May 11, 2017 - May 17, 2017
Houston Style Magazine Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication
Volume 28 | Number 20
Complimentary
Jesse Jackson
Death by Tax Cuts: The Republican Health Care Plan
An Unbreakable Bond: Sheila Jackson Lee and Erica Lee Carter Words By Jo-Carolyn Goode and Photography By Vicky Pink Follow Us #TeamStyleMag
Twitter @HoustonStyle
Upon the Wings of a Dove
James Comey
Facebook: Houston Style Magazine
Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey
NWOA Houston Profiles of Prominence
The Hard Rock Cafe
Instagram @StyleMagazine
15th LWI’s Luncheon & Fashion Show
Mother’s Day
N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T
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ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 5/11 3PM–5/13/2017
EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, cosmetics/fragrances, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electric electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, maternity, select licensed depts., previous purchases, rugs, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, Apple Products, Av 2 Les Filles, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Micha Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Movado Bold, Natori, Original Penguin, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsth Macys.com is excluded from $20 off pass. PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer exce opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for ca or applied as payment or credit to your account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices. Purchase must be $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.
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May 11 - May 17, 2017 www.stylemagazine.com
Volume 29 | Number 20 | May 11, 2017 - May 17, 2017
06
METRORail
Publisher Francis Page, Jr.
13
Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com
NATIONAL WRITERS
Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com
Corey Williams
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William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com
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©2015 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2007 audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)
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COMMENTARY
Death by Tax Cuts: The Republican Health Care Plan
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By Jesse Jackson, National Writer
onald Trump hosted a celebration in the White House Rose Garden for House Republicans after they passed their party’s health care plan by the thinnest of margins. They were celebrating what Trump called a “win,” without any thought about consequences. None of them had read the bill, which was released only a couple of days before the vote and rushed to the floor. The vote took place before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office could issue a revised assessment of its costs and effects. House leaders and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney dismissed criticisms, saying that Senate Republicans planned to start all over anyway. This bill addresses one-sixth of our national economy, and an industry that has been a leading source of jobs growth. Don’t worry, say House Republicans, we just had to get the win; forget about the substance. Americans shouldn’t just be worried; they should be furious. The Republican bill will throw literally millions off health care, put people with pre-existing conditions at risk and raise premiums particularly for workers aged 50 to 64 -- in order to give a massive tax break to the very wealthy. At the annual shareholders meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, billionaire investor
POLITICAL
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resident Donald Trump on Tuesday fired FBI Director James Comey, sweeping away the man who is responsible for the bureau’s investigation into whether members of his campaign team colluded with Russia in its interference in last year’s election.
Warren Buffett called it for what it is: “a huge tax cut for guys like me.” The richest 400 people in America will get a tax break estimated at about $7 million a year. To pay for that, millions will lose their coverage, and millions more -- the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions in various states -- will see premiums soar and insurance become unaffordable. You can’t sugarcoat this. It’s not enough to say the Senate will fix it (the 13 white men -- no women, no people of color -- on the Republican Senate Working Group certainly will not). It’s not acceptable to say, “We don’t mean it; we just had to pass it.” Why did they have to pass it? This is complicated, but if you follow it, you can understand the backroom plunder that is taking place. As Peter Suderman explained in the New York Times, Republicans have to pass it because the top-end tax cuts in the health care bill are vital for their central goal: to deliver to their corporate and wealthy donors another massive tax cut in the next budget reconciliation vote. They have to do the tax cuts in what’s called “reconciliation” because that allows them, under the obscure rules of the Congress, to pass the bill with only 50 votes -- with only Republican votes. But the reconciliation rules only allow
the Republican bill to give each of the 400 richest people in America a tax break. For every person who dies, they’ll pocket about $787,151. As Eskow noted, those rich beneficiaries aren’t likely to know anyone who will lose his or her life as a result of being stripped of health insurance. And while the $787,000 isn’t much for a multimillionaire, it’s just the appetizer for the big take they will get out of the Trump tax cut plan that will follow.
Republican Sen. John McCain criticizes the House for proceeding without a CBO estimate of the costs, saying, “I want to know how much it costs.” Republican senators vow not to act until the CBO reports.
Thirteen white, rich men will now create the Republican plan in the Senate. They’ll decide how many millions to strip from health insurance to pay for tax cuts many of them will enjoy. They’ll decide whether to deprive low-wage women of Planned Parenthood’s health care services. They’ll decide just how many deaths are needed to cover the tax cuts for the very rich.
The CBO’s estimate will show what we already know from its last estimate: Millions will lose their insurance, and the wealthy will pocket millions in tax cuts. A former insurance executive, Richard Eskow, did the real math. He took the best estimates of how many avoidable deaths come from not having health insurance with the rollback of Medicaid and taking away protections for pre-existing conditions. He compared that to the tax cuts that would be pocketed by the 400 richest Americans, people who, like Buffett, make on average over $300 million a year. Here’s his estimate of the real cost: Ten people will die under
Ugly language? No this is a morally indefensible, ugly piece of work. It is simply obscene to choose consciously to condemn low-wage workers or older workers to unnecessary illness and death in order to afford tax cuts for the already wealthy. You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.
Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey
By Stephen Collinson, Jeff Zeleny and Jeremy Diamond, CNN/StyleMagazine.com precisely what Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a letter explaining the grounds for Comey’s dismissal, there would be no backlash.
What was not thought through, apparently, was an explanation of why Comey was fired now, at a time when critics would The bombshell announcement that sent immediately conclude it was because of the shock and surprise ricocheting through Russia probe. Washington ends the career of the man who was once seen as the unimpeachable and In recent days, Comey again came under nonpartisan ideal of how a law enforcement fire for his handling of the investigation officer should behave. But Comey saw his into Clinton’s private email server. Many reputation tarnished when he was dragged Democrats believe that his announcement into the toxic politics of the 2016 campaign. that he was reopening the probe 11 days The Trump administration attributed before the election cost the former secretary Comey’s dismissal to his handling of the of state the presidency. investigation into Democratic nominee HilTrump referred to Democrats’ criticism lary Clinton’s email server, but Democrats ridiculed that notion, raising parallels to of Comey Wednesday morning, tweeting, Watergate-era firings and suggested Comey “The Democrats have said some of the worst was getting too close to the White House things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they with the Russia probe. play so sad!” In any case, senior White House officials Comey learned of his dismissal from appeared to have badly misjudged the impact of Trump’s sudden move. A source with televisions tuned to the news, as he was knowledge of discussions inside the White addressing the workforce at the FBI office House told CNN’s Dana Bash that the think- in Los Angeles, law enforcement sources ing was that because Democrats were saying said. The source said he made a joke about
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tax cuts if they don’t raise deficits after a 10-year window. So to get what Trump calls the mother of all tax cuts, Republicans want to cut the taxes out of Obamacare in the FY2017 reconciliation (that only lasts until next September) and then have a lower baseline for cutting taxes in the FY2018 reconciliation (the budget that begins on October 1). Tax cuts for the wealthy will be paid for by sickness and death by millions of the uninsured.
May 11 - May 17, 2017 www.stylemagazine.com
James Comey it to lighten the mood and called his office ing to do with my decision.”Stone said he to get confirmation. was not the source behind the reporting but added that he supported the firing of Comey Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone was “100%.” among those who recommended to the President that he fire Comey, according A White House spokesperson reached to a source familiar with the conversation. out to CNN to reiterate the President’s Stone, who also is being scrutinized by tweet that he has not spoken to Stone in the FBI as part of its Russia investigation, a “long time,” adding, “The President has spoke to Trump after Comey appeared at a not spoken to Roger Stone in many months hearing last week on Capitol Hill, according and any reports suggesting otherwise are to the source. categorically untrue.” Trump immediately disputed that Stone CNN’s Sara Murray, Ted Barrett, Eli was involved: “The Roger Stone report Watkins, Shimon Prokupecz, Gloria Borger, on @CNN is false - Fake News. Have not Pamela Brown, Rene Marsh and Scott Glover spoken to Roger in a long time - had noth- contributed to this report.
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Offer ends 5/31/17. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to X1 Saver Double Play with Digital Starter TV with Streampix and Performance 25 Internet. Early termination fee applies if all XFINITY services are canceled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $7.00/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $5.00/mo.), and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. After applicable promo, or if any service is canceled or downgraded, regular charges apply. Comcast's service charge for the X1 Saver Double Play is $100.00/mo. and for DVR service (including HD Technology Fee) is $19.95/mo. (pricing subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. 85% claim based on consumers who specified a preference as part of a June 2016 study. Call for restrictions and complete details, or visit xfinity.com. © 2017 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA200615-0009
121604_NPA200615-0009 X1Claim ad_10.8125x13_HoustonStyle.indd 1
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LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS
Akrem Azzam
HISD
Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Over Use of Force in City Jail
Washington Post Ranks 35 HISD High Schools Among Nation’s Most Challenging
[ABC13.com]
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civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the city of Houston and jailer Lasswon Shannon over the beating of inmate Akrem Azzam in 2015. Attorneys and civil rights leaders are also calling for a Department of Justice investigation into overuse of force and de-escalation training for jailers after other incidents similar to Azzam’s. In the suit, which was filed several weeks ago, attorney Randall Kallinen claims to have video evidence of more than 30 other uses of excessive force that have been verified by an expert witness. Azzam was in jail on a deadly conduct charge after firing a gun.
Bree Rios & Father
Texas Fire Department Hires Its First Female Firefighter
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[People.com]
hen Bree Rios was growing up in Harlingen, Texas, her father, a firefighter, would never let her use the stove because he was afraid she might burn the house down. Today, Bree, now 25, doesn’t set fires — she puts them out, working alongside her dad as the first female firefighter in the Harlingen Fire Department‘s 105-year history. Hired in April and now a rookie in training, the milestone is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Bree, who has wanted to follow her dad’s example since she was 4. Bree, who was working as an EMT before she received news that she’d been hired, says it took her three times to ace the firefighter exam, but it never occurred to her to give up.
Follow Us #TeamStyleMag 66
[Houstonisd.org]
T
his year’s list recognizes the top 12 percent of campuses across the nation. HISD schools also accounted for 23 of the top 100 schools in Texas. The rankings are based on the number of seniors taking college-level Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge tests. This year, HISD’s highest-rated high school is Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, an all-male college preparatory academy for grades 6-12. The other HISD schools making the national top 100 list include: DeBakey High School for Health Professions (No. 88), North Houston Early College High School (No. 92), and Jones Futures Academy (No. 98).
Texas House
Texas House Approves Houston Pension Reform Bill After Adding Amendments
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[Houston Business Journal]
ouston’s pension reform bill got a preliminary OK from the Texas House on May 8, but there are still more steps to go before it’s finalized. The House voted 112-28 after lawmakers added four amendments to Senate Bill 2190, according to reports. The Texas Senate passed its version of the bill last week, and the House was scheduled to vote on the companion bill authored by State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, on May 8. However, he put forward the Senate version instead, the Texas Tribune reports. One notable change made in the House was state Rep.Dwayne Bohac’s, R-Houston, amendment to exempt all retired firefighters from benefit cuts, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Twitter @HoustonStyle
Instagram @StyleMagazine
May 11 - May 17, 2017 www.stylemagazine.com
Metrorail
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METRORail Track Work Prompts Passenger Alert [Style Magazine Newswire]
ETRO will begin an improvement project on tracks along the Green and Purple Light Rail Lines this week, which will impact evening travel. The scheduled welding work on the track is necessary to provide a smoother ride. On May 10, 11 and May 14 through 18 work will begin each night at 10 p.m. and regular rail service will resume the following morning. During those late evening hours, free bus shuttles will transport passengers between the closed segments of the Green Line from the District to Magnolia Park Transit stations and on the Purple Line from the Theatre District to EADO stations. METRO will begin an improvement project on tracks along the Green and Purple Light Rail Lines this week.
ACLU
ACLU Issues ‘Travel Alert’ After Texas Sanctuary Cities Law Signed
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[CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire]
civil rights watchdog on Tuesday issued a “travel alert” for Texas, saying a law targeting sanctuary cities threatens to turn Texas into a “show me your papers state” and could expose travelers to rights violations and illegal arrests. The alert is not just for Texans, the American Civil Liberties Union says. It’s for anyone traveling through the Lone Star State. Eighteen state ACLU affiliates have issued alerts for its residents traveling though Texas. At least one organization representing Texas police says it’s “fearful” of what the law could mean for rank-and-file officers. Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 4 into law, touting it as a way to punish local governments and police officers who don’t comply with immigration laws and federal detention requests. It will take effect in September.
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BUSINESS BRIEFS Target
Bud Light
Target Team Members Expand Community Garden to Impact Houston Food Deserts
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[Style Magazine Newswire]
ore than 200 Target team members, local law enforcement and fire department volunteers will give back to support Target Hunger, a United Way of Greater Houston affiliate agency, at the Goffney Community Garden in Houston’s fifth ward. Volunteers will assemble 16 new garden beds that will increase growing capacity by more than 60 percent in an effort to consolidate Target Hunger’s gardens into one central garden. This build will provide more families with access to healthier food options and is part of community efforts to help close the gap in Houston food deserts.
BOOKS
Bud Light Launches New Campaign to Revitalize Boxing Gyms
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[Latino Loop/PRNewswire]
ud Light launched a campaign to revitalize iconic boxing gyms in East Los Angeles, providing new training equipment and repairs to the CM Boxing Stables, Capetillo Boxing Gym and Rodrigo Mosquera Boxing Academy. By replacing and upgrading existing equipment and providing general facelifts to the facilities, the brand is seeking to contribute in a meaningful way and to support up-and-coming boxers as well as the local community. The brand also released a two-minute documentary, “Bud Light x Estevan Oriol - Boxing Hecho en Los Angeles.” The documentary highlights the boxers’ stories and the critical importance of friendships and community bonds.
Coach Is Buying Kate Spade for $2.4 Billion [Business Insider]
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he luxury retailer Coach announced on Monday that it agreed to buy Kate Spade for $18.50 a share, for a total transaction value of $2.4 billion. A statement released by Coach said the combined company will create a “leading luxury lifestyle company” supported by “significant expertise in handbag design, merchandising, supply chain, and retail operations.” The per-share acquisition price is 27.5% higher than Kate Spade’s share price as of December 27, the last day of trading before deal rumors started affecting the stock price. Still, it’s 23% below a nine-month high of $24.10 reached February 27.
“Super Freak: The Life of Rick James” by Peter Benjaminson
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our feet sometimes have a mind of their own. You see your favorite foods, and they carry you toward lunch before you even realize you’re hungry. When you’re faced with danger, they take you in the right direction, away and safe. And when you read “Super Freak: The Life of Rick James” by Peter Benjaminson, your feet just gotta dance.
James Ambrose Johnson Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, on February 1, 1948, into a family filled with talent and power: little Rick (no explanation for the nickname) was related to politicians and journalists, actors and performers. Even his mother had once been a dancer, and was said to have transferred her desire for fame onto her talented third-born child. Though the family was often fatherless, Rick’s mother ran a tight ship and worked as a numbers runner to feed and clothe her children, who later remembered being well cared-for. She also insisted that her children attend Catholic Mass, but Rick was a perpetual troublemaker. A former alter boy, he was kicked out of the program for being “too hyper,” started running away from home at age five, lost his virginity at age nine, and began exper-
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Coach
imenting with drugs. As for school, it was something he “tried to avoid entirely.” At sixteen, Rick joined the U.S. Navy, but he skipped out on his obligation and slipped into Canada in 1964. There, he found other musicians who let him perform with them, and his talent “was blazingly obvious.” He founded bands, found sponsorship, and set his sights on Motown, where he was turned away at least twice before he was finally accepted to work as a producer and songwriter. With his talents so openly on display, Rick began to work his way toward his goal of having a best-seller with Motown. He wrote, performed, got that hit, and was hired to produce for Diana Ross, a gig he turned down to work with Teena Marie. Unfortunately, he didn’t turn down the drugs that had become a part of his life, nor did he turn down the many women who clamored for his attention on the road. In the end, it was the former that contributed to his death.Though it often reads like the combination of a novel and a supermarket tabloid, “Super Freak” isn’t bad. It’s not
May 11 - May 17, 2017 www.stylemagazine.com
Book Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer
great, either. Like so many biographers of music stars, author Peter Benjaminson includes too much here: too many names dropped, too much minutiae on performances and, when it comes to Rick James’ private life, too much information. Indeed, Benjaminson’s occasional lack of discretion and his explicitness are cringe-worthy. And yet, there are some nice surprises here: Benjaminson doesn’t try to gloss over James’ problems, legally, or with drugs or women. This book’s early chapters set up a good story, which is readable even when the telling of it falters. Overall, while it may be browse-able by anyone who loved music, circa 19691980, the audience for this book is much narrower: “Super Freak” is probably more for super fans.
Share this story online at www.stylemagazine.com. c.2017, Chicago Review Press $28.99 / $38.99 Canada 354 pages
CULINARY
Crosby Roamann Wines Has Landed In Houston!
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o be a novice wine connoisseur, you have to have the confidence to know at least some of the things you’re tasting and sampling. Any opportunity to improve your skills (or wafting skills) is a must. So, when Crosby Roamann Wine came through Houston for a tasting of their latest in honest and handmade wines, I couldn’t pass it up.
By Reginald Dominique
Her love of winemaking surprisingly enough formed out of a hobby she had. A decade ago, her and her husband started their first barrel and by 2010, they went commercial, beginning with sales in California and expanding elsewhere. All of Crosby Roamann wines live up to their motto: handmade with the greatest care and attention to detail.
During the course of our stay at B&B’s, we were treated to four distinct wines, a 2013 Sauvignon Blanc; 2013 Chardonnay, a 2012 Merlot and a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. Each wine, from the striking red that made up the Cabernet to the piercing white of the Sauvignon Blanc made for an interesting decision to be made. Picking a favorite wine is similar to the best suit or even a car. Her confidence and attention to detail Once you find a bottle that matches your turned a simple lunch at B&B Butchers mood, you stick with it. & Restaurant into a modified gathering of After a few glasses of each, the customary what felt like old friends. McBride’s passion stems from an age-old belief that every swirls and small streaks of wine running vineyard is special, every vintage is unique, down the various glasses, I settled on loving the reds a far bit more than the wines. and each wine is distinct. Nestled in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, Crosby Roamann is a small winery that prides themselves on creating wines that are not only truthful to the taste but to the senses as well. Winemaker Juliana A. McBride was on hand during the tasting, providing us with background information regarding the winery and more.
Crosby Roamann Wines Dessert wine is just that, dessert, but for those who prefer a glass after a long day, I’d suggest the Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged to perfection, it gives off an aura and smoothness that is hard to match. You could tell after finishing a glass how rich and soothing the Cabernet was, as if you’d seen the fresh picked grapes by hand that went into fermentation. Most professional ealth
wine tasters will break down the aroma, taste identification, acidity, structure, texture, and balance of a wine. Emerging wine connoisseurs like myself and many of you? We choose by what makes us feel right. There’s a bit of a stronger appreciation there. Crosby Roamann Wines’ offers a varied selection, all finely crafted to deliver the best pace setter for your dinner party, a quiet nitecap or even a drink of pure celebration.
isparities ducation,
wareness,
esearch &
HDEART CONSORTIUM
raining
15th Annual
Disparities in Health in America: Working Toward Social Justice Summer Workshop in Houston, TX
June 19-24, 2017 VENUE Shell Auditorium
Jones Graduate School of Business
Workshop Co-Sponsor, Venue & IT Support
HDEART’s Academic Home & Workshop Co-Sponsor
PROGRAM CHAIR LOVELL A. JONES, PH.D., FHDR PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS E. LISAKO J. MCKYER, PH.D., MPH, FAAHB HEATHER HONORE GOLTZ, PH.D., LMSW BRIDGETT GORMAN, PH.D.
Workshop Goal: Provide a comprehensive understanding of health disparities, to investigate approaches to enhancing health equity, and to provide participants with a broad base of knowledge related to a biopsychosocial approach in addressing health disparities in a minority and the medically underserved populations
To Register, and for Housing, Travel Scholarships Information
www.hdeartconsortium.org Academic Credit
Arrangements for academic Credit can be provided to Health Disparities, Education, Awareness, Research and Training (HDEART) Consortium member students (Texas A&M University, Rice, TSU, UH, UHD, PVAMU, UT Southwestern Medical Center, UT Austin, UTMB Galveston, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, University of Houston, UHD, UTHSC-Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Florida, University of Miami, Morehouse School of Medicine and more (see website for full list of member institutions) who register for a “Special Topic Elective” at their respective institution and obtain approval from their departmental faculty advisor. Upon completion of the full six day Summer Workshop, a “Certificate of Attendance” will be given to each student and upon satisfying of individual institutional requirements, 3:0 academic semester credit units or equivalent will be awarded.
SOME OF OUR PLANITUM SPONSORS
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FEATURE HBRW: Serving Up Black Businesses as the Main Dish
An Unbreakable Bond: Sheila Jackson Lee and Erica Lee Carter By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor
A
sk any child and most can list a number of reasons why they love their mother. No matter what the reason they all center on one word, love. That love is formed from a special bond between mother and child. Mothers and daughters share a very unique emotionally connection. With such a delicate connection, I wondered how that bond is tested when you have to share your mother and the unconditional love she gives with others in a major way. What I found is that the bond is just made stronger to the point that it is unbreakable. Sharing is synonymous with service. One can’t be of service unless you are willing to share. Be it your time, money, or material things in order to be a blessing to others you have to give of yourself to someone else. This was a lesson that was constantly taught in the Lee household. Erica Lee Carter and her brother Jason Lee learned early on what it was to share and be of service to others. Whether they were sharing their toys with kids who didn’t have any or giving food to families in need, the Lee kids knew they were blessed and should be a blessing to others. “My mom always taught my brother and me that to ‘whom much is given much is required,’” said Erica. Serving others was a lesson taught inside the Lee home and outside as well. As chil-
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dren, Erica and her brother watched their mother work tirelessly to make the lives of others better as a member of Houston City Council and a member of Congress. They knew their mother’s heart was so big that she had enough love to give them and to share with their community for the betterment of all. The thoughts of service, giving and sharing were so engrained in Erica that she knew whatever she did in life that she would be involved in community service and volunteering in some form. And she couldn’t have been more right. Erica is a certified teacher and trustee for Harris County Department of Education Position 6, Precinct 1. One might think the path of public service coupled with politics that Erica has taken was very intentional given who her mother is. However, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Erica and Jason’s mother, never tried to push any of her children into a life of politics. Neither did their father, Dr. Elwyn Lee. So for Erica to choose this path of her own will makes Congresswoman Lee one proud mama. “Obviously, I have such a since of pride in Erica for her own self desire using her public administration degree, educational degree, her knowledge about managing government to be able to say that I can be a contributor to one of the things that I think is so very important and that is the educa-
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tion of our children,” said Congresswoman Lee. The education of children is a passion that the mother-daughter pair shares. Erica recalls as a young child that education was always a top priority no matter how busy her mother or father got. “My mother was able to prioritize our education and well being and still extend herself in service to so many others. My mom raised two children while working to improve the lives of all children in our community. She found a way to turn her beliefs about family into real, tangible policies for working families,” said Erica who considers her mother’s ability to balance her family and work commitments her greatest strength and compassion for all. Asking the Congresswoman to tell of her daughter’s greatest strength and pride immediately spreads across her face. “I think her greatest strength is her kindness and her humbleness,” began Congresswoman Lee as she went on to tell me how sweet, humble, bright, analytical and a list of other stellar characteristics her daughter has. Can you tell she is a proud mom? According to Congresswoman Lee, the best part about being a mom is all the kisses, hugs, love and being there for the milestone moments of her children’s life. Now as a grandmother of twins, the kisses, hugs, and love are doubled. Just like she instilled a servant’s heart into the lives of her own
children, she is passing that same lesson on to the next generation of Lee’s kids in her grandbabies, Ellison and Roy Carter III. Before the Carter twins were even born they were serving. Congresswoman Lee hosted a baby shower for her daughter in a non-typical way. Instead of people bringing gifts for the soon-to-be-born grandchildren, the gifts went to mothers of newborns who were in need. “We wanted to even in the womb instill in them that service is a wonderful calling and it’s very important to serve,” said Congresswoman Lee. Now that the grandbabies are here Congresswoman Lee calls this “the happiest time of my life.” Erica added, “She is really thriving as a grandmother and I am enjoying watching her take time with my children (her grandchildren). To see her influence the next generation in our family is a wonderful blessing.” As the pair prepares to celebrate another Mother’s Day together, Congresswoman Lee has a bit of advice for mothers of today’s children. “Young mothers stay in the life of your child. Tough love can be how you define it always let your child know that you love them, without question, without doubt, what you expect from them to be the very best,” said Congresswoman Lee, great advice from a tough mom.
MOTHER’S DAY Upon the Wings of a Dove
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ometime in the womb, as we evolve over months from a single-celled organism into the complex mass of neurons and flesh that we recognize as ourselves, an awareness of our place in the world emerges. The world as we begin to know it is a warm, liquid soup, filled with nutrients and enveloped in a thin translucent film. The steady drum of a heartbeat just outside the womb begins to set the pace of your own fledgling heart. An umbilical cord connected directly to our tiny bellies pipes in nourishment to fuel our rapid growth. And then bam! In a moment that ideal world comes crashing to an end. The pain and travail of our mother’s struggle seems like a banishment from the land of milk and honey to a harsh, cold world. Our lungs struggle to take breath as our eyes adjust to the blinding light of the outside world. And in that moment, we must truly believe we have died, for the world we have known our entire lives up to that point has been torn from us never to return again. Like King Lear’s fool, ‘we wail and cry,’ striking out in blind fury at having been kicked out of paradise. As infants, we cling closely to our mothers, suckling directly from our mother’s breast, literally drawing from her own life
By Armstrong Williams, Special to Style
force like a battery charging from a wall socket. We learn the world through her eyes. Her smell, her smile, her very presence becomes the blanket we seek against a world we do not know and cannot survive on our own. This deep attachment does not end, no matter how old we get and how many conquests we achieve. And so, it is no wonder that we return to our mothers again and again during life. As young children, we hide behind her skirts when other kids are being mean to us, or when we find ourselves in the company of strangers. We run to her and cry the first time we fall down while playing and scuff our knee. And every time this happens, she is there to reassure us, to mend our fingers or soothe our bruised hearts. Even as we mature in life we find ourselves constantly returning to the feeling of security and warm and unconditional love that only a person born of her own flesh can offer. Amid the gnawing doubts we suffer in our early adult lives, not knowing for sure whether we are equipped to confront a world in which there are rarely easy answers; amid the complexities of relationships, education, business and public life – we return again
Armstrong Williams and Mother and again to the primal comfort of our mothers. While it is often said that we inherit at least half of our genes from our fathers, the nurturing care of our mothers, her flesh and blood literally give us life. My father taught me the virtues of work and industry. Those instilled values have given rise over the years to my public persona. My mother, who was equally hard working, taught my siblings and I the importance of nurturing our physical and spiritual bodies. We inherited our Christian faith from her. And those values have given rise to an unshakeable inner strength that has undergirded my soul and given me confidence and comfort in times of turmoil.
of loss, of separation, and banishment I must have felt at birth has now returned. Over the past month since her passing, the world has literally transformed into a strange place.Many years ago, my very wise and now deceased mother pulled me aside and reminded me that material wealth, while it may seem important to me in my youth, were not nearly so important as the memories created for family and friends. That is one’s greatest legacy.
The scriptures command us to honor our mothers and fathers. This age old wisdom seems only natural and a matter of common sense. It is right and proper that we honor those without whom we would not enjoy the blessing of life. I have striven my entire life to live up the values and ethics exemplified by my parents. They were and are to this day my most cherished role models.
I expect to mourn and grieve as most of us do when a loved one passes. It is only natural. But I also know that my mother prepared me for this moment. Her constant prayers are ingrained in me, to call upon whenever I need them.
But my mother was so much more than that. She was also one of my closest friends. We talked every morning by phone, before the sun rose, and often prayed together. This routine has become so deeply ingrained in my daily life – until she passed away on April 7 on the eve of her 91st birthday we never went a day without communicating several times daily by phone – that in a sense it has become the steady heartbeat that has constantly paced my own.
Armstrong Williams and Mother
I knew on a conscious level that when she passed it would be difficult for me to fathom life in her absence; but the feeling
Such grief and sadness knowing my life and relationships have changed forever. Just a difficult time emotionally. Truly have never felt so alone in this world!
While she is no longer with us in flesh, the gift of her soul is ever enduring. While mom was here on earth, she never wearied, she never wavered, until God said her work was done. But now, as King David fervently also wished, mom has been granted the wings of a dove; I imagine her fondly as she flies away to be at rest. Mr. Williams is Manager / Sole Owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. Listen to Mr. Williams on Sirius XM126 Urban View nightly 6:00-8:00pm EST. Follow me on Twitter @arightside
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FASHION
Wearable Protection: Aubry Lane Handbags By Cecilia Smith, Feature Writer
Aubry Lane
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epper spray, a taser or even a concealed handgun; when it comes to self-defense there are plenty of options, but what happens if you’re armed with nothing more than a cell phone? During an emergency, would you have enough time to reach your phone and dial for help?
spond using the SOS button and location can be sent to your contacts via a Google Maps alert. As Creative Director Halie Geyh explained, “That’s in every single bag so that people can call for help if they need it, up to five emergency contacts and they can be tracked almost anywhere in the world.”
If you’re like me- meaning you can’t keep a cell charged - wearable protection might be a viable option. As the industry expands wearable tech companies are growing as well, with some finding creative ways to blend fashion and self-defense.
“Generally what we’re finding is that it provides a way for women to track their bag and have a safety net. It’s a good alternative to having pepper spray or a taser that can always be used against you,” she said.
Enter Aubry Lane, an emerging tech brand offering the first line of handbags capable of assisting during an emergency. Each comes specially equipped with a hidden GPS tracker and SOS button that, once activated, allows the wearer to be reached virtually anywhere.
Founded by CEO Jordan Hertlund, the sales professional has built a growing platform for fashionable tech wear, motivated by a desire the website describes as “A way to help bridge the gap between fashion and safety -- He wanted to create a handbag that was not only beautiful, but provided a level of unparralled safety women.”
Improving on existing bluetooth technology, the magic of Aubry Lane bags lies in their ability to call or text pre-programmed contacts with the simple push of a button. The handbags also allow the wearer to re-
It adds, “This is what inspired Aubry Lane, a brand that empowers women while providing them the freedom they deserve to live their lives without a constant worry about their safety.” And they’re not stop-
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ping there, as Director of Public Relations Catherine Horton revealed other potential uses for the line, including a tracking method for parents or even an option for those suffering from ailments like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Ranging from $200-$400 per bag, the battery on each can last up to a week depending upon use, and comes with a complimentary charging dock. For more information on the technology and details behind Aubry Lane handbags, visit www. aubrylane.com/technology.
SPORTS
All In A Day’s Work: Life of An NFL Agent On Draft Day
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he NFL recently held its annual job fair. Like most hiring processes, applicants presented their best self, polished up their resume, bragged on their skill set, and prayed for the best. Some people got hired because they were skilled and interviewed well, while others didn’t get the job for various reasons. And although it seems that the individual who is applying for the job has the toughest time, it’s not. Just behind the scene, like a master puppeteer is one who is grinding to not just get their client hired but get him the best deal possible, the NFL agent. Most people believe that all an agent does is show up, sign the contract for the player and collects his fee. But that is far from the truth as I witnessed firsthand just a fraction of what goes on behind the scene. Truth be told, I think I would rather just show up in athletic tights with no shirt and run the 40-yard dash for NFL scouts. That would be easier than everything an agent goes through to make sure he gets what’s best for his client. Come go with me to take a look inside the world of an NFL agent. As I pulled up to the Athletic Performance Lab located in Katy, Texas, I was greeted by a gentleman that was very mild mannered with a very laid back attitude. We walk through the facility that on any other day you could find top-notch athletes from all sports training. But on this day the only noise that can be heard is the constant ringing of a phone as notifications came across the young man’s phone who was leading me to the “War Room.” That sound is music to a sports agent’s ears, especially during NFL Draft season. I asked the gentleman, “What advice would you give a high school athlete who wants to hear their name potentially called on this day in a few years?” He looks at me and says, “Keep your grades up, work harder than the next person by getting into places like this to improve your skills, and most importantly, and stay out of any controversial or idiotic subject on social media. That is the quickest way for a team to walk away from you.” That is sound advice from one who knows, meet Corey Williams, an NFL Agent. Williams has always been surrounded by all things football beginning with his hometown of Orange, Texas. Most people outside of the great state of Texas have never heard of the small football factory where Williams grew up but I am sure they know some of its most famous hometown heroes. Do first round draft picks Earl Thomas of Seattle and Kevin Smith of the Dallas Cowboys ring any bells? They come from the same streets Williams grew up playing on. But unlike
By Brian Barefield, Sports Writer
them, Williams knew going to the pros for football wasn’t in his future. “Growing up, I knew that I didn’t have the athletic prowess to be like Shaq or former Dallas Cowboys OL Larry Allen. So, I decided that I wanted to do something that would afford me the opportunity to be around world class athletes,” says Williams when asked how he got into sports management. After earning his bachelor degree from Prairie View A&M University, he decided that he wanted more and went to law school to become an attorney specializing in sports law and personal injury. He eventually went on to open his own sports management agency, Overtime Sports Management Group LLC, with his business partner William Felix III in 2010. Seven years later Williams is representing the best of the best trying to get them that all important NFL contract. During our conversation, Williams looks at his draft board and then writes a couple of notes down on his legal pad, which now contains so much information it looks like a 3-year-old’s doodle paper. “The Cowboys just took another defensive back,” he says. This hurts him a bit and causes him to show a small amount of emotions due to the fact one of his clients, Coastal Carolina S Richie Sampson, was a potential draft pick headed that way. “Draft day can be a little nerve wrecking because you think you have a feel for where your player could be drafted by talking to scouts and others in player personnel. And then at the drop of a dime things can change.” And that’s the nerve wrecking part the average sports fan never sees. As the draft day concludes, Williams begins working the phones trying to get his players’ free agent contracts or at least an invitation to a mini-camp where a player can get looked at exclusively from a team. The hard work and dedication pays off once the Houston Texans call and offers former Texas Christian University WR/ST speedster Deante’ Gray a free agent contract. “That’s what makes this day so special to me. Helping make a young man’s dream come true,” Williams expressed to me. However, the process doesn’t stop there. Williams works the phone talking to numerous NFL teams until he lands the aforementioned Sampson two rookie mini camps spots with the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans. I make mention of the day being done and he just laughs at me and says, “Actually it is just starting.” Williams packs up his things into his briefcase. Calls some other clients, like Jake Schum of the Green Bay
Corey Williams with client Deante Gray Packers, just to check on them. And heads out the door to meet Gray to sign the contract. I then realized that there is no such thing as an off-season for an NFL agent. That work ethic is something his clients appreciate. “Corey has done a tremendous job as an agent since we first met by doing things like constantly informing me on everything I could expect out of this process. He has been very upfront with absolutely everything and has a clear
motivation to do things that are in my best interest,” said 2017 Houston Texans Rookie Free Agent WR Deante’ Gray. Guys dreaming of being on the gridiron as a pro baller need someone like Williams in their corner. He is going to keep pushing for them until he makes their dreams come true. And then he is going to push some more. He will never rest because it’s all in day’s work for an NFL agent.
EvEry ONE IS IMPOrTANT. You can help keep your child healthy with regular checkups and vaccines. Every one is important. And they’re free with Children’s Medicaid. Your child will also get other health benefits like free prescription drugs, dental care, eye exams, and glasses. Even rides to and from the doctor or dentist’s office. Call today or visit our website to apply.
www.CHIPmedicaid.org 1-877-KIDS-NOW ChildrEn with MEdiCAid CAn gEt frEE ridEs to thE doCtor or dEntist ’s offiCE. CAll 1-877-MEd -triP to lEArn MorE.
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EAT WITH STYLE The Worldy Eats Of The Hard Rock Cafe By Brandon Caldwell, Feature Writer
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burger lover will bring themselves to a venue to try anything. A foodie will simply add to their palate whenever brought into a setting that begs for adventure and optimism. The Hard Rock Cafe, the legendary establishment with the largest collection of music memorabilia in the world isn’t starting anew, it’s bringing its vintage looks and vital presentation to a modern audience. That starts not only with the World Burger Tour but also an upcoming spotlight on live music with Hard Rock Rising. We were lucky to be brought in for an exclusive tasting of four different style burgers at the Hard Rock. As we were carefully explained the rich history of the Hard Rock as well as how much the establishment values live entertainment and outreach to young musicians looking for their break, the venue’s long established chef slowly began wheeling out plates of showcase burgers. “Our chef’s been here for over thirty years,” Sales & Marketing Manager Steph-
anie Harbin told us. “He could pretty much prepare and plate anything.” She was selling the chef short. The first two burgers our eyes set upon were the English Breakfast Burger and the Jambalaya Burger. We immediately found ourselves drawn to the English Breakfast Burger solely because of the accentuation of a miniature English muffin for a bun but once we took a bite into it? Senses became in bloom, the roof of our mouths couldn’t begin to describe what a delicacy it was. Garlic aioli, baby arugula, ham, bacon, egg, tomato all packed between a regular bun and an English muffin bun on the bottom. “It’s pretty much got everything you’d want for breakfast,” Harbin said. It took this writer less than three bites before fully consuming the English Breakfast Burger. Our eyes darted over to the Jambalaya Burger, highlighted by the fact that dirty rice (!) is baked into the burger itself. Imagine a dirty rice patty with tangy Memphis slaw, cajun mayonnaise, tomatoes, sausage brisket and sliced pepper jack cheese.
Hard Rock Cafe Burgers Now imagine that in a fusion style to make not only your mouth water but satisfaction dance across your lips and taste buds. Again, we were left wondering whether or not the burgers would stop tasting so good. Soon after finishing the first two burgers, the Hard Rock’s top handy chef wheeled out two more burgers, a Korean Kimchi Burger & Colombian Plantain Burger. Now, an Asian specific delicacy matched up against a South American mastercraft of a burger, who says no, right? The Kimchi Burger knew what it was before we sat down, a traditional burger topped with spicy kimchi, bulgogi sauce, fresh tomato and lettuce and spicy mayo. In other words, it’s the burger ready-made for the spice lover in your life. Before we could decided upon the spicy Kimchi Burger, the Plantain Burger sounded like a more viable third option. A savoury and sweet combination of caramelized onions, bacon and Monterey Jack Cheese, the burger came spiked with molasses and topped with fire plantains. Without question between it and the English Breakfast Burger, it was our favorite of the entire tour. Sorry Kimchi Burger, I had already found a favorite lady to dance with.
Hard Rock Cafe Burgers
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As we finished up with the Burger World Tour, Harbin made certain to emphasize Hard Rock Rising, the Cafe’s newest venture taking on aspiring musicians and bands for a chance to perform at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida later this year. Partnering with ReverbNation, the one-of-a-kind global competition will see much of its Houston talent compete on May 25th. After over 100 bands and artists au-
ditioned earlier this year, the top three acts and one wildcard selected from that group will perform at the Hard Rock’s Houston location near Revention Music Center on May 25. “Musicians in more than 70 countries around the globe entered Hard Rock Rising and nearly 175,000 votes were cast by fans in the wildcard round in 2016. This year’s competition is sure to be just as fierce, and we’re looking forward to putting the winning artist on the fast-track to success with a performance in front of thousands at Hard Rock Stadium,” Marketing Manager at Hard Rock International Shailyne Berges said. A panel of international music industry professionals will then narrow the local cafe winners down to four regional finalists and one global grand prize winner. All finalists will receive $1,000 USD, a Fender instruments prize pack, and a 1,000 CD/ DVD pack of the artist’s latest recording or video from Bison Disc. Additionally, the grand prize winner will perform during halftime at Hard Rock Stadium and get a chance to create a professionally-produced music video, which will be added to Hard Rock’s world-wide video system. The Hard Rock is already a prime destination for vintage music lovers as well as appreciators of great eats after a fun concert or large event at the Revention Center next door. With Hard Rock Rising as well as the Burger World Tour, they’ve already taken a spot as one of the premier destinations in Downtown Houston this spring.
HEALTH
8 Ways to Optimize Your Sleep
W
[Courtesy of Family Features]
hile a healthy lifestyle requires a balanced diet and exercise, sleep is another pillar of overall wellness that is both essential to your health and success, and often overlooked. By simply making small changes to your daily routine you can improve your quality of sleep. Follow these tips from Dr. Sujay Kansagra, Mattress Firm’s sleep health consultant and director of Duke University’s Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, and get on your way to better rest and a healthier life. 1. Manage your sleep time. Rather than trying to accomplish everything on your to-do list at the expense of sleep, reverse your approach. As the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night, make sure to set aside the time needed for a full night of rest. 2. Stay on schedule. Try to keep your bedtime and wake time consistent on both weekdays and weekends. With time, your brain and body will acclimate to these set times, but until then, rely on an alarm – not only to wake in the morning, but to keep you from staying up too late at night, too. 3. Find a routine. A routine performed 20-30 minutes prior to bed every night can subconsciously ease your brain into sleep. Unwinding with a book, taking a warm bath or meditating are all ways to slow your mind and transition toward peaceful rest. 4. Brighten up the morning. Getting plenty of bright light in the morning helps keep your sleep timing on track, particularly if you wake up early. Make opening the drapes and blinds your first task each morning.
5. Ditch the clock. Fixating on the time can create stress and keep you up at night. Instead, set your alarm, turn your clock around and forget about the time. 6. Get moving. Research shows that exercise can act as a natural sleep remedy, often leading to a more sound slumber. However, if you exercise late and have difficulty falling asleep, consider moving your workout earlier
in the day. The increase in body temperature from exercise tends to be prolonged, sometimes making it hard to fall asleep. 7. Kick the caffeine habit. Morning caffeine can linger in your system until it’s time to sleep. Coffee, tea, dark sodas and dark chocolate are the main offenders for most people. 8. Pay back debt. If you are chronically deprived of sleep, allow your body extra sleep time to make up for the loss. In these cases, even 8-9 hours each night may not be enough. Allow your body to catch up then commit to more consistent sleep patterns in the future. Find more resources to help improve your sleep, including tips on how to purchase a new mattress, at DailyDoze.com. Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Follow Us #TeamStyleMag Twitter @HoustonStyle Instagram @StyleMagazine Facebook: Houston Style Magazine
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TRAVEL
What’s Love Got to Do With Paris? By Bell of TotallyRandie, Feature Writer
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ave you ever been played? Have you ever had your heart broken? Think back to the first time that you found out Santa Clause wasn’t real, or the first time your parents broke their promise to you. That’s the feeling that Paris aka “The City of Love” gave me this weekend. Paris (in my best French accent) is the perfect online relationship. Everyone on the outside looking in longs to be in the girlfriend or boyfriend role, or aspire to one day find a significant other like those in the loving relationships; in other words #RelationshipGoals The problem is no one sees when the couple goes home and barely talks to each other, the fights, insults, or tears. All they see is the admiration or “love” that each posts on social media or tags in a picture. For years, I imagined Paris to flow with the sound of accordions playing that classic French music heard in the movies. I envisioned myself walking the streets as I passed bistros on every corner with the best cheese and vino and chefs waiting to greet me; a crowded love lock bridge suffocating me with couples sealing their love with locks and kisses. My stomach would
long for Ratatouille, crepes, macarons, and French bread. However, I was greeted with a much different view when I touched down in Paris. Cigarette smoke, extremely crowded streets/traffic, a tourists exploitation, and bad hygiene all met me at the door. Unlike in the US, Paris has no regulations for smoking. People smoked in stores, cafes, restaurants, hotels, you name a place, and they lit it up. It didn’t even matter that plaster on every pack of their cigarettes was a huge message in bold letters saying “smoking kills.” It was as if people didn’t care or knew how to read because with every step I took, I smelled burning tobacco that singed my nostrils. But that wasn’t the only thing playing hopscotch with my allergies; hygiene is far down the Parisians list of things to do. Not only was the body odor atrocious, but also there wasn’t any soap in about 90% of the places we visited included our own hotel room. Which by the way, if you plan on visiting Europe period, be mindful that accommodations are small, all the way around. Your plates are tapas, so are your drinking glasses, and ice is a luxury. Your entire hotel room is probably
Paris, France the side of a kitchen in Texas. Think New York for rooming as well as transportation and traffic. What should have been a 5-10 minute drive in an Uber pool took us a legit 30-minute drive. In their defense, they were electing a president the weekend I decided to go, so there were an excessive amount of tourists in the city for the election. While on the subject of tourists be careful of exploitation when visiting Paris. Just from my Bonjour alone, people could tell I was a tourist. So what usually cost 5 Euros had immediately jumped to 20 Euros. However, because this wasn’t my first rodeo in Europe, I caught on quickly to the game and they could tell I was a seasoned tourist so they didn’t play with me too much, but they knew I was a tourist nonetheless. I know you are in shock right now, probably wondering how I could speak so poorly of a city that people love so much. Well, it’s easy. Paris isn’t all that bad. Even though I wouldn’t call it the city of love, I would call it the city of art or the city of charm. Nothing compares to seeing the Eiffel Tower in all her glory. A true beauty she sits like a beating heart in the center of the city. Lighting up with a smile at night as hundreds of tourist from all over the world come and admire her grandiose presence.
Paris, France
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Just a couple of blocks away is the Liberty Flame Statue dedicated to the world beloved Princess Diana of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in the tunnel below and died in the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Par-
is, France. Surrounding her dedication are locks of love. And although officials have removed the locks of love from the bridge all of the padlocks along side of the bridge (due to the compromise of the structure) can be seen by people and couples can still locked their love on the light post. I, too, locked my love right on the light post on the bridge. Then if you are really into art history, there is the amazing Notre Dame, which is simply breathtaking. You also have the historic Arc De Triumphe, Palace de Versailles, and Palace de Louvre, where hundreds gathered on Sunday to celebrate the victory of the election of their new president. The fashion is also amazing in Paris and, of course, there are a plethora of “Musses” or museums showcasing the best art you have ever laid eyes on. With everything said, I really appreciate Paris. It’s a charming city and I love art history. I wouldn’t trade this past weekend for anything. If I have ruined your view of Paris I’m so sorry. I can only speak the truth. What’s love got to do with Paris? Think about it. There is a reason why there are always great deals to Paris coupled with Spain. For I did all that I named in a weekend and you can too. For more information on great travel deals or what to expect in Europe, tweet me @TotallyRandie! Until next time, do something #TotallyRandie!
EVENTS
May 11 Travis Scott in Concert 8pm Revention Music Center 520 Texas Street Houston, TX 77002
May 13 World Beauty Fitness & Fashion Inc. 10:30am Hobby Center 800 Bagby St.Houston, TX 77002
May 12 Brian Wilson in Concert 8pm Revention Music Center 520 Texas Street Houston, TX 77002
May 14 Mother’s Day Serenade 2017 5pm Wortham Center 501 Texas St. Houston, TX 77002
May 12-13 Comicpalooza Avenida Houston 1001 Avenida de las America Houston, TX 77010
May 15 Earnest Pugh’s Billboard Celebration and Video World Premiere 6pm Houston’s City Hall (Legacy Room) 901 Bagby Street Houston, TX 7002
May 13 Lioinel Richie and Mariah Carey in Concert 7pm Toyota Center 1510 Polk StreetHouston, TX 77002
May 20 New Kids On the Block Tour 7:30pm Toyota Center 1510 Polk St.
May 25 Ongoing Dancin’ in the Streets … Motown & More Revue 8:15pm Miller Outdoor Theatre 6000 Hermann Park Drive Houston, TX 77030 May 26 - August 4, (Every Friday Night) Salsa Under the Stars During Downtown Aquarium’s Latin Beats 7-11pm Downtown Aquarium Houston on the Plaza 410 Bagby St. at Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77002 May 28th 4th Annual Madness on Main Festival
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MOTHER’S DAY 5 Ways to Show Your Mother You Love Her By Demez White, Feature Writer
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other’s Day will always be the signature Hallmark card holiday for one simple reason. Who doesn’t love their mother? Often times she’s the first one to calm us when we’re crying, to pick us up when we fall down. Whether we get our heart broken at 12 or 32 it’s our mother whose lap we can lay on and cry like there’s no tomorrow. You don’t have to be wealthy to show your mom you love her this Mother’s Day. You just have to have a little imagination. Five- Use Your Hands Get up early Saturday morning and head to your mom’s house. Cook her breakfast and strap up your work boots. Whether it’s cleaning up the yard, cleaning out a garage or dusting and cleaning every inch of the house, just be helpful. It’s not even only about the cleaning up; it’s about the quality time. Four- Mom’s Love Social Media Mothers are adorable when it comes to social media because often times once they learn how to use Facebook they’re always on Facebook. Write them a letter, make them a video, surprise them. Give them something to share and brag about.
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Three- Surprise Road Trips This may take a lot of coordination, especially if you have several brothers and sisters but it’s doable. Most of our families aren’t from the city we live in, especially in the south. Often times our grandparents migrated from a smaller city or town. Pack some lunches and take her back to her roots. Allow her to see family that’s still there, allow her to laugh and smile and reminisce. Two- Can’t Go Wrong With Dinner A staple of Mother’s Day is church in the morning and dinner afterwards. It’s tried, true and simple. A lot of us have parted ways with the church we grew up with or the church our parents attend so often times they’re so happy to see us. Afterwards we change clothes, get the BBQ pit or skillets going and just enjoy our mom. One- She Loves You This one actually has nothing to do with how to celebrate Mother’s Day. This is for the people that have lost mothers or grandmothers and may be feeling not so great this weekend. Always remember that she loves you. The moments you shared, the secrets, the hugs. She loves you and even though she may not be here physically, she’s watching you and smiling.
May 11 - May 17, 2017 www.stylemagazine.com
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NWOA Houston Profiles of Prominence Photography by Vicky Pink he Houston Chapter of the National Women of Achievement, Incorporated recognined nine distinguished individuals that have made outstanding professional achievements and unique contributions to the Houston community. The 2017 Profiles of Prominence honorees were Reginald Collins, Sophia Haralson, Bryant Hunter, Akyla Nicholas, Makaela Reed, Victoria Ezeh, Anne Harris, Althia Hunter, Jarma Tarver, and Houston Style’s own Jo-Carolyn Goode. The affair is one of the hallmark events for the chapter that helps fund their youth scholarship program.
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15th LWI’s Luncheon & Fashion Show Photography by Roswitha Vogler atin Women’s Initiative (LWI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Latin women and their families in Houston. More than 600 guests packed the ballroom for the 15th Anniversary of the Latin Women’s Initiative Luncheon and fashion show. The event chaired by Karina Barbieri and Daysi Mendoza raised over $250,000 with proceeds going to numerous charitable organizations. Models showcased fashions by Sandra Weil, Takasami and Kris Goyri. Rosi F. Hernández, Patricia Herrera, Trini Mendenhall, Micheline Ferrand Newall, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Susana Brener de Stern, Ericka Bagwell, and Mary Tere Perusquia were honored at the lively affair.
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