The Memorial Buzz - January 2016

Jenny Marshall, Carol Howenstine and Beth Muecke

Creating Thistle Downe

For the Love

Friendly Fitbit Feuds

of Dance

by Cathy Gordon

Tidying Up Travel Plans for 2016 Where to Go for Breakfast New-Baby Resolutions Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Family-Dinner Recipes

EDITOR’S NOTE I am jealous of the organized women in this month’s Tidying Up story by Jennifer Oakley. My desk and closet are a mess, and my husband Michael’s are perfectly organized. Shortly after we were married, Michael planted an empty Kleenex box in our bedroom. He wanted to see how long it would take me to throw it out. A week went by, and I never noticed. He put it in the path between the bedroom and the bathroom. To this day, he insists he saw me kick the box off to the side and keep walking to the bathroom. Also this month, Andria Frankfort writes about Fitbits. When I got one, I found out you can “compete” with friends, or they could cheer you on. I added three friends to “watch” me, and then forgot. One night I got a text asking if I was alive because I had not moved in three days. I had forgotten to sync my steps. But it did get me moving. Here’s to a healthy and tidy New Year. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Cheryl Ursin Morgan Bernard, Cathy Gordon Jennifer Oakley, Mary Beth Staine Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Swaim Amber Lewis Michele Luke Helen van Rensburg

On our cover: Jenny Marshall, Carol Howenstine and Beth Muecke (from left) are all smiles when it comes to dance.

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

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 4

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Tips on college apps As a Memorial resident and rather mission-driven college professional, I have a few suggestions for your wonderful “almost-veteran mom” tip list [College Apps: A Parent’s Perspective, by Cheryl Laird, December 2015].

Do take a PSAT prep course in the summer of sophomore year if you think you could have a chance at a merit scholarship. Do call a college’s admissions when you have any questions. Do visit every Texas school to which you may apply. Do “sign up” and make sure that the school knows that you visited. Do be realistic about the kind of school you deserve – if you are a late bloomer, it’s fine to go to a community college or a college that is less competitive. Do go to a college where you will have some fun.

I began this 13 years ago when my own first child applied to 12 schools, and I was so taken by the process that I felt I could make a serious difference. College-application help should not have to cost a small fortune. After reading your superb article, I was compelled to dash off this note. Love, love, love The Buzz and your columns.

Suzanne Reynolds, author of The College Essay Companion Editor’s note: We had to edit Suzanne’s letter for space reasons, but for more of her tips, see the comment under Cheryl’s College Apps story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

challenging than we had read about due to the steep bottom part and high temperatures early in the morning. It is at a much lower altitude (8,751 feet) than Mt. Whitney (14,508 feet), so the altitude didn’t affect us very much at all. Some parts of the trail are narrow and run along hair-raising cliffs, but there is a really cool bridge to cross and much of the trail is shaded. We saw hawks circling down in the valley and you could see for miles and miles. It was a thrill to reach the summit and the preparation and training we did earlier this summer for our trip to Mt. Whitney in California paid off for this climb. The views at the top were stunning and it was a big payoff after climbing for about four hours. A thunderstorm rolled in just as we were descending from the summit, and we were glad we took rain jackets – a cold rain poured for about an hour coming down. We made some wonderful family memories during the trip. The Guadalupe Mountains National Park area is beautiful with lots of wildlife and flora that you can’t imagine are found in Texas.

Hal Means Editor’s note: We have been eager to hear about your latest adventure. Hal and daughter Charlotte, along with father-daughter Shane and Reagan Kimzey, were featured in Tracy L. Barnett’s September 2015 article, “Travel Buzz: Father-daughter mountain climb.” If you missed it, see thebuzzmagazines.com.

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.

Memory leads to restaurant story A random memory cropped up, and I did a web search on Schwartzberg’s Delicatessen. That led me to your Buzz article last year on Houston restaurants [Restaurant Memories: A Look Back at Houston’s Dining Past, by Russell Weil, November 2014]. When I was an engineering student at Rice back in the ’70s I was scouting out where the “new” 59/288 link was being constructed. Stumbled on a restaurant, which as I recall was on a dead end created by the construction. I went in and had lunch. The place was packed. Thought, “How is this authentic deli located here?” Obviously I was completely ignorant of the history of the Riverside/MacGregor area. Even though I grew up near Spring Branch, we were transplants from Dallas. I vividly remember an elderly, white-haired man sitting near the cash register, whom I took to be Mr. Schwartzberg (but did not inquire).

These days we live in Bellaire, and I cycle through that area.

Michael Tucker Editor’s note: Russell’s restaurant story was a popular one, and we’re glad you stumbled across it. All past Buzz stories are at thebuzzmagazines.com.

From peak to peak I am happy to report that my family and I climbed Guadalupe Peak in west Texas over Labor Day weekend, the highest peak in the state. It was more MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 6

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Love to garden.

• Have great prom stories.

• Have a unique hobby or passion.

• Have been on a recent trip they recommend.

• Have an interesting neighbor to profile.

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

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 7

TRAVEL

by Morgan Bernard, contributing writer

City of Light Visiting Paris after the attacks

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 8

Morgan Bernard

A

s I waited at my gate, I stared at the boarding pass that read “Charles De Gaulle International Airport: Paris.”

Paris: one of the great cities of the world, a mecca for the arts, and a symbol of Western progression.

What an opportunity it was to be able to travel to Paris. I had visited once before, after graduating high school. But this time the date was Nov. 22, 2015. A little more than a week had passed since terrorist attacks in multiple Paris locations had left 129 dead and hundreds wounded.

Was the Paris I was headed for the same Paris that existed before?

I arrived early in the morning after flying through the night. The first thing I noticed was the increased security at Charles De Gaulle.

Armed French troops roamed the airport. I shook off encroaching jet lag and hopped in a taxi to meet Camille Le Gardeur, my girlfriend, fellow Sewanee student and unofficial tour guide, who had been studying in Paris for the semester.

Our first day was filled with the typical tourist checklist: the Musée d’Orsay, the Notre Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and seasonal Christmas markets. In each location, I witnessed the same scene from the airport: armed troops policing the public. Was this Paris’s future?

It wasn’t until that night that I saw a different response to the deadly acts of hate. We returned to the Arc de Triomphe to climb to the top and view the city. From the top, we gazed through rain and fog and looked upon the city of Paris. The harsh weather could do nothing to deter the spectacular view. My eyes were immediately drawn to the Eiffel Tower. The tower was lit up in the red, white and blue colors of the French flag.

As we walked around the Arc, we could see that the Eiffel Tower was not the only display of French patriotism. The Ferris wheel that marked the Christmas markets glowed red, white, and blue, as did the French National Assembly building. As I walked along the Seine River the next day, I saw artisans and newsstands displaying French flags of all sizes for sale.

The next night, Camille and I found ourselves in La République, the neighborhood that was the site of the majority of the attacks. Just as the sun tucked itself away behind the Western

REMEMBRANCE A massive display of flowers and candles at a monument in La République honor those who died in the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.

portion of the city, we arrived at the monument in the center of La République.

There we found a massive display of mourning and remembrance. The statue at the center of the square was covered in banners, flowers, candles and framed pictures. A large crowd had gathered around the memorial to pay their respects in the form of a candle lighting. The square, which is usually filled with the hustle of city children playing soccer and tourists taking pictures, was overwhelmed by emotion. Feelings of solidarity and pride outweighed the grief that one might have expected to find.

I spoke with several Parisians at the memorial.

A young man named Traore Alpha said, in French, that the attacks were, “tragic, because all of France is concerned. But the entire country is concerned together.” Traore said he was a Muslim, and that “men who are killing and using religion to justify it” didn’t make sense to

him. “It’s not religion,” he said with vigor.

A young woman named Camille ChapinDerennes told me that she was a Red Cross volunteer, and that on the night of the attacks, she helped care for the wounded. “Responses such as these, with flowers, and of remembrance are very important,” she said. Responding to hate with love, she said, “is absolutely effective.” She said education is the only way to battle intolerance.

From this experience I realized that the Parisian response to the tragedy had little to do with military presence and everything to do with pride, love and solidarity. In time the troop presence will dwindle, and Paris will keep being Paris. No matter what is thrown at it.

Editor’s note: Morgan Bernard is a 22-year-old senior at Sewanee: The University of the South, a graduate of Houston’s St. John’s School and a former summer intern at The Buzz Magazines.

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 9

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Healthy Competition Daniel Nguyen

Fitbits prompt friendly feuds

S

ibling rivalry has reached a new level of crazy. And it’s escalated to include parents, extended family and friends.

That’s, in part at least, because activity trackers like Fitbits have turned friendly competition obsessive.

“It can become a very habit-forming, compulsive obsession,” says Harold Minkowitz, an anesthesiologist and former Fitbit junkie who competed with a nephew in Dallas, a cousin in San Diego and a friend in Bellaire for most steps taken in a day. “It was so bad that at night, if I hadn’t gotten my 10,000 steps in, I’d just walk around, up and down the stairs, get my number and go to sleep. It was crazy.”

The group – all men – linked to each other’s Fitbit tracking accounts, so that each could see how many steps the other had taken that day.

“You get on your phone and you can see where your friends’ steps and scores are,” Harold says.

“And you get an email to see how they are all doing. I hate being teased, so it was inspiring to me to get to the top.” Teased? “I can’t really talk about our teasing in a G-rated magazine,” he says.

Fitbits, Jawbones and other fitness trackers track steps, calories burned, even sleep. The devices sync with smartphones and computers, and friends can connect – and see each other’s progress – to compete and motivate each other.

Cost ranges from $20 for very basic to $500-plus.

Harold used a Fitbit small enough to fit into his pocket. “I would take it with me everywhere.

I’d be climbing stairs in the hospital trying to get my numbers up.”

While the small Fitbit was convenient, it also proved to be the demise of Harold’s daily competition. He lost two; after the second he gave up and doesn’t plan to get another. “Now I’m using the step counter on my iPhone. I can’t compete unfortunately. [Without the Fitbit, Harold’s stats are no longer linked to his friends’.] Maybe that’s why my steps are dropping. But I’ve restored my sanity.”

Others, like Elsa Echeverri, a pediatric dentist and mother of four, choose to wear the wristband Fitbit that doubles as a watch. Besides being “very beneficial – everybody is trying to do more steps than they have to daily,” Elsa says MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 10

FITBIT FANATICS Echeverri family members – (from left) Juan, Elsa, Daniela, Andrea, Valentina Dassey and Adam Dassey – compete daily for the prize of having walked the most steps.

the watches have become a way for the family to stay in touch.

Aquiles, Elsa’s son who lives in Venezuela, got the family hooked. Now he, two daughters in Houston, and one daughter in St. Louis compete against Elsa and her husband Juan for the prize of taking the most steps in a day. It’s common for Elsa to get a call from one daughter saying, “Mom, I thought I was beating Dad, but I see he’s just walking and walking.” That would be because Juan noted his low step count and decided to walk to Walgreens for the sole purpose of racking up steps and staying in the competition.

“If my husband has not completed 10,000 steps, he will jog watching TV. One time my daughter pushed him down on the sofa so he wouldn’t be walking and getting his steps!”

Elsa says the most steps on record for the family was 44,000. “My daughter Andrea was helping with a convention at the George R. Brown.

She had to walk in those hallways, so that’s the maximum anybody has gotten.

“There are no prizes so far, but it’s the daily call, ‘I’m winning, Mom!’ that does it.”

Elsa and Juan have quantified their dog walks to count each step in their daily totals. “It’s all

down to a science,” she says. “We have a route.

Walking the dogs 20 minutes will give us about 4,000 twice a day. So then we just have to get an extra 2,000.” Which sometimes leads to behavior that could be considered compulsive.

“When you see you’re missing 2,000 steps, you say, ‘I can complete this!’ So I’ll jog in my bathroom before I go to bed.

“I’ll watch my husband jogging around the house, and I’ll say, ‘What’s wrong with you?’

And he just says, ‘No, no, no. I need to complete my 10,000 steps!’”

The Echeverris’ youngest daughter Daniela has a bit of an edge in the battle. “As a college student [at St. Louis University], I walk everywhere,” she says. “As I am walking around campus all day, I was naturally defeating everyone in my family. In response, my dad sent a group email to my entire family, encouraging everyone to get more steps to ‘defeat the undergrad.’”

Competition has never been so healthy.

MORE ONLINE For more on fitness trackers, see Andria Frankfort’s January 2014 story High-Tech Fitness at thebuzzmagazines.com.

NEIGHBORS

.

by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 12

Gives foundation and hosted by Walter and Dr. Layla Salek. The foundation provides care and treatment for underprivileged children with autism. Doing the two-step to Keen’s tunes were Kerry Antona, Dennis Carola, Brian and Karlsson Salek, and Jim and Jaci Smith.

Well-heeled crowd. Poodle Pink lipsticks and heart bags were some of the party favors at the Heart of Fashion Show created

by Vivian Wise. But the real favorites were in the people-watching crowd.

Jennifer Molleda, Ally Shell, LOVE ACTUALLY A touch of red symbolized love at Elizabeth and Alan Stein's black- and white-themed anniversary party. From left are Jacob, Elizabeth, Alan Martjn Van Koolwijk and Laura Elizabeth Stein. and Andrea Williams Alice Black, Lynda Gilbreath, Penny Knutson stood out as sparkling jewels prominent in the and Marti Lund will be recognized. Co-chairs diverse mix. Serving cocktails were waiters and Paula Howeth and Judy Perkins are overwaitresses dressed like flight attendants. The whelmed with the ticket response. Reserve your glam event was at the Million Air hangar where seat now online at www.houstonjuniorforum.org personal jets reside for those who don’t have to or call 713-868-1850. ask, “How much is the trip?” The event benePlatter of chatter. Co-chairs Deborah fited Butterflys & Bandages, Legacy Colton and Evelyn Leightman served up a talkCommunity Health Services and Meals on ative platter of conversationalists at the Art of Wheels for Greater Houston. Thank you, Conversation to benefit City ArtWorks.

Vivian, indeed a wise woman.

Dominique Sachse announced the 31 leaders Heartfelt. To celebrate the 70th anny of the and society guests who spoke to the full house at Houston Junior Forum, a homecoming brunch was The Junior League. Olga Bush and Denise Bush held at the Terrace Room, hosted by Lynn Bahr were honored for their cultural philanthroGuggolz. The HJF Recruitment and Admission py. Some of the notables were Ernie Manouse, Committee, led by Mopsy Andrews, and the Jonathan Sandys, Warner Roberts, Denman Membership Committee, led by first vice president Moody, Minnette Boesel and Jana Arnoldy. of membership Marilyn McDowel resulted in 38 new members attending. Everyone was buzzing about the Conversations of the Heart Luncheon, See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for to be held Feb. 12 at The Junior League, honoring additional photos. Have some good news to share? author and legendary restaurateur Johnny Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Carrabba. Volunteers Brenda Arcache, Mary Priscilla Dickson Photography

Celebrate. Sometimes it isn’t just black and white. But the party Elizabeth and Alan Stein threw to celebrate 35 years of marriage at The Wynden on Post Oak was transformed with black and white drapes, tables, a dance floor and lighted columns. A beautiful female saxophone player strolled throughout the crowd in her white, jeweled dress and her bejeweled white saxophone to keep partiers on their feet, along with the nine-piece band Password. As a surprise, the band called Alan and Elizabeth to the dance floor and played I’ll Always Love You, and then broke in to Let’s Get It On. The Steins’ children, Laura Elizabeth and Jacob, partied with them.

Many of the Steins’ friends – from the ninth grade, when they met, to the present – shared in the revelry. By the time their 200 friends left the party, they were seeing colors.

Stayin’ alive. The Memorial High School Class of 1970 celebrated its 45th reunion at the home of former classmate Danny Davis. Laurie (Rosenthal) Lee was the headmeister who chaired the event that hosted 100-plus people.

They toasted Barbara Puntch Dorado, who came from Madrid, Spain, where she’s lived since college graduation. Friends caught up on each other’s lives as they dined on Pico’s Mexican food on tables inside and outside the spacious home. Other notables there were Congressman Chet Edwards and Judge Martha Hill Jamison.

Seventies music blared on the sound system, and football games played on all TVs. Saturday night fever has new meaning 45 years later.

Go West. When Kyle and Erika Sorsby moved to Memorial with precious son Wyatt, Kyle’s parents, Ray and Laurie Sorsby, decided to follow after living in Bellaire 25 years. Their younger son, Reid, is a sophomore at Texas Tech.

The larger lots, trees, wildlife and the quietness beckoned them. Since Ray and daughter-in-law Erika graduated from Memorial High School, it felt natural to be back home. Their two rescue dogs, yellow lab Layla and Chihuahua mix Annabell, were instantly at home in their new backyard, complete with squirrels.

Cocktails and boots. Robert Earl Keen entertained 120 in a private-party tent lined with twinkle lights to benefit the Susie Bean

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 13

NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

Home for fairies and trolls

E

nter the home of Gary Whitney and Molly Boren Whitney, and, after being greeted by Ruby, an impossibly adorable Havanese, you will see a magical world, right there in their foyer, at the foot of their stairs. A house for fairies and trolls, built of twigs and pine cones and pebbles. A branch of oak leaves swoops down gracefully over it. A sparrow sits in her nest on the roof. And inside, fairies sweep the floor and peruse books in the two-story octagonal library and apply lipstick at a bathroom vanity made from a seashell.

The Whitneys call the house Thistle Downe.

And it’s about to be the setting for a new book, written and illustrated by Molly and Gary.

Thistle Downe, for readers ages 9 to 14, will be released by Bright Sky Press this January.

Thistle Downe, the house, got its start 30 years ago, when Gary’s two children, now grown, began collecting troll dolls, those stiffly standing dolls with the wild hair and chimp-like faces. Gary, an architect, built the dolls a twig house so beautiful the family began using it as a decoration for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The children grew up and the toys went into storage, but the house proved memorable to many. When Molly met Gary, people kept asking her if she had seen “the troll house” yet.

When Molly, a professional watercolorist and designer, did, she had two things to say: One, fairies lived in the house as well as trolls, and, two, no, it was not going to be put back into storage at the end of the holiday season.

The couple, who married in 2012, began adding to it. Electric lights. Stained-glass windows, hand-painted by Molly. A wrought-iron fence, made of bobby pins, by Gary, complete with a family crest on the gate. They added entirely new rooms and wings: a carriage house, to house a magical silver carriage, also built by Gary. The library. Guest quarters.

“This is what happens when two rightbrained people get together without supervision,” said Molly.

Gary, who said he spends more time working on the house “than I’d ever admit to,” also said that working on it with Molly has been a wonMEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 14

lawellphoto.com

Creating Thistle Downe

ANOTHER WORLD Gary Whitney and Molly Boren Whitney enjoy creating a magical world in their home.

derful way to start their new marriage together.

The couple have devoted one of the rooms of their home to be a workshop for Thistle Downe projects. Thistle Downe has its own website: thistledownehouse.com.

Many of the materials for the house come right from Houston. The twigs the Whitneys use are from Hermann and Memorial parks. “People see us there, with our big garbage bags, and wave and thank us for cleaning up the park,” said Molly. “What we’re really doing is looking for the exact right kind of twigs we need.” All of the twigs come from the ground in the parks; they’ve never taken anything from a live tree.

Thistle Downe’s roof is shingled in the scales of pine cones. The pine cones are not local.

“Everything is bigger in Texas, except pine cones,” Molly said, explaining that she has her family send her more appropriately sized ones from her native Alabama. A potted bush by one of the doors, however, is a dried magnolia fruit Molly spotted on the sidewalk in the neighborhood while walking Ruby. Gary made a clay pot for it. A dried flower they found during one of

their park trips became the brush of a fairy’s broom. “Working on the house has really changed the way I look at things,” said Molly.

There is a troll in residence at Thistle Downe: the red-headed Tyson, the hero of the book. The 32 fairy figurines in the house are Christmas ornaments, based on the fairies created by the British illustrator and author Cicely Mary Barker, a favorite of Molly’s.

Much about Thistle Downe is personal to the Whitneys. For instance, they used a lace collar that once belonged to Molly’s great-great grandmother to make the canopy for a “fairy bed.”

They also used that ancestor’s name, Amelia, for the fairy heroine of the book and set the story in the small town in the Orkney Islands of Scotland where the real Amelia lived. Another character in the book, Peter Leaf, is named after that town’s registrar, whom the Whitneys met there while researching her family tree.

“Working on all this has been nothing but a joy,” said Gary.

He and Molly are busily planning the next addition to the house.

lawellphoto.com lawellphoto.com lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

IN THE DETAILS From top, clockwise: Thistle Downe is constructed of twigs and pebbles. Molly, a watercolorist, hand-painted the cobblestones. Inside, a table is set. The house boasts windows and a gate Gary made of bobby pins.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 15

lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

A COMFORTABLE HOME More than 30 fairy figurines, originally Christmas ornaments, live in Thistle Downe. Some are busy, such as the ones shown here hanging a sign and applying lipstick. (Gary made the lipstick tube that fairy holds.) Others, at bottom, take a pensive break from their chores.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 16

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by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer

Lure of the Floor

snapshotsbyaileepetrovic.com

NEIGHBORS

Never tutu late to dance

Y

ou are a soaring, glamorous creature, an art form. Part woman, part swan, you mesmerize with feather-light arm movements, perfect pirouettes and the grace of a world-class ballerina.

Oh, wait. That was just another dance dream. In reality, you have two left feet. You hate your thick-ish middle. And you’re pretty sure your best dance moves resemble those of a full-body heave set to music. Putting on a leotard? Don’t even go there.

Don’t despair, say some Buzz-area women who bravely returned to dance class after decades, taking ballet, jazz and tap to keep fit, mentally sharp and improve balance and coordination. Some haven’t danced since childhood. Class is a supportive safe zone, even for newbies, they say.

Covering leotard with shirt and skirt is A-Okay.

“Yeah, it can be intimidating when you start, but just go for it! If you’d seen me two years ago I was hopeless, but boy have I improved,” says interior designer Jenny Marshall, 52, who left ballet at 13. She now takes adult jazz, tap and ballet at Houston City Dance under the tutelage of owner and instructor Sherese Campbell.

One room in Jenny’s home is half empty, save a large mirror. She and 12-year-old daughter Sophia, also a City Dance student, practice daily.

During a recent class, Jenny and classmates break out jazz moves to a funky bongo beat, arms outstretched, moving two by two across the floor. They’re smiling, having fun. Instructor Campbell cajoles with funny stories. Tells them, “Looking fine, ladies!”

But she quickly pauses music when footwork goes awry.

“Okay, ladies, you’re working too hard! You’re not trying to navigate the sea out there,” she says, soliciting chuckles. “You’ve got to travel over that space, and how you travel is you stay low, you stay in plié, and you move! You should be getting across the floor in a few efforts, not twenty.”

Carol Howenstine, 57, also a student at City Dance, took ballet and tap as a kid and is happy to be dancing again. “It tweaks your brain muscles because there’s a lot of combinations to remember,” she says.

Indeed, a study recently published in the New MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 18

England Journal of Health credits ballet, jazz, tap and other forms of dance with lowering the risk of dementia due to “significant mental effort involved.”

“I’m not going to be setting the world on fire, but I’m having a great time,” says Carol, a 5-foot-8-inch blonde mom to 11year-old twins. She loves her jazz and tap class for the camaraderie and workout. One tap number was particDANCE & DNA “Dancing is in my blood,” says Beth Muecke, a board member at ularly fun “where Houston Ballet who takes jazz and ballet at the Houston Academy of Dance. we hit our rear-ends Returning to dance is a lesson in gravity, she and move back like we’re on a horse,” she recalls. says. “As in, ‘Hmm.… why am I leaping and not Recreating the scene in her kitchen didn’t getting off the ground?’” pack the same punch as on the dance floor. “My Nichola Carr-Welch, 39, and mom Cathi daughter was like ‘Mom, don’t ever do that Pendergraft, 61, are ballet addicts. Neither are again.’ Hilarious, out of the mouth of babes.” professional dancers, but they live for that giddy Professional fashion blogger Beth Muecke, sensation of being on tippy-toes. Both take class55, majored in dance at The University of es at Uptown Dance Centre.

Texas, “but straight up quit after that.” She Nichola, mom to a 9-year-old boy and a nurse might have left dance, but it never really left her. at Memorial Hermann Hospital at the Medical She volunteered at the Houston Ballet as a Center, admits getting grumpy if she misses class. young adult, has chaired its annual ball and is a “You have to arrange it around life sometimes.

15-year board member. It was back to the ballet It’s good for the mind, body and spirit.” barre at age 39. “It’s in the blood.”

It’s also good for jumping horses, says Cathi, She occasionally takes classes through a former competitive jumper with her Arabian Houston Ballet but primarily pursues ballet and horse, Happy. jazz through the Houston Academy of Dance, a “Ballet keeps you limber, and you have good better fit for her schedule. balance,” she says. “People at the horse shows “If you’re a classically trained dancer, it never would see me stick my leg up on the fence to really leaves you, this muscle memory,” Beth says. stretch out and were just aghast that an old “I stayed limber, so it wasn’t gruesomely intimiwoman was doing that,” she says, laughing. dating going back. But the combinations? When Let them laugh, quips Cathi. “The balance I I was young it was like, ‘Got it.’ When I first went gained from ballet has kept me in the saddle back it was, ‘What did she just say to do?’ But you instead of hitting the dirt.” retrain your mind. It comes back to you.”

snapshotsbyaileepetrovic.com

ALL IN THE FAMILY Nichola Carr-Welch and mom Cathi Pendergraft are two peas in a pod when it comes to pursuing their passion, ballet.

NEIGHBORS

Tidying Up

lawellphoto.com

by Jennifer Oakley, contributing writer

Sparking joy with less clutter

S

allie Alcorn and Tali Blumrosen met as students at The University of Texas in the early ’80s. As the decades passed, they attended each other’s celebrations, debated politics, and shared an interest in good wine. But never … closets. Until one day last summer when Alcorn’s youngest child left for college and she was left with an empty nest – and a lot of clutter.

While at Ole Miss to move her daughter in, Alcorn stopped by the campus bookstore and bought The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,

by Marie Kondo. “My co-worker had told me about the book and had sent me several articles that had been written about it,” recalls Alcorn, a Houston City Council staff member. “I read the entire book on the way back home, and then I looked at my husband, George, and said: ‘I am doing this!’

“The timing was right for me, and [it] did give me a project to do and helped me process the end of the road as a mother,” says Alcorn, whose children, George, Maria, Janie and Susie, are all either in college or have graduated. “It was cathartic because I was not crying and laying in bed with the covers over me.

“The method worked for me because you clean out not by room or location, but by category. The word ‘clean’ is replaced by ‘tidy up,’ and part of what you must do is discard and only keep items that spark joy. So, when you look at an item of clothing, for example, you must decide whether it sparks joy in your life or not.”

Alcorn rid her house of “30 to 40 huge, green trash bags” of items from her clothes closets – and “100 bags total of all kinds of things” that no longer felt joyful. What followed was the cleaning out of books, papers, electronics, makeup, skin-care products, kitchen items and more.

“In the height of my cleaning I kept thinking I could not wait to get home at the end of the day and work on, say, my placemats,” says Alcorn, who admits to spending long nights and weekends on the cleaning up and out. “It is really logical, easy, life-changing magic.”

Alcorn says the process is liberating. “You have to actually touch each item and are supMEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 20

ALL IN A LINE Longtime friends Tali Blumrosen (at left) and Sallie Alcorn hold a dress from Alcorn’s newly organized rack of evening dresses. Alcorn arranges colors from dark to light. In contrast, Blumrosen says, “I keep my clothes in the same general area, but organizing by color is a bit much for me!”

posed to thank it for its service and then send it on its way,” she says. “You are supposed to clean out in complete silence, no music or television on and no eating while cleaning. The author recommends lighting candles, saying a prayer and going all in.”

Not long after Alcorn had started tidying up her home, her buddy Blumrosen was laughingly cautioned by mutual friends to “not bring up that book” in the presence of Alcorn. Of course, Blumrosen asked Alcorn about the book – and what followed was a similar cleaning out of Blumrosen’s home.

Like Alcorn, Blumrosen’s children are also older. Daughter Kelli has graduated from college while son Will is a junior in college. “When

Sallie told me about the magic of this book, I decided to download it and read it,” recalls Blumrosen, an avid community volunteer.

“Sallie was obsessed with it, but I value her opinion, and so I thought, ‘I can do this!’ Sallie was cheering me on!” And, Blumrosen said she needed that boost from her longtime friend. “I have a lot of scarves, and I called Sallie one day and said I had just gotten rid of 75 scarves. Sallie calmly said, ‘That’s nice – now go clean out more of them!’ She knew I needed to pare down even more!”

Blumrosen started with her own closet. “I picked a weekend when my husband was out of town, and then I took everything out of my closet. Our master bedroom was entirely cov- (continued on page 22)

lawellphoto.com

NEAT AS A PIN Inspired by the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Sallie Alcorn now has the closet of her dreams: neat, organized and accessible.

(continued from page 20) ered – you could barely

walk through it.” Blumrosen went one-by-one through every item and ultimately “got rid of 16 Hefty lawn bags full of things” that were no longer joyful. She also used the opportunity to clean every corner of the closet and the air vents – and think about an organized way to place everything back inside by color and category.

“I sort of obsessed about the process and got really into it,” she says. “I was feeling very proud of myself, and 90 percent of what I took out I took over to Goodwill. Supporting Blumrosen was her husband, Eric, who praised her efforts.

“He was so funny and sweet and said he was glad I did not throw him out!’”

The new organizational plan – something out of Blumrosen’s usual comfort zone – did, however, give Eric the chance to play a prank on her. He hung a single black shirt in the middle of a row of white shirts and then sat back to see if Blumrosen could spot it in the newly straightened space. “On the third day, Eric puts me in the middle of my closet and played ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ with me about that shirt,” recalls Blumrosen. “I did not even notice what Eric did, and he said he knew this would happen!”

Alcorn’s husband, George, was so inspired by the tidying up, he cleaned out his own closet.

“Once I saw Sallie’s side of the closet I knew I had to do this too because her side looked so

good,” he says.

Blumrosen and Alcorn both have “to-do” lists that they will tackle next: gardening and camping equipment for Alcorn, and family photos for both of them. Blumrosen says she continues to scramble a bit when faced with the day-to-day aspects of keeping the closet neatly tended – something that pal Alcorn has incorporated into her daily life. “I look up to Sallie and I wish I could be like her, but I get bored!” she says.

Alcorn laughs and insists that her “quality of life is so much better now after doing all of this.

Before I did this I could not find anything in my house and now I can – it really is easy, lifechanging magic.”

How to tidy up From The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo Before you start: • Think in concrete terms so that you can vividly picture what it would be like to live in a clutter-free space.

• Choose what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of.

• Take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.

• Keep only the things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.

Tidy by category: clothing, books, papers, CDs, DVDs, skin-care products, makeup, accessories, valuables, electrical equipment and appliances, household equipment, household supplies, kitchen goods/food supplies, sentimental items, photos, other (spare change, figurines, etc.)

Organizing after tidying: • Designate a place for each thing.

• Pursue ultimate simplicity in storage.

• Store all items of the same type in the same place and don’t scatter storage space.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 22

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 23

KIDS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

New-baby resolutions

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother. If you have baby stories to share, leave a comment under this article at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

A

new year. A time to make resolutions.

New gym memberships. Goals to kick that afternoon cup of coffee, read more, watch less TV, get outside.

Dropping bad habits in the name of selfimprovement is always a good idea, but what about when it comes to parenting habits?

Many new moms and dads plan systems that are as flawless as a shiny penny the day the new baby arrives home from the hospital.

Ah, the best-laid plans.

After moments of desperation, 3 a.m. feedings and scream sessions that last hours, those perfect plans can fall apart. Unplanned habits can develop in the middle of it all that can come back to bite you in the, well, you know what.

Recently, I spoke to some Buzz parents about what baby-parenting habits they are hoping to break this year.

Tabatha Urich, a certified professional accountant with Deloitte & Touche, and her husband Brandon, senior manager with Liquids Supply, are busy parents of three. Their oldest, Katherine, 18 months, recently became a big sister to twins George and Jack, now 3 months.

Parenting three children under the age of 2 requires some planning. Tabatha and Brandon decided they had to break some habits with Katherine before the twins arrived. “Katherine has always fought her naps really hard,” said Tabatha. “We got into a bad habit of letting her nap on our chest on the weekends. [It was] daycare guilt. When we tried to transition her to the crib for naps the month before the twins arrived it was a catastrophe.”

She said it took four to five weekends to crack the mystery. “I regret rocking her to sleep at night and wish I would have laid her down awake every night at a much earlier age,” said Tabatha.

Brandon says he probably didn’t need to warm the bottles with their first baby and regrets taking the extra time to do it at each feeding.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 24

Kate Robinson Photography

.

“[Katherine] was born with a lip and tongue tie, so we thought she was a bad drinker because of that,” he said. “Warmer bottles seemed to help, but in retrospect, she just wasn’t a big eater.”

Then there’s the baby gear that’s supposed to make life as a parent easier. But does it?

Tabatha said she wishes she didn’t buy the fancy bot- THREE UNDER TWO Tabatha and Brandon Urich have three kids under 2. They say they had to break some old sleeping habits that fell into place with their oldest, tles with all the Katherine, before twins George and Jack arrived. parts that go along and brother Blake, 5. with them for Katherine. That habit is already Elizabeth said they followed a regimen with kicked to the curb with the twins. “We now use baby No. 1. “The best thing I ever did [with really cheap Gerber bottles, and they are aweAnnie] was stay on schedule,” said Elizabeth. “I some,” she said. read The Baby Whisperer, and it worked.”

The Urichs are braving their new life as parThen, along came baby No. 2. With a 2-yearents of three, taking with them what they learned old at home, the couple forgot all about the ways with their first. “We are much more confident as of the Whisperer. Elizabeth said she thinks that parents this time around. I’ve realized that babies because they did not use the scheduling techare babies, and they are not to be feared. Toddlers niques as strictly as they with Annie, it took Blake are a different story. I fear toddlers with all of my a lot longer to learn to sleep through the night. heart,” said Tabatha, laughing.

Now, she said they are trying to get back on Mom-of-two Sarah Mischer, her husband track. “With Mary Georgia, I am trying my best Max and big sister Molly just welcomed their to feed every three hours and stay on schedule.” second baby girl, Campbell, in December. Sarah Another habit they are trying to avoid? The said the second time around, they are hoping to pacifier. “On [Blake’s] first sleepover at my parteach the baby to self soothe by avoiding wrapent’s house, I forgot to pack the pacifier. So I ping the baby in a swaddling blanket for so long. guess you can say my mom took care of the hard “We swaddled Molly up until she was 6 part,” said Elizabeth, laughing. “After that, Blake months old. It’s a pain,” said Sarah. “I see so stopped using his pacifier at night, and I have many parents not swaddling now, and I think my parents to thank for that.” logically about how it would teach a baby to self Now Elizabeth says she is a much calmer soothe faster. But who knows? If it gives me an mom. “If something falls on the floor, it’s not the hour more sleep I may change my mind.” end of the world. If she cries, I don’t panic.”

Elizabeth Borski, an account executive at Old So, here’s to a new year and a chance to drop Republic Title, and Joey Borski, a sales manager, some old parenting habits. Except for that afterwelcomed Mary Georgia, in November. Mary noon coffee. On second thought, that’s staying.

Georgia is the third behind big sister Annie, 7,

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 25

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Where you’re going in 2016

T

his year we decided to ring in 2016 with a roundup of noteworthy destinations of our globetrotting Buzz community for the year ahead.

True Texans that we are, high adventure is plentiful; creature comforts are welcome; and lively storytelling has already begun, even before our travelers have set foot upon their respective trails.

We invite you to share your own travel plans – and any Travel Buzz column ideas for the year ahead – in a comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com, or on our Facebook page, The Buzz Magazines. Meanwhile, for inspiration, here is a sampling of where your neighbors are heading in 2016.

Adventure travel John and Shirley Rouse and their sons Will, 18, and Jim, 13, will be going in July on a family safari to Tanzania. The trip was chosen by Will, a Memorial High School senior, who specifically wanted a safari trip prior to leaving home for college next year. They chose mid-July, as that is the best time to potentially see the Great Migration of the wildebeests in the Northern Serengeti.

Sherry Irvin and husband Michael are leaving for Tumaini Village near Soy, Kenya, on Jan. 4 to see the orphanage built by their church, Christ Evangelical Presbyterian, and to meet face-to-face with their child John, whom they support. They’ll begin in Nairobi with a tour of a local slum, to give them a sense of context; then they’ll join little John and his companions, where they will share stories and games, stay in an onsite house and play a role in the daily life of the orphanage.

When she’s not taking Memorial High School German students on exchange trips, foreign-language department chair Susan Sisler likes to do a bit of adventuring of her own. She has hiked the Meraner Höhenweg in the Italian Alps, a beautiful circular trail which most people hike in six days. She’s thinking about hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc next.

Julie and David Brown are planning a trip to Bordeaux, France, for a meeting and then to visit the wineries; then they’ll set off for Vanoise National Park Tour des Glaciers (45-mile cirMEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 26

TREK IN PERU Bonnie and Brian Bibeau did a five-day trek on the ancient Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. "I thought Machu Picchu would be the highlight, but it was the hike that made the trip," said Bonnie.

cuit), hiking around the largest remaining ice cap in Western Europe, backpacking hut to hut.

They hope to make the journey with all four of their grown kids.

Rochelle and Alan Jacobson are planning two adventures: Bhutan, a kingdom of mountain villages nestled high in the Himalayas that has managed to maintain its traditional culture, and Cuba. “We wanted to go to Cuba before the U.S. influence is too strong,” said Rochelle.

Michelle Sacks will be taking the family roadtrip tradition abroad for the first time this summer when she, Olivia, 13, and Bennett, 10, shoulder their bags and backpack through Europe. “I started prepping the kids this past summer by having them wear packs,” she says. They will begin in Ireland and the UK, and it will be trains, buses and the tunnel under the English Channel to France, then on down to Spain.

Family travel Jessy and Shea Morgenroth will take their two daughters on a pair of family adventures: Ireland with four other families who won the trip

in a Horn Elementary School auction last year and a trip with college friends to Costa Rica.

Hal and Aline Means will also take the family abroad in 2016; they will return to Santiago, Chile, to visit Aline’s family, and will probably make the trip to the coast at Viña del Mar. They also have plans to follow up Hal and teen daughter Charlotte’s epic Mount Whitney climb from last year with another mountaineering adventure.

Catherine Johnson and her mother Wenda Swenson will take the kids to visit a dear friend from high school who lives in Friday Harbor, Washington, on San Juan Island in Puget Sound. The friend lives on a small farm with her family, where they raise chickens and honeybees and tend a huge vegetable garden.

Gisselle and Eduardo Matta will see in the New Year in Puerto Rico, where they will visit family and enjoy a vacation with a little warmth; for Spring Break they will be taking the kids to Henderson, Nevada, and to the Grand Canyon, and maybe a bit of Lake Tahoe skiing. They’ll be traveling with the Nassers, the same family they’ve shared Spring Break trips with for the

hartphoto.com

ROYAL REMAINS Urquhart Castle, a favorite haunt of photographer Michael Hart, was founded in the 13th century and sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.

past three years.

Nora McMordie and daughter Kate will celebrate Kate’s graduation from nursing school with a mother-daughter tour of Scotland and Denmark – immersing themselves in the culture with the help of AirBed and Breakfast (AirBnB.com), a website that helps travelers stay at homes of local families.

“We will wing it; my daughter is good at researching highlights and asking friends from abroad any ‘must see’ landmarks.”

And John and Becky Luman will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the National Park System by loading up the Jeep Commander with the kids and the gear and heading west, hitting Utah, California, Oregon and Washington.

Plans are still in the making, but it will probably be another 30-40 day trip, like the last three summers, when they headed east and north on other epic journeys. “The trips are priceless because of the time we get to spend with the children (who are 10 and 12 now) seeing our country,” wrote John.

Luxury travel Steve and Adriana Rosenbaum are planning a trip to visit friends in glamorous Punta del Este on the South American Atlantic coast, and will then accompany them to their vineyards just in time for the “cosecha,” or harvest. They’ll also be taking two Oceana cruises: one in the spring that sails from Barcelona, Spain, to Southampton, England, but they will get off the ship a day early and take the train from the coast of France to Paris. In the autumn they will take the Oceana Fall Foliage cruise from New York to Montreal, and stay in Montreal a few days.

Francyne and Kevin Jacobs will go to New Orleans, where Kevin grew up, to attend a B’nai Brith Youth Organization reunion. They will visit Kevin’s mother and probably take the kids to the zoo or to City Park and, of course, go out for beignets at Café du Monde.

Carolyn Johnson will travel with her husband John to Italy in celebration of her 60th birthday. They returned to Paris for her 50th because it was their first European vacation as a couple.

“It’s also where he told me he loved me for the very first time, at Sacré Coeur no less!” wrote Carolyn. “Now we’re planning Venice for my 60th because that was our second European vacation together. It’s also where, while riding in a gondola along the canals of Venice, he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him.”

Michael Hart and his wife Sharon Montgomery are planning to once more take in The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo in late August, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their last time there, in 2013, was Michael’s fifth Tattoo, Sharon’s first. And at the end, she looked at him and said, “OK, I get it!”

They will probably once again go to the Isle of Skye, and some other destinations in Scotland, and then they are being treated to a long weekend in Cornwall, England, by some dear friends who live in The Midlands, just outside Birmingham.

Business travel Brian Bibeau will circle the world, meeting with clients in his work as an accountant. Hong Kong; Bangkok, Thailand; Abu Dhabi; Dubai; Qatar; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be among his stops. For fun, when he’s in Bangkok, Brian likes to taste the authentic cuisine and

have a drink at the tallest bar in the city (SkyBar – 63rd floor). In Hong Kong, Brian takes in the city life and sneaks in a great seven-course Chinese meal. In the Middle East he likes to spend some down time cruising the mall and watching indoor snow-slope activities. As for Argentina, he loves the fabulous wine, great steaks and fun co-workers.

Close to home Alexia and Antonio Benavides are taking their three kids and Alexia’s mother, GermanPeruvian artist Elke McDonald, on a road trip to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, just 14 hours from Houston. The colorful colonial town is full of American ex-pats and vacationers, beautiful Mexican handicrafts, boutiques and top-chef cuisine. “People are telling us we are crazy to drive, but we have done our homework – and the parts we are going to in Mexico are all safe, with great highways. And lastly – 14 hours in a car is a great way to bond as a family.

We love long road trips…. Why not Mexico?”

Also this year, Francyne and Kevin Jacobs will be honoring the memory of Francyne’s father, Stan Davis, who established an annual family beach trip to Galveston in 2008. After he died in May, the family decided to keep the memories and the fun alive. Aunts and uncles, friends and cousins and the Jacobs’ three kids all rent a house in Pirates Beach West, hang out at the beach and the pool and plan a day at Schlitterbahn; they play cards and have poker games at night. Francyne and her mother do most of the cooking, and they just all enjoy being together.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 27

FOOD

Cooking Buzz Family dinners for the New Year

istock.com/Lauri Patterson

by Mary Beth Staine, contributing writer

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

I

n the hectic and fast-paced lives we lead, dinners provide a space for families to slow down and regroup at the end of a busy day. It’s a time to sit down at the table, disconnect from cell phones and electronics, and enjoy each other’s company, sharing, listening and reconnecting over a homemade meal. What better time to resolve to make family dinners a priority than the New Year as you settle back into a routine.

The Junior League of Houston’s Peace Meals is the first cookbook I pull out when putting together a family dinner menu. A big pot of chili is a favorite “go to” meal on a cold day in January. Congressional Chili is a hearty dish that makes an easy, all-in-one-course, winter meal that is just as good for leftovers as it is right out of the pot. The ingredient that makes this chili recipe special is the red mole, a sauce first created around 1680 in Puebla, Mexico. Serve it with a crusty loaf of French bread or flaky Jalapeño Cheese Biscuits, and your family will be asking for seconds, and possibly thirds. The secret to flaky biscuits is to use very cold butter (try 20 minutes in the freezer.)

Family dinner would not be complete without dessert, and in our house that is usually pie. The art of making piecrusts from scratch was something I learned from my mother. To this day, I can picture her wiping her hands on her red and white apron, flour lightly dusting her cheek, which she had unknowingly brushed with her floury hand. It’s a skill I hope to pass down to my daughter. For your next family dinner, consider serving up a warm slice of Apple Walnut Pie. It will literally melt in your mouth and is a dessert that will be everyone’s special request for future family dinners. The recipe comes from another Junior League cookbook, Stop and Smell the Rosemary.

Round out the night with cocoa for the kids and a fresh pot of coffee for the grownups. Or for a warm minty treat to top off a winter’s evening, try Peace Meals’ Holiday Coffee, with peppermint schnapps.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 28

CHILI NIGHTS You can't go wrong with a big pot of winter chili, like this steak version, or the Congressional Chili from Peace Meals.

If your life has gotten so busy that regular family dinners have fallen by the wayside, consider making a commitment to yourself and your family to make them a priority to kick off 2016.

Editor’s note: A sustaining member of the Junior League of Houston, writer Mary Beth Staine is executive director of Bo’s Place, a local bereavement center where League volunteers provide a compassionate environment for bereaved families to share a pot-luck dinner before their grief-support groups. To buy a cookbook, see www.jlh.org or call 713-871-6608.

Congressional Chili From Peace Meals 1 Tablespoon olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, diced 2 green bell peppers, diced 2 cloves garlic, pressed Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 2½ pounds ground beef, preferably sirloin 16 ounces canned tomato sauce 3 Tablespoons prepared red mole

3 Tablespoons chili powder 3 cups water 32 ounces canned kidney beans Shredded cheddar cheese Diced onions Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers and garlic.

Sauté until the onions are translucent and the peppers begin to soften. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Brown the beef in a soup pot; drain off any excess fat. Add half of the sautéed onion-pepper mixture to the meat. Stir in the tomato sauce, mole, chili powder and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Adjust the seasoning by adding additional salt, pepper, mole or chili powder.

Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the beans and the remaining half of the onion-pepper mixture; cook for 15 minutes. Serve topped with cheese and onions.

MORE ONLINE For more recipes, see the online version of this article at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Create a buzz for your biz.

BELLAIRE WEST UNIVERSITY MEMORIAL TANGLEWOOD RIVER OAKS To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 19 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 29

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz T

he Strake Jesuit Crusaders made school history this past football season by advancing to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since joining the University Interscholastic League (UIL) in 2004. Facing public schools with double or even three times their enrollment, the Crusaders rose to the biggest of challenges with playoff victories over HISD’s Reagan Bulldogs and then Cy Fair ISD powerhouse Cy Creek.

“You can’t put into words what it meant to win that second-round area championship over Cy Creek,” said Strake Jesuit head coach James Clancy. “To do so at home in front of our community was a special night. It’s a true testament to the hard work of our coaches and players in building this program.”

Offensively, the Crusaders were led by sensational seasons from wide receivers Christian Charbonnet and Christian McStravick, as well as quarterback Zach Zubia. For his part, Zubia threw 32 touchdown passes while McStravick and Charbonnet each accounted for over 900 receiving yards. Anchoring an outstanding season for the defense was Texas State commit John Lilly, while middle linebacker George Ikott accounted for a lofty six interceptions on the season – a rare feat for a middle linebacker.

Junior defensive end Tommy Upton was among those who stepped up and made huge plays in the playoffs, according to Clancy.

“I think the thing I was most proud of is our kids’ ability to lean on one another and not worry about who we’re playing,” said Clancy. “We know every week we’re playing teams much bigger than us, but these guys go out there and accept the challenge. Also, for a kid to carry the kind of academic load required at Strake Jesuit and go through four years of our football program says a lot about the character of the young man.”

In the world of six-man football, the Emery/Weiner Jaguars brought home a state championship this past season. The Jaguars lit up the scoreboard for an 84-59 victory over Midland Trinity in the TAPPS Six Man Division 1 State Championship game.

“It was amazing,” said Jaguars head coach Adrian Adams. “It means so much for the MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 30

SMASHING SUCCESS Behind a dominant performance to capture a seventh straight regional championship, the Memorial Mustangs were one of only four teams in Texas to advance to the UIL Team Tennis State Championship tournament.

Emery community. Our players, coaches and administration have put in an immense amount of hard work to make this happen. If all that weren’t enough, we also were ranked 14th out of all 260 six-man football teams in Texas.”

As for the players, junior quarterback David Kleben threw 54 touchdown passes this season, including five in the state final. “With our offensive scheme, we have a lot of weapons,” said Kleban.

“We’re a talented group that likes to go fast. The coaches tell us we’re the fastest team on turf.”

Other offensive weapons included Jordan Loev, Michael Ran, Grant Schneider, Harrison Rosenthal and Garret Glover, who all had multiple touchdowns while scoring a school-record 84 points in the state-final victory.

Defensively, senior linebacker Cole Caress led the way this season with nearly 200 tackles.

“Last year we lost by one point in the first round of the playoffs, and that just motivated us to work extra hard this summer and the entire off season. Our goal was to be the very best we can be this year,” said Caress.

Meanwhile, like many of his teammates, senior center and defensive end Lewis Graubart played both offense and defense throughout the state-championship run. “I think for our school and football program this state championship is

pretty incredible,” said Graubart. “I know for me and my teammates it’s a dream come true.”

In tennis, the state final four wouldn’t be complete without yet another appearance by the Memorial Mustangs. After winning its eleventh consecutive district championship, and then capturing a seventh straight regional title, Memorial earned a berth to the UIL State Team Tennis Tournament for the seventh straight year.

“We had a great season,” said Mustangs head coach Bud Booth. “Our only loss all year was at the state tournament, so to finish with a 20-1 record is pretty outstanding. I’m proud of the kids. Now we just need to get over the hump and win the state championship.”

Among those leading the Mustangs back to state this season were boys top seeds Dane and Andrew Esses, Neil Mabee and Artur Zigman, while top-ranked players among the Mustangs girls included Candice Wright, Rosalie Caplan, Sarah Mabee and Angela Zhang.

Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Open House Sat., Jan. 23 2-4 p.m.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 31

SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. W

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

Winning it all The St. Anne Catholic School varsity soccer team (top photo) won the Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association (GHCAA) championship.

The seventh and eighth graders had a 13-1 record going into the playoffs, and earned the championship title with a win against St. Francis de Sales.

Twelve of the 13 winning games were won by scoring five goals, which is the maximum allowed per game. The whole team has played together for the past two years, and most played in the United Christian Athletic League before being eligible to play for the school in sixth grade. St. Anne’s champions are (top row, from left) Daniel Ostrom, Job Trahan, Taylen Washington, Renato Castro, coach Omar Bethune, Ryan Moore, Jack Pilibosian, Paul Langemeier, William York, Carolos Copello, (front row, from left) Francis Hebert, Noah Stomberg, Austin Benevides, Kennedy Trahan, Pablo Pinilla, Jared Robinson and Marcos Soto.

Gold-trophy winners The Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association JV flag football Jaguars (middle photo) won the division championship. The boys are first through third graders at Second Baptist School and Memorial Drive Elementary.

Each player learned to throw and catch, so the offense was able to incorporate a number of passing plays. After finishing the season, 11-0, they met another undefeated team, the Saints, at the championship game and won 27-13. The athletes loved the experience of playing on artificial turf in the 15,000-person-capacity Darrell Tully Stadium. After a pregame talk in the dressing room, the Jaguars took the field and were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd and stadium announcer. Tully Bowl victors are (top row, from left) coaches Paul Townsen, Mark Toon and Chris Torn, (bottom row, from left) players Baron Selph, Christopher Torn, Brody Zanovich, Eian Lowe, Presley Townsen, Will Huthnance, Canon Toon, William Carl, Tanner Watkins, Dylan Davis and Carson Bratcher.

“During practice and games these girls’ default mode was hustle … turns out hustle wins championships,” he said. The proud winners are (back row, from left) Dani Dietrich, Lizzie Keeling, coach Stephen Stelmak, Callie Carlson, Zoe Zanovich, coach Larry St. Martin, Katherine St. Martin, Aly Allen, (front row, from left) Gigi Wong, Sonia Stelmak, Riley McKlosky, Reese Cole and Emma Todd.

Dashing players After a strong season, the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association (SBMSA) Dash team (bottom photo) won the 9/10 girls championship.

The girls finished the regular season with only two losses and were victorious with a 4-1 win in the championship game. Coach Stephen Stelmak says the team worked hard, made mistakes, and learned from their mistakes.

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

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 32

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Starve or feed a cold?

As we head into cold and flu season, many of us will catch a viral infection that will give us symptoms of a common cold: runny and/or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, headache, and yellow mucus. So if we’re infected, we should take an antibiotic, right? Wrong! Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, and viruses cause colds. A review of sinus infections from the New England Journal of Medicine (2004;351:902-910) stated that using antibiotics is usually not recommended until the mucus has been discolored for at least 7 or 10 days. Many of the patients we treat for allergy to multiple antibiotics develop those allergies when their antibiotic is changed over and over again. It gets changed because they take the first antibiotic when the “cold” first appears. Amazingly, the antibiotic does nothing to treat the virus, which runs its course. The patient, not feeling any better, asks for another antibiotic. And sometimes another.

For years, the line about chicken soup was, “Will it help?” “Well, it couldn’t hurt.” Scientific evidence suggests that chicken soup actually does help. It contains the amino acid cysteine, which has been shown to thin out thick mucus secretions and help relieve congestion. Hydrating by drinking Gatorade, water or any non-caffeinated beverage helps further.

What about “feed a cold, starve a fever.” It’s actually not a bad idea. A fever without cold symptoms may be the flu (influenza), another viral infection often manifest by nausea and vomiting. Starving the fever by withholding food is reasonable if one is nauseated, but make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Gatorade is a good choice here, too.

What else works when you have a cold? Rinsing your nose out with a

salt-water solution a couple times a day.

Some people prefer a Neti Pot, and others like the NeilMed squeeze bottle.

Whichever you use, mix the salt with distilled water, not tap water. I’m sure the city makes clean drinking water, but I’m not as confident in the old pipes it runs through.

Mucinex works by increasing the water content in the mucus, so that the mucus thins out and you can cough it up or blow it out. For a stuffy nose, you may want to consider a decongestant spray such as Afrin. But don’t use Afrin more than 5 days in a row or you may become physically dependent on it (addicted).

And remember: Skip the antibiotics until the mucus is yellow or green for at least a week.

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

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 33

NEIGHBORS

.

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Holiday spirits

Got your back

To kick off the holiday season and raise money for PTA programs and the auction, more than 70 Spring Branch Middle School moms enjoyed a celebration at the new home of Colleen and Jeff Zatorski. Hostesses included Melissa Luther, Maggie Dietert, Lisa Olsson, Colleen Zatorski, Margaret Sanders, Cynthia Pappas, Laura Genung, Lesli Giannukos, Lisa McAdams, Bonny Edwards, Stacy McNair, Amy Ryan, Jennifer Espey, Liz Rotan, Jana Bruce and Iliana Romero. Jeff Zatorski and Jeremy Sanders served up spirits as bartenders.

The Rummel Creek Elementary gym was filled with cheers, unique student songs, special bracelets, thank you notes and other signs of respect as 700 students joined staff, parents and community members to show their support for local law enforcement. The school’s “red, white and back the blue” spirit rally was inspired by the shooting death of Harris County sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth, after the school’s music teacher, Karen Donathen, watched his televised funeral. The rally combined elements of the traditional “red ribbon week” drug and alcohol prevention campaign with support for

local law enforcement. Attending were officers from Houston, Spring Branch ISD and Constable Precinct 5; the Stratford High School cheerleaders; band and drum line; local Cub

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Scout Webelos; and the executive director of The 100 Club. The school’s PTA made a $500 donation to The 100 Club. Pictured are Constable Precinct 5 Officer Carrie Goetz and third graders Maddie Stanton, Kamila Rueda and Evy Christie (from left).

Bling in the New Year

Kim Coffman

A house for healing

on Jan. 26 at the Junior League of Houston. It’s a lunchtime fundraiser, and there will be a marketplace, with vendors Diamonds in the Rough, Karen Darnell/Jewelry by Franco, My London Flat, and a fashion show by Marlo Miller Boutique. A portion of proceeds will benefit Passages for Women, a residential treatment center for women located in Spring Branch. Passages is celebrating its 30th year of working with women in recovery. Pictured (from left) at last year’s event are Dede Phillips and Melanie Cizik.

Get your tickets at bootsandbling.eventbrite.com.

Supporting education

Supporters and friends of the Ronald McDonald House, including Mady and Ken Kades, Leslie Bourne (RMH Houston CEO) and Rossio Sandoval with her daughter Sophia (a RMH Houston family) (all pictured, from left) gathered at the Kades’ home for a presentation about Ronald McDonald House Houston and the families who temporarily call the house their home.

Ronald McDonald House provides rooms for family members of ill children to ease the financial burden of travel costs. See rmhc-ctx.org.

Spring Branch Education Foundation members, including Lisa Schwartz, chair, SBEF Board; Chris Vierra, president, SBISD Board of Trustees; Dr. Scott R. Muri, superintendent, SBISD; Cece Thompson, executive director, SBEF; and J. Carter Breed, SBEF board member, welcomed some good news. SBEF was ranked No. 1 in the nation among education foundations revenues by Stepping Up: The Top K-12 Education Foundations in the Nation, which is an annual study that ranks K-12 foundations. Supporters gathered at the Omni Riverway for a gala, cochaired by Melissa and Mano DeAyala.

Even though Christmas is over, there’s still a reason to shop for a good cause. Passages for Women will host its fourth annual Boots & Bling event

Art alive The Assistance League of Houston invites everyone to celebrate some (continued on page 36)

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 35

Michelle Watson

Texas art from Jan. 13 through Feb. 26 at Williams Tower Gallery, 2800 Post Oak Boulevard. The gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The opening reception will be Jan. 13. Committee members include Jaci Day (co-chair), Georgana McNeil (co-chair), Darlene Abdouch, Susan Alexander, Mary Jane Casimir, Sue Conway, Linda Dussair, Kathleen Drysdale, Stella Evensen, Lisa Kana, Donna Matthews, Vicki Merwin, Carole Roush, JoAnn Southers, Susan Smith, Carole Wakefield and Patty Wells.

(continued from page 35)

true. The group planned to meet at Table on Post Oak the weekend after Thanksgiving for brunch. Upon walking in, the hungry group was greeted by Santa Claus, a gingerbread housedecorating table and an ornament-making table.

The children stayed downstairs for holiday fun with helpers while the adults got to enjoy mimosas and brunch upstairs; with that, a new tradition was born. Pictured (from left) are Mike, Dawn, Quinn and Pearce Persia; Emily, Chris, Weston, Molly Grace and Maggie Miller; Aaron, Lexie, Vivi and Annie Boudreaux; and Scott and Michael Shaver.

Deep in the heart Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook (pictured) and over 400 patrons mingled under the stars as they shined big and bright for the Trees of Hope Lonestar Wonderland Holiday Gala at the Omni Houston Hotel. Gala co-chairs Heather Holmes, Roseann Rogers and Melanie Rothwell orchestrated an elegant evening, which brought in over $640,000 for the children of Star of Hope. Trees of Hope president Heather Holmes spoke about choosing to support the children’s programs at Star of Hope and the impact it makes in Houston.

Also seen were Charlie Thomas, Robin and Danny Klaes, Jim and Sherry Smith, Heather and Richard Holmes, Lisa and John Stoika, Carmen and Butch Mach, Courtney and Bill Toomey, Kelley and Steve Lubanko, Nancy and David Putska, Melanie and Scott Rothwell,

A night to remember Doris and Terry Looper, Marsha Montemayor and Jo Ann Peterson.

A new tradition ’Twas the month before Christmas, and a group of friends experienced a parent’s dream come

Discover how The Regis School Educates SCHOLARS AND GENTLEMEN in the Sacred Heart Tradition.

Members of the Bering family – and friends (pictured, from left) including Lisa Kinzel, Heather Bering Mafrige, Augie Bering, Sally Timanus (behind Augie), Bonnie Bering, Janie Puttman, (behind Bonnie), Carol Ann and Bob Paddock, Tim Timanus and Suzie

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Swanson – gathered for a special night to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bering’s Hardware. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. The band Mercury: The Orchestra Redefined played music as guests nibbled on light bites provided by Chef Reggie Martin of LeMond Catering and Special Events. Bering’s used to carry yardsticks, and Nancy Harper gathered one from each year to frame as a special piece of art for the anniversary.

Women supporting women Rachel Steely, Emily Elliott, Kasey Dunn, Janis Jarosz, Karra Marino, Lynne Williams, Staci Voll, Priscilla Arthus and Cathy Fitzpatrick Cleary (pictured, from left) mingled with more than 260 professional women and members of Dress for Success Houston’s Corporate Guild at the River Oaks Country Club for the 14th annual A Night Out. The

event’s proceeds topped $130,000 and will help empower women to achieve economic independence. Dress for Success provides a network of support, professional attire and development tools for women in need. Guests sipped bubbles and shopped at pop-up boutiques. Afterwards, emcee Rachel McNeill, KPRC 2 news anchor, took the stage. Nancy Levicki, president and co-founder of Dress for Success Houston, and

Kasey Dunn, Corporate Guild president and Energy Tax Partner with PwC, presented a video highlighting a client’s transformation at Dress for Success.

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

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

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 37

RULING THE ROOST Chad Coffey, a junior at St. Thomas High School, raises chickens in his backyard in Spring Branch.

KIDS

by Chad Coffey, age 16

Buzz Kidz

Uptown chickens

W

hen I was a toddler, we raised chickens at our ranch in Cat Spring, Texas. Since my family has moved onto an acre lot in the Spring Branch area, I have started raising chickens at my house.

I am now a junior at St. Thomas High School and still interested in raising chickens. It is an adventure because they bring a mixture of domesticated and undomesticated life to the table. The chickens live outside and act like wild birds who run around the yard, but they also have a friendly side that allows you to pick them up and love on them.

Chickens have a conventional use, which is for eggs, but they are also my pets, and I treat them and feel about them as anyone feels about their pets. Raising a pet chicken is different than raising

an indoor animal like a cat. Chickens do not need as much attention; they really just need food, water and some other chicken friends to be happy.

But after they become used to you they will walk up to you, cluck and want to be your friend.

My chickens lay all different sizes and colors of eggs that you don’t see in the grocery store; the eggs vary from white to brown, green and pastel colors, and from the size of a quail egg to grocery store-sized eggs.

I give eggs to family and friends. When I have enough, I sell them to my neighbors. The great thing about home-raised chicken eggs is that they are organic and healthier than storebought eggs. I currently have 10 chickens that are all different breeds. I like exotic breeds of chickens that include a Golden Laced

Sebright, a Silkie and several Polish. All of my chickens live in a coop in the backyard at night for protection from predators, but during the day, the chickens free-range in the backyard to obtain vitamins and minerals that are not contained in their food.

The chickens love the garden and flower beds. They turn the dirt looking for bugs and worms. It irritates my mom when the dirt is all kicked up on the sidewalk. The chickens have added a warm country feeling to our household.

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

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 39

DINING GUIDE

by Russell Weil, contributing writer

What’s for breakfast?

Russell Weil

This Month in Dining

Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Buzz dining contributor Russell Weil is a native, second-generation Houstonian who loves the history of his hometown and all things burger. Author of the blog Eat More Burgers, Russell enjoys finding new dining spots with his monthly “Burger Buddy Adventure Group.” Russell also is a longtime docent at Holocaust Museum Houston and a senior project manager at the technology-communications company ContentActive, where many of his clients are nonprofits, including the United Way, Houston Food Bank, Houston Restaurant Weeks and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Check out his blog at eat-more-burgers.com. Regular Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh will return this spring.

Adair Kitchen

THE BREAKFAST KLUB A favorite menu item is the golden Belgian waffle served with succulent friedchicken wings.

M

ost important meal of the day? So we’ve been told. But one thing is for sure: Breakfast out is invigorating and festive, especially with visiting guests. Many Houston restaurants open early for breakfast or brunch, such as Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette near River Oaks, while others, including Kenny & Ziggy’s in Uptown and Buffalo Grille (multiple locations), serve breakfast all day long.

Frank’s Grill and Tel-Wink Restaurant & Grille in South Houston feed our hunger for classic morning dishes in a true diner setting. Doughnuts for breakfast is a sweet option at River Oaks Doughnuts in River Oaks and Lee’s Fried Chicken and Doughnuts in the Heights, both of which also serve excellent kolaches.

This month’s listings are all breakfast spots worth a visit.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 40

Modern comfort food Neighborhood: Tanglewood Adair Kitchen in Tanglewood has gained quite a following since opening its doors. Lines form promptly at 8 a.m. each morning for the inventive breakfast options. Avocado + Chorizo Toast is grilled sourdough toast drizzled in olive oil topped with spicy chorizo, fresh avocado, lime and fresh cilantro, served with black beans.

Crispy Chicken & Waffles are handmade juicy breaded chicken tenders served with deliciously sweet Belgian waffles and maple syrup. For the less adventurous, you can still order up breakfast favorites such as French toast pancakes, omelets and two eggs any style. The open interior can get a little noisy, especially when the line is long, but there is a nice outdoor seating area.

Breakfast is served through lunch daily, but there are also some breakfast dishes on the dinner menu. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 5161 San Felipe St. 713-6236100. adairkitchen.com. $

Biskit Junkie Biscuits and breakfast Neighborhood: Oak Forest Biskit Junkie in the Oak Forest area specializes in breakfast sandwiches on homemade biscuits. My choice was the “Hungry Man,” with crispy fried chicken, candied bacon, American cheese and sawmill gravy. I added a fried egg to my sandwich. The sweetness of the bacon was the perfect partner for the seasoned fried chicken and buttery biscuit. Other tasty combos are the “Nitty Gritty” with shrimp and andouille sausage and the spicy “El Chapa” with scrambled eggs, chorizo, avocado and pico de gallo. Biskit Junkie also serves a stellar selection of omelets in addition to pancakes and Belgian waffles, plus freshly brewed coffee from the local Katz Coffee Company. The sleek industrial space offers limited indoor seating, but there is a nice, covered patio that wraps around the front of the building. 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Tue.-Sun., 2925 W. T.C. Jester. 713-688-1754. biskitjunkie.com. $

The Breakfast Klub Southern breakfast dishes Neighborhood: Midtown Since opening in Midtown in 2001, The Breakfast Klub has become a top tourist destination, as well as a local favorite. Owner/chef Marcus Davis has brought this unique and casual concept to life with his exceptional blend of

Southern favorites, including the not-to-be missed Wings & Waffle, a golden Belgian waffle surrounded by six fried chicken-wings and topped with powdered sugar and a fresh strawberry. These are not your standard wings, but full-size succulent and juicy pieces that are some of the best I have ever eaten. Top it all off with hot maple syrup for the full experience. The Breakfast Klub’s other delicious dishes include Katfish & Grits, French toast and Wings & Grits, along with favorites such as omelets and breakfast sandwiches. The coffee is bottomless, so grab a cup while you are waiting in line to be seated. Expect a wait. Breakfast is served during normal business hours. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 3711 Travis. 713-5249901. thebreakfastklub.com. $

The Buffalo Grille Hill Country diner Neighborhood: West University, Memorial This popular spot, with locations in West U and Memorial, remains iconic in the Houston breakfast scene. The long weekend lines are proof that The Buffalo Grille continues to draw in the crowds. The breakfast menu, served all day every day, is extensive. Choose from eggs served with grits or hash browns and homemade biscuit, English muffin, bagel or toast, or venture out with waffles, pancakes, migas, huevos rancheros, omelets or breakfast burritos. Their pecan-

smoked peppered bacon and sausage are not to be missed, and I believe they have the best crispy hash browns around. The house coffee, a toasted cinnamon blend, is provided by local roaster Duncan Coffee. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Sun., 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 8 a.m-9 p.m. Sat., 4080 Bissonnet at Academy. 713-661-3663; 1301 S. Voss Road. 713-784-3663. thebuffalogrille.com. $

Dish Society Modern diner Neighborhood: Tanglewood Tucked away on the first floor of a Tanglewood-area apartment building, Dish Society serves a variety of farm-to-table breakfast dishes made with ingredients from local suppliers. Because I enjoy spicy foods, my favorite is their Southwest Scramble with scrambled eggs, bell peppers, avocado, black beans, rosemary sweet potatoes, corn pico and Cotija cheese. The eggs are fluffy and light, and the potatoes are seasoned with pepper and spices. Nutella French Toast and Pork Belly Hash are other popular dishes, as well as more traditional offerings such as pancakes and omelets. And, if you are in a creative mood, you can build your own breakfast with selections ranging from breakfast tacos to omelets. Fuel your morning with locally roasted Greenway Coffee, or enjoy a glass of freshsqueezed juice such as orange or beet. Breakfast served daily from 7 to 10:30 (continued on page 42)

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 41

Adair Kitchen

ADAIR KITCHEN Consider indulging in the French toast made with double-thick house bread with powdered sugar, maple syrup and berries. (continued from page 41) a.m., and all day on

Sunday. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m-3 p.m.

Sun., 5740 San Felipe. 832-538-1060. (Second location in Katy.) dishsociety.com. $-$$

Empire Café Stylish coffee cafe Neighborhood: Montrose This Montrose favorite is quite popular on the weekends. Lines form outside the door with eager folks waiting to place their orders for pancakes, waffles or omelets. But the stars at Empire are the specialty egg dishes, including the Verdi – eggs on spinach with garlic and olive oil, served with cheddar hash brown potatoes and fresh fruit. Breakfast favorites, such as eggs Benedict and breakfast tacos, round out the otherwise eclectic menu. Signature muffins and scones with a cup of bottomless coffee or an espresso are options for a quick breakfast to go.

The portions are healthy, and each item is made to order and served hot. The sleek indoor seating is cozy and nicely lined with art from local artists, but it can get a little crowded at peak times. However, the large, shaded patio is a nice escape from the masses, and offers views of the bustling antique shops that line Westheimer.

7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thu., 7:30 a.m-11 p.m.

Fri.-Sat., 6 a.m-2 p.m. Sun., 1732 Westheimer Rd. 713-528-5282. empirecafe.com. $-$$ MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 42

Fountain View Cafe Classic breakfast spot Neighborhood: Tanglewood With an emphasis on home-style cooking, Fountain View Cafe has been serving up classic American breakfasts since 1983 in the same location. While there has been a recent facelift to the interior, what remains the same is the breakfast. The “Café 2” is my favorite – two eggs with four bacon strips or sausage slices, along with hash browns, grits or fresh fruit, and a biscuit, bagel, English muffin or croissant. This is a tasty value at around $8. Waffles, pancakes and build-your-own omelets round out the breakfast options. The friendly and attentive service preserves this as a popular weekend breakfast spot. The kitchen keeps the food coming quickly so the tables turn over quickly.

Order breakfast anytime during normal business hours. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m-3 p.m.

Sat.-Sun., 1842 Fountain View Drive. 713-7859060. fountain-view-cafe.com. $

Frank’s Grill Classic diner Neighborhood: South Houston This funky retro diner on Telephone Road in southeast Houston is known for its serious eggand-meat breakfasts and friendly staff.

Waitresses are known to greet their regulars by

name. The breakfast entrees include steak and eggs (my favorite), chopped steak and eggs, pork chops and eggs, and chicken-fried steak and eggs, as well as egg-and-bacon sandwiches for smaller eaters. All meat and egg portions are big and include your choice of sides and delicious and large homemade biscuits. Spicy chicken and waffles and fluffy and filling French toast are other tasty items, as are more traditional breakfasts with eggs and choice of bacon, sausage or ham. This homey neighborhood dive gets crowded, for the big portions at a low price, so arrive early or expect a wait and a great breakfast. Breakfast served during normal business hours. 6 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 7 a.m-1:45 p.m. Sun., 4702 Telephone Rd. 713-649-3296. $

Harry’s Restaurant Cafeteria and diner Neighborhood: Midtown Since 1970, this family-owned Midtown diner has been serving Southern specialties, mixed with Greek dishes. Entering this no-frills diner, you are greeted by a huge cafeteria-style setting where you can order up the breakfast of your choice. Stop by from 6 to 8 a.m. daily for the early-bird special of its popular “American Classic” breakfast, with two eggs (instead of the usual one later in the day) prepared to your liking and served with grits, hash browns, home

fries or sliced tomatoes and choice of bacon, ham, patty sausage, or turkey sausage. Move on down the line to place your order for enticing options such as 3-egg omelets, fluffy French toast, sweet waffles and over-sized breakfast sandwiches. For those who are big breakfast eaters, Harry’s country breakfast will feed your appetite with three large eggs and your choice of meat including pork chops, rib eye steak, or Cajun catfish among others. There are so many choices at Harry’s. Breakfast is served during normal business hours. 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.Fri.; 7 a.m-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 318 Tuam St. 713528-0196. harrysrestaurantcafe.com. $-$$

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette Southern seafood Neighborhood: River Oaks While this oysterette is known for their fresh fish and seafood, Liberty serves a full-breakfast menu on the weekends only. The American Liberty Platter is its version of the allAmerican breakfast. I chose poached eggs, maple bacon, butcher’s sausage, potatoes, toast and a tomato-arugula salad. Other eye-catching items include Liberty Eggs Benedict, their version with braised pork belly, and Lee’s Biscuit in a box, which is a new creation every weekend. There are also pancakes and a la carte items including fresh fruit and sourdough toast. The interior space is crisp and stylish.

The service is warm and friendly. This location is popular, so expect a wait after 8:30 a.m. Valet parking is available. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m-3 p.m. Sun., 5740 San Felipe. 832-5381060. libertykitchenoysterette.com. $-$$

New York Bagel Shop & Cafe Bagels and diner Neighborhood: Maplewood As a neighborhood favorite, New York Bagel has been offering Houston’s best takeout bagels for decades. Adjacent to the bagel shop, the café is a great place to grab a solid no-frills breakfast in a pleasant and friendly setting. Their pastrami omelet served with chopped pastrami is popular, as is the steak and eggs combo. Both are served with bagel or toast and grits, home fries or tomatoes.

Waffles, pancakes and matzo brie are other tasty options. The portions are generous, and the coffee is a bottomless cup. Stop by the shop next door to take home some bagels; they freeze well for future meals, so make sure to ask for some freezer bags. The café can get crowded on the weekends, so expect a wait.

For faster seating, try the counter service.

Breakfast served during normal business hours. 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon., 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tues.-Fri., 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 6 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sun., 9724 Hillcroft, 713-723-8650. facebook.com/nybagelhouston. $

Tel-Wink Restaurant & Grille American grill Neighborhood: South Houston If you are looking for a classic home-cooked breakfast, Tel-Wink should be your destination. Since 1962, everyone from bikers to doctors has been congregating at this Telephone Road breakfast mecca on the weekends. The line forms inside the restaurant, winding around the booths and tables, giving those waiting a glimpse of what is about to come.

Homemade biscuits are king here, big and fluffy. Also tops are traditional egg dishes served with hash browns or grits and toast or two biscuits. Steak-and-egg dishes, omelets, pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast and not-to-be-missed breakfast sandwiches (one with jalapeño sausage) round out the large selection of breakfast choices. Be prepared to wait, but you can kill time by taking turns gawking over the motorcycles that line the gravel parking lot. Breakfast is served anytime.

6 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m-6 p.m. Sat., 6 a.m-2 p.m. Sun., 4318 Telephone Rd. 713644-4949. telwink.com. $

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for all restaurants that have been reviewed by The Buzz. You can use our restaurant finder to search by area, cuisine and price.

Delicious Food. Creative Ideas. Professional Staff.

Let us cater your special occasion • Weddings • Engagement parties • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Personal celebrations • Corporate caterings • Client entertaining • Staff lunches • Office parties

Owners - Frank N. Demeris and Stathy Demeris 4803 Bissonnet St. Bellaire, Texas 77401 713.664.7964 charliesandco.com

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 43

sponsored by

PETS

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Houston Christian fall concert

Neighborhood Tails

713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Edgerton, age 12, Weimaraner, Caudle Dr. I’ve been taking it day by day lately, dreaming of the thousands of miles I have run, hundreds of miles I have swum, dozens of steaks I have stolen, many pantry raids, countless trash snacks and that one time I got kicked out of doggie obedience school. I recently turned 12, and my whole family and I all wore party hats and ate cupcakes from Ooh La La. I probably won’t have another birthday to celebrate as my heart is failing and the good days are getting slim. I’ve done my part being the gentlest giant to my much younger siblings and a best friend to their mother. I love teaching everyone the importance of loyalty and what unconditional love really means.

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, Texas 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.

The Houston Christian Department of Fine Arts gave its fall concert outside on school grounds in October. “Come Thou Fount! A Banquet of Fellowship and Praise” featured the Symphonic Band, String Orchestra, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Viri Cantate, Fermata the Blue and the Doxa Dance Company. A picnic dinner was served, and the audience enjoyed the beautiful evening on blankets and chairs.

John Ousley, chair of fine arts, said, “We wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and do something different for our fall concert. I have been a part of many outdoor concerts in the past and wanted to bring that experience to the HC community.”

The Fine Arts Christmas concert was held in the Pampell Family Chapel on December 8 at 7 p.m. The annual celebration highlighted the music and festivities of the season. This year, “HC Under the Tree,” a small shopping market with local vendors, took place in the afternoon prior to the concert.

HCHS is a co-educational, private, college-preparatory school for students in grades 9-12 and seeks to teach the child mentally, physically and spiritually. It is located at 2700 West Sam Houston Parkway. HC is a member of ISAS, NAIS and HAIS. Houston Christian High School, 2700 W Sam Houston Parkway North, Houston, TX 77043, 713.580.6000, www.houstonchristian.org

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The largest selection of premium brand pet food & supplies in Houston!

LOCATED IN THE ECHO LANE SHOPPING CENTER 9333 Katy Freeway @ Echo Lane • 832.358.1600 www.carterspetdepotkaty.com

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A minute with Maisie

Ask Reneé, the Realtor

Many clients ask me, “Will my spouse’s business be considered in my divorce?” Texas law presumes that all property is community property, and that includes ownership in businesses.

There are a variety of ways one can claim ownership in a business, so it is important to understand the type of organization and how the spouse holds any claim to the company.

Once you know the type of organization and how it is owned, there are multiple approaches to handle the division. Additionally, you always want to know the fair market value of the spouse’s business interest. More often than not, this involves hiring an expert to value the spouse’s interest in the company. Many times, this is of critical importance because the majority of community property is contained within the business. Hiring an experienced attorney with knowledge of these issues is key in any divorce involving business interests. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

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

MLS or non-MLS? In today’s market homeowners are thinking, hummmmm…. I can put my home on Facebook or email the neighborhood Mommy network to sell our home and save all those commissions! A word of advice: You are seriously limiting the buyer market for your property by not listing it with an experienced realtor and putting your property in the Multiple Listing Service via HAR.com. There are many qualified buyers right now who will not know who you are, some being transferred from out of the country and from out of state. Why limit the possibilities? It’s a fact that 99.9 percent of the time a knowledgeable Realtor will bring you the highest sales price than what could be achieved by selling on your own. Let’s also include the possible legal ramifications. The Houston Association of Realtors has worked hard for a No. 1 state-of-the-art listing service for sellers, and our MLS service brings strong value to our sellers. Sellers net more at the closing table by hiring a professional. Feel free to email me your questions or comments. I love hearing from all of those who contact me in the community.

Strong market knowledge, incredible marketing tools and proven sales records, along with a team of proven agents, Reneé and her team are consistently recognized and reccommended as the ones to go to for real-estate needs.

Reneé Davy Oakum Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Anderson Properties, 12900 Queensbury, Suite 101, Houston, Texas 77079 and 3600 Kirby, Suite T, Houston, Texas 77019, 713.647.8278, renee@davyoakumbhhs.com, www.andersonprops.com

WHERE YOUR PETS ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY Dog and cat boarding • Small and large dog daycare Baths • Affordable prices and excellent customer service We support area dog rescues.

713-464-9852 • www.fritzkennel.com 9513 Yupondale Drive, Houston TX 77080

Thank you for supporting a Veteran owned small business.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 45

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Staying balanced

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veryone knows we’re supposed to exercise. Cardio, strength training – we’re supposed to move. But what about exercising our balance?

“Balance is one of the main things we lose as we age,” says yoga instructor Andrew Dugas. But it’s key to staying healthy – and safe. One in three adults over the age of 65 will fall every year.

As we age, balance dulls. Vision declines, inner ear systems fade, and proprioceptive systems ebb, meaning we can’t perceive our own motion, or feel, quite as acutely.

“We can’t do anything about our eyesight or inner ear function,” Andrew says. “But we can move our ankles, train ourselves to feel our bodies, strengthen our feet, become aware. Being able to actually feel your feet on the ground sounds trivial, but it makes all the difference.”

As a NASA scientist, Dr. Katharine Forth studied the effects of gravity on astronauts’ balance. “We realized the technology we invented for people on the moon would be really helpful for people on earth,” she says. So she formed a NASA spinoff company, iShoe, which uses a bathroom scale-like measure to sense balance via pressure beneath the feet. The idea is that if you know where you stand, so to speak, you can do something about it.

“It doesn’t just hit when you’re 80. Balance changes every day, oscillating a bit more the older you get,” Katharine says. “But even for younger people it can drop 40 percent if you get a bad night’s sleep.

“A fair amount of decline is due to spending time in chairs and not getting up and moving.”

Paula Pozmantier, a retired real estate broker over 65, has been practicing yoga on and off for more than 20 years, and consistently for the past six or so. She also trains with weights and does Pilates, but she credits yoga with helping her retain balance. (Weight training and Pilates use equipment – weights, bands, machines – to focus on strengthening core muscles, while yoga uses poses and stretches – often combined with a meditative component – to improve flexibility, balance and strength.)

“Yoga has helped me tremendously,” Paula says. “I haven’t had any issues with falling, even MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2016 46

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.

IN THE BALANCE As we age, balance becomes more important, and practice makes (almost) perfect.

though there were times when I could have fallen but was able to catch myself.”

When Paula accidentally stepped backwards into a friend’s pool, she was aware enough of her body and posture that she was able to land on her feet. “I was soaking wet, but my host kept saying, ‘You didn’t even get your hair wet!’” Another friend did the same thing in another pool, but she lost her balance and broke her ankle.

Cliff Greenbaum, a 52-year-old entrepreneur who practices yoga regularly, says he just feels better when he goes to class.

“I started about three and a half years ago,” he says. “I was working out with a trainer, a 50th birthday present, and I wasn’t loving it. After about six or eight months of that my wife said, ‘Why don’t you try yoga?’”

Cliff started with a beginner class focused on breathing. “Amazingly I was sore the next day,” he says.

Cliff says he depends on yoga for exercise. “I might get something mental out of it, but that’s not why I’m there,” he says. “It’s made me more aware, more conscious of body position and feet and stepping and where I am at any given place

in time.

“And if I don’t do it, for lack of a better term, I kind of feel yucky.”

Back to balance: Studies on fall prevention for seniors show that exercise significantly reduces injuries from falls. So where to start?

“The two most important things are to stand on one foot and practice moving your ankles,” Andrew says. If your balance is already decent, he suggests crossing one foot atop the other, like a kickstand, or a modified third position in ballet, and balancing on the weight-bearing leg. Or hold the knee of one leg up with both hands, and balance.

“If your balance is bad, regardless of age, put one hand on the wall and stand on one foot for one to two minutes. Let that foot burn; you might even be sore the next day.

“For body awareness, your first strategy is long, deep inhales. It seems simplistic, but it switches off your stress and relieves the tension in your neck and shoulders,” freeing you up to feel the rest of your body.

Bonus: Cliff says, “The breathing helps you take a step back and say, ‘Ah.’”