The West University Buzz - March 2021

Alexia Kazilas

Art on the Street Your Favorite Recipes All About E-Sports Chef’s Corner: Alex Au-Yeung Out West to Katy Asian Town Beauty in a Bird Sanctuary

A Lucky Break

by Pooja Salhotra

Teacher’s Novel Out on Netflix Travel: Life in an Airstream

Houston, TX

Buzz Baby: Simple Spring Break

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Where Were You One Year Ago?

EDITOR’S NOTE On Friday the 13th last March, we celebrated my birthday in the conference room. It was the last normal day in the office, as our entire team began working from home that Monday. It was tough, as my extroverted self loves being with others, brainstorming ideas and telling stories. I’m not the only one who remembers exactly where she was when the quarantine began, as Andria Frankfort shares in Back Porch this month. While there have been hardships, there have also been silver linings. We learned new things, about ourselves and each other, and some of us were reminded how lucky we are to live in our city. In this issue, Pooja Salhotra tells us how a young woman’s scary solo hiking accident brought her back home to recover and thrive in Houston. Also, Cindy Gabriel takes delight in finding a beautiful bird sanctuary just down the road, and Meg Scott discovers creative mini murals on utility boxes around Houston. As I get ready to celebrate a milestone (omg) birthday, one year after this started, I have never loved my city more. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

Your smile can last forever Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics

713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd.

Suite 102 Houston, TX 77005 www.westuortho.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 4

Contributing Writers Account Managers

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Jenna Mazzoccoli John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Deborah Lynn Blumberg Sharon Albert Brier Cindy Burnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Pooja Salhotra Cheryl Ursin Erin Faulkner Meg Scott Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Jo Rogers

On our cover: After a solo-hiking accident, Alexia Kazilas (and her dog Osi) returned to her hometown of Houston and learned to love it here.

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 © 2021 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.

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Cindy Gabriel is a keeper I have enjoyed your magazine for years and whenever I see an article by Cindy Gabriel, I am drawn to it because she is a very talented writer. Her story [Just Love: It’s a no-brainer, February 2021] is a keeper. I have read books by religious mystics and Eastern meditation gurus, and Cindy hit the nail on the head in a few concise, honest words. If we all led with our heart instead of our mind, what a beautiful world it would be. Thank you for encouraging her freedom of expression.

Peggy Shallock

Another Cindy fan Once again, Cindy Gabriel is spot on [Just Love: It’s a no-brainer, February 2021]. She always makes me think, and I look forward to reading her insight every month. Please also pass on my best wishes for her daughter and grandson.

Suzie Flores Editor’s note: If any of you missed this one, you can find it and all Buzz stories at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Thanks from an admirer As long-time admirers of James and Jamie Broach, we loved reading Andria Frankfort’s touching story of the blended Broach Byrd family [Beginning Again: A story of love and loss – and love, by Andria Frankfort, February 2021]. It was a timely reminder that an old life may end tragically, but the new life that follows also can be rewarding and hold a different kind of joy. We want to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to Jamie. As busy and fulfilled as life now is, she continues her important work for brain cancer patients.

Lanie Rose

December 2020]! Thank you for the lovely article. I think the cookies are the real stars!

Kathryn Wilson Lan got a chuckle out of being included [in The Great Cookie Tin Bake-Off], and my girls had it on Instagram by 7 a.m. What a way to kick off the holidays!

Adele Bentsen

Baking for all What a delight it was to be a part of Andria Frankfort’s article for the December issue [Tis the Season: Our favorite holiday sweets, by Andria Frankfort, December 2020]. I’ve always loved Andria’s positive family stories, and with this piece, I really came to appreciate the universal story of baking traditions at the holidays. Thank you, Andria, and all the Buzz staff for inviting me and my mom to be a part of your lovely tribute to holiday traditions.

Joy Yeager 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?

It must be Dr. Zeller What a delightful article about Valentine's Day [Back Porch: A good Valentine’s Day, by Andria Frankfort, February 2021]. I especially enjoyed the part about the Zellers. I was thinking that the Zeller name sounded familiar, then, when I read about the unusual proposal, I thought to myself, "This could only be one Robert Zeller." One of our children had been a patient of his close to 30 years ago, but I recognized that distinct, wonderful personality immediately. Thank you for a great article about two great people.

Ann Biundo

Fun to be in the magazine What fun to see our cookies in print in The Buzz [The Great Cookie Tin Bake-Off: Two friends and their Christmas quest, by Andria Frankfort, WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 6

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a graduating high school senior who would like to be part of our annual “Where are they headed?” feature.

• Have funny or compelling parenting stories.

• Have a unique or interesting travel tale.

• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile.

• Play a musical instrument and would like to be a part of our “Name That Tune” video series online.

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 7

NEIGHBORS

by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, staff writer

On Set With Amy Poehler Bellaire High School teacher’s novel hits Netflix

T

wo Octobers ago in Los Angeles, Jennifer Mathieu slipped into her most teacherly-looking outfit and called a cab.

Waiting for her at a Long Beach high school movie set was actor and director Amy Poehler.

Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions company was part-way through making Mathieu’s fourth novel, Moxie, into a film for Netflix, and Poehler had given Mathieu a cameo.

When Mathieu arrived, she was whisked off to the wardrobe trailer. Stylists supplemented the Bellaire High School teacher and young-adult novelist’s blouse and denim skirt with a sweater. Then, she had her hair and makeup done.

“It was wonderful,” says Mathieu, who is known as Ms. Blessington by her students.. “It was a warm, fun, lovely working environment, and everyone was excited to be working on the project.”

Mathieu was thrilled when Poehler optioned Moxie in 2016. The film releases globally on Netflix on March 3. The movie and the book tell the story of 16-year-old Vivian Carter, who starts a feminist zine at her Texas high school to encourage change after feeling frustrated with how girls are being treated.

Mathieu took inspiration for the book from a Seventeen magazine article about the Riot Grrrl movement and her love for punk rock music.

The film stars Hadley Robinson, from TV’s Utopia, as Vivian, and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Mitchell, the school’s handsome jock.

Poehler plays Vivian’s mother.

Mathieu spent the day in a “video village” – where crew members observe filming on a large monitor – in headphones alongside the film’s screenwriter, Tamara Chestna. The two watched as Poehler directed two scenes.

Mathieu’s cameo was the cherry on top.

She joined actors in the classroom to appear as a chemistry teacher – in real life, she’s an English teacher – and spent an hour filming the 30-second scene, which appears around 45 minutes into the movie. Mathieu stands in the background while Claudia, Vivian’s best friend, and another teen discuss the feminist zine, called Moxie, which is circulating the school.

Mathieu was struck by the number of lights WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 8

and people on set and the energy and effort it takes to film a scene. “So much work goes into every second,” she says. “My respect for people who make movies grew even more. I came home and told my husband I’m never going to watch a movie in the same way again.”

Actors greeted her as “the writer” and thanked her BOOK-TO-MOVIE Jennifer Mathieu, novelist and Bellaire High School teacher, met for coming. actor and director Amy Poehler in Los Angeles on the set of Moxie.

Mathieu had lunch book, Bad Girls Never Say Die, a YA novel set in with Poehler at a picnic table and was happy to Houston in the 1960s set to be published in the find the director was down-to-earth. “She was fall of 2021. just so normal, easygoing, funny, and kind,” “I’ve been calling it my homage to The Mathieu says. “She asked me questions and Outsiders,” she says, mentioning one of her talked about the books she likes.” favorite books. Her novel tells the story of what Mathieu is especially pleased with how scenes happens when a group of teenage girls from the between Vivian and her mother turned out. In the “wrong side of the tracks” meets up with a group book, the two argue, work through frustrations, of girls from the “right side.” “The book is fastand then bond. Mathieu sees aspects of herself as paced and has lots of characters you hopefully a teen in Vivian and parts of Vivian’s mother as fall in love with.” her current self.

To shape her story, Mathieu interviewed “I wrote it as a conversation between two dozens of Houstonians about their memories from generations of feminists, and I think that’s really the 1960s, and she features Houston landmarks, captured in the film. It sends a wonderful mesincluding the former Playland Park, Loew’s State sage about female empowerment to girls out Theatre, and the Jive Hive record store. there. I can see moms and daughters watching “It’s a love letter to Houston, for sure,” says the film together and enjoying it.”

Mathieu, who grew up in the Washington, D.C. Because of the pandemic, Mathieu won’t be area, but calls Texas home. “I researched the able to celebrate the release with a big group of book probably more than I needed to because friends and family, but her neighbors offered to I’m fascinated with Houston history. Houston host a backyard screening. “I feel so fortunate is my adopted home town, and it’s been a wonthat this movie even happened at all.” derful place for me to live for the last 20 years.”

Mathieu started writing young-adult fiction in 2007 after reading advanced-reader copies of YA novels from a teachers’ conference that conFor more, see the June 2019 article, “From vinced her she too could write a novel. During Novel to Netflix,” at thebuzzmagazines.com. the pandemic, she finished writing her sixth

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NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

Finding Beauty In what lies nearest

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 10

©2020 Aimee Bess McCrory

T

he Wizard of Oz never stops teaching. It took a bump on the head and a journey to Oz for Dorothy to realize there’s no place like home. It took a pandemic and canceled travel plans for Aimee McCrory to discover a paradise in Houston’s back yard.

This time last year, just as the lockdown started, Aimee’s sister, Heather Westendarp, an avid birdwatcher, along with her husband Bob, offered to show her “The Rookery” in High Island. “I was just looking for an excuse to get out of the house,” said Aimee. “I had no idea we would be entering a whole new world.”

After four years of photography classes, Aimee decided to turn her pandemic-imposed isolation into an opportunity to hone her technical and artistic skills. “I had just reached the big 7-0. I thought, time is ticking! I can’t miss this year.”

The Rookery is basically a bird-filled island that sits inside the Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary, 177 acres of fields, woods, wetlands, and ponds.

From a bird's eye view, the island looks like a long narrow smile in the middle of a body of water called Claybottom Pond. At the edge of the island are treetop-level viewing stands where human eyes can watch the story of spring unfold.

The arrival of the birds turns the island into one packed parent convention. Loud, gregarious herons, egrets, and roseate spoonbills talk and chatter, pick up sticks, primp, prune, and roost in trees.

It’s one big reunion-party atmosphere after a long flight from areas of South and Central America.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”

Aimee protested to Heather in a sisterly exchange. “I’ve been telling you about this for years!” Heather shot back. Sometimes, limited options and curbed activity can improve our ability to hear.

From Houston, you just head down I-10 east and take the Winnie exit. It’s an hour and 15 minutes from downtown.

The spring action starts with nesting from late February into March. Then on to egg-laying and hatching, by mid-April. The plot thickens with chick feeding, flight training, and sibling rivalry.

What makes this haven so attractive to the birds is a lack of the usual predators. Normally

HELLO, SPRING The isolation of lockdown – and her sister – motivated Aimee McCrory to discover The Rookery bird sanctuary. Inspired, she took this photo of a roseate spoonbill greeting cattle egrets.

animals like coyotes, raccoons, and possums would enjoy making a meal of these chicks, but the alligators patrolling in Claybottom Pond put a stop to that. Still, as the website warns the squeamish, an occasional chick on the ground does become an alligator snack.

It wasn’t until the mid 1990s, when Amoco Petroleum Company donated the vast majority of this acreage to the Houston Audubon Society and a hunting ban was declared, that the birds truly felt invited. Previously, locals, technically trespassers, frequented the site for target practice. Once the shooting stopped, word traveled quickly in both the bird and birdwatching world.

A single bald cypress tree holding 25 birds at a time is now a common sight.

Before the pandemic, birdwatchers were coming to High Island from all 50 states and 20 different countries. “In the birdwatching world, High Island is better known than Houston,” said Richard Gibbons, Houston Audubon Society conservation director. But when it comes to Houstonians knowing about High Island, not so much. “Many Houstonians know more about the charismatic wildlife from the African Savannah than the incredible wildlife found right here on the Texas coast.”

Even if you have been to High Island and know exactly what we’re talking about, a new attraction awaits as of this spring, the Kathrine G. McGovern Canopy Walkway. It takes you through the treetops like a zip line might, but it’s a 900-foot boardwalk for feet, strollers, and wheelchairs, with elevations as high as 18 feet.

The $2.3 million elevated walkway bends and curves through some of the best bird areas of the sanctuary, ending at the Rookery.

“This was becoming my oasis. I went there every few weeks. Then, in early May, I was shocked. The nests were empty, and the birds were gone,” said Aimee. “It was all over.”

Undeterred, Aimee went home, inspired by a new and deepening love and focus on her photography craft.

“I turned my house into a fantasy-land photography studio with fabric backdrops, fog machines, mannequins, mirrors, costumes, and masks.” Due to social distancing, Aimee is mostly the human subject. This year her work has appeared in online shows and photography publications, including, most recently, the New York City-based Humble Arts Foundation.

The Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary is open 365 days dawn ’til dusk. Some birds, “the locals,” hang around all year, but the peak time is right now. The website says the best time of day is an hour before nightfall, as the birds come home to roost. For the best social distancing, weekdays and mornings are recommended. Don’t forget to bring your mask.

As for Aimee, she’ll be back this spring, in some ways a different person. “I’m not going to be on the go so much. My bags were always packed for the next trip. In many ways, this has been the best year of my life.”

Aimee says she has found comfort in the business-as-usual nature of, well, nature itself. There’s always hope, as long as there’s always spring.

Watch Their Smiles Grow

Oral healthcare for the growing & developing child Joel J. Vela, D.D.S. Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry, P.A. 6750 West Loop South, Suite 795 713.661.1100 • www.bellairesmiles.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 11

NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

All About E-Sports Serious gamers connect and compete

I

don’t get video games. This became all too clear as I watched people playing video games competitively – the definition of esports – on Twitch. (Go to twitch.com and click “e-sports” for dozens of live and recorded games being played all over the world.)

As I watched, “shoutcasters” (e-sports commentators) kept up a running commentary.

Down the right side of the screen was a live-chat stream moving so fast that even if it were the only thing I was watching, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. It also seemed to be written in code. Meanwhile, in the main action, several animated characters were fighting it out, possibly with magic swords, probably to the death, when suddenly a winged dragon swooped down.

While I may not get it, plenty of people do.

Twitch (or YouTube or Facebook, the other two big streaming platforms for e-sports) will tell you how many other people are watching the event with you. They often number in the thousands or even hundreds of thousands. According to CNBC, the World Championship Finals for the game League of Legends in 2019 had almost 100 million viewers across all streaming platforms. For comparison, the Super Bowl that year had just over 98 million.

And get this: The highest paid professional esports athlete in 2020, Johan “NOtail” Sundstein from Denmark, made almost $7 million last year.

Houston has its own professional team, the Houston Outlaws, who play the game Overwatch. Founded as one of 20 teams of the Overwatch League (OWL) in 2017, the team is owned by the Beasley Media Group, a Florida radio-station company, and counts H-E-B and Reliant among its sponsors.

Over 200 universities and colleges nationwide are members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports and offer over $16 million in scholarships annually. Meanwhile, high schools and middle schools in Texas are starting leagues or adding e-sports to existing sports leagues.

Rayne Beckman, 20, grew up in West University and went to the Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts (HSPVA). A self-described “theater and dance kid,” he now WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 12

E-SPORTS EXCELLENCE Rayne Beckman plays for his university's varsity Overwatch team and ranks as an Overwatch Grandmaster.

attends the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), where he majors in sound design. He also plays on the university’s varsity Overwatch esports team. (The school also fields a League of Legends team.) And yes, he got a scholarship for it.

He has attained the rank of Grandmaster in Overwatch, which means he ranks in the top one percent of Overwatch players in the world.

“When Overwatch first came out in 2016, I played it for fun, casually,” Rayne says. “I love Overwatch.”

Overwatch is a team-based “first-person shooter,” which means that you see the world through the eyes of your character, or hero, who shoots things. Two teams of six play against each other. There are 32 different heroes players can be, each with different abilities. There are several game modes, with different objectives, which can be played on 21 maps. And there is a long and elaborate backstory about warfare between hostile robots and humans

which involves, among other colorful characters, Winston, a genetically engineered gorilla/scientist, Zenyatta, a robot Buddhist monk, and Wrecking Ball, a sentient hamster in a giant mech suit.

Currently, Rayne is home in Houston, but given that e-sports can be played remotely, he is still practicing Overwatch, he says, “at least six hours a day.”

E-sports are intense. Professional players sometimes play 10 to 12 hours a day – or longer – and generally retire in their mid-20s, often because of burnout. Video games in general, of course, have had their controversies and concerns, about violence, video-game addiction, and the sometimes-toxic behavior of players online.

E-sports players are well aware of the stigmas but say some concerns are unfounded and others can be handled. For instance, unlike the stereotype of the unfit and overweight gamer never leaving his house, a recent (continued on page 14)

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(continued from page 12) study

from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia showed that professional e-sports players are more likely to be a healthy weight and less likely to smoke and drink than average.

“It’s all about moderation in all things,” says Rayne, who balances his school work, e-sports, and his interest in rock climbing.

Angie Frederickson, staff writer for The Buzz Magazines, wasn’t exactly on-board with her daughter Anna’s interest in video games. “I’d rather children be outside or reading a book,” she says. But Anna, a high school sophomore, loves e-sports and is one of the founding members of a new e-sports/gaming club at her school, St. Agnes Academy. She balances this interest with her others, which include lacrosse and speech club.

Anna points out that the e-sports club, which already has 52 members, was able to keep functioning even when St. Agnes wasn’t meeting in person and its other clubs had suspended their activities. “We communicate with each other and play games with each other on Discord,” a chat-app for gamers, says Anna.

Abhinav “Navi" Upadhyaya, a senior majoring in chemistry at the University of Houston – Downtown, who is planning on medical school, is also the captain of the university’s League of Legends team, which won its league championship last summer.

“Video games changed my life,” says Navi.

His family moved several times while he was growing up, which made it difficult to have friends, and his parents preferred to have him home studying rather than out socializing. “If I hadn’t been able to play video games online, I would never have been able to socialize and make friends,” he says.

E-sports are new for colleges. The University of Houston – Downtown started its program in November of 2018; the University of St. Thomas started this academic year (2020-21). The University of St. Thomas’s program is both a competitive team and a club. “Over 80 members signed up the first three months,” says Justin Pelt, the university’s assistant director of e-sports.

Citing the growth in careers in the industry, St. Thomas began offering an academic course about e-sports last fall. E-sports are often compared to chess as an activity, and educators note a connection between video-game playing and interest in STEM (science, tech, engineering, math).

High-schoolers and their teachers note other benefits as well. Chris Schisser is a computerscience teacher and the e-sports coach at St. Pius X High School. The St. Pius e-sports program was started by students. “They came to me, talking about it, right before Christmas in 2019,” says Chris. He’s got about 20 to 25 kids on teams playing the games League of Legends and Rocket League, a game in which cars play soccer. For many of his students, this is the first extracurricular activity in which they have participated.

A group of Texas educators founded the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation (TSEF) last year. It already has about 50 schools statewide WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 14

NOT JUST GAMEBOYS Anna Frederickson is one of 52 members of a new e-sports/gaming club at St. Agnes Academy, an all-girls high school.

in its league. Its slogan is “Better Humans Through Gaming.” Danielle Johnson, executive director of the federation and a middle-school teacher, says, “It’s all about connecting kids to their schools. That’s how we measure success.”

“It’s especially great for the international students,” says Chris. “Many of them are shy about practicing their English, and this is a good, lowstress way for them to do that.” The St. Pius teams made it to the state semifinals in their league, which is run by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), the same organization through which their athletics and other programs compete.

Of course, some people balk at calling e-sports sports because they are not physical. Others, however, see benefits even to that. For one, male and female players can compete against each other.

For another, many kids – estimates hover around 45 percent – don’t play sports. E-sports can be a way for these kids to experience the benefits of playing a team sport. “They develop a lot of life skills,” says Chris. “They need to be dedicated. They learn to work together, to communicate, to problem-solve.”

“Gamer moms are the new soccer moms,” says Danielle, pointing out that gamer moms get

to be inside, warm and dry, during their kids’ competitions. And she says, “Watching your kids play on Twitch is super-fun. Unlike football or basketball, you can hear their conversations with each other as they collaborate and plan.”

Richard Rodriguez, a student at the University of Houston – Downtown and the global team manager for its e-sports team, points out that video games and e-sports can be a way for parents and children to interact. “You can learn to play together,” he says.

“I’m horrible at them; the kids laugh at me,” says Chris. As he wrote to Jeff Wheeler, the faculty advisor for the St. Agnes e-sports/gaming club, video games are “fun and easy to get started, but very hard to get really good at.”

Anna Frederickson recently delivered a speech at school about how e-sports should be an Olympic sport. Elite e-sports players “reached their level by hard work, determination, and dedication, which are the core values an Olympian possesses,” she said.

And e-sports are being considered for the Olympics. When Tokyo gets to host the next Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020 but delayed by the coronavirus, an e-sports showcase, the Intel World Open, will be held right before the Games begin.

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NEIGHBORS

by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

A Lucky Break Road-trip-gone-south leads to home

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lawellphoto.com

A

lexia Kazilas was on day two of what was supposed to be a two-month long road trip to California when a freak accident sent her back to a place where she never intended to live: Houston.

It was Labor Day weekend in the middle of the pandemic, and Alexia decided to hike Closed Canyon, a 1.8-mile scenic route in Big Bend State Park. It would be a relatively easy trek for Alexia, an avid hiker, and her dog, Osi. Alexia and Osi would then continue their drive up to New Mexico, and later, to California. Just the two of them.

“My way of normally dealing with anxieties or problems is by traveling and getting out in nature,” says Alexia, a 30-year-old blonde, bold and seemingly fearless. “When quarantine started, everything was on pause, so I wasn’t doing anything fulfilling.”

It seemed like an opportune time for Alexia, who was living and working in New York City at the time, to take a road trip. She’d stay in Airbnbs – or even a makeshift bed in her car – and enjoy hikes with Osi (her larger-than-typical, 25-pound Pomeranian) along the way, all the while working her customer service job for Warby Parker remotely. She hoped the trip would relieve her from feelings of malaise, boredom, and what so many of us felt as the coronavirus pandemic swept the country.

But Alexia’s efforts to escape her status quo were quickly halted. Just two days after she left Houston in her 2008 Land Rover – the same car she drove back in high school at Awty International School – she suffered an accident.

She and Osi had walked about half a mile into Closed Canyon in the noon desert heat when Osi wanted to head back to the car. “He started pulling me back the other way,” says Alexia. “But I was like, this is such a beautiful hike, let’s just hike 10 more minutes.”

As she continued walking, Alexia noticed a rock that was slanted, and dotted with smaller rocks on top. “Knowing I didn’t have the right shoes, I told myself to grip my feet down so I don’t fall.”

Alexia isn’t quite sure what happened next, but she remembers a slow fall to the hard earth

TOGETHER Alexia Kazilas adopted her dog, Osi, three years ago, and the two have been inseparable ever since. The two were hiking alone in Big Bend State Park when Alexia fell.

and then a sharp cracking sound.

“I was like, ‘No, I did not just break my leg.’”

Next came the pain, and Alexia’s attempt to ignore it. “I was hoping I just sprained [my ankle], so I tried getting up.”

But her left leg could not withstand any weight. And as Alexia looked down at her foot, she saw that it was turned inwards, seemingly detached from the rest of her leg. “When I moved my knee up, my foot was not moving. It felt like my foot could fall off,” she says.

Alone in the desert without phone signal or medical supplies and very little water – this, Alexia realized, was a hiker’s worst nightmare.

Before allowing panic to set in, Alexia calmed herself down. “I rationalized it in my head not to freak out. I was like, ‘My car is outside. I registered it. I talked to a woman [in the park’s registration office], she knows I’m here by myself with my dog. I’m not bleeding. No bones sticking out.’ So rationally, I knew I was okay.”

But Alexia also knew she and Osi were the only ones on the trail. When she parked her car at the head of the hike, it was the only vehicle there.

For the next 30 minutes, Alexia held her left foot in the air, holding it steady to avoid the sharp pain wrought by any slight movement. It was an arduous position, and as she sat there, she

THE ROAD TRIP Left: Alexia’s 2008 Land Rover, packed for a two-month road trip, the day before the accident. Top right: Dr. Diana Gonzales, who found Alexia injured in Closed Canyon, used tree branches and cloth to construct a makeshift splint. Bottom right: Osi waits, alert, on the trail in Big Bend State Park.

started crying.

As if in response to her cries, Alexia began to hear footsteps and screamed out, “Help!” Two hikers approached. One of them, as luck would have it, a doctor.

“I remember I started hearing the screaming,” says Dr. Diana Gonzales, who practiced internal medicine in Mexico before moving to Austin three years ago. “As soon as we got closer, we saw that she was laying on the ground and yelling and crying and holding her leg .... Her leg was just hanging.”

Diana, well-stocked for what was her own first trip into the desert, went back to her car to retrieve ice and painkillers. She then stopped two drivers on the road, instructing them to call 911 as soon as they could get phone service.

Diana then tried to construct a makeshift splint using branches, while her husband, Maha Sardessai, comforted Alexia and made sure she was drinking water.

“We promised when we found her that we were not going to leave her alone,” says Diana.

Maha, along with the driver who called 911,

took it upon themselves to care for Osi, a protective dog who was perhaps as freaked out as Alexia.

“He was jumping on us and jumping on [Alexia],” recalls Diana. “He was very nervous.”

More than five hours after Alexia started the hike, she was lifted onto a stretcher by a team of EMTs, who rolled her back through the canyon to the base of the hike and loaded her and Osi onto an ambulance. The ambulance took them to an airport, where the rescue team’s private plane would transport her to a hospital.

“At that point,” says Alexia, “they still didn’t know if they were going to take me to El Paso or San Antonio or Odessa. They were just calling everywhere to find out where they had room.” Because of the pandemic, many hospitals were overrun.

The team ultimately flew Alexia – who was laying on a stretcher, morphine being pumped into her body, Osi laying on top of her – to El Paso, where she and Osi then proceeded to take a second ambulance to University Medical Center of El Paso.

The nurses, Alexia recalls fondly, were especially kind, offering to care for Osi. “One nurse

was like, ‘Hey I know you have surgery in the morning, and I know you aren’t sure of what to do with your dog. I’ll take care of him.”

By that point, Alexia had alerted her family about the accident, and they were scrambling to make plans to meet her.

“I was at a small wedding in Mexico,” says Amalia, Alexia’s mother. “The day before I’m supposed to leave, I find out my daughter had an accident.” Amalia found a flight to El Paso, by way of Houston, and would reach her daughter the following day.

By the time Amalia arrived, Alexia had already had emergency surgery in her left leg, where she had fractured both her tibia and fibula bones. The surgery involved creating an incision in her knee and then inserting a specially designed metal rod into the canal of the tibia to keep the bone in the correct position. Alexia will likely have this metal rod in her body for the rest of her life. “I’m like a bionic woman,” she says with a laugh.

Three days after her surgery, Alexia was discharged from the hospital. (continued on page 18) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 17

lawellphoto.com

(continued from page 17) She’d be unable to move

her leg for weeks, and it would be several months before she could walk normally again. The doctor warned she may need another surgery.

As Amalia drove back to Houston, with her daughter laying down in the backseat for the whole 11 hours, she couldn’t help but feel shaken.

“It was horrible, just thinking that my daughter was alone for I don’t know how much time.” “The doctor who found her, she was an angel,” Amalia continues. “Anytime I remember that, I’m freaked out – what could have happened to my daughter?”

J

ust a few months after the accident, Alexia is sitting with her family on New Year’s Eve. It’s a strange New Year’s celebration, to say the least.

Alexia has recently progressed from a walker to crutches, but she’s still living at home with her parents, with Osi always hovering nearby.

Because of the pandemic, the Kazilas family is alone – just Alexia, her older brother Georgeos, and her parents, Amalia and Fivos. Usually, they’d be with friends and extended family.

It’s a quiet evening, with wine, a nice dinner, and conversation, and mom Amalia asks each family member to reflect on both the good things and the bad things that happened in 2020.

“At first we laugh because we aren’t the type of family to go around asking questions like this,” says Alexia, “but my mom saw it as a form of therapy and a good conversation topic.”

For Amalia and Fivos, the worst thing about 2020 is obvious: their daughter’s accident. “It was one of my worst days,” Amalia admits.

But when Alexia hears this on New Year’s Eve, she can no longer see the accident as a bad thing, for it forced her to sit still and reflect, both on the accident itself and on her own career goals.

“Yes, this fall was unlucky, but everything that followed after was extremely lucky,” she insists, emphasizing how fortunate it was that a kind doctor found her and stayed with her until she was taken on an ambulance, that she wasn’t bleeding, that she fell on her non-dominant leg, that her family is able and willing to help her back on her feet. “I don’t want to take all of that for granted.”

Today, Alexia, who attended West University Elementary School as a child, is planting the seeds for a business career. An entrepreneur at heart, she decided to quit her job in New York and to focus on launching her own socially responsible companies, a dream she’s held since her college days at The University of Texas at Austin.

Alexia and her friend Elizabeth Quan are launching an event-planning venture that will raise money for various social causes. She’s also working to build a channel that promotes sustainable fashion brands, and she’s managing the marketing and design for a new cafe and event space her parents are working on. She’s living at home and looking to move into her own apartment in Houston, a place she thought she said goodbye to when she left for college over a decade ago.

“I grew up in the Southside area and was never a really big fan of Houston, to be honest,” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 18

HOME Alexia never thought she’d return to Houston. But now, as she recuperates from her broken leg, she is loving her hometown and exploring career opportunities here.

says Alexia. “Then when I had my accident, I saw how many opportunities I had around here.”

Despite the accident, Alexia remains an explorer. It probably won’t be long till, to her parents’ chagrin, she hops in her Land Rover, Osi in tow, and drives out west for another hiking adventure. This time, she’ll be prepared: she’ll wear the right shoes, she’ll carry plenty of water and she’ll even bring a satellite radio.

“From my perspective, this was a freak accident. A one-off,” says Alexia. “It’s not some-

thing that should scare me. I love hiking, just me and my dog, and I look forward to being able to do that again.”

Seeing Alexia’s positive attitude and creativity over the past few months has even challenged Amalia to view her daughter’s accident differently.

“Yes, [it] was very bad and very frustrating,” says Amalia. “But also, it brought her here to Houston, and I’ve never seen her so happy in Houston as she is now… Between the bad thing came something not so bad.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 19

NEIGHBORS forsythefotography.com

by Meg Scott, contributing writer

Art in the Street A pop of color on our commutes

A

ll the world’s a ... canvas? In Houston, artists have taken to the streets, bringing their craft to traffic intersections around the city.

In a project called Mini Murals, artists organized by UP Art Studio have joined forces over the past six years with the City of Houston, area nonprofits, and civic leaders to brighten otherwise dull traffic-signal control boxes with handpainted murals.

Sheila Hall, a Buzz resident as well as an artist and aspiring muralist, loves to hunt for them with husband Jim and 8-year-old son James.

“When I see a new one I haven't noticed before, I get a little excited because each mural is different from all of the others,” said Hall. “Then with the more familiar ones, I start to have favorites, so I am happy to see them too.” Her husband’s favorites are the boxes painted to blend into the background. He looks at them as a sort of mural “hide and seek.”

Hall would love to paint mini murals herself one day. “I believe art can change people’s lives and that living with original art adds a special energy to an environment that is not the same as a reproduction. The mini murals exist right with people; I don’t have to make an effort to go to the museum to see them. They’re right on my regular route.”

She has been watching the project spread across the city in recent years with joy. “Take all the wires and poles that make our city run and add delight to the scene – that's the mini murals.

It elevates the look from something that's practical, sometimes ugly, or at best unconsidered and makes it something with a purpose.”

The first round of 31 murals was commissioned in Houston’s District K, the southwestern part of the city reaching into Fort Bend County, by the late Houston City Council Member Larry Green. The popular project exploded throughout Houston and even launched in Austin.

With subsequent sponsorship (from $2,500 to $4,500) from other city council members, as well as community-improvement groups like Memorial Management District and nonprofits such as ROCO, more than 300 mini murals have been installed around Houston since the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 20

EVERYDAY INSPIRATION Sheila, Jim, and James Hall scout the city for mini murals like this Houston Oilersand Astrodome-themed creation by artist Joy Matheson at Bunker Hill Road and Gaylord Drive.

project’s launch, with more in the works. Most are commissioned with clear guidelines for the subject matter, and other designs are purely the brain-child of the artist.

M

uralist Jessica Padilla, better known as Jexxi in the art world, has painted more than a dozen mini murals in Greater Houston.

Her designs range from the futuristic – robotic fingers reaching to touch human fingers in Memorial – to honorable – four female Supreme Court justices in The Heights.

“Art in general just makes me smile, so my hope is that it makes someone else happy too,” said Padilla. The goal, she said, is “civic pride through civic art.”

One prominent mini mural created by Padilla is the whimsical “Let’s Play” box in Highland Village at the corner of Drexel Drive and Westheimer Road, across from the Apple Store.

The bold mural showcases musical instruments – a trumpet, clarinet, maracas – swirling around the cube on a crimson background, inviting passersby to stop for a playful photo imitating a musician.

“The goal is for the design to be visually appealing up close, but not too complex for the people driving at a distance,” said Padilla. “I usually try to do simple backgrounds featuring big images and text or simple shapes and silhouettes.

Whichever design, I like to use bright, vivid colors because they get people's attention, and I think they really liven up the scenery.”

Another mural by Padilla is “Strength Lies in Differences” on Bellaire Boulevard at Chimney Rock and Gulfton, featuring hands reaching upward in a rainbow of colors.

Aside from the unusual size of the painting surface, the setting – en plein air – presents its own set of challenges.

“Making murals on a smaller scale is easier in that it's faster,” said Padilla. However, “I'm used to painting indoors, so for me, the weather affects me the most. It's really easy to get heatstroke in Houston when you forget to take breaks and sip water, because you're just so in the zone.” The winter months can leave her with cold fingers, which struggle to keep a brush steady, and Houston’s unpredictable rain patterns are a whole other story.

The shape of the boxes requires some forethought, as well. “The design can be a single image wrapping around the entire box, but avoiding putting detailed things on the edges of the box can get frustrating,” said Padilla.

Passers-by can only see one side at a time of this rectangular prism, and details can get lost in the curve of a corner. “The box could also have a different design on each side, so that means deciding which side or sides are most visible to the public.”

Padilla, a Houston native, said she is inspired by the impact this project has had in the community. “I've even had kids ask me how they can get into art when they (continued on page 22)

© Alex Barber

© Alex Barber

© Alex Barber

UP Art Studio

© Alex Barber

CREATIVE COLOR Top left: "Let's Play" by Jessica “Jexxi” Padilla at Highland Village. Top right: Padilla’s "Strength Lies in Differences" at Chimney Rock and Gulfton. Center left: With various techniques, artists like Jessica "Jexxi" Padilla (pictured) have transformed 300 utility boxes into works of art. Center right: Museum District mini mural on Main Street at Wentworth by Anat Ronen. Bottom left: Anat Ronen’s mural reminds us to “LOVE” at South Braeswood Boulevard and Kirby Drive. Bottom right: Anat Ronen adds detail to her mural, chosen in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 21

forsythefotography.com

ART OUTSIDE At left: Artist Gelson D. Lemus (on left), also known as "w3r3on3," and Joe Trejo work on a mural at Evelyn's Park on Bellaire Boulevard and Newcastle. At right: Megan and Chris Jordan and kids Lauren and Matthew hunt for utility-box mini murals around town, like this one at Bellaire Boulevard and S. Rice. (continued from page 20) grow up. It makes me so

happy to know we're encouraging creativity to young minds, in addition to spreading a message and a bit of happiness where there normally would be a plain metal box.”

I

love that the project spreads beyond the areas prone to have art or landscape design,” said muralist Anat Ronen. “I love that the project is ever evolving and includes different artists and different styles and supports the artists in the community. I love that, little by little, we manage to change – even if temporarily – the urban landscape for the better.”

In Houston’s Museum District, Ronen’s mini mural featuring familiar classics greets visitors on Main Street at Wentworth – setting the mood for a rendezvous with the masters. Watch for it on your left soon after exiting northbound Highway 59 and turning right onto Main Street, just past the ARKA furniture store.

Ronen included homages to Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring, Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel, and Piet Mondrian’s geometric primary colors.

“When I paint other people’s art, especially the masters, I try to get into their heads and understand how and why they painted the way they did. I learn a lot,” said Ronen, who also creates art with sidewalk chalk. “In my pieces made with chalk, in festivals, it’s very common to replicate pieces from the past.”

Often a mini-mural sponsor brings ideas to the table; other times, an artist is given a blank slate. UP Art Studio, the design studio working as the middleman between sponsors and artists, keeps a catalogue of ideas submitted by artists for sponsors to peruse. One design Ronen submitted more than four years ago recently found its way to a traffic-signal control box at Moody WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 22

Park (alongside the rail line on Fulton Street at the entrance to the Moody Community Center) in an unexpected yet powerful way.

In January, the city recognized Human Trafficking Awareness Month with four boxes in northside Houston funded by the City Council representative for District H, Karla Cisneros, and Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.

The boxes showed a hotline to call with reports of human trafficking (1-888-373-7888) alongside a mural selected by the community.

The selections included Ronen’s leafy tree framed by a wooden border, with a cardinal breaking the illusion of the frame by resting in the forefront.

“The thought behind it is a nature pod, an escape from urbanity in a sense,” said Ronen.

“I can see how it resonated with them – maybe in the sense of having a window to a different reality and escape from life. I added the cardinal to bring some more life into the scene and signify freedom.”

Ronen was surprised to realize the impact of these pint-sized murals, expecting their diminutive nature to be far less impressive than her large-scale wall murals, which can also be seen all around the city.

“Coming from the street-art arena, bigger is better, and those boxes, in the urban setting, are quite small. I didn’t think they would have any impact,” said Ronen. “The impact is huge.”

In the Medical District, at South Braeswood Boulevard and Kirby Drive, Ronen transformed a box into four cheerful and colorful mylar balloons – each in the shape of the letters L, O, V, and E, with a heart for the O, so the mural is “a pop of color, an eye candy in the midst of urbanity. My thought process was: ‘The traffic light box has four facets; the word love has four letters.”

M

egan and Chris Jordan, Buzz residents, keep their eyes peeled for murals when cruising around town with their two kids, Lauren, 10, and Matthew, 8. Megan works as a broker for refined products, and Chris is a lawyer specializing in municipal law and public finance.

On her pre-pandemic commute to work, Megan used to admire the pink flowers adorning the traffic control box at Bellaire Boulevard and First Street sponsored by City of Bellaire and painted by Gelson D. Lemus (also known as “w3r3on3”).

Now, she frequently passes the Houston Fire Station 37 mini mural, ablaze with an homage to the firefighters – which can be found across from the station on Stella Link Road south of Bellaire Boulevard. It was sponsored by former Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member Ellen Cohen.

The Jordan family enjoys playing at Evelyn’s Park on Bellaire at Newcastle, where the naturethemed mini murals, sponsored by City of Bellaire and painted by Lemus, pay homage to the scenery.

“I like that my kids can see art in a different form,” said Megan. Her children enjoy creating art at home, and the mini murals around town serve as a new form of inspiration. They can see art “doesn't have to be on paper or a canvas."

Looking for artists now The deadline is March 15 for Texas artists to apply for the next round of the Mini Murals Program organized by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and UP Art Studio. To apply – and to discover more about the existing 300-plus murals and their creators – see minimurals.org.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 23

FOOD

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Your Favorite Recipes The best of “Back Porch Table”

W

e are celebrating the second year of “Back Porch Table,” a recipe-focused online extension of our “Back Porch” magazine column. As we did last year at this time, we are sharing our “best of” – the recipes readers loved most.

We hope you will tune in every Friday, when “Back Porch Table” appears online at thebuzzmagazines.com and in the Morning Buzz e-newsletter. And let us know what you’re cooking!

Rosemary Mojitos April 2020: Rosemary Mojitos happened in the early days of quarantine last March. The weather was perfect for an outdoor cocktail hour, and everyone really needed a drink. We suggested serving these with a bowl of Truffle Parmesan Popcorn.

Adapted from “Winter Drinks” by the editors of PUNCH 1 cup sugar 3 large sprigs rosemary ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup 2 ounces white rum 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice Soda water Lime wedge Place sugar, 2 sprigs of rosemary, and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan, and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let the syrup sit for 1 hour. Remove the rosemary sprigs and store the syrup in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Combine the rosemary simple syrup, rum, and lime juice in a shaker. Add ice, shake, and strain into a glass over ice. Top with soda and garnish with a rosemary sprig and wedge of lime.

Summer Peach, Cucumber, and Mint Salad June 2020: Summer Peach, Cucumber, and Mint Salad was the recipe that prompted people to stop us on the streets (literally – one woman was on a walk when she saw a Buzz editor) to tell us how much they loved this salad.

It’s cool, summery, and refreshing. That there’s WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 24

COOL AND CRISP At top: Rosemary Mojitos are a refreshing cocktail-hour option. Bottom: Summer Peach, Cucumber, and Mint Salad was one of the “Back Porch Table” recipes that readers most loved in 2020.

no cooking required puts this salad firmly in our regular rotation.

4 small peaches, still a little firm, chopped 1 cucumber, seeded and chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped ½ cup chopped fresh mint ¾ cup chopped Italian parsley 2 Tablespoons minced chives ¼ cup crumbled feta Lemon Shallot Dressing (recipe below) Toss all of the ingredients in a large bowl.

Serve cold.

Lemon Shallot Dressing 1 small shallot, minced Juice of ½ lemon

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar ¼ cup olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper In a small bowl, stir together the shallot, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar. Let this sit for 15 minutes. Whisk in the olive oil, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Angel Hair with Roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Basil July 2020: The lightest pasta marries a winning combination of creamy mozzarella, herby basil, and so-sweet-they’re-addictive roasted cherry tomatoes. The star in this recipe might be the tomatoes, but the sum of the angel hair with these simple ingredients is heavenly.

Olive oil ½ pound angel hair pasta Kosher salt 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed ½ cup fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade Cherry Tomato Confit (recipe below) Sprinkle of red pepper flakes ¼ cup grated parmesan Cook the pasta in salted boiling water with a splash of olive oil for 4 minutes. Drain the pasta and place it in a large bowl. Toss gently with the mozzarella and basil. Pour the Cherry Tomato Confit over the pasta, including the oil in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese over the top, then drizzle a little more olive oil over everything. This is good warm or at room temperature.

Cherry Tomato Confit 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes ¼ cup olive oil ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper 2 garlic cloves, smashed 2 sprigs fresh thyme Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Put the tomatoes in an 8-by-8 glass baking dish. Drizzle with the oil, salt, and pepper, and mix with your hands to coat the tomatoes in oil and seasoning. Nestle the garlic and thyme among the tomatoes.

Roast 2 hours. Use the tomatoes with their oil tossed in pasta, on grilled chicken, or as a topping for bruschetta.

Salmon with Edamame Herb Hummus and Lemon-Tahini Sauce January 2020: Both satisfying and spa-like with clean, healthy ingredients, Salmon with Edamame Herb Hummus and Lemon-Tahini Sauce is the kind of dinner that makes January resolutions easy to stick to, even in March.

1½ pound salmon fillet, cut into 4 portions 1 Tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper Edamame Herb Hummus (recipe below) Lemon-Tahini Sauce (recipe below) 1 chopped scallion, green part only Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Heat an iron skillet (or another oven-proof skillet) over medium-high heat. Rinse the salmon and pat it dry with paper towels. Rub the olive oil over and under the salmon, and season generously with salt and pepper. Sear the salmon: Place the salmon skin side up in the skillet, and let it cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes. Flip so that the skin side is down, and let cook for another 2 minutes. Place the salmon in the skillet in the oven, and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let the salmon rest for 10 minutes.

Divide the Edamame Herb Hummus between 4 bowls or plates. Top with a piece of salmon.

Drizzle the salmon and the hummus with the

CRAVEABLE The roasted tomatoes are the stars in Angel Hair with Roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Basil.

Salmon with Edamame Herb Hummus and Lemon-Tahini Sauce is spa food that doesn't taste like spa food.

Lemon-Tahini Sauce. Sprinkle chopped dill, mint, parsley, and scallions over the top.

Edamame Herb Hummus ½ pound frozen, shelled edamame ¼ cup tahini Juice of 1 lemon 1 small clove of garlic, chopped ¼ cup chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley, plus more for garnish ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper Combine all ingredients in a food processor until the hummus is smooth.

Lemon-Tahini Sauce ¼ cup tahini ¼ cup water Juice of 1 lemon Using a fork, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.

Almond and Plum Snack Cake September 2020: I was told, “This might be the best cake you’ve ever made.” There is not much more to say.

From Gramercy Tavern pastry chef Miro Uskokovic, published in the August 2020 “Food & Wine” 1½ cups plus 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, divided 1¼ cups unsalted butter, (continued on page 26) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 25

SWEET TREATS At left: Almond and Plum Snack Cake is a creation of Gramercy Tavern pastry chef Miro Uskokovic. At right: Scout's Honor PB Sandwich Cookies are Nutter Butters taken to new heights. (continued from page 25) softened

8 ounces almond paste, at room temperature, crumbled, divided 2½ teaspoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, divided 4 large eggs 1 cup sour cream 1¾ cups bleached cake flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 4 medium-sized red plums, cut into ¾-inch wedges Cooking spray ½ cup sliced almonds Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1½ cups sugar, butter, ½ cup almond paste, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor. Process until light, creamy, and smooth, about 45 seconds. With the processor running, add eggs, one at a time, incorporating fully after each addition. Mixture should look thick and fluffy. Add the sour cream, and process until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape the bowl as needed.

Whisk together the cake flour and all-purpose flour in a large bowl. Add the sugar mixture to the flour mixture; whisk just until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter to thoroughly combine ingredients.

Toss together the plums and lemon juice in a medium bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Line a 13-by9-inch baking pan with parchment paper; lightly grease with cooking spray. Spread batter in the prepared pan, smoothing it with an offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining crumbled almond WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 26

paste over batter. Arrange plums over top, and sprinkle with almonds and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.

Bake the cake until lightly browned and a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer the cake in the pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

Scout’s Honor PB Sandwich Cookies December 2020: The originals, from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookbook, are a more complex, homemade version of a Nutter Butter. But Kathryn Wilson, an expert cookie baker who graciously shared the recipe, upped the ante by filling half the sandwich cookies with peanut butter and half with chocolate ganache.

1 ⁄3 cup unsalted butter 2 ⁄3 cup creamy peanut butter 1 ⁄3 cup sugar 2 ⁄3 cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg ¾ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup rolled oats Filling: 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 Tablespoon honey ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar Ganache: 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped ½ cup heavy cream Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly

grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. Add the egg, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in the flour and oats. Drop the dough by the heaping teaspoonful (a teaspoon cookie scoop works well here) onto the prepared baking sheets. Use the bottom of a drinking glass, lightly greased, to press each cookie to about ¼-inch thick.

Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, or until they are a very light golden brown. Remove them from the oven and transfer to a rack to cool.

To make the filling: In a small bowl, cream together the peanut butter, honey, and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

To assemble the cookies: When the cookies are cool, spread half of them with the filling, or if you have a teaspoon cookie scoop, use it to drop the filling into mounds atop half the cookies. Top the filling with the remaining cookies, pressing together gently.

Note: If you choose, as Kathryn did, to fill some of the cookies with chocolate ganache, halve the peanut butter filling recipe, and fill half of the cookie sandwiches with peanut butter, and half with ganache.

For the ganache: Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Pour the warm cream over the chocolate. Let stand, undisturbed, for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. To allow the ganache to firm up, chill it for 1 hour prior to filling cookies.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to recipes and more.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 27

KIDS

.

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

A simple Spring Break

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies.

Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 6.

M

arch’s arrival means the much-anticipated week known as Spring Break. It hits at a magical time when the weather is turning warmer and everyone is feeling an itch to have some time off and hit the reset button.

With travel and outings still limited, we asked some Buzz parents of toddlers what they will do to make their Spring Break days unique from the rest of the year.

Lindsey Cumbie, who works for an international trading company, has two kids under 3.

She keeps a list of things to do and plans to get it organized for Spring Break.

Her family loves movie nights, and she likes to get together with her sister-in-law and her kids for a Disney-themed movie night. The cousins select their favorite movie, and then create a menu together based around the theme.

They also host outdoor movie nights at home, with popcorn and snacks. Lindsey ordered an outdoor projector and a blow-up screen. The kids snuggle up on blankets and watch their favorite movies outside.

Lindsey’s 3-year-old daughter, Poppy, had a tea party and pampering day for her birthday, so she now loves to have “spa” days with her mom. They put on their robes, slice cucumbers to put on their eyes, and paint their nails. They plan to have mommy-daughter spa days over Spring Break.

The family has regular homemade-pizza nights outside, and they are planning some simple scavenger hunts in their yard. They planted a small vegetable garden and tend to it daily.

Poppy and her brother William enjoy art, so Lindsey created an at-home art setup. One of Poppy’s favorites is to take an empty toilet paper roll, cut slits around the edges, and dip them in paint to create fireworks on the paper.

Another local mom, Alex Luton, has three boys, and she says they spend a lot of the time in their yard with outdoor toys and lots of soccer balls, baseballs, and basketballs.

She keeps her youngest (and neighbor friends WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 28

who walk over for front-yard playtime) busy with toddler-friendly outdoor toys, so he can play with the older kids and friends on their street.

Her family enjoys spending time in Galveston for Spring Break, which is perfect for a day trip. The boys dig in the sand and hunt for shells.

Alex also keeps sensory kits on hand from a local mom’s company, Young, Wild + Friedman. She said it helps break up the monotony, especially on rainy days. The kits include supplies like homemade playdough, and her older son made a stop-motion film with his.

Their new FUN AT HOME Poppy Cumbie, 3, likes to bake treats with her family. favorite park is Here are some other great ideas we got from Atascocita Park in Humble. “There is a sky bridge Buzz parents: buying toddler fishing poles and that is so much fun for them. It has a big sand pit heading to fish at Mary Jo Peckham Park in with water and built-in excavators for the kids to Katy, exploring splash pads around town operate. It’s heaven for our boys,” said Alex. (including Nottingham Park and Jaycee Park), Alex said it is important to remember that riding the train (at Hermann Park and you do not need a fancy or busy Spring Break Memorial City Mall), painting pottery at a stuplan to make your child happy. “[Parents] are dio like The Mad Potter, picking strawberries at magical to their toddlers,” she said. “Instead of a local farm like Blessington Farms, playing at focusing on planning some big to-do, if that’s the Giggles and Fun indoor playground, visiting not what’s best for you right now, just focus on farmers markets, and rolling down the hill at making eye contact, smiling, and saying yes Miller Outdoor Theatre. when you can.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 29

NEIGHBORS

.

by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for March

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. This month, Cindy recommends five recently released titles.

The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free by Paulina Bren – After World War I, women flocked to New York City to follow their dreams, and they sought safe, female-only places to live. While residential hotels for men existed, no such thing was available for women at the time. The Barbizon Hotel for Women was built to fill this void, housing such wellknowns as Grace Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Ali McGraw, Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion, Phylicia Rashad, and more, and was so successful that it remains the most famous of the women-only residences erected in the first half of the 20th century. In The Barbizon, Paulina Bren captures not only the story of the legendary hotel but also important moments in women’s history from that time period.

Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke – Julia Cooke chronicles the women who worked as stewardesses (she uses this term since that was in use then) for Pan Am Airways and their contributions to the Vietnam War effort and women’s rights. Come Fly the World will reframe the way people view stewardesses from this era of transcontinental flight and show instead how progressive many of these women were and how they paved the way for future generations of women to easily negotiate traveling around the world. Cooke interviewed scores of women who served as stewardesses for Pan Am and chose to tell several of their stories in-depth. She relays their stories while also weaving in historical details, such as the way in which the role of flight attendant changed over the years and the women’s help in staffing American soldiers’ R&R trips between Saigon and Hong Kong. It is a truly awe-inspiring and captivating read.

Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen – Land of Big Numbers is a collection of short stories set in modern-day China, depicting its history, politics, culture, and people. The stories combine sharp commentary on life in a country governed by a Communist regime with elements of satirical WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 30

magical realism, and the effect is almost always superb. Two of my favorite stories in the collection are “Gubeikou Spirit,” which follows a group of citizens who end up stranded for months on a subway platform, kept there by the station’s guards, and “Flying Machine,” which tells the story of an elderly man who, against all odds, keeps trying to build an airplane out of items he accumulates.

Te-Ping’s inspiration for the stories comes from her years spent as a Wall Street Journal correspondent living in Beijing, and these thought-provoking stories have WHAT TO READ This month's picks include two nonfiction books about Pan Am and the Barbizon, two historical fiction stories, one about Bletchley Park and stayed with me. I fre- the other about the Titanic of the South, and a short story compilation set in China. quently find myself Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan – The reflecting on them as I go about my day. steamship Pulaski (the “Titanic of the South”) The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – The Rose sank in 1838 following a boiler explosion, and Code opens in 1947 just days prior to the British 180 years later the ship’s ruins have just been disroyal wedding, when Osla, a codebreaker who covered. Everly Winthrop, a Savannah history worked at Bletchley Park during the war, professor, is asked to help curate a new museum receives a coded letter that makes her question exhibit containing the artifacts recovered from certain things about her time at the code-breakthe old ship, and she is thrilled to participate as ing facility. Alternating between 1947 and an well as curious to learn more about the night the earlier timeline that begins in 1940, The Rose ship went down. Alternating between the past Code tells the story of three very different and present, Callahan brings the story of the women who work as codebreakers at Bletchley real-life sinking of the Pulaski to life in this novel during the war and who then must later ferret while exploring the various ways humans out the traitor who once operated among them. respond when confronting tragedy.

Many of the chapters open with a quote from the hilarious (and fictional) “Bletchley Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy Bletherings,” the weekly newspaper that Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column recounts the current gossip, an addition to the at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts book that ties the story together and provides from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston some fabulous foreshadowing. Full of fascinating literary event series Conversations from the Page, details about Bletchley Park and the many runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, unique individuals who worked there during and regularly speaks to groups about books.

World War 2, The Rose Code is a must-read.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 31

Rame Hruska

TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

Life in an Airstream

A

n ill wind blew into Memorial and the lives of the Hruska family in August 2018. That’s when Rame was diagnosed with breast cancer. Rame, an architect, businesswoman, mother of 12-year-old Tad and 8-year-old Zak, and wife of Russell – known as Rusty by his friends – was determined not to let it beat her.

Towards the end of her 15 months of aggressive treatment, she told Rusty, “If I beat this thing, let’s buy an Airstream and spend time together as a family.”

Sure enough, that’s what has happened, and now the family is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, both in terms of travel and work-life balance, and the ill winds of illness have pushed them toward a life of their dreams.

As soon as Rame (pronounced Ramey) started feeling herself again, she started hunting the web, and she found it: a 28-foot, 2008 Airstream – a fixer-upper on the inside, but in excellent condition on the outside.

“We looked at it and said, ‘We’re architects; we’ve got all the resources. We can take this and put it back together and end up with a great solution,’” said Rusty. “And that’s exactly what we did.”

They hauled it home with their Ford pickup and spent the next month remodeling it. They replaced the flooring and changed the layout, removing the recliner in the front, installing a table that folds down into a bed, with a banquette-type bench and custom cushions.

The Airstream became their vehicle to a more flexible approach to life. “That led us to: ‘We don’t really need an office right now’ – then the pandemic came, and it just lent itself to how we’re living our lives these days,” said Rusty.

Virtual classes for the kids set the family free to spend even more time on the road.

The couple’s luxury-prefab company, Boxprefab, requires them to travel for work.

With the Airstream, some of these jobs have turned into family adventures.

“For me it was about redefining that work-life balance and coming up with a way that we can manage work and play,” Rame said. Over time they’ve been able to work out a routine; mornings are work and study time, and by late afternoon WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 32

they’re able to put the pencils down and do something together. “It’s given us time to connect with each other, to connect with nature, making time to be in the moment of each activity – whether we are focused on work or doing an activity like biking.”

The Airstream turned ROAD WARRIORS The Hruska family has taken their work and study across the out to be the perfect pan- country in their Airstream. From left: Tad, Rame, Zak, and Rusty. demic vehicle, for many awesome experience as a family,” Rusty declared. reasons; it makes it easy to isolate as a family, for It was a trip they would repeat in 2020, stopone. “We basically take our environment with us,” ping and checking out intriguing sites along the said Rame. “You don’t have to stop at restaurants way on both trips. One of their favorites: the along the way. We cook our own meals – it’s amazing Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas much more connecting, and cooking food while Panhandle. “Most people don’t have a clue camping is also part of the experience.” there’s this amazing, beautiful canyon there,” said Their preferred destinations include state and Rusty. They took in the breathtaking views and national parks, although with the pandemic, it’s the classic outdoor musical production, Texas. been challenging, as the sites are usually booked Other notable attractions along the way included many months in advance. Fortunately, they’ve Amarillo’s famous Cadillac Ranch – an art instalbeen able to find private campgrounds and RV lation involving a row of 10 vintage Cadillacs parks, allowing them to make day trips into the partially buried, nose-first, in the ground. state and national parks. Trips have ranged from Great Sand Dunes National Park was another three-day weekends during the school year to favorite stop – and long overdue, as Rusty had vacation jaunts of two to three weeks – and the always seen them at a distance as a child when Airstream streamlines the experience into one his family made their yearly trips to Colorado, that accommodates a comfortable work and but his father was always set on driving straight study environment. through. They rented surfboards to surf down Their first road trip with the Airstream was a the dunes, and they learned about the history “Destination Unknown” theme trip to and ecology of the dunes.

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, during “That’s the great thing about being in the the summer of 2019. Rame gave the kids a series Airstream,” said Rusty. “We’re able to stop and of hints about where the next stop would be: do things that maybe we didn’t do before, check New Orleans, the National World War II out things, basically stop and smell the roses Museum; Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, one of along the way.” the world’s longest bridges. Along the way they There have been plenty of lessons, as well. listened to podcasts that told the stories of the Like the time when, despite their best efforts, places they were passing through. “Having some the good-sized town they chose for an important of these podcasts was a way to connect and learn conference call ended up having a three-bar sigabout where we were going,” Rame said. nal. “We had internet,” he said, “but we learned Later that summer they went back up to the negative side of that, having it be a very poor Colorado, where it was rafting, horseback riding, signal — because you have the expectation you camping, and fishing – one day they caught 14 should have it and when it doesn’t work, it causfish in an hour and a half. “It was an awesome,

Rame Hruska

Rame Hruska

Rame Hruska

Rame Hruska

MOUNTAIN HOME The off-grid home base for a week in summer 2020 was a national forest campground above Crested Butte, Colo. Clockwise from upper left: Zak peeks out the RV screen door; the family’s Airstream in the Colorado wildflowers; Tad’s trout catch of the day; biking down the mountain to Crested Butte from the ski resort.

es an extra level of stress.”

Another challenge at first was not running out of gas. The truck has a feature that calculates mileage and tells you where you should get gas – but that device doesn’t know they are hauling a mini-house behind them. Now they’ve learned to take that into account.

For Tad, one of the most important lessons has been about planning and getting to know your gear. Food has to be packed, and the vehicle must be taken care of. The boys’ eyes grew wide as they recalled the time they almost ran out of gas and got stranded in the desert.

“Traveling in an Airstream is a lot easier than camping or finding hotels everywhere,” said Tad. “But you can’t just show up [at the RV park], and everything’s ready.” Especially when they were first getting started, it was challenging, pulling into a campground at night and rummaging around with flashlights trying to hook up electric and water. Now they know the ropes and they have systems in place, and it comes together pretty seamlessly.

Thanksgiving week of 2020 was a project in

the Austin area. After the work was done, they headed for Garner State Park, where they enjoyed the best of the Hill Country, swimming in the cold, clear waters of the Frio River.

“It was great,” said Rusty. “The kids went off on their own, having a great time in nature; they jumped in the river, built things, cooked, hung out together, played games.”

The family is looking forward to continuing their travels in the years ahead, even when the pandemic is brought to curb and the kids go back to school. Next up: A Spring Break trip to go check out an opportunity in Marfa. “We ended up structuring the whole trip around going to the Davis Mountains, Marfa, and Big Bend, creating a whole family trip,” said Rusty.

As that plan developed, another job opportunity came up in Joshua Tree, Calif.; being all the way across Texas, they would already be two-thirds of the way there, they reasoned, so they’ve tagged on another week and will soon be heading for Joshua Tree.

For this summer, they’re scoping out California, Wyoming, and Oregon, with a stop

in Yellowstone National Park along the way and a visit with Rame’s parents at their home in Silver Lake, Oregon.

Galveston, with its proximity and its good wifi signal, has been a favorite destination for quick getaways. “Sitting out on the picnic table having kids do schoolwork with a sea breeze is not a bad backdrop,” said Rusty.

“When we’re here at home, we’ve got lots of stuff going on and you have a tendency to get sucked into the things you need to do, and the kids are on their devices,” said Rame. “I really wanted a way to disconnect from that and spend time together as a family.

“So it was about disconnecting. And now the interesting twist is that, with the ability to connect, it’s let us do both of those in a way that also supports and embraces our family life.”

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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 33

Kimberly Park

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Alex Au-Yeung

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n a town dominated by Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines, Alex Au-Yeung successfully has carved out a loyal following for his bold Malaysian flavors.

You can count the number of Malaysian restaurants in the Houston area on two hands, but one of the buzziest restaurants (Asian and non-Asian) to open in recent years has been Phat Eatery (23119 Colonial Pkwy., Katy).

Some people even credit Phat for steering innerLoopers to Katy Asian town – a recently created and ever-expanding colorful plaza of 40-plus restaurants and shops at I-10 and 99.

Here, the 49-year-old chef shares his background and explains the flavors of Malaysia.

And with crawfish season in full swing, he also talks about his favorite mudbug places.

Malaysian food is the sum of many parts. What cultures helped shape it?

You have Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, Singaporean, Portuguese, Thai influences – there are so many. Back in the day, Malaysia was a British colony, so you have that, too. It’s a big melting pot, which is why I think it appeals to so many people.

Tell us about your background?

I was born in Malaysia, but my family moved to Hong Kong when I was 2. I came to the U.S. as a student at 17. I studied computer science, then switched to aircraft maintenance. I went into the car business instead. For 10 years, I had a car performance shop. When I sold the shop, I went to help one of my former customers. He was a chef at a Chinese restaurant. I always loved to cook, so I thought, “Why not?”

So, you serendipitously dived into the restaurant business?

I helped with the prepping, cooking, everything, and I caught the bug. I didn’t realize at the time it was hard work. To me, it was fun. In 2001, I opened a tiny Chinese place, Wok & Roll. It made a little profit, but the long hours and the grind got to me. I sold it, and told myself, “I’ll never ever be in the restaurant business again.”

What did you instead?

I got into the POS business, point-of-sale systems, for 14 years. I met restaurateurs along the way, and I started investing in restaurant concepts. Then WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 34

when I sold my POS business, I decided to open my first Malaysian restaurant in 2008.

Never say never, right?

In 2016, you parted ways with the Malaysian concept you helped open on Bellaire Boulevard to spend time with your newborn.

But as my daughter was getting older, this 2,200-square-foot spot in Katy Asian Town came up, and I saw this great opportunity that didn’t exist anywhere else in Houston.

CHEF AU-YEUNG Chef and owner of Phat Eatery, Alex Au-Yeung has helped You opened Phat put Malaysian flavors on the map in Houston.

Eatery in June 2018, and Restaurant (10555 Westheimer Road). The garprior to Covid-19, people lined out the door for your lic butter crawfish changed my world. During food. Does “phat” mean anything in Malaysian? crawfish season, Phat does curry crawfish. These No, “phat” doesn’t really stand for anything days, you can get traditional Cajun flavors, Viet Malaysian. It’s really just the English slang for Cajun, which is garlic butter, and even Sichuan. something gratifying or attractive, as in “That’s I’ve even started seeing places stir-frying crawfish phat.” I also wanted a restaurant name that was with ginger and scallion, like the Chinese like to easy to remember. You hear it one time and do with their live lobster. Another place I go for never forget it. crawfish is Nick’s in Hong Kong City Mall What dishes would you recommend trying on the (11201 Bellaire Boulevard). They have all kinds first visit? of flavors: sriracha, lemongrass, basil, pineapple Our most popular dishes are the sizzling egg butter. My favorite remains garlic butter. tofu with chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. A must-try is the roti canai, an Indian-influenced Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is flat bread. You also won’t go wrong with our sate a James Beard food-journalism award winner and skewers, either beef or chicken. Also, too, the longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. beef rendang and the CK Teo with flat noodles, shrimp, calamari, sriracha, and Chinese sausage.

Next door to Phat is Yelo, a brand-new concept A tour of Katy Asian Town that you opened with chef Cuc Lam. It’s a celebration of Vietnamese food, but you’re not limited to the banh mi standards. We Food writer Dai Huynh checked out Katy serve banh mi sandwiches with curry chicken Asian Town with a couple of expert and even beef rendang. guides, chef Alex Au-Yeung and Peli Peli It’s crawfish season, and we’ve been told that co-founder Thomas Nguyen. See what she you’re a crawfish fan. discovered in her article, Heading Out Yeah, big time. Back in the day, you could West, on the following page. always find me at Jenivi's Seafood Shoppe &

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 35

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Heading Out West To Katy Asian Town

O

f late, Michelle Ford finds herself packing her two kids into the family car to go exploring in Katy.

“I love Katy Asian Town,” the Galleria-area resident and University of Houston law grad says. “Believe me, there was nothing that could get me to travel to the Grand Parkway. The Kinokuniya Bookstore was the initial draw.

Now, we’re there every week. We explore a little more each visit.”

There are culinary rewards for the drive. “We always get our Earl Grey milk tea at Gong Cha,” says Michelle, who plans to continue her exploration of the 40-plus restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Peli Peli South African Kitchen co-founder Thomas Nguyen has lived in Katy since 1979, so we asked him and Phat Eatery chef-owner Alex Au-Yeung to guide us around Katy Asian Town, which technically is two strip-center complexes bordering the Grand Parkway and Colonial Parkway. However, these days, most people refer to the entire 125-acre corner nook between the Grand Parkway and Katy Freeway as Katy Asian Town, says Josie Lin, a driver of the master-plan development and owner of Re/Max United. She says Katy Asian Town is about to add a 15-vendor food hall: Asian Cloud Kitchen.

Meanwhile, we found this burgeoning destination easy to explore on foot and ideal for progressive dining. For now, parking is easy, even on bustling weekends when masked shoppers zoom in and out of the key attraction, H Mart, the Korean grocery chain with a food court.

We started a few doors down from H Mart at Phat Eatery with chef-owner Au-Yeung. “There was nothing here when we opened Phat,” the Malaysian-born chef says, “just three empty finished buildings, plus a Vietnamese noodle place, called Yummy, and Square Root Poke.”

Now, almost all the spaces are occupied, despite a couple closing since the pandemic. AuYeung stopped in front of Yan Tea, bustling with college students from nearby University of Houston-Katy, across from a 24-acre tract of land that will be the future home of Houston Community College. “People come here for desserts and fresh fruit tea,” he says. “If you WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 36

WORTH THE DRIVE Phat Eatery’s fragrant hokkien mee tossed with soy sauce, thick egg noodles, chicken, calamari, and shrimp.

haven’t tried fruit tea, you should. It’s becoming extremely popular.”

We ordered the supreme fruit green tea, teeming with sliced watermelon, orange, and passion fruit. “Sugar or no sugar?” the cashier asked. Even without sugar, it was sweet enough and refreshing.

Yan Tea also features a blackboard with savory specials, including the hard-to-find xiao long bao. The Shanghai dumplings, filled with savory broth and ground pork, were a gratifying precursor to the 20-layer mille feuille crepe cake, ubiquitous on countless Asian menus these days.

At H Mart’s food court, Au-Yeung pointed to a few favorites, including Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ’s red chili-infused tofu soup with egg and either beef or seafood. For something quick and simple, there’s the futomaki vegetable roll at Sushi Hara, and at Donkey Yaki, Au-Yeung likes the fried squid. “Usually, people grill it, but here, they fry it, and it’s pretty unique,” he says.

The next day, Nguyen of Peli Peli shared his go-to places. He and wife Kristen Truong live about 10 minutes away and frequently eat in Katy Asian Town. “There is a large Asian population in Katy, but the other night, when my wife and I looked around Phat Eatery, we noticed that more than 70 percent of the patrons were nonAsians. That’s what’s beautiful about this place.

If you go to Bellaire Chinatown, there is still an element of what to order; you’re a little unsure.

But in Katy, the menus and atmosphere are approachable to everybody.”

He couldn’t be happier that he need not drive to Houston’s Chinatown for Tan Tan and Mala Sichuan Bistro. Now, he can get dan dan noo-

dles at Mala’s Katy location. At Tan Tan Wok, aside from stellar homemade wonton soup, Nguyen always orders the No. 1, fried egg with crispy rice cakes, which garnered the original Bellaire location countless fans.

Nguyen also is looking forward to the opening of Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan, a dim sum restaurant from Hong Kong. The 5,160-squarefoot space with a Zen garden will be located in the same shopping center as Kinokuniya Books, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, and 85°C Bakery Café.

Meanwhile, Nguyen is enjoying the fried noodles and stir fried snow pea tips with fiery belacan shrimp paste at Phat Eatery. Another favorite is the Cajun Viet crawfish at Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar, the younger sibling of Yummy Pho & Bo Ne a few doors down.

For homey Vietnamese, he can count on Com Tam Saigon, where the braised catfish claypot with pork belly reminds him of mom’s, along with the hot-and-sour catfish or shrimp soup.

It turns out that the owner of the eightmonth-old Com Tam Saigon once operated Thuan Kieu Com Tam on Bellaire, where Vietnamese homemakers line up for fresh spring rolls stuffed with chargrilled ground pork and crispy wonton. The same rolls are sold here.

One thing that Katy Asian Town seems to do particularly well is boba tea (there are four tea shops) and desserts, from the warm-from-theoven vanilla cream puffs from Japanese import Beard Papa’s to luscious, espresso-charged affogato with creamy gelato at Eight Turn Crepe. This New York City concept is known for savory and sweet crepes made with glutenfree rice flour.

FOOD TOUR PIT STOPS Top: Stir-fried mee goreng with egg noodles, chicken, shrimp, and tofu at Phat Eatery. Bottom, from left: Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar’s garlic butter Viet Cajun crawfish and Black Pearl Seafood Bar’s signature broiled scallops on a half shell topped with sautéed green onions and roasted peanuts.

But the must-try treat for Nguyen is Bing Su’s mochi doughnuts, either the original or churro flavor.

“You got to have these doughnuts,” he says.

“It’s on par with my love for Krispy Kreme.”

Stuffed and happy, we were about to wrap up

our Katy excursion when we got a call from a friend who supplies fresh seafood to Asian restaurants and supermarkets around town.

“Have you tried Black Pearl Seafood Bar?” she asked. “Their scallops with green onions

are amazing.”

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to Katy Asian Town restaurants.

Some Katy Asian Town destinations Beard Papa’s, 23119 Colonial Parkway, A13; 832-9131257; beardpapas.com Bing Su, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B16; 832-930-7802 Black Pearl Seafood Bar, 1223 Grand W. Boulevard, B109; 281-401-9195 Com Tam Saigon, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B4; 832-4379838; www.comtamsaigon.com Donkey Yaki in H Mart, 23119 Colonial Parkway; 832234-4636 Eight Turn Crepe, 23119 Colonial Parkway, C8; 832-9133461; eightturncrepe.com Gong Cha, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B9; 832-913-8578; www.gongchausa.com Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ in H Mart, 23119 Colonial Parkway; 832-234-4633

Kinokuniya Bookstore, 23330 Grand Circle Boulevard, Suite 140; 832-437-6232; usa.kinokuniya.com Mala Sichuan Bistro, 23119 Colonial Parkway, C1; 281665-3300; Malasichuan.com Phat Eatery, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B2; 832-913-6382; www.phateatery.com Sushi Hara in H Mart, 23119 Colonial Parkway; 832-2344635; www.sushiharakaty.com Tan Tan Wok, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B12; 281-7699966; www.tantanwok.com Yan Tea, 23119 Colonial Parkway, B-5; 832-437-0088; www.yanteatx.com Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar, 25119 Colonial Parkway, A14; 281-665-7623; yummysob.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 37

Photo courtesy of The Junior League of Houston

FOOD

by Erin Faulkner, contributing writer

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

T

he typical individual makes many thousands of choices each day, researchers say, including more than 200 related to food. It can be mentally exhausting deciding what to eat and cook.

Fortunately, there’s a national day for everything. I decided to use these as inspiration. For your cooking pleasure and decision-making, here are recipes that highlight the national food holidays of March: March 1: Peanut Butter Lovers Day – Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Triangles March 4: Pound Cake Day – Pound Cake March 9: Crabmeat Day – Avocado Crab Mornay March 9: Meatball Day – Mexican Meatballs March 12: Baked Scallops Day – Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes March 16: Artichoke Hearts Day – Artichoke Fritters March 22: Coq Au Vin Day – Coq Au Vin March 23: Chip and Dip Day – Roasted Red Pepper Dip March 26: Spinach Day – Spinach Croquettes March 31: Tater Day – Roasted Garlic and Green Chile Mashed Potatoes

Pound Cake From Houston Junior League Cookbook 3 cups sifted flour ¼ teaspoon soda Pinch salt 1 cup butter 3 cups sugar 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup buttermilk Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour large Bundt or tube pan. Sift flour, soda, and salt together; set aside. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients alternatively with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Beat only until comWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 38

SERVE SEAFOOD Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes may look impressive, but it is surprisingly easy to make for Baked Scallops Day on March 12.

bined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 50-70 minutes, or until cake tests done. (Baking time will depend on size of pan and humidity levels.) Let cake stand in pan 15 minutes before inverting onto wire rack to cool.

Avocado Crab Mornay From Houston Junior League Cookbook 3 avocados 6 green onions, minced 1½ pounds crabmeat 1 ⁄3 cup butter ¾ cup sherry 2 cup Mornay Sauce (see below) 3 ounces grated Parmesan Halve avocados; remove seeds, scoop out flesh and dice. Lightly sauté diced avocado, green onions, and crabmeat in butter. Add sherry; stir well. Add Mornay Sauce. Pile mixture in seafood shells. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Heat in 500 degree oven for only 5 minutes.

Serves eight to 10.

Mornay Sauce: ¼ cup butter ¼ cup flour 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup cream Dash salt Dash cayenne Dash nutmeg

2 Tablespoons shredded Swiss cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Melt butter; stir in flour. Cook 2-3 minutes.

Stir in chicken stock and cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until smooth. Add salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cheeses; stir and heat until well blended. Makes 2 cups.

Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes From Peace Meals 1 cup dry orzo pasta 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided ¾ teaspoon coarse salt, divided ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided 1 pound sea scallops 1 cup chopped sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Texas 1015 4 garlic cloves, minced ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 cups cherry, grape or cherub tomatoes, halved 2 ⁄3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese ½ cup fresh basil chiffonade Cook the orzo according to package directions. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high.

Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of the salt and 1⁄8 teaspoon of the pepper evenly over the scallops. Add the scallops to the skillet and sauté for three minutes

Photo courtesy of The Junior League of Houston

on each side or until done. Remove the scallops from the pan and set aside. Drain the excess liquid from the pan and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the pasta and scallops, and continue to cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Remove from heat, season with the remaining salt and pepper, and stir in the tomatoes, cheese, and basil. Serves 4.

Artichoke Fritters From The Star of Texas Cookbook 2 cans (8.5 oz each) artichoke hearts 1 egg ½ cup milk ½ cup Bisquick ¼ cup flour 1½ teaspoons double-acting baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ cup finely chopped onion 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley Oil for frying Drain artichokes, cut into quarters, and set aside.

Combine egg and milk. Stir in dry ingredients, onion, and parsley. Dip artichokes in batter. Fry in at least 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees for six to eight minutes each. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with extra salt and serve. Yields 32 fritters.

Coq Au Vin From Houston Junior League Cookbook 4 pounds chicken breasts and thighs (or two medium broilers, cut up) ¼ cup flour Salt, pepper, and paprika 8 Tablespoons butter, divided ½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced 3 green onions ¼ teaspoon thyme ½ teaspoon tarragon 1 bay leaf, crushed 1 Tablespoon minced parsley 1 large clove garlic, crushed 1½ cups dry red wine ¼ cup chicken broth or stock 2 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled 1 cup pearl onions, peeled Minced parsley Dredge the chicken in seasoned flour and brown in 6 tablespoons of the butter. After all chicken is browned, remove and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to pan. Sauté mushrooms and green onions. Add thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, parsley, garlic, wine, and chicken broth; simmer 5 minutes. Place chicken in a shallow baking dish (preferably one from which chicken may be served). Spoon wine mixture over chicken. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Add crumbled bacon and pearl onions. Cover again and bake for 1 additional hour. Sprinkle minced parsley over chicken before serving. Serves 6-8.

EASY-TO-MAKE APPETIZER This Artichoke Fritter recipe uses canned artichokes and can be prepared in less than 30 minutes for Artichoke Hearts Day on March 16.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip From Stop And Smell the Rosemary 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and seeded 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and patted dry 2 cloves garlic 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 to 2 pickled jalapeños, coarsely chopped ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 bunch, green onions, white part only, coarsely chopped 6 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ teaspoon salt Cool peppers, then press between paper towels to remove excess liquid. Otherwise, the dip will be too runny.

Process peppers, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, 1 jalapeño, cilantro, green onions, cream cheese, and salt in a food processor until smooth.

Correct seasonings, adding more jalapeño if desired. Serve with blue corn tortilla chips.

Yields 1½ cups.

Spinach Croquettes From The Star of Texas Cookbook 2 pounds fresh spinach or 3 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach 6 ounces mozzarella cheese 6 ounces ham, cubed 2 eggs Pepper to taste Very fine cracker crumbs Fat or oil Wash and dry spinach. Cook spinach until

wilted, drain thoroughly, and chop. Combine with cheese, ham, 1 of the eggs, and pepper.

Form into croquettes and dip in 1 beaten egg.

Roll in cracker crumbs and fry. Serves 4.

Roasted Garlic and Green Chile Mashed Potatoes From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1inch cubes 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup milk 2 Tablespoons chopped roasted garlic (about 4 cloves) 2 Tablespoons chopped roasted poblano chile or canned green chilies 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Salt Freshly ground pepper Cover potatoes with cold water and salt. Boil potatoes over medium-high heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Place potatoes in a large bowl, add milk, and mash with a potato masher. Add roasted garlic, roasted poblano, and butter. Blend with an electric mixer until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Note: To roast garlic, remove the outer paper layers and place either the whole head or separated individual cloves on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil, loosely wrap, and seal with the aluminum foil. Bake in a 400 degree oven until soft, 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 4-6.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for the rest of the recipes.

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

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ven before the start of the baseball season, the Emery/Weiner School baseball program knocked it out of the park with a trio of its players signing to play major college baseball.

In a special on-campus signing ceremony, seniors Josh Blum, Alex Mintz, and Max Roffwarg all made their collegiate choices official.

“It was a very special moment, not just for the boys and coaches, but also for the entire Emery staff and community to have these kids reach their goal to play college baseball,” said Jaguars baseball coach Dado Rodriguez. “To have three kids from one sport all sign together is a great achievement and a big deal for our school.”

A right-handed pitcher, Blum will play his college baseball for a USC Trojans program that boasts a dozen national championships. “Josh is one of the hardest workers I’ve seen the last several seasons. His work ethic was instrumental in getting him to this point,” said Rodriguez.

Mintz, who plays outfield for the Jaguars, will play collegiately at UTSA, while Roffwarg signed with Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

“Alex is one of those kids that sleeps and dreams baseball. He works at it seven days a week and is the first and last off the field,” said Rodriguez.

As for Roffwarg, Rodriguez affectionately refers to his shortstop as ‘dirtbag.’ “That’s actually a big compliment in baseball. He gets out there and gets dirty and does whatever it takes to win. Max is an underdog type of player who always gives 100 percent. His attitude and effort are exceptional.”

While the trio have promising careers ahead of them at the next level, first things first, as all three return for one more season of high school baseball. “It’s definitely a blessing to have them back,” said Rodriguez. “Our season was abruptly ended early last season due to Covid-19, so there’s extra anticipation for this coming season.

We have big goals, and those three guys are going to be a big part of what we accomplish.”

The football season may be long over with, but there were still honors for the area’s best players and coaches at the Hildebrand Foundation Private High School Awards Dinner.

The St. Thomas Eagles were especially well represented, with Rich McGuire winning the

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HONORED St. Thomas Eagles senior Pablo Tager received the Special Teams Player of the Year award at the Hildebrand Foundation Private High School awards dinner.

Coach of the Year award, Pablo Tager named the Special Teams Player of the Year, and quarterback Maddox Kopp receiving the Offensive Player of the Year award. “We had a phenomenal season as a team. I had a blast playing all season with the guys, and just to be here and be recognized is a great feeling,” said Kopp, who’ll be playing next season for the University of Houston. “Plus, several of my teammates are here as Player of the Year finalists, so that just shows the strength of our entire team.”

Meanwhile, the Defensive Player of the Year award was won by Kinkaid Falcons defensive end Ezekiel Evans. “It’s an honor,” said Evans.

“There’s so much great talent across Houston, and to be included with these guys just goes to show the kind of work me and my teammates put forth through this entire season. The brotherhood and culture at Kinkaid have been something special. As a senior, I will always value the love that my coaches and teammates have showed me the last four years. We always preach family and upholding the standards at Kinkaid, and it’s really made me who I am today.”

The Lineman of the Year Award went to Episcopal Knights senior Donovan Jackson,

who is rated as the nation’s top offensive line prospect. “All of the guys at this event are fantastic football players, so it’s a big honor to be among them,” said Jackson, who’ll next play his collegiate football at Ohio State. “I owe so much to Episcopal High School sports and what it’s done for me both on and off the field. Episcopal has been one of the top private schools in Houston for quite some time now, and it consistently just draws in great players and great people, so we constantly compete every day.”

Another major award winner on the night was Second Baptist Eagle Bryce Ganious, who was named the Ironman of the Year. The Ironman award was presented to the best twoway player, with Ganious being a force both on the offensive and defensive line for the Eagles.

The senior standout will play his college football at Villanova.

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

Enter The Buzz 2021 Photo Contest Win a Couples Staycation Package at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

Entries are now being accepted for our sixteenth annual Photo Contest. Entry deadline May 15.

Our grand prize winner will receive a couples staycation package at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. This luxury weekend package includes a Friday and Saturday night stay in one of the hotel’s newly renovated rooms, a “TEX-LEX” dinner for two in the private Wine Room of TRIBUTE restaurant, couples 60-minute Trellis Custom Massages, and complimentary access to the prestigious Houstonian Club. Winning photos will be published in our July issue and online beginning July 1.

To submit photos, and for contest rules and prize details, visit thebuzzmagazines.com/photocontest.

You can also view our 2020 winners online.

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SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

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

Neighbors and teammates It was a great season for the Bellaire Recreation Center 8/9 Pelicans (top photo). The basketball program was able to continue this year, with safety measures in place during the pandemic. The Pelicans competed against three other teams in their age division: the Mavs, Rockets, and Spurs, in a low-key season. The Pelicans attend a variety of schools, including Horn Elementary, Lovett Elementary, Beth Yeshurun Day School, St. Vincent de Paul, Kolter Elementary, and St. Thomas’ Episcopal. Bellaire’s rec league is the perfect opportunity for them to play together on a neighborhood team. The Pelicans are (top row) Daphne Skipworth; (middle row, from left) Katherine George, Penelope Leibman, Callie Bourg, Mackenzie Erskine, and Bella Most; (bottom row, from left) Jessica Whitley, Sydney Fahey, and Lena Flippen.

Learning lacrosse New players Reagan Pinkerton and Reed Adair (middle photo, from left) enjoy a lacrosse tournament with the Pin Oak club team. The Pin Oak Middle School sixth graders are playing lacrosse for the first time, and they are rotating through the different positions before settling into more permanent positions. During the pandemic, the girls hope to continue to play in games and tournaments, but have not been able to play consistently due to the HISD program shutdowns. They are encouraged by the one middleschool tournament they played and their many practices, and hope to have a more traditional lacrosse experience going forward.

Jaguars on the court The Emery/Weiner School seventh-grade boys basketball team (bottom photo) faced some challenges early in the season, but were still able to play.

Most of their in-district games were canceled, leaving the team without a season until other schools graciously welcomed the Jaguars into their schedules. Facing strong competition from Annunciation Orthodox School, Presbyterian School, St. Francis Episcopal, First Baptist Academy, St. John’s School, and River Oaks Baptist School, the boys played a full season and finished with a 6-6 record. They are grateful to their fellow teams for welcoming them onto the court. The team is (top row, from left) coach Otis McAlhany, Benjamin Lepow, Blake Saikin, Chance Diebner, Gabe Diamond, Zac Selzer, and Brandon Sorkin; (middle row, from left) Maddox Larner, Misha Adyanthaya, Liam Miller, Jake Yomtov, Ethan Abramson, Ryan Callahan, and Guy Shafran; (bottom row, from left) Noah Finkleman, Vince Miller, Daniel Hirsch, Jack Lane, Noah Septimus, and Harrison Zimmermann.

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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 42

Create a buzz for your biz.

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To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 11 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com

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IMPACT Julia Sora, a sophomore at St. John’s School, is working to create skin-care products for cancer patients.

KIDS

by Julia Sora, age 15

Buzz Kidz

Making the world better with lip balm

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hen I was in fourth grade, I participated in a Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) Conference in New York. My eyes were opened to the struggles that children around the world face every day. I walked away from that experience determined to help make a difference.

Shortly after MMUN, my parents told me about a close family friend who was battling Stage III breast cancer. While undergoing chemotherapy, she faced side effects like nausea, weight loss, and dry skin. Her struggles inspired me to try to help children going through similar experiences with dry skin. I eventually came up with the idea of creating and giving body products to cancer patients. I wanted to formulate a safe, effective, and fun product that pediatric cancer patients

could use. I called my business Zeal Cares.

I make and sell all-natural lip balm, and for every lip balm that is purchased, I give another to a child or young adult with cancer to help alleviate their dry skin during chemotherapy treatment.

I partner with more than 30 hospitals and organizations in 18 states. In addition to giving lip balm to patients, I am beginning to fund pediatric cancer research. I created a lip balm flavor with a cancer patient in remission at MD Anderson. All of the proceeds from her lip balm – Kay’s Wild Cherry – fund research. (See it at zealcares.com.)

Funding research is especially meaningful to me because I never got to meet my aunt who died from leukemia when she was 12. Due to advancements in research, a child diagnosed with her same condition today would have a high likelihood of

survival. Lip balm may not seem like a “big” idea, but even small ideas can have a big impact.

I was given feedback from a patient I was connected to by Teen Cancer America. Alec, treated for Ewing sarcoma, said, “... there are enough things to worry about in cancer treatment, so not having chapped or cracking lips added on to that is really helpful.” I have learned that something as small as a single lip balm can make a difference.

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.

Licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years’ experience • Specializes in working with males from 10 years old through adulthood • Struggling couples that “just don’t get each other” Dr. Trent Everett, PhD Clinical Psychologist

4130 Bellaire Boulevard #208 Houston, TX 77025 713.993.7030 • theconativegroup.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 44

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New agents should stop, look, and listen A young man called me from out of town. His mother had had a stroke, survived, but was incapacitated, and the prognosis was uncertain. Literally overnight, the roles of parent and child had reversed, and he did not know what to do next.

His first impulses were perfect, though. Mom had a robust estate plan, and he had a copy, but it was 48 pages of Greek to him. And so he’d ignored the paper and just did what needed to be done. He’d talked to the doctors, left his info with the nurses, secured Mom’s home, and kept family informed.

Mom was stable but out of it, skilled nursing was next, and things were about to get expensive. This was the right time to stop, look, and listen.

Before signing contracts or shelling out big bucks, new agents should take a timeout. Read the directive to physicians, powers of attorney, any trust agreement, and the declaration of guardian. Who is really in charge? And of what? The money, healthcare, or just the dog? People without authority are personally liable for their contracts, and have to pay with their money, not Mom’s.

Look. What are Mom’s assets? Her income? How much is available for her immediate needs? What can be accessed without a court order? Are health, life, and property insurance in place? When’s the next premium due?

Are property taxes current? When’s the last time Mom filed her income taxes? How does she pay? From withholding or quarterly estimated payments?

Look some more. Is there a list of Mom’s doctor’s, medical history, and prescription drugs? When are her next appointments? If she came home tomorrow, could anyone keep her meds filled? Does anyone know how to

use her health insurance? Her prescription drug plan?

Finally, new agents should share what they’ve done, what they’ve learned, and the challenges they face.

Discuss with family, and, if at all possible, with Mom herself. And then be quiet and listen. Sometimes the feedback is overwhelming; as often the silence is deafening. Either way, the responses inform next steps, the agent’s burdens, and tasks to outsource.

Running one household is hard enough. Running someone else’s, and remotely, requires at least a caregiver, someone to manage doctors and prescriptions, someone to keep accounts and prepare taxes, a financial advisor, and someone to watch over it all. A thoughtful pause before committing or quitting is time well spent.

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

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

Early Childhood Literacy Camp Get Ready, Get Set, Learn!!!

Learning in early childhood should be an adventure! Children learn through rich experiences, discovery, and play.

This educational camp will address all developmental domains through fun thematic units and hands-on learning experiences, with an emphasis on reading-readiness skills. Explicit, systematic, research-based small-group instruction is unique to this camp and will be provided in the areas of reading and writing.

Registration is now open at www.foundationsforlearningsuccess.com 713.392.2168 • getreadysetlearn@gmail.com

Weekly sessions

Monday-Friday 9 am -12 noon

At Bellaire United Methodist Church

Ages 4-6

Meet the Instructor Sarah Baker Suminski, a mother of two and active volunteer in the community, is a certified general and special education teacher, as well as a licensed specialist in school psychology. She has over 20 years of experience providing direct support to children, as well as consultation and training to their teachers and families. Early childhood education is of particular interest to her, as it is an amazing opportunity to lay a strong foundation for literacy and social/emotional success, while also cultivating a love for learning.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 45

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PETS

Neighborhood Tails Goldie, age 10, Goldendoodle, Drake St. My name is Goldie. I turned 10 in September of last year. My mom, dad, and brother spoiled me with loads of treats, toys, and a special yard greeting sign. My sweet friend, Sadie, came over for a play date, and we chased each other in the garden, having so much fun. I enjoy going for daily walks around the neighborhood and saying woof to everyone I meet. When the mail carrier and FedEx come down the street, I let my family know a delivery is on the way. I like chewing on empty, plastic water bottles that I find around my house. They make this great crunching sound! I have the longest and prettiest eyelashes and don’t need to use any makeup. My mom must have at least a million photos of me sleeping in the craziest positions and performing all sorts of silly antics.

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.

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Don’t let asthma control you Jeff came to us as a new patient last year for another opinion on his asthma.

He was still experiencing asthma attacks in spite of using his maintenance inhalers daily. Overall, though, he thought his asthma was under “pretty good control.”

Asthma is a chronic condition manifest by wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and/or chest tightness. Some patients have all these symptoms; some just have one or two. Asthma can be mild, moderate or severe. But mild, moderate and severe asthma can all be controlled.

Asthma control is defined by how often and how severe the symptoms are. To assess control, we ask five questions: 1) Have asthma symptoms kept you from getting as much done at home, school or work?

2) How often are you experiencing shortness of breath, wheeze, cough or chest tightness?

3) Are you waking up at night because of any asthma symptoms?

4) How often do you have to use your rescue inhaler (e.g., albuterol)?

5) How well do you think your asthma is controlled?

Each question can be answered from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating poor control and 5 indicating complete control. When we add up the five answers, we get a total score ranging from 5 to 25. A score between 20 and 25 indicates good control. If your score is below 20, your asthma could be better managed.

Many patients with asthma use Advair to prevent asthma symptoms. Advair was state of the art 15 years ago, but much better alternatives are now out. As Advair’s ingredients became generic, the name-brand drug’s price skyrocketed.

It now retails for over $450. But a therapeutic alternative, AirDuo, has the

exact same ingredients and can be purchased for $37 at CVS or Target. Big difference. For those whose symptoms aren’t adequately controlled on Advair, we have about 8 to 10 newer inhalers that work better.

Sometimes, no combination of inhalers provides adequate relief. Fortunately, we also have five biologic injectables to help control asthma. These classes of medication neutralize either the allergic antibody or the allergic white blood cell, and have been shown to be very effective in patients with the most severe types of asthma. Although expensive, each company has very generous co-pay assistance to keep the out-of-pocket costs affordable.

Jeff’s initial asthma control score was 11, but is now consistently between 19 and 25. He now takes the stairs instead of the elevator, and no longer dreads having to walk across a parking lot to his car. If you feel your asthma is not controlled, we can help.

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

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 47

NEIGHBORS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

Buzz About Town Help for Lake Charles When Lisa Jakel, Houstonian and Lake Charles, Louisiana, native, returned from her trip home after back-to-back 2020 hurricanes Laura and Delta, she shared the stories of devastation with her friend, Mary Frances DuMay. Inspired by what she learned, Mary Frances wasted no time and created an adopt-a-family program to help. She rallied a group of her Compass real estate colleagues to gather funds for the residents of Lake Charles who lost so much during the storms. They used donated funds to purchase clothes, shoes, kitchen utensils, food, blankets, and coats for eight Lake Charles families. In a fully loaded SUV, the volunteers drove the donations to Louisiana, along

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with hand-written notes of encouragement. The volunteers are (top row, from left) Lee Kaplan, Laura Winston, Mary Frances DuMay, Karen Haysley, Kristin Wallis, and Gordana Vickers; (bottom row, from left) Rhett Ross, Andi Berkman, Alex Loyd, Caroline Bean, and Lisa Jakel. Not pictured: Amy Chance, Maggie Garza, Caroline Harrison, Emelie Mavligit, Lexi Marek, Jean Roberts, Carol Rowley, and Patricia Sayegh.

A special return to Belize Zack Farnan (pictured) reeled in a keeper while on vacation in Belize. He traveled to the island of Ambergris Caye with his lifelong friend Benjamin Finnett and Benjamin’s family on

their annual visit to Belize. The group stayed at the Victoria House Resort and Spa where the highlights were fishing trips that turned into freshly caught ceviche for lunch and scuba-diving trips with large reef sharks, sting rays, and groupers. This year’s Belizean vacation was the first since 2018 when the Finnetts lost their son, Toby. The Finnetts loved having Zack join them on this special trip in Toby’s (continued on page 50)

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(continued from page 48) honor. Returning to the

island without Toby was difficult for the group, but they all saw it as an opportunity to help with the grieving process and reminisce about happy times they all spent with Toby.

Girl Scouts’ purrfect project

Members of Girl Scout Troop 123012 (pictured), from St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, worked together to deliver pet supplies to the Save a Purrfect Cat Rescue program. The animal shelter was in need of basics for many rescued felines, and the Girl Scouts, led by troop leader Jean Daly, stepped up. By engaging in a Girls Scout “take action” program, the primary and lowerelementary school students collected 24 pounds of dry cat food, 60 pounds of cat litter, more than 120 cans of wet cat food, cleaning supplies, a cat carrier, scratching board, and treats. In addition, the Girl Scouts created homemade fleece blankets to use as cozy beds for kittens.

Harris County pocket prairie

First grader Edward Walton (pictured) digs in the dirt to prepare the ground for native plants at The Saint Constantine School pocket prairie.

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were all open spaces, without the 5 million residents. The school’s gardening classes are engaging kids across all grade levels to design and create the pocket prairie, and expand it each year going forward. The first step is to seed prairie grasses and wildflowers that are native to our region. Ultimately, new plants will provide habitat for birds and pollinating insects, which helps the surrounding plants grow and expands the prairie.

cards with personalized vows in their private bungalow. Then, they traveled by canoe to the main area of the resort and were married on the beach, with a view of Bora Bora’s tallest volcanic peak in a traditional Polynesian ceremony.

Lauren and Miguel met at Rice University, and texted each other almost daily before finally dating during Lauren’s junior year. She is now a third-year medical student, and Miguel is an engineer in the oil and gas industry.

Bora Bora nuptials

Lending a helping hand

Lauren Hodgson (pictured, second from left) and Miguel Ferriño (second from right) exchanged wedding vows at the InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa in Bora Bora, French Polynesia. The original plan was to marry at Villa Antonia in Jonestown, Texas, with the honeymoon in Bora Bora.

Covid-19 rearranged their plans. The morning of the wedding, which happened to be Lauren’s 25th birthday, the couple exchanged wedding

Josh Kaplan and Evelyn Burt (pictured, from left) volunteered at Bethel’s Heavenly Hands, an organization that provides basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter to neighbors who are struggling during the pandemic. With 62 volunteers from Congregation Beth Yeshurun’s social action team, Josh and Evelyn participated in a two-day outreach program. The volunteers sorted and organized donations, and prepared and distributed food to help (continued on page 52)

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of people.

Bethel’s Heavenly Hands needed more assistance than usual to accommodate the thousands of additional families who are now relying on their support, and Congregation Beth Yeshurun answered the call with a record number of volunteers.

and nurses at Methodist Hospital are thrilled to have something to take their minds off the tough work they do, even for just a little while, and new books to read are the perfect escape.

The Westbury Worm

AOS at the Q&A

work of art together. Together, the Lindsays painted the first rock, the worm’s head, in a green and red design, and then set it outside their house. Soon, neighborhood children and adults started painting their own rocks and adding them to the growing rock animal. On the sidewalk in front of the Lindsays’ home, the worm grew to nearly three feet, with rocks speckled with purple, pink, and blue paint. (See The Westbury Worm: Neighbors Collaborate on Art Project, by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, at thebuzzmagazines.com.)

Junior League market was super

Annunciation Orthodox School sent 10 quizbowl teams to compete in the Winter Roundup Tournament. Quiz Bowl is a competition that tests players and teams on a wide range of topics, including history, science, literature, popular culture, and sports. Charlie Bartley (pictured) ranked 19th in the competition, individually.

He also competed as a member of the middleschool B team with Christopher Harris, Marcos Clark, and Henry Caputo (not pictured), and they finished in sixth place. The B team was one of two qualifying AOS teams that will advance to the national quiz bowl competition in May.

Croix Lindsay (pictured), 5, created a neighborhood art project that is spreading throughout her neighborhood. With help from her parents, Courtney and Michelle Lindsay, Croix started the Westbury Worm, an art project made from a series of painted rocks, as a fun pandemic activity where neighbors are safely creating a

Editor’s note: The Buzz congratulates our regular Buzz About Town writer, associate editor Jordan Steinfeld, and her husband Matthew on the recent arrival of baby Sloane. Jordan is taking a short break to spend time with Sloane. In the meantime, Buzz writer Angie Frederickson is handling this column.

As usual, please send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis.

The Junior League of Houston

Get lost in a book

The Junior League of Houston (JLH) hosted their second “SUPER” Market to provide food for nearly 1,000 people and basic-needs items for 450 children. Rachel Regan, “Santa’s Elf,” Courtney Baker, and Marie Newton (pictured, from left) joined other JLH volunteers to serve clients from B.E.A.R., Child Advocates, DePelchin Children’s Center, Mission of Yahweh, Nehemiah Center, Neighbors in Action, Operation Homefront, and the women and children residents of Star of Hope. When families entered the SUPER Market, they were greeted by Santa and his elf and received a family-style breakfast prepared by the Junior League.

Both adults and children received warm winter coats, and kids also received holiday craft kits, a stocking, pajamas, books, and a new toy.

Troop 55 Eagle Scout David Hindman wanted to choose an Eagle project that would have a local impact on our community’s response to the pandemic. He settled on building a mobile library for Methodist Hospital. Along with a team of volunteers, David, a senior at St. John’s School, designed, built, and painted three mobile bookcases to be used in various locations throughout the hospital. To stock the bookshelves, David reached out to the community for donations, and his family’s garage quickly began filling with more than 500 books. The doctors WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2021 52

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Where were you one year ago?

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his month marks the anniversary of one of the biggest “where were you when” moments – the start of the pandemic quarantine – on Friday the 13th, no less. We asked neighbors, and, almost to a person, they started by saying, “I remember exactly where I was!”

Linda Elmer: I was at brunch with two old friends with kids at a different high school.

Suddenly all of our phones were blowing up. We got notifications within minutes from our schools saying we were closing that day and wouldn’t be opening after Spring Break.

Tracy Kapiloff: We were playing mah jongg at the Briar Club. My friend Julia Burke’s husband is an ENT, and she told us she thought it was going to be longer than two weeks. I remember specifically telling her I’d give them two weeks, and then I was done!

Lana Rigsby: I had laughed about “corona” just days earlier, saying that no respectable flu would be named after a beer. Since then, the dreams I had for my kids’ senior year are dashed, and my heart has broken for them nearly every day. But there have been silver linings: family time playing cards, cooking, walking dogs, and becoming close in a way that I hope lasts forever. We got a puppy early in the lockdown, now Boone is almost fully grown.

Samantha Sullivan: When the rodeo shut down. I knew then it was for real.

Joy Yeager: I began my day by going to Whole Foods, filling my cart as full as it could be filled. I recall being puzzled by all the people hoarding bottled water – a hurricane habit, I suppose. I also had a haircut that day. I think it was six months before I had another.

Deanna Sheaffer: Two perspectives… Along with a dozen other parents, [I] hosted the first grad party of the season for over 250 St. John’s seniors and friends. We … looked down on the crowded room where kids were dancing cheek to cheek and wondered, “What if this is isn’t safe?” Three days later, the rodeo shut down, and by Friday, most schools went online.

My dad had entered the hospital on March 9 for a very difficult spinal cord surgery that he had flown to Houston from Florida to have. The day

STOCKED UP Last March brought countless interpretations of how best to hole up.

of his surgery [was] March 24, which was the same day the Houston hospital system instituted their “no visitors” rule. Like many others, my dad spent the next four months post-surgery in the healthcare system alone and died July 8 of respiratory complications.

Barbara Trautner: March 11, MIT cancelled the track team's participation in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships an hour before our daughter Margaret, a senior at MIT, was due to board the flight to the event in New York. As an infectious diseases doctor, I realized in that moment that everything was going to fold – MIT graduation, St. John’s graduation, all the spring events and rituals planned for my high school and college seniors, gone. I felt her heartbreak, my heartbreak, and the heartbreak that was coming for all of us.

Tevia McLaren: My mom, almost 95, lives in independent living in a retirement community.

It was obvious entry was going to be shut down soon. I filled her up with as many personal care items I could think of and any treats I knew she liked (Butterfingers and gummy bears). I sat and chatted with her far into the afternoon. Before I left, I gave her the longest hug. She was actually antsy for me to leave, as her facility was still having activities. She has made it through with

flying colors and has received both vaccine shots. I can see her again now in very specific situations. She has definitely gotten better at FaceTime!

Diana Brackman: The moment that I realized how personal Covid would be to me and my family was [realizing I had been] in New York with my daughter and granddaughter the week before the pandemic was announced. We went everywhere, including riding the subway, and touched everything.

Stuart Rosenberg and Jose Ocque: We were stuck in Peru for most of March. Peru was a stopover on our way to Chile. Our quarantine began [when a hotel guest] read a Twitter post from the Peruvian president announcing that the country’s borders would shut down the following day, along with airports. We spent the next several weeks with a global crew of about 60, including another family from the River Oaks area plus one from West U. Michelle Glickman: We were deep into planning my father-in-law’s 80th birthday, and I was addressing invitations. We ended up canceling the party, thinking we’d reschedule for summer 2020.

Anonymous: I was going into surgery for an appendectomy! I remember thinking holy s**t!

This year is going to suck. I was right!