PRIME Living 2012 September/October "Texas issue" Issue

teXAS

September/OctOber 2012

The Luxury of Choice

To the Letter Texas treasures from AtoZ

other Worlds

Journey to haunts around the globe

Texas

From down-home barbecue to ranch-style living, Prime Living celebrates everything we love about the Lone Star State

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

September/October 2012

22 31

sought & found

Everything you wanted to know about the Lone Star State, from A to Z

55

haunts heard ’round the world

Journey across borders to lands steeped in history and ghostly legends

Brian Wancho

3-D mammography goes where no X-ray has gone before

TX AtoZ

September/October • 2012

3

alsoinside 9 • cocktails & conversation • Where to Go, What to Do Buzz • Where There’s Smoke • Flight of Fashion • ‘Reel’ing in Texas • Revel in Art • Ranch House Style • My Life

14

35 • c onnoisseur • PL’s Guide to Discerning Taste Great Expectations • Good Eats • Table Talk • A Toast to Texas • Right on ‘Cue

Publisher Terry Dean

tdean@prime-living.com

mjacoby@prime-living.com

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62 • escape • Greetings from destinations near and far Enlightened Explorer • Canyon of the Eagles

Editorial assistants Aaron Berman, Emmie Martin Art Direction & Design SW!TCH s t u d i o Jim Nissen Kris Olmon Elizabeth Dam www.switchstudio.com

Advertising Director Rodrigo Hurtado rhurtado@prime-living.com

44

Account Executive David Drake ddrake@prime-living.com

Director of Marketing Jennifer Dean

76 • prime list • Events, Galas and Fundraisers Mad Men Casino Night • Men With Momentum: Speed & Spirits •

jend@prime-living.com

Save an Animal Poker Tournament

the

kdean@prime-living.com

Managing Editor Michelle Jacoby

47 • the gentlemen’s room • For the man who commands the very best Ace in the Home • Luxe Truck • Taking Advantage of 2012 • High-Tech Tailgating • Man of the Cloth

69 • live well • Feel Good, Look Good In Harmony • Health News • It’s a Guy Thing • Some Bullies Grow Old • Wi-Fi Can’t We Get Along?

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Karyn Dean

Circulation/ Distribution Brian Stavert

list

bstavert@prime-living.com

Contact 311 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, Texas 77498 281.277.2333 Editorial Inquiries editor@prime-living.com

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77 TEXAS

SEPTEM

BER/OC

TOBER

2012

e The Luxury of Choic

on the cover Photography by Mark Lipczynski, photo assistance by David Butler, styling by Lisa Forster and model from FORD Robert Black. Wardrobe courtesy of Sheplers Western Wear.

er To the Lett res Texas treasu from AtoZ

Other Worlds

Journey to haunts around the globe

Texas

4

Living living, PrimeState ranch-style barbecue tolove about the Lone Star From down-home hing we celebrates everyt

prime-living.com

Advertising Information advertise@prime-living.com 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.

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publisher’s note

We have

Karyn and Jennifer Dean at the Pink Door fundraiser at Sugar Land Face & Body.

karyn dean Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

coming up Get in the spirit with Prime Living’s annual Luxury Issue. From holiday décor and luxury adventures, to profiles on community heroes making a difference, you’ll discover the holiday’s most brilliant gems.

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

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

Happy scanning!

I

everything in Texas!

t’s hard to believe it’s been three years since we published our first Texas Issue. It all began with the 2009 September/October issue, which had “Mr. September” (as we lovingly call him now) all decked out in his suit and hat, cigar in one hand, brandy snifter in the other.

Since then, the issue has become a favorite of ours, and our readers. Because who doesn’t love the opportunity to show off a little, especially about our beloved Lone Star state?

Keeping with tradition, this issue promises to cover all the things we love about our great state.

First up: Texas barbecue. Whether you’re a BBQ aficionado or just someone who enjoys some finger-lickin’ good sauce, check out “Where’s the Smoke?” (page 12). This roundup lists some of the best ’cue in Texas, including Kilgore’s Country Tavern, which President George H.W. Bush declared “has the best pork ribs around.”

More barbecue fun can be had at “Right on ’Cue” (page 44), where you’ll find inspired ideas on how to create your own BBQ magic. And don’t forget to scan the QR code for delicious menus and mouthwatering sauce recipes (you can also get them at prime-living.com).

If you’re a Texan tried-and-true, “TX A to Z” (page 22) will remind you of all the reasons you fell in love with the Lone Star state. Our alphabetical guide to the state’s most treasured icons covers such favorites as Blue Bell ice cream, rodeo season and good, old Dr Pepper.

Venture outside of that Texas pride for just a moment to discover “Haunts Heard ‘Round the World” (page 55). I was surprised to find that Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is known for its tales of witchcraft, and the paranormal activity at France’s Palace of Versailles was totally unexpected. Truth be told, we probably have haunted castles in Texas, too. Why wouldn’t we? We have everything in Texas!

And speaking of everything, did you know that Houston is home to one of the leading culinary schools in the United States? I had the privilege of being a guest judge at the July graduation of the Culinary Institute LeNotre. Director of enrollment Jean-Luc Hauviller and his staff have done a great job of training up-and-coming chefs not only in the culinary arts, but also on how to be successful in the industry. The amazing talent coming out of the school will no doubt make Texas proud!

One of things that I love the most about being a Texan is how philanthropic we are. I recently attended an event at Sugar Land Face & Body, where Dr. Eric Humble and his wife Lynn invited guests to learn about a brand-new procedure that literally cools fat off (cool sculpting). The best part, however, was money raised that evening went to the Pink Door, a nonprofit organization helping women cancer survivors.

You know what they say: Everything’s bigger in Texas…especially our hearts!

kdean@prime-living.com A special thanks to Restoration Hardware for their assistance in our July/August Design issue. The lead photo was one of their designs!

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C R O S S

C R E E K

R A N C H

OCTober 6-21

Visit our Chocolate Holiday Fantasy Tour and see 11 brand new model homes in Fulshear’s premier master-planned community. Each fabulous model is decorated for the holidays and of course, you will indulge in a multitude of chef demonstrations, sample chocolate delights and recipes.

Buy a new home in Cross Creek Ranch during October and you will receive a

OuTDOOR KITCHEN FREE! Saturday Oct. 7th: 2nd annual oktoBerfest triathlon at Cross Creek Ranch. See website for details.

Saturday Oct. 20th: City of fulshear sCareCrow festival

at Cross Creek Ranch. No admission charge. See website for details.

Saturday Oct. 27th: Christus hospital prinCess walk for Breast CanCer. See website for details.

Katy Freeway

Ashton Woods . highlAnd . KicKerillo neWmArK . Perry homes . PlAntAtion trendmAKer . VillAge Builders

from $180s-Millions

crosscreektexas.com

facebook.com/crosscreektexas 281.344.9882

* Size and type of outdoor kitchens may vary. See each builder for details or equivalent discount.

1463

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Grand Parkway

KATY

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Tollway 99

359

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- Gary Truver, Jr.

When I had cancer, the world’s leading care was right here.

My team of experts focused only on me and my cancer. They guided me through advanced MD Anderson treatment options including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials, and support services. They customized a plan just for me. Three months after I completed treatment, my mom was also diagnosed with cancer. MD Anderson was there for both of us.

Having MD Anderson in our community kept me close to my wife and three boys, and my mom close to her grandsons. I chose the MD Anderson close to me. Find Your MD Anderson today.

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cocktails & conversation.

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

Mark Lipczynski

inside:

Liberty Kitchen

10 • The Buzz | What’s New 12 • Hot List | where there’s smoke 13 • Point of Interest | flight of fashion 14 • Nostalgia | ‘Reel’ing in Texas 16 • Arts | Revel in art 18 • Design | Ranch House Style 20 • My Life | haunted house producer

September/October • 2012

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cocktails & conversation.

buzz

Author!

author!

K

O

n Sept. 29, “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition” will make its Texas debut at the Witte Museum in San Antonio.

The sixth stop of its three-year tour of the United States, the exhibit features a collection of mummies and related artifacts, some dating back as early as 3,000 years before King Tut. The howler monkey, for example, is from the site of Grand Chaco in Argentina. While it has not been radiocarbon dated, researchers say the monkey was most likely preserved in the warm, dry environment of the area. It is adorned with a rhea feather skirt and feather wreath around its head and neck.

Also on exhibit is the Tattooed Woman, who was naturally mummified in the warm desert air and seated in the burial position typical in Chile before 1400 A.D. She has unusual tattoos, including an oval beneath the left corner of her mouth.

Through interactive multimedia exhibits, visitors can see how scientific studies of mummies provide a window into the lives of ancient cultures and civilizations.

“Mummies of the World” is on display through Jan. 27, 2013. wittemuseum.org, mummiesoftheworld.com

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stay a spell D

owntown’s Hotel ICON is getting a refresh thanks to a multi-million renovation that promises to reinforce the city’s loveliest lodgings. Dallas-based design firm Duncan-MillerUllmann preserved the romantic, turn-of-the-century character of the building, while injecting some sophisticated, Texas flair.

The redefined entrance on Congress Street greets guests with a new ivy wall, signature red awnings and unique art installation incorporating archival images of Main Street. hotelicon.com

Darryl Moran | American Exhibitions Inc. | Akshaya Patra Foundation USA | Debora Smail

Mysteries unveiled

nown worldwide for his views and books on physical, mental and spiritual wellness, Deepak Chopra will be at the Westin Galleria on Sept. 9. The event will support the Houston Chapter of Akshaya Patra Foundation USA, an organization that addresses hunger and education in India. foodforeducation.org Also coming to Houston is Kathryn Stockett, author of the bestselling novel “The Help.”

Scheduled to appear at the Society for the Performing Arts Luncheon on Oct. 10 at Jones Hall, Stockett will speak about her years growing up in Jackson, Miss.; her first novel, which was adapted for the big screen; and her upcoming projects.

713-632-8103, spahouston.org

cocktails & conversation.

buzz

boutique Buzz

in style

Discover Houston’s latest and greatest fashion finds

P

assionate about animals and nature since she was a little girl, accessory designer Cornelia Guest has dedicated her life to animal activism. She recently launched a collection of animal-friendly handbags and wallets made with alternatives to leather. Guest will be at Tootsies Oct. 9-10 to showcase her accessories and sign copies of “Cornelia Guest’s Simple Pleasures,” her new book about vegan cooking and fter winning “Project Runway” entertaining. 2601 and appearing on QVC, Westheimer. fashion designer Chloe Dao’s 713-629-9990, Rice Village boutique has become tootsies.com a mecca for up-and-coming style makers. These days, DAO Chloe DAO has a special space dedicated to jewelry designer Ana Mae Holmes, whose latest collection {temple street} is both playful and eclectic. The handcrafted jewelry, which incorporates semiprecious stones such as quartz, jasper and agate, offer a modern vintage vibe and compliment Chloe’s designs. 6127 Kirby Dr. 713-807-1565, chloedao.com

A

Get in step with the latest looks at these upcoming trunk shows NEIMAN MARCUS, HOUSTON GALLERIA

Sept. 5 Jay Strongwater Sept. 6 David Yurman Sept. 7-8 Hickey Freeman Made to Measure Event Sept. 10 Akris Anniversary Event Sept. 12 Trish McEvoy

Oct. 6 Dina Mackney Oct. 9 Ippolita Oct. 10 Michelle Smith of Milly Oct. 10 Steven Lagos Oct. 11 David Yurman Oct. 11-12 Tony Ward Oct. 12 Michele Watches

Sept. 12-13 Teso Fur Pre-Fall Trunk Show

Oct. 13 Konstantino

Sept. 14 Escada Event with Daniel Wingate

Oct. 17 Aerin Lauder and Ken Downing

Oct. 3 Dominique Cohen

Oct. 18-20 Stefano Ricci Made to Measure Event

Oct. 5 John Hardy

Oct. 23-24 Mierlla

Love Lee Photography | CoolGreySeven | Bruce Webber | BHLDN

TOOTSIES Sept. 14 Virgins, Saints and Angels

Oct. 3 Hassan Bounkit

Sept. 18 Joan Hornig

Oct. 25-26 Naeem Khan 2013 Spring Collection

*Events subject to change.

M

ali Chi, founder and creative director of Hello & Co., is marrying a bride’s personal style and her wedding stationery with an innovative line that transforms the look and feel of her gown onto paper. With specialty fonts and papers, Chi creates patterns and details to mirror the bride’s wedding dress. Hello & Co. can be found in the suite of stationery at BHLDN in Highland Village.

4056 Westheimer. 713-599-1917, bhldn.com, helloandco.com

Roseann Rogers Known as Houston’s “Buzz Lady,” Roseann Rogers has been on top of the 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.

September/October • 2012

11

cocktails & conversation.

hot list

Louie Mueller Barbecue

If you were auditioning visuals to play a Texas barbecue joint in a movie, you might as well hand the role to this third-generation hangout in tiny Taylor. In fact, several feature films have. Wayne Mueller keeps a close eye on things—especially the smoker—the same way his late grandfather Louie and late father Bobby did beginning in 1949.

where there’s smoke Story | John DeMers

Every corner of the Lone Star State has some terrific barbecue.

But if you’re looking to “follow the smoke” to discover something old that tastes better than something new, here are five Texas destinations that guarantee yours will be happy trails.

Country Tavern

206 w. 2nd st., taylor 512-352-6206 louiemuellerbarbecue.com

Smitty’s Market

A few years back, the family feud between Nina Schmidt and the Kreuz family made national headlines from Lockhart, the legislature’s official barbecue capital of Texas.

Today, Nina and her son—the oversize, everaproned pitmaster colorfully named John Fullilove—prefer to make headlines with their brisket, sausage and ribs. And they do.

208 s. commerce st., lockhart 512-398-9344 smittysmarket.com

While Kilgore is most famous for its high-kicking Rangerettes, it could end up even more famous for its pork ribs. Most folks, including actor Robert Duvall and President George H.W. Bush, declare these just about the best ribs there ever were. With their sweet caramelized crust and their super-juicy and smoky interior, this is the closest thing to “meat brûlée” we can lust after.

Cooper’s

“It’s all about the meat, y’all” goes the slogan at this landmark right by the bridge over the Guadalupe River. In fact, Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que is also all about the system, which has crowds gather round smokers outside to pick out proteins, then wander inside to get sides and iced tea. The Big Chop is the big deal at Cooper’s, and the pickles and white bread are free.

604 w. young st., llano 325-247-5713 coopersbbqllano.com

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Franklin Barbecue

The lines are always out the door at this rustic joint just across Interstate 35 from downtown Austin, but once inside, you’ll feel as if you’re deep in the countryside. Beef brisket is the preferred protein here, with Aaron and Stacy Franklin keeping the place open each day until the meat runs out; you and your appetite get to “help” them go home.

900 e. 11th st., austin 512-653-1187 franklinbarbecue.com

Louie Mueller Barbecue/Rebecca Fondren | John DeMers

texas 31, kilgore 903-984-9954 countrytavern.com

point of interest

flight of fashion Story | Elizabeth Exline

The Little Bird

F

orget trawling through racks of musty clothes.

Abandon the idea that resale is only for finding outrageous Halloween costumes.

These days, luxury consignment is the best-dressed ticket for sourcing a one-of-a-kind gown or making some extra cash off last season’s bag. And in Houston, the place to do it is the effortlessly chic The Little Bird.

The reason why The Little Bird is at the head of the consignment pack is, essentially, its inventory. Shelves are expertly stocked with vintage and new pieces, which can sometimes surprise passersby who drop in.

“It’s a really meticulous, beautiful store where people don’t really know that they’re in a consignment store,” explains The Little Bird’s founder, Keele Loyd. That people have to ask is a testament to Loyd’s accidental expertise in retail. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in mathematics, but decided to spend a year in Aspen, Colo., before returning to teach. During that year, she found her true calling in retail and opened The Little Bird in Aspen in 2007.

Life brought her to Houston the next year to undergo successful treatment for thyroid

cancer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Wanting to divert her attention to something positive during her treatment, she began contemplating an expansion into her adopted city. Loyd guessed that in Houston, “there would be some big closets to clean out.”

She was right. Last year, Loyd opened the 3,200-square-foot shop, where patrons encounter everything from new designer denim and casual pieces by the likes of Tory Burch to showstopping statements of elegance

by Chanel, Carolina Herrera and Dior. It’s also become a sort of hunting ground, Loyd notes, for finding treasures like the Fendi Baguettes that fly off the shelves.

Of course, The Little Bird is only as desirable as its inventory and for that, Loyd relies on finding pieces that have a certain timelessness.

“It’s thinking about how we would want to dress a woman and have her say that she got that at our store,” she explains.

For all her careful vetting and time-tested experience, the secret to Loyd’s success may just boil down to a kind word.

Loyd intentionally eschews the coastal cities in favor of the Midwest, where opportunity

the little bird 1735 post oak blvd.

832-767-4483 thelittlebirdinc.com

cocktails & conversation.

and friendliness coexist like nowhere else.

“You can never be too kind, and you can never do too much to help people,” Loyd opines. And there’s no price tag on that experience.

A Good Vintage Houston proves it’s got a highend (consignment) habit with these delightful boutiques.

Cheeky Vintage

Opened in 2008 by best friends and veteran vintage hunters Tina Davis and Denise Hazen, Cheeky Vintage infuses its inventory with a dash of iconic glamour via crown molding, chandeliers and homages to its muse, Audrey Hepburn.

2134 richmond ave.

713-533-1121 cheekyvintage.com

Twice New Consignment Couture Boutique There’s something to be said for experience, and Twice New has been a community fixture since 1989. Featuring all the desirable labels—Chanel, Escada, Gucci and more—the 2,500-square-foot shop is full of carefully culled goods.

Claim to fame: Giving back.

What doesn’t sell isn’t wasted: Twice New donates inventory to a women’s shelter.

2005-d w. gray 713-523-2212 twicenew.com

September/October • 2012

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cocktails & conversation.

nostalgia

‘Reel’ing IN TEXAS Story | Bruce Farr

A

friend once told me that, for him, the pure epicenter of classic American cinema would be watching James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor in “Giant” at a drive-in movie theater near Waco, under a full canopy of Texas stars. Admittedly, the idea reeks of nostalgia for a time, place and event that would be difficult to recreate, but it’s nonetheless compelling.

It’s a given to say that the motion picture industry’s focus on Texas as a subject and setting for some of its most epic films has added to the state’s legendary allure. In fact, Hollywood came to Texas very early (in the 1920s) and has had a love affair with the Lone Star State ever since.

According to the Texas Almanac, the state has been calling itself the “Third Coast of filmmaking (after the West Coast and East Coast) since 1978.

But movies that were filmed here actually spool back much further, even into the infancy of silent films in the 19-aughts.

As one might expect, films in the Western genre that were produced and set here are as plentiful as Texas tumbleweeds.

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the classic Western into popular new cinematic territory.

We can all name some of the masterpieces of cinema that were both filmed and set here. Aside from “Giant,” there were such memorable classics as “The Last Picture Show” (1971), Paul Newman’s “Hud” (1963) and John Wayne’s “The Did You Know?

Alamo” (1960). Even 1967’s Warren Beatty/ Faye Dunaway multi-Oscar-winner “Bonnie It’s probably no great surprise that a handful and Clyde” was shot in no fewer than 13 of Texas’ classic films fall into the “horror” Texas locations. genre. The relatively recent “Texas Chain More recently, there were big productions Saw Massacre” franchise comes buzzing such as “No Country for Old Men” and immediately to mind, but two other horror “There Will Be Blood” (both in 2007) that hoots from the 1950s, “The Giant Gila weaved darker, brooding tales, entwining them with the mythic Texas landscape.

Monster” and “The Killer Shrews,” turn up Production schedules for upcoming films frequently on late-night movie channels. point to a continuation of movies set in Texas.

Ready for release in 2013, “The Lone Ranger,” starring Armie Hammer as the masked starring Marlon Brando was certainly no cinematic slouch. And then there were later crusader and Johnny Depp as his trusted sidekick, Tonto, promises to once again movies such as “Urban Cowboy” (1980), “Tender Mercies” (1983) and “Places in the celebrate Texas and its credo of honor. All we can say is “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!”

Heart” (1984) that updated and expanded “Two Rode Together” (1961) and “Bandolero!” (1968) were standouts, with James Stewart topping the bill in both.

Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch” (1969) has become one of moviedom’s most celebrated films. “Viva Zapata!” (1952)

TEXAS movie trivia

Line, Please!

Name the movie from which each memorable movie quote came from.

1

What was the earliest film ever made in Texas?

1. “We rob banks.”

2. “Why should I be happy about being a grandmother?!”

A. “The Immortal Alamo” B. “Hud” C. “The Warrens of Virginia”

3. “All cowboys ain’t dumb.

Some of ‘em got smarts real good. Like me.”

2

What was the first motion picture to be written, produced, directed, distributed and filmed completely in Texas?

A. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” B. “The Alamo” C. “Benji”

3

What was the first Texas movie to receive an Oscar?

A. “No Country for Old Men” B. “Wings” C. “Giant”

4

Who was the director of the original production of the famous movie “The Alamo”?

4. “You knew they where selling something out there, and it wasn’t poultry.”

On Location

Match these famous Texas movies with the Texas town they were set or filmed in.

Movie

City or town

“Giant”

Round Rock

“The Last Picture Show”

Houston

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”

Claude

“Sugarland Express” “Urban Cowboy” “Logan’s Run”

Brackettville

“Hud”

Marfa

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”

Austin and Hallettsville

“Viva Zapata!”

Dallas

“The Alamo”

San Antonio

Texas Movie Triva Answers: 1. A. “The Immortal Alamo” was filmed in San Antonio and released on May 25, 1911. Sadly, no copies of the film exist today and it’s considered a lost classic. 2. C. The 1974 film “Benji,” which was written, produced, filmed, distributed, advertised and promoted in Texas. 3. B. “Wings,” directed by William Wellman for Paramount in 1927. The cast included Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen and Clara Bow. 4. C. John Wayne starred in and directed the 1960 classic.

What Texas movie made mechanical bull riding popular? Scan this code to see the answer.

You can also visit bitly.com/txmovietrivia

Archer City

On Location Answers: Marfa, “Giant;” Archer City, “The Last Picture Show;” Austin and Hallettsville, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas;” San Antonio, “Sugarland Express;” Houston, “Urban Cowboy;” Dallas, “Logan’s Run;” Claude, “Hud;” Round Rock, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre;” Rio Grande City, “Viva Zapata!;” Brackettville, “The Alamo”

THAT AIN’T NO BULL!

Rio Grande City

Line, Please! Answers: 1. “Bonnie and Clyde” 2. “Terms of Endearment” 3. “Urban Cowboy” 4. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”

A. John Ford B. Howard Hawks C. John Wayne

cocktails & conversation.

nostalgia

September/October • 2012

15

cocktails & conversation.

arts

review Over Time: My Life as a Sportswriter Frank Deford

A

nyone who’s ever worked at a daily newspaper remembers the first of a couple million times he or she was told, “The sports guys are, of course, the best writers we’ve got here.”

There must have been something about the subject— the personalities, the drama of competition, the distance from so-called more “serious” news like city councils and school boards— that brought out the literary lions Story | John DeMers in guys who could barely complete sentences in any other context.

Considering the physical proximity of Texas ouston has long been known, particularly And then there’s Baltimore’s own to Latin America, the long traditions of cultural by art connoisseurs, as a destination for Frank Deford, who helped Sports and familial contact, and the importance of Latin the visual arts. In mid-September, even Illustrated get to be golden during its American holdings at Houston’s Museum of Fine those accustomed to the city’s well-supported “golden age” and who’s now heard, Arts, the HFAF is paying particular attention to museums and respected galleries are expecting an seen and read everywhere from contemporary works from that part of the world. artistic shot in the arm.

ESPN to NPR. As this glowingly As Grobmyer puts it, “HFAF will capitalize on The Houston Fine Art Fair (HFAF), projected wise memoir makes clear, there have to be the largest in the South, is bringing together Houston’s enviable position.” been bumps and bruises along the Throughout the past century, as the city more than 80 leading galleries from across the way, but always within the context grew in financial clout, Houston collectors and United States, Europe and Latin America. At of a guy lucky enough to do what he their representatives combed through the most last year’s debut, there were 10,500 visitors loves for half a century. important galleries of New York, San Francisco, perusing—and purchasing—art from galleries Sports fans will lap up every Los Angeles and, of course, Europe, looking for representing 13 countries and 37 U.S. cities. Set page and personal anecdote, from masterworks from the past, as well as the “next big to take place Sept. 14-16 at Reliant Center, the coaches and players now barely thing.” It’s not a coincidence that artists like Andy fair is expected to be even bigger this year. remembered to larger-than-life Warhol and Mark Rothko found some of their “While art fairs do not displace gallery hopping, figures like Wilt Chamberlain and earliest acceptance here. The goal of the HFAF is experiencing the best new international art in a Bill Russell in basketball, Bobby to bring such collectors and art together in a single Orr in hockey, Billie Jean King single venue adds excitement and immediacy to art buying,” says Melissa Grobmyer, who partners with venue—and let the magic happen. and Arthur Ashe in tennis, Mickey “The art fair is a broadly based civic event,” says Janet Hobby in MKG Art Management, the show’s Mantle and Pete Rose in baseball Houston gallery owner Hiram Butler. “Museum advisers. “Art collectors at HFAF will compare and, of course, Muhammad Ali professionals, galleries, collectors and artists all gather art from galleries throughout the world of various in boxing—a sport Deford never to celebrate and buy or sell art in a public forum. There liked at all. And his all-American price points and styles, all in one beautiful venue, are lots of elements of the ancient Greek symposia. giving collectors increased access to the best of dismissals of soccer are worth the People are plotting, boasting and simply reveling.” contemporary art.” book’s price all by themselves.

Starting with protosportswriters Grantland Rice and Red Smith, several icons of 20th Spotlight: Art Palace century journalism turn up here as Founded in Austin in 2005, the Art Palace was—and is—focused on promoting emerging Texas well.

Deford’s “voice” on all these artists. Through exhibits, art fairs, publications and special projects, the gallery helped launch artists’ people, places and things is so careers, getting their work into the public spotlight and private collections. In 2010, Art Palace unique, so even and, at times, so relocated to Houston, where its gallery showcases such creatives as found-object artist Sterling Allen eloquent, that you’ll love reading and contemporary artist Eric Zimmerman, whose work will be on display beginning in September. this book even if you’ve never spent art palace • 3913 main st. • 281-501-2964 • artpalacegallery.com a moment of your life pondering the oh-so wide world of sports. – JD

revel in art

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Evgenia Arbugaeva, Journey to the Lake September 2011, Archival inkjet print, edition of 8, Courtesy of Pictura Gallery

H

What is the ke y

to creating a

it is about carefully choosing, collecting and surrounding ourselves with the things we love - items of enduring quality, patina and design - which bring joy into our lives and the lives of others.

True classics pay homage to the past, and more importantly, stand the test of time for the future. New classics join the ranks every day. as I blog (www.billstubbsblog.com) classic pieces from my collection, as well as those of tastemakers around the globe, along with hot shopping spots (real and virtual), classic books, classic architects, designers and artists, classic trips and destinations, classic weddings, classic baby nurseries, well, you get the picture!

william w. stubbs & associates Go to www.wwstubbs.com to join my blog and much more!

cocktails & conversation.

design

1

RANCH house style D

esign trends may come and go, but if you live in Texas, you can hang your cowboy hat on the timelessness of at least one look: ranch design. Whether you’re after animal heads and leather, or washed linen and wood, ranch design always feels at home.

“There’s just nothing like being on the back of a horse walking through a field,” explains Ginger Barber, president of Ginger Barber Design Inc. “It brings calm, and that’s huge.”

So huge, in fact, that Barber finds significant inspiration in equine photography, which is, she notes, a classic accessory in ranch design. (She also collaborates with the horserehabilitation program Habitat for Horses.)

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Denver Courtney, co-owner of the design firm and showroom Courtney & Company, agrees. Artwork should be big to anchor a room, he says (think 6-by-8 feet) and it can be contemporary enough to appeal to a wide audience. For example, a portrait of boots might be done in electric blue and pink.

Courtney also likes to work with an artist to transpose photographs onto aluminum for a striking effect.

“As you walk around the room, it kind of shimmers,” he recalls of one particular equine portrait.

But horses are just the beginning.

Ranch design incorporates easy-to-love finishes, such as stained concrete floors, and

concrete or hand-hewn wood countertops, as well. Barber has taken the look even further to include sliding barn doors— or contemporary doors with barn-style hardware—to divide a family room from a kitchen. And adding a touch of corrugated metal can work wonders, too.

“I’ve done the corrugated metal roofing on the ceiling in an entry with the walls in wood just for fun,” Barber says.

Courtney, meanwhile, admires the reclaimed wood paneling more and more customers are applying to their walls and floors. But the best part of modern ranch design is its shedding of the dark and dreary. Walls are white; floors are gray or whitewashed.

Pottery Barn

Story | Elizabeth Exline

design

cocktails & conversation.

1

3

2

Ranch Dressing When it comes to creating your home on the range, think light, bright and edgy—with a hint of Western flair.

Pottery Barn | Antler Designs | Spinneybeck | Stanford Furniture

1. Inspired by display cases found in county general stores, the Lucy Console Table (in vintage red) is perfect for everything from boots to boxes. potterybarn.com

4

“In general, the trend has just been going white and bright,” Courtney says, noting how those reclaimed planks may be painted and scraped back for an earthy, raw appeal.

What you put inside these spaces embraces the same blend of country and modern rustic. Embossed leather, woven Native American rugs, stone, washable linen and wood go a long way toward creating the ranch feeling. And the old favorites—like candelabras fashioned from elk antlers, animal heads over mantels and

5

the ubiquitous cowhide—are still big sellers for Courtney.

Because ranch design is predicated on the outdoors, you can’t ignore your backyard.

Tap into western heritage, Barber urges, with recycled accents such as grain feeders turned into coffee tables with stone or concrete tops.

She also likes to use tall aluminum trash cans for growing wisteria or herbs against a wall, and she’s even been known to convert an old keg into an outdoor sink. She does, in other words, like all great Texans do and expresses the western heritage via sophisticated sensibilities.

2. Set the stage with artwork inspired

by Western heritage and some good ’ol fashioned patriotism. This planked USA panels piece makes the perfect statement in any room. potterybarn.com 3. Set the right mood with tapers in this Teton Tier Candelabra by Antler Designs. goantler.com 4. Give new meaning to “let the cows come home.” At approximately 8-by-10 feet, this hair-hide rug makes quite the statement. spinneybeck.com 5. At once stately and down-to-earth, this cinnamon leather Wilkins Banquette

by Stanford Furniture invites you and your guests to take a load off. stanfordfurniture.com

September/October • 2012

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cocktails & conversation.

my life

haunted house producer Steve Kopelman

“Y

ears and years ago, I was in Phoenix and I’d been working as a concert merchandiser for bands,” says Steve Kopelman. “And I saw this huge line of people waiting to get into a haunted house.

And I was intrigued.”

His captivation with the idea that people spend money to be scared led to his decision to produce haunted houses of his own. Today, Kopelman is one of the genre’s top producers, opening between five and 10 attractions nationwide every year. The Nest, his haunted house in Phoenix, is one of the top-ranked haunted houses in the country.

The Spring resident says that if the dream of being a movie producer is a long shot, doing haunted houses is a close second. “[Fortunately,] people want to be scared when they come to a haunted house,” Kopelman says. “And there are so many ways to scare them.”

Throughout his more than 20 years as a producer, he’s loved watching how technology has evolved and how the scale of the attractions has reached what he calls “Hollywood proportions.” He works with designers and makeup artists to ensure his attractions are unique, and says the industry is actually a year-round commitment.

“Once you shut down the haunted house in November, you’re already ready to begin working on what’s coming the next year,” says Kopelman, who attends a haunted house trade show in March and brainstorms with his team of artists and designers throughout the year to mount the houses each fall.

“Over the last 30 years, Halloween has really become more popular,” he says. “It’s grown so tremendously.”

So if you’re looking for a good scare this season, Kopelman offers up a little advice: “Go earlier in the season rather than later, when it’s less crowded. And wear really casual clothes.”

After all, you never know what’s waiting around those dark corners.

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People want to be scared when they come to a

haunted house.

And there are so many ways to

scare them.

Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark Lipczynski

Magical Setting

Exceptional

Experiences

U

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

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

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exans love Texas. They love it for its individualistic streak, for its varying geography, for its myths of cowboys and cattle ranches and oil wells brought to life.

Everything really is bigger here.

So, in our annual salute to all things Texas, we offer up an alphabetical homage of those things that make the Lone Star State unique, from the iconic to the tourist, with a little eclectic in between.

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San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau

Story | Holly Beretto

Blue-bonnets

In the spring, our state flower is in full bloom everywhere, thanks in large part to Lady Bird Johnson, who pioneered the idea of planting wildflower seeds along the highways. Come April, you’ll find families across the state posing amid the bluish blossoms.

Alamo

Cowboys (andcowgirls,too!)

If you want to relive what life was like for the cowboys and gals who helped spur the Texas myth of a land of cattle drives, your destination is Fort Worth, home to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Exhibits, films and events pay tribute to these men and women, who helped build our state.

Dr. Pepper Snapple

It doesn’t get more Texas than this. At this San Antonio mission, a small band of the Texan Army stood to face Mexican General Santa Anna’s forces. The resulting massacre led to the rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo,” and sowed the seeds for Sam Houston to ultimately defeat Mexican forces and win Texas independence.

DrPepper

Texans love their Dr Pepper, a wonderful concoction dreamed up by a Waco pharmacist. Visit Waco’s museum dedicated to the creation of the drink, and see what all the fuss is about. While the beloved Dublin Dr Pepper, crafted with pure cane sugar, is no more, you’ll find plenty of nostalgia and love for the drink here.

September/October • 2012

23

ElPaso

Gulfcoast beaches Stretching from Galveston down to the Mexico border, Texas beaches are as diverse as the state itself. From golden sand to rollicking waves, beach lovers bask in the surf and stroll along the shores.

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Fiesta

This Mardi Gras-like extravaganza held deep in the heart of San Antonio includes street festivals, parades and music. Beginning in the late 1890s, Fiesta has grown to 11 days of 100 official events, each hosted by a local nonprofit or military group. Fiesta raises dollars for scholarships and outreach.

Buddy Holly Center, City of Lubbock

San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau

Brian Wancho

This western Texas city has an important role in Lone Star history as the “Pass of the North,” where traders and settlers crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas. Today, visitors can enjoy the city’s vibrant and eclectic art galleries, check out the vineyards, and even learn a little military history at the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center, where vehicles and weapons are on display.

BuddyHolly

One of the founders of rock ‘n’ roll, Holly gave us hits like “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day,” and provided a soundtrack for our coming-of-age. His tragic death in a plane crash was immortalized in Don McLean’s hit song “American Pie,” but he lives on in Lubbock, the town of his birth. The Buddy Holly Center and a month of musical celebrations are dedicated to his life.

Space Cent er

Blue Bell ice cream, that is. Deep in the heart of Brenham sits a Texas icon that has been scooping out frozen goodness for more than 80 years. It all began when local farmers founded the Brenham Creamery Company, where they made butter from excess cream produced by area farmers.

Soon after, the creamery began making ice cream and, in 1930, changed its name to Blue Bell Creameries. Today, the company makes 20 permanent flavors and 37 rotational flavors, ensuring cold and creamy goodness all year round.

Houston

Ice cream

JohnsonSpaceCenter

Blue Bell Creameries

Houston’s Johnston Space Center has been a hub of space travel for more than half a century. Founded in 1961, the center has provided invaluable research and education about space and space travel. Every manned space mission—from Gemini IV in 1965, to the Apollo missions that landed man on the moon, to more than 110 Space Shuttle flights—was run out of the center’s mission control. Astronauts train here. Engineers and scientists from around the world work here. Space travel and our understanding of space happens here. It’s truly a cosmic thing.

Sea Turtle Inc.

Kemp’sridley seaturtles

South Padre Island’s Sea Turtle Inc. is dedicated to the preservation of this endangered species.

Visitors will learn about conservation efforts and myriad education programs offered by the group.

If you can’t make it to South Padre, you can check out turtle activities on the organization’s live turtle cam (seaturtleinc.org).

LlanoEstacado

Offering one of the Lone Star State’s most stunning vistas, the staked plains of Llano Estacado climb up through the state’s northwest and is one of the largest tablelands in North America. Those wishing to experience it can camp at Caprock Canyons State Park or visit the Llano Estacado Winery.

September/October • 2012

25

Mammoth

Cit y of Waco

rice university

Visit the Waco Mammoth Site to take a trip back to prehistoric Texas.

The largest nursery herd in North America lies in situ on a site west of downtown Waco, where guides will explain to you how the Brazos Valley looked during the time these beasts roamed its plains.

NobelPrizewinners

Texas universities can brag about having some of the best and brightest minds. Rice, Texas A&M, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center each claim faculty, former faculty and alumni who’ve taken home Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine. A&M even has a Nobel Peace Prize winner among its Aggies.

Papers

Opera

If you think Texas is all about country music, think again. The state’s classical scene is world-renowned, especially with players like the Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Austin Lyric Opera and Fort Worth Opera. Highlights from this season include HGO’s new production of “La Boheme” and the Dallas Opera’s 25-year anniversary of the premiere of “The Aspern Papers.” To mark the occasion, the opera has created a brand-new production of Henry James’ acclaimed tale.

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Harry Ransom Center

Ken Howard

The papers, books, photographs and other materials in the Harry Ransom Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus represent some of the most rare cultural artifacts around.

The center hosts exhibits and talks, and in the permanent collection, you can see a Gutenberg Bible and the very first photograph ever taken.

Kim Coffman

Quilts

In addition to the Houstonhosted, annual International Quilt Show—which showcases some of the best quilting work in the world—you can view handcrafted pieces and learn about how important this folk art form is at the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange.

Stockyards

n Brian Hutso

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Forth Worth Stockyards is now a national historic site.

Museums, attractions and events celebrate the area’s importance in Texas history, and the district is also a vibrant entertainment mecca, home to famed Billy Bob’s Texas, a three-acre honky tonk with its own rodeo arena.

Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest in the world. For 20 days, Reliant Park is filled with carnival rides, star-studded concerts, ropin’ and ridin’ cowboys and girls, a wine garden, animal attractions and great events for the whole family. Proceeds raised from the rodeo go to scholarships that have helped thousands of Texans receive a college education .

September/October • 2012

27

“Texas,theMusical”

Texan Panhandle Heritage Foundation

Performed every summer in a an outdoor amphitheater with stunning vistas up in Palo Duro Canyon, this tribute to our state’s past is a roaring celebration of the people who made their mark on Texas.

Underground Our state’s underground is home to oil, now a rich part of Texas’ energy economy. From the beginnings at Spindletop to the present day, the Lone Star State’s natural resources have made it an epicenter of oil and gas technology.

Viognier

From Becker Vineyards in the Hill Country comes this stunning white wine that wins all kinds of accolades.

Fresh and crisp, with elements of stone fruit and bright acidity, it’s perfect for warm days and patio sipping.

Becker Vineyards

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Balcones Distillery

WhiskEy

Chip Tate’s Waco distillery is doing some beautiful things with craft whiskey. The Baby Blue is his tribute to corm whiskey, while the Rumble brings out flavors of honey. If you love artisan libations, this is one you can’t miss. .

marksthespot

In this case, where pirates roamed along our shores. In Galveston, walk in the footsteps of Jean Lafitte or venture further south to South Padre and board the Black Dragon pirate ship for a daily pirate show and dolphin sightings.

YsletaMission

Located in El Paso, this mission was established in 1680 by the Tigua people following a revolt and is the oldest Catholic parish in continuing operation in the state.

Today, the mission maintains close ties to the tribe and celebrates the annual feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, the mission’s patron saint.

Mildred“Babe” DidriksonZaharias The legendary athlete broke records in the 1932 Olympics for javelin, hurdles and high jump, winning gold medals in all. Born in Port Arthur and raised in Beaumont, Zaharias was also a professional golfer, and the LPGA’s leading money winner from 19491951. Learn about her life and career at the museum in Beaumont dedicated to her life.

September/October • 2012

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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

&

SOUGHT FOUND

Story | Elizabeth Exline Photography | Mark Lipczynski

{

3-D mammography goes where no X-ray has gone before

}

September/October • 2012

31

W

hen she got the call from her doctor’s office in April 2010, Jeanne Parker wasn’t worried.

She’d just received a letter saying everything looked fine on her annual mammogram. And while she’d agreed at the time to participate in a trial of new mammography technology, something called breast tomosynthesis that produces 3-D images, the procedure hadn’t felt any different.

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The results, however, were. Tomosynthesis revealed that Parker, who was 52 years old, had breast cancer.

At first, Parker assumed it was a mistake.

But when she returned for the ultrasound and biopsy, the nurses gave it away.

“The nurses were like, ‘You’re doing great!’

And I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s there. They’re always nice, but they’re being extra nice,’” Parker laughs.

Small, but deadly

That Parker can find some humor in her diagnosis is due to the fact that it was caught unusually early. The two tumors—a 3-millimeter lesion in one breast and an 8-millimeter lesion in the other—were so small, they could not be felt during a self-examination or seen on a traditional 2-D digital mammogram. Yet they were serious.

One tested positive for the HER2 marker, indicating it was an aggressive cancer.

Early detection is just one of many reasons why tomosynthesis is poised to revolutionize mammograms, says Dr. Stephen L. Rose.

“Anything less than 10 millimeters is tiny,” he explains. And yet finding tumors before they hit double digits is essential for happy endings.

“As long as we find these lesions [when they’re] less than 10 millimeters,” Rose says, “[a patient’s] prognosis is very close to that of the general population, even if it’s a high-grade tumor.”

Digital mammograms likely wouldn’t have revealed Parker’s cancer for another three or four years when it may well have been too late.

At the forefront

As the president of Houston Breast Imaging and the medical director of TOPS Comprehensive Breast Center, Rose has been a leader in this area of radiology for more than a decade. Not only did he helm the tomosynthesis trials in Houston

(the technology was researched at 18 locations across the country), but he also continues to conduct research even after its approval in 2011. The results are more than encouraging.

“Usually, new technologies have a problem where either they’re not as effective as they should be,” he says. “Or they may be very effective, but they also produce a lot of false positives, and you give a tradeoff. In this situation, there is no tradeoff.”

It might even be called a win-win. Rose says tomosynthesis reduces by half the number of false positives inherent to digital mammography, and its detection capabilities are staggering.

Herceptin. This sounds bad to just about everybody except Parker.

“Compared to women who have the same breast cancer but it’s caught a lot later, it was nothing for me,” she says. “It was a year of inconvenience compared to what these women have to go through.”

The process

While the results between 2-D and 3-D are drastically different, the process is about the same. Patients undergo a standard, 2-D mammogram before the X-ray circles around for a 3-D image.

Tomosynthesis benefits everyone. Initially, Rose believed the 3-D images would only be necessary for those with dense breast tissue, but research proved him wrong.

“We can see little tiny things in areas that we thought you could see very well,” he says.

And these aren’t just benign growths. Most of the cancers that 3-D picks up—and 2D doesn’t—are the tiny, invasive tumors that cause serious problems.

Early screenings

For his part, Rose is most excited that tomosynthesis effectively eliminates the excuses 40-something women offer when choosing not annual mammograms. Such women, he Usually, new technologies...produce a lot tosays,getshould be more rigorous about annual screening, not less, because younger women of false positives, and you give a tradeoff. with breast cancer tend to get the aggressive kind. Tomosynthesis, with its reduced false In this situation, there is no tradeoff. positives and lifesaving early detection, is the radiologist’s silver bullet for misinformed apathy.

Having both tests is standard procedure for “I knew we would see more cancers,” Rose Rose currently offers tomosynthesis at eight now, although Rose envisions a time in the admits. “I didn’t know how many. That was locations around Houston, including TOPS not-so-distant future when 3-D mammograms and Memorial Hermann facilities, but this is the surprise. I thought maybe once a month will be the only thing on the menu. (The extra just the beginning. The future, he says, is in I might find one, which would’ve been significant. But now it’s almost daily that I’m exposure, Rose is careful to note, does not 3D mammography, and it will be shaped by pose a radiation risk because the dose for both well-informed demand. able to find one. That’s exciting.”

Perhaps even more so for people like Parker. pictures is lower than what’s allowed for one “Women will drive this,” Rose predicts, routine mammogram.)

After her Stage 1 diagnosis, she underwent “because they’ll hear about it, and they’ll The other notable feature of 3-D a bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, six demand it, and they should. It’s a better mammography is its egalitarianism: months of chemotherapy and a full year of mousetrap, bottom line.”

September/October • 2012

33

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the prime living guide to discerning taste

inside: Louie Mueller Barbecue

36 38 40 42 44

• • • • •

main dish | Great Expectations small bites | GOOD EATS Table TALK | DINING NEWS uncorked | A TOAST TO TEXAS ENTERTAIN | Right on ‘Cue

September/October • 2012

35

connoisseur main dish

great

Expectations Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark Lipczynski

If you haven’t heard the buzz about Killen’s Steakhouse, you might question just how plugged into Houston’s culinary scene you actually are. Don’t be fooled, however, by its out-of-the-way Pearland locale. Killen’s is the real deal.

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It’s clubby without the stuck-up atmosphere. It’s casual with a nod toward chic. And even though there are crisp white tablecloths and waiters with marvelously old-school service style, the focus clearly is on the food.

Order up a French 75, a classic cocktail of Champagne, gin, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice. It’s an excellent starter for a meal you won’t soon forget. Then bring on an order of Kurobuta pork belly for a rich beginning. It’s mesquite smoked (and you can see the stacks of mesquite outside), then basted with a cherry glaze. The result is smoky with a sharp sass.

If you’re looking for something more sedate, but still striking, choose the beet and arugula salad, which manages to be sweet and savory. The red and yellow beets bring that slightly sweet component, while the earthy, peppery arugula provides the savory. It’s topped with fresh goat cheese for a little extra zing.

There’s also a fresh and fun beefsteak tomato option: huge slices of tomato topped with balsamic vinegar, ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, red onion and basil. It’s fresh and cool, and is easily an overlooked standout.

Obviously, the star of the show here is the steak. You’d do well to order the 16-ounce New York strip. Have it wood grilled and prepare to tuck in and enjoy.

You can select from wet-aged or

dry-aged; we opted for wet. It’s high-quality meat beautifully prepared. You can pick Wagyu, grass-fed cuts as well, and your server will walk you through an endless array of cuts, quality and preparations. That’s part of the fun here: getting a little lesson in beef as you dine.

If beef is the star, give a cheer for the supporting cast: the fantastic 14-ounce Berkshire double-cut grilled pork chop. It’s juicy, smoky and a sheer delight.

All the sides here come for the table. Don’t miss the creamed corn, which is sweet and rich and almost too good to share, or the deliciously cheesy potatoes au gratin.

Finish off your experience with the crème brûlée bread pudding, which is sweet, sticky and a fantastic take on comfort food; or the chocolate mousse cake, a truly decadent delight.

Killen’s is easily a place that melds the best of old-school steak houses and Texas pride. There’s a feeling here that anything can be done, and all of it should be done well. The wine list is exceptional, emphasizing great reds. The food is fantastic, and you’ll talk about the tremendous service for days to come. killen’s steakhouse 2804 s. main, pearland 281-485-0844 killenssteakhouse.com

connoisseur main dish

New York strip

Killen’s Creamed Corn 8 ears of corn 1 cup cream

Beef steak tomato

Kurobuta pork belly

1-½ cups milk 1 stick unsalted butter ¼ cup sugar (can use more or less, depending on corn sweetness) ⅛ tsp. white pepper ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper Salt to taste Parmigiano-Regginao cheese, grated Shuck and cut corn off ears.

Bring milk and cream to a simmer and add corn cobs to infuse for about 30 minutes.

In a separate pan, melt butter and add corn niblets. Sauté corn over low heat for about 20 minutes. Remove cobs from milk/cream mixture and scrape off all milk. Discard cobs. Add B/e of the sautéed corn to milk/cream mixture and blend until smooth. Add the rest of the corn and simmer until thickened, usually about another 30 minutes.

Season to taste and put in casserole dish. Finish in a 500-degree oven or as high as your broiler will go, with a little cheese sprinkled on top.

Broil until cheese just turns brown. Serve immediately.

French 75

Chocolate mousse cake

Berkshire double-cut grilled pork chop

September/October • 2012

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connoisseur

small bites

Play with your Food

Liberty Kitchen

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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prime-living.com

When Liberty Kitchen’s chef de cuisine Travis Lenig decided to put the chili-garlic prawns on the menu, one of his reasons was that the dish fit perfectly into the restaurant’s casual-dining vibe. But the other reason was it’s more fun.

“It’s something to play with,” he says with an easy smile. “You can get a little dirty with it.”

Not crawfish dirty, he’s quick to emphasize. But snapping the prawn in half to get at its ridiculously flavorful taste is definitely part of the fun.

Lenig coats the prawn in flour, then sautés it in a little canola oil. He adds garlic and chili paste, and reduces it in white wine before finishing off with a squeeze of lime, a bit of butter and a topping of green onions.

The result is the kind of dish just meant for a place like Liberty Kitchen. With its reclaimed wood and tin accents, the whole place feels comfortable with a slightly funky accent. There’s an excellent beer and wine list and you’ll love how easy it is to just kick back and enjoy. liberty kitchen 1050 studewood st.

713-802-0533 libertykitchenoysterbar.com

c connoisseur

Fish Tales

small bites

Entering Trevisio, tucked away in a Texas Medical Center tower, you feel like you’ve entered some other world, one where it’s calm and elegant, with just a hint of the hustle of outside.

Here, everything is upscale without ever feeling too pretentious or stuffy.

Settle into a window overlooking the medical center, or grab a corner spot where you can look out over the restaurant’s blue-and-gold accents and admire the bulbs and beads hanging from the ceiling. Then tuck into the pesce spada, a new addition to the menu courtesy of executive chef Jon Buchanan. It’s a new imagining of a classic swordfish dish, complete with a Texas twist.

Wood-grilled and served with black rice and spring vegetable slaw, then topped with crabmeat, it’s best described simply as fresh. Think farmers-market fresh. Clothes-on-theclothesline fresh. There’s an explosion of taste here that is at once delicate and robust. The fish is firm and there’s a delightful crunch from the chopped celery in the slaw. The rice, imported from Italy, adds depth, while the crabmeat brings on richness. There’s a salsa verde to accompany, adding a little extra ping.

Pair it with the 2010 Pio Cesare Gavi, a stunning white wine from Italy’s Piemonte and you’ll discover how beautifully its crisp acidity and slight mineral edge work with the fish. trevisio 6550 bertner ave. • 713-749-0400 • trevisiorestaurant.com

Float Away

When you think about a float, you don’t automatically gravitate to Jack and Coke.

But you’d be missing out, because that’s exactly what chef Randy Evans dished up for something new on Haven’s dessert menu.

“I like floats,” he says unapologetically.

“Root beer, Coke, Orange Crush, all of it.

And we were already making a rum ice cream, so why not?”

Why not, indeed. The Jack and Coke float starts with homemade Jack Daniels ice cream, a recipe perfected through trial and error. It’s put in a sawed-off Coke bottle, then topped with Coca-Cola, the good kind from Mexico, made with pure cane sugar.

The result is a beautiful send-up of a kiddie classic. It doesn’t feel heavy or too sweet, like those sticky bar drinks made with too much cream. But it’s not a harmless little summer sipper, either. You’ll definitely taste the liquor, but you’ll love how it winds lazily through the ice cream, and the Coke is its perfect partner.

“Everyone drinks Jack and Coke,” laughs Evans. “It’s such a perfect Texas thing.” haven 2502 algerian way 713-581-6101 havenhouston.com

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Cooking On the Veranda E

nergetic and amicable chef-owner Kiran Verma has been busy making changes and improvements to her baby, Kiran’s Restaurant & Bar. Her new wraparound veranda will be a welcome addition this fall, along with the Veranda Bites menu. There’s just the right nosh—stuffed naan breads, lamb kebabs or arugula-and-pear hummus—to pair with a freshly concocted pineapple-infused martini.

High tea is now served the second Saturday of each month with a prix fixe menu featuring house-made chai (spiced Indian tea with milk) along with mini sandwiches, chocolate-dipped strawberries, biscotti and more.

Verma recently started selling her housemade chai tea leaves at the restaurant, and her lunch menu has a new “thali” tasting option with three to five classic Indian dishes included, such as lamb, chicken, rice and vegetables with a soup flight or a salad.

Want to learn how to cook her exotic cuisine? Hit the Fiesta Culinary School and learn her secrets. Also look for Verma on Sept.

15 at the annual Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. 4100 Westheimer.

713-960-8427, kiranshouston.com

Rawfully Organic W

ant to eat more local fresh produce but don’t have time to shop?

Rawfully Organic Co-op, the nation’s largest nonprofit co-op, supports sustainable living by delivering boxes of organic produce to Houston-area participants.

Define Body & Mind Tanglewood is now offering the service, so members can pick up their order weekly after class. Each “share” contains a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, some you may have never tried. 5781 San Felipe St. 713-780-7799, definebody.com, rawfullyorganic.com

Hello & Goodbye till new and always gorgeous Up Restaurant—the one with the prime treetop view of Highland Village—is up to some tricks in the kitchen. Look for a new seasonal menu with a ceviche sampler, spinach and leek pizza, seared diver scallops, duck lettuce wraps, and a giant (we mean fill-the-plate giant) truffle ricotta ravioli of house-made pasta with soft egg yolk center and a heady beurre blanc.

Of note is the sassily spiced shrimp and avocado Napoleon: an avocado and shaved artichoke salad (think fresh chunky guac) layered with cherry tomato tapenade, shaved Parmesan, baby shrimp and fried leeks.

No reason to fear the heat and humidity if you want to dine alfresco under the stars. Owner Haidar Barbouti is enclosing his third-story terrace in glass so you can stay cool as a cucumber.

Don’t leave without splitting the amazing six-layer meringue cake laced with sabayon and sitting in a pool of raspberry sauce. One piece is large enough for at least four guests. 3995 Westheimer. 713-640-5416, uprestaurant.com

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Openings

• 024 Grille, Memorial City • J. Black’s Feel Good Kitchen & Lounge • Costa Brava Bistro • Gloria’s Restaurant • Salé Sucré, Heights • Solea Wine Bar & Cafe • The West End

• The Refinery: Burgers & Whisky

Closings

• Ava Kitchen • The Barbed Rose, Alvin • Café Laurier • Strip House • Samba Grille • Zimm’s Little Deck

Debora Smail | Up Restaurant | Rawfully Organic Co-op

What’s Up? S

The latest restaurants to join and leave the Houston dining scene

connoisseur table talk

Side Sips Wine events you won’t want to miss

Meet the Winemaker

Building Mussels S

uddenly, Houston is swimming in beautifully tender bivalves fresh from the sea. You can score half a dozen variations at new Cafe Brussels, which recently moved into the shuttered Dharma Restaurant space near downtown.

Owner-chef Catherine Duwez prepares mussels steamed in white wine, moules au Roquefort, buttery moules a l’escargot, and more. In addition to a robust menu of Belgian specialties such as meat loaf with red cabbage and apple, or a pork chop with Brussels sprouts, expect a roster of stout Belgian beers at this pub-like newcomer. 1718 Houston Ave., 713-222-6996, cafebrusselshouston.com Speaking of mussels, RA Sushi is also flexing its game with a new menu that includes drunken black mussels steamed in sake and sautéed in garlic and seasoned soy sauce.

Executive chef Tai Obata’s refreshed menu, available at both the Highland Village and CityCentre locations, includes clam udon (sake-steamed clams over udon noodles in a sake cream broth), bonfire shrimp tossed in chili sauce with fried shishito peppers, and a new slew of creative cocktails including the coconut moshi mojito made with light rum and coconut. 799 Town & Country Blvd. 713-331-2792, rasushi.com

RA Sushi | Melissa Kuo | The Tasting Room | Kim Garver

Downtown Lights N

ew to Midtown and adjacent to Sushi Raku is Dolce Delights by owner Candace Chang. The Hong Kong native is a self-taught pastry chef specializing in decadent yet shameless desserts made with low sugar.

From tofu cheesecake to lava mango crunch cake, indulge in personal-size cakes (domes), mini-cakes (3 inches) and regular size (6 to 9 inches). Her inventive creamy, tart green apple mousse and mint cake will melt in your mouth.

The contemporary pastry shop features the hard-to-find Chinese matcha teas (a higher grade of green tea), coffee and breakfast items.

Good for you. 3201 Louisana St. 713-8077575, mydolcedelights.com

Sept. 16 kicks off the Sonoma County Wine Pioneers Series in Healdsburg, Calif. One Sunday a month, enjoy an interactive seminar and wine tasting with the legendary movers and shakers of this coveted region. Each session includes a four-course menu paired with the wines.

Upcoming events include: Sept. 16: The Rhone Comes to Sonoma County with the winemakers of Montemaggiore, Unti and Vineyard of Pasterick; and Oct. 14: Organic and Biodynamic Winemaking featuring Medlock Ames, Quivira and Marimar Estate. Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.

707-431-0330, charliepalmer.com

A Houston Classic

The Tasting Room will debut its annual Cellar Classic on Oct. 17, featuring five days of events showcasing popular Texas restaurants, culinary talents and wines from around the world.

Highlights include a cigar and wine tasting; bubble bath champagne tasting; private wine dinner at the tasting room in CityCentre; and the final grand tasting with more than 100 wines, bites from Houston restaurants and live music. houstoncellarclassic.com

Stop & Smell the Rosés

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.

Sommelier Vanessa Trevino-Boyd has introduced a new rosé wine menu in the lounge of Philippe Restaurant.

Giving a lesson in everything you ever wanted to know about this misunderstood varietal, she will offer a wide range of expressions from all over the globe, from fruity and light to fuller-bodied. Expect 11 dry rosés by the glass—more than any other restaurant or wine bar in Houston.

1800 Post Oak Blvd. 713-439-1000, philippehouston.com

September/October • 2012

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21 Yet across the wine 15 countries (yes, plural) of ike California’s, whose wine industry Texas, the minds (like the it references as often as possible, the times) they are a-changin’.

6 4 early Texas wine industry looked to the As part of any agricultural 22 “noble varietals” of Burgundy and Bordeaux. enterprise, attrition has seen Unlike California, it may be deciding—one the standard-issue grapes vineyard at a time—that this was pretty replaced by tempranillo much a lousy idea. and albariño from Spain, As the state celebrates Texas Wine Month sangiovese from Italy, and even some each October, it’s worth remembering syrah and roussanne from the hot-climate one thing and coming to grips with valley of the Rhone. This evolution of Texas another. First, the pioneers who chose wines should, Kane says, change the image to grow cabernet, merlot, pinot noir and of the wine business in Texas in less than a chardonnay were only going with grapes generation. Here are three Texas wines Kane they thought would find a market in Texas says will let you embrace the future right now. and across America. And there’s never a sin in that. But second, the grape growers and ALAMOSA WINE CELLARS VIOGNIER 2010 winemakers who’ve followed those early Hailing from Texas Hill Country, pioneers from the ’70s now tend to see their Alamosa has been one of the evangelists of future with the hotter-weather grapes of the Mediterranean varietals. The viognier weighs Mediterranean world. in with a rich old-world style featuring the Texas? Hot weather? Who knew? right amount of tropical fruit and a long “We spent 30 years trying to convince finish of white peach. At Alamosa as well as people we were Bordeaux and Burgundy,” says Becker Vineyards, viognier is finding a new Russell D. Kane of Houston, author life far from the Rhone. of “The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine.” “We aren’t Bordeaux, MCPHERSON CELLARS ALBARINO 2011 and we sure as hell ain’t Burgundy. It’s A fellow named “Doc” McPherson was one amazing to me that we took so long of the Texas wine industry’s pioneers. Today to figure that out. I guess if you plant his heirs are going great guns up around a hundred acres of something, it’s Lubbock, known in wine circles as the Texas hard to change your mind.”

High Plain AVA. This refreshing white wine, RD

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Story | John DeMers

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1. Alamosa Win e Cellars 2. Becker Vine yards 3. Bell Springs Winery 4. Bending Bra nch Winery 5. Chisholm Trai l Winery 6. Comfort Cell ars Winery 7. Driftwood Estate Winery 8. Dry Comal Creek Vineyard s

8 9. Duchman Family Winery 10. Fall Creek Vineyards 11. Fiesta Win ery 12. Flat Creek Estate 13. Fredericksb urg Winery 14. Grape Cre ek Vineyards 15. Kerrville Hills Winery 16. McReynolds Winery

© Press Cor ps Printing

& Graphic 17. Pedernales s Cellars 18. Perissos 25. Spicewood Vineyards and Vineyards Winery 19. Pillar Bluf 26. Stone Hou f Vineyards se Vineyard 20. Rancho Pon 27.

Texas Hills Vine te Vineyard yard 21. Santa Mar 28. Texas Leg ia Cellars ato Winery 22. Singing Wat 29. Torre di Piet er Vineyards ra Vineyards 23. Sister Cre 30. Westcave ek Vineyards Cellars Winery 24. Solaro Esta 31. William Chr te is Vineyards 32. Wimberley Valley Winery 33. Woodrose Winery

famous in Spain, features scents of peach, pear and mango with a crisp, food-friendly finish.

LLANO ESTACADO TEMPRANILLO 2010 Grapes from Newsom Vineyards, also based in the High Plains, give this red wine all that lovers of the Spanish grape famous in the Rioja region appreciate and then some. Look for accents of smoke, cedar and tobacco to combine with dark black cherry.

HILL COUNTRY HEAVEN Texas boasts the second most popular wine destination in the country, second only to Napa/Sonoma.

Scan this code to learn more.

You can also visit bitly.com/txwinevideo

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.

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.

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Texas Hill Country Wineries | Llano Estacdo Winery | McPherson Cellars

connoisseur

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

New Construction

Consultation

Rugs

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

connoisseur

entertain

right on ’CUE Styling | Syma Levy Styling assistant | Alexi Signet Photography | Mark Lipczynski

W

hile there’s nothing quite like a good ol’ fashioned, finger-lickin,’ sauce-onyour-cheeks Texas barbecue, there’s something to be said about classing it up a bit.

Take your next cookout to the next level with some delectable details and you’ll surely be the talk of the town. good times

Round up your friends and family to the barbecue event of the season with custommade invitations decked out in Westernthemed embellishments.

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connoisseur

get the boot

entertain

Send guests home with cowboy boot-shaped cookies tucked into burlap baggies. Who could resist?

on ice

Make your drinks “grab and go” with a vintage cooler filled to the brim with waters, sodas and brews.

tasty trio

Treat your taste buds to this trio of small bites made up of shiitake mushrooms, jumbo grilled shrimp and watermelon salad.

finger licking good!

word cup

get mashed

Serve a little happy with your drinks and cocktails in these custom-printed cups.

Potatoes get a marvelous makeover when served in a martini glass.

Looking for a twist on your traditional BBQ sauce?

Scan this code to check out these regional barbecue sauce recipes! You can also visit bitly.com/regionalbbqrecipes.

The Goods event planning & styling

Event production, theme development and execution; personalized napkins, cups and bottle buddies; napkin rings, party favors and take-home bags

by Oulala! What an Event LLC, 5400 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire.

713-855-8755, oulalaevents.com

food

Menu selection and presentation

by Chef Smirnov Catering, 5400 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire.

713-838-2433, chefsmirnov.com

bar none

Saddle up to the bar—the mashed potato bar, that is—to build your own delicious creation.

tableware

Table, chairs, linens, cloths napkins, tableware, glassware, flatware and platters by Any Occasion Party Rentals, 5714 Bissonet. 713-6629724, anyoccasionpartyrental.com

invitations

Invitations and thank-you notes by Bering’s. 3900 Bissonet.

713-665-0500, berings.com

flowers

wine time

Who says beer is the official drink of a Texas barbecue? A fine glass of red pairs perfectly with a juicy steak and all the fixin’s.

Centerpieces and flowers by Let it Fly Events, 9344 South Point Dr. 713-863-9990, letitfly.com

wine

Wine provided by Rosenblum Cellars. rosenblumcellars.com

September/October • 2012

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gentlemen’s room

For the man who commands the very best

inside: Alec Bradley Prensado cigars

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• • • • •

Man Cave | ace in the home Driver's Seat | luxe truck WEALTH | taking advantage of 2012 High-Tech | high-tech tailgating Great Outdoors | man of the cloth September/October • 2012

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ace in the home Story | Jake Poinier

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aybe you’ve just returned from a guys’ week in Las Vegas, or perhaps you’re still amped up from watching the World Series of Poker this summer. Now you want to elevate your weekly poker game beyond the half-hearted setup around the kitchen table.

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It’s time for a poker room, man-cave style.

For Anita Lang, founder and lead designer at Scottsdale, Ariz.based IMI Design, a poker room shares many features with other types of guy-oriented escapes— with a bit of a twist.

“Because of the nature of the game, it’s an opportunity to have a little fun with the design,” she says. “My mantra is that you need to create something so tacky that it’s cool.”

For a recent home pokerroom project near gaming hotspot Lake Tahoe, Calif., Lang designed a multifunctional space, inspired by the client’s recent experience at the Foundation Room at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. Although the main house is modern, the poker room conveys its own

unique style: Ostrich leather and iridescent glass tile mix seamlessly with rugged Glulam beams, reclaimed wood from local gold-mining sluices and a pre-1930 Lake Tahoe pier, and copper strapping.

Sports, music memorabilia and a full custom bar help set the mood, while multiple TVs ensure that any one of several games can be watched between hands. Lang also incorporated acoustical foam for soundproofing.

“Let’s face it,” she says.

“Nothing gets as loud as a bunch of boys in a contained space.”

A commercial-grade, doubleheaded ceiling fan ensures good ventilation when sparking up cigars. The pedestal-style, hexagonal poker table itself was custom designed from distressed wood, with carved

IMI Design

gentlemen’s room man cave

insets for cards and drinks.

(For added functionality, the top flips into a regular table.) The chairs, also custom designed, incorporate a playful patchwork of materials. But the main goal was to create seating that would be comfortable for hours on end.

Lang spent considerable time developing the room’s lighting scheme. To add energy and a bit of a club ambiance, a dynamic LED display on one side of the room rotates through several colors. Overhead, low-voltage lights can be set to illuminate only the table when desired, with wall washing creating the moodiness you’d see in a movie poker scene.

Oh, and several of the pieces of furniture convert into sleeping spaces in case the game extends into the wee hours.

“As with any escape space, you want to make it livable and relaxed,” Lang says. “Comfort is what real luxury is about.”

gentlemen’s room man cave

The Essentials Pro game table The Billiard Factory, a family-run Houston institution since 1975, has more than a dozen different options in stock, including professional tables as large as 110 inches. They also have a full range of leather and fabric game chairs. billiardfactory.com

Clay chips World Tophat & Cane Paulson clay chips are professional-grade chips used at most casinos around the world. The set of 500 from the Texas Poker Store in Bryan includes a sleek aluminum case, cards and dealer, big blind and little blind buttons. About $900. texaspokerstore.com

Top-of-the-line playing cards

IMI Design | Alec Bradley Cigar Co. | Davidoff & Cie | The Billiard Factory | KEM

KEM cards have been the official brand of the World Series of Poker since 2007 and are used in the majority of U.S. poker rooms. Made from cellulose acetate fiber rather than plastic or paper, they’re durable and easily cleaned. $15 per deck. kem.com

Luxury humidor High-end models can set you back $15,000 or more, but the elegant Davidoff No. 1 Thuya Humidor, ranked A+ by Cigar Aficionado, handles 140 to 170 of your finest stogies for a mere $5,000.

Quality cigars You can debate Cubans vs.

Dominicans at the table, but you won’t hear complaints from your buddies about the Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill, named No. 1 by Cigar Aficionado in its “25 Best Cigars of the Year 2011.” A box of 20 runs about $200.

September/October • 2012

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gentlemen’s room driver's seat

luxe T

eddy Roosevelt and Ford’s F-250 Super Duty. Roy Rogers and Trigger.

We won’t be seeing either, of course, but like those reruns of “Star Trek” in which Captain Kirk and Spock (another notable pair up) warp themselves back in time, it’s fun to let the imagination run.

Our latest date with a 2012 F-Series Super Duty, one of Texas’s favorite runners, made us realize that, had they been available, a brief stint behind the wheel would have been all it took for Roosevelt to order a small fleet, slap the presidential seal on ’em and head for where the wild things are, whether the American West or east Africa.

After all, decked out with the optional diesel power and FX4 off-road packages, what steed could be more ideal for America’s 26th president, a high-energy leader

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who adored shooting, the outdoors and conservation?

For 2013, Ford offers a Platinum model. Blinged out in chrome galore on the outside and a creamy leather interior, a new dashboard layout and a truck-specific version of Ford’s MyFordTouch infotainment system on the inside, the Platinum is for those who are more into True Religion and Christian Louboutin than Wrangler and Lucchese. Techies will love the “truck tools” display that includes inclinometer. And you can kick back and stream your favorite tunes, NPR podcasts or Pandora stations from your smartphone.

There are no changes to speak of under the hood for 2013, so you can expect the same performance.

Equipped with 6-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel-drive and 3.55 rear-end gear ratio, our tester

was rated to tow up to 7 tons conventionally or 15,200 pounds as a fifth-wheel.

But this beast is not just about work and no play. The Powers Stroke V-8’s 400 horsepower and 800 foot-pounds of torque translate into fun anytime the job’s done.

It’s amazingly easy—once you’re inside, that is—to forget that you’re driving a 3-ton truck that towers more than six feet tall.

And for a truck that usually tows racecars, Ford’s F-250 turbodiesel, equipped with single rear wheels and 275/65R-20 Michelin truck tires, could be driven in a sporty style. Vehicle control is hugely satisfying and important, no matter what you’re driving, and this truck has what it takes.

What it also has, apparently, is the presence of a Union Pacific locomotive, because it wasn’t long

before we noticed that Houston’s aggressive drivers, the ones who camp on your rear bumper, straddle lanes and race to cut you off when lanes merge, suddenly become more courteous and gave us wide berth.

That’s why we’re certain that, had it been available, Theodore Roosevelt would have led the charge of his Rough Riders while at the helm of a Super Duty that bore a bumper sticker reading, “Speak softly and carry a big stick!” 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.

Ford Motor Co.

Story | Jeff Yip

Truck

taking

gentlemen’s room wealth

advantage of 2012 Story | David Cook

A

s the expiration date nears on the twoyear extension to the Bush tax cuts, it is crucial for high-income households to take advantage of these tax breaks before time runs out. Unless Congress acts, 2013 will bring about major changes to estate and gift tax exemptions—ultimately dropping the inflation-adjusted figure of $5.12 million to $1 million per person, while raising the estate and gift tax rate from 35 to 55 percent.

So what exactly does this mean for wealthy individuals and their families? It means that one could stand to save millions by making the decision to part with some of their wealth before the 2012 calendar ends.

For example, should a family member with an estate valued at $5.12 million unfortunately pass away before Dec. 31, their loved ones would receive 100 percent of that estate without having to pay estate taxes. However, should that family member pass away one day later, on Jan. 1, 2013, their inheritors would receive just $3 million of the total estate value and incur an estate tax of roughly $2.1 million. The difference that only a few hours could make is staggering.

Many wonder of the likelihood of another extension—like that of the Tax Relief package that extended President Bush’s tax cuts—and clients often ask the wealth strategists’ opinions of what might happen at the end of this year.

U.S. Trust cannot really predict the outcome with any certainty. What they can do, however, is advise clients to take significant precaution and concern when it comes to deciding when and how to part with their wealth.

First and foremost, before deciding to make any gifts, it’s critically important you determine the amount that you can confidently give away without jeopardizing your future quality of life. Ask your U.S. Trust advisor to provide a modeling analysis, which will help you evaluate

the probability of your current investment portfolio meeting your financial goals.

Should you decide that gifting is the appropriate step for you and your family, there are a number of strategies you can consider: “SIMPLE,” OUTRIGHT GIFTS These are gifts that can be made using cash, high basis stock or other property. Keep in mind that if there are outstanding family loans, gifts may also be made by forgiving all or part of the loan.

GRANTOR TRUST Instead of giving property outright to children, donors may give property to a trustee of a grantor trust, which can be held for the children’s benefit. In this situation, the donor would then continue to be responsible for paying the income tax on the gifted property, allowing the donor to make income tax payments free of gift tax and the trust to grow income tax-free.

Gifts in trust for the benefit of a child have the added benefit of being divorce protected, and provide the option to name a third party trustee to help ensure that the donor’s purposes for creating the trust are fulfilled.

SALE TO GRANTOR TRUST A “seed” gift may be made to a grantor trust, which will allow other property to be sold to the trust in exchange for a promissory note.

Any appreciation in excess of the interest rate on the note would be removed from the estate. Since the seed gift is typically about 10 percent of the value of the property sold, the increased gift exemption will allow for large sales to be made. A sale to a grantor trust may also be advantageous in our current low interest rate environment. Recent cases

allowing formula provisions for gifts and sales may also be helpful.

LIFE INSURANCE TRUST The increased gift exemption may also facilitate the creation of life insurance trusts by allowing for premiums to be paid, which otherwise might not be sheltered from gift tax.

ESTATE FREEZE Gifts of property not only get the value out of a donor’s estate, but the appreciation of the value of the gift after its transfer escapes taxation, as well. So a gift of real property having a value of $5,120,000 could be made gift tax-free this year.

If the value of the real property increases to $20 million in 10 years, all of the appreciation (or nearly $15 million) will have escaped the estate tax. This is the benefit of an “estate freeze.”

Although the transfer tax exemptions are at all-time highs for 2012, they stand to dramatically decrease next year unless new legislation is enacted. If your family is considering making large gifts this year, don’t wait until December to get your affairs in order. Get in touch with your advisor now to carefully review your trust and will documents, and ensure they are as flexible as possible to adapt to future alterations that could occur in tax laws. Be sure to consider provisions that would allow for post-mortem planning and modifications, so that your estate will remain protected in the face of unexpected changes.

There are only a few months left to take advantage of the extraordinary gift and estate tax planning opportunities, and the time to act is now!

David Cook David Cook is Wealth Strategist Executive, Managing Director for U.S. Trust, Houston Office.

Information in this material is not intended to constitute legal, tax or investment advice. You should consult your legal, tax and financial advisors before making any financial decisions. If any information is deemed “written advice” within the meaning of IRS Regulations, please note the following: IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: Pursuant to IRS Regulations, neither the information, nor any advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax related penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

U.S. Trust operates through Bank of America, N.A., and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC.

September/October • 2012

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high-tech

tailgating

Story | Michael Garfield

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all is here, which means the weather is bearable and sporting events (read: football) are everywhere. Be it college or pro, there is no better atmosphere than a tailgate party before kickoff. And thanks to some innovative tailgating products, you might have a better seat and more fun staying in the parking lot.

COLEMAN PORTABLE GRILL

FANVISION

TAILGATOR BLENDER Nothing says “manly” like a gas-powered machine, so why not impress your friends with the Tailgator blender. Sporting a 25 cc, 2-1/4 hp gas-powered engine, one rip of the starter cord and you’ll have the attention of everyone in the tailgating lot. This gadget can travel anywhere to make the perfect blended cocktail with no electric cord needed. The pitcher has a 48-ounce capacity and the optional carrying case comes with two bottles to hold mixers and spirits. It comes with enough 2-stroke oil to last at least a football season or 6,500 mpg (margaritas per gallon), whichever comes first. The Tailgator is $290 at tailgatorzone.com.

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Sometimes watching a game at home gives you better views of the action. Fortunately, you don’t have to miss those up-close action shots while you’re tailgating. FanVision operates UHF broadcast equipment across the entire schedule of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, select NFL and NCAA football stadiums, and Formula 1 races. Access live game coverage on multiple camera angles, view highlights and get scores on 10 channels of live action with this in-venue, mobile broadcast controller that runs on a dedicated network. There are two ways to enjoy the service. You can either purchase a FanVision controller for $300 or rent one for select events for $45. fanvision.com

HT’s app list

The High-Tech Texan shares his favorite tailgating apps

Tailgating

Grill, check. Burgers, check.

Beer, double check. Don’t forget a thing with this handy checklist app that offers handy lists for gear and food.

You can also list upcoming game dates with reminders.

ESPN ScoreCenter

Whether it’s the NFL, NBA, MLB, golf, tennis or college ball, with this app, you can get one-stop access to your personalized set of scores and fast game details on plays, key stats, leader boards and scoring summaries.

Paper Football 3D

Looking for something to do during halftime? Take a trip back in time to your school cafeteria, where you played endless games of paper football. Made by Jirbo, this app has cool cartoon graphics and simple game play with an old-school feel.

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.

Tailgator | The Coleman Co. Inc. | FanVision

The one must-have product when tailgating is a grill. Seriously, have you ever seen a microwave at a tailgate party? Portability is the key here and the Coleman RoadTrip LXX propane grill (they even named it like a Super Bowl) fits the bill. Just fold it up, roll it to your favorite cooking area, and set it up in seconds with the lift-and-lock system. When you’re ready to grill, push a button to ignite the matchless lighting system.

Cook for more than an hour with one propane cylinder on 285 square inches of cooking area. It’s easy to clean and can be found at sporting goods stores and online for about $220. coleman.com

gentlemen’s room outdoors

What’s ina Name?

man of

the cloth

who thought about such things to create better fabrics than wool, ot is hot and cold is cotton, sealskin and rawhide. cold, but their extremes What we’ve known all along outdoors are more is that moisture is comfort’s tolerable in high-tech clothes. archenemy. In cold weather, it Traditional instruction for steals body heat. In summer, summertime comfort was to it causes your clothes to cling, wear light colors and linger in hindering the evaporative process. or near shade. That actually Enter several decades ago the worked, too, in part because the ancestors of today’s “wicking” temperature under an oak tree fabrics, engineered textiles that wasn’t much different from the enable only the outbound passage temperature inside a home with of water molecules. Call them no air conditioner. the “ex” fabrics, including GoreIn winter, you wore layers.

Tex, Ultrex and Supplex. Each is The colder it got, the more layers unique in name (save for that tail you wore. And if comfort meant end), but similar in function. so many layers you couldn’t Prior to these, staying dry touch your fingers to your thighs, on the outside meant draping you probably didn’t need to be yourself in rubber or plastic, outside anyway. which trapped heat—and lots of So it was for centuries, too, it—in winter or summer. Even until technology enabled people on a few rainy December duck Story | Doug Pike

Arc'teryx

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hunts, I chose to get sopping wet rather than wear a rubber rain suit and melt from the inside out.

Breathable fabrics can be secondarily treated to become fully waterproof, to block the sun’s dangerous rays or otherwise enhance an outdoor experience.

Check labels—there may be a half dozen on a single shirt or pair of boots—and learn what they mean.

The life-sapping effect of summertime heat can be lessened incrementally with fabrics such as Coolmax that create a thin layer of air between your skin and the swelter around it. That slender slice of nothing lets your body do its perspiration-evaporation thing, which keeps you a little cooler than the guy next to you at the ball game, on the boat or in the dove field.

You’ll benefit from wicking in winter, too, but you will

When it comes to high-tech clothing, the answer is “everything.” The world’s most carefully engineered fabrics, like high-end purses, golf clubs and watches, are subject to counterfeiting and bogus claims that something half the price is “just as good.” It never is.

Quality demands a premium that’s returned in performance.

Read the labels. Recognize them.

Look for them. Invest in them.

Everything you do outdoors will be more enjoyable.

also need to hold onto some of that body heat. Enter Polartec, which originated (as Polar Fleece) in the 1970s, and its kin.

They meld breathability with a honeycomb of air pockets, millions of them, that let sweat pass but hold precious warmth even on icy days.

Whatever the climate, there is a combination of fabrics and coatings ready to maximize your comfort. Clothes may not make the man, or the woman, but they make a huge difference in how you feel outdoors. 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.

September/October • 2012

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haunts heard

’ROUND THE WORLD Journey across borders to lands steeped in history and ghostly legends

Bran Castle

Story | Dave O. Dodge

September/October • 2012

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alloween comes but once a year and in cultures throughout the world, the event is synonymous with ghostly spirits and lost, wandering souls.

This All Hallow’s Eve, be mindful and alert—for wherever you journey, there are no boundaries or border crossings from their world to ours.

bran castle Writing about ghostly occurrences has been a common theme for authors over the centuries, but no one has done it better then novelist Bram Stoker. In 1897, the celebrated writer penned “Dracula,” a gothic horror story that tells the tale of the vampire Count Dracula and his attempt to relocate from his castle in Transylvania to England.

Today, Transylvania has become synonymous with Stoker’s famous tale and visitors from around the world flock to get a glimpse of Bran Castle, also known as “Dracula’s Castle.”

Nestled in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, it is a national landmark of Romania and is reputed to be haunted.

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The castle was first built in 1212, but was destroyed by Mongols 30 years later. In 1377, the castle was rebuilt in stone and became a central figure in the defense against the Ottoman Empire. Since then, it has been home to knights and soldiers, but it is said that its most popular visitor was Vlad the Impaler, the bloodthirsty ruler that has inspired so many myths and legends.

Vlad, better known as Dracul, allegedly took up residence in Bran Castle, where he earned his notorious nickname by impaling his enemies on a stake. It has also been said that his wife, in fear of the invading Turks, leaped from the castle walls to her death.

Bran Castle

TRANSYLVANIA

kremlin RUSSIA

Bloody pasts seem to be the common denominator for any haunted location. And with Russia’s tumultuous history, Moscow Kremlin in Red Square is no exception.

Built as a citadel onto Borovisky Hill, this icon of the Cold War dominates the entire city with its history and folklore. Once home to tsars

in 1894, on the wedding day of Tsar Nicholas II, Ivan the Terrible appeared to the tsar and his bride Alexandra. The omen wasn’t realized until 1917, when the Bolsheviks revolted, signaling the end of Nicholas’s reign.

In 1923, a sighting of Lenin was reported by a security chief, who noted the leader

With 700 rooms, 20 towers and numerous cathedrals, the spirits have plenty of space to roam freely. and Communist Party officials, the Kremlin has been the site of reported sightings of Ivan the Terrible, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.

With 700 rooms, 20 towers and numerous cathedrals, the spirits have plenty of space to roam freely. It is said that

was walking without his cane.

Although the Communist leader was still alive at the time, he was nowhere near the Kremlin, instead resting at his home across town. Even stranger was the fact that Lenin could not walk without the aid of his cane.

Three months later, Lenin died.

September/October • 2012

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leap castle Dating back to the ancient Celts, the festival of Sambain celebrated the arrival of the New Year and the reaping of another bountiful harvest. It was also a time to recognize what lay ahead, reminding the Celts of their own mortality during the approaching dark winter’s months. For this was a time when the boundaries of the living and dead became blurred.

And so, more than 2,000 years ago in a land called Brittania, All Hallow’s Eve was born.

Today, Ireland makes up a small portion of this ancient world and what better way to celebrate Halloween than with a visit to one of the most haunted places in all the land: Leap Castle.

Located in County Offaly in the midlands of Ireland, the castle

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dates to the 15th century, when it was the site of family feuds and quarrels—all, unfortunately, resulting in tragedy.

Once home to the feudal tribe of O’Carroll, where family gatherings and massacres were a common occurrence, one reported incident was particularly bloody.

In 1532, the struggling clan pitted brother against brother, which resulted in the death of Mulrooney O’Carroll as he led the holy mass to a group of his family members.

Lay slain on the altar by his brother’s sword, this sacred room would be forever known as the Bloody Chapel.

Over the years, the castle has changed hands and legends have grown. But among locals, reports of ghostly sightings have

emerged. Some have claimed eyewitness to what appeared to be burning candles coming from the window of the Bloody Chapel. And, after a fire in 1922 that gutted most of the interior, workmen unearthed another gruesome discovery. Behind the chapel wall, a secret room was found containing three cartloads of human remains.

Not for the faint of heart, the castle is open to the public for tours upon request. If your travels take you there on Halloween night, keep watch for the Red Lady, a ghostly figure clad in a scarlet dress. Legend has it that she and her baby were killed by an O’Carroll, and since her death, she has roamed the castle… carrying a dagger in her hand.

Derek Cullen/Courtesy of Fáilte Ireland

IRELAND

edinburgh castle SCOTLAND Considered to be the most haunted city in Europe, Edinburgh has been built over centuries by burying one period of time over the other.

The result is a system of tunnels and vaults snaking their way underneath the city, creating the perfect place for ghoulish foes to congregate and wreak havoc.

the castle’s impending doom. This apparition was first witnessed in 1650, just before Oliver Cromwell’s attack on the fortress.

Like most castles, dungeons and torture were routine, and many perished. One brave soul hid in a dung wagon to escape. Little did he know that, along with the

…she was burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft. dung, he would be emptied over the castle walls, ultimately falling to his death. Today, colored orbs and chills down the spine are gentle reminders to visitors of the lost souls still roaming the ramparts.

Edinburgh Castle also houses the oldest Crown Jewels in Europe, which can be viewed along with the site where Janet Douglas, a woman rumored to be a witch, met her demise. It was here that she was burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft.

© Crown Copyright reproduced courtesy of Historic Scotland | Scottish Viewpoint

Edinburgh is also home to Edinburgh Castle, a fortress that sits high atop Castle Rock, an extinct volcano that dominates every view in this wickedly mysterious town.

The earliest record of the castle was a fortification for the Roman Army, which started more than 2,000 years of violence.

Today, the castle has frequent visitors of the paranormal sort.

One story recounts a lone headless drummer boy, who can be seen and heard heeding a warning of

September/October • 2012

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palace of versailles FRANCE

two women crossed into a “time slip” while on a visit to Petit Trianon, a small chateau on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. Known as the Moberly-Jourdain incident, the women encountered a sighting of Marie Antoinette, as well as other people of the same time period. Having never experienced such a phenomenon, the women wrote about it and “The Adventure” was published in 1911.

Over the years, other paranormal activity has been reported at the palace and on its grounds. To see the palace in its entire splendor, visit during the warm months. But be careful of any riffs in the universe.

Christian Milet/EPV Château Versailles

On the outskirts of Paris was— or still is—the home of King Louis XVI’s beloved wife, Marie Antoinette. Visually stunning, the Palace of Versailles first began as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII in 1624. The Court of Versailles eventually became the center of all political power in France and a symbol of absolute monarchy until the French Revolution in 1789 when the royals were forced back to Paris.

Over the centuries, the palace has hosted many historic events, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I in 1919.

But a little known incident occurred years earlier, when

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escape enlightened explorer

Frozen in Time B

lantyre, a turn-of-the-century country estate located between Boston and New York City, is a yearround getaway offering the charm and romance of another era. Along with its richly decorated interior, the towers, turrets and gargoyles of the main house give the resort the air of a fairy-tale castle.

In winter, Blantyre becomes a frosted wonderland, its grounds blanketed in snow and its tennis courts transformed into a lighted skating rink where “ice picnics” and “snow barbecues” are favorite pastimes.

When you’re ready to head indoors, escape the chill with a massage or facial at The Potting Shed Spa at Blantyre, a gourmet meal in the Main House, or an evening wine tasting in the Music Room. blantyre.com

Retro Inspired I

n early 2013, visitors to Texas’s capital will have a new place to hang their hats. Opening in The Domain, an upscale development of luxury shops, restaurants, apartments and offices, the Valencia Group’s Lone Star Court will be the first of its kind.

Inspired by roadside court hotels of the 1940s and 1950s, the design combines retro and modern elements for a look that’s uniquely and authentically Austin. Added attractions like nightly live music by an outdoor fire pit, high-tech room amenities and a dipping pool reminiscent of Hill Country swimming holes make Lone Star Courts an ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers. valenciagroup.com/lone_star_court.php

Taste of the South T

Exquisite AccessorieS

H

ome to the only Henri J. Sillam boutique in the U.S., The Peninsula Beverly Hills is offering an exclusive experience for hotel guests. The Henri J. Sillam brand, a Vienna-based jeweler whose one-ofa-kind couture pieces are internationally renowned, dates back to 1835.

The collection’s limited-edition rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings are a favorite with celebrities and royalty.

The Romancing the Stone Package features a personal fine jewelry lesson and consultation with Sam J. Cole, co-owner of U.S. operations, as well as special pricing on signature creations and custom-designed pieces. Following the consultation, guests will join Mr. Cole for The Peninsula’s elegant “Imperial Afternoon Tea.” With this unique escape, a day of shopping for fine jewelry becomes an unforgettable event. peninsula.com/beverlyhills

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Blantyre | Lone Star Court | Palmetto Bluff | Lone Star Court | The Peninsula Beverly Hills

his autumn, journey to South Carolina’s beautiful Lowcountry to celebrate the best of Southern culture and cuisine. Hosted

by Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre residential community and conservation preserve, the sixth annual Music to Your Mouth kicks off Nov. 14. The week-long event will bring together talented chefs, brewers, growers and winemakers in the region. Visitors can attend special dinners, classes, river cruises and an oyster roast, or take advantage of a full weekend’s itinerary with the “Whole Hog Ticket Package,” limited to 150 guests.

The Inn at Palmetto Bluff offers spacious cottages, cottage suites and village homes, surrounded by picturesque waterfront and forest.

The “Whole Hog and a Bed for your Head Package” includes accommodation, two Whole Hog Ticket Packages, access to Palmetto Bluff’s award-winning spa and Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, and complimentary activities like kayaking, fishing and tennis. Arrive with an appetite! musictoyourmouth.com

October 25 - November 4, 2012 shop. save money. save lives.

The Holiday Shopping Card is your opportunity to give and receive this holiday season!

When you purchase the card for a minimum donation of $70, you can use your card to receive a 20% discount at more than 600 of the finest stores in Houston and the surrounding areas from October 25 - November 4, 2012.

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

escape enlightened explorer

Big Apple Allure N

Return to Summer A

South Africa’s Art I

n South Africa’s Cape Town, HubArt—a hub for cultural exploration and design— s winter descends on the Northern abounds. And a stay in luxury Hemisphere, New Zealand is warming resort One & Only Cape Town up. The historic Otahuna Lodge, located in offers a singular way to dive into the Canterbury region of the South Island, is offering an early-bird special for travelers who that creative center: full- and half-day private art tours led by book their summertime stay (two or more expert guides. nights, October to April) prior to Oct. 1.

The Galleries Art Tour In Maori, the native tongue of New showcases the works and galleries Zealand’s aboriginal people of the same name, of regional talents, introduces Otahuna means “little hill among the hills.” guests to the curators of each The seven-suite lodge, built in 1895 and space, and visits several private prized as one of the best examples of Queen collections and museums.

Anne architecture in Australasia, sits on a rise between rocky outcrops of the Banks Peninsula, The Contemporary Art Tour providing stunning views of the Southern Alps allows guests to meet the artists themselves, highlighting a and Canterbury Plains. The 30-acre estate selection of acclaimed shops grounds are nationally recognized for their and studios. From sculpture extensive, 110-year-old gardens. and painting to metalworking At Otahuna Lodge, travelers can choose from a wide variety of adventurous day trips, and home décor, One & Only Cape Town’s tours feature the including heli-touring, fly-fishing, hiking, varied and vibrant facets of horseback riding, wine tasting, and guided South African art. capetown. tours of Arthur’s Pass National Park and oneandonlyresorts.com Akaroa. otahuna.co.nz

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Benoit Linero | One & Only Cape Town | Otahuna Lodge

o matter how many times you’ve been there before, New York City is always a glamorous getaway, a destination brimming with new sights and sounds. On your next trip to the Big Apple, add the chic new NoMad Hotel, named for its central location (north of Madison Square Park), to your list of discoveries.

Housed in a lavishly restored 1903 Beaux-Arts building with interiors by famed designer Jacques Garcia, the NoMad is a place where traditional European concepts meet and mingle with a distinct sense of New York style.

The hotel’s 168 rooms are appointed with custom furnishings, original artwork and other opulent details like reclaimed maple hardwood floors, claw-foot bathtubs and handmade vintage Heriz rugs unique to each room.

For casually elegant fare, guests can dine in at one of many individual and inviting spaces, such as the sunlit Atrium, the stately Parlour or the newly opened Rooftop. thenomadhotel.com

post cards

see & do

to a If you’re looking to escape care in place where there’s not a and head the world, pack your bags On the west to Texas Hill Country. sits a anan Buch Lake of es shor far away special place that feels as ly—with as you can get, but—thankful Canyon all the comforts of home. n-home of the Eagles combines dow ral natu with y italit Texas hosp you surroundings that will leave want to breathless. Whether you fy the kick back and relax or satis out why explorer in you, you’ll find re the road they say this place is “whe ends, the adventure begins!”

PRIME Living 311 Julie Rivers Sugar Land, TX 77498

canyon of the eagles Story | A.S. Berman

A

fter an eventful summer, there’s nothing better for renewing the spirit than a retreat to Texas Hill Country. And if you happen to be the type who enjoys the majesty of nature right up to the point where you’d appreciate a fine meal and a dip in the pool, let’s just say the Canyon of the Eagles resort has been waiting for you.

Providing 45 acres of luxury within a 940-acre private nature park, the Canyon of the Eagles resort (canyonoftheeagles.com) lies about 75 miles northwest of Austin in Burnet, along the shores of Lake Buchanan. Here you’ll find 62 guest rooms patterned after 1920s-era country homes boasting native stone, board-and-batten siding, and rockingchair equipped private porches just perfect for grabbing an afternoon siesta.

For a slight charge you can also bring up to two pets to share the experience—the wildlife alone will keep them glued to the window for hours. And thank goodness for resort company Calibre, which opted to keep the guest rooms free of distraction.

The only TV you’ll find is in the recreation room.

Fortunately, with 14 miles of designated hiking trails, as well as a private beach and fishing pier along

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the shores of Lake Buchanan, you’ll never want for things to do. Rent a kayak, canoe or paddle boat and get up close to majestic cliffs and waterfalls. Or take in the flora and wildlife; you might just catch a glimpse of the American bald eagle for which the canyon’s named.

If you’re of a more celestial mind, discover why “the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas” by enjoying complimentary access to the Eagle Eye Observatory’s two high-tech telescopes, perfect for vanquishing the cares of this world from your mind.

If the mood strikes—and really, when does it not?—make your way to Fall Creek Vineyards just across the lake for a little wine tasting. Cap it off with a light meal at the resort’s Overlook restaurant, where strategically placed windows and soft lighting allow you to take in the setting sun over nature’s glory outside. (On second thought, best grab that meal before the winery.) Finally, talk over the day’s adventures with loved ones as you sit in rocking chairs around a fire by the lake.

While not much has changed since the 1920s (Great Depression, check; goofy music, check), there’s something to be said for occasionally escaping the craziness of the everyday in a place where nature and architecture come together to say, “Lay back and have another glass of wine, darlin’.”

Vanishing Texas River Cruise Whether you have a hankering for a leisurely cruise up the Colorado River or a thirst for a wine tour at Fall Creek Vineyards, you’ll find a relaxing trip to fit your mood. Or venture on a cruise followed by a short hike among the ruins of Old Bluffton, a ghost town that’s lurked beneath the water since 1937.

443 Waterway Lane, Burnet 800-474-8374 vtrc.com Longhorn Cavern State Park If wonders found underground are what you’re after, hit the park and explore a half-mile-plus stretch of cave that maintains a steady 68-degree temperature, no matter what type of weather fit Mother Nature’s throwing outside. And with Halloween just around the corner, don’t miss the cave’s “paranormal tour,” where you can explore the cave until midnight.

6211 Park Road 4 South, Burnet 877-441-2283 longhorncaverns.com Hill Country Flyer For those with a soft spot for the ol’ iron horse, this train tour whisks you on a 66-mile round trip between Burnet and Cedar Park by way of gorgeous Texas Hill Country. Enjoy a wild west gunfight by the Burnet Gunfighters at the Burnet station before boarding this magnificent train pulled by the Alco Diesel 442 locomotive.

401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park 512-477-8468 austinsteamtrain.org

Kevin Vandivier | Canyon of the Eagles - A Calibre Resort | Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

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live well

live well

the prime living guide to better health

inside:

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• • • • •

feel Good | in harmony health buzz | what's new look good | It’s a Guy Thing Be Good | some bullies GROW OLD his & hers | Wi-Fi CAN’T we get along?

September/October • 2012

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F e e l g oo d

in harmony a Story | Angela Ambrose

yurveda is one of the world’s oldest systems of medicine, originating in India thousands of years ago. In the last decade, it has become increasingly popular and many of its treatments are showing up in spas and clinics across the country.

The goal of ayurveda is to bring harmony and balance to your mind and body using a number of therapies, including herbs, healthy eating, massage, body cleansing, meditation, yoga and lifestyle changes.

According to ayurvedic medicine, each individual has a unique constitution made up of three physiological forces called vata, pitta and kapha.

“Everybody has all three of these forces, but we have them in unique proportions,” says Marc

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Halpern, president and founder of the California College of Ayurveda and author of “Healing Your Life: Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda.” “When [these forces] go out of balance, they cause disease.”

individualized plan to adjust any imbalances.

Your constitution determines your specific body type, temperament and potential health risks. Often, one or two of the three physiological forces

avoid excessive stimulation, loud music or noises, bright lights, and to eat regular, heavier meals.

Individuals of predominantly pitta nature have a medium athletic build, strong metabolism and appetite, and often feel warm. They also tend to be more ambitious and competitive.

Halpern says this type of person should avoid activities that are overly heating or overly intense, foods that are too hot and spicy, and they should avoid pursuing passionate ideals too aggressively.

People with a predominantly kapha nature have a larger build with thicker bones, slow metabolism, and put weight on more easily.

“They tend to move more slowly and have a tendency toward lethargy and melancholy,” says Halpern. They should avoid heavy foods, predictable routines and understimulation.

Ironically, people are often drawn toward those things that keep them out of balance.

“Kaphas are attracted to the couch and vatas are attracted to aerobics classes,” he says. “When an individual learns to eat and live in accordance with their constitution, their body weight will find its naturally right place.”

...each individual has a unique constitution made up of three physiological forces called vata, pitta and kapha.

If you’re considering ayurvedic treatment, Halpern recommends finding a practitioner with at least two years of training in the United States. At your initial appointment, the practitioner will do a thorough examination to help identify your unique constitution and create an

can dominate your constitution.

For example, a person with a predominantly vata nature “tends to be thin with less muscular development, has dry skin and often feels cold, and has tendencies toward being nervous,” says Halpern. He advises a person of this nature to

According to Halpern, ayurveda is a journey to create harmony in your life and balanced physiology.

“It requires discipline and commitment to overcome those desires and create new habits that generate health and well being,” he says.

H e a lt h B u z z

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get checked

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ach year, hepatitis C-related illnesses claim the lives of more than 15,000 Americans. With baby boomers five times more likely to contract the blood-borne virus than other adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued draft guidelines advising all baby boomers to take a one-time blood test to determine whether they have been infected.

Those who have hepatitis C can go many years without any noticeable symptoms and not realize they have the liver-damaging virus. Using the latest medical treatments, up to 75 percent of hepatitis C infections can be cured if caught early. In its later stages, the virus can cause cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is most commonly spread when sharing needles for drug use, but it can also be contracted in less obvious ways. Because the virus is easily transmitted through blood contact, people can be infected by sharing personal items such as toothbrushes and razor blades or getting piercings, tattoos and manicures. Those who had blood transfusions before 1992 are also at increased risk of infection because widespread blood screenings were not yet established.

The CDC estimates that the proposed one-time testing of baby boomers could identify more than 800,000 people with the disease.

jewelry for a cause m ary Margrill offers a number of healthinspired jewelry collections, including the M2 “I Am” collection, which features sterling silver pieces inscribed with inspirational messages such as “I Am Blessed” and “I Am Visible.”

The M2 “Connect” bracelet is a beautiful spiritual adornment and meditation trinket made of sandalwood and amethyst elements.

Ten percent of proceeds from the $39 yoga-inspired bracelet will benefit Women For Women International, a nonprofit organization that provides financial and emotional support to women survivors of war and other conflicts. marymargrill.com

well seated

s

pending too much time working? A recent study from Sydney, Australia, shows that taking a short break at your desk and spending as little as 15 minutes meditating or doing chair yoga can reduce perceived stress and make you feel more relaxed and focused.

Mary Gargrill

berrygood e

ating two or more servings of blueberries or strawberries per week might help slow age-related memory loss, according to a recent study published in Annals of Neurology.

Researchers tested the cognitive abilities of more than 16,000 nurses over the age of 70 and found that those who consumed the most berries delayed their memory decline by up to two and a half years, compared with those who ate the least. Blueberries and strawberries contain large amounts of flavonoids, which help decrease inflammation and may lower the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

the not-so

sweet truth

a

ccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about a quarter of Americans get at least 200 calories a day from sugarsweetened beverages. Which is why, with the rising trend in obesity, health experts are targeting sugary drinks as an easy way to cut calories and stay healthy.

Sugary drinks—including regular soda, fruit drinks, sports or energy drinks, and sweetened water—have been linked to health issues such as diabetes and obesity. A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health adds coronary heart disease to the list of health risks. The study found that men who drank as little as 12 ounces of a sugarsweetened drink per day increased their risk of heart disease by 20 percent, compared with those who drank none. A previous study found similar health risks for women who consumed at least one sugary beverage daily. 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.

September/October • 2012

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L o o k Goo d

Beard

l

Story | Jessica Mebane

ook around this fall, and you’ll notice the best-dressed man about town isn’t only turned out in the latest stare of fashion, but has also carefully groomed his face, skin, hair and beard with what some would call “metrosexual” attention to detail.

He’s not just good-looking, though. With the help of a few key products and treatments, he’s transcended adjectives like “manly” and “handsome” to become “mansome.” Don’t snicker, boys; this isn’t just a movie title dreamed up by Hollywood to describe the new wave of male beauty aspiration. It’s big business.

Care and proper maintenance of the American male these days has become a booming sector of the cosmetics industry, and with good reason.

More and more seemingly low-maintenance, easygoing guys are reaping the benefits (and flirty second glances) from expanding their morning routine. Beyond the customary morning shower and shave, they are now including skin care, beard grooming and even spa treatments to jazz up their personal style.

And although smelling good and looking good might seem like child’s play, the real players know the game is best played with the right equipment. So don’t hate the players, don’t

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even hate the game, just get grooming with these Prime Living-tested products and treatments to find your inner “mansome” self.

Skin

Let’s face it: Your skin needs attention to achieve that virile, manly glow. With Clinique’s Skin Supplies for Men, skincare should be as “easy and routine as brushing your teeth.”

The first step is to wash up with one of Clinique’s specially formulated bar or liquid soaps that will cleanse without drying. These come in two strengths: regular for dry or normal skin, extra strength for oily skin.

Next, exfoliate with Scruffing Lotion (in four skin-specific varieties) to “sweep off dead skin cells and unclog pores” and finally, moisturize with M Lotion or M Gel-Lotion. clinique.com

Spa

“To spa, or not to spa” was not Hamlet’s great dilemma. But, perhaps, if the Danish prince had indulged in a therapeutic salt scrub or deep tissue massage, surely some major royal intrigue might’ve been averted.

Keep your own royal sense of serenity in check this fall by trying out new spa services geared for men, available at many high-end resorts, salons and spa locations across the country. After a long night in Vegas, for example, step into The Spa & Salon at Aria for either the Sports Massage, featuring 100 minutes of deep tissue massage with heating packs and stretching “to aid muscle recovery and improve flexibility,” or the Man Facial to “cleanse, purify and clear your skin with this antioxidant-power-packed treatment.” arialasvegas.com/spa

Wahl | Clinique | The Spa & Salon at Aria

It’s a Guy thing

Now that you’re properly set in the overall skin department, take a good hard look at the jaw line and assess where you stand, follicular-ly speaking.

This fall, many designers from Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabbana to highend denim’s PRPS label are showing bearded models on their runways. But achieving this rugged look isn’t as simple as just throwing out the razor and letting your inner Jeremiah Johnson out to play.

It’s important to groom and shape this facial outcropping into something rugged yet sexy, but not so overly manicured as to resemble an angry foreign potentate.

To achieve this up-tothe-minute look, try Wahl’s Lithium All in One Trimmer for casually sexy, manly whiskers, á la David Beckham, and avoid overdone, professorial fussiness, á la Frasier Crane. wahl.com

some bullies

GROW OLD i

Story | Mary Jo Rapini

t’s a common notion that as people grow older, they become wiser. For the most part, we do mellow with age. With each year, we reflect more, are more mature when reacting, and take fewer comments personally.

It’s one of the benefits of advancing years.

There is a subset, however, that doesn’t mellow with age. This group is defined as the “old bullies.” Some of us have one in the family. It may be Aunt Betty, who makes all of the nieces run away crying because she told

ASK THE EXPERTS Prime Living’s healthy living experts answer your health-related questions

Q

Are there cosmetic procedures available that do not require lengthy recuperation time?

A

There are currently two FDA-approved procedures that allow patients to walk in and out of the practice with no downtime.

Depending on what target areas you’re looking to work out, I would recommend both CoolSculpting and Ultherapy.

CoolSculpting is a procedure that “freezes the fat” with no down time. After eight weeks, you’ll notice a difference in the area that you had treated, whether it’s your stomach, love handles or thighs. Clients are thrilled to learn about this non-invasive, quick and easy procedure. Depending on your treatment area, you can walk out in 70 minutes.

The other treatment is Ultherapy, a new type of non-surgical procedure for the face that stimulates the body’s own natural healing process to lift the skin over time. The use of FDA-cleared ultrasound technology enables physicians, for the first time, to see and treat the deepest support layers of the skin—typically addressed in cosmetic surgery—without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.

The treatment typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Afterward, patients are able to return to normal activities right away, and there are no special measures they need to take.

With just one Ultherapy treatment, the lifting process is initiated, but the effect will build gradually over the

them they’re getting too fat. Or Uncle John, who manipulates others by excluding them.

These people don’t rehabilitate with age. In fact, many times, they get worse.

Old bullies are more difficult to deal with than young ones. You can’t tell them to stop their bully behavior because, once you have a history of behaving in a manner you’ve practiced 60 or more years, it’s less likely you will change. Giving incentives like a gold star or a coupon for pizza are less effective the older you get. Therefore, course of two to three months as new, stronger collagen is created. Further improvements can even appear up to six months following a procedure as this collagen-building process continues.

— Dr. Eric Humble, Sugar Land Face & Body Plastic Surgery

Q

What are some things you can do to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer?

A

There are several things you can do to reduce your risk. They include: • Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels in the body.

• Eating plenty of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower that are rich in anti-cancer nutrients.

• Engaging in stress reducing activities such as meditation and yoga.

• Decreasing alcohol consumption. Drinking more than seven alcoholic drinks per week increases the risk of breast cancer, while drinking more than three to four alcoholic drinks per week increases the risk for breast cancer recurrence.

• Decreasing exposure to chemicals in household cleaning products. This reduces your risk of exposure to xeno-estrogens.

• Taking pharmaceutical-grade supplements, including a multi-vitamin, fish oil and antioxidants to give your body the basics to function optimally.

• Detoxing your liver twice yearly to improve estrogen clearance from the body.

— Dr. Afreen Pappa, Javani Med Spa Have a healthy living question for our experts?

Email your query to editor@prime-living.com.

b e g oo d

live well

many times, the parents and grandchildren of these old bullies are the ones who suffer.

There are things you can do that will help calm the situation in dealing with your old bully: • Take your old bully to your family doctor for a physical. Depression is common after the age of 65. Brain chemistry changes and depression might be the result. Your bully might have been depressed for years and a simple medication can add quality to their life and everyone whose life they touch.

...many times, the parents and grandchildren of...old bullies are the ones who suffer.

• Make sure your old bully gets plenty of Vitamin D. This can be achieved by getting them out in the sun at least 20 minutes a day or by taking a supplement.

Your doctor can test to see if Vitamin D levels are within the desired range with a simple blood test.

• It’s likely that your old bully grew up with other bullies. Therefore, they might be insensitive to how their behavior affects others.

Speak with them in private about how they speak to others, and the effects it might have.

• Speak to your old bully’s caregiver in advance to them meeting each other. You might be able to provide the knowledge necessary for the staff to develop a plan so they can effectively deal with your old bully.

It’s best to be honest and transparent.

• Studies have shown that bully behavior is tied to a lack of sleep in children. A sleep study and talking to your doctor about your old bully’s behavior might solve many of their behavior problems. mary jo rapini Mary Jo Rapini is a Houston-based psychotherapist specializing in sex and relationships. In addition to being a speaker, author and TV personality, she shares her expert advice Tuesday mornings on Mix 96.5 and Friday mornings on Fox 26 Houston.

For information, visit maryjorapini.com.

September/October • 2012

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live well

his & hers

Wi-Fi CAN’T

we get along? w Story | JESSICA MEBANE

hy does social media bring out the most anti-social behavior in couples?

Whether it’s shopping online for holiday gifts or just catching up with high school buddies on Facebook, men and women seem to treat the Internet with varying degrees of respect and security while invariably scoffing at their partner’s lack of “tech savvy,” so to speak.

Let’s break down the ones and zeros of this motherboard issue, and see if we can make sweet, sweet code together—or at least avoid hurling our smartphones at each other’s heads; romance can be fleeting, but data plan contracts are forever.

women Is perfectly happy to continue using the 2-year-old laptop in the office, because a sane person should only stand in line for a great Louboutin sample sale or fresh omelets at the Four Seasons’ Sunday brunch.

LAPTOPS/IPADS/ PCS

Rushes to the Apple store to join 1,000 of his fellow “first-adopters” on queue to buy each new product rollout at full retail price.

Is certain that if she wanted to hear all 30-odd reasons why she shouldn’t be headed to the airport for a girls’ last-minute Vegas weekend, she’d take that call.

SMARTPHONES

Is certain his significant other is purposely screening or declining his calls for no apparent reason, because she just texted him seconds ago.

Has randomly chosen letters and symbols for every password, but never writes them down, so has to continually reset them. No, really.

PASSWORDS

For ease of use, has set all online accounts set with the same password. No, really.

FACEBOOK

Has liked roughly 100 pages, including favorite fishing guides and bacon-a-day quotes, while only cyber-stalking the occasional ex-girlfriend once or twice. Maybe.

Is about to approach 30,000 followers with her politically astute observations posited under the handle @SexyVoterGrrl. Also in a Twitter war with Kim Kardashian over butt implants. Yes, really.

TWITTER

Is so busy looking at ex-girlfriend profiles and “liking” photos of friends’ wives on Facebook, he hasn’t had time to learn how to start stalking people on “the Twitters.”

Has become so Pinterest invested, she sometimes sees red tacks in her real life, often while shopping.

PINTEREST

Is thinking: Pin what? Photos of stuff? Cyber cork board?

Is administrating several concurrent blogs with titles as varied as “The Care and Feeding of the Knuckledragger I Love,” and “A Girl’s Guide to Decorating Around all Those Dead Animal Trophies.”

BLOGS

Is positive that if he was supposed to start something as feely-touchy as a blog, he’d have already handed in his shotgun, rifles, fishing kit and man card first.

Has set her Internet homepage to TMZ.com, duh.

HOMEPAGE

Has set his Internet homepage to ESPN.com. You know, to keep up with the latest “breaking news” (aka sports scores).

Has more than 600 friends, including dead celebrities and exotic pet rescue organizations, while only cyber-stalking the occasional ex-paramour once or twice. Maybe.

Has created a Pinterest board containing Christmas gift ideas for all her friends and family by mid-October, including packaging and personalized notes.

Keeps all her documents, files, photos and music in carefully organized folders and sub-categories so Byzantine, that the casual user can’t even find her “c:/ directory.” Or that file of photos of him on their honeymoon she scanned in…for no reason.

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ONLINE SHOPPING

Hopes like heck in the wee hours of Dec. 23 that Amazon.com can ship his entire Christmas order to arrive on time.

DESKTOP HYGIENE

Keeps all his important documents, charts, programs and any file he’s accessed in the last 18 months on his computer desktop, for easy access. It also helps cover up that old honeymoon bikini photo of her that he scanned a while back…for no reason.

PRESENTS

A Cirque Spectacular

Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre For tickets go to www.staffordcentre.com and click “Ticketing Tab”

Friday, Oct. 19 at 7:30pm Saturday, Oct.20 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm www.cirqueimagination.com

Mad Men Casino Night

the

Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land • 6.7.12

list

AMC, Xfinity and Mercedes-Benz hosted VIPs to an exclusive “Mad Men”style evening, benefiting Child Advocates of Fort Bend. Many arrived in costume and in character for the evening, which featured signature cocktails, gourmet bites, hand-rolled cigars and gaming tables. Surrounded by luxury automobiles, guests “rolled” in style as they played to win fun prizes and got the opportunity to snag a photo with “Don Draper.”

Photography | Leroy Gibbins

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

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Men with Momentum: Speed & Spirits Momentum Porsche • 6.14.12

On June 14, Momentum Porsche hosted the ultimate guys’ night out. Even the ladies wanted to partake in this summer soiree that encouraged Houston men to stand up against domestic violence, but also enjoy themselves with craft beer, premium cigars and an authentic Cuban pig roast. While in the company of some of Houston’s finest automobiles, guests played pool and grooved to live entertainment.

Proceeds from the event will support Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving families trapped in the cycle of domestic violence.

the

list

Photography | Leroy Gibbins

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See More photos at Prime-Living.com

1 Karen and Doug Freedman 2 Lynn Kamin, Mike Donavan, Deborah Buks 3 Kevin Fisher, Sherri Kendall, Andy Fitzpatrick 4 Laura Park and Amy Carl 5 Luke Fertita and Seth Johnson 6 Diane Caplan and Vanessa Carr

September/October • 2012

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Save an Animal Poker Tournament

the

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House • 7.13.12

list

Superstitions were left behind at this year’s Save an Animal Poker Tournament, benefiting Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP). Held on a Friday the 13th at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, CAP honoree Kim Padgett played host to a room full of guests as they sipped cocktails and nibbled on scrumptious bites. But then it was time to get down to business as attendees put on their best poker faces to win exciting prizes, including the use of a Momentum Jaguar XJ for a weekend. In the end, however, CAP was the big winner of the night, as proceeds reached more than $20,000—much-needed funds that will go towards the group’s mission of rescuing homeless animals and placing them in loving homes.

Photography | Anthony Hynes

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get on the list at primelist@prime-living.com 1 Hershey Grace and Lindsey Love 2 Kenneth McBryde and Ronna Lynn 3 Bob Rinn and Donald Lehte 4 Miya Shay and T.J. Aulds

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5

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See More photos at Prime-Living.com 5 Kalon McMahon with Dr. Franklin and Cindie Rose 6 Gaylon Gullquist, Shelby Kibodeaux, Tua Burke 7 Brian Burke 8 Nancy Hoffman and Robert Campbell 9 Jennifer Hilton, Allyson Tauch, Monique Mannke 10 Kim Padgett, Hershey Grace, Kalon McMahon 11 Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux 12 Casey Curry, Carl Hahm, Miya Shay 13 Lisa Fast, Amy Walther 14 Brian Burke, Tua Burke, John Moritz

September/October • 2012

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parting

shot

head Turner This fall, heads will roll at Bridgeland’s Howl-O-Ween Fest on Oct. 27.

The Cypress community will host this family-and-Fido-friendly event, featuring the works of sculptor and acclaimed pumpkin carver Alfred

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Parades, who is planning a series of dog-inspired carvings for the event.

Talk about a howl-ing good time! bridgeland.com/howl-o-ween-fest prime-living.com

Photography by Villafane Studios.