NOVEMBER 2016
NoDet ai lLef tt oChanceat Aust i n’ sHot el VanZandt
St anl eyMar cus: TheMer c hant Pr i nceoft heFashi onWor l d
Cust om Homes ofTexas
TheTast eOf Texas: Mor eThanaSt eakhouse
CONTENTS features
5 No Detail Left to Chance at Austin’s Hotel Van Zandt This Austin hotel has captured the spirit of Texas. Hotel Van Zandt offers true luxury with a distinctly Texan twist.
22
Stanley Marcus: The Merchant Prince of the Fashion World Stanley Marcus was a fashion pioneer with a big personality. His flagship store still resides in Dallas's downtown, reminding those who enter its doors or browse its shop windows that this month's Texas legacy left a mark not only on the Lone Star State, but also on the worldwide fashion industry.
28 Custom Homes of Texas Bright colors alongside excellent design make this north Dallas home an instant classic. Designer Lori Roark brings some individual flair to this once cookie cutter home.
42
The Taste Of Texas: More Than a Steakhouse A Houston favorite, the Taste of Texas restaurant does not just serve up delicious food, but also seeks to give back in a big way.
articles
LIFESTYLES 9 Getting Ahead: Looking Cowboy Cool from the Top Down 12
Following the Chisholm Trail
14 12 Days of Christmas in Just 4 Days at the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market 16 Damian Priour: A Love Story of Sand & Water 19 Before the Christmas Tree: German Tradition Stands Tall in Texas 26
Visit an Air Show! Embrace the Joy of Flight HOME
34
Gifts to Show Thanks
35
Write On. Write Now.
38
A Berry Beautiful Winter
40
Adding Elegance with Animal Artistry FOOD & DRINK
45
A Tale of Texas Rakia
48
A Traditional Texas Thanksgiving
November 2016 | 3
TEXAS IS FAMOUS FOR
SO MUCH:
The Alamo, NASA, Buddy Holly, and Dallas (the TV show) to list a few. Our great state is still associated with the cowboy, the open range, campfires, The Texas Rangers, and cattle drives. Our state is rich in history and has a unique identity, with a “Larger than Life” personality. At TexasLiving, we take great pride in showcasing the history, culture, and style of Texas. We trust that you’ll find this magazine reflects the unique identity that makes Texas great!
Publisher Michael Padgett Editor-in-Chief Ashley Sullivan
Executive Editor Megan McLawhon
Managing Editor Graeme Bloodworth
Production Director Rebecca Neighbors
Production Managers Kendall Browning Cara Dyer Amanda Sisson
Custom Homes Editor Bobbi Padgett
Custom Homes Photographer Butch Ireland
Art Director Leslie Velasquez
Graphic Design Liz Acosta Sonny Santellan Chrissy White
Writers Diane Adams
Marye Audet S. Worthington Campbell Rebecca Canfield Carissa Chandler Rita Cook Steve Huddleston Glenn MacNamara Jessica Moreau Megan Ann Oswald Lucy Ann Parker Eric Smith Meddie Stewart Kimberly A. Suta
Advertising | Business Office 1716 Briarcrest Drive, Suite 750, Bryan, Texas 77802 1-888-887-2450 | info@rgpmarketing.com © 2016 TexasLiving. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of TexasLiving.
Written By: Rita Cook
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If it is a question of detail, Austin’s Hotel Van Zandt has not overlooked a thing. Opened in November of last year and located in the city’s vogue Historic Rainey Street District, Hotel Van Zandt is part of the luxurious Kimpton brand. As Kimpton’s second property in Texas, it graces Austin’s skyline with pride. In fact, Hotel Van Zandt is the perfect “home sweet home” for visitors (or locals wanting a staycation) who want to explore the culture that is driving one of the nation’s most vibrant cities these days. “We are excited to share our fun-spirited service and Texas Hill Country inspired design with the Austin community and our guests,”
Photos Courtesy Of: Hotel Van Zandt
says Joe Pagone, General Manager of Hotel Van Zandt. “We believe that when people step into Hotel Van Zandt, they will feel at home while at the same time getting a true Austin experience.” Chuck Moses, Director of Sales and Marketing at the hotel, explains that while it is a new build, the vibe is nevertheless akin to other hotels having seen a cacophony of Austin history. Developed by locally based JMI Realty, Moses says “It’s the second Kimpton property in Texas and in true Kimpton fashion, it really displays an authentic take on Austin culture.”
November 2016 | 5
LIFESTYLES
STEP IN T O LUXURY Overall, it seems that Hotel Van Zandt is laden with luxury, “but it is also a place that prides itself on having all the comforts of home,” says Moses. The Hotel Van Zandt experience begins well before visitors arrive. Three days prior to checking in, an email will be sent detailing the happenings both at the hotel and in the nearby area, so that guests who so desire can plan them into their stay. The email also gives guests the ability to specify their music preferences so that they can be turned into personalized playlists on the Bluetooth playable Jamboxes found in each guest room. This personal attention showcases the hotel concierge’s education on local culture and ability to connect with each guest, delivering customized service specific to their taste.
HO T E L VA N Z A ND T DESIGN THEME Mark Zeff, founder, and president of MARKZEE, a New York-based full-service design consulting firm, was tapped to design Hotel Van Zandt. Following a philosophy of natural fusion, the firm blends interior and environmental design with brand development to create elegant experiences to inspire and stimulate the senses. Zeff approached this project like he does all his projects, using a holistic design methodology.
“Upon first entrance to the hotel, guests are greeted by trombone-inspired chandeliers that dazzle like fireworks from the high ceilings. A spacious lobby welcomes guests in true Austin fashion – with mid-century modern, high-quality pieces, mixed with edgy details such as hand-picked items from top local antique vendors,” Moses says. Prior to check-in, guests are also offered bottled water or cold Tejas beer as they wait.
“We did a lot of research on the history of Rainey Street and the Van Zandt name,” Zeff says. “We also spent some time in Austin with local residents who introduced us to the culture and the city's great attributes.” In addition to the capital of Texas’s rich history, Zeff also wanted the hotel to reflect the future, “with the use of interesting materials and colors.”
Kimpton hosts a complimentary ‘Social Hour by Kimpton’ that takes place in the lobby’s Living Room each afternoon, complete with wine, cold beer, and margaritas. Moses says guests like the Living Room since it is a comfortable space that is always available for guests to work, socialize, or just relax by the fireplace.
“The best way to describe all the materials is to state that we wanted to have fun with materials while delivering sophistication and comfort,” Zeff says. “We needed to create a whole new look - competition is rife in this industry, and one needs to step it up to make people take notice. Our mission was to create the most interesting hotel in Texas.”
The hotel has a full-service rooftop pool that is open from dawn to dusk. Music is always playing on the pool deck, and even under the water, so the musical experience does not have to stop when guests decide to take a dip in the pool. There is also a poolside bar with delicious snacks and spirits provided by Geraldine’s. Hotel Van Zandt is exceptionally pet-friendly, too. Pets of all sizes are welcome - without a pet deposit - and receive a tasty treat upon arrival. Moreover, the hotel offers pet sitting and dog walking services that can be arranged through the concierge.
6 | November 2016
Zeff’s firm used tooling on old guns, leather goods like saddles, and branding iron nomenclature in addition to materials like glazed brick, buffalo hide floor tiles, and antique mirrors. The selected materials resulted in an authentic ambiance with an innovative twist, just the right décor for Hotel Van Zandt.
Texas accents, antiques, and original décor are showcased throughout the expansive hotel, which houses 319 rooms and 41 suites. Zeff successfully and thoroughly designed a hotel that truly embodies the essence of Texas culture. The property is also highly stylized, with classic and quality materials such as imported Italian wood, bronze, and local artwork.
A HOMAGE T O T HE CAPITAL CITY The reflection of Austin culture began with the name. Hotel Van Zandt’s name is drawn from Isaac Van Zandt, the burgeoning Republic of Texas’s Ambassador to the U.S. Similarly, his third greatgrandson also left his mark on Texas music history; Townes Van Zandt’s emotionally-charged songs have been and continue to be an inspiration to generations of musicians. Townes Van Zandt’s son, JT Van Zandt, is an artist; his creative and stunning original artwork pays tribute to his father and adorns the second floor of the hotel. Hotel Van Zandt’s design, a refined riff on Austin’s world-famous music, entertainment, and arts scene, complements Kimpton’s distinctive brand values and offerings. “Kimpton felt this was an excellent first hotel in Austin because it would embody the artistic identity of Austin,” says Moses. “As the ‘Live Music Capital of the World,” this capital city is well served by a hotel modeled after its vibrant personality.” Everything at Hotel Van Zandt – from the décor to musical playlists to food – is meant to connect guests to the city and make them feel like a true Austinite during their stay. To that effect, the
hotel is extremely music-centric, so much so that Hotel Van Zandt employs a Director of Music and Social Programming; Lauren Bucherie, who curates the music playlist that is heard throughout the hotel, including in all the function spaces as well. The music changes depending on the mood of the day, and even the particular room, restaurant, or elevator. Bucherie also books entertainment at Geraldine’s, the hotel’s restaurant, every night of the week, and works with groups to create playlists tailored to every specific event, from professional meetings to private banquets. The Rainey Street Historic District is certainly the perfect place to make that instant connection to the capital since the area offers an active nightlife throughout the year. Fashionable bars and restaurants – like Icenhauer’s and Half Step, – blend innovative concepts with Austin’s traditional, authentic elements, as does the hotel. The street itself, part of the National Register of Historic Places, is filled with homes and bungalows-turned-bars, and peppered with food trailers for a late night taco or two. Visitors feel as if they are attending a block party with all of their friends.
November 2016 | 7
GERALDINE’S ON T HE FOURTH FLOOR As for Geraldine’s, the restaurant is an experience all its own. Moses explains that Geraldine’s, located on the hotel’s fourth floor, is the named as a tribute to a former Austinite of sorts. Moses explains, “The restaurant is named after Rainey Street’s famous former resident, Geraldine the guinea fowl.” Chef Frank Munk’s flavorful, contemporary menu and cocktail program are both city-inspired and seasonally-driven. The décor encourages what Moses calls a “shared dining experience.” He explains that “Geraldine’s encourages customers to socialize, taste, and share bites from a variety of small plates and large format dishes.” In addition to its food and ambiance, Geraldine’s features daily live music and offers guests breathtaking views of Lady Bird Lake. Hotel Van Zandt is also home to Café 605, which is located on the first floor. The café offers a selection of breakfast items, as well as ready-made sandwiches, salads, and pastries. Beverages include house-made frozen cocktails, beer, coffee, and three varieties of Juiceland juice. Dedicated to local ingredients and small businesses, the majority of Café 605’s food, beverage, and the retail program is sourced from Austin-based farmers, retailers, and artists. Indeed, Kimpton and JMI seem to have found the perfect combination for offering guests an instant connection to Austin in a setting of organic luxury and chic design. “The goal was to remove the intimidation elements that come with a high-end hotel, and focus more on the invitation to comfort and style,” Moses adds.
8 | November 2016
LIFESTYLES
Photo Courtesy Of: Catalina Hatters
C ATA L I N A H AT T E R S "Over time, the hat actually takes on the personality of the customer"
In 1934, London advertising agent Charles Sydney Catlin invented the famous slogan, “If you want to get ahead, get a hat.” Perhaps this is because a hat is so much more than mere head wear. Since the dawn of man, people have worn hats for protection or warmth, but somewhere along the line, a hat became more than just a hat; it became a symbol of one's status. A king's crown, for example, is a hat with authority, as is a Native American chief’s Written By: Rebecca Canfield
headdress or an Army general's hat. There are also chefs’ hats, construction workers' hard hats, or a fireman's helmet. A hat, in essence, is more than just something you wear; it tells the world who you are. I n Texas, it goes without saying that the most popular of all hats is the cowboy hat. An invention of John B. Stetson in 1862, the cowboy hat, originally called “the boss of the plains,” was designed with a wide brim to protect a cowboy from either cold wind or the sun's rays. It was a great tool for fanning a fire or fetching water and was designed for practicality. Today, a cowboy hat is more of a symbol of distinction. Worn by Teddy Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and most famously, Ronald Reagan, the cowboy hat has come to symbolize something much deeper. It has, at times, become a part of one's identity.
CATALINA HATTERS / Bryan
According to Caroline Catalina of Catalina Hatters, a custom-made hat shop in Bryan, Texas, having a custom-made hat is all about the customer getting exactly what they want. Instead of buying a standard cowboy hat, the brim style, fit, height, color, and materials used for making the hat are chosen specifically for the wearer's head size and shape, then designed to suit their exact needs. The goal is to find the perfect hat for that individual, ensuring that the finished product gets the maximum amount of use. “That's what the hat business is all about. It's about individualizing that hat for that customer,” said Catalina. “Over time, the hat actually takes on the personality of the customer. I could sell the same type of hat to five different people, and in a month's time, they would all look different.” Sammy Catalina, Carolyn's husband, is a PRCA rodeo stock contractor and producer. With 35 years in the rodeo business, Sammy has seen a cowboy hat or two and knows the difference between a good hat and a mediocre one. With over 30 years in the hat-making business, the pair and their two adult sons, Travis and Scott, have made it their mission to offer what they call the best custom-made felt hats in the world. In addition to felt hats and straw hats, Catalina Hatters also offers the Diamante Collection. It is a series of special occasion hats with a little bit of “bling” that are designed to be worn with formal wear to events such as pageants, parties, weddings, and other special occasions. These one of a kind hats have become quite popular among the ladies. Additionally, Catalina Hatters specializes in felt hat restoration, which means that when a favorite hat gets old, it does not have to get thrown out, but can be fixed up good as new and go on to be worn for several years to come.
November 2016 | 9
T E X A S H AT T E R S
Photo Courtesy Of: Texas Hatters
"We build every hat by hand to order for each customer."
TEXAS HATTERS / Lockhart A nother custom hat maker, Texas Hatters of Lockhart, has been in the business for 90 years now. A family-owned business that has gone by many different names and had many locations over the years, their creations have
The result of this technique is a hat specifically designed to flatter the individual, which gives it that something special that a factory-made hat just does not have. It is that attention to detail and perfect fit that makes all the difference between a hat that is merely purchased and a hat that is loved.
graced the heads of many a celebrity. For instance, Texas Hatters made
I n fact, Texas Hatters' reputation has been so widespread that in 1975,
Chuck Norris's hat for the TV show Walker Texas Ranger and Robert Duval's
William Hobby, President of the Texas Senate, certified a resolution naming
hat for the movie Lonesome Dove. They have made hats for Willie Nelson,
Texas Hatters as the official hatters of the State of Texas.
Burt Reynolds, Dwight Yoakum, and Bob Hope, to name a few. They have
“No two hats are alike,” explains Joel Gammage during a 2014 interview.
even made hats for former United States Presidents Ronald Reagan (who
“It's not about giving (a hat) a style or a name. It's about making the hat to
had five Texas Hatters creations), George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
the customer . . . each hat is individually unique. Someone might request
According to Joel Gammage, Texas Hatters has made a hat for every U.S.
a similar style, but the hat is going to be completely different because it is
President since Lyndon B. Johnson.
being handmade, and shaped, and cut, and molded to that customer. Even
These hatters (Joella Gammage Torres, husband David Torres, and son Joel Gammage) specialize in making hats as unique as the individuals wearing them. From the traditional cowboy hat, to straw hats, half-breeds (hats that are half straw and half felt), and high rollers to hats for brides, church hats for ladies, and virtually any hat one can think up, Texas Hatters has it, or can make it. Yet they not only make the hat, but they also shape it to flatter the customer's face as well.
the width of your shoulders, how far apart your eyes are, your nose, your jawline . . . there are facial features that come into play when you are talking about a custom hat.” Joel's grandfather, famed hatter Manny Gammage, was the only American ever to receive an award from the Accademia Nazionale Dei Sartori, or the Italian National Tailors Association. According to Joel, who believes he has learned hat-making from the best, it is the highest honor a hatter can receive. “I've actually had hats handed down two and three generations,” laughed
Fourth generation hatter Joel Gammage told Studio 512, “We build
David Torres. “It's actually been written into wills that so-and-so is supposed
every hat by hand to order for each customer . . . we like to shape the hat
to get my hat. I've had families fight over not the money, not the things, but
around their face.”
the hat.”
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LIFESTYLES
SPRADLEY HATS / Alpine As far as hats go, one of the most exclusive hatters in Texas is Spradley Hats in Alpine. Although Brooks Atwood of Spradley Hats admits that they have a somewhat exclusive clientele, he says he can neither confirm nor deny rumors that celebrities like Lyle Lovett and George Straight get their hats made by Spradley. “We do have some customers who come in with bodyguards and who we close down the shop for,” said Atwood coyly. “I can't give you any names, but yes, we are pretty exclusive. Even without advertising, I'm booked a year out.” According to Jim Spradley, it takes two weeks to a month to make each Spradley hat. Every customer is measured using sizing equipment built in France from the 1850s, and every hat is custom-made out of top quality beaver felt. “What [the equipment] does is it gives you the exact shape and size of a person's head. You work with a customer, and you can come up with the fit for where they really want it to sit on their head, not just a size,” said Spradley in a 2012 video production. “I believe the main difference here is that the Lord has really shown me how to do what I do here.” However, according to Atwood, the always modest Jim Spradley actually makes the best hats in the world. “When I met Jim 10 years ago, I was already a hat-maker, but I instantly knew that it was the best hat in the world the moment that I touched it,” an awestruck Atwood proclaimed. “He worked with me for nine years to get me to that level.” I n full agreement with that statement is Bruce Green, of Cowboy Artists of America, who stated on the Spradley website, “I believe Jim Spradley in Alpine, Texas builds the best hat a person could wear.” Though Spradley is mostly retired now, Atwood says that Jim is still in the shop regularly, and has worked tirelessly to ensure that Atwood makes Spradley hats with the same quality as Spradley. “I am the only person that can make them the way he does, with that level of quality,” stated Atwood, of his apprenticeship. “But it took me nine years of hard work to get there.” The Spradley slogan is “every hat is custom and every customer is valued,” and Spradley insists that celebrity or not, each customer is equally important and gets five-star treatment. And while a Spradley hat is said to cost a pretty penny, the hat owners believe that a Spradley is less of a garment and more of an heirloom, so it is more than worth the cost. Regardless of where one buys their hat, once a person has had a custommade hat, it is awfully hard go back to buying hats over the counter ... or so customers say. And in Texas, where a cowboy hat is more or less a way of life, a
Photo Courtesy Of: Spradley Hats
custom-made cowboy hat just might be a pretty good investment.
"I believe Jim Spradley in Alpine, Texas builds the best hat a person could wear."
November 2016 | 11
LIFESTYLES
Written By: Diane Adams
Tales about the lonesome lives of cowboys, dusty cattle drives, and
in their absence. Kansas cattle baron, Joseph McCoy, discovered there was a
sleeping under the stars are often drawn from images of the iconic Chisholm
demand in eastern markets for the hordes of wild cattle running loose in Texas,
Trail. The story of the trail and its place in history and legend is the stuff of
but shipping these cattle presented a challenge.
poets, folk singers, and storytellers the world over. Like many well-worn tales, the narratives of the Chisholm Trail have been refurbished with each telling, passed down in pieces, and sometimes downright fabricated. Sorting fact from fiction is necessary to find the actual trail and its rightful place in Texas history.
In 1867, McCoy convinced Kansas Pacific Rail officials to create a loading stop for cattle in the small town of Abilene, Kansas. He built cattle pens and a hotel and then set about marking out a route from Texas to Abilene along which the cattle would travel. The route began south of Wichita, following Chisholm’s trading route for 220 miles to the North Canadian River. From
Jesse Chisholm, the namesake of the Chisholm Trail, was not actually
Chisholm’s post on the Canadian, the route crossed the Red River at what was
a cattle driver. Chisholm was a half Scottish-half Cherokee trader who lived
later called Red River Station. McCoy alerted Texan cattlemen via handbills
a wild life on the borders between Anglo civilization and Native American
that the shipping point was available, and many ranchers and cattlemen chose
tribes. Born in Tennessee around 1805, Chisholm settled near Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, where he established a series of trading posts. A scout, hunter, and valued interpreter for others seeking trade with Native Americans, Chisholm was instrumental in creating a trail from Fort Gibson to Fort Towson in 1830. Fluent in multiple native languages, he was a valued interpreter between the United States government and many southern tribes. The route blazed by Chisholm through the Oklahoma territory was the genesis of what would later become the Chisholm Trail.
to drive their herds of rangy, half-wild cattle to meet the Kansas Pacific Railway in Abilene, Kansas. Thus, the great cattle drives of Texas, and the cowboy as he is often envisioned today, were born.
TEXAS COWBOYS & THE GREAT CATTLE DRIVES The great drives began around 1867 and lasted until the mid-1880s. Four main arteries through Texas were followed, in a rambling way, to meet up with
In the time immediately following the cessation of the Civil War, money
different points along the Kansas Pacific. Young men, often displaced by war
in Texas and surrounding southern states was scarce. Cattle, abandoned by
and its resultant poverty, hired on with ranchers to herd the unruly herds to
many men off to fight in the war, had populated the unfenced plains of Texas
market. Many of these, dubbed “cowboys,” rode mounts converted from the
12 | November 2016
LIFESTYLES
wild mustang herds in the state. The drovers worked long aching hours in the
the conquest of the Plains tribes, new ranches in the area provided more
saddle, with only each other, their horses, and the cattle for company. The
permanent work for the cowhands, and these ranches were able to send their
lonely and yet seemingly satisfying nature of the work gave birth to many trail
own crews to bring cattle to the markets.
songs both praising and lamenting and perhaps often romanticizing this new
The cowboys from Texas were known as a hard-drinking, devil-may-care
way of life. In songs like the folk song, The Old Chisholm Trail, this experience
crowd, distinctive from drovers from other states. After collecting their pay in
was immortalized by an unknown trail rider.
Abilene, many reputedly caroused through the town, drowning the memories
COME ALONG, BOYS, AND LISTEN TO MY TALE I’LL TELL YOU OF MY TROUBLES ON THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL I STARTED UP THE TRAIL OCTOBER TWENT Y-THIRD I STARTED UP THE TRAIL WITH THE U-2 HERD O A TEN DOLL AR HOSS AND A FORT Y DOLL AR SADDLE AND I’M GOIN’ TO PUNCH IN TEX AS CATTLE I WOKE UP ONE MORNING ON THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL ROPE IN MY HAND AND A COW BY THE TAIL
of days of hot, sweaty labor along the trail with liquor, women, and brawling.
The drives created not only the cowboy himself, but a variety of positions that had to be filled in order to bring cattle up the trails in a profitable manner.
By October of 1871, the good citizens of Abilene, Kansas had enough of the rowdy, gun-toting Texas boys and banned Texas cattle drives from coming through the town. The youthfulness of the drovers, and the severe losses they suffered from the war, perhaps accounted for some of the wild reputations many of the Texan drivers established in Kansas and along the trails.
DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF THE CHISHOLM TRAIL’S STARTING POINT
Trailing contractors sprang up, offering their services to the smaller ranchers
The Texas cattle trails were really a collection of meandering routes,
that did not have the manpower to handle their own drives. Successful
headed towards the same goal, only solidifying in a single trail at the river
contracting firms, such as John Lytle and partners, trailed over 600,000
crossings. Cattle grazed along the way, and progress was slow, averaging
head of cattle to Abilene. The contractors hired trail bosses, cooks, and of
around ten miles a day. The heaviest travelled of the trails, an artery heading
course, cowboys and made large profits for themselves in the process. With
mainly due north out of San Antonio and ending in Abilene, Kansas, at an intersection of the rail line, is still often referred to as the Chisholm Trail. The first herd to travel this route was a group of 2,400 steers that arrived in San Antonio in 1867. Originally intending to head the herd to California, the drovers sighted a well-worn path of wagon tracks near the North Canadian River, and decided to follow it. These tracks were forged by Jesse Chisholm as one of his trading routes south into Indian territory. For many years, the story was told that the Chisholm Trail began in Texas, some said near Brownsville, others at San Antonio, and it was even rumored to start somewhere in South America, running all the way to Montana. The actual route forged by Jesse Chisholm, however, began north of the Red River. George Saunders, once president of the Old Trail Drivers Association wrote in 1931, "The famed Chisholm Trail, about which more has been written than any other Southwestern Trail, cannot be traced in Texas for the reason that it never existed in this State.” According to Saunders, the Chisholm Trail began at Red River Station, at the mouth of Salt Creek in Montague County. Regardless of historical accuracy, the entire route out of San Antonio (following the old Shawnee Trail to Austin, through Waco, Fort Worth, and crossing the Red River at Red River Station) first referred to as The Abilene Trail or McCoy’s Trail, eventually became popularly known as the Chisholm Trail. By 1884, the Chisholm Trail was closed by a combination of barbed wire, quarantine laws in Kansas, and new rail lines opening in Texas. The time span of the great Texas cattle trails was surprisingly short, given the impact they had, and still have, on the national imagination and perceptions of Texas itself. It is estimated that over five million head of cattle were driven up the trail from Texas to Kansas, the largest mass movement of livestock in history. Nearly 30 movies have been made using the trail as a setting, a heritage center is located in Duncan, Oklahoma, and countless markers, festivals, and monuments are dedicated to the subject. While technically the Chisholm Trail may not have run through Texas, the lifestyle and characters that gave birth to the romance and mystique of the great drives have always been, and remain, distinctively Texan.
November 2016 | 13
Written By: Kimberly A. Suta
The Houston Ballet hosts the Nutcracker Market every November, but this “holiday shopping wonderland,” which takes place November tenth through thirteenth this year, is also an integral fundraiser and family tradition. True to the phrase “Everything is bigger in Texas,” it is one of the largest markets of its kind in the country. According to CEO Patsy Chapman, who has been with the ballet for 28 years in various capacities, “the Nutcracker Market is a beautiful holiday tradition in Houston that people look forward to each year. We hear the most heartwarming stories from people who have come for 20 years, with their mother, sister, or good friends.” In 2015, approximately 105,000 shoppers came through, with merchants making just over nineteen million dollars. Patsy explained that ten percent of every dollar spent goes directly to the Houston Ballet as well as all of the ticket proceeds and sales from the Nutcracker’s ornament bar and boutique. “That’s what I love the most – that we raise a whole lot of money for the ballet. It’s incredibly rewarding,” Patsy said.
On the First Day of Christmas The first Nutcracker Market was held in 1981 at the St. Philip Presbyterian Church. But the shoppers back then would not even
14 | November 2016
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Photos Courtesy Of: Nutcracker Market
recognize it for what it is today. In the 1980s, there were only about a dozen booths and was more like a church bazaar than anything else. People sold jams, jellies, fudge, and cookies. There was no admission, yet it raised $8,000. The whole idea was the inspiration of one of the board members at the time, Preston Frasier. He was a businessman who went on international buying trips and had experienced an outdoor Christmas market. “He came back saying wouldn’t it be fun if we could do something like this and raise funds for the Houston Ballet,” Patsy shared. Over the years, the market just kept growing and growing. Now, of course, the market is so huge, it involves a “million bazillion” moving parts and brings in shoppers from all over the world, including Canada and Australia.
The Preview Party Perks On the Wednesday before the market, a special preview party is held for those who wish to get a jump on their shopping. The best part about the preview party is that shoppers get a chance to pick out their gifts in advance, amidst a greatly reduced crowd. Instead of shopping with 30,000 people, preview party goers enjoy shopping with just about 5,000 other guests.
The preview party is catered and offers guests access to an enormous buffet and a number of bars, live music, and, most importantly, access to the booths. These ticket prices range from $250 to $350, but 100 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales go straight to the ballet. It is no surprise that, thanks in part to the assistance provided by the market, the Houston Ballet is one of the most talented and successful in the state.
What Attendees Can Expect Unlike most holiday shopping, when guests visit the Nutcracker Market, they are shopping for a charitable cause. Shoppers might find a pretty necklace for Mom or a favorite aunt, but at the same time, they are also contributing to scholarships for dancers, educational outreach programs through the community, as well as offsetting production costs for the Ballet’s beautiful performances. The Chairperson for this year’s market is Mary Alice Parmet, and her theme is “12 Days of Christmas.” For those who have never attended the market, consider going this year as it will be quite a treat. The staff puts forth an inordinate amount of effort to decorate the venue. “A few years ago the theme was Rockefeller Christmas, so we had white twinkle lights, and gold heralding angels lining the entrance, and a choir singing on stage. A five-year-old girl came in with her grandmother and asked, ‘Are we in heaven?’ To some people this is heaven . . . shopper’s heaven!” Patsy shared. However, this market is not for the faint of heart. Experienced attendees think of it more like a marathon than a sprint. Throughout the event, shoppers can enjoy parties, fashion shows (both Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue participate), raffle tickets, and delicious Bloody Marys! Many shoppers even host tailgate parties in the parking lot in preparation for the day’s festivities. “It’s a hubbub of activity; there’s a lot of energy and excitement for the holidays. We have things you don’t see at local malls and stores,” said Patsy. The market is filled with just under 300 booths, and Patsy and her team do their best to curate the market so that a wide range products are represented with little repetition. The vendors are diverse and come from all over the country. Some have brick and mortar stores, some only sell at similar conventions, and some are unique to the Nutcracker Market, including finely hand-crafted artisan wares. Bars and food stations are peppered throughout NRG, but perhaps the most sought-after refreshment is the rolling mimosa cart. Patsy notes that the Nutcracker Market is an event many folks look forward to all year. Many large groups come to the market dressed alike. They might be wearing t-shirts designed in accordance with the market’s theme, or perhaps sporting some chic holiday hats. The Nutcracker Market is also a juried show, meaning that some merchants are invited to participate, while others must apply; many do so for years before they are allowed a part. Every year they receive approximately 400 new applicants, and out of that only about 40 are selected to join the annual glitz and glam at the state's mustshop event!
The Details DATES:
Wednesday: Preview Party from 7p.m. to 10:30p.m.
COST: $250 or $350 Thursday & Friday
10a.m. to 8p.m. Cost: $20 Entrance fee at the door or $18 if purchased at Randall’s Grocery Store or online, if available. Priority shopping tickets are available for $50 and allow you access to the market at 9a.m.
Saturday & Sunday
10a.m. to 6p.m. Cost: $20 Entrance fee at the door or $18 if purchased at Randall’s Grocery Store or online, if available. Priority shopping tickets are available for $50 and allow you access to the market at 9a.m.
LOCATION:
NRG Center, One NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054
NUTCRACKER MARKET OFFICIAL WEBSITE: houstonballet.org/Nutcracker-Market/Nutcracker-MarketOverview
“That’s what I love the most – that we raise a whole lot of money for the ballet. It’s incredibly rewarding,”
- Patsy Chapman, CEO
ollowing in his father's footsteps, F J.J. Priour's maquette of "The River Pillars" provides a glimpse at the commission that will soon memorialize the Wimberley floods.
LIFESTYLES
Written By: S. Worthington Campbell
Sand, water, and the Gulf Coast’s ever-changing weather had a profound, life-long influence on one of Texas’s best-loved sculptors, Damian Priour (1949-2011). A fifth-generation Texan, Damian grew up on the beaches of Padre Island and his love of nature inspired his art as well as his dedication to the preservation of the environment. Sand & Water Born in Corpus Christi, Damian was the first boy and fourth child in a family of eight children. His father loved spending time at his ranch in nearby Dilley on the weekends, but his mother preferred beachcombing along the sandy shores of the Texas coast. As his later life would attest, Damian shared the passions of both of his parents. Though art and sculpture would become his life’s work, Damian did not always know that that was his calling. In 1969, he left home to attend the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Following graduation, he went to work for the state but soon realized that that was not the life for him and resigned. Shortly after, Damian was driving through San Antonio when he serendipitously spotted Black’s Art Glass Studio along the roadside. On a whim, he stopped in, signed up for a class, and ended up apprenticing there for more than a year. He had found his bliss! Damian went on to perfect his craft with glass masters at the University of California at Berkeley and the respected artist Dale Chihuly at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. Using blue-green glass to represent water and combining it with sand-colored limestone laced with fossils from the Hill Country, and often, rusted metal, Priour became known for his towering abstract, yet ethereal, sculptures. He wrote of his work, “In my sculpture, glass becomes a metaphor for water. It alternately pools in rivulets, and in powerful current flows that join together to carve up immense slabs of limestone. Water sparks my ability to go places that only exist in my imagination.”
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Photos Courtesy Of: Damian Priour Studio
In the early 1980s, Damian and his brother Eddie opened Skylight Glass Art Studio on Mesa Drive in Austin. In what was definitely a “meet cute,” Damian took a shine to one of his regular customers, another glass artist named Paula. The two soon married and operated the studio together for several years. In 1986, the Priours sold the glass studio and consolidated their life and artistic endeavors on their 50acre ranch in West Travis County. There the Priours raised a daughter and two sons, and kept some assorted animals, while Damian happily created his sculptures for more than 30 years. Monumental Work Damian Priour’s highly acclaimed work has been exhibited and collected throughout the world. In Austin, pieces are permanently displayed at the Austin Convention Center, the Blanton Museum of Art, The Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and in many other venues and private homes. Additionally, he completed public commissions in Chicago, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and other cities. His sculptures are also in the permanent collections of a wide variety of museums ranging from the Art Museum of South Texas to the Corning Museum of Glass in New York to the Museo Del Arte in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. His work is also housed in important corporate collections such as the Equitable Companies and the McDonald’s World Headquarters. In 2008, the Texas Commission of the Arts named him Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist. Champion of the Arts & Environment While Damian became well known for his large-scale sculptures, he was also recognized for his huge contributions to the arts community. His generosity and whimsy were vividly demonstrated in 2007 when he created 100 tiny glass and limestone chairs which he sent to Texas artists that he admired, completely unannounced. He invited them all to create a tiny chair of their own design and to send
November 2016 | 17
it and the original he created back to him so they could be used for an exhibition and an auction to benefit the arts, the environment, as well as medical research. Most of the artists responded and the resulting Texas Chair Project, featuring about 170 tiny chairs, was exhibited several times; many of the creations were sold to benefit the designated organizations. Damian also expanded the idea into the Global Chair Project through which he hoped to create a way to support cultural, environmental, and health research work around the world through the sales of tiny chairs donated by artists around the world. According to his wife Paula, Damian’s favorite part of his life as an artist was the opportunity to interact with people. “He was a real social animal! He was not the kind of artist that goes off to a corner by himself to create, create, create! He loved sharing his insights about art, inspiring new artists, and educating the world about the beauty of art all around them. He lived for his exhibition openings where he could share his ideas and explain what he was trying to convey in his art.” Because of his wish to share his artistic perspective, Damian was a board member of a number of organizations including Ballet Austin, the Austin Museum of Art, the Austin Visual Arts Association, as well as the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum where he created and personally funded the annual Umlauf Prize for an outstanding University of Texas sculpture student. After his death, philanthropists Mike and Pam Reece donated funds to install one of Damian Priour’s works, a large limestone and glass ball entitled “Pointed Sphere,” in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. It is the first work in the Sculpture Garden created by an artist other than sculptor Charles Umlauf and inaugurated a new phase of growth for the institution. Damian was also passionate about conservation and environmental issues and was dedicated to careful growth planning of the undeveloped land in and around Austin. He was active in the Hamilton Pool Road Scenic Corridor Coalition and for many years served as president of the Hill Country Alliance, a coalition of non-profits that champion the preservation of his beloved Hill Country. According to Paula Priour, her husband’s lasting impact was more than simply his art. “Damian passionately believed that art is something more than a pretty thing on a wall. It can, and should, be an integral part of the neighborhood and the daily life of the city.
18 | November 2016
Arts should infuse everything we do. Damian knew this because of his amazing creative vision – he could see art in everything and wished that everyone else could see it too. He spent his life communicating that message to all that he met.” Like Father, Like Son In 2010, Damian and his family realized that his decade-long battle with cancer was nearing an end. Even as his health worsened, he continued to oversee the completion of several of his projects with help from his son J.J. and his long-time assistant, artist, and friend David Hesser. J.J. Priour has been in and around his father’s studio for as long as he can remember. “I played in the studio almost every day while he was working and I probably subconsciously absorbed a lot of what he was doing. It was just a natural, everyday thing and, eventually, he even began to show me some of his techniques.” J.J. was very interested in what was happening in the studio, but, like his father, did not immediately know that art would be his eventual forte. After high school, J.J. began attending Seattle University where he hoped to earn a degree in international business. About the time it became clear that his father was becoming progressively more ill, J.J. also realized that a business career was not what he wanted. He returned to Austin to help his father in the studio, but also to try to find a path for his own future. Today, J.J. is managing the Damian Priour Studio in Dripping Springs and has recently won his first public commission. In the wake of the devastating floods in May of last year, the City of Wimberley is creating the Blanco River Monument Park near the river and has commissioned a sculpture to commemorate the strength of the community and the love and connection that the people of the area share. J.J.’s winning submission is called “The River Pillars” and features two eight-foot tall limestone pillars supporting numerous layers of glass that are designed to mimic the Blanco River’s path as it flows through the Wimberley Valley. David Hesser, his father’s assistant for fifteen years, will be working with him in its creation. “I am very excited about the commission and am looking forward to creating and installing the piece.” It seems that J.J., like his father before him, has unexpectedly found his calling.
Written By: Meddie Stewart
Many Texas towns host holiday festivities, and Fredericksburg is no exception. Located at Marktplatz, the market square in the center of the city, during the Christmas season there resides an enormous 26-foot-tall German Christmas pyramid. “Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by German settlers, and its history and heritage is still strong and present today,” said Amanda Koone, Communications Manager of the Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau. The towering display is “a nod to Fredericksburg’s German roots.” And with those roots come some fascinating traditions, some of which Texans can enjoy right here in the Lone Star State.
the ore mountains of eastern germany From the Erzgebirge, or Ore Mountains, of Germany, came the possible precursor to one of the most widespread of all Christmas traditions: the Christmas tree. Around the 12th century, settlers discovered the silver and tin that would make living in a rough, but beautiful, territory worthwhile. From the mining trade emerged the culture of the area, as well as its wealth, giving rise to the beautiful castles that still adorn the hills today. Along with the new population came their traditions, handed down from generations before them. As far back as the Middle Ages, Europeans in the southern and western regions would hang evergreen boughs throughout their homes, the life and color of the branches lifting their spirits during the dark, themselves by using candles for the same effect. But in the Erzgebirge, where west meets east, and north meets south, the combination of customs resulted in the invention of the light stand, or lichtergestelle.
Photo Courtesy Of: Laura Short
wintery months. In the north and east, however, people traditionally cheered
Mountain dwellers erected the light stand by leaning four wooden poles together and tying them at the top, before decorating the four legs with the
THE CAROUSEL CRAFT
traditional evergreen swags. Candles were added to the stand, and one can
“Today, the pyramids are always wooden,” said Marc Wiedmaier, CEO of
imagine that the result crudely resembled the holiday tree known worldwide
Erzgebirge Palace. “Building a pyramid is a process that requires a high level
today. Napoleon’s 18th century expedition into Egypt brought back images of
of skill and experience.” The Ore Mountains remain the seat for folk art and
the great, ancient pyramids to Europe, which in turn reminded the villagers in
handicrafts, and for good reason. New craftsmen apprentice for three years
the Ore Mountains of their holiday constructions.
before graduation as a wooden toy maker or a turner. Usually, they remain
The popularity of the light stands spread, and in larger cities across Europe, the tradition gave way to the Christmas tree, a ritual that followed American settlers across the sea in the 1700s. In the mountains, however, the
in that job for their entire career. “Some very skillful tasks do need years of experience and training on the job though and are usually only done by the vets in that field.”
shape of the lichtergestelle rather reminded inhabitants of the capstans used
Today’s carousels include artfully carved designs that were not
in the mines. While the tree tradition spread elsewhere, the mountain dwellers
popularized until last century, explained Wiedmaier. Each layer of the
created the carousel, graduated like a pyramid, with levels rotating like the
graduated pyramid contains figurines and carvings that depict various scenes
mining capstans. Flame from candles placed at the base rose upward, the heat
of a story, with the nativity being the most popular.
fueling a propeller placed at the top, rotating the various levels.
When
Fredericksburg,
Texas
made
the
decision
to
add
a
Weihnachtspyramide, or Christmas pyramid, to their holiday festivities,
FROM THE ERZGEBIRGE, OR ORE MOUNTAINS, OF GERMANY, CAME THE POSSIBLE PRECURSOR TO ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD OF ALL CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS:
the
Christmas tree
they turned to Erzgebirge Palace, located in the Rhine area of Germany. Erzgebirge Palace is a company that specializes in traditional crafts ranging from the popular pyramids to nutcrackers, smokers, candle arches, and more. They source their products from local manufacturers, authentic Erzgebirge folk art made in time honored traditions with the finest quality materials. After agreeing to partner on the project, “it took about five to six months to realize that complete project,” said Wiedmaier. “What was put on the different layers was decided together.” Erzgebirge Palace offered suggestions of traditional motifs typically included on such structures. Then, the city determined what they ultimately wished to depict. In 2009, Fredericksburg became home to America’s first, and largest, outdoor Christmas pyramid. But it is not the only city with such an impressive monument. “The largest one can be found in Dresden,” Wiedmaier tells. “It also serves as a mulled wine booth.” While Texas is a home far from Germany to such a carousel, Erzgebirge has built one for an even less likely
Photo Courtesy Of: Trish Rawls
ls y Of: Steve Raw Photo Courtes
destination: Tokyo.
20 | November 2016
VISITING MARKTPLATZ THIS CHRISTMAS Every holiday season, the city reconstructs the German Christmas Pyramid at Marktplatz. “It is lit along with the Community Christmas tree during a special lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving,” explains Koone. Visitors from near and far are encouraged to visit the unique attraction, displayed from the day after Thanksgiving until Epiphany on January 6. “For some visitors, it’s their first time seeing such a large Christmas pyramid, or any Christmas pyramid, for that matter,” told Koone. “For others, they’ve made seeing the Christmas lights and décor in Fredericksburg a
Photo Courtesy Of: Steve Rawls
tradition, and some come for the German Christmas Pyramid and Community Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony every year.” For those who have never seen a pyramid such as this, Wiedmaier mentioned that “The most common reaction is a very happy one, since it often brings back the memories of one's childhood Christmas.” He explained, “The kids are usually fascinated by the fact that the pyramid seems to magically turn its wheel.” This holiday magic seems to cheer both young and old, enveloping all into the warmth and joy of the holiday season. For visitors who wish to take home a souvenir of an exciting, Texas holiday excursion, smaller pyramids are for sale at some of Fredericksburg’s local shops, such as Der Alte Fritz, Kuckucks Nest, and The Grasshopper and Wild Honey. While in Fredericksburg, make sure to check out more holiday fun, such as the outdoor skating rink, also at Marktplatz. “Other can’t-miss holiday events include driving the Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail, the Annual Holiday Home Tour, the Annual LBJ Tree Lighting at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site,” and more, suggested Koone. Most of all, enjoy and Herzliche Weihnachtsgrüße, best Christmas greetings!
IN 2009,
Fredericksburg
Photo Courtesy Of: Steve Rawls
BECAME HOME TO AMERICA’S FIRST, AND LARGEST, OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS PYRAMID
LIFESTYLES
Written By: Rebecca Canfield Photos Courtesy Of: Neiman Marcus
There is something called salesmanship, that when done really well, is a bit more like showmanship; it is the difference between convincing someone to buy something and allowing them to experience something. There is a broad contrast between having a press pass, which allows someone to view a special celebrity from behind the curtain, and being allowed the experience of feeling important in one's own right. Good salesmanship, like Bob Fosse's Razzle Dazzle, is an experience in itself. It has a bit of flash and flare, but with none of Fosse's nefarious plot, of course. It is the knowledge that successful selling is not measured simply by what someone purchased, but by how they feel about that purchase, before, during, and after the sale. “There is never a good sale for Neiman Marcus unless it's a good buy for the customer,” Herbert Marcus, co-founder of Neiman Marcus often declared. Herbert's son, Stanley Marcus, the marketing guru behind much of the success of the famed women's specialty boutique Neiman Marcus, was not the store's founder, but the mark he left upon Neiman Marcus, the city of Dallas, and the fashion industry as a whole is quite mindboggling. Part of this was due to business knowledge, and part was due to his being born into a fashion empire, but most of it was Marcus's (or Mr. Stanley, as he was called by most people) understanding of how to sell not just a garment, but more importantly an experience.
FOUNDING FATHERS OF DALLAS FASHION The original idea for Neiman Marcus began back in 1907, shortly after siblings Herbert and Carrie Marcus, along with Carrie's husband, Al (Abraham Lincoln) Neiman, decided to start their own business together. At the time, Herbert was a buyer for the boys’ clothing department at Sanger Brothers, and Carrie was a top saleswoman at A. Harris and Company. Carrie’s husband, Al, convinced the pair to move to Atlanta and begin a sales promotion business. With a newborn son of 6 months, and a pay-rate insufficient to provide for the family, Herbert still heartily agreed.
22 | November 2016
Their business was designed to help rural merchants raise funds by staging special sales. This often included stringing flashy sales banners across streets and then hiring bands to draw crowds, who would then become buyers. The business, which was a resounding success, earned the trio two opportunities to sell their fledgling company to interested buyers. One opportunity amounted to $25,000 cash, and the other was the chance at a franchise for an unknown soft-drink at the time, now called Coca-Cola. Not to be duped by a questionable new soft drink company, the trio took the $25,000 back to Dallas and began the Neiman Marcus Specialty Women's boutique.
Before the creation of Neiman Marcus, there were few places for ladies to purchase off-the-rack clothing, especially in Texas. The norm for wealthy women of that era was to go to Europe or New York to have their clothes made to order. Ready-to-wear garments, as Stanley Marcus explained in his memoir, Minding the Store, were considered inferior. Sensing a shift in the market though, the adventuresome trio fortuitously predicted that ready-to-wear would soon be the norm. Desiring to get a jump on the competition, Neiman Marcus placed a full page ad in the Dallas Morning News prior to their opening, announcing an “exclusive shopping boutique for fashionable women.” This store would house only the finest quality, best fitting, off-the-rack garments to be found, and these clothes would be offered at a supreme value. The shop, a first of its kind, was a resounding success.
if it meant spending more. Neiman Marcus also became known as the store of value; if an item was purchased by a buyer at 50 percent off, Neiman Marcus would pass that savings on to their delighted consumers.
Also at that time, while a few garment makers offered off-the-rack items, the fashion industry had not yet mastered accurate and uniform sizing, which would allow for proper fit without major alterations. Carrie Neiman, alongside newly hired buyer Moira Cullen, guided the garment makers into producing the more accurately sized and better quality garments that women would want to purchase, and by doing so, changed the climate toward ready-to-wear clothes. This played a hand in Neiman Marcus's success in selling ready-to-wear garments as a viable option.
GROWING UP IN THE NEIMAN FAMILY Herbert's eldest son, Harold “Stanley” Marcus, practically grew up in Neiman Marcus. A two-year-old tot when the flagship store was founded in Dallas, young Stanley's earliest memories included hours spent making toy carts out of spools and thread boxes in the dress department. Stanley recalled in his memoirs that his experiences at Neiman Marcus were “from the floor up.” Perhaps Stanley's best lessons in salesmanship occurred during those formative years.
Another policy that Neiman Marcus pioneered was the idea to pay manufacturers more to improve product quality instead of the traditional buyer's tendency toward purchasing marked down items. Neiman Marcus, even in its early stages, understood the difference between quality and quantity and wanted their customers to get the full “fine-quality garment” experience that they advertised, even
In elementary school, however, Stanley was privy to a very different type of lesson, as for the first time his heritage was the cause of turmoil. Anti-Semitic taunts followed behind Stanley as his classmates chased him home from school, threatening him and calling him a “little Jew boy.” It would be his first, but certainly not his last, time experiencing discrimination. According to Marcus, however, it left no real scars.
Additionally, Neiman Marcus employed a customer-first policy. “We want to sell satisfaction, not just merchandise,” the founders would say. If a customer had an issue with a garment, Neiman Marcus would often replace the garment even if it meant suffering a loss on the item. This policy of putting customers’ needs first, and occasionally losing a sale in order to steer a customer away from a product they would not be happy with in the long run, caused the popularity of the store to grow, even in times when money was scarce.
November 2016 | 23
LIFESTYLES His next experience with anti-Semitism did not happen until college, when during his first year at Amherst College, he found that being Jewish disqualified him from pledging for a fraternity. Displeased with being shut out of social events, Stanley transferred to Harvard the following year. During his summers, however, he went back to Dallas to get sales experience in the ladies' shoe department of the store. When Stanley did graduate with his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1925, his father made it clear that he was expected to join the family business at Neiman Marcus, which displeased Stanley greatly. Stanley, who did not want to be restricted in his political viewpoints and self-expression, made his feelings known. Herbert, however, assured Stanley that he would always have the freedom to speak out politically without fear, a fact that would displease some of the store's patrons in the years to come. However, true to his word, Herbert Marcus always allowed Stanley the freedom of self-expression, a decision which at that time was considered taboo for merchants who did not want to offend potential customers. Stanley enrolled in Harvard’s Graduate School of Business Administration where his focused studies continued to prepare him for a business career. Classes in accounting, statistics, advertising, and finance helped prepare him for the role in the family business that was to come. The following year, as Neiman Marcus was preparing for expansion, Stanley returned home and entered the family business full time. During Neiman Marcus's expansion period, Stanley longed for greater responsibility, and so he came up with an idea that he could implement, and thus, prove his worth. He thought of hosting an over-the-top weekly fashion show on the terrace of the swanky new rooftop garden at the Baker Hotel, an event that would encourage shoppers to come downtown and shop, in spite of boiling summer temperatures. The shows, hosted and emceed by Stanley, became theevent-to-attend and were a monumental success. Stanley also came up with further successful ideas in several subsequent areas of the family business that had been thus far left untouched, such as updating the graphic design of the Neiman Marcus packaging and creating a Neiman Marcus trademark. By 1929, Mr. Stanley's drive had earned him the position of merchandising manager of all apparel divisions.
BREAKING HIS OWN RULES In 1932, Mr. Stanley met the pretty new sports shop manager who had been hired while he was out of town. He described Mary “Billie” Cantrell as blonde, charming, graceful, and competent. Although the company policy against dating fellow employees was implemented by Mr. Stanley himself, he broke his own rule and began dating the young beauty. To his family's dismay, the young lady was Christian, instead of the daughter of a prominent Jewish family as they had hoped. Her entrance into the family was met with mixed-emotions, but the affable young Billie was eventually able to win them all over. The pair were soon married and Billy bore their first child, a daughter named Jerrie, in 1936. Billie promptly retired from Neiman Marcus and devoted her
24 | November 2016
attention to full-time motherhood. Two years later, the couple were surprised when their second child turned out to be twins, a boy and girl they named Richard and Wendy. The happy couple remained married until Billie's death in 1978. A year later, the widower married his second wife, Linda Robinson, a librarian at Dallas Public Library. The pair remained together until Stanley's death in 2002.
THE LEGACY OF STANLEY MARCUS In 1934, at Mr. Stanley's suggestion, the family business became the first specialty store to advertise in national magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, a resoundingly successful idea. In 1935, Mr. Stanley became Executive Vice-President of Neiman Marcus. In 1938, the brilliant media mogul came up with the idea to create the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in Fashion, an event which would attract both big-name celebrities and designers to the brand. Often called “the Oscars of Fashion,” the Neiman Marcus Award is still a coveted distinction today. Stanley's flash and flare really shined at the awards ceremonies and fashion show, and his ostentatious side attracted buzz the world over. In 1939, Stanley Marcus developed the annual Christmas Catalog, and in 1951, it began to showcase swanky and extravagant “his & her gifts.” The catalog, which became legendary in its own right, at times included matching beach-craft airplanes, Noah's arks that included pairs of animals and live tigers, and other over-the-top items for his celebrity clientele to mull over, and for the rest of the world to dream about. Still, not everyone was pleased with the store's swankiness. In Stanley's memoirs, he recalls a Texas rancher who once stood baffled in the store's entryway and declared, “In all my time, I have never seen so many things a body can get along without as I have here!” Some of Stanley's accomplishments, however, have been outshined by the celebrities that he has dressed over the years. For example, Lady Bird's Johnson's famous yellow inaugural gown in 1965 was a highly praised Neiman Marcus purchase as was her daughter Luci Baines Johnson's wedding dress, and Grace Kelly's bridal party
gowns. He was often called upon to select purchases for royalty, such as a pair of stockings for the then-princess Elizabeth of England. One time, Mr. Stanley was even called upon to suggest a gift for a pet lion, to which he recommended an electric blanket for cold nights.
In 1969, Stanley finally stepped down from the board of directors for Carter, Hawley, Hale, Inc., the corporation that Neiman Marcus merged with during their expansion years. He retired as chairman emeritus in 1975, and his son Richard took over.
Yet Stanley Marcus was not always popular with everyone. During the 1950s, Mr. Stanley, who hosted and helped fund many civic and cultural events in Dallas, was elected President of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Art Association. On one occasion the museum had booked a traveling art exhibit entitled, “Sports in Art.” A commotion had been caused by the inclusion of certain pieces of art whose authors were rumored to have communist affiliations, and the Dallas Patriotic Council was up in arms. Undeterred, Mr. Stanley enlisted the help of certain reporters who held lofty opinions on freedom of expression, and thus numerous articles were published in favor of allowing the paintings, which depicted fishing, ice skating, and baseball, to be viewed as a part of the display.
Despite his official retirement, Stanley was a close adviser even into the last weeks of his life. He went on to establish a sideline retail consulting business and also spent time writing for The Dallas Morning News, in addition to several retailing books and his own memoirs. He was an avid art collector and an excellent photographer, as well. Many of his images can be seen in a book put together by his granddaughter, Allison V. Smith, entitled, Reflections of a Man. He died on January 22, 2002.
At the time, actions like this caused Stanley to be labeled as a radical and a left-winger, a distinction which Stanley shrugged off with little concern. However, once again in 1964, Stanley's opinion would land him in hot water with some of his clientele as after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, when Stanley published a controversial article in The Dallas Morning News. The article was an attempt to address the guilt, shame, and negativity that was running rampant in the city resulting from the chaos that had occurred during and following the president's death. In addition to pioneering marketing campaigns and fashion shows, Stanley Marcus, as was the habit of the entire Marcus clan, was heavily involved in civic leadership. For example, the Marcus family contributed to the founding of Dallas's Temple Emanu-El, one of the largest reform synagogues in the Southwest. He was also a member of the American Council for Judaism. He also helped to found the Dallas Opera and was credited for saving the Dallas Symphony from financial ruin.
Before Stanley Marcus, New York was the place to go for fashion. Marcus single-handedly took Dallas from a sleepy, southern town and created a mecca of style and sophistication. He contributed rather liberally to many charitable causes and civic organizations, and was involved in the Easter Seals and the American Council To Improve Our Neighborhoods A.C.T.I.O.N., to name a few. He was heavily involved in preserving the arts in Dallas, and took a personal interest in the affairs of the city he lived in. He directed the Better Business Bureau of Dallas and was a member of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. Yet one of the most important but least recognized contributions of Stanley Marcus, not only to Dallas, but to the world as well, was the way that Marcus allowed people to step outside of the dreary doldrums of everyday living and dream of a world that not only looked more beautiful, but felt more beautiful as well. The legendary Stanley Marcus lived a full and avid life. He wore many titles and bore many names but what people remembered the most about him was the uncompromising way he loved life and loved people, and the dramatic flare with which he did practically everything. “None of us is made of gold,” Stanley used to say, “We're made of brass, but we can look like gold if we keep polishing ourselves.” November 2016 | 25
Written By: Eric Smith Photos Courtesy Of: Wings Over Houston Air Show
Imagine a child who loves airplanes. Whether civilian aircraft, biplanes, World War II era aircraft, or jets, the type does not matter; if it soars through the air, it is fan worthy. Perhaps that child gets to visit an air museum with their parents, getting to see the airplanes they read about in books leap from the page to real life, filling their head with vivid and romantic ideas of flight, and creating a strong and fond memory that will last a lifetime. Now imagine that the same child gets to visit an air show. For the first time, the vintage planes they have only read about come to life. They are no longer static pieces of a bygone era, but are instead demonstrating their power in front of hundreds or even thousands of starry-eyed spectators. The bombers of World War II with their loud radial engines cause those in the crowd to cover their ears. The precise movements of the Blue Angels leave spectators with mouths agape, while the roar of the P-51 Mustang as it soars overhead will resonate within them for years to come. When visiting an aviation event, visitors often get the chance to crawl into a vintage aircraft on display. Even amidst the golden age of travel and new technology, the romantic idea of soaring through the air, piloted by the Greatest Generation, is likely to pull in each spectator.
A DIFFER ENT LEVEL OF D I SPL AY Texas is home to dozens of fantastic aviation museums including Frontiers of Flight in Dallas, Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, and of course the Johnson Space Center in Houston. But for those who want to see planes in action, consider taking the time to go see an air show! With the large number of aviation museums nearby, air shows are a routine part of the spring and fall calendar. The smell of high octane fuel, the roar of radial propeller engines, and the chance to see pieces of history in flight, routinely attract families and aviation enthusiasts alike. These events are excellent opportunities to experience history up close and personally.
26 | November 2016
LIFESTYLES
The key to any good air show is to bring ear protection, apply a bit of sunscreen, and be prepared for a lot of fun. Last year, 35 different air shows were scheduled, covering every major metropolitan area. The largest shows happen around the same time each year, and for true airplane enthusiasts, they are ‘cannot miss’ events.
THE HE AR T OF TE X A S AI R SHOW
waco
The Heart of Texas Airshow in Waco is a relatively new air show, but it nonetheless packs in all the excitement enthusiasts have come to expect from an aviation event. The show convenes every September at Texas State
For over 100 years, pilots have dazzled spectators with daring displays
Technical College Campus Airport and offers visitors a myriad of planes and
of their mastery of the air. During the Second World War, the government
entertainment. In the past, both the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Army
used air shows to sell war bonds and display the might of
Golden Knights performed. The Thunderbirds certainly display precise control
the American war machine. Visiting an air show is not just
of the F-16 Falcon fight jets, and give spectators the chance to see dizzying
an American event though; thousands of events occur
displays. The U.S. Army Golden Knights are a team of elite paratroopers and
worldwide.
their stunts are breathtaking. This year, for the first time performing in Waco, the show played host to the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper team. Additionally, the show was selected as the first demonstration in the entire south, and one of only for nationwide displays this year, for the U.S. Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey. The opportunity to see such renowned attractions at a local event really shows that this is an up-and-coming show! Similar to AIRSHO in Midland, the Heart of Texas Show will always feature a number of vintage aircraft, such as the Trojan Phlyers Demo Team performing their aerial feats in their Vietnam-era T28 Trojan prop-based trainers. The best part of the Heart of Texas show is the location. Waco is not too far from many major cities, and provides travelers a great stopping point if they are traveling along I-35.
WI NGS OVER HOUS TO N
houston
Finally, do not miss the Wings Over Houston show. Occurring every October since 1984 at Ellington Airport, this event is another Commemorative Air Force event. This is also a well-attended show with nearly 100,000 visitors annually! Wings Over Houston is one of the city’s largest non-profit civic events, and includes a special event on the Friday before the event for the physically challenged. In 2015, the show featured the U.S. Thunderbirds; a demonstration
AI R SHO
midland
by the Breitling Jet Team; aerial aerobatics by Debbie Rihn-Harvey; and a Pearl Harbor Reenactment event. Prior to the 2015 show, Bill Roach, airshow director said, “We had record attendance last year and expect to draw even more people who haven’t seen the Thunderbirds here in five years, and they
The largest vintage aircraft organization in North America is the
also want to see the Breitling Jet Team on its first U.S. tour." This past October,
Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and their annual AIRSHO in Midland is the
the show boasted another big name headliner, featuring the U.S. Navy
largest in Texas. In August of 2016, more than 40 aircraft from across the
Blue Angels.
southwest participated and treated visitors to aerial displays with tinges of history and entertainment.
Wings Over Houston features many of the same performers as other Commemorative Air Force shows, and around seventy-five aircraft in total.
The CAF specializes in World War II era aircraft, and their focus is usually
One of the main events at many CAF shows is a Pearl Harbor reenactment
on full display. For those who have never heard the sound of four radial
team known as TORA! TORA! TORA! Utilizing rare Japanese dive bombers and
blasting overhead, that is the sound of the 1940s American might. The event
fighters, along with American pursuit aircraft, the team demonstrates a small
is an excellent chance for visitors to transport to a bygone era and place
portion of the events of December 7th, 1941. The tying together of history and
themselves in the shoes of the Greatest Generation. The event allows visitors
entertainment is integral to any good air show.
to see the planes in action and tour the aircraft throughout the day. As is the
Air shows are regular occurrences in Texas. From Jasper to Corsicana,
case wherever the CAF stops, visitors can pay a nominal fee and take a ride on
Bonham to Hondo, those interested can find aviation events anywhere.
various aircraft! B-17 Bombers, P-51 Mustangs, and C-47 transport planes are
While they will vary in size and scope, visitors are sure to find entertainment
usually the most popular, and for many it is a once in a lifetime chance! Some
in addition to a history lesson. Attending shows is easy and they often offer
may also be lucky enough to run into former veterans that can share their own
excellent food and beverages, so it really becomes quite an easy way to enjoy
experiences from years ago.
the day.
November 2016 | 27
Square Footage
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Bonus Space
Interior Designer
5,000 4 4.5 Playroom and Theater Lori Rourk of Lori Rourk Interiors Photos Courtesy Of: Butch Ireland Written By: Megan Ann Oswald
HOME
REMODELING FOR MODERN Unique features and bright accents are the highlights of Ryan Urech’s completely remodeled 5,000 square foot home in Plano, Texas. Transformed from a dark and dated cookie cutter, this 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home is now a modern, light, and airy masterpiece. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ryan and Interior Designer Lori Rourk tackled every room in the house to make it into the perfect place for Ryan’s children to grow up.
WELCOME, COME ON IN New landscaping, flowerbeds, and all new sod were incorporated into the already mature trees in the front yard. Tall Italian cypress trees emphasize the height of the stone façade while the full magnolia tree brings color and anchors the far side of the house. A tiered pathway leads up the sloping lawn to an arched entryway with an oversized, wood front door. Triple windows on each side of the doorway bring balance to the front view and even out the asymmetrical pattern created by the tree line. As visitors enter the home, an architectural niche is the focal point of the foyer, with custom wallpaper and a one-of-a-kind mirror hanging above the entryway table. Designed to reflect light and emphasize the shimmering scale pattern, the hall console brings a comforting seaside feeling to the home. To the right of the entry is the formal dining room where a crystal and seashell chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
INCORPORATING PERSONAL FAVORITES Fond of her time spent on the beaches of Florida, Ryan worked with Lori Rourk to pull together pieces that would bring that relaxing atmosphere into every part of the home. Elements of wood and sand are mixed together in the dining room where custom art pieces are on prominent display. The wood and iron table is reflected in the mirrored buffet, while the sea foam accents bring out the colors in the paintings. A low bench seat was placed at the front of the table, giving this formal room a very welcoming presence. One of Ryan’s favorite things about the home is the open floor plan between each of the main living areas. Large arched openings combine the living room, kitchen, and breakfast area into one cohesive layout. Ryan wanted the common areas to flow together in their design and not appear to be separate areas. Recommended to Ryan by another designer, Lori worked with the homeowner to overhaul every room in the house to fit the modern style that matched Ryan’s personality.
November 2016 | 29
HOME Lori painted walls and woodwork in dark hues throughout to compliment and balance the light backgrounds used. Calm and soothing colors carry over from the formal dining room into the living and breakfast rooms. Tufted chairs around the breakfast table bring in the same pops of sea foam that are found in the formal dining room. Ryan expressed to Lori that she wanted each room to have a “wow moment.” By adding bright colors and dramatic accent pieces, Lori pulled together stunning looks for each space. Flowing from the breakfast area into the kitchen, the dark wood cabinets were painted in lighter colors to blend with the open floor plan. Granite countertops break the sightline and add a professional chef atmosphere that many homeowners seek. Lori brought in new light fixtures that reflect the seaside feeling and also added more task lighting. Another custom painting was added to the kitchen area that can be seen from the living room in addition to the shell inspired sculptures above the cabinets and the center piece on the breakfast table.
Lori kept base colors neutral in the family room as she did in the main rooms, but added fun color accents to liven up the area. She pulled in hues found in artwork as well as family photographs displayed. A mirrored armoire and minimalist-style ghost chairs echo the ones found in the dining room and at the kitchen bar. With such bright accents and artwork, Lori worked hard to ensure that the rooms were not overstimulating.
UNIQUE TRANSFORMATIONS As part of the remodel, Lori turned the outdated bar located in the family room into a lavish candy bar perfect for family movie nights. Reminiscent of an old fashioned candy shop, glass shelves are lined with jars full of orange, fuchsia, and white sweets of different shapes and sizes, matching the colors in the rest of the family room. Because the space is no longer a traditional bar, the shelving originally used to store wine now holds glass bottles of brightly colored sodas for the kids to enjoy through candy-striped straws. In need of a major overhaul, Lori converted the spare bedroom into a playroom for Ryan’s daughters. Dark walls and and drab furnishings lead to the room being used mostly for storage. Ryan, faced with a room full of outdated decorations and pieces of furniture, asked Lori to come up with a creative solution for the spare room. Because of its proximity to the kids’ bedrooms, the idea of a playroom that would grow with them into a teenage hangout spot for when they are older won over the homeowner. Its timeless pink and white décor and classic furnishings will become the perfect place to sit and chat with friends. Ryan was not sure about the usefulness of the spare room when they began the remodel, but now it is one room that she cannot see her family living without.
30 | November 2016
HOME
A ROOM FOR MOM Out of all the spaces that Lori designed in the home, Ryan’s bedroom was not only the first one, but is also her favorite transformation. Lori wanted to lighten the bedroom so that it no longer had the presence of a cave and changing the light fixtures was one of the first steps to bringing more light into the room. The chandelier above the bed mimics the shape and color of a delicate sea creature as the transparent shade allows light to flow to all parts of the room. Lori had the chairs reupholstered in a bold pattern and added new rich textiles for the bedding. Lori wanted the bedroom to speak to Ryan and become a comforting place for her to relax at the end of the day.
Entertaining guests in the backyard at the grill or playing games in the pool are some of the ways that Ryan and her family like to spend their summers. Family and friends gathering around them having a great time is the main reason that Ryan wanted to have space that beckoned them homeward. Luckily, Ryan was never afraid to go bold with decisions when it came to the house of her dreams.
November 2016 | 33
HOME
Writte By: Lucy Ann Parker
The season of holidays and dinner parties will soon arrive and you may find yourself visiting out of town family and friends. While many hosts do not expect a gift, it is best not to show up empty handed. Many find themselves searching for fresh ideas when shopping for such a gift. Try one of these ideas the next time you are needing a gift to show thanks.
A RT ISA N J EL LY OR JA M
TEA TOW ELS
MONOGR A M M ED PILLOW CASE
H A N DM A DE SOA P
BOA RD GAME
SPECI A LT Y COF F EE OR TEA
COCKTA IL MIX
CHARCUTERIE SPREAD
BAKED G OODS
34 | November 2016
Written By: Jessica Moreau
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a word that makes a beautiful picture worth? Calligraphy, the lost art of decorative writing, is making a resurgence. You have likely seen the scrolling and elegant lettering on invitations and other paper goods, but right now, all things handwritten and hand-lettered are en vogue. Calligraphy is no longer reserved for weddings and formal events. There are services, some likely nearby in your neighborhood, that will create beautiful works by hand for your invitation, frame-able print, and personalized stationery needs. Lauren Brod, a Texas calligrapher, explains that “Calligraphy has an ebb and flow to it that you can get lost in. The swells on the down stroke and thin hairlines on the upstrokes give beauty and precision. It is meticulous, and it is full of feeling.” Creating beautiful letters also has a historical element that Lauren loves. She adds, “It pulls you in and takes you back to a time when penmanship was highly esteemed when a master penman was hired to scribe the most important documents. It has value and elegance.” Across Texas, there is an abundance of calligraphy services from which to choose. These featured calligraphers have discovered unique ways to bring hand lettering into lives in the most thoughtful ways.
Photo Courtesy Of: PenDance Calligraphy
PenDance
HOUSTON
When planning her wedding, Maureen felt compelled to address all of her envelopes herself in elegant calligraphy, so she took private lessons in order to learn to do so. She enjoyed every minute, and her love of calligraphy began to look like a viable career path. She became a go-to for friends looking to hire someone to do their hand lettering, and soon had a thriving part-time business. In January 2001, she took the leap into full-time calligraphy. Her husband, Don, works with Maureen at home and he offers computer printing services for envelopes and place cards; approximately half of PenDance’s customers choose this alternative to hand lettering due to time and budgetary constraints. Turnaround time is key when planning a wedding or other large-scale events, and even more so when a calligrapher is involved. Maureen asks clients to allow about one week per one hundred addresses since she usually has several jobs booked each week. For computer printing, Don needs only about three to five business days from the time he has the final approved guest list and the envelopes in hand. Maureen also offers several products that set her apart from many other calligraphers. She enjoys creating hand-lettered family tree designs customized for each family. Maureen has even developed an online handwriting class called “Handwriting Makeover” that helps adults improve their penmanship skills through short video lessons and daily practice over the course of several weeks. The goal of the class is to help adults learn what makes handwriting both legible and beautiful, show them how to practice, then guide them into creating their own unique styles about which they should feel proud. As a bonus, the hope is that the class will encourage adults to teach their own children how to write beautifully since the art of penmanship is no longer a focus in many schools. On the lost art of handwriting, Maureen comments, “I think people would find pleasure again in writing notes and love letters, and journaling about their daily lives, if they developed a handwriting style that flowed easily from their pen and was legible and beautiful to read. Handwritten letters and journals can be an amazing legacy to leave to future generations.”
36 | November 2016
Photo Courtesy Of: Polished Pen
Maureen Vickery, of PenDance Calligraphy & Engraving, grew up loving crafts, drawing, painting, and making things with her hands. Her mother was not a crafty type, but she encouraged Maureen to try whatever piqued her interest. Maureen was in middle school when her mother purchased her first calligraphy book, and the rest is (lettering) history.
Polished Pen D A L L A S
Kelly Hager, of Polished Pen in Dallas, is a woman with sass who also happens to love her calligraphy. Her background with lettering dates back to 2011 when she was working a corporate job after graduating from Texas A&M University. She was in Dallas and wanting an outlet for her creativity when she came across a listing for a six-week calligraphy class at Southern Methodist University. She had always loved beautiful calligraphy and personalized stationery, so the class instantly caught her eye and she was hooked from the first lesson, so much so that she took all of the classes the teacher offered! Kelly works with many calligraphy styles and products. She has studied classic styles such as italic, old English, and copperplate, as well as adapting several modern and whimsical styles. Kelly says, “I enjoy the variety that each client brings and love finding just the right style for their project.” When asked about her favorite projects, Kelly identified one immediately. “A collection of song lyrics that were special to a couple,” sits high atop her favorites list. “The man used [them] as part of his proposal to his fiancé.” One of her other most memorable projects was creating a family tree which depicted several generations, but doing so in an heirloom Masonic Bible. “People often think that calligraphy is just a business of wedding invitations, and I absolutely swoon over calligraphy for a wedding invitation, but many people do not imagine all of the possibilities calligraphy can offer. Think of all of the moments worth celebrating and commemorating in a person’s life. Calligraphy adds such a personal touch, and as a calligrapher I get to hear all of the wonderful stories that inspire each piece,” Kelly says, “This is one of the true joys of a calligrapher.”
Photo Courtesy Of: Tone and State
Photo Courtesy Of: Wondrous Whimsy
Wondrous Whimsy
Tone and St ate AUSTIN
Austin is known for a many great things: live music, SXSW, food trucks, and art. And it would be easy to add calligraphy to that list as well. Wondrous Whimsy of Austin is the place to get all of your handwritten items for life’s biggest moments. Samantha Burnett founded her business after wanting a more creative outlet than the corporate graphic design job she was pursuing. She grew up doing creative things and making things with her hands. Samantha also harbors a special love of lettering, and during college fell in love with typography. It was during an internship with a stationery designer where Samantha learned the art of modern calligraphy through an online class. She began selling calligraphy prints through an online shop, but after getting connected with some local wedding industry professionals, she became immersed into the wedding world. From there, Wondrous Whimsy has grown to be a fine art wedding stationery boutique. They use the finest papers, materials, and printing methods to provide the best wedding stationery experience to all customers. In fact, they are working to launch a customizable collection of pre-designed invitation suites for quicker timelines at a lower price point. This will take the stress and lengthy timeline out of custom invitation design, to make the handmade custom wedding invitation process accessible to a wider variety of couples. Samantha loves this business so much that she recently began teaching modern calligraphy. When asked her thoughts on the lost art, she replied, “I never thought I would be great at teaching, but I am so passionate about the art, and there is such a need for professional calligraphers to share their skills with those just starting out. I now teach an introduction to modern calligraphy where we focus on all the basics, from how to use the tools to how to form letters and words, all using a modern form of copperplate calligraphy.” She adds, “I love to encourage students to put their own unique styles into their lettering because that is truly what modern calligraphy is all about. No two calligraphers’ styles will be the same. It is very personal and unique to you as an artist.”
HOUSTON
Houstonian Lauren Brod is the proud owner of Tone and State, which offers a unique lettering and papering experience. Lauren began her pursuit of artistic lettering back in high school, while playing sports. While an unlikely place to begin an art business, she credits decorating her teammates’ lockers in the locker room as her first foray into letterforms. Now a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers, Tone and State was born from a need for a creative outlet, as well as a passion for handwritten notes and the like. A majority of Lauren’s work is done through custom orders, such as lettered art prints, stationery, wedding suites, and calligraphy pieces. She does them all herself, without the help of an assistant, so turnaround time is dependent on the scope and scale of the project. Wedding envelopes take approximately two weeks to complete, while an art print is usually done and printed within a week. Non-customized items are stocked and therefore shipped out much sooner. When asked about her favorite projects, an impassioned Lauren responded, “One of my favorite things to work on is weddings. I have loved designing custom stationery for brides’ wedding suites and signage for their events. The icing on the cake is when I am asked to do the calligraphy on the envelopes as well.” The aspect of weddings Lauren enjoys the most is the personalization and the reflection of a bride’s personality. “Calligraphy and lettering is an expression in all its forms… I love reflecting the personality of my clients in their pieces. It takes it beyond paper, and gives it meaning.” As for the current craze of hand-lettered décor, stationary, and prints, Lauren explains, “Writing in general, whether with a pointed pen or pencil, is something that needs more emphasis. We live in a day where electronic communication is primary for survival. Few and far between do you get handwritten letters in the mail or ‘just because’ cards.” She hopes that her products impact people in a positive way, and adds, “My hope is that in my little corner of the world, I make a difference. I hope I empower people to be intentional through paper goods they are proud of.” The fire for what these women do burns deep, and it is evident when speaking to them. Words are just words, but when they are beautifully written, the meaning just seems to leap from the page and land directly into your heart.
November 2016 | 37
HOME
Written By: Steve Huddleston
As deciduous trees lose their leaves for the winter, the landscape takes on a more barren look. During this time, other features in the landscape stand out. Many small trees and shrubs produce fruits, or berries, that brighten the winter landscape and provide food for wildlife. Nandina
NANDINA
(NANDINA DOMESTICA)
Fruiting varieties of this adaptable Southern shrub, native from India to East Asia, adorn winter gardens with 5-inch clusters of bright red berries and blue-green foliage, which often takes on hues of red during the winter months. Standard Nandina can reach 6 to 8 feet, while ‘Compacta’ reaches 3 to 4 feet; both produce the most amount of fruit. Smaller varieties include ‘Gulf Stream’ reaching 3 feet, ‘Nana’ reaching to 2 or 2.5 feet, and ‘Harbour Dwarf ’ reaching 18 inches. Newer cultivars include ‘Flirt,’ ‘Blush Pink,’ ‘Obsession,’ and ‘Lemon Lime.’ The standard and ‘Compacta’ forms can tolerate full sun the best, although they, along with all the other cultivars, will do well in dappled shade. AMERIC AN BEAUT YBERRY
(C ALLIC ARPA AMERIC ANA)
This deciduous shrub native to the eastern half of Texas assumes a large, sprawling shape in the landscape. It can reach a height of 5 to 7 feet and does best in dappled shade. In the spring, inconspicuous, pale pink flowers appear at nodes along the stems. By late summer or early fall, the stems are lined with clusters of bright, magenta-colored berries that will persist through the winter if the mockingbirds do not eat all of them! A white-fruited variety named ‘Alba’ also exists. This plant truly earns the first word of its botanical name, which is Greek for “beautiful fruit.” Do not expect these berries to hold up indoors, however. They drop off shortly after the twig is cut. For those who plan to use the berries for indoor decorating, clip at the last possible minute, right before company arrives! American Beautyberry
Possumhaw
EA STERN RED CEDAR
(JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA)
This evergreen is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States, including most of Texas. Give this tree plenty of room in the landscape, since its mature height can be around 30 feet with a spread of 20 feet. Eastern red cedar functions especially well as a “living fence” or natural screen along a property line. It provides a wonderful habitat for birds as well. This tree is dioecious (“two houses”), which means there are male trees and female trees. Both genders bloom in early spring, but only the female tree will produce ¼-inch, powder-blue berries that appear by mid-summer and persist through early winter. Cedar Waxwings are especially fond of these berries. Berry-laden branches may be brought into the house for holiday decorating or used in Christmas wreaths for a native Texas touch. COR ALBERRY
POSSUMHAW
(ILEX DECIDUA)
A deciduous small tree native to east and central Texas, possumhaw holly is ablaze with red berries after leaf drop and makes a striking addition to any winter landscape. Only female trees bear fruit, however, on this tree that can reach 20 feet tall and wide. A male pollinator is required for fruit set; furthermore, fruit production is greater in full sun. The popular cultivar ‘Warren’s Red’ has particularly large, deep red fruit. Possumhaw does well in sun to part shade and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. It does best with adequate moisture but tolerates drought once established. Choose any of these shrubs or trees to enliven winter landscapes. Their attractive and colorful berries both delight the eye and appeal to the appetites of winter wildlife.
( S Y M P H O R I C A R P O S O R B I C U L AT U S )
This deciduous, native Texas plant that does well in dappled shade has rounded, blue-green foliage and grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet. It spreads by root suckers to form a shrubby thicket. Small pink or white flowers appear in the spring, and, by summer, raspberry-colored berries form along the stem and persist into the winter. SUMAC
( R H U S S P P. )
Both Rhus lanceolata (prairie flame-leaf sumac) and Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) are native to Texas and do well in sun to dappled shade. Flower panicles 6 inches long form in the spring and fruits ripen in the fall. These clusters of burnt-red berries provide excellent winter color and attract birds to the winter landscape as well.
Eastern Red Cedar
Written By: Carissa Chandler
The hobby of collecting things often begins in childhood. Whether it be comics, stamps, action figures, or dolls, the possibilities are endless. Whatever the prize of choice happens to be, collectors meticulously cultivate their collection and proudly display their treasures in a dedicated space, for themselves and their guests to admire. As adults, some choose to continue adding to their collection of childhood passions, but many move on to more mature possessions, such as war memorabilia, antique cameras, or perhaps crystal figurines. These items are equally deserving of a dedicated display within a home, and for those roughly one million Texans with a passion for hunting, their unique trophies are no exception.
D I S PL AY C O N S I D E R AT I O N S There are some special tips, tricks, and unwritten rules that will help those who wish to incorporate these mounted memories tastefully in to their décor.
1. DECIDE WHICH ROOM(S) WILL BE BEST SUITED FOR DISPLAYING THE COLLECTION. A dedicated room that encompasses an entire trophy collection is certainly ideal, if that is an option. Consider the number of trophies, the size of each, and whether or not there needs to be room left for additional mounts in the future. For those who are still in a new construction phase, or perhaps thinking of a remodel, longtime hunter and former custom home builder, Lance Lester, suggests reinforcing the studs with 3/4-inch plywood to allow complete freedom of mount placement, rather than being limited to the location of the studs.
2. AVOID DINING AREAS AND PERSONAL SPACES. To display a collection in its entirety throughout the home, there are specific considerations for displaying mounts in different rooms. For instance, keeping mounts out of kitchens and dining rooms (where meat is usually consumed or were guests will gather) is generally in good taste. Bedrooms are debatable, as some find them inappropriate for displaying mounts, and others enjoy the reminder of their achievements within a personal space.
3. INCORPORATING MOUNTED TROPHIES INTO THE DÉCOR AND OVERALL STYLE OF THE ROOM ITSELF IS KEY. A common decorating tactic of “bringing the outside in” is a technique that is certainly applicable here. An abundance of visible wood and stone already built in to the interior of a home instantly provides an ideal backdrop for displaying almost any hunting trophy. Additionally, the use of plants, patterns, colors, and design elements specific to the animal’s native topography helps to polish off the desired look.
HOME 4. OTHER ITEMS TO INCORPORATE INTO THE ROOM. For hunters, these trophies often evoke fond memories of pride, accomplishment, and comradery. The manner in which they are displayed relays those sentiments to viewers like a story unspoken. Whether near or surrounding an actual mount, continue the overall hunting theme by utilizing decor items that accentuate the desired story the mounts tell. Hang a framed map of the native region surrounded by a gallery of framed photos from the trip. Antler chandeliers and rawhide lampshades complement each other to make a stunning combination. Local souvenirs collected on an adventure, combined with native artifacts or weapons, would make for an interesting display. Surround books written about the area, animal, or related topic with animal feet or antlers as bookends, and interesting conversation with house guests becomes a guarantee. Animal skins and furs used for rugs or throws over leather furniture always add classic elegance and warmth to any room.
5. THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD TAXIDERMIST. There is an undisputed art to taxidermy, and some professionals with the best reputations are unsurprisingly located in the Lone Star state. Mike Simpson out of Conroe Taxidermy in Conroe, Texas is perhaps the most widely known in the state, as he owns one of the largest taxidermy facilities in the nation. A long-time customer of Conroe Taxidermy suggested a key to Mike’s success in the industry is due to him having firsthand experience hunting the animals he mounts in their natural environment. This is something to consider asking potential candidates in a search for the perfect taxidermist.
6. PRESERVE YOUR TROPHY. Just like any other work of art, there are some important maintenance tips when preserving mounted hunting trophies for a lifetime. The chosen professional should provide a comprehensive list of maintenance tips, such as the following: • Do not touch. Just like exhibits in museums, the same applies for these works of art. Oils from human skin will break down the fragile hide/fur of the mount over time. • Dust lightly periodically, or take outside with an air compressor as needed. • Be sure to maintain pest control as mites can be drawn to such mounts. Keep mounts in a temperature-controlled area. • Limit exposure to sunlight. Avoid moisture.
antlers are in! Whether a home is modern, rustic, a combination of the two, or anything in between, antlers are versatile décor pieces suitable for any style. Use them as a paperweight or bookends. Add them to chandeliers or wreaths. Antlers make great hooks, so add them to the entryway, hang jewelry on them, use them as a towel rack, or make a statement with the horns as curtain tie backs. Surround them with candles and succulents, and a pair or grouping of antlers becomes a centerpiece for the dining table. Combine several mounted antlers into a gallery wall. Use several to form a letter, symbol, or word. Hang frames around them. Go the untraditional route, and consider antlers as drawer pulls or a wine bottle rack. They are like the little black dress of knick-knacks, so have fun and dress them up or down!
November 2016 | 41
Photo Courtesy Of: the Taste of Texas
Written By: Glenn MacNamara
There are few things in life that Texans appreciate more than a well-cooked steak, but perhaps a major contender is the history of their great state. Right off of Interstate 10 in Houston, Texans will find a steakhouse that can offer them the best of both. The Taste of Texas Restaurant was founded by Nina and Edd Hendee in 1977 and has been pleasing both customers and students ever since. With a focus on treating their employees well and giving back to the city and state which have given them so much, Taste of Texas is quickly approaching its 40th anniversary.
THE OWNERS Edd and Nina Handee are no strangers to the hospitality and restaurant industries. Nina comes from a family of hotel owners and managers, and her customer service motto has always been “smile or die.� Edd Handee has been in the restaurant business for almost his whole life. For the first several years of their marriage, the couple managed a franchise for a popular steakhouse chain known as Steak and Ale in Houston. After many extremely successful years, the company wanted to move Edd and Nina to manage a new location in Kansas, and the couple decided to stay in the state they loved so much. In 1977, the couple opened the doors of the original Taste of Texas restaurant. Unfortunately, the two did not immediately find the same success that came with running an established franchise, and soon found themselves in debt. Eight years after borrowing money to open the restaurant, the couple had lost almost $250,000. To make ends meet during these difficult years, Nina cleaned houses and Edd did landscaping work all around Houston.
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FOOD & DRINK
There came a point when the couple had to sit down with one of their longtime friends who, was also in the restaurant business, and ask for his advice. At the time, the restaurant had a menu that spanned about eight pages. Because of this, they were making a wide variety of food, but none of it was exceptional. Their friend gave them what they consider to be the best advice and simply told them to “get better food.” This simple idea was revolutionary to the Hendees at the time, and they took their menu down from eight pages to just one. They decided they would rather do a few things really well, rather than try to be all things to all people. One of the biggest factors that helped Taste of Texas take off was the introduction of Certified Angus Beef. One of Edd’s friends, who had been helping them overhaul their menu, told him about a new kind of beef that
A D E D I C AT I O N T O E M P L OY E E S The Hendees understand that a restaurant is so much more than the building it resides in or even the food that it serves; a restaurant is all about its staff. Taste of Texas employees are generally high school and college students, and total about 200. While they are in school, they are expected to receive excellent grades (all As and Bs), and Nina makes sure of that. When report cards come out, Nina checks the grades of every employee, and if anyone is having trouble, the Hendees provide tutoring to help their employees achieve their fullest potential. Nina has stated that she feels as though the employees are her own children, and she has a responsibility to help them succeed. Aside from having one more person to care about their schoolwork,
was just beginning to enter the market. The standard of quality for this new
Taste of Texas employees also have the chance to receive one of a number of
meat was the highest he had ever seen, and he could not recommend it
scholarships. Every year, the restaurant gives out dozens of scholarships and
highly enough. That was all Edd needed to hear, and soon the Taste of Texas
six full-tuition and books scholarships to graduating seniors.
restaurant became the first place in Texas to sell Certified Angus Beef.
Taste of Texas also hires a number of seasonal employees during the
the Hendees decided that there was no better place to be than right off the
various spice rubs, recipe books, and their signature cinnamon coffee. They
interstate. Taste of Texas moved to its current location and has continued to
do their best to hire the same people every year, and many of the staffers look
grow in popularity over the last 38 years.
forward to their time spent in the Taste of Texas gift shop.
Photos On This Page Courtesy Of: The Taste of Texas
After several years of growth, albeit slow, it was time for a new building;
holiday months to help run a Christmas store out of the restaurant, selling
HIS TORY LESSONS FOR E VERYONE Nina has an intense passion for Texas history, and loves to collect heirlooms from years past. She is known to say, “I don’t like Jewelry or clothes, I’d much rather have a new Sam Houston signature or piece of Texas history.” Rather than hoard her wonderful collection of Texas history treasures, Nina hosts history tours for the students of Houston and the surrounding areas. Each school year, every fourth grader in Katy ISD is treated to a day at Taste of Texas. Nina begins the day by walking the kids through the restaurant and showing them the enormous number of Texas history artifacts hung on the walls. These artifacts include such treasures as signatures of several founding fathers of Texas, currency from the Republic of Texas, replicas of famous cannons, and a whole host of old Texas flags. After an hour or two of history lessons, students are treated to a delicious lunch and a walkthrough of the restaurant’s kitchen. Taste of Texas is booked almost every school day of the year with history tours. Fortunately for lovers of Texas history, the tours are not limited to grade school students. On select Saturdays throughout the year, Nina hosts a history tour for people of all ages. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to around 1 p.m., and guests are treated to a rousing morning of Texas history fun and a delicious lunch. Be sure to inquire into the Saturday tours well in advance, as these tend to fill up quickly.
T H E TA S T E T O D AY Almost 40 years later, the Hendees are still working the front lines of their beloved restaurant. Nina works every weekday and many weekends providing the history tours, and Edd can often be found in the back washing dishes any restaurant, and it shows. When asked about their level of involvement in the restaurant, Nina said, “This is our home. We try not to work more than 65 hours a week.” They attribute much of their success to their hard work, dedication, and their faith. Both of them make it a point to arrive at the restaurant early to pray for their staff, and everyone who will be eating there that day. The Hendees have been in the restaurant business for a long time and are here to stay for the foreseeable future. As Taste of Texas approaches its 40th anniversary, Edd and Nina look back fondly on a history of great food, and a true love for Texas history.
44 | November 2016
Photos On This Page Courtesy Of: Graeme Bloodworth
time he has a free moment. The Hendees have put their heart and soul into the
FOOD & DRINK
Written By: Kimberly A. Suta
In Serbia, a very agricultural society, Rakia is a traditional fruit brandy often made with apricots or plums. Most households make their own Rakia and are proud to serve it to their friends, family, and guests, regardless of the time of day. When Chris Mobley first visited his business partner, Boyan Kalusevic’s home in Serbia, he was in awe of this tradition. “Being over there and seeing how immersed Rakia is in people’s lives got me excited. We’d go to someone’s house at 10 a.m. and they’d say, ‘Try this Rakia.’ They’re all trying to show you this thing that they make. You have to go over and see it for yourself!” Mobley said. Boyan likens Serbian’s respect for Rakia to Mexico’s customary spirit, tequila. In the Balkans, each house or family creates a special drink from their own unique recipe or method for distillation. In Mexico, tequilas vary by region, and both the area and spirits are known by these differences. Boyan adds, “My grandpa’s from Serbia where they had a heavy fruit presence. They had grapes, plums, and apricots.”
Photo (Left) Courtesy Of: Ken Kopacki Photo (Right) Courtesy Of: Dorcol
November 2016 | 45
Photo Courtesy Of: Ken Kopacki
The Inception of Dorćol Where did it all begin? Chris and Boyan met at the University of Texas at Austin where Boyan would always talk about the Rakia they made back home in Serbia. The two started taking trips to Belgrade to try Rakia over there. “Boyan always talked about bringing it to the States, and with distilleries and breweries popping up everywhere, we decided we wanted to bring that tradition over here,” explained Chris. With a family apricot orchard in Serbia and a long history of making great Rakia, Chris called Boyan’s family spirits "unbelievably awesome!” “It takes a while to develop your palate, but you can really taste the flavor and get hints of apricot on the nose and palate,” he said of the drink in general The idea of Boyan distilling his own apricot brandy in America had become a family joke after he and his younger brother got “busted” for smuggling the Rakia into the Chicago airport. “We weren’t really smuggling, but we were under 21. My grandfather had sent us home with some of the home-distilled Rakia for my Dad, and we got randomly selected for a luggage check. The customs agent kept insisting it was a plum Rakia, which was an insult since it's actually made of apricots. We tried to argue our way out of it, but they confiscated the booze. So the joke was that I would end up distilling because I was having a hard time bringing it over,” Boyan said, with a laugh. Twelve years later, Chris and Boyan decided it was not going to just be an inside joke forever. They were going to make American apricot brandy a reality and set to work putting together a business plan, finding a site, and ultimately opening Dorćol, which happened on Friday, December 13, 2013. Since then, they have quickly become the fulcrum of San Antonio’s South Flores Arts District, also known as SoFlo. 46 | November 2016
The bounty from the family apricot orchard in Serbia is all imported to make the Kinsman Rakia. Just to provide an idea of the quality and intensity of the Rakia versus other fruit-based spirits, it takes almost 20 pounds of apricots per bottle. Dorćol recently collaborated with Bending Branch Winery, harvesting more than eight tons of the Muscat Blanc variety, grown in the High Plains, to make just three barrels of their now-aging, Grape Rakia. The result is an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 65 percent and a smooth, highly versatile spirit. The team is also aging some of their apricot Rakia in a Texas sherry barrel, which they procured from their friends at La Cruz de Comal Winery, known for authentic Texas Hill Country wine. Spirit enthusiasts are chomping at the bit to get a taste of these scintillating small batch offerings.
Kinsman Cocktails Originally, the plan was to create the distillery with a tasting room, but providence was working in Dorćol’s favor. That spring, in the middle of construction, two legislative bills were passed that supported local brewing and distilling companies in the Alamo city, allowing them to serve alcohol on site. Thus, the tasting room was transformed into a bar, where every Thursday through Saturday, enthusiasts can enjoy an array of libations, all made with the Kinsman Rakia, the official name of their fruit brandy. “It was just dumb luck that we designed the place in such a manner that enabled us to operate a bar. We developed a craft cocktail program and are now able to make cocktails and sell to folks here, which allows us to support our distribution,” Boyan said. The Dorćol men often get asked why they are not in Austin or Dripping Springs. “How does a place like this end up down here?” is the commonly asked question, to which they respond by saying,
FOOD & DRINK “San Antonio is our hometown. This is our neighborhood. We’re in the middle of an incredibly vibrant arts district that’s in the midst of a cultural renaissance. Artists live in our neighborhood; we’re surrounded by a dozen or so galleries. It’s a very creative space to be a part of!” To that end, on every second Saturday of the month, SoFlo hosts an arts walk, reminiscent of the former days of Southtown’s First Friday, back when it was all about the art and the artists. Dorćol plays an integral part in each month’s event by hosting original work by local artists, who often put on live demonstrations. Guests can also enjoy some yummy edibles, and of course, a cocktail or two of choice, whether it be the Apricot Daiquiri (made with Rakia, apricot liquor, apricot nectar, lime, and sugar) or the classic Brandy Alexander, which is easily a favorite of Kinsman fans. “We wanted to support what the artists are doing here. We’ve taken part in every single Second Saturday. We coordinate our travel and family visits around it. It plays a big part in what we do,” shared Boyan. Last year was the first annual Brandy Alexander Tour in honor of Dorćol’s official cocktail of the holiday. Several other San Antonio bars including Bar 1919, Park Social, Lüke, Liberty Bar, Boiler House, and Brigid joined in on the fun, each offering their own version of the Brandy Alexander – all made with Kinsman, of course! Liberty Bar’s version came with a house-made orange Mexican vanilla ice cream that turned this simple drink into a decadent dessert. This holiday season, the Brandy Alexander Tour is back. Check out Dorćol’s website for details. For those simply wanting to drink Kinsman straight, as they do in Serbia, or make mixed drinks at home, inquire at a local fine wine and spirits store. Unfortunately, due to liquor laws, Dorćol’s offerings are not available online. However, ordering one at a favorite neighborhood bar is likely to impress the bartender. “Bartenders love it because it plays well with gin, vermouth, and any kind of citrus. It’s a great asset in any bar,” declared Chris.
“San Antonio is our hometown. This is our neighborhood. We’re in the middle of an incredibly vibrant arts district that’s in the midst of a cultural renaissance."
The Awards Keep Flowing Now, years later, Boyan and Chris are the proud owners and operators of an urban boutique craft distillery in San Antonio, Dorćol Distilling Company, and the makers of Kinsman, named “the highest rated American brandy of 2014” by Chicago's Beverage Testing Institute. In June, they were awarded 92 points and a gold medal at the 2016 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, earning a “best in category” award. The accolades continue to roll in as the public gets a chance to taste this unique, highly-crafted spirit. Rakia is made with more than just apricots; it is made with an unerring devotion to quality. “We’re continuing our mission of hand-crafting some beautiful spirits and ales, and hopefully exposing folks to some things that aren’t run-of-the-mill, like artificially flavored vodkas,” said Boyan. In fact, early this year, Dorćol invested in some new brewing equipment and now have a brand of brews called HighWheel Beerworks that includes an IPA, Porter, and Kolsch. So what does the future hold for Dorćol? Certainly more accolades and infinitely more happy spirit lovers! “Originally, we wanted to set up a distillery committed to making the highest quality spirits by meticulously distilling the finest ingredients. As we get older, personally, I see us sticking with that same philosophy. That’s how we see ourselves,” said Boyan, while Chris was busy sweeping, preparing for a Tuesday night event. While there is simply no telling the trajectory of Texas distilleries, with a due like this at the forefront, it certainly looks promising.
So raise a glass, and drink to that! BRANDY ALEXANDER RECIPE 1 ounce Kinsman Rakia 1 ounce crème de cacao 1 ounce cream (half & half) Combine above ingredients in a tin with ice. Shake and strain into a tall stemmed glass. Garnish with cocoa powder. Photos On This Page Courtesy Of: Dorcol
November 2016 | 47
Written and Photographed By: Marye Audet
Ah, Thanksgiving. The traditional turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie are as predictable as rain and sleet during the Fort Worth Stock Show. Texans, as well as the rest of the United States, have memorialized the Pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving since George Washington introduced the idea in 1789. It was celebrated on and off until Abraham Lincoln made it a federal holiday in 1863. The tradition runs deep y’all, but perhaps the whole story has not been told, at least from a Texan perspective. Texans have not yet burst the nation’s cranberry bubble by telling the rest of the states that the very first Thanksgiving was actually celebrated in Texas. It happened not too far from El Paso where Juan de Oñate was leading a group of settlers through Texas to New Mexico. The tired travelers had been in the desert for weeks when they reached the banks of the Rio Grande in April of 1598. They stopped to rest and celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass before feasting on game and fish. By the math, this Texas Thanksgiving occurred a full 23 years before the “First Thanksgiving.” Many locals prefer a mesquite smoked turkey with some good cornbread dressing to the game meat and fish that comprised all of the courses at that first Texas Thanksgiving dinner or the New England one for that matter. This traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu is offered in the spirit of Texas, redolent of the flavors this great state is known for. While most Texans have their favorite way to flavor the bird, consider a new local take on a few favorite side dishes. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends!
I NGR E DI E N TS • ½ cup butter, divided use • 1 ½ cups cornmeal • ½ cup flour • 1 tablespoon sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 ½ teaspoons dried sage • ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning • ½ teaspoon baking soda • 4 eggs, divided use • 1 ½ cups buttermilk • 4 pieces toast torn into small pieces (to make a breadcrumb mixture) • 1 cup chopped pecans • 1 cup diced onion • 1 cup diced poblano pepper • 3 ½ to 4 cups chicken stock • ¼ cup salsa verde, optional I NST RUCT IONS / COR N BR E A D 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Place ¼ cup of the butter in a 12-inch iron skillet. 3. Heat in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes, or until very hot. 4. Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, dried sage, poultry seasoning, and baking soda. 5. Beat 2 of the eggs with the buttermilk and add to the cornmeal mixture. 6. Pour into the hot pan and bake for 30 minutes or until golden. 7. Cool.
SERVES 8
Is it dressing or is it stuffing? No matter, this version is full of Texas flavor from the poblanos and pecans. This warm, rich comfort food can be served, Texas style! This side pairs perfectly with chicken or turkey but definitely has enough personality to hold up to game birds as well.
I NST RUCT IONS / DR E SSI NG 1. Crumble the cornbread into a large bowl; stir in the bread crumbs and pecans. Set aside. 2. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy skillet. 3. Add the onions and poblanos and saute until tender. 4. Stir the poblano mixture, the remaining eggs, and the chicken stock into the cornbread mixture. Use more chicken stock for a moister dressing and less if you like it a little firmer and drier. 5. Pack into a greased 9-inch x 9-inch deep dish. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 9. Bake, uncovered, at 375°F for 40 minutes, or until crispy brown on the top.
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SERV ES 8 TO 10
Here is a Texas twist on that classic green bean casserole that Mom always made. Cooked green beans are smothered in a rich queso and topped with tortilla chip crumbs so that each bite has the flavor of queso and chips. It is kind of like a favorite snack turned into dinner food. I NGR E DI E N TS • ½ cup evaporated milk, plus more if needed • 1 pound American cheese • 1 10-ounce can RoTel • ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • 2 pounds green beans, cooked • 3 ounces shredded cheddar cheese • 1 cup coarse cool ranch tortilla chip crumbs (about 2 ounces of chips)
SERVES 8
Sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors permeate this easy update on those traditional, tooth-achingly sweet yam casseroles. This can be made up to three days ahead of time. Just put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use any leftovers as a topping for turkey pot pie – so good! I NGR E DI E N TS • 5 pounds sweet potatoes or yams • 1 to 2 tablespoons canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, mashed to a paste • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter • ½ cup heavy cream • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • ½ teaspoon salt I NST RUCT IONS 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 2. Pierce the sweet potatoes with a knife, place on a baking sheet, and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. 3. Remove the sweet potatoes and allow to cool enough that you can handle them. 4. Cut the potatoes lengthwise and scoop out the flesh into a large mixer bowl. 5. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and whip. 6. Serve hot sprinkled with a little cinnamon.
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I NST RUCT IONS 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Heat evaporated milk in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. 3. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheese. 4. Stir cheese mixture until smooth. 5. Stir in the RoTel. 6. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes stirring often. 7. If it seems too thick, add a little more evaporated milk. 8. Remove from heat. 9. Add the cooked green beans to a greased casserole dish. 10. Stir in the shredded cheddar. 11. Stir in enough queso to coat the green beans. You may have some left. 12. Sprinkle the tortilla chip crumbs over the top. 13. Bake for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.