Intown Sept/Oct 2010 by Intown Magazine

sept/oct 2010

the buzz arts & theater philanthropy tax swap investing spectacular fall events local artist returns texas wine country houston renovator med center journal september/october 2010 intown

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the buzz philanthropy houston renovator tax swap investing texas wine country arts & entertainment local musician returns spectacular fall events 4 intown

september/october 2010

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intownmag.com intownmagazine@gmail.com

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letter

“The Changing Face of Houston: Tracking the Economic and Demographic Changes Through 29 Years of Houston Surveys.”

Stephen L. Klineberg, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology at Rice University and Co-Director of the Institute for Urban Research. The annual Houston Area Survey began in March 1982 and has now interviewed 29 successive representative samples of Harris County residents. In May 1982, the oil boom suddenly collapsed. The region recovered from deep and prolonged recession into a restructured economy

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ABOUT THE COVER SHOOT

Hilary grew up in Seabrook, just South of Houston. Her family supported her early on, encouraging her to get involved in the modeling and acting world due to her tiny frame and insanely goofy sense of humor. She ended up signing with modeling agency Page Parkes at the age of 12. Hilary appeared in print ads, independent movies and commercials but wanted more. So she completed high school in two and a half years and took a year off M.A. Haines before college to move to California where PUBLISHER she signed with the agency Osbrink. After a year of working, she decided to move Tess Regan back to Texas for college, enrolling at ConEDITOR cordia University in Austin. Still keeping Kai Horan her career alive, this past summer Hilary LAYOUT DESIGN played “Katie” in the web series Cell. HilIrene Yang ary will be a junior this year and aspires to WEB & LAYOUT DESIGN be a city planner. Keep an eye out for this multi-talented bombshell, she’s a success Jay Ford story in the making. WEB DESIGN Photographer: ballerinicooleystudios CONTRIBUTORS Agency: pageparkes.com Buddy Bailey Web series: cellthewebseries.com

April Canik Marene Gustin Brenda Jackson Stephen Klineberg

ADVERTISING 713.525.8607

intownmagazine@gmail.com Intown Magazine is published bi-monthly by SNS Media at 1113 Vine St., Suite 220, Houston, Tx 77002. Articles are welcomed and will be given careful consideration for possible publication. Intown Magazine does not assume any responsibility for unsolicited materials. Material submitted will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. You can also email intownmagazine@gmail.com. Copyright 2010 by Intown Magazine. All rights reserved. Content may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Intown Magazine. Space reservation deadline for all issues is 15 days prior to publication date. Final closing deadline for ads that are not camera-ready is the 5th of the preceding month.

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and a demographic revolution. The surveys have been measuring the public’s experiences, attitudes and beliefs during a period of truly remarkable change. Gone forever are the days when a high school graduate could go to work in the oil fields or on an oil-field manufacturing assembly line, and expect to earn a middle-class wage. The new “hourglass” economy offers rich opportunities for those with high levels of technical expertise and educational credentials. Workers without such skills are generally consigned to low-wage, dead-end service-sector jobs, which offer no benefits and few chances to work one’s way out of poverty. During the booming years of the 1960s and 1970s, Houston’s rapid growth was due primarily to Anglos streaming into this region from other parts of the country. By 1981 Houston had become the fourth largest city in America, with a population that was still almost two-thirds Anglo. After the oil-boom collapse in 1982, however, the Anglo population stabilized and then declined. Yet Harris County continued to grow. In 2008, only 36 percent of the 4 million people now living in Harris County were Anglos; 39 percent were Hispanic, 18 percent African-American, and 7 percent Asian. The demographic transformations are even more dramatic when age is taken into account. Of all the respondents reached in the 2010 Houston survey who were 60 or older, fully 70 percent were Anglo. In sharp contrast, 78 percent of all those aged 18 to 29 were of some other ethnicity, and 64 percent were African American or Hispanic. Clearly, if Houston’s “minority” youth are unprepared to succeed in today’s knowledge economy, it is hard to envision a prosperous future for the city. As America’s (mostly Anglo) baby boomers move inexorably into retirement (the oldest among them turn 64 this year), the young people, who will predominate among Houston’s citizens and workers, taxpayers and voters as the century unfolds, will be mostly non-Anglo and increasingly Hispanic. How area residents respond to this community’s burgeoning diversity will help to determine whether Houston’s ethnic transformation will become a significant asset for this port-city in the high-tech global economy, or whether it will instead become a major liability, with a growing “urban underclass” that will dramatically reduce the region’s competitiveness and set the stage for serious social conflict. Much will depend on the way this generation of Houstonians responds to these remarkable changes. It will be interesting and important to continue tracking systematically through the annual Houston Area Survey the changing attitudes and beliefs of Harris County residents with regard to these issues.

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Houston Fashion Week Market Sq.

INTOWN PREMIERS Fashion Houston 2010, presented by Audi, hits Houston October 11th. The week-long rendez-vous will feature both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and couture collections from designers Chloe Dao, Christian Siriano, Cesar Galindo, David Peck, Lauren Bush and Marc Bouwer.

Market Square Park: Now Open. The original heart of activity in downtown Houston, is once again the place to be. Combining live entertainment, tasty temptations by Niko Niko’s, shady walkways and even a dog run, Market Square Park will now follow the trend, happily seen in Houston lately, of revamping historical sites and rebuilding Also planning Fashion Week events is HFIG (Houston Fash- dwindling neighbors into social epicenters. ion Independence Group). They’re kicking their own party packed week off with a “Fashion Week Opening White Party” Officially opened on August 28, the park is truly a feast for October 10th at an exclusive location not yet disclosed… the senses, from food to live music to greenery, meditation but you probably won’t have much trouble running into their and beyond. And aside from all that the park has to offer, set of designers and models at ICON, the group’s official neighborhood institutions like La Carafe and Warren’s and hotel. the new gastro pub Hearsay are just steps away, adding a new dimension of cool to the whole undertaking. Not to be outdone, Simon Fashion Now, presented by Cadillac, makes The Galleria scene September 9th – 11th. Be The north end of the lawn is dedicated to Lauren’s Garden, sure to check out Trends & Friends Night, an evening of fash- a tranquil garden setting created in memory of Houstonian ion, cocktails and mingling on the covered ice rink. Septem- Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a passenger on United Airlines ber 10th, 5 p.m. Flight 93 and all those lost on September 11. For more on what’s going on Intown check out thehoustoneventscalendar.com

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the BEST for less A RECESSION-PROOF GUIDE TO FINE DINING

Caffe Bello

Tony Vallone’s newest, more casual concept Caffe Bello in the ultra-hip Fourth Ward/Montrose area.

Del Frisco’s

5061 Westheimer Rd. Over the top luxury meets value at Del Frisco’s with their aptly titled “Happy Meal.” For just $14.95 you get your choice of either a 100% Kobe Beef Hotdog, or Del Frisco’s Prime Burger paired with a glass of Shiner Bock Beer. This meal, and it’s price will really make you smile.

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Sushi Raku

3201 Louisiana St. This trendy yet delectable sushi spot in midtown offers all-day happy hour on Sundays and Mondays, both food and cocktail specials. The food is tasty, the service is outstanding. We recommend the “rock and roll” – tempura shrimp, white sesame seeds and sweet soy—even sweeter at just $4.

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Ibiza

2450 Louisiana St. Lunch and dinner at this midtown staple are a lot cheaper than you might think, with salads and soup starting at $5, appetizers at $6 and pizzas for (enough for two) $13. The fare is light yet full-flavored and the atmosphere is clean yet relaxing— a steal at these prices.

Fleming’s

2405 W. Alabama This River Oaks institution is known for its outstanding fare and elegant atmosphere, but what many don’t know is they also have a steal of a happy hour. You can get five cocktails, five wines and five appetizers just $6 each at the bar until 7pm. What more could you ask for?

Caffe Bello 322 Westheimer Rd. Tony Vallone’s new, more casual concept Caffe Bello in the ultra-hip Fourth Ward/Montrose area (the old La Strada location) drops the price without losing any of the taste and sophistication Houstonians expect from the Vallone name. The fresh spot offers $5 glasses of wine and $6 pizzettis (mini pizzas) all day, every day, and the happy hour prices are even skimpier. Boun affare! Truluck’s 5350 Westheimer Rd.

This Galleria area ode-to-swank offers up an incredible all you can eat stone crab claws deal for around $50. Not just that, but half-priced cocktails and select appetizers and 45% off wine during happy hour 4 – 7 Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. There is one catch—you’ve got to hang out in their ultra-luxe lounge. Who knew?

Strip House 1200 McKinney St. At this downtown institution you’ll find complimentary hors d’oeuvres passed in the lounge during happy hour. Mini crab cakes, deviled eggs, tuna tartare and steak crostinis are just a sampling of what’s available, and when it comes to cheap, you can’t beat free. Voice (Hotel Icon) 220 Main St.

Downtown’s lovely lounge now offers $1 martinis on Wednesday, as well as a $10 gourmet burger and beer on Tuesday. VOICE oozes modern flavor with old-school flair, and their bargain bites seal the deal. What better way to spend your mid-week?

Ocean’s 819 W. Alabama

If you haven’t been to Ocean’s on Alabama (the old Bistro Vino location). The patio is to die for and with the weather cooling off, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to spend your afterwork hours. And if the sublime settings weren’t enough, the food follows suit—a low-priced hand at that, with dishes like ceviche, their specialty for just $12.

Cafe Moustache 507 Westheimer Rd. This cool new French café has eight happy hour menu offerings for just $4 each, ranging from Truffle Fries with Parmiggiano served with mayo to cured salmon profiteroles filled with crèmefraiche and chives. The wine list is unique and the atmosphere is young yet sophisticated. America’s 1800 Post Oak Blvd.

2040 West Gray (coming soon!) Experience the cuisine of North, Central and South America on the cheap with America’s three-course “Executive Lunch,” at $16, it buys soup or salad and your choice of grilled chicken, panseared tilapia or grilled beef tenderloin with plentiful sides and a slice of tres leches, cocoa tart, cappuccino or espresso to end.

McCormick & Schmick’s

1201 Fannin St., 1151 Uptown Park Blvd. This long-time business lunch and dinner stand-by also offers $1.95 bar food during happy hour—not your ordinary bowl of peanuts, but a half-pound cheeseburger, steamed mussels and more. september/october 2010 intown

Hands On Texas Wine by Tess Regan

ere at Intown, we love wine and we love Texas maybe even more. So this topic seemed a natural fit. What we didn’t know is that there is an entire industry—an entire Texan industry, to be sure, devoted to wine. And it’s been around since 1650. That’s right, before there was Texas there was Texas wine. The earliest recorded Texas wine producers were Spanish missionaries in the 1650s (more than 100 years before the industry evolved in California). Their mission was to enlighten the natives, and that mission included the necessary wine so pertinent to communion rites. Texas and wine drinking, or vineyards for that matter—the pairing often seems an unnatural occurrence to current natives, but let me assure you, it’s been around for quite a while. And I’m not talking Franciscan monks in burlap or the purveyors of gas station bargains. The Texas wine industry has a deep-seeded (pardon the pun) place in the industry, and is competition to both the Californian and European wine markets. Here’s why: Texas, as we know, offers a diverse array of climates. The sunny and dry weather of some of the state are akin to those seen in Portugal. And these are not just imports we are speaking of—the state is home to over 36 members of the Vitis grape family, with 15 being native to the state, more than any other region on earth. So what is the big deal, you ask, if it has been going on for 360 years? First of all, the industry experienced a sizeable detriment, to put it sweetly, with the advent of prohibition. Bathtub gin is one thing, but a bootleg vineyard is quite another. The industry was not able to fully recover from this obstacle

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until about the 1970s. Here we see a flourish. And rather than expound on what we’ve discovered via cyberspace, we went to an actual human being—Paul Bonnariggo of Messina Hof, a leader in the field and a seasoned doughboy in the trenches of the industry. This is what he has to say, and if you’ve perused the wine sections, from Spec’s to Kroger’s, you know this name—and for that reason, you know Paul knows what he is doing. Here we go: Paul: These are the golden years of the Texas wine industry. After doing this for 33 years, we’re being discovered. We’ve had tremendous success and kind of an international awareness that we are producing great wines in Texas and we’re getting more and more people from around the country and abroad coming into our winery and visiting us because of our reputation for quality wine, so it’s good. And probably this will be the record crop in Texas history. Excellent growing conditions, a very cold winter, a great spring with rain, and now in most of the growing regions of Texas, there has been no rain in a month, which allows for no fungus or mold or anything to harm the crop. So it’s all good. Hey Paul, what’s the deal with wine being more popular lately than the girl I should have asked out in high school? I was looking at the numbers the other day, and about 85% of all women consume wine on a regular basis and about 60% of men now consume wine regularly, so it’s a far cry from the beginnings of our industry in the 1970s, when probably

40% of women and 30% of men drank wine. You can look at our tasting room on a weekend and see as diverse a crowd as you can imagine come through the winery. The

The reputation of our wine has gotten so widespread that, for the first time in history, we are being asked to speak at the Portuguese and European wine meeting in

industry. For years if you went to Europe you could never visit a winery because their feeling is that it is a production facility—not intended for tourism. Conversely, America

‘we’re very proud of our chefs that produce food that is reminiscent of the South and the West,’ and the same thing is happening with our wine. college students from A&M come out to the wine bar. They sit and talk and taste and compare. It’s a wonderful thing to see – the growth of wine interest in Texas.

Oporto, Portugal, in January. We are going to be speaking on how to create tourism because we are so far ahead of the European

developed the concept of winery visitation. Here’s an example: if I wanted to go to Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, I would have to get

I see, the younger generation is into it, but what about the health aspect, has that made a difference? The health benefits have made a huge difference. In 1990 was the 60 Minutes show on the “French Paradox,” and from that moment on, wine became a health food. Suddenly wine was almost a recommendation by almost every physician, every intern, every cardiovascular surgeon-- because of the fact that it would lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, and so I think that was a tremendous boon. Back in the 1970s, if you went to any restaurant you never got a wine list. You’d walk into a restaurant and the first thing they’d say is, ‘can I get you a cocktail?’ It was normal to walk into a restaurant and have a shot of whiskey before your meal.

So what is so appealing about Texas wine? A couple things. Texans are extremely loyal, probably more so than any other state I’ve ever seen. Second, the movement of buy-itlocal has spread all over the country. Now you see farmers markets springing up everywhere. Grow it local, consume it local. Help your community business because it stimulates the local economy, that kind of spirit is very strong in Texas. The next thing is that if you produce a quality product for a Texan they become more than an advocate, they become a fanatic. Not only that, but they are proud. Go back to the fact that Texas is the only state in the union that was once a country. I think that spirit still exists, so there’s that sense of ‘we’re very proud of our chefs that produce food that is reminiscent of the South and the West,’ and the same thing is happening with our wine. september/october 2010 intown

a letter of introduction. It’s very different there. They sell virtually nothing through their retail operations, so we’re going to go over there and talk about our winery. We have a restaurant, we have tastings, we have a bed and breakfast, we have tours. We see 250,000 visitors every year come through our winery. The Bush Presidential Library sees less than 150,000. We now have 200 of those wineries all reaching out to the public and telling their story. And it’s a very compelling story, because all of us are typically family-owned, there’s a heart to the wineries. We’re not a large faceless corporate entity. We are also the poster child of agriculture in the state of Texas because we are one of the only products that you can grow here, make here and sell here. It’s perfect because we’re producing it and selling it retail, we’re producing it and selling it wholesale, a lot of the retailers have jumped on supporting the industry by giving us Texas wine sections. You go to Spec’s on Smith St. and the Texas wine section is the closest wine section to the registers. We have over 20 of just our wines in that section alone. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t have 120 wines from across Texas in that store.

Where do you see the industry going from here? We wineries now have banded together and I believe we now have about 20 trails. We have seven wineries; soon we’ll have nine. We’re growing wineries like weeds. The seven of us have four trails a year we promote. October is Texas wine month, it’s a Go Texan restaurant roundup. What we’re trying to do collectively as an industry is drive traffic to those restaurants that are supporting and featuring Texas wine in the first week of the month of October.

9/23 Ribbon Cutting, Sudhoff Properties 9/30 Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting Stumpf Cannon Fasthoff 10/7 Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting, Courtyard Marriott 10/21 25th Anniversary Celebration, Saks Pavilion BLVD PLACE

The Texas Hill Country Wine Trail touts itself as second only to Napa in breadth and number of visitors, but perhaps that is an understatement. As Paul said, Texas wineries offer something you can’t get in California or Europe, hands-on interaction with the growers and their families. It’s not just about tasting, it’s about getting to know the people and their stories. Suffice to say Texas wine has personality. Visit gotexanwine.org for more information.

For more information visit www.galleriachamber.com or call 713-629-55555

HISTORICAL OFFICE BUILDING 1113 Vine St. Houston, TX 77002 713-203-4600

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Source: Texas Department of Agriculture

TEXAS WINE TRAILS Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail Tour eight wineries in Southeast Texas along a stretch between 1-45 and Highway 290. The views of the millions of flowers are almost as spectacular as the wine. Crosstimbers Wine Trail This region encompasses about 26,00 square miles in North and Central Texas. There are seven wineries just outside Forth Worth to stop, sip and relax. Munson Wine Trail Just North of Dallas, this trail is home to 12 wineries. There is some interesting history to the region, which, by way of Thomas Volney Munson, is credited with fighting a disease that decimated the grapes of Europe in the late nineteenth century. Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 On this trail you can tour nine wineries along Highway 290, whose countryside oddly but aptly enough, echoes that of central Italy and the Rhone Valley in France. Way Out Wineries This trail, located just South of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is home to eight boutique wineries, each positioned just outside of a small town. Texas Hill Country Wine Trail 24 wineries compose this trail, the largest in the state. It is also dripping with Texas Hill Country artists, musicians, crafters, chefs, restaurants and entertainers. Grapevine Wine Trail Nine wineries make up this winding trail, which tours the Grapevine and North Texas regions. Themed events such as the Murder Mystery Trail, Valentine Wine and Halloween Trail liven things up even more.

www.HAR.com mls # 90800775

Piney Woods Wine Trail This East Texas trail meanders through 16 wineries, country bars and rustic farms. If you’re into local color, this one is a must. Dallas Wine Trail Right in Dallas’ backyard, this trail of four wineries focuses on the juxtaposition of city and country. Dallas urbanites and own-of-towners alike congregate here for countless events year round. San Gabriel Wine Trail Just North of Austin, along IH-35 you’ll find six tasting rooms brimming with unique and delicious wine. The area is also host to two annual events, the Winter Escape in January and Sooth the Senses in June. september/october 2010 intown

HOUSTON

renovator

The Kitchen Gathering tables, gathering rooms... these are the terminologies we use when describing the function of the American kitchen. When it comes to remodeling in Houston, the kitchen is the most popular and most desired room to update. Let’s look at the reasons most homeowners want to renovate their kitchen. It is to update the style of the space, achieve better efficiency and create a comfortable, livable environment which exudes a new ambience. Evaluate each of the components that make up your kitchen remodel, the common denominator is function. As a professional remodeler, I help homeowners think through the scientific aspects of achieving style, efficiency and ambience. A focus on form creates style, a focus on function creates efficiency and a focus on beautification creates ambience. The kitchen is the heart or ‘energy center’ of a home. We literally refuel ourselves in our kitchens. From appliances and plumbing, to cabinetry and work surfaces, function for efficient operation is key. An equally weighted focus on each aspect of the project will positively impact the overall quality of the job. The kitchen sink is one of the most used elements and should be given more consideration than one would think. According to Julie Brekke of Bath and Kitchen Showplace, “When it comes to the kitchen sink, function should precede form. With today’s options on size, the divide of the sink, the materials it is made of; it is easier than ever to meet both needs of form and function in a kitchen sink.” One of the most critical elements in your kitchen remodel is the design and function of your cabinetry. With cabinetry representing 30% to 40% of your kitchen remodel costs, you will want to consider the value of site built versus factory built. Which is the right way to go? Site built has been the old traditional method which does not offer the high end finishes nor the furniture quality look you will get with factory-made cabinetry. Re-facing your cabinets can cost as much as replacing, so give this careful thought. Re-facing does not improve functionality. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), which is the gold standard of the kitchen and bath industry, has developed a set of guidelines for good kitchen design. The 31 guidelines, along with compliance to state and local building codes, provide your kitchen designer with the necessary tools to ensure your new kitchen is an efficient and safe environment in which to function. Rick Beckham, CMKBD (a certified master kitchen and bath designer with John Moore Renovation, LLC) says, “A well thought out kitchen space will not only be safe and efficient, but aesthetically pleasing as a result. In my 15 plus years as a builder/designer, a recurring negative aspect of the kitchen remodel is having to execute on plans and ideas from inexperienced sources, while still striving to meet the customer’s expectations for the project.” Avoid disastrous outcomes with your kitchen remodel by hiring qualified, experienced firms. A firm that can provide the design service along with the execution of that design will ensure the continuity and integrity has been maintained throughout the project, from design to completion. Beware of having a local big box store prepare your design and expect your contractor to execute construction of that plan. Their focus is only on selling you cabinetry. Upfront detailed planning with a professional is essential to a successful kitchen remodel. What should you expect from a competent contractor? One that is a member of the national and local homebuilders association, and is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Some of the credentials a reputable remodeling company should possess: accredited designers on staff with certifications from NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association), NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), or ASID (American Society of Interior Designers).

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Getting Started

The first task in planning your remodel project is to establish your budget. How much are you willing to spend? Your budget breakdown for all of the components of the project might resemble this model: Cabinetry=40%; Appliances=20%; Countertops=10%; Paint, flooring, backsplash, plumbing, lighting is the balance, or 30%. Realize that your particular project could be much different so the percentage breakdown would be allocated differently. Ask your contractor to give you the category breakdowns so you know where you are spending your money.

Cabinets

Designing and building kitchens is truly a specialty. As we mentioned earlier you are investing 40% of your kitchen remodel budget on cabinets. So it makes sense that you would be spending 40% of your time in the design process of your cabinetry. A smooth functioning kitchen is achieved by careful selection and placement of cabinetry components. Reputable factory-made cabinetry will offer superior component construction and finishes. Kraftmaid is one of the best known brands in the industry. There are also other lesser advertised manufacturers of custom factory-made cabinets that offer unique wood species and finishes such as Custom Cupboards, Medallion Cabinetry and Midcontinent. Ultra Craft Cabinetry offers a frameless line and is geared for the more contemporary application. All of these major manufacturers will offer basic features of soft close doors and drawers as standard features. Other features that take a designer to point out will include: soft closing pull out trays, drawer organizers, cutlery dividers and stacked designs to create that custom furniture look that

will set your kitchen apart from the average. Common wood species in the Houston area for kitchen cabinets from least expensive to most expensive are: Oak, Birch, Maple, Alder, Cherry, Rustic Alder and Rustic Cherry. Some manufacturers offer exotic woods and also offer custom paint colors. Upgrades to stained finishes will include: glazing over stain, painted finishes, painted with glaze, distressing options, and other custom treatments. Glass options and mullioned door options will also add cost to the job but also provide you with a distinct design element. Katheryn Houk, General Manager of John Moore Renovation says, “As a kitchen designer I help my clients prioritize or scale the upgrades to achieve both design and budget expectations”. Again, investing 40% of your budget should dictate that you devote 40% of your time in technical design of the cabinetry; so hire a professional to assist you.

Lighting

Lighting in the kitchen comes in several common forms. General lighting of the space is typically done with recessed lighting spaced throughout the ceiling of the kitchen. A single or set of decorative fixtures may be added over an island or bar area for style enhancement with under cabinet fixtures for specific task lighting. Consider using compact fluorescent and or LEDs for both recessed and under cabinet options. They are energy efficient, provide better light and have longer life than other incandescent options.

Faucet and Sink

There are a plethora of choices for faucets and sinks for your kitchen today. Think about how you use your sink and make your choice on function prior to finish and style. Open bowl sinks are a great choice for those who need more space for large pots and pans. The open bowl will allow you to wash the larger item in the sink instead of half in and half out. You can then decide on a finish and style. The choices can be mind boggling. So consult a professional, such as Houston’s Bath and Kitchen Showplace or Unique Additions, to help you decide.

Appliances

Every kitchen must have a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and oven. Little extras like wine storage and large cooking appliances can be added later and don’t necessarily affect the design, so stick to the essentials at first. The basic types of refrigerators to choose from are the traditional top-mount, the september/october 2010 intown

bottom-mount, which puts food at eye level, and side-by-side. The latter puts food at eye level as well, but the interior is often more narrow. It is important to remember that the size and type of your refrigerator should suit not just your design, but your lifestyle as well. In other words, don’t buy a huge fridge if you eat out six nights a week. Modern kitchens have become sleek multi-taskers. They are less bulky and more streamlined and utilize new technologies. Many combine traditional cooking methods with convection, which circulates air to speed up cooking time. Induction cooktops, which are an alternative to gas and electric, use a method of flowing electricity through a coil to produce a magnetic field under a ceramic cooktop. When a stainless or iron pan is placed on the surface, the pan, rather than cooktop, gets hot. Be sure to buy Energy Star when possible, they will save you and the earth a considerable amount. One important consideration, according to Belinda Postman-Kaylani of RoomMarkable Redo is product lifespan. As she puts it, “most appliances, excluding SubZero and high, high end, have an average life of five to seven years, so do not invest major money in them.”

Trends

We talked to Rob Hellyer of Premier Remodeling about what his clients have been asking for lately. Here’s what he had to say: “Now that baby boomers are reaching retirement age, a couple of design features gaining emphasis are ergonomics (aka universal de-

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sign) and lighting. Consolidating activity is a common desire. That is, combining the kitchen with laundry, dining or home office features. Keep in mind, though, that doing so does require a greater design expertise to make it all work.”

Flooring

Natural stone is the still the winner in Houston for all around durability and style. Wood flooring is being used much more, but caution applies when considering wood flooring in the kitchen that gets a lot of wear. Solid woods are great for this application. Also consider the earthfriendly alternatives such as reclaimed wood from old buildings, salvage yards and estate sales. Laminates, cork, vinyl, concrete and even rubber flooring are other options to consider.

Countertops and Backsplash

Granite still leads the pack on choice for countertops in Houston. Mixing the use of quartz products such as Silestone and natural products are also popular. An exotic granite on an island can make a wonderful design statement, while applying the quartz or some other durable material on the remaining countertops. Other popular materials are marbles, travertine and limestone. These products will require a bit more maintenance, just expect the character to patina over time. Materials to consider for a more contemporary look include stainless steel, concrete and exotic woods. Mix and match applies to the backsplash. This is your opportunity to make a very unique design statement that pulls the cabinets and countertops together. As Rob Hellyer of Premier remodeling told us, “every kitchen should have at least one special design feature. If you are trying to be economical with your deign, something as simple as the backsplash is a good place to put a bit more emphasis and expense without breaking the bank.”

Plan for the future

Many people wait as long as they possibly can to begin a renovation project. That is not the way to go. Belinda Postman-Kaylani of RoomMarkable Redo told us, “don’t wait to fix up til you move. According to your life plan, do what is needed and consult a professional. Design plans that work for 20 years and only ‘accent’ with fad colors and the like save you from having to spend lots of money to make your home attractive to buyers when the time comes.” september/october 2010 intown

The Violinist Returns by Marene Gustin So, what exactly does a concertmaster do? “That’s a good question,” laughs the boyish virtuoso violinist Frank Huang, who this month takes over as the Houston Symphony concertmaster. “It’s sort of like being a conduit between the conductor and the symphony.” Actually, it’s a lot more complicated, and prestigious, than that. The position requires a talented musician, the leader of the string section, who can play the violin solos as well as tune the orchestra before the concert and rally them together. Sort of like herding cats with instruments and getting them all to play well together all while being a virtuoso violinist to boot. “Frank is a very gifted musician and shows a natural talent for leadership,”

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After a whirlwind rise to greatness, Frank Huang comes home to the Houston Symphony

says Music Director Hans Graf. “His impeccable technique and beauty of sound will be a joy for the orchestra and for our audiences.” Huang is a lot less modest about his return. “I’m just really looking forward to getting to know all the members,” Huang says. “It’s going to be a really fun experience.”

Mark C. Hanson thinks the hire is quite a coup. “Adding Frank to our great orchestra has set the tone for a truly spectacular year,” he says. “He is a remarkable musician with energy and leadership that will serve the Houston Symphony extremely well. We’re excited to welcome him back home to the Houston area.”

The Beijing-born 32 year old spent the summer teaching at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine so you might think Houston’s heat would be a shock to him. But actually, Huang is well versed in our area’s climate because he’s spent his youth just down the road in Sugar Land. The road from China to Sugar Land to world fame and now back to Houston, is the tale of a child prodigy. His parents, both musicians, moved to the area when he was little, leaving him with his grandparents in China where he began to play the piano at age three. At the age of seven, mom and dad brought him to Texas and his mother began to teach him the violin. His first solo was at nine and at 10 he received eight curtain calls for his solo performance of Wieniawski’s Scherzo Tarantelle with the Houston Youth Symphony. By the age of 11, Huang was playing a nationally broadcast concert as a guest with the Houston Symphony. The same orchestra he is now joining as concertmaster.

“I guess I’m a native,” Huang says. “I’m just really looking forward to being back, seeing my family and friends.”

Huang has studied with Robert Mann at the Juilliard School, Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music and with Houston’s Fredell Lack. And he started winning musical awards almost as soon as he started to perform. First was a third-place finish in Houston’s Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition in 1999. After winning the 2003 Naumburg Violin Competition and the 2000 Hannover International Violin Competition, Huang was in demand as a recital and orchestral soloist and as a chamber musician. He has appeared on national television, performed at prestigious music festivals and released recordings. And now he’s coming home. Executive Director and CEO of the Houston Symphony

You can see Huang yourself at the symphony’s opening night September 11 at Jones Hall in what Huang calls “a really amazing program.” He’ll pair with principal viola, Wayne Brooks, playing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. It’s a Vienna love feast evening that will also feature Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz and his charming Overture to Die Fledermaus. “His opening night debut on September 11, a ‘can’t miss’ event, will truly impress our audience,” says Hanson. But just maybe one reason Huang left his solo career and his teaching position at Eastman School of Music where he was first violin with the Grammy Award-winning Ying Quartet chamber orchestra, has more to do with basketballs than violins. Huang loved to play when he was young, and still likes a good pick-up game of hoops. And, he says, “I’m a big Rockets fan!” Which might also explain why Yao Restaurant & Bar — owned by the family of No. 11 Yao Ming and a frequent hangout for Rocket players — is his favorite place to eat out with his folks when he’s in Houston. But it’s not the only place you’ll find Huang. “I love Tex-Mex,” he admits. Then adds, “I’m looking forward to trying a lot of different restaurants, I like every kind of food, actually!” Welcome home Huang. You’ve certainly come to the right place. The Houston Symphony, founded in 1913, performs more than 170 concerts each year for around 350,000 people. For information on the 2010/2011 season and ticket purchases, visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713.224.7575.

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Med Center Journal

nfertility is not an inconvenience or an obstacle; it is a disease of the reproduction system.

- This disease affects approximately 7.3 million couples in the U.S. alone; around 12% of the reproductive-age population - It affects men and women equally. - Though it is vital for some patients, in vitro fertilization accounts for less than 3% of fertility treatment, about 0.07% of U.S. health care costs. What does this tell us? The prevalence of this problem is far more widespread than many might think. The good news is that the treatments for it are also more varied than many would think. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques are growing more advanced by the hour. Houston is the forerunner in the medical advancement of infertility solutions. Each year, thousands of couples from around the the globe flock to Houston to rectify their problem. One in twenty women will need help getting pregnant and should seek a doctor’s analysis, particularly if the problem lasts more than 12 months. Sometimes a simple lifestyle change will greatly improve a person’s prospects for conceiving. More extreme cases may turn to fertility drugs like

Clomid, though it has been linked to multiple pregnancies. Houston doctors have worked to avoid controversial drugs that may also improve chance of pregnancy but have some instances of negative side effects. ”If both fallopian tubes are blocked and the husband has extremely low sperm count or low motility, or intrauterine insemination procedure is not successful after several attempts, the doctor may suggest In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure,” said Dr. James Chuong, a board certified fertility specialist at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine in Houston. “It is a technique involving uniting an egg collected from a woman’s ovary with sperm collected from her partner under laboratory conditions. The resulting normal embryo(s) may be transferred to the uterus (womb) for continued growth.” Chuong added, “This new reproductive technology has helped millions of couples realize their dreams of building families come true throughout the world.” As Dr. Chuong of the Cooper Institute puts it,” to help older and younger couples alike that may have a deficiency that inhibits the ability to conceive one’s own is a very satisfying contribution.” His many satisfied patients couldn’t agree more. september/october 2010 intown

Should you Consider Tax Swaps in your Investment Portfolio?

taxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes that TAX tax Transactions allow the proceeds from taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax tax Tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax the sale of a security to be simultaneously tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax into another security are someTax TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax tax reinvested tax TAX tax tax times to as a swap. The combined Taxtaxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax referred TAX tax transactions ofTAX the swap are designed to tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes tax taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax tax Taxtaxes TAX taxprovide taxes Taxbenefits TAX taxto the investor in terms of tax diversification1, tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax TAX tax tax income, credit qualTax TAX Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAXity, tax tax taxtarget Tax or call features. Often, maturity TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax tax taxthere TAX tax maytax beTaxtax benefits to the swap as taxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax taxwell. Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax tax Taxtaxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax Realizing Gains and Losses tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX taxMany tax Tax TAX tax tax individuals have unrealized capital gains and losses in their investtaxes TAX tax taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax Taxtaxes taxes TAX tax ment tax portfolios which may be unlocked through a swap transaction, known taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax tax tax Taxrequire TAXthe sale of a security to offset a loss as aTAX tax swap. Thesetax transactions or atax gaintaxes elsewhere in your tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax TAX tax portfolio. taxes TaxSuch taxa swap may convert a paper loss into a real tax saving. You should consult tax TAX tax tax Tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax taxyour tax advisor before making any tax-related investment decisions. You might consider tax swaps if you Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax have taxcapital TAX tax gainstax or Tax lossesTAX from the sale of a security, or expect to sell a tax tax taxes TAX tax taxes Tax taxsecurity tax atTAX tax tax Taxtaxes TAX While swaps can be done at any a profit or loss in the near future. time of the year, tax many investors tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax taxuseTaxthe period towards the end of the tax year to review their portfolios for tax swap opportunities. TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax taxes example: youTAX sell antax equity position tax taxesifTax tax TAX for a significant gain, you could Tax tax tax TAX tax tax Taxtaxes TAXFor offsettax the capital gain by selling a fixed income holding for a capital loss, ustax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax TAX tax tax Tax ing the proceeds to buy a new bond with a higher coupon. TAX Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax taxesShortTax tax tax TAXNetting tax tax or Long-term? theTaxDifference described below, can tax be used to offset capital gains on a taxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax taxAsTAX tax tax Taxcapital TAXlosses tax dollar-for-dollar basis. For tax reporting purposes you must first net shorttax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax taxes TAX tax term gains against short-term losses (securities held for one year or less), taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax tax Taxtaxes TAX tax taxes Tax TAX tax tax and long-term gains against long-term losses (securities held for more than TAX tax tax Tax TAX tax tax tax Tax TAXAnytax tax TAX taxandtaxlong-term Tax gains and losses can be neta year). remaining shorttax tax tax Tax TAX tax tax TAX tax Taxeach TAX taxlosses still remain, up to $3,000 may be tedtax against other. tax If net capital used tax to offset ordinary income. Any unused capital losses are carried fortaxes TAX tax taxes Tax tax tax TAX tax Taxtaxes ward indefinitely.

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Avoiding the ‘Wash Sale’ Rule The Internal Revenue Service requires a taxpayer to defer any tax loss generated from the sale and purchase of ‘substantially identical securities’ if the transactions occur within 30 days of each other (regardless of whether the sale is before or after the purchase). This is commonly referred to as a ‘wash sale.’ Generally, securities are not considered identical when they have different issuers, or, for fixed income securities, where there are substantial differences in either maturity date or coupon rate. You should consult your own tax advisor before making any swap decision and to determine whether a sale will be considered a wash sale. Investment Considerations As with all investments, equity and fixed income securities have inherent risks which you should consider before investing. These include equity market risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, reinvestment risk, fixed income secondary market risk2 and call risk. In addition, any swap should always be considered in relation to your financial objectives and goals. Investment Goals and Objectives Tax swapping can be an important tool in managing your investment portfolio. As the financial markets and your financial goals and circumstances change, the investments in your portfolio should be adjusted accordingly. Tax swaps are one way you can effect these adjustments. You should consider annual (at a minimum) portfolio review and maintenance as a must for efficient and effective investing. If you would like to learn more, please write in care of Lesley & Jackson Team; Patrick Lesley and Brenda Jackson, Financial Advisors; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; 2200 West Loop South, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027; 713-968-3092. Investments and services offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member SIPC. Submitted by: Patrick Lesley and Brenda Jackson. © 2010 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

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2 Lauren Levicki & Milo Hamilton

3 Linda Lorelle & Lou Gregory

4 Linda Rhodes & Mary Ann McKeithan

thebuzz by Roseann Rogers

Events clockwise: 5 Jeff Gray & Emily Gray

1 Alex & Lindsay Mousoudakis

1-3

2nd Annual Friends for Life Gala

4-6

Heart Deco at the Belle Meade

7-9

Venue Paint Project

10-12

Best Cellars Celebrity Dinner

13-15

Toast the Coast Shopping Party at Elaine Turner

15 Alixe Ryan &

Elaine Turner

14 Nicole Fertitta &

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Kathy Bracewell september/october 2010

13 Elissa Turnham &

Diane Zdunkewicz

12 Jeanie Janke, Robert Del Grande, Mimi Dompier

6 Marci Pendley, Holly & Jonathan Ross

7 Lauren Gray, Susan Gray, Emily Gray

9 Michael Kemper

& Mary Hart

11 Angela Montalbano,

& Paula Robinson

8 Allison Young & John Aills

10 Laura Heatherly, James Hughes, Mary Katherine Cooper

september/october 2010 intown

arts

museums

Blaffer Gallery Ongoing-11/13 Gabriel Kuri: Nobody needs to know the price of your Saab Ongoing-11/13 Amy Patton Children’s Museum of Houston 9/5 Target Free First Sunday 9/7-11 Continental Airlines Employee Appreciation 9/25 Museum District Free Day 10/3 Target Free First Sunday Contemporary Arts Museum Ongoing –9/26 Perspectives 171: Jennifer West Ongoing-10/17 Dance with Camera Health Museum Ongoing-9/6 Animation Holocaust Museum Ongoing-10/3 Never Let It Rest! An Art Project by Hans Molzberger Houston Center for Photography 9/10-11/7 Created and Found Maps – Exploration of Self and World 9/10-11/7 Learning Curve 4 Houston Museum of Natural Science Ongoing-9/6 Magic: The Science of Wonder Ongoing-9/6 Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution

Houston Museum of Fine Arts Ongoing-9/12 Katsura: Picturing Modernism in Japanese Architecture, Photographs by Ishimoto Yasuhiro 9/12-12/5 German Impressionist Landscape Painting 9/19-1/9 Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria Jung Center of Houston 9/1-28 An Artistic Union: George and Judith Gonzalez 10/1-28 Testing the Waters: Robert Batterton Lawndale Art Center Ongoing-9/25 Math of the Afterwrath – Boozefox Ongoing-9/25 Potential Modulations – Robert Jackson Harrington Ongoing-9/25 Being – Tobiah Mundt Ongoing-9/25 Following Huck Finn – Logan Sebastian Beck Menil Ongoing-10/31 Objects of Devotion Ongoing-1/30 Earth Paint Paper Wood: Recent Acquisitions 10/22-1/30 Kurt Schwitters: Color and Collage Museum of Printing History Ongoing-9/18 Craig W. Jensen: Master of Fine Edition Binding

9/9-1/15/2011 Literary Effigies: Woodcuts by Charles Jones 9/30-3/5/2011 The Workshop of Ernest F. deSoto, Master Printer 10/5-1/29/2011 Poems and Pictures: A Renaissance in the Art of the Book

music & theater

A.D. Players 9/8-10/17 Driving Miss Daisy Alley Theatre 9/1-26 A Behanding in Spokane 10/6-31 Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up Arena Theater 9/12 Huey Lewis & The News 10/1 Clint Black 10/22 Jerry Jeff Walker & Joe Ely 10/30 Jose Luis Rodriguez El Puma Broadway Across America 10/19-31 Shrek – The Musical Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 9/2 Broadway Showstoppers with the Houston Symphony 9/3 Clay Walker 9/4 Creed 9/5 John Mayer with Owl City 9/8 Dave Matthews Band with Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears 9/11 Jonas Brothers

THE

HOUSTONEVEN

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9/12 Rockstar Energy Drink Presents Uproar 9/17 KISS 9/19 Stone Temple Pilots with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 9/22 Kings of Leon with The Black Keys 9/24 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with ZZ Top 9/25 Rush 9/30 The Planets – An HD Odyssey with the Houston Symphony 10/15 Nickelback 10/21 Hocus Pocus with the Houston Symphony 10/22 Maroon 5 Houston Grand Opera 10/22-11/5 Puccini’s Madame Butterfly 10/29-11/12 Britten’s Peter Grimes Houston Symphony 9/3-5 Broadway Rocks! 9/8 Michael Bolton 9/11 Opening Night: A Vienna Soiree 9/16-19 Bronfman’s Tchaikovsky 1 9/24-26 Wagner’s “Ring” Without Words 10/1-3 Joshua Bell’s Mendelssohn 10/21 Paul Anka 10/22-24 Chris Botti 10/23 Masquerade Ball 10/28-31 Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony Opera in the Heights 9/22-10/2 Tales of Hoffman by Jacques Offenbach Radio Music Theatre 9/2-11/20 You’ll Never Forget the End of the World Reliant Park 9/16-19 Curious George Live 9/18-19 The Home & Garden Market 9/21 So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2010 10/29-31 International Gem & Jewelry Show Texas Repertory Theatre Co. 9/23-10/17 Sleuth Toyota Center 9/4 Budweiser Superfest Featuring Anthony Hamilton 9/9 How Sweet the Sound 9/17 A. R. Rahman 9/18-19 Madea’s Big Happy Family Starring Tyler Perry 10/6 Carrie Underwood 10/8 Shakira 10/19 Gorillaz 10/23 Vicente Fernandez

Bayou City Art Festival 10/9-10 In front of City Hall and around Hermann Square 10am-8pm,6pm Hermann Park Ongoing-9/30 The Monumental Sculpture of Bernar Venet Houston Fashion Week 10/11 – 15 Downtown Houston Houston FIG Events www.houstonfig.com 10/10 The White Party 7pm 10/11 Martini & a Makeover 4pm Modern Beauty Makeup Company 1417 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77006 10/14-15 Fashion In the Park Tranquility Park 6:30pm 1800 Allen Parkway Houston, TX 77019 Designer Runway Presentation October 14 Featuring: Amy Duty, Sarah Suicidal, Emanuel, Imarni Blue, Sunny, Ash Couture, Sameeri Ferhadi and Tiki Glam Designer Runway Presentation October 15 Featuring: La Atelier de Duey Kingsley, Danny Nguyen, Rudy Lee Jr., Stoi Phillips, Malissa Long, Jessica Audey, Jesse Perez, for ONE Duey Kingsley and Joy Fabiano

night life

House of Blues www.houseofblues.com 1204 Caroline Street (713) 652-5837 9/2 Rodrigo Y Gabriela 9/10 Margaret Cho 9/11 Nick Cannon 9/13 Crystal Castles 9/17 The Dan Band 9/21 O.A.R./Dirty Heads 9/22 Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers/ The Small Ponds/Roy Jay (Bronze Peacock Room)

9/22 O.A.R./Diry Heads 10/1 Nikki Yanofsky 10/7 Local Natives/The Love Language/ The Union Line 10/16 Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious Tour 10/21 Built To Spill 10/22 Anjelah Johnson 10/23 Bloody Beetroots Verizon Wireless 520 Texas Street (713) 230-1666 9/20 Pixies 9/24 The Black Crowes 9/25 Citizen Cope 9/26 American Carnage Tour: Slayer and Megadeth with Anthrax 10/2 Daniel Tosh 10/3 The Ultimate Doo Wop Show 10/7 Vampire Weekend 10/9 B.B. King 10/17 Straight No Chaser 10/28 Black Label Berzerkus: Black Label Society, Clutch, Children of Bodom

sports

Houston Astros 9/1 vs. St. Louis 9/9-12 vs. Los Angeles 9/13-15 vs. Milwaukee 9/17-19 vs. Cincinnati 10/1-3 vs. Chicago Houston Dynamo 9/5 vs. Earthquakes 9/18 vs. Toronto FC 10/10 vs. Revolution FC 10/23 vs. Sounders FC Houston Texans 9/2 vs. Tampa Bay 9/12 vs. Indianapolis 9/26 vs. Dallas 10/10 vs. New York Giants 10/17 vs. Kansas City UH Cougar Football 9/4 vs. Texas State 9/10 vs. UTEP 9/25 vs. Tulane 10/9 vs. Mississippi State Rice Owls Football 9/4 vs. Texas at Reliant Stadium 9/18 vs. Northwestern 9/25 vs. Baylor 10/2 vs. SMU 10/16 vs. Houston

NTSCALENDAR events

.com

september/october 2010 intown

houston works philanthropy

is working

week camp, students get real-life experience in science and technology through hands-on activities. They work on projects and venture out on field trips that relate to weekly lessons.

The majority of the answers are so ambitious and untainted by societal views that whoever is within earshot also drifts back to their playground days.

Getting to work with NASA employees and scientists first-hand was a childhood dream come true for one camper. J.R. Roberts participated the first summer STEM was offered. He applied after hearing about the program through his math and science instructors at Kandy

n life you will be asked at least once, ‘what did you want to be when you were a kid?’

Why is it that as we grow older we question what we knew to be a sure thing in our youth? What would the world be like if we all still harnessed that unadulterated ambition and replaced the ‘deferment due to difficulty’ with accessible paths to ours and others’ dreams? Well we did find Aiden, the aspiring rocket scientist, and Lauren, the ecofriendly engineer in training and an organization that can help plan out and lead them down a possible route to their futures. This non-profit by the name of Houston Works serves as an umbrella for several programs including YouthBuild which works with Habitat for Humanity, Pathways out of Poverty and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. STEM is a summer course supported by NASA, Shell, Schlumberger, the U.S. Department of Defense, TSU, UH and Texas A&M. For the past two years STEM has offered just 100 slots. Through an application process, students are accepted based on GPA, letters of recommendation and required essays. Due to the tremendous amount of applications this past summer, STEM is expanding and adding a residential camp at the Texas A&M campus. Currently the middle school students are hosted at TSU and the high school students at UH. During this four-

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Stripe Academy. Supported by his family and encouraged by his love of science, J.R. collected what the application required. After being accepted, J.R. succeeded in his assignments and enjoyed the lessons. At the end of the four weeks, J.R. was asked to give a speech at the commencement ceremony, where Chief Administrator General Charles F. Bolden Jr. heard his salute to NASA and was so moved that he published J.R.’s speech on the NASA website. After making quite the impression with the people of Houston Works, J.R. was invited to attend a cocktail party at founder and owner of Academy Sports

by Kai Horan

& Outdoors Arthur Gotchman’s home. JR and his mother were also asked to speak to an intimate group of sponsors, sharing STEM experience and gratitude for Houston Works. The cocktail party was a planning session for Houston Works 25th Anniversary - toasting former Mayor Whitmire for her vision and formation of the organization, now in its 26th year. After the speeches were given, founder and president of World Youth Initiative, Karen Franklin, invited both of them to attend a DC trip with an elite group of student scholars and extended an invitation for JR to join the WYI ambassador-in-training program. The itinerary entailed attending both the Presidential Breakfast and Dinner (end of September 2009). There J.R. actually got to meet the president and came to find that even a young voice can carry importance in this nation. JR aspires to be a rocket scientist, a mission control center operator/navigator and robotics engineer. J.R. now realizes his full potential and is focused on surpassing every current goal. Houston Works is an entity radiating motivation to help Houstonians succeed and map out their future step-by-step. Whether it be providing at-risk youths a path to their GED as well as connections and training to work in construction-related fields, or helping low-income families with the job search and interview preparation process, Houston Works is clenching onto the idea that dreams can happen and uncontrollable circumstances can be overcome. Energetically trying to inform Houstonians about the numerous ways they can help, Houston Works hosts assemblies where they help ignite the determination and minimize the deferment of the Aidens and Laurens in the Houston community.

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