The West University Buzz - May 2015

Backyard

Sarah Pesikoff

Gardening

by Andria Frankfort

A Doctor’s Dollhouse

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The Kids are Listening

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Most Sundays you can find editor (and my wife) Joni Hoffman at her favorite Starbucks, where she often sees Dr. James Belli, a retired radiation oncologist, enjoying his coffee along with a good book. On one recent Sunday, James was sitting with his wife, Dr. Patricia Eifel, and said to Joni, “You really should do a story about my wife and her dollhouse.” At first Patricia, a gynecologic radiation oncologist, wasn’t so sure about that idea, but with James’ encouragement she agreed to show Joni some photos on her iPad of her dollhouse. Joni was blown away by the detailed miniatures and knew we had to get this talented Renaissance woman in the magazine. I hope you enjoy reading the story in this month’s Buzz. We think writer Cathy Gordon and photographer Michael Hart perfectly captured Patricia and her spectacular little masterpieces. Do you know another creative talent in the neighborhood? Let us know at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Lisa Ganucheau Cathy Gordon Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Swaim Helen Hamilton Michele Luke

On our cover: When Sarah Pesikoff wants something to eat, she heads for her backyard garden.

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 © 2015 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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 4

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Your letters, thoughts, opinions Patmos pilgrimage inspires Thank you for the article on the Holy Week experience in Patmos [Patmos Paradise: Easter on the sacred Greek isle, by Cathy Gordon, April 2015]. The rich descriptions had us all on pilgrimage on this devout island, with the intimacy of family history from Carol Senkel. The beautiful photographs of the “Washing of the Feet” ceremony; Efthymios Koutsanelos, the oldest monk in the monastery; and the sacred Greek artifacts were captivating. I am grateful for your writing blessing me, especially this Easter.

Carolyn Kirklin

More praise for Patmos Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how much I enjoyed the recent article on the Senkels and Patmos. I’m a little biased as they are my in-laws, but I can tell you I got a lot of compliments from friends, and I think you may have directly helped the Patmos tourist industry! I went a few years ago with the whole family, and I can tell you it really is an incredibly special place – all the more so when you have family on the island. Cathy Gordon captured it beautifully! I hope to go back one day for Holy Week like the Senkels did last year. Also, I thought the photos were fantastic. Again, thanks so much, and we love reading the monthly Buzz in our household!

Bradley M. Kirklin

Don’t miss Easter in Greece Thank you for capturing the tradition coupled with emotion in the Patmos article. Tourists flock annually to Greece in the summer. However, Easter is a not-to-be-missed experience. I hope this inspires your many readers who enjoy traveling to consider putting this on their bucket list.

Maria Younger Editor’s note: Thanks for the kind words. If any readers missed this story and the photos, you can find them at thebuzzmagazines.com. Our searchable website includes everything printed in the four Buzz magazines, plus onlineonly extras.

Different ways to learn I really liked your article [Buzz Kidz: New school suits her just fine, by Kori Jane Spaulding, age 11, The Memorial Buzz, April 2015] because it shows all the different opportunities that kids have today. It shows that you don’t have to be bored in school. You can have fun and learn while you are doing it. The article also shows that kids don’t have to read out of textbooks and WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 6

copy notes down. You can have group projects, which teach kids teamwork.

Cornerstone is my school too, and I agree with everything the article states.

Brandon Feeney, age 13 Editor’s note: Brandon, we enjoyed the story too. Thanks for the comment.

By the way, we are looking for more young writers. If you or your Buzz-area friends would like to write for our Buzz Kidz column, send us an email at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Correction: What about the basil?

[In the] April issue [Cooking Buzz: Spring-renewal recipes – Asparagus Mushroom Salad with Basil Vinaigrette], how can it be basil vinaigrette if it contains no basil?

Carol Judge Editor’s note: Thank you for reading carefully and bringing this to our attention. We apologize for the mistake. We should have listed ½ cup of minced fresh basil in the ingredients list, right after the balsamic vinegar. We have corrected the recipe online at thebuzzmagazines.com. Click on Recipes.

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

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Participate on Facebook trading or information groups.

• Know an interesting neighbor to profile.

• Have taken summer road trips with the kids.

• Have funny or unique back-to-school stories.

• Have pets with personalities.

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

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NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

Catch a Ride C

hris Beverly doesn’t drive when he goes out in the evening. The 36-year-old medical administrator doesn’t want to drink and drive. Plus it’s a hassle. “You pay to valet; that’s $10 plus tip. Then, you have to mess with the valet. When I left a party recently, there was a guy, still standing in line, who had left the party 45 minutes earlier. As my Uber car pulled up, I told him, ‘Dude, you need to start Ubering.’”

Andrew White, entrepreneur and father of three, started using Uber, a phone app that allows you to request a car ride, to go out to dinner. Then he took it to the airport. “It’s cheaper than parking,” he said. “I find myself thinking of new applications for it, like – is this terrible?

– having our housekeeper, who doesn’t drive, take an Uber to bring our kids to baseball practice.” (Uber does require children under 18 to be accompanied by an adult.)

Another Uber customer, realizing she wasn’t going to be on time to take her 86-year-old mother to a beauty-salon appointment, ordered her an Uber. Then when a friend expressed concern about safety, she raced over and secretly followed the car driving her mother. All was well.

“My 19-year-old nephew was at the Free Press Summer Fest this summer with friends,” said Georgia Stewart, an educational diagnostician.

“He called his mom to pick them up. ‘No,’ she said, ‘take an Uber.’”

There are many vehicle-for-hire companies in Houston. Super Shuttle gets you to the airport.

IHaveADriver.com, scheduled to launch this year, will provide a uniformed driver to drive your own car. Yellow Cab has its own app, Hail A Cab. Lone Star Cab Company uses a national app for cabs called Curb. Unlike Uber, Curb can be used to order a car in advance. (Lyft, an Uberlike service, is no longer in Houston.)

An often-touted selling point of Uber is that it will provide a ride within minutes. During busy times, such as after the bars close on Washington Avenue or a Texans game lets out, however, Uber’s algorithms will institute surge pricing, charging a higher fare. The app will show you how much more and can be set to notify you when surge pricing in your area stops.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 8

©2015 Arthur Meyerson

Taxi alternative offers options

According to Business Insider, a standard Uber ride costs about 35 percent less than a taxi in Houston.

“Uber isn’t competing with cabs,” said one Uber driver. “Uber competes with those times when you would be asking your friends for a ride.” Incidentally, I was in this driver’s car because I had found out minutes earlier that my mechanic wouldn’t have my car ready and I needed to pick my child HITTING THE ROAD "I've been to more places in Houston that I didn't know existed," said Jerry Meyerson, a Buzz resident who drives for Uber. "Every night's up at school. a different story."

The charge for the money, he says. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had. ride is automatically processed through the You never know who your next guest will be or phone app. While tipping isn’t necessary, drivers where they are going,” says Meyerson, who credsay they are not averse to receiving them. “I’ll its the job with helping him recover from the tip if I ask the driver to do something extra, like recent losses of his son Alexander and wife pick up a friend on the way or go through a Jack Roxanne. In the first four months he drove, he In the Box drive-through for me on the way transported pole dancers and economists, prohome,” said Beverly. fessional athletes and Pakistani tourists.

The company started in 2009 and is now in Another driver who lives in a Buzz neighbor54 countries. To start, you download the Uber hood works full-time in IT and drives Uber 20 smartphone app and input your credit-card to 30 hours a week to make some extra money. information. The app uses your phone’s GPS to “My weekly goal is to bill $500,” he said. determine your pick-up location. You will see a In a current Yelp-era twist, customers are asked pin drop on the map on your phone, marking to rate their drivers. If a driver’s average rating where you are. (Veteran drivers advise, when the falls below 4½ out of 5 stars, he or she can be app marks your pick-up location, to doublebooted from Uber. But the drivers also rate you. check it for accuracy.)

And customers who behaved badly enough have A nearby Uber driver will accept your trip been booted, at least temporarily, from the app. and you will get an estimated time of arrival, “I didn’t know [about the customer ratings] with an estimate of your fare. Your ride is autotill a driver showed me,” said Beverly. “I got five matically charged to your credit card; no cash stars. Woohoo.” changes hands. You cannot call for a ride; you must use the app (for insurance reasons). And you cannot make arrangements ahead of time; Lawmakers have been discussing new regulations, you call when you are ready to go. including independent background checks on drivers, The Uber driver is an independent contracto make ride-sharing services like Uber safer for pastor, driving his or her own car. Jerry Meyerson, sengers. For more on this, and for safety tips, see this a Bellaire resident bursting with energy, drives story at thebuzzmagazines.com. in the evenings after work, but not for the

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TRAVEL

by Michelle Casas Groogan, staff writer

Here We Go Doing Disney with a disability

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acation planning can be a stressful process for any family. But include a child with a disability, and envisioning the potential pitfalls and worst-case scenarios can abort the vacation before it has a chance to begin.

That anxiety had long kept me from taking my kids to Walt Disney World in Florida. My 11-year-old son, Garrett, has autism.

Those who know him well might defensibly compare me to a Disney villain for waiting so long. You see, Garrett loves the world of Disney so much that he’s thoroughly acquainted with every Disney character, intimately versed on every Disney film and staggeringly familiar with the lyrics of most every Disney song.

But taking him to the “Happiest Place on Earth” was not the kind of happy I could wrap my arms around; it was simply terrifying. Not roller coaster terrifying (and why didn’t anybody tell me that Space Mountain is completely in the dark) but worrisome in the worst way.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact. The term spectrum refers to a wide range of symptoms and severity, so every child is different. My son’s autism generates impulsivity, which means he can scamper away in the blink of an eye. For years, we avoided crowded public places for fear he would get lost.

He also has sensory-integration issues and is affected by loud noises and anything that bothers his skin. Years of therapy left me convinced that wearing some kind of park-admission band simply wasn’t going to happen. My husband, Greg, and I also worried if he was capable of asking for help if he needed it. And forget about waiting patiently in lines … can you say tantrum?

A relaxing vacation for all of us, including our 10-year-old daughter Hannah, seemed at best a long shot. But Garrett had been requesting to go to Disney World for so long. We knew that denying him the experience was no longer justifiable.

A trip to Disney World can be magical, says Houston travel blogger Haley Shivers. She and her 7-year-old son, Jackson, just returned from their seventh trip to Disney World and Disneyland. Jackson has severe autism and apraxia, which means he is nonverbal. Haley has the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 10

INCREDIBLE TRIP Greg, Hannah, Garrett and Michelle Groogan (from left) met Mr. Incredible at Hollywood Studios, one of the Disney World theme parks in Orlando. The family made their first visit this year.

system so perfected that she has daily rides and restaurants booked weeks before she arrives. Her blog encourages folks to travel with their specialneeds kids, and she touts Disney as the No. 1 destination for a special-needs first-timer.

“The very first time that we went, Jackson had a balloon on Main Street and the wind was blowing, and it blew into a tree and popped. He burst into tears and was sobbing and frantic. A cast member saw this and immediately brought us over another balloon without question. The service alone removes a level of stress for me,” said Haley.

To help ensure success, I traveled during the offseason – most websites agree that is JanuaryFebruary – and not on a weekend. My son’s school, The Monarch School, was instrumental in preparing Garrrett and discussed potential stressors like airport waits and security checkpoints.

Once at Disney, the meal plan saved money and, more important, time from long lines to see Disney characters, since it includes table service at restaurants where the characters come to you.

The park also offers a disability pass to families. It works much like a Fastpass, which gives access to shorter lines at rides. At Magic Kingdom, there is a Care Center near the entrance; inside is a quiet room with tables, chairs, books and a movie playing, so you can

just stop and rest a while.

Serious enthusiasts like Haley check websites that predict park attendance. She also explains on her blog how to request a “Stroller as Wheelchair” pass, which is not just for the physically disabled.

For us, little things made a big difference.

Turns out, if you book at a Disney resort, the whole family gets customized “Magic Bands” and a video via email from Edna Mode, the superhero costume designer from The Incredibles, who simply explains the importance of wearing the band. That did the trick for my son.

There were a couple of times where we left the park to rest before returning later. There were a few uncomfortable moments when we got disapproving looks from folks waiting in line when Garrett darted to an escorted character to give a hug.

But in every picture my son’s face shines with joy and pride. And I know we’ll be back, as evidenced by our Disney-decorated coffee can that he continues to plop in his chore-earned quarters, one by one.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for a link to Haley Shivers’ travel blog.

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NEIGHBORS

by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer

Tiny Retreat hartphoto.com

A doctor’s respite in miniature

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t’s nice to have a retreat, a place to regroup after a long week. Buzz resident Patricia Eifel, a radiation oncologist, finds working on her stately home, Foxhall Manor, good for the soul.

“My job can be intense. Having this house to work on is good therapy,” she says, skimming her hand over buckled wallpaper. “This needs replaced. I’ll make my own wallpaper next time.”

Yep, Patricia is handy. She peruses patterns to make wallpaper and installs her floors and moldings. She even put in the home’s electrical system. “Tricky. My least favorite job.”

But she has never once set foot in the house.

Hands? They’re all over the place.

“It’s all in the details, making it look real,” says the Bellaire miniaturist who works in standard 1:12 scale, meaning an inch in miniature equals one foot in real life.

“I love it when people see a picture I have of one of the rooms and they ask, ‘Is that your house?’ Well, it is my house. But I don’t have to worry about much maintenance or cleaning.”

Indeed, not even the pets in this tiny dwelling need much caring after. “Oops, my canary doesn’t look well,” she says of the bird, half the size of a pinkie, lying on the floor of his cage.

“I’ll tend to him later.”

Patricia is a woman of many talents. She’s a passionate photographer, classical pianist, an avid cook. As chief of the Gynecologic Radiation Oncology Service at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she tends to patients, teaches, pens medical papers and writes books on the latest medical techniques in her field. And when the mood strikes, she trolls the Internet for artisan-made collectibles to add to her teeny, tiny house.

“I think you have to be a bit compulsive to do this,” she quips. “First you discover a dollhouse, then all the hundreds of things that go with it.

It becomes a challenge. Can I make these rooms look like they’re not in miniature in photographs? My goal is to get better at that.”

Seems her visual acuity in analyzing medical scans comes in handy when working with miniatures. “I’m looking at 3D pictures all the time,” she explains. “I think you have to be one of those people who pays a lot of attention to WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 12

HOBBY IN HAND Miniaturist Patricia Eifel likes to make perfectly detailed tiny furniture.

detail to pull this off.”

Patricia’s call to the small began with childhood visits to the Art Institute of Chicago with her mom. There, in the museum’s basement, is a world of wonder, The Thorne Rooms. This permanent collection of 68 incredibly detailed miniature rooms, depicting styles spanning the centuries, were created between 1934 and 1940 at the urging of Chicago socialite and miniature enthusiast Narcissa Niblack Thorne.

“If you’re a little girl growing up in Chicago, it’s like child abuse if you don’t take your child to see The Thorne Rooms,” says Patricia, laughing. “I went back years later, and the nostalgia of it hit me. I think I’ve always been intrigued by dollhouses and miniatures.”

Years later, she found an excuse to indulge when a granddaughter arrived on the scene after years of grandsons. “Finally!” When the grandchild was old enough to appreciate it, Patricia bought a $150 kit (“basically a box of milled lumber,” she says) and got to work, constructing and furnishing the Victorian-style dollhouse in time for Christmas.

Her granddaughter loved it, and Patricia’s penchant for the petite grew.

Her current project, Foxhall Manor, a more elaborate kit with all the bells and whistles, is

canvas for her latest obsession, making miniature furniture.

“I’ve really become entranced by the skilled artisans who make miniature furniture,” she says.

“Some of their pieces, well, you’d be gobsmacked. Amazing!”

For the past five years, she’s taken furniture workshops under professional artisans at the Chicago International Miniatures Show. This year, she’s added food to the menu, learning how to make tiny edibles out of polymer clay like the lemons, cheese, cake and duck legs in her tiny manor kitchen.

“I’m particularly pleased with the way this turned out,” she says of a Chippendale Neo-classical marquetry demi-lune side table she made.

A miniature reproduction of a Louis XVI transitional commode, circa 1770, is another favorite she handcrafted.

It’s difficult to describe what’s so enticing about miniatures, Patricia says.

But enticed, she is.

“It’s whimsical and entrancing, like listening to Beethoven or gazing at a fabulous painting.

The idea that a human being can create something so tiny and it can look so perfect. That kind of creativity? I think we all share a bit of that genetic code.”

hartphoto.com hartphoto.com hartphoto.com

hartphoto.com

TEENY TINY & TIDY Not a thing’s out of place in Patricia Eifel’s miniature Foxhall Manor. Rooms are designed in 1:12 standard scale, meaning an inch in miniature equals one foot in real life. The little rooms fool the eye with exacting details, right down to the food on the counter in the kitchen.

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Truly Local Gardening in the backyard

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 14

stpimages.com

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here’s been a lot of talk lately about where our food comes from and how it’s grown. Is it organic? Is it sustainable? Is it local?

For Sarah Pesikoff’s family, including her husband David and their teenaged boys Jacob and Ethan, produce couldn’t possibly be more local.

That’s because if they crave a salad – or beets, or cabbage, or beans – all they need to do is walk out the back door, survey what’s ripe and harvest dinner.

Sarah started gardening modestly years ago as a law student in San Antonio, “trying to make my balcony look pretty with some pots.” She continued in California, “where everything grows instantly,” she says, and came home to Houston with the gardening bug. One thing led to another, and a couple of houses later Sarah had mastered herbs and flowers and decided to try tomatoes “just for fun. They really took off, and I [thought], ‘You know, what I want is a vegetable garden.’” And she made it happen.

Sarah called the landscaping firm Thompson + Hanson to design and create an area in her Rice University-area backyard that would get good sun. “I couldn’t prep the bed myself,” she says. “They made a long bed that widens at the end, with places behind it for plants to climb.

They made it pretty.”

Pretty is fitting, because most everything in Sarah’s world is pretty. She is the person who is always put together, whose house always looks beautiful as if it attracted its own light, and who has the ability to cook and host a dinner that seems simultaneously effortless and all-out. Of course her cabbages are gorgeous specimens totally unlike the grocery store variety and worthy of gift-giving. Cabbages.

“I do lots of lettuces and grow a lot of things I can eat in salad form. Lots of carrots, radishes, green onions, cabbage, beets. Spring planting is peppers and cucumbers; fall is climbing beans like snap peas. Sometimes I’ll have broccoli and cauliflower. I did do turnips once, but it turns out I don’t like turnips!” Sarah also recently planted a row of citrus trees.

“Summer is when things lie fallow – it’s too hot. So we plant in the fall to grow all fall and

PLANTING Steve Smith and Patti Osburn nurture their vegetables from the seed stage all the way to their dinner table.

winter and again in spring.”

“I take the easy way out,” Sarah says, referring to her relationship with the gardeners.

But don’t get her wrong. Sarah is a true gardener, weeding, harvesting, generally getting a little dirty. (Several years ago she spent time in a hospital fighting a staph infection she likely contracted while working in her garden.) “They plant the seeds for me, but then they don’t touch it again.”

Ironically, the crop that brought Sarah to vegetable gardening – tomatoes – has been the one she’s been least successful with in recent years.

“They can be really finicky, and every critter likes the bright red. I’ve tried netting, but it’s a

big tangly mess, and I get caught up in it and kind of gave up.”

Steve Smith has tips on that. The owner of Rover Oaks Pet Resort cultivated his own large vegetable garden and says, “The biggest challenge hands-down is birds and tomatoes.”

Steve feels the same way as Sarah about netting: “It’s a pain.” But, like Sarah and every other gardener, he needs to keep the birds away from his tomatoes. So he’s learned to “put out lots of water sources around the plants and keep [the water] fresh. Birds need food and water so things like tomatoes are awesome to them. One of the things I’ve learned is that the birds may not necessarily

HARVEST The vegetables from Sarah Pesikoff's garden are as artful as they are delicious.

them into our garden, and we had great crops.

“So my first or second year gardening in Bellaire I bought some compost and manure, See thebuzzmagazines.com for a photo of Sarah tilled it and thought it was going to be great. But Pesikoff's Texas-sized cabbage. To share your own I couldn’t understand why everything was wiltHouston-gardening tips, comment under this story ing and turning brown. I sent a soil sample off, online or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com. and they said, ‘You’ve got way too much phosphorous and nitrogen and potassium.’ I had fertilized it too much.

“After that, it took five years for the soil elements to drop to a reasonable level.

“I’m a hobby gardener,” Steve says. “I make lots of mistakes, but at the end of the day we have a pretty nice harvest.”

That includes beans, tomatoes, carrots, kale, spinach and peppers as staples, along with a varying assortment of “experiments.”

“Now I have three kinds of beans growing and two kinds of carrots.

It depends on what strikes me, and I’ll see which ones perform the best. If you lose it you lose it. Part of the fun is not doing the same thing over and over again.” Steve leaves the flower gardening to wife Patti Osburn, but they both participate in har- SALAD TIME Sarah Pesikoff tends to her edible garden.

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be going for food, but they want the water.”

Steve’s love of gardening began early, growing up in Tennessee helping his dad. “We didn’t have a lot of money, so we needed the garden to help put food on the table,” he says. “A lot of my young memories were with my dad, out there harvesting corn and beans. It was a big part of what we did as a family in the summer.”

Years later, when Steve bought a home on a large lot in Bellaire, he said gardening became “a way to connect with my dad in a big way.”

Steve has had to learn to tailor his efforts from what worked in Tennessee to what’s feasible in Texas. “I have a raised garden, but Dad and I had a flat piece of land that we plowed. Here, you have to raise it so there’s drainage. Regarding weeds, you don’t till the soil here, but you mulch it. It makes sense, but it’s not the way Dad and I did it, so I still till the way we did.”

Steve has learned a lot online. “I don’t really have a favorite source. I just Google when I have a question,” he says. “It’s pretty easy to tell the master and professional gardeners from chat rooms where everyone has an opinion but you don’t know who knows their stuff.” Steve says it’s a safe bet to trust agricultural websites of state governments for gardening tips. He especially likes Texas A&M University’s online gardening resource, which offers vegetableplanting guides (aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu) and soil sampling (soiltesting.tamu.edu), which starts at $10.

“The first thing any [gardener] should do is send a soil sample off [to be analyzed] so you know what you’re dealing with before you add any amendments,” Steve says. “When I was growing up with Dad, one of the things we did was fertilize and use compost and manure to enrich the soil. Back then we had friends who had a dairy farm. We would literally take shovels and take old patties and spread them out and till

vesting the veggies.

Both Sarah and Steve say that they stick to simple when it comes to serving their harvests.

Neither had a favorite recipe; they both said they mostly like to sauté, steam, roast and eat the veggies raw in salads. Sarah suggests adding feta at the last minute to roasting beets, then popping them back into the oven to warm the cheese topping. That’s as close to a recipe as either got.

Both Sarah and Steve also enjoy being generous with their harvests. Sarah has been treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center for the past year, and she often gifts her doctors and nurses with vegetables from her garden. Steve shares his crops with employees at Rover Oaks and friends at church.

“When things are ready to harvest,” Steve says, “I’ll come home from work, we may pick some beans and carrots and kale, and we’ll have a meal out of the garden. Maybe we’ll supplement with chicken, but it’s all pretty simple and straightforward.”

Call it what you will – organic, local, sustainable – Sarah and Steve and their families have got the real deal.

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Are expired medications safe?

What does that expiration date on a medication bottle mean, anyway?

The Medical Letter addressed this topic in 2002 and again in 2009. The answer to the question is, “It depends.” As a general rule, pills stored in their original, unopened bottle have the best chance of maintaining potency for several years past the expiration date. In fact, the expiration date is basically the date the manufacturer puts on the bottle to say, “We guarantee at least 90 percent potency up until this date.” Medications don’t suddenly lose all of their potency, nor do they become suddenly dangerous. We discourage using eye drops past their date primarily because the preservative that prevents eye infection may no longer be active.

But what about pills and capsules?

The military was throwing away millions of unused prescription items every year based on expiration dates. They hired the FDA to do a study to determine the actual date beyond which not to use such medications. Even when stored under high heat and humidity – which should lead to breakdown, many of the medications were still usable for 2-5 years past their expiration date. Some were even good 25 years later! Another general rule: Liquids don’t last as long as powders, pills or capsules.

What about EpiPens? Expired EpiPens have been studied for potency, and there is a clear observation that the older the EpiPen, the less helpful it would be in an emergency. Since anaphylaxis is a life-or-death matter, the best option is to keep them only until their expiration date and then replace.

But a study on expired EpiPens was just published (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 114 (2015) 354-355). It makes two critically important points:

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 16

Epinephrine autoinjectors 24 to 36 months past the expiration date were still 84.2-95.7 percent effective, and If the only epinephrine autoinjector available is outdated but free of precipitate, it could be used in preference to no epinephrine injection at all because it might still have some beneficial effects In summary, if all you have is an old EpiPen and there’s an emergency, it’s probably okay to use as long as the liquid doesn’t have clumps in it. It’s best to dispose of old eye drops and liquid medicines. As for over-the-counter cold preparations or Tylenol, they are most likely safe and effective for a few years after the expiration date.

Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.

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

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

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Free Slim Sonic Toothbrush with this ad! $15 Value (Kirby location only) West U Location 5311 Kirby 713.360.6432 Tanglewood Location 7660 Woodway 713.781.4746 WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 17

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Moms, Grads & Dads

Gift Guide Stirrup Some Fun Make it happen with the memorable gift of riding lessons. We offer lessons with certified instructors for children and adults, summer camps, birthday parties, and a covered arena. Needville Equestrian in Fort Bend County, 8610 Padon Road, Needville, Texas, 77461, 301.646.3200, www.needvillehorseriding.com

Perfect gift ideas for even the hardest to please Dare to be Unique Exclusive retailer of Korloff PARIS. Come see our entire selection of men’s and women’s fine jewelry and timepieces. Custom jewelry, repairs and appraisals. Gawee Fine Jewelry & Timepieces, 2511 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.522.GAWEE (4293), www.gaweejewelers.com

For The Gentleman Come visit Houston’s oldest tobacconist for the discerning gentlemen in your life. We specialize in fine cigars, pipes, and quality tobaccos from around the world. Mention this ad to receive a free gift with purchase. The Briar Shoppe. 2412 Times Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.529.5555, www.briarshoppe.com

L’object of Desire The L’Objet Flower Pave Miniature Frame is a meticulously crafted flower pave picture frame and it is plated in oxidized platinum, detailed with white Swarovski crystals and comes with beveled glass, satin lining, Italian leather back and luxury gift box.

Measures 2”, $135. Blue Leaf, 2303 South Blvd. @ Greenbriar, Houston, Texas 77098, 713.520.9975, www.blueleafhouston.com

Delightful Dutchi Your classic Dutch bike with sweeping curved frame and refined upright posture. The Linus collection includes a full product line of accessories ranging from baskets, to office bags, and racks. Bikes available for everyone in the family, starting at $349. Ham Cycles, 2309 Dunlavy Street, Houston, Texas 77006, 713.522.8330, www.hamcycles.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 18

Make a Bold Statement Tailored sport shirts from Robert Talbott set the quality standard.

Featuring solids, stripes and bright spring plaids for the individual statement each man seeks to make. M. Wiesenthal Men’s Collection, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 170, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 832.433.7189, www.mwiesenthal.com

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His Wardrobe Staple Whether thanking DAD or congratulating a GRAD, give him clothing that will stand the test of time. Bill’s Khakis offers American made high quality clothing and accessories. The Village Clothier, 2411 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.520.9096.

Collegiate Classic

A Watch for Every Occasion

The Southern Tide Skipjack Polo Shirt is the original collegiate classic that started the trend in southern coastal clothing. Available in spring colors, solids and stripes. M. Wiesenthal Men’s Collection, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 170, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 832.433.7189, www.mwiesenthal.com

Daniel Wellington watches feature interchangeable straps made of genuine Italian-quality leather and alternative NATO straps styled for British Navy divers. M. Wiesenthal Men’s Collection, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 170, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 832.433.7189, www.mwiesenthal.com

Ring, Ring, Eternity Bling!

Eternity bands starting at just $600. Mom or Grad will enjoy stacking these: one, two, three, look at me! We have a great selection of antique & estate jewelry, as well as custom jewelry designing and repairs on site. Come by for a visit any time. Queen of Heirs, 4901 Locust Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.666.6683, www.queenofheirs.com

Preppy Pastels Add a little style to your spring with new arrivals from Lauren James.

With cute cuts, preppy prints and pastel hues, shop the collection exclusively at Magpies Gifts, where every time’s a charm. Magpies Gifts, 5000 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.661.9777, www.magpiesgifts.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 19

NEIGHBORS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Happy first Mother’s Day

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

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recent encounter I had with a new mom in the dog-food aisle at Target left an impression on me. Strapped to her in a Baby Bjorn carrier was her 6-week-old baby girl. She looked at me and smiled as we passed by each other.

I could see it in the mom’s eyes. She looked exhausted, a little stressed, yet so in love. I didn’t have my 8-month-old twins with me at the time, so she had no way of knowing I was a new mother myself, but I blurted out anyway, “It gets better.” She looked at me and said with a sigh, “Oh, thank God. It does?”

I remember when a mom with an older baby said that to me at the grocery store. Another comment that stuck with me I heard on The Today Show. Lead anchor Savannah Guthrie compared the early stages of motherhood to “being under water for five minutes.”

I guess that’s because you’re tired, trying to hold on, and ready for a breath of air. Then suddenly, the kid sleeps a whole night, and the fresh air comes.

So, what I’m saying is, Mother’s Day exists for a reason. Recently, I asked some new Buzz moms what their plans were for their first Mother’s Day, on May 10.

Stephanie Montalbano, who welcomed son J.R. (with husband Vincent) on Christmas Eve, plans to celebrate in a big way. “Growing up, my mom celebrated if you lost a tooth,” said Stephanie, laughing. “We’ll have cocktails by the pool and hang out with family all day.”

A lot can change in one year, especially when you welcome your first baby. “Last [Mother’s Day], my family was hanging out at our house. I had just found out I was pregnant, so I fake drank,” said Stephanie. “Vincent kept making me virgin” cocktails.

For Meredith Johnson, a communications consultant, getting used to the title of “mom” is still an adjustment. Meredith and her husband, Matt, an attorney, welcomed daughter Covey on WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 20

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Sept. 27.

“It’s just such a shock sometimes that someone can call me Mom now. Maybe it’ll become less shocking once she can actually say the word,” said Meredith.

In case anyone forgets why we have Mother’s Day, it’s for moments like when Meredith went to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine and Pedialyte for Covey, who was sick at home.

“I noticed a teenage girl look at me strangely and about the same time my neck started to itch.

I reached up to scratch it only find a huge streak of dried baby poop across my neck,” said Meredith. “And it hadn’t been my first errand. It had been there a while.”

Husbands, this day is a good opportunity to make new moms feel as TICKLED PINK Katie Bosman, with daughter Emory, plans to celebrate her first special as their babies. Mother’s Day with her husband Paul and their family in Conroe.

“I imagine I’ll get some estimated how long I could wait between feedsort of cool new gear [from Matt] to make my ings so by the time we were discharged and exitdaily life of being a mom a little easier or more ed the elevators the front of my dress was comefficient,” Meredith said. “I keep trying to tell pletely soaked,” said Katie. “Of course, we valet him jewelry is efficient.” parked that day, so I had to sit at a main For Katie Bosman, an escrow officer, the day entrance of the hospital in my milk-soaked dress will be full of reflection. She and her husband waiting for our car.”

Paul will celebrate this Mother’s Day with Katie hopes her day will be relaxing and full of daughter Emory, who arrived last August. a little, well, pampering. “We’ll start the day with “Other than the day I married my husband, breakfast at home, preferably not made by me.” becoming a mother has been the most joyous So to Katie, Stephanie, Meredith and to you, event of my life,” said Katie. new mom I met at Target, hang in there and Katie has come a long way from the early Happy first Mother’s Day. Hopefully, at least days. She recalled when Emory was released some of us will be enjoying breakfast in bed that from the hospital after spending a week in the day. (Yes, that’s a hint.)

NICU. “As a brand new mom, I grossly under-

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RISE AND SHINE Meredith Johnson and her husband Matt welcomed daughter Covey in September. Her first Mother’s Day will begin with a special church service in the morning.

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Like mother, like daughters

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raveling together can take all forms for mothers and their daughters, but for the women of the Elizondo family – Mom Terry and her two now-grown daughters, Mary Elizondo Frazier and Christina Elizondo Rainey – the tendency can be summed up in one word: intrepid.

The stories they share are colorful, and many: climbing Kilimanjaro with Mary; taking a $5 sleeper bus with Christina from Pune, India, to Goa; getting stung by jellyfish in Indonesia; spending the night (unwittingly) in a red-light district in Thailand. And the list goes on.

Nothing characterizes the family philosophy like a trip Terry took to Puerto Vallarta in 2002 with her husband, Candelario. Terry got the urge to go shopping in Guadalajara, five hours inland, and decided to take a bus, as she’d often done in the past, and leave Cande to lounge on the beach. She had a lovely jaunt to Tlaquepaque, a colonial village on the outskirts of the city known for its artisans and galleries.

On the way back to Vallarta, however, the bus was robbed. No one was hurt, and only the men were robbed, so Terry lost nothing in the process – not even her sense of adventure.

“What I did, because I was so sad about what had happened, was that four weeks later, I told my daughters, ‘We’re going to go to Monterrey on the bus. We’re not going to let anyone take our freedom from us.’ And we did – and we had a great time.”

The girls, who were 18 and 20 at the time, remember feeling a bit nervous. “Every time someone got on the bus, I thought they were going to rob us,” said Mary, with a little laugh.

“I remember I was a little concerned, but thought no way this would happen twice.”

The Elizondos raised their children in West University, and Mary stayed close to home, living now in River Oaks. Christina lives in Portland. Terry, Norwegian by heritage and a Spanish-speaking attorney by profession, frequently serves as an advocate for Latin American citizens. She was born to a family that owned halibut boats on the West Coast, and would make their living for the whole year with four or five months of hard work, leaving them WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 22

KILIMANJARO AWAITS Terry and her youngest daughter, Mary Frazier, enjoyed a little shopping in Moshi, a town at the base of Kilimanjaro – which the two women climbed after a four-hour bus ride from Nairobi.

the rest of the year to travel – so she got in the habit at a young age.

Candelario likes to travel, too, but his work as an attorney, a judge and the owner of two ranches keeps him busy. “She’ll travel at the drop of a hat – anywhere,” he says of his wife. “I like going on vacation, but not every six weeks.

I have things I’ve got to do over here.”

Candelario’s idea of a great vacation is a long weekend in Puerto Vallarta, with beach volleyball, good food and good drinks. The family travels together to Mexico at least once a year in a tradition beginning when the girls were still small. Terry has a much more ambitious itinerary, however; she has always been set on seeing the whole world, and she wanted to share it with her daughters. They’d already been to Mexico and to Europe; when her eldest, Christina, turned 12, it was time for somewhere more interesting. Since childhood, Terry has had a passion for travel in developing countries, not as much for the tourist destinations as for the opportunity to connect with the local people.

“I guess it just comes from who I am,” Terry reflects. “I’ve just always been interested in colorful, struggling people and countries.”

The first big trip was during Spring Break of 1992. A cousin had invited them to join him in Indonesia, and Mary had a lineup of school

activities and couldn’t get away, so it was just Christina and Terry. They never caught up with the cousin, but they had a fabulous time.

Memories of that trip include Christina doing homework in a $5 hotel in Ubud, Bali, a town surrounded by rice paddies; the Hindu-temple complex in the dense jungles of Monkey Forest; a harrowing ride in a broken-down ferry to the island of Lombok; and then onto the tiny Gili Islands, where they stayed and ate with local families in their houses on stilts.

That was to be the first in a lifelong series of mother-daughter adventures – often just with one daughter or the other, always filled with colorful encounters with the locals. Their list of travels reads like an index of a world atlas: Indonesia, Thailand, Guatemala, Paraguay, Argentina, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Goa, Jaipur, Brazil.

For Mary, the highlight was Africa. She and her mother climbed Kilimanjaro with a team of six porters who carried their gear, set up for them and cooked for them – probably the most luxury Terry ever indulged in, though it was considered to be a budget trek. Some expeditions, Terry explained, have 14 porters for one person.

“I think they were relieved that we were just normal people,” Terry said. “By the time we finished the trip, they were our family.” One of them

A PAUSE AT THE TAJ MAJAL Terry and eldest daughter Christina Rainey set out on a rickshaw at 5:40 a.m. to catch the sunrise at the Taj Majal – a small tourist break from their generally grittier travels through India.

followed Mary around for three days, begging her to marry him and take him back to Texas.

Orienting her girls to the finer points of adventure travel was generally done in context, and is more a subject for their amusement than anything.

“I don’t think there’s any way to prepare you for this type of travel,” said Christina. “A lot of people were very curious of two young girls traveling alone with their mother. Young children would listen to us speak English, greet us and touch our hair.”

Upon hearing of their exploits, friends and family have occasionally expressed concern.

Candelario, for his part, doesn’t lose sleep over his girls’ wanderings.

“My wife and my daughters are pretty astute.

They can spot trouble a mile away,” he said. “I feel like they know how to handle themselves.”

It’s been a skill acquired, thanks to a great deal of faith – in each other, and in the innate goodness of others. Terry recalls putting the two girls on a Funjet to Mexico alone when they were in high school. “Everything was fine until we started talking about money. I gave them $25 a day, so they’d have to be thrifty and ride the bus.” They got lost in the hills above the city and had to talk their way back down with their basic Spanish skills.

Then there was the time Terry found cheap tickets to Pattaya, Thailand, and nabbed three of them. It wasn’t until later that she learned of

its reputation as a hotspot for child prostitution for global sex tourists.

“We didn’t see any of that,” she says. “I thought the place was fabulous.”

It helps to have a sense of humor when you have a wife like Terry, which Candelario does.

“Nothing surprises me anymore – nothing at all,” he said. He likes to tell the stories – like the time they were at the ranch in South Texas, where he was hunting with a group of his guy friends. “She said, I’m going to Mexico,” he recalls. Terry found a great deal and booked some non-refundable rooms and a flight for her and the girls, out of Nuevo Laredo, to Puerto Vallarta. Unfortunately their flight was canceled due to fog – but that didn’t stop them. She found a 24-hour bus from the border that was just about to leave – and almost full – but there were three seats left in different parts of the bus and they grabbed them.

What Terry remembers about that trip is arriving at the bus station in Guadalajara at 3 a.m. with no pesos, visiting with a group of runaway boys from Tepic until it was time for their connection to Vallarta.

Public-transit adventures are a recurring theme for Terry. There was the bus from Pune to Goa that she and Christina took – a $5 sleeper bus, which sounded great. Until they discovered that they would be “sleeping” on a sheet of plywood two feet from the ceiling – in the back

of the bus where the rough roads had them bouncing up and hitting the ceiling.

Over the years, the girls developed their own travel styles. Christina, a mother of two with a supportive husband, thrives on the uncertainty and the novelty of bare-bones budget travel to exotic lands. Mary has had her share of adventure too, but these days, her law practice and two little kids keep her closer to home, and her preferred itinerary looks more like her Dad’s.

“Mom will have you staying in budget hotels, walking all over town and taking the bus,” she says. “I’m more of a lawn chair-on-the-beach type of traveler, and Mom’s not into that.”

Still, each of them treasures the memories and looks forward to more. They agree the travels have strengthened their relationship. They’ve also seen how it’s strengthened each of them.

“I think it builds your confidence,” said Christina. “If you could survive an all-night bus ride and sleep on a piece of plywood, you feel you could do just about anything.”

It has also given them a deeper sense of compassion, they say. “It gives you a worldly experience of different cultures and people everywhere,” said Christina. “We’d been in poor countries, but just to understand that people were spending their nights sleeping on the sidewalk in a tarp tent and their days washing clothes in a metal pot is an image that I don’t think will ever go away.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 23

FOOD

by Lisa Ganucheau, contributing writer

Cooking Buzz

Moms, dads and grads

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

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ay is a beautiful, celebratory month.

There are so many occasions that bring families together, including graduations, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Like the transition of lovely spring into hot summer, graduations mark live-changing transitions. In our household, we will celebrate our second high school graduation in two years. We have been blessed with what many call “Irish Twins,” or two children born very close together, in our case 11½ months. This second graduation will mark a larger transition for our family, as we will now be without kids at home – “empty nesters.”

Looking back, so many celebrations come to mind, and the meals shared are a large part of those memories. After all, we originally hail from Louisiana, so when it comes to eating and celebrating, we arrived in Houston as semi-professionals in that regard.

When I think of our son moving on to college, I consider what meals he will miss most.

During busy weeks, a tried-and-true family favorite has been Louisiana-style red beans and rice with sausage. When our daughter was home from college over the holidays, she was delighted when I served it. Red beans and rice with sausage is a Louisiana staple – traditionally served on Mondays.

My favorite iteration of this recipe, is Mrs. Isabella Chester’s Red Beans and Smoked Sausage in Talk about Good!, Le Livre de la Cuisine de Lafayette, the cookbook of the Junior League of Lafayette, Louisiana. Mondays have always been easier to handle in our home, knowing a warm bowl of this delicious comfort food was waiting on the dinner table.

Another favorite with some Louisiana roots is Creamy Crawfish Tortellini from the Junior League of Houston’s Stop and Smell the Rosemary.

I was a newly married transfer member to the Junior League of Houston when Stop and Smell the Rosemary was being planned. I was delighted to see that the Houston League had just as many WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 24

flavorful recipes as my Louisiana home. In fact, I submitted a recipe of my mother’s that is strikingly similar to the league recipe we have since adopted. Rich, spicy and decadent, this pasta dish has been a favorite in our house for many special occasions.

As my children grew, we spent many week- BLACKBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS “Any dessert that mixes a cobbler and ends in Galveston. Post- a cookie is a winner in my book,” says writer Lisa Ganucheau. graduation parties, One last tip: Whatever the meal, a fabulous treat Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and end-of-seais the Chocolate Martini from Peace Meals. son team celebrations are always fun when celWhen one just cannot choose between a cockebrated by the water. A crowd-pleasing meal for tail and dessert, one should not have to do so. any festive occasion is the Basic Beef Tenderloin from Stop and Smell the Rosemary. It Red Beans and Smoked Sausage can be served with any of the three suggested From Talk about Good!, Le Livre de la Cuisine sauces or plain. With the short prep and cook de Lafayette (Mrs. Isabella Chester) times, it is ideal for a quick meal following a day 1 tablespoon cooking oil on the bay or at the beach.

1 large onion, coarsely chopped A good accompaniment is the hearty and fill1 pound dry red kidney beans ing Roasted Garlic and Green Chile Mashed 8 cups water Potatoes from Stop and Smell the Rosemary. I like 1½ pound smoked sausage (I use Frey’s, but to finish everything off with Blackberry other good brands or the Polish-type sausage Shortbread Bars from Peace Meals. Any dessert may be used) that mixes a cobbler and a cookie is a winner in Salt and pepper to taste my book. Kids love the gooey filling, and it has a sophisticated presentation that impresses an In a large stewing kettle, add oil and sauté adult crowd as well. onion for 1 minute on medium heat. Rinse After all of the chaos of activity through the beans in colander. Pour water into kettle, then years – baseball seasons, horse shows, piano beans, and cook over low flame (cover kettle in and dance recitals, Halloween parties, and such a way that only a little steam escapes) for general comings and goings of our kids and at least one hour, or until beans begin to get soft. their great friends – my husband and I will Remove 2 or 3 tablespoons of beans and mash, have the house to ourselves now. Honestly, we and then return them to pot and stir. Continue both keep looking at each other wondering cooking until bean gravy becomes milky and what that will be like. For 19½ years, our thickened. Cut sausage into pieces 1½ inches home’s rhythm has been defined by our kids long and add to beans and continue to cook, and their interests and commitments. We covered, for 15 minutes; then add 1 level teawould not have had it any other way. It has spoon salt and however much pepper you can been a wild ride, and we are excited for the stand – remember there is usually quite a bit of next stage – for them, and for us. pepper in the sausage. Never try to boil the I wish you the best as you celebrate your sausage before putting them into the beans. moms, dads and grads over the coming weeks.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter 12 small shallots, peeled and halved through root end ½ cup dry white wine 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into tablespoon-size pieces Salt Freshly ground pepper

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD Lisa Ganucheau and her family hail from Louisiana, so they know something about celebrating with food. They are pictured here (from left: Tom, Mary Clare, Lisa and John) at The Grove at Ole Miss before a football game.

Beans should be served over rice. This serves 4, but to increase for 6, just add more sausage.

Never try to freeze this dish. Leftover ham, or ham hocks may be substituted, but must be cooked along with beans.

Creamy Crawfish Tortellini From Stop and Smell the Rosemary ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1 medium onion, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound fresh crawfish tails 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (¼ cup plus ¼ cup) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 cups whipping cream ¼ cup dry sherry 9 ounces tortellini pasta, cooked al dente Salt Cayenne pepper Melt butter in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic. Sauté until translucent. Add crawfish and cook 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup Parmesan, parsley, whipping cream and sherry. Simmer until thickened. Fold tortellini into crawfish mixture.

Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Serve with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan.

um heat, about 20 minutes. Try topping the tenderloin with one or a combination of the following sauces: Cranberry Wine Sauce: 3 cups fresh cranberries 1½ cups sugar 1¼ cups port ¼ cup cold water 4½ teaspoons cornstarch Combine cranberries, sugar and port in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until cranberry skins pop. Combine water and cornstarch. Stir into cranberry mixture. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

(This can be made ahead, refrigerated and reheated.) Yields 2 cups.

Orange Béarnaise Sauce: ¼ cup white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons minced shallot ½ teaspoon minced orange zest 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon white pepper 3 large egg yolks 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Basic Beef Tenderloin From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 1 whole beef tenderloin seasoned salt freshly ground pepper Salt and pepper tenderloin. Let rest 30 minutes at room temperature. (Can cover and refrigerate.) Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Bake 5 minutes; then reduce heat to 400 degrees. Bake an additional 40 to 45 minutes, or to desired doneness. Tenderloin may also be grilled over medi-

Combine vinegar, shallot, orange zest, orange juice, salt and pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Continue cooking over moderately high heat until liquid reduces to 2 tablespoons.

Transfer mixture to a blender, add egg yolks, and pulse once. With the machine running, add butter in a stream. Transfer sauce to a bowl and serve immediately. Also delicious over vegetables. Yields 1 cup.

Roasted Shallot and Butter Sauce:

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet.

Add shallots and cook about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove shallots and set aside. Add wine to skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits. Pour into small saucepan. Cook over high heat until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons. Remove from heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons butter. Return pan to low heat and whisk in remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. If sauce breaks down at any point, remove from heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons cold butter.

Season with salt and pepper. Stir in shallots and any juices that may have accumulated. Serve immediately. Yields ½ cup.

Blackberry Shortbread Bars From Peace Meals Crust: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1¼ cups sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled Filling: 2 eggs, whisked ½ cup sugar ½ cup sour cream 1 ⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 16 ounces frozen blackberries, thawed Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray; set aside. Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor for about 45 seconds. Cut the butter into ½ inch cubes and process with the flour mixture for 30 seconds or until the butter is evenly distributed but the mixture is still crumbly. Reserve 1½ cups of the crust mixture to use as a topping. Press the remaining crust mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown; allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before adding the filling.

Filling: Combine the eggs, sugar, sour cream and flour in a large bowl. Fold in the blackberries. Spoon the fruit filling evenly over the crust and sprinkle the reserved crust mixture over the filling. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Let cool for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars. Makes 24 bars.

Editor’s note: To buy a cookbook, see www.jlh.org or call 713-871-6608.

MORE ONLINE For the rest of the recipes mentioned in this story, see thebuzzmagazines.com.

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Retiring and moving?

In a prior issue, we discussed how you can create a new lifestyle by moving to a different part of your own city. But you may have an even bigger change in mind for when you retire. Many retirees move to completely different parts of the country or even to foreign countries. Citing figures from the industry publication Travel Market Report, a Wharton School study reports that some 3.3 million baby boomers plan to retire abroad.

Whether you retire to Timbuktu, or just a different region of the U.S., there are many factors to consider. One is climate. It’s no coincidence that Florida, with year-round warm weather, is a popular retirement destination for many cold New Yorkers. And a dry, desert locale may be attractive to retirees who suffer from certain types of allergies.

Another important consideration is cost of living. Many retirees choose a place because their retirement dollars will stretch farther there. This is particularly true for retiring abroad, where some destinations boast a cost of living half that of the United States. But any move beyond U.S. borders will imply big changes and should be thoroughly understood beforehand.

For instance, just because you live abroad doesn’t mean you can avoid tax obligations in the U.S. And the obligations to your host country will depend on whether the U.S. maintains a tax treaty with it.

Healthcare is an important concern. Medicare coverage will not generally be available to you in a foreign country. But many countries do have more affordable healthcare and health insurance than the U.S. does.

Also, make sure you understand the culture of the place you are considering moving to. This applies within the U.S. as well as abroad. Some states

and towns may be politically and culturally very different from what you’re used to. Ask yourself: Is it somewhere I can feel comfortable?

Last but certainly not least, consider your family and friends. They are important to your peace of mind. Will you be far away from them? How will you handle that, especially as you age and perhaps need more help?

Technology makes it easier to stay in touch, but it’s not quite the same as old-fashioned physical proximity.

And remember that frequent trips back to visit may overwhelm a costof-living advantage.

It comes down to two things if you are planning a retirement move. First, research and understand all the issues we have touched on above. Second, spend time in your intended destination on a temporary basis first. That will help you stay in control of this major life transition, and make it as enjoyable as possible!

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SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz A

fter missing the playoffs for the first time since 1998, the Memorial Mustangs baseball team is primed to make a successful playoff run this season. Through the first half of the district 18-6A race, Memorial had outscored its opponents by a lofty 61-4 margin, and was well on its way to a district championship.

As has been the case for more than a decade, the Mustangs lineup includes at least one of the sons of former Major League great Roger Clemens, with youngest son Kody now making his mark for the Mustangs. Clemens, who plays shortstop for the Mustangs, has committed to play college baseball at the University of Texas next season. This season, he had homered three times halfway through district, and was also one of the Mustangs closers on the mound.

“I’ve coached all four of the Clemens brothers here at Memorial,” said Mustangs head coach Jeremy York. “Beginning with Koby, then Kory, Kacy and now Kody, it’s been a real joy to have those guys here. The great thing as well is that Roger has been a tremendous supporter of our program the entire time. He’s thrown batting practice for us and is always willing to help in any way he can. I can’t say enough good things about Roger Clemens.”

York had plenty of good things to say about several of his current players, including pitchers John Tucker, Burton Schnake and Ryan Mabee.

“Those guys are all having great years on the mound. Also, along with Kody, some of our top hitters include first baseman Drew Van Norman, outfielders Mason Meredith and Colton Taylor.”

Over at Lamar, there’s been no shortage of outstanding pitching and hitting for a Texans team that was unbeaten halfway through its District 20-6A baseball race, including victories over rivals Bellaire and Westside. “Our season ended in heartbreaking fashion last year on a walk-off grand slam in the third and deciding game of our bi-district playoff series,” said Lamar head coach David Munoz. “Every kid has said we’re not going to let such a thing happen this year. They’re really playing with a purpose.”

Along with a perfect 7-0 mark through the first half of the district race, the Texans defeated other area top teams in non-district such as Cy WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 28

Ranch, Brenham, Kempner and Katy Taylor en route to winning 14 of their first 17 games. In the victories over Bellaire and Westside, junior pitcher John Doxakis continued his outstanding season by virtually shutting down both teams. While Doxakis is an early commit to Texas A&M, the Texans will have several players competing at the collegiate level next season.

Shortstop Zach Pearson will play PITCH PERFECT Lamar pitcher John Doxakis was unbeaten on the mound well into the regular season as Lamar posted victories in 15 of its first 18 games. The junior leftDivision 1 baseball hander has already committed to play college baseball for Texas A&M. for William & in 1999 Bellaire was named the USA Today Mary, while Andrew Hoffman (Trinity), National Champion.

Harrison Matherne (Rhodes College), Carson Perhaps just as significantly, Manuel has sent Maxell (Galveston), Enrique Sanchez 250 players to Division 1 college baseball, includ(Wharton), Bernado Soria (Richland) and ing 17 at Rice, 15 at Texas and 18 at Texas A&M. Mark Resnick (UT Dallas) will also play college In addition, 26 former Cardinals have gone on to baseball. play professionally, while six Bellaire products Earlier in the baseball season, longtime have suited up at the Major League level.

Bellaire Cardinals head coach Rocky Manuel “One of the things I did when I arrived at secured a monumental 700th career victory, Bellaire was embrace the tradition,” said becoming only the third coach in the history of Manuel. “We had a legendary coach here in Ray Texas high school baseball to reach the 700-vicKnoblauch, and I hired him back on my staff. tory plateau at the same school. Midway through You don’t run from success; rather, you learn this season, Manuel’s career record stood at 713 from it and then try to replicate what you’ve wins against only 138 defeats. done. The bar was set real high at Bellaire, and “Bellaire is truly a unique place,” said Manuel. we try to reach that bar on a daily basis.”

“We have tremendous support from the administration, the faculty and our community. Of course, Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardthat’s all capped off with great players. They’re also winning co-host and producer of the KUBE really smart kids, which is a huge plus.”

SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 Since taking over at Bellaire in 1991, p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school Manuel’s teams have averaged 29 wins against sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, only five losses a season. He’s guided the please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Cardinals to a pair of state championships, and

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 29

SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. W

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

Batter up Drew Michael, 11, (top photo) waits for his pitch in the West University Little League 10U All Star game. He was one of 13 boys from his age group chosen to compete on a tournament team against other Little Leagues in the area. Now a fifth grader at West University Elementary School, Michael has played baseball since he was 3 years old. He currently plays for the West University Little League Mariners in the Majors division. Michael plays a variety of positions, including shortstop, center field and catcher, but he really enjoys the games when he has the opportunity to pitch.

Setting up a winner Winnie Gordon (middle photo), a seventh grader at Pin Oak Middle School, and a teammate pass the ball to the setter during a volleyball tournament with the Texas Alliance 13 Black team. Gordon has a strong history with volleyball, beginning two years ago when she played with the YMCA. She also participated in club volleyball with Breakaway and joined Texas Alliance this school year. In addition, she played for the Pin Oak seventhgrade team last fall. Gordon’s Texas Alliance team, coached by Nikki VanDyke, has players from several area schools and recently played its final tournament of the season. Texas Alliance teammates are Nicole Hopwood, Madison Stanke, Emma Grace, Annika Vinson, Allison Polnau, Emma Buesinger, Holly Johnson, Amirah Olajuwon and Morgan McIntyre.

Court champs The Mustangs basketball team (bottom photo) won the United Church Athletic League’s fifth-grade boys’ championship. Affiliated with West University Methodist Church, the Mustangs competed against teams from Annunciation Orthodox School, River Oaks Baptist and St. Anne Catholic, and they finished the season with a 10-1 record. They had an exciting season leading up to the championship, including holding St. Anne to only 2 points during the entire game, and beating River Oaks Baptist to advance to the finals. Most of the players on the team have been together for the last three years and are classmates at West University Elementary School. The champion Mustangs are (top row, from left) coach Tristan Anderson, Robert McGee, Samuel Sheffield, Austin Courtney, Dylan Ballard and assistant coach Tracy Anderson; (front row, from left) Daniel Thompson, Kyle Kekish, Justin Ganim, Drew Michael and Reece Tiras.

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

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 31

Priscilla Dickson Photography

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Dave Rossman

An egg-cellent event

families hopped on over to The Galleria when MD Anderson and the mall teamed up to host breakfast and photos with live bunnies. Annette Boatwright Photography captured Easter and spring portraits of the children with the bunnies.

The children made Easter-egg bags, created spring photo frames, had faces painted, were given balloon animals, and played at The Little Galleria play area. Proceeds benefited MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.

Hats off Walter, John, Ashley and Thomas Weathers (pictured, from left) and many other Houston

Laura Sweeney (pictured) was among those honored at the Easter Seals Greater Houston’s

16th Annual Hats Off to Mothers Luncheon.

The event was a success, with 330 guests raising over $130,000 for programs for people with disabilities. Attendees gathered at River Oaks Country Club to tip their hats to honorees Sweeney, Ginger Bertrand, Liz Glanville, Heather Holmes, Kathleen Jennings, Anna McLean, Sheila Partin, Michelle Smith, Kim Sterling and Keely Thorne. Robin Klaes and Tany Jeter Klaes were chairs of the event, which also featured a reception, raffle and informal fashion show by Neiman Marcus Galleria.

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Hop on over

Neighbors who live on the West University street of Pittsburgh gathered on Easter Sunday for a special spring tradition that’s been taking place for almost 20 years. The block has an annual Easter celebration where they hunt eggs and catch up with each other. One of the neighbors, Susie Hairston, began this great tradition around 1998.

Great minds West University Elementary was represented by 15 teams at the Odyssey of the Mind regional tournament. Pictured (from left) are students Neela Ravi, Nathan Giang, Andrew Nanna, Nicholas Hanson, Mary Sydnor Duffy, Kate Jeong and Lucy Ginzel. In Odyssey of the Mind, students work creatively in groups to solve problems. West U Elementary had eight non-competitive/primary (K-2) teams and seven competitive (grades 3-5) teams working on problems

that ranged from a runaway train to producing a silent movie and building a structure out of balsa wood and glue and testing its resistance to different weights. Three of the West U competitive teams moved on to the state competition.

Pampering for moms West University mothers are invited to enjoy some rest and relaxation before Mother’s Day at Colonial Park Pool, on May 9, 9-11 a.m., at the fifth annual Mom’s Spa Day. The kid-free morning by the pool

will include massages, breakfast, mimosas, raffle prizes and a gift, courtesy of the West University Parks and Recreation Department. The event is limited to the first 60 registrants. Cost is $15 for West University residents and $10 for non-resident guests. For information, call 713-662-7420 or go to westutx.gov/events.

A refined palette The West University Senior Center group formerly known as the “Lunch (continued on page 34)

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 33

Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

(continued from page 33) Bunch” is now called

“Taste of the Town.” Pictured are Jo Lukens (front) and Lillian Lee, Dianne Fisher, Ruth Ann Wissel and Ross Mary Dalrimple (back row, from left) dining in the Heights at Hubcap Grill. Senior Services provides transportation to different restaurants on the third Wednesday of each month. Destinations have included Bird and the Bear, Mark’s American Cuisine and Ouisie’s Table. May is the coastal Mexican food of Caracol. To register, call 713-662-5895.

Benefit for Jung Center About 500 supporters of The Jung Center, including (pictured, from left) Pittman McGehee Jr., Debby Francis, Dan Harris, Judy Tate, Pittman McGehee and Lynn Baird poured into the River Oaks Country Club for

the 29th Annual Spring Benefit. Judy and Charles Tate spearheaded The Jung Center’s benefit dinner, which paid tribute to McGehee, former dean of Christ Church Cathedral and a Jungian analyst, and McGehee Jr., a psychologist in private practice in Austin. The two have recently collaborated in Austin and hope to open a center there.

The event raised more than $222,000 for The

Jung Center, which offers classes on psychological, artistic and intellectual topics for the community. See junghouston.org.

Fashion and friends Heidi Hite and Dr. Michael Yafi (pictured) mingled at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year kickoff March 26 at Saks Fifth Avenue. Each year, can-

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May and June 2015 U9 to U18 - Boys and Girls Please visit www.albionhurricanes.org for times, dates and pre-registration.

Questions?

Boys: Mark Rufo at mrufo@albionhurricanes.org or call 979-453-1933 Girls: Danny Hill at dhill@albionhurricanes.org or call 713-818-7529

didates compete to raise funds for blood-cancer research in honor of local children who are blood-cancer survivors, the Boy & Girl of the Year. The winners will be announced at the annual gala in June. To read about the candidates, see mwoy.org/txg/localchapter/candidates.

seen were Joshua Ibarra, David Buehrer, Tiffany Guillen, Ecky Prabanto, Alex Vargas, Emily Goetz and Brian Rudelson.

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

Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your photos and videos, plus upcoming-event listings, on thebuzzmagazines.com.

Brad Ottosen

Richardson (pictured, from left), supported the Memorial Park Conservancy at the Urban Wild launch party. Urban Wild’s membership provides opportunities to learn about Memorial Park, and during this first official get-together, new members mixed and mingled with MPC’s conservation and program staff and learned about service opportunities that would make an impact on the maintenance of the park. Also

Sew fun Peggy Palzkill tested her quilting skills during a free class offered by the West University Community Center. The center offers a variety of classes. The sewing class meets every Tuesday, 1-4 p.m., at 6104 Auden. For information, call 713-662-5895.

Things got wild More than 50 young Houstonians, including Madeleine Ditto, Nicholas Butler and Taylor

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CENTER STAGE Jacqueline Touchet, an eighth grader at Pershing Middle School, participated in the Junior Theater Festival.

KIDS

by Jacqueline Touchet, age 14

Buzz Kidz

A standing ovation and lifelong memories

T

his year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Junior Theater Festival, a musical-theater competition that hosts youththeater groups from around the world who compete, take classes and watch young-professional performances. Each group performs a selection from Broadway Junior or Kids Collection musicals, which have music written for young voices.

I participated with Theatre Under The Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. Although it was a lot of work, it was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. As students, we not only prepared our selection for the competition, but we had the honor to showcase a few numbers from the show The Lion King JR. in front of 5,000 people.

The rehearsal process started in early October, and we rehearsed every Friday night and many

Saturdays from that time until the competition, which was in mid-January. We prepared three songs and a few scenes from High School Musical 2 JR. for the competition part of the festival, and did the same for The Lion King JR. showcase.

After our intense rehearsal process, it came time for the festival in Atlanta, Georgia. At the adjudication, we performed our pieces from High School Musical 2 JR. and got rave reviews from the judges.

That afternoon we took three different master classes – one acting, one singing and one dancing.

Saturday night was the showcase. Only four groups out of the hundreds of groups participating were selected to perform, so we were very grateful to be one of the invited groups. There was also a celebrity performance by Darren Criss, who plays Blaine on the TV show Glee. Our per-

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formance was received with a standing ovation.

We already felt that all of our hard work paid off, but the way the audience of our peers received us really meant a lot to us.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget. I am so grateful to our choreographer, director and musical director, Shay Rodgers, Rozie Curtis and Jo Ellen Hubert. Also, it was inspiring to work with our award-winning student choreographer, Matthew Smith, and student director, Dylan Lambert.

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

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DINING GUIDE

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by Dai Huynh, staff writer

This Month in Dining

New restaurants to try

H

ouston diners are privileged to have unlimited options and diverse cuisines on any night. Some new restaurants rise above the rest, with buzzy chefs or striking interiors. But in the end, it all comes down to the food.

Here are 10 headline-worthy spots that have been opened for six months or so.

North Italia (1700 Post Oak Boulevard): Following the success of True Food, Phoenixbased Fox Restaurant Concepts has launched another winning venture with this well-priced Italian eatery, where community dining is part of the appeal along with homemade pastas and pizzas. A soaring space lit by bulbous overhead lighting and well-coiffed customers, North Italia manages to captivate and nurture our love affair with Italian cooking. Dishes to try: seasonable vegetable salad, bolognese, fig-and-prosciutto pizza, gnocchi with braised short ribs and Italian donuts.

Weights + Measures (2808 Caroline Street): This bakery/restaurant/bar starts with freshly baked breads, pastries and donuts at dawn with the Slow Dough Bake Shop. As the sun rises higher, it gracefully leads Midtown dwellers into a well-crafted, 150-seat restaurant that oozes urban cool. A smart, playful menu and wine list entice foodies while late at night, the bar, christened Love and Squalor, features cocktails and hundreds of beers along with an abbreviated menu. Dishes to try: wood-grilled mortadella, roasted carrot pizza and lacquered duck breast with snap peas.

Peli Peli (5085 Westheimer, The Galleria): After a successful five-year run in Spring near Tomball, Peli Peli introduces its South African concept to Inner Loopers with a second location in the space previously occupied by Gigi’s Asian Bistro in The Galleria. Through the use of clever, abstract lighting and a sculpted dome ceiling, the new space entices you to dine under a swirling canopy of trees in the desert. The space is a technical-lighting wonder that is grounded by an earthy menu, fueled by traditional South African dishes inspired by native South Africans along with Dutch, English, French, Portuguese and Indian settlers. Dishes WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 38

BCN TASTE & TRADITION Savor highly prized Iberico ham at this modern Spanish restaurant in the Montrose area.

to try: boboti cottage pie with homemade sausage, espetata (a traditional Portuguese garlic-marinated skewered beef) and melktert milk pie dessert with fluffy custard filling.

Pondicheri Bake Lab + Shop (2800 Kirby Drive): Anita Jaisinghani is a dessert brainiac, using herbs and Indian spices to create complex, layered, yet balanced flavors. All I could mutter after biting into her basil fudgy chocolate cookie was, “Wow.” The chef-owner – behind the much lauded Indika in Montrose and Pondicheri, the Indian fast-food mecca located just below the Bake Lab at the two-story West Ave – bakes with a natural finesse that carries

through multiple creations, including her lush chai pie. Truthfully, I’ve frequented Jaisinghani’s restaurants as much for her cardamom shortbread cookies as her sanguine lamb curries. So I was ecstatic when she opened Bake Lab, where inside, a glass counter is lined with jewel-like, perfectly made pastries. Dishes to try: Café Annie brownies, cardamom-kissed laddoos and sweet-salty-spicy pondi bar.

Patagonia Grill & Cafe (8408 Katy Freeway): The sound of Latin voices drift pleasantly through the attractive wine-lined dining room of Patagonia Grill & Cafe, an elegant oasis just off the frenzied traffic on Katy Freeway. It’s a

WEIGHTS + MEASURES Juicy burgers with homemade potato chips are on the menu at hip multi-concept Weights + Measures, which also includes the Slow Dough Bake Shop and the bar Love and Squalor.

good sign that this Argentinean steakhouse is garnering a steady following of South Americans.

After all, they are familiar with the foods of the region. It’s apparent that Patagonia is striking a positive chord in its endeavor to replicate authentic Latin cuisine. My beef with this place? It’s not closer to my home. Dishes to try: tira de asado (20 oz. beef short ribs), blood sausage, Argentinean pork sausage, grilled venison, grilled wild hog and grilled mixed platter for two.

Kitchen 713 (4515 Canal Street): Sometimes, the plainest-looking box holds a treasure. Kitchen 713 is life’s poetry in motion.

Not only are its oxtails soul-satisfying, but the tale behind this bare-bones East End restaurant is what our city is about. Here, you’ll find two hard-working co-chefs as James Haywood and Ross Coleman juggle their duties in the kitchen and dining room. They may have a helping hand or two, but for the most part, it’s just them.

After all, these boys are just starting out. And they’re doing things their way: soul-food classics with an Asian twist that isn’t just inventive, but deliciously unassuming. Here, I found cooking from the heart and not by the book. Dishes to try: Crawfish boudin balls with smoked-jalapeño remoulade, oxtails braised in black vinegar and anise with fried rice and braised cabbage with ham hock, turkey-neck lettuce wraps, homemade boudain with cracklins, shrimp and grits, Sunday fried chicken and peach cobbler.

BCN Taste & Tradition (4210 Roseland): Be forewarned: Dinner reservations for this

Spanish restaurant with a pedigree that most chefs would envy are hard to come by. Vastly popular with ex-pats who now call Houston home, the restaurant’s peak hours are often booked two weeks in advance. Still, it’s worth it to see the white stucco walls lined with the artwork of Picasso and Miró and of course, to savor the modern Spanish menu from Chef Luis Roger, who worked under Spain’s most famous chef, culinary haute cuisine innovator Ferran Adrià of famed three-star Michelin restaurant elBulli. Dishes to try: confit of cod jowl in garlic olive oil sauce, steamed mussels with leek, and Iberico and clams sautéed with sofrito.

Dak & Bop (1801 Binz): Riding on the coattails of a popular culinary trend, Koreanfried chicken, Dak & Bop opened in the mixeduse Parc Binz, joining Bosta Wine & Coffee and Museum Park Café. Husband-and-wife Jason and Mary Cho work hard at fine-tuning their months-old menu, and they excel at it. It’s a feat considering neither has had any restaurant experience. Jason is a taekwondo master, and Mary is a nurse. But back in 2009, Jason was introduced to twice-fried chicken at Mad for Chickens in New York. He convinced the Queens landmark to share its recipes, and the rest is history. Here, crispy chicken wings are flavored with your choice of sauces: soy garlic, hot & spicy, half-and-half or lightly seasoned, no sauce. Dishes to try: parmesan fries, Philly cheesesteak bao, chicken wings with soy-garlic sauce or siracha honey.

The Republic Smokehouse and Saloon (1910 Bagby): In college, I had two weaknesses: my first love and the ribs at Williams Smokehouse, which occupied a wood-paneled cottage in Acres Homes until it shuttered in 2007 after an electrical fire. Its demise left a void no ’cue joint, in my opinion, has been able to fill. Williams’ meaty, tender, oak-smoked pork ribs never disappointed. Now the folks behind Hearsay and Mr. Peeples have managed to lure Cedric Williams, the youngest of Willie Williams’ three sons, to fire up its state-of-theart pit at the Republic Smokehouse and Saloon in Midtown. Against a fancy honky-tonk backdrop and red neon lights, Cedric continues to honor the family tradition with his blend of seasonings, which also can be found at Kroger stores. Dishes to try: slow-smoked beef short ribs, Chef Matt’s Reuben sandwich and whole cracked grits.

Table 57 Dining & Drinks (5895 San Felipe): It has a bar with eight rotating Texas beers; plus kids eat for free on Thursday. But the lure to Table 57 is the menu drafted by talented Randy Evans, former executive chef of Brennan’s of Houston and the shuttered Haven.

Here, he has devised a gregarious menu of artisan sandwiches, daily-catch entrees and seasonal salads. Dishes to try: fried green tomato with lobster salad, Korean-fried chicken, pork belly BLT, prime beef burger and post oak-smoked barbecue (brisket, pork ribs, chicken and pork ribs) by the plate or pound. (continued on page 40) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 39

Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

(continued from page 39)

Bombay Sweets Indian vegetarian Neighborhood: Sharpstown The all-you-can-eat buffet steams with aromatic basmati, vegetable curries and sautés that are constantly being replenished, keeping the selections fresh and tasty. Families and college students also come for chaats, such as samosas, idly rice cakes, lentil doughnuts and pani puri, a crispy hollow pastry filled with chili-spiked potatoes. A salty, sweet and tart explosion detonates when you pour the accompanied spice-fueled tamarind water into the shell. The chaser?

Soothing masala chai. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun. 5827 Hillcroft St., 713-780-4453. $

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

Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$

Common Bond Café & Bakery Pastries and sandwiches Neighborhood: Montrose area The long search for moist, buttery kugelhopf ends here. Speckled with brandy-soaked

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 40

raisins, the sultan’s turban-shaped cake-bread is a soul-satisfying breakfast with a steaming café au lait. The moistly crisped walnut chocolate chip cookies, even at $3-plus apiece, are worth it. The only version that surpasses these, you can’t get since it comes out of my brother’s oven. Not every pastry is perfect at Common Bond. Its frequently touted plain croissant falls short on texture. While beautiful to look upon – glisteningly golden-brown – the overly crisped shell tastes dry and interior mealy.

Scones, too, were tough. But the pastries that are nearly perfect here, like the kouign amann (a flaky, buttery, caramelized, sugar-topped pastry), surpass their counterparts around town.

Common Bond bustles at breakfast, and for good reason. Offerings include a stellar sourdough sandwich stacked with pork sausage, cheddar, frisee and fried egg. Be kind; share it with a good friend. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. (Kitchen closes 3 p.m. daily, but the dining room remains open for coffee and dessert until 7 p.m.) 1706 Westheimer Road, 713-5293535. wearecommonbond.com. $$

Corner Table Contemporary American Neighborhood: Upper Kirby The Paleo Diet – a nutritional regimen centered around eggs, nuts, pasture-raised meat, fresh fruit and vegetables – is no longer a fringe movement. It has charged into the mainstream, spawning how-to books and glossy magazines.

There are restaurants inspired by Paleo, including Corner Table, a multi-faceted space that boasts a luxe wine room reminiscent of France's Louis XIV era, a live-music lounge and a cozy mixology room with a speak-easy vibe. At the center is the restaurant, which shines even brighter with a culinary rising star at the helm.

Ja'Nel Witt – winner of Gordon Ramsay's season 11 of Hell’s Kitchen – adds a much-needed global flair to the menu, from a beet-root hummus with an undercurrent of cumin to a woodfire pizza topped with eggplant baba ganoush, roasted red pepper and feta cheese. Under her watch, the kitchen is turning out sharper fare with succinct presentations and clean, multidimensional flavors. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. 2736 Virginia Street.

713-568-9196. cornertablehouston.com. $$$

Del Frisco’s Grille Casual American classics Neighborhood: Upper Kirby This casual offshoot of the high-end steakhouse features sandwiches and salads, along with a patio for al fresco dining or energetic tykes. At brunch, over chicken-fried steak and eggs, sip a carafe of build-your-own Bloody Marys with Tito’s Vodka and a plate of fixings that includes pickled green beans, olives and lime wedges. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite A-132, 832-6236168. delfriscogrille.com. $$$

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

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

Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar Upscale seafood Neighborhood: Midtown Mark Holley is back. The Brennan's of Houston alum reeled in many diners, overseeing Pesce's kitchen for a decade. But in 2012, Landry's sold it, leaving Holley without a kitchen burner and fans floundering.

Ironically, quality, upscale seafood restaurants are rare gems in this Gulf Coast city, so Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a welcome addition. At his namesake, Holley has free rein, sprinkling his menu with his life experiences, from the cobblestone alleys of New Orleans to Kentucky bluegrass. You'll find, too, touches of Asian influences, most notably the large-format, Thai-style whole snapper for two. It's a perfectly crisped rendition paired with two tangy dipping sauces, fried rice and braised greens. No doubt, it will stir up memories for former Pesce regulars, but Holley's updated version is even tastier. The same goes for the shrimp-and-okra gumbo, a nourishing dark brew now enriched with duck confit and topped with delicately fried oysters.

A crowd pleaser is the yieldingly tender sesame Park House Rolls, a traditional fare that gets an haute spin with three accompanying spreads: poblano pimento cheese, smoked drum mousse and pickled vegetables.

Truthfully, these yeasty rolls as a starter and the homey apple bread pudding would make any evening at Holley's go swimmingly. Lunch Mon.-Fri. & dinner Mon.-Sat., 3201 Louisiana, 713-491-2222, holleyshouston.com. $$$

Local Foods Chef-driven gourmet deli Neighborhood: Rice Village Hand-crafted sandwiches and salads from chef Dylan Murray draw a diverse crowd.

Savor duck confit smothered with melted brie, aioli and cranberry preserves on wheat bread.

Shrimp-and-crab on ciabatta with green god-

dess dressing is another must-try. Sandwiches come with two sides that include Tuscan kale with golden raisins and potato chips speckled with Old Bay seasonings. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2424 Dunstan, 713-521-7900. houstonlocalfoods.com. $$

McHugh Tea Teahouse and more Neighborhood: Bellaire This shabby-chic corner charms with its practical lunch menu and English ambiance, illuminated by tea-cup chandeliers, refurbished tea sets and ornately framed photos of famous tea sippers, including Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson. Fragrant, organic teas – hibiscus blossom oolong, masala chai and cabernet assam – gently brew in glass orbs while regulars fork into lemon and chocolate pies topped with solidly crisp, snow-white meringue. But the homemade jellies and buttermilk scones (tender, hot, just out of the oven) are what have won the hearts of regulars. Lunch, Mon.-Sat., 5305 Bissonnet, Bellaire. 713-218-6300. mchughtea.com. $

Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana Neopolitan-style pizzas Neighborhood: Memorial Pizzerias abound. But Pizaro’s stands above most in its attempt to recreate authentic Neopolitan-style pies in a custom-made, Italian, wood-fired brick oven. Here, the pizzas comes out puffy, beautifully charred around the edges in 90 seconds after baking in a 900degree inferno. We’re envious of nearby residents who can enjoy Pizaro’s creations daily, from the well-crafted margherita to the lusty calabrese, composed of spicy sopressata sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella and basil. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. 14028 Memorial Drive, 281-5897277. pizarospizza.com. $

Post Oak Grill Gulf Coast classics Neighborhood: Tanglewood Happiness exists in a bread basket at this popular outpost for business lunches. The basket usually cradles oven-fresh biscuits fragrant with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese.

One really isn’t enough; nor is two or three.

Slow down, though, or you’ll fill up before the perfectly grilled rainbow trout arrives, glistening lightly with butter-caper sauce. Polo Becerra is a classic chef with a timeless approach of keeping ingredients simple and clean, with just a sheath of sauce to elevate the flavors of beef and seafood. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sat., 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713993-9966. postoakgrill.com. $$$

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

NORTH ITALIA Spaghetti and meatballs is a good option at the popular chain where community dining is encouraged.

There are multiple booths, each with its own lamp for an intimate, yet casual setting. The interior is well thought out, unified like most chains, but more upscale. Seasons 52 is motivated by seasonal ingredients, like a chef-driven restaurant, changing its menu quarterly along with showcasing new weekly specials. A plus? Nothing on the meal is more than 475 calories. It also has glutenfree and vegetarian menus. Consider the Winter Vegetarian Tasting with quinoa-citrus salad, soft black-bean taco, seasonal roasted vegetables and an amazingly innovative, yet simple cedar-roasted tofu. There is the standard grilled rack of lamb, roasted chicken and stellar flat-bread pizzas. The mini desserts in a cup are sensible, diminutive, four or five bites at most. Try the pecan pie with vanilla mouse or carrot cake with cinnamon honey. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. Locations: Highland Village, 4410 Westheimer Road, 713-6215452; CityCentre, 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway, 713-464-5252. seasons52.com. $$

Teppay Japanese Restaurant Japanese Neighborhood: Galleria If the yardstick for Japanese food is sushi and sashimi, then Teppay is serenely fresh, with clean, briny flavors. This intimate nook offers grade-A seafood at reasonable prices, made even more enjoyable by the lack of pretense even when packed with well-heeled diners.

Meanwhile, the kitchen in back is plenty busy, churning out a home-kitchen menu that has sustained Japanese families and fans of lacy tempura

shrimp and crispy pork katsu for more than a decade. The chawan mushi egg custard with seafood is ethereal, fragrant with real yuzu citrus from the chef’s garden. Come early for dinner; this spot, with its nourishing, opaque, miso-rich broth, fills up quickly. Lunch & dinner Mon-Sun. 6516 Westheimer Road A2, 713-789-4506. $$

Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or short-rib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California cabernet.

With his new steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. and dinner Sun. 947 Gessner, 713-395-6100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for all reviewed restaurants. Use our restaurant finder to search by area, cuisine and price.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 41

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Checklist for My Family Several months ago I reviewed Sally Balch Hurme’s ABA/AARP Checklist for Family Survivors, a series of to-do lists when someone dies. The note I sent my colleagues is still at eepurl.com/5sDeb. I share the book with all my probate clients.

The second book in the Checklist series just came out, the Checklist for My Family: A Guide to My History, Financial Plans, and Final Wishes. I share this one with estate-planning clients, with the admonition that paper isn’t going to save you; people are, and anything you can do now to get organized lightens everyone’s load.

Unlike the first, all the checklists in the second book can be downloaded from the American Bar Association website at ambar.org/AARPforms. For free. By anyone.

Buy the book anyway. The narrative that accompanies each chapter is worth the $16 or so that Amazon or Barnes & Noble charges. Read it, and you’ll look at your business with a fresh set of eyes.

Need a certified copy of your birth or marriage certificate? Chapter 1 shares the CDC site that collates vital record resources in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as foreign birth and death certificates.

Not sure about your Social Security benefits? Chapter 4 gets you started in two pages.

Chapter 5, Banking and Savings, offers sites to organize your savings bonds and confirm your FDIC insurance.

Chapter 6, Investments, shows where to research your lawyer, broker, and investment advisors.

Do you think about Medicaid and estate taxes and want to give your

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 42

house away? Chapter 7, Real Estate, will make you think twice. Does your property qualify for tax relief? Your parents’ in Ohio? Read this chapter.

Once you’ve signed a medical power of attorney, how do you talk about it? When a will isn’t enough, should you also make an ethical will? Are you too cheap for cremation? Will veterans benefits cover the funeral? All this and more in Chapter 10, Medical and Final Wishes.

There’s no balance sheet or cash flow statement.

If you need one (and you do), visit rwhpc.com/order_your_affairs for models.

You’ll plow through a lot of paper if you complete even half the checklists. Rather than putting everything back where you found it, get organized along the way. My favorite resource is still At Your Fingertips! A Household Filing System That Works for You. It seems out of print, but used copies are available for cheap on Amazon.

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, www.rwhpc.com

School Buzz Our School Buzz blog officially launched in August 2014. Since then, nearly 50 local high school students have taken the opportunity to showcase what’s going on at their schools. They’ve covered academics, arts and theater, clubs, sports, fashion, school trips, school news, student opinions and other relevant topics.

Thank you to our 2014-2015 School Buzz correspondents for all of your hard work and dedication.

Bellaire High School Maya Kanani Chandana Golla Shivani Raman Erin Rice Sena Sarikaya Skarleth Velasquez Liana Wang Mackenzie Ward* Claire Weddle The Briarwood School Matt Gregg Emily Hallmark* Carnegie Vanguard High School Ari Rotenberg* Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Andie Chilson*

The Emery/Weiner School Amanda Barsky Matthew Hall Brooke Kaplan Miranda Levy* Episcopal High School Brittany Aaronson* Houston Christian High School Adrianna Barton* High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Seokhyun Baek Cyrus Pacht* Incarnate Word Academy Monica Da Jose* Lamar High School Mark Cox* Jacob Padden*

Memorial High School Natalie Lee Nancy Nguyen Madison Tebbe*

St. John’s School Cara Maines Megan Routbort* St. Thomas’ Episcopal School Noah Melendrez*

The Post Oak School Grace Armstrong*

Strake Jesuit Sam Clark Sam Kretzschmar*

Robert M. Beren Academy Adam Hoffman Lilly Gelman*

Stratford High School Taylor Brittain* Cameron Henkel Scott Kennedy* Haley Wilson

Second Baptist Academy Rachel Blakes* Sara White St. Agnes Academy Catherine Gassiot Morgan Goldsmith Brittney Reese* Frances Wheeler

Westbury Christian School Amara Nelson Laura Nelson* *Students with an asterisk by their names have taken on the role of editor, co-editor or photo editor.

Apply Now: School Buzz 2015-2016 Interested in applying for a School Buzz editor or reporter role? Looking to start up a School Buzz team at your school?

Just email info@thebuzzmagazines.com or check out thebuzzmagazines.com/section/school-buzz.

sponsored by

PETS

Neighborhood Tails

713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Bodie, age 1, Labrador Retriever, Albans Road It’s me, Bodie! My parents say that I’m “all boy.” As you can see, I love playing in the mud, especially after a bath. On a sunny day, you might find me rolling on my back in the grass, watching airplanes and birds. I’m a friendly pup. When I meet you, I’ll drop to the ground and proudly present my belly. What can I say – I’m a sucker for a good belly rub. As an only child, I never lack for love or attention. I like hanging out in the kitchen while my parents cook, hoping for a morsel or two. It’s especially fun when a dance party breaks out and we do “the Bodie.” I can shake, twist and get down with the best of them. So if you see me around the neighborhood, don’t be shy. Come on in for a belly rub, and I’ll give you puppy kisses in return.

Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.

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FISH • CORAL • SUPPLIES • MAINTENANCE WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 44

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A minute with Maisie

Support U.S. war dogs

Many clients ask me, “What is a child advocate?” The Texas Family Code provides that a volunteer advocate may be appointed in cases involving CPS where termination of the parental rights is requested. They must be trained and certified by the court to appear as a volunteer. Typically, these volunteers are indispensible champions for children in foster care, particularly when CPS is so overwhelmed by their voluminous caseloads. If you are interested in helping children in foster care, please contact Child Advocates, Inc. at www.childadvocates.org for more information. Your time and attention could make the difference in the life of a child. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

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

Did you know approximately 3,000 dogs are currently deployed with American military forces throughout the world? These highly trained canines have served our troops since World War I, and U. S. officials credit them with saving thousands of lives. Right now many of these canines serve in the Middle East, patrolling bases, military compounds, ammunition depots and military checkpoints. They are guarding and protecting our military personnel as well as our citizens with courage, loyalty and honor. Beginning Memorial Day, Rover Oaks Pet Resort will host its annual Operation: War Dogs! donation drive to raise funds that help Mission K9 Rescue (Chapter 6 of the United States War Dog Association) provide military working dogs with a ride back home from all over the world as well as much-needed medical care. “It’s donations like these that enable us to do what we do,” said Kristen Maurer, president of Mission K9 Rescue. The entire community is encouraged to donate to Operation: War Dogs! at either pet resort location. Rover Oaks Houston is located at 2550 West Bellfort, and Rover Oaks Katy is located at 24250 Kingsland Blvd in Katy. Pet owners who donate $100 or more will receive a free night of lodging at either location.

For more information on Mission K9 Rescue or the United States War Dog Association, visit www.missionk9rescue.org or www.uswardogs.org.

Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2015 45

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

The kids are listening

T

he other day I was sitting in the kitchen talking, as I do a lot, to my older daughter, who had one earbud in one ear, the other dangling from her head, phone in hand, eyes fixated on the screen. As she does a lot.

I was trying to engage my sweet 15 year old partially to avert her eyes from the phone for just a few minutes, partially because I really just wanted to visit. I thought I might share with her what I was up to, not that she would be interested, but also not that I could help trying. Fullblab style, I started in, mostly and not-too-consciously expecting a, “Humph,” and maybe a funny look in my direction.

But when I told her I was writing a story about “what your children hear when you don’t know they’re hearing it,” she literally choked on a grape.

Whoa. I had planned this story to be about smaller kids (see the cute anecdote below).

Clearly I had overlooked something essential, both in the story and in my life.

“So, what is it you’re hearing when I don’t know you’re listening?” I asked my daughter as casually as I could so as not to make her retreat back into FaceTime.

“It depends on who you’re talking to,” she told me. “Sometimes you’ll be talking about stories about other people, and I’ll ask you what’s going on, and you’ll be like, ‘I can’t tell you,’ and then I’m just like, ‘Okay, I already know.’”

“Excuse me, like, what kinds of stories do you already know?” I asked her. I had already begun typing. This conversation was interesting on so many levels, not the least of which was that it was writing my story for me.

“You might not want to put that in there,” she said. Yikes.

Apparently my conversations are monitored much more closely than I realized. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be when you’re on the phone,” she told me. Well, I knew that any phone conversation was subject to endless questions from either of my daughters: Who is that?

What do they want? What was that thing you were talking about when you said, “I know”?

“We could be at dinner with people. And then I really find things out if I pay attention.”

Aren’t all the kids at the other end of the table?

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behance.net/runamokstudios

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LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS You might think the kids aren't listening to your conversations – but they probably are.

Apparently only physically. Just as Meredith Vela’s 6-year-old daughter was only physically in the back seat of the car.

Meredith, a social worker at Texas Children’s Hospital who has three children ages 6 through 17, was having a “long discussion” with UPS over the phone in her car one afternoon. “It was the 100year celebration for Condit [Elementary School].

We were having a Great Gatsby-themed auction party, and I was on the planning committee.

“I had ordered bags with logos, and I had paid extra to have them rushed by UPS. I got half of the order, and the other half was sitting in a truck somewhere in Houston. I was not cussing or mean, but I didn’t understand why I couldn’t go to the facility and pick them up.” The gala was that night.

Meredith was on the phone for what she calls “a very long time,” with 6-year-old Gianna waiting patiently in the back seat. “We get home and Gianna hands me a note she’s written to UPS.” Gianna’s note told UPS, in no uncertain terms, that they could not “do this” to her mother, and

they needed to fix the situation. “It’s all folded like a letter, and she says, ‘Mom, could you put this in the mail to UPS today?’ Thank God I didn’t cuss.”

Little did Meredith remember that many years earlier, she had had to go to Gianna’s big sister Gabbi’s first-grade teachers, asking them to watch what they said in the hallways. “[Gabbi, now 17] would come home and tell me everything – who the teachers didn’t like, who had misbehaved all morning and was getting sent to the principal.”

But really, these funny stories barely chip the iceberg. Road rage, off-color jokes, gossip about other kids at school – and their parents. It’ll all come back to haunt us.

What about the kid who overhears Mom discussing Aunt Jane’s penchant for vodka?

They don’t always tell us what they’ve heard – or if they’ve heard anything at all. But if you’ve ever been startled by your precious 2 year old repeating the “s-word” or the “d-word” or worse, you’ve got to believe those little (and no-longerso-little) ears are pretty powerful.