Austin Lifestyle Magazine May June by Daniel Ramirez

NO C O R N. Q UA L I TY VO D KA . Most American vodkas are made from corn (grain), which creates a harshness that must be covered up with sugar or juice. Cinco Vodka is completely different. 100% American Wheat, crystal clear water from the mineral rich Edwards Aquifer, and the European Tradition of Copper Kettle distillation all come together to form a superior drinking experience. Cinco is low in calories, sugar free and as a distilled spirit, is a gluten free product. Cinco Responsibly.

411 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas 78701 | 512.236.0755

(The corner of 5th & Brazos, below Brazos Lofts)

Stylist: Rob Enriquez

Photography: Mark Guerra

edge-boutique.com

MAY/JUNE 2012

FEATURES AUSTIN LIFESTYLE

Lionel Richie ON LIFE, MUSIC & AUSTIN (THE "BEST TIME OF HIS LIFE")

50 Dog Days TAILS OF AN ANIMAL LOVER

58 Ana Reign ALIGNING BEAUTY WITH PURPOSE

60 30A Songwriters Festival HOOKS, LINES AND SINGERS IN SOUTH WALTON, FLORIDA

63 Walter "Yukon" Yates AUSTIN’S VERY OWN JACK LONDON WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE IN LIFE

austinlifestylemagazine.com

MAY/JUNE 2012

DEPARTMENTS AUSTIN LIFESTYLE

8 LETTER FROM THE TEAM 11 THE A* LIFE The best of everything

Austin has to offer

A* STYLE 19 FASHION

Men About Town

25 TRAVEL 32

Kansas City

30 A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS 32 BEAUTY 34 EVENTS 35 SOCIAL GRACES 41 SOCIAL REGISTER

48 Q&ATX 19

Joely Fisher

A* TASTE 68 SAVOR 70 SIP 71 ACCIDENTAL EPICUREAN

The Lighter Side of

the Season

73 COSMIC CADENCE

Horoscopes for

May & June

75 KEEP AUSTIN WELL 48

6 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Your guide to

staying healthy

Suffering from Cocktail Fatigue?

Try something new that is actually

Scan code for

cocktail recipes

new.

There’s a whole new world of cocktails waiting at www.piscoporton.com

Find us. Follow us.

LE T T ER F ROM T H E T E A M

T H E

IT’S TIME TO COME TOGETHER, AUSTIN. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE.

A good bit of spring rain has returned some green hues to our city. The sun is out, the temperatures are up and there’s no better time to find a patio or porch, play some chill music to complete the mood and stir up something refreshingly full of citrus. As hot as the summer months may get, the way it begins here in May and June, there’s no better way to describe it than, “easy.” One might even say it’s “easy like Sunday morning,” if one were so inclined. In case you can’t tell from our legendary cover SHAWN LIVELY story, we are, indeed, so inclined. It has been a great pleasure to feature a man that we’ve admired for so long, and Editor-In-Chief Ashley Halligan has captured our excitement and our fascination with Motown icon, Lionel Richie. Of course, while you’re languishing on a lakeside deck or rooftop bar, we’ve got plenty more to keep you entertained. From unconventional tales (about a different kind of legend in Yukon Yates) to unconventional takes on fashion and beauty (we’re checking you out this issue, men of Austin) to unconventional destinations (who knew that Kansas City was such a great visit?), we've got it all. The town has a great deal to offer, every day, every week and every month; and we at Austin Lifestyle Magazine are altogether too glad to let you know all of it. So, we encourage you to get up and get out into the sunshine. Get active in one of the city’s finest seasons with a walk, a bike ride and a good read (like the one in your hand). It’s a great time to be an Austinite. It’s enough to make you want to dance or sing or just throw your hands in the air and celebrate the moment. Make it a great May/June, Austin! Take in all this city has to give, Shawn Lively, Publisher & the ALM Team

PUBLISHER

B E S T

O F

E V E R Y T H I N G

Shawn K. Lively

EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ashley M. Halligan MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Ramirez ASSOCIATE EDITOR Carlo Bligh COPY EDITOR Tracy Stewart FASHION EDITOR Edith Henry CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amber Groce, Emily Rae Pellerin, Laura Paslawski, Rory Patrick McNeill, Donna Woodwell, Rachael Genson, Patrick Ygnacio, Kristen Morado and Marika Flatt KEEP AUSTIN WELL Lisa Talev and Lety Nettles ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kim Vo WEB DESIGN Stone Slade-Wet Media Designs CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Davis Ayer, Maria Bernal, Genesis Escobar Photography, Mark Guerra, Jim Innes, Madelyn Kay, Sean Kray, Laura Morales, Jorge Reyes, Alan Silfen, Brian Bowen Smith, Jared Tennant, Peter Tung, Jessica Warren, Steve Wells, Todd V. Wolfson, Charla Wood and Walter Yates SALES & MARKETING MARKETING/PR, SOCIAL MEDIA Tori Tinnon BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Martha Morales, Jennifer Miller and Kristen Donner For advertising information, please e-mail info@austinlifestylemagazine.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR info@austinlifestylemagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Email us at subscriptions@austinlifestylemagazine.com or subscribe online at austinlifestylemagazine.com JOB INQUIRIES/INTERNS info@austinlifestylemagazine.com Did you just grab the last copy of ALM? Let us know! info@austinlifestylemagazine.com Austin Lifestyle Magazine is Austin owned and operated. Published by Texas Lifestyle Media, Inc. © and ™ 2012 Texas Lifestyle Media, Inc.

(BACK ROW) CARLO BLIGH, MARTHA MORALES, TORI TINNON, BRIAN KIDDER, EDITH HENRY AND SHAWN LIVELY. (FRONT ROW) ASHLEY HALLIGAN, EMILY PELLERIN, TRACY STEWART, RORY McNEILL AND KIM VO.

8 austinlifestylemagazine.com

PHOTOS BY PETER TUNG

ANTHONY’S IS PROUD TO WELCOME ECOSMART TO OUR SHOWROOM

ART HAS FINALLY COME TO OUTDOOR FIRE!

EXCEPTIONAL FURNISHINGS FOR OUTDOOR LIVING 5604 Bee Cave Road | Austin, TX 78746 512.263.5115 | anthonyspatio.com

THE

*LIFE

Noteworthy happenings, reviews and openings that highlight the best of everything Austin has to offer

soundtrack, and with the strength of visuals in cooperation with sound. At the Media Tech Institute in Austin, Bucherie met Vinson, who had moved to Austin from NYC. Vinson, a musician and performer himself, had left his Wall Street job in aspiration of his true métier—Music. He sings and song writes, produces, and does video, all with a passionate appreciation for talent and the visceral experience of performance. Back in January, The Sessions’ partnership with W Happenings by the W Hotel Austin was consummated with a pair of stunning kick-off performances. Beginning with local guitar aficionado Luis Banuelos and headlined by indie folk rock band Cowboy and Indian, the Living Room Live concert series absorbed the rooms of the W’s lounge with the entity of audience and the experience of song. Prior to each performance, minglers at the W have a moment to wind down with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in hand, finding a spot amidst the congregation of sing-song fiends. With its red hue, emanating from the mirrored tabletops and from the ceiling’s staggered panels, the W’s lounge perpetually possesses a comforting sultriness. The Record Room, with nominally appropriate vinyl album-lined walls, rearranges for Living Room Live, making ample space for dancers and swayers. The venue is perfect in space and in accommodation. The Living Room

The Sessions Bringing You Music That Moves By Emily Rae Pellerin

Live performances will continue through all of summer, but who knows what the future holds for this zealous program past then. The near future, excitedly, holds prospects like concerts under the night sky at the W’s WET pool lounge. “We are thrilled to have found a partner in The Sessions,”

PHOTO BY DAVIS AYER

STYLE BY GYPSY SUN

says Drew McQuade, General Manager of the W Austin. He describes What is lost in music, what is lost in song and in the experience of musical interaction and audience involvement is exactly what The Sessions seeks to reinstate— a sense of connectivity. There is a treasured moment between musician and audience when the connection between the two is too taut to sever; is uniquely tangible; is genuine and soul-full and symbiotic. This connection is lost in so much of today’s experience, but Austin is lucky enough to have one of the most rooted, most sincere vestiges of musicality in the country. In accordance with Austin’s sense of wonder and legitimacy when it comes to musical experience, The Sessions have founded a production company to provide and enhance just that. The Sessions, brainchild of music enthusiasts Lauren Bucherie and CJ Vinson, is locally born and bred. The gist of the company is entirely experiential— the audience and artist interaction; the absorption of the music and of the energy that emanates from great performance. The goal is to bring the two, being the art and its recipient, together as a culmination of song, show, and utter interaction. Bucherie has been interested in this interaction since she was young. She recognized the power of music watching movies, and became intent on discovering and developing the strength of film’s cooperation with its

the company as “a group that has its finger on the pulse of the Austin music scene,” all the while supporting the W’s “passion and vision for an outstanding guest experience.” Currently, Bucherie and Vinson are working on a TV pilot that they have spent over a year writing, filming and producing. “It’s a travel show that invites you to come on the road with us,” explains Bucherie. The Sessions will be filming headlining bands from all across the country, with a coinciding intention to “highlight undiscovered acts and show you eclectic parts of the cities.” The show, she says, was greatly inspired by Austin and its dense musical and cultural identity. Appropriately, the show’s pilot was shot in this song-saturated city. The intimacy of the performances arranged by The Sessions is definitely one of the company’s unmatched accomplishments— guests are up close and personal with the talent, humming and moving directly with them, held in sync by a shared appreciation of culture, music, performance, and collaboration. For more information on The Sessions, its identity, musicians, upcoming projects and more, visit thesessions.com or swing by their Facebook page at facebook.com/TheSessionsMusic. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA WARREN, HEYJESS.COM

THE A * LIFE

Swift's Attic By Rachael Genson

Take a walk down Congress Ave. and you’ll see some of the city’s finest restaurants—but if you’re not quick, you’ll miss the street’s newest culinary treasure. Perched atop Annie’s Café and The Elephant Room is Swift’s Attic, the newest venture from co-owners Stuart Thomajan and C.K. Chin. Pulled from European culture, Swift’s Attic is designed to bring the concept of small plates and extended meals to the Austin food scene. “People are starting to change the way they eat,” says Thomajan. “Entrees are getting smaller and people want the opportunity to try more dishes. Swift’s is just taking that idea and formalizing it.” Dubbing Swift’s an experience restaurant, Thomajan and Chin are hoping that it will be the kind of place where customers can enjoy several small plates with friends over the course of a night. Designed to encourage a relaxed dining escapade, long tables and large booths fill the restaurant, inviting guests to dine communally as if they were eating at home. With Executive Chef Mat Clouser (Kenichi, Uchi), Sous Chef Zack Northcutt (Jean Luc’s, Cibo) and Pastry Chef Callie Speer (Cakemix) running the kitchen at Swift’s Attic, the food is as distinctive as the atmosphere. This culinary trio was given freedom to design their own menu and is using Swift’s Attic as an opportunity to show off the skills they have each developed throughout their careers, as well as a way to pay homage to their mentors. Created with a ‘for us, by us’ mentality, the menu is both temporal and eclectic, designed to create the experience that a chef would feel when enjoying a fine meal. Additionally, the culinary team believes in supporting local farmers, evidenced by their commitment to the use of local, humane and sustainable ingredients. If you’d rather visit Swift’s Attic just to grab a drink or two before hitting the town, fear not. With 14 draft beers, craft cocktails, 22 wines, two cold sakes served by the glass and four ice-cold liquors on tap, Swift’s has every guest covered. Whether it’s mouth-watering food, delicious drinks or a good time you seek, Swift’s Attic has all the elements to satisfy any craving. Next time you’re looking to try something new, visit Swift’s Attic—and prepare for an unforgettable dining experience. ALM

12 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Girl Power By Amber Groce

Ready to rock? Girls from ages 10 to 18 can rock out at Girls Rock Camp Austin’s summer camp, choosing from one of two week-long sessions (one in June and one in July). Each session is held Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm with a performance showcase on Saturday. The first summer camp in 2007 hosted 24 girls. Now, the camp has almost five times more attendees each summer. Music genres covered in the camp include rock, country and Latin. The camp is open to all levels of performers. Two workshops are covered each day, including topics like songwriting, music history, make your own band t-shirts and buttons and zine-making. The theme of the show in this summer camp is the female presence in the music industry. Girls Rock Camp Austin’s website says it best: “Representation of girls in the rock-music industry and culture has always been the exception, rather than the rule. As much as we’d like to think that all things are equal now, reality shows us that girls and women still have an uphill battle in the world of rock music as well as in many other fields. Female artists still tend to be less respected, less supported and viewed as less skilled in nearly all facets of the music industry.” Girls Rock Camp Austin, founded by Austinite Emily Marks, was inspired by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls that formed in Portland in 2001. For more information on Girls Rock Camp Austin and its summer camp, visit girlsrockaustin.org. ALM

A*List

P R O M OT I O N

THE

The Best of Everything from our Advertisers

Bacon Investments, Inc.

Great OutDogs - Healthy and Active Lifestyles Unleashed

Over 30 years experience selling Hill Country and Central Texas ranches

Austin's 1st Mobile Pet Store for dogs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Run, Hike, Bike, Travel, or Swim? Let your dogs be a part of all your excursions. Follow us on Facebook for locations, hours and planned events around town!

512-940-8800 baconranchsales@peoplepc.com

facebook.com/GreatOutDogs GreatOutDogs.com

Charmed Life

Picture Pops

Charm your party guests this Spring with a bit of artistic elegance: wine charms made by a local Austin designer. All charms are created with Swarovski crystals, glass beads, silver and gold. These are a perfect pairing of glitz and glamour to add to your special event. Gift wrapping is available upon request.

Picture-Pops are 100% edible pictures on yummy Chocolate lollipops. {1} We set-up like a photo booth and take your picture. {2} We print onsite at your event. {3} your guests are WOWED when we hand them their treat! Pre-order also available. 512-745-5789 picture-pops.com

charmedlifeaustin.com

Brilliant Sky

Synergy Plastic Surgery

Locally owned and operated by mom, Maya Pomroy, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is based on the belief that the right playthings give children a gateway to physical, emotional and cognitive development. Come find your way to play!

At Synergy Plastic Surgery, an Austin-based plastic surgery practice, our goal is to restore balance between a person's inner image and outer self. Our board-certified plastic surgeons use the latest innovative techniques to create results that appear effortless and natural. (Breast Augmentation starting at $3999, Tummy Tuck starting at $5999, Botox $7.99/unit, Juvederm $450/syringe)

The Village at Westlake (360 & Bee Caves Rd) 701 Capital of Texas Hwy., D480 512-347-TOYS FIND US ON FACEBOOK brilliantskytoys.com

170 Deepwood Dr. #102 Round Rock, Texas 78681 512-244-4444 synergyplasticsurgery.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

THE A * LIFE NEW BIZ BUZZ BY E M I LY R . P E L L E R I N

Be Well, Eat Well, Drink.Well The North Loop’s freshest façade is Drink.Well, a pub-eatery fusion venue run by husband and wife duo, Michael and Jessica Sanders. After living, working and playing in New York City, the couple had their sights set on Austin, Texas for their next project. They loved the neighborhood feel of the North Loop, especially of the building they now inhabit, which had housed a slew of unsuccessful businesses prior to Drink.Well. “We saved this building from obscurity and we’re really proud of it,” says Jessica. The bar’s strong sense of quality and community stemmed from the Sanders’ observance of New York City’s dichotomous system of high versus low-end bars and restaurants. With Drink.Well, that sense of high-end pretentiousness is entirely diminished, without compromising quality spirits or culinary credibility. The small venue is a total cooperation between craftsmanship and kinship. With a huge emphasis on hominess and Americana sensibility, Drink.Well has sourced 95% of its back bar from the U.S. “We certainly wanted the food to complement the bar drinks but not overwhelm it,” Jessica says of the food menu. With Consulting Chef Roblé Ali, now a Bravo-induced household name, the menu “does skew a little bit Southern comfort food,” as Jessica puts it. The Brussels sprouts, charred in sherry vinaigrette and crisped bacon, are exactly as their menu subheading reads: “Teases.” House-made chicken sausage and waffles, with a delightfully flavorful smoked chili-honey sauce, make for a lighter, seasonal take on a classic breakfast and are served under the menu subheading “Commitments”— for larger, more hearty dishes. Lastly are the “Sweets,” which consist of Jessica’s delectable little projects: homemade twinkies, made in batches of 24 per day, with weekly flavor alternations. “When they’re gone, they’re gone,” Jessica says. The twinkies themselves are enough to rouse the masses, so get on out to Drink.Well at 207 East 53rd Street while the evening’s young!

14 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Farm and City United at Hillside Farmacy Hillside Farmacy is the “Jack of all trades” of eateries, with mastery in nearly every regard. Located at 1209 East 11th Street, it plays valve to the east side’s thriving heart, drawing crowds of families earlier in the day but transforming, later in the night, into a bar and lighter-fare scene. Hillside not only serves as a locally-sourced fresh food bistro, but also as an apothecary shop, delicatessen/charcuterie, bakery and sweetshop, bar, soda counter, café and oyster bar. The look tends toward soda shop, with a tiled floor, open counters and outdoor seating space. Each table provides an intimate set-up against the backdrop of a bustling, friendly establishment. It is an old-time interpretation of the contemporary unification of all epicurean enjoyments under one roof. With so many genres of goods intermingling in one establishment, it makes quite an exciting experience for the diner’s palate. The diverse menu’s sandwiches, for example, include a vegetarian’s pleasure— The Forager, alongside a refined carnivore’s indulgence—the Cook’s Sandwich. The Forager is a roasted mushroom and caramelized onion sandwich with slabs of rich Brie between slices of toasted focaccia. The Cook’s is a sliced pâté and bacon sandwich with mustard, pickles and locally sourced arugula and goat cheese. The oysters and selection of local take-home goods are two of Hillside’s most prominent, differentiating features. With a rotating oyster selection, the shellfish are consistently fresh. And offering a vast assortment of jellies, baked good mixes, oils, chips, teas, cookies, crackers, soaps and more, the general store-meets-neighborhood diner is an unrivaled go-to for this season’s fresh eats and drinks.

TWO THINGS LAST A LIFETIME

Love IS ONE OF THEM

Platinum 6.87ct Radiant Diamond Pave Engagement Ring $198,000

THE A * LIFE

Pick-A-Pocket Apparel by Chuck & Jake By Emily Rae Pellerin

There is the functionality of it, first and foremost. It’s an accoutrement to “It’s hugely rewarding to us,” he continues, speaking of the satisfaction of the wardrobe, an accessory of sorts, though one inherent to a garment’s receiving a compliment on a C&J design. make. It is an individualizing adornment, an outstanding additive to a The quality garment-makers are gearing up for the sweltering summer product otherwise content in casual mediocrity. season with vintage deadstock fabrics, lots of bright colors and “light It is the pocket, after all, which brings flair and ornamentation to fabrics and airy cuts that will help you not die in the summer heat,” Hiller a simple tee, or to a pair of shorts, even. That’s where Chuck & Jake prescribes. The brand is moving toward expansion, as well, in the vein come in, mastering the design and execution of “the pocket” as a unique, of accessories and bags. fashionable entity. Aside from accessories, the brand has already developed a secondary Chuck & Jake Clothing plays off of the idea of simplicity, improved. “We aspect to its oeuvre. The Chuck & Jake blog, accessible through the saw it as a style/lifestyle brand rather than a fashion brand, which is in brand’s Web site, perfectly coordinated complement to the clothing line. keeping with our casual aesthetic,” says Jake Hiller, one-half of C&J. The The blog emotes that same sense of care-free, individualized, expressive casualness of the line embodies the spirit of Austin, using the city’s halcyon blitheness through features like Tuneski Tuesday— new songs and music summers as inspiration for its design lines. Even the cooler weather videos, inspirational writings, photo shoots of new lines, goings-on designs, like The Late Frost beanie or the True Blue hooded sweatshirt, around Austin and more. evoke a relaxed, unburdened sensibility without a cavalier unkemptness. Chuck Freeman and Jake Hiller first began developing their brand back “Hints of casual with hints of formal,” Hiller says of the concept. “We want in 2009. As juniors at the University of Texas, they had recognized the to be a medium between dressing it up and dressing it down, something strength in the tee shirt as a go-to, casual manner of dress. The tee shirt we feel is very prominent in our generation’s sense of style.” is reminiscent of youthfulness, but can be dressed-up into maturity with Primarily cotton materials, locally sourced pocket fabrics, varieties of the right take. “Through the addition of our pockets we were seeking to colors both modest and flamboyant and seasonally influenced looks are all benefits of the diverse collection. As for the locality of the clothing, make the classic cut slightly more elegant,” Hiller recounts. And the brand has done just that. While maintaining the sincerity of American design the majority of it is sourced in the USA and every pocket is sewn by hand and the credibility of Austin-inspired sartorial nonchalance, Chuck & right here in Austin. Different pocketed items include shorts, tees, tanks, Jake transforms an otherwise plain piece of clothing into an expressive, polo tees, v-necks, scoop necks, hats, button-ups and pullovers. Most of defining, statement look. the styles are conveniently unisex and most of which are sourced from Chuck & Jake products are sold online and through local pop-up shops. American Apparel. To find out more about its retail outlets or to buy via the Web, check out Each style of garment is made in limited stock. “We try to keep the chuckandjake.com; and remember, as C&J states, “Everyone deserves numbers rather limited because we want each person that buys a piece of C&J clothing to feel that they own something special,” says Hiller. a pocket.” ALM

16 austinlifestylemagazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF TODD V. WOLFSON

ALM’s Throwin’ High Fives to Austin’s Wheeler Brothers & Suzanna Choffel By Ashley M. Halligan

In the 2011 September/October issue of ALM, I wrote a feature titled “Musicians on the Rise,” where I took a gander and predicted who I thought would be makin’ great big musical strides in the very near future. Of the three folks and bands I had my eyes (err, ears) on, two received superlatives at this year’s Austin Music Awards. And we’d like to give ‘em both a HUGE congratulations. Suzanna Choffel received nominations for Best Female Vocals and Best Songwriter. Choffel has since moved on to New York City with her significant other — Momo’s (farewell, Momo’s) owner Paul Oveisi, though she’s still very much a part of the local music scene, regularly scheduling shows and visits. I did, after all, say in that piece: She really couldn’t be more Austin. If I were to take another gander, it’d be that she’ll always be an Austin gal at heart, no matter where she hangs her hat. And that brings me to Wheeler Brothers’ success, which came in a great big, abundant package at this year’s AMAs. Being awarded Best New Band for 2011-2012 was, perhaps, the most exciting part for Austin’s muchloved folk, rock, collaborative, songwritin’, band-phone-totin’ (that’s right, give them a ring: 512-983-5934), North American highway wandering group of boys who are quickly being discovered (and loved) in every venue they’ve rocked thus far. But, the icing on the cake was the individual awards received within the band: Best Acoustic Guitar - Nolan Wheeler; Best Bass - Tyler Wheeler; and, Best Miscellaneous Instrument (for his beloved lap steel) - A.J. Molyneaux. They were also voted Best Roots Rock and came in as runner-up for Best Folk Band. Meanwhile, their producer, Mark Hallman, was runner-up (in the Best Producer category) for their album Portraits. Sheesh, that’s a mouthful, but is well-deserving of rounds of drinks, high fives, congratulatory hugs (they like those) and perhaps a few drunk dials on the aforementioned band phone. So what’s next for Wheeler Brothers? Surely they won’t stop now, particularly after their appearance on Carson Daly’s Last Call, which aired

in late March. The band’s manager, Pat Cassidy, said, “We’re taking a week off from the road every month to record our new album, being produced by none other than local songsmith Drew Smith. Hoping for a late fall release, we’ll keep touring in support of Portraits.” So far, the guys have played 130 shows in the past 13 months. And Cassidy says there’s no sign of slowing down. The {early} onset of summer has brought invitations to some fantastic festivals as well, including the Strawberry Music Festival in Yosemite, California. Danny Matthews (guitar/vocals) reflected on 2012 thus far, “South by Southwest was an insane week. We are still absorbing and decompressing from the 14 shows during that week, the AMAs and sleeplessness. It was easily the craziest, most exciting, humbling week the band has ever had. We are super grateful for the awards. Hopefully, we can live up to it and continue to progress. We are so happy to have the city's endorsement.” Elaborating on the beautiful chaos they’ve been immersed in, Nolan Wheeler added, “It’s great to feel some love in our hometown, even after being away on tour for so many months. We've had a great response to our album Portraits so far. I know we were all a little curious to see what people would think of our very first piece of work. The next struggle is balancing our time from the road and working on our next album.” And, of course, he said a thanks was in order, “To all our friends out there— thank you so much for your support.” With five awards at the AMAs alone and immense national coverage already, I’d predict with utter confidence, that they’ll will be rocking every North American nook and cranny possible, whether on stage or on air, by the end of the year. Their national success is already happening; and I’d not be a tad bit surprised if they grow at an international level just as quickly as they grew their Americana roots in the States. Good luck, boys. This world is all yours, with sets of ears just waiting for an introduction to you. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

SIZZLIN’ SUMMER COMEDY!

Directed by Steven Dietz Starring Barbara Chisholm Starts May 30 • ZACH’s Kleberg Stage

Photos: KirkTuck.com

Horton Foote’s

A Texas-Sized Family Throw Down! The malcontents from the Houston branch of the Gordon family return to the homestead and make pettiness an art form as they tangle over their inheritances!

CULINARIA requests the pleasure of your company at THE hottest wine and food events in town! This year’s merriment kicks off MAY 16-20 with enough events that you’ll want to vacation in San Antonio for the week. Visit www.culinariasa.org for the details or call 210.822.9555. This year will be a diverse indulgence of all things food and wine. We hope to see you there!

Appropriate for Teens and up. Some adult language.

plus... Find answers to your questions about Love, Career, Money & more.

Written By Becky Mode Directed by Dave Steakley Starring Martin Burke Starts June 14 ZACH’s Whisenhunt Stage

A Thrill Ride For An Audience! Martin Burke gives a tour de force performance as a posh restaurant’s reservationist juggling a high-strung Maître d’ plus 39 other characters!

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY Astrology is more than just a horoscope or the question: “What’s your sign?” It’s an ancient art that blazes a trail for your Life’s unfolding. Call (512) 659-5494 or visit fourmoonsastrology.com to schedule your consultation

Appropriate for Teens and up. Some adult language.

TICKETS START AT JUST $25

zachtheatre.org • 512-476-0541 x1 Join the conversation @zachtheatre.org

Located at Riverside and S Lamar. Construction on ZACH’s new Topfer Theatre is underway! Arrive early for parking. For your convenience, the bar opens one-hour before showtime.

18 austinlifestylemagazine.com

For free horoscopes, articles and tips, visit fourmoonsastrology.com Donna Woodwell, MA

A* S T Y LE | FA S H I O N

Men About Town PHOTOGRAPHER: MARIA BERNAL, MARIABERNALPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

STYLIST: EDITH HENRY, THE CAMPBELL AGENCY, EDITHHENRY.COM

One will see men of all ages in downtown Austin. As different as they are, the same is true for their fashions this spring. Preppy or corporate, casual or polished, men's fashions this spring embraces them all!

austinlifestylemagazine.com

20 austinlifestylemagazine.com

From left to right: Tom Tinnon (40's): Husband, father of 2 boys Jeffrey Schmidbauer (20's): College student Tyler Morrow (30's): Restaurant Manager, part time model Mike Bacon (50's): Real Estate Broker, Hill Country and Central Texas ranches

austinlifestylemagazine.com

A* S T Y LE | FA S H I O N "Coppley" wool stretch suit, $1,295, Keepers. "Ermegildo Zenga" dress shirt, $295, Keepers. "Robert Talbott" Seven fold limited edition silk tie #33/40, $260, Keepers. "Gladson Ltd." Pocket Square, $60, Keepers. Shoes: Mike's own

"Vince" T-shirt, $45, Estilo. "Vince" plaid shirt, $185, Estilo. "Kasil" jeans, $188, Estilo. "Mark Kalen" Brit dog tag, $110, Edge Boutique. "Mark Kalen" triple thread cuff, $200, Edge Boutique. "Lejon Tullian" royal belt, $92, Edge Boutique. Boots: Jeffrey's own

"Moods of Norway" shirt, $140, Edge Boutique.

Orange gingham shirt, $88, Brooks Brothers.

"Moods of Norway" jacket, $348, Edge Boutique.

White cable knit tennis sweater vest, $118, Brooks Brothers.

"Fidelity" jeans, $189, Edge Boutique. "Meister" watch, $500, Edge Boutique. Shoes: Tom's own

Tan cotton "Fitzgerald" slim fit trouser, $128, Brooks Brothers. Mid blue linen "Fitzgerald" sport coat, $448, Brooks Brothers. BB #1 Ray Ban aviators, $145, exclusively at Brooks Brothers. Distressed madras belt, $48, Brooks Brothers. White silk pocket square, $40, Brooks Brothers.

22 austinlifestylemagazine.com

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY CENTER OF AUSTIN

THOMAS S. LOFTUS, M.D. BOARD-CERTIFIED NEUROSURGEON 512-836-0900 | ANIspine.com

2200 Park Bend Drive | Building 2 Suite 202 | Austin TX 78758

Dr. Thomas S. Loftus, M.D., Board Certified

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY CENTER of austin Austin Neurosurgical Institute 2200 Park Bend Drive | Building 2 | Suite 202 Austin Texas 78758

24 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Kansas City, Missouri PICTURE OF A MODERN CROSSROADS BY DANIEL RAMIREZ

ong ago, if legends hold any credence, the soul of jazz and the spirit of blues met for a brief moment in the heartland of America, as people traveled from one coast to the other and from the Northern States to our dear South. The place was called "The Crossroads," and it was immortalized in rock and roll lore with the ascendence of Robert Johnson and all who followed him. East met West and North met South and the violent confluence of culture from each point of the compass created an entirely new entity. The days of frontier mentality have long since left the heartland of America behind; and with most travel having abandoned rails or roads and instead taken to the air, one wouldn't expect that a genuine crossroads still exists. Yet, along the banks of the Missouri River, in a state that doesn’t share it’s name, Kansas City stands as a perfect embodiment of the term. The city indeed combines its many cultures and influences, but also manages to serve as a bridge between different eras, seamlessly combining vintage industry with modern development. A stroll through the streets of downtown reveals buildings that still bear the stonework of early American aspiration on their exteriors

and exude class and propriety in their interiors. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a hidden gem within the Muehlebach tower that is now part of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The historic entry foyer is a celebration of the golden age of hotels, clad nearly roof to floor in dark wood and accented by vintage lighting and adornments. Everything about this stately entrance harkens of older days, when every guest was treated as a celebrity and every indulgence was well-addressed. It’s hard not to long for such a time ascending the stairs into a proper lobby complete with marble floors, or when one sets foot in the antique elevator that is still operational. Thanks to the success of the far newer wing of the Marriott, this area is still accessible to hotel guests, and is an ideal introduction to the convergence of elements that Kansas City represents. A walking city, made more so by the redevelopment of the area, Kansas City boasts any number of fine restaurants and entertainment venues in a mere few blocks. The Power and Light District serves as the perfect night out for those who want the night life to glow a bright neon and be full of dancing and music. Located between the Convention Center and the Sprint Center, which is a home for all things collegiate basketball, the district boasts a lighting display that can only be rivaled by Las Vegas. It encourages a lively atmosphere and is home to over 20 different restaurants. Stop in at 801 Chophouse for still more of that old fashioned cattle baron’s feeling, or venture to Fran’s to find yourself surrounded by the 1950s. The food at either establishment is more than enough to

austinlifestylemagazine.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KANSAS CITY CONVENTION & VISITORS ASSOCIATION

T R AV EL

fuel an evening of dancing or your walking tour of the city. But, one would be denying their own bliss to ignore the main culinary attraction that Kansas City has to offer. When Kansas City is mentioned in the food world, it conjures a single thought in the mind of every foodie: barbecue. Still serving as a crossroads, even in this regard, the barbecue served in countless establishments in the metropolitan area benefits from the best of every region’s definition. In Kansas City, any barbecue aficionado can feel at home, confidently order the type of barbecue they’re accustomed to and savor the best that fire, smoke and time ever did to a meal. The debate will likely never settle as to the best place to obtain your barbecue fix, but nearly any choice will be satisfying. Arthur Bryant’s original location on Brooklyn Avenue is a worthy nomination, serving plates that overflow with well-smoked and seasoned protein. Bryant’s is no-nonsense, from their decor to their service and at every detail in between. The clear focus is on the meat, a fact that is impossible to ignore when presented with their burnt ends, a Kansas City specialty that goes relatively unknown in Texas, when the tip of a smoked brisket is then diced and smoked again, making its way to the plate awash in crusty bark and overt flavor. At Bryant’s, the dish comes mixed with sauce and is traditionally made into a makeshift sandwich. I f you’d r at her not venture that far from the familiar, they also have sliced brisket and ribs available. But, the ribs we’d recommend you sample come from closer to downtown at Jack Stack Barbecue in the aptly named Crossroads sector of town, not that any diner goes disappointed in Kansas City. Crusted with a bark that makes you almost wish the entire dish were composed of just the spicy melange, the meat doesn’t fall completely from the bone, which is precisely as aficionados would have it. Instead, it stays together and allows for the ideal bite after bite. At both Bryant’s and Jack Stack, the sides are admirable, but when in the temple of all things ‘cue, one would be best served reserving stomach real estate for the star of the meal. Within a short walk of the Crossroads, an Austinite can easily find the quaint and unique boutiques that they’ve grown to love and treasure. Saunter into Black Bamboo and try to keep your wallet in check. Featuring uniquely repurposed furniture, both old and new, the store could find itself right at home on South Congress. Heading back into the center of town, it is easy to find a respite from walking, from the world and from the moving hands of the clock in Mildred’s Coffeehouse. Tucked into an old would-be brownstone, the coffee on offer is of java-snob quality, while the service puts most baristas from Starbucks to Austin Java to shame. Friendly, patient and welcoming, their staff does everything to make Mildred’s feel like a romantic comedy montage. Providing quaint tables and retail items like greeting cards and local music, they capture the essence

26 austinlifestylemagazine.com

of a metropolitan respite, whether you stay for a few minutes or a few hours. If, after all of these languid hours pass, you long for more culture, the city is happy to meet your needs. Take a short cab ride to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, where a very significant and oft ignored chapter in American history is immortalized in fine fashion. Here, one can discover just how long and arduous the road for the modern athlete has been, and how the road was paved by legends of strength and charisma. Jackie Robisnon, whom Major League Baseball has forever honored by retiring his number from use by any player, is only the prelude to the tale. The museum tells the stories of Josh Gibson, Sachel Paige and the hometown favorites and pioneers of entertainment, the Kansas City Monarchs. In pictures, memorabilia and countless stories, the museum narrates a distinctly American story of struggle through hardship, innovative thought and heroes, countless heroes. It brings a sense of reverence to walk the halls of the museum and garners a great deal of respect from each and every visitor that takes time from their day to pay homage. As the day transitions into night, Kansas City reveals still more stories, including more than a few secrets. Once a hotbed for mob activity, the traces of that era linger. Alleys are common between buildings and the ghosts of jazz and blues elicit the notion of wellapportioned poker rooms, cigar smoke and Prohibition speakeasies. Nowhere is this nostalgia stronger than at the Rieger Hotel Grill and Exchange, a former hotel converted into a thriving dining establishment. It isn’t the impeccable food the Rieger provides that is so redolent of different times. Although the decor screams of a vintage feel, it is the secret that the Rieger hides that is its true prize. Walk to the host or hostess and ask for “Manifesto” to discover an entirely new world that most have only seen in film or imagination. You will be escorted out of the front door and down the entire length of the building to the loading dock, where an attendant will key a code into a locked door and send you in, directing you down an impossibly dark flight of stairs. Once you pass through a curtain or two and your eyes adjust, you’ll feel as though you stepped foot into the world of Bogey and Bacall, the days of bartenders paying immeasurable attention to detail and of gentlemen entertaining ladies in style. This last point is an incomparable touch at Manifesto, which is the name of this genuine speakeasy. Rules are clearly delineated and adhered to within the confines of this candlelit basement, the most interesting among them being, “Gentleman, please don’t approach uninterested ladies. If you must, ask the bartender to send her a drink on your tab, and she will let the bartender know if it’s ok for you to join her. Ladies, please feel welcome to start a conversation with anyone you wish.” On the merits of this rule alone, the bar should be an evening cocktail destination. However, the rules are only one of this bar’s draws. The others are clearly featured on a menu that is one-price-fits-all and is so high in quality that there is no bad beverage on offer. They pay attention to the shape of ice and how it melts to affect the taste of the concoction, here. Make sure to order the “Girl From Cadiz” and watch the magic as it is prepared and as it arrives. This, is where deals should be made, secrets shared or safeguarded and where your Kansas City visit should finish with incredible flourish. ALM

It’s not what you lose. It’s what you gain. So say goodbye to stubborn fat. And say hello to the body you once had with our clinically proven, FDA-cleared, totally non-surgical treatment without the downtime. How cool is that? To learn more visit coolsculpting.com

CoolSculpting is a registered trademark and the CoolSculpting logo, the Snowflake design, and Let’s Get Naked are trademarks of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. Results and patient experience may vary. Consult your physician. © 2012. All rights reserved. IC0621-A

let’s get naked

A* S T Y LE | H OM E

The Diamond of Downtown THE HIDDEN GEM OF PALAZZO LAVACA BY L AURA PASL AWSKI PHOTOS BY JARED TENNANT

uiet and unassuming: these words only apply to the front door of the sumptuous Palazzo Lavaca. I’ve walked underneath the aging Capitol Saddlery sign and past this door for years, quietly lamenting that such a historic place was no longer there. It appeared so forlorn and forgotten; the rich history of the building was deserted and left for dead. I had no idea that owner, author and professional muse Giselle Fox keeps the sign hanging as a reminder to the building’s prominent history. This old sign, quietly standing its ground to the fast-paced world

28 austinlifestylemagazine.com

that is encroaching on its territory, is just the front piece of a space that seamlessly blends time periods from long ago with modern conveniences. Her space is aptly named Palazzo Lavaca, as a nod to the street that it resides on, as well as the Palazzo Fortuny, from which the décor is inspired, and is dripping with history and opulent pieces of art that boldly commemorate the beauty of things long ago. Teaming up with renowned designer Joel Mozersky, who has designed such spaces as The Belmont, La Condesa and both Uchi resturants, Ms. Koy originally renovated the space as a residence for her and her children. With a vision of ‘glamour among the ruins,’ the team set to work, using fabrics that Ms. Koy purchased in Venice, family heirlooms and coupling them with vintage wallpapers and antique furnishings. “I thought the Capitol Saddlery building, with its peeling paint, rough hewn floors and grand scaled rooms lent itself perfectly to such a concept,” Joel Mozersky said. And indeed it does. Originally the first firehouse in Austin, hints of its past play out

throughout the space. Saunter into the kitchen, where a forgotten phrase has slowly eroded away, save for the word “protection” hewn deeply into the brick, while painted fire hydrants march along the wall. With coffered ceilings that reach fourteen feet, crowned with classic molding, it’s easy to get lost in thought. Meander around, remembering the history of the building, while dreaming of ideas for the future—including ones that involve taking use of the modern conveniences of the kitchen and eating a dinner fit for kings on the plank-styled table, all while feasting your eyes on the surrounding décor of marble busts, furniture upholstered in Venetian fabrics and crystal vases. The master bathroom features an old-fashioned, Victorian feel mixed with modern, clean lines. A claw-foot tub rests underneath a gorgeous chandelier, while a playful animal print chair rests nearby, blending the lines between funky and refined. It’s easy to imagine curling up in the chair, reading the musings of long-ago authors, while waiting for your frothing bubble bath to draw. It’s not only the décor that catches your eye and takes your breath away. There’s a moment of feeling uplifted—the joy of discovery when the restored hand-crank elevator is found, taking you from the airy foyer into the main residence on the second floor. Even the doors that segue from room to room have been restored and upcycled; Ms. Koy collected each of the 32 doors from various colleges and hotels. From the vintage chandeliers (one of which was purchased from a Las Vegas casino), to the 1970’s Karl Springer coffee table, to the Marie Antoinette mirror in the bathroom, it’s impossible not to sigh with delight. The 120-year-old wooden floors gleam in the sunlight and seem to run on forever, only to be stopped by imported marble tile and walls that have been stripped to their original look and sealed for preservation. The exposed brick plays peek-a-boo with damask wallpapers, beautifully painted tonal walls and portraits of people from long ago. Gothic sculptures boldly stand, claiming their rightful space among vintage frames, candles and period furniture. Lest the décor gets carried away with beautiful relics of the past, modern twists like animal prints and Fornasetti wallpaper keep things whimsical.

Beautifully sculpted furniture, draped in plush, richly colored fabric and dark leather, stand out against the stripes in the multimedia room—a perfect venue for a private screening, or to launch a great debut. Draping red curtains flank a view that is unmistakably Austin: the Texas State Capitol peeks out, just a street away, with the heart of downtown in the background. It’s a perfect reminder that, while secluded away in a sanctuary full of whimsical luxury, the hustle and bustle of Austin’s trendiest spots are easily within reach. Named Wall Street Journal House of the Day in 2010, Palazzo Lavaca is available for a variety of events—weddings, think tanks and private soirees have all been held here, and provides a uniquely beautiful oasis. At 4,700 square feet (with an additional 1,700 available for storage and staging), there’s enough room for even the wildest dreams and ideas to flower. Offering up an airy downstairs foyer, grand room, three luxurious bedrooms, three bathrooms and two half-bathrooms, there is ample space to converse and co-mingle or to slip away and ponder the great mysteries and adventures of life in solitude. Guests can utilize the space for a variety of time frames: from a single day, to an overnight rendezvous, to a quick weekend getaway. Ms. Koy succinctly sums up what the space truly means in her book, as she writes of creating and capturing the essence of being truly yourself in The Modern Muse. She writes: And why shouldn’t there be joy along the way, as well as pleasure, delight, play, sensuality and excitement? I want chocolate covered sushi; the protein and the dessert together, jet fuel with a cherry on top. No words can better describe how she and Joel Mozersky have created this sanctuary from stress; it is indeed a sensuously powerful, fulfilling space, where one feels simultaneously both at home and ready to conquer the world. Ms. Koy’s profession of finding the brightest in each of her clients and showing them how to shine has transferred to her vision for the Palazzo Lavaca: she truly has created the diamond of downtown. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS Hand-picked by Shawn Lively, Austin Lifestyle Magazine's Publisher >>>>>>>>

6 4

1 M ini S parkle Circle Pe n dant , $28 . B lu e Nile, b lu e nile.co m . 2 S ab rin a in Re d , $260. Te s s , te s sdre s s .co m . 3 Lobster Hook Pillow, $48. Peking Handicraft, pkhc.com. 4 Inner Glow Pink Topaz, $24. Dr. Hauschka, Whole Foods. 5 Virginia Jalapeno Cocktail Peanuts, $5-25. virginiacocktailpeanuts.com. 6 Teamine Concealer, $60. revisionskincare.com.

30 austinlifestylemagazine.com

YOUR DEALERSHIP! Doesn't want you to know we’re in Austin Service • Repair • Detailing Mercedes • BMW • Lexus • Audi • Volkswagen • Land-Rover • Jaguar Bentley • Aston Martin • Lotus • Maserati • Porsche "Like"us on .. for 20% OFF any Factory Service

512.222.8867 8300 N. Lamar Blvd. LuxuryAutoWorks.com

• Factory Certiﬁed Technicians • Loaner Vechicles Available • Complimentary Detail

austinlifestylemagazine.com

A* S T Y LE | B E AU T Y

Watches Shown: Nixon available at Nice Kicks, Mainsai available at By George, Vintage watches available at Old Timer Clock Shop, and WeWOOD available at we-wood.us

32 austinlifestylemagazine.com

A* S T Y LE | B E AU T Y THE FINER THINGS P H O T O S BY C H A R L A W O O D

Wristy Business BY RORY PATRICK M C NEILL

one are the days of simple, steadfast watch trends. Today, men have all the choices to mix both old and new. From your grandfather’s vintage classic to the jumbo-faced mega-watch of the moment, the options are plentiful. Today’s trend: Make it yours and don’t let it stand alone.

AFICIONADO Never has a watch from times past been as sexy as now. Take a classic timepiece, add a few decades worth of patina, and you have a watch that’s, well, timeless. Vintage watches bring in the beauty and lustre of bygone days, for the distinguished guy who’s not afraid to show his nostalgic side. Stick with the originals and your investment is sure to stay—Cartier, Phillip Patek, Rolex and the like. Don’t worry, winding your vintage beauty becomes a habit so satisfying, you’ll never want to take it off.

ROCKSTAR The bigger the face, the closer to—well, Kanye. The watch du jour is a mix of retro, contemporary and a dash of bling. In the past, watches attempted to be as slim as possible. It was a sign of intelligent design. Now that we live in a world where a watch could be microscopic, why not go ahead and embrace living life large? Slide this on when you want to say ‘hello’ from far away. Men love the ease of this style. With such a statement, running around in workout gear suddenly transitions to power-lunch ready. Try a Nixon or Charles Hubert. One look at these big beauties and time stands still.

NATUR ALIST Looking to show your flair for conscious living? If you have a crush on the environment, shed the bling and go for a look straight from nature. Wewood is Italian-designed with the look of a classic watch. Made from scraps of discarded wood, choose your shade from sturdy types like Maple, Mahogany and Indian Rosewood. By partnering with American Forests, every watch purchased plants a tree on our soil. Splash-proof and remarkably resilient, so bring on summer. Watching the time go buy never felt so satisfying.

Lastly, accessorize. Don’t let that new friend get lonely. Try throwing some bracelets in the mix. Mainsai is the definitive go-to company for such indulgences. These perfect watch partners are handmade, rustic, preppy, and classic. Throw on several and give yourself nautical edge with ease and simplicity. Switch up straps to enjoy a whole new timepiece. A few great options? Nylon says modern and sporty. Make a statement with bright colors and stripes: see you at Formula One. Croc patterns let them know you mean business: meet me in my corner office. Leather announces a rugged, natural chic, Greenbelt-on-the-weekends kind of guy. ALM For more beauty tips from Rory McNeill, visit roaraustin.com/rory.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

T H E A* L IF E | E V EN T S

M AY 3 1

The Lumineers Stubb's stubbsaustin.com

M AY M AY 7

An Evening In Tuscany: Fundraising Event for the Burke Center For Youth Trattoria Lisina theburkecenter.org M AY 8

Tennis The Parish theparishaustin.com M AY 1 0

Fourth Annual Farm To Plate Fundraiser Barr Mansion sustainablefoodcenter.org/events M AY 1 1

PHOTOS BY HAYLEY YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY & LUCA-MASCARELLO

Romeo & Juliet Ballet Austin balletaustin.org M AY 1 2

Salt-N-Pepa The Belmont thebelmontaustin.com M AY 1 5

Brightest Party Ever Long Center for the Performing Arts leadershipaustin.org M AY 1 7

CharityBash Benefitting KLRU Rattle Inn citizengeneration.org

34 austinlifestylemagazine.com

M AY 1 9

Austin Yoga Expo Palmer Event Center austinyogaexpo.com M AY 2 0

O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships O. Henry Museum punpunpun.com M AY 24

Austin Wine & Music Vintner’s Dinner Spicewood Vineyards austinwineandmusicfestival.com M AY 2 5

Madeleine Peyroux One World Theatrer oneworldtheatre.com M AY 2 6

Reggie Watts Scottish Rite Theater frontgatetickets.com M AY 3 0

The Wine Down With Nakia ACL Live At The Moody Theater acl-live.com M AY 3 1

The Lumineers Stubb's stubbsaustin.com

M AY 2 5

Madeleine Peyroux One World Theatrer oneworldtheatre.com

JUN E JUNE 1

Texas Swing 2012 Music Festival & Side Show Saengerrunde Hall projecttransitions.org/events/ texas-swing JUNE 4

Dam That Cancer Hula Hut flatwaterfoundation.org/events

JUNE 23

10th Annual Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K Long Center for the Performing Arts thelongcenter.org JUNE 28

James McMurtry — Unplugged at the Grove Shady Grove theshadygrove.com JUNE 29

JUNE 5

Foster The People with The Kooks and Kimbra The Backyard At Bee Cave thebackyard.net JUNE 8

George Lopez Paramount Theatre austintheatre.org JUNE 11

The Temper Trap Stubb's stubbsaustin.com JUNE 14

1982 Singalong Alamo Drafthouse-Ritz drafthouse.com JUNE 15

Formula Expo 2012 Austin Convention Center formulaexpo.com

Merle Haggard Riverbend Centre oneworldtheatre.org JUNE 30

Fire Fest Music Festival firefestatx.com

SOCIAL GR ACES LONE STAR PARALYSIS P H O T O S BY J I M I N N E S

Lone Star Classic Dinner Event

1 Daniel Curtis. 2 Mike Haynes. 3 (Back row) Eddie Canales, Pita Canales, Gail Engvall, Bill Engvall and Eddie Rivas. (Front row) Chris Canales. 4 Comedian Gary Brightwell. 5 Doug English. 6 Doug English addressing the audience. 7 Steve Bartholomew, Peter Gardere and Anthony Geronimo. 8 Bill Engvall and Clayton Bartholomew. 9 Doug English, Bill Engvall and Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen's Kitchen presenting a check from funds raised at the restaurant for $9,553.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

SOCIAL GR ACES SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S P E C I A L O LY M P I C S P R S TA F F

Pony Up for the Movement

7 1 Special Olympics Texas equestrian athletes, Audrey Andrews on Grey and Jerry Ladner on Cody. 2 Unofficial hat competition judge. 3 Executive Director Margaret Larsen and Jack Ingram. 4 Hat competition winner, Jo Bradley. 5 Corey Kane Band. 6 Parade of hats, hat competitors. 7 Dillon Hernandez and Melissa Matherne. 6

36 austinlifestylemagazine.com

IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN’S VIBRANT SOUTH CONGRESS DISTRICT, DISCOVER A NEW WAY TO STAY AT THE THE KIMBER MODERN BOUTIQUE HOTEL.

KIMBERMODERN.COM | 512-912-1046 | 110 THE CIRCLE | AUSTIN TX 78704

SOCIAL GR ACES CITIZEN GENERATION P H O T O S BY G E N E S I S E S C O B A R P H O T O G R A P H Y

CharityLadies

7 1 Beth Newill and Serena Hicks. 2 Katie Bryan, Lindsey Wiese, Jordan Martin, Bradie Beseda and Meredith Davis. 3 Allie Duffy and Katie Degutis. 4 Victoria Huffines and Kathryn Hamilton. 5 Christine Kutnick and Sandy Alcala. 6 Lacey Miller and Sara Rapier. 7 Jordan Martin.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

SOCI AL GR ACES AUSTIN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE P H O T O S BY P E T E R T U N G

Austin Lifestyle Magazine Preview Party

6 3

40 austinlifestylemagazine.com

1 Amy Byrd, Matthew Reddenm, Caroline Stewart and Leslie Sanchez. 2 Martha Morales, Edith Henry, Emily Pellerin, Ashley Halligan, Shawn Lively, Tori Tinnon, Kim Vo, Rory McNeill, Tracy Stewart, Brian Kidder and Carlo Bligh. 3 Tracy Stewart and William Jackson. 4 Monica Boeckman, Gene Crumpler and Kim Vo. 5 Martha Morales and Tori Tinnon. 6 Shawn Lively and Carlo Bligh. 7 Kayla Newman, Corbin Chase, Emily Pellerin and Leonardo D'Almagro. 8 David Bradley and Chonie Bradley. 9 Nancy Ferrell and Edith Henry.

SOCIAL REGISTER

Upcoming Events OUR HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR SOCIAL CALENDARS

Austin Social Affair Presents Wrapped In Love THE DOGWOOD

Austin Social Affair kicks off Memorial Day weekend in fine style at The Dogwood, Austin’s favorite downtown patio bar. Benefiting the Wrapped In Love Foundation, the evening of drink specials, live music, local vendors and more will be on Thursday, May 24 from 6-10 p.m. A minimum donation of $5 at the door makes you a part of the party, with all proceeds benefiting the Austin-based Wrapped In Love Foundation. Guests will also have an opportunity to win sponsored prizes as they mix and mingle for a good cause. Austin Social Affair owners, Beth Newill and Martha Morales, promise to bring quality and panache to the event, which addresses a simple need that often goes overlooked. Wrapped In Love, an organization that established an Austin chapter in September 2011, provides blankets to patients who suffer from cancer or other serious illness, many of whom are often taxed to their body’s limit and find themselves frequently uncomfortable and cold in an exhausting fight. Robin Emmerich founded the Austin chapter of this Pittsburghbased foundation, compelled by the memory of her father’s plight. Toward the end of his life, he often experienced the frequent chills and discomforts associated with chemotherapy and the various medical treatments associated with fighting cancer. Those who undergo treatment for such maladies are often unable to regulate their own body temperature, making their immune systems potentially more vulnerable. The blankets, which range from lovingly constructed to generously purchased, provide warmth to the shivering, as well as kindness and compassion to those in sorest need of both.

Beyond the provision of blankets, Wrapped In Love also seeks to foster community involvement by inspiring groups to hand craft blankets together. Not only does the activity provide a needed generosity, but it brings people closer together for the sake of charity. Here in Austin, Wrapped In Love’s efforts have been gratefully received by the Texas Oncology Center, and their organization can use all of the help they can get—a fact which is not lost on the event’s organizers. With a history of event production, Newill and Morales, the duo from Austin Social Affair, have partnered with local businesses and The Dogwood to present WRAPPED IN LOVE a fun evening that’s certain to make an May 24 significant increase in awareness of the The Dogwood aspirations of Wrapped In Love, as well facebook.com/AustinSocialAffair as in resources provided to their cause. Certainly, there can be few better ways to contribute to Wrapped In Love’s cause than to relax on the Dogwood’s spacious patio, take in the evening and toast the close of day with a beverage and the company of a friends, both old and new. Be sure to join Austin Social Affair from 6-10pm on May 24. Local vendors taking place in the event are: Edge Boutique, Electric Feather, Manic Trout Jewelry, Ruben Morales Photography. Massage Harmony, Charmed Life by Martha Morales, Better Bronze Custom Airbrush Tanning, Bandita Couture and In Da Head to Da Head. Austin Social Affair hosts private events and incorporates local businesses, designers and retailers, as well as worthwhile charities to create unforgettable evenings. Email info@austinsocialaffair to join their list! Event sponsored by Loewy Law Firm and Never Hungover.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

SOCIAL REGISTER

The White Party LIFEWORKS

Austin's most anticipated party—THE WHITE PARTY—keeps getting better, resulting in sellout crowds the last four years. Since its debut at The Long Center, The White Party has drawn record crowds of over 700 of Austin's social and philanthropic elite, gathering to meet, mingle and give back by supporting the mission of LifeWorks. This year is no exception; the event returns on Friday, May 25 to the City Terrace of the Long Center and is shaping up to be an event you won't want to miss. Deemed a “gilded champion among Austin charity affairs” by Michael Barnes of the Austin American Statesman, the party has come to be known as the signature charity event held by LifeWorks. Inspired by parties of the like, thrown by rap star mogul P-Diddy, The White Party is an all-white clothing themed celebration which draws in some of Austin's finest professionals, community leaders and philanthropic businesses. Guests of the party can expect an evening of fashionable mingling and stylish décor. Past White Party events have included decadent cabanas and table arrangements. This year, the party gets kicked up a notch as LifeWorks has called upon the talents of Kennedy Creative to envision this year's décor and furnishings, while ILIOS Lighting will be providing ambiance worthy of any Hollywood main event. Honorary Co-chairs Kendra Scott (Kendra Scott Jewelry) and Joe Ross (CSID) are sponsors of the Hampton Chic Cabanas this year. Both Scott and Ross are Board Members of LifeWorks and have maintained strong roles in making the White Party a success each year. Organizers have worked hard in gathering some of Austin's finest eateries to deliver an abundant selection of premium refreshments at the White Party. Among those delivering their finest edible offerings

42 austinlifestylemagazine.com

are Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; Paggi House; Swift's Attic and local dessert shop, Holy Cacao. Libations will be flowing, thanks to Grey Goose and DJ Manny will have the dance floor hopping. Last year's party generated over $135,000 to support the LifeWorks mission of transitioning youth and families from crisis to safety and success. This year’s goal is to raise $150,000. These funds are crucial in helping LifeWorks support these individuals in their strong determination to achieve self-sufficiency and make generational change. LifeWorks is a local non-profit offering the THE WHITE PARTY community a comprehensive safety-net of support. May 25 LifeWorks provides a full continuum of programs The Long Center for the in housing, counseling, education/workforce and Performing Arts youth development. Their clients are youth and whitepartyaustin.org families who are experiencing significant barriers to education, workforce and healthy relationships. Many of the youth they serve are homeless and/or former foster care and have no other options for support. In April, LifeWorks unveiled the Sooch Foundation Youth & Family Resource center, a brand new facility located in East Austin. The new center increases LifeWorks' service capacity by 25-percent and will soon be accompanied by an onsite affordable housing complex to be fully managed and maintained by LifeWorks. The White Party takes place on Friday, May 25 from 8pm– Midnight at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas. Cabana and other exclusive sponsorship opportunities are available at whitepartyaustin.org. $125 Earlybird tickets are available until May 1 at whitepartyaustin.org. Tickets purchased online after May 1 will be $175. Tickets at the door will cost $200. All proceeds benefit LifeWorks.

Life is Better Bronze! TM

The Best Kept Secret is Out! Women’s Apparel • Handbags Jewelry & Accessories

Shop Online Today!

www.pslovelucy.com TM

20% Spring Sale! Expires Soon

austinlifestylemagazine.com

SOCIAL REGISTER

STRUT 512 An ATX FUSION of Food+Fashion+Philanthropy+Music+Art CAPCIT YKIDS

MKV Productions hosts the second annual STRUT 512, the exclusive event created to celebrate everything Austin represents on Austin's Day, May 12. STRUT 512 showcases Austin's unique culture and talent with a fusion of food, fashion, philanthropy, music and art. With sponsors like Dolce Blu, Arthouse Floral Design, The Austin City Ballet and Live Social Appeal, guests will enjoy an evening of hands-on activities and visually stimulating entertainment and performances. STRUT 512 holds the official proclamation from Austin Mayor, Lee Leffingwell, making STRUT 512 Austin’s Event on Austin’s Day. STRUT 512 attracts local movers and shakers, philanthropic elite and fashionistas eager for this much-anticipated night of stress-free mingling, entertainment and palate-pleasing food and beverages. Celebrity Chef Paul Peterson, executive chef at Vivo Cocina and nationally recognized from TLC's BBQ Pitmasters, will WOW you with his TexMex flair and creative vision. STRUT 512 Trento's culinary chefs, Alex Kahn and May 12 Andreas Exarhos, bring a new approach to Lytle Pressley and House+Earth Italian food using the highest quality and strut512.com freshest ingredients. Austin's favorite mobile restaurant and catering company, Grill Girls, will take you back with an array of Southern favorites and the ultimate comfort food. Stimulating the five senses even further, multi-talented musicians will make you groove to “phunky” beats by the infamous Henry+The Invisibles, the “onemanphunkband,” as he perfects playing multiple instruments and singing simultaneously. The Culinary DJ takes the art of food and music to a new level as he uses his talents to create mouth-watering dishes while producing tunes you can dance to. Guests will also enjoy a silent auction, interactive live art and the highly anticipated fashion show styled by world renowned fashion stylist, Leonardo D’Almagro, whose resume includes The Grammy Awards. Watch the models STRUT in the finest ensembles by Austin’s own designers and boutiques, including Linda Asaf Designs, Dekla, 81 Poppies, Spring Frost and St. Thomas. Experience the never-been-seen custom pieces that Gay Isber Designs created specifically for each ensemble. STRUT 512's fashion show showcases the latest fashion trends—but the stylists’ artistic contributions are not to be overlooked, as Blo Blow Dry Bar, Shandi Nichelle and Rae Cosmetics perfect the models’ looks. With the underlying goal of raising funds for children, a percentage of the proceeds benefit CapCityKids, a non-profit organization that develops innovative programs and provides direct resources to help homeless students stay in school. Administrative costs for their programs are absorbed by the Board and the Austin Independent School District. Thanks to this close partnership, 100% of donations go directly to the students. Fundraising events like STRUT 512 help CapCityKids not only provide basic school supplies, but also support campus based specialists for at-risk students, after-school tutoring at homeless shelters and help connect kids with social services. STRUT 512 is being held at Lytle Pressley and House+Earth on May 12th from 8pm–12am. Tickets may be purchased online at strut512.com.

44 austinlifestylemagazine.com

NEW

Introducing a new tradition Enjoy any Salad, our Famous Pork Chop & the Dessert Trio.

$24.95

Sundays 4PM - 9PM 114 West 7th St. â&#x20AC;˘ 512.474.6300 â&#x20AC;˘ PerrysSteakhouse.com austinlifestylemagazine.com

45 austinlifestylemagazine.com

“Meet Me at The OASIS!”

Photo by: Sarah Kerver

The OASIS on Lake Travis

• Delicious Lunches & Sunset Dinners • Perfect Cazadores Margaritas • Live Music Wednesday thru Sunday • Venues for Private Parties & Celebrations

6550 Comanche Trail . 78732 www.oasis-austin.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

Q &AT X

48 austinlifestylemagazine.com

How JOELY FISHER Balances Life And Laughter BY DANIEL R A MIREZ PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY PIC TURES TELE VISION / BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

oely Fisher has been in show business since the moment she arrived on Earth. The child of silver screen superstars, Eddie Fisher and Connie Stevens, Joely has been a staple of television sitcoms for over twenty years, with such high profile shows as Ellen and ’Til Death. But don’t think it was the pedigree that afforded her such opportunities. The woman is uproariously funny and whip-smart, all on her own. Austin Lifestyle Magazine’s talk with the talented actress was frequently obscured by laughter and censored for family-friendliness. Nevertheless, Fisher is an inspiration to mothers, actors and comedians; and ALM bore witness to just such a display. You have three children. How do you balance the entertainment industry and a family? I’ve been looking for the right thing to do next, so I’ve been in the house, which everybody thinks is so wonderful. All my kids were sort of weaned on sitcoms, I could go, do my work, have them there occasionally, and then they went to school and I could be home in time to have dinner with them in the evening. I did this movie recently and it was crazy 14-hour days, traveling to and from the set. Not being able to be the first face and the last face they see was a little bit nuts, so I’m trying to find the right sort of balance to be here and be present. I can’t imagine some of my friends who do the hour-long dramas and go to work at five in the morning and then don’t come home. As a child of Hollywood royalty, how much of that transfers to your family and kids? I grew up on the road with my mom. By the time i was fully aware of what she did, she was doing more stage work in Vegas and that sort of thing. I was with her and was fascinated by what she did and knew that it was magical and powerful, but it was more from the wings of a stage. All of my kids grew up knowing when it was appropriate to talk or not on a set, or when it was ok to laugh. I always marveled at my oldest daughter. From the time she was a toddler, she would sit on the set and be silent when she heard “rolling” and then she would throw her hands up in the air at “cut!” and say, “now we talk!” She literally knew the rules and followed them meticulously. What’s it like to revisit “’Til Death”, now that it’s in syndication? It’s interesting to do interviews and projects now, where people will say , “I’ve been watching ‘Til Death and laughing out loud,” which is a lovely compliment. We had the best time. We really laughed and I miss my relationship with Brad [Garrett] and how much fun we had. The chemistry was immediate. We laughed at each other, which was great that they allowed that to happen on screen. If you watch, you can see that we thoroughly enjoyed working together. It was like a real married couple, without the sex. Oh, wait a minute, that is a real married couple. How have you managed to stay fit, healthy and camera-ready for so long? I have to admit I probably wouldn’t eat if it weren’t for my children. So I have to actually put food down on the table three

times a day. With their appetites, it’s usually carbohydrates, so I have to hover over the pizza and the pasta and find my way to the vegetables, somehow. I’m active and would love to say I get to the gym all the time, but I really don’t (and I don’t want people to hate me for that), but I’m high energy and have three kids, ten and under. I think that’s it. I can’t say it’s genetic, because I’m an Italian Jew, so I should have a big [rear] and a curvy body and be cooking all the time and feeling guilty about it. I’m like all the readers out there. I try to pick the things that won’t stay on the body that long. I just try to follow a curve-friendly diet. Are you funny all the time, or is it only when you’re on camera and you stop the moment you’re off set? Just right now, I’m going to stop being funny. I guess I’m a funny person. I’ll go somewhere and people will say, “You’re really funny,” and I’ll say, “Yeah. That’s why I get scale plus ten.” I have funny kids, and they must have gotten it from somewhere. I’m not one of those people that’s ‘on’ all the time, but I do find the humor in most everything, or else it would be tragic. Will the sitcom retake the airwaves from reality TV? We thought a lot of this would be gone by now. The talent competitions stick around, because they have been around for a long time. But there’s so many things to choose from and it seems like we, as a society, turn toward some of those less important things now. Reality spans a huge world, from Ice Road Truckers to American Idol and everything in between. It’s not a train wreck anymore, where you say, “Oh, I’ve got to watch this,” because there’s so much of it. That being said, are you a fan of any of them? I sort of tuned out of the singing competitions, because they have to find ways to make us more interested, but I kind of like looking at some “Housewives” here and there. It’s more for the absurdity and the ridiculousness of it, I have to watch those ladies at some point in my day, just for a giggle, mostly because I can’t believe they’re actually allowing themselves to be seen on TV like that. Find Joely in “’Til Death” syndication on KBVO at 10:30pm or on KNVA at 1:00am. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

50 austinlifestylemagazine.com

DOG DAYS Tails of an Animal Lover

BY A M B E R G R O C E | P H OTO G R A P H Y BY T R E VO R G EO R G E F O W L E R

ights, Camera, Action! Bobbi Colorado, the trainer behind Bobbi Colorado’s Canine Camp, has a background full of animals. She is currently working on training animals for four upcoming movies. Bobbi’s love for animals started at an early age while growing up in Los Angeles. After she graduated high school, Bobbi applied for a summer job at Marine World, which was a new park in San Francisco. “It was there that my eyes were opened up to the magic world of exotic animals,” Bobbi said. “I saw guys working with dolphins, whales, sea lions and parrots, and I knew right then that I was going to do that very same thing.” Upon applying for the job, “they proceeded to tell me that women did not do such a thing and being a tour guide was what I was going to do.” She worked through the summer at Marine World as a tour guide and began visiting and applying to zoos to work directly with the animals. Yet again, she was told women do not belong with the animals. Bobbi met Ken Beggs, her husband, at Marine World in 1969. He was the head whale trainer while she was a tour guide, and they became good friends. “Finally I went to LA and found a g uy that had all types of animals and did movie work,” Bobbi said. “It was there that I got my start working with all men at Africa USA. I did anything and everything working with and learning about all types of animals, from elephants to hyenas, chimps, lions, hippos, monkeys and rhinos.” In 1980, Bobbi and Ken began dating after they had been in the animal business for many years. “We have been partners for 30 years in every way,” Bobbi said. ”We have been blessed to love what we do, do it together and share a wondrous magical life that other people only dream of.” From there, Bobbi and her husband built a marine world of their own on South Padre Island called Ocean Safari. In the early 1980s, the oil crash caused Bobbi and Ken to close down the park. “We knew we wanted to find an exciting place to live and Ken loved Austin and had gone to UT,” Bobbi said. “We came here to explore and

decided to stay. We love it. At the time Austin was second only to LA in film production so we saw an opportunity to use our animal training skills in a new adventure.” In 2003, Bobbi and Ken opened Bobbi Colorado’s Canine Camp, which has now been up and running for almost 10 years. The camp sits on 10 acres in southwest Austin and has indoor/outdoor kennel buildings that are climate controlled and six huge play yards where the dogs are rotated in and out all day into fun play groups according to age, size and temperament. The camp has two sides to it: training and boarding. “The best part is our training program,” Bobbi said. “It is so gratifying to see a dog that is totally out of control, pulling its owner across the parking lot, come to us to get obedience trained. All of our training is done with positive reinforcement and love.” Among the training programs is the 30 day program, in which they will learn to walk on a leash properly, sit and stay, place stay, sit at a door until given the free command, crate training, to come when called and not to jump on people. At the end of the 30 days, the family gets a lesson on how to work the dog plus two more follow up lessons. If you need to board your dog while going on a summer vacation, Bobbi encourages you to look into several places until you find one you are comfortable with. “We have the best staff in Austin,” Bobbi said. “All are dedicated to making the dogs have a great time, ensure their safety and to socialize them in the most positive way.” The boarding fee includes food, medication, individual attention without any surprise hidden charges, and, of course, play time. The camp is under 24-hour surveillance, plus Bobbi, Ken and the night manager live on property. “We become very close to all of our clients and it is very difficult when they pass on,” Bobbi said. “You see, we have known a lot of them for most of their lives and we love them too. Our goal at the camp is to have the dogs have the time of their lives and that their parents can have a stress-free holiday.” Not only does Bobbi work with animals, she has a few of her own. “I have two dogs that are both rescues—one from Town Lake—that have done countless movies and commercials,” Bobbi said. “In fact, both of them have movies that will be out this year. I have had my parrots for over 30 years and we have performed all over the world together entertaining and educating people. The birds ride bikes, scooters, play basketball, play poker, dance and even recycle trash. They have also been in several movies.” Animals are obviously a large part of Bobbi’s professional and personal life. “I was lucky to have a mother that encouraged me,” Bobbi said. “I thought that the only way that I could spend my life doing what I loved was by becoming a vet.” She proved to Marine World that being a tour guide was not the only thing a woman could do. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

52 austinlifestylemagazine.com

ON LIFE, MUSIC & AUSTIN (THE "BEST TIME OF HIS LIFE") BY A S H L E Y M . H A L L I G A N | P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A L A N S I L F E N

austinlifestylemagazine.com

It was an ordinary Thursday afternoon in April. Well, ordinary, aside from the fact that I’d planned on spending the afternoon chatting with Lionel Richie. I spent the morning filled to the brim with butterflies, anticipating the coming conversation that I would be having with one of Motown’s forefathers: the original lead man for the iconic Commodores, the lyricist behind albums I distinctly remember listening to on grandad’s vinyls as a terry cloth-clad, feather-haired child of the ‘80s, and a face and voice recognized the world over—from North America to Syria—and back. The night before our conversation, I followed Twitter camaraderie between Richie and Madonna, both of whom just happened to be at the number one and two positions on the Billboard 200 for their newly released albums: Madonna’s MDNA in the number one position, and Richie’s Tuskegee at number two, respectively. ‘Trading high-fives’ on the Billboard 200, the two were also in the same position in—1986. Twenty six years later, the two are wildly at it again, in the midst of a musical revival, zigging and zagging across music charts and editorial columns, meanwhile mastering new genres. Once neighbors in Hollywood and twice neighbors on the Billboard charts, the two playfully exchanged congratulations via Twitter on April 5: Madonna: Congrats on a successful record. To the other Richie in my life. Richie: What's going on family? Can you believe we are sitting on the top of the charts together again? There is no one I would rather be on

54 austinlifestylemagazine.com

top with. Congratulations!! I am so happy for you. Madonna: OK, but as long as I'm on top. The phone rang. And suddenly I was mid-conversation with the legend himself. To say he was honest, real, jovial, nurturing and kind, all with a sensible humility and bright spirit would still be an understatement. At moments it was like catching up with an old friend, while others felt as though he was delivering fatherly advice. With the whirlwind of coverage stemming from the March release of Tuskegee —an album in which he’s gone, well, country—a collaboration with some of country music’s hottest artists, both newcomers and country’s nostalgic founders—most of the questions I had for Richie were not, in fact, related to his album. Instead, we had a downright real and simple conversation. I told Richie about my girlhood, dancing around my bedroom in lacy dresses and oversized hats with grandad’s old record player blasting vinyls by the likes of Donna Summer, Irene Cara, and, of course, the Commodores. Before I could ask him anything, he asked me about my grandfather. Richie said with a pleased laugh, “Your grandpa did right by you.” The thing is, Richie is not a newcomer to Austin, although he recently played his first South By Southwest show at ACL Live’s Moody Theater alongside none other than the legendary Kenny Rogers this year. Rogers is one of many icons Richie has worked closely with (for longer than

most bands have had careers). They’ve shared stages and musical collaborations, and Rogers has recorded songs written by Richie’s lyrical genius. And ever the humble artist, Richie has complimented Rogers countless times, “I hope to be as big as him someday.” After performing a handful of Commodore classics and a surprise piano solo, Richie introduced the long-time companion and musical counterpart, "I’m about to bring out one of my dearest friends, and we made many records together,” at which point Rogers joined him to perform “Lady,” written by Richie and recorded by Rogers in 1980. Richie told Rogers before performing, “Kenny, having you up on this stage is about the best thing that could happen to either of us.” After their duet, the two shared a sentimental hug, and the crowd went expectedly wild. Though Richie is no stranger to Austin, his first SXSW experience stunned him. “South By Southwest was the biggest eye-opener for me. During my show, there was a girl up front in an Iron Maiden t-shirt singing along. I started thinking: This is different. Where am I? The crowd was outta control. For us, the greatest experience is seeing the next generation enjoying our music. It’s then I knew we’d graduated into something great,” Richie said with thick and much deserved sentiment. He went on, “Austin’s a music city, and finally it’s branded. Congratulations, by the way. It has great music... great qualities. And I can’t get enough of it.” I asked him what else he did during his short SXSW visit, and his answer was no surprise, “What did I do? I ate my ass off! Where? I don’t

even remember, but I can tell you what—a whole damn cow. I’ve never had a bigger steak in my life, and a whole potato field—with cheese on top of the potato field. I remember thinking ‘I hope I don’t burp through any of my songs.’ Austin feeds folks to the point of insanity.”

But, most importantly, Richie said, “I had the best time of my life. I’ll be back.” South By Southwest isn’t the only commonality between Richie and Austin. Austin City Limits Festival veterans who are able to battle through their end-of-summer sun exhaustion, hangovers and late Friday and Saturday nights and actually make the show early enough on Sunday mornings know it’s a tradition to play “Easy,” which is perhaps my favorite Commodores’ classic. Furthermore, the Austin mentality is captured in its lyrics: I wanna be high, so high/ I wanna be free to know/ The things I do are right/ I wanna be free/ Just me, babe!/ That's why I'm easy/ I'm easy like Sunday morning/ That's why I'm easy/ I'm easy like Sunday morning/ Because I'm easy/ Easy like Sunday morning I think it’s fair to say these simple, yet honest lyrics represent the Austin mantra, so I asked Richie, what’s your easy Sunday mornin’ like?

His answer was just as simple and down-to-earth as I expected, “My which is a bit frightening." perfect, beautiful day? I go to the pool. I cut hedges... trim things. I’ll I asked him how he felt his music managed to impact a foreign nation, clip all day long. It’s my form of meditation. I turn my brain off, and in halfway across the world to the degree his songs had. Like everything comes a sense of mindlessness. Sometimes I just sit.” else, he had a philosophy for this to—an awe-inspiring one at that: “To And so I asked Richie what Sunday mornin’ music he’s diggin’ these go to a country like Libya, for instance, I’ve always said, great music days. After calling himself a “Coldplay guy,” saying their music has a becomes an attachment for people. ‘I love you’ is universal.” And it’s great message and beautiful melody, he went on to say, “Adele is wearing the authenticity in his music, written from the heart, that sings love me out. She’s a writer, and so creative.” I suggested he check out Sarah across the globe. Language barrier or not, the soul in Richie’s tunes and Jarosz—a current favorite of my own, when he said, “Alright, Ashley. If soul-reflecting lyrics have brought peace to folks in turmoil, and it’s that you see me quoted in another article saying that I love Sarah Jarosz, you reality that’s pretty damn magical. know who turned me onto her.” Well, friends, I’ll be anxiously hoping Richie went on to tell a story of a woman from El Salvador who first to see those words in a future interview. learned English from his albums. I’m not sure what could feel more He was curious of my easy Sunday mornin’, too. After all, this was a valuable than knowing your music has brought hope to war-torn nations, conversation. I told him I like to escape on country roads with my camera has helped refugees discover a new and valuable language, and continues and my dog, Timber, and let the day slip by. And it was with his smooth to thrive. Richie went on, “Ya know, someone’s gonna have a party and Motown voice he said, “Ah, when you have your camera, I got you.” It you’ll find me. ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’ is forever.” It certainly is. was at this point I decided Richie and I would make good friends; then It’s hard for anyone to imagine a wedding where they haven’t hit the again, the world has already decided Richie’s a delightful friend. dance floor to “Brick House,” nor can I personally think of a single time Somehow he has become a hero and musical favorite in none other “Easy” has come on that I didn’t instantly revert to my girl-like self and than the Middle East, though this is no new news. His song, “All Night spin in circles singing along. To say, “Easy” is forever, is a truth that Long,” became an iconic anthem to Iraqis, and he told me, “As Baghdad will not dissolve. was invaded and Baghdad fell, my music was their backdrop.” Here we are today, with another Billboard-topper, reminiscing on the In a 2009 interview with Q Magazine, Richie elaborated, “Recently I days of old when he and Madonna practically ran the street they lived met the commander of the 190 Brigade. He said his troops put speakers on in Hollywood, along with the likes of Elvis, Prince and many other on their Humvees and played “Dancing On The Ceiling.” They arrived notable folks of the era. Richie reminisced, “It was the wildest street in to hear “All Night Long.” The fall of Baghdad was played out to my songs, Hollywood. We were all one big, creative family.”

56 austinlifestylemagazine.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

Naturally, the next question was how this revival, of sorts, felt. “The rocket took off one afternoon,” he said. “I went to bed one night and wondered why the phone was ringing so much. I realized, the rocket took off, and it’s been non-stop. It feels good. I love excitement.” As for Madonna, he added, “We went from being neighbors and friends to the top of the charts. It’s great to have her near me. Last night we were acting silly [via Twitter]. We once lived two doors down from each other, and when we were there, we were killing it.” Here they are again. And they’re still killing it. So, now we have Tuskegee, Richie’s latest album, climbing charts and changing lives. A collaboration with 13 of country music’s most notable musicians, Richie called the album a “labor of love.” Born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, Richie said, “This place called Tuskegee is where it all began — the place where I felt that everything was available and possible. It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.” “Nine months later and beyond my wildest dreams creatively, something was finished that even blew me away,” he said. “How we created this album and what it was supposed to be is probably the mystery of the studio. How you start an album off and what it ends up being is a journey. I must tell you, Tuskegee is going to be one of the most special albums I’ve ever done in my life. It’s hard enough to pull off one duet, and we did 13 for this album. This is something that’s going to be so special forever because it’s a moment in time when these artists all got together and celebrated some music.”

austinlifestylemagazine.com

The thing about artists (of any nature), it seems, is that their art is with them for life. Richie said, “I’m still stoked by the red lights in a studio. When you get this in your blood, well, it’s there forever.” So, what’s next for Richie? First up is a European tour scheduled to begin this fall. Thereafter, he insists he’ll be playin’ Austin again. I promised him I’d be in the audience, and told him I’d love nothing more than to high-five the guy whose songs I’ve spun around singin’ most of my life. His response? “Ashley! C’mon. Let me just say it. Come up to me, introduce yourself, and give me a big hug.” And there we have it, Richie and I are newfound friends, thanks to one extraordinary Thursday. And I couldn’t be more stoked about the opportunity to pick the brain of a man deemed a legend a decade before I was born, and whose songs have inspired me, but more importantly, the world — time and time again. For the rest of my life, every time a Commodores or Richie classic graces the likes of my radio, cruisin’ country roads, camera in hand, the Timber-dog dirtying up my backseat, I’ll remember that Motown voice sayin’, “I got you.” Truth be told, kind sir, I got you too. ALM

Lionel Richie's new album,

TUSKEGEE is now available now in stores.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

58 austinlifestylemagazine.com

AnA Reign Aligning Beauty with Purpose

BY K R I S T E N M O R A D O | P H OTO G R A P H Y BY M A R K G U E R R A | H A I R BY G A B R I E L A LVA R E Z | M A K E U P BY A S H L E Y H A N CO C K

ocal jewelry designer of Russian descent, Ana Reign has a different view on fashion that is represented throughout her collections. Not only do these chunky one-of-a-kind pieces create a fashion statement, but the healing properties within the stones are made to make the owner feel powerful, confident and loved. Coinciding with her love for fashion, Ana has a history with holistic healing— Reiki, in particular, which is an ancient art. She uses this process to cleanse the semi-precious stones, creating relaxation and decreasing negative energy. Ana has traveled all over the world, living amongst different cultures with her family, which is ultimately one of the many inspirations behind her creativity. Throughout her travels, she felt a sense of comfort in Austin, Texas, where her first son, Andre, was born in 1999. Still seeking a new atmosphere, Ana made the move to Los Angeles. It was arts and crafts day for the mother and son. They made it the day’s project beginning by purchasing stones, silver and books with instructions on jewelry making. It was that day, at the Earth Café at Melrose, that Ana’s destiny to create exclusive pieces was first recognized. Upon completing a necklace, a woman at the café insisted that Ana sell it to her. It was solely coincidental that this particular woman happened to be the right-hand individual for one of the wealthiest producers in hip-hop, Russell Simmons. She soon invited Ana to a function at the Beverly Hills Hotel where one of the pieces would be up for bid at a Hip-Hop Summit. “I was in complete awe when I saw my piece right next to all the high end designers such as Gucci, Prada, etc.,” said Reign. “It’s been non stop from there on, celebrity after celebrity reaching out to me. It’s been very effortless and the path was just sprinkled with red roses.” Shakira, Paris Hilton, Fergie and Joan Rivers are a few prominent and fashion forward celebrities that have come across Ana’s collections. There is the Freshwater Pearls Collection that looks definably classic and timeless, along with the Rockstar Collection that consists of a variety of colored stones and silver chains. To make her line even more exquisite, Ana has added the Swarovski line to the collection of jewels. As of right now, there are two magnificent rings that consist entirely of crystal gems that appeal to any eye.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

“It’s a crystal clear reflection of a bright future that will be filled with love and light,” said Reign. Inspired by colors, this designer creates what she sees in her dreams. Above all, it is the philanthropic work that keeps her creativity flowing. Alongside her passion to assist people in feeling their absolute best, she thrives upon the fact that she is also giving back to the community. She is currently donating a piece to the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation to help fund their research to cure spinal cord paralysis. “Money that is raised from my pieces for charities is where I’m happiest and satisfied,” said Reign. “It’s also a nice reflection of the quality of work when I see these jewels being sold for an endless amount of money; these people really enjoy the healing properties and the purpose behind my mission.” Throughout her many experiences living and attending social events in different places, it is Austin, Texas that has enchanted the designer the most. “Austin is a mix of Hawaii and San Francisco,” said Ana. “I feel like I’m at an island and in a city that I love and respect.” Austin, being the place where her first child was born, is also the same place where she will be giving birth to a second child. “The space that I’m at is very grounded and peaceful,” she said. “I feel at home here.” Upon meeting Ana, it is apparent that the high quality jewelry accurately represents her. The beauty of the stones and distinctive look are infinite, quite resembling the designer herself. When ending a conversation with anyone, she ends with the words, “sending you love.” She makes it apparent that just about everything she does is done with the best of intentions, defining her eagerness to help just about anyone, anyway that she can. Reign hopes to work with even more celebrities in the future, not only so she can dress them up in jewels, but to work together for a greater cause. Her vision consists of endless possibilities that have made an impact on the local, national and international spectrum. “I am very passionate about my philanthropic ventures and the love it brings into my heart and out into the universe,” said Reign. Her training in holistic healing and her talent to create jewels with dramatic detail will continue to amaze those who come across it, successfully aligning beauty with purpose. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

Like SXSW? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Love 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL Hooks, Lines and Singers in South Walton, Florida BY M A R I K A F L AT T | P H OTO G R A P H Y BY S T E V E W E L L S

60 austinlifestylemagazine.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

e love our music here in Austin! But not many have heard of the jewel of music festivals in glorious South Walton, Florida, referred to as “30A” (the name of the highway that runs along the 15 beach communities). Just south of Destin, 30A is a magical land that you must “sea” to believe. I call it my “happy place,” as I’ve been to the area four times and just can’t get enough. When I heard about the 30A Songwriters Festival (30ASongwritersFestival.com), I knew it was a beacon of light for Austinites and music fans everywhere. If you long to hear great music in a locale that features intimate venues, a relaxed attitude, luxury beach homes, cobblestone streets where the primary mode of transportation are cruiser bikes, blocks from crystal white sand beaches (fragment), you want to mark your calendar for the 2013 30A Songwriters Festival, sponsored by the Cultural Arts Alliance. The festival’s epicenter is WaterColor Inn & Resort, a coastal retreat with a strong Southern accent. The resort sits on a flour-white beach and offers all the amenities that you’ll need to fully enjoy the festival: their Four-Diamond restaurant, Fish Out of Water (a 30A venue), complimentary cruiser bikes, kayaks and YOLO boards, a pool and hot tub and fabulous beach condos. Between shows, you can enjoy bike riding through 18 miles of paved trails, nature walks and art galleries, markets (like The Wine Bar) and a marina surrounding the beautiful and lush Cerulean Park in the center of town. WaterColor Inn also features “The Gathering Spot” (a 30A venue), which doubles as a restaurant/bar and a cozy place to relax with a book when there is no artist on stage. The festival attracts many of today’s most accomplished songwriters, who are also pretty amazing singers! A few of my favorite acts and venues are featured here: Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles’ lead singer) at Fish Out of Water—It was a music-lover’s dream to sit in this intimate, fine dining restaurant and be up-close and personal with such a musical icon. Hoffs is best known for her 80s band but has also had a successful solo career. The highlight of the show was her taking the stage with fellow songwriter and friend, Matthew Sweet, for “Here Comes the Sun”. The Bangles at Seaside’s Lyceum outdoor stage—It was a gorgeous, sunny day and the outdoor green space was packed with 80s music fans from all walks of life. The girl band (which now has three male members) played some of its new album, but also played the well-known anthems we love and ended the show with none other than their still-famous “Walk Like an Egyptian”. Rodney Crowell at the Gulf Place Amphitheater—Another beautiful day in sunny Florida, the amphitheater in this upscale beach center was brimming with Crowell fans. He (Crowell), a Houston native, thrilled the audience for what was too short of a set (only about an hour) but played his classic crooner country tunes and his upbeat soulful melodies. It was a surreal moment for me to be listening to him live while reading chapter one of his memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks. Joan Osborne at Alys Beach’s Caliza—Have you ever listened to a popular singer/ songwriter with a luxurious Grecian-style pool as the backdrop? This experience was truly momentous. We got the beauty and serenity of Alys Beach’s pool with the awardwinning tunes of Osborne, who ended her set with “If God Were One of Us”. One of the most attractive aspects of 30A Songwriters Festival is the intimacy of the venues. For most of the shows, the proximity to the artist is thrilling and amazing; hence, the reason to arrive at your venue of choice early to get a seat (some venues will reach capacity). Festival goers have access to the songwriters they’ve placed upon a musical pedestal for years. Plan early, get your wristbands and book your accommodations—as this festival is one that I bet won’t stay a secret for long. ALM

30A Songwriters Festival 30ASongwritersFestival.com WaterColor Inn & Resort WaterColorresort.com South Walton visitsouthwalton.com 30AEats—great resource for restaurants, chefs, and places to see in the area 30aeats.com Marika Flatt grew up listening to her dad & brother’s band (who have been playing together for the past 20 years) and loves just about every genre of music. She has been a freelance travel writer since 2002, marikaflatt.com. She lives with her husband and 3 children (who love to dance to all types of music) in Austin.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

A View from the Sun

Executive Chef David Burton Sanchez

For more mouth-watering views of SOLEIL, visit www.soleilaustin.com and follow us on www.facebook.com/SoleilLakeTravis as well as on Twitter@the_soleil

Soleil (So-LAY)

means‘sun’in French. In Austin, it is an exceptional dining experience in the sun high above Lake Travis. Imagine spending an enchanting evening over cocktails and dinner with stunning views of the Texas Hill Country, or enjoying indoor ambiance like no other in Austin. Executive Chef David Burton Sanchez delights the palate with his creative and new American Cuisine, featuring local ingredients that are combined with international flavors. Austin Food Critic, Rob Balon, considers Chef David as, “one of the top 10 chefs in the entire Southwest,” and the food is “mesmerizing.” SOLEIL offers a suite of services and ideas for private parties, intimate wedding events, or perfect celebrations. Live music sets the tone for end-of-the-day relaxation on Wednesdays & Thurdays from 7:00pm 10:30pm. Weekly specials and events are described in www.soleilaustin.com. 6550 Comanche Trail • Austin 78732 512/266-0600

“The food is mesmerizing,” per Rob Balon.

Austin’s Very Own Jack London with a Master’s Degree in Life BY A S H L E Y M . H A L L I G A N | P H OTO S CO U R T E S Y O F Y U KO N YAT E S

austinlifestylemagazine.com

n adventurer, pilot, gold prospector, trapper and avid fisher, inventor, documentarist, World War II veteran and a handful of things I’ve not yet mentioned, Walter “Yukon” Yates almost seems a fictional character imagined by the likes of Hemingway himself. An incredible man, with nearly nine decades of life under his worn, rugged, leather belt, Yates is brimming with stories that adventure writers dream of. Although, Yates happens to be an adventure author, too. His first book, Breakaway, is nothing less than an honest life reflection that’ll keep you on your toes, on the edge of your seat, on the verge of tears, wondering, wandering and more than once—believing in miracles. Sitting on his old brown sofa in the fitting Breakaway Park (Austin’s only fly-in neighborhood, created by none other than Yates himself ), a painting hangs behind me of a place quite sacred to Yates — his Alaskan cabin in a valley so remote only “experienced bush pilots can land there.” Yates cut his first log on July 4, 1975, and built his cabin in just four months, bringing a broader meaning to Independence Day. Yates last visited his wilderness fortress in 2005, when he borrowed a plane and spent ten quiet days writing Breakaway. “I’ve got to get back there one more time; I’ve just got to. I’m tryin’ real hard,” he said in quiet reflection, almost as though he’s reminding himself of the importance of this feat. “I may be 87, but I’m just as capable of flying as I ever was. But I choose not to. I haven’t fully admitted it to myself, but I’ve probably quit flying,” Yates solemnly confessed. “I haven’t hurt my brain any— but, I’ve hurt my body.” I couldn’t agree more with this man whose stories remind me of my grandad’s recliner and my child mind as wide as the National Geographics spread afront of me; he must get back to Alaska, to his cabin, to the place he spent a year in solitude journeying through backcountry with nothing more than necessary tools and a mind sharper than a hunting knife. Surrounded by treasures from Yates’ many voyages, he shows me a photo of a grizzly bear trying to attack his helicopter during take-off. Vicious gnarled teeth showing, an unbelievably giant grizzly lunged for the copter he was flying in. I was as lost in his tales as I’d be in the pages of a Jack London novel. Jack London is, of course, most of the inspiration behind Yates’ entire life journey. “I’ve tried to live the life he did, and I believe I have. He really makes an impression on a young man, and I’ve always been an avid reader,” Yates reflects. “I read everything I get my hands on. I think, if I’m right, we lost Jack London because he got cabin fever and he died. And I felt really bad about that.”

64 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Yates never struggled with the onset of cabin fever though. “The first signs are staring at the wall, but with eyes focused on the other side of the wall. I didn’t want that to happen to me. I fought that off and didn’t have a bit of trouble. When I got to feeling bad, I’d talk on ham [noncommercial] radio. It went all over the world, and mostly in Morse code. I could do 20 words a minute. I really enjoyed it, and talked to a lot of people in the Southern Pacific,” he recollected. Another pastime of Yates’ nomadic wandering is that of gold mining. In fact, it’s this pastime that’ll hopefully yield another book. “I’ve got another book in me, but I don’t know if I’ll write it or not,” he said. Yates spent ten years venturing through dense, snowy valleys and into the vast depths of Alaskan backcountry in search of the precious metal. He painted a vivid picture of the harsh terrain he was regularly faced with, “There’s a lot of trials and tribulations going into canyons 20 miles from your vehicle — snow up to your waist. The wild river killed many people who challenged its currents, crossing in search of gold. I found quite a bit, but I didn’t get rich. I did sell one 13-ounce nugget for $13,000. But a friend found 74 ounces in the same creek.” “But the thing that really put excitement in my life were the lost mines and ghost towns I discovered by helicopter,” he went on.

"My God, I tell ya. I really covered the state of Alaska in that copter. Sometimes I’d go into a broken down shack and the table would still be set." The irony in his love for helicopter exploration came catapulting down when he was returning to Texas after a three-month long gold prospecting trip to Alaska. He lost control of his tail rotor, causing a violent crash in northwest British Columbia marshland. Excerpt from his first chapter: I am here to tell you that in this situation, you don’t have time for flashbacks of your life. You are simply too busy. It is your life you are trying to save and whether or not you do depends entirely on how you react. The crash: It was a nightmare of cracking, chopping, jolting and unbelievable confusion... The rotor blades were chopping spruce trees in two-feet chunks... Impact! Releasing my safety belt, I dove through the angry blanket of red. I felt the sickening warmth of the fire as I looked back to witness the horrible sight: in mere moments, my aircraft had become a burning inferno.

With severe injuries, including seven broken ribs, he could do little more than crawl. And, for 14 days, he survived on nothing more than handfuls of cranberries he was able to forage. “I accepted death,” he said. “That’s an amazing thing when that happens to you. I was just there, and it didn’t bother me anymore. But then, I used divine wisdom. I found a tail section of the copter that didn’t burn, and I pulled it into a clearing, inches at a time.” Clearly, Yates found an innate notion to survive. Knowing his wife (now of thirty-odd years), family and friends had likely assumed his death, he said, “The will to live is really strong. If you don’t give up, there’s usually a way to get out. I’m too ornery.” And damn it all to hell, Yukon Yates was gonna live. It was in the midst of this story that he stopped to show me what little remained of his copter after the accident. He handed me a piece of shriveled, melted metal small enough to hold in the palm of my hand that he collected from the crash site when he returned to visit with his wife

and son, along with a charred rifle and saw — proudly on display next to his coffee table. Holding this heavy piece of what was once a helicopter, a part of the near-end of Yates’ life, I had an overwhelming anomalous sensation that was both haunting and miraculous. He went on to tell the powerful story of his survival, and eventual rescue. “Three or four days after I dragged the piece of tail section out there, I heard a plane. Then I didn’t hear it. Then I heard it again, and it was louder. I scrambled out of there and had polished metal to make a reflector.” And they saw him. “God almighty, what a wonderful feeling! You have to experience it to know what it is. Two paramedics came down on a rope and asked if I was Walter Yates. They strapped me to a basket and pulled me up.

"It was like being pulled into Heaven.” Although Yates finds himself most at peace in a state of wilderness solitude, this was mayhaps, the best ride of his life. “Every once in awhile,

austinlifestylemagazine.com

I’d reach up and shake hands — to make sure someone was really there,” he emotionally recalled. “I asked them for something hot to drink, and they gave me a can of orange juice. It was the best thing I ever put in my mouth.” Meanwhile, Yates’ family and friends were gathered at his current home in Breakaway Park, when it came across the news banner: WALTER YATES FOUND ALIVE! “I’ll bet the house rattled,” he said. Yates insists he’s not a writer, but the well of fascinating, mindboggling stories of exploration and survival tell me his fate was to capture and share these tales of plenty. After all, what’s a writer without a story to share? I told Yates about my childhood, and how I too, adored adventure, history and the world. I told him about my fascination with finding moments lost in time (similarly to his love of mountain-hidden mining towns), and he told me, “I feel sure you’re going to write a good book.” I feel sure that I hope he’s right. He went on to invite me to Breakaway Park’s next fly-in, where pilots galore take advantage of the neighborhood’s 3,000 foot runway and have a communal celebration built from the love of all things flying. “If I still flew, I’d take you up there. But, I’ll make sure you get in a plane,” he assured me. I’ll be patiently waiting aside his runway. Breakaway Park is one of Yates’ pride and joys that’s easily detected in his voice, “This is a pilot’s dream... to have an airplane in their backyard. I’m happy because I built one of the nicest communities that’s ever been done. We all know each other. It’s different.” In the hour I had the privilege to talk with Yates, I learned many things. For one, he taught me how to land a small plane equipped with ice skis on a frozen lake: “Kick right rutter, do a 360, gun motor and use the propeller as a brake. You’ll stop in 200-300 yards.” He also said more than once, “Fate is unpredictable.” And that is also true. But, most importantly, I learned a thing or two about living, and a thing or two about being grateful for life. Simply stated, Yates’ powerful truth is a lesson to be had by all:

“I think I have a Master of Life in all I’ve done. I’ve always had the urge to do the things I’ve read about, and I’ve done ‘em. I’ve got my share of life—that’s for sure. If I die tomorrow, I’ve had it all.” Flipping through Breakaway and reading random passages takes me back to the blessed day I spent with Yukon Yates. It’s a day that’ll always be filed away as one of the most enlightening days I’ve lived, at the mercy of a warm soul eager to share his tall tale truths, woven with life lessons and a vigor most never achieve — even in matters of brevity. You better believe, I’ll be at the next Breakaway Park fly-in, championing all the flawless inventions of Austin’s very own Jack London, hoping for more tales and a mid-air rendezvous. In the meantime, I’ll be eagerly awaiting his next authorship — and it will be in his honor that I peruse the pages, imagining adventures that I can only hope will someday parallel his. ALM Are you ready to delve into the pages of Yates’ stories yourself? You can find Breakaway at amazon.com.

66 austinlifestylemagazine.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

A* TA S T E | S AVO R

Lenoir THE NEW, HOMEY-CHIC BASTION OF CULINARY AND DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY, RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN. BY EMILY R. PELLERIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER TUNG P I C T U R E A Q U A I N T S PA C E U N D E R A D E E P, P E A C O C K B L U E

– a diners’ refuge, ensconced in a wooded copse of spindly, shadowed tree trunks. The stars and the darkness and the surroundings are enticing, transmitting an enchantment that exudes leisure and gentle modesty. And then, the feast commences. Imagine a spread of humble indulgence under that softly lit setting. Your palate is then greeted by small, perfectly roasted game, freshly harvested greens and native herbs, all as you are sitting amongst patches of contained wildflowers, listening to the hum of nighttime’s fauna. Now, envision this scenario within a drive’s reach. Imagine it’s on South First, with a respectable wine and beer selection, a roof overhead, three-courses and an on-site pastry chef, perhaps. We urge you to imagine no more, as it’s assuredly Lenoir. Lenoir is 2012’s unprecedented contribution to the Austin restaurant scene. The pastiche dining experience, conceptually aweinspiring design and convictions of sustainability all contribute to Lenoir in its entirety, as a prodigious act of culinary and conceptual expertise. The restaurant is owned and run by husband and wife duo Todd Duplechan (formerly of the Four Seasons) and Jessica Maher. Both head the kitchen, pastries and management, respectively. Together, S K Y, I L L U M I N AT E D B Y A S P AT T E R I N G O F L I G H T

68 austinlifestylemagazine.com austinlifestylemagazine.com

from the business’s birth to its execution, Todd and Jessica have designated the intention of and adherence to sustainability as one of their utmost goals. The idea that captivated them was of business as not only a culinary institution but a vintage building, a contemplative interior space and an all around eaters’ Eden with sustainability at the heart of the concept. The design and build of Lenoir was envisioned and implemented (with the assistance of Duplechan and Maher, Shift Build, Ankor, Little Mule Studio, Pearly Rihn and Joe Swec Sign Painting) by McCray & Co. In accordance with sustainability and loyalty to the regional economy, the craftwork was done locally and the materials were acquired from Habitat for Humanity ReStore, local lumberyards and home demolition sites. Tables and chairs were constructed with wood from old ’50s and ‘60s homes or otherwise recycled wood. Discarded cabinet trimmings, burnt and blackened, create textured 3-dimensionality as slates against the interior’s same-colored walls and surfaces. Lenoir’s interior is like an exquisitely styled artistic collaboration between the antagonistic forces of light and dark. Complementing the pitch of the walls and black wood floor are the white furnishings. The tables and chairs are starkly painted, supplements to the décor, replete with doilies strung in layers against floor to ceiling canvas curtains. The doilies have a story. Along with the restaurant’s wineholding armoire, the keepsakes were Todd’s grandmother’s. For the sake of eco-consciousness, it’s not only the design that is sustainable but the food as well. The consistently prix-fixe set-up of the menu is small— three or so options for each of the four course’s subheadings. The menu boasts of “field” (greenery,) “sea” (seafood,) “land” (meat,) and “dream” (sweets and savories serving as digestifs, or simply as post-meal treats.) The compact nature of the menu supports its seasonality. Each item on the menu is as locally sourced as it can be, changing in accordance with the availability of resources. The meat options have included feral hog, local goat and wild venison of the axis species, one that is detrimental to the Texas white tail deer population. Duplechan gravitates toward smaller animals and game to contribute to the menu’s efficiency. He explains that the energy put into raising smaller animals yields an equally efficient output in terms of the energy gained from that animal’s consumption. In other efforts toward conservation, Lenoir serves bycatch, or incidental catch, seafood. This seafood is essentially fishermen’s retained, untargeted or unintended byproduct that isn’t the high dollar haul that most retail outlets seek. As high in quality as their counterparts, these fish and seafood allow for otherwise unused resources to be utilized by economically responsible entities. “They’re not necessarily going to be on the menu in this incarnation,” says Duplechan of these specific foods, “but that’s part of the fun.” The fun only continues from there. With each course of Lenoir’s prix-fixe meals, the palate is pleasantly exhilarated. Not in the “Serrano-pepper-eye-watering-sinus-draining” sense, and not in the “anchovy-pucker-inducing-saltier-than-thou” sense, but in the awing sense; in the “how-does-he-make-it-taste-that-good” sense. The idea of the entire menu is “hot weather food,” which is an idea that’s embraced and embellished by expansions on European/ French cuisine or loose takes on Asian cuisine.

Take the Fish Curry, for example. In this instance, it has been served with flounder. The “sea” dish is a spin on a classic green curry. It has an “herbal tone,” as Duplechan puts it— due in part to the prominence of dill and curry. When seared, the flounder becomes crispy as it is crusted in toasted poha, a flattened rice. Garnished with coriander, the meat lies in a light broth sauce seasoned with cilantro, dill, fennel seed, ginger, cumin, coriander and coconut milk, which contribute heartily to the plate’s Oriental (is this word still kosher?) feel. It is all further accompanied by shaved sweet potatoes al dente and shaved asparagus, from Austin’s own Boggy Creek Farm and Springdale Farm, respectively. One of the most notable of the restaurant’s fleeting menu items has been the Crispy Wild Boar. Braised whole, the boar is laid on its skin so that the meat can soak in its own juices in a tureen of sorts. It is then cooked skin-side down so that the heat travels upward into the meat, crisping its outside like a gourmet cracklin’ and cooking the meat from the outside in. The meat is served atop a split plate of quinoa carbonara (which uses eggs sourced from Madroño Ranch in Medina, Texas) and citrus-roasted Spinach (whose addition of preserved lime juice takes a month in-house to concoct). The jus is the braising sauce, further asserting the preparation of the Wild Boar as a holistic approach to carnivorousness. As for satisfying that subsequent sweet tooth, LENOIR Maher’s expertise properly addresses the craving as 1807 South 1st Street Lenoir’s pastry chef. With a locally inspired rendition (512) 215-9778 of a classic French fruit tart, the strawberry pie is a lenoirrestaurant.com petite pastry with strawberries from Poteet, Texas. Topped with cool malted “rice cream,” the warm berry filling is held within a flaky shell and garnished with crunchy, caramelized rice flakes. Though even transcribed annals of such culinary mastery can provoke sensory gluttony, the visuals are true works of art in themselves. Each dish is deliberate in its presentation, either creating an image of architectural integrity (á la the fiore sardo plate, which houses thinly grated slats of cheese built into a teepee) or a color-attentive arrangement (evident in the braised artichoke dish, whose display is ornamented with the bright coral color of fresh grapefruit wedges). There is a sensation of hominess, of f ireside, kinship comfortableness, that is present from the moment one sets foot in the semi-wraparound porch of the restaurant. Lenoir’s conversion into a commercial space has left it with a vestige of the sincerity and coziness that only a home can procure. Enhancing that coziness is the communal table that stretches throughout the middle of the one-room dining area. The luxury of Lenoir is in its details— the Herbs de Tejas table salts, the vintage flair, flavor-nuanced sauces, pronounced garnishes, recycled and restored chandelier lighting and the sourcing of food and furnishings. Further luxury lies in the calmness of the atmosphere— the soft music, the leisurely experience and its simplistic yet refined sensibility. It is a near-guilty experience, fostering some sort of soigné gluttony; like culinary hedonism in its brazen indulgence. It is a beautiful, satisfied guilt, one that is coyly present, and far beyond welcome. ALM

STRAWBERRY PIE WITH FROZEN ARROZ CON LECHE STRAWBERRY PIE Pate Brisee 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. sugar 4 oz. unsalted butter, cut into cubes and very cold 1/4 c iced water Combine the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Pulse in the cold butter a little at at time until the butter is peasized and the flour is sandy and fluffy. Slowly pulse in the iced water until just combined, then pat the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic film and refrigerate for at least two hours before rolling out.

STRAWBERRY FILLING 1 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and quartered 3 Tbsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. tapioca starch 1/4 tsp. salt orange zest Combine all ingredients and allow to macerate for 15 minutes. Pour into prepared, uncooked pie shell and bake in 400 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking process. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving with frozen arroz con leche.

FROZEN ARROZ CON LECHE 6 c. whole milk 1/2 c. jasmine rice 3/4 c. sugar 2 green cardamom pods 1 orange, zested pinch salt Bring the milk, cardamom, orange zest and salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Slowly pour in the rice in a stream while stirring. Continue stirring while rice cooks, approximately 20-30 minutes. Add the sugar and cook for a few minutes longer until sugar is dissolved. Rice should be tender, but still toothsome, at this point. Remove from heat, pour into a separate bowl and cool rapidly over an ice bath. Remove the cardamom pods.

austinlifestylemagazine.com

A* TA S T E | S I P

Champagne Cocktails BY CARLO BLIGH | PHOTOS BY L AURA MORALES

ow t hat Ea ster ’s pa ssed a nd a n ea rly- on set su m mer is upon us, it ’s t he t ime of yea r when folks a re once aga in a llowed to wea r wh ite. A nd, it is nea rly a scient if ic law t hat if you a re wea ring white you must do your d r i n k i ng out do or s . E r g o, i s now pat io s ea s on , t he mo s t glorious sea son of a ll in Aust in—a f leet ing moment where you ca n f launt you r t ight wh ite pa nt s a nd you r beverage of choice to t he world. W h e n it c o m e s t o t h e a r t o f o ut do or d r i n k i n g , m o s t people automat ica lly go w it h a n “m” dr in k . Yes, it ’s sa fe a nd fa m ilia r ter ritor y, but let ’s be honest , most people do not ma ke “m” drin ks well. It may be tough to ponder, but there a re f lavors in the world tha n beyond lime, sweet a nd s ou r, a g ave, m i nt , sa lt a nd s t r aw b er r y f loat er s . I k now, unbelievable. In the old days of Fra nce, when d’A r tag na n a nd his ga ng would get stea my of f a bot t le of Cog nac (a nd wa lk a round slapping people with gloves until someone accepted a duel), t he m ademoi s el le s ne e de d a d r i n k of t hei r ow n to ke ep them happy—something feminine yet potent, something to help them deal with the daily trials of lawn tennis, picnics, ca ke a nd Mada me Defa rge. Thus t he Cha mpag ne cock ta il wa s born: t he ult imate spring beverage, per fected by French women of leisure that knew ha rd times were a head. The rea l genius of t his drink is t hat Cha mpag ne p er fe c t ly complement s m a ny l iquor s a nd f r u it f lavor s — a nd t he co c k t a i l s a re q u it e l ig ht a nd ref r e sh i n g , g i ven

70 austinlifestylemagazine.com

a l l t he a lcohol a nd bubble s i nvol ve d . The y a r e p er f e c t for af ternoons or evening s, a nd Cha mpag ne is ea sily subst it uted w it h Prosecco or Cava , or whatever you h app en t o h ave i n t he cel l a r t h at d ay. A dd s ome f l avor to your sophist icat ion while you sit on t he porch look ing g o o d a nd t h i n k i ng a bout how you a re bet ter t h a n ever y one, which clea rly you a re—you’re drin k ing out of a f lute. A not her spring cockta il of choice, per fect ing your pat io l ifest yle, is t he ‘r u m d r i n k .’ No, t h is does not mea n you s h o u ld m a ke a M a l i b u a n d C oke , o r a f r o z e n d a iq u i r i . W hen I s ay a ‘ r u m d r i n k ,’ I ’m ref er r i n g t o qu a l it y r u m a nd qua lit y f r uit juices—a nd get t ing a lit t le advent urous unt il you f ind t he per fect combinat ion. Consider t he Pa in Killer, for instance. It ’s combination of Smith &Cross Nav y St reng t h Ja m a ic a n Ru m , f re sh- s que eze d pi neapple a nd ora ng e ju ices , Co co L opez a nd a du st i ng of nut meg. My own was so effective it prevented the headache I was going to get before it even sta r ted. If you a re lack ing in t he pat io depa r t ment , or sca red of what w ill happen if you t r y to blend dif ferent liquids in a gla ss, head over to Perla’s on Sout h Cong ress. They have a porch a nd a ba r sta f f t hat ha s per fected Cha mpag ne a nd r um cock ta ils. A sk for a French 75 or 76 —perhaps even a French 77 if you a re feeling ex t ra sauc y a nd in t he mood for duel i ng. By t he way, you look a m a zi ng i n t hat wh ite t ube-top, you rea lly should be outside drin k ing. ALM

A* TA S T E | ACCI D EN TA L EPI CU R E A N

The Lighter Side Of The Season WHERE TO FIND A SUMMER SALAD WIth the coming season comes a hunger for something fresher, something lighter and something that will compliment visits to the lake, lazy days in the sun and fruity beverages we all favor when the mercury climbs too high. To that end, Austin Lifestyle Magazine went in search of the best salad that Austin had to offer. It wasn’t an easy evaluation and there were plenty of submissions we left off the list. But we tried to keep the calories low, the flavors high and every ingredient as delightful as the coming season can be.

This place has been our little secret at Austin Lifestyle Magazine for a few years now. A salad boutique, if ever there was one, Leaf sits quietly amid the high rise condominiums, dedicated to doing one thing well. It is this loyalty to one concept, combined with a similar loyalty to providing the customer with as much choice as a salad can offer, that allows Leaf to continue their reign as the best place to get exactly what your lettuce-loving (or spinach-loving) hunger desires. The options can be overwhelming, presenting choices at each step of the salad’s creation, from foundational greens LEAF to adornments to your choice of protein. Of course, the 419 W. 2nd Street dressing is still another decision, with over a dozen (512) 474.LEAF choices. The Spicy Caesar and Spicy Ranch are Austinized leafsalad.com takes on their originals and each dressing is made in house. If it’s too overwhelming, there is a menu of twelve pre-determined combinations, of which we would recommend the Margherita or Strawberry Fields. Regardless, with all of this choice at the diner’s disposal and every ingredient fresh and of the highest quality, it’s difficult to fathom any other salad could be better. MANGO Y JÍCAMA

Sweet and clear fragrances, tropical fruits and a significant warmth all factor into the definition of summer. And, if you can imagine what summer would taste like, in the form of a single dish, know that La Condesa has made that dream a reality. The James Beard award-winning restaurant has been given more than its fair share of accolade for their appetizers, their margaritas and their brunch, all favored by Austin Lifestyle Magazine LA CONDESA in recent years. However, it is the Mango Y Jícama 400 W. 2nd Street salad that triumphantly combines the sweet delicacy (512) 499-0300 of mango with refreshingly subtle jícama, peppered lacondesaaustin.com by the slight spice of arugula. All of the elements are brought closer together by a serrano-based dressing that adds more than a little kick to the incredible refreshment that the salad is. Think

of it like a perfect slice of watermelon or the ideal margarita, but in salad form. With so much fresh and natural flavor, it is also one of the most figure-conscious dishes available, which will come in handy when one seeks to maintain a summer wardrobe-ready physique (if, of course, you can resist the chips and salsa, which is quite the feat). RANCH SAL AD (WITH #1 CHICKEN)

Larry McGuire has been incapable of doing wrong in the Austin restaurant business, churning out hit after hit. From Lambert’s fancy barbecue to the best place for seafood that isn’t on the coast at Perla’s, his success has been enough to hand him the reins of local landmark, Jeffrey’s. In his spare time, McGuire managed to renovate the former Emerald City Coffee space into a traditional Mexican street chicken vendor, with a specifically Austin flair. Fresa’s is doing its best to introduce the city to Achiote-Citrus chicken that is marinated and spiced so well that it permeates every bite. They also are bringing authentic Mexican side dishes to the town, serving their version of helotes, a street corn that could warrant its own column. But, the surprise guest amid our evaluations of salads in Austin was their combination of simple elements, topped with pulled chicken from their delicious grill. There is little about their salad mix that is fancy, save for the clear direction of flavors that FRESA’S CHICKEN interplay. We can’t say enough about how simple AL CARBON does not mean basic, and that, when executed 915 North Lamar Blvd. properly, the simple things can make for an (512) 428-5077 amazing dish. In the case of Fresa’s salad, it is fresaschicken.com accomplished by adding just the right amount of fresh onion to a mix of cucumbers and lettuce, along with the salty hint of sliced olives. It is as clean a taste combination as can be found. Added to this base is an explosively flavored serving of pulled chicken. You have a choice of Achiote-Citrus or Oregano-Cracked Pepper chicken to add, but the real fireworks are in the former, rather than the latter. Aptly listed as “#1” on the menu, the salad with pulled chicken is also worthy of the moniker. ALM

austinlifestylemagazine.com

PHOTO BY SEAN KRAY

MAKE YOUR OWN SAL AD

AUS TIN LIF EST YLE

austinlifestylemagazine.com

MAY /JU NE 201 2

THE BEST OF EVERYTHING—ONLINE!

MAY/J UN

E 201

T H E

B E S T

O F

E V E R Y T H I N G aus tinl

DOG DAY S ANA REIG N 30A

View interactive issues online!

SON GW RIT ERS

LION RICH EL IE

FES TIVA L WAL TER “ YUK ON ” YAT ES

ON LI

(THE

FE , M

"BES

SI T TIM C & AU STIN E OF HIS LIFE ")

ylem aga zine .com

IN S

fest

IDE

aus tinli

Daysg

REIGa N

30A

SONG W

FEST RITERS IVAL

Walt “YUK er O Yate N” s

MADELYN KAY

Get On Board! The Railroad Revival Tour steamrolled through Austin last year, a brilliant gathering of folk rock's hottest new bands. With such an inspiring start from Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show, the train looks to keep rolling, powered in part by the strength of a documentary that saw a unique screening during SXSW 2012. Check out what happened and stay tuned for more to come about this train and how it is going to "keep a-rollin'" for years to come.

Get Slaughtered by Alamo Tim and Karrie League have created a monster and it cannot be stopped. Appropriately calling Slaughter Lane its home, the newest gem in the Alamo Drafthouse crown has introduced new ideas, new tables and a whole new concept to the already successful Drafthouse brand. Find out all about the new venue and the science-fictiondouble-feature plans that Alamo Drafthouse has to take over the world!

Check out our blog! The Austin lifestyle is always in motion and so is Austin Lifestyle Magazine. To keep up with what's going on in the city, get informed about the new shops and restaurants and get a first person perspective on all things Austin, be sure to follow our writers, Emily, Carlo and Marika as they scour our city to bring you the best of everything, up to the moment!

Party with Austin Lifestyle Magazine! Needless to say, we get out a bit. And nothing tells the story of our adventures better than the pictures snapped while we were on the town. To check in on our breakneck social life, check out photos from all of our events!

Check out our online photo gallery of events from ALM issue release parties and Austin’s social scene.

ifes tyle

ma gaz

ine.com

COSM IC C ADE NCE

BY D O N N A WO O DW E L L

HOROSCOPES

May & June Tis the season of Love in all her glorious forms – passion, jealousy, joy and sadness. Venus, sultry planet of beauty and harmony, takes a break from her usual habits in May and June, inviting us to wake up to see how we Love (or don’t). On June 5, Venus will put on a spectacular show right here in Austin. From 5 pm until sunset, you’ll be able to witness the planet Venus visibly moving across the face of the Sun. This event won’t happen again for more than a century, so don’t miss it. You can check in with the University of Texas Astronomy Outreach program for more viewing details: outreach.as.utexas.edu/venus/index.html And if that weren’t enough, just a few weeks earlier, on May 20, there’s a total solar eclipse which will be visible in West Texas. It’s a little bit of a hike from Austin, but it should be well worth the show. Check out StarDate for more information: stardate.org/nightsky/eclipses/may-2012 What do these fantastic stellar events mean for you? Read on!

ARIES

MAR 21—APR 20

You’re usually a believer in actions rather than words. But not this time. Words have power too, and your lack of expression about how you feel can deeply wound the ones closest to you. The Love goddess is offering you a chance to make amends. Have courage and speak from your heart.

LEO

VIRGO TAURUS

APR 21—MAY 20

Welcome to planet Sparkle, where all the people are sassy! Embrace the beautiful and sensual pleasures of the world. You deserve it. Really you do, and that’s the key to this moment. Truly savoring life means accepting your own worth completely and unconditionally. Only then will you laissez les bon temps rouler.

MAY 21—JUN 21

Lucky, lucky Gemini! Love is knocking on your front door. Open it wide and you will experience something magical – Love naked and unbound. She may not always be easy, but she can make you feel alive on the deepest levels. Let go, it’s safe. Go outside and play.

JUN 22—JUL 22

Behind the scenes, things are shifting. You feel the call of the Unseen, deep in your bones. That’s where change always begins, gestating in the fertile darkness. Give yourself some time and space to become. You’ll see evidence of the changes soon enough.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22—JAN 20

Focusing on what you want to achieve in life is familiar territory for you. You know you need the right tools to get the job done well. Now it’s time to realize that your body is your most valuable tool in life. Love your body and begin the exercise routines and healthy diet you’ve been putting off. You’ll thank yourself.

SEP 23—OCT 22

No more indecision. Just stick a pin in the map and head out to the undiscovered country. There’s far more to life than sticking to the safety of balance. Sometimes you have to embrace extremes to break yourself open and create something new. Pack light; and just go.

SCORPIO CANCER

NOV 23—DEC 21

“I got it bad, and that ain’t good,” goes the song. But it is good, because you have the chance to open yourself to experience Love. Toss away your expectations. What is required of you is not superficial saccharine sweetness, but to reveal your authentic self in the presence of another. Have courage, and allow Love to transform you.

AUG 23—SEP 22

We all know you love work, Virgo, but life goes deeper. Having high standards isn’t enough anymore, it’s time to unite your passion with your work in the world. If you’re already there, wonderful! If not, prepare for a change. Surrender yourself to your divine purpose, and a new path will unfold before you.

LIBRA GEMINI

SAGITTARIUS

JUL 23—AUG 22

It’s a gloriously mad amusement-park world. So round up your friends, and jump on the roller coaster. Your sunny optimism will melt away their icy fears. Laugh, and inspire others to enjoy the days, and you will inspire yourself in the process.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21—FEB 19

Wheee! Be avant-garde. Bohemian. Live the artist’s way. Throw paint! Embrace Love as the essential creative act in the Universe. Whether you make babies or poems or ideas doesn’t matter. Just get out of your own way and allow the creative juice of life to surge through you. You will be amazed by what manifests.

OCT 23—NOV 22

Dark. Deep. Mysterious. Exactly the way you like it, Scorpio. Invoke the magical bonds between yourself and those you love and revel in the world of the passionately real. Though you were designed for these days, others may not be as eager to jump in the deep end. Reach out your hand and lead the way, slowly and compassionately.

PISCES

FEB 20—MAR 20

Home is where the heart is. And it’s also where you’ll feel called to invest your time and money. Create a home that is a refuge and a retreat. You don’t need to blow your budget; just remember that it is the people you welcome into your home who are your greatest treasure (especially if they bring along some housewarming gifts).

Discover more lunalicious astrology with Donna at fourmoonsastrology.com. austinlifestylemagazine.com

KEEP AUSTIN

WELL YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING WELL EVERY DAY

austinlifestylemagazine.com

K EEP AUS T IN W ELL

Bruises and Brew BY C A R LO B L I G H

I ’M IN THE WRONG PL ACE .

For t h e l a s t t h i r t y m i nut e s I ’ ve b e e n s it t i n g i n t h e ble a c her s of a n i ndo or s o c cer f a c i l it y w a it i n g f or t he women’s leag ue to k ick of f. There is a f ren z y of act iv it y a round me—on either side a tea m strapping on shin g ua rds, pu l l i ng up k ne e h ig h s o ck s a nd laci ng up cleat s . D ow n below t wo different teams reverse this process and exit the building, some hobbling. When you’re over 30, sprint ing, colliding a nd k ick ing for for t y m inutes ta kes a bit longer to bounce back f rom. What a lways catches you of f g ua rd is t hat it on ly hur t s a lit t le bit t he next day, a nd t hen t he rea l soreness h it s a s you get out of bed t wo days later. Yet it ’s a feeling to savor when you limp into t he of f ice—not ever ybody ca n be a wa r r ior by n ig ht . Da ily exercise ca n come i n m a ny for m s . S ome l i ke to r u n on t he el l ipt ica l Su r rou nding me a re husba nds, boy f r iends a nd fat hers wh ile Housew ives is on. Ot hers go to see a nd be seen on watch ing t he g a me, some ner vously, ot hers at ea se a f ter t he Tow n La ke t ra il. Of course t here is a lways yoga . But t heir ow n ga mes. A toddler cont inuously r uns t he leng t h for ma ny women in Aust in t he hunger to score goa ls never of t he Plex ig la s wa l l at her fa stest wadd le to yel l at her dim inishes. mom my. One husba nd yells a cont inuous f low of h is ow n On the f ield below, a co-ed game unfolds. A g irl confronts specia l bra nd of encou ra gement . A not her sit s i n si lence a dribbling g uy and, with some remarkable ag ilit y, steals the a nd just sta res intensely. ba ll right out f rom under h im. His pride clea rly wounded, There is exercise a nd t hen t here is a lifest yle. You ca n he t ur ns a nd clumsily r uns right into her, sending her to workout ju st for t he sa ke of work i ng out be cau se t hat ’s t he g rou nd a s t he wh ist le blows. Not a sm a r t move. My what we do in A merica , but t hen you’re m issing out on a ll eyes a re draw n to t he t wo ma ssive sponsorship billboa rds t he action. We have a bad habit of retiring our cleats when that ha ng on the opposite wa ll, each for t wo dif ferent loca l we h it “adult hood”, r ight when t h ing s sta r t to get rea lly hospita ls. One is plug g ing a center for joint replacement , f un. On t he A ng r y Taco side, t he pin k un ifor ms disg uise the other advertises its emergency ser vices and urgent care. a n eclect ic crew of un ique, accomplished women. Tonight Clea rly the hospita ls a re awa re of its ta rget audience. Next they are f ighting for the ball and cracking long ra nge shots. to me a young woma n in her t went ies gea rs up for t he next B y d ay t hey a re a n exe c ut ive pa s t r y chef , a wa rehou s e co-ed match. Behind her sits her middle aged mot her who ma nager, a vet tech, a crime scene invest igator, a m iddle looks over at t he concession sta nd a nd ca sua lly rema rks, school teacher, a n operations ma nager at Dell, a nd a Texas “If he’s get ting a beer a nd didn’t ask if I wa nt one I’m gonna State st udent. Their day jobs a re on ly a sma ll pa r t of who be mad.” Her husba nd ret ur ns w it h a bag of popcor n, a nd t hey a re; t here a re ma ny more dimensions to t hese women. cont inues to live. The ga me ends w it h a n 8 – 4 v ictor y for t he A ng r y Tacos W it h o n l y t e n m i nut e s u nt i l t h e wom e n ’s le a g ue i s a nd t he tea ms clea r of f t he f ield so t hat t he next ga me ca n supposed to k ick of f a nd no women’s tea ms in sig ht , t he k ick of f. Beers crack open ( lite, of course, ‘cause t hey ’re rea lizat ion of my er ror f ina lly h it s me. hea lt hy) a nd one g irl who ca rried a mysterious, beda zzled Back i n my ca r I’m on I-35 head i ng f rom P f lug er v i l le briefca se out of t he dug-out lays it on a table a nd un zips it to Ceda r Pa rk a nd ma k ing t he t went y m inute drive in ten. to revea l a ma ssive a r ray of ca ndles—t he Scent sy business Lightning f lashes all around me. Earlier today t wo tornados beg ins. If ever a f rag ra nt ca ndle wa s needed, now would tore t h rough Da lla s, but t he a ir here is st ra ngely ca lm. be a good t i me. I wonder a loud if a ny smell li ke v ic tor y. S c re e ch i ng t o a h a lt at S o ccer Z one, I r u n i n side t he She sca ns her mercha ndize for a moment a nd t hen replies, massive complex. There in an arena of Plexiglas and netting “There’s one t hat smells like sex.” So it does. a re t he women I wa s seek ing. One tea m wea rs match ing There a re women’s a nd co-ed indoor soccer ga mes being pin k Chuy ’s t-sh ir t s wh ile t he ot her wea rs g reen shir ts of played n ight ly in Aust in. To f ind out about leag ues check dif ferent cut s. Th is match up is t he A ng r y Tacos versus soccerzoneaustin .com, which has t wo Austin location s, or t he Reneg ators; na mes t hat possess dubious mora lit y or go to letsplaysoccer.com for a facilit y in Pf luger ville. ALM mea ning.

76 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Smiles Like These In As Few As Two Visits!

To learn how call 512.382.5888 TODAY or Email the Doctors at: ContaCt@austinCosmetiCDentistry.Com Actual patients of Dr. Schiro and Dr. Garcia

• Over 40 years combined experience. • Thousands of Smile Makeovers (ten or more teeth) completed. • No tooth preparation in many cases. • Full-Mouth Reconstruction. • Sedation dentistry. • Last Time You Pay policy. • Convenient financing. • Saturday appointments. * Proud Sponsor of Toast of the Town * To Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation:

512.382.5888

A ustin C osmetic D entistry .com

austinlifestylemagazine.com Dr. John Christian Schiro

Services provided by Texas licensed general dentists. Actual treatment results may vary.

Dr. Arturo R. Garcia

K EEP AUS T IN W ELL

How to Make"Work" Feel Like Play BY L I S A TA L E V SOMETHING I’ VE OBSERVED IN WOMEN WHO COME TO ME WITH PHYSICAL PROBLEMS (LIKE CHRONIC FATIGUE AND WEIGHT GAIN) IS THAT THEIR S TRESSFUL LIFES T YLES ARE AT THE HE ART OF THE

They don’t sleep enoug h . They don’t play. It ’s not t hat t hey k now not h i ng a bout nut r it ion or exerci se. They ’re just over worked, under-rested a nd never f ind time for t hemselves. When you t h i n k a b out co ok i ng a nd eat i ng hea lt hy or exercising, does it seem over whelm ing? Do you imag ine t he work of lea r ning new sk ills a s a not her chore t hat w ill suck more energ y or time from your busy schedule? What if you could shif t your perspective to view learning new skills as play? How ca n you approach exercise as time to unwind f rom t he wor ries of da ily life a nd h it your Reset But ton? PRO B LEM .

W h at we ’ ve for got ten i n ou r work- d r iven c u lt u re i s t he recha rg i ng a nd energ i z i ng nat ure of play. Play is t he most ef fec t ive way to lea r n new sk i l ls a nd ba la nce emotions. The mere at tit ude of play f ulness, like physical exercise, is a natural anti-depressant. We even see t he i mpor ta nce of play i n t he a n i ma l k i ngdom—a l l species play—a lt hough we somet i mes forget t hat a lso i ncludes hu ma ns. In A merica today, play is seen a s t he work of children. Grow ing up, kids play w it h f riends to develop socia l sk ills a nd play by t hem selves to develop f i ne motor sk i l ls a nd powers of obser vation. Play a lso helps kids exhaust energ y t h at wou ld ot her w i se d i st rac t t hem f rom t hei r s t ud ie s . (We see A DH D rates spike a s schools cut g y m cla ss f rom t he cur riculum.) W h a t we g r ow n - up s h a ve b e en t o o bu s y work i n g t o remember, is t hat we a ll need play t ime to ba la nce st ress a nd stay hea lt hy. Moder n life evolves a s fa st a s t he latest technolog ies, a nd if we let it suck us in, a whole day goes by wit hout rea lly liv ing in our bodies. Mea nwhile our bodies, t uned into t he evolut iona r y pace of our DNA , evolve much slower t ha n tech nolog y. It ’s not nat ura l to work a nd work a nd never rest . I’ve hea rd f riends a nd clients com ment about my “d i s c ipl i ne ,” si nce I m a ke e xer c i s e a nd he a lt h y e a t i n g da ily habit s. But self-cont rol a nd discipline have lit t le to

78 austinlifestylemagazine.com

do w it h t hese r it ua ls for me. The g y m is my playg round, where I t a ke a da i ly vacat ion f rom my wor r ies. A n hou r of play t ime is a g if t—not more work. The g y m is where I meditate a nd recon nect w it h my breat h a nd body. When I cook, it ’s not a chore, but a creat ive explorat ion of colors, tex t ures a nd f lavors. When it comes to healthy habits, you can only ma ke them yours if you enjoy them. A nd you can only enjoy them when you ta ke a play f ul approach. It ’s ea sy in our Media Cult ure to look at our ch ildhood memories of play t ime t h rough a rose-colored lens—like a scene from a movie. When we remember the care-free days of play ing Ma rco Polo at t he sw im m ing pool, ma k ing up silly stories or g iv ing Ba rbie a ha ircut (t hat never ended well), play time ca n seem irreleva nt, like a luxurious waste of t ime for t he bored. A s a societ y we’ve even sta r ted de-empha sizing play in schools, cut ting back on Phys Ed, a r ts a nd music prog ra ms in public schools, deeming them non-essentia l a nd a waste of t i me . We f o c u s i n s t e a d on t e a c h i n g t e s t a ble sk i l l s , a c a dem ic a c h ie vement a nd d i s c u s si n g mor a l i s s ue s a d nauseum , w it h no brea ks for play. (A nd we wonder why A DH D i s such a ra mpa nt d ia g nosi s i n moder n ch i ld ren , who never get suff icient time to burn off their extra energ y t h rough exercise a nd play!) Social scientists like psycholog ists recog nize that play is critica l for child development. It is through play that kids lea r n socia l sk ills, dex terit y, r ules a nd creat iv it y. Play is the most effective way for us as humans to form new neural pat hways. (Remember pract icing t hat song on t he pia no for hou rs before you were able to play it at t he recit a l?) Play not on ly bu i ld s up ou r cog n it ive sk i l l s a nd spat ia l orientation, but also provides an outlet for emotional stress. We l itera l ly sha ke of f t he ten sion s t hat have bu i lt up i n our bodies t h rough even a modest 15 m inute bike ride or 30 m inute silly ga me. For ma ny working adults, “play ” ha s become a spectator spor t , watch ing professiona l at h letes work. Wh ile some people f ind t h is pa st ime rela xing, it doesn’t st imulate a ll of our senses a nd cont inue to develop our ow n sk ills t he way t hat act ively engag ing in play t ime does. ALM

Suprisingly more than what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect from a dental visit.

4200 North Lamar, Suite 145 (next to Uchiko) 512.459.5437 | drmoossy.com

austinlifestylemagazine.com

Cosmetic and Holistic Dentistry

Comprehensive care with a personal touch... • General and Cosmetic Dentistry • Limited Root Canal Treatment • Limited Oral Surgery • Teeth Whitening • Non-surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease • Safe Metal Removal • Laser Therapies Available

1221 West Ben White Blvd., Suite 110A

(512) 443-5813 www.naturaltoothfairy.com We accept Care Credit

80 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Finding A Needle In A Haystack AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AT AOMA BY DA N I E L R A M I R E Z

When sum mer heat , t ra f f ic a nd t he unending dema nds of ever yd ay l i fe h ave t a ken t hei r t ol l , more t h a n a few Aust in ites w ill seek ref uge in a ma ssage or ot her for m of rela xat ion t herapy. From in novat ive concepts like t he hot stone ma ssage to t he advent urous Japa nese Ba r Therapy, we a ll crave a mea ns of f inding our in ner peace a m id t he outer chaos. Stress builds within us, g iven how many things t he average Aust inite contends w it h in a single day. That st ress, combined w it h muscle tension a nd norma l physica l wea r, ca n g ive bir t h to a my riad of hea lt h related issues. Pa in, headaches a nd genera l ma la ise ca n a f f lict us f rom orig ins t hat , wh ile cont inuing to conduct out-of-ba la nce lives, we still cannot pinpoint. The measures we take in the quest to discover a st ress-f ree a nd less pa inf ul existence of ten come with sig nif ica nt cost associated. In the modern economy, when expenses on ly add to our st ress, no mat ter what t hey a re for, t he price of ach iev ing our seren it y ca n conv i nce u s t o foreg o t r a nqu i l it y of m i nd a nd b o dy, i n favor of u ndist u rbed f ina nces. Medicine is t radit iona lly expensive. Which is why non-traditional medicine is f inding a home in Austin, and eschewing the associated cost along the way. In fact , one of Aust i n’s best kept secret s, when it comes to f i nd i ng a new avenue towa rd rel ief f rom pa i n or t he r ig ors of contempora r y a n x iet y, a lso comes w it h one of t he lowest bills. It ta kes some braver y a nd a n open m ind, but of f West Gate Bouleva rd, Aust i n ha s been keepi ng a secret . Indeed, one of t he best lea r ning facilit ies for nont radit iona l medicine in t he count r y ca lls Aust in home. AOM A Gr a du at e S cho ol of I nt e g r at e d Me d ic i ne i s a lea r n i ng i n s t it ut ion de d ic at e d t o t he s t udy of O r ient a l Me d ic i ne, i n a l l of it s for m s a nd f acet s . The y fo c u s on Qigong (Ch i-g ung ), wh ich is t he representat ion of energ y i n a p er s on’s l i fe. They prac t ice a nu mb er of t reat ment tech n iques to add ress t he va r ious st resses a nd a ilment s that a person endures at the hands of the imbalanced world. From herba l t reat ment s t hat a re used to address va rious a i l ment s to ma ssa ge t herapy t hat is a n essent ia l pa r t of ma inta in ing one’s hea lt h, t he school of fers ma ny ways to restore one’s hea lt h, a s a n a lter nat ive to moder n medica l pract ices. N a t u r a l l y, t h e f e a t u r e c o m p o n e n t o f t h e s c h o o l ’s t reat ment s of fered is acupunct ure, t he most recog n izable

Traditiona l Chinese Medicine (TCM) method. The method of using ex t remely precise needles into specif ic a rea s of t he sk in to cor rect energ y imba la nces ha s been used for cent u r ies , a nd i s , i n t he moder n day, a w idely accepted a lter nat ive to t rad it iona l pa i n med icat ion or t reat ment . L ong remove d f rom t he c i nem a- depic t ion s of f r ig ht f u l needles a nd suspect loca les, the process has evolved not in its methods, but in its cultural and professional acceptance. Many insurance companies now accommodate acupuncture a nd non-t radit iona l medicine in t heir coverage, a nd ac upu nc t u re i s supp or te d by t he Nat ion a l I n s t it ute s of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization. Needless to say, it has gained a respectabilit y that is ever-increasing. At AOM A , t he increa sed popula rit y ha s been noted by a rise in admissions, as well as a move to more accommodating facilities. What may contribute to the popularit y, as well as what we consider one of Aust in’s best kept pa in t reat ment secrets, is t he incredibly low cost of ent r y. The adva ntage of AOM A is t hat t hey prov ide ser v ices which a re norma lly ex p en sive at a s t udent r at e . Thei r s t udent s ad m i n i s t er t reat ment s u nder t he ca ref u l g u ida nce of a t ra i ned a nd cer t if ied st a f f. A pat ient ca n f i nd relief for t he low cost of $30. There isn’t a zero m issi ng f rom t hat f ig u re. The t r e at ment s b e g i n at $3 0 a nd don’t g e t a nt mor e co s t l y un less you wa nt t hem to do so. M a ny a re s t i l l d au nt e d by t he fe el i n g t h at t h i s i s a n unor t hodox met hod or by t he use of needles. A s conver ted t reat ment recipient , A my Tabor, ca n at test to, it ma nages to help. Tabor suf fers f rom ch ron ic pa in t hat t radit iona l me d ic i ne h a s b e en c h a l len g e d t o a dd r e s s . “ I wa s ver y ner vous about t r y ing somet hing non-t radit iona l but when you’ve t ried ever y t hing else, you a re more open to t r y ing new t h i n g s . It help e d sig n i f ic a nt ly a nd t hou g h I don't understa nd it , I st ill use it 10 yea rs later,” Tabor says. W he t her for rel ief f rom ch ron ic pa i n , a re spit e f rom t reat ments t hat ser ve to increa se st ress levels w it h m a rg i n a l resu lt s or for a pu r su it of a more hol i st ic a nd ba la nced life, t he pract it ioners f rom Aust in’s ow n AOM A Graduate School of Integ rate Medicine ca n prov ide a f fordable a ssista nce. ALM For more information about AOM A, visit aoma.edu.

austinlifestylemagazine.com austinlifestylemagazine.com

K EEP AUS T IN W ELL

FIT by Working out is hard work & it should be rewarded: before, during and after a work-out. Here's some of our favorite things for each:

Remembering

BEFORE

Advocare Meal Replacement, $39.95. Body by Frame.

to KOR ONE Hydration Vessel, $30. korwater.com.

drink

the

recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day is easy when you have a stylish bottle to carry with you at all times.

DURING

Inov-8 Road-X 233, $120. zappos.com. Hyperwear Hyper Vest, $170. hyperwear.com.

AFTER

Ambhar Platinum Tequila, $42. Spec's.

Creed Aventus, $240-540. creedboutique.com.

Vivo Tex/Mex. vivo-austin.com.

FRAME is a team of personal fitness and nutrition experts who partner with committed clients to transform their lives. We don't beliece in "factory fitness" or that one fitness philosophy works for every person. There is a perfect blend for everyone. FRAME approaches your unique fitness needs from all directions, designing programs customized to your goals, physiology and lifestyle. The human body is a remarkable organic machine. Under the right conditions, it will respond rapidly to become healthy, fit, and beautiful. We see it happen every day. We'd like to see it happen to you. Bodybyframe.com | 512-402-2554

82 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Great food!, Great music!, Great Ambiance... I’m just sayin!!

314 W. 2nd Street, Austin (512) 473-2744 coalvinesoftexas.com

THE TREASURY

ENTER A WORLD OF UNIQUE FURNISHINGS, ART, BRONZES & ANTIQUES.

6535 COMANCHE TR AIL (ACROSS FROM THE OASIS) (512) 266-6444 THETREASURYAUSTIN.COM

K EEP AUS T IN W ELL WELLNESS DIRECTORY

CANCER TREATMENT Austin Cancer Centers 4 locations in Austin & Georgetown 512.263.5269 AustinCancerCenters.com

DENTISTRY Elizabeth Rayne, DDS 1221 Ben White Blvd., Suite 110A Austin, TX 78704 512.443.5813 NaturalToothFairy.com Moossy General & Cosmetic Dentistry 4200 North Lamar, Suite 145 Austin, TX 78756 (next to Uchiko) 512.459.5437 DrMoossy.com

EATING DISORDER TREATMENT Cedar Springs Austin 4613 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 104 Austin, TX 78746 512.732.2400 CedarSpringsAustin.com

HORMONE REPLACEMENT Eleanor P. Womack, MD 5656 Bee Caves Road, Suite C-103 Austin, TX 78746 512.327.8700 westlakemedicalarts.com

Khouri Law Michael Khouri 4040 Barranca Pkwy, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92604 949.336.2433 KhouriLaw.com

UROLOGY

NEUROSURGERY

Austin Bariatric Clinic, P.A. Amanda Dupont, M.D. 5900 Balcones Drive, Ste. 160 Austin, TX 78731 512.71.9885 austinbariatricclinic.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Austin Neurosurgical Institute Thomas S. Loftus, M.D. 2200 Park Bend Drive, Bldg. 2, Suite 202 Austin, TX 78758 512-836-0900

MEDICAL LAW

SKIN CARE

Body by Frame 6709 Burnet Lane Austin, TX 78757 512.402.2554 bodybyframe.com

Garlo Ward, P.C. 900 RR 620 S, Suite C-206 Lakeway, TX 78734 512.302.1103 GarloWard.com

Ruthie Harper, MD 3901 Medical Pkwy, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78756 512.343.9355 RuthieHarper.com

ANIspine.com

Styles Offered

$39

Ashiatsu Bar Therapy Swedish Massage Deep Tissue Massage Sports Massage Acupressure Shiatsu Massage Sports Massage Reflexology Massage Pregnancy Massage and Many More!

introductory rate for 1-hour massage

With 3 Austin Locations www.massageharmony.com 84 austinlifestylemagazine.com

Urology AustinÂ 17 Urologists 16 Convenient Locations UrologyAustin.com

SOUTH LAMAR (512) 358-9300 BEE CAVES ROAD (512) 306-0900 38 TH STREET (512) 276-2481