Lubbock Magazine | April 2020

Artist Janelle Barrington-Spivey • Easter cakes

thelubbockmagazine.com APRIL 2020

The Home Issue

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Contents

APRIL 2020

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On the Cover

THE ART OF COMFORT

A legendary Lubbock designer crafts a collector’s paradise.

By Jonathan Baker

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PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Features

26 SKY’S THE LIMIT

An East Texas woman finds a home in the West Texas art world.

Departments 12 HOME

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Blues and grays lead the way in home decor.

30 COOKING LESSONS

Bright and colorful Easter desserts

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CONTRIBUTORS............................6 ONLINE........................................7 AROUND TOWN...........................8 HOME..........................................12 COOKING LESSONS....................34 EAT DRINK.................................. 35 CALENDAR OF EVENTS...............52 AT WORK....................................54 YESTERYEAR..............................56

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From T H E Editor Regional Director of Specialty Products/Editor Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 mmcaffrey@lubbockonline.com Regional Designer Kayla Morris Content Coordinator Joshua Rhymer Contributing Designer Darren Hendricks Contributing Writers Jonathan Baker Jason Boyett Contributing Photographers Shannon Richardson Sylvia Jennings

GM/Advertising Director Shoni Wiseman Advertising Sales Manager Robin Morse Multimedia Sales Representatives Larry Guerra Irene Lance Craig Martin Tod Towns Newsstand Sales Kevin Woelfel

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Subscriptions Victor Uriegas

To advertise in Lubbock Magazine or on thelubbockmagazine.com, contact Shoni Wiseman at 766.8631.

Regional Executive Editor Jill Nevels-Haun Regional Distribution Director David Morel Regional Accounting Manager Sheryl Rycerz 710 Avenue J, Lubbock, TX 79401 806.762.8844 • thelubbockmagazine.com Lubbock Magazine is a monthly publication of AJ Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent.

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e were days away from finishing our April issue when the first cases of novel coronavirus were diagnosed in Lubbock. Even before that chilling news, we experienced a barrage of daily changes that disrupted our normal work flow and focus.

In the interest of the public and our employees’ safety, we’ve been directed by our corporate leadership to work from home for the first time in my career. It’s a surreal experience to be sheltered away as we move through the final days of production.

We have done our very best to make sure the information in our April issue is as accurate as possible, especially surrounding local events. We’re monitoring social media and the internet, and we’ll do so right up until our final deadlines. Please know that we’ve done all we can to meet our print deadlines, and our website will continue to be updated throughout this crisis. This is uncharted territory for all of us, but we’re committed to continuing Lubbock Magazine with excellence.

Before the virus hit so close to home, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with our contributors this month. We’re proud to showcase their work in our Home Issue. Working with and meeting the wonderful people that fill our pages every month is one of our greatest joys.

We know our coming issues and the way we pursue producing the content will likely have to change in the near future.

But we’re committed to this city and its people and we hope for clearer days ahead.

In gratitude,

Michele McAffrey | Editor

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Contributors

JONATHAN BAKER

JASON BOYETT

Jonathan’s copywriting has appeared in Esquire, Men’s Journal, and Popular Mechanics, and he reports on the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles for High Plains Public Radio. In his spare time, he writes crime novels.

Jason has written more than a dozen books and is the host and creator of “Hey Amarillo,” an interview podcast. Visit heyamarillo.com and jasonboyett.com.

DARREN HENDRICKS

SYLVIA JENNINGS

Darren is a graphic designer who has worked with newspaper, publication, website and advertising clients around the country for more than 20 years. He lives in McPherson, Kansas, with his family. See his work at dviso.com.

A Lubbock native and former state trooper, Sylvia has been a photographer for more than 30 years. Her work ranges from editorial to portraiture. Learn more at sjphotography-sylviajennings.com.

Writer

Writer

Designer

Photographer

SHANNON RICHARDSON Photographer

Shannon has been photographing commercial/ advertising work for more than 20 years.

He has also published a photographic book about Route 66. See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

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Around Town

LUBBOCK MEALS ON WHEELS’ MARDI GRAS On Feb. 25, Lubbock Meals on Wheels hosted Mardi Gras at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The event featured music by Bo Garza, food from more than 35 restaurants, and a silent auction.

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA JENNINGS

Pamela and Maya Sanders, Betty Domingo and Anaka Tate

Micaela Maldonado and Conrad Morales

Kennley Henslee, Abby Curlee and Kamryn Henslee

Mairyn and Aylin Gonzalez

Abby Voelk, Camryn Hayes and Andrea Cepeda

Bubba Johnson and Jennifer Bullard

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KLBK Nick Kraynok and Sasha Wilson

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Joshua Hinojosa and Tiffanie Morales

Titi Otuonye and Taylor Ann Brissete

30TH ANNUAL MAYORS’ BEANS & CORNBREAD LUNCHEON On March 1, the 30th Annual Mayors’ Beans & Cornbread Luncheon was held at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Proceeds benefited Hospice of Lubbock.

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA JENNINGS

Daylan Flowers, Michael Sanford, Caleb Gold and Eddie Garcia

John Baker-Tahoka, Curtis Parrish and Marcos Blanco

Laura and Matt Corbin, and Daphren Smit

Fernando Perez and Christina Torrez

Tony Crumpton and Cash Eagan

Sheila and Brad White

Jeremy Brown and Deborah Hunt

Emily Young and Jessica Marlar

Veronica Buescher and Laura Bullard APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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Around Town

YOUNG LIFE’S TENTH ANNUAL SPRING SOIREE Lubbock Young Life hosted the Tenth Annual Spring Soiree at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture on March 6. The event featured live and silent auctions with high-end handbags and other items.

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA JENNINGS

Rhonda Dillard, Jennifer Pierce and Skylar Dobson

Molly Sublett, Renee Ross and Vicki Mercer

Kate Stallings, Jessica Escobar, Elleri Haest and Allie Miller

Monica and Erin Wilson

Emily Hutchens, Janice Hutchens and Rachel Levrets

Rhonda and Troy Vanderburg

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Becka and David Carr

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Linda and Tom Wilson

Shanay Hernandez and Jessica Mason

YWCA OF LUBBOCK WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS The YWCA of Lubbock hosted the Women of Excellence Awards on March 12, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. This year’s honorees were Jaclyn Paige Allen, Judge Kara Darnell, WendyAdele Humphrey, Michelle McCord, Ed.D, Shirley McReynolds, Sellie Shine, Jaime Wheeler, Sophie Goforth, Latrelle Joy, and Mary Nell Strong.

Melissa Jenkins and Emil Ratcliff

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA JENNINGS

Delilah Mochoge and Pablo Hernandez Borcas

Cindy Golightly and Tiffany Robertson

Lynn Sanderson and Glenda Mathis

Daniel and Cynthia Hernandez

Haley Grizzaffi and Haley Sumruld

Trina Zahn and Lori Reeves

Bill Gustafson and Sharran Parkinson

Lauren Westerberg and Jaclyn Morris APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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Home

Blue Streak

“B

lues are coming in really strong,” says Aaron Shugart, owner of Embellish Decor, located in Rockridge Plaza near 82nd and Slide. Shugart, who has been decorating local homes and offices for more than 15 years, says blue is becoming an extremely popular color in home decor. “I think that’s going to be the trend we see in the next several years, with blues and grays as a predominant color.”

One of his recent clients bought a former Parade of Homes house in the South LakeRidge development.

“They moved from a smaller home into [this] larger home

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and needed furniture,” he says. Even though one set of furnishings worked in one house, that collection may not necessarily work in a new space. “Your furniture needs to match the style of your house,” Shugart explains.

Embellish offers custom furniture, area rugs, and even custom bedding, and the new homeowners enlisted Shugart to help redesign their space. “They wanted something conservative and tasteful, something a little warmer,” he says. That led to designing the home around deep navy, royal and cobalt blues. Shugart walked us through the home while detailing some of his decorating and design decisions.

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n this living area, two wingback chairs feature the same custom blue fabric. These help create a spatial divide between the dining area and living area. The shorter gray chair is lower, facilitating views of the bookcase behind it. “The fabric warms up that side of the wall,” says Shugart.

He also helped the client choose the area rug. “An area rug can change the whole feel of the room, but it’s important to have the right size and color and shape,” he says. “A lot of homes have dark hardwood floors right now, which are really pretty, but that can leave a lot of rooms feeling unsettled and uncomfortable. The rug really does make a difference.”

PROVIDED PHOTOS

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his photo presents an alternate view of the previous photo, showing how the room opens into the kitchen. Shugart recommended the addition of the pendants to improve the lighting in the kitchen.

The large, floor-length mirror also works as a lighting feature. “Along that wall, we didn’t really have the space to put a cabinet or bookcase,” he says. “But we needed something there that would reflect light and create a nice, airy space. So we brought in that mirror as our focal point for that wall.”

The opposite wall features a large window exposing a pool in the backyard. The mirror ends up reflecting the blue of the pool as well as the Lubbock sky, bringing those elements back into the room.

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he big thing we’re seeing in bedrooms right now is fabric headboards,” says Shugart. Embellish helps customers create custom headboards from thousands of different fabrics and colors. “We chose the navy blue headboard and brought in a couple of nightstands on each side of the bed.”

Brass, gold and black colors help accent the blue. Embellish also helped source the custom bedding.

The symmetry of the room is intentional. “This room was a little small for a master bedroom, so we had to make that room feel as large as possible,” he says. The classic symmetry helps balance the eye when you walk in, which makes it feel more organized and spacious.

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Shop the Look 5-by-7-inch frame $34.99

Pillow $115

Mirrored tray $240

Agate and marble lamp $458.99

Upholstered storage cube $118.99

Vase $64.99

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COVER STORY

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oni Wallingford says she wanted the living room to feel more informal than it had in her previous home in Houston. The camel back sofa and chair were re-covered with a skirt, and a brass-and-glass table was placed in front of the sofa.

The Art of Comfort A legendary Lubbock designer crafts a collector’s paradise

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by Jonathan Baker

hen Toni Wallingford decided to settle in Lubbock, she knew she would need a designer. She and her husband had spent years collecting art while living in Houston, and she knew she wanted to display the work in just the right way – and that would require a professional eye. She asked a friend, Bess Haley, and Bess instantly replied, “I have just the person.”

Haley suggested that Wallingford contact Mitchell McNeese, a beloved interior designer who’d conceived the look of her own home.

“Bess introduced me to Toni,” McNeese recalls, “and we just hit it off.

She was a fun person to work with, and she had wonderful things to work with. That sort of thing always makes such a difference.”

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“The first time Mitchell came to my home,” Wallingford remembers, “the rooms were still filled with boxes and packing paper. His sense of organization brought order out of chaos. I knew then that I’d found the right person to guide me with this house.”

Setting to work, McNeese reupholstered some of Wallingford’s furniture. “The main challenge,” he explains, “was taking the pieces she had and reworking them to make them work in the different spaces in this residence.” Mitchell had something working in his favor: He had no idea of the history of the objects, no sense of how they’d been arranged in the past. “I was coming from a blank slate, strictly working from a design concept of what I thought worked best in the different spaces.”

“It’s fascinating to watch Mitchell put together a room,” says

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PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

allingford with her dogs, Fred and Dude.

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cNeese and Wallingford decided to take the Chinese screens, which had previously been in a guest room in Houston, and place them on either side of the mantle in the living room.

Wallingford. “His efficiency, combined with his artistic eye, allows him to seemingly effortlessly place furniture in the rooms and the art on the walls. Not one to impose his taste on you, he collaborates with you and listens to your ideas.”

McNeese says every job is different for him. “If someone has a rug or a painting, or if they have a special piece of furniture, then it always goes from there. But it’s never one piece. If they have hard surface flooring, you may start with a rug. Or if they have a favorite painting, you may start with that. But that’s one thing I’m always very conscious of: I don’t limit myself to doing everything the same; I don’t always start from the same place.”

Wallingford says Mitchell always showed up with a plethora of samples for her to review, whether it be fabric, wallcovering or carpet.

“He would discuss the attributes of each, and a decision would be made. Mitchell continues to have new ideas about the house. Not only is he a talented designer, he is a great friend!”

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he dressing table holds a Chinese Rose Medallion lamp and vase. The copperplate engraving is by 18th century Nuremberg artist Johann Volckamer.

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“T

he family room provides ample space for our Audubon Quadruped prints.”

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he family room upstairs is used for reading, watching television, and relaxing. It also serves as a sitting room for out-of-town visitors.

“I

don’t like a lot of clutter because then the spaces lose interest. Visually, you look at something and you just see a lot of things and so you just sort of blanket it off as, ‘That’s just a lot of things.’ Whereas, if things are placed well and the composition is good, it draws your eye to it, and you’re interested in it. You may ask questions about it. You may look at it longer because of the composition of the space. You’re painting a picture with objects.”

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et against the Asian chargers, the English Fox hunting scenes reflect the international nature of Wallingford’s collection.

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he Empire sofa is a family piece from Toni’s parent’s home in Borger, Texas.

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“T

he painting of a horse in my office was bought at a gallery in Asheville, North Carolina,” says Wallingford. “The horse was painted by Chilean artist Patricia Ramos Alcayaga. The painting was a birthday gift for my husband.”

Design Tips from a Master As anyone who’s ever tried to furnish a blank room and “pull it all together” can tell you, designing interiors is deceptively difficult. But Mitchell McNeese says it’s all about trusting your gut. For this reason, McNeese does an in-depth, two-hour interview with each client – in order to fully understand who the client is and what their interests are. “I find so many of them will tell me, they’ll say, ‘Well Mitchell, you’re making me think so hard.’” McNeese laughs. “Because I’m asking them their likes, their dislikes, and then finding out what their goal is for the room, how they see the room. Oftentimes they have an idea of what they want to do in the room, they just don’t know how to get there.”

McNeese suggests that, before you tackle the design of any room, you follow your instincts and select a piece – a rug, a sofa – that means something to you, or that gives you a good feeling. “Start with that,” he says, rather than following a trend. Go from there and build around that.

As you work, it’s helpful to bring in a friend with a good eye to give you impartial opinions. In fact, McNeese often likens himself to a tour guide, comparing his own method to guiding a tourist through Italy. “If you have a tour guide, they can take you to things you don’t want to miss,” he explains. “Clients a lot of times know where they want to go, but I always say, ‘OK, we could do this, we could do that,’ so they don’t miss something they hadn’t thought of.”

McNeese notes that, when he initially enters a room, he takes in the size of the space. “When I go into a room, I see … how do I put this?

I see volume. Not anything in particular, but I just see … this volume that’s like energy, a vibe filling a space. And then I’ll put things into that space that meet the requirements that I have in my head.”

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“T

he Oriental painting was a gift from my sister-in-law,” says Wallingford.

McNeese designed the painting’s display.

H

anging over the bed in the master bedroom are a pier mirror and a pair of English botanical prints. The room also features a painting, “Yuen Yin,”

by Joan Potter of Santa Fe.

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“M

y late husband, Ralph, appreciated art as do I and we enjoyed collecting it. I volunteered for over 30 years at the Theta Charity Antiques Show in Houston. Many of the exhibitors became our friends, and we purchased a number of paintings, prints and ceramics at the Show. Santa Fe was a favorite place to visit and we enjoyed shopping at the many art galleries there. Another fun outing through the years was the Round Top Antiques Show.”

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hese guest-room paintings feature Staffordshire dogs and landscapes.

“T

he table was from my parent’s home,” says Wallingford.

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he painting of the cathedral in the dining room was done

by Jules Victor Génisson in 1854. A Belgium artist, Génisson painted only the interiors of cathedrals. Wallingford and McNeese placed the painting in a dramatic location, in order to welcome guests into the dining room.

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cNeese and Wallingford selected the blue wallpaper and the rug because it echoed the color of the china. “We did that to make her china collection stand out,” says McNeese. “We had looked at a patterned wallpaper that would have worked with the collection she had. And I said, “This is good, this will work, but when she looked at it initially it was too stimulating, too busy for her. So we went with the solid blue. And that was more comfortable for her.”

The Patient Eye: How Mitchell McNeese Conquered Lubbock Design Mitchell McNeese arrived at Texas Tech University in 1965 with an initial plan to study architecture, but after his first year he realized that he was more interested in what was happening in the interior of spaces rather than the exterior. So he switched his major to interior design – and has never looked back.

During his senior year at Tech, Mitchell was required to do a semester of internship under a licensed designer.

He chose Design Today, a design firm that had been founded by three Tech professors and was already a wellestablished firm in the late ’60s. “One of the designers that was here, her husband was graduating from Tech [and moving away],” he recalls. “And so, they were going to need someone. So I just sort of stepped into her shoes.

And then it just developed from there.” That was 1968. After a couple of decades of stellar work with Design Today, McNeese took over as the firm’s sole proprietor in the 1980s.

Since then, McNeese has continued to grow Design Today’s reputation, taking on residential projects far beyond the borders of Lubbock. “Across the board,” he says, “we’ve done a full range of things. I’ve worked for clients in Mexico City and Buenos Aires. I’ve worked for clients in Austin and Dallas, up in Boston, and in Los Angeles. Just all over the place.” While McNeese’s work has been primarily in residential design, he has dabbled occasionally in commercial work, designing individual office spaces. After more than half a century of designing on the South Plains, McNeese couldn’t be happier. And indeed, why shouldn’t he be? He has cemented his legacy as one of the finest interior designers in the history of West Texas. L

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FEATURE

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Sky’s the Limit An East Texas woman finds a home in the West Texas art world

AT A RECENT MAKEA-WISH FUNDRAISER, JANELLE LIVE-PAINTED THIS WORK, TITLED “PATRICK MAHOMES,” (48X38). IT SOLD FOR $10,000, AND JANELLE DONATED A SECOND LIKE IT, WHICH ALSO SOLD FOR $10,000. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFITED MAKE-A-WISH.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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by Jonathan Baker

ubbock artist Janelle Barrington-Spivey has been a fighter since the womb. Born a twin, Barrington-Spivey entered the world at a scrappy 3.6 pounds. From there, things didn’t get much easier.

“My childhood was interesting,” she says. “I went to 12 different schools between first and 12th grades.” Because of the constant change, the young Janelle learned to adapt and make friends. All that jumping around “definitely had its pluses and minuses,” says the artist, “but overall I grew up to be a strong, self-sufficient adult because of it. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been afraid to try anything.”

Another result, perhaps, of Barrington-Spivey’s fighting spirit and constantly shifting worlds is an endlessly creative mind. “Creativity has always come naturally to me,” she says – then wonders if, perhaps, her generation has something to do with it. Growing up in Generation X, “we obviously didn’t have all the toys, gadgets and TV channels [that kids today do]. We only had four channels, and that was with tinfoil on your rabbit ear antenna on top of your TV!” To stave off boredom during their East Texas youth, Janelle and her brother played outside a lot. “I played with Barbies and dolls,” she recalls, “but I was equally comfortable playing football or pinecone wars with all the neighborhood boys.”

Growing up, art was always in Janelle’s blood – even if she didn’t quite realize it. She remembers trips to her grandmother’s house, when her creative brain came roaring to life. “The first thing I would do is make a beeline to the closet and pull out the old cigar box with a million broken crayons and coloring books. I always APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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“

[Making art has] truly been the most rewarding time of my life. All the rewards are out there. You just have to be willing to put in the work to achieve them.

I believe that applies to anything you do, not just art.

”

– Janelle Barrington-Spivey tried to make each one better than the last, with as much fancy shading as I could get from a crayon.” Aiding in these colorful quests was the influence of Janelle’s mom, a fantastic artist in her own right. “My mother could paint, and she also made amazing scrimshaw on real ivory, then later on piano keys.” Indeed, everyone in Barrington-Spivey’s family seemed adept at one form of art or another, whether it was artwork, music, singing, sewing or cooking.

Yet, despite all these seeds being planted, it took a Facebook ad to set Janelle on the path toward becoming a professional artist. “I’d never given art a thought,” she remembers” “until one day while doing the normal scroll through Facebook I come across an ad for Painting with a Twist.” Many Lubbockites will be familiar with the shop on Slide Road where you can “come, drink wine, and paint your own art.” Janelle thought it sounded fun – but none of her friends were interested. So she went by herself.

On her first visit to Painting with a Twist, the instructor told Janelle she believed her to be an artist at heart. “I wasn’t sure if she really meant it,” recalls BarringtonSpivey, “or if she was just trying to get me to come back.

But I was very happy with myself, and I thought it turned out pretty good.” In fact, Janelle continued painting long after the other painters were done, intent on continuing to add detail. “I was hooked!” she says with a laugh. “I was so proud of my painting!” The next day at work, Barrington-Spivey showed her artwork to her colleagues.

“It was like I had just painted the Mona Lisa!” she jokes.

After that initial attempt, Janelle returned to Painting with a Twist a few more times before going out to purchase her own art supplies. “I was off to the races,” she says. “I was completely obsessed.”

Today, Barrington-Spivey attributes her success to countless people who have, knowingly or unknowingly, influenced her. “Family, teachers, strangers, friends, friends’ parents, bosses, coworkers and even myself – and how I’ve learned from my own failures and triumphs.

I give credit to them all because each one shaped my work ethic, my character and goals, in one way or another. It’s why I’m the person I am now.”

Meanwhile, in the art world, there have been a number of artists who have inspired Barrington-Spivey – but

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none more than Lubbock artist James “Jim” Johnson. As Barrington-Spivey began to truly find success as an artist, she also felt overwhelmed. “I was working for American Airlines and painting all the time … One of them had to give.” During that difficult time, Johnson encouraged and supported Barrington-Spivey. “When you have a friend and mentor you admire – someone you think is the best artist in the world – telling you you have talent and passion, and that you should be a full-time artist, it’s hard to ignore that!” In fact, Barrington-Spivey continues to model her career after Johnson’s work ethic. “Being a full-time artist is not a hobby,” she notes. “It should be treated like any other job. And when it’s a job that you really love, then it’s a win-win!”

When it comes to art, Barrington-Spivey’s advice is simple: “Learning and skills are all about what you do with them. You can be academically trained, or you can teach yourself …” But in the end, it all comes down to “practice, practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.” To obtain success as an artist in Lubbock, Janelle has read tons of books, watched “what feels like a million hours” of instructional videos, and attempted almost every art form. While’s she’s gravitated to some art forms more than others, she’s gained some affection or appreciation for all of them. In fact, she says it’s dangerous to leave her alone in an art store. “I will buy all of the art supplies!”

As a painter, Barrington-Spivey can find inspiration in almost anything her gaze lands on. She remembers, when she first started painting, driving down a road and telling her boyfriend – now her husband – that her eyes were seeing things so vividly that she wanted to paint everything she saw. “It was like everything was alive.

I like to think that’s maybe how Van Gogh saw the world, too.”

These days, Barrington-Spivey says she’s become obsessed with all manner of themes, from shadows, landscapes and florals, to cacti and abstract art. “I’ll never settle on just one style of art,” she says. “That may work for a lot of artists, but not me. That would be like having one pair of shoes. I’m a girl … Give me all the shoes!” However, if she was forced to choose one style of art, Barrington-Spivey says it would be abstract art. “I love the reactions, how everyone sees something

different. And I love that [abstract art] doesn’t tell you what to see or feel; each individual has their own personal relationship to it.”

Some have claimed that being creative in West Texas isn’t always easy – but Barrington-Spivey has found an artistic home on the South Plains, insisting that she’s found that West Texas is very supportive of the arts. “The Lubbock art scene is bumping!” she exclaims. “More and more local businesses are wanting artwork in their establishments. [They’re ordering] murals, and they want to be a part of the growing art world – which makes my heart so happy!” The first public place to show Janelle’s artwork was the Funky Door, she remembers.

“I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Carrie [Britton, the restaurants co-owner] for believing in me and giving me a chance.” In the years since her first showing at the hip eatery, things have really taken off. So what’s next for this East Texas kid who is now a celebrated West Texas artist? “The sky is the limit,” says Barrington-Spivey. “It’s all in how you want to challenge yourself and put yourself out there.”

Whatever may come, Barrington-Spivey is happy now. “[Making art has] truly been the most rewarding time of my life. All the rewards are out there. You just have to be willing to put in the work to achieve them. I believe that applies to anything you do, not just art.” L

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PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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COOKING LESSONS

Easter Takes the Cake “E

aster is already so hectic anyway,” says Lisa Stabeno of Baked Bliss Bakery. “This is a fun way to have a really pretty cake but not take all day to do it.”

Her recipes in this issue result in desserts bright and colorful enough to thrill any family member gathered for an Easter meal. The layer cake is a real showstopper. The only thing more colorful than its outside is the layered pink, blue and purple inside. “When you slice it, it’s really pretty,” Stabeno says.

The bunny-shaped cake is ideal in its simplicity. “It’s so fun and whimsical,” she says. “You can literally use anything that you would like as a stencil – a coloring book that has a bunny in it, or you can print a bunny off the internet. Just lay it on top of your cake and cut around it.” Stabeno loves the appearance of the dollops of icing combined with little splashes of color.

These simple recipes result in desserts that look much more complicated than they actually are, giving you fewer hours in the kitchen and more time with those you love.

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THE RECIPE WHITE CAKE

BUTTERCREAM ICING

2 ¾ cups cake flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt 4 egg whites 1 ½ cups sugar ¾ cup butter, softened 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract

1/3 cup butter 4 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar ¼ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt together in bowl. In mixing bowl beat egg whites until foamy. Slowly add ½ cup sugar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Beat butter until smooth and add 1 cup sugar. Cream together until fluffy. Add sifted ingredients in small portions, alternating with milk. Beat until smooth. Add extracts and then egg whites. Pour into greased pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. For rainbow cake, divide batter into 3 bowls and add colors of your choice. Bake in 3 (8-inch) pans. For cut-out cake, bake in 1/4-inch sheet pan.

Simple cake decorating can be done with a sandwich bag if you don’t have pastry bags and tips.

Mix together until creamy.

EASY ICING

For the rainbow cake, put your favorite colors in individual bags and cut a fairly large portion of one of the corners off the bag. Squeeze each color all the way around the cake in layers and then use a butter knife placed vertically from top to bottom of the 2 cakes, and glide all the way around the cake, turning cake plate slowly to smear all the colors together.

For the grass, you simply poke several holes with a toothpick in the corner of a bag. When you squeeze it out it will be stringy just like grass.

For a flower, make a vertical slit at a downward angle on both sides of a corner. When piping hold the bag close to the cake and then slowly lift up.

For the cutout cake, you can choose a silhouette of any bunny from a coloring book or something you print out from the internet. Cut the outline out and lay it on top of the cake. Use a toothpick to trace the image and then a sharp knife to actually cut through the cake. Cut the cake in half horizontally and spread icing all over the bottom layer. Carefully place the top layer. You can make fun dollops of icing by cutting a large hole in the corner of a plastic bag. Use the flower technique above to make swirls.

Decorate cakes with your choice of Easter candy, like gumdrops or chocolate eggs.

And remember, there is no shame in using a box cake and canned icing to save time.

BE DONE WITH DRY CAKES Few things are more delicious than a perfectly moist cake. Likewise, few baking moments are more disappointing than when a cake comes out of the oven too dry or even crusty. But Lisa Stabeno is a professional, and has an expert-level secret. “Bake the cake like the instructions say, and make sure it’s fully done,” she says. “But if you pop it out of the pan and it feels crusty—or not as moist as you like— there’s a simple syrup recipe that makes every cake super moist, no matter what.”

The recipe is surprisingly simple. Add one part sugar to one part water, then bring it to a boil until the sugars dissolve. After that, use a marinating brush to brush the syrup over the top of the cake. The liquid will sink in to the spongy cake.

“If you want, you can even cut a thin layer off the top to level it and expose the spongy part of the cake, or take the crusty part off,” Stabeno says. “Put the simple syrup on it and it’s 100% moist. It’s easy, but it makes a world of difference.”

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MEET THE COOKS LISA STABENO AND TAYLOR SOUCY OF BAKED BLISS BAKERY

B

aked Bliss Bakery began as a labor of love with family members coming together to support one another. “Baked Bliss is a family thing,” says co-owner Lisa Stabeno. “It has helped us through some rough seasons and some joyous ones.”

While going through a divorce seven years ago, Stabeno fell into her love of baking, a tradition handed down to her as she grew up with her grandparents’ baking. Time in the kitchen brought her comfort and, slowly, helped pay the bills. Her daughters, Taylor Soucy and Eden Hoeffner, began pitching in and the three soon were delivering a dozen home-baked cookies and a gallon of milk to customers from their home business. Stabeno says that after having a dream about making cherry vanilla cookies, the cooks created the perfect recipe and their No. 1-selling cookie was hatched. They began packaging it in boxes for delivery to area businesses.

It wasn’t until the family came together to raise money for one of life’s most precious gifts, the adoption of a child, that dreams of a storefront began to become a reality. Eden and her husband, Corey, wanted to adopt, but the expense was enormous. So the entire family – including Taylor’s husband, Kyle – began selling cookies. In August 2015, Baked Bliss Bakery was born. A week later, the adoption was final.

Grandson Eli Hoeffner is on his way to celebrating his fifth birthday with his family of bakers. There’s even more to celebrate this year, as

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Baked Bliss has moved to a new location at 4005 34th St. “Our new location has a lot more space in our display cases, so we’ll have a wider variety of options every day,” Stabeno says.

The family loves the new neighborhood. “Our favorite thing is just being on 34th Street,” Soucy says. “It just has that hometown feel.

People are driving by and walking by. The local shops – our neighbors – are just so supportive.”

One change the new location allows isn’t just expanded cases and products, but expanded hours. Instead of opening at 10 a.m., the bakery now opens at 7 a.m. “We backed it up so people can stop by and get cinnamon rolls or fruit kolaches on their way to work,” says Stabeno.

While Soucy grew up in a baking family, she says her mom and sister are the ones who really took to baking, while she followed a separate but parallel track. “I was always more about the aesthetic side of things, like the presentation or decorating,” she explains. That’s why Soucy appreciates the colorful Easter cake recipe in this issue, which ends up looking delicious even if you don’t have an eye for design.

“It’s just so appealing to the eye. That’s what I’m all about. You eat with your eyes first – you’re not going to pick something up to eat if it doesn’t look appetizing. I love making things look beautiful, and then when you put it in your mouth, it tastes even better than it looks.” L

Eat Drink

Pecan

THE HONEYCOMB PIE SHOPPE #2

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

E Coconut Cream

Apple PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees less than $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees more than $21

aster’s around the corner, and The Honeycomb Pie Shoppe is one of the city’s go-to spots for fresh-baked pies. If you find yourself in a time crunch for the big Sunday meal with family, the variety at Honeycomb is sure to satisfy.

Choose from two-crust baked pies like cherry and apple, the shop’s award-winning pecan, or a decadent cream pie in chocolate, coconut, lemonade or key lime.

If you can make it past the pie case, there are also plenty of sandwiches, soups and salads for a filling lunch.

3833 50th St., Suite 3 701.4133 Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

NEW New to Eat Drink UPDATE

Updated entry

THE EAT DRINK RESTAURANT GUIDE IS A READER SERVICE COMPILED BY THE LUBBOCK MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF. THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING OR OTHER COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR A LISTING. THE GUIDE IS UPDATED REGULARLY. TO CORRECT A LISTING OR RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR CONSIDERATION, CONTACT THE EDITOR AT MMCAFFREY@LUBBOCKONLINE.COM.

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RESTAURANT GUIDE 50TH ST. CABOOSE Fuel up on Mexican-American food after hours of fun arcade fun. Daily lunch, appetizer, and kid’s discounts abound. 5027 50th St., 796.2240, cabooseonline.com $ ALBARRAN’S MEXICAN BAR & GRILL There’s plenty of room to unwind in Albarran’s expansive indoor and outdoor dining areas. A cold margarita is the perfect complement to popular fish tacos or steaming fajitas. 7722 Milwaukee Ave., 771.2869, albarrans.com $$ ALL AMERICAN EATERY & CATERING CO. Housed in the former Hwy. 87 Lunch Diner, All American offers sandwiches, salads, fresh pie, and a hot entree buffet special of the day. Our curiosity has been peaked by the bacon-wrapped braut on a pretzel bun and the homemade pimiento cheese sandwich. 8901 Hwy. 87, 368.6304, allamericaneatery.com $ AMIGOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT Stand-outs at this small, casual eatery are the allyou-can-eat menudo and barbacoa burritos.

5001 34th St., 795.9552 $ ANNA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT It’s Tex-Mex heaven inside Anna’s bright and cheerful dining room. Start with fresh guacamole and move on to a generously portioned combination plate. 6909 Indiana Ave., 771.8783 $ APPLE TREE CAFE & BAKERY This local favorite impresses with home-style breakfasts, fresh sandwiches, and plenty of baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth. 3501 50th St., 799.7715, appletreelbk.com $ ATOMIC LOUNGE & PIZZA KITCHEN Atomic specializes in fire roasted pizzas. Feast on favorites like The Roni, extra-large slices of pepperoni atop melted mozzarella and smoky tomato sauce. Atomic’s ovens cook a pizza in 2 ½ minutes so your hunger pangs are quickly satisfied. 2420 Broadway Ave. Suite A, 407.3221 $$ BACK 40 GRILL Back 40 covers all the bases: kid-friendly, great food, satisfying desserts, live music, and a patio area. 5214 98th St., 853.8715, theback40grill.com $$ BAKED BLISS Settled in its new location since January, Baked Bliss offers a full lunch menu with salads, hot and cold sandwiches, daily specials, burgers and can’t miss dessert specials. 4005 34th St., 784.2004, lubbockbakedbliss.weebly.com $

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BIERHAUS LUBBOCK This patio bar on Broadway specializes in beer and pub grub. With plentiful outdoor seating on its pet-friendly patio it’s a casual place to enjoy good weather with man’s best friend.

2009 Broadway St., 368.8324, bierhauslubbock.com $ NEW

BIGHAM’S SMOKEHOUSE Open for 40 years, Bigham’s serves its West Texasstyle barbecue from two small, straightforward locations. 3312 82nd St., 797.9241/4302 19th St., 793.6880, bighamsbbq.net $ BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE This chain that originated in Southern California offers burgers, pizza and pub grub with an expansive list of craft brews. 4805 S. Loop 289, 783.8600, bjsrestaurants.com $$ BLUE SKY TEXAS Blue Sky’s burgers and homemade fries are the perfect companions to a Lone Star Beer or an Oreo shake. Be prepared to share the one-size-feeds-a-lot cheese fries. 4416 98th St., 368.7591/ 3216 Fourth St., 368.0750, blueskytexas.com $ BURGERIM Feeling adventurous? This chain specializes in customizable gourmet and novelty burgers with plentiful patty options ranging from Spanish beef, Wagyu, lamb, turkey, and more.

7604 Milwaukee Ave., 368.7568 $$ NEW

CAFE J Enjoy elegant ambiance surrounded by original artwork. Menus change with the seasons and each entree is carefully prepared with a wine pairing in mind. 2605 19th St., 743.5400, cafejlubbock.com $$$ CAGLE STEAKS Step into a true West Texas experience at Cagle Steaks. After walking around the ranch, feast on hand-cut steaks with all the fixings. Save room for fresh cobbler topped with ice cream.

8732 Fourth St., 795.3879, caglesteaks.com $$ CANTINA LAREDO Serving the tastes of “modern Mexico”, this international chain offers tapas, traditional Mexican entrees and a staggering number of top shelf margaritas. 114 W. Loop 289, Suite 200, 407.3355, cantinalaredo.com $$ CAPITAL PIZZA Don’t let Capitol’s nondescript storefront fool you.

Quality ingredients, creative specialty pizzas, and hundreds of craft beers certainly impressed us.

2705 26th St., 368.3603/8211 Slide Road, 701.4062, capitalpizzalubbock.com $$

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CAPROCK CAFE A Lubbock favorite, CapRock is the perfect place to hang out and watch the game – with a burger in one hand and an ice-cold beer in the other, of course! 3405 34th St., 784.0300/5217 82nd St., Space 109, 771.2233, caprockcafe.com $-$$ CASA MANILA FILIPINO CUISINE This cash-only eatery serves breakfast and lunch buffet-style, giving diners the opportunity to try a variety of authentic Filipino items. 4917 34th St., 793.8839 $ CAST IRON GRILL First, the pies. We don’t care what time of day, a meal just isn’t complete without a sweet slice.

Move on to home-style breakfasts complete with biscuits and gravy, or hearty from-scratch burgers, chicken-fried steak and ribs. We can’t get enough. 620 19th Ave., 771.7690, castirongrilllubbock.com $ CHAMPS SPORTS BAR & GRILL Champs’ sports-themed menu is filled with typical pub-style offerings like burgers, wings, nachos, cheese sticks and sliders. No matter your craving, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

4525 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 600, 368.8980, champsbarlubbock.com $ THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY The national chain made its Lubbock debut in late 2018. The bountiful menu is full of a variety of starters, entrees, and sides, but we’re always up for an enormous slice of decadent cheesecake. Why not start with dessert instead? 6014 Slide Road, 785.8636, thecheesecakefactory.com $$ CHICKEN RUN Open daily for breakfast and lunch, the cafe serves breakfast items, specialty juices, lunch combo deals and small plates for lighter appetites.

1910 Quaker Ave., 687.3447, chickenrun.cafe $$ CHILI DOG CAFE Despite the name, you’ll find more than hot dogs at the cafe. Feast on chili, oversized burgers, brats, sandwiches and a salad bar. 5903 82nd St., Suite 600, 712.3647 $ CHIMY’S CERVECERIA If a margarita is in order, this is the spot. Plenty of Tex-Mex staples and margarita flavors and a lively outdoor patio make this a great place to spend an evening. 2417 Broadway St., 763.7369 $ CHINA WOK With more than 125 menu items, you might feel a little overwhelmed when it comes to ordering. But don’t despair – everything’s good. 6302 Frankford Ave., Suite 3, 783.8888, chinawoklubbock.com $

CHOP CHOP RICE CO. It’s all in the name: Chop Chop Rice Co. specializes in rice, but goes much further than that. With a menu full of meats and vegetables, you can dress up your rice any way your heart desires. Come hungry, because portion sizes are impressive. 5707 Fourth St., 478.1775/7320 Milwaukee Ave., 701.5400 $ NEW

COCINA DE LA SIRENA Located in the historic Cactus Alley courtyard, La Sirena serves modern Latin American food in a cozy dining room. The menu changes regularly to accommodate local produce, but it’s a delight no matter the season.

2610 Salem Ave., 368.7960, lasirenacocina.com $$$ COOK’S GARAGE Tuck in to Texas-style comfort food surrounded by classic cars and memorabilia. You can’t miss with the wings, burgers or nachos.

11002 Highway 87, 893.2491, cooksgarage.com $$ COPPER CABOOSE RESTAURANT BAR Part entertainment venue, part Tex-Mex restaurant, Copper Caboose is the place to take a group ready for a party. Daily food specials let you save your money for the arcade. 5609 Villa Drive, 744.0183, cabooseonline.com $$ COTTON PATCH CAFE The Cotton Patch is in the home-style comfort food business. Served with southern hospitality, entrees like chicken and dumplings, chicken-fried steak with gravy, and steakhouse burgers make it easy to eat your fill – and then some. 6810 Slide Road, 771.4521, cottonpatch.com $$ THE CRAFTHOUSE GASTROPUB Experience quality eats at this casual pub. Choose something from the Bites, Small or Large menus depending on your appetite. We’re taken with the dumplin’s and house Canadian bacon. 3131 34th St., 687.1466, crafthousepub.com $$ DOUBLEDAVE’S PIZZAWORKS Feast on the buffet or order a whole pie at DoubleDave’s. Customers love the stromboli and generous portions. 6023 82nd St., Suite 4, 763.3283, doubledaves.com $$ E&J SMOKEHOUSE AND GRILL Nestled in Escondido Canyon, E&J is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday. Dine on plenty of barbecue and Texas-style sides and desserts at this little oasis. 701 Regis St., 762.6201 $$-$$$ EAT AND ART CAFE This cafe offers daily hot-plate specials, rice bowls, ramen, soup and sandwiches, within a charming, art-centric atmosphere. 7604 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 600, 368.6293 $$ NEW

EL SALVADOR RESTAURANT Promising “a taste of El Salvador in Lubbock,” this quaint eatery west of the city certainly delivers. Pupusas, a thick, stuffed corn tortilla, are worth the drive. 9609 CR 6900, 885.2222, restaurantelsalvador.com $ FARM TO FORK GASTRO KITCHEN Serving farm fresh food, Farm to Fork’s creative presentation and gourmet offerings feature locally produced produce and meats. The seasonal menu changes often, with a variety of entrees, small plates and brunch on Sunday.

The eatery is by reservation only, so plan accordingly. 8310 E. FM 3523, 829.2564, f2fgastrokitchen.com $$

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FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES Order a la carte from the simple menu at this fast-casual eatery, choosing from burgers made to order with your choice of toppings. Plenty of fries mean you’ll need to loosen your belt! 4410 19th St., 368.3490/6076 Marsha Sharp Fwy., 771.4897, fiveguys.com $ FLIPPERS TAVERN This colorful little hole-in-the-wall specializes in brats with all the fixings. Try the Pile Driver for a cheese and chili fix. 1406 Avenue Q, 701.5130 $ FORTUNE COOKIE CHINESE RESTAURANT Serving Cantonese-style food, Fortune Cookie is family-owned and -operated. Easy online ordering makes dine-in and takeout dining a breeze.

7006 University Ave., 745.2205, fortunecookietx.com $ FREEBIRDS This build-your-own burritos, bowls and nachos chain rates high for quality ingredients, vegan and vegetarian options, and responsive customer service. 4930 S. Loop 289, Suite 250, 791.0101, freebirds.com $ THE FUNKY DOOR BISTRO & WINE ROOM With everything from mac ‘n cheese to fondue, lobster to steak, and more than 800 wine labels, The Funky Door is a divine place to linger.

6801 Milwaukee Ave., 687.0505, thefunkydoor.com $$-$$$ FUZZY’S TACO SHOP Options are endless at Fuzzy’s with everything from a variety of Baja-style tacos to enchilada plates, over-sized salads, tamales, and breakfast all day, every day. 10101 Slide Road, 797.8226/ 2102 Broadway Ave., 740.8226, fuzzystacoshop.com $ GARCIA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT Garcia’s is known for its affordable food and onpoint margaritas. Feast on the buffet for weekend brunch. 5604 Slide Road, Suite 100, 792.0097 $ GATOR’S BAYOU CAJUN GRILL & BAR Gator’s Bayou’s fun atmosphere and extensive food and drink menus ensure that you’ll enjoy your experience. Fans of Gator’s enjoy the Sunday brunch and sheltered patio. 5217 98th St., 698.6900, gatersbayou.com $$ GILBERT’S BAR & GRILL With its Tech-themed dining room and generous patio, Gilbert’s is the perfect place to hang out and enjoy a home-style meal. Enjoy familystyle Chinese food on Saturday nights and

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brunch on Sundays. 2608 Salem Ave., 795.8791, gilbertslubbock.com $$ GIORGIO’S PIZZA Giorgio’s longstanding downtown location offers counter service and some of the city’s most beloved pizza by the slice, calzones, pasta, and daily lunch specials. 1018 Broadway St., 765.9330, giorgiospizzalubbock.com $ GOHAN JAPANESE FUSION A fast-casual eatery, Gohan serves hibachi-style build-a-bowl meals, specialty rice bowls, and bubble tea. 1003 University Ave., 368.8048 $$ HARRIGAN’S PRIME GRILL Remember Harrigan’s? Well, the beloved chain is back as Harrigan’s Prime Grill, and locals are thrilled. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu includes plenty of steaks to satisfy beef lovers, along with plenty of options for the entire family.

Don’t’ leave without indulging in a Black Magic Cake. 11814 Indiana Ave., 368.8008, harrigans.com $$-$$$ HAYASHI MIDTOWN SUSHI BAR & JAPANESE CUISINE Hayashi Midtown offers lunch and dinner specials, create-your-own bento boxes, sushi, and, of course, hibachi grill cooking. 3701 19th St., 701.5486, hayashimidtown.com $$ HEALTHY ESSENTIALS Part nutrition shop, part cafe, Healthy Essentials serves low-calorie breakfast and lunch items, coffee and smoothies. 8008 Abbeville Ave., 771.5959, healthytastegreat.com $ THE HONEYCOMB PIE SHOPPE #2 If you can make it past the pie case, there are plenty of sandwiches, soups and salads for a filling lunch. 3833 50th St., Suite 3, 701.4133 $ IKE’S WOODFIRE GRILLE Ike’s offers handcrafted steaks, seafood, woodfired pizzas, calzones, burgers and more. Save with Ike’s daily specials and enjoy daily Happy Hour Monday through Friday. 4414 82nd St., Suite 218, 368.8036, ikesgrill.com $$ ITALIAN GARDEN Traditional Italian fare at this BYOB restaurant downtown. A variety of pasta, pizza and subs ensure a hefty carb fix. 1215 Avenue J, 771.2212, italiangardenlubbock.com $$ IT’S GREEK TO ME You’re in for a unique experience at this Greek and American food restaurant. You can’t go wrong with the falafel, gyro and sweet baklava. 7006 University Ave., 792.1949, itisgreektomelubbocktexas.com $

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J&B COFFEE CO. Generously portioned sandwiches, baked goods and specialty desserts make the perfect complement for freshly roasted coffee or flavored tea. 2701 26th St., 796.1114/3334 66th St., 799.1996, jandbcoffeeco.com $ JAZZ, A LOUISIANA KITCHEN A national chain, Jazz serves New Orleans-style classics and features nightly live music.

3703 19th St., 799.2124, jazzkitchen.com $$ JIMENEZ BAKERY & RESTAURANT Jimenez has offered traditional Mexican baked goods to the Lubbock area since 1969. Breakfast items lean toward Texas-style comfort food, while lunch and dinner focus on more traditional items. Don’t leave without trying something from the bakery. 1217 Crickets Ave., 744.2685, jimenezbakeryandrestaurant.com $ JIN KOREAN BBQ & SUSHI LOUNGE Traditional Korean BBQ is designed for sharing.

At Jin, choose your meat from the all-you-can-eat buffet, and cook it yourself at the table. Or choose sushi from Jin’s “Sushi Conveyor Revolution,” which will feature fresh-made sushi.

6810 Milwaukee Ave., 368.3830 $$ NEW

JOSIE’S AUTHENTIC MEXICAN KITCHEN Josie’s three Lubbock locations serve a variety of fresh, handmade burritos for walk-up, dine-in and drive-thru service. Breakfast burritos are the most popular, but the Big Mama is a sure bet any time of day. 3312 Avenue Q, 744.8075/ 5101 Aberdeen Ave., 793.7752/6606 19th St., 793.1921 $ JUMBO JOE’S A true burger joint, Joe’s offers dine-in, carry-out and a convenient drive-thru. Extra-large portions and affordable prices keep diners going back for more. 3310 Fourth St., 747.7900, jumbojoes.com $ KING LOUIE’S SPORTS LOUNGE & BILLIARDS ROOM Kin Louie’s stretches “Happy Hour” into an eight-hour celebration. Enjoy drink specials and shareable plates from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every day, while you watch the game or play a game of pool in the smoke-free pool hall. 7604 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 1400, 368.8200, kinglouiesrestaurantandbar.com $$ KING STREET PUB Nestled in a strip mall on Indiana, King Street Pub’s stark exterior holds a surprisingly charming Victorian English tea room meets traditional pubthemed restaurant. Inventive cuisine and a cozy atmosphere will keep you going back for more.

8004 Indiana Ave., Suite B18, 993.1010, kingstreetpub.com $$

LA DIOSA CELLARS From the funky decor to the perfectly prepared tapas to the extensive wine list, La Diosa promises a top-notch experience. 901 17th St., 744.3600, ladiosacellars.com $$ LA MADELEINE Charming chain La Madeleine keeps customers coming back for more with French-style baked goods for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

8201 Quaker Ave., Suite 118, 698.6313, lamadeleine.com $$ THE LANTERN TAVERN A step above standard pub fare, The Lantern serves shareable appetizers, burgers and pizza in its casual dining room. Enjoy the dog-friendly patio and listen to live music on Friday nights.

3502 Slide Road, 785.2280, lanterntavern.net $$ LAS BRISAS SOUTHWEST STEAKHOUSE Elegant Southwestern-style fare awaits at Las Brisas. Feast on a 24-ounce bone-in rib-eye paired with the perfect craft cocktail or a selection from the wine list. 4701 112th St., 687.6050, las-brisas.com $$$ LEE’S CAFE You’ll need to loosen your belt at Lee’s. Irresistible plates brimming with classic comfort food make choosing one item a challenge. We’re hooked on the meat loaf and pork chops. Finish your meal with a bowl of banana pudding.

1101 Main St., 368.8537/4919 34th St., 993.5337, leescafelubbock.com $$ LILLIE’S PLACE Lillie’s affordable Mexican food and breakfast all day are made even better by great customer service and special attention for pups in the drive-thru. 6313 19th St., 701.5206 $ LINDA’S CAFE Specializing in Filipino food, no-fail customer favorites include the special pancit and lomain. Be prepared for a wait as the food is made fresh to order. 1901 W. Loop 289, Suite 6, 791.0233 $ LISA WEST’S DOUBLE NICKEL STEAK HOUSE Voted one of the top 10 best steak houses in Texas, the Double Nickel specializes in traditional steakhouse fare. While beef rules the menu, you’ll find plenty of chicken, seafood and salads to delight the pickiest eater. 5405 Slide Road, 792.0055, doublenickelsteakhouse.com $$$ LITE BITE MEDITERRANEAN CAFE This simple Mediterranean diner also has a specialty market and deli on site. Customer favorites include the fresh gyros, baklava, and hummus. Order online for quick pick-up or delivery. 3624 50th St., 318.4533 $

LITTLE PANDA For affordable food fast, Little Panda is the place.

The ample menu has plenty of items under $10, and easy online ordering.1221 University Ave., 722.0888, littlepandattu.com/7412 University Ave., Unit 1, 745.8885, littlepandalubbock.com $ LOCAL BAR AND GRILL Located close to the Texas Tech campus, Local’s bar menu includes pizza, burgers, street-style tacos, and shareable pub grub. Fill up on Big as Your Face nachos topped with white queso, chorizo, chili and jalapeños. 2420 Broadway St., 368.5127 $

love the enchiladas and carne asada.

3021 Clovis Road, 762.3068, montelongosrestaurant.com $ NICK’S SPORTS GRILL & LOUNGE With two locations in town – one beside the Overton – Nick’s specializes in sports bar fare like burgers, nachos, wings and pizza. Don’t miss the expansive Happy Hour during the week from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 9806 Quaker Ave., 794.6425/ 2323 Mac Davis Lane, 747.6425, nickssportsgrill.com $

LUBBOCK’S BREAKFAST HOUSE & GRILL Serving breakfast daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Breakfast House also serves lunch, and dinner until 10 p.m.

A huge menu means you can go back again and again to discover a new taste treat. 7006 University Ave., 687.8912/2422 19th St., 701.5351, lubbockbreakfasthouse.com $ LUCKY CHEN CHINESE RESTAURANT Luck Chen serves familiar favorites like fried rice, chow mein, and moo goo gai pan. Daily lunch specials cost a low $5.95. 1803 Seventh St., Suite 801, 749.7888, luckychenlubbock.com $ MAIN EVENT ENTERTAINMENT Perfect for the whole family or a large group, the Main Event offers bowling, arcade games, mini golf and more. Feed the crew with made-toorder pizza or plenty of grill-style nibbles from the dining area.

6010 Marsha Sharp Fwy., 792.3333, mainevent.com $$ MAMARITA’S BORDER CAFE MamaRita’s fast casual Tex-Mex is a regular Best of Lubbock winner. In business since 1989, locals love the salsa bar, margarita’s, and affordable daily specials. 6602 Slide Road, 794.4778, mamaritaslubbock.com $ MASISO Cupbap, a popular Korean street food, is a rice bowl topped with Korean-style barbecue, a dumpling and noodles.

Discover this simple meal at Masiso, along with a limited number of other Korean favorites. 4809 34th St., 368.5469, masisocupbap.com $ MONTELONGO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT Dine in, takeout, or catering – Montelongo’s has you covered. Locals APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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THE OFFICE GRILL AND SPORTS BAR Known for great live country music, The Office offers all-day Happy Hour and a simple menu with grill items like sandwiches and burgers.

5004 Frankford Ave., Suite 900, 687.6242, theofficegrillandsportsbar.com $ O’HANA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR Choose from hibachi service or fresh sushi when you dine at O’hana. Reservations are suggested for busy weekend evenings. 5510 Fourth St., Suite 100, 792.0144/ 5217 82nd St., 783.8298 $$ OLIVE GARDEN ITALIAN KITCHEN Olive Garden will tell you, “When you’re here, you’re family,” and that’s the truth. With endless salad and breadsticks, no matter the entree, you’ll leave satisfied. 5702 Slide Road, 791.3575, olivegarden.com $$

797.0881/4407 98th St., 794.2222, panerabread.com $$ THE PECAN GRILL Located inside the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, The Pecan Grill serves upscale breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’re fans of the Texas redfish and NY strip steak. 2322 Mac Davis Lane, 776.7010, overtonhotel.com $$$ PEPE’S PIZZA AND ICE CREAM Is there a better combination than pizza and ice cream? We don’t think so. Feast on hand-tossed pizza made to order, and ice cream loaded with your favorite mix-ins. 3704 98th St., Suite 900, 993.7373, pizzabypepes.com $$ PHO CALI Specializing in Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho Cali also offers barbecued pork chops, fried vermicelli, and coffee. 4636 50th St., 784.2882 $

ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA On the Border’s made-to-order fajitas will knock your socks off. Of course, good Mexican food is even better with a cold beer. Go ahead, indulge.

6709 Slide Road, 686.1550, ontheborder.com $$

PICANTES Known for its family atmosphere and fast, affordable Mexican food, Picantes has been serving its straightforward food to hungry locals for years.

You can’t go wrong with one of the daily specials.

3814 34th St., 793.8304 $$

ONE GUY FROM ITALY PIZZA Fresh, hot, cheesy calzones are the star at One Guy, but the pizza, pasta, and garlic bread are also noteworthy. You’ll find traditional Sicilian recipes and great conversation when you dine in. 4320 50th St., 791.1210/1101 University Ave., 747.1226 $

PLATFORM RESTAURANT This downtown eatery caters to the lunch crowd by featuring gourmet salads, sandwiches and soups that utilize fresh seasonal produce and house-smoked meats. 1212 Avenue K, 762.1088, platformlbk.com $$

ORLANDO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Generous portions of Italian mainstays dominate Orlando’s menu, with a southwestern influence peppered throughout. Customers rave about the potato and green chile soup, burgers, and all-youcan-eat spaghetti and meatballs. 6951 Indiana Ave., 797.8646/2402 Avenue Q, 747.5998, orlandos.com $$ OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE Let’s just start with the Bloomin’ Onion. We could actually end there and be completely satisfied, but what’s a trip to Outback without a Victoria’s Filet Mignon and Bacon Bourbon Salmon? Speaking of completely satisfied, leave room for the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. 4015 S. Loop 289, 788.0035, outback.com $$ PANCAKE HOUSE This cozy diner fills up fast, so expect a wait time.

Enjoy home-style breakfast until 2:30 p.m. daily, with lunch items available after 11 a.m.

510 Avenue Q, 765.8506 $ PANERA BREAD You can count on this beloved chain for seasonal entrees, hearty salads, and some of the best baked goods around. 3004 W. Loop 289, UPDATE

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POLIBERTO’S TACO SHOP Find your favorite Tex-Mex items at Poliberto’s.

Tacos and burritos earn top ratings at this simple drive-thru only restaurant. 107 Beech Ave., 763.5555 $ POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP Potbelly has it all – sandwiches (hot or cold), salads, macaroni-and-cheese, soup, chips, cookies, shakes and smoothies – plenty of options to keep you going back for more. 2402 Ninth St., 747.5667/6616 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 900, 687.4635, potbelly.com $ RAIN UPTOWN Rain Uptown offers fine dining Italian style, with homemade pasta, pizza, seafood entrees and small plates. 5217 98th St., 798.5900, rainuptownristorante.com $$ RASPADOS COLIMAS The photos on Raspados’ Facebook page will instantly draw you in and make your mouth water.

Huge fruit drinks, cheesy cups full of Mexican corn, and overflowing taco plates look particularly tempting. 2203 Clovis Road, 474.4429 $

RAZZOO’S CAJUN CAFE Open in Lubbock since August 2018, Razzoo’s serves Cajun specialties in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Unwind on Winey Wednesdays with half price wine all day. 4805 S. Loop 289, 783.3032, razzoos.com $$ RIVER SMITH’S CHICKEN & CATFISH A Lubbock mainstay, Rive Smith’s serves fried catfish and chicken battered to perfection.

Chargrilled options, and oysters, shrimp and crab round out the menu. 406 Avenue Q, 765.8164, riversmiths.com $$ ROSA’S CAFÉ & TORTILLA FACTORY Perfect for take-out or a quick, satisfying meal, Rosa’s offers Tex-Mex favorites and a fun, upbeat atmosphere. You can’t beat the homemade tortillas, made fresh every day. 5103 82nd St., 794.2285/4407 Fourth St., 785.5334/ 5020 Milwaukee Ave., 792.0015/3115 50th St., 784.0100, rosascafe.com $ ROYAL INDIAN CUISINE Feast on authentic Indian cuisine in a clean but quirky atmosphere. With a buffet for lunch and table service at dinner, popula ROYAL SEAFOOD SHACK From traditional Cajun seafood boils, to fried or grilled fish, to sandwiches and gumbo, the Royal Seafood Shack’s menu is brimming with fresh seafood, paired with down-home comfort food sides like corn on the cobb, cornbread, french fries and coleslaw. 6012 82nd St., 368.8537 $$ NEW

SABROSO MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND BAR Traditional Tex-Mex is a staple in West Texas, and Sabroso does not disappoint. You can’t go wrong with a taco special, enchiladas, or the popular breakfast migas, offered at breakfast or brunch.

5812 34th St., 702.8960 $ NEW

SAKURA NOODLE HOUSE & SUSHI BAR Sakura’s extensive menu is offered all day, and includes rice or noodle bowls, sushi and hibachi.

Affordable daily lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. make Sakura an excellent early dinner choice. 4520 50th St., 368.7046, sakuralubbock.com $$ NEW

SALTGRASS STEAK HOUSE Saltgrass has plenty of steaks to choose from and you can pair it with juicy Gulf shrimp or lump crab meat. Take our advice: Save room for the TwoFork Cheesecake. Rich and creamy, it melts in your mouth. 6026 Marsha Sharp Fwy., 792.1004, saltgrass.com $$

SAMBURGERS A small dine-in space with a drive-thru, Samburgers offers old-fashioned burgers, onion rings, and fries made fresh to order. 4447 34th St., 799.1987 $ SANCTUARY BAR & CAFE Sanctuary offers specialty cocktails like its nitrogen-infused “NitroMargarita,” and classic bar food like burgers, dip and chips, and chicken wings. The eatery expects to release a full food menu in the coming months.

8209 Slide Road, Suite 900, 368.3867, sanctuarybarandcafe.com $$ NEW

SPANKY’S SANDWICH SHOP This Tech hangout specializes in home-style hamburgers, sandwiches and shareable pub grub. 811 University Ave, 744.5677, spankys.com $$

Lubbock Magazine is the city’s best resource for fresh, informative content. Every month, you’ll find features about the arts, Lubbock’s food culture, and business leaders. Learn something new about the city and its people!

STACKED BREAKFAST & LUNCH Open early for breakfast and serving lunch daily, Stacked also caters and offers a convenient drive-up window for meals on the go. We’ve got our eye on the pancakes at Stacked, with four tempting flavors: original, chocolate chip, sweet potato, and bacon. 6015 82nd St., Suite 5, 317.1101, stackedlbk.com $ THE TAILGATE SPORTS BAR & GRILL Hefty chicken-fried steak, barbecue plates, meatloaf, burgers, nachos and daily specials are on the menu at The Tailgate. Save room for the Mason jar strawberry shortcake. 417 Frankford Ave., 412.7330 $ TAQUERIA Y PANDADERIA GUADALAJARA This modest eatery serves authentic fare with fresh baked goods. We love the street tacos and fresh-made chicarrón, crackling hot from the fryer. 1925 19th St., 765.8321 $ TEDDY JACKS HUB CITY GRILL Teddy Jacks promises a fun experience in its energetic dining area. The menu touches on a variety of American favorites, so there’s sure to be something for everyone at the table. 7205 Milwaukee Ave., 698.6997, teddyjacks.com $$ TORCHY’S TACOS Start with the queso and a Happy Hour special and linger in Torchy’s hip atmosphere as the perfect end to a workday or for day-time weekend relaxation with friends. 2407 Ninth St., Suite 100, 368.8973/3204 W. Loop 289, 412.5220 torchystacos.com $ UPDATE

TWIN PEAKS At Twin Peaks, expect traditional sports pub fare designed to curb those cravings. Choose items like steak, nachos, hot wings, burgers and too many more to list. 6020 Marsha Sharp Frwy., 793.1075, twinpeaksrestaurant.com $$ NEW

WALK-ON’S BISTREAUX & BAR Walk-On’s serves Louisiana-inspired cuisine like seafood, traditional Cajun favorites and bigger-than-average burgers. The like to call it “Game Day with a Taste of Louisiana.” We call it just plain tasty. 2630 W. Loop 289, 793.1845, walk-ons.com $$ THE WEST TABLE KITCHEN AND BAR Yamagata’s shabu shabu (hot pots) set it apart The West family’s hip eatery inside the Pioneer Condos building downtown serves outstanding, creative food. The menu changes daily to accommodate seasonal foods, but we enjoyed the crab hushpuppy starter, hearty burger, and roasted beet salad on our last visit. 1204 Broadway St., Suite 103, 993.9378, thewesttable.com $$ YUYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT Choose from the menu, hibachi-style meals, or fresh sushi from the sushi bar.

5130 80th St., 368.7861, yuyorestaurant.com $$

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APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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TOP R E A LT O R S 2020

TOP REALTORS

THE REX ANDREWS REAL ESTATE GROUP AT KELLER WILLIAMS

How long have you worked in real estate? I am starting my fifth year as a licensed Realtor.

Specialization areas: I specialize in residential with both buyers and sellers, as well as commercial real estate and land.

Which two character traits most influence your success? Constant hustle and unwavering tenacity.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? I’ve used my skills in past positions in the construction landscaping and marketing industries to help me develop a better way to list a home than the old traditional hang-asign-in-the-yard method, which results in a much quicker sale for my clients.

Claim to fame: After three full years at Keller Williams, I was recognized as the No. 1 Listing Agent, No. 1 Buying Agent, No. 1 in Total Volume, and No. 1 in Total Production out of all single agents at Keller Williams, and held that distinction until starting a team of my own this past October.

Community involvement: Past Chairman and 10-year Board Member for Make-A-Wish North Texas; current Chairman for 2021 American Heart Association Heart Ball; current Board Member of Go Red for Women; past two-time Chairman and Ambassador of the Year for the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Program, conducting more than 327 ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings for new businesses in Lubbock; 10-year (consecutive) board member and current seven-year Chairman of Alliance Credit Union; while on the Make-A-Wish board, I helped raise more than 3 million dollars and grant wishes for 223 kids.

THE REX ANDREWS REAL ESTATE GROUP AT KELLER WILLIAMS 10210 Quaker Ave. 806.771.7710 buyselllubbockhomes.com 44

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TOP REALTORS

CELIA PALMER WESTMARK REALTORS

How long have you worked in real estate? I began my Realtor career in 2015, and I became a part of the Westmark Family in 2017.

Specialization areas: I am a residential Realtor, focusing clients in the 806 area code.

Which two character traits most influence your success? I love home decorating, exploring all colors of the spectrum, writing bios and using effective communication with all of my clients and associates. I have packed, cleaned, hauled boxes up two flights of stairs and to the basement, solved math problems and closing situations. If it is workable then I will provide solutions.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? My passion for 35 years was education. My favorite passion, which led me to pursue a career as a Realtor, was Destination Imagination for the past 10 years with Levelland ISD. Destination Imagination is a team-building concept, exploring the different avenues it would take to solve a problem. This became my springboard to marketing and selling homes. It was my passion for problem-solving for students, differentiated to adults.

Claim to fame: On Dec 29,2016, I joined the Million Dollar Club for Realtors. My Million Dollar Club has morphed every year, higher and higher. This past year was my personal best.

CELIA PALMER WESTMARK REALTORS 4105 84th St. 806.535.5140 westmarkcompanies.com

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TOP REALTORS

TEAM LYNN AND JANIE NEXTHOME CORE REALTY

How long have you worked in real estate? 3½ years Specialization areas: Residential properties in Lubbock and surrounding areas.

Which two character traits most influence your success? Janie’s strength is quiet, intuitive listening and discernment. Lynn’s strength is patient attention to detail, and persistence to ‘do it right.’ Together, we communicate and problem-solve to bring about our ultimate goal: serving our clients with integrity, personal care, and competence in every transaction.

How do your past work experiences impact your careers as Realtors? We spent many years as educators. It was our sole responsibility to successfully move students from point A to point B in a timely manner. We developed exceptional organization and communication skills to ensure their success. Likewise, as Realtors, we bring those same skills to move our buyer and seller clients forward.

Our goal is always the same: to consistently communicate along the way, and ensure a seamless and stress-free experience for every client.

Claim to fame: We would like to tell you that we were known nationally

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as competitors in the CBS reality show, “The Amazing Race.” Three times, we sent a video and application to participate in that race; alas, we never were chosen. We eventually were able to use that video when our local TV station decided to host their own version of “The Amazing Race.” They chose us and five other teams to compete, and captured our every move as we raced all over Lubbock completing the challenges. Our claim to fame: we got to hang with Bryan Mudd for a few weeks.

Community involvement: Lynn is involved at High Point Village, a local nonprofit for adults with special needs. She teaches after-school enrichment classes, participates in activities and social events, and helps with fundraising. Janie partners with her husband, a licensed professional counselor, to co-teach marriage enrichment courses at Hillside Christian Church. She serves many young women as a life coach, mentor and friend. Both Lynn and Janie serve in Frenship ISD, participating as members of the site base committee. Janie serves on the Texas Realtors Professional Standards committee, as well as chairperson for the Lubbock Association of Realtors United Way committee.

LYNN MILLER AND JANIE COGGINS NEXTHOME CORE REALTY

8713 Milwaukee Ave. 806.790.7424 | 806.438.3247 lynn@nexthomecore.com | janie@nexthomecore.com

TOP REALTORS

NATHAN JORDAN

CENTURY 21 JOHN WALTON REALTORS How long have you worked in real estate? I have worked in real estate for more than 17 years.

Specialization areas: I specialize in residential singlefamily, condominiums, multifamily, commercial, and vacant land sales in Lubbock and throughout more than 30 surrounding communities.

Which two character traits most influence your success?

My work ethic and being consistent are what influence my success the most.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? I grew up on a farm, and I learned the meaning of hard work at a very young age. I feel that this has greatly contributed to my career, as I am not afraid to put in the work required to be a successful real estate agent.

Claim to fame: Working hard and selling real estate.

NATHAN JORDAN CENTURY 21 JOHN WALTON REALTORS 4718 S. Loop 289 C 806.781.3357, O 806.793.8111 nathanjordanhomes.com

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TOP REALTORS

HACEE HUGHES EXP REALTY

How long have you worked in real estate? Since October 2014.

Specialization areas: New home sales, pre-existing home sales, luxury properties, multifamily, commercial land and investments for Lubbock and the surrounding communities.

Which two character traits most influence your success? Passion and resourcefulness. I am passionate about all the new people I meet each and every week. Whether I help a couple buy a starter home or a glamorous estate, to me it›s all about helping people live their dream. The essential aspect of success for me is the difference that I can make in each client’s life as I help each of them navigate the world of real estate. With real estate, where the sky is the limit, real estate agents have the opportunity of impacting thousands of people’s lives in any calendar year. Being resourceful is one of the key aspects of success to help my clients achieve their goals.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? Originally from a large farming family in Lubbock, I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, to attend high school and college. While in Hawaii, I organized and managed a tourist activity center on Oahu, where I coordinated corporate, nonprofit, private, military and civilian events in Waikiki. My background has given me the opportunity to better understand the diversity of the wants and needs of my clients through each real estate transaction and better guide each client through a seamless, stress-less process.

Claim to fame: eXp Realty Best of Lubbock 2019; American Institute of Real Estate Agents, 10 Best Real Estate Agents in Texas 2019; Lubbock Real Producer Magazine 2019; Best of the West 2020 Best Realtor Community involvement: Lubbock Junior Women’s Club; West Texas Home Builders Association; South Plains College Real Estate Advisory Board Member

HACEE HUGHES EXP REALTY

806.319.0670 haceehughes.exprealty.com 48

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TOP REALTORS

JUNE WAGNERWACHTEL

CENTURY 21 JOHN WALTON REALTORS How long have you worked in real estate? For 14 years, but I grew up in a real estate family where both my grandfather and mother discussed their various real estate undertakings at the dinner table. As a child, I learned how intertwined real estate is with a family’s hopes and dreams.

I have been a top producer since 2006.

Specialization areas: While my field is primarily residential, I have also done commercial and farmland.

Which two character traits most influence your success? Good communication skills and empathy. An agent must be able to learn the particular wants and needs of a buyer or seller. Often, these needs are not conveyed directly, so listening and reading body language is important.

Empathy is important in understanding a client’s needs as well, whether it is a son or daughter selling a mother’s estate or a couple going through a divorce, where you have

to tread tactfully and carefully in working with both parties. It is an honor to assist people at one of the most important times of their lives.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? Before becoming a realtor, I majored in Renaissance English in college and taught creative writing in graduate school, where I learned how crucial communication skills are. I then served as editor at the National Business Education Association in the Washington, D.C., area, where I wrote about timely topics in business and technology.

Community involvement: I am very active in the community, serving on the boards of the Faculty Women’s Club of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, the Lubbock County Medical Alliance, the Lubbock Symphony, and Congregation Shaareth Israel.

JUNE WAGNER-WACHTEL CENTURY 21 JOHN WALTON REALTORS 4718 S. Loop 289 806.252.7193 century21.com

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TOP REALTORS

JOE WILLIAMS COLDWELL BANKER

How long have you worked in real estate? Two years in August Specialization areas: Residential buying and selling Which two character traits most influence your success? As a school administrator, I had the privilege of teaming up with families as their children reached goals and navigated through the Lubbock Independent School District. It will now be very important for me to connect with families as their trusted advisor and help them reach their goals in the real estate market.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? Principal at Bowie Elementary (6 years); Whiteside Elementary (17 years); Roberts Elementary (3 years); and Monterey High School (2 years).

After working in the educational field and others, I have

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decided to begin a new career as a real estate professional and continue to work with people as their trusted advisor. All of these different occupations have given me the personality, the drive, and the skill set to work in the real estate market and to help my clients have a positive and effortless experience when buying or selling a home.

Claim to fame: I have owned three different homes, remodeled two homes, and added additional square footage to two different properties. I was the contractor on the addition for one of my homes.

Community involvement: Worked with Texas Tech for 42 years at sporting events.

JOE WILLIAMS COLDWELL BANKER

4924 S. Loop 289 806.928.0168 • coldwellbanker.com

Calendar OF EVENTS APRIL 2020

As of print time, our April calendar is up to date. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, we will update our online calendar with postponed and cancelled events.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BENEFITS & FUNDRAISERS

April 9-11

April 3

Lubbock Community Theatre presents “The Jungle Book” 7:30 p.m. 4232 Boston Ave., 749.2416

Spring Fling 2020 6 p.m. Proceeds used to enrich programs for Foster in Texas, Neighborhood House and Health for Friends Clinic. TTU McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, 2521 17th St., 742.0400

April 12 Lubbock Community Theatre presents “The Jungle Book” 2:30 p.m. 4232 Boston Ave., 749.2416

April 16-18 Lubbock Community Theatre presents “The Jungle Book” 7:30 p.m. 4232 Boston Ave., 749.2416

April 17-18 Flatlands Dance Theatre presents “Hometown: An Evening of Dance & Arts Celebrating the South Plains” 7:30 p.m. LHUCA Firehouse Theatre, 511 Avenue K, 762.8606

April 19 Lubbock Community Theatre presents “The Jungle Book” 2:30 p.m. 4232 Boston Ave., 749.2416

April 24-25 Lubbock Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto 7:30 p.m. Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Lane, 775.2242

April 25 Hub City Contra 6:30 p.m. Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, 511 Avenue K, 762.8606

April 6 2020 Ragin Cajun Golf Tournament 10:30 a.m.

The Rawls Course, 3720 4th St., 742.4653

Earlene Caddell Memorial Charity Golf Tournament 8 a.m. Benefiting education enrichment for students in West Texas.

Meadowbrook Canyon Creek Golf Course, 601 East Municipal Drive, 765.6679

April 21 36th Annual Celebrity Luncheon 11:30 a.m.

Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Lane, 775.2242

April 23 April 13 16th Annual Lubbock Post-Masters Invitational 11:30 a.m. Benefitting the Volunteer Center of Lubbock. Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Road, 762.0414

2020 Lubbock Go Red for Women 9 a.m. Overton Hotel & Conference Center, 2322 Mac Davis Lane, 776.7000 2nd Annual High Plains Legacy Bottle Auction 7 p.m. Burklee Hill Vineyards at The Kress Building, 1109 Broadway St., 993.1195

April 15 14th Annual Champions for Children Banquet 11:30 a.m. Early Learning Centers of Lubbock, 1639 Main St., 765.9981

April 24 3rd Annual Concert for Kids Sake 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491

April 17 LCS Benefit Dinner 7 p.m. Featuring Vallie Collins.

Overton Hotel & Conference Center, 2322 Mac Davis Lane, 776.7000

April 18

April 25 6th Annual Walk of Hope for Huntington’s Disease 8:30 a.m. Hillside Lubbock Campus, 6202 Milwaukee Ave., 698.8000

4th Annual 5K Honor Run 8 a.m. Proceeds benefit Veterans in the community. Rhodes-Perrin Recreation Center, 2401 Eileen Blvd., 720.7516

March for Babies 10 a.m. American Windmill Museum, 1701 Canyon Lake Drive, 747.8734

Junior League of Lubbock’s Touch-a-Truck 9-10 a.m. South Plains Mall, 6002 Slide Road, 794.8874

22nd Annual Blue Ribbon Rally Charity Car Show 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Family Guidance and Outreach Center. Depot District, 747.5577

Boots and Badges Golf Tournament 1 p.m.

Shadow Hills Golf Course, 6002 Third St., 793.9700

April 26

Island Party 2020 5 p.m. Event will benefit Lubbock Impact. South Plains Fair Park Coliseum, 801 Avenue A, 763.2833

The Last Podcast on the Left 7 p.m. Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre, 1501 Mac Davis Lane, 775.2242

April 19

April 27

Buckner Spring Tea 2-4 p.m. Featuring speaker Kerri Pomarolli. Eberley Brooks Events, 8602 County Road 7000, 795.7151

Lubbock Men’s Choir presents “Songs of War, Peace, and Celebration” 7 p.m. Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.3233

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April 20

Lubbock Magazine • thelubbockmagazine.com • APRIL 2020

West Carlisle Volunteer Fire Department 1st Annual Golf Tournament 11 a.m. lunch; 1 p.m. start. Proceeds benefit the West Carlisle Volunteer Fire Department. Reese Golf Center, 1406 Research Blvd., 252.0574 13th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes March 11 a.m. Safety City at Clapp Park, 4500 Avenue U, 767.2712 6th Annual Rascal Roundup 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Brock “Rascal” Riemath Memorial Scholarship. The Garden, 1801 Buddy Holly Ave., Suite 5136, 407.3636

April 26 Burkhart Walk for Autism Awareness 2 p.m. John B. Walker Texas Tech Soccer Fields, 3901 10th St., 742.3355

April 30 Cottonfest 2020 VIP & Sponsor Party 7 p.m. Event will feature William Clark Green, catered dinner, silent auction and more. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491

April 28

Ox Martin 9 p.m. The Blue Light Live, 1806 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.1185 Kinky Wizards 9:30 p.m. The Office Grill and Sports Bar, 5004 Frankford Ave., 687.6242

The Amity Affliction 7 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

April 30 Jesse Day & The Texas Knights 6:30 p.m. Triple J Chophouse & Brewery, 1807 Buddy Holly Ave., 771.6555

April 11 Three Bad Jacks 8 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

Jackopierce 7:30 p.m. Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.3233

April 16

MUSIC

Sharp Dressed Men 6 p.m. Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant, 4401 82nd St., 794.1762

SPECIAL EVENTS

April 3

Jay Statham 10 p.m. The Blue Light Live, 1806 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.1185

April 4

April 17

Hodges Community Center Star Walk 10:45 p.m.

Rose Garden at Clapp Park, 4011 University Ave., 767.3706

Koe Wetzel, Read Southall Band and Muscadine Bloodline 7 p.m. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491 Sunny Sweeney 7 p.m. The Office Grill and Sports Bar, 5004 Frankford Ave., 687.6242

Sharp Dressed Men 6:30 p.m. E&J Smokehouse, 701 Regis St., 762.6201

The Cleverlys 7 p.m. The Blue Light Live, 1806 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.1185

GT Garza, Krystall Poppin and others 8 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

April 3-4

April 18

The Caldwell Kids with David Gaschen – An Evening of Broadway’s Best 7:30 p.m. Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.3233

First Annual Escondido Canyon Roots Festival 12 p.m. Outdoor festival will feature multiple stages as a joint venture between Spirit Ranch and the Cactus Theater. Spirit Ranch, 701 Regis St., 762.6201

April 4 Chasing Ivy 12 p.m. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491

Jesse Day & The Texas Knights 7:30 p.m.

The Funky Door Bistro & Wine Room, 6801 Milwaukee Ave., 687.0505

OddFellas 8 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

Aaron Watson 8 p.m. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491

Javier Galvan 9 p.m. The Office Grill and Sports Bar, 5004 Frankford Ave., 687.6242

Chasing Ivy 10 p.m. The Gas Light, 5212 57th St., 785.1720

April 8

April 19

Easter Egg Hunt for Pups 2 p.m. Maxey Community Center, 4020 30th St., 767.3796 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt 3 p.m. Hodges Community Center, 4011 University Ave., 767.3706

Real Deal Easter Extravaganza 1:30 p.m. Mae Simmons Park, 2004 Oak Ave., 767.2700

April 19 Mayor’s Marathon 7 a.m. Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., 775.3560

DJ Snoopadelic 8 p.m. Cook’s Garage, 11002 US-87, 893.2491

Steve Garry Band 7:30 p.m. La Diosa Cellars, 901 17th St., 744.3600

April 21

April 10

Rich Burg, Jim Clack and Jordan McEwen 10 p.m.

The Blue Light Live, 1806 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.1185

Jesse Day & The Texas Knights 7 p.m.

Back 40 Grill, 5214 98th St., 853.8715

Sixth Annual Alstom Angels Beeping Easter Egg Hunt 1-4 p.m. Special hunt will include all children, but is specifically designed for the blind and visionimpaired. 6301 Marsha Sharp Fwy., 701.5290

April 11

Cane Hill 6:30 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

Jason Boland and The Stranglers 7 p.m. Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave., 762.3233

April 5

April 25 Lubbock Kid Fish 7 a.m. Maxey Community Center, 4020 30th St., 767.3796 50th Annual Ranch Day 10 a.m. National Ranching Heritage Center, 3121 4th St., 742.0498

April 30 April 25 Jesse Day & The Texas Knights 9 p.m. Savage Tavern, 1625 University Ave., 368.9060

Literary Lubbock 5:30-8 p.m. TTU McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, 2521 17th St., 742.0400

The Filthy Friends 8 p.m. Jake’s Backroom, 5025 50th St., 687.5253

APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

53

At Work

DINA JEFFRIES, PRESIDENT AND CEO, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF THE SOUTHWEST

1946 World Series baseball This 1946 World Series team baseball is autographed by the St. Louis Cardinals. I’m a huge baseball fan and this ball brings back lots of memories of my granddad.

Cardinal This is my favorite bird. The red songbird represents HOPE … and I like to think that hope is always with us.

Jax The beloved Chief Cheer Officer at Ronald McDonald House. He continues to spread love and cheer to those that need it the most!

Ronald McDonald shoe It is personally signed by Ronald McDonald himself. It’s a treasure!

“Cole Slaw” This nameplate was given to me by my RMHC Global colleagues. I’ve nicked named myself ‘Coleslaw’ because nobody ever orders coleslaw … it just comes with the meal. When I’m with Jax, he is the main entree – I’m just the side that comes along with! It is always about the dog and how healing he is with our sick children and their families.

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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Lubbock Magazine • thelubbockmagazine.com • APRIL 2020

“E

Son’s photo I am very proud of my son, Alec. He is one of my heroes and is an officer with the Lubbock Police Department.

Challenge coins These coins bear the insignia or emblem of different law enforcement agencies. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership. Mine were given in honor of work I have been involved with.

very job you have throughout your life will prepare you for the next stage of your life,” says Dina Jeffries one weekday afternoon at the Ronald McDonald House in Lubbock. “I am blessed to work my passion each and every day.” After a diverse career in medicine, entrepreneurship and the nonprofit world, she has found that passion amid the families she serves as President and CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest.

A Lubbock native, Jeffries met her husband, Steve, when he was at Reese Air Force Base for pilot training in the 1980s. They married, and then learned to navigate the frequent relocations of military life. After Dina earned degrees in respiratory therapy and advanced nursing, specializing in pediatric medicine, she was able to find work wherever Steve was stationed. His career took them from Arizona to Nevada to, oddly enough, Iceland.

It was in Iceland, from 1989 to 1991, where Dina worked for the American Red Cross while Steve was stationed at a U.S. naval base. “I was lucky enough to be in a position in which I not only saw the challenge our military members faced, but the added challenge of being overseas, removed from their families,” she says. “I saw what happened with a crisis at home. How are they informed? How do we get them reunited with family members? People handle a crisis better when they’re together.”

After the end of Steve’s military career, the family returned to Lubbock, thrilled by the opportunity to raise their children around multiple generations of family members.

“When we moved to Lubbock, we purchased my family’s business – we owned apartment complexes – then we sold those and bought some coin-operated laundries,” Dina explains. “We were small business owners.”

But in 2006, Dina found herself volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House, using the volunteer work as a teachable opportunity for one of her sons. The mission of the organization deeply impacted her, though, and when a role as volunteer coordinator came available, she was thrilled to reenter the nonprofit world.

The next year she was named President and CEO of the organization, which serves an astonishing 68 counties in West Texas and beyond. “Our territory is Lubbock, southeast New Mexico, the Permian Basin, San Angelo and the Concho Valley, Abilene and the Big Country,” she says. “But a family can come to us from anywhere in the world. Because of Cannon Air Force Base [near Clovis], we’ve cared for families from Israel, Italy and Germany.”

The Ronald McDonald House offers free lodging for families of children who are critically ill or injured and hospitalized in Lubbock for treatment. “They don’t live in our Lubbock community. They are from miles away and can’t travel to and from the hospital and their house and back. They really need a place to stay,” she says. “We provide that lodging and so much more. Illness doesn’t just affect the child. We want to make sure the whole family is taken care of.”

Last year, RMHC of the Southwest served more than 8,500 families. Those families averaged a stay of at least seven nights. “Children heal faster when their loved ones are close by. When they’re not feeling well and scared, they just want what’s really familiar to be close,” Dina explains. “At the core of it, we keep families close to medical care and close to each other.”

Jeffries leads a team of 15 full-time employees and several more part-timers while coordinating a vast volunteer base. The Ronald McDonald House logged more than 19,000 volunteer hours last year. “We serve 26% of the state of Texas, so there’s no way our small amount of people can get it done without our volunteers,” she says.

The organization’s most popular full-timer is Jax, a yellow lab who’s been given the title “Chief Cheer Officer.” A former guide dog for the blind, the 6-year-old Jax offers pet therapy to children undergoing medical treatment. “He spreads cheer. If they’re anxious or nervous, he helps to calm them down. He’s doing what he is meant to do in life – to be with families and sick children,” says Dina, who often accompanies Jax on these visits. “It’s a very soulful experience for me.”

Beyond those experiences, she believes leading Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest represents a culmination of all her other careers. “Because of pediatric medicine, I knew how hospitals worked, how administrations worked. I had worked specifically with children,” she explains. “I owned apartment complexes and that’s basically facility management. With my other nonprofit jobs, I learned how to raise money and do volunteer management. All of those jobs, when you put them together, make being an organizational leader a perfect fit for me.” L APRIL 2020 • thelubbockmagazine.com • Lubbock Magazine

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ST. PAUL’S ON THE PLAINS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

W

hen J.C. and Sallie McKee Coleman moved with their two young sons to the Lubbock area in 1889, Sallie likely became the first Episcopalian in the county. Over the next few years, she launched a tireless effort to establish a small Episcopal congregation on the South Plains.

Thanks to her hard work, eventually the Diocese of Dallas established St. Paul’s on the Plains as a mission in 1910, a year after Lubbock’s incorporation. (Mrs. Coleman passed away in 1910.) Soon the Diocese began building a small 56

Lubbock Magazine • thelubbockmagazine.com • APRIL 2020

chapel at the intersection of 15th Street and Avenue O. Services began there in 1914 with five men and 10 women attending. That original chapel is now located at the Lubbock Arboretum and managed by the Lubbock Heritage Society.

In the early 1940s, a larger St. Paul’s was built at 16th and Avenue X, opening in time for Christmas services. During that time, the church had a membership of around 200 people, including a number of city leaders. This photo of St. Paul’s on the Plains is dated from 1941, not long after construction was completed. L

COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH’S SOUTHWEST COLLECTION/SPECIAL COLLECTION LIBRARY

Yesteryear