Amarillo Magazine | October 2019

OCTOBER 2019

amarillomagonline.com

AUTUMN

Adventures OUR FALL PREVIEW

$5.95 US AMARILLO MAGAZINE

100 Westgate Parkway 806-355-9874 www.BarnesJewelry.Com

THE

ART OF

CONTENTS 12 CONTRIBUTORS 14 ONLINE

38

16 OUT & ABOUT 20 ANDY’S WORLD 22 REALITY CHECK DRESS CODE 25 AMARILLO’S CINDERELLA

This magazine turned 10 years old this year, and to celebrate we hosted a makeover giveaway for one lucky reader.

COVER STORY 30 AUTUMN ADVENTURES

In October, the region screams to life, with so many spooky carnivals, autumnal performances and fall-themed parties it’s enough to make your head spin.

43 30

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25 52 FEATURE 38 PRODIGAL SONS

Pondaseta Brewing Co.’s founders return home to “live the dream.”

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43 HAVING A BLAST

Bomb City Vodka explodes onto the downtown scene.

INSPIRE 50 “THE HARD STUFF”

Singer/songwriter Susan Gibson shares one of her newest songs about life on the road.

WHAT’S COOKING? 52 FALL HEARTY

Fall is the perfect time to indulge in decadent comfort food.

59 LET’S EAT 81 EVENTS 86 RETRO REWIND

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88 20 QUESTIONS

ON THE COVER

ILLUSTRATION BY KAYLA MORRIS

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Editor’s Letter

Regional Director of Specialty Products/Editor Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 mmcaffrey@amarillo.com Regional Designer Kayla Morris Contributing Designer Darren Hendricks Contributing Writers Jonathan Baker Jason Boyett Andy Chase Cundiff Rick Treon

Contributing Photographers Shannon Richardson Shaie Williams

General Manager/Advertising Director Belinda Mills Account Representatives Arien Canales Sharon Denny Jaime Pipkin Aaron Vallance To advertise in Amarillo Magazine or on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Belinda Mills at 345.3373.

Regional Executive Editor Jill Nevels-Haun Regional Distribution Director David Morel Regional Accounting Manager Sheryl Rycerz

600 S. Tyler St., Suite 2300, Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of AGN Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

W

We spent the entirety of the time producing the October issue wishing for fall. September’s heat tends to frustrate those of us that aren’t trying to cling to the last remnants of summer. And it’s finally here. This year, I’m holding on to hope that my favorite time of year won’t be a few weeks of intolerable wind and then … Bam! Winter. Bring on the coziness and pumpkin-flavored everything!

Our fall preview is full of family-friendly activities to enjoy in Amarillo and all across the Panhandle.

From spooky Halloween-themed events to pumpkin patches and corn mazes to trusted school carnivals and trunk-or-treat events. Some of our suggested fall jaunts involve a bit of a drive, but we promise your time spent with family and friends on the way will be worth it.

Back in July, we were thrilled to celebrate our 10th anniversary with a giveaway for one lucky reader. After all, without the support of our city, we wouldn’t have a purpose – our readers are our reason for publishing Amarillo Magazine. We love sharing the stories of Amarillo and its people.

Our winner, Shelly Hanes, reacted just like I’d hoped when I called her to tell her that she won: with a squeal, and giggles, and “Oh, how fun!” And we did so enjoy our day with Shelly. Our team invested quite a bit of time in preparation for Shelly, and then made her feel so special on her makeover day. She told us she felt just like Cinderella and that she’d informed all her friends and family not to call and interrupt her pampering. Shelly has just known, since the first time she saw Amarillo Magazine on the rack, that she’d be in it. That lucky girl was right! Congratulations to Shelly on an awesome prize and big, big thanks to our makeover team and generous sponsors. We couldn’t have had a better recipient.

Singer/songwriter Susan Gibson is a part of our pages this month. It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard from Susan (we’re huge fans!) and so we are excited that she reached out to “Inspire” us once again. Read about her challenges on the road on page 50.

We know you guys enjoy our “What’s Cooking?” section in particular, and we have a few hearty comfort food recipes from the crew at The Ruffled Cup Cupcakery & Sweet Shoppe. Those intrepid cooks are masters of temptation – their bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich (see page 52) is designed to make you forget about your “bikini body” and simply indulge.

That’s what fall layers are for, right?

We love to hear from our readers! Please email me at mmcaffrey@amarillo.com.

Happy fall!

Contributors

JONATHAN BAKER

JASON BOYETT

DARREN HENDRICKS

Jonathan’s copywriting has appeared in Esquire, Men’s Journal, and Popular Mechanics, and he reports on the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles for High Plains Public Radio. In his spare time, he writes crime novels.

Jason has written more than a dozen books and is the host and creator of “Hey Amarillo,” a local interview podcast.

Visit heyamarillo.com and jasonboyett.com.

Darren is a graphic designer who has worked with newspaper, publication, website and advertising clients around the country for more than 20 years. He lives in McPherson, Kansas, with his family. See his work at dviso.com.

Writer

Writer

SHANNON RICHARDSON Photographer

Shannon has been photographing commercial/advertising work for more than 20 years.

See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

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Designer

SHAIE WILLIAMS Photographer

Shaie is a professional photographer born and raised in the Amarillo area. Shaie enjoys telling stories through photography. His work ranges from editorial to portraiture with both film and the latest digital processes. See Shaie’s work at williamspics.smugmug.com.

amarillomagonline.com ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

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Browse the magazine at your leisure and enjoy visually pleasing features all month, every month.

Stay up-to-date with features, photo galleries and more at amarillomagonline.com.

View more photos from our cover story, “Autumn Advertures,” on our website.

We post photos of Amarillo’s best events – and the people who enjoy them – every week in our Out & About section. Watch for updates on our Facebook page!

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Subscribe: Email mmcaffrey@amarillo.com to receive Amarillo Magazine by mail.

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

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Out & About

16th Annual Santa in the Summer

On Aug. 24, the 16th Annual Santa in the Summer was held at the Eveline Rivers Project. This year’s theme was “It’s All About Christmas,” and the fundraiser included live music by Old Dog Tray, activities, and live and silent auctions. All proceeds benefited the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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1. Jose and Eugenia Garcia 2. Joe and Lisa Martinez 3. Denise Moreno and Israel Hernandez 4. Chad and Christine Rhynehart, Darbi Koller, and Clayton Lankford 5. Amanda and Paul Davis 6. Aaron and Kristen Atkins 7. Brandy and Cory Humphrey 8. Bowden and Chrislyn Jones

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First Friday Art Walk

The inaugural First Friday Art Walk at Barnes Jewelry was held on Sept. 6. Following the closing of Arts in the Sunset’s galleries in August, Barnes Jewelry decided to provide a space for local artists to show their work, and revived the once-monthly art walk. The walk included live music and food trucks.

PHOTOS BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

1. Tim and Aimee Mouw 2. Teresa and Jonathan Traves 3. David Alan and Loretta Corbin 4. Renee and Denny Deaver 5. Page and Jerry Steed 6. Bill Archinal, Gina Blair and Jeremy Adams 7. Cindy and Darrel Hawkins 8. Valerie and Jim Kiper

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OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Out & About

24th Annual Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-off

On Sept. 12, 100 cooking teams prepared eight tons of meat for a crowd that exceeded 6,000 at the annual Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-off.

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PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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1. Francisco Maldonado and Ruth Contreras 2. Nena Bulls and Marilyn Welborn 3. Aldo Ustos, Andrew Ramos, Jimmy Tompa, Karen Kirby, Janet Ramos and Daniel Ramos 4. Lisa Simpson, Gary and Amy Wixom, and Hannah Blakely 5. Andy Stephens, Doug Johnson, Christa Montoya and Will Johnson 6. Jason Novak and Rickey Bates 7. Amber Doden and Alfredo Hernandez 8. Presley Howard and Gus Mast

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United Way Kickoff Luncheon

1. Angie Delgado-Govelschool, Michael Sims and Sheryl Moran 2. Diana Lavina, Tara May and Natalie Broom 3. Lisa Morgan, Jessica Cardenas and Stephanie Fretwell 4. Claudia Martinez, Blane Thornton and William Bailey 5. Jacy Jenks, Tim Williams and Shelly Bohannon 6. Joseph Pugl, Adrian Deleon, Steve Stockton and KC McNatt 7. Martha Del Toro and Brad Clark 8. Kelln Maslik and Wonder Smith

The United Way Kickoff Luncheon was held on Sept. 12 at Hodgetown. The keynote speaker was EJ Carrion, founder and CEO of the Student Success Agency.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

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OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Andy’s World

A Few of My Favorite (and Least Favorite) Things

I

t’s lovely Autumn again, my favorite season by far, and this year I am taking a rather random inventory of things for the purpose of a little early thanksgiving. The cantankerous artist in me, however, still reserves the right to “chafe” a bit.

Favorite Things (in no particular order) • The month of October – the colors, cool temperatures, and of course, football. Summer’s heat is gone, it’s jacket – but not yet – parkaand face-mask cold.

• The smell of rain – especially after a long, dry spell. It smells like all the times you splashed in every puddle you could find on your way home from school. For some reason, rain also reminds me of the smell of my kids’ hair when they were babies.

• Speaking of babies, the sound of a baby’s laughter. That deep, honest amusement that comes from an innocent heart. Talk about a great medicine! They ought to pipe that into hospital rooms.

• Old pop songs. Anything from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s sounds pretty good to me. When disco took over, I started writing my own music.

It may not be great, but to me it beats the heck out of disco. I have a friend named Dan Navarro, who co-wrote “We Belong Together,” the song Pat Benatar charted with. I’ll bet Dan likes to hear that song even more than I do, especially on the new Pepsi commercial. I love it when a song takes you by surprise on a long drive in the car, and puts you back in a certain time and place so completely that you couldn’t remember it any better if you had a film of it. There are some people, I know, that don’t relate to music this way. Philistines.

• The first snow – That icy aroma that clears the air, the flakes that magically appear. Suddenly everything looks cleaner and more well defined. Kids get excited and run outside to play, full of questions about snow days and school closings.

• My wife, Danielle’s, pictures. She could be a professional, I guess, if she wanted to be. She prefers to shoot what makes her happy. This, typical to Danielle, is usually in the process of making someone else happy. She photographs well, in my opinion, because she sees well.

• Old acoustic guitars. The texture, color, vibration of the wood in an instrument made by someone who knows and cares about music is something to behold. Some old guitars have told a lot of stories, and some are stories in themselves. Willie Nelson’s guitar, “Trigger” is a good example of this.

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Least Favorite Things (Also in no particular order) • Insurance commercials. I don’t like “Flo”, I don’t like computer generated gecko cartoons and I don’t like British accents that are there for no reason. I spend a lot of money on insurance, and the commercials are not amusing to me. They could take the money they spend on those stupid spots and pass a discount along to their customers. There should be a law that forbids more than one insurance commercial an hour anyway.

• Drinking out of plastic. This is just one of my little quirks. I understand that you can’t always get a glass glass, but I certainly do every time it is possible. I don’t like to use a straw unless the situation is dire, like a road trip in one of our rough-riding trucks. I keep frosty mugs in our freezer, and I use them to drink anything from water to fruit smoothies.

• Blinding sunshine on a below-zero day. We get some of these each winter in Amarillo, and they seem to underscore the aggravation of the bone-aching desperation of winter. You know, those days you have to wear seven layers and sunglasses with a ball cap. I would rather it be bleak and blizzardish than sunshiny and six below.

• “Boxer briefs.” For the love of all things private, who came up with that idea? Either boxers or briefs – make up your mind. For decades, we just had two kinds of men’s undies. Boxers for old guys, briefs for the younger, or for those of us who just got used to them. Now, with boxer briefs you can have the discomfort plus the added heat, the worst of both worlds. They remind me of the sliding shorts we wore for baseball, or pad girdles for football, both of which were shed the microsecond the game was over.

• Purple headlights. Shouldn’t all headlights be the same color?

Isn’t it a matter of safety to not be forced to stare into oncoming traffic and see a Christmas tree of colors? Halogen, LED, whatever they are, should still be the same basic color. That is only common sense. At least to me.

• I have to close for now, it’s getting late, this has to make it to my editor by tomorrow, and there’s that final not-so-favorite thing I forgot to mention: deadlines. Happy October!

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF Andy is a local artist, singer and songwriter, and has called Amarillo home for more than 20 years. He plays at a variety of live music venues throughout the Panhandle. Contact Andy at 376-7918.

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Reality Check

Buying time, not things

S

amuel L. Jackson is constantly asking me: What’s in your wallet? Well, there are certainly credit cards, though not the one Nick Fury wants me to apply for. There’s also some cash, usually less than $20, and even some business cards (yes, authors have business cards).

Last month, there was also my ticket stub to the Texas LonghornsLouisiana State football game in Austin – a memento from one of the best atmospheres I’ve been in since I was a student at UT. And that was the most valuable piece of paper or plastic in my billfold.

I am like many my age who spend any extra money I have on experiences rather than material possessions. According to a recent Deloitte survey, the priorities of the youngest adults have shifted from owning homes and cars to owning memories and selfies from exotic locations or major events.

The survey doesn’t say Millennials and members of Gen Z want to earn less money. (I often talk only half-jokingly about the day I make “that James Patterson money.”) We just want to spend it differently.

I only recently realized what a perfect example I am of this shift in consumerism. Whatever money I do make has historically been spent on going somewhere and doing something, rather than adding to the clutter in my already claustrophobic living space.

My first major expense as a member of the full-time workforce was an overseas trip. I saved for more than six months to spend a week in Prague with one of my best friends from college who taught English as a second language there.

The apartment I came back to had two recliners, a bed with no headboard, and no art that wasn’t drawn by my sister or given to me by The University of Texas in the form of a diploma.

In the interest of full disclosure, my second major purchase was a new car (which was subsequently totaled in an Amarillo hailstorm).

Fast forward about seven years. After achieving my highest salary at the newspaper, I decided to make another major purchase.

This time it wasn’t a trip, but a set of experiences. Texas Longhorns season football tickets.

That was just over a year ago and was partially a gift for my father.

He grew up a University of Southern California fan, and the vaunted, highly ranked Trojans were set to invade Austin last season. The only way to guarantee a ticket to that game – and the Texas-Oklahoma game later that year – was to purchase season tickets.

Expectations for that season were low for the Longhorns. They’d

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just hired a new coach and were coming off the worst decade since John Mackovic was at the helm in the ’90s. My father and I were committed to the two premier games, and perhaps a few more, but selling at least some of the tickets was originally part of the plan.

But after upsetting USC, we kept attending games. And – in a relationship that may or may not be causal – the Longhorns kept winning.

There were a few losses, but my father and I were having so much fun we kept going during a midseason skid. We made it through the entire regular season. Then got tickets to the Big 12 Championship at Jerry’s World in Arlington. Then the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

When you factor in the tickets – including the donation that comes with them – parking, gas, hotels, oil changes, and meals, we spent nearly five figures on last season.

And we’re in the middle of doing the same this year.

The last major material possession I purchased was a new suit and accessories. It’s a brand name, and the ensemble ran me nearly a grand.

But even it is connected to my love for travel and experiences.

I bought the suit to wear at the annual Thriller Awards banquet this summer in New York. It’s part of ThrillerFest, an annual writers’ convention. Though I was part of the ceremonies as a debut author, it was not free. I spent all my royalties and then some getting there and spending a week in The Big Apple.

I’d have paid triple for the experience, though I am thankful for the early-bird discount I received for reserving my 2020 spot.

I made a similar purchase that will be charged to my credit card late this month when I check into the convention hotel in Dallas for Bouchercon. It’s the World Mystery Convention where I will get to see the man whose earnings I not-so-secretly covet.

Meanwhile, I have no mortgage and am not in the market for one.

Though I enjoy the aforementioned credit card commercial, another advertising question is much more appropriate for us young-uns.

Wanna get away?

The answer for an increasing majority of Millennials is yes.

RICK TREON Rick is a suspense novelist and former managing editor of the Amarillo Globe-News. His debut novel, “Deep Background,” is available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook on Amazon.com.

Learn more at ricktreon.com.

Dress Code

Amarillo’s

Cinderella

PHOTOS BY JENNY EDWARDS

T

SHELLY HANES

his magazine turned 10 years old this year, and to celebrate we hosted a makeover giveaway for one lucky reader.

The prize was substantial, including a full range of services from The Salon by Lora Brown, makeup consultation from Kim Wood, a photo session valued at $1,000 from Jenny Edwards Photography, and other gifts from local businesses, including Janey’s at 2500, Graham Brothers Jewelers, HOTWORX, Pretty in Ink and Two Loons Warehouse. What a package!

Our lucky winner was Shelly Hanes, a Plainview native and Timbercreek Canyon resident who has lived in this area with her husband Chris since 2005.

“Years ago, I teased my husband that I was going to be in this magazine someday,” Shelly says with a laugh. She dreamed that one day she’d get her place in the spotlight. “That’s how I’d know I belonged in Amarillo/Canyon.”

That day finally arrived when Shelly won our makeover contest – and it included far more than just a small photo. The 53-year-old grandmother spent a full eight-hour day at The Salon by Lora Brown. “It was fabulous. I felt like Cinderella all day,” she says. “They waited on me hand and foot and told me what to do next.” Shelly was open to every suggestion and instruction and proved a natural model when it came time for her photo session.

Here are a few highlights from Shelly’s makeover day.

Before OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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“She’s a redhead and I agreed to keep her a redhead. It’s great with her skin tone. But for me, her hair needed more richness and depth to it. Because she’d been coloring it herself, I needed to go in and do a little corrective color.

We did lowlights and some color-blending to build in depth and dimension.”

– Lora Brown

“My main goal with Shelly was to get her to look as young and luminous as possible. After the moisture mask, we started with a serum and some face oil and a moisturizer. Her skin just drank it up.”

– Kim Wood

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

“It’s such a fun contest. I’m so thankful for all the businesses that donated. It was fabulously fun.”

– Shelly Hanes

After

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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THE STAFF OF HOTWORX JOINED US TO PRESENT SHELLY WITH HER PRIZE.

SHELLY WITH (L-R): MAKEUP ARTIST KIM WOOD, PHOTOGRAPHER JENNY EDWARDS, AND STYLIST LORA BROWN

A special thanks to our sponsors:

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

SHELLY SITS SURROUNDED BY PRIZES AND MERCHANDISE FROM OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS.

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PROVIDED PHOTOS

MAXWELL’S PUMPKIN FARM

CANADIAN FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL

JAZZTOBER

TURKEY, TEXAS

DHDC MONSTER BASH BOO AT THE ZOO

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

Cover Story

OUR FALL PREVIEW

L

eaves are falling, and there’s a chill in the air. The nights are growing longer. Soon, zombies will prowl the streets in search of brains – or possibly candy. It seems fall has arrived. But in the Texas Panhandle, the arrival of autumn means a lot more than crunching leaves beneath your feet. In October, the region screams to life, with so many spooky carnivals, autumnal performances and fall-themed parties it’s enough to make your head spin.

No matter what kind of fall fun you’re looking for, we’ve got you and your family covered. Whether you want to attend a family-friendly fall carnival, or you want to be scared out of your wits, our Fall Preview has just the thing to move you beyond the summertime blues and get you feeling the warm reds and browns of autumn.

by Jonathan Baker ILLUSTRATIONS BY KAYLA MORRIS

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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DHDC MONSTER BASH

ARCHIVE PHOTOS

MAXWELL’S PUMPKIN FARM

JAZZTOBER

FALL CARNIVALS AND SAFE HALLOWEEN-THEMED EVENTS

S

ure, it’s October, but you don’t have to be frightened to have fun. For many – especially those with wee ones – the true pleasure of fall comes through the warmth of community. Every autumn, the Texas Panhandle is packed with fun and safe events for the whole family. So load up the car with all your tiny ninjas and superheroes, and join in in the fun. Here’s our rundown of family-friendly carnivals, fairs and performances that are safe for your whole crew to attend.

BOO at the Zoo

700 Comanchero Trail (in Thompson Park) Oct. 25-27 Friday and Saturday, 5:30-9 p.m.

Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Looking for something different to do with the little ones on the weekend before Halloween? Head over to Thompson Park and join the animals for an evening of “not-so-scary, high-spirited Halloween fun” at the annual BOO at the Zoo. The event will feature costumed characters, treat stations, crafts and games. What’s more, in case you’ve forgotten, Amarillo has a phenomenal zoo that could always use more support.

If you’re looking for fearsome Halloween frights of the natural variety, you can’t do better than an African lion, an American back bear or a Bengal tiger. (Okay, let’s be honest. The zoo’s animals aren’t so much scary as just plain beautiful.)

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The Creepy Circus: Second Annual Halloween Soiree Flying Fitness & Aerial Arts Studio 3708 Business Park Drive Oct. 26, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

This fundraiser will showcase Halloween-themed acts from the talented students of Flying Fitness. And these acrobats know their stuff; the fitness studio was founded by Abby Moldenhauer, a former professional circus trapeze artist who has returned to the Panhandle to serve her hometown. Proceeds will support Gracie’s Project, a local animal rescue initiative. Flying Fitness is hoping to raise $800 for animals in need. Get there early for this event, as we’re told tickets are going fast. Admission is a $10 suggested donation, or five bucks for standing room. And wear your costume! Flying Fitness is hoping the audience will help the performers “encourage the spirit of Halloween.”

Halloween Trail Run Hosted by Get Fit Palo Duro Canyon State Park Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.

What’s more fun than jogging through Texas’s finest state park on a cool autumn evening? Jogging while dressed as a skeleton, of course! Get Fit, Amarillo’s only specialty running store – and locally owned, too! – will host a Halloween Costume Trail Run on the Tuesday before Halloween. Goblins and ghouls (and a few princesses, too) will run a four-mile loop around the canyon as the sun sets. There will be costumes awarded for the best prizes. You’ll need to pay the park fee of eight bucks to get in – or, if you plan on visiting PDC or other parks over the next year, you can use this as an excuse to buy a Texas State Parks pass and save some dough.

Historic Twilight Tour

Llano Cemetery Arthur Street between 26th Avenue and 34th Avenue. Enter the cemetery at the 34th Street entrance.

Oct. 19, 3-7 p.m., weather permitting

Trivia time: Did you know that Llano Cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places? Or that it’s considered an Historic District?

The Historic Llano Cemetery will celebrate its 130th anniversary this year with the 14th Annual Twilight Cemetery Tour, to be held Saturday, Oct. 19. Visitors can wander the quiet, treelined paths while visiting the graves of some of Amarillo’s most notable and beloved citizens.

Whether you want to take a walking tour or go for a hayride, you’ll learn from guides who’ll be on hand to “share about the Panhandle’s founders, pioneers, public servants, gypsies and other famous residents of the Panhandle’s oldest and largest historical cemetery.” Or if you just want to venture out on your own self-guided tour, you can download Llano Cemetery’s new app in the Google Play Store or Apple Store. This one’s a great daytime option for families, where the focus is on history rather than frights.

Jazztober

Tuesday evenings in October (except for the last week, because of the city’s numerous Halloween events) on the lawn of the Historic Bivins Home in downtown Amarillo, 1000 S. Polk St. 6-7:30 p.m.

Since its inaugural season in 2012, Jazztober has been growing yearby-year, spawned by the success of Amarillo College’s June Jazz. Every Tuesday evening in October, you’ll find folks camped in lawn chairs, or picnicking with a bottle of wine, and enjoying a free jazz concert on the lawn of the old Bivins Mansion downtown. “We want people to enjoy all the great talent we have here in Amarillo,” says Center City’s Beth Duke. “Free concerts are one way to bring more people downtown and support the Amarillo Cultural District.”

The schedule for 2019’s Jazztober: • Oct. 1: Ruth Ellen Lynch & Jazz Plus • Oct. 8: Pat Swindell & The Esquire Jazz Band • Oct. 15: Jim Laughlin Quartet • Oct. 22: Ruth Ellen Lynch & Jazz Plus

Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm Open Friday-Sunday, Sept. 21-Oct. 27 12908 S. Bell St.

For years, Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm has been a must-do destination for families in the Texas Panhandle. Once again this season, Maxwell’s features an almost mind-boggling array of fun activities. On this stretch of land between Amarillo and Canyon, you can pick your own pumpkins, navigate a giant maze, ride a magic carpet or a wagon train, whoosh through a tube slide, drive pedal cars, shoot an apple cannon, climb tire mountain, bounce on the giant jump pad, and much more.

Maxwell’s even has fireworks displays planned for the evenings of Oct. 12, 19 and 26. Who says summertime is the fun season?

Monster Bash

Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Drive Oct. 25-26, 5:30 p.m. (for members); 6:30 p.m. for nonmembers

If you’re looking to blend a little science with your spookiness, the Discovery Center’s yearly Monster Bash is just the ticket. The event features treat stations, games and cool vendors. To top things off, let your little ones try to find their way out of the kid-friendly “spooky maze” in the museum basement. And all for a measly five bucks per kid for members, seven for nonmembers. And more good news: Adult chaperones get in free. Pro tip: Members get an extra hour of fun, from 5:30 to 6:30 on both nights. So show up early, buy that membership (you know you’ve been thinking about it), and chill in the museum with fellow science lovers, before the masses descend.

Monster Bash Town Square Village Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m.

This yearly event provides all you’d ever want for family-friendly Halloween fun, all in one safe location. With food trucks, activities, costume contests, and pumpkin and face painting, you and your crew can load up on candy and treats without having to wander dark streets.

Plus, there’s no admission fee! And with Cinergy right nearby, you’ve got the makings of an epic day of fun – followed, hopefully, by naps.

Sixth Street Creepy Crawl

Streetwide on Sixth Avenue, west of Georgia Street Oct. 31, 6 p.m.

The organizers of this annual pub crawl say their mission is to “throw the biggest and best Halloween bash in the Panhandle and support our local charities!” Things kick off at the 806 at 6 p.m., with trick-or-treating and family-friendly activities. Then, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., all the gathered vampires and ghosts – those who are older than 21, that is – will crawl from pub to pub, dancing to live music and painting the town (blood) red. The event is sponsored by some of the coolest establishments on Sixth, including Neon Moon, The Golden Light Cafe & Cantina, Route 66 Food Park and the 806 Art Collective. And with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the San Jacinto neighborhood, how can you go wrong?

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St. Joseph’s Church Fall Carnival 4118 S. Bonham St. Sat., Oct. 5, 12-6 p.m.

Every year, on the first Saturday in October, St, Joseph’s Catholic School hosts its Annual Fall Carnival. This one’s always a great time, with the school community gathering to provide the general public with delicious food and great entertainment. Every classroom hosts a different carnival game, and there’s a DJ and dancing in the gym.

After the carnival, there will be a raffle and live auction in the gym, with a little help from Sod Poodles mascot Ruckus and the Quick Quack duck. Every class has been working on a collective project, and those will be auctioned off. Raffle prizes include a half beef with a deep freezer, gift cards, a big-screen TV and an Amazon home bundle.

St. Mary’s Cathedral School Fall Festival 1200 S. Washington St. Sat., Oct. 19, 12-7 p.m.

ages, rides, bounce houses, a fishing booth, cakewalk, slides, rock wall, bingo, and costume contest. Every year, the event also features a “sweet shop” with tons of homemade goodies, and “Mexican cafe,” with homemade tacos and enchiladas. The St. Mary’s Fall Festival is an indoor-outdoor event, with lots of amusing things happening in the parish center and gym, and games and activities spilling out into the parking lot. The day ends with a raffle, where carnival-goers will have the chance to win $20,000, along with lots of other prizes.

Pet Costume Contest This family-owned bird and pet supply store will hold its third annual pet costume contest on the Sunday before Halloween. Make sure to bring your own chair, and set up for a prime spot to watch West Texas’s most elegant (and/or ridiculous) pups and kitties (and hopefully a few birds, too!) strut their stuff. Tickets are available at Wings, Wags and Whiskers from now until the event.

Another fall classic, this fair features fun games for kids of all

Trunk or Treat!

For parents with safety concerns – those who don’t want to send their kids wandering the dark streets at night, or those parents whose kids are simply too young for effective traditional trick-or-treating – the “trunk-ortreat” trend has been a godsend in recent years. In fact, many churches have taken to hosting autumn-themed trunk-or-treat carnivals as a way to celebrate fall without making things scary. Most of these trunk-or-treat events will be held on Halloween night, but some will be hosted earlier in the week, so call ahead to make sure of exact dates and times.

Amarillo Area Trunk or Treats:

South Georgia Baptist Church, 5209 S. Georgia St., 355.8169 St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 4600 S. Western St., 355.7271 First Family Church, 6101 S. Bell St., 353.9803 Grace Church, 4111 Plains Blvd., 353.1488 Westgate Mall’s “Mall-o-Ween,” 7701 I-40 West., 358.7221 Gene Messer Ford, 3400 Soncy Road, 355.7471 Sitel Corporation, 4945 Canyon Drive, 468.0800 Temple Baptist Church, 3208 S. Van Buren St., 372.2306 Lighthouse Church, 4020 SW 50th Ave., 457.8501 Hillside Christian Church, 6100 S. Soncy Road, 457.4900 St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 I-40 West, 352.5615 Paramount Baptist Church, 3801 S. Western St., 355.3396 Turn Center, 1250 Wallace Blvd., 353.3596 100 Club Trucks and Treats, Westgate Mall, 7701 I-40 West St. Andrews Episcopal School, 1515 S. Georgia St., 376.9501 Trunk-or-Treat at Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305 Tascosa Drive-in, 1999 Dumas Drive, 383.3882

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Wings, Wags and Whiskers 2461 I-40 West Oct. 27, 1 p.m.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

CANADIAN FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL

TURKEY, TEXAS

F

AROUND THE AREA

all fun certainly isn’t confined to the Amarillo city limits! This year, why not venture out into some of the Panhandle’s smaller towns – some of which have garnered widespread attention for thrilling autumn activities. Whether you’re leaf-peeping in Canadian, curling up for a scary movie in Canyon, or quaking in your boots at the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department’s Haunted House, this fall has more reasons than ever to venture out into the flatlands.

Canadian, Texas Fall Foliage Festival October 19-22

Canadian is already known as one of the Texas Panhandle’s best day-trip destinations. But in the fall, Canadian really lets its true colors fly. The town’s fall festival is a gem, with tons of activities including art, a car show, an arts and crafts show, one-of-a-kind tape-art murals all over town, helicopter tours, a quilt show, awesome museum exhibitions, and nature activities at Lake Marvin. Oh, and we hear something wondrous is supposed to happen to the region’s tree foliage around this time of year.

Canyon, Texas

Halloween Spooktacular on the Square Courthouse Square in Canyon Oct. 25

Canyon is generally known as a Fourth of July town, but last year the city’s first Halloween celebration challenged Independence Day’s

dominance. For those of you who were lucky enough to be in Canyon for last year’s Spooktacular, you were treated to an amazingly thorough and fun carnival, capped off by a movie screening on the courthouse lawn. This year will be even bigger, with more cool games and trunk-ortreating. As of press time, voting was still ongoing for what this year’s movie will be. Regardless, it’s sure to be a good one, so come early, load up on candy, then settle in with a blanket for some family-friendly spookiness. Businesses and organizations on the square will keep their doors open late for trick-or-treating, or many other local businesses will set up trunk-or-treat booths. Trick-or-treating will start at 6 p.m.

As Kirstie Patterson, Canyon Main Street’s program coordinator, puts it, “It’s great to see so many businesses and organizations in our community come together for a night of Halloween fun!”

WTAMU Fall Carnival

First United Bank Center parking lot, Canyon Oct. 21

This yearly carnival is always a blast – and it’s definitely not limited to WT students and staff. There are lots of bouncy houses and games for the little ones, and the trunk-or-treat is one of the better ones in the region. The event is free and open to the public, but things can be chilly out on the edge of town in the evening, so bring a coat!

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Turkey, Texas

October Turkey Fest 2019 October 17-19 Old Turkey High School and Gym 602 Lyles St.

Don’t miss three nights of fall fun in Turkey, the third weekend in October, In the gym of the old Turkey High School. On Thursday, Will Banister and the Modern Day Ramblers will be making their way over from Clovis, New Mexico, to entertain the good people of Turkey. Then on Friday, check out Coby Carter – 2014 and 2015’s Academy of Western Artists Western Swing Male Vocalist of the Year –with special guest Tommy Hooker. Finally, on Saturday, Turkey will be treated to a classic Western Swing performance by Greg Gibbs and Texas Standard Time. Gibbs was awarded the 2017 Academy of Western Artists’ “Best Western Swing Male” award. Come “dance all night, and dance a little longer!”

TVFD Haunted House & Halloween Carnival Old Turkey High School and Gym 602 Lyles St. Oct. 26

Just because Turkey Fest is over doesn’t mean the fun in Turkey is ending. Turkey’s Halloween Carnival, held at the old Turkey High School, is growing even bigger this year, with tons of good food, fun and games. Over the years, this Turkey tradition has become a standout, with myriad booths and fun events (We’re told they’re even adding a chair massage booth this year!) There will be bingo from 6-10 p.m. in the cafeteria, and the carnival will take place in the old gym.

Meanwhile, the Annual Turkey Volunteer Fire Department Haunted House has long been a favorite in the region. But the attraction looks to be particularly killer this year, spanning the entire second floor of the old Turkey High School – which has long been believed to be haunted. In fact, we’re told that even the Turkey Fire Department’s bravest members won’t venture into the basement. If you think you’ve got the gumption to handle the frights, don’t miss out on one of the Panhandle’s best haunted houses.

Umbarger

German Sausage Festival St. Mary’s Catholic Church 22830 Pondeseta Road Nov. 10

Umbarger’s German Sausage Festival has been recognized as one of the finest in the state – a testament to the town’s rich German heritage. The preparation for the Sausage Festival begins months in advance, when members of the St. Mary’s Catholic parish “gather together, using recipes more than 60 years old, to make sausage and sauerkraut.” The ladies of the parish bake bread for the meal – and the bread is also for sale at the church’s Country Store & Bazaar.

But you won’t just find bread at this all-day party; members spend months creating baby quilts, gift items, canned goods, and handmade religious items for sale at the festival.

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Haunted Houses

Over the past decade or so, the haunted house culture has exploded across the nation. And when it comes to going bump in the night, Amarillo’s spookhouses have proven themselves able to compete with houses in much larger cities. In fact, some Amarilloans spend the year’s other 11 months preparing – just so they can scare the lights out of you in October. We’ve put together a rundown of all the city’s best haunted houses. But beware! These attractions are not for the faint of heart.

Amarillo Scaregrounds

2736 SW 10th Ave. Fridays and Saturdays in October, as well as Sunday, Oct. 27, Halloween night, and Nov. 1

The Scaregrounds really bring out the crowds every October – largely due to the five separate attractions housed under its massive roof. So you can choose your terror – or, if you think you have the guts, go for an all-inclusive pass. The facility spans 50,000 square feet, so there’s plenty of fear to go around. The space’s original attractions are the Insanitarium, which is a mental hospital overrun with zombies, and a tribute to the origins of our various phobias known simply as “Terror.” More recently, the Scaregrounds has opened three more attractions: “The Basement,” an industrial-sized fright zone that will remind you of all the reasons you were afraid to go into the basement as a kid; “Blackout,” a 2,500-squarefoot maze in total darkness (this one’s not haunted, just DARK); and “Zombie Apocalypse Training,” a 5,000-squarefoot arena “where you and up to 12 of your friends can practice shooting one another with laser tag guns.”

There’s also a snack bar with a large patio for patrons to relax, an authentic graveyard with real tombstones and crypts, and a permanent graveside funeral where you and your crew can chill out with other creatures of the night.

Frightmare Haunted House

816 S. Van Buren St. Fridays and Saturdays in October, as well as Halloween night

If you’re looking to be scared while supporting a great cause, Frightmare – located in the heart of downtown Amarillo – provides a great option. Throughout the year, kids from the Amarillo Area Youth Center work to construct this scarefest. In the process, they are instructed in basic tools and painting techniques, while also learning theater design, staging, lighting, makeup, acting and scene building. The result, after all their labors? A bona fide thrill ride, based around the story of a mad scientist who “searched endlessly across all planes of existence for creatures, supernatural antiquities and things that go bump in the night.” The evil Dr. Payne thus spends his evenings torturing the poor lost souls of downtown Amarillo – at least those who are unfortunate enough to wander into his labyrinth.

6th Street Massacre Haunted House 3015 SW Sixth Ave., Fridays and Saturdays in October, as well as Halloween night

Located in an actual movie theater dating from the 1920s, 6th Street Massacre serves up scares with a Tinseltown twist. Here, you’ll find scenarios based around the theater box office, the snack bar, and of course the dilapidated and spooky auditorium. The frights at 6SM are also based around popular horror movies, lending the experience a cohesive aura. The theater, we hear, is actually haunted, and has been featured on A&E’s “My Ghost Story.” Folks who work at the attraction have reported hearing doors slam, while the mysterious unlocking of doors in the theater has triggered the building’s alarms. Pro tip: Come early to this one, before heading out to the other houses. The first 13 visitors each night get in for 10 bucks.

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Feature

PRODIGAL SONS aA

by Jonathan Baker

time traveler from 2009 probably wouldn’t recognize Amarillo.

No longer are chain restaurants the be-all-end-all in the Yellow City. No, today, our friend from the past would find a city remembering the power of community. Downtown is no longer a ghost town, and other areas of the city are flowering with eateries, bookshops and galleries, locally owned cafes and craft breweries.

The roots of Pondaseta Brewing Co. – a bona fide phenomenon – stretch back 12 years to conversations held between members of a country band – a group that didn’t last longer than a single concert, in fact. With their ears still ringing from amp feedback, the guitar player and drummer for the Newton Road Ramblers realized they both shared another passion, aside from music. Ten years later, Kaleb West and Trever Martin’s local-focused brewery has become an Amarillo institution.

Here’s to another Amarillo business based on craft, on community, on creativity. Raise your glasses to Pondaseta Brewing Co.

SLOW START, BIG FINISH

It was 2007 when Kaleb West and Trever Martin joined the Newton Road Ramblers. After that first ill-fated show, recalls Martin, “we both finished college and started families.” However, throughout those years, the two musicians-cum-brewers kept in touch, meeting occasionally to

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talk homebrewing – and often joking of “leaving our jobs and opening a brewery.”

“I was living in Austin,” remembers West, “and Trever was living in Lubbock. We were both looking to make a change.” In those days, West was managing an Austin bicycle shop and working as a traveling tech rep for a brewery equipment company, Premier Stainless Systems.

“I would travel to a client’s brewery and help them set up their new equipment and train them.”

“I was living in Lubbock working for a national wholesale plumbing and HVAC company,” says Martin. “I started homebrewing as a weekend hobby in 2011, and from there it became a passion. As Kaleb said, I was ready to change career paths but wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do.”

Fast forward to spring 2016. Kaleb West is sitting in the Austin airport, about to leave for a job. On a whim, he calls Martin and asks if he wants to quit his job and open a brewery. Without hesitating, Martin says, “Absolutely yes.” Hundreds of additional phone calls follow, along with thousands of emails.

Finally, West and Martin were ready to move back and open a brewery in their hometown of Canyon. West went first, moving his family to Canyon in December 2016 to start the process. “We had a location in mind on the square in Canyon, and hoped to open in the fall of 2017,” says West. “As everyone now knows, that didn’t happen. The

A FEW OF PONDASETA’S MOST POPULAR OFFERINGS: RAZZ-BECKY, CLAY DAY IPA, SUNRISE AMBER AND LICENSED PILS

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

PONDASETA BREWING CO.’S FOUNDERS RETURN HOME TO “LIVE THE DREAM” location fell through and we had to tweak our plans. It felt like a major setback at the time, but in the end, we think it worked out for the best.”

Few Panhandle beer lovers would disagree. In late 2017, the pair discovered the former York Tire/Big O Tire building at 7500 SW 45th Ave., and immediately started working out the details of leasing the space, constantly adjusting their plans along the way. In January 2018, they finally secured the lease, though it wasn’t easy. “We had to go through getting a Specific Use Permit for the building based on being a ‘Primary Alcohol’ business, and then get building permits, etc.” Though the process took much longer than they’d planned for, Martin and West finally started construction in May of last year.

“We had to transform the space from a tire shop to a fun brewery space and taproom. Trever and I did a lot of the building ourselves. We had both done remodels and construction projects independently on our previous homes, and we’d helped family with stuff like that forever.”

The brewers made it through their remodel, inspections, and licensing – and brewed their first commercial batch of beer at the brewery on Halloween 2018. “[After that], we squeezed as much brewing into the next couple days and weeks as we could!” recalls West. “We did a family and friends preview night, and our public soft opening on Nov. 17.”

However, that first opening was anything but “soft.” “We were at capacity off and on all day and actually had to turn people away for a

little bit,” says West. “That was one of the most exciting and stressful situations I could have imagined. Our early days went great. We sold tons of beer, more than we really planned. We never ran out of beer but got a lot closer than we dreamed. We kept brewing as much and as fast as we could.”

This past February, Pondaseta began canning its beers. And in March it added additional fermenters. So it was that, in just four months, the Pondesta Brewing Co. had effectively doubled its total production capacity. “Since then, we’ve brewed a bunch of new and different beers,” says West. “We started self-distributing kegs to a select few restaurants this spring, and have been slowly adding a few accounts here and there. As a whole our business is focused on a variety of beers available at our brewery, but with some of our core favorites available in the rest of Amarillo and Canyon.”

In total, after less than a year in operation, Pondaseta has brewed around 60 different beers, with the brewery’s core beers available all the time.

A WELL-OILED BREWING MACHINE

Nowadays, the Pondaseta guys have settled into a good rhythm. West and Martin are equal partners, with West handling most of the business side and day-to-day issues, while Martin does most of the brewing and cellar work. Both men come up with concepts for new beer recipes OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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and ideas for how to better their current catalog. “Most of our brews start with a simple idea,” says Martin.

“After a little back and forth, with some ridiculous suggestions, then some more logical ones, the end recipe is complete.”

“Brewing beer and enjoying craft beer has been a passion of mine for over 10 years,” says Martin. “To have your passion be your career is literally a dream come true. I used to joke when people would ask how I was doing at my old job saying, ‘living the dream.’ Now I can say that and honestly mean it.”

It’s no surprise, perhaps, that Kaleb West uses almost the exact same language when describing the work.

“Most of the time it feels like we’re living the dream,” he says. “We get to make beer and talk about beer every day. It’s something we’re passionate about, and it seems like the people of Amarillo are really excited about it.

I genuinely love sharing new beers with the people in our community and talking about how we made them.”

As a result of this sense of belonging, both brewers have a laid-back, easy-going approach to business. Martin likes to quote Wayne from the TV show “Letterkenny”: “Do what you love; you’ll never work a day in your life.” “We’re equal partners,” says West, “and we try to split up the work pretty evenly.

Sometimes I have to leave early to pick up my kids and [Trever] finishes a brew. But then the next week it’s the exact opposite. As new business owners, we’ve discovered that some days we’re brewers, some days we’re repairmen, some days we’re bartenders, and some days we’re janitors.”

The process hasn’t been without its pitfalls, though. “Scheduling and keeping up with demand has been harder than I expected, but a welcomed challenge,” West says. “The hardest part has been the time commitment. We were working seven days a week during construction and the first few months we were open. It’s been hard to be away from my wife and kids, but we’re starting to get a little more time at home and that helps a lot.”

Martin agrees that things haven’t always been simple. “It’s been difficult trying to brew and keep up with all the beer we’re selling, while also helping Kaleb run a new business. We’ve both had previous roles where we managed employees, but never had the full burden on our shoulders.” The good news: West and Martin work well together, complementing each other’s personalities. And the fact that they’ve both returned to their homeland, serving people they’ve known all their lives, helps.

“I was born in Amarillo and grew up in Canyon,” says Martin, “so Amarillo has always had a special place in my heart. [I have] a lot of childhood memories, including antique shopping with my mom on Route 66 or going on dates with my high school sweetheart – now my wife. My family has had a business in Amarillo/Canyon since the ’70s, and the people here have always supported them. The community

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has been extremely receptive to Pondaseta Brewing Co., always encouraging us to keep brewing great beer.”

West feels the same. “Amarillo has always been home to me.

I love the landscape and the sense of community. This is a great place to start a business, especially one like ours. While we were certainly not the first brewery here, Amarillo has been craving more and more craft beer. Once [Amarilloans] decide we believe in something, we support it wholeheartedly.”

CRAFTING A CULTURE IN AMARILLO

Despite their belief that locals would support their own, West and Martin still took a long time to weigh the wisdom of opening a business here. “We thought long and hard about coming home to open a brewery in the Texas Panhandle,” says West. “We felt like Amarillo could support another brewery and what really convinced us was the success of restaurants like YCSF [Yellow City Street Food]. If places [like that] can open, offer great beer and craft food, and get the whole area excited, then it seemed like Amarillo might be ready for another brewery. In the last couple years, you’ve seen way more craft beer on store shelves, better beer selection in restaurants, new beer-focused restaurants.

Craft beer typically has a very supportive community and Amarillo is no exception to that. We got advice from both Jared [Read] at Long Wooden Spoon and Tommy [Money] at The Big Texan. It’s definitely helped us to have some people who’d been through the process before help us through some of

the hoops. We all make different beer and focus on different things. We want to see everyone in our community succeed.”

For his part, the Long Wooden Spoon’s Jared Read is thrilled at Pondaseta’s success. “We’re happy to see Pondaseta doing well,” he says “They bring a different flavor to the brew scene in Amarillo.”

Both Martin and West were lucky to start their business just as the craft culture in Amarillo was gearing up. “The craft beer scene in Amarillo has definitely had a slow start,” admits Martin. “[But it] seems to be slowly growing. Even now, with four breweries in town, Amarillo has the potential to support more breweries. There are now several craft-beer focused restaurants and package stores.”

West and Martin certainly understand that the city has a way to go when it comes to craft culture. “I’d love to see Amarillo continue to support our local businesses,” says West. “We have some really great local restaurants doing some exciting things, [but] I want our beer scene to continue to grow. I think there will probably be more breweries open, which will be good for Amarillo and the rest of the Panhandle.

“Sometimes I think we’re overlooked by the bigger cities in Texas,” he adds. “But we have a lot to offer. It would be great for travelers to see what we see.”

As usual, Martin is on the same page as his partner.

“There’s an awesome group of craft beer lovers in Amarillo,” he says. “But that group definitely seems to be the minority among beer drinkers.”

In the future, Martin says he would love to see more local breweries open. “[I want to see] the craft food and beer restaurant scene become more of a norm. Amarillo has a very friendly vibe and I would love to see people around the state and country think of Amarillo as a diverse place to dine, enjoy amazing craft beer, and feel that vibe.”

KALEB WEST AND TREVER MARTIN

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PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Feature

BOMB CITY VODKA EXPLODES ONTO THE DOWNTOWN SCENE

by Jonathan Baker

A

couple of years ago, the owner of an Amarillo roofing company was having a couple of beers with a former pharmacist. You might wonder what a roofer and a pharmacist would have to talk about. And you might be surprised at the answer. “Kyle (Michels, the roofer) turned to me and said, ‘Hey, what do you think about trying to make some vodka?’” remembers Ryan Barnard, the pharmacist.

And Barnard’s response? “Sure!”

Neither man expected that, two years later, their Bomb City Vodka operation would boast a silver medal at one of the nation’s most prestigious spirit competitions, the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. And this, after only being open eight weeks.

A Shot in the Dark

In the early days, the founders of Bomb City Vodka constantly wondered what they’d gotten themselves into. Neither man knew the first thing about distilling vodka. The two men met a few years ago when Michels began mentoring Barnard in the art of real estate

investing. Michels was a roofer, as mentioned, but he prides himself on his investment acumen. Barnard, in turn, holds a master’s degree in business and a doctorate in pharmaceutics. His last “real job,” in Barnard’s words, was as CEO of the hospital in Tulia. Indeed, it was this mixture of chemistry knowledge and business savvy that prompted Michels to spring his idea on Barnard.

“We ordered a still off eBay for $199,” recalls Barnard. “I thought it would be a fun thing to try to blow up the kitchen. So we started there, and we kept grinding at it for two years, filling out paperwork, applying for permits, trying to get our building up to code – and making a lot of poor, moonshiney vodka – until we finally got something that was drinkable.”

However, these neophyte distillers had a leg up: the aforementioned building, a 7,000-square-foot Deco structure downtown at 306 S. Cleveland St. Michels had acquired the space a few years back, after his company got a call from a realtor to look at the roof on the building. “I told her how much it would cost,” remembers Michels, “and the realtor said, ‘Well, that costs more than I have the building listed OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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for. So I purchased it, not really knowing what I’d do with it.” Until, that is, he “connected the dots,” joining the distilling project with the building – and giving Michels and Barnard tons of space to tinker with their new endeavor.

And tinker they did, fooling around with various grains and starches, including wheat, potatoes and sweet potatoes, before coming back to a classic: corn. “Corn’s really a good grain to make vodka out of,” notes Barnard.

This begs a question, though. Why vodka? “We both really like vodka,” says Michels. “It goes nice with everything. We at least wanted to start with vodka, instead of whiskey or bourbon, because those you have to age in barrels. But with vodka, we could come out with a product almost immediately.”

“So we thought!” interjects Barnard, laughing. Both men came to find out the hard way that vodka is one of the most difficult spirits to make, because it means creating a very pure alcohol. “Your mash (raw grain meal steeped and stirred in hot water, used to create the spirits) has to be 190 proof to start with, for it to legally be considered vodka,” explains Barnard. “Anything else is moonshine.” Proof is a common distilling term, formulated by doubling the alcohol content. Meaning, the mash from which the vodka was being produced had to be at least 95% alcohol, or you couldn’t make vodka out of it.

The Bomb City guys toiled for two years before creating anything that might be considered commercially viable. “The first batch was …”

Barnard trails off, laughing. “My wife was gracious enough to let us use her kitchen. After blowing the place up twice, we made some really poor moonshine that tasted kind of like dirt.” He pauses, shaking his head. “It was not good.”

The problem, as it turned out, was their eBay pot still. “With that still, we couldn’t distill it down anywhere close to 190 proof,” says Barnard. “We quickly figured out that you need a lot more still to make 190 proof liquor.”

So, Michels and Barnard bought a bigger pot still, one with a 10-foot copper column. There was another reason for the bigger equipment, in addition to Bomb City’s need to achieve higher distillations. “You have to have a commercial still, one with a serial ID, so you can register it with the federal government,” explains Barnard.

With this new, bigger still, the Bomb City boys made hundreds of batches. And while they were finally able to get the spirit up to 190 proof, the spirit still wasn’t up to their standards. “We changed every single variable you could think of,” says Barnard, “from the temperature, to the yeast, to the enzymes to break down the starches and sugars, to the way we heated it, to the stirring method, to the way we proofed it up and down. We changed everything. And it still always came out the same – a little bit like dirt.”

Scratching their heads and deeply tired, Michels and Barnard consulted some friends in the distilling world. And the magic factor that cured their woes? Yet another still, this time one twice as tall as the last one, with a massive 20-foot column. “Everyone basically told us that we needed a higher-grade still to get that higher-grade proof,” says Barnard.

“Where the Magic Happens”

After they began distilling with this new equipment, “we were able to get it really pure,” says Barnard. “With our second still, we got it up to 190 proof, yeah. But there’s a big difference between 190 proof and 195 proof, which is where the magic happens. When you get it really clean, that comes out in the flavor of the vodka. With that bigger still, we were able finally to have bigger yields and get it up to where we wanted it.” The minimum mash proof the guys will accept these days is 192. “You can power an alcohol-fueled dragster with it,” jokes Barnard.

After they got the mash proof level up where they wanted it, then came the process of “proofing down” the vodka by adding clean water to the spirit, bringing the alcohol content down to 40% (or 80 proof) – the minimum allowed for the Federal Government to qualify the spirit

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

THE UPSTAIRS AREA AT BOMB CITY

BOMB CITY’S BOTTLES LIGHT UP AND COME WITH BOMB “FINS.”

as vodka. Indeed, since the 1890s, nearly all the world’s vodkas have been 80 proof.

“We’re trying to do a consistent product every time,” says Barnard.

“So we proof our vodka down with what we believe gives it its smoothness, water from the Water Still, Inc.” – Amarillo’s popular purified water company. “We made a deal with them, to get water from them every morning. My son used to work for them, kind of a lucky thing, and I always remember thinking their water felt like it cleans your mouth. I was sure it would make a good vodka.”

But the act of proofing the vodka down to 80 proof wasn’t easy, of course, because nothing was easy during this process. “In the beginning,” says Barnard, “we started out using hydrometers, like in chemistry labs, and floating them in these cylinders, to try to read the line and see the proof. And we realized, that’s really hard to do. And there’s a big fine if you’re off more than one proof. So we invested in one of our first pieces of capital equipment, a digital hydrometer. It’s very precise. Now we’re right at 80 proof.”

The Future Is Bright

The operation may have started quietly, but this downtown vodka distillery is quickly becoming a huge point of pride in Bomb City proper. Besides containing Amarillo’s tallest still, the building on Cleveland holds a tasting room that’s open Wednesday through Saturday. “It’s got a nice atmosphere, the tasting room,” says Barnard.

“My partner Kyle’s put a lot of work into restoring the building to its original condition. The floors are original; the brick walls are original … We reused all the original materials. It’s got a really great feel to it.”

Funnily enough, while the Bomb City Vodka venture began as a sort of side hustle for these real estate investors, the business is quickly taking over their lives. “It started off as, ‘Let’s see if we can do this thing,’” says Barnard. “And it’s turned into, ‘Wow. This is really good.

People really like this.’”

“We have big plans,” he adds, grinning with excitement. “We plan to do flavored vodkas, we plan to do different size vodkas – miniature, liter, half-gallon. We have 40 different flavors that we’re experimenting with. We’re kind of a lab here. We’re trying a lot of things out.”

The Bomb City guys are also thinking of entering the “ready-todrink” cocktail market. “We plan to move pretty fast into all those markets,” adds Barnard. “But at this point, we’re just making sure that everything’s smooth with this product and working out all the kinks.”

The immediate plan, though, is “to get distribution throughout the state.” This can be a tricky endeavor, though. “There are only two companies that distribute statewide,” explains Barnard. “Otherwise, you have to put together a patchwork of local distributors.”

Barnard and Michels haven’t yet decided who they will use to distribute locally, much less statewide. “Right now,” adds Barnard, “we’re really just trying to get as many people to the tasting room as we can, to try our vodka.” The company has also released enough vodka locally for Amarillo bars and restaurants to sell Bomb City. By the time this story runs, it’s likely the spirit will be available in local liquor stores, as well.

But the overarching goal, say Michels and Barnard, is simply to keep expanding the brand and increasing brand awareness. Bomb City is hoping to sell across the state of Texas by the end of 2019, and nationwide by 2020. And the effort has paid off handsomely in the near term, as mentioned, with the awarding of the silver medal at the 2019 World Wine & Spirits Competition in New York last month – just two months out of the gate. “We are now an award-winning vodka!” cheers Michels. “We’ve got a little sticker that we can put on all of our bottles.”

“Yesterday, when we got the email that we’d won,” adds Barnard, “I was screaming to Kyle, ‘I can’t believe we did it! We did it!’ I mean, we knew it was good. But to have it validated is quite something else, you know?”

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

45

Get to know your breast density

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

M

any women still have a lot to learn about their breasts.

A 2018 Harris Poll completed by Hologic, a medical device maker, found that 64% of U.S. women do not know that the density of a woman’s breasts affects her risk of developing breast cancer, while more than two-thirds of U.S. women (68%) do not know their breast density score.

“Density, which is only identifiable on a mammogram or other imaging system, is a reflection of how much fibrous or glandular tissue is in the breast,” says Dr. Susan Harvey, vice president of medical affairs and radiologist for Hologic. “That tissue shows up as white on a mammogram, similar to breast cancer, and also increases the chances that a woman will be recalled for additional imaging.”

For women with dense breasts 2D mammograms are limiting; 3D mammography provides radiologists with a series of images for a more in-depth, layer-by-layer look at the breast.

What’s your score?

Breast density can be categorized into four groups, sometimes referred to as a breast density score. The four categories, according to Mayo Clinic, are: • Almost entirely fatty • Scattered areas of fibroglandular tissue • Heterogeneously dense tissue • Extremely dense tissue “Because density is best characterized on a mammogram but can be assessed on other imaging systems, it is important that women remain committed to their annual breast cancer screening and talk to their doctor or breast imaging specialist about whether or not they have dense breasts and – if so – whether additional screening is necessary,” Harvey says.

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Facts and figures

According to Susan G. Komen: • Breast density is a measure used to describe mammogram images. It’s not a measure of how the breasts feel.

• Breasts are made up of breast tissue (the milk ducts and lobules, which may be called glandular tissue) and fat. Connective tissue helps hold everything place.

• High breast density means there’s a greater amount of breast and connective tissue compared to fat. Low breast density means there’s a greater amount of fat compared to breast and connective tissue.

• Women with high breast density are 4 to 5 times more likely to get breast cancer than women with low breast density.

• In the U.S., 40% to 50% of women ages 40-74 have dense breasts.

• Dense breasts are more common in both young women and thin women.

• Women who take menopausal hormone therapy tend to have denser breasts than they would if they didn’t take MHT (also called postmenopausal hormones). As women age, their breasts become less dense and more fatty. Taking MHT slows this process.

• Many states in the U.S. have laws requiring health care providers to notify (send a letter to) women found to have dense breasts on a mammogram. Although this may seem helpful, there are no special recommendations or screening guidelines for women with dense breasts at this time.

• Although women with dense breasts have an increased risk of breast cancer, it’s not clear that lowering breast density will decrease risk.

3-D & Contrast-Enhanced Mammography at Texas Breast Specialists–Amarillo

Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. That’s why Texas Breast Specialists–Amarillo uses leading-edge technology for breast imaging and diagnostics, including 3-D mammography and contrast-enhanced mammography. Leveraging these technologies provides patients with highly accurate results and may help detect some cancers earlier. At Texas Breast Specialists–Amarillo, we’re committed to helping patients get the care they need.

LOVA ARENIVAS, M.D. • SARA S. WOODWARD DYRSTAD, M.D.

TEXAS BREAST SPECIALISTS–AMARILLO 1000 S. Coulter Street, Suite 100 Amarillo, TX 79106 T: 806-457-2060 • F: 806-457-2061 For more information or to refer a patient, please call 806-457-2060.

Higher Standards • Greater Hope

www.TexasBreastSpecialists.com/Amarillo

What to know if you’re

newly diagnosed

Y

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

ou’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. Now what?

You may feel scared and alone, but information is power. As you ponder your options and consider your course of action, consider this advice from experts.

Tell it like it is

“Be open and honest with your cancer doctor about the symptoms from your cancer or from the side effects of treatment. In some cases, your physician can offer easy, practical solutions to make living with breast cancer and chemotherapy more tolerable,” says Dr. Katisha Vance, a board certified medical oncologist in Birmingham, Alabama.

Take care of yourself

“Maintain a healthy diet, try to get enough sleep and exercise. Bring a water bottle to your appointments; doctors can run late and you should stay hydrated.

Try a meditation app to help manage stress,” says Dr. Heather King, breast surgical oncologist with Texas Breast Specialists, part of Texas Oncology in Austin.

Involvement equals empowerment

“In the age of precision medicine, no one’s treatment is alike and sometimes less is more. Work with your team of doctors to determine a treatment plan that works best for your cancer and your lifestyle. An involved patient is empowered, and an empowered patient will thrive and survive,” says Dr. Anjali Malik, a breast imaging and intervention radiologist at Washington Radiology in Washington, D.C.

Spare the nipple

“If you need surgery for breast cancer, find a breast surgeon who is able to do nipple-sparing mastectomy … Especially with small breasts, if you need a significant lumpectomy and radiation, you will have a far superior aesthetic result with a nipple-sparing mastectomy and natural tissue breast reconstruction with sensory restoration in that, with a good nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction, it may be difficult for other people, including your spouse or medical provider, to tell that you have even had a mastectomy,” says Dr. Constance M. Chen, a board certified plastic surgeon 48

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and breast reconstruction specialist in New York.

Question until you get answers

“I would make sure that you are persistent when it comes to learning whether or not your cancer has spread and to what extent. It’s important to have solid and thorough understanding of the stage of the disease, the extent of the disease (size, lymph nodes and the pathologic type). By asking those questions of your physician and care team, you can get a thorough understanding of what you are facing and the best approach to address each of those areas,” says Dr. Miral Amin, surgical oncologist and oncoplastic breast surgeon at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chicago.

Don’t freak when diagnosed

“I realize it’s tough when you find out and it seems like a death sentence. However, realize that the vast majority of breast cancer patients are stage 1 or 2 and they are cured. You are much more likely to die with breast cancer than due to it,” says Dr. Bilal Farooqi of Comprehensive Hematology Oncology in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Don’t go it alone

“Take someone with you to your appointments because there is no way you will remember everything that was said once you’ve left the appointment,” says Beth Pauvlinch, co-author of “Two Women 1 Disease,” which she wrote with her mother, whom she lost to breast cancer.

Rely on developed skills

“Most couples do not realize that they already have the tools to cope with cancer based on previous crises. Remembering how they overcame difficult situations in the past may help a couple develop coping strategies in the current situation,” Amin says.

Returning to work after treatment

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

R

eturning to work after treatment for breast cancer can be a return to normalcy.

“It’s a reminder that you are more than your cancer diagnosis,” says social worker Alida Rubinstein, coordinator of volunteers for the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. You’re a valued employee, boss or volunteer.

But it can also be stressful, exhausting and disheartening.

Because 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, is likely that someone in the office may have faced a similar situation, Rubinstein says. When it comes to what to expect, think about how they were treated. Were others sympathetic and welcoming or did they face insensitive questions and subtle discrimination?

At home, you feel like your cancer diagnosis, says hotline volunteer Myra Taylor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at age 59. After treatment, Taylor returned to her job in information technology with JP Morgan Chase in Manhattan.

“It was good to go back and be with people again and not be cooped up at home being sick with nothing on my mind but cancer,” Taylor says.

In addition to the camaraderie, work is a great distraction, Rubinstein says. That’s especially helpful because people are often continuing treatment as they return to work, she says.

How to prepare

As time nears to return to work, it’s always advisable to speak with your doctor. If you’ve received short- or long-term disability coverage it’s mandatory to get a doctor’s permission, Rubinstein says.

“Ask if you’re ready to go back, what accommodations you may need,” she said.

For example, if you are still receiving chemotherapy your doctor may advise getting it on a Friday so you have the weekend to recover, Rubinstein says.

It’s a personal decision about how much or how little you want to share with coworkers, but it’s a good idea to discuss your situation with your supervisor and the company’s human resources department. Ask whether a flexible work arrangement is possible, if needed.

“At the beginning you probably won’t be able to do it all.

You will feel tired, exhausted. Maybe you can’t stay late for an after-hours meeting, but stay positive. It’s temporary.

You will get back to your full potential,” Rubinstein says.

Try to turn hostile comments or questions about your ability around.

“Coworkers can be resentful, especially if they’ve been picking up the slack,” Rubinstein says. Redirect them with comments such as, “I know you were covering for me. Can you fill me in? I want to get back to work.”

You don’t want to be thought of as the person in the office who had cancer. When asked how you feel, admit it was tough but that you’re ready to get back to work, Rubinstein says.

Expect that people will stare at your chest and possibly ask insensitive, intrusive questions, Taylor says.

“It’s better to say nothing than to say something stupid,” she says. For example, after losing hair to cancer a person doesn’t want to hear something like, “Would you rather have hair or have cancer?”

Know your rights

If you feel like you’re being discriminated against, passed over for a promotion or not getting the same work back, know your rights and what you’re entitled to, Rubinstein says.

“Put everything in writing. Keep a paper trail,” she says.

Workers’ rights vary state to state, and sometimes state laws offer more protection than federal laws, she says.

For helpful resources, expert advice and useful tools, visit cancerandcareers.org.

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49

Inspire

The Hard Stuff A

s I write this, I’m sitting in an internet cafe in Olympia, Washington, on a day off working on my presentations for classes I’m teaching at the Sisters Folk Festival in September. When I’m on tour, days off mean finding a dog park, a coin-op laundry, a Wi-Fi coffee shop, some Thai food and maybe a post office.

The gigs on this trip have been real ... giggy. I haven’t played in Washington State very much, so 20 years of traveling around has lead me to believe that I am out here reaping the fruits of my labor when actually, I’m out here planting seeds for my next trip up here. So it looks like I’m going to be living off seeds for a while. And they don’t fill you up quite as fast as fruit does. Also, a decade worth of house concerts full of people who will put $20 in a jar whether they know you or not and listen to every word of every song has lulled me into a comfortably false sense of security. Oh, well. That is truly the nature of this business.

Ray Wylie Hubbard says, “Sometimes it’s chicken and sometimes it’s feathers.” I realized that I really enjoy going into a town or venue where no one knows me – they haven’t heard all these songs before. They don’t know the punchlines to my jokes and I have to really try hard. I have to get them to look up from their phones or their drink or their chicken wings. It can feel like the end of my career, even though it’s really reminiscent of the beginning of it. Last night in Seattle, we took in $118 at the door, and then that was split between

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the three acts. I walked out with $39. Feathers. The five-piece band that played also walked with $39. Shoot, those feathers turned out to be chicken after all.

Since my last contribution to this magazine, I have released a live album and a studio EP and a full-length album set that comes out on Oct. 4, 2019. I have gone through another Sprinter Van and put 40,000 miles on a Ford Transit Cargo that I jumped into after my Sprinter left me on the side of the road for the last time. I have spent thousands putting out albums and made hundreds playing gigs where I have sold tens of CDs. I pay a mortgage on a house that I live in about 40% of the year. In an effort to save money on hotel rooms, I sleep in my van and get a pedicure ($20) and get my hair washed at a Supercuts ($6). The numbers rarely add up.

What the numbers don’t reveal is the real stuff of touring.

About the thunderstorm I drove through in New Mexico that lit up the prairie, the woman I met in Spokane who listened to “Wide Open Spaces” (the Dixie Chicks version, of course) all the way from Ohio to Washington as she closed one chapter of her life and started a new one further west. The feeling of pulling on a hoodie in August in Olympia, Washington, and digging through my van because I know I packed at least one pair of socks for the trip, and checking my weather app and seeing that it is 98 degrees in my hometown of Wimberley, Texas. I love the moments in my tours. They happen all the time if I remember to pay attention.

SUSAN GIBSON Susan Gibson, a Grammy award-winning Texas songwriter, just released her seventh (as a solo artist) full-length album, “The Hard Stuff,” her first full-length album since 2011’s “Tight Rope.” Much like the EP that preceded it, 2016’s “Remember Who You Are,” the aptly-titled “The Hard Stuff” is rooted in grief; Gibson wrote the album in the midst of coming to terms with the death of first one parent and then the other in the span of four years, a time during which she says her career became far less of a priority to her than her family. But it was that very period of slowing down for emotional recalibration that ultimately pulled her out of the dark and back into the light. Music and tour dates are available on susangibson.com.

“The Hard Stuff”

by Susan Gibson

Every seven years, your black cats and broken mirrors reach their expiration date Every seven years, you get a brand-new body, cuz your cells – they regenerate Every seven years, you get the seven-year itch, cuz you need a little change of scene Don’t just scratch the surface, you gotta dig a little deeper, see, you’re living in this world like it’s a pinball machine Who’s it gonna be? Who’s gonna push your little buttons and send you rocketing into the abyss?

Cuz when you’re gone you’re long gone, honey, and you don’t leave a trace or a change of address If you’re going to be stupid, you better be tough Quit looking for loopholes to get to the hard stuff If your excuses don’t kill you, I guess you’re strong enough to stick it out I guess you’ll stick it out You can run away if you wanna but you know that you’ll never really make an escape Not even if you walk a mile in Hermes tennis shoes or borrow one of Superman’s capes Cuz that’s the funny thing, the tragic thing about

our fear – we take it with us everywhere we go You gotta turn around and face it face to face, you gotta shake it by the collar, smack it smack dab square in the nose Confrontation, resignation, sweet salvation, hell damnation, either way it’s difficult But if you keep doing the same old thing, you’re gonna get the same result If you’re going to be stupid, you better be tough Quit looking for loopholes and get to the hard stuff If that doesn’t kill you, I guess you’re strong enough to stick it out I guess you’ll stick it out You’ll never get anywhere leaving well enough alone Nothing lifts a heavy heart like some elbow grease and a funny bone Between the worry and regret, you’re stuck there in the middle You can’t take it anymore. I guess you gotta give a little If you’re going to be stupid, you better be tough Quit looking for loopholes and get through the hard stuff If that doesn’t kill you, I guess you’re strong enough to stick it out I guess you’ll stick it out

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

51

What’s Cooking

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

Fall

Hearty G

ood news: No one cares about your bikini body in October. That’s the thinking behind this decadent bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich from the lunch-only cafe menu at The Ruffled Cup Cupcakery & Sweet Shoppe. “With the winter months coming on, people will abandon their beach bodies and take in a few more calories,” says Susan Robinson, the company’s production manager and menu developer for the cafe. “This bacon-wrapped meatloaf is something we’ve always wanted to do, and fall/winter is the time to do it.”

Laughing, Susan describes the sandwich’s latticed bacon layers as “fancy, because our customers are fancy.” It’s also delicious, with fried onions and homemade pickles adding a crunchy, tart texture.

Meanwhile, Robinson also brought us a unique recipe for an equally hearty lasagna soup. “It has a lot of great ingredients,” she says, “especially the really creamy ricotta/parmesan mixture on top. It’s such a good soup for fall.”

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON RECIPES COURTESY OF SUSAN ROBINSON AND DEANNA HURT, THE RUFFLED CUP CUPCAKERY & SWEET SHOPPE

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf Sandwich with Fried Onions 54

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

Lasagna Soup

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

55

The Recipes

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf 2 pounds ground beef 15 strips bacon 2 cups bread crumbs 2 teaspoons Worcestershire 2 eggs 1 small onion, finely diced 2 stalks celery, finely diced 1 small bell pepper, finely diced Salt and pepper to taste Barbecue sauce

Fried Onions Yellow onions, thinly sliced Flour Salt Pepper Mix flour, salt, and pepper together in large bowl. Add thinly sliced onions and toss to combine evenly. Sieve any excess flour from onions and fry in hot oil (approximately 350 degrees) until golden brown. Remove onions to paper towel-lined plate or bowl to remove any excess grease and serve immediately.

Sautee celery, onion and bell pepper in small amount of oil on stovetop.

Mix all ingredients, except bacon and barbecue sauce, in large bowl, mixing well. Form mixture into a log and place on cookie sheet. Wrap strips of bacon around log, tucking under to ensure they stay put. Brush barbecue sauce over bacon. Place in 375-degree oven for approximately 1 hour, or until internal temperature reaches 145 to 165 degrees (depending on your preference of doneness). Slice and serve. We like using this recipe on Texas toast, topped with fried onions, cheese and pickles!

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Lasagna Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 pound lean ground beef 1 large yellow onion, diced (5 ¼ cups) 5 garlic cloves, to taste, minced 4 2/3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, then more to thin as desired 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes 1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes 2 ½ tablespoons tomato paste 3 teaspoons dried basil ½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed ½ teaspoon dried thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 8 lasagna noodles 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup (2 ounces) finely shredded Parmesan cheese 8 ounces ricotta cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

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Heat one tablespoon olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, crumble beef into pot, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Drain fat from beef and set aside. Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in pot, add chopped onion and saute until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and browned ground beef; season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare lasagna noodles according to directions listed on package. In mixing bowl, using a fork, stir together mozzarella, Parmesan and ricotta. Stir cooked pasta into soup along with parsley, then thin soup with broth, if desired. Ladle soup into bowls and top with dollop of cheese mixture and chopped parsley (cheese will melt well once stirred into soup).

Makes 6 servings

Meet the Cooks Deanna Hurt and Susan Robinson of The Ruffled Cup Cupcakery & Sweet Shoppe

A

decade ago, when Amarillo’s Deanna Hurt was looking to start a business, she happened to come across a TV episode of the short-lived “DC Cupcakes” on TLC. “I thought, ‘A cupcakes-only bakery? That’s crazy,’” she remembers. But the idea intrigued her, and a little web browsing revealed that cupcake shops were popping up in cities all over the country. But not here. “Amarillo didn’t have one yet.”

Hurt was a long-time baker and lover of sweets – “I am the biggest sweets-eater you’ll ever meet,” she says – and began wondering a cupcake shop might be the business opportunity she’d been hoping to find.

Before long, she had talked her parents into investing in the venture and, in 2011, opened The Ruffled Cup Cupcakery. It’s remained a family business ever since. Hurt’s sister, Susan Robinson, became part of the team almost immediately.

She had gone to college to “save the world,” Susan says, earning degrees in criminal justice and political science. But she quickly developed a passion for restaurant operations, and that career path won out.

At the time Deanna was opening the cupcakery, Susan was managing Beef O’Brady’s – she’d eventually become an owner of the local familyfriendly sports bar – but wanted to do everything possible to help her sister out. “I haven’t always worked there, but I’ve been involved, me and Deanna, from the very beginning,” she says. Susan would show up at 4:30 in the morning to help Deanna prepare cupcakes, then put in a full day at her “real” job.

Due to a cancer scare four years ago, Susan left Beef O’Brady’s and eventually joined the Ruffled Cup team in an official capacity. Today, she works as production manager for the entire company, which now includes Ruffled Cup locations in Amarillo and Lubbock and the new brunch restaurant Butterlove Biscuits. “I oversee everything,” she says about her wide-ranging role, which includes everything from recipe development to cost analysis. “I think I’m the only person in the company that knows how to do every single job, but when I get back in the kitchen, that’s my passion.”

She got back in the kitchen to put together the recipes for this issue, including a bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich that was inspired by a dish the sisters enjoyed at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs in Orlando. “It was inspired by Wolfgang Puck but we took it in a different direction,” she says.

Over the past year, she and Deanna have successfully taken The Ruffled Cup in a new direction as well, expanding the cupcakery into a full cafe/ bakery with a sandwiches-and-salads lunch menu and seating for 85. It’s been an exciting ride for the sisters.

“They say it’s always hard to work with family,” Susan says. “But we’ve handled it pretty seamlessly. It’s been amazing.”

DEANNA HURT

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Historic Broadway!

Books to Broadway is a free concert of songs from Broadway musicals based on books.

Join us for music from shows based on history books such as 1776 and Hamilton!

Produced by Dr. Robert Hansen, Director, WTAMU School of Music

Tuesday, October 29 at 6 PM in the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room Doors open at six and the show begins at seven Complimentary Coffee & Dessert Bar â—? Silent Auction â—? Cash Bar Like us on Facebook or visit www.amarillolibrary.org for more information!

Sponsorships and premium seating tickets available.

Email Stacy.Yates@amarillolibrary.org or call 378-3051.

Lets Eat!

Restaurants • Food • Spirits

MetropolitanA Speakeasy

W

hen you walk out of the bright Amarillo sunshine into Metropolitan’s gorgeous dining and bar areas, you’ll experience a feast for the eyes, and a clue to the delights in store during your meal.

Metropolitan has impeccable online ratings from diners, and it’s clear why. Thorough, friendly service and creative cocktails and food are designed to give you the opportunity to escape your daily stresses and be pampered for a spell. Celebrate the end of a productive workday with one of Metropolitan’s most popular standbys: a USDA Prime tenderloin with mashed potatoes and sautéed broccolini, topped with a sweet/salty bacon, blackberry mushroom compote.

The menu changes seasonally at Metropolitan to take advantage of fresh produce, seafood and other trends in cuisine. Look for seasonal changes in the cocktail menu, as well, where Metropolitan’s bartenders are given creative license to create the perfect cocktail/ meal pairings.

9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201 242.0117 metroofamarillo.com

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees less than $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees more than $21 NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

THE LET’S EAT! GUIDE IS A READER SERVICE COMPILED BY THE AMARILLO MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF. THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING OR OTHER COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR A LISTING. THE GUIDE IS UPDATED REGULARLY. TO CORRECT A LISTING OR RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR CONSIDERATION, CONTACT MICHELE MCAFFREY AT MMCAFFREY@AMARILLO.COM.

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Amarillo 575 PIZZERIA

Toppings runneth over at 575 Pizzeria, not to mention the specials that rotate every month. (Check the board when you walk in.) 575 is family-owned and family-friendly, so it’s a great Friday night dinner choice.

2803 Civic Circle/7320 Hillside Road, 322.5575, 575pizzeria.com $$

ALDACO’S TACOS

Located on historic Sixth Street you’ll find this small, authentic Mexican restaurant.

The wait staff is friendly so it’s easy to have fun at Aldaco’s, especially on live music nights. Try not to fill up on the homemade chips and salsa so you can enjoy the rest of the delicious food. 3623 SW Sixth Ave., 374.4945 $$

BAGEL PLACE

Whether for breakfast or lunch, the Bagel Place offers a wide variety of cream cheese and bagel flavors. Zip through the convenient drive-thru for a great, lazy morning take-home breakfast. For lunch, try the bagel sandwiches made with Boars Head cheese and meat, a generous salad, or a tasty bowl of soup. 3301 Bell St., 353.5985, bagelplace.net $

BANGKOK RESTAURANT

When you’re looking for authentic Thai, Bangkok delivers. Start with the sticky rice, move on to the cucumber salad, and finish with the chicken larb. Your kids will love watching the big fish tanks while you wait for your table. Warning: Spicy means spicy. Bangkok means business.

5901 Amarillo Blvd. East, 381.1590 $

BLUE FRONT CAFE AND OYSTER BAR

With its remodeled interior and menu – and a non-smoking environment – we think there’s a favorite breakfast contender downtown. Try the tasty hot cakes or Texas Omelet for breakfast, classic pulled-pork sandwich for lunch, and fill up on fresh Blue Point oysters and seafood on the weekend.

801 SW Sixth Ave., 372.0659 $

BUBBA’S 33

The newest sports restaurant on the scene in Amarillo, Bubba’s boasts made-fromscratch food and three restaurants in one: family dining, the garage bar, and a dining area with a bar. Feast on hand-tossed pizza, fresh-ground burgers, and tender rib-eyes. 2813 I-40 West, 353.0033, bubbas33.com $$ 60

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

CALICO COUNTY RESTAURANT

An Amarillo favorite for decades, the homecooked taste keeps people going back for more. You can’t beat the petite cinnamon rolls dripping in butter, the squash casserole and the chicken-fried chicken. Be sure to try the excellent waffles, too.

2410 Paramount Blvd., 358.7664, calicocountyamarillo.com $$

CRAZY LARRY’S FINE TEXAS BBQ

A visit to Larry’s isn’t complete without an order of Frito pie – make it a “moose” with the works. The authentic Texas-style barbecue is finger-licking good, and everything on the menu is delivered with some of the friendliest service in town. The prices are reasonable, too.

4315 Teckla Blvd., 359.3176, crazylarrysbbq.com $$

THE DRUNKEN OYSTER

Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., The Drunken Oyster features Louisiana-style cuisine in a unique and sophisticated setting. Fill up on fresh oysters, crawfish etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and plenty of shrimp entrees. Craft cocktails and an excellent wine list ensure you’ll stay awhile. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 418.6668 $$

EL MANANTIAL RESTAURANT

For truly authentic Mexican food, this is the spot. A little off the beaten path, El Manantial is worth a visit. Start with lightas-air corn chips and salsa. Every entree is cooked-fresh delicious, especially the barbacoa, seafood and homemade chile relleno. We can’t say enough about every scrumptious bite. 3823 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.1852 $

chockfull of fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts – perfect for grab-and-go early morning fuel or a midday lunch. The healthconscious diner will also appreciate protein shakes, fresh muffins, juice and more.

706 SW 16th Ave., 803.9171 $

FUZZY’S TACO SHOP

Options are endless at Fuzzy’s with everything from a variety of Baja-style tacos to enchilada plates, over-sized salads, tamales, and breakfast all day, every day.

Party on the patio in this casual eatery that originated in the Fort Worth area.

7408 SW 34th Ave., 352.8226, fuzzystacoshop.com $

GEORGIA STREET TAPHOUSE

Whether in the dining room or inside the spacious bar area, there are plenty of big screens to keep you entertained at Taphouse. Sample typical pub fare and enjoy daily drink specials inside or on the covered patio. 2001 S. Georgia St., 803.7000 $$

GLORIA’S RESTAURANT

Gloria’s menu consists of seafood, Mexican, Tex-Mex dishes and Salvadoran food.

The lightly spiced tamales are handmade, steamed in banana leaves and filled with chicken, potatoes, sweet peppers and tomatoes. The sopa siete mares, a brothbased soup made with shrimp, scallops, halibut, perch and vegetables, is full of flavor. 1300 S. Grand St., 373.2722 $

THE GOLDEN LIGHT CAFE

As the oldest operating restaurant in Amarillo, The Golden Light has been in business since 1946, all in the same location.

For a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. 2908 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237, goldenlightcafe.com $

HOUSE DIVIDED

Visit a piece of Amarillo history at the English Field House, which sits just south of Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

Named for the city’s first airfield, the restaurant offers great, cooked-fresh cafe food. Take the family for Sunday breakfast.

It’s worth the drive. 10610 American Drive, 335.2996 $

Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday, House Divided splits its interior into a dedicated bar area and separate dining room (hence the name). But you’ll see a “divided” theme in its menu as well, with popular Texas college rivalries set on opposing pages. The diverse menu is full of plenty of pub grub, steaks, Texas-style entrees, pizza, Italian and Mexican food, salads, sandwiches and burgers to make a return trip a necessity. 7609 Hillside Road, 350.4377 $$

FAVS

HUMMER’S SPORTS CAFE

ENGLISH FIELD HOUSE RESTAURANT

Conveniently located close to downtown, FAVs (which stands for Fruits And Veggies) offers salads, smoothies, soups and snacks

Hang out with friends and eat your fill of Hummer’s great appetizers. Start off with a platter of raw oysters and a bucket of

beer. We highly recommend the steak.

2600 Paramount Blvd., Suite B2, 353.0723, hummerssportscafe.com $$

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With the inner workings of its kitchen on display, Ichiban makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of a bustling noodle bar on a street in Asia. Endless choices of cold noodles and hot dishes make your dinner decision a tough one. 3309 Wimberly Road, 355.5031 $

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ICHIBAN NOODLE BAR & ASIAN CUISINE

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JACOBO’S CAFE

The shrimp tostadas with pico de gallo, cucumber, avocado and rice, and Don Jacobo Burger, two half-pound patties with ham and asadero cheese, caught our eye at Jacobo’s Cafe. But if you’re in the mood for breakfast, the Belgian waffle or breakfast burrito will surely satisfy. 3701 Olsen Blvd., Suite L, 418.8850 $

JIMMY’S EGG

Fast, friendly service, a bright and cheerful dining area, and plenty of breakfast and lunch items from which to choose will keep you going back to Jimmy’s Egg. Order any menu item beginning at 6 a.m. and customize your entree to your liking.

Catering, dine-in, and easy online to-go ordering make your visit an easy one.

2225 S. Georgia St., 418.6752, jimmysegg.com $

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JOE’S PIZZA & PASTA

Joe’s has been an Amarillo favorite for years thanks to its dependable, prompt service and generous, satisfying Italian fare. The combination of the New York-style pizza’s crispy, thick crust with the perfect amount of sweet and zesty sauce is irresistible.

19151 I-40 West, 356.8191 $

K-N ROOT BEER DRIVE-IN

If you’ve tried K-N’s yummy burgers and floats, then you know why it’s been a success for more than 40 years. The K-N Special, a double-meat, double-cheese burger, melts in your mouth. You can’t beat the old-fashioned, icy mug of homemade root beer. 3900 Olsen Blvd., 355.4391 $

LA BELLA PIZZA

With an expanded dining area and bar, the Olsen Boulevard location of La Bella Pizza gives diners more options than takeout.

Fill up on Sicilian-style pizza, subs, burgers, calzones, pasta, gyros – the list goes on and on – the hefty menu even includes seafood.

3801 Olsen Blvd., Suite 9, 352.5050, ilovelabellapizza.com $

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THE LOST CAJUN

You’ll find southern-style comfort food at The Lost Cajun. Enjoy the open kitchen as you dine on New Orleans favorites like fried catfish, oysters, gumbo, po-boys and beignets. 2401 I-40 West, 576.0019, thelostcajun.com $$

MACARONI JOE’S

Happy Halloween!

Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal. The Tuscan-inspired rooms are the perfect place for creating memories.

Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, the restaurant offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. It’s at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite D1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$

METROPOLITANA SPEAKEASY

Start your day with a coffee and pastry at Metropolitan. If a midday lunch with colleagues is in order, impress them with Metropolitan’s twist on classic favorites like a BLT. Or celebrate the end of a productive workday with a classy cocktail, savory small plate, or scrumptious homemade dessert. The menu changes frequently so check the club’s Facebook page for updates and special menu offerings. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201, 242.0117, metroofamarillo.com $$

MOONDOGGY’S PIZZA AND PUB UPDATE

Great daily Happy Hour specials, fun interactive events, live music, and solid cuisine make Moondoggy’s one of downtown’s most popular hangouts.

In addition to the specialty pizzas, we recommend the Moondoggy meatballs, and Pasta Your Way. (Choose the rich and creamy alfredo sauce!) 626 S. Polk St./ 4101 Hilllside Road, 350.1400, moondoggyspizzadowntown.com $$

NORTH HEIGHTS DISCOUNT & CAFE 2612 Wolflin Village | Amarillo, TX 79109 | 806.418.8920 Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

Part convenience store and part neighborhood eatery, North Heights Discount & Cafe serves made-to-order soul food every day but Sunday. Portions are huge at Discount, but can you ever have too much smoky ribs, fried catfish, french fries, or mac-and-cheese? We don’t think so.

1621 NW 18th Ave., 418.6751 $

OHMS CAFE & BAR

Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves a buffet-style lunch then switches to wait service in the evenings. The chef features specials each week that range from seafood and smoked duck to beef tenderloin. Start with daily Happy Hour and give the Bar Burger a try. (It’s not on the menu, but it might be the best burger in town.) Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger. 619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$-$$$

PAN-HANDLERS CAFE

Kick your lunch experience up a notch at Pan-Handlers. Settled in the basement of Amarillo National Bank Plaza One, this family-run restaurant supports the community by using farm-fresh produce.

With a list of daily specials ranging from Mexican to seafood and cleverly concocted sandwiches (try the ANBLT on ciabatta bread), your dining experience will be anything but bland and boring.

410 S. Taylor St., 352.2590, thepan-handlers.com $

RED RIVER STEAKHOUSE

Experience the flavor of Texas at Red River Steakhouse. With plenty of beef on the menu – customer favorites are the prime rib, barbecue ribs, and hand-cut steaks – and rustic windmill-themed decor, the wellknown steakhouse promises quality and quantity in every meal. 4332 SW 45th Ave., 367.9732, redriversteakhouse.com $$

S&J COFFEE HOUSE

New in downtown Amarillo, S&J Coffee House began as a mobile coffee service, serving its coffee and cold drinks around town at events. Now on Sixth Street in a cozy storefront, S&J offers its signature dark roast coffee along with breakfast items and a full lunch menu. 112 SW Sixth Ave., 513.0927, sandjcoffeehouse.com $

SCRATCH MADE BAKERY & CAFE

Conveniently located in downtown Amarillo, Scratch Made has the solution for your sugar cravings. This small bakery features cupcakes, along with a variety of from-scratch cookies, pastries, pies and cakes. Feast on some of the best biscuits and gravy in town during the weekday and Saturday brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 118 SW Sixth Ave., 731.4477, scratchmadebakery.com $

SUSHI HOUSE

You’ll see Thai, Lao and Japanese influences on Sushi House’s ample menu. Start with

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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one of the many sushi offerings or choose an appetizer like marinated short ribs. Feast on filling teppanyaki entrees (the fillet mignon and scallops caught our eye), or choose a traditional Thai favorite like fried rice. With most menu items priced at less than $10 each, it’s the perfect place to grab a tasty lunch or dinner. 2630 Wolflin Ave., 803.9470 $

THAI ARAWAN

You’ll get your fill of fresh, authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Arawan. We recommend the angel noodle and the chicken fried rice. Consistently good flavor and friendly service make this one of our favorites.

2834 Wolflin Ave., 463.7167, thaiarawan.com $$

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE

More than just a smoothie bar, national chain Tropical Cafe serves pressed sandwiches, grilled-to-order quesadillas, bowls, salads, and wraps. Smoothie offerings change with the seasons, and are bursting with flavor. 4820 S. Soncy Road, Suite 100, 353.1010/1909 S. Georgia St., 770.821.1900, tropicalsmoothiecafe.com $

UPTOWN SWEET SHOPPE

YE OLDE PANCAKE STATION

FELDMAN’S WRONG WAY DINER

ZOMBIEZ BAR & GRILL

HIL’S BURGERS

Canyon

JOE TACO

With breakfast this good, you’ll be glad to know the Pancake Station serves it all day long. The restaurant also offers great dinerstyle entrees for lunch. We recommend the over-sized omelets, fresh pancakes, and southern fried chicken. 2800 Virginia Circle, 355.0211, pancakestation.com $ Locals rave about the homestyle offerings at Zombiez Bar & Grill. Fill up on daily specials, burgers, chicken-fried steak or chicken-fried chicken. Dine-in, takeout and delivery are available. 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305 $

BARREL & PIE

The cuisine is seasonally driven at Barrel & Pie; the menu will change to accommodate demand and to keep items fresh and interesting. With a focus on small plates, artisan pizza, and whiskey and craft cocktails, you’re in for a treat. Make time to linger at Barrel & Pie. 1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 101, 591.1144, barrelandpie.com $$

Pick up kolaches, quiche or cinnamon rolls for breakfast or lunch, or stop in for a sweet treat all day. Cupcake flavors change daily but include birthday cake, triple chocolate, and devilishness. Plenty of other options fill the case at Uptown, and make return visits a certainty. 7406 SW 34th Ave., Suite 2A, 418.6109 $

BEAR’S BURGERS & DAWGS

VAQUERO TACOS AND TEQUILA

FAMILY SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT

From-scratch tacos and authentic cuisine await you at Vaquero. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, choose from mesquitegrilled whole chickens (enough for the entire family), posole, tamales, and a number of family-style dinners. Pair your meal with a handcrafted margarita or one of the daily drink specials. 2300 Bell St., 418.6880 $

WILD BILL’S

Wild Bill’s offers American food and friendly service. The green chile cheese burger with hand-cut, seasoned fries is our favorite.

Enjoy billiards, darts and arcade games while you wait, or after you dine.

3811 SW Sixth Ave., 372.4500 $

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

Choosing from the simple offerings is an easy task at Bear’s. Other than handmade burgers, hot dogs and fries, a few comfort food items like Frito pie and loaded baked potatoes round out the menu. Ice cold beer will help you wash it all down.

2001-A N. Second Ave., 452.8033 $

You’ll find plenty of mouth-watering options at The Family Soul Food Restaurant. Feast on traditional family recipes like chickenfried chicken, fried ribs, catfish, or cheesy meatloaf with all the sides, topped off by a slice of sweet cornbread. Save room for the rotating dessert menu. 1205 23rd St., 463.4686 $

FAT-BOYS BBQ

Fat Boys has been dishing up delicious Texas-style barbeque since 1988, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing.

The meat has the perfect amount of smoky flavor. Top it with sweet barbecue sauce and add a few homemade sides. Your taste buds will thank you. 104 N. 23rd St., 655.7363 $

Feldman’s fun, casual atmosphere and model trains that run a course along the ceiling make it a great place for the whole family. Try the made-fresh burgers or the Tortugas chicken, satisfaction guaranteed. 2100 N. Second Ave., 655.2711, feldmansdiner.com $ This burger joint’s menu is pretty snazzy.

The Philly cheese steak sandwich pairs perfectly with a side of sizzling, thinly sliced onion rings, but you can’t go wrong with the chicken-fried steak sandwich topped with chili, either. 1302 23rd St., 656.0810 $ One of Amarillo’s most beloved Tex-Mex restaurants has made its way to Canyon.

Located on the bustling square, the new location offers the same Tex-Mex favorites and energetic vibe as its Medical Center location. Enjoy lunch and dinner seven days a week. 502 15th St., 452.8226, joetaco.net $$

THE KING AND I

Craving fresh sushi? The King and I will surely satisfy. Try the customer favorite, the Canyon Roll, and savor every scrumptious slice of crab, tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese topped with red tuna, white tuna, shrimp and eel. If you still have an appetite, order the fried bananas covered with powdered sugar and strawberries. 104 15th St., 655.2491 $$

PONY EXPRESS BURRITOS

Based on the build-your-own burrito concept, Pony Express offers 14-inch burritos or bowls, tacos, quesadillas and a variety of fresh salsa flavors from mild to spicy, including its infamous ghost pepper.

2808 Fourth Ave., Suite C, 557.4166 $

RANCH HOUSE CAFE

The Ranch House Cafe has a small-town, family atmosphere. The Cafe offers breakfast all day, every day, and lunch, dinner and made-from-scratch desserts, as well as specials seven days a week.

810 23rd St., 655.8785, theranchhousecafe.com $

RECREATION

Food and fun is in store at Recreation.

Burgers, street tacos, and nachos fill the menu, with unique flavor profiles and topnotch ingredients. Eat in the casual dining area, and then beat your top score in the video game gallery – no tokens necessary.

1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 103, 656.0665, recreationcanyon.com $

ROCKIN’ ZEBRA SODA SHOPPE

Located on the square, the Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe offers classic soda shop fare like French dips, pulled pork sandwiches, or a grilled cheese sandwich. Cool off with a specialty drink or ice cream sundae.

404 15th St., 655.3381 $

SAYAKOMARN’S RESTAURANT

Sayakomarn’s offers a variety of traditional Thai dishes with daily lunch specials that won’t empty your wallet. Be sure to try their boba tea made with tapioca balls and shaken into fruit-flavored or milk tea. It’s yummy. 421 16th St., 655.2698, sayakomarns.com $$

SHARKY’S BURRITO COMPANY

Sharky’s newest location joins a few other Amarillo favorites inside WT’s JBK food court. Expect the same excellent food and service. 2501 Fourth Ave., JBK Food Court, 651.2885 $

SQUEEZY STREET JUICE BAR

In addition to a smoothie and juice bar, order healthy snack packs, avocado toast, açaí and pitaya bowls, and vegan ice cream.

1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 203, 231.9547 $

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STIX FOOD ON A STICK

Serving lunch and dinner, Stix serves steak, chicken, pork, sausage, and ground beef kabobs – even roasted corn on a stick. Fast, affordable food and great service make this a Canyon favorite. 204 23rd St., 676.3336 $

TAQUERIA EL TAPATIO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

El Tapatio’s second location in Canyon serves up the same authentic Mexican food at affordable prices. The carne el pastor is a customer favorite. 2301 12th Ave., 510.7703 $

THAI KITCHEN

The generous menu will keep you coming back for more at Thai Kitchen. Choose from affordable Thai classics – soup, salads, noodles, pork, seafood and more. The small eatery is open for lunch and dinner six days a week. 713 23rd St., 655.4741 $

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TOP ATTORNEYS 2019

Top Attorneys 2019 is a nomination-based project in which we ask area attorneys to vote for other attorneys who exemplify excellence in a variety of different practice areas. The Top Attorneys list provides a service to readers, giving them attorneys’ perspective on their peers. The list also is intended to allow readers to see and celebrate the achievement of the attorneys who make the list. Additionally, it gives those seeking legal information a place to see attorneys recognized for their expertise and reputation, and helps them select the right representation for their needs. It also can be a means for attorneys to make the community aware of their specific specialties and areas of expertise.

We take time and energy to ensure fair voting. We recognize that there are many good attorneys who do not appear on this list for various reasons. This is only a sampling of the talented professionals within the region. Inclusion on the list is based on the opinions of responding attorneys in the area and the results, therefore, are not objective.

Amarillo Magazine contracted with DataJoe Research to conduct nominations using an online ballot for collecting, vetting and tallying the votes. DataJoe Research is a survey/ research company specializing in data collection and verification. It conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers.

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TOP ATTORNEYS 2019

How was the list created? To create the list, DataJoe Research facilitated a peer

voting process during the first quarter of 2019. DataJoe and the magazine reached out to both individuals and firms by various means, encouraging entities to vote and circulate the online ballot. Each attorney could vote for up to three attorneys in each category.

DataJoe reviewed and processed each ballot individually, checking for patterns or signs indicative of cheating. The top vote-getters in each specialty category were selected and verified. We verified with the state bar association that each winner had a valid, active license and that no winner had disciplinary action against him/her from the state.

If we were not able to find evidence of the attorney’s being registered with the state bar association, that attorney was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to Amarillo Magazine for final review and adjustments.

How are nominations obtained? The magazine and DataJoe Research

reached out to both practices and individuals in the region via various methods, encouraging them to vote and distribute the ballot to other attorneys. We encourage attorneys who want to ensure they get to vote to send an email to surveys@datajoe.com so we can conduct a lookup and add their information if needed.

What information is required to make a nomination? Attorneys

are required to provide a valid, active license number and basic contact information identifying themselves. This helps us ensure fairness in the voting process by verifying that each attorney completes only one ballot. The final results are aggregated, so attorneys’ ballot choices remain confidential.

How are practice areas determined? The categories are very broad and are intended to reflect relevant practice areas in the region. We recognize that there are many specialty areas but cannot accommodate them all. If there is a strong and consistent request for additional practice areas, they will be considered for possible inclusion in next year’s nomination.

Do attorneys pay to be on the Top Attorneys list? Attorneys can’t pay to be on the list. After the list is finalized by DataJoe, it is given to the magazine’s Advertising Department, which invites attorneys to buy profiles. These profiles appear after the list, labeled as paid advertising, in a section titled Attorneys You Should Know. But whether the attorneys advertise has no bearing on their being on the list.

DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate.

DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe.

Appellate Law

Brooks Barfield, Jr., Barfield Law Firm, P.C. Eric Coats, Attorney at Law Steven M. Denny, Attorney at Law Jennie Knapp, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Arbitration Mediation

Kirk Crutcher, Crutcher Mediation Mike Loftin, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Christopher Wrampelmeier, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Banking Financial

Alysia B. Cordova, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC David Jones, Happy State Bank Samuel Karr, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Robert Wade King, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. C. Jared Knight, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Mike Smiley, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Brandon Wing, Happy State Bank

Bankruptcy Workout

Alysia B. Cordova, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC Roger Cox, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

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C. Jared Knight, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Don D. Sunderland, Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLP Patrick A. Swindell, Swindell Law Firm

Business Law

John Atkins, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Gregg R. Cannady, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Dave Goad, Underwood Law Firm, P.C Tom A. Knapp, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Mindi L. McLain, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Gerald G. Morgan, Jr., Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Jason D. Rahlfs, Mayfield Law F irm, LLP Alan Rhodes, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Paul Williamson, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Weston W. Wright, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP I. Alfonso Zambrano Brown & Fortunato, P.C.

Civil Trial

John Ben Blanchard, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Wyatt Brooks, Burdett, Morgan,

TOP ATTORNEYS • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Williamson & Boykin, LLP Slater Elza, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Grant Gibson, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Stephanie James, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Mike Loftin, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Joni Paul, Packard, Hood, Johnson & Paul, LLP Thomas C. Riney, Riney & Mayfield LLP Matt W. Sherwood, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Kelly Utsinger, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Timothy C. Williams, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC Alex Yarbrough, Riney & Mayfield LLP

Commercial Litigation

John Ben Blanchard, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Greg Freeman, Freeman & Nance LLC Grant Gibson, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Thomas C. Riney, Riney & Mayfield LLP Matt W. Sherwood, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Brittany K. Taylor, Brown & Fortunato, P.C.

Kelly Utsinger, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Construction

William Arnold, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Tyler J. DiMarino, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC Tim Newsom, Young & Newsom, P.C. Kenneth E. Weston, Courtney, Countiss, Brian & Bailey, LLP

Consumer Debt

Mike Smiley, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Patrick A. Swindell, Swindell Law Firm

Criminal Defense

Steven M. Denny, Attorney at Law Titiana Frausto, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

DUI/DWI

Qlo Crum, Attorney at Law Paul Herrmann, The Herrmann Law Firm

Eminent Domain

Todd Boykin, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Christopher L. Jensen, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Dusty J. Stockard, Stockard, Johnston, Brown, & Netardus, P.C. J. Tyler Topper, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP

Family Law

Wade A. Byrd, Wright Wilmarth Byrd PLLC Vaavia Edwards, Attorney at Law Titiana Frausto, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Cynthia B. Graham, Law Office Of Cynthia Barela Graham, Attorney at Law Jamie S. Vandivere, Attorney at Law Stewart R. Werner, Werner Law Offices Mary Whittington, Whittington Law Firm Christopher Wrampelmeier, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Firm, P.C.

Chris Stewart, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP

Health Care Law

Jeffrey S. Baird, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Gavin Gadberry, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Bradley W. Howard, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Elizabeth H. Jepson, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Denise M. Leard, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Charles Mallard, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Immigration Law

Charles Mallard, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Felipe Zavala, The Zavala Law Firm Stacy Zavala, The Zavala Law Firm

Insurance

General Practice

Jerry D. McLaughlin, Law Offices of Jerry D. McLaughlin

Government Administrative Scott Brumley, Potter County Attorney Marcus Norris, Amarillo City Attorney’s Office Fred Stormer, Underwood Law

Benjamin Doyle, Stockard, Johnston, Brown, & Netardus P.C. Stephanie James, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Joni Paul, Packard, Hood, Johnson & Paul, LLP

Intellectual Property Rights John Atkins, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Creating, Managing Buffy Haden

Hunter Vagrosky

Labor Employment

Allison L. Davis, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Autum Flores, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Bradley W. Howard, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Mike Warner, The Warner Law Firm Vicki Hart Wilmarth, Wright Wilmarth Byrd, PLLC Jeremi K. Young, Young & Newsom, P.C.

Land Use Environment

J. Shane Brooks, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC

Real Estate

Todd Boykin, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Roger Cox, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Frederick J. Griffin, Sell Griffin McLain, P.C. Samuel Karr, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Mindi L. McLain, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Garland D. Sell, Sell Griffin McLain, P.C.

Preserving &Wealth.

Kevin Rider

Joby Mills

Terry Wright

Alisa Scott

Todd Wetsel

Sharon White, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Weston W. Wright, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP I. Alfonso Zambrano, Brown & Fortunato, P.C.

Social Security Elder Law

James Abbott, Abbott Law Office

Traffic Law

T. D. Hammons, Attorney at Law

Wills Trusts Estates

W. H. Brian, Jr., Courtney, Countiss, Brian & Bailey, LLP J. Shane Brooks, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC D. Christ Harkins, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Joseph Hinton, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Tom Hood, Packard, Hood, Johnson & Paul, LLP Christopher D. Jones, Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC Gerald G. Morgan, Jr., Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP Sharon White, Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Paul Williamson, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, LLP

Scott Richardson

Terri Wright

701 S. Taylor St • (806) 356-8787 happytrust.com

TOP ATTORNEYS • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Gavin Gadberry, President

Kelly Utsinger

Slater Elza

Wade King

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ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

UNDERWOOD LAW FIRM BOARD OF DIRECTORS Year established: The Underwood Law Firm first opened its doors in 1912. The firm has changed its name multiple times in the 107 years since, but the Underwood name is always prominent.

Practice areas: The Underwood Law Firm is a general practice firm and assists individuals and corporations with a wide range of legal services. We have clients in many different industries, from agriculture to wind energy. In addition, we have a large governmental practice focusing on schools, cities, counties and hospital districts.

What are your roles with the firm? Two years ago, the firm moved to a six-member Board of Directors.

Four members of the board are in the firm’s Amarillo office. Gavin Gadberry was recently elected as the firm’s president. Slater Elza and Wade King serve as directors, and Kelly Utsinger is the General Counsel. Cumulatively, this group has more than 170 years of legal experience, with 130 of those years at the Underwood Law Firm.

What is your background? Our lawyers come from varying backgrounds. Wade King grew up in Muleshoe, Slater Elza is a native of Amarillo, Kelly Utsinger grew up in Odessa, and Gavin Gadberry grew up in Follett.

Gavin and Kelly are first career lawyers, Wade helped

run his family’s business in Muleshoe between his undergrad degree and law school, and Slater was in hotel management prior to becoming a lawyer. All four worked as law clerks for Underwood Law Firm, and then joined the firm following graduation from law school.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? Integrity in all things; commitment to excellence; service to our community. We strive to make every matter we are trusted with as important to us as it is to the client.

What sets your firm apart? Longevity: Having been around for so many years we have endured some hardships and changes, which have molded us into what we are today. Relationships: We recognize our business arrangement is a relationship. We take pride in recognizing many clients have been clients of the firm for decades. Adaptability: The ability to adapt is an important part of today’s business environment. We have five offices throughout Texas, in Amarillo, Austin, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Pampa.

500 S. Taylor St., Amarillo 806.376.5613 • uwlaw.com

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ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

ATTORNEY STEPHEN HAMILTON Year established: Stephen Hamilton has been practicing law for 21 years – since 1998.

Education: Attorney Stephen Hamilton is the Lead Trial Attorney at Hamilton Grant PC. Stephen is AV rated, the highest rating one can receive through that rating system. Stephen is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Overall in Texas, less than 1% of all lawyers who practice criminal law are board certified in criminal law.

Specialty: Stephen is trained under the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines to administer the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), and has completed training as an instructor of the SFSTs. He has completed the training as a breath test operator of the Intoxilyzer 5000 breath test machine (the same machine used in Texas for court room breath tests). He has also completed training as a breath test instructor and maintenance technician of the unit.

Honors and awards: Mr. Hamilton has written a book on DWI matters, “Texas DWI Survival Guide: A Citizen’s Guide;” is rated 10.0 of 10.0 on the AVVO lawyer rating system;. holds a certificate of completion for the state Intoxilyzer training; is trained to administer standardized field sobriety tests and evidentiary breath tests; completed training in blood alcohol analysis and forensic blood analysis; co-authored a book and conducts seminars designed to teach other attorneys how to try DWI cases.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? We know that in life, mistakes happen. We believe in your rights and work to protect those rights and your future. We help good people through tough times.

How do you set your firm apart from others? We are trial attorneys. We will not shy away from your right to a public trial and an impartial jury if it is necessary in the pursuit of justice for your situation. Stephen Hamilton and associates are experienced in defending against DWI charges and other alcohol-related offenses, including DWI by minors. All firm attorneys are trained on field sobriety tests and can help prepare those charged with DWI by understanding the laws, consequences and trial procedures ahead of them.

What do you find most rewarding about being an attorney?

The opportunity to help navigate people through difficult situations. I am passionate in finding solutions that offer my clients peace of mind knowing that someone is working to protect their future and help them find the best possible outcome for their case.

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Community involvement: Our firm works to give back through education and awareness. Through our corporate sponsorships with West Texas A&M University, Family Support Services, Martha’s Home and Amarillo Bulls Hockey, we work to educate the Panhandle by providing literature about the repercussions a person can have if they choose to drink and get behind the wheel.

600 S. Tyler St., Suite 2007, Amarillo 806.444.4444 • attorneyhamilton.com

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

SPROUSE SHRADER SMITH PLLC Year established: 1990 Practice areas: Agriculture Law, Agribusiness Law, Banking and Financial Services, Bankruptcy, Creditor’s Rights, Corporate Law, Securities Law, Family Law, Labor and Employment Law, Nonprofit Organizational Law, Oil and Gas Law, Power and Utilities Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Trademark and Copyright Law, Trial and Appellate Law, Water Law, Wealth Planning and Probate Law What is the cornerstone of your firm? The cornerstone of Sprouse Shrader Smith is providing high-quality, ethical legal services. Our firm strives to continually go above and beyond for our clients through innovations, efficiency and hard work. Being one of the larger firms in Amarillo allows us to lean on one another’s expertise to give our clients a seamless experience.

How do you set your firm apart from others? Sprouse is equipped to help clients with any legal issue. Our attorneys are here to guide you in major life decisions, from setting up your new business entity to helping you make educated decisions regarding your last will and testament. Sprouse has more than 80 attorneys and staff spread throughout Amarillo, Austin and Victoria, Texas. We are dedicated to helping our clients find solutions.

What is most rewarding about practicing in Amarillo? The most rewarding aspect about practicing law in Amarillo is the people. Our community works to support local businesses and support each other. Building relationships that start out as an attorney-client relationship and end up being lifelong friendships can be one of the most rewarding features of being an Amarillo attorney.

Community involvement: Our members, associates and staff contribute their time, knowledge and talent to the community by serving in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations. The firm currently supports more than 50 nonprofit organizations through financial and board involvement, including Center City, Chamber Music Amarillo, Opportunity School, High Plains Food Bank, Amarillo Symphony, and many others.

(L-R): Chris Jensen, Shane Brooks, Shyla Buckner, Alysia Cordova, and Chris Jones

701 S. Taylor, Suite 500, Amarillo 806.468.3300 • sprouselaw.com ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

PATRICK A. SWINDELL, SWINDELL LAW FIRM Year established: 1980 Education: Bachelor of Science, West Texas A&M University (1977); Doctor of Jurisprudence, Texas Tech University School of Law (1980) Specialty: Practice limited to Commercial and Consumer Bankruptcy Honors and awards: AV Rated Pre-Eminent Lawyer What is the cornerstone of your firm? Trust and experience How do you set your firm apart from others? We have an individualized approach to representation, spending as much time as is necessary to accomplish the work. A staff of three highly qualified legal assistants work under the direct supervision of Mr. Swindell, who has practiced law for 39 years.

What do you find most rewarding about being an attorney?

Helping people work through a difficult and trying event in their life.

Community involvement: Founder and Chairman of the Board of Regents, Ascension Academy; Past President of the Board of Advisors, the Sybil B. Harrington School of Fine Arts & Humanities, WTAMU; current member, Arts Committee for Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council; Past President of the Board of Trustees, Amarillo Opera; previously served on the Board of The Amarillo Club; co-owner of The Esquire Jazz Club (located in the former U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse); Front Man for the Esquire Jazz Band

106 SW Seventh Ave., Amarillo 806.374.7979 bankruptcyattorneyamarillo.com 74

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

DAVID JONES AND BRANDON WING, HAPPY STATE BANK Year established: In 2012, Happy State Bank established a General Counsel Department. David was hired as General Counsel. Brandon joined as Assistant General Counsel in 2016.

Also in 2016, a third attorney, Whitney Cardwell, was also added to the department as a Vice President in the Ft. Worth market.

Practice areas: The General Counsel department has a very broad responsibility, because it touches so many areas. We handle all of the legal issues that come up in the $3.5-billion bank, such as loan documents, loan workouts, deposit issues, trust/probate issues, litigation, real estate, regulatory and compliance issues, vendor contracts, human resource issues, complaints, and lately, acquisitions.

Specialty: Obviously, banking law in general. Whitney is the loan document expert. Brandon takes the lead on deposit questions, vendor contracts, and acquisitions. David participates on the bank’s Executive Team, and oversees other legal issues as they arise – including claims and litigation – manages outside counsel, and deals with anything else that comes up.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? The culture, which is driven by Pat Hickman, our CEO. How do you set your firm apart from others? We do not have to bill for our time.

What is most rewarding about practicing in Amarillo? The legal community in Amarillo is much more sophisticated than most people realize. The lawyers we retain as outside counsel can hold their own against anyone in the state, or beyond.

Community involvement: David has served for many years as the Chairman of the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. He has also served for 20 years as Chairman of the Family Care Foundation.

Brandon serves on the Board of Directors of Hope Choice, Inc., and previously served as President of the Board of Directors for Center City before rotating off the Board.

806.342.2446 happybank.com ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

DON D. SUNDERLAND, MULLIN HOARD & BROWN, LLP Year established: 1990 Practice areas: Don graduated in May of 1983 from The University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he earned the prestigious Order of the Coif. The one constant in Don’s law practice has been his representation of banks and other lenders. Early in Don’s career he routinely represented banks, debtors, trustees and others in bankruptcy and other court proceedings. Since the early 2000s, Don’s practice has been, for the most part, representing banks and other lenders in a variety of areas, including complex multi-state lending and large scale agribusiness lending, real estate purchase lending, construction lending, and workout matters.

Specialty: Representing lenders and borrowers in commercial lending transactions and in workout of troubled loans.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLP, attorneys and staff work to develop personal relationships with clients. We work hard to own our clients’ needs and wants and their problems.

How do you set your firm apart from others? The firm has tremendous expertise and experience in a variety of different fields – we have top lawyers in trial matters, trust/estate planning and probate matters, employment and human relations matters, real estate and agribusiness matters, all types of lending matters, and bankruptcy and reorganization matters.

This broad expertise and experience is coupled with our goal to have any particular legal matter handled by the attorney in the firm that is best suited to efficiently provide top-quality service.

What is most rewarding about practicing in Amarillo? I have the luxury of being able to represent my clients on challenging matters, and work with and against lawyers from major law firms around the country. I can deliver to my clients superior services that enable them to compete anywhere, and still have only a 10 to 15 minute (or less) commute to home, office, or my client. I get to have a big time, big city law practice in a small city.

500 S. Taylor St., Suite 800, Amarillo 372.5050 • mullinhoard.com 76

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

STEWART R. WERNER Year Established: Solo practice established in 1997 (although I have been practicing law since 1980).

Education: University of Oklahoma School of Law, J.D.; Texas Tech University, B.B.A Practice areas: My practice is focused in Family Law, including divorce and child custody, Civil Litigation and Probate and Estate Administration. Other practice areas include Wills, Guardianship, Entity Formations, and Mediation.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? My Christian faith. I have been blessed with great clients, and blessed with the talents to provide quality legal services to each client. I truly care about each client’s legal matter, and strive to resolve each matter favorably and efficiently.

How do you set your firm apart from others? Treating each client like I would want to be treated. Integrity. Attention to detail. Result oriented. Fostering excellent communications with my clients. Caring for each client, providing excellent service, and working hard and efficiently on each matter with which I am entrusted.

What do you find most rewarding about being an attorney?

Applying my talents for my clients and achieving successful results that result in positive, sometimes life-changing differences in the lives of my clients and, in many cases, their children and families.

Community involvement: Hillside Christian Church; Amarillo Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Amarillo Alum, previous service on the boards of Amarillo CASA and Family Support Services; a director on the Panhandle Family Law Association Board; proud supporter of various charitable organizations.

Amarillo Sod Poodles season ticket holder.

801 S. Filmore St., Suite 720, Amarillo 806.342.5480 • wernerlawfirm.com

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ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

SELL GRIFFIN MCLAIN PC Year established: Garland Sell began the firm in 1970. In 1972, he was joined by Fred Griffin. They practiced together until 2008, when Kerry McLain joined them to become the current firm, Sell Griffin McLain PC. After almost 50 years downtown, the firm recently moved to Lexington Square Office Park in the Colonies.

Practice areas: With board certifications in Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, and Farm and Ranch Real Estate, we are able to handle all real estate matters. Other practice areas include Wills, Probates, Entity Formations, Business Transactions, Creditor Representation, and Business Litigation.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? Integrity.

Expertise. Value.

How do you set your firm apart from others? Sell Griffin McLain is a small law firm with accumulated knowledge and experience from many years of practice. Our firm is small enough to provide personal service for our clients, and experienced enough to competently handle legal matters of any size in our areas of practice. Our attorneys take the time to assess each client’s objectives and achieve resolution of the issues or completion of transactions in the most efficient and timely manner possible. This approach places the needs of clients first. The firm’s goal is to help our clients achieve the best results in the most efficient way possible.

What is most rewarding about practicing in Amarillo? The friendly and giving nature of our community.

Community involvement: Our attorneys and team are actively involved in various churches in our city and serve our community through nonprofit boards and other volunteer service. Some of those organizations include Life Challenge of Amarillo, Meals on Wheels, Texas Panhandle Builders Association, Gideon’s International, and Hope Choice.

4801 Lexington Square, Amarillo 806.374.3765 • sgmtexaslaw.com 78

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW

ERIC J. PULLEN, ELDERLAWYER Year established: 2004 Focus: Elder Law, which encompasses a variety of legal fields, such as estate planning and administration; trusts; powers of attorney; special needs planning; end-of-life planning; Medicaid, disability and other long-term care issues, particularly asset protection; guardianship and commitment matters; retirement planning; Social Security benefits; and Medicare.

Memberships and certifications: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from West Texas A&M University; Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law Houston; Amarillo Area Bar Association; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA); Texas Chapter of NAELA; Better Business Bureau; State Bar of Texas, including the Real Estate, Trust and Probate Section; recognized as among the Top 10 Texas Elder Law Attorneys by the American Institute of Legal Counsel Why did you choose your area of practice? Memories of my grandparents fuel my passion. I strive to be the kind of person that I hope would have been there for them.

What is the cornerstone of your firm? Integrity.

For what are you most known? Being one of the most knowledgeable, qualified, and experienced attorneys in the Texas Panhandle regarding elder law issues, guardianships, trust matters, and probate.

How do you set your firm apart from others? I am not a general practitioner and do not pretend to be the attorney for everything for everyone. My focus and skillset is very narrow and very deep.

If I cannot help a client or believe they would be better helped by another attorney, I don’t hesitate to refer them out.

What do you find most rewarding about being an attorney?

Definitely my clientele. I’m honored that I get to serve veterans, survivors of the Great Depression, and so many people with diverse backgrounds and with such a wealth of experiences.

Community involvement: Frequently volunteer at nonprofits, such as the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Foundation; often serve as an advisor to members of the Texas Legislature, as well as various courts throughout the Panhandle on elder law issues; active in my church and various community service organizations; often requested to speak to groups concerning estate planning and elder law issues.

2903 S. Georgia St., Amarillo 806.355.8147 • amaelderlaw.com ATTORNEYS YOU SHOULD KNOW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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November 15, 2019 – January 5, 2020 This holiday season, Gaylord Texan Resort will present a winter wonderland with two million lights, a 54-foot tall Christmas tree and 15,000 ornaments!

Family events will include Snow Tubing, Ice Skating, Gingerbread Decorating Corner, Breakfast with Charlie Brown™ & Friends, Build-A-Bear Workshop®, and our signature hand-carved attraction ICE! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Stay overnight to experience it all! Tickets and packages on sale now.

ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com | (817) 778-2000 Peanuts © 2019 Peanuts Worldwide LLC. © Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.

GRAPEVINE, TX

ARTWORK COURTESY OF AMARILLO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Events | October 2019

T

Flavors of Amarillo and Mariachi Festival

he Flavors of Amarillo and Mariachi Festival will be held on Oct. 10 at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The festival celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a tribute to two of the most prized aspects of Hispanic culture: food and music.

During the festival, explore food from some of the city’s best restaurants. Enjoy performances by Mariachi Los Matadores de Texas Tech, La Sombra de Vicente Fernandez, and Javier Medllin.

Tickets are available at all local Amigos and United Supermarkets for $20 in advance, $30 at the door, and $5 for children ages 2 to 10.

Oct. 10, 5-9 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan St. 379.8800 amarillohcc.com

VIEW AN UPDATED LISTING OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AT AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM. To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to mmcaffrey@amarillo.com.

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Arts & Entertainment

OCT. 3-4 WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS “OUR TOWN”

7:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Studio Theatre, WTAMU campus, Canyon, 651.2804

OCT. 4 FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

5-9 p.m. Barnes Jewelry, 100 Westgate Pkwy. West, 355.9874

OCT. 5 CASTING CROWNS “ONLY JESUS” TOUR

7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

AMARILLO OPERA PRESENTS “DER FLEDERMAUS”

7:30 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 372.7464

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St., 376.6316, ext. 105

OCT. 13 WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS “OUR TOWN”

2:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Studio Theatre, WTAMU campus, Canyon, 651.2804

BEATLES VS. STONES

7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 372.7464

OCT. 18-19 AMARILLO SYMPHONY PRESENTS JEREMY DENK PLAYS MOZART

7:30 p.m. Guest artist: Jeremy Denk, piano; Conductor: Jacomo Rafael Bairos. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 19 ALL REGION CHOIR CONCERT

OCT. 6

4:30-6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS “OUR TOWN”

OCT. 24

2:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Studio Theatre, WTAMU campus, Canyon, 651.2804

AMARILLO YOUTH CHOIRS FALL CONCERT

3:30 p.m. Mary Moody Northen Hall, WTAMU campus, Canyon, 372.1100

OCT. 10-12 WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS “OUR TOWN”

7:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Studio Theatre, WTAMU campus, Canyon, 651.2804

OCT. 12 “TOWARD THE SOUTH PLAINS” 7:30 p.m. A collaboration between Friends of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1024 and Chamber Music Amarillo.

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AMARILLO LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET”

7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Main Stage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

OCT. 25-26 LONE STAR BALLET PRESENTS “DRACULA”

8 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

AMARILLO LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Main Stage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

OCT. 27

OCT. 12

AMARILLO LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET”

OCTOBER FESST

2:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Main Stage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Benefitting Family Support Services. Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive, 556.4456

SHOOT OUT TD1

OCT. 31

1 p.m. River Breaks Ranch, 7802 Durrett Drive, 374.0357

AMARILLO LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET”

AMARILLO CRAFT BEER AND BACON FEST

7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Main Stage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Benefits & Fundraisers

OCT. 3 “12X12 EXHIBITION AND SILENT AUCTION”

4 p.m. Benefiting Hands On Amarillo.

Amarillo Netplex, 3723 SW 58th Ave., 410.2053

MONSTER BOWL

5-7 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. Funds raised will benefit Junior Achievement of the High Plains. Western Bowl, 5120 Canyon Drive, 355.0045

HOPE FOR OUR HEROES

6:30-8:30 p.m. Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., 371.5050

5:30-8:30 p.m. Fundraiser for Hope Lives Here. 3941 N. Western St., 584.1531

OCT. 4

THE WITCHES BALL: SUMMONING OF THE SPIRITS

CANYON CHAMBER CHOWDOWN BARBECUE COOK-OFF & WTAMU PIGSKIN REVUE

7:45 p.m. Benefiting the Polaris Project to prevent human trafficking. Khiva Shine, 305 SW Fifth Ae., 373.2845

5 p.m. Barbecue competition and live music with Cody Jasper. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 655.7815

OCT. 19

OCT. 5

8 a.m.-12 p.m. Palace Coffee Co., 817 S. Polk St., 476.0111

THIRD ANNUAL PANHANDLE OILMEN’S SHOOTOUT

THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BRAWAY

8 a.m. River Breaks Ranch, 7802 Durrett Drive, 664.6269

THE WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH 2019

KINDNESS IS THE CAUSE 5K

6-10:30 p.m. Hosted by Panhandle Breast Health. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

3-5 p.m. Sixth annual 5K will raise funds for NAMI Texas and AAMHCAgape Center. Memorial Park, 2501 S. Washington St., 678.7385

2019 KHIVA LEGENDARY CAR PARTY

OCT. 10

OCT. 26

FLAVORS OF AMARILLO AND MARIACHI FESTIVAL 5-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

6 p.m. Khiva Shrine, 305 SW Fifth Ave., 373.2845

AMBUCS PANCAKE & SAUSAGE FEAST

7:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

11TH ANNUAL PANHANDLE CANCER CURE FOUNDATION 5K AND 1-MILE FUN RUN/WALK

8:30-11 a.m. 1-mile race begins at 8:30 a.m.; 5K begins at 9 a.m. Preregistration required. Race route will begin at Ninth Avenue and Coulter Street near Texas Oncology, 410.0850

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER GIFT & CRAFT SHOW

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Funds will benefit Sharing Hope Ministry. Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

THE CREEPY CIRCUS

5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Benefitting Gracie’s Project. Flying Fitness & Aerial Arts Studio, 3708 Business Park Drive, 318.3938

OCT. 27 CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER GIFT & CRAFT SHOW

12-5 p.m. Funds will benefit Sharing Hope Ministry. Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 28 BEANS & CORNBREAD LUNCHEON

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kickoff for the Interfaith Campaign for the Homeless. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 4 ABOVE THE EMPIRE

8-11 p.m. Metropolitan-A Speakeasy, 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201, 242.0117

AMARIONETTE

8 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237

OCT. 5 JUDAS RISING

8 p.m. Skooterz Amarillo, 4100 Bushland Blvd., 355.6600

RECKLESS KELLY

10 p.m. Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548

OCT. 6 FRANK DEMOS

6-9 p.m. Joe Taco, 502 15th St., Canyon, 452.8226

OCT. 8 JAZZTOBER

6-7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce lawn, 1000 S. Polk St., 372.6744

OCT. 11 SPACES & PLACES TOUR 9 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305

OCT. 29

OCT. 12

BOOKS TO BROADWAY

RYAN CHRYS & THE ROUGH CUTS

7-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Music

OCT. 1 JAZZTOBER

6-7:30 p.m. Featuring Ruth Ellen Lynch. Chamber of Commerce lawn, 1000 S. Polk St., 372.6744

OCT. 3 YELLOW CITY SOUNDS LIVE: CODY JASPER AND JOHNNY REVERB 7-9 p.m. Panhandle PBS, 2408 S. Jackson St., 371.5222

9 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163

OCT. 13 NO SLEEP TOUR

7 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305

OCT. 15 JAZZTOBER

6-7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce lawn, 1000 S. Polk St., 372.6744

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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OCT. 22

OCT. 5-6

OCT. 18

OCT. 26

JAZZTOBER

TRI-STATE REPTILE EXPO

LEADERCAST WOMEN 2019

INSANE INFLATABLES 5K

6-7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce lawn, 1000 S. Polk St., 372.6744

OCT. 23 MONARCH BAND

6-9 p.m. Teddy Jack’s Armadillo Grill, 5080 S. Coulter St., 322.0113

THE SINGER AND THE SONGWRITER

7:30 p.m. Starlight Canyon Bed and Breakfast, 100 Brentwood Road, 622.2382

OCT. 25 BROKEN ECHO

10 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163

OCT. 26 BIG BAD HALLOWEEN BASH

7 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

Special Events

OCT. 1 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

5-8 p.m. Hosted by Amarillo Police Department. 378.4257

10 a.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 8 GIRL POWER

5:30-9 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Regency Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

AMARILLO AREA COLLEGE NIGHT

6-7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 8-9 SUCCESS 360 2019

7:30 a.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 10 PANHANDLE GREAT 25 NURSES

5:30 p.m. Polk Street United Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St., 678.7597

OCT. 12 DINO DAY

OCT. 2 HISPANIC HERITAGE LUNCHEON

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Amarillo Wesley Community Center, 1615 S. Roberts St., 570.8644

OCT. 3 STATE OF THE CITY

8-9 a.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 5 2019 FALL CARNIVAL

12-7 p.m. St. Joseph’s Church, 4118 S. Bonham St., 355.5621

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1-4 p.m. Kids will be able to excavate a dig site on the east lawn, make fossils, see live animals, and more.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2401 Fourth Ave., 651.2244

OCT. 15 JOB FAIR

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 17 SENIOR FALL FESTIVAL

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Event will include free health care testing and more.

Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Amarillo Downtown Campus, 1314 S. Polk St., 371.2900

OCT. 19 NATIONAL LATINO HIV/ AIDS AWARENESS DAY FLASHDANCE ZUMBATHON

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL

12-6 p.m. St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St., 376.9112

HISTORIC TWILIGHT TOUR 3-7 p.m. Llano Cemetery, 2900 S. Hayes St., 376.4538

SECOND ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH

6 p.m. The Handle Bar and Grill, 3514 SW Sixth Ave., 803.9538

OCT. 22 PPHM THROUGH MY EYES

6-8 p.m. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2401 Fourth Ave., 651.2244

OCT. 24 JOSÉ E. LIMÓN: ART OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

5:30 p.m. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2401 Fourth Ave., 651.2244

CHAMBER ANNUAL BANQUET & BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

6-9:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 342.2007

OCT. 25 MONSTER BASH

6:30-9 p.m. Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive, 355.9547

OCT. 25-26 BOO AT THE ZOO

5:30-9 p.m. Amarillo Zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

8 a.m.-12 p.m. John Stiff Memorial Park, 4800 Bell St., insaneinflatable5k.com

THE FIGHTERS AND SURVIVORS IN OUR LIVES

6-10 p.m. 6-9:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St., 342.2007

OCT. 27 BOO AT THE ZOO

12-5 p.m. Amarillo Zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail, 381.7911

HALLOWEEN PET COSTUME CONTEST

1 p.m. Wings, Wags and Whiskers, 2461 I-40 West, 352.2410

OCT. 29 UNITED WAY YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

9 a.m-3 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

OCT. 31 SADDLEBAG TRICK OR TREAT

5 p.m. Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd., 310.9509

Sports & Recreation

OCT. 16-19 COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTING ASSOCIATION WORLD FINALS

8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

OCT. 23-26 NATIONAL JR. BULL RIDERS ASSOCIATION

8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

NORTHWEST IS

MY

HOSPITAL

NORTHWEST IS HOSPITAL! OUR

Jessica Blaser and her son, Duke Northwest Orthopedic Patients

When it comes to orthopedic care, the Northwest family takes care of the Blaser family. Jessica put her trust in Northwest Texas Physician Group orthopedic surgeon, Blake Obrock, DO, for a second opinion on possible hip surgery.

To schedule an appointment, call 806-398-3627 or book online at nwtpg.com/ortho

After Duke fractured his collarbone, they turned again to Dr. Obrock and Northwest Surgical Hospital for an outpatient procedure.

“If I do need hip surgery in the future, I’ll be at Northwest,” Jessica says. “And Duke is great. He’s been back at football training.”

Get social with us

Northwest Emergency on Georgia is Now Open We are ready to serve you and your family, 24/7. Most patients will be seen in 15 minutes or less.

Call 806-351-7700 or find us at 4121 S. Georgia Street in Amarillo.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The system shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 190018-6479 8/19

OCTOBER 2019 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Retro Rewind

IMAGE FROM AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCHIVES

P

MCBRIDE RANCH

anhandle rancher David Nichols McBride was born in Illinois but moved with his wife, Abigail, and children to Henrietta, Texas, in the 1880s. There he spent time as a blacksmith and surveyor before coming to Amarillo’s townsite in 1887, just days after Potter County was organized.

He first built a dugout in what is now the Olsen Park neighborhood before filing on a tract of wooded canyon land in northeast Potter County near the Canadian River. The McBrides’ new property was in the middle of what was the enormous LX Ranch.

The family built a two-room, stone ranch house on the land in 1903, using Alibates dolomite and 86

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

old railroad timbers, shown in this undated photo.

Eventually McBride built another home in Amarillo and turned the ranch over to his son, Amos. By the 1960s, the property had become known as McBride Canyon and was slated to become part of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. The McBride family sold the property – including the ranch house – to the Bureau of Reclamation.

The National Park Service restored the aging structure in the 1970s. Today, it still stands southeast of the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, identified by a state historical marker near the McBride Canyon Campground.

20 Questions

HOPE STOKES DIRECTOR OF BRAND MANAGEMENT, AMARILLO CONVENTION & VISITOR COUNCIL

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 2019

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

What is the best advice you received when you were beginning your career? “If you’re doing your job just for the credit, you should find a different job. If you’re passionate about what you do, the credit will follow.” How do you use social media to grow your network? I love this question since social media is a big part of my job, so you would expect me to be on top of my own. The truth is quite the opposite. I put so much time and energy into other profiles that I tend to neglect mine. But I do use LinkedIn to connect with other professionals and share information about myself when I can. How do you maintain balance? When I get overwhelmed at work, I take time to meditate and clear my mind so I can look at everything I need to do piece by piece, rather than as a whole.

I often stay at work late, but when I’m home the only thing I allow myself to do is keep an eye on email for urgent matters. What has been your wisest investment? Personal travel. My boyfriend and I do not buy each other gifts for special occasions – instead, we save for at least one big vacation a year. It is always stressful to take time off, but it helps keep me grounded, grow as a person, and bond us as a couple. How has your past work experience shaped you into a leader? My entire professional experience has been with the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council. I started at the CVC at 18, and am now 24.

I am incredibly fortunate because my job has given me the opportunity to work with the best leaders in the city. Interactions with these leaders has allowed me to observe differing leadership styles to help create my own. What is the best part about your job?

Hands down it’s sharing Amarillo with others. I grew up here, so I know this city like the back of my hand. That gives me the opportunity to showcase Amarillo in a way that fits each individual’s interests. I was guilty of thinking, ‘there’s nothing to do in Amarillo’ in my younger years. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I live for the opportunity to change the way people think about Amarillo and introduce them to everything Amarillo has to offer.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and private life? I would not be the person I am today without my mentors. I confide in them about everything.

Having someone to guide your decisions through honesty and experience is invaluable.

Shout out to my mentors, Dan Quandt and Mark Williams. Which living person do you most admire and why? Elon Musk because he achieves his visions even when they are deemed “impossible.” He went from founding PayPal to taking off and landing a space ship that is capable of carrying humans to the moon and beyond. Which over-used word or phrase makes you cringe? “Snowflake.” It has been so overused when talking about millennials that now it seems that anytime a millennial tries to speak up or make a difference they are considered a “snowflake.” We aren’t all snowflakes. What is your business philosophy? Be passionate about what you do, love (at least like) the people you do it with, and take genuine pride in what you are offering. Which quality do you most value in an employee? Perseverance. I have immense respect for people that fail, learn and overcome. What personality trait has most helped you succeed? I’m a very outgoing person. I think my ability to get out and make new connections has helped me succeed. Who is your favorite author? Kurt Vonnegut. I really enjoy satire. What did you learn from your best boss? To adapt to your employees and play off their strengths.

Your worst? To never force people to be what they are not. How can Amarillo improve its business environment? We need to encourage talented young people to stay in Amarillo by creating more job opportunities. They are being snatched up by big cities because they can’t find jobs here that they see value in. We have a low unemployment rate, which seems great on the surface, but that means a lot of the “good” jobs are taken and young people aren’t finding the opportunities they desire. Most important tech tool: Cash App and Venmo. I hardly ever carry cash, so I send money through Cash App and Venmo all the time. Best time management tool: My phone. It tells me what I need to do and alerts me when to start doing it. I can’t live without my: My first reaction is to say my phone. I wouldn’t be nearly as productive without it, but technically I could live without it. I genuinely couldn’t live without my family. My favorite thing about Amarillo is: the people. Most unusual job or task: I’m a certified drone pilot so I get to fly my drone around pretty often.

Every day deserves

more adventure.

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