9-12
ARTS & EVENTS CALENDAR
13
THE BUZZ
14-15 DOORSTEP DIGITAL: SAVING YESTERDAY FOR TOMORROW 16-17 THE GAME: SYLVESTER TURNER 18-20 TRINITI'S CHEF IS MAKING BIG PLANS 21
THE BUZZ
22-24 HOUSTON AREA COLLEGES & TRADE SCHOOLS 24-25 TRANSITIONING FROM HOME TO COLLEGE 26-27 MS. G'S STORY 28-29 FINANCIAL FOCUS: COLLEGE SAVINGS 30
THE BUZZ
David Michael Young BROKER, CNE, CLHMS, GREEN Young Realty Group (713) 320-6453 www.youngrealtyhouston.com
Val Arbona REALTOR, CLHMS, CRS RE/MAX Vintage (713) 562-4903 valarbona.com
Weldon Rigby CRS, ABR Founding Member KW Luxury Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (713) 621-2555 www.weldonrigby.com
Julie Pistone Krampitz Owner TK Images Photography (713) 545-9177 www.tkimages.com
1801 W. Clay | River Oaks Shopping Area
21106 Glen Willow | Northwest Houston
List Price $1,100,000 | MLS#78646330
List Price $699,900 | MLS # 28653770
is Croix Custom Home has an open first floor living with high ceilings & lots of natural light. Gourmet island kitchen with GE Monogram stainless appliance package, including built in refrigerator & wine fridge. e second floor has a den & study next to the master bedroom, plus a large desk area for kids. Travertine & hardwood floors - no carpet. Ecobee thermostats, tankless water heater, and central vacuum. Two patios, one covered. Downtown view from third floor bedroom. Walk to Buffalo Bayou Park, Whole Foods, many shops & restaurants.
3 wooded Acres and spacious home on private road with other lovely estates! is 4/6 bedroom home has updates throughout – kitchen, master bath, expanded and open first floor living areas – to name a few. ere are 2 bedrooms, game room and wine grotto on the 1st floor; Media room and full quarters (with separate entry) on the 2nd. e park-like outdoor space has fabulous features for at-home entertaining like Pool, spa and covered Patio. Located with easy access to 99. www.21106glenwillow.com for more information.
David M. Young | Young Realty Group | Phone: 713-320-6453
Val Arbona | RE/MAX Vintage | Phone: 713-562-4903
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Real Estate Professionals Serving the Greater Houston Luxury Home Community
29003 Dobbin Hufsmith Rd. | Magnolia List Price $2,599,000| MLS# 13455472 Spectacular estate on 19 acres features custom home constructed with Cantera Stone, an 18 stall horse barn of Old Chicago Brick & an infinity pool overlooking the scenic lake. Fine details throughout from the custom gate at the end of the private drive constructed of river rock. 5 bedrooms all with ensuite baths.
Wendy Cline CLHMS, SRES, ABR, CPRES Wendy Cline Properties Keller Williams Memorial (281) 858-3451 www.WendyClineProperties.com
James Brodnax CLHMS, ABR GRI CPA Realty One Group (713) 822-3423 www.westandloop.com
Tiffany Palacios CNE Keller Williams Memorial (713) 289-9898 www.TiffanyPalacios.com
Genevieve Rowland REALTOR, MCNE, CLHMS Keller Williams Memorial (281) 904-7014 www.rowland-properties.com
Paula Hagerman ABR, CDPE, WCR, Realtor, member GHLHC and member ILHM Remax Vintage (713) 306-3557 www.paulah.remaxtexas.com
Sima Dalvandi Realtor Keller Williams Southwest (832) 630-7605 www.ezhomerealestate.com
Wendy Cline | Keller Williams Memorial | Phone: 281-858-3451
18407 Hopfe | Hockley List Price $1,425,000 | MLS# 53087092 Long private gated drive leads up to this amazing one of a kind property with custom home, pond with dock, outdoor entertainment complex & two lg metal shops on almost 10 acres. Home features updated flooring, plantation shutters & great open plan. All appliances in indoor & outdoor kitchens 2 yrs old. All bdrms with private baths & built ins.
Wendy Cline | Keller Williams Memorial | Phone: 281-858-3451
1007 Lillian | Galveston List Price $499,000 | MLS# 53544939 Gated private community with pool, boat slip & private pier directly across Offatts Bayou from Moody Gardens with easy access to the Strand. Gated private community with pool, boat slip & private pier. Easy access to the Strand,Historic district, and the beach.
Wendy Cline | Keller Williams Memorial | Phone: 281-858-3451
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Jennifer Fitts Fuller CLHMS Keller Williams Memorial (713) 927-9809 www.jfullerrealty.com
Debra Osborn Camino Realtor, ABR, AHSS, ALC, ALHS, CNE, WCR Keller Williams NE (713) 397-3867 www.LiveNEHouston.com
25950 Century Oaks Blvd. | Hockley List Price $985,000 | MLS# 404540 Stunning custom home on 4 acres in the gated community of Century Oaks Estates. Beautifully landscaped lot with majestic trees, heated pool with elevated hot tub, Custom home with Chef 's kitchen and huge island and opens to family room with stone fireplace and terrace. Private office, both formals.
Wendy Cline | Keller Williams Memorial | Phone: 281-858-3451
Moira Holden CHMS, CLHMS, CNE, GRI Better Homes & Gardens - Gary Greene (281) 460-9402 www.garygreene.com
Beverly Smith CLHMS, Lake Conroe Specialist Coldwell Banker United, Realtors (713) 569-2113 www.har.com/bevsmith
330 Club Island Way | Montgomery List Price $1,285,000 | MLS# 1362239 Wonderful family home in gated community of Bentwater with excellent views of Lake Conroe. is home has a large family room that opens to the kitchen, formal living, & dining, game room, study, library & 4 bedrooms. Backyard with pool, 2 boat lis with upper deck for excellent sunset viewing.
Beverly Smith | Coldwell Banker United Realtors | Phone: 713-569-2113
Marlene Foad ABR, CRS, ePRO®, CLHMS 360 Property Agency (281) 686-4444 www.HoustonLuxuryEstates.com
Mariana Saldana Broker, CIPS Uptown Real Estate Group, Inc. (713) 629-7771 www.uptownhouston.com
2207 Bancro/Highland Tower | Galleria List Price $896,000 | MLS# 60392465 Stunning 15th floor superbly upgraded unit with Galleria views. Split floor plan, 2 bedroom 2.5 bath, extra high ceilings, gourmet kitchen with marble countertops and upgraded stainless appliances. Custom lighting, remote window shades, surround sound, 2 parking spaces and infinity pool, loggia/summer kitchen, fitness center, putting green & River Oaks District is just across the street.
Mariana Saldana | Uptown Real Estate Group, Inc. | Phone: 713-629-7771
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
What I Learned This Summer
Learning is vital and consequential in the development of children. An effective teacher has profound effects on changing and improving the course of one’s life. Most of us had a teacher who somehow stood out and made us want to learn. What we learn and how much we want to learn comes from teachers as well as family and friends. Unfortunately, many children grow up without a caring and nurturing family, and school is their refuge. An education involves much more than learning nouns and verbs. Our featured teacher, Ms. G, taught the importance of staying in school and getting an education, which can change your path by believing in yourself and working hard. For the last ten years, including summer school, she taught senior English at Houston Heights High School, where many inner city at-risk kids receive their final chance at a high school education. Many graduates are thriving because this school gave Ms. G a chance to pursue her dream of helping underprivileged, abused, or troubled youth. Many of her kids succeeded through hard work and by having had someone simply tell them “I love you”, something Ms. G did. The power of a teacher! I learned this this summer. Teachers may not always feel appreciated on a daily basis but should learn from experiences that teaching has lifelong impressions. Too many children come from troubled homes where they don’t receive guidance and caring. As Ms. G put it, “many of our kids have never really felt loved.” Wanting a better life for others and making other people around you feel happy is an important virtue I relearned this summer. Unfortunately, for some, despite recent advances and new cancer drug developments that improve chances for cancer survival, a cure for pancreatic cancer remains a tenebrous pursuit. There are inadequate attention and monies committed for this killer; today it remains the toughest of all cancers from which to survive. My loving Ms. G and I learned this this summer.
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Stacey Gordon - Ms. G
ARTS + EVENTS Museums Asia Society Texas Center In and Out of Context: Asia Society Celebrates the Collections at 60 Ongoing through Dec. 4, 2016 No Limits: Zao Wou-KI Opens Sept. 9, 2016 through Jan. 8, 2017 Zhang Peili: Continuous Reproduction Opens Sept. 9 through Dec. 4, 2016
Hearts Dania Olivares
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Flow Ongoing through Sept. 18, 2016 Right Here, Right Now: Houston, Volume 2 Ongoing through Nov. 27, 2016
Holocaust Museum Houston “H-O-P-E: Paintings by Samuel Bak” Ongoing through Sept. 11, 2016
“Helene Berr, A Stolen Life” Ongoing through Nov. 13, 2016
Museum Of Fine Arts Houston
”Taking Flight: The Butterfly Project” Ongoing through Dec. 31, 2016
Infinite Pause: Photography and Time Ongoing through Sept. 5, 2016
”Babi Yar: Faces and Fates, 75th Anniversary of the Tragedy” Sept. 9 through Oct. 30, 2016
Selections from the Museum’s Collection: Post-War Painting and Sculpture Ongoing through Sept. 5, 2016 Kusama: At the End of the Universe Ongoing through Sept. 18, 2016 Statements: African American Art from the Museum’s Collection Ongoing through Sept. 25, 2016 Look to the East: Decorative Arts and Orientalism, 1870-1920 Ongoing through Oct. 23, 2016 Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait Ongoing through Jan. 29, 2017 Helen Levitt: In the Street Opens Oct. 2, 2016 through Jan. 2, 2017
Menil Collection As Essential as Dreams: Self-Taught Art from the Collection of Stephanie and John Smither Ongoing through Oct. 16, 2016 Andy Warhol: Sunset Ongoing through Jan. 8, 2017 Picasso The Line Opens Sept. 16, 2016 through Jan. 8, 2017 Francis Alys: The Fabiola Project Ongoing through Jan. 28, 2018
Houston Museum of Natural Science Faberge: From a Snowflake to an Iceberg Ongoing
Degas: A New Vision Opens Oct. 16, 2016 through Jan. 8, 2017
Amber Secrets: Feathers from the Age of Dinosaurs Ongoing
Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei Opens Oct. 23, 2016 through Jan. 22, 2017
La Virgen de Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas Ongoing through Sept. 5, 2016 intown 9
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown October 8-9 e Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA) will celebrate 45 years of fine art as it spotlights more than 300 artists at the Featured Artist: Dania Olivares annual Bayou City Art Festival in Downtown Houston, October 8 – 9, 2016. e festival will benefit 10 local nonprofits and will feature music, food trucks, beverages, entertainment and a Children’s Creative Zone. “is event has such a deep-rooted legacy in Houston and it’s an honor to once again share this weekend celebration with thousands of supporters, hundreds of artists and local nonprofit partners,” said Bridget Anderson, Executive Director of Art Colony Association. is year’s featured artist, Dania Olivares, represents the diverse, eclectic community of all participating artists. Ranging from 3-D art to acrylic on canvas, Olivares’ is a self-taught mixed-media artist, born in McAllen, Texas and raised in the small town of Diaz Ordaz, Mexico.
Gemstone Carvings Ongoing Out of The Amazon: Life on the River Ongoing through Oct. 16, 2016 The Chronophage Clock Ongoing through Sept. 5, 2016 The National Parks Photography Project Ongoing through Sept. 28, 2016 Amending America: The Bill of Rights Opens Sept. 2, 2016 Art and the Animal (2016) Opens Sept. 23, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2017 Mummies of the World Opens Sept. 23, 2016
Music & Dance Houston Ballet
“If somebody would have had told me five years ago that I would be selected as the featured artist at one of the top 10 art shows in the United States, I would have told them ‘only in my dreams’,” said Olivares.
Houston Ballet Director’s Choice: American Ingenuity Sept. 8 - 18, 2016
Online tickets are on sale now until the day of the event. Discounted tickets for Veterans and Seniors will be available at the gate.
Madame Butterfly Sept. 22 - Oct. 2, 2016
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Houston Symphony Mahler Symphony 1 Sept. 23 - 25, 2016 Haydn’s The Creation Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, 2016 Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel Oct. 14 - 16, 2016 Kavako’s Plays & Conducts Oct. 28 - 30, 2016
Miller Outdoor Theatre SEPTEMBER 2
Something About A Rose: Music Inspired by Shakespeare 3 Xtreme Baroque! 4 Bollywood Blast Kaleidoscope 9-10 The Honky Tonk Angels 12 Beto & The Fairlanes Fantasia: Music from Disney’s 13 Beloved Fantasia Films 15 El Grito featuring Ballet Folclórico de México Silvia Lozano 16 Squirrel Nut Zippers and Shinyribs 17 Phare Cambodian Circus: Khmer Village Houston Aztec Dance & Drum 19 20 Swing, Jive and Pop! Into Dance 21-23 The Princess and the Pea 24 Salsa y Salud
28 No Bully Here Music Festival 30 Fly Dance Company OCTOBER 1 CORE Presents: Dance From Israel 2 1,000 Lights for Peace 6-8 37th Annual Festival Chicano 10 Hot Peas 'N Butter 13 My BFF, The Dragon 14 Dia de la Hispanidad Aymee Nuviola 15 Lunada 2016 19 Swing, Jive and Pop! Into Dance 21-22 Splendid China XI 24 Trouble on the Double 27-28 Wells Fargo Presents: The Aluminum Show 29 Pops at the Park 31 Movies at Miller: Night of the Living Dead (1968)
RIVER OAKS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (ROCO) SEPTEMBER 23 The ROCO Season Opener: Timeless OCTOBER 9 Unchambered: “Fantasy, Love and Sex(tet)” Featuring Richard and Cece Belcher 14 ROCO Brass Quintet “From Russia with Valves” 25 Musical and Literary Ofrenda
Concerts & Festivals Toyota Center SEPTEMBER 4 Drake 9 Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas 15 Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour 20 Kanye West OCTOBER 1 Mana 14 Marc Anthony
NRG Stadium
MFAH Presents Movies Houstonians Love
SEPTEMBER 22 Beyonce
Sam Houston Raceway Park OCTOBER 15 14th Annual Ziegenbock Music Festival
University of St. Thomas OCTOBER 8-11 Festa Italiana: 37th Annual Italian Festival
Sports Houston Astros Minute Maid Park SEPTEMBER 9-11 Chicago Cubs 12-14 Texas 22-25 Anaheim 26-28 Seattle
is fall, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents the 12th season of the Movies Houstonians Love series featuring presenters Richard D. Kinder, MFAH chairman and executive chairman of Kinder Morgan Inc., along with author Chitra Divakaruni, and lead singer of e Suffers, Kam Franklin. e season kicks off on Tuesday, September 27, with Richard D. Kinder presenting a screening of From Here to Eternity, the powerful story depicting the lives of American military men and women stationed in Hawaii before Pearl Harbor. In October, Chitra Divakaruni introduces e Jewel Box (Goynar Baksho), the famous tale of three generations of women and their changing position in society in relation to a box of jewels, and Kam Franklin introduces Anchorman: e Legend of Ron Burgundy.
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Houston Dynamo BBVA Compass Stadium SEPTEMBER 24 Portland 30 New York City FC OCTOBER 8 Colorado 16 LA Galaxy
Houston Texans NRG Stadium
Texans Helmet Peter Max
SEPTEMBER 11 Chicago 18 Kansas City OCTOBER 2 Tennessee 16 Indianapolis
White Rabbit Red Rabbit Sept. 7 - 21, 2016 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Oct. 7 through Nov. 5
Broadway at the Hobby Center In The Heights Sept. 13 - 25, 2016 Working: A Musical Sept. 16 - 17, 2016 Mamma Mia October 6 - 9, 2016
The Ensemble Theatre Sassy Mamas Sept. 22 through Oct. 16, 2016
Peter Max - Retrospective: 1960-2016 Theater A newly-curated collection of artist legend, Peter Max’s exquisite paintings will be on exhibition and available for acquisition in a presentation at Off the Wall Gallery. Peter Max will make two very special appearances at the gallery and all appearances are complimentary and open to the public with RSVP’s required.ere are two scheduled Meet the Artist receptions: Saturday, September 24, from 6-8 pm and Sunday, September 25 from 1-4 pm. RSVP’s are required at 866-900-6699 or houston@roadshowcompany.com. Visit www.ohewallgallery.com for more info.
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Stages Repertory Theatre A.D. Players Smoke on the Mountain Ongoing through Sept. 25, 2016
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On Ongoing through Sept. 16, 2016
Alley Theater
Shear Madness Ongoing through Sept. 18, 2016
A Night with Janis Joplin Ongoing through Sept. 19, 2016
The Music Box Theater
Hand to God Ongoing through Sept. 18, 2016
Made in Texas Sept. 3 through Oct. 22, 2016
Photo Credit: Priscilla Dickson
ALLEY THEATRE CELEBRATES 70TH SEASON
Connie and Roger Plank, Ryan Arnoult
More than 50 Alley Board Members and guests who attended a private pre-performance dinner prior to the opening of Hand to God. The dinner was held in the Margaret Alkek Williams Terrace Level Dining Room overlooking the city skyline. Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean R. Gladden greeted the crowd. Boyd spoke highly of the “provocative play� before introducing Hand To God Playwright Robert Askins, from Cypress, Texas, Askins discussed his time attending HSPVA, Baylor and moving to New York and how his upbringing in Cypress influenced writing Hand To God. Hand to God runs at the Alley Theatre August 19 through September 18, 2016.
Mark Shanahan, Dean Gladden Gregory Boyd, Suzanne Vega, Rob Askins
D. Verma, Steve Pacek, Michelle Verma, Emily Trask
Jennifer Smith, Peter Ragauss Rob and Julie Goytia
Beth Madison, Lynn Wyatt, Kelly Somoza
Carmen and Butch Mach
Tino and Nini Bekhradi
Lynn Wyatt Gregory Boyd Mady Kades, Jay Sullivan, Ken Kades Lois and George Stark
Jonathan and Karen Finger, Rob Askins
[Home] Saving Ye s t e r d a y For To m o r r o w By Carole Keeney Harrington
Doorstep-Digital Jack Perry turned a devastating fire into a hot property by building a business from the ashes. His fledging Doorstep-Digital that scans, backs up and organizes photos, videos, slides and documents “at your doorstep” began with a fire in 2011. The family Christmas tree ignited and completely destroyed his home and severely damaged three others in the Memorial area. Running upstairs to retrieve his fire equipment, Perry suffered burns on his face as smoke filled the house. It was too late – the fire was raging and in 45 seconds had consumed the house and skipped to the other homes burning them by 80, 50 and 40 percent. “We lost some art and priceless work that our children did,” Perry said. “It pressed on my heart to do something for clients in my photography business.” During 15 years as owner of Perry Video and Photography, he and his wife, Julie, an Episcopal High 14 intown
School math teacher, had backed up many of their personal memories, most precious being family photos of their children 12, 10 and 3. With a mighty lesson learned, an idea was born for D-D during 13 months out of the house. A client of his photography business, John Donovan, is now a partner in the new venture. “He liked what we were doing – saving yesterday for tomorrow,” Perry said. “It’s going great. We’re
thriving and trying to grow our franchises all over the U.S.” The two-year-old Houston business already has expanded in Texas from Houston to Austin, San Antonio and Dallas. More outlets are being test marketed with local people in Seattle, Chicago and Denver. The franchise goal is to do around 70 across the country, one in each state and more in large states like Texas.
Franchisees will control their own business with support provided from the Houston base. For a small percentage and startup costs ranging from $15,000 to $33,000, D-D provides basic equipment and expertise. Businesses lease a van through D-D that contains the equipment needed and is already “wrapped” with the business artwork. “We know what works and can provide a quicker path to setup,” Perry said. Primary customers for the archiving service are people in transition: retirement, death and divorce. But some clients are fanatical photographers like Julie Silverman with her 19,000 pictures. “I love pictures,” Silverman said. “I consider myself the unofficial family historian. It’s my hobby. I tried to do it (archive) myself. DigitalDoorstep was the best gift I ever gave myself.” Silverman was able to delete about 6,000 of landscape
photos she could not identify. The D-D team of four worked at her house for two to three days, saving 25-30 years of memories. Closets full of albums ended up on memory sticks and in the cloud. D-D advises two physical backups held in the client’s possession and two in cloud services in case one of the latter goes out of business. “I was nervous about some places I called, as unorganized as my pictures were, and I wanted someone local,” Silverman said. “When I talked to Jack, I was very impressed. Now when my adult kids call and ask for pictures of “Go Texan” day in the fifth grade, it’s easy to find them.” Perry’s van with the cute little girl logo on the side goes on the road again when out-of-town Texans like Amy Liebert call from San Antonio. Her husband’s grandfather, a WWII veteran, had died. His widow gave Liebert access to boxes of vintage pictures and even letters written between the two grandparents. The team helped Liebert decide what to save. Sometimes D-D acts as a kind of therapist, working with clients to purge boxes rather than hanging on to everything. “I found a treasure chest all over the house,” Liebert said. “I decided they needed to be preserved and shared with siblings. The best part of the process was that I could take the pictures and mementoes back to my husband’s grandmother. I didn’t even read the letters. I was able to get them all together and put them right back into her closet.” At Christmas, D-D also has a service that uploads images and makes a memory book. Liebert wanted her husband’s brothers and their children to have memories, too. Two D-D archivists spent two days in San Antonio to do the entire job. “It’s something we wouldn’t be able to do,” Liebert said. “Most people can’t take hours and hours in front of a scanner, and the scanners are superfast.” Liebert moved to Texas from California three years ago and had used an archiving service there that required mailing her treasured photos. The originals never came back. Also, many pictures were rejected because they did not fit into the scanners, unlike D-D’s service that uses photography as an ancillary resource to do the work. “Sometimes we get artwork that needs to be handled with proper lighting and photography where a scanner won’t work,” he said. “You have to have an artist’s eye.” D-D also tries to take the stress out of dividing assets in a divorce. Rather than fighting over pictures or other memories, sharing copies eases the irritation level. If you want to avoid the angst and vexation around securing memories and maintaining civilized discourse, contact Doorstep-Digital at (800) 406-4650. Located in the Galleria area of Houston, their website can be found at: www.doorstep-digital.com.
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[The Game]
Sylvester Turner Interview By Nate & Creight
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner takes a break from handling the city’s problems to weigh in on a little football, including his alma mater and their chances for improving on last year’s Peach Bowl win. He believes the preseason may lead to big things for Texans and Houston, who are this year's host of the NFL’s Super Bowl. Creight: What are your impressions of our new QB?
I believe it’s going to be a pretty good season.”
Mayor Turner: “I think he’s going to be good, I think we finally found our quarterback, we have needed one for a long time. I’m expecting a pretty good season, what I have seen I like, I predict a winning season.”
Nate: Super Bowl in Houston thoughts?
Nate: Your Impression of Coach Bill O’Brien? Mayor Turner: “In the past the coach had to work with what he had and he did a tremendous job. Now we have a product with all the tools. He has confidence, he has ability and he has the team’s respect,
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Mayor Turner: “Look it’s just preseason but the Texans are 2-0 in the preseason and if we can keep them moving in that direction the Texans will be one of the two teams in the Super Bowl being played in Houston, not that it can’t get any better than that. I love those chances; they can really bless me by being in the Super Bowl on February 5th. Creight: UH Football Mayor Turner: “Getting ready to play Oklahoma the first game of the season, 52-14 Coogs! Tom has them ready, who is a rock star in himself. I’m excited for the University of Houston Coogs. I was in Atlanta when they played in the Peach Bowl, which was so awesome. Now they get to play
Oklahoma, it’s great for the university and the players but it’s great for the city of Houston. I tell you this is going to be a game we talk about for a long time to come.” Nate: If a bet is made with the Mayor of Norman, Houston has a lot to offer, what the heck could they offer us? Mayor Turner: “Idk…they may offer us an opossum or something. Look I already said it was going to be 52-14 so they aren’t going to offer us too much, look it is already done, it is already done! I’m calling for a beat down, send them back to Oklahoma packed! With that opossum and armadillo to, take that with them. I’m excited about the Coogs, I’m excited about the city. The spirit of Houstonians is high, this is our moment in the sun, the Coogs, the Super Bowl, NCAA golf tournament in December, I mean come on this is our moment!” Creight: Any future plans of the horizon for Houston sports? Mayor Turner: “I think we are situated beautifully to be a major sports venue market. We host very well, from what I heard about the final four we got great
Coach Tom Herman leads the nationally ranked University of Houston Cougars
reviews. Copa America, we got great reviews, the attendance and the type of support we gave was great. With the Super Bowl coming, it will be our opportunity to be on an international stage. We spent about 1.5 billion downtown with the George R Brown and the Marriott with another 1,100 rooms. So we will have close to 7,000 beds in downtown. We are beautifully situated to host any event, anywhere on the face of the earth. It’s my hope in my first four years as Mayor that we will step it up and you will see more of these types of events come to our city. We have the resources, we have the venues, we have the attitude, and we are very hospitable. We are big city but very southern in terms of our personalities and hospitality. We are the most diverse city in the country, and I’m very optimistic and not just because I’m the Mayor. We got some great sports teams in this city and I’m proud of them!”
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[Food]
Rock Cornish Hen
Triniti’s Chef is Making Big Plans On Two Fronts
Chef/Partner Ryan Hildebrand of Triniti
by Marene Gustin
ome December, chef Ryan Hildebrand’s sleek eatery Triniti will turn five years old. at should be a very busy month for the chef as he’ll also be opening a long awaited second concept and awaiting the birth of his second daughter with wife Mollye. at’s going to be one eventful holiday season.
C
Not that his family doesn’t hang out at Triniti: His wife and two-year-old daughter can oen be seen in house. Little Rylllye has been raised in the restaurant, which features a seasonal menu of regional American dishes with a bit of an eclectic twist. ink of a brunch plate with seared foie gras or the Rock Cornish game hen.
“FM Burger was supposed to open in October,” says Hildebrand, “ but now it’s looking like December which should be our baby’s birth month, too.”
“We had a whole chicken on the menu,” Hildebrand says, “but people kept saying it was too much, which is not something we hear a lot of around here.” Triniti’s dishes, perfectly plated, are not the size you’d find at an all-you-can-eat buffet. But even the smaller hens are plump and juicy. e kitchen staff brines the birds, stuffs them with garlic, apples, oranges, thyme and yellow onion then sous vides them before finishing them in a roast pan with butter and black truffles.
FM Burger, a much more relaxed venue than Triniti, will be an open-air burger and bar with a lot of greenspace in e Heights. It will be a family and dog friendly burger shack, just the kind of place, Hildebrand says, he would want to bring his own family to. 18 intown
Needless to say, it’s quickly becoming one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. But Hildebrand’s favorites are the halibut cheeks, another dish not seen on a lot of menus around here. He calls them the perfect, delicate bites of protein. ere are some more mainstream menu items but even the basic burger here comes with a slice of sour cucumber and Muenster, not cheddar, cheese. A couple of years ago Hildebrand and his partners had a brilliant idea to rebrand the bar inside the restaurant as a separate entity. Gorgeous artistic screens were added to give the bar at the front of the building a separate feeling from the main dining room and it was given the name Sanctuari Bar, a safe haven for sippers. With it’s own identity,
Simple Grits
Website and Facebook page, the bar took off and, as Hildebrand says, was one of the reasons Triniti sailed through the restaurant recession when the energy industry faltered. “People would come in and have a cocktail and dinner and then leave to go somewhere else,” the chef says. “With Sanctuari, they’d have a drink, go to the dinning room for dinner and then go back to the bar and hang out, so that increased our business.” Aaron Sobremonte is the head bar tender and creates special cra cocktails for the bar. e restaurant also offers the full menu in the bar, if you want to eat there instead of the main dining room where the open kitchen is at one end, allowing diners to pull up a seat and watch the action. As for Hildebrand, he loves to create in the kitchen. He and Ryllye also cook at home, making breakfast every day. He says she has her own tower to reach the stove and insists on scrambling the eggs in the morning. Of course, Triniti’s menu is a little more complicated than eggs and toast.
Photo courtesy of Triniti
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Here is a glimpse into what you can expect based on Hildebrand’s 10 must-have items in the kitchen.
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1) Foie Gras “We use it in one form or another all the time.” 2) Rendered Fat “We render our own duck and beef fat and pretty much use it with all our meats.” 3) a Sharpie “What can’t you do with a Sharpie? Write tickets, mark labels, write notes on your hand.” 4) Tweezers “I also have a pair hanging on my apron, even at home. Not that I do delicate plating at home, but you can always use them to pick food up and stuff.” 5) Sea Salt “I’ll eat it as snack right off my hand.” 6) Butter “We baste everything, although I’m sensing a trend here with our menu: foie gras, duck fat, butter…hmmm.” 7) Black Steel Pans “We cook everything in these Matfer pans, they’re the best. 8) Basting Spoons “ey’re not just for basting, although we do that a lot in the kitchen.”
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9) A Dry Towel, hanging off his apron for quick wipes. 10) Kikiuchi Slicer “It’s a long, skinny knife. I use it to butcher meat and slice fish and just about everything else.” “And really, I guess a cell phone is now a standard it the kitchen,” he adds. “I use mine as a timer. Although one time I laid it on the counter and Ryllye picked it up an dumped it right into a vat of fat we were rending.” Just one of the hazards of kitchen work.
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Oct. 8-11 Photo courtesy of Triniti
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Photo Credit: Chris Brown of Cooper Ricca
BOWL & BARREL VIP PREVIEW NIGHT WAS A STRIKING SUCCESS The founders of FreeRange Concepts, Josh Sepowitz and Kyle Noonan, hosted the lively event with a handcrafted menu including giant pretzels accompanied by the house mustard & Texas fondue, “burgers in a bag” and a variety of housemade pizzas served in a rustic atmosphere not typical for a bowling alley. FreeRange Concepts, a restaurant and hospitality group owns local venues such as Bowl & Barrel, Mutts Canine Cantina, The General Public, The Rustic, and Local Fare.
Kyle Noonan and Jessica Sepkowitz of FreeRange Concepts Devin Staton, Nicole Goodwin
Chris Randall, Abigail Moorhead, Julie Moorhead, Cary Moorhead
Colton Beardmore, Olivia Simpson, Aimee Braswell
Leslie Little, Gabrielle Piagiotti
Brad Bracewell, Kathy Bracewell
Luke Fertitta, Mary Kueser
Quincy Uchegbu, Allison Monroe
Courtney and Clayton Casey, Carly Freels, Claudia Freels
Katie Winans, Mary Kueser, Stephanie Gura, Christina Porras
Suzanne and George Weatherall, Brad Freels, Claudia Freels
HOUSTON AREA COLLEGES & TRADE SCHOOLS VITAL TO FUTURE JOB SEEKERS by Minnie Payne
Whether you’re considering college or trade school, Houston offers more than 500 degree and certification programs at 100plus colleges, community colleges, technical and trade schools. And even though Houston is known for its energy industry (particularly oil), healthcare, biomedical research, and aerospace, anyone who lives here knows that Houston is diverse. There’s a school for whatever profession you choose. With 2.2 million residents, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation, trailing only New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and is the largest in the southern U.S. and Texas Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) covers 8,778 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Massachusetts but larger than New Jersey. More than 145 different languages are spoken in Houston, and just under 30 percent of the population over age 25 holds a bachelor’s degree or higher. The average annual salary is $65,000, and local 22 intown
schools are preparing students to join these groups. The University of Houston – Downtown, 1 Main Street, Houston 77002, www.uhd.edu, a publicly-supported, urban university in Houston’s central business district, is considered to be an ethnically diverse liberal arts school, distinguishing its student body to reflect Houston’s wealth of cultures, languages, and nationalities. It offers students an opportunity for quality higher education, small classes, and personal interest from faculty, with baccalaureate degrees in more than 50 areas and seven master’s degree programs. Among notable alumni are Lorenzo Thomas - poet/faculty member, Juan Diaz - boxer, Mario Gallegos, Jr. - Texas State Senator, Charles McClelland Chief of Houston Police Department, and Diana Lopez American taekwondo practitioner (2008 Olympic bronze medalist). Tuition for the University of Houston for an in-state resident student is $8,600 per year versus
$6,026 per year for an in-state resident student at the University of Houston – Downtown. Provost Edward Hugetz has been with the university 3 1/2 years and has served as provost during that time. He says that it looks as if UHD’s headcount for the fall semester will be about 14,400, up about 1.5 percent from last fall. Graduate students may be up to about 1,400 students. Differences in ethnic backgrounds is an important aspect of the university. “We are very much meeting the population of the city, in that we have 44 percent Hispanic students, 25 percent African American students, 18 percent Anglo students, and 10 percent Asian students, Provost Hugetz informs. “To be honest, it’s most exciting that UHD is truly a university of opportunity,
allowing students to earn degrees that prepare them for professional careers.” Provost Hugetz’ highest priority is to increase student success. “I think as you look at our strategic plan, our No. 1 goal is student success,” he shares. “We are receiving students whose backgrounds are such that Federal and State Governments recognize that they are at risk. There are families who cannot help their children get an education. These students come from backgrounds where assistance is not there, and it’s important for them to get assistance from government profit. Most of the students work, and it’s important that they focus on academics that will give them a career worth having. We need to support them academically, but also through advisors who can assist. It will be a challenge.” The thing that Provost Hugetz enjoys most about his job is the commencement ceremony held at Minute Maid Park where over 1,000 graduates join 15,000 to 20,000 families and friends who come to celebrate their successes. “It’s meaningful to see how much the students earning degrees mean to the community as a whole,” he says. When UHD graduates are asked what contributed to their success, he often hears “It’s because faculty encouraged me to succeed.” Provost Hugetz concurs that it’s a major factor. For students not wanting to attend a four-year institution, there are a host of Houston trade schools offering an opportunity to enter almost any field. The Art Institute of Houston, 4140 Southwest Frwy., Houston 77027, www.artinstitutes.edu, focuses on design, media arts, fashion, and culinary, of which many facets fall under these categories. Their school system of over 50 schools across North America provides hands-on education in creative and applied arts, offering master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degree programs as well as non-degree programs. Employers readily provide important sources of professionals in the school’s respective fields.
Houston Community College (HCC), www.hcc.edu, offers 21 locations, plus online courses, with Saturday courses being held at the West Loop Campus. In 1989, HCC was separated from HISD and established its own Board of Trustees; in 1992, the school restructured into a multi-college system. HCC is an openadmission, public institution of higher education, offering high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development, and lifelong learning to prepare individuals in diverse communities for life and work in a global and technological society. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree.
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TRANSITIONING FROM HOME TO COLLEGE CAMPUS LIFE Leaving home for the first time for college campus life can be a daunting experience. There are a few tricks to the trade which may help.
1. You won’t have Mom’s home cooking, so it’s important to make healthy choices when it comes to nutrition, fitness, and tending to your mental health. 2. If you have a random roommate, try getting her/his phone number or email address to introduce yourself and learn their likes and dislikes.
friends by spending significant time with loved ones. 7. Mom never let you cook, iron, etc. and the need presents itself. Don’t hesitate to ask a roommate or new friend for help. Also, YouTube has great how-to resources on the Internet.
8. Transition to college campus life is rough for everyone. Be mindful that most people feel homesick, anxious, or confused. Think positively and respond to that feeling in a healthy/productive way and adjusting will be easier.
3. Bring a favorite stuffed animal, a family photo, or something that reminds you of home. This not only helps with homesickness, but can be a conversation piece with newfound friends. 4. Don’t sit alone in a room and think about nothing but your loved ones. Stay active socially, especially the first few weeks of freshman year. Club fairs and orientation events help make friends and offer free food. 5. Do what you love. Cheerleader in high school? Find your recreation center and exercise. Band geek? Join the campus orchestra. Athlete? Support your sports teams. 6. Set up regular phone calls with family and friends. Sometimes hearing familiar voices is comforting, but don’t miss out on opportunities to make new intown 25
[Life]
Ms. G’s Story Many of us have similar stories to tell about a teacher who had a huge impact on our lives. It’s worth telling again! e story begins and ends at Houston Heights High School (formerly Houston Heights Charter) where a terrified Stacey Gordon (Ms. G) was on her way to teach high school English at the tender age of 44. She had thought long and hard about a way to fulfill her lifelong dream of helping underprivileged kids. Originally, it was Child Protective Services (CPS) that wanted her, but not yet having a master’s degree was a drawback. With no prior teaching experience, it would be an uphill climb just to find a job, much less one that would fulfill her dreams and wishes. She was helped and counseled in her initial job search by friends she made while working her way through school at University of 26 intown
Houston Downtown (UHD). At 10 Downing Street, a venerable cigar bar off Kirby where she worked and a popular spot for many local business people and politicians. With her likeable personality, it was only a short time before she made many dear/loving friends. One whom she met was none other than State Senator John Whitmire who wrote for her a tremendous letter of recommendation that would make any future employer take a second look. With resume in tow, her first and only interview with Principal Joe Zapata quickly moved the discussion to their favorite team, the Houston Astros. It was 10 years ago that Houston Heights was looking for a certain kind of teacher who could relate to their kids by taking on the challenge of teaching senior English. Ms. G became that and more. A friend and confidant to many students, she became an important part to hundreds as
by Minnie Payne
evidenced by the outpouring number of visitors who came to see her and prayed that she would get well so that she could return this fall. e stories were many, but three stood out. Paul, a so spoken handsome kid who spoke with tears running down his cheeks as he held Ms. G’s hand and told about how she
would come to his house and pick him up if he “no showed” at school. “She would even pull my brother, who wasn’t even a student, into the car. Paul is now on his way to California to pursue his dream as an engineer in the music business.” he said. Many former students came multiple times from far away. One weekend, there were 35-40 kids in her room. One student reminisced if she “remembered renting me a Cadillac for prom.” Even more evident of a teacher’s influence is the story of one beautiful sweet girl who was going to have Ms. G this fall for her senior year who showed up to pray.
Ten years later, hundreds of kids, many well on their way to happy/ productive lives, came to visit Ms. G. Many students drove many miles multiple times to pray in hopes that Ms. G would return to teach this fall. e vicious pancreatic cancer killer took her far too early. By any account, her legacy will endure and she will not soon be forgotten. Her lifelong dream was to help kids and she followed her heart to
Houston Heights where her impact will be felt for many, many years. Ms. G’s story is one that will hopefully inspire new and seasoned teachers, administrators, and government to realize the value of education to society. For more information visit www.houstonintown.com.
As a late bloomer, who le home at a very early age, Ms. G related to many students and wanted them to avoid her fate. Her fear and anxiety about teaching was soon replaced with what would become a steady growth in her ability to reach children through various means, but mostly by caring and telling them simply that ”I love you.” She also had flattering nicknames for many of her students, such as Princess Di and My Seraphim. She also allowed students to post pictures on her huge bulletin board. Having understood the many horror stories surrounding abused and neglected children, she always wanted to work for CPS. Upon graduation from UHD, it was fate that there was an opening at the small but far-reaching confines deep in the heart of the Heights. Houston Heights High School was chartered nearly 20 years ago and was a pioneer in accepting and trying to help at-risk and kids looking for something unlike other overcrowded high schools in Houston. ey will host her Celebration of Life on a Saturday in October. intown 27
[financial focus]
College Savings: ink Beyond the 529 by Patricia B. Green, CFP® Financial Advisor Senior Vice President - Investments Wells Fargo
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Tracy Green, Vice President and Wealth Management Support Consultant in Innovation & Strategy for Wells Fargo Advisors, has known parents who are so concerned about the rapidly escalating cost of college they begin saving before they even have children. She advises waiting until the child is born, because a Social Security number is required for most education savings vehicles. But she says the effort is a good start, as it’s important to start saving as early as possible because it’s one of the largest expenses many parents will face.
Green says it makes sense to run a college cost projection — for private or public schools — to get a better grasp on what your goal might be. This can provide a guideline for either the total or monthly savings you would need. Such projections are available through your Financial Advisor or online at wellsfargoadvisors.com.
With so much at stake, what’s the best way to work toward your goal of providing a child with the chance to go to college without taking on large amounts of student loan debt? Green and Rick Ross, co-founder of College Financing Group, LLC, discuss savings options — and some other important items to consider.
Investing in a 529 college savings plan is a popular way to save for college, because the funds grow tax-deferred and distributions may be non-taxable if used for qualified education expenses. It’s one of the few education savings vehicles where you have the potential for tax-deferred growth, Green says. The downside, says Ross, is that, because it’s an investment fund, there is a chance of seeing negative returns. “It’s an investment, so the best advice is to speak with a qualified investment professional,” he says.
Setting Goals and Getting Started
Bridging the Gap
Ross suggests families invest an amount that fits within their budget starting when children are young. Then try to increase quarterly deposits into the college savings account as college nears.
It’s best to avoid using your retirement savings to fund college, recommends Green, even if that means you come up short of your education savings goal. “You can get help paying for a child’s
education, but no one will help you pay for retirement,” so exhaust all other options first. It’s generally difficult to know whether your child will qualify for financial aid, because there are many factors that go into the equation. Green advises applying, no matter how much you earn — especially since the federal program (https://fafsa.ed.gov/) has no cost associated with applying. Filling out the financial aid form is the only way to be considered for federal student aid, which may consist of grants, work-study, or loans.
offering, is to demonstrate the child’s enthusiasm for the school and what he or she will contribute to the college community. “Parents need to sell the excitement their son or daughter has for that type of institution,” he says.
Green notes it’s also important to contact the school’s financial aid office — at any time in your child’s college career — should there be an event that changes your financial circumstances, such as a job loss, retirement, or loss of a parent.
This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Patricia B. Green, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Senior Vice President – Investments in Houston, TX at 713-403-7331. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.. ©2016 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Both Ross and Green say federal loans provide more flexible repayment options, but private loans may provide better interest rates because they’re often based on a co-signer’s credit score and history. It’s critical to determine whose name the loan will be in. While parents may be able to get a better interest rate because of their credit history, a loan in a parent’s name may not be eligible for forgiveness due to hardship or through incentives such as Peace Corps service. If the loan is in the student’s name, a good rule of thumb is the total loan shouldn’t exceed his or her expected first-year salary upon graduation, Green says.
Finalizing your package When thinking about financial aid, it’s also important to look at the schools your child is applying to. Some schools offer merit awards for candidates with strong academic records and high standardized test scores, and whether they do is often noted on the college’s website. Remember, Ross says, financial aid packages can be appealed. In his opinion, the best strategy, in addition to asking the institution to try and match what a different school is intown 29
Photo Credit: Daniel Ortiz Photography
ELLEVATE NETWORK SUMMER SOIREE Members and guests of Ellevate Houston enjoyed a dazzling evening of fashion forward networking at Tootsies, which included champagne and passed hor d’oeuvres, business card swaps with Houston’s leading professional women, an introduction by Hope Ewing to The Diaper Foundation, and a presentation of the hottest fall fashion trends and Rebecca Lankford jewelry designs. It was mingling, see and been seen success! www.EllevateNetwork.com
Julie Younger Purpich, Magen Pastor
Andrea Vessels, Vanessa Leedy
Nicole Trevino, Leela Madan, Beverly Barrett Elizabeth Hume, Teresa Harris
Karen Schulte, Shushana Castle, Marianne Bruvel
Hilary Goynes, Erin Caldwell Kara Hoffman, Liz Hartwig, Amanda Cotler, Shannon LeMaster
Claudia Sierra, Misti Pace-Krahl Debbie Deutser Greenbaum, Miri Wilkins
Lisa Morgan, Amanda Coussens
Mathilde Leary, Trinh Abrell
Kendall Retzlaff, Dani Carter
BA N K I NG. I N V E S T M E N TS. I NSU R A NCE. We wo rk t o ge t h e r s o t h e y ’ l l wo rk t o ge t h e r.
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