PRIME Living Sept/Oct 2011

september/october 2011

Texas

The Luxury of Choice

deep

heart inthe

From its rich history to its modern-day icons, PL celebrates everything we love about the great state of Texas

Texas Belle The life and times of Houston’s own Joanne King Herring

Taste of History Ninfa’s dishes out nearly 40 years of culinary success

Pop Quiz The Lone Star State leaves its mark on American culture

large and in Charge!

Space and elegance. Space for your imagination to create the home of your dreams.

The elegance and sophistication of creative floor plans, designed specifically for your lifestyle.

all in the perfect master planned community for you.

Imagine an easier commute, spacious kitchens, and outdoor entertainment areas, all in a Large and in Charge, Partners in Building home in a Johnson Development community.

We build communities with a unique sense of place.

at Johnson Development we take pride in designing our communities to foster the active lifestyle of our residents, while preserving and utilizing the natural beauty of the local landscape. Today is your day, your time—live it.

johnsondevelopment.com partnersinbuilding.com

Fort Bend Parkway

riverstone.com

facebook.com/riverstonecommunity From US-59 in Sugar Land take Hwy 6 south 3 miles

Partners in Building introduces homes on large homesites in Riverstone. Priced from the $500’s, our dramatic elevations often include large covered patios, turrets and rounded studies, while our interiors include guest suites and open kitchens with large center islands.

Homes from the $500s . 3,500 to 6,000 sq.ft.

woodforesttx.com

facebook.com/woodforest I-45N to FM 1488

Partners in Building is excited to offer custom homes in Woodforest’s gated enclave of lakeview and golf course homesites. Standout design features in our homes include downstairs gamerooms and expansive outdoor living spaces with summer kitchens and fireplaces.

Custom homes from the $600’s.

Homes from the $600s . 3,700 to 6,000 sq.ft.

siennaplantation.com

facebook.com/siennaplantation Sienna Parkway at Hwy. 6

Partners in Building offers a variety of estate and half acre homesites in Sienna Plantation. Our homes feature voluminous living spaces and well-designed family gathering areas. Partners in Building can custom design your new home from scratch, or start from our expansive library of plans.

Homes from the $550s . 3,500 to 6,000 sq.ft.

Chart your Course.

Navigate your financial future with an advisor who understands where you’ve been.

Knows exactly where you want to go.

And can help you get there safely.

Teresa Harris Vice President Private Banker

Mike Turner Houston Metro Market President

832.663.1793 • mutualofomahabank.com

Member FDIC

Trust & Estate Services • Private Banking • Brokerage & Insurance Services • Investment Management AFN44133_0811

september/october 2011

belle Joanne King Herring and her legendary life that still defies description

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texas state of mind

Think you know Texas? Find out by taking PL’s pop quiz on the Lone Star State

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other down under

From the energy of Rio to the white sands of Ipanema, discover all Brazil has to offer

57 30 september/october • 2011

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alsoinside

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9 • cocktails & conversation • Where to Go, What to Do Not-So Texan • Call of the Wild • Buzz • Night Sights Limitless Entertainment • Grand Dame • Falling for Fabrics My Life • Collecting Texas

64 • pL’s Passport • Greetings from destinations near and far Enlightened Explorer • Bandera

69 • live well • Feel Good, Look Good The Silent Roar • Under the Microscope • Lashing Out • Get Moving

75 • prime list • Events, Galas and Fundraisers Wine, Women & Wellness • Rolling for Charity • Houston Restaurant Weeks VIP Kick-Off • Datebook

the

kdean@prime-living.com

Publisher Terry Dean

tdean@prime-living.com

Managing Editor Michelle Jacoby

37 • connoisseur • PL’s Guide to Discerning Taste La Favorita • Good Eats • Table Talk • Lone Star Libations • Spook-tacular!

49 • the gentlemen’s room • For the man who commands the very best Garage Mahal • Spirit of Ecstasy • High-Tech Texas • Country Livin’

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Karyn Dean

mjacoby@prime-living.com

Editorial Assistant Cathy Sampson

csampson@prime-living.com

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Art Direction & Design SW!TCH s t u d i o Jim Nissen Erin Loukili Carla Rogers www.switchstudio.com

Account Executives Marie Brashears

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mbrashears@prime-living.com

Darren Markle

dmarkle@prime-living.com

Marketing/Events Executive Jennifer Dean jend@prime-living.com

Circulation/ Distribution Brian Stavert

list

bstavert@prime-living.com

Contact 311 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, Texas 77498 281.277.2333

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Texas

septem

ber/oc

tober

2011

The Luxury of Choice

on the cover

deep

heart inthe

ay to its modern-d From its rich historyeverything we tes icons, PL celebra Texas great state of love about the

4

Joanne King Herring photographed at her Houston residence on July 6, 2011.

Photography by Mark Lipczynski, styling by Jennifer Aronson and Roi Alan.

Texas Belle

of Houston’s The life and timesKing Herring own Joanne

History Taste ofdishes out nearly

Ninfa’s success 40 years of culinary

Pop Quiz

State leaves its The Lone Star culture mark on American

prime-living.com

Editorial Inquiries editor@prime-living.com Advertising Information advertise@prime-living.com www.prime-living.com ©2011 Prime Living Magazine is a publication of SRG Services, Inc., published bi-monthly.

Copies are mailed and hand-delivered to households and businesses throughout the greater Houston area. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisement in this publication. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position of the publication.

publisher’s note formertexasa&M

football

coach , bear bryant

oncesaid,

“itain’t braggin’

coming up the luxe issue Get in the spirit with Prime Living’s annual luxury issue, where you’ll discover some of Houston’s richest gems.

code decoded Throughout this issue, you’ll find QR codes, designed to heighten your Prime Living experience.

Here’s how to use them: 1. From your mobile phone, download any free QR code scanning app 2. Scan codes, like the one below, for fun surprises and special offers.

Look for more QR codes in upcoming issues!

if it’strue.”

karyn dean Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

I

f Texas were to have royalty, then Joanne King Herring would surely be a ranking member. I had the honor of meeting her not too long ago at a fundraising event and, admittedly, I was star struck. Surrounded by her attentive entourage, she gracefully reached her hand out to shake mine and smiled in such a way that her entire face lit up, which immediately put me at ease.

For those “drugstore cowboys,” you know her from the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War.” But for even more insight into her amazing and exciting life, read “Belle of the Ball” on page 23.

She certainly makes Houston proud.

Our Texas theme is seen throughout this issue, including in “Call of the Wild” on page 11, a snapshot of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (one of Houston’s best-kept secrets) and “Night Sights” on page 14, where we give you a peek at some of Texas’s haunted cemeteries. If you’re a music lover, “Limitless Entertainment” on page 15 reminds us why Austin is known as the Music Capital of the World. And, for the ultimate Houston man cave, check out “Garage Mahal” on page 50.

As Texans, our job is to boast about anything and everything Texas. For all you trivia buffs, put your Lone Star knowledge to the test with “Texas State of Mind” on page 30. Here’s a question to get you in the right frame of mind: What Texas city is home to jalapeno jelly?

(Answer below.) Hungry for more? “La Favorita” on page 38 spotlights a true Texas culinary icon: Ninfa’s. Read about Chef Alex Padilla’s approach to keeping his food fresh and authentic to the Lone Star State.

Former Texas A&M football coach, Bear Bryant once said, “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.”

Words to live by.

Happy Halloween! (see page 46)

kdean@prime-living.com

the story “How Sweet it Is” that appeared in the July/August issue, we mistakenly correction Inidentified a photo of Gesine Bullock-Prado with her sister Sandra Bullock. The photo is actually of Gesine and her cousin. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Answer: It’s said that jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson and was first marketed in 1978.

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cocktails & conversation.

cocktails & the prime living guide to what's happening now

Greg Lavaty

inside:

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

10 11 12 14 15 16 18 20 21

• • • • • • • • •

Prime Ten | Not-So Texan Point of Interest | call of the wild The Buzz | What's New Hot List | Night Sights Nostalgia | Limitless Entertainment Arts | Grand Dame Design | Falling for Fabric My Life | Billy Jaynes Treasures | Collecting Texas

september/october • 2011

9

cocktails & conversation.

prime ten

Not-So

texan

Story | sally j. clasen Illustration | John S. Dykes

Certain things are quintessentially Texan: big hair, barbecue and buckaroos, to name a few. On the other hand, some are just out of place in Texas. Here are 10 things y’all would never encounter in the Lone Star state: A sushi bar. OK, we know you can find them around almost every corner, but in Texas, raw fish is sold at bait stores with hooks—not in fancy restaurants with chopsticks.

Flat hair. Statewide cosmetic ordinances prevent this event from ever happening, even if all the root lift and hairspray in the world are temporarily out of stock.

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prime-living.com

Reduced-fat chili with beans. If you have the nerve to request this menu item while in Texas, get ready to have your skinny butt kicked out of town by a chef who wears painfully pointed boots.

A smoke-free Willie Nelson concert.

Check the fine print. That’s how he rolls and probably why he can’t wait to get on the road again.

Vegetarian convention. Welcome to Texas y’all, but it’s called beef and it’s what’s for dinner.

Standard-sized truck.

Go big or go home because it’s the size of your cab and the length of your bed that matters most around these parts.

A Texas beauty queen who isn’t a national pageant finalist. Don’t even attempt to mess with this superficial yet statistical impossibility.

The Lebron James Etiquette School.

Keep driving folks. That kind of Southern “charm” can be found across the Florida state line, approximately 985 miles due east.

Proper use of verbs.

Blame it on the fact that Texans are “fixin’” to rather than “planning” to learn the correct action words.

A high school without a football program. The day a prep school in Texas doesn’t have a football team is the day someone is spotted with flat hair and Miss Texas isn’t named a top three finalist on the national stage.

Football is the only reason high schools exist in this state. Period.

cocktails & conversation.

point of interest

events

call

of the Wild

Story | jean ciampi

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

W

ith nearly 600 miles of concrete freeways in Houston, where does a nine-banded armadillo or a gray fox feel at home?

In 1951, the city of Houston designated land as a haven and sanctuary for native plants and animals, and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center took root. Today, it is one of the largest urban parks in the country and a popular escape to nature for more than 200,000 visitors annually.

Located on 155 acres on the western edge of Memorial Park, the lush oasis was originally championed by local ecologist and educator Robert A. Vines for education and preservation.

With 5 miles of nature trails winding through forest, pond, wetland and meadow habitats, it’s not uncommon to spot a yellow-crowned night heron, a southern flying squirrel or any

of the other nearly 240 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that call the Arboretum home.

Inside the Nature Center’s Interpretive Building, the Discovery Room provides opportunities to learn about the habitats through handson exhibits and activities, microscopes, touch screens, and classes for both children and adults. Additionally, the Marie Vann Library is a resource of more than 2,000 reference books and periodicals on ecology and natural history. And the visit isn’t complete without a stop in the Nature Shop for educational games, bird feeders and naturethemed toys.

By day, regular visitors come for yoga and tai chi classes, to brush up on their nature photography or learn wilderness survival skills. Programs teach conservationists how to build

their own rain or composting barrel. At night, they return for special events like “Tapas on the Trail,” “Wine and Cheese with the Bats” and stargazing parties.

Volunteers are attracted to the Arboretum and Nature Center like hummingbirds to flowers in the Wildlife Garden.

Opportunities abound for tour guides, trail workers, gardeners, interpreters and greeters. The grounds and facilities, too, are often rented for everything from weddings to memorial services.

Considered a Houston treasure, nature lovers and those needing a respite from the concrete jungle find their escape in the trees and toads, pines and ponds here. houston arboretum & nature center 4501 woodway dr.

713-681-8433 houstonarboretum.org

Fall is a glorious time of year at the Arboretum and the perfect time to visit for these special events.

Harvest Moon sept. 10

Enjoy great food and wine and relax at the Meadow Pond while gazing at the beautiful full moon. The Houston Astronomical Society will also share their telescopes for a closer look at the stars.

ArBoo oct. 22

Families are invited to come in costume for trick-or-treat along the trails, collecting candy and cool new facts at each stop. Fun activities are planned all day.

Mutts & Moonlight Mixer nov. 19 Bring Fido along for a casual evening of food and entertainment. After exploring the grounds with your pooch, grab your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the sounds from local musicians.

Winter Holiday Native Tree & Shrub Sale dec. 10

Choose from more than 60 different species of Texas native trees, shrubs and vines for the perfect holiday gift.

september/october • 2011

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cocktails & conversation.

buzz

Hey,

T

reat yourself to a splash of fun this fall with a refreshing cocktail that’s light on more than just your wallet. During lunch hours, Brennan’s serves 25-cent martinis with the purchase of an entrée.

Brennan’s sister restaurant, Commander’s Palace, originally promoted this lunchtime specialty and it was such a hit that Brennan’s decided to partake. With just a quarter, you can spice up your mundane lunch breaks with these perfectly sized miniature drinks. If you prefer something different than a traditional martini, they also offer a cosmopolitan and melon martini. 3300 Smith St. 713-522-9711, brennanshouston.com

Oh, To Be a Kid Again

I

f you haven’t noticed, children’s birthday parties are serious business these days. Let’s face it, gone are the days of getting a store-bought cake and playing pin the tail on the donkey.

For a real party to remember, the Omni Houston Hotel has come up with the perfect birthday paradise with its Kids Fantasy Suite.

Splashed in vibrant colors and swathed with kid-friendly décor, this suite has been transformed into a child’s dreamland. Features include a separate bedroom with two double beds and a connecting guestroom perfect for parents, while amenities include art tables, chalk walls, sports zones equipped with a basketball hoop and team jerseys, music corners and a Wii game console, as well as toys, books, games and DVDs. These special rooms are decorated for the birthday boy or girl and are available for $229 per night, including the parents’ guestroom.

For an extra celebration, the hotel offers a Children’s Museum Birthday Party package for 10 children and two parents, including a limo ride to and from the hotel, fun activities, food and beverages for $899. 4 Riverway.

713-871-8181, omnihotels.com

fact or fiction?

Urban legend has it that someone once paid $250 for Nieman Marcus’s famous chocolate chip cookie recipe. To learn more about this myth—and to get the recipe—scan this code.

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prime-living.com

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ang onto your aprons, foodies, because the queen of Southern cooking—and all things butter, of course—is coming to Houston. As headliner of the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show, coming to the Reliant Center Sept. 17-18, Deen will entertain audiences with her Southern charm and culinary know-how.

Known for her downhome personality, Deen is a favorite among home cooks.

She’s authored more than 10 cookbooks, including “Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible” due in October, publishes Cooking with Paula Deen magazine, and stars in two Food Network TV shows.

Joining Deen at this year’s show will be event designer and entertaining expert Tara Wilson and Heloise, author of the syndicated column “Hints from Heloise.”

The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show has also partnered with the James Beard Foundation. Texas James Beard-affiliated chefs, including Robert del Grande and Bryan Caswell, will be giving presentations and cookingdemonstrations throughout the weekend. For information and tickets, visit metrocooking.com.

Brennan's | paula deen | Eric Kleiman Photography

Get your Buzz On

y’all!

cocktails & conversation.

buzz

Pay it (Fashion)

forward

To support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, three Houston-based designers are teaming up with various breast cancer organizations and offering limited-edition items designed to recognize and support.

Let it

rain D

Colin Kelly | Andrea Montgomery | Claridge + King | Mary Nichols

on’t let a little rain ruin your fall fashion parade!

The high-fashion UZO umbrella is here and will surely be one of this fall’s must-have accessories. Designer and engineer Ronald Obmaces applied his background in craft to create an umbrella that not only keeps dry, but also makes you look good doing it. The asymmetrical configuration combined with the strength and flexibility make this umbrella ultra-innovative, while still delivering on style. Find these functional pieces of art at Tootsies. 2601 Westheimer.

713-629-9990, tootsies.com

• Designer Andrea Montgomery’s handmade, pink topaz necklace adds the perfect element of sparkle to any outfit. Complete the necklace with a personalized, round A-Z alphabet charm.

Add this stunning piece to your wardrobe and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Pink Ribbons Project. Starting at $110 at andreamontgomery.com.

• Get a boyfriend-style shirt without having to steal your man’s button-down. Claridge + King puts a modern twist on a classic men’s shirt by adding length and feminine touches to the masculine details of this His is Hers ice-pink shirt. All proceeds go toward helping the Breast Cancer Fund, which focuses on environmental causes of breast cancer.

Available for $98 at claridgeandking.com.

• Be the talk of this season’s parties with a Mary Nichols mini “Jane” clutch. Beautifully crafted from fine pink satin, this clutch will hold all your essentials for a night out on the town. The Rose Foundation will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of this unique purse that retails for $175 at shopmarynichols.com.

meet Martha I

f seeing Paula Deen has you hungry for more food and entertainment tips, then don’t miss your chance to meet the queen of stylish living herself, Martha Stewart. The Emmy award-winning TV host and bestselling author will appear at the Theta Charity Antiques Show on Nov. 19 to speak about her new book, “Martha’s Entertaining.”

In its 59th year, the show’s theme is “Our Tribute to Texas” and will feature more than 50 dealers from around the world. Special events and speakers include Jane Karotkin, curator at the Texas Governor’s Mansion, and Bob Wakefield, owner of R.N. Wakefield and Co. There will also be a seated luncheon with moderator Shara Fryer on “Texas First Families: Reunion and Reminiscence.”

The Theta Charity Antiques Show will be held Nov. 17-20 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

For event and ticket information, call 713-622-3560 or visit thetaantiquesshow.com.

PL’s app list Our favorite Texas apps

IPHONE Galveston Island Tourism

Discover all that Galveston has to offer with this handy app complete with webcams of the Seawall, cruise ships, restaurants and hotels.

Go Texan

For the true locavore, this app helps you find Texas chefs and restaurants committed to serving locally produced items.

Texas Historical Markers

Search by city or county and read about the 14,000plus historical markers located across the Great State of Texas.

Texas Monthly BBQ Finder

Designed for the smartphone barbecue enthusiast, this app helps you locate the best barbecue joints in Texas.

Source: apple.com/itunes

android Texas.gov

Your direct connection to state government information and online services, this app lets you browse the Texas.gov site in mobile mode.

Texas Bass Fishing

Get the most up-to-date fishing reports for fresh and salt water fishing in Texas, as well as which lures to use for any situation.

Texas Longhorns Gameday

For the true Texas college sports fan, this ingenious app lets you play the top Texas fight songs whenever, wherever and as loud as you want.

Texas Winery Tour Guide 4 A2.X

Your personal guide to more than 100 Texas wineries, this app lets you browse vineyards by trail, name or city.

Source: market.android.com

september/october • 2011

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cocktails & conversation.

hot list

Night

Sights

Story | jean ciampi

Photography | mark lipczynski

With Texas nights getting longer, darker and just a little creepier, now is the time for graveyard gatherings and telling tales of the dead…and the not so dead. We’ve scared up the top spooky spots worthy of an ectoplasm audience and the cemeteries that boast the most ghost!

Galveston Old City Cemetery

After poisoning four of her eight children in 1894, Lizzie Alberti was sent to an asylum, where she eventually committed suicide by poisoning herself. She was buried with her children in Galveston’s Old City Cemetery, where believers say her tortured soul, along with those of a Civil War soldier and 1900s hurricane victims, are often spotted among the old headstones. broadway & 43rd st. galveston

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Glenwood Cemetery

Billionaire Howard Hughes is rumored to walk the beautifully landscaped Glenwood Cemetery, resting place of many of the richest, most influential Texans in history.

Perhaps he is joined by actress Gene Tierney, known for her role in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” or a governor, oil giant or founding father.

2525 washington ave. houston

Black Hope Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery

Although General Sam Houston is buried here, it’s the statue called “Black Jesus” that draws the most attention. Erected in honor of a 5-year-old son, the bronze quickly went black and cannot be cleaned. It’s also said that the hands of Jesus turn themselves over at night. ninth st. huntsville

Beeler Family Cemetery

A burial site for many slaves, the Black Hope Cemetery had the Newport subdivision inadvertently built on top of it. Frightening, unexplainable occurrences have terrorized the new residents, forcing many to abandon their homes in terror and tragedy. Current homeowners, however, no longer speak of the “Black Hope Curse.”

Two blocks from Eldridge Parkway, ghost hunters are drawn to the paranormal activity around Amanda Beeler’s grave.

Strong readings have also come from just outside the small, private cemetery where those in disgrace were usually buried in unmarked graves. The woman and man lingering here are said to be receptive to visitors.

highway 90 crosby

eldridge parkway & patterson rd. houston

nostalgia

cocktails & conversation.

limitless

Entertainment western swing, Texas blues, Tejano music, progressive country and rock n’ roll. Gradually, though, the series evolved to feature many other regional, national and international artists, who espouse a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, alt-country, alt-rock, folk and jam. Since its debut, ACL has Story | Bruce Farr both inspired and reflected or nearly 40 years, “Austin Austin’s commitment to musical the U.S., the Texas capital has City Limits” has been been blazing its own musical trails eclecticism. helping put Austin’s music Since 1982, ACL devotees through the decades. But while on the map.

New Orleans might be renowned have watched a remarkable stream On Oct. 17, 1974, when Texas’s for jazz, Nashville for country of musical artists perform in front native son Willie Nelson strode up and Seattle for the “grunge” of a familiar backdrop of trees on a University of Texas soundstage movement, Austin has developed and shrubs flanking a mockup to tape an hour of his music, little a reputation all its own: It’s home of the Austin city skyline, a did he or the scores of fans who set that has become almost as to an eclectic mix of music that’s showed up to see him realize that mostly rooted in country soil and recognizable as the program itself. they were about to make a little bit yet has spawned a contemporary In reality, however, ACL was of Texas—and national—history. recorded for 36 years in local PBS singer-songwriter vibe that runs That evening, Willie and his affiliate KLRU’s TV Studio 6A, the gamut of a variety musical band burned up the stage for located on the UT campus. In forms and genres. what would become the pilot 2011, the show moved to a new Initially, ACL was designed episode of the now legendary facility in the heart of Austin’s around the music of Texas: live music program, “Austin City Limits.” Today, some 38 years after that landmark performance, austin-palooza!

“ACL” is still going strong, and is considered at least partly So popular has “Austin City Limits” become that, 10 years ago, the responsible for helping galvanize program spawned a live, annual three-day festival in its name. The Austin’s reputation as the “live Austin City Limits Festival has been held in the city’s Zilker Park since music capital of the world.”

2002. Each year, the event brings more than 130 acts from all over Austin, of course, has always the world to play music spanning from rock, indie, country, folk and been a music town. And, like a electronica. More than 70,000 fans attend the festival each day. handful of other cities throughout

Jack Edinger | Austin City Limits

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downtown Second Street District, at the Moody Theater.

ACL had a relatively inauspicious beginning. In the mid-1970s, Bill Arhos, who then was program director for KLRU, drafted a proposal that he sent to PBS, seeking funding for the pilot of a live music show to be broadcast from Austin. The following year, with a mere $13,000 in grants, Arhos and friends launched the first ACL program.

Who could have guessed in its early days that ACL would become the longest running musical show in the history of American television? It’s been honored as such by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A roster of ACL’s performers— legends and newcomers alike—who have graced its stage is impressive for its diversity as well as the talent and quality from among its ranks. Everyone from Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown to Joan Baez, from Clifton Chenier to Cheap Trick, has delighted ACL’s live and TV-viewing audiences through the years.

The program’s accolades have been as numerous as its performers through the decades.

Notable among them is the fact that ACL remains the only TV show to win the coveted National Medal of Arts, which it was awarded in 2003.

september/october • 2011

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arts

grand Dame Story | John DeMers Photography | Mark Lipczynski

O

pera is one of the world’s most traditional art forms, with every note, trill, dip, gesture, prop or costume seemingly written in stone. Opera is also a business, in which the same great works pay the bills for everything else a company might try to do.

But in Houston, there’s an “opera company” so visionary, so willing to take risks and, yes, so personal, that it threatens to redefine what the notion of opera company even means.

Divergence Vocal Theater, with its focus on new works and insistence on blending genres from visual arts to dance, is just that. It is also a statement by, for and about its founding artistic director, Misha Penton.

“I started Divergence in 2008 as a forum for my creative vision as an opera singer and theater artist,” Penton says. “The performances are very much focused on my work as an individual artist. I’m not building an organization in a traditional sense. I work much more like a choreographer or the leader of a jazz ensemble.

Penton originally studied voice with Katherine Ciesinski, whom she calls “an absolutely amazing rock star of a woman.” Penton currently studies with Lois Alba, a renowned bel canto teacher based in Houston.

Of the works DVT has performed over the years, Penton’s favorites are the ones that most closely reflect her artistic vision and incorporate her personal skill set. For instance, the setting of her words by Elliot Cole, titled “Selkie, a sea tale,” was what she calls “a magical work.” The piece premiered last fall and is based on transformative half-human, half-seal creatures, telling a meditative story of longing and desire.

More recently, Dominick DiOrio set her libretto for “Klytemnestra” to music, while Penton opened a new warehouse performance space space, where she has recording projects slated, along with plans to produce short music films.

“A lot of artists get caught up in thinking they don’t have what they want,” she says. “I am so very grateful for a wonderful personal and professional artistic life. What more is there?”

Spotlight: grayDUCK gallery

Established in 2010, this gallery is new to Austin’s growing art scene. A contemporary art space located in the eclectic heart of South Austin’s Bouldin Creek neighborhood, grayDuck is focused on exhibiting cutting-edge work by the area’s up-and-coming and renowned artists, as well as from artists across the country.

608 w. monroe st., austin • 512-826-5334 • grayduckgallery.com

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review Portrait of a Spy Daniel Silva

s you’d expect from sales around the world, extended runs atop the bestseller lists and fans primed to debate issues that seem beyond resolution, Daniel Silva has created a hero for our times. In “Portrait of a Spy” (HarperCollins, $22.99), Israeli secret service agent Gabriel Allon is back, along with Gabriel’s true love Chiaira, the never-quiteretired Old Man Ari Shamron, the men and women who defend Israel from her enemies, plus their counterparts in the United States and Great Britain. The characters face a fictional threat as deadly as any in today’s headlines. In fact, references to Osama bin Laden’s death show us a Silva who’s never quite stopped being a news reporter. Yet the attacks on the West by Islamic extremism proliferate in the book, along with the disturbing cooperation in those attacks not only of freedom’s sworn enemies, but also of some of its professed friends.

The swift violence dealt to all who seek to destroy innocence is balanced by Gabriel’s work restoring works of art by Europe’s old Masters. The two jobs combine so perfectly in his heart and mind that, at times, they seem one job.

The plot in this thriller will keep you guessing, despite Allon’s (and seemingly Silva’s) hope that this dark era will someday seem only a very bad dream. – JD

HarperCollins

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design

falling for

Fabric

Story | Deborah Mann Lake

L

ike any flavorful fall mélange, there are many ingredients that make up the recipe for this fall’s fabrics: color, technology, runway fashion, the economy and, most important, personal taste.

The reality is that annual color trends affect the fabrics that find their way into your home. But interior designer Connie LeFevre, ASID, says that homeowners are now moving more toward neutrals in their major purchases.

Those neutrals have slowly moved away from chocolate brown and more into gray tones, which look great when popped with trendy shades for a fresh fall update. The ever-popular animal prints, says LeFevre, get a fun reinterpretation when they come in bright colors such as hot pink.

Shades of blue, says LeFevre, continue to be strong. A combination of navy mixed with bright blue is particularly prevalent. Chocolate brown has given way to camel and cinnamon, while citrus green looks great in combination with bright pinks and oranges. Burgundy and mustard are also cropping up. Patterns tend

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to be large scale, from blown-up florals to geometrics.

Interior designer Chandos Dodson, ASID, says texture is becoming more important with cut velvets and interesting woven fabrics beginning to replace the flat-weave linens that have been dominating the market. She sees pale yellow as a fresh note mixing with gray and navy.

LeFevre, who has created her own fabric collection, says that technology has had the biggest impact on fabrics, giving us better choices than ever before.

Velvets that might have frayed can survive lounging husbands while light colors can repel grape juice.

“Before, if a client had children and wanted a cream-colored sofa, I would have tried to steer them away from it. But the fabrics now are so durable that they can have that sofa,” she says.

Other things to ask about are fade resistance and repellency.

Indoor-outdoor fabrics, now made luxurious in sophisticated patterns, are often used exclusively indoors.

These unique fabric trends will spruce up your home for fall:

Bold prints Large-scale florals and geometrics or stylized leaves and vines dominate the market. This fresh geometric pattern from Clarke & Clarke can be used for drapery and upholstered pieces such as a chair in a modern setting.

Animal These never go out of style, but they do get new life in stylized designs and wonderful color combinations like this pink, cream and black interpretation by Westgate.

Use these sparingly and with drama in a large ottoman or an oversized chair to give your whole room a lift.

Linen Embroidered fabrics, primarily linens, continue to be strong.

Once considered dainty, these make the leap to modern times with this leaf and vine motif in blue and green on a soft gray backdrop.

From the LeFevre Collection, it can be a quick update in new draperies, throw pillows or bedding in traditional or contemporary homes.

Texture Linen is woven with blends of other fibers such as cotton/ polyester to give them more strength and durability, while still adding visual punch. Available in trend-setting shades like pink, citrus green and burgundy, linen can go anywhere from window treatments to an upholstered sofa.

Indoor/ outdoor Woven fabrics can no longer be contained outside. Water and stain-resistant, these from Alaxi by Sunbrella reflect cutting-edge technology as well as the latest colors: blues, oranges and citrus green to camel and golden yellow. They would look dynamite on a transitional style chair.

Metallic Fabrics get a boost with the magic of metal, whether it’s a totally metallic fabric used for dining room chairs, a ribbon of metallic color as in this brown and orange curving pattern by JF Fabrics or maybe just a metallic thread. This one would work for curtains or pillows in a modern design.

Ashley Wynne, Fabric House

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Sugar Land’s leading designers working together again to beautify every home.

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my life

jaynes billy

stockman

P

eople from all walks of life have always been fascinated by the sport of bull riding, says former bull rider Billy Jaynes.

Who would dare to voluntarily climb on the back of a rough and tumble bucking bull, and be forced to hold on for dear life? Perhaps it’s in your blood. Such is the case with Jaynes, a native Texan who comes from three generations of stockmen and bucking bull riders.

Bull riding stints started in the late 1970s for Jaynes, then a college student and an amateur with the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. From 1980 to 1989, he rode with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“When I quit riding bulls in 1989, I opened my own collection agency business, which was beginning to take off, so I started buying some bulls and horses, and putting on amateur rodeos. In 1994, I purchased a PRCA rodeo stock contractor’s company and began producing PRCA rodeos until 1999 when I sold out.”

This led him to his career as proprietor of Bucks by Design and Exclusive Genetics.

“When my wife and I started our bucking bull company our vision was to help our clients breed prize-winning steer through state-of-the-art genetics.”

Today, he is still co-owner of Exclusive Genetics, but his businesses have morphed into other arenas. Jaynes initiated the Jaynes Gang for training bucking bulls and the Million Dollar Bull Futurity, which gives his clients the chance to own/invest in a bucking bull.

“This is our main gig now and what we are known for,” says Jaynes, admitting that he loves everything about his job. “I walk to work. I can see my family at any hour of the day. I’m making a living doing something I love.”

If success over the years is measured in numbers, he’s got that covered. “The first year in business, we sold about $500,000 in cattle. We’re now selling $1.5 million a year. In 2012, the plan is to have $2.5 to $3 million in sales.”

Ride ‘em cowboy!

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Story | robin barr sussman

Photography | Allen Roberson

treasures

cocktails & conversation.

Collecting Texas Story | reyne haines

Michael Sausley | Bill & Linda Reaves Collection

O

ne of the great aspects of collecting is that there are endless genres of things to collect. Some people enjoy acquiring things from their childhood, while others are into items that relate to a part of their present. Collections can be something you inherit and add to over time or a new hobby you start today.

You don’t have to look past your own backyard to find unique and interesting items to collect. I don’t mean stopping by your local garage sale, but instead collecting things that relate to your city or state. Which in our case, is the great State of Texas, y’all.

Love history, but are limited on space? Consider vintage postcards. You can collect images

of your favorite city, historical landmarks or even advertising images of storefronts no longer in business. Your collection can be kept in a binder and stored on a shelf, or individually framed and hung on the wall as art. Keep in mind, however, that postcards are paper and over the years, can experience damage from improper storage and handling. Collectors tend to covet ones that have never been used, and they vary in price from as little as $1 to as much as a few hundred dollars.

Collecting “militaria” allows men to relive their youth playing Army men. This genre of Texas collecting includes rifles, flags and military uniforms. Military items would work well on

display in a library or gentleman’s office. If you’re more the John Wayne type, rather than G.I. Joe, consider a collection of western-themed items such as vintage saddles, stirrups, belt buckles, horseshoes and holsters.

What great conversation starters these items would make at your weekend ranch.

There is no lack of sports enthusiasts in the great state of Texas. Have you ever considered collecting pendants from your favorite college? Or perhaps programs from football games you attended as a child? In addition to the fun of collecting sports memorabilia, this genre also creates the opportunity to get the family involved. Family members can collect jerseys,

autographs and sports cards from their favorite athletes or team.

One of the more traditional options would be Texas art, which can fall into several categories, such as paintings, drawings and photography. You can also collect works by Texas artists or images of Texas scenes. When traveling out of state, keep your eyes open for works by Texas artists.

They can often be acquired for a fraction of the price you would pay at home. reyne haines Specializing in 20th century decorative arts, Reyne Haines is the host of “The Art of Picking,” a published author and a nationally recognized appraiser. Visit her website at reyne.com.

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21

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belle Joanne king Herring’s legendary life still defies description

Story | Bruce Farr Photography | Mark Lipczynski Makeup | Jennifer Aronson Hair | Roi alan Photo Assistant | Jason Nicolaus

september/october • 2011

23

A

fter a few hours chatting with Joanne Herring, it becomes a little easier to answer the $20 million-question looming over this glamorous Houstonian’s improbable life. That is, how a rich, beautiful, impeccably coiffed society “doyenne” from the Bayou City (one who, mind you, motors around town in a red Jaguar convertible with her beloved pooch Dandy) was able to profoundly influence U.S. Middle Eastern policy and become one of the country’s most unlikely voices on U.S. engagement in that troubled part of the world.

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Texas Lady and, make no mistake, it’s “Lady” with a capital “L.” But despite her larger-thanlife persona, Herring also exudes a deep humility, another reason for her personal magnetism. She laughs openly and easily at herself as she talks about her occasional missteps throughout a life that, purely for its range, defies belief.

Early ‘Rules’ Herring might have been famous enough if she’d merely confined her activities and interests to her native Texas. Her work as a commercial construction contractor alone helped pave a path in then-unheard-of business arenas for women. And there’s also her celebrity as one of the region’s most popular former TV talk show hosts.

But even after crafting a dazzling life and multi-faceted career in and around her beloved Houston, Herring’s interests and ambitions were destined to bring her even greater notoriety on the other side of the world—in the Middle East and particularly Afghanistan—where she’s focused much of her energy since. In fact, it is Herring’s passionate preoccupation with that embattled country that makes her story so compelling.

Personal photos courtesy of Joanne King Herring

About her charm, there is no question: Dignified yet downto-earth, warm and humorous, Herring—now in her early 80s—lights up any room she enters. And, to say the very least, she moves in rather rarefied social circles. Through the years, princes and presidents, celebrities and kings, CEOs and sheiks, diplomats, journalists, politicos and movie stars have all beaten a path to her door. In fact, when we spoke, Herring had just been answering a letter she’d received from Pervez Musharraf, in advance of a trip the beleaguered Pakistani former president was planning to the U.S. and, of course, Houston.

But hobnobbing with the world’s most powerful politicians and heads of state is nothing new for Herring.

It’s all to be taken in a manner of stride, especially when you consider that this quintessential Houston socialite once threw a dinner party for the legendary Winston Churchill himself.

If anything can be said definitively about Herring, it’s that she’s difficult to pigeonhole.

Stateswoman, socialite, business magnate, TV host, political activist, born-again Christian— every one of these descriptors and many more fit this trim, dynamic

september/october • 2011

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Through the years, princes and presidents, celebrities and kings, CEO and sheiks... have all beaten a path to her door.

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Where did it all come from?

“I was raised that way,” says Herring, who grew up Joanne Johnson in Houston’s genteel River Oaks neighborhood.

The daughter of well-to-do Houston businessman Dunlap Johnson and his wife Malean, she was, as a reporter once noted, “…born into a family that valued beauty, charm, good works and good manners.” And, as she describes it, she used those finely honed attributes as a set of tools to make her celebrated way in the world.

“What people don’t understand about Houston— and for that matter most of Texas—is that it was settled by people from the Old South,” she explains. “And, in that part of the country, whether you were black or white, a sharecropper or a governor, you had beautiful manners. It was a part of how you were raised. Those [manners] were imported here to Texas, and they are perhaps the greatest things that you can have in the toolbox of your life.”

Herring’s upbringing was privileged, as she’s the first to admit. As a child, she dreamed of being Scarlett O’Hara, a largerthan-life character she’s been compared to over the years.

“It was a gracious world, and there was always dinner on Sunday and it was always formal,” she fondly recalls of her childhood.

“I remember my mother very strictly teaching me how to eat foods that weren’t commonly served. She taught me how to eat an artichoke and how to peel a pear with a knife and fork, things that later made my entry into international life so much easier, because I already knew what [heads of state and other VIPs] were taught as children.”

To make the opposing point, Herring recounts a story about having dinner in the palace of the Shah of Iran, where she happened to be the guest of honor. The waiters brought caviar to the table as a first course and, Herring says, she was clueless how to properly eat the delicacy.

“As the guest of honor, I was expected to start the meal,” she recalls. “What I was unaware of, though, was that we were supposed to eat the caviar with a small spoon that was among our place settings. I didn’t know that and proceeded to eat it with a fork. So everyone in the room put down this special utensil, followed my lead and picked up a fork!”

Life in the Johnson household was loving, but strict. At 10, she says she was “forced” by her parents to steep herself in all things cultural: music, art and architecture.

“I was expected to learn all these things, and I did,” she says.

“Today, a 10-year-old would probably balk at having to recognize the difference between Chippendale, Sheraton and other furniture styles. I hated it at the time, but later on, I realized how important it was and I thought, ‘Thank goodness, thank you!’”

Powerful Pals Herring’s political connections have always run deep. Statesman and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III is an old River Oaks school chum and frequent dinner companion.

These days, when they get together, they always reminisce about their childhood, Herring says, but the talk inevitably comes around to politics.

“He is such an admired person—by everyone,” she says of her longtime friend. “He has a great wit and he’s lots of fun. He’s the life of the party, but he’s reticent about where he goes because his public life is so demanding.”

She’s flown on Air Force One with President George H.W. Bush, partied with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and clinked glasses with Princess Grace and her husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Business-wise, as well as socially, Herring was always breaking new ground. She became a building contractor when it was simply unheard of for a woman to do such a thing.

“With me, it was always ‘breaking the wave,’” she explains.

“I always had to be the first. I had nothing to base it on—there were no movie roles for the kinds of things I was doing—and I just stumbled into areas where men did not particularly want me.”

Remembering her mother’s early lessons, she learned to use her wit, good breeding and feminine wiles to persuade powerful men to do what she wanted.

“You can’t break the glass ceiling—it’s still there. But what you can do is seep through and around it,” she says.

Being in the limelight didn’t always work out to her advantage, Herring notes. A 1959 photo spread in Life magazine put Herring and Houston on the international map, but not necessarily in a positive way. Her then husband, wealthy Texan Bob King, threw a lavish 30th birthday party for Herring that ended up as a Life feature. The party was themed around a decadent Roman orgy, replete with togas, lavish spreads of food and liquor, and even young men feeding grapes by hand to guests.

She’s still embarrassed about it today, she says. “[The article] was used by other countries as anti-U.S. propaganda,” she says regretfully.

American Patriot Although Herring may have been fairly well known in social and political circles, she was catapulted onto the world stage in 2003, when George Crile’s now famous book, “Charlie Wilson’s War,” hit the shelves. The book recounts Wilson, a Texas congressman, and his successful efforts to secure U.S. federal assistance for Afghani freedom fighters, who, in the 1980s and early 1990s, were waging a pitched battle against the former Soviet Union.

Now deceased, Wilson, a flamboyant, party-loving politician from Trinity, Texas, became convinced of the importance of the Afghani cause

by Herring, who was then his

“Diplomacy & Diamonds: My Wars from the Ballroom to the Battlefield” As fascinating as her life has been, it’s surprising that Joanne Herring has never written a book herself. Until now, that is.

Her magnum opus, “Diplomacy & Diamonds: My Wars from the Ballroom to the Battlefield,” is set to be published this fall by Hatchette, who describes it as “…an inspiring memoir of Texas socialite and political activist Joanne Herring, who continues to use her connections in government, fashion and Hollywood to make an impact on the world and in Afghanistan.”

Ask Herring to describe it and she'll tell you, “It’s a book about a romp through the mid-20th century in the United States, and how life changed and we changed with it.” She adds that it also harks back to her mother’s lessons, to show women how to utilize the tools they’ve acquired to gain influence.

“Even if you happened to have been raised in the ghetto, you can develop leadership skills that can help you become the head of a multi-national company.

And that’s part of what this book will be about.”

Asked about the experience of finally writing her book, Herring responds with her usual candor.

“It’s been a joyous and horrible experience, both!

The main thing is, I have a sense of humor about it. You learn to laugh at yourself and at your critics, and simply walk into tomorrow.”

september/october • 2011

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close friend and romantic interest.

Herring had always maintained a fierce, fundamental hatred of communism and, over time, had developed an impressive grasp of policy and an understanding of how diplomacy works in that part of the world.

And, as Wilson often explained to anyone that asked, Herring was a force to be reckoned with. As he and countless others discovered, she may have been glamorous, but she also was tough and very smart.

“I became concerned about communism because it didn’t work,” she says. “It was the Robin Hood story gone wrong. There were no fences to keep people out of those countries that embraced communism; there were fences to keep them in. Obviously, this form of government didn’t work. As I saw it spread around the world, I became alarmed, particularly when it came into our hemisphere, in Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador and, of course, Cuba.”

Her interest in the Middle East and Afghanistan was more than that of a mere armchair observer.

“I became the consul general of Pakistan and was ultimately made an ambassador,” she states. “I was studying that part of the world, and I couldn’t understand why [the Russians] wanted Afghanistan. And then I saw the Straits of Hormuz and I realized that that was it.

I realized that this was the lifeline of the U.S. economy, and that a million barrels of oil pass through that waterway on a daily basis.

So I said, ‘Oh, this is their objective, and they have to be stopped here.’”

In 1980, a few months after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Herring smuggled herself into that war-torn region and, at great personal risk, became encamped with the Afghani freedom fighters—the “Mujahedeen”—to gain a better understanding of their struggle against the Russians. At one point during the trip, she barely survived a helicopter attack

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really knew the story until George Crile wrote the book, and then people…told me they couldn’t believe it. Just to think that two people of no importance in Texas could go out and make a little crack in the wall of communism… well, it’s simply because we didn’t quit. We took what few tools we had and tried to use them judiciously. I entertained and Charlie did his business with the Senate. But the most exciting thing—the most wonderful thing—for me is that, ultimately both sides of the aisle came together and cared enough about their country to get this done, and get it done without grabbing a television mic every night.”

As a child, [Herring] dreamed of being Scarlett O’Hara, a larger-thanlife character she’s been compared to over the years. while she and her team were filming a battle between Afghan Mujahedeen and Soviet soldiers.

Unwitting Celebrity As most Americans are now aware, the Crile book was picked up and made into a movie by

famed Hollywood director Mike Nichols. Tom Hanks played the part of Wilson and Julia Roberts portrayed Herring. The film was a significant critical and commercial success.

“My life changed hugely after that,” Herring says. “No one

Still an Activist Herring’s life today, at 82, is no less active. She still lives in Houston, in a lavish condo, once again in the tony River Oaks section of town. Her day begins very early.

“I walk up 20 flights of stairs and do Pilates to stay fit,” she says.

She may have given up hosting the lavish, decadent parties of her past, but they have been replaced with her unwavering support for a variety of philanthropic causes, one of them related to helping the Afghan people gain the means to a better life. The Marshall Plan Charities is a nonprofit Herring founded to support the redevelopment of Afghanistan by providing villages with clean water, sustainable food sources, basic health care, modern schools and jobs. And she’s in demand.

“I’m asked by every organization on the face of the earth to speak, but it’s impossible,” she says. “I don’t want it, but I could attend a luncheon or dinner every night.

It’s too time-consuming, so I think very carefully about where I go and what I do.”

As if to prove the point, at the end of a conversation, Herring tells an interviewer that she is about about to get on the phone with Musharraf.

“I have his cell number, which makes it easy,” she says, beginning to dial.

Story | Dave O. Dodge & Michelle Jacoby

Think you know Texas? Think again. The Lone Star state is deeply immersed in American pop culture, from TV and films to music, sports and fashion. To test your knowledge on the state we all know and love, try your hand at our quick and not-so-easy quiz. Pencils ready? Let’s begin.

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take the

quiz 1

Kingsville, Texas is home to the King Ranch, the largest ranch in the United States.

Which of the following states is the ranch larger than?

A. Rhode Island

C. Hawaii

B. Delaware

D. New Hampshire

2

Who shot J.R.?

A. Sue Ellen Ewing B. Kristin Shepard C. Eleanor “Miss Ellie” Ewing D. Cliff Barnes

3 Bob Merlis For Hire | Dr. Pepper Snapple

Which legendary fashion mecca opened its first location in Dallas in 1907?

A. Macy’s B. Bloomingdale’s C. Neiman Marcus D. Nordstrom

4

At which corner drugstore did Texans get their first taste of Dr Pepper?

A. Morrison Old Corner Drug Store, Waco B. Star Drug Store, Galveston C. Highland Park Pharmacy, Dallas D. City Drug Co., Jefferson

5

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s swearing in on Nov. 22, 1963, was momentous for two reasons. He was the only president to:

A. Take the oath on an airplane.

B. Have the presidential inauguration televised for the first time.

C. Have the oath administered by a woman.

D. Be transported in a bulletproof, closed limousine.

6

Which film shot in Texas did not win an Academy Award?

A. “No Country for Old Men” B. “Giant” C. “Blood Simple” D. “The Last Picture Show”

7

The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden has more than _____ rose bushes, making it the nation’s largest rose garden.

A. 17,000 B. 22,000 C. 38,000 D. 54,000

8

Before officially being named the Cowboys before the 1960 NFL season, what two names was the Dallas team known as?

A. Bulls C. Rangers

B. Steers D. Wranglers

9

What is the Texas state insect?

A. Ladybug

B. Monarch butterfly

C. Dragonfly

D. Grasshopper

10

Which Texas musician has performed on “Austin City Limits” the most times? (Hint: See page 15)

A. Lyle Lovett B. Willie Nelson C. ZZ Top D. Stevie Ray Vaughan

11

After Neil Armstrong said the infamous words, “Houston…the Eagle has landed” on the Apollo 11 mission, what was mission control’s response?

A. “It’s about time!”

B. “You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue...”

C. “We will support you anytime.”

D. “Good luck and Godspeed.”

september/october • 2011

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C Neiman Marcus, darlin’.

answers Hey! No peeking!

A At a whopping 825,000 acres, the King Ranch covers an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.

Being the largest state in the lower 48 brings its share of bragging rights, including boasting the largest ranch in the entire country. Located in Kingsville, outside of Corpus Christi, the legendary King Ranch began in the mid-1800s, when Captain Richard King fell captivated with the region known as Wild Horse Desert. He and his business partner Gideon “Legs” Lewis purchased 15,500 acres of Mexican land grant, which would eventually grow to become the legendary King Ranch. Here’s another interesting tidbit: Texas could fit the state of Rhode Island 220 times within its borders.

A Dr Pepper was first served at the Morrison Old Corner Drug Store in Waco.

Like chocolate chip cookies, other recipes have found their way into Texas culture.

Preceding Coca-Cola by one year in 1885, Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton gave Texans their first heavenly sip of Dr Pepper at the Morrison Old Corner Drug Store in Waco. Marketed at the time as a brain tonic, this energizing pick-me-up was known for the “pep” it gave to its users.

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Because Texans know fashions as well as they know oil, it should come as no surprise that Texas has the privilege of being home to the worldrenowned Neiman Marcus department store. Founded in 1907 by Herbert Marcus, Carrie Marcus Neiman and her husband Al Neiman, this trio of tastemakers catered to the state’s newly wealthy ranchers. The flagship store in Dallas boasted the first weekly fashion shows in the country and began selling menswear in 1929. It also paid tribute to 100 years of Texas fashions by honoring the centennial of independence from Mexico in 1936. Today, Neiman Marcus ranks as the top luxury store in the world with an international following, Texas-size Christmas catalogs and even an urban legend centered on their famous chocolate chip cookies. See prime-living.com for the famous recipe.

25,883,990

Number of Texas State Residents

5

A & C Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to have the presidential oath administered on an airplane and by a woman.

The oath was taken on Air Force One, a Boeing 707, at Love Field in Dallas by Sarah T. Hughes, U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Texas. And although his oath wasn’t the first to be televised, he was the first president-elect to ride to the inauguration in a bulletproof, closed limousine—but not until his second inauguration on Jan. 20, 1965.

Neiman Marcus | LBJ Library Photo by Cecil Stoughton | Dr. Pepper Snapple

see the

B Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s scheming sister-in-law and mistress.

What the Alamo did for the solidarity of freedom from Mexico, “Who shot J.R.?” united the world with the ultimate whodunit in 1980. The question was finally answered in the first episode of season four, when it was revealed that Kristin shot J.R. in a fit of anger. J.R., however, did not press charges due to Kristin’s claims of being pregnant with his child. For 13 years, “Dallas” was how the world saw life in Texas. With its oil barons, longhorn cattle, largerthan-life hairstyles and over-the-top fashions, the world it created was of money, greed, sex and, not to mention, a lot of fun on a Sunday night.

relive the moment

San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau

With an estimated 83 million viewers, it was, at the time, the highest-rated TV episode in U.S. history.

“Who Done It?” now sits third on the list, following the final episode of “M*A*S*H” and Super Bowl XLIV. Scan this code to relive the moment when we all learned the identity of the person “who shot J.R.”

254 Number of Counties in the State of Texas (Top in the U.S. States)

september/october • 2011

33

B & C The Steers and Rangers.

C “Blood Simple,” the 1984 neo-noir crime film directed

by Joel and Ethan Coen.

Hollywood has had a love affair like no other with the Lone Star state. From cinema masterpieces “Giant” and “The Last Picture Show,” to the slasher classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” the film industry portrays life in Texas with true grit. And while many of these famous Texas flicks have been honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, many have not. Case in point, the Coen brothers’ directorial debut about a wealthy, but jealous man, who hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife. The film did garner top awards at the Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay.

When Dallas was awarded the NFL franchise in 1960, the team’s owners selected the Dallas Steers as the team name. General manager Tex Schramm, however, decided against having a castrated cow as the team mascot, which would surely draw jeers from teams around the league. So Schramm and owner Clint Murchison decided on the Dallas Rangers, named after the renowned lawmen, the Texas Rangers.

However, there was a minor league baseball team by the same name and it was back to the drawing board.

Murchison finally came up with the Cowboys and football history was made.

268,601 Square Miles

8 200 10

B Monarch butterfly.

Known for its stunning yellow and black colors, the Monarch butterfly became the Texas state insect by a 1995 resolution of the state legislature.

Number of Musical Venues in Austin

After performing on the ACL stage for the first time in 1975, Willie Nelson has gone on to perform 15 more times, including shows with Asleep at the Wheel and Kris Kristofferson.

C The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden has more than 38,000 rose bushes.

Located in Tyler, this 14-acre park is a rose-lover’s dream. With more than 38,000 bushes of at least 500 different varieties, it’s no wonder the garden is site of the annual Texas Rose Festival, an annual event that’s been held since 1933.

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Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau | Shockinc.com/Elaine Shock Inc.

B The man himself, Willie Nelson.

B “You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we’re breathing again.”

As perfect as the moon landing appeared, Apollo 11 actually encountered a slight glitch. Neil Armstrong improvised the landing by manually piloting the ship past an area littered with boulders. During the final seconds of the descent, Eagle’s computer began sounding alarms. As it turned out, it was a simple case of the computer trying to do too much at once, but it certainly gave the guys at mission control quite a scare.

The support provided by the Apollo Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake was critical to the success of the mission. It exercised full control of the flight of Apollo 11, from the time of liftoff from Launch Complex 39 at the Kennedy Space Center to the time of splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Apollo 11 Mission

nasa

119 Division 1 College Football Teams

september/october • 2011

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connoisseur

the prime living guide to discerning taste

inside: Revolver, Spindletop

38 40 42 44 46

• • • • •

Main Dish | La Favorita Small Bites | Good Eats Table Talk | Dining News Uncorked | Lone Star Libations Entertain | Spook-tacular!

september/october • 2011

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connoisseur main dish

favorita Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark Lipczynski

When Alex Padilla, corporate chef of Legacy Restaurants, was asked to take the helm at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation six years ago, his plan was to update the legendary TexMex fare, but stay true to its roots.

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and white rice. Take a bite with just a dollop of sour cream and watch your taste buds explode with delight. Ditto with the Navigation Famous Shrimp Diablo, plump shrimp wrapped with bacon and then stuffed with cheese and jalapeno. It’s smoky, delightfully spicy and delicious.

For something more traditional, you can opt for any of the fajitas. But do yourself a favor and make sure you add a quail or two, because that little bird is wonderfully grilled and packed with a flavor that will make you go, “Oh, yeah!”

Dessert at Ninfa’s on Navigation is a shared event.

The tres leches is sublime, but it arrives in a portion big enough for four. The same holds true for the flan, that marvelous Mexican custard. It’s topped with a caramel sauce and whipped cream, making for a sweet ending that is pure comfort food.

The menu seamlessly blends the old favorites and Padilla’s newer fare. And the subtle changes he’s made to freshen up the signature dishes offer exquisite flavor and familiar feeling.

“With all the changes we’ve made, we still have Mama Ninfa’s heart at the center of it all,” says Padilla. “That’s one thing we’ll never let go.”

ninfa’s on navigation 2704 navigation blvd.

713-228-1175 mamaninfas.com

Debora Smail

la

“What I basically did was take out the lard that was used and I began using olive oils and kosher salt. We also began using fresher, local ingredients,” he says.

The result was initially met with raised eyebrows. But now, just over half a decade later, diners are on board with the changes.

Walk into the dining room in the rambling, low-ceilinged building east of downtown, and you’ll find tables crowded with friends sharing dishes, raising margarita glasses and enjoying Padilla’s kicked-up fare.

Begin with the ceviche, one of his newly added items. If any dish showcases Padilla’s commitment to fresh ingredients, this is it. The blend of Gulf Coast shrimp and red snapper, tomatoes and avocado, with a little jalapeno for a kick, is the perfect start to your meal. Add a squeeze of lime and you’ll think you’re dining beachside.

The Queso Flameado is beloved by many. Your server will take the gooey cheese casserole laced with chorizo and fill a homemade tortilla with it tableside. Also worth considering is the Caldo Xochitl (so-cheel soup) made with shredded chicken, avocado and pico de gallo. It’s richly textured and stunningly flavored—a meal all by itself.

The Cochinita Pibil entrée is a treat. “It’s a traditional Yucaran dish,” explains Padilla. “You roast pork in banana leaves for hours and serve it with pickles in a deconstructed taco.”

His Ninfa’s version arrives with pickled onions, plantains

connoisseur main dish

Queso Flameado

Navigation Seafood Ceviche 12 oz. red snapper fillet 12 oz. shrimp, peeled & de-veined Salted ice water 1-1/2 lbs. fresh lemon, juiced 3/4 lbs. fresh lime, juiced 1/2 cup jalapenos, seeded, halved 1/4 cup cilantro, minced 1 cup olive oil

Fajitas

Queso Flameado

1/2 tbsp. hot sauce 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1/2 cup red onion Kosher salt 1 avocado, cut into cubes for garnish Cut snapper into 1/2-inch chunks and slice shrimp lengthwise.

Place in a non-reactive bowl and cover the seafood in salted ice water bath for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse with fresh water.

In a non-reactive bowl, coat seafood with the lemon and lime juices, folding the seafood gently until evenly covered. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 9 hours or overnight. Strain the seafood and give it a quick rinse with water. Add remaining ingredients and gently fold until evenly distributed. Add kosher salt to taste. Garnish with cubed avocado. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Tres leches

Margarita

september/october • 2011

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connoisseur

small bites

effortless elegance

French Martini, Brasserie 19

good eats Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark Lipczynski

For a new take on the well-rounded meal, table-hop these Houston eateries for some of the best tastes in town.

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It would be easy to assume that Brasserie 19, the white-hued, upscale experience recently opened in the River Oaks Shopping Center, is the sort of place you’d save for special occasions. But its neighborhood vibe and easy atmosphere belie its sophisticated charm.

Here you’ll find classic French and Belgian brasserie fare, a friendly staff and the city’s most high-tech wine list laid out on an iPad, where you can see wine labels, read tasting notes and even select your glass or bottle by price and region.

Most of all you’ll find the Local Chevre Ravioli. This is one not to miss. The ravioli are handmade from dough of fine Italian flour, cut in-house and stuffed with goat cheese courtesy of the Houston Dairymaids, known by foodies for their artisan selections from local farms. The beets and local greens that accompany the fat, stuffed pasta bring an earthy loveliness to the salty tang of the cheese. And the hazelnut accents bring a gentle sweet zing. Paired with a glass of the 2009 Chateau Simone Cotes de Provence “Palette” rose, the effect approaches ambrosia.

Brasserie 19 is more than an eatery; it’s an experience—one to savor over and over again. brasserie 19 1962 w. gray 713-524-1919 brasserie19.com

c connoisseur

Favorite Flavors

If Brasserie 19 exudes an effortless elegance, the new Up Restaurant simply oozes an air befitting its Highland Village locale. With a third-floor location that’s poised to offer diners a view of bustling Westheimer awash with designer shops and spruce high-rise offices, Up is a place where a casual menu comes with a sophisticated scene. After 4 p.m., gentlemen must wear collared shirts and slacks, women never sport baseball caps and the dress code is strictly enforced.

In a dining room decked out in blonde woods and beautiful large potted palms, you can choose from an array of items on a menu inspired by the owners’ travels around the world.

Flavors from Asia and Italy sit side by side with treats laced with Gulf Coast and Spanish accents.

For a taste of Texas, order the Thrice Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs. This is a big, rich dish isn’t for the faint of heart. The ribs are grilled and then slowly braised before being finished in a Bordelaise sauce. The result is a well-flavored entrée, the sauce clinging to the threads of fork-tender beef.

While the beef is the start of the show, the vegetable accompaniments provide dazzling support. Turnips that are firm and flavorful, carrots that have just the barest hint of sweetness, and creamy mashed Yukon gold potatoes make for great comfort food. Add a glass of Evening Land Pinot Noir, with its wonderfully woody, earthy notes laced through with bright black fruit, and you’ll see how comfort food and elegance can easily co-exist. up restaurant 3995 westheimer • 713-640-5416 • uprestaurant.com

small bites

Sweet Ending

When you think of restaurants with a view, the first things that come to mind might be something by the water’s edge overlooking a sunset and sailboats, or possibly somewhere cozier, where you can gaze out on lovely gardens.

But selecting one of those means missing out on Houston’s best view of all: the panorama that can only be enjoyed from Spindletop, the revolving restaurant on the top floor of downtown’s Hyatt Regency Houston. At this tony hotspot, your dinner comes with watching the expanse of the city spread out before your eyes. It’s a little like having dinner in CinemaScope.

Your experience isn’t complete, however, without sampling the Chilled Chocolate Soufflé, Spindletop’s signature dessert. At press time, Spindletop had served nearly 1,000 of these little beauties since January.

This sweet ending offers several layers of enjoyable decadence.

At the dessert’s center is a crispy short bread cookie, topped with velvety chocolate mousse and coated with chocolate ganache.

Dropped gently on top are sugared rose petal candies, a surprising stunner of flavor. The creation of pastry chef Regina Martinez, the soufflé arrives with a raspberry sauce and fresh berries. Together the tastes and textures complement each other, offering delightful mouthful after mouthful.

Spindletop is named for the oil field in Beaumont that started Texas’ oil boom, when a well there struck back in 1901. It would eventually produce more than 100,000 barrels a day and helped chart Texas’s dominance in the oil and energy industry. It’s fitting, then, that a dinner here lets you see the whole of Houston, the historic buildings of the city’s past and the futuristic skyrises. Savor that view with this chocolate soufflé like no other. spindletop • hyatt regency houston 1200 louisiana st.

713-375 4775 hyattregencyhouston.com

september/october • 2011

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connoisseur table talk

Gridiron Gourmet

It’s been 30 years since former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini dished out winning touchdowns on the football field, but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t have something cooking. The sports star has set his sights on creating a win in the kitchen, thanks to his new seasoning, perfect for the at-home, gourmet chef.

After making its debut at the 2011 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Dan Pastorini’s Texas Style Rub has become a hit with Texasstyle grillers. The kicked up concoction is made with premium spices, is gluten-free and contains no MSG. It’s great for grilled chicken, burgers, fish, steak and ribs, as well as eggs, a salad, popcorn, pasta and baked potatoes.

The rub is available at Houston-area Food Town grocery stores. Visit dpqualityfoods.com for more information.

Tall Texan

Declare your independence from imported vodka!

That’s the mantra of new Cinco Vodka based in San Antonio. The company differentiates itself by the use of amber wheat as opposed to traditional corn in the distilling process, and by using water naturally filtered through the local Edwards Aquifer.

Cinco is branded as the Martini Lover’s Vodka and has quickly found its way onto the shelves of numerous liquor stores, bars and country clubs in Texas. Cinco is also a looker—tall and handsome with westernstyle etching and five red stars on the front and embossed on the sides. It’s a keepsake for any lover of Texas. cincovodka.com.

Phoenicia Rising

Foodie haven Phoenicia Specialty Foods and MKT Bar will open downtown any day now on the ground floor of One Park Place. The wine and beer bar with an industrialspare atmosphere is located on the corner of Austin St. between McKinney and Lamar alongside Phoenicia, which is stocked with signature favorites like quality meats and cheeses, exotic seafood flown in daily, gourmet gelatos and prepared meals.

But wait, there’s more. Grab a bite from the sandwich station, salad bar, a fresh pizza corner, a coffee bar, and a bakery with desserts and breads prepared daily

by European and Mediterranean chefs. 1001 Austin St., 281-5588225, phoeniciafoods.com.

Side Sips Wine events you don’t want to miss

Only the best will do

Sept. 13 is the Best Cellars Celebrity Dinner, benefiting The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The event, which began more than 10 years ago in Nashville, pairs Best Sellers (entertainment and music celebrities) with Best Cellars (top wine collectors).

Chef Robert Del Grande of Houston and chef Dean Fearing of Dallas will prepare an extraordinary four-course meal and perform an after dinner concert with their band, The Barbwires. bestcellarsdinners.com.

California is calling

Popular TV personality Cat Cora is the featured chef at the Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast 2011 event, Sept.

29 to Oct. 2. Chef Cora will present a seminar on cooking with local, seasonal ingredients during the Main Event at the Santa Margarita Ranch and will be in attendance at the Paso Glow on Oct. 1. Additionally, there will be an exclusive reception at the Central Coast’s crown jewel, Hearst Castle, and a Sunset 2011 Western Wine Awards Gala, along with wine seminars, lunches and dinners at various venues throughout San Luis Obispo County.

More than 7,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event and relish the beauty, bounty and flavor of this unspoiled region. For the full schedule and tickets, visit savorcentralcoast.com.

Hotspot on the Horizon

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Hello & Goodbye

The latest restaurants to join and leave the Houston dining scene

Openings Down House Arturo Boada Cuisine Christian’s Tailgate, Heights

Joe’s Crab Shack, Pier 19, Galveston Closings 11th St. Café Patu’s Thai Village

Cinco Vodka | sbe Entertainment

Hollywood’s sushi and celebrity haunt Katsuya by S+ARCK is coming to the heart of River Oaks at West Ave. this fall. Combining a sexy design by Philippe Stark with master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi’s innovative award-winning menu, the restaurant’s sleek bento-box inspired surroundings with oversized backlit images of Geishas are ideally suited for the discerning, cuttingedge Houston diner.

Katsuya by S+ARCK’s Robata-style cuisine lends itself well to groups and families looking for an engaging and interactive dining experience seated around the Japanese charcoal grill. In addition to the robata featuring grilled vegetables, prime steak or seafood, expect a full roster of sushi specialties.

Magical Setting

Exceptional

Experiences

Tall Texan

U

niquely situated on the banks of Oak Creek in Sedona’s magnificent Red Rock country, L’Auberge de Sedona is a place where magical moments happen. Dine on our creekside patio under the cool canopy of sycamore trees. Take a private outdoor shower under the starry night sky. Our staff will take every opportunity to delight you. Quite simply, this is a hotel experience unlike any other.

Conde’ Nast Gold List 2011 • Travel + Leisure World’s Best 2011 Contact your Virtuoso Travel Specialist to reserve your stay and enjoy exclusive benefits including daily resort credits. www.virtuoso.com

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/laubergedesedona

Find us on Twitter twitter.com/laubergesedona

301 L’Auberge Lane • Sedona, AZ 86336 • Phone 1-800-905-5745 • lauberge.com

connoisseur uncorked

Lone Star Story | John DeMers

F

libations

or the longest time, Texas wasn’t a very “spirited” place, except, of course, for the usual moonshiners and bootleggers.

Beer, sure. We’ve always had that covered.

And beginning in the 1980s, Texas got serious about making wine for the first time since Franciscan padres first started planting grapes.

Today, though, entrepreneurs across the Lone Star state are distilling such alcoholic wonders as vodka, rum and, of course, tequila and selling enough of it to find themselves taken seriously.

“I visited 20 distilleries in Jalisco,” says Houston-based Stewart Skloss, whose upstart tequila called Pura Vida is made in that Mexican state (as it must be to bill itself as tequila) and is initially available only in Texas. “I took my favorite vodka, my favorite bourbon and my favorite cognac and asked, ‘How do we get these flavor profiles?’ ”

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Skloss’ Pura Vida silver, gold and anejo tequilas are now finding their way into more upscale spirits retailers and bars across the state. They, along with the partnership in the Jalisco highlands that makes them possible, represent a fulfillment of a dream going back to the 1980s, when Skloss enjoyed his first shot of tequila at the Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo.

By general agreement, the pioneer of the modern Texas spirits industry (the one that’s legal, in other words) was the appropriately surnamed Tito Beveridge in Austin, who plowed his way through mountains of Bible Belt red tape to launch Tito’s Handmade Vodka in 1997. Even once he held the legal papers and the bottles of vodka, he had to invent distribution and marketing one day at a time. Beveridge used to park his old pickup truck outside liquor stores and virtually

John DeMers Covering food and wine in 136 countries for more than 25 years, John DeMers hosts “Delicious Mischief” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH. He recently released Marfa Rocks, the second West Texas mystery novel in his Chef Brett series. His latest book is Lone Star Chefs.

Jack Thompson

New Tejas Treaty, Benjy’s

tackle folks to make them taste. Once they had, enough of them went into the store and bought a bottle of Tito’s that today the company is a huge success.

One of the Texans hoping for a piece of this newly enlarged pie is Chad Auler of Savvy Vodka, also based in Austin. Auler grew up around Texas wines; his parents Ed and Susan were pioneers in the industry with their Fall Creek Vineyards. As the younger generation, though, Chad wanted in on the cocktails he saw all his hip friends knocking back in lounges.

Since all vodkas, by law, are “neutral grain spirits” blended with water (and should therefore taste pretty much alike), Chad Auler concentrates his energies on Savvy’s column still, his proprietary filtration system and on letting people know the water he uses comes from the place Fall Creek splashes into Lake Buchanan.

And it’s not just homegrown tequilas and vodkas making a splash across Texas. Rum is quickly becoming a hot product, especially with bartenders and mixologists. Benjy’s, for instance, has created the New Tejas Treaty, made with Treaty Oak Rum and Paula’s Orange Liqueur, both made in Austin.

One of the more surprising success stories comes from down south in San Leon, where Matt and Kelly Railean started channeling their inner “pirates of the Caribbean” and created an excellent Texas rum. At first, in late 2007, Railean Rum was limited to the white, clear stuff, perfect from rum punches, pina coladas and other tropical drinks. Along the way, they’ve added a dark variation that’s aged in oak barrels, which should appeal to rum sippers everywhere. And they’ve even added an “almost” tequila or a tequila-inspired spirit.

Because it’s not made in Jalisco, they say only that it’s made in Texas from 100 percent blue agave (which is grown in Jalisco) and marketed as El Perico.

“So many spirits are mass produced in other countries,” says Kelly Railean. “Many are loaded with color, sugar, flavors and all sorts of artificial stuff. There’s a movement to eat and drink local, and to support local, domestic, small businesses. I’m proud and glad to be part of that movement.”

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connoisseur

entertain

Spooktacular!

Styling | syma levy Photography | Mark Lipczynski

Photo Assistant | Jason Nicolaus

Ghosts and goblins and monsters, oh my! If you’re planning a Halloween soiree of gothic proportions this year, thrill your guests with a vast array of ghoulish goodies, from frighteningly scrumptious bites to table décor you’ll simply “die” for.

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tiny bites

Get the party started with these deliciously fun appetizers made with bite-size waffle cones filled with gourmet fillings.

connoisseur

entertain

owl-ing for more

Tempt your guests with a tray of sweet treats and owl-themed cupcakes. They’re a real hoot!

spider-licious

A run-of-the-mill melon is transformed into a stunning piece of art thanks to this creative spider-themed fruit carving.

stare down

Be careful where you reach! This diligent skull keeps close watch over a selection of bright and refreshing soup “shooters.”

head over squeals

night lights

Set the mood with these delicate hanging candle votives laced with a string of candy corn.

The Goods

No Halloween party, of course, would be complete without a decapitated head centerpiece.

Add an eyeball truffle for a fun finishing touch.

event planning & styling Theme development and execution by Oulala! What an Event. 713-855-8755, oulalaevents.com

venue

oh, what a spread

Hotel Icon, 220 Main St. 713-2244266, hotelicon.com

Take your menu to the next level with a selection of appetizers with a twist. Case in point, this savory salmon dish topped with spicy hot Cheetos.

food & beverage

Menu development, food and fruit carvings by Chef Smirnov Catering. 713-838-2433, chefsmirnov.com

decor

witch’s brew

grate time

Send your guests home with fanciful parting gifts, such as a mini cheese grater all tied up in a pretty bow or unique Halloweenthemed truffles.

Serve up a Halloween concoction spilling over with fun and flavor.

Cups and napkins, owl cupcakes, needlepoint Halloween collection and party favors by Oulala! What an Event.

tableware

Linens and Chiavari chairs bar stools by Oulala! What an Event.

truffles

Halloween truffles by Sessy’s Sweets. 281-250-7886, sessyssweets.com

september/october • 2011

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gentlemen’s room

For the man who commands the very best

inside: Rolls-Royce Ghost

50 52 54 55

• • • •

Man Cave | Garage Mahal Driver's Seat | Spirit of Ecstasy High-Tech | High-Tech Texas Great Outdoors | Country Livin’

september/october • 2011

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gentlemen’s room man cave

Coca-Cola themed bar with coke bottle stools and working antique cooler

garage

mahal

Camaro SS parked in garage with bank facade, license plate ceiling

Jet fighter simulator

Story | Don Armstrong

Couch made from the back end of a 1957 Cadillac

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“fun houses” for (allegedly) grown-up guys.

Bierman’s own fanciful and hopelessly cool man cave makes a great case study for showing what’s possible by following up on your ideas, planning and setting aside some “building” funds.

Like many homeowners, Bierman started with a twocar garage. He extended the garage, adding on a party and game room at the back so that his car, a collectible 700-horse Ford GT, and wife Doreen’s modified 2010 Camaro SS are parked in tandem. This arrangement allows interesting

items to be displayed off to the side, such as a 1946 Ford police car he cut in half lengthwise and attached to the side wall.

With working police lights and siren, the black-and-white cop car serves as an arresting storage closet.

He also has roughly 400 square feet of vintage automotive signs, many of them neon. Completing the car theme are nearly 500 vanity license plates, all from Texas and all embossed. And while none bear a personal name, most have personality.

To separate and insulate the “car barn” from the game and party room, Bierman used a bank counter and door as an interior wall. Stepping through the former bank manager’s office doorway (now bearing Bierman’s name in gold leaf lettering) takes you to a perfect place to chill out. A restored Coca-Cola soda fountain, a killer sound system, disco light projectors and a couch he made from the back end of a 1957 Cadillac (including the famous fins) and a real military ejection-seat flight simulator.

What makes this all more

than just eye candy is that Bierman has the know-how to make practically anything, no matter how old or sourced from junkyards, operate by remote control.

That, boys and girls, is what makes this man cave, man heaven.

The Pros Know When Craig Bierman and his wife Doreen, both of whom run Entertainment Room Designers, get the chance to come up with a room that’s bursting with personality and fun, they like to sit down with the client and grill them for revealing details—even as arcane as “the kind of motor oil they use,” says Craig. The results can be jaw-dropping rooms and, in some cases, museum-like sanctuaries and showcases for people like auto retailer Sterling McCall and magician David Copperfield.

Craig Bierman, Entertainment Room Designers

C

raig Bierman was a little boy when he set out to create his first man cave.

Wanting to build a “secret room,” he took dry wall down to his parents’ basement and went to work, using a wood saw and leaving a powdery mess behind. But the lad was a quick study and in the seventh grade, a desk he crafted in woodshop earned him an Indiana state championship.

Today, the gear head, guitar collector and former speed shop owner makes a living doing chrome, gold and nickel plating, as well as helping others create

ENJOY TOGETHER RESPONSIBLY. Bacardi.com ©2011 BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS AND THE ARCTIC GRAPE DEVICE IS A TRADEMARK OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED. BACARDI U.S.A., INC., CORAL GABLES, FL. RUM SPECIALTY – 35% ALC. BY VOL. ALL OTHER MARKS ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

gentlemen’s room driver's seat

spirit of

ecstasy

Story | Don Armstrong

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As you would imagine, paint is as perfect as the world allows. An optional, contrasting silver satin finish for the hood, grille and windshield surround is a must for the discriminating owner. Words alone can’t convey what this RR touch does to the senses.

Despite its almost 3-ton heft, our test run down Memorial Drive demonstrated the Ghost’s nimbleness.

A new air suspension system is so sensitive, it can detect even the smallest of changes.

For example, it will sense the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other and compensate accordingly. A complex computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car; the dampers alone make individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds. This isn’t your granddad’s “floater” Oldsmobile.

Inside, there are elegant, frosted lamps and chrome door handles, traditional violin key switches and eyeball air vents, frosted white dials and refined instrumentation. Deep-pile

carpets can be complemented by optional lamb’s wool floor mats.

Rear doors are traditional, rear-hinged coach doors, opening to a generous 83 degrees. Once the passenger is inside, these doors can be closed at the touch of a button. The informal rear seating arrangement incorporates a slight curve, allowing you to turn more easily toward the person next to you. A cool box with interior illumination and integrated champagne glasses are also available.

Picnic tables are another option. Fitted to the rear of each front seat, these tables are finished with a veneered surface with leather-covered backs.

Enhancing the ambience is an audio system that boasts a 10-channel amplifier and 16 speakers, including two floormounted subwoofers.

Ghost is powered by a brand new, 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 563 horsepower—enough to propel it from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Connected to an eightspeed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels, the

combination delivers an amazing 20.8 mpg.

You’ve seen Rolls classics at car shows and raced past them to see the sexier Ferraris or your favorite muscle car from the ’60s. Now, maturity and an appreciation for the finer things in life have lured you to stop, take a closer look and investigate further. Perhaps the time has come to actually experience the Spirit of Ecstasy from the driver’s seat. Ghost pricing begins at $246,500.

don armstrong Don is co-host of the popular weekly radio show “In Wheel Time,” broadcast on AM 1070 KNTH on Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and streaming on the web at InWheelTime.com. He is also a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Rolls- Royce Motor Cars Limited

F

or more than 100 years, Rolls-Royce has been the luxury marquee of the motoring world and today, it continues to impress even the most novel admirer.

A recent visit to Post Oak Motorcars revealed a stunning array of automotive finery including the Ghost, the entrylevel saloon from Rolls-Royce.

Ghost is built by 60 pairs of hands involving more than 2,000 individual operations and takes at least 20 days to complete.

Ghost’s flowing lines are dominated by its majestic Yacht Line styling. The upwardsweeping sill line and low-cut roof create a powerful profile, almost as though the cabin has been pushed toward the rear.

There is no mistaking the Ghost for anything other than a Rolls.

gentlemen’s room high-tech

high-tech W

texas

hen I created my moniker 10 years ago, my goal was to let readers, radio listeners and TV viewers know that I’m from the great state of Texas while I dispersed information and recommendations about tech products from all over the world.

Back then, there were a handful of Texas-based technology companies, but not enough to fill a magazine column or a radio show.

Today, the Lone Star state boasts thousands of high-tech companies and is trying to attract more via the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. This $200 million initiative was created by the Texas legislature in 2005 at the governor’s request and has allocated funds to more than 130 early-stage companies.

Many of the products that consumers and businesses use come from the smart and innovative folks right here in our state. You may want to call it tech-y’all-ology.

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Launched in 2008, U-verse includes fiber optic technology and computer networking to allow for digital TV, superfast Internet and phone service.

Users can access more than 160 HD channels and use a Total Home DVR. You can record and playback up to four shows at once from a single DVR and watch them from any TV using a U-verse receiver.

AT&T U-verse

DLP projectors

Originally based in San Antonio, but now operating from its Dallas headquarters, AT&T is one of the most recognized brands in the world. They continue to innovate as communication services change. No longer just offering telephone dial tone, they are leaders in wireless and data services, and now deliver video to rival traditional cable companies.

The technology of Digital Light Processing (DLP) was originally developed in 1987 by Dallas-based Texas Instruments.

Found in many TV monitors and considerably less expensive than plasma and LCD screens, the DLP chipset is also used in cinema projectors and high-end home projectors.

Texas Instruments licenses the DLP technology to several manufacturers including Sharp, Panasonic, Optoma and Samsung. One of the best home theater projectors on the market is the BenQ W6000 DLP. This model offers a high-end resolution of 1920x1080 and an image brightness of 2500 lumens.

Retailing around $2,000, you can be guaranteed to watch incredible HD and Blu-ray video while thanking the smart engineers from Texas Instruments.

Buffalo Technology LinkStation Pro-Quad With offices in Japan, Germany and Taiwan, Buffalo Inc. calls good ‘ol Austin its home. The company is a leading provider of networking, storage and multimedia solutions for homes and small businesses.

My favorite product from Buffalo Technology is the LinkStation Pro-Quad LS-QVL network storage. Plug it into any Ethernet port or into the back of your wireless router and access it on any networked computer in your house. While on the go, you can access your files over the Internet from any standard Web browser or download the free WebAccess i Apps.

The coolest feature in this product is an integrated DLNA server that streams multimedia content to almost any media playback device such as PS3, Xbox 360, and network enabled TVs and digital photo frames. The 8 TB version retails for about $800 and is a must-have for homes with lots of devices that can share music, videos and files.

Michael Garfield Known as “The High-Tech Texan®” to audiences nationwide, Michael hosts technology and issueoriented talk radio shows six days a week on The 9-5-0. See what he’s up to at HighTechTexan.com.

Texas Instruments | AT&T | Buffalo Technology

Story | Michael Garfield

gentlemen’s room outdoors

Country

Livin’

Story | Doug Pike

A

friend who bought a chunk of rural Texas land described himself accurately as “parttime country” and asked me to teach him about what lives on his 160 acres. He is all city, down to his manicured nails and European SUV, and blissfully ignorant of the wildlife on his quarter-section of Texas.

Those first few nights in the country are extra special. There you are rocking on the front porch and up walks-crawls-fliesslithers-hops something you didn’t know came with the place.

Unless it’s a mountain lion— which it could be in Texas— there’s little cause for alarm.

If it’s a whitetail, shoo it away.

Deer can become dependent on people’s handouts. That’s bad for the deer.

Coyotes are high-level predators and unwelcome. They’ll eat your animals and can be aggressive toward you. Discourage them strongly. If you don’t know how, ask a country person, not a city person.

Armadillos, opossums, rats, rabbits, raccoons and such are happy-go-lucky sorts that mean you no harm. They’re cute, even the rodents in a weird way— unless they get into the house.

Whether you’ve seen them or not, there are snakes. Most are harmless and beneficial.

Venomous snakes (rattlesnake, cottonmouth, copperhead and coral snake) should be escorted from the main yard. If children play there, consider stronger measures, but don’t automatically reach for the shovel.

what’s that smell?

A rural Colorado sheriff once published a hilarious collection of actual complaints and suggestions his office received from “ranchito” owners. One asked when to expect pavement on the gravel road between his place and the highway. Answer: Never. Another wondered what could be done about the stench of an upwind pig farm. Answer: Nothing. (I’ll bet the real estate agent checked weather forecasts closely before showing that little piece of heaven.)

Wild hogs unchecked will tear up anything you planted and most of what grows naturally. If you don’t eliminate 70 percent of your hogs this year, you won’t even keep up with their reproduction.

Bobcats are quiet, efficient hunters that eat rodents and birds. I’d let them walk.

Cougar populations are on the rise nationally, which still includes Texas. They’re quite shy, but capable of killing. If big cats are known to be in the area, consider your defense options and pick a good one.

The biggest threats are your smallest squatters: chiggers, ticks, spiders and scorpions. They’re why real country folks wear long sleeves, boots and gloves so often, even in the summer. I’d almost rather face a cougar than a teaspoon of chiggers.

Once you make friends with the good animals and spook the rest, country living is good medicine for a city-stressed soul.

You bought the farm. Enjoy it. doug pike Doug has traveled the world to satisfy his passion for the outdoors.

During his career, he has won 100-plus state and national awards for writing, broadcast and photography.

step aside Most people want to see wildlife when they walk quietly through the woods, but you can’t pick which animals you see. In nature, sightings are random. Be respectful and you’ll be OK. See a snake several feet away?

Stop and let it pass. If it’s at your feet, slowly take a step back.

Coyotes and mountain lions that show interest in you need to be made aware that you’re bigger and meaner (even if you’re about to wet your pants). Pepper spray is a great equalizer. With or without it, face the animal and stand your ground. Talk loudly. Throw sticks. Running is a bad idea; you look like a slow deer.

Truth is, most animals see us first and keep their distance.

If that separation appeals, be deliberately noisy. You won’t see much, but you’ll feel safer. Or walk silently and be pleasantly surprised if you get close to a truly wild animal.

september/october • 2011

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escape

Brazil

The Other Down Under

Embratur, Brazil Tourism Board | Dave O. Dodge

Story | Dave O. Dodge

hen you think of “down under,” koalas and kangaroos most likely come to mind. But there’s another destination on the bottom side of the earth, one teeming with rich Latin culture, unique flavors and a sumptuous essence that makes it one of the most unique destinations in the world. september/october • 2011

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escape

ot to be confused with Australia or New Zealand, this other “down under” is Brazil. So close and yet so far away, Brazil makes up more than 3.3 million square miles and has over 200 million residents. From the Amazon basin, to the capital city of Brasilia, the outstretched arms of the infamous Christ the Redeemer statue keeps watch over Rio de Janeiro, the gateway to this vast land.

Brazil is the largest country in South America and by far the most diverse.

With its origins steeped in Portuguese history and its landscape dotted with pristine examples of Baroque architecture,

Brazil transcends its Spanish foundation.

Sao Paulo is your point of entry into Brazil. At more than 3,000 square miles, it is like no other city in all of the Americas. The city was founded in 1554 and today, this urban megalopolis has the largest helicopter fleet in the world, boasts more than 5,500 high-rise buildings and is home to the most billionaires in all of Latin America.

With the fastest growing economy in the world, this city is alive with growth and development.

In fact, signs of restoration and reconstruction can be seen in everything from its architecture, to its residents—buildings are going up as fast as advances in cosmetic

september/october • 2011

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If You Go Daily flights from the United States to Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro are available on American Airlines, United, Delta, Continental, US Airways and TAM Linhas Aeras. Visas are required for all U.S. citizens, while vaccinations are required in certain rural areas.

Check with “Travelers’ Health” section at cdc.gov.

With its tropical climate and mild temperatures, it’s always a good time to visit Brazil.

Keep in mind that summers can be sweltering and the rainy season is in full swing in the north. Visit the southeast in March to June or September to November. The busiest time for tourists is December through Carnival, and the month of July.

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surgery (Sao Paulo is the considered the “world capital” for cosmetic procedures).

Speaking of rejuvenation, the entire country comes alive each year with Carnival, a five-day festival that celebrates the return of Lent with a hedonistic celebration of music, dance and food. Brazil has the second highest population of Christians in the world, with Roman Catholics leading the pack.

It also holds the record for the most visits from the Pope.

While in Sao Paulo, visit the historical center at Praca da S’e and the Catedral Metropolitana, a monument celebrating more than 400 years of the Christian faith.

Perhaps the most visited religious icon is the towering Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

A taxi ride up is the easiest way to reach the 2,330-foot summit of Corcovado to view this artistic and religious masterpiece. This symbol of peace was completed in 1931.

Brazil is also home to the worldrenowned beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, where thousands of tourists come to see the place that inspired the famous song.

With the cityscape as its backdrop, Ipanema’s white sandy beaches are filled with exotic sun worshipers, while the city’s strip is lined with posh boutique hotels, trendy cafés and some of the best shopping in the world. With the largest selection of retailers in South America, boutiques like Chanel and Gucci can be found at every turn.

If you’re trolling for beautiful jewelry, Brazil is your oyster. It is the largest producer of colored gemstones in the world, including the semiprecious tourmaline, which is found in every color in the state of Bahia. Only a few hundred miles up the coastline, it is here, where the sea sparkles as vividly as the stone.

The capital of Bahia is Salvador, which was founded more than 500 years ago, when the Portuguese accidentally landed and claimed it for their king and church. Once you arrive, you’ll be swept up in this UNSECO World Heritage site, filled with Baroque buildings, winding streets, and warm and friendly residents.

A true tourist mecca, Salvador is recognized for its colonial spirit, ethnic diversity and home spun artwork. The city is perched high on a hill, where it can be accessed by the city-run Elevator Lacerda, saving you the toil of the tropical heat and getting you to the city in only 20 seconds.

Once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll arrive at Pel’o, the city’s main square, which has a notorious past. Best explored on foot, be sure to wander the streets and visit some of the hundreds of art galleries showing a vast array of art and jewelry. Also stop to sample a local beer or two in a neighborhood café.

Other don’t-miss sights are Palicio do Rio Branco, nicknamed the “wedding cake;” Santa Casa da Misericordia, a complex of religious buildings dating before 1550; and Catedral Basilica, where an Englishspeaking guide will explain the hidden messages created by slaves, who created elaborate carvings in the church.

With a country so vast and so important to the world as Brazil, it is hard to see it all. The Amazon River basin has been called the “lungs of the Earth” and like all vital organs it needs to be treated with gentle hands. This area of Brazil covers more than 2.3 million acres and new species of life are found every day.

Brazil is a destination for any world-class traveler in search of an adventure, beautiful scenery, a good facial or at least a great beer.

This other down under has it all.

With the cityscape as its backdrop, Ipanema’s white sandy beaches are filled with exotic sun worshipers, while the city’s strip is lined with posh boutique hotels, trendy cafes and some of the best shopping in the world.

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Texas Fests Sept. 16-17 ChickFest (Pittsburg) pittsburgchamber.com

Sept. 24 Roxy Arts Fest (Balch Springs) balchspringsartsalliance.org

Lefkara Lace or hundreds of years, the

Cypriot village of Lefkara has been renowned for its exquisite lacemaking, an embroidery technique thought to have been introduced by visiting Venetian noblewomen as early as the 14th century. Leonardo DaVinci himself was said to have visited this picturesque village, purchasing an intricately worked piece of “Lefkaritiko” for the Milan Cathedral.

Today, take a walk through the historic cobbled streets, where women still sit in doorways nimbly pursuing the ancient artistry passed from mother to daughter. Their lacework, included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, is available for purchase in many local shops. Lefkara is also known for a tradition of expert silversmithing, including fine jewelry and tableware, and luxury accommodation abounds nearby in Larnaca.

A visit to this Mediterranean isle, with its blue waters, beautiful ruins, rich food and palpable sense of history, is not a trip to be missed. lefkara.org.cy

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Pecan Street Festival (Austin) oldpecanstreetfestival.com

Tailor Made ooking for a unique and inspiring escape from the ordinary, but

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on your own terms? Brown + Hudson creates truly personal, truly “bespoke” trips to exotic destinations all over the world.

After a personal interview, they handcraft your itinerary, starting from scratch or your choice of travel theme, such as wildlife, family, wine, culture or even “super yachts.” Whether your idea of the perfect escape is a helicopter ride to the top of an active volcano or skiing under Lapland’s midnight sun, you can be sure of one thing: everything is possible. brownandhudson.com

Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 Annual Big T Memorial Chili Cook-off & Music (Fairfield) bigtbash.com

Oct. 1 Aubrey Peanut Festival aubreypeanutfestival.com

Oct. 8-9 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown bayoucityartfestival.com

Oct 15-16 Pirate Days of Texas (The Colony) piratedays.org

Oct. 15-16

Pleasures of Provence

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ith the change of the leaves and the arrival of cool, crisp air, there’s no better time than autumn to slip away to Provence for simple pleasures like wine tasting and truffle hunting. At Hotel Crillon le Brave, a peaceful hillside resort near Avignon, France, take in the views of Mount Ventoux and surrounding vineyards, explore outdoor markets, schedule a massage at the mini-spa, cycle through the countryside or simply relax on the terrace with a glass of rosé. Attend one of their Autumn Truffle Weekends in November and enjoy a three-day getaway that tracks the infamous “black diamonds” from field to kitchen to plate. crillonlebrave.com

Good Karma Festival (Houston) legendsofrasta reggaefestival.com

Oct. 21-23 Texas Jazz Festival (Corpus Christi) texasjazz-fest.org

Oct. 22 Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest fbgfoodandwinefest.com

Sylvia Nitti | Heliworks | Metropolitan Touring | Brown + Hudson | philippe brown | Singita | Hotel Crillon le Brave

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Sept. 24-25

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escape enlightened explorer

Santa Fe Flavor n the Land of Enchantment,

I

it’s easy to work up an appetite.

With the “Taste the City Different” package at Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe, relax for three nights in your choice of deluxe accommodations and experience the region’s distinctive cuisine in the company of a professional chef.

This package for two includes a three-hour culinary walking tour, which visits four unique dining destinations, a demonstration cooking class, as well as a lavish breakfast buffet, and daily wine and cheese reception. And because the inn is located downtown, tucked behind thick adobe walls and earkening back to the golden era of travel, the Eastern & Oriental Express luxury train winds surrounded by colorful gardens and through the beautiful and exotic landscapes of southeast Asia at a leisurely pace. New itineraries stone courtyards, this tantalizing in 2011 include stops at ancient Khmer temples, tea plantations, vineyards and pristine beaches. oasis is only a short stroll away from Life aboard the train is equally alluring. Each cabin, fully air-conditioned with an en suite shower and 24the city’s most popular attractions. hour steward service, offers large picture windows for prime viewing of the passing scenery, while two elegant innonthealameda.com restaurant cars and an open-air observation car provide the perfect setting to dine or enjoy a cocktail. On this rare journey by rail, you’re sure to experience sights and sounds far from the beaten track. orient-express.com

On the Orient-Express

H

I

heavenly, find a true sense of place with Travaasa Destinations.

A collection of experiential destination hotels, the company is launching its first Hawaiian resort.

Located on Maui’s secluded eastern coast, Travaasa Hāna offers an all-inclusive stay with daily spa treatments, gourmet dining and a fully customizable schedule of activities, including surfing, traditional lei making and guided hiking trips through the lush tropical forest. From one of their sprawling sea-ranch cottages or bungalow-style garden suites, soak in an unparalleled panorama of ocean, sky and mountains, with the incredible beauty and variety of Hawaii at your fingertips. travaasa.com

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hink you’ve seen it all? What about the magnificent icebergs and snow-covered landscape of the most remote continent on earth? Take a 12-night, 13-day expedition aboard the One Ocean Expeditions Navigator, charting a course by sea from the tip of South America along the dazzling coast of Antarctica.

From deck, spot penguin rookeries, seals, whales and massive colonies of seabirds, and embark on shore for excursions like camping, sea kayaking, ski touring, expedition photography and snow shoeing. Even the most well-seasoned traveler will be awed by the experience. oceanexpeditions.com kathryn hunter Kathryn Hunter is an Austin-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in “Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.”

Orient-Express | Eric Swanson | Wally Chin

Heavenly Antarctic Adventure Hawaii f a Hawaiian escape sounds truly

October 27 - November 6, 2011 shop. save money. save lives.

The Holiday Shopping Card is your opportunity to both give and receive this holiday season. When you purchase the Holiday Shopping card for a minimum donation of $70, you can use your card to receive a 20% discount at more than 700 of the finest stores in Houston and the surrounding areas from October 27 - November 6, 2011.

TO ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING CARD: call 713.266.2205, visit holidayshoppingcard.org, or visit one of our participating merchants.

post cards

see & do

PRIME Living 311 Julie Rivers Sugar Land, TX 77498

bandera S addle up, because Bandera is the perfect destination for an authentic Texas experience.

Located in the Hill Country just outside of San Antonio, the “Cowboy Capital of the World” is the perfect setting for an easy, relaxing vacation or action-packed, rodeo-style fun. Which ever way you want to spend your Texas getaway, it can all be yours at one of the many dude ranches in the area.

The Mayan Dude Ranch, for instance, is just such a place. Home to seven champion rodeo cowboys, the ranch offers a true taste of Lone Star living. Your morning begins with a hearty breakfast served “cookout style” at the corral, then off for a trail ride, which is, hands down, the best way to see the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Afternoons can be spent lounging by the pool, tubing on the Medina River or simply dozing over a good book. End your days with nightly events including country western dancing, plays and concerts.

If you’re looking for a luxury-style dude ranch experience, then Hill Country Equestrian Lodge is the place for you. Complete with luxury cabin and suite accommodations, the lodge also offers spa services and gourmet dining. And, whether you’re

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a seasoned horseback rider or learning how to ride for the first time, all your equestrian needs will be attended to.

Nature enthusiasts will love the many opportunities to hike or horseback ride throughout the area, with the Hill Country State Natural Area being the best place to start. If your ideal Texas experience includes getting in a quick shopping trip, then be sure to check out the interesting boutiques in Bandera. Western wear, unique home décor, antiques, furniture and homemade items will surely tempt your wallet.

For an authentic cowboy experience, visit Bandera during the warm weather months, when downtown is transformed by its signature event Cowboys on Main, featuring horseback riding cowboys, storytellers, trick ropers, musicians, gunfight reenactments and more.

To complete your Texas experience, stop in at Brick’s River Café, located on the Medina River.

We recommend the Jalapeno Bottle Caps, beerbattered sliced jalapenos deep fried and served with Southwest ranch sauce. But make sure you have plenty of ice-cold tea on hand, because these tasty morsels really pack the heat!

Lone Star Motorcycle Museum Located near Lost Maples State Natural Area, this is a must-see for motorcycle enthusiasts. The museum showcases an amazing collection of motorcycles from all over the world, dating as far back as the 1910s. Grab a bite at the Ace Cafe for gourmet burgers, Aussie meat pies, salads and desserts.

36517 Highway 187 North, Vanderpool 830-966-6103 lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com Bandera Music Hall of Fame Designed to maintain, preserve and promote Bandera’s rich music heritage of all types, the Bandera Music Hall of Fame has created a computer “jukebox” showcasing Bandera-area musicians over the generations. See—and listen to—the jukebox at the Bandera County Library on Main Street.

515 Main St. 830-796-4213 banderamusiclibrary.com Blue Gene’s Boasting the “largest indoor dance floor in the county,” Blue Gene’s is the epitome of a real Texas honky tonk.

This bar and dance hall offers nightly entertainment, dancing, billiards, shuffleboard and darts, as well as a bar menu that will quench the driest of thirsts.

807 Main St. 830-796-7144 bluegenesbandera.com

Chase A. Fountain, Texas Parks & Wildlife | Mayan Dude Ranch

Howdy pardner! wondered what If you’ve always ride the open to like it would be eat alongside or tle cat e rop range, n saddle the , a real chuck wagon ere wh is a der Ban e up becaus ’ll be transported You ng. goi ’re you time, where back to a simpler style friendly, asTex is everyone ts and no one wears cowboy boo Imagine pink ck. clo watches the ts fading into a and orange sunse relaxing around starry night while ick! Grab Qu re. pfi cam an open and join me on hat boy cow r you yn the trail ride! – Kar

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We believe that responsiveness is what sets us apart and what helps make our long term care nursing homes some of the premier communities in America.

Treat everyone with courtesy and compassion. Work hard. Listen to people.

Life Care Centers of America is committed to being a premier provider of long-term health care. It is our desire to be the facility of choice in any community in which we operate. Our programs, services and facilities must be designed and operated with superior quality in order to satisfy the needs of our customers.

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But there is hope...

Life Care Center’s Garden Terrace concept is one of only a few programs of its kind in the country. These communities are exclusively designed and staffed to accommodate the special needs of individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, stroke and Parkinson's. Our staff strives to improve the quality of life of the residents we serve and the families who love them.

We know how difficult it can be as your loved one forgets things – precious memories, even familiar surroundings.

That’s why we offer full support for Alzheimer’s patients, doing everything we can to make life and their home enjoyable.

Life Care will be there, with all the support, education, and commitment you and your loved one need.

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live well

the

Silent roar b

Story | Sally J. Clasen

reast cancer leads the list of female health concerns, but another one quietly makes a lethal impression: ovarian cancer.

More than 30 different types of ovarian cancer exist, but about 90 percent occur in the epithelium, the tissue that covers the outside of the ovary. Called the silent killer, ovarian cancer is the fifth most common female cancer and the deadliest form of gynecological cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 15,000 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2011.

Ovarian cancer’s ominous title describes the lack of or vague warning signs that are overlooked early on because they mimic other conditions. This often leads to detection at an advanced stage when ovarian cancer has spread to the upper abdomen and is most resistant to treatment.

However, a 2007 consensus statement by the American Cancer Society, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists indicated certain symptoms—such as bloating, pain in the pelvic or abdominal

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pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, urgent or frequent feelings of needing to urinate—are reliable indicators for ovarian cancer, even in the early stage.

It isn’t clear what specifically causes ovarian cancer, although age is the most significant factor: the older a woman is the greater the risk. Epithelial cancer occurs most frequently in women between ages 40 and 65 who have been through menopause.

In the United States, the incidence of ovarian cancer is highest among Caucasian women. In addition, family history is key. If your mother, sister or daughter has (or has had) ovarian cancer, your risk increases. If you inherit harmful mutations of the tumorsuppressing genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, your ovarian cancer risk rises, too. High-fat diets and obesity—having a body mass index greater than 30—are also contributing factors.

The first treatment step for all of ovarian cancer is surgery, which allows the surgeon to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible and to stage the disease. It may include removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, partial or complete removal of the

omentum, the fatty layer that covers and pads organs in the abdomen, and examination, biopsy or removal of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen.

Depending on the stage of cancer, surgery is followed by chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

According to the American Cancer Society, the relative five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46 percent. If it is found (and treated) before the cancer has spread outside the ovary, the five-year survival rate is 93 percent. Unfortunately, less than 20 percent of all ovarian cancers are found at this early stage. Despite that sobering statistic, the good news is ovarian cancer is relatively rare: the lifetime risk of women in the United States developing the disease is 1.4 to 1.8 percent.

In Houston, the MD Anderson Cancer Center has information on ovarian cancer, including the types, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments on its website, mdanderson.org.

The hospital also treats ovarian cancer at the Laura Lee Blanton Gynecologic Oncology Center at the MD Anderson campus at the Texas Medical Center.

under the microscope

omen schedule many preventive health screenings annually, but there is no routine ovarian cancer test recommended for those who are symptomfree. Certain clinical procedures are sometimes performed in high-risk women to help detect ovarian cancer, including a pelvic exam and transvaginal ultrasound, as well as CA-125, a blood test that measures tumor growth. Yet, the effectiveness of these screenings to decrease ovarian cancer mortality rates remains controversial.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) recently published a study in the Journal of the American Medical

Association that suggests transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 do not reduce the number of deaths in women at average risk for ovarian cancer—and may do more harm than good.

Their findings are based on results from the National Cancer Institute’s Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, which evaluated 80,000 women with the diagnostic tools over several years. The UAB researchers concluded such screenings caused study participants extenuating medical problems and that falsepositive tests resulted in unnecessary ovarian removal and surgical complications.

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live well eye candy Whether you’re going for dewyeyed innocence a la Emma Watson or Kardashian sister excess, there’s something for everyone’s fringe desires. So cast your weary eyes over some of these products and see if you find something to help release your inner siren.

Story | Jessica Mebane

i

f the eyes are windows to the soul, then mascara, false eyelashes, implants and new prescription lash enhancers are surely the dressed up window treatments.

Today, the thick, inky, come-hither fringe is on the rise, thanks to heavy-lidded heroines like Kim Kardashian and Eva Longoria. And whether you’ve been blessed with the genetic defect of an extra row of eyelashes, or wake each morning to face the day like a blinking, lashless Dutch rabbit, there are a myriad choices to release your inner vamp.

Most women (and a certain pirate of the Caribbean) are satisfied with a quick crimp of the curler followed by thick layers of expertly applied mascara, but more and more people are turning to professional assistance in the form of eyelash extensions. The process takes about two hours, with each lash individually applied to existing lashes.

“Each client is different and will shed lashes differently over time,” says Austin makeup artist Gina Marie Garza. “If you’re going to go for it, remember that the person offering this service must have a beautician’s

license and the necessary training. You’ll also need to maintain your lashes properly if you want to make them last longer.”

But say you’re seeking a permanent solution to your lashlessness; there is a surgical option. Lash implants involve a procedure in which a plastic surgeon harvests between 50 and 60 hairs with follicles from the back of the neck and “sews” them into the eyelid.

In this instance, it’s important to remember that as your hair grows, so will the lashes.

Trimming and curling unruly implants over time is essential.

And then there’s Latisse. This medical wonder is a prescription lash enhancer approved by the FDA in 2009 for increasing eyelash fullness and lengths in as little as two weeks, but usually over a period of four months. Minor side effects can include brief eye irritation and darkening of the eyelid over time. A small percentage of users have reported overall eye sensitivity and tenderness, so it’s imperative to check with your physician and/or optician to see if you’re a likely candidate for this product.

Eyes to die for

Halloween is upon us, bringing the chance to add a little fun and drama to our eye makeup. For a super-haute look this season, scan this code and watch Gordon Espinet of M.A.C. Cosmetics create a look that is simply to-die-for!

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Black Gold, Baby Bold, inky eyelashes are making a comeback and if you’re looking for a genie in a bottle, try M.A.C. Cosmetic’s “Haute & Naughty,” a two-in-one mascara that lets you choose naturally defined lashes or lashes instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. maccosmetics.com Wave that Magic Wand For that matter, zip into your local drugstore and pick up a pink and green bottle of Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara. The waterproof formula is still a top pick for makeup artists everywhere. maybelline.com Under Cover For adventurous souls that want to live on the fringe, so to speak, false eyelashes have come a long way from the artificial, Twiggy-esque lashed half-moons with icky glue and varying degrees of success.

For an truly avant-garde style, check out Shu Uemura’s Tokyo Lash Bar, complete with lashes embellished in feathers, diamonds or florets. shuuemura-usa.com

Shu Uemera | M.A.C. Cosmetics | Maybelline

lashing out

Shu In Considered the “holy grail” of eyelash accessories, this revered eyelash curler has been since its entry to the market over a decade ago.

All-day curl, no crimps. shuuemura-usa.com

Want a perfect, worry free lawn or to practice your short game at home?

Improve the use, look and value of your outdoor space with Green Links synthetic turf solutions. Our lawns are consistently clean, dry, perform and look great throughout the year. Our golf greens look and play like country club greens; they make perfect practice and entertainment areas. Contact us to discuss how our experience and products can enhance your outdoor space.

Golf Greens | Synthetic Turf Lawns | Playgrounds

GreenLinksInc.com 713.932.9997

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• Guaranteed Timely Project Completion • 3D Design/Build • Budget Driven • Fully Insured • Owned by Master Craftsman

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live well

Top 5

get popping When it comes to healthy snacking, the pickings can be slim. But did you know that popcorn is made of a whole grain that’s linked to lower rates of diabetes and heart disease?

Here are more fun and healthy facts about one of America’s most popular treats.

• Popcorn is a whole grain that contains 40 or more nutrients.

• The germ in the popcorn kernel contains all of the B complex vitamins, plus vitamin E, riboflavin and thiamine.

• Popcorn has more protein than any other cereal grain.

• Popcorn has more iron than eggs, peanuts, spinach, or roast beef.

• The hull and outer layers are rich in iron, phosphorous and protein.

• Popcorn has more phosphorous and fiber than potato chips, ice cream cones or pretzels.

• Unbuttered popcorn only has between 25 and 55 calories per cup.

• Popcorn is listed third in a list of 11 eleven things that don’t cause cancer.

• Popcorn aids digestion by providing necessary roughage, also known as fiber.

Source: standardconcessionsupply.com

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Reasons to Get Moving

Story | Mark Anderson, MD

here’s no question that having a regular and consistent exercise routine is important to all aspects of good health and wellness. Exercise should be part of your routine with 30-minute segments at least three times per week. You can also make small efforts to increase activity in your everyday life by forgoing some modern conveniences, instead of driving to the corner grocery store or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you owe it to yourself to get moving, here are ways exercise can improve your health and improve your chance for longevity.

has been scientifically proven to prevent and reverse depression as well as lower anxiety levels during times of stress.

Brain Power

Yes, you can grow smarter with exercise— literally. During exercise, acetylcholine is activated and the end result is new brain cells.

A brain can grow in as little as three months after starting a regular exercise program.

Pain Reliever

Is arthritis keeping you from going to the gym? If you suffer from aches and pains, low impact exercise might be just what Healthy Levels Take a brisk walk or swim on a regular basis. the doctor ordered. Studies have shown that water aerobics can decrease pain while Maintaining a healthy body weight can increasing mobility. reduce your systolic blood pressure (top number) by as much as 20 mmHg. Exercise also increases Cancer Blocker your HDL, or good Stress and inactivity can compromise cholesterol, and decreases the immune system. In fact, studies have triglyceride levels. shown that sedentary lifestyles can actually increase cancer risk exponentially. New research shows that regular exercise can Happy Days help prevent both breast and colon cancer.

Everyone gets into a rut Taking up yoga is a great way to exercise, every now and then, but maintain flexibility and reduce stress. The exercise is a foolproof way body will respond by producing more to help you feel better, healthy cells and reducing the number of elevate your mood and give mutations that cause cancer. you more energy. Start your morning off with a good dose Mark Anderson, MD is a partner at Executive of serotonin, the chemical Medicine of Texas and a co-author of the book released during exercise. Not “Stay Young: 10 Proven Steps to Ultimate only will you be easier to get Health.” Visit emtexas.com for more information. along with, morning exercise

Prime LuxuryEstates

Sherrie Fontenot 281.468.2233 Arthur Confait 832.226.8671 Info@PrimeLuxuryEstates.com RE/MAX Fine Properties | 4500 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 | 281.265.5533

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Be ready to take off to land your next big deal in your new Phenom 100. Its BMW-designed interior and familiar pilots take you far above the commercial experience both in comfort and productivity. And it’s based right here in Texas, so you can get there faster to get more business done.

Elevate your air travel with Executive AirShare’s regional-based fractional ownership program.

Call 866-946-4900 or visit ExecAirShare.com.

Mary D’Andrea • Debra Ford • Valerie Palmquist

For ticket and sponsorship info, contact Janice Burns at 713-942-9063 or at jburns@arthritis.org

Visit us online at houstonbonebash.org Thanks to these sponsors:

Arthritis Foundation 3120 Southwest Freeway, Ste 215 Houston, TX 77098

Wine, Women & Wellness Tasting Room City Centre • 7.14.11

On July 14, Houston-area women joined Dr. Shelena Lalji (also known as Dr. Shel) for a fun and informative evening of great wine, hors d’oeuvres and discussions on wellness at the Tasting Room in City Centre. Dr. Shel and her team played host to a captive audience that learned the finer points of staying healthy both inside and out.

the

list

Photography | Roswitha Vogler

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1 Tammy Wilson, Nickie Nye 2 Dr.Shelena Lalji and her team 3 Dr.Shelena Lalji, Betti Gruzman, Dana Vogenthaler, Sarah Cain 4 Jane Wood 5 Nelda Lindsey, Michelle Morris, Selena Vanprooyen, Dr.Shelena Lalji, Yolanda Lopez, Colleen Wittoesch

Rolling for Charity

the

Audi of West Houston • 5.25.11

list

Guests joined Prime Living and inMotion Marketing group for a Las Vegas-style evening at Audi West Houston that featured an exclusive unveiling of the 2012 Audi A6 and Audi A7. The showroom was filled with high-rollers who tried their luck at black jack and roulette to help raise money for SNAP, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to prevent the overpopulation and diseases of cats and dogs in low-income areas. The evening was complete with signature cocktails, a succulent buffet-style spread provided by Azuma, a decadent dessert station and, of course, a Vegas-style showgirl.

Photography | Roswitha Vogler

See More photos at Prime-Living.com

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Health Expo

Rev up your engines.

It’s time for the second annual Tune Up for Life.

Saturday, September 24, 2011 4 – 7 p.m.

Join the fun at the “Tune Up for Life” health expo!

Come enjoy rock ‘n roll music while viewing classic cars and the newest vehicles from Legacy Ford. Grab healthy bites from Shape Up Sugar Land’s Healthy Monday and area restaurants at the Fueling Station and tune up your body with free health screenings: Oil Check (blood pressure), Chassis (joints, knees, back), Gas Emissions Check (free colorectal cancer kit), plus scheduled maintenance of prostate, heart and more!

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, Campus Grounds 17500 West Grand Parkway South Sugar Land, TX 77479 Receive free health screenings that are proven to save lives – and help keep that engine running smoothly. The “Tune Up for Life” expo is free, but registration is required.

Call 713.222.CARE (2273) to register today or e-mail tuneup@memorialhermann.org.

Houston Restaurant Weeks VIP Kick-Off Momentum Audi • 7.31.11

Hungry, hungry Houstonians gathered on July 31 at the Momentum Audi showroom to “rev up their engines” for Houston Restaurant Weeks 2011. Supporters, sponsors and restaurateurs were treated to a VIP evening to celebrate the more than 100 restaurants participating in the month-long event, which helps raise funds for the Houston Food Bank. Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill served up a spread of mouthwatering delights, as the Houston Food Bank team shared with guests their passion for leading the fight against hunger. Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverley Stone hosted the evening, emitting excitement and sharing inspirational words to gear everyone up for an all-star month of fundraising.

Photography | Roswitha Vogler

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get on the list at primelist@prime-living.com

1 Cleverley Stone, Leisa Holland-Nelson 2 Carolyn Sampley, Cleverley Stone 3 Arturo Boada, Julie Blessing, Peter Laufer 4 Jared Lang, Cara Morales, David Cordua 5 Johnny Vassallo, Peter Remington, Michael Briggs 6 Arturo Boada, Arthur Mooradian, Kevin Smoot 7 Mike Critelli, Catherine Copeland 8 Maniah Pandya, Sandee Hatcher, Amy Ragan 9 Michael Cordua, Willa Topping, Polo Beccerra

september/october • 2011

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RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN HISTORY I N H O U S T O N ’ S M O S T B E AU T I F U L C E M E T E RY

Houston’s premier cemetery, Memorial Oaks, is proud to offer a limited number of spaces in its impressive new development, Reflection Lake Estates. When you purchase an exclusive property within Reflection Lake Estates for yourself or a loved one, you will have chosen the perfect place for future generations to celebrate your family’s legacy.

Perhaps the most breathtaking area within the new development is Waterfall Estates.

These private, gated estates surround the grand Texas Liberty Mausoleum and overlook Reflection Lake and its waterfall. Because of the peaceful waters and striking beauty of the grounds, Waterfall Estates are some of the most sought after properties in any Houston cemetery.

Availability is extremely limited in Waterfall Estates, so advance planning is crucial to securing a private estate for your family. Please call today to schedule a tour.

P. 2 8 1 . 4 9 7. 2 2 1 0 |

W W W . R E F L E C T I O N L A K E E S TAT E S . C O M

Sept. 28

Oct. 10

Celebration of Champions Community champions and cancer center patients model the season’s fashions in this event benefiting the cancer center at Texas Children’s Hospital. Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar St. 11:15 a.m. $150 and $300.

832-824-2679, texaschildrens.org

Worley Parsons Breath of Life Golf Tournament Enjoy a day on the links, complete with lunch, auctions, raffles and dinner. Benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Sweetwater Country Club, 4400 Palm Royale Blvd. Sugar Land.

Noon. $300. 713-407-7604, jill.kern@worleyparsons.com

Oct. 1

SPA’s 15th Annual Fall Luncheon, Oct. 26

Fathers & Flashlights Dads and their children are invited to camp out and enjoy an evening of fun to benefit Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. West University Place Elementary School, 3756 University Blvd. Contact for price. 713-662-7430, westuparks.org

Sept. 11

Oct. 2-3

Dancing with the Stairs Pay tribute to the heroes of 9/11 heroes with this race up 40 flights to the top of Marathon Oil Towers. Marathon Oil Towers, 5555 San Felipe St. 8 a.m.

713-621-0006, cff.org

CanCare Golf Classic & Banquet In its 19th year, this event features a kick-off gala and shotgun start golf tournament. Benefiting CanCare. Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive. Contact for times and prices. 713-461-0028, cancare.org

Oct. 13 Signature Chefs Gala In celebration of Houston’s top chefs, this year’s culinary honoree is Tony Vallone. Benefiting the March of Dimes. Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar St. 6:30 p.m. Contact for price. 713-964-5413, signaturechefshouston.com

date

book education and outreach program.

Jones Hall Stage, 615 Louisiana St. 11 a.m. $500. 713-632-8103, spahouston.org

Oct. 27 Bone Bash Break out your Halloween best for this inaugural costumed gala featuring cocktails, dinner, dancing, fortune tellers and a live auction. Benefiting the South Texas Arthritis Foundation.

Hotel ZaZa, 5701 Main St. 6 p.m. Contact for price. houstonbonebash.com

Oct. 27 to Nov. 6

Holiday Shopping Card Shop for a cause with this annual Oct. 15 program that gives you discounts at Houston-area retailers, while fantASIA: Children’s benefiting the American Cancer Museum of Houston Gala Experience the elegance and modern Society. Starting at $70. 713-266style of East Asia at this special event 2877, holidayshoppingcard.com benefiting the Children’s Museum Oct. 29 of Houston. The Corinthian, 202 Fannin St. 7 p.m. $500. 713-535Sept. 13 The Bash: A Halloween 7269, cmhouston.org Happening Best Cellars Celebrity Dinner Oct. 5 Celebrate Halloween in style Wine, food and celebrities come Oct. 26 at this unique event benefiting Home Safe Home Gala together for a fantastic evening Enjoy a sampling of gourmet food, SPA’s 15th Annual Fall Luncheon the Cerebral Palsy Fund of benefiting the T.J Martell Easter Seals Greater Houston.

Featuring guest speaker Amy Foundation. River Oaks Country wine and cocktails from 12 of Houston’s top chefs. Benefiting Aid Chua, author of “Battle Hymn of The Corinthian, 202 Fannin.

Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd. the Tiger Mother.” Benefiting the 8 p.m. $200. 713-838-9050, 6:30 p.m. $1,000. 615-256-2002, to Victims of Domestic Violence. houstonbash.com Private residence. 6:30 p.m. $500. Society for the Performing Arts’s bestcellarshouston.com 713-715-6921, avda-tx.org

© Peter Mahakian | Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Sept. 17

Care2Spin Participate in a spinning marathon while benefiting Easter Seals Greater Houston. John Eagle Honda, 18787 Northwest Freeway. 8 a.m. care2spin.org

Sept. 20 Organize. Simplify. Celebrate.

Join three of Houston’s top certified professional organizers for an informative luncheon and holiday organization seminar just in time for your holiday planning. Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, 11:15 a.m. $55. 713- 622-4191, juniorleaguehouston.org

Oct. 6 Mark Jo Peckham Luncheon & Fashion Show This 20th annual event will honor Jeanie Kilroy, community supporter and Assistance League member. 713-526-7983, assistanceleaguehou.org

Oct. 8 An Evening in the Roaring ’20s Celebrate the Boys & Girls Harbor annual fall gala with a nostalgic visit to the roaring ’20s.

Intercontinental Houston Hotel, 2222 W. Loop South. 7 p.m.

Contact for price. 713-688-6262, boysandgirlsharbor.org

The Bash, Oct. 29

Prices listed are for individual tickets. Sponsorships may be available. Event dates, times and prices subject to change. To have your event considered for inclusion in the Datebook, send complete event information to datebook@prime-living.com.

september/october • 2011

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parting

shot

show stopper Misha Penton, artistic director of Divergence Vocal

Theater, shows her theatrical side during our photo shoot at Divergence Music & Arts, the company’s new performance studio in the Heights.

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Photographed by Mark Lipczynski on July 4, 2011. prime-living.com

Redefining retirement for over 50 years.

Nothing tells the Del Webb story better than a personal visit. Come meet our residents, hear about what life is like here, tour the community, and see if you think the Del Webb lifestyle might be right for you.

For more of the story visit delwebb.com

Now Open Come see what active adult living is all about!

New homes from the $140s 9 designer decorated models Just north of Hwy. 59 on FM 762 www.delwebb.com/sweetgrass

877-256-0272

At least one resident must be 55 years of age or better, a limited number of residents may be younger and no one under 19 years of age. Some residents may be younger than 55. Community Association fees required.

Complete offering terms for the homeowner’s association is in an offering plan available from sponsor. Void where prohibited. Prices reflect base prices and are subject to change without notice. Lot premiums may apply. Details available upon request. Photography is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be an actual representation of a specific community, neighborhood, or any completed improvements being offered. Š2010 Pulte Home Corporation.