October 2011

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LONG CENTER

Tickets: 512.474.LONG (5664) | TheLongCenter.Org Presented by Southern USA Falun Dafa Association Shen Yun also performs in: Dallas: Dec 16-18 | Houston: Dec 21-27

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“AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE.” — Cate Blanchett

Academy Award-winning actress

Shen Yun. For Chinese, the words evoke a sense of wonder, magic, and the divine. To audiences who have seen it, they recall the experience of a lifetime—a moment so powerfully beautiful it touches the soul.

“A MESMERIZING PERFORMANCE.”

Discover the glory of a fantastically rich culture, that of classical China, brought to life through brilliantly choreographed dance and mesmerizing, all original orchestral compositions. Magnificently costumed dancers—the world’s elite—move in poetic arrangements that evoke pastoral beauty, imperial drama, and the glory of an ancient civilization. This season, discover what art was meant to be. Discover Shen Yun.

“A BEAUTIFUL SHOW... FANTASTIC!”

The Name “Shen Yun” The word “Shen” (ઓ) is a term for “divine” or “divine being,” while “Yun” (ᜩ) refers to the overall manner of a dancer and the meaning behind his or her movements. The two words together tell of the grace, compassion, and sublime beauty of heavenly realms that can be glimpsed in even the subtlest expressions and gestures of our dancers. This is the essence of “Shen Yun.”

— Donna Karan, Creator of the Donna Karan Collection and DKNY

— Joy Behar, Co-host of ABC’s The View

“A MARVELOUS EVENING… I AM COMPLETELY ENCHANTED.” —Her Royal Highness, Princess Michael of Kent All individuals’ quotes originally published

by The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty Television. All photographs and designs

by Shen Yun Performing Arts © 2011. All artwork and choreography depicted in the photographs copyrighted by Shen Yun

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Contents october

76 On the Cover heidi marquez smith Heidi Marquez Smith is poised for yet another don’t-miss chapter as head of the Texas Book Festival.

By Julie Tereshchuk / Photographed by Cody Hamilton

82 Feature style mavens As Austin Woman hits the nine-year mark, these five former cover women bring us up to date.

By Joelle Pearson / Photographed by Rudy Arocha

g The Row blouse with Pauw skirt available at By George. Kendra Scott Carlone earrings and Rana cocktail ring available at Kendra Scott.

austinwomanmagazine.com 9

Contents october

on the scene 22 5 things you must do this month 24 around town 28 spotlight event Albert Nobbs

at the

Austin Film Festival.

30 philanthropy Marathon Kids.

34 Horoscopes Happy birthday, Libra.

36 AW Talks with Cheryl Bemis and Melissa Shea.

must list 38 editor picks 40 current chic Capes and ponchos.

44 beauty The allure of navy nails.

46 guilty pleasure Plum perfect Chanel.

48 getaway Revitalized Napa.

gourmet 52 foodie alert Austin wine bars.

54 sommelier’s secret June Rodil’s picks.

58 foodie alert Texas Book Festival chefs.

to your health 60 fitness Innovative workouts at Koko FitClub.

62 wellness Breast cancer self-awareness.

opposite sex 88 relationships Looking for love in all the wrong places.

90 simply irresistible Sommelier Bill Elsey.

92 memo from JB The agreement.

savvy women

42 Current Chic ankle booties that blend form and function.

10 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

94 in the news Breast cancer resource center.

96 you should know Cherie Mathews fights like a girl.

100 best kept secret Solaro Estates.

102 column Great expectations.

104 last word Life-changing books.

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Co-Founder and Publisher

Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher

Christopher Garvey Co-Founder

Samantha Stevens Executive Editor

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne editor-at-large

Mary Anne Connolly associate editor

Joelle Pearson contributing editor

Julie Tereshchuk copy editor

Chantal Rice Fashion + Style editor

Erika Cerda Contributors

Rudy Arocha, Cheryl Bemis, Nicole Carbon, Deborah Carter, Audria Choudhury, Mary Anne Connolly, Elisa Ferrari, Linda Glass, JB Hager, Cody Hamilton, Kathy Bell Hargrave, Chrissie Jarrell, Eric Leech, Molly McManus, Birdie Michaels, Joelle Pearson, Shelley Seale, Julie Tereshchuk, Natalie Yerkovich

Model depicted

Art Director

Victoria Millner assistant art director

Adrienne Rosales Account Executives

Nicole Carbon, Katie Lesnick, Kimberly Sanderson, Rachel Willey, 512.328.2421 marketing and Events manager

Katy McIntosh marketing and events assistant

Marjorie Lee Garretson Interns

Audria Choudhury, Elisa Ferrari, Jordan Golembeski, Lara Grant, Birdie Michaels, Michelle Nokeo, Sarah Pressley, Aundraya Ruse, William Russell, Frances Shaw, Caroline Strand, Kira Taniguchi Favorite spot out of copies?

512.328.2421 • 1213 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756 austinwomanmagazine.com

Austin Woman Magazine is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at more than 1,100 locations across Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission requirements, contact ideas@austinwomanmagazine.com. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission.

For copies of articles, call 512.328.2421.

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From the Publisher

n

ine divine years. I’m tempted to say “hard to believe it’s been nine years,” but that would be fibbing. What I can say about the last nine years is that these years have, hands down, been the best of my life. In 2002, we launched Austin Woman, which has arguably become one of Austin’s most iconic and sought-after resources for and about women and Austin itself.

In 2004, I married one of my very first advertising clients and in 2007, gave birth to my human baby, Beckom. In 2010, we were at it again, planning for the launch/birth of ATX MAN in June 2011, all while undergoing a corporate restructuring and integrating my husband (now co-publisher) in to the business. In September 2011, we not only celebrated our birthday (9), but the month also brought a new, exciting adventure for me as I took on the role of entrepreneur-in-residence for the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas.

As I look back on these nine years and see how my “family” has grown, I know unequivocally that none of the very best things in my life would have happened had I not followed my heart and started Austin Woman those many years ago. I send a very special thanks to my “family”: my co-founder Samantha Stevens for her unfailing belief in me; my parents for supporting us from day one; my client-turned-husband for loving me through all the deadlines and demands; my son for knowing more about the magazine business than any four-year-old should know; our amazing readers, who have supported us from the beginning; our wonderful advertisers, many of whom have been with us since the first few issues; and our wonderful staff. Through the many changes, each individually and collectively has left a lasting impact on our success.

Thanks for the best years of my life, and here’s to the next chapter with our expanded family: Austin Woman, ATX MAN, Pink Pages, Guide to Good Health and our AW Media events.

Before you buy, make an informed decision and search for the perfect vehicle @ Melinda garvey Co-founder and Publisher An Exclusive new car buying experience specially designed to meet the needs of women.

FIAT is a registered trademark of the Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communication S.p.A., used under license by Chrysler Group LLC.

Photo by Korey Howell.

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Doing Our Part to Shape Women’s Health.

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Proud Supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every year. Every woman.

Protect your health.

Schedule your screening mammogram today.

This year, over 230,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 1 in 8 American women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. But if you’re a woman age 40 or older, an annual screening mammogram provides the critical early detection you need.

The Austin Radiological Association has a team of radiologists who specialize in the early detection of breast cancer, with the latest in breast-imaging technology. For your health and for the health of the women you love, schedule a screening mammogram by calling (512) 453-6100, or visit us online at www.ausrad.com/webscheduling.

Now with a Women’s Imaging Center in Cedar Park Scheduling: 512-453-6100

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Contributors CODY HAMILTON is a cross between photographer, retoucher and illustrator. He uses situations, framing and digital editing to create works of art that leave memorable impressions. Cody grew up in Wyoming. He graduated from The Art Institute of Colorado, receiving an award for the best portfolio.

In addition to honing his portfolio and photography skills, Cody stays busy remodeling his house and spending time with his wife and daughter. Cody’s photographs have been featured in Austin Monthly and Tribeza. He has contributed to projects for Southwest Airlines, GSD&M, Door Number 3 and T3.

Born in the Hill Country and raised on fajita takeouts, Joelle Pearson felt like Texas was driving her mad. After graduating with a degree in rhetoric and women’s studies from St. Edward’s University, she fled to Seoul, Korea. She spent her nights as a copy editor for Morning Calm, her days riding subways and track bikes. When the kimchii ran dry, she returned to Austin, only to discover Texas is what keeps her sane. As associate editor for Austin Woman, she plans on working harder than she ever has in her life. “Austin Woman celebrates all that’s important to me: words, Austin and inspiring women.”

Don’t be fooled by her English accent; Julie Tereshchuk has lived in Austin for 21 years, loves the city, the people, the vibe—heck, even the crazy summer heat. The assignment to write about Heidi Marquez Smith and get a behind-the-scenes look at the head of one of Austin’s iconic events made for many “pinch-me moments,” she says. When she’s not rocking her life in Austin, Julie travels regularly to New York and London. Her favorite travel gadget? An e-book reader.

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Post-operative shirts • Originally from the Northeast, Nicole Carbon now calls Austin home. She writes about food, wine, cocktails and travel. Her work has appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Monthly, Austin Woman, Citysearch Austin, CultureMap, JetBlue’s blog, Rare magazine and more. She has made TV appearances on Austin’s NBC and Fox news affiliates.

When she is not out and about, she can be found running on the trail or at her happy place, Whole Foods Market. Nicole also joins the Austin Woman team as our newest account excutive.

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PINK

PAGES

2011 APP

NOW AVAILABLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR WOMEN

SEARCH BY: CATEGORY

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W W W. AW M E D I A I N C . CO M | D O W N LOA D T H E A P P TO DAY !

On the Web austinwomanmagazine.com

WINES · SPIRITS

FINER FOODS

TRY A NICE Cheryl Bemis of Fashionably Austin captures local flavor at New York Fashion Week.

Behind the Scenes Video b Heidi Marquez Smith, shot on location at the Texas State Capitol.

Fashion b The latest videos from Fashionably Connected. b Austin Fashion Week: The parties, the shows and the awards. b NY Fashion Week: Exclusive interview with Diane von Furstenberg and spring trends from Christian Siriano, Michael Kors and more!

Zin FOR

GIRLS NIGHT IN. Shop at Spec’s for fantastic prices on an astounding selection of your favorite treats and eats. We’ve got over 10,000 wines and spirits, plus all the savory suds, mixers and gourmet snacks your heart desires. CHEERS TO SAVINGS

Food b Interview and cooking video of Good Morning America’s favorite chef, Sara Moulton, at Lake Austin Spa, featuring recipes for sautéed beer-battered shrimp, Asian turkey burgers with wasabi sauce and tomato pie. Check out info on Moulton’s cooking classes at Lake Austin Spa as part of the October Culinary Experience.

Books b The Most Selfish Woman in America: How to Make Your Divorce the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You! by Christia Sale, host of Make Your Dream Life Your Reality radio show, debuting Oct. 14 on VoiceAmerica Talk Radio.

Beauty b Best of the blogs: fall makeup trends with makeup artist Andrea Claire.

Plus b Complete horoscopes and October calendar.

FOUR POINTS · AIRPORT BLVD · ARBOR WALK · BRODIE LN · ELGIN BASTROP · BEE CAVE · ROUND ROCK · TEMPLE · SOUTHPARK MEADOWS

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on the scene /

5 Things you must do this month The Blanton’s October B Scene

third Annual Stiletto Stampede for the Cure

Friday, Oct. 14 from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Blanton Museum of Art The Blanton B Scene’s crowds are as diverse as the gallery’s collection. Free appetizers and a reasonable cash bar draw out the shoegazing college students; the energetic live performances and chance to take in the Blanton’s latest exhibit cull collectors, socialites and Austin elite. This B Scene celebrates the opening of El Anatsui’s When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, a collection of organic and found multimedia work that pays tribute the culture of Africa. Afrobeat icon el john Selector (of Thievery Corporation) will provide the night’s soundtrack, and guests are encouraged to take advantage of the exclusive Member Lounge, bound to serve as a haven from the steamy dance floor the main room often becomes. Tickets are $5 for members and $12 for the general public. Buy tickets online at blantonmuseum.org.

Saturday, Oct 22., 10 a.m. at The Hill Country Galleria Think it’s hard to walk a mile in a woman’s shoes? Try sprinting in a pair of stilettos.

Only Austinites could have conceived an event this colorful, which encourages the under-40 demographic to take preventative steps through breast cancer education and awareness. The swanky 100-yard dash benefits the local Susan G. Komen foundation affiliate, as well as programs developed by the Stiletto Stampede organization. If you don’t feel like spraining an ankle, you can always come to the post party at Dillard’s for complimentary makeovers, a fashion show and breast cancer educational consults. There’s still time to RSVP online for a VIP pre-party at the W Hotel on Oct. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Early registration ends on Oct. 13. More information at stilettostampede.org.

Austin Shakespeare Presents Hamlet Through Oct. 9 at The Long Center’s Rollins Studio

Russell Collection Presents ‘Salvador Dali: The Argillet Collection’ Through Oct. 28, TuesdaySaturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Curator Christine Argillet, the daughter of prominent art collector and publisher Pierre Argillet, spent many years of her childhood interacting with the artist whose wildy eccentric personality spawned countless iconic and phantasmagorical images. “Even though I couldn’t understand all the artistic implications as a child,” explains Argillet, “I could recognize that spirit of creativity. It was an education for all my life in terms of freedom.” Her collection consists of more than 200 of Dali’s rare titles, and can be seen at the Russell Collection gallery on 137 West 6th St.

22 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Nationally recognized thespian Helen Merino returns to her role as the Prince after taking on the character in the 2001 Hamlet in Zilker Park. “With this production, Helen becomes one of the few women in theatrical history to do Hamlet as a male character twice over a 10year span for the same company in two very different productions,” says Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella.

Merino is sure to deliver an arresting performance in Shakespeare’s consummate work. Tickets $19–$33, $15 for students. Advanced tickets are available at 512.474.LONG or at austinshakespeare.org.

austin film festival The inside scoop on the 18th annual festival

G jeff who lives at home Jeff (Jason Segel) is living in his mother’s (Susan Sarandon) basement and waiting for destiny to fall right in to his lap.

When he goes out on a simple errand, he runs in to his estranged brother (Ed Helms) and starts to see the signs that may point him toward a new life.

Ninth Annual Film and Food Gala Honorary chairs America Ferrara and Ryan Piers Williams Oct. 19, the Driskill Hotel

Can’t-Miss Panelists Elizabeth Avellan, producer, Sin City,

Machete, Predators, Shorts, Grindhouse Amy Talkington, Valley Girl 2012, Private Benjamin

2012, Night of the White Pants Anne Rapp, writer, Dr. T & the Women, Cookie’s Fortune Nancy Pimental, writer, South Park, The Sweetest Thing Kiel Murray, screenwriter, Cars, and development executive, Pixar Animation Studios Maggie Malone, director of creative development, Disney Animation Studios Lisa Fragner, head of feature film development, 20th Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios Inc.

Must-See Films American Teacher Weaving interviews of policy

experts and startling facts with the lives and careers of four teachers, Matt Damon narrates the collective story by and about those closest to the issues in our educational system—the 3.2 million teachers who spend every day in classrooms throughout the country.

Beneath the Darkness (World Premiere) After watching their best friend get murdered, a group of teens struggle to expose a local hero (Dennis Quaid) as the psychopathic killer and keep from becoming his next victims.

Exclusive Staged Reading Professional actors read Shane Black and Anthony Bagarozzi’s new script, The Nice Guy. Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m., Rollins Theater at The Long Center for the Performing Arts

on the scene /

around town

Austin Woman & ATX man launch party

Lorie Sawyer, Kristi Larabee & Rossi English

Katy McIntosh & Katie Lesnick

Sahara Smith

Johnny Stevens, Brian Jones & Kenny Hill

Christopher and Melinda Garvey, Lisa Copeland, Carey Spence & Kyle Bailey

Gladys Jones & Jenny Lin

Austin fashion week

Edith Henry

Audrey Rickel & Jill Kerr

24   austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Britney Cooper, Loryn Briscoe & Brianna Davidson

Jennifer Jones & Donaji Lira

Lauren Holdsworth & Michelle Cruz

on the scene / UT tailgate

around town

Wine & Food Foundation of Texas Tour de Vin

Kathy Bailey, Erhikka Hodge & Diana Olmstead Lynn Gambrill & Louann Raley

james evans book chat

Jake Silverstein & James Evans

Heidi Marquez Smith & Jake Silverstein

wonders and worries

Que Maravilla Gala Committee

26   austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Meredith Cooper, Rosemary Douglas & Meredith Bagan

Renee & Dean Blaine

Karen E. Frazer, D.D.S. & Associates

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A B

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a children’s advocacy center

www.centerforchildprotection.org | 512-472-1164 #6) reversed

E F

spotlight event

albert nobbs at the Austin Film Festival This year’s Austin Film Festival includes several intriguing works, but Albert Nobbs struck a strong chord with Austin Woman. Struggling to survive in 19th-century Ireland, “Albert Nobbs” (Glenn Close) disguises herself as a man to find work and gain independence in Dublin’s most upscale hotel. Close helped to adapt the screenplay, directed by Rodrigo Garcia, the son of Nobel Prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. For more info, visit austinfilmfestival.com.

28 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

B For more events, see the complete October calendar at austinwomanmagazine.com.

Photo courtesy of the Austin Film Festival.

on the scene /

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on the scene /

philanthropy

Marathon Kids Heroes for Health honors Susan Combs.

Marathon Kids started 16 years ago as an Austin grassroots initiative and is a free, six-month, running-walkingnutrition and gardening program for kindergarteners through fifth graders most vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes and sedentary lifestyles. Now in eight cities throughout the country, the organization serves more than 250,000 registered elementary-aged children per year.

On Oct. 20, Marathon Kids’ Heroes for Health will honor former Austin Woman cover woman and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Susan Combs. The event will benefit the 83,000 Austin-area registered Marathon Kids who run or walk 26.2 miles during a period of six months and are challenged to eat five fruits and vegetables at least 26.2 days a month.

As an early and passionate voice in the fight against childhood obesity, Combs has long advocated healthier diets and more active lifestyles for Texas’ boys and girls.

During her two terms as Texas agriculture commissioner from 1999 to 2006, she focused the state’s and the nation’s attention on this growing challenge. She spearheaded the implementation of a Texas public-school nutrition policy that reduced serving sizes, required daily fruit and vegetable options and prohibited high calorie and unhealthy treats during the school day. Dubbed “the Cupcake Nazi” by some parents and teachers, Combs accepted the sugarcoated epithet because the school policies she pushed for would ensure better food choices for students. The Governor’s Commission for Women inducted Combs in to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2004 for her dedication and commitment to providing healthy food for Texas schoolchildren.

For her leadership in tackling Texas’ obesity crisis, the American Medical Association presented Combs its Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service in 2006. The Michael and Susan Dell Center for the Advancement of Healthy Living also named her the first Leadership Award recipient for Obesity Prevention.

“Marathon Kids–the name says it all,” says Combs. “It is a happy passion and the kids, the parents and the community are all involved cooperatively in helping the children develop healthy habits. The program is flexible and comes from the grassroots of the communities. It is a proactive program and will turn in to a lifelong marathon of healthy living. For every $10 that is raised, one kid gets through this marathon, and that is a really good ROI. I am a believer that P.E. in our schools matters and that Marathon Kids can really make a difference. I am so pleased to be a part of it. This is simply the right thing to do for our kids.”

For more information: marathonkids.org

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Austin Woman Sponsored Events American Diabetes Association Gala This first-annual gala gathers more than 250 supporters on Friday, Oct. 21 for a black-tie masquerade at The Oasis on Lake Travis. Cocktails, dinner, live music and auctions benefit the ADA’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes. Visit diabetes.org/austingala for more information.

Austin Women in Communication Get Smart Conference AWC’s fifth-annual professional-development conference will explore how to keep your creative energies flowing while meeting demanding deadlines and balancing tight budgets. Keeping the Muse Alive: Nurturing Inspiration and Creativity Against the Odds takes place Friday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit awcaustin.org for details.

Texas Book Festival Texas’ most beloved book festival returns for its 16th year. Visit the Capitol grounds on Oct. 22 and 23 for book readings, signings and panels. Texasbookfestival.org.

Austin Children’s Shelter Gala This year’s ACS gala, A Season of Dance, will feature performances from Blue Lapis Light, Ballet Folkorico, The Dance Spot and others. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Hilton Hotel Austin.

Girls Scouts of Central Texas’ S’more Soirée This exciting alternative fundraiser allows busy women a chance to escape their modern stressors and reconnect with nature at the Girl Scout campgrounds at Camp Texlake. Spa treatments, horseback riding and campfire songs with Sarah Hickman are a just few goodies included. Oct 29 and 30.

Reserve tickets at gsctx.org.

Center for Child Protection Play Bingo Luncheon Eighth annual ladies’ get-together. Bring your friends for tasty drinks, fabulous auction items and, of course, bingo!

Texas Book Festival 2011 o c t o B E R

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t E x a s

s t a t E

c a p i t o l

F U L L C RY by Marc Burckhardt

B E n E F i t i n G

t E x a s

l i B R a R i E s

a n D

l i t E R a c y

Sarah Bird • Andy Borowitz • Douglas Brinkley • Ina Caro Sherry Matthews • Jacquelyn Mitchard • Kevin O’Connor Mary Romero • Stacy Schiff • Meg Wolitzer l a u R a B u s h, h o n o R a Ry c h a i R

t E x a s B o o K F E s t i Va l . o R G

CHERIE B. MATHEWS

Helping women heal in comfort and dignity after surgery in their battle against breast cancer.

My Shadow Story “I went outside for my first walk after breast cancer surgery and I saw my shadow on the sidewalk. Unlike the mirror that reminded me of all the things that were wrong, my shadow reminded me of all the things that were right. I was alive and still able to cast a shadow on this earth. From that moment on I would battle for only positive thoughts.”

Her experience with breast cancer turned into an entrepreneurial journey with a ride more like a movement! After discovering the hard way that women are not provided proper, helpful healing garments after extreme surgery in the battle against this horrible disease she created the Heal In Comfort shirt and post-operative equipment.

Mathew’s shirts have internal pockets providing a place for the patient’s drains and easy-to-use velcro-like fasteners allowing patients to dress with minimal effort. The shirts are made from super-soft, comfortable material with moisture-wicking properties.

Fitting of her rock star persona, the shirts have a “biker chick” vibe so you can heal and look cool, too. Winner of the AW magazine Small Business Award, Mathews shirts are making their way onto patients’ backs while providing for 5 major hospitals and by donations made to her nonprofit.

Says Mathews, “Mastectomies hurt and breast cancer sucks. Patients need helpful equipment so they can concentrate on healing and not on what to wear. I believe that the amazing people of Austin will be a voice for those too faint to call out. ” CHERIE B MATHEWS, SURVIVOR & FOUNDER HEAL IN COMFORT AND HEALINCOMFORT4ACHANGE.ORG

Proceeds from this fundraising photo shoot went to benefit HealinComfort4aChange.org (501(c)3. Thank you to the generous donations from our subjects and sponsors Korey Howell Photography and AW Media.

Sheri McKim

Morgan Jackson

Katy Riggs

Patti DeNucci

Melinda Garvey

Karen Easterling

Anna Cummins

Audrey Rand

Jana Kay Owen

Paul Haarman

Susan Tolles

Joan Grable

Dr. Tenesha Weine

Patricia Shults

Darlene Templeton

Susan Lubin

Branch Manager, Benchmark Mortgage

Founder, Publisher AW Media

Freedom Personal Development

Owner, Infinity Wellness Center

Owner, The Inn at Wild Rose Hall

Agent, State Farm Insurance

CEO, The Renaissance Companies

Austin Chamber of Commerce

Artist, Animator, Part-time Super Hero

Owner/Marketing Chick at The Evil Wiener

Chief Enthusiast, Flourish Over 50

Coach, Speaker, Corporate Escapee

Photography by Korey Howell.

FEARLESS™ WOMEN sword imagery used with permission of concept creator, Mary Ann Halpin.

Author, “The Intentional Networker

Realtor®, Re/Max Vision

Financial Services & Marathon Runner

Breast Cancer Survivor instrumental in funding Seton Breast Cancer Center

Carey Spence-Lenss Business Strategist

on the scene /

horoscopes

Happy Birthday, Libra Sept. 22 - Oct. 22 characteristics Have you ever tried to balance different objects on a set of scales? First you place an object on one side and it tilts. Then you try an object of apparently equal weight on the other, but it’s not enough (or it’s too much). Back and forth you go, never quite getting both sides to balance out. Much is made of Libra’s desire for equality and balance, but this stems more from an inability to get the balance right, so you are always trying to add something, change something, take away something. Most Libras hate making decisions. Your mind is flooded with reasons why you should have made a different choice.

You’re diplomats, reasonable, easygoing, non-judgmental.

So most of you would rather let someone else make the strong choices, while you rule by passive aggression. You like to live by rules, cannot tolerate injustice and love to

have admirers around you. You’re considered to be the most beautiful and charismatic (it is also said that there are more strippers born under the sign of Libra than any other). You’ll spend much of your life pursuing peace, harmony and pleasure. And most astrology books like you best. This gives the other signs an inferiority complex. this month This month has so much attention-grabbing that one might mistakenly believe you’re a Leo. In fact, your friends might act oddly, like when they used to fight over you in kindergarten, arguing about who gets to sit next to you during lunch. You’re so smooth and in such high demand, you even have the ability to charm money right into your pockets before anyone knows what’s happened.

—Deborah Carter, deborah@pinkaustin.com For all horoscopes, visit austinwomanmagazine.com.

Zodiac wheel order Seventh Seventh House rules Partnerships Element Air Colors Pink, pale green, blue, jade green Quality Cardinal (initiates, pushes forward, bossy) Birthstones Opal, peridot, sapphire, tourmaline Key characteristic A desire for balance Strengths Patient and cheerful Challenges Indecisive and self-indulgent Planetary ruler Venus

B Libra Austinites

Oct. 5

Oct. 10

Oct. 10

Oct. 12

Oct. 16

steve harrigan Author

Roy spence Co-founder and Chairman of GSD&M

michelle valles Actress-Writer

bob schneider Singer-Songwriter

lisa russell Owner, the Russell Collection, Fine Art Gallery

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on the scene /

aw talks with

Cheryl Bemis and Melissa Shea of Fashionably Connected Dynamic fashion duo brings high style to Austin Woman.

By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne Photo by Rudy Arocha Fashionably Connected is the first website of its kind that is completely devoted to creating exposure for the fashion professional in their local community and to fashion-conscious consumers worldwide.

The concept was created by two entrepreneurial fashion lovers, Cheryl Bemis, a fashion reporter and broadcast journalist, and Melissa Shea, a web developer and Internet marketing strategist.

Started in Austin, as Fashionably Austin, the organization is currently building networks throughout the United States. Bemis and Shea have combined their 20-plus years in the fashion and Internet world to create a one-of-a-kind marketing solution for fashion businesses that need to increase their exposure on the web.

Austin Woman is pleased to partner with Fashionably Austin to bring our readers the most current and wide-ranging fashion coverage available.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for fashionistas. Beginning with Austin Fashion Week and wrapping up their coverage of New York Fashion Week, Bemis and Shea could not be happier. The excitement of interviewing fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg and getting a preview of the spring trends via the runway shows has them beaming. Austin Woman caught up with the dynamic duo shortly after their return from the Big Apple.

Austin Woman: You have a passion for fashion.

Where did that come from?

Cheryl Bemis: I have been involved with fashion since I was 9 years old. I had my head in fashion magazines until the pages would come out of the binding. I knew the names of all of the models and would wait for the mailman to deliver the

36 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

latest magazines.

Melissa Shea: While following trends has always been fun for me, my passion is to help fashion businesses realize their dreams. We provide exposure for fashion businesses so success can come from the ground up instead of being dictated from the top down.

AW: How would you define the style of Austin women?

What changes have you seen in recent years?

CB: Austin had two distinct styles: fashion from the mainstream designers and the SoCo looks from south of the river, which included fashion from the array of vintage and resale shops. Now you will see high-end designer looks paired with vintage finds for $2. It is fun to see Austin being featured in the national magazines for its creative fashion sense and style.

MS: Austin women have become more aware of quality as access to higher quality designers has become available. The advent of fashion-related TV shows has made women think more carefully about how they’re presenting themselves to the world.

AW: You just returned from New York. What should we look for in the spring? Any outstanding designers or collections that will especially appeal to Austin women?

CB: The colors for spring were Pantone’s top colors: Tangerine Tango, Margarita. Color blocking and sheer chiffons with longer skirts were strong, along with high-wedge shoes. Mixed prints and

soft plaza pants with higher waistbands were also shown. My favorite looks were from the Elie Tahari collection. This wearable and mainstream collection fills the gap for the stylish woman who wants affordability paired with style. On the other extreme, the Venexiana collection was from designer Kati Stern. The 71-piece collection was a non-stop after-5 dress fest–gowns red-carpet ready.

It was a photographer’s dream.

AW: What kind of information can readers look forward to from Fashionably Austin?

MS: We’re excited to have another outlet to share news about the Austin fashion industry and the talented people who live here, and to bring more fashion to the Austin Woman reader. From our local coverage to the runways of New York, we want to keep readers informed about events, designers, retailers and more.

For more information, visit fashionablyaustin.com.

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must list /

editor picks

Must attend

Must try

Sarah Bird has a reputation in Austin. She’s a spitfire, a wisecracker and an author who’s not afraid of setting the record straight.

On Oct. 11, join the former Texas Monthly columnist and novelist for an exclusive book chat with Austin Woman Executive Editor Deborah Hamilton-Lynne. Bird will discuss her latest novel, The Gap Year, which tells the story of a single mother and her drifting daughter as they navigate the final, tumultuous pre-college days of high school. The event will take place at BoConcept, 430 W. 2nd St., with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m. (drinks and appetizers provided), followed by the discussion.

In case you missed the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas’ Tour de Vin, here are the highlights:

Must see

Wines

Stargazing at the Austin Film Festival

Boutari Grand Reserve Naoussa 2010 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley

You don’t have to hang around Whole Foods Market all week hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity during this year’s Austin Film Festival. Festival coordinators have given Austin Woman an insider’s tip for your best chances of stargazing. Recharge your Nikon and head to any of these locations from Oct. 20 to 27: The Stephen F. Austin Hotel Bar, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, The Red Carpet at the Paramount Theatre, The Driskill Bar and lobby, The Roaring Fork bar, The Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons, the patio bar at the San Jose, the Continental Club and the everyman’s favorite—Guero’s.

2009 Ferrari-Carano Merlot, Sonoma County 2006 Ferrari-Carano Pre-Vail West Face, Alexander Valley 2007 Drouhin Cote de Nutes-Villages Pinot Noir 2010 Chateau de Campuget Tradition Rose 2007 Veramonte Cruz Andina Malbec 2008 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling, Clare Valley

Must taste

Must hear

It’s not too late to attend the second half of Austin Restaurant Week.

From Oct. 2 through 5, 64 local restaurants (including Olivia, Uchiko and Haddingtons) will allow attendees to sample the latest additions to Austin’s culinary scene, as well as revisit past favorites. Prix-fixe menus are offered at a fraction of normal dining costs, a portion of which will be donated to Austin’s Meals on Wheels program. Visit restaurantweekaustin.com for more information on reservations.

Texas songwriter Sara Hickman provides a powerful voice for women and her generation.

When more than 30 Texas music legends (including Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Shawn Colvin and Rhett Miller) came together to pay her tribute in The Best of Times, few were surprised.

In addition to her talent, Hickman has an unwavering dedication to increasing awareness and funding for arts education and a passion for art and the creative process. Sales of this compilation CD, available now, will benefit Theatre Action Project (TAP), a nonprofit that brings art, music and theater to Central Texas schools.

You can catch Sara at the Nutty Brown Cafe Oct. 16 and Umalaufaloopa Arts Festival Oct. 23. For details, visit sarahickman.com.

Must have Kendra Scott Darby Black Onyx Earrings, $85, available at Kendra Scott.

38 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

2008 St. Hallett Gamekeeper’s Shiraz Tasty Treats Kenichi: Hamachi Pastrami Malaga: Piquilla Rellenos de Queso Trattoria Sagra: Braised Beef with Caramelized Onion Ravioli Trace: Mini Crab Cakes Max’s Wine Dive: Duck and Wild Mushroom Gumbo Save the Date Ninth Annual Big Reds and Bubbles, Nov. 17, the Driskill Hotel For more information: winefoodfoundation.org

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must list /

current chic

That’s a Wrap

Capes and ponchos are the latest way to stay cozy this fall.

See by Chloe fringed cape, $1,685, available at Julian Gold, W. Sixth St., Suite 110, 512.473.2493.

[From top] Piazza Sempione wool and cashmere cape, $1,695, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.

Milly Belle Melange tweed cape, $575, available at Julian Gold, W. Sixth St., Suite 110, 512.473.2493.

Rachel Zoe cape, $695, available at Julian Gold, W. Sixth St., Suite 110, 512.473.2493.

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Make Your Next Date Night Twice as Memorable

YOU WANT IT. WE GOT IT. JOB #: FMG-­9568-­225 CLIENT: FLEMING’S DESCRIPTION: Austin Austin Woman Sept. Issue mobile VERSION #: 1 of 1 TRIM SIZE: 2.719"w x 9.406"h BLEED: None INK COLORS: (4/0) 4cp PERSONALIZATION: NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: REVISE INSTRUCTIONS:

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AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE As long as we have books, we are not alone. Laura Bush

Publication(s) :

Austin Woman Magazine

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must list /

accessories

Boot Up

Step it up for fall with fresh takes on ankle booties.

1.

1. Miu Miu brown heel boot, $795, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.

2. Prada black suede and leopard haircalf wedge, $950, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700.

3. Asgh Emma fur boot, $315, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.

4. Vera Wang Lavender leather cage boot, $450, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200.

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5. Kors by Michael Kors suede ankle wedge, $295, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700.

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Hi-tecH dentistry in a Home-like setting.

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must list /

beauty

Blue Streak

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Polish up your look with rich navy shades for fall.

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1. OPI Road House Blues, $7, available at opi.com.

2. Dior Tuxedo, $22, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500.

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3. Yves Saint Laurent No. 44, $20, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500.

4. Nars Night Flight, $17, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500.

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must list /

guilty pleasure

Plum Perfection

Chanel embroidered calfskin “Top Stitch” handbag in plum, $3,400, available at Neiman Marcus, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

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Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Accessorize any outfit with this luxe neutral.

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7700 W. Parmer | EMBA_info@baylor.edu The Baylor program increased my ability to think strategically and look at all the moving pieces within the big picture. As I got near completion of the program, my leadership team at work recognized that I WAS READY TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES.

Bobbie Caldwell > S E N IO R MAN AG E R, Dell In c . austinwomanmagazine.com 47

getaway

Revitalized Napa

yards. The region is anchored by the town of Napa, with its revitalized downtown, featuring the likes of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, along with 20 new tasting rooms and wine bars. The development of “restaurant row” along Main Street has brought an unprecedented level of downtown food focus and made the town a hot new destination for the wine-and-food obsessed. From Napa, the valley stretches 30 miles to Calistoga in the north, a destination known for its hot springs.

sauvignon blanc and many others are also produced here, as well as a few sparkling wines. Tasting fees can be steep—up to $50 per person, depending on the winery. Some will waive the tasting fee with a purchase, but others won’t. Tipping in the tasting rooms is not expected, and many wineries offer tours. Many are family-friendly, though some require all visitors to be 21 years or older, so check ahead of time if you have children with you.

Theater lovers flock to New York. Adventure buffs get their thrills in the canyons of Utah and Arizona.

For oenophiles–devoted wine lovers–California’s Napa Valley is the holy grail. Just an hour north of San Francisco, the rolling vine-cloaked hills are home to about 400 wineries, from the smallest boutique enterprise where you might meet the winemaker in person, to giants such as Mondavi and Laird Family Estate.

Wine Tasting and Touring To get the most out of your visit, travel the Silverado Trail—a route that winds along the edges of Napa Valley.

Vineyards come in all sizes and styles, and there is some unusual architecture to be found. Castello di Amorosa is a magnificent Tuscan-style castle, and at the organic Quixote Winery, you will find a surprisingly surreal, antimodernist chateau that is the only North American building ever designed by famed Viennese architect Frederick Hundertwasser.

While you might be perfectly content to sip wine all day, the Napa Valley offers plenty in addition to vine-

Chardonnay and cabernet grapes are the most popular varietals in the region, although merlot, pinot noir,

Escape to a wine valley like no other.

By Shelley Seale

48 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

“It’s very rural; sweeping views and no billboards,” says Stephanie Trotter-Zacharia of Casa Nuestra Winery.

“It’s going beyond the storefront, back into the hills and seeing where it’s really made.”

Traditionally, Old World wine cellars were actually caves, and Napa offers those as well. Schramsberg Vineyards offers educational tours through their

Photos courtesy of River Terrace Inn.

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must list /

getaway

120-year-old caves five times a day, demonstrating the classic method of winemaking. You can even have a candlelight tasting by appointment.

“Napa is known for its unique tasting rooms, from ostentatious to functional and everything in between,” says Jody Ness, host of the Wine Portfolio television series. “But perhaps no experience is more decadent than an afternoon at Darioush’s uber-luxurious winery and tasting room.”

Where to Stay The River Terrace Inn is in the heart of revitalized downtown Napa, nestled along the Napa River Trail and Oxbow Park Preserve. Boutique accommodations, an art gallery, luxurious spa and fantastic dining options offer modern elegance with laid-back California charm. Restaurant Cuvée’s locavore menu is solely dictated by regional availability and ripeness, and is offered alongside an awardwinning local wine list.

Ness also recommends Cakebread Cellars, one of California’s most established names.

“The family-owned winery makes wines of classic Napa distinction, with a perfect example of Napa chardonnay,” she says.

Plan your itinerary so that you don’t spend all day driving back and forth, and keep a cooler with ice packs in the car for wine. You can also hop on the Wine Train, an antique passenger railway spanning between Napa and St. Helena with breathtaking panoramas. The round-trip journey takes three hours and offers several stops and winery tours, as well as gourmet dining on the historic railway cars, with packages from $89 to $189 per person.

Beyond the Vine Another great way to explore vineyards and Napa Valley sites is by bicycle. Recent visitors to Napa Valley, Brian and Pauline Landrigan rented bikes from the Calistoga Bike Shop, which also provided a wine-tasting route that stretched more than 20 miles through mostly flat terrain and included half a dozen wineries.

Highlights Breakfast on the patio by the river, and being within walking distance of the hip downtown district.

1600 Soscol Ave., 866-NAPA-FUN, riverterraceinn.com

“It was great to get several miles of bike riding in, then listen to one of the local smaller wineries explain what they do, sample some wine and then hop back on the bike,” Brian Landrigan says.

The shop even provided pickup service for the wine purchased.

“When you return from your ride, they go out to the wineries and bring back the wines you have bought. If you like wine and bike riding, we highly recommend this,” he added.

Along with the wine, culinary exploration is an important part of the Napa Valley experience. Many vineyards offer tasting dinners, gastronomy tours and even cooking classes. Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga all have terrific farmers markets, and there could hardly be a more perfect place to enjoy a picnic with a bottle of local wine. Napa’s new food-truck craze has

50 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Plan your Visit Info and calendar napavalley.com

brought scores of gourmet trailer eateries to the area offering good picnic and budget options.

Perhaps the most romantic way to see the Napa Valley and enjoy its wine is by hot air balloon. In fact, hundreds of marriage proposals are made this way each year, and many folks even get married up in the air.

Ken Custis, a pilot with Napa Valley Balloons, says, “I enjoy sharing our sunrises, pointing out wineries and historical sites, providing a little history of the Napa Valley, and sharing the beauty of the Napa Valley with my passengers.”

Top Wine Picks Jody Ness Silverado Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Brian Landrigan Franciscan Magnificat Austin Woman insider Chappellet Winery, 2005 Cabernet Franc

Silverado Wine Trail silveradotrail.com Napa Valley Wine Train winetrain.com Receive a free issue of Napa Sonoma Magazine diablomag.com/DiabloMagazine/one-free-issue

Overcoming debilitating health struggles with Lyme disease as a young girl and finding the strength to not only live, but to live with passion, Dr. Tenesha Weine helps others find wellness through holistic medicine.

I owe my fearlessness and my passion for healing to my experience of the deep fear that comes from unrelenting pain. Overnight I went from the natural fearlessness of a fifteen-year-old girl to a deeply frightened teenager experiencing intense pain. Quarantined because of a red feverish rash that covered most of my body, doctors ran test after test to no avail. No one could figure out the source of the rash, swollen joints, and pain. Pumped full of drugs and steroids, I only gained weight and got worse. My fears and my parents’ fears escalated. One day I finally surrendered and told my mom I wanted to die.

Looking back, I crossed a bridge that day. I didn’t know it then, but I found the power that comes from acknowledging and naming a deep fear and letting others help you move through it. For after that, my mom moved past her own fear and stepped up the research she did to find an answer. Her insistence that I be tested for Lyme disease - - rare and unheard of in Michigan at that time - - is what saved my life.

Witnessing my mother transforming her fear into action has forever made her my hero, inspiration,and rock.

From her example of leaving no stone unturned and the inspiration born out of that painful experience, I now passionately work closely with my patients to uncover the source of their illness, empathize with their pain and frustration, and then stay the course to help them heal.

For me, being fearless doesn’t mean you never experience fear. It means you name it, claim it and then courageously move forward, while allowing others to support you. I daily count myself blessed to be able to use my experience to help others move through their fears and heal.

Dr. Tenesha Weine Infinity Wellness Clinic 205 Wild Basin Road S., Suite 2B Austin, Texas 78746 (512) 328-0505 www.DrTeneshaWeine.com Photography by Korey Howell.

FEARLESS™ WOMEN sword imagery used with permission by concept creator, Mary Ann Halpin.

gourmet /

foodie alert

A Girl Walks Into a Bar

Bar Lamar: Whole Foods Market’s answer to the common wine bar.

By Nicole Carbon Sometimes it’s just a little awkward being a woman and going to a bar alone. So what’s a girl to do when she’d rather go it alone than sit at home? Hello, Bar Lamar! This is Austin’s newest wine (and beer) bar, situated smack dab in the middle of the wine-and-beer department of Whole Foods Market in downtown Austin.

Who is responsible for creating a wine bar in the middle of a grocery store? Meet Devon Broglie, Whole Foods Market’s specialty coordinator for the Southwest region. He is also responsible for buying all the specialty products for the stores, including beer and wine, cheeses, chocolates, olives and more. Here, you aren’t just drinking any old grocery store wine. Broglie’s the best in the biz, as he just garnered the title of master sommelier, joining the ranks of only 180 others worldwide. His expertise allows him to find everyday wines that are exceptionally good and that don’t translate in to spending a fortune. Here, you are getting quality and value. The day I visited with Broglie, he sipped on a German riesling and selected a Spanish garnacha for me, each just $4 a glass.

Bar Lamar’s menu is organized so you can try a little bit of everything.

Wines are available in a two-ounce taste, a glass, a half or full carafe, or a wine flight. Wine flights consist of three two-ounce pours similar in style but from different regions. The list changes seasonally and includes sparkling, white and red selections. The bar also offers cheese plates arranged in flights that pair perfectly with the wine selections. Other snacks include Marcona almonds, Spanish cocktail

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Wine Bar roundup Devon Brogile, Whole Foods mix, caramelized walnuts, oversized soft pretzels and cheese crisps.

Broglie sums up the purpose of Bar Lamar perfectly: “At Bar Lamar, we created an outlet for folks to experience what our store has to offer and can use it as inspiration to select the items in the store and recreate it at home or enjoy it right here in the moment at the bar. We take the pressure off you, provide the inspiration and do the dishes, too.”

Here, the service is knowledgeable, warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere is non-intimidating. You are, after all, in a grocery store. So, next time you feel like going out but don’t necessarily want to go out alone, you can saddle up to Bar Lamar.

525 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, 512.476.1206

Trio This hidden gem, located inside the Four Seasons Hotel, has one of Austin’s best happy hours. This wine bar is serving up delectable dishes such as short ribs, addictive rosemary-seasoned steak fries and truffle mac ’n’ cheese. The wines are hand-selected by award-winning sommelier Mark Sayre, and everything is offered half off Monday through Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Known for its legendary service and quality, this spot may offer the best wine-bar deals in town.

98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin 78701, 512.685.8300 triorestaurantaustin.com

Apothecary This is a Rosedale neighborhood hit. This wine bar offers a wellthought-out wine list with nibbles such as paninis, charcuterie and cheese plates, dips and more. Don’t miss the daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and all day on Sunday and Monday. Get there early; it fills up fast. 4800 Burnet Road, Austin 78756, 512.371.1600, apothecaryaustin.com

Mulberry This cozy, candlelit wine bar housed in the bottom of the 360 Condo Tower is serving upscale, gourmet snacks such as their meatballs bathed in white wine and lemon broth and cured-meat and gorgonzola crostinis. These pair perfectly with their notable wine lists, offering both Old and New World selections. 360 Nueces St., Austin 78701, 512.320.0297, mulberryaustin.com

House Wine Situated in a charming house in South Austin, this unassuming wine bar has several seating areas in the house’s rooms to gab with a girlfriend or cozy up with a date. An added bonus is they offer half-off glasses all day Sunday from bottles opened the night before. 408 Josephine St., Austin 78704, 512.322.5210, housewineaustin.com

austinwomanmagazine.com 53

gourmet /

sommelier’s secret

June Rodil

Powerhouse sommelier-in-residence at Congress strikes a balance between the science and art of selling wine.

By Birdie Michaels / Photo by Elisa Ferarri Winemaking is a complex process, and a select few understand completely what that process requires.

What is equally fascinating–and often overlooked–is the powerhouse behind the process that ultimately results in accessible fine wine. Maintaining a proficient knowledge of said wine’s origination while continuing to develop purposeful relationships with merchants is a balance June Rodil strikes with ease.

Rodil makes Austin oenophiles’ quest for a wellresearched and congenial wine-drinking experience a pleasure. Rodil was given the title of the 2011 Best Sommelier by Wine & Spirits Magazine, and in 2009, she was named “Texas’ Best Sommelier” by the Texas 54 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Sommelier Association and the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas. Simply put, she’s one of the best female sommeliers in the country.

“There’s a little bit of a formula to what I do. First, you must understand the business plan and focus of the restaurant,” Rodil says. “You must have a good relationship with the business for which you buy, and understand and accommodate their cuisine.”

As each chef has an individual style and identity, it is a sommelier’s job to smoothly collaborate with each of them.

“There is a matrix between the style of service, and the elevation of service and the elevation of wine. Everything has to be cohesive,” she says.

Rodil graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas with a degree in English and philosophy, and she speaks eloquently regarding her devotion to her profession.

“I love the dining experience. I love wine. I love the fermentation process,” she says, adding, “I love sci-

ence, but I’m not good at math and science. You get all of the elements of those things with wine.”

Rodil’s career as a sommelier began at the Driskill Grill, where she spent seven years learning the business. At the Driskill, Rodil not only became a sommelier, but also met the partners who would become the owners of Congress, the restaurant where she currently works as sommelier. Rodil is preparing to take an exam that will enable her to claim the title master sommelier, a rare and distinct qualification.

At Congress, the cost of a bottle of wine ranges from $38 to $1,600.

“There is a price point for everyone because we don’t want to alienate people,” she says.

Congress also features a chef-inspired, seven-course meal, each element of which has been carefully paired with an exquisite wine selected by Rodil.

Hoping to make each diner’s experience memorable, Rodil is happy to share her expertise and her sommelier’s secrets.

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gourmet /

sommelier’s secret

Perfect Pairings

Master Sommelier June Rodil shares her top wine selections.

Photo by Elisa Ferrari

sparkling Vazart Coquart Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru Reserve Champagne, France Non-Vintage $108

white Maximin Gruenhauser Abtsberg Spatlese Riesling

red Domaine Denis Bachelet Vieilles Vignes Gevrey

Mosel, Germany 2008 $78

Chambertin Burgundy, France 2008 $158

Ahhh, when is Champagne ever a bad idea? If you believe that Champagne is only for special occasions (which I do not; it’s for any occasion), remind yourself that life is a daily celebration that should make you smile.

Not only is Champagne a libation of choice to toast life and all the wonderful things in the word, it’s actually one of my favorite wines to pair with food. The Vazart Coquart is 100% chardonnay and perfect for starting off an evening or meal. Its bright citrus notes, fresh, white petal aromatics (think happy daisies) and cutting acidity generate mouth-watering sensations on your palate. By starting your night with a drink that makes you happy, you become open to fully enjoying your dining experience. A perfect wine makes it easy to let go of what’s happened throughout your day and focus on what’s in front of you: happy bubbles. I love pairing chardonnay with caviar and carrot mousse, lobster and white anchovy salad or hamachi with Texas grapefruit. All these dishes are delicate and clean, which mimic the elegance and freshness of the wine without overpowering it.

I know German names evoke austerity and remoteness, but please believe me when I say Mosel riesling is like bottled angel tears. Lots of people may simply scoff and say, “I don’t like sweet wines,” but I’m not talking about the cloying, viscous, sugar-water wine of Blue Nun fame. I’m talking about completeness and balance. A droplet of honey on the middle of your tongue fulfills exactly what you crave, and the rest of your taste buds are flooded with a taste of tart, puckering fruit. This riesling is like a perfectly sweetened lemonade. The Maximin Gruenhauser is an anomaly to me; it’s delicate enough to go with raw salmon belly and crème fraîche, powerful enough to cut through tête de cochon (pig head terrine) and molasses bacon, has the perfect amount of sweetness to keep the coconut cream in a scallop dish from turning sour on your palate and makes every microgreen or herb note in each dish blossom.

Here, we have the holy grail of wines—pinot noir from Burgundy, France. I don’t expect a guest to journey through the battles of understanding villages, communes and producers in Burgundy (that’s what I’m here to do); I just want them to drink it. The Denis Bachelet offers the familiar rounded fruit aromas of pinot noir (lush plums and black cherries), but adds dried autumnal leaves, red hibiscus flowers, blood orange rind, sassafras, saddle leather and something that can only be recognizable to me as the soil of Burgundy. It has a structure so deep that it can age for decades and match rich meats like lamb with cardamom yogurt, veal tenderloin with truffles and celery root, and even rib eye loin with lobster mushrooms. It’s also light enough to go with wild salmon or prawn dishes, which makes it a perfect bottle for dining partners that order seafood dishes and meat dishes.

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gourmet /

foodie alert

Gastronomic Who’s Who Celebrity chefs come to the Texas Book Festival.

On Oct. 22 and 23, some of the best chefs in America come to the Texas Book Festival to chat and demonstrate their techniques. It’s all free and not to be missed.

Editor’s Picks Paula Deen (Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible: The New Classic Guide to Delicious Dishes with More Than 300 Recipes) Alton Brown (Good Eats 3) Lisa Fain (The Homesick Texan Cookbook) Ellen Sweets (Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins: A Memoir with Recipes)

2011 Cooking Tent Lineup Saturday, Oct. 22: 10 to 11 a.m.: New Directions in Southern Cuisine: Hugh Acheson (A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen) with Martha Hall Foose (A Southerly Course: Recipes and Stories From Close to Home) 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Louis Lambert (Big Ranch, Big City Cookbook) 1 to 2 p.m.: Gesine Bullock-Prado (Sugar Baby: Confections, Candies, Cakes & Other Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Sugar) 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Virginia Willis (Basic to Brilliant, Y’all: 150 Refined Southern Recipes and Ways to Dress Them Up for Company) 4 to 5 p.m.: Jordan Kaye (How to Booze: Exquisite Cocktails and Unsound Advice)

Sunday, Oct. 23: 11 a.m. to noon: Tyson Cole (Uchi: The Cookbook) 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock (The Casserole Queens Cookbook: Put

58 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Some Lovin’ in Your Oven with 100 Easy One-Dish Recipes) 2 to 3 p.m.: Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge (The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook) 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Lynne Rossetto Kasper (The Splendid Table’s How to Eat Weekends: New Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio’s AwardWinning Food Show)

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to your health /

fitness

Koko FitClub

A fresh take on fitness with the help of technology.

By Chrissie Jarrell and Natalie Yerkovich Koko FitClub is an innovative fitness-studio franchise that brings together technology and fitness for a revolutionary workout experience. The club uses a patented technology called the Koko Smartraining System to create individual training plans, customized workouts and personal coaching. This system shows you exactly which exercises to do, how many reps and how to do them correctly. Unlike other circuit training programs where you hop from one machine to the next, the versatile Koko machine allows you to perform all of your workouts on the same machine.

The name Koko was inspired by a Japanese word meaning “individual,” and that’s exactly what the Smartraining System is all about. Every member of a Koko FitClub is given an individualized, yearlong workout plan based on his or her specific goals. The plans are broken up in to two to three workouts per week, each lasting only 30 minutes and combining circuit weight training with interval cardio training.

As you progress with your training program, your personal “Koko Key,” a special flash drive that stores your workout details, automatically adjusts your plan for the week.

Benefits There are several tracks that are the basis for every workout plan developed at Koko FitClub: weight loss, sports conditioning, total body definition, fit and flexible, muscle building and Koko Health Tracks (plans designed for the treatment of chronic health conditions). As you can see, there is something for everyone.

In addition to the benefit of having a fully customized training plan, the Koko Smartraining System takes the guesswork out of strength training. It tells you where to sit to properly execute the exercise, how much weight you should use and how many repetitions of each exercise to perform. Plus, it tracks your pace on each repetition, forcing you to hold proper form and technique. At the end of each set, you receive a score for how well you preformed the exercise.

Who is Koko Best For? Koko FitClub is a unique experience with features that make it a perfect fit for a variety of fitness

60 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

enthusiasts.

Crunched for Time?

B 30-minute workouts B 24-hour unlimited access to fit your schedule New to Strength Training?

B Koko Smartraining System walks you through every exercise, no prior knowledge necessary B Individualized workout plans so you can build your fitness week after week Need Motivation?

B Koko FitClub uses a point system to track your progress, allowing you to compete against other members or just yourself getting Started The best way to get started is to check out Koko FitClub for yourself. It’s a different concept that you have to try to understand.

Visit Koko FitClub 9231 W. Parmer Lane, Austin, TX 78717 austin.kokofitclub.com. More locations coming soon to Circle C, Lakeway, Onion Creek and more.

Breast Cancer Recovery Program As part of the Koko Health Tracks Training Program, Koko FitClub offers a breast cancer recovery track designed to help correct muscle imbalance often resulting from treatment. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Koko FitClub Austin will give away a yearlong breast cancer recovery program.

Nominate a survivor in your life to receive this gift.

Visit Koko FitClub Austin on Facebook for more details.

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to your health /

wellness

Breast Cancer Self-Awarness To prevent breast cancer, start by knowing your body.

By Audria Choudhury Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. One out of eight women will have to fight breast cancer in her lifetime. And the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 230,480 new cases this year alone.

Know your risk A family history of breast cancer increases your own risk, so talk to family members to find out if anyone is or has been affected. Also, consult your doctor to assess your personal risk based on your current health condition and hormone cycle. Risk factors include: B Being female B Getting older B Having high breast density B Being of certain races and ethnicities B Having incidences of breast or ovarian cancer on either side of the family Although risks increase as you get older, no age is immune. Gynecologist Andrea Campaigne believes that BSE should be practiced by all women, even if steps for prevention are different for each age group.

“It doesn’t start at 30 or 40 or 50,” she says. “Breast cancer applies to all ages. It’s hard to know when to turn [self-awareness] on.”

62 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Get Screened Screenings are crucial to detection, even if you do not show physical symptoms or have a family history of cancer. In fact, 90% of cases result from spontaneous cancerous cells in the body. The earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the chance of survival.

Frequency and types of screening may vary depending on personal risk level, but generally women should plan to: B Get a clinical breast exam every three years beginning from age 20. Visits should increase to once every year after age 40.

B Get a mammogram once a year if older than 40 and at moderate risk.

Women with higher risk may be candidates for other tests such as genetic screening, but these are not recommended for the general population.

Oftentimes, screenings catch the cancer before symptoms appear and lesions spread to the rest of the body. Early detection could mean avoiding more complicated and invasive procedures such as chemotherapy or lymphectomy.

Know What is Normal for You Breast cancer awareness once meant finding a lump, but research shows that other physical signs can be indicative of a problem. Though these signs do not always guarantee cancer, know your body and consult your doctor if you notice any irregularities, including: B Lumps, hard knots or thickening inside the breast or underarm area B Swelling, warmth or darkening of the breast B Any change in the shape or size of your breast

Photos courtesy of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

In the Austin area, the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure works to raise money to provide breast cancer screenings, education and medical services, as well as financial and emotional support to those affected by the disease. Many people may not realize how easy it is to improve their chances of catching breast cancer early and thus lower their risk of being diagnosed. The key is maintaining general breast health, and self-awareness is an essential tool. It goes beyond focusing only on cancer and in to knowing your body better overall. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation provides the following steps to practice breast self-awareness, or BSE.

B Dimpling or puckering of the skin B Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple B Pulling in of the nipple or any other part of the breast B Sporadic discharge from the nipple B New pain in one spot that persists Campaigne encourages women to take it upon themselves to become more aware of their bodies instead of relying on professionals to know when something is wrong.

“I tell my patients that you are one level of police,” she says. “Get to know yourself and that little nagging voice in the back of your head.”

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices There is no definite trick to preventing cancer, but a few simple changes in your daily routine can lower your risk and improve overall health. They include: B Maintaining a healthy weight B Eating a healthier and more balanced diet B Adding at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week with any activity you enjoy, such as walking through the neighborhood with a friend or taking a bike ride B Cutting back on alcohol intake B Limiting use of postmenopausal hormones B Breastfeeding, if applicable Monica Saavedra, director of mission services for the Komen foundation, says the most important thing women can do is to simply become more informed about breast cancer and get checked out.

“Learn,” she says. “Learn your risk. Learn about exams and where you can get them in your community.”

“Being afraid is one of the worst things you can do,” Campaigne says. She sees her job as being a coach through the assessment process and promotes patient empowerment by encouraging women to engage in open dialogue with their doctors and take action about their own health. “Keep up with your wellness. Pay attention to your body. Be regular about your care and find a place [with access to] good care.”

More details and resources on breast cancer selfawareness can be found at komen.org. For more information on free local breast cancer services or to volunteer for the Komen Austin Race for the Cure, call 512.473.0900 or visit komenaustin.org.

TM

Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors Who Made This Event Possible aw media presents

nine

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years

2011 ANNIVERSARY EVENT

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 | 11am-6pm | THE WESTIN @ THE DOMAIN PRESENTED BY

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TABLE SPONSORS: Carla McDonald Ebe & Associates, P.C. Fiat of Austin GENaustin Julie Tereshchuk Merrill Lynch Michael + Suzanne Maine New England Financial Raymond James SiteSource Real Estate From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank our loyal readers and advertisers for making our 9th Anniversary Event a roaring success! Without you, we could not have grown the magazine into what it is today. We thank you for all of your support.

PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR’S EVENT

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Our MissiOn GENaustin’s mission is to support and guide girls to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood.

Growing up female has always been a challenging journey. Friendships, social groups and self-identity move to the center of a girl’s world as she becomes a teen; meanwhile, school gets harder, her body changes and cultural messages become desperately confusing. And just when girls seem to need guidance the most, they often turn away from trusted adults, hoping to find stronger bonds with their peers. How will they learn the wisdom they need to navigate the pressures and pitfalls of being a girl in today’s world?

GENaustin’s Programs clubGEN clubGEN is an after school program for middleschool girls. At clubGEN, girls are surrounded with positive role models they can relate to for connection, inspiration, and guidance. Weekly interactive, fun sessions incorporate a research-based curriculum designed exclusively for clubGEN. With support from their club leaders, peers and high school role models, clubGEN equips middle school girls with the skills and awareness they need to navigate the pressures of the teen years.

We Are Girls Conference

Donate Give a girl a chance to take part in one or all of GENaustin’s programs. So many girls and school counselors want programming at their schools, and want to attend the We Are Girls Conference but can’t afford it. Your donation will make our programs available to girls who

GENaustin’s We Are Girls Conference is a statewide annual conference that helps girls explore the issues of bullying, body image and being a girl.

Topics addressed include bullying, cyber bullying, self image, dating, diversity, financial literacy, media literacy, parent-daughter relationships and physical health and wellness. The We Are Girls conference is a one-day event for girls in grades 5-12 and the adults who care about them. It connects individuals with questions to the experts who have the answers.

Girl Talk Workshops Girl Talk Workshops explore being a girl with topics such healthy communication, relationships, media literacy, body image, and parent-daughter relationships. Girl Talk Workshops are offered to schools and community groups year-round. These sessions are designed for 4th-12th grade girls, parents, and educators. Sessions utilize group presentations and hands-on activities that are designed to address the complex issues girls face today.

don’t currently have access.

180 Program

Scholarship a girl today by visit-

GENaustin’s 180 Program supports court-ordered teen girls after their first offense and helps them get back on track, preventing them from re-entering the juvenile justice system. Each of the 8-week group sessions includes a curriculum that focuses on developing girls’ bonding, goal-setting skills, self-esteem, mental health, attachment to school, violence prevention, issues with authority and substance abuse prevention. Upon completion of the initial eight weeks, participants are encouraged to continue their participation via optional monthly daylong workshops.

ing www.genaustin.org

ContaCt InformatIon GENaustin P.O. Box 3122 | Austin, TX 78704 512.841.4093 www.genaustin.org

GENaustin.org

How to regIster

• Register at www.wearegirls.org • Questions? Email us at wearegirls@genaustin.org • Saturday, November 12, 2011 8 am to 4 pm • Location: Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez Austin, Texas 78703 • Group discounts and scholarships are available at www.wearegirls.org.

• We Are Girls t-shirts and prizes available the day of!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Rosalind Wiseman SPANISH SPEAKING TRACK:

By Con Mi Madre For girls in 5th – 12th grades and the adults who care about them; 1200 attendees

GirlConnect Through GirlConnect (a Dell YouthConnect recipient) girls will be guided by high-tech mentors to develop girl-specific content that can be scaled to the web and mobile devices. The program works with central Texas girls to engage other girls from all over the world through technology so they may learn together about how to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood.

November 12, 2011

Tatiana Dalmau

Story by Joelle Pearson

“I’m pretty nervous,” Tatiana Dalmau says calmly with a big smile.

“I’ve never been interviewed before.”

The 12-year-old introduces herself with the confidence of a college grad, and suddenly, I’m the one getting nervous.

Clearly, I’ve underestimated my subject. I knew the coordinators of GENaustin handpicked Dalmau for her eloquence and sensibility, but those descriptions just couldn’t capture how collected she is, especially since she’s in the trenches of her adolescence, navigating her home life, school life, friends, body image and sense of self. Dalmau remains optimistic.

“Every year gets a little bit better,” she says. “I’m more confident, and I’m not nearly as afraid to be myself.”

She embodies what GENaustin works to sustain.

Statistically speaking, Tatiana shouldn’t be the person she is today. After leaving their hometown of New York City to escape her abusive father, Dalmau and her younger brother were dependant on their suddenly single mother. They bounced between a few towns, finally settling in Austin, where Dalmau switched middle schools when her mother remarried. For most girls in Dalmau’s age group, disordered eating, depression, bullying and risky behavior can lead them to a lifetime of complications, beginning with the juvenile justice system or teen pregnancy.

She admits life has been hard. However, she approaches her past with old-soul wisdom.

“If I hadn’t gone through so many bad times and had those bad feelings,” she says, “I wouldn’t be here in the place I am today. Everyone has some kind of baggage they have to carry their whole life.”

Dalmau’s view of her life is the result her mother’s guidance and her own willpower, and clubGEN has helped foster her outlook outside of her home. It’s surrounded her with a network of peers and mentors who have decided that it’s better to support one another than to divide and conquer (as teens just love to do). In clubGEN, all girls can find a safe haven of unconditional acceptance where they can develop self-expression and find strength in their opinions.

Working with girls who are closer to her in age, she explains, is especially valuable for Dalmau.

“What girls deal with today is so different than from what girls dealt with who are now, say, my mom’s age,” she says. “I think that [the high-school mentors] really understand what it’s like for us because they had similar problems, just not too long ago.”

It’s not always easy to share your difficulties regarding what's going on at home or at school with just anyone, but even Dalmau, whose trust has been broken by those closest to her, feels at ease with clubGEN and GENaustin.

“I think the mentors that I have at GEN are everything that I want in a mentor,” she says, “because they’re supportive and helpful with everything that I tell them.”

While Dalmau grows giddy explaining some of her favorite clubGEN activities (business entrepreneurship, home design and examining airbrushed advertising), it’s clear the program offers much more to her than a typical school club. And that experience isn’t unique. For many girls, clubGEN provides educational opportunities that girls seldom have access to in public school. Critical-thinking skills help girls develop their media literacy and decision-making abilities, relationship workshops aim to prevent bullying and promote parent-daughter connections, and workforce development programs even prepare girls for their financial futures.

In sum, clubGEN prepares girls to confidently and intelligently navigate not only their current lives, but also their immediate future, all in a supportive environment that they help to create.

“I feel like I’m more prepared for high school and even college a little,” Dalmau explains. “Whether it’s about academics, myself or getting along with girls my age, I think I feel really ready.”

When my questions run out, I’m hesitant to shut off my recorder; I’m afraid she’ll spout more wisdom that I’ll miss. I’m certain ours is just the first of many interviews this clubGENer will conquer.

GENaustin.org

Sexting, bullying, poor body image, binge drinking, disordered eating and cutting are the number one topics being addressed on November 12, 2011 at GENaustin’s We Are Girls Conference to an audience of 1,200 teen girls and their caring adults.

Register at www.wearegirls.org for just $30 or apply for a scholarship.

Did You Know?

• Nationally, 83% of middle and high school girls report being bullied • 1 out of 3 teen girls in the U.S. suffer from depression • Nationally, girls are the fastest growing population in the juvenile justice system • 81% of U.S. 10 year-old girls have been, or are currently on a diet • Texas has the 2nd highest rate of teen girls who deliver babies twice • 71% of teen girls in Austin, Texas report feeling they don’t measure up.

• 43% of girls in Austin say they act out negatively when feeling badly about themselves through bullying, binge drinking, disordered eating, smoking and selfmutilation

See www.genaustin.org for more information on these statistics and to find new resources.

rOsalind WiseMan Story by Joelle Pearson

Your girl is going to be bullied. It’s probably already happened (yes, even if she’s four), and it’s going to happen again. You won’t be able to prevent it. Nor should you even try, explains internationally lauded author and educator Rosalind Wiseman.

People operate in groups, and conflict can’t be avoided in groups, she says. And people (yes, even four-year-olds) abuse power.

But that isn’t suggesting you can’t help. Parents and educators like Wiseman play a key role in helping children and young adults learn healthy conflict resolution. It’s not parental micromanaging; it’s essential. Just as you shouldn’t give car keys to a newly minted driver and tell them “Go!” you shouldn’t expect adolescents to be able to mediate conflicts without guidance, explains Wiseman. Children, she says, do not work out problems in a vacuum.

“You have to be able to see this as it is,” Wiseman says. “It’s not life-ending (usually) or inevitable, but when bullying happens,

thinking, ‘Oh my god. How can I save my child from this?’ is not the right approach. You have to say, ‘You know what? My kids are in the world, so I need to methodically and age-appropriately give them the skills they need to muddle through this mess.”

Wiseman has been working closely with youth since she was only 21, and understands their psychology from a much different angle than her audience is accustomed to. She graduated from Occidental College in 1991, and began working as a self-defense instructor for teens, applying her studies (group dynamics, a branch of political science that analyzes how individuals make decisions with or against the group they are a part of) to the young adult demographic.

It seemed her students craved social guidance as much as selfdefense, and Wiseman was driven to help. Thus, she created Empower, a traveling nonprofit workshop and lecture series that taught girls how to build positive relationships. A decade later, GENaustin.org

Rosalind Wiseman is the author of four books including Queen Bees and Wannabes.

she summarized her observations in the bestselling Queen Bees and Wannabes, which soon after was adapted by Tina Fey into the comedy Mean Girls. The cutthroat “girl-world” hierarchy that Wiseman exposed was honest, alarming and clearly needed further addressing.

For, calling adolescence a “mess” is generous. Young girls face a bevy of problems that most grown women can relate to and remember: fitting in; discovering your interests; and the confusing and awkward desire to feel recognized, socially and sexually. But the problem that adult women may have difficulty comprehending is how these same issues for girls today have become something completely new–and much more difficult– due to technology.

For instance, girls are twice as likely as boys to fall victim to and take part in cyberbullying. Almost 40% of girls report being bullied online during middle and high school, according to the PEW Research Center.

“Girls just don’t have any privacy to make mistakes anymore,” Wiseman explains. “When you go through that phase in your life, you’re really vulnerable to making really poor choices like hooking up with the wrong person or drinking way too much and acting like a complete fool. … Now girls go through that phase in their life on a public platform, which they sometimes contribute to.”

Wiseman certainly doesn’t hedge her views, nor does she expect her main audience—teen boys and girls—to either.

That’s part of the reason she’s been so successful in getting young adults to open up about their lives. She treats them with respect, doesn’t try to lecture and most importantly, doesn’t pretend to be an expert on their lives.

“I tell them, ‘I don’t have all the answers, even though I’ve worked with young people for a long time. I’m going to tell you the way I think the world looks, and you tell me what you think about that. And we’re going to have a real not-beating-around-the-bush discussion about it,’” she says, adding that kids trust that and respond to it.

Who helps young adults learn to navigate relationships is just as important as how. So when it comes to peer-mentoring

programs, Wiseman is generally not a supporter. They tend to be ineffective, she says, and sometimes they can even reinforce the wrong ideas. Research supports this, but it’s not youth mentors’ fault, Wiseman says. Untrained mentors generally just don’t have the skills they need.

The exception, Wiseman says, are programs like GENaustin, which she’s been a proponent of since its beginning.

“It’s different from most other peer-led support programs in that they do give girls the skills they need to be effective mentors,” she says.

GENaustin trains its high-school mentors using a researchbased curriculum, ensuring that middle-school girls are provided with mentors who are both academically focused and socially confident in their decisions and personalities. The environment of trust and respect that Wiseman strives to create in her workshops is also created at clubGEN, which gives girls a safe place to speak out about their lives and problems.

For parents, educators, mentors or those simply interested in social theory, Wiseman’s speech at the 2011 We Are Girls conference will provide a current and candid look at how to help foster positive relationships between girls and others.

Come see Rosalind Wiseman!

Keynote Speaker at GENaustin's We Are Girls Conference November 12, 2011 Register at www.genaustin.org Rosalind Wiseman is the author of four books including Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriend s & the New Realities of Girl World; Queen Bee Moms & King Pin Dads: Dealing with the Difficult Parents in Your Child's Life; Owning Up Curriculum: Empowering Adolescents to Confront Social Cruelty, Bullying, and Injustice; and the young-adult novel Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials. Her monthly column, Ask Rosalind, can be read in Family Circle or online at her website, rosalindwiseman.com.

GENaustin.org

November 12, 2011 – Register at www.wearegirls.org The We Are Girls Spanish Speaking Track Signature Partner: Con Mi Madre Con Mi Madre: Con Mi Madre, founded as The Junior League’s Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program, increases the Hispanic representation of women in post-secondary educational institutions through a focus on education and social support services to girls and their mothers. We break the cultural barriers that prevent Hispanic girls from reaching their educational dreams. For more information visit www.conmimadre.org.

Adrien Paczosa, RD, LD, of iLiveWell Nutrition Therapy: Adrien Paczosa is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian practicing in Austin and the surrounding counties. She believes that living well requires a structured approach and a commitment to three specific areas: nutrition, fitness, and rest. Helping clients find the correct balance in these three areas is what Adrien does best.

She strongly believes that with positive guidance and a realistic plan, everyone can improve their overall wellness. “I am a food teacher… I teach people how to identify and eat nutritious food. My primary focus is to help my clients improve their overall wellness.” www.ilivewellnutritiontherapy.com.

Badgerdog Literary Publishing: Badgerdog Literary Publishing is an Austin-based literary arts nonprofit offering creative writing workshops in schools and community spaces; Badgerdog also publishes the quarterly literary journal, American Short Fiction. Visit them online at www.badgerdog.com

Ballet Austin's Butler Community School: Ballet Austin's Butler Community School engages, educates, and empowers people of all skill levels, economic and cultural backgrounds to adopt healthy lifestyles through dance and regular physical activity.

By providing quality instruction in an open and inviting atmosphere the BCS inspires confidence and encourages fun. For more information call (512) 476-9051 ext 126 or visit them online at www.balletaustin.org/community

Barb Steinberg, LMSW: Barb Steinberg is a Teen Life Coach, speaker, and workshop facilitator for girls, their parents, youth professionals and women. Her mission is to enlighten and enrich the lives of girls and the adults that live and work with them through exploration, insight, compassion and fun. Barb, as a masters level social worker, has worked with adolescents for over 20 years, has been featured on KVUE-TV, KUT News and Fox7 news as an expert on teen girl issues, and is the creator of the nationally recognized DVD, The Wisdom of Girls: Teens, Sex & Truth. For more information call (512) 750-3928 or visit www.barbsteinberg.com.

BIG-Building Independent Girls: BIG helps define the career paths and skill sets young women need to succeed in their endeavors. We develop their critical skills through seminars, internship and mentorship programs. All the while, building responsible community leaders with a high moral standard. For more information visit www.BIG-Austin.com

Camp Lantern Creek:

Fran Harris Enterprises, LLC:

Lantern Creek is a residential girls camp in Dobbin, Texas. Set against a backdrop of traditional summer camp activities such as swimming, canoeing and cooking, Lantern Creek modernizes the typical camp model by offering a robust curriculum in both performing and visual arts, as well as a national-class leadership program. For more information, email Elizabeth@ camplanterncreek.com.

Fran Harris is the Chief Fun Officer of Fran Harris Enterprises, LLC, a multimedia corporation specializing in publishing, event marketing & television production.

She was a member of the Houston Comet's first WNBA Championship team in 1997 and captain of the University of Texas at Austin's 34-0 NCAA Championship team in1986. Fran recently hosted HGTV's renovation show, "Home Rules", and has appeared as a business and life coach on The Today Show and Good Morning America.

To connect with Fran, visit www.franharris.com.

Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble: The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble is a collaboration between SafePlace and the Theatre Action project. We are a group of high school age artist/ activists who create original performances about issues that affect teens. For over 8 years, the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble has been touring schools, conferences and community events all across Austin and the surrounding areas to spark dialogue about teen relationships and encourage students to take a stand against dating violence, sexual harassment and bullying. For more information or booking details visit changinglivesyouth.wordpress.com

Deirdre Earls, MBA, RD, LD and author of “Your Healing Diet”: Having used an imperfect diet instead of chemotherapy to reverse my own disabling disease, now my objective is to use more than twenty years as a Registered Dietitian and author to bring the healing power of food to others.

For more information please call (512) 453-8784 or visit www.YourHealingDiet.com.

Dell’s “Wise” Employee Resource Group: The “Wise” Employee Resource Group at Dell is focused on creating a culture of inclusion through programs and initiatives that support our team members, our business results and the communities in which we live and work.

Wise is dedicated to the acquisition, retention and development of female talent, with a focus on community involvement to grow initiatives focused on women in technology.

Emily Harris: Emily's lifelong engagement in the creative process inspires her to infuse her workshops and storytelling programs with imagination, improvisation, and play.

The schools, libraries, houses of worship, festivals, conference and community centers where she presents to children and adults appreciate her lighthearted approach. For more information email emilyharris49@ gmail.com

Experiment and Explore: Experiment and Explore is the effort of Valentina Valé to encourage all people to remain friends with their inner artist. Through 3-D exercises, participants explore forms, relationship and functionality; each person solves their design in a different way as they experience their own choices, taste and pace. When one attends Jewelry Design Workshops fulfillment of the need to express one’s individuality can occur. For more information visit www.experimentandexplore.com

GENaustin.org

From the Heart Family Healing, Kimberly Smith Cavins, OTR, CPE, EFT-Cert: Helping people with: parenting or family struggles, unhealed emotional issues, trauma, or illness who need peace, love, and connection. For more information visit www.fromthehearthealing.com.

Fun Financial Facts: Fun Financial Facts is a program designed to help young girls understand free enterprise concepts. The goal of the program is to introduce a basic understanding of how our financial system works. This will empower young girls by looking at our financial system as a tool to help build their knowledge base and feel confident about their credit history, the stock markets, and other important financial facts. For additional information about the program please contact Koreena Malone at korymalone@austin.rr.com.

GirlPower: GirlPower is a program designed to help girls understand girls. The goal of the program is to inspire young girls to feel empowered, develop a strong sense of self, and love themselves while maintaining healthy friendships/ relationships. For more information visit www.urstrong.com.

Girls Inc. of Greater Austin: Girls Inc. of Greater Austin (GIGA) inspires girls ages nine through eighteen to be strong, smart, and bold in every aspect of life, through providing them with experience, exposure, and reflection to tackle the complex barriers that they face while growing up. For more information, please call (512)423-8952, visit our local website at www. girlsinc-greateraustin.org, or our national website at www.girlsinc.org.

Girls & Women in Entertainment Network (GWEN): Jennifer Black is an actress, coach, writer, producer and speaker that empowers girls and women to fulfill their dreams in life through speaking engagements, books, productions, and products with messages of empowerment. For more information visit www. girlsconferencespeaker.com.

Girlstart: Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1997, Girlstart is one of the few community-based informal education programs in the nation specifically dedicated to empowering and equipping K–12 girls in STEM. For more information visit www.girlstart.org.

Conference Host GENaustin

Headway Consulting, LLC:

Moody Me Workshops:

Provides expertise and specialization in evaluating learning disabilities, dyslexia, and psychological functioning. For more information visit www. headwayconsultingllc.com.

Finding your unique voice creatively. Moody Me is a non-traditional art and writing class that provides a safe and supportive place for women of all ages to explore, identify, embrace, share and celebrate their unique creative selves artistically, with style and a whole lot of fun! For more information call (512) 255-7871 or visit www.melancholygirls.com

Dr. Karen Rayne: Karen provides advice and support to parents on how to educate their children and teenagers about sexuality.

Karen’s knowledge about adolescent development and education provides her with a solid background for guiding parents through tricky conversations. She also teaches sex education to children, teenagers, and college students. For more information visit www.karenrayne.com

Latinitas: Latinitas is a non-profit organization that enables young Latinas to achieve personal and academic success through media and technology outreach thereby addressing the critical state of Latina girls today. For more information visit www.latinitasmagazine.com.

Lifeworks: Lifeworks provides a comprehensive network of services for youth and families, addressing critical needs to achieve lasting, positive change. For more information call (512) 735-2400 or visit www.lifeworksaustin.org

Loveisrespect, National Dating Abuse Helpline: loveisrespect is a national 24-hour resource that can be accessed by phone or via chat, specifically designed for teens and young adults involved in dating abuse relationships or who may have questions about healthy relationships. Peer Advocates are trained to offer support, education and resources to teens and young adults as well as concerned parents, friends and loved ones. For more information please visit www.loveisrespect.org

Myrna Rocks!: Belinda Acosta is an Austin-based writer and the author of two novels, the award-winning Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz and Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over. A multi-talented singer, songwriter, and performer, Myrna Cabello's first CD, Letting Go, was released in 2010. For more information contact followbelinda@gmail.com or myrnarocks@gmail.com.

Planned Parenthood: America’s most trusted nonprofit provider of reproductive health care. Dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable reproductive health care and teen pregnancy prevention education to more than 30,000 men, women, and teens in Austin each year. For more information visit www.ppaustin.org

RegainYourTime.com: An Austin-based business providing training, speaking and consulting in the areas of productivity, individual and team effectiveness, and attention management. For more information call 424-226-2872 or visit www.regainyourtime.com.

SafePlace: SafePlace exists to end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change.

For more information visit www.SafePlace.org

Melanie Warner Spencer:

Sol2Soul:

For more than 10 years, Melanie Warner Spencer has covered design, fashion, the arts and entertainment for various newspapers, magazines and online publications.

She is currently the interior design reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Originally from Kentucky, this honorary Texan has also served as press secretary to Texas First Lady Anita Perry and is an accomplished fine art and editorial photographer. Her work has been featured in various gallery exhibitions, has won juried shows and was recognized by the Texas Press Association. She lives in Houston with her husband, screenwriter and assistant director, Mark Spencer. For more information, visit www.melaniespencer.com, “like” Spencer’s Facebook page or follow her on Twitter @ melaniespencer.

Sol2Soul is a life coaching, consulting and inspirational speaking resource that offers a variety of educational workshops and trainings to schools, corporations, nonprofits, communities and churches. Evelina Solis engages, enlightens, empowers and entertains her audience through interactive delivery methods, educational techniques and her miraculous story from tragedy to triumph. For more information visit www.evelinasolis.com.

Money Academy: Revolutionary financial literacy education that shows kids how to "Blast the Money Trap" and how to use money for something other than spending! The best investment you can make in your kids future of financial responsibility.

For more information visit www.themoneyacademy.net

Originally called The Ophelia Project, GENaustin was created in 1996 by 12 concerned mothers raising adolescent girls in Austin, TX, to address an increasing trend among middle school-aged girls – a systematic decline and sometimes permanent loss of self-esteem - the outcome of which can be devastating: epidemic levels of anorexia/bulimia, self-mutilation, depression, low academic achievement, teen pregnancy and drug abuse. GENaustin fosters healthy self-esteem and provides options at a time when girls begin to feel the burdens rather than the advantages of femininity.

Tao of Texas Martial Arts Institute: A community-focused martial arts school whose mission is to give everyone the opportunity to gain mental, physical, and spiritual strength, and as a result make the world a better place. Specializing in teaching ADD/ ADHD youths. For more information, call (512) 779-5499 or visit www.taotexas.com To read powerful, inspiring stories of Tao of Texas's students, visit our blog at www. taotexasmai.blogspot.com.

THRIVE Consulting: THRIVE encourages and assists women of all ages to identify, pursue and achieve their goals. Through workshops and individual and group wellness coaching sessions, we provide the encouragement, structure, and accountability necessary to achieve one’s goals whether they be related to weight loss, balanced living, achievement, or life-long dreams. For more information, visit www.thrive-ing.com

GENaustin.org

Travis County Attorney’s Underage Drinking Prevention Program: Identifies the link between underage drinking with more highly visible social issues in addition to drinking and driving. For more information call (512) 854-4229 or visit www.co.travis.tx.us/county_attorney/Underage_Drinking_ Pgm/default.asp

Yoga RX: Yoga RX provides private consultations, which include a written practice plan, anxiety reducing breathing exercises, meditation techniques & yoga philosophy guides. Each practice plan is specifically tailored to meet the individual's needs, in order to achieve balance in their physical, mental, and spiritual states. Caroline McCarter specializes in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, as well as many physical conditions. For more information visit www.yoga-rx.com.

Genaustin thanks the ann richards schOOl fOr YOunG WOMen leaders.

GENaustin has been privileged to locate our headquarters at the school for four years!

Thank you, ARS, for giving GENaustin a home!

Presented BY:

Media sPOnsOrs:

sPOnsOred BY:

Becky Beaver, Linda Benge, William Chandler, Rani Clasquin & Eric Harslem, Danly Properties, Ann Daughety, Christie Horne & Kevin Lalande, Margaret Keys, Diane Land & Steve Adler, Kristen & Andy Lark, Michele Moore, Office of the Governor, MariBen Ramsey & Karen Kahan, Seton Family of Hospitals, Cathy & Dwight Thompson, Liz Watson

Honorary Co-Chairs: Texas First Lady Anita Perry & Jody Conradt Honorary Advisor: Bettye Nowlin GENaustin’s We Are Girls Conference Committee: Theresa Alvarez, Linda Benge, Melissa Bixby, Rani Clasquin, Perla Cavazos, Mary Margaret Farabee, Lulu Flores, Kaye Forgione, Lesley Gilbert Guthrie, Christie Horne, Karen Kahan, Rita Kreisle, Diane Land, Kristen Lark, Marcia Levy, Lynn Meredith, Chris Miller, Erin Nelson, MariBen Ramsey, Cathy Thompson, Ane Urquiola, Liz Watson

GENaustin.org

Market Days Palmer Events Center

Thursday, November 17th Noon until 9:00pm Friday, November 18th 10:00am-8:00pm Saturday, November 19th 10:00am-7:00pm Sunday, November 20th 11:00am-5:00pm $12 per guest Single day $25 per guest Multi day Tickets are available online or at Randalls Food Market

Santa Baby!

Girls' Night Out Sponsored by U.S. Trust Media Sponsor austinwoman magazine and ATXMAN Magazine Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:30-10:00pm $50 per guest Go to www.jlaustin.org for details.

Heidi Marquez Smith is poised for yet another don’t-miss chapter as head of the Texas Book Festival.

By Julie Tereshchuk Photos by Cody Hamilton Styling by Erika Cerda; makeup by Jenny Lin; hair by Margot Chang; shot on location at the Texas State Capitol

Book

g Maude dress, available at Langford Market. Bacio 61 platform shoes available at Stella Says Go. Scattered Light jewelry available at scatteredlightjewelry.com.

[COVER] Alice+Olivia dress available at Girl Next Door. Elizabeth Cole necklace available at Eliza Page. Earrings by Scattered Light Jewelry.

Queen Singer-songwriter Sahara Smith brings unique style to the live-music scene.

By John T. Davis / Photos by Destry Jaimes

Styling by Erika cerda; hair by margot chang; makeup by lauren lumsden of rae cosmetics; shot on location at lamberts downtown and the w hotel.

L

Late August, and Austin’s preoccupied with the crazy heat. Everyone, that is, except Heidi Marquez Smith. With just two months to go, her hot topic is the 16th annual Texas Book Festival. Smith took over as executive director in 2008 and steered what was already an event of national note and local pride through some of the most difficult economic times in the country’s modern history, as well as the monumental upheaval in the publishing world.

Under her leadership, a stronger, more sustainable festival has emerged that continues to thrill 35,000 attendees of all ages. Even better, the Texas Book Festival remains a free event.

“I don’t ever want to change that,” says the 35-year-old Smith. “I want to make sure it is accessible to everyone, and that through our diverse programming, everyone has an opportunity to feel there is something for them.”

Producing an event of this scale creates a whirl of activity for Smith, her staff, legions of volunteers and the board of the festival. Enthusiasm for life doesn’t begin to describe the verve and energy she projects, particularly when she discusses a favorite topic. As the eldest of six children and a mother of two, she’s passionate about family. A 1999 graduate of the University of Texas (and the first one in her family to complete college), she married in to a family of die-hard Longhorns and is passionate about all things UT. On the top of her list is a passion for literacy.

Back in 2007, the Texas Book Festival’s Reading Rock Stars program grabbed Smith’s attention.

Today’s program, which selects authors from throughout the country to present their works to students in economically disadvantaged public schools, has evolved to serve Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. At the end of the presentations, each child receives an autographed copy of the authors’ books, and a set of books is also given to their school’s library.

“It brings books to life for these kids,” says Smith. “For many of them, it’s the first new book they’ve ever owned.”

After relinquishing her volunteer position at the 2007 festival, she was enjoying time at home with her young son, Patterson, until a call piqued her attention. The more Smith learned from the recruiter hired to find outgoing Executive Director Mary Herman’s replacement, the more her longtime passion for literacy won out against her plan to be a stay-at-home mom. Six—or was it seven?—interviews later, and against a slate of national candidates, Smith was named executive director of one of the most prestigious book festivals in the country. That was February 2008.

Six months later she was running her first festival, and in January 2009, Harrison was born. Heidi Marquez Smith doesn’t believe in living life at low ebb.

Smith’s lineage certainly contributes to her zeal.

Her father, Manuel Marquez met his wife, Sylvia, when they were both bullfighters, and their oldest child still cherishes a framed poster from those heady days.

Her middle name attests to the joy brought by her birth, as “Kalani” means “sent from heaven.”

Her early life in El Paso was filled with love, family gatherings and frequent trips to visit her father’s family in

Heidi and David Smith on the south lawn of the White House, Fourth of July, 2004. From 2001 to 2006, she worked in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. She was at her desk on Sept. 11, 2001, when a Secret Service agent burst into the room, shouting to evacuate immediately. In heels and hose, she ran for several miles, and caught sight of the burning twin towers on a TV in a local store. “I heard the sonic boom of one of the military jets being deployed,” she says. The next day she was back at her desk, with the addition of army tanks on the corner.

78 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Mexico. Flipping through the happy memories of old family photographs, Smith pauses at one of herself, aged 4, dressed in a matador outfit.

“My father made this, and I still have it,” she says.

“He continues to be innovative and passionate about life—an incredible person.”

Oddly, her fond childhood memories do not include books.

“I went to some very low-income schools, and it was only later in life I found a love and joy for reading,” Smith explains.

Intimidated by reading as a child, Smith gets poignant pleasure seeing children realize that reading can be fun when they attend a TBF event.

“My greatest interest lies in breaking down the barriers to literacy, for both children and adults,” says Smith, who recently accepted an invitation to join the board of the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.

Life changed for Smith in third grade when her parents divorced. Times were tough; Smith recalls her family’s need for food stamps, which in her youthful naivety she thought was toy money. After her mother remarried, the family relocated to New Jersey, returning to Texas for Smith to finish high school in San Antonio. After high school, it was off to UT Austin. A rocky relationship between Smith and her stepfather fueled her fiercely independent spirit and cemented her commitment to fund her own way through college.

“I worked the whole time, lived off Riverside and took the bus. I thought I was such a gourmet chef to do ramen noodles with chicken and mix it together with a can of peas,” she recalls. “That time is what made me the person I am, and I would never change that. I appreciate all I have now because of it.”

In 1999, freshly graduated, Smith landed a job at the Texas governor’s office. The following year, she moved to Washington, D.C., with her singleton suitcase. Six tumultuous years later, the effervescent Latina returned to Austin with a husband, their first

child and a lifetime’s worth of experiences.

She’d worked at the White House, holding down positions with wordy titles such as special assistant to the president and director for cabinet affairs. Her inclination for hard work fit right in inside the Beltway.

“You’re constantly on the go,” she says, adding that as much as she enjoyed her work, it was relentless. Smith recalls many days of walking from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to the White House Mess, and then back to her desk, carrying her meal tray.

“It could be raining, snowing and I’d have my tray. … When I g Kay Unger dress, Roma belt was pregnant, they’d and Jimmy Choo platforms oftentimes send it over, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. as they were worried I’d Kendra Scott earrings available slip on the steps.” at Kendra Scott. [Previous Today, back in Austin spread] Dries Van Noten dress and now the mother and Balenciaga ankle booties of two, she easily reels available at By George. Kendra off names of children’s Scott Black Onyx Darby earrings authors and their books, and Lucca Filigree bangles which she delights in available at Kendra Scott. reading to her boys.

“I love to see them get excited and then listen quietly to a story,” she says.

Reading Up She dreams about one day writing a children’s book together with her mother (“Mimi,” as the boys Plans, dreams and insider scoop from Texas Book call her). For now, however, on this late August Festival head, Heidi Marquez Smith afternoon, she’s got an event invitation to approve, an app to update and the tentative festival schedule to review.

“I just want everyone to know about the Texas Book Festival,” says the woman with one of the best jobs in Austin.

Austin Woman: Bottom line: Why attend the Texas Book Festival?

Heidi Marquez Smith: To have a unique and exciting literary experience. There is something for

everyone: live music, costume characters, hands-on activities, the cooking tent.

AW: What’s new this year?

HMS: Lit Crawl (litcrawl.org/austin). We’re partnering on it with American Short Fiction and Badgerdog. It’s six venues in East Austin, with anywhere from 12 to 25 authors. We’ve also expanded young adult programming.

And we’ll have express lines for our Texas Book Festival members, plus food trailers for the first time.

g ALC blouse with Hanii Y skirt available at By George. Prada pump available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Kendra Scott Danielle earrings and Lucca Filigree bangles available at Kendra Scott.

Heidi Marquez Smith with Laura Bush. The Texas Book Festival was established in 1995 by then Texas’ First Lady Laura Bush, a former librarian and an ardent advocate of literacy.

AW: What is your favorite part of the festival?

HMS: Seeing the kids and their families with their corn dogs and their books, sitting, reading on the grass at the Capitol.

AW: What are you most looking forward to this year?

HMS: The Children’s Chapter programming and the technology tent.

AW: Speaking of technology, what about e-books at TBF? HMS: We’re excited to be partnering with Google eBooks to present our inaugural technology tent and

to potentially sell our authors’ books online during the festival weekend. This is very important and is the beginning of what I hope will grow in to a very fruitful relationship.

AW: How much has TBF given to Texas libraries since it was founded?

HMS: Over 16 years, we’ve given $2.5 million and we’ve reached over 35,000 children.

AW: Will the festival ever include self-published authors?

HMS: Things are changing very quickly in this industry, and I think this is one of the things we will address in our technology tent. … We’re trying to be ahead of those changes, to make sure there’s an opportunity to celebrate writing in all forms, no matter how they come to be published.

AW: You have 240 authors lined up this year, culled from more than 1,000 book submissions.

How do you pull it off with a staff of four?

HMS: With a lot of help! We have 1,000 volunteers with over 30 volunteer chairs. We couldn’t do it without them. Some have been there since the beginning, and their institutional knowledge is priceless.

AW: Do you have a Kindle?

HMS: I do not—yet! I love the tangible book. I love holding my book in bed at night with the lamp on. I love the smell of books.

AW: We know it’s hard for you to pick favorites from the book festival, so what is your all-time favorite book?

HMS: Carry Me Like Water by Benjamin Alire Saenz, about the El Paso border. It brings in so many issues like poverty and race, which I’ve experienced. He’s an incredible person who has been through so much. His sister and family were killed in a bowling alley in El Paso during the drug warfare. When he writes, the pain and the anguish come through his characters.

AW: What major changes have you implemented since you were hired by the festival in 2008?

HMS: The previous executive director had done a phenomenal job of fundraising, and I inherited a top-notch festival. Since 2008, it’s changed from an event to an organization that is sustainable, with many partnerships and also membership. But we have not diluted our mission to celebrate authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas and imagination.

AW: What does the future hold for TBF? HMS: My goal continues to be to make the festival a literary resource for the state of Texas.

The Texas Book Festival Uncovered Free and open to the public, the 16-year-old Texas Book Festival is one of the top book festivals in the nation and features only books published in the year of the festival. It’s not just about books. With kids’ activities, a cooking tent, musicians and more, the fun-filled halls, grounds and streets at the Texas State Capitol are a must-see for Oct. 22 and 23.

Tips: Check texasbookfestival. org for session times and venues. Download the iPhone app for on-the-go scheduling, and for onsite updates follow the festival on Twitter @texasbookfest, #TBF2011.

A Panel to Plan For Four women discussing starting again in life: Jacquelyn Mitchard, Second Nature; Ellen Hopkins, Triangles: A Novel; Ruth Pennebaker, Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough; Nina Godiwalla, Suits: A Woman on Wall Street.

Texas Stars Rhonda Lashley Lopez’s Don’t Make Me Go to Town: Ranchwomen of the Texas Hill Country is an eloquent photo-documentary of eight women who’ve chosen to make ranching in the Texas Hill Country their way of life.

Karoline Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes, Lone Stars III: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, 1986-2011. The quilts included in this book display the explosion of creativity that has transformed quilting during the last quarter-century.

Armchair Traveler Ina Caro, Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train. A look at 25 one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport

the reader back through 700 years of French history.

Editor’s Choice Sarah Bird, The Gap Year.

Novelist Z.Z. Packer says it all: “Writing so sharp, smart, funny and addictive, it’s as if Molly Ivins had given birth to a novelist daughter.”

H.W. Brands, The Murder of Jim Fisk for the Love of Josie Mansfield and Greenback Planet: How the Dollar Conquered the World and Threatened Civilization as We Know It. Women relish a romantic story, hold the household purse strings and love to be entertained. Prolific author and master storyteller H.W. Brands hits it out of the park on all three counts. Doubledipping recommended.

Amanda Ward, Close Your Eyes. With her new release, the best-selling Austin author spins another mesmerizing tale of buried family secrets.

Susan Orlean, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. Boomers will love the inside scoop on this four-legged movie star, and the Twitterati already adore the tweeting author of Orchid Thief.

For Kids The Children’s Chapter, presented by H-E-B, has three tents: Read Me a Story, Children’s Entertainment and Children’s Activity.

Allen Kurzweil, Potato Chip Science. A book plus, well, stuff that’s an irresistible introduction to science for ages 8 to 12.

Molly Shannon, Tilly the Trickster. The former cast member on Saturday Night Live now introduces young readers to her latest hilarious creation, the mischievous Tilly.

Liz Garton, Scanlon, Noodle & Lou. The unlikely and unconditional friendship between a worm and a bird is the latest from this Austin kids’ author.

Young Adult The rise of YA is a major trend this year following the success of the Twilight series, with traditional children’s authors and even established adult authors like Kathy Reichs of Bones increasingly making the crossover. Others include: Jessica Lee Anderson, Calli Jo Whittemore, Odd Girl In Jennifer Ziegler, Sass & Serendipity

style mavens As Austin Woman hits the nine-year mark, these five former cover women bring us up to date.

By Joelle Pearson / Photos by Rudy Arocha Styled by Erika Cerda; hair by Kate Gibson and Megan McGill of Paloma Botanical Beauty Parlour, palomabeauty.com; makeup by Neiman Marcus.

Shot on location at Neiman Marcus at the Domain.

Although it is difficult to define the distinctive style of Austin women, the women of the 2011 ninth-anniversary panel certainly represent the broad spectrum of women who make our city interesting and vibrant. From a respected news anchor and a die-hard singer-songwriter, to a national PR magnate, a tech-savvy CEO and a beloved Austin personality, these women have much to say about their unique styles and the pathways that led them to success. In this feature, Austin Woman selected five fall fashion trends that reflect each panelist’s style, showcasing the individuality and creativity that defines “the Austin woman.”

Michelle Valles

Actress and Writer, Featured June 2010 In her unflinchingly honest 2010 profile, former news anchor Michelle Valles opened up to Austin Woman magazine about her four-year-long battle with sleeping pills and the barrage of pressures facing women in media. Her career was a difficult road pockmarked with complications. In 2003, Valles came to Austin to work as an evening anchor for KXAN news and left the station to work for KEYE TV in 2008 after a breakdown in contract agreements. She eventually settled into a demanding role as co-host of Austin Live, in which her duties extended beyond that of a normal news anchor. In addition to a demanding professional career, Valles felt stress in her personal life as well. Her budding relationship with singer-songwriter Ray Benson proved unacceptable to her mother. In 2009, when her prescription drug use had gone too far, Valles reached out for help.

“I was climbing, climbing to the top of my career…supporting every cause, taking care of everyone—except myself,” she said.

Only the strongest of women can face themselves as Valles did. Today she is two years free of sleeping pills and has re-established herself, health and career. After leaving the news industry in 2011 to pursue writing and acting, Valles debuted in the awardwinning HBO Latino series Habla Texas, and will appear in the upcoming film When Angels Sing with Harry Connick, Jr. She writes a column for ATX Man magazine and has joined the cast of Ray Benson’s endearing musical A Ride with Bob. Fortunately,her mother has “come around” to her relationship with Benson.

“Life is full of hills and valleys, and I’m happy to report that now I’m enjoying the view up top—finally!” she says.

AW: How would you describe the style of women in Austin?

MV: What I love about the style here in Austin is that the women are daring, innovative, but most importantly, confident. Nothing is more fashionable than a woman who walks into a room wearing what makes her comfortable and feel like herself.

d leather + lace Dolce & Gabbana dress, $2,175. Fernando Aldazabal earrings, $225.

Oscar de la Renta, $265.

Prada clutch, $1,695.

Christian Louboutin pumps, $895, available at Neiman Marcus. austinwomanmagazine.com 83

Judy Maggio

KEYE Weeknight News Anchor Featured October 2003 Maggio, an Austin personality as ubiquitous as burnt orange, has dedicated herself to her career as a journalist for 30 years. She submerged herself in broadcast journalism shortly after graduating from the University of Texas’ School of Journalism in 1981, working as a reporter for KVUE-TV for next 22 years. In 2003, Maggio was approached by CBS affiliate K-EYE to serve as a weeknight news anchor, which she still calls home.

Following her 2003 cover feature, Maggio’s professional life has remained steady, despite some major shifts in her personal life. In 2006, while Maggio and her husband were covering the Longhorns’ appearance the National Championship in California, they lost their family home in a devastating fire. When her youngest daughter, Carly, left for Scotland last year to study at St. Andrew’s University, Maggio experienced empty nest syndrome. Also in 2010, Maggio lost her mother due to Alzheimer’s complications. In spite of the personal losses, she remains upbeat and grateful for her life in Austin.

Maggio’s charming presence as an anchorwoman as well as her dedication to the city she loves has remained an unaffected constant. “As a journalist,” Maggio told Austin Woman in 2007, “I try to find the truth, try to seek the truth and tell people the truth—my community, my state. I love reporting the news and don’t see anything being too lofty.”

AW: How would you describe the style of women in Austin?

JM: Austin women’s style is innovative, professional and fun.

c Tux luxe Dolce & Gabbana jacket, $1,575, and pants $625. Lafayette 148 New York blouse, $248.

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Kathy Valentine Musician, Member of The Go-Go’s.

Featured February 2009

“I would not have become a musician if I had not grown up in Austin,” Valentine told Austin Woman in 2009. The Go-Go’s were more than just the talent behind 1980s anthems like Vacation and Can’t Stop the World. They were pioneers; the first group of women to ever successfully compose and perform music and make it the top of Billboard’s charts. Unlike many musicians, Valentine continued her successes, personally and professionally, throughout her life. By her 50th birthday, she had added a husband (and a daughter, Audrey, soon after), and cared for her mother through treatment of a debilitating brain tumor.

In the last three years, Valentine has produced two albums for local artists, one for her band the BlueBonnets, another for local all-girl trio Adrian and the Sickness. Coming out of retirement, The Go-Go’s reunited and completed one of their most successful tours to date in 2010, and received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The 2011 tour recently included a sold-out concert at the Paramount. Valentine has also begun navigating the terrain of single motherhood having split from husband, Steve Weisburd. She raises her daughter, now in the third grade, with the support of her closest friends, including Audrey’s father, Weisburd. “The privilege of being a mother is more profound and magnificent every day,” Valentine says.

AW: How would you describe the style of women in Austin?

KV: Austin women take full advantage of the fact that fashion today extends to every aspect of life. You can be chic running errands or just running on the trail!

d mod squad Rachel Zoe dress, $495.

Vince motorcycle jacket, $925. Ippolita earrings, $175 and bangles, $295$895. Tom Ford Nikita sunglasses, $360. Prada boots, $840.

austinwomanmagazine.com 85

Irene Williams

CEO of 21st Century Technologies Featured March 2010 Irene Williams remembers spending her middle school days as a shy and reserved young woman, getting lost in writing and books. It is difficult to connect this image to the woman she’s become—a technologically savvy an indemand speaker and outspoken CEO. After graduating from UT’s School of Law, she worked to find balance between her creative and professional aspirations. She joined 21st Century Technologies (21CT) in 2005, where her accolades included growing revenue by more than 50% and increasing profits by more than 300% in just one year. The company develops research and technology that is targeted at cyber security and counter-terrorism, and used by federal and state governments.

“Technology has created a world of transparency,” Williams said. “To survive in this world, we need to be open, honest and focused on doing the right thing.”

Following her feature in Austin Woman, Williams has continued to fortify and expand 21CT. The company has grown by 100%, and has established a permanent office in the Washington, D.C. area. Williams continues to extend herself to the Austin community by serving on the board of directors for the Austin Children’s Shelter, where she is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Women of Hope.

She and several other like-minded women have committed themselves to fundraising and service projects that support the shelter’s mission of protecting and healing Austin’s children and families in need.

“I realize my best day is a combination of work, community effort and being with my kids,” Williams says. “What a day that is!”

AW: How would you describe the style of women in Austin?

IW: The style that describes Austin women is the same style this publication represents: both feminine and strong, uniquely beautiful and creative, and powerful beyond measure.

86 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

e red madness DVF Adeline dress, $465.

Hervé Van der Straeten necklace, $1,225, and bangle, $360. Jose & Maria Barrera earrings, $165. Jimmy Choo pumps, $495 and Prada handbag, $1,560.

Carla McDonald

CEO and Founder of Dynabrand PR Firm Featured November 2010

sleek glamour d Abs evening dress, $440. David Yurman necklace, $4,074 and ring, $1,100. Fur stole, $395. Christian Louboutin pumps, $595.

Her svelte build and dazzling couture could be stereotypical, but Carla McDonald embodies the antithesis.

A self-made Stanford graduate, McDonald bounced between the most competitive top-tier PR firms in New York before she relocated to Austin and founded Dynabrand. Now one of the largest (by revenue) PR firms in the nation, Dynabrand’s goal mirrors McDonald’s—to empower people, especially women. “I love accomplishing things,” she told Austin Woman in 2010. “One of the reasons I work is because I want my daughters to see that no one should rest on the laurels of anybody else.”

McDonald continues to serve as CEO of Dynabrand while raising her daughters, Ava and Devin. In a characteristically selfless way, she said the new relationships that resulted from her 2010 feature have been one of the most memorable changes in her life. Many readers shared their stories and sought her advice, which was a “humbling and unexpected” outcome of the experience.

“Some of their stories brought tears to my eyes; others motivated me to do better, work harder and love more,” McDonald explains. She was honored to become a friend and mentor to Kelli Kelly, the founder of Hand to Hold (an Austin nonprofit that supports families with premature babies), as a result of her story. “These new friendships underscore what Austin Woman magazine is all about: connecting the very women it serves.”

She says of her new connections, they’re “strong, passionate, Austin women.”

AW: How would you describe the style of women in Austin?

CM: I love that Austin’s entrepreneurial culture–taking risks and showing initiative–extends to its sense of style.

Austin style is all about wearing whatever makes you feel good.

austinwomanmagazine.com 87

opposite sex /

relationships

Looking for Love in the Wrong Places Singles bars are for (you guessed it) singles.

By Eric Leech The best place to find a man with similar values —one that might become more than a one night stand—is not online and not in a singles bar. Finding that real spark most often happens when you are out and about enjoying your favorite hobbies, activities and interests.

You might find this hard to believe, considering the world no longer functions on multiple modes. Every aspect of our lives seems to have a time and place. When you want to exercise, you go to a gym. If you want to breathe air, you go to an oxygen lounge. If you want to find a date, you hang out in a singles bar, register at an online dating website or visit a speed-dating venue. But love can’t be streamlined to fit in to a busy schedule.

How many of you really like going to a singles club to meet men? Not that many, I would suspect. I’m not

88 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

saying that you should sit back and not have initiative.

Rather, think about the places you’re currently looking and consider how successful they’ve been. Taking a shortcut to love will result in an unfulfilling experience.

Overcoming Your Fears One of the biggest reasons people are drawn to singles bars is that they fear rejection. You may hesitate to approach a guy in a grocery store because you’re risking the possibility he’s attached, or even worse, of appearing desperate. It’s easier to approach a guy wearing an “I’m available” tag at a speed-dating event than to strike up a conversation at the deli counter, casually offering your phone number in case he has any other questions about stinky cheese.

What you have to consider is a guy at a dating venue might be looking, but he may not necessarily be available (married, girlfriend, prefers cats, whatever).

Finding love is more about overcoming your fears than discovering the best places to meet somebody. You already know where to go. He’s waiting in line at your favorite bakery, plugging his ears as you sing in your church choir or laying unconscious after an untimely hook shot at the golf course.

There’s No Shortcut This shortcut-to-love tactic is something many women use to overcome their fear of being alone. If you define your happiness by the idea of being loved and accepted by others, your life will always be controlled by other people. Today, I invite you to take back that control, and

discover that time is on your side when you’re spending it in great company...your own company!

While doing the things you enjoy, you’re reminding yourself that happiness can be achieved whether you’re single or in a relationship. This is easy to forget, considering the advertising media is constantly bombarding our senses with images of sex and romance. It’s better to be in love with yourself than with the wrong person.

If you have the confidence to be independently happy, you don’t need to fear being single. You will be self-assured, self-sufficient and a catch for any man. Studies show that women make the best choices in men when they narrow down their choices to just a handful of hopefuls. Nevertheless, it seems women are often drawn to the largest singles venues offering the biggest and supposedly best selection of man-stock in town. There is a better way.

Finding Nemo Make a list of all the things you like to do, then join a club, sign up to be a volunteer or take up a leisure sport you’ve always wanted to try. Immerse yourself in the world around you and the activities you enjoy.

You will have a better chance of finding your Nemo while fishing in your favorite goldfish bowl than throwing your hook into the vast sea of tuna. Don’t get me wrong; finding love takes effort, but probably not as much as you think.

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opposite sex /

Bill Elsey

Texas’ Best Sommelier raises a toast to the wines of the Hill Country.

By Molly McManus Photo by Rudy Arocha You know that purple stain you get on your teeth after drinking a nice glass of red wine?

Don’t worry, he won’t mind. Meet Bill Elsey, the 2011 winner of the prestigious Texas’ Best Sommelier award. For those who don’t know, a sommelier is a well-rounded, well-educated wine professional. In other words, this is the man you want to be wined and dined by, with knowledge as expansive as his oceanic eyes.

Growing up in Wimberley, Elsey never fully appreciated the Hill Country’s beauty and perfect vineyard infrastructure. After playing basketball for Monmouth College, Elsey began working at the Duchman Family Winery, located in Driftwood, TX, near the Salt Lick Bar-B-Que restaurant.

“We probably eat there more than we should,” jokes Elsey about the winery’s relationship with the barbeque joint.

With Austin’s blossoming culinary scene and ever-increasing demand for local food and wine, it has been important for Elsey to professionally connect with other sommeliers, creating a sense of community and personal friendships.

“We don’t spit out the wine all the time,” laughs Elsey.

Whether Elsey is directing sales, running PR and tastings or conducting classes, he’s brilliant in every aspect. However, he’s not all business. He’s a flip-flops sort of guy who enjoys kayaking in San Marcos and listening to live music in Austin.

This handsome 27-year-old will woo you with his wisdom about wine theory, service and taste. So grab a bottle, stare in to those beautiful baby blues and pretend you know what this simply irresistible wine connoisseur is talking about. He’ll leave you melting in to your merlot.

For more infomation on the Duchman Family Winery, visit duchmanwines.com.

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memo from jb

The Agreement All he wanted was a wife that didn’t cook.

By JB Hager / Photo by Rudy Arocha She baked kale, and now I have to learn the Dougie dance. This is so unfair. I know this can’t possibly make any sense, but I’ll explain.

In all my years of marriage and prior to tying the knot, we’ve had a very clear agreement: I will never ask you to cook if you never ask me to dance. On top of that, neither of us is allowed to complain, ridicule or cite this as cause for divorce.

Going in to the relationship, I knew that she had no ability or interest in cooking, and I found dancing humiliating. We both won by not attempting these endeavors and kept our dignity intact in the process. The only exception I made was for my wedding, when I oddly jerked my body around and pretended to enjoy it. This was done, primarily, so her relatives wouldn’t question me as a grumpy, un-fun person, although it’s a fairly accurate description.

Both of us have slipped on occasion with our promise throughout the years. Occasionally, I would find her reading a box of cake mix and talk her down from the ledge.

“Just step away from the box, sweetie. It’s all going to be OK,” I’d cajole.

Most of our cookware and kitchen devices are tucked away neatly in the boxes they came in as wedding gifts. I knew I was safe when I overheard her on the phone with her mother asking how to hard-boil an egg. I, too, have slipped throughout the years, particularly when there is tequila involved. I’ve always said, “If you see me dancing, call a cab because I’m within three minutes of passing out.” When dancing, usually the last thing I remember hearing is, “Make sure he doesn’t swallow his tongue!”

My wife fulfills her dancing needs with girlfriends and gay male friends. They are all better dancers, anyway. I don’t mind cooking and am the first to offer to get takeout without complaint. We have a drawer filled with menus from every Austin restaurant. It’s who we are and it works.

Now my wife is screwing it all up. We moved about a year ago and the new house has a beautiful kitchen that’s a real focal point for entertaining.

92 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

After I drew out a treasure-style map to show her where the nearest grocery store was, things started to happen.

After moving in, her friends kept volunteering to come over and teach her to cook a dish. They started out simple, like the aforementioned egg boiling. It then moved on to explaining that chopping is better done with a knife than with the side of the hand. She has very patient friends.

After I drew out a treasure-style map to show her where the nearest grocery store was, things started to happen. Before I knew it, I was coming home to spaghetti, Asian chicken salad, bison chili (points for creativity on meat choice) and just about anything kabobbed you can imagine. She actually seems to enjoy it now, and we’ve enjoyed the bonding experience of cooking together. The other day, I came home to a delicious dinner. She had used the juicer to make fresh fruit and veggie mixes for the following day and offered up some

fresh kale baked with sea salt for a snack. I started to weep.

I was so moved by this gesture on her part to overcome her fear of the kitchen that I hunted down a private dance instructor. I met the instructor every Tuesday and Thursday under the guise of being at the “gym.”

After one month, I surprised my wife with dinner and an evening of salsa dancing followed by all of her friends meeting us at a dance club to completely cut loose, sweating the night away ’til 4 a.m.

Just kidding, if you ever see me dancing, call a cab. I only have about three minutes.

JB Hager can be heard as part of the JB and Sandy Morning Show on Mix 94.7 Austin weekdays 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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savvy woman /

in the news

Fighting an Epidemic

Marcia Levy and Susan Lubin co-chair $6.5 million fundraising effort for the Seton Breast Cancer Center.

By Julie Tereshchuk The new Seton Breast Cancer Center will change the landscape of care in Central Texas. It’s happening thanks to collaboration between Seton Medical Center Austin and dedicated volunteers who are committed to transforming the vision for the center in to reality.

Emerging from this grassroots-driven collaboration is a center providing state-of-the-art care alongside state-of-the-art caring, offering everything from mammography through treatment to survivorship services for patients and family.

As steering committee co-chairs, Marcia Levy and breast-cancer survivor Susan Lubin are leading fundraising efforts for the $6.5 million project, the latest of many the longtime friends have passionately devoted their time to. The tenacious pair chatted with Austin Woman about the role of the center in fighting an epidemic, and how others can help.

AUSTIN WOMAN: Why did you get involved with the Seton Breast Cancer Center?

Melinda Garvey Appointed at UT Austin McCombs School of Business AW Media founder and publisher named entrepreneur-inresidence.

By Joelle Pearson AW Media Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of co-founder and publisher Melinda Garvey as entrepreneur-in-residence at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. The position is a yearlong appointment that began Sept. 1.

Garvey was selected based on her exemplar qualities as a small-business owner, according to Thomas Gilligan, dean of the McCombs School of Business.

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SUSAN LUBIN: I had the “best worst” experience when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. But I was keenly aware that most women do not receive the same quality of care that I did. Because of that, I felt the need to make sure that all women in Austin had the same care that I did.

AW: Why does Austin need a breast cancer center?

MARCIA LEVY: It is staggering how difficult it is for breast-cancer Marcia Levy and Susan Lubin patients in Austin to receive the comprehensive care that they deserve. equipment, new technology, new infusion center and The Seton Breast Cancer Center will the expansion of the oncology floor of Seton. create a new norm for cancer care in Austin.

AW: What progress has been made so far?

ML/SL: In a little over a year, we have received pledges for nearly half of our $6.5 million goal. We already have the building and are raising funds for the

“I’m delighted by the continuing evolution of our innovation and creativity studies at McCombs, as evidenced

by Melinda Garvey’s appointment as entrepreneur-in-residence at the Kelleher Center,” Gilligan says.

Along with Samantha Stevens, Garvey founded Austin Woman in 2002. Her goal was to highlight women in Austin, including female entrepreneurs and business owners, which, according to Garvey, are more frequent than those same challenges faced by men.

Her desire to support women in business extends beyond her work with Austin Woman. Garvey has also worked with the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and e-Women Network and is a founding board member of Texas Women in Business, an organization that assists women business owners.

Topically, Garvey plans to focus on

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To donate: 512.324.1942.

finding small-business success. She believes that igniting a passion for your business can be not only emotionally rewarding, but also financially fruitful.

Many young people, she explains, are intrigued and surprised at the ways in which large successes can be accomplished with small businesses. Garvey also plans to use her connections to help students network with local companies.

Garvey has been a frequent guest lecturer at the McCombs School of Business for the past five years, and Gilligan says he is anticipating her influence.

“I foresee many productive conversations between Melinda and our students in the year ahead,” he says.

As a guest lecturer at McCombs, Garvey has spoken about the intricacies of finding small-business success, a topic she says she will focus on as entrepreneurin-residence.

“The days of IPOs and big corporations are not over, but it is different now and small businesses are really the wave of the future,” she says. “It’s not only something you can be passionate about and something you can love, but you can make a great living.”

“Students don’t have as much access and as much transparency in to the small-business world, and I always find they’re intrigued and often surprised at things I’m doing and how we’re doing them,” she says.

Meanwhile, Garvey will continue to run Austin Woman and ATX Man magazines with her husband, Christopher.

“In every life cycle of an entrepreneur, there is a time when you need to take a break,” she says. “This will allow me to put my head and my brain in a different place and regenerate.”

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savvy woman /

you should know

Fight like a Girl

Cherie Mathews brings comfort amd innovation to the breast cancer fight.

By Mary Anne Connolly

Mathews, a former IBM genius problem solver, also spent 14 years as a physical-education teacher in order to spend time with her children, Ashley and Adam, now grown and independent at 23 and 19, respectively. She was one of the pioneers of one of the most successful after-school sports programs: The First Tee National School Program, which teaches nine core values and nine healthy habits via golf and a variety of other sports. Mathews trains groups of teachers who then implement the programs in their schools. The programs have reached more than 2.8 million students in five years.

As the first person to test pilot the program, she is currently one of three national trainers in the U.S. The former long-distance runner, avid golfer and wife of a three-time Ironman athlete also finds time to ride his-and-hers Harleys through vacation spots like Jackson Hole, WY, and Mexico.

However, this nominee of the Fearless Women Entrepreneur Network wasn’t always so bold. When Mathews first moved to Austin, she knew no one.

“Austin Woman magazine was my very first friend when I moved to Austin,” she shares. She even chose her doctors based on what ran in the magazine. “And the person I reached out to was featured in the magazine–Mary Ann Heller–an amazing soul and breast-cancer survivor who

96 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

graciously responded. I told her about my idea for healincomfort and she said, ‘Follow your dreams.’”

Cherie Mathews is the CEO and founder of healincomfort and was Austin Woman’s 2010 Small Business Grant Award winner at the magazine’s eighth-anniversary event last October, just two short years after establishing healincomfort. The healincomfort core product, the healincomfort shirt, is a post-operative solution to the frustrating and inadequate equipment Mathews was given as a double-mastectomy patient almost 10 years ago.

“As they were wheeling me down the hall after reprimanding me for bringing in a man’s hoodie to wear home, I had a vision of creating a postoperative garment,” Mathews says. “Before I hit the car, I had it designed in my head.”

Mathews continues: “A lot of women are told to bring in a men’s dress shirt and they pin the drains to it. That is the same as telling a man who has lost his man parts to cancer to go home in his wife’s skirt. It’s morally, physically and spiritually wrong. … It’s like going home from the hospital with a

Photo by Korey Howell.

Cherie Mathews is a rockstar. Her signature red lipstick; her spiky, cropped, jet-black hair; her motorcycle-chic rhinestone accessories and boots; her Harley—she looks a bit like the potential offspring of Joan Jett and Billy Idol. Unsurprisingly, she has met both icons via her love of rock ‘n’ roll and has pictures to prove it. The Burlington, Ontario, Canada native became a U.S. citizen at the age of 15, lived in 26 places and was fiercely independent. A natural inventor with a penchant for helping others, she was the offspring of a mother who attended the first Woodstock and believed in the power of the people, and a dad who disassembled the gift of his daughter’s first car in the driveway in order to teach her how things work.

(Her challenge was to put the car back together before she could drive it.)

broken arm and they give you a shoestring. It’s not right. It needs to change.”

Quite unlike a men’s dress shirt, the healincomfort shirt is made of butter-soft, moisture-wicking material with Velcro fasteners and special pockets for the drains that accompany the post-op experience. As Mathews says, it’s “a hug when a real hug will hurt” and every movement is painful.

Mathews is one of the strongest voices for breast-cancer awareness and has participated in and sponsored countless events like the Stiletto Stampede, her Be Brave and Fight Like a Girl parties and her Support Crew Rides. But Mathews spent a long time in silence.

“The first time I said verbally, out loud, that I had a double mastectomy was on Fox News just a year and a half ago,” she reveals. “I went 10 years without identifying with breast cancer. I’ve been a leader all my life and I didn’t identify with the broken, victim thing. … I never ran in a race and couldn’t deal with pink bows and balloons, but then I had a God moment. I had a dream of a hand handing me a book of paper, which was basically my life–a ‘life card’–and mine was empty. Even though I had helped a lot of people and had a lot of accomplishments, mine was empty. It wasn’t until I completely lay down my pride that I realized I couldn’t help one single soul in protective mode. So, I pretty much had to put pride aside.”

Mathews brings a kick-ass attitude to the entire breast-cancer awareness movement via her viral social-media marketing and ubiquitous presence.

As she puts it, “I bring a rock ‘n’ roll edge to breastcancer awareness–vengeance with swords and motorcyles!”

So how did she feel when she won her Austin Woman award?

“Instant rock-star status,” she says. “How many people on planet earth are ever going to have 500 businesswomen stand on their feet and applaud their idea? I commanded myself on stage to be present even though my brain was overwhelmed with the graciousness of people getting it. It was almost like a wind of knowledge came over me, like God moved the spirits of the women to applaud the rights of women to heal in comfort and dignity. It energized me in a bucket list, oncein-a-lifetime experience sort of way. Plus, it was a great platform on which to be heard and later, an attention-getter.”

Mathews has great advice for bootstrapped entrepreneurs in a down economy: “Don’t let money be the obstacle to fulfilling your passion,

savvy woman /

you should know

dream or desire. I literally built my business with $1,000. Mom-and-pops are the backbone of our entrepreneurial system, and we need to honor the inventor. I want to be a speaker for young people.

Money can be a barrier, but so is time, energy and focus.”

Mathews also credits mentors like AW Media Inc. Publisher and Co-founder Melinda Garvey and Jean Carpenter Backus (The Naked Accountant) with her whirlwind success.

“Melinda Garvey has been a real role model to me, with a bootstrap business that has made a real difference,” she says. “I have not run in to a lot of bootstrapped businesses that have been successful.

She has been with me eyeball to eyeball and given me counsel. She has been a rock.”

Healincomfort has gifted more than 500 shirts (manufactured in the USA) to breast cancer centers throughout the state of Texas, including Seton Medical Center, St. David’s Medical Center, the Breast Cancer Resource Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Oncology and Houston Medical Center. Mathews used her grant money specifically for the lengthy design patent-pending application, which recently got approval. She is now looking for a mass-market manufacturer to help her reach her goal of providing the shirts globally.

And the shirt isn’t just helping breastcancer patients. The newly formed healincomfort4achange.org is reaching heartsurgery and organ-transplant patients, too.

Mathews’ favorite healincomfort story speaks to the powerful emotional connection many women

make with the garment.

“I get a call from a daughter, and her 85-year-old mother had a double mastectomy eight months ago,” Mathews says. “Her mother is standing over the dryer, waiting, and the daughter says, ‘Mom, we gotta go!

C’mon, Mom. What are you doing?’

She is standing over the dryer like she is waiting for a cake to come out of the oven and says, ‘I’m waiting for my healincomfort shirt.’ And, of course, the daughter responds, ‘Mom, you don’t need that anymore; you’re fine. You can wear regular clothing now!’ But the daughter says, ‘Cherie, I need to order a new one because my mother just pointed and snapped at me, saying, ‘You don’t understand!

Healincomfort does!’ So the shirt is now a ‘blanky’ for someone who is 85 with no breasts.”

Support Crew Ride “We Ride to Provide”

Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, Cowboy Harley Davidson, Kickstands up at 10 a.m.

Bikers ride to St. David’s Medical Center where BCRC Pink Ribbon Cowgirls greet them and tell their stories, then wrap up at the Nutty Brown Café with live music, food and drinks. A portion of proceeds will go to healincomfort. Bikers raise money for breast-cancer patients with healincomfort shirts.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER ALL OF YOUR STOCKING STUFFERS AND GIFTS ARE AVAILABLE FRESH AND LOCAL AustiNuts 2900 West Anderson Lane Austin TX 78757 | 512-323-6887 | www.austinuts.com | info@austinuts.com

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AW READER ALERT!

Have You Always Wanted To Have the Last Word?

Do you have a way with words?

Do people say you are funny?

Protect

yourself from breast cancer in minutes!

Call us today to schedule your mammogram at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic Women’s Imaging Center.

In 500 words share your thoughts on “Home for the Holidays.” It can be poignant, it can be funny, just as long as it is your original commentary.

• Winner will be published in the November issue.

• Winner also receives a $100 gift certificate.

• Other entries will be published on the AW website.

Call 512-901-4030

All AW readers are eligible including published writers.

EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO

thelastword@awmediainc.com

Call for Blogs DO YOU HAVE A FABULOUS BLOG?

Each month we will include selections from interesting blogs relating to women in our Best of the Blogs section. Send info on your blog and a sample posting to ideas@awmediainc.com with best of the blogs in the subject line of your email.

The Austin Diagnostic Clinic Women’s Imaging Center 12221 MoPac Expwy N. 3rd floor, South Entrance ADClinic.com

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savvy woman /

best kept secret

Solaro Estates

Strengthening Texas wine with supreme sophistication.

By Molly McManus Tucked away in Dripping Springs lies an exquisite piece of land projecting perfection, class and innovation to the world of wine in Austin’s backyard.

The 160102 acres of Solaro Estate encompass rows upon rows of cascading grapevines descending in to the beautiful Barton Creek—a state-of-the-art winery with cutting-edge technology and an immaculate tasting pavilion where visitors can enjoy fine wine with breathtaking views for an outcome of some of the best wines found across the globe.

Texas is not the first state often thought of when the topic of wine is brought in to conversation, and it may be surprising to find Texas wines winning one of the largest and most prestigious wine competitions in North America. The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is judged by 60 of the world’s most renowned wine experts in a blindfolded tasting. More than 3,000 wines are presented by wineries representing 19 countries.

This year, Solaro took home not one but four wins.

Solaro’s 2009 miscela sangiovese/syrah blend and 2010 arancia orange muscat secured silver medals while bronze medals were awarded to the 2009 tempranillo reserve and 2009 mourverde grenach tempranillo.

None of this could have been accomplished without the diligent work of Solaro’s owner, Barbara Haderlein, a driven woman with a fervent passion for wine striving for perfection in her harvest. Haderlein never compromises her patience for excellence, making small-lot, limited-production, reserved and unfiltered wine. The result: sheer purity in production and distinct taste.

“We make great wines with what’s available,” Haderlein says of Solaro’s landscape and the winery’s environmentally conscious approach to winemaking.

One of the only Texas wineries to produce all its own wines, Solaro harvests two types of grapes and sources the rest from Texas farmers to back local, sustainable practices. Haderlein praises the community that continues to help Solaro’s advancement,

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from sharing equipment to involving volunteers during the harvest. With the support system being vital to operate, Haderlein has tirelessly worked to develop and cultivate these relationships in her fight for a successful winery.

“All I’ve ever heard was ‘you’ll never make it,’” Haderlein reminisces with seriousness as she proudly sits in front of Solaro’s award-winning bottles adorning their respective medals.

Twenty years ago, women rarely could enjoy fine wine, experiencing it only in the company of their husbands. Haderlein has witnessed a shift in the appreciation and demand for wine coming from women, now bringing their husbands and boyfriends along to the winery instead of the other way around.

She is honored to be a part of this trend, the progression of women’s presence in the workforce.

“Wine is a lifestyle,” says Haderlein. It’s one that’s come naturally to her family, who has owned and cultivated Solaro’s land since 1909.

Expect to be warmly greeted upon arrival by Haderlein, her partner, Robert Fritz, or their 12 year-old daughter, Erika, who all make their guests feel like old friends they long to entertain. Even though Solaro is busy 12 months a year, there is a surrounding sense of ease in an atmosphere of relaxed comfort. There is an overwhelming impression of devotion and care portrayed by the family, their world-renowned wine and the comprehensive style of Solaro.

With this winery conveniently located outside Austin, a little slice of Europe is right at your fingertips. Now in their third crush and second harvest, Solaro is only beginning to leave its mark. Texas and the rest of the world highly anticipate the future of the Solaro Estate Winery.

November 7, 2011

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Saturday

Sunday

Tuesday

Friday

REPORT VIOLATIONS • Residential car washing only on designated water- TO 3-1-1 ing days/times. No charity car washes.

• No washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or paved areas except to alleviate health/safety hazard.

• Limit golf fairway irrigation to designated days/ times.

• No water to be served at restaurants unless requested.

• No outdoor fountains except to provide aeration for aquatic life.

• No automatic fill valves for pools/ponds.

Violating water restrictions is a class C misdemeanor with a fine of $475.

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Sa

savvy woman /

personal best

Great Expectations

Accessing the secret to motivated, happier and more productive employees.

By Linda Glass, executive business coach Every day, I have a conversation with a company leader who ultimately brings up the topic of accountability in business. They ask, “How do I keep my team motivated and accountable for their work and the outcomes?”

The thought of holding people accountable usually makes leaders and employees cringe. I’ve even heard some entrepreneurs say, “That’s for the big corporate folks with a big hierarchical structure, and we’re just not like that. We can’t hold people back and become too formal. They won’t like it.”

The reality is, when done right, holding your team accountable is not only valued and desired, it’s a business imperative. It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, your employees will thank you and so will your customers.

Then why the rub? Frankly, when we think about “holding someone accountable,” the thought of conflict automatically pops in to our heads. While you might consider yourself strong as a leader, no one likes the idea of conflict as a human. We might ignore the perceived conflict as a human survival technique and think, “They’ll just figure it out and get the work done.”

So, how do you make the shift? As a leader, you have to believe that the following statement about accountability is true: My employees will be happier and more productive when they consistently know what’s expected of them and how they are making progress.

Why believe it? Consider this: In their recent book, The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work (Harvard Business Press, 2011), Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer explore the power of progress. Their research indicates that when “looking at someone’s best and worst days (based on their overall mood, specific emotions and motivation levels), we found that the most common event triggering a ‘best day’ was any progress in the work by the individual or the team. The most common event triggering a ‘worst day’ was a setback.”

If you don’t set clear expectations and follow them up with days without articulating progress and telling people how they are performing, you risk motivation, engagement, productivity and customer retention. In fact, from a pure physiological perspective, our brains crave this feedback.

Ellen Weber, Ph.D., director of the MITA International Brain Center, tells HR Magazine what happens in the

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brain when “a leader shows interest in employees, supports them and praises them genuinely.” She says upon receiving praise from a boss, an employee’s brain emits the hormone serotonin.

“Serotonin opens employees’ minds to ideas and creates desires to get to know managers better and to support whatever the managers need done,” Weber says.

Alternately, she states that if a boss diminishes an employee, the employee’s brain emits the hormone cortisol,

which shuts down the brain to a degree, closing it off to new ideas and a willingness to help.

Ready to embrace accountability? Make it part of your everyday leadership by taking a quick health check, below. If you answer yes to any of the questions—congratulations, you’re positively contributing to a culture of accountability. If you answer no, consider what you can do to make the statement a part of your everyday leadership.

is this statement true for me?

B With every assignment, I begin by setting clear expectations. I am specific about the goals to be met and what success looks like.

B I check in with my employee(s) regularly (one-on-ones on a weekly/bi-weekly basis) to see how she or he is doing and what support is needed from me or others.

B I share progress with my employee(s) on a weekly basis. I share what they’ve done specifically to achieve those goals and recognize them when progress is made.

B When I see behavior that is counter to our culture or positively re-enforces our culture, I give specific, timely feedback to the individual on what I’ve observed and what I expect to see more of in the future.

B I practice active listening. I realize that achieving success is dependent on it.

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the last word /

aw view

Gone With The Wind

by Margaret Mitchell Scarlett O’Hara–strong, independent and flawed. My kind of woman.

Charlotte’s Web

by E.B. White Life and death, and the value of unlikely friendships. Read it once a year.

A Natural History of the Senses by Dianne Ackerman Rediscovered the joys of the five senses through literature, history, poetry, politics, music and philosophy.

Helped me own, honor and learn to be comfortable in my own skin.

Dream Work by Mary Oliver Only a gifted poet can truly express the deep emotion of simple experiences.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Learned to train and trust my gut when making decisions.

From Scarlett O’Hara to Sam I Am How books changed my life.

I started to read when I was 4 years old. From the first Little Golden Book I received, my books have been my most treasured possessions. I collect first editions. I give books as gifts. I decorate with books. When I die, they will probably have to dig me out from under a pile of books. Just the thought of Fahrenheit 451 makes me cringe. You get the picture–I am addicted to books. Each year, I wait with great anticipation for the announcement of the list of participating authors appearing at the Texas Book Festival, and I agonize about which panels to attend. So many books and so little time.

OK, but how can a book change your life? A book can have a powerful message. A book can have beautiful prose and melodic poetry, but can

104 austinwoman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

a single book be life-changing? I would argue that several notable books have definitely changed the world: the Bible, Common Sense, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Mein Kampf among them. The way that books have changed my life is strictly personal. It was through books that I found my first and most enduring love–words. It was through books that I experienced a gamut of emotions long before I was able to understand the power and the meaning behind them. Books have been a catalyst for change in my life and have moved me to action. Books have helped me travel to the outer reaches of the earth and develop a sense of wonder. Books have helped me answer fundamental questions: Who am I? What do I value? What kind of life do I want to lead? It seems that there is a book for everything and, like any other junkie, I am always on the lookout for the next life-changing discovery.

Because I honestly believe that any and all books have the power to be life-changing, I came up with a short list and a note of what I learned. It would be my honor to read your list. I am certain there is an undiscovered treasure among your choices.

–Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare A pound of flesh, all that glitters is not gold and twice blessed by the quality of mercy. What more can I say? pilgrim at tinker creek

by Annie Dillard Writing by which I measure all other writing.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

by Robert M. Pirsig Quality over quantity. Thoughtprovoking and extremely well written, I read it every time I need to remind myself of the things that truly matter.

Man’s Search For Meaning

by Viktor Frankl Understanding the power of love and creating meaning in my life from a survivor of the Nazi death camps.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss I learned many things from Dr. Seuss, but my favorite lesson came from Sam I Am: I will try anything–once. I do so like green eggs and ham!

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