Chandel and Charles Hancock
Football, Cajun Style by Dave Schafer
Everything Pumpkin Fantasy Football Moms
Houston, TX
Grilling Low and Slow
Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
Fall Festivals
PUBLISHER’S NOTE One of my favorite things about publishing The Buzz is meeting neighbors at photo shoots, and this was an especially fun month. When my football-fan wife and Buzz editor Joni Hoffman and I arrived at Chandel and Charles Hancock’s house for the New Orleans Saints' opening game, the smell of gumbo made our mouths water. One by one, neighbors arrived, until the house was full of boisterous Houstonians that the Hancocks had converted, at least for the day, into Saints fans. This month, we also met a 10-year-old LSU fan, nicknamed “Tiger Girl,” and her parents, as well as 10 really fun St. John’s School moms who started a fantasy football league so they could keep in touch and have an excuse to text during games. In addition, I am pleased to introduce our new Cooking Buzz column, produced in partnership with The Junior League of Houston. This month’s column is all about tailgating recipes. Can you sense a theme here? I told you my wife was a football fan. 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 bellairebuzz.com • facebook.com/bellairebuzz Editor Publisher Associate Editors Vice President, Sales Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jay Janecek Tracy L. Barnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Cathy Gordon, Greg Hassell Julianna Grisham Moorad Jacob Padden Jordan Magaziner John Duboise Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Swaim Laura Callan, Helen Hamilton Michele Luke
On our cover: “If you see Bubba, come on in,” Chandel and Charles Hancock tell their neighbors. They put up the inflatable Saint in their front yard before New Orleans football games. Cover photo by Michael Hart Photography, www.hartphoto.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. Editorial content does not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. Copyright © 2014 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 OCTOBER 2014 4
YEAR TO DATE as of July 31, 2014
Most Bellaire Homes Sold #1 in Bellaire Listings sold since 2001. Let my record work for you! Professionalism, Local Market Knowledge, Personal Service Specializing in Bellaire Properties since 1993 with over 650 Bellaire Sales Transactions to Date Honored 7 Times by the Houston Business Journal as being among Houston’s Top Realtors LOTS 4624 Holly 4620 Birch 4502 Park Court 4625 Maple 4626 Willow 5122 Aspen 5543 Grand Lake
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Mike Livingston
NEW CONSTRUCTION 4411 Evergreen 5119 Locust 4803 Elm 5316 Patrick Henry 4618 Oakdale 107 Bellaire Court 4625 Birch 4624 Holly 5221 Mimosa 4502 Park Court 4626 Willow 4620 Birch
ORIGINAL HOMES 4420 Lafayette 4424 Lafayette 7805 S. Rice 4301 Jonathan 5523 Grand Lake 4508 Medinah 4920 Maple
, CRS ABR
713.764.9850 • mlivingston@gmail.com • www.har.com/mikelivingston BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 5
MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions Appreciates ovarian-cancer story I received The Buzz today, and I am so thankful for your fabulous article [With Little Warning: Ovarian cancer first felt like stomachache, by Michelle Casas Groogan, September 2014]. You were able to take our conversation and share the very personal stories of myself and Cathy Lang – our experiences, treatment and our hope for the future. As well, the relevant information of ovarian cancer, both the statistics and symptoms, were communicated in a way that I am certain will save lives. I am grateful to The Buzz Magazines’ commitment to raising awareness of this disease that takes the lives of so many of our mothers, daughters and sisters. Blessings to you and your family and to everyone who works with The Buzz. Suzy Reedstrom Editor’s note: Thank you to you and to Cathy for sharing your stories in such an open way. We’d like to remind readers that all our stories, including this one, are available and shareable online at bellairebuzz.com. Also, here’s a reminder of the Buzz-sponsored Homes of Distinction home tour, which will raise money for the Judith Liebenthal Robinson Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Davis Builders is constructing an impressive 6,000-square-foot home at 5308 Woodway Drive that will be open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays noon-5 p.m. Nov. 6-23. Tickets are $10 at the door. See homeofdistinction.com.
Private plane takes less time I’d much rather use my own plane [Taking Flight: When the plane is your own, by Cheryl Ursin, September 2014] for a four-hour flight than take my chances with a commercial airline for a purported two-hour flight. If you include the mandated check-in and security procedures, and the inevitable delays, the time to destination works out about the same. That’s if your flight isn’t cancelled! When was the last time, after a commercial flight, that you were in your rental car and off the airport premises 10 minutes after landing? Jean-Francois Reat
Issue was a keeper It was a thrill to open The Memorial Buzz to Sharon Brier's Rumor Has It section [September 2014] and see a picture of our son, Travis, with his beautiful bride, Amanda, on their wedding day. I'm convinced that BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 6
Sharon, a UT grad, is a closet Aggie given the enthusiastic insight detailed in the accompanying article about the great traditions and devoted Texas A&M graduates sighted at the wedding! We confiscated a number of copies (more than I care to admit) of the September issue from legal (friends, neighbors) and likely illegal sources (the free news rack at Walgreens near Memorial High School) and have redistributed them to Amanda's family in Dallas. We have also saved a few for, Lord willing, Travis and Amanda's children and grandchildren. So, The Memorial Buzz is now playing a new, important role in our lives: family heirloom. What a perfect way to put an exclamation point at the end of a Travis and Amanda's wonderful wedding celebration! Thank you. Peggy and Ron Thompson
Thanks for the plant plug Thank you for featuring the great photos and write ups about our Bulb Mart in your September 2014 West U, Tanglewood/River Oaks and Memorial Buzz issues [Buzz About Town]. We couldn’t be happier. Clayton Erikson, Garden Club of Houston 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.
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Know an interesting neighbor to profile. • Have a unique or funny story about bringing a significant other to meet the family for the first time. • Have a unique or funny family tradition during the holidays (for example: a specific game the family likes to play together, or gift-giving traditions). • Have stories and tips about babies, including baby clothes, showers, nurseries or health. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
Bringing Wisdom to Light
Prospective Parent Open House Tuesday, October 21, 2014 • 9:00 am - 10:30 am Prospective parents will have the opportunity to tour the school campus and meet administrators, faculty and current families. St. Catherine’s Montessori is Houston’s only Catholic Montessori school educating children from ages 14 months to 15 years. For reservations please call 713-665-2195 or email lfarris@stcathmont.org. The Open House is for adults only. Accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Dept., Association Montessori International (A.M.I) School, LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council
713-665-2195 • www.stcathmont.org • 9821 Timberside, Houston, Texas 77025 BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 7
SPORTS by Dave Schafer, staff writer
Football, Cajun Style Saints and Tigers fans live among us
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 8
“Really, it’s a bonding ritual for the whole neighborhood,” Charles said. “These games have brought my neighbors and my street even closer together, where we are almost like family.” In Houston’s Buzz-area neighborhoods, you’ll see mostly Texans or Texas-college flags and bumper stickers. But there’s a vocal minority who eat and breathe Louisiana football. In Louisiana, they say, not MMMM, GUMBO Chandel Hancock’s gumbo attracts the neighbors as much as unlike Texas, the game does – and as much as the fun of watching Chandel and Charles enact their football is reli- football superstitions. gion, something watch the Tiger band march through campus everybody either does or watches. and down into the stadium. Realtor Ces Guerra was raised in New “I get so much pleasure out of seeing their Orleans and clings to his love of Louisiana State eyes go wide at the throng of people marching University, his alma mater. He has friends who down that hill,” he said. trickle through his house during away games. He Kevin Labban and his wife, Christy, both LSU has eight season tickets at Tiger Stadium, aka alumni, say they have been to games at other col“Death Valley.” leges, but Tiger Stadium is a unique experience. Each year, he and his college roommate meet When the sun is setting and the announcer for a game. And he reunites with his old Army says, “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s now Saturday buddies. “It’s really more than a football game,” night in Death Valley,” Kevin gets goose bumps. he said. “It’s a chance to maintain our friend“When it’s a night game, it’s the most special ships. The environment is so electric. It keeps place ... the culture, the people themselves, the you young.” passion for LSU football, the energy, the tailgatHe likes to invite newcomers to a game and ing, the number of people.” his favorite hangouts – Walk-Ons Bistreaux & Kevin and Christy have 10 season tickets Bar, The CHIMES, TJ Ribs, Acme Oyster to each LSU game and love to tailgate. “It’s House – and over to Victory Hill, on the west like being there with a hundred thousand of side of the campus between the quad and stayour closest friends on a Saturday afternoon,” dium, where residual sediments from the Kevin said. ancient annual rising of the Mississippi River Christy doesn’t care about other teams, colhas left a 20-plus foot terrace. There, they hartphoto.com
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ach Sunday at this time of year, you can find 50 or so neighbors at Charles and Chandel Hancock’s Mimosa Drive home, decked out in gold and black, eating gumbo, drinking Miller Lite, cheering on the New Orleans Saints – and enjoying playful bickering between their husband-and-wife hosts. Charles, an art director at digital-marketing agency BubbleUp, and Chandel, an assistant principal at Johnston Middle School, moved from New Orleans to Bellaire more than 20 years ago, but they never let go of their love for the Saints. Over the past 10 years, they’ve converted many neighbors into Saints fans. During the football season, they inflate “Bubba,” a 6-foot-tall Saints player, in their yard and put on the gumbo. The neighbors bring their children, pets and food. They sit on the couch, lean on bar stools. Everyone is welcome, even fans of opposing teams, but they’ll need a thick skin for the good-natured heckling they’ll endure. Chris Ferris showed up at the San Francisco 49ers-Saints playoff game in 2012 wearing 49ers’ scarlet and gold. When the 49ers pulled ahead 14-0 in the first quarter, Ferris started chanting, “For-ty ni-ners, for-ty ni-ners.” Chandel’s mother turned to Charles and said, “Who is that boy? He needs to go.” In her Louisiana drawl, it came out, “Who’s dat bah-yee?” “The game itself is only half the fun,” said Chris, who goes to the Hancocks’ most football Sundays with his wife, Meg, and their son John. “The rest is watching Charles and Chandel enacting all their crazy superstitions.” If Charles is sitting on one seat when something good happens, Chandel instructs him not to move from that spot. If someone is talking about something other than the Saints, Chandel will shout, “Focus, people! There’s a game on here!” If Charles gets overconfident and declares victory, Chandel will yell across the room at him. Ground rules include no talking about anything but football, no moving around during the action, and mandatory arrival before kickoff. Unless you arrive late and the Saints win. Then, you have to arrive late every time.
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SAINTS SCORE Watching football at the Hancock house is a bonding ritual for the whole neighborhood. Joining the Hancocks on a recent Sunday were the O'Conor, Daniel, Shah and Ferris families.
legiate or professional. “But it’s so much fun to root for LSU,” she said. But the biggest fan in the family is 10-yearold Alden. On Fridays, she wears LSU gear to Memorial Drive Elementary, earning her the nickname “Tiger Girl.” Now, she is taking friends to a game every year. And the Cajun-football cycle continues.
Chandel Hancock’s Gumbo Cooking gumbo is a “labor of love,” says Chandel Hancock. “Loving a roux is a commitment. Stirring until it is thick and dark is the key. The ingredients are simple, but the love is not.” Roux Adapted from Talk About Good! Le Livre de la Cuisine de Lafayette 2 ⁄3 cup flour 3 ⁄4 cup vegetable oil Water (approx. 6-8 cups) Gumbo 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 2 large yellow onions, chopped 1 bunch celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped 4 pounds of smoked sausage (Andouille, jalapeño, beef, pecan garlic), sliced crosswise into 1⁄4-inch rounds 6 pounds boneless, skinless chicken meat (breasts and thighs), cut into 1-inch chunks Salt and pepper 6 cups of cooked, extra-long grain rice French baguette or saltine crackers for serving Feeds 30-40 people
stop browning. Stir over medium heat for 4 or 5 minutes, until the vegetables are wilted. Add the hot water, and stir until the roux mixture and water are well combined. Bring the gumbo to a boil; then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add salt and pepper, and let the gumbo simmer, uncovered, for about 3 hours, skimming any fat that rises to the surface and stirring occasionally. Check seasonings and adjust to taste. Serve over rice with French baguette or saltine crackers.
Start heating water in kettle. (You will pour this hot water later into your mixture of hot roux, so it cooks more smoothly.) To make the roux, mix the flour and the oil in a heavy iron pot until it is thoroughly mixed. After it is mixed, turn the fire on medium-low. Stir constantly, all over the bottom of the pot to be sure that no particles stick to the bottom. As you stir, the roux browns slowly. Don’t cook your roux quickly because as it reaches the done point, it will be too hot and burn. When your roux is a rich, dark chocolate brown, cut off your fire immediately, while continuing to stir. Add the garlic, onion, celery, bell pepper, sausage and chicken to the roux so the roux will
Tips for excellent gumbo and roux • The science is in the roux; stir until it’s thick and dark but not burned. • Use a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon to stir the roux; a plastic spoon will burn. • Jalapeño sausage – in addition to Andouille sausage – gives it a nice Texas kick. HEB sells a tasty pecan garlic sausage.
MORE ONLINE See bellairebuzz.com for more photos. If you're a Louisiana-football fan too, we'd love to hear all about it in our Comments section, or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com. BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 9
SPORTS by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer
Drafting Divas Gal pals find fun in fantasy football rafting virtual football players can be exhausting. “The clock is ticking, and you’ve got 30 seconds to decide your pick. And that Monday Night Football theme comes on. A little overwhelming at first,” says Maria Ainbinder, recalling slight jitters at choosing her virtual roster on ESPN’s fantasy football website. “My sons were actually standing over my shoulder, arguing about who I should pick. Yeah, that adds to the excitement.” Ainbinder, putting trust in Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers as quarterback (“Wasn’t my first pick,” she confides), is one of ten Buzz-area women competing for a $500 jackpot at season’s end through the ESPN-sponsored River Oaks-West University fantasy football league, “Mav Moms.” But winning is beside the point, say these fast friends, who bonded while watching their sons play for the Mavericks at St. John’s School. “Some of us are empty nesters now. We spent years watching our boys on the field; then all of a sudden you’re not doing that,” says football enthusiast and league manager Julie Griffin, who nabbed quarterbacks Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks for her mock team. “This is just a way to stay in touch when you don’t see each other every Friday night anymore. And it’s fun. Texts will be flying during this fall’s games.” Griffin’s group is helping to level the playing field. Of 4.5 million fantasy football participants in the United States and Canada, only 20 percent are women, but that number is growing, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. Participants manage their patchwork teams online and garner points based on the NFL players’ weekly real-life performances. They can call in backups for injured players and make substitutions for those not playing due to a bye week. “You definitely need to fiddle with your roster for the best outcome,” says Griffin, who set up the league via ESPN’s free website that allows private invitations to be sent to friends. Each invitee must then register and agree on a date for their draft before the season begins. League members become team “owners,” competing BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 10
www.scottkohn.com
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LADY LINEUP ESPN-sponsored fantasy football league members, “Mav Moms,” compete for a $500 prize at season’s end. Pictured (from left) are Barbie Horowitz, Jan Bres, manager Julie Griffin, Jeannette Baker, Kate Gibson, Kelly Labanowski, Carol Smith, Daphne Bernicker, Maria Ainbinder and Wendy Askew.
against one another throughout the season. Dozens of Internet sports sites offer signup for free. A maximum eight to 12 players is suggested to prevent the talent pool from becoming diluted, especially at quarterback position. An agreed-upon entry fee determines the cash prize. The “Mav Moms” happily pooled $50 each. “Hey, with $500 at stake, I’m following the games,” Griffin says. “It’s kind of a laid-back way to put my foot in the water,” says Carol Smith, who isn’t intimately familiar with NFL football. “I did research the night before the draft. But I drafted Johnny Manziel as my backup quarterback because my husband thinks he was a fantastic college player,” Smith says of the first-ever freshman Heisman Trophy winner who impressed at Texas A&M University and now plays for the Cleveland Browns. She chose Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears as first string. Self-confessed football fanatic Barbie Horowitz was eager to pick her roster, but inadvertently locked herself out of the draft. In the event a registered league member can’t attend the draft, ESPN chooses for her. “In the long run, they probably picked a better
team for me,” admits Horowitz, a happy camper with Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and Baylor University’s Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins as quarterback and backup. “I love football. This is gonna be fun.” Farm and ranch realtor Kate Gibson isn’t a rabid NFL viewer. “More of a selective one,” she says. “But I work with a lot of guys. Doing this, I can talk a little football with them. Hold my own out on the ranch.” She opted for Golden Tate, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions. “Went to Notre Dame, my husband’s alma mater. A little influence there,” Gibson says. Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears was her son’s suggestion for running back. Gibson snapped up Andrew Luck of the Denver Broncos as quarterback. “He’s from Houston, and my husband knows his dad,” she says. “So I’ll be watching Denver for sure.” Some league members buy jerseys promoting their picks. Luck jerseys were a bit pricey, says Gibson, who opted to buy a used one for $25. “Not bad.” She’s torn as to whether or not she’ll actually don it for games though. “Hmm,” she quips. “Depends on how I look in it.”
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FOOD by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Everything Pumpkin Batty for Halloween? Here’s your dinner
H
To some this might sound slightly wretched. But honestly, and of course objectively, it’s delish. (This coming from a person who once threw an all-chocolate party, where everything – sweet and savory – boasted a dose of cacao. Another story entirely.) A little compulsive? Probably. But also a gratifying challenge for my sous-chefs and me. When we pull it all off, we feel like we’ve won. And then we have a really great dinner.
Pumpkin Hummus Adapted from Bon Appétit 1 15-ounce can pureed pumpkin ¾ cup tahini 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped ½ cup parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons olive oil Juice of 2 lemons Salt and pepper to taste Pulse all the ingredients together in a food processor. Top with roasted pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve with pita chips or raw veggies like carrots, celery or jicama.
lawellphoto.com
alloween is one of those holidays that just needs overdoing. Think about it: Pumpkins! Ghosts! Dressing up! Squishy worms! Gobs of candy! For one short season, it’s all an acceptable reversion right back into our childhoods. A couple of years ago, when I ran out of level surfaces to adulterate with a never-ending collection (started many years ago with college care packages from my mother) of pumpkin lights, noise-making ghosts, fluttering bats and felt gourds, I somehow had to step up my game. Which led to a whole new obsession that my family has affectionately named “Everything Pumpkin.” How do you get more “Everything Pumpkin” than the orange glow that emanates from my living room between Sept. 15 (doesn’t everyone decorate then?) and Nov. 1? By making a point that everything – and I do mean everything – served at Halloween dinner must have pumpkin of some sort in it. Pumpkin seed-crusted chicken. Pumpkin hummus. Pumpkin mac and cheese. Salad with – you guessed it – roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top.
ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds from one pumpkin, washed and mostly dried Salt and pepper, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, or other seasoning of choice Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl, toss the seeds with the seasoning to taste. A little moisture on the seeds will help the seasoning stick. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the seeds start to brown. Cool and serve.
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese 1½ pounds elbow macaroni 4 cups milk 6 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup flour 8 ounces Gruyère, grated (2 cups) 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar, grated (3 cups) 1 15-ounce can pureed pumpkin Salt and pepper to taste 1½ cups panko bread crumbs Olive oil
PUMPKIN HUMMUS
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 12
Preheat the oven to 375 and coat a 3-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Boil a large pot of salted water, and add the macaroni.
lawellphoto.com
PUMPKIN MAC AND CHEESE
Pumpkin Stuffed With Everything Good Adapted from Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes From My Home to Yours, by Dorie Greenspan This recipe is meant to be played with; measurements are not exact. 1 pumpkin, about 3 pounds Salt and pepper ¼ pound stale bread, cut into ½-inch chunks (I substitute 2-3 cups cooked brown rice or farro) ¼ pound cheese, such as a combination of Gruyère, cheddar and Emmenthal (I use Parmesan instead of Emmenthal), grated 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 5 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained and chopped ¼ cup sliced scallions 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 1 cup greens, such as kale, spinach or collards, chopped, optional ½ cup sliced mushrooms, optional 1 ⁄3 cup heavy cream (I use chicken broth) Pinch of nutmeg
degree angle, and be sure to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and the pumpkin’s inside. Save the seeds to roast later. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet. Toss the bread or rice, cheeses, garlic, bacon, herbs and vegetables together in a large bowl. Season with pepper – there is probably enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure – and pack the mixture into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be filled to the top. Stir the cream or broth with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin over the other ingredients. Adjust the liquid so that
the ingredients aren’t swimming in liquid, but they are nicely moistened. Put the cap in place, and bake the entire pumpkin for about 2 hours – check after 90 minutes – or until everything inside is bubbling, and the inside flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away, and the top of the stuffing browns a little. When the pumpkin is ready, carefully (it’s heavy and hot and wobbly) transfer it to a serving platter. To serve, dig into the pumpkin with a spoon, pull the pumpkin into the filling, and mix everything up. Serve immediately. (continued on page 14)
PUMPKIN STUFFED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD
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Cook 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over medium-low heat. In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over low heat for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. After 2 minutes, add the warm milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth and thickened. Turn the heat off, and add the cheeses and pumpkin, and season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked macaroni, stir, and pour into the baking dish. Top the macaroni with the panko, and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbly and browned.
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Using a sturdy knife, cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin, jack-o-lantern style. Work the knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 13
Andria Frankfort
¼ cup Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons onion powder, divided 5 teaspoons salt, divided 4 teaspoons dry mustard, divided 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, divided 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided 3 pounds chicken breast strips (ask the butcher to slice the chicken if they don’t have readymade strips) 3 cups flour 1 cup pepitas (shelled, roasted pumpkin seeds), coarsely ground in a food processor 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon garlic powder 5 cups peanut oil
PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES
(continued from page 13)
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Adapted from Two Fat Cats Bakery in Portland, Maine 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1½ teaspoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground cloves 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature ¾ cup packed brown sugar ¾ cup sugar ½ cup vegetable oil 3 large eggs 1 15-ounce can pureed pumpkin ½ cup milk Filling: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 cups powdered sugar 2 large egg whites (I like to use Just Whites dried egg whites) 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 tablespoon milk
apart. You will have extra batter. With the back of a spoon, smooth the tops of each scoop of batter. Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Cool the cakes completely. Meanwhile, repeat the process with the remaining batter. For the filling, combine the butter and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar, and beat until combined. Add milk a little at a time until the filling is spreadable but not runny (you may need a little more or less milk). Remove the cakes from the baking sheets using a metal spatula. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the filling onto the flat side of 1 cake. Top with another cake, flat side down. Repeat with the remaining cakes and filling. For extra Halloween spirit, buy some googly-eyed candy at Michaels or HEB and attach them to the pies with a little frosting.
Pumpkin Seed-Crusted Fried Chicken Strips Adapted from Bon Appétit 2 cups buttermilk
In a large Ziploc bag, mix the buttermilk, Dijon, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Add the chicken strips, and seal the bag, squeezing out any air. Turn the bag to coat the chicken, and refrigerate overnight. Whisk the flour, pepitas, baking powder, garlic powder, remaining 1 tablespoon onion powder, 4 teaspoons salt, 3 teaspoons dry mustard, 1 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. With the marinade still clinging to the chicken strips (do not shake off excess), add the chicken to the flour mixture, and turn to coat thickly. Let the chicken stand in the flour for 1 hour at room temperature, turning the chicken occasionally to be sure it is all coated. Pour the oil 1¼ inches deep into a deep 10inch pot. Attach a deep-fry thermometer, and heat the oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. (Alternatively, use a deep fryer.) Add several chicken strips to the oil, being careful not to crowd the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and fry for 5 minutes, adjusting heat to maintain oil temperature between 280 and 300 degrees. Using wooden spoons, turn the chicken over, and fry for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is deep golden. Transfer the strips to a large rack set over a baking sheet. Bring the oil back to 350 degrees, and repeat with remaining chicken.
Stir the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars. Gradually add the oil; then add the eggs one at a time, beating between additions. Beat in pumpkin. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl. Cover and chill the batter for 1 hour. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350. Using a small ice cream scoop, spoon batter onto the baking sheets to form little cakes (about 3 tablespoons each), spacing
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 14
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Googly candy eyes, optional
PUMPKIN SEED-CRUSTED FRIED CHICKEN STRIPS
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FOOD
Cheryl Laird
by Greg Hassell, contributing writer
Low and Slow Grilling dinner all day for fun
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s the sun just starts its slow climb over distant pines, I light an open fire and watch as orange sparks rise and float. It’s 6 in the morning, and I’ve risen early on vacation to cook. It’s not breakfast, and it’s not lunch I’m working on. This is Texas brisket, cooked low and slow. This meal will be served 13 hours later, about the same time the sun starts its trip back down behind the other tree line to the west. After years of cooking meat with gas and electricity, I’ve abandoned convenience and predictability for something more steeped in tradition, more aggravating to manage and far more satisfying when everything does come together. Of course, part of the pursuit is chasing better results. My gas grills never got hot enough to sear a steak like the beauties served at the best restaurants. But the end product is only part of the explanation. For some time now, I’ve wanted to go back to where all cooking began – over an open flame. And once you make the commitment to cook with fire in this part of the world, sooner or later, you’re probably going to try your luck with brisket, the giant slab of beef that’s the grail of Texas barbecue. Even if it means hours of study and buying more equipment. (I picked up a used smoker cheap on a Facebook Trading Group I’d read about in The Buzz. A woman was getting rid of it because her husband said she had too many smokers. So it’s not just a guy thing we’re talking about here.) There’s a community of barbecue enthusiasts in Texas who are uncommonly generous in sharing what they know. David Edwards, a local engineer who has created rubs and sauces called Duke’s Best, shared cooking tips with me over the phone for an hour. And one Houston-based website, texasbbqgrub.com, publishes a free newsletter with directions that are so detailed, the basic overview is seven pages long. The one constant for every School of Barbecue is patience, typically in short supply in this day and age. As one pit master told me, “You have to be a person of patience to do this right, or you are wasting your time.” Patient is the last word I’d use to describe my wife’s uncle, who confessed to burning or undercooking about 50 briskets. “The only one I didn’t BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 16
GREG GRILLS Low and slow barbecuing is a perfect pastime for those fall weekends spent watching football games. Grilling in a beautiful setting, like local fishing resort Quantum Lakes, is an added bonus.
ruin, I forgot about and left on the pit overnight. The next morning I woke up and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I completely forgot the brisket!’ And I’ll tell you what – it was delicious.” Going to bed may be one approach, but most cooks keep a much closer eye. All told, I spent around four hours fussing over my fire. The work would have been easier if I’d remembered to pack a thermometer. So I spent the morning adjusting the smoker’s air vents and scratching madly through cabinets at the vacation home. I finally found an old candy thermometer from the 1960s and stuck it on the grate. (I can’t vouch for its accuracy, but it smelled really good afterwards.) Beyond the necessity of patience and a working thermometer, don’t expect experts to agree on much. The advice I’m currently going with is to cook the brisket fat side down, not up. I don’t understand it, but it works. For your fire, charcoal is fine but toss some big hickory or oak chunks on there, too. After seven hours on the pit, I wrap it
in foil, pour some Dr. Pepper over it and stick it in an oven on 200° for the last three or four hours, depending on the size of the brisket.The endless tweaking of smoke and sauce and fuel and flame is what make the pursuit so interesting. “It’s a quest. As soon as you finish eating you think, ‘That was good. How can I make it better?’” said Greg Gatlin, a graduate of St. Thomas High School and Rice University who now owns Gatlin’s BBQ. “It creates a conversation, a dialog that you’re never going to solve.... You are in search of that ultimate feeling you get from some brisket, some ribs and a nice cold beer.” And while you can expect your family to appreciate the fruits of your labor, don’t expect them to fully understand the allure of your new hobby. “That’s the best brisket I’ve ever had. How long did it take to make it?” my mother-in-law asked later that night. When reminded it was 13 hours, she raised her eyebrows. “Then it was almost worth it.”
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 17
NEIGHBORS by Jordan Magaziner, staff writer
Fall Festivals Celebrating Houston’s best season
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Courtesy of The Original Greek Festival
own here, summer means hopping from air-conditioned car to air-conditioned home. And then comes fall. Glorious, cooler fall. Instead of hiding inside, we look for excuses to go somewhere outdoors. Festival organizers know this and they line up compelling attractions. Here are a few of their offerings. Good luck choosing.
Blessington Farms’ Pumpkin Patch and Fall Harvest Festival When: Saturdays through Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Highlights: A family outing of hay rides, giant slides, pedal cars, a hay maze, barrel train rides, sand mountains, a pumpkin patch, plus animal encounters such as zebu, miniature goats, camels and mini-donkeys. Location: 510 Chisolm Trail, Blessington Farms, Simonton Price: $10; free under 18 months. Details: blessingtonfarms.com
47th Annual Original Greek Festival When: Oct 2-5; Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.10 p.m.; Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Highlights: Lively weekend of authentic Greek food, Greek music, traditional dance, cathedral tours, gift shops and art displays. Location: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd. Price: $5; 12 and under free. Free 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday Details: greekfestival.org
4th Annual La Porte Texas Airplane & Auto Show When: Oct. 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Highlights: Display of airplanes and cars, with focus on historical role Ellington Air Force Base played in WWI and WWII. Entry includes two gifts for U.S. troop care packages. Location: 604 W. Fairmont Parkway, La Porte Municipal Airport, La Porte Price: $5; free under 12 BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 18
OPA! Traditional Greek dancing is a highlight of the Original Greek Festival.
Details: lptaas.com
Houston Trade Days & Free Family Festival When: Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Highlights: Holiday-season market with 1,200 vendors selling crafts, collectibles, antiques, jewelry, clothing, fine arts, woodworks and artisan soaps. With music and school/dance performances, plus kids’ play area with bungee jumping and rock climbing. Location: Reliant Center, 1 Reliant Park Price: Free Details: houstontradedays.com
Texas Renaissance Festival When: Oct. 11-Nov. 30, weekends, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Highlights: People watching is half the fun at
this popular sprawling festival on its own permanent grounds in the woods, with stages, shops, bars, music, comedy, juggling, falconry, a maze, archery, games for adults and kids, plays, costumes, swings, food, and themed weekends. Costumes and characters encouraged. Location: 21778 FM 1774, Todd Mission, about an hour northwest of Houston between Magnolia and Plantersville Price: $27 for adults; $13 for children Details: texrenfest.com
Bayou City Art Festival Downtown When: Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Highlights: Downtown Houston will become the center of arts and entertainment with more than 300 artists displaying their works, ranging
Texas Renaissance Festival
REN FEST Travel back through time at the Texas Renaissance Festival and be sure to catch the 5 p.m. joust, pictured here, commonly known as the “death joust.” These jousters have been knocked off their horses and are trying to win with hand-to-hand combat.
from photography, pastel drawings, clay, wood, jewelry, mixed media and more. Look out for 2014 featured artist Ella Richards, who creates “scissor drawings.” New this year will be Bayou City After Dark on Saturday night, which will feature music and cocktails. Location: Downtown Houston; entrance Walker at Bagby by City Hall Price: $15 for adults; $3 for children, free under 3. Details: artcolonyassociation.org
37th Annual Scarecrow Festival When: Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct. 12, 9 a.m.5 p.m. Highlights: Country-style food and music in historic town. 250 vendors: home décor, gardening, art, jewelry, clothing, antiques. Pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, barrel train. Location: 9220 Poplar St., Chappell Hill, 1 hour northwest of Houston Price: Free Details: chappellhillmuseum.org/scarecrow.html
Full Moon Fest When: Oct. 17; 5:30 p.m. start Highlights: West U parks’ annual Halloween celebration. Pumpkin decorating, face painting, costume contests. Showing of Green Lantern at 7 p.m.
Location: 4130 Byron, Colonial Park Pavilion, West University Price: Free Details: westutx.gov
Eighth Annual KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou When: Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Highlights: Nature- and animal-themed crafts, music, food, performers, kayak demonstrations on bayou. Pontoon-boat tours, skateboarding demos, face painters, birds-of-prey show, Halloween-costume parade. Location: 150 Sabine St. between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive Price: Free Details: buffalobayou.org/kidsday.html
21st Annual Pumpkin Patch When: Oct. 18-19 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Highlights: Pumpkin patch, kids’ games, bounce houses, food, Tubs-of-Fun ride, face painting, wagon rides, devil’s rope bridge, crafts vendors. Location: Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire Price: Free Details: naturediscoverycenter.org/pumpkin-patch
Houston Margarita Festival
When: Oct. 25, 2-10 p.m. Highlights: Cheers! 17 flavors of agave-tequila margaritas. DJ David Cruz, DJ Good Grief, Grupo Latitude, Bayou City Brass Bands. Salsa dance and limbo competitions. Location: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., downtown Houston Price: $25; designated driver $15; ages 21-plus Details: houstonmargaritafest.com
Big Brew Houston Craft Beer Event When: Oct. 20-26; Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; Friday 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, 1-4:30 p.m., 6:30-10 p.m., 12-4:30 p.m. Highlights: Nation’s second largest craft-beer festival, with more than 1,000 craft beers and 40 Texas breweries. Daily special events: Thursday Gourmand and Grains – chefs pair dishes to beers; Friday pub-crawl buses. Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, downtown Houston next to Discovery Green Price: $45-100 in advance, ages 21-plus Details: bigbrewhouston.com
Island Oktoberfest When: Oct. 24-25, 5-11 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat. Highlights: German food, (continued on page 20) BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 19
Ashley Garmon
venues; narrative, documentary, experimental films. Meet the Makers workshops, interactivevideo installation. Location: Multiple venues Price: One-day pass, $80; weekend pass, $150; all-access pass, $600 Details: cinemartsociety.org/events
19th Annual Children’s Festival
AUSTIN ROAD TRIP The always-popular Austin City Limits Music Festival brings more than 130 music groups to Zilker Park, Austin. Performers include Pearl Jam, Sam Smith, Calvin Harris, Skrillex, and Lana del Ray. (continued from page 19) sausage dinner, music,
crafts booths, Cake Wheel, themed beers, custom-prepared Texas craft beers. German costumes encouraged. Location: 2415 Winnie on Galveston Island Price: Free admission Details: galvestonoktoberfest.com
Scream on the Green When: Oct. 31, 6 p.m. Highlights: Seventh annual citywide costume contest and Halloween celebration. Prizes, music, family-friendly. Movie Frankenweenie begins at 7 p.m. Location: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street, downtown Houston Price: Free Details: discoverygreen.com/scream-on-the-green
MECA Dia De Los Muertos Festival When: Oct. 31, 7 p.m., ages 21-plus; Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Highlights: Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, a traditional Latin American holiday that honors the lives of those who have passed. Music, dance, theatre and visual arts, altar-exhibit competition, authentic arts and crafts, fashion show. Location: MECA Dow School Campus, 1900 Kane Street Price: $30 presale for Opening Night; $40 at door for Oct. 31; free Nov. 1-2 Details: meca-houston.org
Houston Cinema Arts Festival When: Nov. 12-16 Highlights: Festival of films shown at multiple
When: Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 9, 12-5 p.m. Highlights: Community performances as well as children’s performers such as Choo-Choo Soul “With Genevieve!”, Junie B. Jones in “Jingle Bells Batman Smells,” and a meet-andgreet photo op with the Octonauts. Location: 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands Price: $8 in advance; $10 at the door Details: woodlandscenter.org
Nutcracker Market When: Nov. 13-14; 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Nov. 1516, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Highlights: Knock out everyone on your holiday-shopping list. Popular market with unique gift items, including accessories, antiques, apparel, art, gourmet food, home décor, jewelry, toys. Special events: fashion shows, luncheons, brunch. Proceeds benefit Houston Ballet. Location: Reliant Center at Reliant Parkway Price: $15 in advance. Half-price 3 hours prior to closing. Details: houstonballet.org/nutcracker_market
MORE ONLINE Find more festivals at bellairebuzz.com. Don’t see your favorite fall event? Want us to add more? Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com and let us know.
Worth the drive Austin City Limits Music Festival - When: Oct. 3-5; Oct. 10-12, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Highlights: Created in 2002, it brings in 130-plus music groups from across the globe in various genres including rock, indie, country, folk, electronic and hip hop. Lineup includes Eminem, Outkast, Skrillex, Beck, Calvin Harris and Lana del Rey. Food, kids activities, market. Location: Zilker Park, Austin, 3 hours northwest of Houston • Price: 1-day pass $90; 3-day pass $225 • Details: aclfestival.com Bootfest - When: Oct 3-4, 6 p.m.-midnight Fri., 10 a.m.-midnight Sat. Highlights: Live music showcasing Texas country and Tejano music, custom-made boots, games, arts. Entertainers include Los Amigos A.S.G., William Clark Green, Casey Donahew Band. Car and truck show, washers tournament. Location: Deleon Park, Victoria, 2 hours southwest of Houston • Price: Free • Details: visitvictoriatexas.com Sand Castle Days - When: Oct. 3-5 Highlights: World’s best sculptors turn piles of sand into impressive artwork. Treasure hunts, sand-castle lessons, amateur sand-castle contest. Location: 6900 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, 6 hours south of Houston • Price: Free • Details: sandcastledays.com Lost Pines Art & Music Festival - When: Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Highlights: Enjoy historic downtown Bastrop. Regional art, music, food. Location: Bastrop, 2 hours northwest of Houston • Price: Free • Details: bastropfineartsguild.com Pflugerville Pfall Chili Pfest - When: Oct. 18, 12-7 p.m. Highlights: Spend a day sampling chili and vote for your favorite one. Music, jalapeño-eating contest, car show, washers tournament. Location: Downtown Pflugerville, 2½ hours northwest of Houston • Price: Free • Details: pflugervillepfallchilipfest.com
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 20
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 21
NEIGHBORS by Michelle Casas Groogan, staff writer
Bipolar Disorder How we lost Alex
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lexander Meyerson was athletically gifted, adept in most any sport. He was well read, a thinker, and loved working with kids. He graduated from Memorial High School in 2002 and The University of Texas at Austin, and then became a teacher at Sharpstown High School. He started a new job this summer as director of a YMCA athletic camp. But Alexander lived with a perilous secret – his family and friends didn’t know, but he had been diagnosed in recent years with bipolar disorder. He took his own life in June. He was 30. “He was my everything, my best friend, my protector,” said his sister Jennifer Martin, an art teacher in Baytown who says she constantly worried about the torment her older brother endured. “I saw the depression, and I saw the pain and suffering, and he even talked about wanting to take his own life. I would just tell him it wasn’t an option.” “In the last couple of years it became obvious there was something wrong. We can’t force a grown man to take medication or get a job. And we just tried to support him without just handing money,” she said. “He had so many things running through his head. As close as we were, I would see episodes, and I would say this is just how he is. It wasn’t like I was naive. We considered his thoughts and feelings, but he never admitted he was bipolar.” Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that results in unusual and dramatic shifts from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. Cycles of manic and depressive moods may follow an irregular pattern that can last from one day to months and differs from typical ups and downs. Experts say the incidence of suicide is painfully high. Jerry Meyerson said his son was the sweetest kid who had the “best” smile. The two were outdoorsmen who liked to go on fly-fishing and camping trips together. Alex joined his dad a couple of times for the BP MS 150 bike ride. It was in the last few years that his father witnessed an agonizing progression of change. “He would do things and say things that I thought were strange,” said Jerry. “He went to California for about six months. I would ask him BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 22
where he was staying and he would say, ‘I found a place I could hide my backpack in the woods.’ Sometimes I could talk to him; other times you couldn’t bother him.” Marjorie Kosoy is a psychologist and bereavement counselor at Bellaire’s Redbird Center. She says there is a need to educate people about the illness. She pointed to the HAPPY TIMES When Jerry Meyerson saw that he had been issued #123 for the high-energy actor 2008 BP MS 150 bike race, he made sure son Alex got #456. Robin Williams, sleep or eating habits. Triggers vary, but they reported to be bipolar, who committed suicide. range from not getting enough sleep to job loss, “Robin Williams’ bipolar was so obvious you an argument or the loss of someone. couldn’t miss it. With other people it is not as Alex’s brother, Zack, who works at a Tyler TV obvious. Sometimes people with mania have station, says his brother taught him a lot about higher levels of energy and just get a lot of stuff the world. “Anytime I had a question, from done. Unless you know the person’s usual permath to girls, he always had the answer. sonality you might not recognize it until they are Alexander was going to be my best man at my showing some manic behavior.” wedding next May.” Kosoy says signs usually emerge during the Alex’s dad and mom, Hyla Martin, now must teenage years and that the primary symptoms deal with what Jerry calls “the daily ambush.” to look for are behavioral. She says a kid who “I will hear something or smell something is even-keeled might suddenly display erratic that reminds me of him. I was driving, and I just mood swings. She said people with bipolar disstarted crying because I remembered something order also are more inclined to abuse drugs. we did. I get a lot of ambushes, and I get very But they can lead happy lives if they manage angry that he’s not here,” said Jerry, who is copthe disease. ing with the help of counseling. “Depending on the severity of the disorder, it “The message I want to share is that people is likely a person would have to be on medica[need to] know the symptoms. I don’t know tion,” said Jennifer Strich, a counselor with when the clock started ticking on Alex. But had Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance I known I probably would have been more Greater Houston, which facilitates 70 local supresponsive to his needs and his conversations.” port groups. “Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be managed.” She encourages talk therapy to instill coping See this story at bellairebuzz.com for suggestions skills and says the key is to identify a person’s and resources for coping with bipolar disorder. triggers that lead to symptoms like changes in
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istockphoto.com/vladone
TRAVEL by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz Taking in the colors
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enee Kariv grew up in Houston, where fall colors meant a little less green and a little more brown. She’d hear her mother, who often visited Philadelphia to see family, talk about the spectacular displays that would unfold every autumn. She would bring back colored leaves to share with the grandchildren. “We knew it was special, because my grandmother talked about it a lot,” recalled Karen, Renee’s daughter. Karen’s path took her east, as it turned out, and she didn’t have to imagine anymore. College at Duke University in North Carolina, then up the coast to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey. It didn’t take long to understand her grandmother’s enthusiasm for the fall. Renee had always wanted to see the fall colors; now that Karen lived on the East Coast, she decided to take advantage of it. In 1997 the
COLORFUL CANADA For an unforgettable blend of color, culture and dramatic scenery, nothing beats the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Quebec City.
mother-daughter duo took their first leaf-peeping tour to Connecticut, where they wandered the back roads, got lost, got a room at the Foxwoods Casino and gambled to their heart’s content, and ended up in the tiny seaport town of Mystic, featured in the 1988 Julia Roberts film, Mystic Pizza.
They had so much fun they decided to make a tradition of it. It’s become a cornerstone of their relationship, a timeless place where they can relax and laugh and make lifelong memories together. “It’s so rare to get one-on-one time with your mother,” reflected Karen. “At the beginning I wasn’t quite sure – was three days with Mom
Fall pilgrimage in Quebec: Color and culture While many people head East to take in the fall, broadcaster and travel consultant Virginia Mampre advises heading north. For unforgettable color amid a spectacular backdrop, she recommends heading up along the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Quebec, visiting the sugar shacks along the way, and topping it off with a St. Lawrence Seaway boat trip to see the whales. “Somewhere in storage I have a shot of five great whales arcing out over the water, spouting as they moved,” she reminisced. “All along the trip we moved through the brilliant, lush, fire colors of autumn at its peak. The bright sun accented the glowing reds, yellows and oranges that doubled the awe when reflected in water mirrors. I must have taken a thousand pictures.” At the two extremes, Montreal and Quebec City offer very different urban experiences; modern, cutting-edge Montreal contrasts nicely with Old Quebec, the UNESCO-designated, “dripping with charm” old town of Quebec City. “There’s a confluence in these places of the Old and the New Worlds, when it was first happening,” Mampre said. “That’s what makes it so unique; as you are walking through the streets, you could be in Old Europe and you’ve never crossed the Atlantic – you hear French spoken on the streets, as it’s the main language.” For those with money to spend, the region has an array of options. Mampre and her companions stayed in luxury inns and a beautiful bed and breakfast, enjoyed local cuisine and sampled ice wines, cloudberry liquor and a maple liqueur. One of her favorite recommendations is to check out the offerings of Cirque du Soleil co-creator-turned tourism tycoon Daniel Gauthier. Seeking a way to highlight the Charlevoix region, he purchased a vintage train and one of Canada’s oldest farms and transformed them into a showcase for scenery, regional food producers and cuisine. Now you can take a gourmet-dinner cruise on the scenic Tren de la Massif through craggy mountains and along dramatic banks of the St. Lawrence River with a layover at La Ferme Hotel in tiny Baie-St.-Paul, where Cirque du Soleil was born, at the heart of a century-old restored farm. Another option is to hire a driver so you can be free to look around, and head down the river road. “It’s an incredible trip, with unobstructed views – you want to stop at every bend – light would be shafting through the leaves illuminated from within. All of Canada is ablaze in that area up through the east, with the poplar, the sugar maples, the reds and the yellows – it’s just one of those bucket-list experiences.”
MORE ONLINE See this story at bellairebuzz.com for Virginia Mampre’s travel picks in Quebec City and Montreal.
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 24
LEAF-PEEPING WITH SPENCER Kevin and Lauren Harte Hargrove took their Yorkie, Spencer, on a spontaneous fall-colors tour in upstate New York.
looking at leaves going to be fun? I thought it was kind of cheesy, to be honest – but truthfully the leaves are beautiful, and it’s fun to sit and talk and giggle and have memories. “We don’t have a plan, we just have a destination – and a lot of fun along the way.” Since then, they’ve perused the fall foliage of the Catskills of New York, State, where they shopped in Woodstock and sampled local wines in Rhinebeck; wound their way through the Green Mountains of Vermont, shopping for antiques and stopping in at the “sugar shacks” to watch how maple syrup is made; and spent the night at the Equinox, a luxury resort and spa in charming Manchester Village. Finally, last year: New Hampshire. They rented a a cabin in Waterville Valley and used it as a jumping-off point for the famous Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountain National Forest, rated one of the most scenic in the country and the jumping-off point for sights like Franconia Notch, Flume Gorge and Loon Mountain. They had a three-hour wait at the wildly popular Polly’s Pancake Parlor near Franconia. “We were kind of shocked,” said Renee. “We were in the middle of nowhere, and it was already 11 – obviously we weren’t the only leaf peepers. It’s amazing how many people come from around the world to see that.” The plan was to go from there to Mount Washington, the highest point east of the Mississippi, but locals told them the peak had already passed up there, so instead they headed to Portsmouth, a quintessential New England college town with steeples and his-
toric manors, where they shopped the day away in boutiques and galleries. Last year was what Karen called her “last hurrah” – at least for a while. “I was nine months pregnant; I thought we’d be decorating the nursery. But Mom said, ‘Come on! It will be fun!’ So we said let’s do it, and I just figured out where the hospitals were along the way.” The pair can get a bit carried away when it comes to stocking up on local delicacies, they admit. Renee laughs when she recalls Karen’s husband Amol’s reaction upon opening the trunk of their car and finding it loaded with pancake mixes, maple syrup, spice mixes and other items from local specialty shops. “We just had a ball,” she chuckled. “We’re still laughing about it.” Now, with little Cole a year old, the two of them are planning their first post-baby leaf-peeping getaway to Vermont, hopefully next year. “I plan the trips, and she shows up with the AAA maps, already marked with a highlighter,” Karen said with a laugh. “I usually drive, and she usually takes the pictures. We try to plan something fun for each of us, and then we’ll take a pretty little road with something fun to do at the end.” For Kevin and Lauren Hargrove, a spontaneous Columbus Day weekend jaunt in upstate New York with their Yorkie, Spencer, turned into the memory of a lifetime when they decided to take a drive through the Adirondacks to Lake Placid. They lived in New York City at the time, and Kevin, from San Antonio, had grown up like the Karivs, without really experiencing the fall-color phenomenon.
Lake Placid, a ski resort in the winter, turns into a showcase of natural color for a few weeks in October, and the Hargroves timed it just right. Home to the 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid has capitalized on the event to offer year-round activities related to the region’s Olympic history. The couple marveled at a ski-jump competition and took the leap themselves with a bobsled ride. They found a region that was highly dogfriendly. They hiked through the mountains and took leafy rural roads from town to town, stopping at wineries and enjoying a series of fall festivals, listening to music and enjoying the local cuisine on outdoor patios. Now that they’re living in Houston, they’re planning a return – this time, with their 11month-old son Ellis; maybe next time, they’ll go kayaking on Lake Placid, or book a room at Mirror Lake Inn, which was full last time. “It would definitely be worth the trip,” said Lauren. “There are just thousands of trees before you that are all different colors – you don’t really see that type of scenery around here.” To others who might be planning a fall-colors expedition, the Karivs and the Hargroves offer similar advice: Slow down, chill out, and just take it all in. It’s definitely about the journey, not the destination. “I think I’d say, don’t overplan it,” said Karen. “The fun of the trip is not having an itinerary; it’s wandering around to see what you find. That when most of our laughs come, from never being sure what’s going to happen. Just take your time and enjoy it; it’s about where you’re at and who you’re with, not checking things off the list.” BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 25
FOOD
lawellphoto.com
by Julianna Grisham Moorad, contributing writer
Cooking Buzz Upping the tailgating game Cooking Buzz is a new column produced in partnership with The Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and educational organization founded in 1925.
T
he days of pigs-in-a-blanket, canned bean dip and store-bought cheese trays at football tailgate parties are in the past. Tailgating has become as highly anticipated as the football games themselves. The competition is as fierce in the kitchen as on the field, with weekend food warriors taking to the parking lots to show off. At a Cotton Bowl tailgate party several years ago, my husband, Scott, and his friends fried three turkeys, cooked 15 pounds of shrimp and made chicken and andouille jambalaya for 100 people. Our 4-year-old son, Owen, begs for bold flavors and loves to help in the kitchen. So even though we all support different teams – Texas A&M for me, Oklahoma State for Scott and the St. Francis Wolves for Owen – tailgating is fun for the whole family. Hosting a tailgate party is just like hosting a party at your house. It requires planning ahead so you can enjoy the pre-game fun. The dishes served at tailgate parties may not always be the healthiest or gourmet delicacies, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be made with lots of flavor and fresh, local ingredients. Make sure the food is finger friendly, can be prepared or prepped ahead of time, travels well, is able to sit outside for several hours and is pleasing to many palates. The Junior League of Houston sells three cookbooks that have been prepared by Houston members. The Houston Junior League (first published in 1968), Stop and Smell the Rosemary (1996) and Peace Meals (2008) have some good recipes to consider for a tailgate party. Begin with some easy-to-serve, retro dips to set out first. Some fun options include Avocado Jalapeño Dip, Beer Cheese Spread and Hamburger Stroganoff Dip (see recipe below), all from The Houston Junior League cookbook. To keep the Avocado Jalapeño Dip and the Beer Cheese Spread at the right temperature, bring a bigger bowl that can hold enough ice and a separate bowl with the dip set on top. BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 26
Warm dips like the Hamburger Stroganoff Dip can be prepared in a crockpot. Warm the crockpot at home and it will stay warm for the duration of the tailgate party. No plugs required. For a main course, impress your guests with the $10 Hamburger from Stop and Smell the Rosemary. Grilling hamburgers at tailgate parties is nothing new, but including cream in the patties, adding mushrooms sautéed in vermouth, topping with Swiss or brie cheese and serving on English muffins ups the burger game. Everything can be prepared in advance. TAKE A DIP Julianna Grisham Moorad prepares Hamburger Stroganoff Dip at Separate the patties home in a crockpot, which she then unplugs and brings to her tailgating parties. between sheets of wax ¼ cup butter paper and place in a cooler until it is time to 1 cup beef broth grill. Savvy tailgaters travel with charcoal or 3 tablespoons ketchup propane-tank grills. 1 teaspoon salt Lastly, you are going to want something that 3 tablespoons flour everyone can snack on before and after the ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (optional) game. Nuts on a Hot Tin Roof from Stop and 2 cups sour cream Smell the Rosemary are always a crowd pleaser. Who wouldn’t love cashews sautéed in butter, Brown ground beef, onions and mushrooms seasoned with cayenne pepper, ground cumin in butter. Add broth, ketchup and salt; simmer, and ground coriander? covered, for 30 minutes. Mix flour and caraway For drinks, consider a local craft brew or the seeds with sour cream; add to meat mixture. Stir, Melon Slush from Peace Meals, which is refreshover low heat, until thickened; do not allow to ing and can be made in advance at home, and boil. Serve in a chafing dish as a dip with crisp even in team colors. toast triangles or corn chips; or serve over noodles as a main course. Makes approximately 1½ Hamburger Stroganoff Dip quarts dip, or serves 6 as a main course. The Houston Junior League Cookbook (1968) Submitted by Mrs. H. Edward Maddox, III (Donna Gray) For more recipes, see this story at bellairebuzz.com. 1½ pounds lean ground beef To buy a cookbook, see juniorleaguehouston.org or 2 medium onions, finely chopped call 713-871-6608. ½ pound fresh mushrooms, chopped
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz T
here’s always special electricity in the air when St. Thomas High School and Strake Jesuit face off on the football field, and this year’s matchup was certainly no exception – with one of the most dramatic finishes of this tradition-rich rivalry. St. Thomas pulled out the victory in somewhat miraculous fashion when quarterback Michael Keating connected with Landon Malouf on a 47yard touchdown pass with only four seconds left in the game. “After he caught the ball, we were actually screaming at Michael to go down to set up a field goal, but he broke several tackles and then got great blocks from Drew Guidroz and
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 28
William Heck to get the touchdown,” said Eagles head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “It was a great win for our kids. A lot of the kids from St. Thomas and Strake went to school together when they were younger. They know each other, and there was a lot of emotion out there.” The victory for St. Thomas followed a big win a week earlier over a Kinkaid Falcons team that had gone undefeated last season and was ranked among the top private schools in the state. St. Thomas has now won 22 of 25 games since Fitzpatrick became head coach in 2012. “It’s all about hard work and expectations, as well as holding kids accountable,” said
Fitzpatrick. “Our administration has been great, and a real key is that we’re getting kids involved in the program when they’re freshmen. In essence, we have good players, good kids and good coaches that really know the game.” On the topic of big-rivalry wins, the Memorial Mustangs rallied for a thrilling 21-17 victory over the Stratford Spartans to start the season. Quarterback Matthew Jordan connected on a 45-yard pass to Morgan Whatley late in the game to set up Colton Taylor’s game-winning touchdown run. “It’s huge because I went to middle school with most of the guys on their team,” said
Memorial linebacker John Tucker. “I’m lining up against my buddies, and we’re talking some smack against each other. It’s all really cool stuff, and beating them is awesome. It gives us bragging rights.” One player who had plenty to brag about was Whatley, who hauled down five passes for 179 yards and one touchdown in the victory. “A lot of people think of us as a running team, but we’re capable of coming up with big plays through the air,” said the senior wide receiver. “Fortunately, a lot of those long passes came my way.” Before the start of the football season, it was the West University Senior League baseball team that was making headlines, defeating Curacao 7-4 to win the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine. Joe Gobillot was the winning pitcher in the championship final, with Jimmy Winston pitching in relief late in the game to get the save. John Doxakis, who was the winner pitcher in the semifinals, had a key two-run double in the victory. “It’s a remarkable accomplishment,” said West U Seniors assistant coach Cape Bell. “I think the most amazing thing is that we’ve been to the World Series in four of the last six years. Winning it all is especially impressive when you’re facing teams from across Latin America who are groomed to play baseball. To beat kids of that caliber is significant.”
“Just about every kid on our team contributed to our championship,” said Bell. “Twin brothers Julian and Aaron Cranfield, who are also two of our captains, did a tremendous job. Jacob Millender had a big run-scoring single in the final. I could go on and on about this lineup.” The champi- EAGLE EYES The St. Thomas Eagles had reason to celebrate after scoring on a 47onship was very yard touchdown pass in a dramatic victory over rival Strake Jesuit. much a family “We’ve got a great coaching staff and amazaffair for current West U players Turner Gant, ingly talented kids in the West U program,” said William James and Michael Strietmann, who Bell. “To get beyond state and regionals year all had siblings that played on former West U after year is a major achievement.” teams that advanced to the Senior League World Series. Gant has two brothers (Travis Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardand Turner) who are World Series alumni, as winning co-host and producer of the KUBE does James (Harrison and Phillip). Strietmann’s SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 older brother John played on the 2010 World p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school Series team. Travis Gant and Harrison James sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, were part of the 2009 team that also won the please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. World Series Championship.
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 29
ProSwim Visuals
SPORTS
by Jacob Padden, contributing writer
SportzBuzz, Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Swimming stars Buzz residents competed in the Long Course TAGS (Texas Age Group Swimming) Championships at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center at The University of Texas in Austin. Sam Randall and Michael Skaribas (top photo) represented the Houston Country Club League, and Nicholas Balbin, Rhys Beauchamp, Jeff DeGroot, Nina Plemenos, Catherine “Katie” Shelburne and Paul Schwartz represented Rice Aquatics.
The 8U Wranglers earned second place in the annual West U Summer Slam, marking a happy one-year anniversary for the team, which formed in August 2013. The 10-0 game against Westbury was a highlight, with Fletcher Dowell, Parker Manley and Niko Charlton-Ouw each getting three hits. Coach Clay Manley said the game was “the first time that I can recall an 8-year-old team ever accomplishing” a no-error game. Pictured (middle photo) is Parker Broach, who led the 8U tournament with two home runs. Teammates are Wyatt Childers, Bennett Grossman, Dylan Jenkins, Sam Kennett, Tate Organ, Jayan Shultz and Jack Ward.
Preparing for battle
AS Photography
Summer slammers
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 SportsBuzz, 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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Joe Bailey
The St. John’s School eighth-grade football team is looking to improve on its 7-2 record from seventh grade. At the final game, Oct. 23, The Kinkaid School will be looking for revenge after last year’s 630 rout. The St. John’s team is led by running backs Matthew Kushwaha and Saeed Chabayta. Pictured (bottom photo) are Chabayta (left) and Connor Bailey. Teammates are Ashton Anton, Walker Black, Trent Burch, Brian Chotiner, Wesley Gow, Chase Gray, Robert Hellums, Hunter Hernandez, Thad Hutcheson, Ben Jacobs, Nate Kagan, Duncan Lamme, Will Lee, Chase Moye, Jonah Pesikoff, Aidan Propst, David Seo, Michael Spedale, Malcolm Sturgis, Jacob Tulek and William Wallace.
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Low-humidity cesspools The Buzz published Top 13 Travel Myths in March, 2013. I had trouble with this one: “A crowded airplane is no more germ-laden than other enclosed spaces.” While true, most enclosed spaces don’t have 12 percent humidity. As Ask the Pilot’s website states: “If passengers have one very legitimate gripe, it’s about dryness. Indeed, the typical cabin is exceptionally dry and dehydrating. At around 12 percent humidity, it is drier than you will find in most deserts. This is chiefly a by-product of cruising at high-altitudes, where moisture content is somewhere between low and nonexistent.” The reason many people get respiratory tract infections from airplanes is actually two-fold – low humidity and armrests/tray tables. 1. Low humidity dries out your mucus, making it less able to trap and process germs. Further, the antibody that may protect you from infection on the surface of your nasal tissue, Immunoglobulin A (IgA), dries out and may become less functional at humidity levels of less than 30 percent. 2. If you’re not on the first flight of the morning, your seating area was not cleaned before you sat down. There’s a chance that the passenger who previously occupied your seat had a cold, touched his/her nose, then touched the armrest and tray table. In any case, the crew can’t do the complete cleaning of the cabin more often than once at night, and the virus and/or bacteria there may be waiting for you. What to do? There are some things you can do to decrease the chance of catching that snotty-nosed kid’s cold: 1. Carry a couple paper towels or napkins onboard. When you take
your seat, whip out your three-ounce bottle of Purell and wipe down the tray table and armrests. Remember the TSA is OK with small bottles of liquids. 2. Don’t drink large amounts of alcohol or caffeine on long flights. These act as diuretics and can further dry you out. Oral hydration is best accomplished with Gatorade or water. 3. Bring a one-ounce bottle of Ocean or Ayr nasal spray on board and “spritz” each nostril once each hour while airborne to moisten the mucus and the surface IgA. If you’re lucky enough to hop on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, great! This particular plane’s advanced design provides adequate humidity. However, until all planes are adequately humidified, use the tips above to ward off infection while traveling. 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 & Asthma Clinic
BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 31
NEIGHBORS
Buzz About Town Symphony season
with a cocktail reception at Gremillion & Co Fine Art. More than 120 young professionals gathered to enjoy light bites and wine provided by A Fare Extraordinaire. Pictured (from left) are steering-committee members Divya and Chris Brown and Southside Place residents Ting and John Bresnahan, also steering-committee members.
Celebrating ‘70s-style Chinh Phan/Candlelight Group Photography
The Houston Symphony’s Young Associates Council kicked off the 2014-15 season recently
The House of Blues looked more like Studio 54 as guests gathered for the 65th birthday celebration of Bellaire resident Karen Freedman (pictured). Party-goers dug deep into their closets
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Jordan Scheiner Photography
by Jordan Magaziner, staff writer
and arrived in vintage ’70s attire. Singer Mary Griffin kept the dance floor full as muscled, male cage dancers inspired the crowd. A disco diva on stilts, a guy in a bath tub serving Jello shots and a Solid Gold party girl on roller skates were among the many surprises of the evening. Dancing queen Karen was paraded in like Cleopatra on a velvet barge to the song Disco Inferno. A full production of the line dance from Saturday Night Fever included 28 friends and a longtime dance instructor and proved to be a well-rehearsed crowd favorite.
A new year of chorus
the Houston Girls Chorus at the Spring Concert last year: (front row, from left) Giovanna Wiley, Rukmini Kalamangalam, Rachel Tan; (back row, from left) Leslee Ivy, Laura Tan and Norma Garcia. Upcoming free performances include a fall concert at MECA Nov. 1, 3 p.m., and at South Main Baptist Church, Nov. 2, 5 p.m. See AFAtexas.org for details about performances and scheduling an audition.
Undies for everyone
mately 45,000 Houston students get a fresh start this school year, as one need – underwear – is often overlooked for economically disadvantaged families. Pictured (from left) are volunteers Becky Eisenberg and Micki Bronston with executive director Rabbi Amy Weiss at Whole Foods’ Community Giving Day. The store’s Bellaire location provided five percent of its sales to Undies for Everyone. The Wilcrest location also participated, and the two locations raised more than $8,400 combined. See undiesforeveryone.org.
Cheering for Texans The American Festival for the Arts announced new members for the 2014-15 season of Houston Girls Chorus, presented in collaboration with Houston Grand Opera’s HGOco, an initiative that connects the Houston Grand Opera to the community through collaboration such as student performances. The Houston Girls Chorus is composed of middle- and high school-aged girls from throughout Houston, who will perform in more than 20 appearances this year, including the house choir for Houston Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker Nov. 28-Dec. 28, two formal recitals and a spring tour of Galveston. Twin sisters Laura and Rachel Tan, as well as Rukmini Kalamangalam, are freshmen at Carnegie Vanguard High School and will participate in HGO again this year. Pictured here are
Parents have plenty of items on their back-toschool list to purchase every year. Nonprofit Undies for Everyone partnered with school districts and the City of Houston to help approxi-
Football season is officially underway, and St. Vincent de Paul students showed support for the Houston Texans by wearing Texans jerseys to school before the first home game of the season. The Texans mascot Toro, along with Texans cheerleaders, visited SVdP students and teachers during lunch. Pictured (from left, back row) are Texans (continued on page 34)
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Daranesha, Texans mascot Toro, cheerleaders Sarah F. and Krystal; (from left, front row) fourth-grade SVdP students Elise Reinoso, Laura Linardi, Sophie Johnston, Jack Keeler, Dax Garza, Michael O’Brien, Kate Pesek, Bella Nolla, Darren Jimenez, Andrew Roy and Mary Claire Hughes and teacher Michelle Asselin.
can find, and bid on silent-auction baskets. All proceeds go back into the community through outreach programs for the homeless, underprivileged children, Alzheimer’s programs and cancer support. Pictured (from left) are Claire Ounanian, Amy Vaughan and Bethany Vaughan, who are part of the church youth group and volunteered to make cotton candy at a past carnival.
Fall fun festival
Cruisin’
(continued from page 33) cheerleaders Ashley and
The Rubenstein family recently returned from a 12-night Baltic cruise that sailed to Amsterdam; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the sites they visited included the Anne Frank House
Bellaire United Methodist Church is hosting its annual Fall Fun Festival Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be a free children’s carnival with games, plus baked goods, international dishes, hot dogs and chips. Be sure to check out the 300-family garage sale to see what you
and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Berlin Wall in Berlin, the Hermitage and Russian
Ballet in St. Petersburg, and each of the city centers in Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Lisa, the youngest daughter and avid traveler, said that 12 nights were nowhere near enough to see all of the sights and take in all the history and culture of this part of the world. She said, “While the food in southern Europe definitely trumps the food in northern Europe, nothing compares to the beauty and history of the Baltic.” Pictured (from left) are Jim, Barbara, Julie and Lisa Rubenstein in front of the remains of the Berlin Wall.
Snow cone social
Condit Elementary cooled off from hot Houston weather and celebrated the beginning of a new school year with its annual Snow Cone Social. Students and families met new teachers, caught
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Twin surprise Every year, twins Kate and Anna Greenberg celebrate their birthdays with a swim party. But this year, for their 10th birthday, the timing was a surprise. They were told they were going to have lunch in the backyard with family, but instead, all of their friends arrived at once and screamed, “Surprise!” The party took place the day before school at Beth Yeshurun started, so the birthday party was also a backto-school bash for these fifth graders. The girls made their own pizzas in the outdoor pizza oven and, for dessert, made their own ice cream sundaes. Party girls included Sophie Sorkin, Rachel Gittleman, Julia Danziger, Abby Cowan, Ella Lewis, Rebecka Ferdman, Aria Jochanuo, Emma Zadok, Emma Callahan, Emma Seumsom, Noa Strauss and Sophie Kalmin. up with friends, picked up school supplies and, of course, enjoyed delicious snow cones. Pictured (from left) are Katherine Kimble and Grace Dholakia with their treats.
Mixin’ with a new Texan A group of Pin Oak Middle School sixthgrade boys got together for dinner before their first mixer. Before leaving, they had the opportunity to pose for a photo in their neighborhood with the Texans’ new quarter-
back, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Pictured (from left) are students and their friends: Garrett Sisk, Cullen Baker, George Mills, Justin Taylor, Caden Biedermann, Tommy Lai, Parker Forque, Matthew McGuire, Carson Brown, Brandon Baker, Dylan Taylor, Trey Russo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brady Fitzpatrick, Tyler Sisk, Parker Smith, Will Russo, Jacob Dixon, Boomer Beasley, Ethan Gadbois, Sam Kant, Gabe Kant, Josh Blum and Garrett Loughhead.
Watch their smiles grow.
Editor’s note: The Buzz is happy to report that Annie and Tyler McQueen’s twin babies are doing well. Annie Blaylock McQueen, associate editor and Buzz About Town columnist, is currently out on maternity leave, spending time with her babies, Cash and Lila. In the meantime, Jordan Magaziner is handling this section. As usual, please send your high-res photos and community news to The Buzz at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Items are published on a space-available basis.
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JUST DANCE Ryann Moos, a sixth grader at Trafton Academy, has lots of hobbies but is most passionate about dancing.
KIDS by Ryann Moos, age 11
Buzz Kidz
Jazzing it up
I have many hobbies. Dance, softball, piano, running, Girl Scouts and singing are just a few of them. One of my favorite hobbies is dancing. I dance with the Vdanse Jr. Dance Company at The Dance Place. To make it even more fun, a lot of my good friends dance with me. This summer, my dance company danced in a competition in Galveston called StarQuest. I danced in three group dances and a duet. An award-winning dance company named Revolve Dance Company from Spring helped choreograph our numbers. All of the group dance numbers received the High-Gold award, and one of the numbers received fifth place overall. My duet received a High-Gold award and also placed fifth overall. The competition was so fun. Every week I practice many different styles of
dance: ballet, hip-hop, ballroom and jazz, to name a few. I dance for about six hours every week at my studio, and I also practice at home. My favorite style of dance is jazz. My group and I recently danced at the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association Gala at the Omni Hotel in front of hundreds of people. It was a wonderful experience. In September last year, we performed at the Southwestern Invitational Dancesport competition in Dallas. We have also performed at Bellaire’s Holiday in the Park for the last couple of years, and that’s one of our favorite shows. I have been dancing with my dance teacher, Verneal Morin (Ms. V), since I was 3. Ms. V has taught me many dance moves, like a pirouette (I have mastered my triple), a rond de jambe, a
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BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 36
jeté, a calypso, a piqué and much more. When I am not dancing, I am playing competitive softball with the 12U Texas Brawlers and the 12U Texas Thunder. I attended the USFA Softball World Series this summer in Panama City Beach with the Texas Brawlers. It was a blast. 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, TX 77401.
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How long must my money last? During our working years, most people have a financial goal of accumulating enough money to retire. Sometimes we can’t save as much as we’d like because we have too much month left at the end of the money. Usually our time horizon is known; that is, we know how long we want to or have to work to accumulate enough money to retire. Another goal during our working years is often to obtain as high a rate of return as possible without taking more risk than necessary. This principle is sometimes called “modern portfolio theory” or asset allocation. During our retirement years, the financial goal is typically to try to make sure that our money will last for the remainder of our lives. Since none of us know how long we will live, our time horizon is unknown. This uncertainty oftentimes makes retirement income planning very challenging. The investment objective in retirement often becomes obtaining as much income as possible without outliving our money – that is, having too much life left at the end of the money. This raises some interesting financial planning and tax questions, such as how to invest retirement funds and how to systematically withdraw funds from tax-exempt, tax-deductible and taxable accounts. According to the Social Security Administration’s 2010 mortality tables, a 65-year-old man has a 58 percent chance of living to age 80. A 65-yearold woman has a 50 percent chance of living to age 85. Moreover, there is a 40 percent chance that one spouse will live to age 90. As medicine advances, it is not unlikely that longevity will increase. When I work with clients, I prefer to assume that they will live longer than
the average because I want to try to protect them from running out of money. I’d rather they have some money going to heirs than for them to find themselves broke during their lifetimes. That’s why, unless there are extraneous factors, I encourage my clients to plan on living at least into their mid-90s. As a result, some people may choose to work longer than they initially planned. Moreover, retirement-income planning options need to be carefully planned and monitored. See your financial planner for details! This material is intended for informational purposes only and should only be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice, as individual situations may vary. All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Securities and advisory services offered through SagePoint Financial, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through Park Place Financial, which is not affiliated with SagePoint Financial or registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. SagePoint Financial, Inc. does not offer tax or legal advice. Legal advice provided by Christopher J. Maurer, 6300 West Loop S., Suite 690, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.667.4884. Christopher J. Maurer, J.D., CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in Bellaire, with over 20 years of experience. He can be reached at 713-667-4884 or www.parkplacefinancial.co.
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DINING GUIDE by Dai Huynh, staff writer
This Month in Dining Sweet Southern comfort
Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at bellairebuzz.com.
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BARBECUE INN A Houston tradition since 1946, Barbecue Inn has crispy fried chicken that takes about 25 minutes to make and is worth the wait.
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don’t remember the chef’s name or, sadly, even his face. But I do remember his words: Food is memory. Here, in Houston, no meal choices delve as deeply into the past as the Southern staples served at family get-togethers, Sunday church suppers and covered-dish potlucks. It’s called “comfort food” for a reason, and people seem to seek it out every time there is a personal or national crisis. It’s no different than sliding into a pair of old, familiar jeans. There’s Cleburne Cafeteria (3606 Bissonnet) – where every day is Thanksgiving with turkey and dressing. Owner George Mickelis has witnessed many spikes in demand for comfort foods, with the most definitive being after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More recently, several chef-driven, Southern comfort-food restaurants and bars have opened, including Lucille’s (5512 LaBranch) and Punk’s Simple Southern Food (5212 Morningside). A commonality weaves through these establishments – a desire not only to share the food that the chefs grew up eating, but also their memories of simpler, golden times. Then, there are the restaurants that have created memories. We’re talking about Brennan’s of Houston (3300 Smith). At the Breakfast Klub (3711 Travis), Houstonians start the day with perfectly crisp fried catfish and grits. The oxtails at This Is It (2712 Blodgett) and Alfreda’s Cafeteria (5101 Almeda Road) have imprinted their juicy tenderness into my mental scrapbook, along with the dirty rice with ground chicken-liver bits at Frenchy’s Chicken (3919 Scott St.). The fried chicken and chicken-fried chicken breast at Barbecue Inn (116 W. Crosstimbers Road) still taste as sublime as the first time I bit into their greaseless, crunchy goodness in 1985. They still take 25 minutes to make. Eating here is like entering a feel-good time warp. And owner David Skrehot, whose grandparents started the restaurant in 1946, has no intention of changing a family tradition. BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 38
Tacos and tamales Neighborhood: Northside Village Alamo Tamale & Taco encompasses everything we love about Houston – good, down-toearth, cheap, Tex-Mex tacos on-the-go for breakfast and lunch. At sunrise, the line snakes out the door at the location on Navigation bordering downtown. But at the Berry Road outlet near the Heights, a major expansion about a year ago has helped alleviate the large crowds that clamor for the $1-2 tacos billowing with an assortment of steam-table offerings including barbacoa and carnitas. But as it did in the ’60s, Alamo continues to etch its reputation making pork, beef brisket, chicken and jalapeño-cheese tamales. Breakfast & lunch Mon.-Sun. (Closes at 5 or 6 p.m.) 809 Berry Road, 713-692-6363. $ NEW LISTING!
Antica Osteria
Regional Italian Neighborhood: Southhampton Antica Osteria, in a vintage brick house, attracts an eclectic mix with its warm, oldfashioned feel. There are Turkish movie stars, socialites, ingénues, young lovers, media types and, even, parents with well-behaved children. The attractions are the well-prepared
pastas; spaghetti carbonara lush with cream and pancetta makes the strongest impression, along with abundantly friendly service and a homey vibe. Every meal begins with complimentary bruschetta and ends with a gracious smile. In between, there are simple, satisfying antipasti. Many customers order pastas as their entrées, but for those who must have meat, consider the deftly prepared osso buco – an occasional special – or the grilled angus fillet. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 2311 Bissonnet, 713-5211155. anticarestaurant.com. $$$
Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso buco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. 601 Richmond Ave., 713527-4440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$
is a soul-satisfying breakfast with a steaming café au lait. The moistly crisped walnut chocolate chip cookies, even at $3-plus apiece, are worth it. The only version that surpasses these, you can’t get since it comes out of my brother’s oven. Not every pastry is perfect at Common Bond. Its frequently touted plain croissant falls short on texture. While beautiful to look upon – glisteningly golden-brown – the overly crisped shell tastes dry and interior mealy. Scones, too, were tough. But the pastries that are nearly perfect here, like the kouign amann (a flaky, buttery, caramelized, sugar-topped pastry), surpass their counterparts around town. Common Bond bustles at breakfast, and for good reason. Offerings include a stellar sourdough sandwich stacked with pork sausage, cheddar, frisee and fried egg. Be kind; share it with a good friend. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. (Kitchen closes 3 p.m. daily, but the dining room remains open for coffee and dessert until 7 p.m.). 1706 Westheimer Road, 713-5293535. wearecommonbond.com. $$
Green Vegetarian Cuisine Common Bond Café & Bakery Pastries and sandwiches Neighborhood: Montrose area The long search for moist, buttery kugelhopf ends here. Speckled with brandy-soaked raisins, the sultan’s turban-shaped cake-bread
Kosher vegetarian Neighborhood: Bellaire-Gulfton area Enchiladas, spaghetti and quinoa are on the menu of this San Antonio-based vegetarian kosher chain that is fast attracting a loyal following among green devotees and non-vegetar-
ians hooked on the kitchen’s clean, simple flavors. The dishes are largely straightforward – from a portabella burger with A.1. steak sauce and caramelized onions to fried eggplant parmesan over marinara-tossed spaghetti. The key is ultra-fresh salads and ingredients brought to life by zippy sauces, which are always available for the asking. The green poblano ranch dressing doesn’t come with the satisfying Frisbee-sized Mediterranean Bowl. But try it to add another dimension to the quinoa tabouli, black olives, falafel patties, dolmas, carrots and tomatoes. Chipotle mayo pairs nicely with the artichoke and portabella quesadilla. Such well-prepared and affordable grub draws a constant stream of regulars to this friendly nook with an earthycrunchy vibe. Don’t leave without trying a vegan brownie or a hostess cupcake. Lunch & dinner Sun.-Fri. 6720 Chimney Rock, Suite Y. 832-649-4184. eatatgreen.com. $$
Jonathan’s the Rub American classics Neighborhood: Memorial Villages A hidden gem in Hedwig Village, Jonathan’s the Rub is known for its burger selection. One of them, “The Rub,” is a chargrilled, rub-seasoned, ground-chuck patty topped with cheese and applewood-smoked bacon, served on a Sheila Partin sweet sourdough bun with creamy “Jonny Sauce.” Owner Jonathan (continued on page 40)
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BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 39
bits of potatoes and chicken. Bring friends, as the menu is made for sampling. Perusing the expansive menu, you'll discover two major influences, Chinese and Indian. But Malaysia’s food culture is also lightly touched by Thai, Dutch and Portuguese, making it complex and diverse. Entrée standouts include the stir-fried beef chow fung noodles and pangan ikan, grilled fish swaddled in banana leaf and anointed with a highly addictive, savory, sweet sauce made with fermented shrimp. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 9889 Bellaire Blvd., 713-776-2388. $$
Pass & Provisions
PICO’S MEX-MEX One offering at the beloved, now-on-Kirby restaurant is Chilean sea bass with mussels, clams and head-on jumbo Gulf shrimp. (continued from page 39) Levine’s strength is driving
the juices to the center of the patty. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri.; Dinner only Sat. 9061 Gaylord, 713-465-8200. jonathanstherub.com. $$
Kasra Persian Grill Classic Mediterranean Neighborhood: Tanglewood/Memorial Tables brim with savory mezzes, such as creamy hummus, eggplant dips and toasted rice topped with kidney beans and beef. Complimentary feta cheese, fresh mint, parsley and radishes with yeasty, golden flatbreads are served upon arrival. Mint tea, grilled beef on dill-scented rice and moist Cornish hens on fluffy barberries-laced rice scent the air. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 9741 Westheimer Road, 713975-1810. kasrahouston.com. $$
Local Foods Chef-driven gourmet deli Neighborhood: Rice Village Hand-crafted sandwiches and salads from chef Dylan Murray draw a diverse crowd. Savor duck confit smothered with melted brie, aioli and cranberry preserves on wheat bread. Shrimp-and-crab on ciabatta with green goddess dressing is another must-try. Sandwiches come with two sides that include Tuscan kale with golden raisins and potato chips speckled with Old Bay seasonings. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2424 Dunstan, 713-521-7900. houstonlocalfoods.com. $$
Lowbrow Eclectic food and drink Neighborhood: Montrose There are those establishments specializing in great burgers, and those that offer a great burger BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 40
on their menu. Falling into the latter category is Lowbrow – launched under the guidance of culinary director Matt Marcus, who’s also chef/owner at Eatsie Boys Cafe. The Juicy Lucy Burger is a Fontina- and jalapeño-stuffed, longhorn-beef patty with arugula, pickled shallots and crispy shallots. Add cheddar cheese and crispy bacon, and you have the masterpiece that is the Juicy Lucy. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun.; weekend brunch. 1601 W. Main St., 281-5018288. lowbrowhouston.com. $$
Lucille’s Creative Southern Neighborhood: Museum District The fried green tomatoes – lightly crisped and anointed with a rich, bright-orange remoulade sauce – know few peers around town. This and a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, in this refurbished brick building, would do just fine for lunch. That and a side order of chef-owner Chris Williams’ hot rolls. Look around. You’ll see many breaking bread while waiting for shrimp and grits and the pan-roasted white fish on a pile of pancakes, surrounded by candied-sweet cherry tomatoes. Lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sun., 5512 La Branch, 713-568-2505. lucilleshouston.com. $$$ NEW LISTING!
Mamak
Malaysian Neighborhood: Bellaire Chinatown Mamak is directly across from another favorite, the original Banana Leaf, which introduced many Houstonians to something more adventurous than Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai. Mamak manages to hold its own and even excel in some areas, such as the Indian pancakes, roti canai. They arrive hot and tender, perfect when doused in a rich curry sauce bobbing with
Inventive modern fare Neighborhood: Fourth Ward A duo eatery in one space – white-tablecloth Pass and bustling Provisions. Pass is a caviar affair, while Provision serves casual edibles, including smartly donned sandwiches and billowy pizzas with such toppings as kale with pork sausage and duck confit with potato and pickled currants. There are some crossovers of dishes and kitchen playfulness between the two menus. Provisions, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat; Pass, dinner only. 808 Taft, 713-628-9020. Passandprovisions.com. $$-$$$$ NEW LISTING!
Pico’s Mex-Mex
Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Many remain nostalgic about the old Pico's location on Bellaire. But upon entering the new locale, it's hard to fault owner Arnaldo Richards for moving into this graciously appointed, hacienda-inspired space made warm and inviting with coral tablecloths, ceiling beams and dark furniture. His food, too, has been tweaked, often with winning results. The tomato salsa sings. The ranchera salsa smolders with charred tomatoes. The chicken consommé soup is still a cure for the blues, swimming with pulled chicken, onion, cilantro, Mexican rice and avocado. A dash of Serrano pepper provides a mild, welcome kick. And his signature huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper) is elegantly draped with an exquisitely light tomato sauce flavored with green olives, capers and chiles güeros. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3601 Kirby, 832-8319940. picos.net. $$
Pizzeria Solario Neopolitan pizzeria Neighborhood: Highland Village When it comes to the Neapolitan pies at this cheery spot with patio seating, there are no tricks, just good techniques: a fiery 800degree wood-burning oven that chars the edges of a bubbly, soft-bottom pizza (you can request a crispier bottom). The creamy mozzarella and garlicky white sauce are made in house. Try the Appolonia with soppressata salami, black pepper, parmesan cheese and an egg on top. The pizza margherita is satisfyingly direct, simply spiced with vibrant plum tomatoes, mozzarella and organic basil. Lunch &
dinner Mon.-Sun. 3333 Weslayan, 713-8928100. pizzeriasolario.com. $
Post Oak Grill Gulf Coast classics Neighborhood: Tanglewood Happiness exists in a bread basket at this popular outpost for business lunches. The basket usually cradles oven-fresh biscuits fragrant with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. One really isn’t enough; nor is two or three. Slow down, though, or you’ll fill up before the perfectly grilled rainbow trout arrives, glistening lightly with butter-caper sauce. Polo Becerra is a classically trained chef with a timeless approach of keeping ingredients simple and clean, with just a sheath of sauce to elevate the flavors of beef and seafood. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sat., 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-9939966. postoakgrill.com. $$$
Shepherd Park Draught House Pub fare Neighborhood: Garden Oaks From the Pink’s Pizza family, tucked neatly into a strip center in Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park Draught House is a cozy pub that offers several burgers. In the Poblano Burger, the bun is pillow-soft and buttery, and the meat has a hint of black pepper and a layer of not-too-spicy peppers that gives it a nice kick. Once you sam-
ple the pub’s burger and neighborhood hospitality, you might just have found your own “Cheers.” Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun.; weekend brunch. 3402 N. Shepherd Dr., 832-767-1380. shepherdparktx.com. $$
Tony’s Upscale Gulf Coast Italian Neighborhood: Upper Richmond Old World Italian provides a water-walled backdrop for star sightings, anniversaries, birthdays and engagements over Riedel glasses and Christofle flatware. Cinematic plots unfold under the watchful eye of restaurateur Tony Vallone, whose Gulf Coast Italian menu sparkles with chef Grant Gordon’s flavors. When available, try the pea ravioli with lamb sausage, which shimmers with creamy richness. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat. 3755 Richmond, 713-622-6778. tonyshouston.com. $$$$
Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or shortrib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California
cabernet. With his new steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. and dinner Sun. 947 Gessner, 713-395-6100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$
Zelko Bistro American bistro Neighborhood: Houston Heights This warm and cozy Heights-area bistro, tucked away in a converted bungalow, serves a medium-cooked burger with cheddar, lettuce, caramelized onions, crunchy bacon, tomato, pickles and dijonnaise on brioche with truffle fries. The bun is nicely grilled with butter on its flat side, puffy and sweetly flavored with the right amount of flavor contrast. The thinly sliced truffle fries melt in your mouth. Lunch & dinner Tue.-Sun.; brunch Sun., 705 E. 11th St., 713-880-8691. zelkobistro.com. $$
MORE ONLINE For more restaurants and to comment, see this story online at bellairebuzz.com.
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Ask Dr. Southern
How long does a divorce take?
What is a medical or cosmetic laser? We’ve all lived with lasers for many years. CD players use tiny laser beams, and a laser pointer really is a laser. “Laser” is an acronym: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (not the radioactive kind). Lasers have existed since the 1940s, but have been widely used in medicine only for 20 years or so. A true laser has parallel light rays, not scattered like the rays from a light bulb. That’s how a laser pointer makes such a small dot on a screen far away. Also, the substance inside a laser emits only a specific wavelength (color) of light when stimulated by electricity. The wavelength determines what absorbs the light, as well as the depth of penetration of the beam. Short-wavelength lasers reshape the cornea in Lasik surgery. A longer wavelength is used in hair removal because that color is absorbed into melanin, the brown pigment in skin and hair. The longer the wavelength, the deeper the beam goes. The amount of heat generated also varies. There are so-called cold lasers that don’t generate a lot of heat, and are used to stimulate hair growth instead. We have many different types of lasers, even just in cosmetic medicine – hair removal, hair growth, skin resurfacing, skin tightening and even fat reduction. Choosing the right type of laser for your goals can be confusing. That’s why it is so important to trust your skin to well-trained, experienced professionals. Jeanne Southern, MD, Metropolitan MedSpa, 3005 W Loop S. Fwy., Suite 240, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.468.4247, DrSouthern@metmedspa.com, www.metmedspa.com
It depends on the complexity of the issues in the case, how contested the case is, and how likely it is that the parties can make settlement decisions without the court having to be the final decision maker. In Texas, the case has to be on file 60 days prior to any divorce being granted, but most divorces take between 60 days and two years. There is no such thing as quick divorce unless both sides agree to settle the case. The court will most likely not set a final trial in a divorce case until the case has been pending for 9-12 months. Many people are very surprised by the amount of time that it will take for a divorce to occur, so if you are considering a divorce, be certain to meet with a qualified family law attorney who can explain your options and lead you through the process prior to the time you are considering filing. You may need time to compile necessary information that could delay your case being finalized. Your attorney should be understanding if you are not ready to file for divorce, but only want to investigate your options and obtain pre-filing advice. K. Nicole Voyles, a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family law firm, has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomas Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine, for 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. K. Nicole Voyles, Board Certified in Family Law, Jenkins & Kamin, LLP, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
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New Pre-K 3 class at Duchesne
Bush sisters at Theta show
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is opening a new Pre-K 3 class in the fall of 2015 and is now accepting applications for the new class. “The new Pre-K 3 level is in response to increased interest by parents in having their daughters begin their educational and Sacred Heart journey at Duchesne as soon as possible,” said Patricia Swenson, head of school. Recent research and statistics are also behind the decision to open a Pre-K 3 program. According to the National Institute for Early Education (NIEER), students who attend a high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not. A quality preschool program also teaches a child how to be a student and gives a child good social and behavior-management skills. Adding to the experience at Duchesne is the advantage of offering a focus on single-sex education. According to a study by Linda J. Sax, Ph.D., women who attend single-sex schools tended to outscore their coeducational counterparts on the SAT, have greater academic engagement, spend more time speaking with their teachers outside of class, and have higher confidence levels in their math abilities and their computer skills. Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, 10202 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024, 713.468.8211, www.duchesne.org
Shopping enthusiasts and aficionados will have the chance to be a part of the 62nd Annual Theta Charity Antiques Show, one of the top antiques show in the country, Nov. 20-23 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. On Friday, the featured luncheon lecture-series speakers are Theta alumnae Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, daughters of former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Jenna Hager is a contributing correspondent on NBC’s Today Show and editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. She is also the author of The New York Times bestseller Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope. Barbara Bush is CEO and co-founder of Global Health Corps, an organization that mobilizes a global community of emerging leaders to build the movement for health equity. From Victorian pottery for Majolica lovers to rare mid-19th century furniture for the savvy interior designer, guests will find that special, eyecatching, “got to have it” item. If new to antiquing, shoppers will find fabulous pieces at affordable prices at the new collector’s booth that offers a wide range of antiques. General-admission tickets for all four days are $10. For more information regarding the show or luncheon lecture series, or how to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.ThetaCharityAntiquesShow.com.
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sponsored by
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One-to-one school 713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Neighborhood Tails
Percy, age 1, Poodle/Schnauzer, Oakdale St. My name is Percy. My parents found me at a soccer field. I was running around chasing the players, and the game had to be stopped four times. When my parents were leaving, they saw that no one was there to take me home. They couldn’t leave me behind. Good thing, too, because a terrible storm came in that night. A month or so afterward, I got a new friend. My daddy left his truck door open while he went into his office. Daisy, a Boston Terrier mix, decided to jump in the back seat. He didn’t realize that she was there until he started leaving to go home. When my mom saw her, they decided she was not pretty enough to be adopted out at the SPCA, so they thought it best to keep her. We are now the best of friends, and we are loved very much – although the two older dogs say they could live without us. Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.
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PRE-KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 12
Fusion Academy is an alternative, private school for grades 612 that offers class sizes as small as they come: one student and one teacher in every classroom. The curriculum meets state standards, but the classes are selfpaced and taught in a way that considers each student’s individual interests, strengths and learning style. We also offer flexible scheduling and allow students to begin a class at any time during the year. Student life is much like larger schools with clubs, dances, field trips and international excursions. Additionally, Fusion Academy students do not take their homework home with them, but complete it under teacher supervision in the Homework Café® before they leave for the day. Going beyond academic support, Fusion Academy partners with outside therapeutic professionals and programs to support students’ emotional health and create a balance between learning and life. Each campus is also equipped with a state-of-the-art recording studio and a full mixed-media art studio to provide students with opportunities for creative expression. Fusion offers the following enrichment classes for both private lessons and courses for credit, taught from the beginner to the advanced/performance level, including yoga, foreign languages, piano, recording arts, voice, music theory and composition, drums and more. For more information or to join us at an event, call 866-770-3616 or go to www.fusionacademy.com.
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Beneficiary designation exasperation The husband and wife were reviewing her annuity with their financial advisor. “You need to designate a beneficiary,” says the advisor. “I thought she did,” the husband responds. “I’ll send you a beneficiary designation form and help you submit it,” the advisor concludes, and moves on to the next topic. Later, the husband pulls the annuity contract. It includes the wife’s application, complete with her beneficiary designation. The woman who processed the original application is still on the job, years later. She reviews the file, and explains that she messed up and had looked at the wrong paperwork when logging the contract. The company had the right paperwork, but didn’t look for it until challenged. Beneficiary designations matter, and everyone should keep copies with their wills. Better yet, insist on a written confirmation, to prove your designation was accepted and recorded and matches the instructions you provided. Data entry and record retention are the weak links in beneficiary designations, and they fail too often. Does anyone remember Washington Mutual? The FDIC bought all their assets, then sold them to Chase. Did Chase get any account agreements? No, all the assets and records were reduced to electronic notation, and more than one family found itself in probate litigation because the records were lost. Texas encourages beneficiary designations, but usually requires a written instrument. Electronic notations are not written instruments. If you expect your beneficiary designations to be honored, leave a written copy. Doublecheck the designation that’s actually recorded. If you designate a trustee, but the confirmation says “my estate,” that asset’s going through probate.
Don’t assume the professionals know what they’re doing. IRAs are long-term investments, yet some custodians destroy the paperwork after three years. If you don’t leave a written copy, your family’s not getting one from that custodian. It’s all so haphazard, so should you even bother designating a beneficiary? Why not just let everything run through probate? Think again. If you don’t designate a beneficiary, the account may designate one for you. Especially for employment benefits, where efficient administration is the highest priority, it’s common that the plan defines default beneficiaries. Thought that account was going to probate? Your family may discover it’s going to the kids in equal shares, including the one you disinherited. The best practice is to make a will, designate beneficiaries (your attorney will have specific instructions), and keep copies of each designation and confirmation with the will. 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 So. Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com
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BELLAIRE BUZZ OCTOBER 2014 45
NEIGHBORS
by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
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Back Porch
Halloween on the block
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t 6:27 the night of October 31, one usually subdued Houston neighborhood will feel the deluge of 300 trick-ortreaters flying like bats out of a gargantuan Halloween party. Why 6:27? Because that’s when the party’s organizer will call it officially over, having pre-determined (i.e. Googled) civil twilight time, or the moment the sun has set but it’s still light enough to trick-or-treat. Also at that moment – or somewhere thereabout – the same lead hostess will do a quick wrap-up with the party’s DJ, bounce-house procurers, James Coney Island and taco truck vendors just to be sure they’re already booked for next year. There, simply, is the cycle of this legendary neighborhood Halloween bash. Back up a decade or so. This party of 300 began with one resident gathering 10 neighboring families on a beautifully manicured, traditional street to celebrate Halloween. Today the mega-block party creates a giant ruckus in a usually quiet neighborhood. It’s hosted by 20-plus families within a two-block radius; each family invites five more families. This crew does Halloween big. “In the beginning, we had a decorations committee, a food committee, and invitations committee,” the lead organizer says. “Everyone would contribute.” (This giant carouse’s planner
Spooky playlist For parties big and small, Billboard’s Top 10 Halloween songs: Thriller, Michael Jackson Monster Mash, Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers Ghostbusters, Ray Parker, Jr. Werewolves of London, Warren Zevon Highway to Hell, AC/DC Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult Runnin’ With the Devil, Van Halen Somebody’s Watching Me, Rockwell A Nightmare on My Street, D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Dragula, Rob Zombie
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– the originator moved years ago – asks that we keep her mask secured. In other words, no names or identifying details – party crashers beware.) Another host remembers, “People would bring things like spring rolls and spread them out on picnic blankets. It was like a carnival, with bounce houses and a rock wall and older siblings and parents help- BOO! A multi-block neighborhood Halloween party with face painters, rock walls, ing with games.” bounce houses and taco trucks is anything but scary. Decorations were elabogated printed invitations to the past. The rate: bales of hay and pumpkins prevailed. organizer creates a Gmail account, giving each Invitations were copied at Kinko’s, “before host the password, so that each family individanyone had nice printers at home,” the planner ually adds names to the guest list and checks says. They used Paper by the Pound bordered responses. Some years digital invites have surstationery, and they brainstormed clever wordprised with Halloween music chosen by the ing. One early invitation asked guests to bring planner (try smilebox.com). “horror d’oeuvres.” Now, the party is “much more about the But as children grew and time for planning parents having cocktails than about the kids Halloween parties fizzled, families couldn’t put playing games,” says the second host. People in the work. That’s when the superhero organbring drinks, and those who live near the izer started outsourcing and billing the 20 hosts party site open their homes. Some families for their share of the party. still dress up together (memorably, one family “The parents want to be social,” she says. dressed up as matador, Spanish dancer and lit“They want to come outside and have a cocktail tle bulls), but mostly kids do their things and together and chitchat. They don’t want to run parents wear funny hats or costumes that games anymore.” So she asked a DJ – the same don’t require much planning. one who’d been part of the party since its incep“That’s how life is. When the kids are little, tion – to bring a helper to engage the kids with you can dress them up and bring them out. Then party games (think limbo). they get older. They’re telling you what they’re Decorations fell away as well. “Who wants going to be, and they don’t want to play games, to clean that up after coming home from trickand they want to be with their friends. or-treating?” With practicality prioritized, the “They’ve outgrown us, but the party’s conplanner now orders disposable trash cans and tinued. The kids look forward to James Coney liners online at Uline.com (alternatively, she’s Island and visiting; we see neighbors we picked them up at Waste Management, but she haven’t seen in a year. I hope it goes on for a warns that’s a pretty significant drive). She long time, because it’s really a fun family works with neighborhood trash pick-up to party.” And these memories will last much clean up the next day. “You have to think longer than the Butterfinger and Twix bars about these things,” she says. amassed after dusk. The advent of Paperless Post and Evite rele-