Discover361 Magazine - Summer 2022

YOUR VIEW OF THE CROSSROADS

INSIDE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

RESTORATION HOUSE MINISTRIES

C O A S TA L L I V I N G I N 3 6 1 • S U M M E R 2 0 2 2

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

MANAGING EDITOR'S LETTER

S

ummer is the season we love to hate. We love the opportunities summers give us to enjoy the outdoors and the sunshine, but we hate the high temperatures and humidity that come with it.

But living on the Texas coast, we are spoiled by the ability to enjoy the outdoors and Gulf waters for so many recreational adventures.

This issue of Discover 361 highlights some of the great opportunities our part of the

Texas coast offers.

From fishing to day tripping to cooking freshly caught seafood, we give you a variety of ideas for the summer fun times.

We also help you prepare with fashion tips for summer comfort and tips on how to refresh, and relax your body.

Fishing guide Curtiss Cash not only shows clients the best places to catch fish, but he also throws in sightseeing for other wildlife and stories on the history of the area. He will even clean your fish for you.

Who can pass up a chance to cook freshly caught seafood? Victoria businessman and chef Chip Dence shares three recipes he is known for. Early reviews say the food is delicious.

If you are not in the mood to cook, then a quick trip to Charlotte Plummer’s restaurant in Rockport is in order.

They offer a large assortment of seafood dishes, but the fried shrimp makes the trip worthwhile.

After eating, you might as well stay in Rockport for a day trip of shopping, museums and art galleries, more food, and of course the local beach. It is well worth the trip.

New to the area is GlowRow, glow in the dark kayaking adventures. The kayaks are fitted with LED lights that allow boaters to see through the darkness of the night water and the sea life below.

Back on land, we are holding a contest. We offered five women a chance to put together an outfit while shopping at the Restoration House Ministries Gleanings Resale Shop. Be sure to check out the story to see the summer outfits they assembled and vote for the one you like the best.

Also, take time to read about Restoration House Ministries founder Theresa Klacman and what motivates her to work with the women in her program.

In a sad note, freelance writer Amber Bagwell, whose work is featured in this edition, died shortly before the magazine went to print. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

We have so much to offer in the magazine that it may take you all summer to get through it.

We wish you a happy and relaxing summer.

Becky Cooper Managing Editor 4

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

GENERAL MANAGER George Coleman S P E C I A L P R O J E C T S C O O R D I N AT O R We n d y D u k e A D V E RT I S I N G S A L E S M A N A G E R Kevin Alstrom EXECUTIVE EDITOR K e i t h Ko h n MANAGING EDITOR Becky Cooper DESIGNER Kimberley Bailey WRITERS Cody Baird C a t h e r i n e Ko h n Kit MacAvoy Jon Wilcox P H OT O G R A P H E R S D u y Vu Kit MacAvoy SPECIAL TO DISCOVER 361 Amber Bagwell Allison Lacey Mark Rosenberg C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OT O G R A P H E R S Dayna Wiles | Images by Dayna ON THE COVER Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli Restaurant C O V E R P H OT O G R A P H Y Kit MacAvoy | kmacavoy@vicad.com HAIR Te s s S m a l l e y | T h e Va n i t y R o o m MAKEUP Jessika Rinehart Plum Crazy Makeup and Microblading © 2 0 2 2 , M . R O B E RT S M E D I A 1 0 1 W. G o o d w i n A v e . , S u i t e 1 2 0 0 Victoria, TX 77901 info@discover361.com 361-575-1451

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CONTENTS

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8

54

68

8M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E

3C OA2S TA L L I V I N G

5DAY8 T R I P

Theresa Klacman turns despair into hope at Restoration House Ministries.

Victoria All-Sports, family-owned business offers outdoor sporting gear for all occasions.

24 hours in Rockport: Sun, surf, arts and food await visitor.

1T H4R I F T S H O P C O N T E S T

3C OA6S TA L L I V I N G

6H E4A LT H & B E A U T Y

Five women took up a challenge to show how fashion doesn't take a large budget.

Charter fishing offers more than just fishing.

One of Victoria's health and wellness power couples gives us the cold treatment.

1P E 9O P L E YO U S H O U L D K N O W Russell Cain shares his experiences as one of Port Lavaca's local legends.

2C OA4S TA L L I V I N G For the Love of Fishing: Second homes, big boats, and outsourced pastimes.

2C OA8S TA L L I V I N G GlowRow sets the night aglow with a spectacular nighttime kayaking tour.

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4FA 0S H I O N Summer fashion tips.

5F O0O D Chip Dence loves playing with fire and food.

5F O4O D Charlotte Plummer's SeaFare restaurant stays afloat with a little crative thinking.

6C U8LT U R E & E V E N T S : M U S I C The Hot Attacks take audience for a ride on 'Musical Rollercoaster'.

7O U2T A N D A B O U T See who was Out and About with Tony Vasquez at recent events.

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CA L E N DA R O F E V E N T S

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

F U LF I L L I N G

a PROMISE to God

Theresa Klacman turns despair into hope

S T O RY B Y CAT H E R I N E KO H N | C KO H N @ V I CA D. C O M P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

A rock painted with a Bible verse sits on a shelf at Restoration House.

T

rauma, abuse, depression, addiction, homelessness. A life gone off the rails.

It may sound like a television drama, but this was Theresa Klacman’s life for many years. It was this troubled life, however, that shaped her into a profoundly dedicated advocate for women, and for God. Klacman is best known around Victoria as the founder of Restoration House Ministries, which includes RHM Gleanings Resale Shop. Her mission?

To help struggling women with compassion, respect and resources.

She began this journey by quite literally opening her own home to women who desperately needed help. However, three years ago, Stephen Argubright, who died last April, donated a home to the ministry.

Argubright was the president of Warrior Supply.

Because of his generosity,

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

the nonprofit organization has a comfortable three-bedroom home with a nice backyard and pool for the women who go through its program to restore their lives. Usually, the home has no more than four women at a time, because “they’re coming from quite a state of trauma. They require a lot of attention physically, mentally and emotionally,” Klacman said.

Klacman understands trauma and she doesn’t mince words about her past. Or make excuses. Her own life’s road to recovery was rarely smooth, but its purpose became clear. She doesn’t want anyone else to experience the terrible feelings of regret and loss she has experienced — to feel like they had nowhere to turn.

Klacman grew up in Victoria, “in a really abusive home,” she said.

It started at the age of 4, after her mother remarried. She said it led to depression, although she was unaware

that she was depressed until “after I had my first child.”

As a young teen, she started drinking and partying with friends. She said drinking “helped me through that time,” but it got to a point where she didn’t know when to stop.

She became pregnant at 16 and faced what she considers her greatest sorrow. Rejected by her family, she had an abortion.

“That was a pivotal moment in my life, and one that I regretted for many, many, many, many years.” Klacman said the circumstances were incredibly overwhelming. “My mother didn't want to have anything to do with me.

His (the father of the child) family didn't want to have anything to do with it.” She said her young boyfriend even threatened to commit suicide if she had the baby. “It was pretty intense.”

“I feel like I made a mistake. And I

I f e l t T H E LO R D told me it was T I M E TO O P E N my doors.

- T h e re s a K l a c m a n

Theresa Klacman at Restoration House. have felt that way my entire life since then,” Klacman said sadly.

When she was 19, she became pregnant again, but was in a serious relationship. They married and remained married for 18 years.

Klacman then surprisingly said, “and we were divorced for 12 and we’re back married again, going on eight years.”

Although seemingly in a stable marriage during those years, Klacman still struggled. She had suicidal thoughts. After her first daughter was born, she suffered from severe depression which she said lasted 26 years. There were times she couldn’t get out of bed. She tried all kinds of medications. There were other times when she would manage her depression by shopping.

Her life became a vicious cycle.

She tried a therapist and a lot of selfhelp books. In therapy, she realized she had a lot of anger at her mother because of the child abuse she had experienced.

Things changed for the better, at

least for a while. “In my 30s, my father brought me to the Lord. My father, my real father, came to the Lord, after losing his last marriage …He came to Jesus. I saw a real change in him.” They slowly built a relationship.

Then, one day, “he led me to the salvation prayer.” It had a profound effect on her, one she had difficulty describing. That night she turned on the television and happened upon a Christian station. She watched the film “Jesus of Nazareth” and when it was done, she said she was “on the floor crying, asking God to forgive me.”

This was not yet the happy ending of the story, however.

She and her husband, Craig,

found a church home and “started doing well.…I started a business (as a bookkeeper).” Her husband had a bad accident; they lost his income.

But eventually they got back on their feet growing her business. Then, “I started drinking again” and they ended up divorcing.

She began a relationship with a man who turned out to be an alcoholic and meth addict.

“We ended up in an entangled, abusive, crazy relationship,” Klacman said. “We abused each other. I tell people ‘I was angry, and he was happy to oblige.’ You know, we just beat on each other. I was evicted from multiple apartments because of our fights. Police were called. It was just a nightmare. Just under five years, and I could not get out of it.”

She did find the strength to leave, but Klacman said like many people she thought women who didn’t leave an abusive situation “were weak” until she found herself feeling paralyzed within her own toxic relationship.

She lost her car to repossession and ended up living in an abandoned house. “Everything was completely out of control.” Her daughter and grandson needed help and she was searching for answers. An idea came to her that she should move back to Victoria. She felt that God was pulling her in that direction. A place she had

| CONT. ON PG. 10

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

9

HOW TO HELP

WAYS T O H E L P R E S T O R AT I O N H O U S E MINISTRIES

Financial support of Restoration House is always welcome.

Donations can be made as a single donation, monthly or annually. Or donate in memory of a friend, family member or loved one. Donations can be made by going to the website, restorationhouseministries.org. A check or cash donations can be dropped off at the RHM Gleanings Resale Shop.

Volunteers are needed and welcome. To volunteer, contact the ministries at 361-576-4746.

THE RHM GLEANINGS RESALE SHOP

Where: 1204 N. Moody St. in Victoria Hours: From 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Call the shop: 361-485-0123.

Donations: Accepts clothing, household goods, furniture, appliances, sporting goods and more. Anyone who is homeless, in a homeless shelter, or halfway house may shop for clothes and shoes at no cost.

Restoration House Ministries and RHM Gleanings Resale Shop are 501(c)3 so donations are tax deductible.

Klacman checks the raised flowerbeds in the Restoration House backyard.

A Bible verse sits over the window in a room for children. | CONT. FROM PG. 9 never wanted to return to because of its connections with her childhood.

So, move she did, and eventually found a spiritual home at Faith Family Church.

That move became a call to action. “I felt the Lord told me it was time to open my doors. And I didn't know what that meant, exactly.”

She asked herself, “So what does that mean? What's that going to look like? …I thought, well, maybe a food kitchen or some kind of food pantry or something like that. But no, it was taking in women.” Klacman believes her mission was divine intervention.

At church something remarkable happened. “There was a young lady sitting in my row.” This person was

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

in a bad situation, about to lose her daughter to CPS “and I felt the Lord telling me she was my first.”

That young woman at church became the first woman Klacman took into her home and under her wing. Shortly after that, was a second.

“I'm compelled by the freedom that I got in Christ, and that these girls that are suffering and struggling with depression – there is hope for them.”

It was 2008 when she first started her mission. In July 2009 Restoration House Ministries became an official nonprofit organization. She has now helped hundreds of women find their way back from trauma. They work closely with the Reclamation Counseling Center to offer help with substance abuse and mental health.

Klacman said they ask for a sixmonth commitment. “That's part of the healing process. The average stay is eight months. But we have had girls that have stayed up to two years. So, it really depends on

two years. So, it really depends on their support system outside of our program, what they have or what they don't have.”

The women who come into the program “usually find us,” she said, “and our only criteria is a desire to change.”

“I destroyed a lot of people in my depression and in my anxiety, and in my anger towards what happened to me when I was younger. I made a lot of mistakes. And I hurt a lot of people,” she said. “If we can intervene in this ministry, to get these girls when they're younger, to show them that there is hope, and there is

love, and they can forgive and they can move on. They don't have to let that define them. It's good for them.

It's good for their family, and it's good for their children.”

“Even if they don't come to the Lord at the end of it, they've been loved in a way they were never loved before. … I had one young girl and she said, ‘I just don't know if I want to be a Christian. … And I said, ‘Well, you don't have to be a Christian to go through this.’”

Klacman reassured her that what they want is for her to just get better and have a safe and happy life.

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OFDEWITT DEWITT OF OFDEWITT DEWITT OF OFDEWITT DEWITT OF

FI VE Women AN D A

Thrift

Shop S T O RY B Y CAT H E R I N E KO H N C KO H N @ V I CA D. C O M PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUY VU DV U @ V I CA D. C O M

F

ive women took up the challenge to demonstrate how fashion doesn’t require a lot of money, just a bit of imagination.

At Restoration House Ministry’s Gleanings Resale Shop, Tiarah Figueroa, 22; Claudialicia Walker, 21; Celina Yoast, 43; Brandee Bratton, 48; and Allison Lacey, 40, each received a $20 bill and were let loose in the large shop filled with jewelry, collectibles, housewares, furniture and racks of clothing for women, children and men, all neatly organized by color. A smaller area is dedicated to shoes, as well as a special “boutique” room with higherend clothing and such special items as formal gowns.

The women were asked to put together their best outfit, which would be judged by Discover 361 readers who would vote for their favorite. They got to keep everything they purchased.

As they spread out across the building, baskets in hand, they quickly discovered many items that had never even been worn and still retained their sales tags.

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

Allison Lacey browses for clothes.

Celina Yoast smiles at Brandee Bratton after she finished her shopping at the Restoration House Ministries Gleanings Resale Shop.

Celina Yoast

Allison Lacey

I a l w a y s STA RT w i t h AC C E S S O R I E S F I R ST because I feel like that's the easiest way to FIND a C O LO R PAT T E R N - T i a r a h F i g u e ro a

Figueroa headed directly to the jewelry displays.

“I always start with accessories first because I feel like that's the easiest way to find a color pattern,” she said, explaining she wanted to focus “on something that's casual, so you can wear it at any time of the day.”

Rifling through the clothing racks of grays Figueroa said, “I love neutral colors. I feel like when your closet’s neutral, it makes everything go together. So, on days where I feel like I have nothing to wear, it's easy to put a brown and black together, compared to a pink and an orange. I try to stay away from patterns. I'm more of a solid type of girl.”

Yoast took a different approach.

She was looking over items on the “expensive” boutique side of the shop. Yoast said her style is “comfortable” and she likes “cute, casual clothes,” and was hoping to find something also good for work. “I don't know. I just got to try it on. That's always the hard part.”

“There's a lot of good choices though,” Yoast said, “Even if you want to dazzle.”

Bratton was concentrating on finding something for summer weather.

“I just want to find something that I know is going to fit my style and something that I can continue to wear. I don't work in an office, so I definitely don't want | CONT. ON PG. 16 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

15

VOT E F O R

YO U R FAVO R I T E ensemble at D I S C OV E R 3 6 1. c o m WINNERS will RECEIVE a GIFT BAS K E T f ro m ®

VOT I N G E N D S F R I DAY, J U N E 17 Claudialicia Walker | CONT. FROM PG. 15 something like that, because otherwise I'm not going to keep it and wear it again.”

Walker enjoyed how the thrift shop had colors grouped together to make shopping easier.

“That's real nice, really nice,” she said. As she searched through the reds she mentioned “I've always been told that I have a nice skin tone that goes with a lot of colors. I like red, that is definitely my favorite color.”

Walker had a definite plan in mind for her outfit.

“I do like to layer so I bought this piece and then I’ll layer it under something loose. I'm excited. If I find a statement piece, then I'll base my entire outfit around it. It depends on what I find.”

Not everything works out when looking for an outfit, however. Lacey found an “interesting sun dress” and was attempting to try it on. The dress had only one sleeve and she was struggling to figure out how to wear it.

16

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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“It's weird. I think it could be really cool. It just doesn't fit right. It's very odd.”

Luckily success was just around the corner with another outfit. “This is literally something that I would buy, and wear and I probably have something very close to it. I like it for summer. And the pockets. There you go. So now I have to find a hat or some jewelry,” she said happily and headed off to find accessories.

At the end of the afternoon each woman had created her own unique style and were ready for a photo shoot – proving clothes don’t make the woman – it’s the woman who makes the clothes.

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PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

the Man

About Town S T O RY B Y A M B E R BAG W E L L | S P E C I A L TO D I S C OV E R 3 6 1 P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

Russell Cain poses at the playground at Bluebonnet Youth Ranch.

Port Lavaca’s local legend shares his experiences and passion projects

I

t seems as if everyone in Port Lavaca knows who Russell Cain is: businessman, philanthropist, husband, brother, father of two daughters, grandfather to five grandchildren, and friend.

His family, including two sisters, moved to Texas from Illinois when Cain was 7 years old.

Cain is now 74 years young; married to Cherre Cain, 75; owns Russell Cain Real Estate; and is involved in everything from politics to Rotary Club, church to the local community theater and helping many organizations, including the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch in Yoakum.

To top it off, he writes a monthly guest column for the Victoria Advocate’s Viewpoints page.

“Russell’s heart is whole. There is nothing halfhearted about him. He effortlessly loves others and expertly oversees any project he is passionate about. He doesn’t create problems, he solves them,” Cain’s wife Cherre said. ”We don’t often have time to make decisions together because he is so involved with the Republican Party, community and state boards, so I just try to be there with him and for him and others, when I can.”

“His famous calendar quote is 'Don’t you remember, I told you about this!'” his wife added with a laugh. “Ahhh no, you didn’t,” was her answer.

"He continues to amaze me. I love sharing life with my Russell. I love his

generosity and deep appreciation for our children, grandchildren and our community,” she said.

Cain has served as the Rotary International district governor of District 5930, 28 years as director and president of American Cancer Society, six years as president of Hatch Bend Country Club, 1996-1999 chairman of Gulf Bend Center/MHMR, 12 South Texas, chairman of Memorial Medical Hospital Foundation, lifetime director of Bluebonnet Youth Ranch in Yoakum, lifetime director of Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre and from 1992-present chairman of Port Lavaca Main Street Foundation. He also gifted the theater to the city.

For many years he hosted an Easter egg hunt at Grace Episcopal Church before Palm Sunday and held a celebration at Christmas. He honestly doesn't miss an opportunity to celebrate and mingle with his neighbors and those he loves.

| CONT. ON PG. 20 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

19

My love for my wife, m y t o w n , t h e c h u rc h , re a l e s t a t e , t h e t h e a t e r, golf, my friends, and ok, my dogs ...MAKE MY WO R L D G O RO U N D , t h a t i s W H AT K E E P S ME GOING. - Russell Cain

| CONT. FROM PG. 19 “Russell is the most wonderful man with the biggest heart,” said Lynn Walker, one of Cain’s real estate agents. “Anyone you ask will tell you the same thing. He will do anything for anyone. Though we still aren’t sure if he loves us or his dogs more, we are still trying to figure it out.”

Over a meal of grilled redfish and shrimp with vegetables at Bayside Seafood, Cain was a man you couldn’t miss if you tried. The staff immediately knew who he was and Cain and his ‘right-hand man,’ Jan Regan, were already seated and enjoying their appetizers.

His boisterous voice, gentlemanly manner and yellow Hawaiian shirt drew you to him immediately. He was charismatic and definitely someone you would want next to you when exploring Port Lavaca, needed a contact, wanted to get involved in the community, or any number of things.

Regan had a lot to say about Cain.

“Russell is a wonderful man and a man for Port Lavaca on all levels. He can be frustrating because he is ADD to the max, and it is sometimes hard to get him to focus. He will do his best to help anyone who truly needs it and he works daily to make Port Lavaca a 20

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

A bicycle waits for a rider at Bluebonnet Youth Ranch.

better community,” Regan said.

“On my 70th birthday, he surprised me with a party and even thought of inviting my younger son from Houston. It was a wonderful and caring gift and one directly from that big heart of his. Those are moments I treasure,” she said.

You have to be a sponge to tour the city of Port Lavaca with Cain. He points out a few things on each block with an anecdote, or some way he was involved, or just a random story of the town you would have otherwise never heard. He is a fountain of information, a source for all things Port Lavaca, topped off with a heart the size of Texas.

Cain gifted five lots to Habitat for Humanity and worked with the Episcopal Church's Diocese of West Texas to build the homes that are now on those lots.

He got involved in theater in 1981 and gave a piece of land to Port Lavaca Main Street in 1991. The donations, along with a grant writer, Juaneice Madden, who died at the age of 87, enabled them to obtain a grant from the Meadows Foundation in Dallas and build the Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre.

“I’ve always played in the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch Celebrity Golf Tournament and have taken clients and friends on fishing trips.

I also took some of the Bluebonnet kids out to see one of La Salle’s four ships, the La Belle, which sank and was salvaged in the waters of the Matagorda Bay and had a cofferdam around it. We actually got to go down inside the boat and the French CNN news commentators were there that day,” said Cain. “We took them over to Clark Seafood and had a big

seafood lunch and then our church celebrated with them. It was definitely one of my most unique experiences in the early 2000s.”

The Bluebonnet Youth Ranch celebrated 50 years with a gathering at the community center in Yoakum on May 21. Board member Claud B. Jacobs said of Cain, “It is hard to boil down all that Russell has done for the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch in just a few sentences but I will do my best.

He has been, and continues to be, a tremendous asset to the ranch, both as a longtime board member and now as an active honorary board member.

He has been with us for a very long time and a very valued member of our team since day one.”

Jacobs added, “Russell regularly donates items he finds left behind in homes he sells and donates them to our thrift shops so we can raise the money we need to keep the place well maintained and a great place to learn.”

Russell Cain Real Estate has one employee and six agents. It celebrated 50 years of business on April 28.

Cain worked his way through college at Texas A&M University by working at Alcoa in the summer. He ran a bus station and read telegrams to Bo and Ann Armstrong in 1966 from Lyndon Johnson at Armstrong Ranch.

The dog comment from Walker was explained at his real estate office, where his “dog of fame” wall is there for him to look at whenever he needs a breather.

“All my dogs, past and present, are on this wall,” Cain said.

“My love for my wife, my town, the church, real estate, the theater, golf, my friends and, OK, my dogs, in Calhoun, Victoria counties and the Coastal Bend area, make my world go round, that is what keeps me going,” he said.

“My time spent on the board at the Gulf Bend Center helping mentally challenged people for some 13odd years and my time on the local hospital board has shown how good God is. It is amazing what he can do,” Cain concluded.

Recognition of himself is not Cain’s goal. Recognition of the projects that still need help, and the town he loves, is.

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23

COASTAL LIVING

F OR THE

Love of Fishing S T O RY B Y A M B E R BAG W E L L | S P E C I A L TO D I S C OV E R 3 6 1 P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D U Y V U | DV U @ V I CA D. C O M

Kevin Townsend navigates around the Espiritu Santo Bay in Calhoun County.

Second homes, big boats, outsourced pastimes

W

hen you drive or motor up the Texas Gulf Coast, the size and views of the Texas wetlands, the homes nestled in these seaside, and gated communities are stunning.

And the price tags on the boats docked nearby nearly match the price of the homes they belong to. These

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

are secondary homes for the lucky few who can afford the luxury.

Kevin Townsend, known as KT to friends and family, is a 63 year old fly fishing guide, bird hunter (along with his canine companions), and television personality with his show “The KT Diaries” (as found on YouTube and

Instagram). He takes clients out on the water to fish for redfish and tarpon from the area year-round.

“A lot of my clients have homes in these communities and for most, it’s their secondary residence, if you can believe that,” said Townsend, as he prepares to head off on a quick fishing trip on his Chittum Yachts skiff, the Islamorada Laguna Madre Edition.

“Most of the big boats are out touring this time of year and won’t be back

Kevin Townsend’s boat.

Townsend puts his line together.

Townsend hooks a fish near Espiritu Santo Bay.

until June.”

Even with the landscape in recovery from last year’s freeze, the area is teeming with wildlife — dolphins are frolicing in the water, an alligator drifts toward the mangroves a little further out, mullets are jumping, flashes of silver fish fins or bellies are seen turning underwater or just on the surface, and an osprey is flying home with a trout caught in its sharp talons.

“I am originally from Tyler but started guiding in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I was visiting home one year and someone told me to go fishing in Port O’Connor. I kind of shrugged it off, but the guy was convincing. I decided to give it a try. I caught a 180-pound tarpon, moved here, and never looked back,” Townsend said. “I stay busy with a couple of boats. My goal is to keep it at five, eight—hour trips a week.

About 80% are repeats so my main form of advertising is word of mouth.”

He also makes his own flies and is sponsored by Orvis and Costa.

One of Townsend’s clients, Billy Aud, a fellow Texan, said, “Saltwater fly fishing can be spectacularly beautiful, challenging, and rewarding and KT is one of the best coming out of the Texas Gulf.”

Further up the coast past a few more charming, seaside towns, is Aransas Pass, where Drs. Rick and Rachel Heard, 50 and 51 respectively, dock their boat ‘Bite Me.’ Though the couple’s main residence is in Aransas Pass, they both work in Victoria, where their dental practices are.

“I started fishing as a kid but Rick got hooked when we went on a fishing tournament for our one year anniversary,” she said. “Though we own our own boat, which started as a Boston Whaler, we have gone farther with friends on their boats, as far as 150 miles off shore in the Gulf.”

The first time she fished in The Texas Women Angler’s Tournament her team won overall first place with a grand slam of white marlin, sailfish, and blue marlin. Her blue marlin won second place in 2015.

“Fishing and boating is a family affair for us. Both of our kids love it, and our nieces and nephews as well, even though there isn’t cell service,” | CONT. ON PG. 26 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

25

Fishing and boating is A FA M I LY A F FA I R f o r u s

- D r. R a c h e l H e a rd

| CONT. FROM PG. 25 Heard said. “We recently bought an 18-year-old Viking, bigger than our Boston Whaler, so we could go farther out on our own.”

The Heard family has seen some strange things out in the Gulf, including a telephone pole about 80 miles offshore, and a mahi mahi, who jumped straight out of the water and hooked itself on their outrigger.

“It is always a surprise, what will come up—blue marlin, sailfish, blackfin tuna, snapper, amber jack, grouper, mahi mahi, king fish, barracuda, jack crevalle, wahoo, sharks,” Heard said. “Sharks give you a good fight, but they can break your poles and cost you extra dollars and that isn’t fun. For eating, I probably like wahoo the best.”

“We had a friend that actually caught the carcass of a fish we threw out after making ceviche. He thought he had hooked a big one. It was hilarious,” she said. “But truly, that is part of the excitement. You don’t know what you have until it comes up.

It is a surprise.”

What is Townsend’s craziest fish story?

“Well, it wasn’t me, but a friend of mine actually saw a hog floating on an oak tree 20 miles out in the Gulf and I personally saw one crossing the Bay. It took my eyes a second to adjust to what I was seeing.”

What it boils down to is that big and fancy, inlet or Gulf, primary residence or second home, this side of the coastline offers something for everyone.

“We aren’t in it to win, we are in it for the love of fishing,” Heard said.

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

Townsend’s bait collection.

Townsend shows off a fish he caught.

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E N J OY THE O F T HE WATER S T O RY A N D P H T O G R A P H Y B Y K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

Illuminated kayaks wait for their crews at GlowRow.

P

ORT O’CONNOR — A dozen intrepid seafarers took the rave to the sea in March.

Under the cover of a night lit by a nearly full moon, the tandem kayakers departed the marina by the Inn at Clarks and cruised into the intracoastal waterway, silent except for a few good-natured squabbles about who was paddling correctly and in which direction. Despite the late hour of their embarkation, stealth was not the goal. Each craft was an LED

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

beacon, illuminating the water above and below in splendid neon.

GlowRow had come to Port O’Connor.

Each of the outfit’s kayaks seats two people. The hulls are crystal clear and lined with neon lights, and operators can cycle through various colors and stroboscopic patterns to create a unique, waterborne experience.

“It’s almost like looking through goggles at night,” said owner Zack Jurasek. “Because it breaks that water

tension on the surface. And it is so cool, man. It’s like snorkeling.”

As an engineer, Jurasek had the background to envision and design the watercraft, with some help from NOCQUA Adventure Gear, who made the lights. After that, it was a less than simple matter of finding a manufacturer in China and getting the boats to the right hemisphere. | CONT. ON PG. 30

GlowRow paddlers ready to embark on their route.

GlowRow kayaks in the water before a trip from Port O’Connor.

Jurasek prepares his fleet of kayaks for a tour group as the sun sets.

I t ’s l i k e a LIVING AQ UA R I U M - Zack Jurasek

Jurasek works on one of his company’s kayaks.

GlowRow participants get acquainted with their crafts.

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

29

FOR MORE

INFO

ww.glowrow.com TO MAKE R E S E R VAT I O N S : Call 361-746-3250, email: info@glowro.com or online: glowrow.com/

GlowRow owner Zack Jurasek carries a kayak to the water. | CONT. FROM PG. 28 Providing people with the unique experience seemed well worth the effort to Jurasek.

“I grew up on a river as a kid, and I absolutely love floundering — and seeing all of the things that you can see at night when ever you go floundering,” he said. “You can actually pierce the surface of the water with light at night, and it’s like a living aquarium. It’s amazing.”

Seeing the seahorses, jellyfish and other nocturnal marine life made an impact.

“Well, I wanted to share that,” he said.

In addition to starting GlowRow, Jurasek is also a commercial pilot and a commercial beekeeper. He can add entertainer to his resume, because from the moment his tour group arrived, he kept them engaged throughout the extensive safety briefing with a steady stream of jokes.

That safety briefing detailed the use of life preservers and several emergency strobes, each strong enough to stand out from the already luminous kayaks.

At the moment, participation is limited to adults, though Jurasek said family-friendly options are in the works. There are routes up and down the coast, including two in Port O’Connor, as well as Port Aransas, North Padre Island, Rockport, and one in Corpus Christi that holds the distinction of being America’s “only night-time glowing sunken ship tour.”

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Fishing worms are neatly tucked away in bins waiting to be sold.

FAMI LY-OW NE D B U S I N E S S O F F E R S

OUTDOOR SPORTING GEAR FOR AL L OCCASIONS S T O RY B Y C O DY BA I R D | C BA I R D @ V I CA D. C O M P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D U Y V U | DV U @ V I CA D. C O M

I

Inside Victoria's All-Sports, fishing rods stretch toward the ceiling.

Sharp, barbed hooks hang on the shelves. Vibrant fishing lures in every color from neon green to navy blue to pink and white sit out in a literal buffet. Glass cases display rows of high-quality fishing reels, and above them hang spool after spool of fishing line strong enough to land fish.

In short, Victoria's All-Sports has everything an angler could need for

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

Fishing poles line the shelve.

Fishing lines avilable at Victoria's All-Sports.

Manager Chad Hester and assistant manager Tracey Luna .

a day spent out on a pier or the boat deck.

"We have freshwater, saltwater and offshore fishing supplies," assistant manager Tracey Luna said. "We have everything like accessories that you might take fishing with you like coolers and different stuff."

Though the store does offer fishing supplies for any water, they do lean more heavily on saltwater fishing than most stores, manager Chad Hester said.

"We're close to the bay," he said, so the store tries to cater toward that environment.

Fishermen "flock down to Port O'Connor or Rockport or Corpus, and they usually come through here as they're going on their fishing trip," Hester said.

The shop offers a wide variety of supplies and brands to keep customers coming through. For rods, that means they carry brands like Daiwa, Fin-Nor, Abu Garcia, Ugly Stik, Shimano, Berkley and Pflueger.

Even if you're not buying a new reel, the local store can help you out.

"We have a line spooler," Luna said. "(Customers) can always bring their (rod) in and we help them string their reels, and we have all the accessories to help them keep it cleaned.

The outdoors store has afterfishing activities covered as well. Not only is there a huge range of knives safely displayed in a glass case that an angler could use to filet a fresh catch, but they also sell everything you could need to cook a fish up on the spot. The store sells a wide range of seasonings and rubs, heavy duty cast iron cookware, propane burners, fryers and broilers.

If you're looking for something stylish to wear while fishing, the store has you covered as well. Just on the other side of the cash register, a full array of performance clothing to keep fishermen comfortable and, most of all, protected out on the water are available. AFTCO and GameGuard are among the more prominent brands they carry.

"We have all the attire that they need that's UPF graded and everything," Luna said. | CONT. ON PG. 34 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

33

The fishing apparel section.

A fish hangs near the fishing supplies.

Fishing hats.

We ' v e b e e n L U C K Y over the years - Chad Hester

| CONT. FROM PG. 33 In addition to typical clothing, they also carry rubber boots and waders for anyone that's going to venture out into the shallows to land a fish.

Victoria's All-Sports has been a local fixture since 1971.

"We've been lucky over the years," Hester said. "We get a lot of support from everybody."

Throughout that 51 year run, the shop has remained a family business, he said. Staying local has been important to both the shop and its customers.

"Support your local people," he said. "I think that's the key nowadays."

Looking beyond the summer season, the shop has everything a hunter could need as well. Rifles and shotguns are available from every brand from Benelli and Browning to Winchester and ArmaLite, and they carry a full range of ammunition and magazines. Not only that, but they also carry blinds and feeders that are commonly spotted in their parking lot just off the Houston Highway.

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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35

They just like being out here

A day of charter fishing includes more than fishing S T O RY B Y C O DY BA I R D | C BA I R D @ V I CA D. C O M PHOTOGRAPHY BY K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

Right - Curtiss Cash, owner of Low Tide Guide Service.

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Cash shows a redfish before tossing it back.

Cash demonstrates how to hold a fishing rod.

C

alhoun County has a lot to offer. Sprawling, undisturbed coastal vistas, a long history that stretches centuries, impressive wildlife and an easy-going, relaxed lifestyle that can only come from living on the water.

Port O'Connor's Curtiss Cash takes all of that and balls it into one impressive package with his Low Tide Guide Service.

A day out on the water with Cash starts out exciting as he blasts his Carolina skimmer boat down the intracoastal waterway away from Port O'Connor, takes a relaxing turn as you listen to the waves lap against the side of the boat and the call of gulls

A hooked stingray waits to be thrown back.

overhead, and ramps back up to full blown excitement each time you begin to reel in a fish, wondering what the murky Gulf waters are hiding.

Cash leads these chartered fishing expeditions dozens of times throughout the year, hitting fishing holes he's committed to memory after decades of experience navigating the water outside of Port O'Connor.

Cash averages about 150 charters per year, he said. During the colder months starting around Thanksgiving, the charters slow down, which he said he's grateful for.

"To tell you the truth, I'd rather just be in the house when it's cold and dreary," he said. "I used to love it. I'd fish anytime, but nowadays I'm not as mad about it so it spreads out."

By the April-May timeframe, | CONT. ON PG. 38

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

37

business begins to pick up, he said.

By mid-April, he already had 15 charters booked for the month of May. "Sometimes you just get slammed and it's every day for 27 days," he said. "Sometimes we'll do like two charters in a day."

While he said that two charters in a day is possible, he tries to stick to just one per day. If the weather is poor, having just one charter per day allows him to delay the trip until the weather passes, whereas doing two charters in a day would mean that the charter would have to begin as soon as possible and someone might end up with a poor charter.

Over the course of several hours, Cash takes charter guests out to tried and true fishing holes. Multiple lines get cast out. Even if there's only two guests on board there are at least four lines baited with shrimp and sardines tossed out to ensure that guests can catch their fill of fish.

Each time one of the rods twitched and a fish got hooked on the line, Cash passed the rod to a guest so they could reel it in. Many catfish were brought in — "Rats of the sea," Cash said as he tossed them back — as well as some red drum and even a pair of stingrays.

The charter didn't just provide fun through fishing, though. Calhoun County has a rich history, and Cash has a great deal of knowledge and commentary for the tales you won't find in a history book.

At one point the boat sailed past a beached ship with "Vagabundo del Mar" painted across the back, and Cash regaled passengers with the boat's life story. Decades ago, Vagabundo was docked in Port O'Connor and used as nothing more than a weekend condo before being sold. The buyer lived on it for a time before abandoning it. The boat sat empty for years until someone came to salvage it.

"That hull has 7,400 pounds of lead down in the keel," Cash said.

While the salvager was hauling the boat toward Galveston, they lost it in transit and the boat bounced around the jetties on its own before finally coming to rest, sucked down in the mud and sand.

"It'll be there forever," Cash said.

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Cash prepares to filet a redfish under the watchful gaze of hungry pelicans.

A redfish large enough to keep hangs over the boat’s deck.

Another notable locale Cash spoke about was an abandoned concrete ruin out in the water. The structure was a Coast Guard life saving station, Cash said, completed in 1960 or so. It was built to withstand powerful winds, but when Hurricane Carla ripped through the area in 1961 the waves and storm surge destroyed it.

Even for those uninterested in fishing, the bird watching and wildlife

potential is breathtaking. Cash regularly slowed the boat to point out birds like ospreys or golden eye ducks perched on wooden posts or soaring close to the water.

One couple, he said, takes a yearly charter, and spends most of their time enjoying the day watching the birds fly by with minimal fishing done.

"They just like being out here," he said.

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39

FASHION

Summertime FASHIONS

STORY BY ALLISON LACEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAYNA WILES | IMAGES BY DAYNA 40

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

HAIR BY TESS SMALLEY | THE VANITY ROOM MAKEUP BY JESSIK A RINEHART PLUM CRAZY MAKEUP AND MICROBLADING

Kayla Scherer wears Buddy Love’s Pollyanna Flower Patch dress, ShuShop white booties, and Ah!dorned fringed handbag. Susan Teinert wears Jade coral sleeveless top with ruffle neckline, Slimsation shorts, Ah!dorned handbag with changeable straps.

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FASHION SHOOT LOCATION THE CLUB AT COLONY CREEK MODELS SUSAN TEINERT, K AYLA SCHERER Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Scherer wears Buddy Love Alana Windsor floral top, Dear John Frankie distressed cropped jeans, ShuShop Huici tan heels, and Betsy Pittard earrings.

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Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

Teinert wears Tribal V-neck top with ¾ sleeve, Tribal button fly walking shorts, and Brighton sandals.

LIGHT BREEZY FASHION perfect for summer fun

B

right colors, light-weight fabrics, sandals with freshly painted toes. These are all things that come to mind when I think about summer fashion. I tend to wear a lot of black and grey in the winter, so when the weather starts to warm up, I am happy for the change.

For summer 2022, we are going to be seeing lots of floral patterns and peasant-style looks. The word “bohemian” definitely comes to mind. Cinched waist lines, midi-skirts and long, loose sleeves are back with a vengeance.

Add to that a pair of high-waisted linen shorts and wedges and you are good to go. We are also seeing a ton of animal prints, but in untraditional colors. Zebra print in hot pink and white or snake print in pastels. I think we can all agree that the 90’s are back with a twist.

For me, summer has always meant loose, flowy dresses, comfy shorts and a good pair of flip flops. Given the heat and humidity that we deal with on a daily basis, I have always argued that dresses are far superior to anything else. It is the perfect way to be cool and comfortable, but still look put together. Throw in a lightweight hat and you are good to go just about anywhere.

When Foster Creek Station opened for business in 1999, they added a breath of fresh air to our fashion scene. Located on Crestwood Drive, the store offers a unique variety of women’s clothes and accessories, often with a slight “southern” flare. Loose, flowing silhouettes, floral designs and bright colors are staples in this charming little boutique. As you look around, it is clear that the pieces are chosen with a true South Texas woman in | CONT. ON PG. 47

FA S H I O N P R E S E N T E D B Y

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TEXAS ADVENTURE AWAITS.

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Scherer wears Entro V-neck with elastic sleeves, Connie ankle skinny jeans by KUT. 46

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

Teinert wears Tribal long sleeve top with ruffle detail and Dear John tan skinny high rise jeans.

Scherer wears Buddy Love Houston Rosebud top and Dear John distressed jeans.

| CONT. FROM PG. 43 mind. Lord knows we need clothes that are designed to make us look and feel fabulous while staying cool and comfortable in the brutal summer heat. There is nothing worse than spending an hour getting your outfit just right only to jump in your car and melt because it’s 125 degrees inside.

Ladies, Foster Creek Station has you covered.

Owner, Susan Teinert, has cultivated a collection that is perfect for a motherdaughter shopping trip. For moms, she offers lots of brightly colored loose knits and cute yet comfy sandals. Whether you are running kids around to a million different places or just relaxing on the patio after a long day with a glass of wine, you will be casual and chic without breaking the bank. For the | CONT. ON PG. 49

FA S H I O N P R E S E N T E D B Y

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Teinert wears Jade sleeveless hot pink top with ruffle V-neck, SlimSation pull on dark denim pants, and Ah!dorned handbag with changeable strap.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 47 slightly older daughters, chunky sandals and baby-doll style blouses create a fun summer look that works when hanging out pool side with your friends.

And don’t forget accessories which are always a summer must. Purses and jewelry add the perfect finishing touches to any outfit. One of the most fun and versatile lines of purses I’ve seen in a long time comes from Ah!dorned. What makes them unique? The purses come in a variety of sizes, styles and colors BUT…the straps are interchangeable and can be purchased individually. You can mix and match colors and patterns any way you choose to instantly create a look that is reflective of your own personal style.

Summer brings with it a sense of lightness and fun. It is the time of year when the heaviness of winter is finally lifted. The sun stays out a little bit longer, the margaritas taste a little bit sweeter and life just seems a bit more fun. Whether you are heading to the pool on a Sunday afternoon, the beach for the weekend or meeting a group of friends for brunch, your style options are endless.

Summer fashion is the perfect time to show your personality and maybe even experiment a little. Get out of your comfort zone and go a little crazy. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

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Scherer wears Buddy Love Pollyanna Field tiered dress, and Buda Girl bracelets and Betsy Pittard earrings.

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FOOD

Chip Dence Loves Playing with fire & food

S T O RY B Y CAT H E R I N E KO H N | C KO H N @ V I CA D. C O M P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

C

hip Dence likes nothing more than playing with his food.

Chip is a straight-talking, hands-on, no-nonsense kind of guy.

His white hair and beard may be reminiscent of Santa, and he does seem to have a twinkle in his eye, but don’t let that fool you – he is all business, especially in the kitchen.

A former transport pilot for 26 years who co-owns East End Builders & East End Lumber Co. in Victoria, Chip has decades of professional experience in building construction and historic restoration. The Texas Builders Association inducted him into the Texas Housing Hall of Honor and Gov.

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Greg Abbott recently appointed him to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

It is his cooking, however, that is truly legendary – especially his seafood. For years, his tailgating at the annual polo match at McFaddin Ranch wowed the crowd.

“Everybody liked my food best,” he said with no hint of modesty about his talents.

Chip started cooking in a rather different way than most. He grew up in the southeastern section of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York.

“I am number three of eight

kids,” he said. “My father was both a preacher and a stonemason.”

Chip said they had no electricity until he was 5, and “daddy gave me a chainsaw for my fifth birthday.” His job was to provide firewood.

“With 10 of us in the household, we did six loaves of bread every other day.”

The family had a wood-burning oven and, even though he was a young child, “it was my job to knead the bread,” he said, because his mother had problems with her wrists.

It quickly became his job to maintain the oven, and he started making the bread on his own. “And

OYS T E R S CHIPO

INGREDIENTS:

24 large fresh oysters 3 strips of bacon Large onion 18 oz. of fresh spinach Panko breadcrumbs Mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz.)

Non-smoked paprika Chiltepin pepper seeds Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

Cut 3 strips of bacon into fine slices. Finely chop ½ large onion. Sauté the bacon and onion together. Add a few Chiltepin pepper seeds if available.

Chop 18 oz. of fresh spinach and add to the bacon and onion with a bit of Kosher salt. Stir and set aside to keep warm using residual heat.

Using half of the spinach/onion/ bacon mixture in the fry pan, spoon into individual oven-safe oval Au Gratin dishes. Sprinkle a layer of Panko crumbs over the mixture.

Place 3 to 4 large Texas oysters over the crumbs, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle more Panko crumbs and another final layer of the spinach mixture.

Cover each serving with mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with non-smoked paprika.

Place the dishes on a baking pan and place in the oven to broil for about 10 minutes (until bubbly but not burnt).

Serve while hot.

Serves 8

then I realized pretty early on that everybody liked my bread better than mom's bread because I put more white flour in it,” he said, laughing.

“I realized that I could please people by feeding them,” Chip said. He explained his family was very religious and they “turned vegetarian – vegan actually – by the time I was 6. … They went way crazy about the whole thing.”

By the time he was 7, he was roasting fish or trapping small game and cooking it over a fire where his parents couldn’t see him.

“I didn’t subscribe to all of their ways of doing things.”

At age 13, he left home “and never looked back.”

Chip met his wife, Mary Jane, on May 18, 1969. They married exactly five years later.

“I never had an oyster ’till I met Mary.”

Mary Jane revived his interest in cooking. He said when he was with Mary Jane, he had the same feeling as when he was a kid – that he could please people with his food.

“I found if I served her some goodies, it garnered me some favors. Did I say that correctly?” he said with a laugh.

He said his ideas, techniques and creativity with food were the result of “practice, practice, practice.”

“Just play with your food.”

Chip especially enjoys cooking using an open fire or woodburning oven.

“I still cook on my own fireplace four or five nights a week.”

On this particular Sunday afternoon, Chip, with the help of his friend, Scott McHaney, demonstrated several specialties using fresh Texas coastal seafood.

Scott is a chef, caterer and businessman well known for his cooking talents, as well.

Working in Scott’s wellequipped kitchen and using his large wood-burning backyard oven, the two worked in tandem, | CONT. ON PG. 52 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

51

| CONT. FROM PG. 51 with Chip directing. It was like watching two dancers, they seemed so in tune.

Watching Chip work in the kitchen, it quickly becomes apparent he doesn’t follow any type of book or written recipes, although he said he has written many in a journal over the years. It was Scott who helped gauge the amounts of various ingredients as they worked through the three dishes that would be presented that evening.

Chip’s Ceviche, Chip’s Chile Relleño and “Oysters Chipo” take time, especially if being prepared together.

Several hours, in fact.

When cooking, Chip works with his hands, literally. Even when moving the poblano chiles in the outdoor oven he used his hands rather than tongs.

He removes the seeds from them by hand, rather than a spoon.

It is obvious he enjoys the textures, flavors, aromas and tactile sensations of handling the food, making clear “playing with my food” is not simply a

joke to him.

Chip insists that everything be fresh, as in right-off-the-boat fresh. For the shrimp in his stuffing for the Chile Relleño, he went to Port Lavaca’s Big Bear Seafood Co. The red snapper came right off a friend’s fishing expedition. It is the freshness of the ingredients that makes the biggest difference, he said.

He also said everything he cooks can be “played with” in terms of altering ingredients and amounts according to a person’s tastes.

CHILE RELLENO

W/SHRIMP STUFFING INGREDIENTS:

8 large poblano chiles 1 medium sweet onion 8 oz. small portobello mushrooms 1¼ cups of uncooked Texmati rice (to make 2½ cups of cooked rice) 6 oz. golden raisins Tequila (enough to soak the raisins) 1½ pounds of fresh Texas Gulf wild shrimp (NEVER FROZEN) 1-2 Tbls of dry white wine 6 eggs 1 to 2 oz. of Parmesan cheese 4 oz of mozzarella cheese 4 oz of Oaxaca cheese 4 oz of mild cheddar cheese White flour (about ½ cup) Extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

Place golden raisins in a small bowl and cover with tequila to soak for about an hour.

While the raisins are soaking, cook the Texmati white rice (you will need about 2½ cups cooked rice).

Using an open flame such as an outdoor fire, flame from a gas stove, or broiler, cook 8 large poblano chilis on a broiling pan (if using oven) or grill. Turning frequently, cook the chilis until thoroughly wrinkled, but not burned. Let cool.

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When cool, remove the outer skin carefully, then slice open from bottom (leaving the top of the chile intact, including stem) and remove the seeds. Set aside on a tray.

Finely chop the sweet onion, shrimp and the mushrooms.

Over a medium heat in a large fry pan sauté the finely chopped medium sweet onion, shrimp and chopped small portobello mushrooms in butter.

Add the cooked rice to the onions, shrimp and mushrooms, stirring thoroughly.

Add the golden raisins and stir until completely mixed. Remove from the heat and stir in all the cheeses.

Take each opened poblano chile and stuff with the rice mixture, rolling the chile in your hands to maintain its shape. Place each stuffed chile face down on a floured pan and sprinkle with additional flour until they are fully, but lightly, coated.

Separate the six eggs and beat the egg whites in a cold bowl until they form peaks and beat the egg yolks until fluffy for about 2 minutes. Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites.

Using a round bottomed “Scotch” bowl or wok, lightly coat with extra virgin olive oil and use a fairly high heat (but not high enough to burn the oil).

Pick up each stuffed chile individually, place the egg mixture on top and gently slide it into the pan then coat the balance of the chile with the egg mixture until fully coated. Fry until crisp and golden.

Use a paddle utensil to remove the chiles from the pan.

It is best to cook the chiles only one or two at a time in the pan to prevent them from sticking together.

Remove from heat and serve with a sour cream-based dip of your choice.

Serves 8

CHIP’S CEVICHE

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound of Texas coastal fresh red snapper 2 large Serrano chile peppers 4-6 limes Kosher salt 4 Roma tomatoes 1 small, sweet onion (Vidalia, Walla Walla, Texas Spring Sweet) ½ bunch cilantro 4 avocados 8 leaves of Romaine lettuce

DIRECTIONS:

Squeeze the juice of 4-6 limes and put aside in a small bowl.

thoroughly and pack down. Cover with Saran wrap and set aside in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve.

Peel four avocados then slice lengthwise in half. Remove the pits. Place each avocado half on a Romaine lettuce leaf, fill with the mixture.

Serves 8

As Chip and Scott worked together, one thing was also clear about these particular recipes. Finely chopping many of the ingredients is the key to a successful dish, especially the ceviche.

While sipping wine as they worked, Chip and Scott expertly diced and chopped onions, tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, mushrooms and seafood. Using good tools is important to the process, and timing is everything.

Some parts of the recipes must rest and soak while other elements are being prepared. Of course, tasting every dish, at each stage of development, is vital. This includes checking out the tequila before soaking the golden raisins in it.

Chip prides himself on cooking exactly the correct amount for each serving.

When dinner was served, “oohs and ahhs” and “this is fantastic” filled the dining room. There was not a crumb left when the table was cleared. Everything was perfect. Of course.

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Chop the fresh red snapper very fine and place in a large ceramic bowl. Cover the snapper with ¾ of the lime juice and set aside.

Slice the Serrano chile peppers in half, remove the seeds, then chop very fine and add to the snapper.

Let rest for about 10 to 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the vegetables.

Slice 4 Roma tomatoes in half, remove the insides so they are clear of seeds and juice. Then finely chop the tomatoes. Finely chop the small, sweet onion. Rinse cilantro and chop using both stems and leaves.

Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and add a three-finger pinch of Kosher salt and additional lime juice if needed. Stir.

Add the onion, tomato, and cilantro to the mixture. Mix

Thursday-Saturday 11AM-10PM | Sunday 11AM-6PM (361) 412-7677 |111 Ripple Rd Victoria, Tx 77905 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Head

Above Water S T O RY B Y A M B E R BAG W E L L | S P E C I A L TO D I S C OV E R 3 6 1 P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D U Y V U | DV U @ V I CA D. C O M Craig Griffin, owner of Charlotte Plummer's in Rockport

Charlotte Plummer’s SeaFare Restaurant stays afloat with a little creative thinking

B

usiness as usual has taken on an entirely new meaning in almost every industry since COVID-19 started wreaking havoc with illnesses, deaths, and economic devastation— including restaurants, especially locally.

According to the National Restaurant Association, about 90,000 restaurants have temporarily or permanently closed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

For Craig Griffin, 69, owner of, Charlotte Plummer’s SeaFare Restaurant in Rockport, the uncertainty of the last two years has weighed heavily on his businesses,

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which, in addition to the restaurant, includes The Inn at Fulton Harbor and T.G.'s Beachware & Gifts right across the street.

Griffin purchased the restaurant in 1995 and, after undergoing a massive renovation and expansion, opened in April of that year.

“We have had a trifecta of disasters since Harvey hit in 2017. I remember being at the border of Kentucky and Tennessee on a Monday watching the solar eclipse peak and then hunkering down in the hotel in the eye of Hurricane Harvey that same Friday | CONT. ON PG. 56

Outside of the Charlotte Plummer's SeaFare Restaurant.

Medium fried shrimp with fries.

Capt. Tommy’s Crab Tower.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 54 with a friend after we boarded up everything we could,” said Griffin.

Despite their best efforts, all 45 rooms at the hotel were destroyed.

It was shuttered for four months while being rebuilt. The store and the restaurant sustained damage and closed as well, but were up and running more quickly after repairs were made.

“Then we had the deep freeze of 2021 and we are still knee deep in the pandemic,” continued Griffin. “We are fortunate to be open and it is only due to some quick thinking that kept us afloat. We rented a 60x60 feet tent, set up picnic tables, and moved the restaurant outside. We left the front dining area open for those that were handicapped.”

The restaurant and store closed for about six weeks, but used the tent remedy for six to nine months. The hotel closed for about 30 days.

“When the announcement was made that we were going to be re-opening, we were told we would be closed on Wednesday and doing outdoor dining only. Working in the tent was hard and hot, but it worked,” server Nicole Lattiere, 36, who has worked at Charlotte Plummer’s since 1998, said about working outdoors.

“Luckily, some time later, we were back inside and a little bit of normalcy returned. We made it through the

IF YOU GO C H A R L OT T E PLUMMER'S S E A FA R E R E S TA U R A N T

Where: 202 N. Fulton Beach Road, Rockport Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday; closed Wednesday.

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Jay Johnson and his wife A’lisa Johnson enjoy lunch. summer of 2020, with Wednesday the only day off for many of us, no salad bar, wearing a mask the whole time.”

Lattiere, along with other work staff and a solid lineup of loyal patrons, still kept trucking along.

“We’ve been going to Charlotte’s since 1999 and we always have a great time. The food and service is great and the oysters are the best,” said longtime patron, Martha Cabrera, of San Antonio, who was dining with pal Frankie Jones. “Going to Charlotte’s is a must whenever we are here so we are glad to see the doors still open.”

In this year’s State of the Restaurant Industry report, more than half of restaurant operators said it would be a year or more before business conditions return to normal. Food, labor, and occupancy costs are expected to remain elevated, and continue to impact restaurant profit margins in 2022. Ninety-six percent of operators experienced supply delays or shortages of key food or beverage items in 2021 and these challenges will likely continue in 2022.

“Labor is a serious issue and I have a feeling it will be for a while,” said Griffin. “We need workers. We need help. Spread the word.”

“I have seen several hundred people go in and out at Charlotte's, but the thing that keeps me here is the ones that are consistent. This restaurant is nothing like a chain restaurant and almost everyone that works here has been here for three years or more. Many of them are around the 10 year mark, and some a

few decades. Charlotte Plummer’s is family,” Lattiere said.

“We just celebrated 27 years and I can’t say it has been easy, but I can say it has been worth it,” said Griffin ruefully. “It has been challenging, but we all need that in life. Knowing what I know now, I would still make that purchase in 1995 that led me to today.”

Griffin moved to the area when he was in eighth grade and finished high school before moving to Texas A&M Universtiy for his bachelor’s degree.

He finished with his master’s degree at the University of Texas.

Though he is a restaurateur now, Griffin’s career has been in oil as a geophysical explorer and, prior to that, he worked at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute as a Marine Resource Developer.

“I’m a hybrid,” joked Griffin.

Though Charlotte Plummer’s, which originally opened in the mid70’s, wasn’t open when he lived here, his father had retired in the area so he had eaten at the restaurant many times.

“I bought the place because of the fried shrimp. Best in the world then, and it’s the best in the world now.

Between the fried shrimp, the crab tower, the pepper crusted tuna, and everything else on the menu, it is a win/win,” added Griffin. “Park your car here, and you don’t have to leave.

You have the Inn and store across the street, the restaurant, the pier to fish from—and we will even cook your catch for you.”

Pepper crusted tuna steak.

IT’S A The bar inside of Charlotte Plummer's.

TEXAS thing!

chicken fried steak

cobb salad

234 E Main St | Port Lavaca

361-553-5555

View our Menu online!

Server Nicole Lattiere puts up glassware inside of Charlotte Plummer's.

TXTraditions.com

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DAY TRIP

24 H O U R S I N ROCKPORT 58

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Bruce Koach’s installation “Thank You Ellwood City” is part of the “Thoughtfully Handcrafted” exhibit at the Rockport Center for the Arts. It was constructed from maple, steel and brass.

Sun, surf, arts and food await visitors to Rockport S T O RY B Y M A R K RO S E N B E RG | S P E C I A L TO D I S C OV E R 3 6 1 P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M

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ockport is located just an hour from Victoria, but by the time you’ve crested the causeway across Copano Bay and reached the beaches, fishing boats, and pastel-colored storefronts that fill this coastal town, you’ll feel much farther away than that.

Whether it’s casting a line off Fulton Fishing Pier, peering through binoculars to spot one of the 400-odd species of birds that visit this part of the Gulf Coast, or simply napping under the palapas at the

town’s beloved beach, Rockport boasts a boatload of outdoor adventures. Those seeking to escape the sun, meanwhile, can enjoy museums and art galleries as well as bayside restaurants serving up freshly caught seafood. Altogether, these attractions help explain why Rockport has been named one of the five best coastal small towns in America by USA Today a half-dozen times.

“We’re on a peninsula and so we have Aransas Bay to the east and we have

Copano Bay to the west,” said Sandy Jumper, vice president of marketing and promotion at the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “If you’re a water lover, then that’s your draw.”

Hurricane Harvey ravaged Rockport when it made landfall in August 2017, leaving homes and businesses destroyed. But the town has made an impressive comeback. Case in point: the newly rebuilt Fulton Fishing Pier, which reopened in the summer of 2021, was filled one evening this spring with tourists and locals hauling in catfish and black drum.

“Having the hurricane was devastating for all of us — I personally lost my home — but we rebuilt and we can keep rebuilding,” Jumper said. “We’ve had new businesses, new growth. We’re just focusing on what we have: a new coat of paint on the town.”

What follows is a 24-hour itinerary that provides a taste of all that Rockport has to offer.

The white chocolate bread pudding caps off the meal at the Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli.

10 A.M.: GOOSE ISLAND S TAT E PA R K

If you’re heading south on SH 35, hang a left at the 7-Eleven just before the causeway and head for the coast.

You’ll wind up at Goose Island State Park, which provides a gateway to the wildlife of Aransas Bay. The park sits just south of the renowned Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and offers opportunities for birding, fishing and sightseeing along its marshes and tidal flats.

Along with its more than 120 campsites and 1,620-foot fishing pier, one of the park’s main attractions is the “Big Tree,” an enormous live oak that is more than 1,000 years old. Pro tip: if you come during the winter migration season, the private ranch just east of the tree along Lamar Beach Load is a prime location to spot a pair of whooping cranes from the road.

The red drum, served with lemon and butter, green beans and rice, steals the show at the Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli.

N O O N : L U N C H AT O L D F U LT O N S E A F O O D CA F E & DELI

Once you’ve gotten your fill of flora and fauna, head across the causeway and toward downtown Rockport. Before you reach town, stop for lunch at the Old Fulton Seafood | CONT. ON PG. 60

The Reuben at the Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli represents the deli side of the restaurant.

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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The bed in the king suite at the Lighthouse Inn.

The king suite at the Lighthouse Inn. | CONT. FROM PG. 59 Cafe & Deli. The restaurant is easy to miss, since it’s tucked into a strip mall adjacent to the Aransas County Courthouse, but it features a diverse menu with some of the best seafood in Fulton.

Owner Janis Adams opened the restaurant by the beach in 2012 but was forced to relocate after Harvey.

It started as a deli, and still serves up hearty Reubens and lasagna, but Adams said most regulars these days come for the seafood.

“We want to make sure people can get fresh seafood,” she said. “I’d say that’s our biggest calling card.”

Both the crab cake and the red drum, served with fresh vegetables and rice pilaf, were delicious. For the more adventurous diners in your party, there are items found on few other local menus, including fish veracruz as well as escargot and frog legs.

In short, there’s something here for everyone, but this cafe still does the classics as well as anybody else.

1 P. M . R O C K P O RT C E N T E R F O R T H E A RT S

This local institution exemplifies the resilient spirit Rockport showed in the aftermath of Harvey. After the hurricane destroyed its building, the center obtained grants to build an impressive new facility featuring 60

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Rooms at the Lighthouse Inn at Aransas Bay overlook the pool area. exhibition space and a convention venue, scheduled to open this August.

Until then, the Center for the Arts is housed at a downtown gallery, where it will host an exhibition from June to July featuring artwork from past and present poster artists for the town’s annual Art Fest.

The Art Fest, which will feature artworks on auction from more than 120 artists, takes place from July 2-3 this summer and serves as a fundraiser for the Center for the Arts, which helps provide free and affordable arts programming in Rockport year-round.

2 P. M . T E X A S M A R I T I M E MUSEUM

This museum, located right by Rockport Beach and just across the street from the harbor, is an homage to the state’s maritime history. Its exhibits feature everything from antique fishing gear and replicas of boats to an exhibit on the state’s offshore oil and gas industry, making for a fascinating visit. Those who climb to the top floor will be rewarded with an overlook providing views of the entire harbor.

3 P. M . R O C K P O RT B E A C H

Alright, we’ve waited long enough.

Time to grab the cooler and the collapsible chairs and make moves for

Rockport’s main attraction. Located just blocks from downtown, Rockport Beach sits on a spit of land jutting eastward into the bay, which means you’ll quickly feel far away from everything. The palapas that line the beach provide shade and a hint of the Caribbean.

The beach is an ideal spot for families, with shallow water for wading, multiple playgrounds, and picnic tables galore. The water tends to be warm and the beach is reliably clean and well-kept. There’s a fishing pier at the eastern end. A day pass is $10 — well worth an afternoon of sand and sun.

5 P. M . C H E C K I N AT T H E L I G H T H O U S E I N N AT A R A N S A S B AY

If you’re looking for a special place to stay in the Rockport-Fulton area, you’d be hard pressed to do better than The Lighthouse Inn. This elegant hotel features an unbeatable bayfront location and Victorian-style décor that often draws comparisons to the Titanic, said Rhonda Byars, the inn’s director of sales.

Hurricane Harvey toppled the inn’s tower and flooded the entire first floor, but the inn was quickly remodeled and renovated. Today, it

The Texas Maritime Museum overlooks Rockport Harbor.

Families play in the surf at Rockport Beach. features dozens of spacious rooms with patios or balconies opening directly onto the water. Book early to reserve a room with a view. (Pro tip from Byars: Families can book a king suite adjoining a double queen room, with a door connecting the two.) Amenities include a tiled pool and hot tub, outdoor barbecue grills and gazebos, a private fishing pier for guests, handicap accessible suites, a weight room, a full-service bar in the lobby, and a complimentary breakfast buffet every morning. A public boat launch sits right next door.

VC

Summer Fun Fashions

6 P. M . F U LT O N F I S H I N G P I E R

At the Lighthouse Inn, you’re just a stone’s throw away from Fulton’s fishing pier, which is a perfect place to head before sunset. The pier offers an ideal vantage point to cast a line or just soak up the glow of the fading sun. If you catch something good, the inn’s restaurant will cook it for you, Byars said.

7 : 3 0 P. M . D I N N E R A N D D R I N K S I N F U LT O N

Restaurants abound in Fulton, and the walkable strip just north of the Lighthouse Inn includes several worthy | CONT. ON PG. 62

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3059 FM 236, Victoria, TX across from Dollar General, Upper Mission Valley Road 361.894.4772 • Tues-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-3pm Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Opportunistic seagulls hang out near those with food at Rockport Beach.

The “Big Tree” is thought to be one of the largest live oaks in the United States. | CONT. FROM PG. 61 options. If you’re visiting on a busy weekend, however, you may want to get in line early, because some of the more popular places tend to have a lengthy wait. Seafood restaurants include mainstay Charlotte Plummer's, which features outdoor seating right on the water and a menu running the gamut from ceviche to fried shrimp; The Boiling Pot, which serves heaps of Cajun-spiced seafood for your table to share; and Moondog Seaside Eatery, a no-frills option with a bayside deck and phenomenal Po’ boys.

On many nights, you’ll be able to find live music to enjoy along this strip of restaurants.

Jose Silva, visiting from San Antonio, lands a gafftopsail catfish at the Fulton Fishing Pier.

E V E N I N G S TAY AT T H E LIGHTHOUSE INN 9 A . M . B R E A K FA S T

Grab a bite to eat at the inn’s complimentary buffet — or, if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, drive back through Rockport to the red Tacos El Guero truck west of town on Market Street. The little truck may be easy to miss, but the tacos are both affordable and delicious.

They’ll fill you up for the drive home, or, if you so choose, another day in Rockport.

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Flags billow in the wind at Capt. Cady’s Bait House and Seafood in Rockport.

Voted Best of the Best in the Crossroads • New Car Dealer • Used Car Dealer • Friendliest Dealer

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Sat 10:00 am - 3:00 pm bethuneandsonvtx.com (361) 579-7328

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

63

HEALTH & BEAUTY

S O HAPPY

TOGET HER

Joe and Brandee Bratton, owners of Cryo Depot in Victoria.

One of Victoria’s health and wellness power couples give us the cold treatment S T O RY B Y A M B E R BAG W E L L | S P E C I A L TO D I S C OV E R 3 6 1 P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D U Y V U | DV U @ V I CA D. C O M

E

ven before walking through the door of the Cryo Depot at the corner of Main and East Rio Grande streets, the signs of what shapes the philosophy of the couple who own the building and facilitate the cryo and the recovery that happens inside are etched in the cement steps, ‘Together We Are Unstoppable’.

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A wall of past cryotherapy clients.

The full-body cryotherapy machine.

I t i s i n c re d i b l e a n d w e h a v e M A D E A LOT o f D R E A M S C O M E T RU E - Joe Bratton

Natalie Jaschke closes her eyes as she gets the cryotherapy facial treatment.

Joe and Brandee Bratton are very goal driven and visitors sense that vibe almost immediately. They set goals for themselves as individuals, a couple, and, after a consultation, for their clients. Then, they map out how they are going to make that happen.

The services they offer at the Cryo Depot are plentiful and address a multitude of issues and can be used as preventive measures as well.

In addition to the cryo facial, Brandee, 48, works on internal healing, body sculptings, Kundalini Yoga, energy balancing sessions, 40day weight loss program, and tarot readings. ”We are all aging. It is an inevitable process. It is in how we choose to age that makes all the difference.”

“The cryo facials create visible pressurized liquid nitrogen vapors to your face and neck. It stimulates the production of collagen which helps decrease pore size and is used to diminish blemishes and scars, accelerate healing, and improve skin conditions, such as breakouts or rosacea,” she said.

The subzero treatment is cold, but not painful as the client feels their pores tightening the first session, she said.

A long-time client, Natalie Jaschke said she started going to the Cryo Depot because she knew it was time to do something for herself.

“I decided to give Cryo Depot a go. It is a treatment that is between me and Brandee. It is a safe haven and I feel comfortable, and I feel good. It is what I need. What my body needs, ” Jaschke said.

“I have been coming regularly and these facials, and Brandee, is not something that I am not willing to give up. It feels good. These guys are my friends. And I can see the difference. What is not to love? I’ll keep coming.”

Joe, 50, runs the full body cryo chamber, leg compression, and other things that help clients with muscle soreness, spot treatment for injuries, and overall wellness.

“The full-treatment of the cooling chamber only lasts three minutes so it is palatable and not at all like an ice-bath, which is a comparison that | CONT. ON PG. 66 Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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FOR MORE INFO OR TO MAKE AN A P P O I N T M E N T: Call 361-550-3884.

| CONT. FROM PG. 65 just doesn’t fit,” Joe said. “And you can step out at any time if it becomes too uncomfortable. But honestly, it happens so fast, that you are in and out before you know what hits you and your body is beginning that healing process almost right away.

“I want people to overcome their anxieties about it, walk through the door and at least meet us, talk to us, and let us show you around. If it isn’t your thing, then it isn’t. But give it a fair chance. You and your body will thank you later,” Joe said.

It is an inspiring story and a romantic story, wrapped in one. Joe is the inspirational one, the visionary.

Brandee is intense and makes things happen . As a whole, they just work.

And their presence leaves people feeling different.

“I can’t tell you how fulfilling it is to help others, hold each other up, depend on each other, yet remain our own people, wake up together, work together, and lay down at night together, with your better half,” Joe said. “It is incredible and we have made a lot of dreams come true. And we have a lot more we want to do.”

In addition to their wellness services, they also have Ravens Garden in the back that they use as their apothecary to grow herbs to make salves, teas, and tinctures they sell at their night markets that usually run September and April. They use these as add-ins, mixtures, or stand alones for products in the shop along with teas and coffee and a few other things.

They also have a coffee shop with their own mixtures. Customers can order coffee or tea during their visits.

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Bratton opens up a tube that is used for full-body treatment.

A mural inside of Cryo Depot.

Come Visit

Oldest Fine Arts Museum in the Crossroads

Upcoming Schedule Title: ISMLESSNESS Artists: Vincent Paul Martinez Jr. & Conrad Kofron Date: June 10th - July 31st Synopsis: These works will survey an artistic friendship that began 20 years ago. We have always found times in our lives to take a weekend ever so often to focus solely on collaborative paintings. Together we create an identity free from our own devices. It is a visual democracy that leads to works we would have not /could not produce by ourselves. I think it is necessary to show individual pieces from Vince and myself, but the focus should be on the collaborative friendship.

HOURS: SUNDAY - MONDAY: CLOSED TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY 9AM - 3PM THURSDAY - SATURDAY 9AM - 9PM

Admission is Always Free • Donations are Gladly Accepted Open Thursday & Friday Noon-5pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon-4pm.

Closed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.

Calendar subject to change. Check our website for the latest information

144 N Courthouse Square • (361) 722-0977

306 W. Commercial St. • Victoria, TX 77901 • 361.575.8228

www.NaveMuseum.org

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67

CULTURE & EVENTS

The Hot Attacks

take audience for a ride on

‘ M USICAL ROLLER COASTER’ S T O RY B Y JO N W I L C OX | J W I L C OX @ V I CA D. C O M PHOTOGRAPHY BY K I T M ACAVOY | K M ACAVOY @ V I CA D. C O M A N D JO N W I L C OX | J W I L C OX @ V I CA D. C O M

A

fter years and years of performing throughout the Crossroads, members of The Hot Attacks have come to a realization.

Fame, money and the allure of making it big are just distractions compared to the magic that happens on stage.

"Energy is real important in music," said Billy Moeller, who has been with the band since its inception decades ago. "There's an energy that the musicians put out, and there is an energy that the listeners send back to the musicians. I feel it all the time."

With each member bringing a vast amount of personal musical experience, that energy is focused into a consummately professional sound that the band has cultivated over years of playing and practicing 68

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together.

At a late April performance at Victoria's Forum Club, the Hot Attacks got feet tapping and heads nodding with a marathon three-hour show.

The guitar solos were straight from the summer of '69, and the vocals seemed to speak directly to the souls of their audience. At one table, a pair of rowdy drunks yelled requests.

At other tables, people wrapped in conversations couldn't help but tap their feet and nod their heads to the beat.

"Our dynamic is a point of pride," said Josh Burris, bass player for The Hot Attacks. "We try to take you on a musical roller coaster. We can take it way low ... but we can also get wild and crazy."

Although the group began in 1987

with a strong focus on Louisiana and Zydeco styles, Moeller, a lifelong musician who spends his days working as a barber in downtown Victoria, said pigeon holing the band, now a four piece, into any one genre is missing the point. The band plays music they not only personally love but also songs their audience is craving in the moment.

These days, the band is best described loosely as a "blues" band, but mainly because the blues are a central influence to just about every form of popular American music from country and Western to soul to jazz to psychedelic and surf rock.

"We can go from Hendrix to Bob Wills," Moeller said. "We just play music we like and hope the crowd likes it."

Josh Burris sings at a small but intimate show at The Forum Club.

Billy Moeller focuses on his guitar during a show at the Forum Club in Victoria. Moeller has been with The Hot Attacks since their inception in 1987.

At just about every one of their shows, which are often intimate despite their blissfully soulful sound, there's at least one person who connects with their music in an almost spiritual way.

"Some people just need it," Moeller said.

That's a feeling the band members know all too well themselves.

Although they most often perform cover songs, the energy, soul and musicality they bring to the stage is all their own.

Moeller and Burris are joined

by Steve Solis on lead guitar and Phil Wright on drums as well as tambourine player Mike Pozzi, who sometimes accompanies the group.

Together they have about 150 years of musical experience. Despite differing backgrounds, they share one thing in common — a powerful, irresistible desire to make music.

For Burris, music was just part of growing up. | CONT. ON PG. 70

Phil Wright, middle, hammers the drums while Steve Solis, to his right, nails a guitar part.

UPCOMING SHOWS 8 P. M . J U N E 1 7

The Palms Lounge 6162 Farm-to-Market Road 725, New Braunfels

7 P. M . J U N E 1 8

Indianola Fishing Marina 8 Bell St., Port Lavaca

9 P. M . J U LY 2 9 Forum Club 1901 E. Red River St., Victoria

9 P. M . A U G . 2 6 Forum Club 1901 E. Red River St., Victoria

9 P. M . J U N E 2 4

9 P. M . S E P T. 3 0

Forum Club 1901 E. Red River St., Victoria

Forum Club 1901 E. Red River St., Victoria

6 : 3 0 P. M . J U N E 2 5

9 P. M . O C T. 2 8

The Texas Zoo 110 Memorial Drive, Victoria

Forum Club 1901 E. Red River St., Victoria Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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| CONT. FROM PG. 69 His father and grandfather were musicians, so it was only natural for the Burris family to spend weekends singing and playing "old time country music," he said.

These days, he serves as president of the Victoria Area Music Association and runs a luthier business where he works on all manner of stringed instruments.

Like others in the band, Solis doesn't just make music with the Hot Attacks. Solis, who majored in classical guitar, also plays for a local mariachi group.

Wright is also a church musician at two Victoria churches, Zion Tabernacle Christian Center and House of Bread.

He said keeping up with the band’s many, many genres and hundreds of songs they play can be difficult even for a lifelong musician such as himself.

But that’s OK, largely in part because

of how much fun it is to play with them.

“To play drums with these guys, you have to really know your styles of music,” he said. “You never know what they are going to hit you with,” he said.

Darla Holmberg, a Victoria native who started seeing The Hot Attacks play as early as the 1980s, said there’s something special about the band that is hard to put into words.

She’s been following the band for

so long, they have even written a song just for her, “The Darla Shuffle.”

Their technical abilities are certainly advanced, and they demonstrate an incredible ability to feed off the crowd’s energy. For Holmberg, listening to them play live is something more. It’s an experience that simply fills her with joy.

“It’s like you can’t help but move your body to the beat. It’s very magnetic,” she said. “It’s enrapturing.”

TO BOOK THE BAND

Call Josh Burris at 361-578-3808 or email joshburris@sbcglobal.net

The Hot Attacks perform hundreds of songs ranging in all manner of styles. The band is best described as a “blues” band, but ultimately, they defy genre.

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Mike Pozzi plays the tambourine, taking periodic breaks to accept drinks from the audience.

O u r DY N A M I C i s a POINT of PRIDE - Josh Burris

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Gulf Bend Center is now recognized as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic by the State of Texas. This new certification enables Centers to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to individuals.

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COME JOIN THE FUN at THE BEST Artisan & Crafter Markets in TEXAS! We offer over 150 Amazing Vendors, Helicopter Rides, Awesome Food Trucks & Alcohol, a 1600 square Foot Tent with LIVE MUSIC, Seating, Pet Friendly & free Face Painting for the kids.

Come Join Us the 3rd Weekend of Every Month from 9am to 4pm For more info you can reach us at 361-314-2226 or admin@acmtexas.com Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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OUT and ABOUT W I T H T O N Y VA S Q U E Z

S E E W H O WA S O U T A N D A B O U T AT: •

Victoria Ballet Theatre's "Tutu & Tennis Shoes" Race at Riverside Park

•

The Junior League of Victoria "Viva la Misión" Charity Ball

•

Polo at McFaddin benefitting The Nave

•

"Mystery in the Garden" fundraiser for Theatre Victoria

•

Wild about Wine at the Texas Zoo

•

Taste of the Trail dinner dance fundraiser benefiting The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum

•

Victoria Fine Arts Association's JAM Fest event, featuring Jason D. Williams

Photo by Danny Vivian

Haley Krebs, Jennifer Wendel, Cindy Wendel, and Jennifer Trevino

Victoria Ballet Theatre's "Tutu & Tennis Shoes" Race Stephanie Wood, Margaret Luker, and Lori Burris 72

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R I V E R S I D E PA R K MARCH 2022

Jason and Sharon Elder, Torin and Melissa Bales, and George and Debbie Boozalis Bradley and Courtney Schmidt

The Junior League of Victoria "Viva la Misión" Charity Ball

SPRING CREEK PLACE EVENT CENTER MARCH 2022

Keisha Smith

Jordan and Allison Fries

James and Jessie Law, Caitlin and Kyle Harris, and Andrea and Caleb Wilson Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Steve and Cherise Branch

Polo at McFaddin Benefitting The Nave James and Lesli Gietz

M C FA D D I N R A N C H P O L O G R O U N D S APRIL 2022

Jennifer Trevino, Crystal Lara, Gabriela Benoit and Amy Blanchett

Josh and Desiree Lebar 74

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Spring Taylor, Erin Hately, Cari Hawn, Madeline Williams and Veronica Copeland

Henry Emiliano and John Michael Urbano

Amanda Rocha

Mystery in the Garden

V I C T O R I A E D U C AT I O N A L G A R D E N S | A P R I L 2 0 2 2

Ashlie Thomas and Beth Thomas-Kostella

Nina and Michael Milam

Rachel Klotzman, Vanessa Heinold and Brenda Tally Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Deidre and Daylan Gwosdz

Wild About Wine TEXAS ZOO | APRIL 2022

Heather and Charles Hauboldt

Luther and Teresa Easley

Stephen and Kristyn Koch 76

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Carol and JR Amaya

Eric and Dawn Draper

Will Oliver, Cindy Griffin and Kathy Frels

Jonathan and Kelli Halepeska

Zach Wendel and Diana Thibodeaux

Taste of the Trail Dinner Dance Fundraiser Benefiting the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum BELLEVUE RANCH | APRIL 2022

Jeremy Welch and Brady Boehl

Kate Welder, Lauren Hawes, Jessica Espinoza, Casey Johnston, Erica Bancuch and Josie Adams Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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Kate Keating, Ben Keating, Jason D. Williams and Kathleen Keating

Victoria Fine Arts Association's JAM Fest Event,

featuring Jason D. Williams CLUB WESTERNER | APRIL 2022

Laura Koliba, Geri Schroeder and Teri Murray

Heather and Mark Kimmey

Alyssa Meeks and William Myers, Aaron and Tiffany Corbell and Carly and Chris Wall 78

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Gary Moses, Shannon Mitchamore and Bill Wendlandt

Yoakum Area

Chamber of Commerce

Shop  Dine  Explore www.yoakumareachamber.com 105 Huck • Yoakum 361.293.2309 info@yoakumareachamber.com

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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UPCOMING

Calendar of Events J U N E 5 | T H RO U G H | S E P T E M B E R 3 0 VICTORIA RIVERSIDE FOOD TRUCK FEST https://www.facebook.com/ riversidefoodtruckfest/ NAVE MUSEUM June 9 - July 31 Vincent Martinez Aug. 18 - Sept. 18 Summer Camp Art Display 306 W. Commercial St. 361-575-8228 VICTORIA BACH FESTIVAL June 4-11 https://victoriabachfestival.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ VictoriaBachFestival/ 7TH ANNUAL HALEY SINGER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT June 11 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Victoria Country Club 1,000 STRONG 5K OVERCOMING OBSTACLES RUN June 18 7:30 a.m.-noon Patriot Park Tickets · $40 - $45 www.eventbrite.com/e/1000-strongovercoming-obstacles-5k-runtickets-263867844827 GRUPO FOLKLÓRICO DE VICTORIA PRESENTS: EL COLIBRÍ June 25 6:30 p.m.

1002 Sam Houston Drive VPI HISTORIC HOMES TOUR June 25 - 10:00am-5:00pm June 26 - noon-5:00pm Tickets $20 361-573-1878; info@victoriapreservation.com 80

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THE CHAMBER FREEDOM 5K July 4 7:30 a.m.

Riverside Park https://racemob.com/races/215526varra-july-4th-2022-firecracker-5k

THE DUCKS ARE BACK...

VICTORIADUCKSAFARI.COM

FOURTH OF JULY MILLER LITE BLASTOFF CELEBRATION July 4 Victoria Community Center Hosted by the city of Victoria and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage

SAT., OCTOBER 29TH, 2022 @VICTORIADUCKSAFARI

ANNUAL ROCKPORT-FULTON HUMMERBIRD CELEBRATION Sept. 15-18

SHINER 43RD ANNUAL SHINER HALF MOON HOLIDAYS July 1- 2 Green-Dickson Park, 65 County Road 350 www.shinerhalfmoon.com

YOAKUM VIVA TEXAS FILM FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 16-18 DeLeon Plaza https://www.facebook.com/ events/681609026327743

CUERO JUNE ART MONTH A month full of events that will inspire the Art in the Heart of all of us FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION Cuero Municipal Park FIREWORKS IN THE PARK July 4 Cuero Municipal Park

EDNA SUS SCOREKEEPER MEMORIAL July 2 5:30 a.m.

Texana Raceway Park 258 County Road 412

GOLIAD WAYBACK WEDNESDAYS Every Wednesday June-July 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Presidio La Bahia https://www.goliadcc.org/communitycalendar/wayback-wednesdays/ GOLIAD MARKET DAYS Second Saturday of each month, year-round 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Downtown Goliad on the square https://www.facebook.com/ GoliadMarketDays/ https://goliadcc.org/visit-goliad/goliadmarket-days/

INEZ INEZ MARKET DAY July 30 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

2411 Garcitas Creek Road, Inez,

NORDHEIM 3RD ANNUAL GHOST TOWN DRIVE DOWN June 25 2-7 p.m.

Broadway Bar & Grill 208 Broadway St.

ROCKPORT FULTON MUSIC IN THE PARK June 24, every Friday, weather permitting 7-10 p.m.

Fulton Harbor Park, 402 N. Fulton Beach Road http://members.rockport-fulton.org/ events/details/fulton-music-in-thepark-06-24-2022-52217

94TH ANNUAL YOAKUM TOM TOM FESTIVAL June 3-4 Yoakum City Park http://www.yoakumareachamber.com/

YORKTOWN OVERNIGHT PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ABANDONED YORKTOWN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL June 10 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Yorktown Memorial Hospital 728 W. Main St., Yorktown

Local Foster Children Need Your Voice Volunteer or Donate to Golden Crescent CASA!

ROCKPORT ART FESTIVAL July 2 - 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and July 3 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St. https://www.rockportartcenter.com/ artfest ART WALK DOWNTOWN ARANSAS PASS Art Walk, BBQ, & Blues July 2 Art Walk, 5-7 p.m., Blues, 7:30-9:30 p.m. https://business.aransaspass.org/ events/details/art-walk-downtownaransas-pass-07-02-2022-5050

361.573.3734 goldencrescentcasa.org

Summer 2022 | Discover361.com

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A BETTER EMERGENCY EXPERIENCE

AT CITIZENS