Cream City Magazine No. 43 by Cream City Magazine

INDULGE Treat yourself to hand-finished sterling silver rings.

Discover the NEW PANDORA Colors of Paradise Collection at: 5601 San Dario • Ste 2B Laredo, TX 78041 956.729.7444 Facebook.com/PandoraAtCrisda

founder & publisher fernando de haro

copy editor

jacqueline santos

NO 43

design & production

lead designer gabriela lozano

june • july 2017

photographer ferch

high end retouching paola denyce badouin Marking our 7th year in existence, we welcome you to issue #43 of Cream City Magazine. We are extremely happy to have reached lucky #7, and would like to thank our readers, clients, and friends whom have entrusted their stories, businesses, and entertainment with us. Cream was established with the idea of bringing our community something different, something fresh and with content that’s always interesting. In the 7 year span of our journey, it has been an honor to bring forth the most fascinating individuals in Laredo, along with their stories. Our city has plenty to say, either through art, culture, music, etc. All forms of expression can find a special place on our pages, especially those non-profit organizations that are constantly aiming to help others. For Cream, it is paramount to help those that help. Today, as we celebrate our 7th anniversary, we launch our expansion of a new section which will showcase the beautiful city of San Antonio, our sister city, which is now home to many native Laredoans. We will be making frequent visits in order to present the best places, activities, and an array of things that you will enjoy, a la Cream! With this in mind, we begin with 4 genuinely interesting individuals who share details of their careers, lives, and their businesses with our readers. It is definitely a must read. I’m sure you will find inspiration in their stories! I would like to use this space to give special thanks to our writers, whom always have something interesting to share: Joe, Ruben, Elyssa, Melva, and Andrew...thank you for being part of Cream by adorning our pages with your stories. In all honesty, you go above and beyond to bring our readers something to think about, converse, and even encourage them to make a change! You continue to inspire me! To our home team: Paola, Gaby, Katia, Jacqui, Amely, Cynthia, Michelle, and Monse, you all are the motor that keeps this magazine going, and I’m delighted to share our day to day with all of you! We make the best team! Cheers to many more years!

fashion coordinator amely garza

production + video assistant katya peña

interns dulce maría miranda estefanía flores monserratt guajardo michelle aviles

writers

rubén bazán iii, joe arciniega, michelle cook, victor hugo garcía, elyssa canales-villarreal and melva lavín.

sales

cynthia vallejo, dara michelle neher and leslie miramontes

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Yours truly, Copyright © 2017 Cream City Magazine is a bi-monthly publication. All rights reserved. Points of view expressed do not necessarily represent those of Cream City Magazine. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we believe is incompatible with our mission. We also reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem competitive or contrary to the best interests of the magazine. Advertisers are legally responsible for the content, accuracy, and images of their ads. Printed in Mexico.

San Antonio TEXAS

Meet two dynamic achievers who contribute to the development of both Laredos. They are flying high on Cream’s radar.

ROEL GONZÁLEZ

EFRAÍN ALVARADO JR.

Executive Director of Laredo Pageant Production/ Pageant and Beauty Consultant

Property Inspection Services

I opened my hair salon, Roel’s Images, in 1993. That was my dream... or so I thought. One day, a client of mine came into the salon telling me she wanted to be the next Miss Laredo. I thought, sure I’ll style her hair. Instead, she wanted me to train her. I jumped at the chance at once and we worked at it together; she won. That was 24 years ago. Believe it or not, since I was a little kid, I remember watching beauty pageants in the company of my mother and I was mesmerized with such glamour. Under my direction, Laredo has brought three Miss Texas Teen USA crowns, and three Miss Texas USA crowns. Not bad for a little town.

As a boy, I enjoyed watching my father work at the different job sites he was contracted in. I was thinking of a career change and spent some time in the valley with my college roommate who invited me to the business and I never looked back from that point on. When the opportunity arose, I took it, as it took me away from the office and into the field. I never thought construction would be a major part of my life. After college, I always thought I would end up with an office job.

My inspiration comes from seeing the smile on my clients faces, and knowing they feel beautiful. I find satisfaction in knowing that I’m doing what I love to do. One of my favorite anecdotes from my career is an experience I had in Hollywood, getting our Miss Texas Teen USA red carpet ready for the People’s Choice Award. I’m star struck, and decide to catch fresh air on a bench next to some man who asked me for a cigarette. I must have sat talking to him for a half hour, before I realized it was Tom Hanks. Funny, that box of chocolates... If I could change the past, I wouldn’t change much, because you learn from your past. But, if I could go back I would try not to take things so serious. I’m blessed, but for sure not done with my goals, until I bring the Ms. Universe crown to Laredo. I enjoy a challenge. My advice to anyone in any career is to believe in your dreams. I look forward to getting back up if I don’t succeed. I’ll do it all over again. Never give up!

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There are 2 places where you never want to hear the words “Oh My God!” Surgery, and during a property inspection. My faith in God makes me want to be a better husband, father, son, brother and servant in the community. I have been very blessed to have a growing business. As with all businesses and life, you get back what you put in. I cannot stress enough the importance of giving back to the community. This year, I have the privilege of being president of my Rotary club, and one of the deeds we were able to accomplish was getting the Literacy Volunteers of Laredo specialized textbooks for adults who have a low literacy level. As far as goals, I feel there are always more goals to accomplish, especially when it comes to helping others. The late Zig Ziglar said it best, “You can have everything you want in life if you will just help other people get what they want.” The opportunity to meet and educate different people on a daily basis is a true blessing. Volunteering and being actively involved in faith based groups like ACTS, in my case, have brought me more blessings than I could have ever imagined. Give back to our great community and you will surprise yourself on what you can accomplish personally, spiritually and professionally.

it was a sunday in may when i first heard it, defining an age for me, and for the world.

"When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns with Mars Then peace will guide the planets And love will steer the stars This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius"

Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In, a medley of two of the songs originally composed for the Broadway musical Hair, was recorded by American R&B group The 5th Dimension. It was released in the spring of 1969, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart where it remained for six weeks, and then continued toward global lasting renown.

Considering its memorable first stanza pinpointing the “dawning” of the age, it is ironic in its lack of accuracy. Astrologers have almost universally derided these lyrics as technically nonsensical, nothing more than rhyme and poetic license. They agree that the Age of Aquarius begins when the March (or vernal) equinox point moves out of the constellation Pisces and backs into the constellation Aquarius. They have also figured that based upon mathematical calculations involving the full rotation of the heavens against the number of zodiac signs, the Age of Aquarius would last approximately 2,150 years. They are less in agreement as to its arrival, with some believing it to have been the year 2000, others 2012 in sync with the end of the Maya calendar, or that it won’t even occur until well into the 23rd century. Nevertheless, given the ample timeline of the universe, the dawn preceding the Age of Aquarius, its first light of enlightenment, could have begun decades or even centuries before any of those possibilities. What this means for we amateurs, whose knowledge of astrology isn’t much beyond knowing that Leos are outgoing, Scorpios are sexy, and Virgos are perfect (yes we are), is that at whatever point the Age of Aquarius began or begins its dawn, given its universally agreed upon promises, we welcome it; heck, we need it to hurry. “Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revelation And the mind's true liberation…”

“Aquarius, turn up the radio!” My 10 ¾ year old mind was either truly liberated or momentarily lost, because I omitted to append “please” and “sir.” Lucky for me, at that moment, “harmony” was guiding my stepfather and “sympathy” was steering my mom. Our white-capped light beige Volkswagen van had just crossed Saunders Street and was waved into Laredo Air Force Base by the military guard standing at the shack. His studied impassivity as we approached wouldn’t last. They never managed to keep it when they saw us, nine kids, six boys and three girls from four to sixteen years old, unbelted in camel-colored banquette seats, bouncing off each other like floating toys in a bathtub. He waved us in with a big smile and a slow “better you than me” headshake at my staff sergeant stepfather and his beautiful blonde wife sitting up front.

Let The S unshine In

We were going to our new house; literally new, we were the very first occupants in one of the newly built base housing neighborhoods scattered across lanes, drives and avenues named Teakwood, Sequoia and Dogwood. They were duplexes all uniformly painted in alternating colors of soft blue, green, orange and yellow, Easter eggs gently nestled in unfenced, government fertilized, blue green grass. Inside the house, everything was new, from the freshly popcorned ceilings to the shiny white linoleum tile, every modern convenience that a country that was months from putting a man on the moon could promise. But on that hot cloudless spring day, with the temperatures already breaching the nineties, the best part as we headed into summer was that it had central air-conditioning. Of course, we were on a military base in 1969, so Vietnam realities surrounded us, with parents and siblings of friends transferred overseas or drafted. Some we never saw again and some were never seen again by anyone. For those of us under draft age, however, living on “the base” was being in Uncle Sam’s protective bubble. We never had to leave and never wanted to. Within walking distance was a movie theater, where I saw True Grit for 25 cents, next door was a bowling alley, and just south of them, a swimming pool. We spent many hours alternating between the three, though by the end of summer our baked skin and bleached hair revealed where most. There was a “Teen Club” across from the baseball field, except true teenagers in 1969 would sooner have gone to church than be seen there; so it was Elysium for the preteen set. A nondescript utilitarian building with a waxed up floor and a jukebox, by 7 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, it was heaving with military family youngsters from all over the country. We were all races and all types dressed in our Sears Catalog, maroon, rust, harvest gold, and avocado green best. And on those nights, when that cosmic song was enveloping us into its starry spell, and the “rock out” chorus began, we felt like dancing until dawn. And maybe we did.

“Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sun shine in Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sun shine in…”

BY JOE ARCINIEGA arciniegajoe@gmail.com

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Hi, I’m Karma! Karma, And I’ll Be Your Server Today

Conventional wisdom dictates that the customer is always right. This is a lie. I recently witnessed a woman berate an employee at a store, yelling obscenities at him because she was unhappy with her purchase. Was she in the right to complain about a faulty product? Absolutely. Did she have a moral right to belittle him? Absolutely not. It got me wondering how often this happens – employees of the service industry having to smile through a barrage of humiliating insults simply because, once again, “the customer is always right.” For this article, I interviewed quite a number of people in the local service industry about their experiences with good and bad customers. From servers to retail salespersons to hotel staffers, I obtained a world of knowledge that shocked me when it comes to how customers treat employees. It’s fascinating when servers tell you about well-known members of the community that nobody wants to serve. Servers turn a blind eye when they see these people walking into an establishment, regardless of how much of a tip they might make by tending to them.

Among the most common remarks received from patrons are the clichéd “let me talk to your manager” and the irksome “I know your boss,” – the latter being something that only the name dropping do. Yet it got worse than that. I spoke to a young woman who served a family of four at a local upscale restaurant and among the patrons was their young daughter who thanked her after delivering her order. The mother proceeded to tell her daughter, “you don’t have to thank her, honey. That’s her job.” Does gratitude now go out the window when a certain service is expected? The server smiled through it, remembering that it’s part of the job.

I get it, unfortunate things have happened to all of us. Food takes long, or is served cold. Wrong drinks are served. Products are faulty. The help hotline takes forever. As consumers spending our hard-earned money, we have a right to demand what we pay for. However, there is a way of going about it. Here’s a tip: if you’re

BY RUBÉN BAZÁN III THERUBENINDEX@GMAIL.COM

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dissatisfied with the service or product, you’re more likely to get your way if you’re nice and courteous about it. Workers in the service industry want you to have a good experience, yelling at and insulting those same employees will put you on a fast track to nowhere. Yet when you express your concern in a polite manner, they’ll gladly put in more than 100% to make sure you leave with a smile on your face. It’s called patience. You may have expected a certain level of service, but here’s another tip: maybe you got bad customer service because you’re a bad customer.

Snapping fingers. Throwing drinks in servers’ faces. Catcalling. Grabbing their butts for attention. Condescending “you’re never going to amount to anything more” comments. All pretty common in the service industry. Even what are supposed to be common niceties go unobserved. Patrons are quick to forget the names of those who serve or tend to them, usually within seconds of the employee introducing themselves. People forget they’re human too, and while many people justify this by convincing themselves that they’re never going to see them again, the employee remembers. Believe me – while numb to it, they remember everything. Common courtesy went from being a silver lining to a platinum lining on a daily gloomy cloud. The folks I interviewed gloated about the few times when patrons and customers went out of their way – even if it meant only remembering their name. Over tipping is, naturally, something that is always remembered. However, simple manners have gone even further. More were the examples I saw in which employees were relieved to tend to people who at least say “please” and “thank you” on a regular basis. There were those instances in which servers got offered other jobs by their regulars. Others simply offered words of support that helped them through a tough personal time. All of them, however, had one thing in common: they felt listened to and recognized as human beings. This is the attitude we must have when dealing not just with those who we break bread with, but with those who bring us that bread.

I, too, experienced belittling treatment. During my college years, I worked at a local store that caters to the more elite. Two women, whom my family and I have known since I was a child, walked in and began ordering me to show them some of the items on the shelves. They didn’t say hi, the way they usually did in public, and much less called me by my name. They pointed at what they wanted to see and not once was I acknowledged as someone they knew. I felt that I was a nobody now that I was behind the counter. I still smiled through the encounter. However, I learned a valuable lesson that day. Money doesn’t buy class and while we’re taught that “the customer is always right,” it isn’t necessarily the case. We just have to make them believe that we abide by that credo. I stopped liking them that day. While it may sound petty, I still haven’t accepted their Facebook friend request. I don’t need those types of people in my life. We’re all trying to get by. We simultaneously buy from some and sell to others. The world would be a much better place when the amount of respect we give amounts to more than the worship we demand. The next time you’re out as a consumer, be it in a hotel, a store, or a restaurant, keep in mind the lives of those tending to you. If anything, at least remember their names. You might even get a free drink. Huge shout out to the service industry.

La del

ruta

s la época de verano y en lo único que puedo pensar es en escaparme de vacaciones a la primera oportunidad que mis compromisos de trabajo me lo permitan. Sea una vacación de tiempo extendido, o un corto escape de uno o dos días a algún lugar de nuestra vasta y rica ecología Mexicana, el elemento que predomina en mis aventuras de verano siempre será uno: el AGUA. A continuación les comparto mis 5 lugares en la República Mexicana que tienen ese mismo elemento en común, pero que por sus diferentes composiciones minerales, temperaturas o sus paisajes hacen de ellas mis favoritos, y creo todo amante del ecoturismo o quien busque una experiencia holística natural debería conocer.

5. Los Azufres, Michoacán. Estos cuerpos de agua, lagunas, manantiales, balnearios y géiseres que alcanzan una temperatura de hasta 80º C y como su nombre lo dice tiene alto contenido de azufre, sales y minerales. Esto las hace de gran beneficio para la regeneración celular de la piel, relajación muscular y el sistema nervioso. En medio del bosque montañoso y con paisajes increíbles, a solo 3 horas de la Cd. de México, es una experiencia con la naturaleza como Dios manda. 4. Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila. Para mis paisanos al norte del país amantes de la naturaleza, este destino es un must. En esta región de dunas, entre valles de cerros, se encuentra el maravilloso ecosistema que he visto en mi vida. Pozas de agua cristalina que data de tiempos ancestrales llenos de fauna y flora acuática única en el mundo que se transformó y adaptó de los tiempos en que ese paisaje era un océano. Acompañado de vistas impresionantes, viñedos, y paseos relajantes a caballo, este lugar tiene mucho más que ofrecer de lo que el visitante se imagina. Es un lugar mágico y surrealista que invitan a la contemplación.

agua 3. Puente de Dios, Tamasopo , SLP. En medio de la Huasteca Potosina, a unas 4 horas de la capital del estado, este río en medio de un paisaje frondoso y acantilado es un paraíso terrenal. La naturaleza es frondosa e imponente y te puede robar más de un suspiro. El clima perfecto durante casi todo el año hace de este lugar el destino perfecto para escaparte del calor del verano y disfrutar de sus frescas aguas, practicar rápel o simplemente recargarte de la energía que ofrece este maravilloso lugar.

2. Atotonilco, Gto. ATOTONILCO, que en el idioma Otomí significa "lugar de agua caliente". Por su cercanía a San Miguel de Allende, Gto., y por los beneficios de relajación y propiedades holísticas, ésta región llena de balnearios termales minerales, representa mi lugar favorito para escapadas regulares tan seguido como puedo. Taboada, La Gruta y Escondido Place son solo algunos de estos balnearios que me gusta frecuentar. Un oasis en medio del paisaje semidesértico en esta región. 1. El Peñon de los baños, Cd de Mexico. Unos de los best kept secrets que pueda compartir con ustedes es este spa holístico situado en medio de la colonia que lleva el mismo nombre: Peñón de los Baños, a solo minutos del aeropuerto de la Cd. de México. Este lugar ya lo he comentado en esta columna anteriormente, y no pararé de darle el número en mi lista de lugares favoritos que hay que visitar cuando busco los beneficios de agua mineral termal. Con un contenido de más de 20 minerales vivos incluyendo litio, potasio, hierro y magnesio entre otros, sus beneficios son muy variados, hasta ser considerada la fuente de la juventud.

Certificada como una de las aguas del planeta con más beneficios curativos, aquí se bañaban emperadores Aztecas en rituales ceremoniales, y era visitado regularmente por los emperadores austriacos Maximiliano y Carlota y presidentes de la República. Es un lugar poco común, austero en sus instalaciones, pero rodeado de una magia indescriptible. En el lugar aún se encuentran restos de asentamientos Aztecas, de lo que fue una pirámide ritualística, con una capilla católica colonial encima de estos restos, y rodeada de un edificio circa 1950 que ahora alberga este Spa/hotel que da excelentes servicios de masajes y terapias restaurativas. POR VICTOR HUGO GARCÍA SIGUELO EN INSTAGRAM @victorhugo956

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Cream City Magazine tuvo la oportunidad de platicar con Liliana Martínez, creadora del concepto Kaly’s Closet, y nos cuenta un poco de todo lo que hay detrás de esta boutique, la cual esta siempre a la vanguardia con lo más nuevo de la moda. Te invitamos a conocerles y veas por ti misma porque Kaly’s representa la mejor experiencia al buscar el atuendo perfecto!

¿Cómo describirías el concepto de Kaly’s Closet? Como un concepto clásico, elegante y a la moda. Siempre con una tendencia vanguardista y divertida. Platícanos un poco la historia detrás de Kaly’s Closet, ¿cómo comenzo todo? Kaly’s comenzó hace muchos años como un sueño en mi mente y mi corazón. Ese sueño se fue realizando gracias a Dios y las personas que me quieren, los llamo angelitos en mi vida. Pensando en todas las mujeres que se quieren sentir bellas y atractivas sin perder su estilo y elegancia, empezamos poniendo este sueño primero al alcance de las amigas. Decidimos por fin compartirlo cuando nos dimos cuenta que llegamos a el gusto de más mujeres que se identificaban con nuestro concepto e ideas.

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creambizfashion

¿Crees que la ropa tiene el poder de transformar cómo uno se ve y se siente? Claro, tiene el poder de levantarte el ánimo, de enderezar tu postura y de hacerte sentir bella. La manera de vestir transmite información de nuestra propia persona. Es una manera de expresión y de darse a conocer. Solo el hecho de portar un vestido que te haga sentir hermosa puede hacer que las miradas volteen en torno nuestro. Pregúntale a una mujer que es lo primero que le ilusiona al tener un evento, inmediatamente pensamos: que me voy a poner, con que me voy a ver mejor y me voy a sentir bonita.

Si me preguntas de épocas anteriores, la moda de los 50’s es mi favorita. La considero clásica, elegante y coqueta, pero discreta. Con sus vestidos ceñidos a la cintura y sus faldas por debajo de la rodilla. Con sus accesorios, indispensables para sus atuendos, sus sombreros, carteras, collares de perlas y guantes que las hacían sentir femeninas.

La moda va cambiando constantemente y hay tendencias que han marcado historia, ¿cuál es tu época favorita de la moda? Por supuesto la actual, es la época más versátil en la moda y puedes transportarte a cualquier época.

¿Qué es lo que más te llena de satisfacción de Kaly’s Closet? Hay varias cosas que me gustan; una de ellas es que en Kaly’s tenemos una pared con cuadros de oraciones y pensamientos positivos, ¡eso me encanta! También me agrada recibír a nuestras clientas como si fuéramos viejas amigas, y me llena de dicha saber que todos los sueños son posibles, no importa la edad que tengas o las circunstancias, lo que importa es perseguirlo.

“La manera de vestir transmite información de nuestra propia persona. Es una manera de expresión y de darse a conocer.”

¿Cuál es tu estilo personal? Me considero con un estilo casual y discreto, ya que me veo como una persona alegre, amigable y optimista. Éste es el estilo que me hace sentir más contenta conmigo misma.

¿Qué te inspira al seleccionar cada pieza que tendrás en el aparador de Kaly’s Closet? Me inspiran todas y cada una de las mujeres que conozco. Me inspira el deseo de que encuentren en Kaly’s lo que les haga sentirse a gusto, bonitas y felices. Una de mis mayores inspiraciones son mis hijas.

8610 McPherson Rd. Ste. 220, Laredo, Texas • (956) 568-0935 • Lunes a Domingo de 11am a 7pm

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creamout&about

12th anniversary Goldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gym celebrated their 12 year anniversary by remodeling their superstructure. With a lively ribbon cutting, the gym offered food and drinks with special promotions around the event. Congrats to Goldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gym for keeping Laredo active and moving.

creambiz real estate Julio Lerma Real Estate Broker

Moving Foward BY FERNANDO DE HARO

To make waves in the real estate industry, you have to work hard, be creative, and offer customers something that distinguishes you and sets you apart from the rest. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Julio, head of Lerma Real Estate, and have been impressed with his company and the way he goes above and beyond to make dreams a reality for his customers. I had a chance to ask him a few questions about his career, and this is what he shared with me and our readers.

What is the best part of being a real estate company owner? The best thing about being a real estate company owner is dealing with people. Whether I’m dealing with clients or my agents, I consider myself an open person that likes to deal with people on a daily basis. Have you always been interested in real estate? What sparked your interest? Working in a 9 to 5 job in the banking industry, I realized I needed to do something else with my free time, so I started doing real estate back in 2005 as a part time job. Ever since I started, I haven’t stopped, nor do I plan to stop anytime soon. What are the main advantages of having Lerma Real Estate by your side? Having my Lerma Sales team on my side and backing me up brings a lot of advantages to us. The fact that all my agents are different and have their own character and knowledge brings a lot to the table.

Has technology changed the Real Estate industry? Technology has definitely impacted the real estate industry dramatically and it’s increasing day by day. Real estate is not what it used to be, right now, consumers have a lot of knowledge, power, and tools available out there for them to make a better informed decision. Technology is trending and so are we. We always strive to be ahead of our competition. Do you remember the first deal you closed? I still remember the day when I sold my first house like it was yesterday. I used that money to buy my wife’s wedding dress.

What do you do when you’re not working? Is it true that working real estate is a 24/7 job? Real estate can be a 24/7 job if you don’t have the correct systems in place. The true goal here is to work less hours and be more productive.

6999 McPherson Rd. Ste. 322 • 956.717.8676

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San Antonio TEXAS

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Cream City Magazine is excited to launch a new section dedicated exclusively to the Alamo City in honor of our seventh anniversary. We are privileged to present the most interesting places, fascinating people, and an endless array of activities that encourage you to learn more about our sister city which many native Laredoans now call home. We invite you to view San Antonio through Creamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colorful scope!

bite restaurant No need to argue over what you’re going to have for dinner tonight–that is if you’re in the San Antonio area, of course. Bite is the way to go. This Southtown restaurant is owned by Lisa Astorga-Watel and she uses this space as her creative outlet as she utilizes her travels as inspiration for the food on Bite’s menu. Bite was opened four years ago, and continues to attract people not only in San Antonio, but all over the world. She was born in Chile and moved to Houston as a teenager. There, she graduated from the culinary program at the Art Institute of Houston. She obtained internships from kitchens all around the world including Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and France and worked for free to gain knowledge in her studies and what she was pursuing. It was finally time for the next step in her career; She opened Bite in Southtown, a small neighborhood right below the Alamo-touristy side of San Antonio. Bite occupies a small space with only twelve tables, but the menu makes up for the lack of seats. In AstorgaWatel’s words, “the menu is very eclectic.” One glance at the menu tells you that is very true. There is a little bit of every sort of cuisine in the menu. There are drops of Italian, French, and, of course, South American flavors. However, it is not like other restaurants. They play with every aspect of the restaurant, from the drinks to the food, to the decor. Lisa invites Cream readers to visit Bite whether you’re there for brunch, dinner, or just a drink. We can tell you from first hand experience that you will have a culinary adventure around the world in Bite.

places we loved

Lulu’s Bakery & Café Have you ever wanted to eat a 3 pound cinnamon roll? In theory, it sounds delicious, but think about other things that are also three pounds: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, a carton of milk, a standard bag of rice, and a medium sized bottle of laundry detergent. Now that you’ve got the weight in mind, do you still want the three pound cinnamon roll?! You do... well, you’re in luck because it does exist.

If you’re ever around the San Antonio area, there is a restaurant called Lulu’s Bakery and Cafe that offers this enormous cinnamon roll. This roll has also received national attention by coming out in the Food Network, the Travel Channel, and the TV show Man Vs. Food. Not in the San Antonio area? Not a problem! You can order one for yourself by just calling the restaurant and they’ll ship to wherever you are. It can make a nice birthday cake substitute or a party favor. These rolls are made from a large piece of dough that stretches to six feet long. The dough is buttered and sprinkled with a lot of sugar and cinnamon and sliced into even pieces, all weighing three pounds each. The preparation takes around two hours and an additional two hours are added for the actual baking. When it is ready, the rolls are blanketed with enough sugar icing to give it a nice glossy glaze. The best thing about this cinnamon roll, besides the killer taste, is that you don’t have to shed three pounds of cash to eat this award winning treat, because it only costs an easy $8. We recommend that you order one for a group of four or more. Even though it may seem like a fun challenge to take on yourself, remember that three pounds is a lot of food for one person. We fell in love with this cinnamon roll for its amazing taste and the atmosphere around the big treat. It will take more than one person to finish this roll, so we labeled it as a “social food” because when shared in a gathering, you can enjoy the delectable dessert while having a great time with your closest friends.

Mario guajardo Cream City Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Mario Guajardo, the founder and designer of Richter Goods, a San Antonio based brand. Guajardo believes in designing styles that are relevant with the market right now. He says, “we are very consistent with what works in terms of fashion and try to keep a very easy-to-wear, made in America apparel.” What makes Richter Goods important is the way they care about each customer. Making local is one of the big concepts that Guajardo believes in and is the core of what Richter Goods is. He comments, “the impact of producing the goods locally is huge. It has a more ethical background.” He gives the example of how a sewing operator overseas will get 20¢ an hour and by the end of the week, they’ll only have enough to buy a cup of coffee. Because he is able to create everything in his space in San Antonio, not only can he place the proud “Made in Texas” label in all of this clothing, but he has a clear conscious that everyone involved in making the clothing is treated in an ethical way.

He also believes in radical transparency. Their websites states, “our model is based on transparency, so with no middleman, we’re able to deliver prices that reflect true value.” This way, the consumer is able to get the best price without any hidden fees. By consistently going from factory to consumer, Guajardo is able to maintain being the best choice and price for custom garments. Laredo has a very special place in Guajardo’s heart not only because his father was born here. “Laredo is a great introduction to a different way of living,” Guajardo said; He is excited “to be apart of the most relevant magazine in the city.” We are just as excited for him to be a part of Cream City Magazine because having a conversation with him about the importance of ethical shopping and building a business from the ground up was not only educational, but also inspirational.

people we met

tere carmona

Have you ever walked down the street and encountered a girl that looked so empowered and beautiful? She has that confident look on her face and the perfect outfit. It’s not only you who notices her; everyone stops what they are doing just so they can catch a glimpse of her. You have just been graced by the presence of Camilla Crown. We at Cream City Magazine had a personal tour of the boutique and met with the creator and founder of Camilla Crown, Tere Carmona, and asked her a couple of questions about her beautiful shop. One thing she kept reiterating was her view on clothes. For Carmona, fashion is a vehicle to empower women. She loves it when a new customer comes in and tells her about an important event coming up. It is important to her to build rapport before talking about clothes. For Carmona, it is a good day’s work if she knows she made one woman feel proud of the clothes they just bought. “I would rather have one sale like that than a thousand dollar sale knowing they didn’t like what they were getting,” Carmona told us. From looking through the shop and their feed on Instagram, we noticed that the prices were almost always less than $100. Her response was that women shouldn’t have to spend thousands of dollars just to feel empowered. “Fashion is not something that should be materialistic. It should be emotional,” Carmona said. She wants girls to spend less than $100 on clothes to feel like a million bucks. We were glad to be able to have this opportunity to sit with Tere Carmona since she is a young fashion entrepreneur. She feels honored to be featured in Cream since she is a native Laredoan. It is humbling for her to be recognized by her peers and her community. We wish Tere Carmona and Camilla Crown all the best as they continue to grow and expand.

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josé ramírez Any person that has lived in Laredo will know that superstitions are everywhere. Don’t give a person the wrong look or they’ll think you’re giving them the ojo. Jose Ramírez took these superstitions seen around his hometown, mixed it in with the music he loves, and created grand fashion collections.

Ramírez started out as an art major in Laredo and transferred to the International Academy of Design in San Antonio where he obtained his first experience working in fashion. Soon after he graduated from college, he was able to showcase his work in Fashion Week San Antonio. From there, his career in fashion went uphill by dressing The Voice contestant Devyn Delocra, winning the San Antonio Emerging Designer 2013, and getting solo shows in the MODA NEXT Showcases. Ramírez is not in the fashion world for the fame. He thinks that the industry is oversaturated and he “loves fashion just for art’s sake.” The art speaks to him more than the press that comes with it, so instead of just looking at fashion as just clothing, he views it as wearable works of art.

When asked to describe all of his collections in a simple phrase, Ramírez went with “a dark elegance.” In the small photoshoot we had with his pieces, we were able to see that he largely gathers inspiration from music, he believes that fashion and music go hand-in-hand.

Ramirez told us that he is usually very picky about who he chooses to work with so we were honored that he agreed to collaborate with us. “I haven’t actually done something that commemorates Laredo... so when this opportunity was presented, I jumped on it!” He loved the fact that we are trying to bridge the gap between Laredo and San Antonio. We were thrilled to hear those words especially coming from someone that came from Laredo and is successful in the fashion industry.

PHOTOGRAPHY FERCH

HAIR SAM PANIAGUA

HIGH END RETOUCHING PAOLA DENYCE BADOUIN

MAKEUP ERIKA OCAÑA

LOCATIONS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & CULTURE, CENTRO DE ARTES, AND DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO

ACCESSORIES CHIC’TIQUE FASHION DESIGNER JOSÉ RAMÍREZ

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BY ELYSSA CANALES VILLARREAL

t’s said that the first step to recovery is to admit your faults. So here it goes…long before I was “Pinning” coconut oil miracles, lavish vacations, and Valentine’s Day Boxes in October, I was that little girl who gathered my neighborhood buddies, dressed them in funky homemade clothing, designed fashion runways and put on shows for our mothers.

From the jump, as you can comfortably assume, I have lived a lifetime pegged as the creative overachiever, and recently credited to the likes of pop culture, was even told, “Girl, you’re so EXTRA!” So for those who aren’t familiar with this term, Urban Dictionary defines this as “doing the absolute damn most. For no reason.” I’m aware that some may not quite understand what I’m getting at; I too was taken aback, may have offensively flipped some side eye and had a quick moment of internal reflection. Did I become THAT mom? As the woman who reluctantly just cut and hot glued 18in. pieces of gray satin ribbon around 100 clear boxes (filled with animal crackers); I feel avidly qualified to confirm that YES I have become that mom. I am the type of person who enjoys the intrinsic satisfaction of making the world around her beautiful. Who spends countless hours spanning her mind making sure every last detail of her son’s first birthday is perfect. He may not remember this day, but as cliché as it may sound, hopefully one day he will know that this in part is how his mother expressed her love for him.

I realize the inherent hypocrisy in all of this, however since I’m guilty of unnecessarily toting panache to just about anything, I will offer this sage advice… it’s okay to lose your marbles just as long as your mind hasn’t morphed into Britney circa 2007! For the sake of not sugarcoating the hell out of motherhood, by no means is it a culmination of craftiness and a need to set the scene for picturesque moments. The pressure to place a checkmark beside a list of what society has deemed as “good mothering” is critical and in my opinion overrated. There are definitely times where I grit my teeth and long for moments gathered around with my girl friends talking/laughing/criticizing/venting. Nevertheless, as modern women, we keep the juggle alive and simultaneously each show love to our children in the only way we know how.

I do believe that for all of us alike the need to become over achievers is suddenly heightened when it pertains to our kids. Our gifts and trade offs vary, but one thing stands firm: we all have the ability to cultivate that which propels you to be a great mom. Finally, and most importantly, never apologize for being boundlessly EXTRA! PHOTOGRAPHY BY Melissa Salinas 30

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heritage foundation 2017 In celebration of Laredo’s 262nd anniversary, the Webb County Heritage Foundation had a luncheon honoring descendants of Don Tomás Sanchez on Sat. May 20th at the Laredo Center for the Arts. A special tribute was paid to the historic businesses of the region, as well as the inauguration of this year’s President of the Republic of the Rio Grande, Mr. Gary Jacobs.

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BRBHC fashion show 2017 Fashion, singing, dancing, and acting... oh, my! The 25th Annual Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon & Fashion Show hosted by the Volunteer Services Council for Border Region Behavioral Health Center was not your run-of-the-mill fashion show; it had all forms of performance art that held the attention of their audience from start to finish.

photos by ronald van dyke

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victor hugoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday bash Friends and family of Victor Hugo traveled from afar to join him in celebration of his birthday in the beautiful San Miguel de Allende. Guests delighted under gorgeous sunny skies and water filled fun at La Casa de los Secretos, while being splendidly tended to by his loving friend and business partner, Alma Caballero.

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art at gallery 201 Alex Casso was featured in a Borderland Exhibit called Sin Ti, Yo No. There was a collection of art pieces that was told through the retablo tradition in Mexican folk art. Casso works in New York City as an educator at the Queens Museum. This was his love letter to Laredo.

Nicolas Rocha Gutierrez and his son Nicolas Andres Rocha Uribe Use 3 words to describe your role as a father. Dedicated, Strong, and Supportive. What is your favorite pass time activity with your child/children? Playing golf .

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your most treasured memory up to now? Coming home from work, Marcela waiting for me at the door with Nico in her arms, and hearing him say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Papaâ&#x20AC;? for the first time. It really hit me that I was a father. What has been the most difficult aspect of your role as a father? Playing the role of brother/best friend and then turning the table to discipline him in a father role.

What is your greatest wish for your child/ children? I wish for him to continue being a person with the traits he has displayed up to now: integrity, wisdom, kindness, gratefulness, and resilience.

What advice would you give to new fathers? Always be there for them. Be with your child at his first day of school, be with them on their birthdays, graduations, and any accomplishments. Be with them every hour, minute, and second that is possible.

Ismael Reyes-Retana and his son Santiago Reyes-Retana Use 3 words to describe your role as a father. Dedicated, Involved, Loving.

What is your favorite pass time activity with your child/children? We both enjoy swimming with our dogs, driving our convertible with the top down, and Go-Kart Racing. What’s your most treasured memory up to now? In preschool ( when he was about 3½ years old) during a Thanksgiving lesson, he was asked what he was thankful for… He said, “my papi.” I will never forget that day. What has been the most difficult aspect of your role as a father? The most difficult aspect of my role as a father is never forgetting that our children learn by example. My son is always observing. I want him to treat people the right way. I am raising a man, a gentleman. I must lead by example. What is your greatest wish for your child/children? For him to find his true passion, and to follow it; his happiness is my greatest wish.

What advice would you give to new fathers? I would tell new fathers to be involved in everything. We are their heroes, let’s act like it. We are who they look up to at all times. If they see kindness, they will be kind. If they see hard work, they will work hard. If they see you treat people with respect, they will do the same.

Alfredo rodríguez and his son Diego A. Rodríguez Use 3 words to describe your role as a father. Loving, Active, Encouraging. What is your favorite pass time activity with your child/children? Spending quality time with him. We both love being outdoors so we usually go to the park or anywhere that we can enjoy nature.

What’s your most treasured memory up to now? My most treasured moment has to be when he was born and being able to hold him for the first time. I remember the rush of thoughts that went through my head, but above all, I felt this overwhelming love for him. It was a powerful and incredible moment. What has been the most difficult aspect of your role as a father? The most difficult aspect of being a father is creating more time to spend with my son. I tend to have a hectic work schedule, but I strive to use every opportunity I have to create memories with him. I know that ultimately, the reward I get from doing so is one that I can’t achieve from work. What is your greatest wish for your child/children? I wish that he finds his true happiness. I want him to be his own person and be happy with who he becomes. Also, for him to have enough joy in his life that will allow him to override the inevitable obstacles this world will present him with. What advice would you give to new fathers? Don’t worry, nobody knows what they are doing. I think it only takes giving them your time and love... you should be fine with that!

“LAREDO” 2016 Media used: Oil on canvas, 69 1/2 x 49 1/2 inches

featured artist // alex casso

aredo is a unique city and hard to articulate as an experience. I use images I associate with Laredo as the best way to cover a lot of emotional ground. I want the viewer to consider the wolves first, then death, and then the Virgen de Guadalupe. There is something beautiful about each layer, but every image also suggests its opposite emotion. Wolves are an element of danger, but are an apex animal, and so are we. Death is constantly present but isn’t necessarily to be feared. And then, there she is: La Virgen de Guadalupe, offering salvation, her love, and beauty, but appearing to us from behind the veil that separates us from this life and the next. Life is all three— beauty, death, and mystery. Finally, I want the viewer to consider the angel carrying her. I believe we are the angel trying to shoulder life with all of its complexities and contradictions. P.S. Guada is an arabic term for river and Lupe is a latin term for wolf.

about the artist My name is Alex Casso, United High School graduate and native Laredoan living in NYC. I’m currently in town for my show, “Sin Ti, Yo No” at Gallery 201, which is open from April 12 through June 12. The show is about Laredo and my love for our city. It is told through the retablo tradition, but I’ve replaced saints with animals.

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grand opening Le Boutique Shop & Color Me Crazy held their grand opening on June 1st. Extending their services to those gathered in anticipation, the crowd was invited to mingle, shop, and explore while enjoying refreshments, door prizes, and giveaways.

LET’S TALK ABOUT...

One street at a time To be able to circle around town, it is necessary to know the address of your destination. It is imperative to hear a name for that street, address, drive, loop, boulevard, park, court, circle…

aredo’s history is so rich that we were able to find information regarding how the city got the names (nomenclature) it has right now. The City of Laredo official webpage mentions that in 1767, “the streets were laid out 10 varas in width so that people may go in and out on horseback with ease and without danger.” According to potifos. com, it was around the 1880’s that the word street was displaced by avenue, but then words like “boulevard, park and court” started to show. By the 1920’s avenue was replaced by drive. It was developers who began choosing street names for their subdivisions.

“Almost anything that evoked suburbia was used. The suffixes -wood and -land were tacked on to almost anything to coin street names. Floral names, names of famous colleges and universities, English counties, world cities, etc., all inspired street names.”

photos courtesy of webb county heritage foundation.

It was during the period of Mayor Samuel Jarvis that on October 18, 1869, the City Council approved a resolution to have a new map, where Jarvis, “laid out plazas and named many of the streets alternately for Mexican and American heroes, while others he named for his daughter’s,” states The Portal to Texas History. The streets of Laredo were also widened. The book “From the Republic of the Rio Grande: A Personal History of the Place and the People” Garza (2013), explains that “the street names alternately honor a Mexican hero and an American hero,” and that the avenues I was concerned with were named after saints of the Catholic calendar (p. 182). In the Downtown Laredo area, the names for streets honor General and President Ulysses S. Grant, Admiral David Farragut, Abraham Lincoln, Washington, Houston; from Mexican

history, they honor Moctezuma, General Ignacio Zaragoza, General Guadalupe Victoria, the priests Hidalgo and Matamoros. The avenues were dedicated to Catholic Saints, such as San Dario, San Agustin, and San Bernardo.

Flores Avenue was named after Jarvis’ in-laws, and Convent Avenue was designated after the Ursuline Convent and School for Girls, according to De la Garza. There are two critical documents in understanding the plans for Laredo, “Plano de los Dos Laredos” (Laroche, 1881) and the City Map of Laredo (Perez, 1890).

For instance, “Plano de los Dos Laredos” explains that the first elite suburban development created was The Heights area in 1888. Most of the boom in The Heights area was because of the streetcar system owned by the Laredo Improvement Company. Streetcar services started on December 5, 1889. From 1910-1920, due to the Mexican Revolution, many immigrants found a job in Laredo. Many barrios emerged such as La Ladrillera, Holy Redeemer, El Trece, La Guadalupe, Canta Ranas, Los Amores, Sal Si Puedes, Chacon, and Santo Niño. According to mentalfloss.com, developers can submit names they would like for a new street to the City Council for review. Laredo has grown in abundance since its inception. And, yes, most of the time we see names of streets related to the name of the subdivision. For example, if you visit or live in Lakeside Subdivision, you will notice all its streets have the word “lake” and some have the word “bay.” So, next time you are driving around Laredo take a moment to look at the names of the streets you are driving by. Afterall, you are driving through history, one block at a time. BY MELVA LAVÍN-CASTILLO MLAVIN@MELVALAVIN.COM

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Let's be real, chances are we'll develop carpal tunnel syndrome from all the scrolling and insta stalking we've done on our phones. Instagram darlings like Aimee Song, Julie Sarinana, & Leandra Medine, just to name a few, are some of my favorites --I'll bill them my medical bill later. But let’s cut to the chase and talk about their style. The students have surpassed the teachers. We’re not looking at Vogue magazine editors or designers for style tips. These millennials have taken over the digital world and defined the word "influencer". Doing fun things like traveling around the world, taking selfies with Karl Lagerfeld and eating avocado toasts every damn day like it’s nobody’s business. You'll have to give it to me...that's something I actually do follow: stuffing my face with avocado toasts.

I took screenshots of some of my favorite looks from these gals and decided to recreate them in the real world by stepping in their shoes and even adding the same pose. Let's take these Insta worthy outfits and make them our own.

A la Song Of Style: Aimee Song, globetrotter and lover of her denim cut offs paired with designer pieces. Using her style go to, I’m wearing a black cold shoulder blazer, toe capped low heel sling backs, a white vintage tank and true to her choice of jewelry, dainty gold details. Sans the loads of bugambilia.

This is the cardinal rule of insta material:

if you see a cool wall, you bend and snap. A mural to match the outfit is one for every blogger out there. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m wearing a silky baby blue kimono with wide leg baby blue jumpsuit and pops of red.

I like to think of this one as: +

@manrepeller.

A feminine midi skirt dress, whimsical blue and white pinstripes over raw hem cropped jeans, because any man repeller would say she was too lazy to take the jeans off and made an avant-garde look out of it. Mint baubles and pink shoes to brighten the color palette.

Making fashion your o and cre wn ating y o u r style is itself in in sta ma terial, n should o t h ing be prais ed more individu t h a n ality. Be inspired create a n d your o wn blo ck of daily tin y square s.

BY MICHELLE COOK FOLLOW HER LOOKS AND READ MORE AT www.shopchictique.com/blog

@blaireadbee

creamtips

Easy Steps To Pay Off Your Mortgage in 15 yrs Several people buy their homes cash, but the majority of the population purchase their homes getting a mortgage loan. Those loans can go up to a 30 year commitment. Getting a 30 year fixed term note, if you never give an additional payment towards the principal, then you will be paying almost double of what you bought the house for; who wants to be in debt for 30 years?! In order for you to pay off your mortgage sooner, you must make additional payments toward your principal balance. The rule of thumb is, if you make an additional current monthly payment toward the principal each year, you will be saving 4-5 years out of the mortgage. Example: if your current mortgage payment is $1,500 (PITI=Principal, Interest, Taxes & Insurances) if you give $1,500 towards to Principal once a year, you will be saving 4-5 years on your 30 yr mortgage. This being said, there are 3 easy ways to pay off your mortgage in 15 yrs.

1- Divide your mortgage payment (PITI) by 12 months and make a small additional monthly payment toward Principal (Example: Monthly payment=$1,500 /12=$125 extra to principal) Totaling $1,625 BUT YOU HAVE TO SPECIFY THAT IT WILL GO TO PRINCIPAL, and at the end of the year, you will have made 1 extra payment to principal and save 4-5 years. 2- Make bi-weekly payments. There are 2 months out of the year that have 5 Friday's = 2 additional paychecks if you get paid every other week = 1 monthly paycheck per year. You cut your mortgage payment in half and if your lender has this program, they can make automatic withdrawals bi-weekly and you will give an additional payment a year towards principal. 3- This is the hardest one. If you receive a bonus, or with your income tax return, you can apply one monthly payment toward principal each year. Doing all these 3 payments each year will have you paying off your mortgage in 15 years. Do not forget to make sure to specify that your payments will go to the PRINCIPAL For explanations in greater detail, do not hesitate to contact me.

BY ALEJANDRO BERNAL abernal@southwestfunding.com

Alejandro Bernal is currently the Branch Manager at Southwest Funding and has been a loan officer for 10 years. The married father-of-two, enjoys spending time with family & friends, in addition to playing golf & tennis.

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Don Pancho

A Symbol of Entrepreneurial Success

t is almost impossible to drive through South Texas without seeing the iconic red, blue, and yellow sign reading: Taco Palenque. Like a beacon in the night, it invites you to satisfy your cravings for authentic Mexican food, regardless of time or place. Blurring borders and international lines, Taco Palenque proudly celebrates 30 years of service in 2017. Juan Francisco Ochoa, better known as Don Pancho, began his contribution in the business industry in 1975 with the opening of the famous El Pollo Loco in his native city of Guasave, Mexico. With big dreams of expansion, El Pollo Loco successfully spread into a chain of 85 restaurants throughout Mexico within four years! The restaurant’s first appearance in the United States was in 1980, in Los Angeles. His entrepreneurial nature drew him to magnify his business options after selling the highly popular Pollo Loco franchise in the United States. Using his wife’s authentic cooking recipes, Don Pancho set out to build what would be one of the most sought out restaurants in the region. Laredo, TX is home to the first Taco Palenque, which opened its doors in 1987.

Don Pancho credits his success to very simple ingredients: passion & authenticity. Only preparing food that he would approve of himself, his wife’s recipes are the perfect combination to Don Pancho’s vision. His love for Mexican food is evident in every order and has reached the likes and approval of the nation’s top leaders in Washington, D.C. As a matter of fact, on February 15, 2017, The House of Representatives of the 85th Texas legislature honored Juan Francisco Ochoa for his contribution in the restaurant industry. This resolution was presented at the Texas State Capitol for the impressive legacy Don Pancho has created as a businessperson and restaurateur. Spreading across South Texas in more than eight locations, Taco Palenque has definitely outgrown Laredo, TX. Proudly serving San Antonio, McAllen, Houston, and Cotulla, to name a few locations, the Palenque Group is expanding at an alarming rate in order to meet its fans culinary needs.

Taco Palenque currently sells more than 10 million tacos a year!! The unique Pirata Taco, composed of perfectly seared fajitas, homemade refried beans, and a hefty amount of cheddar cheese wrapped in a freshly made flour tortilla is one of the most popular items on Taco Palenque’s menu. It is not uncommon to devour a couple of piratas in one sitting! Another favorite on the menu are the Panchitos. Named after Don Pancho, this savory meal is prepared on a bed of fresh tortilla chips, where refried beans, nacho cheese, avocado, and fajitas all mingle to bring forward that special Taco Palenque taste. You can often find Don Pancho in any of the Taco Palenque locations behind the grill, serving orders, and sparking up conversations with customers. More than a restaurant, Taco Palenque is a place that feels like home, and Don Pancho is proud to be part of it all. The Palenque Group is composed of Taco Palenque, Palenque Grill, and most recently, Puerto Palenque. You can rest assured that any of these locations will offer the best quality ingredients and service as the epic Taco Palenque. After all, it keeps being, “un pedacito de Mexico.” cream

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BY BENNETT ANDREW MCBRIDE

wind river

If you watch TV, you’ve probably seen promotional spots for Hollywood’s biggest upcoming releases. Which is why I’m not going to talk about films like Spider Man: Homecoming or Dunkirk. They all look good, but I’m here to spotlight a few summer movies you might not otherwise be thinking about. Wind River looks promising for a number of reasons. Number one, it’s Taylor Sheridan’s directorial debut. In the past couple of years, Sheridan has cemented his status as a tier-one screenwriter, responsible for 2015’s Sicario and 2016’s Hell Or High Water. Basically, there’s a murder, so an FBI and a tracker are on the case. Add Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, and Jon Bernthal (he is in EVERYTHING these days) to this atmospheric FBI murder-mystery thriller and it seems like a slam dunk. Oh, and Sheridan just won the directing award at Cannes for this, so, I mean, it’s probably definitely great.

the bad batch

This movie looks unusual. I mean that in the best possible way. A product of rising filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour, The Bad Batch seems to be what you would get if you put Mad Max, Only God Forgives, and some cannibal horror movie in a blender. I know that might sound kind of rough, but all you need to do to be won over is watch the trailer. It hints at something truly weird and original, with the potential to be special. Not to mention that the talent involved alone is a reason to take a leap of faith. Keanu Reeves, sporting a lively mustache, is some sort of criminal underground Hugh Heffner-type in a lawless land along the Texas border. Jason Momoa does bodybuilding, and he’s got plenty of knives on him if you don’t like it. Suki Waterhouse is missing a couple of limbs, but she’s getting around. Let’s go.

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baby driver

Ok, so there is a good chance you’ve already seen some promotional stuff for this one. Sony knows it has a hit. But this looks too good not to mention. Edgar Wright, of renown comedic flair (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) and who almost (should’ve) directed Ant-Man, is bringing us a heist crime thriller with his newest film. Ansel Elgort is Baby, a young getaway driver with prodigious talent and some sort of mental tick that means he can never pause his iPod. Kevin Spacey is the gangster with a hold on Baby’s freedom, while Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, and Jon Bernthal (I told you!) round out the rest of the crew. Of course, Baby meets a girl and wants out. The result is a film that, if early rave reviews from SXSW are to be believed, has substance and style to burn with a soundtrack for the ages.

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