Donate Those Party Supplies
Erin Koren
by Deborah Lynn Blumberg
Tap Into Houston’s Breweries Food Halls are Here Raised on Rodeo Cruising to Retirementville Rodeo Heirlooms Travel: Island Spring Break Confessing Teen Mischief Houston, TX
Mount Everest Trek
Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
Volunteer HLSR Execs
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EDITOR’S NOTE I love March, and not just because it’s my birthday month – March means Spring Break and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We have several local stories on the rodeo – from adorably dressed toddlers to elite volunteers. And Travel Buzz spotlights families who know how to take a Spring Break getaway to a whole other level. Speaking of Spring Break, Andria Frankfort gets adults to admit to notso-proud moments from the past. Leave it to Andria to get some whopper confessions. Anonymously, of course. (My lips are sealed.) Staying in town? No problem. We have Dai Huynh’s roundup of Houston breweries and Pooja Salhotra’s guide to food halls. Also, I laughed so hard reading Cindy Gabriel’s story on retirement that my husband was concerned something was wrong. Finally, in Birthday Bundles for Kids, I learned there’s a perfect home for that stored box of Harry Potter party supplies from my grown son’s 5th birthday. Do Bertie Botts expire? joni@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Editorial Assistant Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Pooja Salhotra John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Deborah Lynn Blumberg Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Russell Weil Judith Peterson Andrea Blitzer, Stephanie Goldfield Leslie Little, Jo Rogers
On our cover: Erin Koren’s nonprofit Birthday Bundles collects birthdayparty supplies and gives them to families in need. 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 © 2020 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
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Reputation Matters “We had the great pleasure of working with Mike on both the buying and selling sides, and we could not have asked for anything more from an agent. His knowledge of the Bellaire market is unparalleled, he’s sharp as a tack, and we very much appreciated his thorough, data-driven approach to pricing and negotiations. Mike was not afraid to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, even if it was not what we wanted to hear and was a wonderful advocate for our interests. As for personal style, Mike was incredibly accessible, quick to respond to requests, level-headed, detail-oriented, and very patient with us. He made both the purchase and sale processes as smooth as they could possibly have been. We would strongly recommend Mike for anyone looking to buy or sell in Bellaire.” - Todd Auwarter and Rachel Cruz, 4831 Jessamine and 4819 Palm
#1 in Bellaire Listings sold since 2001. Specializing in Bellaire Properties since 1993 with over 885 Bellaire Sales Transactions to Date Honored 7 times by the Houston Business Journal as being among Houston’s Top Realtors
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MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions Loving the love stories I just had a chance to read the three arranged-marriage stories [First Comes Marriage: And then comes love, by Pooja Salhotra, February 2020] – Pooja did a great job making the article informative and fun to read! I love the pictures, and it was a great article to take away the taboo of the arranged marriage. Sue Ayyar
Secrets from a centenarian If you just passed Ruth Peters [featured in Travel Buzz: A century of travel, by Tracy L. Barnett, January 2020] on the street, you would feel a rush of strong life energy. Even before she smiles, tells you travel or childhood stories, she is someone you definitely want to be near. Best of all, her daughter Gayle [Christie], who I worked with on a human trafficking event, has the same positive spirit and dedication to helping others that her mom has. Thank you, Tracy Barnett, for this tender and inspiring article. I know I will not be the only reader to clip Peters' 10 secrets for living well, while learning to drink hot water and chant, "laugh, forgive, and love." Carolyn Dahl
Dog-gone fun I wanted to thank you for featuring Jesse in “Neighborhood Tails” [The Bellaire Buzz, February 2020]. I think it is wonderful that you have a column devoted to the “fur” members of our community’s families! Highlighting their stories is important, as many of these pets are rescues or ones who work hard in the community as therapy animals! Thank you, The Buzz Magazines, for a fur-real paws-itive column! I’ve received tons of emails from friends loving Jesse’s moment of glory. Amy Brazda Editor’s note: Amy, thanks for sharing Jesse’s “tail” with us. Buzz residents who would like their furry friends featured in The Buzz should email a photo of their pet with approximately 150 words written from the pet’s perspective to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Pets featured in Neighborhood Tails – including Jesse, of course – are automatically entered into our annual Pet of the Year Contest.
Savoring organized chaos Annie, I read your article in The Buzz [Buzz Baby: Number four, by Annie Blaylock McQueen, January 2020] with pure delight. I vividly remember the year our fourth son was born. He was two weeks late – expected early December but made his glorious appearance Dec. 19th. With it being right before Christmas, my mom was not coming in since there were siblings of mine still at home. Unlike your Henning, Joe Pat was a feisty little one. Those first weeks were hectic, to say the least, with his three older brothers in tow! Joe and I feel truly blessed with the gifts of our sons. They have enriched our lives beyond anything this world can offer. And as we learned, they BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 6
are not only blessings to us but to each other. When a parent wonders if he/she will have enough love to share with multiple children, I remind them that love is not divided but multiplies. Now, I will admit, energy levels may not always be at a peak. I did doze off a time or two reading bedtime stories to the younger few. I wish you all the best. And enjoy what we like to call “organized” chaos. Cathy Garcia-Prats Editor’s note: Cathy, we were delighted to hear from you and to discover that you sent Annie a copy of your book, Good Families Don't Just Happen: What We Learned from Raising Our 10 Sons and How It Can Work for You. We loved looking back at when your family was featured in The Buzz [A Perfect Ten, by Andy Blitzer, January 2010] – for any readers who missed it, that article is on our website at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Correction In Confident in Their Skin: A Children’s House for the Soul [February 2020], we mistakenly printed the wrong address for the nonprofit. A Children’s House for the Soul is located at 1976 W. Dallas St. For the corrected story, see thebuzzmagazines.com. Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a high school senior graduating in 2020 who would like to be part of our annual “Where are they headed?” feature. • Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile. • Have an interesting hobby. • Have a compelling travel story. • Have funny or unique parenting stories. 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 Michelle Groogan, staff writer
All Rodeo On and off the horse
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John McCaine
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ust off the Stetson. Polish the boots. It is time for Houstonians to answer the annual call to rodeo. For some, that beckoning to go western at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a more intense duty. These folks with the signature gold badges – among the 35,000 volunteers who literally make the extravaganza possible – are passionate about preserving Texas heritage. Chris Richardson is well into his fourth decade as an HLSR volunteer. “I went to my first show in the Dome in 1973,” said Chris, who lives in Memorial and is president of Blazer Building, a construction company. “I went with a couple of friends to see Elvis Presley. I was impressed my friend had this gold badge, and it wasn’t long after that I got involved.” Since his first post on the Poultry Auction committee, volunteering has been a family affair, along with his wife Anne and their three now-adult children, Christian, Hank and Leslie, who have served on different rodeo committees. Chris began a steady rise through the volunteer ranks, generating a lengthy resume – officer in charge of the Grand Entry, Lamb and Goat Auction, Rodeo Contestant Hospitality, Sheep and Goat Transportation, and Veterinarian committees. He was elected to the show’s board of directors in 1986 and served as vice president from 2003 to 2005. He landed a spot among elite volunteers as one of 16 members of the HLSR Executive Committee, a position he’s embraced the last eight years. “It’s been exciting to see the rodeo grow. When I started, there were only about 2,500 volunteers.” Chris maintains a 1,500-acre cattle and horse ranch near Hempstead, and clearly considers “the cowboy way of life” home away from home. “I am always thinking about future trends,” said Chris. “I would like to see a lot more scholarships going to those who don’t go to four-year colleges. We need welders, and electricians and plumbers, too. Agriculture Mechanics is one of my favorite events to visit at the rodeo.” (Agricultural Mechanics showcases made-fromscratch projects by students.) Chris has a unique perspective as a rodeo vol-
LET’S RIDE Buzz resident Chris Richardson, one of 16 members of the HLSR Executive Committee, cowboys up in 2012 during a cutting competition on the Tejas Vaqueros Trail Ride in Hunt.
unteer since he used to compete on cutting horses. Cutting takes place in the smaller NRG Arena, out of the spotlight of the big rodeo stage at NRG Stadium. But the dramatic dance of a horse commanding the moves of a cow is something to watch. It’s a passion Richardson shares with fellow Executive Committee member Wesley Sinor, who resides most days with his wife Cassie near the Galleria, but finds equal pleasure on horseback at his Fulshear ranch. Sinor got his start as an HLSR volunteer in 2003, joining the newly formed Gatekeepers Committee. Now the owner of Sinor Engine Company is in his third year on the Executive Committee. As far as competing, he says, it’s the artistry of a gifted cutting horse that sends his heart racing. “When you put your hand on the horse’s neck and let go of the reins… they do what they’re trained to do, and I was hooked the first time I did
it. It’s such a thrill to put all that trust in the horse to perform at a very high level,” said Wesley. He should know. In 2013, Sinor and his talented mount, Cat Handler, captured the HLSR $15,000 Amateur Class Championship. Equally, if not more, gratifying for Sinor is the collective good accomplished by his fellow volunteers who, through their donated time and skills, put on the rodeo year after year, allowing the show to become one of the largest educational scholarship providers in the country, with more than 19,000 recipients so far. “It’s all about how this show contributes to the youth of Texas. Some of these scholarship winners are the first in their family to graduate from college. Some are the first in their family to even graduate from high school,” said Wesley. “To see these kids be successful is really what it’s all about.” The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs March 3-22 at NRG Park. See rodeohouston.com.
TRAVEL by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
Mount Everest Trek When you travel with Uncle Joe
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is luggage looked like he was ready for a typical Texan-gone-north ski trip: insulated pants, long johns, down jacket and wool cap. But Kincaid Peckham, a senior at Strake Jesuit, wasn’t headed for Colorado. Instead, he joined his uncle, Joe Lieber, on a two-week backpacking trek halfway around the world, where they climbed to the south base camp on Mount Everest. Uncle (and godfather) Joe is an experienced hiker whose adventures include the Patagonia region in South America and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Kincaid had done a fair amount of backpacking himself when he spent two weeks hiking the Appalachian Trail with his fellow Eagle Scouts (Troop 354, associated with St. Martin’s Episcopal Church). Joe offered to take his nephew on a special trip, and Kincaid chose the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal. The journey to 17,600 feet above sea level began with a flight from Houston to Dubai, and then to Kathmandu and, finally, the small Nepali town of Lukla, which the Travel Channel has dubbed the most dangerous airport in the world. “My parents were a little concerned about me flying to Lukla,” Kincaid said with a bit of a laugh. Lukla’s runway is so short that it slants uphill to help planes slow down and not end up on the side of a mountain. “It’s a scary landing,” he said. Trekking to and from base camp takes about a week and a half. It’s a popular bucket-list destination for adventurous types, but many who attempt the climb are unable to complete the strenuous trip, with often-challenging weather conditions. The altitude alone is enough of a deterrent for many people. With a professional guide leading the way, Kincaid and Joe left Lukla and set off for base camp with layers of clothing, sleeping bags and Kincaid’s favorite Mars candy bars. They were with a group of five hikers along with three porters and their guide. “When we checked the weather forecast, the range was from negative 7 degrees to 7 degrees above zero,” Kincaid said. They slept in their layers of hiking clothes and placed water bottles full of boiling water inside their sleeping bags each night. “We were cold BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 10
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Kincaid Peckham and his uncle, Joe Lieber, celebrate reaching their 17,600foot destination, the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal.
the whole time,” he said. They stayed in “tea houses” along the way, which are far less hospitable than the name implies. “The tea houses are extremely basic. They are made of plywood, with no insulation, and pretty much only protect you from snow, rain and wind,” Joe said. There is a dining area in each tea house with a wood stove that guests gather around each night to warm up. “When the fire goes out around 9 p.m., everyone goes to bed.” One of the biggest challenges of the hike is dealing with the lack of oxygen at the high elevation. “The air getting thinner affected me right away since we came from sea level. Even on the first day I could feel it,” said Kincaid. He started out trying to do too much, too fast, and struggled with being out of breath. Then, he slowed down so his body could keep up with the amount of oxygen, and things became manageable. “As soon as I slowed down I was able to do it. Your body has to adjust.” Joe says maintaining a slow pace is the best strategy. “There’s a Swahili expression ‘pole, pole,’ which means ‘slowly, slowly,” he said. After days of snowy conditions, primitive shelter and food they described as “awful,”
Kincaid and Joe reached their destination. The final steps of the trek took them along the Khumbu Glacier, surrounded by Himalayan mountains and rockslides from previous avalanches. Because it was the off season, they saw only about two dozen other hikers at base camp, and each took turns posing for photos at the iconic rock marker. After enjoying the scenery, catching their breath and speaking with some Russian hikers who were attempting to summit Mount Everest, the group began the descent back to Lukla. Kincaid arrived home in Houston on a Monday night at 11 p.m. His parents, Veronica and Charles Peckham, picked him up at the airport, and they drove straight to Whataburger. Despite exhaustion and jet lag, Kincaid went back to school the next morning, although he says he wasn’t very productive in class. “I think I might do it again, or at least go on another trip like this one,” said Kincaid. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”
MORE ONLINE See more photos of Joe and Kincaid’s adventure at thebuzzmagazines.com.
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lawellphoto.com
NEIGHBORS by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, staff writer
Better Birthdays Donating leftover party supplies
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hen Erin Koren’s son, Beckham, turned 5, she threw him a robotthemed birthday party complete with décor she made by hand, including a lifesize robot built from boxes and foil. Afterwards, Koren cringed at disposing of the party items. So a few weeks later she reused them at her daughter Charlotte’s third birthday. When that was over, Koren still couldn’t bear to toss the decorations, which were in pristine condition. “I thought, surely somebody else could use this décor,” says Koren, a former elementary school teacher who lives in Meyerland. Over the years, Koren had collected plenty of leftover party supplies from birthday parties, and the mismatched items sat unused in cabinets and bins. “You always buy too much, and then you have bits and pieces.” Koren realized the leftover supplies could instead brighten the birthdays of children whose families can’t afford party supplies – and she put together a plan to create a nonprofit that would do just that. Since November, Koren’s nonprofit Birthday Bundles for Kids has assembled and delivered more than 100 colorful packages of donated birthday party supplies to kids in need. Koren accepts used and new party supply donations, then mixes and matches the leftover items in her home, creating fun, cohesive bundles families can use during small, family birthday celebrations. Kids don’t care if party supplies are mismatched. “Mine never have,” she says. Each bundle typically includes party hats, noise makers, a banner, plates, napkins, a table cloth, birthday card, candles, balloons and party favors, and accommodates a family of at least four, and sometimes as many as eight. Koren buys generic items like plain cups, blowers and plates to supplement the bundles. A recent bundle featured Mickey Mouse Mylar balloons, red and white checkered plates, happy birthday buttons and a colorful banner. Koren packed a narwhal-themed bundle with narwhal piñatas and flower centerpieces, and added wearable moon boots, space shuttle cutouts and silver cups to a space-themed one. She delivers the bundles to local charities, including the Buckner Family Hope Centers in BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 12
Houston and Aldine, which help homeless and vulnerable families. Buckner throws a general, monthly birthday celebration for its families, but the centers didn’t have the budget to provide personalized party supplies for each family to hold their own celebrations. “This is filling a need they’ve had,” says Koren. “They can just hand it to families and say, I hope this helps you celebrate your child.” In Koren’s living room, she’s surPARTY TIME Erin Koren's nonprofit Birthday Bundles collects party supplies for famrounded by baskets ilies in need. of trinkets like car non-profit. Koren created a Facebook page, and erasers and dozens of Fancy Nancy coin purses says 99 percent of donations come from people decorated with butterflies. Party supplies fill a she’s never met. hall closet and spill over into her garage apartShe’s created several donation drop-off locament. “The feedback has been wonderful,” she tions around the Houston area, and she also says. “The moms, especially, have been thrilled.” picks up items herself. Others are eager to help. Koren fondly recalls her own family birthday One local mom asked Koren if her 16-year-old celebrations growing up in Ohio – receiving a son could pick up donations while he’s out praccolorful Mylar balloon from her parents, playing ticing his driving. musical chairs, and baking a simple Betty “The community has been great,” Koren says. Crocker cake – and she’s thrilled to help create “I’m so inspired and overwhelmed with joy over similar warm memories for others. Birthdays how many people have reached out.” don’t have to be elaborate to be memorable, she Koren is now well on her way to becoming a says. “Our birthday traditions were so fun, yet 501 (c)(3), and she says Birthday Bundles’ biggest simple, and I looked forward to them every year.” need right now is even more party supplies. Koren brings experience to her new venture. “Maybe you have just one pack of plates,” she Previously, she volunteered in the Child Life says, “but yes, I want it. No donation is too small.” Department at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she helped make birthday banners for young Editor’s note: The best way to donate is through patients and sourced toys and decorations. the Facebook group Birthday Bundles for Kids, or if With Birthday Bundles, social media has you don’t use Facebook, contact Erin Koren at been integral to spreading the word, and the birthdaybundlesforkids@gmail.com. community has come out strong to support the
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NEIGHBORS by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer
Cruising to Retirementville And other First World problems
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K, I know the world is falling apart. But I’ve been retired for only two months, and I’m on my first cruise ever. I’m afraid my definition of “problem” is that the acupuncture spa treatment I signed up for isn’t happening. A young woman at the spa entrance met me with the news that the acupuncturist was sick and couldn’t make it. Since I didn’t like that answer at the door, I went to the front desk to see if I would somehow hear a different story. And I did. The desk attendant said the acupuncturist missed her connecting flight and, thus, the ship. I don’t think my motives were entirely pure when I suggested that she coordinate her story with the person at the entrance. She skillfully laughed it off and maneuvered me into a massage special of the day, where I learned from the masseuse that the acupuncturist just flat quit without notice. Now that I believe. I believed her so much that I’m now the proud owner of a jar of rock salt and a brush for my dry skin for only $107. As a first-time cruiser, I am learning that I am saving all kinds of money. I’m not sure how. I didn’t go on a cruise to do math. First they tell you the cost of something. Then they tell you the Special. But then there is the one extra thing you absolutely must have, for just a little more. Then, you just give them your “Sea Pass,” your magic ticket to anywhere on the ship. It’s even a vacation for your money. Right? I actually wouldn’t be on a cruise at all if it weren’t for Houstonians-turned-Galvestonians Barbara Canetti and Jan Malone, their husbands and a group of their “much older” friends from all over Texas, many turning 70 this year. You know us by our flashing star lapel pins, more than 70 people in all. Cruises are great for getting a bunch of people together in one place, as these much more seasoned travelers can attest. Plus the flashing stars are a great conversation starter with the other cruisers who ask what they mean. I like what Keith Flatch from Boerne answered, “We’re a cult.” Did you know there are people who actually cruise six months out of the year in three-month BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 14
HER FIRST CRUISE Stan and Cindy get a “great deal” on this Royal Caribbean picture package.
increments? That’s too much pleasure for me. I need to feel a tad tortured for life to have meaning. At this point, I don’t think listening to the Macarena half a dozen times a day counts. I don’t mean to make this out as an experience lacking in cultural enrichment. Our tour guide to Progreso on the Yucatán Peninsula was extremely well informed about the Mayan culture for a guy named Super Mario. He teaches geography in my language. Where is the Yucatán? Hold your left hand, straight up with fingers together. That’s Mexico. The tips of your fingers would be the U.S. border. Your thumb sticking out would be the Yucatán. The excursion led us on underwater dives into cathedral-like caves of stalactites rich with perfectly clear mineral water from years of rain deposits that slipped through openings to the sky. These magnificent structures, called cenotes, were thought to be sacred by the Mayans. I would agree. Unfortunately, all that was sacred to the Mayans didn’t quite jive with the Catholic conquerors, so only fragments of this culture remain. That, of course, only makes me more curious. There are over 6,000 cenotes in Mexico. More than a third of those are in the Yucatán,
including on private property. Maybe in my retirement I’ll become a Mayan expert. But, likely, I won’t. If I don’t make up my mind, someone else will. I’ve already been asked to consider serving on a board for those with Attention Deficit Disorder. The truth. Do they know something? Back to the cruise. It’s now that bittersweet time when the blue water is turning more greenish brown. That means it’s tipping time. Not the 14 percent tip we are charged daily for our expenditures. This kind involves real cash. This one, I don’t resent. Some of the most interesting people on the cruise can hardly stop and talk. I cannot go outside my cabin without coming back to my clothes refolded and the bed remade like new. They not only serve you meals, they offer to cut your food. They work 10 or more hours a day, seven days a week, for 6 to 8 months straight. We met young adults from Indonesia, the Philippines, India, China and Poland. They have my profound respect. I won’t act so entitled the next time the acupuncturist just flat quits. Now, I want my own house in the Yucatán with my own private cenote.
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NEIGHBORS by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer
Rodeo Keepsakes Stirring up sweet memories
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ometimes, a cowboy hat is more than something to shade a head, a pair of boots is more than protection for feet, and spurs can have a message engraved on them that is equally etched into one’s heart. Such is the case for S. Shawn Stephens, Susan Buddeke and daughter Paige Buddeke Dominey, who all have sweet memories attached to rodeo season. Sentimental value runs deep for these Buzz residents, who have heirlooms that are so dear to them, they evoke memories throughout the year – but during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, it all hits a little closer to home.
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owboy hats were special to my father, and he never went out to the rodeo without a hat on,” says Paige, whose dad, Richard Miles “Bud” Buddeke, passed away in 2003 from a heart attack. “The same goes with me. I always have something on related to my father that belonged to him when I go. It might be his bow-legged ‘H’ (the HLSR logo) pin, his watch, a bracelet or his hat – I actually wear the same size as him.” Both Paige and her mother, Susan, have spent the past 16 years missing Richard, who was a longtime HLSR volunteer. “Richard got involved in the rodeo through our neighbor, who was on the Corral Club committee” says Susan. “He told us about the rodeo, and the charity part really interested Richard. I think a lot of people think that the rodeo is just a concert, but once you start to volunteer, you see how the inner workings of rodeo are and how it touches kids. The overlying thing that it does for our family is service.” Once Richard saw that he could make a difference in the community, he jumped in. “Dad started his volunteer efforts with the rodeo in 1981 with his membership on the Corral Club committee,” says Paige, a television sales manager. “During his tenure on the committee, he rose through the leadership ranks. He was elected to the board of directors in 1992 and ultimately became vice president and served from 2000 to 2002.” Susan says that Richard’s enthusiasm encouraged her to get involved, and she started to volBELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 16
BOOTS AND ALL S. Shawn Stephens, in front of her own painting, wears a pair of custom boots emblazoned with shamrocks and family brands in a nod to her grandparents and their western roots.
unteer with the HLSR in 1995 and has never stopped. She is a lifetime director, was a Trailblazer Award honoree in 2010 and has served on numerous committees. She also is passionately involved with Amigas Para Niños, a non-profit organization that was started by women at the rodeo and it is aimed at helping students who have experienced hardships. “The rodeo is good at giving recognition to the volunteers and the donors for all that they do. They are very thoughtful about it,” says Susan. The recognition comes in the form of personalized jackets, belt buckles, spurs, committee pins, saddle blankets, saddles and more. Given Richard’s length of service, there are a wealth of items that bring Paige and Susan, out-
going blondes who could pass as sisters, a lot of joy and reflection. “We display them proudly,” says Susan, gesturing to her family room, filled with HLSR memorabilia, including shadow boxes filled with committee pins. “My decorator asked me what to do with all the things, and I said, ‘Show them off!’ The shadow boxes are beautiful, like a piece of jewelry.” Over the years, she has gifted some of them to Paige’s children, Beth Ann and Miles, as well as to Paige. “It is like passing the baton,” says Susan, tearing up. "I just gave Paige Richard’s saddle. A saddle is a significant piece of a person’s identity.” And, keeping that identity alive is what’s at the heart of the matter. (continued on page 18)
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HOLDING TIGHT Paige Buddeke Dominey and her mother, Susan Buddeke, hold on to Richard “Bud” Buddeke’s saddle as a reminder of his volunteer service with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. A tableau of Susan and Richard’s rodeo pins, badges and commendations fills a coffee table, along with a photo of Richard. (continued from page 16) “Richard loved the rodeo
so much,” Susan says. “It defined him so much, more so than his career” as a communications company executive. Paige is making sure the heirlooms from her dad, along with service to the rodeo, are carried forward. “Miles is named after my father, Richard Miles,” says Paige, of her 14-year-old son. “Miles now has my dad’s personalized buckles, which recognize his different levels of leadership. These buckles are so special.”
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or S. Shawn Stephens, buckles, boots and brands top a list of heirlooms that are close to her heart. Shawn’s love of all things Western comes to her naturally. “I grew up in Amarillo, Texas,” she says with a smile. “We had a vacation house near Santa Fe because Mom grew up in New Mexico, and my dad grew up on the Stephens Ranch in the Texas Panhandle.” Shawn’s childhood was filled with trips to her grandparents’ properties in Texas as well as the mountains of New Mexico. Much of who she is as a person was formed bottle feeding calves, swimming in cattle tanks, riding horses and running through the apricot and apple orchards in BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 18
Wheeler County. “I am a Texas girl, going back many generations,” she says proudly, looking at an array of mementos in her home. There is a vintage suede jacket with fringe gifted to her from her mother, an iron brand from the ranch and a Zuni concho belt given to her in 1978 as a high school graduation gift from her grandparents. Every item, she says, has a backstory. “These remind me of so many happy thoughts and memories. I am so sentimental, and I keep everything.” Shawn and attorney husband Jim Jordan have one daughter, Shelby, who is named in keeping with her family tradition of having an “S” as the first letter of their names. “My daughter is going to be getting a lot of things one day,” Shawn says with a grin. Shawn has an extensive and colorful collection of Native American jewelry, Western clothing, boots – and especially hats. “I am a girl who likes a good hat,” laughs Shawn, whose eyes shine as bright as the turquoise on the band of a favorite cowboy hat. “I do love to wear things that have meaning. You can wear anything, but why not wear something that has meaning?” Having a connection with family and friends is paramount to Shawn. For a special birthday,
Jim gave her a pair of custom boots by Al’s Handmade Boots that are green, purple and pink, sporting four-leaf clovers and family ranch brands. “The ranch is near Shamrock, Texas, that’s why there are shamrocks on the boots. The Circle F is for my Faville granddad, and the Double S is for my Stephens granddad,” she says. “These honor both my grandfathers who lived to be well into their 90s, and I do think of them when I wear them.They are super special.” Other treasured items reflect a dear friendship from college, with a sorority sister who became a western clothing designer. “Cheryl (McMullen) is also a sentimentalist like me and was a good friend in Theta at Baylor University with me,” says Shawn, Houston Ballet Board president and a retired attorney. “She is a real artist, and she overwhelms me with her creativity.” When Shawn was invited to the U.S. ambassador to Australia’s Fourth of July party many years ago, she took the party’s international dress code to heart – and turned to her friend, who founded Double D Ranchwear, for help. “The invitation said to wear your national dress, and I thought, ‘Well, my national dress is Texas!’ So I wore boots and jeans and a vest, and I wanted a new hat. I knew (continued on page 20)
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lawellphoto.com
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RODEO READY Top left: S. Shawn Stephens’ mother’s 1950s suede jacket, Circle F branding iron, and photo of Shawn with her paternal grandfather and cousin horseback riding. Top right: Rodeo pins, badges and commendations on Susan Buddeke’s coffee table. Bottom right: Native American jewelry, including a Zuni concho belt that Shawn Stephens’ grandparents gave her for high school graduation. Bottom left: Richard Buddeke’s engraved spurs, a gift from the Corral Club when he was named rodeo vice president. (continued from page 18) Cheryl was starting to
make hats, so I called her for help. She made the hat, and it was the first hat she ever made, rushed to me. The hat came off the press with the beautiful hat band. I wore that hat to the party, and it was the icebreaker of all icebreakers. Everyone wanted to take their picture with me!” Other sentimental items that transport Shawn back to her childhood are a collection of Native American jewelry and belts. “Since my mom is from New Mexico, I have always had turquoise jewelry,” she says. “I don’t ever BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 20
remember not having it! It’s my roots.” Whenever Shawn wears some of the pieces, it keeps her connected to her family. “During rodeo, I love to pull all my things out, and if I have a lovely bracelet or belt that has a story, it makes me happy because I look down and I think about my family. This is how I grew up. It’s in my blood.”
W
hich is exactly how Paige, herself a longtime rodeo volunteer, feels. “In our family, volunteering for the rodeo is
very much our tradition. I used to tease that I grew up on Astrodome popcorn. We did not really go on spring break vacations because we all worked at the rodeo. Not that long ago, my mom gave me one of Dad’s jackets. Inside it there were wristbands and tickets from the 2000 barbecue cookoff. That made me so happy. When I reached in that pocket and pulled out that stuff, my whole day was made.” says Paige, with tears filling her blue eyes. “‘Look at that!’ I thought. They were just little pieces of paper – but it was a connection to my Dad and how I was raised.”
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FOOD by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Your Favorite Recipes Best of Back Porch Table
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or a little over a year, we’ve been talking recipes and family stories in “Back Porch Table,” the online extension of “Back Porch.” Unlike “Back Porch,” which runs every month in the printed Buzz magazines, “Back Porch Table” appears on The Buzz website every Friday morning. It’s a fun column based on two of my favorite things – cooking and telling stories – that lived in my head for years until The Buzz brought it to life. And what a life it’s taken on: A whole bunch of new and old friends are cooking together, sharing successes and fails and new ideas, both through the column and on Instagram (search for #backporchtable). We thought it would be fun to share a “Best Of.” These are the recipes readers loved most. We hope you’ll enjoy them, and hope you’ll visit us at thebuzzmagazines.com, under Buzzworthy at Back Porch Table. See you there!
A Gorgeous-Smelling Pot Roast for Sunday or Any Day October 2018 This was Back Porch Table’s most-shared recipe of the year. An old-fashioned, simple recipe for a browned and falling-apart pot roast that everyone should have in their repertoire. 1 3- to 5-pound chuck roast Six cloves of garlic, peeled and halved Salt and pepper Garlic powder Olive oil Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Rinse the roast under cool water, then pat it completely dry with paper towels. With a small, sharp knife, cut about 12 1-inch wide, 1-inch deep slits around all sides of the roast. Rub the roast all over with the cut sides of the garlic cloves. Once a clove seems rubbed-out (meaning it starts to fall apart a little bit), insert it into one of the slits, and start with another clove, until all the cloves are tucked inside the roast. Generously sprinkle all sides of the roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder, rubbing the seasonings into BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 22
the meat. Slick the bottom of a large Dutch oven or roasting pan with olive oil – a couple of tablespoonsful. Heat the Dutch oven or roasting pan on the stove over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the roast. Sear it on all sides for about 3-4 minutes per side. Depending on how big your roast is, you might want to use two sets of tongs for the flipping. SNACK ON Winning Pimento Cheese and Oscar-Worthy Truffle Parmesan Popcorn When the roast are easy, addictive homemade snacks. is browned and a 1 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained well and little crusty on all sides, pour enough water into diced the pan to come half-way up the sides of the 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese roast. Cover the pan tightly with a lid or alu2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese minum foil. Place the covered pan in the oven 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese and roast for 4 hours, a little less or a little more, depending on the size of your roast. You’ll know Mix mayonnaise and cream cheese until the roast is done when it’s brown and falls apart smooth, then add spices, jalapeño and pimentos. when you poke it with a fork. And when your Fold the mixture into the cheeses. Refrigerate house smells like home. for an hour or so, and serve with pita chips, crackers, and celery and carrot sticks. Winning Pimento Cheese October 2018 Oscar-worthy Truffle Parmesan If you’re not a fan yet, don’t turn up your Popcorn nose. This isn’t a ’70s cheese ball, just a simple February 2019 mix that is a Southern staple, with as many ways I’ll admit that I’ve gotten more than a little to make it as George Springer career homeruns. flak about my popcorn obsession. Especially about the part where I sneak my own – and 1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise everyone else’s – into the movies. But it’s truffle 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature parmesan. And my younger daughter thinks I ½ teaspoon dry mustard need to sell it. ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons coconut oil ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ cup popcorn kernels (continued on page 24) 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
RECIPE TRADITIONS A Gorgeous-Smelling Pot Roast for Sunday or Any Day promises a yummy-smelling house, while Mrs. Vogelpohl's Feta Dip might become a new family favorite.
½ Tablespoon truffle salt (or to taste) 1 Tablespoon grated parmesan (or to taste)
(continued from page 26)
Melt the coconut oil over medium-high heat in a 7- to 9-quart stockpot with a lid. When the oil has melted, drop in 3 popcorn kernels. Cover the pot with the lid. When those test kernels pop, add the remaining popcorn kernels, and swirl them around to coat them with the coconut oil. Cover the pot, and wait until you hear popping. When you do, reduce the heat a little bit and begin shaking the pot, with the lid slightly ajar (letting out a little steam makes crispier popcorn), until the popping just about stops. Remove from the heat immediately. Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and, while it is warm, sprinkle the truffle salt over. Stir to coat the kernels, then add the grated parmesan. Ziploc baggies work great for smuggling this yumminess into the movies!
Yellow Cake June 2019 This was Back Porch Table’s second-mostshared recipe of the year. I’ve been looking at recipes for weeks, not sure which one to use or whether to combine a few. But I settled on Gourmet Live’s First Birthday Cake. And guess what? That cake was so good that I – always to my children’s chagrin – said immediately, “Do not touch that before I take a picture of it for Back Porch Table!” I had to share. 3 cups sifted cake flour (sift before measuring) 2 teaspoons baking powder ¾ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2¼ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1½ cups well-stirred plain, whole-milk yogurt BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 24
(not Greek), room temperature Chocolate Frosting (recipe below) Butter the bottom and sides of 3 8- or 9-inch cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment (trace the pans on the paper, then cut the paper to fit the bottoms of the pans), then butter the parchment. Dust the pans with a little flour, and knock them against the side of the sink to remove the excess. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with racks in the upper and lower third. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until it is pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla, and beat another 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding the flour mixture with adding the yogurt in 3 batches, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until smooth. Divide the batter among the three pans and spread it evenly across the tops. Knock the pans on the counter top a couple of times to release any air bubbles. Bake the cakes, rotating the pans in the oven halfway through, until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, around 25 to 35 minutes (I know that’s a wide range – just keep checking every 5 minutes or so after the initial 25). Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn the cakes out onto racks to cool. (Or, if you want to frost them the next day, you can let the cakes cool completely in the pans, then cover the pans with foil.) Once they are completely cooled, put one cake layer on a cake plate. Frost the top with the chocolate frosting. Carefully stack the second cake layer on top of the first, then frost the top. Stack the third layer on top of that and frost the top and sides. I like to coat the top and sides with a thin layer of frosting, then put the whole
thing in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or so, then frost again over that. It keeps the cake crumbs from getting mixed up in the frosting and makes it look clean and pretty! Chocolate Frosting 1 pound powdered sugar, sifted 4 Tablespoons butter at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ⁄3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I like Scharffen Berger) 10-12 Tablespoons heavy cream (about ¾ cup) On low speed with a hand-held or stand mixer, mix the sugar, butter, vanilla, cocoa powder and 7 tablespoons heavy cream until blended. Add more cream while beating, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting loosens up and when you scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula, the consistency is spreadable. I use about 12 tablespoons cream total. Mix the frosting on high for a couple of minutes until it is fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl a couple of times.
Mrs. Vogelpohl’s Feta Dip October 2019 Mrs. Vogelpohl’s Feta Dip was a big treat in our house growing up. That’s because we didn’t get it often, only when our neighbor Mrs. Vogelpohl would make it and drive it down the street to us (funny in itself, because they lived just a few houses away). 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine 1 pound feta cheese 6 ounces cream cheese, softened Juice of 2 lemons ¼ cup olive oil 1 teaspoon dried oregano Mix everything together with a fork. Serve with crackers (expert tip: delicious with Triscuits).
DINING by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Tap Into Local Beer Houston’s booming brewery scene
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fter visiting more than a dozen breweries in the Houston area, we realized that this is a family affair. When you see parents with toddlers in tow, you know breweries are mainstream and no longer a trend. “When you’re in Germany, and you go to a beer garden, you’ll see everybody from 2 year olds to 90-year-old matriarchs. It’s very much the scene with food and beer. We’re seeing that as well here,” says Brock Wagner, who co-founded Saint Arnold Brewing Company in 1994. The Rice University grad refers to the mid’90s as the first renaissance, when about a dozen or so craft breweries opened after Texas legalized them. “Every single one of them closed. Now we’re referred to as Texas’ oldest craft brewery. We weren’t the first, but we outlasted them all,” Wagner says. “Now we’re in the middle of a second renaissance.” Houston is awash in IPAs, ushering in a second era of thriving breweries and beer bars. They dot the city, with taprooms selling beer to go, as well as giving fans direct access to limited batches of ales and IPAs. Today, more than 55 breweries and brewpubs are licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission between Galveston Island and Bryan-College Station. So, how many are there in the entire state of Texas? Nearly 300. The surge started in 2013 when a law was passed that allowed breweries to sell beer on site and brewpubs to distribute to retailers. The 2013 law was a game-changer, but last year, the “beer to go” law went a step further, allowing patrons to take home craft beers in sealed containers, says 8th Wonder Brewery manager Joc Mathis. What started as a hobby for standup comedian Brian Kondrach morphed into a full-time gig. “We’ve been biking from brewery to brewery for pure enjoyment for about six years. There were very few breweries when we started, but that number increased to eight and then 12.” Two years ago, Kondrach and buddy Jason Buhlman launched Tour de Brewery, which hosts bike tours of breweries. It’s boom times for beer fans, but with so many choices, it’s also easy to get lost in this sea of suds. Below, Kondrach, Mathis, and other BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 26
HOPPED Holler Brewing Co. hosts events, like cheese and beer pairings, and, upon request, tours.
hopheads map their own self-guided beer crawls around town, by car or bike.
EADO/Downtown Area Head northeast of downtown, toward the Fifth Ward, once dubbed “The Harlem of the South,” to start your tour at the grande dame of microbreweries, Saint Arnold Brewing Company (2000 Lyons Ave., 713-686-9494; saintarnold.com). Year-round and seasonal brews are served in the two-year-old Beer Garden & Restaurant, along with a few singlebatch brews. New to the lineup are Bishop’s Barrel No. 25, a Baltic porter aged in port barrels, and Chocolate Milk Stout, made with James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega’s chocolate tablets produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. Less than a five-minute drive away is the new kid, Local Group Brewing (1504 Chapman St., 713-899-8266; localgroupbrewing.com), which labels itself “a restaurant that brews its own beer” and backs it up by hiring former Post Oak Hotel executive chef Jeff Samoska to oversee its American comfort food menu. Early in the day, especially on sunny week-
ends, the delighted squeal of children echoes through “Wonderworld,” the beer garden at 8th Wonder Brewery (2202 Dallas St., 713-5812337; 8thwonder.com). No wonder – just outside the taproom are two pétanque courts (similar to bocce ball), cornhole, frisbee golf, and plenty of room for other outdoor activities. Oh, and there is the famous Eatsie Boys food truck. Just a short walk away is True Anomaly Brewing Company (2012 Dallas St.; 346-7045701; trueanomalybrewing.com), with a matte black and green contemporary setting and an outer-space vibe. Bartender Oscar Razaro says the four owners once worked at NASA. True Anomaly is amassing fans with sprightly, fruity and sometimes salted sour beers. It doesn’t serve food, Razaro says, but his customers often go across the street for to-go grub at Vinny’s Pizza, Indianola, SeaSide Poke, and Rodeo Goat. Nearby is Sigma Brewery (3118 Harrisburg Blvd., 346-352-3190; sigmabrewingcompany.com), a no-frills taproom favored by many beer aficionados. It also doesn’t hurt that the Doomsday Wrestling comedic troupe trains there on Thursday and Sunday evenings, around (continued on page 28)
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WITH A DOWNTOWN VIEW Saint Arnold Brewing Company's sun-splashed Beer Garden and Restaurant attracts thousands of visitors weekly. (continued from page 26) 7 p.m., in the weeks leading
up to their shows.
Washington Sawyer Yards
Corridor
and
Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. (2101 Summer St., 713-750-9795; buffbrew.com) has parted ways with its humble beginnings for a $14 million three-story beer destination with a stunning view of the downtown skyline. Opened last November, the bustling restaurant features a menu overseen by Arash Kharat (formerly Beaver’s chef). Less than a 10-minute stroll away lies Holler Brewing Co. (2206 Edwards St., 832-781-0555; hollerbeer.com), where John and Kathryn Holler brew a rotation of beers sold exclusively in their tap room and at select bars. Within walking distance, Urban South Brewery (urbansouthbrewery.com), one of New Orleans’ leading craft breweries, recently opened a satellite at 1201 Oliver Street and hosted a grand opening on Feb. 29. Platypus Brewing (1902 Washington Ave. Unit E, 832-742-5503; platypusbrewing.com) offers a taste of Down Under with ales using Australian hops and serving food such as Aussie lamb skewers, sausage rolls and meat pies.
Great Heights and Central Northwest Karbach Brewing Co. (2032 Karbach St., 713-680-8886; karbachbrewing.com) AnheuserBusch InBev acquired this quality brewing operation in 2016, and it remains a favorite hangout for many Houstonians. Last year, Karbach started producing the Astros’ first official beer, the crisp, medium-bodied Crawford Bock. Walking Stick Brewing Co. (956 Judiway St., 713-300-1866; walkingstickbrewing.com) is on a leafy block surrounded by trees in Garden Oaks. Owner Andy Dunn lived in the United Kingdom and fell in love with traditional British ales. You’ll find those, along with various IPAs, plus a rotation of food trucks parked outside. Eureka Heights Brew Co. (941 W. 18th St., 832-953-4677; eurekaheights.com) put itself on the map after capturing a gold medal at the Greater American Beer Festival in 2017 for its cream ale, Buckle Bunny. Beers are available by the pint or in a flight. As for grub, a lineup of food trucks services the brewery.
Montrose & Museum District Baileson Brewing Co. (2322 Bissonnet St., 832-516-9828; bailesonbrewing.com) is an easy-
going 1,600-square-foot space that formerly was an auto service center in Boulevard Oaks on the edge of Rice Village. Co-owners Adam Cryer and wife Sarah Pope focus on hand-crafted ales and currently serve 10 on tap. Under the Radar Brewery (1506 Truxillo St., 281- 974-1473; undertheradarbrewery.com) offers all-day $4 pints on Mondays and Wednesdays. The taproom typically features five signature beers that are distributed to bars and restaurants in addition to special onebatch-only releases available only at Under the Radar. The Phoenix on Westheimer (1915 Westheimer, 713-526-3100; phoenixow.com) is described by beer enthusiasts as a true British brewpub that serves standards like Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing and Stella Artois Lager, along with its own brews, including Red Irish Ale, Eat Your Wheaties and Dirty Blond. There is a full-service kitchen with an eclectic menu that includes fish and chips, chicken piccata, and even a plant-based burger. Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.
Touring Houston’s breweries There are no entrance fees to visit and tour the breweries. However, visithoustontexas.com offers brew passes. For example, a one-day pass allows you to sample various brews from four participating breweries for $28.95, or take your time and sample the offerings at 12 breweries with a 90-day pass for $74.95. A three-day pass is available for $39.95 and lets you explore the various offerings from 12 breweries across Greater Houston. Visithoustontexas.com is part of the Houston First Corporation (HFC), the official destination-marketing organization for the City of Houston. Tour de Brewery offers tours Wednesdays through Mondays. Prices range from $69 to $89 and include beer, bike, and helmet. For more information, call 346-268-7610 or visit tourdebreweryhouston.com.
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Photo courtesy of Midway
DINING by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer
Houston’s Food Halls They’ve arrived, with more to come
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n a city with so many dining options – Houston boasts more than 10,000 restaurants – many of us still find ourselves at a complete loss on where to eat. “Most people will say to their spouse, their friends or their coworkers, ‘Where do you want to eat?’” said Houston restaurateur Shepard Ross. “The collective answer is usually, ‘I don’t know.’” Whether the “I don’t know” stems from feeling overwhelmed by the mind-boggling array of options or from a fear of judgement is hard to say. Regardless, Ross bets that the antidote to indecision lies in a growing consumer trend: the food hall. It’s a simple concept. Similar to a food court, food halls feature several food and beverage ventures operating under one roof. But unlike food courts, which typically consist of fast-food chains like Panda Express and KFC, food halls offer a curated mix of elevated dining options, from perfectly plated sushi to hand-made pasta and decadent desserts. Since 2016, Houston has witnessed an explosion of food halls. We started with one, Conservatory, which opened as a trendy, underground hub with seven rotating food vendors. Ross, along with business partners Anh Mai and Lian Pham of Company of Nomads, operate Conservatory, which is now in the process of relocating from downtown to EaDo (but will be replaced by another food hall in its original downtown location). Since Conservatory opened, three other food halls have cropped up in downtown: Bravery Chef Hall, Finn Hall and Understory. Another, Politan Row, opened last fall in the Rice Village, and at least four additional halls are slated to open across the city in 2020. This growth mirrors developments on a national scale. In 2016, there were about 120 food halls across the country; that number is expected to nearly quadruple to 450 by the end of 2020, according to a 2019 report by research group Cushman & Wakefield. “From a foodie standpoint, it can be hard to decide where to eat. Going to a food hall solves a lot of problems,” says Thomas Nguyen, a Houston restaurateur. Whether you have an indecisive crew of friends or a reunion of family members with varying dietary restrictions, a food BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 30
FINN HALL Located in the JPMorgan Chase building on Main Street, Finn Hall offers casual dining options.
hall can cater to everyone. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs benefit from the chance to try out new concepts without the steep start-up investments and high risks of opening a new restaurant. “The underlying financial option of not spending $3 million to open a restaurant, only to determine if you have the ability to be successful – that’s valuable to a lot of people,” says Will Donaldson, the founder and CEO of Politan Group, a family of national food hall concepts including Politan Row Houston. “Food halls are here to stay.” Despite being the nation’s third largest city, Houston was, by some measures, late to jump on the food hall bandwagon. The concept has been around for decades in Europe, and other metropolitan cities like New York and San Francisco introduced them in the early 2000s. Those in the food and beverage industry say our city’s delay in embracing food halls is part of a larger trend. Houston has been under-theradar for years. That’s starting to change. “I think we are organically becoming what other cities are trying to be,” says Nguyen, cofounder and chief marketing officer of Peli Peli. “Nobody intended for us to be hip. We just happen to be very diverse […] I’m a Vietnamese guy operating a South African restaurant – that’s almost the epitome of what this city has become.” The diversity of the city is apparent when you walk into any one of the food halls, though each has a different feel. At Bravery Chef Hall, chefowners take center-stage, each operating a mini restaurant with counter seating and direct access to the chef in a 9,000-square-foot space across from Market Square Park. You’ll find Master Chef winner Christine Ha making Vietnamese food at The Blind Goat. She brings the street food of Vietnam to Houston through unique dishes like Pork Belly Pizza, and Ha’s own story as a Vietnamese woman growing up in Texas comes through in her Queso and Wonton Chips starter, a Tex-
Mex favorite with Vietnamese flavors of lemongrass, tamarind and shrimp powder. Surrounding Ha, you’ll find everything from gumbo at Cherry Block to Elote Mac n Cheese at Atlas Diner. “I really admire all of the neighboring vendors,” Ha says. “Part of the reason I wanted to open in Bravery is that everyone here is a heavy hitter. I wanted to get some mentoring and learn from them.” At Politan Row, nine culinary vendors line the sides of the hall, surrounding a central craft cocktail bar. Guests can try eclectic foods such as Nikkei, Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, at an outpost called Pacha Nikkei and Trinidadian Jerk Chicken at Ate Kitchen.Within 30 feet of Ate Kitchen, patrons will find Rafik Abohattab, a jolly Egyptian, serving up hummus and falafel at a spot called Torshi. And this is only the start. Read on for a list of Houston’s current and upcoming food halls, plus our recommendations on dishes to try.
Bravery Chef Hall 409 Travis St. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Vendors: BOH Pasta and Pizza, Kokoro, The Blind Goat, Cherry Block Craft Butcher & Kitchen, Atlas Diner, Lockwood Stn, Secret Garden, Bravery Wine Bar Our picks: Don’t miss the namesake G.O.A.T. Curry at The Blind Goat or the Roman-style pizza al taglio at BOH Pasta and Pizza.
Finn Hall 712 Main St. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Vendors: Amaya Coffee, Craft Burger, Dish Society, Goode Co. Taqueria, Low Tide Seafood & Raw Bar, Oddball Eats, Sit Lo, Yong, Pizza Zquare, coming soon: Lit Chicken Our picks: On a chilly (continued on page 32)
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Denny Culbert Denny Culbert
Photo courtesy of The Blind Goat
CULINARY DIVERSITY At left: Vietnamese Pork Belly Pizza from The Blind Goat, Christine Ha’s Vietnamese gastropub inside Bravery Chef Hall. At right, top: Pacha Nikkei, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion concept in Politan Row offers Pulpo al Olivo (left) and Salmon Tiradito (right). At right, bottom: Also inside Politan Row is Torshi, offering Mediterranean classics like shawarma and gyro platters. (continued from page 30) evening, you can’t beat the
pho from Sit Lo for a quick dinner; Amaya Coffee’s lattes are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
Politan Row 2445 Times Blvd. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Vendors: Ate Kitchen, Breaking Bao, Bronson’s House, Cochinita & Co., Kin, Nice Sprout, Pacha Nikkei, Susu Kopi and Boba, Torshi, Bar Politan Our picks: Kin’s Sour Yellow Curry is divine. This citrusy, sweet and sour curry is packed with seasonal vegetables and crispy shallots. For Mediterranean fare, try the chicken shawarma with hummus and yellow basmati rice from Torshi.
Understory 800 Capitol St. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 8 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Vendors: Boomtown Coffee, Mama Ninfa’s Tacos y Tortas, Mona Fresh Italian Food, East Hampton Sandwich Co., Flip ‘n Patties, SeaSide Poke, Silver Lining Bar Our picks: When you’re craving classic TexMex, nothing beats a plate of tacos from Mama Ninfa’s. For something different, try the Filipino-inspired burger with a side of their hand-cut fries.
Food halls in the works Conservatory In the process of moving from downtown to 2118 Lamar St. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. What we know: Conservatory, Houston’s first BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 32
food hall, is in the process of relocating from downtown to EaDo, in the former Chapman & Kirby space. They plan to open in late April, and vendors will include Bird Haus, Pho Spot, La Tequiza, Watever Fresh, Treacherous Leches and more.
Conservatory 2 5351 W. Alabama St. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. What we know: The team behind Conservatory and Bravery Chef Hall is bringing a second Conservatory to the Galleria area in fall 2020. Vendors will include an all-day breakfast spot, an Indian Taco Fusion concept, a seafood spot, a healthy spot, plus a wine bar, beer bar and cocktail bar.
Hawker Asian Night Market 2601 Main St. Hours: TBD What we know: This project is inspired by the night markets found in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. It will feature several Asian food vendors and Shanty Bar Alley on the ground floor and a dim sum lounge and rooftop bar above. This is slated to open in late 2020 or early 2021.
Lyric Market 411 Smith St. Hours: TBD, but will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner What we know: This innovative market will host culinary talent from around the world and is slated to open in fall 2020 in Houston’s theater district. It will house a variety of vendors, including Press Waffle Co.
Hours: TBD What we know: This food hall, situated near White Oak Music Hall, comes from the owners of the Vietnamese sandwich shop, Les Givral’s Kahve, and Oui Banh Mi, according to Eater. Eater reports that it will feature ample seating and six food stalls including Good Dog and a bar/coffee shop called Double Trouble.
Railway Heights Market 8200 Washington Ave. Hours: Sunday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. What we know: This massive food market project is expected to open in summer 2020 on a 3.5-acre lot just north of Memorial Park. In addition to the food hall, the site will include a 25,000-square-foot interior space inspired by railway terminals. Vendors will sell locally sourced produce and goods. There will also be a dog park with a bar, a beer garden, wine bar, coffee roastery, local food market, local butcher, local baker, weekend farmers’ market and family park.
Underground Hall 1010 Prairie St. Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; FridaySaturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. What we know: This new food hall will take over the downtown space that previously housed Conservatory and is expected to open by March. Operator Daut Elshani says he’s refreshing the aesthetic of the space, and it will be more casual than the other downtown food halls. Confirmed vendors are American-Italian gastropub Crisp, Beer Market, craft burger venture Hotline Burger, Asian fusion spot Wokker and a cocktail/wine bar called Under Bar.
Oui Eats at Little White Oak
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2645 N. Main St.
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BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 33
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KIDS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
Raised on rodeo
Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen has four children age 5 and under.
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t’s rodeo season in Houston. For almost three weeks, starting March 3, the annual, overthe-top, Western spectacle that is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will take over NRG Park. For some Buzz residents, the rodeo is more than simply a fun night out. Rodeo has run in the blood of the Montalbano family for generations. Vincent Montalbano, a professional auctioneer for Montalbano Auction Company, and his wife, Stephanie, a realtor at O'Connell Yarborough Properties, are raising their boys, Luke, 1, and JR, 5, around the rodeo. Every year, the entire family rides in the Salt Grass Trail Ride, the 93-mile trail ride starting in Cat Spring. The Salt Grass is one of 12 trail rides that kick off rodeo season. Stephanie didn’t even take a break from the ride when JR was a baby. They missed the daytime riding, but not the camaraderie in the evenings. “I drove back and forth [from Houston] to camp with JR,” she said. “He would come for dinners at night.” Vincent was a member of the Spring Branch FFA during his years as a student at Memorial High School. He’s been attending the Houston rodeo since he was a small child, and he went on his first Salt Grass ride at age 5. Now, at 36, he has been volunteering on various rodeo committees for 15 years. He’s serving on four of the 108 volunteer rodeo committees this year, including Grand Entry, Agricultural Mechanics, Sheep and Goat, and Houston Metro Go Texan. Vincent and Stephanie, who is a vice chair on the Trailblazer committee, take JR every year to the livestock show in the NRG Center, and this year will be Luke’s first time to go and wander along the aisles to see the animals lined up. “Every year, they are able to grasp a little bit more and understand a little bit more about what it means,” said Vincent. “They will say, ‘Why are the people brushing?’ and I will explain to them. ‘That’s a student. They have worked for that. BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 34
They have taken care of that animal for a year, every day. When it’s hot. When it’s cold. When there’s other fun things to do.’” Vincent says his favorite spot for the kids is Agventure in Hall A at NRG Center. It is an extensive exhibit where kids can learn all about agriculture – from how cows are milked in the milking parlor to learning about honey bees in the honey bee exhibit and more. “Innercity kids may never see a cow unless it’s there,” said Vincent. JR will suit up for his first Mutton Bustin’ ride in the big arena this year. Mutton Bustin' is a fan favorite where kids ages 5-6 attempt to ride a RODEO FAMILIES Brothers JR, 5, and Luke Montalbano, 1, (top photo) are the next generation of a rodeo family. JR and his grandfather John “PawPaw” Montalbano sheep. JR's family (bottom photo), a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo lifetime vice president, check and rodeo friends out the tractors at the Ag Mechanics Show. will be in NRG our kids now, walk around the livestock show, Stadium to root him on. see all of the different animals and exhibits, and Another Buzz family with a multi-generaenjoy the carnival.” tional love for the Houston rodeo are the Travis says once he got a little older, they’d Finchers. Lyndsay Fincher, an attorney at go into the Astrodome for the actual rodeo, BoyarMiller, and her husband, Travis, who with professionals competing in events like bull works for CBRE, have two boys, William, 3, and riding and barrel racing. He would bet on the Parker, 4. chuck wagon races with his dad. He loves car“As a child, my parents took my sister and I rying on those same traditions – now in NRG to the rodeo every year,” said Travis. “We Stadium – with his boys. Parker was 2 and would do a lot of what Lyndsay and I do with
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TINY COWBOYS The Fincher brothers – William, 3, (left and top right) and Parker, 4, (at left) – go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year with their mom and dad, Lyndsay and Travis. JR Montalbano (bottom right) will hop on a sheep for a Mutton Bustin’ ride in NRG Stadium this rodeo season.
William was 1 when they attended their first Houston rodeo. “They loved it, but the parts they loved the most surprised us,” said Lyndsay. “The tram that took us from the parking lot to the livestock show and the tractors that take you place to place with-
in the rodeo might be one of their favorite parts.” Last year, Lyndsay and Travis brought their double stroller, but it wasn’t necessary. “Once we got on the grounds, they were in awe at all of the sights, sounds and smells,” said Lyndsay. “They were running from animal to animal,
exhibit to exhibit, and tractor to tractor.” Parker is a little young for Mutton Bustin’ this year, but his parents say they’ll sign him up for next year. “The boys are already excited to see all of the animals,” said Lyndsay. “Last year, they were all about the huge turkey legs.”
First rodeo? The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has a lot going on for families. Be sure to check out these spots if you are bringing small children. Carnival. The giant carnival outside NRG Stadium is a rodeomust. For the younger ones, there’s a kid-focused area called The Junction – formerly called Kids Country – with kid-friendly games and rides. Fun on the Farm. FOTF is one of the most popular areas of The Junction. It is located outside NRG Center. It’s a hands-on, interactive, learning experience, run by volunteers, where kiddos can explore the world of agriculture. Visitors see the process from farm to market. Children can get a taste of life on the farm by helping with chores such as gathering eggs and milking a cow. Petting zoo. The petting zoo inside NRG Center is a hands-on way to meet and greet the faces of a farm. Admission is free. For $2, visitors can purchase food to feed the goats, pigs, lambs and more. Agventure. This extensive exhibit is great for kids of all ages and
adults, too. Check out the honeybee exhibit, birthing center, breed row, fisheries, horticulture exhibit, poultry, rabbits and pony rides. We’re Small Y’all Barn. This adorable exhibit is in the Agventure area. Take your little one to see and touch adorable miniature horses and donkeys and learn more about how their tininess came to be. Mutton Bustin’. Mutton Bustin’ is an exhilarating real sheep ride for kids ages 5-6. There are two options to participate: Mutton Bustin' in NRG Stadium or in The Junction. Riding inside NRG Stadium requires advance registration for a chance to participate, while The Junction is run on a first come-first served basis. Parents register at The Junction upon arrival, and the cost is $15 per ride. Riders must not exceed 55 pounds. Fan Zone inside NRG Stadium. Let your little one meet professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls in the Fan Zone during the rodeo. Receive a free booklet to collect autographs and snap photos. A ticket to the rodeo is required, and the Fan Zones are located on the main concourse level, in sections 103 and 124.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 35
TRAVEL
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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz
Spring Break on your own island
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or many families, it’s time once again to pull out the beach gear, try on the swimsuits and prepare for that brief, sweet season of intensity known as Spring Break. It’s also a good time to share memories from Spring Breaks gone by – and that’s what we did with one group of Buzz families, just to get you in the mood. It all started when a group of friends – many of whose kids had gone to Post Oak School, a Montessori school in Bellaire – organized a Spring Break trip in 2017 in Isla Espiritu Santo, an island in the Gulf of California, off the coast of Baja California Sur in southern Mexico. The experience of spending time on an uninhabited island, surrounded by marine life, was exhilarating. West U veterinarian Amy Garrou, one of the participants in the Baja California trip, started looking around for other island opportunities and hit upon an outfit called Slickrock Adventures, which offers stays on a minimally developed island off the coast of Belize. Long Caye is a part of Glover’s Reef Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Marine Reserve. Amy made an inquiry and learned that with a minimum of 35 people, they could rent the island for themselves. Along with husband Blair, a venture capitalist, and daughters Hannah and Maddie, she put out the word, mostly among Post Oak contacts, and soon she had exceeded the goal. Veteran adventurers Alan Ying and family jumped onboard right away. “We got a private island for 36 people with glamping-style accommodations, half kids and half adults, windsurfing, surfing, surf kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding, pristine waters, total isolation, and catered meals and activities – all at a totally doable price,” said Alan, a private investor and businessman. About 20 staff were on hand around the clock, a few of them cooks and maintenance workers but most of them certified trainers and guides, ready to teach visitors at every age and skill level. They were also available to lead snorkeling, scuba and world-class marine fishing. The fishing is done primarily by kayak, a rising trend among dedicated anglers. There is no need for fancy boats or long excursions, since the BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 36
DESERT ISLAND ADVENTURE For Spring Break last year, the Yings – Sydney, Emory, Cooper, Anita and Alan – and seven other families took over the entire island of Long Caye, off the coast of Belize. Amy Garrou organized the getaway.
island is in the middle of prime habitat – and fished only by the island’s inhabitants. Slickrock offers fishing access, permits included, to its private island for people who purchase a minimum five-day package. As a result, hard-to-find species like bonefish and permit fish are plentiful, right off the dock. “My daughter caught a bonefish,” said Alan. “People travel thousands of miles to fish that, and it’s literally just off the island.” The island itself is quite small – small enough that you can walk from the breaking surf on one side to the placid bay on the other side in a matter of minutes. The rocky side of the island is good for surfers, with ocean swells crashing on the shore; the lee side of the island, however, is one of the best beaches in Belize. This 800-footlong, palm-shaded beach has just two docks and virtually no boat traffic. It’s rustic by design, the idea being to leave the natural environs as intact as possible, while providing for basic material comforts. The resort includes 16 thatch-roofed beach cabanas, a well-stocked, open-air kitchen, solarpowered water pumps and heaters, a composting toilet, and sporting equipment. There are no
flush toilets, no maid service, no internet and no air-conditioning. And no one missed any of that, according to Alan, who went with wife Anita, a physician executive at MD Anderson, and their two daughters, Sydney, 17, and Emory, 15, and 12-year-old son Cooper. Perhaps because it’s an alternative, Montessori school, the Post Oak group tends to draw a good percentage of like-minded, outsidethe-box thinkers who are more inclined to enjoy an off-the-grid vacation like this one, Alan said. “It feels like Gilligan’s Island,” said Alan. “It’s just big enough that it’s not boring – but small enough that you’re not really walking far. And you’re literally on a desert island looking at a postcard every single day.” The trip begins in Belize City, where the travelers meet up with their hosts for a dinner and orientation. Southwest offers nonstop HoustonBelize City flights for as low as $310 round trip; United offers nonstop flights that hover around $400. The next morning, they meet at the dock for a three-hour boat ride out to the open sea and down the coast. When they land on the island, their staff is waiting with lunch and a fridge full of soft drinks, mineral water and the national
THE ISLAND LIFE Afternoon surf kayakers always had an audience; Emory Ying catches a bonefish off the pier; Sydney Ying windsurfs in the bay.
Belizean Belikin beer. Then it’s time to explore. “Everything on there has been built by hand; they used an ancient Mayan methodology to make the roofs out of palm fronds, which they bring in from the rainforest in Belize,” Alan said. “Everything has sand floors, and everything is wind- and battery-powered out there, which is incredible. They have all these little windmills, and they charge up battery packs, so every cabana is wired.” At around $2,200 per person for the full seven days, all inclusive, the price includes two nights in Belize City, the private charter boat to the island, all meals and excursions and lessons with skilled teachers and guides. It’s comparable to what one would spend at an upscale resort with all the amenities — which, for Alan, was a plus. “This is not the trip where you are waited on hand and foot next to a pool with umbrella drinks and multiple five-star restaurants on an exclusive resort with lots of marble and air con-
ditioning,” said Alan. “We've all done those trips, and those are lovely, but what we wanted was actual disconnection from that world.” With no wifi or cell phone connectivity, families are more directly immersed in the pristine environs and intimate connection with nature. “We went to this very specifically because we wanted to unplug and do something with the kids – you’ll see the kids of all ages, all gathered around racing hermit crabs, for example, and there’s not a single device, for seven days. And no one ever, not once, ever mentioned it.” People could choose from a wide range of activities, from coconut bocce ball to beach volleyball to visiting a scientific observatory on a neighboring island – and getting there by kayak. Or they could hang out in a hammock on the beach in perfect stillness with a cold beverage and watch the seagulls soar by. But most are too busy adventuring, exploring the island or learning one of the many sporting
activities that are offered. “Every single person left there knowing how to windsurf,” said Alan. “And the snorkeling is incredible, so you don’t have to go far; you’re in the middle of the best snorkeling there is.” The menu is cooked up three times a day by the island staff – lots of local seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits from the local markets and fresh coconuts from the island are high on the menu; vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. But the best part, according to Alan, is living a desert island adventure completely unplugged. “The challenges are different being a family and raising kids now because of how technology and connectivity affects parents, kids, and relationships,” he said. “We find it easier to unplug if the destination is actually disconnected from the world, so we try to find situations that are fun and allow us to detox from the technology whenever we can.” BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 37
Photo courtesy of the Junior League of Houston
FOOD by Judith Peterson, contributing writer
Cooking Buzz A springtime garden party 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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hile out running recently on one of Houston’s glorious-weather days, I thought about the joys of entertaining outdoors and how there’s no better way to connect food and friends than with a spring garden party. For meals in this season, I like to celebrate growth and fresh ingredients, avoiding the heavier meals of winter. The Roasted Red Pepper and Three Cheese Spread from Peace Meals is the perfect flavoring for raw vegetables. Although Peace Meals suggests serving it with hearty crackers, in the spring, I prefer pairing it with a selection of fresh raw vegetables from local farmers’ markets. It can also be served as part of an array of sandwiches on fresh, crusty bread or as a tea sandwich. For a garden party, I serve a variety of sandwiches, including the classic Cranberry Tarragon Chicken Salad from Peace Meals and Egg Salad from Stop and Smell the Rosemary, or, for something distinctive, the Grilled Gruyère and Salmon Sandwich twist on grilled cheese from Peace Meals. For dessert, the Spiced Layer Cake with Berry Filling from Peace Meals is a gorgeous addition to your menu. If you want to make a family event of meal preparation, children love picking berries at nearby farms (our favorite is Blessington Farms) and helping to transform the fruit into a tasty dessert. Consider making this beautiful cake the centerpiece of your table. The Cranberry Tea Punch or Clyde Tea, both from The Star of Texas, are refreshing and light choices. These can be served chilled in a punch bowl or in a large tea dispenser. Consider adding fresh orange or lemon slices to the Clyde Tea or frozen cranberries to the Cranberry Tea Punch to amplify the taste and presentation. Fresh flowers and lightly scented candles on the table complete the garden-party atmosphere. Now it is time to gather your friends and enjoy!
Roasted Red Pepper and Three Cheese Spread From Peace Meals BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 38
PARTY ON THE PATIO Try the Cranberry Tarragon Chicken Salad or Roasted Red Pepper and Three Cheese Spread, both from Peace Meals, with crackers or as fillings for light sandwiches, served al fresco.
8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, shredded 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded ¾ cup mayonnaise 14 ounces roasted red bell peppers, drained ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon dry mustard 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and chopped Combine the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse for 1 minute until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Transfer to a container with a lid and chill until ready to serve. Makes 1 quart.
Cranberry Tarragon Chicken Salad From Peace Meals 4 cups cooked and chopped chicken breast 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup dried cranberries ¾ cup chopped pecans 1 Tablespoon fresh tarragon 1 Tablespoon finely grated lemon zest Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Combine the ingredients and mix well; season with salt and pepper. Chill for at least 1 hour. Serves 4 to 6.
Egg Salad Sandwich From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled 2 to 3 green onions, minced 2 ribs celery plus some leaves, chopped ⅓ cup mayonnaise 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt Freshly ground pepper 8 slices whole wheat bread Mayonnaise (for spreading) 1 head Boston lettuce 2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced While eggs are still warm, place in a bowl and chop with a pastry cutter. Add onions, celery, mayonnaise and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Combine well and chill. Assemble sandwiches using whole wheat bread, additional mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes. Serves 4.
Grilled Gruyère and Salmon Sandwiches From Peace Meals 8 Gruyère cheese slices 8 smoked salmon slices 8 thin slices white sourdough bread 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened Preheat a griddle or large pan to medium-low. Assemble 4 sandwiches by layering the cheese and smoked salmon between the bread slices. Brush the outside of the sandwiches with the soft butter and grilled them for about 2 minutes per side or until the cheese is melted. (Place a slightly heavy pan on the top of each sandwich to help flatten it while cooking.) Place the sandwiches on a cutting board, trim the crusts and cut each into 3 finger-size sandwiches. Makes 12 finger sandwiches.
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BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 39
SPORTS
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz W
ith their third Texas Prep State Wrestling Championship in the last four years, the St. John’s Mavericks are a dynasty in the making in the world of high school wrestling. “This year’s state championship was quite unique in that all 14 of our wrestlers scored significant points. It was the ultimate total team effort,” said St. John’s wrestling coach Alan Paul. The Mavericks’ lone individual state championship came from Ken Matsunaga in the 120pound weight class, with five other St. John’s wrestlers reaching the finals in their respective weight classes, including Sebastian Jimenez (138 pounds), Thomas Grannen (145 pounds), Michael Diachman (160 pounds) John Perdue (182 pounds) and Jack Curtin (190 pounds). In addition, with Ishan Shaw (106 pounds) and heavyweight Eric Johnson finishing third, the Mavericks qualified a record number of eight wrestlers for the upcoming National Prep Championships. If all that weren’t enough, St. John’s also recently won the Texas Dual Prep Championships for the second straight year. “I’d say we also have one of the best coaching staffs in the country,” said Paul. “Alberto Rodriguez was a Cuban Olympian and former world champion. Plus, we have multiple NCAA All-American wrestlers on our staff. Also, our middle school coach, Jeb Ligums, is handsdown the best middle school coach in the state. Add to the mix our youth wrestling program and support from the parents and administration, and we’ve created a blueprint for success that I think is unmatched.” In girls’ soccer, the Emery/Weiner School Jaguars made school history by winning their first ever district championship. In the TAPPS 7-6A district championship game versus Cypress Christian, sophomore forward Sophia Atkins and freshman forward Willa Berry each scored a goal in the ultimate 2-1 victory. “We set out a goal this season to win district, and we did it,” said Jaguars soccer coach Heather Williams. Williams credited the Jaguars’ defense for leading the way to the Jaguars’ historic district championship. “Avery Rubenstein and Tomer Oren are my senior captains and two leaders on
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 40
TOURNAMENT CHAMPS The Bellaire Cardinals kicked off the season in impressive fashion with their championship victory at the Clear Creek ISD soccer tournament.
the back line. They do great work back there. Also, Natalie Hampton is a freshman defender who’s been a difference maker, and junior Simone Newar controls the mid-field and has been great all season. The chemistry of our entire team has been very positive. These girls have a good work ethic and grind it out every single day.” For the third straight year, the St. Thomas Eagles are the TAPPS 4-6A district champions. The Eagles, who advanced to the state finals two years ago and then the state semifinals last season, finished the regular season with an impressive 23-2-1 record. We’ve got five guys who are all in double digits in scoring, which is pretty phenomenal,” said Eagles head soccer coach Kenny Martin. “Alex Rivero leads the way with 21 goals, which is especially amazing since he’s missed part of the season with an injury.” Other top scorers include Pablo Tager (15 goals), Nico Prioli (13 goals), David Steffes (12 goals) and Santiago Labarthe (12 goals). On the flip side, the St. Thomas defense has also been outstanding, with 16 shutouts in 26 games. “Our goalkeeper Robert Vara has been tremendous all season,” said Martin. “The really big thing about this team is our consistency. We’ve gotten better and better as the year has progressed.” The Bellaire Cardinals boys’ soccer team was
off and running to a terrific start to the season with its championship in the Clear Creek Soccer Tournament. The Cardinals won the first three games of the tournament before defeating host Clear Creek 2-0 for the tournament championship. “It was a strong 24-team field, so we were extremely excited to come out on top,” said Cardinals soccer coach Jeremy Rodgers. “It was exactly the kind of momentum we wanted to build on to start district play.” The momentum certainly carried over into district for the Cardinals, with a thrilling shootout victory over the rival Lamar Texans. “We were co-district champions last year, and a lot of our guys are off to great starts this season,” said Rodgers. The Cardinals are paced by senior striker Danny Ramirez, who leads the team in goals and will play college soccer at the University of St. Thomas. The Cardinals’ brothers’ tandem of Alex and Julio Coreas will play collegiately at Gulf Coast College. Rogers also had high praise for the strong play of junior midfielder Jake Loor. Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
We help your child: • Build a solid foundation in academics and character • Develop a love of learning as abstract concepts are presented concretely with the use of excellent learning materials. Our alumni have a record of high achievements at prestigious high schools and colleges. Since 1987 Ages 3 months – 8th grade www.montessorilearninginstitute.com 713-771-5600 713-774-3793 Beechnut Campus Maple Campus
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BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 41
SPORTS
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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
SportzBuzz Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Fighting for the win Pin Oak Middle School’s eighth-grade girls basketball team (top photo) won the Pin Oak Invitational Tournament. The girls faced many challenging opponents during the two-day tournament, including teams from The Village School, Pershing Middle School and Forest Brook Middle School. Pin Oak ultimately won the championship, 22-18, over Plummer Middle School from Aldine. More than 35 fouls were called during the final game as Pin Oak’s scrappy play won out over the taller Plummer girls. The tournament champs are (top row, from left) Maddie Vollrath, Ainsley Pinkerton, Tunie Mullen, Riley Tackett, coach Phyllis Fredericks, Julia Morstead, Sarah Spires, Ashley York, Elisa Adams, Arleth Milan, (bottom row, from left) Mia Lopez, Dazmine Gay, Allie Maglaras and Penny Meehan.
Volley girls It was a great season for the St. Anne Catholic School junior varsity volleyball team (middle photo). The girls had a strong showing at a tournament held at the University of St. Thomas, and also won the St. Pius SPXtreme Sports Series volleyball championship for the junior varsity division. At the end of the season, the St. Anne team finished second with a 14-2 record in the division. The sixth- and seventh-grade junior varsity volleyball team members are (top row, from left) coach Alison Turner, Audrey Plop, Kellen McConn, Erin Baumeister, Isabella Starling, Sarah Bourgeois, (bottom row, from left) Audrey Levine, Sarah Opperman, Olivia Cronin, Nora Orozco and Victoria Parker.
Making waves Fifth-grade swimmers Priscilla Breitbeil and Eva Gei (bottom photo, from left) competed at the Greater Houston Athletic Conference (GHAC) Championship held at the British International School. Priscilla swims breaststroke and backstroke, while Eva competes in freestyle and butterfly. Both girls are members of the St. Mark’s Episcopal School swim team, which is in only its second year of existence. A number of students had expressed interest in being part of a school swim team, so when St. Mark’s was able to find a pool for practices, they established the team. The 22-member team competes in swim meets throughout the Houston area, and practices twice a week at 5:45 a.m. at the Weekley Family YMCA. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis. BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 42
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Identity theft and death ID Analytics reports that nearly 2.5 million deceased Americans’ identities are misused each year. More than two-thirds are inadvertent, i.e., a criminal abused another’s identity unaware the owner had died. Only one-third intentionally targeted the dead. These scavengers will exploit any vulnerable identity, dead or alive. It can be months after a person dies before credit reporting agencies, the Social Security Administration, and the IRS process death records. In the meantime, identity thieves may obtain new credit cards, access existing accounts, or make fraudulent tax refund requests. Family should be cautious when writing obituaries. Decedent’s full name, date of birth, maiden name, mother’s maiden name, home address, or employment and education history reveal a credit profile that can be abused. The risk of post mortem identity theft is minimized by informing the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Internal Revenue Service, employers, life insurance companies, bankers, and brokers. Some probate attorneys do this, or at least prompt family to do so, in the course of estate administration. With or without probate, family should report the death to the IRS and Social Security and contact each credit card company and financial institution to instruct them whether to close the account or, if jointly owned, transfer it to the survivor. On request, credit reporting bureaus will put a “deceased alert” on decedent’s credit report. To learn how, visit www.Equifax.com, www.Experian.com, and www.TransUnion.com. Decedent’s surviving spouse may request a credit freeze on his or her own credit report.
Joint credit card accounts may be closed, not transferred, once informed of either owner’s death. Consider transferring credit cards and other joint accounts before placing a deceased alert. If an executor or administrator is appointed, request both a credit freeze and a copy of the decedent's credit report. Review it for questionable activity, before and after death. For a complete picture, compare the surviving spouse’s credit report to decedent’s. For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission, IdentityTheft.gov, google the Internal Revenue Service for its Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft, read the Social Security Administration’s blog (tag: identity-theft), or see the Texas Attorney General’s site > Consumer Protection > Identity Theft. If you care for someone that’s elderly or disabled, their accounts should be reviewed regularly, and their credit report examined annually. Death doesn’t make identity theft easier to commit, just harder to detect. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog
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CARING Kate Jeong, an eighth grader at Pin Oak Middle School, started a volunteer group to help connect youth to volunteer opportunities, like this arts and crafts event at Noah’s House. Here, she’s pictured with resident Jerry Cimino.
KIDS by Kate Jeong, age 14
Buzz Kidz
When crafting makes a community
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ate’s Caring Committee is a program founded to connect youth to community. I collaborated with Noah’s House for an arts and crafts event with intellectually challenged adults. Residents of Noah’s House created collage art incorporating unique materials. The project encouraged residents to pour out their creativity through visual art, but the event came to mean more than just an activity. During the art-making, there were many difficulties encountered. For example, one resident had had a stroke, which made it difficult for him to cut out materials. Despite the obstacles, not once did I ever see a smile turn upside down; we worked as a team to make the artistic vision happen. As we put pieces together, we talked about silly things we all loved and had in common. That day, I made friends with
some of the most patient, kind people I’d ever met. Additionally, it was awe-inspiring to see what everyone’s artwork looked like at the end. They had started off with similar materials, but came up with a wide variety of ideas. Lots of creative and clever designs were made, and it was absolutely fascinating to see everyone’s out-of-the-box creations. What I found to be the most special thing about the event were the smiles. Everyone was laughing, forming friendships, and creating. I heard, “I’m using this artwork to decorate my room, so my walls will be covered and bright.” It was heartwarming to know I had initiated a program to spark joy within others. Making the project happen were 14 amazing students I had met through the Pin Oak Middle School National Junior Society and advanced
art class: Weston Benner, Josephine Freeman, Sam Lack, Elroe Mengistie, Jessica De Los Angeles, Ella Pham, Maria Rowsey, Cora Lee, TaShanna Davis, Suria Mehta, Shreyas Sinha, Saanvi Sunkavalli and Chloe Stiefel. They all volunteered and contributed their assets that day. Together as a team, we assisted almost 40 residents with creating beautiful artwork! Editor’s note: For more on Noah’s House, search “Home Sweet Home” by Cheryl Ursin (December 2019) at thebuzzmagazines.com. 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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Skin care myths Skin care has become one of the trendiest topics in today’s culture. Between marketing ploys, celebrity endorsements, and old wives’ tales, it is hard to know what is sound advice and what isn’t. As a board-certified dermatologist, I treat patients every day for their skin care needs. Here are a few recurring myths I would like to dispel once and for all: Myth: Healing wounds need to “dry out” or “get air.” In fact, keeping wounds greasy and occluded is far better. By depriving the wound of oxygen from the environment, the body is required to send more oxygen-carrying blood to the wound site. This in turn speeds up the healing process. Greasy ointments that are good for healing include petroleum jelly, Aquaphor or CeraVe healing ointment. Myth: Pricey skin care products are necessary for optimum skin care. In fact, several over-the-counter brands (Cetaphil, CeraVe, Eucerin, Aveeno, Neutrogena, Olay) accomplish equal levels of healing, moisturization, rejuvenation, etc. in comparison to more expensive cosmeceuticals. Simply make sure your skin care regimen includes a physical blocker sunscreen (contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) SPF 30 (or higher) in the morning and a retinol cream at night, and you’ll be set! Myth: If it is cloudy outside, you do not need to wear sunscreen. Even if you are not spending extended periods of time outdoors, you should still wear sunscreen. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun easily penetrates clouds and car windows alike. Stay protected at all times. Myth: There is a “healthy base tan.” A tan is your body’s response to sun-induced injury and only provides pro-
tection equivalent to SPF 4. Once sunlight hits the skin, UV radiation penetrates skin cells, causing damage. The cells respond by releasing melanin (pigment) as a shield to absorb future UV rays. Simply put, a tan is a direct reflection of UV radiation damage. This damage can lead to skin cancer as well as accelerated aging (wrinkles, thin skin and “liver spots”). Myth: Neomycin-containing antibiotic ointments are first-line treatments for skin infections. Although an effective antibiotic, neomycin has a tendency to cause local allergic reactions – even in patients who have previously tolerated it well. Over-the-counter Bacitracin ointment is a better alternative. Myth: Olive oil is great for skin care. Despite being an oil, it is actually drying to skin and hair. Leave it in the kitchen! As always, the skin care team at Bellaire Dermatology seeks to dispel skin care myths and improve your overall skin health – because we believe RESULTS MATTER! Kayla McNiece, Board-Certified Dermatologist and FellowshipTrained Mohs Skin Surgeon, Bellaire Dermatology Associates, 6565 West Loop South, Suite 800, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.661.4383, www.bellairedermatology.com
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Handyman vs. contractor
Neighborhood Tails Kaylee, age 10, Calico, Grand Lake St. I’m Kaylee, a 10year-old calico cat. On a cold January day when I was a kitten, my soon-to-be parents were visiting the site of a lake house they were having built. I came running out of the woods crying “meow, meow” (translation: “Feed me”). Then, I jumped up on Dad’s chest. I must have created an impression because Mom came back the next day with cat food and milk. After slurping it down, I ran across a field into her open car door, sat in the passenger seat and directed her to drive me home. I get along fine with the dogs, after I explained to them who was the boss. I don’t like other cats, though. Living in Bellaire is nice – the food is good, I can watch TV sports on Dad’s lap, and I can hide in the closet if there’s a thunderstorm or the doorbell rings. 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.
Recently Sold in Bellaire. 4815 Locust 4602 Holt 4600 Evergreen 5222 Mimosa
Small repairs always happen in homes. We all have things that need to be fixed. The challenge is what to do, or who to call? I have lost count of the times people have thought a repair on their home was minor, but it actually wasn’t minor, or the repair was made by somebody who was not experienced in that matter, so they did what I call “a Band-Aid repair.” A Band-Aid repair covers the issue but does not cure the matter correctly. Eventually the Band-Aid fails, and your issue is now far worse than it was in the beginning. If you have something such as black spots on your ceiling, water that leaks down your wall, additional bracing needed in the attic, sealing off your exterior, or anything that requires construction experience, it is best to contact a contractor. Handymen, by contrast, can be helpful for things such as hanging pictures, installing door knobs, or hanging a curtain rod. It’s imperative that you always get the right person to diagnose and cure your problem, so you can avoid the wrong repair happening or, even worse, miss a more severe issue that is affecting your home. In the next month I will be launching a new service in Bellaire in which we will be helping our neighbors with situations such as these. Nevertheless, I always like to make sure people understand the difference between what a handyman should do and what a contractor should do. Aaron Lewis, Owner, Luria Construction, LLC, 713.828.2155, www.luriaconstruction.com
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Don’t let asthma control you Jack came to us as a new patient late last year for another opinion on his asthma. He was still experiencing asthma attacks in spite of using his maintenance inhalers daily. Overall, though, he thought his asthma was “pretty well controlled.” Asthma is a chronic condition manifest by wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and/or chest tightness. Some patients have all these symptoms; some just have one or two. Asthma can be mild, moderate or severe. But mild, moderate and severe asthma can all be controlled. Asthma control is defined by how often and how severe the symptoms are. To assess control, we ask five questions: 1) Have asthma symptoms kept you from getting as much done at home, school or work? 2) How often are you experiencing shortness of breath, wheeze, cough or chest tightness? 3) Are you waking up at night because of any asthma symptoms? 4) How often do you have to use your rescue inhaler (e.g., albuterol)? 5) How well do you think your asthma is controlled? Each question can be answered from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating poor control and 5 indicating complete control. When we add up the five answers, we get a total score ranging from 5 to 25. A score between 20 and 25 indicates good control. If your score is below 20, your asthma could be better managed. Many patients with asthma use Advair to prevent asthma symptoms. Advair was state of the art 15 years ago, but much better alternatives are now out. As Advair’s ingredients became generic, the name-brand drug’s price skyrocketed. It now retails for over $450. But a therapeutic alternative, AirDuo, has the
exact same ingredients and can be purchased for $51 at Walgreens using GoodRx. Big difference. For those whose symptoms aren’t adequately controlled on Advair, we have about 8 to 10 newer inhalers that work better. Sometimes, no combination of inhalers provides adequate relief. Fortunately, we also have five biologic injectables to help control asthma. These classes of medication neutralize either the allergic antibody or the allergic white blood cell, and have been shown to be very effective in patients with the most severe types of asthma. Although expensive, each company has very generous co-pay assistance to keep the out-of-pocket costs affordable. Jack’s initial asthma control score was 14, but is now consistently between 19 and 25. He now takes the stairs instead of the elevator, and no longer dreads having to walk across a parking lot to his car. If you feel your asthma is not controlled, we can help. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 47
NEIGHBORS
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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Buzz About Town
Introducing Mr. Bellaire The annual Mr. Bellaire pageant was entertaining as always. The lively pageant features senior BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 48
where dads and daughters danced the night away. This year’s event included a DJ, refreshments, a cookie-decorating bar and a photo booth. Pictured are Condit daughters and dads (pictured, from top) Ryan Knape, Bernie Edwards, Claire Knape, Myles Rose, Nitin Sud, Lillian Sud, Sophia Edwards, Jason Roth, Ellie Roth, Kendall Rose, Garth Beinart, Savannah Beinart, Emerson Sud, Sophie Efron and Eric Efron. See more at thebuzzmagazines.com; search “Dads and Daughters Dance and Dazzle at Beloved Bellaire Event” by Karen Vine Fuller.
Gone to the Grammys B. Bender
Michael Kaplan told his wife Julie that they were celebrating her 50th birthday with a group of friends at a restaurant. A limousine arrived to pick up the Kaplan family. Once at the restaurant, Julie spotted their friends, who surprised her with the fact that the celebration wasn’t actually there. The friends hopped in the limo, and Julie was blindfolded on the way to the surprise destination. When the limo stopped, Julie was escorted (still blindfolded!) through a door. Finally, Michael pulled off the blindfold and, to her astonishment, Julie found herself on center stage at the House of Blues, overlooking 250 friends and family members shouting, “Surprise!” Michael introduced out-of-town family members that he had secretly flown into Houston: Julie’s parents, aunt and uncle and their two sons and three cousins – whom she hadn’t seen in nearly 20 years – with their spouses. The Social, a 17-piece band, had flown in from Miami. As guests sang happy birthday to Julie, confetti guns filled the room, and a sixfoot birthday cake with a big “J” at the top wowed the crowd. Pictured is the Kaplan family: Julie, Michael, Morgan and Garrett.
boys who participate in a costume contest, dance number and talent show. This year, the contestants were Spenser Dale, Ethan Towber, Nathan Schlitzberger, Jared Cordova, Jack Pittman, Soheil Esmaeili, Dany Ramirez, Daniel Priftis, Carlo Hackenberg, Preston Jong, Lloyd Ford, Alex Stonecypher, Michael Batten, Noor Jahlul, Peyton Bayne and Gene Gopon. The escorts were Giulia Sdringola, Reagan Duffey, Dominick Daniel
Jordan Scheiner Photography
Center-stage surprise
Cara Coffman, Eve Fontarosa, Ashley Kennedy, Ashlyn Holly, Emily Reiner, Olivia Mustachia, Emily Hawes, Lauren Ohler, Gabby Wehrung, Julie Fitsch-Mouras, Jessica Hoechstetter, Leigh Vo, Anna Macia and Maddie Wentworth. Judging the event were Kristi Coffey, Buster Adams and Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg. At the end of the night, Gene Gopon was crowned Mr. Bellaire. Gene and his escort, Julie Fitsch-Mouras (pictured), dressed as Mary Poppins and Bert for the costume portion, and Gene sang and played the piano to “Piano Man" by Billy Joel for the talent show. See more details at thebuzzmagazines.com; search “Mr. Bellaire 2020” by School Buzz reporter Olivia Baba.
Daddy-daughter dance The 20th annual City of Bellaire’s Daddy Daughter Dance was a hit. The Frozen-themed event took place in the new Bellaire Civic Center
The Houston Chamber Choir, an award-winning professional ensemble, won a Grammy Award for “Best Choral Performance” for its Signum Records recording of (continued on page 50)
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Complete Choral Works,” a performance of music by 20thcentury French composer Maurice Duruflé. Houston Chamber Choir founder and artistic director Robert Simpson conducted, with Ken Cowan on organ. Simpson and his wife, Marianna Parnas-Simpson (pictured), a Houston Chamber Choir member, accepted the award at the ceremonies in Los Angeles. The recording was also part of a second Grammy that Blanton Alspaugh won for Producer of the Year, Classical, for his work on eight recordings. See houstonchamberchoir.org for upcoming concerts.
Pooja Salhotra
(continued from page 48) “Duruflé:
Slam dunk
Sharing cultures
Every year, Condit Elementary holds the International Festival, also known as iFest, to celebrate students’ cultural diversity. This year's theme was flavors of the world. Kids dressed up in costumes from their country of their origin or choice. Condit families gathered to see performances and enjoy dishes prepared by parent volunteers. Committee chairs were Alicia BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 50
Tomjanovich. Also honored was the late Robert C. McNair, the man credited with bringing the NFL back to Houston. McNair was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Pictured are friends and family of Peter Berry, plus Houston Astros player Jose Altuve, whose walkoff home run won the Moment of the Year Award. For more details and a video of J.J. Watt presenting the award to Peter Berry, search “Houston Sports Awards: Celebrating A Golden Era of Houston Sports” by Pooja Salhotra.
Honoring Houston athletes
A toast to Bellaire neighbors
The who’s-who of Houston sports gathered at the Hilton Americas-Houston for the third annual Houston Sports Awards, a Roaring 20sthemed affair. Strake Jesuit graduate Matthew Boling, who set the national high school record for the 100-meter dash, took home the High School Athlete of the Year award. Peter Berry, the 18-year-old Emery/Weiner senior who helped lead TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Junior Hotwheels basketball team to three national titles since 2013 and one national softball title, was also honored. After losing the use of his legs following a car crash that took his parents’ lives in 2011, Berry dedicated himself to wheelchair basketball and has become a Houston sports icon. Starting this fall, he’ll play for the two-time defending national wheelchair champions University of Alabama. Berry accepted the city’s first Inspiration Award, presented by Houston Texans player J.J. Watt. Three legends were inducted into the 2020 Class of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame: Olympic gold medalists Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton plus former Houston Rockets coach and player Rudy
The Patrons for Bellaire Parks hosted its annual Martini Party, prelude to its upcoming Wine and Tapas Gala, at The 77 Events Room. The Martini Party was co-chaired by board members Rebecca Phillips and Kristi Coffey. President Sharon Veldman announced at the event that this year’s Wine and Tapas Gala honorees will be Bellaire police Chief Byron Holloway, and his wife, Linda Holloway. The will take place March 28 on The Great Lawn at Bellaire Town Square, 7-11 p.m. Pictured at the Martini Party are (from left) Brian Lopez, April Lopez, James Peery, Holly Peery, (continued on page 52)
Rebecca Phillips
It was a dream come true for the Pin Oak Middle School’s seventh-grade boys’ basketball team to meet Houston sports icon Hakeem Olajuwon at the Kinkaid basketball tournament. Hakeem was there supporting his son, who was also playing in the tournament that day, and kindly agreed to take a photo with POMS students (pictured) Juan Alanis, Brayden Blackburn, Andrew Brown, Greg Burleigh, Edward Campbell, Ejypt Lundy, Devin Singh, Grant Stewart, Lukas Thorning and Luke Wang.
Escamilla and Mona Sharique. These Condit second and third graders performed a Bollywood fusion dance. Pictured are (second row, from left) students Sohum Bhardwaj, Sradha Valluru, Diyan Jagushte, Rhea Roy, Siya Patel, Aarya Pawaskar and Rayan Bhardwaj; (in back) moms Pratima Roy, Swetha Bopparaju, Kajal Jagushte, Shruti Patel, Varsha Pawaskar and Jyoti Bhardwaj; (in front) siblings Satvik Valluru, Hrisha Jagushte and Mira Patel.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 51
(continued from page 50) Michael Marx, Kelley
Marx, Jorge Puig, Esther Puig, Charles Kalas and Lindsey Kalas. See bellaireparks.org.
Caring about kindness
Newly formed Bellaire Daisy Troop 147172 met in the H-E-B Bellaire community room. They discussed how they can be caring, considerate, friendly and helpful and created posters that represented these actions. They earned their Considerate and Caring petal as well as their Friendly and Helpful petal. Troop leaders are Morgan Steinberg and Jenny Vann. Pictured are (top row, from left) kindergarteners Hadley Perkins, Maya Jacobs, Hailey Vann, Alexa Tavor, (bottom row, from left) Abiola Bello, Kayla Steinberg, Adalyn Kim and Vivienne Haisler.
Scouts meet Masons Temple Lodge #4 AF & AM hosted Bellaire Boy Scout Troop 222 for a special event. The evening began with the Boy Scouts conducting a flag-retirement ceremony, which respectfully disposed of more than 25 U.S. flags. The ceremony was followed by a barbecue dinner for guests. The Boy Scouts were given a tour of the ceremonial Lodge Rooms. Special guests included Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg, Raul Sarmiento, Brian Dodson and Kevin Binder. U.S. District Court Judge David Hittner, a lodge member who has been involved with the Boy Scouts since his youth, displayed his scout memorabilia and discussed similarities between the Scout Order of the Arrow and Mason rites. Five scouts who recently earned their Eagle rank – Zachary Caruthers, Elias Han, Eric Huang, Edward Jin and Kodi Snearly – were honored. Pictured are troop members, lodge members and special guests.
It’s a jungle out there Horn Elementary students competed in the HISD One Act Play Festival at Tanglewood Middle School. Nine elementary schools participated. Horn performed an adaptation of The Jungle Book directed by drama teacher Lisa Miller. Fourth graders Allegra Marx (Shere Khan) and Leeland El-Hakam (Mowgli) took home Outstanding Performance awards. Fifth grader Taylor Vondenstein (student director) was awarded Best Crew Member. Pictured are the cast and crew.
schools will receive a banner. Students may enter at the Bellaire Library or mail their entry; see more details here: fotbl.com/bookmark-contest. Pictured is Penelope Caraballo working on an entry at the kickoff activity held at the library.
Words can change the world
Bookmark this The Friends of the Bellaire Library is hosting its inaugural Bookmark Contest, open to all students, grades K-12. Local artists will judge the contest, and winning entries will be displayed at the Bellaire Library. Students may use any medium, using the designated space on the entry form. Contest submissions are due by March 13. Winners will receive a hanging canvas and 25 bookmarks featuring their artwork. Winning bookmarks will be given out by the library, and contest winners’
Congregation Emanu El Sisterhood, in partnership with the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation and Houston Public Library, will hold its annual fundraising event, Words Change the World, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. The event at Congregation Emanu El will feature humanitarian Barbara Pierce Bush in a moderated Q&A focusing on her life as a daughter and granddaughter of presidents, her global health initiative, and literacy. A Yale University graduate, she is co-founder of Global Health Corps and co-author of Sisters First, a bestseller written with her twin sister Jenna Bush Hager. Co-chairs are Kathy Parven and Shelley Wisner. See emanuelhouston.org. Pictured are (from left) Kathy Parven, Barbara Pauly and Sylvia Brody volunteering with the Friends of the Houston Public Library at the Book Warehouse. The Book Warehouse welcomes volunteers ages 13 and up; see connect4literacy.org. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 52
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NEIGHBORS
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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
Coming clean (sort of)
BELLAIRE BUZZ MARCH 2020 54
behance.net/runamokstudios
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hey’re the stuff of movies, those not-toobright teenage shenanigans that we improbably got away with. Think Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Tom Cruise in Risky Business, the kings of keeping things from their parents. Unlike Ferris and Joel, most of us didn’t get citywide parades in our honors or host epic parties in our parents’ absence that lasted for days. But in our own ways, we’ve each been there. Do you have a teenage memory or two waiting to be confessed after years of secrecy? These readers shared theirs (albeit anonymously), and they’re good for a laugh – and maybe a trip down memory lane. “My older sister’s friend always parked her jalopy on the street in front of our house. My dad would fuss and tell her to pull into the driveway because he was afraid someone would hit [the car] on the street. One day, I was backing out of the driveway fast, and as I curved off the driveway onto the street, I rammed into that ugly car. The friend wasn’t there, so I ran inside to tell my sister. She talked me into keeping it a secret because she said we had warned the friend repeatedly not to park there. So I snuck my own car to the car dealer and got a new backlight and they banged out my back dent. My dad got home and went ballistic and called the neighborhood cops and told them some hoodlum had crashed the parked car! OMG we never told either the girlfriend or my dad. The friend is still my sister’s best friend, but we don’t think she would find the humor like we do.” “In 1965, my parents were giving a cocktail party. When the liquor delivery truck came, nobody was home, so they put it in the garage. My friend Shorty and I backed his car into the garage and put it all in the trunk. Mother called the police, and Shorty and I simply stood there while Mother made the report.” “My brother and I [he was 4 years older] didn’t get along very well growing up. But one thing that brought us together was throwing a party one summer at our parents’ house when our parents were out of town. He was home from college, and I was in high school. We moved furni-
SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY Many of us pulled some stunts as teenagers that live in our memories and make us shake our heads.
ture and rolled up rugs. Had the party, then put the house back together the next morning, when we weren’t feeling too good. It was a bonding experience.” “When I was 13, I decided to sneak my dad’s car out and teach myself how to drive. It was a stick shift. Every time my parents went on a date night or to a party, I would take his car out for a spin. When he got a new Mercedes, I couldn’t resist that either. I would drive around Tyler in my dad’s convertible Mercedes picking up friends. I can’t believe I never got caught or that my dad wouldn’t notice gas draining quickly from his car on weekends or that my parents’ friends never saw me tooling around town! I did this from 13 to 15, until I got my hardship license and, needless to say, passed the test with flying colors.” “My favorite story really doesn’t count because my parents did find out. We had a formal, and a bunch of girls had an after-party where we slept over in an extra condo one of our
parents had. My mom came up to pick me up the next morning and saw one of the dates there, still in his tux. She thought we brought home a waiter!” “When I was a senior in high school, my friends and I would drive around and change the lettering on signs, usually church signs because they were low to the ground and had lots of letters we could use. We would change the letters Saturday night just before Sunday services. Don’t you know the ministers just loved us?” “As a grown-up, this sounds so awful I almost can’t say it out loud. We were probably 17 and driving around with nothing to do sometime before Christmas. I don’t know what possessed us, but we stole someone’s Christmas lights. Took them right off the trees. We thought it was hilarious, but, looking back, it really wasn’t!” Editor’s note: To confess your own teenage mischief, comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.