get attention.” Cole adds the website already had hundreds of camps registered in its first month. Now, there are more than a thousand camps featured on the website. “Feedback has been wonderful from both sides,” Cole says, adding some camps have seen as much as five times the registered campers this year. “Families were a little skeptical at first, afraid we are here to take their money,” D’Amico says. “But
when they see it’s free, they get blown away, excited.” Both Cole and D’Amico encourage parents to send their children to camps. “There are lots of benefits,” Cole says. “Camps can help create independence for children, improve social skills and also get various experiences from unique opportunities.” As the experts on camp searching, they also share advice for parents looking for the perfect camps. Cole recommends that parents list out the basics, making sure the budget and dates work, then take the child’s personality in to account. She recommends parents call the camps to see if they are willing to answer questions and connect with the families. The questions to ask include camp-counselor qualifications, staffs and daily schedules. “We’re passionate about families, children and about community, and that’s what sets us apart from other businesses,” Cole says. “We have strong entrepreneurial backgrounds in Austin with 12-plus years of experience,” D’Amico adds. But more importantly, they’re “also having a blast doing it.” To avoid the repeated, painful process of camp searching, leave it to the experts by visiting campsloop.com.
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A Hill Country Renaissance Woman Meet Helen Foster. By Rachel Merriman Most of us barely have time for one life, but Helen Foster—environmental attorney at Austin firm Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody by day, Master Naturalist Program volunteer, mystery-novel writer, musician, burro keeper, wife and grandmother by night—seems otherworldly as she appears to lead many lives, or at least a very multifaceted one. A lawyer for 30 years, Foster became interested in environmental law while working as a journalist covering local politics for a Michigan newspaper. “I watched the lawyer advising the township board when they voted on difficult issues like development, storm water, how to manage sewage. I thought, ‘What a dream job,’ ” Foster remembers. She soon went after that dream job and was admitted to the bar in 1983. While Foster was practicing law in Alabama, she taught the first environmental law class to the civil engineering department at the University of Birmingham, preparing students for water-management situations they would face in their day-to-day lives. “The image I like to start them off with is: Suppose you’re designing the Garden of Eden. How are you going to handle the water and wastewater? It’s a big collective decision, which we’re struggling with here [in Texas],” Foster notes.
Foster returned to Austin in 1998 and began working with a team of transactional lawyers at Graves Dougherty, primarily focusing on land and water issues in real-estate sales. Quite simply, Foster’s job is to assess any environmental risks (chemical contamination, proper waste disposal) in transactions between clients. To her, assessing these risks and obtaining the necessary permits to ensure the environment isn’t harmed is anything but boring. “There’s something about the dirt and water, the handson feel of the permits that I like,” Foster explains. One recent transaction Foster was involved with concerned oil and gas waste disposal in underground salt caverns, which are actually considered extremely stable disposal sites. In addition to preparing all the usual necessary documents, such as environmental assessments, deeds and property descriptions, the transaction required consulting experts, who used sonar to map the underground formations. “It lets you get a glimpse of some unique operations that are going on in the state that otherwise, how would you hear about?” Foster says. Foster is also active in the Hays County chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program, a group of about 6,000 volunteers dedicated to protecting the natural resources of Texas through education and service. Foster volunteers at Jacob’s Well in Wimberley, assisting with tours and outdoor education programs for district schools. Students of all ages visit Jacob’s Well to learn about the watershed system and the differences between groundwater and surface water and—most importantly—where their water really comes from. “We ask them, ‘Where do you get your water? Are you on well water? Are you on city water?’ … We’re not
The Texas Master Naturalist Program Sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Texas Master Naturalist Program trains volunteers who provide education, outreach and service in 42 local chapters throughout the state. Since its beginnings in 1998, the program has trained more than 6,000 volunteers who have collectively given more than one million hours of service. Each chapter works to complete projects that benefit their specific counties. Activities vary widely, but some examples include outdoor education for school classrooms, field surveys of endangered species, restoration of habitats and natural areas, and maintaining nature trails. The Texas Master Naturalist Program has been internationally recognized through the Wildlife Management Institute’s Presidents’ 2000 Award, the
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hauling water up to our houses, so we don’t think about these things,” Foster observes. Foster is also passionate about the Hill Country. A friend of hers declared it “scruffy” when they first arrived in Texas, but as she talks about the landscape’s native grasses and artisanal springs, her eyes sparkle. “I feel especially protective about the Hill Country, partly because of its extraordinary beauty and partly because of its fragility,” Foster says. “Like probably everyone who has come here and been drawn to it, I feel like they’re my hills, the hills of home. There’s something magic about blue-green water bubbling up out of a spring. There’s something magic about a fern on a rocky cliff above a creek.” Most people choose a cat or a dog as an animal companion, but true to her passion for the Hill Country land, Foster owns three burros—Amanda, Caroline and Sebastian—who keep her grass “mowed” but not overgrazed, a common problem in the Hill Country that leads to topsoil erosion. “They’re curious and deeply conservative. They like to have things done in the same way, otherwise they get really curious,” Foster says with a smile. In addition to her volunteer work with the Master Naturalist Program, Foster serves as the music director at her church and is also working on a series of mystery novels set in the Hill Country. She’s keeping the plot of the first book a secret, but divulges that she’s already working on the second in the series, which is about the theft of a song. At this rate, it’s anyone’s guess what the multi-talented Foster will do next. For more information, visit gdhm.com/site/ourattorneys/helen_currie_foster.
National Audubon Society’s 2001 Habitat Hero’s Award and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Take Pride in America Award. The program has also been recognized by several state organizations, receiving the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission’s 2001 Environmental Excellence Award and Texas A&M University’s 2001 Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence in Partnership. To become a Texas Master Naturalist, individuals must complete a chapter training program, which involves a minimum of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction, eight hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. To retain the title of master naturalist, members must complete 40 hours of volunteer work and eight hours of advanced training per year. For more information about how to become a master naturalist, local chapter information, meeting times and more, visit txmn.org.
Photo by Tommy Holt/Third Eye Photography.
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savvy woman /
c ol l a b or at ion
Aerial Perspective Lydia Michaelson-Maverick and Elizabeth Hamilton share their passions in an airy studio high above Congress Avenue. By Jane Kellogg, Photos by Rudy Arocha Hidden in the heart of downtown Austin in an inconspicuous historic building on Congress Avenue, seven people of all shapes, ages and fitness levels hang upside down, suspended from the ceiling like bats under the Congress Avenue bridge. Some, admittedly, are more comfortable in the position than others. A woman in her 60s—who had just half an hour ago complained of tension in her back—gleefully hangs upside down, supporting her weight on her shoulders with the help of only a thin silk fabric. But aerial yoga instructor Lydia Michelson-Maverick commands the room, and with an almost eerily calm voice, she directs all her students to, quite literally, let go of their fears and inhibitions. This is no ordinary classroom. Last summer Michelson-Maverick opened Four Elements Yoga + Fitness, Austin’s only workout facility specifically
Elizabeth Hamilton and Lydia MichaelsonMaverick
designed with a space for aerial yoga. Twelve silk hammocks, called tissu, are spaced out evenly across the room, connected to steel beams engineered using industrial equipment and rock-climbing gear. “It might not look like it, but these silks can hold up to 2,700 pounds,” Michelson-Maverick says. “The entire class could pile into a single hammock, and it could support that weight.” Creating a studio with that kind of structural support in Austin was an expensive but necessary evil to fulfill her vision. “When I first tried aerial silks, I was terrified. I was really scared of heights and of being upside down, and I Lovers and villains wasn’t very strong,” she says WHEN: April of her first experience six Just by speaking to Elizabeth Hamilton, one can 26, 6 to 9 p.m. tell that she is a deeply private person. The artist years ago. “But I was studyWHERE: Four hesitates to share the painful pieces of her past and ing psychology at the time, so Elements Yoga the hope she holds for her future, both of which I thought to myself, ‘If I can’t + Fitness, 314 have inspired her Lovers and Villains paintings. And walk myself through my own Congress Ave., seeing as it’s an abstract series, the only clue to fears, what business do I have suite 200 each artwork’s muse lies in the title she’s assigned trying to do that for anyone each canvas: I Would Know You Anywhere, for exMORE INFO: ample, or the more provocative Sex in the Shower. else?’ ” liveoakartShe stuck with it, and works.com “I realized that in my life, there were a lot of doors that still needed to be closed. So I started painting,” somewhere along the line, Hamilton says. “Suddenly, all those pieces found a she fell in love with it and way to get out of me and were resolved. It’s been a very cathartic experi- became addicted. ence.” “It’s just an amazing thing The emotion Hamilton released and trapped in these canvases fits the to be able to do what you had aura of Four Elements perfectly. considered impossible just a “This is what the studio is all about: finding yourself, working through week before,” she says. your emotions and being a better version of you,” Michelson-Maverick Michelson-Maverick says. “Your body stores emotion. She’s found a release for that in paintsoon realized that she could ing, and I can help other people experience that with the fabric.”
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Hell yes...Hell no
combine her newfound love of aerial silks with her love of psychology, and she began chasing a dream to help other people conquer their own demons in a way that’s more accessible—by bringing the silks closer to the ground and incorporating yoga in to it. Aerial yoga has appealed to a wide range of women throughout the country, from Gwyneth Paltrow and Katie Couric to Chelsea Handler and Courtney Love. “In comparison to other yoga classes, the moves felt constructive without feeling like a chore,” Paltrow says of her experience. But until last year, if Austinites wanted to take a crack at the latest trend in yoga, their options were limited. “Between people being really skeptical of what it was, or the buildings not being able to support it, or the owners of the buildings feeling like they didn’t want to take it on for liability reasons, I had a really hard time finding a place where I could offer a class like this,” Michelson-Maverick says. After becoming certified in traditional yoga instruction and again in aerial yoga instruction, she began renting space in 2011 to teach at Dane’s Body Shop. The workout facility has the structural integrity to support the fabric solely because the space is a
Make it a night on the town converted garage, originally intended to suspend cars from the ceiling. “After awhile though, I started to envision a place that was more light, more airy,” she says. “I just started feeling like I wanted a space with a very different energy.” She found that in a building on Congress Avenue between Third and Fourth streets when she was driving through downtown with her husband, John. “We saw a For Lease sign in the window, and I felt called to look at the space,” she says. “I had no idea how we were going to make it happen, or how we were going to be able to come up with the capital to do it, but I walked in and knew it was the space. It was an office, it had carpet, there was a kitchenette in the corner, but it was perfect.” Seeing the yoga studio as it is now, one could never picture it any other way. A skylight overhead shines natural light on sustainable bamboo floors. Massive ceiling-height windows in Four Elements’ two closed-off studios separate the serene and peaceful facility from the bustling sidewalks below. The historic building, originally constructed in the 1880s, has an architecture characterized by its stone façade. So when local artist and teacher Elizabeth Hamilton walked up the stairs, she immediately knew the airy space could be an ideal setting for an art gallery too. Accepting Hamilton’s paintings into the studio was an easy decision for Michelson-Maverick. The collaboration comes to fruition this month with a show featuring Hamilton’s abstract expressionist series Lovers and Villains. “We’re very different, but that’s the beauty of this friendship,” Michelson-Maverick says. “We have so much to share with each other, and we have a mutual respect for each other.” When Hamilton decided to try aerial yoga, she began to appreciate the depth of Michelson-Maverick’s talents. Due to a car accident almost 20 years ago, Hamilton suffers from chronic pain in her back. Still, today she floats freely above the ground, an exercise she’s been comfortable with for more than a year now. “Doing an inversion pulls the pressure off my back,” she explains. “It’s very freeing in that sense. For the first time, I can exercise pain-free, and I can build strength that keeps me pain-free the rest of the time.” And as any friend would, Hamilton is quick to give credit to the woman she now considers family. “Lydia is an amazing instructor in that she’s willing to work with people’s idiosyncrasies,” she says. “She’s been willing to modify it and coach me through it, and she takes the fear and insecurity out of you. You’re not going to find that level of attention in a 50-person yoga class.” Aerial asana group classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon and 7 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, visit fourelementsaustin.com.
with live music from the Austin Symphony
Enjoy the best in classical music with your best friends. Slip on the stilettos and have a night out with the Austin Symphony!
2012 – 2013 Season P E t E r B A y, M u S i c D i r E c t o r
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the last word /
aw view
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring A threshold delineates passing from one physical space to another, of leaving the outside world for the personal one inside a home, for instance. In the same way, seasons herald the beginning of another time and the ending of a prior period. Taoism, Chinese medicine and Ayurveda really understand seasons and that there are needs and cautions of each. Spring is important! I should know because I lived in Northern New Mexico for 11 years, where there isn’t any recognizable spring. I was mystified by that my first year. I kept waiting but spring as I knew it never arrived. The temperature rose a few degrees, but where was the beautiful bright green of new foliage, and where were the flowers? Where was the amazing feel of the air as it becomes warm and literally caresses us after a winter of cold and inside living? A barely discernible warming, and the 50- to 60-mile-per-hour winds were more like a beating than a caress. I couldn’t believe it. I count on spring. I need it to finish off winter. One year in March, my sister, who lives in Austin, called and said she was sitting outside at Central Market in the morning, eating her breakfast taco and the air was that “perfect Austin spring temperature” that required no sweater or jacket and yet wasn’t hot, and the crepe myrtles were in bloom, and I knew exactly how it felt and looked. That may have been the beginning of my desire to return to Austin. One of the qualities of Austin’s spring that I like the most is its mildness. Sound unexciting? For me, it’s delicious, on the same par as not having to rush. Spring arrives gradually from winter, going back and forth for a while
until March and April and even sometimes May are sheer perfection. What is perfection? For me, it’s the ability to comfortably be outside without lots of clothing and with ease of movement through the atmosphere around me. That may sound dramatic or poetic, but when it’s 10 below, you’re moving as fast as you can, and when it’s 104, you try not to move. Spring is ease, or should be, in my opinion. And here, it’s so beautiful with the vibrant pink of crepe myrtles, the explosion of colorful wildflowers—bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, coreopsis—and Texas mountain laurels, whose lilac-like aroma lingers in the air like an aphrodisiac mist. The sunlight isn’t harsh, vision seems clearer and energy is up. And the growing season has started! Here, one can have a harvest before some regions are even planting outside. In the spring, neighborhoods also come to life. People ready their gardens and yards, and start projects they’ve been thinking about all winter: new pathways, fences, plantings. Even though we can be outside most of the year in Austin, spring is the time of ultimate beauty and comfort in our beloved city. In fact, the ease-y and dependable spring of Austin slows the pace, if only temporarily. It returns to us the vibe of a laid-back oasis, our oasis, that graces us with yet another beautiful new beginning.
–Mae Newcombe
June’s Last Word topic will be “My Dad.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by May 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.
Illustration by Sarah Quatrano. 88 Austin Woman a p r i l 2 0 1 3
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