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Contents JUNE
On the Cover
brown 60 sally Happily married, doing what she loves and giving back in every way…what’s her secret? By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne
Photo by Shannon McIntyre.
Features
great outdoors 66 the One Shoal Creek home offers the ultimate in outdoor living. By Meng Qi
summer of tequila fiestas 72 the Throw the perfect garden party with Lucinda Hutson’s tequila-inspired cookbook. By Malia Bradshaw
Contents june
44 on the scene
50 style Austin Fashion Week.
84 austin innovator Patsy Martin.
22 spotlight event ACL’s The Wine Down
gourmet
86 Community Leader Catherine Morse.
24 5 things not to miss this month
54 dining Summer dining alfresco.
88 last word Letters from my father.
26 philanthropy Vino y Virtuosos.
to your health
on the cover
28 Around town Photos from Austin events.
56 nutrition Fresh farmers market offerings.
32 Horoscopes Happy birthday, Gemini.
58 wellness Protecting your eyes from the sun.
must list
opposite sex
Photo by Shannon McIntyre. Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com. Hair by Brian Hightower, Pinup Salon, 7318 McNeil Dr., 512.258.4244, pinupsalonaustin.com. Shot on location at Lake Austin Spa.
34 on the bookshelf Breezy summer reading.
76 memo from JB Generation Z rules.
38 travel Going forward, looking back:
78 simply irresistible Robin Bethell.
impressions of Cuba.
80 Relationships Are you hearing wedding
style
bells?
42 accessories Strapping summer sandals.
savvy woman
44 beauty Summer beauty guide.
82 Just Passing Through Twenty Feet
from Stardom. 12   Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
Tunic, $48, available at St. Bernard Sports, 401 W. Third St., 512.320.1999, stbernardsports.com. Necklace, $24, and hat, $30, available at Lake Austin Spa, 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road, 512.372.7300, lakeaustin.com [previous page] Teal and white tunics, $76 each, pink camisole, $30, ring, $21, and bracelet, $24, available at Lake Austin Spa, 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road, 512.372.7300, lakeaustin.com. Jeans, $152, available at St. Bernard Sports, 401 W. Third St., 512.320.1999, stbernardsports.com. Orange flats, $30.90, available at Langford Market, 249 W. Second St., 512.482.8500, langfordmarket.com
Photo by Rudy Arocha.
hosts Ruby Jane.
Do you have a St. David’s Doctor?
Does your baby? Backed by the largest neonatal intensive care service in the region, more moms choose St. David’s hospitals than any other health system in Central Texas. Join the thousands of mothers and babies that make us the preferred place to have a baby in Travis and Williamson counties. Make sure you and your baby have a St. David’s doctor. If you need help choosing a physician, our free physician referral service can help you find an obstetrician and pediatrician to meet your family’s needs.
Maternity and Newborn Care
Available 24 hours a day, visit stdavids.com, or call 512-478-3627 or 1-888-868-2104 to find a doctor, speak to one of our nurses, or register for upcoming seminars or events.
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Volume 11, issue 10 CoFounder and Publisher
Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and CoPublisher
Christopher Garvey associate publisher
Cynthia Guajardo CoFounder
Samantha Stevens Editor-in-chief
Deborah Hamilton-Lynne associate editor
Jane Kellogg Art Director
Victoria Millner ad designer
Jennifer Day art assistant
Katie Holmstrom marketing and operations manager
Rhonda Rushing marketing and operations assistant
Lauren Lara Account Executives
Rebecca Dull, Kimberly Ruka, Charmie Stryker, 512.328.2421 Contributors
Rudy Arocha, Cheryl Bemis, Malia Bradshaw, Jill Case, Andy East, Allie Eissler, Sadie Flynn, JB Hager, Kathy Bell Hargrave, Erin Henry, Eric Leech, Adam Linehan, JoJo Marion, Deborah Mastelotto, Shannon McIntyre, Molly McManus, Rachel Merriman, Meng Qi, Julie Tereshchuk, Jarrod Whitfield, Jean Yoo
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Malia Bradshaw, Andy East, Lauren Lara, Adam Linehan, Lindsey Troop, Jean Yoo Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at more than 1,150 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 • 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759
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From the Editor
june launch party june 4, 6 to 8 p.m. at copenhagen furniture rsvp aw.ticketbud.com/summerlaunch
Join me in celebrating the launch of our June issue. The evening will benefit Meals on Wheels, a local charity that promotes independent living. RSVP, bring your friends, and I’ll see you there!
16 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
difference. Women who are passionate about and active in causes large and small. One thing is for certain: Austin women don’t seem to slow down, and they are more than confident in who they are, what they want and where they are headed. For this issue we chose Sally Brown, a cover woman who is often recognized standing beside her famous mate and partner, UT football coach Mack Brown. But make no mistake, Sally is a driving force behind major fundraising efforts supporting many charities and organizations. She is classy and reserved and always accomplishes whatever she sets her mind to. Together with the other women we feature in this issue— Lucinda Hutson, Catherine Morse and Patsy Martin—as a group they epitomize the qualities of women of a certain age. They are talented, persistent, driven and witty. They are interested and interesting and they are entertaining. They have learned patience and how to get things accomplished. They are generous mentors and share the lessons they have learned for the greater good. They have used their talents and connections to accomplish great things. They have honored their callings. We are pleased to bring you their stories along with the stories of the things they are so passionate about. June brings everyone in Austin outdoors, and in this issue we spotlight recipes for a festive tequila party, cookbooks focused on dining al fresco and ways to enjoy nutritious food straight from the farmers markets. We also bring you the ultimate home designed expressly for outdoor living. Looking for a getaway? We have a look at
Do you know a remarkable woman? I would love to hear all about the ladies you know who deserve to be in the spotlight. Shoot me an email at editor@awmediainc.com with “remarkable woman” in the subject line.
Cuba, now opening up to Americans but with many flashbacks to a bygone era. Can’t travel that far? How about escaping into a great summer read or to an evening listening to Ruby Jane perform downtown? June also brings Father’s Day, and we have a list of great outings and things to do with Dad as well as a poignant remembrance of her father written by frequent AW contributor Julie Tereshchuk. Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” I believe that here in Austin it goes beyond that. I believe that we are a city forever young, vibrant and creative. We are a city of people who understand that age is just a number and who want to get the most out of every day. I believe that we are a city of the future building on the wisdom of the past. I believe that in Austin, women of any age can achieve whatever they set their minds to. My beliefs are reinforced by the wonderful women I am privileged to meet and include in each issue of Austin Woman. Here’s to all the women both young and old who make Austin a city we are proud to call home.
deborah hamilton-lynne Editor-in-Chief
anniversary tickets on sale! sept. 6 at The Westin info aw.ticketbud.com/anniversary
Early bird tickets are now on sale for Austin Woman’s 11th anniversay celebrations. Join us for networking, shopping, a gourmet lunch and an engaging Q&A with five of Austin’s movers and shakers.
Photo by Korey Howell.
In the past,
women of a certain age (over 50) were marginalized. They were considered fluffy grandmothers, and most did not remain very active. What a revolution the past 25 years has brought. Many empty nesters resume their careers after their children leave home. Many women retire from their first careers and start a business or pursue a vocation they have longed for. I know this first hand because although I have always been a writer, I did not find my true niche until I was in my 50s. Taye Diggs once said, “I’ve always been attracted to women who are assertive and have confidence—qualities older women possess. They’ve been on the Earth a little longer. They’re more seasoned. They don’t play games. They know what they want, and they’re not afraid to tell you.” And of course who could forget him as the debonair Winston Shakespeare pursuing older knockout Angela Basset in How Stella Got her Groove Back? I find that both men and women are realizing the powerful pull of the acquired wisdom and confidence of women who have become comfortable in their own skin and know exactly who they are. Here in Austin I have met many such remarkable older women. Women determined to change the world—women determined to make a
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Contributors Born and bred in the heart of Texas, JoJo Marion gained his professional chops at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. JoJo has been working in the great city of Austin since 2008 and focuses on mobile, web, print design and photography. He is working hard on carving his own path in the creative world. This month, he photographed Lucinda Hutson and her tequila recipes on page 72.
Shannon McIntyre has been shooting magazine and advertising photography for 20 years and this month shot cover woman Sally Brown. Forbes Magazine, Food Arts, Whole Foods and Lands’ End are a few of her more well-known past clients. “Photography is a way for me to preserve little slices of life,” Shannon says. Her contributor photo was taken on a recent trip to the Hill Country during a stop to photograph some longhorns. Shannon is also a music lover, gardener and mother to a 4-year-old.
Native Austinite Malia Bradshaw is a recent graduate from St. Edward’s University with a bachelor of arts in psychology. A lover of all things creative, she is pursuing a career in writing and will regrettably be leaving her beloved Austin in August to earn her master’s degree on the West Coast. As a tequila drinker herself, she was especially excited to write this issue’s article on tequila cookbook author Lucinda Hutson, who inspired her to begin planning her own tequila fiesta.
A transplant from the Pacific Northwest, Meng Qi has lived in Austin for five years. She moved to Austin to attend the Urban Planning program at UT Austin, and she loved the city so much she decided to stay. She especially loves the abundant sunshine, and she was excited to feature the unique outdoor living spaces in Bruce St. John’s home in this month’s issue. In addition to architecture and design, Meng writes on a variety of other topics, including feature profiles, planning initiatives and urban design. Her work has also appeared in CultureMap Austin.
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Connect with us! find us online at austinwomanmagazine.com off the bookshelf
Just in time for Father’s Day, we have a review of My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness by Gwyneth Paltrow, with a foreword by Mario Batali.
best of the blogs
There is no better time than summer to catch all of the free outdoor concerts this musical city has to offer. Check out our expanded list including Unplugged at the Grove, Blues on the Green, the Backyard, the Whitewater Amphitheater and more!
Fridayfaves
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We love exploring the city we call home, and every Friday on our Facebook page, we share five of our favorite things to eat, drink, do or see. This month, we picked our favorite spas and resorts around town!
Lake Austin Spa Resort Nestled on 19 lakefront acres, this resort is nothing short of a luxurious escape.
Spa Django at Hyatt Lost Pines Rejuvenate in a spa designed with the spirit of Django Reinhardt in mind.
Hiatus Spa + Retreat Think renewed state of mind through total relaxation.
AWAY Spa at the W Austin Retreat from the hustle of downtown, downtown.
Woodhouse Day Spa Their signature services are the epitome of tranquility.
Follow us
@austinwoman
20 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
Can’t get enough of this issue? Check out austinwomanmagazine.com for bonus content, including:
➥
Exclusive Q&A with the director of Twenty Feet from Stardom, Morgan Neville, on the impetus for the film and what is to come.
➥
Must-See Summer Films: We know all the movies you can’t miss, from The Paramount’s Summer Classics Series to summer blockbusters and outdoor screenings.
Treat Dad to a cold beer with a Father’s Day spa day! Read more about Hiatus’s Frosty Mug retreat on page 24.
like us
Featured on page 54, Summer Days & Balmy Nights is chock full of great recipes and tips for an alfresco feast. To win, share you favorite outdoor dining recipe with us by emailing it to submissions@ awmediainc.com. We will publish the recipes online and choose one winner from among the submissions.
facebook.com/austinwoman
find us
austinwomanmagazine.com
Priscilla photo by Joan Marcus.
Music, Music, Music!
Susie Davis gathers a group of treasured friends for delicious food, deep conversation and sacred moments, all in celebration of Shauna Neiguest’s new book, Bread & Wine.
Win this!
on the scene /
sp o t ligh t ev ent
ACL’s The Wine Down Hosts Ruby Jane Wind down the week early with Ruby Jane at ACL’s The Wine Down on Wednesday, June 6. The young country/bluegrass-Americana singer, who has called Austin home since 2008, has toured with Texas country music legend Willie Nelson, appeared in A Ride With Bob and was a featured artist in Austin City Limits’ 2010 and 2011 festivals. Ruby Jane’s appearance is the last in this season’s Wine Down Wednesdays, a free concert series sponsored by ACL Live and the Second Street District. The event will serve bites from La Condesa and pours from Rex Goliath Wines. All of the artists who performed in the series this year were also featured in the recently released Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau’s annual compilation CD, Austin Music Volume 12. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd., 512.225.7999, rubyjane.org; acl-live.com
22 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
B See the complete June calendar of events at austinwomanmagazine.com.
Photo by Matt Lankes.
June 6, 5–7 p.m., ACL Live Music Porch
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on the scene /
4
5 things
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[ 5 things to do for father’s day ] 1
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Compiled by Jane Kellogg
4
Over the Edge for Make-A-Wish
Father’s Day Brunch
Father’s Day in the Park
Dad Spa Day
June 15 and 16
June 16, times vary
June 16, 7:30 p.m.
Check an item off your bucket list and rappel down 32 stories for a good cause. The Make-A-Wish of Central and South Texas is challenging willing participants to raise more than $1,500, either as an individual or team, and the first 300 participants to do so will have the opportunity to strap themselves into a harness and freefall into the heart of downtown. Share the heart-pumping adventure with the whole family while teaching the power of granting a wish. One American Center, 600 Congress Ave., austinovertheedge.com
If the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, why not treat Dad to a Father’s Day brunch? Fleming’s Steakhouse will be preparing three-course brunches ($36.95)—each dad will also get a bonus $25 dining card. Or enjoy the legendary brunch ($55) at Green Pastures. The buffet spread includes smoked corn beef hash and their famous chocolate milk punch. Fleming’s, 320 E. Second St., 512.457.1500; The Domain, 512.835.9463, flemingssteakhouse.com. Green Pastures, 811 W. Live Oak, 512.447.4747, greenpasturesrestaurant.com
Pack a picnic basket, bring a blanket and round up the troops for a free outdoor musical treat by the Austin Symphonic Band in Zilker Park. With pecan trees aplenty, there’ll be no shortage of shade from that unrelenting Texas sun. Patriotic melodies, marches and several numbers provide the soundtrack for a memorable evening sure to get your toes tapping. Get there early to score prime seating. Hillside Theater at Zilker Park, 2201 Barton Springs Road, 512.345.7420, austinsymphonicband.org
There’s more than one way for dads to relax with a cold beer. Hiatus Spa + Retreat has created a Father’s Day spa menu running throughout the month of June designed for the manliest of men. Our pick: The Frosty Mug, which includes an invigorating full-body scrub using organic hops, barley and malt, a dose of micronutrients, and a full-body chilled-stone massage. A warm plunge under the Vichy shower brings you back to reality and leaves you primed for a frosty mug of handcrafted beer from Austin Beerworks. Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 1611 W. Fifth St., Suite 155, 512.362.5777, hiatusspa.com
24 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
The entire month of June
5 Antique Auto Show June 16, 9 a.m. Turn back time and bring Dad to the 13th annual Father’s Day Antique Automobile Show. More than 400 antique rides will be on view, and if Dad owns a car dating back before 1987, he can join in on the fun. Vehicles will be rolling in all day, with clunkers, junkers and gas guzzlers expected to round out selections from all decades of the 20th century. In addition to the Model Ts, Ford Falcons and Volkswagens that always turn out in droves, last year’s show featured military trucks, a Batmobile replica and an heirloom hearse. 51st Street and North Lamar, roadrelics.org
on the scene /
phil a nth ropy
Vino y Virtuosos Hospice Austin hosts their annual event with fine wines and classical music. By Jean Yoo When Sharon Edwards lost her husband 10 years ago, she was struck with immense grief—so much so that it almost took her life as well. At the time, her husband had been receiving care from Hospice Austin. While hospice care is set up to provide support for the dying, an important dimension of such organizations is the solace they provide for the families of patients. Edwards says she was personally saved by Hospice Austin’s bereavement program. When she joined Hospice Austin’s bereavement group and met others who shared similar experiences, it helped her tremendously to cope with her feelings and the pressure she says she felt from society to “move on.” “People handle grief in their own ways and own time,” Edwards says. “Pressure is intense to move on. But it doesn’t happen that way.” Edwards began volunteering with Hospice Austin, but she has since grown with the nonprofit and now serves as event chair. This summer the main event will be its annual Vino y Virtuosos, June 6 at the Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria. The evening will feature a wine tasting, silent auction and their popular “stock your cellar” raffle—four lucky attendees will each win 25 bottles of fine wine to start their own wine cellar or stock an existing one. UT alum and Viva Trio classical guitarist Tony Morris returns
with world-renowned percussionist James Fenner to deliver a unique collaborative performance. Vino y Virtuosos began as a small and intimate event with about a hundred people six years ago, organized to raise money for families who are unable to afford hospice care. It has seen tremendous success ever since, with tickets selling out every year. Last year, the event raised more than $45,000. Tony Morris and “Our goal is to never Renata Green turn anyone away,” with James T. Fenner Jr. Edwards says. Hospice Austin has been providing hospice care since 1979, when the nationwide hospice movement began. A group of doctors and citizens joined to create the organization, to serve the needs of loved ones as they prepare for their final journey. Melinda Marble, communications specialist at Hospice Austin, says it is important to reach out to hospice care as early as possible, noting that the longer a patient and their family is involved with hospice care, the more needs of the dying are fulfilled. “Some will say, ‘I don’t want to die hooked up to a breathing machine,’ and these things are important to know,” she says. Currently, Hospice Austin is the only nonprofit hospice care provider in the capital city, which allows them to serve families who cannot afford such a necessary service. “Patients often pay for their own care, but if they run out, they worry that they’ll be put out in the
streets,” Edwards says. “But we can help them because we are a nonprofit.” Hospice Austin currently has about 450 volunteers, who Edwards says are “part of the fuel” that runs the organization. Volunteers are assigned to visit patients four hours a week, which gives time for caregivers to run errands or take a break. They also help with various programs run by the organization. The ultimate goal of Vino y Virtuosos, Edwards says, is to raise community awareness of the need for hospice care. “Death is certainly something people don’t want to think about until they’re involved in crisis,” she says. “But we want people to think about and talk about it because it’s important to have advanced directives.” Vino y Virtuosos, AMOA Arthouse Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St., 512.342.4791, hospiceaustin.org
MomCom Austin June 29, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., The Oaks Event Center, 2008 Brandt Road A summer camp for moms, MomCom brings mothers from all across the state to network and share compelling life stories. This biannual event focuses on entrepreneurship, creating community, building businesses and celebrating motherhood. This summer, scheduled session topics range from life-inspiring stories to practical financial advice—from women, for women. momcomlife.com
26 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
YWCA: Women of the Year Awards June 28, 6:30 p.m., W Hotel, 200 Lavaca St. The annual Women of the Year Awards is the largest fundraising event hosted by Austin’s YWCA. Each year, five women are awarded for their outstanding work in business, arts, technology and education. Tickets to the dinner and silent auction directly benefit the Austin branch of this organization, which focuses on counseling young women using the relational-cultural model made famous by the feminist and social-justice movement of the 1970s. ywcaaustin.org
Photo by Melinda Marble.
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Kohnami rolled up delicious sushi at the AW May Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography.
ON ON THE SCENE AROUNDTOWN TOWN ON THE THE SCENE SCENE /// AROUND AROUND TOWN Amber Withycombe, Melissa Madole-Kopp, Lauren Halpern and Anne Lasseigne Tiedt at the AW May Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography.
Cover woman Julia Cuba with Laura Williams at the AW May Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography. Texanna Turner, Kristina Waugh and Jill DiCuffa at the Ann Richards School Gala. Photo By Will Gallagher.
Katy Jefferies, Kristin Osler, Maria Levy, Susan Lubin and L.B. Townsend at the AW May Launch Party. Photo by C. Thompson Photography. The Ann Richards School drum line performs at the school’s gala. Photo by Will Gallagher.
Principal Jeanne Goka at the Ann Richards School Gala. Photo by Will Gallagher.
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2013 ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER 6
WESTIN AT THE DOMAIN
Join us for an engaging Q&A with five movers and shakers and former cover stars, as we celebrate the 11th year of Austin Woman magazine. Gear up for Champagne networking, followed by lunch, then the after-party with an exclusive event at Neiman Marcus, discounts at the Domain + more! You wouldn’t miss this for the world...right? MODERATOR
PANELISTS
Judy Maggio
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Austin Police Chief
Musician
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Rhoda Mae Kerr Austin Fire Chief
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on the scene /
horoscopes
Happy birthday, Gemini! May 22–June 20 Your month: You finally get the credit
you’ve worked toward. Everyone loves you, you’re busy, making money, socializing and you can’t remember when you liked your job more. The interesting thing is, the people you work with feel like family—and that actually works to the benefit of all involved. A special fairy dust magically arrives just in time, and you can almost see it sprinkled over every corner of your business. Trust in it. June is only interested in authentic emotional involvements and insists ➺ on dissolving any hopes and illusions that aren’t cutting it, no matter how long they’ve been held. June has big, planetary “kisses” for you on the 12th and 19th, and the 26th kicks off a year of strong cosmic grace. Trust your emotions and intuition for clues that seem to come from unseen realms. Cancer (June 21–July 22): You Cancers are good at so many things, but the one thing you love most is spending time in your home. You love your children, and you love your family; you love striving for something and succeeding, but if everyone is gone for the weekend and you don’t have to work, you bask in the glory of having the house all to yourself. That’s why this month it’s important that you spend at least some of it in quiet isolation. You have things to study, create and ponder, so begin. Leo (July 23–Aug. 23): It’s often said that a woman’s home is her castle, and you Leos really live that axiom. Leos reign in the domain of house and home, and really hate to move if they are settled in. That’s what makes this month so surprising. The theme of home is everywhere—whether you’re selling your home, buying a new one or just throwing a party (maybe a barbecue/house-painting party, or a mortgage-burning party, or housewarming party). It’s a magical month where your house is concerned, so repeat after me: “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…”
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Virgo (Aug. 24–Sept. 22): June feels like your birthday month, complete with surprise parties, presents and toasts. And it’s not just kudos and props: Look for a career windfall. This is Grammy or Academy Awards time, so get ready for some public acclaim and recognition, especially through cousins, neighbors, friends, family, partners and assorted groups and organizations. They all agree: You get to be the star this month. Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): This month, you can take all your fast talk, hard work, research and the long-range planning to the bank and make a deposit: You’re finally getting the payoff you so desire and deserve. You had a feeling you were on the right track, and now your hunch is paying off. If your transaction includes a literary accomplishment, is connected to an institute of higher learning or requires a passport, so much the better. Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): The world’s largest magnet is being designed in Mumbai. At more than 50,000 tons, it’ll be so big they’ll have to keep it 4,300 feet below a mountain in a cave. That might
not be a bad idea for you, Scorpio, keeping you in a cave for the month. You’re so magnetic you’re sort of dangerous. Nothing can resist you: not fans, money, power, not even children. Be kind to your dazed and confused admirers— they can’t help it. Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Janis Joplin once sang, “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” Sometimes freedom is something you guys hang on to long after it becomes redundant. This month, freedom isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Hang on to your home, commit to a relationship, choose monogamy over variety and keep your own council. You’ll find June so enjoyable it makes the whole “hanging onto your freedom” thing a little silly. And don’t be tempted to verbally spar with your partner for entertainment’s sake. Give peace a chance. capricorn (dec. 22-JAN. 20): The challenge for you is to find a balance between work and play. You’ve always had the “all work and no play” rep, but June is traditionally fun, playful and romantic for you. This June in particular brings you equally excessive opportunities for both work and play, hence the challenge. But, the beginning of the month insists that you take the needs of others seriously first. You’ll learn how to say no, but also when to say yes. After the 10th, some of the best work opportunities of the year fall into your lap. Remember, it’s all about balance. aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19): This is always a time of year for a focus on home and family, but in the past 28 years your home and professional life have never clashed to this degree. Expect some wakeup calls, but also a chance for balance. The reality is that your professional star is on the rise, and not only career, but also work and income conditions are going to improve over the coming
months. So, if the stars demand that you stop and take care of some housekeeping this month, listen. pisces (Feb. 20-march 20): Your smart head for money and the tools to manage your resources will stay in motion all year, but from the 10th on, home and family is a lot more important to you. Except for the 25th, don’t expect any major interference from the stars in your financial or professional business; they are much more interested in your personal business, especially communications. Your major planetary themes for June are home and family, so you can feel good about working all month to make sure the lines of communication are wide open, across the board, in every aspect of your personal life. aries (march 21–april 20): The universe is shaking you to make you realize how brilliant and special you are—mostly by placing you in situations requiring nerves of steel. You can either bail out or push through, but June 10th opens a door to new opportunities. Communication is also important now, and ideas finally find a way out. Your mind is sharper, your conversation is more authentic and you have an easier time making decisions and plans— not excuses. taurus (april 21–may 21): You are known for being patient and careful, so we’re all a bit surprised to see you so energetic and charming! You like your relationships easy and comfortable, but relationships this month are anything but.. Even work relationships are twitchy and a little strained. Just remember: Even though you try to avoid them, you need these to grow. Then again, you might be coming on a little strong with all your good ideas, just to get a response from your partners. By Deborah Mastelotto deborah@pinkaustin.com
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must list /
on the book shelf
Breezy Summer Reading From a debut Texan novelist to a Pulitzer Prize–winning favorite, these books are guaranteed to sweep you away. By Erin Henry
The Clover House
Calling Me Home
Life after Life
The Burgess Boys
by Henriette Lazaridis Power
by Julie Kibler
by Kate Atkinson
by Elizabeth Strout
“Which is the braver thing: to live your life every day, or to lug some mysterious past around with you as an excuse not to?” This question lies at the heart of The Clover House, a story that spans two continents, and six decades with one complicated protagonist. Calliope is a 30-something living in Boston, engaged to a man named Jonah, when she learns her Uncle Nestor has passed away in her family’s native Greece. He’s left his possessions to Callie, but once in Patras—sans fiancé—she must confront her estranged mother, Clio. Meanwhile, Callie finds herself torn between her lukewarm relationship with Jonah and a tempting Carnival-goer who seeks to undo all of the careful progress she’s made after a lifetime of stilted affection. As the narrative shifts between Clio’s wartime story in 1940 and Callie’s tumultuous reunion with her secretive Greek relatives, the roots of this family’s longsuffering is revealed as Callie finally begins to understand what’s been haunting her mother and in turn, herself, all these years.
Calling Me Home, Julie Kibler’s debut novel, was born from family history; Kibler’s grandmother once fell in love with a black man during a time in which interracial relationships were forbidden, by laws both written and unwritten. The book weaves together the stories of Dorrie, a black single mother, and Isabelle, the elderly white woman who relies on her for weekly hairstyling and companionship. When Isabelle asks Dorrie to drive her from Arlington to Cincinnati for a funeral, Dorrie agrees. As we ride with them up I-35, their stories come spilling out in between stops for gas-station snacks and hotels. As Dorrie confides in Isabelle about her cautious new relationship, we learn that a teenaged Isabelle fell in love with the handsome black son of her family’s housekeeper. The women recount their personal experiences with injustices, racial and otherwise, and as they near Ohio you’re still left wondering who the funeral is for. Hint: Pack some Kleenex along with your sunblock if you plan on toting this book to the pool or any other public spot.
Kate Atkinson has been racking up awards in her native Britain for years, and her latest book, Life after Life, is further ensconcing her as an international success. The fact that it was a contender for the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction comes as no surprise to fans and critics who praise her for her ability to write about loss and what-if scenarios without coming off as sappy. Life after Life follows Ursula Todd, a baby who is born in 1910 and summarily dies, not once, but again and again. Ursula lives multiple lives and encounters different people (among them, Hitler himself ), and we watch her navigate not just typical young-adult quandaries such as career choices and post-grad plans, but war and death and all other manner of 20th century atrocities. Life after Life is brimming with strong female characters and moments both victorious and darkly humorous. If you’ve ever desired to go back in time to do things differently, Atkinson’s novel will have you utterly engrossed through all 544 pages.
Since 2008’s Olive Kitteridge, for which Elizabeth Strout won a Pulitzer Prize, her critics have been waiting, wondering if whatever came next would measure up. Strout proves she still has plenty more to offer with The Burgess Boys, yet another prize-worthy work of fiction in which we become so wrapped up in her familiar, everyday characters that we are sad to leave them long after we’ve turned the last page. Jim, Bob and Susan Burgess have grown up in the shadow of their father’s tragic death, an accident that perhaps explains the lack of empathy that threatens to unravel all of their relationships and leave a family legacy of unhappiness. When a hate crime committed by Susan’s son reunites the siblings, Strout takes turns giving us an omnipotent view of each one’s life, and we commiserate with all three as they slowly learn to band together. The Burgess Boys serves as a reminder that embracing family, no matter how difficult, is often the only way to cope with the difficult cards life sometimes hands us.
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Color option 2
Reversed on black background
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH Black/White— MICHAEL MCDONNELL Reversed on black background
White logo if used on solid color background, like on a colored t-shirt
Volunteer since: April 2011
Photos by Jason Youngblood.
Michael grew up moving around a lot since his dad was in the Air Force. His family moved to Austin in 1991 when Bergstrom Air Force Base was still open. He eventually left Austin to go to college at Western Washington University where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy. Michael moved back to Austin in 2005 and has lived here since.
Most memorable pet?
Mustang Sally! When I first joined the dog behavior team she was one of the dogs that I would come to see almost daily. She is a very energetic dog so was always very happy to see someone familiar since that meant she would get to go play fetch, work on obedience skills, or just hang out under a tree.
What types of activities do you do with APA?
I started out just walking dogs, but quickly added a lot more tasks. I’ve helped plan and organize the last three American Pets Alive! No Kill Conferences, where shelters & rescues
from around the nation come to Austin for a few days to learn how they can take programs & lessons learned at APA to increase the live outcome rate in their own communities.
Mustang Sally is available for adoption.
Can you give us a memorable experience from your time volunteering with APA? Trying to teach Mustang Sally how to do some of the agility features that APA! has in their play yards. She is incredibly smart so I knew she would pick it up really quickly, but I did not expect her to be able to jump so high. Her smile and excitement are infectious, so that is a real stand out moment for me since she was so happy that afternoon.
To find out how you can volunteer, visit austinpetsalive.org/get-involved
AustinPetsAlive.org
1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
adopt@austinpetsalive.org
must list /
t r av e l
Going Forward, Looking Back: Impressions of Cuba A rare glimpse inside a nation firmly planted in the past. Text and photos by Kathy Bell Hargrave HAVANA, CUBA—Rum! Cigars! Beaches! Romance! In the fifties, Cuba was a vacation paradise. But Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959 completely changed the island nation—casinos were closed, and foreign industrialists, mafioso and drug traffickers were kicked out. Tourism stopped. Time stood still. To travel to Cuba today is to step back 50 years in time. The gorgeous, historic architecture is still there—a bit decayed and weather-beaten, and only slightly marred by the intrusion of Soviet-style buildings. The Cuban people are warm and welcoming. The beaches are unspoiled. The music still seduces. And classic cars are everywhere! The Obama administration has eased travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens through a new “people-to-people” program. My trip had a cultural focus that covered visual arts, dance and music. Each day was jam packed with performances, gallery tours, lectures, demonstrations, Q&As and meals with the artists. We chatted about their work, schooling, future and their Afro-Cuban culture. As a former professional dancer/choreographer and avid Latin dancer, I
was thrilled to be visiting the birthplace of rumba, salsa, mambo and cha-cha. We arrived in Havana to clear blue skies and a brisk breeze. Mojitos welcomed us at La Torre, a state-owned restaurant (as are all restaurants) with a spectacular aerial view of Havana. Our hotel, Hotel Nacional de Cuba, is an architectural treasure and in its heyday was host to mafioso, Hollywood stars and heads of state. Walking through the streets, we were in awe of the buildings—colonial, baroque, neoclassical, Art Deco, mid-century modern. Some, especially in Old Havana, have been beautifully restored; sadly, many others are in need of a lot of TLC. Photo ops are plentiful—the light is beautiful and people in the street are happy to smile for the camera. Adding to this ambiance is a complete lack of advertising. No billboards, no golden arches, no giant business signs—nothing. The rare billboards carry messages about the revolution or images of Fidel and Che. Lunches were delightful: Mojitos flowed, a band played and professional salsa dancers performed. For the most part, meals were simple. Due to strict government controls, beef was scarce. Most often meals were chicken with salad, rice and beans. One evening we enjoyed a lovely meal at a paladar, a government-regulated but privately-owned small eatery in a home. At Vista del Mar, Grandma gave up her chair at the dining room table so we could dine on off-the-menu, possibly black market, lobster—a luxury out of reach
To travel to Cuba today is to step back 50 years in time. The gorgeous, historic architecture is still there—a bit decayed and weather-beaten. 38 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
for most Cubans that is also restricted by government regulations. Musicians are ever-present in Havana, all singing Guantanamera—street musicians in Old Havana, lunchtime bands in restaurants, trovadores at dinner, bands at roadside rest stops, young singers at a neighborhood concert, plus nightly salsa, Cuban song and jazz at our hotel. For a more authentic, contemporary music experience, we ventured out to La Zorra y El Cuevo, Havana’s renowned jazz club. The young band was innovative and fresh. Several local musicians sat in, adding rap with a Cuban twist. Aged rum was cheap. Our cultural exchanges included private performances by premier contemporary and folkloric dance companies. Members of Danza Contemporánea demonstrated the incorporation of Afro-Cuban movement and Yoruban ceremonial dance into traditional modern dance technique. During a picnic lunch discussion with a young choreographer, he alluded to a deeper meaning in his dance pieces but confided that he knew where to draw the line to avoid disapproval from the government. We also took salsa lessons and danced with members of a social dance club—all retirees who spoke no English. It was dance by immersion for many in our group! We had the rare opportunity to tour the famous abandoned buildings of ISA (Instituto Superior de Arte), built on the site of a former country club. Several beautiful, sunlit class and rehearsal spaces have languished in mid-construction since the ’60s, never completed due to aesthetic disagreements between the government, the architect and Alicia Alonso, world-famous director of the Cuban National Ballet. Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, currently premier danseur with the Royal Ballet in London, is raising funds to hopefully complete the buildings. Hotel Nacional de Cuba
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Scenes of cuba 1 Havana street scene 2 Street musician in Old Havana 3 Classic car 4 View of Havana and Hotel Nacional from La Torre 5 Children walking home from school in Matanzas 6 Restored building in Old Havana
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must list /
t r av e l
Chefs at Café Taberna, Old Havana
We also visited beautiful home art galleries where much of the art had revolutionary messages. Artists are now allowed to display and sell works of art in their homes rather than in government galleries, and the revenue is being reinvested into the restoration of their homes.
Havana home
One provocative artist superimposed photographs—of mafioso, corrupt officials, bottles of booze, Hemingway’s car and other excesses of foreign interests—over rusted and bullet-riddled billboards from the ’40s and ’50s—a powerful message with high approval by the Castro regime. We also left our tour to visit Hemingway’s home outside of Havana, Finca Vigía, now Legal travel to Cuba for US citizens is allowed through a liMuseo Hemingway. censed “people-to people” tour operator such as Road Scholar Hemingway left or Insight Cuba, whose trips to Cuba, approved by the DepartCuba in haste in ment of Treasury, have educational, cultural, artistic, historic or 1960 and never humanitarian purposes. A valid US passport is required. Your made it back before visa will be issued by your airline in advance, and your tour his death months operator will provide a letter from the Treasury Department later. His Cuban stating that you traveled with a licensed operator. retreat and all its contents sat December through April is the best time to go. The weather undisturbed for is ideal—not yet hot and sticky. Avoid hurricane season! decades. It is now American cell phones do not work in Cuba, and there is open to the public extremely limited Internet access. Be prepared for dial-up! with his personal Take the opportunity to completely disconnect and immerse belongings—magayourself in all that Cuba has to offer. zines, books, record albums, trophy
The Path to Cuba
40 Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
animal heads, liquor and his writing studio—left as if he were just going out for a daiquiri. We found few visitors there, and friendly guards looked the other way as we ducked under the barricades to take photos of his typewriter. Heading out through the countryside on our way to the beach, we passed abandoned farms and sugar mills as well as farmers using oxen to plow the fields. The small towns were charming, and we visited several cultural centers and a preschool. Many of the residents did not own cars, instead riding bikes, motorcycles, horse-drawn carts and pedicabs. The government provides jobs and free health care, but providing transportation and farm machinery appears to be a challenge. The beach at Varadero far exceeded my expectations—unspoiled, pristine and absolutely dazzling. Our Spanish resort hotel sat on a white-sand beach with crystal clear, glittering water. For $15 a skipper took a few of us out on a catamaran to snorkel with hundreds of fish that tickled our fingers and toes. Next door to our hotel we discovered the former DuPont Mansion, Xanadu, now a government-owned golf club and boutique hotel. Sunset cocktails at Bar Mansion on Xanadu’s top floor provided a splendid ending to an enchanting and fascinating trip.
style /
acce ssor i ze e Michael Kors sandals, $265, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com
a Bos & Co. sandals, $95, available at Stella Says Go, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.524.5020, stellasaysgo.com
a Minnetonka sandals, $50, available at Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
h Qupid sandals, $29, available at Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
h Soda sandals, $29, available at Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
Toes Show
Flash your tootsies with these strapping summer sandals.
g Dolce Vita sandals, $69, available at Stella Says Go, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512524-5020, stellasaysgo.com
Photo by Rudy Arocha
g BreckelleĂs sandals, $25, available at Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
f City Classified sandals, $27, available at Strut, 2208 S. Lamar Blvd., 512.326.2303, shopstrut.com
d Cocobelle sandals, $185, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com 42   Austin Woman june 2 0 1 3
d Via Spiga sandals, $185, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com
the 2013 Summer Beauty guide ❱❱ Your beauty regimen needs a little more attention in the summer months— check out our must-haves for healthy and beautiful skin, face and hair.
If your straightened hair curls up immediately when you step out into the Texas heat, try pretreating with Bed Head’s Straighten Out. Its humidity-resistant formula is designed for a smooth, frizz-free ’do. $18, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
Light, but loaded—the Nexxus Frizz Defy Styling Crème is lightweight yet has enough control to keep your tresses frizzfree and polished. $12, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
Photos by Rudy Arocha
the Hair Necessities
Taurine and macadamia seed oil in Fat Curls Curl Reactivating Spray keep the frizz down and boost curls for a midday refresher. $9, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
Add a beachy bounce with Pureology’s Sea-Kissed Texturizer, created specifically for highlighted hair. $26, available at Urban Betty Salon, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.371.7663, urbanbetty.com
Along with sun shields, Kérastase’s Huile Celeste has gold particles so you can really shine. $40, available at Mirror Mirror Salon, 4410 Burnet Road, 512.420.8868, mirrormirroraustin.com
Protect your tresses with UV absorbers and ingredients that fight color fading with Paul Mitchell’s Sun Shield Conditioning Spray. $18, available at Benjamin Beau Salon, 300 S. Lamar Blvd., 512.284.9048, benjaminbeausalon.com
44 Austin Woman J une 2 0 1 3
Sally Hershberger’s Hyper Hydration Shampoo infuses your hair with keratin along with argan and amla oils for quick moisturizing and repair. $9, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
This salt-infused Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray is the closest you can get to an ocean in Austin—a few spritzes gives you sun-dried, wind-blown hair. $25, available at Luxe Apothetique, 210 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
JOIN US FOR
TASTE NORTH AUSTIN AT THE DOMAIN速 Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sample a delicious array of food from a selection of North Austin's finest restaurants. Plus, enjoy live music, children's entertainment, fabulous shopping and more. Wristbands available at Simon Guest Services at The Domain. 10 tastes for $20. Sponsored by:
the 2013 Summer Beauty guide
Before you lace up for a run or play a pickup game of sand volleyball, slather on Jack Black’s Sun Guard. It will keep you protected through the sweat session you’re bound to have. $21, available at Atown, 5502 Burnet Road, 512.323.2533
Caudalie Divine Legs gives your legs an instant bronze that washes off at the end of the day, perfect for a last-minute summer soirée. $38, caudalie.com
Perfect for both body and hair, the Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser removes chlorine, salt and product build-up—an essential for your pool tote. $21, available at Avant Salon, 507 Pressler St., Suite 800, 512.472.6357, avantsalon.com
body basics
Infused with menthol, aloe and rose extract, Mario Badescu’s After Sun Cooling Gel is the soothing your body needs after sun exposure. $14, available at Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512.215.0282
Laura Mercier’s Body Bronze gives you a natural-looking glow that’s transfer-resistant and has light-reflective particles to hide imperfections. $38, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com
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Mist sunscreens are always easy for on the go, especially if you don’t have a friend to help cover your back. We like Supergoop’s Mist Sunscreen with Vitamin C—it works well for wet or dry application. $12, available at Sephora, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.327.4600, sephora.com
Put your two-piece on with a little more confidence after using the Fitting Room Firm and Tone Body Serum from MyBody. The serum and roller work together to help firm, tighten and brighten skin. $115, iderma.com
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the 2013 Summer Beauty guide
Don’t skimp on SPF, especially when it comes your face. The SPF 50 FaceScreen from Bioelements has a high level of anti-aging and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, and is light enough to go under your foundation. $51, bioelements.com With a natural bronzing agent and all the benefits of a beauty balm, Dior’s Diorskin Nude Tan BB Cream has everything you need for a long, healthy glow. $44, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com
saving face
Fight off environmental damage with Murad’s Advanced Active Radiance Serum. Ingredients like green tea extract help resist UV and chemical exposures, and the high levels of Vitamin C boost collagen production and overall radiance. $89, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
Packing a big punch with microalgae, natural hydrators and free radical protection, MyChelle’s Daily Defense Cream with SPF 17 is a clean treat for your face. $23, available at Whole Foods, various locations, wholefoods.com
Extend the wear of your makeup with Rae Cosmetics’ Surface Primer. This oil-free serum protects the skin and minimizes imperfections. $38, available at Rae Cosmetics, 1206 W. 38th St, 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com Sun protection, moisturizing and tinted coverage that blends with any skin tone—what more do you want? Revision Intellishade $48, available at Beleza Med Spa, various locations, belezamedicalspa.com
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Soft, smooth lips are essential for summer— keep your pout hydrated and protected with the oatmeal and shea butter found in First Aid’s Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy. $12, available at Sephora, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.327.4600, sephora.com
Spray on some Mineral Fusion Hydration Mist throughout your day for a quick burst of paraben-free, hypoallergenic hydration. $17, available at Whole Foods, various locations, wholefoods.com
A good colorcorrecting cream is a must for your summer routine. We like Lorac’s CC Cream—it’s a one-stop shop for a tinted semi-matte finish that moisturizes, brightens and soothes. $28, available at Ulta, various locations, ulta.com
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BEAUTY & PERFORMANCE
photo: Lucas Purvis
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style /
Au s t i n fa s h i o n w e e k
Kendra Scott
On the Runway With a new and improved date and format, Austin Fashion Week showcased Austin’s burgeoning fashion industry. By Cheryl Bemis, Fashionably Austin For Austin fashion-lovers, the much-anticipated Austin Fashion Week came a little earlier this year along with some other welcome changes made by
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Daniel Esquivel
event founder Matt Swinney. The first change was with a major date switch, from August to May. OK I’ll say it: This was a positive change. No one should have to endure trying to look fashionforward in 100-degree heat for an entire week unless you’re on the coast wearing the latest looks in beachwear. The cooler weather did keep spirits high, and the sweaty look was out! Another change was the addition of a new kickoff party format held downtown at Brazos Hall. The European-style seated dinner featured an all-black-and-white dinner menu created by Shawn Cirkiel and Steven Cak from Parkside Projects. An all-white fashion show featured one design from each of the following Austin designers: Adrienne Yunger, Jessica Ciarla, Gail Chovan, Priscilla Barroso, Kendra Scott, Linda Asaf, Christi Craven, Megan Summerville, Sarah Parrott, Amber Perley, Paola Moore, Ross Bennett, Sarah McLaughlin Reed, Stephen Moser, Teddies for Bettys and Theresa Kopecky. Each design was then donated
after the show and auctioned off with proceeds going to the ARC of the Capital. At press time, more than $4,000 has been raised for the charity. The afterparty, Encore, was another new element to the lineup. Makeup teams were asked to create a French contemporary–inspired look, and models paraded on the upper deck. The winning look was chosen by a text system. Congrats to Team Innovators! Hair designer Lacey Fuentes, makeup artist Lauren Lumsden and model Brianna Fleet pulled off the amazing final look. More fashion fun was held at various locations around town including the Hill Country Galleria, and downtown each event featured numerous designers. The Austin School of Fashion Design hosted Project Runway finalist Daniel Esquivel and squeezed more than 200 people into their small school space, but they “made it work.” Another event hosted by Megan Summerville at Haven posed to be my personal favorite event of the week. She gave away more than 350 yards—15
Photos courtesy Gregg Cestaro and Sparky Anderson.
Team Innovators, winner of Avant Garde hair and makeup competition
Team Vintage Deity, winner of the Mash-Up People’s Choice Award
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Au s t i n fa s h i o n w e e k
[continued from previous page]
yards each—of black and tan fabric to 24 designers, and they had a “project runway” challenge to design a winning look. The healthy competition brought out not only experienced designers, but I also saw some new faces that I hope to get to know soon. The design award went to Amanda Yilmez for her stunning evening gown. The last three days of fashion week featured the runway shows at La Zona Rosa, with 23 designers participating. It was a good mix of Austin designers along with out-of-towners who shared their collections with the Austin crowd. The “text to buy” system was a new feature launched this year, which allowed a potential customer to text the look they liked on the runway and alert the designer. Jury is still out on how the new technology worked. On a personal note, after seeing 23 runway shows from the photo pit, there were a couple of memorable outfits that stood out. UT designer Catherine Carter Hite showed two red-leather pieces paired with an amazing white blouse with an enormous bow—classy, simple and wearable. While the collection was small, it made a big impact, and I am anxious to see more from this designer. Christi Craven from Lilly Lorraine also made an impact and is on my fashion radar. She showed her current collection in New York in February and added some new pieces that were cohesive and woven into the collection beautifully. She also received her trademark for the wool and bamboo fabric she created. The fabric, Bambli, is lightweight, luxurious and super soft to the hand. Each runway show was webcast live for the
first time this year. What a wonderful addition to share Austin fashion with the world. Guests also shopped the Gilt City boutique for designer items for a smart price. Saturday night brought the grand finale of Fashion Week with the Austin Fashion Awards. This is where you will see just about anything on the red carpet, from a long glitzy gown to guys in jeans. Runway collections were presented from Boudoir Queen’s Dawn Younger-Smith, Gail Chovan and Kendra Scott, and the show wrapped up with a theatrical Pagan wedding by Stephen Moser. Five Trailblazer awards were presented by last year’s winners to Kendra Scott, Stephen Macmillan Moser, Cheryl Bemis (yours truly!), Lance Avery Morgan and Rochelle Rae. Rising Star awards were given to Isabella Rose Taylor, Daniel Esquivel, Jennifer Martinson, Sandra Antoun and Priscilla Barroso. The Critics Choice for best Mash-Up photograph went to Team EON: photographer Gerry Hanan, hair stylist Ivy Kim, makeup artist and
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Team EON, winner of the Mash-Up Critics’ Choice Award
designer Atelier Benson, and model Stella Sebit. Meanwhile, the People’s Choice award for best Mash-Up photograph went to Team Vintage Diety, with photographer Gregg Cestaro, hair stylist Joseph Theis, makeup artist Mandy Hernandez, designer Sarah McLaughlin Reed, model Britany Walker, jewelry designer Krissi Lindsey of Ball + Chain, and wardrobe stylist Sandra Antoun. Runway fashion shows featured collections from Kendra Scott, Gail Chovan, Steven Moser and Dawn Younger-Smith. I look forward to seeing you all again next year at Austin Fashion Week. That’s a wrap!
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style /
r e m m Su
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gourmet /
ou t d o or din ing
Summer Dining Alfresco
Summer Days and Balmy Nights
Entertaining essentials for dining at the lake, the beach, the backyard and beyond. By Erin Henry Summer Days and Balmy Nights Ryland Peters & Small While balmy may not exactly describe our neck of the woods during, say, the middle of July, it’s still rewarding to eat outside during summer, even if it means fortifying yourself with extra tiki torches. Summer Days and Balmy Nights offers up recipes inspired by “sun-drenched Mediterranean shores,” so if your plans include lounging poolside all day, any number of these grazing plates will provide the perfect fuel for cannonball contests. Punch up your snacks with traditional Greek flavors such as seafood salad with dill and spicy baked feta. Creamy tzatziki is a quick, easy accompaniment for everything from crunchy pita chips to hamburgers, and you can’t go wrong with homemade hummus. When appetites call for more substance, fire up the grill for vegetable skewers with pesto or olive-infused chicken. If a lake day is in order, there’s a whole section devoted to food-to-go, and sipping a white wine spritzer is the perfect pairing to a Lake Travis sunset.
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Sunny Days and Easy Living
Lazy Days and Beach Blankets Ryland Peters & Small
by Lindy Wildsmith Lindy Wildsmith declares that “food tastes better outdoors,” and her new alfresco cooking guide, Sunny Days and Easy Living, covers all the bases for open-air eating: barbecues, picnics and elegant occasions. She even includes helpful hints for grilling novices and picnic rookies, from selecting your equipment to keeping food chilled. Leave the hotdogs at home: Along with traditional favorites such as vegetable kabobs and char-grilled chicken breast, Wildsmith’s barbecue how-to includes foil-wrapped trout, Japanesestyle spareribs glistening with homemade teriyaki marinade and a fork-tender pork burger in pita bread. In the mood for a leisurely morning? For breakfast on the patio, serve up Scotch pancakes and custard fruit fools, a yummy twist on a traditional English favorite. If you need to impress your guests, dish up seafood spaghetti and green beans jazzed up with tomato and garlic. Whether you’re hosting kids or clients, everyone will enjoy these thoughtful summertime spreads.
When the sun finally sinks a little lower in the sky during the dog days of summer, the dip in temperature—no matter how small—means it’s prime time to move activities outside. Nothing beats a meal under an open sky, and for anyone who thinks an alfresco occasion requires scouring Pinterest to make sure your dinner is Instagramworthy, think again. Lazy Days and Beach Blankets is full of yummy ideas for the perfect fresh-air feast. Beat the heat with a chilled avocado and bell pepper soup, and unwind with a watermelon and strawberry cooler. Let your guests munch on eggplant and smoked-cheese rolls, or take the fancy up a notch with fig, goat cheese and prosciutto skewers while a classic quiche Lorraine bakes. If you prefer your entrée hot off the grill, let it do double-duty with dessert: grilled figs with almond mascarpone cream, anyone? Actually, this meal might be Instagram-worthy after all.
escape to
relaxation, rejuvenation, summertime getaway! es·cape verb \is- kāp, ˈ
es·caped es·cap·ing
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to your health /
If you find yourself going to the drivethrough more than you know you should or resorting to frozen dinners because you’re fresh out of ideas, you’re not alone. But with the summer days getting longer, take advantage of your extra free time and break up with your bad habits—there is an abundance of farmers markets for you to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh, whole foods. When you go fresh, especially with local and organic, you maximize the nutritional and health benefits of your meal. Things such as when the produce was picked, the light it was exposed to, the distance your food has traveled and temperature changes can all have an effect on the nutritional value of your food. Shopping at a farmers market usually takes most of those concerns out of the equation. Just by talking with the farmers, you’ll be able to find selections that have been recently picked, oftentimes even that morning or the day before. This month we shopped the Barton Creek Farmers Market to prepare Italian Zucchini Lamb Boats and a side summer salad. This meal is perfect for a light summer lunch and packs a nutritious punch. But don’t be afraid to change up the recipe depending on your tastes and what’s available at your market. Look for new foods, be adventurous and enjoy!
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n u t r ition
So Fresh and So Clean
Remember that the person you are buying from is usually an expert on their product and can give you tips and advice on how to store and prepare their goods.
Give your body a nutritional boost with the fresh offerings of your local farmers market. By Jarrod Whitfield, Photos by Sadie Flynn
start here / Find your local market Barton Creek Farmers Market Lots of vendors, easy parking and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as many different meats from local farms and ranches. You can usually hear some pretty good music as you shop too. Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., 1000 Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.280.1976, bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org
SFC Farmers MarketDowntown Centrally located, a great selection of vendors and lots of options for breakfast as you shop (I like the bison taco from Tacodeli). Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., 400 Guadalupe St., 512.236.0074, sfcfarmersmarket.org
Hope Farmers Market Open Sundays, so it’s perfect if you missed out on the Saturday markets. Unique vendors such as art, music and pet products, so bring Rufus along for the fun. Sundays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 412 Comal St., 512.553.1832, hopefarmersmarket.org
Browsing through seasonal produce forces you out of a food pattern. One of the basic lessons of nutrition is to eat all the colors of the rainbow. Shopping seasonally and locally forces you to break up the monotony of eating the same few things over and over.
in season / What to look for and when June Peaches, corn, blackberries, watermelon, yellow and red peppers, figs
July Apples, raspberries, tomatoes, cherries, cucumbers
August Grapes, summer squash, pears, cantaloupes, sweet onions
“We found traditional long zuchinni as well as these round ones which are great for stuffing.”
Summer Salad Ingredients: 2 lettuce heads (we used spinach and romaine) 1 watermelon radish, thinly sliced 1 bunch fresh carrots, cut into matchsticks 1 yellow pepper, chopped 1 purple onion, thinly sliced 1 heirloom tomato, cut into wedges
Italian Zucchini Lamb Boats
Directions: Mix all ingredients and top with your favorite salad dressing. For a lighter version, top with a teaspoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt and fresh lime juice to taste.
Ingredients: 1 pound grass-fed ground lamb 3 zucchinis 1 tomato, diced 1 yellow pepper, chopped 1 purple onion, diced 3 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Split zucchini lengthwise, and scoop out the inside leaving a hollow boat for your filling. In a pan, cook all ingredients, including the scooped-out zucchini, until the meat is no longer pink in the center. Using a spoon, then fill each “boat” with the lamb mixture. If you like, top with your favorite grass-fed cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.
“Spinach is a lean, green power food full of calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.”
Jarrod Whitfield is a nutrition consultant and personal trainer specializing in online meal-planning as well as boot camp–style workouts. E-mail jarrod@getwhitfit.com for more info.
austinwomanmagazine.com 57
to your health /
wellness
Easy on the Eyes Best ways to protect your peepers from the sun. By Jill Case You have probably been warned to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, but what you may not know is from which conditions and problems you are protecting them. Austin Woman spoke with local ophthalmologist Dr. Zarmeena Vendal about how and why to protect your eyes from those powerful rays. Austin Woman: Could you explain the difference between UVA and UVB rays and how each affects your eyes? Dr. Zarmeena Vendal: UV light is basically radiation emitted from the sun. UVA and UVB have wavelengths shorter than visible light but are still present around us everyday, despite the blocking effects of our ozone. So we can’t see these rays, but we can still be harmed by them. UVA is more common, penetrates deeper and can cause things such as cancer of the skin, and issues with the lens and retina of the eye. UVB stays more on the surface, is less common and can cause sunburn or issues with the cornea and pterygium. AW: Damaging UV rays can cause several conditions. Could we discuss macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium and solar retinopathy?
TOMS Eyewear’s One for One Program Protect your eyes and help someone else gain the gift of sight by purchasing eyewear from TOMS (the company that donates a new pair of shoes for every pair you purchase). TOMS has partnered with Seva Foundation to support local organizations
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ZV: Macular degeneration is like a “wearing away” of the retina; the central part of the retina can gradually thin, accumulate soft elevations called drusen and eventually develop abnormal blood vessels that bleed and rob us of our vision. There could be a role of UVA exposure, but exact correlation remains to be seen.
that provide care to people in 12 countries, as well as the United States. The organization trains local people to provide care, so TOMS is not only providing eye care, but also supporting the local clinics, hospitals and economies in countries such as Cambodia, Guatemala, Nepal and more. “When a customer buys a pair of TOMS Eyewear, we
Cataracts are a slow yellowing and breakdown of the lens of the eye. By-products of metabolism can accumulate over time and create a cloudiness of the lens which is what a cataract is. Certain cataracts are thought to be related to UVA exposure. Pterygium is a sun-related change of the normal tissue of the conjunctive, which causes this tissue
provide Giving Partners with funding to restore or save the sight of one individual,” the company explains. Here’s how it works: Individuals are evaluated at local clinics or hospitals, and then they are provided with treatment such as prescription glasses, medical treatment (for injuries or infections) or surgery (for cataracts, trachoma, glaucoma or other conditions).
TOMS is in the business of saving eyes for the long-term future. They support local eyecare organizations and help them pursue a self-sustaining business model. It’s a win-win situation for the people TOMS helps, as well as for their customers, who are receiving quality eyewear while knowing they are helping someone else gain the gift of sight.
Specializing in Quality of Life & Healthcare for women to get a vascular fan-like appearance; it then starts to grow across the cornea creating decreased vision. This growth is certainly related to sun exposure—perhaps UVB rays as they stay on the surface of the eye. In fact, we see pterigia more in folks that work outdoors a lot. Solar Retinopathy is a diagnosis specifically in people who sun gaze: UVA lights penetrate the eye to the retina and cause retinal burn centrally, which creates decreased vision that can take awhile to resolve. I just diagnosed someone with this some months back.
Skin Cancer on the Eyelids Here’s a startling statistic: Up to 10 percent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelids; in fact, the eyelid is the most common site for nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). Skin cancer on the eyelids can cause many problems, including tissue damage and blindness. It can also spread to the nasal cavities and the area behind the eyes (the orbital cavities). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should look for the following early warning signs:
bleeds frequently or does not disappear ➜ Persistent red eye or inflammation of the eyelids that doesn’t respond to medication ➜ Newly acquired flat or elevated pigmented lesions that have irregular borders and growth ➜ Unexplained loss of eyelashes You can prevent this type of skin cancer by wearing protective sunglasses (see Dr. Vendal’s advice about choosing sunglasses), as well as wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily. There are sunscreens available that are specifically formulated for the eye area. skincancer.org
AW: Who is at risk for eye damage from the sun? Are there groups of people who are more at risk than others? ➜ A lump or bump that ZV: We are all at risk for sun-related eye issues if we are not careful. There is no predilection to a certain race, necessarily, other it’s best to get kids a pair as well and get them in than in macular degeneration, which tends to be the habit of wearing them early on. Remember, more common in Caucasians. This is not, however, sunglasses are to your eyes like sunscreen is to your because they process UV light differently. One skin: If you don’t take the time to use both, there thought is that there is less pigment in the retina of can be consequences down the road. Caucasians, leading to less protection. In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends hats as an additional form of protection. AW: How should we protect our eyes? Hats with at least a three-inch brim can provide ZV: Protecting our eyes is essential, and that protection from as much as 50 percent of UVB rays. means a good pair of sunglasses that offer both Now that you know more about the conditions UVA and UVB protection. It’s important to note that can be caused by sun damage, you may be that UVC light is also very dangerous, but the vast more vigilant about protecting your eyes. The eyes majority is blocked out by our atmosphere. The are your windows to the world—keep them safe! brand of sunglasses is not really important; the For more information, visit preventblindness.org. protection the glasses provide is what we need to pay attention to. Look for a label for 100 percent UVA/B/C protection. The color doesn’t matter: i.e., Dr. Zarmeena Vendal is a board-certified eye physician and surgeon at Westlake darker glasses do not equal more protection. Look Eye Specialists (westlakeeyes.com). She for a close fit so that even more light is prevented is a diplomate of the American Board of from getting to the eyes from around the frame. Polarized glasses are also nice as they cut glare and Ophthalmology and specializes in the treatment of diabetes, glaucoma, macumake the image quality better. It’s better to have a separate pair of sunglasses rather than “transition” lar degeneration and cataracts, as well as providing comprehensive ophthalmic care. lenses, which change color out in the sun, namely Her surgical specialties include glaucoma because the place where the change color is the lasers, glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery poorest is in the car. and Prelex refractive surgery. My best advice is to wear sunglasses every day;
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Sally Brown
Happily married, doing what she loves and giving back in every wayâ&#x20AC;Ś whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s her secret?
By debor ah hamilton-lynne Photos by shannon mcintyre Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com Hair by Brian Hightower, Pinup Salon, 7318 McNeil Dr., 512.258.4244, pinupsalonaustin.com Shot on location at Lake Austin Spa
S
ally Brown— AKA Mrs. Mack Brown—has a secret. It permeates her being. When asked what people would be surprised to know about her, Sally replies that she is shy, she loves books, she rides horses and plays golf with Mack when time allows. Sally Brown is all of the things many women aspire to be—happily married, doing what she loves, using her talents and connections to give back. She is beautiful and charming, though she seems not to know it. Sally Brown is comfortable in her own skin and enjoys her life just as it is. Her secret? Sally Brown is a happy woman. Dare I repeat that? Yes, Sally Brown is happy, and her happiness finds its way into everything she does. Please note that I am not saying that Sally Brown is content because according to her there is a lot to be done—building
The story behind Mack and Sally’s beneficiaries The Rise School of Austin
“Our involvement with the Rise Schools started a long time ago. When Mack was still coaching at North Carolina, we played a bowl game against Alabama and got to meet and become dear friends with Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings, who founded the school in Tuscaloosa. Many years later we came to Texas, and Gene called me and said, ‘Sally, I want you to start a Rise School.’ I said, ‘I don’t know anybody here—I just moved here! But when it becomes the right time, I will do it.’ A
the new Rise School, finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and bringing more children with congenital heart disease to Austin for critical medical attention. Although she is quiet and reserved, it is clear that she carefully chooses her words, and her mind is always churning. What she does say makes an impact and leaves an impression, and the woman flat out gets things done. Her happiness comes from within, and she doesn’t mind spreading it around. The daughter of a marine, Sally and her family moved around a lot. Always passionate about helping people, she attended UC Berkley, got a degree in nursing and became a nurse. Happiness got in the way. “I thought it would be a good career for me, but I wasn’t a good nurse, and I thought I would be because I was compassionate and loved helping people,” Brown tells me. “But I would pass out every time I saw blood, and things stayed with me. I took things too hard, and I wanted to have something that made me happy.” So she followed her heart, acknowledged
couple years later I met a young woman named Gina Hoffman and her husband, Bill. They had just had twins, and one of the daughters had Downs Syndrome. They found us through the Rise School in Tuscaloosa, and I thought, This is my opportunity. This is the time to do it. So Gina and I started to meet with groups of women asking for help. We obtained an affiliation with the University of Texas, and once it was given, we had a short window of time to get a physical presence. We needed to raise some money quickly to open a small school to serve a few kids. One of the first luncheons we had I invited Donna Hicks, Patty Hufines and people who all became integral to founding and supporting the school. Donna not
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only wrote a check but she served on the board, stuck with it and worked hard. I have met so many amazing people through my involvement with the school. Our involvement has always been something we have felt good about. We are honored and humbled to have our name on it because we haven’t worked nearly as hard as some other people have, but we have been consistent.”
Heart Gift
“Heart gift is one of my favorite charities because it is such a tangible gift of life and you can see the results quickly. These are children that have life-threatening heart issues that just need medical attention to become completely fixed—not just helped, but given the gift
her love of design and building, and shifted to architecture—a degree and a career path that made her happy. Fast forward several years to a North Carolina horse farm where the young single mother felt the pull to start something new. Sally took the farm, subdivided it and discovered a passion and aptitude for real estate development. “It started because I had a horse farm and a lot of land,” Brown tells me. “I bought the farm and enjoyed that, but I eventually decided to subdivide the land and build houses on it. The process was so much fun for me that I thought, well, maybe I want to buy other properties and develop the land like this. I met a woman, Chesley Baity, who owned the best track of land in the whole Chapel Hill area…people always wanted to buy it, but she had no interest in selling it. She was quite a feminist, and we had a long and deep friendship. She was in her 80s and I was in my 30s. We talked a lot about what I wanted to do as far as a career. She had refused to sell her
of life. Heart Gift brings these children into Austin, where they have their heart repaired. While they are here, they also get dental work and any other medical attention they need. It all just gets done. It is one of those really great but simple, workable concepts that is incredible.”
Cure Duchenne
“Tim Revell called me out of the blue and wanted to meet for coffee. He needed advice for ways to raise funds for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease I had never heard of. Most people have never heard of it actually, and I find that incredible. Tim educated me—he has a young son that was diagnosed with Duchenne, and so he had learned a lot about it. While there are a lot of organiza-
tions that help with MD, they mainly help with the symptoms. This group is different—this group is looking a cure. These boys do not live into their 20s. They never become adults and it is 100 percent fatal, but there is a lot of promising research going on right now, and it gives me a huge amount of hope for these boys. So I offered to make Cure Duchenne the charity for our UT coaches’ wives group that year. He and his family came to a game and sat in a box with the wives, and after we got to know him well we organized our first annual Cure Duchenne event. For it to be sustainable I couldn’t have the coaches’ wives group doing it every year, so we were lucky to be able to fold it into the MJM event.”
land to male developers. She was kind to me because she not only sold me the land but she set up a system to finance me as I was developing it. I named that first neighborhood after her—it was called Chesley. From there I went on to other large pieces of land. What I learned from that was that I spent about 90 percent of my time on the houses and 10 percent of my time on the infrastructure, while I was making about 90 percent of my money from the infrastructure and 10 percent from the houses. So I decided to switch what I was doing, and from that point on, everything I did became decidedly unglamorous—building the roads, the sewers. I learned that developing a piece of land was not unlike building in a way—before the land was developed, you had to walk it and understand it. It was like creating a sculpture, and I really enjoyed it.” Active in the community, Sally was happily building her business and raising her two young sons when a longtime friend started trying to fix her up with the then-coach of the Tar Heels football team, Mack Brown. Initially she resisted because she didn’t know anything about sports, didn’t particularly like football and ultimately assumed the two would have nothing in common. Her determined friend persisted and arranged a surprise blind date. “The surprise part of it was I had no idea it was going to be a date,” she says. “We had a mutual friend who was a sports reporter who really liked Mack, and he was also an old friend of mine—he kept trying to introduce us, but I felt like it wouldn’t fit. Finally my friend told me that a group of people were meeting for dinner, and when I got there it was just the two of us—Mack and me. We hit it off, and we have been together ever since.” The story goes that one day during the start of football season, Mack Brown told his coaching staff in the morning that he was getting married that day. He then phoned Sally, picked her up, took her to lunch at Burger King, went across the state line to Dillon, South Carolina, got married in a wedding chapel in 10 to 15 minutes and was back in time for afternoon practice. Sally smiled after hearing the tale again. “That is pretty true. We had talked about getting married, and we knew that we would be married at some point, but we kind of assumed
that it would be the next spring because of football season. I had been through one season as a girlfriend but never as a wife. But then his house sold and his youngest daughter moved in with me, and she would say to her dad, ‘If you get married, you can move in too.’ She was already there, and it was getting complicated—both of our careers were really busy. So he called me at work one day and asked what my appointment schedule was like. I told him, and he said I can pick you up at 11, and we can go to Dillon and get married. I said OK, and we did. We still go to Burger King for anniversary dinner.” The couple blended families with her two sons and his two daughters, and they became one extremely busy pair: Mack with his coaching and athletic duties, Sally with her thriving business, and both with family and community involvement. Although Mack had several offers to leave UNC, when the call finally came from the Longhorns, he accepted—the family moved to Austin in 1997. Moving to Austin and experiencing the intensity of the UT football culture was a shift for Sally, but headed into their 16th football season, she has come to embrace this footballloving city happily. “Austin is such a physically beautiful place, and that is really important to me. I love the lakes. I love the hills and the views. It is very beautiful. I love Town Lake, Mt. Bonnell and the 360 bridge. I also like the informality of Austin. I love the fact
G Monoreno blue and white tunic, $48, and earrings, $21, available at Lake Austin Spa, 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road, 512.372.7300, lakeaustin.com. Jeans, her own [previous page] Pink shirt, $118, available at St. Bernard Sports, 401 W. Third St., 512.320.1999, stbernardsports.com. Jeans, $152, available at St. Bernard Sports, 401 W. Third St., 512.320.1999, stbernardsports.com. Scarf, $15, available at Lake Austin Spa, 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road, 512.372.7300, lakeaustin.com
that every day, there is so much to do here. When we can, we love to go out to eat with Augie (Garrido, the UT baseball coach) because he is such a foodie and always takes us to new restaurants. Great restaurants, a festival every weekend and people are outside all of the time. It’s just a great outdoor city. Austin is a happy place.” Sally is also very much a part of the Longhorn family. Many people think of her as the “mother”
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of the team, but Sally sees herself in a different role. “I am the self-indulgent aunt,” she counters. “It is my life. People will tell me I’m the mother of the team, and I say no, they have great mothers, and I don’t have to discipline them. I am not the one that ever deals with that. I never say no to them. I am the one they can come to when they have problems. I am the one that can just listen to them and have nothing but kindness for them. Beyond the football field, they are human beings, and on Saturday they might be playing at times when they are devastated…they might have a girlfriend that just broke up with them or they have a favorite aunt that just passed away. They have a life separate from football, and it affects them. All in all, they are incredibly fun. There is nothing more fun than boys who are 18 to 22. They are affectionate, funny and engaging. One of my favorite evenings every year is when we have a team karaoke party. All of the freshmen have to get up and sing, and you really get to see their personalities. They pick their songs and you get a glimpse of what they will be like for the next four years. I like those events a lot.” So what is it that makes Sally Brown unhappy, and what is her secret for avoiding it? She dislikes the critics of her husband and his job performance and decisions. “The worst part of being the wife of a coach is the critics. You can’t avoid listening to it because it is always there. We don’t get the paper, so I don’t read that. I learned when I got to Austin that coaching in North Carolina was not like it is here. This is a different environment. It is a much more aggressive environment. I learned in the early years that when I read everything I sometimes could not be professional and kind to the reporters when I saw them on the practice field. So the only way for me to be professional with them was not to read what they wrote. I don’t read the Statesman. I hear what is said because people will come up to me and say, ‘I’m so sorry’ about whatever was written about Mack, or ‘I defended your husband,’ but I avoid reading about Mack and the team and hearing the commentary on TV.” Instead she finds joy in celebrating in the locker room after a win—all wins bring the same happiness—those considered to be large and small. A true coach’s wife, she says a win is a win. A Orange tunic, $98, and jeans, $152, available at St. Bernard Sports, 401 W. Third St., 512.320.1999, stbernardsports.com. Animal print flats, $39.90, available at Langford Market, 249 W. Second St., 512.482.8500, langfordmarket.com
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Mack and Sally Brown, Amy and Jack Ingram, and Camilla and Matthew McConaughey
The backstory behind one of Austin’s most successful fundraising events: Mack, Jack and McConaughey “It came about because last year, just like every spring, every night was booked up, and we had so many events that we attended and were involved with—the golf tournaments, the dinners, the events. It’s just constant in the spring because we really do want to give back to the community, and there is a small window of our time that we are able to do that. We love to help raise funds for things we find compelling. We met Jack Ingram and were charmed by him. He had an idea and sent a text to Mack late one night asking, ‘What do you think about doing a golf tournament and fundraising weekend like the Ben, Willie and Darryl event? What if we incorporate all of our charity events into this one event and put all of our energies into that?’ We talked to a few people about it, and everyone thought it was a great idea. We decided to get our friend Matthew [McConaughey] involved in it because he brings another element to it. It all came together quickly.”
on events. I approach projects like a business. I like to start things and see them to the end. I like completion.” “Everybody had their role, and that was what made it so much fun. We all had things we were good at doThinking that inevitably Coach ing. It was fun for us for so many reasons. We have been friends with Matthew and [his wife] Camilla for a Brown will retire, I ask what lies ahead long time, and we treasure our relationship with them. Camilla was the force behind the fashion show, and I am so proud of her. She has really blossomed. Also it has been such a treat to get to know Jack and [his for the Browns. She doesn’t want to wife] Amy. He is so darn cute. What we wanted to create was an event that was not like other events. We speculate on that possibility or the didn’t want just another golf tournament, just another concert, just another dinner—we wanted to timing of it and likes to focus on the make it something special. I think we created that.” good things going on in her life right now. “There is nothing that I am doing She has accepted the scrutiny and intensity of on to the next project. Her most recent project: that I would want to change,” she says. Mack’s position, and the couple has used it as a a stunning house on Windsor Road once owned “My life is good. We have four new grandbabies… platform for work in the community. The couple by friends Donna and Steve Hicks. Coach Brown the oldest is two-and-a-half—that has changed has received numerous accolades for their work frequently jokes that he has to call Sally before our lives. I love spending time with them. Three including being honored by Caritas as “Citizens leaving the office, “just to be sure I’m coming of our four children live in Austin and one in Los of the Year” in 2008 and by The NFL Alumni As- home to the right house.” For her, choosing a Angeles. I also have my horses. We both like to sociation’s Caring For Kids as the “Couple of the house is all about light and a feeling. “I like golf. We are up for anything water oriented. Mack Year” in 2012. The Browns have also endorsed to buy and fix up houses. I like to say that the loves to fish. It gives him a lot of peace. We like a new Texas license plate, which is designed houses will talk to you and tell you what they boating. We like to walk. We always look forward to raise public awareness for child abuse and need. If you pay attention, you can fix them up. to spending quiet time at our house in the mounneglect and the need for Court Appointed SpeI redid the foyer stairwell on the Windsor house tains of North Carolina, in Linville. It is a real cial Advocates (CASA) volunteers. In August and opened it up. You just know when you are escape for us.” 2011 Mack and Sally were honored for their doing something right.” Perched comfortably in a chair in the library at longstanding, personal commitment to the Rise Moving into a new lakeside home on the day of the Lake Austin Spa, Sally smiles slightly, sighing School of Austin. As a 60th birthday surprise our interview didn’t seem to concern Sally, who a happy sigh, and I can tell that she is wishing for her husband, a permanent site for the Rise reiterated her need to constantly stay busy and she was in those mountains with her family as School was unveiled, named the Sally and Mack involved. The thing that brings her most hapour interview concludes. She has graciously Brown Rise School of Austin. piness is seeing a project through from beginshared her simple secret with me—do what Sally continues her passion for architecture ning to end. “I need projects,” she says. “I like makes you happy, and the rest will fall into place. and building by renovating houses and moving redoing houses, and I like creating and working I leave happy and determined to do just that.
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PRO TIPS ➼ When looking for inspiration, collect photographs from magazines and ideas from different places you’ve traveled for a basis for design. ➼ Amenities like a dedicated air conditioning system installed in overhangs (like in the ceiling of St. John’s Lanai) provide the ultimate in luxury and take the edge off of Texas summers. ➼ When working with an architect or designer, drawing out your ideal layout beforehand can be a great way to communicate specific ideas.
The house is “just a totally different experience at night,” says listing agent Bridget Ramey. Dramatic lighting helps emphasize the beautiful trees on the property, which reflect in the pool at night.
The great
Outdoors One Shoal Creek home offers the ultimate in outdoor living. by meng qi
Looks can be deceiving, and Bruce St. John’s Shoal Creek home is a perfect example of this old adage. With it’s unassuming façade, passersby would never imagine that a luxurious urban oasis, meticulously blending the beauty of the great outdoors with the comfort of the living room, lies behind the home’s doors.
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The main Lanai is one of St. John’s favorite spots
The home’s modest exterior “is specifically by design,” explains St. John. “Some people want flash, but I’m completely the opposite. [The house] is a rare unknown gem because I’m super private. I designed it to be really stealthy from the front.” Renowned architect Jeffrey Berkus designed the existing house on the property. After acquiring the adjoining lot, St. John worked with Ryan Street, of Ryan Street & Associates, to expand the home to more than 5,000 square feet, with five bedrooms, a theater room and a fully-automated control system that allows the home’s residents to control every aspect of their environment at the touch of a button. While St. John is obviously proud of these interior features, it’s clear as he walks through the house that, for him, the sur-
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rounding outdoor space is just as important as the indoor one. “Whenever possible, I tried to bring the outdoors in and the indoors out,” St. John says. “I like that Balinese style, with the fourth wall open. It sort of blurs the lines between indoors and out.” To create the effect of open living while maintaining functionality, St. John and Street PRO TIPS custom-designed huge ➼ Pass-through winfloor-to-ceiling glass dows between indoor retractable doors for and outdoor kitchen spaces provide convemost of the home’s rearnient serving and clearfacing rooms. These ing when entertaining slide away to open outdoors. most of the home to the ➼ Sliding doors that outdoor kitchen, pool, connect outdoor terJacuzzi and “Lanai,” a races with the bar, covered patio space that
is one of St. John’s favorite aspects of the house. “[The Lanai] is a really critical area functionally for me because I love being outside,” St. John says. “It has a very substantial overhang. You can sit here in a thunderstorm and be completely dry, and just enjoy the environment.” Outdoor fireplaces are situated throughout the backyard, creating cozy alcoves where visitors can enjoy cool evenings. To further game room and other entertaining spaces capture the eye, St. can be a great way to John has incorporated keep guests in the same unique details in the space without crowding. outdoor spaces, paying ➼ For interior decospecial attention to rating and furniture mathematical relaselection, shape can be tionships that create as important as color or texture. Choose outdoor a balance with the furniture that fits and free-flowing feel of the relates to the space. surrounding “central
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PRO TIPS ➼ To create flexible outdoor living spaces, consider using floor-to-ceiling curtains at doorways to maintain airflow while allowing more privacy. ➼ The use of natural and durable materials, such as slate tiling and Ipe wood (a wood from Brazilian rainforests), helps your outdoor living space stand up to the elements. One of the ourdoor fireplaces
The carefully planned backyard features a Jacuzzi, infinity pool, fireplaces and several cozy living nooks.
[continued from previous page]
Texas tropical” landscaping. “There are lots of little relationships in design, like this tile pattern,” says St. John, referring to the slate tiling of the home’s infinity pool. “The tile is cut in 12, eight and four inches. If you look at that fountain up there, that’s the same pattern but in nine-, six- and three-inch tile. There’s that mathematical relationship.” While structure and intricate design is one
Backyard Boom
Exploring the growing trends in backyard living. A recent survey from the American Society of Landscape Architects showed that outdoor rooms are becoming increasingly popular in American homes, especially as entertaining or lounging spaces, while sustainable and low-maintenance design for outdoor spaces and surrounding landscaping is also in high demand. For such spaces, fireplaces and pits continue to rule the grounds,
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aspect of making the outdoor spaces special, the natural features of the grounds are crucial to St. John as well. The back deck is built around a live oak tree that stretches over the pool and Jacuzzi
as well as grills and outdoor dining and seating areas. Appropriate lighting is always an important factor for evening entertaining, and can come in diverse design options such as outdoor chandeliers, torches, candles and even custom-installed fiber-optic lights (such as those installed in St. John’s pool area). Another trending installation is an ornamental water feature—pools, waterfalls and splash areas—these serve as functional and beautiful elements for outdoor living, especially in hot climate zones like Austin.
Low-maintenance and ecofriendly landscaping choices have been especially ontrend in recent years. Consider using native plants and grasses for garden areas that not only help conserve water, but require less mowing and pruning as well. And finally, food and vegetable gardens offer the ultimate in locally grown produce, and can be easily grown in raised beds in a sunny spot. For those who are especially ambitious, small-scale vineyards and orchards round out the endless list of options to customize your backyard retreat.
area at an astonishing 45-degree angle. The property actually incorporates a section of Shoal Creek, giving the backyard private access to a section of the creek and a secluded feel. “This is such a rare find for the downtown Austin area, especially if you look at the beauty of the backyard,” St. John says. “When it rains, the creek floods, and it’s really amazing. The beauty is, you have total visual privacy when you’re here in the back of the house.” St. John has lived in the home since 2000, yet he says the house can still amaze him. “I’m surprised at how taken people are sometimes with it,” he says. “We’ll have a party, and I usually spend almost all the time just talking about the house. The home just triggers conversation and discussion endlessly…it continues to unfold over time. I still, after all this time, will look up at the house and notice something different.” As much as he loves the house, St. John is now “ready to do [the project] again” at another location. He has listed the property with real estate agent Bridget Ramey (bridget@bridgetramey.com, 512.796.2602). For more information about the home, visit austinurbanoasis.com.
Verano Tropical (recipe on next page)
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Fiestas Throw the perfect garden party with Lucinda Hutson’s tequila-inspired cookbook. By Malia Bradshaw / photos by jojo marion
Sitting in a picturesque purple cottage and sipping on punch delicately adorned with flowers from her lush garden, Lucinda Hutson describes the complex process of turning agave into tequila. This conversation is not unusual for Hutson, who proclaims tequila as her soul mate—she spent the last three years turning this knowledge and passion for the spirit into a cookbook. Yet ¡Viva Tequila! Cocktails, Cooking, and other Agave Adventures is much more than a collection of recipes; it’s a travel tale, full of rich history and culture that celebrates the festive style of Mexican entertaining. Hutson’s quaint Central Austin home reflects the eccentric Mexican culture picked up from her extensive travels throughout the country. The vibrant gardens wrapping her house are filled with fresh herbs and blooming flowers, all interspersed with custom folk art. Around the back, you’ll find a tropical fiesta deck with rattan chairs, ferns, flamingo-colored walls and a purple umbrella that is perfect for a large fiesta. “People love to be outside,” Hutson says. “And of course, I grow all my garnishes, all my herbs, all my flowers—so much comes from my garden. I love using flowers in entertaining, and fresh herbs go in just about everything.” Hutson’s yard also houses a tequila cantina garden, where she serves her drinks amongst beds mulched with wine corks and lined with tequila bottles. In her Mexican courtyard, you’ll find a tequila agave plant. Hutson’s love for tequila developed through many
years of experience with Mexican culture. Growing up in El Paso, Hutson often found herself crossing the border to Juárez cantinas. It was there she learned to sip tequila and became fascinated with the transformation of the agave plant into an alcoholic delight. She likes to explain how the agave plant takes more than a decade to grow before it can be made into tequila. As a cook, Hutson recognized tequila’s potential in the kitchen, yet she was surprised to find that Mexicans seldom cooked with it. So Hutson began complementing her own style of cooking with tequila in creative recipes. “[Tequila] brings out flavors, balances flavors, gives its own flavor,” Hutson says. “But the flavor of agave—that’s an interesting thing. What does agave taste like? We know what grapes taste like. We understand grains for alcohol. But the agave is kind of like vegetal, sweet potato yammy. I liken it to desert rain and honey. It’s herbaceous. It’s bright. It just has a depth of flavor.” With summer in full swing, Huston offers her idea of the perfect garden fiesta. Imagine a series of decadent self-serve bars
for your guests, so you don’t have to worry about preparing the food as your guests gather. This summer, why not try a tostada compuesta? “I think tostadas are a real fun party idea,” Huston says. For a tostada bar, she recommends buying prebaked tostada chips and serving them in a decorative basket. Then design a presentation of shredded cabbage, onions, hot sauces, cheeses, cooked beans and grilled meats for guests to create their own tasty tosta-
das. You can easily mix and match with toppings. To Hutson, the possibilities for a tostada bar are endless. For the grand finale, Huston suggests a lively dessert bar she calls “A Good Bar is Hard to Find,” Hutson’s signature Zesty Margarita Bars. These tart and limey bars are laced with tequila and a hint of Cointreau for a delectable treat. Or try another of Hutson’s custom desserts, such as Citrus Flan flambéed with tequila, or the crowd-favorite Spicy Jalapeño Carrot Cake with Margarita Frosting. Fresh-fruit and tequila punches can be served in large jars. For a festive centerpiece, wreath the base of the jar with clusters of whole fruits, filling in with sprays of greenery and fresh flowers. Provide longstemmed margarita glasses and allow guests to choose their own garnishes for the drinks. Living with playful festivity, Hutson not only recommends bringing fiestas into your garden but also into your life. Tostadas Compuestas
“Be open to painting your house purple,” Hutson says with a laugh. “Dare to be different. Welcome color and flavor and festivity into your life. Do something a little bit different.” This summer, bring fiestas into your life with the unique taste of tequila. As Hutson once scribbled on a cocktail napkin in Mexico, “Almost everyone has a tequila story they want to forget. Let’s change that to a tequila adventure they want to remember!”
lemongrass segments, fresh herbs, and lemon and lime juices, and chill overnight. Sweeten to taste with optional ingredients. A few hours prior to serving, remove herbs, wringing them to release flavor (replace with fresh ones, if possible.) Add lemon and lime slices. Before serving, splash with ginger brew. Ladle into tall glasses with plenty of fruit and ice; garnish and serve. Other optional flavorings and sweeteners include Cantina Classic syrups such as Zesty Ginger or Citrus, Ambrosia or Domaine de Canton liqueurs, and Sweet and Sour.
Verano Tropical (previous page) Makes: 20 cups Serve this exotic and exceptionally refreshing punch on a sultry summer evening. Fresh pineapple chunks absorb the flavor of the tequila, while fragrant stalks of lemon grass, mint sprigs and citrus lend Asian mystique. Jamaican-style ginger ale, added just prior to serving, adds sparkle to this intriguing drink. Even after the punch is gone, guests enthusiastically munch on the spiked fruit and fragrant lemongrass. Ingredients: 2 large ripe pineapples, cut into chunks 2 cans (46 ounces each) pineapple juice 1.5 liters tequila reposado 4–6 fresh stalks lemongrass with rough leaves removed, cut in half lengthwise, then cut into 2-inch segments and slightly mashed 2–4 large bunches fresh mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm or a combination K cup freshly squeezed lemon juice K cup freshly squeezed lime juice Sweeten to taste (see optional ingredients) 2 lemons, sliced 6 limes, sliced 3 bottles (12 ounces each) Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew or your favorite sparkling soda Garnishes: Fresh mint sprigs and peeled sugarcane stalks Long, unpeeled sugarcane stalk for stirring
Directions: Place pineapple chunks and juice in a two-gallon glass jar and cover with tequila. Add
Tostadas Compuestas A tostada compuesta (layered tostada) fiesta is a fun, buffetstyle way to entertain, easily pleasing vegetarians and those who have diet restrictions, as well as those who do not. Tostadas are crispy, fried whole tortillas that serve as edible “plates.” Place bowls filled with tasty toppings on the table so guests may choose to suit their whims: refried beans, guacamole, chunky salsas, grated and crumbled cheese, marinated and grilled meats and fish, and crunchy, colorful chopped or shredded vegetables. Don’t forget bowls of homemade or bottled red and green salsas picantes (hot sauces) and condiments: chopped onions, jalapeño or serrano peppers, cilantro, and quartered limes to squeeze for the finishing touch. Tequila drinks are essential!
A Good Bar Is Hard to Find (Zesty Margarita Dessert Bars) Makes: 16 bars Sometimes you just need a good bar. Here’s one that you won’t find on every corner. This “margarita” bar has the same flavorings as the famous cocktail. It sings of citrus—tart and limey, laced with tequila and a hint of Cointreau. It makes those popular overly sweet lemon bars seem mundane. Before serving, dust lightly with sifted powdered sugar and garnish festively with edible flowers, or pass a small bowl of Cantina Classic Pink Peppercorn and Citrus Salt. Fair warning: don’t even think about tasting just a wee bite from the corner of the pan while it’s still hot. You’ll
¡Viva Tequila! Cocktails, Cooking, and other Agave Adventures Divided into three parts, Hutson’s book is informative as well as wildly entertaining. In the first section, you’ll learn about the complex agave plant and its transformation into tequila. The fiesta livens in section two: Tequila Cantina. Huston offers plenty of mouthwatering cocktail, margarita and punch recipes, along with how to create your own home cantina. Lastly, become an expert at cooking with tequila as Hutson’s easy-to-follow recipes take you through fiesta food, main dishes and desserts. This eye-catching book is interspersed with colorful photos, most of which highlight items collected from Hutson’s travels. Beyond the recipes, Hutson provides funny and inspiring travel stories of an adventuresome woman meeting the open-hearted, joyful culture of Mexico. For anyone who is looking for a summer full of fiestas, ¡Viva Tequila! Cocktails, Cooking, and other Agave Adventures is a must-have.
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A Good Bar Is Hard to Find (Zesty Margarita Dessert Bars)
Excerpt from ¡Viva Tequila!: Cocktails, Cooking, and Other Agave Adventures by Lucinda Hutson (Copyright © 1995 and 2013 by Lucinda Hutson), used by permission of the University of Texas Press. For more information visit utexaspress.com.
want to eat the entire pan! Friend and recipe tester Kristina Wolter scoops it, while warm, into small ramekins. She says the first bite hits you like the first sip of a freshly made margarita…with the added richness of a chess pie. Shortbread crust: 1 cup flour 1 tablespoon finely ground cornmeal (for some crunch), optional N cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar 1 tablespoon grated orange (or Minneola tangelo) zest K cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces N teaspoon salt
Barco de Oro (Mango and Pineapple Tropicana Salsa)
Barco de Oro (Mango and Pineapple Tropicana Salsa) Makes: 7 cups
Tequila-lime filling: 1 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons flour Pinch of salt 3 large eggs L cup freshly squeezed key lime juice 1 tablespoon grated Persian lime zest (or orange or lemon) without any bitter white pith 2 tablespoons tequila reposado 2 tablespoons Cointreau Garnishes: purple Johnny jump-ups, pansies, mint or lemon verbena sprigs or berries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Butter an 8-inch square pan (or line with parchment or foil). Crust directions: In a food processor, pulse dry ingredients and zest for crust. Add butter and briefly pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press evenly onto the bottom of the pan and just slightly up the sides (sides should not be too thick). Bake for 18–20 minutes until edges are lightly golden brown. Cool on a rack while you make the tequila-lime filling. Filling directions: Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. Beat eggs in a bowl with an electric mixer until thick and golden; mix in dry ingredients. Scrape down the sides as you mix in the lime zest, juice, tequila and Cointreau. Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees. Pour filling over warm crust and bake for about 20 minutes or until filling has set in the center. Take caution not to overcook the crust or the filling. Cool on rack. Cut into bars and sprinkle lightly with sifted powdered sugar, if you wish. They taste best served the day they are made and look lovely garnished with purple Johnny jump-ups or other edible flowers.
Mexican fruit vendors have ingenious ways of enticing passersby to make a purchase: They can turn a mango into a flower! First, they cut an unpeeled mango in two slices from either side of the seed. Then they discard the seed, making crisscross cuts in both slices without piercing the peel. When the mango is turned half inside out, it becomes a “flower,” which the vendors sprinkle with red chile and lime. Take a bite from the mango, then take a sip of a shot of blanco or reposado. This versatile fruit salsa celebrates tropical flavors— eat it by the bowlful on a summer day for breakfast or as a lively dessert. Complement grilled fish, pork tenderloin, chicken or lamb chops with this refreshing medley, or mound it in avocado halves with grilled shrimp, lobster or curried chicken salad. Add a big spoonful to a bowl of black beans or a warm quesadilla. For an enticing presentation, fill corn-husk halves with this colorful salsa and arrange them on a big platter. For the marinade: 3 tablespoons Cantina Classic Citrus-, Pineapple-, or Chile-Infused Tequila, or tequila reposado 1 orange zest 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon peeled and grated ginger For the mango-pineapple mixture: 3 medium mangoes, peeled, medium dice 2 cups fresh pineapple (not too ripe), medium
dice, grilled 1 K cups red bell pepper, medium dice, grilled (or vine-ripened red cherry tomatoes) 1 K cups jícama, peeled and chopped into medium dice, sprinkled with fresh lime juice 3 or more fresh hot peppers, minced (preferably red-ripened Fresnos, serranos or 1 habanero) 1 red onion, chopped N cup cilantro, chopped 3 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped K teaspoon Cantina Classic salt (such as Spicy Mexican Seasoned Salt or Hibiscus Flower and Orange Zest) Fresh lime juice Directions: In a small bowl, mix together ingredients for marinade; set aside. In a large glass bowl, combine chopped ingredients and toss gently with marinade and salt. Chill for several hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain excess juices (sip with a shot of tequila!). Toss with more seasoned salt and lime juice to taste before serving. For a quick summer dessert, add a generous splash of Cantina Classic Zesty Ginger Syrup and serve salsa (omit onions if you wish) atop crispy fried flour tostadas sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
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memo from jb
Generation Z Rules! The sad truth about wimpy parents from one who knows. By JB Hager, Photo by Rudy Arocha The scene: a gathering with a bunch of kindergarteners. All right kids, gather round now. Everyone gather round: Uncle JB has a little story to tell. No pushing, no shoving; I would like everyone to grab a seat on the floor on your rear ends with your legs crisscrossed. I am about to share with you everything that I wish I would have known when I was a kid. Foolishly, none of this information was passed down to me, and regretfully, I was unable to maximize my childhood to the greatest of its abilities. So kids, don’t tell your parents where you got this information, but here is what you need to know that your parents won’t tell you. Are any of you familiar with the term “strict?” It’s something that your parents think they are, when in fact they are not. Being strict means they have harsh, firm rules with you and never waiver—you know, change their minds. It means you are not allowed to be too loud, too crazy or have too much fun. Your parents’ parents, Grandma and Grandpa, were in fact strict. Their parents, meaning your great grandparents, were very strict, and their parents were VERY, VERY strict. You see how that works? Now, your parents think they are strict, but in fact they are not at all. This is very important for you to understand. You can pretty much do whatever you want, and they are not going to do anything about it. That, kids, is what’s referred to as an “empty threat.” Repeat after me: empty threat. “Empty threat,” they all say in unison. Very good now. Have any of you ever been told you were going to be grounded, have your iPad taken away or something like that because of how you were behaving? “Yeeeeeesssssss.” That’s what I thought. What actually happened? “Nuuuuuthingggg.” Exactly.
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I have a little girl at home who isn’t much older than all of you. What do you think her bedtime is? A little girl raises her hand and says, “Um, I dunno, around 7:30?” Wrong! That’s what we wish it was. That’s what my wife and I said it was going to be. Do you know what her actual bedtime is? (Silence from the audience.) The answer is, whenever she darn well pleases. (Rumbling and stirring among the children.) That’s right, we tell her when she is supposed to go to bed, but she ignores it. I’m here to tell you that you can do the same, and no one is going to do a thing about it. Let me ask you all another question. Do any of your parents ever say to you, “You had better watch your attitude, or else…?” (They all nod slowly.) “Yeeeees.” And when you continue with your bad attitude, what happens? (They think about it for awhile.) “Nuuuuuuuthing,” they all mutter. Your parents are wimps, children. Here’s the really sad part: They know it. They are scared to death of you. They want to be your friends and be cool more than they want to parent you. What I’m trying to tell you is, you can go home and do whatever you want, listen when you want, obey them when you decide, and they aren’t going to do a thing about it. It’s not their fault; it’s problematic throughout their entire generation. They are a generation of insecure wimps who think they can control you, but they can’t. They want to be cool and aren’t, so they try to buy your love, but they can’t. The sad thing is, it is going to be even worse when
Your parents are wimps, children. Here’s the really sad part: They know it. They are scared to death of you. you have children. They are going to walk all over you, so you might as well take advantage of everything you want or don’t want today. Go home, have fun, do what you want, demand a pony until you are blue in the face. They will probably get you one because they never had things like that growing up, and then they will threaten to take your pony away again and again. Mark my words: They never will. Now go home and take charge, kids. The world is yours! Generation Z rules! (Kids erupt in applause, storm out of the building and make obscene gestures to any adult in their path.) JB Hager can be heard as part of the JB and Sandy Morning Show on Mix 94.7 Austin, weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m.
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s i m p ly i r r e s i s t i b l e
Robin Bethell Your pearly whites deserve the care and attention of Dr. McDreamy, DDS. By Molly McManus When gingivitis and plaque come a-knocking, this doctor keeps the dental chair rocking. Prepare to be orally fixated with Dr. Robin Bethell, DDS, a newbie to Austin who recently opened the doors to his practice, Family Forest Dentistry. Bethell grew up near Yosemite National Park and from a young age wanted to combine his love of the outdoors, biology and family. When he graduated with a doctorate in dental surgery at only 23 years old, he began the search for his dental domain. “I want to be the anti-corporate dentist,” he explains. “I want to educate the community, do community outreach and get plugged in by being involved with sports teams and shows.” Now age 30, with field experience under his scrubs, Bethell is able to house all his passions under one roof: Family Forest Dentistry combines quality dental care for families and individuals of all ages with sustainable practices. From minimization of waste and reclaimed wood utilized throughout the office, to high ceilings with natural light filtering in, every room has a unique feel and purpose. The “Deer Room” features a flatscreen TV suspended on the ceiling, so clients can watch Netflix. The “Fox Room” features a window seat for the entire family to sit on. Outside, a Japanese-style garden boasts a pond full of goldfish and one giant koi. It’s relaxing and far from the usual claustrophobic dental offices we’ve grown accustomed to. To top it all off, the waiting area has cartoons of forest animals that Bethell hand drew. Did I mention he’s writing and illustrating a children’s book? Commence swooning now. When he’s not conducting oral surgery or whitening teeth, Bethell enjoys Austin’s live music scene, innovative food and playing on water polo and soccer teams. With teeth so straight they’d make your grandma’s dentures jealous, Bethell is delightfully darling—and dare I say it?—passing up McDreamy on the list of top hot docs. And although receiving dental work is far from glamorous, the next time you need a little maintenance, I doubt you’ll have an issue opening wide for Dr. Bethell to take a look inside. Forest Family Dentistry, 2700 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 418, 512.865.4140, austinforestfamily.com
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Are You Hearing Wedding Bells? Not-so-obvious signs a guy is preparing to pop the question. By Eric Leech
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A man may present a number of obvious signs as he prepares to pop the question. He could casually ask for your ring size, or exchange his four-wheel-drive truck for a minivan with a diaper-changing station. He may tell you that he has always liked the name Leopold, and if he had a girl, he would be partial to Wilhelmina. He might even grab your hand and skip emphatically down the sidewalk every time you happen by a tuxedo rental shop. A healthy relationship, of course, is built around open communication, so ideally the when, where and how of a proposal should be the surprise—not the four-word question itself. If this was a perfect world, you’d know when those wedding bells are ringing in your guy’s head. But in the real world, these clues may not always be as obvious or pleasant. In fact, these moments are occasionally disguised within the appearance of your relationship moving backward. But before you break things off, keep in mind that your partner might be preparing for a giant leap toward the rest of your lives together. This month we discuss the not-so-obvious signs of the guy who is preparing for marriage. Your Relationship May Get a Little Rocky Stress causes a lot of problems in relationships. What you may not have considered is the strain of preparing to transfer from bachelor to husband can sometimes rock a man’s boat on the way to your happily ever after. This strain might even have the effect of creating a temporary hesitance and distance on his part. This is often the moment when a guy discovers just how much you mean to him. It may not sound very romantic, but some of the most successful relationships have taken a shortcut through a rock farm before finding their way to a daisy meadow. You May Even Break Up Studies show you will have the best chance of marital
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success if you choose a mate with similar genetics, values and goals. Unfortunately, when men are distressed (such as when they are considering marriage), their normal preference for a woman who is similar to them can make an about face, and he may suddenly develop an attraction for the complete opposite. This is rarely a permanent situation, as most men will come to their senses and realize their true love is the woman who complements him most. This isn’t advising you to sit around and wait for every guy who breaks up with you. However, don’t count them out, either—especially if you think he’s worth the wait. He Might Become Better Behaved One of the traits of the immature, single bachelor is his quintessential bad-boy behavior. Before things became serious, he might have disappeared for weeks at a time, especially after you had brought up the topic of taking the relationship to the next level. He might have gone out drinking with his buddies and returned with hickeys under his collar, or lied about sexting with other women he met on dating websites. Centuries of evidence suggest the desire to maintain a happy relationship can minimize these bad-boy desires in the minds of most men, but he alone will have to make the decision to pull the plug on his old habits. So, what are the signs of a guy who has grown tired of bachelorhood? He shuns his wilder, bachelor buddies in exchange for spending time with his married coworkers. He spends more time at home and becomes more honest and reliable. If instead you notice increased delinquent behavior in your guy, this might be a sign that he’s unhappy and looking for a way out. The difference between a jerk and a guy who is just sorting through his feelings is that the good guy may distance himself, but he won’t disrespect you in the process. He Could Question Your Commitment Once a man has dedicated his life to a woman, he may develop an ideal sense of commitment. This is because this feeling is relatively new to him. Bachelors will often leave a part of themselves open for someone better to come along. Once he has closed this door, he will recognize his increased vulnerability and panic. It is at this point that he may question your devotion. It will be up to him to deal with these emotions, and discover a secure place within your relationship. However, once he does, your relationship will develop a renewed sense of apathy and trust. It just goes to show, sometimes when you think your relationship is ending, you might actually be on the cusp of a new beginning.
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J u s t Pa s s i n g T h r o u g h
Twenty Feet from Stardom
Jo Lawry, Judith Hill and Lisa Fischer in Twenty Feet from Stardom
Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names—all of that is about to change for backup singers Judith Hill and Darlene Love. By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne
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This Is It tour. Recognized for her songwriting and composition talents as well as her vocals, Hill has made her way into the spotlight seemingly well and is on her way to becoming to a star.
Austin Woman: Although you are both from Los Angeles, you ladies come at your careers from totally different angles. Darlene: You were discovered in your church choir as a sophomore in high school and became a member of the Blossoms, a girl group produced by Phil Spector. Judith: You lived in Paris and were classically trained. Judith Hill: Well actually I learned a lot by singing in the church choir as well. Rose Stone is in the movie, and I would go to her choir rehearsals even though I was too young to be in the choir itself. I learned those vocal harmonies at a very young age—my mother was the pianist, and I tagged along. My first background-singing gig was in Paris with Michel Polnareff, and that was more like initiation for me to learn to sing on the big stage. Darlene Love: Back in the early days very rarely did I do solo work. I was in the choir— congregational singing is what they called it. Then with the Blossoms it was amazing because nobody taught us our parts when we started. We started singing and there was a soprano, an alto and a tenor, and we all found our parts. Traditionally for me it wasn’t a big change; I just switched from gospel to secular music. In the beginning we were just oohing and aahing behind the lead singer, and we were background voices.
AW: In the movie it shows that transition. In church the minister was the “star” out front, so to speak, and then it was the lead singer in front, and you always had to check your vocal egos at the door. DL: The main difference was that the pastor only thought he could sing, but he never could…he would start a song and the choir would drown him out. AW: The film seems to me to be about female backup singers and how they were controlled and kept in the background, particularly Darlene’s experience with Phil Spector. I am wondering if anything has really changed. DL: There will always be some type of control. The divide between the star and backup vocalists still exists, of course. You are in the background and they are the main act. People pay to see them and they know that. What is going on behind them is behind them for a reason—the star wants it to be great, but you are definitely in the background. As a background singer it never bothered me, and my job was to make the lead singer sound good. Background singers give the lead singer time to rest. Background singers need to be great because the star relies on them. AW: I would think that, when you tour, everyone becomes close. In the film some of the background singers become involved with the stars. Would either of you like to speak to that? JH: Yes, that happens on tour quite a bit. (Laughter.)
Photos courtesy of RADiUS-TWC.
Let me say that I loved this film, Twenty Feet from Stardom. I loved it so much that I saw it three times: once at Sundance and twice at SXSW. I have never seen a film that portrays in such a raw but empowering manner the strength and persistence of women determined to honor their gifts and talents in spite of a myriad of hurdles thrown their way by producers, societal expectations, their spouses, employers and sometimes by the singers themselves. The film focuses on six women, two of whom accompanied the film to Austin and gave a short concert following its showing at the Paramount. I caught up with Darlene Love and Judith Hill at the Driskill just prior to the screening. Although she sang backup for the likes of Sinatra, Elvis, Aretha and Sam Cooke, Darlene Love found herself working as a housemaid in Beverly Hills. In a gut-wrenching scene, Darlene Love describes a time when she was cleaning a house and her song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” came on the radio. Her employer had no idea who Love was or that the iconic song was hers. Today, at age 71, her career has had a resurgence. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, Love tours, appears in musicals and performs in an annual Christmas special in New York City. Currently featured on The Voice, 29-year-old Judith Hill is the youngest of the singers in the film. Immersed in music all of her life—Mom was a pianist and dad played bass—Hill always knew she wanted a musical career. Classically trained with a degree in music composition, Hill was selected to be Michael Jackson’s duet partner for the tragic
DL: Yes, yes indeed. You do become close, and most of the time you are on the road in those big buses. Even when you travel by plane, you are always thrown together as a group. You really do become a family, and then you start taking care of one another—especially the ladies. JH: That is the part I enjoy most about background singing: the community aspect of it. Sometimes the artists are alone on an island. As a background singer you are together, become friends and as a rule we keep in touch. We can hang out years later because you form a connection traveling the world that no one else knows about. Some artists hang out with the band and others just remove themselves. I always thought it was cool when the artist would hang out with us.
star and you are out somewhere, you are recognizable. The spotlight becomes more intense. DL: Yes. What you wear, who you are with, what you do—even what you eat. The clothes get so much more expensive. When we work for the artist they tell us what to wear and provide it. It is a big transition from the back of the stage to the front.
AW: What is the most difficult part of transitioning from backup to the front of the stage? DL: A lot of work! Things you never thought about. You realize that you now are responsible for paying for everything—the airline tickets, the publicists, the band and the hotels. You are now the leader of the group, whereas before you get an itinerary and everything—costumes, hotels, transportation is taken care of for you. It is a big change! JH: And you also have to buy all of your own clothes—clothes will put you in the poor house. It is just a major responsibility, especially financially, to be out front.
AW: Tell me about the ups and downs of your careers? DL: I did not even start a solo career until I was 40 years old. When I came back off the road from touring with Dionne Warwick or Tom Jones, there was no work. Nothing. A lot of the people who are background singers didn’t welcome me back either—they didn’t want me getting their work. A session here and a session there was not enough, so I did day work. There was never a part of me where I said this is low work, the bottom of the barrel. No, it was a way for me to make a living and support myself. I never gave up the idea of making a living singing. You can never lose the hope that something will happen to you. I still had my voice. It was hard. They did a great job in the film showing what I felt. I heard songs on the radio while I was cleanDarlene Love in ing houses and I wanted Twenty Feet from to scream, “Hey, that’s Stardom me! I am the lady that’s singing that song!” But you can’t because I was working for them. I was using my married name and they had no idea that I was Darlene Love.
AW: When you are touring, people aren’t really aware of you as a backup singer, but if you are the
AW: Both of you are singer-songwriters. Did you have more time for that aspect of your careers when you were background singers? DL: I kind of played at writing. I didn’t really write as much as Judith. JH: I write a lot. I try to take advantage of inspiring places we visit on the road. I am constantly writing— at home and on the road. It is part of my process.
AW: And Judith, in the film it shows you at a time when you went back to backup vocals after you released a CD and had a solo career, and you tried to disguise who you were and blend into the background. JH: People can be a bit harsh and judgmental
about that—especially online. They have a certain idea of what you should do and have their own expectations and when you do something that doesn’t fit their expectations. They give you a hard time. I mean, we are all hustling here to make a living. DL: That’s right. You’re just out there doing whatever you can to make a living as a singer.
AW: What’s your favorite song that you ever sang backup on, and who is your favorite performer you ever worked with? DL: When I first started out, I have to say that I loved me some Sam Cooke. I had a romantic fantasy about Sam Cooke. To be able to be in the studio with him was something. One of my favorite songs I did with him was “Everybody likes to Cha-chacha.” He was always my fantasy. JH: Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder are two amazing people. One of my most powerful moments singing background with Michael was on “Earth Song.” The choreography and the singing in that were so powerful. AW: In your world, some things have changed from the ’60s to today, and some things haven’t. I love a quote on Judith’s website that says, “My passion is to bring the world together, and music is the message and the heart behind it.” Talk to me about the music and the message and the correlation to resolving political and social divides. JH: Music is the language that brings everyone together. When you are singing from the heart and speaking to the soul, there is nothing more powerful. Everyone can relate to it and as a musician you might inspire someone of bring about a change through the music. I was shy growing up and had a hard time finding my voice, but when the music starts, it all comes together, and I feel like my soul is laid bare on the stage and people can hear me. DL: You go to a movie, you can go to the park, you can travel the world, but when it comes to moving people it comes to music. It can make you happy. It can make you sad. The whole range of emotions—that’s in the music. It can lift your spirit so. I love it when people come up to me after the shows and say, “You touched me.” That goes way, way back to the beginning of time. Music can soften the heart of the worst person, and it can heal too. Twenty Feet from Stardom premieres in Austin July 5 at Regal Arbor Theater. 9828 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.9742, twentyfeetfromstardom.com
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Patsy Martin For the founder of I Live Here, I Give Here, perseverance pays off. By Allie Eissler Let’s face it: after a long day at work, many of us aren’t prepared to tackle much more than a comfy couch and an expanding Netflix queue—let alone a triple-digit-long list of local nonprofits. Even the most compassionate of folks can conjure an embarrassingly lengthy list of excuses, but everyone seems to be in agreement on one point: sifting through the deluge of information is overwhelming and often counterproductive. Studies show that time and money aren’t always the main motivators when it comes to deciding to make a charitable donation, and the amount of money donated doesn’t necessarily increase proportionate to income. Rather, what’s crucial is finding a meaningful connection to a cause and cultivating a collaborative relationship with that organization. In other words, proximity, passion and personal stories will always trump cold monetary transactions. Enter Patsy Martin—wife, mother of three, fundraiser, fourth-generation rancher and longtime vice president of resource development for United Way Capital Area, with an extensive background in biochemistry. Frustrated by the plethora of less-than-flattering statistical analyses of her hometown—a 2003 Chronicle of Philanthropy study of the nation’s 50 largest cities ranked Austin third to last in per capita charitable giving—Martin decided to take matters into her own hands. In 2007 she left her position at United Way to jumpstart the public awareness
campaign I Live Here, to a nonprofit you care I Give Here, aided by about at the end of the colleagues such as month.” Texas Monthly founder Martin credits her Mike Levy. years of volunteer The goal? To throw work in the Junior potential donors a League with inspiring lifeline and transform her in all aspects of the culture of giving life, but particularly, in Austin by serving giving her the motivaas a liaison between tion and progressive individuals and nontraining to succeed profits. “Philanthropy as head of a busy is personal, and it can’t nonprofit. “Their real be forced,” Martin value is not only in explains. “But it was providing resources clear to me that the for nonprofit proimportance of regular, grams, both signifilong-term giving was a message that needed to cant time and treasure, but in growing powerful be shared with our community. It was time.” leaders for this community,” she explains. To Now in its fifth year, I Live Here, I Give Here those inspired to follow in her footsteps, Marhas indeed made its mark on Austin, shedding tin’s advice is simple. “Be open to new ideas,” light on important issues in the community each she says. “Recognize that learning doesn’t stop, month—from animal welfare to education, health and when that little voice inside you says pay care, housing, literacy and legal services—as well closer attention to a new idea, listen. Then make as establishing an annual day of online giving in a plan to move forward, and persevere, persecentral Texas. Mentorship programs such as See vere, persevere.” Jane Give and Give Back Jack offer attendees the opportunity to mingle with influential AusAmplify Austin ($47,825) and Austin Pets tin professionals and learn more What could be more Alive! ($41,685). about the process of integratappropriate for the Donations made during ing giving into their everyday wired, tech-savvy city the 24-hour time frame lives. Each evening begins with of Austin than an online were proportionally a cocktail hour, followed by day of philanthropy? matched by the Univerdinner, a keynote speaker and The inaugural citywide sity Federal Credit Union guided discussion. “Philanthroinitiative Amplify Austin and Austin Community py can be a daily habit, and it’s raised approximately $2.8 Foundation. Additionally, fun to hear how these growing million for local nonprofduring every hour of Amleaders apply the lessons they its—nearly three times its plify Austin, the nonproflearn at these events to their goal—in just 24 hours in its that raised the most own lives,” observes Martin. its inaugural run this past money or had the most “For example, you might sacriMarch. The campaign was donors during that hour fice one luxury coffee a week, conducted entirely online received a $1,000 bonus, and send the money you collect and benefited more than courtesy of 48 separate 300 local charities. The sponsors. And in a decidtop five fundraisers this edly Austin twist, each year were Hospice Austin donor received an online ($112,993), AIDS Sermusical thank-you, and vices of Austin ($58,511), random contributors were Planned Parenthood of doubly rewarded with live, Greater Texas ($53,119), in-person performances Samaritan Center from local musicians.
“Be open to new ideas. Recognize that learning doesn’t stop, and when that little voice inside you says pay closer attention to a new idea, listen. Then make a plan to move forward, and persevere, persevere, persevere.”—Patsy Martin 84 Austin Woman J une 2 0 1 3
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Leading the Way Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s Catherine Morse leads by giving back. By Rachel Merriman Carherine Morse had dreams of fighting crime. The New Orleans native studied criminal justice at Louisiana State and came to Texas in 1987 to study law at the University of Houston. “It was my lifelong dream to be in the FBI, up to that part in my life at least,” Morse says with a laugh. “I attribute that to watching too much TV when I was young.” As Morse rightly observes, plans often diverge into a more conventional route. When she met her husband in law school, she opted to stay in Houston and work for the prestigious firm Vinson & Elkins. She and her husband welcomed their first son, Mitch, in 1992; when Morse got a job offer from high-powered firm Fulbright & Jaworski, the new family headed to make their permanent home in Austin. A few years later, her second son, Robbie, was born. Robbie’s special needs prompted Morse to make the switch to working
in-house with Applied Materials. “It was very difficult with two small children, one of them with profound special needs, and a busy litigation practice,” Morse remembers. “To get in-house, where I wasn’t going to be litigating and gearing up for trial—it was a much more manageable work-life balance.” As Morse climbed the corporate ladder, she began a long history of civic engagement. She started serving on community boards after a client asked her to join the board for Travis Lighthouse of the Blind. Later, her experience with Robbie attracted her to working with organizations that serve the disabled community, such as Any Baby Can and Goodwill Industries of Central Texas. Morse soon discovered it was not only rewarding, but also a great opportunity for professional development. “Without a doubt, the opportunities I’ve had to serve in leadership roles for different nonprofits have absolutely helped me attain the position I have today,” Morse affirms. “I gained so much confidence and more self-assurance with those opportunities.” After working at Applied Materials for six years and Freescale Semiconductor for three years, Morse got the opportunity to work for Samsung Austin Semiconductor when a colleague and friend recommended her to former Samsung general counsel Theresa Burroff. “I realized this was a great opportunity to go from specializing in labor and employment law to getting exposure to a lot of different areas of law by taking on a general counsel role,” Morse says. Morse has served as general counsel for Samsung Austin since 2007, where she is in charge of all legal matters, taking on everything from supply agreements to air permits. After serving as general counsel for three years, she took on the additional role of director of public
affairs after former director Bill Cryer retired. “I’ve gotten to learn about the issues that impact Austin, and been asked to come and take a seat at the table to participate in conversations about growth, transportation and some of the issues that affect businesses. It’s been fun,” Morse says. Morse currently serves as vice chair on the board of directors for United Way for Greater Austin, an organization that fights poverty by focusing on its root causes, namely financial stability, health and education. One of United Way for Greater Austin’s largest initiatives is the Success by Six program, which readies young children for kindergarten by giving low-income families access to child care, parent education and mental health services. “The data shows that if we get these kids into highquality early childhood programs,” Morse says, “they have a greater chance of being kindergarten-ready, starting at grade level, staying at grade level and having better outcomes.” Under Morse’s stewardship, Samsung Austin made a $1 million grant to the Success by Six program in September 2010. Samsung Austin also promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education through their own STEM Academy program, which brings high school kids interested in pursuing a career in engineering to the North Austin campus to explore technician jobs. The company has also partnered with Keep Austin Beautiful to sponsor their Lady Bird Lake clean-up initiative, which collected more than 4,000 bags of trash in 2010. “We want to improve the business context in which we operate, and we can do that by contributing to make sure the social fabric of our community is strong.” unitedwayaustin.org; keepaustinbeautiful.org
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Letters from my Father “You better come and talk to your dad.” It was back in 1989, when we were still living in England. I can still see my husband’s face as he stood in the hall with the phone in his hand. “He’s asking about photos of us.” Photos? Why? Well, it turned out my dad was really calling to tell us he’d gotten a letter from Ukraine. Now, I’d grown up assuming that none of my dad’s family had survived World War II. He’d arrived alone in England in 1948, after being captured by the Germans, then liberated only to be put into an Italian transit camp as the allies decided what to do with displaced young men like him. He’d hoped to make his way to the United States. Instead, he met my mother and settled into his new life in the UK. Like many a war veteran, he rarely spoke of that time. It was my mother who told me when I was a teenager that the last time my dad had seen his younger brother was when Stefan was being carried away from the battlefield on a stretcher with a massive head injury. I knew I’d been named for my dad’s youngest sister, and very occasionally I can remember him mentioning his childhood on the family farm in Ukraine—a small, now independent country sandwiched between Poland and Russia. There were few personal details, though. I heard more about the bad-tempered geese than anything else. Fast forward to 1989. That was the year of the thawing of the cold war. The year the Berlin Wall fell. And the year my dad decided to write to the village where he grew up. He wrote asking for news of his family’s fate. He’d
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stayed quiet so long because, over the intervening years, he’d heard stories about repercussions the Soviet regime wrought on others like him who had not returned home after the war. He called us the night he got a reply to his letter. Slowly, it dawned on me. He wanted photographs to send to my two aunts and my uncle. Yes—to his family. It turns out my uncle had survived his injuries. Their two sisters had survived—despite the fighting in and around the village. All were married with kids, and my uncle’s family was living in the house my dad had grown up in. It was a miracle to us—as it was to them. They had assumed my dad had perished in the war—his name was even on the war memorial in the village. Today, my dad still lives in the house in northwest England where that fateful letter popped through the letterbox. He’s now 87 and has made several trips to visit his large family in Ukraine, and in turn they’ve been to see him. Telling this story makes me weep—but thank you, Daddy, for writing that letter and finding our family. Happy Father’s Day.
—Julie Tereshchuk
August’s Last Word topic will be “What I learned from my favorite teacher.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by June 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.
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