The Dominion Magazine - March 2018

MARCH 2018

A JUSTICE FOR ALL PATRICIA ALVAREZ

STAFF PROFILE RESTAURANT REVIEW AREA EVENTS AND MORE!

Wedding Open House Wednesday, March 21 at 5:30 PM - 8 PM Tickets available at The Dominion Country Club

Reese Events Group invites you to tour our beautiful banquet space, enjoy delicious Hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Meet our preferred vendors and enter to win fabulous prizes.

If you're seeking a breathtaking venue for your special event, you need to come see what The Dominion Country Club has to offer.

Current Vendors Include: Reese Events Group Sweet Traditions Lily Reese Floral Designs Hair and Makeup by Ana Power Sounds DJ

CONTENTS THE DOMINION MAGAZINE |

MARCH 2018

A JUSTICE FOR ALL

COVER 28

WELCOME 14

STUDENT PROFILE 44

THE CLUB

TENNIS 48

Calendar 14 Club Happenings 16

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HOA 2018 EVENTS CalEndar 20

Home tour 50 Boerne Performing Arts 58 TAO

THE DOMINION GIVES 24

GIRL ABOUT TOWN 62

Dominion Animal Advocates Group (DAAG)

Salvador Dobbs

Community Interest 34

Restaurant review 66

Cave Without A Name

STAFF PROFILE 36

Bourbon Street Seafood Kitchen

44

February Area Events 68

GOLF 38 THE DOMINION’S DRIVES 40 AMG to OMG in 3.7 Seconds

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MARCH 2018 | VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3

PUBLISHED By SMV Texas Design Group, LLC 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006 210-507-5250

Welcome TO

the Dominion Magazine Dear Reader, Thank you so much for picking up the latest issue of Dominion Magazine!

As we enter the Spring months, despite the beautiful flowers and warmer temperatures, we also have many political races that are coming to a close. While our cover story, Judge Patricia Alvarez isn’t up for election until November, we had a great time getting to know her, the story behind what has made her such a successful judge, and the work ethic that she has brought to the bench.

As with every issue, we also cover all the topics, events, and social functions that make living in the Dominion so wonderful. With the improved Spring weather, many of our residents have gotten out to enjoy the amenities at the Dominion Country Club, and we have documented much of the fun!

This publication has been so much fun to produce, and getting to know the residents has been invaluable to myself and the entire team. As we continue to become more and more involved in the community, we want to always extend an invitation for you, the residents, to be involved with us! Article ideas, suggestions, leads, tips….we want to hear them all! Drop us a note and we’ll certainly reply and start a conversation. We hope that you enjoy YOUR community magazine and that it lives up to the high standards of The Dominion with each and every issue.

SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com OPERATIONS MANAGER Peggy Schooley peggy@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com THE DOMINION HOA OFFICE 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-1232 | www.dominionhoa.com THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB 1 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-3364 | www.the-dominion.com

Sincerely, The Dominion Magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. The Dominion Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are

BEN SCHOOLEY, PUBLISHER The Dominion Magazine

not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

FOr Advertising opportunities call 210-507-5250 12

MARCH 2018

The Dominion and/or Schooley Media Ventures.

Copyright 2017 Schooley Media Ventures, 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006

w w w. j i m b o l e s c o n s t . c o m

210.710.6441

MARCH

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Supper CLUB 6:00 P.M. Welcome and Cocktail Hour: 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.

WOMEN’S FORUM LUNCHEON 11:00 A.M. The Dominion Women’s Forum is a social group that is part of the Dominion Country Club, and our main focus and purpose is to promote friendship among its members. It is a great place to connect with the other ladies, especially if you are a new member. It is also a fun way to catch up with your friends during the Forum’s entertaining events.

March 2nd we will be having quite a bash with our Second Annual St. Patrick’s Battle of the Bartenders Competition. Watch the bartenders go head to head trying to win your vote while you enjoy their craft concoctions.

If you are not a member yet and are interested in learning more, please contact Ana Holbrook at (210) 912-3463 for membership opportunities. Starting March 1st, membership fees is half price from March through May.

Women’s Bible Study 12:00 p.m.

For More Information, Contact: Ginny Glass (210) 698-5598

HISTORY CLUB 4:30 P.M. Welcome and Cocktail Hour: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.

CAMERA CLUB 6:30 P.M. Join us this month and learn about all things CAMERA! $10 per person. Light refreshments served

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Book Club 6:30 P.M.

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Women’s Bible Study 12:00 p.m.

For More Information, Contact: Ginny Glass (210) 698-5598

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Women’s Bible Study 12:00 p.m.

For More Information, Contact: Ginny Glass (210) 698-5598 WEDDING OPEN HOUSE 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Reese Events Group invites you to tour our beautiful banquet space, enjoy delicious Hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Meet our preferred vendors and enter to win fabulous prizes.

If you’re seeking a breathtaking venue for your special event, you need to come see what The Dominion Country Club has to offer.

Current Vendors Include: Reese Events Group Sweet Traditions Lily Reese Floral Designs Hair and Makeup by Ana Power Sounds DJ

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Monthly Sunday Brunch 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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Women’s Bible Study 12:00 p.m.

For More Information, Contact: Ginny Glass (210) 698-5598

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MAR CH 2018

KIDS EAT FREE EVERY DAY! Kids under 12 will enjoy a complimentary dinner from our new children’s menu with the purchase of any adult meal from our new menu!

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Thursday

Every saturday

Every sunday

Burger Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Delicious, cooked to order and just $5! Treat the family, invite friends!

RSVP to 210-698-3364

Wine Down Wednesdays 1/2 Price Bottle Specials!

6:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.

Wednesdays just got a lot better!

Enjoy the bottles for HALF OFF! Champagne Sparkling wine Chardonnay White Wines Merlot & More

Chef Special Dining Night 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a different and very delicious meal every Thursday, carefully selected and prepared by Executive Chef Jay Nash!

A specialty half price appetizer is offered every Thursday as well!

Enjoy!

Tennis- Saturday Morning Workout 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

All levels, men & women.

Guaranteed to hit a thousand balls. Loud music and lots of fun!

Tennis- SUNDAY Workout 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Open to all levels. Contact Coach Dan at dan@thedominion.com

Tuesday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10.

Email Coach Rajah rajah@the-dominion.com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-698-2288

Thursday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10.

Email Coach Rajah rajah@the-dominion.com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-698-2288

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CLUB HAPPENINGS

THE DOMINION WOMEN’S FORUM

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MARCH 2018

FRANK SINATRA NIGHT AT THE CLUB

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2018 GOAT CIRCUS STYLE SHOW BENEFITING SAN ANTONIO LIFE ACADEMY

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MARCH 2018

U P C O M I N G TA S T E O F T H E D O M I N I O N

23rd ANNUAL TASTE OF THE DOMINION Thursday, May 17th

6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Last year was record-breaking and that means more hungry mouths were fed, more lives were changed!

That is due, in no small part, to our Members who come out in droves year after year and make this event the huge success it has become!

Just like last year, the San Antonio Food Bank is asking to get in contact with those of you who wish to sponsor the event. The exposure for your group or business is great, it can be a tax write-off, but most of all you will be taking part in an awesome charitable event! if you are interested in helping sponsor this fun and worthy event, please contact Michael Guerra, Chief Development Officer at the San Antonio Food Bank at miguerra@safoodbank.org

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HOA 2018 SOCIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

FOOD TRUCK NIGHT Duxbury Park Saturday, March 17, 2018 Starts at 5:00 p.m.

NEW RESIDENT PATIO PARTY The Dominion Country Club Thursday, March 22, 2018 From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

MARIACHI DASH KIDS’ ½ MILE FUN-RUN 5K/10K WALK/RUN Starts at HOA Parking Lot Saturday, April 14, 2018 Starts at 8:00 a.m.

FIESTA PARTY The Pecan Grove Sunday, April 15, 2018 From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

COMMUNITY SHRED DAY HOA Office Parking Lot Saturday, May 5, 2018 From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

BARK IN THE PARK Duxbury Park Saturday, May 12, 2018 From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

FOOD TRUCK NIGHT & MOVIE IN THE PARK Duxbury Park Saturday, May 12, 2018 Food Trucks from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Movie starts at 8:00 p.m.

**MEMORIAL DAY POOL PARTY Pool at The Dominion Country Club Monday, May 28, 2018 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Charges apply RSVP Required to 210-698-3364

VENDOR APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Neighborhood Parties Tuesday, October 2, 2018 (Times vary by neighborhood)

NEW RESIDENT PATIO PARTY The Dominion Country Club Thursday, October 11, 2018 From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

MUSIC & WINE

HOA Office Friday, June 22, 2018 From 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

The Lakes Friday, October 19, 2018 From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

**JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS

DOGGIE HOWL O’WEEN PARTY

The Dominion Country Club Wednesday, July 4, 2018 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Charges apply RSVP Required to 210-698-3364

**LABOR DAY CLOSE THE POOL PARTY Pool at The Dominion Country Club Monday, September 3, 2018 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Charges apply RSVP Required to 210-698-3364

BACK TO SCHOOL FAMILY PARTY Duxbury Park Friday, September 7, 2018 Starts at 5:30 p.m.

FOOD TRUCK NIGHT & MOVIE IN THE PARK

Duxbury Park Saturday, October 27, 2018 From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

TRUNK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN PARTY Duxbury Park Saturday, October 27, 2018 Starts at 5:30 p.m.

BONFIRE The Pecan Grove Sunday, November 18, 2018 From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

TEXAS TOUGH TURKEY CHASE KIDS’ ½ MILE FUN-RUN 5K/10K WALK/RUN Starts at HOA Parking Lot Thursday, November 22, 2018 Starts at 8:00 a.m.

Duxbury Park Saturday, September 22, 2018 Food Trucks from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Movie starts at 8:00 p.m.

Dominion Residents (Non-Club Members) invited to select Dominion Country Club Events 20

MARCH 2018

WINTERFEST A winter wonderland in Duxbury Park with snow for sliding or building snowmen, corn hole contests, cocoa, donuts and good times!

COUPON REQUIRED

License #M-16956

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MARCH 2018

COUPON REQUIRED

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Read why we’re so gentle on clothes and safe for the environment.

We start with sand. They start with petroleum.

We clean with liquid silicone, a safe, natural byproduct of sand. Traditional dry cleaners use a petroleum-based solvent called perc. The EPA regulates perc as a Toxic Air Contaminant because it can be harmful to humans.

So gentle, clothes look newer longer.

You can see the difference for yourself. Whites don’t yellow, fabrics stay soft and color won’t fade even with repeated cleanings. Wools never get that “washed out” appearance, either. And with GreenEarth®, there’s never any shrinkage. So clothes always retain their correct size and shape.

The scientific reason we’re better Look forward to dry cleaning for fabric.

Our cleaning solution is chemically inert. What without that dry cleaning smell. does that mean? It means it doesn’t inter ace with fabric at all. It merely carries the detergent to the clothing and then carries away the dirt and stains.

Because our cleaning process is based on pure liquid silicone, rather than petroleum, you never have to worry about any dry cleaning odor. Your clothes will look dry cleaned. But never smell like it.

Sign up with us to receive e-mail notifications when your order is ready!

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Every Monday and Thursday for all Dominion residents.

Call 210-698-9800 to sign up.

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NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. Dry Cleaning only.

Excludes Laundered and Specialty items.

No Limit. Excludes Laundered and Specialty items

With coupon. Cannot combine or add coupons.

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Purchase of $40 or more.

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Fairview Plaza 24200 IH-10 West, Suite 103 San Antonio, TX 78257

210-698-9800

Same Day Service • In by 9am Ready by 6pm • A Green Dry Cleaner Setting New Standards

THE DOMINION GIVES TO...

THE DOMINION ANIMAL ADVOCATE GROUP (DAAG)

How many times have you been watching a football game with folks who are enthusiasts and you ask them questions to distraction?

“What does that signal mean?” You get a polite response for the first five, or ten, or more questions…but then you know you just can’t keep it up anymore or you’ll be kicked out of the football watching club!

In the spirit of that situation — that way too many of us experience personally - and just a few days just before the Super Bowl came tackling and blocking into our lives (come on, who doesn't watch it, even if it is just to see the commercials?) The Dominion Animal Advocate Group (DAAG for short) held a desperately needed - and creative - fundraising event.

Called “Everything You Need to Know About Football,” desperate non-football aficionados learned basics from the experts. Dianna Coker along with her husband, Coach Larry Coker, taught the basics of football — just in the nick of time to save marriages and friendships and to make us look Oh! So Smart!

Dianna’s and Larry’s enthusiasm for the sport really showed. According to the reports from the people in attendance, it was great for a lot of laughs AND “We met our fundraising goal for DAAG” says Colleen Dietz.

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Colleen, along with her husband Brett, hosted the event at their beautiful home. Getting into the spirit of the event, they decorated with footballthemed items, and everyone was encouraged to wear their favorite football jersey! How could this have not been a hit with great food, drinks, and friends laughing as they learn terms and rules. If it sounds a bit like school, know it was the kind you wish you’d had when you were a teenager, the best kind of school there is — a fun one!

I’ve wondered for years how to memorize what the right name is of ‘that’ position - how do you know a full back from a wing back from a half back? Good grief! And there, like the sun rising on a cloudy dawn, were pictures that explained it all! Those hand signals?

Another picture for the most remedial of students.

In the end, the winners for the day are the animals, wild, tame, domesticated or not, that touch our neighborhood in one way or another. DAAG is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to help at-risk animals have safe and healthy lives. Your friends and neighbors work hard to have both worlds live in harmony, and they spend their time, money, and energy towards that goal.

DAAG works with neighborhood Security, the Homeowners’ Association, and residents to provide help with lost and abandoned pets, feral and roaming cats, and to provide information and assistance with wildlife issues.

DAAG uses the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) dynamic to reduce and stabilize the number of roaming cats in the community. Cats and kittens who can be socialized are placed in safe, permanent homes. DAAG works with wildlife organizations to deal humanely with injured or nuisance wildlife. DAAG coordinates educational opportunities for residents, Homeowners Association staff, and Security Personnel regarding best practices for dealing with both domestic and wild animals in the community.

To donate or volunteer or any additional information please visit their Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/DominionAAG/

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MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION Advertise with The Dominion Magazine 21 0. 50 7. 52 50 • ben@smvtexas.com 26

MARCH 2018

Mission Statement: At The Atonement Academy, we strive for Excellence in the physical, the intellectual, and the spiritual virtues through a challenging course of classical Catholic education.

National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Catholic Education Honor Roll – Only School in Texas to receive the award for commitment to the principles of Catholic identity in education. (Cardinal Newman Society) College Acceptance Rate – A full 100% of our Graduates are accepted into 4-year colleges!

Financial Aid: $540,000 institutional money given in the 2017-2018 school year.

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(210) 695-2240 ww w. A t o n e m en tOn l i n e .c o m Now Enrolling Pre-K – 12th grade

Students Attend Daily Catholic – Only School in San Antonio Ranked #1 “Best Catholic School in San Antonio” on Niche.com Students Clubs: Robotics, Prolife, Drama, Booster, Student Council, Debate, Chess and many more.

Music Awards: 14 Members in the TMEA High school All-Region Choir & 14 Members in the TMEA Middle School All-Region Choir.

A JUSTICE FOR ALL

by Brian Kenneth Swain, Dominion Resident :: photography by Ben Weber

When writing about individuals of singular accomplishment, the first challenge is typically deciding where to start. And while it may seem obvious to simply say “why not start at the beginning,” in this case it seems entirely appropriate to first engage in a modest bit of philosophy, specifically the philosophy printed on a small piece of artwork that hangs on the wall in Patricia O’Connell Alvarez’s kitchen.

Don’t waste a moment gathering your old self up into something like you knew before. Let your new self splash like sunlight into every dark place and let all your love spill out into the world.

It reads like an anthem for how to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, which is precisely what Patricia Alvarez has done.

She currently serves as Justice on the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals (a district comprising thirty-two counties in South Texas), a position to which she was elected in November of 2012, and for which she is running again this year. But there is an awful lot of ground to cover in order to fully understand how she came to be in this position.

Let’s start with the possibly confusing observation that Patricia has both Midwestern and Mexican roots. Her mother was an only child who grew up in Michigan and attended Marymount College. About halfway through college, she decided to take a vacation trip to Mexico City, where she met a dashing law student and fell in love.

The announcement that she intended to marry the man was greeted with something less than enthusiasm back in Grosse Pointe, particularly by Grandma Loreen, who insisted that her father and mother promptly fly down to Mexico to retrieve their 28

MARCH 2018

seemingly misguided daughter. Undeterred, Patricia’s father sold all of his belongings, bought a small plane, and flew it up to Michigan to be reunited with his would-be bride. Apparently impressed with this display of verve, the family at last conceded, gave their blessing, and her future parents were married. They then returned to Mexico City, where Patricia was born.

She describes her mother as an artsy person who loves theater and worked on lots of stage productions. Her father, on the other hand, was a regimented sort who grew up in a family of women (Patricia’s future great-aunts) who, in their turn, went on to become poker players, painters, and prima ballerinas. As a young girl, Patricia attended a Sacred Heart school, a very traditional institution whose primary goal for its female students was marriage at a young age, and most certainly not a high-powered legal career. But, as often seems to happen with accomplished people, circumstances intervened to put her life on a different track. Around age eight, Patricia and her family moved to Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, a mid-size town just a few hours west of Laredo. This turned out to be an extremely international environment due to the town’s steel mill, which employed people from Denmark, Portugal, and plenty of other countries. This experience living in the midst

of an international community would serve Patricia well in her future endeavors.

Around the age of sixteen, she got exposed to some of the political turmoil that was taking place in her native country. Friends began disappearing as a consequence of protesting against the Tlatelolco massacre, and she helped her grandmother and her great-aunts distribute money to local students so that they could flee the country rather than risk suffering a similar fate. It was the start of a political fervor that would stay with Patricia for her entire life.

She was married at eighteen and had her son Eduardo by nineteen, because you were considered an old maid if you weren’t married by twenty (that Sacred Heart thing).

She has always been an avid reader, and particularly enjoys biographies and books on world affairs. Her mother had always spoken English to them at home, but she knew French and Spanish as well, since she came from a career diplomat family. Despite being a young mother, Patricia had never lost her quest for learning, and so—despite it being against the norm—she enrolled at a university in Monclova. The school only had an engineering program at the time, but that year they opened a business administration program within the engineering school, and Patricia joined the very first class with

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just twenty other students. No heat or air conditioning was provided, so she carried a blanket with her every day in winter.

When asked about childhood heroes and mentors, she immediately mentions former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, for her strength, courage, and tenacity (and a Midwest connection—Meir spent much of her youth in Milwaukee). She first learned of Meir while reading about Auschwitz and Moshe Dayan’s visits to Mexico in search of funds to support the founding of Israel. But because she had always been encouraged to explore all sides of an issue, she also read biographies of prominent Arab leaders and came away convinced that, at a high level, all people are the same in terms of what they want from life—freedom, prosperity, and peace.

She recalls that in her great-grandmother’s home you were encouraged to speak your mind, but you needed to have a basis for your opinion and the facts to back it up—fine training indeed for a future trial attorney and justice. She describes her parents as always encouraging and supportive, so long as you were willing to work for whatever you wanted. At a young age, Patricia became interested in horse riding and proved to be very good at it. She ended up riding with soldiers in the Mexican military because Monclova had a riding club whose trainer was a former major willing to provide her with access to the horses. One day, at age thirteen, the major placed a new obstacle on the course and made her jump it with her horse. She was unable to do so and after many falls, she gave up. She began dejectedly walking away when the major called after her with some bad words, which made her angry enough to come back and try again.

For the next six months, she went riding every day until she mastered the obstacle.

After that, she decided she wanted to take part in the Olympics, and she worked every day to master her skills. And even though the Olympics would not ultimately become a part of her life, the discipline of striving for that goal was a characteristic that would be of great value throughout the rest of her life.

She recalls a seminal moment in her life that occurred while watching a television program. A commercial appeared with an image of a rocking chair by itself, simply rocking back and forth, accompanied by a voiceover that said, “Don’t let your life rock away.” To Patricia that meant:

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I did not want to be seventy, sitting in my rocking chair, regretting not having done something. I knew that if I failed, I could get up, mount the horse, and keep training until I mastered the skill. So, in 1979, I decided to get a divorce and move to the United States.

Since that decision, every time I’ve wanted something, I’ve looked into the future and seen myself sitting in that rocking chair asking ‘will I regret not doing it?’ If so, I’ve gone for it knowing I might fall, but also knowing I could always get back up and master the skill.

Which is how in 1979, at age twenty-five, Patricia came to the United States with her son Eduardo, then six. Already a U.S. citizen because of her mother, she worked as a restaurant hostess, a blood bank recruiter, a bank teller, an Avis counter agent, and any other job she could find to help support her young son. She encountered many obstacles, fell a few times, but always got up and pushed hard to master whatever skill was called for in the moment. Eventually she decided to finish the college education she had begun back in Monclova. She applied to many colleges and universities, and though told by some that she wasn’t ‘college material,’ UTSA offered her the opportunity she sought. At first, she went to UTSA night school (taking her son with her), and then went full time, working at the university as a student teacher’s aide. Finally, in 1982, she graduated with a BBA. But, she was not content to stop there. So, after being hired

by City Public Service as an auditor of the South Texas Nuclear Project, she enrolled in a masters program at UTSA. Because student loans would come due when she concluded her MBA program, Patricia decided to enroll in law school. Reflecting on just what it was about the law that attracted her, she notes that her father was an attorney, though he did not actively push her in that direction. The final motivator was the opportunity to do something with her life that would help others. And it didn’t hurt that with those student loans coming due, law school would be an effective way to defer them. So, she took the LSAT, did well, and applied to UT Austin, Georgetown, and St. Mary’s University law schools. She was ultimately accepted to all three (despite mediocre grades due to taking care of her son throughout her undergraduate period) and chose UT because it was the least expensive option of the three.

There were struggles aplenty at UT, what with taking care of a young son, working to pay the bills, and having to take classes in English (her third language), but eventually she graduated from UT in 1987. Patricia then went on to a successful twenty-six career as a trial attorney, working mainly in San Antonio, Laredo, and the Rio Grande Valley as defense counsel for firms being sued. She attributes her success in this role to her ability to demonstrate empathy—putting herself in the shoes of the plaintiff in each case—and to plenty of hard work, but always with civility. She was also of the mind that she needed to serve as a role model. “I have to do this because of my son. He needs to know that it’s okay to fall down, so long as you get up and keep fighting for what you believe.”

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and a now highly experienced trial attorney Patricia O’Connell Alvarez made the portentous decision to run for a judgeship. This, of course, required campaigning, a new skill for her, but nothing a person of her tenacity couldn’t handle. She speaks of having met voters in VFW halls and other venues and explaining her views on the difference between those who make the laws (legislators) and those who interpret and enforce them (judges). She says, Separation of powers is so important for a democracy. If powers are commingled, then we have the type of government I grew up in: a dictatorship. Therefore, I take my role as a judge seriously. My role is to protect the constitutional rights of people and follow the law, the basis for maintaining our democracy.

Based on the ease and clarity with which she discussed these weighty matters during our interview, I can only imagine that most of the voters with whom she spoke found her opinions to be clear and compelling. In any event, enough of them did so that she was elected to her first five-year term in 2012.

When first considering the decision to run for a judgeship, she realized that it was about democracy, students, elderly, and young people who didn’t have certificates saying they were born here, all these issues. She loved it and promised herself she would serve with integrity and humility. She regularly asks God to make her wise and give her empathy and direction. Sometimes she doesn’t like the results of cases. Sometimes she doesn’t like the applicable law. But she loves the fact that she has the privilege

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of protecting and serving a democracy.

She thinks of her judicial service as an opportunity to contribute her two cents worth to our democratic system. Her love for defending what is right is, in her view, what makes this country special.

schools is to influence students to aim high and never give up. “If I can influence one single student to reach for the stars, stay in school, earn a high school diploma, and perhaps a college degree, my life will have been worth it!”

For the past twelve years, Justice Alvarez has regularly addressed UTSA pre-law students, half of them women, sharing her story of the horse and the rocking chair. She has influenced over 5,000 students to go after what they want in life. And she’s perpetually amazed at the number of lawyers who stop her to say, “I was about to quit my law school dream, but then I heard your speech.”

While litigating, Justice Alvarez was an active member of the State Bar of Texas. She served as a Board Director (2002-2005), Panel Chair for the Grievance Committee (2010-2012) and a Trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation (2005-2008). She has been a member of multiple other organizations, including the International Association of Defense Counsel, the American Defense Trial Association, and the Transportation Lawyers Association.

She currently serves as a member of the Oil & Gas Pattern Jury Book. She has published over one hundred papers, some of which continue to be used by lawyers as guides in their practices. Justice Alvarez has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including Judge of the Year by the Hispanic Issues Section of the Texas State Bar and the Professionalism Award by the College of the State Bar of Texas. But, to her, the most important awards are those she receives from the schools she visits, because she knows she has influenced at least one student to become a productive and civil member of society.

She has taken her story to many different forums with the goal of motivating students to fight for their dreams, even if that means occasionally falling down along the way. She has formulated leadership presentations using her story, and has shared them at women’s leadership conferences at Trinity University, St. Mary’s Law School Women’s Association, and at various chambers of commerce in her district. She has been invited by the Bexar County and Webb County sheriffs to present her story as a tool for leadership training.

While a litigator, Justice Alvarez has also dedicated her time to the education of lawyers. She has given speeches all around Texas, the United States, and Europe on various legal topics, and mentored young attorneys to follow her path as leaders and speakers. While President of the MexicanAmerican Bar Association of Texas, she encouraged young attorneys to take leadership roles. As a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel (TADC), where she also served as director and VicePresident of its Board, and the Defense Research Institute (DRI), where she was a national director, Justice Alvarez’ focus was education of defense lawyers. During her years of service with TADC and DRI, she mentored groups of women lawyers wanting to become trial attorneys. As a National Director with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) she recruited women and trained them on trial skills, and spoke at various forums promoting ‘civility’ in the profession. In 2014, she was honored to be one of a handful of female attorneys invited to teach young attorneys (half female) trial advocacy at Harvard Law School.

Justice Alvarez has lectured on civility and leadership at different elementary and high schools within her district, and each year includes students in an ABOTA event at the State Capitol. Her goal in going to these 32

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Patricia has one son, Eduardo, who, with his wife, Jackie, have five children. Jackie and Eduardo Valdes are both attorneys in San Antonio. “I am so proud of Eduardo and Jackie, their children’s education is so important to them. But so is taking them fishing, traveling, and allowing them to be out of the box—and they are!” Patricia is also very close to her parents. Her mother, who lives here in San Antonio, commands any room she enters and has a photographic memory. She is fun, intelligent, and fearless.

She loves parties and is basically never home, always out for some performance or gathering. Justice Alvarez describes her as “my favorite campaigner!” Her father, on the other hand, now living in Colorado, is a bit of a homebody who enjoys fishing and the outdoors. They both subscribe to the view— one that clearly rubbed off on Patricia from a young age—that there is no such thing as ‘can’t’ and there is no giving up.

So what do you do when you’re a successful trial attorney and appeals court judge running for reelection, and you need to unwind a little? For one, she’s an enthusiastic cook (so enthusiastic, in fact, that when asked what she would have done with her life if she hadn’t gone into law, she quickly responded that she would have been a chef),

goes to a daily yoga class, and she reads a terrific amount. But when the time comes to really get out of the house in search of a little adventure, she can usually be found scuba diving forty or fifty feet beneath the surface of some tropical lagoon. She’s certified and has been a diver for a very long time (including the occasional cave dive with her son, who is a dive instructor). She’s explored everywhere from the Blue Hole in Belize to the Galapagos, and been up close and personal with all sorts of ocean fauna, including immense whale sharks. In August, Justice Alvarez agreed to be part of a team of San Antonio scuba dive instructors who will work with a wounded soldiers’ program that instructs soldiers with lost limbs on how to dive.

And what’s on the bucket list of someone who’s done so many things already? Aside from winning reelection to the bench this fall, Patricia aspires to earn a Masters in law from Duke University, and possibly work at the International Criminal Court in The Hague someday. She also wants to visit Antarctica, but not as a tourist, rather as a researcher. Although she’s already very well traveled—Israel, Jordan, India, Egypt, and Morocco, to name just a few—there are plenty more destinations around the world she’s keen to visit, whether or not they offer diving. And, on top of all that, she’s got an impressive library of books she needs to finish reading at some point.

How does she summarize where she’s been, what she’s accomplished, and what to make of it all? She simply wants people to know that she always acted with dignity and respect for others and that she’s done her best to remain humble through it all. She’s lived an out-of-the-box life and she’s tried to go beyond and reach for the stars. At this point, she’s simply celebrating life and living in the present, something she regards as quite an accomplishment in its own right.

The Dominion is Justice Alvarez’ safe haven, especially her Japanese styled garden which soothes and offers peace after a tough day.

And she is close with the neighbors on her street. “We’re always there for each other, though I probably benefit more because they are always available when I need help with, for example, a house repair!” She adds, “living in the Dominion’s peaceful surroundings gives myself the freedom to splash like sunlight so I can get out of the box and spill my experiences into the world.”

COMMUNITY INTEREST

by Peggy Schooley

CAVE WITHOUT A NAME

A beautiful, musical oasis sharing its secrets to help scientists with water conservancy, geological discoveries, and school children learn about their world.

I recently read that our own close-by Cave, Cave Without A Name, was hosting musical events inside the Throne Room in the Cavern. We could say the Cave is ‘making a name for itself’ (pardon the pun) in myriad ways, and one of the most notable is via musical events. The one scheduled for March 3 is a great example. Take a look and be inspired.

As I reflected on caves in our area, I know that our particular part of Texas is one riddled with limestone ‘caverns,’ and if you grew up here, you’ve either crawled around in one, or stood by while your crazier friends crawled around in one. Or you’ve stood beside a creek of cold spring-water bubbling out of a hole that looked to be a good size for crawling into. And you did — or your crazier friends did.

Imagine being 8 years old and running free through your folks’ ranch land in 1938. There was a goat that needed rescuing from a big sinkhole! When you got there, you learned it was really just a sheep and some bigger kids had already saved it. But curiosity got the best of you, and you decided to climb into the cavern, along with a sibling or two. Ultimately, you discover a well-used moonshine still, the Cavern itself, and ponds inside with blind fish.

That’s the adventure Mary McGrath Curry the 8 year old in that story - shares. I found that almost every internet site that discusses this Cave has a different ‘discovery’ story. It seems a first-person account might be the most reliable.

Visiting with Tom Summers, II, the current owner of the Cave itself, was a trek into the Cave’s history — and its impact on our future.

BACKGROUND Tom told me “For a short history, in 1998, when I came to see this property and the Cave, the entrance road was just a dirt track, and the cedars bore down on it almost completely. There wasn’t any infrastructure 34

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to speak of beyond the basics - a main house, the Cavern’s entrance, and that was about it.” He continues “As I learned more about it, and its history, I fell in love with it and knew I needed to be involved.”

Tom’s interest expanded to finding out as much information as he could. “The property was at one time owned by the Short Family, and was a part of the Short Ranch. Their old homestead location is still marked by a tall steel tower water tank they’d installed.

They could pump out of Spring Creek and have running water - one of the few families with that advantage! At the flood plain for the Spring Creek, you can still find onion plants originally placed by local Indian tribes, and, based on the number of Indian artifacts found in the area, it was a well-used campground.”

Tom continued “During the Short’s ownership, Jim Zintgraff, the photographer, took some amazing shots of the cave and produced large-format colorized pictures.

They were publicized and once Jimmy Horne saw those, he and his wife, Jolene, decided to purchase it. Mr. Horne was the owner who came up with the name by holding a contest for people to send in suggestions.” If you grew up around San Antonio, you’ve probably heard various renditions of this story. Tom tells me that the prize was awarded to a young man who claimed the cave was “too pretty to name,” but the details have been lost to history.

My Dad, a fourth generation San Antonian, gave me his memory of that contest and it is a funny contrast. He told me “When I was just a kid, Mr. Horne owned a lumber yard in San Antonio that my Dad bought from. He told us about the contest, and my mom worked diligently making suggestions.

The prize, as I remember it, was a fortune in Depression-era Texas. Finally, Mr. Horne announced that the Cave had been pronounced ‘too beautiful for a name’. It became Cave Without A Name. We never knew exactly who won that money, but my Mother never did get over being mad about losing that!”

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES “Our relationship with schools is extremely important to us - to watch little children learn about caves, stalagmites and stalactites through a hands on (sort of) experience is great fun. Scouting troops come out regularly. One I remember was a group working on their Wilderness Badges. The boys all had a little hatchet and a hand saw, and had to gather the wood pieces and ultimately build a platform up in a tree to sleep on overnight. I don’t know how, but they did it!”

Tom is very involved and concerned about water, water conservation, and the fact that we just don’t have enough of it to go around anymore. As a part of this concern, The Cave is excited to host a huge conference every Fall.

“It is a ‘hydrogeo’ event. About 300 college science majors attend, and approximately 30 PhDs give classes and instructional experiments. The professors might describe it as a way to show students what their life is likely to be once college is over. A number of colleges bring groups of a dozen or more students; The Marine Biology Department from Texas A&M in Galveston, Baylor, A&M, Texas Tech. They are all represented — and many more. The geology students love it because we have the Cave, surface formations, a couple of nearby locations they use for classes…and three or four classes are done in the Cave itself. The hydro students love it because of the complexity of the aquifer system.”

Tom told me a surprising fact: “When you go in to the Cave, did you know you are actually going into the Glen Rose aquifer? The Trinity Aquifer is also here, but is at a level deeper below the Glen Rose. If you search on the internet, there are diagrams that show the complicated interdependencies. For example, I always thought aquifer water was static, but a recent research experiment showed the water moves up to 3 miles a day. So what you or I throw into the aquifer today can end up in a neighbor’s well three miles away tomorrow. We need to all help one another!”

“At a recent conference” Tom told me, “I heard our hydrologists outline their two main concerns - # 1 the water just isn’t here anymore, and, # 2, we must be careful with and protect what IS here. I learned that our Texas population grows and shrinks largely based on water availability, and San Antonio is poised for a huge growth bubble. We will need more and more of this precious resource — a resource that begins in places like our little Cave Without A Name here in the Hill Country.

Take a few minutes and drive up to Boerne.

Take Highway 474 out of town and follow the signs. The trip is beautiful and easy, and the experience is unforgettable. Help support an organization that is working to make a difference in our communities across the Hill Country.

Jimmy and Jolene Horne opened the Cave to the public in 1939. “In the ‘50s, the Cave sponsored buses from San Antonio to introduce the adventure, but those never really took off. “Over time” Tom relays, “the Cave and its offerings have evolved dramatically. Of course, we built up a great infrastructure, including a beautiful pavilion for parties, weddings, or conferences. And, by the way, that entrance dirt track is now a beautiful asphalt street for easy access!”

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S TA F F P R O F I L E

by Peggy Schooley

JUAN “JUANITO” SALINAS The staff at The Dominion Country Club, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing for the magazine, share a couple of common traits. One, the members of the Club not only appreciate them and their hard work, but in many cases they are friends; and two, the staff members love their jobs and the people they care for every day.

Juanito Salinas fits into both of those situations. He started his career at The Club twenty-eight years ago. Yes, twenty-eight.

“It was in 1990, and I was already working at the Holiday Inn in sales when my food and beverage manager asked me if I wanted to work at The Dominion Country Club part time. I immediately said yes, because of the great reputation of the Club, and the chefs were well known to me.” He continues “And, of course, that is how I ended up with my name as Juanito. I was really young, and there was already a “big” Juan, so I became Juanito and it stuck.”

“The Club is so good at giving people opportunities to learn and grow, and that is what has happened to me here. I started as a cook, and as my experience grew, I became the ‘expert’ in preparing breakfast every day and I often use my own recipes. I’m friends with so many of the members that some of them simply want me to select their breakfast items, create the food and surprise them. And so I do!”

“When I started here, I worked with Mike Boberg. He was very experienced, he was

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always cheerful, and I learned so much from him. Of course, I’ve worked with Chef Jay now for quite a long time, and he is amazing.

I mentioned the opportunities to learn and grow before — and Chef Jay is the person who makes sure that happens for all of us.”

Outside of his time spent here at The Club, Juanito has a large family and that keeps him busy! “My wife, Juanita, and I have a seven year old daughter, JJ. I also have two grown sons, Cesar and Leroy, and daughters Karina and Palia. We have 12 grandchildren. These children are very active, as you can imagine.”

Juanito grew up in Mexico, and came to San Antonio when he was sixteen. He spoke no English and started school without knowing what his teachers were saying. Through school, books, TV — and his own children — he continues to refine his English. He mentioned how much has changed at the border since he arrived here - “No one is comfortable being at the border anymore.

When I last went, at New Year’s, I got in and back out quickly. You don’t want to leisurely shop or wander as we used to do. Maybe that will soon change.”

When I asked him his favorite thing to do, his answer was quickly delivered!

“TRAVEL!! We love to go to New York.

We’ve been six times already and we are going again this year. Manhattan is astounding, and we love just wandering the streets. We also love Mexico City — and yes, I still root for a soccer team there!”

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GOLF

by Michael Kaylor, Head Golf Professional, The Dominion Country Club

WOMEN’S GOLF The Dominion Country Club’s Women’s Golf Group showed up and toughed it out in spite of the weather!

This tournament was light-hearted and fun. All it was missing was YOU! First Place: Sunny Won and Linda Nelson Second Place: Linda Mayfield and Clare Poutra Third Place: Marilyn Sommers and Laura Flores Closest to the pin: Eleanor Bamberger on #8 Hole

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THE DOMINION DRIVES

by Dianna Flores, Dominion Resident

AMG TO OMG IN 3.7 SECONDS

So, after swinging through the local coffee shop, this dynamic duo hit the road from San Antonio to Austin to embark on one of the most thrilling days of their lives.

Boerne. At these events, dealerships are offered a select number of seats to send previous (or potential) customers to a training event which promises to transform motorists into drivers. According to Colleen and Dianna, that is simply understated. The sheer power of these machines makes it hard to tell if it’s the exhaust’s growl you hear, or your own. More than likely, it’s a harmonious symphony combined of the two. So, while it may be true that this event turns a motorist into a driver, a more suitable description is best worded as “enthusiast to expert.”

If you are asking yourself, “How did two middle-aged women land the opportunity to drive Mercedes Benz’s top performing vehicles on a world renowned track?” you are not alone. Sitting on the starting line of the first course, Colleen revved the engine of an AMG SL63 while Dianna anxiously anticipated the “go” signal. Instead, they were surprised by a summons to roll down the window.

Add this fine specimen of machinery to a 3.41 mile track designed to challenge the world’s most talented racers, and it’s a recipe for the best day of your life! While it’s a treat in itself just to drive one of these glorious creations, grabbing the wheel and pressing the accelerator while navigating a 133 foot hill at Turn 1 is the thrill of a lifetime!

When asked, “What are you two ladies doing here?” the only response was an embarrassing outburst of giggles. The mood did not change from that point forward. Each new task was met with an exuberant amount of excitement and pure unadulterated glee. Bouncing from car to car with the energy of two teenage girls, this duo maneuvered obstacles, tested brakes, mastered corners, practiced line technique and hit surprisingly high speeds while perfecting jargon such as, “braking point,” “turn in,” “apex,” “exit point,” and “drift.”

The unique occasion for a non-professional to experience the sensation of 577 horsepower with no public highway constraints is nothing less than riveting. When talking to Colleen and Dianna about this day, it is apparent that they enjoyed the adventure to it’s fullest potential.

A 5:00 AM wake-up call is typically a deal breaker for Colleen Dietz and friend, Dianna Flores. But a Mercedes Benz AMG Performance Event at The Circuit of the Americas is certainly an exception! Both adventurers agree that a chance to drive a variety of AMG models on a world-class track is worth a little sleep deprivation.

In case you aren’t familiar with the Mercedes Benz AMG lineup of superstars, it includes some of the most sought-after vehicles in the world with choices from coupes and sedans to roadsters and SUVs. The history of AMG starts in 1967 when two automotive engineers, Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, began fine-tuning engines for Mercedes-Benz racecars and by 2018 progresses to the newest version, the Mercedes-AMG 43.

According to Guy Vick of Mercedes Benz of Boerne, this line of vehicles doesn’t just perform, it outperforms! Guy’s knowledge and expertise with this elite group of cars makes him the perfect sales person for a vehicle that cannot be test driven until after purchase. It also gives him the pleasure of handing over keys to excited new car owners along with specialized lessons covering all the ins and outs of their new vehicle’s many features.

In addition to Guy’s personalized session, because of AMG’s specialized design and many impressive features, AMG hosts driving events for customers of preferred dealerships like Mercedes Benz of

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Once the occasion came to a close, and this daring duo headed home, they completed the customary game of highs and lows. Colleen described her high for the day as experiencing the “slow motion phenomenon” that racecar drivers describe when the adrenaline rush spikes to an all time high. Dianna listed hers as reaching a top speed of 131mph on the straightaway. When addressing their lows, Colleen notes “driving home at a snail’s pace in my personal vehicle while maintaining speeds under 90 mph,” and Dianna repeats her high stating, “only reaching 131mph in the straightaway.”

Would either of them do anything differently if the chance arose again? Yes! Colleen would bring a USB cord for quicker stereo tuning and a personal list of song favorites. Dianna would avoid racecar mode, because “careening out of control toward a solid metal wall in a $150K masterpiece is quite nerve-racking!

However, the question still lingers, “How did these ladies end up behind the wheel of a Mercedes AMG on the COTA track in Austin, Tx?” Well, it seems you will have to ask Colleen’s husband, Brett Dietz, or Neil Potter, General Manager at Mercedes Benz of Boerne, to get a solid answer to that question!

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STUDENT PROFILE

by Peggy Schooley

JULIA DANIEC

Dominion Resident and Horsewoman

When I was a kid, I ate, slept, and lived horses. I watched the old westerns on TV and would complain to my parents “those cowboys and Indians have lots of horses to spare. Why can’t I have one?” Every evening when Dad came home from work he got the same question “Did you get me a horse?” Ultimately, as years passed, my folks relented and my first horse, Sunny, joined the clan. Shortly after, he was joined by Gadget, a quarter horse that made it to regionals and state 4H events with me.

As I’ve met so many wonderful Dominion residents, the one activity that has been missing in my conversations about children’s activities is horses. So, I challenged myself to investigate a bit more deeply. Sure enough, your community boasts of horse-lovers!

I had the most wonderful time meeting Julia Daniec, daughter of Paul and Kasia Daniec. Julia is 11 years old and she attends Leon Springs Elementary school. Of course, the first question grown-ups always seem to ask children: “What’s your favorite subject?” Julia was kind and told me “I love reading! There is nothing more fun than learning new things just by grabbing a good book!”

Julia, her brother Jan, and her parents lived on a 250-acre ranch, and she spent time on horses for as long as she could remember. “Their names were Lindsey and Turbo. I rode Lindsey with my mom, and I can remember my earliest rides from when

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I was about two years old.” Then the family moved to the “city” and the Dominion, and horses became a little more distant than they had been. As mom Julia told me “We were just a little tired of seeing nothing but cows, so coming here in 2008 was a blessing!”

As with so many other elementary school aged children, Julia’s interest in her chosen sport was unrelenting. Ultimately, her parents started her in a lesson program for English and Dressage styles of riding. As Julia explained, “I always rode western, but I really didn’t enjoy any of the disciplines that were in that area. So I instead studied to learn to ride English. I fell in love with dressage and jumping! It is challenging and difficult to do with very detailed movements. Being able to get a horse to respond to the slightest cues on my part is a huge challenge — learning it takes a long time, but I’m ready to do that.

Then, this past summer at horse camp I started jumping some — and my horse, Wily, and I have fallen in love with it. I want to focus on dressage and jumping! I’m lucky that my barn now has a jumping trainer!”

Her favorite thing about horses? “That I have an unbreakable bond with my horse!” The least favorite? “Raking up manure. Ugh.” Julia’s horse, Wily, became hers because “I loved his attitude right from the start. He hates being indoors for very long, he is feisty and will bite at his lunge line, and loves being scratched! He is fun and all the others I tried were just too boring!”

Julia is careful to mention that “riding is hard work. It takes time, a lot of effort, and it can be dangerous. No lazy people are ever successful riders.”

Currently, Julia is riding and learning at the In the Irons Equestrian Center on Boerne Stage Road, next to the San Antonio Rose Equestrian arena, and this facility focuses on English disciplines.

If you have a child who has shown even a slight interest in any type of horse activity, it may be worthwhile for you to explore it.

If English riding, show jumping, or dressage don’t cause any delight, there is Western riding such as barrel racing, calf roping, reining, cutting horses…the list goes on. For information, call Todd Martin Performance Horses at 210 825-1114. His barn is nearby The Dominion in Bergheim. Simple trail riding can be a favorite as well, and doesn’t require any special equipment. Just a good-minded horse and a confident rider!

One parting shot for all parents to hear from Julia was this: “I am so busy with my horse, I just don’t have time to get into trouble. Any time I’m not at school or doing my homework and chores, I am at the barn working with my horse by riding or exercising, shoveling out stalls, or learning new things from my trainers and friends there. My mind gets a break from the work of school by taking on the work of learning new riding skills.”

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TENNIS

by Barry Mills, Head Tennis Professional, The Dominion Country Club

RESIDENT TENNIS ACADEMY WINNERS Congratulations to Lawson Leavelle (boys 10 and under) and Ford Elizondo (boys 12 & under) for winning their respective divisions. Both boys are Dominion residents and members of the Tennis Academy

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HOME TOUR

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11 ESQUIRE Located in the prestigious community of The Dominion, this French Country-inspired home was built by award-winning Silverleaf Custom Homes. The unique U-shaped floor plan makes the outdoor living spaces an integral part of the residence. Offering an easy indoor-outdoor lifestyle, nearly every area of the home accesses or boasts views of the pool, outdoor kitchen and patios. Architectural details, including custom ceilings, exposed beams and black walnut floors, bring timeless elegance and character to the interior. Each of the large living rooms features a fireplace and the kitchen will delight the culinary enthusiast. A six-burner gas range with dual ovens and a pot-filler, as well as a custom island with granite and butcher blocktopped workspaces offers ample room for multiple chefs to sample and create. Luxurious

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sleeping quarters include the master suite with a spa bath and extensive wardrobe storage, a private guest suite and two comfortable secondary bedrooms. In the back yard, lounging has never looked more inviting. Sounds from the pool`s waterfall features create a tranquil retreat for relaxing or entertaining. Whether you enjoy soaking up the sun, grilling for family and friends or hanging out in the cool shade, this home is sure to fill your every desire. Visit www.11Esquire.com for more information.

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INTERIOR U-shaped floor plan Stunning custom details throughout Living room features a vaulted, exposed beam ceiling and stone fireplace Barrel-vaulted ceilings, black walnut floors and beautiful mouldings Spacious family room with corner fireplace and backyard views Chef`s kitchen features Wolf and SubZero appliances, custom island with butcher block top and breakfast area Expansive master bedroom offers sitting area with fireplace and spa bath with whirlpool tub, large shower and dual walk-in closets Split guest suite and 2 generously sized secondary bedrooms

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EXTERIOR Private, gated driveway Award-winning builder, Silverleaf Custom Homes French Country-inspired exterior Spacious outdoor living areas, including green space and kitchen with gas grill Sparkling pool with spa and waterfall features 3-car garage and large parking pad Guard-gated community

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BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS

by Sue Talford

Back in Boerne by popular demand, the TAO Taiko Drummers will take to the stage with their latest production: Drum Heart!

These internationally acclaimed percussion artists have transfixed audiences worldwide with their modern, magical, mystifying performances that are the hallmark of the ancient art of Japanese taiko drumming.

This is not just your ordinary drum show… but one filled with contemporary costumes, precise choreography and innovative visuals that combine highly physical, large-scale drumming that has transfixed audiences worldwide.

Approaching 8 million spectators, all over the world, including the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, TAO has been hailed as “undoubtedly one of the finest shows on stage” by the Edinburgh Evening News.

Their performances have been hailed as the most prominent entertainment in Japan, as evidenced by their receipt of “The Sixth Japan Tourism Agency Commission’s Award”.

Their 2018 North American tour is both mentally and physically exhausting…having started January 31 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada…extending down the entire eastern seaboard…then back up through the Midwest…before journeying to Texas.

Their Texas shows include Houston (Jones Hall), Dallas (Strauss Square), Midland (Noel Performing Arts Center) and Boerne (Champion Auditorium). After Texas, they continue on to the west coast, where their tour will finally end on May 6th, in the 2000-seat Zellerbach Hall on the campus of University of California-Berkeley.

That totals 63 shows in 96 days…in 40 US states! Demanding? Yes! Exhausting? Yes! Exhilarating? Yes! The Chicago Tribune reviewed TAO as “supernaturally fit and superbly trained…stunning…fully deserving of the standing ovation that the company receives!” while the Central News Agency commented, “You’ll regret it for life if you miss this!”

So let’s get ready for an evening of highly physical, large-scale drumming that creates an energetic, yet breathless performance.

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The place to be on Friday, April 13, will be Boerne Champion Auditorium, when Boerne Performing Arts closes out their seventh sensational season of bringing the world of professional performing arts to the hill country.

Are you familiar with taiko? Were you aware that taiko drums are crafted from the trunks of the Japanese Zelkova tree? A master carpenter carves out the rough shape of the drum body with a chisel to soften the tone of the drum. Did you know that the skins, or heads, are made from the cowhide of Holstein cows? And for the larger drums, a bull skin is preferred?

What other components of taiko should you know?

Bachi: Sticks used for taiko. Made in various sizes and from different types of wood (white oak, bamboo, and Japanese magnolia).

Kumi-daiko: Type of performance involving multiple players and different types of taiko.

Shie-daiko: Small, high-pitched taiko where the skin is pulled across the head using rope.

Byo-uchi-daiko: Taiko where the skin is tacked onto the head.

Tsuzumi (NOT a tsunami!!!): Rope tensioned drums with a distinct hourglass shape.

Kata: Term used to describe the posture and movement associated with both taiko and martial arts.

Tickets ($30-$40-$60, $20 for students) are available online at www.

BoernePerformingArts.com, or if you would prefer personal attention, give them a call at 830.331.9079. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. at Boerne Champion Auditorium.

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314 Schweppe St $479,000

129 Mustang Run $282,500

Charming cottage on .66 acre lot one block off Main Street. 3/2 Main house 2403 sq. ft. 1/1 Guest suite off garage (not included in footage). Mature trees and meticulous landscaping.

Very clean, well maintained 4 bedroom, 2.5 Baths. Open concept kitchen, breakfast area, family room and Master bedroom downstairs. Other 3 bedrooms, full bath and loft upstairs. Home not far from pool, playground, and near walking trails.

MLS# 1234208

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MLS# 1292244

TRUST US WITH YOUR SMILE

Exam & Cleaning Emergency Dentistry Sedation Dentistry Restorative Dentistry Whitening Latest Dental Technology Clear Braces InvisalignÂŽ Dental Implants NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

Keeping smiles healthy and beautiful since 2010. We are dedicated to giving you not only what you want cosmetically, but also what you need.

Dr. Srikanth Cherukadu, DMD

Dr. Tricia McCue, DDS

4 Dominion Dr., Building 5, #250 | San Antonio, TX 78257 | 210-687-1150 | www.dominiondentalspa.com

GIRL ABOUT TOWN

by Lynette Aleman, Dominion Resident

S A LVA D O R D O B B S There’s a new bar in town… in Boerne that is.

I had a chance to try Salvador Dobbs recently and loved what I found. Located at 512 River Road in Boerne, right next door to Little Gretel, this venue was formerly a toy shop (Ewe and Eye) now turned bar.

If you dined at Little Gretel on the patio you probably saw the toy shop sign from your seats there. The toy shop owner’s daughter, Veronica Brown, thought this would be an ideal location to add to Boerne’s nightlife. She has extensive experience from working and running Little Gretel with her family for years, so this expansion made perfect sense for everyone — and people in Boerne, The Dominion, San Antonio and around are the winners.

I can’t wait for warmer days to enjoy their cozy patio, which has a great view of the Cibolo Creek. There is even one table that has swings. Yes! I said SWINGS! Can you imagine how fun that will be! It was too rainy to enjoy the patio on the evening of my visit, but the first nice day we have, you bet I will be there enjoying the view… while swinging. On the patio, there are also comfy outdoor couches and chairs for your enjoyment. If you have a good throwing arm, try the cornhole game on the patio while you are there.

Tucked away inside is a small speakeasytype lounge. I won’t give it away but I will give a hint. Look for the bookcase.

This secret room is the perfect place to reserve for you and your party. It’s easy to get comfy on the blue and red couch and lounge chairs in the secret room. (Always Remember! What happens at Salvador Dobbs stays at Salvador Dobbs!)

Inside is a stage where live music is performed on Fridays and Saturdays.

Surrounding the stage are cocktail tables and chairs for sitting, sipping, and enjoying.

Towards the back of the bar you’ll find the classic games for any good bar - a pool table and dart board, just waiting for you to test your prowess while enjoying your spirits.

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If you are in the mood to watch a game, this is also a great place! Plan a night to catch any sporting events - a Spurs game or a football game, anything! A perfect way to spend an evening with friends and test any of Salvadore Dobbs many on-tap beers.

Speaking of spirits, Salvador Dobbs has a full bar and they have just released a new specialty cocktail menu with Classic and Signature options. Off the Classic Cocktail menu, try their version of a Sidecar or French 75. The Signature Cocktail menu boasts a Tommy Gun Tequila Manhattan which is made with Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila, Simple Syrup, Amoro Liqueur, Bitters, and Orange bitters. Another signature cocktail is the Blue Peacock - Tito’s Handmade Vodka,

Lemon Juice, Blueberry Syrup, Simple Syrup and Soda Water. Can you say yum!

Salvador Dobbs is open every day 3 pm to midnight. They are closed on Tuesdays.

For a great trial run, give them a try on any Sunday through Thursday (except Tuesday!) for Happy Hour fro 3 pm through 7 pm. I’m pretty sure you will make this the first of many visits in the future.

Visit them at www.facebook.com/ SalvadorDOBBS/ for more information and to see upcoming music and fun events.

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NOW OPEN!!

WE CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU! w w w. d o m i n i o n c ro s s i n g v e t . c o m Complimentary first exam with your copy of Dominion Magazine!

210-963-6117 217 1 5 I n t e r s t a t e 1 0 F ro n t a g e R d. | Sa n A nto nio , TX 78256 | Next to La Glo ria 64

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R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

by Ashley DeVane, Dominion Resident

BOUR B ON S T RE E T Seafood Kitchen

Just outside The Dominion main gate is a taste of New Orleans with the big flavors you would expect — and the food is always served with class. For a little background in case you are a bit confused, Bourbon Street moved from its former location near HEB last year. Their new location is a very stylish space with a two separate dining areas, an outdoor patio, and cozy bar that has live great jazz music weekly. The menu is creative yet traditional, extensive and moderately priced. From Fried Alligator & Frog Leg appetizers, a fresh Seafood Cobb salad & Po’ Boys, to over forty Entrée Specialties, you are sure to please your entire party, no matter how picky.

If you were looking for the kind of spot that “always knows your name,” Bourbon Street might just be your place. As the owner told us “Our goal is to provide you with a great place for parties and informal get-together’s, evenings out with the family or a delicious change of taste from drive thru lunches. This team takes pride in offering a cozy setting where you can enjoy some of the best food of the finest quality. And all that is in your own neighborhood!!” With half priced bottles of wine on Mondays, many additional drink and happy hour specials throughout the week, it pays to stop in and try this new location.

Trust me - you’re almost guaranteed to see a familiar face!

For some of the details: We opted to try some items that were new to us.

Recommended by the gracious owner, we began with a small Greek Salad accompanied by a sampling of two of the best baked oysters…Oysters Bourbon Street & Steak and Oysters. The first is baked with spinach, bacon, cheese and seasonings, and the Steak & Oysters are a sliced tenderloin filet topped with a chicken fried oyster and blue cheese cream sauce. Both dishes are beautifully presented and served on the half shell.

Moving on to our entrees, although we’d already realized we wouldn’t be able to finish off a full entree on our own, we still tried — we chose the Salmon Alexander and the “Shrimp and Lump”. Imagine, for a moment, blackened salmon topped with jumbo shrimp and beautifully seared scallops in a tangy 66

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lemon butter/smoked pepper sauce. On the side was a generous portion of dirty rice. The Shrimp and Lump, well, imagine here a beautiful serving of jumbo shrimp and lump crabmeat with herb crusted bread crumb. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, this dish is topped with lemon butter and fresh asparagus. That is a dish to dream about! The best part is these dishes aren’t imaginary! Try them and, not to be too corny, but you might find your imagination wasn’t good enough!

By the time dessert choices had to be made, we at first thought we just had no more room, but, of course, we reviewed the dessert menu and couldn’t pass it up. So Baked Alaska it is! This concoction of lemon, ice cream and a praline crust that was then covered with meringue and baked was, well, amazing. We were miraculously able to find space for this dessert, and it was the perfect ending, complimenting the rich meal we previously devoured. We, of course, had to

pair that with a beautiful chocolate martini!

Interesting how we never worried about finding room for that. Everything we sampled was perfectly prepared and served with style.

Having dined at Bourbon Street for several years, I find I frequent this new location more often than the previous, it is so close and very convenient. As a ‘regular,’ some of the other dishes that are my favorite are the Crawfish Etouffee, Herb Crusted Salmon, Naked Fish Fillet (seven different fish to choose from), Sea Bass or Chicken Piccata.

When I’m feeling like something extra light, the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad with soy wasabi dressing is my go-to dish.

With three locations in San Antonio, this is your neighborhood place for exquisite New Orleans cuisine near The Dominion.

Voted as one of the best restaurants in San Antonio, I am sure that you will have a great dining experience!

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MARCH 2018 AREA EVENTS

MARCH 3

POPS: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (TRIBUTE TO QUEEN) Charline McCombs Empire Theatre This year’s Pops concert by the San Antonio Choral Society will feature popular hits by Queen and other ‘70s British rock bands.

MARCH 3

GLEN ROSE FORMATION MUSICALLY Cave Without A Name, Boerne, TX Evocative orchestral suites of music tuned specifically to the resonant frequencies in the cave. The most unique and sitespecific music performance yet, “Glen Rose Formation” was composed using the existing standing bass frequencies measured in the Cave Without A Name. In premiering this uniquely site-responsive music, the ensemble will essentially be “playing the cave itself.” The suites are narrated by Mary McGrath Curry, the 89-year-old adventurer who discovered the cave as a young girl.

Additionally, this event will premiere a projection of a short film featuring Mary, “What if the Luminous.”

MARCH 6

DAWN AT THE ALAMO San Antonio Members of the San Antonio Living History Association fire rifles in front of the Alamo during a ceremony that honors the fallen on the 182nd anniversary of the famous battle between Texian defenders and Mexican troops.

MARCH 10-11

FIESTA OF GEMS San Antonio Event Center Rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry, gemstones, 27 dealers, a silent auction, exhibits, games, and a grand prize. Make your own cabochon at the 57th annual event.

MARCH 11

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER Tobin Center Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than the knock-‘em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award® for BEST MUSICAL—A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER! Coming direct from New York, where a most gentlemanly NPR critic said he’d “NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD AT A BROADWAY MUSICAL,” GENTLEMAN’S GUID E tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by – you guessed it – eliminating the eight pesky relatives (all played by one fearless man) who stand in his way. All the while, Monty has to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance… and be done in time for tea.

MARCH 16-17

BUD LIGHT ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL Arneson River Theater & La Villita Way Festival entertainment includes a familyfriendly interactive activity called Passport to Ireland. Other activities include face painting, henna artistry, caricatures, Irish food, photo booth, Irish novelty items, and officially licensed River Walk merchandise.

MARCH 17

SPRING EQUINOX CONCERT Cave Without A Name, Boerne, TX Enjoy an evening of contemporary acoustic music, soaring vocal harmonies, and a percussive tribal/world-beat vibe performed on an unusual mix of ancient and modern instruments, all focused on the theme of the beginning of Spring as a time of rebirth and renewed energy. Some of this concert will be performed in total darkness, illuminated by periods of flickering candlelight, providing a visually rich, spell-binding setting and mesmerizing listening environment.

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MARCH 20

NATIVE FILM SERIES - DOUBLE FEATURE Briscoe Western Art Muesum “Comancheria”—the name commonly given to the historical territory of the Comanche Indians—blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction as it follows the journey of a group of Comanches as they prepare for a sweat lodge. In “LaDonna Harris: Indian 101,” this documentary chronicles the life of Comanche activist and civil rights leader LaDonna Harris, who has fought segregation and assisted grassroots Native and women’s groups since the 1960s. Dr. Dustin Tahmahkera (Comanche Nation), assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin, curated the series and will lead a discussion after the screening. Free admission.

MARCH 23-25

VIVALDI: THE FOUR SEASONS Tobin Center Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is his best known work, and one of the best known classical pieces of all time. A set of four violin concerti, The Four Seasons gives musical expression to each season of the year. The concerti were published with accompanying poems, making The Four Seasons one of the earliest and most-detailed examples of program music—music with a narrative element. Soloist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg leads the orchestra in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite.

they undertook a journey that led, 73 million albums later, to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Alabama introduced rock style guitars, lights, pyrotechnics, and sounds to the country audience.

Quality songs that have become the soundtrack for American life are the foundation for Alabama’s stellar career.

That standard of excellence continues on their most recent album, Southern Drawl.

Whether it’s a wistful ballad about a musician missing his lover on the road such as “Come Find Me,” the emotional honesty of “I Wanna Be There,” their heartfelt tribute to working class America in “American Farmer,” or just the rowdy, groove-laden fun of “Hillbilly Wins the Lotto Money,” each song on Southern Drawl is a snapshot of life vividly brought into focus by three masters of their craft.

MARCH 25-JUNE 6

“NIGHT OF ARTISTS” Briscoe Western Art Museum Now in its 17th year, this public exhibition showcases more than 280 new works of art from 75 of the country’s top Western artists.

Art on exhibit is available for purchase. Free with museum admission.

MARCH 30-APRIL 1

EASTER HILL COUNTRY BIKE TOUR Schreiner University, Kerrville, TX Experience the charm and hospitality of the Texas Hill Country and three days of the best riding Texas has to offer at the 44th annual event. Quiet, well-paved roads, fully-stocked rest stops, and panoramic scenery have made this ride one of the premier cycling events in Texas with routes suitable for all categories of participants, from novices to experienced riders.

MARCH 22-25

THUNDER IN THE HILL COUNTRY BIKER RALLY Bandera, TX An event consisting of tent camping, poker run, vendors, food, field events, music all day Friday and Saturday, a bike show, tattoo contest, and Sunday morning church service.

21 and older, no exceptions.

MARCH 24

ALABAMA LIVE The Majestic Theater Alabama is the band that changed everything.

They reeled off 21 straight #1 singles, a record that will probably never be equaled in any genre. They brought youthful energy, sex appeal, and a rocking edge that broadened country’s audience and opened the door to self-contained bands from then on, and T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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