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Have you ever wondered if what you’ve heard about diabetes is real or not? Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body’s blood sugar is too high. Insulin, which is a hormone created by the pancreas, helps get sugar from the food you eat into your cells, but sometimes the body doesn’t make enough insulin, and the sugar stays in the bloodstream. Over time, this can cause serious health problems, but the information you hear about these problems may not be true. Here are 5 typical myths about diabetes, debunked. 1. Those with diabetes can’t eat sweets or sugar. Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t eat any sugar; it means you have to eat sugar in moderation, just like anyone else.
4. People with diabetes are more likely to catch other illnesses, such as a cold. Just because you have diabetes doesn’t make you more likely to catch a cold. However, any illness can make diabetes difficult to control, so it’s important to receive vaccinations, such as flu shots. 5. Fruit is healthy, so you can eat as much as you want if you have diabetes. While fruit is healthy, packing fiber, vitamins, and minerals, it has also has carbohydrates. Carbohydrates raise blood sugar, so moderation is the key.
2. Too much sugar causes Type 2 diabetes. While being overweight does increase your chance of Type 2 diabetes, sugar is not always to blame. Type 2 diabetes is caused because people who are overweight have more insulin resistance, which means the insulin can’t get the sugar, or glucose, out of your blood. Sometimes, eating too much sugar isn’t to blame. Obesity can be caused by other factors, such as genetics. 3. Diabetes is not a serious disease. Diabetes is a concerning disease that causes serious health problems from the sugar building in the blood. These health problems can include kidney failure and nontraumatic lowerlimb amputation. In 2010, diabetes killed more than 69,000 people in the United States alone.
At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, we help patients manage diabetes by creating individualized treatment plans that include physical exercise and healthy eating strategies. For more information, call 361-906-3700.
ST CE R RT OK IFI E E D
Treating Diabetes through Rehabilitation At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, we help patients manage diabetes by creating individualized treatment plans that include physical exercise and healthy eating strategies. Exercise Exercise can help control diabetes because it allows glucose to enter the body’s cells without the use of insulin. Our physical and occupational therapists provide: • Individualized plans combining aerobic exercise and resistance training • Supervision to ensure safety and progress • Practical exercises that can be continued at home Healthy Eating Strategies A healthy diet also is integral to managing diabetes. Foods affect the balance of insulin in the body and make a difference in blood glucose levels. Dietitians teach patients about: • Carbohydrates in food • How carbohydrates affect glucose levels • Practical strategies for healthy cooking and eating For more information, call 361-906-3700.
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OCTOBER 2018 |
Outdoors Issue
CONTENTS
64
100 44 AROUND THE BEND 24 | STYLE & BEAUTY 28 | CURRENTS 30 | TRENDING 32 | GIVING BACK 34 | 5 BEST 36 | PERSON OF INTEREST
HEALTH 56 | BE WELL 58 | MEDICAL MATTERS 60 | MEET THE DOCTOR HOME & GARDEN 64 | OPEN HOUSE 72 | GARDENING 74 | SPACES
OUT & ABOUT 88 | ARTS & CULTURE 90 | CELEBRATION 92 | DATE BOOK 94 | SOCIAL HOUR CUISINE 100 | FARM TO TABLE 104 | THE DRINK 107 | DINING GUIDE 112 | THE DISH HISTORY 114 | LOOKING BACK
Copyright © 2018 Gemstone Media, LLC. The Bend: Coastal Life Magazine is published by Gemstone Media, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.
14 The Bend
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Music IN MOTION NOVEMBER 10, 2018
DECEMBER 8, 2018
Featuring Amit Peled, cello, and Dancers from Corpus Christi Ballet
Experience the Tradition!
Let’s Dance!
FEBRUARY 9, 2019
Time for Three
Featuring string trio, Time for Three
OCTOBER 13, 2018
Mozart, Mexico & The World
Featuring Barbara Padilla, soprano
Hector Guzman, Music Director
Home for The Holidays
MARCH 9, 2019
Grand Finale
Featuring Elisabeth Adkins, violin, and your Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra
At the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center. Visit www.ccsymphony.org for tickets.
2018-2019 SEASON thebendmag.com
15
PUBLISHER: Jordan Regas
DESIGN INTERN: Sierra Lutz
ART DIRECTOR: Will Bowling
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jason Page Aaron Garcia Brandi Grahl
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Kaley Regas BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Chris Knapick MANAGING EDITOR: Kylie Kinnett ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Jarred Schuetze LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER: Rachel Benavides COPY EDITOR: Kay Pluta EDITORIAL INTERN: Rianna Turner
CONTRIBUTORS: Justin & Kayla Butts Jo Anne Howell Jacqueline Gonzalez Jillian Becquet Julieta Hernandez Kirby Tello Carlos Cooper Mindy Mayden EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: kylie@thebendmag.com ADVERTISING: chris@thebendmag.com THE BEND OFFICE: 309 N. Water Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361.792.3606 SUBSCRIPTIONS: THEBENDMAG.COM
16 The Bend
On the Cover: When it comes to the Coastal Bend, camping isn’t one of the activities that first comes to mind. However, there are multiple great spots to take the family on an outdoor adventure in the area. We scoped out three of our favorite places to camp, and it is no surprise more than one of them ended up being on the beach. For our cover, we rallied our troops at 4 AM one Saturday morning to capture the perfect sunrise beach setup. (photo by: Rachel Benavides)
CONNECT WITH US @ thebendmag.com
@thebendmag on Instagram and Twitter #CBLife
WE LOVE CREATING
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S O U T H S I D E - 4822 Holly Rd. - 361.994.4900 C R O S S T O W N - 2201 Cleo St. Suite B - 361.884.2266 K I N G S V I L L E - 1015 E. Henrietta Ave. - 361.592.4373
OCTOBER / From The Desk Of
What is your favorite way to get outside in the Coastal Bend?
Kylie Kinnett,
Justin Butts,
Contributing Writer
Contributing Photographer
My fiancĂŠ and I adopted a dog about 4 months ago and are finding ourselves outside a lot more now. We live off of Ocean Dr. and taking the pup out on walks down by the water is one of our favorite things to do! The scenery is beautiful, and it is a great reminder of how gorgeous this place we live is.
We are fortunate that our farm in Rockport has fields, forest, and a beautiful lake for us to take our girls camping. They help set up camp, collect firewood, and help to start a fire. We tell ghost stories and sing songs and sleep under the stars with crickets chirping and frogs singing and fireflies all around us. We get outside to create these wonderful memories for our children.
What gets me outside in the Coastal Bend is my love of skateboarding and photography, using both to explore the Downtown Corpus Christi area. The Seawall is such a skate friendly and scenic route that it just becomes absolutely beautiful to skate during sunset times. Also, being a photographer it provides such beautiful scenes to capture!
Managing Editor
Aaron Garcia,
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Subscribe today and receive 12 issues for only $12.95! 18 The Bend
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Live. Life. Vibrantly. For years, our community has served the residents and families of Corpus Christi and surrounding cities. Now, as part of the Solstice Senior Living family, our tradition of enriching lives will continue as we bring new enhancements to our already vibrant independent senior living community. Solstice Senior Living Corpus Christi offers an all-inclusive lifestyle of leisure in an independent senior living community.
To learn more about all that Solstice has to offer, call us today for a complimentary lunch and a tour!
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thebendmag.com
19
OCTOBER/ Letter From The Publisher
I had completely forgotten the story until it was brought up in a recent meeting with our editorial team. We were discussing our plan to compile a guide to camping in the Coastal Bend and I knew we had to somehow revisit Goose Island State Park in this issue. The original writer assigned to the story had since moved away for a job, but with so much change happening over the past year, we asked Kirby Tello to report on the state of Goose Island and other parks and campgrounds around the coast.
Adventures on the Coast
L
ast August, our staff commissioned a writer to compile a guide to our local state parks. Goose Island State Park, located in Rockport, was slated to grace the cover of our October Issue. I dropped the story altogether in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and replaced the guide with a series of stories on how the Coastal Bend came together to rebuild after the storm. The well-known “Rockport Strong” sign became the cover as a symbol of our community’s resilience.
Favorite Page
We gave Carlos Cooper the arduous task of selecting the five best local craft beers in the Coastal Bend, and he happily took on the challenge. It’s been exciting to see the local craft beer scene grow over the past few years. I was thrilled to discover a couple new brews I had never heard of. Cheers to our local brewers!
20 The Bend
Camping might not be the first thing locals and visitors think of when it comes to life in the Coastal Bend, but Goose Island, a short drive from Downtown Corpus Christi, is a popular destination for camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and observing wildlife. The Whooping Crane is one of many unique birds in the park, drawing birdwatchers from around the world to our coast. In the feature on page 44 titled “Off the Grid,” Tello reports the campground offers 57 shelters with electricity and water and another 27 with water, but no electricity. She also spoke with park superintendent Randy Rosales, who expects repairs to the Rec Hall, due to damage from Hurricane Harvey, to be finished by Spring 2019. Whatever your tolerance for the outdoors may be, I hope you have the chance to experience a different side of the Coastal Bend this fall. Camping with your family is a great way to reconnect, and getting outside can be very therapeutic. Our local state parks and campgrounds are full of things to see and do throughout the year. If you are looking for a little more adventure this fall, I know you have come to the right place. See you off the grid. Jordan Regas, Publisher
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AROUND THE BEND STYLE & BEAUTY 24 CURRENTS 28 TRENDING 30 GIVING BACK 32 5 BEST 34 PERSON OF INTEREST 36
What’s Inside Overflowing with inspiration from style legends of decades past, we scoured through vintage wardrobes and shuffled through modern accessories to conceive three iconic looks, fit for any style maven wanting to make a bold statement this fall season.
thebendmag.com
23
AROUND THE BEND / STYLE & BEAUTY
INSPIRED by ICONS By: Jarred Schuetze Photos by: Aaron Garcia
Overflowing with inspiration from style legends of decades past, we scoured through overflowing vintage wardrobes and shuffled through an arsonal of modern accessories to conceive three iconic looks, fit for any style maven wanting to make a bold statement this season. From lightweight leather jackets to one-of-a-kind vintage furs, these transitional outfits can breathe life into even the most out of touch, lackluster wardrobes.
24 The Bend
‘HIM HER YOU ME AND THE IMAGINARY FIRE’ ACRYLIC & PASTEL ON CANVAS. 68” X 80” 2018. SARAH MARTIN VINTAGE TURQOUISE LEATHER BLAZER
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B R A DS H AW thebendmag.com
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‘LITTLE DARK AGE’ ACRYLIC & PASTEL ON CANVAS. 50” X 60” 2018. SARAH MARTIN
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METALLIC RIBBED JUMPSUIT MARKET BOUTIQUE $95
“DON’T LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO DREAM” L I Z A
M I N N E L L I thebendmag.com
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AROUND THE BEND / CURRENTS
CURRENTS By: Rianna Turner
A New Brewery in the Coastal Bend
There is a building on Water St. painted white with colorful palm trees on the sides. You are probably familiar with said building. Said building is to transform into the newest brewery to hit Corpus Christi, the Nueces Brewing Company. Longtime friends, Brandon and Cale are the masterminds behind the project and can’t wait to share this new gem with the community. The brewery will be serving up a Mexican lager, a session IPA, a roasted malt lager, a salt-sweet combo called “Gose Play Outside,” and more. The brewery will have a taproom, a large outdoor deck, and a food truck lot!
The Cheech
Associate Professor of Media Production Dr. Edward Tyndall, at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, has completed a documentary film entitled “The Cheech.” The film, centered around Cheech Marin and the Art Museum of South Texas “Los Tejanos” exhibition, is to be debuted locally in late November. The film features music by local artist, El Dusty, and has plans to be entered into several film festivals around the nation.
28 The Bend
Leading Ladies of Corpus Christi
It’s no secret, podcasts are really “in” right now. In this age of selective media. We often get to choose what shows we’re watching, music we’re listening to, and news we’re reading on demand, it only makes sense that podcasts would gain popularity. There are podcasts covering every topic imaginable, and now, there’s even a podcast that posts interviews with influential women in the Coastal Bend! The podcast, “Leading Ladies of Corpus Christi,” can be streamed from Soundcloud, and there are episodes with Alyssa Barrera of the DMD, Aislynn Campbell of GROW Local South Texas, artist Mayra Zamora, and many more.
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29
AROUND THE BEND / TRENDING
OF THE
WHAT WE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT Words & Photo by: Jarred Schuetze
The Minimal Centerpiece Fresh, clean, and simple. These descriptors should come to mind when you visualize a minimal centerpiece or table setting. Scrap the heavy textures and rich colors this season and give your home the chance to breathe. Focus on making a big impact with fewer materials. You can’t go wrong with transparent glass or neutral colored vases. Fill your vessel with water, clip a single stem from your favorite plant, and vwah-lah.
Local Places We Love to Shop for Plants B AN DAS N U R S ERY & F LOW E RS
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30 The Bend
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AROUND THE BEND / GIVING BACK
Bridging the Health Gap How one community organization is changing the way the Coastal Bend approaches health and wellness By: Mindy Mayden Photo by: Rachel Benavides
T
he Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation is a community health center with a heavy emphasis on community. Their goal is to address the health disparities of the Coastal Bend. CEO Bill Hoelscher says the Foundation goes by the mantra, “for the sake of one.” If they help one person, the Foundation considers itself successful. However, by serving 12 counties spanning over 11,000 square miles, the center’s reach far exceeds that goal. In order to bridge gaps in the community’s health system, the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation spearheads a myriad of projects ranging from prostitution diversion to behavioral and psychological health. The center’s holistic approach to patient and community care has also led to projects like “Breast Friends,” the only program in Texas that provides free mastectomy bras and prosthetics to women who have undergone mastectomies. The grassroots program now serves more than 250 women per year.
32 The Bend
In addition to treating patients onsite at the health center and providing support services such as labs and X-rays, the Foundation wants to provide health and wellness education in order to promote lasting change. The Foundation’s prevention department’s task is to go to schools, prisons, and local businesses to provide education and free health testing services to the entire Coastal Bend. The community mobilization group aims to improve area health conditions through stricter health laws. In March 2019, the Foundation, which has grown to a team of 70 staff members, will move into a new 2,500 square foot location at 2882 Holly Road. Part of the new building will house the Coastal Bend’s first LGBTQ+ resource center, providing a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community to gather, socialize, and receive services. Based on positive feedback and his experiences with the community’s open-mindedness, Hoelscher has high hopes for the new center’s success. “I get very excited when I see how our city embraces change,” he says. With such a wide range of services available to all residents, Hoelscher wants the Coastal Bend to know that at the heart, “We are an organization that truly wants to make a difference and have an impact on people’s lives. We are here and ready to serve. As a community, nothing is insurmountable, as long as we face it together with kindness and respect.” Contact: 5633 S Staples St, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 (361) 814-2001
thebendmag.com
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AROUND THE BEND / 5 BEST
Best Best Local Craft Beers Sharing a beer with someone is special. A cold beer is often the catalyst that brings a group of people together to sit around a table and talk to one another. It can also be the spark to reuniting old friends or to making new ones. With that in mind, here are the five best craft beers in the Coastal Bend, in no particular order, and where to find them. By: Carlos Cooper Photos by: Rachel Benavides
1. Lorelei Brewing Co. - Manatus IPA: The Manatus IPA is a New England style IPA that has gained popularity across the country over the last three to five years and is slowly influencing Texas beer circles. This style is unfiltered, hazy, and, most importantly, very juicy, making it a deliciously refreshing choice that never disappoints. 520 N A. S Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
2. Rebel Toad Brewing Co. - Angry Man Porter: The Angry Man Porter is a staple in the rotation at Rebel Toad Brewing in Downtown Corpus Christi. It’s dark, it’s rich, and it’s delicious. For beer drinkers who lean toward the darker side, this porter will satisfy your craving for a rich, chocolaty, malty beer with the slightest notes of coffee. 425 William St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
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3. B&J’s Pizza- Brewpub Red Eye-PA: Adding to the list of
5. Psi Brewing Co. - Literally Anything: Psi Brewing Company is an
emerging Imperial Pale Ale styles, B&J’s Brewpub has ventured into the Red IPA category. This beer is a hopped-up version of something resembling a Red or Amber Ale. This exceptionally drinkable beer is packed with flavor. At 9.2% ABV, you’ll certainly want more than just one pint! 6662 S Staples St, Corpus Christi, TX 78413
emerging nano brewery based out of Garrett’s BBQ in the Moon Tower Plaza Building on Ayers. They’re well known for perfecting the New England Style “Hazy” IPA. However, their small batch approach to brewing means their selection is constantly rotating. You may walk in and find their Hopeless Pedantic NEIPA, or maybe you’ll find their Doughboy traditional English Pub Ale. Or maybe it’s their Strawberry Fields For-Never Sour Ale brewed with fresh strawberries. No matter what’s on tap, it’s always incredible and delicious. Do not sleep on what these guys are doing. 4135 Ayers St., Corpus Christi, TX 78415
4. Lazy Beach Brewing Co. - Ginger Spice: Without a doubt,
this Kombucha and beer combination, is one of the most unique brews on this list. For those who don’t know, Kombucha is a fermented tea that already contains minuscule traces of alcohol. Lazy Beach has incorporated this tea into a full-blown beer, offering a truly unique experience that will satisfy both Kombucha, and beer lovers. 7522 Bichon Dr #100, Corpus Christi, TX 78414
STROKE
Risk Factors, Warning Signs, Types of Strokes, Brain Changes, and Recovery
COGNITIVE REHABILITATION AFTER BRAIN INJURY
• 800,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, one every 40 seconds
Cognitive rehabilitation is a systematically applied set of medical and theraputic services to improve cognitive funtction.
• Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the USA and the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer • Of every five deaths from stroke, two occur in men and three occur in women, 25% of all strokes occur in people under the age of 65
Specialists who manage cognitive deficits are: Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and Neuropsychologist.
HOPE: A STROKE RECOVERY GUIDE
PREVALENT COGNITIVE DEFICITS
1. Helpful Information: a collection of important poststroke issues and suggestions for how to address these concerns.
•
2. Opportunity through self-advocacy: find out how to be an active participant in your recovery and why it is so important.
• •
3. Preventing another stroke: life-saving information about how stroke awareness, symptom recognition, and how to decrease your chances of having another stroke. 4. Excercises and recommendations: two illusctrated excercise programs to help you gain strength and range of motion.
345 S. WATER STREET CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78401 POSTACUTEMEDICAL.COM
•
• • • • • • • •
Impaired safety and judgment Reduced ability to think abstractly Rigid in routine Difficulty understanding cause and effect Poor task sequencing Diminished empathy Disorganized language Impaired social skills Impaired social use of language Poor attention Disctractability Perseveration
• • • • • • • •
Impulsivity Hypersensitivity to auditory or visual stimuli Poor multi-tasking Difficulty shifting from task to task Forgetfullness Confusion Slow Processing Poor problem solving
MAIN: 361.500.0600 ADMISSIONS: 361.500.0700 ADMISSIONS FAX: 361.500.0710 thebendmag.com
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AROUND THE BEND / PERSON OF INTEREST
MEET Rene and Susan Trevino The husband and wife duo behind Enjoy Corpus Christi Tours By: Kylie Kinnett Photo by: Rachel Benavides
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO START ENJOY CORPUS CHRISTI TOURS? After we retired from traditional employment about two
years ago, we traveled a bit, and while we were traveling, we made the decision to start our tour business in Corpus Christi. It had been a dream of ours since doing jeep tours in Colorado. We knew Corpus Christi had a rich and diverse history that was not being shared in the way we envisioned. We had already done a lot of the historical research, and all we had to do was be brave enough to start our own business – something neither one of us had done before.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR GHOST TOURS. Our Ghost Tours really caught on with our locals after Hurricane Harvey. We used social media to promote an activity that our locals could enjoy while there were no tourists in town. We cover at least 13 “haunted” sites in the historical downtown area. We stop at several sites, and our guests are able to explore by hearing the history of the particular place and why the location may be haunted, what others have experienced, and by taking lots of pictures – always hoping for that apparition or orb! We always go inside at least one site for more fun and photos.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR TOURS BRING TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WAS LACKING BEFORE? We realized our visitors come to
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR ENJOY CORPUS CHRISTI TOURS? Just as Corpus Christi continues to grow, we
Corpus Christi for the beach and for other water activities. That’s great, but we also knew the history and culture of Corpus Christi could be promoted with local tours. We are able to share the history of Corpus Christi with folks from out of town and with our own residents, too. Our Sightseeing Historical Tours, Art Tours, and Cemetery Tours offer an opportunity for tourists to get a great overview of our city and all it has to offer in the comfort of an oversized, air-conditioned van.
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believe our business will as well. We are in the process of adding new historical tours. We want to venture a bit out of the downtown area and talk about the development of Corpus Christi as a whole. We are adding Cemetery Tours for the fall months, and we will be offering Corpus Christi Celebrity Tours in the spring. We would like to collaborate with other venues in order to create some very special adventures. With the growth foreseen by our record-breaking new bridge, we envision adding additional vans and tour guides as well.
thebendmag.com
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When OPPORTUNITY STRIKES
MICHAEL CLOUD, THE DISTRICT’S NEWEST CONGRESSMAN, GETS CANDID By: Nicole Woolbright Photo by: Rachel Benavides
Life
is always a journey, and journeys are defined by stories. Michael Cloud’s journey led him to represent the Coastal Bend in the halls of Congress this summer, and there were plenty of stories along the way. A year ago, he was relatively unknown in Corpus Christi; now, he’s a congressman. Republican Representative Michael Cloud has balanced being a husband, father, and a self-employed business owner with his political life in this whirlwind of a year. The newly elected Congressman recalls joking at a campaign event. “Even my best friends are asking me, ‘How many times do I have to vote for you?’” His name has been on the ballet three different times, and he’s gearing up for the fourth and final election of the year.
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The campaign trail is hard for him and his family, but his love for his country – its rich foundations and unique place in history – pushes him to continue serving. Cloud considers his work to be a small sacrifice in comparison to what others have done. The oldest of three siblings, Cloud grew up in Virginia where his father built nuclear attack submarines. His family moved to Ohio where he attended high school and ran track and cross-country. After graduating from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Mass Media Communications, he moved to Victoria. Michael Cloud’s interest in government and history started early. “I didn’t know growing up [that] my love and passion for history would lead to a congressional run,” he says. Michael and his wife, Rosel, met when he was 17 and she was 15. Rosel, originally from Mexico, was on a missions tour that stopped at Michael’s church. “That began a seven year long-distance relationship,” he says. When Michael and Rosel were dating, they would pre-schedule international phone calls and pray the connection lasted. Frequently, it wouldn’t, forcing them to wait until next time. Despite the difficulties, they married seven years later and have priceless memories. Their journey has been filled with many milestones, including the day Rosel said the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time as a United States Citizen. Michael and Rosel are parents to three beautiful children, Ian, Zoe and Kent. Ian, the oldest, has a thirst for learning and a love of reading, science and history. Michael describes Zoe as a “take charge girl who keeps everyone on track,” a true Texas woman! Kent, their youngest, loves sports and music. Michael became a small business owner when he opened a media services business called Bright Idea Media. Through this, he was able to provide media services for education, law enforcement, non-profits, veterans, and others. Projects such as “Return to Honor,” a documentary about veterans, demonstrate how Michael’s values drive the company. As the company grew, Michael also continued being active in his home church and community. “I loved what I was doing, but I knew our nation was still in trouble, and I felt a pull to get involved in grass roots’ movements,” he says. This pull led him to become the Victoria County Republican Chair and later represent 21 Texas counties as a member of the State Republican Executive Committee. As the 2018 elections neared, he was approached with the idea of running for Congress. Through prayer and discussion with family and friends, Michael Cloud decided to run and continues to run through one of the busiest political seasons District 27 has seen in a while.
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On June 30, Michael Cloud was elected to represent District 27 in the special election and was sworn into office ten days later. “My family and I have been to DC on vacation to study the history of our nation’s founding. When we arrived this time and I saw the Capital Dome, I thought, ‘Wait, that’s where I work now!’” Michael remembers the day he was sworn in. “I was feeling one-hundred things at the same time. I was deeply honored and humbled by the trust people placed in me. I was excited for the opportunity to serve but also very sober to the task ahead and aware of the work that needs to be done.” Since July 10, Michael has been extraordinarily busy. “In Washington, you get up, you go vote, you work with staff to make sure people’s needs are being met, and put together a strategy to accomplish the district’s needs,” he says. When he comes home to District 27, he leaves the Capital’s repetitive structure behind. “One day, you’re on a boat touring the Port of Corpus Christi. The next day, you’re in a cotton gin; the next day, you’re working on education issues,” he explains. Meeting new people and learning their stories are Cloud’s favorite parts of the job. “I get to meet people from so many walks of life, and I’m able to help,” he says. The other day, he delivered medals to a district veteran who had never received the deserved accolades. Shortly after, he had dinner with a 97-year-old veteran who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. “You get to meet incredibly inspirational people in District 27,” he states. Michael attributes his success to this attitude, “Wake up every day and know it’s not about you. It’s about who you serve, and it’s about preserving our heritage for future generations.” Cloud does the best he can to make a positive impact with the tools and resources he has at his disposal. This is what led to the opportunity to serve in Congress and is the same attitude he hopes will continue opening opportunities for him to serve his country in any way he’s asked. While he will maintain his position in the House for the next month, he will have to be re-elected for a full term in November. However, he plans to use his time wisely and get work done while he can. Michael emphasizes the importance of the people in District 27. “I need to hear from the people, and I need to know what the people are thinking,” he says. “My office has an open-door policy for the people of District 27. We want to hear your thoughts so we can better serve you.”
Special Promotion
Save Your Natural Tooth!
I
Has your dentist told you that you need root canal treatment? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canal, or endodontic, treatment. Watch our videos at southtexasendo.com to learn more!
nside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and helps to grow the root of your tooth during development. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it. Contrary to jokes about the matter, modern endodontic treatment is very similar to having a routine filling and usually can be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances. You can expect a comfortable experience during and after your appointment. We also provide nitrous, oral and IV sedation for the anxious patient.
If you are given a choice between root canal treatment
or tooth extraction, always choose root canal treatment. Dentistry has yet to produce a denture, bridge or implant that looks, feels and functions as well as a natural tooth. Never choose extraction because you think it will be quicker! Endodontic treatments generally require one to two visits lasting less than an hour each. An extraction requires one visit, but the denture, bridge or implant will require several additional visits with your dentist. Never choose extraction because you think it will be cheaper! When a natural tooth is extracted, it must be replaced with an artificial tooth to prevent other teeth from shifting, and to prevent future dental problems. The cost of a denture, bridge or implant, plus the extraction, often is higher than the cost of an endodontic procedure that would save the tooth for years to come. Most dental insurance plans cover endodontic treatment.
Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages such as: • Efficient chewing • Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain • Natural appearance • Normal biting force and sensation so you can continue to eat your favorite foods • Limits the need for costlier, ongoing dental work
Call South Texas Endodontics: We want you to have the best experience possible in saving your natural teeth. Dr. Anthony, Dr. King (Board Certified) and Staff are here to answer your questions. If you have any questions about root canal procedures, you can visit our website at southtexasendo.com or call us at 361-992-7871. thebendmag.com
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Off the
Grid
The time to be one with nature is now By: Kirby Tello Photos by: Rachel Benavides
In today’s high-tech world, we could all use some screen-free time to relax a little. Fall is upon us, and as the South Texas weather goes from unbearably hot to tolerable (and even quite enjoyable), getting some quality time with the outdoors is vital. Our area offers a plethora of outdoor activities. Whether it’s fishing, kayaking, surfing, or even going for a swim, the Sparkling City by the Bay has access to it all. One of the lesser mentioned, yet equally as enjoyable, activities is camping. Right here in our backyard are a handful of campgrounds that offer nature-filled experiences and endless activities for all ages. Sure, a camping trip takes a fair amount of planning, especially when going with the entire family. However, the tradeoff is the opportunity to disconnect from the rest of the world, reconnect with your loved ones, and get some much-needed R&R. Here’s a look at three campgrounds that top the list:
Mustang Island
Campground
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lots of sea snails, and perhaps even a starfish or two. The spontaneity of the natural sea habitat is an interesting attraction, typically drawing a lot of attention from the little campers.
What to Expect Activities Mustang Island is an adventure-seeker’s dream. Activities include biking, hiking, surfing, fishing, paddling, swimming, and watching wildlife. When night falls, visitors can enjoy a glowing campfire on the beach.
Across a 1.5 mile stretch of beach lies the Mustang Island Campground. There are 300 campsites available along the ocean’s edge. While staking out by the water has the benefit of front row seats to the gorgeous Texas sunrises and sunsets, it also has more of a feeling of roughing it (e.g., no electrical hookups or water). But if you don’t want to let go of the modern creature comforts, there are 48 campsites that not only come with electrical hookups and water but a grill and a picnic table, too. Visitors love being able to drive on the beach and pitch their tents close to their vehicles. This makes storage of food, beverages, and gear very convenient. Parking along the shore is also a significant benefit for families with small children. As you walk along the beach, you may find some hermit crabs,
Even with all the tourism at Mustang Island, the campground is still fairly secluded. The Texas State Park Service keeps the beach garbage-free and well maintained. Every now and again, the beach patrol will ride by to survey the grounds, making sure everyone is safe and secure. Mustang Island Campgrounds is very kid-friendly, and while it’s generally not overcrowded, the visitors who are there are most likely families.
Things You Should Know No reservations are necessary to camp at Mustang Island. Be sure to bring your own shelter. Tents, vans, trailers, RVs, and motorhomes are all permitted. Mustang Island is also pet-friendly!
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Goose Island State Park What to Expect Goose Island State Park is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Coastal Bend. Located about 40 miles outside of downtown, the park covers an expansive 321.4 acres surrounded by both St. Charles and Aransas Bay. It’s known for “The Big Tree” which is a Southern live oak thought to be over 1,000 years old. The campground offers 57 shelters that have electricity and water and 27 with water but no electricity. The Group Recreation Hall, featuring a charming native plant garden, provides a warm welcome for visitors. A butterfly garden sits nearby and a large grilling area for cooking up a great family feast is also available. The facility has water, electricity, and holds up to 60 people at a time. In previous camping seasons, the Rec Hall was available for day usage or overnight booking.
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However, the park staff is still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s hurricane. “The Rec Hall is currently closed pending repairs due to damage from Hurricane Harvey,” explains Randy Rosales, Goose Island State Park Superintendent. “We hope repairs will be completed by spring.”
Activities Although the campgrounds are surrounded by water, swimming in the park isn’t recommended since the shoreline consists of mostly concrete, oyster shell, mudflat, and marsh grass. However, there are plenty of activities to get excited about at Goose Island. At the park, visitors can engage in hiking, boating, fishing, and observing the wildlife, especially birds. There are over 300 variations of birds to witness, including the endangered whooping crane, which can be found in the wetlands across the park. The
variety of fish is vast on Goose Island, too. Find everything from redfish, flounder, and drum to speckled trout and sheepshead. The unique endeavor Goose Island has to offer is geocaching. Geocaching (geo meaning “earth” and cache meaning “hidden item”) is the hunt for hidden treasures. Travelers and campers have left creative items camouflaged along hiking trails within the park for other campers to find. Geocaching is a fun teamwork activity for the whole family. For activities such as boating, hiking, and observing wildlife, come prepared with gear. The park does not rent gear on-site. Although if you plan on fishing, the park headquarters does provide equipment. “The park does participate in the Tackle Loaner Program,” says Rosales, “so visitors can check out fishing gear while at the park.”
Things You Should Know There is a fee of $50 daily plus a daily entrance fee of $5 for adults. Children under 12 are free. Reservations can be made online or over the phone. The park is open year-round. Busy season is Memorial Day through Labor Day, October through Thanksgiving, and January through April.
Padre Island National Seashore
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What to Expect Padre Island National Seashore is 70 miles of undeveloped beaches and natural habitat. Therefore, it is the most secluded and primitive camping experience you’ll find in the Coastal Bend. The nearest amenities to the park (e.g., gas station and food) are 12 miles away, and no firewood or fishing licenses are sold in the park. Visitors must come highly prepared when journeying to this park, but the experience is well worth it. Each of the five campgrounds located within Padre Island National Seashore have roadways that go through dunes that are sometimes filled with exceptionally deep and soft sand. While driving on the beach in permitted in most areas, visitors are warned that even 4-wheel-drive vehicles may become stuck in these conditions. Prior to arriving at the campgrounds, contact the visitor center to get updates on weather and driving conditions. The park allows campers to inhabit the grounds for up to 14 days at a time. If you plan on that long of a stay, be mindful that you really are off the grid. Cell service becomes spotty, and mailing letters home
isn’t easy either since there are no post offices or stamps for sale. However, if two weeks among nature is calling to you, perhaps a full disconnect from technology and the outside world is just what the doctor ordered.
Activities Windsurfing, kayaking, and canoeing top the list of activities to try in the Laguna Madre. Remember, you’ll also need to bring gear and equipment. Those who want to fish will find red drum and black tipped shark up for the catch. The National Seashore is fabulous for bird watching if you’re looking for the tranquility of observing wildlife. The park has a host of programs that cater to every type of visitor. First, there is a Deck Talk, which is an informal information session that discusses various aspects of the island’s natural and cultural history. Second, the park offers leisurely hour-long beach walks that showcase the uniqueness of Padre Island National Seashore. Then, for adults and kids alike, the Hidden Treasures program centers around collecting creatures along the surf’s edge and learning about their habitat.
Things You Should Know There are five beach campgrounds within Padre Island National Seashore, all of which are open year-round: Malaquite Campground, Bird Island Basin, North Beach, South Beach, and Yarborough Pass. Visitors must have a camping permit upon arrival and camping availability is first-come, first served. There are no RV hookups. The park is also pet-friendly!
Unpacked
EVERY EXPLORER SHOULD GIVE A ONCE-OVER TO THEIR PACKING CHECKLIST BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THESE ARE SOME ITEMS AND TIPS YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT WHEN PACKING, BUT WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND. APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR – Always research the terrain of your camping destination prior to packing shoes. Be smart and pack versatile shoes for roaming or hiking, and casual sandals for relaxing at the campsite. ESSENTIAL OILS – If you’re keen on natural solutions, pack a couple of essential oils. Lavender is one of the most versatile oils – use it as a sleep aid or for allergy relief. Peppermint oil can be used for headaches and itchy skin, while lemongrass (and lavender) oil work well as natural mosquito repellant. Make sure to always mix oils with a carrier oil when using it topically. TRUE CRIME NOVEL – You should never go camping without a good book. Nothing sets the perfect camping mood like reading a chapter or two from an eerie true crime novel. For the faint of heart, just bring along your Nicholas Sparks novel…no judgement. FLASK & CANTEEN – Hydration is key when camping in nature. Always keep a canteen filled with water, and a backup water supply for the duration of your stay. As a bonus, bring along a flask of your go-to libation. There’s nothing like a whiskey night cap in front of a picturesque campfire. SOURCES OF LIGHT– What may seem as a no-brainer to most, a commonly forgotten item in camping packs are flashlights and/or lighters. Lighters can be a life saver when you need to get a fire going and the natural materials around you just aren’t cooperating. While a flashlight provides you with the only light source for navigating campsites or the wilderness at night.
No matter which campground you plan to explore, remember to pack the essentials. Plenty of water, energy-rich and easily prepared foods, sun protection and bug repellent, and temperature appropriate clothing are just a few of the things you’ll need. For the kiddos, bringing toys and games is suggested, but you’ll be amazed at how effective a stick and some mud can be for entertainment.
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After all, there is nothing like a camping trip to spark the excitement of an adventure, unearth new conversations, and create wonderful life-long memories. So, go on, grab your friends and family and get outdoors. Adventure awaits.
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13/09/2018 11:11 AM
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Ready for a New Smile
In today’s world, more pictures are being taken than ever before. Up high, peace sign, at an angle, with a group of friends. Whatever picture you choose to take, your smile is often at the center of it
A person’s smile is critical for people’s perceptions. A warm, genuine smile communicates feelings that words alone cannot convey. A great, confident smile radiates warmth and allows people to feel at ease and makes a great first impression. A smile transmits confidence and professionalism even if you’re faking it! Not all poor smiles are the result of poor home care. More often, the natural way the teeth developed have led to chronic dental problems. Crowded teeth can create spaces difficult to clean and increase the wearing down of enamel leading to fractures or cavities. Some individuals are simply missing teeth or have retained baby teeth. However, naturally occurring factors combined with neglect can create devastating consequences. For example, periodontal disease can be accelerated with crowded teeth or impacted wisdom teeth. With advances in dentistry, a smile can be improved in as little as a single day. Restorative materials and methods can bring
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back life into an otherwise unhappy and unhealthy smile. When deciding what is best for your smile, it is important to have a conversation with your dentist to determine which solution is right for you. Although multiple options are quite often available, professional opinions regarding your health and cosmetics can range greatly based on your provider’s experience in either the complexity of the case or services discussed. Straightening your smile is quite often a priority among many patients. Crowded or spaced out teeth can create an esthetic concern and multiple options are out there to improve the overall look. Traditionally, conventional metal braces (white brackets are available) are known as the “gold-standard” for moving teeth (orthodontics). Conventional braces require 1-2 years to complete to best stabilize each tooth and their root, are used for the correction of bites and are generally required for more complex cases. Clear aligners (Invisalign, ClearCorrect) have continued develop over the years, relying on technology and 3D modelling to move teeth. The 3D treatment planning allows the provider and patient a glimpse of the final result before starting. Success is heavily reliant on patient compliance of wearing the aligners
properly (22+hours per day). Short-term braces (6-Month Smiles, Fastbraces) has become a popular solution for some patients. This method is best reserved for adults focused mainly on the front teeth (the smile zone). Using white brackets and wires, the goal of treatment is be finished in 6-9 months. Of course, with any orthodontic treatment, retainers are terribly important to prevent relapse! The initial step in cosmetic dentistry is in-office whitening. Depending on the need, oftentimes, that’s all someone may need to upgrade their smile. Usually within an hour or two, one-visit whitening is either the first step into cosmetic dentistry or the finishing touch after straightening. Cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers and crowns can drastically improve broken, discolored, or misshapen teeth. Newer materials can also greatly improve the look of older dental work as well. Newer solutions available include metal-free restorations that have high durability and esthetics. When multiple issues must be addressed together, full arch rehabilitation, involving new restorations on the upper or lower set of teeth, may be the answer. In just a few short visits, a full smile can be transformed.
Sometimes, dental problems are so severe, that even complex salvaging of the teeth is impractical or simply impossible. Severity of problems can get worse over time as teeth shift, disease progresses, bone resorbs, pressure accumulates, and teeth break. Dental implants may be utilized in a variety of ways to provide new support to a new smile or aide in function. Missing teeth may be replaced individually or in groups. When all the teeth in the arch may require removal or are already missing, a full arch fixed implant bridge option may be the best way to go. On just four implants, a full arch of teeth can be replaced! When discussing your options to improve your smile, it is important to ensure the overall health of the mouth. The underlying causes must be addressed to continue with the cosmetic phase of treatment. Start the conversation and be sure to express your concerns and goals of any cosmetic treatment options with your dentist. A comprehensive provider with knowledge and experience in multiple facets of dentistry is a great way to start.
Dr. Vela has been practicing in Corpus Christi since 2006. As the owner of Vela Dental Centers, he has grown the practice to three dental centers by focuing on the patients’ needs, establishing great relationships, and providing consistently excellent results. He is skilled in providing all levels of dentisty to his patients and focuses on full mouth rehabilitation, oral surgery, short-term orthodontics, dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.
NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS, CALL VELA DENTAL CENTERS TODAY AT 361-994-4900 OR VISIT US AT WWW.VELADENTAL.COM thebendmag.com
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UNLIKE A N Y OT H E R SHOULD HAPPEN
A DAY
AT A P L AC E U N L I K E A N Y OT HER.
Bring your dream wedding to life with Omni. From sunset ceremonies with views of the bay to ballroom parties featuring delectable cuisine, the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel is committed to giving you a day nothing short of spectacular. Leave the details to us while you relax and enjoy the perfect destination for your perfect day.
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HEALTH BE WELL 56 MEDICAL MATTERS 58 MEET THE DOCTOR
60
What’s Inside With a goal of getting more people downtown, The Gold Fish started a running club where members of the community can gather, get their cardio in, and finish the evening off with good drinks and even better company.
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HEALTH / BE WELL
RUNNING More than Just a TAB Local watering hole, The Gold Fish, is creating new, healthier ways for the community to get downtown with a runner’s cocktail hour By: Kylie Kinnett Photo by: Rachel Benavides
P
icture this: a striking view of downtown, a cool refreshing cocktail, and a three-mile run with your community neighbors. That is exactly what’s in store for those who have joined The Gold Fish’s
Running Club. As more people begin to move downtown and adopt it as their own neighborhood, the ability to partake in healthier activities is really what has motivated the running club to exist in the first place. “We just wanted to do something healthier,” Jessica Gignac, Co-Owner of The Gold Fish, says with a laugh. As she is saying it out loud she realizes how funny it sounds – pairing alcohol and running. However, those two elements seem to actually pair quite nicely. Bars around the country have tagged along on this new trend of running clubs emerging from their saloons. Another leading factor in the origin of the running club was The Gold Fish’s mission to bring more people downtown. While one of the main reasons residents head downtown is to drink, she wanted to figure out a way to incorporate other
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By: Kylie Kinnett Photos by: Rachel Benavides
activities the community can partake in when going out. “We would really like our place here to be an active part of the downtown community,” Gignac says.
Moving flame battery operated candles.
“And, starting a club like this allows us to do that and bring a real communal feel to it and then maybe even bring people downtown that wouldn’t necessarily come down here.” When joining the club, (and by joining, that means adding yourself to the Facebook group and showing up to the bar) you can expect a fun-filled evening. Every Tuesday night, club members meet at The Gold Fish, and the run begins at 6 PM sharp. The route mapped out is three-miles and takes runners all the way down to the Art Museum of South Texas, through Uptown, and then back through the Mariana Arts District where they finish back at the bar. Not the all-star runner type? No worries. They have paces for any and all runners who are looking to be a part of the club! “Sometimes if we are feeling lazy we will do a two-and-a-half mile run,” Gignac says jokingly. The group is a non-competitive running club – everyone comes and has a good time without the pressure of racing one another or making a certain time on your mile. Once the hard part is over, the fun begins! Because after all, who doesn’t love an ice-cold beer after a good run? The group gathers back at the bar and enjoys drinks with one another. While it’s a way for friends to catch up and enjoy each other’s company, it is better than just meeting at the bar to get drinks, because of all the calories you just burned! Gignac humors the fact that every now and then, if you get there a little early, a drink or two might end up being consumed before the run commences. As for the future of the club, Gignac hopes to really just build a stronger group. “I have been in running clubs all my life and you know, you run together for a couple years and you really start to know each other and form this community,” she says. “I think that is just a really cool thing and I hope to bring that to this club.”
3744 S. Alameda St. Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Phone: 361-225-3744 Facebook: Gatherings/giftbox Instagram: gatherings_giftbox thebendmag.com
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HEALTH / MEDICAL MATTERS
Putting Your Best Foot Forward A local orthopedic surgeon helps patients take a step in the right direction
By: Jacqueline Gonzalez Photo by: Jarred Schuetze
O
rthopedic surgery treats conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Dawn Grosser, a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon at South Texas Bone and Joint, brings her foot care expertise to the Coastal Bend. Grosser says, “The foot and ankle area is the foundation of everything. If you protect and support your feet, your knee, hip, and back pain can get better.” Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Grosser earned her Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Med at Baylor University. She graduated from Yale Medical School in 2000, and then finished her orthopedic residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. She completed her fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in 2006. After a few interviews in Dallas and Houston, the feel of Corpus Christi, along with the people, ultimately stole her heart. Her greatest achievement is breaking through the barrier of a male dominated field. Roughly eight years ago, the population of female orthopedic surgeons was a meager 8%, but her love for this field enabled her to push past the obstacles and achieve success. In addition to being a goal-oriented woman, Dr. Grosser is the only Board Certified Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon in the Coastal Bend. Some of the more common conditions treated by Dr. Grosser include hammer toes, bunions, nerve injuries, Achilles tendon, arthritis, and trauma to the foot or ankle. Industrial workers are especially prone to injury. “Many of them are in the oil industry, and they’re on concrete for 12-15 hours without good shoes or inserts. They tend to wait until the shoes wear out, which creates a whole other problem,” says Dr. Grosser.
58 The Bend
According to Grosser, obesity is at an all-time high in the Coastal Bend, and the effects of obesity are accentuated in the feet. Nutrition and weight loss are an important part of decreasing foot and ankle pain. The extra weight causes increased stress on the joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments, causing them to wear out more quickly. As Dr. Grosser’s practice expands, she hopes to approach the issue of obesity in a more holistic manner. “You can’t get a knee replacement if you are over a certain BMI,” she explains. Her hope is to focus on helping patients understand and address the root of their problems. When she’s not busy with her medical practice, she’s busy being a mom. She loves spending her free time with her children, ages 8 and 5. One of their favorite things about Corpus Christi is the water! Whether she is spending quality time with her kids or working hard to improve her patients’ health, Dr. Grosser loves connecting with people. “People trust us with their lives. Some things you can’t fix, but once they feel they are understood, it changes the approach.” She makes an effort to get to know each of her patients and help them understand how to improve their health. The bonds created with each patient motivate her on a daily basis. Contact: South Texas Bone & Joint southtexasboneandjoint.com (361) 854-0811
INTERIORS WITH YOU IN MIND
361.851.8052
CASTORCOLLECTION.COM
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HEALTH / MEET THE DOCTOR
gram, you are actually becoming a part of a screening program. You can trust that you have experts looking at the films,” says Dr. Michell. Patient and community education are important to the team. The Breasting Imaging team follows the American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging guidelines and recommends annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40. “We feel very strongly that you should start your screening at age 40 and get it done once a year. We feel that is your best chance to catch it when it’s small,” says Dr. Michell.
The Breast Imaging Team at Radiology Associates: (Left to Right) Dr. Michael Michell, Dr. Mailan Cao, Dr. Kenneth Cook, Dr. Robert Yang (Not Pictured)
More than a Mammogram Determined to save lives, the Breast Imaging Team at Radiology Associates aims to catch breast cancer as early as possible By: Jordan Regas Photo: Jarred Schuetze
D
r. Michael Michell sits inside the reading room where he and the rest of the Breast Imaging Team at Radiology Associates spend most of their time analyzing mammograms and ultrasounds. The team is made up of a specialized group of four doctors who share a love for breast imaging and solely focus on it. “We formed it because we take breast imaging very seriously and feel it’s important and best done by people who have a real passion for it, are trained at it, and see a lot of it,” says Dr. Michell. The Breast Imaging team is composed of highly experienced and fellowship trained doctors. Members include Dr. Michael Michell, Dr. Mailan Cao, Dr. Kenneth Cook, and Dr. Robert Yang. All of them spend the majority, if not all of their time, on breast imaging, with the goal to find as much cancer as possible, as early as possible. The team conducts close to 40,000 screening mammograms a year, along with ultrasounds, breast MRIs, and biopsies. However, it’s not just a simple, standard mammogram according to Dr. Michell. There is a whole system and team of people in place, including technologists, physicians, and office staff that help patients through the entire process. “When you come for a screening mammo60 The Bend
According to Dr. Michell, there are multiple warning signs women should be aware of. “The most obvious is the breast lump. They should take a lump seriously and tell their doctor about it. Bloody nipple discharge, changes on the skin, skin dimpling or if something looks different on the skin are some of the main signs.” There are other things to be aware of as well, such as family history of breast cancer. “It is important to be aware of those things to know if you are at an elevated risk and need to start screening earlier or if you could benefit from a breast MRI or additional screening tests,” says Dr. Michell. The team meets frequently and conducts quarterly quality meetings, where they look at numbers, talk about cases, and see what they can do better. They support and help each other to achieve their goal of finding cancer as early and as small as possible. “We see these patients at a bad time for them, when we have to tell the patient they have breast cancer, but then it is very rewarding when we see them two, three, or four years down the road and they are back to living a good life and made it through all those things. Then we know we have done our job. We identified the cancer when it was early enough to be treated for them to have a good outcome and for them to get back to a good life,” says Dr. Michell.
Contact: Radiology Associates 361-887-7000 xraydocs.com
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6019 S. Staples St. Corpus Christi, TX 78413 BUS: 361.854.4638 drew@agentdrewb.com
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AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS WITH GREAT CIGARS, FOOD, DRINKS, AND MUSIC!
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100 N. SHORELINE BLVD
Featured Guest, Kelly Cathey from Camacho Cigars will be on hand to discuss cigars and the industry. Plus, a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefitting West Side Helping Hand. Tickets include entry, three premium cigars from Tobacco World, food, and music. Tickets available at Tobacco World on Saratoga while they last. Cash bar on site.
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| CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 361.882.8885
415 N. WATER ST.
Come see how we roll... We invite you to come dine at the Coastal Bend’s premiere sushi spot, where tradition meets modern cuisine. A simple intimate atmosphere where the quality of food is equally matched by service. Our extensive menu will be sure to please and broaden the pallet. 62 The Bend
HOME & GARDEN OPEN HOUSE 64 GARDENING 72 SPACES 74
What’s Inside The Riojas family made Corpus Christi their home just four years ago after moving from Louisiana. After settling into their Kings Crossing abode, they filled it with French flair, farmhouse details, and a whole lot of love.
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HOME & GARDEN / OPEN HOUSE
64 The Bend
A Rethinking a Casual
Farmhouse Flair A combination of casual, chic, and comfort make the Riojas home warm and inviting By: Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos by: Brandi Grahl
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HOME & GARDEN / OPEN HOUSE
66 The Bend
F
our years ago, Nikki Riojas moved to the Coastal Bend from Louisiana, bringing a little je ne sais quoi along with her. She found and fell in love with a gorgeous home in the King’s Crossing subdivision.
The house was built in 2000, and although she liked the layout of the home, renovations were necessary to update the ambience. Dark colors draped the walls, giving a somber, closed-in feeling. By using shades of off-white and taupe, Nikki created a more welcoming and open area. This home’s potential was not lost on Nikki. She used her creative talents to maximize the available space and create a more open floor plan that would comfortably suit her family. An artist herself, Nikki loves to support local creators. One of her favorites, a piece by Leah Kassner, adorns her living area. thebendmag.com
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Nikki’s feminine personality and artistic nature is reflected through each element in her home, from the soft tones of the furniture and walls to the pink, fur, and wood elements that add a simple stylish flair. She owns and manages Thirteen & Market, a home décor and lifestyle boutique, which carries curated collections of décor and gifts that pay homage to global artists. The focal point of the home is the kitchen area, which embodies casual coastal vibes with a touch of farmhouse flair. Although Nikki made various changes in the kitchen, she could not bear to part with the chef ’s kitchen that featured a brick oven. The previous owner built this kitchen to replicate her birthplace. Nikki felt erasing the nostalgia would be a disservice. Instead, she decided to spruce up the area with white Shaker cabinets, creating a timeless feel combined with elements of the farmhouse style. She decorated the area with a rectangular, cream-colored sign bearing the word “farmhouse” in black lettering. Strategically placed white enameled canisters, also labeled with black lettering, add to the atmosphere. The repurposed kitchen island doubles as a guest seating area. Granite countertops and a farmhouse sink add a French country vibe. Suspended over the kitchen island, a bold, eye-catching pendant light strip with clear jar style shades complements the farmhouse look. Although the 68 The Bend
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HOME & GARDEN / OPEN HOUSE
kitchen doesn’t have a lot of windows, a hooded strip under the cabi-
Nikki’s decorating expertise sets the senses aflame in her daughter’s
nets provides appropriate lighting for the time of day or mood.
room. Formerly an office space for the master bedroom, the space is now a cozy, easily accessible nursery. Soft neutrals with pops of pink
A home is not a home without a multi-functional space. The kitchen,
accent a regal black sleigh crib. A trendy floral mobile, also from
den, and dining areas were once blocked off from each other. However,
Thirteen & Market, features handmade paper flowers clustered into
with a few rearrangements and renovations, Nikki turned the three
a crown. As an added special touch, Nikki created flowers from the
rooms into one large kid-friendly gathering space.
pages of Little Women and artfully hung them from the mobile.
The den, which doubles as a family room, is now spacious, comfort-
Originally, the home included three bedrooms and a sewing room
able, and filled with Nikki’s chic décor style. Inspirational signs from
with a small closet. Instead of keeping a closed off area that the family
Milestones add the perfect finishing touch to the shiplap wall. Two
would seldom use, she transformed the sewing room into a fourth
metal frame shelves from Thirteen & Market provide an attractive
bedroom.
place for displaying favorite decorative pieces. In the dining area, a simple wooden table graced by a floral garland in shades of pink,
The combination of Nikki’s artistic talents, decorating prowess, and
green, and ivory lends a feminine flair.
love of family makes the Riojas house a casual yet comfortable home.
70 The Bend
For more information on our Mommy Makeover, call or visit our website
Thanks for Voting Us Best Med Spa!
The Corpus Christi Institute of Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery would like to welcome our newest associate Dr. Cassidy Hinojosa. Dr. Cassidy comes to us from the prestigious University of Missouri Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Program. She has recently finished training and is currently Board Eligible. Dr. Vijay Bindingnavele is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has been practicing in Corpus Christi for the last decade. Dr. Vijay trained at the prestigious University of Southern California and is an Air Force Veteran. He enjoys every aspect of Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery. Please visit our website for more information on Dr. Vijay, his staff and the procedures we offer.
Dr. Cassidy Wright Hinojosa grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended Texas A&M University for both her undergraduate and medical degrees. She completed training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she trained with some of the leaders within the field of Plastic surgery. Dr. Cassidy is a board eligible Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.
5642 ESPLANADE DR., CORPUS CHRISTI, TX • (361) 888-7417 • CORPUSPLASTICSURGERY.COM •
CORPUSPLASTICSURGERY
HOME & GARDEN / GARDENING
The Unsung Hero of the Garden Radishes are the winter gardener’s best friend By: Justin Butts Photos by: Rachel Benavides
R
adishes would probably not win the prize for favorite garden vegetable. But, the humble radish, with its flavor, nutrition, ease of cultivation, and pest-repelling properties, is truly the unsung hero of the garden.
Every part of a radish plant is edible and nutritious. Pickle the roots or roast them with carrots and parsnips. Sauté the greens or turn them into radish leaf pesto (it’s better than basil pesto!). The flowers are a particular delicacy. Sprinkle the spicy flowers over salads and meat dishes. THE TASTIEST VARIETIES There are two types of radishes: the long-rooted and the round. The original ancient Chinese radish was long-rooted and white, like a fat carrot. The English bred this white radish into a deep red, called the Long Scarlet. The Italians shortened this radish until it was small and round, the Cherry Bell. There are now hundreds of radish varieties around the world. The most delicious of all are the French Breakfast, Zlata, and Chinese Red Meat. You can eat these radishes raw, like fruit. Also try the Japanese Daikon and Munchener Bier for hearty portions with a mild, tasty flavor.
72 The Bend
PLANTING RADISHES Plant radishes in well-tilled, well-drained soil any time between October and February. Use your finger or the wooden end of a garden rake to draw lines across the width of the bed two inches apart and 1/8th inch deep. Sprinkle radish seeds generously down each line then rake them into the soil. Thin the radishes to a final spacing of two inches (and eat the thinnings, they are delicious!). Radishes mature in only 18 to 30 days—the farmer’s version of fast food! Harvest as soon as the root is ready. POWERFUL NATURAL PEST CONTROL The scent of a radish repels and confuses pest insects. To protect your more delicate winter veggies (lettuce, broccoli, bok choy) from bugs, companion plant radishes liberally throughout the garden. You can also plant a thick line of radishes across the width of your garden beds every few feet down the rows. The radishes will form walls, or barriers, to trap insects into confined areas, where they are easier to eliminate. GORGEOUS WINTER FLOWERS If you leave your radishes in the ground, they will soon produce a brilliant display of pink, purple, and white flowers. You can count on radishes to flower in the coldest weather, even when they are covered with frost. These flowers serve as a beacon to draw bees and other helpers into the garden, especially when they are the only flowers blooming in the bleak winter landscape. Radishes are an essential vegetable for your winter garden. Plant new radish seeds every three weeks and you will have a continual harvest of this hero vegetable all the way into spring.
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HOME & GARDEN / SPACES
FALL FINDS
When a day at the beach becomes a day at the ranch, it must be fall in South Texas By: Jo Anne Howell Photos by: Rachel Benavides
E
veryone loves a weekend escape, and it seems the fall favorite is the family ranch. Whether the style of your ranch is fancy or simply just a place to catch some sleep in between outdoor activities, you can add a touch of fall décor to make everyone comfortable and cozy. You can easily bring that comfortable hacienda or bungalow ambiance to your own home this autumn. Find a few of our favorite décor details here: MARK YOUR SPOT WITH AN EARTHY RUG. This deep hued rug from Wildflowers makes a bold statement.
PILE ON THE PILLOWS. Nothing says comfort like textured pillows. This golden velvet pillow and Turkish motif pillow are both from Chic to Chic. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN. A grouping of wildflower pictures will go get with any rustic decor. This floral grouping is from Chic to Chic.
74 The Bend
COZY ON UP. Make yourself comfortable on the couch with this fall colored throw. Wrap yourself in warmth in the blind or inside after an early morning. This wonderful throw is from 13 and Market. READ ALL ABOUT IT! Coffee table books are all the rage and should grace the likes of your coffee table even at the ranch! From novelty books to educational ranch literature, books can add a depth to your knowledge and décor. This Book is from Hanley Wood. ACCENTS ARE ESSENTIAL. Fall accents like these wooden pumpkins, acorns, and hand carved bowls are right on target and add that final touch to any space. STAY THIRSTY. Copper shakers and mugs should be what you’re handing your guests on a cold fall night. Warm them up with a toast to South Texas with this bar set from Hanley Wood.
FAMILY DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY LASER DENTISTRY
240 Reliant Dr., Portland, TX 78374 duncandentalstudio.com 361.643.3030
AIR IT OUT. Candles and room sprays can fill the air with a warm aroma and scent. The scent of tobacco always makes for a good candle. It allows for a manlier scent. These are from Wildflowers and are our designers’ favorite. ALL TANGLED UP. A bowl of antlers goes a long way and is a chic way to be on trend. Trends don’t stop in the city, so stay up to date. Gather pieces like this and simply throw them in a bowl. They will speak for themselves. ACCENTS ARE ESSENTIAL. Fall accents like these wooden pumpkins, acorns, and hand carved bowls are right on target and add that final touch to any space. AIRY GREENS. Air plants in wooden bowls sit patiently and need very little attention – the perfect house guest.
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2018
RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE SOUL
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF AGING EYELIDS
BEFORE & AFTER
I
f the eyes are the windows to your soul, then the eyelids are the harbinger of aging. People often look directly into one’s eyes to evaluate their emotional state and the eyelids frame the window. It is not surprising that a patient’s eyes are often the first part of the face to reveal signs of aging. Excessive upper eyelid skin causing redundant folds and lower eyelid fat pockets and dark circles are common initial signs of an aging face. When the signs of aging start to present, most people try to hold back time and aging with various noninvasive skin treatments such as Botox, fillers, and skin care products. While these treatments can help improve the appearance of the eye, they still do not treat the underlying cause. Several external factors can also affect the eyelids and the appearance of the eyes. Sun exposure, stress, sleep deprivation, smoking, and alcohol consumption and all have negative effects on the surrounding 78 The Bend
* REAL PATIENTS
structures of the eye. These factors can accelerate the appearance of aging eyelids where conservative treatments can’t adequately improve the eye’s appearance. In addition, aging eyelids can cause visual field narrowing as well as other functional problems. Surgical correction of eyelid defects and deformities, caused by age and other external factors can be performed to restore the youthful appearance to eyes and dramatically improve one’s outlook on the future. Surgical correction or blepharoplasty resolves both cosmetic and functional problems and is one of the most common procedures performed in plastic surgery. Blepharoplasty improves a patient’s eyelid function and self-esteem, as one patient described it, “reconstruction for the soul”. Don’t let the curtain of aging keep you from seeing and enjoying your future. Call 361-651-1200 for more details.
Keith Rose, MD ROSE COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER
5025 DEEPWOOD CIR. STE B CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 361.651.1200 rosecosmeticsurgery.com
Dr. Rose has contributed to a higher standard of living for patients living without the medical care they so desperately need. His passion is to extend necessary surgical care to people in the most remote areas of the world. Dr. Rose has directed a team of plastic surgeons to provide care for patients in:
Mexico
|
Honduras
|
Guatemala
|
Peru
|
Dominican Republic
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Ethiopia
Medicine as a Mission of Peace In addition to his work in Central and South America, Dr. Rose has treated people in war-torn countries as a gesture of goodwill to build peaceful relations in:
Afghanistan
|
Pakistan
|
Iraq
More than surgical care, this work allows Dr. Rose to interact with people and provide life-altering surgeries that enable them to lead normal lives without limitations.
Tatianna’s Story Tatianna is an 8-year-old little girl who was born with a horrible birth defect. Although she is from a remote village in South America, like any other little girl, she wants to feel pretty and be like the rest of the kids. Every child has the same need to fit in and have friends to play with at home and school. Her mother described Tatianna’s life as being sadly reclusive, refusing to attend school because she felt too embarrassed and rarely leaving the house. Spending an excruciating amount of time shut indoors, she listened to the radio, which is how her life began to take a dramatic turn. When she heard the announcement on the radio that Team 5 Foundation was coming to the Hospital Amazonia in Pucallpa and would operate on children from the jungle she told her mother that something inside of her told her that she should go to the hospital. The whisper from within compelled Tatianna to go to extraordinary lengths to begin her brave journey. They caught a boat, and traveled three and a half hours through the jungle, down the river, to the hospital, not knowing what to expect. Tatianna arrived at the hospital on Saturday, the same day that the team arrived. All of the patients had been preselected through
months of intensive planning, and although she seemed to have shown up too late, she was right on time. The hospital director pulled me aside and asked me to talk with her mom. Her mother told me that her daughter had “come alive” when she heard the radio. I examined the little girl, and I spoke to her. Perhaps it was her tenacity and determination to find us, or maybe the same voice that she had heard was also speaking to me, but she completely stole my heart. We planned the surgery. Tatianna had a severe transverse cleft with a horribly disfigured ear that was split in two. I explained to her that I would do the surgery, but she would have to go to school. We sealed the deal with a child’s handshake better known to all eight-year-olds as a “pinky promise,” and I operated on her the next day. The surgery went well, and I checked on her every evening. Tonight she was “doing school work,” to get ready to return to her school. Tatianna has been a tremendous inspiration to m and the entire team. Love, hope, and joy show up in many ways, and on that day in August, it came to me in the form of an 8-year-
old little girl with big brown eyes. Her mom reported to me that Tatianna is attending school, as promised, and that she wants to work with children who are born different. I believe that she will share her gifts of hope and courage with little ones who will one day walk the path that she has. I will return in 6 months to check on her. Please pray for Tatianna and her mother. We also wish to extend many thanks to the Peruvian Navy who graciously provided the anesthesia and nurses, as well as river travel and security. Thank you to all of the dedicated people who helped make this incredible journey possible, and bringing a smile back to this sweet girl’s face.
ROSECOSMETICSURGERY.COM/GLOBAL- OUTREACH thebendmag.com
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2018 A
CORPUS CHRISTI PAIN MEDICINE
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS (LSS)
s we age, the spine changes, often leading to degeneration of the bones, disc, muscles and ligaments. These together make up the spinal column. These changes may lead to a condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Stenosis comes from the Greek word meaning “choking� which results from a combination of arthritis or enlarging of the lumbar facet joints, bulging or herniating discs and/or thickening of the ligaments that cause narrowing around the spinal column which chokes the nerves and leads to leg pain and/or low back pain (LBP). The choking can vary from mild to severe. Spondylolisthesis which is slippage of one vertebral body over another can lead to LBP and/or leg pain as well. Symptoms include Leg pain (Sciatica) or leg pain with walking (Pseudo claudication), numbness, burning or tingling in the legs or weakness in the legs with or without LBP
Approximately 400,000 people suffer from leg pain and/or LBP from Lumbar spinal stenosis. Patient with LSS are typically comfortable sitting or lying down but develop LBP and leg pain with standing or walking. Diagnosis is made by a combination of symptoms, physical exam findings and MRI or CT imaging. Treatment Consists of (Conservative) Medications, Physical Therapy, and Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections and (Non-conservative) Surgery options.
Physical Therapy: Structured out-
patient PT, exercise bike, walking in flexion with a cane or walker using a shopping cart forward flexion.
Medications: Such as Advil or Aleve for inflammation or in cases where the pain is severe a short course of pain medications is sometimes necessary. 80 The Bend
Injections: Lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESI) are outpatient X-ray guided injections done with light IV sedation with minimal to no pain in order to place steroids directly around the affected nerve roots in the stenotic canal to decrease inflammation and offer pain relief. Surgery: Lumbar laminectomy is the most common surgery for LSS and carries a high success rate. The posterior part of the bony spinal canal is removed in order to make more room around the stenotic spinal canal and free up the pinched nerves. Surgery is not the first line treatment even in cases of severe spinal stenosis if the patient shows no symptoms. Treatment options are tailored to each individual based on their symptoms and their needs as we treat patients and not MRI findings,
meaning some patients with severe stenosis have no pain and some patients with mild stenosis have severe pain.
Gabriel Lopez, MD CORPUS CHRISTI PAIN MEDICINE 3825 S. PADRE ISLAND DR. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 361.225.0089 ccpainmed.com
PA
DON’T PUT OFF DEALING WITH PAIN
3825 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, Tx 78415 (Located between Kostoryz & Weber) 361.225.0089 | www.ccpainmed.com
Gabriel Lopez, M.D. Board Certified in Pain Medicine Fellowship Trained in Pain Medicine thebendmag.com
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2018 DEBUNKING MYTHS ON THE EFFECTS OF
CHILDBIRTH & AGING ON WOMEN’S HEALTH decreased sensation due to vaginal laxity after childbirth, declining libido, trouble reaching orgasm, and pain during intercourse. Today there are comfortable, in-office treatments that can turn back the clock on the aging vagina. ThermiVa is a non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatment performed by a female nurse and supervised by Dr. Eubank. Women report that this non-hormonal treatment is giving them tighter vaginas, increased sensation, perked up labia, being wet when they want to be and dry when they don’t. Read real patient reviews at www.realself. com/thermiva
Myth 3: Vitality decreases as women reach menopause.
D
r. Dale Eubank, a Board Certified Gynecologist with over 30 years of experience, debunks some myths surrounding female health throughout the lifespan. There are many unspoken assumptions women have regarding the effects of childbirth and aging on their physical and emotional health. Some of these assumptions include the inevitability of weight gain, decreased sexual health and desire, bladder issues, decreased vitality, mental focus, emotional wellbeing and energy levels. Many women approaching menopause tend to rule out any chance of enjoying the life they once knew; however, this is a myth. Women do not have to accept these things as they age according to Dr. Eubank who practiced as an OBGYN for years before fully committing to help women throughout their lifespan maintain their self-image, confidence, sexual, physical and emotional health. According to Dr. Eubank, it starts with women feeling comfortable to have the conversation with their health care providers about any of these issues they may be experiencing. There are many safe and effective non-surgical options available today. “We help women feel comfortable about discussing issues they previously thought were an inevitable part of aging and realize there are new, innovative, non-surgical options for feeling good and increasing vitality at every stage of life,” said Dr. Eubank.
Dr. Eubank shares three myths surrounding aging for women. Myth 1: Weight gain is inevitable after 40. Weight gain does not have to be an inevitable part of aging. Maintaining optimal weight may become more challenging as we age due to changes in hormone levels and decreases in muscle mass but by implementing some lifestyle changes and creating new habits, people at any stage of life can lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. Over the past four years, Dr. Eubank’s team of Registered Nurse/Weight Loss counselors have helped almost 1000 men and women safely lose over 20,000 pounds. The medically supervised, industry-leading Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program produces sustainable weight loss by focusing on supporting patients via a very structured program as they create new habits and long term lifestyle changes involving real food – Not prepacked meals or shakes.
Myth 2: Decreased Sexual enjoyment and bladder issues are inevitable after childbirth and as women approach menopause: Many women suffer in silence after their child bearing years with bladder issues (frequency, urge and stress incontinence), vaginal atrophy/dryness,
Declining hormone levels can cause negative effects on a woman’s physical, emotional, cognitive and sexual health which in turn can affect every aspect of a woman’s life and intimate relationships. Bio-Identical Pellet Hormonal Replacement Therapy (estrogen and testosterone) can help restore overall health, vitality and well-being by replicating a more natural release of hormones into the blood stream versus the peak and valley effects of pills or topical synthetic hormones. Dr. Eubank said, “I am thrilled to hear my patients report feeling like their “old” selves again …or I should say their “young” selves again. It’s great to have a patient tell me “I got my “Mojo” back. It’s time for Women to realize that they don’t have to accept declining physical, emotional and sexual health as an inevitable part of aging! If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Dr. Eubank hopes that you don’t continue to suffer in silence. It’s time to start the conversation and seek new and available treatments so you too can say, “I got my “Mojo” back!”
C. Dale Eubank, MD ADVANCED WELLNESS & REJUVENATION 5920 SARATOGA BLVD. STE. 110B CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 361.906.1112 advancedwellnessandrejuvenation.com
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THIS IS THE CHAIR MY MOM SAT IN. TODAY THE CHAIR IS EMPTY BECAUSE OF BREAST CANCER.
1 IN 8 WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED
WITH BREAST CANCER IN THEIR LIFETIME. EARLY DETECTION IS THE KEY TO SURVIVAL.
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PROMOTION
Bart Braselton
The Great Outdoors
F
inally, it’s fall…. at least the South Texas version of it! We have all survived the dog days of summer and can now look forward to the cooler months ahead. It’s time to get outside and enjoy all the “Great Outdoors” the Corpus Christi area has to offer. One of the major benefits of living in a Braselton home in a Braselton neighborhood is that access to the Great Outdoors is an important part of everything we build. From your home’s outdoor patio to your neighborhood’s common areas and open spaces, our plans and designs help you enjoy nature and expand your living space. Whether its walking, hiking, or biking the neighborhood’s sidewalks and trails; taking the kids to a nearby community park and playground; or enjoying views of local natural areas and lakes, we strive to add value to your living experience. For instance, at our Park View at the Preserve and Oso View neighborhoods, you have direct access to the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve, a 162-acre Nature Preserve on the Oso Bay. Located right in the middle of the Southside, the preserve has a network of hiking and biking trails connected to the neighborhoods. It also features a Learning Center with a pond and sensory garden, a Trading Post, and a huge Playscape playground. The nature center hosts many activities, including weekday bird watching, summer camp programming for the kids, and Saturday bike tours. All this natural fun is literally in your backyard… if you live in the Braselton Preserve neighborhoods. Our Rancho Vista neighborhood, Corpus Christ’s only master planned New Home community, features a 1 ½ acre Central park, with a large kids playground, sandwiched between our two community lakes. With a beautiful front entry, Rancho Vista’s landscaped boulevards feed into its walking path and park trail system. That system winds throughout the neighborhood, eventually connecting to large city parks near Oso Creek and Bill Witt Park. Rancho Vista provides beautiful
vistas and a great way to enjoy Mother Nature. As you can see, In Braselton Communities, we’ve placed a great deal of emphasis on beautiful shared outdoor spaces for a number of reasons. First and foremost, in order to turn a neighborhood into a community, neighbors should spend time interacting with each other. Our parks, playgrounds, hiking and biking trails, and nature walks give our homeowners the space to do just that. Whether it’s taking the kids for a bike ride or the dog for a walk, being out in your community makes it easy to love where you live. Shared outdoor space is also great for our homeowners, allowing them to enjoy the parks and landscaped outdoor spaces without the challenge of maintaining them. This makes it much easier to enjoy our outdoors. Creative planning has led to beautifully effective design both in the home and in the surrounding neighborhood. My family has spent decades touring some of the finest communities in the country in order to find the key aspects of master planned communities that would work best for our hometown. Access to beautiful parks, trails, play areas, and water features are integral parts of that special outdoor landscape and helps turn a subdivision into a community To see what I mean, come tour one of our seven Braselton communities and visit our fully furnished model homes. There are Braselton communities in all price ranges across Corpus Christi and Portland. For more information and directions to our Braselton communities and model homes, please visit us at Braseltonhomes.com. It’s a great time of the year to get outside, so I hope to…
Bart Braselton is the Executive Vice President of Braselton Homes, the Coastal Bend’s oldest and largest Homebuilder and Neighborhood Developer. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Bart is the third generation of The Braselton family building in the Bay Area. Returning to Corpus Christi after earning a BBA in Finance, as well as a second degree in Real Estate, from the University of Texas, at Austin, Braselton began working in the family business as a construction superintendent. Since then, Braselton Homes has won numerous local, state, and national awards, including the Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award, as well as the Environments for Living Diamond Award for Energy Efficiency. And, the company has grown into one of the Nation’ s Largest Homebuilders, earning consistent rankings in the annual lists compiled by both Professional Builder, as well as Builder Magazine. Bart, a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class 18, has served on numerous local community and business boards, including the Coastal Bend Green Built Initiative, Bay Area Smart Growth, and the Police Foundation. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Development Corporation, the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, the Builders Association and the Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corporation. Braselton and his wife, Michelle have 2 young children at home, and are active, with Braselton Homes, in community and church organizations throughout the city, including the American Heart Association, the ECF Community Center, and the Food Bank.
See you in the Neighborhood, Bart Braselton
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Blocks from Ocean Drive | 3850 S Alameda | Corpus Christi, TX
we are proud to be home for the best of south texas winners of the 2018 “the local’s list” from THE BEND magazine
the best cocktail | T H E P O S T the best new restaurant | B KK T H A I KI TC H E N + B A R the best brunch | H E S T E R’S C A F E the best margarita | T H E P O S T the best coffee | H E S T E R’S C A F E the best sandwich | H E S T E R’S C A F E the best asian cuisine | B KK T H A I KI TC H E N + B A R the best girls night out | T H E P O S T the best children’s clothing | F O U R C H I C K S I N T H E PA RK the best bakery | H E S T E R’S C A F E A L E X IS HU NTE R INTE R IO RS A NN TAY LOR LO F T B KK THA I KITCHE N + B A R CHICO’S FOU R CHICK S IN THE PA RK FR A NCISCO’S SA LO N G OL DSMITH J E WE L E RS G R AY P HOTOG R A PH Y HA NL E Y • WOO D
H E S T E R’S C A F E J U LI A N G O LD M A D RE M E X I CAN F I S H H O US E
(open fall 2018)
M A RKE T P I L A R FA S H I O N & F O LK A RT TA LB OT S THE POST
OUT & ABOUT ARTS & CULTURE 88 CELEBRATION 90 DATEBOOK 92 SOCIAL HOUR 94
What’s Inside When it comes to style for Amy Villarreal, age is just a number. With what started as a way for her to dress her little girl the way she wanted, has grown into a flourishing business E. Avery Clothing.
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OUT & ABOUT / ARTS & CULTURE
Style has
No Age
Unique handmade clothing for your mini-me By: Julieta Hernandez Photos by: Rachel Benavides
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azzling, lively colors paired with spunky patterns and sassy accent trims! There are no fashion rules when you’re a little girl, and that’s what inspires Amy Villarreal’s unique E. Avery clothing line.
Villarreal never starts an E. Avery piece with the finished product in mind. Each original outfit is born from chance taking, trial and error, and staring at different fabrics for hours until the right mixes of patterns fit together. Each new release is nothing like the last, and that’s what keeps the shop bustling with variety to suit the personality of any girl from 0 - 11 years old. Villarreal and her husband have been joint owners of the custom clothing brand named after their daughter, Elise Avery, for a little over three years. Elise, also known as “stinkbug” to some, carries her own inspiration to E. Avery as an ambassador and model for the brand. When Elise was one, dressing her in adorable little girl clothing was difficult because Villareal couldn’t find quite
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what she was looking for in boutiques. Villareal learned to sew from lessons on the internet and began creating her own colorful pieces for her daughter. “I got a sewing machine and learned the basics. One of my strengths is following directions —it’s like recipes,” Villarreal laughed. “A clothing pattern is basically the same thing.” Pretty soon it was a hot topic that Elise was sporting lively designs, and Villarreal got requests that eventually led to her owning a sole proprietorship for the E. Avery brand. As of now, the entire shop is online based. Villareal and her co-worker construct all the dresses, rompers, blouses and bottoms in their Corpus Christi home office. The custom ordered outfits are then shipped throughout the states. Since designs constantly cycle, there aren’t any two pieces of E. Avery clothing items that are exactly the same.
The model for the E. Avery Company isn’t strictly a business one. Villarreal, her husband, and co-worker all actively base the brand on their faith. “Logically, I should’ve planned where I want us to be at three months, six months…but really, this entire business, our family has dedicated it to Jesus and the Lord,” she says. “We don’t want to stray away from that, or get caught in the profits or logistics.” Villarreal and her co-worker make every order as it comes in. The first step is usually ordering fabrics without knowing exactly what will be made from them. Then, Villarreal and her co-worker pair and match ideas until it’s time to construct a piece or cut out the pattern from a piece currently in rotation in a different size.
“It all comes from my head, but sometimes it just takes a little while,” Villareal says. “But, I won’t sell anything if I make it and it doesn’t end up looking like I pictured. I want to absolutely love everything that I offer.” The entire process of cutting, sewing, stitching, and trimming is done in their home office where Villarreal can sometimes stay up until five in the morning finishing a piece. “Sometimes, I’m tired the next day, but I enjoyed it so I stayed up because I wanted to,” says Villareal, “It’s really just like a hobby that ended up being a business.” Villareal’s colorful, exciting pieces are for sale on her Facebook page.
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OUT & ABOUT / CELEBRATION
A Missouri Love on the Texas Coast A destination wedding filled with romance and love
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By: Jo Anne Howell
his destination wedding provided a vintage steampunk experience. The fun-loving couple from Missouri, who share a love for the Texas Coast, pulled out all the stops for everyone in attendance. The ceremony took place on the beach, creating a romantic and intimate atmosphere. A grand, palm covered arch greeted the guests as they took their seats in vintage wooden chairs. A string trio provided music as the wedding party took their places at the altar. After the ceremony, the bride and groom exited as guests cheered and blew bubbles in celebration of their love. The reception took place on the Great Lawn where guests signed a vintage globe. As the sun left the sky, the illuminated globe shone brightly for all to see. A nesting of navy velvet seating and succulents displayed in bub90 The Bend
ble-like vases added to the warm welcome. On the lawn, giant wooden gears threw out flames, creating their own form of entertainment. Vintage bulb lighting and overflowing greenery topped long wooden tables set for the wedding party, while guest tables were draped in silver velvet linens paired with copper chairs. Oversized floral centerpieces featured red proteas, maroon peonies, roses, and succulents to create a beautiful, dreamy look. To round out the evening, family and friends made heart touching toasts, and all enjoyed dinner and dancing under the lights. The happy couple left the celebration under a sea of sparklers, giving them a grand exit into their new life together.
EVENT DETAILS: WEDDING DESIGN AND COORDINATION - JoAnne Howell, Oh Goodie Designs + Events VENUE - Cinnamon Shore CATERING - Hester’s Catering FLORAL - The Blossom Shop RENTALS - Luxe Event Decor, Roost & Co., Butler Rentals PHOTOGRAPHY Kirby Leanne Photography
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OUT & ABOUT / DATEBOOK
Mark Your Calendar OCTOBER
BENEFIT
Dias De Los Perros - Fur Ball 2018 October 27th This year’s annual Fur Ball celebration theme is Dia De Los Perros! So don your spookiest and most vivacious Dia De Los Muertos styled outfits for a night of fun! The evening will entail a delicious seated dinner, libations, live music by The Electric Circus, dancing, face paint, a live and silent auction, themed photo scene, and so much more! Come out and have a fabulous night, all while helping a good cause. The Ortiz Center, pawsandclawscc.ejoinme.org
ARTS
Winter is Coming - The Finale Fashion Show October 20th Fashion Show. Fashion Show. Fashion Show at 7PM. Renaissance Antiques presents Game of Thrones; Winter is Coming - The Finale - Fashion Show. On October 20th from 6pm to 9pm, expect to be enchanted with vintage fashion, a medieval madness costume contests, delicious libations, and much more! This is a free community event and if it isn’t on your calendar yet... SHAME. Renaissance Antiques, 4317 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi
ENTERTAINMENT
Kevin Hart “Irresponsible” Tour October 21st Calling all Kevin Hart fans! The actor and comedian has turned his “Irresponsible” standup jaunt into a massive worldwide tour, and has added over 100 new shows, and Corpus Christi is one of them! Make sure to get tickets fast, the tour has been selling out consistently. American Bank Center, ccexpresssoccer.org 92 The Bend
FESTIVAL
Dia de Los Muertos Festival October 27th The 11th Annual Corpus Christi Dia de Los Muertos Festival will be held October 27th, 3pm to midnight. Since its conception, the Dia de los Muertos Festival has become one of Corpus Christi’s most popular events. The festival features three stages with live music and traditional and contemporary dance, made-by-hand arts and crafts expo, fine art exhibition and demonstrations, interactive artworks and activities, and even Lucha Libre wrestling! You won’t want to miss this one. Downtown Corpus Christi, diadelosmuertoscc.com
FESTIVAL
Texas Jazz Festival Oct 19th – 21st (PENDING) Looking for the perfect activity for the whole family? Look no further than the Texas Jazz Festival. Located in Heritage Park, this festival will have four stages of live jazz music, tons of incredible food and market vendors, and even a Salsa Jazz dancing experience! The event is free entry and lasts all weekend. Heritage Park, 17599 Fife Ln., Corpus Christi
COMMUNITY
Haunting on the Blue Ghost October 12th – 31st, Weekends Only If you’re hoping to get scared this Halloween season, the Lexington has the experience for you. Boasting one of the largest haunted houses hosted on a ship the Haunting on the Blue Ghost features: two floors, 85 rooms, and more than one hundred menacing monsters to frighten you. Tickets are sold only at the door. A percentage of ticket sales with go to benefit Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Wounded Warriors Project. USS Lexington, 2914 N Shoreline Blvd,
FESTIVAL
Surftoberfest October 6th The Texas Surf Museum is proud to present the 4th Annual Surftoberfest! An all-day, family friendly, beer-filled festival that is rich in German and Texas surf culture! The museum puts a coastal spin on Oktoberfest to bring you a unique event experience. This event serves as the main fundraiser for the Texas Surf Museum, a 501c (3) organization. The event will feature live music from local artists on two different stages, local brews on tap, a pet costume contest, pop-up art shows, and more! Texas Surf Museum, 309 N. Water St.
Designed to capture your view. Built to protect your loved ones.
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W W W. G O N Z A L E S S M I L E S . C O M 7 4 2 6 S . S TA P L E S , S T E 1 0 1
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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413 thebendmag.com
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OUT & ABOUT / SOCIAL HOUR
BOLLYWOOD IN SOUND & COLOUR Photos by: Aaron Garcia
1. Melinda Contreras, Melissa Lincoln & Rachel Morris
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2. Caelan Palmer & Courtney Palmeer 3. Suelhasshan Reddy & Swetha Reddy 4. Anushka Bhowal & Josh Lopez 5. Amruta Pai, Mithiley Iprai & Sulu Modak 6. Suresh Bikkina & Saikiran Reddy Rondla 7. Sonahi Joshi, Setal Patel, Nayan Patel, Anshout, Nadgouda, Aseet Nadgouda, Monisha Madappa, Nikhil Madappa & Dev Chhotu 8. E.R. Paiz & L. Henkel
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OUT & ABOUT / SOCIAL HOUR
CRE 8VE CULTURE RIBBON CUTTING Photos by: Aaron Garcia
1. Richard Sandoval, Frankie Martinez, Adrian Sandoval & Eva Sandoval
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2. Dorian Green, Jeremy Flores 3. Murfcaam Williams, Vanessa Williams, Charlene Spencer & Ledward Spencer 4. Michael Vasquez, Thomas Garcia & Jonathan Winfrey 5. Lanna Gonzales & Victoria Anez 6. Niccole Hernandez & Mark Flores 7. Russel Bates & Kevin C. McDermott 8. Julie Reyes, Patricia Alcidas & Anadrew Wray
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MASSAGE
CENTER
LIVE WELL, PRACTICE CARE, BE AT PEACE
Celebrating our 14th Anniversary! Check our website for this month’s promotion.
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ALLISON RUG GALLERY G E T I N S P I R E D ! Karastan Rugs provide a bold setting with bedazzling palettes of vibrant jewel tones! Perfect for Fall but versatile for any season of the year. Buy any instock 5x7 Area Rug and get a free rug pad, now through the end of October.
4400 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX • 361.288.4224 • allison-flooring.com HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm • Saturday - Sunday Closed thebendmag.com
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2018 An Evening of Art, Music, Dance, Libation, Fare, and Celebration Thursday, November 8, 2018 7:30 p.m.
Art Museum of South Texas 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 Host Bar Valet Parking Botanical Black Tie
Featuring Bobby Yang Movement for the Wooden Violin Bobby Yang and his dance band BPM combine a live jam band with a track-sampling DJ. Yang and BPM take over Top 40, Motown, classic country, hip-hop, EDM, and indie rock tracks, creating live remixes on the spot. BPM has seen a million faces (and rocked 'em all). "Onstage, Bobby Yang transforms into a leaping fireball that spews blazing, virtuosic rock music. No tepid crossover pabulum from this classically trained prodigy. Yang is the real thing, and the raw expressive energy of rock is as much the core of his musical soul as Mozart, perhaps more so." -Mark Gresham, Creative Loafing, Atlanta, Georgia
Individual Tickets: $250 Purchase tickets on the AMST website www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org
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Proceeds benefit Art Museum of South Texas educational & exhibition programs
CUISINE FARM TO TABLE
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THE DRINK 104 DINING GUIDE 107 THE DISH 112
What’s Inside Dia de los Muertos is a time to honor those who are no longer with us. Celebrate the life of your passed love ones with delicious amaranth skulls, pumpkin empanadas, and a classic horchata.
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CUISINE / FARM TO TABLE
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AN ODE TO THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with amaranth skulls, pumpkin empanadas, and horchata
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By: Justin & Kayla Butts Photos by: Rachel Benavides
e first tasted sugar skulls last year at the Dia de los Muertos Festival in Downtown Corpus Christi. The lady selling them told us that each colorful and delicious skull, called a calavera, represents the soul of a dearly departed loved one. We definitely wanted to know more! On Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, the souls of the dearly departed are said to return to earth for a brief visit. It is not a spooky visit but a joyful celebration of the loved one’s life, filled with happy memories, good eating (and drinking!), and music. The ofrenda is an important feature in this celebration. Ofrenda is the Spanish word for offering and also the name of the collection of objects placed on an altar to guide the soul home. Candles light the way, and the loved ones’ favorite foods and beverages are displayed to refresh them after the long journey through the spirit world. Marigolds, photographs, and prized trinkets also decorate the ofrenda. These Dia de los Muertos traditions originated with the Aztecs. They made cavaleras from amaranth grains. Marigolds represented the fragility of life, and the Aztecs believed the flowers guided spirits to the altars. When Herman Cortes and the conquistadors invaded the Aztec Empire, they thought the ancient ritual was pagan sacrilege. They attempted to stamp out the tradition forever, but it survived. Eventually it was synchronized with All Soul’s Day and is now celebrated across the Americas. We couldn’t wait to get home and make our own calaveras. We wanted to honor the Aztec roots of
the holiday, so we used amaranth and local honey. This version is surprisingly delicious and is much healthier than sugar skulls. To pop amaranth, place a very thin layer at the bottom of a hot, deep pan and stir until fragrant. Most kernels will pop within two minutes and turn a snowy white. Decorate the skulls with dried fruit, nuts, royal icing, edible paint, or edible gold leaf. These skulls are beautiful, unique, and actually good for you! We wanted to use some of our heirloom pumpkins from the garden, so we made these delicious pumpkin empanadas for the Pan del Muerto. Most empanada recipes call for vegetable shortening, but we opted for pastured pork lard. Lard from locally raised pastured porkers has a great flavor, is free of trans-fats, and is rich in heart-healthy fats. Horchata is a sweet and refreshing chilled beverage made from rice and cinnamon. We experimented to find a version with less sugar that doesn’t sacrifice on taste. Coconut sugar adds a rich caramel flavor with just a hint of coconut that creates a perfect sweetness. This year, the Dia de los Muertos Street Festival will be held in Downtown Corpus Christi on Saturday, October 31, from 3:00pm to midnight. This festival features arts and crafts, food, live music, folk dancing, and much more, plus many thousands of visitors (not to mention souls). Decorate your ofrenda with these tasty recipes, and then head downtown to celebrate life at the Dia de Los Muertos!
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PUMPKIN EMPANADAS (EMPANADAS DE CALABAZA)
MAKES 12 HAND PIES
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Prep time: 30 minutes
1/8 tsp cloves
Inactive prep time: 30 minutes
DIRECTIONS:
Cook time: 20 minutes
To prepare dough, mix dry ingredients in a large bowl or standing mixer. Add remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. Form dough into a disk, cover in plastic wrap, and cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
INGREDIENTS: PASTRY 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tbsp sugar, plus 1 tbsp for dusting 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup pastured pork lard 2 eggs, plus 1 egg white 1/2 cup milk FILLING 2 cups roasted pumpkin (or one 15-oz can organic pureed pumpkin) 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp butter 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt 102 The Bend
Combine ingredients for the filling in a large bowl. Whisk until well incorporated. Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 12 pieces. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a ¼” to 1/8” thick circle, depending on preference. Spoon ¼ cup of filling into the center of the dough and fold the dough over, making a half circle. Seal the pie by crimping with your fingers, or pressing the edges with the tines of a fork. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Lightly brush the empanadas with egg white and dust with sugar. Bake the pies for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
HORCHATA MAKES ABOUT 48 OUNCES Prep time: 15 minutes Inactive prep time: 4-12 hours INGREDIENTS: 1 cup uncooked, long-grain rice, rinsed ½ cup raw, unsalted almonds 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces 3 cups filtered water ½ cup coconut sugar 1 cup whole milk (preferably from grass-fed cows) DIRECTIONS: Combine rice, almonds, cinnamon, and water in a large bowl. Cover and store mixture in the refrigerator for 4-12 hours. Remove rice mixture from refrigerator and blend until smooth (about 4 minutes on high speed). Strain rice mixture using a cheesecloth-lined colander. Add coconut sugar and milk to the remaining liquid and stir well. Serve over ice.
AMARANTH SKULLS (CALAVERA DE AMARANTO)
MAKES 4 LARGE SKULLS Cook time: 10 minutes Inactive prep time: 30 minutes to 3 hours INGREDIENTS: Non-stick cooking spray ¼ cup local raw honey 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp water 4 cups popped amaranth DIRECTIONS: Spray skull molds with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium saucepan, combine honey, sugar, and water. Cook over high heat until mixture reaches 255°F. Pour amaranth into honey mixture and stir to evenly coat grains. Pour mixture into molds and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until completely set. Remove calaveras from molds and decorate with adornments of your choosing. Calaveras will keep in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.
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CUISINE / THE DRINK
A Little Spice in Your Life Coffee Waves introduces the Spiced Toddy, a drink aiming to help us through a South Texas “fall”
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By: Kylie Kinnett Photos by: Christopher Jingles
ere in the Coastal Bend, we tend to understand and forcefully accept the cold, hard facts: we have two seasons – summer and winter. Although we don’t quite experience the changing of green leaves to various golden shades of yellow and orange, we still enjoy entertaining the fantastical, far-out idea of a fall season. For long-time favorite local coffee shop, Coffee Waves, fall dreams come with the task of creating a drink containing the flavors and feelings of autumn, without forcing people to drink a piping hot beverage in October when the temperature still reads 90˚ on the car dash. The
104 The Bend
solution? A Spiced Toddy. Everyone’s favorite iced wake-me-up with a refreshing splash of fall. Cora Johnson, who owns Coffee Waves with her husband Doug, conjured up the idea for a Spiced Toddy a few years ago. After returning from vacation, one of her employees mentioned ordering a spiced drink at a coffee shop. Immediately Cora thought, “Everyone loves a spiced drink – the pumpkin spiced latte, for instance – so why not incorporate spice into our menu in a totally different way.” They then began experimenting with various flavor combinations in order to achieve the perfect flavor profile to simulate fall, but this time,
with an iced beverage. After using a guessand-check-type method, they landed on the perfect arrangement of espresso grounds, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. This unique seasonal beverage is created the same way as a traditional toddy. The only difference is the addition of spices mixed into the espresso grounds before soaking the whole mixture in water for 18 to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Once the grounds have been submerged for the allotted time, the drink is then diluted with water to help balance out the concentrated caffeine. Upon the first sip of the Spiced Toddy, you immediately have the taste of fall in your mouth. It is familiar, home-like. The notes are simultaneously both strong and mellow. Which is exactly what Cora hoped for the drink.
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“When you are eating a slice of pumpkin pie, you aren’t really getting any kind of bright tone in flavor,” she says. “I often think of Toddy or cold brew as an iced tea – it is really strong, but also bright. So, I thought the spices would play really well off of that.” And, she is not wrong. The Spiced Toddy brilliantly brings the tastes of autumn to a coffee drink without forcing the season. Because after all, a South Texas fall is fairly non-existent. However, for a solid 30 minutes inside Coffee Waves, with the AC turned down a little low, and a Spiced Toddy in your hands, you forget that for just a moment. ”
Contact: 5738 S Alameda St, Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 986-0481
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Dining
Guide Padre Island
Outdoor dining
AMERICAN 8TE $ A shabby chic interior feel with classic comfort dishes that have a simple twist. They have it all breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 1220 Airline #250, (361) 723-0261, Facebook.com/8tecctx
ANDY’S COUNTRY KITCHEN $ You will feel right at home just like eat’n in mom’s kitchen. Great southern comfort food that gets back to the basics! 5802 S Staples St, (361) 993-0251, Andyskitchen.com
ATOMIC OMELETTE & GRILL $ Omelettes are just the beginning here! Comfortable atmosphere with a flavor for casual dining and handmade family recipes. 6313 Wooldridge Rd #10, (361) 334-3942, Atomicomelette.com
CITRUS BAYFRONT BISTRO $ Enjoy everything homemade, even down to the pie crusts with a gorgeous view of the marina. 100 N Shoreline Blvd, (361) 882-2047, Citrusbistro.com
THE EXCHANGE $$ From the floor to the ceiling, the walls, to your mind, and even right down to your palate, visiting The Exchange brings a sense of “home” to a downtown experience. 224 N. Mesquite St, (361) 414-9788, theexchangecc.com
HAMLIN PHARMACY & FOUNTAIN $ The last Soda Fountain in Corpus Christi, TX! Although they’ve expanded and changed over the many years, their old fashioned values and friendly service has remained the same. 3801 S Staples St, (361) 853-7303, Hamlinpharmacy.com
Port Aransas
IRIE’S ISLAND FOOD $
Rockport
Live music
THE GRILLE $
With bold purpose and flavor craving taste buds, they set forth a new twist on local fare and many culinary delights from islands around the globe. 503 N Alister St, (361) 749-2310, Iriesislandfood.com
Ensures you’ll always have the variety that is the spice of life! With ingredients sourced from Texas, burger patties and soups are all made from scratch. 3063 Main St, (361) 775-1000, Facebook.com/thegrillingleside
MACDADDY’S FAMILY KITCHEN $$
THE GROOVE $$
Serves BBQ, Fried Chicken & Seafood. Big tables for big groups, they’ll also deliver! 118 Beach St,(361) 749-2271 Macdaddysfamilykitchen.com
PADRE ISLAND BURGER COMPANY $$ Burgers, burgers, and burgers! Build it yourself or choose from their handcrafted menu. 11878 TX-361, (361) 949-3490, Padreislandburgercompany.com
A little something for every discriminating craving with an eclectic dining experience. Nothing is ever frozen or put in a fryer! 2001 N Hwy 35, (361) 729-3663, Thegrooverockport.com
THE POST $$ Enjoy this pub in a communal setting with dishes that are meant to be shared, all alongside a cocktail or beer of course! 3850 S Alameda, (361)452-0907, thepostlamarpark. com
TOWN & COUNTRY CAFÉ $ SURFSIDE SANDWICH SHOPPE $ Dine inside or outside on the patio, and enjoy their large assortment of sandwiches and sides or have a nice cold beverage. Don’t forget the homemade desserts! 15113 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-0505, surfsidesandwichshoppe.com
This down-to-earth diner serves the best in homestyle American comfort food for breakfast and lunch. 4228 S Alameda St, (361) 992-0360, Facebook.com/ town-country-cafe
ASIAN
Corpus Christi
shows through from the dishes to the sushi bar. 4650 Corona Dr, (361) 808-8881, Facebook.com/imperialcafe
BARBEQUE HOEGEMEYER’S BBQ $$ Smoked fresh barbeque on a strong German heritage background and a satisfaction for something unique. South Texas barbeque that comes from the heart. 711 Concrete St, (361) 8844227, Hoegemeyers.com
MIKE COTTEN’S BBQ $$
Owned and operated by 3rd generation BBQ restaurant owners. They mesquite smoke the finest meats available and strive to provide the best food and service to their customers. 1702 US Hwy 181, (361) 704-6249, 15013 Northwest Blvd, (361) 933-0143, mikecottensbbq.com
BAR & GRILL BOATHOUSE BAR & GRILL $$ The best thing about the Boathouse Bar & Grill is that there’s something for everyone; a mouthwatering menu, 4 full bars with HDTVs, waterfront patio dining, friendly service, and a fun, relaxing atmosphere. 15241 Leeward Dr, (361) 589-9601, Boathousepadreisland.com
THE BLUE CLOVE $$ Indulge in the art of food with The Blue Cove. Family owned and served with love, this quaint little place will soon become your go-to spot for a weekend bite. 1945 Horne Rd, (361) 855-2927, facebook.com/TheBlueClove
THE GLASS PAVILION $$ Casual hotel eatery offering simple American mains and views of the sea. Did we mention they also offer a breakfast buffet? Stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! 2nd Floor Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, 900 N Shoreline Blvd, (361) 8871600, Omnihotels.com
BREWSTER STREET ICE HOUSE $$ AKA SUSHI $$ Creative and daring rolls that work well together. The authentic Asian cuisine made with the chef’s homemade recipe will be sure to surprise you. 415 N Water St, (361) 882-8885 facebook.com/akasushidowntowncc
SANG’S IMPERIAL CAFÉ $$ Culturally dynamic décor brings an international ambiance to the atmosphere. Their commitment to the healthiest and freshest food
Who says that you can’t have 4-star food in a casual environment? Not the Brewster Street Grill! Bring your kids or stay for a concert, they have it all. 1724 N Tancahua, (361) 884-2739, Brewsterstreet.net
EXECUTIVE SURF CLUB $$ The perfect casual family dining spot. All the while supplying the most beer on tap in the city. 309 N Water St, (361) 884-7873, Waterstreetmarketcc.com/ executive-surf-club
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CUISINE / DINING GUIDE FINS GRILL AND ICEHOUSE $$ For the past 11 years, they’ve featured fresh seafood, 1/2 lb Angus beef burgers & chicken. Full bar and you “You Hook ‘Em, We Cook ‘Em” for the fisherman. 420 West Cotter, (361) 749-8646, Finsgrillandicehouse.com
STINGRAY’S TAPHOUSE AND GRILL $$ An industrial-chic elite sports bar that provides you ‘raving fans’ a unique dining and entertaining experience, right around the corner from the beach! 401 Beach St, (361)749-2287, Stingraystaphouse.com
THE BREWERY $$ Brick oven pizza, pub food & burgers sound good? How about a fresh brewed-in-house beer? 429 Alister St, (361) 749- 2739, Portaransasbrewery.com
CAFÉ BONNA-PETIT $
Chef Sophie will always make you feel warmly welcomed, just as her gourmet dishes do. And don’t forget to grab a to-go dinner! 4301 S Alameda St, (361) 334-2579, Bonna-petit.com
DAILY GRIND $ A coffee bar with personality, they offer the finest in gourmet, rustic, or straight-up coffee favorites. Hungry? Stick around for their daily quiche specials, scones, and sandwiches. 302 S Austin St, (361) 790-8745, Rockportdailygrind.com
FILLINGOOD BAKERY $ With fresh baked goods made in house, they make breakfast and lunch a delight! 3819 S Alameda St., (361) 225-4663, fillingoodbakery.com
HESTER’S CAFÉ AND COFFEE BAR $ Looking for a true family experience where love is the number one ingredient, along with the simple but important concept of quality and the healing powers of good food. 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd, (361) 885-0151, 1714 S Alameda St, (361) 885-0558, 3812 S Alameda St, (361) 855-1892, Hesterscafe.com
HULA PEACH FRUIT HUB & CAFE $ This locally owned tropical themed café, sources the finest produce and is committed to quality and freshness. 3823 S Staples, (361) 334-3773, Facebook.com/hulapeach
JB’S GERMAN BAKERY $ Committed to maintaining the highest German standard, every product is handmade following age-old German traditions and recipes. There are no short-cuts at JB’s. 15137 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-5474, Jbsgermanbakery.com
SUGARBAKERS $ Great cuisine with a French and European influence. They use locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible with mostly everything
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made from scratch. 2766 Santa Fe St, (361) 884-9541, Sugarbakerscc.com
FRENCH BLEU BISTRO $$$ True playful twists to classic French bistro dishes. The chef’s commitment to the use of fresh, local, peak-of-the-season products is evident in the quality of each dish. 500 N Water St, (361) 887-2121, Bleubistrocc.com
DRAGONFLY $$$ A fine multitude of international backgrounds to the cuisine prepared entirely from scratch daily by the owner and culinary artist. The menu is full of unforgettable flavor profiles to satisfy any craving. 14701 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-2224, Facebook.com/dragonfly-restaurant
ITALIAN AUTHENTIC NEW YORK PIZZA $$ True, authentic New York Pizza right in your hands in Corpus Christi, complete with red-checkered tablecloths. 5838 S Staples St, (361) 986-1151, Eatmorepizza.com
BELLA LUNA DOWNTOWN $$ Authentic gourmet Italian cuisine always made fresh to order in the heart of The Marina Arts District. 429 Schatzell St, (361) 887-4777, Bellalunadowntown.com
BELLINO’S $$ Comfortable and welcoming with a trattoria style authentic cuisine. You won’t find these dishes anywhere else in Corpus Christi! 3815 S Alameda St, (361) 814-8998, 523 S. Fulton Beach Rd, (361) 729-9003, Bellinostexas.com
PADRE PIZZERIA $ For over 15 years, their famous Padre pizza dough is handmade, hand-tossed and prepared daily. 14493 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-0787, Padrepizzeria.com
PORT “A” PIZZERIA $$ Bring the kids, as this family-friendly pizzeria offers an all-day buffet, video games and draft beer. Or, order straight off the menu! 407 E Avenue G, (361) 749-5226, Portapizzeria.com
TRATTORIA TADDEI $$ The chef’s recipes and experience, all with a genuine Italian flavor, come down from his home region’s authentic traditional cuisine personally passed from generation to generation over many centuries. 920 Louisiana Ave, (361) 884-4400, Trattoriataddei.com
VENETIAN HOT PLATE $$$ Quality cuisine and a quaint, yet energetic atmosphere, giving a real touch of Italy. 232 Beach St, (361) 749-7617, Venetianhotplate.com
MEDITERRANEAN GINGER CAFÉ AND GRILL $$ Eastern hospitality and authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, there’s so much to love about these Persian, Turkish, Lebanese, and Indo-Pakistani specialties. 7009 S Staples #103, (361) 946-9834, Gingercafecc.com
PERUVIAN COSTA SUR WOK & CEVICHE BAR $$ This cevicheria is a true Peruvian party on your palette. The dishes are fresh takes on traditional originals from Peru. 15113 S Padre Island Dr #101, (361) 945-8303, Costasurcc.com
BROOKLYN PIE CO. $ Enjoy a slice or indulge a whole “pie” of their delicious secret pizza tradition. 15326 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-1100, Brooklynpie.com
SEAFOOD
HOUSE OF ROCK $
Sit indoors, sit outdoors, see the Gulf Coast from any seat in the house while diving into top-quality coastal cuisine, live music and the best views around. 258 Snapdragon, (361) 749-4653, Blackmarlinbarandgrill.com
Great pizza and appetizers, cold beer, and live entertainment! Does it get any better? 511 Starr St, (361) 882-7625, Texashouseofrock.ticketfly.com
MAMMA MIA’S $$$ Warm and cozy mom and pop Italian experience will make you feel like family. Entrées are delicious Italian culture on a plate. 128 N Mesquite St, (361) 883-3773, Facebook.com/ mamma-mias
MESQUITE ST. PIZZA AND PASTA CO. $$ Their 60-year-old pizza oven brought in straight from Brooklyn New York makes for the perfect pizza. Plus, all the crusts and sauces are made in house. 617 Mesquite St, (361) 882-7499, Eatpizzadowntown.com
BLACK MARLIN BAR & GRILL $$$
DOC’S SEAFOOD AND STEAKS $$ Lively and enjoyable selection for surf ‘n’turf in an open-air setting overlooking the water, plus live music. 13309 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-6744, Docseafoodandsteaks.com
GLOW $$ From a renovated boathouse, they offer simply-cooked bistro fare using the best local seafood and produce. Bright, relaxed atmosphere with white-washed ship lap wood walls and a full bar. 1815 Broadway St, (361) 727-2644, Glowrockport.com
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CUISINE / DINING GUIDE HARRISON’S LANDING $$ Tavern on the Bay at Harrison’s Landing is Corpus Christi’s newest outdoor restaurant and bar located in the heart of the city’s marina, and is the only place in town with a floating bar! 108 Peoples St, (361) 881-8503, Harrisonslanding.net
ISLAND TIME SUSHI BAR & SEAFOOD GRILL $$ Stop in for fresh and inventive sushi, seafood, appetizers and desserts! Check out the weekday specials! 14225 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-3046, Facebook.com/islandtimesushi
LAGUNA REEF $$ Bring in your own catch straight from your boat, or order off their tasteful menu! With excellent views of the marina, family owners & operators, Laguna Reef is the place to be. 4242 Laguna Shores Rd, (361) 937-2600, Bluffslanding.com/restaurant.php
LANCE'S BLACK SHEEP BISTRO $$ A unique, trendy atmosphere that transcends age and style with a menu full of foods rich, colorful, and full of flavor. 15201 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-4819, Blacksheepbistro.net
LATITUDE 28˚02’ $$$ Contemporary dining experience specializing in tasty fresh, local seafood. Eye-catching walls that serve as a gallery space, holding colorful works by local artists. 105 N Austin St, (361) 727-9009, Latituderockport.com
LIBERTY HALL $$ Herbs and vegetables grown on site, your dining experience will be unforgettable! 106 E. Cotter, (361) 749-4888 facebook.com/LibertyHallPortA
LISABELLA’S BISTRO $$$ Casual coastal elegance with a family-friendly setting. The menu boasts a remarkable gourmet twist to your favorite fare, and a full bar that goes beyond just ordinary. The mermaids may even share their secrets. 5009 Hwy 361, (361) 749-4222, Cinnamonshore.com
ROCK & ROLLS SUSHI LOUNGE $$ At Rock & Rolls, they’re dishing out the most delectable and delicate fish from islands all over the world. Delight in a “sound check” or cold appetizer, an “opening act” or hot appetizer, then “plug in” for some rolls and sashimi! 15121 S Padre Island Dr #101, (361) 949-1110, Rockandrollssushi.com
SALTWATER GRILL $$ Unique family atmosphere with fresh and tasty seafood that will leave you coming back for more. 2401 Cimarron Blvd, (361) 993-7258, Saltwatergrillcc.com
SCUTTLEBUTT’S BAR & GRILL $$ Extensive menu makes sure to have something for everyone. Foods made from scratch from the dressings to the burger patties. 14254 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-6769, Scuttlebuttsbarandgrill.com
SEAFOOD & SPAGHETTI WORKS $$ A unique dining experience, you’ll find the very best in seafood, steak, Italian dishes, pizza, soups, and desserts all made from scratch. 901 S Alister St, (361) 749-5666, seafoodandspaghettiworks.com
SHELLS $$ Warm, inviting neighborhood restaurant offers a creative and far-ranging menu that reflects a variety of world cuisines. Shakes off the old and tired and gets down to real good food. 522 E Avenue G, (361) 749-7621, Eatatshells.com
SHEMPY’S GRILL $$ Laid-back setting with a variety of delightfully cooked fish will turn anyone into a seafood lover. 3913 Highway 35 S, (361) 727-0019, Facebook.com/Shempys
SNOOPY’S PIER $$ Outdoor dining experience and local harvested quality with an on-site fish house and shrimp breading facility that enables the freshness. 13313 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-8815, Snoopyspier.com
STEAKHOUSE KATZ 21 $$$ Sets the standard for premier fine dining experience. Prime steakhouse specializes in dryaged prime beef and fresh gulf coast seafood. 5702 Spohn Dr, (361) 884-1221, Katz21.com
NIKO’S STEAKHOUSE $$ Committed to the motto “Great food, Great times, Great experience.” Casual and elegant atmosphere that will exceed any steak lover’s expectations. 5409 Saratoga Blvd, (361) 992-2333, Nikossteakhouse.com
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS $$$$ One of the top dining destinations. A multi-level steakhouse offers diners beautiful panoramic views of the CC Bay. All the ingredients for the perfect experience! 900 N Shoreline Blvd, (361) 887-1600, Omnihotels.com
THAI THAI COTTAGE $$ Unique and refreshing, Thai curries meet teriyaki and Chinese dishes in a cozy red cottage. 5830 McArdle Rd, (361) 993-0777, Thai-cottage.com
THE BOILING POT $$ Roll up your sleeves and take manners to a new level for a great Cajun experience. 201 S Fulton Beach Rd, (361) 729-6972
THE PHEONIX $$ This international bistro/nouveau American fine-quality cuisine is prepared daily using many ingredients from the Corpus Christi Farmers' Market creating a constantly eclectic seasonal menu, where guests can choose to sit indoor and outdoor. 337 N Alister St, (361) 749-9277, Facebook/The-PhoenixRestaurant-and-Bar
TROUT STREET BAR & GRILL $$$ Cajun-inspired seafood in an airy environment is a wondrous way to enjoy food and cocktails inside the nautical themed restaurant or on the outdoor deck offering marina views. 104 West Cotter, (361) 749-7800, Tsbag.com
BKK THAI KITCHEN + BAR $$ BKK is brining a modern twist to the traditional Thai dishes. Their menu is filled with tasty items you are sure to love. 3850 S Alameda, Ste. 27, (361) 334-0857, bkkthaikitchenbar.com
VIETNAMESE VIETNAM RESTAURANT $$$ Local fine dining with an extensive menu and eye catching Vietnamese culture spread throughout the dining area. 701 N Water St, (361) 853-2682, Vietnam-restaurant.com
WATER STREET OYSTER BAR $$ Long-standing, well-known Corpus Christi landmark operation serving oysters, sushi rolls & Gulf seafood in a historic, brick-walled space. 309 N Water St, (361) 881-9448, Waterstreetmarketcc.com
YARDARM $$$
Savory seafood dishes with great bay view seating. Family owned gives off a special ambiance in the atmosphere as well as the entrees. 4310 Ocean Dr, (361) 855-8157
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CUISINE / THE DISH
Picturesque
Cook-Outs for Foodies & Families Rollin’ Tide Boil Company is bringing the party to you and yours By: Julieta Hernandez Photos by: Rachel Benavides
112 The Bend
W
ith their traveling cooking pot and rainbow-colored beach chairs, Shawn Taylor and Kassie Smith bring good people, good food, and captivating coastal sunsets together.
Shawn and Kassie have been building their relationship and their business since the summer of 2016, when the idea of the Rollin’ Tide Boil Company was put into action. Balancing the dynamics of a romantic and business partnership pushes them forward and makes the creativity flow easier. “Technically, we do have a unique relationship,” Shawn laughed. Shawn discovered everything he loved about Alabama shrimp boils could be done on the beach. Big pieces of South Texas shrimp fit in well with a smoky driftwood bonfire and sandy toes. And for an extra tropical feel, Shawn and Kassie are well versed in cooking up snow crabs. When they threw their first family shrimp boil bonfire, they noticed nobody looked at their cell phones for hours. Shawn and Kassie knew they had created something pretty special. This was in the summer of 2016 when the business first launched After five months of rolling ideas around and rounding them out to add more to the bonfire experience, Shawn and Kassie began offering a shrimp boil complete with Tiki torches, hula entertainment, and signature Key lime s’mores. Word of mouth spread, and by 2017, Shawn and Kassie had to focus solely on the business, making it their full-time job. Kassie even became CEO of the company. However, when Harvey hit in August 2017, Shawn and Kassie were left wondering, “What can we do now?” “Our motto became, ‘We roll our pot to your spot.’ After Harvey, we literally had to make that applicable,” said Shawn. As South Texas recovered from the storm, Shawn and Kassie built bonfires for people in Austin, Houston, and surrounding areas in Texas. “No matter where we are, our guests are just like family. We get to know them during our events,” Shawn said. “It’s a cool dynamic that a lot of restaurants don’t have.” When guests arrive to the beach location, the food is already piping hot and on the table. But if it’s too hot to eat, taking a swim in the ocean before dinnertime is always an option. Shawn and Kassie bring the party to preferred beach locations and accept bookings on their Facebook page or via email.
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THE BEND / LOOKING BACK
One Image, Many Stories Looking into our past through a single image can teach us countless lessons. By: Jillian Becquet
F
Photo courtesy of the John Fred’k ‘Doc’ McGregor Collection at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
or historians and those who love to learn about local lore, an image such as this tells many stories. It goes beyond simply admiring the moment captured on film. When we try to date or place images like this, our detective skills are tested as we piece together clues not always noted in the photographer’s records.
Sometimes, if we’re lucky, someone says, “I know that girl!” and we can put a name to a face and a story to the photograph. Without that, we rely on examining details. Do you notice that two of the girls are wearing shorts and heeled shoes? What about the type of bows and arrows they’re using?
114 The Bend
You can clearly see several homes in the background that are raised up on a bluff. From the white staircase and lighting, we can tell that it’s “the bluff,” what locals call the geographical feature located in downtown Corpus Christi. Standing amongst the homes is the First Presbyterian Church, which was built at its current location in 1930. Although we don’t know these girls’ names, the rest of the clues lead us to a very simple caption, featured above. For now, we keep learning and collecting clues, while treasuring these captured moments of our city’s past. And we continue to hope for the “I know her!” or “That’s me!” that will lead us to the whole story.