Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz - November 2022

College Football Traditions

The Sharman family

A Multi-Cultural Thanksgiving

by Annie Blaylock McQueen

1950s Navy Sweethearts Plogging Along Breaking Boundaries: Invisible Disabilities A New Spin on Turkey Day Cousin Crew A Virgin Island Thanksgiving

Houston, TX

Joy Through Chocolate

Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Cindy Gabriel: Memoir Musings

EDITOR’S NOTE Recently, I was shopping with a friend. We were hoping to score those hard-to-find, trendy fanny packs. We were excited to spot the coveted bag – but the only color available was maroon. As a lifelong Longhorn, I refused to buy it. My friend (who isn’t a sports fan) was in disbelief. Is that really a thing? she asked. Absolutely, I said. I know most of our readers would agree that colors like burnt orange or maroon can carry a deeper significance.

And for some readers, the pride and passion for their college football team is a family affair. This month, you’ll meet some of these families, diehard fans who pass on a love for their teams through the generations. And while some families focus on football through the fall, others are focused on the turkey. Seema Mir and her family have woven together traditional Turkey Day dishes with Pakistani and Afghan flavors to make a beautiful, delicious meal. This month, whether your mind is on football or feasting, wishing you happy memories with family and friends.

(And I can’t help it: Hook ’em.) 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-in-Chief Publisher Editor Editorial Assistant Design Manager Staff Writers

Contributing Writers Account Managers

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Caroline Siegfried John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Cindy Burnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Pooja Salhotra Cheryl Ursin Claudia Feldman, Karen Vine Fuller Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Jo Rogers

On our cover: The love for The University of Texas Longhorns goes back generations for Whitney and Joe Sharman (pictured, with daughter Scotty and dog Lola).

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 © 2022 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.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 4

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions From the Hallo-Queen herself My street is a literally “Buzzing” after your article about my annual Halloween decorations [The Hallo-Queen: Mia Parker loves Halloween by Cheryl Ursin, Oct. 2022]! I attribute the increased traffic flow in my neighborhood to how much your magazine is read and enjoyed by many. Thank you all so much for spreading the joy of my fun tradition. Also, the title of the article – “Hallo-Queen” – has given me one of my first nicknames.

It is so endearing when someone walks up and asks, “Are you the HalloQueen?” On the lighter side, I also had a dear male friend say, “I saw your centerfold – wow!” Although your unbelievably talented photographer Michael Hart’s photograph of my “killer selfie” scene was a centerfold spread, I think I’ll just stick with the Hallo-Queen compliment!

Mia Parker, Hallo-Queen

Athleticism and altruism In regards to Making the Team: Coming back from surgery in a big way by Andria Frankfort, Oct. 2022: I’ll never forget watching Eden [Epner] playing with a large bunch of boys and girls. They were playing tag-the-kid-with-the-ball. One kid would have the football and all the others would chase him/her. When someone tagged him, he would toss the ball in the air and whoever got it would run around until tagged. The kid with the ball would usually be caught within about 10-20 sec. Eden got the ball at one point and weaved in and out of the group with subtle fakes and turns, faster and more agile than all the others.

After about 25 seconds, I realized they would never catch her, but she suddenly stopped and tossed the ball up in the air so another kid could have the ball. I was so filled with admiration at her athletic skill and unselfishness; I have never forgotten it. I am so glad, but not surprised, that she has gotten to play lacrosse at such a high level!

Ron Fisher

Rumor has it…

I just wanted to send in my praise for the article about my son’s wedding [“Joy!” featuring Travis Swanson and Sarah Gubbels’ wedding] written in Rumor Has It by Sharon Brier for the October issue. She always uses such a creative flair in her description of events! I have been reading her column for years in either the Memorial Buzz and Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz.

Being a native Houstonian, growing up in Memorial, I always enjoy catching up on the latest about my neighbors and friends.

Beth Benson Slaughter Editor’s note: Congratulations on your son’s wedding and thank you for the feedback! Our Rumor Has It column runs in The Memorial Buzz and the Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz in print. Find all “rumors” plus additional photos online at thebuzzmagazines.com/columns/rumor-has-it.

15 minutes of Buzz fame Thank you for featuring my spring roll and fish recipes in the September 2022 TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 6

issue [Recipes to Relish: New dishes to try this fall by Andria Frankfort]. I have heard from many friends and neighbors who are eagerly awaiting their invitation to dinner. It was a real pleasure to be interviewed by Andria Frankfort as I always enjoy reading her recipes in The Buzz. I was excited to see my love for cooking highlighted in this article. Thank you for providing me with my minute of fame!

Chris Catechis

Diving into water polo Cheryl, just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I enjoyed The Water’s Fine article [by Cheryl Ursin, Aug. 2022] that you wrote about water polo becoming a UIL sport. Our boys have started playing in the past few years and we love the sport. It is action-packed and the outdoor matches have kind of a pool-party vibe to them.

The water polo community is very friendly and welcoming and a lot of the high school boys play club together in the offseason so when they meet in UIL competition it is often against friends that they know well who are club teammates. We are very happy that we found this sport. Thanks for highlighting it in your excellent article.

Jacob Johnson Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have inspirational stories related to New Year’s resolutions.

• Have a special love story.

• Know a buzzworthy neighbor to feature.

• Have an interesting hobby.

• Have a compelling travel tale.

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

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 7

NEIGHBORS

by Michelle Groogan, staff writer

Breaking Boundaries Helping those with invisible disabilities

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here are few people who can weather a heart-wrenching ordeal and then transform it into a mission benefitting an entire community. Liz Selig is among them. The Bellaire mom of 12-year-old Brooke and 10year-old Jack, who has autism, is on a relentless crusade to bring help and financial relief to those who experience challenges from invisible disabilities.

Unlike those who use a wheelchair or cane, individuals who have autism might look typical until they speak or, in many cases, are spoken to. This was a problem a few years ago when Bellaire police first encountered Jack. We shared the story about Liz’s scary-as-hell, heart-pounding nightmare the day her then-7-year-old son walked out of their Bellaire home to the neighborhood pool [in our Aug. 2019 issue]. Everyone involved tried to communicate with Jack, but he couldn’t respond.

That incident led to creating the Home Safe program in Bellaire, a databank for police departments to help identify people with autism and dementia, who are nonverbal and might wander off. That was just the beginning of Liz’s herculean advocacy efforts.

“It is a full-time job just to find the best doctors to treat and care for Jack and then I still take care of my neuro-typical daughter, Brooke. This is a mission which remains at the forefront of my life.

“To say life has become overwhelming for our family is an understatement,” said Liz. There was another tough day when Jack had a meltdown and would not get in the car.

Contending with a screaming, wailing kid who could not calm himself, Liz, in near desperation, played music and almost instantly turned the tide on her son’s emotional well-being. A saving grace that would have restorative power time and time again.

“The first time Jack suffered seizures, he was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital. I didn’t know if he would survive,” said Liz. “Once he was stable, I crawled into his ER bed, held him, with tears streaming down my face. His eyes were closed, and his body was exhausted. I didn’t know what would come next. I just knew my son was in my arms, and I was doing the only thing I knew to do – love

on him. I turned on his playlist, and I held it near his ear. He physically responded by touching my hand as I held his, and he tried to snuggle closer to me. Music was again his savior.”

It was that moment of soothing relief which POWER OF MUSIC Liz Selig with her children, 12-year-old Brooke Stephens proved the catalyst to and 10-year-old Jack Stephens, at the second annual Music Knows No Boundaries benefit concert, held at White Oak Music Hall. The concert raised create Music Knows No money for families challenged by autism spectrum disorders.

Boundaries, a fundraising That led to Liz’s current partnership with a concert and auction to celebrate the connection nonprofit organization called KultureCity that between music and autism and to help middle focuses on the sensory processing needs of indiclass families pay out-of-pocket medical-related viduals. They help create sensory-friendly expense. rooms in stadiums and airports, and also offer The live music event, held at White Oak a Sensory Inclusive First Responder Music Hall, featured an acoustic song-swap and Certification. Liz went back to the Bellaire silent auction benefiting The Jack Stephens Police Department, advocating for her homeScholarship Fund with Autism Society of Texas. town officers and community.

There were live performances by Cory Morrow, “The ability to really zone in and help these Ashley Cooke, Sean McConnell, Owen kids out and be able to recognize them and their Temple, Kyle Hutton, and Rodell Duff. needs is the most important thing that we can The concert, held last month, raised do,” said Officer Chase Liccketto, Community $50,000 for The Autism Society of America, Outreach Officer for support services with which will directly use the funds for a scholarBellaire Police. “When we get the phone call ship in Jack’s name. that somebody’s in crisis, it’s just another tool in our belt that we can use to help recognize what ack’s list of diagnoses have grown to include: that person needs.” epilepsy, focal cortical dysplasia, a chromosoLast month, B.P.D. became the first police mal deletion, anxiety, ADHD, disruptive behavdepartment in the state of Texas to be certified ior disorder, speech delays, language disorder, with this specific sensory training with 100 perobstructive sleep apnea, developmental delays, cent of the force embracing the knowledge. The dysgraphia, acute febrile illness, and an impulprogram will equip patrol cars with sensory bags, sivity disorder. Needless to say, Liz’s focus is which include noise cancelling headphones and always on Jack’s safety and other kids like him. different types of fidget tools.

“Now he knows his name. He knows his “They really have stepped up and I’m really address. He knows my name and phone numhappy and proud about that,” said Liz. “It’s just ber,” said Liz. another way to help make this world a safer “He knows more and can say more, but I place for our kids.” don’t know how that would manifest itself in an emergency situation,” said Liz. “People with Editor’s note: See mknb.org for more about autism may not be able to communicate in a Music Knows No Boundaries and for a link to typical or traditional way and it becomes even donate to the scholarship fund. For the previous story harder if they’re very upset. That’s why it’s so published in The Buzz, see Home Safe: When Jack important for emergency folks on the frontline disappeared, by Michelle Groogan, Aug. 2019. to have specialized training.”

J

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NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

Life: Mine for Instance Cindy Gabriel starts a memoir – sort of

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ere I was this summer, at a sidewalk cafe in Montreal. What was I doing?

Not writing my memoir. I’ve been not writing a memoir since the end of 2019 when I retired to write a memoir. Then came the Covid lockdown, a perfect time to write a memoir. Didn’t happen. Do I have to stop living in order to write about living? I don’t even like the word memoir anyway. It sounds too self-important. So let’s not call it a memoir.

Let’s just start here. Let’s call this a series of columns in The Buzz Magazines as always, just more memoir-ish starting with my youngest conscious years, in the late 1950s. It helps that my family published a newspaper at the time, The Fort Bend Reporter, which I recently found archived on the University of Texas campus at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

After two days of pouring through pages published between 1956-1960, I now have times and dates that coincide with my memory.

A main advertiser for the paper was the iconic Art Deco styled Cole Theatre, a major community hub in downtown Rosenberg. TV was just catching on. My great-grandmother planned her day around As the World Turns, a soap opera that debuted in 1956.

This made the movie industry nervous. So much so that big-time stars like John Wayne, Shirley Temple, and Roy Rogers popped in to promote their movies. Yep, Rosenberg was that big of a deal.

One example from the paper: On June 13, 1957, actress Ava Gardner appeared in person to promote her movie The Little Hut, including the chance to win a trip to the Fiji Islands, along with free Samsonite luggage. Movies shown at the Cole Theatre would change every two days or so. Other movies showing that week included James Dean’s East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause.

The Cole Theatre was also the town’s Saturday matinee babysitter. Kids of all ages poured in without parents, for a day-long double feature. I vividly recall my first time unsupervised. I was no more than 6; it was around 1960.

As my nervous mom dropped me off, she looked me in the eye and said “Cindy, listen to your

conscience.” She didn’t want me to be tempted to leave the theater to get a coke float at Gordon’s Pharmacy.

I was to go inside the lobby and wait for my more sophisticated friend, Ginger (who would unsuccessfully tempt me to go to Gordon’s Pharmacy).

The theater was more exciting anyway, watching kids, some I knew, plopping down their quarters for a ticket into the tall, majestic lobby, then picking out a 5-10 cent item from the snack bar.

While picking out my own candy, through a window beyond the snack bar, my eye caught a line of “colored” children also getPONDERING OR PROCRASTINATING? Cindy Gabriel tries to trick herself ting tickets. They were into starting a memoir. ushered into a side It was a bold statement for the times. When entrance straight up to the balcony, bypassing that editorial was written in 1957, African the fancy lobby. I was stunned. The conscience Americans had only been allowed to vote in Ft. my mother told me to listen to was working Bend County for four years, a right they won in overtime. It was the first time I felt uncomfort1953. ably white.

Wait. This is supposed to be my story. I Now I realize my father, Clymer Wright, did learned to swim in the Rosenberg public pool. I not shy away from the “prejudice issue” in newsdidn’t even notice that it was all white. What paper editorials. A 1957 editorial headline in does any of this have to do with me? That conThe Fort Bend Reporter said: “We Should Build science my mother told me to listen to is worka Pool for Negros.” This followed: “Under the ing again. There is no such thing as Black hissystem of segregation as practiced in the South, tory without white history.

Negros cannot swim in the public pool. And Now, I’m looking back at the balcony of the they have no pool of their own. In addition Cole Theatre. I wonder how many of those kids Latin Americans shy away from the pool are still around. I wonder how their lives turned because of the great amount of prejudice from out. I wonder if any of them have ever spent a the whites.” My father attempted to point out summer evening at a sidewalk cafe in Montreal. the cruelty of leaving a sizable population of Next month: “Forks on the Left. Knives on Rosenberg residents without a summer swimthe Right.” ming pool because of our own white prejudice.

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NEIGHBORS

by Karen Vine Fuller, contributing writer

A Family Treasure Chest Love letters from 1950s Navy sweethearts

STAMPED WITH LOVE Hundreds of letters penned by Vic and Teddi Laux Vine between 1951 and the 1970s were discovered after they had both passed away.

Each envelope contains a time capsule of their military life and love for each other.

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he exterior of the weathered black trunk, erratically battle-scarred with shipping labels to exotic (and not-so-exotic) locations creates an intriguing scavenger hunt to my father’s 30-year Navy career journey. The trunk currently sits unassumingly in the corner of our family’s den, camouflaged into a shabby chic table that holds shiny, framed photos of smiling people much younger than the trunk – photos of the offspring of the trunk’s owner.

But like any good box, the real story lies inside.

The scratchy, gold, tarnished latches have clung together over 70 years, guarding the intimate love stories and secrets of my parents. It’s quite a treasure since the trunk has outlived them both.

My mother, Teddi, passed away in 1978 and my father, Vic, died in 2004. I never knew the trunk existed until a few years after my father’s death. Thankfully, my dad’s second wife, Cleary, who has been a second mom to me, told me it

had been in their attic for years and she thought I should have it.

My parents’ handwritten letters are dated from November 1951, when they first met, until the 1970s. My dad was a midshipman at the Naval Academy and my mom lived in Philadelphia when they met. My dad retired from the Navy in 1976, when I was in fourth grade. Looking through the trunk as an adult, it was cathartic to discover some of the stories our parents are unable to share today.

I’m the youngest of three so I didn’t move quite as much as my older brother and sister, Vic and Kathy. But even just in my first eight years of life, we lived in Charlottesville, Va., Coronado, Calif., Okinawa, Japan, Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas. As the youngest, I probably remember the least about our family’s history. I know my dad played football at the Naval Academy and he would talk about that,

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but he didn’t detail much about being a pilot in the Navy or his military career overall.

And when you’re a kid, your parents are just your parents, right? It doesn’t seem to really matter what their job is. But the more I learn about veterans and the people who served our country during the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s – or any era, for that matter – I have begun to truly appreciate all that my father did and empathize with how challenging it must have been on my mom.

Now that I am also a mom, it’s hard to imagine dealing with your spouse being away a lot of the time – often to places that can’t be disclosed – and having to move every few years.

I haven’t made it through the hundreds of letters in that trunk yet but so many of them hold clues as to what it was like in the military. They also hold a reminder of what life was like before modern luxuries like computers and cell phones.

The letters include (continued on page 14)

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TREASURED Top photo: Newlyweds Teddi and Lieutenant Junior Grade Vic Vine are all smiles leaving the Pensacola Naval Air Station Chapel under an arch of swords on March 7, 1953. Bottom: The weathered black trunk in the corner of the Fuller family den is a treasure chest of a young Navy couple’s letters and a glimpse into their journey that started 70 years ago. (continued from page 12) phrases like:

By the time you get this letter, we will have had our phone conversation tomorrow night and already I’ll be looking forward to next Sunday night so I can tell you that I love you again. Teddi I was so happy today. I got all three of your letters at one time. Vic I hope your flying is coming along good, Darling, and your studies aren’t too hard. You’re darned right I want you to be a good pilot and I know you will be. I have lots of faith in you. I know that flying is what you want to do and I want to do everything I can to help you because I know it will make you happy. Teddi Hello, Angel. Your letters lifted me from the

depths of despondency to the heights of happiness.

You do write wonderful letters, darling. Vic I’m so sorry that you won’t be home for Thanksgiving like we planned. Hopefully they won’t move back your return date another two weeks. Teddi The kids were so happy to get your beautiful birthday cards you sent them. Teddi I miss you so much I can’t stand it. Vic If you only knew how much those wonderful letters of yours mean to me ... I hope you can keep them coming even if they have to be short ones. Teddi I’m here in Florida, and yet I’m with you in Philadelphia. I’m flying in an airplane and yet I’m wondering what you are doing at your job. Vic Every so often I read a few of the letters, get a

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bit overwhelmed, and then close the lid to the trunk and slide it back into its life of a nice conversational piece in our den. The smiling family members in those framed photos that sit on top of the trunk have no idea of the stories of their grandparents and great-grandparents that lurk beneath them. It is a blessing to be able to share stories and glimpses into military work and family life from the letters with our son, nieces, nephews, and their children.

Thank you to my parents and all the veterans and their families that have sacrificed and continue to do so by serving their country. I look forward to discovering more about my parents’ military and personal journey – letter by letter.

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NEIGHBORS

by Claudia Feldman, contributing writer

Plogging Along Their exercise regimen is picking up

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he old friends were floating down Buffalo Bayou in a tour boat, trying to enjoy the rare view of downtown Houston. But what made the biggest impression those five years ago, was the plastic garbage bobbing in the water.

That dismal sight, as Pamela Dwyer remembers it, inspired her and Angie Sassard to join the ranks of “ploggers,” an international community of environmentalists who combine regular exercise – walking or jogging – with trash gathering and recycling.

At least that’s one version of the intrepid ploggers’ story.

Sassard thinks they added garbage collecting to their daily exercise routine after they read a story about the trend.

Both women shrug good-naturedly. They’ve been West University neighbors, walking buddies, and confidantes for 18 years.

“We started plogging because Pam got so tired of my stories that we had to do something else,” Sassard jokes. “I say, ‘You know what?’ and Pam says, ‘Yes, I already know that story.’ So now we talk trash.”

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wyer is 72. Sassard is 81. They look like action figures when they charge out of their respective houses at 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, rain or shine. This random Tuesday they’re still in their workout clothes – they’ve already been to their respective gyms. Dwyer waves her grabbing tool. Sassard totes recycled trash sacks.

Suddenly Sassard dashes down the street – the octogenarian seems to be chasing a car.

When the gentleman behind the wheel eases to a stop, she leans in and gives him a smooch. She and Randy Sassard have been married 57 years.

He is a physician; she is a retired middle school science teacher.

Dwyer is a retired nurse who has fond memories of emergency medicine. For now, she is using her experience to help her significant other recover from shoulder surgery.

“We’re not married,” she says.

Sassard dismisses the not-married thing.

What’s important, she says, is her friends have 20 years together and they help each other.

Dwyer and Sassard vary their route from day

to day but now they’re striding purposefully down Wroxton, picking up beer cans, discarded lunch wrappers, plastic bags, even Q-tips. Once when they were plogging around Rice University, they discovered a wad of cash and turned it in. They’ve also found clothing, including underwear, and pounds of bottles and plastic, which they recycle.

On Buffalo Speedway Dwyer and Sassed slow down to greet the construction workers finishing the massive street rebuild. They also pause THEY TALK TRASH Pamela Dwyer and Angie Sassard meet every morning to for friendly neighbors pick up neighborhood debris. Over the years, they’ve kept untold pounds of and their dogs. But glass, plastic, and random garbage out of area bayous.

Sassard is particularly “Sometimes we vent,” Dwyer says. looking for Sadie, the tripod or three-legged For example, she vents about significant othpooch, who lives on Albans Road. ers who could seem a tad more appreciative for “She and I shared a similar experience,” the excellent nursing care they receive.

Sassard says. “She had cancer and had a back Sassard vents about impatient drivers and the leg, well, maybe it was a front leg, amputated, very occasional neighbor who might question and I had breast cancer and lost one, so we their intentions. immediately bonded.”

Also, Sassard and her husband enjoy dining Sassard carries expensive venison treats that out, but Dwyer makes that a smidge complicated she will share with a few other dogs, but mostly, because she is a pescatarian. The only thing she they’re for Sadie. will eat that even resembles meat is fish.

“I don’t make a big deal about it,” Dwyer says. est University is a city within a city, “I don’t care if all there is for me to eat is cheese and it is known for its trees, its security, and a salad for dinner. But Angie thinks it’s a and its cleanliness. But Dwyer and Sassard just pain in the ass.” scoff when asked if there is really enough trash Sassard is quiet on that one topic but offers, to pick up every day. They know all the trash instead, a precise analysis of her favorite team, bins, all the public garbage cans on every one the Houston Astros. of their routes, and they do their part to help “I do think Carlos Correa (the former Astros fill those receptacles every day. At the shortstop who left in search of a fatter contract) halfway point this day, they have filled four was an idiot,” she says. “So now we have this sacks of garbage and disposed of them responyoung man named (Jeremy) Peña. He’s already sibly. While they scan the streets for more got a good attitude, but he (continued on page 18) trash, they talk.

W

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BONDED Left photo: Pamela Dwyer wields the grabbing tool and Angie Sassard holds the trash sack as they walk their West University routes. Right photo: As they work, they keep an eye out for Sadie, their three-legged neighbor. Sassard says she identifies with the dog, as they are both cancer survivors. (continued from page 16) needs to work a little bit

on some parts of his hitting.” (Editor’s note: After this September interview, Peña clearly took Sassard’s advice.)

Also, she is excited that the new kid, pitcher Hunter Brown, gets to play on the same team as his hero, veteran and class act Justin Verlander.

And she’s happy that third baseman Alex Bregman has settled into his role of husband and father and is, coincidentally, hitting sensationally.

But of all the players on the roster, her very favorite is Jose Altuve.

Such a nice man, she says, and “short like me.”

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he hardest part of the route, and also the end, is a strip of businesses on Kirby. By now the rush hour traffic is fierce, and Sassard and Dwyer have to be careful not to get run over. There, in addition to the usual trash, they recover car parts that have been smashed into tiny pieces.

Sometimes, the women say, someone will come out of one of the businesses and offer them water bottles, cups of coffee, or most recently, smoothies.

One man rolled down his window and said

the sight of Sassard and Dwyer picking up trash was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen.

“We get a lot of thank yous,” Sassard says, and when one or two people are rude, Dwyer will take care of them.

There was the time, at Sunset and Kirby, that one woman thought they were in her way. “She almost ran us over, and when we asked her to stop, she called us every name in the book,” Sassard says, adding, “When Pam gets mad, her voice goes up about five octaves.”

That time, clearly, Dwyer got mad.

“Most people are nice but some are so rude,” Sassard says.

“I guess that’s life.”

It’s 8:30 a.m. and the job is done, but the two women linger for just a moment.

Sassard does seem a little tired; she’s been up since 4 a.m. In addition to all of her other morning tasks, she’s been cleaning the storm drains to help the neighbors on her block avoid flooding.

“Pam says I have a leaf fetish,” she quips.

She also tells about her cat. She was taking care of the creature for her out-of-town neigh-

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bors. Except they never came back.

It’s sort of OK, Sassard says, because her husband really loves the cat.

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est University’s city manager and public works director say they aren’t acquainted with Dwyer or Sassard.

“It’s work they do quietly,” says neighbor and career coach Tracie Mazzu. “They don’t advertise it. Nevertheless, they have a presence.

People notice them. They spread joy in this neighborhood, and they don’t even know it.”

Probably the most famous plogger in the world is author and humorist David Sedaris. He has a garbage truck named after him.

Sassard laughs appreciatively but says she and Dwyer are not looking for their names on the side of a truck.

“We’re already trashy enough.”

Editor’s note: For more on the plogging movement, read Going Green: Plogging hits Houston by Tracy L. Barnett, which was published in our October 2018 issue. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for a link.

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NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

A Multi-Cultural Thanksgiving Mixing traditions and flavors

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eema and Mohsin Mir were both born and raised in West Virginia. Their parents are first-generation Americans, the people who make up our melting pot, hers having immigrated from Afghanistan, and his from Pakistan.

“My parents and [Mohsin’s] parents immigrated in the ’70s and very much embraced American culture and traditions,” Seema, a labor and employment attorney, says. “It was all new to them, but one thing my parents would always say is, ‘Just as we want others to understand and appreciate our culture, we need to understand and appreciate the culture of America.’”

Mohsin’s mother says she tried to do just that.

“I tried to merge my traditions I grew up with with traditions from my adopted country,” says Samina Mir, who now lives with her husband of 52 years in Orlando. “We are a very traditional family. We grew up with traditions in Pakistan, and we have had Thanksgiving since my [three] boys were small.”

When asked what she thought of traditional Thanksgiving fare – turkey, potatoes, apple pie – when first encountering it, Samina says, “Originally, I didn’t care for it. But my husband always used to play this song in the car - ‘by an American pie, took my Chevy to the levee,’ – you know that song? That is the first mention I heard of apple pie. You live, you learn, you eat.”

Because they lived in a small, diverse community, Seema’s and Mohsin’s families were friendly with each other. “We didn’t really grow up together,” Seema says of herself and her nowhusband, a dermatological surgeon, “but our families were very connected. Once we were in college [at West Virginia University], we started getting closer.”

Today, the couple are parents to two boys, Dean, 11, and Zane, 8, and their Thanksgiving traditions blend roast turkey with Afghan and Pakistani cuisine. It’s a celebration unique to the Mirs: “Our interpretation of the holiday is not only different because our families come from other countries, but we are also a blended family of cultures, Pakistani and Afghan.

“There are times when I have visited friends on Thanksgiving,” Seema continues, “and every family is different in how they celebrate. That’s

the beauty Thanksgiving America.”

of in

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ypically, Seema, Mohsin, and their boys celebrate Thanksgiving with his side of the family in TRADITIONS Seema Mir celebrates a traditional American Thanksgiving with Florida. Like so many influences from her family’s Pakistani and Afghan roots. Pictured, clockwise: families around the Butternut squash kadu; mashed potatoes; brownies; Afghan tea biscuits, or Roat; rice; dressing; macaroni and cheese; spinach and beef sabzi; and Persian noocountry, they start the dle soup, or Aush. meal with a prayer, then is fenugreek, which we call methi,” Seema says. the children go around the table and, with “It has a distinct aroma, almost like an Indian encouragement from Samina, say what they’re saag paneer, but with a bolder taste, and instead thankful for. of cheese, it’s beef.”

There will be turkey and mac-and-cheese and A sweet and savory butternut squash kadu mashed potatoes. And there will be dressing. stands in for marshmallow-topped sweet pota“We interpreted it in a way that had an ethnic toes. “Translated in Persian, ‘kadu’ means spin on it,” Seema says. “This is stuffing, but if ‘pumpkin,’” Seema explains. The squash is you taste it, it doesn’t taste like your stuffing. It’s cooked with turmeric, red pepper, and brown inspired by our spices. sugar, and it is topped with yogurt and garlic.

“We’ll have mashed potatoes next to biryani Aush is a traditional Persian noodle soup that [a traditional Indian rice dish]. We’ll have corn, Seema says she craves. “It’s my favorite thing gravy, of course a turkey. But then we will add a that we eat,” she says. “It has Persian dough noorice dish, because there’s no meal in our cultures dles and is basically a yogurt-based soup with that doesn’t include a rice dish.” kidney and garbanzo beans. The flavors are red In the beginning, the mashed potatoes took pepper, turmeric, and it’s topped with dried a little ingenuity on Samina’s part. mint. I tell my friends it doesn’t sound great – “There is one very quirky tradition I have,” I’m not really selling it well – but I love it so Samina says, explaining that, while she could much I’ll make it even in summer in Houston. cook any number of complicated Pakistani dishWe eat this every Thanksgiving, generally startes, she didn’t know how to make mashed potaing off with it and moving on to the turkey.” toes when she first came to this country. “It was Guided by American tradition, not much always very convenient for me to pick up the salad makes its way to the Thanksgiving table. mashed potatoes and biscuits at KFC. To this “Afghans eat a lot of salads,” Seema says, “but day, the night before, one of us picks it up. nobody ever eats a salad on Thanksgiving.”

Everybody expects it.”

The KFC biscuits are offered in a bread tray The Mirs’ celebrations are big gatherings of next to garlic naan. Dessert is American brown20 or so family members. “It’s a full house,” ies next to roat, cardamom tea cookies, topped Seema says. Mohsin is the youngest of three boys off with vanilla ice cream and rose water. who “will spend the day watching football.

Samina likes the apple and pecan pies from There are lots of universal commonalities with Sam’s Club and says her husband and sons will one major difference being the food.” finish them off.

The food includes a spinach dish called sabzi that is made with ground beef (marinated in garinding traditional spices can be a bit of a challic and onions), cilantro, and green onions. “It’s lenge: “Growing up in West Virginia they made with our kinds of spices; the primary flavor

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FAMILY GATHERINGS Clockwise, from top left: The Mirs and their boys around the Thanksgiving table; Seema, Mohsin, his mother Samina, their boys Dean and Zane (front), and niece Aleeza (with her grandmother’s arm around her), nephew Mikayil, and niece Rania (seated); Seema and her mother Amena at a 2010 Thanksgiving celebration in Northern California, where Seema’s parents and sisters live.

were hard to find,” Seema says. “But we had a lot of family in New York and DC, and we would stock up when we visited them. Living in Houston, we’re so blessed with such a diverse community, it’s just a quick trip to Hillcroft, where I can find all the spices I need. Dough noodles are a little difficult, as is dried mint. But my mom [Amena Loynab] grows mint in California and bottles it, and I have her send it to me.”

Although her own mother’s recipes are “very much a little of this, a little of that,” Seema does her best to emulate them. “She’s all ‘a mug of this’ instead of an actual cup. During Covid, my mom and I would be cooking and FaceTiming, and I’d have my dad measure the ingredients out before she dumped them in. She’s the reason I love Thanksgiving, and she’s one hundred percent the reason I love to cook our traditional food.”

For the children, Seema thinks they favor American favorites – they love the mashed potatoes. “But if I make the spinach, they want it the next day in their lunchboxes.”

The Mirs’ friends and neighbors are also fans of Seema’s cooking, with some asking for certain dishes when they’re sick or need a little pick-up.

Cameron and Byron Cooper and their three children live two doors down from the Mirs.

Before the families became friends, the Coopers had not been exposed to Afghan or Pakistani food. “I grew up in Alabama,” Cameron says, “so we always joke that I’ll give Seema my southern pot pie, and she’ll bring her interesting cuisine from other parts of the world.”

Like the Mir boys, Cameron’s favorite Seema dish is the spinach and beef sabzi. “I want that as my last meal,” she says. “It’s addictive and just delicious. My son especially loves these little samosa-dumplings that are almost eggroll shaped.

He’s 7 and pretty picky, but he will eat as many as she will bring over.” Cameron also likes the juxtaposition of chiles and butternut squash that Seema makes at Thanksgiving. “The spices aren’t in my everyday recipes, but it’s so good.”

Samina says Thanksgiving is something she always looks forward to. “And now my grandkids, they look forward to it.”

Seema says, “It’s all about embracing the spirit of the holiday and the culture of American values.” Honoring the traditions of their own cultures is a big part of that. “Truly, it is a melting pot of all the different cultures, and the different spices, at the table.”

If this has you wanting Afghan or Pakistani (or Persian) food, the Mirs recommend Himalaya

(himalayarestauranthouston.com) and Afghan Village (theafghanvillage.com). And to shop for the spices Seema uses, she suggests Subhlaxmi Grocers (subhlaxmigrocers.com).

Kadu (Afghan pumpkin or butternut squash) From Amena Loynab (Seema’s mother) 1 large to medium sized butternut squash ¼ cup oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 tablespoon garlic ½ teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon dried coriander 2 ½ cups water ½ teaspoon salt Crushed red pepper flakes to taste 1 ½ cups brown sugar (you can use light or dark, depending on your preference; pictured kadu is using light brown sugar) 5 to 10 small red chili peppers, thinly sliced, for garnish For the Yogurt Sauce: 1 ½ cups yogurt ¼ teaspoon fresh garlic ¼ teaspoon salt

(continued on page 22)

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THE FOOD Clockwise, from top: Traditional Persian noodle soup, or Aush (top left), joins spinach and beef sabzi, macaroni and cheese, pita, and dressing in a multicultural feast; dressing (bottom left), butternut squash kadu, and mashed potatoes; Afghan tea biscuits, or Roat, share a plate with good old American brownies.

Peel, de-seed, and chop the butternut squash in evenly-sized cubes.

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep skillet. When it is hot, add the onion and garlic, and cook until the onions have softened and browned. Reduce the heat to mediumlow and stir in the turmeric. Add the butternut squash and coriander, and gently mix everything together. Stir in the water and salt. Cover the skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the water evaporates. Add the crushed red pepper, then stir in the brown sugar. Increase the heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes, until the squash is soft.

Meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce. In a small bowl, stir the yogurt, garlic, and salt together.

(continued from page 21)

Use the yogurt sauce as a topping to serve, and garnish with red peppers.

Afghan Tea Biscuit (“Roat”) also known as Afghan Sweet Bread From Amena Loynab (Seema’s mother) 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground cardamom 2 cups sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 stick Crisco shortening, melted 1 cup whole milk 2 eggs, beaten 2 teaspoons nigella (kolonge) seed

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Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

Whisk the flours, baking powder, cardamom, and sugar together in a bowl. Add the melted butter, the melted shortening, milk, and eggs. Mix thoroughly to create a dough.

Lightly oil a large sheet pan and flatten the mixture on it. Use a rolling pin to even out the dough. Pinch all the edges of the dough.

Using a fork, poke small holes throughout the flattened dough. Sprinkle the nigella seed on top.

Score the dough in even squares. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and run a knife over the precut lines and around the edges of the pan while it is still warm. Let cool and serve.

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SPORTS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

College Football Traditions Through the generations

HORNS UP Hardcore Longhorn fan Whitney Sharman (pictured, third from right, in 2011) graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2012. During her senior year, she was chosen to be a Texas Cowboys Sweetheart. The Texas Cowboys is a service organization that has been around since 1922.

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hese Buzz families have been loyal fans of their school’s football teams – through the good seasons and the not-so-great ones. They are at the games on rainy days, cold days, and hot days. They teach their children about showing pride for the team and what it means to be a fan. They are passing on the same traditions they were taught as young children.

Whitney and Joe Sharman, parents to Scotty, 11 months, married in 2017, and together joined two Longhorn-loving families, with graduates of The University of Texas at Austin on both sides dating back to the 1920s. For decades, their family members, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, have walked the halls of The University of Texas campus.

Whitney, a 2012 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, says she “grew up bleeding orange.” She and Joe, who have known each other since childhood, are eagerly passing on the love of the Longhorns to their daughter, which brings pride to their hardcore Longhorn families.

Whitney’s parents, Sally and Jim Easterling, have had Longhorn season tickets since 1978.

Her three older siblings, sister Kelley Hawkins, brother Brandon Easterling, and brother Christian Easterling (along with Christian’s wife Kate, who played soccer for UT) attended UT, along with many other extended family members.

Her parents and three aunts all attended UT. Whitney, who was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta at UT, attended the 2004

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Rose Bowl Game, the 2005 National Championship, and the 2010 National Championship. She has footballs signed by players displayed proudly in her home. Joe’s family on both sides has many Longhorns, including his grandfather, Rex G. Baker, who graduated in 1941 and played football for UT; along with his grandmother, (Jeannette), mom (Bess), aunt (Ann), aunt (Jeannette), uncle (Rex), dad (John), uncle (Charley), four great-grandparents and more. Let’s just say – Longhorn football is a way of life.

During her senior year, Whitney was honored with being chosen as the Texas Cowboys Sweetheart, which she fondly remembers as “hands down, the highlight of college,” she said. The Texas Cowboys is a service organization that has existed

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THE LONGHORN LIFE Top left photo: Parents Whitney and Joe Sharman (pictured) come from two large Longhorn families and are enjoying passing on their passion for the team to their daughter, Scotty (pictured, at 9 months). Top right photo: Friends TJ Cardone, Wilson Albright, and Whitney Sharman (pictured, from left) posed with Heisman Trophy Winner Earl Campbell (second from right) in 2011. Campbell was at the field to toss the coin before the game. Bottom left photo: Zach Silverman and his large extended family frequently travel to Austin for UT football games. He grew up attending up to eight or nine UT football games each season.

Bottom right photo: Zach, Jackelyn, 5-year-old Gavin, and 3-year-old Dylan Silverman continue the family tradition of rooting for the Longhorns together.

at UT since 1922. They keep and maintain Smokey the Cannon and oversee firing the cannon on the field at kickoff and after any UT touchdowns.

“I also got to be on the field for every home game and was even allowed to occasionally fire the cannon,” she said. “I will never forget the sound of the crowd roaring around us, the cannon going off, and the players running onto the field as the band would play Texas Fight!” she said.

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nother family with a generations-long love of the Longhorns is Zach Silverman’s large extended family, along with many members of

his wife Jackelyn’s family too.

Zach and Jackelyn live in Bellaire along with many cousins and family members. Zach attended American University for his undergraduate degree and UT for his graduate degree, finishing in 2010.

Even though he did not attend UT for college, he grew up bleeding orange with his family.

Jackelyn attended UT, and they are parents to Gavin, 5, and Dylan, 3, with another one on the way.

“I remember growing up, we did not really have a Thanksgiving, because we were going to the Thanksgiving UT game,” Zach said, laughing. His earliest childhood memories of being

together as a family were in Austin at Longhorn games with all his cousins and grandparents.

Recently, Zach and Gavin went to Austin for a game and visited the Alumni Center on campus. Gavin located the memorial brick, showing him the Longhorn legacy written in stone on campus. Zach’s late grandfather, Joel Levy, graduated from The University of Texas in 1950 – along with his grandmother, Kay Levy, and many family members including his youngest sister Lexie, and brother-in-law Stephen Uzick (married to his sister Megan), among other extended family. Jackelyn’s mother (continued on page 28)

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ALL ABOUT THE AGS Parents Kelly and Jerred Crumley (pictured, with their children Archer, 7, and Abigayle, 3) enjoy bringing their children to College Station to catch Texas A&M football games and passing on their longtime admiration for the Aggies. While a student at A&M, Jerred held the honor of taking care of the official mascot of A&M, Reveille, a Rough Collie. Upon their graduation, Jerred and Kelly got a puppy from the same bloodline. (continued from page 27) (Alissa), father (Bobby),

sister (Jessica), brother-in-law (David), and brother (Zachary) attended UT as well.

Zach says his favorite memories growing up were traveling to the games in Austin from elementary school age. They would sometimes take the Longhorn bus from Houston to Austin. He would attend up to 8 or 9 games in a single season as a child.

Zach says his son Gavin is now obsessed and he is excited to continue passing down the love of Longhorn football to his son. “It is all he talks about,” said Zach.

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arents Kelly and Jerred Crumley are passing on their love of the Aggies to their two children, Archer and Abigayle. The couple, who met during college, graduated from Texas A&M

University in College Station in 2006. Jerred’s Aggie-loving legacy dates (literally) way back in his life – his mom’s water broke at Kyle Field in 1983. They rushed out of the game.

Fast forward to age 10; Jerred’s first Aggie football game was in Lubbock in 1993 and his first time to officially visit Kyle Field was in 1994 to attend a youth football camp.

During his time as a student at Texas A&M, Jerred held a distinguished honor. He oversaw taking care of the official mascot of the university, a Rough Collie named Reveille. Students adopted the first Reveille in 1931. Jerred attended tryouts for Mascot Corporal, a 7-week process that came down to a class and upperclassman vote. The dog Jerred took care of was Reveille VII (or “Rev7”).

Upon their graduation, Jerred and Kelly got a

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puppy from the same bloodline, Sylvan Argent L. Sullivan Ross, but they called him Sully. As Jerred and Kelly welcomed their son Archer, born in 2015, and later their daughter Abigayle, in 2019, Sully was a furry companion to their children.

“Sully was a big part of our Aggie family for 14 years,” said Kelly. She says she feels very emotional looking at baby pictures of her children with him and fondly remembers his loyalty.

Jerred’s grandfather, great uncle, father, and brother attended A&M. Kelly says that while she did not come from a long Aggie line, she completely “drank the Kool-Aid” starting in college. The Crumleys take their children to Aggie games and are proud to be passing down their deep love of Texas A&M football to their two children.

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FOOD

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Thanksgiving Again A new spin

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or the cook, there’s a little tension in planning the Thanksgiving dinner. Family will expect the tried-and-true staples – grandma’s marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, anyone? But the person (people) hanging out in the kitchen for a few days might get the urge to put a new twist on things.

Let’s try this: let’s throw a couple of super subtle spins into this year’s menu. An appetizer that’s unexpected but retro enough to get the old-schoolers excited. A fresher take on the beloved (and bemoaned) green bean casserole.

And a leftover turkey sandwich that is simultaneously cozy and contemporary.

We went through our archives at “Back Porch Table,” the online, cooking-centric version of “Back Porch,” and picked some of our holiday favorites. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bar snacks, circa 1982 On top of all the once-a-year favorites we get to make at Thanksgiving, the bar snack is where I get abnormally excited. That’s because our bar snacks, for me, are right up there in nostalgia with your green bean casserole.

Growing up, our house was always the one with people in it. My parents’ motto was – still is – “the more the merrier!” Which is why I’m prone to invite people to join plans willy-nilly, which sometimes gets me in trouble, which is yet another story. But back to having people in and out growing up. In addition to the revolving door bringing spontaneous visitors, I remember my parents giving a lot of parties. I don’t remember much about what they served, except for one thing: Bacon Crackers. Or maybe they should be called Bacon Crack. I don’t know.

Fast-forward 30 years or so. The bacon crackers were still swimming in the back of my mind, but at this point, they seemed so retro, so 1982.

And who actually eats Ritz crackers anymore – with bacon on them? A few Thanksgivings ago I decided to stop listening to that anti-sugarbuttergluten boring voice in my head. I wanted my kids and their cousins to know the joy of bacon crackers.

So I made them for the kids (okay, also maybe to go with the Bloody Mary and grapefruit-

THE BEST PART An appetizer of bacon-wrapped crackers might turn out to be a Thanksgiving favorite.

vodka-St. Germain bar that the grown-ups would be enjoying). And I couldn’t keep them coming fast enough. “Addictive” doesn’t quite describe how yummy these are: crisp and smoky bacon wrapped around buttery crackers that have soaked up all the bacon drippings. Bacon Crack, I tell you. Please do not curse me.

Bacon Crackers 12 slices thin-cut bacon 48 buttery crackers (Ritz or Club work well) Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil and place a wire baking/cooling rack on top of the foil. Cut each bacon strip lengthwise, and then cut each of those long strips in half, making four rectangular strips (kitchen shears work well). Wrap each cracker with a strip of bacon, and arrange the crackers on the wire rack. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the crackers are golden and the

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bacon crispy. Let the crackers cool a bit; they will crisp up as they cool. Serve immediately.

Classic Green Bean Casserole Remix It’s simultaneously one of the most beloved and most maligned staples on the Thanksgiving spread: The Green Bean Casserole.

Traditionally made with a goopy can of cream of mushroom soup, the green bean casserole is a throwback to the ’70s era of TV dinners and… canned soup. But we are no longer wearing bell bottoms and eating Salisbury steak. We’ve come a long way. Green bean casserole notwithstanding.

This green bean casserole retake will have you loving green bean casserole in a whole new way. Gone is the gelatinous “soup,” which we replaced with sour cream and heavy cream (it’s Thanksgiving – save austerity for another day), plus some Monterrey jack. A little cayenne makes it spicy (leave it out (continued on page 32)

(continued from page 30) if you’re not a fan), and

bacon makes it smoky (again, leave it out if you prefer a meatless version).

We stuck with the ’70s and kept the French’s onion rings because somehow that’s still everyone’s favorite. If you have moved on, try some panko dotted with butter as a topping.

Green Bean Casserole 6 slices bacon 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 12 ounces mushrooms, cut into bite-sized pieces ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon kosher salt ¾ teaspoon fresh ground pepper 2 pounds green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces ½ cup sour cream 1 cup heavy cream ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup grated Monterrey jack cheese 1 cup French’s Original Crispy Fried Onions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9by-13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

Cook the bacon over medium heat in a large skillet. Remove the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Remove all the bacon fat except 1 tablespoon. Add the butter to the bacon fat and melt over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, mushrooms, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and cook for another 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are soft. Add the green beans, and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, until they are crisp-tender. Remove from the heat.

In another bowl, whisk together the sour cream, heavy cream, and cayenne until it is smooth. Stir in the cheese, and then stir in the green bean mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Top with French’s onions. Bake for 30 minutes, until the top browns and the cheese bubbles. Let the green beans sit for 10 minutes before serving.

The Leftover Turkey Sandwich: Turkey, Cranberries, Apples, and Brie There is a camp of people who believe that leftovers are the best part of the Thanksgiving spread.

For those who agree, here is a sandwich that is every bit as glorious in leftover status as any, only it’s just a bit fresher tasting. This sandwich makes use of yesterday’s cranberries, mixed together with mayonnaise to make a sweetsavory spread. Then it gets crunchy, thin-sliced apples, which were extras that didn’t go into yesterday’s pie. And to top it off, there is some brie that didn’t get eaten during family hang-out time – that’s going into the sandwich, too. All of that between two slices of toasted sourdough (or whatever bread you like).

REMIX Top photo: A classic green bean casserole gets a fresh update. Bottom photo: A turkey, cranberry, apple, and brie sandwich hits the spot the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Slip a little piece of apple pie into the mix to cap off the leftover love, and you’ve got one winning lunch.

Turkey, Cranberries, Apples, and Brie Sandwich ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup leftover cranberries 8 slices sourdough bread (or whatever bread you like) Leftover turkey 1 apple, thinly sliced Leftover brie

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In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and cranberries. Spread the cranberry mayonnaise on the bread. Top with turkey and apples.

Spread the brie on top of the apples. Set a skillet over medium heat and spray with nonstick spray. Toast the sandwich on each side, just until the bread is golden and the brie gets a little bit melty.

MORE ONLINE For more recipes, see Back Porch Table at thebuzzmagazines.com every Friday.

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NEIGHBORS

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by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It A week of birthday fun. Rooftop sunsets, view of the Sierra Madre mountains, music all evening, hospitable local people, ease of walking to places and available cabs. Mary Nurre found her trip to San Miguel de Allende was easy to do solo. She just walked into anyplace playing music and had a sip of vino and applauded or danced or all of the above. Meeting other visitors was easy as there was so much to share. From the grounds to the rooftop, she had her milestone birthday brunch outside at the charming UNESCO site Casa No Name, which has a “Door to Nowhere.” The painted walls in the hotel’s courtyard date back 500 years. She spent four hours of zen at the water mecca La Gruta Natural Springs/Thermal Spa’s five warm water “pools” with new friends, of course.

A train of events. When urban planner Adam Train met schoolteacher India Goldsmith two years ago at the Moishe House, he was in for a love journey. He gained steam at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, where he popped the Marry Me question. Their June wedding at The Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs was the final destination as singles. As rose petals were thrown, the newlyweds rode away in a horse-drawn carriage throughout the magnificent vast grounds. The maid of honor, Cookie, India’s chihuahua, clad in a pink designer dress was “arf-ully” excited as grandparents, Dr. Louis and Sheila Train and parents of the couple Drs. Abby and Jordan Train and Dixie and Greg Goldsmith waved them off.

They averaged eight miles a day.

Everyone knows that if you can’t find Adriana and Dr. Steve Rosenbaum, then they must be in Paris (again!). This time it was to celebrate Adriana’s 70th milestone birthday. Friends Ambassador Christopher and Amy Ashby and Dr. Joel and Debby Kovarsky flew in to help celebrate. A good thing they enjoyed walking around the city as they ate at the Rosenbaums’ fave local restaurants, which included Polidor, where a scene in Midnight in Paris was filmed, and Le Récamier, where the celebratory dinner was held, and everyone had their own Grand Marnier soufflé. Hopefully they walked back to the hotel.

Together we flourish. The smartly dressed members of the Houston Junior Forum were excited to see each other at the September lunch at Lakeside Country Club and to hear Deborah Olson speak about The Healing Power of Girlfriends. Her research about making new friends and how staying engaged will keep you mentally young as you age resonated with the crowd of 100 plus. VIPs that made the program flourish were CASA NO NAME Mary Nurre celebrated her 70th in San Miguel de Allende.

Charlotte Howell, Here, she’s pictured at the historic Casa No Name.

Susan Rosenbaum, ily pups Remus and Romulus, Marlene Rawls, Lauri Wasmuth, Karen Conway, Linda West, Jeff Garrett, Frank and Jennifer Olmstead, Sharon Cook, Betsy Blakeman and Dawn and Kevin and Cristy Mozingo. It was a wave Frazier, Janet Juban, Sherri Cooley, Lauralei of a weekend.

Horton, and Sharon Fletcher.

Seeking adventure from history Landed in Houston. When Joan and to dolphins. Sharon Roark took Blaine Land moved from Long Island to be near Jefferson’s Journey to France with renowned their son’s family and grandchildren, they had no American historian and retired Rice idea they would actually be less than a mile away.

University professor John Boles, Ph.D., to Since they leased a year beforehand, Joan has follow the path taken by Thomas Jefferson already made friends and is busy with Mah Jong, during his five years in France, from Paris and canasta and working out at The Houstonian. on to Lyon, Nîmes, and Arles. After such an Blaine continues his CPA practice remotely but enriched journey, she went with Susan also fits in time at The Houstonian.

Binney and friends on a Royal Caribbean Long celebration. After a wine tasting cruise from Galveston for the VIP experience at H Wines in the former First State Bank of at the Dolphin Discovery in Chankanaab Montgomery (Texas), where a bank robbery in National Park, Cozumel. They were able to 1928 left scars on the vault, Natalie Fox Maisel interact in several different ways with the doland husband Joseph Machado took off to April phins, including a short swim. Dolphin Sound Country Club. They celebrated her 51st Discovery is accredited by the Association of on Lake Conroe with rituals they adhere to Zoos & Aquariums, just like the Houston Zoo. when they stay at the lake. The one that Porpoise with purpose. requires the most discipline is sunrise and coffee. According to Joe, it is also the most important as it is the sunrise that heralds Natalie’s See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for true birthday, culminating the pre-celebrations additional photos. Have some good news to share? that lasted for quite some time. Celebrants on Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. hand to enjoy the birthday boat ride were fam-

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MORE ONLINE

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KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Cousin crew

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones.

Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 8.

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n the waiting room at Texas Children’s Hospital, the Clark family awaited the arrival of the newest member of their “Clark crazy cousin crew” as they call it. The parents of the baby opted to keep the gender unknown until birth.

In anticipation, the group of 12 cousins all wore matching pink or blue T-shirts (based on their prediction) that read “big cousin” on the front, and the parents had a pink and blue onesie that read across the front “new to the cousin crew” for a big group photo. “We have done this with every birth in the family,” said the mom, who opted to remain anonymous. They ordered the shirts on Amazon.

“It is our cousin tradition, and we can reuse the T-shirts and cycle around the pink and blue as the kids change their predictions for each birth,” said the mom.

The first cousins, spread out across the waiting room, ranged in age from 6 months to age 12. The toddlers played with trucks on the waiting room floor as the older cousin held the baby cousin. Later that day, the newest cousin – a baby girl – arrived.

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his scene reminded me a bit of my own family. Together, among the adult siblings, our family has 15 first cousins. Every November, we take our annual cousin trip to the pumpkin patch at Dewberry Farm. Some of the older cousins are in college, so this farm trip usually ends up being the “little” cousins – who range in age from 2 to 13.

In 2018, we started a tradition to line up the kids, from youngest to oldest, on a giant swing at Dewberry. Someone acts as the photographer, and someone acts as “the clown” as we call it to get the kids’ attention to look at the camera and smile. Each year, as the cousins get older, we can compare the photos and memories made within the year. We print the photo to put side by side in our houses. It is neat to see the changes over the years.

My twins, Cash and Lila, who are now 8, were

FAMILY TIME Ashley and Chip Cavanaugh’s daughters, Greer and Annie, have nine first cousins, ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years – Finn, Henry, and David Luke Anderson; Piper, Walker, and Leigh Anderson; Cavan and Aidan Saccone; and Molly Cavanaugh. Pictured are some of the cousins with Santa: Finn, David, Annie, Luke, Greer, and Henry.

born eight weeks to the day after their first cousin, Wyatt. Wyatt is the third child in his family, but my twins were the firstborn. The dynamic of the “triplets” as we jokingly call them was rock solid from the start. When they were toddlers attending their first school experience at a Mother’s Day Out program, they were in the same class.

As a slightly nervous first-time parent, I ventured to the school’s “Meet the Teacher” with my twins. They were not 2 yet, and it was such a comfort to have my own sister, Wyatt’s mom, there with him, as the three met their teacher together.

Our kids constantly beg to see their cousins.

When they are together, they run around and play – and even as the older cousins start to grow apart from childhood games when they are with their little cousins, age does not matter one bit.

They all take care of one another.

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arents Ashley and Chip Cavanaugh have two daughters, Greer, 5, and Annie, 3.

Annie and Greer have nine first cousins in total,

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ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years. They are always around their cousins, doing family things.

“I love that my girls get to grow up with all of their cousins in Houston as I did,” said Ashley.

“It allows us to go to each other’s sports games, birthday parties, and other big events. We have been able to bring them up with some of the things we loved to do with our cousins, like spending time in Galveston and Lakeway.”

Ashley says her kids love to be around their cousins and she enjoys watching their bond strengthen. They have traveled together, like when they took a trip to Wyoming in the summer of 2021. “I hope my kids always consider their cousins as close friends, the way Chip and I do ours,” Ashley said. When they visit their family beach house in Galveston, Ashley says they like to rotate which room they spend the night in and with which cousin.

There are so many benefits to being raised in a cousin crew. One of the best parts is that cousins can grow up to be best friends – almost like siblings, but less annoying.

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Cindy Burnett

ARTS

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by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for November

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

A Ghost of Caribou by Alice Henderson (mystery/thriller) – In A Ghost of Caribou, Alex Carter, a wildlife biologist, is sent to northern Washington state where a mountain caribou is believed to have been seen for the first time in decades. This would be monumental, because the animal is believed to be extinct in the lower United States. Alex is hired by the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation to investigate and set cameras to determine if one or more has wandered south from Canada. However, when she arrives, she quickly discovers that finding an elusive caribou isn’t her only challenge. Right on the edges of the Land Trust, logging interests and environmental activists are at an impasse over old growth forest, and several women have gone missing from the area over the last few years.

Henderson’s focus on fascinating wildlife research work and the environmental impact of endangered animal species make this a unique and compelling read. While this is the third installment in the Alex Carter series, A Ghost of Caribou can be read as a standalone as well. Alice Henderson has carved out a niche in the thriller arena with this outstanding series that focuses on vanishing animals and their habitats, and I highly recommend her books.

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz (contemporary fiction) – Written in a unique format across 12 job counseling sessions, the book is a quick but very compelling read. Cara Romero, a woman in her 50s who recently lost her job at a factory manufacturing lamps, narrates her story as she visits with a job counselor each week in order to find a job or qualify for more benefits. Interspersed among the counseling sessions are various forms and documents from her life – her rent application, job applications, and eventually her application for citizenship. Cara is tough, full of heart, and at times absolutely hilarious – she’s one of the best fictional characters that I have encountered in a long while. And the format works so well for telling Cara’s life story. I highly recommend this

one – it is the perfect combination of humor, family drama, a strong setting (New York City’s Washington Heights), and characters you root for even as they sometimes make poor decisions.

The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw WHAT TO READ This month's picks include two thrillers, two historical-fiction (historical fiction) – titles, and a contemporary tale relayed in a unique format.

From an early age, Aleen the mystery. The highlights of the book are the Cust loved animals and dreamed of working with stellar mystery, the Welsh setting with a glimpse them when she was an adult. But few women in into the Welsh culture and history, and the solid the 1800s pursued such a career, and Aleen’s famcast of characters, and this is a stellar start to a ily was very much against this pursuit. Eventually, new police procedural series. she goes against the wishes of her aristocratic famMarmee by Sarah Miller (historical fiction) – ily and enrolls in the New Veterinary College in Sarah Miller’s Marmee retells Little Women from Edinburgh where she encounters a variety of the perspective of the four girls’ mother, Margaret obstacles both from her family and her classmates March, known to them as Marmee. Using a jourthat she must overcome, but she perseveres to nal/diary format, the book follows the same events become the first female veterinary surgeon in and timeline as the original book, however, since both Ireland and Britain. This is another great an adult is the narrator, some events that occupy a addition to the biographical fiction subgenre lot of space in the original story get little more than about real women who have been lost to history. a passing reference here and vice versa. Most The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh (mysnotable to me were Marmee’s reflections on her tery/thriller) – This psychological thriller is set husband’s absence, his lack of understanding of at The Shore, an exclusive community of lake finances and how that impacts his family, the reallodges, in Llyn Drych (also known as Mirror ities of the Civil War and how it was affecting Lake) under the shadow of Pen y Ddraig mounthose left at home, and the time she spends helping tain and near the village of Cwm Coed, just others. The novel traces Marmee’s own personal inside the Welsh border with England. The town growth, as Alcott’s novel does for the March girls, has a New Year’s Day tradition of a morning and is at its strongest when revealing her struggles swim in the freezing cold Mirror Lake, but this with loneliness while her husband is absent, her year the swim is cut short when the body of a sadness at the war’s horrific impact on civilians, man is found floating in the lake. The victim, and her profound grief when she loses a daughter.

Rhys Lloyd, a local celebrity and has-been opera Marmee is a beautiful book that can be read as a singer, is the developer of The Shore with his standalone or as a companion to Little Women. business partner Jonty Charlton. Due to The Shore’s location on the Wales/England border, Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy a joint investigation with DC Ffion Morgan from Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column North Wales and DC Leo Brady of Cheshire at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts Major Crimes from the English side results. The from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston story is written in a dual timeline format – the literary event series Conversations from the Page, events that build up to the murder are relayed in runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, the past, while the investigation into the murder and regularly speaks to groups about books. is told in the present day – which works well for

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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 41

TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

A Virgin Island Thanksgiving

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ast year, as Becky and John Luman were casting about for what to do with their teenagers for Thanksgiving, they recalled their treasured memories of a trip to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1997, before they had their children. The Covid-weary family was ready, like so many, to return to travel. “We wanted to do something unique with our kids again,” said Becky. Ariana was in her last year of high school, and they wanted to make the most of her time with them. “We'd done the road trips, we'd done Mexico, we'd done Hawaii.” So they asked their kids, “What about St. John? We loved that.”

Indeed, the Luman family had done a lot of travel together. After traveling to overseas destinations like London and Paris, Becky decided to do with her own kids what her parents had done with her and her five elder sisters and brothers: Take them camping. Now 19 and 17, respectively, Ariana and Zane have been to 45 states and over 90 National Park System sites.

In 2013 they took their first big road trip – 27 days in three states, exploring national parks and historic sites throughout the region, and they were hooked. John, a trial attorney, was working long hours but joined Becky, Ariana, and Zane when he could. Dubbed “Luman Family Summer Tours,” that 27-day trip led to a 47-day road trip in the summer of 2014, then trips of 25 to 36 days each summer through 2018, when work, sports, and life got in the way of the treasured summer tours.

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hrough these years, the family explored historic sites where American colonies settled, Civil and Revolutionary War battles were fought, and Native Americans lived; walked across the headwaters of the Mississippi River; soaked in the beauty of National Seashores and the Great Lakes; and hiked the incredible canyons, gorges, and mountain ranges of the U.S. and Canada, with the kids earning Junior Ranger Badges along the way.

So as they planned their post-Covid getaway, it was logical that they would want to go a bit further afield – and also that they would choose a national park. So Virgin Islands National Park

it was – and specifically St. John.

Two-thirds of the island is national park, and its stunning white-sand beaches are legendary, making it an ideal destination for the whole family.

“I'm always the NATURAL BEAUTY Virgin Islands National Park protects two-thirds of St. John’s land, beaches, and seashores, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of St. John in its most nature person and natural form. Pictured (from left) are Zane, Becky, Ariana, and John Luman. they’re the beach 3,000 people, but it’s still a lively cultural and people, so the vacation question is always, do we commercial hub, with great gastronomy, intergo to a beach or do we go hiking in nature? St. esting markets, and a vibrant nightlife – plenty John lets us do both: enjoy amazing natural beauof amenities for the Lumans. ty, and the most amazing beaches,” said Becky, an Becky hesitated to share her Virgin Island environmental consultant whose love affair with experience, reluctant to attract more people to nature began before her birth – her family went the island. “To think of St. John being overrun camping at Big Bend National Park when her by tourists is actually a sad thought,” she commother was four months pregnant with her (stay mented. “Yet by telling people about how amaztuned for more of this story in an upcoming issue). ing this spot is in its natural form and how St. “When I’m on these beaches, I’m more than OK; John emphasizes sustainable tourism, hopefully I’m in nature and love that my family is doing people will want to protect other natural places exactly what they want to be doing.” in their natural forms and always travel lightly.”

More than 20 hiking trails meander through he entire island is sensitively developed and archaeological sites, an old sugar mill, a viewing intimate – just 20 square miles, with a deck for the island’s abundant birding opportuforested ridge ringed by small beaches. Each nities, and spectacular views for those willing to beach has limited parking, so they don’t tend to do a little trekking. be crowded. Forty percent of the national park At the heart of the island along the Reef is underwater, with mangrove shorelines, seaHill Trail is a petroglyph site that was sacred grass beds, fringing and patch reefs offering a to the original Taino peoples who inhabited plethora of snorkeling opportunities, among the the island before the colonial years. The carvmost popular being the Trunk Bay Underwater ings leave clues about a mysterious people who Snorkel Trail. left the island before the Spanish conquistadors “Some people are turned off by the lack of arrived. Other artifacts reveal clues about the amenities. We love the lack of amenities brutal history of slavery that began in the early because that means that we get to enjoy nature 1600s, when millions of Africans were brought and smaller crowds,” said Becky. “I've heard to the Caribbean to work in bondage in the people talk about St. John, saying, ‘That was a sugar plantations. horrible trip. We got there and couldn’t even go “The island is steeped with history and with to the beach; there was no place to park.’” people who care about protecting the past and “What a shame for them; when you appreciate present communities, balancing environmental and know how to do, what to do, when to do it, protection with sustainable development. And the island and its beaches are absolutely beautiful.” then there are people that don’t seem to underThe largest town, Cruz Bay, is home to under

T

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A ST. JOHN THANKSGIVING Boats, beaches, and bars across the island made for special Thanksgiving memories. Clockwise, from top: Boats and beaches of Cruz Bay outside of The Beach Bar; the Luman family enjoy the spectacular Coral Bay view from Centerline Road; Happy Thanksgiving from Hansen Bay, St. John, USVI.

stand how detrimental, say, a massive marina would be to the ecology, history, and future of the community. Anyone knowing anything about watershed management, pollution, ecology, and the value of protecting something so special, would know that would not be good for the island community or their tourism’s economy.”

Hurricanes and environmental degradation have damaged much of the island’s coral reefs.

Making things worse, visiting boats used to drop anchor on top of the coral, smashing it to bits.

The National Park Service developed a solution: mooring lines. Now instead of dropping anchor, ships and boats are required to use the mooring lines. “If they hadn’t done that, I can't imagine how destroyed St. John would be. It’s a balance: We do need to invite people to see our nation’s spectacular natural spaces, to see how beautiful things can be if we take care of them.

But we also need to protect them.”

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he family flew first to the busy tourist hub of St. Thomas, the island where most peo-

ple arrive. The flight was four hours, and then it was a half-hour by ferry to St. John. They rented a Jeep on St. Thomas and stocked up on groceries – food is available on St. John, but it’s limited and expensive. They rented a house in their favorite area, Coral Bay – far from the more developed area around Cruz Bay, but still with quiet little local restaurants.

Later, John was telling a friend about their trip and his friend asked if it was an all-inclusive experience. John laughed. “It’s not a place where you go to be entertained,” said John said. “It’s a place where you go to unplug.”

The house they rented looked out over the bay and a view of the British Virgin Islands spreading out in front of them in all their tropical glory. It faced east, so they were able to see the sunrise and the moonrise over the Caribbean from their porch.

“There was a full moon and it was just phenomenal,” said John. It was Thanksgiving, and they began to look for options to celebrate. Most places were closed for the holiday, so it wasn’t easy. St.

John is home to a large number of US expats, as John called them, for lack of a better term.

“And I thought, ‘Man, there’s got to be a place to get a turkey dinner.’ We found a local restaurant in Coral Bay that offered a turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, and it was great. We had Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving – your traditional turkey with an island flair.”

Special memories for John include sitting in the local restaurants at the end of the day, after spending a day at the beach. “Relaxing at the beach and just watching the world go by with your kids and playing in the water. We snorkeled a bunch, and the snorkeling was incredible. I don't want to scare anybody, but there are nurse sharks – which look scary but aren’t – and all kinds of fish. You name it, it's colorful and it’s there.”

One of the unforgettable highlights was swimming in the company of some giant sea turtles. “They were just kind of hanging out with us there, right next to us,” said John. “At first you kind of freak out … (continued on page 44)

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 43

ISLAND LIFE Clockwise, from lower left: St. John is known for its wild donkeys, and the Luman family gets a chuckle out of seeing them roadside every time; views of the bay from the rental home porch; the Luman family dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner in Coral Bay; Zane enjoying time on the beach. The spectacular white sand/greenblue beauty of the beaches is made even more special by the lack of crowds and beautiful island views, plenty of room to toss a baseball or frisbee. (continued from page 43) man, that’s big. They

might come over and just kind of look at you, but they’re not there to mess with you.”

The Luman family kept a respectful distance and didn’t touch them – touching the animals is prohibited – but they didn’t seem at all perturbed by the human presence, so they enjoyed following the turtles as they swam. With their rented fins on, they were able to keep up with them – at the required distance.

“It was really neat, swimming with such a large animal,” said John.

A

riana loved the island so much that when it came time for her choosing a location to celebrate completion of her senior year in high school, she chose to go back to St. John with her family, a mere six months after their Thanksgiving adventures.

“It just makes me happy!” she said, smiling at the memories.

The second time together, they rented a boat for a day, adding to their experience. On their first trip, John had noticed “people that were clearly not locals driving these 16-foot boats. So we decided to rent one ourselves.”

Being able to meander up and down the coastline, exploring different bays and islands,

they felt a whole other level of freedom. “It was kind of cool just to tool around. We would go in and out of bays and do some snorkeling.”

John enjoyed exploring the island culture of Cruz Bay, as well, and especially loved visiting with the locals and learning the island’s stories. On their first visit in ’97, John and Becky learned of a longtime popular hangout place with a history: Skinny Legs Bar and Grill, which quickly became a favorite. In 2017 when Hurricane Irma hit, the island was devastated, and the bar with it. But when they came back for a visit last year, they found that the bar had been rebuilt, and they stopped for a meal, this time with their kids in tow. As usual, it was a great place to pick up on the local stories.

For example, they learned that soon after the storm hit, country music artist Kenny Chesney, a longtime island resident when he’s not on tour, began sending supplies and helping people get off the island and to the mainland. He also started a foundation to support those in need on the island: Love for Love City. The singer said the popular local nickname was given to St. John because it’s small and intimate, it’s a popular honeymoon destination, and as Chesney says, there is a lot of love on the island.

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John loved seeing the kids interact with the locals, unplug, and soak up the island culture.

Zane and John enjoyed playing baseball and football on the beach and snorkeling the reefs.

For the two of them, the island songs of Chesney and Jimmy Buffet came alive as they encountered so many places mentioned in their songs.

“The island life is something both Zane and Dad could really get used to!” said John.

There wasn’t really any need to be online, so the family just spent time together.

“At night we’d sit on the balcony, looking out over the water with the moon coming up. We'd just read books or do puzzles. It was just really kind of a great ‘life stands still’ sort of time. You have the ocean lapping in, you’ve got the views, and all the stuff there is to take in – and we don't do it enough in our daily lives.”

For more about the Virgin Islands National Park, check out the National Park Service page, and/or the US Virgin Islands Sustainable Tourism Guide

by St John Magazine.

Editor’s note: Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer. Email her at info@thebuzzmagazines.com to share your own travel tales.

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DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Kate Weiser Joy through chocolate

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o you remember the movie Joy? It tells the story of inventor-entrepreneur Joy Mangano, who invented the milliondollar-making self-wringing mop. Well, while listening to Kate Weiser tell the tale of Carl the Snowman, you can’t help but compare these two creative go-getters. You also have to wonder whether a movie or a limited made-for-TV series is in store for the 36-year-old, dimple-cheeked Kansas City-raised blonde with smiling eyes.

Now based in Dallas, the noted chocolatier recently opened a pop-up shop in Houston’s River Oaks District (4444 Westheimer). Her lease runs through March, and she hopes Houstonians will fall for her colorful, handpainted chocolates so that she can hang a permanent Kate Weiser Chocolate sign at Suite F125. So far, she’s been lucky, starting with her first shop at Trinity Groves in Dallas – then along came Oprah.

In 2018, Oprah Winfrey continued her famous ritual of tasting, testing, and picking her “favorite things” list for the holiday. Among them was Kate’s on-the-fly creation for the holidays: Carl the Snowman. Oprah said, “If Frosty were stuffed with mini marshmallows, he'd be like Carl here. Just place this hunk of a chocolate man into a pot of milk, turn up the heat, and watch him melt into a few mugs’ worth of rich cocoa."

Kate will tell you the rest of the story, along with her strategies for pairing chocolate with wine:

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ubbed the “million-dollar snowman” because you have sold tens of thousands across the country at stores like Neiman Marcus at $38 a pop, how did you come up with the idea for Carl the Snowman?

The snowman is by far our most popular product. We sell this snowman for three months, which is responsible for 30 percent of our entire year’s sales. I feel that this is how most people know my brand – because of the snowman. At this point, kids have grown up with Carl the Snowman. My first store opened in August 2014.

Usually, when you have a chocolate store, you have your seasonal products planned far in advance. We didn’t start planning for Christmas

until October. I knew I wanted to make a molded Christmas tree, an ornament, and a snowman.

One day, I placed a snowman in front of a customer and asked CHOCOLATIER Kate Weiser honed her skills in the kitchens of star-chef Stephan whether she would try it Pyles, Nobu, and Chocolate Secrets before opening her four eponymous chocoand give me her late shops. thoughts. filled with either ganache, pate de fruit, caramel, or It was a gorgeous eight-inch chocolate snowgianduja (chocolate-hazelnut paste) and takes six days man, and I remember the customer saying, “Oh, to make from start to finish. You’ve garnered countless I love him, but I don’t want to kill him!” What? fans with three successful chocolate shops in Dallas and You don’t want to kill him? That just tickled me.

Fort Worth. Named among the Top 10 Chocolatiers She gave him a persona. My dark humor kicked in North America by Dessert Professional magazine, in, and I thought, “How do you kill a snowman? you can set up shop in any city. How did you narrow You melt him, of course.” The sun comes out, your final choice down to Houston? and he melts, so how do I make my customers We’ve been at Central Market since February melt him? With a candle? No. Let’s melt him in 2020 and at Neiman Marcus. We’ve been able a pot of milk, and as he melts away, he becomes to track the trends of Houston customers on the hot chocolate! wholesale side, and it has always been one of our So that was your “eureka” moment. bigger markets. The plan is to see how it goes.

We were flying by the seat of our pants. We Number one, I want to learn the logistics: How didn’t even have proper packaging or instrucdo you open a store four hours away from your tions, but every time we explained it to a cuscorporate headquarters? How do you staff it? tomer, they would buy five, so the first 100 we How do you get chocolates there? Ultimately, made were gone in a day. I looked at the chefs we just wanted to see if this would be a future and said, “Guys, we got to make 100 more. This home for us. is going to be big.” We thought 100 was big.

Tell us more about this interactive sensory expeThen someone from the Dallas Morning News rience you’ve created for your guests. put a giant picture of the snowman on the food I went to Harrods in London in 2019, and they and wine page, and our phone wouldn’t stop have a wine room where they have this aroma ringing. We had a wait list to get on the wait table experience for you to smell the different flalist. We ended up only being able to make 2,000 vor notes in the wine, and that would help custhat first year. It was bananas. tomers select which bottles of wine they wanted This year, you’ll make about 25,000 Carls, to purchase. It was so incredibly fun and thought plus 170,000 single-serving Lil’ Carls. How did out. It was the coolest experience, and it did help you come up with the name for this dark chocolate me choose a bottle of wine…. It was such a hollow hunk filled with hot cocoa mix and mini unique experience, and that stuck with me. marshmallows?

So, fast-forward to the present, and you ended C-A-R-L stands for “chocolate and real love.” up building your own sensory table for chocolates.

He’s become this persona, and every year, we get Chocolate is very similar to wine. There are videos with parents and their children melting so many flavor notes and nuances. I was just Carl, or friends around the stove, or people my waiting for the perfect opportunity. When I age, pouring in Baileys. signed the lease for the Houston store, it was a Carl aside, you initially made a name for yourself larger space than I typically have. It’s 1,300 with your hand-painted chocolate bonbons. Each is

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 46

square feet, and my space is typically 500 square feet or less, so I thought, I finally have the space for people to walk around to look at things, taste things, and smell things.

Is this free? Can anyone come in, taste different chocolates, and learn how smell affects your taste buds?

Yes, it’s free. I can walk you through it. So, basically, what you’re going to do as a customer, you’re going to go to the back area, where we have an area dedicated to this experience. We have these little plates with a tasting guide on the plate. We have these beautiful bowls with different samples of different chocolates. So, we have a piece of white chocolate, blonde chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. On your tasting sheet, you’ll put down a piece of chocolate. I’ve highlighted flavor notes for each chocolate, so when you put white chocolate on your tongue, you’re going to taste a lot of milk, a lot of cream, vanilla, and a little honey. So, I listed all that there. So, before you even enter the aroma arena, you understand what you’re tasting with the chocolate.

OK, this one is nutty. This one has a little grapefruit. If you want to stop there and eat your chocolate, you absolutely can do that. Or you can take the plate over to our aroma table, and the best way to do it is to lift up these gigantic hand-painted bonbons that I painted myself in the backyard because my husband wouldn’t let me spray-paint in the house. So, you lift up the dome, and you’re hit with this aroma, and we have four different scents under each of the four bonbons: passionfruit, lavender, coconut, and raspberry. You let the aroma take over your senses, and you put the piece of chocolate on your tongue.

For the passionfruit, we recommend trying it with blond chocolate. But again, you can choose your own adventure. But what is fascinating about this is that 80 percent of what you taste comes from your sense of smell. So, when you smell that passionfruit, and you put that piece of chocolate on your tongue, it will change the experience. Your brain will send signals to your tastebuds that what you’re eating has flavors of passionfruit.

Even though it contains no passionfruit.

Exactly.

The holidays are upon us. This November and December, families and friends will be getting together – some for the first time since the pandemic. Any thoughts on how to pair chocolate with wine?

I try not to be too bougie with it. Whatever excites your palate, then that’s a good pairing. If something exciting is happening on your tongue, you’ve done a great job, so you don’t have to overthink it. We have a four-piece Wine Hanging Box with a loop, designed to hang on the neck of a bottle of wine. So, we’ve taken all the guesswork out of it for you. We have four chocolates that go beautifully with a cabernet or pinot noir. That makes a great Thanksgiving gift if you’re going to someone’s house for turkey.

FAVORITE THINGS Carl the Snowman (top photo) is a hot chocolate phenom – which landed on Oprah's famous “favorite things” list in 2018. Kate Weiser’s hand-painted bonbons (bottom photo) are a year-round favorite, including best-sellers Cookie Monster and Mango Habanero.

Dark chocolates typically go well with bold red wines. As for champagne, I love pairing white chocolate with champagne because white chocolate is very fatty and sugary. White chocolate coats your whole tongue with this sweetness, so when you drink with this dry bubble, the effervescence of the bubble cuts through that white chocolate and creates this exciting sensa-

tion on your palate. When it comes to white wine, we have a lot of fruity-flavored chocolate.

We have key lime chocolate that goes well with a pinot grigio. You can play around.

Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 47

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

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ith a 22-8 regular season record and a number nine state ranking, the Memorial Mustangs were off to a successful start in the first ever season of UIL boys water polo. Up until this season, high school water polo had only been played on the club level as part of the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (TISCA). “It’s definitely been a transition from TISCA to the UIL,” said Mustangs water polo and swim coach Jason Mauss.

“We’re actually playing less games than previous years in TISCA, but the one really good thing is that being part of the UIL is providing a lot of new schools and kids the opportunity to participate in the sport. Water polo is also receiving a lot more media exposure this year.

So, that’s also a definite positive.”

There’s been plenty of positives all season for the Mustangs water polo program. “We won our first tournament of the season over in Cy Fair and our boys finished second in district to a really good team from Stake Jesuit. Seniors Sebastian Warren, Romain Joubert, and Cameron Brenton have all done really well for us. Also, our goalie Richard Ye suffered a freak type of injury and sophomore Sam Frank has stepped up and played great in his place.”

As for the Memorial girls water polo team, the Mustangs advanced to the UIL playoffs after winning the district 15-5A championship. The Mustangs defeated Stratford by a single goal and then a second time in overtime to secure the district title. “Those were great wins for us,” said Mauss. “Juniors Olivia Wilkinson and Paige Koehn have played really well all season. Also, our entire team has continued to improve and the girls have jelled together when it matters most.”

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fter finishing third in the state while competing in TISCA last season, the Strake Jesuit boys water polo had their sights set on winning a UIL state championship. The Crusaders entered the playoffs as district champions while owning a number eight statewide ranking. “It’s definitely a different sort of challenge in the UIL playoffs,” said Strake Jesuit swimming and water polo coach Tim Keogh.

GREAT GOALIE Strake Jesuit goalie Chris Poisler has made it tough on opponents to score against the Crusaders this season. Strake Jesuit entered the first season of the UIL water polo playoffs owning a number nine state ranking.

“It’s single elimination with several rounds of the post-season playoffs. So, it is a tougher and more challenging road to win it all.”

The Crusaders have done plenty of winning all season while rising up in the rankings. “The thing about our team is that the guys play really well together and we have different guys step up every game,” said Keogh. “Our goalie Chris Poisler has been exceptional. He might be our best player. Also, players like Wyatt Hansen, Charlie Alley, Matthew Trail, and Zach Jones are among those who’ve shined on both sides of the ball. We’re just an overall hard-working team.”

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ith a 6-0 start in district 18-6A, the Bellaire Cardinals volleyball team had won 34 consecutive matches in district play dating back to the early part of the 2020 season.

“The girls are doing great,” said Cardinals firstyear head coach Melissa Martin. “From the first day of practice they came in ready to work hard and win games.”

Martin herself came into the season following in the footsteps of a pair of legendary volleyball coaches in Ap Clarke and then Nicole Blakeman. “I’m loving it here,” said Martin. “I was the junior varsity coach for 10 years and it’s

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just exciting to take over the varsity program.”

As for this year’s team, Martin says there’s been several major contributors including senior middle blocker Paris Gilmore. “Paris is my top middle blocker. She’s been on varsity for almost three seasons and leads the team in hitting percentage and blocks.”

In addition, junior outside hitter Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo is the Cardinals kills leader with nearly four kills per set. “Auma is just a fantastic outside hitter,” said Martin. “She also covers the court extremely well on defense.” Other top players for the Cardinals, according to Martin, include outside hitters Camille Lasics and Lucy Bannerman.

“Camille leads the team in aces and assists, while Lucy is a freshman who’s kind of our secret weapon on the court. She can put the ball away and has a great serve. I just think we have a strong team across the board,” added Martin.

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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SPORTS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

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

Young Bucs Bill Robinson, head coach for the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association Junior Varsity Flag Football team the Buccaneers, recently welcomed a visitor to one of the team’s practices. Robinson, who graduated from Texas A&M, has been coaching his two sons’ football teams for 15 years. Recently, a mutual friend introduced him to former A&M Safety, Leon O’Neal Jr. (pictured, in back, with the Buccaneers). At a private workout with his sons, Robinson saw the great connection O’Neal had with the young players, breaking things down in a way they could understand, so he asked O’Neal to attend his JV Flag team’s practice. O’Neal joined a practice two days after the Buccaneers suffered a tough loss and spoke to the boys about playing hard together and the importance of teamwork.

Most importantly, he talked about how what they do following a loss, in a game or in life, is what matters most. The young Bucs were in awe of O’Neal and excited to learn from him.

Football buddies Memorial Middle School students Jackson Dieringer, Wyatt Robertson, and Reid Hicks (pictured, from left) played in their first game of the fall football season, at the opener for Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association Varsity tackle football. The boys are on the State team and the other players are Abel Vera, Jordan McWashington, Jonah Kates, Cael Maguire, Zackary Mitchell, Grayson Webb, Luke Smejkal, Reed Strickland, Devin McWashington, Colby Duplessis, Jacob Edwards, Hayden Janicek, D’Andre Paul, Landry Reichenau, Matthew Strickland, and Johnny Sosa. State is coached by head coach Barney Graham, Justin Reichenau, Stuart Graham, Kirk Graham, and Jason Kates.

Gators win In a nail biter of a game, Grace School Gators won their Varsity Football home opener against the Western Academy Green Jays. Pictured is seventh grader Briggs Nieman, who plays on special teams. The game had a final score of 14-7. It was no doubt an exciting win; Coach Ron Graves and his team beat the defending conference champions who were undefeated last year. Highlights included when Michael Luna (#20) ran for a 60-yard touchdown and Haden McCarty (#2), inside linebacker, recovered a fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown for the Gators.

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.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 50

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KIDS

Jeffrey Harfenist

STACKING UP CONFIDENCE Julia Harfenist, a junior at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, has become comfortable taking the lead as a volunteer at the Houston Food Bank.

by Julia Harfenist, age 16

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Personal growth at the Houston Food Bank

he Houston Food Bank reports that one in seven Texans is food insecure, which means individuals must often decide between paying for groceries and other necessities. For example, many individuals prioritize their rent and utilities payment before paying for food because food can be “flexible” (i.e., watering down beverages). Although I had volunteered at the Houston Food Bank as a young child, I wanted to become more involved in the organization as a teen because I have grown more conscious of the many things in my life that I sometimes take for granted, like food security. That’s when I became involved with the Houston Food Bank Student Heroes.

The Houston Food Bank Student Heroes have taken on the responsibility to be servant leaders

in their community at the largest food bank in the United States. This program, which is run by high school students and for high school students, teaches Student Heroes critical skills such as customer service, teamwork, and initiative.

As Student Heroes, we assist project managers and volunteer groups to maximize the productivity of the shifts. Whether it is answering a question for a new volunteer, or staying behind to clean up the project areas, Student Heroes’ roles are to help in the busy volunteer shifts. In my time as a Student Hero, I have grown in terms of public speaking and overall confidence. Before being a Student Hero, I did not feel confident speaking to large groups of strangers. However, with each shift I volunteered, my confidence grew. I started to project my voice louder, and eventually speaking to a group of 10

adult volunteers with certainty felt natural to me.

The Student Hero Program helped me conquer my fear of public speaking and helped to establish my voice as a teenager and young woman.

If you are interested in becoming a Student Hero, applications are always open. It is such an amazing program that has taught me how to conduct myself in a professional setting and educated me on the serious issue of food insecurity. Check out the Houston Food Bank Student Heroes’ page on the Houston Food Bank’s website for more info!

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.

Get Your Morning Buzz Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee + the buzz in your inbox. Our e-newsletter, Morning Buzz, features buzzworthy stories about neighbors every day, Monday-Friday.

Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.

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Stocks, bonds, and probate In an unheralded bonanza to beneficiaries everywhere, stocks and bonds get a new basis on the owner’s death equal to the average of the high and low on the owner’s last day. Sorry, the statement does not count because it only reports the closing value.

If the asset has appreciated, a new basis means the unrealized gain is wiped out, and the beneficiary can sell for the date of death value without any capital gains tax. Did you buy Apple stock 15 years ago? Feeling mortal?

Don’t give that stock away. Instead, keep it forever. On your death your beneficiaries will get it anyway, but with a basis equal to the date of death value, not the purchase price.

Income in respect of decedent assets, e.g., IRAs, retirement plans, deferred annuities, and savings bonds, do not get a new basis on death.

Assets you gave away before death do not get a new basis, whether to a relative or to a trust for a relative. Stocks and bonds in your own living trust (an “inter vivos revocable trust”) do get a new basis on death. Life insurance proceeds, including from variable policies invested in stocks or mutual funds, are income-tax free regardless.

Informing beneficiaries of the new basis is a valuable part of estate administration. The task is easy enough when securities are registered electronically. Since 1996, the IRS has used Estate Valuations & Pricing Systems, Inc. (EVP) to calculate the basis of inherited assets and to doublecheck decedents’ and beneficiaries’ math. EstateVal is the software EVP licenses to banks, brokerages, and law firms for the same purpose.

When administration is complete, the challenge is to divide securities

and deliver each beneficiaries’ share without selling the securities and realizing even the limited capital gains from the date of death to date of distribution. The Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) enables in-kind distributions of book-entry securities in days, not weeks.

In contrast, paper-form securities require medallion guarantee signatures, surrender of the physical certificate and considerable delay.

If lost, a surety bond is required for replacement, in the amount of the value of the security. The premium is generally 3% of the loss.

If you should be so lucky to discover Dad had $10,000 worth of AT&T stock in paper-form, but you can’t find the certificates, expect to pay $300 for the surety bond, plus a fixed charge, e.g., $85, per lost certificate.

Planning your own estate? Surrender any paper-form stocks or bonds for book entry. Your broker can help if the issuing company cannot. Register savings bonds via TreasuryDirect.

We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

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

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PETS

Neighborhood Tails Nugget Layne, age 1, Cavapoo, Troon Rd. ’Sup, I’m Nugget, the dog formerly known as Biscuits. I’ve got a lot to say and prefer to express myself through the art of yodeling. I get lots of compliments on my yodels. When I’m scared, I like to pretend I’m a hat and perch on my mom’s head. It makes her feel special because who else in the world has a yodeling dog hat? When I get hungry, I pretend I’m a human to trick my parents into giving me people food. The key is to sit at the table while Mom and Dad are eating and stare deeply into their eyes. It works 4/10 times. Pretty good odds. I love playing with my cousins, Noodles and Gorilla. Even though Gorilla is older than us, Noodles and I are way bigger. Gorilla keeps talking about the 2024 USA Olympic fetch team, but I’m more interested in befriending bugs I find in the kitchen.

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.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 54

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Shellfish, iodine, and X-ray dye Shellfish contain iodine. Iodine, however, is an element, and too small to trigger a true allergic reaction, involving the allergy antibody, IgE. IgE recognizes larger things such as proteins. If you make an IgE that perfectly fits with a protein (think of a lock and a key scenario), that can lead to an allergic reaction releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause hives, swelling, shortness of breath (and maybe even a drop in blood pressure or death.)

People with shellfish allergies are allergic to a protein called tropomyosin.

Since shellfish contain iodine though, the correlation of shellfish, iodine, and allergy was mistaken for causality.

To further complicate things, iodine (being present in contrast dye done for some X-ray type medical procedures) was thought to then be the cause of reactions some patients were having to the contrast dye.

This confusion arose from a survey in the 1970s, asking patients who had had a reaction to contrast media if they had other health problems. Some listed shellfish allergy. Physicians incorrectly assumed that there could be a connection and hypothesized iodine was the connection.

To further complicate things, it is important to note it is not the iodine in contrast media that causes the reaction. Rather, it is the concentration or osmolality of the contrast dye. Newer, lower osmolality dye is quite well tolerated by most previously contrast sensitive individuals.

From one false assumption came a series of mistaken leaps. This dangerously leads patients to miss out on safe medically warranted imaging tests (X-ray, CT scan…) or in some situations, to undergo a less safe, less appropriate and/or more expensive alternative medical test. Other times, it leads

to patients unnecessarily taking medications, such as steroids, before an imaging study.

A recent study found no documented cases in the last 70 years where iodine itself was responsible for patient reactions to iodinated contrast media or other iodine containing compounds.

The American College of Radiology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology as well as other prominent organizations have published guidelines stating that patients who self-report a seafood or iodine allergy can safely receive contrast dye without premedicating with steroids.

If you have questions about whether you are allergic to shellfish, iodine, or contrast dye, come see us at The Allergy Clinic where we can help sort things out.

By the way, the salt on your favorite French fries is iodinated.

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.

Anthony J. Weido, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

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Priscilla Dickson

NEIGHBORS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

Buzz About Town

Third grader Jonah Schwartz-Little (pictured) was one of 10 St. Stephen’s Episcopal School students selected to speak with NASA astronaut Bob Hines aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbited above Houston on Oct. 3. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was coordinated by Charlie Larrabee, lab guru, St. Stephen’s da Vinci Lab for Creative Arts & Sciences, and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), a program that provides STEM educational opportunities. Through direct radio contact, Jonah asked, “Have you encountered a micrometeorite? Over.” Astronaut Hines then responded, “Hey, that’s a good question. We probably have taken, the space station has probably had some micrometeorite strikes, but we don’t feel them inside because we’re very well protected inside the shell that we live in. So thankfully, we haven’t had anything that’s really damaged it.

Over.” Making contact with the ISS was the perfect ending to months of preparation, including working with the ARISS program to build a special antenna to facilitate communication.

Candy crushers Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) ambassadors Athena Werner (pictured, top), Olivia Stanich (middle left), Caroline Stegent (middle right), and Caroline Massey (bottom) are working to raise money to improve the lives

of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Each of the girls was diagnosed with T1D in the last several years and their lives have changed as they face this serious, chronic disease with the help of a glucose-monitoring app on their phones. Their families met and bonded over their shared experiences, and the girls have taken

a chance to see special guests Cole Hauser (aka Rip) and Forrie Smith (aka Lloyd Pierce) from the hit series Yellowstone.

Opening night at the symphony Priscilla Dickson

Making contact with the ISS

on a leadership role within the foundation to help find a cure. This year’s Houston JDRF One Walk fundraising event will be held on Nov. 5 at the Houston Sports Park on Kirby Dr., and the girls have formed the Candy Crushers team to walk and raise money for JDRF. See jdrf.org.

Houston’s PetSet Betty and John Hrncir (pictured) joined more than 700 animal lovers for the 18th annual Fierce and Fabulous Soiree benefiting Houston PetSet. The sold-out event at the Post Oak Hotel was chaired by Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist, and Sue Smith, and included an evening of cocktails, dinner, luxury auction items, dancing, and an after party. Deborah Duncan was the mistress of ceremonies for the evening honoring Sidney Faust that raised an unprecedented $1.1 million for animal rescue groups in Houston. The ballroom was packed for

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Alan and Elizabeth Stein, Bobbie Nau, and Marc Grossberg (pictured, from left) were among the more than 300 guests at the annual Houston Symphony Orchestra Opening Night Concert and Gala. This year’s black-tie event, chaired by Drs. Susan and Dennis Carlyle, celebrated the opening of the 2022-23 season. The concert at Jones Hall featured Houston Symphony music director Juraj Valčuha leading the orchestra and Houston Symphony Chorus alongside soprano Ana María Martínez, mezzosoprano Marina Prudenskaya, tenor Jonathan Tetelman, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy. After the performance, guests (continued on page 58)

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transported to Corinthian Houston for a seated dinner with wine pairings and musical entertainment by the David Caceres Band. The evening raised more than $540,000 for the Houston Symphony’s education and community engagement initiatives.

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Over the rainbow

The Junior League of Houston

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themed 7th annual Storybook Gala. Event chairs Joselyn and Jeff Carnrite, and Kasey and Nick Carnrite, along with a vibrant Dorothy Gale character, welcomed young professionals to the evening at JOEY Uptown at The Galleria.

Guests looked at auction items while enjoying light bites and signature cocktails including the cosmopolitan-inspired “Ruby Slipper” and the old fashioned-inspired “Flying Monkey.”

Disco fever at the Junior League The executive committee of the Junior League of Houston (JLH), Emily Shushtari, Sydney Goss, Megan Anson, Anne Sears, Courtney Durham, Amanda Hanks Bayles, and Tamra Wilkerson (pictured, from left) attended the

Team up!

Astros players Lance McCullers Jr., Jose Altuve, and Kyle Tucker teamed up to support Houston’s child and animal (continued on page 60) Daniel Ortiz

Lisa and Mark Jakel (pictured, from left) attended the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Young Professionals Group’s gala kickoff party. Guests enjoyed a festive evening to introduce the Somewhere Over the Rainbow-

opening style show held in the JLH ballroom.

This year’s fall show, Studio 75 presented by Texas Children’s Hospital, celebrated the upcoming 75th annual charity ball. Event chairs Judy Peterson, Tea Room director, and Carson Kelley, Tea Room special events chairman, planned a glamorous fashion preview showcasing the hottest looks for the upcoming season, including opening remarks from Tootsies’ creative director Fady Armanious and a meal prepared by the Junior League Tea Room.

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El centro de corazon

Another season at the Alley Priscilla Dickson

stage. This year’s performance included Trey McIntyre’s reinterpretation of Sir James M. Barrie’s classic tale Peter Pan told through the eyes of a child with spectacular flying sequences, sword fights, giant puppets, and pixie dust. After the performance, Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson addressed the crowd while the stage was transformed into a beautifully set dinner for more than 200 guests.

Jewels of Italy

Barbara Van Postman and Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein (pictured, from left) chaired the annual Making a Difference luncheon benefiting El Centro de Corazon, along with honorary chairs Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman and Leila Perrin. More than 250 supporters gathered to support low-income, medically underserved children, adults, and families living in Houston’s East End community at Hotel ZaZa-Museum District. El Centro has served the community for 28 years, caring for more than 12,000 patients each year. The luncheon honored Hallie Vanderhider as the 2022 community leader and the Icon Award was given to the Honorable Ed Emmett and Gwen Emmett.

left, are Johnny Carrabba, Roz Pactor, Erika Myers, and Rose “Rosie” Carrabba (seated).

The Italian Cultural & Community Center’s 2022 fashion show and luncheon, Celebrating the Jewels of Italy, was held at River Oaks Country Club. With a sold-out crowd of more than 300 guests and master of ceremonies KPRC TV 2’s Owen Conflenti, the luncheon benefited the center’s scholarship programs for college students studying here and abroad in Italy.

Luncheon chairs Sandra Porter and Gina Gusemano Leck planned a wonderful event that included a runway show of Italian fashions from Neiman-Marcus produced by Jeanne Ruberti, silent auction and raffle prizes, prosecco sipping, and an Italian aria performed by soprano Bailey Bower. Honoree Rosie Carrabba was introduced by her son, restauranteur Johnny Carrabba, who spoke of his love and admiration for her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, and restauranteur. Pictured, from

Onstage dinner Christopher and Kristy Bradshaw and Leigh and Reggie Smith (pictured, from left) joined the Houston Ballet’s 2022-23 season kickoff with a festive Opening Night Onstage Dinner held at the Wortham Theater Center. Chaired

by Christine and David M. Underwood, Jr. and honoring Jean and Henry May, the evening raised more than $210,000 for the Houston Ballet. Guests enjoyed a performance and post-performance dinner on the Brown TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ NOVEMBER 2022 60

Dean Gladden, Rob Melrose, and Anna Deavere Smith (pictured, from left) celebrated the start of the 2022-23 Alley Theatre season with its 76th Opening Season dinner. Alley board members, theatre patrons, and members of the Alley’s Resident Acting Company enjoyed the special evening chaired by Board member Rob Thornton and his wife Nicole.

Board president Ken Kades emceed the event which included dinner catered by the Four Seasons Hotel. Event honorees were Anna Deavere Smith and Nina Vance. As the founder of the Alley and its first artistic director, Nina was inducted as the inaugural member of Alley Theatre’s Hall of Fame. Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright, teacher, and author, was presented with the Alley Theatre’s Award for Lifetime Achievement. The evening concluded with a performance by Alexandra Silber who will appear as a lead in the Alley’s production of Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Soprano.

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.

Michelle Watson

Athletes and Causes Foundation at an event held at Tootsies. Guests enjoyed visiting with many of their favorite Astros and families, including Alex Bregman and his wife Reagan, Yordan Alvarez and his wife Monica, Jose Urquidy and wife Estefania, and David Hensley. Emcees for the evening, Julia Morales and Johnny Holloway, led the evening that included live and silent auctions helping raise more than $370,000. Pictured (from left) are Allison Cattan, Cole Cattan, Brooks Lewis, Jose Altuve, Carter Cattan, Lance McCullers Jr., Donna Lewis, Kyle Tucker, and Emily Lewis.

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

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Pumpkin spice invasion

emember getting excited for fall? September 15 was about as early as we could decorate the doorstep with pumpkins.

Now, the August back-to-school displays are overshadowed by Halloween, fall leaves…and everything pumpkin spice. Yay! Yay? Originally, pumpkin spice was a bottled blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice created by McCormick Spices in the 1930s as a convenience for pumpkin pie bakers.

Later, it was a latte you could only buy at Starbucks, only after Labor Day. It was delicious and new and oh-so-autumnal. So much so that it became Starbucks’ best-selling drink. Holiday in a cup.

Legend has it that the aha flavor moment happened when a Starbucks R&D team met and the director of espresso (that’s a thing) ate pumpkin pie as he was drinking, natch, espresso. Soon it became a culture of its own – the PSL lovers (Pumpkin Spice Lattes – and pumpkin spice in general – have their own acronym now). And the haters.

My daughter Claire (likely influenced by my own PSL thrill) is a lover. “Literally when Trader Joe’s gets all their pumpkin spice stuff, I go just to look at it. Because it makes it feel like fall, even when it doesn’t feel like fall outside.”

The haters call the PSL lovers “basic,” lumping fans with folks whose home décor involves #blessed signs (not saying either is bad, just saying).

Jonathan, a Central Market team member, has been watching the lovers and haters as more and more pumpkin spice products flood the shelves. “We used to like pumpkin pie and the fall smell,” he says. “It’s just now we have a word for it. Now we like pumpkin spice.”

Jonathan contends that the controversy over the flavor is the key to its popularity. “It’s popular because people hate it,” he says. “That’s when you know it’s really a thing – if there’s a strong feeling attached to it, either good or bad.”

And feelings are definitely good or bad about PSL. Rachel Tobin says she often swings by a favorite bakery to buy her 16-year-old daughter a morning muffin filled with Nutella. “I went the other morning to get it for her,” the former teacher says, “and it was filled with pumpkin! I was like, ‘I don’t want that,’ and I left. I saw a

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FALL PHENOM Are you a PSL lover or hater? Either way, there’s no escaping pumpkin spice everything this season.

pumpkin roll in the store with orange icing.

Who buys that? Do people even eat it? I don’t want a pumpkin filled anything. I’ll pass.”

Then there’s Ali Leen, a data analyst who I ran into at H-E-B’s pumpkin spice dairy display of pumpkin-caramel yogurt, pumpkin spice cookie dough, pumpkin spice cream cheese. She was staring at it all, mesmerized by the choices.

And that was just one of maybe 10 pumpkin spice-everything displays throughout the store.

“I love a good pumpkin spice every now and then, but this is a little excessive,” Ali said. “I mean, I’ve tried a couple of things here. The SToK Cold Brew Coffee Pumpkin Creamer was actually really good. But that’s pretty much where I get all my pumpkin spice, in coffee.

Well, maybe pumpkin spice muffins or pumpkin pie. But I haven’t tried the Pumpkin Spice Oreos, and I’m honestly not tempted.”

After Ali, I met Leslie, a West U lawyer also perusing the pumpkin spice options. “Everyone at the office already thinks I’m crazy because I like pumpkin spice so much,” she said, asking me to use only her first name. “I always loved pumpkin pie,” she said, “because that was the only food

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at Thanksgiving I cared about. I don’t like turkey, I don’t like the other traditional foods, so I associated pumpkin with the holidays.”

Leslie was looking for Chobani’s Pumpkin Harvest Crisp yogurt, and also eyeing the Limited Edition Pillsbury Grands! Pumpkin Spice Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Icing. “I think I tried them at one point,” Leslie said. “They weren’t spectacular, but they weren’t bad.”

Spectacular or not, Pillsbury claims: “Nothing summons the season quite like an oven-fresh Pillsbury Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll.

Imagine the memories you’ll make.”

So there it is. We aren’t really talking about a taste, we’re talking about a feeling. Fall, holidays, memories. “There’s also some FOMO going on, like fear of missing out,” Central Market’s Jonathan says. “It’s limited. You have to wait until next year if you don’t get it now. There’s a lot of psychological stuff happening with pumpkin spice.”

I admit to being tempted into buying several boxes of Pumpkin Spice Cheerios (hello Halloween college care packages), thinking they’d be good for a laugh. But maybe there’s a little more to it than that.