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CONTENTS
14
Holiday 2016 6
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
8
LIVING TEXAS
20
STYLE
28
ROUGHING IT
32
HABITAT
40
FEATURE
Meet the Contributors
Austin 8 Dallas 11 Houston 13 San Antonio 14 Denton 15 College Station 17
44
Whether you’re headed to a neighborhood open house, or swanking it downtown, turn heads this holiday season! It’s Fore You: Seasonal Golf Gifts 28 Staying Fit & Healthy during the Holidays 30 Great Gift Wrap and Party Decor 32 A Few of Our Favorite Red Things 33 Marfa Home for the Holidays 34 Designing with the Junk Gypsy Sisters 36 Gary Kubiak
SIP & SAVOR
Pie is a Big Number 44 Holiday Cocktails 47 Hardcore Carnivore Jess Pryles 48 Cooking and Camping with Chef Jason Dady 49 Veggie Vittles for the Holiday Table 50
52
JET SETTER
58
ROAD TRIP
61
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL THINGS
62
REVIEWS
67 68
WEB EXTRAS
40
Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory
48
Photo by Becky Fluke
(Not) Home for the Holidays: Carlton Landing, Cypress Bend, The Liney Moon
The Magnolia Story 62 Pigskin Rapture 63 Healing Art 64 Robert Earl Keen’s Latest 66
A BETTER TEXAN
Chez Boom Box’s Shayna Brown
texaslifestylemagazine.com
58
63
Discover the flavors of the Texas wine country. Visit gotexan.org to learn more. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE O H COMMISSIONER SID MILLER
From the
Editors Desk
As families and friends gather, we’ve got festive ideas for the home, plus delicious food for every palate, including those all important healthy eating tips. In Dallas, we’re celebrating 85 years at Highland Park Village, while Barbara Bush celebrates the joy of reading. Our travel team whisks us away to majestic Oregon—and has a great gift guide for the travelers on your holiday shopping list. Not wanting to stay home for the holidays? Then don’t miss our Road Trip picks! Plus frocks, cocktails, whiskey, pies and more.
Julie Tereshchuk EDITOR-IN-CHIEF julie@texaslifestylemag.com
Elizabeth Barbee is a freelance writer living in
Emily Megan Photography
Albert Suarez Photography
Austin. Find her this holiday season sprawled on her parents' couch. From the comfort of those cushions, she'll watch “Home Alone” on repeat, nap, and probably eat too much artichoke dip. Maybe she'll tweet a bit, too. Follow her @BarbeeElizabeth to see.
Leeza Dennis is an Austin-based writer who
spends a lot of time thinking about what makes people tick. When she's not working her pen for the website 16personalities, then she's off backpacking the world. Though this holiday season, she'll gladly trade in her passport for a spot at the family table.
Betsey McCaul enjoyed what she calls a “Beaver Cleaver childhood” with holidays spent surrounded by family and friends, filling the Christmas tree with homemade ornaments, making gingerbread cookies and singing along with Christmas records. She still embraces those traditions, passing them down to her three nowgrown boys.
Cody Neathery is an Army veteran with an
appetite for bourbon and smoked meats. One of his favorite ways to enjoy the holidays is by going for evening runs through his historic neighborhood and viewing all the decorations and Christmas lights.
6 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
T E X AS L
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PUBLISHERS Shawn K. Lively and Doug Flatt EDI TOR I A L T E A M Julie Tereshchuk TRAVEL EDITOR Marika Flatt DESIGNER Daniel Ramirez CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joshua Banks STYLE EDITOR Edith Henry EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Paxton Kelly ONLINE EDITOR Nick Bailey CONTRIBUTORS Xiola Amador-Locher, Lauren Apel, Elizabeth Arnold, Elizabeth Barbee, Nancy Miller Barton, Julie Bonnin, Sarah Bradley, Autumn Rhea Carpenter, Chris Condon, Sarah Doliver, Natalie K. Gould, Hannah M. Hepfer, Ron Lauzon, Bruce Lee, Betsey McCaul, Eric Moreno, Adam Moroz, Simon Murray, Cody Neathery, Dasha Novikova, Bill Orcutt, Eugenia Osbon, Susie Oszustowicz, Britni Rachal, Gabi De la Rosa, Lydia Saldaña, Shelley Seale, David Shutts, Susan Tull, Michelle Watson, Laura Wilson, Colin Woods EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ART & PRODUCTION WEB DESIGN Sundaram Design SALES & MARKETING Shawn K. Lively and Sharon Owens ADVERTISING, JOBS & INTERNSHIPS INFO@TEXASLIFESTYLEMAG.COM
SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS@TEXASLIFESTYLEMAG.COM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR EDITOR@TEXASLIFESTYLEMAG.COM
Did you just grab the last copy of TLM? LET US KNOW! INFO@TEXASLIFESTYLEMAG.COM
Texas Lifestyle Magazine is Texas-owned and operated, published by TL Publishing, LLC ©
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LIVING TEXAS | AUSTIN
Businesses With the city’s growth and rapid change, these favorites have withstood the test of time. By Shelley Seale
Scholz Garten (1866) This landmark restaurant and German beer garden is the oldest business in Texas and has been serving the city since Civil War veteran August Scholz opened it in 1866. It remains a cultural center for Austin's German population. The Austin Saengerrunde, a German singing club, bought the place in 1908 and still owns it. Scholz remains a popular place for Austinites to hold political rallies, celebrate milestones, listen to live music or just enjoy Texas sausage or barbecue with a cold beer.
1607 SAN JACINTO | AUSTIN SCHOLZGARTEN.COM
Lammes Candies (1885) Lammes was actually started in 1878 as the Red Front Candy Factory; unfortunately, then-owner William Lamme lost the business in a poker game. His son paid off the gambling debt and the store opened as Lammes in 1885.
8 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
LIVING TEXAS | AUSTIN
Scoot Inn (1871) This East Austin dive bar and popular music joint was originally opened as a grocery and restaurant, and transformed into a saloon in 1919 — though that was short-lived because Prohibition soon rolled in. The saloon officially became a restaurant again; though that was just a front for the bootlegging and gambling in back. It has operated as the Scoot Inn since 1955, so-called after then-owner Aubrey Ivy’s nickname.
1308 E 4TH | AUSTIN SCOOTINNAUSTIN.COM
Avenue B Grocery (1909) Do yourself a favor and stop into this tiny, cute, very old-school store. The city’s longest-running grocer, Avenue B opened when Hyde Park was a suburb way to the north of Austin. This is exactly the kind of place that our great-grandparents used to shop in, complete with old-fashioned signs, drink coolers and display cabinets. Today, current owner Ross Mason sells extraordinary sandwiches and a carefully selected inventory of basic grocery items.
4403 AVENUE B | AUSTIN AVENUEBGROCERY.COM
Nau's Enfield Drug (1951)
Now, it's on the fifth generation. The best seller is their Texas Chewie Pecan Praline, still made from the same 1892 recipe, using only Texas-grown pecans.
5330 AIRPORT | AUSTIN (PLUS 4 OTHER LOCATIONS) LAMMES.COM
Driskill Hotel (1886) Back in the Wild West days of Austin, wealthy cattle baron Jesse Driskill built a luxury hotel at the corner of Brazos and Pecan street. The gorgeous dining room was the place to see and be seen, with its tall windows looking out onto the Texas State Capitol, under construction down the street. The original stained-glass dome in the lobby is spectacular, while the Driskill Grill and Bar still remain power meeting spots.
604 BRAZOS | AUSTIN DRISKILLHOTEL.COM
Hylton and Eleanor Nau opened their store in Clarksville generations ago, and now it’s the last original full-service drugstore with an authentic soda fountain in Austin. This is the place to get an oldfashioned cheeseburger and root beer float or banana split, vintage candies and toys, plus the traditional drugstore offerings.
1115 WEST LYNN | AUSTIN NAUSDRUG.COM
Petticoat Fair (1964) Petticoat Fair has been one of the top five lingerie stores in the nation since the 1960s. After training as a corsetiere, Betty Andrews founded the store with her husband, Bob, to provide women with personal service and custom fittings. Today, the store is run by the Andrews’ son, Kirk, and his daughter, Kali, who work closely with women who have undergone surgery or reconstruction.
7739 NORTHCROSS DR, SUITE M | AUSTIN PETTICOATFAIR.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 9
LIVING TEXAS | AUSTIN
Everyone A Turkey Dinner for
One man’s idea is now a national movement. By Hannah M. Hepfer
hen Austinite Richard Bagdonas hand-delivered some Thanksgiving leftovers to a homeless man on 6th Street 16 years ago, he could never have anticipated the ripple effect it would have on him and, eventually, on thousands of the homeless population. “He was in a wheelchair and couldn’t thank me because he was mentally challenged,” recalls Bagdonas. Another man sitting next to him took the meal for him and began to feed him. The experience was a highly emotional one for Bagdonas, who could do nothing afterwards but sit in his car and cry. In that moment, he knew he wanted to keep connecting with and feeding the homeless. “Since then, I’ve been hooked,” Bagdonas says. The next Thanksgiving, Bagdonas handed out two meals and the following year, four. By the fifth year, he and five friends were preparing multiple turkeys. They spent the day cooking
10 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
and packing and ended up delivering meals to hundreds of people. Word began to spread about the event – now named Operation Turkey – and only a few years later, they served over 6,000 meals, with the help of 2,500 volunteers who came out Thanksgiving morning to help. Together, they descended on downtown Austin to give each person who needed it a warm meal. Now in its 17th year, Operation Turkey
is in over 20 cities (including Austin, Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio and San Marcos) in five states (Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia). Last Thanksgiving, they handed out 30,000 meals and anticipate handing out 40,000 meals this year. The organization is run 100% by volunteers. “The most gratifying part of Operation Turkey is seeing more and more people each year bring their families to our events,” says Bagdonas.
“It is nice to know that no matter what, the organization will continue, or at least until there are no more homeless folks to feed.” In addition to helping on Thanksgiving Day, volunteers can participate in “Turkey Tailgate,” where they smoke turkeys, distribute supplies and collect and sort donations. The commitment and enthusiasm of the volunteers over the years has been particularly meaningful to Bagdonas. “The most surprising thing [about the evolution of Operation Turkey] is how people explain it to others. It is their passion for our mission and our organization that surprises me every year,” he says. “That little organization that started with one meal on the fateful night in 2000 is doing great.”
OPERATIONTURKEY.COM
Photo courtesy Operation Turkey
W
LIVING TEXAS | DALLAS
Highland Park
Holidays
After 85 years, a cherished Dallas shopping center still offers visitors an enchanted experience during the holidays. By Natalie K. Gould
he holiday season at Highland Park Village is a cherished Dallas tradition. Each year, thousands of visitors stroll through the outdoor shopping center to purchase gifts, enjoy a cozy meal or just embrace the warm holiday magic. This year is no exception. Highland Park Village is celebrating its 85th year as a Dallas landmark, and with that comes a number of celebrations to recognize the shopping center’s contribution to Dallas and North Texas. In 1906, John S. Armstrong purchased 1,326 acres of farmland north of Dallas. He began development on an exclusive planned community, which his sons-in-law, Hugh Prather and Edgar Flippen, would see to completion after Armstrong’s death. This area became known as Highland Park. The men enlisted renowned architect and Beverly Hills designer, Wilbur David Cook, to lay out the new town. Drawing inspiration from Barcelona and Seville in Spain, along with California and Mexico, Prather and Flippen
conceptualized a retail center in the midst of residential homes, and so Highland Park Village was born. Highland Park Village was the first
shopping center of its kind in the United States, and it became the prototype for future shopping centers around the country. In 1935, locals enjoyed the first air-conditioned theater in Texas. The Village Theatre cost $100,000 to build with seating for 1,350. Today, Highland Park Village visitors can watch a movie in one of four renovated theaters inside the original building. The holidays are a particularly special time at Highland Park Village. “Each year thousands gather to enjoy nearly two million Christmas lights that glow throughout our property, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and meet with family and friends for a meal,” says Managing Director Ray W. Washburne. "Visiting the Village has become a multigenerational tradition for many and one of
Dallas’ most iconic celebrations of the season." The Christmas lights come on right before Thanksgiving, so visitors can choose to start the holiday celebrations early. On December 10, the shopping center hosts its annual holiday celebration. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make the rounds to wideeyed children, horse-drawn carriages will be available for enchanted rides, and local performers will provide song and dance entertainment. Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., children can pose for a photo with Santa in center court under the clock tower. There will be scrumptious sips and bites from noon to 4 p.m. Retailers and restaurants in Highland Park Village offer a number of treats, specials and discounts during the holiday season.
HPVILLAGE.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 11
Photo by Laura Wilson; Vintage photo courtesy Highland Park Village
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LIVING TEXAS | DALLAS
Hop, Skip &
a Business Jump
The McCoys—former collegiate athletes—are bringing a teamwork-inspired ethos to their business. By Simon Murray
ive years ago, if you'd told Sara and Kallen McCoy that they’d be in the t-shirt business—designing t-shirts, polos, golf wear—they’d have told you without any exception that you were crazy. The husband and wife team, and Dallas natives, had been a lot of things in their lives: collegiate athletes, parents, entrepreneurs. But owners of a franchise t-shirt company? “I don’t think we realized how happy t-shirts make people,” says Kallen, reflecting on how they came to own a Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More retail store in the Park Cities neighborhood of Dallas. “To create something for somebody that they wear on a daily basis and stays on the top of their dresser drawer, there’s something rewarding yet simple [to that].” When Kallen met Sara, they were both wearing kids t-shirts. Kallen’s family had just moved to Plano, on the same street, Salem Court, as Sara’s family. The two were in fifth grade. By the end of middle school they were dating, and then each went off to their prospective colleges for athletics: for Kallen, it was the University of Virginia to play catcher for the Cavaliers; for Sara, it was SMU to play center midfielder for the Mustangs.
12 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Competition has been coded into their DNA. Yet when asked if they’re competitive with each other, they laugh. “When we started off and we were working at separate companies, that competition was a little more heated but, now that we’re on the same team, it’s kind of abated,” says Kallen. Adds Sara, “We would be competitive at silly things, [such as] a card game.” To this day, family Uno nights can be especially heated. But the McCoys seem to have cracked the enigma of working roundthe-clock with a spouse. Their secret? “It has made us a better married couple, because we have to be really effective in our communication,” says Sara. And with three young boys to boot, communication is everything. In 2008, Leeward “Big Dog” Bean was managing three Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More stores in the Tampa area, and decided to franchise. (The name “Big Dog” was already taken, so Bean chose a close alternative.) The high-tech custom garment
retail stores can now be found across the country. When Sara went to Bean—now the CEO—last year, she came with a business plan for the McCoy's franchise that focused on a team effort, from her days as an athlete. “I didn’t want it to be, ‘I’m the boss, and my employees are my staff,’” says Sara, “I really wanted to hire for my weaknesses and think of it more as, ‘I might be the coach, but we’re all on the same team.’” Opening April of last year, the reception has been beyond positive. Not only do they design shirts now for family reunions—including their own—but they’ve also created apparel for everyone from the Ritz Carlton in Dallas, to Northwestern Mutual, the building firm Platinum Home Series, and Sara’s alma mater, SMU. In the end, it’s all about creating something that their customer’s will cherish. “That’s been really fun,” says Sara. “Because we’re helping to bring their ideas to life.” BIGFROG.COM
Photography courtesy Big Frog Park Cities
F
LIVING TEXAS | HOUSTON
GOALS SQUAD
DivaDance Offers Alternative to Tired Workouts By Elaine Krackau Mrs. Bush reads to first-graders at Walnut Bend Elementary.
Photo by Michelle Watson
Literacy
Luminaries The Bush Family Gives Back
Barbara Bush with Houston Texan J.J. Watt at a Celebration of Reading event.
A
Celebration of Reading began as former first lady Barbara Bush’s primary advocacy cause during her husband’s term as president. Fast forward more than 20 years and her son Neil Bush has championed the cause in Houston by starting the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Literacy as a cause is a passion of mine. I drank the Barbara Bush literacy lemonade and realized that literacy is the foundational skill upon which human success is built,” said Bush. “My wife, Maria, and I founded a Barbara Bush literacy foundation focused on Houston because we feel strongly that Mom's literacy legacy is one that should be promoted in her backyard.” The Foundation's signature event, A Celebration of Reading, is hosted by the Bush family and takes place each spring. Awardwinning authors read from their work, while guests and celebrities enjoy dinner and music at the philanthropic event. In 2015, the event paid tribute to Mrs. Bush’s 90th birthday and
By Gabi De la Rosa
raised a record-breaking $2.5 million, which benefited the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. “We love the name of our event, and the fact that proceeds support our good cause of helping all Houstonians realize their fullest potential through literacy drives home the point that we celebrate reading,” said Bush. Although Bush began working with his mother’s cause as an adult, the importance of reading wasn’t lost on him as a child. “We were surrounded by books. I remember cuddling up while Mom read to us as little kids. I suspect my experience as a young, struggling reader may have influenced her choice [of literacy advocacy]," said Bush. "When it became clear to her that I could not read like the other kids in elementary school, she found programs that could help and encouraged me not to lose confidence. I take some credit for her being so tuned in to the importance of reading!"
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has made it easy for anyone to get involved with improving literacy rates in Houston. The Foundation hosts Connect4Literacy.org, a platform that allows people to search for volunteer and community events related to literacy. Volunteers have the opportunity to give as much or as little time as they want. The website is easy to navigate and events are searchable by zip code. It is clear after speaking with Bush that he is not only proud of what the Foundation has done, but is also proud of his mother’s influence on his efforts. “We are so proud that, in such a short time, a foundation bearing my mother's name is having a tremendous impact on the community. We need to make reading a part of the culture of every household in Houston.”
BUSHHOUSTONLITERACY.ORG
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 13
Photo courtesy the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
ELEVATE YOUR
LIVING TEXAS | SAN ANTONIO
for the people SA’s Christopher Montoya is true to his roots
In
an abstract sense, is what we know as art “floating” in the ether and can only those known as artists tap it? Or, are all of us born with art somewhere deep inside, and are we just waiting to harness it to create something beautiful? Whatever your aesthetic tastes are, there is no denying art is all around us. In San Antonio, public art abounds, much of it reflecting the culture and heritage of the city's large Hispanic population. Award-winning and acclaimed street artist and muralist Christopher Montoya has gone back to his roots to find inspiration for much of his work. At just 24 years old, the San Antonio native has become sought after for his Latin-flavored, largescale murals that combine dazzling patterns with lush, vibrant colors in combination with deeply personal themes. “I first became interested in art when I was in elementary school,” Montoya explained. “I saw this kid come in, and he started drawing really interesting characters. I had never seen anyone do anything like it before. None of my other peers could draw like that. It sparked my interest and I started dabbling myself." Yet, Montoya really didn’t start drawing until middle school. From there, it grew. Once the spark of inspiration was lit for Montoya, there was no stopping it. Despite
14 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Montoya is exceptionally proud of his mural of this Aztec warrior; it perfectly captures the essence of the icons he wants to paint.
very little formal training and being primarily self-taught, he has developed into a talented, skilled, and in-demand artist for many large-scale projects in Central and South Texas. He takes from his life and his surroundings, using those inspirations to fuel his passion. “Growing up in San Antonio, I knew what kind of art I wanted to do,” he said. “My first mural was of Selena. I've also painted Cesar Chavez. I enjoy painting cultural icons that resonate with people. Being able to capture those icons on a grand scale in public settings is what interests— and inspires—him most. And, Montoya’s art has indeed taken over entire building walls, buses, and public spaces all over San Antonio and Austin. His large-scale pieces have been exhibited in galleries throughout the state, and his work has become cultural touchstones for many Hispanics across the country. At such a young age, he has designs of growing as an artist and of gaining more exposure for his work. “I want to keep doing the murals for as long as I can,” he said. “I enjoy working on canvases, but there is just something more exciting to me about working outside on the streets. You can feel the energy, you interact with people, and it’s all in the moment.” ARTISTAMONTOYA.COM
HERE'S ONTOYA?
Selena Quintanilla mural 4913 S. Flores St. San Antonio Spurs Coyote Best Tickets 926 AT&T Center Parkway Cesar Chavez mural 2601 S. Flores St. Bottom Bracket Bike Shop 1802 S. Flores St. The Squeezebox 2806 N. St. Mary's St.
Photo courtesy Chris Montoya
By Eric Moreno
LIVING TEXAS | STATEWIDE
Taking the Family Craft Up a Notch ith a birth story like Clint Wilkinson’s, it’s no surprise he was destined to follow in the family business, namely leather craftsmanship. “My grandfather traded a handmade saddle to the doctor who delivered me to cover the doctor's bill,” Wilkinson says.
sports website. But, the fast-paced publishing and Internet world began wearing on the artist. He was burned out. Wilkinson unplugged, returned to the family’s saddle store and claimed a workspace.
You don’t get much more Texan than that.
“It was so peaceful not being connected 24 hours a day. I decided I had to find a way to make a living at it,” Wilkinson explains.
Wilkinson was born 34 years ago into the family business, Weldon’s Saddle Shop —a mainstay in Denton’s downtown since his grandfather, Weldon Burgoon, opened it in 1957. In the early years, the store specialized in handmade saddles, ropes, belts and other leather goods, along with Western wear and accessories.
To honor the heritage of his new line of specialty leather works, he named his line Bell & Oak, for the downtown Denton intersection where the saddle shop is located. For two years, Wilkinson perfected his precision designs, developing a following for his line of handcrafted wallets, belts, purses, portfolios and more.
Spending many hours in the store as a kid, Wilkinson worked alongside his grandfather learning to use the tools of the trade on small items his grandad left for him on the workbench. By his teen years, though, he turned to typical boy activities and away from the family business.
During late summer and early Winter 2016, Wilkinson transitioned his brand once again, moving out of the saddle shop into his own space next door, treating it more as a workshop or studio than a store. This new space, called Clint Wilkinson Atelier, provides the leather artist the creative environment to focus on made-to-order pieces.
“When I was 12, I got into dirt bikes and baseball. I played ball in college, but going into my senior year at Brookhaven, I tore both ACLs,” Wilkinson says. “That ruined my baseball career.” By 21, he competed in motocross racing before transitioning his career into graphic design and photography for a national motocross magazine. That morphed into developing the first action
“Here, I can sit down with my clients, sketch out exactly what they want, and create very high quality pieces you don’t typically see in America,” Wilkinson says. 345 HICKORY | DENTON CLINTWILKINSON.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 15
All photography courtesy Clint Wilkinson
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By Betsey McCaul
Denton’s LSA Burger Co. is the first gourmet burger joint in Texas to honor the musical legends and trailblazers hailing from the Lone Star State.
LSA’s signature Brisket Queso, a creamy concoction of white cheese and shredded smoked brisket served with chips. An expansion of LSA Burger Co.’s rooftop stage, complete with colorful murals, opened this fall.
LSA Burger Co. A Mecca for Food and Music with an Attitude
L
o n e S t a r A t t i t u d e ® . I t ’s a statement—a feeling Texans intrinsically understand. Visitors to a rockin’ burger joint on Denton’s downtown square can experience this Lone Star Attitude®—yes, it’s even a registered trademark—while enjoying culinary delights and great Texas music. LSA Burger Co. has been satisfying diners with tasty burgers, seasoned fries, cold beer and much more since opening in the North Texas college town in 2013. The creation of business partners John “Sparky” Pearson and Jon Christopher Davis, LSA Burger Co. is the first gourmet burger joint in Texas to honor the musical legends and trailblazers hailing from the Lone Star State. (Guests are even treated to brief Texas music history lessons, written and recorded by Davis, that are piped over speakers in LSA Burger Co.’s restrooms.) Tributes to the most revered Texas musicians fill every wall of the two-story restaurant and the menu is likewise filled with choices named for
16 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
By Betsey McCaul
The LSA Burger Co. crew
the legends. Entrée offerings include selections like the “Reddie Freddie,” a double patty burger with BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon, grilled onions and pickles named for Freddie Fender, or “Our Buddy,” a burger named for Buddy Holly that is served on Texas toast with Swiss cheese, house mayo and grilled onions. Willie Nelson, George Strait, Stevie Ray Vaughan and others are there, too, while the likes of Norah Jones, Janis Joplin, Boz Skaggs and The Dixie Chicks have namesake offerings on the “Beyond Burgers” portion of the menu.
at Gruene Hall, the legendary dance hall where everyone who is anyone in Texas music got their start. Realizing he needed to add an upbeat tune to his repertoire, Davis performed his new song, “Lone Star Attitude,” flooding the dance floor with enthusiastic music lovers.
Live music fans can enjoy performances by both proven and new talent on LSA’s rooftop stage that overlooks the historic Denton County Courthouse in the center of the square. An expansion of the rooftop stage, complete with colorful murals, opened this fall to coincide with the city’s Oaktopia Music Festival.
From LSA’s mural of The Last Supper (Texas style, of course. It fills a ground level wall), to a special Willie Nelson “shrine” tucked into its own alcove above the interior staircase, no one leaves LSA Burger Co. without a satisfied stomach and a renewed appreciation for those revered folks who put Texas on the musical map.
The Denton burger joint isn’t the only business featuring Davis’s Lone Star Attitude brand. The phrase was born during his debut appearance
113 WEST HICKORY | DENTON LSABURGER.COM
He decided to trademark the phrase and pitched an idea with his then-manager to sell LSA branded t-shirts and other souvenirs in DFW International Airport, resulting in the largest store of its kind at DFW Terminal C.
Queso photo courtesy Oaktopia Festival; all other photography courtesy LSA Burger Co.
LIVING TEXAS | STATEWIDE
LIVING TEXAS | STATEWIDE
This year, visitors to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas can enjoy a special Christmas exhibit that transports them back to the White House in 2004.
A Very Merry
Presidential Christmas
T
here’s no doubt that the holidays are a magical time of year in Dallas. From the can’t-miss decorations at Highland Park Village to the marathon shopping sprees at North Park Mall, this city is the epitome of holiday cheer. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is no exception. From November 17 through January 8, 2017, visitors can enjoy a special Christmas exhibit that transports them back to the White House in 2004. After the 2001 attacks, tours through the White House halted. Come 2004, visitors started to return to the nation’s capital for the holidays. “About 44,000 people came through the White House that year during Christmastime,” says Amy Polley, curator of the museum. The exhibit, “A Season of Merriment and Melody,” is a near-perfect replica of a 2004 White House holiday season tour. Each room features a photo mural that sets visitors in the place they would have been standing in the White House. “We want them [visitors] to have a better understanding of what went on in the White House during that time,” Polley says. Accompanying the murals are 13 Christmas carol sculptures crafted by White House staff during the Bush presidency. Classic Christmas songs follow visitors from room to room.
By Natalie K. Gould
It took six to eight weeks to fully build the exhibit, while Polley and her team worked all year to curate the exact ornaments that were on the White House tree that year. But not only that, they ensure the ornaments are placed on the tree exactly as they would have been that year. Of course, no George W. Bush Christmas White House exhibit would be complete without a little touch from the main man himself. Visitors can take home a commemorative ornament featuring an image painted by President Bush. Make a day of it and enjoy lunch at Café 43, the on-site restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant is offering holiday specials as well as hot cocoa to keep the whole family warm and cozy. The Courtyard Café is open for casual dining or to pick up one of their signature Christmas cookies. In addition to the holiday exhibit (where you should expect to spend 30-45 minutes), the entire museum is being decorated to the nines, with a giant Christmas tree in the courtyard and Santa available for photo ops. 2943 SMU BLVD | DALLAS GEORGEWBUSHLIBRARY.SMU.EDU
Don’t live in Dallas? No problem! Experience Christmas at the White House at either of the other two presidential libraries in Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library
This year’s theme - Christmas 1966 - portrays how the First Family celebrated the holidays 50 years ago. November 24 -- January 11, 2017 2313 RED RIVER AUSTIN • LBJLIBRARY.ORG
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
December 1, 7 p.m. Christmas tree lighting, modeled after the ceremony in the White House grounds. December 3, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Holidays in the Rotunda. This free event takes place in front of the museum's magnificently decorated 19-foot Christmas tree. 1000 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE WEST COLLEGE STATION • BUSH41.ORG
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 17
Photography courtesy The Bush Center
Three Texas presidential libraries offer visitors a glimpse into Christmas past
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House, Christmas 2004.
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
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elebrate in
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20 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
tyle Whether you’re headed to a neighborhood open house, or swanking it downtown, turn heads this holiday season!
dasha DRESS: BCBGeneration at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE: Natasha at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave SCARF, BOOTS: Stylist’s own STOCKING: *E* by Evelyn Designs, Austin CLUTCH IN STOCKING: Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
eugenia SUIT: A.L.C. at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave BODYSUIT: Gianni Bini at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE, BROOCH: Big Bertha's Paradise, Austin BEANIE: Stylist’s own SHOES: Karl Lagerfeld at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
dasha CAPE: Rare Trends, Austin JACKET: BB Dakota at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave SHIRT: JACK at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave JEANS: Joe’s at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE: Natasha at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 21
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
eugenia SWEATER: JACK at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave LEGGINGS: Sanctuary at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave SHOES: Michael Kors at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave BEANIE: Stylist's own BRACELET: Deepa Gurnani at Poly & Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
maxwell BOWTIE: Stylist's own
22 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
dasha VINTAGE FRINGE SWEATER: Big Bertha's Paradise, Austin SKIRT: Rare Trends, Austin SHOES: Karl Lagerfeld at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave HEADBAND, NECKLACE: Stylist's own BRACELET: Malibu at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave HANDBAG: Whiting & Davis at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
eugenia BLOUSE: Asilio at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave FRINGE PANTS: Norma Kamali at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE: Natasha at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave EARRINGS: Elizabeth Cole at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave SHOES: Gianni Bini at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 23
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
dasha DRESS: BCBGeneration at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE: Carol Dauplaise at Dillard’s Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave SHOES: BCBGeneration, at Dillard's Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
eugenia ROMPER: ark & co. at LURE by Y&F, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave VINTAGE NECKLACE: Kate Spade at Big Bertha's Paradise, Austin VINTAGE FAUX FUR LEOPARD JACKET: Big Bertha's Paradise, Austin SHOES: Karl Lagerfeld at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave
24 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | STYLE
dasha DRESS: Gianni Bini at Dillard’s, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave VINTAGE HAT, MONGOLIAN LAMB SHRUG: Big Bertha's Paradise, Austin CLUTCH: Poly & Grace at Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave NECKLACE: Stylist’s own
eugenia DRESS: PHOEBE at Poly and Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave EARRINGS: Elizabeth Cole at Poly & Grace, Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave FAUX FUR SHRUG, RIBBON CLUTCH: *E* by Evelyn Designs, Austin
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 25
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROUGHING IT
Fore
Golfers: W
hile any weekend-warrior golfer would be elated to shoot par for 18 holes, receiving a holiday gift that’s “par for the course” won’t be nearly as thrilling. Instead of a dozen golf balls, a fresh towel for wiping down clubs or a new polo shirt, ace it by giving the special player in your life something to really love. Here are a few Texas-inspired ideas.
Ace the Holidays with Great Gifts By Susan Tull
Gift cards from $10-$500 are good for memberships, games, apparel, lessons, and restaurant and bar service at each hitting bay. The Dallas-based company has eight Texas locations in Texas—Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, plus Fort Worth in Spring 2017. TOPGOLF.COM
1. Topgolf
2. School Spirit Golf Bags and Headcovers
Most golfers don’t practice enough because hitting balls alone for an hour or two can be pure drudgery. The solution: a gift card for Topgolf, which has transformed the driving range experience into a party.
Texans have strong allegiances and aren’t shy about letting everyone know. If your golfer likes to “hook ‘em” or “gig ‘em” or is a “guns up” or “go frogs” fan, a school-branded golf bag or head cover set will delight them.
Topgolf crosses the practice tee with bowling and darts. A player hits a micro-chipped ball at any of 11 dartboard-like targets that are 20 to 240 yards away. Readers detect the microchip in each player’s ball, measure its accuracy and distance, and score points accordingly. Up to six people can compete with one another at seven games that test skills such as driving, pitching and chipping.
DICK’S Sporting Goods sells a large selection of bags and head covers emblazoned with logos and mascots for the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Texas Christian University. Shop online or at stores in Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Longview and San Antonio. Headcovers start at $23 and bags at $170.
2.
DICKSSPORTINGGOODS.COM
3. Custom-Fit Edel Putter
4.
Dell Match Play spectators watch the world’s top 64 pro golfers compete on one of Texas’ legendary courses.
28 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Photo by Chris Condon/PGA Tour
Edel’s award-winning Torque Balanced putter is designed to help golfers sink more putts. It’s highly customized – of fered in a mind-boggling 22 million
3.
potential configurations – for each player. Citing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study, the company claims that the club decreases an individual’s putting handicap by 33%. That’s probably why more than 50 pros on tour worldwide use the putters without Edel sponsorship. Find Edel-certified fitters at over a dozen golf clubs and stores (PGA Tour Superstore, Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith) in Texas. The fitter spends 30 minutes to an hour analyzing the golfer’s visual aim, identifying problems with set-up and stroke, and specifying putter components and other variables. Craftsmen hand-make each putter at the company’s Liberty Hill headquarters. $375, with delivery two to three weeks after fitting. EDELGOLF.COM
4. Dell Match Play Tickets For golfers, the hottest ticket in Texas in March isn’t a SXSW badge, it’s a pass to the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, scheduled for March 22-26, 2017 at Austin Country Club. The professional tournament is one of four comprising the World Golf Championships series, sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours. These events pit the world’s best players against one another and
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROUGHING IT
1.
5.
With locations around Texas, Topgolf has transformed the driving range experience from a solitary sport into a party.
Omni Barton Creek’s four championship golf courses feature dramatic elevation changes, meandering creeks, waterfalls and limestone outcroppings.
award prize money comparable to major championships.
San Antonio, the Hyatt Regency, La Cantera and J.W. Marriott.
Dell Match Play spectators watch the top 64 golfers compete at one of the oldest and most legendary clubs in the Lone Star State. They also get to see the otherwise private, Pete Dyedesigned course – a Hill Country gem with sprawling views of Lake Austin and the iconic Pennybacker Bridge. Barbecue and tacos from popular local food vendors add Texas flavor to this international event. Tickets start at $380 for a weekly grounds pass. If sold out on the tourney website, try online ticket marketplaces, which also may sell day passes.
One of the best is Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa on Austin’s outskirts. Nestled on 4,000 acres of quintessential Hill Country terrain, the four-star property has all the amenities you’d expect, but golf is king. Four championship courses, designed by some of the game’s biggest names (Fazio, Crenshaw and Palmer), feature dramatic elevation changes, meandering creeks, waterfalls and limestone outcroppings. Golf Digest consistently ranks the two Fazio tracks among America’s 100 greatest public courses.
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5. Barton Creek Resort Getaway Treat your golfer to a stay at a fabulous Texas golf resort. These include the Four Seasons at Las Colinas (included in our fall Road Trip story), the Westin Stonebriar north of Dallas, The Woodlands Resort near Houston (included in our summer 2015 issue), Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ and, around
At night, guests can revel in Austin’s celebrated food and live music scenes. Golf packages start at $149/day, per adult, based on double occupancy.
2.
A school-branded golf bag or head cover set lets proud Texans show allegiance to their alma mater.
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Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 29
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROUGHING IT
Be a
Party Girl
Have fun, be trim, stay healthy with tips from Donna Richardson
This Holiday Season
Dallas-based fitness and health expert Donna Richardson
D
onna Richardson probably gets invited to tons of parties. The Dallas-based fitness and health expert is widely loved, and that fact has been well documented. In 2006, for example, Essence Magazine named her one of the 25 most inspiring women in America. The accolade was hard-won. Richardson began her career by teaching aerobics classes at a local spa for $3.25 an hour. It was the 1980s and she recalls wearing tights and brightly colored spandex. After all, this was the era of Jane Fonda.
Drink water Down a glass of water after each alcoholic drink. When it comes to alcohol, opt for champagne, because it's lower in calories and the bubbles may help you sip slower and feel fuller. Plus, it's festive.
These days, Richardson is heavily involved with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Initiative and has served on the President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition since the Bush administration. Those experiences require a bit of gravitas – the White House is notoriously buttoned-up – but trust us, Richardson still knows how to boogie. Dancing is a passion of hers, and she encourages you to do lots of it this holiday season.
Bring your own Prepare a delicious and healthy appetizer like roasted Brussels sprouts or lean turkey meatballs. By doing so, you'll ensure there is at least one thing on the table you like and will not feel guilty about eating.
“Stay on that dance floor, keep dancing,” Richardson says. “Think, 'I didn't get to the gym, but I'm going to dance my booty off!'”
Photo by Derrick Brown
We asked her to share a few tips for keeping trim in the coming months. Read on to glean her wisdom.
30 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
By Elizabeth Barbee
Enjoy a fibrous snack Munch on an apple or pear before heading to your next shindig. “It will help you feel full and will keep you from picking up that extra piece of cake at the party,” Richardson explains. More into the savory? Avocados and broccoli are also good options.
Prioritize Which would you prefer? An alcoholic drink or a cupcake? Richardson recommends you decide before you get to the party. Commit to only indulging in one of the two options.
Carry a clutch Keeping your hands full makes it harder to reach into a bowl of chips. If you're not a clutch person, hold a glass of water. Be active Bond with your family while the turkey is baking by popping in a fun, high-energy workout DVD. Richardson is a firm believer that fitness brings people together. After all, everyone can relate to having a body. “All nationalities and ages and races – we all got the same body,” she says. “The heart and lungs and everything inside is pretty much the same.”
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | HABITAT
The Essential Guide:
Great Gift Wrap & Party DĂŠcor
T
curated by Julie Tereshchuk
he stores are filling with darling gift wrap and party dĂŠcor products. But this season, why not add the personal touch? With these cute Christmas gift toppers, wrapping gifts may be just as memorable as the gifts you give your family and friends this year. You can craft rosette, banner and bow-style gift toppers for your presents with just a couple of punches and some DIY basics. Each idea is simple and uses just a few tools, but the results will leave your gifts looking professional. Ring in a new year with fabulous handcrafted party decorations. Start by setting the stage for the entire event with a memorable DIY backdrop, perfect for capturing group photos. And no photo booth is complete without silly props. These simple but fun accessories will make for some shareable memories. Thanks to Fiskars for inspiring us with these step-bystep DIY projects, and for letting us try their tag cutters. FISKARS.COM
32 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Handpicked by the Texas Lifestyle Team
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Red revels
Put some seasonal sizzle into your holiday kitchen
AR+Cook Large Soak and Strain Bowl
T-fal Ingenio Apple Slice Wedger
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AnySharp Pro For home and professional cooks everywhere, AnySharp Pro turns a dull knife, even one with a serrated edge, into a razorsharp cutting instrument in mere seconds with just a few light strokes. Securely attaches to a smooth surface or worktop with its PowerGrip suction base. • $17.49 | ANYSHARP.COM
IMUSA Gourmet Citrus Juicer Try fresh orange or grapefruit juice at breakfast for a healthy start to the day, or freshly squeezed lemons for a homemade lemonade that will impress guests. No seeds, no mess with this restaurant-quality, manual juicer. • $47.99 | IMUSAUSA.COM
IMUSA Global Kitchen Fondue Set The perfect centerpiece for entertaining, guests can get creative, melting anything from cheese for dipping pieces of bread or vegetables, to melted chocolate for dipping fruits, pretzels or marshmallows. • $24.99 | TARGET.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 33
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | HABITAT
MARFA 1. Mystic Cinder Block
modern Excerpts curated by Paxton Kelly
M
arfa Modern: Artistic Interiors of the West Texas High Desert, by author Helen Thompson and photographer Casey Dunn, features a stunning variety of twenty-one homes reflecting a minimalist lifestyle that complements the desert terrain of Marfa. It took the pair two years to shoot the book, and they were intent on capturing the homeowners' stylistic intentions. As a result, the houses were shot as simply as possible, with nothing extra added that wasn’t already somewhere in the house.
1. Mystic Cinder Block This space morphed from intended event venue into a private home, retaining some of the elements along the way—such as concrete floors—that make it hardy. A cypress ceiling and steel trusses cover the main room, which includes living, dining, sleeping, and cooking spaces. The orange clerestory windows are painted in auto body lacquer.
34 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
2. Filling Station Contemporary
2. Filling Station Contemporary
3. Dance Hall Minimal
Conceptual artist Michael Phelan's home was originally a Texaco service station and bus stop, and later became Colomo Handy Store. His living room, formerly the functioning garage, still has the original concrete floors and twelve-foot-high wood ceilings supported by steel beams. Phelan’s locally made twenty-foot-long dining table occupies one side of the 1,000-square-foot room. Big walls offer the right backdrop for Phelan’s big art.
This hundred-year-old structure, originally built as a private dance hall, has seen many incarnations, from a grocery and candy store to simply a derelict building. Designer Barbara Hill used birch plywood on both the ceiling and the floor, for visual continuity. Hill favors strong design statements—she extended the entire kitchen across one wall, overleaf, and emphasized the gesture with an extra-wide industrial sink. The poetry chairs, at right, are custom made by
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | HABITAT
3. Dance Hall Minimal
4. The Power of Paint
Hill, with pithy excerpts from romance novels inscribed on the upholstery. Houston interior designer Marlys Tokerud collaborated with George Sacaris, an artist and designer with architectural training who works mainly in metal. Tokerud wanted everything to be simple, white, and easy to maintain. They discovered oak flooring and a perfectly preserved longleaf pine ceiling that had been the underside of the original roof. Sacaris created an oversize, pivoting metal door for the dining room; it allows cooling breezes to flood the space.
5. Ranch on the Horizon This 8,000-square-foot, single-story ranch house sits on the crest of more than two thousand acres and overlooks hectares of desert a few miles southwest of town. Projecting out diagonally from the point where the master bedroom wing and the central rectangle meet, the living room juts into the landscape with a window wall that acts like a viewfinder for the outside world.
MONACELLIPRESS.COM
5. Ranch on the Horizon
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 35
Photography copyright Casey Dunn. Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.
4. The Power of Paint
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | HABITAT
Photo by April Pizana
The Junk Gypsy sisters, Amie and Jolie Sikes.
Curves in the island and staircase contrast with rectangular art pieces. When it comes to art, repurposed items, such as a ceiling beam from an old barn used as a fireplace mantle, add the "Wow!" factor, and are great conversation pieces.
Warm comfortable design with fun eclectic accessories are a mainstay in Junk Gypsy design.
Junk Gypsies T
he Junk Gypsy for PBteen Collection was unveiled this fall, and with it sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes have created rooms full of Texas inspired dĂŠcor and accessories (not just for Texans, but for the whole country). Native Texans based in Round Top, the Junk Gypsies have been around for almost 20 years and are experts at taking found items and transforming them into treasures for a space. How did growing up in East Texas influence your style? The love we have for small towns, and the country way of life, is something that influences everything we do, everything we design, and the way we want to live our lives. There is a spirit of community, of belonging, of pride, in small towns that we embrace and love.
36 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Where did the name Junk Gypsy come from? Our name came from what it was we were doing. We were running the roads, going to flea markets all across the south, and we really felt like gypsies. All of it was so empowering. We accidentally found ourselves, and our style, out there on the road, so we wanted a name that reflected that. That's when Junk Gypsy was born, literally and figuratively. How has your style evolved over the years? Our style evolves continually. We just love great old junk and all the stories behind it. We can find an amazing old concert poster and it will inspire an entire new collection for us.
Decorating with Texas Flair By Gabi De la Rosa
Although the collection is sold in the PBteen line, did you also create items with adult rooms in mind? We are never going to grow up when it comes to the way we decorate. We live in homes that have glitter in every crack and coffee tables that beg for old cowboy boots to be plopped on them. So yes, we created this line for teens, but we also create for ourselves, and the way we live. We think everyone's home should be an escape, and one that speaks to adventure, and of course, fun.
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | HABITAT
Cute pillows from the Junk Gypsy PBteen line will give any room some Texas flair.
Round Top, Texas is not only where you can find the Junk Gypsy store, but also a treasure trove full of antiques and vintage items. The spring and fall shows are the best time to visit, but you can find fun and unique items all year round in the quaint town located between Houston and Austin.
JUNK GYPSY TIPS: DECORATING WITH TEXAS FLAIR – WITHOUT THE KITSCH We see this so often—folks try to add a Texas kick to their room, and it ends up looking like an episode of "Hee Haw."
The original Round Top antiques fair:
The glorious thing about Texas is that there are so many wonderful styles that reflect this state. From the landscape to the music, it's diverse. Therefore, you don't have to commit to lone star flag wallpaper if you don't want to.
January 27 - 28 March 27 - April 1
We like to add things like rusty horseshoes, painted tractor seat stools, and old concert posters. This is our third collection with PBteen and we still love the glittered horns from our first line. They're the perfect dichotomy of glitter and grit.
Catch the Junk Gypsy sisters in Austin at the Texas Conference for Women on November 15. TXCONFERENCEFORWOMEN.ORG Who wouldn’t love a vanity stool that looks like a cowboy boot?
Fall 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 37
All product photography courtesy PBteen
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | FEATURE
GARY
KUBIAK For
On Success, Struggle and Being a Texan* *AND A DENVER BRONCO By Daniel Ramirez and Doug Flatt
someone who owns more Super Bowl rings than most NFL franchises – four throughout his career – he just doesn’t look the part. It isn’t that he doesn’t deserve acclaim. With a career that rose, slowly and deliberately, through the pro football ranks, the man in question moved from player to position coach, from position coach to offensive coordinator and, at long last, to head coach. Tracing the football vein further to his days as a player at Texas A&M University and a decorated high school athlete in Houston, his resume reads like an emissary for all things manly, and the ultimate ambassador of football.
40 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
And, thus, this is the duality of Coach Gary Kubiak. His success speaks volumes, while the man himself is happy to take a more modest approach to a most extraordinary life. First, one must address the diamond-encrusted ‘elephant in the room.’ Adorned with countless diamonds and bright enough to blind, the ring was presented to Kubiak with a fanfare that could conservatively be described as opulent.
“The players were given keys by former players,” he explains, “Rod Smith, Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe, to name a few – and on tables were boxes with each player’s name on it. They used their key to open the box, which contained their rings, a commemorative Super Bowl football and more.” The volume of the ceremony was, indeed, a mile high. But the accolade was well deserved for a year of hard work and, for Kubiak, a lifetime of sheer dedication. The majority of Kubiak’s life has been spent in service to the Denver Broncos organization. Drafted by the team straight out of college in 1983 (he returned to Texas A&M as the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient), he played his entire 12-year career at Mile High Stadium, after which he moved around the country to follow higher profile jobs as they sought him out. Seasons in College Station and San Francisco proved successful, and he was soon called back to Colorado to fill Denver’s open offensive coordinator position, there getting a chance to guide his former mentor, John Elway, to back-to-back World Championships. The industry demand for his talent grew until it took him to Houston, where he cut his head coaching teeth in the eye of incredible fan scrutiny. The Houston Texans, Kubiak’s hometown team, fired him in after their sky-high expectations weren’t met over seven seasons, constant injuries and the demands of the third largest city in the nation. From there, he went to the Baltimore Ravens, where he stepped into a coordinator’s role, rather than garner the spotlight. “He really enjoyed his short stint in Baltimore because he was able to simply be a coach again and didn't have all the responsibilities of an NFL head coach,” Kubiak’s wife Rhonda explains. “It was nice to just walk past the media room after a game.”
Speaking with Kubiak, the private ceremony was still fresh on his mind. “We had a meet and greet in the locker room,” Kubiak begins, “and then moved to the stadium onto an orange carpet with white roses on either side.” Already, the ceremony’s pomp and circumstance seems slightly over the top for his persona, but the pageantry wasn’t complete.
Still, both jobs brought more struggle than success. And after a heartbreaking end to the 2014 season in Baltimore, the next step looked bleak when an all-too familiar call came while he and Rhonda were struggling with the aftermath. As many football fans are aware, when you lose the last game of a season, the future becomes a very murky concept. “After the Ravens lost to the Patriots in the 2014 AFC Championship game, I came home and talked all night with Rhonda about my next move,” Kubiak says. “Before I knew it, I received a call from [John]
Photo by Christie Goodwin
Of course, with that kind of label, one is bound to draw assumptions. “Football guys,” after all, only fall into a few narrow categories, a finite number of caricatures. Yet, Gary Kubiak isn’t menacing, poised to knock over walls and crush playoff hopes, like the defensive monsters of yore; nor does he have the audacity or flamboyance of the modern celebrity quarterback – he’s not made any outlandish guarantees and his wardrobe doesn’t include anything more garish than the signature orange of his Denver Broncos—where he’s been head coach since January 2015. He is calm and commanding, confident and controlled. He is a picture of the humble everyman. Unless you count the monster on the table in front of him – the 2015 -16 NFL Championship ring, which screams loud enough to deafen a stadium full of fans.
Elway about the Broncos [head coaching] job,” he continues. The good fortune isn’t lost on him and he admits, “This business is crazy. You just never know what is going to happen.” Truer words were rarely spoken, and one might think the secret to his success is tied directly to the blue and orange of the Broncos. It was obvious that Kubiak found stability in Denver. Denver felt like home to the entire Kubiak family, having spent so much time there while he was a player. “I was able to raise my sons in one town, which is a rarity in the coaching field,” Kubiak says. “Somehow, I was able to find stability in an unstable environment." Undoubtedly, the Colorado metropolis played a tremendous part in Kubiak’s life, livelihood and success. But, rather than taking place on some picturesque farmland in the Rockies or at a comfortable café in the LoDo district of Denver, this interview finds Gary and Rhonda on their ranch property just outside of Houston. A modest home still under some construction, it reflects the temperament of its owners. Kubiak has never lost his tether to his home state, home city and home turf. It is his escape from the break-neck pace of professional football, and it has served him well for a good while. Relatives live a literal holler away, and while the stylish but humble home is being built, the Kubiaks are happy to stay with them. Kubiak has forged a ‘home field advantage’ that has served him well, whether in feast or famine; and that home, regardless of how magical Denver has been, is still Texas. To that end, he attributes his upbringing in innercity Houston – the formative young years as a quarterback were spent at St. Pius High School, just outside the 610 loop – as foundational in equipping him to manage the many different personalities of an NFL organization from players and coaches to staff and media. The city also did what all good Texas cities do, making certain that it chiseled a strong state pride in him. “Despite time spent outside of Texas during my playing and coaching career, I am and will always be a Texan to the core,” he says.
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 41
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | FEATURE
THE GARY KUBIAK PLAYBOOK
It is hardly a wonder Kubiak’s proud of his state, since he can thank it for more than his start in football. It was in Houston that he met Rhonda. They were 14. The pair has been married, through thick and thin, for 33 years.
1978 Graduates Houston St. Pius X high school (Voted to Texas High School Hall of Fame 1999.) 1980-1982 Earns three letters as quarterback at Texas A&M (Goes on to become first Aggie to win a Super Bowl as head coach.) 1983-1992 Drafted by the Denver Broncos, plays nine seasons
“
1992-1993 Texas A&M running backs coach 1994 San Francisco 49ers quarterback coach (49ers quarterback Steve Young receives NFL MVP)
January 2014 Signs as offensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens January 2015 Signs as head coach, Denver Broncos February 2016 Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
Photo © Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos
January 2006 Signs as head coach, Houston Texans
TEXAN TO THE CORE ” The ‘thick’ is always at ready command when contracts are rolling in and teams are winning and there are no adversities. But, when the ‘thin’ of perilous job security, accumulating losses and even heartbreaking terminations come, they are unrelenting. “Coaches in the profession jokingly refer to the season as a sixmonth jail sentence, due to the grueling nature of the job,” he explains. With such a long career and so many different experiences, he would know. Still, Kubiak’s marriage and his home field advantage are a touchstone to the things that matter. “After being fired from the Texans, I spent a lot of time at this ranch and seriously contemplated taking a year off from football,” he confesses. Had he done so, many things could have gone far differently. But that rest, that recharge, and that tenacity that all revisited him during his time at home base, had far greater things in mind for this Texan and his family. The culmination of those plans sits, painfully bright, in front of us on the table. And yet, none of it – the years of success, the fame and fortune, not even the five-carat monolith before us, speaks as loud as Kubiak’s character. Here, it seems, is a man’s man, a ‘football guy’ of the highest order and a Texan we can all be proud to claim as our own.
42 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Photo by Ben Hays
AND WILL ALWAYS BE A
1995-2005 Denver Broncos offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach, under head coach Mike Shanahan
December 2013 Fired by Houston Texans, replaced by interim head coach Wade Phillips
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
Bliss from
BROTHERS by the numbers by Julie Tereshchuk
Three Brothers Bakery of Houston goes all out with their triple-layer Pumpecapple Piecake. It's a pumpkin pie baked in a
pumpkin spice cake, a pecan pie baked in chocolate cake, and an apple pie baked into a spice cake. Finally, the decadent ensemble is topped with cream cheese icing, pecan pieces and a caramel drizzle.
It takes 6 hours over 2 days to make a Pumpecapple Piecake.
2 lbs. of flour 3 lbs. of sugar 2 lbs. of whole eggs 6 1/2 lbs. of cream cheese 11 inches tall Weighs 23 1/2 lbs. 1,000 have been sold Bobby Jucker, the baker behind the Pumpecapple Piecake and owner of Three Brothers Bakery, has been baking professionally since he was 15 years old.
Photo courtesy Three Brothers Bakery
3BROTHERSBAKERY.COM
44 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
Smooth
T
as Texas Whiskey by Susie Oszustowicz
exas has always had the occasional moonshiner. But, since whiskey stormed onto the 'go local' scene, there are large and small distillers throughout the state. With the variations in climate, the whiskey guzzlers from Texas and beyond can now experience numerous hyperlocal takes on a spirit that has more expressions than Jim Carrey. We asked whiskey expert Billy Benedict—owner of Austin's J & J Spirits—what all the fuss is about. What sets Texas whiskeys apart?
Heat and creativity. During hot days, whiskey is absorbed into the barrel. Overnight, as it cools, it seeps back out—contributing to the flavor. Kentucky's more temperate climate means it takes longer to age and impart flavor. Plus, Texas distillers are really creative. There are great bourbons, single malts and ryes. How do prices compare?
If a Texas company is crafting from scratch, prices will be on the higher end. If they want to label their product as bourbon, their distillate has to be in a new American charred barrel. They cost hundreds of dollars and can only be used once. It all contributes to the price. What unique notes whiskeys have?
do
Texas
My favorite Texas bourbons go big. A high corn percentage in the mash bill and the Texas heat makes for lush notes of caramel and butterscotch. Magical. How do you taste whiskey?
Balcones' (Waco, $48-78) unique products include a corn whiskey from heirloom blue corn, an American single malt, a whiskey from wildflower honey and figs, and one with a smoky profile from Texas scrub oak. Garrison Brothers (Hye, $80) and Ranger Creek (San Antonio, $36/375mL) are doing world-class work with their bold, rich bourbons. What's your whiskey?
best-selling
Texas
Kooper's Family Rye (Dripping Springs, $40) is a great combination of being very well made, the right price and spot-on marketing. Ranger Creek were smart and launched pint sizes. It's still expensive by volume, but you can try it without shelling out $75.
BOTTLES
Holiday Gift Picks Friend ($20-$40) Herman Marshall Bourbon $40
Good friend/Boss ($41-75) Ranger Creek Small Caliber .44 Rye $38 (375ml)
Connoisseur/Family ($75+) Garrison Brothers $80 1131 E 11th | Austin jandjspirits.com Prices may vary and are for a 750mL bottle, unless otherwise indicated
For a traditional Old Fashioned, what's your pick?
I'm a traditionalist, and mostly only add ice to my whiskey. However, when the occasion calls for an Old Fashioned, I like to use Herman Marshall Rye (Dallas, $45)—great value. For a Manhattan?
Jimmy's Texas Bourbon (Tyler, $48). A solid smaller company, and great value. Photo by Sarah Doliver
Note the color, viscosity and nose. Hold the glass further away than with wine so the higher proof doesn't wreck your nose. I like side-by-side tastings. And with a friend is always better!
Which Texas whiskeys stand out?
B I L LY ' S
46 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
HolidaywithCocktails a Texas Twist A
by Cody Neathery
s we turkey trot our way through November into the first bona-fide cold month of December, we become completely immersed in the holiday spirit and, maybe, slightly overwhelmed by all the revelry with friends and family. To help us ease into the celebration season, it’s not uncommon that our hands cling to other types of spirits to aid us in extending that warm and fuzzy feeling.
just another night at the local tavern. Being able to make speakeasy-style cocktails is an impressive characteristic when it comes to entertaining and, with a few ingredients and simple household recipes, you can offer some intoxicating holiday beverages—minus the difficulty.
For those holiday get-togethers, keeping an ample supply of booze on hand is a good thing; but being able to turn those liquors into cozy cocktails is what can separate your party from
supporting local businesses and making your holiday season less painful, featured here are three drink recipes featuring Texas brands for your indulgence.
Three liquors to always keep your home-bar stocked with can be viewed as the Holy Trinity of booze: whiskey, rum, and vodka. Since I believe in
Vodka Milk Punch: 2 oz. Western Son Texas vodka 1 oz. Kahlúa (optional) 2 oz. half-and-half 1 oz. whole milk (optional) 1 tsp. vanilla Whipped cream, cinnamon stick & grated nutmeg for garnish
Mix ingredients in a shaker and pour over a highball glass full of ice cubes. Although this cocktail originated in New Orleans (bourbon in lieu of vodka), we believe vodka will do the trick. 1 oz. peppermint schnapps ¾ oz. RumChata 1 oz. Treaty Oak rum 1 oz. hot chocolate mix 4 oz. water (adjust accordingly) A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to garnish
Heat ingredients together in a stove pot until warm to touch, then enjoy responsibly. Which means don’t wrap yourself in Christmas lights, and pass out face down on your front lawn.
Texas-ish Coffee 1 tsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. cream 6 oz. hot coffee 2 oz. Baileys 2 oz. Herman Marshall whiskey Whipped cream for topping
Warm all ingredients to touch, and hope Santa doesn’t find you snacking from his plate of iced cookies to soak up the boozy effect from this Lone Star-take on an Irish gem!
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 47
All photography by Cody Neathery | Cocktail maker: Elizabeth Arnold
Rum Mint Chata
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
Cook like a
CARNIVORE This Holiday Season
By Julie Tereshchuk
JESS PRYLES (carnivorous maximus)
HATCH CHILE BOTTOM ROUND ROAST (bovem incredibus)
elf-confessed “hardcore carnivore” Jess Pryles enjoys and celebrates eating meat, and is also enthusiastic about cooking, exploring different cuts and methods. Cook, writer and TV personality, she's also developed her own line of meat seasonings, and prides herself on still doing her own food styling, photography and recipe creation. The Australian native, now Austin resident, loves getting to share her passion for red meat. Meat cuts and menu planning A roast is a classic holiday dish, be it a Prime Rib, Crown of Pork or just a traditional roast beef. They’re easy because they take care of themselves for hours in the oven, grill or smoker, leaving you plenty of time to work on your side dishes and more importantly, holiday cocktails. Beef roasts from the hindquarter can also be particularly economical at a time of year that has a lot of expenses. Top, bottom and eye of round make for great roasts, sliced thinly and perfectly pink in the middle. Tips for perfect holiday roasts
salt instead of table salt, the thicker grains allow you to spread it more evenly across the surface. Invest in a good quality thermometer.
The best way to get your meat to the perfect temperature is with an accurate meat thermometer. Once you know the temperatures you are looking for, you’ll nail it every time. 135 F will give you perfect medium rare in beef, whereas other meats have a minimum temperature to ensure food safety: chicken is 165 F, pork is 145 F. Always rest the meat. After the cooking
process is done, wait at least 20 minutes before cutting into your creation. This allows the meat fibers (which have become tense and tangled during cooking) to relax, and allows moisture to re-distribute evenly, so the juices end up in your mouth, not on the cutting board. Consider brining turkey or pork prior
to cooking. Brining is the process of immersing meat in a salty liquid, usually flavored with other aromatics, for up to 24 hours before cooking. Brined meats are considered to be moister and retain more juices.
48 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
“When it comes to low and slow cooking and barbecue, the number one thing is patience and controlling your fire. There have been many advances in the world of backyard options that have taken much of the difficulty away, such as pellet cookers and electric smokers. Of course, while they are very easy to operate, the results are somewhat different (it has a "roastier" rather than smokier finish) and purists might have to revoke your Texan card!”
-JESS PRYLES
Make sure you season well. Salt
is such an important enhancer for meat, bringing out the flavor. Try using kosher
HOW TO MAKE GREAT TEXAS-STYLE 'CUE
JESSPRYLES.COM
Photography courtesy Jess Pryles
S
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
S'mores Snores A
Camping When it’s Cool By Eric Moreno
s we inch closer to the holiday season and quality time with family and friends, why not eschew the traditional holiday gatherings and try something a tad different? It's something the culinary visionary behind San Antonio's Tre Trattoria, Two Bros BBQ Market and the Shuck Shack (among others) loves to do. Not only is Chef Jason Dady a whiz in the kitchen, but he also excels in taking his skills outdoors and onto the campground.
chips, and cover them with foil. Place the food on top of the grill and smoke 'em because you’ve got 'em!”
"Camping is our special retreat where we have concentrated family time, not only ‘roughing it’ together, but also sitting round the campfire at the end of the day, cooking the perfect s’mores and telling stories,” says Chef Dady.
“You can gather kindling once you reach the site, but I like to prepare a little cheater charcoal and get that going first before I build a tee-pee style fire with small to mid-sized logs that we brought with us,” says the world-class chef. “Once your big fire has burned down, spread out about a third of the coals and place a Dutch oven or skillet on top.”
“I used to have the full-blown camp kitchen with pots and pans and every dry good imaginable,” he says of his alfresco kitchen. “Now, we keep it simple." According to Dady, you only need a few trusty implements to successfully navigate outdoor cooking. He recommends a 14-inch cast iron pan, a Dutch oven (16 or 18 inches), tongs, a 10-inch chef's knife, a plastic cutting board, and oven mitts. What if you want to do some serious cooking? Then, 'MacGyver' yourself a smoker! “Take a few sheets of foil, fold them in half so they’re sturdy, and wrap them around the body of the grill,” explains Dady. “Soak some wood chips or [dry tree] bark in water, build a small fire in the grill, add the soaked
Camping, by its nature, requires a great deal of planning. You will need supplies, you will need rations, and you will need some smarts. As an experienced camper, Dady has some practical advice to offer. First off, BYOF: bring your own firewood.
THE MENU Cast Iron Nutella French Toast: “Pre-crack the eggs and secure the soak in a container. We use local bread, add some Nutella, maple syrup and put strawberries on top. It’s hard to beat.”
Tin foil is Dady's secret camp cooking
BLT with Kewpie Japanese Mayo: “We use our cast iron pan to crisp the bacon, toast the bread, and then we add Kewpie Japanese mayo.”
“Make sure you also use an ingredient that has a decent amount of moisture,” he recommends. Add a few pieces of ice to allow food to steam.
Moroccan-Spiced Chicken: “I’m a huge fan of chicken legs and thighs because you can pre-marinate the pieces, and they don’t dry out. I season a pack at home, pack a little container of Greek yogurt, and then we grill them up.”
weapon. And, too much is never enough. Better too much than burned or charred food.
Dady's new favorite camping go-to is a seafood boil — crawfish, mushrooms, red potatoes, sweet corn and artichokes was a recent hit. "It’s fun to just dump it on the picnic table and have everyone dig in.”
Starburst S’mores: “My kids once fire-roasted a few pieces of Starburst, and they were mind-blowingly good. Sandwich them inside of s’mores, and the experience is pretty shocking.”
JASONDADY.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 49
Photography courtesy Jason Dady
&
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | SIP & SAVOR
A cauliflower steak with quinoa salad is on the menu for the vegetarian holiday menu Fort Worth’s Chef Marcus Paslay suggests.
Vegetarian Vittles for the
Holiday Table
“People are examining what they eat a lot more closely,” says Chef Marcus Paslay. “As a result, we have more vegetarians, more gluten-free, more vegan and more restricted diets. As a restaurant chef, and if you want to entertain at home, you have to be prepared for that as well.” Paslay is executive chef and owner of Clay Pigeon in Fort Worth. Where else would we go for some advice on vegetarian recipes for the holiday table but to a chef from Cowtown? The award-winning chef chuckles from over the counter of Clay Pigeon’s open-air kitchen as he preps the vegetarian dishes he suggests for a holiday meal. On the menu: A cauliflower steak
50 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
By Lydia Saldaña
with quinoa salad, a potato galette, and lightly battered fried zucchini with a dill cream sauce. “These recipes are all relatively simple, but the galette is a little more time-consuming, because you have to make dough for a pie crust and let it rest, then bake the potatoes and let them cool enough so you can work with them,” he explains. “Then, once you “Seriously, the best advice is to keep it simple. Often, you go to home parties and the host wears themselves out making it too complicated.”
put everything together, it takes another hour in the oven. So it’s a time-consuming dish, but not difficult.” The galette is already put together when we arrive for our conversation with Chef Paslay, and the ingredients for the other dishes are
prepped and ready to go. As we watch, he sautées the cauliflower steak and then pops it into the oven. While that roasts, he quickly breads the zucchini sticks and places them in the deep-fryer. Within a few minutes, the plates come together. He finishes them off with garnishes, and finely grates lemon zest onto the zucchini. The plated dishes visually complement one another, and are as tasty as they are attractive. Paslay has some helpful advice for putting together a fun time with a tasty spread for friends and family to enjoy during the holidays. “Make sure the punch is spiked,” he laughs. “Seriously, the best advice is to keep it simple. Often, you go to home parties and the host wears themselves out making it too complicated. No one wants or expects complicated food, just simple, tasty food.” For recipes and to listen in on more of the conversation with Chef Paslay, go to Texaslifestylemag.com
Photography by Bill Orcutt Photo by Bill Orcutt
K
eeping everyone happy at the holiday table can be a perplexing chore for a party host. It used to be that having a vegetable tray among party offerings would be the only nod a host might make for non-meat eaters on the guest list. But today’s host must take into account more sophisticated tastes.
Marcus Paslay is executive chef and owner of Clay Pigeon in Fort Worth.
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s ’ n o g e r O TEXAS LIFESTYLE | JET SETTER
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The bike charlift at the Mt. Hood Summer Adventure Park at Skibowl.
52 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
s
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | JET SETTER
E
veryone knows Portland; the progressive city gets a lot of fanfare because of all it has to offer. However, right outside of Portland sits Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory where you'll find majestic natural beauty, enjoy a variety of microclimates, and soak up the area’s burgeoning craft beer and Willamette Valley wine scene. Plan to spend plenty of active time outdoors, but also relax in the simplicity of a wooden lodge or on the patio of a blossoming brewery.
From Portland, a 30 to 50 minute drive will get you into Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, whether you’re headed for the mountains of Welches or Timberline, the wine country of Oregon City or the serene beauty of Lake Oswego.
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 53
Photo courtesy Blake McCoy
From Texas, you can find nonstop flights from most markets into Portland's PDX airport, named by the 2016 summer Travel + Leisure readers poll as the number one domestic airport (ABIA in Austin ranks number four). We found the airport lived up to its reputation for ease of navigation, cleanliness and live music.
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The Resort at the Mountain in Welches sits on a lush wooded property, known locally for its three golf courses. The property features lodges where you’ll find a simple, yet comfortable, room. The balcony is the perfect place to chill (temperatures get into the 30s in the winter and you’ll wake up to mornings of around 60 degrees in the summer) with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening. There’s a small pool and hot tub, complimentary hot breakfast each morning and an onsite spa. (Try the Black Diamond Massage.) Make sure you spend an afternoon or evening on the patio of the resort’s Mallard’s Café and Pub, which overlooks stunning golf greens, where you can dine or just enjoy a cocktail in a peaceful setting. 5
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— Tucked back into the mountains at The Resort at the Mountain are three 9-hole courses: Foxglove, Pinecone and Thistle. Cut into the forest, they offer beautiful views of the Salmon River and Mount Hood National Forest. Foxglove is best known for its iconic first hole, which features "The Rock" in the center of the fairway. Pinecone is the original course, built in 1928. Thistle is the most forgiving, but there is water on most holes of this par-34 layout. The clubhouse offers walk carts and is the best way to experience these mountain courses. Have a soccer player in the family? Let them tag along and play foot golf. 120
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— You’re really close to a myriad of trails that vary in elevation and length.
54 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Fly Fishing –Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned fly fisherman, there is much to learn from veteran fly casting instructor Ron Lauzon. Lauzon's extensive knowledge of casting the Oregon rivers will have you catching like a pro in no time. He takes the time to understand how each student learns and customizes the way he teaches to match.
THEFLYFISHINGINSTRUCTOR.COM
Mountain Biking
–Bike the largest downhill mountain bike zone in the world! A $2 bus ticket will take you to 7,700 ft. and access to a 17-mile downhill. The singletrack trail has 98 corners. The Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl is one of the top downhill bike destinations in the world and Skibowl Bike Learning Center is an all-inclusive day school that helps riders of all levels improve. Downhill biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. SKIBOWL.COM
Ski
– Summer is high season in The Territory (especially for Texans escaping the heat) but it's also a cool winter ski destination. Join Winter Olympic hopefuls at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area for the longest ski season in North America, or shred powder by moonlight at the Mt. Hood Adventure Park in the country's largest night ski area. TIMEBERLINELODGE.COM
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Lakeshore Inn is Lake Oswego's only lakefront hotel in the heart of their touristy downtown next to Millennium Park and Lake View Village. You’ll love the patio overlooking a small marina on the lake. This bustling area is popular because of the shops, dining and entertainment in the heart of the small town. Next door to the motel is a theater and ample places to dine. This is a low-key, four-story motel with large rooms and friendly service.
Trillium Lake Loop Trail is a beautiful 2-mile loop around the lake, while The Old Salmon River Trail runs along the bubbling river about 2 miles one way, providing shade and scenery.
Alter Image Photography by Bruce Lee/Courtesy Oregon's Mt Hood Territory
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | JET SETTER
N Farmland abounds in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory
E
e Explor
Oregon outdoors and taste some amazing Willamette Valley wines while metabolizing them along the way.
Take the Oregon City Winery Road Cycling Tour with The Bike Concierge. On your road bike, you’ll cycle eight miles through town, a park, have a little highway time and also back roads to Christopher Bridge Wines, where you’ll taste their special pinot gris and pinot noir on a patio surrounded by sunflowers. Then, you’ll hop back into the saddle and ride five miles, with a few descents and ascents, to King's Raven Winery. We loved having owner Thom Batty as our guide and the luxury of his wife, Shelley, in the van if we needed a pick-up. This is a sporty half-day of fun where you can enjoy the
Photo courtesy Oregon's Mt Hood Territory
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THEBIKECONCIERGE.COM
A Willamette Falls kayaking tour with eNRG Kayaking offers a 90-minute peaceful paddle under Oregon City’s metal bridge, gliding by the historic river lock that the boats used to pass through, and on to the powerful Willamette Falls. You might see jumping fish or other wildlife, like sea lions, on your journey. ENRGKAYAKING.COM
Our Table Cooperative features an on-farm grocery store offering a curated selection, including dairy, produce, meat, prepared meals, plus a beer, wine and growler station.
There’s also a small deli where you can taste the daily specials. OURTABLE.US
The World of Speed is a museum featuring historic racecars, boats and motorcycles that tell the story of motorsports culture. (Did you know that, in 1997, a Thrust SSC II vehicle hit 763 mph in the Black Rock Desert?) Through interactive exhibits (get your photo taken wearing a racing suit) and hands-on activities (like a NASCAR simulator), the World of Speed offers visitors a behind-the-scenes view of the racing world. As well as NASCAR, it showcases drag racing, road racing, land speed racing, motorcycle racing, open wheel and hydroplanes. WORLDOFSPEED.ORG
Alter Image Photography by Bruce Lee/Courtesy Oregon's Mt Hood Territory
W
Bike Learning Center at Skibowl
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 55
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | JET SETTER
Wine tasting at Christopher Bridge Cellars
Bunsenbrewer, Sandy (on the way from PDX to Welches) This quirky brewery is in an industrial space and features the geeky science behind brewing. Order an IPA or pale ale, pair it with a big pretzel or hummus and, if you play an instrument, jump up onto the Sound Lab and show your stuff.
BUNSENBREWER.COM
Rendezvous Grill & Tap Room, Welches Just around the corner from The Resort at the Mountain, you can sit on the patio and feast on rigatoni or salmon fish & chips that will be delightfully paired with an Oregon wine or local beer. THEVOUSGRILL.COM
Mt. Hood Brewing, Government Camp This is the “brewery with an "altitude," where you can sample any of their beers from a blonde (3%) all the way up to a Hogsback Oatmeal Stout (4.5%), created with Mt. Hood glacial water. Enjoy a hearty meal that starts with poutine (French fries with brown gravy) and
56 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Fun Facts Oregon is the number one producer of Christmas trees in the nation. The holiday pines and wine are their top two agricultural products. Willamette Falls is the second largest waterfall by volume in the U.S. after Niagara.
Allium Bistro in West Linn is a cute corner restaurant with style. Start with a local Oregon pinot gris or a Moscow Mule cocktail while you munch on Grilled Shrimp or Roasted Foraged Mushrooms. The French influence merges with Northwest seafood in entrees like halibut or mushroom risotto. Desserts of donuts or chocolate will top off an evening meal that might span hours. ALLIUMOREGON.COM
ends with beef short ribs or a wood-fired pizza.
Stickmen Brewery (right around the corner from Lakeshore Inn on Lake Oswego) has an enviable patio with a hip crowd. You can discover their handcrafted beers while enjoying steak and Brussels sprouts or a bowl of chili. Sunset is the most popular time.
Tony's Fish Market in Oregon City is the most unassuming, delicious seafood eatery. Located in a 1930s market, you can purchase seafood to take home or you can order from the counter and treat yourself to mouth-watering fish tacos or a lightly breaded cod sandwich. You might also start with a cup of salmon chowder. If you love seafood, this stop is a must.
St. Honore Bakery is a morning treat. Located in the shopping area next to Lakeshore Inn and overlooking the lake, you’ll not want to leave their patio. Order a latte and share the quiche Lorraine for two (comes with a spring salad) and then enjoy a chocolate croissant. This French bakery with a Northwest vibe will keep you coming back.
MTHOODBREWING.COM
TONYSSMOKEHOUSE.COM
STICKMENBEER.COM
SAINTHONOREBAKERY.COM
Photography courtesy Oregon's Mt Hood Territory
ine D & e Win
THE BEST HOTEL IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX The Liney Moon is truly one-of-a-kind. "Just beneath the stars" in Dripping Springs, TX is a fun and unique place to stay. Featuring the modern "Stellar House" and ten modern cottages, The Liney Moon can host your special event or accommodate guests for weddings, retreats, bachelorette parties or a birthday "getaway". Reserve one cottage or the entire property! They are in the process of completing "Phase III," which includes the addition of their beautiful new swimming pool as well as 3 larger cabins on the bottom of the property. This stunning Boutique Hotel is situated amongst some of the most beautiful wedding venues in Texas, as well as many local wineries, distilleries, & breweries.
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www.thelineymoon.com
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GET LOST FIND
YOURSELF
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MOON
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROAD TRIP
(Not) HOLIDAYS HOME FOR THE
F
By Marika Flatt
(Not)
amilies often gather three generations (sometimes more!) at someone’s house, and that poor someone has to clean, cook and entertain over the holidays in their home. Instead, why not find somewhere fun for your family to meet for holiday celebrations, so it’s a vacation for everyone? This year, we’re (not) home for the holidays!
A BASIC KIDS' PLAYROOM
Cypress Bend Resort Many, Louisiana
This family friendly resort is literally minutes over the Texas/Louisiana border. The resort is on the Cajun side of Toledo Bend Lake, but when you’re on the other side of the lake, you’re in Texas. This reasonablypriced golf resort is a good option if you have family coming from Austin, Houston or Dallas—and even from Mississippi, as we do. Cypress Bend is a down-to-earth resort with the basics for a great big family trip. We love the golf villas where you can get two adjoining rooms with a living room and full kitchen in the center; both rooms have two double beds (so you can sleep eight people). You can request that your family be in an area together, which adds to the fellowship. In the golf villas building, kids can run around, play pool in the game room at the end of the hall, and families can get on a meal rotation where only one part of the family has to cook and clean at each meal. There’s an 18-hole golf course, indoor/outdoor pool, fitness room, bar and onsite restaurant. There’s also a city park just a few miles down the road with a small beach and lake swimming area. CYPRESSBEND.COM
(Not) SURFING TV CHANNELS
58 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
(Not) JUST WATCHING THE GAME
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROAD TRIP
(Not) PICKING UP THE IN-LAWS
Carlton Landing
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Located on Oklahoma’s scenic Lake Eufaula, and with the lake, parks, trees galore and open spaces for family adventure, Carlton Landing provides a tranquil and relaxing retreat away from the stress the holiday season tends to bring. Without the hustle and bustle of the city or the inevitable twinges of guilt for imposing upon whichever family member hosts in their home, these cottage rentals are purely devoted to family time. “The essence of life well lived,” as they say at Carlton Landing. Even though “there’s no place like home for the holidays,” according to the popular holiday song, with spectacular architectural cottages furnished in high-end yet homey décor, Carlton Landing can make you feel at home while dirtying up someone else’s kitchen. Whether you choose a one-, two-, or three-bedroom home, every cottage comes with a fully equipped kitchen, spacious living area, and charming neighborhood feel. We’ve written about the beachside communities of Seaside and Rosemary Beach on Highway 30A in Northwest Florida. The same developers of these idyllic communities created Carlton Landing. The design is based on the New Urbanism movement, focusing on walkable neighborhoods and environmentally friendly habits. These communities have a knack for offering accommodations that are impeccably furnished and help you focus on the simple joys in life. (Think throwing the football in the yard with your kids or sipping a glass of cabernet with your friends on the front porch.) If you live in north Texas, it’s a hop over the state line; if you live around central Texas, it’s about a 6 ½ hour drive. If you’ve been to the 30A area and long for that type of vacation, you must visit Carlton Landing; it’s closer and offers the same charm. Established in 2013, Carlton Landing offers second homes, vacation rentals and investment opportunities.
(Not) PICKING UP AFTER OTHERS
(Not) WAITING FOR BLACK FRIDAY
CARLTONLANDING.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 59
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | ROAD TRIP
The Liney Moon
(Not)
Dripping Springs, Texas
A CARE IN THE WORLD
Nestled in the Hill Country, west of Austin, The Liney Moon is the new cool kid on the block in Dripping Springs and is known for being, “just beneath the stars.” It’s a comfortable resort that brings a modern touch to a ‘50s-style ranch. Whether you stay at one of the ten cottages, or rent out the entire Stellar House (which can house all 25+ of your closest family members), you can escape to the classic Texas holiday retreat you always dreamed of.
(Not) HEARING THE NEIGHBORS
Owners Stephen and Caroline Bradford couldn’t find lodging for their wedding in “Drippin” so they opened The Liney Moon a few years ago (the name comes from Caroline’s childhood nickname). Being in the Hill Country, you are minutes away from many wineries and distilleries that have made Texas proud. The Liney Moon provides tours along with transportation to 10 wineries and popular distilleries including Deep Eddy Vodka and Twisted X. Although there may not be room service, you can cook in your full kitchen and they’re adding a pool behind the Stellar House. We love that the Stellar House is large enough for hosting family reunions with 10 queen beds, five singles and a fold-out couch. It’s the perfect place to escape from the usual hustle and bustle of the holiday season, while still enjoying time with family. THELINEYMOON.COM
Granduca’s Visconti Restaurant offers classic Italian cuisine created from local, seasonal foods
(Not) A BAD WAY TO SPEND A HOLIDAY
60 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Handpicked by Marika Flatt, Travel Editor
Making a Travel List & Checking It Twice
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Lip Trio Collection Got dry lips and can’t stand it? This product was recommended to me during a facial. The trio of small pods easily fits in your purse or make up bag and will keep your lips supple through winter and while traveling. $30 | EMINENCEORGANICS.COM
Ful Flags Hardside Spinner Suitcase Spot your luggage at busy airports quickly with the colorful international flag design on this multi-color 28-inch suitcase. The hard-sided design keeps contents safe from the hustle and bustle of luggage transport during travel. In an Olympic and election year, there’s no better time to promote flags $99 - $118 | OVERSTOCK.COM
Fair Trade Excursion Bag Completely handcrafted, this beautiful bag is big enough for a short weekend getaway and small enough to fit in an overhead bin or even under an airline seat. Super stylish and ethically made, you’ll be in fashion and packing light. $110 | FAIRTRADEDESIGNS.COM
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☑ mb greene Bags Inspired by the Gulf Coast’s turquoise color, these bags make great carry-ons for a laptop and purse necessities. The waxed cotton finish makes the bags easy to care for and always looking like new. I love the berry crossbody. $66 | MBGREENE.COM
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ATM ’s Smiley® Luggage Everyone knows how stressful travel is; so try ATM’s Smiley Luggage—quality hard-sided luggage featuring that iconic emoji—that brings a smile to your face and turn heads when you travel. Available in 22-inch (small enough to carry-on) to 30-inch. $99 - $129 | ATMLUGGAGE.COM
☑ Le Tote It’s like Netflix for clothes! If you love new clothes but hate to shop, this is for you. Le Tote is a fashion subscription service where members borrow clothing and accessories. Wear. Return. Repeat. It’s so easy, you might get addicted! $59/MONTH | LETOTE.COM
Seta’s JLace Top When you travel, you want to wear something that really stands out. Seta is a Colombian brand that was born from a passion for fashion. I love their JLace blouse that combines a unique mix of fabric, style and textures for this beautiful offthe-shoulder top. $120 | SETAAPPAREL.COM
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☑ Veestro Meal Delivery You’re getting ready for a trip or you’ve just gotten home and you can’t squeeze in a trip to the grocery, much less find time to cook. This convenient, healthy meal delivery program delivers plant-based entrees direct to your door. $99/STARTER PACK | VEESTRO.COM
Winter 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 61
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | REVIEWS
HGTV’s "Fixer Upper" husband and wife team, Chip and Joanna Gaines, in their hometown of Waco, prior to the release of their new book, The Magnolia Story.
THE
MAGNOLIA STORY New Book Details Success of Waco’s "Fixer Upper" Couple
hey’ve attracted national attention for their charm and talent toward renovating homes on HGTV’s popular show "Fixer Upper" and now Waco husband and wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new surprise for fans straight from the heart of Texas. Their new book, The Magnolia Story, is available just in time for the holiday season. Along with stories about the couple’s path to success, the book gives a rare look inside Chip and Joanna’s relationship, including how they met. Joanna believes fans will be surprised by the couple’s first date story, which also began in Waco.
the Magnolia Market, which is across the street from the historic silos in Waco. On any given weekend, their store is buzzing with activity, with crowds strolling down the street to get in. Recently, a College Station couple, Hayleigh Dicianna, 23, and her boyfriend, Kyle Joseph, 22, decided to stop by. “We were watching "Fixer Upper on Netflix" and just saw the episode where they bought the shop and we were like, 'Okay – let’s go!'” said Dicianna, as she purchased an oatmeal-colored mug labeled “Magnolia.”
“Chip did not sweep me of my feet in the very beginning,” she explained. “But of course, he did get there. Eventually.”
“We just think they’re really sweet. We watch all the shows on HGTV and they’re the nicest to each other,” she added.
Writing The Magnolia Story, with the help of New York Times bestselling collaborator, Mark Dagostinio, helped bring back memories for the couple.
Dicianna and Joseph agree the HGTV show has definitely put Waco on the map for something new.
“We hadn’t thought about our honeymoon in a long time. We basically drove around the New York state countryside for days and days, just exploring and getting lost together,” said Chip. “The best part of that memory is what we came home to. That’s one story from the book you’re not going to miss.”
“We recently moved back to Texas from Colorado and when we told our friends we were coming back, they asked if we were going to live near Chip and Joanna,” said Joseph. “I think some people are associating Texas with "Fixer Upper."”
The couple wouldn’t give any more hints into how their honeymoon ended, but Joanna did add, “It’s long been forgiven, Chip.” Affectionately referred to as “the first couple of home improvement,” Chip and Joanna Gaines have brought a lot of recent tourism to Waco. Some are even traveling from as far away as Australia to visit their store,
62 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
Along with the Magnolia Market store, the Gaines also own a bakery in front of the downtown Waco silos. "Fixer Upper" is currently in its fourth season on HGTV. In addition to The Magnolia Story, Joanna Gaines has a new design book that will be published in early 2017. MAGNOLIAMARKET.COM
Photo courtesy HarperCollins
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By Britni Rachal
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | REVIEWS
Pigskin
Rapture
Four Days in the Life of Texas Football By Sarah Bradley
orn in Cincinnati and raised in Indiana, who would have guessed journalist Mac Engel would find such love for everything that is Texas football. A love that would result in him authoring Pigskin Rapture: Four Days in the Life of Texas Football. (Dallas/Fort Worth-based photographer Ron Jenkins provides the stunning photography.) “Growing up in Indiana, we didn’t have professional football,” Engel said. “My interest in the sport was really sparked from watching whichever game was available on TV, most of which were the Dallas Cowboys.” Once he moved to Texas to work at TCU as a graduate assistant for the athletic department, Engle was finally able, at age 23, to attend a Texas football game in person. “My first game was UT versus Notre Dame in Austin, and I had never seen an atmosphere quite like that,” Engel said. Realizing how much a part of Texas culture and history football is, Engel was hooked. From a young age, Engel had a passion for sports journalism. “When I was a kid during my classes, I would write out pre-season information about baseball teams or I would sit in front of the TV and do my own play-byplay of any and all sports shows I could find,” Engel said. Engel continued to love the media aspect of sports and studied it throughout college. He then moved onto freelancing, then to writing for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. After having three other books published, the idea of Pigskin Rapture was born. This idea began with a suggestion to cover four Texas football games within four days, Engel explained. “From there, it grew into full coverage of all the quirks, big or small, of Texas football.” As for the four games, in a magical four-day period in fall 2015, both of Texas’s NFL teams played at home on different days (Indianapolis Colts at the Houston Texans and New England Patriots at the Dallas Cowboys), a major high school rivalry was set for Friday night in West Texas (Midland
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lee at Odessa Permian), and a fierce regional college rivalry came to the Cotton Bowl on Saturday afternoon (Oklahoma vs. Texas). Within those games, many other fun stories were unveiled in the phenomena that is Texas football: a homeless man who resides on a practice field in Houston, the cavernous remains of the Astrodome, the proud high school where Andrew Luck played, the Australian woman who made the Cowboys’ cheerleading squad (having never watched an NFL game), and many more. When looking for a photographer for the book, Ron Jenkins was known throughout sports journalism. “I had to ask him, especially because we wanted the book to be filled with images,” Engel said. “His work in sports photography is unlike any other; simply perfection.” With Jenkins’ photos, Engel’s writing and their combined passion for sports journalism, Pigskin Rapture is both aesthetically pleasing and such a fun read you won’t want to put it down. The book is the flagship title of Lonestar Books, a new Texas-focused division of publisher Globe Pequot Press. “The one thing I hope to get across with the book is that it is not restricted to those who are diehard football fans,” Engel said. “The book is more about Texas and it’s overall culture and atmosphere than anything else. Football just happens to be a big part of that.”speaking engagements and social media, I often I missed having that voice. MACENGEL.COM
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 63
All photography courtesy Ron Jenkins
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TEXAS LIFESTYLE | REVIEWS
Nature's
Second
Chances The healing power that is all around us By Colin Woods
64 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Fall 2016
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | REVIEWS
L
ife comes at you fast, but can also give you a second chance when you least expect it. For Houston resident Robert Flatt, life was always good—until a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease forced him to retire from a successful career in the oil service industry. With no other option, he chose to see the disease as an opportunity rather than a roadblock. The opportunity? Having the time to enjoy the wonders of nature through his passion for photography. Through the lens of his camera, Flatt could embrace the beauty around him. Throughout the next few years, F latt photographed the wonders of nature that he had previously overlooked. Those moments helped him learn to embrace his physical limitations with a positive attitude. The vivid photographs would help him cope with the disease, and he realized that observing nature in its finest form could help others find inner peace. Healing Art: Don’t Let Anything Ruin Your Day is a magnificent collection of Flatt’s work from around the world and in his Houston backyard. What really makes the reading experience memorable is the infusion of Flatt’s personality and humor. He reflects on his battle with Parkinson’s while reminding the reader that it’s never too late to change your life and spend each day living to the fullest. Flatt believes that life is good, and that beauty is all around us, even though at times we have to seek it out.
Nature gave Robert Flatt a second chance to live his life the way it should be lived; one day and one moment at a time. With his book, he offers us an invaluable reminder: slow down once in awhile and look at the beauty around us. ROBERTFLATT.COM
Fall 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 65
All photography by Robert Flatt
One of the most exciting things about nature is that you never know what could happen next. It is unpredictable, yet vibrant and teeming with life. And this book offers us the priceless opportunity to see intimate, hard-to-glimpse moments of nature.
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | A BETTER TEXAN
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL
live dinner
REUNION Robert Earl Keen’s milestone live album is a homecoming by Autumn Rhea Carpenter
“Songs come from any and everywhere. I particularly like beginning with a real experience and turning that experience on its head. I find the magic to storytelling is the element of surprise.” -Robert Earl Keen
exas troubadour Robert Earl Keen’s new live album, “No. 2 Live Dinner Reunion” marks the 20th anniversary of "No. 2 Live Dinner," first recorded at John T. Floore’s Country Store, in Helotes. He’s touring this season with his longtime friend Lyle Lovett and his redneck holiday tradition ‘Merry Christmas From the FamO-Lee’ continues through December. TLM: "No. 2 Live Dinner Reunion" includes Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Cory Morrow, Cody Canada, Cody Braun and Bruce Robison. How did you choose the guest musicians? REK: There was no special method in
choosing the guests on the record. This album was a celebration of my favorite music and music people. It was glorious and one of the best nights of my entire life. You graced the cover of Texas Lifestyle Magazine's premiere issue in 2014. What have you been working on since then?
I've traveled about a million miles and played to hundreds of thousands of people. I sang on a Guy Clark tribute album, and on a Steve Forbert tribute, which should be released this fall. I received the first ever
66 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
BMI Troubadour Award in 2015. I met George Strait, and I'm still waiting to make a record with Sade. My bluegrass record “Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions” was one of the best things that I've ever done and it was a huge success. What is the craziest thing that has happened at one of your concerts?
There was a full-blown brawl during our show in Oxford, Mississippi. The cops hauled off 20 kids and we had to stop the show; we never stop a show.
Last year, you went to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the Fair Play Fair Pay Act. Why does this legislation matter to you?
Musicians are the first to record the notes and, many times, the last to get paid. If the people in Congress were better informed about the challenges musicians face, the music community wouldn't have to throw a benefit every time a loved one endures a hardship. Awareness is the key. Music is everywhere. Are we giving to music as much as it gives to us? ROBERTEARLKEEN.COM
REK’S FAVORITES AUTHORS: CORMAC MCCARTHY, MARY KARR, WILLIAM STYRON, LARRY MCMURTRY, ANNIE PROULX, JOHN CHEEVER, MARK TWAIN, SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE, ERNEST HEMINGWAY, HERMANN HESSE MUSICIANS: WILLIE NELSON, NORMAN BLAKE, BILL MONROE, TAMMY WYNETTE, FREDDIE KING, MOZART, GUY CLARK, TOWNES VAN ZANDT, SADE, CREAM, LYLE LOVETT, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, JAMES MCMURTRY, JONI MITCHELL, MALCOLM HOLCOMBE, JOHN HARTFORD, GREG BROWN, LEFTY FRIZZELL POETS: WILLIAM STAFFORD, BAXTER BLACK MOVIE: “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW”
ROBERT EARL KEEN’S MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAM-O-LEE TOUR 12/15 MIDLAND, WAGNER-NOEL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 12/17 SAN ANTONIO, AZTEC THEATRE 12/20 AUSTIN, ACL LIVE AT THE MOODY THEATER 12/26 HOUSTON, HOUSE OF BLUES 12/28 NASHVILLE, RYMAN AUDITORIUM 12/29 DALLAS, HOUSE OF BLUES 12/30 FORT WORTH, BASS PERFORMANCE HALL
Photo by Darren Carroll
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Find these stories and more at: TEXASLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE.COM
#TravelTuesday
How To Prep a Turkey (Trot)
Celebrating Women!
What brings human rights attorney Amal Clooney, designer Diane von Furstenberg and a slew of other inspiring women to Austin in mid-November? Only the largest conference for women in the nation. Now in its 17th year, find out more about this year’s Texas Conference for Women in our online review.
Across Texas, Turkey Trot races are a popular family tradition. This year, be at the front of the pack—and keep up with the youngsters—by following our countdown tips from personal trainer and boot camp owner Derrick White of Total Health Evolution. Tick tock, Turkey Trot!
Simplify the Holidays
Struggling to find time in your hectic schedule to figure out what you’re going to do with the family when they arrive in town for the holidays? No worries—we’ve got tips and tricks for entertaining you and your visitors from the team at Austin-based KEY Concierge. Photo courtesy KEY Concierge
Photo courtesy Carlton Landing
Go inside this issue’s Road Trip (page 60) as our seasoned travel editor explores Carlton Landing and The Liney Moon, both perfect for when the family isn't home for the holidays. Take this pictorial journey to see why your next family gathering should be one that everyone gets to enjoy.
Fort Worth Chef Marcus Paslay shares his delicious and simple holiday recipes for the non-meat eaters at your holiday table. Listen in and hear for yourself how easy his recipes are during our exclusive conversation with the award-winning chef at work in his kitchen. Drool on!
Photo by Bill Orcutt
#Foodie Friday
Photo by Sarah Doliver
The United States of Soccer
In 1988, FIFA decreed that the 1994 World Cup be played in the United States – with the condition that the U.S. start a new professional league. Written by a veteran soccer journalist, The United States of Soccer is the engaging history of MLS’s bootstrap origins, its near-demise, and its surprising resilience.
Photo courtesy Texas Conference for Women
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | WEB EXTRAS
Holiday 2016 | texaslifestylemagazine.com 67
TEXAS LIFESTYLE | A BETTER TEXAN
SHAYNA BROWN: WHO I AM As told to Julie Bonnin
ithout question among the best at what she does, the Emmy-nominated audio engineer Shayna Brown, of Chez Boom Audio, works on coaxing the best from the steady stream of Hollywood clients who stop in her downtown Austin studio. I learned how to take a risk when I was 16 and graduated
(early) from high school. I had the option to take extra classes in high school, or transition to college. I ended up jumping into college, and my success there bolstered my confidence. I now try intentionally to take the risks that lead to the rewards I want most. I loved every minute I spent recording Neil Gaiman for his
audiobook, Ocean at the End of the Lane. I loved talking politics and current events with Dan Rather after our recording sessions. I loved the moment when Quentin Tarantino kissed me because I shared some Britney Spears remixes with him. So many good moments! I was homeschooled and we were pretty out of the mainstream,
so I never really got into any celebrities or pop culture. Now I’m able to treat them as fellow humans and focus on the work to be done, with no star-struck pauses.
Sound was so much a part of growing up, it was inevitable
that I would end up somewhere using my ears. I started piano lessons
68 Texas Lifestyle Magazine | Holiday 2016
earlier than I even have real memories, and performances, competitions, family band and jam sessions were core to my family culture. Sexism is real. As a woman in a male-dominated business,
it used to bug me. But I know that I’m great at my craft, and if someone thinks I couldn’t possibly be great, simply based on my appearance/gender, then I have the grounding now to smile at them and just show ‘em they’re wrong. Seeing the world through a 7-year-old eyes is a very
powerful motivator. I want to show my son what it looks like to work hard, to hone a craft, and to strive to be more. Recently, I joined the board of Anthropos Arts that gets music lessons to underprivileged kids and I love that he gets to see me serving our community.
I’m most proud of having built a strong, successful company
alongside building a strong, blended family. My son, husband and step-kids make my life much fuller and rewarding than if it were just a life of work. I’m incredibly shy and introverted. Given my druthers, I’d stay
at home in pj’s reading books and drinking hot tea every night. My other most comfortable spot is in my chair in the studio. I’m always the awkward one at parties! CHEZBOOMAUDIO.COM
Photos by Sarah Doliver
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