Brazos 360 by The Eagle Advertising Department

Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo and Karen Bonarrigo at Messina Hof in Bryan

FALL 2018

CHEERS! Local businesses keep craft beverages flowing in B-CS

360 PROFILES

Meet Mr. G’s owner Giovanni Cerone and mascot corporal Mia Miller

WHAT’s IN YOUR OFFICE?

A peek at Bryan Ruebush’s superhero trinkets and toys

PARTY PICS

Photos from events and festivals around town

Inside

EVENT CALENDAR

Get ready for Texas Reds, the Texas Renaissance Festival, Boonville Days and the Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo.

BY THE NUMBERS

Fun figures on Aggies on Texas pro football teams, the enduring success of Rocky Horror, Dr. Seuss’ curious word count and the most popular Halloween candy.

360 PROFILE

Texas A&M sophomore Mia Miller is the first woman to serve as handler for Reveille.

COVER STORY

Fans of craft beer, wine and spirits have plenty of choices with a variety of local businesses.

360 PROFILE

Giovanni Cerone, owner of Mr. G’s Pizzeria, looks back at his roots in the restaurant business and his family ties.

PARTY PICS

Photos from Doggie Day at the Pool and Cheers to Craft Beer in Downtown Bryan.

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

Bryan Ruebush, school resource officer for Davila Middle School, shares the stories behind his superherothemed office.

THE LAST WORD

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

Staff Crystal Dupré publisher

Sean Lewis sales director

Linda Brinkman advertising manager

Darren Benson editor

Rob Clark MANAGING editor

Dave McDermand Laura McKenzie photographerS

Family foibles can be plentiful when taking young children to an Aggie football game.

ON THE COVER Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo and Karen Bonarrigo at Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan. Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie.

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Local Events TEXAS REDS STEAK & GRAPE FESTIVAL The annual festival features 25 Texas wines and 15 Texas beers, live music by Wynonna (right) and the Big Noise, artists, food vendors and a kids’ zone. Paid activities include a wine-tasting dinner and a steak-andegg brunch. Details: Sept. 28-30 in Downtown Bryan. Sept. 28: Concert starts at 7:30 p.m., Wynonna performance at 9:30 p.m.; Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission; tickets must be purchased for tastings and meals. texasredsfestival.com. ‘THE CHOIR OF MAN’ MSC OPAS presents the U.S. premiere of the show that features everything from folk to Broadway to classic rock. Details: Oct. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. Rudder Auditorium. $26 to $78. mscopas.org. ‘ANYTHING GOES’ The Theatre Company presents the musical about antics on an ocean liner bound from New York to London. Details: Oct. 5-14; 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at The Theatre Company. $15 and $20. theatrecompany. com. 4

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand

A knight has his lance shatter against his opponent’s shield at the Texas Renaissance Festival.

TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL The nation’s largest Renaissance-themed park transforms 55 acres into a 16th century English township. Performers include musicians, magicians, acrobats and dancers in more than 200 daily performances on 20 stages. Also shops, artisans, merchants, crafts and food and drink vendors. Details: Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 29 through Nov. 25, 21778 F.M. 1774 in Todd Mission. Advance online tickets: $12.95 to $24.95. texrenfest.com. BUDDY WALK The 15th annual 5K and 1-mile event raises funds for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley and includes activities for children, music, entertainment and food. Details: Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Millican Reserve, 19851 F.M. 2154. $15 for the

walk, $25 for the 5K, $35 for both. ds-stride.org/dsabvbuddywalk/. CAPITOL STEPS MSC OPAS presents the comedy troupe that tackles political humor. Details: Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. $30 to $56. mscopas.org.

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BOONVILLE DAYS: texas heritage festival The event features the 10th annual Buffalo Stampede Half Marathon and 5K Race, a chuck wagon cook-off and a free festival that celebrates the Brazos Valley’s heritage, including characters in period costume, Civil War re-enactors, musicians, dancers, artists, cowboys, demonstrations of frontier skills and trades and period crafts. Details: Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and at the Brazos Center. Free admission; races cost $35 and $85. brazosvalleymuseum.org. WAGGLES & WINE Furry friends are invited to Messina Hof for the day, where the Vintage House chef will serve puppy treats. Wine slushies and appetizers in the wine bar will be available. A portion of the puppy treat sales will go to the Bryan Animal Center. Details: Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. at Messina Hof, 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan. Free admission. messinahof.com.

Eagle photos by Laura McKenzie

Sisters Ella and Ava Mitchell pet an alpaca while attending Boonville Days in 2017 at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History. Below, purebred longhorns Justice and Liberty stand near Larry “Professor Paisley” Heidbreder at the 2017 festival.

WIENER FEST The Aggieland Humane Society’s fundraiser features wiener races and wannabe wiener races for non-dachshund dogs. There will also be a costume contest, live music, a kids’ zone and vendors. Details: Oct. 14 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. aggielandhumane.org/ wienerfest. BVSO OPENER WITH CANADIAN BRASS The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s 37th season opener features the brass quintet, and the program will include music from Bach to Gershwin. Details: Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. bvso.org. WIENERSPIEL This fundraising event benefits nonprofit organizations that help homeless, unwanted and neglected animals, and features wiener dog and wanna-be wiener dog races and a costume contest. Details: Oct. 19-21 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. wienerspiel.org. 6

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

BRAZOS VALLEY FAIR & RODEO The annual event features rodeo and livestock events, live music with headliner Diamond Rio, a carnival, mutton bustin’, animal exhibits, a petting zoo, art vendors and more. Details: Oct. 19-21 at the Brazos County Expo Complex, 5827 Leonard Road. Early bird tickets available for $10. Free for

ages 12 and under. brazosvalleyfair.com. ‘STEEL MAGNOLIAS’ MSC OPAS’ Intimate Gatherings presents the play that was made into the popular 1989 film. Details: Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. $30 to $56. mscopas.org.

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY ROAD SHOW Jim Pennington’s show features demonstrations with fire, explosions, polymers and cold materials. Details: Oct. 25 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Free. bush41.org. ‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’ The Theatre Company presents the humorous musical that pays homage to science fiction as it tells a story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad scientist. Details: Oct. 26 at 8 p.m., Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. and midnight. $20. theatrecompany. com. WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S The annual walk helps to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease care, support and research. Participants can join as a team or walk as an individual. Details: Oct. 27 at 8:30 a.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. act.alz.org. BRAZOS VALLEY WORLDFEST The festival organized by Texas A&M University and The Arts Council celebrates international diversity and the heritage of the Brazos Valley, including cultural displays, demonstrations, international cuisine, performances, children’s crafts and games. Details: Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of MSC OPAS Soweto Gospel Choir performs at Rudder Auditorium on Oct. 30.

at Brazos County Expo Complex. Free admission. brazosvalleyworldfest.org. SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR MSC OPAS presents the South African choir performing Songs of the Free: In Honor of Nelson Mandela’s 100th Birthday. Details: Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $15 to $50. mscopas.org. TRICK OR TREAT AT WEREWOLF CREEK The City of College Station Parks & Rec-

reation Department presents a free trickor-treating event with dozens of candy booths, carnival games, entertainment and a petting zoo. Details: Oct. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Park. Free. cstx.gov. MESSINA HOF FALL FESTIVAL The event features local craft vendors, live music and a pumpkin patch to kick off the holiday shopping season. Details: Nov. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at Messina Hof Winery & Resort. Free. messinahof.com.

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FEI-FEI RETURNS Back by popular demand, pianist and Cliburn finalist Fei-Fei (right) returns to perform with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Details: Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. bvso. org. ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’ MSC OPAS presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical that tells the story of the Von Trapp family. Details: Nov. 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $28 to $90. mscopas.org. SANTA’S WONDERLAND The Christmas attraction features a Trail of Lights with more than 3 million lights, musical entertainment, food and games. Details: Nov. 9-Dec. 30. 18898 Texas 6. Prices vary. santas-wonderland.com. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK College Station presents its annual holiday celebration with performances, hayrides, a petting zoo, snow slides, treats and Santa. Details: Nov. 30-Dec. 1 and Dec. 7-8 from 6 to 10 p.m. Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. The park’s holiday lights will be up from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

Photo courtesy of MSC OPAS ‘The Sound of Music’ comes to Rudder Auditorium on Nov. 6 and 7.

ERTH’S PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM ADVENTURE MSC OPAS presents the show that uses actors, technology and puppets to create an experience of the ocean depths in prehistoric times. Details: Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $30 and $42. mscopas.org. ‘SEUSSICAL’ The Theatre Company presents the musical based on Dr. Seuss’ children’s stories. Details: Nov. 30-Dec. 16. $15 and $20. theatrecompany.com. CELTIC WOMAN MSC OPAS presents the all-female Irish

singing group, which will perform holiday favorites. Details: Dec. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $28 to $125. mscopas. org. HOLIDAY POPS The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra collaborates with James Faith on the organ, the Christ United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir and Canticle Ringers and the College Station High School Varsity Women’s Choir to perform traditional holiday favorites. Details: Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 4201 Texas 6, College Station. bvso.org.

By the Numbers

55 That’s the number of Texas A&M football players that have played for or signed with pro teams in Texas, according to the A&M media guide. Twenty-one played for the Dallas Cowboys, 17 for the Houston Texans, 14 for the Houston Oilers and two for the USFL’s Houston Gamblers. (Add one more, Richard Osborne, who was with the USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers, according to a 1983 Washington Post story.) Some Aggies had double duty: Ray Childress (Oilers, Cowboys), Bucky Richardson (Oilers, Cowboys), Aaron Glenn (Texans, Cowboys), Stephen McGee, above (Cowboys, Texans) and Uzoma Nwachukwu (Texans, Cowboys). Among the former players that served as pro coaches: Gary Kubiak coached the Texans and Jack Pardee coached the Gamblers and the Oilers.

$21,245

The campy musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brien and Meat Loaf, only earned $21,245 in its first week in 1975, according to the-numbers.com. And yet it later thrived as a midnight movie, complete with fans dressing as the characters, bringing props and throwing things at the screen. The film’s domestic gross, adjusted for inflation, is $510 million, good enough to rank 83rd on the all-time list, according to boxofficemojo.com. (Oddly enough, it ranks one higher than a very different film, Rocky.) Those who shiver with anticipation for Rocky Horror fun will have three local chances in October: The Theatre Company presents The Rocky Horror Show Oct. 26 and 27. And the Queen Theatre in Downtown Bryan will screen the movie on Halloween evening at midnight.

No. 1 The top Halloween costume of 2017 was Wonder Woman, according to Google’s “Frightgeist” site, which measures Google searches about Halloween costumes. Thanks to Gal Gadot’s blockbuster film, the superhero knocked 2016’s top costume, Harley Quinn, down to the No. 2 spot. Clowns came in third, which likely had to do with Pennywise in the movie version of Stephen King’s IT, rather than other clowns (Bozo, Krusty, Shakes). Some of the more curious top costume picks from across the country include Anchorage, Alaska (“physician”), Eau Claire, Wisconsin (“Oompa Loompa”), Dothan, Alabama (“chicken”), Parkersburg, West Virginia (“nerd”) and Bend, Oregon (“tree”).

50 It’s remarkable that a hugely successful book could be limited to that many words. As detailed in Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel, a 1995 biography by Judith and Neil Morgan, Green Eggs and Ham had just 50 unique words, the result of a $50 bet with Random House president Bennett Cerf. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel, won the bet by using repetitive patterns throughout the peculiar culinary tale (“box” and “fox,” “boat” and “goat” make multiple appearances, for example, and “not” is used 82 times.) For Seuss fans, there are two events to look forward to this fall: The Theatre Company presents a production of Seussical, which runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 16. And Illumination Entertainment, which brought Horton Hears a Who and The Lorax to the big screen, presents the animated film The Grinch, which opens on Nov. 9.

6 Candy corn, despite its many detractors, is the most popular Halloween treat in six states (Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island and South Carolina) according to a 2017 study by candystore. com. For those who have long wondered the most popular way to consume candy corn, a 2013 survey by the National Confectioners Association tackled this essential question. The results: 42.7 percent start with the small end, the white side; 46.8 devour it all at once; and 10.6 percent take the road less traveled by starting at the larger yellow end. In Texas, Starburst candy is the most popular, according to the candystore. com survey, with 1,952,361 pounds consumed around Halloween. Coming in at No. 2 is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Almond Joy takes No. 3. — ROB CLARK

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Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

MIA MILLER

Mia Miller runs with Reveille IX onto Kyle Field before Texas A&M’s first football game on Aug. 30.

Breaking new ground with Aggieland’s ‘First Lady’

or the first time, the “First Lady of Aggieland” is being cared for by a woman. Sophomore Mia Miller, 19, is the first woman mascot corporal, whose role is to take care of Reveille, Texas A&M University’s beloved collie. Last year Miller was among the first women to join Company E-2, the Corps of Cadets’ mascot company, upon its gender integration. For Miller, joining the Corps of Cadets was somewhat of a surprise in itself. The Waco native earned a Marine Corps ROTC

Story CAITLIN CLARK

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

scholarship, which at A&M means joining the military-style training organization. Having originally thought the Corps was all-male, Miller says she didn’t fully grasp the scope of the organization until her freshman year began in fall 2017. When it came time to choose a unit, Miller’s military adviser steered her in the direction of E-2. Her initial reaction was, “Oh, I don’t know if it’s going to be good for my goal [of joining the Marines],” Miller said. “I wanted an academic and physical challenge, and thought, ‘That sounds like

the school spirit outfit.’” Miller said she quickly learned, though, that E-2 would be a challenge. The traditionally male outfit has a high standard for physical training, she said, and the women are expected to keep pace with the men. And then there was Reveille IX. Miller, who doesn’t come from a family of Aggies and wasn’t familiar with all of the school’s many traditions, didn’t immediately know about the mascot’s significance. Continued on Page 12

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Austin Etier, left, assistant mascot corporal, helps Mia Miller with the care of Reveille IX.

Continued from Page 11

Getting to know her peers in E-2 and reading through articles about Reveille helped Miller understand “how big of a deal she is to everybody on campus.” “The more I learned about the tradition and what it means to the university, the more I wanted to be part of it,” she said. Each year, a sophomore is selected to handle Reveille after what Miller describes as effectively a yearlong tryout. Doing well in uniform and keeping up with room standards and grades are important factors before the weeks-long trial in the spring to choose a new mascot corporal. Miller studied the former Reveilles for a week each, poring over articles about her at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives before writing essays, taking quizzes and giving speeches about each mascot. After weeks of hard work, Miller was selected by E-2 upperclassmen to be Reveille’s newest handler. “It was just shocking to me that I got picked, just because you’re wanting to impress your upperclassmen the whole year with everything you’re doing. … I guess they just saw me working hard most of the

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

year, and that’s why they picked me,” Miller said. Miller’s parents — Texas Tech alums who had previously joked with their daughter about needing to put a large Tech sign in their front yard if she was selected to handle Reveille — got to hand her the leash in April. Since then, Miller has jumped into the day-to-day responsibilities of looking after Reveille. Weekly trips to the groomer, daily training and multiple appearances at events are all part of Reveille’s — and Miller’s, by extension — schedule. Practicing at Kyle Field, where Miller runs Reveille across the field to make sure she remembers her duties on game day, has been one of Miller’s favorite parts of the job. Afterward, Miller said Reveille likes to let loose and run around the field. “A lot of people say that she seems really stoic and kind of quiet, but that’s the face she puts on,” Miller said. “Whenever we’re playing around, we take the blanket off of her and she’s like a regular dog. … It’s whenever you can get her behind closed doors and let her have fun, she’s the best. She’s definitely a goofy girl, too.” The time commitments that come with being the mascot corporal along with being a

full-time student and member of the Corps can be tough, Miller said. The support of her friends in E-2 have helped her acclimate to the role, taking care of Reveille at times when Miller feels stretched too thin. “It’s definitely nice having people you can rely on and help you with the responsibility, because she’s a big responsibility,” Miller said. Miller is looking forward to getting as many people as possible to see Reveille on campus this year. “I think the best part of the position is getting to walk around campus and seeing different peoples’ faces light up when they see her, because everybody knows who she is immediately,” she said. When the time comes to hand over Reveille’s leash to the next sophomore mascot corporal, Miller said she’ll keep looking toward new goals, adding that she hopes more leadership opportunities are in her future. For now, Miller said she’s glad that she’s been able to show other freshmen women that being mascot corporal is a goal they can have, too. “This is something that we can actually do,” Miller said. “I’m super excited to see everybody can get excited to be a part of this tradition, too.”

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Nathan Barkman of Rio Brazos Distillery

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

Karen Bonarrigo and Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo at Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan, with their children Sophia, 8, and Paul Anthony, 6.

Craft beverage scene blooms with local businesses Story ALLYSON WALLER

hen New Republic Brewing Company opened in 2010, it was the only craft brewery in BryanCollege Station, according to lab manager and yeast specialist Brian Gordon. A few breweries had popped up in the late 1990s, he said, but didn’t last long. “There was a pretty big hole in the market,” he said. “So New Republic stepped in to try to fill the craft beer need in College Station.” A lot has changed since 2010. Craft beer is big business in Texas. You can see row after row of cleverly named brews in local grocery stores and on tap at taverns across town. From 2011 to 2017, the number of craft breweries in the state increased from 59 to 251, according to the Brewers Association, a national trade group. In 2017, national retail sales of craft beer

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

rose to $26 billion, the association reports, which was 23 percent of the overall beer market ($111.4 billion). Louie Belina is one of the more vocal local supporters of craft beer, and you can frequently hear him mention it on his weekday radio program on The Zone/SportsRadio 1150 AM and 102.7 FM. He says his interest started about 20 years ago. “What it is about craft beers that really fascinates me is it’s kind of like a great meal,” Belina said. “It’s that a craft beer is flavor. Even if you’re trying to get the same beer from every different brewery, you get to have a different experience.” Other adult beverages are also booming in the Brazos Valley. For wine, it all starts with Messina Hof, which began in Bryan in 1977. The winery has contributed to the increasing

Texas wine industry by expanding its reach, CEO Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo said. Texas is the fifth-largest wine and grape producer in the nation, according to The Wall Street Journal. “We’ve always seen it as part of our mission to see the state grow, not just Messina Hof,” Bonarrigo said. Liquor aficionados can turn to College Station’s Rio Brazos Distillery, which produces a signature whiskey. “We’re the only people in town that have this [type of alcohol] license,” said co-owner Nathan Barkman. “Just the potential of what we’re allowed to do is really fun. The community has come out in force to support us.” Continued on Page 16

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Continued from Page 15

‘Founded in the community’

Craft breweries are described as “small, independent and traditional” by the Brewers Association. Bart Watson, chief economist for the association, said the breweries satisfy consumers who crave an array of flavors. “[You’re] seeing beer lovers increasingly look for flavored beer, demanding more variety,” Watson said. “Then there’s been increased interest in buying local products from independent producers.” Gordon said New Republic approaches its production by finding a hop, a plant used in producing beer that gives it its aroma and taste, and building a beverage around it. New Republic’s most popular beer, Dammit Jim!, has a diverse flavor profile, he said. “Dammit Jim! doesn’t fit a [traditional] style at all,” Gordon said. “It’s got American hops, English yeast and a German malt profile. It’s not very traditional for a beer, but it came together as a very tasty one.” Gordon said New Republic produces test batches, giving customers a chance to try a new beer before it officially hits the market. Brazos Valley Brewing Company, which was established in 2013 in downtown Brenham, also offers new, temporary beers aside from its regular offerings, according to Jeanette Carlson, production manager and microbiologist. Some of the limited edition beers include Gettin’ By, a salted caramel porter, and For What It’s Worth, a citrusy India pale ale. The brewing company was named one of the 50 fastest growing breweries in the country last year by the Brewers Association. Carlson said people would be surprised how much work goes into creating a new brew: “The recipes are very artistic in their development.” Over at Zoigl Brewery in Downtown Bryan, Stephen Guetersloh strictly produces German-style beer. Traditional German zoigls are communal breweries where homebrewers malt, mash and boil their beer in one central location, and then ferment the beer using their own personal home equipment, Guetersloh said. Zoigl’s brews adhere to the German Beer Purity Law, known as Reinheitsgebot. The law was established in 1516, and is still practiced in Germany. Only four ingredients are permitted in the process: malt, water, yeast and hops. Guetersloh says Zoigl has been warmly received: “It’s nicer here because you get to know people on a personal basis. I [have] a lot of regulars that come by, and it’s kind of like Cheers.”

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Stephen Guetersloh strictly produces German-style beer at Zoigl Brewery in Downtown Bryan.

Belina said his favorite brewery is Blackwater Draw Brewing Company, which opened in 2013 in Downtown Bryan. He names Contract Killer as one of his Blackwater favorites, a dark beer made from coffee

produced by local roasters What’s the Buzz Coffee. “They have a true passion for making a beer,” Belina said. “One of the things that’s awesome about craft breweries ... they’re very

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Ken Stolpman stands with his signature oversized wine glass by the vines at Peach Creek Vineyards.

much founded in the community.” Chris Steele, Blackwater co-founder, said he doesn’t see craft beer’s popularity slowing down any time soon. “Around here we always say, ‘You never meet anybody that used to drink craft beer,’” he said. “There’s people who used to drink Miller and Bud, but once you drink craft, you never go back.”

‘It’s about family’

There were only a few wineries in Texas when Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo established Messina Hof in Bryan, according to Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo, their son and CEO of Messina Hof. “The industry was basically nonexistent,” Bonarrigo said. “Most people didn’t think you could grow quality wine grapes in Texas.” The Bonarrigos proved them wrong. Their first commercial vintage wine, Papa Paulo

Port, produced about 1,300 gallons. Last year, the winery as a whole produced just under 200,000 gallons, Bonarrigo said. Messina Hof has expanded its reach with locations in Grapevine and Fredericksburg in addition to its original home in Bryan. “We’ve grown tremendously, and it didn’t take long before [my parents] really embraced the fact that wine is a lot more than making a beverage and serving it to people,” Bonarrigo said. “It’s about family, it’s about bringing people in and letting them understand who we are as people and combining the food and the hospitality all together.” Ken and Donna Stolpman are owners of the micro winery Peach Creek Vineyards in College Station. You’ll find Ken working in the couple’s seven-acre vineyard or producing wine on site just about every day. The couple purchases grapes and juices from vendors across the state, and produces about 25 different wines.

“If it’s not Texas, I don’t want it,” Stolpman said. “Every wine we make is a 100 percent Texas fruit.” Rick and Beth Leopold opened Perrine Winery in 2011, and since then have produced about 50 wines. They say they operate the winery more like a brewery and a distillery, using ingredients from outside the state instead of growing grapes on site. “I think the good part about a micro winery is that we can make anything we want to,” Beth said. “We can get juice from anywhere in the world.” The Leopolds purchase juices from South America, Australia, Europe and a vendor in Texas. They use barrel chips and oak barrels from New Republic to help age the wine and add additional flavors and character. Their best-seller, Zombie Walk Wine, is a semisweet white wine with a piña colada flavor, Rick said. Continued on Page 18

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Continued from Page 17

The number of wineries in Texas has grown to more than 400, according to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. Bonarrigo will soon serve as president of the association. “We believe the more consumers that we can get to drink Texas wine instead of California, Washington or Oregon, the better,” he said.

Local spirits

In 2017, 29 percent of the nation’s craft distillers were in the South. Texas tops the list with 86 distillers, according to the American Craft Spirits Association. Rio Brazos Distillery was established in 2013 in College Station. According to Barkman, it is one of a few micro distilleries in Texas that pot distills its whiskey. He describes that process as heating the liquid to a boil in a large kettle after the fermentation process, and alcohol vapors from the liquid are captured. This creates a richer-bodied whiskey, he said. The company’s whiskey is sold outside the state as well, and can be found in bars in New York and New Jersey, Barkman said. But he still gets excited seeing his whiskey used in local spots.

Ronny D. Baker B.S., A.C.A.

FOR BEER AND WINE ENTHUSIASTS Looking to share your love of craft beer and wine with others in the area? Try these local groups. Texas Aggieland Brew Club: Members discuss craft beer, learn about the homebrew process and exchange homebrewed products. Member Chris Buckbee said homebrewing “is definitely a hobby and a passion for people who just enjoy good beer.” The club meets on the third Friday of every month. For more information, visit its Facebook page. College Station Craft Beer Drinkers: This Facebook group helps members stay up to date on the latest craft beer news in Bryan-College Station and local craft beer events around town. Bryan-College Station Girls Pint Out: Girls Pint Out is a national organization for women interested in craft beer. The local chapter hosts multiple events

throughout the year at businesses including New Republic, Zoigl Brewery and Carney’s Pub. To stay up to date on the group’s latest events, check out its Facebook page. Bluebonnet Fermenters Guild: This group consists of people from Brenham and surrounding areas passionate about homebrewing, wine making and mead making. The guild meets on the first Saturday of every month at 6 p.m. at Brenham Homebrewer Supply. To learn more about the guild, join its Facebook group. The B/CS Wine Group: The newly established group gathers local members of the wine industry together for tastings and information sessions on various wine-related topics. The group meets monthly at the Grand Stafford Theater in Downtown Bryan. For more information, check out its Facebook page, The B/CS Wine Group.

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Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

“There’s no way we could have made it this far without certain firebrands going out and demanding that people drink, carry, support the local-owned spirit,” Barkman said. “In a different community this [distillery] would not have worked.” For those looking for locally produced vodka, Still Creek Distillery’s products are available in stores. The Anderson distillery is closed for now, but owner Don Owen said he hopes to restart operations in spring 2019.

Community events

Local festivals throughout the Brazos Valley have been created around specialty beverages. Since 2008, Brigadoon Brewery and Brew School has been a staple at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission. Alan Ward, brewmaster and founder of Brigadoon, said festivalgoers can experience the beer-making process used centuries ago: “We brew historically with a copper kettle, oak mash tun and a sand timer. So no modern devices.” Annual events hosted by the Downtown Bryan Association, including the Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival, Cheers to Craft Beer, Firkin Fest and Wine & Wassail, bring thousands of people to the area, according to Katelyn Brown, events coordinator for the

Eagle file photo The Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival brings more than 10,000 visitors to Downtown Bryan.

Downtown Bryan Association. Texas Reds attracts about 10,000 people to Downtown Bryan every year. Messina Hof hosts a wide array of events throughout the year, including the Harvest Festival and the Wine and Roses Festival. The events usually include grape picking, stomping and plenty of wine tastings. “A lot of those are geared toward being able to make wine fun,” Bonarrigo said. Kindra Fry, president of the visitor’s bureau

Experience Bryan-College Station, said community events that embrace craft beverages are an attraction for visitors looking to try something new and local. “We’ll field a lot of phone calls asking about, ‘What do you have that’s local?’” Fry said. “To be able to offer those types of experiences for others to come into our community, I think it’s absolutely one of those things that’s an asset for us.”

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Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

GIOVANNI CERONE

Photo courtesy of the Cerone family Houda and Giovanni Cerone on a trip to Las Vegas in 1981.

World travels and a family business Story KENNY WILEY

he patriarch and owner of Mr. G’s Pizzeria makes a bold claim on the restaurant’s website and to anyone who asks: “Mr. G’s Pizzeria has the best pizza in the world!” Giovanni Cerone has traveled around the globe, and is confident that his customers can’t find better pizza or a more comfortable family atmosphere than the one located on West 26th Street in Downtown Bryan. Now 83 — “don’t spread that around too much,” he said with a laugh — Cerone was born in Italy and speaks seven languages. He left an insurance job in 1959 to co-create a band called I Marenghi, and traveled with the band for 14 years through countries including France, Tunisia and Syria.

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

“We were performing in the best theaters, clubs, hotels, TV stations, and reaching a success that absolutely no one had ever dreamed or experienced,” Cerone said. “We performed for foreign royal families and those years were indescribable.” During a performance in Beirut, Lebanon, Cerone says he stopped mid-song because he saw a beautiful girl, and felt compelled to go talk to her. “You will be my wife,” he predicted to her in the moment. Two days later, he and the band traveled east to Kuwait, but Cerone found a way to contact Houda. They eventually married and settled in Beirut. Giovanni left the band while Houda was pregnant with their oldest child, Rami.

The Cerones moved to London, and Giovanni worked for part of the 1980s at an air conditioning company, where his knowledge of multiple languages helped the company negotiate deals in several countries, including the United States. He earned enough to take a month-long vacation to the U.S. with his growing family, and they liked it so much they decided to move across the Atlantic. “As long as we are together, it wouldn’t matter if we moved to the end of the world,” Giovanni said. The Cerone family spent time in New Jersey, then Dallas and Clifton, Texas. “In my Continued on Page 22

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Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Giovanni Cerone opened Mr. G’s Pizzeria in Downtown Bryan in 1996. Continued from Page 21

mind, Texas equaled horses,” he said. Houda added with a smile that they had to learn to say “y’all” instead of “you all,” but that Texas felt right. Giovanni and Houda said they ended up in Bryan-College Station because of their son, Rami, and their daughters, Rola and Rema, all of whom graduated from Texas A&M. “We have three kids. They all wanted to go to A&M. I am an Italian father, and I don’t let kids away from my nose, so we all go there,” Giovanni said with a laugh. “I want family to be close, and feel that I am there for them in whatever way they need me to be,” he said. “They are adults now, and when they come in, they kiss me, they kiss their mother — very unusual here in America.” Rami opened Italian restaurant Caffé Capri in Downtown Bryan in the fall of 1995, and his father decided to open Mr. G’s in May 1996. It took a couple of years, but by the turn of the century, the whole family resided in Aggieland. Rola opened Revolution Café and Bar in 2003 in Downtown Bryan, a year after her graduation from A&M. Giovanni explained that in Italy, family businesses are the norm. Houda added that

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

they strive to treat customers like family. They offer a whirlwind of hugs, laughs and greetings throughout an afternoon or evening at the restaurant. There are different regulars each day, and several customers come in multiple times a week. On a recent visit, a table of Wednesday regulars included a young girl who just started kindergarten. She hugged Giovanni and Houda as her parents looked on with big smiles. The Cerones banter routinely with customers, including lunchtime regular Phil Shackelford, an associate director at Blinn College. “When I think about small business and entrepreneurship and what it means to Downtown Bryan, I think of Mr. G’s,” Shackelford said. “You can’t talk about those topics without talking about Mr. Cerone and his historic chapter of Mr. G’s in Downtown Bryan.” Shackelford said he discovered Mr. G’s in 2003, about a year after he first moved to the area. “Number one, I love the pizza,” Shackelford said. “My wife and I took a trip to Italy and we ate our way across the country, of course. One thing that amazed us was that we’d already had authentic Italian pizza with the best ingredients, right here from Mr.

G’s.” Every morning Giovanni and the staff make fresh sauce and dough, and then he changes clothes at midday to a dress shirt and slacks so he can greet guests at the door. “I like to serve everything made by me, not made by someone else,” Giovanni said. “My cheese comes from Italy and is buffalo milk cheese — more expensive than what they sell in America, but there is less fat in it. My customers, they know that I don’t change. I buy always from the same people.” While Cerone said he has been “extremely protective” about the recipes that he still prepares every morning, he’s now looking to share his wisdom with a couple or family interested in starting a Mr. G’s franchise. Giovanni said he has no plans to slow down, and called “retire” a bad word. He said he’s grateful Houda is no longer running Cenare Italian Restaurant — they sold the College Station restaurant in late 2017. Houda said they wanted to sell that establishment so the couple could spend more time together, and put their all into Mr. G’s. “We love people and we love what we’re doing,” Houda said. “We think about it as an experience. People get the atmosphere and connection, and we get to know some students and talk to everyone who comes in.”

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FALL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS AT THE BUSH CENTER

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eonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” is an interactive exhibition now on display at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The exhibition, created by Worldwide Museum Activities (WMA) from Florence, Italy, and organized by Evergreen Exhibitions, provides a number of hands-on displays of large-scale replicas of Leonardo’s machines based on his famous codices. The exhibit includes over 30 actual-sized working machines, as opposed to miniatures or static displays. The machines were designed by a modern team of scientists and artisans using the same construction techniques employed during Leonardo’s time. Highlights include a revolving crane, a full-size armored tank (large enough for several visitors to explore inside), a working robot, and an oil press. Other displays include the auto feed hydraulic saw, pillar lifter, floats for walking on water, parachute and machine gun. The

exhibit will be on display through January 6, 2019. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is proud to announce that the Mapping Texas: From Frontier to the Lone Star State exhibit will be on display at the Bush Library and Museum through January 2, 2019. The exhibit features maps dating from 1513-1957. The works in this exhibition are reproductions from the archival collection of the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and Houston map collectors Frank and Carol Holcomb. As Texas took its current shape, the space changed from an extensive, unexplored, and sparsely settled frontier under the Spanish Crown to its iconic and easily recognizable outline today. This exhibit traces the cartographic history of Texas from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, through 26 maps and documents. The exhibit also features many of the most important, influential, and rare maps of Texas, the United States, and North America.

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Ignite your imaginations on October 25 as we welcome Dr. Jim Pennington and his Chemistry Road Show. Jim will use chemistry demonstrations with fire, explosions, weird polymers, and super cold materials. This education program is free and open to the public. Call 979-691-4006 or email: Bush. education@nara.gov for reservations. Join us on November 1 for a holiday experience on showcasing the inspirational stories of Aesop. Barbara Hailey, author, playwright, and Master Storyteller, will be showcasing the story of an underdog who sought to bring joy to the lives of all. This education program is free and open to the public. Call 979-6914006 or email: Bush.education@nara.gov for reservations.

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Doggie Day at the Pool August 21st ď &#x2C6; Cindy Hallaran Pool

he city of College Station hosted a dog party Aug. 21 at the Cindy Hallaran Pool in Bachmann Community Park. For a small admission fee, dog owners were invited to let their pets frolic in the water. For more photos from the event, visit theeagle.com/doggieday. Photos Laura McKenzie

TOP LEFT: Courtney Rhodes and her dog, Milo. ABOVE: Maddie Wilke and her dog, Lea. RIGHT: Andrea Holloway and her dog, Asher. BELOW: Rachel Lopez and Jordan Flores with their dog, Xena. BELOW RIGHT: Lillian Plagens and her dog, Marceline.

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

RIGHT: Yasuhiro Minamigawa with his dog, Shikamaru. FAR RIGHT: Tyra Watts with her dogs, Roper and Kowley. BELOW: Kasandra Miller with her dog, Lilly. BELOW RIGHT: Michelle Diaz, her children, Daniela, 13, A.J., 10, and Clara, 8, and their dog, Ranger.

ABOVE: Lyndsee and Billy Nelson with their son, Brooks, 3, and dog, Jack ABOVE RIGHT: Avrie Hodges and her dog, Si. RIGHT: Justin Blum and Kinsey Savage with her dogs, Patch and Kota. FAR RIGHT: Courtney Lee with her dog, Pablo.

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Cheers to Craft Beer July 21st  Downtown Bryan

he Downtown Bryan Association’s fourth annual Cheers to Craft Beer event allowed participants to stop at retail shops and restaurants to sample craft beer. The July 21 walking tour featured 18 Texas craft beers. For more photos from the event, visit theeagle. com/cheers. Photos Laura McKenzie

TOP LEFT: Drew Kersey, left, and Rachael Fargerson sample New Republic Brewing Co.’s Ale Mary session ale poured by Ryan Hubert. TOP MIDDLE: James and Megan Hoffman and Cissa and Max Madero. FAR LEFT: Steve and Erin Price. MIDDLE LEFT: Robert and Niki Pottberg. ABOVE: Randy Landrum and Marcile Barnett. BOTTOM LEFT: Peyton Sales, Katelyn Brown and Hannah Hernandez. BELOW: Grayson McGee pours a sample of Weekday Warrior session IPA by Karbach Brewing Co. for Brittany Hardin Tanguay.

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

TOP LEFT: Anthony Zachmann and Nick Espino. TOP MIDDLE: Matthew Hayes and Diana O’Brien. TOP RIGHT: Katie Eriksen and Jacob Calhoun. ABOVE: Cherie Cardoza and Dustin Norton. ABOVE RIGHT: Jake Mitchell, owner of Rx Pizza & Bar, reaches for two glasses before pouring samples of Dome Faux’m cream ale by 8th Wonder Brewery. RIGHT: Tomacina and Ben Tobias and their daughter, Sophia, 12. FAR RIGHT: Jonathan Meadows and Joyce McQuaid. BELOW: Freddy and Cindy Alvarez. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kristine Canales, Abigail Peralta, Hedieh Tajali, Andie Kelly and Troy Alivio.

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What’s in your

OFFICE? BRYAN RUEBUSH Davila Middle School resource officer

I was a field training officer on patrol. I was awarded in 2008 and 2011 the field training officer of the year award. I’m pretty proud of that.

ryan Ruebush’s affection for superheroes is more than a bit obvious when you enter his office. The school resource officer for Davila Middle School in Bryan has a plethora of posters, signs, toys and trinkets featuring his favorite comic-book characters. “I started out a little bit just to build a connection with the students, to show them I’m a person,” Ruebush says. “I’m not just a police officer. I’m a good guy. More students would come in and see, pass by the hallway and pop their head in. It actually got them inside and talking. It’s built a positive relationship between me and the students.” Ruebush, 36, hails from Arizona and graduated from Arizona State in 2004 with a criminal justice degree. He’s been with the Bryan Police Department since 2005. His interest in becoming a police officer began in his youth. He said he was drawn to superheroes, seeing them as good guys that keep people safe. A childhood accident also played a significant role. “I was in fifth grade, I was on my bike, and got hit by a car,” he says. “Ended up getting a concussion, knocked out. The next day, I woke up and my dad is there. Later that day, the patrol officer that responded to that came by to check on me. That really sunk in. That was really cool that he did that. He didn’t have to do that. That was probably the starting point.” At Davila, Ruebush says his role is to keep the students and staff safe. “Also kind of [serve] as a mentor to students as well as enforcing law,” he says. “We don’t enforce school rules but we do enforce the law. I really enjoy this age range because they’re still at that age where most of them still love cops. At the high school age it’s a little bit harder to reach them. So I like to get out in front of it, and hopefully build that positive relationship before they get to high school.” Ruebush and his wife Laura have two daughters, Audrey (age 9) and Dawsyn (2). Both have an early appreciation for superheroes, and Audrey has already claimed dibs on the office goodies if Ruebush gets promoted. “She’s looking forward to it,” he says. “... She’s already like, ‘I’m getting all of those.’”

Story ROB CLARK | Photos LAURA Mckenzie

Know an interesting nominee for a future office feature? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com. 32

Brazos 360 | FALL 2018

I got that at Hobby Lobby. I go there a lot. A few of these things have come from there. [I thought] “I gotta have it, that’ll be perfect in my office.”

When I do have some of the students come in here, sometimes they’re in trouble. I think it actually opens them up a little bit more. I’m a person. I’m not here to put handcuffs on you. We want to know what happened, tell us what happened and we’ll go from there. I think it’s helped open them up to see that some of us actually have some shared interests. Like one thing — fidget spinners were huge last year. So I bought me a Captain America fidget spinner. Stuff like that. Show them that I can be cool, you know?

The Thin Blue Line, it represents police. We may not be serving overseas, but we are serving here. ... I’ve had two or three [students] ask me why it’s not red, white and blue. When I tell them, I tell them basically there are a lot of us serving here, and the military is serving us overseas.

Heath Ledger is the best Joker of all time. It’s sad what happened to him. My favorite Batman series is the one with him, and Christian Bale is my favorite Batman, too. ... I don’t think anyone will ever beat Heath Ledger. Jack Nicholson was good. I liked how dark [Ledger’s performance] was, whereas Jack Nicholson did the comedic route perfect. But I just like the darkness of Heath Ledger.

That’s Disney World in 2014. Best five days, best vacation. … They have it down to an art there. You can tell they know what they’re doing there. [The highlight was] Hollywood House of Terror, the first ride [Audrey] had been on. Going in there, it’s real spooky on the bottom floor. She was like, “Daddy, I don’t know.” I said, “Do you want to go?” She’s like, “No, I’ll be brave.” … At the end, she was like, “Let’s do that again!” Here I thought we were going to be standing in lines for Disney princess autographs, but we were in line for ride after ride after ride. I was like, “Good. I don’t want to stand in line for autographs.”

[Funko Pop figures], I just think they’re cool. I like Steve Trevor [from Wonder Woman], just because he’s a normal guy. He’s a military guy. He helps to save the day at the end. He doesn’t have any powers, he’s just a guy. So he’d probably be my favorite. I do like Arrow and Daredevil … but they’re all vigilantes. Cops aren’t supposed to be into vigilantes. And Captain America, of course. He would probably be my second favorite.

Some of my favorites are the Legos, because my 9-year-old built those for me. So that’s putting the things together that I love. She’s really into Legos. [These are] all Batman. She’s really into Harley Quinn.

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Services means that we have exceeded rigid standards for readiness, response times and specialized coverage. Plus, we are one of only a handful of trauma centers in the nation that operates both ground and air ambulance service. AirMedical is available 24/7. Fast and experienced care for patient convenience While both our South College Station ER and Regional Hospital emergency departments can treat the same types of emergency conditions, our Emergency Center in South College Station has the benefit of much shorter wait times and can also be more convenient and accessible. Our Emergency Center is dedicated to the South College Station communities. It follows the same exemplary standards and treatment protocols you can expect from CHI St. Joseph Health’s regional Level II major emergency and trauma center, the highest rated trauma center in the Brazos Valley. And should you need a higher level of care, you can easily and quickly be transferred to our Regional Hospital Trauma Center. The South College Station Emergency Center is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This conveniently located facility accepts patients of all ages and most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare.

football follies Mascot easily outranks game action for little Aggie fans

here is nothing quite like Aggieland on game day. From the action on the field to the 12th Man swaying in unison to the greatness of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, the sights and sounds at Kyle Field are a thrill for most. As I found out last year, there is one possible exception: children ages 6 and under. Last September, my wife and I took our three daughters to their first Aggie football game, against Louisiana-Lafayette. With maroon outfits and lil’ Aggie logos on Rob Clark their faces, the kids rob.clark@ looked the part. As we theeagle.com approached Kyle Field, their smiles were big. If only those smiles could have lasted a bit longer. Kids get tired, hot and cranky, of course, which can lead to parents feeling the same way. So getting through a long football game wasn’t realistic. We had one goal: make it to halftime so we could see the band. Everyone loves the band. There had been clues prior to this day of how it might go. At my oldest child’s first Aggie basketball game, she was confused by the fans locking arms and swaying during The Aggie War Hymn. No one was seated on either side of us — it was that kind of year for the team — so this was to be a two-person sway. Her participation could barely be described as a lean, and she looked at me as if I had suddenly grown two additional noses. (The same child, now 12, once lamented football’s return by declaring, “I wish it wasn’t football season. I wish it was My Little Pony season.”) The grand scale of game day would be enough to keep the little ones interested, we thought. The ultimate bonus was the promise that Reveille IX would be there. We had heard the Aggie mascot would be part of the Kids Yell Practice at the northeast corner of the stadium. After a long walk from the Reed Arena parking lot, we arrived just as it was ending. That was our best hope to see Reveille

up close. This would be difficult to overcome. Once we entered the stadium, the long slog began up the Eternal Ramps of Kyle. Enthusiasm deteriorated. Groans began. But we trudged on, moving ever closer to the sun. “Make it to halftime,” I thought. We found our seats at the top of the third deck, near the south end zone, with the kids huffing and puffing from the steep walk. We sat down and settled in. Moments later, the first “I’m booored” arrived. This was 17 minutes before the game started. A boost came in the sensory overload of the pregame action — the pyrotechnics, the sound of Kanye West’s Power blaring from the speakers, and the long-awaited sight of Reveille on the field. That helped to keep them focused for a few minutes — until kickoff. To be fair, this was a dreadful game in the first half, and the Ragin’ Cajuns were up 21-14 by halftime. To see the mighty Aggies losing to Louisiana-Lafayette was almost as bad as that awful night in 1996, when the mighty Aggies lost to Louisiana-Lafayette (back when the school was known as Southwestern Louisiana). But I’ll give the kids a little credit. They did have some delightful moments of commentary. Upon hearing the game was tied, my middle child noted loudly, “It’s tied! Just like my shoelaces!” After one of the few positive moments for the Aggies, the crowd appropriately roared. “We might actually win!” my youngest squealed. (Bonus points for the accurate use of “might” at that point in the game.) And when a timeout was called, there was immediate concern. “Why did they have to have a timeout?” my middle child asked. She thought the Aggie players had done something bad and were being sent to the corner. This was also fairly insightful. But the whines soon resumed, as they tend to do with red-faced kids who

are sweating like Robert Hays in Airplane! Our halftime goal seemed doomed, especially as a series of incomplete passes, penalties and timeouts turned the game clock to molasses in the second quarter. At last, the midway mark arrived. The Aggie Band was wonderful as ever. We pointed out how intricate the band members’ movements were, and the kids were wide-eyed at the impressive formations. As the Aggies dashed off the field at the end of their performance, we dashed to the concourse to head out. The long journey back to the car sparked more grumbling, highlighted by one all-out tantrum. So it turns out two of the things that make life worth living — children and Aggie football — aren’t quite compatible yet. That’s OK. We’ll give it another try … in three or four years. And this time, we’ll have our priorities straight: dog over football. As my youngest said when she saw the goal posts: “I know what those yellow things are. Reveille jumps through them.”

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