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Q

Contributors Questions What was your favorite family vacation you took as a child?

Issue 29 | Off the Beaten Path May/June 2022 Publisher Editor Associate Publisher

Victoria Wise Lee Virden Geurkink Jennifer Kieta

Hannah

Edward

Victoria

We went on a Mexico cruise one year.

The best part was winning $200 playing bingo and witnessing my brother eat 12 ice cream cones in one sitting.

San Antonio. The River Walk, Tex-Mex food, and marionettes for sale. What’s not to love?

Visiting our family in Ecuador. They all live in Quito, but we would drive to the beach town of Esmeraldas.

Contributing Writers Edward Brown

Mollie Jo Jamison

Carly Burson

Caroline Pierce

Hannah Bush

William Wise

Contributing Photographer Carolyn Morris

Illustrator

Trish

Carolyn

Caroline

I remember a trip to the “Great North Woods.”

Sort of…

My best family vacation was a trip to Washington, D.C.

The best family vacation I took as a child with my family was going to Crested Butte.

Lee

Carly

Mollie Jo

Every summer, my parents would pick me up from camp outside of Santa Fe, and we would go visit family in Lake City, CO. Now my children love Lake City just as much as I do.

I have the fondest memories of summers spent on the Maine coast with my family ejoying long summer days full of scenic beaches, charming lighthouses, nostalgic pier walks, and lobster dinners.

Galveston – my dad had this amazing RV, and we would sleep on the beach sometimes. I remember feeding the seagulls and getting lost in a giant wooden maze with my sisters.

Trish Wise

Lead Design

Cover Design

Conor Dardis

Victoria Wise

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Whole Foods in the Waterside shopping center.

Dreaming

by Carly Burson

It is not a stretch to say that no two industries share a longer and more intertwined history than fashion and travel.

Both inspire dreams of freedom, discovery, adventure, creativity, and escape. And now, no two industries are more desired by people emerging from two long years of pandemic restrictions and lockdowns.

Travel has always defined my life and my work, and it’s without a doubt the part of my identity that I’ve missed the most over the last couple of years.

Staying put did not feel natural; I have nomadic feet and a wayfaring heart. But now as I look forward, I feel full of hope, knowing that the time to reemerge and get back out into the world has finally arrived.

As the team at LAUDE the Label started to discuss what the inspiration should be for our current collection campaign, we unanimously decided that the only possible choice was travel.

Our team daydreamed about the far-off places that we’d escape to as soon as the pandemic was over, and of course, the wardrobe that we hoped would accompany us on our long-awaited adventures.

When our Creative Director, Katie Sansom, conceptualized the Traveler collection, she imagined

an artful escape from the isolated and restricted existence so many of us experienced over the last two years. If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that the world can no longer sustain the conventional ways in which we consume.

At LAUDE the Label, we work daily to right the wrongs of the fashion industry with sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices. Instead of “fast fashion,” with its reliance on cheap labor and environmentally destructive manufacturing, we offer beautifully timeless pieces made by people earning a fair wage in a manner that does not destroy the environment.

The second chapter of our spring collection, Traveler, focuses on new, timeless, feminine silhouettes inspired by a sense of wanderlust for a world that is once again at our fingertips. The collection is full of thoughtful pieces crafted from naturally dyed, earth-loving, organic textiles in colors inspired by summers spent on a romantic island. The clothes we created have us dreaming of sun-drenched places, the soft hues of flowers in bloom, and billowing layers of natural textiles caught in a warm soft breeze.

Santa Catalina Island, one of California’s best unkept secrets, served as a perfect inspiration for the collection and an accessible backdrop for the campaign photo shoot.

The island is a gem in hidden plain sight. With white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, towering palm trees, and colorful architecture, it is reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast of France. Fresh seafood, wine, and island-brewed beer and coffee entice

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foodies. And history buffs will find no shortage of entertainment on Catalina, where Old Hollywood left a deeply romantic and nostalgic imprint.

We found the island to be a dream for outdoor enthusiasts, and an idyllic place for beaching out, with shady palapas dotting the shore and an island breeze that cools and relaxes even the most stressed traveler.

Our stunning campaign model explored both sides of the island in naturally dyed summer sets, textural tops, and easy dresses perfect for any vacation setting.

The photo shoots, with their intersection of the elegant clothing and the beautiful setting, gave us hope for brighter days ahead. The Traveler campaign is our love letter to a world well missed – a collection designed to honor the earth and the maker equally for the customer. Like travel, this collection reminds us of our global connectivity and shared responsibility to one another.

The past 24 months have forced us all to reevaluate the importance of travel in our lives.

For many, what was seen as a “want” before the pandemic has been reclassified as a “need.” Travel is good for the world and good for our souls.

It opens minds, fosters connection, broadens perspectives, and fuels creativity and inspiration.

The pandemic has made us examine our priorities, and travel has risen to the top of many lists as we recognize a new appreciation for our ability to move freely about the world, in clothing worthy of the places we’re fortunate enough to experience.

This year, I’ll be traveling to Guatemala, Mexico, Banff, India, and Peru. I look forward to the places I’ll visit, the people I’ll meet or reconnect with, and the pieces I’ll bring along with me.

Photos courtesy of LAUDE the Label

Off the Beaten Path...

by Hannah Bush

We are living in the age of Yellowstone.

Between Paramount Network’s hit tv drama starring a rugged Kevin Costner and the search for a cure to our collective cabin fever, national park tourism is at an all-time high.

According to a report released by the National Park Service, 44 parks set visitor attendance records in 2021, and the outlook for 2022 is even greater.

This overall increase would tickle President Woodrow Wilson, who signed the act creating the National Park Service in 1916, but National Park Service staff and resources are feeling the strain of recent overtourism, a classic example of too much of a good thing. So, unless you’re looking for a theme parklike experience (duking it out for a parking spot, endless restroom lines, trash, and very public family feuds), it might be wise to avoid the more popular destinations.

With that spirit in mind, we’ve rounded up a handful of lesser-known national parks that have just as much to offer you, your iPhone, and your Merrells as any top 25 park out there.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park / Salt Flat, Texas About 115 miles east of El Paso and situated in the Chihuahuan Desert is Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The mountains are part of the Capitan Reef, an ancient fossil reef complex

One such impressive peak is Guadalupe Peak, which sits 8,751 miles above sea level and is the highest point in all of Texas. GMNP is also famous for another peak, El Capitan, the 1,000-foot-high limestone cliff that has become the public face of this protected area.

This park, rich with geologic and cultural history, is less visited than its nearby sister national park, Big Bend, giving you more room to appreciate this big little slice of the desert.

Those who visit between late May and September will witness a mass exodus of Brazilian free-tailed bats, the park’s most famous mammal, leaving every evening in search of

The entrance fee is $10 per person (ages 16 years and older).

Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Carlsbad, New Mexico

(spanning 400 miles) estimated to have formed 260 to 270 million years ago, and 12 miles of exposed reef are found inside the park.

Formally established in 1972, GMNP includes almost 87,000 acres of impressive peaks and canyons.

Yet another underrated destination in the Chihuahuan Desert and just a stone’s throw away from Guadalupe Mountains National Park (double feature, anyone?), Carlsbad Caverns takes you underground to more than 100 limestone caves which are part of the very same Capitan fossil reef complex dating back to the Permian period. It is one of the most wellpreserved fossil reefs in the world.

dinner. The park also offers numerous hiking trails for those who prefer to stay aboveground. The 100-mile Guadalupe Ridge Trail, which begins at Guadalupe Peak (the highest point in Texas, remember?) ends in this national park, so you can tell people you made it to the end of the GRT. Reservations are required to enter Carlsbad Cavern.The entrance fee is $15 per person (ages 16 years and older), which is valid for 3 days.

(Continued on Page 19)

Fresh Family Recipes

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Restaurant Martín’s Pan Seared Salmon with Parsnip Goat Cheese Rosti and Brussels Sprouts-Almond Salad Santa Fe, New Mexico

Directions In a bowl combine all the ingredients together and allow to sit for 20 minutes.

Heat a nonstick pan with olive oil over medium-high heat. Form the mixture into four small cakes and sear for about two minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper-lined plate and keep warm.

Owned by Chef Martín Rios and his wife Jennifer, Restaurant Martín serves elegant yet comforting food, reflecting Southwestern and Asian influences paired with classic French training.

Ingredients For the salmon: 1 4-ounce piece salmon filet per person Olive oil

Ingredients

Directions Heat a medium-sized sauté pan with olive oil over a medium heat. Place the salmon in the pan and cook for two minutes on each side. Add a piece of any aromatic herb to add flavor. [Editor’s note: try dill and lemon thyme, along with a peeled clove of garlic.] Remove the salmon from the pan and allow to rest for 30 seconds. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Ingredients For the parsnip goat cheese rosti: 2 parsnips, large, blanched, grated 2 shallots, sliced 1 cup sour cream 2 ounces goat cheese 2 eggs, whisked 1 tablespoon lemon zest, grated 2 ounces butter, melted ½ cup flour 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon dill, chopped

For the Brussels sprouts-almond salad 2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon shallots, minced 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tablespoon peanut butter 2 ounces extra-virgin olive oil, divided ½ cup toasted almonds with skins, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons Pecorino cheese, finely grated 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds 1 pound sliced blanched Brussels sprouts Fine sea salt and ground pepper

Directions In a bowl using a whisk, combine the first nine ingredients. Add the Brussels sprouts and season well with salt and pepper.

To serve, place the rosti on a plate. Top with the salmon and then the salad.

This serves four.

Mississippi Mama’s Tomato Pie from Good Intentions Culinary Services Directions Preheat the oven to 375°.

Layer the tomato slices in the prebaked pie crust. [Editor’s note: Once you’ve sliced the tomatoes, drain them on paper towels to prevent a drippy pie.] Combine the cheese, homemade mayonnaise (recipe follows), basil chiffonade, green onions, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl and mix to form a pimento cheese consistency. Spoon over the tomatoes and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the pie is set and a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let rest until the pie is room temperature. This serves four as a main course or six to eight as a side.

Hillsborough, North Carolina

*Homemade Mayonnaise Blend 1 egg, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice, 1 teaspoon vinegar (white, cider, white wine, or unseasoned rice vinegar – do not use red wine or balsamic!) in a blender with measurements on the side or in a measuring cup with a stick blender.

After running her own restaurant, Claudia Sanders moved to North Carolina and opened Good Intentions Culinary Services.

Pairing her experience owning a restaurant with gorgeous local products from farmers and producers in the area, Claudia now cooks for personal clients.

Ingredients Deep dish pie crust, prebaked 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, sliced into ½ inch slices 1 ½ cups extra sharp cheddar, grated ½ cup homemade mayonnaise*, (may be more, may be less) ½ cup basil leaves, cut into chiffonade (ribbons) ¼ cup green onions, sliced, white and green parts Ground black pepper and a whisper of cayenne pepper

Slowly drizzle in enough extra-virgin olive oil to bring the total to 4 ounces and then enough canola (or other neutral oil) to bring the total to 12 ounces.

Once it is emulsified, it can be stored for up to a week in the fridge. If you are concerned about raw eggs, you can substitute a good-quality store bought Illustrations by Trish Wise mayonnaise.

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Reconnecting and Recharging:

A Solo Trip to Costa Rica

by Mollie Jo Jamison One by one, the hotel guests began to gather, eyes fixed on a large tree in the middle of the courtyard. Through a maze of branches, we caught glimpses of a bright red macaw cracking nuts with its beak, unaware of the audience assembling below. Being from rural East Texas, I was stunned to see such an exotic animal. The wild bird eventually flew away into the mountains of Jacó, Costa Rica, but we all lingered, gawking as the sky was momentarily streaked with color.

The day before, I landed in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. I was traveling alone, scouting locations for my sister’s bachelorette party and a retirement trip for my mom.

I booked a total of four nights at Selina, a boutique hotel chain. It had everything I needed including a bar and restaurant, loungey common spaces, and social activities like painting classes and henna tattoo nights. Offering both dorm-style and private rooms, the hotel felt like a hip, grownup hostel for young professionals. The art and interior design were sophisticated, fun, and well curated.

With just under 24 hours in the capital,

I started my day with a traditional breakfast at the hotel before joining a yoga class on the rooftop patio. I opted for the local staple, gallo pinto, a typical mix of beans and rice, served with eggs and tortillas or toast.

On my self-guided tour around town, I visited the small Museum of Contemporary Art and Design. When my GPS failed me, I asked a nearby security guard for directions. Thankfully, my almost-fluent Spanish helped, but I knew even a beginner could get by with the basics. Later, I ran into the same guard and was surprised when he greeted me as if we were friends, laughing and asking about the art hunting. His kindness made San José feel even warmer than the fair 70 degrees it is year-round.

For lunch, I found a trendy spot called Café Otoya. The long list of fresh tropical juices and a full case of pastries caught my eye. Inside, I found lush plants from floor to ceiling. The outside seating was perfect for enjoying the temperate climate

known as patacones, and with drink service on the beach side of the bar, you can order refills with your feet in the sand or lounging by the pool.

This Selina boasts upcycled concrete cylinders stacked on top of each other as micro-suites.

in this charming part of town which houses embassies and government buildings.

That afternoon, the hotel arranged for a private bus to shuttle me to another one of its locations for the rest of my trip. Just two and a half hours from San José on the country’s Pacific side was Selina Jacó, known for its Volcom surf school. Jacó offers the whole tropical package for first timers – mountains, beach, and jungle.

I missed the bus to where I would take the ATV tour, so the tour company sent a car to get me. The five-star service continued when my guide took me on a private tour. I had only paid for a short group tour but was given the deluxe treatment. The tour took us through banana farms and across shallow, shaded rivers. Along the way, we stopped to look for toucans and iguanas, per my request.

After jumping from the top of two waterfalls, we wrapped up with a bowl of fresh fruit before I was shuttled back to the hotel.

Upon arrival, I booked an ATV tour for the following day and downed a complimentary welcome drink at the bar. That night, the hotel was hosting a sound bath meditation, and I listened from a distance while admiring the magical pink sunset against a silhouette of a palmdotted coastline.

The following two days were filled with morning yoga classes and afternoon surf lessons. At night, I explored the main strip of bars and clubs playing everything from electronic music (or EDM) to reggaeton. There are a few things I know I missed in Costa Rica. I would love to have gone horseback riding on the beach, tour a coffee plantation, and take advantage of Selina’s spa accommodations.

The journey home went by quickly and soon I was back in Texas.

Reconnecting with nature and recharging on the beach was a great way to spend alone time, but I couldn’t help thinking how perfect Costa Rica would be with loved ones.

Here, Selina Jacó’s kitchen had classic bites like fried plantains, also

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A Trip to the Zoo

by Lee Virden Geurkink

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Planning a family vacation with younger children isn’t for the faint of heart.

Be it an excursion to a brand-new city or a trip to visit family, children can quickly become overwhelmed. As we all know, an overwhelmed child is an unhappy child.

When my children were little, I always tried to make sure to schedule an afternoon at the local zoo somewhere on the itinerary of any trip we took.

We were enthusiastic members of the Fort Worth Zoo (still are!), and I discovered quite by accident that spending time at a zoo acted almost as a “reset.” Maybe there was a sense of the familiar in the act of visiting a zoo. Maybe it was the delight and wonder that the animal kingdom always evokes in children. Whatever the reason, a trip to the zoo always made a family vacation better.

Fortunately, there are incredible zoos across the United States. I asked David Geurkink, a former zookeeper with the San Antonio Zoo and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (and, in the interest of transparency, my husband) what he considers to be some of the best family-friendly zoos in the U.S. “First of all, I would suggest going onto the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ website (aza.org) to search AZA zoos in the city you’re visiting,” said David. “These zoos are held to higher standards of animal care than are required by law. They focus on conservation and education, as well as recreation. An AZA-accredited zoo is dedicated to ensuring future generations will be able to know and love the animals in its care.”

One zoo my children particularly loved visiting is the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, the zoo began as a small menagerie owned by local real estate developer Guy C. Phinney and pioneered the landscape immersion style of zoos, meaning buildings and barriers are hidden from the public. This urban zoo is small enough to walk in a morning or afternoon, even with a toddler on your shoulders, and provides plenty of both education and entertainment. We always ended the day with a ride on the classic carousel, which has been retrofitted to run on solar energy.

Another zoo we loved visiting is Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina. Built on the banks of the Saluda River, Riverbanks is a large zoo, and there is enough to see and do to fill an entire day. My children particularly enjoyed watching the otters swim and show off! In 2016, Waterfall Junction opened; similar to Safari Splash here in Fort Worth, this area has a waterfall, splash zones, giant treehouses, and more. It’s a great way to end your trip to Riverbanks.

The best thing about travel is coming back to your own bed.

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Much like Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, The Wilds, located in Cumberland, Ohio, is a safari park and conservation center that offers drive-through zoo tours. “The beauty of a safari park is that it allows visitors to enter the animals’ world, instead of the other way around,” according to David. The Wilds occupies over 9,000 acres of reclaimed coal mining land and is a partner of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (another amazing zoo to visit).

The Wilds offers, in addition to drive-through tours, a zipline, camping and fishing, mountain bike trails, and more. (Please note, all tours are conducted in the zoo’s vehicles; personal vehicles are not allowed.)

A little closer to home, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is seven years older than the Fort Worth Zoo. Located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District next to Science Museum Oklahoma, plan a trip that includes both attractions. (Native Oklahoman David suggests visiting the zoo in the morning and exploring the Museum in the afternoon.) The Zoo offers “Wild Encounters,” which allow private groups to go behind the scenes with zookeepers to get up close and personal with bears, rhinos, sea lions, bison, and more. (Please note, strollers are not allowed behind the scenes, and crying children may be asked to step away for safety reasons.)

It is worth noting that many AZA-accredited zoos offer a reciprocal zoo membership rate. If you are a member of the Fort Worth Zoo, you get a 50% discount on admission to over 100 zoos and aquariums across the U.S., including all the zoos mentioned here.

Traveling with your children is hard. It just is. Most children are wary of the unfamiliar, so adding a zoo trip into your itinerary is a great way to make the unfamiliar seem more like home.

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Life is a journey, or so the poets and philosophers say. If this is true, some people travel further than others.

Meet Bidusi Rana. She has traveled further than most people can imagine.

Bidusi is the owner and designer of Bidusi Rana Jewelry, a fine jewelry company that offers bespoke pieces. Her jewelry is cool, timeless, and elegant, much like Bidusi herself. It hints of a story of a journey.

'

I sat down with Bidusi at the Café Modern on a beautiful spring afternoon. Over a Chinois chicken salad and a grain bowl, we talked about leaving Nepal, defying family expectations, and coming to understand and embrace a radically new journey.

From Nepal, Bidusi is the oldest of three children.

Her father, Arvinda Pratap Rana, is the principal of the Parijat Secondary Boarding School in Nepal. Growing up, Bidusi was everything a good Nepalese child should be.

“Nepalese parents want their children to study science, medicine, or technology,” Bidusi said, looking out over the Modern’s reflecting pool.

“There’s security in those fields… financial security.

So that’s what I studied.”

Because her father was the principal of a school, Bidusi and her siblings had to be the examples for all the other students. “It is a very disciplined place.

We had to be very good at everything. My siblings did better than I did in school. I always wished I could be as smart as they are.”

It has become a tradition for Nepalese children to come to the United States for college if at all possible. Well-meaning parents feel that their children will receive a better education in the States than they can find in their own country. “I was interested in art and fashion,” Bidusi said. “But my mother was nervous about that. I was her eldest child, and she wanted me to be a doctor. My uncles were doctors. My cousins are doctors. My sister is now a doctor.”

So, at age 18, Bidusi set off from her mountain homeland for the prairies of Oklahoma.

If you sat down and thought for two weeks, you could not imagine a place that is more different from Nepal than Edmond, Oklahoma. “I knew no one in Oklahoma,” said Bidusi, a slight furrow growing between her brows. “I was 18 years old, and I was very, very shy.” She was alone, without family for the first time in her life in a foreign country, studying to be a doctor while yearning to be a fashion designer.

Photo by Fotopasal

Success Is a Journey, Not a Destination

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Cover photo by Carolyn Morris, OMG Photostuff

“”

“It took me a while to realize that money is not everything.”

“When I was young, fashion was not important in Nepal,” Bidusi said. “Not like it is in New York City or Paris or London. The fashion industry in Nepal is growing, but when I was in school, the idea of studying fashion wasn’t heard of. Fashion was out of my parent’s comfort zone, and as my parents were paying for my university education and wanted the security of a science education, I went along with their wishes.”

time in Edmond, but she did not start to smile until she talked about transferring.

But being alone in Edmond was tough. In Nepal, family means everything, and families are large. It is traditional for multiple generations of families to live together (although the modern “nuclear” family is becoming more common in larger cities). When we talked, Bidusi did not complain about her

According to the Pew Research Center, the DallasFort Worth Metroplex is home to the largest community of Nepalese in the United States.

(Edmond doesn’t even crack the top 50.) The idea of being close to her boyfriend and being part of a large ex-patriot Nepalese community proved to

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While a student in her father’s high school, Bidusi had met a boy named Manoj. “He was two years older than I was. We dated for a year in Nepal,” Bidusi remembered with a smile. “He had come to the United States to study at the University of Texas as Arlington.”

be irresistible, so Bidusi transferred to UTA to be a pre-med student.

“I worked so hard in college,” said Bidusi. “I decided I wanted to be a physician’s assistant, maybe in cardiology. When I was an undergraduate, I became an electrocardiogram (EKG) technician.

My first day in the emergency department was completely overwhelming. I saw surgery. It was complete chaos… I realized that maybe this wasn’t for me.”

After eight months as an EKG technician, Bidusi was more certain than ever that a career in medicine was not for her. “I had always been fascinated with art, architecture, fashion. I wanted to apply to fashion school in New York City, but again, that was outside of my parents’ comfort

applied for and got a job as a stylist at J. Crew in University Park Village. The manager of J. Crew was a friend of Carly Burson, founder of LAUDE the Label (see page 4). Carly encouraged Bidusi.

“She has given me so much emotional support and uplifted me.”

While listening to podcasts about the fashion industry, Bidusi heard an interview with a merchandising professor at the Parson School of Design talking about a summer internship. “He said that you have to be born with style, to be born artistic. You can hone it and make it better, but you have to have it first.” Inspired, Bidusi looked him up on LinkedIn.com and reached out to him. To her great delight, he replied.

“I was told that I needed a design portfolio to apply for the internship at Parson, so I learned how to create one from YouTube.” When I expressed my amazement at the idea of learning a brand-new profession from watching videos, Bidusi was very nonchalant. She said with a dismissive wave of her hand, “Oh yes. I learned a lot about design from

at this, Bidusi grinned. “My brother got married in Nepal in 2019. We went back for the wedding and stayed in Nepal for a whole month. He [Sauryadeep] turned one there with all of his cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents.”

Now Bidusi is settling into designing fine jewelry, and she has discovered a real love for it. “I like to think I’m creating future heirlooms,” she said with a smile. “These are pieces that will have history behind them. They aren’t fads.”

And the jewelry isn’t just pretty. It is helping others.

Bidusi and her sister, Asmita, are working to create a non-profit organization in Nepal to help girls achieve their goals that is partially funded by the profits from Bidusi’s jewelry.

There is a distinct gender gap in education in Nepal, especially in the rural areas. Traditional gender roles are still enforced, and even in the cities, if a family has to choose between educating a son and a daughter, the son will always be sent to school first. Families are also more likely to enroll

“”

“It’s hard starting a business as a woman, you know. It’s even harder with a little boy always wanting to play!”

YouTube. I taught myself [various design programs] from watching how to do it on YouTube!”

sons in private schools, while daughters must make do with a public school education.

With her new portfolio of designs, Bidusi went to New York City. “I went to Parsons and was so nervous. But he liked my portfolio! He like it… and although the time for applying for the internship was closed, he opened up a place for me!”

Bidusi and Asmita want to change that. The sisters recognize that they were fortunate to have a father who runs his own private school. Asmita is a doctor; like her sister, she left Nepal after high school to pursue her undergraduate and graduate education.

After several years doing medical research in France, Asmita is now in a post-doctoral fellowship program at Johns Hopkins.

While the internship and a subsequent certification course at Parson were an incredible opportunity and a dream come true for Bidusi, it came with its own set of obstacles. When Bidusi’s son, Sauryadeep, was born, her mother, Sabitri, came from Nepal to help. “I had a brand-new baby. My husband was in real estate here [in the Dallas-Fort Worth area], and he couldn’t just move to New York City. So I traveled back and forth for some time.”

Photo by Fotopasal

zone. And my boyfriend didn’t understand it, either.” Instead of pursuing fashion, Bidusi went to Southern Methodist University for graduate school in information engineering.

After graduate school, Bidusi moved to St. Louis.

Again, there are few places in this world more different from Nepal than St. Louis. “I worked in information technology (IT) for almost six years,” Bidusi said. “I enjoyed the first year or two, but it became boring after that. It wasn’t a challenge for me.”

While Bidusi excelled in IT, she continued to dream of fashion.

The idea of leaving the IT world was daunting.

Bidusi’s younger sister, Asmita, had gone to medical school. Her younger brother, Alok Pratap, is an entrepreneur. The thought of leaving a comfortable, six-figure income and its associated lifestyle for an uncertain future in fashion was scary.

“I was making very good money working in IT… It took me a while to realize that money is not everything,” said Bidusi. “But working in IT, which is so much a man’s world, gave me the strength and the confidence to do something outside my comfort zone.”

Now married to Manoj and with a newborn son, Bidusi was determined to follow her fashion dreams, Bidusi started looking for experience. She

When I said that she had quite a commute, Bidusi laughed. “Yes, it was a rather long commute. My plan was to bring my mother and my son to New York City while I continued my studies. But that wasn’t workable, so I came home.”

Right around this time, the pandemic hit. Bidusi had gotten an internship at a design group in Lewisville, but with the continuing restrictions due to COVID-19, that soon disappeared.

“That was very difficult,” said Bidusi. “But my husband’s cousin is a diamond wholesaler, and he said that I could learn the business.” Bidusi was soon using what she learned at Parson to a new field of design.

Applying the same mental toughness that took her from pre-med to IT to the fashion industry to this new field, Bidusi taught herself all about the jewelry industry, from design to production to distribution.

“I decided to keep the jewelry production here in the States. The pieces are made in Houston and New York… And I even designed the boxes the jewelry comes in. I wanted them to be as beautiful as what is inside them.”

I asked Bidusi about her design inspiration. It’s obvious her pieces have stories behind them.

“I created a series inspired by my son’s love of celestial things, you know, the stars,” Bidusi said.

Her smile grows bigger as she talks about her son.

“It’s hard starting a business as a woman, you know.

It’s even harder with a little boy always wanting to play!”

I asked if Sauryadeep had ever been to Nepal;

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The non-profit organization the sisters have founded will fund scholarships for girls to attend their father’s school. Bidusi said that she and her sister want to give girls in Nepal the same opportunities they had. “Our family has a tradition of giving back,” she said. “These girls will be able to change their communities and maybe the world.”

While Bidusi’s journey has taken her halfway around the world and far from her original career path, she has used the wisdom gained on that journey to fuel her creativity, inspire her jewelry designs, and, more importantly, to help others.

he omance of ew Orleans

by William Wise If your memories of New Orleans are ones you’d rather forget, it may be time for an update. Put aside the fuzzy memories of Hurricane-fueled rollicks through the French Quarter or when you were offered beads in exchange for…

Ahem.

A more measured, mature visit to the Crescent City will yield memories that you can treasure rather than the murky fragments that you still attempt to forget.

New Orleans experienced as a “grown up” is completely different.

After a recent visit, I developed a new conviction that New Orleans is for lovers. New Orleans isn’t on anybody’s “Top 10 Most Romantic Getaways” list; those spots are reserved for Venice and Paris, not that noisy and noisome spot where the Mississippi River flushes the continent’s effluence into the Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans is a city of experiences.

Experiences you are unlikely to find anywhere else, at least not in the concentration, variety, and intensity that New Orleans offers. New Orleans is for food lovers. New Orleans is for

music lovers. New Orleans is for art and history and architecture lovers. It’s for lovers of antiquarian book shops and antique stores, performance art, the occult, magicians, birdwatching, boat watching, and it might just be the ultimate destination for lovers of people watching. Seriously, the people watching…

Lovers of every type of sensory input (or overload) can and will find their personal Mecca in New Orleans.

and coffee at Café Du Monde and strolled through the French Quarter.

You’re right. This is not off the beaten path. However, the French Quarter in the morning is a world apart from its nocturnal iteration and has joys to offer that can only be found when last night’s revelers are still abed. My favorite hidden spot is Faulkner House, a tiny bookstore on a tiny alley where my favorite author, William Faulkner, penned his first two novels. These types of shops are all over the city, and they ooze an ancient gravitas that I love.

“”

“New Orleans is a city of experience, and, ultimately, there isn’t anything more romantic than a couple’s shared experiences.”

But New Orleans is really for romantic lovers. You might need to get off the beaten path to find it’s hidden romantic gems, but if you do, New Orleans will reward you with a lifetime of romantic memories. Before my most recent trip to New Orleans, I reached out to my friend, Richard King, owner of Ellerbe Fine Foods, raconteur extraordinaire, and expert on all things New Orleans.

After a decidedly French/Cajun lunch at Herbsaint, we walked under the ancient, Spanish moss-draped oaks of St. Charles Avenue, soaking in the architectural splendor and the scent of magnolias in bloom. Then we spent an afternoon exploring the shops and galleries of Magazine Street, which is, as the kids say, extra. No one would call me the world’s best shopper, but a sober pace and comfy shoes saw me through.

Richard’s well-considered, well-reasoned, and responsible suggestions laid the path for the best New Orleans trip I have ever had. And, as it turned out, it was one of the most romantic weekends my beautiful bride and I have had anywhere.

Our first morning, we grabbed beignets

New Orleans has no less than a million fantastic restaurants for dinner. I won’t try to tell you where to go because you can choose almost any one and enjoy your meal. A couple suggestions, however?

Galatoire’s, Restaurant R’evolution, and Seaworthy are special experiences.

After dinner, we stepped into the Sazerac Bar inside the Roosevelt Hotel for the best Ramos Gin Fizz in New Orleans and a Sazerac. When in Rome…

On Richard King’s suggestion, we caught an Uber to Frenchman Street. I’m not sure how I had missed it before, but Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson

Frenchman Street is now my favorite spot in New Orleans. A mélange of jazz, blues, and rock seeps out of every bar. There’s a magic about Frenchman Street that is easier felt than described. It’s a visceral sense that something is perpetually about to happen, and as we walked down the street hand in hand, my girl and I bore witness to it, whatever “it” is.

New Orleans is a city of experience, and, ultimately, there isn’t anything more romantic than a couple’s shared experiences. You always remember that meal or movie or painting or sunset sail because you were together. It’s the retelling that sparks the memory, reigniting the romance.

You ask, “But why New Orleans if you can get that anywhere”?

You can. But there’s only one New Orleans, just like there’s the only one you love.

Let’s celebrate our local Texas growers and farmers!

From West Texas to the Rio Grande Valley, we’re featuring home-state favorites like Beefsteak Tomatoes, 1015 Onions, Seedless Watermelons, Blueberries, and more Texas state fare, everywhere!

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Ca bbean D ams

For travel lovers, the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult.

Instead of island hopping around the Caribbean, we’ve wandered listlessly from the living room to the kitchen and back again.

by Caroline Pierce

It’s no wonder we’re ready for a change of scenery!

Photo courtesy of Kaleigh Kirkpatrick

I recently sat down with Kaleigh Kirkpatrick of The Shameless Tourist, a Fort Worth travel agency specializing in luxury travel experiences, to talk about travel options after the pandemic.

“Travel-related businesses have been on a rollercoaster since the pandemic started,” Kaleigh said. “From the lockdowns in 2020 (which lasted much longer in the Caribbean than in the US) to various restrictions causing all sorts of stresses and hoops and hurdles for both clients and crews, it's been a wild ride for sure!”

When asked what she would suggest for wary travelers who want a unique vacation experience, Kaleigh suggested Sur L’eau.

Sur L’eau (French for “on the water”) is a 75-foot Privilege sailing catamaran that offers chartered sailing vacations to people looking for something different. Their bespoke trips to various islands in the Caribbean with Captain Jesse Van Wyck sailing and Chef Amy Campion creating the best in gourmet cuisine will make your island dreams a reality.

Wait. A chartered sailing catamaran?

Kaleigh said while chartering a yacht

or catamaran may seem like an extravagance, it’s really not. “I look at this as a ‘floating villa’ with a full staff… people think about boarding a yacht as something fun and different but don't equate it to something that they are already doing, that is, renting a home for a group of family or friends. Except this time, you are renting a home with a full staff, which makes it truly one of the most amazing and stress-free travel experiences you can have.”

Captain Jesse Van Wyk grew up sailing the waters off his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa. After receiving a bachelor’s in marine animal science, he decided to make a change. He’s managed many charters throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean with his fiancée, Chef Amy. Chef Amy Campion is a world-class chef who can create menus to fit any dietary needs or restrictions. “Our chef is second to none in creating exquisite dishes that will make you never want to have a meal off the boat,” said Kaleigh.

“We provide a very detailed preference sheet a few months before travel which our chef uses to create the perfect menu to wow our guests.”

When asked what the most popular destination is for sailing, Kaleigh is quick to respond. “The most popular spot for sailing is certainly the British Virgin Islands (BVIs). With so many things to see and do, and with the best way to see them being by boat, a catamaran is really the only way to see the area properly. I personally like to visit Virgin Gorda… [also] the island of Anegada is a bit of a jog from the beaten path of the BVIs, but it offers

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beautiful scenery and lots of flora and fauna that may not exist in the more heavily visited spots.”

Sound good yet?

Sur L’eau can accommodate up to eight guests in four elegant staterooms each with its own ensuite bathrooms.

Queen-size beds with crisp Italian linens of fine Egyptian cotton will ensure a perfect night’s sleep, rocked by the gentle waves. The master suite features a sitting area with a library and a bathroom with his-and-her sinks, a sunken tub, and a separate shower.

The aft deck is perfect for a lazy morning, complete with gourmet breakfast. The bow features a hammock for daydreaming and not one, but two trampolines for cooling off. Enjoy a perfectly crafted cocktail at the bar in the salon or watch the sunset from the sofa on the sun deck.

“Hotels are amazing (especially if you choose the right ones),” Kaleigh said.

“But when you have one crew member for a maximum of two guests, the level of service is just over the top. No need to cook, clean, mix a cocktail, or even set up your own beach chair for a full week.” Sounds delightful!

Kaleigh says that the best time to visit the Caribbean is from December through April. While Sur L’eau is available to charter from November through June, Kaleigh says the winter months are best for sailing. She also recommends booking at least six months in advance, so that the trip can be tailored to provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

BEACHHOTELS

For our "Off the Beaten Path" issue, the Madeworthy editorial staff reached out to the travel-savvy members of the Tanglewood Moms Facebook group to ask:

TOP

What is your favorite beach hotel? We have collated the answers and added some of our favorites. As you plan your next beach adventure, consider these hotels. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

AS VOTED ON BY TANGLEWOOD MOMS | by Madeworthy Editorial Staff

Photo used with permission / Four Seasons

FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAUI AT WAILEA Maui, Hawaii Located above beautiful Wailea Beach on beautiful Maui, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is the only resort on Maui to receive both the AAA Five Diamond Award and Forbes’ (formerly Mobile) FiveStar Award. The luxurious, open-air resort is perfect for romantic getaways, family holidays, or a girls’ trip.

Enjoy a massage in an open-air hale (thatched hut) overlooking the ocean. Whale watch from the resort or go on a whale-watching tour. Learn to paddle an outrigger canoe or scooter snorkel. Families will appreciate the Kids’ Club and babysitting services, while golfers can take advantage of three par-72 championship courses and the TopGolf Suite. The resort has three restaurants, including the Hawaiian outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.

Photo courtesy of Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort

LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO, A ROSEWOOD RESORT San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

VICTORIA HOUSE RESORT AND SPA [Editor’s Pick] Ambergris Caye, Belize

This gorgeous desert beach hideaway offers luxurious accommodations, delicious cuisine, and exciting adventures for the whole family. Inspired by the ancient healers of Baja, the spa incorporates the elements of earth, air, fire, and water to relax and rejuvenate even the most stressed traveler. Las Ventanas is the only resort in Mexico to offer private plunge pools and Jacuzzis in their beach cabanas overlooking the Sea of Cortés. Book a Beach Cinema experience for the ultimate dine-and-dive-in movie.

Surf the waves of the Pacific or marvel at the annual migration of whales that passes right by the resort.

With eight pools, four golf courses, and restaurants, lounges, and bars, there is something for everyone here.

An intimate and luxurious resort located on Ambergris Caye in Belize, Victoria House Resort and Spa is perfect for an elopement, honeymoon, or simply a romantic escape. Explore ancient Mayan temples.

Snorkel the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

Tube through a subterranean cave system or zipline through the jungle canopy. Enjoy an aerial tour via airplane or helicopter. Or simply relax with your honey on the beach, in the award-winning spa, or in your luxurious casita, suite, or villa. For the ultimate in romance, enjoy a chef-prepared, candlelight dinner on the beach under the tropical moon.

Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mayakoba

GRACE BAY CLUB Turks and Caicos

ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA Quintana Roo, Mexico

Each suite, pool, and dining venue in the timelessly elegant Grace Bay Club has a stunning view of the beach and the aquamarine waters of Grace Bay on Providenciales, an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This resort offers three distinct offerings to appeal to all travelers. The Hotel is adults-only, The Villa Suites caters to families, while The Estate is a exclusive, ultra-luxury resort-within-a-resort. Explore Chalk Sound Nature Reserve by kayak. Enjoy a private picnic on a secluded beach or nearby uninhabited island. Enjoy deep sea fishing and allow the chef at The Grill to prepare your own catch of the day. Of course, there is a championship 18-hole golf course, a world-class spa, gorgeous pools, and divine dining, as well.

Nestled between the jungle and the beach, the Rosewood Mayakoba is one of the gems of Mexico’s Riveria Maya just north of Playa del Carmen. This resort was designed to preserve and enhance the native landscape and had gone to great lengths to protect the mangroves and wildlife habitats. It is a leader in sustainable, luxury tourism. Explore the ancient Mayan city of Coba and swim in a sacred cenote. Tour the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza by plane. Bike through the jungles or swim with dolphins.

The Rosewood Explorers is program for the resort’s younger guests so that Mom and Dad can enjoy golf, the spa, or just the beach and each other. There are eight restaurants and bars at the resort, as well as seasonal experience and pop-up dining opportunities.

After a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020, the Four Season Resort Hualalai is back and better than ever.

Perfectly situated for all kinds of island adventures, this AAA Five Diamond Award-winning resort offers everything a traveler to Hawaii could want. Take a helicopter tour over a volcano. Learn to free dive with champion free diver and ocean conservationist Kimi Werner. Tour a boutique coffee farm or go snorkeling with a marine biologist. There are four restaurants in the resort, and the Kids’ Club offers field trips to the Ka'upulehu Cultural Center and activities at the new Kuma Kai Marine Activity center.

The five-star Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort is set near the tropical forest and limestone cliffs of southern Thailand on Klong Muang Beach overlooking the Andaman Sea. The resort is the ideal headquarters as you explore all of what southern Thailand has to offer. Explore the hidden beaches and lush rain forests of the Krabi Islands just offshore. Learn to windsurf or paddleboard. Kayak around the coast in a glass-bottomed kayak. Take an excursion to Railay, a small peninsula of beautiful beaches, limestone cliffs, caves, and a secret lagoon. Above all, enjoy Thai culture and hospitality.

GRAND HOTEL MACKINAC ISLAND [Editor’s Pick] Mackinac Island, Michigan

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons

FOUR SEASONS RESORT HUALALAI Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

SOFITEL KRABI PHOKEETHRA GOLF & SPA RESORT [Editor’s Pick] Krabi, Thailand

Photo courtesy of Christian Horan / Four Seasons

FOUR SEASONS RESORT COSTA RICA AT PENINSULA PAPAGAYO Guanacaste, Costa Rica Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is the perfect place to experience Costa Rican pura vida. Go zip lining through the mountain jungles. Learn to surf.

Explore the Rio Celeste National Park and Waterfall or the Palo Verde National Park. “Taste the Stars” is a uniquely luxurious dining and stargazing experience that can’t be missed. With a Kids’ Club, a Teen Center, and a Family Golf Experience on the Arnold Palmerdesigned golf course, the whole family will enjoy their trip.

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Alright, this isn’t technically a beach hotel, but it’s wonderful all the same! Located on beautiful Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, this grand, historic hotel is luxurious reminder of an elegant by-gone era. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the island, encouraging exploration of the island by foot, bicycle, horse, or horse-drawn carriage. (The hotel has its own stables and offers carriage tours and horseback riding.)

Bike the over 70 miles of island trails. Play croquet on the grand lawn. Enjoy a family game of pickleball. Or simply sit on the world’s longest front porch, which is, by the by, a perfect place to enjoy the hotel’s Labor Day Jazz Festival.

Think B G.

Think First Financial Bank.

NO COST* HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT Whether you want to build a pool, take a vacation or renovate your home, we are here to help. Talk to one of our expert lenders today and see what a home equity line of credit can do for you.

Let our experienced loan officers get you on the fast-track to approval.

- Start the process with a simple 15-minute phone call - Finance up to 80% of the appraised value - Locally processed, underwritten, funded and closed through us - Get fast pre-qualification *Loans up to $250,000. No cost is defined as no origination fee or third party service fees, unless a title policy or survey is required. Initial rate is 4.20% APR for the first 12 months and then adjusting every 6 months until maturity in 18.5 years. This variable rate is based on the Prime Rate as published in The Wall Street Journal, which as of 3/31/22 is 3.50%. Beginning in month 13 - 240, the minimum rate is WSJ Prime plus 1.0%. There is a maximum rate of 18% APR. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

All loans subject to credit and property approval. Funds cannot be used for down payment on purchase of new residence. All loans for rural properties will require a full certified appraisal. Loans greater than $250,000 are subject to fees. See your lender for additional information.

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Craig Zemarkowitz

Senior Vice President | NMLS# 406229 682-703-6401 | hderrick@ffin.com 1000 Forest Park Blvd | Fort Worth, Texas 76110

Senior Vice President | NMLS# 51265 682-703-6481 | czemarkowitz@ffin.com 1000 Forest Park Blvd | Fort Worth, Texas 76110 MEMBER FDIC

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NEW YOR

MUSEUM HOPPING

ACROSS

Quiet as It’s Kept: The Whitney Biennial; through September 5 The Whitney Biennial has surveyed the landscape of American art, reflecting and shaping the cultural conversation, since 1932. After being postponed for due to COVID-19, the2022 Biennial features an intergenerational and interdisciplinary group of sixty-three artists and collectives whose dynamic works reflect the challenges, complexities, and possibilities of the American experience today.

Y IT

AMERICA

WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

KC

by Madeworthy Editorial Staff

For many of us, one of the great joys of traveling is finding a museum and losing ourselves for a time. Be it art, science, or history, a museum is a wonderful way of spending a day. The United States does not want for museums. Big city museums that host international exhibitions. Small town museums dedicated to local events that never made the national news.

They’re all wonderful!

We’ve gathered some of the most exciting exhibitions taking place in four of the most exciting cities in the United States this fall, as well as some expert advice from various travel bloggers and area locals. As you’re planning your travel for the second half of 2022, remember these!

INGTON H S D. A C W

MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN

Chris Schanck: Off-World; through January 8, 2023 Emerging as a leading figure in the design world, Chris Schanck fuses sculpture and furniture, repeatedly crossing the line between camp and refinement. The forms of his furniture suggest extraterrestrial world, ancient artifacts, and undersea deposits.

New York City travel suggestions provided by Natalie Bovre, a New York City nanny of 20 years.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

.

Restaurants not to miss: Tavern on the Green, Keens, Joe's Shanghai, The View in Times Square for drinks before Broadway shows.

Activities to not miss when traveling with your family: American Museum of Natural History; take a double decker bus tour or an architectural boat tour; the Ground Zero memorial; and of course, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England; October 10, 2022 through January 8, 2023 Under the Tudor monarchs, England entered onto the world stage. Artists from all over Europe and the Near East flocked to the courts of Henry VII, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I. This exhibition traces the transformation of the arts in Tudor England through iconic portraits, spectacular tapestries, manuscripts, sculpture, and armor from the Met collection and international lenders.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART

Frida Kahlo, Her Photos; through August 7 This exhibition comes from the previously unknown archive of Kahlo’s personal photographs. Grouped thematically into six sections, this exhibition is not a chronological biography but is rather a revelation of Kahlo, of Mexico, and of her time.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE + INDUSTRY

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World; May 13, 2022, through April 2, 2023 This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World highlights the role that artists play in our world to spark essential conversations, stories of resilience, and methods of activism — showing us a more relational and empathetic world. It centers more expansive definitions of the histories and contributions of people of color, women, and other overlooked communities.

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

I Dream of a World: Selections from Brian Lanke’s Portraits of Remarkable Black Women; Part I, July 8, 2022, through January 29, 2023; Part II, February 10 through August 27, 2023 Taken from Brian Lanke’s book, I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America, this exhibition features portraits of women who indelibly changed their worlds, be it politics, literature, activism, athletics, and more. This is a two-part show.

Washington, D.C. travel suggestions provided by D.C.-based blogger, Katie Urban, of A Touch of Teal.

Splurge Hotel: I love the Lyle Hotel in Dupont Circle; it's centrally located in the heart of Dupont Circle and just a short walk from other points of interest across the city, including DC's most famous museums, monuments, and, of course, the White House, plus all the fun in Georgetown… Check out their lobby bar and restaurant — it's a super cozy spot with some of my favorite cocktails and bites in the city.

Restaurants not to miss: Le Diplomate is a DC classic for good reasons… don’t skip the burger, the

French onion soup, and the warm shrimp salad.

Maydan is also a favorite… their take on North African and Middle Eastern cuisine is unparalleled. And don't skip Filomena for classic Italian…

Favorite shopping area(s): M Street in Georgetown is a classic shopping destination, with a great mix of chain retailers and local boutiques… My favorite store in the city, however, is Salt & Sundry, which has locations on 14th Street and Union Market. They've got a unique mix of home goods, gifts, stationery, and plants.

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Lou Stovall: The Museum Workshop; July 23 through October 9 Lou Stovall: The Museum Workshop reexamines the history and legacy of the Dupont Center, an artist’s museum founded in Washington, DC, in 1969. Under the visionary collaboration of curator Walter Hopps and artist Lou Stovall, the Dupont Center advanced a new, innovative model for the museum as a place for exhibition, art-making, and community-building.

GO

THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION

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The Art of the Brick; through September 5 The world’s largest display of Lego® art, this exhibition features over 100 works and is the first major museum exhibition featuring art that uses Lego® bricks as the sole medium. The collection features original pieces by Nathan Sawaya, as well as re-imagined version of some of the world’s most iconic works of art.

THE FIELD MUSEUM

Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories, opened May 20 Chicago’s renowned Field Museum has partnered with indigenous groups to debut a groundbreaking new renovation of the museum’s Native North America Hall. The co-curated exhibit will feature stories told in Native American people’s own voices, supported by Restaurants: Punch Bowl Social, JoJo’s Shake contemporary art, poetry, photography, and historical Bar, Lou Malnati’s for the iconic Chicago objects. deep dish pizza Family Activities: Navy Pier, Chicago Architectural Boat Tour Shopping Area: Magnificent Mile Hotel: Swissotel Chicago

Chicago travel suggestions are provided

by Ashley Marshall-Seward of Mommy Week, a Chicago lifestyle blog.

THE GETTY CENTER

Working Together: The Photographers of the Kamoinge Workshop; July 19 through October 9 Working Together is the first major exhibition about the Kamoinge Workshop, a collective of Black photographers formed in New York in 1963.

Members of the group produced powerful images of Black life in the mid-20th century. The exhibition explores Kamoinge’s photographic artistry in the 1960s and 1970s, celebrating the group’s collaborative ethos, commitment to community, and centering of Black experiences.

LO

SA NGELES

THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA

Lonesome Crowded West: Works from MOCA’s Collection; through February 19, 2023 Given the American West’s thorny legacy of rugged individualism and colonial exploitation, what should a picture of the West look like today?

The artists in this exhibition respond to this question from multiple perspectives, speaking with a plurality of voices, asking not so much what the West means, but rather what it is, and what it can mean to be in.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse; through October 9 Conceptually challenging yet red carpet-approved, the late Alexander McQueen’s designs were technically exquisite. Here, LACMA looks to the myriad inspirations behind the dressmaking with a display of McQueen garments alongside inspirational artwork from the museum’s own collection.

Los Angeles travel suggestions provided by Audrey Kuester, Fort Worth ex-pat turned Californian, and Kara Harshbarger, LA local, entrepreneur, and inventor.

Splurge Hotel: Audrey – Waldorf Astoria Dining: Kara – Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica

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Shopping: Audrey – The Golden Triangle.

Kara – The Grove which is connected to the Farmer’s Market Family Activities: Audrey – Manhattan Beach and hike the Hollywood Sign- it is AMAZING! Spa: Audrey – Tomoko Japanese Spa Kara – Terrenea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes

FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

July 4th

Concert Celebration

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YEARS

CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN

MUSIC • FAMILY • FUN! Three weekends of family fun return to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden this summer!

These two crowd favorites feature the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alex Amsel.

Concerts in the Garden presented

by BNSF Railway.

Tickets start at only $25.

Kids 10 and under are FREE on the lawn!

Star Wars and Beyond

Sat.– Sun., June 25–26

Order online at fwsymphony.org or call 817.665.6000.

by Edward Brown Remember 1999, the year Shakespeare in Love won buckets of Oscars? You can be forgiven for forgetting, but Saving Private Ryan was the presumed Best Picture winner leading up to the awards. Google Saving Private Ryan, and one featured snippet reads: “Is Saving Private Ryan the best war movie of all time?

Yes. The answer is yes.” The film still resonates with fans even now, almost a quarter of a century after it was released.

Music, movies, books, and anything else that can be broadly classified as “pop culture” inevitably build a following of fans, some of whom identify as superfans. A superfan is a person with a deep and abiding (some might be so crude as to say obsessive) love of a particular fandom. While many superfans are content to (not-so) secretly obsess over their particular fandom, some create a way to share their love with others, with tours, cafés, museums, and more catering to superfans and the merely curious alike. Here are some of the most fun superfan destinations in the USA. The Walking Dead If I had to live through a zombie apocalypse, I’d rather kill those zombies like the brave cast of The Walking Dead that stumble around like someone who was kicked out of the bar at 2 a.m. and can’t find their car keys.

(Why do zombies always do that?) The series, which debuted in 2010, still garners three million viewers per episode in its final season. Each March, superfans descend on Atlanta, Georgia, for The Fandemic Dead Tour that features actors from and cosplayers of the series. The nearby city of Senoia, Georgia, which stands in for the town of Woodbury, offers numerous tours. There is also a scavenger hunt, where you and your loved ones can try to survive the apocalypse, and a food tour.

Superhero Destinations There’s a vocal contingent of cinephiles who wished Thanos made the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) disappear, but there are millions of MCU superfans who love every single minute of every single movie. (Having grown up on Stan Lee, I still count myself as a fan of the comic book adaptations.) For the Marvel superfan in your life, the

July 4 Concert Celebration

Sun.– Mon., July 3–4

small town of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, has a toy and action figure museum that is sure to please. Billed as the first museum devoted to the art and sculpting of action figures, the nonprofit has fielded over 50,000 visitors since opening in 2020. Added bonus: it’s only about a two-hour drive from Fort Worth!

Dolly Parton Dolly Parton is a saint. The legendary singersongwriter has given over 10 million books to children across the world to promote literacy. She partly funded the Moderna vaccine. To promote the inoculation, she sang “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine” to the chorus of her hit tune “Jolene.” Nestled in the Smokey Mountains, Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home at Dollywood is a two-room replica of her childhood home that contains recreations of some of her favorite childhood mementos. Dollywood itself is a sprawling amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The SPAM™ Museum SPAM™ evokes strong emotions. SPAM™ superfans sing its praises while the spiced pork product’s detractors tend to question why canned meat still exists. For superfans, Austin, Minnesota, is home to the SPAM™ Museum, which tells the history of the Hormel company and its most divisive creation. Tours led by SPAM™bassadors (yes, SPAM™bassadors) highlight everything from early cookbooks to photos of World War II GIs enjoying the famous meat.

Selena Quintanilla Pérez Twenty-seven years after her death, Selena is still the Queen of Tejano music, and her music and fashion sense still resonate with people today. Corpus Christi, where Selena spent her teen years, is home to the Selena Museum, where superfans can view hundreds of Selena photographs, her awards, and, of course, her iconic outfits. Also in the coastal city is Mirador de la Flor, the sculpture by H.W. Tatum that depicts the Tejano singer looking toward the sea.

Rancho Obi-Wan When Walt Disney Studios bought LucasFilm in 2012, Star Wars superfans were brokenhearted.

What would The Mouse do to their beloved space epic?

Fortunately for the most hardcore of superfans, Disney doesn’t have a monopoly on Star Wars destinations.

Rancho Obi-Wan is the world’s largest privately-owned collection of Star Wars memorabilia — a boastful claim that was certified by Guinness World Records in 2014.

The Petaluma, California-based museum holds more than 400,000 Star Wars pieces. From bobbleheads to costumes, stage props to unopened action figures, Rancho Obi-Wan is the place for every Leia, Han, and Luke.

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Continued from Page 5

Success Starts at Hill School

Channel Islands National Park / Ventura, California There are only 7 national parks that are partially or entirely on islands, and this is one of them. Five islands off the coast of Southern California make up Channel Islands National Park, all of which provide something totally unique. Anacapa Island offers trails to a lighthouse that’s been around since 1932. Santa Cruz Island is famous for its sea caves. Windblown groves of the rare Torrey Pine populate Santa Rosa Island. Various species of sea lions and seals call San Miguel Island home. Santa Barbara Island is a breeding and nesting ground for land, shore, and seabirds (keep an eye out for bald eagles!). But explorers be warned: there are no food stores or gear shops on

K- 1 2 E D U CAT I O N F O R ST U D E N T S W H O L E A R N D I F F E R E N T LY.

You want your child to succeed, and we’re here to help. At Hill School, we foster a learning environment that helps every student grow socially, emotionally and physically so they have the skills to reach their full potential.

these islands so prepare accordingly. In addition to standard park activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching, experienced visitors can take to the water and kayak or snorkel. Landlubbers can walk along the white sand beaches of Santa Rosa Island. While the mainland is accessible by car, island hoppers will require transportation via park concessionaire boats, so advanced planning is highly encouraged.

LEARN MORE AT H IL L S CH O O L .O R G

No entrance fee is required.

North Cascades National Park / Sedro Woolley, Washington If your ideal nature experience involves snowcapped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and Gatorade-blue lakes, look no further than North Cascades National Park. Trailing in popularity to Washington State’s other two national parks, Mount Rainier and Olympic, you will be one of the mere 30,000

people who visit annually, giving you a sense of ownership of this 500,000 acre-wonderland located three hours northeast of Seattle. The North Cascades Range is part of a vast mountain chain that is considered by many to be the most stunning and complex in the U.S. This area is also an ice sheet playground boasting more than 300 glaciers, the largest glaciated area outside of Alaska. Enjoy a leisure cycle in the lower Stehekin Valley or challenge yourself to cycle out of the Skagit River gorge. Meanwhile, water lovers can take to the picturesque lakes (Diablo, Ross, Gorge, and Chelan) via kayak or canoe. It is recommended that parkgoers plan their trip between mid-June and late September for the best weather conditions.

No entrance fee is required.

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Be sure to check nps.gov before adventuring to learn about alerts, permits, reservations, etc. Also, take note of the upcoming free entrance days at all national parks: April 16, August 4, September 24, and November 11.

Happy trails, y’all!

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For the Love of Books

While reading is admittedly best done as a solo activity, literary festivals provide the opportunity for bibliophiles to meet their favorite authors, participate in writing workshops, and share their love of books with like-minded individuals. Many of these literary festivals are multi-day events with food and drink, live music, and more. We’ve rounded up some of the most fun literary festivals across the United States (and two abroad) for your reading and travel pleasure.

- by Madeworthy Editorial Staff PEN WORLD VOICES FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE New York City, New York And Los Angeles, California Spring The PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature is an annual, week-long literary festival held in New York City and Los Angeles which was founded by Salman Rushdie, Esther Allen, and Michael Roberts and was launched in 2005. The festival includes events, readings, conversations, and debates that showcase international literature and new writers. The festival is produced by PEN America, a nonprofit organization that works to advance literature, promote free expression, and foster international literary fellowship.

MOUNTAIN WORDS LITERARY FESTIVAL Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado May Each May, the mountain towns of Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado, host the Mountain Words Literary Festival, a multi-day festival devoted to all things literary. From panel discussions and workshops to author readings and theatrical lunches, this festival encourages people to listen, learn and explore the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. On Saturday, be sure to catch the Literary Death Match. Described as “part literary event, part comedy show, part game show,” the Literary Death Match pits four authors against each other in a “read-off” which is then judged by an all-star panel of judges, followed by “a slapstick showdown to decide the ultimate champion.” This year’s festival features Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

AMERICAN WRITERS FESTIVAL Chicago, Illinois May 2022 sees the first annual American Writers Festival in Chicago on May 15. Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the American Writers Museum, it will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center and at the American Writers Museum. Featuring more than 75 contemporary artists, authors, and playwrights, the Festival will address timely topics including book censorship, equality, immigration, and racism. After all, writers are on the front line every day in the fight for free speech.

HAY FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE & ARTS Hay-on-Wye, Wales May to June

BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL Brooklyn, New York Fall

For over 30 years, the Hay Festival has brought readers and writers together to share stories and ideas in events live and online. It inspires, examines, and entertains globally, inviting participants to imagine the world as it is and as it might be. Nobel Prize winners and novelists, scientists and politicians, historians, environmentalists, and musicians all take part in the Festival’s global conversation, sharing the latest thinking in the arts and sciences with curious audiences.

Held each fall, the Brooklyn Book Festival is New York City’s largest free literary event. Originally established in 2006 to promote Brooklyn authors, the scope has expanded in recent years to embrace a more international community. The festival includes a range of activities such as book readings, panel discussions, author signings, bookselling, a devoted children's day, Bookend Events, parties, stand-up shows, and performances in many public venues in Brooklyn. This year’s festival takes place from September 25 through October 3. Children’s Day is October 1.

AUSTIN AFRICAN AMERICAN BOOK FESTIVAL Austin, Texas June Held annually in the summer at the George Washington Carver Museum and Library, the Austin African American Book Festival promotes literature, reading, and writing within the Black community.

Focusing on authors and cultural leaders who have been influenced by Black literature, the event includes a keynote address, local author showcases, and author interviews and discussions. Now in its fifteenth year, the festival is a community-focused event that invites some of the greatest literary talents of our generation to engage directly with readers to foster creativity, activism, and positive change.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Edinburgh, Scotland August Billed as the largest literary festival in the world, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is held in the last three weeks of August every year. It coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Over 1000 writers and thinkers descend on the Scottish capital each year.

It has become “a powerful forum for the public to exchange views with writers and experts on a wide range of issues: social, ethical and political, as well as literary and cultural.” It aims to expand participation in democratic discussions and develop engaged, knowledgeable audiences of all ages and backgrounds, all while promoting a love of books, writing, and reading.

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NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Washington, D.C. Fall In 1995, First Lady of Texas Laura Bush founded the Texas Book Festival to honor Texas authors and promote the state’s public libraries. As First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Bush worked with Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to create the National Book Festival, which debuted in 2001. This annual event brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings, and other activities.

LITQUAKE San Francisco, California October Founded in 1999, San Francisco’s Litquake is aimed at inspiring engagement with current affairs, celebrating the common humanity found in literature, and perpetuating a sense of literary community. Litquake consists of readings, discussions, film screenings, and themed events held at hundreds of Bay Area venues, in an attempt to bring as many disparate types of literary art to as many people as possible. Kidquake (for children from kindergarten through fifth grade) and Teenquake aim to inspire children, while the Elder Project brings writing and storytelling workshops to retirement communities across Oakland and San Francisco.

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