October 2015

STATE PROFESSOR SHARES BECOMING BRANDON AHISTEXAS TRANSGENERED JOURNEY P22

Full Moon Rye IPA at Real Ale Brewing Co. in Blanco, TX

OCTOBER | 2015

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Experience the best in college living.

O FFICIAL STUDENT H O U SI NG PAR T NER O F TEXAS STATE AT H LET I CS

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The best college experience starts at Vistas San Marcos — the best in college living for Texas State University students.

Our Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing, group study lounge and Wi-Fi hotspots keep your studies on track, while our organized recreational activities keep you connected to your friends — and help you make new ones.

You’ll love the fully furnished modern living spaces that are available, fully equipped kitchens and stay-fit amenities, including an 24-hour fitness center and swimming pool.

And, you can rest-assured knowing our professional on-site management and maintenance, and friendly 24/7 on-call staff, are always on duty.

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Rick Koch ART DIRECTOR

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Xander Peters Jordan Gass-Poore Art Naylor Kristen Sowell Heather Yzaguirre Andres Sotomayor Eric Morales Parker Thornton Travis Emery Steven Ryan ACCOUNT MANAGER

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Going to Texas State University is the experience of a lifetime.

Live it right at Sanctuary Lofts. Stay fit with our 24-hour fitness center and swimming pool. Unwind with friends in the recreation center, or cook up a gourmet meal in your fully equipped kitchen.

And when it comes to study, do it right with our 24-hour Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing, Wi-Fi throughout the clubhouse and internet access included in every apartment.

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B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 7

BOBCATFANS | BACKSTAGE

ous blend of classic country, upbeat funk and symphonic soul, a unique sound that’s hard to put into a single box without doing them a disservice. The allure of the music is its ability to seamlessly weave through so many genres so skillfully.

They all have roots in songwriting, bringing a dynamic element to the lyrical compositions. The lyrics are thought provoking.

Keep the Wolves Away is a familiar Texas tale: A hardworking father spends his days on the oil rigs to support the family and eventually it’s the son’s responsibility to take care of the parents.

Although the story is very Texas, the meaning is universal.

“The working man does his best to provide/Safety and shelter for kids and a wife/Givin’ a little of his soul every day/Making overtime to keep the wolves away”…“I’m going for broke with every song I play/’Cause now it’s my turn to keep the wolves away”

“THE ROAD IS ALWAYS EXCITING IN MANY WAYS. WE’RE ALWAYS EXCITED TO TRY THE LOCAL FARE – FOOD, BEERS, LOCAL MUSIC. THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO GET TO KNOW THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAN TRAVELING AROUND ON WINDY, BUMPY ROADS, TOWN TO TOWN.” –MIKE CARPENTER

While preparing their fourth album, the group made a decision that may seem confusing for an independent band. They left their Nashville record label. But it’s actually as indie as it gets – the whole appeal is to have creative freedom and artistic integrity, and you won’t always get that with a label, no matter how great they are. So they launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund their album. It generated $32,645 from 404 people in a single month last fall.

Uncle Lucius has opened for Leon Russell, Merle Haggard, and Charlie Daniels and were Shooter Jennings’ backing band for a couple short tours. They just wrapped a 24-day summer tour and have frequent appearances at the Cheatham Street Warehouse.

NO BIG RECORD LABEL SUITS UNCLE LUCIUS JUST FINE | By Heather Yzaguirre |

AUSTIN BAND CONSIDERS SAN MARCOS THEIR MUSICAL HOME AWAY FROM HOME. Uncle Lucius formed in the classic Austin-band way: musicians come to town with little more than a guitar on their back and are magnetically drawn to a group and make musical magic.

The dream started in three small Texas cities, where three singer/songwriters grew up, and ended up in the capitol city with an urge to be part of the diverse musical scene. Each of the Austin transplants moved for the same reason: music, art and culture.

Mike Carpenter started playing guitar and writing songs at the age of 14 and moved to Austin to play in bands, joining two before finally becoming a permanent fixture in Uncle Lucius. Josh Greco has banged up drum kits since he was 11 and joined the band just before their 2009 release Pick Up Your Head. Kevin Galloway left his eight-to-five bank job and the securities it comes with in Freeport, TX back in 2002, with little more than his guitar in tow.

They met Jon Grossman on the road in Lexington, Kentucky, while in search of a key instrument to bring fullness to their sound. Their newest member is Johann, originally from Venezuela, who plays bass. And that completes the puzzle that is Uncle Lucius, a band that has slowly built a fan base the hard – yet fun – way: with relentless touring, keeping shows fresh and pumping as much music out as possible.

Each member contributes elements of their musical inspirations from artists like Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, BB King, The Stones and Pink Floyd. Their collective sound is a harmoni-

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BOBCATFANS | MIXOLOGY

The Game Face Shot @ MAYLOO’S Photo by: Parker Thornton

Step 2:

Shoot the top secret combination of fruit juice and 4 types of liquor.

Step 1:

Drop in a shot glass of Red Bull.

Step 3:

Repeat. Limit 2.

138 North LBJ San Marcos, Texas (512) 393-3418

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The Game Face shot is a take on several famous Caribbean cocktails.

Mayloo’s top secret recipe is inspired by Nipper Juice in the Bahamas and Mushroom Tea in the British Virgin Islands and then kicked up with San Marcos flare.

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Going to college at Texas State University is extraordinary—how you live it should be too. The Retreat’s fully furnished, modern living spaces feature enhanced privacy for comfort and study, amenities promoting health, fitness, and socialization, and professional onsite management.

And, we make sure you also have the resources you need to succeed. Our Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing; group study lounge and internet access included in every unit help you stay connected to your studies — not to mention your friends and family.

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B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 11

BOBCATFANS | FASHION

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FALLING FOR FASHION

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| Styled by: Kristen Sowell |

While the temperature drops this fall, let your fashion possibilities rise!

Check out these terrifyingly cute must-haves for this season.

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1) Breathtaking Tiger Lilies Skirt, Orange $49.99 modcloth.com

2) Catprint Tee by Topshop Archive $40.00 topshop.com

3) Bamboo Belted Lug Sole Booties, Black $37.99

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4) Topshop ‘Joni’ Ripped Moto Skinny Jeans, Black $70.00 topshop.com

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5) Abercrombie Plaid Pocket Shirt, Navy Plaid $58 abercrombie.com

6) Daytrip Puffer Vest, Metallic Silver $54.95 buckle.com

7)Brighten Up Circle Scarf, Mustard $14.99 modcloth.com

8)Betsey Johnson Googly Moogly Flapover Crossbody, Black $88 betseyjohnson.com

9) Merona Kasia Genuine Leather Riding Boot, Tan $89.99 target.com

10) Anthropologie Rosetint Tortie Reading Glasses, Rose $48.00 anthropologie.com

11) Neff Fold Beanie, Olive $16.00 neffheadwear.com

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| Words & Photos Eric Morales |

BOBCATFANS | EXTRAORDINARY ALUMNI

AMERICA’S SASSIEST LIFESTYLE GURU | By Steven Ryan |

Texas State alum Steve Kemble used to plan parties and events in San Marcos. Now he has a global reach.

He’s thrown bashes for the likes of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and the Dallas Cowboys. He’s built himself into a brand with TV appearances on shows ranging from Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition to CBS’s Early Show. And he is a proud TXST alum.

One visit to San Marvelous was all Kemble needed to make his college destination decision. “When I went down there I just absolutely fell in love with it,” Kemble said. “It’s truly one of the most beautiful campuses, and it’s what sold me… I was just like, wow, this place looks fabulous.”

During school Kemble was involved in numerous campus organizations.

He competed on the debate team, was president of the Student Foundation, president of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and served as treasurer for the interfraternity council, among many other roles.

As a senior he was named a Gaillardian, a homecoming award given to the most accomplished and outstanding students.

Kemble says being an active participant in so many student groups prepared him for life after college. “It really taught me how to manage my day, which is critical to the success of my business today,” Kemble said. ”I’m working on 10 to 15 parties at a time, and I have to manage those perfectly, and being in all those organizations in college and all those leadership capacities really taught me about time management, about leadership, because I wasn’t just involved in those organizations. I was a leader in all of them.”

Kemble’s first job out of college was with the event staff for US Congressman Jim Collins. When Collins lost his seat to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Kemble joined the Dallas Chamber of Commerce public relations department and later served on the Statue of Liberty Restoration campaign under Lee Iacocca.

By the time he was 26, Kemble was ready to start his own event planning company, “Steve Kemble Event Design”,

“THERE’S SO MANY TIMES WHEN PEOPLE START SOMETHING, AND THEN THEY WANT TO GIVE UP… I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE ‘DON’T GIVE UP!’ JUST KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.”

through which he has garnered more than 25 industry awards.

In 2007 he was inducted into the Event Industry Hall of Fame.

Kemble expanded his brand during the last decade through reality TV, where he used his bright, engaging personality to become one of America’s most recognizable fashion and lifestyle experts.

He starred on WE TV’s “Married by the In-laws” and “Platinum Weddings,” helped plan dream weddings on the Style Network’s “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” and won TLC’s “Battle of the Wedding Planners.”

Kemble said that nowadays, he spends about 60 percent of his work time planning events and 40 percent making TV and radio appearances. He currently serves as a top cop for US Weekly’s Fashion Police, does a segment called “What’s Hot?” for CBS Radio and appears as “Stylin’ Steve” doing red carpet fashion reviews for Fox Television.

Kemble’s advice for Texas State students aiming for success is to find your passion and never, ever, ever give up.

“You have to find something that you’re passionate about… If you’re not passionate about it, or you don’t have a passion for it then don’t do it because in the long run you won’t be happy,” Kemble said.

“There’s so many times when people start something, and then they want to give up… I always tell people ‘Don’t give up!’ Just keep going, keep going.”

A QUICK ”ATTABOY” Kemble was recently profiled in the New York Times and was named one of the Top 10 event planners in the world by Departures Magazine.

Kemble is the youngest recipient of the Special Event GALA Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2007 Kemble was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas State University, one of his proudest accomplishments. stevekemble.com SteveKembleSassyGuru @stevekemblechat

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Now accepting applications for Fall 2016.

BOBCATFANS BOBCATFANS| |FASHION BACKSTAGE

VISTAS SAN MARCOS

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B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 15

BOBCATFANS | LOCAL BREW

“IF YOU CAN MAKE A BATCH OF CHILI, YOU CAN CERTAINLY BREW SOME BEER.” – DEREK EINKAUF

NEW SHOP ON THE SQUARE IS A BREWMASTER’S DREAM | By Heather Yzaguirre | Photos Travis Emery |

Home Brew Supply is bringing some quaint character and individuality to the square.

They have just opened and have big plans to grow the local brewing culture.

Their primary business is selling wholesale and personal homebrew and winemaking products, but they have much more in mind for the future of their new retail store. They intend to create a location where people can go to make friends, learn about brewing and try something new. Home Brew Supply will provide something to do, not just a place to go, and help the square grow in a positive way.

Beer brewing culture is all about creating and sharing, about trying new things and making friends. Home Brew Supply is new to the square, but the brewmasters are no strangers on the beer scene; they have brewed with Middleton, Root Cellar and Sean Patrick’s, among others.

The space is incredible; a registered historical building, it flaunts rock walls over 120 years old. The building boasts original hard wood flooring, beautiful high wood ceilings, and large front windows that let natural light fill the room.

Home Brew Supply’s sign is carved from wood left behind that they restored and cut their logo into themselves.

There’s a large wooden back deck lined on one side with the building’s original brick wall where there’s plenty of space to brew, set up a band, and host a good-sized amount of people. The building has so much charm and personality it’s hard to believe the space was recently a personal loan store.

It’s a perfect fit for the environment they hope to create, and one sought by many other downtown business owners in San Marcos.

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It’s really a perfect example of how San Marcos hopes to grow, embracing the past yet forging a future in a trade that really suits San Martians.

The big question is, can homebrewing be easy enough, and cheap enough, to gain the attention of locals and the college crowd alike? Well according to Derek Einkauf, part owner and store manager, “If you can make a batch of chili, you can certainly brew some beer. And for a bare bones setup it’s cheaper than a round of golf.”

Brewing can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be; the process itself is very simple. You boil down grains, add yeast, let it sit, and that’s pretty much it. Ok, there’s a lot of measuring, boiling, sanitizing, cooling, and a little bit of calculating mixed in there, but, it’s easy enough to find and follow a recipe.

The real beauty of homebrewed beer isn’t the complexity of the beer, but the fact that you yourself made it. Most guys just want to make beer and share it with their friends. And the great thing about Home Brew Supply is that it’s facilitating this revival of an age-old craft that will build a community of friends with a common passion.

A BEGINNER CAN BREW THEIR FIRST BATCH OF BEER WITH AS LITTLE AS $40 IN LESS THAN A MONTH. FROM THEN ON EACH BATCH WILL COST BETWEEN $5 AND $10.

Several classes and brew club meetings are already on the schedule and they never plan to charge any money. Home Brew Supply will also provide large scale professional brewing equipment for people to come brew and eventually add other fermented items like cheese and kombucha.

Cheers!

Homebrewsupplydotcom HomeBrewSupply.com

The place – and space – for college living.

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An off-campus community designed for college living, Bishops Square gives you the place — and space — for the balanced lifestyle you’re looking for.

BISHOPSSQUARE.COM 109 Craddock Ave 512.878.8728

Where students love living.® AMERICANCAMPUS.COM

O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 17 Amenities are subject to change. Limited timeBonly.

S W BRE ds. is year’s hottest tren Craft beer is one of th the Here are the best of and new. d ol s, Hill Country brewerie

You hear people talking about them, you see them in the beer aisle, and more and more tap handles are added to local bars all the time. Some of Texas’ finest brews are born right here in the rolling Hill Country.

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By: Heather Yzaguirre Photos Parker Thornton & Andres Sotomayor

NB BOTTLE CLUB Every 3 months we’ll pack up 4 bottles of NBBCO specially for you. They may be limited releases, early releases, vintage releases or just what we’re most proud of at that moment.

New Braunfels Brewing The New Braunfels Brewing Company can be traced back to 1915, where brewers were kicking out high quality beers even through prohibition. In 1925 the local brewery was shut down once authorities found the illegal production, but it was reincarnated in 2010 by Kelly and Linsey Meyer.

The beers are divided into series, each containing regulars and experimentals reflecting the spirit of the series. Flagship beers like the Hefeweisen and Pale Ale reflect the town's German heritage, while the experimentals are true to the heart of what craft beer is. These are risky beers that toe the line, like their beet saur, one of several in their saur series, a trending style of beer this year among craft brewers. Its brightly colored pink foam and bold red bottom are intimidating, but the flavor is light and dynamic.

It’s way outside the box, but captures the passion and the kind of brewing that Kelly is interested in doing and what large brewing companies wouldn’t take a risk on.

180 W Mill St, New Braunfels, TX 78130 | 830-626-2739 | nbbrewing.com

Kelly Meyer

@NBBrew

NBBrew

Thirsty Planet The Thirsty Planet mission starts with a good old-fashioned passion for beer. It started over 20 years ago when Brian Smittle went into a basement pub in Grantham, England, pointed at a beer, and drank the best beer of his life. He fell in love with beer and brewing. Later, while he was volunteering to help brewers in Vail, Colorado, he realized you could actually make money brewing beer.

Brewing craft beer in Austin is a perfect fit, because the community has a genuine interest in reconnecting with the things they consume.

They want to buy, eat and drink local, from companies with a story and passion for what they’re doing. The value of Thirsty Planet brewery has skyrocketed since opening 5 years ago.

Giving back is important, too, and The Thirst Planet has a number of charitable organizations they donate to each month. Over half the proceeds from their Silverback Pale Ale sales supports the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, in addition to a slew of local charities they help regularly.

Regular brews are Bucket Head IPA, Yellow Armadilla Texas Ale and the Thirsty Goat Amber. Eight seasonals are also available, including the Wandering Wood Smoked Porter and the amazing Hatcha’ Dillo, made with hatch chiles. They brew several times a week, leaving plenty of room for experimentation. The brewer’s hope is to bottle up some of the vibe, quirkiness and oddities of Austin. Could there be anything more Austin than a Franklin BBQ Smoked Porter?

Brain Smittle Thirsty Goat American-style Amber Ale

THIRSTY GOAT AMBER 6.8% ABV, IBU 30- A well-balanced sweet, malty ale that finishes with a light hoppy bitterness.

YELLOW ARMADILLO WHEAT 4.7% ABV, IBU 18- This light American-style Wheat has biscuity and bready tasting notes, with a crisp and clean finish.

BUCKETHEAD IPA 8.9% ABV, 81 IBU- Light caramel, malty sweetness with an intense bright hoppy finish.

To celebrate Oktoberfest starting in September, we will be brewing our Smittlefest (named after owner Brian Smittle)!

11160 Circle Dr, Austin, TX 78736 | 512-579-0679 @ThirstyPlanetBrewery

@Thirsty_Planet

| thirstyplanet.net ThirstyPlanetBrewing

Bucket Head American-style India Pale Ale

B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 19

Real AlE Brewing co This brewery is coming up on celebrating 20 years brewing beer in Blanco, where the mineral rich spring-fed waters make up 92% of the beers they make. The basis for putting the brewery there was the quality of the water.

They focus on making well balanced beers that aren’t overly malty or hoppy and have high and regular drinkability. High quality ingredients are combined in time honored, traditional ways, producing a quality second to none and making them one of the most prominent beers in Texas. Nine year-round beers and around 6 seasonal beers are produced, totaling about 58,000 barrels of beer.

Don’t bother looking for a Real Ale outside of the state; they don’t currently distribute outside of Texas, nor do they have plans to. Part of that decision comes from preferring high quality beers rather than putting as much out as possible.

And an unfiltered, unpasteurized beer is probably not something you want to ship 1,000 miles away from a brewery.

Brad Farbstein, Owner

“We don’t know what goes on in California, New York or Oklahoma...

We want to focus on making beer for Texans and for Texas drinkers.”

–Brad Farbstein, Real Ale Brewing Co.

Real Ale gives back to Texas drinkers, too. The 2016 Real Ale Ride will be the 7th annual cycle event. It generates a large sum of money that’s divvied up and distributed to local charities. 1,800 registered riders participated last year with more anticipated for next year. There are 15, 30 and 50-mile loops that start and end at the brewery, followed by live music, food and beer.

Brewers’ Cut Project No. 14 Kriek, a brown ale with cherries

231 San Saba Ct, Blanco, TX 78606 | 830-833-2534 | realalebrewing.com RealAleBrewing

RealAleBrewing

REAL SPIRITS...

Is the name their new distillery will be known as, it will be producing a whiskey, a gin, and a blue agave spirit.

The spirits will be for sale in limited quantities in the Tap Room starting in late 2016, fingers crossed.

Barrel-aged Ales

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RealAleBrewing

Scots Gone Wild, a barrel-aged wild scotch ale

SEAN PATRICK’S IRISH PUB

ROOT CELLAR CAFÉ

San Marcos’ Go-To brew pub has lots of local beers on tap, even offering up 8-10 of their own in-house brews, depending on season. They serve a variety of food like burgers, traditional Irish pub fare, and appetizers that pair well with a cold pint.

The place to go for the complete package: great beer paired with great food. The menu reflects an ambition to serve high quality food that’s an ode to tradition with a new age flair. The freshest ingredients are used in both their food and their beers, creating seasonal ales that capture the season.

MIDDLETON BREWING

Kim and Dennis Middleton, California natives who brought decades of brewing experience to the rolling hills of Texas, founded this brewpub in the summer of 2011. They serve a variety of craft beers brewed on site, ranging in style from Belgian to American to British. Seasonals and limited releases are brewed occasionally, but they’ll always have at least 14 regulars on tap. The indoor/outdoor venue is dog friendly and chic. Their location is a little closer to Wimberley, right off of Ranch Road 12.

Difference between a

Brewery AND a Brewpub A brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels per year and sells 75% of its product off-site is considered a microbrewery. A brewpub produces 15,000 barrels or less as well, but sells the bulk of their product on-site. Pub brewing is awesome because you get to brew a bunch of different styles and experiment with unusual flavors and techniques. They’re also often stocked with other local brews as well.

Ron Extract,Jeffrey Stuffings, Garrett Crowell

Jester King Jester King reigns among Hill Country breweries. The establishment’s main goal is to brew great, authentic beer and provide a setting to enhance that experience. The brewery is located on a sprawling piece of land west of Austin, down a road that weaves through greenery and hills. You’ll need half a day at least to put a dent in their beer menu. They have 4oz., 6oz., and 12 oz. sizes for sampling and drinking, and rotate their draught beers frequently.

Their authentic farmhouse brewing method is a tradition that embraces location, seasonality and nature. The goal is to craft beers reflecting a distinct sense of place and time tied to where they’re made by using local, seasonal ingredients. Hops are aged in a horse barn on the property and wildflowers and herbs are in a number of beers they’ve made.

The most important element to the process is using a mixed culture of brewers yeast, native yeast and bacteria harvested from the air around the brewery and from local wildflowers and berries. The result is the defining “house character” of the beers, a blend of flavors that can’t be replicated. Although this fermentation process can take from 5 to 20 times as long as other craft beers, the specific flavors that emerge create flavor profiles unique to Jester King.

“All told, as of today, we’ve released 31 batches of 30 different beers so far in 2015, which, now that I say it, sounds completely insane.”

–Amber Watts, Jester King

La Vie en Rose Farmhouse Ale Refermented with Raspberries

The Dichotomous series is a collection of limited release beers embracing botanical ingredients like lavender, rosemary and spearmint in the barrel-aged farmhouse ale.

Despite being a small brewery, Jester King’s bottle artwork won three medals in the World Beer Championship packaging competition in 2012. Joshua Cockrell, native Central Texan and Jester King’s artist, has played a large role in shaping their identity as a brewery, being in charge of all aesthetics from tasting room design to the labels. He takes inspiration from the character, story and history of the beer and creates a face for the beer that does it justice.

They play nice with other breweries and even collaborate to create new beers, like a Hefeweisen they made with Live Oak Brewery. Renowned Austin chef Paul Qui got in on the fun earlier this year, joining forces to create Equipose, a brew made with pureed fermented cantaloupes from Johnson’s Backyard Garden with hints of ginger salt and dried tarragon. Specialty beers and launch events that embrace cutting edge brewing methods and creating an experience that tickles the senses make Jester King a powerhouse brewery.

Jester King Brewery makes it a point to work and collaborate with breweries all over the world.

13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736 | 512-537-5100 | jesterkingbrewery.com JesterKingBeer

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B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 21

BECOMING

BRANDON

“IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE A GAME THAT I WAS

PLAYING WITH MYSELF: HOW DO YOU LIVE THIS LIFE IN THE WRONG BODY?” –BRANDON BECK

EVERY MAN’S STORY

STARTS SOMEHOW,

EVEN IF HE WAS NOT BORN

A MAN AT ALL. Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award this past July. Laverne Cox, who portrays “Sophia Burset” in the hit Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black, became the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine. The comedy series Transparent received multiple nominations in major categories for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards. And our nation, as a whole, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, has never been friendlier to the LGBTQIA community. It’s a change in contemporary landscape, an evolution of thought and political correctness that’s been beckoning at the backdoor of the modern civil rights movement for years.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK “I’ve always known that I was male,” Dr. Brandon Beck tells me, coolly scratching his thick beard. His bright blue eyes—piercing and arresting—flicker in the pale light of his office on Texas State’s campus, where he works as a graduate advisor. It is mid-afternoon on a Wednesday. To my left, scattered along bookshelves, are framed photos of Beck and his family: with his wife at a football game and with his parents after a graduation ceremony; while to my right, hanging proudly above his desk, are a handful of degrees reading not one, but two, names: both his birth name, Jonna, and the name Beck gave himself after transitioning from a woman to man—Brandon. “It was just something I dealt with. I lived as a woman knowing I had these feelings and not knowing what to do with that,” he tells me. “It was always like a game that I was playing with myself: How do you live this life in the wrong body?”

In 1995, Jonna made her way to Rice University after graduation. Beyond the conservative confines of San Marcos, she was finally able to cut her hair short and wear more masculine clothes. After finishing an undergraduate degree, she came back to then-Southwest Texas State to earn a teaching certification before eventually going back to graduate school for poetry. In that time, though Jonna had yet to come to terms with her own gender identity, she noticed a consistency in how her writing dealt with the man living insidwe of her, waiting—a truth that she would eventually confess to the man Jonna was married to at the time. “I ended up falling in love,” Beck tells me. “and the guy I was with, I thought, was my true soul mate. So I trusted him for the first time that I had ever trusted anybody and I told him, ‘I think I’m transgender’… And he left me.”

For Jonna, it was a crushing blow; but for Brandon, it was only the beginning.

BEFORE BRANDON

Photos Eric Morales

base, like her dad—but at the time the local Little League was only for boys. So her parents petitioned the league’s board of directors, calling for them to let their only child play ball: “I was the only girl who played baseball for three years,” Beck remembers. Then, as puberty began to rear its awkward head, the gulf between normality and depression continued to widen. While the other teenagers fussed over the politics of popularity, she submerged herself in perfectionism as a student with the hope that her physical appearance would go unnoticed—intentionally building her life so that she wasn’t involved with kids her own age.

“I already was disgusted with the fact that I had developed breasts,” Beck tells me. “One of the other girls told me ‘I wish I had breasts as big as yours.’ And I thought, why would you say something like that to me? You know I don’t want breasts. But she didn’t. Nobody did.”

Before Dr. Brandon Beck, there was Jonna Beck. As a child growing up in San Marcos, it was no mystery to Jonna that she was different from others. When she was five, she told her parents that she wanted to play baseball—first

THE MAKING OF A MAN A few years and several Master’s degrees later, Beck found

By Xander Peters

B O B CAT FA NS | 10.15 23

himself conducting research on transgender students in public schools for his PhD dissertation. That, he remembers, was the transition tipping point; it was time to live the life he wanted. In 2012, Beck spoke with his parents about his gender identity and made the decision to begin his transition from a woman to a man. In fall 2013, he began hormone treatments—and by the end of summer 2014, he had a bilateral mastectomy to remove the breasts, a hysterectomy, and he came “out” in the community, living as a full-time male named Brandon. “That feeling when I woke up from surgery and my breasts were gone was…”

He pauses and looks down at Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover lying on his desk. “…a mix of relief and joy.”

For Beck, the pieces of the puzzle he had struggled with for so long had finally begun to fall into place. Not only was he living in the body he always felt he should have, his advocacy work had shifted, too, prompting him to organize Transcend, an organization for transgender students. He found love again as well—with Marcia Luciani, a friend he had met in passing years before. Throughout his transition, and even before, she was there holding his hand, helping with his testosterone treatment, lending him her love and support. Marcia became his rock, his lighthouse on a foggy night.

and excitement. It’s his first time at Beck and Marcia’s apartment and he’s sitting on one of their cushy living room couches, rolling up the legs of his shorts to expose his anxiously shaking thigh. In just a moment’s time, life would drastically change for the usually outgoing and comical 21-year-old. Still, anxiety aside, he felt much calmer here than he would at a doctor’s office. Here he has his mother, watching, while Beck and Marcia do their best to keep Ryan calm as they help administer his first shot of testosterone—literally helping Ryan become a man. That was earlier this year, in late May. Ryan has been a member of the transgender community since November 2013 and a part of Transcend, where he’s now the sitting president, since January 2014. And, in a way, he’s Beck’s right-hand man. “Any time I talk about Brandon, I say he’s my mentor,” Ryan tells me at the meeting. Before joining the group, the first two months of transitioning were filled with anxiety of what-ifs and what was beyond the curtain of coming out as transgender.

“Just having these people who can relate really helped it be a smooth and comfortable experience,” Ryan continues.

“It really brings comfort to people when they’re going through different things while transitioning.”

“Any time I talk about Brandon, I say he’s my mentor.”

–Ryan Kessinger

oned has not reduced my love one iota.”

In a photo on Beck’s Facebook page, at his 20-year class reunion, he’s standing there, smiling, holding a sign with the words “I’ve changed” written on it. It’s been a long, sometimes daunting, road for the 38-year-old. Yet, today, he’s a husband. He’s a stepfather to Marcia’s daughter, Sam. He’s an educator. He’s a mentor. And, perhaps most noteworthy, he’s the man that Jonna always knew she needed to be.

Though members of the transgender community like Brandon Beck and Ryan Kessinger have positive stories to tell about their experiences, there are many in the same community who still cannot say the same. Transgender people are more likely to be impoverished and unemployed, which often leads to taking on sex work, and they are more likely to attempt suicide during adolescence than other Americans due to a lack of understanding when it comes to gender identity.

Sex and gender are two very different concepts—sex is biological, determined by a baby’s birth anatomy; gender is cultural, a set of behaviors learned through human interaction. One oft-cited explanation is that sexual orientation determines who you want to go to bed with and gender identity determines who you want to go to bed as. Essentially, gender and sexuality is a two-option multiple-choice question, one that has come into the spotlight more and more. Still, with activists like Beck who continue to push for policy changes in schools, hospitals, workplaces, prisons and the military, a sense of progress is on the horizon for the community as a whole.

Back in Beck’s office, he tells me how positive his experience has been as a part of the San Marcos community and as an educator at Texas State. He believes in making a change locally for the sake of it trickling outward. “I think some trans people don’t talk about their identity because they still don’t feel safe in society,” he says. “Part of what I want to do is let people know that I do want people to know my story. The more we keep it hidden, the more it becomes that stigma. That’s why I do what I do, and why I’m open about my experience as a transgender person.”

THE TWO WERE MARRIED THIS PAST MARCH. On a Wednesday evening this past summer, in an almost empty upstairs lobby of the LBJ Center, Beck and Marcia are sitting side by side across from me at the weekly Transcend meeting. The topic of their relationship and how it began comes up. “I just kind of went with the flow,” she tells me, remembering their first conversation about Beck’s gender identity. “He expressed anxiety about other people and everything, and since I was okay with it, I didn’t want to make things worse for him.” Her voice suddenly cracks and a tear runs down her cheek. “It’s really a shame that some people can be so mean,” she continues, wiping the corners of her eyes. “Because they could really be losing out on such wonderful people—as friends, family; boyfriends, girlfriends; husbands, wives… He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Just to think if I never took that chance, I’d really be missing out…” She scoots closer to Beck, laying her head on his shoulder. “I love you,” she tells him. He wraps his arm around her. “I love you too,” he says.

TRANSCENDING THE CONVERSATION Ryan Kessinger felt nauseous—the kind of nausea that falls somewhere amidst the purgatory of nervousness 24 23 BOB CATFANS | 10.15

“Not everyone transitions in the same way,” Beck chimed in from across the circle. “Not everybody chooses to take hormones, not everyone chooses to have surgery; but for the people who do, it’s nice that we can teach those things and be a support system for people who are going through them.”

“It’s so nice to see people willing to be confident in themselves and who they are, and I like seeing these young people gain that confidence and be willing to step out and talk about who they are and what makes them happy.”

BEING BRANDON Last fall, after parking his mother Amelia’s car, Beck opened the door to get out and caught a glimpse of his bearded self in the car’s rearview mirror. ‘You know, this is how I always thought I should look,’ Amelia remembers him saying. “I thought that was a revealing comment—that he felt good about himself now,” she tells me. To both her and Beck’s father John, Brandon is the same person they raised, that they’ve always loved, and that they love now.

When he came to them about his desire to transition, there was never a moment where they questioned his decision.

“I don’t ever recall ever becoming upset or [asking] ‘Who are you?’ or [telling him] to leave home,” his father recalls.

“I think we’re still transitioning ourselves, but I think we’ve acknowledged that we’ve lost a wonderful daughter and gained a wonderful son,” he tells me. “Because he’s transiti-

EXTRA INFO

For transgender people, sexual preferences are a separate matter altogether – there is no direct correlation between a person’s gender identity and sexual interests.

According to a survey

by Injustice at Every Turn, 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide. In comparison, 1.6% of the general population attempt the same.

Trans – the prefix, literally translates as “beyond,” therefore transgender means “beyond gender.”

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Contents | OCTOBER 2015 |

SMTX

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8. BACKSTAGE

9. UBER

10. MIXOLOGY

10. EVENTS

12. FASHION

11. CONCERTS

14. ALUMNI

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16. HOME BREW

14. EYE OF THE DOG

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YOUR TOWN

WHAT’S NEW SMTX NEW BUSINESSES IN THE SAN MARCOS AREA HEALTH

RETAIL

BEAUTY

FOOD

SPORTS

THUMBS

UP & DOWN THE WALL Every Texas State student knows The Wall is what keeps Strahan Coliseum from even resembling a basketball arena. Soon, The Wall will come crumbling down.

Texas State Board of Regents authorized an expansion to the Coliseum that replaces The Wall with 2300 additional seats. The $54 million project’s completion date is early 2019.

JOBS! Mentioned as a possibility in last month’s Ups & Downs, it’s now an official Up. Amazon will locate a distribution center in San Marcos by the end of 2017, bringing 350 fulltime jobs and 1,000 jobs overall to the city.

KUDOS To the Texas State NAACP organization for starting a petition drive to add an African-American Studies program to the Texas State system. With Texas State’s most famous graduate, Lyndon B. Johnson, being instrumental to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, such a program would seem to be a natural for Texas State.

VIM GYM TUMBLING AND CHEER CENTER Gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, acrobatics, martial arts. With a full-size gymnastics spring floor, future Olympians of all ages can hone their craft. Classes available for different skill levels and ages.

105 Uhland Road, San Marcos | 512-766-4496 THE WHITE BUTTERFLY DAY SPA & WELLNESS CENTER Nothing makes you feel more special and relaxed than being pampered. The White Butterfly is happy to serve with manicures, pedicures, massages, waxes and more. Book an appointment today and watch the stress melt away.

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OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL Oceans is a an in-patient psychiatric hospital for patients 55 and older, dealing with minor mental illnesses like depression to major issues including delusions and hallucinations.

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MOCHAS AND JAVAS This popular local coffee purveyor now has a location inside the HEB on East Hopkins.

Customers can also start their day with breakfast tacos, quiches and muffins.

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GRINDHOUSE COFFEE AND COCKTAILS While Grindhouse has been open since May, the “...and Cocktails” part is new. With liquor license in hand, they now serve your favorite adult beverages along with coffees, smoothies and sandwiches.

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GRIFFITH FORD San Marcos’ longtime Ford dealer has moved.

They’re still located off Interstate 35, just on the other side of the highway and a few miles north of their old location. You can walk on over if you like, because you just might drive home in a new Ford.

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TO ELEVATE OR NOT In a miscommunication of classic proportions, residents whose homes were flooded in the Memorial Day floods thought they were being told to elevate their homes or have them demolished.

Instead, they were supposed to be told that if they didn’t elevate their homes, they may not be able to get flood insurance in the future. San Marcos City Manager Jared Miller issued a heartfelt apology to affected residents, assuring homeowners their properties wouldn’t be condemned.

THE UBER ABC’S A. Download the Uber app.

B. Enter your information, including a valid credit or debit card.

C. Set your location and vehicle option, tap “Set Pickup Location” to request your ride.

WANT TO EARN MONEY? BECOME AN UBER DRIVER!

Uber Yourself All over San Marcos, and beyond!

If you own a 2000 model or later car with a good driving record, you can become an Uber driver.

Download the Uber partner app and follow the instructions. It takes about a week to get approval.

Popular ridesharing app gets the City’s blessing.

As a rule, we all have been known to take weekend runs into Austin, where visiting the wealth of restaurants, bars and events are a rite of passage.

the streets.” In their first month, though, Uber drivers found other areas of demand.

One of my riders booked Uber because he missed the shuttle to get to class. Another had car troubles and used it to go shopping. Some take Uber to work. And some just don't like walking five blocks in the heat of a Texas summer.

San Marcos city officials have always worried about these forays. The cost of cabs is generally too steep for college students and the alternative often means Another driver found a lot of people people behind the wheel that are in no in San Marcos don't want the hassle of condition to do so. driving their car to go tubing. Call Uber to take them to the start point. Call them These people were who the City Council again when they're done at the end point had in mind when they approved the and go home again. That driver keeps an arrival of Uber by a 5-2 vote at their July air pump in his car as a courtesy to his 7th meeting. customers.

By now, most people know Uber (the German word for "outstanding") is a ridesharing app that allows you to get rides from independent operators at lower fares than most cab companies charge. The author of this piece is an Uber driver.

At first, it was thought that most riders would be folks who wanted a lift to Austin, generally around $50 one way with Uber. When the Council approved Uber's right to serve San Marcos, Police Chief Chase Stapp told the media, "Additional options for our residents and visitors is not only a great idea, but one that contributes to our goal of reducing the number of intoxicated drivers on

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Still, bar trips to Austin are likely to be the biggest draw on weekend nights, and what's not to like? Get two or three friends to split the cost and they all can get to Austin and back for about 25 bucks each.

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WEEKEND HAPPENINGS | OCTOBER |

HAND-PICKED CENTRAL TEXAS EVENTS

FRIDAY, 2ND – SUNDAY, 4TH COMMUNITY:

ART:

SPORTS:

FESTIVAL:

Biannual event supporting the Hays County Food Bank features live music, art vendors, and family friendly activities. Saturday at Hays County Courthouse Lawn, Kyle, $5 suggested donation, foodstocksmtx.com

A fast-paced comedic whodunit with elements of the original Hitchcock film, a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python -- magical theater all the way! Friday through Sunday at Wimberley Playhouse, $19, wimberleyplayers.org

7.36 mile kayak and canoe race encourages participants to wear holiday attire (Santa hats, beards, etc.). Enjoy BBQ and live music at the awards ceremony. Saturday, Starts at City Park in San Marcos and ends at Texas State Tubes in Martindale, $45 registration fee, sights-n-sounds.org/ riverrace

The 35th annual German festival will offer German beer, food, sing-a-longs, shopping, children’s activities, and four stages of German music.

Friday through Sunday at Marktplatz (Market Square), Fredericksburg, $7 adults 13 and up, $1 children 7 to 12, and Free for children 6 and under, Multi-day passes available, oktoberfestinfbg.com

FOODSTOCK

WEEK

1

THE 39 STEPS

SANTA’S RIVER RACE

OKTOBERFEST

FRIDAY, 9TH – SUNDAY, 11TH CHARITY:

FESTIVAL:

Hays County’s premiere black tie event features gourmet dining, extensive silent auction, and entertainment

by Grammy Award Winner Diamond Rio. Proceeds will benefit the Ingram Heart Center at CTMC. Sunday at Embassy Suites, San Marcos, $200 per person, ctmcgala.com

Thursday’s sneak peek includes go karts, a dance party

by DJ Versus, and $1 carnival rides. Friday & Saturday feature live concerts, food & shopping vendors, and all you can ride Carnival wristbands ($25 each). Thursday through Saturday at Central Texas Speedway, Kyle, Free Entry with $5 Parking, kylefair.com

STARS OF TEXAS GALA

WEEK

2

KYLE FAIR & MUSIC FEST

FESTIVAL:

GRUENE MUSIC & WINE FESTIVAL

Pick and choose events from this a la carte style festival.

The main event on Saturday from 12-6 is a Texas food and wine tasting with over 100 Texas wines, live music, and a craft market. Thursday through Sunday at Gruene Historic District, Various ticket prices, gruenemusicandwinefest.org

FRIDAY, 16TH – SUNDAY, 18TH

3

FESTIVAL:

COMMUNITY:

CHARITY:

A Hot Air Balloon Festival!

Tethered balloon flights, bounce houses, live music, vendors, night lit balloons with costumed trick or treating, photo contest, and beautiful views of hot air balloon flights in the mornings and evenings. Friday through Sunday in Floresville, Free, texasballoonspectacular.com

Aziz Ansari and Amy Schumer headline this star-studded comedy event. Other comedians include Anthony Jeselnik, T.J. Miller, Todd Barry, John Mulaney, Dave Attell, and Nick Kroll. Saturday at Austin 360 Amphitheater, $35 and up, oddballfest.com

Traditional small town parade.

At the finale, all gathered are invited to sing “Happy Birthday” to Kyle and have a piece of birthday cake. Kyle Market Days to follow with local food and craft vendors. Saturday at City Square Park, Kyle, Free, cityofkyle.com/recreation/ kyle-founders-parade

A full day of events raising money and awareness. Events include a 5K, a stop from the National Pink Heals Tour, a baseball tournament, and a fire truck pull. Sunday at Ramon Lucio Memorial Park, San Marcos, Free, pinkhealshayscounty.org

ODDBALL COMEDY & CURIOSITY FESTIVAL

KYLE FOUNDERS’ PARADE

FRIDAY, 23RD – SUNDAY, 25TH

4

PINK HEALS 5K AND RALLY

ART:

SPORTS:

ART:

SPORTS:

Featuring over 60 of Texas’s finest clay artists, this two-day clay love-fest offers visitors the opportunity to meet the artists, purchase their work, and watch demonstrations in wheel throwing, raku firing, sculpture, hand building and surface decoration techniques.

Saturday and Sunday at The Barn Pottery, Gruene, Free, texasclayfestival.com

See racers compete at over 200 mph. Festivities also include a post-race 2 hour performance by Elton John and his full band on Sunday. Friday through Sunday at Circuit of the Americas, Austin, $99 and up, circuitoftheamericas.com

Gilbert and Sullivan’s skills at satire, comedy and beauty are on full display in one of the best-loved and longest-running operettas, H.M.S. Pinafore. Thursday through Sunday at Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre, San Marcos, $15 adults, $8 seniors/students/ children, txstatepresents.com

Bobcat football against South Alabama. Wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Join the Alumni Association tailgate before the game where food and beer is served, $10 suggested donation. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, $15+, txstatebobcats.com

TEXAS CLAY FESTIVAL

WEEK

PET FEST

Dog agility demonstrations, dog races, dog costume and trick contests, vendors, pet adoptions, live music, and a silent auction. Saturday at San Marcos Plaza Park, Free, Pet food donations encouraged, preventalitter.com/pet-fest

COMMUNITY:

TEXAS BALLOON SPECTACULAR

WEEK

CHARITY:

FORMULA 1 RACING

SMTXMAGAZINE.COM

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TEXAS STATE OPERA

TXST FOOTBALL

CENTRAL TEXAS CONCERT CALENDAR OCTOBER 2

JOHN CHANDLER Country Riley’s Tavern, New Braunfels OCTOBER 3

READER FEEDBACK CHASCA Rock Taxi’s Pianobar, San Marcos OCTOBER 8

SHANE SMITH & THE SAINTS Americana Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos

Traditional small town parade. At the finale, all gathered are invi “Happy Birthday” to Kyle and have a piece of birthday cake. Kyle follow with local food and craft vendors. Saturday at City Square cityofkyle.com/recreation/kyle-founders-parade

OCTOBER 10

AARON NEVILLE R&B Gruene Hall, New Braunfels JIMMY “DADDY” DAVIS Americana Tavern on Main, Buda RICKY STEIN Americana Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood OCTOBER 15

AMPLIFIED HEAT Rock Ellen Ygnacio Gold Crown Billiards, San Marcos @MrsYgnacio @smtxmag TheOCTOBER buffalo kahuna 16 at DRbig G AND MUDCATS the kahunaTHE is the Americana #smtxbestburger and of course the Kent Black’s BBQ, San Marcos original big kahuna burger!

OCTOBER 17

JONATHAN TEA Rock Wake the Dead Coffee House, San Marcos MEL TILLIS Country Brauntex Theater, New Braunfels OCTOBER 21

BOB APPEL Country Triple Crown, San Marcos OCTOBER 22

THE TOADIES John Alternative Salazar Rock Gruene Hall, New Braunfels @_johnsalazar

@SMTXmag Cheeseburger at OCTOBER 25 Cafe onELTON the Square JOHN Pop/Rock Austin 360 Amphitheater, Austin

CodyOCTOBER K Day

31

@CodyKaes CHASCA Rock @SMTXmag #SMTXBestBurger?

Triplea Crown, San Marcos - Is this even real question?

Taproom!!

THE @TaproomTX COVER LETTER Folk/Rock Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK info@smtxmagazine.com SMTXMAGAZINE.COM

11

“BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE SAN MARCOS WITH SUCH AN AMAZING NATURAL RESOURCE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET IN A CAR OR PACK STUFF AND TRAVEL HOURS TO GET THERE.”

PROFILE

Kayaking Connoisseur | By Steven Ryan | Photos Eric Morales |

Texas State Alumnus conquers the Texas Water Safari Cold, wet, tired and dreary, Daniel Curry opened his eyes as wide as the river’s estuary he was fast approaching.

Curry was on the last leg of the Texas Water Safari - a 262-mile kayak race that starts in San Marcos and ends in the Gulf Mexico. He had been on the river for more than 73 hours and slept for barely three of them. But as Curry crossed the finish line, he couldn’t have felt any better.

Curry loves a good challenge and being in the water. The Texas Water Safari is the best of both worlds.

“It’s an amazing race, an amazing experience and really teaches stuff about yourself that you maybe didn’t know,” Curry said. “You’re out there in the middle of the night by yourself with a flashlight trying to cross over a logjam or something. You’re scared, but what are you going to do? You’re not going to quit. You’ve got to push yourself.

I think that’s what it’s really about. It’s an amazing adventure that you don’t get to experience in your day-to-day life... It will really test you and develop you as a person.”

After finishing the race, he posed for a picture and cracked open a beer. The journey was long and strenuous, but totally worth it. “It’s pretty intense, man,” Curry said.

“It’s kind of an endurance experience. You don’t really get a lot of sleep. The conditions aren’t great. You’re wet constantly so that kind of wears on you after a while… It’s just a mental thing. (It’s about) getting out there, pushing yourself and telling yourself you’re going to finish it.”

Curry started kayaking six or seven years ago. He’s lived in San Marcos since 2001 and graduated from Texas State in 2008 with a degree in communications design. He currently works as a manager at Zelicks Icehouse and does freelance graphic design on the side.

His favorite thing to do in San Marcos is no surprise.

He’s all about that river. Curry goes there almost every day, even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes to cool off. “It’s just really beautiful, man,” Curry said. “It has a powerful presence, beautiful moving, clear water, always the same temperature… I just can’t get sick of it. Being able to live in a place like San Marcos with such an amazing natural resource right here, right down the road, and you don’t

CURRY’S NEXT KAYAK RACE IS OCTOBER 3RD AT THE 1ST ANNUAL 7-MILE RIVER RACE BENEFITING SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS IN SAN MARCOS. HOLIDAY ATTIRE IS ENCOURAGED. sights-n-sounds.org/riverrace

have to get in a car or pack stuff and travel hours to get there.

You can just hop on a bike and be there in two seconds. It’s just really amazing.”

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“IT’S JUST A MENTAL THING. (IT’S ABOUT) GETTING OUT THERE, PUSHING YOURSELF AND TELLING YOURSELF YOU’RE GOING TO FINISH IT.”

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LOCAL ARTIST “IT’S A NONJUDGMENTAL, FREE ZONE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND WORK.”

“It was either build this or go to Costa Rica and start a taco stand.” says Billy Mangham in reference to the Art Center.

Art For Art’s Sake Words by: Art Naylor Photos: Andres Sotomayor

Free artistic expression encouraged at Eye of the Dog Art Center.

Five miles from town, hidden in the hills and obscured by the trees, is Eye of the Dog Art Center, a huge ranch with intricate sculptures and beautiful works of art mingling with nature.

Whether you are looking for an artistic community to participate in, to dive into the world of sculpting, or other creative group activities Eye of the Dog is the destination for bringing out your inner artist.

Billy Ray Mangham has worked in clay for over 28 years, taught art courses at ACC for 9 years and has numerous art degrees. Billy and his wife Beverly bought the property they operate on in 1989 while they were doing most of their work on the road, traveling the country doing art shows.

Billy says, “We did that for about 23 years and felt like we had learned everything we could learn from that, and it had become more of a job and less of a pleasure. We thought about what we wanted to do next. When we weren’t on the road we were teaching workshops out here, so the logical step was to build somewhere that we could teach and provide studio space for other people.”

Thus in 2005 Eye of the Dog was born around the mission statement “To Spread the Creative Spirit.” “We tried not to paint ourselves into a corner with the mission statement,” says Billy, giving the center free reign to really explore what was possible in the realm of artistic creation.

The idea was to create an environment that encourages participants to unlock their creative potential; they wanted to bring the joy and fun of crafting works of art to people of all backgrounds and artistic skill levels. “It’s a nonjudgmental, free zone where people can come and work,” says Billy.

Eye of the Dog offers creative workshops, group events and festivals that embrace the community spirit and artistic values set forth in their mission statement.

Some of the fall workshops being offered include clay sculpting courses such as “Hand-building”, a class specifically for beginners, designed to equip participants with the tools needed to start crafting clay by hand. They also offer more advanced courses for experienced artists that use the potters wheel and employ more in-depth, rigorous sculpting material.

Every year the Manghams bring in prominent artists from all over the world to teach their spring and fall workshops.

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More information including specific dates and workshop material are available on their website. Workshop prices range from $150-$250 depending on the subject matter and instructor.

The Eye of the Dog also hosts events and festivals that are always free to the public featuring live music, free food and artistic demonstrations. In May their “Dirt Dauber Festival” featured 36 clay artists demonstrating their creative styles. Their “Holiday Show” takes place on Thanksgiving Weekend and will feature around 20 artists.

The center is located at 405 Valley View West Rd. in San Marcos. Workshops and private events are available by appointment only. For more information, visit eyeofthedog.com, email billraymangham@gmail.com or phone (512) 5881723. Hours vary daily depending on when Billy and Beverly are available.

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LOCAL BUSINESS “We’ve made some amazing friends and partners, and I just want to keep things the way they are.”

HOOKAH FACTS • THE

HOOKAH TRADITION, DATES

BACK AT LEAST 500 YEARS, ORIGINATING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. COUNTRIES CITED FOR THE FIRST USE INCLUDE EGYPT, INDIA, AND TURKEY. SMOKING THE HOOKAH IS ONE OF THE OLDEST, MOST POPULAR TURKISH TRADITIONS. THE TRADITION HAS TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES AND TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 HOOKAH ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE U.S.

•“We’ve WHAT IS SHISHA? SHISHA IS THE TOBACCO OFTEN USED FOR made some SMOKING HOOKAH, WHICH IS amazing TYPICALLY SOAKED IN MOLASfriends and SES OR HONEY AND MIXED WITH partners, FRUIT FOR TASTE. and I just want to keep things the way they are.”

Stratosphere Owners Michael Kelton & Rayda Sounny-Slitine

Happy crafted Hookah By: Xander Peters Photos: Andres Sotomayor

The Stratosphere Lounge Celebrates Ten Years With $10 Bowls In October.

October marks the tenth anniversary of the day The Stratosphere Lounge opened its doors for the very first time. As the years continue to creep by for the local business, some qualities about the city’s premiere hookah lounge have yet to change—and for good reason too.

“We started when we were really young, and we were trying to make a place that my partner and I really loved,” says Michael Kelton, who co-owns Stratosphere with lifelong friend turned business partner Rayda Sounny-Slitine. “Now that the business has been around for ten years, we’re ten years older as well, and that brings an interesting set of challenges along with it; but we’ve tried to evolve the business to suit the clientele over the years.”

Unlike most hookah bars, which tend to focus more on the Middle Eastern or Moroccan vibe, Stratosphere has always drifted towards a hybrid idea: a place that’s centered around the collegian ideology and mindset, a comfortable and relaxed spot that’s inviting enough for someone to walk in the door, sink into a comfortable sofa, and get lost in a cloud of smoke—cliché be gone.

“Our goal is to attract people who enjoy a fine hookah experience with a slightly more modern vibe - including our music selection and décor,” Kelton says. “We play whatever customers want to hear, but more importantly we want to pair them the perfect hookah depending on their tastes, whether they’re a beginner or an expert.”

“The last ten years have been amazing and it’s been a long learning experience,” Kelton says. “Most people will tell you, ‘Oh, we want to open ten more locations and we’re going to do this and this. But our biggest goal has It’s the dank, yet charming, atmosphere that always been to make a cool place that we can defines Stratosphere; how the outside world be proud of enjoy.” suddenly hits pause once the coals are lit. Until last August only one other hookah lounge in “We’ve made some amazing friends and partSan Marcos came and went, which says some- ners, and I just want to keep things the way they are.” thing about Stratosphere in itself.

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trampoline fun! They frequently offer discounts and deals, as well as smaller time slots to play in for less. $12/2hr session; $20 All Day pass; or $8/1hr session; $6/30min Monday-Thursday $15/2hr sessions; $30 All Day pass; or $10/1hr; $8/30 min Friday through Sunday Open 10am-9pm M-S (Summer) 11am5pm Sundays. Sessions begin on odd hours.

6700 North IH 35, New Braunfels springloadedparks.com

9. Pinballz Kingdom

special discounts throughout the week to lessen the cost of admission and free Wi-Fi so you can work while the kids play. Just be sure everyone, including the adults, brings socks.

Jumpy Place

This is a great place for some tactical laser tag, arcade gaming, mini bowling, go karts, dining, live music, and more. It’s a one-stop destination for families with children 11 and older.

Free entry. $5-25+ depending on activity Open 10am-12am Sunday through Friday, 10am-1am Saturday (Summer Hours) 15201 S IH 35, Buda pinballzkingdom.com

$8 Children 12 months – 10 years. $2 Military discount.

Daily Specials offered.

Open 10am-6pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 10am-7pm Friday and Saturday; 12pm-6pm Sunday.

Closed Tuesdays.

1145 TX-337 Loop, New Braunfels or 241 Weldon Johnson Way, Kyle thejumpyplacetx.com

Hoppin’ House

$5.50 for children under 3; $7.50 for children 3-11.

Open 10am-7pm Monday through Thursday; 10am8pm Friday; 3-8pm Saturday, 3-6pm Sunday 5151 B Industrial Way, Buda hoppinhouse.com

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A LITTLE BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS, AND A LOT OF LOVE.

BY JORDAN GASS-POORE’ PHOTOS TRAVIS EMERY & PARKER THORNTON

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WOOD GRAINS IN HIS VEINS BONNER ARMBRUSTER OF B.C. ARMBRUSTER FINE FURNITURE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS WORK.

Bonner Armbruster’s first house may have been built on a ranch by his dad and grandpa (along with some of the furniture inside), but his family’s love and encouragement made it a home.

There was a “DIY ethos” on that ranch outside of Campwood, Texas, according to Armbruster. “They knew how to figure things out,” the former Texas State student said of his dad and grandfather’s woodworking ability.

“TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, EVERYTHING I MAKE IS STILL AN EXPERIMENT.”

It was that problem solving aspect that initially drew Armbruster to woodworking.

Some children read more because they have access to books. Armbruster built more out of wood because he had access to his dad’s tools, though there was no formal instruction. “I soaked up a lot just by watching,” Armbruster said.

He became used to repairing items, rather than discarding them.

Although Armbruster made small wooden items as a child, he got serious about the profession in 2005 when he inherited a friend’s tools and moved into a larger space in Austin.

With a newly purchased cordless drill and circular saw in hand, along with scavenged materials (“being a scavenger is part of my DNA”) from a construction site, Armbruster built a table, whose only endearing quality was that it could stand on its own, he said.

The table stood on Armbruster’s porch for a while, until he gave it to a friend who thought it looked cool.

Armbruster may not always like the furniture he creates, but he can always find a friend who will take it off his hands.

“To a certain degree, everything I make is still an experiment,” Armbruster said.

Today, Armbruster’s shop in San Marcos, B.C. Armbruster Fine Furniture, is housed in a large galvanized steel structure, half filled with his restored vintage woodworking tools and another business’s diesel engines.

It’s about 50 yards from Armbruster’s home, where he lives with his wife, Samantha Armbruster, San Marcos’ Main Street program manager, and their daughter.

“I love wood as a living, breathing material that will challenge you,” he said.

B.C. Armbruster Fine Furniture bcarmbruster.com BCArmbrusterFineFurniture 512-584-4931

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“AS LONG AS I GET TO MAKE MONSTERS AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF” HE’LL DIE A HAPPY MAN.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN SAN MARCOS

remembered thinking as a child.

Watching the cult classic was a transformative experience that didn’t pass with the full moon.

major friends.

Two theater classes and textbooks and YouTube tutorials on special effects also gave him insight into the movie industry.

LOVE OF A MOVIE LEADS TO A SPECIAL EFFECTS CAREER PATH.

Now, at 39, Zentner makes monsters of his own, but holds the movie close to his heart.

He’s in the process of getting a werewolf tattoo on his chest from an artist that’s housed in the same building as his mask store in San Marcos.

To date, Zentner has been the special makeup effects artist for a number of independent short and feature-length movies, such as the festival circuit runner “Meet Me There” and entries for the horror anthology series “The ABCs of Death.”

Zentner opened J.T. Zentner Studios next door to Electric Empire Tattoo & Piercing off LBJ Drive in August.

Although Zentner continues to do this work, he said life’s less stressful making masks and makeup prosthetics.

The former Texas State student – he’s five classes short of an anthropology bachelor’s degree – honed his craft in San Marcos.

“As long as I get to make monsters and all that fun stuff” he’ll die a happy man.

When San Marcos-based special effects artist Jason Zentner was eight, he watched the horrorcomedy “An American Werewolf in London,” following the aftermath of a werewolf attack on two young American backpackers.

Zentner said he spent the next month howling and growling at people.

The werewolf transformation scene in “An American Werewolf in London” was groundbreaking, Zentner said, because it was more than “just a guy growing hair.”

“How the hell did they make this happen?” he

After a community college art teacher told Zentner that his horror-themed work wasn’t well respected, he left his hometown of Cuero for San Marcos.There Zentner spent time making “crazy, little films” with a former girlfriend and her fellow Texas State theater

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J.T. Zentner Studios

jtzentnerstudios.webs.com 512-644-7019 jtzentnerstudios

“I LIKE THE AMERICAN STYLE LIFE; IT’S ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE.”

LOCAL BLACKSMITH FORGES HIS WAY TO SUCCESS

“People have no idea how it’s made,” said Fortunato of his work.

Heat radiated from the furnace.

Kyle-based blacksmith and owner of Italian Iron Works Lorenzo Fortunato placed a strip of iron using tongs inside the fiery mouth of the small machine.

It can take three days for him to complete a dog or baby gate, his most requested item. Other items, like a wrought-iron mailbox with detailed foliage and accompanying cattails, take three weeks off-and-on to complete.

Installation is included for clients who live in Texas, and all items can be shipped.

When Fortunato pulled the iron out after a few minutes its tip glowed, a sign that it was ready to be forged into one of his functional pieces of art.

He began the trade as a teenage apprentice in his Uncle Giuseppe’s shop in Mola, Italy, where some of his family members still live.

“I see this thing coming out of the forge real hot; that’s really cool,” Fortunato, 55, remembered.

Many years and some singed arm hair later, Fortunato has honed his craft by developing techniques allowing him to use a hammer and an anvil to transform metal into furniture, gates and sculptures, among other one-of-a-kind items.

Fortunato started Italian Iron Works in Austin in 1992, after stints as a welder and a salesman.

Italian Iron Works relocated to Kyle about 17 years ago. The piece of land has a workshop and a mobile home that serves as both showroom and office. Future plans include video and on-site demonstrations.

MEET THE REAL IRON MAN

For Fortunato, working with fire was the most intriguing aspect of being a blacksmith.

economy of Europe’s not good,” he said.

Much like his Uncle Giuseppe, Fortunato, now the sole blacksmith in his family, will make almost any item a client requests, oftentimes using his uncle’s tools.

Being a blacksmith may be sweaty, physically demanding work, but Fortunato is fortunate to be living his American Dream.

These tools were given to him when his uncle died from cancer, years after Fortunato moved from Italy to Texas in 1978.

“I like the American style life; it’s all about what you want in life,” he said, as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

Fortunato moved to the U.S. after visiting an uncle who lived in Houston, with limited English proficiency to find work.

“The economy over there is bad; if the economy was good I’d stay there, but the SMTXMAGAZINE.COM

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Italian Iron Works

italianironworks.com 512-653-3115 italianironworks@aol.com

“DESPITE WHAT HOMEMADE SOAP LOOKS LIKE, IT’S INFINITELY BETTER THAN WHAT YOU BUY IN THE STORE,”

“IT’S LIKE SAYING GOODBYE TO A PUPPY I RAISED AND TRAINED,”

Dutton said some people don’t realize the importance of their skin. “When you put something on your skin it’s absorbed into the bloodstream almost right away,” she said.

MAKING SUITE DREAMS

That’s why Dutton tries to avoid chemicals, including fragrances, in her products.

GETTING UP ON HER SOAP BOX SAN MARCOS RESIDENT AIMS TO CLEAN UP THE SOAP BIZ.

An F in high school chemistry didn’t stop San Marcos’ Anne Dutton from conducting her own experiments.

NEW BUSINESS SPRINGS FROMA FAMILY CRISIS. The not knowing was the hardest part. John Thornton had no idea where his daughter was or whether she was still alive. After many sleepless nights worrying about her whereabouts, he could finally rest easy.

Her newest soap-face mask, Black and Tan, which mixes charcoal, pink Himalayan sea salt and essential oil, will be sold at the San Marcos Farmers Market from October to January.

Thornton received a phone call from a police officer, who told him that his daughter had been arrested and sent to a Los Angeles prison for 56 months.

Trips to Whole Foods left Dutton disillusioned – the “all-natural” soap sold there was either not affordable or the packaging was misleading. “It was an eye-opener when I started reading the ingredients,” she said.

At least he knew she was going to be safe, but then he learned she was five months pregnant. What would happen to his grandchild?

So Dutton decided to figure out how to make her own.

Against the odds and the naysayers, Thornton picked up his new grandson in California two days after he was born and drove him back to Texas.

The quest resulted in the body product line Clarasage, available online at Etsy. com.

The key ingredient was right in Dutton’s backyard. That’s where 18 female goats reside, received from a friend’s goat meat ranch outside Prairie Lee, and they provide the milk for the soap.

Talk about converting his life.

Once a married man, remodeling homes and other projects in Austin, Thornton was now a single stay-at-home grandfather, beginning a friend’s garage-to-studioapartment conversion.

Goat milk, she says, has naturally occurring vitamin A, exfoliates and capric acid that bonds moisture to skin to keep it plump.

The 2010 project wasn’t complete without a “Murphy” bed (hinged at one end so it can be folded and stored vertically against a wall or closet).

Thornton’s foray into creating a custom bed turned into a business, Suite Dreams Murphy Beds, allowing Thornton to work from home and care for his grandson, who accompanied him on sales calls and deliveries.

“He is my ‘why’ and the CEO of this growing business,” Thornton said.

It’s a sad day when Thornton takes one of his antique armoire beds to a customer, he said, because of the time and energy he put into creating it.

The self-described antique armoire fetishist has three-to-four of these beds stacked in his showroom and shop.

So, when they’re sold, “it’s like saying goodbye to a puppy I raised and trained,” Thornton said. “Sometimes it’s hard to let go.”

So, when they’re sold, “it’s like saying goodbye to a puppy I raised and trained,” Thornton said. “Sometimes it’s hard to let go.”

Each loaf of soap, equal to 20 bars, takes about 30 minutes to make in Dutton’s home kitchen, then four weeks to cure in an oak armoire.

She then packages and ships the items or sells them at various San Marcos locations, including the city’s farmers market, Paper Bear and the Mochas and Javas on Wonder World.

Suite Dreams Murphy Beds

Clarasage

thebestmurphybedsintexas.com 512-618-8220 SuiteDreamsMurphyBeds

etsy.com/shop/clarasage ClarasageSoaps

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