NHOME Texas March/April 2013

NH ME TEXAS

LUXURY LIVING

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DESIGNS

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HOME IDEAS

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R E A L E S TAT E

SELLING LIFESTYLES DENISE GRAVES TAKING HEART WHAT TO DO WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH OUTDOOR LUXURY LIVING MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE

An Extra Touch of Elegance

MARCH//APRIL 2013

SITTERLE HOMES

{ FIRING UP THE GRILL WITH Chef Jaime Martinez }

march//april 2013 NHOME /

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Our blacksmith artisans carefully hand-forge every scroll from iron the old fashioned way.

Where Iron Becomes Art

Highest Quality at the Lowest Price-Guaranteed Hand Forged Wrought Iron Doors ✤ Custom Staircase Railing Balconies ✤ Wine Cellars ✤ Gates and Fences ✤ Ornamental Iron

Call Today for Your Free Estimate & Free Design

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✤

8666 Huebner Rd. Ste 106 San Antonio, TX 78240

If you have to be inside, make it a great place to be!

12087 STARCREST DRIVE SAN ANTONIO, TX 78247 210.525.9333 www.facebook.com/FinishingTouchesInteriorDesign march//april 2013 NHOME /

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A Classic Combination From Start to Finish

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march // april 2013 texas nhome magazine

custom homes

Builder Spotlight: Sitterle Homes Basking in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, the exclusive Amorosa and Campanas at Cibolo Canyons communities, brought to you by this leader in luxury housing, truly offer the best of both indoor and outdoor luxury living.

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features 18 dining

An Artistic Approach Looking to get the grill going this season? Take a few tips from seasoned chef Jaime Martinez, a meat team leader with Whole Foods Market who has a real passion for the craft.

48 Home Decorating Taking Luxury Outdoors

With luxury homebuyers spending more time outside than ever, jump on the bandwagon and maximize your outdoor living space to make the most of the beautiful Texas spring.

58 Real Estate

Power Realtor: Denise Graves With her love of both people and houses, this consistent Platinum Top 50 honoree lives and breathes real estate and provides five-star service to her clients at The Graves Group.

86 Community Inspiration How Much is Enough?

Realtor Danyelle Daniel addresses the myths associated with having more than enough, as well as what the more fortunate among the world's population can do with their blessings to answer the call of duty. march//april 2013 NHOME /

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nhome staff

executive editor Erin O’Brien erin@getnside.com

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creative director Elisa Giordano elisa@getnside.com

in this issue 08 A Note From the Publisher 12 Contributors 14 Advisory Board

Industry Insights

Custom Homes

70 Travel Matters

68 Voices of the Professionals

Arts & Culture

Outdoor

Events

Home Decorating 52 Interior Trade Cartel Brings the Outdoors in!

Damaris Fike damaris@getnside.com

Great Escapes

28 A Place in the Sun 32 All in the Family 38 Show and Sell 44 A Personal Touch

graphic designer

74 Night of the Artists graphic designer

90 Celebrating Success 91 GSABA February Mixer

Cristina Villa Hazar cristina@getnside.com

Hosted by BMC

94 A Grand Anniversary 96 Upcoming San Antonio Events

53 Outdoorables! marketing assistant

Green

Valerie Ragsdale valerie@nhometx.com

54 Clean Air By Design

EspaĂąol

photography:

62 El Patio de mi Casa

community:

Coles Hairston Photography Iverness

interior designer: Finishing Touches

intern

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Michelle Rosales michelle@nhometx.com

/ NHOME march//april 2013

featured builder builder: sitterle homes / Salado Canyons at Rogers Ranch / on the cover: iverness featured in article: campanas and Amarosa at cibolo canyons / photography: jason roberts Sitterle Homes won the AVID award for No. 1 in Customer Experience in the United States in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, one of the company's project managers made the top 5 percent in the country for providing excellent customer service.

Sitterle Homes has built more than 4,000 homes in the San Antonio area, but it also builds in Austin and Houston.

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// a note from the publisher //

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t’s springtime, and clean air is all around us! We are approaching the time when everyone wants to be outdoors – to feel the warm breeze, smell the blooming flowers and enjoy the busy activities here and there. Builders today are doing an exceptional job of creating great outdoor living spaces.

Our cover story and featured builder in this issue has brought satisfaction to many homeowners. Almost 50 years ago, Frank Sitterle’s love and passion for the homebuilding industry was the start of what we know today as Sitterle Homes. Not long ago, he handed over the reins to partners Frank Sitterle Jr. and Jeff Buell.

The growth of Sitterle Homes is admirable. With 16 communities to choose from in San Antonio, Sitterle Homes has also expanded to Austin and now to Riverstone in Houston.

Whether you are looking for a high-performance home or a luxury collection home, Sitterle has a home and a price range that will fit both your lifestyle and your budget. Enjoy the vibrant pages that feature just a small sample of the amenities that can be in your next home.

With great outdoor living space comes grilling and barbecuing time with family and friends.

Whole Foods shares a recipe you must read and try out on the grill in your nicely groomed and landscaped backyard.

You can also get some great decorating ideas from Interior Trade Cartel’s “Outdoorables” design suggestions.

And our featured realtor continues to make the Platinum Top 50 over and over again. Read and find out what makes her so successful and why she has been highlighted. Hard work pays off. We are proud to showcase Denise Graves of the Phyllis Browning Graves Group. She is also an NHOME Advisory Board member, and she makes us proud.

Another Platinum Top 50 realtor, Danyelle Daniel, asks the question, “Why have we been so successful, and what are we expected to do with our success?” Her heart was so warm and her desire to share her passion and answer her own question was so clear that she led NHOME to introduce a new section called Community Inspiration. Be sure to read her inspirational article, “How Much is Enough?”

Our writers are awesome! There are several articles in this issue that we hope you will enjoy. We also hope they will give you ideas to try in your own outdoor or indoor space. Happy spring to all of our readers and supporters!

Be sure to give us your feedback and share any topics you would like our voices to address.

Thank you as always,

Adaku Okoro, publisher adaku@nhometx.com

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Give new meaning to “Room with a View” You know what it takes to build a career and a family — now you need a partner to build the home of your dreams.

Hill country views and luxury features await you in the San Antonio communities of Campanas and Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons.

Our sales advisors are ready to help you build your dream home with outdoor luxury living. Call us at (210) 321-9821 or visit www.SitterleHomes.com/friends.

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The Graves Group NH ME texas

T he art of luxury real estate

European chic Country casual The Bristow at –Hill Upper Balcones Fair Oaks Ranch masterpiece priced at $1.175 million

by Casadomaine Custom Homes

march // april 2013

ceo/nside media productions Eliot Garza

publisher

Adaku Okoro

executive editor Erin O’Brien

creative director Elisa Giordano

graphic designers Damaris Fike Cristina Villa Hazar

marketing assistant Valerie Ragsdale

contributing writers Danyelle Daniel Gabriel Diego Delgado Chris Greer Rita Zenzen Heck Paulette Jemal Cedar Joiner Edward R. Leos Jaime Martinez Patricia Hart McMillan Cori Smelker Kim Young

contributing photographers

Coles Hairsten Photography Robin Jerstad Ziggi Ragnar Jason Roberts Elijah Zane

intern

Fabulous Hill Country lifestyle opportunities starting from the $500,000s

Gustavao Arredondo designed this 4.5 acre gated and fenced estate with the very best Contact Denise Graves 210-260-2176 for more information of everything the Hill Country has to offer! Outstanding equestrian facilities plus pool, spa, and a climate controlled winean cellarartform with capacitysince for more1991 than 1000 bottles.

Making Real estate Contact Denise Graves 210-260-2176 for more information Successful real estate marketing is an artform that requires skilled negotiation and the Making Real estate an artform since 1991 delicate art of matching the right buyer to the right property. We’ve been masters Successful marketing an artformsince that requires skilled and Phyllis the delicate art of the finereal artestate of real estate ismarketing 1991. We arenegotiation part of the Brownof matching the right buyer to the right property. We’ve been masters of the fine art of real estate ing Company, offering The Very Best, since 1989. Call or visit our website and put our marketing since 1991. We are part of the Phyllis Browning Company, offering The Very Best since artistic touch to work for you!

1989. Call or visit our website and put our artistic touch to work for you!

Use your smartphone to Use smartphone scanyour the QR code or gototo: scan the QR code or go to: www.TheGravesGroup. www.TheGravesGroup. com to view more fine com toproperties view more properties in fine San Antonio, inBoerne San Antonio, Boerne and the Hill and the Hill Country.

Country.

@

The Graves Group

San Antonio, Boerne and the Hill Country I 210-408-4053 I www.thegravesgroup.com

2012 San Antonio Business Journal Top 3 Real Estate Sales Team!

10 / NHOME march//april 2013

Michelle Rosales

editorial intern Katrina Torres

www.nhometx.com For advertising information, please call 210.568.9688 or email info@nhometx.com.

For editorial comments and suggestions, please email info@nhometx.com. to reach us: 18402 U.S. Highway 281 N, Ste. 201 San Antonio, Texas 78259 Phone: 210.568.9688 Fax: 210.568.6630 Copyright © by NSIDE Media Productions.

All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Dream ››

SHARE YOUR

››

AND WE WILL

Build it

The principals at Prodigy Custom Homes have provided their signature, attesting to the highest level of quality and craftsmanship. The enthusiasm and pledge behind our company is to provide our client with the optimum home that satisfies their lifestyle needs. With over 25 years experience in the building industry and a passion for building, we are making dreams come true for discerning home buyers in the San Antonio, Texas and surrounding areas.

PRODIGY CUSTOM HOMES IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING QUALITY CUSTOM HOMES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. With a passion to build more than just a quality home, Prodigy custom homes are a synergy of architecture, artistry and custom craftsmanship. Our mission is to provide comfort, practicality and warm places for families to grow and celebrate life.

We pride ourselves in going beyond your expectations. We invite you to see for yourself the quality, integrity and performance characteristics that are the hallmarks of our craftsmanship.

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// contributors //

patricia hart Mcmillan

Gabriel Diego paulette Delgado jemal

cedar joiner

Gabriel Diego Delgado is an art consultant at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art. He has spent almost a decade in nonprofit art management, serving as a curator of exhibitions at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art; the project manager of research and development at the Museo Alameda (a Smithsonian affiliate); the community outreach/ communications director for an art and education nonprofit; and a working professional artist. He is a freelance curator and arts reviewer for several publications. His artwork has been shown in Arco 2012 (Madrid, Spain), New York, New York and MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) D.C., as well as numerous galleries and venues.

Paulette Jemal is a global property specialist and a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. With a degree in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, she is also a writer/ producer for Telemundo and a freelance writer for a number of Hispanic advertising agencies. Jemal is currently one of the luxury specialists at Keller Williams Luxury International at the Dominion.

Fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, English and Portuguese, she lists and sells property worldwide.

chris greer

Cori Smelker

nan krigbaum

edward r. leos

Patricia Hart McMillan, an interior designer, is the author/co-author of 15 design books, six of which were produced since she moved from New York City and Palm Beach County to San Antonio in 2007. Three furnishings collections were based on her two “Sun Country Style” books, and she has received a lifetime achievement award from With-It in High Point, N.C. McMillan’s interior designs have appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Parade, House Beautiful Home Decorating Guide and syndicated newspaper columns. She has appeared on national TV shows and is quoted on the HGTV websites. On Dec. 22, McMillan showed KENS 5 TV viewers quick and easy centerpieces based on her book, “Delicious Christmas Decorations At Historic Houses.”

My father, Terry Greer, is a local design engineer, and he truly is the one who inspires me to approach work differently. I am always an architect first; I approach projects artistically and somehow naturally see finished products the moment I step foot into a space. The real challenge is combining art and engineering of a project.

Inventing new designs is one thing, but coupling that with the very best in quality and innovative construction is something else altogether.

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Cori Smelker is the wife of one, mother of five and grandmother to a delightful 4-year-old. A multicultural gal, she has lived on three continents and in several countries. Smelker has been published in many local and regional papers and magazines, and featured in several anthologies.

When not at her computer, she can be found out and about San Antonio, enjoying everything the city has to offer.

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Since Nan Krigbaum acquired her interior design degree in 1992, her work has taken her to clients’ projects in Seattle, Honolulu and Palm Springs. As manager of the furniture department at Interior Trade Cartel, Krigbaum’s goal is to help the interior designers of San Antonio and Austin find aesthetic solutions that work within their budgets.

Cedar Joiner is the president of The Joiner Group, a full-media advertising firm located in San Antonio.

She has been in the marketing and advertising industry since 1983, and in that time, she has serviced prominent companies including USAA, Valero Energy Corporation, Pioneer Flour Mills, Northside Ford, the Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, HealthCrave Medical Centers and Children’s Orthopedic & Spine Medical Centers, to name a few. She is very respected in the community for marketing and helping companies with their growth, utilizing her marketing and advertising expertise. Joiner has been recognized in the Metropolitan Who’s Who, and she sits on the board of the St. Francis of Assisi stewardship campaign. She is a mother of three children, and she is involved in many charities.

Edward R. Leos is the publisher of The Hotel Guide (www.thehotelguide.com), which is an award-winning digital travel magazine and website celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. He also serves on the board of directors for the Texas Travel Industry Association and has a passion for the industry. Leos is a San Antonio native, and he is married with three children.

danyelle daniel

rita zenzen heck

kim young

jaime martinez

Born and raised in San Antonio, Danyelle Daniel, ALHS, CHMS, is at home in her native city and in the Texas Hill Country. She learned early that the best minute spent is the one invested in someone else. With that in mind, it is Daniel’s goal as a real estate consultant with Keller Williams Heritage to serve clients with excellence, integrity, compassion and commitment. In doing so, she has built a reputation of results.

Kim Young is a broker/ associate with BH&G RE Bradfield Properties who has been assisting luxury buyers and sellers in the San Antonio and Hill Country area since 1999.

She is a past recipient of the Platinum Top 50 award, and she is a mother of four daughters, including twins who recently turned 21. In addition to her real estate career, she is an author and co-author of the Creating Machine Series, and she writes for various publications and websites.

In her hometown of Chicago, Rita Zenzen Heck was a newspaper and magazine editor and TV copywriter.

She currently lives in San Antonio and volunteers with the Majestic Theatre, the San Antonio Sports Association, the San Antonio Conservation Society, the San Antonio Council for International Visitors and the San Antonio Downtown Residents Association. Heck has worked for Stars and Stripes, Overseas Weekly and Made In Europe magazine, as well as in advertising and PR, before opening her own Creative Overflow. She added The Green Connection in 1995, also producing green building showcases and her own green building and education magazine and events. Since 1995, she has hosted and produced The Green Connection television show on digital cable channel 20, which airs Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Jaime Martinez is the meat team leader at Whole Foods Market in Bee Cave, Texas, just southwest of Austin. He grew up in San Antonio, and has been in the meat business for 11 years, and at Whole Foods Market for seven of those years. At the helm of the meat department, Martinez has worked with various local ranchers and producers from all over Texas, and he is passionate about animal welfare. He has also shared his personal grilling tips on various local news stations in Austin.

Specializing in E xceptional Architectural Photography GRAPHIC DESIGN • COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY • WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT • VIDEO PRODUCTION

C R E A T I V E

S E R V I C E S

F O R

P R I N T

&

E L E C T R O N I C

210.340.2033 • 210.789.2033 • 866.202.1650

M E D I A

www.jasonrobertsphotography.com

marc h//april 2013 NHOME / Photographed at the GSABA 2012 Spring Parade of Homes for Mike Hollaway Custom Homes

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Nelson Enochs

// advisory board //

denise graves A realtor and real estate business owner since 1991, Denise Graves started the Graves Group in 2003 with the vision to offer extraordinary service to her clients, both locally and globally. The Graves Group has been in the Top 25 Real Estate Teams (SABJ) since 2005 and continues to set the standard for real estate in San Antonio and the Hill Country. With her 20-plus years of real estate experience in the area and her business mantra of “high tech, high touch,” Graves makes her properties stand out and keeps clients coming back.

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ixchetl romero Ixchetl Romero has been part of the Lone Star National Bank family since 2004. She started her career and has grown with the company.

Having recently moved to San Antonio from the Valley, she is now the vice president of mortgage and the sales manager. Romero enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also recently joined the NHOME Advisory Board, and she looks forward to working with the NHOME team.

easton crafts Easton Crafts is the CEO of Directions Equity, LLC. He has been in the mortgage industry since 1995, and in that time, he has closed thousands of loan transactions of all types, including Conventional, FHA, VA, Texas Vet, USDA, Jumbo and Construction Loans. He co-founded Directions Equity in 2007, along with his business partner Marc Spitzer, and together they have helped the company increase production more than 20 percent per year since its inception.

Easton holds a degree in business administration with a concentration in real estate finance and mortgage lending. He is a member of the Texas Association of Mortgage Professionals and the San Antonio North Chamber.

trish najim

kristal powell

adam sanchez

As a realtor and certified luxury home marketing specialist, Trish Najim prides herself in providing her clients a service to best assist them with their real estate needs regardless of whether they are sellers or buyers. Najim is with Keller Williams Realty Luxury International in San Antonio, and she is also a certified staging consultant and an interior design consultant. With her design background, she is able to work with buyers to visualize themselves in the home of their dreams, and to help sellers make their homes appealing to buyers.

Kristal Powell is the co-founder of CKC Custom Homes who serves as the driving force behind the beauty and elegance that is evident in the company’s finished homes. She uses a hands-on approach, personally assisting clients in the selection of paint, tile, cabinets and all aspects of design. Much of CKC’s success can be attributed to Powell’s passion for perfecting the unique style of CKC Custom Homes.

Adam Sanchez founded Diamante Custom Homes in 1992. Early work included remodeling and addition projects. The scope of projects increased significantly through the years, and Diamante Custom Homes is now firmly rooted in the luxury home market. This “different by design” builder now completes custom homes ranging from the low $300s to more than $4 million, and has been the recipient of numerous Parade of Homes and Summit awards.

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Gabriel Diego Delgado Gabriel Diego Delgado is an art consultant at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art. He has spent almost a decade in nonprofit art management, serving as a curator of exhibitions at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art; the project manager of research and development at the Museo Alameda (a Smithsonian affiliate); the community outreach/communications director for an art and education nonprofit; and a working professional artist. He is a freelance curator and arts reviewer for several publications. His artwork has been shown in Arco 2012 (Madrid, Spain), New York, New York and MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) D.C., as well as numerous galleries and venues.

paulette jemal Paulette Jemal is a global property specialist and a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. With a degree in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, she is also a writer/producer for Telemundo and a freelance writer for a number of Hispanic advertising agencies. Jemal is currently one of the luxury specialists at Keller Williams Luxury International at the Dominion.

Fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, English and Portuguese, she lists and sells property worldwide.

special advertising section

DI N E NHOME

G i ve y ou r k i t c h en a b r e a k ton i g h t a nd d i ne w i t h us

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Frederick Costa continues to write his love sonnets in fine cuisine and wine and the latest creation is not only a new look for Frederick’s Restaurant — complete with a fresh menu featuring his latest French and Asian favorites offering a variety of tastes to try.

// advisory board // belinda vela-reyna Belinda Vela-Reyna is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master of Science degree in Educational Guidance and Counseling from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. She retired from an 11-year career as a U.S. probation officer for the Western District of Texas San Antonio Division to stay home with her two beautiful daughters, Alexandria and Mia. She also has two amazing stepchildren, Danielle and John, and a wonderful husband. She has always had a passion for design, and she recently enjoyed renovating her new home with the help of Trent Hultgren.

barry denton As the director of real estate sales at Cordillera Ranch, Barry Denton is dedicated to creating an environment where people work together to consistently exceed goals. Prior to joining Cordillera Ranch, he worked for Bluegreen Communities, starting as a sales consultant in 2000 and ultimately becoming the South Texas regional sales director in 2009. Denton also has a background in teaching and in the golf business, and he remains a member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he has been a licensed real estate agent since 1991 and a licensed broker since 2005.

dale ponder Dale Ponder is the owner and operator of Cozy Outdoor Escapes, an outdoor living retail center focusing on customer service and high-end equipment. His career started in the electrical trades, where he held various positions in a large, nonunion shop in San Antonio, where he was raised.

He later entered the international market, project managing the construction of drug interdiction radar sites throughout South and Central America and owning and operating a telecommunication construction service company in Caracas, Venezuela. Ponder left the business in 2010 to pursue his passion for the outdoor living retail sector. He developed a business plan, and Cozy Outdoor Escapes opened to the public in March 2011.

To make reservations call #210.885.3782

www.frederickssa.com M O N D AY T H R O U G H F R I D AY: 11:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. lunch 5:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m. dinner S AT U R D AY: 5:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m. dinner

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Rev. Dr. Claudette Copeland Rev. Dr. Claudette Copeland has served in a variety of ministry settings, including the Hospital Chaplaincy and the Mission Field (in Haiti, South Africa, West Africa and East Africa), and is a former member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Copeland is a founding co-convener of the Women in Ministry Training Conference, serving aspiring and active women ministers in all seasons of their journey. She is married to the Bishop David Michael Copeland. She serves with her husband as executive pastor of the New Creation Christian Fellowship Church, a thriving nondenominational church in Windcrest, Texas, just outside San Antonio. Copeland also has a passion and appreciation for beautiful homes and exquisite décor.

t he

bar

a t

boh

a n a n

’ s.

A New Bar With An Old Tradition.

An elegantly appointed Old World bar where cordial

Like the great old bars of the past, we dispense classic

bartenders practice their venerable art behind a

cocktails, exotic beverages and good cheer in a

46-foot bar of reverently polished cherrywood. The

civilized setting. Join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres,

cheerful clinking of glasses punctuates the rich notes

then come upstairs to Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and

of the baby grand piano.

Seafood for the best steak you’ve ever had.

(210) 472 - 22 0 2

# 221 East Houston Street San Antonio, Texas

www . boh a n a ns . com

C e l e b r at e w i t h u s — t h e b a r i s o p e mn a r! c h / / a p r i l 2 0 1 3 N H O M E /

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// dining //

Growing Up Grilling

What better way to savor and celebrate the beautiful South Texas spring than to finetune your skills in the fine art of grilling? // by: jaime martinez

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

Food is comforting; it’s tradition. In the spring, as the weather in Texas becomes perfect for outdoor grilling, I look forward to cooking barbecue chicken, and then firing up spare ribs with the brisket bone still attached – meat that’s very tender and moist.

Our traditional Easter cookout consists of brisket, the ultimate barbecue undertaking and the absolute best way to feed a large

“I think grilling and barbecuing are part of being a Texan, and for me, part of growing up.” family or group of friends. After Easter, birthday season begins in my house with rib eyes and tenderloin, both perfect for the grill.

Grilling is the first way I learned how to cook meat – or really, anything. I think grilling and barbecuing (or “Q-ing it up,” as my grilling buddies say) are part of being a Texan, and for me, part of growing up.

Being in tune with the fire and coals takes practice and dedication.

It becomes an art. I started cooking on the pit when I was 9 years old.

Each weekend, I watched my father load the pit and studied how he arranged the coals, all while standing by and asking questions. One Saturday, he turned to me and said, “Hey, you cook today,” and I haven’t stopped cooking since.

After that, I immersed myself in all aspects of the art of the grill.

Smoking, barbecuing – I would and can cook pretty much anything on an open flame. Grilling is such a fulfilling act for me. I love the way people look when they see the food coming off the pit. I sit and watch my friends and family enjoying the

food before ever thinking to take a bite myself. There is nothing like making the people around you happy, and with my family, good food and good company make us happy.

I’ve now been in the meat business for 11 years, and I have spent seven of those years at Whole Foods Market. As a butcher and a team leader at a beautiful store in Bee Cave, Texas, I’m able to share my passion and knowledge with shoppers and fellow team members on a daily basis. Here, we think about each piece of meat and care about it – you can see it when you walk into our department with the 5-Step Animal Welfare Program at each of our stores.

What we do as meat cutters is a true craft. I use any interaction with shoppers as a chance to make sure they are aware of the things we do differently, like grinding beef, making custom sausage blends and processing our meat right here in the store. The quality is high, and all of the meat comes from animals raised without antibiotics; plus, the options of pasture-raised, grass-fed march//april 2013 NHOME /

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and organic are abundant and available.

Most importantly to me as a butcher and griller, I know I’m making a difference in the way animals are raised simply by

choosing the products we do. By being conscious about what I’m eating, I support the farmers who care to raise animals with respect, and help my business become better.

ef Chile Barbecue Boeffee Cure Rub andcuC ps) (Makes 2 1/2

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Method:

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Grilling Methods and Techniques (From the Complete Grilling Guide at www.wholefoodsmarket.com) Ready to fire up the grill? Whether you’re using a grill that’s gas or charcoal, there are three basic methods for outdoor cooking.

The most commonly used is grilling with direct heat, which means positioning foods on the grill directly above the flames or coals, usually with temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Fahr-

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

enheit. Use this method for foods that take less than 25 minutes to cook such as kabobs, tempeh, tofu, vegetables, sausages, steaks, hamburgers and most seafood.

Grilling with indirect heat involves cooking the food adjacent to the fire or coals, but not directly over them, then closing the lid to create an oven-like cooking environment. Temperatures

Although we often use the terms “grilling” and “barbecuing” interchangeably, technically, there is a difference. should range from approximately 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and wood chips may be used on a charcoal grill if a smoky flavor is desired. The indirect method is best for larger pieces of meat like whole chickens or turkeys, ribs, roasts and leg of lamb.

To cook indirectly: When using a gas grill, leave one burner off and place the meat on the grate directly over the cool burner. When using a charcoal grill, pile all of the coals along the sides of the grill, and place the food in the center away from the hot coals. Many experts recommend placing a metal drip pan beneath the grate where the food will sit (to col-

lect juices as it cooks).

Although we often use the terms “grilling” and “barbecuing” interchangeably, technically, there is a difference. Barbecuing involves cooking foods slowly at a much lower temperature using indirect heat and “smoking” it. Authentic barbecue is traditionally cooked in a pit (prefabricated smoker or fire pit, raised brick or stone fire pit or even a hole in the ground).

This method provides a delicious, smoky flavor and exceptional tenderness, but it takes time – usually hours or sometimes all day. Barbecuing works best for large cuts of meat such as whole pigs or

turkeys and for tougher cuts like brisket or spareribs that benefit from long slow cooking.

(Quick tip: Don’t let bad weather put a damper on grilling adventures. Use a cast-iron stovetop grill pan or an electric countertop grill and simply follow the same guidelines you would on a “real” grill for any type of food. Use a meat thermometer to gauge the proper temperature.) ■

Want more grilling techniques? Visit the Grilling Guide at www.wholefoodsmarket.com for recipes, tips and more.

march//april 2013 NHOME /

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// custom homes //

The Best of Both Worlds San Antonians can enjoy both indoor and outdoor luxury living in the exclusive Amorosa and Campanas at Cibolo Canyons communities, brought to you with an extra touch of elegance by Sitterle Homes.

// Special to NHOME // photography: jason roberts

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

NHOME Builder Spotlight

T

he tranquility of the community. The relaxing atmosphere. The enjoyment of warm spring and summer nights on a beautiful custom patio. These are the qualities that drive San Antonians to experience luxurious living in a Sitterle home.

Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons and Campanas at Cibolo Canyons provide garden homes that encompass the best of San Antonio living and are convenient to local shopping and the Stone Oak medical community.

In these gated communities, residents are able to enjoy exclusive amenities, including clubhouses, swimming pools and

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easy access to the TPC Golf Resort and JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa. Aside from the first-rate amenities, the beautiful, wide-open spaces that surround each Sitterle home are truly remarkable in these communities. Just a few steps into the backyard, residents of Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons and Campanas at Cibolo Canyons can bask in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.

Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons offers floor plans ranging from 1,800 to nearly 2,500 square feet. Behind the luxurious garden home is a covered patio that makes it easy for residents to gather family and friends for a relaxing evening under the Texas sunset,

“The location within the Texas Hill Country provides the perfect backdrop for summer get-togethers.�

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“Sitterle Homes has the ability to create an atmosphere of comfort both inside and outside the home.�

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from barbecues and birthday parties to wedding and baby showers.

“Our outdoor living areas add that extra touch of comfort and elegance to each of our garden homes,” says Susan McLarty, a sales professional with Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons. “And their location within the Texas Hill Country provides the perfect backdrop for summer get-togethers.”

Amorosa isn’t the only community in Cibolo Canyons with outdoor living options. Beautiful custom decks, like the one currently available at 22307 Viajes, are one of the several options offered for a Sitterle home in Campanas at Cibolo Canyons. As part of the custom deck, residents can enjoy a built-in wine chiller to help celebrate life’s most important moments.

“What makes Sitterle Homes different from all the other homebuilders in Cibolo Canyons is the ability to create an atmosphere of comfort both inside and outside the home,” says John Moon, a sales professional with Campanas at Cibolo Canyons. “Our homes offer a custom patio deck, perfect for the warm summer weather.”

In addition to these custom decks, the beautiful, Spanish-influenced Sitterle homes at Campanas at Cibolo Canyons provide residents with granite countertops and tile flooring in the master bath, and stainless steel Whirlpool appliances in the kitchen.

The spectacular 10,000-square-foot clubhouse features a game room, a library, a ballroom, a professional catering kitchen, a swimming pool with an outdoor kitchen, a tennis area and more.

“The views of the greenbelt that Sitterle Homes residents experience from their backyard are breathtaking,” McLarty says. “They almost make you want to spend more time outside your home than inside it.” ■

For more information, visit the Sitterle Homes website at www.sitterlehomes. com/friends. Additional information is available at the Campanas at Cibolo Canyons office and the Amorosa at Cibolo Canyons office at 22710 Colibries.

You may also call us at 210-321-9821. march//april 2013 NHOME /

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// custom homes //

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

A Place in the Sun

The book “Contemporary Villas� highlights Cloud 9, an ideal place in the sun based on memories and memory making. // by: Patricia Hart McMillan

The main house,

a gathering place, is called the mess hall.

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Cloud 9 is designed as a beautiful memory maker.

A side porch provides seating in the shade and preserves front-ofhouse views of the lake.

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S

ummer is a time of sun-filled days and star-filled nights in a place designed for memory making. Ted Flato of Lake/Flato Architects created such a place for his clients. We included it in “Contemporary Villas,” a book chock full of great summer places – no two alike.

Here, excerpted from our book, is a peek at Cloud 9, a contemporary version of the Old World pleasure villa.

“The clients’ desires were modest and straightforward: two bedrooms, a main living/kitchen area and provision for a lot of outdoor living,” Flato said.

“They envisioned a compound – separate cabins, replete with the trek to the mess hall – that celebrated the outdoors like the summer camps they had known as youths.

“Cloud 9 is that camp realized as a private dwelling – a compound of three buildings (the summer camp connection). All three buildings use simple

The multi-level lakeside pavilion has space for dining, a sleeping porch and a dock.

Three buildings make up the Cloud 9 compound by architect Ted Flato of Lake/Flato Architects.

Photographs by Chris Cooper, courtesy Lake Flato Architects, as seen in “Contemporary Villas�

(Strahan/McMillan/McMillan, Schiffer Publishing)

march//april 2013 NHOME /

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construction techniques and materials.”

To heighten a sense of intimate connection to the outdoors, Cloud 9’s three buildings are sited along the natural sloping land with commanding views of the hills and sky. On a southeast slope, an open-air shelter takes advantage of coastal breezes and optimal solar orientation for gatherings of family and friends.

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The Main House: On the crest of the hill is the main 1,891-square-foot interior living area. “A sophisticated ‘mess hall,’ it is living and dining room and kitchen,” Flato said. Generous overhangs and large operable doors and windows on the north and south sides provide balanced daylight with minimal solar gain (and maximum cross ventilation so that natural breezes cool this room when the air conditioning is turned off). A porch at one side preserves views of the lake from the main living area.

The Bedroom Structure: The porch connects to a two-bedroom structure (described by the architect as a “dog run shed”) via a vine-covered arbor.

The open-air “dog run” design of the bedroom shed allows for additional cross ventilation, natural daylight and a seamless connection to the outdoors.

The Lake Pavilion steps down the slope to the lake in three levels to 600 square feet of outdoor living space. At the top is a screened sleeping porch – a favorite bunk area for guests who delight in the serene lake view. At midlevel is an outdoor living/dining area.

At the lower level and water’s edge is a dock.

Cloud 9 – based on memories – is designed as a beautiful memory maker.

Read more about Cloud 9 in “Contemporary Villas” (Strahan/McMillan/McMillan, Schiffer Publishing). ■

Interior designer Patricia Hart McMillan is the author of 15 books on architecture and interior design, including “Home Decorating For Dummies.” She resides in San Antonio, Texas.

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// custom homes //

All in the Family

After building a beautiful awardwinning home for a client in 2007, Silverleaf Custom Homes has been invited to build a second home for this client – this time, focusing on family enjoyment. // by: Cedar Joiner // photography: Elijah Zane

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

As a builder, the highest compliment you can receive is when a homeowner asks if you can build their second home. The owners of this spectacular 2007 Parade Home located in the Dominion loves the home Silverleaf Custom Homes built for them so much that they have asked Silverleaf to build a second home (extension) on the lot right behind this featured home.

“What a compliment,” says Katie Miller, owner of Silverleaf Custom Homes. During the early design stages, our focus was to build a custom home designed for entertaining, but with a strong emphasis on the family living in the home. After getting to know the family of this home and now being asked to continue our work, we know we succeeded with our main focus.

In 2007, Silverleaf Custom Homes built a 2007 Parade Winning Home in the Dominion in San Antonio. This 7,000-square-foot home won Best Water Feature and Best Interior Design. The spacious home boasts private living areas both indoors and outdoors. The center courtyard, situated right in the middle of the home, serves as the focal point of the house, featuring patio,

This is truly a home built for a family to enjoy.

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The house is elegant, but not too overstated.

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garden and pool views from nearly every room.

The main area in the inside of the house centers on a large gourmet kitchen, a separate breakfast room, a family room and a formal dining room. Here is where you will find the family the majority of the time.

The elegant master suite is located on one side, enduring privacy. A beautiful private casita with its own private bath, kitchen and patio is perfect for guests to enjoy during their stay. Three additional bedrooms are staged around a game and play room, located close to the kitchen – a perfect setup for the children.

Located in the front area of the home, you will find an elegant study with views to the winding staircase to the second floor, where you will find an observatory, a sundeck and a home theater. The craftsmanship encompasses hand-carved cabinets throughout the home, stone floors with beautiful inlayed designs and walnut flooring to the barrel tile roof.

The house is elegant, but not too overstated. When you enter this magnificent house, you feel overwhelmed by the beauty, but warmth immediately enters your body. This is truly a home built for a family to enjoy. â–

For more information, visit www.silverleafcustomhomes.com.

march//april 2013 NHOME /

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// outdoor //

Accessories can be as simple as a clear glass pitcher of water garnished with slices of lemon or orange. (Photo courtesy of Ann Sacks Tile, as seen in “Designing & Living With Glass Tiles”)

Show and Sell

Five tips for keeping it seasonal and fresh when setting the stage for a summertime sale // by: Patricia Hart McMillan

W

e all know that to show and sell our house in the winter, we paint the entry hall a warm, inviting color, turn on all of the lamps, light a fire in the fireplace, bake muffins with lots of cinnamon and wait for the bidding war to begin.

But a change of season means a change of mood. Forget the things you do when the weather is cool and the days are gray. Summer and sunshine call for fresh thinking that includes fresh-looking, airy interiors and exteriors. Here are five tips for setting the stage for a summertime sale.



Paint the front door pretty.

Doors – especially brown wooden doors – seem quickly weathered in San Antonio’s climate. I suggest painting the door a beautiful color. I painted our door a pale creamy color that’s only a little lighter than the exterior trim. For a client, I specified a bright blue that relates to the blue reflection from glass in adjacent living room windows. Any light color – sky blue, cream, bright white, rose pink, mint green – will seem fresh, young in spirit

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A colorful planter (like this one by Mixed Up Mosaics/NYC) near an entry is a cheerful welcome.

De-cluttering helps buyers focus on essential architecture and great exterior views. (Photo courtesy of Trend Tiles, as seen in “Designing & Living With Glass Tiles�)

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Lighten the look by slipcovering dark upholstery in white, beige or a light color. (Photo courtesy of Ann Sacks Tile, as seen in “Designing & Living With Glass Tiles”)

paintings in deeply carved rococo frames. Hang art with summer themes such as beachscapes, garden-scapes, fields of flowers and casual bouquets.

You can also opt for black-andwhite photographs with lots of white matting. Add a pretty pitcher of a refreshing drink to the kitchen counter. Garnish with lemon or orange slices.



Think summer color for accessories. A wonderful thing about the beige walls and floors so prevalent in San Antonio is that it’s quick and easy to switch from a winter to a summer color scheme by changing pillows, mats for art, area rugs, flowers and objects/ art. If your sofa and chairs are a dark fabric, slipcover them in white duck or linen. Switching these things is a small investment that should pay a big dividend: a sale!

and happy. Choose a color that works with the exterior color of walls, trim and roofing.



Clear a path. Remove or rearrange furniture that blocks the pathway through the house. In the entry, keep only an essential seat and console.

There should be a clear path from the living room entry through the room and to all exits. If a sofa or table presents it back, move it. Homebuy-

40

ers should not have to walk around furniture blocking entry in any room. Check each one. (And de-clutter while you’re at it! Leave only the essentials in each room – spaces will look larger and more gracious.)



Add fresh flowers outside and indoors. Add an exciting planter near the front door.

Indoors, put the fake flowers in mothballs (not literally, but

/ NHOME march//april 2013

you know what I mean). Spring for a $15 bouquet of fresh flowers from your local H-E-B or Costco to place on the living room coffee table. In the kitchen, add a flowering plant in a pretty cachepot. Replace fireplace logs with baskets of ferns.



Art and accessories should say “summer.” Remove all of those fantastic snow-scapes and dark, heavy, “serious”

Interior designer Patricia Hart McMillan is a principal at DS Architects, a San Antonio firm. Her visual merchandising designs include projects for furniture manufactures, to-the-trade showrooms, retailers and homeowners. She has written extensively on visual merchandising for leading trade publications. She’s the author of 15 books on architecture and interior design, including “Home Decorating For Dummies.”

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// outdoor //

A Personal Touch With the wealth of options available for outdoor living and landscaping, remember to incorporate your own personality and lifestyle when creating your ideal luxury outdoor living space. // by: Chris Greer

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T

oday’s modern landscape design takes the traditional, simple lawn and extends the enjoyable living space of your home into the existing natural appeal of the outdoors. Outdoor living spaces presently incorporate all of the elements of indoor living, from purposeful living areas to the finest detailed custom accents that create a true estate home to be enjoyed both inside and out.

The most important thing to remember when designing your out-

shower. Look for and think of creative, unique ways to transition to the backyard from your home’s existing doorways and passages.

You might gather ideas from what your neighbors have done, or better yet, study numerous examples of backyard ideas and create a complementary blend of multiple design ideas that are unique to your home.

Think of extending home life by creating outdoor rooms. Just like the inside of your home, your outdoor space should have designated areas for the

Always remember to blend the look and feel of your home’s interior into the exterior.

door living space is to blend the look and feel of your home’s interior into the exterior. Choose a garden style that complements the style of your home and integrates some of the same colors and furniture styles and even similar accessories.

An additional way to define the interior and exterior unity is to simply connect the two with entranceways. Think about allowing a kitchen doorway to provide access to a sunny terrace with a fresh herb garden, or how a dining room exit might be able to extend into an outdoor eating area.

If you have a door off of your master bedroom, you could consider connecting your bedroom to a romantic, fragrant flower garden with a private outdoor

many different things you and your family do, from hobbies and relaxing to entertaining and recreation.

Decorate your outdoor rooms just like you would the interior of your home, with fine patio furniture and accessories (obviously weatherproof), and even integrate the same overall color scheme.

Dining areas and outdoor kitchens are common elements of a modern landscape design. This may be as simple as a grill and picnic table or as elaborate as a custom outdoor kitchen with stainless steel accessories and formal patio furniture.

Outdoor living rooms can serve many purposes, and many upscale homes incorporate more than one outdoor living area to serve these functions. Plan this living space with consideration to the time of day it will be used and the amount of sunlight desired.

These areas can be used for relaxing, lounging, entertaining and even recreation. You can integrate interesting wood decks, beautiful stone patios or terraces into a design plan in order to suit your wants and needs.

Outdoor areas designated for recreation depend on the hobbies and interests of you and your family. Swimming pools, outdoor spas, workshops and backyard sports areas are all possibilities that can be tastefully integrated into your backyard landscape design.

Living spaces designed specifically for sitting, lounging or simply enjoying the beauty of the garden are equally important. These areas often center on a focal point of landscape design like a fountain, sculpture or swimming pool.

Swimming pools are a great way to enjoy the landscape during the heat of the day, to exercise or to simply relax in the comfort of your own home. Designs march//april 2013 NHOME /

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Your landscape is an extension of your home, and it should reflect a similar style and appearance. in general have evolved dramatically over the past decade. The standard pool design of a rectangle outlined with some tiles or bricks in standard colors used to be the most common in homes and businesses, but it is actually no longer the norm.

Now people want pool designs that reflect their personal lifestyle, with custom and innovative features such as vanishing edges, elaborate waterfalls, grottos, accent lighting and lush landscaping. Pool designs can reflect the personality of the home or business owner and truly transform the entire dynamic of a space.

One of the simplest and most noticeable beginning features in a pool’s design is the shape itself. While rectangular will always be the shape of choice for lap pools and a more modern appeal, some people may prefer something more traditional that inhabits more of an aquatic inspiration – for example, something with soft, rounded shapes that reflect a more organic body of water.

The architectural style of the house can be another way to conceptualize one’s pool design. In addition to shape, incorporating

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the same colors or shades from the house in a pool’s design can be a great way to add a cohesive bond between the two elements.

The most important thing to remember when having a pool designed is its ability to enhance the lifestyle of the homeowner and everyone who uses the pool. After all, isn’t that the entire reason you’re considering a new swimming pool?

Always discuss your wants and needs with a designer during initial consultations and remember to think about factoring features like a spa, a children’s pool, a cabana bar, an outdoor kitchen, beached entrances, custom fountains, slides, dive platforms and/ or lounge areas. A designer can only be as good as the information he or she is given by a client.

Modern pools and their features are changing dramatically with new technology each day, particularly when it comes to lighting.

Lighting can be almost an art form in any type of architecture; it can be used cleverly to enrich the custom elements that are clearly noticeable during daylight hours, but disappear at dawn.

Think of a vanishing pool edge that appears to be rolling off into the horizon during the day; when adding the element of fiber optic lighting, you can highlight that same edge for the more nocturnal crowd, which is otherwise lost at night.

The pool’s lighting design isn’t the only thing changing these

days, either; the control features have also evolved quite a bit. Nowadays, it’s possible to control everything from the lighting, the temperature and custom fountains and water features to all outdoor media simply and seamlessly with one remote control.

During the process of designing your backyard, think of all finished details, down to the accessories you will use to fill the spaces once construction is complete.

Modern landscape design truly reflects the comforts and beauty of luxurious indoor living, right in the natural elements of the outdoors.

There are a number of accessories designed to resist rain, sun and other weather conditions that are traditionally found on the interior of the home. Giving thought to all of these items and their size is very important during the initial design concept phase. You wouldn’t want to build a patio with a specific table in mind to place on it, only to find out that it doesn’t fit.

Patio furniture is an excellent way to add comfort and style to your outdoor living area. From luxurious teak dining sets and traditional tables and chairs to more contemporary outdoor couches

and weather-resistant recliners, outdoor furniture is definitely a necessity. Outdoor rugs add safety, as well as beauty to your outdoor area.

Think about selecting colors and designs that blend with the rest of your outdoor design. Bright, vibrant colors are often an appreciated contrast to the neutral, cold hues of outdoor flooring.

Things like curtains, shades and other privacy accessories are designed for outdoor use, as well, and can add a more intimate feel to the area. There are manufacturers that specifically produce things such as candles, artistic wall hangings, throw pillows and other accessories that are designed for outdoor use. There are many other decorative accents found on the inside of your home that can add comfort and personality to your backyard landscape design, as well.

Always remember to incorporate your own personal taste into your outdoor living space with your favorite patterns in furniture and accessories; it’s a unique way to personalize your backyard.

Just like in the interior of your home, lighting options are a great way to create

the right ambiance and atmosphere in your outdoor rooms. Low-voltage lighting is a backyard landscape design favorite, but there are several factors to consider when designing outdoor lighting.

It’s best to consult with your designer when completing this process. The last thing you want is a beautiful landscape by day and Fenway Park (that’s a monumental baseball stadium that hosts the Boston Red Sox, for those who aren’t sports fans) by night.

From the beginning of initial design concepts and hand renderings to the very last plant that goes in the ground, always remember one simple thing: Creating the perfect backyard landscape can be as simple or as complicated as your home, budget and taste allow. You control it all!

And it is as much art as it is science. Remember: Your landscape is an extension of your home, and it should reflect a similar style and appearance. The best backyard landscape design is a plan that allows you and your family to enjoy the beauty of nature and your favorite outdoor activities, while adding function and value to your property. ■

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Sanchez Pools is licensed, insured and bonded. Sanchez Pools is also a member of the Better Business Bureau, and a Hayward select pool builder. march//april 2013 NHOME /

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// home decorating //

Taking Luxury Outdoors Redefine outdoor luxury living by following a few

simple steps for maximizing your outdoor living space. // by: Kim Young

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/ NHOME march//april 2013

The kitchen We all know the kitchen is the heart of the home. Luxury buyers want the full kitchen experience outdoors, along with an al fresco dining experience. In order to accomplish that outdoor cooking experience, appliance companies such as Viking offer a complete outdoor kitchen, providing everything you’d expect, as if you were a gourmet chef.

Gas grills, charcoal smokers, electric smokers, outdoor warming drawers and ventilation redefine “cooking out.” Add all of that to under-counter refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines in stainless steel cabinetry that won’t be affected by weather, rot or insects.

al fresco dining Outdoor dining has almost become an art form. No longer do we have to endure the heat, the hard ground, a blanket and the ants in order to enjoy eating outside. Things to consider in making your outdoor dining space a success should include at least the following:

T

oday’s luxury homebuyer wants outdoor living space – even more so in San Antonio and other areas with warm climates, which are perfect for almost year-round outdoor living and entertaining. There are countless ways to create an outdoor space perfect for you and your family.

People are spending more time outdoors. A good way to do that and still keep your family at home instead of at the neighbors’ house is to expand your

interior. Make your outdoor space an extension of your interior space.

“Professional designs ensure a smooth transition to and from the indoors, and provide artful square footage and the proper utility connections for all of the desired features,” says Craig Campbell, president of Campbell-Brown Construction. “Careful planning should accommodate year-round enjoyment through creative options for shade, sun and other weather conditions.”

❶ Comfort: Make sure to have attractive and comfortable chair cushions. Consider the tabletop, glasses that wobble and condensation that drips onto toes, which can be unnecessary distractions. ❷ Scenery: Portable trash containers or pool equipment do not make a good backdrop. Low “privacy” fences don’t really hide anything. Landscaping with containers or hardscape screening can solve most location issues. ❸ Ambience: Lighting and sound go a long way in providing a pleasing dining experience. It’s hard to eat in the dark, and soft music distracts from loud insect noises in the summer.

The family room One of my favorite ways to extend the inside out is with retractable glass wall systems. Not only do they take the inside outdoors, but beautiful lush scenery is march//april 2013 NHOME /

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enhanced with unobstructed views when not open.

A fireplace or fire pit is a traditional feature in outdoor living. When deciding where to place one, take into consideration what you will enjoy the most: heat, light or maybe just the sight and sound of a burning fire.

There are many different fireplace designs. Make sure you consider the seating arrangement and the size of furniture you may want to use so that when everything is finished, it all complements your backyard, as well as your home.

Outdoor media entertainment systems can be as elaborate or simple as you desire.

Sound plays a major role in the overall ambience of your outdoor living space. Contact a professional sound design company at the beginning of your project so that wiring requirements are taken into consideration early on.

And don’t forget the lighting.

Outdoor living, dining and kitchen lighting is much like interior lighting. One of the main concerns is atmosphere.

Typically, low-level and soft lighting require luxury lighting techniques and fixtures. A standard electrical plan for outdoor living spaces will probably include lighting for furniture placement, wall art, entertainment systems and the fireplace.

When extending the inside lighting outdoors, keep the whole backyard in mind. Make sure the lighting transitions to major landscaping elements such as the deck or arbor, walkways, large vegetation and architectural items like columns, beams and water features.

swimming pool and water features Many luxury homes have a swimming pool. If you don’t have one, there are companies that specialize in creating opulent outdoor experiences with a custom pool. The pool placement and features should be an esthetically pleasing extension that will complement your other outdoor living spaces.

According to Tom Laurin, president of Elegant Country Homes, “not all luxury homeowners want a swimming pool.

Form follows function – meaning, if you want water, instead of a pool, a therapeutic hot tub or other water feature option can provide similar health benefits, as well as visual and listening pleasure.”

landscaping The final touches can impact the overall enjoyment of an outdoor living space. “I have found that to enjoy your space, you need to have 10 months of color with a balance of evergreen and deciduous plants,” says Brian Riebel, owner of Acacia Landscape & Design.

“Movement within the plants is important visually, as well as creating privacy and intimacy.

We focus these days on low water usage and low maintenance, keeping your landscape beautiful at the same time.”

As with any addition to your luxury home, hire a professional. Seek out those talented people who have a vision and passion for creating great outdoor living. ■

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// home decorating //

Interior Trade Cartel Brings the Outdoors In!

While springtime for most of the country is a slow, thawing-out process, for San Antonians, it can be a season of rapid heating up – which is all the more reason to bring some of the natural elements in.

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The Origins Slab Mirror by the Phillips Collection reflects nature in more ways than one.

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The Phillips Collection’s use of organic shapes, undulating lines and a variety of textures turns natural elements into high art.

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Outdoorables!

Interior Trade Cartel presents its favorite

spring trends for your outdoor décor.

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Springtime is Fiesta time! In San Antonio, it’s not just the flowers that are blooming.

Our city comes alive with color! Company C offers these brights in outdoor pillows and rugs.

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Annie Selke’s graphic indoor/outdoor pillows for Pine Cone Hill are made of 100 percent polypropylene for easy care – and they’re 100 percent cool!

Lexington has taken their Tommy Bahama Furniture outdoors! The looks you love for your home are now available for the patio and poolside. Their Ocean Club collection is a blend of casual sophistication where east meets west with clean, horizontal lines and materials from the Pacific Rim.

Pine Cone Hill’s “Flower Power” nightdress is great for puttering around in the home or on the patio. Made of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent modal, it is breathable for the warm San Antonio spring.

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// green //

Clean Air

By Design

Prevent illness and even possible death by reducing

the contaminants within your home or office and keeping the air clean.

// by: Rita Zenzen Heck

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I

s the air in your home or office making you sick? Statistics show that more than 15 percent of America’s population is affected by poor indoor air quality. Unsafe levels of naturally occurring radon gas cause more than 14,000 lung cancer deaths, and secondhand smoke kills another 3,000 adults and sends 11,000 children to the hospital with respiratory ailments.

Contaminants from heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems (especially dirty ducts and filters), solvents, paints, furnishings, mold, pesticides, insecticides and inadequate ventilation can make you sick.

Combinations of the culprits could kill you.

Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, dry and sore throat, eye irritation, skin rashes, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness and/or cold- or flu-like symptoms that cannot be contributed to other causes.

Single contaminant sources can make you sick, and combinations can kill you. Identifying sources is not easy, but today’s architects,

interior designers and those within the heating/ventilating industry are educated to be more aware of the problem with continuing education classes keeping them up-to-date on creating clean air by design.

Clean air specialists, including now retired John and Lynn Bower, authors and founders of the Healthy House Institute (Muncie, Ind.), and NASA scientist Dr. B.C. (Bill) Wolverton, who added plants to the original space shuttles to improve the closed capsules’ air quality, were pioneers in the field and are still considered experts.

Outside/In San Antonio architect David Bogle, AIA, earned an environmental design degree from Texas A&M and a degree in architecture from the University of Texas several years ago. He went on to apply his expertise to designing institutions in New York City before returning to San Antonio.

“We (architects) specify sustainable exterior building materials and efficient heating/AC/ventilation for homes and buildings,” Bogle said. “LEEDS (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) have been leaders in getting stricter environmental requirements implemented.

“Solar, as it becomes more affordable, is the energy of choice, and more of it is being used in San Antonio. We also urge separate garages to prevent vehicle pollution from entering the home from attached garages.”

Architects also collaborate with interior designers on interior nontoxic selections. Past American Society of Interior Designers – Texas Chapter (ASID-Texas) President Kelley Barnett noted that the organization has taken an active part in assuring clean air inside homes and offices for years.

“Furnishings, flooring, paint, wall coverings, countertops, appliances, cabinets and even adhesives all

contain toxins,” Barnett explained.

“Add high-chemical cleaning, clothing and body-care products, and indoor air can be really dangerous. Each one of these could be a source of contaminants. Combined, they present a bigger challenge to control harmful toxic emission.

“ASID has been a leader in helping control indoor air quality, and offers several classes to update our members’ knowledge of environmental design. Internet access has made clients more informed on sustainable materials and the importance of clean air in their home, and often, they often request updates to comply with current standards.”

More than

15% of America’s population is affected by poor indoor air quality.

The Healthy House Institute The Bowers became aware of the poor indoor air hazards in 1984, when Lynn had severe health problems traced back to commonly used building materials. This inspired John to analyze building products and techniques aimed at building healthier houses and buildings.

Both he and Lynn wrote books and developed videos on the subject, but recently turned most of their attention to Ball University in their home state of Indiana and transferred their Healthy House Institute concept for healthier air to Allen P. Rathey, who is continuing their crusade and expanding on their efforts in Idaho.

Covering and defining every aspect of clean air, the books contain sources of non-toxic products and ways of cleaning up your air, and even include information on nontoxic body care products, clothing and related items.

David Bogle

Plant clean air Indoors or out, some plants can totally purify the air, as proven by Wolverton, who researched which plants purify the air and included them in space shuttles and the space station. Now retired, Wolverton heads Wolverton Environmen-

kelley barnett

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If this house could talk, it would dare you to compare its blazing Internet speeds to your own.

You’d hear words like “killer online gaming” and “ultimate business tool.” It would brag about the ultimate technology running through it, just like thousands of other fiber optic homes in the Hill Country — all powered by GVTC. So, what would your house say? gvtc.com 800-367-4882 Internet TV Phone Security

Houseplants reduce chemical vapors emitted by synthetic materials. tal Services, Inc., a company that studies individual facilities’ clean air and water problems.

His latest book, “Plants: Why You Can’t Live Without Them” (which he co-authored with Kozaburo Takenaka, who owns the largest indoor landscaping company in Tokyo, Japan), and three earlier books (“Growing Clean Water,” “How to Grow Fresh Air” and “Eco-Friendly Houseplants”) are available from his website and other sources, including Amazon. com.

Because chemical pollutants commonly found indoors (formaldehyde, benzyne and zylene) have structures similar to components in tannic and human acids, microbes adapt to biodegrade these chemicals – the basis of plant-related improved air quality.

Research has shown that plant-filled rooms (18 to 20 plants) contain 50 to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and bacteria than comparable plant-less spaces. Overwatered plants, however, can spill over carpets, causing mold that is not plant-related.

According to Wolverton, houseplants: 1) reduce chemical vapors emitted by synthetic materials; 2) add healthy, microbial-free humidity to dry indoor air; and 3) reduce airborne old spores and bacteria.

Simple clean-ups • Potpourri: Natural dried herbs, spices and flower petals • Aerosol deodorizers and disinfectants: Be sure the cure does not outgas the cause.

• Safe sprays: Such as Smells Begone • Baking soda and borax: Absorb odors in small areas.

Also are good cleaning agents.

• Activated charcoal: In a shallow pan, it absorbs odors, odor molecules (tobacco smoke, metabolic products, plastics and other synthetics) that adhere to surfaces (available at aquarium stores).

• Zeolite: Absorbs some airborne pollutants. Renewable.

(Non-Scents, Molecular Absorber)

Creative Overflow/The Green Connection is located at 201 Barrera, San Antonio, Texas 78210. For more information, call 210-212-8031. You may also check out Rita Zenzen Heck’s latest book, “Strippers Stars & Presidents,” or visit www.heckuvalife.com.

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// real estate //

Unlocking Dreams Consistently ranking in the Platinum Top 50 and admittedly living and breathing real estate, Denise Graves lives her own dream and treats clients like royalty at The Graves Group. // by: Cori Smelker // photography: Robin Jerstad

When you meet someone who loves what they do and also loves people, it’s like a breath of fresh air. That is what it’s like meeting Denise Graves for the first time. Her big hazel eyes focus on you completely, and it’s like no else exists. It’s that personal attention that has made her the successful realtor she is. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a $150,000 home or a $5 million home, Graves will treat you like royalty.

Meeting her for the first time, I was struck by her accent.

“I’m from Louisiana,” she says with that unmistakable Southern drawl, “but I moved here in 1980s, so I’m practically a native.”

It was after the 1980s bust in Texas that her husband persuaded her to become a realtor, and she has not looked back since. She partnered with Bradfield Properties for many years before coming on board with Phyllis Browning and creating The Graves Group, along with her husband, who retired from USAA a few years ago.

There are more than 8,000 realtors in San Antonio at any given time, and turnover is high. So how is Graves able, every year since 2001, to be one of the city’s Platinum »

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“I like people, and I love houses.

If you help people and do what you love, you’ll be successful.”

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Top 50? In 2012, she was No. 3 in the city – no small feat. She believes it’s because she really listens to her clients.

“I’m coming into their lives at a pivotal point,” she says. “Buying and selling a home is one of the most important, exciting, yet daunting events in a person’s life. When I sit down with the couple, the family, the person, I make a list of everything they say they want in a house. Oftentimes, as they’re talking, I have already got a home in mind for them.”

Graves describes how one couple talked about the view they wanted to have. She knew of the right house and staged it perfectly. Her assistant took champagne to the house and had it chilling by the pool that overlooked breathtaking views of the Hill Country. Graves and her assistant led the couple to the pool area and left them alone. Ten minutes later, Graves knew she had sold the house.

“I unlock their dreams,” she says.

Being a realtor is more than just selling houses. Graves says she becomes a sounding board, and in some ways a psychologist and a counselor.

There are times when one person loves a home and the other doesn’t.

She has to assess the situation and see whether she needs to show more homes, or whether she can help the couple reach a compromise.

Technology has impacted every area of our lives, and this is no different in the world of real estate. Graves uses every form of technology at her fingertips, from email to texting, from Facebook to YouTube, from Craigslist to Zillow.

“But there is a fine balance between tech and touch,” she cautions.

“There are some clients who would be offended if we only communicated via text, and for others, they prefer texts only.” At the end of the day, Graves says it is still about customer service and giving clients what they need.

Graves’ love for the city shines through, too. She loves its diversity and the fact that the economy in San

Antonio has stayed steady. In the last year, she has started to see real estate swing back to the highs of the mid 2000s. “We have a healthy market because of the biomedical field and other high-tech companies that choose to relocate here.”

She also sees a large number of transplants from California, and from the Northern states, looking for more affordable housing, a better cost of living and a slower-paced lifestyle.

Mexican Nationals also make up a fair portion of her clientele.

Graves does not deny that the world of real estate has treated her well. She makes a good income from it, but she says she does not think in terms of money when she is showing houses. She looks at what the client needs and tries to meet that need. “I like people, and I love houses,” she says. “If you help other people and do what you love, you’ll be successful.”

In her “downtime,” Graves loves to play video games. “I know,” she laughs. “I don’t look like a gamer. But I love horror movies, too!” When she has time to read, she devours Stephen King novels – “a master story teller.” She loves rock music, and although San Antonio is not known for its alternative music, there are a few places up and down the I-10 corridor where one can hear a good group.

At the end of the day, though, Graves lives and breathes real estate.

It is her job, her passion and her life.

She has surrounded herself with people who feel the same way, including her husband and assistants. Together, they comprise The Graves Group.

As a group, they pride themselves on their concierge service. “I want my group to be like a Four Seasons Hotel, offering five-star service.” ■

For more information on The Graves Group, contact Denise Graves at dgraves@phyllisbrowning.com or 210-260-2176 (cell), or visit www.thegravesgroup.com.

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// español //

El Patio De Mi Casa

// POR: Paulette Jemal // FOTOGRAFÍA: Ziggi Ragnar

Es particularmente curioso ver como día a día los espacios exteriores se van transformando y pasan de ser de un simple patio como los demás a verdaderos refugios al aire libre conocidos como el Outdoor Living. No importa cual sea nuestro presupuesto, ciertos elementos decorativos son esenciales y dan ese toque para transformar cualquier espacio en una acogedora área que invitará a cualquiera a pasar largas veladas y fomentar amenas charlas entre amigos y familia.

No es necesario ir de compras a lugares muy caros, seguramente en nuestra propia casa tenemos los elementos necesarios para crear el ambiente. Asi que vaya tomándolos prestados de habitación en habitación.

Además de cómodos sillones de exterior y una mesa de comedor con sillas he aquí una guía básica que le ayudará a crear un espacio ideal al exterior que se logra emulando el interior.

1. Una alfombra, puede ser desde un tapete persa, hasta uno de yute o plástico, pero es cierto que las alfombras son mágicas, automáticamente le dan un toque acogedor a cualquier patio de piedra o madera.

2. Tiras de focos, si usted cree que los foquitos son sólo para la época Navideña, reconsidere recrear esa sensación de calidez que siente el alma al ver las luces en un arbolito en las avenidas de la ciudad durante el

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– ANNOUNCING — Platinum Top 50 Realtors of San Antonio

is proud to announce the development of an elite niche networking organization for residential Realtors who specialize in luxury real estate called Luxury League.

to partner with

In partnership with Luxury League, NHOME magazine has been named the official media partner.

PlatinumTop50.com

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No hace falta un gran presupuesto pero si mucha creatividad y habilidad ...

invierno. ¿Porque no recreaer ese sentimiento todo el año?

3. Una chimenea, ya sea que invierta una gran cantidad en construir una de piedra u opte por la versión económica, que puede ser lograda con una chimenea portátil de barro o de metal. El fuego en las noches frescas invita a gozar de los espacios exteriores al calor de las brasas y con un vino en mano.

4. Un toque ‘vintage’, aquí entra en juego la personalidad de cada quién, puede ser desde un refrigerador antiguo de refrescos, hasta una maceta antigua o una escultura de madera o de piedra.

5. Velas blancas o veladoras, resguardadas en una grande vase de

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cristal o un quinque para que no se apaguén las mechas, son una magnífica y económica manera de ambientar cualquier rincón.

6. Cojines decorativos, aparte de los cojines que vienen incluídos con las salas de exterior, los cojines al exterior traen más que comodidad, aportan un estilo de decoración que puede cambiar de acuerdo a la temporada.

“God, Family, then Business”

7. Candiles de herrería, sobre todo si van suspendidos de la rama de un gran árbol, pueden tener lúz eléctrica o simplemente servir para sostener pequeñas velitas, y le dan un nuevo significado a ‘cenar a la luz de las velas’.

8. Un gran espejo, suspendido de una pared de piedra o recargado sobre una mesa larga y delgada, reflejará la luz de las velas y completará el look de su decoración.

Con esta lista en mano, ahora el único ingrediente que falta es la creatividad, la habilidad de crear y dar vida a un nuevo espacio será mucho más fácil con estos elementos que ayudaran a transformar el patio de su casa en una de las habitaciones predilectas de toda la familia. Además de ser una manera fácil de agrandar su casa y agregarle pies cuadrados al área habitacional, sin la molestia ni costo de una gran remodelación. ■

Danyelle Daniel

REALTOR® ALHS, CHMS

(210) 722-0500 ddaniel@kw.com

Para más ideas de decoración de espacios exteriores síguame en Pinterest: paulettejemal Las casas que aparecen en este artículo están a la venta, para más información sobre la compra o venta de su casa o de alguna de estas propiedades: Paulette Jemal Global Property Specialist luxuryhomes@paulettejemal.com www.paulettejemal.com 210-421-9102

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// industry insights //

voices professionals of the

FAQs, as addressed by some of San Antonio’s real estate stars

Some of the industry’s finest weigh in on the most frequent questions they hear when conducting business.

Brian Lavezzari Ecosense Energy

Q: What can you tell homeowners about the enhancement of a home’s solar capacity in their outdoor living space?

A: As the solar industry evolves more and more, residential clients are expressing an interest in the product. However, because of the challenges each specific site can pose, outdoor living structures are becoming a means to enhance a home’s solar capacity. For example, an outdoor living space could be placed strategically to accomplish the following: more direct cardinal south-facing orientation; placement around trees to avoid shading issues; add to or create usable roof top surface area to increase or even allow for a justifiable solar installation; and/or avoid any roof penetrations on the main structure. Solar panels can also be strategically integrated and placed to create and/or enhance shading in outdoor living spaces, as well. At Ecosense, we have partnered with local area contractors who we screened and qualified so that we have the full capability to construct these outdoor structures to any degree or scale and integrate the solar systems into the project in a complete package.

Dale Ponder

Cozy Outdoor Escapes Q: Do I need to have a cover over my new outdoor kitchen?

A: The need for a cover/pavilion over the kitchen is answered from many perspectives.

If a cover is designed and placed properly, it will provide refuge from the elements in both summer and winter, making your investment more usable. If you have a kitchen that is open to the elements, you are less likely to use the kitchen during the extreme times of the year. All of the equipment that we represent is of the highest quality, will withstand the harshest of elements and does not need a cover for the preservation of the equipment. If you purchase equipment that is not of the best stainless or does not have an allweather design, you could have issues after a few years of the equipment deteriorating, and over time, it will need to be replaced. We recommend a cover if the budget allows.

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● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Shawn George Elite Lighting Design

Q: What type of lighting do I do in my yard? And what is the difference between up and down lighting?

A: There are many lighting techniques we use depending on the application. Silhouetting, shadowing, cross, up and down lighting are just a few. A general rule of thumb is up lighting is more curb appeal, beauty, accenting or highlighting a certain feature. Down lighting is more utility, usable light for safety – to see a walkway, steps or kids playing in the yard. A great lighting designer will combine different techniques to create a scene or effect without causing any light pollution or glare in your eyes. Please visit our website at www.elitelightingdesigns.com for more information and examples.

Walter Romera Fine Patio Design

Q: As a high-end patio designer, what are you inspired to do?

A: The city of San Antonio is growing day by day, and our goal is to dress the city one backyard at a time with professionalism and quality.

Jeff Buell and Frank Sitterle Jr. Sitterle Homes

Q: What do you believe a homeowner’s outdoor living space should be like?

A: Our belief is that a homeowner’s outdoor living should be an extension of their personal lifestyle.

It should follow naturally with the rest of the home and speak to the homeowner’s needs. For example, if they like to entertain guests at their home, the outdoor living should speak to that. In our homes, we intricately design our outdoor living spaces to where they address this need.

Kelly Scully

Finishing Touches Q: Do people really spend time outside?

A: They do when they make it part of the home. Pull the inside out! Make it a living space that has all the comforts of the inside. You just gained square footage! march//april 2013 NHOME /

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// great escapes //

Travel Matters

Whether you want to enjoy a

staycation within the city limits or

to venture out to South or Central Texas, the Lone Star State has the ideal spring getaway for you. // by: Edward R. Leos

With spring in the air, it is a time that beckons couples and families alike to find that great travel destination. Living in the San Antonio area makes it even better because of the staycation opportunities that are all within our reach.

Loving the Alamo City Sometimes it’s great to just get lost in your own city. San Antonio offers a myriad of things to do from theme parks and museums to the River Walk and more.

For starters, SeaWorld San Antonio offers incredible roller coasters, rides, shows and tours, as well as a wealth of family-friendly activities for thrill seekers and

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animal lovers. Ready to get wet?

You don’t want to miss Aquatica San Antonio, which is a one-of-akind waterpark blending up-close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme and lush, sandy beaches.

You can’t go to one local theme park without venturing to the other: Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This year, it is preparing to launch the Iron Rattler, a much-anticipated hybrid roller coaster. Not a roller coaster kind of person? How about checking out the incredible live shows, the great restaurants and the awesome waterpark? This is an experience that will keep you coming back for more.

Want to get away?

Because of San Antonio’s central location, you can create a vacation memory in just about every direction you venture, from Austin to the north to South Padre Island to the south.

Austin is known as the “Live Music Capitol of the World,” and it is one of the fittest cities to experience. Just take a quick 75-mile jaunt north, and you will enter an eclectic world of food, music, culture and more. The city offers families, couples and singles alike a great mix of things to do.

Try jogging along Town Lake or hopping on a canoe to experience the water from there. Is golf your game? Austin is home to some of the nicest and most lush golf courses in the state. So grab your clubs and venture to the greens.

Heading south?

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

– St. Augustine Downtown: the heart of the city When you think of getting away, sometimes it’s just as fun to head to the heart: downtown. San Antonio is filled with incredible things to see and do, and a myriad of those adventures are downtown.

Want to escape to a real Mexican market? Then venture over to El Mercado and check out some incredible shops, tasty fare and much more.

Venture to the top two tourist attractions in the state of Texas: the Alamo and the River Walk. Embark on a historical journey by visiting the Alamo, and take a 35-minute boat ride along the San Antonio River Walk and a Rio San Antonio cruise. The River Walk is lined with incredible dining options, including Mexican, Italian, Southwestern and more – all of which leaves you with an array of ways to whet your appetite.

If you want to be on Texas’ most pristine beaches, South Padre Island is the place to go. This perfect spring getaway has the best of both worlds – beautiful beaches and Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

Yes, the hottest, coolest time in Texas has a home on the island that offers guests a ton of incredible things to do, including a new beachfront hotel and a heated indoor water park.

Families love the beach because it has just about everything a kid could want. For the funloving family, why not try a sandcastle class? Or if you are a bit more daring, you can venture the beach on horseback, see it from hundreds of feet in the air as you parasail or skirt across the water on your jet ski.

The island is home to more than 50 restaurants, and it boasts some of the freshest seafood around.

You can’t go to South Padre Island and not try the seafood at such places like Blackbeard’s and La Jaiba.

Traveling?

If you are looking for some great places to venture to from all over the country, stop by our corner of the world at www.thehotelguide.com.

Remember, travel matters. ■

Edward R. Leos is CEO/ publisher of The Hotel Guide and www.thehotelguide.com, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

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Sun-kissed memories await...

192 guest rooms and condominiums * Full-service Sapphire spa * Numerous watersports * Multiple dining options

Pearl South Padre is the premier oceanfront resort located on the island’s southern tip. Surrounded by the clear blue waters of the Texas coastline with tropical breezes, lots of sunshine, swimming pool with swim-up bar, complimentary daily summer activities and of course plenty of Texas hospitality. After a full day of outdoor excursions, savor the flavor of fresh seafood at our Beachside Bar & Grill, then prepare yourself for a treat as you relax to the gentle sounds of the shore just outside your guest room window.

To make your reservation call 956-761-6551 or visit pearlsouthpadre.com.

“Stay Closer to the Water”

The Dunes 888-873-0169 4 Day Special “Stay 3 Nights & Get the 4th Night Free”

Port Aransas

5 Day Special “Check in on Sunday & the 4th & 5th Night Free” *Restrictions apply

Offering one, two, and three bedroom luxury condos.

Each condo offers a private balcony to enjoy a the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico or to watch the ships sail through the Corpus Christi International Ship Channel. Conveniently located close to restaurants, shopping and Port Aransas night life.

Daily, weekly or monthly rates available.

1000 Lantana Drive ~Port Aransas, TX 78373 ~ www.thedunescondos.com

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// arts & culture //

“Native Sun”

by Mark Keathley, 36” x 48,” oil on canvas, courtesy of the artist

Night of the Artists

The art sale and reception features a cultural culmination of contemporary

cowboy and western art. // by: Gabriel Diego Delgado

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There is a robust and rustic rendition of contemporary western art rounding out the rodeo and Fiesta season at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio with the Night of the Artists art sale and reception on March 23, 2013. For more than a decade, the Night of the Artists art sale, reception and exhibition has had the opportunity to celebrate contemporary western art with the who’s who of western artists.

In its 12th year, this art sale continues on display for a free month-long Night of Artists public exhibition, which began as a conceptual art idea perfect for San Antonio that was staged at the “gateway” to South Texas, according to the Briscoe Museum’s executive director, Dr. Steven Karr.

“The Briscoe Museum was formalized with a substantial financial contribution from the late Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. (April 23, 1923 to June 27, 2010),” Karr says. This lead

monetary gift established the funds to create a physical museum in downtown San Antonio that would house such a conceptual the western art endeavor, ultimately located in the historically significant former San Antonio Central Library built in 1930. “The Briscoe Museum has evolved along with the Night of the Artists.”

Previously staged at various venues and locations throughout the decade-long run, last year’s Night of the Artists (2012)

a true Texas flair to the Briscoe Museum’s Night of the Artists. Cavin is a landscape purist, dedicated to the capturing of light, atmosphere and sub-stratospheric heavens bounded by impressionistic traditionalism, while Keathley’s evocative sensibilities are hammered home with lively landscapes and nostalgic pictorial epiphanies of Native American cultural identity.

An artist guided by a time-honored aesthetic principle and mentored by great

Exposed groundcover creates quasi-dirt path trails that seem to dissolve into the background. Tiered horizontal parallels of flora generate diminishing outcroppings, leading the eye straight to point “A” – aka the center point on the horizon line.

Placing this geographical line of demarcation line directly midpoint of the picture plane, the configuration plays favorites to neither the land nor the sky, balancing the importance of the artist’s view. The silhou-

“Night of the Artists has turned into the largest contemporary western art show in Texas.”

Detail of The Briscoe Museum, courtesy of The Briscoe Museum

finally saw its home venue christening on the picturesque grounds of the Briscoe’s Museum’s Jack Guenther Pavilion, part of the one- and one-quarter acres of land comprising two buildings and the new expansive McNutt Courtyard and Sculpture Garden located on the historic San Antonio River Walk.

“There is something unique to this year’s Night of the Artists,” Karr says. A new approach has reshaped this signature San Antonio exhibition into a fun and festive art sale with a competitive application process for the artists. “Night of Artists has turned into the largest contemporary western art show in Texas, with 65 artists featured in this year’s exhibition,” Karr says.

Even through such rigorous processes, two of the spotlighted artists in the Briscoe exhibition are officially represented by local San Antonio galleries. Cliff Cavin and Mark Keathley have been fixtures in the San Antonio art scene for collectively more than 30 years – Cavin at the Boerne J.R. Mooney Gallery and Keathley at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art-San Antonio.

Although they have two different styles and aesthetics, Cavin and Keathley bring

painters like Warren Hunter, George Hughey, William Reese and Wilson Hurley, Cavin finds comfort and freedom in traditional impressionistic landscape painting and a new exploratory longhorn cattle portrait series.

Focusing his attentions on the vast openness of the South Texas region and the ever-expanding deserts of New Mexico, Cavin’s intuitive choreographed artistic calculations in his scenic and visual color soirées create stylized paintings that capture the ambiance of subtle environmental illuminations.

In “Clouds over Nambe,” a large 36” x 48” landscape in Night of the Artists, Cavin portrays a cerulean skyline, full of crepuscular light, enraptured with billows of atmospheric haze, lingering on the dying days of summer sentimentality.

The autumn blossoming of the chamisa, with its golden bloom, accents this stellar impressionistic landscape painting of Nambe, N.M., back-dropped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Winding stretches of desert sand obscured by dense patches of typical New Mexico vegetation invite the viewer into a bathed foreground of aureate shrubbery.

etted mountain range transforms into a strip of neutral value and tone, easing the transition between the earthly divisions.

As derived from more than three decades of careful study, Cavin knows an object in the distance will shift toward blue because it does not reflect as much light.

He revs down his color palette by taking cues from the masters like Leonardo da Vinci, who noticed that as a landscape recedes from the viewer, its colors and tones alter (aerial perspective or atmospheric perspective). Well played, Cavin – well played, indeed!

It’s a textbook landing of hue-rrific proportions for such majestic geographical icons. Nevertheless, Cavin ventures on and reverses the previously used conventional color theory, tuning into another conjecture, and depicts clouds growing darker and warmer instead of cooler, dipping in with subtle scarlet blends in the otherwise blanched firmament.

Contrasting Cavin, Keathley’s painterly essence is found in his quasi-hyper realism. Capturing water ripples, muscle contours, textures and various other details, Keathley proves that contemporary western art is making significant contribumarch//april 2013 NHOME /

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Although they have different styles, Cavin and Keathley bring a true Texas flair to Night of the Artists.

“Clouds over Nambe”

by Cliff Cavin, 36” x 48,” oil on canvas, courtesy of the artist

tions to the art world.

“Native Sun,” a 36” x 48” painting depicting five Native Americans complete with war paint and mounted on horseback, is a titled play on words, referencing American patriotic identities with Native American religious celestial bodies.

Careful attention has been paid to each horse’s coat; unique markings differentiate the equine selections and are mimicked in the smeared applications of Native American bodily decorations.

However, poised at various attentive gestures, the signatory western art animals are looking in different directions – each reflecting on their own territorial owning of the vast open plains.

But there is no outward distinction of the contemplative notions of the Indian riders. Silhouetted by the drooping setting sun, each face is hallowed by an illustrious glow, accenting the facial profile and eluding to a religious overtone or coveted nostalgic nobility of these long-gone inhabitants.

Bold highlights and accents of blue, orange, yellow and red litter the foreground grasses, while partly sunny and ephemeral heavens juxtapose the detailed subjects. The quadrigeminal composition of true “American” equestrians offsets to the right, placing the second-from-left rider in the center focal point. Hold-

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ing the only modern technological weapon, the rifle, this warrior is surveying the immeasurable pride lands of this tribal band.

Keathley does poetic justice with “Native Sun,” with all of its sentimental and nostalgic portrayals of romanticized Native American art.

Rounding out the night of festivities for the Night of the Artists art sale and reception, Karr closes with a notable summary of events for the Briscoe Museum exhibition: “Even if you’re not an art purchaser, keep in mind it is wholeheartedly a free contemporary western art exhibition and will remain on view for a month at the Jack Guenther Pavilion … becoming a representational precursor to what the public will see in the adjacent galleries of the Briscoe when it opens its doors in the fall.” ■

The Night of the Artists public exhibition will run March 24, 2013 through April 28, 2013. The Briscoe Museum is located at 210 W. Market St., San Antonio, Texas 78205. For more information, call 210-299-4499 or visit www.briscoemuseum.org.

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“Is WordPress Right for Your Business?”

WordPress is used to power nearly 58 million websites around the globe. Conventional wisdom has it that it is an easy-to-use, SEO friendly, all-in-one content management solution.

But Boss Creative—a San Antonio web design and online marketing firm that has thrived since 2005—contests the popular “wisdom.”

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San Antonio Web Design Firm

Boss Creative Bucks Conventional SEO Wisdom boss Creative, a san antonio Web design and online marketing firm, shook up the marketing blogosphere with a blog post titled “is WordPress right for Your business?” the popular online marketing firm bucked the conventional wisdom that WordPress is a good fit for almost any business.

WordPress is a popular web development platform that was released as blogging software in the spring of 2003. since that time, it has become the go-to content management system for both amateur web hobbyists and professional web development companies alike. both clients and developers like the software because of its almost infinite design templates, flexible functionality, robust support communities, and ease of use. the platform is so popular, in fact, that the official WordPress statistics site claims there are nearly 58 million websites being run on WordPress! but boss Creative says that the easiest route is not always the best. in fact, they say, the easiest route may not be as easy as many people think.

“Unless you happen to be gifted in the areas of HtML code, Css, or PHP, (that’s development speak for “knowing how to program”), then using WordPress to create your business website will likely be more headache than help,” they state in their post.

in fact, they think that using WordPress can hinder a business’s lead generation and branding capabilities, saying that its one-size-fits-all nature leaves little to no branding flexibility when it comes to professional websites.

By: Boss Creative

it’s not that the firm hates WordPress. in fact, they claim to even use it for some of the sites that they develop for clients. the company’s main objection is simply that it is not a “magic bullet” when it comes to online marketing, branding, and search engine optimization. “We here at boss utilize WordPress for a number of websites, but we do so in conjunction with a multitude of other solutions, such as online marketing and search engine optimization,” says the firm on its official blog. they implement these solutions “in addition to applying [their] expertise in business web development and other graphic design capabilities.” in other words, the san antonio web design firm doesn’t believe that WordPress is an adequate online marketing solution straight out of the box.

What they advise business owners is to avoid looking at the platform as a quick-and-easy solution.

A bout Boss Creative Boss Creative has no small amount of knowledge about the field.

Established in 2005, the firm has carried on a strong presence in the San Antonio market. It has successfully weathered the recession— even thriving—by way of advanced marketing techniques and frequent referrals. They have even won three advertising awards from the American Advertising Federation.

To learn more about the San Antonio web design & online marketing firm, or simply get online marketing tips for your business contact them at: Contact Name & Title: Charles Pilkilton (Managing Partner) Contact Agency/Company: Boss Creative Address: 18402 U.S. HWY 281 N Suite 201 San Antonio, TX 78259 Contact Telephone: (210) 568-9677 Contact Email: hello@thisisboss.com Website: www.thisisboss.com

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// community inspiration //

How Much is Enough?

Have you been blessed with more than enough? If so, discover the joy in

your purpose to serve as the solution for those with less than enough. // by: Danyelle Daniel

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I

was visiting dear friends recently, and a speaker caught my attention when he asked this question: “How much is enough?” He went on to describe what people really need materially in order to survive and thrive, and I came to a conclusion I already knew.

The truth is, I am rich. I have enough – more than enough. And you probably do, too. Specifically, if you have the education to read this magazine and spare money in your pocket to sip a frappuccino while you read it, you are richer than the majority of

people on the entire planet.

Let that sink in. Do you have more than one change of clothing, food in the pantry for tomorrow, clean water and the ability to lock your door at night? Then you have more than enough – more than the daily portion needed or experienced by most human beings on Earth.

So what are we doing with the “more than enough” that we have?

The speaker I heard shared some myths about having more than enough, and I found it uncomfortable to hear them. Try these on for size:

You are a millionaire compared to those living on a few dollars a day. march//april 2013 NHOME /

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Myth: I earned it without help.

Professionally, I have worked very hard – very hard – over the last seven years, and you probably have, too.

But there are people in this world who have worked just as hard or even harder, yet have not seen the same level of financial prosperity. Who gave you your intelligence and abilities? In the book of James, it says that every good gift comes from above. What you have is a gift. If you’ve been given more than enough, ask yourself, “Why?” Myth: God only wants me to be comfortable and happy.

A whole lot of folks espouse this idea today, but the formula that “God’s best equals comfort and bliss” is not backed by scripture. In fact, the central figure of all scripture provided the ul-

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Facts About

World Poverty ❶

Almost half of the world (more than three billion people) lives on less than $2.50 a day.

❷

At least 80 percent of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

❸

If your family income is $50,000 or more a year for a family of four, you are wealthier than 90 percent of the world.

Source: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/ poverty-facts-and-stats

timate example by trading the riches and comforts of heaven for a life of sacrifice – even death on a cross out of love for you and me. There is a profound reason for financial prosperity, and it is not so that you can accumulate more for yourself.

Myth: I can spend it however I please.

“To whom much is given, much will be required.” One day, we will all give an account for how we used our resources.

That’s an unsettling thought, but there is something very exciting about it, as well.

You see, if you are in the top percentile of those with more than enough, you and your resources are the solution for those with less than enough. You have a purpose! You were made to make a difference, and you have been materially gifted and strategically placed to serve

as the solution to so much poverty, desperation, hopelessness, illiteracy, hunger, crisis, loneliness and sorrow in our world.

Don’t misunderstand me. I do not believe redistribution of wealth is the role of any government. Charity must come from the heart. It cannot and should not be forced upon people through taxation.

The late Dr. Adrian Rogers said, “you cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.”

It is the duty and privilege of those of us who love others to willingly and sacrificially give, and for the most part, we have failed. Part of the reason for our failure is that we have come to believe the aforementioned myths and many others like them, and because we are insulated by being around others who have comparatively the same or even more wealth than we do.

However, today can be a new day. We can take this incredible gift of “more than enough” and ask “why?” and “what?” What can I do to meet the necessities of those with “less than enough”?

My doctor friend warned me, “Danyelle, giving cannot be haphazard. Throwing money at the world’s problems is not the answer.” She is right. We must be intentional and wise.

For me, that means that in addition to tithing 10 percent, I must take the time to research those great organizations, ministries and

You have the power to prevent untold suffering without significantly changing your lifestyle. groups that have a track record of measured success, efficiency and financial accountability in assisting the needy, and then I must seed into their work. This is the kind of life that is worth living!

If you have been given more than enough, understand your position and take heart. You will never again have to wonder if you have purpose. You are a millionaire compared to those living on a few dollars a day, and you have the power to prevent untold suffering without significantly changing your lifestyle. ■

For an online calculator that shows you where you fall in the world’s percentage of wealth, please visit http://www.givingwhatwecan.org/why-give/how-rich-am-i.

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// events //

Celebrating Success GSABA supports our local PAC at the annual SABPAC

Pre-Rodeo Chili Cook-off. // photography: jason roberts

GSABA held the annual SABPAC Pre-Rodeo Chili Cookoff on Feb. 1 to raise money for our local PAC. It was a fun and successful evening, and we appreciate all of our members who came. Congratulations to Sherwin Williams for taking home first place in Chili, McNair Custom Homes for Master Builder Chili, MG Mortgage for first place in Showmanship and Kirk Jewasko & Justin Preuss for winning the Washer Tournament. And of course, a big thank you to all of our partners who make events like this possible.

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// events //

GSABA February Mixer Hosted by BMC // photography: jason roberts

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Jazz Master Kenny Barron Saturday April 12, 2013 Jo Long Theatre 226 N. Hackberry

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// events //

A Grand Anniversary

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., celebrates its 60th anniversary with a luncheon fashion show spotlighting the organization’s young members.

On Jan. 20, 2013, the San Antonio chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., celebrated its 60th anniversary at The Club at Sonterra in Stone Oak with a luncheon fashion show that spotlighted the children who were members of the organization.

The president of this chapter is Dr. Linda Howelton. More than 250 guests were in attendance.

Some of these guests included the organization’s South Central regional secretary, Fran Mayes, and South member-at-large, Diedra Fontaine.

The afternoon’s festivities included a silent auction, booth vendors, a raffle with a multitude of items and a surprise visit from former San Antonio Spurs great, George Gervin, who helped raffle one of his own autographed basketballs. At the event, canned goods were for the San Antonio Food Bank.

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This 60th anniversary was funded by all of the San Antonio chapter members and organized by the foundation committee of the San Antonio chapter, chaired by Daphne M. Evans, who also served as mistress of ceremonies and culminated efforts that spanned more than a year-and-a-half of planning.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., was founded on Jan. 24, 1938, in Philadelphia, Penn. Today, the organization boasts more than 220 chapters nationwide, representing more than 30,000 family members. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a national theme.

Through community service projects, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth, positive development and leadership skills.

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// events //

Upcoming San Antonio Events Enhance your enjoyment of the South Texas spring with these upcoming events in the Alamo City.

March 23 12th Annual Night of the Artists Art Sale & Exhibition The Briscoe Western Art Museum Contact: Evalon Cantu 210-227-4262, ext. 106 ecantu@paseodelrio.com

March 30 H-E-B Body Adventure Food & Fitness Family Day

TPC J.W. Marriott Contact: Tony Piazzi 210-345-3818

April 7 Siclovia – Play in the Street 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Contact: Evalon Cantu 210-227-4262, ext. 106 ecantu@paseodelrio.com

JuliaSha

The Witte Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

210-357-1900

April 1 – 7 2013 Valero Texas Open

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April 11 Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo 7:30 p.m.

Lila Cockrell Theatre

April 19 – 29 Fiesta San Antonio 210-227-5191

May 16 – 19 Culinaria Wine and Culinary Arts Festival Contact: Suzanne Taranto Etheredge (president/CEO) suzanne@culinariasa.org Contact: Ginger McAnear Robinson (director of development) ginger@culinariasa.org 210-822-9555

June 7 – 9 42nd Annual Texas Folk Life Festival Contact: JoAnn Andera (director) 210-458-2249 Contact: James Benavides (communication specialist) 210-458-2237

June 24 and 25 Sunbelt Builders Show J.W. Marriott 800-252-3625 512-476-6346

CHRISTIAN DE ARAUJO / Shutterstock.com

May 18 Military River Parade Contact: Evalon Cantu 210-227-4262, ext. 106 ecantu@paseodelrio.com

May 31, June 1 and June 2 Summer Art & Jazz Fest executivedirector@sasjazzfest.com 210-722-2900 march//april 2013 NHOME /

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