March 2016

The Wind spring fashion: Return tO RetrO

SPECIAL EDITION:

THE BEND: AT HOME

Contents

MARCH | Special Edition The Bend: AT HOME Monthly | Departments

Around the Bend 14 Currents 16 Conversation 18 5 Best 20 Giving Back

Destinations 24 Quick Trip 26 Discover

Features 29 Spring Fashion 34 World Champion Windsurfer 40 The Port of Corpus Christi

Health

34

48 Fitness 50 Be Well 51 Health Spotlight

Riding the Wind

Home & Garden 54 Gardening 56 Special Promotion

Out & About 60 Arts & Culture 62 Date Book 64 Social Hour

Cuisine

29 Spring Fashion

40 The Port

70 Farm to Table 73 The Dish 74 The Dining Guide 78 The Drink

Looking Back 82 NASCC Anniversary

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Serving South Texas Since 1947

Charles Allen, DDS

Dr. Charles Allen has had the distinct gratification to age as a dentist during a time when technology has blossomed. Respecting the dentistry of his father Dr. William Allen, he is able to blend the skills and knowledge of the past with the technology of today. Dentistry is virtually pain free with enteral conscious sedation the patient can be in a twilight sleep allowing Dr. Allen to restore most of the patient’s teeth in one visit.

Dr. Charles Allen has extensive experience in dental surgery, root canals, cosmetic dentistry and limited orthodontics. He served during Vietnam in the Navy dentist and is an accomplished sailor, windsurfer, pilot, scuba diver and most importantly a dentist that has 43 years of experience.

Services: · Comprehensive Care · Veneers · Dental Implants · Crowns · Teeth Whitening

General Dentists: Prosthodontist: Sarah Medina, DDS Chad Allen, DDS, MS Arnoldo X. Cuellar, DDS Alex Vial-Nadeau, DMD Nancy Coll, DMD Charles Allen, DDS

Corpus Christi: (361) 854-7999 525 Doddridge Corpus Christi (361) 992-8900 6200 Saratoga Blvd #102, Corpus Christi

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Portland: (361) 643-0416 101 Cox Drive, Portland, TX allendentalgroup.co

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Create a Event!

MARKETING DESIGN: Ensemble Group

PUBLISHER: Jordan Regas ART DIRECTOR: Julio Studios

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER: Rachel Durrent

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Kaley Regas

PHOTOGRAPHY: Dustin Ashcraft Jason Page Renée C. Gage August McGrath

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Chris Knapick

DISTRIBUTION: Produce Couriers Renée C. Gage Kevin Kusenberger

MANAGING EDITOR: Whitney Noble

Specializing in Event Rentals: • • • • • • • • • •

Tents Tables & Chairs Linens LED Lighting Staging & Dance Floors China*Glassware*Flatware Catering Equipment Custom Props Draping Lounge Furniture

Rental * Design * Décor For all your life Celebrations!

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Stefanie DeWaters

SUBMISSIONS: jordan@thebendmag.com

STYLE EDITOR: Candace Reichert CONTRIBUTORS: Justin & Kayla Butts Sharla Wilkins Cissy Tabor Jeff King Elizabeth Greenwell Dayna Worchel Sadique Dabale

ADVERTISING: chris@thebendmag.com THE BEND OFFICE: 309 N. Water Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Phone: 361.792.3606

Copyright © 2016 Gemstone Media, LLC. The Bend: Coastal Life Magazine is published by Gemstone Media, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are thos e of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.

On the Cover

Boutique Showroom!

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World-Ranked Windsurfer is making waves from sea to shining sea. Based right here in Corpus Christi, he’s our own hometown hero! Photo Courtesy: Tolga Yaman

361.992.9813 8 The Bend

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March | Meet The Staff

A little about:

Stefanie DeWaters Director of Audience Development Stefanie DeWaters is a Senior Marketing major at Texas A&M Corpus Christi who is set to graduate this May. Originally from San Antonio, our beautiful beaches brought her to Corpus Christi. Stefanie joined the magazine as a Marketing and Events intern when the office was about the size of a master bedroom closet. Her initial role quickly evolved with the magazine as it grew. For nearly two years, she has been a key player in managing our writers and photographers, and she is now preparing for her new position as Director of Audience Development. She is passionate about what she does, has a strong willingness to learn, and doesn’t give up easily. She loves connecting with and meeting new people, especially through social media.

Thanks to joining the staff, she is now a coffee addict. She loves walking her dog, Avery, on the beach, brunching, attending services at Church Unlimited, fishing, and going to country shows at Brewster St. Her mom is, and always will be, her hero.

CONNECT WITH US @ thebendmag.com @thebendmag on Instagram and Twitter #CBLife

What’s the best sunset you’ve ever captured?

We want to see your colorful, romantic, funky, fiery sunset photos! There’s nothing better than the Texan sun. #TBBESTsunset to your sunset photos.

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March | Letter From The Publisher

Remodeling

Your Life

I

wish I could say that I spend most of my days riding waves with world famous windsurfers, exploring our magnificent port, and sampling menus of the Coastal Bend’s best restaurants. But the reality is, most of the time I am stuck in meetings, deciphering financial reports, and putting out the occasional “fire.” Every now and then the opportunity arrives to get more involved with one of our stories and it’s always a very welcomed change.

I got the opportunity to write about a gorgeous coastal home recently built in the Islands of Rockport. I was given a tour of the home by the designer, Mike Mahoney, himself. You can read more about Mahoney and the property in our new supplement to the magazine, The Bend: AT HOME, inside this month’s issue. After spending the afternoon with Mahoney, I discovered that he majored in business in college and minored in art. His true passion was for art and architecture, but his father pushed him to come to work at the family’s successful insurance firm. Financially speaking, he would have been set for life had he continued working for his father, but he took a risk and chased his dreams.

Like Mahoney, we sometimes feel a disconnect in life. I’m not suggesting you should quit your job and pursue an acting career in LA, but if acting is your passion then maybe you could audition at a community theater. Maybe it is time to look for a new career or possibly make room for more volunteering. Some of us might need to dig up those weeds that are hindering our growth.

I’m not much of a DIY type myself, but there’s something magical about watching the rehab shows on television where they’ll turn an “ugly” home into someone’s “dream home.” The more I learn about a person’s particular taste for design and decor, the more I learn about them. So much of our home is a reflection of who we are. When it’s not, that’s when we can easily feel a disconnect between ourselves and our environment, so we remodel.

Spring is already upon us. Often, we spend our free-time cleaning, rehabbing, or gardening. Something about Spring invigorates us to bring new life into what was drab; to restore things, to restore ourselves.

I don’t know what it is for you, but it’s a good time to consider remodeling - your home OR your existing reality. Life will never be perfect, but if you are living out your passions and purpose, you will feel much more “At Home.”

Jordan Regas

jordan@thebendmag.com

Favorite page

We wanted to highlight the great things happening with The Port of Corpus Christi this month in a unique and special way. I think this photo says it all.

Rachel Durrent did an incredible job finding the perfect perspective. I’m not sure if she was supposed to be there, but that will remain off the record. I drive over the bridge everyday on my way to work and rarely think on the importance of what is happing below. History was made right under our bridge and Corpus Christi was recognized around the world. The Port is truly a beacon of hope for the future.

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Life doesn’t warn you like this.

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Imagine receiving convenient and quality health care for a fraction of what an emergency room visit would cost. Plus, Promptu accepts most major insurance plans including Tri-Care.

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Mention this ad at your first appointment to receive a free Starbucks gift card.

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Around the Bend MARCH 2016

CURRENTS 14 CONVERSATION 16 5 BEST 18 GIVING BACK 20

What’s Inside Picnics in the Spring are the best weekend outing available! It can be romantic or family friendly, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Enjoying the scenic outdoors with a meal and loved ones is a breath of fresh air - literally.

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The Cosmopolitan

Around the Bend | Currents

Currents Four String Farm to Appear in Smithsonian Exhibit

We’re not talking about the drink, or the chic hotel in Las Vegas. We’re talking about our own downtown development project that is making quick progress.

The Cosmopolitan, a $24 million upscale apartment complex, is expected to be completed by April! Many of the units already have been leased, and the waitlist is long. The luxury complex offers seven different one-and two-bedroom floor plans. The property used to be the Old Lichtenstein building. Quite the facelift!

401 N Chaparral St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Four String Farm of Rockport will be featured in a new Smithsonian Institute exhibit called “H2O Today.”

This exhibit explores the diversity and challenges of our global water sources.

“H2O Today” will travel to more than 30 cities across America beginning in March, 2016. A photograph by Justin Butts of a Three Sisters garden will appear in the immersive content and digital media portion of the exhibit. The Three Sisters is the ancient Native American Indian technique of companion planting corn, beans, and squash. Justin Butts, owner and founder of Four String Farm, is an innovator and champion of this sustainable gardening technique. The Three Sisters was invented thousands of years ago, but this water-conserving method may play a role in the future of agriculture.

Champion Park This park is big league. Here in Corpus, we like our sports! The area once known as the Grandstands, has been flipped into a state-of-the-art baseball field! At the new Champion Park, your team is now given a field to practice, scrimmage or hold a tryout. The Park offers four turf fields for both boys’ and girls’ teams.

If you want to play a game, let them know and they’ll even schedule umpires for you to pay at the plate. Each week, there are “Practice Nights” and “League Game Nights” where one can enjoy cold beer, yummy concessions, and outdoor flatscreen TVs from this $2.5 million park renovation.

1545 Saratoga, Corpus Christi, Texas 78417

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Around the Bend | Person of Interest

Germany reached out a few days later asking if he could sign the song. His name was Daniel Haaksman from a label called Man Recordings. He put out a lot of people when they first started, like Diplo. Haaksman put the song out, and it got the attention of Universal after only a couple of weeks. Universal reached out and said they were doing a partnership with Pepsi and asked if it would like to be a part of that.

They made a label together and put me out as their first artist. That turned into Universal signing me as an artist. Now I am about four or five songs in with them, and this year will be the year I put out an album.

Your latest single is called “Cumbia Anthem.” How do you incorporate cumbia into your music style?

There is Texas cumbia everywhere. I just like that rhythm. In a lot of the rap songs I make, I will put in cumbia rhythms or some cumbia instrumentals and a lot of Latin percussion that is always present in my beats. Cumbia was a big influence just from being around Corpus with the Tejano scene.

What are some of your favorite memories so far?

Conversation with DJ El Dusty Recognized by both Rolling Stone and Billboard as an artist you should know, Corpus Christi’s own DJ El Dusty shares his story.

By: Jordan Regas Photo: Dustin Ashcraft

How did you get your start?

I have always been into music. My parents are really into it. When I was 12 years old, my brother brought home some turn tables when he and his friends were starting a rap group.

He knew I wanted to be a DJ but told me not to touch it until he got home. Every day while he was gone I just kept practicing and got pretty good, so he was like, I’ll just let you be the guy. So, he started getting me gigs.

Who or what were some of your greatest influencers early on?

I was always into hip hop. I was really into backpacker hip hop, like A Tribe Called Quest, Souls of Mischief, and The Far Side - A lot of

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sample-based hip hop music from the East Coast or the underground West Coast kind of stuff. My brother was really into gangster rap. So I listened to a lot of that growing up. I had a bunch of people influencing me at once.

My parents listened to a lot of rock and oldies and Latin music and cumbia, and my brother listened to a bunch of rap and hip hop, so it was cool.

At what point did your career really start to take off ?

In 2011, I released a song called K Le Pasa. We put it on YouTube, and it just started getting plays. It got like 2,000 plays in a couple hours, and that’s a lot for us. Then this guy from

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One of the most fun gigs I ever played was at Bonnaroo. We did this silent disco kind of thing and everybody had headphones on inside this tent. I played at the perfect time since all the shows had just closed and everybody was headed back to their camp or after parties but diverted and came to the silent disco. So, I was lucky to have that spot. SXSW is really fun too. I think this is going to be my 7th or 8th year to participate.

How does your new album, “Made in Corpus,” reflect your feelings for your hometown and how you want to represent it?

I’m really proud of being from here, and I want to represent that everywhere I’m at…I just want to bring some attention to Corpus and what’s going on here. There is a lot in existence here. I travel everywhere. I have seen all kinds of bands and all kinds of things, and we do it really well. There are a lot of talented people who aren’t getting much exposer out here. I just want to try to help promote our city in a way. There are about 5,000 “Corpus” hats floating around. We have sent them to Mexico, New York and people have ordered them from everywhere. I have seen people wearing them different places that I have gone. We played in Mexico City last year, and I saw people in the crowd wearing Corpus hats. We want to bring some positivity to the city.

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Around the Bend | 5 Best

5

Best

Picnic Spots The Five Best Picnic Spots Around the Coastal Bend.

By: Sharla Wilkins Photo: Rachel Durrent

FUN FACTS The word ‘picnic’ originates from the French word ‘pique-nique.”

June 18th, 2016 is (unofficially) International Picnic Day.

Lisbon, Portugal holds the record for largest picnic when, on June 20, 2009, over 22,232 participants from all across Portugal gathered at the Parque da Bela Vista.

18 The Bend

Grab some potato salad and sandwiches, pack a basket, and have lunch al fresco at one of these outdoor dining destinations.

1

Roberts Point Park In Port Aransas, a covered picnic pavilion sits near outdoor games and playground equipment. An observation center allows for dolphin watching and ship viewing in the channel.

Trees abound throughout the park, and the pier offers fishing and additional dolphin and ship viewing opportunities.

2

Goose Island State Park This Rockport picnic destination features covered tables and outdoor grills. During the winter, the pier offers visitors a glimpse of endangered whooping cranes.

The highlight of the park is The Big Tree. At over 1,000 years

old, this live oak is one of the largest trees in the country. Dine underneath the branches of deep-rooted shade.

3

Heritage Park Historic homes and the Lytton Memorial Rose Garden make up this picnic venue. Pack a blanket and picnic on the grass while enjoying the Victorian architecture. Monday through Friday, meander through the Galvan House, built in 1908.

4

Hazel Bazemore Park Head west, home to an abundance of wildlife-deer, javelinas, and birds.

The park entices bird enthusiasts to its hawk watch platform

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by allowing visitors to view the largest concentration of migrating birds of prey in the United States. Picnic sites dot the park, including spots near the Nueces River.

5

Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge Two covered picnic tables are located near the parking lot, one with a tree-filled view of the water. Mowed grassy areas are available for picnic set up.

A stroll down the boardwalk provides a view of various sea birds. The paved pathway takes walkers through an overgrowth of different tree species to a second area housing playgrounds and an open air picnic table.

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Around the Bend | Giving Back

Adopt-A-Beach The Texas Adopt-A-Beach program is tossing out trash by the tons.

By: Renee Tuggle Photo: Rachel Durrent

F

or the past 29 years, the Texas Adopt-ABeach program has organized volunteers all along the Texas Coast to join them in their effort to keep our beaches healthy and increase public awareness of the problems that marine debris and beach litter cause.

It started in 1986 when, in just two hours, 2,800 volunteers picked up 124 tons of trash from 122 miles of Texas coastline. Today, thousands of Adopt-A-Beach volunteers remove an average of more than 250 tons of trash each year from Texas beaches.

Through out the cleanups, and a number of smaller regional ones, volunteers arrive by the thousands to show their dedication to keeping Texas beaches clean. Since 1986, more than 488,000 volunteers have removed 9,200 tons of trash from Texas beaches and estuaries.

The Coastal Bend area beaches are part of all three seasonal beach cleanups. At the two coastwide cleanups, in the fall and the spring, volunteers can check in at one of 12 sites that range from Rockport all the way down to Baffin Bay. During the winter cleanup in February, volunteers check in at one of seven sites that range from Rockport to the Padre Island National Seashore.

These cleanups are crucial to educating communities about the harmful effects of trash on our beaches.

20 The Bend

By physically picking up trash, people come face-toface with the impact of our actions, and it is also an opportunity to collect and share information. Volunteers record information such as the source and type of debris collected on data cards provided through a partnership with the Ocean Conservancy, which uses our debris data in its global database. This, in turn, helps to get legislation passed that is good for the Gulf and our beaches.

The Adopt-A-Beach program has won national recognition, both as a beach cleanup effort and as a public awareness campaign. It has prompted the development of similar programs in 55 U.S. territories, and more than 100 foreign countries. Adopt-A-Beach’s success is due to the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteer site coordinators, coastal community leaders, sponsors and citizens. Strong support from the private sector is vital to making sure our message of litter prevention is shared with Texans all across the state.

Come join us at one of our beach cleanups this year.

Cleanups are held rain or shine and begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at noon. Upcoming dates are set for April 23rd and September 24th. The annual “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest is currently underway and the deadline for entries is March 2nd.

See you on the beach!

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GET INVOLVED Educational resources and details on the art contest and beach cleanups can be found at texasadoptabeach.org or by calling 1-877-TXCOAST (892-6278).

To keep up with program updates, “Like us” on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/ TexasAdoptABeach and follow us on Twitter - @TXadoptabeach.

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Return of the Tunaletta It was love at first bite, then and now!

Treat yourself to a sandwich we created in the ’90s, made with authentic New Orleans Muffaletta bread from the 120-year-old Leidenheimer Baking Co., our own fresh-made tuna salad and olive mix from the same recipe that our Founder’s wife, Shelley Tortorice, perfected almost 40 years ago.

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Serving Satisfaction Since 1976

Take a tube tour of the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers!

Destinations QUICK TRIP 24 DISCOVER 26

Photo:S. Rawls

MARCH 2016

What’s Inside Shop, eat, drink, float, and just plain honky tonk in the Hill Country.

Only have an afternoon to explore? Get your culture on, analyze some art and discover some local artists in Rockport!

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23

Destinations | Quick Trip

Gruene

Where to Learn:

By: Whitney Noble Photos: Gruene Historic District

Once a significant cotton-producing community along the Guadalupe River, the town has now shifted its economy to one supported primarily by tourism.

From thriving township to near abandonment, the town of Gruene has been through its highs and lows over the past century. But the town has reached its peak now, and it’s as prosperous and robust as the wine at its vineyards.

Where to Drink:

Situated just below the iconic Gruene Water Tower, The Gruene Mansion Inn is nestled among the town’s best restaurants, nightlife, and history. This premier Bed and Breakfast lends a private, charming environment with 30 rooms where you can sleep in Texas history. Formerly Henry D. Gruene’s home (son of Ernst Gruene, the town’s first settler), it has the feel of rustic Victorian elegance, and they offer an exquisite breakfast. gruenemansioninn.com

At The Grapevine, you can expect to receive complimentary daily tastings of 20+ wines, however they also carry craft beers on tap.

Grab a seat outside and depending on the weather, they’ll have fire pits or misters to keep you comfortable. They carry New World wines and one of the largest selections of Texas wines. Wine is sold by the glass and the bottle. In The Grapevine’s outdoor garden, music is offered on Saturdays most of the year and the Come & Taste It event is held the third Thursday of each month except January. grapevineingruene.com

Photo By: Jim Flynn Photography

Where to Stay:

Where to Eat: Since 1977, The Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar has offered unique Texas-style dining in an 1870s cotton gin beneath the water tower on the Guadalupe River. They are known for serving up “true Texan” comfort food. Don’t pass up the Texas-sized onion rings and Chicken Fried Steak. They also offer seasonal live music, so bring your cowboy boots! gristmillrestaurant.com

A LITTLE HISTORY

The town began as a distinguished banking, ginning, and shipping center for its area cotton farming. However, in 1922, the original cotton gin burned and was replaced by a modern electric

24 The Bend

What to Explore: Did you know that the Guadalupe River is the Southern most Trout stream in the Northern Hemisphere? Take advantage!

Gruene Outfitters is your fly-fishing onestop shop. With a little guidance and gear, accommodations, and a full tummy, you can fish for Rainbow Trout or the native warm water species year around. grueneoutfitters.com/fly-fishing

model. Gruene was decimated, however, by the boll weevil bugs who destroyed the cotton plants in the 1920s, and then was further suppressed by the Great Depression. By 1930, the population had

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Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall. Physically, the building has changed very little. The famous Hall has become internationally recognized as a destination tourist attraction and major music venue for up-andcoming as well as established artists. Today, the Hall has continued to be a center for the social and entertainment scene. Boot scoot and boogie with the best of them here! gruenehall.com Where to Play: Rockin ‘R’ River Rides is the largest river outfitter servicing both Guadalupe and Comal rivers year-round since 1979. The family-owned business provides rafts, tubes, inflatable canoes, kayaks, campgrounds, full hook-up RV sites, cabins, retail stores, catering, picnic sites, beach volleyball and horseshoes – Good old fashioned outdoor fun for everyone! rockinr.com Where to relax: Get away for the day, the entire weekend, or just for that much needed hour, and let the experts at Gruene Day Spa help you with all your pampering needs. They promise that your visit will be unforgettable. Services include massages, couples massages, facials, manicures & pedicures and more - all in a tranquil atmosphere. gruenedayspa.net/page4.htm photo: Blake Mistich

fallen to 75, and post World War II highway construction bypassed the town. By 1950, Gruene had become a Ghost town.

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Destinations | Local Discovery

Rockport Center for the Arts By: Elizabeth Greenwell Photos: August McGrath

You don’t have to leave the Coastal Bend for an artistic tour.

Rockport, Texas has long been a center for the arts. But if you are looking for art, workshops, films, exhibits and shopping all in one place, the Rockport Center for the Arts is the place to visit.

I

t seems as though there is always something exciting happening in Rockport. The vibrant and artistic coastal town is always humming with activity and is as colorful and eclectic as the stores that line the main street. It is no wonder that the Rockport Center for the Arts enjoys a constant stream of art aficionados, upand-coming artists, excited children, creative types, and curious visitors from across the country.

The Center is always installing new exhibitions in its main and garden galleries, and they pride themselves on being heavily member-centric, catering to over 650 members. As soon as an exhibit is installed, the staff immediately sets their sights on what is to come. Exhibitions boast art that is as diverse as Texas itself, and from nearly every medium.

While on your day trip to Rockport, a stroll around the impressive sculpture garden is not to be missed. Symmetrical marine-themed bronzes by Kent Ullberg, Sandy Scott, Leo Osborne, and Charles Umlauf, to name but a few, exist with the imposing stone sculpture of late local sculptor, Jesús Moroles. It is a marvel to take in Moroles’ majestic granite monuments as the seagulls call to one another and the bright white boats bob and sway in the marina.

If you choose to visit Rockport in March, Oysterfest draws throngs to gorge on the half-shell, The Rockport 26 The Bend

Center for the Arts will be showcasing young talents from across Texas and from Rockport ISD. If interiors are your pleasure, then the Rockport Tour of Homes (and a boat!) is for you. The reception for the home tour, which opens up homes and private art collections, is at the Center on April 9th.

The goal of the Center is to foster the inspired artistic spirit and stoke the desire to make art in all of us. There are Saturday classes for all ages, beginning at 10:00 am and lasting until 2:00 pm. These classes run the creative gamut, from jewelry design to landscape painting, from pastels to figure drawing. There are kid-friendly activities to choose from as well, including smart alternatives to the average children’s art class with options like Mason jar snow globe design.

The Bend was able to watch deft hands at work as we sat in on one of Ken Reese’s daytime ceramics classes. The works being produced and readied for the kiln were pure Coastal Bend, including whimsical redfish and trout sculptures.

If your goal is to shop, the gift shop has a wide variety of colorful pieces by member artists for sale. A romp to Rockport would be incomplete without a visit to this fantastic center, where the staff and members showcase established talent, encourage new artists, and give the gift of artistic inspiration to all who visit.

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Quick Facts • The Rockport Center for the Arts was founded nearly 50 years ago.

• The center engages over 36,000 people a year.

• You can have your own artistic endeavors displayed if you are a member.

• The center is located in the historic Bruhl/O’Connor Home, a blue and white Victorian overlooking the marina.

• The Rockport Center for the Arts was named a “Top 10 Coastal Art Community” by Coastal Living.

• Once a month, the center hosts receptions, turning it into a lively venue for socializing.

• The Rockport Center for the Arts boasts 2,700 square feet of display space and multiple studio spaces.

Proven Agents, Proven results

13 homes on Key Allegro have sold/closed from Jan - July 2015. Of these, 26 “sides� (selling or buying), Key Allegro Coastal Luce Properties represented more buyers and sellers THAN ALL OTHER REAL ESTATE OFFICES IN ROCKPORT COMBINED! Talk to the agents that get results, not by accident, but by hard work, loyalty, determination and a strong work ethic.

1809 Bay Shore Dr. Rockport, TX 78382 | 361.729.9161 | lucepropertiesofrockport.com lucevacationrentals.com | Broker: Parkie Ledbetter-Luce

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Spring Fashion The Return to Retro!

By: Candace Reichert Photos: Dustin Ashcraft

ret·ro: adjective, imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.

Vintage-inspired fashion is back this Spring! Designers are bringing groovy new patterns with flattering shapes. Florals, colors, and funky, intricate patterns are bringing modern twists to the retro silhouettes. These, along with nuances of romantic bohemian originals and mixing emblematic accessories, keeps your look eclectic and intriguing. The Bend wants to be certain you’re strolling in style. Check out Coastal Closet to shop our retro finds.

-Julie Vos Hoop Earrings -Fairchild Baldwin Necklace -Trina Turk Silk Top -Trina Turk Short -Urban Originals Wristlet -Dian Malouf Ring

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-Maui Jim Sunnies -Fairchild Baldwin Necklace -Show Me Your Mumu Bonfire Sweater -BCBGeneration Quilted Vest -Mother Denim Black Cropped Skinny -Soludos Platform Sandal -Ramy Brook Blue Suede Fringe Bag -Dian Malouf Ring

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-Show Me Your MuMu Bam Bam Bells -Show Me Your Mumu Fringe Crop Top -Addison Weeks Bangles -Hazel Smyth Sticks Necklace

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Around the Bend | Style

-Hazel Smyth Earrings & Necklace -Trina Turk Caftan Maxi -Addison Weeks Gold Clutch

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-Rachel Pally Mini Dress -Dian Malouf Ring

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Photo Courtesy: PWA Carter

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Riding the Wind to Worlds The Wind Originally from Alacati, Turkey, Enes Yilmazer is a Corpus Christi Windsurfer who continues to climb the ranks of the world’s best.

On a brisk but gorgeous January day, Yilmazer, parked in the TAMUCC parking lot overlooking the water, hopped out of the back of his white van filled with windsurfing gear, grabbed his board, and strolled across the street toward University Beach - barefoot. Here at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Yilmazer has walked this route hundreds of times.

He strapped himself up, connected his board to his sail, and 30 second after dipping his feet into the chilly water, he had nearly disappeared into the horizon.

By: Whitney Noble Photos: Rachel Durrent and Tolga Yaman By: Elizabeth Greenwell Photos: August McGrath

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T

he faint sunglass tan around Yilmazer’s eyes tells years of stories on the wind and the waves. Yilmazer, now 26, first took to the sport of windsurfing in his hometown of Alacati, Turkey, the third best windsurfing spot in the world. It started one summer when one of Yilmazer’s dad’s friends was headed out to windsurfing school and took him along. He was 12 years old. That summer, he practiced.

But when school came back in session, it wasn’t until the following summer that Yilmazer returned to the sport at 13 and realized he had found his passion.

Alacati Bay is one of the world’s top windsurfing locations due to the Meltemi wind that sweeps throughout the extended summer, with the local coastal mountains, resulting in a Venturi effect (named after Italian physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi), which creates a funneling and accelerating wind across the bay. Yilmazer explains that this bay is so wonderful for windsurfers not only due to this effect, but because of its depths. It goes from 5 feet then drops immediately to 100 feet. This shallow area is conducive for beginners, and the deep part for the more learned.

One with the Sea It didn’t take long before Yilmazer became one of these “more learned” in the sport. In 2006, The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) came to his hometown, and in the youth division, Yilmazer grabbed third place. He says “This was my ‘Ah Ha!’ moment.” And so the competitions began.

For nine years now, Yilmazer has been competing in the PWA. He admits that in 2009, after placing first in the IFCA Slalom Youth World Champion for 2 years in a row, others began to really notice him. Yilmazer should have come in first place in 2007, however, due to a technicality, he came in second. His “street cred” was identified, and he began commanding a level of respect by professionals much older and with years of experience on him. He just recently finished the 2015 PWA World Tour ranking at 26th place. Yilmazer says he’ll make top 20 in the 2016 world tour.

For the Love of Corpus Yilmazer decided he wanted to move to the states. He honed in on Corpus because of the wind, the warm weather, and he wanted to get a good education!

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi welcomed Enes Yilmazer, their new full-time business student on a scholarship in August 2007. The university supported his endeavors, and he could train during the winter and study business. Upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree in December of 2013, Yilmazer knew he wanted to stay in Corpus.

SPONSOR FUN FACTS: • Very first sponsor was a local gentleman who owned a sushi company.

• Second proper sponsor was the owner of a high-end restaurant in Turkey.

• Arkas sport club is Yilmazer’s biggest support, both personally and financially, since 2007, and his sport club in Turkey. Their name and logo is on nearly all of his gear.

• TurkishAirlines is a major sponsor on his sail. Due to Turkey’s central location, as of February 2015, the airline operates scheduled services to 280 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the fourth-largest carrier in the world by number of destinations. Yilmazer gets to fly business class with them.

• Other sponsors include: Severne, Starboard, Hurley.

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So he began the process of attaining a green card. He hired a local lawyer to help him get his EB-1 Visa. This is a green card given to those with “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation.” Very few people get this Visa, Yilmazer explains, because “you have to prove to the government that you’re in the 10% success rate of whatever you’re doing. My immigration folder was 1,200 pages long, created by my lawyer,” Yilmazer says.

As he got close to graduation he applied, but he didn’t get it. So, he applied again and again without any luck. Yilmazer not only had an extraordinary portfolio and met more than the necessitated criteria, he also had reference letters from some of the most influential leaders in our community, such as Council Member Mark Scott, State Rep. Todd Hunter, and Mayor Nelda Martinez.

In an effort to stay in Corpus, he applied to the master’s program at TAMUCC so that he could stay as a student and continue to try to get his EB-1 Visa.

Realizing, perhaps, he needed to go a different route, he hired a new attorney in California who redid his portfolio. He got approved for his EB-1 Visa within 5 days of applying without so much as an interview. Three months later, the green card arrived.

Competitions in Review 2006: IFCA Slalom PWA Youth World Championship, 3rd place

Yilmazer is tenacious and will work tirelessly for what it is that he wants. His persistent personality is what has made him successful in everything he puts his mind to.

2007: IFCA Slalom Youth Word Championship, 2nd place, however, at the end of the competition, Yilmazer had the same points as the winner, but because the winner won the last elimination, based on rules, Yilmazer had to settle for 2nd place

“I learned, buy the best one you can afford at the time,” when referring to his law experience. Unfortunately, he’s had to put this lesson to the test with a surgeon, too.

His “Achilles Heel”

2008: IFCA Slalom Youth World Champion, 1st place. Finished the PWA World Tour ranking at 24th place

At the beginning of 2012, Yilmazer endured an injury due to an accident on the water. He was out on Packery Channel and got too close to the beach.

He predicts that he was roughly 7 feet up in the air when he went straight down on his right foot onto the sand. What made this injury unique was that nothing was broken, but the ligaments were torn to pieces.

2009: IFCA Slalom Youth World Champion 1st place.

Finished the PWA World Tour ranking at 23rd place

2010: PWA Alacati World Cup, 10th place. Finished the PWA World Tour ranking at 21st place <Over 21 can no longer participate in the Youth Division>

2011: PWA Slalom U22 World Champion, 1st place

2012: Foot injury 2013: Turkish Slalom Champion, 1st place, even after missing the first event in the world tour, however, didn’t miss a single Turkish event

2014: After the entire PWA tour, finished in 29th place Photo Courtesy: Tolga Yaman

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2015: After the entire PWA tour, finished in 26th place

2016: Expects to make the top 20

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Yilmazer tried to power through, but it just kept getting worse.

On the first event of the 2012 world tour, Yilmazer admits to just breaking down and crying as he was so crippled by the pain.

This prompted him to head to Houston to meet with one of the best ankle surgeons in the world. Due to the rarity of the injury, this specialist had only done the required surgery 3 times. Because there was no break, just torn ligaments that had expanded beyond recognition, the surgical approach was to double them up, make them extra tight, and stitch them up again.

During physical therapy, the ligaments will then loosen. The struggle here is that there’s no way to know exactly how tight to make them as there’s a slim predictor as to how much loosening they’ll do, and also that a full recovery could take years.

Three surgeries later and 3 months in a cast proved to be one of Yilmazer’s most challenging times. “As an athlete, it’s devastating to hear that your recovery may take years,” Yilmazer confides. For 50 days, Yilmazer was unable to move entirely. By the end of 2012, he was recovering. But at a cost…because his ankle was still mending, Yilmazer used his back for compensation and support. Once again, he found himself in tears over pain, only it was back pain this time. Through it all, he missed the first event of the PWA that year, but did manage to win nationals, and then rank exceedingly high each year thereafter.

Ocean Adventures

One particularly strange day, he was out practicing in the Corpus Christi Bay, and there were swarms of stingrays. He inadvertently hit one going full speed, broke the stingray straight into two pieces, causing his mast and sail to break upon impact. Not only was the stingray now shark soup, but Yilmazer had to swim 2 miles back to shore, which took him nearly 3 hours. But the odd events pale in comparison to what the sport has provided Yilmazer. The opportunity to travel to the most beautiful and exotic destinations imaginable, to do what he loves, and most importantly, it has led him to his forever home, Corpus Christi.

Staying On Top Aside from a personal trainer at Pinnacle Fitness that Yilmazer visits to stay in tip top shape, he also enjoys yoga, surfing, and running. Seeing as he’s one of the best in the world at windsurfing, there’s no benefit to Yilmazer having a windsurfing trainer.

“No one can teach me anything I don’t already know,” teases Yilmazer.

Photo Courtesy: Tolga Yaman

Although Yilmazer is a shark in his windsurfing career, it doesn’t mean he’s one with them in the water. He says he’s not afraid of them, as the nature of the sport he’s not actually in the water much, and when he does land, his large sail and gear makes it pretty clear from beneath that he’s no seal. But just here in our own coast he’s seen two sharks in Port Aransas, one in the Packery Channel, and one in South Padre. The two in Port Aransas were big and were off the pier, one of which was a mere 30 feet in front of him!

“AS AN ATHLETE, IT’S DEVASTATING TO HEAR THAT YOUR RECOVERY MAY TAKE YEARS,”

Yilmazer will continue to windsurf and prove his excellence in the sport. He has also found a passion for property projects. He

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puts much of his windsurfing proceeds into real estate endeavors. Both windsurfing and dabbling in real estate will keep him in Corpus Christi for the unforeseeable future.

“Do what you love and don’t think of it as work. Life is about reactions, so whatever you put your time in, that’s what you’re going to get back,” reflects Yilmazer. He lives to the extreme, expressing that “I don’t achieve ordinary, I achieve extraordinary.”

We’d agree.

á° 361-854-6551 www.albainsurance.com

Angela Long

Vice President of Sales and Marketing HOGAN HOMES

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The Port of Corpus Christi is a beacon of light shining optimism on the future of the Coastal Bend.

By: Dayna Worchel & Cissy Tabor Photos: Rachel Durrent

VISION: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be the Energy Port of the Americas.â&#x20AC;?

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IMPORTANCE

OF THE

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C

orpus Christi ushered in the New Year with an historic event. The first shipment of crude oil to leave the United States in 40 years sailed out of the Port of Corpus Christi on December 31st.

It’s held up well for a 90-year-old highway, and the future is looking bright for that 400-foot-wideswath of blue, sparkling water, known as the Port of Corpus Christi. It has seen millions of tons of cargo, ranging from iron and steel to petroleum products and machinery pass through since it first opened in September 1926.

Continuous improvements over the years have helped keep it profitable and competitive, generating 66,000 direct and indirect port-related jobs and $315 million in state and local tax revenues in 2011, according to a regional impact study commissioned by the Port in 2013. But John LaRue, Executive Director of the Port, said none of it would be possible without the channel. “It’s our road, it’s a highway.

You can’t see it, it’s all underwater, and it all looks the same, but there is a Channel that goes all the way across, 45 feet deep,” he said.

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In 1923, according to the History of the Port of Corpus Christi section on their website, the U.S. Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to construct a channel 25 feet in depth with a 200 foot bottom width, from the Gulf through the jetties at Port Aransas to a point on the shoreline on Corpus Christi Bay at the mouth of a shallow bayou.

Channel dredging began in January 1925 and was completed one year later, at a cost to the United States of $1.8 million. Proceeds from the sale of the $1 million worth of bonds, authorized when the District was created, were used to acquire land, to dredge the turning basin and to construct the first docks.

In those early years, cotton was the Port’s main export, until large oil fields were discovered in Nueces, San

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CARGO items shipped in or out of the Port: • Wind Turbine Components (from South America and Europe) • Drilling Rigs • Iron • Steel • Ceramic Proppant • Machinery • Grain (going to Asia, China, Africa, South America) • Dry & Liquid Bulk

BY THE NUMBERS: • 5th Largest US Port • 100 million tons of cargo shipped in 2014& 2015

• Crude Oil (from Middle East, South America, Nigeria) • Petroleum Products

• 66 million Port-Related Jobs • $319 million State & Local Tax Revenue • 200+ Employees

Patricio and some other Coastal Bend counties. After that discovery, refineries began to build around the Port and special refinery docks were constructed.

particular, to be very competitive worldwide and the people in those markets, who are the traders and own the oil, will be able to compete very effectively,” he said.

LaRue was especially proud about a history-making event that occurred at the Port on Dec.31, 2015. After the U.S. Congress lifted a 1970’s export ban on U.S. crude oil to overseas markets, a tanker, the THEO T, headed out of the Port with a shipment of ConocoPhillips oil from the Eagle Ford Shale play of South Texas. The 470,000 gallons of crude oil was transmitted from the NuStar Energy terminal at the Port and loaded onto the tanker, bound for Trieste, Italy.

NuStar Energy was poised and ready when the export ban was lifted.

The company’s substantial investment in the Port of Corpus Christi advanced the historic shipment of crude oil from the Eagle Ford Shale to Europe.

Until that day, all crude oil was transported domestically. “It was symbolic not just for our Port, but for the country; this is now legal again and we can compete worldwide,” LaRue said. The event made the national news, with a story and photo.

LaRue helped to procure leases from NuStar a few years ago, which included leasing Port land, storage facilities, and granting pipeline easements. Recently, NuStar invested in a private dock at the Port, and it was there the ConocoPhillips oil was loaded onto the THEO T tanker. This export happened as the price of oil per barrel was very low, but LaRue is optimistic about the future of oil. “Once the price goes back up, we expect to see the Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin in

“We have expanded our terminal operations with the addition of more storage tanks, dock space, and automated systems that allow us to better accommodate and provide logistics services for our customers, including the ability to load export-size cargoes from our docks,” said Chris Cho, Communications Manager with NuStar. The company is also developing a second private dock in the Port of Corpus Christi.

“These efforts are beneficial to the South Texas economy… providing the necessary infrastructure to move Eagle Ford crude oil to market,” Cho said.

Captain Louis Adams, who piloted the tanker full of crude oil out of the 29-mile port’s ship channel on New Year’s Eve, said the job that day was routine. Although he was excited to see all of the media attention it got. “We take ships of cargo going to Italy often; it’s just the cargo that made that special,”said Adams, who has been a Harbor Pilot for

the Port of Corpus Christi for 25 years.

Reporters and cameras recorded history as Adams sailed the tanker out of the Harbor, catapulting his routine day into a proud moment. “You could see that the crew on the ship was proud to be a part of such an historic event and were thrilled when they could see reporters taking their picture as we went under the bridge,” he said.

His 45 years at sea started at age 18, sweeping floors and making beds aboard an Exxon boat, Adams was a ship Captain by age 28. He became a Corpus Christi Harbor Pilot in 1989. Adams is one of seventeen Harbor Pilots, who are respectfully known as the Guardians of the Water as they’re responsible for the safe and efficient movement of vessels in and out of our Port. They lend their expertise each time they climb the 50-foot ladder up to a ship. “We’re the first people they meet, often the first American they meet,” says Adams of the foreign ship captains.

“So if you’re rude, they think all Americans are rude,” he said, adding that foreign ship captains, and every captain must hand over the helm to the Pilot and trust his abilities to navigate through the narrow ship channel.

Executive Director John LaRue

Keeping physically fit is important for a typical work day that Adams says includes climbing a ship’s five flights of stairs, boarding and disembarking from ropes, ladders, or swinging baskets and helicopter lifts out at sea. “The joke among pilots is: They don’t pay us to pilot the ship, they pay us to climb on and off the ship,” Adams said with a laugh. He’s been a Harbor Pilot since 1989.

Adams has witnessed growth in the Port the last few years, and the importance of its viability. “The whole economy of this area is tied to the Port. If the Port slows down, the automobile dealers slow down, the restaurants and hotels slow down, it all slows down,” he said. As a Harbor Pilot, Adams says larger ships that can hold 750,000 barrels of crude oil or more are “the ships of tomorrow,” which means the need for deepening and widening the ship channel. “We have to keep up with the rest of the world,” he said.

The Port of Corpus Christi is primed for U.S. crude exports on some of the world’s largest tankers, LaRue explained. More dock space and abundant storage has been added, and the process of deepening and widening the ship channel will allow for larger ships being used for crude oil.

There are plans to dredge the channel to 52 feet and widen the channel to 530 feet, said Patricia Cardenas, Director of Communications for the Port. “There will be a 200-foot barge shelf along the sides of the channel,” she said.

Captain Louis Adams

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“People Move Our Port” reads the motto of the Port of Corpus Christi. Ultimately, the success of the Port is the result of many people performing their various jobs with skill and pride. New technology, substantial investments, diversification and the people behind it all, keeping it afloat, establishes the Port as a global contender in international commerce. The Port of Corpus Christi is a beacon of light shining optimism on the future of the Coastal Bend.

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YOU C AN ’T R EA LLY

K NOW A PLACE UN T IL YO U

ACTUALLY TASTE IT.

Every destination has a soul worth discovering. Experience the extraordinary cuisine at the famous Republic of Texas Bar & Grill. Dine with us to taste exquisite steaks, fresh seafood dishes and premium wine choices, all while taking in the panoramic views of the Corpus Christi Bay from the 20th floor. Let us make the most of your chance to wander.

O M N I H O TE L S . C O M / C O R P U S C H R I S T I 361-886-3515

• OMNI CORPUS CHRISTI 46 The Bend REPUBLIC OF TEXAS BAR & GRILL {the lifestyle magazine of the coastal bend} HOTEL • CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

Health MARCH 2016

Raise your glass and cheers to World Water Day

FITNESS 48 BE WELL 50 HEALTH SPOTLIGHTS 51

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inside The Pilates Reformer machine is resistance - based training. Made up of a gliding carriage, bar, loops & springs, oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own body weight creates the actual resistance alongside the springs.

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Health | Be Well

Pilates By: Elizabeth Greenwell Photos: Renée C. Gage

Developed in the early 20th century, this physical fitness system is now practiced by 10s of millions of people world wide and is best known to condition the abdominal muscles and alleviate lower back pain.

W

hen you walk into the pristine, bright studio space at Bayside Pilates, one of the first details you notice is the studio’s mantra, spelled out in symmetrical bold letters on the wall: “Do what you love.” This simple tenet is why Andrea Teasdale chose to embark on her current journey and offer what she loves most to others.

Teasdale, a petite Army Wife with an enviably svelte physique, a wild smile, and an infectious effervescence explains how she came to open Bayside. “I have a masters in accounting and had a great career in sales, but that all changed when I moved. My husband asked me what it was that I really, really loved—the first thing that came to mind was Pilates.”

She opened her studio to practice what she loves, and her passion for the method is abundantly clear. Pilates is not a new method, but it is an excellent method for all sorts of people, regardless of athletics, fitness goals, or age. Pilates, from its original conception and refinement by Joseph Pilates in the first half of the 20th century, has long been considered one of the most effective and all-encompassing means of reaching peak physical condition.

Bayside Pilates offers private sessions and small group classes using the Pilates reformer system. At first glance, the reformers appear to be an amalgamation of cables, springs, and mats: not exactly the most welcoming of machines. However, with a bit of guidance and experience, one quickly realizes that the reformers are a fantastic way to condition the body in a controlled manner that does not stress or jar the joints. They use the Avalon System, which provides the newest and most innovative reformers on the market.

The small motions performed on these four different types of reformers strengthen the core, encourage an increased flexibility, and carve long, lean, muscles reminiscent of a

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dancer’s. Anyone can benefit from a session on a reformer.

According to Teasdale, “Pilates works for anyone from a twelve-year-old dancer to an elderly with mobility issues.” This includes pre-and post-natal needs, cross training, and conditioning for serious athletes. “It challenges everyone’s body without taxing the joints…it does wonders for flexibility, toning, mood, spirit—it even makes you a better friend!”

The Bend was able to have a session with Teasdale on some of the machines, and the motions are simple but highly effective. You can feel your core burn after the first exercise, but the cheery, encouraging demeanor of the instructors makes for a motivating, pleasant workout with none of the strain or pain of other trendy forms of exercise. As an added benefit, it serves as an effective mood booster! A visit to Bayside Pilates is an elevating experience that conditions the body in ways other forms of exercise cannot, and if you want to grab a nourishing snack to wash down with coconut water or kombucha, Sprouts is just a short distance from the studio. A detailed schedule and more information are available online at www.baysidepilatescc.com.

4117 S. Staples, St, Ste 260 Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Mon - Fri: 5am - 8pm Saturday: 8am - 12pm

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Health | Be Well Water is becoming our most precious commodity. Our city is doing their part in ensuring its conservation needs be at the forefront, and, putting safety first. Drink clean, and use water wisely!

World Water Day By: Sadique Dabale

Water makes up 80 percent of our planet. We must take care of it. But how?

M

arch 22 is World Water Day. The Corpus Christi Water Department has some ideas and insight into our local water situation, what is being done, and what the future holds.

In a non-binding initiative unveiled by the United Nations in 1991 as part of Agenda 21, The U.N. sought to encourage programs that promoted water consciousness. World Water Day was born.

In an attempt to raise awareness for water conservation, the Corpus Christi Water Department has instituted numerous outreach and educational programs. According to Brent Clayton, Project Manager of Water Resources, “The very primary thing we do is outreach and education. It is very cost effective, because there are no capital expenditures. We are just on the air [radio] and going to schools.”

They are educating the community about where our water comes from and how to use it efficiently. What the city is doing to be proactive is to have public service announcements on television. “There are 2 curriculums that we purchase and give to the local schools. There are two grades we are focused on right now, which are Kindergarten and 5th grade. The 5th grade curriculum is more intensive. They also get shower heads and devices to take home.”

But the water education only begins with the youth.

The city proactively engages the adults at numerous events occurring around Corpus Christi. “In April we have Earth Day Bay Day and if the weather is nice, we get about 10,000 people to show.” That provides an

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educational platform. Another program is the Rain Barrel Program. “We sell barrels, and we teach people how to install these barrels under gutters so they can store rain water for later use. One barrel can store up to 50 gallons of rain water,” Clayton explains. Along with educational material, The Corpus Christi Water Department also provides free appliances and attachments that help aid the water conservation efforts.

Also in line with the city’s philosophy of being proactive, new avenues for water sourcing are being explored and developed. “We already have two lakes on the Nueces River basin, Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir, which provide over 50% of our water. We also get water from Lake Texana, which comes through a 100-mile pipeline. We are also working on another source, which is almost complete, getting water from the Colorado River.” Clayton further explains. “We have the Desalination Demonstrations Project, which aims to explore the possibility of using the ocean water as another source.”

The City also puts in a considerable amount of time to make sure the water is safe for consumption. Gabriel Ramirez, who is the Water Quality Manager, explains that the city extensively follows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). “We conduct chemical and bacteria testing in line with the TCEQ guidelines. We have 98 sample sites, and we take 150 samples every month to make sure the water is safe.”

Water is becoming our most precious commodity.

Our city is doing their part in ensuring its conservation needs be at the forefront, and, putting safety first.

Drink clean, and use water wisely!

{the lifestyle magazine of the coastal bend}

Drought Tips: 1. Do not wash your car at home, rather, go to a commercial carwash as they recycle the water.

2. Don’t hose off your sidewalks or back patio – use a broom instead.

3. Educate the kids – sometimes the hose is not a toy.

4. Consider installing a rainwater catchment system for irrigation use.

5. If you have a lawn, consider installing a rain garden to capture and direct rainwater for deep soil infiltration.

6. Fix that leaky faucet – the small drips add up!

7. Only run the dishwasher when it’s full. Same with the laundry machine.

8. Don’t let the water run when you’re shaving or brushing your teeth.

9. If you don’t plan on drinking the water at the restaurant, ask your server ahead of time not to bring you the glass.

10. Try to keep showers to 3-4 minutes.

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Goodwill Run March 5th @ 8:30am Railroad Seafood Station goodwillsouthtexas.com

The 29th Annual Goodwill Run is a premier 5K/10K run and walk in the Coastal Bend drawing in hundreds of runners, amateur sports enthusiasts, and daily walkers to compete and enjoy a scenic bayfront run. Families and supporters come for the family-fun activities including: interactive kid’s activities, sponsor giveaways and some amazing craft beers from Railroad Seafood Station. Hosted in the heart of Corpus Christi S.E.A. District on Saturday, March 5, 2016, the Run is expected to draw in 700 people. After the event, the “Goodwill Run After Party” kicks off at Railroad Seafood Station to celebrate the run and give thanks to the participants. Activities include music, raffle prizes and a complimentary craft beer or onion ring appetizer (must present Race Bib).

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State Farm Lloyds, Dallas, TX

Revenue generated from the Goodwill Run helps fund Goodwill’s employment programs for people with disabilities or those who have other challenges, to find employment. Goodwill provides a variety of job training and placement services throughout South Texas for program participants at no cost.

10th Annual Break the Norm

March 5th @ 10:00am Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation facebook.com/cbwfYouthPrograms

28th Annual Whooping Crane Strut March 12th @ 8:00am Memorial Park (Rockport) cityofrockport.com

Shamrock Shuffle

March 12th @ 5:00pm Corpus Christi Water Gardens vfitproductions.com

BGB Yoga

March 13th @ 3:00pm Texas Surf Museum texassurfmuseum.org

Run Amuck

April 2nd @ 8:00am Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds jlcc.org

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Choose the coverage that’s right for you at a price that fits your budget.

Making an informed decision when selecting coverage for you, your family, and your home is important. Call me today to loearn how much you can save by combining auto, home, and life.

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• BUSINESS • RENTER • BOAT • PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

• MOTORCYCLE • CONDO • MOBILE HOMES • RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

Home & Garden MARCH 2016

GARDENING 54 HOMES 56

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inside There are so many advantages of home gardening. Growing your own food gives you more control over chemicals used in the process, a positive environmental impact, and maybe best of all, enjoyment and pride of your produce!

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Home and Garden | Gardening

Planting the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, and Squash The Best-Kept Gardening Secret in America!

By: Justin and Kayla Butts Photos: Rachel Durrent

A

re you ready to start your own garden, but aren’t sure where to begin? Try planting the Three Sisters!

The Three Sisters technique is an easy way to grow a great amount of produce on a small space with minimal work or expense.

The Three Sisters is the Native American Indian technique of companion planting corn, beans, and squash-plus pumpkins, melons, herbs, and flowers.

The corn stalks in the garden grow thick and tall.

Bean vines climb the corn stalks as a trellis for ease of harvest. Beans are a nitrogen fixer; they fertilize the garden as they grow. The broad leaves of squash plants grow as living mulch to shade the soil, conserve water, and prevent weeds.

The plants don’t crowd each other in these dense, lush gardens. They actually grow better when planted together, than when planted separately.

What’s more, eating corn, beans, and squash together provides a nutritionally complete meal with carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins.

The Three Sisters in American History Native American Indians grew a tremendous amount of food in their gardens without the use of a plow and without any chemicals. They used the same simple tools as a modern backyard gardener.

54 The Bend

The Aztecs and Mayans fed their vast empires from Three Sisters gardens. Pocahontas saved the colony at Jamestown with corn, beans, and squash.

When Captain Smith abandoned her, she taught the technique to her new husband, John Rolfe, and he became the first great plantation owner in America.

Squanto taught this method to the Pilgrims.

Three Sisters agriculture was vital in establishing the colony at Plymouth Rock. In fact, the First Thanksgiving celebrated the initial harvest of corn, beans, and squash.

A Simple 3’x3’ Garden The basic Three Sisters garden is a small three-foot by three-foot plot or mound. This is a perfect starter garden for children. You can plant this garden, from start to finish, in thirty minutes or less.

Step 1: Prepare the Soil. Till a 3’x3’ garden bed by loosening the soil with a shovel. Add three to four inches of homemade or organic compost to the bed.

Step 2: Plant the Seeds. Using your finger, draw a 12-inch square in the middle of your bed. Plant one corn and one bean seed on each corner of the square. Plant three of the same type of squash seeds in the middle of the square. Bury the seeds one-half inch deep.

Step 3: Water the Garden. Use the “rain” function of your garden hose to water the soil daily until the

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plants sprout. As the plants grow, water the bed as deeply and infrequently as possible. Always water the soil at the base of the plants, trying not to wet the leaves themselves.

Step 4: Mulch and Fertilize the Garden. Cover the bed with native leaf mulch (from live oak, pecan, or mesquite trees) after the plants sprout. Continue to add leaf mulch beneath your plants as weather gets hotter to insulate the soil. Side dress the plants with pastured poultry manure when the squash begin to set fruit.

Step 5: Harvest the Garden. You don’t have to thin or prune this garden; it grows perfectly well on its own. Harvest the corn cobs when the kernels yield a milky juice when pressed with your fingernail. Harvest the beans when four to five inches long and still tender. Harvest your squash when the fruit falls easily from the vine or stem.

This tiny 3’x3’ garden will produce eight ears of corn, two pounds of beans, and over 20 pounds of squash! You can easily plant five or ten of these gardens side-by-side in your backyard with a different squash, pumpkin, or melon, in each mound.

Which Varieties to Choose To ensure a-maize-ing corn pollination, make sure all the corn seeds in your garden are of the same variety, such as Cherokee White Eagle or Silver Queen. The beans can be any vining type, such as Trail of Tears, Mayflower, or Rattlesnake.

“The Three Sisters were cultivated by pioneer and Indian farmers extensively across America.”

For your winter squash, try Butternut, Striped Green Cushaw, Red Kuri, or Delicata for robust vines and prolific yields. For summer or bush squash, plant White Scallop, Black Beauty zucchini, or Yellow Crookneck.

Try Rouge Vif D’etamps or Jarrahdale variety pumpkins, which grow well in our climate. You can also plant Ali Baba or Cream Fleshed Suika melons instead of squash or pumpkins.

Finally, around the perimeter of your 12-inch square, generously plant seeds of basil, dill, and nasturtiums. These plants are edible, beautiful, fragrant, and they provide an added layer of pest control to the garden.

Rediscovering a Lost Gardening Secret The Three Sisters were cultivated by pioneer and Indian farmers extensively across America until the early 1900s, when industrial farm equipment replaced small-scale farmers. Vast chemical monocultures soon dominated the landscape and the old ways of farming were forgotten.

The Three Sisters method is possibly the best-kept gardening secret in America, but you can use this method to pioneer your own space. The Three Sisters will happily make themselves at home in every backyard garden in the Coastal Bend!

FURNITURE, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES

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Special Promotion

BUILT TO LAST

Photo: Al Hogan, 1989, courtesy of the Corpus Christi Caller Times

For the past 50 years, Hogan Homes has maintained a commitment to investing in their people and building quality homes that hold their value for years to come.

builder, he left with much more than he bargained for.

As his SUV slowly comes to rest in the thick sand at the entrance to Hogan Home’s newest community, Wandering Oaks, Al Hogan steps out and gazes down the long winding dirt road encompassed by tangled trees. Without a single roof in sight, he oddly seems at home. Hogan is led by his vision and foresight. It’s what brought him to Corpus Christi from founding the business in Victoria. It’s been Hogan’s commitment to his employees and building a sustainable company that laid the foundation for a half-century of excellence. It’s a quality that goes deeper than the walls themselves.

In the beginning, Hogan was the only employee. He swept floors, sold houses, supervised carpenters and pretty much did everything. As they began to grow, Hogan was determined not to hire a large staff and be forced to make drastic cuts when business slowed down.

In 1966, Hogan moved to Victoria, TX with his wife in hopes of launching a ranching career. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and he found himself searching for something new. While all of this was happening, their son became terminally ill.

“I was shocked as you can imagine. As a young couple, my father-in-law encouraged us to start a project to get our mind cleared and move ahead, so we decided to build a house,” said Hogan.

When the economy took a turn for the worse, their house was only halfway built, and he learned that his builder could not make his payroll. Al needed to finish the house. And after paying a visit to the

56 The Bend

“In an effort to get the house completed, the builder said that if I would assume his liabilities, he would give me the company. So I got the whole company for assuming his liabilities,” said Hogan.

“At the time, it didn’t look like a very good deal.

It was a big risk to get my house finished, but it worked.”

“I wanted a sustainable environment, with a stable rate of growth and be able to keep people for a long period of time,” said Hogan.

Hogan’s commitment to slow growth and maintaining their team through each boom and bust led to a longstanding core management team. Nancy Summers, President & CEO, joined Hogan in 1983 in Victoria as the office manager and became part owner of Hogan Homes in 1999.

“We have been fortunate to have long-term employees that pull together to ultimately get the job done and done well. We all multi-task and wear many hats around here,” said Summers.

Typically, businesses expand to grow. For Hogan Homes, it was more of a defensive maneuver. They owned 40% of the home market share in Victoria, which made them vulnerable to the local economy.

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“I looked into Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Corpus Christi and I used a firm, Bill Smolkin, out of New Orleans, to do some research in all those markets to layout the opportunities. That list ended up with Corpus Christi being at the bottom,” says Hogan.

Corpus Christi was an easy drive from Victoria, so he decided to do some research of his own. He was intrigued by the potential of the harbor to grow the city. He knew Corpus Christi had a lot of potential.

In 1981, Hogan launched their first two developments, WindBrook and WindSong, on the Southside of Corpus Christi. The economy took a drastic hit shortly after. It was devastating for local homebuilders.

“We cut just about every expense we could possibly cut. I made up my mind to keep at least one house under construction at all times, so that my neighborhoods didn’t ever look stale to the public,” said Hogan. “We counted on the revenue stream in Victoria to account for the losses we experienced in Corpus Christi.”

At the time, the Texas economy was much more dependent on oil and gas than it is today. Corpus Christi’s economic growth over the last decade has been primarily due the influence of the Port of Corpus Christi.

“It’s finally what we saw all along, we were just a little early,” said Hogan with a smile.

Hogan Homes has always had a very targeted approach to building homes that meet their market’s specific needs while developing new communities for the future. Terra Mar is a peaceful, master-

planned community at Oso Bay on the Southside of Corpus Christi. It is the perfect example of the thought, research and foresight that goes into every development.

Hogan and Summers are proud of every home the company has built over the years. They are determined to build homes that hold their value for decades.

“When we purchased the land for the initial phase of Terra Mar we helped facilitate the City’s purchase of 160 acres that has now become the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center,” said Summers. “Today, Terra Mar is taking off. There are new schools, beautiful parks and nature trails. It’s a peaceful quiet neighborhood with easy commutes to all parts of town and the island.”

Hogan Homes has built a young and energetic management team, who are eager to learn and contribute fresh ideas. There is no intimidation factor.

Everyone says what he or she thinks and contributes under Nancy Summers’ leadership.

Current new development is focused upstream in the Rockport market. Hogan Homes recently broke ground on their third neighborhood in the Rockport area, Wandering Oaks. “In Rockport, we have really focused on outdoor living. Our customers want to spend more time outside and our climate is ideal for outdoor living areas,” said Angela Long, VP Sales & Marketing for Hogan Homes.

“I think with any small business it starts at the top with Nancy and it filters on down to our newest employees,” said Hogan. “Our company has been blessed with many competent and capable employees and they are what built this company.”

“When you look at the core values that Al embraced for so many years, passed down to Angela and myself and what I’ve learned watching my mother, this is exactly the legacy we want to continue,” said Trey Summers, VP Operations and son of Nancy Summers. “So, that in another 50 years, we can be sitting here celebrating our 100th anniversary.”

“Our company has been blessed with many competent and capable employees and they are what built this company.”

-Al Hogan

COMING SOON: Wandering Oaks of Rockport: Plan on planting your roots among the swaying trees in Wandering Oaks. It will be the newest master planned community in the small Gulf Coast town of Rockport, Texas and the area is home to a lovely variety of flora and fauna – providing a wholesome depth to the property. Nestled near a shoreline of shade with live oak trees, beautiful terrain, and a large park right in the middle, Wandering Oaks will offer elegant, coastal homes and 160 lots / homes in total.

The development’s close proximity to HWY 35 bypass promises an easy commute for residents to the major area businesses and neighboring cities.

Nancy Summers, President & CEO, & Al Hogan, Founder & Chairman

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: 2015 PARADE OF HOMES The People’s Choice Award Ten 1st place and four 2nd place awards out of sixteen for homes in two categories: over 1900 sq. ft. and under 1900 sq. ft.

FIRST PLACE AWARDS Best Interior Design, Best Kitchen, Best Master Bath, Most Energy Efficient, Best Exterior, Best Landscaping, Jeff Koellman Design Award

Photo: Jason Page

CALLER TIMES, BEST OF THE BEST #1 for 13 years running

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737 EVERHART RD. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78414 | 361.992.7631 | DEREKJCHANGDDS.COM 58 The Bend

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Out & About MARCH 2016

ARTS & CULTURE 60 DATE BOOK 62 SOCIAL HOUR 64

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inside Hops are the flowers of the plant Humulus Lupulus. The hops are primarily used as the stability agent in beer, giving beer itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notable bitter and tangy flavor. Hops are also used in herbal medicine!

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Out and About | Arts & Culture

Lazy Beach Brewing Corpus Christi’s First Micro-Brewery is NOW OPEN. More diverse, more flavorful, more selection. From what this brewery is cranking out, it’s evident they are anything but lazy!

By: Sharla Wilkins Photos: Rachel Durrent

“It’s not a bar. It has a whole different vibe.”

60 The Bend

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O

wner Cory Mathews and wife Jess are the tag team behind this micro brewery that is bringing craft beers to the Coastal Bend region.

Relaxing at a table in his tap room, Cory Mathews is at home. “It was kind of freeing,” Mathews relates, of breaking into the brewing business. Initially not a beer fan, Mathews was introduced to craft beer by his wife, Jess, and grew to enjoy it. Desiring to expand his beer knowledge, as well as lower the cost of purchasing beer, Mathews ordered a home brew kit in 2010. The first attempt at a home brew tasted terrible. Determined to make drinkable beer, Mathews, along with his cousin and some friends, learned how to brew tasty beer. They began doing so each Tuesday night. Friends caught wind of their new hobby, and each week people would show up to help brew and sample the beers. Mathews joined the local home brew club and expanded his knowledge and experience.

A year after that unpalatable first batch, Mathews and his wife founded Lazy Beach Brewing. Eventually securing a small warehouse for brewing, and after having all necessary inspections completed and paperwork approved, they sold their first batch at Cassidy’s Irish Pub in June 2014.

They quickly expanded to more locations and struggled to keep up with demand, quite a good problem to have. The market for local brew allowed the move to a location twice the size of their first. The larger brewery and tap room opened June 6th 2015, “one year to the day from our first sale,” shares Mathews.

Completely self-financed, the brewery is now their only source of income. Mathews puts in about 80 hours of work a week, and says quitting his job to focus solely on brewing had its risks, but was “a fun little escapade. We grew a ton last year. Five hundred and forty five percent,” Mathews says, chuckling.

They now have up to ten beers at a time at the micro-brewery, up from three at their former facility. Each week, one beer drops off the menu and is replaced by a new one.

Five of the listed beers can be purchased at different locations around town, while the other five beers are available only at the tap room. Encouraging patron participation, comment cards are handed out asking for new beer suggestions as well as how to modify their crowdsourced beer, the Corpus Christi. “Every time we make it, we change

it based on the comment cards,” Mathews explains. “It’s designed by Corpus.”

Inspiration for the brews comes from a variety of sources, from customer suggestions to cooking ingredients as well as other beers. Home-brewers’ recipes have been featured in the tap room as well.

In addition to fantastic beer, an assortment of grub can be found at the brewery.

A food truck parks outside the tap room each weekend. Several different food trucks rotate through and, “they’re all really good,” says Mathews.

Lazy Beach’s Facebook page and website lists the new beer for the week, which food truck will be servicing the tap room, as well as upcoming events. Trivia nights have been held, and brewing classes are coming up.

The child-friendly location has games available outside, while indoors has seating closer to the bar. Televisions are not welcome. “When you’re here, you have to talk to people,” Mathews says, smiling. “It’s not a bar. It has a whole different vibe,” he explains, of the relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Lazy Beach averages 150-200 patrons on Saturdays, with regulars coming each week to try the new beer.

BEER BREWING PROCESS: Ground grain is placed in a container and heated to approximately 150 degrees to convert the starch to sugar.

The concoction is then boiled and hops and spices are added. Chilling the brew comes next. Yeast is then added and left to ferment in tanks for two weeks. After the fermentation process, the brew is pumped to another tank to be chilled to drop the yeast out. Carbonation is added, and then the beer is ready to be kegged. The entire process takes about a month.

The tap room is available for rental on days when it is normally closed, and it has been rented out several times. “It’s just a place to have a beer, and it’s your own little bar for the afternoon,” says Mathews.

Cory and Jess once suffered from heat stroke while brewing beer in the summer at their former non air-conditioned facility.

The couple has plans for expansion as the business grows. Growlers and canned beer are coming. “We are planning on canning, so you can take the beer to the beach and to the pool,” Mathews explains. Growth is planned to be slow and self-financed. They will enlarge the tap room from its current 2100 square feet and build a huge cooler to support more locations off site as well as secure more businesses around town that sell their beer. Currently eighteen different locations carry Lazy Beach.

The MIX Grill, Denne’s Smokehouse on Wheels, D’Lish Foods, Mise En Place Mobile Cafe, Slingerz, Iron Pinata, Coastal Sol.

FOOD TRUCKS THAT PARK AT LAZY BEACH:

BEERS AVAILABLE AROUND TOWN: Beach in Wheat, Lazy Beach Belgian Blonde, Lazy Beach Blonde, Lazy Beach Texas Bock, Lazy Beach Session IPA.

The growth they have already experienced has opened them up more to the general public. “Now people are discovering us,” Mathews explains. Loyal patrons have gifted the brewery with decorations and handcrafted games. “The community has been really good to us,” Mathews grins.

7522 #100, Bichon Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78414 (361) 215-9107

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Out & About | Date Book

March Mark Your Calendar

Music Spring Break on the Coast Mar. 19th Featuring Randy Rogers Band with Cody Johnson Band, Kevin Fowler, & more on the main stage! Concrete Street Amphitheater, (361) 884-8085, concretestreet.net

Family

Festival

Festival of the Arts Mar. 18th – 20th Chalk it up for the Arts! Showcasing local, national and internationally recognized Fine Art artists and their one of a kind 2D & 3D visual art, ceramic, woodwork, fiber, photography, jewelry, glass and metalwork art for sale.

Heritage Park, (361) 883-2787, ccfestivalarts.org

Sea Stories

Arts

Community

Mar. 1st – Apr. 24th This exhibition includes 34 works from the 19th through the 21st centuries in a variety of artistic media; with a plethora of approaches to the landscape, from historic and more traditional to contemporary examinations. Art Museum of South Texas, (361) 825-3520 artmuseumofsouthtexas.org

Mar. 4th On the first Friday of every month you’ll find artists, musicians and all things creative converge in the Marina Arts District.

It’s where Downtown comes alive with bands on every block, food trucks serving up South Texas fare, and art galleries featuring local and national artists. Marina Arts District, (361) 882-2363, marinaarts.com

Exploring the Land

Artwalk

Festival

Mar. 12th & 18th These 30 minute programs combine reading and wildlife as a way to build early language skills, pique curiosity for nature and support ‘family learning time’ in a safe and exciting environment.

After listening and participating along with the storyteller, parents and children will observe and touch an animal from the story and receive a copy of the storybook to take home. Texas State Aquarium, (361) 881-1204, texasstateaquarium.org

Family

Fulton Oysterfest

Create a Fairy Garden

Mar. 3rd – 6th A true salute to the oyster industry! Including plenty of food, entertainment, arts, crafts and a carnival. Fulton Harbor Navigation Park, (361) 463-9955, fultonoysterfest.org

Mar. 19th Learn about plants, containers and accessories to create your own miniature container garden, perfect for fairies, gnomes and other tiny garden guests from STBGNC Horticulturist Carol Krank. South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, (361) 692-0607, stxbot.org

Theater Chicago

Mar. 11th – Apr. 24th Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm Harbor Playhouse, (361) 8825500, harborplayhouse.com 62 The Bend

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Community

Rockport Market Days Mar. 19th Held monthly, come on out and enjoy “A Day By The Bay” shopping, listening to great music, and eating at the delicious food court. You’ll find over 100 booths filled with quality merchandise, arts and crafts, plants and produce, jams, jellies, salsa and other canned products, national distributors, handmade clothing, woodworkers, yard art, all types of jewelry, pottery, and more. Rockport Festival Grounds, (361) 557-7575, rockportmarketdays.com

editor’s pick St. Patrick’s Day Block Fest

March 12th Guzzle some green beer and dance a few Irish jigs. You won’t find a better place to celebrate St. Patty’s Day than in the Marina Arts District. This annual festival has broken attendance records every year since its inception. Hosted

by Cassidy’s Irish Pub, this all day festival features live Celtic music, food vendors and plenty of camaraderie. This is a kid-friendly event, complete with a “St. Potty’s Day photo-booth” so, don’t hesitate to bring the whole family!

300 Block of Peoples Street Miket8thepub@yahoo.com

Benefit

Cattle Baron’s Ball Apr. 2nd Paying homage to both the area that we serve and the great people that live here, “Long Live the Lone Star State” – Cattle Baron’s Ball continues to benefit the American Cancer Society for its 30th year. The incomparable Robert Earl Keen will be headlining this

361-853-7303

3801 S. Staples at Weber www.hamlinpharmacy.com

spectacular event, complete with dinner by Don Strange of Texas, exciting auctions, and lively gaming areas. This ranch-style gala, a perennial favorite, is unique because of its location and relaxed atmosphere, combined with the proven ability to raise funds for a deserving cause. Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries – Nueces Delta Preserve, (361) 806-5503, corpuschristicbb.com

Music

Forbidden Love – Romeo & Juliet Mar. 12th Forbidden love takes center stage with two masterpieces of the romantic repertoire.

Texas A&M University-CC Performing Arts Center, (361) 883-6683, ccsymphony.com

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Out & About | Social Hour

Celebration of Courage

1.

Benefiting New Life Refuge Ministries Photos by: Rachel Durrent

1) Lisa & Alyssa Shepard 2) Jacqui Florez & Amanda Leal 3) George Gibson & Lauren Cabello 4) Leah & David Brown 5) Jeff & Carolina Sizemore,

3.

2.

Blake & Monica Braslau

2.

4.

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5.

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Shannonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Distinctive Fashion

361-993-6608

6646 S. Staples St. 126 Corpus Christi, 78413

Famous, fabulous, and FUN!

Improving the Quality of Life in the Coastal Bend since 1981 For over 35 years, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation has helped area residents achieve their charitable goals. During this time over $93 million in non-profit grants and student scholarships have been made. For the past seven years, the Foundation has organized the Coastal Bend Day of Giving which last year topped $1.9 million for charities providing needs of the most vulnerable in the Coastal Bend. If you would like to join with us please call 361.882.9745.

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

Benefiting student scholarships!

Thursday, April 7, 2016 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. at Concrete Street Old Market Pavilion All you can eat crawfish, shrimp, sausage, and veggies! Complimentary bar.

Live Zydeco music and more!

Live and silent auctions!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Sponsorships available!

For tickets and sponsorship details: 361-698-1033 or delmar.edu/foundation

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Out & About | Social Hour

2.

1.

Food & Wine Classic Benefiting KEDT

Photos by: Rachel Durrent

1. Dr. Jorge & Marcy Rodriguez 2. Dr. Allister & Devereaux Arnold 3. Ryan Cain & Jessica Salinas 4. Tom Doyle & Vicki Pollard

3.

5. Katy Curry & Michael Simons

1.

6. Mark Nolen, Denice Thompson, Irene Burg, Betsy & Mike Carrell

5.

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6.

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4.

Happy Kids Happy Parents

Pediatric Dentist

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361-992-9500

Orthodontics

Saratoga Office:

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3435 S. Alameda, Ste. A Corpus Christi, TX 78411

Implant Dentistry Calallen Office:

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Enclave Office:

5525 S. Staples, Ste. A4 Corpus Christi, TX 78411

Introducing Our New

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM Come a visit us at our new location

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shop. dine. unwind.

More than 130 of the finest names in style, services and cuisine including: Dillard’s • Macy’s • JCPenney ULTA • Michael Kors • White House | Black Market MAC Cosmetics • francesca’s • Aldo • Pandora • PINK Coach • Oakley • Grimaldi's Pizzeria • Buckle LongHorn Steakhouse • Tilly’s • Chipotle Mexican Grill Papaya • Corner Bakery Café • Forever 21 • Express Victoria’s Secret • Soma Intimates • T.J. Maxx HomeGoods • OshKosh B’gosh • Grub Burger Bar DSW • Build-A-Bear Workshop • Dick’s Sporting Goods

5488 S. Padre Island Drive • Corpus Christi F I N D YO U R R U N WAY

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Cuisine MARCH 2016

FARM TO TABLE 70 THE DISH 73 DINING GUIDE 74

What’s Inside For Saint Patrick’s Day, many may jump straight to making the traditional corned beef and cabbage.

So delicious. But the foxy boxty is back, and it’s as diverse as ever!

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Cuisine | Farm to Table

Irish Boxty: Three Ways The language of the Irish is Gaelic. The tones and lilts and rhythms of this ancient language are lovely to listen to.

By: Justin & Kayla Butts Photos: Rachel Durrent

They speak in Gaelic on the radio. As you drive north in your tiny car along the coast, climbing the winding narrow roads, with a mist rising from the hills to your right and the stormy Atlantic rolling below and pounding white waves and foam against the cliffs, you must stop often to let sheep pass. All the while, the radio plays songs with rustic instruments and haunting vocals.

When you pull into a village, there is always a tavern, usually built of stone, hundreds of years old. Inside the tavern it is warm and dark with a yellow fire glowing on the hearth and wooden posts throughout the room to hold up the roof. Old men in coats sit at the tables, four of them together, a half-empty pint in front of each. They talk politics, history, weather, always in the mellifluous cadence of Gaelic.

When the lady comes, she says something unintelligible, then smiles at your American innocence of the language. In English, she lists the specials—something lamb, something salmon, something egg, and always, always something potato. These foods are all harvested within a few miles of the place; the sheep in the road, the hens in the wet grass, the potatoes in the rich black soil, the salmon in the grey water. The recipes have not changed in a hundred years.

The potato was introduced to Ireland in 1600 by Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1649, Oliver Cromwell and his Ironsides massacred the Irish and burned the island nearly to extinction, until all that was left of agriculture was the potato. The potato became the heart of Irish cuisine. For most, the potato was the entirety of the diet.

When you have one food only, you discover interesting ways to prepare it. The best preparation of all for the potato is the Irish boxty, from bacstaíin Gaelic, which means pancake. The boxty lifts the humble potato to its culinary perfection.

Once you make a boxty, prepare yourself to want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

To accommodate you, we offer these Irish boxty recipes three ways, for every meal of the day, in any order you like.

Begin with your boxty, made from mashed potatoes, and fried to golden deliciousness. The toppings—Poached Eggs with Mock Hollandaise; Smoked Salmon with Dill and Capers; and Lamb with Herbed Apricot and Crème Fraiche—are a celebration of Irish flavors.

Irish Boxty (Potato Pancake)

These dishes are simple, easy to prepare, and extraordinarily delicious. Best of all, every ingredient in these recipes (save the salmon) can be found from a local Bend farm. The one place to get all of these ingredients is Coastal Bend Health Foods in Rockport, the only South Texas source for local lamb, beef, pork, or chicken, and one of the best produce stand in The Bend.

Serves 4

Did we mention the Irish know how to drink? If you want to drink like the Irish, you must eat like the Irish. Enjoy a different boxty all day on St. Patrick’s Day, and these Gaelic comfort foods will carry you through your night, pint after pint, until it is time to rise again, and begin a new day with a boxty.

1 cup grated potato (about 2 medium potatoes)

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 32 minutes Ingredients:

1 cup mashed potato 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp salt 2 eggs, beaten ¾ cup cream ¼ cup butter

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Strain potatoes in fine mesh sieve. Wring out any excess moisture using a paper towel. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and eggs. Add cream, a little at a time, until a thick batter is formed.

coagulated and yolk remains mostly runny. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup crème fraiche, ½ tsp English mustard, the zest and juice of half a lemon, 2 tsp melted butter and salt to taste. Spread mock hollandaise over warm boxty and top with poached egg, microgreens, and green onion.

Heat butter over medium low heat in a large pan. Once butter becomes fragrant, add a ladle of batter. Cook for four minutes, or until bottom has become a nice golden brown. Flip pancake over and cook another four minutes.

Smoked Salmon Boxty with Dill and Capers

Directions:

Serve warm with honey, jam, or one of the following toppings.

Boxty with Poached Egg and Mock Hollandaise Directions:

Directions: Combine 2 tbsp crème fraiche (or sour cream) with 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill and the zest and juice of half a lemon in a small bowl. Top boxty with a generous amount of smoked salmon, a dollop of dill sauce, capers, and fresh dill.

Lamb Boxty with Herbed Apricot Crème Fraiche Directions: Season lamb chop with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, minced garlic, and fresh rosemary. Sauté on high for approximately three minutes on each side.

Let rest for five minutes. Pulse ½ cup crème fraiche (alternately sour cream), 2 tsp apricot marmalade, ¼ cup fresh mint and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes until well combined. Slice lamb thinly and serve over boxty, generously drizzled with apricot mint crème fraiche.

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Cuisine | The Dish

La Barataria What do French-American pirate Jean Lafitte and Canadian-American Lezlie Keebler restauranteur have in common? They have both been known to hide in La Barataria.

By: Whitney Noble Photos: Rachel Durrent

Keebler opened La Barataria nearly 6 years ago with French and Cajun influenced dishes, beach towels as tablecloths, and a legendary pirate who inspired the name.

Allow the thick, loosely draped nautical rope to guide you to the doors of La Barataria, secretly nestled in exclusive Island Moorings in Port Aransas, overlooking the Marina. Rich in flavor, soaked in intimacy, and relaxed in décor, you may just have one of the best meals on the Island in your flip flops.

Keebler opened the restaurant 6 years ago in July and has kept it one of the best-kept secrets in the area. Keebler wanted locals to have an incredibly upscale meal but wanted their experience to be laid back.

Known especially for pairing their dishes with the perfect wine, sake, or champagne, it is just part of the experience.

Some of the dishes that Keebler’s gifted chefs presented The Bend were two of their sushi rolls, the shrimp tempura and the island roll, paired with Black and Gold sake. The innovation behind many of their rolls is evident when you glance at the sushi menu and see ingredients such as mint relish, beets, peppadew, chives, and capers to name a few! Their soft-shell crab with shishito peppers pairs perfectly with the Meursault Jean-Philippe Fichet as an appetizer. Top seller Chilean Sea Bass literally melts in your mouth, atop garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes that just beckon for an elegant red, the Vosne-Romanée Pinot Noir.

Sometimes referred to as a Wine Bar and Champagne Lounge, the hospitable dining room carries an unusually large supply of wines and champagnes. Soon to come? Bellinis and Caviar.

Why the name?

Pirate Jean Lafitte and his brothers smuggled goods to local merchants through the La Barataria berth on the Louisiana coast in the early 1800s, after the Embargo Act of 1807 barred such trades. Barataria was far from the U.S. naval base, and ships could easily smuggle in goods without being noticed by customs officials. Later, legend has it, he came to our own Packery Channel, as, when pursued, Lafitte’s shallow draft boats could escape into the knee-deep Laguna Madre where larger boats could not follow. Folklore says that he buried treasure here, right near the Port A jetties, and marked it with a golden dagger.

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1 Locations: 3500 Island Moorings Pkwy Port Aransas, TX 78373 361-749-2212

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Dining Guide Corpus Christi Padre Island Port Aransas Rockport Outdoor dining Live music

$ = Under $10 $$ = Mostly $10 - $20 $$$ = $20 and up The Bend Magazine Dining Guide is a select list of restaurants around the Coastal Bend.

Implicitly, the magazine’s editors recommend all of these restaurants and they are not advertisements. Listings are updated monthly and appear based on space availability. Reviews and articles are written by our editors as a service to readers.

Restaurant owners: If you have news about your restaurant or a correction to our listing, we’re all ears! Send an email to editor@thebendmag.com or call (361) 792-3606

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Cuisine | Dining Guide

American 8te $ A shabby chic interior feel with classic comfort dishes that have a simple twist. They have it all breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 1220 Airline #250, (361) 723-0261, Facebook.com/8tecctx Andy’s Country Kitchen $ You will feel right at home just like eat’n in mom’s kitchen. Great southern comfort food that gets back to the basics! 5802 S Staples St, (361) 993-0251, Andyskitchen.com Atomic Omelette& Grill $ Omelettes are just the beginning here! Comfortable atmosphere, with a flavor for casual dining and handmade family recipes. 6313 Wooldridge Rd #10, (361) 334-3942, Atomicomelette.com Citrus Bayfront Bistro $ Enjoy everything homemade, even down to the pie crusts with a gorgeous view of the marina. 100 N Shoreline Blvd, (361) 882-2047, Citrusbistro.com The Groove $$ A little something for every discriminating craving with an eclectic dining experience. Nothing is ever frozen or put in a fryer! 2001 N Hwy 35, (361) 729-3663, Thegrooverockport.com Irie’s Island Food $ With bold purpose and flavor craving taste buds, they set forth a new twist on local fare and many culinary delights from islands around the globe. 503 N Alister St, (361) 749-2310, Iriesislandfood.com The Grille $ Ensures you’ll always have the variety that is the spice of life! With ingredients sourced from Texas, Burger patties and soups are all made from scratch. 3063 Main St, (361) 775-1000, Facebook.com/thegrillingleside The Post $$ Enjoy this pub in a communal setting with dishes that are meant to be shared, all alongside a cocktail or beer of course! 3850 S Alameda, (361)452-0907, Facebook.com/postcc Town & Country Café $ Down-to-earth this diner next door serves the best in homestyle American comfort food for breakfast and lunch. 4228 S Alameda St, (361) 992-0360, Facebook.com/town-country-cafe

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Asian Aka Sushi $$ Creative and daring rolls that work well together.

The authentic Asian cuisine made with the Chef’s homemade recipe will be sure to surprise you. 415 N Water St, (361) 882-8885 Sang’s Imperial Café $$ Culturally dynamic décor brings an international ambiance to the atmosphere. Their commitment to the healthiest and freshest food shows through from the dishes to the sushi bar. 4650 Corona Dr, (361) 8088881, Facebook.com/imperialcafe TakeNiwa $$$ Sit in Hibachi and watch their talented chefs prepare your dinner. Or dine yourself to juicy steak and full sushi bar, your choice! 5216 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 356-6888, takeniwa.com

Café BonnA-Petit $ Chef Sophie will always make you feel warmly welcomed, just as her gourmet dishes do. And don’t forget to grab a to-go dinner! 4301 S Alameda St, (361) 334-2579, Bonna-petit.com Daily Grind $ A coffee bar with personality, they offer the finest in gourmet, rustic, or straight-up coffee favorites. Hungry?

Stick around for their daily quiche specials, scones, and sandwiches. 302 S Austin St, (361) 790-8745, Rockportdailygrind.com Hester’s Café and Coffee Bar $ Looking for a true family experience where love is the number one ingredient, along with the simple but important concept of quality and the healing powers of good food 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd, (361) 885-0151, 1714 S Alameda St, (361) 885-0558, 3812 S Alameda St, (361) 855-1892, Hesterscafe.com

Barbeque Hoegemeyer’s BBQ $$ Smoked freshbarbecue on a strong German heritage background and a satisfaction for something unique.

South Texas barbecue that comes from the heart. 711 Concrete St, (361) 884-4227, Hoegemeyers.com

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Cuisine | Dining Guide

French Bleu Bistro $$$ True playful twists to classic French bistro dishes.

The chef’s commitment to the use of fresh, local, peak of the season products is evident in the quality of each dish. 500 N Water St, (361) 887-2121, Bleubistrocc.com Dragonfly $$$ A fine multitude of international backgrounds to the cuisine prepared entirely from scratch daily by the owner and culinary artist. The menu is full of unforgettable flavor profiles to satisfy any craving.

14701 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-2224, Facebook.com/dragonfly-restaurant Grill

Bar & Grill Brewster Street Ice House $$ Who says that you can’t have 4-Star food in a casual environment? Not the Brewster Street Grill! Bring your kids or stay for concert, they have it all. 1724 N Tancahua, (361) 884-2739, Brewsterstreet.net

Executive Surf Club $$ The perfect casual family dining spot. All the while supplying the most beer on tap in the city. 309 N Water St, (361) 884-7873, Waterstreetmarketcc. com/executive-surf-club Stingray’s Taphouse and Grill $$ Anindustrial-chic elite sports bar that provides you ‘raving fans’ a unique dining and entertaining experience, right around the corner from the beach!

401 Beach St, (361)749-2287, Stingraystaphouse.com

Italian Authentic New York Pizza $$ True, authentic New York Pizza right in your hands in Corpus Christi, complete with red-checkered tablecloths. 5838 S Staples St, (361) 986-1151, Eatmorepizza.cc Bellino’s $$ Comfortable and welcoming with a trattoria style authentic cuisine. You won’t find these dishes anywhere else in Corpus Christi! 3815 S Alameda St, (361) 814-8998, 523 S. Fulton Beach Rd, (361) 729-9003, Bellinotexas.com

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Brooklyn Pie Co. $ Enjoy a slice or indulge a whole “pie” of their delicious secret pizza tradition. 15326 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-1100, Brooklynpie.com Grimaldi’s Pizzeria $$ Distinctive and authentic pizza baked to perfection in a signature coal burning oven you can see right from your seat, offers a unique crisp flavor. 5488 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 980-8600, Grimaldispizzeria.com House of Rock $ Great pizza and appetizers, cold beer, and live entertainment! Does it get any better? $$ 511 Starr St, (361) 882-7625, Texashouseofrock.ticketfly.com Mamma Mia’s $$$ Warm and cozy mom and pop Italian experience will make you feel like family. Entrees are delicious Italian culture on a plate. 128 N Mesquite St, (361) 8833773, Facebook.com/mamma-mias Mesquite St. Pizza and Pasta Co. $$ Their 60 year old pizza oven brought in straight from Brooklyn New York, makes for the perfect pizza, as well asall the crusts and sauces are made in house. 617 Mesquite St, (361) 882-7499, Eatpizzadowntown.com Panjo’s Pizza & Pasta $ Ditch the pomp and circumstance, and eat the way your Italian Grandma intended. Fuss free and real, classic, and a true local secret! $$ 2744 Highway 35 N, (361) 729-1411 Russo’s Coal Fired Italian Kitchen $$ Brick-oven-fired Italian entrees and New York style pizza down south. The simplicity of a causal Pizzeria with the freshness of a fine Italian restaurant. 6418 S Staples St, (361) 986-0620, Nypizzeria.com Venetian Hot Plate $$$ Quality cuisine and a quaint, yet energetic atmosphere, giving a real touch of Italy. 232 Beach St, (361) 749-7617, Venetianhotplate.com Bella Luna Downtown $$ Authentic gourmet Italian cuisine always made fresh to order in the heart of The Marina Arts District. 429 Schatzell St, (361) 887-4777, Bellalunadowntown.com

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Port “A” Pizzeria $$ Bring the kids, as this family-friendly pizzeria offers an all-day buffet, video games and draft beer. Or, order straight off the menu! 407 E Avenue G, (361) 749-5226, Portapizzeria.com,

Mediterranean Ginger Café and Grill $$ Eastern hospitality and authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, there’s so much to love about these Persian, Turkish, Lebanese, and IndoPakistani specialties. 7009 S Staples, 103, (361) 946-9834, Gingercafecc.com

Mexican Molé $$ The vision lies in freshness, tradition and distinction; Mole’ is where true Central Mexican Cuisine can be enjoyed. 6042 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 334-6081, Molerestaurant.com

Per uvian Costa Sur Wok & Ceviche Bar $$ This cevicheria is a true Peruvian party on your palette. The dishes are fresh takes on traditional originals from Peru. 15113 S Padre Island Dr #101, (361) 945-8303, Costasurcc.com

Seafood Black Marlin Bar & Grill $$$ Sit indoors, sit outdoors, see the Gulf Coast from any seat in the house while diving into top-quality coastal cuisine, live music and the best views around. 258 Snapdragon, (361) 749-4653, Blackmarlinbarandgrill.com Black Sheep Bistro $$ A unique, trendy atmosphere that transcends age and style with a menu full of foods rich, colorful, and full of flavor. 15201 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 9494819, Blacksheepbistro.net Doc’s Seafood and Steaks $$ Lively and enjoyable selection for surf ‘n’ turf in an open-air setting overlooking the water, plus live music. 13309 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-6744, Docseafoodandsteaks.com

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Cuisine | The Drink

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Cassidy’s Irish Pub Irish Coffee By: Whitney Noble Photos: Rachel Durrent

You don’t need to go all the way to Dublin to get a rich, strong, steamy, satisfying cup of Irish Coffee. Just head to Cassidy’s Irish Pub, where they are doing it the old fashioned way. The original Irish coffee was invented by Joe Sheridan, a head chef in Foynes, a village and port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland. As story has it, a group of Americans disembarked in the port on a cold winter night in the ‘40s. In an effort to warm them up, Sheridan added whiskey to their coffee. Sheridan coined the term “Irish coffee” after a passenger asked if it were Brazilian. Mike Treiber, owner of Cassidy’s, sticks to tradition. His Irish coffee uses Starbucks house blend, brown sugar instead of white, a quarter ounce of Jameson Irish Whisky, and tops it with heavy whipped cream. Prefer to have it “Texas Style”? Treiber adds Bailey’s Irish Cream, light whipped cream, and a hit of cinnamon for color and spice.

601 N Water St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401

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Glow $$ From a renovated boathouse, offers a simply cooked bistro fare using the best local seafood and produce. Bright, relaxed atmosphere with white-washes ship lap wood walls and a full bar.

1815 Broadway St, (361) 727-2644, Glowrockport.com Harrison’s Landing $$ Tavern on the Bay at Harrison’s Landing is Corpus Christi’s newest outdoor restaurant & bar located in the heart of the city’s marina, and is the only place in town with a floating bar! 108 Peoples St, (361) 881-8503, Harrisonslanding. net Island Time Sushi Bar and Seafood Grill $$ Stop in for fresh and inventive sushi, seafood, appetizers and desserts! Check out the weekday specials! 14225 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-3046, Facebook.com/islandtimesushi Latitude 28˚02’ $$$ Contemporary dining experience specializing in tasty fresh, local seafood.

Eye-catching walls that serve as a gallery space, holding colorful works by local artists. 105 N Austin St, (361) 7279009, Latituderockport.com Lisabella’s Bistro $$$ Casually coastal elegance yet, familyfriendly setting. Remarkable gourmet twist to the lunch fare, a poolside eatery, and a full bar that goes beyond just ordinary.

5009 Hwy 361, (361) 749-4222, Cinnamonshore.com Rock & Rolls Sushi Lounge $$

At Rock & Roll, they’re dishing out the most delectable and delicate fish from islands all over the world. Delight in a “sound check” or cold appetizer, an “opening act” or hot appetizer, then “plug in” for some rolls and sashimi! 15121 S Padre Island Dr #101, (361) 949-1110, Rockandrollssushi.com Roosevelt’s at the Tarpon Inn $$$ Gourmet dining at its finest in a beautiful Louisiana style home that sets the perfect tone for a taste of luxury. Historic background gives a unique sense of its famous visitors.

200 E Cotter Ave, (361)749-1540, Rooseveltsatthetarponinn.com

Saltwater Grill $$ Unique family atmosphere with fresh and tasty seafood that will leave you coming back for more. 2401 Cimarron Blvd, (361) 993-7258, Saltwatergrillcc.com Scuttlebutt’s Bar & Grill $$ Extensive menu, makes sure to have something for everyone. Foods made from scratch from the dressings to the burger patties14254 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-6769, Scuttlebuttsbarandgrill. com Seafood & Spaghetti Works $$ A unique dining experience, you’ll find the very best in seafood, steak, Italian dishes, pizza, soups, and desserts all made from scratch. 901 S Alister St, (361) 749-5666, Seafoodandspaghetti. com

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Shells $$ Warm, inviting neighborhood restaurant offers a creative and far ranging menu that reflects a variety of world cuisines.

Shakes off the old and tired and gets down to real good food. 522 E Avenue G, (361) 749-7621, Eatatshells.com

■ Life

Insurance Shempy’s Grill $$ ■ Disability Income Insurance Laid back setting with a variety of Taking care of your delightfully cooked fish will turn anyone ■ Long-Term Care Insurance into a seafood lover. 3913 Highway 35 S, insurance needs

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(361) 727-0019, Facebook.com/Shempys

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Snoopy’s Pier $$ Outdoor dining experience and Local harvested quality with an on-site fish house and shrimp breading facility that enables the freshness. 13313 S Padre Island Dr, (361) 949-8815, Snoopyspier.com

■ LifeIncome InsuranceInsurance Disability ■ Disability Income Insurance ■ Long-Term Care Insurance Amanda Smith ■ Long-Term Care Insurance 361-739-0116 Call me today fortoday more Call me for information: more information: amanda.smith@mutualofomaha.com

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The Boiling Pot $$ Roll up your sleeves and take manners to new a level for a great Cajun experience.

201 S Fulton Beach Rd, (361) 729-6972

Amanda Smith Amanda Smith 361-739-0116

361-739-0116 amanda.smith@mutualofomaha.com amanda.smith@mutualofomaha.com

The Pheonix $$ Insurance products and services underwritten by: Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company or one of its affiliates, Omaha, NE This international bistro/nouveau 68175. This is a solicitation of insurance. By responding, you are American fine-quality cuisine is prepared requesting to have a licensed agent (in WA, producer) contact you to provide additional information. daily using many ingredients from the Insurance products and services underwritten by: Mutual of AFN41199_0912 Corpus Christi Farmer’s Market creating Omaha Insurance Company or one of its affiliates, Omaha, NE a constantly eclectic seasonal menu, products Insurance and services underwritten by: Mutualyouofare 68175. This is a solicitation of insurance. By responding, where guests can choose to sit indoor to have licensed (in WA, producer) contact NE Omaha Insurance requesting Company or aone of agent its affiliates, Omaha, you to provide additional information. and outdoor. 337 N Alister St, (361) 68175.

This is a solicitation of insurance.

By responding, you are 749-9277, Facebook.com/The-PhoenixAFN41199_0912 requesting to have a licensed agent (in WA, producer) contact Restaurant-and-Bar

you to provide additional information.

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Cuisine | Dining Guide

2016 READER’S CHOICE POLL:

Trout Street Bar & Grill $$$ Cajun-inspired seafood in an airy environs is a wondrous way to enjoy food and cocktails inside the nautical themed restaurant or on the outdoor deck offering marina views. 104 West Cotter, (361) 749-7800, Tsbag.com Water Street Oyster Bar $$ Long-standing, well-known Corpus Christi landmark operation serving oysters, sushi rolls & Gulf seafood in a historic, brick-walled space.

309 N Water St, (361) 881-9448, Waterstreetmarketcc.com

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE LOCAL’S OF THE COASTAL BEND LOVE! NOMINATE your favorites today: Food Drink Nightlife

Water Street Seafood Company $$$ Locally owned and operated and voted “Best of the Best” seafood. Fish is fresh never frozen, while sauces and dressings are all made in house from scratch. 309 N Water St, (361) 882-8683, Waterstreetmarketcc.com Yardarm $$$ Savory seafood dishes with great bay view seating. Family owned gives off a special ambiance in the atmosphere as well as the entrees. 4310 Ocean Dr, (361) 855-8157

Niko’s Steakhouse $$$ Committed to the motto “Great food, Great times, Great experience.” Casual and elegant atmosphere that will exceed any steak lover’s expectations. 5409 Saratoga Blvd, (361) 9922333, Nikossteakhouse.com Republic of Texas $$$$ One of the top dining destinations. A multi-level steakhouse offers diners beautiful panoramic views of the CC Bay. All the ingredients for the perfect experience! 900 N Shoreline Blvd, (361) 887-1600, Omnihoetls.com

Thai Thai Cottage $$ Unique and refreshing, Thai curries meet teriyaki and Chinese dishes in a cozy red cottage. 5830 McArdle Rd, (361) 993-0777, Thai-cottage. com

Vietnamese Vietnam Restaurant $$$ Local fine dining with an extensive menu and eye catching Vietnamese culture spread throughout the dining area. 701 N Water St, (361) 8532682, Vietnam-restaurant.com

Steakhouse Katz 21 $$$ Sets the standard for premier fine dining experience. Prime steakhouse specializes in dryaged prime beef and fresh gulf coast seafood.

5702 Spohn Dr, (361) 884-1221, Katz21.com

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Out & About | Looking Back

NASCC Celebrates 75 Years!

By: Jeff King Photo: National Naval Aviation Museum

45 cadets earned their wings at the first graduation exercises held at NAS Corpus Christi on November 1st, 1941.

M

arch 12, 1941, Captain Alva Berhard stood before fellow military personnel and Coastal Bend community members as the first Commanding Officer of newly commissioned Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC).

The first class of flight school cadets graduated on November 1, 1941, and just five weeks later, the United States was at war. NAS Corpus Christi’s enduring role in naval aviation solidified as the base served as a critical flight training center during World War II, through which over 35,000 pilots would eventually earn their wings over the course of the war.

presence has been infused into the Coastal Bend community. The overhead sound of a turboprop engine powering the T-6Texan II on its approach to Truax Field has become commonplace across the area, evidence that NASCC is still fulfilling the mission of training our military’s aviators.

This year on March 12th, the Coastal Bend is joining together again for a monumental occasion at the base: Naval Air Station Corpus Christi’s 75th anniversary celebration. May we all take time that day to honor the men and woman who have and continue to serve aboard NASCC, and may we celebrate 75 years of naval aviation history that takes flight right in our own backyard.

Since the arrival of NASCC, naval aviation’s

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NAS Corpus Christi Interesting Facts •

Notable flight training graduates include George H.W. Bush, John H. Glenn, and Bob Barker.

•

The Blue Angels were headquartered at NASCC from 1949-1955.

•

Largest naval aviation training facility in the world in 1944.

•

Corpus Christi Army Depot at NAS Corpus Christi is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world.

•

Training Air Wing FOUR wings approximately 600 newly qualified aviators each year.

A snowstorm in February of 1895 covered the Coastal Bend with nearly double the snow as in 2004, but the 2004 snow still broke the record for 24-hour

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