Austin Woman MAGAZINE | february 2016
“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” —Oprah Winfrey
2016
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MAZDA year!
Introducing the all-new
2016 Mazda CX-3 with available All-Wheel Drive Standard Features: 35 MPG, Push-button start, Remote keyless entry, Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio, MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System with 7-inch full-color touchscreen display and voice command
MAZDA NAMED
2016 Best Car Brand 2016 Mazda3
2016 Mazda6
2016 Mazda CX-5
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
www.usnews.com - Nov. 12, 2015. 2016 Best Vehicle Brand Awards. The awards recognize the brands whose vehicles perform the best on an overall basis within four major categories of the U.S. News vehicle rankings: Cars, SUVs, Trucks and Luxury.
CENTRAL • SOUTH • GEORGETOWN • KILLEEN
Drive Home Happy
rogerbeasleymazda.com | 866-779-8409 Monday - Saturday 8:30AM - 8:00PM
Austin Thyroid & Endocrinology ENDOCRINOLOGY
is the science of hormones, substances released by glands that regulate every cell in your body, for both men and women. Examples of endocrine diseases: thyroid disease, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity, hirsutism, menopause, pituitary and adrenal pathology, low testosterone in males, andropause and impotence, polycystic ovaries, recurrent kidney stones, irregular or lack of menstrual periods, high and low calcium, diabetes. We provide a comprehensive assessment of your hormone balance, in-house hormone testing, thryoid ultrasound, and bone density testing.
THYROID DISEASE affects thirty million Americans, half of which do not know they have the disease. Examples: hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves and Hashimoto disease, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Each person has a different genetic set point for TSH. Thyroid problems require lifelong attention. We are the premiere thryoid clinic in Austin, and offer the latest treatment for thyroid disease, aggressive management of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine and second opinion consults for thyroid surgery.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR TSH?
HAVE YOU SEEN AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?
OPTIMAL HEALTH BIOLOGICAL AGE
deals with your health before disease prevention or treatment.
OSTEOPOROSIS
is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in four men over 50 and is generally missed. Bone fracture is the “heart attack” of the bone. New treatments reduce the risk of fracture and build new bone. A bone density test is the only way to test for osteoporosis. We have the latest bone density testing equipment in Texas, and provide instant bone metabolism, medical consultation, and treatment options.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR BONE DENSITY?
Optimal health is the ideal, yet achievable, health of your body as you reach middle age and beyond. Your biological age is a measure of how well your body functions, compared to your actual calendar age. Our specialized equipment allows us to measure and evaluate your biological age, a composite of your brain age, bone age, heart age, and vessel age. We help you achieve your optimal health, a major factor in the quality of your life as you age.
TEST YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH.
DR. SIMONE SCUMPIA, FACE, FRCP BOARD CERTIFIED IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM Fellow American College of Endocrinology Fellow Royal College of Physicians Assciate Clinical Professor of Medicine
2200 Park Bend Drive • Building 3, Suite 300 Austin, TX 78758 • behind North Austin Medical Ctr. Mon-Fri, 7 am to 4 pm • www.austinthyroid.com
512.467.2727
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AMY SIMMONS Founder, Amy’s Ice Creams, Baked By Amy’s Co-founder, Phil’s Ice House, Austinville Entrepreneurial consultant, Amy’s EDU First professional boxer in the State of Texas Mother of three Marathon runner Former Mayor Pro Tem of West Lake Hills, Texas Texas MBA 1994
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Photo by Korey Howell.
Evening & Executive Programs
R E A L PAT I E N T S . R E A L S TO R I E S .
‘‘
I had a heart attack, heart failure—and a second chance.
Cyndia Ingram thinks of her experience as a wakeup call. “I had multiple health problems that needed attention,” she explains. The result was a perfect storm: heart attack, diminished heart function and congestive heart failure. “The cardiologist didn’t sugarcoat the situation. He told me he could help me, but I had to help myself by taking my medications, following my diet and exercising.” He also provided Cyndia with an external defibrillator to monitor her heart. When she returned six weeks later, there was no indication of congestive heart failure. “He called it an amazing recovery. I call it a second chance at life.”
For a physician referral or for more information about heart and vascular services at a location near you, visit us online at heart.sw.org. All services are not available at all locations. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers, Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare or Baylor Scott & White Health.©2015 Baylor Scott & White Health. BSWCV_49_2015 CE 12.15
’’
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Dr. Brennig is Board Certified in Vascular Surgery and in General Surgery. He is recognized for his expertise in the minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins, spider veins, recurrent varicose veins, and complex venous disorders including DVT. Please call the Austin Vein Institute to schedule a comprehensive consultation.
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LOOK GOOD. DO GOOD.
Paula Bacon
Denice Bettencourt
Anita Braun
Aisha D. Dull, CESA
Diana DiPietro
Kathi Farris
Frances Fortanely
Val Frazee
Penny Gonzales
Shaune Haas
Haya Hasan
Karen Hays
Natalie Kennedy
Manry Lifshen
Julie Reardon, M.D.
Jennifer Stevens
Suzie Trigg
Dr. Kim Wampler, O.D.
Leslie Ward
Gena VanOsselaer
Reliant Title
In memory of Hal Farris
Marketing, 3M
JHL Company
Community Service Volunteer
Director of Marketing, VMware
RE/MAX Metro Realty-RE
Attorney, Haynes and Boone
For Marty & Caroline Shapiro
Hairstylist/Actress/Writer
Kennedy Creative Events
Cedar Park Vision Center
Century Oaks Title
President, Around Austin, Inc.
Author/Speaker/Consultant
VP, External Affairs, AT&T
Skin by Diana
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In Memoriam 1958-2015
Texas Capital Bank - Art Driven - University Federal Credit Union - Forestar Petroleum - Charlie Bravo Austin - Central Health - Time Warner Cable - Vineyard Investment Advisors - Independence Title - HealthCare Facilities Development - CORE Health Care - AvantGarde LLC - Seton - H-E-B
A heart-felt thanks from the Korey Howell Photography Team: Left to Right: Frank Roll, Olympia Sobande, Korey Howell, Lyndsey Kincer, Andrea Reesing
GIVING HAS NEVER BEEN SO GLAMOROUS. 10th Annual Go Red For Women® Photo Campaign
GOWNS BY DAVID’S BRIDAL
Hair/Makeup: Lyndsey Kincer, Melanie Ortiz, Diana DiPietro and Val Frazee
by Korey Howell Photography to benefit The American Heart Association
Thank you, ladies, for your generous donations to The American Heart Association. Together we can end heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. .................................................... LEFT: Thea Wood, Austin’s Signature Stylist - Laurette Smith, M.D., Ideal Weight and Skin - Sherry Neyman, M.D., Gynecologist, Renaissance Women’s Group - Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch (and daughter Nora), Lincoln-Goldfinch Law, an Immigration Firm Sheri Parr, Social Marketing and Behavioral Change Communications Strategist CENTER: Lisa Copeland, Go Red For Women Chair 2016 RIGHT: Anji MaCuk, Owner/Private Investigator, She Spies Private Eye, Inc. - Jana K. Owen, Enterprise Sales Executive, Newgistics - Morgan Daily Jackson, Founder, D.O.L.L.Y LLC - Laurie McGary, REALTOR, McGary Properties Group, LLC, Keller Williams Realty - Stephanie Samuels, Lowes Home Improvement
Join us for this year’s Go Red For Women® Luncheon Friday, February 26, 2016 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Former First Lady, Laura Bush JW Marriott Austin / 110 E 2nd St. 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AustinGoRed.heart.org.
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50
On the cover
Forget Self-esteem. Think Self-compassion. By deborah hamilton-lynne
58
feature
the majority seven
Photo by Jace Rivers.
By emily C. Laskowski
Contents
Photo by Cheryl Bemis.
FEBRUARY
46 on the scene
GOURMET
23 KRISTY’S TOP 10
67 AW Test kitchen Cauliflower Power 70 hot spots Cuvée Coffee Bar 72 Chopping Block Le Cordon Blues 74 SOMMELIER SECRETS Let Your Love Flow
February’s To-do List
savvy women 27 Real Texas Women Barbara Jordan 28 c ount us in Women in Numbers 30 P ortfolio Sol Marketing 32 let’s taco ’bout it Sharon Mays 34 austin Philanthropist Ava Darnell
MUST LIST 37 M ust travel Connect to the Past 40 M ust GIVE Raven + Lily 42 M ust See Oscar Preview
style + Home
wellness 80 h ealth 82 f itness
POINT OF VIEW 84 I n Memoriam
Holley Kitchen
86 m emo from JB Back to the Basics of Love 88 i am austin woman Black History Month
44 ASK ASHLEY Spanish Fly 46 R ed Carpet Report Hollywood Haute Couture 48 a sk a designer Welcome Home
12 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Heart Health for Women Hone in on Your Home Gym
on the cover
Photo by Jace Rivers jacerivers.com
Styled by Ashley Hargrove DTK Austin Styling, dtkaustinstyling.com Makeup and hair by Christie Griffin clgriffin.com Lela Rose floral-print dress, $1,395; Oscar de la Renta necklace, $690, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.
Escape the Ordinary.
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A VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS
Volume 14, issue 6
Co-Founder and Publisher Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher Christopher Garvey associate publisher Cynthia Guajardo Shafer COO/GenerAL MANAGER Shawnee McClanahan
EDITORIAL Editor Emily C. Laskowski associate Editor April Cumming copy editor Chantal Rice contributing writers
Sarah E. Ashlock, Cheryl Bemis, Gigi Edwards Bryant, Jill Case, Meredith Ellis, JB Hager, Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Ashley Hargrove, Maddy Hill, Matt McGinnis, Rachel Merriman, Kristy Owen, Natalie Paramore
ART CREATIVE Director Niki Jones ART DIRECTOR Lucy Froemmling CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Rudy Arocha, Cheryl Bemis, Gigi Edwards Bryant, Christie Griffin, Ashley Hargrove, Justin Jinn, Karla R. LaRive, Iliane Lorenz, Matt McGinnis, Dustin Meyer, Natalie Paramore, Annie Ray, Jace Rivers, Elizabeth Van Huffel, Jessica Wetterer
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Katie Paschall, Jessica Price
operations and marketing Operations and Marketing manager
Maggie Rester Interns
Emily Gibson, N’Kisha Heffington, Emily Henry, Maddy Hill, Brianna Peters, Maddie Walling
Emeritus Co-Founder Samantha Stevens Editors
Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Mary Anne Connolly, Elizabeth Eckstein
Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,250 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
From the Editor
Join the conversation @eclaskowski @austinwoman #IAmAustinWoman
16 | Austin Woman | february 2016
destinations. However, perhaps the most powerful connection is the one we generate within ourselves. Women tend to be hard on themselves. It’s a generality, but studies have shown that we are less likely to brag about our achievements and more likely to focus on our failures. We asked our cover woman and bona fide self-compassion expert Dr. Kristin Neff to share with our readers how to breach this barrier, and her answer is a simple one that has to do with love. Evidence of love reigns throughout the month of February, in flowers and chocolates and date nights. But true love for yourself cannot be measured in Hallmark cards or flutes of Champagne. It can only be accounted for in the power you give yourself. We alone know our deepest, darkest selves, and we alone have the power to switch on the light from within. When I hear the stories of the women in our magazine or meet the women who read and support these stories each month, I’m reminded of the many opportunities we have to form a strong, lasting connection each day. If two heads are better than one, then why not connect with the eclectic people and places and points of view that have the potential to spark or sharpen or save our best ideas? Women have the power to change the world. All we have to do is make the connection. Sincerely,
EMILY C. LASKOWSKI Editor
Photo by Dustin Meyer.
T
he header on every piece of company stationery at my first full-time job read, “Make the connection.” It was our company slogan and the way we conducted business, connecting our clients to whatever would help them achieve their goals. A connection is, by definition, something that connects or joins two or more things. Rooted in more than small talk or passing conversation, a connection is also more than just an introduction; it is a force that wields the power of potential. When I interviewed the seven women who form the first-ever female majority of the Austin City Council for this month’s feature story, one sentiment simmered throughout each conversation: There were people in their districts who had been forgotten. As a result, these women got involved so they could give, as Martin Luther King Jr. famously professed, “a voice to the voiceless.” Now, they serve as the connection between the City of Austin and the Austinites living among the canyons and in the crevices of our famous city limits, and they see potential on the horizon. In this issue, we examine the many different sectors of our lives where connections might enhance our own potential: at our places of business, in our communities, with our health and even through our history as a nation, as Associate Editor April Cumming explores in this month’s Travel section, featuring two iconic American
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contributors
Austin Symphony Orchestra
This month, we asked our contributors: Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
jace rivers
Cover Photographer, “Forget Self-esteem. Think Selfcompassion,” Page 50 Jace Rivers has photographed the far reaches of the world, from Kathmandu to Casablanca, from Borneo to Belfast, documenting adventures and cultures all along the way. As an international award-winning photographer, he’s explored more than 45 countries and his images have been featured in publications throughout the world. “If I had the choice of anyone as a dinner guest, I would invite Marlon Brando for an evening of pasta and cognac. He was such an intriguing and complex talent who lived life on his own terms, a thinker that would contemplate the intricacies of any topic.”
Matt McGinnis
writer, “Let your love flow,” Page 74 Matt McGinnis is a marketing strategist and founder of Pen and Tell Us, which provides counsel to food-and-beverage clients. He’s an avid beverage enthusiast, chronicling his interests as a writer for Austin Woman magazine and his award-winning blog, What Are You Drinking? He is a certified sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers, a certified specialist of wine and a certified specialist of spirits, as well as a frequent culinary-andbeverage judge for events and awards. His culinary-andbeverage expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, on KVUE-TV, KXAN-TV and on a Bravo TV series.
Perfect date nights start here.
“Barack Obama. After watching him on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, I’m convinced that the most powerful person in the world is also a witty conversationalist that would be an absolute delight with whom to share dinner.”
Ashley Hargrove
Upcoming events: FEBRUARY 20, 8:00 p.m. Butler Pops Series at Long Center’s Dell Hall “Lights, Camera… the Oscars!”
FeBruary PoPS
FEBRUARY 26 & 27, 8:00 p.m. Masterworks Series at Long Center’s Dell Hall Anton Nel, piano Music of Grantham, Saint-Saëns, Serpa, Copland
anton neL
S e a Son SP onS or
Tickets/Info (512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org
M e D i a SPonS or S All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.
stylist, writer, model, “spanish fly,” Page 44 DTK Austin Styling Owner Ashley Hargrove is a renowned wardrobe stylist and model who specializes in styling commercial and print advertising. She has recently worked with People Magazine, ESPN, Holiday Inn and many others. Follow her journey on Instagram: @dtkaustin. “If I could have dinner with anyone in the world, I would choose Detective Joe Kenda. Because my father was in SWAT and an undercover police officer, I became interested in investigative work at an early age. I’ve always aspired to work as a field agent with the FBI or CIA.”
Jill Case
writer, “heart health for women,” Page 80 Jill Case has worked as a freelance writer for the past 20-plus years. For the past few years, she has focused her writing on health and medical issues, writing articles, blogs and website copy. She has been writing the Health column for Austin Woman for the past four years. Jill hopes to help people by giving them useful and accurate information that will move them to ask questions and explore issues that affect their health and well-being. “Queen Elizabeth. I have always been a fan of the royal family, but it’s more than that. I would like to talk with her about the world leaders she’s met, the world events she has witnessed and been a part of and maybe throw in a question or two about the corgis.”
Connect with us! Can’t get enough of this issue? Check us out at austinwomanmagazine.com.
➥ More tuning in. Listen to special music selections and learn more about the women behind the nominations for the Grammy Awards, set to air Feb. 15.
➥ More love. Find out what your love language is and what it says about how you approach relationships.
➥ More working out. Are couples who workout together more likely
to stay together? We take a closer look at the pros and cons to the practice and offer up a few ideas on how to test the theory.
➥ More giving back. In this quick Q&A, Kirsten Dickerson, founder of
Raven + Lily, tells us about her favorite fashion film and reveals her big plans for the future of the boutique. workout at home. The woman behind Yoga With Adriene, an Austinbased yoga program with more than 1 million YouTube subscribers worldwide, talks to us about what motivated her to start the channel.
guessing games. With the Academy Awards airing Feb. 28, we ➥ More couldn’t resist the temptation to throw our Oscar predictions into the ring.
➥ More wardrobe revamping. Ditch those winter coats and beanies for spring- and summer-style pieces that won’t burn a hole in your bank account.
Don’t miss
Win This!
Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Day Awards Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road afpaustin.org
Skin-care Trio Package Olive + M is a locally produced, oliveoil-based skin-care line founded by Mariska Nicholson. The products—designed to go deep into your pores to pull out dirt and bacteria—are made using cold-pressed, plantbased oils with antioxidant-rich preservatives like vitamin E, raspberry-seed extract and rosemary extract. This giveaway package includes Olive + M’s Cleansing Oil, Face Oil and Body Oil.
Rock Your Red /Austin Woman February Issue Launch Party Feb. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. Fiat of Austin, 13049 N. Hwy. 183 austinwomanmagazine.com
To enter to win, tweet to us @austinwoman and tell us in less than 140 characters about your go-to skin-care routine. The deadline to enter the giveaway is Feb. 12, so get to tweeting!
Follow us
@austinwoman
20 | Austin Woman | february 2016
like us
State of Austin Young Chamber Annual Luncheon Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth St. austinyc.org Go Red for Women Luncheon Feb. 26, noon to 1:15 p.m. JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. heart.org
TWIB Luncheon Feb. 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Estância Churrascaria, 10000 Research Blvd. texaswomeninbusiness.org
Wonders and Worries Unmasked Feb. 26, 7 p.m. to midnight JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. wondersandworries.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline 20th Anniversary Celebration Feb. 20, 7 to 10 p.m. Brazos Hall, 204 E. Fourth St. thehotline.org/20th-anniversary
Austin Classical Guitar: David Russell Feb. 27, 8 to 10 p.m. AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd. austinclassicalguitar.org
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Raven + Lily photo courtesy of Raven + Lily. Joy photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Yoga photo by Lauren Logan. Oil gift photo courtesy of Olive + M.
➥ More inspiration. Online fitness videos are transforming the way we
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ON THE SCENE kristy’s top 10
February’s to-do list from 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. By kristy owen
1
Carnaval Brasileiro
Feb. 27, 8 p.m. to 1:45 a.m. Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs Road
Photo courtesy of Carnaval Austin.
sambaparty.com Started in the early 1970s to soothe homesick Brazilian students, Carnaval Brasileiro has grown into a local institution attracting more than 5,000 partygoers. The flamboyant, sometimes risqué costumes donned by attendees go hand in hand with the spirited and celebratory dance atmosphere driven by the Brazilian samba. Still trying to picture it? Think Mardi Gras with a Brazilian twist. Admission is $38. austinwomanmagazine.com | 23
n the scene
kristy’s top 10
City Surf Fitness
1500 S. Lamar Blvd. citysurffitness.com
2
It’s one month into the new year, which means there’s a general focus on getting healthy. Since a new routine is bound to get a tad mundane after 30 days, City Surf Fitness is the perfect place to reboot your workout. Essentially, it’s yoga on a surfboard. The workouts are designed to test strength and endurance, but also balance and stability. It’s a great way to keep your workouts fresh and fun. The price for a single class is $22.
‘You’re My Butter Half’ Mural 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
4
3
At the end of 2015, United Way for Greater Austin announced it is putting its headquarters up for sale. The side of this building houses the famous ‘You’re My Butter Half’ mural, a collaborative art project between United Way and Creative Suitcase, a design firm for nonprofits. The mural has become somewhat of a city staple, playing host to engagement shoots and creative Instagram pics. It’s a cute, free spot to visit with your sweetheart come Valentine’s Day, so make time to get your picture taken there while you still can. Who knows how long you’ll have the opportunity?
An Evening With Bobby Bones
Feb. 20, 8 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. tickets.austintheatre.org/single/eventdetail.aspx?p=968 Longtime Austinite-turned-Nashville, Tenn.-radio-star Bobby Bones will be back in town for a special night at the Paramount Theatre for the Funny and Alone Comedy Show. The event will feature special guests Ryan Griffin, Brett Young and emcee Radio Amy from The Bobby Bones Show. All proceeds from the event and live auction will benefit Dell Children’s Medical Global Outreach Haiti Program. Ticket prices start at $35.
Riverdance 20th Anniversary Tour
5
Feb. 16 through 18, 7:30 p.m., The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive thelongcenter.org/event/riverdance-20th-anniversary-tour Now in its 20th year of production, Riverdance is an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Watch in awe as talented performers draw on Irish traditions of dance and music to create a riveting spectacle of a show. Admission is $29. 24 | Austin Woman | february 2016
6 Cheer on Austin Marathon and Half Marathon Runners
Feb. 14, 7 a.m., downtown Austin youraustinmarathon.com
Most of us probably know someone running in the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon this year, and they need our support. Having run a marathon and cheered on friends myself, I can say all the random people cheering for you is very motivating and much needed. If you don’t know anyone running in the marathon, make a fun sign and go cheer on all the runners and walkers.
2. Photo courtesy of City Surf Fitness Austin. 3. Photo by Adrian Tapia. 5. Photo courtesy of The Long Center. 6. Photo courtesy of Conley Sports.
O
Art on the Edge Feb. 20, 8 p.m. to midnight Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. blantonmuseum.org/get_involved/support_the_blanton/art_on_the_edge
7. Photo courtesy of Waterloo Studios. 8. Photo by Arnold Wells. 9. Photo courtesy of Austin Helicopter Tours. 10. Photo courtesy of Texas Juggling Society.
This elegant party at The Blanton provides a unique opportunity to view the art museum’s exhibits after hours. Come to support the museum’s educational programs and art exhibitions, and stay for the live music from Memphis Train Revue and DJ Mel, dancing, cocktails and conversation. The black-tie event drew more than 600 people from the Austin community in 2015. Admission is $100, and $75 of each ticket purchased is tax-deductible.
7 Kristy Owen is the event mastermind and blogger behind 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the best Austin has to offer, visit her blog, 365thingsaustin.com.
Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilta-Whirl Band at Antone’s Feb. 12, 8:30 p.m., Antone’s Nightclub, 305 E. Fifth St. antonesnightclub.com A drumstick’s throw away from its old location, the new Antone’s is keeping Austin’s blues and R&B music scene alive with an extensive list of legendary lineups like Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band. The new two-story venue officially opened New Year’s Eve and includes a 400-capacity music club and a 300-capacity upstairs venue featuring a private event space and bar. The address may have changed, but so far, the new Antone’s is holding on to its influential status as Austin’s home of the blues. Admission is $25.
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Austin Helicopter Tours
Bud Dryden Airport, 10301 FM 969 austinhelicoptertours.com
One of my most memorable Austin experiences from 2015 was a helicopter tour over downtown Austin. There’s a whole array of tours to choose from, including a charter flight out to The Salt Lick in Driftwood. Come Valentine’s Day, Austin Helicopter Tours offers a special Valentine’s City Lights Tour. With flights passing over the Capitol building, downtown, the University of Texas, Lady Bird Lake, Lake Travis and the Hill Country, you’re sure to have a memorable experience. Flights start at $93.50.
9
10 Jugglefest XXIII
Feb. 26 through 28
Texas School for the Deaf, 1102 S. Congress Ave. juggling.place.org/jugglefest Jugglefest is back for its 23rd year in Austin. As the name suggests, there’s a lot of juggling to be seen here, in addition to games, demonstrations, shows and people riding unicycles. It’s definitely a fun event for the whole family. Admission is $20 for a weekend pass and $10 for a day pass. austinwomanmagazine.com | 25
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savvy women
The first African-American woman to serve in the Texas Senate and the first AfricanAmerican to serve as a U.S. representative from Texas. Born Feb. 21, 1936 in Houston Died Jan. 17, 1996 in Austin
“
I get from the soil and spirit of Texas the feeling that I, as an individual, can accomplish whatever I want to, and that there are no limits, that you can just keep going, just keep soaring. I like that spirit.
”
austinwomanmagazine.com austinwomanmagazine.com | 27 | 27
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Barbara Charline Jordan
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count us in
women in numbers
Facts and figures on females from throughout the world. By AW staff, illustrations by jessica wetterer
29 years 51 The number of fashion brands and designers that have partnered with Livia Firth and her Green Carpet Challenge, including Gucci, Valentino and Carolina Herrera. Firth, founder and creative director of the London-based firm Eco Age (and better half to Oscar winner and everyone’s favorite Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth), started the Green Carpet Challenge in 2013 as a way to create a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry. The challenge incorporates sustainable fashion into high-profile celebrity events, including the Met Gala, the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, which air Feb. 28.
220,000 The number of jobs in the military (about 10 percent) that were unavailable to women until Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced in December the opening of all combatunit jobs to women. Now, female service members are eligible to join the United States’ most elite military forces, including the Navy SEALS, Army Special Forces and other Special Operations Forces. Secretary Carter emphasized that “there will be no exceptions.” This means our women in uniform will also be able to join the Marine Corps infantry, which some had advocated against. Thank you for your service, ladies.
15 The average number of people a woman will kiss before meeting “the one,” according to an eHarmony survey of 2,000 people. On average, women are also likely to have seven sexual partners in their lifetime, compared with 10 for men, as well as four one-night stands and be stood up once. Based on the survey results, women and men are both likely to fall in love twice and will live with one partner before finding that Mr. or Ms. Right. Some say love is blind, and eight out of 10 surveyed say they met their ideal partner when it was least expected, so keep an eye out.
100 percent The success rate for reaching agreements when women are able to strongly influence negotiations, according to a recent study of 40 global conflict and peace processes. The study shows the participation of women’s groups in peacemaking negotiations is correlated with positive outcomes, and that when women’s groups are heavily involved, an agreement is always reached. Importantly, the study shows success in peacemaking isn’t about the number of women involved, but rather the ability women have to exercise their own peacemaking influence.
28 | Austin Woman | february 2016
The length of time it’s been since an individual woman was named Time’s Person of the Year, until the 2015 title was bestowed upon German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Considered by many to be the world’s most powerful woman, Merkel was chosen for stepping up to Europe’s figurative plate and, with skill, strength and diplomacy, batting away the grasping reach of Vladimir Putin, mitigating Europe’s never-ending debt woes and embracing a humanitarian response in the face of the worst migrant and refugee crisis in recent history. Although American women received the title in 1975, Merkel is only the fourth individual woman to receive the title since its inception in 1929, following Philippine President Corazon Aquino in 1986, Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 and Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson in 1936. Cheers, or perhaps we should say prost to you, Chancellor Merkel!
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avvy Women
portfolio
Brand New World Create an authentic and indispensable brand with advice from a straight shooter. By Sarah E. Ashlock
Whether you are fresh out of college or a seasoned professional, chances are you’ve heard about constructing a personal brand. Women in a variety of industries can and do use personal branding to achieve their career goals. Since she created Sol Marketing in 2003, Deb Gabor’s branding wisdom has skyrocketed the company to success, generating approximately $3 million in revenue. Here, she spills her secrets to creating and sustaining a personal brand without feeling like a fraud.
Convey authenticity. With Austin’s growth comes new jobs, but also more competition. How can you set yourself apart? It turns out the same old adage you’ve heard since you were a kid is true: Just be yourself. “You want to make sure you aren’t turning your personal brand into a platform for shameless self-promotion,” Gabor says. “I’ve seen that here, and it doesn’t fly. Austin is a community that really sincerely values authenticity and down-toearthness. I am a plain-talking, straight-shooting, very direct communicator. I’m not going to beat around the bush with anybody.” Be indispensable. Do you have that one pair of jeans, face wash or bottle of wine that you always go back to? Think of yourself in the same way. “Create a condition of irrational loyalty,” Gabor says. “What does it say about a person if they hire you, use your service or buy products from you? What is the singular thing that you deliver that nobody else does?” Get it done. A sincere and indispensable brand won’t survive if you fail to stick to your word. “In my 18 or so years in Austin, what I have seen work for professionals is to really deliver on a promise,” says Gabor. “It’s kind of a get-s--tdone thing.”
Time lived in Austin: 18 years
Title: Founder and CEO, Sol Marketing
Her hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Her bragging rights: Leading brand development for household names like Dell, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and NBC Universal, as well as digital organizations like Allrecipes, Cheezburger and RentPath, and beloved Austin icons like Austin Ventures, KUT/KUTX, Zach Theatre, HomeAway, RetailMeNot, the University of Texas and St. Edward’s University.
Her best advice: “The best advice I ever received was to not give or receive advice! When you share advice with someone and they don’t take that advice and things go badly, you always have that between you and the sharer. When you share advice and the receiver does take it and things go badly, you always have that between you. Either way, advice sharing creates an environment rife with risk for confusion, misinterpretation and judgment. Instead, sharing real-life stories of actual experiences creates a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental environment. Everyone can learn from stories. There is no room for misinterpretation and you create a safe environment for exploring ideas for making profound changes in your business, family or personal life.”
Her communities: Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Austin Chapter; Jewish Community Association of Austin; Austin Children’s Theater; Live in the Game; Zach Theatre. Her proud moment: Running and building a company while being the single mother of her highly active daughter and pets Comet and Beyoncé.
30 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Reconnect to the why. If you’re fighting professional fatigue or feeling overwhelmed while growing your brand, revisit your purpose. “Rather than focusing on what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, I’m really reconnecting with why I do what I do,” Gabor says. “What ultimately gets me out of bed every morning is this compelling need to see other people be successful. It gets me really excited to see other people do well. Whenever I have low energy, I just remind myself why I’m doing it.”
Photo by Arthur Marroquin.
Name: Deborah Gabor
Embrace your differences. A business can benefit from a hodgepodge of personalities, and in the case of Sol Marketing, fostering a space for employees to show their true personalities has proven fruitful. “One of my very favorite employees here at Sol Marketing is somebody who is pretty introverted and introspective,” says Gabor, who is outgoing and direct herself. “However, she has this unique [ability] of being a natural connector. She sees two people who might have a beneficial business relationship and makes those connections. She’s somebody who totally delivers on promises. As a young professional, that is this magical combination of ingredients for success.”
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Let’s Taco ’Bout It
Baby Got Greens
Listen in on a candid conversation with Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey and Baby Greens Founder Sharon Mays. photos by dustin meyer The healthy fast-food restaurant Baby Greens broke Austin hearts when it shuttered its three locations throughout town back in 2009. Six years later, the ahead-of-its-time eatery conceived by entrepreneur Sharon Mays will reopen this spring on Anderson Lane in North Central Austin with help from Mays’ new partners, Amy and Steve Simmons of Amy’s Ice Creams fame. Mays sat down with Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey over tacos at local eatery Tacodeli to share why closing was the right thing to do, how she decided to come back and the vital lesson she learned in the process. Melinda Garvey: Sharon, you were on our cover in 2009, and at that point, you had three stores open. Why did you decide to close? Sharon Mays: 2009 was a really interesting year because it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The more popular and successful and busier we got, the more it wore me down. Being the only owner is one thing when you own one store, but owning three and being a restaurateur is different than being an entrepreneur. In the end, I could tell something was broken, but I couldn’t understand what it was. MG: But it was successful and, at the time, you were on the cutting edge of this healthy fastfood movement. SM: Exactly. On one hand, I had random people calling and emailing me from across the country saying, “I’ve heard about your concept. I want to buy a franchise,” and I was just like, “Oh my gosh, this is actually working.” But on the other hand, it was this whole other business. It was heartbreaking to create something that actually works but that you can’t get to.
It’s like something you want so bad being just beyond your fingertips. And so, I had this sit-down with myself one day and just thought, “I’m never going to fix this while this company’s in motion. I have to stop this company right now.” Of all the risky, crazy things I’ve done, that’s at the very top: to take a restaurant that’s actually making money and say, “I’m going to stop this because I can see the cracks in the pavement, and it’s not going to end well.” MG: Now, it’s been six years. Did you always have this plan to reopen? SM: I said that one of two things is going to happen: I’m either going to figure this out and fix it and bring it back, or I’m going to go out on a high note so that if I never reopen this company again, I’m OK with it. I didn’t think Baby Greens was going to stay open six months, but it lasted six years and I had three locations. I knew I was rolling the dice, but if I never got the opportunity again, I would be OK knowing it went further than I thought it would go. But on the slim chance it could come back, people would have to still love it. MG: For entrepreneurs, getting an outside perspective is a challenge. How did you do it? SM: You need a lot of perspective to step away. I know it’s cheesy to say, but I believe you’ve just got to put yourself out there. I’m a dreamer, and it’s hard and hurtful to put yourself out in so many places and lose. But I almost never regret a chance I’ve taken. And at least I’ve stretched myself, opened myself in a way that will help me get to where I’m really supposed to be. That is my never-ending journey: to find the place where my happiness is. I think that’s everyone’s journey. But I also feel like it doesn’t come to you; you have to find it.
Snapshot Who: Sharon Mays, owner, Baby Greens Hometown: Austin Number of times she hits snooze in the morning: “Zero. I hate being jarred awake, so I usually wake up about 15 minutes before my alarm goes off.” How she takes her coffee: “I usually drink English breakfast tea, black, no sugar. If I do drink coffee, I usually have it with nondairy creamer, which is on a short list of gross fake food that I like. I don’t like milk unless cookies or peanut butter is involved.” Her social-media preference: “I love Instagram. I’m one of those annoying people. Yes, I take pictures of my food.” @eatbabygreens Her words to live by: “I’m a glutton for life. I want to fill myself with as many life experiences as my brain and body can handle. I’m a dreamer and I want all of my dreams to come true. I would rather try and fail miserably than sit on the sidelines and wonder what might have been.”
On the Menu Tacodeli, 7301 Burnet Road Sharon’s order: Pollo Fantastico and Puerco Verde Melinda’s order: Pollo Fantastico, chips and guacamole
32 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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Austin Philanthropist
Knitting Together a Better Future
Austin-based Slumlove Sweater Company brings economic and educational opportunities to families in Kenya. By Maddy Hill
Ava Darnell, founder of Slumlove Sweater Company
34 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Photos by Katie Jameson.
“We knew that knowledge was, in this case, power for these people At the age of 4, Ava Darnell found her heart drawn to the people and a way to empower this community,” Darnell says. “We felt like she encountered during a family trip to Kenya. Her parents, who providing scholarships for the next generation would be a great way to were and still are involved in humanitarian work, encouraged ease frustration in the community.” Darnell and her brother to see and understand how different the Slumlove was launched in 2013, and Darnell’s biggest struggle with world around them was from the one in which they were raised. starting the brand was conquering the business skills necessary to After graduating with a degree in media production from Concordia maintain and grow a startup, but her company has continued to chase University in Austin, Darnell wanted to find a way to combine her love new and exciting opportunities. Slumlove recently expanded its product for fashion with her true passion for the people she had met in Kenya. offerings by adding beanies and hats to the solely sweater-focused line, and That combination was the inspiration behind her fair-trade fashion Darnell collaborated with The Deeply Co. in Nashville, Tenn., to produce a brand, Slumlove Sweater Company. special-edition scarf as part of an anti-human-trafficking initiative. Like any good idea, the idea for Slumlove didn’t come to her right With these leaps in the right direction, it’s important away. Darnell first worked for Kibera Penda Project, to Darnell that the business stays as ethically grounded an educational nonprofit, and built relationships with locals in Kibera, Kenya, one of the world’s largest “We knew that knowledge as possible. One thing that keeps her focused on the slums, all the while wondering how she could was, in this case, power for true nature of this give-back operation is the constant incorporate her two interests. these people and a way to communication she has with the 16 women who knit “There weren’t many examples of companies empower this community.” for Slumlove. “A saying I’ve heard a lot is, ‘When you help a woman, that were combining a consumer business with you help a family,’ ” Darnell says. “These women aren’t humanitarian aid,” Darnell says. “I felt like I had working for themselves; they’re working for their families and they’re to choose either humanitarian work in Kenya or fashion, and felt like working to improve their children’s lives.” working in Kenya was more the direction I was supposed to go.” Slumlove is more than just an idea now. It’s more than the desire Darnell then discovered that many women in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, Darnell felt in her little heart at the age of 4. Slumlove is a celebration possess a knack for sewing, a result of their need to knit school sweaters of the place the people of Kibera call home. It’s an opportunity for for children. All she had to do was find a way to create jobs for these women to showcase a talent they have been practicing for years. In short, women, jobs in which they could earn living wages and have a chance Slumlove is a community. to provide for their families. The seed that would become Slumlove The love Darnell shares with those residing in these slums is raw Sweater Company was planted. and profoundly powerful. In the maze of navigating company growth, Unlike one-for-one business models like Toms, portions of Slumlove’s innovation and change, her love for the people Slumlove represents profits instead go directly to funding scholarships for children living in remains constant. Kibera, which is located just outside of Nairobi. Darnell sees education “It’s so great that this group of women in this geographical location as an imperative resource to raising a new, powerful generation in places are getting recognition for their talents,” Darnell says. “[Their talents like Kibera. Through these scholarships, children are allowed to attend are] so steeped in culture and tradition, and they are finally getting the school outside of the slum, eventually giving them the opportunity to recognition they deserve.” start a career and provide for their families.
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MUST LIST Connect to the Past
Travel to two of our nation’s most majestically historic places. by april cumming This land is your land This land is my land From California to the New York island From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me
Photo by Karla R. LaRive.
It’s often the shortest sentences that impart the most meaning and evoke the most emotion. When American folk musician Woody Guthrie penned that harmonious string of lyrics in 1940, he unknowingly stitched together a national sense of shared connectedness, responsibility and pride in the process. Guthrie’s song, “This Land Is Your Land,” serves as a reminder of what we all as a country and as a community have in common: the place we call home. With the Presidents Day holiday taking place Feb. 15 this year, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the history of our nation. From the metropolis of our nation’s capital to the mountains of the American heartland, we mapped out the unique offerings of two destinations sure to give you a good dose of gratitude.
austinwomanmagazine.com | 37
ust list
Must travel
Mount Rushmore, S.D.
When to visit It’s best to visit June through September, when the onsite studio of sculptor Gutzon Borglum—the man responsible for the stonecarved faces—is open for tours, and evening lighting ceremonies of Mount Rushmore take place on a nightly basis.
Go eat w Housed in a 1915 firehouse, the Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City, S.D., (35 miles northeast of Mount Rushmore) is the oldest operating brewery in the state. Appealing in both the aesthetic and appetite senses, the brewery tempts locals and tourists to order a craft beer on the outdoor patio, listen to some live music and stay a while. firehousebrewing.com
Go see Beat the crowds firing off their cameras at the base of the monument and take to the sky to see Mount Rushmore from a new perspective. Get a 360-degree view of the sculpture on a 10-mile helicopter ride with Black Hills Aerial Adventures. You’ll be eye to eye with U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. coptertours.com
w For dinner, nosh on savory bites like prosciutto-wrapped scallops at Jake’s at The Midnight Star, an hour north of Mount Rushmore in Deadwood, S.D. The restaurant, owned by actor Kevin Costner, was listed in Patricia Schultz’ book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. themidnightstar.com
Go experience An hour and a half south of the monument lies a horse lover’s dream. Spot hundreds of wild American, Spanish and Sulphur mustangs roaming free across windswept prairies at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. wildmustangs.com
Go stay
Detour
Just 3 miles from Mount Rushmore, K Bar S Lodge in Keystone, S.D., is the perfect basecamp in the Black Hills. Make sure to book a room with a balcony if you want to soak in profile views of the presidents as you sip your morning coffee. kbarslodge.com
If you’re an adventurer at heart, exploring the extensive underground cave system at Wind Cave National Park by candlelit lanterns might sound right up your alley. More than 84 miles of passageways with notable formation names like Post Office (named for the substantial box work on the walls) wind through this labyrinth-like cave system, one of the longest in the world. nps.gov/wica
38 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Mount Rushmore photo by Lucy Froemmling. Beer photo courtesy of Firehouse Brewing Co. Horses photo by Karla R. LaRive. Lodge photo courtesy of K Bar S Lodge. Cave photo courtesy of NPS.
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POV photo courtesy of W Washington D.C. Hotel. Cherry blossoms photo courtesy of NCBF. Lincoln Memorial photo by Lucy Froemmling. Kayak photo courtesy of Boating in DC.
Washington, D.C. Go stay
Go eat
One of D.C.’s oldest hotels, the Tabard Inn, is comprised of a series of traditionally furnished 1800s townhomes. It’s an elegant and affordable sleeping option in the heart of the city. tabardinn.com
w Sip on a specially crafted cocktail and soak in the views of the White House, the Treasury and the Washington Monument, all from one place at POV, the swanky rooftop lounge at the W Washington D.C. Hotel. wwashingtondc.com/pov w After you’ve worked up an appetite, find your way over to Founding Farmers, a farm-to-table restaurant that serves scrumptious dishes like peanut butter banana toast with marshmallow creme and chocolate pearls (for brunch) and chicken pot pie or skillet corn bread with sea-salted honey butter (for dinner). wearefoundingfarmers.com
When to visit The best time to visit this year is between March 20 and April 17 for the Cherry Blossom Festival. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Go experience w See the city and its many monuments in a different light by hopping on a trolley to take a moonlit-tour of the town. Window watch in awe as you listen to expert guides spout off historical anecdotes about presidents of past. trolleytours.com/washington-dc/night-tours.asp
Go see While the White House is the most obvious sightseeing option in D.C., there are less time-sucking ways to spend your day than taking hundreds of selfies as you stand in front of the building waiting to catch sight of the president’s dog, Bo, bounding across the lawn. If you want to get the walk of your life in (or maybe just prove to your Fitbit once and for all that you can achieve 10,000 steps in one day), this city has your back. Or opt to rent a bike at one of the many bike-share stands throughout town and start pedaling.
w During the warmer months, take to the water to do your sightseeing. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Boating in DC, or watch as the city wakes up while on a Capitol Riverfront Twilight Tour along the Potomac River. boatingindc.com
w Play the part of a tourist and check out the National Zoo, the National Air and Space Museum, and the International Spy Museum, where you’ll be surrounded by international espionage artifacts like lipstick-tube pistols and a shoe phone with heel transmitter, courtesy of the KGB. w Pack a picnic, grab a Frisbee and head for the grassy knoll around the Washington Monument, spending the better half of your afternoon people watching and pretending to be a local. austinwomanmagazine.com | 39
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must give
Austin Gives With Raven + Lily
Kirsten Dickerson is on a mission to root empowerment and dignity in marginalized women worldwide. By April Cumming
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Raven + Lily is a member of Austin Gives, an organization dedicated to highlighting businesses for doing good. In its four-year existence, Austin Gives has aggregated almost 400 Austin-area companies that have made the commitment to donate at least 1 percent of their annual earnings to charity. To learn more about Austin Gives, visit austin.gives.
40 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Raven + Lily Founder and CEO Kirsten Dickerson in Cambodia
Outside the U.S., Raven + Lily partners with women in countries like Ethiopia, India, Cambodia, Kenya, Guatemala, Pakistan, Malaysia and Haiti, providing them with fair-trade wages, safe jobs, a sustainable income, health care and education for their families. “We work with women who are refugees, formerly homeless, HIV positive, formerly enslaved, discriminated, abused. I mean, you name it. They all have a story. They all have come from poverty. You wouldn’t know it when you meet them though because they all have a smile,” Dickerson says, smiling herself. In addition to being recognized in numerous business and style publications, and receiving an equal amount of philanthropic and fashion awards, Raven + Lily habitually gives back to the Austin community in two ways: The company donates products to support local nonprofits like Dress for Success, Little Black Dress Society, AIDS Services of Austin, Texas Advocacy Project, PeopleFund, HeartGift and more. It also hosts shopping nights at the store and donates 20 percent of the sales from each event back to a local nonprofit. Past store fundraisers have benefited the Rise School of Austin, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas and the Austin chapter of Rainforest Alliance. In total, Raven + Lily gave more than $60,000 to the Austin community in 2015. “I value nonprofits so much that are empowering and promote dignity, education and opportunity,” Dickerson says. “That’s what we give back to.” Those strong keywords—empowerment, dignity, education and opportunity—are what Dickerson strives to provide communities on a global scale. “For us, as a company, the more profitable we are, the more women we’re able to help employ,” she says. “And that employment equals breaking cycles of poverty.” Read more about Kirsten Dickerson, her philosophy on philanthropy and the story behind Raven + Lily’s name at austinwomanmagazine.com.
TUNE IN
Austin Gives talks with Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey and Raven + Lily Founder Kirsten Dickerson about the importance of giving in Austin. When: Feb. 2, 9 a.m. Station: KEYE-TV Segment: We Are Austin Website: keyetv.com/features/we-are-austin
Photo courtesy of Raven + Lily.
“Our world is suffering, and fashion is a part of it,” Kirsten Dickerson confides during a tour of her East Austin design studio. “Did you know that the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter after the gasand-coal industry? That is massive.” Dickerson is the founder and CEO of Austin-based ethical fashion-and-lifestyle brand Raven + Lily, and her passion is contagious. “If [as a consumer,] you aren’t paying attention and aren’t being thoughtful about how you’re impacting the world, then you’re having a negative impact, whether you’re aware of it or not,” she adds. It’s that sense of awareness that serves as the solid foundation upon which Raven + Lily has built its story. After moving to Austin with her husband in 2010, Dickerson, who has a background in the design and nonprofit worlds, launched her Raven + Lily clothing boutique in the summer of 2011 as a for-profit social business. As a B corporation, Raven + Lily is structured on the idea of sustainability and fair trade. It now employs more than 1,500 marginalized women worldwide—twentyfold the amount of women it employed when the store started out. Dickerson has trusted partners who help train the women in design skills, like sewing and jewelry making. The goal, she says, is to “encourage the artisans to turn what they do into a sustainable business on their end.” Using her for-profit business model, Dickerson does this by treating her artisans in a way a nonprofit might not: as a business relationship. Just like you might find at a bigger fashion house, Raven + Lily designs are exclusive, with patterns created from scratch in the studio. The company funds all the costs involved in its partnerships—the design, sample development, all the visits to see the artisans—and then factors that expense into the pricing of its products. Each season, Dickerson’s goal is to create fashion-forward collections that will sell well in the West. She wants people to walk into Raven + Lily because they want to admire the way something looks. “Before you know the story, you have to want to come in. Everything has to speak for itself as something beautiful and high quality. I always say it’s like Anthropologie, except everything is made by a woman and it’s ethically produced, which is a big difference,” she explains. “A lot of people walk in and have no idea [the story behind the store].” But once they learn how each item is produced, people slow down and take their time looking around, she notices. Tags on each product tell a story of where the item was made and who made it. “The story empowers the consumer to recognize that they have a voice and a choice, and they can choose to spend their money on things that have a positive or a negative impact,” Dickerson says. Some of the most unique items lining the walls of Raven + Lily’s East Austin storefront are its beaded metal jewelry made from recycled bullet casings from past wars in Ethiopia. “It’s a very labor-intensive process,” Dickerson says. But it’s a craft Ethiopian villagers have been skilled in for centuries. The bullets are collected by farmers, melted down and tested for lead, and then every bead is hand formed and polished.
FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON FRIDAY, APRIL 15 JW MARRIOTT — AUSTIN, TEXAS 11:00 AM | Champagne Reception 11:30 AM | Runway Show 12:00 PM | Luncheon
Space is limited and the event is expected to sell out. To reserve your seat or table please call 512-236-1001 or email jessica@jhlcompany.com
MACK, JACK & MCCONAUGHEY (MJ&M) is the joint fundraising effort of Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, ACM Award-winning recording artist Jack Ingram, and EPSN analyst and Texas coaching legend Mack Brown. MJ&M is a two day fun-filled event with music, golf and fashion benefiting organizations that reflect MJ&M’s goal to empower kids.
For a complete schedule of events or to inquire about sponsorships, visit mackjackmcconaughey.org.
M
ust list
Must see
Femme Finale
Oscar glory is just an envelope away for these five films and the women behind them. By Emily C. Laskowski In 1973, Edith Head, the legendary seamstress who designed Grace Kelly’s iconic wedding gown, received her eighth and final Oscar in the field of costume design. She is the most awarded female in the academy’s 88-year history, and arguably the most chic. As producers, screenwriters, actresses, costume designers and more, females are finding the formula for success at nearly every stage of the filmmaking process—and doing it with gumption. Before Chris Rock rolls out the red carpet Feb. 28, watch these five women-led films with winning potential.
45 Years The stoic beauty Charlotte Rampling shares the screen with her compatriot Tom Courtenay in this story about a couple approaching their 45th wedding anniversary. The veteran British actors, whose careers each span more than half a century, deliver effortlessly intimate performances of their characters struggling to comprehend a lifechanging letter. Starring: Charlotte Rampling Carol Two women in 1950s New York form an unexpected and unconventional relationship in this adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara lead an all-star cast that includes Kyle Chandler and Sarah Paulson in this story about changing attitudes in the face of cultural norms. Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara Written by: Phyllis Nagy Costume design by: Sandy Powell Brooklyn A young Irish immigrant sets sail for America, enduring a hellacious journey but ultimately immersing herself in the immigrant stronghold of 1950s Brooklyn, N.Y. Led by actress Saoirse Ronan, who turned heads at the age of 13 for her Oscar-nominated performance in the 2007 film Atonement, Brooklyn illustrates the struggle to bridge the truth of one’s past with the realities of the present. Starring: Saoirse Ronan The Danish Girl Last year’s Best Actor winner, Eddie Redmayne, plays opposite actress of the moment Alicia Vikander in this story inspired by one of the first gender-reassignment surgeries. The Danish Girl is set in 1926 Copenhagen, Denmark, and its timely yet sensitive subject matter benefits from Vikander’s powerful portrayal of a wife coming to terms with the fact that her husband is no longer the man she married. Starring: Alicia Vikander Production design by: Eve Stewart Room Brie Larson portrays a mother who goes to extraordinary lengths to raise her son in the darkest and most dire of environments. Trapped in a windowless room, this mother-son duo attempts to live a fulfilling life before deciding to embark on a daring escape. Starring: Brie Larson Written by: Emma Donoghue 42 | Austin Woman | february 2016
More Marquee Momentum 1. I t’s her third nomination in five years. Will Jennifer Lawrence nab a second Oscar for Joy? 2. The almost king of the world: After four prior acting nominations, will Leonardo DiCaprio finally score a little golden statue for The Revenant? 3. The academy awakens: The technical nominations are strong with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 4. The one to beat: All eyes are focused on Spotlight to take home Best Picture. 5. Straight outta the envelope: Will summer’s surprise hit Straight Outta Compton be this year’s upset?
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tyle
Ask AShley
SPANISH FLY
Flaunt these fabulous trends from the birthplace of flamenco. Modeled, styled and written by Ashley Hargrove Photo by annie ray From Spanish ruffles to ’70s suede to anything Victorian, the top Spring trends of 2016 have emerged. Spanish style is crossing the Atlantic and delivering florals that exude a feminine and flattering fit. More designers have incorporated hints of that passionate Spanish culture, with bold, vibrant colors and chic floral patterns, into their 2016 collections. Baila into spring with these new modern classics.
Buzios Beauty black and ivory floral-print maxi dress, $129, Lulu’s, lulus.com Macrame I? black suede fringe heels, $33, Lulu’s, lulus.com Nadri framed chandelier earrings, $98, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com BP coin-collar necklace, $26, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com Sophie Hulme Albion Banana Charm tote, $750, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com dtkaustinstyling.com
44 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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Red carpet Report
Hollywood Haute Couture
We predict the gowns that will grace the red carpet on Hollywood’s biggest night. BY Cheryl Bemis
The red-carpet season is in full swing and will culminate Feb. 28 at the granddaddy of them all, the Academy Awards. With a glass of wine in hand, there’s only one thing that will lure you to the television before the winners are announced and their speeches are critiqued: the fashion.
46 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Badgley Mischka
Photo by Cheryl Bemis.
The finale gowns at Fashion Week typically come at the end of the show, and nothing dazzles the crowd more than an opulent beaded gown or a chiffon ball dress that floats across the catwalk. As these gowns glide down the runway, the sound of chatter rises as photographers, journalists, stylists, bloggers and fashion gurus admire the fabrics, patterns or styling choices. While these gaze-worthy gowns capture their own place in the massive catalog of fashion history, they might also be the fashion choice of a starlet on Hollywood’s biggest night. And so the question remains: What will we see on the red carpet? Will a bold green be the envy of everyone’s eyes, or will the soft, romantic colors of spring stay on-trend? From the runways in New York to the red carpets of LA, beautiful gowns are in season. Whether simple and chic or beaded and bold, trends for 2016 are about to get the celebrity treatment.
trends to watch Badgley Mischka
Monique Lhuillier
Lela Rose
Sleeves
SPARKLES
Lots of chiffon
It’s been five years, but ever since Kate Middleton (ahem, the Duchess of Cambridge) wore her long-sleeved wedding dress, sleeves are in.
Sequins and beads never go out of style. Adding sparkle ensures that no other dresses steal the spotlight.
Nothing says spring like soft, romantic layers of fabric. This light-as-a-feather material always turns heads on the red carpet.
Jenny Packham
Monique Lhuillier
Photos by Gregg Cestaro, Brittany Scheeres and Cheryl Bemis.
Reem Acra
austinwomanmagazine.com |  47
H
ome
ask a designer
Welcome Home
Austin interior designer Meredith Ellis picks her favorite front-door accents for a welcoming first impression. By meredith ellis
If first impressions are everything, the front of your home says it all. Luckily, it takes just a few exterior accents to freshen up a forgotten facade. Bring the warmth of your interiors outside and welcome family, friends and neighbors to your humble abode with a few fabulous fixtures.
Front door Designer pick: Farrow & Ball pitch black paint in exterior full gloss, $115 per gallon, farrow-ball.com "Nothing is more of a show stopper than a colorful front door."
48 |  Austin Woman |  february 2016
Hardware
Lighting
Designer pick: Merit Metal door knob and back plate, price upon request, Alexander Merchant, alexandermarchant.com
Designer pick: Coleen & Co. outdoor scalloped lantern sconce in verdigris, starting at $1,400, James, jamesshowroom.com
“Updating your hardware, the door knob and the back plate is one of the easiest updates for the front of the house.”
Bargain deal: Three-light outdoor wall sconce, $260, Savoy House, lightingdirect.com
Photos courtesy of Meredith Ellis.
“Use one or two lanterns, depending on how much room you have. They can really frame the door and provide a pretty glow.”
Planters
Door knocker
Designer pick: Antique French cast-iron planters, $3,200 for the pair, James, jamesshowroom.com
Designer pick: Extra large antique brass lion door knocker, $145, High Street Market, highstreetmarket.com
Bargain deal: Galvanized barrel planter, $198, Terrain, shopterrain.com
“So much depends on the style of your home and the look of your front door, but I love an antique or unusual and bold door knocker.”
“With planters, it’s all about proportion, which I love because pretty planters really frame the door.”
austinwomanmagazine.com | 49
story By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne Photos by Jace Rivers Styled by Ashley Hargrove Makeup and Hair by Christie Griffin
50
Forget Self-esteem. Think Selfcompassion. Dr. Kristin Neff, A pioneering researcher at The University of Texas, charts a new course that might just change your life in ways you never expected.
W Dictionary.com defines a pioneer as “one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise or progress.” Given that definition, Dr. Kristin Neff definitely qualifies as a pioneer and, indeed, she is widely regarded as the preeminent authority on the study of self-compassion.
hat Neff didn’t know in 1997, as she embarked on her journey in response to her feelings of shame, stress and selfjudgement following a divorce, and her fear of what would follow upon the completion of her doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley, was that the road would lead to Austin, Texas. In Texas, pioneer women are a tribe all their own. Fiercely independent, they were fearless trailblazers who fought for Texas’ independence, marked their territory and conquered a harsh land. They were, by nature and by necessity, resilient and courageous. Although she couldn’t have known it at the time, when Neff took a position at the University of Texas, she would follow in these pioneering women’s footsteps, albeit in a modern way. Neff’s research and groundbreaking study of self-compassion would not only allow those who would come to practice her techniques to be genuinely kind to themselves, but also show resilience and courage as they progressed along the path. Neff had come to the right place. Join Austin Woman and Neff on her pioneering journey as she explains in her own words the concept and components of the practice of self-compassion.
The beginning For me, the practice of self-compassion is a personal journey that comes from my profound observation of the way it has changed my life and, in a way, the science is to support what I already know. Following a divorce, I began to experiment with treating myself with compassion, and it was extremely beneficial. I left Berkeley and did two years of post-doctoral study in Denver with a self-esteem researcher, so I was very familiar with some of the problems associated with self-esteem. It is bad to hate yourself, but it is particularly difficult to like yourself when self-esteem is contingent on success. Practicing self-compassion is a better way to think about a healthy relationship with oneself, so when I got to UT Austin, I wanted to do research. I was hired for a tenure-track position: associate professor in the Human Development program. Early on, it was risky because self-compassion is based on a Buddhist construct, and I was afraid it would be considered too “woo-woo,” but I got good advice from a mentor at UT. He said, “If this is your passion, you will do better research, get more publications and be more likely to get tenure if you follow your passion.” There had been research on mindfulness, so the way had been paved, but self-compassion was something new. It was really a big risk. What if my research didn’t support what I believed would be true? I had no idea of how to study it empirically, so I created a scale, and I have no background in scale design, but I tried to think of some way to measure it. I looked at what I thought self-compassionate behavior is and developed the long and short scales from that. And so I birthed this baby and now it is hugely popular. I have a group of five people in my lab and continue the research. Now, most of my focus is on intervention. I developed the Mindful Self-Compassion program, which is an eight-week program. We started teacher training last year and have 500 teachers worldwide. As an academic, it is so gratifying to take your research and see people transform their lives as they practice. Eventually, I would like my work to focus on how intervention and the practice of self-compassion changes lives.
52 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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austinwomanmagazine.com | 53
The practice of self-compassion in layman’s terms Self-compassion is being a supportive, encouraging friend to yourself, being an ally instead of an enemy to yourself when you suffer. It is understanding that personal suffering is a part of your life. Selfcompassion allows you to generate a sense of warmth and kindness and care for yourself, and to be a supportive friend. Women tend to be more compassionate toward others, but not toward themselves. Women treat themselves and others starkly different from men. The good news is that women have a lot of experience being caregivers and friends, and so, they do know what to say and do with compassion. Once they give themselves permission to start being a friend to themselves and trust that it is not going to make them lazy or selfish, it becomes easier. There is nothing to fear because my research says that once they start committing to being compassionate toward themselves, they are actually more compassionate toward others. Self-compassion can feel kind of weird at first. I tell people to notice what you say to yourself and ask yourself, “Would you say that to a dear friend?” The answer is usually no. You say harsh, critical things to yourself that you wouldn’t even say to people you don’t know or don’t like. So why is it easier to be a good friend to others than to yourself? Because when you fail, you feel inadequate. You are suffering and then you feel afraid and your defenses kick in. Your brain tries to attack the problem, which, unfortunately, is yourself, so it tries to kick you in the ass to the point where there won’t be fear anymore. It is a primitive kind of safety strategy. Our reptilian brain’s first line of defense is to go into reactivity mode whenever we are threatened. We don’t feel threatened by other people’s failures, so we can be compassionate and nurturing to them. But there is another way. We can also feel safe through self-compassion, although it is a slower system. It is the one that makes the baby feel safe with its mother, the system where the mother wants to take care of the baby, where he feels supported and warm with gentle touch and soothing vocalizations. Unfortunately, it is not the first way to feel safe and kick in. That is why the practice of self-compassion needs to become a habit. When I try to help people with their inner critic, I don’t say, “Shut that b---h up.” You have to be compassionate and know that voice is our reptilian brain trying to help us. The inner critic is not wise, not evolved and is very reactive. It encourages us to run, to hide, to try to control
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the part of us that feels so scared. People in our program investigate their self-critic in order to change those go-to behaviors. Ask what your inner critic wants from you, and how it is trying to help you. Then you can thank your inner critic for trying to keep you safe. Once you acknowledge that voice as trying to help you, it quiets down and you can begin to feel safe in other ways. I encourage people to use physical gestures and soothing tones to comfort and calm themselves and to begin to substitute criticism for telling yourself, “I am here for you. I know this is hard and you are scared, but I care about you,” whatever language is reassuring and kind. Things you would say to a friend in distress, say to yourself. It may seem odd at the beginning, but you will be surprised how effective it will become. Once you begin to listen to your wise self and your soothing, compassionate system without being overridden by a fear-based response, you will be shocked to find that those two parts are actually wanting the same thing, which is to encourage a change. The self-compassionate tone is radically different from the harsh inner critic and is much more conducive to actually making a change. From that place of safety, utilizing the wise, mature, non-reactive part of yourself, you can make wise decisions.
The difference between self-esteem and self-compassion Self-esteem is so contingent. In its purest form, it means an unconditional positive regard for ourselves, but for most of us, it is anything but unconditional. High self-esteem has come to require being special and above average, so any time anyone does better than you, you feel diminished in comparison. Say that you are doing pretty well and you are feeling good about yourself, and then you fail at something and your self-esteem deserts you just when you need it most. Esteem is used as a judgement of worth, whether it is positive or negative. With selfcompassion, you aren’t evaluating yourself as good or bad or as a success or a failure. Whether you are at your best or at your worst, you are still being a friend to yourself. Self-esteem is less stable. Look at all of the domains in which women base their self-esteem: They have to be good earners, [have] satisfying work, good looks, good relationships. They have to be good mothers, good wives, good friends. The expectations get higher and higher, and every time you can’t meet those self-imposed
expectations, you feel unworthy and bad about yourself. Impossible Self-compassion doesn’t make the problem go away and doesn’t fix expectations can come from yourself, the culture of your parents, come anything; it is not a magic bullet. That is not reality. Self-compassion is from a lot of places, but in today’s world, expectations are very, very a huge form of courage. You have to be brave to allow yourself to be an high. At some point, perfectionism has to crack. authentic, vulnerable human being. It takes courage to allow ourselves to My goal for self-compassion is to become a compassionate mess. The be seen as we truly are, intrapersonally as well as interpersonally. Even mess is inevitable. We are all humans, so we get it wrong and we are if your friends see you one way, you may have an overwhelming sense going to fail. So many of these things are out of our control. While I can’t of shame. Self-compassion is a good antidote to shame. You can let go of achieve perfection, I can achieve being a compassionate mess. The goal harsh criticism and respond with common humanity and see how many is to respond to all of your mistakes people feel the same things as you. with compassion. If you can value We believe our shame isolates us, the quality of the heart and the but in reality, it connects us. It is a The heart always has the compassion more than the outcome, basic human emotion, and if you run possibility to be open and to be brave from it, then it controls you. Shame then what is most important is how you relate to yourself and, in is not going to go away. Turn toward and, again, to hold challenges with turn, to the world, whether your it but don’t let it define who you are. heart is open or not. Being kind to Embrace imperfection. So many kindness. Self-esteem measures and yourself as you are even in the midst things are beyond your control. judges. If self-compassion is your of failure takes so much courage, With the practice of selfbut if that is your goal and what compassion, you aren’t defined by fallback, no matter what happens, you value—developing a strong, your pain anymore. You don’t deny it is always empowering. resilient, open heart—then you the pain, but can allow your heart can succeed in any situation. I tell to break open and hold the pain you our teachers, “You can’t lose with are feeling. You are not only the self-compassion, no matter how much you fail.” You can hold anything pain; you are also the love that is holding the pain. When you are allowed in compassion. The heart always has the possibility to be open and to feel everything in a place of safety, you develop emotional resilience. to be brave and, again, to hold challenges with kindness. Self-esteem When we feel loved and supported, especially by our own self, then we measures and judges. If self-compassion is your fallback, no matter what feel safe. The more you practice self-compassion, the more it becomes like happens, it is always empowering. a habit. When you value compassion and kindness, and can live with it every moment within yourself, a powerful transformation happens. Being in a state of loving, connected presence: That is the goal.
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The joy of practicing self-compassion
In simplest terms, the practice of self-compassion leads to a loving, connected presence. It is a wonderful feeling to be loving, connected and present in a relationship. We have all felt that at some time, and it is the ideal state of being. Ironically, even though we turn toward our suffering and acknowledge our pain, we are actually generating this state of loving, connected presence. Compassion is how we relate to our suffering as a part of the whole picture. We can hold our accomplishments and good things in [our] life in compassion, and the gratitude extends to all of it. Self-compassion allows you to hold anything in that space, and there is nothing that cannot be held lovingly, even hatred and fear. Check what happens when you are stuck in the habit of self-criticism. Ask how [this is] working for you. What is living in the inner war zone doing to you? What effect is it having on you? It is very destructive. Once you have recognized and acknowledged that, you are moved to say there has to be a better way, a better way to motivate change in a positive way from a compassionate, warm, encouraging, supportive perspective rather than one reacting to fear. Once you give yourself permission to practice self-compassion, a transformation begins. You are gentler with yourself and others. My research shows people who practice are more giving, more intimate and more loving and less controlling, less likely to be reactive. If you walk around with a compassionate mindset, that is what people will respond to. If you have a harshly critical, reactive mindset, then that is what people interact with. The mindset that you cultivate is the one you carry into your relationships. Self-compassion allows you to be more observant before you react. If your fallback is compassion, then you can acknowledge that you are a flawed human trying the best you can and that you will make mistakes without feeling threatened by your humanity. In compassion, you are filling your mind with kindness and care for your own state of flawed imperfection. One of the real benefits is honesty toward yourself and being able to take responsibility for what you have done. It is not so devastating. You can make a mindful self-change, but if you are in a harsh, critical mindset, that will color your decision making and ability to make a positive change.
The core components of self-compassion To practice self-compassion, three core components are required: 1. Self-kindness: This is being kind and supportive to yourself when you have failed or in some way feel inadequate, as opposed to being harshly judgmental. Self-compassion is choosing to be gentle and understanding and kind to ourselves rather than harshly critical and judgmental. 2. Common humanity: This is feeling connected to others while we experience all facets of life rather than feeling isolated and alienated by our suffering. It is remembering that failure is part of the human experience and acknowledging that it is normal to be imperfect. Everyone suffers and feels inadequate. It is part of the human condition. The more common response is to isolate rather than feel that you are experiencing something all people feel. We all struggle. The way we struggle and the degree to which we struggle is different, but this is something we all share. This is what it means to be human. 3. Mindfulness: This requires that we hold our experience in balanced awareness rather than ignoring our pain or exaggerating it. It means being able to turn toward, validate and acknowledge when you are suffering. [There’s a] reactivity defense when we are scared: “I don’t want to think about it or I have to fix the problem, make it go away and manipulate the problem.” To have self-compassion, we have to pause and say, “This is really hard right now.” A very powerful phrase is, “I am so sorry that this is so hard for you right now.” Just having that acknowledged allows you to step outside yourself and say, “Wow, this is really hard.” Step back and bring some balance to the situation.
austinwomanmagazine.com | 55
The Horse Boy Practicing self-compassion transformed Dr. Kristin Neff’s life in many ways, but none more powerful than in her relationship with her son, Rowan, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. “For me, accepting and coping with Rowan’s autism was the ultimate proving ground, and I could see self-compassion in action,” Neff says. “When I was feeling overwhelmed, despair, unable to cope and feeling grief, I would go into sootheand-comfort mode to care for myself. It really helped.” Struggling to find ways to help Rowan communicate, Rowan’s father, Rupert Isaacson, encouraged by an encounter between Rowan and visiting shamans and healers, as well as his son’s connection to horses, was inspired to take Rowan to a place where healing and horses were combined. Thus, planning for a family trip to Mongolia began. Although Neff was skeptical, she was able to open both her mind and her heart to the idea through her practice of self-compassion. It gave her the courage to fully enter into the adventure.
The Horse Boy Foundation The Horse Boy Foundation is the brainchild of Rupert Isaacson and Dr. Kristin Neff, parents of an autistic son, Rowan. Based in Elgin, Texas, just outside Austin, the foundation is now working in three countries and throughout the U.S., and continuing to grow. After Rowan, who was non-verbal, began to speak while responding to horses, Isaacson and Neff founded the charity to provide equine therapy free of charge to Austin-area families affected by autism. The foundation also develops home-school and classroom curricula for children with neuro-cognitive conditions, and collaborates with universities worldwide to further research, but remains very much a homegrown Austin project. To learn more about the Horse Boy Foundation, classes and services, visit horseboyworld.com.
56 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Top left photo by Justin Jinn. Bottom right photo by Iliane Lorenz.
The Mongolian journey has been chronicled in a book and a documentary film, both entitled The Horse Boy, which were followed by another book, The Long Ride Home, which continues the adventure in search of shamans and healing for Rowan and his family.
Lela Rose floral-print dress, $1,395; Oscar de la Renta necklace, $690, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.
Read: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff In a step-by-step guide, Neff explains the practice of self-compassion and how it can transform lives through kindness and freeing ourselves from a harsh inner critic. Using solid empirical research, personal stories, practical exercises and humor, Neff explains how to heal destructive emotional patterns so you can be healthier, happier and more effective. Far from textbook lingo, this book is engaging and highly readable, and may even have the power to change your life. It is the perfect place to start on the path of attaining loving, connected presence as a permanent state of being.
Listen: Self-Compassion Step By Step by Dr. Kristin Neff Learn how to practice skills of self-compassion in this six-session audio training program, available as CDs or audio downloads. self-compassion.org/self-compassion-step-step-cd-set
Attend: Self-Compassion and Emotional Resilience Training May 21, Austin
This workshop will provide simple tools for responding in a kind, compassionate way to painful emotions. Through discussion, meditation and experiential exercises, workshop attendees will gain practical skills to help bring self-compassion into their daily lives. Attendees will learn how to stop being so hard on themselves, how to handle difficult emotions with greater ease and how to motivate themselves with kindness rather than criticism. Practices will also be introduced to help ease stress for caregivers. For more information, contact Kathey Ferland at info4mariposa@gmail.com.
Watch: The Space Between Self-Esteem and Self-Compassion Dr. Kristin Neff at TEDx Centennial Park Women This 19-minute video is a good introduction to what self-compassion is and how it differs from self-esteem. tedxtalks.ted.com/video/the-space-between-self-esteem-a
Learn more: Self-compassion.org Dr. Kristin Neff’s website provides numerous valuable resources, including scales to test your level of selfcompassion, self-compassion practices through guided meditations and exercises, videos on self-compassion and information on the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, as well as events, training opportunities and workshops. austinwomanmagazine.com |  57
Majority
The
Seven
I
n Austin’s history, only 16 women have occupied a seat on the City Council. Last January, seven were sworn in all at once. Sweeping, systematic changes to the City Council sparked a startling number of milestones for the City of Austin’s local governing body. Austinites elected the first Latina in Council Member Delia Garza, the youngest Council member to ever serve in Councilman Greg Casar, the youngest female to ever serve in Council Member Ellen Troxclair and, staggeringly, the first-ever female majority. When a referendum was introduced in 2012 to change the Council’s representation system from at-large to district-based, advocates for the change promised new voices at City Hall, something they argued Austin, as the largest city in the United States without geographic representation, needed desperately to reflect its burgeoning popula-
58 | Austin Woman | february 2016
BY Emily C. Laskowski PHOTOS by Dustin MeyeR
tion and shifting demographics. The new 10-1 system increased the number of Austin City Council members from seven at-large members to 10 based on geographically drawn districts. This expansion caused an avalanche of candidates to emerge and a windfall of runoff elections in races for seven of the 10 newly formed districts. After a blistering campaign season, the voices of voting Austinites were heard, and a very new City Council started to take shape last year. Now a year into their terms, these seven women, along with Mayor Steve Adler and their three male counterparts, continue to face issues ranging from affordability and the cost of living, to transportation and public safety. Each district faces its own unique patchwork of wants and needs, and these seven women thrive on finding the common thread that will tie their communities and the people of Austin together.
Ora Houston District 1 Living in the East Austin home her parents built in 1954, Ora Houston called District 1 home long before the new district lines were drawn. She grew up as a student at Blackshear Elementary School, Kealing Middle School and the “old” L.C. Anderson High School, and that firsthand experience in her community is what pushes her to visit various churches every Sunday, encouraging the people in her district to use their voices at City Hall. “District 1 is really a very wonderfully blended family. We’ve got a lot of diversity in the district, not only ethnic and cultural, but with gender and education. We have people who are very high income and people who are very low income. We’ve got the most gentrified neighborhood in the United States, and places where the poverty rate is 25 percent and the unemployment rate is in double digits. We have people who have been incarcerated. We have a very conservative part of the district and we have a very progressive part of the district. We have bikers. We have pedestrians. We have people who come from very far away. We’ve got a large Vietnamese Catholic church and a Christian Chinese church that has service in Mandarin and Cantonese. We’ve got people from Ethiopia. District 1 is very diverse.” “People who are being forced out of their neighborhoods where they’ve lived for years is a concern in District 1. This is especially [true] for my elderly folks, and we have many of them in District 1. We talk about the silver tsunami. A lot of these people live in District 1, and they’re being systematically forced out with very few resources for them to be able to find housing that’s close to medical centers or grocery stores or transportation. The city grew so fast that it didn’t consider the people in District 1. My district is the second-largest district in the city. What we have in our 46 square miles is fairly diverse, and people who have lived here are now seeing that they are not able to pay the property taxes, and they’re having difficulties.” “If you have to work with men, then you have to work with men. If they happen to be all women, you work with all women. I don’t see that there’s a difference. We’re all people, and we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses, and so we play to our strengths and have people to help us with our weaknesses.” austinwomanmagazine.com | 59
Delia Garza District 2 As a former firefighter in the Austin Fire Department, Delia Garza is no stranger to putting out fires (literally). She followed in the footsteps of her father, who was also a firefighter, and ended up being one of the first Mexican-American female firefighters in Austin. That background in emergency management helped her keep her cool when it emerged last year that an embarrassing training session had taken place to teach City employees how to interact with the City Council’s new female majority. Also a former assistant attorney general, Garza responded to the incident with the same poise and intellect voters recognized when they filled out their ballots. “My district is the most Hispanic district, which I love representing. The population of Hispanics is 69 percent in District 2. It’s also one of the lower-income districts. The median income is close to $38,000. It’s just amazing that people can still afford to live in Austin with that kind of income. We have many working-class and middle-class families.” “I want to protect people who have been born and raised here. I can’t imagine being born and raised in the city which was so livable and now you cannot afford to live here anymore. Everybody is feeling the pains of affordability. Everyone’s property-tax bill is going up. Some people are able to handle that pressure a little bit easier than others. For people in my district, an extra expense of $100 a month will strain them. For people in other districts, it won’t be as strained. But I don’t want us to become a San Francisco, a city of wealthy folks. That’s my biggest fear. One of the great things about Austin is its diversity and all kinds of people. We can’t just be a city of wealthy folks. We have to be a mix.” “There are a lot of firsts on this Council. I’m the first Hispanic female. Ellen Troxclair is the youngest woman. Greg Casar is the youngest. We have the first three Hispanics and the first female majority. I think it’s a big deal. When I go speak to schools, it makes a difference to a little girl that she’s looking up at her Council member that looks like her.”
60 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Ann Kitchen District 5 When Ann Kitchen met her fellow female Council members, she decided to do things a little differently. Instead of lapel pins, an accessory commonly worn by men in public office, Kitchen and the other women chose to wear necklaces to represent their newly elected roles. For Kitchen, addressing issues such as quality of life or flood prevention and mitigation from a different perspective shapes every decision she makes. “District 5 is South Austin, so that means something to people that live in South Austin. People are proud to be South Austinites. Now, maybe that’s the same for other parts of the city. I don’t know. I don’t know if North Austinites feel like that, but people in South Austin like to identify themselves as South Austinites.” “Transportation is a huge part of this overarching issue of quality of life for everyone. There is no way that we can all get in our cars and be on the same road at the same time and expect to get there any time soon. We have to come up with options so that people can get places in different ways. Those options may be a car, a bus, walking, a bike, a taxi or a transportation-network company. The issue with transportation-network companies [such as Uber and Lyft] has never been about forcing them out of town. That is a gross mischaracterization. We have companies that want the City to change how it approaches public safety just to fit their business model. The history in Austin for vehicles for hire is requiring fingerprints. The reason for that is because fingerprints are 99.6 percent effective in matching the person to who they are. Why wouldn’t we want to do that when at least one of these companies is doing it in another city? In Houston, they comply. It’s about public safety.” “I think that being the first 10-1 Council with seven women, which is huge, combined with the male Council members and mayor, supports the way that this Council is working together. We’re working in an environment that is professional and collaborative, and maybe we don’t agree, but we can work with each other. In politics, that’s big. It’s really big.”
austinwomanmagazine.com | 61
Leslie Pool District 7 When Leslie Pool needs beautification inspiration, she might take a few cues from Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope from the hit television show Parks and Recreation. A longtime Austinite and civic leader who once worked for late U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Pool believes in a bigger and better vision for Austin, which includes working on her district’s Burnet Road Corridor study and making sure she attends as many neighborhood meetings as possible. “District 7, given its geography and how it’s evolved and developed over time, is quintessential. The lower portion includes some of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and, of course, the city grew from this Central section out and above, and then south of the river. The home that I live in was built in 1954, which was a year before I was born. When I bought my house, there were a number of elderly folks who lived on either side of me and across the street. In the years that I’ve lived there, the people have moved out or passed on themselves, and now we have different generations coming in to live in those homes.” “My larger vision for the city as a whole is parks. It could very well be a long-term legacy. When I was asked what one thing would I like to point back to and count as something that I did if I were elected, it was parks. It was to be able to say that I have done a good assessment of our parks and worked with all the various stakeholders and the professional staff and my colleagues on [the] Council to take a step or two or three further down the road so that we really do make progress on achieving the great parks that this great city deserves.” “I think we are poised at a place and time where we have a lot of potential and a really great opportunity to do so many great things. I value my relationships with all the women on the Council. It really is a unique situation to have a majority of women. It wasn’t like anybody set out to do that; I think we just found ourselves looking at all the women that were on the ballot. Everyone brings a specific world view and experience to the table, and it’s hugely important to have that level of diversity in all things as part of our decision making.”
62 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Ellen Troxclair District 8 Ellen Troxclair is the youngest female to ever serve on Austin City Council, and her ambition to serve her constituents is hardly surprising. With an urgency to address issues that the people of her district, including Troxclair herself, feel have been neglected in the past, she is committed to finding solutions that have, in some cases, never been on the table. “District 8, geographically, is Southwest Austin. We have a high stream of home ownership, which is significantly higher than what we have in the city as a whole. That’s why issues like the rising cost of living, when it comes to property taxes, in particular, are such hot topics. A lot of people are just really struggling to stay in their homes. We bear a lot of the propertytax burden for the city. Before the 10-1 system, I think a lot of my [constituents] felt like they weren’t getting a return on their investment, that they weren’t really getting the attention from the City that they deserve, which is the same way that the people outside the Central core felt.” “Cost of living and transportation were really the two things that motivated me to run for office. We didn’t get into this overnight and we’re not going to be able to get out of it overnight, but I do think we’re taking steps in the right direction. I am really proud of some of the things that we’ve been able to accomplish to address cost-ofliving issues. I think that the average Austinite will pay less in total tax burden to the City because of my voice. That’s really important to me that I felt like I’ve made a difference. Also, I think we have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to our transportation infrastructure. The city is growing so quickly and our roads have not kept up with that pace of growth, and so, we need to invest.” “I think the change from the at-large system to the district-based system allows for true representation of the very different parts of [the] city that all deserve equal representation. It’s historic and I hope that for the people who didn’t support the change that we’re proving that it works and that we’re still able to get business done. We might have disagreements on issues, but those disagreements are really important to talk about because it leads to more thoughtful policies in the end.”
austinwomanmagazine.com | 63
Kathie Tovo District 9 Kathie Tovo is the only Council Member to carry over from the previous Council, and her experience helped weave a seamless transition for the new City Council. Tovo, who was selected by her fellow Council members to serve as mayor pro tem, has been a longtime advocate for neighborhoods and continues to spotlight the diverse needs of her district’s residents. “District 9 is the most connected in terms of linking boundaries with others. It’s unusual in that it runs north of the river as well as south of the river, and then east and west of the interstate in two places, at the northernmost corner and at the southernmost. It includes the city’s oldest neighborhoods, as well as one of the newest master-planned communities, over in Mueller. We’ve got a diverse mix of housing types and families, and I believe the highest percentage of homeless, as well as some of the wealthiest neighborhoods. It’s dynamic and probably the area of the city that’s undergoing the most development pressure and the most pressure for change.” “Affordability is something I’ve had a focus on for a long time. I spent about 10 years in Bouldin Creek, and one of the things that was happening very rapidly in that area is the displacement of longtime residents. As the real-estate values went up, we saw many, many homes going on the market and people being displaced by the increasing property values. That’s something I’ve been talking about for years because I saw it firsthand. When I campaigned in 2014, for probably every other door I knocked on, that was their primary concern. Whatever neighborhood it was in District 9, they wondered how long they were going to be able to stay. Some of them had calculated, ‘I can probably stay here another two years. That’s about as long as I’m going to be able to afford my property taxes,’ or, ‘That’s as long as I’m going to be able to afford the rent increases I’ve been facing over the last few years.’ I’m really concerned with affordable housing. … I think it’s really critical to the kind of Austin we want to develop.” “When I took office in 2011, I was sort of startled to hear that I was the 16th woman in all of Austin’s history. When I go out and talk to groups of students, that’s one of the facts that used to really grab their attention, and the fact that there had only ever been one woman who had served as mayor. I heard audible gasps among some groups, especially of young women who heard that information. It’s extraordinary that in one election cycle, we went from having 16 ever to an additional seven. Having a female majority says a lot about Austin and the kind of place that Austin is, and the opportunities that are here for women.” 64 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Sheri Gallo District 10 As a fifth-generation Austinite, Sherri Gallo knows a thing or two about this city. A resident of District 10 for 50-plus years, Gallo has also been a small-business owner for more than 30 years. Her business acumen, combined with her longtime history with this city, pushes her to keep issues of affordability and fiscal responsibility front and center in all decisions. “District 10 is a wonderful place to live, work, play and raise a family. It has the largest number of registered voters among all of the districts in the city. The District 10 population is very educated and engaged in how their City operates. As a result, residents expect an incredible amount of interaction with their Council member and district staff. My priority this past year and continuing this year is to offer the best communication options and to be as responsive as possible to our residents. My staff and I will continue to spend the majority of our time participating in office meetings, answering phone calls and emails, and continuing to be present at all of the District 10 neighborhood and homeowner-association meetings.” “District 10 has several very high-profile zoning cases, such as Austin Oaks in Northwest Hills and the Grove at Shoal Creek in the Bull Creek area. My role continues as a participant in all of the many relevant meetings and as a source of encouragement for neighbors and the property owners to work together toward a positive outcome for the entire community. My hope is that with continued productive communication between all of the different voices in the neighborhoods, the project owners and my Council office, both developments will be innovative mixed-use urban communities, which are assets to the surrounding neighborhoods.” “Being a part of such a collaborative, creative and intelligent group of women leaders has been one of the best experiences of my life. There have only been 16 women in the past elected to the Austin City Council prior to 2015. Adding seven women to the City Council during the same election and those women holding a majority of the seats on the 11-member Council are historic accomplishments.” Learn more about all districts and City Council members at austinwomanmagazine.com.
austinwomanmagazine.com | 65
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GOURMET Cauliflower Power
Simplify your weeknight with this easy make-ahead cauliflower soup. story and photos by Natalie Paramore
austinwomanmagazine.com |  67
G
OURMET
AW Test Kitchen
Chilly temperatures and diminishing daylight can make winter meals a challenge. Even with the best intentions, slow-cooker recipes can take quite a bit of planning and prep to get things ready before you’re out the door in the morning. That’s why the secret weapon Make It Ahead is a hearty vegetable-based soup for weeknight meals. It’s filling, comforting and tastes Store the soup for up to like it took all day. (It actually takes less than an hour to make.) five days in the fridge. This creamy cauliflower soup is delicious just as is, but it’s also great as a base Reheat it on the stove or in for added spices or extra veggies. Follow our test kitchen’s six simple steps to the microwave. It will be preparing this winter weeknight staple, soup to nuts. thick, so be sure to give it a swirl when reheating.
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Serves four to six Hands-on time: 35 minutes Ingredients: 4 cups cauliflower florets 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth 1 13-ounce can full-fat coconut milk (or sub whole milk) 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup white onion, chopped 5 cloves fresh garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Chives, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and Parmesan to taste
Directions: 1. Wash and roughly chop the cauliflower florets from the stem. Test-kitchen tip: Many local grocers sell cauliflower that has been pre-washed and chopped. 2. Dice the onions and saute them with olive oil in a medium-size pot over medium heat for 15 minutes or until translucent, stirring frequently. 3. Add cauliflower and one cup of broth. Saute for an additional five to seven minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. 4. Transfer everything from the pot into a blender. Add the rest of the broth, the Parmesan, garlic, milk, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Test-kitchen tip: If using a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, place it on the hot-soup setting and let it blend. Watch out for the steam once it finishes. If using a normal blender, blend the ingredients for three to five minutes or until very smooth. 5. Pour the soup back into the pot and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently for about five more minutes until hot throughout. Do not allow the soup to boil. 6. Sprinkle in some more salt, pepper and Parmesan to taste, and garnish with red pepper flakes and chives. Serve hot.
Natalie Paramore is an Austin-based food and travel blogger. Get the latest on her travels, recipes and where she has been eating at her blog, natalieparamore.com or follow along on Instagram @natalieparamore.
68 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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OURMET
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Searching for a Stronger Connection
Here’s the scoop on Cuvée Coffee Bar’s no-Wi-Fi policy. Take two steps into Cuvée Coffee Bar and you might not notice much that sets the establishment apart from other coffee shops in Austin. But look around a bit or try to connect to the Wi-Fi, and you’ll start to notice some discrepancies. First, there is no Wi-Fi. Unless you brought your own hotspot with you, you’re out of luck. Second, maybe two out of 10 tables have laptops sitting on them. Sitting at the other eight tables are people talking in groups of two or three about business plans, kids’ school schedules, resolutions and the like. The sight is a shock in contrast to other coffee shops where you place your order and immediately feel as though you have to play the quiet game. Those who have scheduled a work meeting at a coffee shop only to move outside to avoid disturbing those inside siphoning free Wi-Fi know this scenario all too well. It’s that silence that Mike McKim, founder of Cuvée Coffee, wanted to shake up when he opened his first retail coffee location, Cuvée Coffee Bar, off East Sixth Street in August 2014. “You look in here and you can talk at a normal level,” McKim says, casting a sweeping glance around the room. Background music plays at a decibel low enough to hear conversation but high enough to discourage whispering. And that’s exactly the atmosphere, the energy McKim was after when he enacted the bar’s no-Wi-Fi policy. “We’re not anti-technology,” McKim is quick to clarify, pointing to the plugs and USB ports Cuvée has for people to charge their phones and computers. “I’m just giving people a space where they can [interact with each other], if that’s what they want to do.” His idea is not, by any means, new. In fact, coffeehouses have served as the grounds (pun intended) for 70 | Austin Woman | february 2016
conversation since they first showed up on the social scene in 17th-century Europe. People in 18th-century London would pay a penny for admission to local coffeehouses so they could drink coffee and discuss the latest news.
Cuvée Coffee Bar 2000 E. Sixth St., 512.264.1479, cuveecoffee.com
Exposed brick walls and custom-built, brushed-metal furnishings give Cuvée Coffee Bar an industrial aesthetic. An eye-catching mural, painted in blue on the building’s back wall, adds an Austin vibe. Designed in a hexagonal shape, the bar is dedicated to serving coffee on one side and to serving beer and wine on the other. Baristas move freely within the almost circular hive, around which caffeine-craving customers hover. McKim takes a humble approach to the no-Wi-Fi policy. There is no second-guessing the decision. If anything, he finds it amusing how attached people are to an Internet connection. “A lot of people feel like they’re entitled to free Wi-Fi,” he says, a look of bemusement in his eyes. “It’s crazy to me how controversial it is.” For the first four months the bar was open, he says, his employees begged him to offer free Wi-Fi. They were tired of dealing with irate customers. In the same way someone who takes her coffee with two creams and a sugar might not see eye to eye with someone who drinks his coffee black, there are those who welcome the idea of no Wi-Fi, and those who hastily leave the bar to write a visceral review on Yelp. “For everybody that complains about us not having Wi-Fi, there’s probably another two or three people that are like, ‘You know what? This is kind of cool,’ ” McKim says. “When they discover they can come in here and talk at a normal level and not feel like anyone is giving them the stink eye for being too loud, I think that’s the measuring stick of success for me and the no-Wi-Fi program.” Cuvée Coffee has been a roaster and retail distributor since 1998. That’s 17 years McKim has had to think about what he wanted out of his first brick-and-mortar coffee bar. “Everything that we did was very intentional in here,” he says. “My decision was really based on the fact that I wanted a meeting space. There’s tons of virtual offices [in Austin], but there really aren’t that many meeting spaces.”
Photos courtesy of Cuvée Coffee Bar.
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OURMET
Chopping Block
Le Cordon Blues
Austin’s oldest culinary school is closing its doors. By april cumming Le Cordon Bleu, the academy famously known for training celebratory Chef Julia Child in the arts of cooking, is closing all 16 of its campus locations in the U.S.—including the one in Austin—by the end of 2017.
Photo by Elizabeth Van Huffel.
As of Jan. 4, the school is no longer enrolling new students. The decision, announced in December 2015, has stirred the conversation pot as to what this mass closing says about the value of attending culinary school and, on a more local level, what it says about the changing face of Austin’s food scene. A statement released by Career Education Corporation, Le Cordon Bleu’s North America parent company, cited “the impact of the federal government’s new regulations on career colleges” as what ultimately led to the decision. The Austin school, located in The Domain, got its start as the Texas Culinary Academy in 1981. Career Education Corporation purchased the school in 2001. Campuses outside the U.S., including the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, are owned independently and will not be affected by the closures.
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OURMET
Sommelier Secrets
Let Your Love Flow
Three Austin sommeliers pair their favorite wines with heart-healthy meals. story and photos by Matt McGinnis Sure, the month of January is filled with onerous New Year’s resolutions full of strict diets and exercise. The good news is that those resolutions probably have you on the path to participate in American Heart Month this February. The even better news is that, according to many studies, drinking red wine—as long as you don’t overdo it—may actually be good for your heart. So follow your heart with these recommendations for pairing a rustic or robust red wine with a few of Austin’s best heart-healthy dishes. The Sommelier: Mark Sayre, Arro 601 W. Sixth St.
Advanced Sommelier Mark Sayre has gathered prestigious honors, such as Texas’ Best Sommelier in 2007, Wine & Spirits Magazine’s Seven Best New Sommeliers in 2010 and a 2012 CultureMap Tastemaker Award during his career managing the restaurant at Westwood Country Club and running the wine program at Trio Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Now serving as service director of the wine-focused Arro, he is in his element. Sayre has a deft touch at pairing wines from the extensive list with the everchanging menu. “I take a broad approach to food-and-wine pairings,” he says. “I pair the structure and weight of a wine to match the food. This gives you more options. Now you can talk about red wines and seafood. Now you don’t have to talk about pairing cherry flavors in wine with cherry flavors in a dish. It’s about how the weight of the wine and the weight of the dish work together. If the texture of this dish is really elegant, let’s find an elegant wine with a little more body.”
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The Meal: Niçoise Salad This classic salad from the South of France is as satisfying as it is healthy, with grilled tuna atop leafy greens, herbs, green beans, potatoes, eggs and olives. Sayre says pinot noir is a perfect mate for niçoise salad. “The elegance and complexity in salad match elegance and complexity in the wine,” Sayre says. “The meaty flavor from tuna, savory earthiness from the olives and potatoes, and myriad herbal qualities go really well with fruity and floral tones and the core of savory and spicy flavors.”
The Wine: 2009 Domaine Michel Lafarge Premier Cru Les Aigrots from Beaune, France This Southern Burgundy beauty is as rustic as it is elegant, with bright cherry flavors and enough oomph to muscle up to the meaty aspect of the tuna. It runs about $178. For a less expensive option, try the 2013 Soter North Valley Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Ore. This is a gorgeous wine, with juicy fruit intensity balanced with herbal scents and earthiness, and is often found in Burgundy, France. It is $48 for a bottle or $12 by the glass.
Sommelier Secrets
The Sommelier: Nathan Fausti, Bullfight 4807 Airport Blvd.
Certified Sommelier Nathan Fausti is a rising star in the Austin wine community. Having won the title of 2015 Texas’ Best Sommelier, he is now preparing to take the Advanced Sommelier Exam and test his skills in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Young Sommelier Competition as one of three people selected to compete in the 10-state region. Though he’ll soon take the helm as sommelier at Due Forni, in his current position as the sommelier at Bullfight, Fausti pairs Spanish wines with Southern Spanish tapas. Finding the right wine to go with a diverse selection of flavors in multiple dishes is a fun challenge for Fausti. “I look for structure and match the body of the wine with the body of the food,” he says. “Wine with a lot of tannin matches fattiness. Higher alcohol goes with a heavier-bodied dish. I match for the most part and then look for some contrast. It is like adding a seasoning to the dish.”
The Meal: A Trio of Vegetable-driven Tapas Escalivada with peppers, eggplant and boquerones is an absolutely gorgeous dish served with the fish artistically arranged on a ring of roasted and chilled vegetables. Cauliflower gazpacho, made with cauliflower stock, has crunchy, grilled cauliflower florets, paprika-spiced walnuts, pickled grapes and shaved fennel. It is a party of textures and smoky, sweet flavors. And grilled branzino, a traditional Mediterranean sea bass, is served in tomato broth with herbs, garlic and braised cannellini beans.
The Wine: Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva 2003, Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain This aged red wine has savory flavors almost like sweet and sour, with mellow red fruit, cherry, soy sauce, baking spice, vanilla and a lot of earthiness that pairs well with escalivada. It’s priced at $98. For a less expensive alternative, try the Palacio de Canedo Maceración 2013 from Bierzo in Northwest Spain. This is a medium-bodied wine made with the mencia grape. It is reminiscent of Cru Beaujolais, with great aromatics, fresh cherry flavors, black pepper and a savory herb spiciness that goes well with vegetables and fish. It is $56 for the bottle or $12 by the glass.
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Sommelier Secrets
The Sommelier: Chris Dufau, Emmer & Rye 51 Rainey St.
Certified Sommelier Chris Dufau has extensive experience in wine service from stints at the famed French Laundry and the Martini House in Napa Valley, Calif., as well as Jeffrey’s in Austin. He joined the team at the newly opened Emmer & Rye, drawn by the opportunity to work at a chef-owned restaurant in a vibrant part of town. Pairing wines with an eclectic mix of small plates and ever-changing dim sum dishes keeps Dufau on his toes. “I designed a list of mostly European wines that fit a broad spectrum of flavors and that work with multiple courses and multiple dishes,” Dufau says. “We have 45 wines by the bottle and six whites and eight reds by the glass that are great for everyday drinking.”
The Dish: Rye Pappardelle Pasta With a Mangalitsa Pork Ragout The big, broad noodles are made in-house using grain that is milled in the kitchen. Served lazily folded over each other with lean cuts of pork braised in Roma tomato sauce, the firm pasta and tangy ragout are meltin-your-mouth delicious.
The Wine: Ar.Pe.Pe. Rosso di Valtellina, Nebbiolo from Lombardy, Italy This light-style wine made near the Swiss Alps has floral, cherry and cranberry flavors that go well with the pork and many other dishes on the menu. It’s priced at $70. For a less expensive alternative, try the Claus Preisinger, Blaufrankisch from Austria. This is a solid wine, with wild, brambly fruit flavors that bring out the spiciness of the rye in the pasta. It is $45 for the bottle.
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health
Heart Health for Women
Learn all you need to know about preventing heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. By Jill Case According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, causing one in four deaths each year. Many women think that heart disease primarily affects men, but this isn’t the case. In fact, heart disease kills approximately as many women as it does men, yet only 54 percent of women are aware of this danger to their health. The most common cause of heart disease is atherosclerosis, which occurs when there is a buildup of fatty plaque in the walls of the arteries. This condition can cause heart attacks and strokes. Heart disease can also include problems with the heart valves, abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia) and congestive heart failure. Risk Factors
Heart-attack Symptoms
While every woman is at risk for heart disease during her lifetime, certain factors put a woman at higher risk for developing the disease, including some that you cannot change, such as: 4 family history of heart disease at an early age: having a heart attack at age 55 or younger for a father or brother or having heart disease at age 65 or younger for a mother or sister 4 being age 55 or older, which creates a higher risk due to the drop in estrogen experienced after menopause 4 being African-American, Hispanic or Native American, as these ethnic groups are at higher risk than white women
Usually, women experience the same symptoms of a heart attack as men: feeling a fullness or pain in the center of the chest, feeling discomfort or pressure and squeezing in the chest, or discomfort and/or pain in one or both arms. It’s extremely important for women to realize they may experience other symptoms that are not commonly associated with a heart attack. Knowing this and not ignoring these symptoms could save your life or the life of a loved one. These symptoms include: 4 shortness of breath with or without discomfort or pressure in the chest 4 nausea 4 dizziness or feeling lightheaded 4 pain in the jaw, neck, back or stomach 4 breaking out in a cold sweat
Prevention There are certain risk factors that may be reduced if you make lifestyle and/or health and medical changes. In addition, there are things every woman can do to prevent heart disease. 4 Do not smoke. If you do, get help to quit. 4 Work with your doctor to manage your blood-sugar levels and diabetes. 4 Control your blood pressure through lifestyle changes and/or medication. 4 Maintain healthy cholesterol levels or work to lower them if they are too high. 4 Investigate your family history and share it with your doctor. 4 Get regular aerobic exercise at least five days a week for 30 minutes each day. 4 Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if you are overweight or obese. 4 Eat a healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fish. Reduce your intake of sodium, sugar, fat and processed foods.
For more information, visit goredforwomen.org.
Did You Know? •A pproximately 60 percent more women died from heart disease in 2004 than from all types of cancer combined.
•W omen with high triglycerides combined with a low HDL cholesterol level are at a very high risk for heart disease.
• If your waist measures more than 35 inches around, you are at higher risk for heart disease.
• Women are diagnosed and treated for heart disease less often than men.
• Smoking is a serious risk factor for heart attacks, and smoking is the cause of about half of all heart attacks in women.
•H eavy drinkers (defined as having more than three drinks a day) have more heart problems than women who do not drink or who are moderate drinkers.
• For women, having a low HDL cholesterol level is more dangerous than having a high level.
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•W omen smokers who also take birth-control pills also have a high risk of heart disease.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN
people / neighborhoods / health care
Go Local Support: Austin’s active local chapter of the American Heart Association offers educational opportunities, support systems and more. To learn more, call 512.338.2400, or visit the local page at heart.org. Events: National Wear Red Day, Feb. 5 Rock Your Red/Austin Woman February Launch Party, Feb. 11 Go Red for Women Summit, Feb. 26 Keynote Speaker: Laura Bush, austingored.heart.org Food: All too often, it seems easiest to grab unhealthy fast food on the go, but there are healthy, moderately priced options available throughout the city. Feed your heart a little love at these Austin favorites:
As Central Health begins the redevelopment of our Brackenridge Campus, we’re seeking new ways to bring together Travis County residents and the exceptional health care we all need.
1 Central/downtown Austin Whole Foods Market 525 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.476.1206 Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Austin’s flagship store offers many options for dining in or take-out, including 5th Street Seafood, Bowie BBQ, Artisan Sandwiches, Asian Express, Taco Alley and 6th Street Trattoria
1 North Austin The Steeping Room 4400 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.46.SCONE (72663) Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides an extensive selection of loose-leaf teas, you can find soups, salads and other dishes made with organic dairy, cage-free eggs and natural meats. The menu includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
1 East Austin Mr. Natural 1901 E. Cesar Chavez St. 512.477.5228 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. More than just a healthy restaurant, Mr. Natural also boasts a juice bar and a vegan bakery. Choose from breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salad and vegetables, plus Mexican dishes.
1 South Austin Bouldin Creek Cafe 1900 S. First St., 512.416.1601 Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to midnight Fodor’s Travel Guides calls this cafe “home to some of the best meat-free dishes in the city.” In addition to vegetarian and vegan breakfast foods, sandwiches, soups and salads, all made from scratch, Bouldin Creek Café also offers organic, free-trade coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages.
CentralHealthCampus.net Redevelopment begins in 2017
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1 West Austin Daily Juice Cafe 3300 Bee Cave Road, 512.276.2133 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Raw juice: There’s nothing processed or pasteurized here. You’ll also find smoothies, acai bowls, salads, soups, wraps and more. The staff can advise you about which juices may suit your health concerns.
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Hone in on Your Home Gym
The key to reigniting your fitness routine lies just a few snooze buttons away from the comfort of your covers. By April Cumming, illustration by Jessica Wetterer It’s widely acknowledged that humans have a tendency to replace solid reasons for hitting the gym with poor excuses to stay home. Often overlooked is the reality that gyms are all around us. With a little ingenuity and openmindedness, you’ll find you don’t have to change into your workout clothes, struggle to find a parking spot or pay a monthly membership to break a sweat. You can create a gym right in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a little willpower. What: Warm-up Where: Laundry room
Folding, bending, lifting: Doing laundry serves as a great warm-up to kick-start your workout. And the more trips across the house or up the stairs to distribute laundered items, the better. What: Legs Where: Living room
Revamp your couch surfing. Stand facing away from the couch and raise your right leg so the top of your foot rests on the edge of the couch at a 90-degree angle. The other leg should be firmly planted on the floor. Squat with your standing leg until your thigh is parallel to the floor and your kneecap is directly in-line over your ankle. Return to standing and repeat on the opposite leg. Reps: Complete 20 on each leg. What: Arms Where: Garage
Those storage boxes and coolers stacking up in your garage are meant for more than just taking up space. Elevate your weightlifting routine by utilizing one box or cooler, preferably 2 feet tall. (Thanks to their heavyduty stability, Yeti Coolers are great for this.) For beginners, arm yourself with one 5- to 10-pound weight in your right hand. Step up onto the platform with your right foot, push the weight above your head and lift your left foot up to stand. Step down with your right leg and lower the weight in sync with the lowering of your left leg. Reps: Complete 10 on each side.
82 | Austin Woman | february 2016
Tip: Don’t have weights? Replace them with books or magazines (We recommend that pile of Austin Woman magazines stacked on your bedside table.), using both arms to lift overhead instead of one. What: Core Where: Bedroom
This isn’t second-grade P.E. class. For situps, you don’t need a partner to act as Sasquatch on your feet. Simply lie down with your back on the bedroom floor and tuck your toes underneath the lowest part of your bedframe. Reps: Complete 20 situps. Tip: Don’t have a bed or bedframe that allows you to tuck your toes? Boat Pose is here
to help. From a seated position, pull your legs in close to your chest. Place your hands on the underside of your knees and kick your legs off the floor and out in front of you. Keeping your chest lifted (as though a string is pulling your heart toward the ceiling), hold for 20 seconds. If you’re feeling ambitious, lower and lift your upper body and lower body in sync, creating a situp motion. What: Full-body Stretch Where: Hallway
With your back to a wall, take one arm’s-length step forward. Extend both arms above your shoulders, reaching toward the wall, and begin to tilt your head back, gradually walking your
Well hands down the wall into a backbend. Welcome to Chakrasana, or Wheel Pose. Be sure to not bend past your limit. Push your hips forward to take pressure off your lower back. Slowly walk your hands back up the wall and return to standing. Reps: Complete one to two bends. Balance out the backbend stretch by gripping onto a wall column, kitchen countertop or doorknob (with the door closed and locked for safety) as though you are giving it a tight hug with your hands. With your feet planted near the base of the door, lean away at a 45-degree angle, keeping your legs straight and allowing your arms to slowly extend. Pull back and let all your weight go into your hands. This allows your upper trapezoid muscles to release tension and delve into a deep stretch. Reps: Complete one to two stretches. What: Rest Where: Bed
Press Play
t
What’s the best part of working out at home? You’re always just a few paces from your bed, a comfy place to catch your breath and let your body soak in all the endorphins. That’s one amenity you won’t find at any gym.
Are you more of a follower than a leader? Let these instructors guide you through an invigorating exercise routine. All you have to do is press play. Yoga With Adriene youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene Adriene Mishler is an Austin-born and -raised yoga instructor and actress with more than 1 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, Yoga With Adriene. From Yoga for Complete Beginners to Yoga for Weight Loss and 30-day Yoga Camps, her videos range from four minutes to an hour in length. Get to know more about this positive and upbeat woman in our bonus Q&A at austinwomanmagazine.com.
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in memoriAm
In Memoriam: Holley Kitchen
By Rachel Merriman
Austin Woman was honored to feature Holley Kitchen in our January issue, and deeply saddened to learn of her passing Jan. 12.
Go Red For Women Summit ®
Photo by Dustin Meyer.
For anyone reading who doesn’t know Kitchen’s story, her viral video about metastatic breast cancer and her experience living with it educated millions of people worldwide. Though her video itself is amazing, it was Kitchen’s dedication to education and advocacy for metastatic breast cancer that captured our attention. It’s an incredibly brave and radical act when someone speaks up for an underrepresented group of people, and we admired that Kitchen was so outspoken about the fact that metastatic breast cancer is often overlooked and needs more dedicated research funding. Rather than calling herself a “survivor,” Kitchen labeled herself a “lifer,” giving those in the metastatic breast-cancer community a moniker they could truly identify with. She embraced vulnerability and put it all out there for everyone to see, sharing personal updates about her life on her Facebook page. In the comments threads of each of her updates, people from throughout the world were able to connect with each other. Whatever you’re going through, it helps to have your people (or, as Kitchen called her followers, her village) around you, and she was so smart to know that. In her story, Kitchen mentioned she loved to think ahead, plan and be in control, but that living with cancer had forced her to take each day in stride. Despite her day-by-day mentality, Kitchen managed to take her impossible situation and use it to help people. We are so grateful to Kitchen for allowing us to amplify her message through the pages of Austin Woman. She selflessly shared her precious time with us so her story could perhaps help someone who just happened to pick up the magazine. For that, she was simply extraordinary. If you were touched by Holley Kitchen’s story in our January issue, please consider making a donation to her family’s GoFundMe account (gofundme.com/bas5g8), or making a donation in her name to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (mbcn.org) or to Metavivor (metavivor.org).
February 26, 2016 9:00 am - 1:00 pm JW Marriott Austin
running is why
©2016, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS. 11/13DS7447
A routine athletics physical helped save the life of UT student, Abby Moss. Dr. Kessler with Heart Hospital of Austin discovered she had Long QT Syndrome, the same undiagnosed disorder that had taken her older sister’s life just months earlier. Hannah suffered cardiac arrest in her sleep while away at college, and her death was a shock to everyone. Discovering this, Dr. Kessler began testing the rest of her family immediately. Both Abby and her mother tested positive for Long QT and immediately underwent surgery. Mother and daughter now have an implanted defibrillator and pacemaker that allows them to lead normal lives. Even though Abby will never get to run track for UT as she had planned, she knows she has a better chance at a long life – one her sister might have had.
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Austin Young Chamber of Commerce
State of AYC Thursday, February 25, 2016 11:00am – 1:00pm Hilton Austin Please join us as we honor two ChangeMakers and discuss our shared path to make Austin the greatest city possible for young leaders. More information and tickets at AustinYC.org
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memo from JB
Back to the Basics of Love
Why starting over means feeling like a newlywed again. By JB Hager, photo by rudy arocha This will, by far, be my least romantic Valentine’s Day in my 18-year marriage. Valentine’s Day and birthdays are typically something I put a bit of pride and effort into for my wife. I’ve pulled off feats like a surprise performance on a tour boat by the artist who was singing onstage the moment I proposed to her. Then there was the time I picked her up for a date in the red Porsche 944 that Jake Ryan drove in Sixteen Candles, her favorite movie—not one like it; the actual car. This year, there won’t be a fancy dinner or expensive flowers. There certainly won’t be an elaborate gift exchange or jetting off to an exotic beach, her favorite place to relax. We’ll likely exchange artsy blank cards that we fill with our own words and share our thoughts on how exciting it is, feeling as if we are starting over. What do I mean by starting over? It’s not that we split and got back together, although walking through Target with a registry scan gun would be fun again. We have just had to reboot. My career experienced some major hiccups a couple years ago, and a family health issue drained that well-planned savings pretty quick. For my entire marriage, I’ve lived in fear of this day. In my mind, which is not much to work with, if the money went away, literally everything went away, including my wife. My life coach, or, as less successful people call him, a therapist, would constantly ask me why I was so worried about the future, which I didn’t have control of. I never had a good answer. I was adamant that the rug was going to be pulled from beneath my feet and I would lose everything, recovery not being an option. It’s hard to imagine the amount of time I let this consume me. Here we are 18 years into our marriage and feeling a bit like newlyweds again. We’re scraping by with financial creativity, much like starting over. The crazy thing about it all is that it feels great. Neither of us wants to admit it, but this very well might be just the sort of kick in the teeth we needed. Trust me, my wife is not the biggest fan of painting her own nails, but much to my surprise, she was the first to roll up her sleeves and assure me, “We’re going to get through this.” This is not the premonition I had for so many years. The irony is that for many years on my radio show, I have said, “Get married and start a family when you are young and stupid. It will be the best time of your life.” You don’t know it at the time, but the struggle to get by, working together and placing value on only the most important things is really special. With money come a lot of complacency, distractions and taking things for granted. Our first home purchase together was a 1953 1,600-square-foot home in Central Austin, and was never viewed as our forever home. We couldn’t wait to get out to the West Austin Hills and into a bigger home of our dreams. We are in the process of closing on a 1960 1,600-square-foot home back in Central Austin. It’s all we ever needed and where we belong. I’m not entirely certain I won’t worry about the future moving forward, but I will definitely look forward to the excitement of where changes will take us, together, and to perhaps our most memorable Valentine’s Day ever. Lucky me! 86 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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I Am Austin Woman
Black History is More Than Celebrating the Color of My Skin
A former Austin Woman cover woman gives her perspective on Black History Month. Story and photo by Gigi Edwards Bryant children’s births and not only did these children look white, but they The celebration of Black History Month originally began also had straight hair. She continued to ask me questions, wanting to as Negro History Week in 1926, established by Carter G. know more about “black people looking white” and about what I was Woodson. It took place during the second week of Februgoing to do. At first, this conversation confused me. It did not make ary because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick me angry, but it did make me question her lack of knowledge of the Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the bicentennial many hues of African-Americans, from looking of the United States, President Ger“We all have dreams. In order to make white with very light eyes, to very dark skin and ald R. Ford expanded the week to a dreams come into reality, it takes an awful brown eyes. full month. He said the country lot of determination, dedication, selfUltimately, this conversation made me needed to “seize the opportunity discipline and effort.” – Jesse Owens contemplate two ideas: First, is the prevailing to honor the too often sentiment that we celneglected accomplishebrate Black History Month because of the color of our ments of black Ameriskin? Or is the prevailing cans in every area of sentiment that we celendeavor throughout ebrate because of the many our history.” contributions we as people Black History Month is of color in every walk of life now an annual observance have made to this world and in the United States, Canada to make America great? and the United Kingdom. For I tell my high-school African-Americans, it repreSunday-school class we will sents the remembrance of our not pray for them to pass a journey as people of color test if they have not studied throughout the history of Afbecause God will only bring rican diaspora, but is that just to them what they already our perceived purpose? know. In order for our chilI am a fifth-generation dren to know our history, it Austinite and have lived in is important we teach them. Austin all my adult life. I Gigi Edwards Bryant (left) and friends Judy Garner Our youth would rechave seen Austin go from and Thelma Sanders enjoy a day at the spa. ognize African-American community based to highhistory if they were taught way based and from a rich fragrance of cultures to a divided city that their ancestry is a cohesive part of American history. But in that uses I-35 like a national monument of division. light of those omissions, we use February to highlight our indelible During a Christmas party, one of my friends brought up the fact accomplishments to the strength of this nation and to plant a seed that my birth certificate reads “Caucasian.” The couple in front of for future generations to thirst for ownership. us looked shocked and the woman gasped, asking, “How did that Austin is a unique city, and we come together through many happen?” I told her my matriarchal family members were fairevents, occasions, mishaps and celebrations on a weekly basis. My skinned and were probably there for my birth. That, coupled with hope for Black History Month this February is that, as a city, we my own fair skin at birth and the fact that some black babies are very continue to celebrate our differences along with our likenesses. fair-skinned at birth, would explain it. She commented, “LightThrough our concerted efforts, we can lose the unwanted designaskinned, so that they look white. But how?” Her husband, seeing her tion as one of the most racially divided cities in the U.S., and only shock, intervened and said he had attended some of his employees’ consider the red, white and blue. Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column. To be considered for April’s I Am Austin Woman, email a 500-word submission on a topic of your choice by March 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com with the subject line “I Am Austin Woman.”
88 | Austin Woman | february 2016
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Austin Woman MAGAZINE | february 2016
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“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” —Oprah Winfre
This year, the Texas Auto Writers Association voted the 2016 XC90 as Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle of Texas. Naturally, we considered that a cause for celebration. But this called for something much more appropriate than a perfunctory glass of champagne. This called for mud. Thick, hearty, Central Texas mud. And right now, nothing could be better.