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NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2019
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Intown
/ November + December 2019
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ON THE COVER COVER PHOTO: Jeff Long
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HOLIDAY LIGHTING ARTS + EVENTS MUSIC PREVIEW HOUSTON MUSEUM HITCHES BERTHE MORISOT THE BUZZ CUSTOM BOOT MAKER TAKES OVER MONTROSE SHOP
22-23 FRANK’S AMERICANA REVIVAL 24-25 THE GAME: INTERVIEW WITH TILMAN FERTITTA 26-27 HOUSTON’S MOST DESIRABLE STREETFINFINANCIAL FOCUS 28-29 30
FINANCIAL FOCUS THE BUZZ PRODUCTION
Intown houstonintown.com
PUBLISHER
M. A. Haines EDITOR
Lisa June
CONTRIBUTORS
Lindsay Mowad William Hanover Marene Gustin Evans Attwell Philip Berquist Minnie Payne
Web Design CSS Art & Design Layout & Graphic Design CSS Art & Design
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Graphic Designer Cris Bell Photographer Wells Brown
Intown magazine is published bi-monthly by SNS Media. Articles are welcome and will be given careful consideration for possible publication. Intown magazine does not assume any responsibility for unsolicited materials. Materials submitted will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Box 980757 Houston, TX 77098. You can also e-mail intownmagazine@gmail.com. Copyright 2019 by Intown magazine. All rights reserved. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from Intown magazine.
4 | Intown | November + December 2019
WE’RE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS. WE JUST HAPPEN TO B E A B A N K .
Unmatched service. Sound advice. And peace of mind knowing your money is well cared for. Now, how can we help you today?
Visit us at 2443 Westheimer or call (713) 388-1367.
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Publisher’s Letter
f you have been avoiding Post Oak Boulevard and the Galleria for the last two years, fear no more. With the help of millions of local and Federal Transit dollars and years of planning and debate, the long-awaited Boulevard Project is coming to fruition on Thanksgiving Day. The freshly paved and widened Post Oak now rides as smooth as glass. Construction crews are frantically putting on the finishing touches for this year’s grand return of the timehonored tradition of the Uptown Post Oak Lighting. I recently met with the Boulevard mastermind John Breeding. The Uptown Tax Reinvestment Zone and Uptown Management District’s leader started his current position as a young man and has shepherded the development on the Post Oak Lane into Houston’s version of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or even Times Square in New York. It is neither of those in comparison, but it is now and will be for years to come Houston’s most prestigious street. Whether visitors and businesses consider coming to Houston, this street will likely loom large in influence. The Boulevard is full of pride and modernity. No more power lines and an improved infrastructure that can withstand growth for many years. New landscaping and designs that allow the natural flow of traffic in all directs. The culmination of 30 years of hard work and planning will be on display Thanksgiving 2019, and let’s hope for a
6 | Intown | November + December 2019
perfect evening of weather. Mr. Breeding is a little on edge yet unable to hide his excitement of showing off the new stylish Boulevard he claims must compete with any in the world. Careful consideration even went into what his designers termed their modern millennium interpretation of a tree. Described by the designers as a spiral, elliptical helix, this new “holiday tree” should be spectacular. Houston city officials, along with Breeding and the district employees, have worked long and hard with many of Houston’s most hardened businessmen to make the Boulevard a special place in Houston. The new transit system promises to be cutting edge and not as limiting or as expensive as light rail. Without the wires and restrictions that come with light rail, The Boulevard represents a space for more modern autonomous electric vehicles in the future. According to Breeding, Metro’s first tranche of the money went to other rail projects and it did not have enough money to do light rail on Post Oak. Despite Metro’s funds being exhausted on earlier light rail projects, Breeding maintains The Boulevard is better prepared for the future without the limitations that light rail poses. Gone are the old Christmas trees, replaced by the new modern “Holiday” tree but more importantly, a transit system imagining Houston’s Most Desirable Street well into the future.
Val Arbona REALTOR, CLHMS, CRS RE/MAX Vintage (713) 562-4903 valarbona.com
Mariana Saldana Broker, CIPS Uptown Real Estate Group, Inc. (832) 338-4040 Mariana@uptownhouston.com
David Michael Young BROKER, CNE, CLHMS, GREEN John Daugherty, Realtors (713) 320-6453 www.youngrealtyhouston.com
Bree Knodel Business Development Officer Stewart Title - Kirby (281) 201-7261 bree.knodel@stewart.com stewart.com/houston
www.greaterhoustonluxury.com
Sima Dalvandi CLHMS, ABR, Realtor Keller Williams Southwest (832) 630-7605 www.ezhomerealestate.com
Paula Hagerman CRS, ABR, Realtor, GHLHC RE/MAX Vintage (713) 306-3557 www.har.com/paulahagerman
Weldon Rigby CRS, ABR Founding Member KW Luxury Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (713) 621-2555 www.weldonrigby.com
Joanne Naponic Broker/Owner Naponic Properties (713) 515-3805 JoanneNaponicProperties.com
Sharon Harris Realtor Keller Williams (832) 527-5240 sahhomes@gmail.com
Kasteena Parikh BROKER, CLHMS, LUXE Keller Williams Metropolitan (713) 581-0677 www.Kasteena.com
17910 Country Hills | Tomball
List Price $846,500 | MLS #15451121
Refined country living in The Town With a Heart. Custom built home on 7.43 acre lot in coveted Holly Creek Estates. Home has great floorplan. First floor huge master suite. Second floor 4 BRs, gameroom, extra room. Heated indoor lap pool. Barn with six stalls and plumbed workshop. Exemplary schools.
David M. Young | John Daugherty, Realtors | 713-320-6453
8 | Intown | May + June 2019
730 Magdalene | Glengarry Wood
List Price $1,099,000 | MLS# 21194821
Enjoy the beauty of this peaceful mid-century ranch home where you can experience 3 rooms of picture windows, giving a 200 degree panoramic view of the park-like backyard setting. Over a third of an acre of gorgeous landscaped greenery, plus the privacy of no neighbors to the back of the property. The home is in pristine condition but you may wish to expand or modify to make it your own.
Sharon Harris | Keller Williams | 832-527-5240
www.greaterhoustonluxury.com
Barbara Kobza Realtor, CLHMS, Million Dollar Guild Keller Williams Premier Realty (832) 215-7533 barbarakobza.com
Genevieve Rowland REALTOR, MCNE, CLHMS Multimillion Dollar Producer, ILHM Keller Williams Memorial 281-904-7014 www.rowland-properties.com
Wendy Cline Broker/Associate Wendy Cline Properties Group Keller Williams Memorial (281) 858-3451 www.WendyClineProperties.com
Beverly Smith CLHMS, Lake Conroe Specialist Coldwell Banker United, Realtors (713) 569-2113 www.lakeconroebeverlysmith.com
Barbara Alcamo Broker Associate RE/MAX Vintage 713.825.1732 www.BarbaraAlcamo.com
Carrie Ousley CIC, CISR Luxury Home Insurance (281) 224-0762 www.carrieousley.com
1919 Shadow Branch | Lakes of Parkway List Price $747,500 | MLS# 54164747
Kickerillo custom home in guard-gated Lakes of Parkway. Spacious two-story living room adjoins kitchen and breakfast room with backyard views. First floor Master has huge walk-in closet with custom build outs. Study and formal dining. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms, game room and media room with dry bar. Whole home water filtration system. Covered patio and low maintenance yard.
David M. Young | John Daugherty, Realtors | 713-320-6453
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May + June 2019 | Intown | 9
UPTOWN HOLIDAY LIGHTING RETURNS To A NEWLY TRANSFORMED BOULEVARD
T
N OV E M B E R 14-17, 2019 NRG CENTER
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
All proceeds benefit Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship programs.
NutcrackerMarket.com
N OT A L LOW E D: S T RO L L E RS, WA G O N S, RO L L I N G BA G S, RO L L I N G C A RT S A N D P E T S.
10 | Intown | November + December 2019
he iconic and time-honored Houston tradition of the Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting returns for its 32nd year after a two year hiatus. The 32nd Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting event will return on Thanksgiving evening, November 28, from 4-7 pm kicking off the holiday season on a newly transformed Post Oak Boulevard. The event is FREE with FREE parking available throughout the Uptown area. The family-friendly celebration is being reimagined with the introduction of over 300 all-new, 20-foot-tall “holiday” trees that will line Post Oak Boulevard from the West Loop to Richmond Avenue. Four times the number of traditional Christmas trees that existed in years past, the new trees feature the integration of lighting technology that will create a multi-colored light show with 16,777,216 color possibilities across 1.7 miles of Post Oak Boulevard. Guests will also enjoy to a new pedestrian-friendly Post Oak Boulevard featuring widened sidewalks, extensive pedestrian lighting and enhanced landscaping. At 5 pm, the Merry Holiday Stage Show features performances by local Houston entertainment including event staples Houston Concert Band, Houston Show Choir, Mixteco Ballet and A.D Players. To learn more, visit www. uptown-houston.com.
Arts + MUSEUMS
EVENTS
Asia Society Texas Center
Tsuruya Kokei: Modern Kabuki Prints Revised & Revisited Through January 20
Form is Emptiness, Emptiness in Form
Opens November 16 through March 29
Museum Of Fine Arts Houston
Miss Ima Hogg & Modernism Though November 3
Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait Through December 29
Spanish Colonial Paintings from the Thoma Collection
Artupdate houston published every two weeks by houstonintown. Go to website and sign up for newsletter to receive free update.
Houston Museum Of Natural Science
Permanent Exhibits Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Hall Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals Earth Forum Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife Frensley/Graham Hall of African Wildlife Hall Of Ancient Egypt Hamman Hall Of Texas Coastal Ecology Herzstein Foucault Pendulum John McGovern Hall of The Americas Lester & Sue Smith Gem Vault Morian Hall of Paleontology Starke Hall of Malacology
FARMERS MARKET
Wednesdays - Saturdays 8am - noon
City Hall 2752 Buffalo Speedway
Through December 29
Cutting out the Sky: Kenji Nakahashi-Selections from the Museum’s Collection Through January 1
In Twilight: Mourning Costume and Customs, 1776-1914 Through January 5
An Impressionist Autumn (see feature page 14) Monet to Picasso: A Very Private Collection Berthe Morisot: Impressionist Original Through January 12
Beatriz Gonzalez: A Retrospective Through January 20
Jasper Johns: 100 Variations on a Theme Through February 16
Norman Rockwell: American Freedom
Opens December 15 through March 22
A History of Photography: Selections from the Museum’s Collection Through May 3
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Nari Ward: We the People
Through November 30
Will Boone: The Highway Hex
Opens November 9 through February 17
Garrett Bradley: American Rhapsody
Opens December 19 through March 23
Holocaust Museum Houston
Danny Lyons: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement Through January 5
Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolucion en los Campos Opens November 15 through February 16
Menil Collection Mapa Wiya (Your Map’s Not Needed): Australian Aboriginal Art from the Foundation Opale Through February 2
Jean-Jacques Lequeu: Visionary Architect, Drawings from the Bibliotheque nationale de France Through January 5
Collection Close-Up: Of Heaven and Earth
Opens November 15 through March 15
10 | Intown | September - October 2018
November + December 2019 | Intown |11
Wiess Energy Hall Welch Hall of Chemistry Special Exhibits Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries The Art of the Brick Death by Natural Causes “Moon” by Luke Jerram Wild Bees Life in Stone Tourmaline Treasures THEATER A.D. Players
Miracle on 34th Street November 29 through December29
Alley Theater
The Ensemble Theater
More Than Christmas
November 14 - December 29
Theatre Under the Stars
Elf - The Musial
December 7-22
SPORTS Houston Texans
Reliant Stadium November 21 Indianapolis
December 1 New England 8 Denver 29 Tennessee
Houston Rockets
Vietgone
Toyota Center
Through November 3
A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas November 15 through December 29
Fully Committed November 26 through December 29
Broadway Across America
Hobby Center Sear Evan Hansen
November 12 through 24
Stages Repertory Theater
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play November 6 through December 15
November 6 Golden state 13 LA Clippers 15 Indiana 18 Portland 24 Dallas 27 Miami December 7 Phoenix 9 Sacramento 14 Detroit 16 San Antonio 28 Brooklyn
PROPERTIES
1603 Crystal Hills Dr, Houston, TX 77077
$365,000
Extensive remodel * 2012* (per seller). Walls have been removed and home is very open. Downstairs floors have new travertine and dining room features cherry hardwood. New front door. Pool recently replastered. Master is down. (MLS ID: 37021300)
Joanne Naponic Broker/Owner
JoanneNaponicProperties.com (713) 515-3805 joannenaponic@gmail.com
12 | Intown | November + December 2019
Intown’s Classical Music Critic, the Hon. Philip Berquist Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia for Texas
presents
This Holiday Season’s Incredible Lineup Friends, as we near the end of 2019, the following music offerings are on the schedule for November and December: Houston Symphony Orchestra • “The Empire Strikes Back” - In Concert! Witness on a giant screen behind HSO on the stage of Jones Hall as the complete John Williams score is played. November 7, 8, 9, and 10. Steve Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor. • Emanuel Ax performs the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1. Also on the program is the Brahms Symphony 2. November 15, 16, and 17. Fabien Gabel, guest conductor. • “Celephais” from “The Cities of Lovecraft” by Guilluame Connesson; Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1; Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” November 22, 23, and 24. Krzysztof Urbański, guest conductor, Daniil Trifonov, piano. • “An All-Strauss Thanksgiving” evening featuring four tone poems of Richard Strauss “Death and Transfiguration,” “Four Last Songs” with soprano Miah Persson, “Don Juan,” and “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.” November 29, 30, and December 1, 2019 - conducted by Music Director Orozco-Estrada. • Symphony No. 2 by Jimmy López Bellido, HSO Commission, World Premiere; Violin Concerto by Brahms. December 5, 6, and 7. HSO Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conducting, Gil Shaham, violin • “Andrea Bocelli in Concert” - the famed tenor will sing, accompanied by the Houston Symphony Orchestra. December 12, Toyota Center.
All performances at Jones Hall un• “Very Merry Pops” - holiday music less otherwise noted.; 713.224.7575; conducted by Michael Krajewski. houstonsymphony.org December 13, 14, 15 and 17. • ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” - two matinee performances con- Houston Grand Opera • “Saul” by Handel. Performances ducted by Robert Franz, HSO Associate continuing through November 8. ConConductor December 14. ducted by HGO Music Director Patrick • “Handel’s Messiah” - conducted Summers. by Nicolas McGegan, Sherezade Pantha• “El Milagro del Recuerdo” / “”The ki, soprano, Diana Moore, mezzo, Ben- Miracle of Remembering” by Javier jamin Butterfield, tenor and Hadleigh Martínez / Leonard Foglia. ConductAdams, bass. ed by David Hanlon. December 20, 21, and 22.
December 5 through December 19.
All performances at the Wortham; 713.227.6737; houstongrandopera.org Houston Ballet • “The Nutcracker” - the tradition continues November 29 through December 29.
Performances at the Wortham; 713.227.2787; houstonballet.org Let me hear from you with your thoughts, comments and suggestions for this column - classicalmusicberquist@ gmail.com Happy Holidays!
WORTHWHILE CONVERSATIONS BETTING ON THE WRONG TEAM... DOES YOUR WEALTH MANAGER HAVE THE RIGHT PLAYERS? WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- “THE RIGHT PLAYERS?” A survey last year of the top-50 independent broker-dealers highlighted the number of CFP® practitioners relative to the total licensed brokers (those selling products or giving advice) at these firms. The percentage was under 25% for most, far below our number at L&W (70%+). The majority of our advisors have multiple credentials, including CPA, JD, and other advanced designations. WHAT ELSE SHOULD FAMILIES LOOK FOR BEYOND CREDENTIALS? Deep experience. Firms with less real-life experience tend to offer the “standard prescription” or template when addressing client needs. Tried and true is great, but only the experience of living with the ultimate outcome of advice develops the perspective needed to create clientcentered solutions families have a right to expect. It is (borrowing the famous book
title) “What They DON’T Teach You at Harvard Business School.” IS IT HARD TO FIND EXPERIENCE OUT THERE? Unfortunately, many advisors with deep experience are within the big Wall Street banks, and conflicted by business models that involve the sale of investment products. They do not adhere 100% to the fiduciary legal standard of placing the client’s interest first. (Families should never compromise regarding 100% fiduciary compliance.) Even in fiduciary firms, experienced investment managers may broaden advice by hiring young CFP® practitioners, but the experience is confined to investments. PRESUMABLY, LINSCOMB & WILLIAMS IS DIFFERENT… We have all the important credentials, and 48 years certainly provides some experience! However, the key is a team,
combining industry veterans with young and energetic talent. Imagine how the combination of professionals with different backgrounds and levels of experience can work together and re-define the client experience. For a family looking to re-define their wealth management experience, we are ready to have a no-cost, no-obligation exploratory conversation at our office in the Houston Galleria area.
Linscomb & Williams is located at 1400 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1000 in Houston, TX For more information call 713 840 1000 or visit www.linscomb-williams.com. Linscomb & Williams is not an accounting firm.
2019.11 & 12 Intown & MV Villages_Betting on the Wrong Team.indd 1
November + December 2019 | Intown |13 9/30/2019 2:16:14 PM
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Hitches Berthe Morisot Impressionist Original and Monet to Picasso: A Very Private Collection
I
n 1857, Berthe Morisot’s painting teacher Guichard told Morisot’s mother he could turn her daughter into a real painter, a thing disastrously unsuitable for a young woman of the grande bourgeoisie, who wasn’t expected to make a public spectacle of herself. It turned out to be a prophetic statement. Soon after, Morisot resolved to become a recognized painter, and to sell her work, despite concerns about propriety and spinsterhood. Bold career moves followed. Not satisfied to copy in the Louvre, she lugged easel and supplies to the banks of the Oise River to paint with Jean Baptiste Camille “Papa” Corot, weighed down by corset and long dress. She befriended avant-garde painters such as Édouard Manet, who became her mentor and painted her portrait eleven times. When she finally did marry it was to a man who supported her career, Manet’s brother Eugène Manet. Morisot’s boldest flouting of convention was to join a radical art movement, and exhibit alongside lunatics with halfcocked notions about color and light in the Impressionist Exhibitions beginning in 1874. Ridicule didn’t deter Morisot from her central role in the new movement, nor from developing a ravishing technique described by Gary Tinterow as “truly radical” and “unsurpassed in its boldness and exceptional beauty.” Take in Morisot’s immensely satisfying brushwork in Berthe Morisot: Impressionist Original at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston through January 12, 2020. To understand Tinterow’s excitement, look closely at the treatment of flesh in the woman’s décolleté and shoulders in Young Woman Dressed for the Ball (1879), in which barely detectable blue greenish brushstrokes articu14 | Intown | November + December 2019
Berthe Morisot, Young Woman Dressed for the Ball (Portrait ou Jeune femme en toilette de bal), 1879, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
late body curves. Morisot rendered the figure’s dress with sketchy loose dabs of luminous grayish and pearl toned paint. These marks which appear random, are in fact skillfully controlled, resulting in unerring form. The silvery cream tone patterns in the dress, labeled “pearlescent” by cura-
tor Helga Aurisch, typify Morisot’s high Impressionist style. It was Papa Corot who taught Morisot to fashion pearly incandescent. This technique made MFAH hell bent on owning Morisot’s Young Woman (1871), which it purchased in 2016 and which is prominently included in this show.
Berthe Morisot, In England (Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight) (Eugène Manet à l’Île de Wight), 1875, oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, Denis and Annie Rouart Foundation.
Ordinarily too impatient to model for his wife, Eugène posed in 1875. The freely executed In England (Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight) is a tender portrayal in which Morisot finagled compositional depth to make the light filled interior merge with outdoor space. When Eugène died in 1892, Morisot said she didn’t want to live. There’s more to grab your eye. MFAH paired twenty-three paintings by Morisot with Monet to Picasso: A Very Private Collection, an impressive showcase of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings also on view through January 12, 2020. Whomever assembled this array, and the museum is keeping tight lipped, was deeply committed to highlighting stylistic developments in important 19th and early 20th century French art movements. At every turn, the artworks respond to each other. Richly colored vegetation and sea in Paul Gauguin’s Martinique Landscape with Paul Cézanne, The Turning Road (La route tournante), c. 1877, Oil on canvas, private collection.
November + December 2019 | Intown |15
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, The Sicilian Odalisque (L’odalisque sicilienne), 1872, oil on canvas, private collection.
Mango Tree (1887) for instance nod to vibrant color patches in Pierre Bonnard’s Vase of Flowers (1912), and remind us that Gauguin and Bonnard painted together in Pont-Aven. In the same vein, Juan Gris’s fragmented faceted guitar in Guitar (1913), painted in the heyday of Analytic Cubism, converses with later works by Picasso and Braque and enshrines the fact that Gris played a major role in the development of Cubism, arguably the most revolutionary reordering of pictorial space to take place since the Renaissance. Included in this collection is a delicious landscape that in-
directly loops back to our friend Berthe Morisot. When Paul Cèzanne, who exhibited with Morisot in the first Impressionist Exhibition, painted The Turning Road (1877), he worked alongside his friend and mentor Camille Pissarro, who also participated in the 1874 Impressionist show. Cèzanne’s inflated opinion of himself which ultimately led him to paint in Aix, isolated from the imbecilic chatter in Paris, didn’t stop him from soaking in Pissarro’s advice on color harmony to make this painting. Pissarro would have told Cèzanne that he himself learned subtle tonal gradations from Papa Corot.
Paul Gauguin, Scene from Martinique with a Mango Tree (Scène martiniquaise au manguier), 1887, oil on canvas, private collection.
16 | Intown | November + December 2019
Pierre Bonnard, Vase of Flowers and Game of Checkers (Vase de fleurs et jeu de dames), 1912, oil on canvas, private collection. Juan Gris, Guitar (Guitare/Guitarra), 1913, oil on canvas, private collection.
Consul General of Egypt Khaled Rady
Lisa A Powell, and her husband, Honorary Consul of Croatia Philip Berquist
By Philip Berquist
Dean of the Consular Corps of Houston, Consul General Juan Sosa of Panama Consul General of Japan Hideo Fukushima and wife
THE HOUSTON CONSULAR BALL
Andrew Pidgirsky, U.S. - Russia Chamber of Commerce, and Andy Ichen, City of Houston
In Memoriam Geert C. Visser,
Honorary Consul of Belarus
Each October, a major event is held to honor the 90+ foreign consulates based in Houston - The Houston Consular Ball. Houston, by the way, is the home of the third largest number of consulates in the United States. Sponsored by the City of Houston, it is called “The Mayor’s Premier White Tie Gala.” The 2019 edition was held at the George Bush Grand Ballroom at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This year, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the theme was “To The Moon and Beyond.” Each Consul is introduced individually when walking into the ballroom under the drawn swords of cadets from Texas A&M University. This year, however, there was a somewhat somber mood as it was announced that the Honorary Consul of Belarus, The Honorable Geert C. Visser, had passed away some three hours before the Consular Ball began. Geert was my closest friend in the Consular Corps and he will truly be missed. Consular Ball photos with the kind permission of “Photos by Rovo” - smile@photosbyrovo.com
Consul General of China Wei Cali
Consul General of United Arab Emirates, Speed Mubarak Alhmeiri
Nike Luqman, City of Houston, and Consul General of Hungary Gabor Markocsany
Honorary Consul of Czech Republic Brian Vanacek and wife Joan Jorge Franz, SVP Tourism, Houston First
Honorary Consul for New Zealand Dan Connelly and wife, Grace Lee
Honorary Consul of Thailand Charles Foster and wife Lili Foster
Christa Barnes-Chaney and Adam Chaney Kevin and Melissa Vader David Gamboa and Micah Gamboa
Aric and Gigi Nitzberg
“SURVIVOR MONOLOGUES”: A DINNER & THEATER EVENT TO SUPPORT ELIJAH RISING Chairs Gwen Baird, Annette Durrett and Kerry Stovall welcomed over 400 guests to A.D. Players George Theater to raise more than $225,000 for Elijah Rising, which aims to end sex trafficking in Houston through prayer, awareness, intervention and restoration. “Survivor Monologues” was created as a oneof-a-kind production to expose the dark world of sex trafficking. Elijah Rising partnered with A.D. Players for a dinner and theater event, performed by actors affiliated with A.D. Players and inspired by real survivors’ stories. Author, playwright and sex trafficking survivor Kathy (McGibbon) Givens wrote a portion of the monologues; and Pipeline Collective created others. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and dinner from Churrascos with opening remarks from Elijah Rising Development Director Adam Chaney and Executive Director Micah Gamboa. Jake Speck, Executive Director of A.D. Players, welcomed guests to the stunning George Theater.
Addison and Marissa Stevens
Katie Roach and Audrey Manito
Francesca and Chris Jones
Gwen Baird, Samantha Hernandez and Micah Gamboa
Mike and Kerry Stovall
Matt and Crystal Hoffmeister 26 | Intown | September + October 2019
Custom Boot Maker Continues Honing his Craft
New owner Chris Liggett taking the helm of Legendary Montrose Shop By Marene Gustin
W
hen native Houstonian Chris Liggett, 38, was a teen, he was very artistic. He enjoyed drawing and making cutouts from leather and metal. And, he loved cowboys and cowboy boots. “I was pretty creative,” Liggett says. “And my parents pushed me in that direction.” November + December 2019 | Intown |19
His talent paid off when out of high school he had a mentor who taught him to make custom cowboy boots, a hobby he kept up for 16 years as he worked in oil and gas field. In 2015, he went looking for a new direction in life and met Mike Kuykendahl, who had just moved his Tejas Custom Boots, opened in 1984, from its original Westheimer Road location to a larger shop just down the street. Liggett went to work for Kuykendahl with the understanding that when he retired he would sell Liggett the store. And that’s what happened about a year later. “It’s hard,” admits Liggett. “Owning your own business is a lot of work, and this is a fading art form, we’re trying to turn that around.” Under Kuykendahl, the shop was finishing seven boots a month, sometimes taking eight months to complete an order. Now, Liggett says, with five boot makers working for him, they complete five to ten boots a week. “We can turn an order in about 30 days,” he says. “I want to be able to turn out forty boots a month. I tell people we’re a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost of other custom bootmakers.” Liggett and his business partner spent a lot of time traveling Texas to towns known for bootmakers and ordering custom boots. Five or six months later, if they liked the boots they got, they would offer the bootmaker to come 20 | Intown | November + December 2019
work for them. A tedious process, but about the only thing they could do. “A lot of the master bootmakers are ageing and dying off,” he says. “It’s getting harder and harder to find good ones.” With doing all the customer service and running the business, Liggett doesn’t have much time to actually make boots, but he does enjoy designing the occasional boot. He buys gator skins, a popular material for western boots, from other Texas hunters. It helps the state economy and aids in the conservation process. Since only the belly is used, boot makers can only get about two pair from one skin. Of course the store has a wide variety of skins to choose from, as well as different styles and heel heights. Pretty much they can make just about any kind of boot you want, custom made to fit your feet. The next step for Liggett is expanding the business even more, but that means finding more bootmakers. “There aren’t a lot of young guys like me going into the trade,” he says. “Our next step will be to hire some young people as apprentices and teach them boot making.” And how will he find them? On social media, of course. “I’ve actually had people reach out to me on Instagram and ask about how they can learn this skill.” Although, he may have an apprentice already waiting. “My seven year old, Wesley, when a teacher asks him what he wants to be when he grows up, he always says a bootmaker,” Liggett says with a laugh. TEJAS CUSTOM BOOTS 415 Westheimer Rd. 713.524.9860 Website: tejasboots.com Instagram: tejascu Facebook:
facebook.com/TejasCustomBootsCo Twitter:
instagram.com/TejasCustomBoots
November + December 2019 | Intown | 21
FOOD AMERICANA REVIVAL A Shine-ing Neighborhood Eatery By Marene Gustin
N
ot only is Frank’s Americana Revival a family-friendly restaurant nestled in the heart of River Oaks, it’s also a family institution. Longtime restaurateur Michael Shine, 64, was a successful national consultant when he decided to hang up his travelling shoes and bought Frank’s Chop House from Frank Crapitto in 2012. “I missed having my own restaurant,” Shine says. “And I wanted something for my son’s future.” That son was Chris Shine, 43, who partnered with his dad on transforming the spot into Frank’s Americana Revival, a charming, comfortable
22 | Intown | November + December 2019
restaurant well-known for its top-of-theline comfort food. Think chicken fried steaks the size of a large plate, buttermilk fried chicken, and shrimp and white cheddar grits. Like all of Shine’s sons, Chris grew up working in kitchens, “washing dishes and peeling potatoes,” he says. Now, besides being a co-owner, he manages the restaurant and runs the beverage program. “I like the guest interaction,” Chris says. “I like cooking and serving customers just like I would in my own home.” Not long after opening, Shine’s youngest son Colin Shine, 36, joined the team and worked his way up to chef. “I grew up in the industry,” Colin says. “My parents are good cooks; my grandparents are good cooks. I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 15 and I’m so happy finally running my own kitchen now.” He loves cooking on the line, but also loves to develop new, and tweak old, recipes. The delicious gumbo the restaurant serves, is his work. As for working with family, he says it can be difficult but it’s all good. “There’s a high turnover in this business,” he says, “but at the end of the day those two guys will always be there for me.” Shine has expanded the original space to include three private dining rooms and a catering kitchen. The rooms, including The Cork Room — with its 940-bottle wine all — are perfect for holiday parties this season. But growing the special events side of the business isn’t the only thing in the Shines’ futures. “I wanted to do this first,” Michael Shine says, “but I’m also planning more restaurants.” Looks like the Shine boys have a bright future in food to look forward to.
New Heights listing
2019 Cortlandt St. (MLS#: 48138527)
$659,000
Colin Shine is known for his seasonal menus and this butternut squash bisque is perfect for the fall season.
Ingredients
• 3 Tbsp. butter, unsalted, melted • 1 large (3-4lb) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, 1 inch dice • 1 large shallot, roughly sliced • 2 clove garlic, sliced • 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar • ¼ tsp. cinnamon, ground • ¼ tsp. nutmeg, ground • 2 each clove, whole • ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper • 2 tsp. coarse salt • 1 tsp. black pepper, fresh cracked • 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped • 2 each fresh bay leaf • 1 quart chicken stock or broth, low sodium • 1 cup half & half • 2 Tbsp. cotija cheese • 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seed (pepitas), toasted
Travel down one of the most beautiful streets of Houston Heights to your new home at 2019 Cortlandt St. This home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It has a beautifully landscaped front and back yard. It sits on a large lot and features great entertaining space. Original hardwood floors, recessed lighting in living room, a remodeled Master bathroom with double vanity, Granite counter tops, shower and large walk-in closet with builtin drawers. There is an added bonus of a nook. Highly desirable neighborhood and centrally located. Steps away from Halbert Park, shopping, dining, walking trails and so much more!
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the butter, squash, shallot, garlic, brown sugar, spices and herbs. Roast in 400°F oven for 20-25 min., until caramelized and al dente. 3. Remove squash from oven and allow to slightly cool. 4. Transfer roasted mixture to Dutch oven or stock pot. Add chicken stock to cover. Simmer, covered, over medium heat for 20 min, to continue to allow the flavors to develop, and the squash to completely soften. 5. Remove from heat. Stir in half & half. Discard bay leaves. 6. Working in batches, puree in blender until smooth; transferring freshly pureed batch to new vessel. Do not over fill blender! 7. Check seasoning. Re-season with salt and pepper if necessary. 8. Ladle warm bisque into serving vessels. Garnish equally with cotija cheese and pepitas. frankshouston.com
KELLY GUREVICH Expertise in Home Buying, Leasing and Selling
For an appointment, call 832-640-3550 kelly@rossdunnrealty.com
W W W.ROS S DU NNR EA LT Y.CO M November + December 2019 | Intown | 23
The
GAME
By John Granato and Raheel Ramzanali of ESPN 90.75
Tilman Fertitta Interview
John Granato: So when do you write a book between the Rockets, the University of Houston and owning every restaurant in the country and you’ve got time to write shut up and listen. How does this come about? Tilman Fertitta: Harper Collins came to me about 18 months ago and said hey you know we’ve been watching your television show and we see you on TV on all these business shows using these one liners and your Tillman-isms and we want you to write a business management, self-improvement book. We don’t want to hear a life story we want you to tell people how you did it and how you live to be successful. There are no spare customers, the 95-5 rule, take no out of your vocabulary, know your numbers and all these little things. And you know it just turned out as you write something you’re scared to death it’s not going to be good. Raheel Ramzanali: Absolutely. I had a chance to read it and it is an easy read. On the 95 5 rule you mentioned what’s your 5 percent that you’re not good at Tilman? Tilman Fertitta: It’s not what 24 | Intown | November + December 2019
you’re not good at it. What’s that 5 percent that you’re not paying attention to. Whether it’s not looking at the numbers or it’s not proper service or your deferred maintenance or we have great food and service, but I have trash in the parking lot. Pay attention to the 5 percent and you’ll always be successful and I don’t care if you’re an entrepreneur or starting a new company or you’re getting up every day and doing something at home and raising your kids. Come in early or take on projects, I tell new employees that all the time and I have for 40 years. You want to be successful. It’s easy to separate yourself from everybody else. John Granato: You say it’s essential to dream but to dream realistically. What was your original dream and how did it explode into this? Tilman Fertitta: Well it’s kind of funny because you know everybody says oh did you always think you’d be a billionaire. But you got to remember when I was starting out in business you could get on the Forbes 400 you know if you were worth one hundred million dollars and today it takes almost two billion to get on that list. So the word billion-
aire you know you never even thought about, you just wanted to be a millionaire. I knew I always wanted to be successful and I wasn’t going to I wasn’t going to win a Grammy because I couldn’t sing. God gave me you know the talent to be a business guy and that’s one of the things I talk about in the book is everybody’s gotta find their God given talent. I can’t change the oil in my car but God gave me the gift to know how to make money and understand finance so that’s what I grabbed a hold of. You just gotta grab your talent and decide what you want to do. Every little aspiring singer wants to win a Grammy and a lot do but most don’t. John Granato: Your Houston Cougars are not off to the greatest start. How about your patience with this process though because Dana might not have the guys yet that he needs to win for his system. How difficult is it going to be for you to be patient. Tilman Fertitta: Well one thing I am is patient. Believe it or not and it’s kind of like Kelvin Sampson. Kelvin didn’t win immediately it took him time and I don’t think we got into the tour-
nament until his third or fourth year. As long as you’re seeing progress and you’re having improvement that’s all we want and it’s going to take Dana a couple of years. People think that Dana has a magic wand. You know Dana doesn’t have a magic wand and he wasn’t left with a you know with so much talent that it’s easy to go out and win. And Dana has done a great job to bring people in. I just want to see the Cougs you know make progress. They don’t need to win. I’d love them to win but you know anything can. Anything can happen and we’ll just see. Raheel Ramzanali: Let’s go back to the Rockets for a second. Russell Westbrook. When did you know you had a chance at him. Tilman Fertitta: You know when Paul George was traded. And we kinda you know the basketball world just like your world is very small and you know chatter gets out there. I remember watching Russell last year and he runs up and down the court like a gazelle and he’s by far, there’s not even a close
second in how many points he scores in transition and you know we went into a lot of slow down isolation ball last year. you guys still see some of that but you’re going to see some transit should be a totally different thing and I think the chemistry is great between James and Russell. They grew up together in L.A. they know each other. They can look at each other and say Listen you dumb son of a gun don’t do that again and they won’t get their feelings hurt. And you know I think it’s just going to be great. Russell and James they’re just both gentlemen and I just think it’s going to be great chemistry. John Granato: Do you enjoy it owning the team. Or has have the frustrations of not getting over the top, have they taken its toll. Tilman Fertitta: No. I mean that can take its toll. And you know all you can do is set yourself up to be one of the top four to six teams every year which we’ve done. And then you need luck. I mean let’s be honest. I mean as great as
Golden State is in the last five years that they what did they win three and because Cleveland beat them one year and then Toronto beat them and it just it’s impossible to be that great. So you just set yourself up to be successful being one of the best six teams and then you need a little luck and if the luck doesn’t go our way it just doesn’t go our way. Two years ago Chris got hurt you know. John Granato: Shut up and Listen is out and it will be everywhere. Tilman Fertitta: Just order it on Amazon and it’ll be in your house on Tuesday. John Granato: Hey man we appreciate you joining us. We know you’re busy. Go buy something. I’m sure you’re buying some I don’t know giant restaurant chain today or something. So we appreciate you hanging with us and spending some time. Shut up and Listen is the name of the book. Thanks for being here. Tilman Fertitta: Thank you guys. Have a great day.
THE ORIGINAL 4302 Richmond Ave Houston, TX 77027 (713) 623-6321
WESTCHASE RAGIN-CAJUN.COM
9600 Westheimer, #80 Houston, Texas 77063 (832) 251-7171
November + December 2019 | Intown |25
BUSINESS
Imagining Houston’s
Most Desirable Street
J
John Breeding
26 | Intown | November + December 2019
ohn Breeding, the President of the Uptown Houston District, couldn’t have imagined his anticipation of what this Thanksgiving would mean to him and Houston. As the Uptown District prepares for their venerable Thanksgiving Celebration of fireworks, their 32nd annual has special meaning. It comes after a two-year hiatus and will showcase the new nearly 100 million dollars “Boulevard” Project. In addition to the new transportation infrastructure, the upgrades include new landscaping, lighting, and what Breeding calls his “millennium interpretation of a tree.” Also, of course, newly widened and organized roads, along with many unique decorations, will debut. The controversial transit system construction pauses briefly before coming to its finality this spring as the buses are scheduled to roll in March. The transit system will meet the needs
now and in the future by enabling transport to be electric and autonomous vehicles down the road. As the administrator of The Uptown Tax Increment and reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) and the Management District President, John Breeding has helped shape the fortunes of Houston as an international city in a big way. “We compete with all parts of the world for the business, not just New York and Los Angeles,” states Breeding. Breeding graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University. When asked about his accomplishments with Uptown and the Post Oak Boulevard Project, Breeding attributes these and his other accomplishments to the consistency of the Uptown Houston organization, the vision and direction of its Board and his ability to innovate
We compete with all parts of the world for the business.
through creative partnerships and alliances while cooperatively leveraging the limited resources of each group.” Having seen the area’s development over 30 years, he reflects on when he first arrived. “Although it was a pretty highly regarded and prestigious area in 1986, it was raw.” Post Oak then had no median, trees, street lights, and lots of electrical lines which are now underground. His enlightened Board of Directors, he refers to them as his bosses, needed to work together to solve problems even though they were all competitors. Transportation, accessibility, and taking care of the vision to steadily improve upon the area come full circle at this year’s unveiling of the new Uptown Holiday Lighting on Thanksgiving evening. When asked what he envisions 20 years from now, Breeding dreams of “riding my bike if I am still able on a bike trail from Uptown to downtown and going underground the 610 loop in a tunnel as part of that route. One can only
imagine. John Breeding did. Accomplishments on behalf of these organizations in which Mr. Breeding has been instrumental include: • The creation of funding and organizational mechanisms that resulted in Uptown Houston as the first improvement district in the state of Texas and as a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone; • The funding for and oversight of a public streetscape program that differentiates Uptown Houston through architecturally wayfinding systems, lighting and landscaping to create a unique sense of place; • District funding and integration of regional transportation improvements through a collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation, METRO, the City of Houston, Harris County and other public entities to increase accessibility to the area via the reconstruction of the West Loop and the implementation of the Westpark Tollway;
The Boulevard
• The funding for and execution of a $680.8 million capital improvement program to improve accessibility, including infrastructure development on Post Oak Boulevard to accommodate its use as a transit corridor; • The negotiation and acquisition of the Water Wall Park and thereby ensuring its preservation as a public destination for future generations of Houstonians; • In 1985 began the creation and production of the Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting, one of the city’s most beloved free, public holiday events on Thanksgiving night.
G R E E N D R A G O N F LY J E W E L R Y Modern and traditional designs Many stones to choose from
Rings, all types of necklaces and bracelets, earrings Jewelry repairs, and charms 2055 Westheimer #130 | Houston TX 77098 | 713.807.0006
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September + October 2019 2019 ||Intown Intown||27 27 November + December
Financial
FOCUS
Survival strategies for surviving spouses
I
t’s one of life’s most distressing experiences—the death of a spouse. Whether it is sudden or long-expected, the resulting emotions can leave the surviving spouse feeling confused, insecure and helpless just when he or she must take on some of the most critical financial tasks of a lifetime. If you lost your spouse, what would you need to do to get through the first days of dealing with such a difficult life experience? It takes a plan, say financial experts, and some of the first steps are among the most important.
Assemble a “support team” that includes a CPA, attorney, wealth advisor and perhaps a trusted family member or friend with good financial skills and instincts. Especially in the first months, even simple tasks may seem too difficult to manage. Your team can help you when you’re least able to attend to details. Take care of the essentials first. Some financial tasks can and should wait until you have a clearer idea of how you want to move into the future. Others can’t be put off. Among those that need immediate attention: • Order 10 to 25 certified copies of the death certificate to provide to insurance and service providers who request a copy. • Locate important documents, including the will, trust documents, powers of attorney, financial statements, insurance policies and personal property documents. You’ll also need Social Security numbers, birth and marriage certificates, vehicle titles and property deeds. • Contact your spouse’s employer to determine what benefits, such as unpaid
28 | Intown | November + December 2019
Would you like more information? Contact Evans at 713.388.1367 or evans.attwell@frostbank.com.
PHOTO: Courtesy of University of Houston
salary and bonuses or stock options, you might be entitled to claim. • Contact banks, pension plan administrators, insurance companies, credit card companies and other organizations where your spouse had accounts. Also notify Social Security. • File to collect life insurance benefits for which you are a beneficiary. • If you are not the executor of your spouse’s estate, meet with the designated executor to discuss what steps he or she will be taking to settle the estate. Postpone large life decisions until you’re on an even keel emotionally. Although putting your house on the market or moving across the country may seem reasonable in the moment, taking life-changing steps before you’ve had time to recover your equilibrium could be a mistake. Take a breather, get the counsel of professionals and think through how you want to move forward before you make major changes that are difficult or impossible to reverse.
By Evans Attwell Senior Vice President Frost Bank
Investment and insurance products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, and may lose value. Brokerage services offered through Frost Brokerage Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Frost Investment Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Both companies are subsidiaries of Frost Bank. Investment management services, financial planning and trust services are offered through Frost Wealth Advisors of Frost Bank. Additionally, insurance products are offered through Frost Insurance. Deposit and loan products are offered through Frost Bank, Member FDIC. Frost does not provide legal or tax advice. Please seek legal or tax advice from legal and/or tax professionals.
WE ’RE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS. W E J U S T H A P P E N TO B E A B A N K .
Unmatched service. Sound advice. And peace of mind knowing your money is well cared for. Now, how can we help you today? Visit us at frostbank.com or call at (800) 51-FROST.
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November + December 2019 | Intown |29
Jason Ryan, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, CenterPoint Energy
Mayra Hypolite, Paul Charles, TaKasha L. Francis, Michael Hofrichter and Nia Murry
HOUSTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS’ ANNUAL PRO BONO AWARDS
Emma Doineau and Robert Burke
Jared Grodin and Thomas Mendez
Texas Supreme Court Justice Jane Bland and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo delivered keynote speeches in conjunction with National Pro Bono Week, October 20 - 26, 2019. Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL) presented awards for Outstanding Pro Bono Achievement and Outstanding Community Partners, and celebrated bar year achievements at its Pro Bono Matters! A Celebration of Pro Bono and Annual Pro Bono Awards, at CenterPoint Energy Tower. HVL hosted 349 legal advice clinics with over 6,000 individuals receiving legal advice and counsel, provided representation for 1,182 individuals through volunteer and staff attorneys and provided legal information to over 11,000 individuals representing themselves in court at its Pro Se (Self Help) Assistance project. In total, volunteer attorneys donated over 13,000 hours of legal services, valued at $3.4 million. “Our lawyers serve people who are in the greatest need, and help solve legal problems that dramatically affect the well-being of Gulf Coast families,” Texas Supreme Court Justice Jane Bland, Chair of the Board of Directors of Houston Volunteer Lawyers, said. Houston Volunteer Lawyers presented the following awards: • Outstanding Community Partners City of Houston – Department of Neighborhoods ● Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation (NRCDC) • Outstanding Pro Bono Achievement ● Emma Doineau, Associate, Locke Lord LLP ● Jared Grodin, Associate, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP ● Peter Lowy, Shareholder, Chamberlain Hrdlicka ● Cassandra McGarvey, Partner, Sanders McGarvey LLP
Art Acevedo, Chief, Houston Police Department
Mindy Davidson, Police Chief Art Acevedo, Benny Agosto Jr. and Jennifer A. Hasley
Michael Hofrichter, Emma Doineau, Robert Burke and Jessie G. Campbell
Monica Karuturi, Mindy Davidson, Brittany Krohn, Jessie G. Campbell, Jennifer A. Hasley, Michael Hofrichter and Jason Ryan
11406 Chartreuse Court/Royal Oaks CC $1,495,000 MLS# 55197677
2619 Newman St/Upper Kirby $880,000 MLS# 63293249
17910 Country Hills/Tomball $849,500 MLS# 15451121
1919 Shadow Branch Ln/Lakes of Pkwy 14422 Kingston Cove Ln/Lakes of Parkway $747,500 MLS# 54164747 $799,000 MLS# 89987690
4019 Driscoll St/Montrose $844,500 MLS# 41726749
720 E 27th St/Sunset Heights $580,000 MLS# 65985271
1406 W Brooklake Dr/Lakeside Place $650,000 MLS# 17506090
1302 Tracewood Cove/Parkway Villages $649,900 MLS# 25014065
720 E 27th St/Sunset Heights $540,000 MLS# 63044595
1917 Rosewood St/Museum District $512,500 MLS# 28998343
5718 Winsome Ln/Galleria Area $479,000 MLS# 36437737
806 B Woodcrest Dr/Lowell Heights $349,400 MLS# 63044595
Proven Performance – Year After Year
Over 16 years experience working with buyers and sellers of residential real estate in the Greater Houston Area.
David Michael Young
713-320-6453 davidmy@johndaugherty.com www.youngrealtyhouston.com