The Bellaire Buzz - November 2016

Lisa Riddle, Larry Hoffman and Lori Wilkins

When Neighbors are Family

Band of Brothers The Life of a LIFE Photographer Chef’s Corner: Chris Shepherd

by Cheryl Ursin

Making Thanksgiving Leftovers New All Aboard: Travel by Train This Month in Dining: Jay’s Wine Club Houston, TX

Buzz Baby: Adoption

Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Cooking Buzz: Friendsgiving Menu

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 3

PUBLISHER’S NOTE At The Buzz, one person’s story often leads to another. You could say it’s our residents’ way of paying it forward. One such person is Claire Frazier, whose story of breast-cancer survival was shared by Jennifer Oakley in her story, Facing Cancer. During the photo shoot, Claire said, “If you really want a good story you should meet my husband Joe and his five brothers.” So this month, Jennifer spotlights this delightful “Band of Brothers” who perform at family weddings. The photo shoot was a blast and turned into a jam session.

Another resident who paid it forward is Susan Farb Morris, who introduced us to LIFE photographer Bob Gomel. If a photo is worth a thousand words, Bob’s photos could fill an encyclopedia. And finally, when Karen Edelman contacted Buzz editor Joni Hoffman to say that her friend Alisa Hoffman had mistakenly been given Joni’s credit card at Walgreens, the conversation led to our story featuring adult siblings who live on the same block, Alisa’s husband, Larry, and his sisters, Lori Wilkins and Lisa Riddle. If you want to pay it forward too, we’re ready. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers

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Sales Associates Fall Intern

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Ann Agnew Woods Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Helen van Rensburg Kelly Engler

On our cover: Siblings Lisa Riddle, Larry Hoffman and Lori Wilkins (from left) are also neighbors.

Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2016 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 4

Reputation Matters “Mike Livingston has represented our family in buying and selling homes in Bellaire since 1998. He recently listed and sold our home in just three days at over the listing price! Mike is a consummate professional that will stay on top of every detail from beginning to end. His directness and honesty has helped us to make the best choices for our family. Over the years, he has become a gracious friend and our #1 Bellaire Realtor.”

- Sally & Chien Wei, 4529 Braeburn

#1 in Bellaire Listings sold since 2001.

Specializing in Bellaire Properties since 1993 with over 725 Bellaire Sales Transactions to Date Honored 7 times by the Houston Business Journal as being among Houston’s Top Realtors

Let my record work for you!

Professionalism, Local Market Knowledge, Personal Service

Mike Livingston

, CRS ABR 713.764.9850 • mlivingston@gmail.com • www.har.com/mikelivingston BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Story was a miracle in the making In the October [2016] issue of The Buzz, staff writer Andria Frankfort wrote an article entitled Back Porch: Family Politics.

Andria interviewed Abe and me over the phone for almost an hour gathering information about our diverse backgrounds. Abe and I went off topic half of the time, corrected each other the other half and inserted personal anecdotes whenever possible.

All the while, Andria was very professional, courteous and gracious. Shortly after Andria hung up, Abe called me to get my input on how I thought the interview went. After a short discussion, we were both in agreement that it would be a miracle if Andria would succeed in actually compiling and writing a decent article based on the rambling information that we had provided her. Yesterday, I met Abe for lunch and he handed me a copy of The Buzz. We want to give Andria the accolades that she so richly earned and deserves and to thank her for taking all of the fragmented information that we provided and producing a sweet, accurate and charming article.

Dollie and Abe Goren Editor’s note: We enjoyed the dialogue Andria captured between two quite different – and obviously well-matched – spouses. Thanks for letting us have a glimpse into a family that connects and respects despite political divides.

heart and love of food. In New York City, I favor Katz’s Deli and, for dinner, Aureole.

Art Squires Editor’s note: Dai’s new Chef’s Corner column has hit a sweet spot with foodies. Each month, she will continue spotlighting local chefs and giving us the insider scoop on where – when they’re not at their own restaurants – they like to eat.

College-parents’ clubs keep her connected Jennifer Oakley’s article about parents’ clubs [And They’re Off: Parent groups for the college years, October 2016] throughout Houston is great!

Being a member of UGA Mama Dawgs and Ole Miss Hotty Toddy Mamas has connected me with so many new friends and, by sharing information and helping other parents, it forges a bond with the universities our children attend that will last long after their graduations. With Lisa Ganucheau at the helm of Hotty Toddy Mamas next year, I know the club will thrive!

We’re blessed that our kids have had such wonderful collegiate experiences and that through parents’ clubs, we’ve gotten to share those!

Joni Hruska Fichter, Mama Dawg of Evan, ’15 and ’16, Hotty Toddy Mama of Kylie, ’17 Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

Loved the books article Jennifer [Oakley], we just got back from Boston and found your wonderful article [One For the Books: Stories that changed their lives, September 2016] in the mailbox. I couldn’t be more pleased, or more appreciative.

Thank you for writing a beautiful piece that brings together many different threads. I’m struck by how all of the stories by everyone who was interviewed come back to books as a way that family members communicate with one another.

Bill Boyce Editor’s note: This is one of our favorite articles. It went beyond book recommendations – although we took note of many – and touched on the powerful ways reading (and in your case, writing) can impact our lives. Thanks for sharing your story.

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a “meant-to-be” love story.

• Have competed in triathlons.

• Have an interesting passion or hobby.

• Know an interesting neighbor to profile.

• Have a travel story to share.

Yay for Ziggy and Chef’s Corner I was so delighted to see my good friend Ziggy Gruber featured in the The Buzz [Chef’s Corner: Ziggy Gruber, by Dai Huynh, August 2016]. I am so proud of Ziggy’s success. Congrats to Dai Huynh for capturing his big BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 6

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 7

NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

When Neighbors are Family Generations who live together – or next door

T

o say that siblings Larry Hoffman, Lori Wilkins and Lisa Riddle get along well would be an understatement. When they first struck off on their own, as young adults, and needed to find roommates for apartment shares, they turned to each other and not outside friends. Lori and Larry office together. They own a farm together. All three go on trips together.

And all three live within 500 feet of each other on the same street in Bellaire.

The siblings and their spouses eat dinner together, pot-luck-style, at one of their homes four or five times a week. They are able to do what Larry’s wife, Alisa, calls “home shopping.”

Run out of chili powder or toilet paper? Go over to a sib’s house and grab some. Going to be late?

Someone will be around and can let your dog out. In fact, the three families refer to their dogs, who spend a lot of time together, as “the canine cousins.” Not to mention that Larry and Alisa’s youngest, 16-year-old son Brennan, perhaps to his chagrin sometimes, has three sets of parents watching over him on the street.

Does the thought of doing this with your own family sound exotic? (And maybe alarming?) It may not be. As Karen Fingerman, professor of human development and family sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, pointed out in a recent article in The Psychologist, the idea that family generations would not live close to or with each other is the aberration. Moving out and away only became the expectation in the United States after World War II. Before that, families sticking together was the norm globally for “several centuries”– and still is in many cultures.

When Roseanne Sicola was growing up in Montrose, both her grandmothers lived within walking distance of her family. When the grandmothers got older, Sicola says, “We took care of one, and my aunt took care of the other.” Three and a half years ago, Sicola’s mother, Antoinette Bono, moved in with her and her husband.

Sicola says she “didn’t think twice” about it.

Overall, the idea of a “multi-generational household,” defined as two or more adult generations of a family living together, is making something of a comeback in the United States.

According to the latest analysis of census data BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 8

by the Pew Research Center, 19 percent of all Americans, 60.6 million people, lived in multigenerational households in 2014, up from a low of 12 percent recorded in 1980.

The most striking finding is that, for the first time in 130 years, more young American adults, aged 18 to 34, live with their parents than live with a spouse or romantic partner. NO PLACE LIKE HOME By moving in with Nora’s parents, Pete and Nora Thirty-five percent of all McMordie were able to have their children grow up in the same neighborhood they had. Top, from left: Pete with sons Bennett and Reid. Bottom, from left: Nora, men in this age group daughter Kate and mother Inga Vickers. live with their parents. assumed. About three years ago, Kaitlyn Sharp’s While economic conditions are a factor, they are daughter Gillian Knobelsdorf moved home five not, according to Pew, the only, or even the years after graduating from college. (Kaitlyn’s largest, one at work. According to Pew, “This turn other child, Michael, lives in Los Angeles.) of events is fueled primarily by the dramatic drop “Gillian has a degree in education and wanted in the share of young Americans who are choosing to teach and get a few years of good experience,” to settle down romantically before age 35.” says Sharp, who owns her own business, Custom Another factor: UT’s Fingerman pointed out Plumbing & Hardware. For Gillian, living with that, whether they live together or not, the relaher parents made financial sense. tionship between American parents and their But Kaitlyn thinks of her own life experience older children has changed dramatically in the – by the time she was 17, she was working, putlast 20 years, making it easier for them to conting herself through college and living on her template living together. Most young adults, for own in New York City – and wonders if her famexample, are in touch with their parents at least ily is doing the right thing. “I don’t want to hold daily, she says. In a 2012 Op/Ed piece in The her back by having her live here,” says Kaitlyn, New York Times entitled “You Can Go Home “but I also don’t want to push her out if this is a Again,” she wrote that “many parents and chilgood thing.” dren want this close contact” and that young Gillian jokes, “I live a lot better here than I adults who receive more support from their pardo when on my own.” While Gillian has hired ents report “clearer life goals and more satisfaca maid service to help out, living with her partion” that young adults who receive less. “In ents means, she says, “I can watch HBO, I can fact, we could be celebrating the strong bonds have wifi without having to deal with roombetween today’s young people and their parents, mates. I like being here and I’m glad they like rather than lamenting the foibles of the next me being here.” generation,” Fingerman wrote. “Forty years ago, And Kaitlyn and her husband John the news media were filled with reports of a genKnobelsdorf, an attorney, do like it. “It’s nice eration gap. Let’s be grateful that we’ve finally having her around,” says Kaitlyn. “Gillian and solved that problem.”

John talk for hours.”

Still, it can be difficult to feel sure of yourself When Nora and Pete McMordie, she a travel when you are going against what you’ve always

lawellphoto.com

SIBLINGS AND SPOUSES Dale and Lori Wilkins, Lisa and (not shown) Mike Riddle, and Alisa and Larry Hoffman enjoy spending time together.

agent, he a builder, moved in with Nora’s parents 12 years ago, they already had three kids and the plan was for the move to be permanent.

Nora calls it “the best thing we ever did.” When the McMordies moved back to Houston from Southern California, they realized they couldn’t afford to live in a neighborhood as nice, and with as good schools, as Hunters Creek in Memorial, where Nora’s parents lived. Nora’s dad, Robert Lee Vickers, suggested using their money to add on to Nora’s childhood home.

Because Nora and her father, who passed away eight years ago, were both avid cooks, they decided to have one large open kitchen and living area with the two sets of bedrooms at different ends of the house.

The situation continues to be positive. Nora and her mother, Inga, now 84, have coffee together every morning, and the family eats dinner together several nights a week. Nora’s mother’s expenses are less, she gets to stay in the house she loves, and she’s not lonely. Even Nora’s siblings feel reassured to know their mom is with their sister.

Roseanne Sicola points out that having your parent live with you is, in some ways, easier.

“We used to live 9-10 miles apart,” she says.

“Getting over there, to deliver a meal, could get tough when traffic was bad.”

One woman, who prefers not to be identified, lives next door, in an apartment building, to her in-laws. “They are literally four feet away,” she says. The in-laws, retired, took it upon themselves to make dinner for the family every night.

When her children were learning to drive, their grandparents, though they had given up driving themselves, could still be the licensed driver in the front seat while the kids practiced. And even when the kids were teens and technically no longer in need of babysitters, it was, their mother says, nice to have the grandparents close enough to check on them. The kids, now in nearby colleges and graduate schools, still often eat dinner with their parents and grandparents, sometimes bringing along friends. “It’s good to actually see everyone, to know what’s going on, to have the opportunity to give advice, whether it’s wanted or not,” their mom says. “And it all just happens naturally.”

Still, as one person who is in a strained multigenerational living situation says, it doesn’t always end up being “a butterflies and birds type of story.” It can be hard to live with others.

Tempers flare. Patience wears thin. People

refuse to compromise.

What advice do people who have done it successfully have for people who might be thinking of it?

“Accept everyone for who they are,” says Larry Hoffman.

“We don’t let resentment or grudges build up, ever,” says sister Lori Wilkins. “We’re family; the love is unconditional.”

All stressed the importance of being willing to discuss everything, openly and straightforwardly.

Everyone being willing to compromise, to adapt and change and to cede control is also important.

The adult child coming home is not a child, but an adult. Likewise, the elderly parent moving in is not going to be the head of the household.

House design can be crucial. Many of the families profiled renovated their homes, adding features such as seating areas to master bedrooms and separate entrances, to give everyone their own space.

Larry, Lori and Lisa are hoping to convince their parents to move to their street. They talk, half-jokingly, about building a commune.

Rather than three separate houses, with separate pools, yards, media rooms, “we could share common areas and then go home to our own space,” says Lori. “We enjoy what we have that much.”

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 9

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NEIGHBORS

by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

The Wedding Singers Band of Brothers keeps it in the family

M

argaret Frazier gave birth to a band – a band of brothers. The longtime Briargrove resident, along with her late husband L.E., raised their six sons with a focus on love, faith, family and music – a lot of music.

Turns out the Frazier brothers – Mike, Greg, Bob, David, Paul and Joe, from oldest to youngest – took those lessons to heart. All six sons live a stone’s throw from 95-year-old Margaret. Four of the six work together in a collaborative family oil businesses. And five perform together in the aptly named Band of Brothers, a classic-rock cover band.

“Music was always important at our house,” says Paul Frazier, who contributes blues harp and vocals. “Our parents played such a big role in instilling a very strong sense of how important family relationships are. The Band of Brothers, which we stole from the Spielberg war miniseries, puts this bond on display for a lot of people to see at the weddings. I think that people who know us well already know how close we all are, but those who don’t seem to be inspired by the bond that we have.”

And what a bond it is among the extended Frazier family. By the numbers, the reach is staggering: a total of 43 – Margaret and L.E.’s six sons and their six wives, 17 grandchildren (eight of whom have spouses) and six great-grandchildren.

The Band of Brothers performs solely at the weddings of their children. With their 17 sons and daughters there are a lot wedding dates on the calendar. So far, they have played at eight of their combined children’s receptions, with more on the books.

“We’re all a bunch of hams,” percussionist Greg Frazier says with a laugh. “Never met a microphone we didn’t like!”

The brothers credit their parents as well as oldest brother Mike for their musical inspiration. “Both L.E. and I made sure that all the boys sang in the children’s choirs at our church [River Oaks Baptist],” says mom Margaret, who graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in music. “They were not happy about it, but we felt like it was important.”

The brothers now acknowledge that their mother was right about the Sunday singing. “We BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 10

were ‘all’ – somehow Mike escaped that sentence – in our youth choir at church, so we actually learned some aspects of how to sing on key,” says Greg.

Drum sets and guitars were welcome in the house. “It was just something that they wanted to do,” says Margaret.

“The guitar came into popularity because of the music they were listening to,” the “British Invasion” in the midMOM'S A FAN Margaret Frazier made sure her sons learned and loved music.

1960s. “Mike got so From left: Joe (seated), Paul, David, Bob, Mike and Greg Frazier (seated). interested in playing the Frazier, stepped in. But that is getting ahead of guitar because of his friendship with Billy the story – the story about how the Band of Gibbons.”

Brothers came to be in the first place.

Yes – that Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame — No surprise, it all started with a wedding. whom he was in class with at T. H. Rogers Middle It was 1989, and brother Paul was getting School. Before there was ever ZZ Top, Mike married to Pam. Their reception at The Inn on Frazier and Billy Gibbons played in two bluesy rock The Park was in full swing and in an impromptu and roll bands together called The Coachmen and moment, the sea of brothers jumped up on stage.

The Moving Sidewalks, the latter of which had a “The party band we hired was a little surprised hit song called 99th Floor – it was No. 1 on the when we got up to play Twist and Shout, espeKILT-AM chart for six weeks in 1967. cially when David hijacked the drum kit and “Mike happened to start the band with Billy started playing,” says Paul, a Memorial resident Gibbons when I was 8, and here came rock ’n who is the executive vice president of Brookfield roll into our house like a freight train!” says Bob Property Partners. “The rest of just sang, while Frazier, who lives in Briargrove with wife our parents danced. It was a night to remember Michelle and who plays electric guitar. “We were and a little foreshadowing of things to come.” all in awe of Mike being in a band, and he started “The five of us gathered around a couple of playing Elvis, The Beatles, The Stones and microphones while David killed it on the Beach Boys records, and we were all hooked!” drums,” says Greg, president of Frazier Oil “We had a neat upbringing,” remembers Properties. “Our parents were down in front and Mike, who lives in Tanglewood with wife loving it. In fact, one of my favorite pictures is of Beverly and used to sing in Band of Brothers. our parents dancing to the strains of their six sons “Music has been a big part of my life. I am so screaming into the mics. That was one of the last proud of these guys, and now I look back here pictures taken of our dad.” L.E. died unexpectand see the nephews are very instrumental in edly of respiratory failure less than one year later. making it happen.”

Fast forward to 2007, when for Greg, the bitAt some point along the way, Mike got busy tersweet memories of their father dancing away (he is the retired CEO of Simmons & Co. to them singing The Beatles lyrics melded with International) and stepped out of the band, and with the joy of yet another (continued on page 12) two nephews, Travis Frazier and Stephen

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IN TUNE The Fraziers perform at family weddings.

From left, standing: Bob, Greg, David, Joe and Paul.

From left, kneeling: Travis and Stephen.

Gary Donihoo, f8 Studio

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC The Band of Brothers plays at the June 2016 wedding of Brittany and Stephen Frazier. Onstage, from left: Paul (harmonica), Bob (guitar) Stephen (with glowing headband), Claire Frazier (tambourine), Greg (clapping) and Travis (guitar). Dancing in the crowd: Brittany and her mom, Christy Mesec. (continued from page 10) wedding – this time, his

son Matthew’s.

“It had been 18 years since our ‘debut’ at Paul’s wedding,” says Greg, who lives in Briargrove with his wife, Jeannie. “Four of the six brothers played the guitar, and David had also taken drum lessons as a kid – it was not much fun to listen to his practice sessions in our house – but he was good, and with Paul having inexplicably taken a few harmonica lessons a few years earlier, we had the makings of a band. So, I asked everyone if they’d consider trying it out for Matthew’s wedding, and everyone was all in.”

And, just like that, the Band of Brothers was solidified.

“We kept it a secret from Matthew and all of the rest of our kids so it would be a surprise,” says Greg. “It was an epic – in my unbiased opinion – performance. Three songs during the real band’s break. Matthew and Mary and everyone else loved it. I know we did!”

The grand slam onstage has turned into a command performance, with each successive son or daughter requesting that the Band of Brothers play at each of their weddings. The brothers knew they needed some parameters for each wedding gig. So, they decided the brother whose child is getting married gets to pick the song list, which they play when the hired band takes a break. And, in a nod to their original performance, each set always contains one Beatles song. Additionally, David’s wife Melanie suggested they dress the part too – and so the white jackets and skinny black ties were added BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 12

to give them their throwback rock star look.

In the nine years since Matthew’s wedding, the Band of Brothers all say they have upped their game, partly because they practice more and partly because Stephen and Travis joined the band.

They all point to Stephen, who fronted the Manderly Street Band while he was an undergraduate student at Texas Christian University, as being the “big toe” of Band of Brothers these days. “It’s a line from the movie Stripes,” explains Stephen, who graduated from TCU with a bachelor of science degree in geology. “A foot cannot stand without its big toe. I don’t think they give themselves enough credit though. They played a song without me at my wedding in June, and it was one of the best they’ve ever played.”

The Manderly Street Band had a cult following on campus at TCU, and they played gigs all over the state. It was during those years of getting paid as a musician that Stephen was able to further hone his craft as a lead singer as well as on bass and guitar. After college graduation, the Manderly Street Band members moved on to work and graduate school and they had to disband.

However, Stephen says the most memorable song to date was singing The Beatles’ In My Life to wife Brittany at their wedding reception, with The Band of Brothers all around him. “To be able to play one more time in front of so many friends who hadn’t seen me play in years was something amazing,” notes Stephen, who is a geologist with Frazier Exploration Partners. “And to do it all with my dad and uncles right next to me was one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

Backed with Stephen’s musical knowledge, The Band of Brothers now spend considerably more time practicing and playing. “For our most recent wedding, we prepared seven songs with 13 rehearsals over a 149-day period,” says Joe Frazier, who hosts all of the band’s practice sessions at his and wife Claire’s Southgate home. “We have ramped it up over the years. I think the main driver for this is that our rehearsals are a blast.”

David’s son Travis, who recently joined the band, agrees. The Band of Brothers had played at his own wedding in 2011 when he married wife Sarah. And going from watching on the dance floor to moving up to performing has been gratifying. “It was obviously exhilarating to play on stage,” says Travis, who lives in Briargrove. “But I am pretty sure everyone would agree that the best part of the event were all the practice sessions leading up to it. The crazy thing about our family is we don’t need a reunion as an excuse to hang out together. Some of my best friends are my brothers and cousins, and obviously my dad’s best friends are his brothers. We hang out with each other on the weekends and are in each other’s weddings. At the center of all of this is Nana.”

Margaret – Nana – is delighted to be known as the heartbeat of this band of brothers. “They have so much fun, and it is so wonderful for me to see them having such fun!” she says.

In January, Joe’s son Robert will be getting married to his fiancee, Katherine Hine. The wedding reception will be at the Houston Country Club. And true to form, the Band of Brothers will be up on stage, keeping it in the family.

NEIGHBORS

by Cathy Gordon, staff writer

Behind the Lens The life of a LIFE photographer

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 14

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I

t was a crisp fall day in New York City, 1967, when LIFE Magazine photographer Bob Gomel hit the streets with Dustin Hoffman.

The little-known actor was fresh from filming The Graduate, playing mentally adrift, nebbish misfit Benjamin Braddock who was uncertain about his future.

The movie became a breakout hit, landing Hoffman stardom and an Oscar nomination.

“But at the time, he didn’t know if it would be a success. The movie hadn’t been released yet,” explains Bob, 83.

So on that day some 50 years ago, with intrepid photographer Bob in tow, Hoffman went about his daily business. He signed up for unemployment insurance.

“The funniest thing is we went there in a studio limousine,” Bob says of Hoffman, whom he snapped leaning against a counter, sharing lighthearted banter with the clerk. “I thought that was hysterical.”

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Bob’s body of work is one heck of a read.

From 1959 to 1969, he was part of an elite cadre of LIFE photographers with access to some of the most powerful world leaders, bigger-thanlife athletes and mesmerizing movie stars and celebrities of the day.

There’s a reason The University of Texas Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, tasked with documenting historical treasures, offered to archive his entire photography collection. “The biggest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Bob says.

The Memorial home he shares with wife, Sandy, a former MD Anderson Cancer Center executive, holds a treasure-trove of iconic images – pictures of The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, the Kennedys, Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali), Warren Beatty and Richard Nixon, to name a few.

Rich stories come with each photo, some light-hearted and funny, others summoning the most somber of times.

His image of President John F. Kennedy’s casket, light streaming upon it in the Capitol Rotunda, defined a nation’s grief in the fall of 1963. In his quest to record the day’s emotion,

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S LIFE Iconic photographs lining the hallway of Bob Gomel’s Memorial home reflect a prolific life behind the camera. At right: Bob captured this 1969 photograph of President Dwight D. Eisenhower lying in state in the Capitol rotunda via a floor switch, rigged by zip-line to his camera 200 feet high in its dome.

the inventive photographer found the perfect vantage point for the shot, two stories up.

“I started walking around and saw this door open, and I went up this stairwell and ended up on this balcony looking down at the scene. Then this beam of light comes straight down and I took the picture. I credit it to divine intervention. It wasn’t 20 or 30 seconds later that the light was gone,” says Bob, who knew Kennedy personally from covering his run for the presidency.

He recalls the president-elect inviting him and another photographer inside to watch the Army-Navy game. They’d been stationed outside his Georgetown home, hoping to capture shots of newly appointed cabinet members.

Running on little sleep, Bob dozed off. “The other photographer shook me awake and said ‘Bob, Navy won. Kennedy has gone to bed. I think we should go outside now.’”

He took some good-natured ribbing over it from Kennedy when their paths crossed over the years.

“He’d point at me and smile, and I’d turn beet red.”

Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) was another favorite subject. But don’t confuse the person with the persona, Bob says. “I got to know him well. His carrying on was a clever way to build up attendance or interest in the fights, especially early on. He was not at all like the public persona that we were all exposed to.”

One of Bob’s favorite and most lucrative shots is of civil rights activist Malcolm X taking a picture of Cassius Clay the night he knocked out Sonny Liston to become heavyweight boxing champion.

Its current market value is $3,000 for a print.

But it’s another Ali picture that really tugs at his heart, one of Bob’s oldest son Corey as a tod-

dler, sitting on the champ’s lap. Years later, Corey, now a Houston attorney, took the print to an autograph signing at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Ali, infirm from Parkinson’s Disease, got up from the table and walked up and down the line of autograph-seekers, showing off the print.

Then he stared sternly at the picture, back up at Corey, down at the picture again and said, “You still ugly,” Bob recalls, laughing. He then graciously posed as Corey took a photo of daughter Madeleine on his lap.

“That was Ali. Very funny. A considerate guy.”

Stories behind the pictures amaze. Bob’s 1969 LIFE cover shot of Dwight D. Eisenhower lying in state was taken by foot-switch at ground level, zip-cord linked to his Nikon, suspended nearly 200 feet high in the Capitol rotunda dome. But it’s a simple black and white picture taken by his science teacher in the Bronx that tells the tale of how he first fell in love with the craft.

“I was in grade school. There was this picture on the wall. I can see it as clearly today as if it were right in front of me, a picture of a cobblestone street, the center of which had a manhole cover with a pigeon on it. I looked at that all term long and thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”

So he attended the teacher’s weekly photo club.

A job delivering groceries by bicycle paid for his first camera with controls, a Ciro-flex. His optometrist dad and teacher mom allowed him to convert a closet in their Bronx home into a darkroom.

“I spent the next four years in high school in the closet,” Bob quips. He learned photography by trial and error and read Popular Photography cover to cover. (continued on page 16)

Bob Gomel

THE FAB FOUR AND MORE The Beatles pose for Bob Gomel in Miami, relaxing during the height of Beatlemania. On next page: A young Dustin Hoffman, unaware of imminent stardom, files for unemployment benefits after completing the movie The Graduate. Bob’s son, Corey, has fun on champ Muhammad Ali’s lap. President John F. Kennedy is captured in stride at Cape Canaveral in 1962 where he spoke to NASA personnel before giving his famous speech at Rice University about going to the moon.

As a NYU journalism major, he joined the newspaper, covering school games at Madison Square Garden. The press corp in New York covered the games too. He befriended many of the photographers, tagging along on their night-shift assignments, soaking up tricks of the trade.

By 1955 his photography was largely on hold for a stint as a Navy pilot. But he still managed to snap pictures from time to time, winning an All-Service award for a photo of Japanese fishermen. He also had work published in Popular Photography. By 1958, his Navy stint up, his dream of becoming a professional photographer took on new vitality.

“It’s the first time I actually thought I could possibly make it a career.”

His last station with the Navy was in Port Isabel, Texas, 25 miles from the Mexico border.

Bob traded in his Ford convertible for an economical 80-octane, junk-gas Morris Minor and headed for Mexico to hone his craft. He shot pictures continuously for a year till money ran out then returned to New York City, ready to hit up the big magazines.

Ironically, it was a riveting series of photos chronicling his family’s own reaction to tragedy that got him a foothold at LIFE. His younger brother was in a car accident, the passenger killed. Bob was behind the lens, profiling his family through the worst, even taking

(continued from page 14)

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 16

pictures in the operating room when surgeons removed one of his brother’s lungs.

The spread ran as a Fourth of July cautionary tale about accidents and driving, he recalls.

Through the years, images of raw emotion have been his favorites. He points to a neatly framed photograph in his hallway, circa 1961, that of a little girl, tears welling as she anxiously awaits her father who has been away on the USS Triton, the first atomic submarine to circumnavigate the globe under water.

He refers to another, a gleeful pile-on scene of boys playing Little League ice hockey. “I needed a picture that made a statement about how much they loved the game, so I lined up the two teams opposite on the ice and put a $5 bill under a puck. I got up on a ladder and blew a whistle. They came charging.”

Especially memorable is a photo session of a relaxed John, Paul, George and Ringo at a private pool, away from swarming fans during the height of Beatlemania. The joy on their faces is palpable as they frolic in the pool and relax in lawn chairs. The photos weren’t published in the magazine, the editors picking different ones, but the images are displayed at Monroe Gallery in Santa Fe, where his work is represented.

“They were the whitest white boys I’ve ever seen when they took their shirts off,” Bob says of the Fab Four. “And nice and friendly. Their

stardom hadn’t affected them.”

As time wore on, the nation eventually looked to television over magazines for coverage. Bob moved on too, pursuing advertising work, helping to introduce Merrill Lynch’s Bullish on America campaign and photographing for Bulova, GTE, Audi and Renault.

Commercial photography led him to Houston in 1977. Campaigns for Shell, Houston Power and Light, Compaq and Exxon, among others, benefitted from his sharp eye.

In recent years, he and wife Sandy, boasting eight grandchildren and one great grandchild, have focused on traveling. Of course, always a camera in hand. They chart a course, hire a driver and “look for the places not yet invaded by McDonald’s or Coca-Cola,” he says. They hope to set off for a second trip to China and Mongolia early next year.

“The thing I love about Bob is he may be 83, but he’s open to new adventures always,” says his wife.

“And Sandy, by osmosis, has picked up a lot of the things I preach in photography,” responds Bob. “She took the picture of me on my Wikipedia page. It’s a really wonderful picture.

I know a good picture when I see it.”

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more of Bob Gomel’s photos.

Bob Gomel Bob Gomel

Bob Gomel

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 17

lawellphoto.com

FOOD

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Always a Party Making leftovers new

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t’s time to start prepping for the best leftovers of the year. And by that, we mean leftovers that, for some, trump what’s arguably the mostanticipated sit-down of the year: Thanksgiving.

But if those leftovers are so yummy, and if we’ve worked so hard to plan for and make and serve the original versions to our families and friends, what do we do with the containers full of turkey and dressing and cranberries – that no one really wants to look at after Friday’s stuffyourself-just-one-more-time leftover lunch?

Have a party, of course. That’s what Melanie Herz Promecene and Chris Promecene would say.

The pair – she director of interiors with Morris Architects and he owner of Promecene Design, a design and marketing company – are consummate entertainers, always welcoming a throng to their party-perfect Meyerland home (and bar).

“When we have a lot of family and friends in town and want to get everyone together, the party just spontaneously happens,” Melanie says.

“We want to continue the fun and entertaining!”

The Thanksgiving weekend is pretty packed for the Promecenes: “We usually do both families Wednesday night for Mexican, then Thursday we do half a day, with the first Thanksgiving with [my family] and the second with Chris’ family. Friday we do dinner at my mom’s.” On the last day of debauchery, Melanie and Chris host “anyone who’s around and wants to get rid of stuff.”

It’s all very informal, with no planned guest list. “We’ll text people, or if we’re together we’ll tell them,” Melanie says. “It’s super casual. I’m pretty sure it started because our crazy family was in town and they wanted to make sure they could see all their friends, so I just said, ‘Have everyone come over and bring their leftovers.’

“There’s so much planning during the week that Saturday comes and we don’t want plans.

Well, we still end up having plans, but at least it’s on home turf. No stress. It’s not a party; it’s, ‘Come on over!’”

While there’s not much planning to be done, Melanie and Chris divide what needs to happen.

“I am more ‘let’s get the house orderly,’ and Chris enables the food scene,” Melanie says.

“We’ll have the oven on so you can reheat BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 18

PARTY ON Chris, Melanie and Noah Promecene keep Thanksgiving going all weekend with a leftovers party on Saturday night.

something if you need to,” Chris says. “And we’ll have plates and silverware, all disposable, and some interesting bread on hand if someone wants to make an upgraded turkey sandwich.

We’ll also put out a lot of different condiments: mayonnaise, sauces, typical Thanksgiving stuff.

If you’ve got leftover ham you can put out chow chow [a tangier cousin of pickle relish made from a mix of pickled veggies; Melanie and Chris favor Crosse & Blackwell Chow Chow Relish], and that’s really good.”

“We always have big chunks of cheese,” Melanie says. “That’s our staple if we ever have people over.”

“Yeah,” Chris says, “we’ll have stuff to graze on and just supplement whatever people bring.

You don’t want to put too much new food out.”

“Because you want to get rid of your old stuff,” Melanie says.

“We do have lots to drink,” Chris says. “Oh yes,” Melanie agrees. “Heavy on the drinks.”

Chris says, “We’ll have people bring over leftover bottles of wine,” but, Melanie says, “Our bar is always full.”

“We’ll have some kind of cranberry fizz,” Chris says. “Because my philosophy is bubbly from Thanksgiving through New Year,” Melanie says.

When friends arrive, they’ll be offered a holiday-themed cocktail and will walk into a brightly lit house filled with music. “We like Sinatra. Maybe some old-school mixed with something new,” Melanie says. “But also, after Thanksgiving it’s holiday music in our house.”

“Mel is the music person,” Chris says. “I do ambiance; Chris does food,” Melanie says. They also suggest asking one of the kids to create a Thanksgiving playlist.

“We encourage people to bring their desserts, and maybe you make some Thanksgiving desserts,” Chris says.

“Everyone has all the pies,” Melanie says.

“So it’s nice to do something a little different,” Chris says.

“Like fruit,” Melanie says.

“No,” Chris says, “No one likes fruit for dessert.”

“Okay, chocolate,” Melanie says.

With all the debate and the back-and-forth, the food, the drinks and the music are secondary to Melanie and Chris. “The holidays can be a stressful time for people,” Melanie says. “This is about trying to savor the happy moments and not go too fast. Life is fleeting. You’ve gotta enjoy what you have while everyone’s together.”

lawellphoto.com lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

LEFTOVERS, ELEVATED At left: For a new take on the old, add fruit and cookies to traditional Thanksgiving dessert leftovers. At right: Stay in theme by offering one or two cocktails made with ingredients evoking fall. At bottom: There's nothing mundane about leftovers when you add a few things to graze on, along with creative condiments for turkey sandwiches.

Melanie and Chris’ Favorite Weekend-After Recipes “Leftover turkey or ham sandwiches are about two things – the bread and the spread,” Chris says. “Find some great, fresh bread options at Central Market. For spreads we put out Crosse & Blackwell Chow Chow for a killer ham sandwich, spicy chipotle-cranberry mayo and, for purists, straight-up Duke’s Mayonnaise.”

Apple Champagne Sangria 2 freshly sliced pears 2 apples (sliced and cored) 20 whole cloves 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3 oz. Damiana liqueur (herbal liqueur with citrus and vanilla flavors) 1 bottle chilled dry white wine 1 bottle chilled champagne (modestly good champagne will do) In a large pitcher, add the pears, apples, cloves and nutmeg. Add the Damiana liqueur and stir.

Add the wine and stir gently. Refrigerate overnight.

When ready to serve, pour in champagne.

Serve in an ice-filled wineglass.

Spicy Cranberry-Chipotle Aioli 1 cup mayonnaise (make your own or Duke’s) 2 Tablespoons finely chopped chives 2 minced garlic cloves 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 2 minced large chipotles in adobo sauce (canned) Salt and pepper 1 ⁄3 cup prepared cranberry sauce Whisk mayonnaise with chives, garlic, lime juice and chipotles. Season with salt and pepper.

Fold in cranberry sauce. Chill until ready to serve.

Cranberry Shortbread from Bon Appetit magazine 1 cup flour ¾ cup sugar, divided ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes 1 10-oz. bag fresh cranberries ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice 1 teaspoon grated grapefruit zest Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8x8x2-inch pan

with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two opposite sides. Whisk flour, ¼ cup sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Transfer to prepared pan; press evenly onto bottom of pan (using the bottom of a flat measuring cup works well). Prick dough all over with a fork.

Bake shortbread until cooked through and pale golden, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

Let cool completely in pan. (Shortbread can be made three days ahead. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)

Bring remaining ½ cup sugar, 1½ cups cranberries and grapefruit juice to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and mixture is syrupy, about 8 minutes. Stir in remaining cranberries and cook until skins begin to split, about 3 minutes. Let cool. (Cranberry topping can be made three days ahead. Cover and chill.)

Spread cooled cranberry topping over shortbread. Scatter grapefruit zest over. Using paper overhang, lift shortbread from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut shortbread into squares or rectangles.

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 19

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Second-guessing the agent If you are lucky, family or friends will use your power of attorney to help you shuffle off this mortal coil with the care and dignity you deserve.

That means spending money. Your agent should expect criticism.

Texas’ Durable Power of Attorney Act requires the agent to keep records of each action taken or decision made, and to act in good faith, respect their limits, and be loyal to you. Agents are liable for violations of the Act, and can be criminally prosecuted.

If all an agent does is sign for skilled nursing while you rehabilitate after hip replacement, not much is needed. A copy of the hospital’s discharge instructions and a rehab admission agreement probably suffice. If you recover and resume management of your own business, no one will ask for that much.

If you never quite recover, and your agent manages everything, the agent may need to keep all contracts, property and insurance records, tax returns, statements, and cancelled checks that accumulate on his or her watch.

Good records aren’t enough. Consider the last-minute estate plan. You know you needed a will, but you wait until you are referred to hospice. You make a will, but you can’t get out and you’re tired, so you ask your agent to update your life insurance and IRA beneficiaries. That’s a lot, often too much, to ask. The paperwork is hard enough, but the risk is practically unmanageable.

All transactions between an agent and his or her principal are presumed fraudulent, and the burden is on the agent to prove each is fair and reasonable. Full disclosure, adequate consideration, and independent advice are important factors.

Does full disclosure mean your agent tells you which beneficiaries are

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Eric Campbell

713.349.7236

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 20

epcsold@aol.com

being replaced? You may not care, but they will. Can you remember the original beneficiaries? If you are wrong, is that the agent’s problem? Does the agent need the original designation paperwork? If the agent is a new beneficiary, that sounds like a gift, which means no consideration.

Independent advice may mean having an attorney or CPA explain the changes (who knew income taxes went up with the wrong beneficiary?).

Perfect records aren’t always enough, either. An agent cannot add themselves to a retirement plan if they weren’t named a beneficiary before the power of attorney was signed.

Help your agent by completing some tasks now, such as estate planning, which will attract particular scrutiny if done later by the agent.

We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 21

Holly Everett

KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Adoption

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother.

A

s Katherine Garcia walked into the acupuncture clinic, she checked her watch. She was on her lunch break from her title-company job and needed to make this session a quick one. Katherine and her husband, Mike, were trying to have a child. Acupuncture was just one of many methods people had recommended.

“We did IVF,” said Katherine. “We did it with the ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) where you pay $2,000 more [which helps the chances]. I did no gluten, no dairy for a year, no sugar. We did herbs. We did everything.

Nothing worked.”

As time ticked by and the pregnancy tests kept coming up negative, Katherine began to consider adoption. She had only one problem. Her husband. “[Mike’s] mindset was that if a pregnancy was meant to happen, it would,” said Katherine.

One night, Mike, a customer-relationship manager, stayed up late and watched a television show about an adopted boy. The next morning, he told Katherine that he had had a change of heart.

“My prayers had been answered,” said Katherine. After looking into about 10 local agencies, they attended an orientation at DePelchin Children’s Center. “I drove by the building every morning on my way to work,” said Katherine. “I always wondered about it.”

At DePelchin, all of the adoptions are domestic adoptions, and every child available for adoption is in CPS (Child Protective Services) custody, says spokeswoman Analisa Warren. In the classroom, the instructor discussed adoption and also becoming a foster parent. The Garcias leaned into listen. They knew nothing about fostering. They took notes on their legal pads.

After a home study and training, the Garcias welcomed a baby boy of six months to their home. He had lived with another foster mother from the day he was born. The Garcias fostered him with the hopes of formally adopting him once the court’s lengthy legal process concluded.

They named him Gunner.

“Gunner came ‘legally free’ to our home,” said Katherine, “meaning his [birth] parents’ rights BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 22

were already terminated.”

After about six months, when Gunner was 1, Mike and Katherine were finally able to formally adopt him.

Now, he is 7 years old.

Their second foster child, Jag (now 2) arrived under different circumstances. “Jag did not come legally free,” said HAPPILY EVER AFTER Renee and Ryan Clary adopted their now-1-year-son Charlie Katherine. “He when he was born. was legal risk. hospital to hold their newborn son. “I remember They told us right away, ‘He might go back.’ his big cheeks,” said Renee. They took pictures The father was fighting for Jag.” and made phone calls to loved ones, but after The judge required Jag’s birth father to follow meeting him, they had to wait. “The most difficourt orders such as successfully passing a home cult part was waiting 48 hours after his birth for study, drug testing and counseling. The Garcias TPR (termination of parental rights),” said could do nothing but wait and love on the newborn.

Renee. “We had fallen in love with him, but “We had him for [almost a year and a half]”, knew the birth parents had 48 hours to change said Katherine. “We were praying we would be their minds and parent him. He was still their able to adopt him. Then, on my actual birthday baby, but we had fallen in love.”

[Dec. 4], I got a call that the dad had relinThe couple had a hard time processing what quished his rights.” Jag became Jag Garcia and Charlie’s biological parents’ were going through. was formally adopted on July 27 this year.

“We had a feeling of sadness for his birth parAnother Buzz couple, Renee and Ryan Clary, ents,” said Renee. “A couple that were strangers also struggled with infertility and say they felt to us had just trusted the life of their precious called by God to adopt. After multiple failed child to us. Their greatest pain and sacrifice was attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF), the couour greatest joy. It is hard to wrap your head ple decided to get on a waiting list for a baby. around that when you are on the receiving end.”

They contacted an agency, AIM (Alternatives The birth parents did not change their minds in Motion), to start the process. and, several days later, Charlie came home with After an application process and paperwork, the Clarys. A few months later, his formal adopthey were approved for a home study. The tion took place. agency conducted the study. Months later, on a mundane Monday evening, while Renee sat at home, her agency’s phone number popped on For more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com for the screen. On the other end of the line, the writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s column, “Mommy words she heard were, “Your son was born an Moments.” If you have stories to share, leave a comhour ago, and he is waiting to meet you.” ment online or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Renee and Ryan rushed to the north Houston

MORE ONLINE

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 23

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz All aboard: travel by train

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ood morning, America, how are you?/Say, don’t you know me? I’m your native son/I’m the train they call the City Of New Orleans/I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. – Steve Goodman, City of New Orleans There are few subjects that provoke more nostalgia in the American psyche than trains. From the opening of the B&O Railroad in 1830, to the luxury cars of the Pullman Palace Car Company in the 1860s, to the opening of the West and all it entailed, our railroad history is peopled with heroes like the legendary steel driver John Henry who broke his heart racing the steam drill, and “Casey” Jones, the courageous engineer who gave his life to save his passengers.

Train travel is still an excellent option for those looking for different landscapes and different ways of moving through them. Three readers shared some splendid railway adventures with us recently and confirmed that, while the golden era of trains in the Unites States may have come and gone, that doesn’t mean we don’t still love them.

The Bloomer family decided on a deep immersion, taking the California Zephyr from its starting point in Chicago to its terminus in San Francisco. The Vines and Lu families spent an unforgettable half-day on a train through the Alaska wilderness. And Rodney Kapp found his way home from Tucson, where he dropped off his daughter and her car at the start of the school year, via an Amtrak route.

Westward Ho! Normally Dawn plans the travel in the Bloomer family. This time, it was husband Kevin. He read an article about the best American train trips and the idea began to grow.

“This was the one trip where he said, ‘This is what I want to do,’” said Dawn. “This was not him along for the ride.”

After some research, they settled on the toprated California Zephyr – a dramatic three-day, 2,348-mile journey that traverses the route many settlers took west. They would be looking down on the Mile-High City, plowing through the Rockies along the Colorado River, crossing the Sierra Nevada through Donner Pass, riding alongside grazing antelope and flying eagles, BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 24

EXCURSION EXPRESS One should always take time on a train trip for a three-minute romp in fresh-fallen snow in Winter Park. From left: Dawn Bloomer, Martha Pope and William Fowler.

passing through grand canyons that displayed the many-colored layers of geologic history, all from the comfort of their own private suite.

Dawn contacted a family friend, Martha Pope, who flew in from Washington, D.C. to join them, and so, with their 12-year-old son William, they were four. They booked two connecting rooms, with sofas that fold out into beds and wall-sized windows, for one week in March.

They flew into Chicago the night before for the 2 p.m. departure. By the time they got settled, it was time to head to the dining car. Meals were an experience in themselves, dining on first-rate cuisine alongside the wide panoramas unfolding around them.

“You get to see parts of the country at ground level you couldn’t see any other way… as pristine as they were hundreds of years ago,” said Dawn. “The scenery is truly spectacular; the pictures don’t do it justice.”

One of the highlights was fresh snow in Winter Park that had just fallen as they rolled into the station. They had just enough time to step out and grab a few handfuls of the clean white powder and snap a photo and then they

were off, watching the white-blanketed trees and mountains roll by.

“They would stop literally for 5 minutes; it was enough to get some fresh air, but you would never leave the area of the train,” said Dawn.

“There’s two horn blasts and you have about 30 seconds to get on board.”

They brought their iPads and pre-loaded them with movies and reading material, since the train does not have wifi – actually an advantage, Dawn said, since it gave them some time to unplug.

“We brought books, we brought games – but all you really want to do is look out the window and watch the world go by.”

The view from their suite was excellent, but the observation room upstairs was even better, with a domed glass roof and a 360-degree view of the stunning landscapes that were unfolding before them.

“It’s transfixing being in that car and looking out the window,” said Dawn.

Sleeping was the only part that was less than excellent, Dawn reported. The temperature control didn’t work and the (continued on page 26)

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 25

(continued from page 24) top bunk was uncomfort-

ably warm, prompting her to climb down and join her husband in his tiny bunk – but there really wasn’t room.

“It was miserable night’s sleep,” she confessed.

“These are not enjoyable quarters…. But you’re not there for a luxurious sleep, you’re there for the adventure and the scenery, and those things were all very, very good. Even though we didn’t get a good night’s sleep, we would do it again, for sure.”

Alaska by rail A half-day train ride was one of the highlights in a two-week trip to Alaska for Bee Vines, husband John and their three sons, Logan, Atticus and Paden. The Vines teamed up with their friends, Lily Chen and Shi-tze Lu, and their two children, Meghan and Cameron.

“If you read all the reviews, the train ride is a must do – it’s so beautiful, the view is just amazing,” said Bee. A friend had been talking to them about the melting of the glaciers due to global warming – “When you go, they say, ‘This is where the gla-

Train-travel rates Rates for train travel vary, but here are some examples, based on the trips we wrote about here: Amtrak’s Sunset Limited Route (New Orleans-San Antonio-Los Angeles) – Rodney took the Tucson to Houston trip: $127 for a seat in coach, $309 for a two-bed Superliner Roomette, $491 for a four-bed Family Bedroom, $747 for a two-bed Superliner Bedroom that includes a private toilet and shower, a sofa and chair. All meals are included with the sleeper room options. Coach seats are reclining, and food can be purchased separately.

Amtrak’s California Zephyr Route (Chicago-San Francisco): Coach seats start at $134. Superliner roomettes, $587; Family Bedroom, $1,488; Superliner Bedroom, $1796. You can also get a Superliner Bedroom Suite, which is what the Bloomers did: two Superliner Bedrooms that connect. By leaving in the middle of the week, they were able to get the second room practically free; various discounts and deals are available on the Amtrak site. See www.amtrak.com for routes and rates, special deals, planning maps, and even a virtual tour of the train.

Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic (Anchorage-Girdwood-Seward) route starts at $151 for “Adventure Class” tickets. The Vines and Lu families chose the Gold Star Service for $315. www.alaskarailroad.com

LUXURY ON THE RAILS This train trip included a delicious lunch with excellent company and views of the Alaskan wilderness. From left: Bee Vines, John Vines, Lily Chen and Shi-Tze Lu.

cier was 100 years ago, and now it’s here.’ It just keeps getting shorter and shorter – and we wanted to get there before it’s too late.”

They flew to Anchorage, where they rented a car and spent a few days in Denali National Park, then caught the Coastal Classic Railroad to Seward.

They had to be at the train station before 6 a.m. to check in for the 6:45 departure. “It’s like an airplane; they check in your luggage first, and then you wait for them to call you,” said Bee. “Then they say, ‘All aboard!’ and you see the captain and the conductor with his uniform.

Everyone is excited – it was just like in a movie.”

Upon leaving Anchorage, the train winds along Turnagain Arm, where the soaring Chugach Mountains meet the sea. The train stops in the town of Girdwood before turning off into the wilderness, far from roads and civilization.

The double-decker train with its cushy seats, glass walls and glass dome made for a splendid ride. Glaciers, mountains, rivers and lakes, wildlife – they all rolled by within easy camera range. They saw bald eagles and a family of mountain goats, a mother and her babies. And for even better photos, one could wander out to the caboose, with its open-air access to all that surrounded them.

“When the captain saw something he would slow down and tell you, ‘Look to your left,’ or ‘Look to your right,’ and they’d tell you what glacier is on your right, what lake was on your left.”

A bartender was there to prepare mixed drinks, wine, beer, or soft drinks for the kids.

And at lunchtime all were invited to come downstairs to the dining car — Bee chose the salmon, and pronounced it excellent.

“It’s a great experience. Because in Alaska there are a lot of places you have to take a train to enjoy the view. It’s almost like there is no other option.”

Homeward bound Rodney Kapp’s daughter Holly was off to col-

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 26

lege in Tucson, Ariz., and they’d gotten her a car in Houston. Rodney didn’t want her to drive the distance alone, so he accompanied her.

“It was hard to get a feel for when I could fly back home, and once we figured it out the airfares were astronomical,” said Rodney. Holly would have had to drive him to the airport in Phoenix and it would have cost more than $500.

Meanwhile, there was a lovely train station in Tucson right nearby.

“It was something I kind of wanted to do,” he said. He’d never been on a train before. He got a sleeper car for the 25-hour ride.

“I was by myself so there were some lonely times, but I actually enjoyed it,” he said. “You go through a lot of small towns, and it’s pretty clear that those towns at one point were probably more vibrant than they are now. And I’m thinking it’s because people don’t travel by train anymore. It’s kind of sad to see how some of the cities look like they’re almost ghost towns.”

The food was “pretty good,” he said. “I was pleased.” The thing that was memorable about dinner was the assigned seating.

“The first meal I ate was lunch. He said, ‘OK, take a seat right there.’ I said (to myself), ‘There are two people sitting there — who are they?’”

“Not a word was said between the four of us.

At dinner it was much different. They sat me with two other guys, and the three of us just talked the whole time.”

Rodney’s experience with the sleeping car, unlike that of the Bloomers, was comfortable; his only complaint was the whistle, which sounded every time they approached a town.

“It’s a really pretty drive when you get to West Texas and on to Arizona; there’s a lot of neat places, a lot of beautiful scenery.”

MORE ONLINE To get you started dreaming, see this story online for links to Top 10 North American Train Trips from National Geographic Travel. Or, why limit yourself?

World’s 15 Most Scenic Train Rides, from Fodor’s.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 27

by Ann Agnew Woods, contributing writer

The Junior League of Houston

FOOD

Cooking Buzz Friendsgiving menu Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.

T

raditionally, Thanksgiving is that special day of the year when you and your family members gather around the table to catch up, reminisce about past holidays and somehow end up eating too much. Then Friendsgiving came along.

The premise of Friendsgiving is basically the same as Thanksgiving, except it is spent with your friends instead of family. Friendsgiving is a wonderful tradition that you can start with old or new friends.

I’ve been to numerous Friendsgivings and always bring the same item, Balsamic Glazed Carrots from Peace Meals. I love mixing up the meal with something a little lighter like a simple vegetable. Now don’t get me wrong, I still look forward to the dressing, mashed potatoes and those delicious dinner rolls, but it’s a good change of pace to eat something relatively healthy. They’re also super easy to make. My husband and I like our vegetables cooked thoroughly, so I wait a few more minutes before reducing the heat at the end of the instructions in the recipe.

As the host, the turkey and gravy are your responsibility. Proper delegation of what everyone else should bring is essential too. You don’t want three different green bean casseroles at your Friendsgiving. I also think it’s fun to have table tents by each dish, asking each cook to write the name and a quick description of the recipe.

If you’re in charge of one of the classic sides like sweet potatoes, you should try Smoked Gouda Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Peace Meals to add a twist on a traditional item. This new way to enjoy sweet potatoes can be a colorful alternative to regular mashed potatoes. I do like to add a little extra cayenne pepper in the recipe to make for a spicier flavor. Luckily my friends like spicy foods!

To round out the evening, Friendsgiving should close with a delectable dessert. A go-to of mine is the Soft Ginger Cookies from Peace Meals. They’ve always been a crowd pleaser with BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 28

friends since they bring the flavor of gingersnaps in a soft, chewy cookie.

The recipe makes enough (30 cookies) that people can easily grab more than just one.

I like to send my friends home with a cookie or two wrapped in a simple craft bag with a note that I’m thankful for friends like them. I’m THANKFUL FOR VEGGIES Balsamic Glazed Carrots offer a little lighter alteroften too stuffed to eat native than the traditional Thanksgiving – or Friendsgiving – fare. dessert immediately melts. Mix thoroughly to mash potatoes. Top after Friendsgiving, but the cookies make a perwith bacon and onions just before serving. fect midnight snack or even breakfast the next Serves 6. morning.

If cooking is not your (or your friends’) Balsamic Glazed Carrots expertise, The Pantry at the Junior League of From Peace Meals Houston offers a holiday meal with everything 2 Tablespoons olive oil included. It comes with a turkey, all the neces2 Tablespoons unsalted butter sary sides and two pies (one pumpkin, one 1 pound fresh baby carrots, peeled pecan), or order any item à la carte.

2 large shallots, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup) Smoked Gouda Mashed Sweet 3 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar Potatoes 1½ Tablespoons light brown sugar From Peace Meals ½ teaspoon coarse salt 4 Tablespoons butter ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream, divided 2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley ½ teaspoon coarse salt Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet 1 teaspoon sugar 1 over medium-high. Sauté the carrots, shallots, ⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper and bell pepper until the carrots are tender and 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into slightly browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in ¼-inch slices the vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper. ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese liquid is reduced and the vegetables begin to 6 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled glaze. Remove from heat, garnish with the pars2 green onions, chopped ley and serve immediately. Serves 4-6.

Heat the butter, 2 tablespoons of the cream, the salt, sugar, cayenne and sweet potatoes in a To buy a Houston Junior League cookbook or for large sauté pan over medium-low. Once the butmore information on Thanksgiving orders, see ter has melted, stir to coat the potatoes. Reduce jlh.org or call 713-871-6608. the heat to low, cover and cook until the potatoes are very tender, about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add For the Soft Ginger Cookies recipe from Peace the cheese and the remaining tablespoon of Meals, see thebuzzmagazines.com. cream; cover for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese

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DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

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rinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures. – Michael Broadbent.

In the kitchen, chef Andrew Steiner is poaching burgers with herbed butter after searing them. It’s his little secret for moist burgers.

The bison sliders will be paired with a storied Napa Valley estate cabernet sauvignon.

Back in 2010, Wine Spectator awarded 97 points to Revana’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.

It was No. 4 out of the magazine’s top 100 wines.

The bold red typically is paired with elegant fare.

“But Mr. Williams wanted burgers,” Andrew said, referring to Jay Williams, who is hosting the dinner for members of his wine club.

“There are no rules anymore,” the chef noted.

“With wines these days, you have to go with your gut feeling.”

The group of nine guys doesn’t have an official name. Members fondly refer to it as Jay’s Wine Club. Jay conceived the idea three years ago. “I asked one of the smartest guys I know how he got to be so knowledgeable about wines,” recalled the real-estate developer and mayor of the City of Bunker Hill Village. “He said that he and about four or five friends would get together every month to taste wines, and that was how they learned about wines. I thought, ‘What a good way to do this,’ so I started calling my friends.”

Members, along with their guests, meet every other month to learn about wines. The venue varies widely, from a kitchen table to a fancy restaurant. Sometimes, they sample wines with just hors d’oeuvres, and on more than one occasion, pizzas. Tonight is different. Chef Andrew has prepared a five-course dinner. Even so, dress remains casual. Jeans are encouraged along with lighthearted bantering.

Vintner Madaiah Revana will be there to discuss his wines, along with Revana Wines president John Gabelhausen. To start, light appetizers of smoked trout and beef carpaccio will be paired with a crisp Riesling from Alexana, an Oregon vineyard Revana purchased nearly a decade after he planted grapes on a 10-acre virgin plot in the Napa Valley. His California BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 30

Jay’s Wine Club

estate on the edge of the idyllic town of St. Helena remains the crown jewel of his three vineyards, which now includes the 20-acre Corazon Del Sol in Argentina.

Revana’s story echoes the American Dream: a humble farm boy from a tiny Indian village near Bangalore who immigrated to New York to train in internal medicine in the mid-’70s. He never raised a wine glass until age 27. It was in Dallas, and it was love at first sip. Decades later, after establishing himself as one of Houston’s premier cardiologists, the father of two returned to his farming roots and planted grapes.

“Three vineyards. That is impressive. Have you turned a profit yet, Dr. Revana?” a wine club member asked.

“No, not yet,” replied Revana with a chuckle.

“But I love the vineyards and the settings. The whole process of grapes to wines resonates with me. I do this because wine is my passion. Not only does it bring people together, but as a cardiologist, I consider, too, the health benefits of drinking a glass or two a day. “ The wines started to pour. Revana makes about 26 different wines, and Chef Andrew has kicked off the meal with honey-roasted duck salad. The tart cherries in the vinaigrette echo the berries in the three Alexana Winery pinot noirs. Next, he pairs braised wine-marinated pork belly with the Argentinean wines. At his Kat’s Barbecue joint 45 minutes southeast of Houston in Santa Fe, pork is the star of his menu.

“I have a question for everyone tonight,” Jay announced. “What is the last glass of wine you would go out with?”

“Kosta Browne Sonoma Pinot Noir 2012,” said attorney Ned Barnett without missing a beat.

“Can I have two instead of just one?” asked Revana’s president John Gabelhausen. “The 1990 Coche-Dury Meursault Les Genevrières and the 1947 Château Haut-Brion. It’s spectacular, and did you know it was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite wine? There is just this purity and innocence to the wine. So balanced and gracious.”

“The 1990 Château Lynch-Bages,” said David Peterman. “I bought a case of that. I’ve been drinking the same case ever since. Some years, it’s not so good. And right now, it is so

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This Month in Dining

WINE'S UP Jay Williams started a club where members meet regularly to learn about – and sample – wines.

spectacular. Funny how that works.”

“My choice? The Biondi-Santi, a Brunello.

No doubt I would go out with that,” Jay says. “My wife and I spent our first anniversary in Italy, and we visited the winery, so there is good memory there.... You know with wine, it’s not necessary the best wine you choose to go out with. It could be just because of a great memory.”

Along with the bison burgers, the evening ended with Matt Shaffer, who, fellow members said, has the keenest palate. “I can’t remember the names of wine,” the attorney said. “So the best bottle I have had is the last bottle I had.”

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BRING FORTH THE STEMWARE Friends in “Jay’s Wine Club” are (from left) Matt Shaffer, Eddie Patterson, David Peterman, Ben Veazey, Jay Williams, guest Dr. Madaiah Revana, Tadd Tellepsen, Walter O’Donnell, Brady Crosswell, Revana Wines president John Gabelhausen and Ned Barnett.

Julie Soefer Photography

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Chris Shepherd

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ind out where the experts eat, with our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews chef Chris Shepherd.

On a September evening, James Beard Award winner Chris Shepherd was surrounded by celebrities – many of whom he didn’t recognize – at Jimmy Kimmel’s Emmy after-party.

“I don’t watch TV,” the 44-year-old Underbelly chef said sheepishly. “I did recognize Matt Damon. He sat at my table.” Along with Christian Slater, Jimmy Fallon and others devoured his Korean braised goat dumplings paired with Bulleit Bourbon.

Shepherd may not have stars in his mischievous eyes, but those baby blues twinkle when it comes to talking about travel and food. Since opening Underbelly in 2012, he has amassed a following with his fresh Gulf seafood and wholeanimal butchery. Now, he’s scripting a new, ambitious project: One Fifth.

Every year, for the next five years, One Fifth will transform itself into a different dining concept. One Fifth Steak will be the first to debut, in January at the historic Westheimer location that formerly housed Mark’s American Cuisine and, even further back to the late 1920s, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

One Fifth Romance Languages and, then, One Fifth Fish will follow. One Fifth Romance Languages will be Shepherd’s homage to the foods and wines of France, Spain and Italy. Plans for concept No. 4 and 5 are still being finalized and will be announced later. Along for the ride are partners in crime Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus and Anvil Bar & Refuge and Hay Merchant alumni Kevin Floyd and Steve Flippo.

Meanwhile, Shepherd will keep a sharp eye on his open kitchen at Underbelly and do some globetrotting.

Last year, you traveled to Vietnam. You came back with a bagful of ingredients and recipes, including Hanoi’s Cha Ca grouper, a certified vermicelli noodle hit with Houstonians. Where are you heading to next?

I want to go to Spain. I’ve been once, but now, I want to explore the countryside and Barcelona.

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 32

I hope you bring back an amazing seafood paella recipe.

Have you come across a version you like?

I actually made paella at home a month ago.

Traditional paella pans are great. But you know what I found out? I like making paella in a cast iron pan. It’s something I learned from Ryan Pera (of Coltivare). It turned out just perfect. I got the best crust. That crispy bottom, the CHRIS SHEPHERD Next year, James Beard winner Chris Shepherd plans to open One Fifth in the Montrose space formerly occupied by Mark’s American socarrat, is everything Cuisine. One Fifth will feature a different restaurant concept each year over the you want in a paella. course of five years.

Have you eaten at for Cantonese seafood. They make the best any interesting, unique places recently? Either shrimp with scrambled eggs. I also get the in Houston or elsewhere around the country? tamarind crab and the clams with jalapeños.

The Saltie Girl Seafood Bar in Boston. That As for Indian, London Sizzler (6690 was really interesting. It serves tinned foods from Southwest Freeway). I usually order a few items Spain – cans of anchovies, squid in spiced and then the kitchen brings out the rest, whatragout, baby eels, octopus, tuna, mackerel in ever the chef decides. Have you tried their goat olive oil. It has only 28 seats. It was $19-35 a biryani? Man, it’s awesome. pop. Those tin cans were not cheap. It was the What about places near Underbelly? three of us, and lunch was $300. It was fun.

Mala Sichuan Bistro (1201 Westheimer You’re a big fan of Chinatown and Little Road) across the street. It’s easy. As for the best India on Hillcroft. Do you still go exploring Vietnamese sandwiches, Cali Sandwiches (3030 when you find the time?

Travis). She does a great job. Her rice and nooNo, not so much. But when we go, it’s to the dle dishes are good, too. same places over and over. I have people come Any new places worth trying these days? through Houston, and when they ask for I like Southern Goods (632 W 19th Street) Vietnamese, I take them to Saigon Pagolac in the Heights a lot. I’ve been to State of Grace (9600 Bellaire) in Dynasty Plaza.

(3258 Westheimer Road) a couple of times. It I order the same things every time, starting was good. Coltivare (3320 White Oak Drive) with the salted plum drink. It’s like Gatorade isn’t new. But man, it’s still good. If I want someripped off from the Vietnamese. Friends always thing really fancy, I do dinner at The Pass (807 say the same thing when they try it for the first Taft). But you know where else is great? Cafe time, “Hey, this is like Gatorade!” Then we dive Annie (1800 Post Oak Boulevard). I had never into the banh xeo, crispy Vietnamese crepe been before, and it was so fantastic. stuffed with bean sprouts, shrimp and pork. We What’s next for you? also get the bo luc lac beef and the whole catfish I’m writing a book. It’ll take about two – roasted with this amazing crispy skin. years. Meanwhile, I’ll be getting ready for the When I want Chinese, I go to Harbor Super Bowl.

Seafood Restaurant Hai Cang (11768 Bellaire)

Create a buzz for your biz.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 33

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz W

ith a young and deeply talented lineup, the St. Pius X Panthers could be flashing back to the glory days of St. Pius football.

“They’ve bought into each other, our coaching staff, and really our school and its legacy,” said Panthers athletic director Jason Kimble.

“We have 12 state championships in our rich history, and the core of this group may have a shot at bringing us our first title since 2007.”

The Panthers are led by 6-5 sophomore quarterback sensation Grant Gunnel, who guided the offense to an average of 53 points a game through a 6-0 start. “From his leadership to his physical abilities, Grant has all the attributes you’d want in a quarterback,” said Kimble.

“Dating back to Gary Kubiak, to two-time state champion Billy Noonan and more recently Kohl Stewart, Grant has continued the legacy of great quarterbacks at our school.”

Adding to the Panthers’ firepower is the receiving duo of juniors Jacob Jefferson and Bryce Jackson. “That’s a dynamic one-two punch,” said Kimble. Senior guard R.J. Clayborn heads up a powerful offensive line while sophomore running back Justin Hull has emerged into an offensive weapon.

The Panthers’ defensive front is led by senior Bracy Webb, who’ll play collegiately at the Air Force Academy. In addition, defensive backs Joshua Murray and Perry Carter Jr. have committed to Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Monroe, respectively. Middle linebacker McKamri Bowie, defensive end Jacob Craig and defensive tackle Tyler Vrabel are among the other big defensive contributors, said Kimble.

After advancing to the state finals last season, the Saint Thomas’ Episcopal volleyball team is on track for another successful season. “I definitely think we can make another deep playoff

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 34

run even though we’ve moved up from TAPPS 3A to TAPPS 4A this season,” said STE head coach Kayle SOARING SAINTS Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School setter Kathleen Johnson (far court) reaches great heights to score a point for her team. The STE Saints are ranked Ray. The move up among the top TAPPS 4A volleyball teams in the state. certainly hadn’t hockey team has established itself as a statewide fazed the Saints well into the district season, powerhouse. This season, the Mavericks opened with STE winning its first 10 district games of with 10 consecutive victories, and looked the season. primed and ready to bring home another SPC “We played in some of the region’s best pubchampionship. “We’re an extremely athletic lic-school tournaments, including Pearland and team,” said St. John’s girls field hockey head Spring Branch ISD, which has prepared us for coach Craig Chambers. “It’s a talented lineup, district and beyond,” said Ray. “We also beat with many of the girls set to play field hockey some big public schools such as Mayde Creek, and even other sports at the collegiate level.”

Texas City and Fort Bend Elkins. I’m a firm In fact, seniors Reese Vogel, Emily Pedric believer in a tough pre-season schedule.” and Sarah Grace Ritter will play college field STE is well prepared, thanks in big part to the hockey, while fellow seniors and twins Kate and return of four key starters from last season’s state Carson Copeland will play lacrosse at the next finalists, including 6-1 middle blocker Gia level, and another senior, Grace Wilson, is Petties. Petties was the district’s top player the being recruited for golf. last two seasons and has committed to play colIn addition, junior Audry Ledbetter has verlegiately at West Texas A&M. “I’m really proud bally committed to play field hockey, while felof Gia,” said Ray. “She’s just an awesome kid all low junior Isabel Windham is already being the way round.” recruited a number of colleges. “From top to botIn addition, Ray credited the outstanding play tom, we just have a really deep and balanced rosof sophomore setter Kathleen Johnson, senior ter,” said Chambers. “Of the 20 players on our setter Rachel Nolte and senior outside hitter team, 14 of them play club field hockey. We’re Jordan Allen. “Kathleen is an incredible athlete fortunate to have a tremendous amount of and tremendous club player, while Jordan prodepth, with an extremely fast and skilled group vides the consistency for our lineup, and Rachel of players.” is a really smart player with a load of positive energy. We’re ranked seventh in the state in Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy AwardTAPPS 4A even though we only have six playwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE ers total on the team. Most of the girls have had SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 to learn new positions, and they’ve really p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school stepped up their game.” sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, With three SPC championships in the last please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. five seasons, the St. John’s School girls’ field

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Michael Starghill Photography

SPORTS

.

by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. W

elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

Football standout The Emery/Weiner School seventh grader Elliott Ellis (top photo) was recently named middle school boys’ athlete of the month. Ellis, the team’s only seventh-grade captain, started the football season off strong for the Jaguars. The team has been undefeated so far this season, with victories over Westbury Christian School, Crosby Sacred Heart, Alvin Living Stones and Huntsville Alpha Omega Academy. In the Jaguars’ home opener versus Westbury Christian, Ellis had a passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. In the game versus Alvin Living Stones, he had three more rushing touchdowns, including the game-winning score. Ellis also had more than 100 yards rushing and forced a fumble on defense. His offensive talent continued in the homecoming game versus Alpha Omega Academy with four rushing touchdowns.

Around the track Horn Elementary School students Anjana Ranganathan, Samantha Rosen, Lucy Vestal and Avery McClure (middle photo, from left) joined their classmates and completed 30-plus laps around a track in the school’s Boosterthon Fun Run. A fundraiser for the school, the Boosterthon program lasts nine days and students participate in a pep rally, team huddles and finish with the Fun Run. For the kids, the best part is being active and having fun. Students ran or walked, and some even danced, around the track while enjoying music with a DJ and plenty of encouragement from teachers and parents who cheered them around the track.

Devoted to baseball Fifth-grade Astros fan and avid baseball player Chase Gray (bottom photo) enjoyed a home game at Minute Maid Park. Watching the Astros play is one of Chase’s favorite activities, especially when he goes with his fellow Hurricanes teammates. Chase plays centerfield, shortstop and pitcher for the Hurricanes, a select baseball team. In addition to playing year-round with the Hurricanes, he also plays with Bellaire Little League (BLL) during the spring season. He loves playing with his friends and meeting new players each season, but the best part of the game might be the post-game concessions and dinner out with what seems like the entire city of Bellaire. Chase’s love of baseball started in his first season with BLL at age 5, but his parents suspected it much earlier when his first word was “ball.”

Proud sponsor of Bellaire and neighboring sports BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 36

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 37

SISTER, SISTER Kennedy Barton, an eighth grader at St. Michael Catholic School, became close with older sister Gentry after they started a jewelry business.

KIDS

by Kennedy Barton, age 13

Buzz Kidz

Creating jewelry and sisterhood

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uring the spring of my sixth-grade year, my sister Gentry and I came up with an idea to make jewelry fashionable and affordable. When I first got the idea I tried to make jewelry on my own at my grandmother’s house, but I needed a helping hand. Then I talked to Gentry, and she thought it was a really smart idea. We had no idea what to call it or how to how to sell, but we tried to make things work.

Gentry came up with the name “Keeks” because she calls me that instead of Kennedy.

After we got the name we made an Instagram account (@keeksbydesign), where we post and sell our pieces. She would wear pieces and help spread the word. When we got more orders we started going to different stores and beading.

I would describe Keeks as colorful and stylish.

We use beads and source from all over the country. We sell mostly to teenage and college girls, but we think Keeks is perfect for every single age. Our motto is “Make a statement!” Every single piece is handmade, and we take custom and personalized orders.

Keeks By Design was a hobby that turned into a passion. We have shipped to Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. This year we are going to donate 10 percent of every order to Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort in Florida for children with life-threatening illnesses.

My sister was 17 when we started this business, and I was 11. Before Keeks we were not connected at all. Either she was off studying, or I was talking with friends. Now my sister is now a freshman at Ole Miss, and I feel like I can call

her any time. I owe that all to Keeks By Design!

I try to make all of the design choices here, but she is a total fashionista so I call her to get her advice. We always joke around that it is a “bond shared between sisters,” and it is completely true.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for a link to the sisters’ website.

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 38

4844 Beechnut St. (in Meyerland Court) Visit our website for upcoming events. tomfoolerytoys.com

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Turkey Day is coming: the Weight Loss Top 5 With the holiday season right around the corner, here are some great tips and dispelled myths from your neighborhood health and fitness experts: 1) Exercise doesn't really help with weight loss. There, I said it! It’s the sum of the habits you adopt that causes the weight loss. Working out gets you out of that seated position, away from the junk food, and moving. These are all the contributing factors for healthy and sustainable weight loss.

2) Move more, eat less. Sounds simple, but it's the truth. The more you move (walking, biking, swinging a kettlebell, playing with your kids), the more calories you burn. The less you over-eat, the more body fat you will lose. The “hard” (we’re here to help!) part is to make sure the food you do eat meets your minimum requirements and is portioned appropriately.

You will notice a significant difference.

3) You don't have to kill yourself every time you step in the gym. The “No pain, No gain” motto is flat-out wrong! The fact that you can't move the day after the workout means you are going to move less overall. This burns less total calories throughout the week, and is a sure way to get hurt.

Talk to a qualified fitness professional about an appropriate training program catered to your goals, not just some cookie-cutter program you find online.

4) Nutrition is incredibly important, but don't get fooled by those fake claims. There’s no supplement brand that is clinically proven to be effective at helping you maintain weight loss. You don't detox your body by drinking special teas or smoothies. You detox all day, every day, with the help of your liver and kidneys; it is their primary function. Drinking these special products won't help any more than eating a salad or drinking water. Speaking

of water, alkaline water does not improve health. Your expensive high pH water turns to acid once in the stomach. Your body has wellresearched processes that keep you at the same pH all the time, without the help of any expensive products. Your optimal nutrition strategy: drink water, eat nutrient-rich foods, get some quality sleep!

5) Get others involved. Grab a family member, friend or a trainer to get you motivated and working hard.

Think about this: When you travel or go to the movies, do you go alone or do you like to share the experience?

Why should your weight-loss journey be any different? There should be someone along with you for the ride. So hop up out of your chair, stop reading this article, and get moving. We look forward to seeing you at the gym!

If you would like to see us feature a particular topic dealing with the health and fitness world, just shoot us an email or call. Help is always around the corner.

David Boettcher, Team Member, Pledge To Fitness, 4665 Southwest Fwy., Suite 207, Houston, TX 77027, 877.348.3481, www.pledgetofitness.com

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 39

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Love with a leash

A minute with Maisie

Stroll your neighborhood after work and you can see lots of happy pet owners taking their canine companions for a walk or jog – usually on a leash. However, many pet owners don’t feel it’s necessary to use a leash when they are just letting their pet out of the car to enter the dog park, coming home from the vet, or just playing in the front yard. If you happen to be one of those, let’s “paws” to answer a few questions. First, do you survey the surrounding area before allowing your pet off-leash to be certain there are no distractions (e.g., squirrels, cats, children, other dogs)? Second, do you allow your pet off-leash in a parking lot or near a street where a passing car can unexpectedly become a serious threat? Most important, do you really think that you are in complete control of your dog’s every movement? If so, perhaps you should reconsider. Experts agree we cannot predict the behavior of even the best-trained dog with 100 percent certainty. At Rover Oaks, we have witnessed several pets suddenly abandoning their owner’s direction and dashing across the street when those clients were bringing their dogs offleash from their cars to our facilities. Each client’s response has been, “He’s never done that before!” So, if you are truly concerned about your best friend’s safety, always show your love by using a leash.

Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com

Many clients ask me, “What rights do grandparents have to see their grandchildren in Texas?” The Texas Family Code provides that a grandparent may file a lawsuit seeking custody of grandchildren if the order is necessary because the child’s present circumstances significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development. However, seeking custody of grandchildren and simply wanting to spend time with them are very different. If a grandparent wants to see their grandchildren without filing for custody, then the grandparent may intervene in an ongoing divorce action but is prohibited in most cases from filing an original suit. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that being a parent is a fundamental right, and infringing on those rights requires a high burden. However, given the right circumstances, it is possible for a grandparent to see their grandchildren through a court order. For more information, please consult an attorney board certified in family law. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com

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Penicillin allergy “You’re allergic to penicillin? What happened, and when did it occur?” the doctor asks. The patient replies, “I don’t remember. It was over 25 years ago, but the doctor told my mom never to give me penicillin again.”

So the doctor gives the patient a different antibiotic, probably broader in spectrum (“stronger”) and more expensive. This is one reason we have more drug-resistant bacteria.

The second reason is that patients demand (and doctors prescribe) antibiotics for common colds. As Dr. Sheldon Kaplan, head of the pediatric infectious diseases section of Baylor College of Medicine, pointed out in the April 7, 2011, Houston Chronicle, “Inappropriate and indiscriminate use of antibiotics is a major factor contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance.” Per the New England Journal of Medicine (Sept. 8, 2016), antibiotics aren’t necessary at least until discolored mucus has been present for 7-10 days.

For the third reason, look at Economics 101: Drug companies make little money from antibiotics. Someone gets sick, they take the antibiotic for a week or two, and then they’re done. Big Pharma would rather invest in the next Lipitor or Prozac. Those medications tend to be taken every day for many years. Thus Dr. Kaplan’s worry that “infections and medical procedures considered innocuous today will become as dangerous as they were before (antibiotics).”

What can be done? Good luck with patients not demanding antibiotics, and I don’t see drug companies going out of their way to invent new antibiotics.

Maybe the allergist can help. That patient above has a 90 percent chance

of no longer being allergic to penicillin. Ten percent of penicillin-allergic patients lose that sensitivity every year, so after 10 years, only a small fraction remain allergic. That doesn’t mean all patients once labeled allergic to penicillin can safely use it, but allergists certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology can perform penicillin skin testing and, if negative, an oral challenge to confirm if someone is or is not still allergic. For the majority (>90 percent) who test negative, they are at no increased risk to take penicillin than anyone else in the general population. At that point, we write a letter for the patient to give to all other healthcare providers and pharmacists so that “Allergic to Penicillin” can safely be removed from the medical record.

Maybe that will slow down antibiotic-resistant bugs.

No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.

David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

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When it’s time to get an autism evaluation Autism can be difficult to diagnose, especially with children or teens who are high functioning, yet a diagnosis can make all the difference in a child’s life.

Key characteristics Parents can’t be expected to diagnose autism, of course, but if you see these signs in your child, talk with your pediatrician about scheduling an autism evaluation with a psychologist or developmental specialist: • Difficulty making or keeping friends • Difficulty joining conversations • Becoming upset with changes or transitions of any sort • Reacting negatively to sensory inputs (e.g., loud noises) • Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand flapping) • Loss of language early on in life Most children who are very affected by autism will probably be formally diagnosed at a relatively early age. But for those who are high functioning – meaning they typically do well in school and have an easier time navigating relationships and communication – a diagnosis might come as late as middle school. This is especially true for girls.

“What research has found is that during elementary school, girls with autism spectrum disorder who are higher functioning are often protected and even mothered by their female peers,” said Michelle Patriquin, PhD, director of Adolescent Research and a staff psychologist at The Menninger Clinic’s Outpatient Services. “Being sheltered in this way may mask their symptoms. But such help usually disappears around the time kids enter mid-

dle school, so symptoms can become more obvious then.”

What to expect from an evaluation According to Dr. Patriquin, every evaluation should include developmental and social screening measures, an intensive screening interview with parents, cognitive testing and a structured observation with the child.

Once the evaluation is complete, the psychologist can tell you if a child has autism or possibly some other developmental issue.

“The earlier a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder the better,” said Dr. Patriquin. “Early intervention means the child will be able to reap the benefits of a variety of therapies, all of which will help him or her address the symptoms creating obstacles to social growth and communication.”

An autism spectrum disorder diagnosis also means a child can receive special accommodations in school. These services can include occupational therapy and speech/language therapy, as well as accommodations that can make the school experience a positive one.

To schedule an autism evaluation with Dr. Patriquin, call 713-275-5178.

The Menninger Clinic, 12301 S. Main Street, Houston, Texas 77035, 713.275.5000, www.MenningerClinic.com

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 43

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Moms’ night out About 50 moms from Condit Elementary enjoyed an evening of food, wine and catching up at the home of Holly Koehn. In the mix were Julia Tamm, Rachel Berger, Peggy Chang, Jami Fowler, Jill Weston, Anita Mehta, Ali Septimus, Julie Goldberger, Dana Cran, Stacy Sederis, and Lisa Gregory. This annual event was hosted by the Condit PTO Sociables Committee. All ticket sales benefit the PTO, which has recently contributed to upgrades for the new school building. The next events coming up are a bowling party this month and gingerbread-house decorating in December. See conditpto.org.

Birthday with friends A group of friends, including (pictured, front row, from left) Sandi Selzer-Bryant, birthday girl Rhonda Glick, Barbara Marcus, (back row, from left) Mindy Gross, Sandy Harris, Vicky

Dyer-Smith and Diane Gelman, gathered to celebrate Rhonda’s birthday. House hostess Diane Gelman baked a reportedly spectacular chocolate cake, which was the centerpiece for the 65th birthday at her home, for her best friend. A group gift selected by Vicky DyerSmith and Connie Reddy was a jewelry box with rotating drawers (and earrings) purchased at Houston Contemporary Craft Museum.

About 50 women enjoyed the array of salads and pizzas before games began. Everyone played a Rhonda-themed bingo game. The other hostesses were Selzer-Bryant, Marcus, Gross, Harris and Dyer-Smith.

A fair to remember Eve Lapin and Lisa Sheinbaum (pictured, from left) are co-chairing the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book and Arts Fair, running until Nov. 13. The fair will celebrate 44 years of authors, music, the-

ater and films. It is free and open to the public.

The opening event will be a literary and culinary feast with Michael Wex (Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can’t Stop Eating It) and Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz (The Gefilte Manifesto). It will be moderated by Ziggy Gruber, owner of Kenny and Ziggy’s.

Grandma’s at school

Horn Elementary celebrated Grandparents’ Day by inviting grandparents to lunch and to visit classrooms. Judy Chatwin flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah, to share lunch with her grandson, first grader Cade Waligura. A teacher, Judy said she loves to spend as much time as she can with Cade, listening to his ideas and helping him grow and develop.

Thank you Sarah Suminski leads a fifth grade club at Horn Elementary School called Horn Helping Hands.

HHH is a community outreach club where students plan and execute service projects in and around their community. (continued on page 46) BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 44

Open House for Prospective Students November 6, 2016 • 2:30 - 4 p.m. in the MJPFC Application deadline is January 13, 2017 Online applications available at www.saintvincentschool.org.

For further information please contact Renee McCurry, Director of Admissions - 713-663-3541

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School • 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 45

(continued from page 44) The first service project

for the year involved making cards and writing letters to the police officers and firefighters of the City of Bellaire, thanking them for their service in remembrance of fallen heroes on 9/11.

Students delivered these letters and cards in person, along with cookies and baked goods.

Pictured (front row, from left) are students Amelia Foley, Ashley York, Camryn Suminski, Porter Rhoades, Emmie Whitehead, Christopher Sordin, Adam Miller, Sebastian Quinonez, Meghana Dinius, Stephanie Williams, (back row, from left) Helena Wang, Isabelle Zaske, Hailey Williams, Emma Mark,

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 46

Molli Kammerman, Caroline Vestal, Kelli Manning, Lucy Vestal, and Jackson Suminski.

Pictured (from left) are Bellaire firefighters Larry Dixon, Phil Nott, Curtis Thompson, Carson Tucker and T.J. Girt.

Family fun day Mark your calendars for the third annual Pin Oak Middle School ChargerFest on Nov. 5, noon-4 p.m. The Fine Arts Department, International Festival and School Carnival combine in a fun family day for Pin Oak Middle School students and their families. The event will be held on the school campus at 4601 Glenmont. Funds raised will ben-

efit Pin Oak Middle School. To become a sponsor, contact Jenny Hanks at j_hanks@att.net or Monica Weber at m_weber_designs@yahoo.com.

Pictured (below, back row, from left) are Colton Denning, Hank Harris, Kate Manning, Abby Vollrath, (front row, from left) Monica Weber (cochair), Jenny Hanks (co-chair) and student Joshua Weber. See pinoakpto.org.

Stamp out stigma Around the world, 800,000 people die every year from suicide. Some Buzz residents are raising awareness. “Talk Saves Lives,� held at Congregation Emanu El, (continued on page 48)

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 47

(continued from page 46) co-chaired by Gail and

Norman Stalarow, brought together many individuals of all ages to start a conversation about suicide prevention. This event was the first in a series of suicide-prevention programs, events and initiatives. “Stamp Out Stigma” for young professionals will be held Nov. 20, 2-4 p.m. at the Merfish Teen Center. The event will include a panel discussion about suicide and mental health. See Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention in our Communities at thebuzzmagazines.com for a list of related resources and articles.

Belles receive rings

Carter, Hayley Wylie, Juliana Denena and William Vaughan.

Community effort

Michael Martinez

This is ’80s night

The Bellaire High School Belles dance team captains were honored during halftime at a Cardinals football game. The spotlight was on them as they received James Avery rings as gifts.

Pictured (from left) are Avery Von Eiff, Megan Hafer and Morgan Hunter.

To the firehouse Nicole Walters, Stephanie Swingle and Shelley Ludwick (pictured, from left) mixed and mingled at The Junior League of Houston’s annual Opening Style Show. The evening was a stylish flashback to the ’80s. The theme, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, celebrated all that was the ’80s and commemorated the building’s 30th anniversary, along with the “Greatest Hits” of League accomplishments of that era. Tootsies showcased fall fashion in the runway show.

BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 48

Girl Scout Daisy Troop #147122 visited the Bellaire Fire Department as part of earning their “Respect Authority” petal. Firefighter/EMT Shannon Benas, Phil Nott and Lt. Mark Allen provided a tour of the fire truck along with a lesson about what firefighters do for the Bellaire community. Pictured (from left) are Eve Puzon, Lily Goodwin, Faith Puzon, Gwyneth Pewthers, Jacqueline Wylie, Mia Laviage, Reese Morgenroth (front, standing), Freddie Vaughan (back, sitting), Gracie

It was a colorful day for the Pin Oak Middle School Charger community on Oct. 11. The school held its inaugural “Charge into the Color” fun run. The event was the official kickoff to fundraising efforts toward building a new, a half-mile, $80,000 fitness track. Students, faculty and volunteers had a blast throwing color powder, running and cheering on students. The celebration continued with a post-race party featuring music, Kona Ice snacks and more colorthrowing fun. Pictured (from left) Nicole Hampton, Erin Lang and Natalie Hampton.

See pinoakpto.org/fitnesstrack.

Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 49

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

An entertaining holiday

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et’s be honest. Football, turkey, and visiting with family – not necessarily in that order – is close to what many of us visualize when we think “holidays.” But here’s the let’sbe-honest part: After a couple of days of togetherness, as wonderful as it (hopefully) is, everyone starts getting a little itchy. And then what?

You can resign to watching happy family time devolve, or you can have some ideas on hand to keep everyone engaged. In a good way.

Here’s our go-to list of engagement.

Play a game Chris Powers, a graphic designer and fundraiser at The Jung Center, comes from a game-playing family. Every holiday and every get-together culminate in some kind of competition. This is a family who knows their games.

“Our favorite is [the dice game] Farkle,” Chris says. “Anybody can win. We love it.” Bonus: It’s supremely portable. They also like Left Center Right [LCR]. “Everyone puts in $3, and you roll the dice. The money then goes either to your left, in the center to the pot, or to your right. It gets very boisterous, maybe because money’s involved.” If playing for money sounds too serious, try using M&Ms. “Also Spades,” Chris says. “Oh my gosh, it’s crazy!

It can be never-ending, and everyone gets into it.”

Other family games to keep on the radar: Onze, a card game similar to gin, made more challenging with two decks of cards powering 11 hands instead of one; jigsaw puzzles, great because they can be picked up and left alone at whim – keep two running while family is in town to spur a competition; Taboo – the board game that gets loud as team members guess words on a card that can only be described without using the word itself or five other “taboo” words.

Host a movie night (or afternoon) Galilea Escobedo, a junior at Lamar High School, says, “I love holiday movies!” Galilea’s family usually visits from Spain during the holidays – they’re no strangers to entertaining a crowd.

“I watch Frozen with my mom even outside of the holidays, because it just makes you feel good,” Galilea says. “And I love The Grinch – BELLAIRE BUZZ NOVEMBER 2016 50

the one with the actors, not the cartoon – because it gets you in the holiday mood. The colors, the songs, everyone’s cheerful.”

Another favorite: The Holiday. “The one where they switch houses and they fall in love. It’s like the best movie ever. I wish that would happen to me!”

Galilea also suggests The Night Before as a movie to entertain older families (meaning GAME ON Looking for a family activity this Thanksgiving weekend? Host a game night. it’s not appropriate for little kids). “The one with Seth Rogen,” she Flee the nest says. “It’s so funny.”

If you just have to get out (which we all will More ideas: Home Alone, Love Actually, at some point), Kathryn Rabinow has some outNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Miracle of-the-ordinary suggestions. on 34th Street (either the original 1947 version “Do weird and wonderful things when all the or the adorable 1994 remake). major places [museums, Discovery Green skating rink, movie theaters] are crowded,” the phoTune in tographer and psychologist says. “Walk through Admittedly, this one is girly. But Gilmore the tunnels that connect [the downtown] office Girls: A Year In the Life has gotten so much play buildings, then buy some sweet Greek treats at that it’s worth mentioning. the Phoenicia. Start a walk or bike ride on “Netflix is dropping four, 90-minute episodes Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd and see how far you with all the original cast the day after can go. It’s miles and miles into parts of Houston Thanksgiving,” says pediatrician Lindy McGee. probably no one has ever been. Explore the “It’ll be one big Gilmore Girls-watching campuses of local universities – St. Thomas, marathon with my 13-year-old daughter!

HBU, UH, Rice – and go into their art galleries.

Normally we decorate for Christmas that day, Visit the smaller museums – Houston Center for but I think we’ll put it off one day this year.”

Contemporary Craft, The Printing Museum, the Gilmore Girls aired from 2000 until 2007 and Bryan Museum [of Southwestern and Native eventually became available to a cultish fan base on American art and artifacts] in Galveston.”

Netflix. “Watching together has been a great way And if all else fails, Kathryn suggests letting to talk about difficult topics with Elizabeth. go of the turkey: “Check out the myriad of pizza Sometimes they have values that aren’t consistent and/or hamburger places here. Bring home with our family values, and they show consequences. samples from five or six different places and do But most of the time we’re just laughing together.” taste tests.” behance.net/runamokstudios

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