The Memorial Buzz - May 2016

Bill Gage

Confronting

Cancer

by Jennifer Oakley

Foodie Kids Teen Jobs Dining Guide: Happy Hour Classic Baby Fashion Travel Buzz: Scuba Diving Summer Meals Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Back Porch: A Mother’s Wisdom

EDITOR’S NOTE At age 86, my mom, “Bubby Blanche,” has survived many life challenges. She’s a two-time cancer survivor, both breast and thyroid. She lost a son, who was born on Mother’s Day, and, last year, lost my dad. But she has not let challenges or grief keep her down. Her resilience and hilarious sense of humor constantly amaze and entertain me.

This month, meet another incredible, strong Buzz resident who has also survived cancer, Bill Gage. Writer Jennifer Oakley captures his tale with detailed, emotional insight. Bill coped during his dark journey through his love for golf and Whataburger shakes, and with support from family and friends. I hope that reading Bill’s story will ease some of the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Wishing a happy and healthy Mother’s Day to my mom and to all the loved ones facing challenges out there. 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 Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Sarah Pilger Sanders Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Sharp Amber Lewis Michele Luke Helen van Rensburg

On our cover: Memorial resident Bill Gage is doing well five years after a diagnosis of cancer.

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

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 4

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions All abuzz Just a note to thank you for your coverage of backyard beekeepers in your April 2016 issue [The Bee’s Knees: Backyard beekeepers have it sweet].

Not only did you shed light on a very important topic, Jennifer Oakley took care to accurately report each beekeeper's story with dedication and an engaging writing style. I have had numerous requests from friends and acquaintances wanting to investigate their own hives! So exciting! Thank you again.

Lea Weingarten

Buddies in life and print What a surprise to see my name and story in such a big way in the recent Buzz – thank you for your nice feature [Back Porch: Neighborly get-togethers,

by Andria Frankfort, March 2016]! I thought I would be a “little mention,” so it’s quite different to see me quoted line after line. And even more crazy that you also featured Dee Dee Dochen, my good friend of over 20 years!

Neither of us had any idea, so it was quite wild to see our names in print in the same space, sharing our stories. Really brought a smile to our day! Many thanks for your good work.

Nancy Ehrenkranz

Not a rodeo fan While I usually enjoy your magazine, I was disturbed by your March 2016 article, Rodeo Horsepitality [The secret show within the livestock show,

by Michelle Casas Groogan]. If the Buzz residents profiled really love horses, why would they be involved in an event like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where each day horses are made to suffer in saddle bronc riding events? These beautiful horses are kept captive, moved from city to city, then forced to repeatedly endure the pain of flank straps and spurs so they buck wildly.... I have to believe God did not create these beautiful creatures so we might inflict pain and suffering on them for a few minutes’ entertainment. I’d rather show my love for horses – and all animals – by staying away from rodeos.

Shane Axcell

Happy for local magazine Thank you for The Buzz (a first class magazine). As 45-year Bellaire residents, my wife Patty and I always enjoy the informative, relative and interesting articles and outstanding photos on current topics relating to our neighborhood. The ads regarding local neighborhood businesses are well done and very helpful. Keep up the excellent work.

Dr. Kelton Ro-Trock, family psychotherapist 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.

Loves “seeing someone I know” Jordan [Magaziner Steinfeld], we are just so honored that you would even tell Jill and Brian's [Fredericks] story, so the [Memorial Buzz] cover was beyond expectations [Cherished Moments: Buzz newlyweds’ weekend weddings, February 2016]! My phone was literally "Buzzing" all weekend!

Everyone loves The Buzz, and I always love seeing someone I know in it and, it seems, so do all of our friends.

I know Cathy Garcia-Prats well and was SO EXCITED when she was featured on the cover…. Now there is an amazing woman; she is actually opening up a new preschool for kids in need.

Thank you for chronicling such a happy and special time for our family.

I hope our paths cross again. I can say, knowing how much thoughtfulness you all put into all of your stories is a wonderful thing for our city, and though I am sure you are bombarded with stories, I will always think of you when I come across more amazing people like Cathy!

Dianne Brody Editor’s note: Thank you, Dianne, for your kind words about the February 2016 wedding article. Also, we're impressed you remember when Cathy GarciaPrats was on the cover of The Bellaire Buzz six years ago, back in 2010. Andy Blitzer wrote that popular article, A Perfect Ten, about Cathy, mom to 10 sons.

If the rest of you want to read it, or missed the wedding article this year, you can find both at thebuzzmagazines.com.

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 6

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Love being on the water in Galveston.

• Have a travel story to share.

• Enjoy cooking.

• Have a passion or hobby to share.

• Know 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.

WHERE YOUR PETS ARE

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NEIGHBORS

by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

Confronting Cancer With family, golf and Whataburger

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 8

lawellphoto.com

B

ill Gage, a commercial trial lawyer, has a really cool moonlighting gig. Several times a year, Gage hits the road to work the links for CBS Sports at nationally televised golf tournaments. As a “spotter,” Gage is the guy who tells the announcers which professional golfer is using which club and how many yards each has to play to the hole.

He has worked tournaments from The Masters to The British Open. But one day, in May 2011, while working the Colonial Golf Tournament in Fort Worth, Gage felt a lump in his neck.

Looking back, Gage wonders why he asked his wife, Waverly, to make a doctor’s appointment. “I despise going to the doctor,” says Gage, a Memorial resident, who felt the lump while he was shaving. “I felt great, but the knot in my neck, it didn’t hurt or anything, it was just there.” His internist sent Gage to an ENT specialist, who performed a fine-needle aspiration on the spot.

“A couple of days after the biopsy, I was preparing to play golf, and as I walked to the first tee my phone rang,” Gage says. “It was the ENT. I don’t recall exactly what she said, but the thrust of it was, ‘You have cancer.’ She said, ‘You have a large tumor at the base of your tongue, and the cancer has moved into your lymph nodes – hence the knot.’”

Stunned, Gage had a hard time wrapping his mind around his diagnosis while he was feeling good enough to play 18 holes. “Being told you have cancer is surreal – especially when it comes completely out of nowhere,” he says. He walked off the course immediately and drove straight home to his wife. “Once the reality sinks in, however, it was frankly scary.”

Gage’s treatment plan included an ENT to oversee the process, an oncologist for chemotherapy and a radiation oncologist for radiation. The treatments started out easy, but then got challenging as the cumulative effects took their toll on his body.

First was three rounds of chemotherapy, which brought out his contrary side when Gage did not agree to get a port line. “A port is basically a device in your chest that they can

UNWAVERING Bill Gage credits wife Waverly, who brought him lots of Whataburger shakes, with helping him through his cancer treatments.

plug the IV into each time you get chemo, so they don’t have to stick you each time with needles,” he says. “It’s a time saver, but I refused. In my mind, a port was a concession to the disease.”

Gage’s cancer responded well to the chemotherapy, but his body was, in golf terms, in the rough. “I was tired, bald and cold all the time,” he recalls. “It was like being really old and frail.” In fact, the (continued on page 10)

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A MENTAL GAME Bill Gage played rounds of golf in his head to stay calm while undergoing cancer treatment.

Here, he stands with the PGA Championship Wanamaker trophy while working for CBS Sports in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, in 2015. (continued from page 8) physical transformation

was such that at one point, Gage’s dad did not know who he was. “This is how losing your hair, 50 pounds and turning gray in pallor changes you,” he says, brushing his now-full head of hair away with his hand. “I had not seen my father in a week or so, and we were both at a board meeting, and he reached out to shake my hand to introduce himself – he didn’t recognize his only son.”

As difficult as the chemotherapy was cumulatively, it was easy in relation to the radiation.

“The nurses started warning me that the chemo was child’s play compared to the radiation-with-chemo that was on the horizon,” Gage remembers. “It’s one of those things you hear but can’t possibly register. Radiation for head and neck cancer sucks. There is no way to sugar coat it.”

It started with a mask, molded from heavy plastic that conformed to his face. “The reason you have a mask is because you cannot move during the radiation process. For me that was approximately 20 to 25 minutes each day for 28 consecutive days. The mask form fits over my entire face and neck. It was locked down on each side and was very ‘snug’ – that’s as polite a word as I can think of.”

Even though Gage doesn’t consider himself claustrophobic, the thought of being pinned down and placed inside a machine similar to MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 10

an MRI machine, while the radiation was delivered to the correct spot on his neck, was overwhelming. “Each day as I drove to radiation, I tried to think of some way that I could pass the time inside that mask. Because being alone inside the machine, inside the mask for that long, thinking When will this be over? just wasn’t going to work.”

To keep his mind occupied, Gage created a golf game in his head. “I would be ‘playing’ each round and make it is as detailed and vivid as I could,” he remembers. “I would think of courses that I had played, or walked – the back nine at Augusta, back nine at Pebble Beach – playing each shot, walking to the ball, thinking about the weather, the wind, everything, just trying to engage my mind deeply in the fiction I was creating. That was invaluable. I was a much better player then than I am in real life!”

Gage compares the double dose of chemotherapy plus radiation to being struck with a hammer. He says it was important to his recovery that he be as normal as possible and keep up his work and home routine: “Don’t kid yourself, the mental aspect of this is huge.”

Keeping up a positive mental attitude was critical as the side effects of radiation began to get to him. “As the radiation takes its toll, you lose your salivary glands and taste buds and, well, you can imagine what that does to your

appetite. It becomes a struggle to swallow, and the lack of saliva in your mouth brings on painful sores inside your mouth. Weight falls off.” Gage was told if he lost too much weight, his doctors would insert a feeding tube — something he vowed to avoid.

The weight issue, oddly enough, ended up becoming a point of salvation for Gage’s wife, Waverly. “The only thing that Bill could eat during that time was banana milkshakes from Whataburger,” recalls Waverly Gage, a lawyer and food writer, who at times felt at a loss to support her spouse. “I would go through the drive-through of the Whataburger on Timmons twice a day and get Bill large milkshakes. The same lady greeted me at the window, and she would say ‘God bless you! Have a blessed day,’ every time. She does not know it, but she was my angel. I love Whataburger because they employ people like her. I love her, and I will never forget her. She saved me because she reminded me that a kind word is always a blessing.”

Waverly says that at times, she struggled when she wanted to help her husband and she could not because he was feeling so sick from his treatments. “But you have to have hope, and there is so much hope out there.

One of the best things that Bill did was talk to other men who had been through cancer treatment.”

Bill agrees and says that his wife and their three children, Sara Jane, now 19, William, now 17, and Hudson, now 11, along with talking to other cancer patients, gave him tremendous hope. “Waverly was by my side always,” says Gage, who has now been cancer-free for five years. “She was understanding at the right times, tough at the right times and loving all the time.”

Gage hopes that readers looking at this article will be hopeful if they or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer. “My overarching theme is if you are diagnosed with cancer, be hopeful. The thing I can’t emphasize enough is to go and talk to someone who has been through it,” says Gage, who has become a volunteer with CanCare, a network of trained volunteers who provide emotional support to others facing cancer. “If someone talks to you about what you are going through, it makes you think, ‘I can get through it too.’ When you get cancer, you become a member of a club you don’t want to join, and when you talk to someone who has had cancer, it is comforting to know that someone who has been where you are is now living life to its fullest.”

MORE ONLINE See this article at thebuzzmagazines.com for three more stories of life after cancer diagnosis, about Buzz residents Claire Frazier, Ashley Pratka and Stacy Middleman. Plus, watch video clips of Stacy Middleman and Bill Gage talking about their experiences. The first Sunday in June marks National Cancer Survivors Day.

lawellphoto.com

FOOD

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Foodie Kids Grown-up palettes

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ine-year-old Jason Shwartz is on a mission. It’s not the kind of mission that typically comes to mind when you think “9-year-old boy.” Rather, it’s a mission to find the best food in the country. Specifically, the best steak.

“It started when we were on vacation,” Jason’s mom Risa, a business performance consultant, says. “I just gave him a little piece of steak, and I made a bet with him that he wouldn’t eat it.”

That’s because up until then, Jason would only eat prime rib. No steak. But, unbeknownst to Jason, he tried the steak. “He said it was the best thing he’d ever had. Ever since then he’s been on the hunt.”

Jason, who is also a serious golfer, never misses the opportunity to visit a steakhouse with his family. “I’ve been to Ruth’s Chris, Pappas, Killen’s, Fleming’s, Vic & Anthony’s, places in New York.

Wherever we go, we go for steak,” he says.

“It’s his happy food,” his mom says. And he remembers every steak. “Killen’s is really flavory.

I like how Fogo de Chão cuts the steak right in front of you, and it’s really, really good. I like how River Palm [in New Jersey] is really big and juicy.”

Jason’s tastes extend beyond the carnivorous to a wide range of foods, his favorite being pasta.

“I like it at Napoli, and I like homemade pasta from my mom,” he says. “She makes pasta and steak mixed together!”

So specific are his tastes that Napoli has a “hidden menu item” called Jason’s Special. “It’s rigatoni with a plain chicken cutlet and mozzarella cheese on the side,” he says. “It’s not on the menu, but if you ask it’s in the computer.”

At 12 years old, Jack Klosek is also a veteran restaurant-goer. But while he says Pappas Bros.

Steakhouse is “always a favorite,” his preferences run a bit more exotic. “There’s a little Thai place near U of H [Kanomwan] where the food is just so good,” he says. “My favorite thing is the coconut soup with chicken that is just seasoned to perfection.”

Recently, his family dined at RDG Bar Annie. Jack perused the menu and chose the pheasant because that was something he’d never tried. He loved it.

Jack, who is in sixth grade at The Kinkaid School, recently celebrated his 12th birthday over sushi with friends. “Most of my friends keep an open MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 12

mind about it,” he says of his sophisticated taste in food.

“Nobody busts my chops, and some people actually think it’s cool.”

When asked about his favorite sushi, Jack says, “I like toro, which is the belly of the tuna. It’s a very creamy, melt-inyour-mouth piece of fish. At MF Sushi [his favorite in Houston], I like everything from a seared hamachi with truffle and a lemon slice on top to Wagyu with Dijon mustard and caviar.”

Jack’s mom SUSHI KING Twelve-year-old Jack Klosek not only loves to eat sushi; he loves to make Tama, an attorney, it at home. He’s read cookbooks by all the great sushi chefs. says, “He is super Recently, Kelli turned her lifelong love of food into food, super into cooking. He loves sushi so into an Instagram account – @Austinmymouth much he would eat it every day if we let him.” His – with 25,000 followers checking out photos of passion runs deep: Jack’s bedside table holds stacks whatever new dish she’s trying. of cookbooks “by every master sushi chef in the While Kelli does have a full-time job in world. At one point,” Tama says, “I took them Austin, she calls @Austinmymouth “a fun outlet. away because I wanted him to read other things.”

I appreciate good food, presentation, the work The Kloseks’ philosophy has always been to that goes into it.” Austin restaurants now reguexpose their children to good food. “Why larly ask Kelli to come in to try new menu items, assume they’ll only eat mac and cheese? Why hoping to get a post on @Austinmymouth. not fettuccini alfredo?

One thing Jason, Jack and Kelli share in com“John has such a passion for food that every mon: parents who, from the very beginning, meal he eats is like his last,” Tama says of her offered sushi and steak over pizza and chicken husband, Jack’s father. The passion came from nuggets. “Kids can do anything and eat anyJohn’s upbringing in an Italian home where his thing,” Tama says. “We just have to show them mother made good food an important part of the possibilities.” their lives, a common thread for children growing up with a respect for – and a willingness to try – different foods.

See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for a “I’ve always been into food. My mom [Tali] recipe of the Klosek family’s favorite veal scaloppini is the best cook alive,” says recent college gradwith lemon butter sauce, plus a video clip of Jack uate Kelli Blumrosen. Growing up, she says, “My preparing homemade sushi. mom always had something new on the menu.”

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KIDS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

Blue Willow Bookshop

First Jobs Teens working part-time

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he summer after graduating from Stratford High School, Grant Haralson got a job with Janus 1 Unlimited, a franchisee with 26 McDonald’s restaurants in Houston.

One of his tasks: playing Grimace, the purple milkshake character, including at professional baseball games.

“The costume’s hot, yes, but it’s fun to see people smile when they see me coming,” says Haralson, now a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin.

That first teenage job – flipping burgers, bagging groceries, scooping ice cream – is an experience fewer young people are having.

According to the Pew Research Center, fewer than one-third of all American teens held a summer job in 2014. In 1978, almost two-thirds did. But working has value. According to Pew research, every year a person works as a teen results in a 14 to 16 percent increase in their income in their 20s.

One reason for the decline in teen employment: teens are busier, at school and with activities. At the same time, fewer can drive.

According to a survey done by the AAA Foundation, only 54 percent of all American teens get their licenses before their 18th birthday.

While Douglas Whitson, a senior at Strake Jesuit, has worked at Blue Willow Bookshop since September, he says, “Out of my core group of friends, 10 guys, only one has a job, and one used to. The rest play sports.”

Teens in their first jobs learn what are known as “soft skills,” such as being on time and dressing and behaving professionally. Some employers of recent college grads say they’ve learned to look specifically for paying jobs on resumes.

“Forget the fancy service trips and the extracurriculars,” says one. “We find that the ones who have worked know how to work.”

Mentoring teens can be satisfying. “It’s fun to watch them bloom,” says Debbie Adams, Haralson’s boss and mother of two young adults (both of whom worked as teens). Adams, who was an ER nurse before founding Janus 1, worked at a McDonald’s drive-through as a teen. “It was the very best training I could have had to be an MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 14

MORE THAN BOOK LEARNING Of his after-school job at Blue Willow Bookshop, Douglas Whitson says, “You learn, not just how to work at a bookshop, but how a business is run and how products are marketed.”

ER nurse,” she remembers. “You were under pressure. You were essentially doing triage.”

Allison Goldberg encouraged her two girls, Jordan, 18, and Natalie, 16, to work in the summers. Jordan, now studying social work at UT, started working at the clothing retailer Vineyard Vines as a 10th grader. Natalie, a sophomore at Emery/Weiner School, works the front desk at Row, an exercise studio. “There’s just so much value in working,” says Allison. “I felt strongly that I wanted them to see how much work it takes to make minimum wage and what a rude customer or a kind customer looks like.”

What advice do employed teens, their bosses and their parents have for young job seekers?

Don’t just blanket a neighborhood with resumes. “Pick places that are interesting to you,” says Jordan Goldberg.

Whitson’s family has shopped at Blue Willow since he was small. Valerie Koehler, owner, advises, “Understand where you are applying.”

She recommends visiting the business, as a customer. “Go get an ice cream at that ice-cream shop and observe,” she says. “You might even decide that you don’t want to work there.”

Allison Goldberg encouraged her daughters to research companies and come up with 3-5 ques-

tions to ask during the interview. The family also practiced answering interview questions casually, like when they were driving somewhere. Jordan confirms that the preparation did help.

Family support is great, but you have to apply alone. “Don’t have your mom pick up the application, don’t have her come in to ask questions, don’t have her come with you,” says Koehler, “and don’t bring a friend to the interview. We want to see that you are brave enough and independent enough to do this on your own.”

Don’t fret about looking nervous. Indeed, trying to act nonchalant can be the interview killer. “If someone is dressed nice and seems nervous, that is a good sign,” says Michael Savino of Michael’s Cookie Jar. “Body language is important: Look the interviewer in the eye, have a firm handshake,” says Adams. “Be on time. Speak clearly. And leave your cell phone in your pocket.”

Don’t take no personally. Blue Willow “gets a ton of applications,” says Koehler. (And has no current openings.)

“I was nervous. They say a lot of things to you at the interview,” says Haralson. “A W-9?

What’s that? But don’t worry. They help you.

Smile, be polite, be yourself.”

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Moms, Grads & Dads

Gift Guide Perfect gift ideas for even the hardest to please What She Wants

Take Your Egg For the Big Green Egg enthusiast who also loves to travel, you cannot go wrong with the Mini-Max! Take the awkwardness out of traveling with your Big Green Egg with the ease of portability offered with the Mini-Max! Available at both locations. Bering’s, 6102 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77057, 713.785.6400; 3900 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.665.0500, www.berings.com

Inch-by-inch diamond bezel-set necklace in 14-karat white, yellow or rose gold. What every mom deserves and desires.

Wear it with jeans or a little black dress. Starting at under $900. Select Jewelers, 2221 S. Voss Rd., Houston, Texas 77057, 713.789.3359, www.selectjewelers.com

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Classic. Current. Timeless.

Whether for a friend, spouse, daughter, mother or sister, Enewton is a modern, yet classic line of jewelry that takes the pressure off gift giving! Made in the deep south, the bright colors, classic look, and price point keeps our customers coming back for more! Raspberry Rose (located in Rice Village), 2434 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.529.2260, www.raspberryroseboutique.com

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Gifts for Mom & Grad Modern Boutique Eye Care Dr. Patel & her partners provide quality eye exams and fashionable eyewear in a spacious, high-tech boutique setting. Each exam includes a prescription, retinal photos, glaucoma screening and a special prize for our littlest patients. Call to schedule an appointment! CustomEyes, Spring Valley Town Center, 8420 Katy Fwy., Suite 512, Houston, Texas 77024, 713.827.9500, www.yourcustomeyes.com

Jewelry for all occasions at every price point. Let us help you create a memorable jewelry story. Receive 20% off one piece by mentioning this ad. J. Landa, 2412 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.807.1644, www.j-landa.com

New Look for Antlers Celebrate nature with unique accessories created from deer and antler sheds.

Necklaces, bracelets, and cufflinks (shown here). Visit our Houston studio, full of items for you and your home.

Renovate, 7413 Westview Drive, Suite C, Houston, Texas 77055, 713.291.1171, www.renovatehou.com

Hobie Mirage Outback The Hobie Mirage Outback has everything the serious fisherman needs and wants: stability, speed, comfort and maneuverability.

Any of the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks make a great gift for moms, grads and dads. Come see our full selection. Fishing Tackle Unlimited, 12800 Gulf Freeway, Houston, Texas 77034, 281.481.6838, www.fishingtackleunlimited.com

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Whether it’s a YETI Rambler, Colster, Lowball or the newest addition to the family, YETI Bottle, a stainless steel YETI is a must have for any occasion. The Monogram Shop offers a great selection of unique gifts for teachers, moms, dads and grads. Come see us today! The Monogram Shop, 5860-H San Felipe, Houston, Texas 77057, 832.251.8771, www.monogramshophouston.com

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NEIGHBORS

.

by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It Vintage. Bonnie Laughlin and daughter Megan jumped in a classic 1971 French Citroen to tour famous landmarks of Paris. Why not?

They were joined by Tina Kyle and her daughter Claire Livingston to enjoy a Seine River cruise and the best of Paris with a chocolate and pastry tour. They stayed in a charming, threelevel Parisian home around the corner from the famous Rue Cler fresh-market district. In Amsterdam they saw the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum, and took a boat tour thru the canals. The biggest surprise of the trip was to Hermès-Paris.

Six friends. In 1966, Linda House, Joan Belk, Mildred Shuford, Joan McGee, Sue Nicholas and Lilly Faison started a book club that quickly grew to 16 members. Recently, Carol Ann Paddock, Linda Duessel and Doris Bernard hosted the 50th anniversary of the Les Belles Lettres Book Club at Carol Ann’s home.

Melinda Rose and Mary Jane Pizzitola presented each member with a commemorative book.

The members reminisced about places they traveled together. Since its founding, the group has read over 450 books. There are still 26 Les Belles in the club. Janet Atsinger, a 49-year member, summed it up by saying, “The book club is about journeying through life with friendship, reading and having fun.”

Boots and bling. The weather was perfect when the Memorial Drive Garden Club went Western at its annual evening party. The guests spurred down the trail to the backyard where the pool and fountain were lit up and a multitude of candles gave everyone that cowboy glow. The gracious host-wranglers Susan and David Diehl were ready to feed those 76 hungry partiers mountain lion and rattlesnake, but no one caught one. The gals behind the scenes who prepared the boneless beef rib roast and pork tenderloin were Liz Laporte, Melanie Whatley, Suzy Godwin, Susanna Jeu and president Alice Sadeghpour.

Royal time. Eight gal pals celebrated Kathryn Johnson’s 50th birthday at Jonathan’s The Rub for lunch. Shari Lakenmacher planned the gathering that toasted Kathryn and “crowned” her birthday queen. The regal MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 20

group knows each other from The Forest Club and a “baby” bridge group. Shari and Kathy Washburn first met Kathryn when their nowcollege grads were at Hunters Creek Elementary.

Everyone bubbled over the champagne that June Cowan provided for the merriment.

Other noble friends who paid tribute were Cathy Brown, Meryl Gregory, VINTAGE Megan and Bonnie Linda West and French Citroen.

Charlotte Adams.

A moving experience. Dick Hunt was in college at Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri, when he met Shirley Tacke on a blind date. After they married he loaded up his 1944 vintage car and they drove to West Texas where he worked in the oil patch. They moved 17 times over the years, settling in Bunker Hill in 1966, but live in Carbondale, Colorado, now. Daughter Val Hunt Lankford and Jim Neikirk joined them at The Little Nell in Aspen to celebrate the Hunts’ “happily married” for 65 years. As though the celebration weren’t enough, Jim dropped to his knee after dinner and proposed to Val. Big things happen at The Little Nell.

Starry nights. After camping in tents at Big Bend National Park and canoeing down the Rio Grande, Laura Lee, 23-year-old daughter Alexandra and 10-year-old son John Robert Vaio relished their night at Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa. On the spiritual side, they visited a ghost town and saw the moon and Jupiter through the lenses of mega-powered telescopes at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. A jaunt to the Mexican border near Boquillas,

Laughlin (from left) toured Paris in a classic 1971

Mexico, rewarded them with ah ha moments of steep canyon vistas rising as high as 2,600 feet and stories of Comanche Indians.

Countdown to graduation. A large contingency of Memorial High School seniors and their parents partook in the unofficial but traditional annual seniors Spring Break trip to Cabo, Mexico. Everyone took to the water for either jet skiing, deep sea fishing or parasailing. There was always energy left for dancing at the crowded clubs till the wee hours of the night. Jacob Jewett, Ellie Barclay, Daniel Davies, William Douglass, Kathryn Anderson and Andrew Olsson were part of the group getting tanned. On a separate Spring Break trip, Eric Olsson and friend Stuart Monteith were with other Ole Miss seniors in Negril, Jamaica. Highlights included cliff diving, snorkeling, colorful sunsets, reggae rhythm and blue skies.

MORE ONLINE See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share?

Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 21

KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Classic baby fashion lawellphoto.com

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

T

he fashion industry is ever-changing.

Styles come in, out and back again like stone-washed jeans. The same goes for babies’ fashion. Some, like smocked baby clothes, stand the test of time, while others fade.

The school my twins attend is like a baby catwalk every morning. Most of the kids are wearing smocked outfits, monogrammed “bubbles” (one-piece rompers) and white Keds. A few outliers strut through the parking lot, toting their nap mat while wearing pink Converses, skinny jeans and a trendy T-shirt that sometimes I wish came in my size.

Do the babies care? Of course not. But it’s fun to dress your kids while they let you. Soon enough, you will have no say in the matter.

Anna Kimball, who works for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, dresses her boys, 1-year-old Simon (“Si”) and 3-year-old Phin, in “classic outfits with fun colors,” she said. “I love simple plaids, stripes and checks.”

Anna’s husband Tripp, who works in real estate and construction, said he is not a fan of anything that snaps and is happy not to choose. “Anna usually has their outfits already picked out.”

For dressier occasions, Anna typically selects classic bubbles and rompers for Si, and a buttondown with a fun belt for Phin. “I know a lot of kids insisting on dressing themselves,” she said.

“At this age, Phin has not. Now, I’m not saying I haven’t had to bribe him to put something on with a lollipop.”

There’s usually a favorite piece that gets passed down to the younger sibling. “Phin had a white-linen infant guayabera bubble,” said Anna. “It was passed down to Si. I loved it so much we did his first Christmas card in it.”

Gone are the days of dressing siblings in the same outfits; many places sell a coordinating romper and button-down shirt, so the print is the same, but the style is different. “One of my favorite [outfits] is a navy, white and pale-red plaid, short-sleeve, button-down, linen shirt that Phin has worn with white or navy shorts,” said Anna. “Si has a matching romper that is the most precious cut.”

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 22

SIBLING STYLE Paige Foote dresses twins Ellie and Henry in monogrammed, smocked outfits. At right: Anna Kimball likes coordinating outfits and bright-colored Native shoes for sons Phin and Simon.

This summer, Anna has several checked rompers for Simon. “Phin will wear shorts in the same color with a white guayabera,” said Anna.

For warmer months, she buys plain white shirts from Walmart and has them monogrammed in bright colors like lime green and orange.

For shoes, Anna said the boys like the lightweight, slip-on brand called Native. “The brighter the better. We let them pick the colors.”

Messes happen. “Recently, my mom [Debbie] kept them for the weekend,” said Anna. “She got them dressed in nice white shirts for an outing. Phin talked her into taking them on a TCBY outing at the end of the night. [She] called me and said the outfits were covered in chocolate ice cream.” Nothing a little stain remover couldn’t get out.

Paige Foote, a mom of 9-month-old twins, Henry and Ellie, said her go-style for the babies is “classic.”

“I want them to look like babies for as long as possible,” said Paige. “I love smocked bubbles and dresses for Ellie, and Jon Jons and rompers for Henry.”

Paige said she selects light colors like baby blues, pink and pastels and simple patterns such as polka dots. She also loves baby moccasins from the brand Freshly Picked. They’re colorful,

soft and great for pre-walkers.

Paige’s husband Brandon, who works for Shell Oil, bought the kids their first fishing shirts for the lakehouse from Prodoh Youth Outdoor Apparel. “He doesn’t like the bubbles I put Henry in. Too girly,” said Paige.

Shopping can be time consuming. “I mostly shop online,” said Paige. “I follow a lot of shops on Instagram too, like Smocked Auctions and Cecil and Lou. I find a lot of clothes that way.”

It can be a challenge keeping beautiful baby clothes clean and wrinkle free. The twins “both wore long, traditional baptism gowns, and I was convinced they would wrinkle in their car seats,” said Paige. “We brought them to the church in pajamas and dressed them in the parking lot. Looking back, that wasn’t the best idea.”

Even though the chocolate stains may not come out, and the wrinkles may stay wrinkled, this mom thinks it’s all worth it to see your little trendsetter show off his or her (mom’s) style this summer.

MORE ONLINE For more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com for writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s weekly column, “Mommy Moments.” If you have stories to share, leave a comment online or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 23

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Underwater wonderland

M

arty Aaron’s been scuba diving all over the world; he’s experienced underwater blasts in the Red Sea, been chased by seals in the Galapagos and observed the sleeping sharks of Isla Mujeres, just to name a few aquatic adventures. One of his favorite diving memories takes place in the Blue Hole, a natural wonder off the coast of Belize near Turneffe Island.

“I was with one of my brave daughters,” the real estate investor recalls – Haley, who is now getting her doctorate at Palo Alto University in neuropsychology, was about 13 at the time.

“She didn’t like to be controlled. We would dive together as partners; she would touch everything. Porpoises, turtles, sharks. I was grabbing her arm and pulling her back. I said, ‘You have to stop this, it’s dangerous.’” He would tell her of the importance of staying close to him, too, but Haley would have none of it.

One day they were immersed in the depths of the Blue Hole when a 10-foot shark swam right in front of her. “She immediately swam behind me and stayed there for the rest of the dive,” he recalls with a laugh. “The signal for shark is a hand on top of the head – she’s got a hand on her head and she’s shaking like a leaf – and that’s the last time I had to talk to her about staying close to me and not touching things.”

Scuba diving immerses one into another world. It serves as a training ground, a bonding ground, and a context that pushes one far beyond the limits of the ordinary. It’s a humbling glimpse into the vast intricacy of nature, and it can also be an immersion in the art of the possible.

For some Buzz families, diving has served many roles over the years, but perhaps most importantly, it’s helped them to grow – as individuals, and in their relationships.

For the Scheps family, diving has been at the center of family life. Brent has been diving for about 30 years, and Melinda’s not far behind with 25 years. All of their four children are certified, and the youngest, Spencer, got his certification at the tender age of 10.

“It’s such an incredible, beautiful world down there – you’ve got to go experience it,” says Melinda, a retired network engineer, waxing eloMEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 24

SET TO EXPLORE Brent, Spencer and Melinda Scheps set off for Piranha Cove, located in Grace Bay of Turks and Caicos.

quent as she describes swimming through a school of spadefish, or cave diving with an 8-foot speckled moray eel, or watching as a school of 40 silvery barracudas swim by down below her.

They wanted to share this world with their children, so they started them young at home in the pool. “We got them comfortable with the masks and the gear,” she said. They learned to breathe out of the snorkel and wear the mask without fogging it up, and how to clean it underwater. Every year they would go to Turks and Caicos, and at the resort they’d take their junior dive training, learning to use a compass, how to regulate buoyancy and all the other basics.

Melinda remembers with a chuckle on one of Spencer’s first dives when, still under the influence of Nemo, he reached out to grab onto a turtle. “He thought it would be so much fun to grab the turtle and ride on it while it swam. So he grabbed the back of the turtle and thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world.”

Little did he know that touching was against the rules. The divemaster threatened him that if he did it again, he would be kicked off the dive.

Little Spencer learned quickly one of the cardinal rules of diving: respect.

Now an eighth grader at St. Mark’s Episcopal,

Spencer has 35 dives under his belt. All the other kids are grown – Cameron, 25; Kelly, 27; and Taylor, 29 – and Melinda’s grateful to have an activity that brings them all back together again.

“It’s played a huge role in our family,” said Melinda. “It’s been a great way for us to all get together and do something that we love.”

For nurse Carol and physician Eric Rothenberg, diving got more difficult when the boys came along – until they discovered Beaches, an all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos where the diving and daycare are included, and where the diving is close enough that Carol didn’t have to worry about leaving the boys behind. It was a great place for them to learn and to dive together as the boys got bigger.

Now, says Carol, the time they spent teaching the boys to dive is paying off in first-rate diving buddies. Paul, a first-year medical student at UTMB-Galveston, and David, now a sophomore at The Emery/Weiner School, are now challenging their parents to new heights. David, who got his certification when he was 11, is heading off this summer to Sail Caribbean, which hosts a diving camp in the British Virgin Islands to get his master diver certification.

“We started as a more (continued on page 26)

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 25

RAYS OF WONDER Steve, Susan and Jordan Solcher take a break from diving in the Cayman Islands to get up close and personal with a stingray. (continued from page 24) casual

experience, but David has taken it to a whole new level,” Carol said. “For my husband, this is the really good time for him. When they’re children, they need more help. Now that they’re older he can really go to the limits with them – and now they’re getting to the point where they’re taking him to the limit.”

Last summer, for example, they chartered a boat from the U.S. Virgin Islands and went out to dive the RMS Rhone, a U.K. Royal mail ship wrecked in 1867, where The Deep was filmed.

David was “fearless,” his mother declared, and joined as his brother and father descended more than 100 feet, entered the wreck and explored it. David has been a lucky diver, his mother says; he has been face-to-face with a 13-foot dolphin and a whale shark while diving at Turks and Caicos.

For Steve Solcher, chief financial officer at BMC Software, and wife Susan, a realtor, diving has laid a foundation for their life as a couple.

Susan took a scuba-certification class at Texas A&M her first semester and loved it so much she got her advanced certification her second semester.

Steve was a diver, too, and some of their first dates were dive trips to Cozumel and the Bahamas.

Their children – Christian, 25, and Jordan, 23 – have grown up accompanying them on dive trips, from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Cayman Islands. Other dive trips were just for MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 26

them – a way to nurture their relationship.

“It’s something we have a common love for; it’s a really neat activity that we look forward to,” she said. One of the most exotic trips was to a remote island off the coast of Mozambique, where they heard the low moan of whales swimming nearby as they dove.

“Every time I go I’m always amazed,” Susan said. “When I get in the water I just pinch myself and say, I wish people could see what I’m seeing – the nature, the fish, the beauty, the coral – so few people really get to see the beauty from underneath. If you could see the vast variety of different species, the schools of fishes, the sponges… and to be breathing underwater – to me it’s phenomenal that we get to do that.”

She’ll never forget their first night dive in Akumal, off the Mexican Riviera Maya. “The octopus come out at night, and they’re amazing to watch,” she said. “Some are huge, some are small; the colors at night are so different … you see a lot of things at night that you don’t see in the day.

When you see it at night the colors are really vivid.”

Melinda, too, is fascinated by night diving.

“The whole sea changes at night – it’s almost like Night at the Museum, all the things that are hidden come alive. The giant lobsters you’d never seen that day are all walking around; massive crabs moving around the coral; the moray eels are out, and you can see them slithering

around on the sand. And you wiggle your hand back and forth, and it’s like you’re diving in thousands of lightning bugs… it’s beautiful.”

Perhaps most important to Marty, however, is the chance to fully engage yourself and your family in life – as opposed to the Facebook version.

“Diving with your kids brings three aspects into your life,” said Marty. First, there’s the recognition that your time together is very valuable.

Second, there’s the physical component – now you have a reason to learn to swim better. Third, there’s the thinking part – they had to get experienced in the physical, equipment side and the mental side – learning how to do the calculations, learning about pressure, air, nitrogen narcosis.

At the end of the day, he says, diving is a metaphor for life. “It was all about creating an environment or an arena where they could see themselves grow without unnecessary harm,” said Marty. “You learn about something, and then you apply it. Driving a car, scuba diving, being in a relationship – diving is the same process, and life is the same process. I’ve always brought it back that you’re the product of your experiences.

Diving for me was just the arena for doing it.”

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to dive classes and resorts. In July, check The Buzz for a story about outstanding diving opportunities in Texas.

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 MAY 2016 27

The Junior League of Houston

FOOD

by Sarah Pilger Sanders, contributing writer

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

W

hen you are young, every holiday is special, but growing up on the East Coast, Memorial Day always held a special place in my heart as it signaled that summer was near. Unlike Houston, where summer can start in March, East Coast summers truly begin when the community swimming pools open on Memorial Day. It meant sundresses, lemonade and long daylight hours, and, most importantly, school break was just around the corner.

Holidays can elicit strong memories and nostalgia, often tied to the food you grew up eating.

To me, Memorial Day is all about the grill.

Something about a hamburger hot off the grill with ketchup and mustard squirting out all sides of the bun just screams summer. Summer foods aren’t the formal dishes of winter holidays but the kind that truly test the camouflaging nature of your loud summer prints.

Summer food has the brilliant quality of often being very simple. Compared to complicated roasts, fancy hors d’oeuvres and even cocktails that require a hand beater, Memorial Day embraces simple dishes with rich flavor. My favorite way to start a summer party is with Orange Blossom Punch out of Stop and Smell the Rosemary. This light, refreshing cocktail welcomes your guests in from the hot day and lets them know that your event is not just for kids.

Be sure to chill cups ahead of time for an extra crisp taste.

As you sit down to eat, serve your guests a salad complete with a protein that is savory, but not overwhelming. The Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette from Peace Meals pulls together summer staples like avocado and honey and pairs them with toasted nuts and salty prosciutto. You can’t ask for a better start to a backyard meal.

Nothing brings back the childhood elation of Memorial Day like hamburgers on the grill.

The first lighting of the grill at the beginning of summer was practically a religious ceremony in my house. My father typically over-poured MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 28

the lighter fluid for dramatic effect, and my mother softly chastised him while her face beamed with delight. Today, I try to give my children the thrill of an old-fashioned barbecue with the Ole Mole Hamburgers from The Houston Junior League Cookbook. These slider-style burgers SUMMERTIME STARTER The Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic are easy and cap- Vinaigrette pairs avocado and honey with toasted nuts and salty prosciutto. ture the seasoning From Peace Meals of what a homemade burger should have.

Prosciutto adds a salty bite to this picture-perFor side dishes, I have two summer favorites. fect salad.

What is a cookout without a bean dip?

Specifically, the Texas Bean Dip from The Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette: Houston Junior League Cookbook was one of the ½ cup olive oil first dips I learned to make as an adult, and I still ¼ cup white Balsamic vinegar pull it out for many occasions. It’s quick, simple 1 Tablespoon honey and a crowd-pleaser every time. Next, I recom½ teaspoon coarse salt mend a vegetable. But what is the fun of a veg¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper etable unless it is fried? The Fried Cauliflower from The Houston Junior League Cookbook is simSalad: ple and to the point. Veggies are better when 5 ounces mixed baby greens they are dredged in flour and dipped in hot oil.

2 medium avocados, pitted, peeled and sliced This is a party after all.

2 medium navel oranges, peeled and secChocolate Chunk Cookies and Strawberries tioned Eric, both out of Peace Meals, are sweet classics ¼ pound prosciutto, torn into bite-size pieces with small twists. The cinnamon and oats in the 1 ⁄3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted cookies make these treats far from ordinary but simple enough to please children and adults.

Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a The strawberries are tart and refreshing and can small bowl. Place the mixed greens in a large bowl. be served on their own, on top of a cake or pie, Add the avocados, oranges, prosciutto and walnuts, or even in a drink. and toss with desired amount of Honey Balsamic Whatever you decide to serve at your summer Vinaigrette. Serve immediately. Serves 4. soirée, make sure it’s all about the three Fs: flavor, freshness and fun.

MORE ONLINE

Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more recipes mentioned in this article.

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MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 29

A

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Summer-camp survival It’s time for summer camp. Activities like camping can be fun, but they can also increase your contact with outdoor pollen, contact allergens like poison ivy and harsh sunlight, as well as your chances for encountering stinging insects like bees, yellow jackets and wasps.

Individuals with allergies should take appropriate precautions, such as avoiding camping during high pollen seasons for those with pollen allergies, having appropriate medications with you, and carrying injectable epinephrine to treat reactions to stinging insects. Don’t let your EpiPen get exposed to excess heat. The epinephrine is not as effective if it has been left in a hot car. (Those who experience a severe insect-allergic reaction must also obtain immediate emergency medical treatment.)

With outdoor activities, those with eczema and those taking specific medications that make them more sensitive to the sun should avoid sun exposure for extended periods and always apply sunscreen lotion. Remember to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before anticipated sun exposure. Most of our patients with very sensitive skin recommend Vanicream-brand sunscreen. Besides being free of dyes, lanolin, fragrance and formaldehyde like all Vanicream products, the sunscreen also contains no PABA or oxybenzone. Swimming, whether in a pool or a lake, dries out the skin. Be sure to re-apply moisturizers after drying off.

For parents of enthusiastic children, sleeping in a primitive tent may not sound fun. Try to find a hotel nearby. When making a hotel reservation, ask if there are allergy-proof rooms available. Rooms without carpet are best if they are available. If you are sensitive to molds, request a sunny, dry room

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 30

away from areas near indoor pools. Also, if you have allergies to any animals, inquire about the hotel’s pet policy, and request a room that has been pet-free. Those who are allergic to dust mites may want to bring their own dust-proof, zippered covers for pillows, or personal bedding.

If you encounter any flying stinging insects, remain calm and quiet, and move slowly.

Many stinging insects are searching for nectar, so don’t look or smell like a flower – avoid brightly colored clothing and perfume when outdoors. Because the smell of food attracts insects, be careful when cooking, eating or drinking sweet drinks like soda or juice outdoors. Keep food covered until eaten. Wear closed-toe shoes outdoors and avoid going barefoot. Also, avoid loose-fitting garments that can trap insects between material and skin.

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 MAY 2016 31

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz I

n the aftermath of tragedy, the students of Bellaire High School held an emotionally charged celebration called Hooping for Luv, a trio of all-star basketball games to raise funds for the families of the four victims of a Spring Break car accident.

The accident took the lives of 18-year-old Bellaire Cardinals volleyball star Jade Robinson, her 19-year-old sister Brianna, who herself was a former track star at Bellaire, and 17-year-old former Bellaire student Brittanie Johnson. Shelby Coleman, an 18-year-old senior at Lamar High School, was the only survivor of the accident.

A standing room-only crowd of about 2,000 turned out to HISD’s Butler Field House for the games, which featured many of the area’s top basketball players. “I’m just amazed how our students put together such a great event in a short amount of time,” said Bellaire volleyball coach Ap Clarke.

“It was totally the kids who did all of this.”

The idea for the event originated from Bellaire senior basketball player Deon’ta Lagway, a former boyfriend of Jade Robinson and a close friend of Jade’s family. “I felt like we owed it to them to have this big event and donate the money to the families. I knew the girls my entire high school life, and I just wanted to help out and make them proud and make their families proud.”

Lagway played in the all-star event alongside Bellaire teammate Maxwell Evans. “It just feels so good that all these great high school players from across Houston came together to play for something special. It means so much to a lot of people,” said Evans.

With a lineup of who’s who in Houston high school basketball, the games themselves evolved into a highlight-reel, slam-dunk festival. But the highlight was how the Bellaire and Lamar communities rallied around the families of the girls.

“Obviously, by all the people who are here

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 32

you can see how those girls touched so many lives, even way beyond Bellaire High School,” said Bellaire sophomore volleyball and basketball player Cody GETTING THEIR KICKS Memorial High School senior Giuliana Madrigali helped Fillmore. “We just lead the Mustangs’ girls soccer team to one of the best seasons in school history. The wanted to have an Mustangs were 21-1 during the regular season. event that brings Giuliana Madrigali, who Amarantos calls the everybody together as a community.” heart of the team. “Giuliana is a vocal playmak“Jade would just light up a locker room,” said er who sees the field really well. She led the disBellaire sophomore volleyball player Sharea trict in assists this season.”

Washington. “She’d come in and yell out, ‘Hey, Amarantos had praise for several other playeveryone,’ and always put a smile on everyers, including senior Kate Rottino, freshman body’s face. Jade just had that personality that Grace Collins and sophomore Grace Youchum. when you were having a bad day she would just “Kate is one of our captains. She’s just a really brighten you up.” consistent player who’s always doing the right “Jade was just a special person on and off the things on the soccer field.” court,” said coach Clarke. “On the court, she Collins, only a freshman, led the team and was a hard-working player who just loved to play district in goals with 42 goals in 22 games. volleyball. Off the court, Jade was a lover of life.”

“That’s pretty spectacular,” said Amarantos.

In other news, on the soccer fields, it’s been “Grace is extremely fast with an excellent left one of the greatest seasons ever for the and right foot. She’s already being looked at by Memorial Mustangs girls’ soccer team. The some of the top colleges out there.”

Mustangs won 21 of their 22 regular-season As for Youchum, Amarantos describes the games, followed by a 3-0 shutout over Cy Fair in sophomore midfielder as a tremendous athlete the bi-district playoffs. The only regular-season who does amazing things with the ball. “Grace loss of the year for Memorial was when the is just a lot of fun to watch.”

Mustangs were without three key starters who were still playing basketball at the time.

Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Award“I have an extremely competitive group of winning co-host and producer of the KUBE girls who really enjoy playing soccer with each SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 other,” said Mustangs girls soccer coach Lindley p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school Amarantos. “They go out there and battle hard sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, game in and game out.” please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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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.

Tournament champs The Spring Branch Middle School girls 8B basketball team (top photo) won a tournament championship and finished with a winning season. Led by coach Chenique Whitney, the girls showed tremendous improvement over the season. At the Alief Tournament, the Lady Bears played against Alief Middle School, Spring Forest Middle School and O’Donnell Middle School, and were victorious in each of the games. The championship game was especially tough, and the girls rallied at half time to increase a small first-half lead and eventually beat O’Donnell. The winning Lady Bears are (top row, from left) Evelyn Silsby, Taylor Dixon, Samantha Hilder, Valeria Lopez, Reagan Goodwine, Natalie Atkinson, Emma Buesinger, coach Chenique Whitney, (bottom row, from left) Daisy Leon, Andrea Ramirez, Taylor O’Hara, Lily Williams, Mary Kristin Cokinos and Lilah Dinh.

For love of dance Dancers Helena Stewart, Katelyn Krivan, Lauren Biar and Olivia Brown (middle photo, from left) participated in the eMOTION Dance Company’s annual community show at Bellaire High School. The event draws dancers from around the city to showcase their dance pieces. These four eighth-grade girls are part of Memorial Dance Center’s Coral Company, which presented a hip hop routine at the event. During the spring competition season, the company competes in many events where they are scored on various elements of their performance. The eMOTION show is different because dancers are not competing, but instead are given the opportunity to enjoy dancing simply for the fun of performing.

Victory in overtime The 11-13 girls Sky team (bottom photo) won the Spring BranchMemorial Sports Association gold-division basketball championship. In a game played at the Coleman Coliseum, the Sky beat the Shock, 47-44, in an overtime battle. After being down 10 points early in the fourth quarter, the Shock came back to take the lead with only one minute remaining on the clock. Key shots by the Sky’s Leyla Ertan and Meta Sapien sent the game into overtime, where Sophia Cone shot two important free throws, followed by a three-pointer by Sapien to win the game. The championship Sky players are (bottom row, from left) Kane Kinney, Gabby Rosenwasser, Ellie St. Martin, Ava Picone, Meta Sapien, Kinsey Jacobs, Ellington

Whitaker, Sydney Shelton, Sophia Cone and Leyla Ertan, and (top row, from left) coaches Fidel Sapien and Baris Ertan.

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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Daniel Ortiz

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Mission possible

team organized the money-raising event for the school. Thanks to donations for the auction, “Operation Frostwood” became a mission accomplished. Pictured (from left, with their “military escorts”) are Heather Cody, Jill Josephson, Courtenay Nichols, Whitney Gormley, Ara Hardig, Neely Besetsny, Katherine Gring and Courtney Anderson.

Gearing up for the gala The Frostwood Elementary auction team (pictured) celebrated after a successful auction at the Norris Conference Center. The eight-member

A preview party for the Nora's Home at the Kentucky Derby May 6 gala kicked off at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House. Nora’s Home is a 16-suite facility for transplant patients travel-

ing to Houston to stay at during the medical care.

Over 50 supporters attended the reception, and each brought a bottle of wine to donate towards the gala auction. The executive director of Nora’s Home, Kayla Lehmann, welcomed guests. The party was hosted by Brigitte and Bashar Kalai (pictured). Gala honorees are the Boudwin and Bono families. For tickets, see norashome.org or call 832-831-3720. Tickets start at $1,000 for two.

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Kelli Langford, Christine Ussher and Irene Madriz (pictured, from left), along with other Bunker Hill Elementary parents, gathered for a A Night in Old Mexico, the school’s gala and auction. Attendees met at the Norris Conference Center for an evening of dinner, dancing and bidding competition. Auction

items ranged from an autographed J.J. Watt football to a dove hunt in Argentina. Guests wore festive Mexican attire, including matador and flamenco outfits, Day of the Dead, giant piñata and even chili pepper costumes. Auction chairs were Susan Comey, Stephanie Nolan, Emily Paulson, Morgan Scholl and Kelly Wolf.

Spring fling

Pictured (from left, in the library at Housman Elementary) are book-fair chairs Kate Harrison and Aubrey Slye who were there with (not pictured) Becky Fenn and Frostwood principal

Dave Rossman

A dove hunt and more

Kate Schneider, Charlie Schneider and Topher Schneider posed at an “egg-cellent” breakfast and photo event benefitting MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. The children got to play with live bunnies, as photographer Annette Boatwright captured portraits of the children.

In addition, children enjoyed Easter crafts, ceramic-egg decorating, coloring, face painting, balloon-animal artists and private playtime within The Little Galleria play area. All of the proceeds went to charity.

Mom power A group of Frostwood Elementary moms coordinated a Scholastic book fair for their friends at sister SBISD school Housman Elementary.

Ellen Green. Co-chair was Whitney Holzer.

Last fall, the group hosted a Scholastic book fair at Frostwood Elementary, raising significant funds for their own campus.

Boys to Eagles Boy Scout Troop 599, chartered at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, honored five new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor. The Eagle Scouts are Jacob Ladyga, Nimay Kumar, Davis Kirchhofer, Johnathan Schlief and Dillan McDonald (pictured, from left).

Kirchhofer, a junior at Memorial High School, oversaw the construction (continued on page 38)

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Thomas Sanders

Living legacies

of eight bookshelves used by The Kids’ Reading Room in the Spring Branch area. He joins his great-uncle Tom Baumgardner, uncle Marty Baumgardner, cousin Caleb Baumgardner, and brothers Ben and Grant Kirchhofer who are all Eagle Scouts.

Kumar is a senior at Memorial High School. His Eagle Scout project involved constructing 20 screech owl boxes for the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. His brother Nikhil is an Eagle Scout.

Ladyga, a senior at Westside High School, built new practice pitching mounds for the Westside High School baseball field. Building these pitch-

(continued from page 37)

ing mounds in compliance with HISD requirements allows the Westside baseball field to be available for many to use. McDonald is a senior at Booker T. Washington High School for the Engineering Professions. He rebuilt a path throughout the nature area of Sinclair Elementary School. He also built vegetable gardens. He joins his father Alex and brother Thomas McDonald as Eagle Scouts. Schlief, a senior at Stratford High School, worked with the Bayou Preservation Association to clear invasive plants and replace them with native plants along Buffalo Bayou.

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The Southwell family gathered at the American Heroes: Portraits of Service exhibit opening at Belmont Village Senior Living Hunters Creek to honor Bob Southwell for his service during the Korean War. Pictured (from left) are Campbell Southwell (grandson), Ian Southwell (grandson), Barbara Southwell (wife), Bob Southwell (sitting), Brian Southwell (son), Justin Treat (grandson), Kelley Southwell (daughter-in-law) and Brent Southwell (son).

Not pictured are daughter Karla Havlina, her husband Glenn (who live in Pensacola) and granddaughter Nicole Southwell. Belmont Village commissioned photographer Thomas Sanders to photograph the 11 resident veterans who live at Belmont Village. Each veteran is pictured with personal memorabilia from war experiences. The portraits are now part of a per-

manent, public exhibit. At the unveiling, City of Hunters Creek Mayor David Wegner, the NJROTC program at Spring Branch ISD’s The Guthrie Center color guard and other community members gathered to honor the veterans.

A happy hour with purpose

such as Kleenex, individually packaged snacks for children who come to the center, and other donations. In 2015, they donated $115,000 to the Women’s Center. See wowcharities.org.

A grand affair

Supporters of Women of Wine Charities, including (pictured, top row, from left) Jeannette Nestvold, Carol Coale, Beth Benson, Charlene Moore, Jill Reichman, (front, from left) Linda Mark and Dorothy Nall, gathered for wine and conversation at

Books and plants at a bargain

Kim Coffman

Bramble Restaurant on Voss. The group has a common goal: to support the Houston Area Women’s Center. The women brought supplies

Grande has been a longtime Da Camera supporter. He joined the advisory board in 2000 and has since served the organization in various capacities, including trustee, president and executive committee member. A group of Houston’s top chefs, including Anita Jaisinghani of Pondicheri, Mark Cox of Mark’s American Cuisine and Chris Shepherd of Underbelly, toasted Del Grande’s contributions to the city’s culinary and cultural scene.

RDG + Bar Annie executive chef Robert and Mimi Del Grande and Carolyn Piro Landen and Paul Landen (pictured, from left) mingled at an annual gala that benefits Da Camera of Houston's educational programs and concert series. The event was chaired by Piro Landen, and the honoree was Chef Del Grande. This year's event drew nearly 300 guests and raised $250,000 in support of the organization. Del

Friends of Spring Branch Memorial Library, including St. Cecilia Catholic Church pastor Fr. Francis Macatangay, Pat Madden, Della Marston, Elizabeth Jennings, Melinda and Joel Talley, Pat and Webb Spencer, Nancy Eubank and Frostwood Elementary School teacher Carolyn Serena, attended the annual Plant and Book Festival. The event featured a selection of books and plants, and coupons for area businesses and children’s activities. The two-day event was held at Spring Branch Memorial Library.

Proceeds from the festival will be used to buy materials and enhance the library, which is part of the Harris County Library System.

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 MAY 2016 39

KIDS

David Shutts

IN THE SADDLE Madison Baty, a senior at Alexander-Smith Academy, will continue barrel racing while at Tarleton State University.

by Madison Baty, age 18

Buzz Kidz

Barrel racing: speed plus trust

T

he feel of the wind in your face when you’re running on your horse and moving quickly around the barrel is amazing.

As you are moving through the pattern, you have such an adrenaline rush that, after you make the run, you don’t remember what you just did. There is one downside with that, and that is the danger that it brings to you, the rider.

While you are running, you need to make sure that you stay aware of your course and horse, for barrel racing depends on the rider’s ability to control the horse and make split-second decisions simultaneously.

Barrel racing is about your speed, thought processes and your bond with your horse. You want to compete at a speed that is comfortable and allows you to control your horse.

Furthermore, while you are riding, you need to think and act fast. You want to make sure that you are quick because if you are not, you could get seriously injured. One way to prevent that is to have a strong bond with your horse. While you are in the saddle, your horse can feel everything you do, so if you are tensing up, your horse can feel that and will start to get antsy. This bond is a promise to never doubt or push each other too far, allowing you to trust your horse with your life.

Even though barrel racing is dangerous, it is also very rewarding. I was really nervous when I began racing in 10th grade, but since I have been able to travel all over Texas to compete, I have found a lot of freedom in racing. In fact, I am going to continue competing at Tarleton

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State, and once I graduate from there, I want to become a trainer. I will be taking summer classes to get some of the 15 hours that Tarleton State requires for me to be able to be on the rodeo team. I hope to one day be like my role model, professional racer Fallon Taylor, who shows me that anything is possible if I set my mind to it. I will never regret my decision to start barrel racing.

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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DINING GUIDE

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

This Month in Dining

Happy-hour countdown

KATA ROBATA The Texas Kobe Yakiniku roll is $8 at during happy hours.

H

ouston transitions from work to happy hour, when liquid goodness soothes parched throats as early as 3 p.m. Happy times are afoot until the dinner bell strikes at 6:30 p.m. or so. Not to worry, reverse happy hour kicks into gear soon enough. Late-night socials are trending, thanks to the likes of 8-9-10 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, which has 8 appetizers – most for $9 each – until 10 p.m. Clever marketing, even tastier filet mignon flatbread.

Here, we start the happy-hour countdown to toast bargain bites and drinks.

3 p.m. – Saltillo Mexican Kitchen (5427 Bissonnet) has half-off enchiladas and appetizers 3-5 p.m. Between 4 and 6 p.m., diners sip on 2-for-1 house cocktails along with $7 wines and $3 beers.

Critic’s choice: trio of tacos and chicken enchiladas verde.

4 p.m. – Etoile (1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd.) lets you eat and drink like a king on a pauper’s budget. Chef-owner Philippe Verpiand’s fine touches extend to his “Green Hour” menu 4:30-6:30 pm.

Sunday-Friday. It’s called the “Green Hour” because of the $12 absinthe and top-notch, hand-crafted $7 cocktails. Critic’s choice: house-ground burger with pomme frites, 10-ounce angus ribeye, sautéed shrimp with fingerling potatoes and imported cheese plate with dried fruits and jam.

Next door at Songkran Thai Kitchen (1101-8 Uptown Park) chef-owner Junnajet Jett Hurapan composed a $5 appetizer menu along with $3 beers and $5 wines. Critic’s choice: $18 tasting plate with a choice of four appetizers, including tamarind meatballs, Thai sausage and chicken lettuce wrap.

5 p.m. – Kata Robata (3600 Kirby) has a selection of sushi rolls and appetizers between $4 and $9. Like Uchi (904 Westheimer), happy hour is only for an hour and a half, ending at 6:30 p.m. But MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 42

it picks up Saturday, and on Sunday, happy hour specials are noon-5 p.m. with $3 mimosas.

Critic’s choice: tuna tartare, salmon and soft shell crab roll and the Longhorn roll with fried shrimp, fresh water eel and avocado.

6 p.m. – Latin Bites (5709 Woodway) slashes prices for its signature cocktails and hot bites by half 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Critic’s choice: crispy beef empanadas and anticuchos, or grilled heart with roasted potatoes.

Seasons 52 (4410 Westheimer Road and 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway North) locations features a “sunset” menu 4-6:30 p.m. with $5 small plates, $6 wines and $8 specialty cocktails.

Critic’s choice: Hawaiian Cosmopolitan with pineapple vodka, seared ahi tuna and lollipop lamb chops with balsamic.

7 p.m. – Caracol’s (2200 Post Oak Blvd.) 3-7 p.m menu is impressive with $7 appetizers and $6 wines and cocktails. The main attraction is half a dozen raw oysters with a glass of white wine for $13.50, or go for the gold medal with a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne and a half dozen woodroasted oysters for $65. Critic’s choice: braised pork taquitos, fried oyster tacos and crab fritters.

9 p.m. – Guad Texas Chef-Mex (2925 Southwest Freeway) rises like a phoenix after a fire two years ago, garnering fans with its tasty botanas ($3-$8) and $5 house margaritas.

Happy hour is 3-6:30 p.m. But on Friday and Saturday, it starts again 9-11 p.m. Critic’s picks: bacon-wrapped quail and ceviche tacos 10 p.m. – Morton’s Steakhouse (1001 McKinney Street and 5000 Westheimer) discounts some beers and wines 4-6:30 p.m., but the $7 bar bites are available until closing.

Critic’s choice: crab-cake BLT, mini cheeseburgers, filet mignon sandwiches, steak tacos, shrimp cocktail and crab-spinach dip.

11 p.m. – Aka Sushi House (2390 W. Alabama) buzzes with reverse happy hour 9 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. Last call is 15 minutes before closing at 10:30 p.m. MondayThursday. A successful business model here, happy hour starts at 3 p.m. weekdays and all day Sundays. Nibble and drink specials are $4-9.

Critic’s choice: baked mussels, gyoza and spicy crunch tuna roll.

Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Buzz Dining Guide columnist Dai Huynh (D.H.) is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. Contributing reviewer Russell Weil (R.W.), a Houston native, is the author of the blog Eat More Burgers, eat-more-burgers.com. Their visits to restaurants in the Dining Guide were anonymous, and they paid for their meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Bollo Woodfired Pizza Pizza and Italian Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Bollo Woodfired Pizza offers casual dining in a modern, relaxed atmosphere. Specializing in Neapolitan pizza, Bollo bakes their creations in an 800-degree, wood-fired oven. There is a mon-

itor in the dining room where customers can keep an eye on their pizza while it is being made.

The result is a pizza with tangy flavors and bubbling cheese on a thin, crispy, homemade crust.

Choose the pizza as an entrée, or pair with their classic salads, small plates of crispy calamari or lobster ravioli, as well as entrée pastas, beef, chicken and fish dishes. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Mon.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. & Tues.-Thur.; 11 a.m.11 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 4-7 p.m.; 9 p.m.-close. 2202 A West Alabama, 713667-0391. bollohouston.com. $$ – R.W.

BRC Gastropub London-inspired gastropub Neighborhood: Rice Military Lance Fegen marinates his chicken in a honey brine prior to encasing the moist interior with a crisp, nutty crust. Short-rib brisket burgers evoke contented sighs while fried oysters are light but forcefully flavored in this wood-paneled masculine beer haven with engaging feminine touches, such as flamboyant wallpapers inspired by the glossy Viceroy, a boutique hotel in Santa Monica.

Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.Fri., 3-7 p.m. 519 Shepherd Drive, 713-861-2233. brcgastropub.com. $$ – D.H.

Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District

Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso buco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m. 601 Richmond Ave., 713-5274440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$ – D.H.

Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely credited with introducing Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on Westheimer captivates with interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines.

Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner (continued on page 44)

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Following the success of True Food, Phoenixbased Fox Restaurant Concepts has launched another winning venture with this reasonably priced Italian eatery, where community dining is part of the appeal, along with homemade pastas and pizzas. A soaring space with bulbous overhead lighting and well-coiffed customers, North Italia manages to captivate and nurture our love affair with Italian cooking. Dishes to try include the seasonable vegetable salad, the highly touted bolognese, fig-and-prosciutto pizza, ricotta gnocchi with braised beef short ribs with horseradish crema, and Italian donuts.

Call ahead for reservations or avoid peak hours if you hate to wait. North Italia, with a view of the kitchen behind floor-to-ceiling glass, is packed and loud during prime times. But that's part of the fun. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 3-6 p.m.; Sun., all day.

1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 190, 281-6054030; northitaliarestaurant.com. $$ – D.H.

Saltillo Mexican Kitchen GUAD TEXAS CHEF-MEX Guad's bacon-wrapped quail doubles as an entree during happy hours. (continued from page 43) Mon.-Sun. Happy hour:

Mon.-Fri., 3-7 p.m. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$ – D.H.

Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland.

Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and owner-chef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Sun.-Fri, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$ – D.H.

Hay Merchant Craft food and beer Neighborhood: Montrose Located on lower Westheimer, which was named for the German immigrant and hay merchant Mitchell Louis Westheimer, this craftfood and beer establishment in a rustic setting is a popular spot. Their website proclaims that “beers are always served at the proper temperature, with the correct pressure and gas mix, in appropriate glassware, and by folks who know what the hell they’re talking about.” In addition to nearly 100 beers on tap, the food served is darn good as well. I paired a pint of Sierra MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 44

Nevada Pale Ale with their Citrus BBQ Pork Buns – fish sauce, iceberg lettuce, smoked pork, tomatoes and cilantro on a fluffy steamed bun.

Other food offerings include a warm pretzel with “redneck cheddar cheese dip,” Texas chili with cornbread, and the “Cease and Desist” burger served with hand-cut fries. Be prepared to wait if you have a large party. 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.Fri; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat. & Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Sun., 3-6 p.m. 1100 Westheimer Rd., 713528-9805. haymerchant.com. $-$$ – R.W.

Max’s Wine Dive American food and wine bar Neighborhoods: Washington Ave. and Montrose The Austin-originated Max’s Wine Dive is known for its award-winning fried chicken. If you have ever tried it, you know what I am talking about. The well-seasoned flour gives way to a flavorful crispy crust. A 36-hour soaking in buttermilk and jalapeño gives the three-piece chicken plate its signature moistness. A side of honey-chipotle dipping sauce has the right amount of spice and contrast to each bite. Max’s is popular, so expect a wait without a reservation. With the rustic charm of exposed brick, and bottles of wine adorning the walls, the long sleek bar is popular at both the Washington Avenue and Fairview locations, so sit back, or stand up, and enjoy because the fried chicken is worth the wait. 11 a.m.-midnight Sun.-Thu.; 10 a.m-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., Open-6 p.m. 4720 Washington Ave. 713-6444949. 214 Fairview St., Ste.2. 713-528-9200. maxswinedive.com. $$ – R.W.

North Italia Modern Italian Neighborhood: Galleria area

Mexican Neighborhood: Near Bellaire Fans of La Casa de Caballo will be happy to hear that it has immigrated near the city of Bellaire and rechristened itself as Saltillo. Many of the old favorites remain, including the 4 pound-plus ribeye cap ($190) large enough to share with five of your BFFs, or for a smaller group of four, there is the 3-pound top sirloin ($80).

Saltillo is smaller in size but in many ways with more charm. We like, too, the three-course lunch specials for $20. Try the tasty trio of tacos. Lunch Mon.-Sun. & dinner Mon.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m. 5427 Bissonnet St., 832-6236467. saltillomexicankitchen.com. $$$ – D.H.

Seasons 52 New American Neighborhoods: Highland Village/Memorial Seasons 52 is reminiscent of Houston's on Kirby, with similar synergy and dimly lit decor.

There are multiple booths, each with its own lamp for an intimate, yet casual setting. The interior is well thought out, unified like most chains, but more upscale. Seasons 52 is motivated by seasonal ingredients, like a chef-driven restaurant, changing its menu quarterly along with showcasing new weekly specials. A plus? Nothing on the meal is more than 475 calories. It also has glutenfree and vegetarian menus. Consider the Winter Vegetarian Tasting with quinoa-citrus salad, soft black-bean taco, seasonal roasted vegetables and an amazingly innovative, yet simple cedar-roasted tofu. There is the standard grilled rack of lamb, roasted chicken and stellar flat-bread pizzas. The mini desserts in a cup are sensible, diminutive, four or five bites at most. Try the pecan pie with vanilla mousse or carrot cake with cinnamon honey. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4-6:30 p.m. Locations: Highland Village, 4410 Westheimer Road, 713-621-5452; CityCentre, 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway, 713464-5252. seasons52.com. $$ – D.H.

South Coast Grill Gulf Coast cuisine Neighborhood: Downtown Satisfying food can be such a good trip down memory lane. Rechristened and revamped, the restaurant formerly known as Massa's Seafood Grill provides that and more. Marching proudly into the next era of Houston dining, owner Joseph Massa continues to honor his family’s 72year-old tradition of good, solid Gulf Coast seafood and Creole specialties. Fewer and fewer restaurants are doing Gulf Coast cooking right these days, which is why of late we find ourselves delving into Massa's spicy grilled catfish with red beans and rice. Try, too, the pecan-crusted rainbow trout lovingly doused with lemon buerre blanc and served with potatoes au gratin. The composition pairs beautifully with a crisp sauvignon blanc. Although a recent addition, the shrimp and grits with blackened shrimp is another crowd favorite. Open lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. & Sat. for dinner. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 4-7 p.m.

1331 Lamar, 713-655-9100. southcoastgrill.com. $$-$$$ – D.H.

Underbelly Upscale Texas eats Neighborhood: Montrose Underbelly chef-owner Chris Shepherd’s menu is a touchstone of the nose-to-tail movement. The Oklahoman is known to haul a whole

hog through a roomful of diners, and his passion is mirrored by a striking woodcutting of a snout at the entrance. Family-style offerings include a pork roast with smoky sweet cornbread. Another piglet rendition is spicy kimchi stew. Shepherd shares his fondness for Asian cuisines with sweeping touches here and there – all of which are satisfying against an airy, modern, Texas Hill Country setting, with maple wood communal tables, fresh wildflowers and a wall of homemade preserves. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Thurs. & dinner Fri.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Sat., 3-6:30 p.m.; 10 p.m.-midnight. 1100 Westheimer Road, 712-5289800. underbellyhouston.com. $$$ – D.H.

Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or short-rib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California cabernet. With his steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy

béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. & dinner Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Sun., all day. 947 Gessner, 713395-6100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$ – D.H.

Weights + Measures American Neighborhood: Midtown This bakery/restaurant/bar starts with freshly baked breads, pastries and donuts at dawn with the Slow Dough Bake Shop. As the sun rises higher, it gracefully leads Midtown dwellers into a well-crafted, 150-seat restaurant that oozes urban cool. A smart, playful menu and wine list entice foodies while late at night, the bar, christened Love and Squalor, features cocktails and hundreds of beers along with an abbreviated menu. Dishes to try: wood-grilled mortadella, roasted carrot pizza and lacquered duck breast with snap peas. Bake shop: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner: Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; Brunch: Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 3-6:30 p.m. 2808 Caroline St., 713654-1970. weights-measures.com. $$ – D.H.

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.

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College-prep checklist

Ask Reneé, the Realtor

May is often viewed as the “make or break” month for many high school students. Major projects, assignments, last set of exams, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and final exams seem so impossible yet so critical for future college plans and aspirations. Juniors must do well on AP exams and final exams, and take the SAT or ACT one last time. Sophomores are advised to take practice SAT and ACT exams to determine which test is better for them, and plan to start preparing for them this summer.

Here’s your May checklist: • Take a FREE 2nd SATurday practice test on May 14 at Firat Education.

• Register for the June 4 SAT and/or June 11 ACT. • Register for the June 4 SAT Subject Tests (at least two recommended).

• Begin planning for summer college visits.

• Finalize plans for internship/job and volunteer activities over the summer.

• Juniors: Begin finalizing your college list by May 31.

For more customized help with college preparation, please call us or email us. Our professionals develop and execute a customized plan for each student that aligns school academics, standardized testing, and college counseling with college and career goals.

Firat Educational Solutions, LLC, Ibrahim Firat, MBA, Independent Educational Consultants Association Professional Member, 3701 W. Alabama, Suite 390, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.871.1048, www.firateducation.com

Who hasn’t had buyer’s remorse? Post-purchase anxiety is all too common. Did we pick wisely?

What if a better property goes on the market and we’ve made a hasty mistake? The good news is that scientists studying “choice closure” have found that encouraging specific post-purchase behaviors can minimize buyer’s remorse and maximize satisfaction.

Once the dust settles, if you have gone with your gut feeling and you walked in and had the “I’m home” feeling, chances are you made the perfect decision.

Intuition plays a big part of our decision making.

If, in fact, you feel you have made the wrong decision, make sure to terminate your purchase contract during the “option period.” This is a time frame that you should negotiate into the contract as an “insurance policy” to have your inspections, work estimates, etc. completed. If, for any reason, you want to terminate, you can within this time frame and not be penalized by losing your earnest money. The option period does require a fee paid to the seller; however, if you continue through with closing the fee is credited back to you. The time period and fee is negotiable.

Reneé, a Memorial resident, was recently named the 2015 #2 Top Producer for BHHS Houston and the 2015 #3 Top Producer for BHHS Texas. Feel free to email me your questions or comments. I love hearing from all who contact me in the community.

Reneé Davy 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

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A minute with Maisie

Why a primary care doctor?

Many clients ask me, “What is a Child Advocate?” The Texas Family Code provides that a volunteer advocate may be appointed in cases involving CPS where termination of the parental rights is requested. They must be trained and certified by the court to appear as a volunteer. Typically, these volunteers are indispensable champions for children in foster care, particularly when CPS is so overwhelmed by their voluminous caseloads. If you are interested in helping children in foster care, please contact Child Advocates, Inc. at www.childadvocates.org for more information. Your time and attention could make the difference in the life of a child. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family law firm specializing in divorce, childcustody 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

Have you recently asked yourself why you need a primary care physician? The simple answer is, “to help you live a longer, healthier life.” Most would agree if you are feeling under the weather or need a quick fix for that relentless cough, your primary care doctor is the first person to call. However, how can your primary care physician have an even larger impact on your health?

We’re glad you asked – several studies reveal that primary care physicians have a significant influence on better health outcomes, including fewer deaths and health complications related to cancer, heart disease and stroke. With the ability to help identify patients who may be at risk for such chronic illnesses, primary care physicians are usually the first line of defense when it comes to preventive care.

At Houston Methodist, your family’s well-being is at the center of all we do. The Primary Care Group at Memorial is dedicated to providing personalized care in prevention and wellness to the community. Our wide range of clinical expertise in treating the entire family makes it easy to keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group, 7575 San Felipe St., Suite 155, Houston, Texas 77063, 713.394.6638, houstonmethodist.org/pcg

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 47

sponsored by

PETS

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713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Trooper, age 8, Mixed Shepherd Breed, Modiste St. Hey there to all my furry friends.

My name is Trooper, and this is my little brother from a different mother, Chance. We met at the crib in Spring Valley and haven’t regretted one day since. We love our family and home life, and we love going to Starbucks every morning with our mother. Sitting on the sofa and looking out the window while barking at everyone is the best fun! We love all kinds of treats, playing catch and taking long walks. We also have a great time playing chase with each other and, of course, scaring off all the squirrels in the backyard. Mom also takes us to the barber from time to time to make sure we stay beautified. See you on the flip side!

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.

MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 48

Beautiful Hardwood Floors For Over 20 Years

Visit our showroom by appointment 7928 Hillcroft Avenue Houston, Texas 77081 reliablehardwood@att.net www.reliablehardwoodfloor.com

713.270.7800

Point. Click. Win. Enter The Buzz 2016 Photo Contest DEADLINE MAY 15TH The Buzz Magazines is pleased to announce our eleventh annual Photo Contest. Winning photos will be published in our July issue and on our website beginning July 1.

Our grand prize winner will receive a Canon PowerShot digital camera.

To submit photos, and for contest rules, visit thebuzzmagazines.com and click on the banner at the top of the home page.

You can also view our 2015 winners online.

Grand Prize, Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS digital camera (*or camera of equal value) MEMORIAL BUZZ MAY 2016 49

NEIGHBORS

.

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

A mother’s legacy, in writing

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W

hen Shelby Nielsen left home for college, she had no idea how to do laundry. Or cook. Or, for that matter, boil water.

“I didn’t have to know how to do any of that,” she says. “My first week or so [at A&M], my roommate and I lived off instant mashed potatoes because we figured out how to boil water and add flakes. But I soon set my stove on fire, because if you add butter to the water and it boils over because you’re watching Knots Landing, you start a fire.”

And that’s how Shelby’s idea to make a “Good to Know” book for her children began.

“The idea really came from my mother.

When we went off to college, she gave us [Shelby and her sister, Ashley Pratka] a binder that was a cookbook.” The store-bought binder, called Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her? Surviving Away from Home, contained information written by the author on nutrition, grocery shopping, recipes, laundry, first aid, what to do when you’re sick and car and bicycle maintenance. At the end of each chapter were lined pages for handwritten additions.

“My mom added family favorites to pre-written recipes in this book,” Shelby says. “In the very back of the binder there were common sense things like how to get stains out.

“But I wanted my kids to really know about these things. I wanted them to have some of these skills down as second nature when I send them off into this big world.”

Shelby’s children still have a little time to learn: Rachel, who was born on Mother’s Day, turns 14 this month; Caroline is 10; and Zach is 8.

“With technology, it’s all so easy,” Shelby says. “All you have to do is Google. But sometimes you don’t have time to even do that.”

Like when the water in the toilet began to rise. Instead of frantically finding a plunger, Shelby’s response was to yell, “Hey everybody!

Gather ‘round!” Her kids were shocked. “They were all like, ‘What are you doing? It’s going to overflow!’ But I wanted everyone to see it. I turned off the water right as it was about to overflow to show them that you can turn the water off and stop something from happening. And

STARTING FROM SCRATCH It's not easy to impart all the knowledge we want to give our children.

Shelby Nielsen got organized and started a "Good to Know" book of life lessons she wants her children to know when they leave home.

then we plunged.

“Now they know how to plunge a toilet.”

Not only that, it’s all documented in Shelby’s “Good to Know” binder. Divided into sections, the three-ring notebook is full of tips and ideas under four headings: “Things About the House;” “What to Do If...;” “Things to Aspire To” and “Things to Inspire.”

On one page, Shelby simply instructs her children to keep wooden utensils out of the dishwasher to prevent warping. But it’s more than simple kitchen rules. “Some of the spoons we use every day belonged to your great-grandmother,” Shelby’s note reads. “She was an amazing cook.

Cherish the tools she used and take care of them.”

Other ideas for the house include everything from how to cut green onions (“with scissors, safer and easier than a knife”) to cleaning out the lint filter in the dryer (“if your clothes or towels are taking forever to dry, it may need to be cleaned out”) to using daylight savings days as reminders to change smoke alarm batteries (“take the time to buy enough batteries for all of the alarms in the house and go ahead and replace them with new batteries … you only have to listen to that blasted chirping once”).

There are first aid tips, advice on what to do when an earring falls down the faucet, and examples of a well-written thank-you note (along with an example of one that was “still sweet” but didn’t quite hit all the bases).

There are favorite prayers: “A good prayer is nice to have on hand. Here are a few of my favorites,” Shelby writes, in her own handwriting. She includes a photocopy of “A Prayer for a Married Couple” that her grandfather carried in his wallet “his whole married life. It was folded and tattered.”

Add to that notes on coping with flat chests, bushy eyebrows and feeling small. It’s a mix of common sense and “deeper life lessons,” all told on scraps of paper, some typed, some handwritten, some taken from other sources. All imbued with family history and Shelby’s best hopes for her children.

Sort of like a Mother’s Day gift in the form of a frayed, no-frills, homemade book that spans generations.

Happy Mother’s Day.

MORE ONLINE For an excerpt from Shelby's "Good to Know" book, see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.