PRIME Living 2012 May/June "Jet Set: Travel in Style" Issue

TEXAS

M AY/ J U N E 2 0 1 2

The Luxury of Choice

great escapes Pack your bags and whisk away to exotic destinations near and far

Take Flight Journey to New Zealand, where nature’swonders await

Get Lost Fall off the grid at theworld’s most remote luxury destinations

Girl Power When inspiration knocked,five Houstonwomen answered

We cordially invite you to fly into GLOBAL SELECT

The Destination of Choice for the Houston Traveler – Corporate, Private or International.

For reservations:

Call 281.275.2400 or visit GlobalSelectFBO.com

Telluride... you deserve to be here.

3 - a c r e m o u n ta i n e s tat e | $ 8 , 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 | w w w. 1 3 0 h i g h l a n d s way. c o m

mike “z” zuendel

“

970.708.5186 homezuendel@msn.com www.ztelluriderealestate.com

Hint: Scan this QR code to go directly to the property website

“Doing business long distance is never easy, but the unique abilities of Mike “Z” led to a very positive experience and successful transaction.

His attention to detail, knowledge of the market and incredible follow-through gave us great comfort being 1000+ miles away – job well done and many thanks.“ - al and sylvia honigblum, san a antonio, ntonio, ttX X

Let “Z” help you discover Telluride - your home away from Texas.

Innovative.

Elegant.

Timeless.

Elegant Jewelers and The Wedemeier family have been purveyors of fine jewelry for 30 years, making them one of the oldest jewelers in Sugar Land.

The family’s jeweled archives provide a glimpse into the history of these iconic designers.

Sugar Land’s Custom Designers If you can Dream it…We can create it….

Elegant Jewelers, Inc

3376 Highway 6 | Sugar Land, Texas 77478 | 281-980-5599 Fast, Expert Jewelry and Watch Repair /All Work Done On Premises by Master Jewelers | Watch Batteries (While You Wait) | Appraisals (Certified Gemologist On Staff)

Elegant Jewelers is a Proud Partner of the Sugar Land Skeeters

MAY/JUNE 2012

lost get

FALL OFF THE GRID IN STYLE AT THE WORLD’S MOST REMOTE LUXURY DESTINATIONS

22 mothers

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journey to of invention 28 beachside bliss new zealand WHEn insPirAtion KnoCKEd, FiVE dYnAMiC HoUston WoMEn AnsWErEd

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disCoVEr sUrF, sAnd And sEA At YoUr nEW HoME AWAY FroM HoME

28

in tHE “LAnd oF tHE LonG WHitE CLoUd,” nAtUrE’s AWE-insPirinG BEAUtY AWAits

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may/june • 2012

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alsoinside

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Karyn Dean

9 • COCktaIlS & CONVeRSatION • WHERE TO gO, WHaT TO DO Five-Star Packing • Fine Wine Craft • Buzz • Posh Pets • Friendly Skies • Kid Stuff • Backyard Beauty • My Life

kdean@prime-living.com

PUBLISHER Terry Dean

37 • CONNOISSeUR • PL’S gUiDE TO DiScERNiNg TaSTE Holy Triniti • Good Eats • Table Talk • Marvelous Margarita • Moroccan Magic

49 • tHe GeNtleMeN’S ROOM • FOR THE maN WHO cOmmaNDS THE VERY BEST Top Dock • Road on the Range • ‘Most Dangerous’ Assets • Have Tech, Will Travel • Six(ty) Feet Under

tdean@prime-living.com

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MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Jacoby

mjacoby@prime-living.com

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN SW!TCH s t u d i o Jim Nissen Erin Loukili Kris Olmon, Felicia Penza www.switchstudio.com

62 • eSCaPe • gREETiNgS FROm DESTiNaTiONS NEaR aND FaR Enlightened Explorer • Port Aransas

SALES MANAGER Rodrigo Hurtado

rhurtado@prime-living.com

69 • lIVe Well • FEEL gOOD, LOOK gOOD Point Well Taken • Health Buzz • Deep Freeze • The New Midlife Crisis • Are We There Yet? 76 • PRIMe lISt • EVENTS, gaLaS aND FUNDRaiSERS Hats Off to Mothers Luncheon • Targets for Tourette’s • Conversations from the Heart • Keels & Wheels Uncorked

the

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Drake ddrake@prime-living.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Jennifer Dean

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jend@prime-living.com

CIRCULATION/ DISTRIBUTION Brian Stavert

bstavert@prime-living.com

list

CONTACT 311 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, Texas 77498 281.277.2333 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES editor@prime-living.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION advertise@prime-living.com

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ON tHe COVeR For the ultimate getaway, discover the white-sand beaches at Le Sereno, a luxurious island destination located in St. Barths.

Photography by Jean Philippe Piter for Le Sereno.

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SUBSCRIBE AT www.prime-living.com ©2012 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 …no day is

completewithout

a magicalview

ofThe sun disappearing

overthe horizon.

coMing uP looking to tempt your taste buds with some of houston’s finest culinary offerings? get the dish in our annual food & Wine issue.

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.

Happy scanning!

karyn Dean Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

I

f there ever was an issue that stirs me to add one more thing to my bucket list, it’s our annual travel issue. The photos alone will inspire you to start a whole new bucket list!

If you’re looking for a destination where luxury and remote intersect, then get away from it all at one of our featured destinations in “Get Lost” (page 34). From bunking in a wooden igloo at the base of the Swiss Alps, to setting up camp on a dune plateau in a natural reserve in Namibia, you’ll enjoy falling off the grid so much, you may never want to come back.

Sun, sand and surf more your style? Then pack your bags and stay at one of our top picks for the world’s most luxurious beach homes. In “Beachside Bliss” (page 28), you’ll feel right at home at gorgeous properties in Hawaii, Mexico and our favorite, Le Sereno, St. Barthelemy.

And because no day is complete without a magical view of the sun disappearing over the horizon, we’ve put together a list of some of the most stunning sunsets in the world.

For a true taste of what the world traveler experiences, put yourself in Dean Dalton’s shoes.

The longtime radioman turned tour operator is living the good life as he accompanies artcentric travelers to some of the most significant cultural destinations around the world. And don’t fret one minute about what to do with Fido while you’re away. In “Posh Pets” (page 14), you’ll discover Houston’s top pet resorts, where your pet will pampered and loved.

If you’re looking for a new item to add to your culinary bucket list, stop by Triniti (page 38). Once again, Ryan Hildebrand has struck gold with his latest venture, which features a seasonal menu that will leave you hungry for more. You also won’t go wrong at Blu, Sugar Land’s newest hot spot, where the Chocolate-Cappuccino Martini (page 41) is to-die-for.

Don’t let the name fool you, though. This dessert is better “eaten, not stirred!”

Since May is the month we celebrate the special women in our lives, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature five extraordinary women who turned an idea into a reality.

In “Mothers of Invention” (page 22), you’ll meet these inspiring women who’ve invented everything from kitchen gadgets, baby bumpers and premium tequila, to nonprofit organizations dedicated to bettering our community.

Here’s to the start of wonderful vacation season! Safe travels!

kdean@prime-living.com

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A new community for the young at heart.

Come see what active adult living is all about!

Our residents fall in love with where they live. And how they live.

Del Webb communities offer an unparalleled active lifestyle designed just for you! Whether it’s getting in touch with your muse in a painting class, being part of a volunteer group or taking advantage of opportunities for life-long learning, you’ll be amazed at how rich life can be here. But don’t take our word for it, nothing showcases the Del Webb lifestyle better than a personal visit, so come on out and join us!

New homes from the $140s 9 designer decorated models 27,000 sq. ft. recreation center North of Hwy. 59 on FM 762 www.delwebb.com/sweetgrass

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For more of the story visit delwebb.com 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. ©2012 Pulte Home Corporation.

exquisite

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

Sherry Renfrow Moore is not new to Sugar Land, but new to The Design Source. She is bringing with her over 40 years of experience. Combining the talents of Jeanne Garland, who built The Design Source into an exceptional established business, they are a driving force in first class interior design.

The Design Source, with a full staff of creative Interior Designers, is sure to inspire the perfect design for any style.

Sherry Renfrow Moore

Jeanne Garland

Complete Interior Design Services

Staging

Accessories

Master Planning

Furniture

Window Treatments

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Consultation

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Lighting

Remodeling

THE DESIGN SOURCE 3644 Highway 6 South | Sugar Land, TX 77478 | 281.242.3336 Visit us at www.dessource.com or on Facebook

TEXAS GULF COAST

cocktails & conversation.

cocktails & Jeff Myers PhotograPhy

tHe PRIME LIVING GUIDe tO WHat'S HaPPeNING NOW

inside:

fulshear creek crossing

10 11 12 14 15 16 18 20

• • • • • • • •

PRIMe teN | FIVE-STAR PACKING POINt OF INteReSt | FINE WINE CRAFT tHe bUZZ | WHAT'S NEW HOt lISt | POSH PETS NOStalGIa | FRIENDLY SKIES aRtS | KID STUFF DeSIGN | BACKYARD BEAUTIES MY lIFe | DEAN DALTON

may/june • 2012

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cocktails & conversation.

PriMe TEN

Stash a wine refresher guide.

You’re in the upper tax bracket, which means you’re required by international snob law to know the difference between a chalky barnyard and a stone fruit.

Have passport photo options. Be ready to offer the customs official additional proof when he questions your official government mug vs. the postsurgical edition.

Take separate jets. The world is your oyster, yet traveling with family members can sometimes feel like you’re choking on one. Play it safe and have an emergency escape plan.

10 tips for

FIVE-STAR PACKING Story | Sally J. ClaSen Illustration | JoHn S. DykeS

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Slip in a cover-up. A colorful tunic hides a multitude of body sins and confirms to the world that Americans think outside the box.

Include extra baggage. You’ll need something to store the “trinkets” you buy in the tourist market, like the quintessential 300-pound carved Buddha from Thailand.

It’s officially summer, which means only one thing: It’s time to roll out the designer luggage and hit the road. Though it’s important to take the essentials, don’t leave home without your style. Here are some packing tips to help keep your jet-setting image intact.

Stow some jewelry.

The tunic will undoubtedly mark you as a filthy-rich American with precious baubles to spare, so toss in some post-robbery platinum and diamonds for good measure.

Pack sensible shoes.

It’s a bumpy path from the private jet to the five-star resort, so remember the ABCs for travel comfort: Alexander McQueen, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo.

Remember your status. If you do forget something, relax. You’re rich. Once you reach your final destination you can buy anything you need, including the destination.

prime-living.com

Bring double-duty accessories. An Hermés scarf can be a versatile accent piece for day or evening— or a blindfold used by extremists after your personal pilot lands in a no-fly zone.

Tote a roomy carry-on. Extra pockets are necessary for stress medications and anti-aging remedies, because the harsh reality of luxury travel always shows up in your mood and on your face.

Point OF INTEREST

fine wine

craft Story | aMBer Bell

Pinot's Palette

I

t all started with a glass of wine and a canvas. At least that was Craig Ceccanti’s general idea.

The CEO and founding member of Pinot’s Palette, Houston’s first upscale BYOB painting studio, opened the studio in May 2009, and it quickly became a popular destination for date nights or girls’ nights out. What could be more fun than expressing your creativity by slathering paint across a canvas while joyfully imbibing?

“Everyone likes to have a good time, and that is what we strive to provide,” says Ceccanti. “We offer a fun experience where people can get some friends together, grab some wine, come paint and have a great time.”

Each class focuses on a single painting that guests create from start to finish, re-creating the style of artists from Van Gogh to Monet and everything in between. Local artists provide the step-by-step instructions for the chosen masterpieces while Pinot’s Palette provides the canvas and art supplies. Guests are merely

required to tote along their favorite bottle of vino and a creative stroke.

Pinot’s quickly flourished from classes three nights a week at its Montrose studio (2406 Taft St.) to an additional location in Katy (2910 Commercial Center Blvd.), and its newest location near the Galleria (5539 Richmond Ave.).

Other recent studio additions include Dallas and Tulsa, while yet more are planned for Memphis and Austin. Ceccanti credits the expansion to the company’s latest franchise opportunities.

“This year we are really looking to use our wealth of creativity to offer new and exciting events,” he says.

Regular painting classes take place Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons and evenings, and Sunday afternoons.

Aside from private parties, corporate functions and off-site events, Pinot’s has also added kids’ camps, family days and holiday events. At the Galleria location, for instance, family days are generally held Sunday afternoons and are geared toward both children and adults.

“Our mission is to bring art to the masses through a fun and entertaining atmosphere with extraordinary customer service,” says Ceccanti. “We truly believe in this mission, and it is present throughout the Pinot’s Palette family.” pinot’s palette 5539 richmond ave.

713-975-7867 pinotspalette.com

cocktails & conversation.

PAINT THE TOWN Here’s a snippet of upcoming events to get your creative juices flowing!

PROJECT PET

For owners crazy about their four-legged companions, this is the perfect opportunity to create a custom portrait of their pet. Prior to attending, guests submit an image of their pet and Pinot’s Palette will print it to use as a guide on a vertical 16-by-20-inch canvas.

YOUNG ARTISTS CLASS

Little blossoming artisans can flex their creative muscles with a trip to a Pinot’s Palette Young artists session, perfect as an after-school activity. Kidcentric paintings—and even holiday-themed choices—are on tap as well as a healthy snack and drink to boot.

NEW PAINTINGS

Evening classes are held throughout each week and weekend, with new paintings highlighted every month to offer creative souls a variety of styles to bedeck their canvas.

From flowering arrangements and landscapes to romantic sunsets and famous artworks, Pinot’s Palette offers something for everyone.

may/june • 2012

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BuZZ

family

three Brothers Bakery three Brothers Bakery

SWEET stuff sprinkles cupcakes

S

prinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills has opened the first 24-hour cupcake dispenser. The ATM-like machine offers a touch screen and a robotic arm that pulls the right flavored cupcake from a wall of single-serving boxes inside the store. The machine also dispenses cupcake mixes, apparel and even cupcakes for your favorite four-legged friend.

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Since the opening, the Sprinkles location in Highland Village has expanded its hours, baking an extra hour each day.

Coming up with cakes is something Three Brothers Bakery knows a little something about. The family-owned and -operated business recently expanded its empire with a new concept bakery cafe in Memorial City. With Memorial Hermann

MATTERS

T

his month, as we celebrate the special moms in our lives, a new website delves into the dynamic, yet oftentimes complex, relationship between mothers- and daughters-in-law.

Ali Katz, a marathon runner and mother of two, launched DaughterinlawDiaries.com after becoming interested in the relationship based on her own experiences.

Instead of writing a book, she turned her vision into an interactive website and forum, where visitors can vent, share and get expert advice on everyday challenges and experiences while nurturing relationships and bringing families closer together. They can also share stories about MILs, learn how to make it work, swap recipes, ask for help and more.

Also focused on bridging the family gap is premier Baby planning, which is offering a Grandparents Boot Camp that focuses on health, safety and communication. Grandparents learn about everything from infant CPR, car seat safety, newborn care, crying and swaddling techniques. premierbabyplanning.com

three Brothers Bakery

Hospital, residential areas and retail shops nearby, it was the perfect fit for the bakery-coffee house. According to owner and fifth-generation baker Bobby Jucker, this is the first of many expansions that focus on cafe services with takeout, breads, pastries, cupcakes and free WiFi. 12393 Kingsride Lane. 713464-2253, 3brothersbakery.com

sPrinkles cuPcakes | three Brothers Bakery | Michelle Watson

cocktails & conversation.

BuZZ

cocktails & conversation.

doWntoWn

delights

L

ooking for that great antique find? Then get yourself down to the artisan & antique Market in downtown Richmond for some of the best dealers in Texas. Hosted by the Historic Richmond Association, the market is held the second Saturday of each month through July.

“Historic downtown Richmond is the perfect venue for this market. Our goal is to introduce the quality merchandise from vendors around the state,” says Shereen Lary, event chair and owner of Richmond’s Mesologie Spa. The event is also being held in conjunction with Richmond's farmers market, which features farm-fresh produce, local grass-fed beef, and gourmet olive oils and jellies, among other artisan goods. historicrichmond.org

bottled up

T

hirty miles west of Houston, in the Fulshear Creek Crossing community, residents are bottling their own wine from grapes grown in neighborhood vineyards. With the help of Houston winemaker Simon Payne, who supervised the creation of a customized recipe at Vintners Own Winery, the first vintage produced an impressive 750 bottles of Blanc de Bois.

To sample neighborhood wine, stop by the community’s model homes. fulshearcreekcrossing.com

Jeff Myers PhotograPhy | deer lake lodge sPa | islanders By choice

BATHING beauties

B

ack by popular demand, the Galveston island Beach revue returns May 18-19. The weekend begins with Friday night’s Bands & Bombshells concert at historic Saengerfest Park featuring theme vendors and classic cars. Then, on Saturday, contestants from all over the country will strut their stuff across the sand for the Bathing Beauties Contest. The contest began in 1920 to kick off the tourist season, but ended in 1932 due, in part, to the Great Depression. It was resurrected in 2009. galvestonbeachrevue.com

holistic HEALING D

eer lake lodge Spa, a holistic destination health spa and wellness resort opening this summer in Montgomery County, is located on a 50-acre, rustic-chic oasis only 40 minutes from Houston and 15 minutes from The Woodlands. Constructed with re-purposed materials, including recycled asphalt for roads and blue jean lint and cellulose for insulation, the spa is a health haven specializing in holistic cleansing and therapeutic approaches to relaxation. It will also offer such services as juice fasting, colonics, body works and energy works. deerlakelodge.com

rosEAnn roGErs Known as Houston’s “Buzz Lady,” Roseann Rogers has been on top of Houston’s social, fashion and entertainment scene for nearly 15 years. A regular contributor to Prime Living, she is also a TV personality, spokesperson and active philanthropist.

may/june • 2012

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hot LIST

KicKapoo rancH PET RESORT

A vast 40-acre country setting makes this Waller pet resort worth the drive. Luxury suites come with room service, daily laundered linens, windows for natural light, soothing music, webcams, flat-screen TVs and orthopedic-friendly doggie beds. Kickapoo also offers a “bark and ride” pet pick-up and drop-off service for on-the-go clients.

posh pets

23230 kickapoo road, waller 936-931-9480 kickapooranchpetresort.com kickapoo ranch Pet resort

Story | aMBer Bell

While the people are away, the dogs will play! if you’re planning a summer retreat out of town but fido needs to stay behind, these five boarding facilities can provide the best in canine comfort.

rover oaKS PET RESORT

The name says it all; luxury is the draw here, where accommodations include climatecontrolled bunkhouses or luxury suites with individual beds. Pets receive group outdoor playtime, gourmet treats and a “tuck-in” service. You can even add on four-legged spa treatments for canine pampering. Families of pets can be boarded together upon request.

canine COUNTRY CLUB

2550 w. bellfort 713-662-2119 roveroaks.com

1440 katy gap road, katy 281-693-3647 mycaninecountryclub.com dogs r dogs

DOGS r DogS

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HOUSTON Dog rancH

From bakery-made treats to butter-balm paw massages, this modern pup retreat is truly man’s best friend. An in-house movie theater touts pet-themed flicks, the sports and fitness centers keep Fido agile, and the Swarovski crystal chandelier-appointed ballroom is where furry friends can mingle when they’re not comfy and cozy in their loft or private suite.

This facility features a spacious 2-acre outdoor area, a 38-foot bone-shaped swimming pool for your furry mates, around-the-clock pet supervision and an expansive indoor rubber-mat play space.

Plus, if you want to add on a couple of extras during your pooch’s vacay, staff members include professional dog trainers and caninebehavior specialists.

3113 s. shepherd drive 281-815-2871 dogsrdogsdaycare.com

9602 dalecrest drive 713-465-2275 houstondogranch.com

prime-living.com

rover oaks Pet resort

kickaPoo ranch Pet resort | dogs r dogs | roVer oaks Pet resort

Your pooch is moving up the social ranks at this posh Katy-area getaway. Luxury cabanas, each decorated in its own theme, include a poolside view, color TV, private yard and comfy bed. Customize your buddy’s stay with such add-ons as doggie ice cream or cookies, grooming, training, nature walks and more.

noStalgia

cocktails & conversation.

friendly sKies Story | BrUCe Farr

T

hose of us accused of sugarcoating “the good old days” can always stop our critics in their tracks with the following two words: air travel. That’s because in this era of overcrowded, cattle-car flights that follow increasingly probing security checks there is perhaps no greater example of how much better things actually were than the glory days of commercial airplane flights.

In fact, so vastly different is today’s air travel that describing what taking a plane trip was like in, say, the 1950s or ’60s is like conjuring up a fuzzy, half-believed dream. Luckily, there are dozens of hilarious old promotional film clips on YouTube that are fascinating to watch as reminders of just how friendly the friendly skies were back then.

Forget completely the humbling, angst-ridden security ritual that today’s airline travelers must undergo before boarding. It was nonexistent then. Instead, passengers strolled leisurely from the terminals onto the tarmac to board their gleaming silver—propeller-driven— planes. Mounting a rolling stairway,

they were dressed like they were headed to a country club formal: men in ties and jackets and women in smart outfits and heels.

Once inside the well-appointed, clubby-looking cabins, they were invited to sit, stretch out and enjoy the flight (seats provided more than twice the leg and fanny room than they do now in

at spacious tables or read magazines that were personally handed to them by a smiling stewardess who went row to row, passenger to passenger.

Dining during air flights of yore was another thing altogether. These days, when a measly bag of peanuts might be the only sustenance an airline offers its passengers free of charge, it seems almost

DID YOU KNOW? Trans World airlines (TWa) and Pan american (or Pan am) were the two companies that dominated the u.S. airlines industry in the middle part of the last century. Both airlines are now gone for good. american airlines bought out TWa in 2001, while Pan am ceased operating even earlier, in 1991. Of that period, former commercial airlines pilot Capt. john D. Sabey remarked, “It was a time when people felt it was both a joy and a privilege to take a plane trip.”

claustrophobia-inducing coach class). And if you happened to be a child, a crisply uniformed “stewardess” wearing white gloves made a big show of presenting you with a wing-shaped lapel pin, a ceremony that would be absurd to even imagine happening today.

In flight, passengers smoked cigarettes, played four-hand cards

inconceivable to watch a TWA film clip from the 1950s, depicting what happened aboard flights of the day. The footage shows passengers tucking into a sumptuous, gourmetquality meal, replete with white linen napkins, while the voiceover proclaims, “Mealtime, an always welcome part of air travel! As part of the service of course, a full meal—

soup, meat, salad, vegetables, dessert, coffee, milk or tea…breakfast, lunch and dinner, served hot from special galley equipment.” And we’re not even talking first class!

One noticeable detail in the films: Overhead compartments were virtually empty, as passengers checked nearly all their baggage.

In fact, the overheads weren’t really closed compartments at all, but merely shelves to hold pillows and blankets. With baggage cheerfully and complimentarily checked beforehand, the now commonplace preflight battle to wedge overstuffed carry-on bags into shrinking overhead compartments was decades away from being waged.

What flying was actually like then must seem inconceivable to today’s young airline passengers, whose only experience with air travel is post-9/11. It’s difficult to convey just how exciting and pleasant it could be. Perhaps another sound bite from one of the old films says it best: “When the trim, smiling air hostess appears in the doorway, you know that everything is going to be ‘shipshape’ on board.”

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artS

Kid Stuff

rEViEW LEnnon: tHE MAn, tHE MYtH, tHE MUsiC tiM riley

Story | JoHn DEMerS Photography | Mark lipCzynSki

W

e all know the picture: the child brought to encounter the larger world through paintings, sculpture, mummies and dinosaur bones—that first visit to something the grown-ups call a “museum.” Although many remember it fondly, the effect is more often a sense of age, shadow, dust and must, in which all colors seem to be variations of brown and gray.

Today, for children all across America (but especially here in Houston), museums are giving kids a different story to tell. If you ask executive director Tammie Kahn, the Children’s Museum of Houston is on any given day the result of 100-plus years of struggle to understand how kids actually grow and learn.

“The birth of the modern museum was a collection of stuff…really good stuff that reflected a lot of wealth,” Kahn says. “It was created by people who wanted others to learn from seeing the real things, not just from reading or hearing about them. In the early 20th century, we went from a society that didn’t value children to one that recognized that children were learning machines.”

The Children’s Museum was founded in 1980 by a group of parents who wanted to make “early childhood development” a community priority.

Kahn came on board in the top job 15 years later, having already picked up an MBA at the University of Houston to go with her BS from the University

of Texas at Austin, and serving as associate director of Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Kahn would help guide the Children’s Museum through a period of explosive growth, including the 2005 launch of a capital campaign that resulted in the opening of more than 39,000 square feet of new exhibition space housing seven new permanent exhibits in 2009.

Though what you see at the Children’s Museum—children who look like they’re having the time of their lives—is often exactly what you get, that vision doesn’t take in the community outreach, or indeed the museum’s work customized for adults, such as the recent problem-solving and team-building session for top executives of an international oil company. And it certainly only hints at the facility’s multi-ethnic and multilingual mission statement supporting Houston’s role as an entrepreneurial magnet to people all over the globe.

“This city reflects the face of the world,” says Kahn. “We have new Americans in every neighborhood and every profession. They are coming here to Houston because they want the American dream for their children. It’s remarkable to see the people coming into our museum. If you provide failure-free opportunities to learn, to flex your mental muscle, this becomes a wonderful laboratory not just for child development but for human development.”

sPotlight: AMAriLLo MUsEUM oF Art

Formed by community leaders with a passion for art in 1967, the Amarillo Museum of Art has brought a diverse collection of art to the Texas Panhandle for 45 years. Its collection spans from American Modernist art to a growing and impressive Asian art collection, as well as European paintings and photography holdings dominated by the work of Russell Lee. Amarillo Museum of Art • 2200 S. Van Buren St. • 806-371-5050 • amarilloart.org

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oth for his mythmaking period as “leader” of the Beatles and his enigmatic years as a solo artist, heroin addict and eventual househusband to Yoko Ono, John Lennon proves too intriguing for biographers, music historians or even pop psychologists to leave him alone.

Tim Riley, a classically trained pianist and journalist, adds to the extraordinary insights with his latest biography, a narrative that steers between the cleaned-up adorations of the Beatles years and the sensationalized scandal collections that have appeared since.

Riley wrestles with all the familiar themes, but in mostly new and fresh ways: John’s lifelong “working class” shtick despite an upbringing verging on middle class; the deep pains he carried from abandonment by both his parents; his troubles with drugs that began earlier than any Beatles fan realized; his love-hate rivalry with songwriting “partner” Paul McCartney; his bizarre and seemingly subservient relationship with Yoko; and his touching, selfmythologized “redemption” by way of fatherhood before his shooting in front of New York’s Dakota building that December night in 1980.

What fascinates most is Riley’s extraordinary ability to describe in detail the actual music being made, so that even those of us who’ve memorized every harmony, every guitar strum, every slap of tambourine, feel as though we’re hearing a song both again and for the very first time. – JD

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cocktails & conversation.

DeSign

baCKyard Story | elizaBetH eXline

O

nce upon a time, the genteel white octagon was the sole possible incarnation of gazebos. Not so today. Now gazebos, or “garden structures,” are bigger, rectilinear and full of contemporary conveniences.

“Octagons and circles are cute for maybe two or three people to sit under,” explains A.J. Benys Jr., president of A.J.’s Landscaping and Design Inc. in Houston. “But we’re trying to create larger spaces.”

Such spaces must accommodate more people and more amenities.

A gazebo or arbor, says Jim Jech, design director at McDugald-Steele, should comfortably welcome at least six to eight people along with a small outdoor kitchen and plenty of seating. Numerically speaking, that translates to approximately 14-by-22 square feet.

From there, homeowners can get as elaborate as they want.

Some may set up an outdoor living room with a sofa, chairs and a chaise longue. Others may include a cooktop, under-counter refrigerator, barstools and a dining

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table with chairs. A ceiling fan and lights, meanwhile, are essential.

(Jech likes LEDs, while Benys appreciates the romance created by a gas-lit chandelier.) Other potential features include misters to stay cool and, just outside the perimeter of the structure, systems that emit chrysanthemum oil to shoo away mosquitoes for you.

But where should you set up your outdoor oasis? Placing it away from the house, preferably around active areas like pools and water features, helps to create a sense of destination. “It’s kind of a nucleus in the garden,” Jech notes.

Just as important as where, is how you construct your garden dwelling. Though roofs are feasible, both Benys and Jech prefer openair structures that create shade while remaining firmly rooted in the outdoors. Traditional roofs also require more structural work and increase the cost substantially.

“If you layer beams and allow vines to grow on them, it gives you a really soft look,” Benys says.

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beauty

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cocktails & conversation.

great OUTDOORS a little sun, a little shade and plenty of style will have you sitting pretty in your outdoor oasis. unDer the Sun

THE GARDEN STRUCTURE IS AN EXTENSION OF THE ARCHITECTURE. be repainted or refinished as often as every two years.

Benys prefers cedar or cypress when timber is called for, but he likes to work with unorthodox materials as well, like wrought iron or even canvas, which he suspends over cables for a cabana-like riff on traditional gazebos. But the best industry “secret,” Jech says, is architectural aluminum, which can be obtained in sizes and finishes to mimic wood beams. Aluminum, Jech explains, doesn’t rust and it

WoVen WonDer

can look like a “refined wood” with the right treatment.

To create a sense of arrival, the gazebo should be set above grade with plantings on two to three sides. Pottery, vines and ornamental trees, Benys adds, help soften the transition from landscape to structure. All this makes for a siren call few can resist.

“People get attracted,” Benys explains, “and they’ll want to walk out of your living room and experience that outdoor living space.”

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vines are both good choices, Jech adds, for the Houston climate.

The real key to design success is to mirror your home’s architecture in your gazebo.

“The garden structure is an extension of the architecture,” Jech says. “If it were a limestone house, I wouldn’t do a New York bluestone arbor.”

Wood, stone and brick are all reliable options, although wood can become a “maintenance challenge,” Jech warns, since humidity and foliage require it to

Made from recycled teak and weatherproof Sunbrella fabrics, these tropically inspired structures by Sweetwater Cabana make outdoor living a breeze. sweetwatercabana.com

may/june • 2012

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cocktails & conversation.

MY LIFE

operator TOUR

DeaN DaltON

F

or three decades, Houstonians listened to Dean Dalton’s velvet voice on KUHF-FM, where he commentated on Houston’s arts scene. In 2007, he retired from radio, but fortunately, you can still hear him wax lyrical about the arts on custom tours to some of the world’s greatest art cities.

As owner of Dean Dalton Tours, the company he runs with his wife, Zsófia Sztranyiczki, Dalton organizes intimate experiences at the opera, symphony and ballet in such destinations as Rome, Budapest and Paris.

“We design our tours around the performances,” says Dalton, who acts as booking agent and manager for the company, selling tours, and selecting and reserving hotels and restaurants. He even provides pre-performance lectures to his travelers.

Sztranyiczki serves as researcher, hunting down interesting opportunities, as well as providing translation in French, Italian, Hungarian and Romanian. They typically arrive in a tour location a day or two before their guests, and share duties meeting tour attendees at airports and hotels.

“If you take a standard tour to Vienna, you might hear musicians in period costume playing Mozart,” he says. “On our tours, you’ll see a performance at the Vienna State Opera.”

Dalton is dedicated to helping guests experience as much local color as he can, hiring local guides and ensuring guests sample local cuisine and wine. The company runs three or four tours each year and, although most of 2012 is booked, travelers can still look for experiences in Sicily, Naples, Rome and Germany next year.

“If you’re open to it, travel really broadens you,” he says. “You get a whole new view on the world, and who you share it with.”

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Story | Holly Beretto

Photography | Mark lipCzynSki

CONTINUE

THE CARE

DISCHARGED ISN’T THE LAST WORD. RECOVERY IS. Kindred understands that when a patient is discharged from a traditional hospital they often need post-acute care to recover completely. Every day we help guide patients to the proper care setting in order to improve the quality and cost of patient care, and reduce re-hospitalization.

In Texas Kindred offers services including aggressive, medically complex care, intensive care and short-term rehabilitation in: 25 Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals • 1 Subacute Unit • 5 Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals • 3 Transitional Care and Rehabilitation Centers • Outpatient Services Dedicated to Hope, Healing and Recovery www.continuethecare.com

MOTHERS OF

invention For five Houston women, a whole lot of gumption and 'can-do' attitude inspired them to answer the call of opportunity

Story | BrUCe Farr Photography | Mark lipCzynSki

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the accidental inventor BETSY RAVREBY KAUFMAN

Be assured of one thing: No one could ever be accused of walking on eggshells around Betsy Ravreby Kaufman. That’s because Kaufman, a former TV journalist and anchorwoman, has invented a product that probably every exasperated cook in the universe has prayed for at one time or another—a “shell-less” hard-boiled egg.

As she herself describes it, with nary an inventive bone in her body, Kaufman dreamed up what the world now knows as Eggies, a cooking tool with some unique properties.

A couple of years ago, she became intrigued by a contest offer on the back of a retail sales slip.

“The receipt directed me to a contest sponsored by a website called Edison Nation, so I logged on and discovered the most incredible community of inventive, entrepreneurial people,” Kaufman says.

The site eventually led her to information about a popular TV show called “As Seen on TV,” which regularly features items such as the now ubiquitous Snuggies and other infomercialoriented household products.

Some of them have become nationwide mega-sellers.

“I thought it would be cool to have an idea that actually appeared on TV, but I didn’t have one at the time,” Kaufman says.

One morning about a week later, Kaufman was starting breakfast when she says an idea hit her like a bolt of lightning.

“I was looking at the stove, and it suddenly hit me. I said to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if you could hard-boil an egg without an eggshell?’ ” Within a couple of months, Kaufman’s idea had made its

way through the Edison Nation people and she was notified that a potential sponsor was interested in her “product.”

Flabbergasted, she frantically began putting drawings and diagrams together to provide them with what they needed.

“Less than a week later, I got a phone call that my idea had been selected by this huge ‘As Seen on TV’ company called Allstar,” Kaufman says. “I was ecstatic.”

The eventual product, Eggies, is a set of oval, heat-resistant, non-stick containers that one can simply break an egg into, drop into a pan of boiling water and, a

few minutes later, pop out a fully hard-boiled egg—without the shell, of course.

Eggies was released for sale about a year ago and, since then, has had an incredible run.

“By July, it was on the shelves at Bed Bath & Beyond, and by September, it was in Best Buy, Target, CVS, Kmart, Walgreens, Walmart—you name it,” Kaufman says.

In the last quarter of 2011, Eggies racked up a whopping 5 million units in sales. Today, Kaufman is happy to say that her only responsibility with the company is to sit back and

collect royalty checks from Eggies’ sales.

“I still can’t believe it,” she says.

“It’s like knowing you don’t have much of a singing voice and waking up one morning to find out that you just won on ‘American Idol.’ ” Perhaps even more incredibly, not long ago, Kaufman was asked to be the guest speaker at the Houston Inventors Association.

“Can you imagine? Me? Talking to a roomful of inventors?” she asks.

“It’s truly a wild story,” Kaufman says in hindsight. “It just goes to show you how people like me with a whacky idea can actually make something great out of it.” may/june • 2012

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‘bumper’ crop developer SARA BLOOM

It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention, and perhaps there has never been a greater or more important necessity than finding a way to help prevent infant mortalities from SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

That’s what motivated Houston resident Sara Bloom.

Bloom was a high-powered corporate attorney with a promising career when she became pregnant with Oliver, the first of her and her husband’s three children. Following the tragic death of an acquaintance’s 3-month-old child, the young mother-to-be began researching the alarming danger of SIDS.

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“I found myself thinking, ‘How could this happen?’” Bloom says.

“No one had ever mentioned to me about how, as parents, we should be making certain that babies in their cribs have adequate air flow.”

She immediately removed the conventional baby bumpers in her son’s crib and tried to find a makeshift way to increase its safety.

“I learned that if you simply have a fan in your baby’s room— something to create air flow—you can reduce SIDS by up to 90 percent. That was shocking to me,” she says.

Later, during her second pregnancy, Bloom couldn’t shake off the idea of doing something to address the SIDS problem. She began considering the possibility of developing a product that would fill what she discovered was a definite void in the child-safety market.

“I had so much passion for this idea, I thought, OK, it’s time for me to leave the attorney world and

offer a crib bumper product that’s both safe and stylish—something that a mother like me would want to put in her nursery,” Bloom says.

In late 2008, she began designing prototypes and conducting testing for a new type of crib bumper.

“We didn’t get any funding, so we decided just to bootstrap it,” she explains. “I knew that I could get this product made and then see how the market reacted.”

Now, four years later, her company, Oliver B, and its primary product, the Ventilated Slat Bumper, are enjoying considerable success. Remarkably, in addition to raising three boys, she’s pretty much done it all on her own.

“I really couldn’t afford to hire anyone, so I just took baby steps, from phase to phase, through research, development, manufacturing and, finally, marketing,” says Bloom, who took the product into baby boutiques, where it was mostly well received.

“All of a sudden, there was this explosion of articles about the importance of air flow. The timing was perfect.”

At first, the company’s growth was moderate, especially considering that its marketing was largely word-of-mouth.

“In 2010, we really started to see sales increase, though, because the mainstream media had picked up on the issue [of SIDs],” Bloom says. “And this year, we’re seeing the most growth we’ve ever had—probably up 50 percent.”

Bloom says she’s looking to expand into international markets within the next year. But if she does that, she may need to bring on some additional employees.

Aside from a handful of contractbased staff, she only has one fulltime employee—her mother.

“Right now, it’s just my mother and me running the company,” she admits. “If you call, you might get either her or me on the other end of the line.”

dog whisperer MARY KEGARISE

As inventors go, they don’t get more inventive than someone who can teach a dog to read.

No, really.

Well, almost anyway.

Happily for thousands of school-age children, Houstonian canine behavior specialist and trainer Mary Kegarise has come

as close to that feat as anyone possibly could. With her BAKPAK Critters Reading Program, Kegarise has uncovered a way to meaningfully engage children in the act of reading, using canines that are uniquely trained to “facilitate” group-reading sessions.

Here’s how it came about: Kegarise, who studied canine behavior at Cornell University, had gained considerable recognition in an animal outreach therapy program through the local Oaks Presbyterian Church, taking

specially trained and screened therapy animals to visit at nursing homes and hospitals.

Later, in a booth at a dog-therapy event, she was approached by the owner of several preschools, who told her about a program that invited “celebrity readers” to visit the schools once a month to read to the students.

“She thought it would be fun to have me visit with my dog as a ‘celebrity reader,’” Kegarise recalls. “However, I knew that she meant I would be doing the reading and the dog would

simply be present while I did so.”

Kegarise, however, decided to take the idea and kick it up a notch. “You don’t tell caninebehavior specialists that you want their dogs to read, because we will teach them read.”

Challenged thusly, Kegarise worked with her collie Luke and taught him to essentially understand the concept of reading as opposed to the concept of speaking.

“I taught him to ‘alert’ to objects that a dog wouldn’t normally alert to, and also to understand that the concept of looking at a book and looking at a reader was different than simply looking at someone who was talking,” she says.

Kegarise also taught Luke some cues, such as putting his foot on the page and even to turn the page when prompted.

“Luke—who was a brilliant dog—learned to interact with the book,” she explains. “They were basic concepts using the same training techniques as they do for dogs that become bomb-sniffing dogs, or those trained to alert to medical problems. In this case, I was training the dog to alert to a book.”

At first, in late 2008, Kegarise and Luke took their BAK-PAK program solo, visiting preschools. Such was the enthusiasm of the kids, however, that the program has blossomed. This year, with 50 teams of facilitators and dogs, BAK-PAK Critters has established reading programs in 21 Houston schools, delighting children from preschool to middle-school age. This fall, the program will be introduced to high schools for the first time.

The all-volunteer program has also picked up some generous benefactors to aid in its growth.

“We have private donations, money from the church and some other charitable organizations that are helping us grow,” Kegarise notes. “We’re now also getting some grant funding, which has us dancing in the streets.”

may/june • 2012

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‘spirits’ guide

NYDIA FLORES For most Americans, tequila is regarded as a party drink, diluted with salt and citrus, and served in millions of sweet, celebratory margaritas, or tossed down in shots. Nydia Flores and her husband, Ignacio, hope to alter that notion a bit.

The Sugar Land residents and natives of Monterrey, Mexico, saw the U.S. tequila market reshaping what, for the Floreses, had long been a quiet and dignified tradition in their native country. So, working hand in hand, they last year launched a premium tequila called “Izkali.”

Initially, the couple is testing Izkali Tequila in the local Houston market before expanding their sales into other regions. The real story of invention, though, is how the Floreses have carefully sidestepped the many obstacles to introducing a liquor product in this country, and how they’re finding a foothold in what is a very crowded tequila market.

Their story goes back more than 20 years, to 1990, when the Floreses became distributors of non-alcoholic products sold in liquor stores. Over the years, they introduced many items to the Houston market, learning the ins-and-outs of marketing and distribution.

“This was a new venture for us, though,” Nydia Flores says, of their plunge into the liquor development and marketing business. “Having been born in Mexico, both Ignacio and I recognized that tequila is the ‘spirit’ of the country. The culture is very family-oriented, friends and family getting together.

There’s always a tequila spirit before or after dinner, sipped and savored, not as a ‘cocktail,’ per se.

We started thinking about how important this tradition is in the Mexican culture and how, in the

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U.S., tequila hasn’t historically been regarded as a premium spirit. We were interested in bringing a little of what we knew from our heritage into the market here.”

Ignacio Flores did a lot of the necessary research and product sourcing in Jalisco, Mexico, while Nydia began putting together a marketing and branding campaign stateside.

“There are many high-priced tequilas on the market, but our goal was to introduce a quality tequila that sold at a reasonable

price,” she explains. The results thus far are outstanding, winning the Floreses trophies in national liquor competitions.

Naming the product was critical, Flores says. After much trial and error, they consulted scores of their closest friends and family before seizing on the name Izkali.

“It means ‘life’ or ‘to be born’ in the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl,” Flores explains. “We thought it was a perfect name to capture our feeling and our philosophy about the product.”

Following their introductory market testing, the Floreses hope to broaden their tequila distribution throughout Texas, and then take it nationally.

“We want to help people discover a quality tequila that can be enjoyed in certain social settings,” Flores notes.

“Like wine, tequila has many different characteristics depending on where it’s grown and how it’s processed and who’s involved in the processing. Because of this, Izkali is unique among them.”

inventing support

gittings

BETH SANDERS MOORE If Beth Sanders Moore could convey just one message, it would be to let everyone know that cancer doesn’t merely affect the person who contracts the disease.

Rather, it draws into its wake an ever-widening circle of people: the patients themselves, their friends, family, caregivers, co-workers and even casual acquaintances, all of whom are themselves, in a sense, “cancer survivors.”

A Houston resident and sixth-generation Texan, Moore is helping to generate that message through the non-profit CancerForward™, which she and two colleagues—Albert “Bo” Bothe Jr. and Brian

Cruver—founded in 2010. That was nearly a decade after Moore herself was declared cancer-free following a multiyear battle with the disease.

CancerForward’s mission couldn’t be more straightforward: “We’re here to connect, educate and share information among cancer survivors, empowering them to move forward with their lives.”

As Moore explains, CancerForward exists “mainly to help people deal with the physical, practical and emotional issues of being a cancer survivor.” Her own experiences with the disease— surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and five years of drug treatment—were enough to convince her that the subtler types of support cancer victims and survivors require are often beyond their reach.

Because Moore had been very active in the Komen Foundation and other cancer groups prior to

her diagnosis, she realized she was an exception to the rule.

“When I was first diagnosed, because of my involvement with Komen, I had a ready-made support group…but I quickly realized that a lot of cancer survivors don’t necessarily have anyone to turn to,” Moore explains.

“So Bo, Brian and I came up with the idea of forming an organization where you could connect with other survivors, to share information and experiences.”

Today, CancerForward has grown significantly. Within the past year, more than 15,000 people have visited the CancerForward website, and many thousands of others are actual members of the organization’s survivors’ network.

“Our goal has been to have the organization available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone, regardless of their geographic location, age, or type of cancer,” Moore says.

By providing a “virtual venue” for its users, CancerForward supports cancer patients, their friends, family and caregivers, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

“And through social media, we have thousands of individuals who share our information and learn more from the experts who are sharing their stories along with survivors who are doing the same,” she adds.

“You can never take back the fact that you’ve had cancer or are a cancer survivor,” Moore says. “But what you can do is to try and improve the quality of survivors’ lives. Every day, through the opportunities that CancerForward offers survivors to connect with other survivors—through all of these different venues and in many different ways—we can offer help, hope and inspiration to assist them in leading fuller lives.” may/june • 2012

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BEACHSIDE

bliss Story | elizaBetH eXline

– resort hualalai

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A

nyone who’s experienced a perfect beachside vacation will tell you the only way to improve on it would be to live there. To which we can only reply, “Why not?”

Forget bellmen, valet parking and check-in times. These three luxury destinations welcome you to your very own residence where, for a while at least, you can enjoy the best of all worlds: vacation, resort and home. may/june • 2012

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Hual lai Resort

welcoming,” says Russell Schoon, director of HVH. Outside, the home incorporates glass and exotic finishes, including reclaimed teak exterior panels.

But, true to its reputation, Four Seasons didn’t rest on its architectural laurels. Visitors to this home can enjoy an impressive array of amenities, including two golf carts for use around the property; access to a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course; a private shower garden; high-speed, wireless Internet; and more than 200 activities, including—as of this year—shark feedings.

HUALALAI RESORT 888-477-8187 hualalaivillasandhomes.com

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Hualalai Resort

Few places in the world can match Hawaii when it comes to evoking paradise. And few resorts can successfully enhance that feeling via luxury digs, thoughtful amenities and legendary service.

Four Seasons, however, does just that. Its Hualālai Resort on the Big Island’s North Kohala Coast presides serenely over a half-mile of pristine white beach, confident in the knowledge that it has the very best of island life on tap.

The Hualālai Villas and Homes (HVH) program includes 35 villas and eight single-family homes, all pleasantly situated in neighborhoods and all positioned to capitalize on views of the golf course and ocean.

Of these, the seven-bedroom Kahikole residence is the most spectacular with two separate guest wings (each with three bedrooms), the most advanced homeautomation system on the property, a basalt infinity-edge pool and spa and an expansive home theater.

Thoughtful architectural details appear, too, such as the oversize windows that bathe the home in natural light, and a color palette that is, “natural, organic and

Hacienda Beach Club & Residences

Hacienda Beach Club & Residences

the ocean changes colors, from sea green to aqua to cobalt. And overlooking it all are Hacienda’s Situated along 1,600 feet of Cabo 109 homes, which are within a San Lucas’ best beach, Hacienda stone’s throw of the glittering Beach Club & Residences marina as well as abundant occupies 22 acres of prime shopping and dining venues. oceanfront real estate. This is No spot better captures the the sort of place where massive splendor of this seascape than boulders have been weathered into Hacienda’s Villa 14, where you’ll sculptures as they rise majestically catch straight-on views of the beach from turquoise waters. It’s where and, just beyond, the Sea of Cortez.

As with all of the property’s 16 villas, Villa 14 unrolls over 3,424 square feet, evoking historic Mexico with wood-beam ceilings, stone flooring, expansive patios, painted ceramics and splashes of bright reds, oranges and blues.

For all its cultural context, Villa 14 is decidedly modern, too. You’ll find a gourmet kitchen equipped with Viking appliances, clean lines, a neutral color palette in the bedroom and, outside, a private, heated infinity-edge pool

and spa and a grilling area.

Villa 14’s guests can make use of the club’s ample amenities, including a spa, concierge service, four-hole putting green, fitness pavilion, preferred tee times at Palmilla Golf Club and, for an additional fee, the services of a butler or chef. The options, it seems, are endless.

HACIENDA BEACH CLUB & RESORT 800-670-0310 haciendacabosanlucas.com

may/june • 2012

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SEEKING THE

perfect sunset

emily dickinson spent a good deal of time putting sunsets into poetry. and if she could successfully do that from amherst, Mass., there’s no telling what inspirations might arise at the following five destinations where you’ll encounter some of the best sunsets in the world.

SANTORINI, GREECE With white buildings and blue domes nestled into the craggy rocks and surrounded by a glittering aqua sea, this lovely island is beloved by sunset aficionados.

Le Sereno, St. Barthélemy

If you’re Kate Moss or Beyoncé, you’re already well acquainted with the particular brand of discreet decadence that defines Le Sereno, located in the luxe French West Indies. For the rest of us, the property’s three 7,500-square-foot villas are beautiful enough to make us yearn for stardom.

Situated on the east end of the island on the Grand Culde-Sac, Le Sereno’s 600 feet of beach gazes onto a marine reserve hemmed in by a coral reef. These are views that summon visitors out of their sleek, Christian Liaigre-designed dens.

“The villas at Le Sereno were built to give our clients what we believe constitutes the ultimate in luxury where there are no shortcuts: views, design and lots of space,” explains property owner Luis Contreras.

Each villa sits on a nearly half-acre lot and is equipped with a pool, garden and plenty of patio space.

Liaigre owns a home on St. Barths and so knew how to deftly impose his glass and white walls, clean lines

SERENGETI, TANZANIA it’s hard to compete with watching wildlife in action, but a sunset at the serengeti national Park, where the sky burns orange and red as the sun melts below the horizon, gives the lions a run for their money.

SEMINYAK, BALI

and neutral palette—punctuated by pops of color—onto a landscape that is as languid as it is exclusive.

Exotic woods such as iroko, ipe and cumaru share space with Carrera marble and Pietra Serena stone, while more functional concerns—a fully equipped kitchen, en suite bathrooms and 24-hour butler service—have also been considered.

Such meticulous attention to the

guest experience belies Liaigre’s remark that St. Barths “is an island for lazing about.” Obviously someone is tirelessly ensuring Le Sereno’s guests experience the vacation of a lifetime.

LE SERENO, ST. BARTHÉLEMY 888-537-3736, lesereno.com

despite the beachfront development and general popularity, the natural beauty of this indonesian hot spot cannot be diminished. claim a place on the beach and see for yourself why watching the sunset here is a veritable national pastime.

MATTERHORN, SWITZERLAND shaped like a pyramid, this legendary alpine peak is also a lofty place to catch the sunset. it’s often compared to a candle, thanks to the way the peak glows while the rest of the mountain lies in shadow.

it may not be a natural wonder, but this mausoleum and national treasure routinely attracts thousands of attendants for the sunset, since the white dome turns pink and gold in the fading light.

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le sereno

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L

remote location—the nearest village is three-and-half hours from the Dunes—instills a powerful feeling of “emptiness.”

Made up of nine rustic wood and canvas luxury “chalets” with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas, the camp has a swimming pool and a main lodge that features two lounges, a fireplace, tea deck, library, wine cellar and two dining rooms. A At the Wolwedans Dunes Lodge, massage therapist trained in Swedish you’ll think you’ve stepped onto massage also is available. the set of “Out of Africa.” Perched Guests can take in the colorful on a dune plateau deep in the vistas from their verandas or NamibRand Nature Reserve multiple sundowner decks. Or in Namibia, the luxury “tent” choose to go hot-air ballooning, take camp has a 360-degree view scenic drives and flights, or trace of Africa’s most unspoiled and the footsteps of the Bushmen on cinematic landscape. The private a guided walking safari. Whatever reserve is tucked between the the path, visitors will experience Namib-Naukluft Park and Nubib the depth of the reserve’s protected mountain range and covers 444,600 biodiversity, like striking red sand acres. Its vast natural beauty and dunes, the enigmatic barren patches ooking to get away from it all? You don’t have to head into uncharted territory to get some peace and quiet. Many destinations combine spectacular surroundings, luxury comfort and privacy in one itinerary.

Wolwedans Dunes Lodge

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Fall off the grid and retreat from civilization at some of the world’s most remote luxury destinations

that are the “fairy circles,” and a chance to spot several bird species and wild creatures, such as oryx, gazelle, zebra, giraffe, leopard, bateared fox and caracal.

After a day of rest or exploration, lavish but unpretentious five-star bush cuisine is prepared with local organic produce and served with select local and South African wines.

GETTING THERE: Fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, then to Windhoek.

From there, guests can rent a car (five-hour drive), or hire a private or group charter to the Wolwedans’ reception area, where staff will escort them to the Dunes Lodge. wolwedans.com

Whitepod

Need to chill out? It’s easy to get a different perspective when your

hotel room is a prefab wooden igloo constructed in a pristine alpine environment. Whitepod, a unique eco-ski concept, is located at the foot of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range, the start of the Swiss Alps. The private facility is a low-crowd/low-impact retreat with 15 geodesic domes, which are independently anchored on wood platforms into the mountainside with panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva. All are equipped with wood-burning stoves, full-service bathrooms and organic luxury bedding. A separate Pod-house contains a breakfast room, a bar and relaxation space.

The environmental impact and benefit of the secluded maverick design is felt instantly.

At check-in guests receive a rucksack, a map, a headlight,

crampons and walking sticks to guide them during the 15-mintue walk to their pod.

The ski estate includes Les Cerniers, a traditional wooden chalet with a refined-cuisine restaurant that acts as base camp. In addition, L’Alpage de Chindonne, an authentic mountain lodge, is on the property. Spa services include a Finnish bath and Japanese sauna in the Pod-house, and a treatment area at Les Cerniers for massages.

Guests also can schedule off-site thermal baths.

Adventure and tranquil thrills are abundant at Whitepod, which has 4.35 miles of ski slopes and three chairlifts. Popular activities include skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, paragliding, snowshoeing and ice skating.

GETTING THERE: The nearest airport is Geneva Airport (GVA).

From there, drive or take a train. The closest train station to Whitepod is Aigle; the train from Geneva Airport to Aigle takes approximately one-and-a-half hours, then connect via two buses to Les Cerniers. whitepod.com

Petit St. Vincent Private Island Resort | Wolwedans Dunes Lodge | Whitepod

Petit St. Vincent Private Island Resort

The only way to get to Petit St. Vincent (PSV) is by boat, but don’t expect a luxury liner to drop you off or a sea of hotel options lining the shore once you dock. On this tropical paradise, a 115-acre private island/resort located in the Southern

Grenadines, the accommodations total 22 guest cottages.

The resort’s motto, “A private place for private people,” guarantees a complete disconnect from modern distractions, including humans. The ocean-view cottages, though carefully appointed, are discreetly spaced apart on the hillsides for privacy and don’t have any TV, Internet or outside phone access. The unplugged approach includes a simple communication style: A yellow flag indicates, “I have a request,” while a red flag means “Do not disturb.”

The tranquil pace makes it easy to absorb the natural rhythms of the Caribbean wilderness. Two spots, the open-air Hillside Spa and yoga pavilion, help guests unwind and gain some mental and physical clarity.

Although there’s no pressure to do anything on PSV, the rolling hills and two miles of white sandy beaches provide an ideal backdrop for non-motorized water and land sports such as hiking, running, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling and tennis. Sailboat excursions and island-hopping tours can be arranged, as well as 18-hole tee times on nearby Canouan Island.

The dining lineup includes room service, a main and beachfront bar/ restaurant, weekly barbecues or private picnics. If you really want to distance yourself from others, rent the entire island.

GETTING THERE: Fly to Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados and then to Union Island, where PSV staff pick up guests for a 20-minute boat ride to the island.

800-654-9326, petitstvincent.com

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be

BolD

Open fOR M O T H e R ’ S D ay b R u n c H S u n D ay, M ay 1 3 TH

U S DA P r i m e B e e f · AwA r D -w i n n i n g w i n e l i S t f r e S h S e A f o o D · wo r l D - C l A S S h o S P i tA l i t y 5061 Westheimer Road, Suite 8060 · Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 355-2600 · delfriscos.houston@dfrg.com w w w. D e l f r i S C o S . C o m

REMARKABLE HOSPITALITY. INCREDIBLE CUISINE. LOCAL PASSION. H A N D - CU T AG E D S T E A K S FRESH SE AFOOD • HAPPY HOUR

O P E N f O R M O T H E R ’ S DAY B R U N C H S U N DAY, M AY 13 T H

L I V E M U S I C N I G H T LY • P R I VA T E D I N I N G

4608 Westheimer Road • Houston, Texas 77027 r e s e r v a t i o n s 713.961.0333 sullivans.houston@dfrg.com www.sullivanssteakhouse.com

connoisseur

tHe PRIME LIVING GUIDe tO DISCeRNING taSte

inside: garden of eden cocktail, triniti

38 40 42 44 46

• • • • •

MaIN DISH | HOLY TRINITI SMall bIteS | GOOD EATS table talk | DINING NEWS UNCORkeD | MARVELOUS MARGARITA eNteRtaIN | MOROCCAN MAGIC

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connoisseur main dish

holy triniti Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark Lipczynski

The only word that can really capture the essence of Triniti, the latest venture from Ryan Hildebrand (whom Houston foodies know and adore from Bistro Provence and Textile) is exquisite. Everything about Hildebrand’s solo effort proves the devil is in the details—and here, those details are divine.

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Walk past the bar through the amber afternoon light flashing on the blond wood floors. Settle in to a Tom Dixon chair and order up a Garden of Eden, a violet cocktail of St. Germain, procsecco and lavender bitters that somehow tastes like spring.

While you’re contemplating that and assessing the menu, remember that Hildebrand’s driving inspiration at Triniti is a celebration of sweet, savory and spirits. To that end, be prepared for an almost exotic experience that blends California French and progressive American influences to create something uniquely Houston.

The seasonal oysters are a great place to start, huge Laguna Negro mollusks with a pickled vegetable mignonette sauce that’s slightly sweet, making this a promise of all good things to come. The garden greens and endive arrive, lovely and light, the Cheddar perfectly accenting the Provencal presentation. For something with a trifle more heft, consider the decadent foie gras “breakfast,” where the foie gras is paired with bacon, a quail egg and a fig syrup that offers a little shine of sass in all that richness.

The only tasting note I made on the menu next to the entry: Rabbit, black truffle, carrot gnocchi, quail egg, was, “Love this!” That pretty well sums it up, too. The rabbit was simply prepared and endlessly flavorful. The gnocchi and quail egg were matches made in heaven for the game.

Lamb all but heralds springtime, and Hildebrand’s interpretation, with root vegetables and English peas, proves you don’t have to meddle too much with a classic presentation to achieve greatness. The lamb is tender, the vegetables crisp—there’s nothing here not to love. If you seek over-the-top, order the lobster, which will arrive with tarragon sabayon and leek pudding. It will leave you raving over the huge pieces of shellfish coupled with the savory in the tarragon sauce.

For dessert, don’t pass up the pistachio semifreddo, a stunning little number that marries pistachio with a homemade shortbread cookie and chocolate, producing an effect that will leave you talking about it for days. Chocolate lovers will delight in the Gianduja, an inspired creation of ricotta cream and hints of hazelnut that fairly begs to be consumed with rich coffee laced with Frangelico. You won’t regret the pairing.

Hildebrand’s reputation has always been synonymous with creative cuisine. One meal at Triniti and you’ll see how well he shines in his own space. Triniti is about more than just food, it’s about expression. And this expression is exquisite. triniti 2815 s. shepherd 713-527-9090 trinitirestaurant.com

connoisseur main dish

seasonal oysters

GARDEN GREENS & ENDIVE

lamb

drEssinG

¼ cup garlic clove 1 shallot 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 cup rice-wine vinegar ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups blended oil 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil sALAd

4 cups mixed greens

rabbit

gianduja

2 cups endive, julienne 1 cup toasted pistachio 1 blood orange, cut into segments ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shaved To prepare the dressing, combine garlic, shallot, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce in blender. On low speed, blend to combine and slowly add the blended oil.

Season and finish with extra-virgin olive oil. Reserve. Combine greens and endive in a large bowl. Add half cup of the mustard dressing and gently toss to coat. Fold in orange segments and nuts. Plate immediately and garnish with Cheddar.

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connoisseur

small bites

MuSSel in

Bartlett's eye-opener, down house habanero margarita, la fisheria

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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When you think about mussels, you’d hardly be scolded if the first preparation that came to mind was steamed with garlic, olive oil and wine. Of course, if you thought that way, you wouldn’t be chef Aquiles Chavez, the personality force of nature behind La Fisheria, an exciting new “Mexican seafood kitchen” just off Shepherd. His mussels in beet coulis are a case in point.

“I was thinking about what would happen if this root of the earth were transported to the sea,” he says of his inspiration for the appetizer that basically sets the tone at this funky, fun restaurant where the vibe may be casual, but the seafood preparation is nothing short of relentless pursuit of perfection.

The mussels swim elegantly in their slightly sweet beet broth, the whole combination a symphony of land-sea flavors that evokes the old-school French basis of making mussels, even as it sends up an haute Mexican peasant flair. Here, you’ll find some garlic, some wine.

But you’ll also find savory sustenance. In short, you’ll find delicious.

And you’ll want to come back—and not just for the food. Interior and concept designers Rainey Richardson and Gabriel Esper have made La Fisheria the kind of place where you walk in from Houston, and step over the threshold into some beautifully decked-out Mexican beach house. la fisheria 4705 inker st.

713-802-1712 lafisheriahouston.com

c connoisseur

small bites

reel it in

When chef David Luna took the reins at the restaurant in the Hotel Icon, he was looking for a way to offer some lighter fare, even while keeping to the spot’s meat-and-potatoes roots. So, you’ll still find steak on the Line & Lariat menu, but you’re missing out if you pass up the sea bass and shrimp.

It arrives in a lemon butter sauce, elegantly simple and endlessly satisfying. The fish is sautéed in butter, a la Francaise, after it’s dredged in flour and eggs. Once it’s done, Chef Luna tosses shrimp and mushrooms into the pan, and finishes up the sauce with scallion and more butter and lemon.

“This is comfort food,” he says. “We wanted to create dishes that paid homage to Houston’s love of meats and things of the land, as well as take advantage of its Gulf Coast location.”

The menu is an eclectic mix of land and sea sensations, including a particularly wonderful tomato-cucumber salad and the ever-popular fried jumbo Gulf shrimp served on a bed of cheesy grits. It’s that sea bass, though, that really demonstrates that you can take simple ingredients and prepare them in a simple, understated way, and come up with absolute magic.

In addition to being perfectly flakey and shot through with bursts of lemon zing, the bass is punctuated with the chewy plumpness of the shrimp. This is a dish to eat when you want to feel like you’re overlooking a blissful blue bay, but you can’t really leave town. Don’t worry. Just eating it will make you feel worlds away. line & lariat 220 main st. • 832-667-4470 • hotelicon.com/dining

feeling blu

From the minute you step through the door of the ultra-swanky Blu, you know you’re in for an upscale experience. And that’s exactly what owner Amy Karnani had in mind when she and her husband opened this new Sugar Land venue, destined to become a hot spot.

Fans of chef Jett Hurapan will be thrilled to find his signature style all over the menu here, with its spicy winks and Asian influences. Even better, wife Jiraporn’s stamp is all over the dessert menu, her sweet endings the perfect counterpoints to Jett’s explosive flavors.

While the bread pudding is a favorite and the truffles delightful homemade confections, make a beeline for the Chocolate-Cappuccino Martini, a parfait of cookie crumbs and mousse that is lip-smacking good. Served in a massive martini glass, this dessert is fluffy and fine, the strawberry cookie crumbs a playful banter against the rich and creamy chocolate and cappuccino. White-chocolatee shavings and caramelized banana slices on top add a touch of fun. This is definitely something made to be shared, so your tablemates can exclaim over its goodness. But you’re going to want one all to yourself, so tell those pals of yours to get their own. blu 2248 texas drive, sugar land 281-903-7324 blusugarland.com

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connoisseur

Straight from the Heart

table talk

N

L

ong-awaited Underbelly restaurant by chef-owner Chris Shepherd has opened its doors and pays tribute to the history of Houston and local farmers and ranchers. Collaborative Projects designed the clever Southern architecture with artsy farmer touches, including a soaring barn-style ceiling with lighting hung on old butcher rails, handcrafted American walnut tables, a glassed-in meat locker and homey kitchen-counter seating.

Shepherd’s menu is like a cookbook of Houston’s diverse culinary culture, including Southern classics and ethnic favorites. His specialties are prepared

with locally raised lambs, goats, pigs and chickens butchered in-house; Gulf fish; local vegetables and housemade pickled produce. Appetizers at the wine bar—which showcases a massive wine list including mostly family-operated winery labels—include house-made charcuterie; a Texas cheese plate with house-made pork terrine and house-baked, Ritz-style crackers; or smoked Gulf oysters and potted shrimp presented in mini Mason jars.

For entrees, you might find local snapper and cauliflower hummus or New York strip with potatoes and bone marrow butter, along with family-style dinners.

1100 Westheimer Road, 713-528-9800, underbellyhouston.com

Bonjour, Paris long Montrose’s restaurant row and

A

saddled up to the pretty Avondale neighborhood, check out L’Olivier Restaurant & Bar by former Tony’s exec-chef Olivier Ciesielski. The tres chic space is intimate and inviting with genuine bistro touches such as a white pressed-tin ceiling and accents, wrought-iron bistro tables with hammered-zinc tabletops, and sexy banquettes in pale gray leather and red flocked brocade.

French-born Ciesielski proffers an affordable European menu with modern twists. Start with beef tartar and pommes frites, oyster shooters or perhaps a classic French salad of frisée with tomatoes, bacon and chive vinaigrette topped with an organic poached egg. Seasonally changing entrée

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Hello & Goodbye

The latest restaurants to join and leave the Houston dining scene

choices might include wasabi sesame-crusted beef or farfalle pasta with Italian sausage, broccoli and mint.

The tucked-away, pewter-topped bar has a separate menu and raw bar to create a distinct experience from the dining room.

Also anticipate a chef ’s table and an emphasis on personal service. 240 Westheimer Road, olivierhouston.com

Openings

• Three Brothers Bakery, Memorial City

• Union Kitchen, Memorial • JerryBuilt HomeClosings grown Burgers • Ruggles Grill, • The Tasting Room, Montrose Kingwood • Pesce

Julie Soefer | L'Olivier Restaurant & Bar | Chuck Cook

Belly Full

ative Houstonian and CIA alum chef Justin Yu has opened Oxheart, whose culinary team includes firecracker sommelier Justin Vann and gifted pastry chef Karen Man. Yu, who has a brilliant way with vegetables and has showcased this talent at pop-up dinners around town, prepares modern American food with regional roots.

Three seasonal prix-fixe tasting menus are offered nightly, including a wine and beer pairing menu designed by Vann. Expect many of the vegetarian-friendly dishes to reflect the culinary tricks Yu learned while working at Ubuntu in Napa. Yu will also showcase underutilized fresh by-catch fish and flavorful meats that require more technique such as oxtail, duck neck and pork cheeks.

Warm and vibrant, the 30-seat restaurant housed in the historic Erie City Iron Works Building has a modern industrial look with wood ceilings, soaring windows and red-brick walls paved in butcher-paper murals stamped with real vegetable carvings to reflect the restaurant theme.

“We just really enjoy cooking vegetables and presenting them in unique ways,” Yu says. 1302 Nance St. 832-830-8592, oxhearthouston.com

connoisseur table talk

side SiPS WINE EVENTS YOu WON’T WaNT TO MISS

aSPen BounD

Hard-core foodies already have scored tickets to the Food & Wine Classic in aspen, June 15-17.

Fortunately, there’s still time if you’re craving this coveted event featuring a cadre of international food and wine guest celebrities.

The weekend’s lineup includes seminars on beer pairing and a chocolate seminar by Godiva, as well as dozens of stellar cooking demos presented by chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, John Besh, Jacques Pépin and Mario Batali.

Reserve wine tastings and seminars are also wildly popular. Catch sommeliers Andrea Immer Robinson, native Houstonian Paul Roberts and Food & Wine executive wine editor Ray Isle for the scoop on vino. foodandwine.com/classic

Wine in the WooDlanDS

reBecca fondren | food & Wine asPen classic | siMi Winery | the Best MeMories PhotograPhy

jaPaneSe Gem

T

he mercury is rising in Houston, and chef-restaurateur Tyson Cole’s Austin transplant Uchi is serving cool bites to a hot crowd.

The former Felix Mexican Restaurant space has been completely revitalized, starting with the unassuming exterior of concrete gray walls. The interior showcases a softly lit, understated Japanese farmhousestyle design paved in reclaimed woods with a long wraparound sushi bar and several seating options.

Menu stars are many, such as the unique chilled tasting plate of maguro sashimi and goat cheese with big-eye tuna, Fuji apple and pumpkinseed oil; or seasonal makimono (sushi rolls) such as zero sen with yellowtail, avocado, shallots, cilantro and yuzu.

For warm dishes, the Jar Jar Duck is inventively presented in a canning jar crowned with bourbon maple sauce and rosemary smoke. Also delectable is the two-bite walu walu, a chunk of buttery oak-grilled escolar with candied citrus. 904 Westheimer. 713-522-4808, uchirestaurants.com

More than 10,000 food and wine lovers are expected to attend the annual Wine & Food Week presented by H-E-B in The Woodlands, June 4-10. Expect more than 40 events featuring more than 500 wines and 50 restaurants, and legendary wine producers and personalities from across the country. Included are wine education classes, chef demos, cookbook author events, auctions and wine-and-dine experiences. The week culminates in the signature event on the evening of June 9, the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting. wineandfoodweek.com

art of Wine

The Culinaria Wine & Culinary arts Festival runs May 16-20 in San Antonio and commences with the Sip, Savor & Shop tasting event at the Shops at La Cantera.

Other highlights of the week include the Best of Mexico, featuring spirits and culinary treasures of the region; a winery luncheon on the beautiful grounds of Becker Vineyards; Burgers, BBQ & Beer at The Pearl; and the Grand Tasting, which combines the best of food and wine around the globe. culinariasa.org

What the haY?

F

ind craft-beer paradise in Hay Merchant, created by Anvil Bar’s Bobby Heugel and beer guru Kevin Floyd. The name gives a historical wink to Mitchell Louis Westheimer, a successful Houston hay merchant in the 1850s, and the space reflects a similar era with old, worn brick from its decades-old structure, and reclaimed wood and tabletops from vintage work benches.

Strategically designed to store and deliver beer under its most ideal conditions, the

bar sports 80 custom-built tap handles with turn-of-the-century commodity boards above each handle to identify beer selections. Nosh on tasty tavern fare like the “Butcher’s Burger” made from in-house butchered meats, chicken and waffles, a Carolina pulled-pork barbecue sandwich, sweet and spicy crispy pig ears, and other beer-loving bites. 1100 Westheimer, 713528-9805, haymerchant.com roBin BArr sUssMAn Robin Barr Sussman is a Houston-based freelance writer who specializes in food, wine and travel. Her work has appeared in Texas Monthly, My Table, and Private Clubs magazine.

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connoisseur

ambassador to Mexico. The lady’s first name was, of course, Margarita.

These days, the movement to liberate the drink from its traditional recipe is being led by super-talented spirits guys such as Bobby Heugel of Anvil, who seems to respect the classics, but also feels empowered to reinvent them, and it’s spilling over quickly into local restaurants. The Washington Avenue eatery called TQLA, for instance, features not only 700-plus different tequilas, but also margaritas given intrigue by the likes of avocado or a mixture of blackberries and sage.

The creative cuisine at Triniti meets its match in a margarita accented with nontraditional ginger and saffron.

Of course, where better to enjoy an upscale margarita than an upscale Tex-Mex restaurant like Vida, where a chunk of the clientele comes from River Oaks or from the posh St. Regis Hotel next door? They even take the beloved drink to Peru, producing their Inca Rita with a blend of Grand Marnier and pisco, the preferred firewater of the Andes. Riding the same train of thought, Robert del Grande’s Ava Kitchen & Whiskey Bar serves the RoxoRita, with fresh-squeezed Texas grapefruit and orange juice making a home with Roxor gin.

UnCORkeD

SECRET RECIPES

MarVelous

margarita Story | JoHn DEMerS

F

or most of us, especially those who came of (legal) age in Texas, the first taste of alcohol was probably one of two drinks. It may have been a beer, particularly if you’re a guy (and probably not any beer you’d be proud of drinking today). If not that, it was probably a greenish concoction in a heavy glass rimmed with salt that mixed cheap tequila with lime juice and something vaguely orange.

Whether it was frozen or merely blended, shaken or stirred, whether it came with salt on the rim or not, you had just tasted your first (of many, almost certainly) margaritas.

In recent years, everything about those first few sips has become subject to change.

Like the rising tide that lifts all boats, the rediscovery of the Great American Cocktail

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has made for margaritas “crafted” with much better tequila—your head will thank you in the morning—along with mixological insistence on fresh-squeezed rather than frozen-from-concentrate lime juice.

And as with the ubiquitous martini, a margarita can now be virtually anything served in a margarita glass, even a drink made with some spirit that isn’t tequila. It’s a brave new world for rediscovering what may have given you your very first buzz.

Though there are mythologies that locate the first margarita in Dallas or in Galveston (at the Mob-controlled Balinese Room, no less), most beverage scholars see its beginning in Mexico. The most accepted history points to a joint called Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada on the Pacific in October 1941, where bartender Don Carlos Orozco purportedly served the earliest version to the daughter of the German

Mix your margarita like a pro with these recipes from a few of our favorite restaurants. Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass and serve.

GinGEr sAFFron ritA triniti

1-1/2 oz. Casa Noble Reposado tequila 3/4 oz. Canton ginger liqueur 3/4 oz. saffron syrup 3/4 oz. lime

roXoritA AVA KitCHEn & WHisKEY BAr

2 oz. Roxor gin 1 oz. fresh-squeezed Texas grapefruit 1/2 oz. orange juice 1/2 oz. sweet and sour Slice of Texas grapefruit for garnish

JoHn deMErs Covering food and wine for more than 25 years, John DeMers hosts “Delicious Mischief” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH. He recently released Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue.

connoisseur

entertain

moroccan magic

Styling | Jaimee Rose Photography | Mark Lipczynski

Hoping to be whisked away on an exotic Arabian adventure this summer? If you can’t get to Marrakesh, let Marrakesh come to you! This creative and colorful Moroccan-themed party is just the ticket, bringing you and your guests a unique taste of this exotic gem.

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love & hummus

Spread the love by serving your guests a variety of hummus with soft pita bread for dipping.

connoisseur

entertain

sweet rolls

For a sweet ending to your Moroccan meal, serve baklava paired with fresh figs and garnished with organic rose petals.

easy breezy

Take the steam out of hot summer nights with lovely and delicate paper fans.

nectar of life

For a truly unique centerpiece, fill a platter with bright, orange nectarines. It’s good enough to eat!

The Goods pop the bubbly

bright invite

For drinks, serve traditional Moroccan mint tea dressed up with champagne.

Entice and intrigue your guests with a lovely, scripted invitation awash in your party’s colors.

dinnerware

Patterned plates and teapot by Versace, price upon request, Versace, Houston Galleria.

Moroccan tagine and tea glasses from the souk (traditional market) in Marrakesh. Similar tea glasses available at Neiman Marcus, Houston Galleria. Gold-rimmed plates, vintage Limoges. White lotus dessert dish, $9.99, Cost Plus World Market. Napkin rings, bracelets from Nordstrom.

in the ring

Add a little bling to colorful napkins by rolling them in beautiful bracelets and bangles.

textiles

Layered picnic blanket and Dhurrie rug, $24.99 and $39.99, Cost Plus World Market. Patterned pillows, $60 to $70, Z Gallerie. Blue and red print napkins, $4 each, Cost Plus World Market. Orange prints, 4 for $24, Z Gallerie.

furnishings

bursts of color

Patterned, gold-rimmed plates, vibrant napkins and brilliant yellow Billy Balls flowers transform your table from simple to stunning.

invitations

Concept development, design and printing by Featherpress Design, facebook.com/featherpress, hello@featherpressdesign.com

haute pot

Serve your guests a traditional Moroccan meal with this exquisite tagine.

Red Moroccan poufs from the souk in Marrakesh. Similar poufs available for $285 at shopfurbish. com. Silver drum table, $300, Cost Plus World Market.

accessories

Fans, $4 each, Cost Plus World Market.

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GENTLEMEN’S ROOM

FOR THE MAN WHO COMMaNDS tHe VeRY beSt

inside:

50 52 53 54 55

• • • • •

MaN CaVe | TOP DOCK DRIVeR'S Seat | ROAD ON THE RANGE WealtH | THE ‘MOST DANGEROUS OF ASSETS’ HIGH-teCH | HAVE TECH, WILL TRAVEL GReat OUtDOORS | SIX(TY) FEET UNDER may/june • 2012

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top

docK Story | Jake poinier

A

s the days start to heat up, everyone’s daydreams turn toward a day out on the water. But with today’s high-end boathouses, the fun doesn’t have to stop—or even begin—there.

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“When you’ve spent $75,000 or $100,000 on your boat, you obviously want to protect it,” says Jeff Walker, founder of What’s Up…Dock in Dripping Springs, just west of Austin. “But in addition to creating a nice place to store their boats, Jet Skis and stand-up paddle boards, what clients really want is to create their own paradise.”

There’s always been a bit of a keeping-up-with-or-outdoingthe-Joneses mentality when it comes to boats—bigger, faster and fancier is always better. That competitive trend has washed ashore with big-screen TVs, highend audio, outdoor fire pits, hot tubs and barbecues all becoming more common amenities in boathouse design.

When it comes to architecture, many boat owners build a structure that matches the existing house, or what the “eventual” house is going to look like after a remodel. Arthur Andersson of Andersson-Wise Architects, whose firm just completed the W Hotel in Austin, takes a different approach.

“There’s a tradition of tying the boathouse to the main house, but we’ve always made them their own little art piece, like a piece of sculpture on the lake,” he says.

“What we talk about with clients is that you have a different set of opportunities—it should be a romantic, distant retreat that becomes a special destination.”

Of course, even a more modest boathouse can be appointed in ways to create a comfortable, practical hangout and make the maximum visual impact.

“For an open deck, many of our customers like to have a retractable electric awning,” says James Stetler of Livingston-based Lake Front Builders. “And we’ll add touches such as lighting under the handrail with colored fluorescents that reflect off the water and the dock.”

On busy waterways, a boat lift is an absolute must.

“After you’ve had your day on the water, you want your boat out of it to protect your investment,” says Walker. “It prevents damage from wakes, as well as discoloration and algae growth on the hull.”

Walker also recommends running freshwater lines down to the dock to make the cleaning and upkeep process as easy as possible. Screened-in porches, appointed with high-end outdoor furniture that can withstand heat and moisture, are another key element to the boathouse experience.

“Particularly in the Austin area, much of the year is beautiful, so taking advantage of the breezes is important,” says Andersson. “People also like convertibility, such as moveable walls. We’ve designed projects that let you unlock a few latches and flip up the screens so you can jump right into the water.”

andersson-Wise architects

GENTLEMEN’S ROOM MAN CAVE

GENTLEMEN’S ROOM MAN CAVE

THE ESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Big screen, surround sound, and high-end speakers are key components to the boathouse escape.

BAR Can’t blast “Margaritaville” without a cocktail in your hand, right? “People want to create a sumptuous little retreat, and even a small bar with stools and constructed with nice materials accomplishes that,” says Andersson.

KITCHENETTE Local codes will determine what you can install, but even a simple setup will save a trip up to the main house.

HOTTUB On a cool evening or after an early-season jump in the lake, you can warm right up.

What’s uP...dock | andersson-Wise architects

PING-PONG OR POOLTABLE Perfect for a quick game between quarters, innings or periods, or after a day of wakeboarding.

HELICOPTER PAD (ULTIMATEWISH) “That’s the most elite thing I’ve seen on our lake,” says Stetler with a laugh. “I didn’t build it, but maybe someday!”

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GENTLEMEN’S ROOM DRIVER'S SEAT

range

roadonthe T

he Range Rover is the luxe SUV de rigueur for doctors, private-school teens and dog lovers. It’s also the answered prayer to a lot of so-called soccer moms, who silently whisper, “Rescue me!” every time they approach their minivans.

Nearly 8 inches shorter than its bigger brother, but packing the same 510-horsepower V8, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged, or “SS” for short, is the muscle truck in the lineup of modern Rovers. Some marketing folks may like to brag about the SS’s 0-to-60 mph time (just under 6 seconds) and its 140 mph top speed (genuinely impressive when the beast has the aerodynamics of a brick), but life with a Range Rover is more about zipping around slower traffic with extreme prejudice.

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The Zen of the Range Rover is internal. Plant yourself in the driver’s seat and discover inner peace. You’re swaddled in delicious leather seats that can warm your buns—and your heart—on the chilliest of mornings. The windshield (and even the washer fluid!) are heated, making quick work of frost and ice. Let the music flow over you: The stereo will have audiophiles grinning thanks to well-chosen electronic hardware and the noise-canceling interior materials.

Non-techies will rejoice that the navigation system and Bluetooth phone integration are quick and easy to set up and use day-to-day.

A pity that some Rovers pull the bulk of their duty patrolling the Medical Center or Highland Village. The Range Rover Sport Supercharged can eat up interstate

and, with a switch to serious trailrated wheels and tires, you can enjoy a well-deserved break from the rat race. Disconnect from phone, Twitter and Facebook and go stargazing in Big Bend.

Explore the Rockies. Land Rover was rock crawling before it was a sport, and while this $76,000plus Range Rover may be cushy, it still has some of Land Rover’s legendary DNA. Thanks to full-time fourwheel-drive, all-terrain braking and stability control, hill-descent assist and hard-drive-based GPS, you can take the Range Rover Sport many places off road with confidence. Terrain Response features the following modes: dynamic, general, grass, gravel, snow, sand, mud and rock crawl. Even in town, especially the Houston region, the Range

Rover’s technology can be a lifesaver. Its suspension can raise the vehicle several inches, and it boasts a maximum “wading depth” of more than 3 feet!

But Range Rover has also thrown the video generation a bone. Taking a page from smartphones, the designers are pioneering virtual instrument panels. We don’t think it’s going out on a limb to predict that user-controlled customizable skins and gauge layouts are just around the corner.

JEFF YiP Jeff Yip’s work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, Houston Chronicle and The New York Times, as well as consumer and trade magazines. He’s a second-generation car guy who still has the 1969 Chevy his dad loved.

land roVer

Story | JeFF yip

GENTLEMEN’S ROOM WEALTH

the ‘most dangerous of assets’ Story | riC eDelMan

W

hen true experts issue a warning, are you inclined to listen?

Remember the late Edward Francis Hutton? Perhaps you will if I refer to him, as most people did, by his initials E.F. In 1904, Hutton and his brother founded what, for a time, was the nation’s second largest stock brokerage firm and one of the most respected: E.F. Hutton & Co. Hutton died in 1962, but throughout the 1970s and 1980s, his firm became famous for its TV commercials that coined the phrase, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”

If a commercial like that aired today, it probably would say, “When Warren Buffett talks, people listen.” Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and the nation’s most successful investor, might well be today’s E.F. Hutton.

Unfortunately though, many don’t seem to be listening to the advice Buffett offered recently. In an interview with Fortune magazine, he warned against investing in something he said is “among the most dangerous of assets,” adding that it should come with a “warning label.”

What is this dangerous asset? It’s something you probably own: Long-term bonds.

Why does Buffett say that bonds are dangerous at this time? His reasoning has to do with something called a “negative mathematical correlation.” This occurs when one event causes two separate entities to move in exactly opposite directions. In this case, Buffett is speaking of bond prices and interest rates. When one rises, the other falls. This isn’t a prediction; it’s pure mathematical fact.

The formula, based on today’s interest rates and average bond durations (a statistic that refers to the average life of a bond), is this: Every 1 percentage point change in interest rates triggers an approximate 7 percent change in long-term bond prices—in the opposite direction.

Now, we all know that interest rates have been dropping over the last three decades. The interest rate on 30-year mortgages in 1980 averaged 13.7 percent. As of this writing, the average rate is 3.9 percent, according to data from Freddie Mac. Three-month bank CDs that paid an average of 13 percent in 1980 are paying 0.3 percent today,

according to data from the Federal Reserve. And money market funds that paid just under 13 percent in 1980 are now paying an average of 0.5 percent, according to InfoPlease.com.

Remember the negative correlation: As rates fall, bond values rise. This means that generally speaking, over the past 30 years, bonds not only generated good amounts of interest income, but their values rose over time. So it’s not surprising that investors have developed a high level of confidence in bonds—a false sense of confidence, unfortunately. And that is precisely what troubles Warren Buffett.

To understand why he and I are concerned, answer this simple question: Over the next several years, will interest rates stay where they are, will they go lower or will they rise?

Buffett believes, and we concur, that interest rates are destined to move higher. No one can predict exactly when, of course, but when it happens, that “negative mathematical correlation” I talked about will kick in—and it will be nasty. A 3-percentage point increase in interest rates could cause long-term bond prices to fall approximately 21 percent!

How realistic is a 3 percent increase in rates? Well, in a single year (1994), the Federal Reserve increased rates six times for a total of 2.5 percent. In a 10-month period that started in December 1972, the prime rate rose from 6percent to 10 percent, according to “A History of the Federal Reserve.” And consider the recent housing market: In June 2007, the average rate for a 30-year mortgage was 6.7 percent, according to data from Freddie Mac. Would you have believed that rates just five years later would be only 3.9 percent? Clearly, interest rates have shown the ability to move dramatically in short periods so if the next big move for rates is up, not down, bond prices can be expected to fall sharply. riC EdELMAn Ric Edelman is Chairman and CEO of Houston-based Edelman Financial Services. His TV series “The Truth About Money with Ric Edelman” airs on public television stations across the country, while his syndicated radio program is in 54 markets. To learn more about personal finance, visit RicEdelman.com.

The sad irony is that many of today’s bondholders are people who used to own stocks.

Many bought those stocks and stock funds in 2006 and 2007, while the stock market was zooming to its all-time high (the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its zenith of 14,165 in October 2007), only to watch the market fall 54 percent over the next 18 months. Shocked by their losses, many of these investors sold what was left of their investments and bought longterm bonds, an asset they thought was safe.

Data from the Investment Company Institute bear this out. Investors withdrew $135 billion from stock mutual funds in 2011. It was the fifth straight year of outflows that totaled $469 billion, ICI says. That trend has continued so far this year. Meanwhile, investors have flooded bond funds. In January of 2012 alone, investors placed $9 billion into bond ETFs, says a report

by BlackRock Investment Institute.

You’d think that would make Larry Fink happy. After all, he’s the CEO of BlackRock, the world’s biggest seller of ETFs. Yet Fink agrees with Buffett, saying that investors shouldn’t be buying bonds. Instead, he says, they should be 100 percent in equities.

So now that we have not one, but two of the world’s richest, most experienced investment managers advising investors to sell their bonds and buy stocks, why aren’t people listening?

Some haven’t gotten the message. Others, though, are victims of a psychological phenomenon called “recency bias.” It simply means that humans tend to look at the recent past and believe that what has happened will continue to happen. In this case, since bonds have performed well for the last 30 years, they believe bonds will continue to do so, even when the evidence suggests that the opposite will happen.

What will you do in the face of this? Warren Buffett and Larry Fink have spoken. And now I’ve added my voice to the chorus (except that we believe the avoidance of long-term bonds is sufficient to reduce interest-rate risk; you don’t have to place all your money into stocks to avoid the shock of rising rates).

Warren has spoken. Fink has spoken.

Edelman has spoken. Are you listening?

Bonds, funds and ETFs are subject to risk, including loss of principal. All investments have inherent risks. There can be no assurance that the investment strategy proposed will obtain its goal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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have tech,

Will Travel Story | MiCHael GarFielD

N

ow that spring is behind us, it’s time to answer the annual question: What shall we do this summer?

Travel is always a good choice, especially when the Houston temperature and humidity add up to more than 200 degrees.

While getting there may be half the fun, planning a trip isn’t the easiest thing to do. I recently found an amazing website that can a plan a full itinerary, including booking hotels, in a matter of seconds. So, before you even start a Google search, point your browser here.

LiQUid iMAGE MAsK CAMErA When you arrive at your destination, it’s a must to document your trip with photos. But if your plans include skiing or watersports, it may be difficult to get those all-important action shots to show your friends back home. A company called Liquid Image has several lines of innovative cameras that show off your point of view.

Scuba divers and snorkelers will want to keep their hands free as they dive. The Scuba Series HD dive mask has an integrated water-resistant HD video camera. The goggle lenses are made of tempered glass and have integrated crosshairs that help you to line up shots.

An LED inside the mask iridiUM sAtELLitE PHonE And Wi-Fi tells you if you are in still If you find yourself in some random place around the world—such image or video mode. as a glacier or, more realistically, a national park—you probably Downloading images is want to check your email or do a little web browsing. Sadly, as easy as plugging in the there are places on this wide planet of ours that don’t get mobile mask to your computer’s reception. In cases like these, why not make your own Wi-Fi? USB port.

The Iridium Extreme handset is water-resistant, dust-proof, These masks range from ruggedized against drops and shocks, and connects to Iridium’s about $100 to $400. global satellite network for voice, SMS and GPS. Add the Iridium AxcessPoint, a medium-size USB-connectable black box, and you’ve got a satellite-powered Wi-Fi hotspot anywhere on Earth.

Although it’s not the fastest way to connect to the Internet, it’s fast enough for email and light browsing. This setup runs about $1,500 and allows you to blog and post all of those photos and videos for your jealous friends back home to see.

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YoUrtoUr.CoM This “personal tour planner” uses a mathematical algorithm to quickly generate personalized trip propositions based on user preferences, wishes and constraints, using criteria from other online travel resources.

The site currently offers suggestions for Spain, France, Italy and certain regions of the U.S. Soon, more countries will be added. Just enter your trip criteria for your destination and travel dates, and YourTour.com will build a daily itinerary with suggestions for activities, sightseeing and hotels.

You can refine your preferences throughout the process until you have planned the perfect vacation, and then let the site book the hotels. It even shows the trip’s budget.

Ht’s APP LIST

our favorite home, design and entertainment apps

Onavo Extend

By compressing your data, this app helps increase the data usage on your smartphone or tablet. onavo.com

Instagram

Take a photo, apply a filter, upload it to your social-media site. One of the fastest-growing apps ever. instagram.com

Square

accept credit card payments on your smartphone with a tiny card reader that the company sends you when you register to use its service. squareup.com

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.

yourtour.coM | liQuid iMage | iridiuM

GENTLEMEN’S ROOM HIGH-TECH

GENTLEMEN’S ROOM OUTDOORS

SAFETY FIRST

six(ty)

feet under

Story | DoUG pike

chase a. fountain, tPWd

T

urns out that light at the end of the tunnel…might be a Texas caver.

There are, in fact, some 3,000 known caves and sinkholes in Texas.

A few are lit and commercialized and open to tourists. Most are on private property and generally off limits except to the handful of avid Texas cavers.

On the plus side for Texas’ 300 to 500 active spelunkers, many landowners grant recreational access to their caves in exchange for maintenance and service.

“We take care of around 250 caves on 60 properties,” says Mike Walsh, president and director of the Texas Cave Conservancy in Austin.

In exchange for keys to gates that open into some of the state’s rarely seen caves, his group maintains caves on private properties and oversees all activity within them.

Some of those caves are home to rare animals, some no larger than your thumbnail. Tiny or not, they’ve earned federal protection, and organizations such as TCC were formed to help landowners and biologists protect fragile ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Caving at the tourist level involves manufactured paths, expansive areas and plenty of light, all the better to feature stalactites and stalagmites reaching gloriously for each other.

“Real” cavers, on the other hand, laugh at claustrophobia and don’t think twice about slithering through openings barely larger than their bodies. They carry three light sources and willingly take those risks just to see what—if anything—is on the other side.

If they’re lucky, those narrow passages lead into open areas,

perhaps unseen until that moment.

The structures inside caves, sometimes tissue-thin and delicate as glass, are formed by drops of mineral-rich water that may have fallen from the same spot for thousands of years.

Anyone interested in caving won’t have to look far to find allies.

“Texas cavers have been organized for many years,” says R.D. Milhollin, who lives in the Fort Worth area and has explored scores of Texas caves. There are national and state organizations for cavers, Milhollin says, and local groups called “grottos” in several Texas cities.

In addition to helping landowners, Milhollin and friends long ago forged a relationship with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cavers volunteer hundreds of hours annually to the

Like any high-risk sport, nothing is more important in caving than personal safety, says veteran caver R.D. Milhollin, “and then consideration for the cave itself.”

Serious caving requires much of the same gear used by mountain climbers. Think of caving as mountaineering in reverse—and in the dark. In addition to ropes and clips and special footwear, cavers also rely on multiple light sources. They explore in groups, like divers, and run thorough checklists before dropping underground.

Beginners’ classes are available in Texas, but only infrequently and from a few sources, including the Texas Cave Conservancy (texascaves.org) and the Texas Speleological Society (cavetexas.org).

budget-strapped department, and the department lets them crawl into parts of state parks most visitors don’t even know exist.

Texas gets no serious attention among cavers nationally and actually ranks quite low as a caving destination, Walsh says.

There are highlights, however, and Texas cavers leap at every chance to explore them. doUG PiKE Doug Pike 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.

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escape

JOURNEY TO

new zealand D

Story | katHryn HUnter

kieran scott

iscover the “land of the long white cloud,” where awe-inspiring beauty comes in many forms

may/june • 2012

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escape

ew Zealand, known as “the land of the long white cloud” in the language of its aboriginal people, the Maori, is a place as magical as it is far from home. Two long, narrow islands sit like lost ships in the South Pacific, arks of strange plants, flightless birds and striking, varied landscapes.

Beauty takes many forms here, in the cornflower-blue depths of a glacier, the delicate curl of a tree fern, a canopy of sparkling glowworms. No visitor comes to New Zealand without a compass for adventure, or leaves without a deep appreciation for its unique beauty.

the lanD

Though New Zealand is roughly the size of Colorado, the country’s length and position above shifting tectonic plates make it a treasure chest of diverse terrains and climates. From rainforests and snow-capped mountains to whitesand beaches and volcanic lakes, the scenery often changes dramatically within a few hours’ drive.

The North Island is home to three-quarters of New Zealand’s 4.3 million residents, more than one-third of whom live in Auckland. The far north of the island, a region called Northland, is known for its pristine beaches,

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centuries-old kauri trees and subtropical weather.

South of Auckland’s sprawling metropolis, the landscape buckles into bright green, rolling hills studded with sheep and hedgerows of pastel hydrangeas. Taupo and Rotorua literally bubble with geothermal activity, attracting visitors

popular detours before travelers head toward the coast. The West Coast, more secluded and lush, is one of New Zealand’s best drives when the weather is favorable and includes highlights such as Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks, Hokitika’s jade artwork and jewelry, and the

the Culture

Far from any other land mass, New Zealand was once a realm of birds. Apart from bats, no land mammals were present before New Zealand’s first people, the Maori, arrived more than 1,000 years ago. A Dutch ship sighted

NO VISITOR...LEAVES [NEW ZEALAND] WITHOUT A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR ITS UNIQUE BEAUTY. with geysers, boiling mud pools, hot springs and world-class spas.

Wellington, seat of the national government as well as New Zealand’s “cultural capital,” hugs the coast at the North Island’s southern tip.

With its towering mountains, rocky coastlines and dense rainforest, the South Island is a canvas of wild, rugged beauty, a work of art signed by nature’s hand.

Cities are few and far between, and each has a character all its own.

To the north, Abel Tasman National Park and the Marlborough Sounds are

Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.

On the East Coast, Kaikoura is famous for its marine wildlife, and Christchurch offers a slice of city life along with beautiful beaches and bays.

Venturing inland to Aoraki Mount Cook or through Arthur’s Pass or Haast Pass rewards travelers with stunning vistas of sky, water and mountains. Farther south, Queenstown and Wanaka are hubs for adventure activities, and the mist-enshrouded Fiordland National Park is well worth the drive.

the islands in 1642, but the first permanent European settlement wasn’t established until 1840.

With its small population and expansive wilderness, much of New Zealand retains a rural, edge-of-the-world feel.

New Zealand is a British commonwealth, and though Kiwis betray their colonial roots in their affection for meat pies and fish and chips, they have a clear and singular sense of identity.

Practical and friendly, Kiwis value green living, good coffee and

kieran scott

N

taKe 5 escape Paddle in Paradise The 32-mile Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s most popular walks, winds through a picture-perfect landscape of golden beaches and cerulean seas. Travel all or part of this idyllic coastline by any combination of kayaking, hiking and watertaxi transport.

Go Below

New Zealand’s subterranean world is as dazzling as the land above. Walk through Waitomo’s magnificent glowworm caves, or strap on a helmet light and abseil, climb, crawl and float on a guided black-water rafting tour. Green Glow EcoAdventures operates custom small-group tours.

Hike a Glacier

For a one-of-a-kind day trip, book a “helihike” and fly by helicopter to the top of Fox or Franz Josef Glacier, where a guided expedition takes you up close to ice caves and other awe-inspiring formations.

Cruise Fiordland

Achingly beautiful, Fiordland National Park is a remote wonderland of mist, waterfalls and dramatic peaks. A day or overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound, much less crowded than Milford Sound, is highly recommended.

tourisM holdings

Swim with Dolphins Kaikoura is the top spot to see marine mammals.

On an unforgettable 3.5hour tour with Dolphin Encounter, put on a wetsuit and go overboard to commune with dusky dolphins in the open sea.

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For hikers, New Zealand’s trails loop through moss-covered rainforest, follow winding rivers, ascend tall peaks or trace the edge of the ocean. Day hikes and backpacking trails abound, as well as shuttle and guide services. To strike out on your own, stop by any Department of Conservation office for route and permit information.

Hut reservations for New Zealand’s “Great Walks,” such as the Routeburn and Milford Tracks, should be made well in advance.

Extreme adventurists will relish in New Zealand’s cornucopia of extreme and unusual activities. In Queenstown, take a leap from the Tourism is a booming business spot where commercial bungee in New Zealand. An extensive, well-organized network of visitor jumping began, the historic centers and tour operators ensures Kawarau Bridge. Or if you’re looking for a different type of that travelers find what they’re looking for, whether it’s adventure thrill, you can try your hand at cave rafting, jetboating, heliskiing, in the backcountry or an awardkiteboarding, paragliding, Zorbing winning pinot noir. outdoor activities. The names of many places, animals and plants are Maori, and uniquely Kiwi sayings like “sweet as” pepper any conversation. The All Blacks, New Zealand’s rugby team, are a source of intense national pride.

To get a true sense of New Zealand’s heritage, visit Wellington and spend a day exploring Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, where six floors of cultural and historical exhibits feature all things Kiwi.

attraCtionS

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(essentially rolling down a hill in a large inflatable hamster ball), ziplining, white-water kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, scuba diving or surfing.

For those looking for some urban flavor, New Zealand’s cities and towns offer a wide variety of boutique hotels, luxury bed-andbreakfasts, vacation rentals and independently owned resorts.

While accommodation might require a little more planning, the scarcity of commercial chains guarantees a more intimate and interesting stay.

Wine lovers will also have a brimming itinerary in New Zealand. On the North Island, tour the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa regions for premium reds. On the South Island, the Marlborough area is renowned for producing the finest Sauvignon Blancs in the world. Other notable

wine regions include Nelson, Canterbury and Central Otago.

And when it comes to wildlife, the birds of New Zealand are fascinating and incredibly diverse.

Some, like the plucky fantail, have little fear and treat passersby as a welcome curiosity, while others hide in forest shadows or sound music-box notes from the treetops. The kea, a large green parrot rumored to be as smart and mischievous as a monkey, is a common sight in alpine areas of the South Island. The shy, endangered kiwi bird, however, is most easily seen at a wildlife sanctuary, such as the Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park.

New Zealand’s waters are home to penguins and many marine mammals, including whales, dolphins and seals. Outstanding wildlife cruises and tours are offered in Kaikoura and Dunedin.

gareth eyres

escape

escape

ian trafford | daVid Wall

NEW ZEALAND...IS A PLACE AS MAGICAL AS IT IS FAR FROM HOME.

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escape enlightened explorer LONDON landmarK

H

ost city of the 2012 Olympic Games in July and August, London is the place to be this summer. And the Connaught, a Victorian-era, five-star hotel in the heart of the Mayfair district, is lauded as one of London’s most prestigious accommodations.

Recent restoration has introduced new state-of-the-art technology and contemporary design to the historic structure, while faithfully preserving the Connaught’s beautiful period details and distinctive character. Since its opening in 1897, the hotel has had only six general managers.

An ideal base for exploring the sights, the Connaught also houses two designer bars and one of the city’s top restaurants, helmed by awardwinning chef Hélène Darroze. Afternoon tea at Espelette, a highly recommended addition to your itinerary, is an authentic and indulgent cultural experience. the-connaught.co.uk

barefoot CHIC

N

o need to worry about what to wear to dinner at this secluded Bahaman getaway—at Kamalame, a sarong is well within the dress code. In stark contrast to the busy beaches of Nassau, Kamalame’s 19 rooms and suites offer an idyllic escape far from the crowds.

Located on a small barrier island just off the coast of Andros Island, the resort is set among 96 acres of tropical foliage and ringed by warm turquoise waters teeming with brightly colored fish. For an active adventure, snorkel or scuba dive along rich coral reefs to spot manta rays and parrotfish, take a dip in the resort’s 50-foot freshwater swimming pool or book a guided fishing trip. Dining options at the “Great House” highlight classic Caribbean cuisine, paired with a signature selection of wines and cocktails. kamalame.com

INSPIRED relaXation

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Mii aMo | the connaught

T

he red rocks and rushing rivers of Sedona, Ariz., are a haven for travelers seeking spiritual inspiration and natural beauty. Start your journey at Mii Amo, a top destination spa nestled in Boynton Canyon, with a three-, four- or seven-night allinclusive package that includes daily meals, spa treatments, a private consultation, activities, fitness classes and lectures.

The design of Mii Amo’s 24,000-square-foot, two-level resort resembles that of a Native American pueblo, an aesthetic in harmony with the surrounding scenery. Dramatic views of the red-rock canyon amaze at every turn, and a full range of specialized spa treatments awaken a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. Mii Amo is the first spa in the U.S. to offer the innovative WaveMotionTable, a massage table that inspires a feeling of weightlessness. miiamo.com

Receive Top Dollar for your

Gold & Silver

American & European Paintings, Sculptures, Prints & Works on Paper Auction June 9 at 12 noon (CST) Inquiries: Thomas De Doncker (510) 740-0220 x140 thomas@michaans.com Wm Herbert “Buck” Dunton (American 1878-1936) The Trail Boss (Settlers & Seeds, Civilization’s Forerunner) Estimate: $200,000 / 300,000

Jewelry and Timepieces Auction June 16 at 12 noon (CST)

GOLD | SILVER | PLATINUM | COINS Get a Free Appraisal from us before you sell.

Inquiries: Rhonda Harness (510) 740-0220 x125 rhonda@michaans.com Fancy Yellow, Diamond, Platinum 18K,Yellow Gold Ring Estimate: $14,000 / 18,000

Broken or damaged pieces are welcome.

KK&B Gold & Silver Buyers

281.313.9999 3599 HIGHwAy 6 | SUGAR LAND | TExAS 77478

Bid live, absentee bid, phone bid or online. To learn more about these auctions or to view a full online catalog, please visit www.michaans.com.

Ph. (800) 380-9822 • (510) 740-0220 • michaans.com 2751 Todd Street | Alameda | California 94501

escape enlightened explorer

franKfurt & houston CONNECT

S

tarting Aug. 1, Lufthansa will offer daily service between Houston and Frankfurt on the world’s largest passenger jet. Boasting two decks with a total capacity of 526 passengers and economy, business and first-class seating, the A380 is also quieter, more spacious and more fuel-efficient than other wide-body aircrafts. George Bush Intercontinental Airport will be among only six airports in the nation to offer the flagship aircraft, as well as the first in the Lone Star State. lufthansa.com

bouleVard of aRT & CuLTuRE

P

hiladelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a mile-long stretch of celebrated museums, teaching institutions and gardens, will welcome a highly anticipated addition this spring. On May 19, the Barnes Foundation, relocated from Merion, Penn., will reopen its doors to the public in a new, 93,000-square-foot building at 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Housing what is widely considered to be the world’s most spectacular Impressionist, PostImpressionist and Modern collection, including 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and seven Van Goghs, the Barnes Foundation is expected to bring art lovers from every part of the globe to Philly’s “monumental mile of art.” barnesfoundation.org

NEW Wheels

E

ver wish your carry-on bag could carry you for a change?

The Only Scootercase is a suitcase that doubles as a scooter, sporting built-in wheels, telescoping handlebars, a fold-out footboard and a step brake. Perfect for zooming between flights at the airport, the case has the same storage capacity as a traditional carry-on bag and is TSA-approved for overhead or under-seat use. $299.95. hammacher.com

CaRING CRUISE

BYOB

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M. edloW for gPtMc | haMMacher schleMMer | crystal cruises

C

rystal Cruises will continue its popular “You Care, We Care” program in 2012, extending the program to new destinations such as Croatia, Colombia, Singapore, Greece and Italy. This year, every Crystal Serenity or Crystal Symphony voyage will offer a complimentary shore excursion in which guests and crew can give back to a local community in need.

In British Columbia, stock and distribute food and toys at a local food bank. In Cambodia, visit an orphanage to teach children the arts and plant a vegetable garden. At other locations around the world, lend a hand by planting trees, bonding with underprivileged children or f you’re looking for a getaway to sunny California, check in to the disabled adults, and assisting at Westlake Village Inn, just inland of the Malibu coast. The 141-room animal rescue and conservation boutique hotel exhibits classic California style with its beautiful centers. Crystal Cruises handles gardens, wine cellar, and its modern-Italian restaurant, Mediterraneo. all of the logistics, providing an Relax in the luxurious comfort of this Mediterranean-inspired experience that’s sure to warm property or take it to the limit with a unique offering that will channel the heart. crystalcruises.com your inner Lance Armstrong. With the BYOB (Bring Your Own Bike) package, you can whisk through the scenic Conejo Valley, along the KAtHrYn HUntEr course Armstrong takes during the Amgen Tour. Customized water Kathryn Hunter is an Austin-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in “Texas bottles, healthy energy snacks and a power breakfast send-off are Parks and Wildlife Magazine.” included and, if you prefer to travel light, bike rentals are available.

From Our Home to Yours Come shop our lovely little design boutique and be inspired.

Our shop offers full-service interior design as well as one-of-a-kind gifts, holiday and garden workshops, party decorating ideas, event planning, home staging and personal shopping.

We welcome you to stop by and stay awhile. www.facebook.com/CruHome

6726 Highway 6 | Missouri City, Texas 77459 281.969.7605 | info@cruhome.com Open Monday – Saturday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

post cards

sEE & do

you It’s officially summer and time know what that means? It’s and to hit the beach! If sand , head surf are calling your name Mustang on sas Aran Port to n dow Corpus Island, just northeast of to do Christi. Whether you want those a little sport fishing or take ys alwa ve you’ ons less ing surf e for dreamed of, this is the plac n, your you. So pack the sunscree see you favorite summer read and h! beac the on

PRIME Living 311 Julie Rivers Sugar Land, TX 77498

port aransas President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and actress Hedy Lamarr used to stay when big-game fishing. owever much we love our neighborhoods, With each of its 31 rooms furnished with period there’s something about this time of year antiques and a blatant lack of phones and TVs, you that simply screams, “Get yourself to the can truly bury yourself in the past. However, if you water and be quick about it!” have an Internet monkey on your back, you can log Fortunately, Houstonians looking for a weekend on to the inn’s Wi-Fi, but really, leave the laptop at escape can slip down the 361 to Port Aransas on home.

Mustang Island, touted as a “year-round beach Once rested, get in a little deep-sea fishing paradise,” in less than five hours. yourself courtesy of any number of fishing-vesselsFirst, swing by the clean white sands of the for-hire. (Note: Those 16 and older will need a 6.3-mile Port Aransas beach just to get it out Texas fishing license, and reservations are always a of your system and to stifle any, “When are we good idea.) The smooth-sailing catamarans Wharf going to the beach?” mewlings from the backseat. Cat and Scat Cat at Fisherman’s Wharf (900 You’ll need to pick up a $12 sticker from a local Tarpon St.) each supply bait, rods, reels and tackle convenience store or one of the beachside vendors for your fishing experience; provide fish-cleaning before you can park on the beach. You can also services for an additional fee; and offer excursions camp there up to three nights for free if you’re the from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you adventurous type. have no interest in fishing but merely want to get If you’re not, treat yourself to a stay at The yourself on the water, discounted rates are available.

Tarpon Inn (200 E. Cotter Ave.), just a short trolley If you’re looking for a bigger adrenaline jolt than ride from the beach. Here you’ll find 200-foot-long rod and reel inspire, head for the skies. Skydive porches and an architecture that the innkeepers South Texas, operating out of Mustang Beach claim is evocative of the Key West enjoyed by the Airport, will drop you from a minimum of 9,000 likes of Ernest Hemingway. feet in the air to the beautiful beach below—making That’s not to say that they have to “borrow” it your best opportunity to see Port Aransas and history, of course. The Tarpon Inn was converted Mustang Island all at once, while ensuring bragging from a Civil War barracks in 1886 and was where rights for years to come.

Story | aaron BerMan

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KoHootZ you don’t have to be a bucket-list box ticker to enjoy getting up close and silly with dolphins. take a trip aboard the kohootz, a 36foot catamaran that not only includes an encounter with those majestic jesters of the sea, but also a close look at the privately owned lydia ann lighthouse.

440 W. cotter st.

361-779-3188 dolphinlingo.com roCKPort FEstiVAL oF WinE & Food if all of this maritime excitement makes you yearn for some of the more sedentary pleasures of life, take the 361 across redfish Bay to rockport on May 26-27 for this 16th annual festival held at the texas Maritime Museum. enjoy food demonstrations and wine pairings by local chefs, and sample more than 100 wines from the likes of Victoria’s Braman, napa Valley’s faust and fess Parker Winery.

Bottoms up!

1202 navigation circle texasfestivalofwines.com MUstAnG isLAnd stAtE PArK looking to get back to nature? the park’s paddling trail consists of miles upon miles of waterways that allow you to experience all of the birds, fish and wildlife that call the island home. for the romantic in you, take that special someone for a guided moonlight excursion by canoe or kayak at inks lake state Park.

17047 state highway 361 361-749-5246 tpwd.state.tx.us

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tHe PRIME LIVING GUIDe tO betteR HealtH

inside:

70 71 72 73 74

• • • • •

Feel GOOD | POINT WELL TAKEN HealtH bUZZ | WHAT'S NEW lOOk GOOD | DEEP FREEZE be GOOD | THE NEW MID-LIFE CRISIS HIS & HeRS | ARE WE THERE YET?

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FEEL GOOD

point WELL TaKEN Story | anGela aMBroSe

f

or thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to reduce pain and stimulate healing in the body. In modernday treatments, very fine sterile, disposable needles are inserted into specific parts of the body called acupoints. Low electrical stimulation or heat can also be applied after the needle is inserted.

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is believed to balance the energy pathways known as meridians, which flow throughout the body. An obstruction in a pathway upsets this balance and causes pain or illness.

From a scientific view, acupuncture stimulates nerves, which alters blood flow to the brain, and it releases endorphins and other natural chemicals that help the body heal, says Dr. Steve

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Amoils, co-medical director of the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine in Cincinnati and coauthor of “Get Well & Stay Well.”

“It also gets rid of muscle spasm and sedates trigger points.”

In a 2003 World Health Organization report, a review of clinical studies showed acupuncture to be 55 to 85 percent effective in treating chronic pain, comparable to many pain-relieving drugs and far better than the power of suggestion, also known as the placebo effect.

“Where acupuncture shines is it treats multiple problems at the same time,” says Amoils.

For example, in conventional medicine, if a patient comes in with tennis elbow, allergies and constipation, he might be sent to

three separate specialists. However, using acupuncture, Amoils says all three conditions could be treated simultaneously because they are treated through the same meridian.

In 2006, more than 3 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children received acupuncture treatments, according to a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The typical patient is a more educated female between the ages of 35 to 65,” says Amoils. “They usually have more disposable income, and they often have a symptom that has defied medical treatment.”

Acupuncture is most effective in treating functional problems such as chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia, infertility and menopausal problems, he says. It is also commonly used

for digestive, respiratory and neurological disorders.

One of the biggest challenges is finding a qualified acupuncturist.

Amoils suggests looking for a licensed acupuncturist or physician with specialized training at a reputable school.

“What we want to know is, how busy they are and what kind of results do they get,” he says.

A thriving, growing practice is often one of the best indicators of patient satisfaction.

Acupuncture costs range from $50 to $150 per treatment, depending on the practitioner, number of needles used and duration of the treatment, says Amoils. Although acupuncture is gaining popularity, healthinsurance companies do not usually cover the treatments.

H E A LT H B U Z Z

live well

run for your LIFE

Exercise has long been known to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. In fact, findings from a recent study of more than 1.3 million people suggest that the more you exercise and the harder you work out, the more likely you are to live longer than those who don’t exercise. Individuals who participated in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week reduced their risk of dying by 10 percent, and exercising at a more vigorous intensity reduced their risk by 22 percent.

The meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Epidemiology, showed individuals can cut their risk of dying even further by simply increasing their weekly exercise time and the intensity level of their workouts. When exercising 300 minutes per week, the chance of dying from any cause dropped by 19 percent for moderate exercisers and by 39 percent for those engaging in vigorous physical activities.

under PRESSURE snack ATTACK Snacking in between meals can help tame your hunger, so you’re not tempted to overeat at mealtimes. A recent study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that people who munched between meals were more likely to consume fruit, whole grains and milk than those who stuck to only eating three meals a day.

When selecting snacks, look for a combination of protein, fiber-dense carbohydrates and low-fat dairy. Consider replacing refined sugary foods with more protein-rich choices such as peanut butter, hummus, hard-boiled eggs or lean meats. Consuming a handful of nuts instead of cookies or potato chips will make you feel full longer and keep you more alert in those after-lunch meetings.

When it comes to alternative healing treatments, reflexology is another widely-sought option, and uses thumb and finger pressure to stimulate “reflex” points in the feet, hands and outer ears. When pressure is applied, it is believed to stimulate nerve pathways that correspond to different organs, glands or parts of the body. According to the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB), the main goal of reflexology is to create relaxation and balance in the body.

Although some practitioners claim that reflexology can be used to treat various health conditions, ARCB recommends using this therapy as a complement to medical treatment and not as a substitute for it.

gut REACTION If you’re looking to get a six-pack, abdominal exercises alone will leave you short of your goal. Working your core with crunches and other abdominal exercises may strengthen your muscles, but it does little to cut the fat around your midsection, according to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

In the study, 24 sedentary men and women were divided into two groups: a nonexercise control group and a group that performed regular abdominal exercises for six weeks. When the study was completed, researchers found no significant difference in body weight, body-fat percentage or waist circumference between the two groups.

However, the abdominal exercisers gained more muscle endurance and were able to perform more crunches than the control group.

why HYDRATE? During the warm summer months, your risk of dehydration rises with the mercury. Two recent studies from the University of Connecticut show that mild dehydration can negatively affect your mood, reduce your ability to concentrate and cause headaches and fatigue. Surprisingly, the effects of dehydration were the same regardless of whether the person was exercising hard or at rest. If you wait until you feel thirsty, you are likely to be 1 to 2 percent dehydrated, according to Lawrence Armstrong, an international expert on hydration and one of the lead researchers on the studies.

AnGELA AMBrosE Angela Ambrose has been a writer for more than 20 years, working for Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Public Health Service, as well as national magazines, newspapers and websites. She is also a nationally certified group fitness instructor and a registered yoga teacher.

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LOOK G OOD

deep FREEZE w

Story | JeSSiCa MeBane

hether you like it or not, here come the white-hot days of a Texas summer. While everyone makes a break for the nearest pool, it can be somewhat daunting to strip down to suit up, baring most of your body in all its dimpled glory.

But wait! You don’t necessarily have to suffer to achieve that perfect poolside physique since the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent approval of non- or minimally invasive fat-removal

procedures, which are drastically changing the way we think about fighting fat.

“Let’s get naked” is the cheeky proposition behind CoolSculpting, the brand name for an innovative method of adipose fat removal called cryolipolysis, in which the physician utilizes cutting-edge fatfreezing technology without ever raising a knife. Instead, a paddlelike applicator is applied to the problem area (e.g., muffin top or

bra bulge) and then “freezes” the fat cells within.

Because fat cells are vulnerable to cold temperatures, the body is able to subsequently break down and remove them through the lymphatic system.

“Patients are very interested in CoolSculpting as a noninvasive treatment that provides longterm clearing of fat cells,” says Dr. Steven Zimmet of Zimmet Vein & Dermatology in Austin.

“It’s important to note that this treatment is for people who have a pretty healthy lifestyle and are reasonably close to a good weight.”

According to Dr. Zimmet, the typical appointment is one hour, with some initial pain in the first five minutes, then milder for the rest of the treatment. Posttreatment discomfort is also usually mild, lasting a week or two, with some numbing sensation for two to three weeks. Zimmet also notes that while some people notice a change in their skin’s appearance within a few weeks, the final results are more noticeable after two or three months.

While CoolSculpting may be an easier fix for stubborn fat areas

that exercise doesn’t seem to touch, what about cellulite, the bane of most women’s existence? It may be disheartening to know that 85 percent of women have cellulite and as we age, the skin over these areas thins, creating the dimpled, or “cottage cheese,” effect.

In January, the FDA also approved Cellulaze, a new laser cellulite treatment from Cynosure, maker of Smartlipo.

The treatment targets cellulite and can reduce its appearance for one year or even longer.

The procedure involves a plastic surgeon making a small incision near the problem area.

A small tube is then inserted to release controlled laser energy to the treatment site. The thermal energy breaks up and stimulates skin cells and hardens fat deposits, which causes the overlying skin to smooth out.

This procedure requires a local anesthetic and patients will need to wear compression garments for a day or so. But compared with the longer recovery time from traditional liposuction, the pain levels and duration are greatly reduced.

no physician required DEFINE & REFINE Because you must care for that epidermis so that it will glow like a texas sunset, try smoothing on some body refiner to get the kind of soft radiance that demands attention. la Mer Body refiner, for instance, has a special seaweed component, or “miracle broth,” that helps refine and smooth the skin in a way that makes everyone feel better about themselves, no physician required.

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COLOR ME LOVELY once you have that baby’s-butt-smooth skin, add some lovely color to the mix. a good choice is lancôme’s flash Bronzer, a favorite line of sunless bronze goddesses everywhere (and Consumer Reports’ perennial fave). recently reformulated to include vitamin e and lightreflective micro pearls, this trio of products has a nice caramel tint that is also “transfer resistant,” which creates an overall healthy glow and makes any skin imperfection less noticeable. try the flash Bronzer face lotion, leg and body gel to get that summer glow.

l'oreal | lacoMe

if the thought of lasering or freezing your fat makes you wobbly in the knees, don’t forget what your mama told you: you are beautiful in every single way…with a little cover-up and tlc, that is.

BE GOOD

live well

good at what they do. Women, on the other hand, seem to derive their self-worth from their relationships.

They tend to draw more satisfaction from what sort of a mother, wife, daughter and friend they’ve been.

There are many stereotypes about men buying a sports car and women going under the knife, but for welladjusted men and women, it’s more likely they’ll begin a new career, take an adventurous trip, or move to their dream home. depression can be a very real Midlife crises or transitions are illness during midlife, so being usually dealt with better if the person aware of the signs and paying attention to your partner’s mood has felt good about themselves may prevent further isolation in during the first half of their life. For your relationship. here are some example, women who re-evaluate of the signs: their goals may want to go back to school or travel somewhere exotic, • Performs less well at work something they weren’t able to do • Withdrawn and more isolated when their kids were home. Men • Worries about things more may take up interests they never had than before • is irritable or becomes angry time to explore, such as cooking or quicker than usual wine making.

• complains about vague The more support the couple physical problems have given one another throughout their relationship, the easier and in addition, look out for these signs more exciting this transition can of severe stress and depression. be. The empty nest may be felt for Make note if these have been going a short time, but it doesn’t cripple on for more than two weeks. the couple’s transition unless their • feeling sad or unhappy relationship was unbalanced.

• high levels of anxiety Sex can also improve during this • fatigued all the time transition if the couple nurtured • difficulty concentrating their relationship before the kids • feeling hopeless moved out. It can be an opportunity • losing interest in activities or to experiment and try new things people in the bedroom. The limitation of • Weight loss • loss of appetite having kids at home is gone, and • loss of sex drive reconnecting with your partner as • lapses in personal hygiene the couple you both started out as • thoughts of suicide (call can feel exciting and novel.

911 when and if you ever The transition years can bring Story | Mary Jo rapini feel this way) more enjoyment and freedom Being depressed makes the people are refusing to age gracefully. than we’ve experienced ever ost of us grew up transition of any passage in life Typically, a transition can begin before. Whether you face a crisis seeing someone we more difficult. if moving into the or a transition in midlife has around 35 and go through age knew—our parents, next stage of life makes you feel everything to do with the state of 50. Important intimate events can aunts or uncles, family friends—go sad or blue instead of inspired and your most intimate relationships trigger an earlier midlife event, through a midlife crisis. All of a hopeful, visit your doctor. Many when you enter this passage in sudden, one of the partners bought such as children leaving home, times, the reason you feel blue your life. Marital counseling can isn’t because the kids moved out, divorce, the death of a parent, or a a new car, sported new clothes, be a wonderful way to begin your but because your hormones are tanned at the salon, or buffed up at milestone birthday. midlife transition and ensure that low. your doctor can advise you if Just as men and women are the gym every day. you and your partner will transition it’s time for medication, counseling different in their relationships, so Today, we’re seeing a new or both. well together. too are they in their transitions. Men and improved midlife crisis or seem to want to prove something, “transition.” The name change MArY Jo rAPini measuring their self-value more came about with people living Mary Jo Rapini is a Houston-based psychotherapist specializing in sex and by such things as job performance longer and taking better care of relationships. In addition to being a speaker, author and TV personality, she and income. They want to look themselves than the generation shares her expert advice Tuesday mornings on Mix 96.5 and Friday mornings on Fox 26 Houston. For information, visit maryjorapini.com. before. The new 40 is really 50, and successful and be respected for being

transition & depression

THE NEW

midlife

m

cRiSiS

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HIS & HERS

aRE WE

there YET? Story | JeSSiCa MeBane

NEWSFLASH: Men and women are different. Thank heavens for the most part, except when ingrained habits and peccadilloes pop up on vacation, ready to torpedo a great travel experience faster than you can say, “¿Dònde es el abogado de divorce?”

Learn to identify, and perhaps adjust accordingly to, some of these archetypal female/male approaches to travel before you find yourselves hissing at each other over misinterpreted timetables on a deserted train stage at 3 a.m. in a foreign country (not that that would ever happen to you two).

men

women goes through her closet with ruthless efficiency, invoking the “times worn in the last year” rule to help beat back the clutter and hone in on her best travel wardrobe, carefully considering climate and special dinner events.

PACKING

guards his closet with the slavish loyalty of tolkien’s gollum, threatening to chew the finger off of anyone attempting to get rid of that bustedyet-somehow-lucky t-shirt purchased with 386 box tops of Bruce Jenner Wheaties cereal in 1976. and then jams six pairs of the same pants into a bag during the wee hours of departure day.

aspires to get to the airport with the faa-recommended 90-minute time cushion before flight departure.

AIRPORTS

arrives at the airport early enough to help the ground crew wash the planes.

DAILY ITINERARY

Plans each day with enough maps, online reviews and timed activities to make foreign travel about as spontaneous as a navy seal training mission.

Plans a typical day in an exotic locale by leaving plenty of time open for serendipitous events, like local festivals and dancing. calls loved ones occasionally, but makes certain her loved ones know they are missed.

PHONING HOME

typically phones loved ones while away, primarily to complain about international data-plan charges.

checks in with familiar retailers like Zara and chanel wherever she lands, just in case overseas sales are better than they are stateside.

RETAIL THERAPY

contemplates blowing up every Zara and chanel store he’s ever been forced to stand outside of while locals point and snicker at the masculinity leaking away from him.

Wishes to discuss her server’s philosophical stance on salad oil, possibly review her server’s unfinished script, then have her specially prepared entree personally escorted from the kitchen by management. is certain she can communicate effectively with a broad smile and charming, if somewhat fuzzy recollection of college foreign-language class.

Would like to eat and make a restroom stop at least once before crossing the next time zone.

Mentally saves images and memories of traveling with him to take her through the rest of her days.

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DINING

Makes a brief, but incisive review of any restaurant menu, arriving at his choice promptly and confidently, hoping his food arrives before her order takes down the whole kitchen.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

is certain he can make the cabdriver understand their destination if the driver would just look at where he’s jabbing his finger on the maps and in the guidebooks.

REST STOPS

Would like to see how many time zones he can cross nonstop before she threatens to kill him.

RETURN HOME

Begins saving for the next trip so he can see that smile everywhere they go together.

you.

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Hats Off to mothers Luncheon

the

RIVER OAKS COUNTRY CLUB • 3.20.12

list

Easter Seals Greater Houston, the local nonprofit provider of services for individuals with disabilities and their families, hosted its 13th annual Hats Off to Mothers Luncheon on March 20 at the River Oaks Country Club. As the organization’s largest fundraiser, the event featured a seated luncheon, reception and informal fashion show by Neiman Marcus-Galleria. Guests donned elaborate and eye-catching hats as they honored many of Houston’s inspiring women, mothers and role models.

Photography | Jenny antill, leroy GiBBinS

gET ON THE LIST aT PRimELiST@PRimE-LiViNg.cOm

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Targets for Tourettes GREATER HOUSTON GUN CLUB • 3.23.12

On March 23, the Greater Houston Gun Club hosted Targets for Tourettes, a Texas-sized party that began with a sporting clay tournament followed by drinks, dinner, live music by recording artist Tommy Alverson and a live longhorn auction. Keith and Jyl Calcote chaired the first-time event benefitting the Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas, while title sponsor Lucchese Boots provided the goodie bags filled with Lucchese treats. Corporate teams from Fulbright & Jaworski, Cotton Legistics, Sutherland Asbill, Employee Benefits Solutions, Hildebrand Foundation and Stedman West participated in the event.

the

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Photography | CHinH pHan

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conversations from the Heart

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HOUSTONIAN HOTEL CLUB & SPA • 2.10.12

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Celebrating 66 years of volunteer service to children, youth and senior adults, the Houston Junior Forum hosted Conversations from the Heart on Feb. 10, 2012. The sold-out benefit featured sisters Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, who were interviewed

by KPRC-TV news anchor Dominique Sachse. Approximately 500 guests attended, including former President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Bush; Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the HJF College Scholarship and Community Grants programs.

Photography | aleXanDer’S Fine portrait DeSiGn, nanCy taylor pHotoGrapHy

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Keels & Wheels Uncorked POST OAK MOTOR CARS, LTD. ROLLS-ROYCE & BENTLEY • 4.4.12

On April 4, Houston’s finest chefs played host to an evening of tasty fare, premium wine and some of the most exclusive classic automobiles. The third annual Keels & Wheels Uncorked, benefitting the Boys and Girls Harbor, gave car and boat enthusiasts the opportunity to view luxury classic automobiles, including a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 formerly owned by actress Marlene Dietrich, and “Miss American Pie,” a 1947 Chris Craft Deluxe Wooden Runabout. Chefs from Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano, Ristorante Cavour at the Hotel Granduca, Mark’s American Cuisine and Mockingbird Bistro provided hors d’oeuvres and wine.

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1 William king and shelly dowell 2 Bob fuller 3 irina and richard Mitchell 4 nelda Blair and Jerry eversole 5 carol lockwood and John lionberger 6 sam and denise Malone

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parting

SHOT

wordPLAY Chef aquiles Chavez savors the sweet smell of success of his new restaurant, la fisheria, where the main dining room's wall is filled with texas facts and tidbits.

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Photographed by Mark lipczynski on March 5, 2012.

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