Issuu

Anna Jones

Resolutions Times 100 by Andria Frankfort

Affording College High-Tech Fitness Digital Garage Sale Racing and Hoping Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

This Month in Dining: Cooking Classes

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

promise to… Yep, it’s a New Year, and that can only mean one thing: New Year’s resolutions. Love them or hate them, we all make them, and unfortunately we all break them. Well, maybe not all of us. Buzz resident Anna Jones made seven New Year’s resolutions last year and found a creative way to actually achieve almost all of them. You can read about Anna’s strategy and perhaps gain a bit of inspiration for yourself in this month’s Back Porch column, Resolutions Times 100. If you have young children there’s a good chance you’ve already made the resolution to start saving for their college education. Whether you’ve just begun to save or are in the home stretch with a college senior, be sure to check out Cheryl Laird’s article, Affording College, packed with great money-saving ideas. My resolution? To not wait until the last minute to write this publisher’s note each month. I’ll start next month. Promise. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 westubuzz.com • facebook.com/westubuzz Editor Publisher Associate Editors Vice President, Sales Staff Writers

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jay Janecek Tracy L. Barnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Michelle Maresh Jordan Magaziner John Duboise Leslie Little Andrea Blitzer Darsey Swaim Erin Thompson Laura Callan Helen Hamilton Michele Luke

On our cover: To record progress toward her “100s” goals, Anna Jones kept a lined notebook on her kitchen counter and logged every step. Cover photo by Kevin Long, www.gulfcoastshots.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. Editorial content does not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. Copyright © 2014 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Setting holiday table early I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Easy Entertaining article (by Annie Blaylock McQueen, November 2013) and the wonderful advice that was shared. Around this time of year I am always looking for suggestions to make entertaining as stress free as possible. I especially found Marian Hilpert’s advice about getting easy things out of the way, like setting the table a couple of days in advance. [It is] something I will do when preparing for our next holiday celebration. Missy Belcher Go, Tarzan I really enjoyed the article about “Tarzan’s” house (You Live Here?!, by Alex Daily, December 2013). It is great when people march to the beat of their own drum. I would like to see more photos of the house. Thanks. Brooke Hamilton Thanks for photo of photos Many thanks for the article (Buzz Pics – Our Ancestor Wall: A photo collection in a quiet family home bursts with tales of predecessors’ heroism, hard work and frontier spirit, December 2013). I was pleased and surprised to see it in this issue. It was very nice to work with the Buzz team. Many thanks for your kindness and work. Joy Hall Online stories never die Thanks so much for your quick response. It’s great to be able to reach Mr. Josey through you. I am not old enough to be easily impressed by technology and communications in today’s world, but it’s really quite fascinating that one moment I am reading about a person whom I’ve never met, who lives 10,000 miles away in Texas, and the next moment I have a way to reach him directly and get in touch. I came across the Buzz article (Soldiers In Arms, by Terri Scott, March 2011) searching the Internet to find toy soldier collectors, particularly of the Lucotte brand. It was fun to read! Again, thanks so much for your help. Jorge Ignacio Oría, Buenos Aires, Argentina Editor’s note: Mr. Oría contacted the magazine to reach local toy-soldier collector Lenoir Josey. Mr. Oría’s father had collected more than 1,000 antique Lucotte figures, most in Argentina and Uruguay in the 1970s. Many originally were collected decades earlier in Paris and Italy. We were happy to get the Texan and Argentinian together.

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Yay for expanded delivery Greetings. Although I do not live in Bellaire per se, I live “next door.” My wife and I do a lot of business in Bellaire including meals at Jax, Auntie Pasto’s and others. Our dentist and dry cleaner are in Bellaire. In short, we feel like we are part of the Bellaire community. That’s why we like to read The Bellaire Buzz. Unfortunately, we were not always able to do so because the only place we could find it was at Jax Grill, which sometimes had no copies left! Imagine my surprise recently when we received a copy in the mail. Yes, we were “Our Neighbors At,” but we got it nevertheless. Not sure whose idea it was to send it by mail, but please allow us to applaud and thank you for that decision. We will faithfully read each edition, look at the advertisers, and enjoy the stories. Thanks for including us who are “almost in Bellaire.” Jonathan House Editor’s note: For those readers who live elsewhere, you may be interested to know that The Buzz publishes four neighborhood magazines. For all four, 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 funny summer camp story to share. • have a unique Spring Break planned. • are or know a daredevil. • have a personal photo with a meaningful story behind it. • know a fascinating Buzz-neighborhood resident we should profile. 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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BUZZ PICS

Racing and Hoping A 12-year-old boy takes on a 70-mile triathlon on behalf of his twin brother and younger sister, who are both fighting a rare, fatal disease. Submitted by Lagenia Clark When and where was this photo taken? It was taken Nov. 3 at the Oilman Texas HalfIronman Triathlon finish line. Who is pictured? Justin, Jared and Lexi Clark. Jared is a seventh grader at Pin Oak Middle School, Justin is a seventh grader at Crossroads School, and Lexi is a third grader at Horn Academy. What is happening here? At 12 years old, Jared was the youngest competitor of the 700 participants. An experienced triathlete, he’s competed in 50 races of varying distances and sizes. However, this race was different. At 70.3 miles, not only was it the longest race Jared had ever attempted, but it also held significant meaning. He was racing to raise awareness and funds to help fight GAN – an extremely rare, fatal, genetic disease that has affected his twin brother Justin and younger sister Lexi. In August, Justin was diagnosed with Giant Axonal WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 8

Neuropathy (GAN). After further genetic testing, it was determined that Lexi also has the disease. Roughly only 50 children worldwide have GAN, and research is sparse. Fortunately, there is hope. A nonprofit organization called Hannah’s Hope Fund (HHF) is helping fight GAN. Scientists hired by the fund have found a potential cure, and HHF hopes to get approvals from the FDA to start human clinical trials at the National Institute of Health in 2014. These trials are the only lifeline that Justin, Lexi and other GAN kids have. Why is this photo special to you? I am Justin, Lexi and Jared’s mom. When Jared learned his siblings had GAN, he decided to dedicate his upcoming half-ironman race to them and ask supporters to pledge a dollar amount per mile that he was racing. With approval from his doctors, Jared trained for his race with swimming, spin class, cross-country running and biking. He completed the Oilman Triathlon with a time of 8:18:05.

Jared achieved his goal. Not only did he finish the race, but he raised awareness for GAN. Television crews, newspapers and social media followed the story. HHF received donations from around the world, and pieces ran throughout the United States and Europe. However, this is not the finish line for our family. If you would like to help, please go to Justinstriumph.org or hannahshopefund.org and consider making a taxdeductible donation to help cure this disease. Every picture tells a story. Buzz Pics highlights a resident’s special photo and tells the story behind it. To submit your own Buzz Pics, send a high-resolution photo and answers to the Q&A questions. Total word length, including the questions, should be 300350 words. Send to info@thebuzzmagazines.com, or call 713-668-4157, ext. 22. With a print photo, bring it by or mail to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Please include your email, phone and home address. Stories may be edited for clarity or space.

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NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

High-Tech Fitness seeing how little things – housework, stairs – count as much as intense cardio. I try to get those little bars to go from yellow to orange to dark orange, which means my intensity level is high.” Carla Buerkle is a food stylist and bought a Fitbit wondering if the steps she took at work between the kitchen and studio were significant. “I really want to make those 10,000 steps a day,” she says. “I found that I was putting in three to six miles at work, which helped with the guilt of not workCOMPETITORS Friends Christy Robertson and Christy Labban (from left) sync their ing out on days I Jawbone UP wristbands to compare activity and sleep habits. have a shoot. And for change. “I realized how little good sleep I was I see that I am not very active on days I work in getting. So I turned off the TV and saw myself the office, so I have to go work out.” getting better quality sleep.” Alternatively, Ernie Rapp, vice-president for Beyond fitness, there are deeper waters to finance at FROSCH Travel, says his 2-monthexplore if you’re curious about personal tracking. old Fitbit “didn’t exactly take the fun out of the Tinke gives real-time vitals like heart and respiholidays” this year. When asked if wearing it has ratory rates and blood oxygen levels, translating changed his habits, Ernie admitted, “Not yet. data into Vita (vital stats) and Zen (stress levels). But it’s made me aware of how little I’m exercisMoodpanda tracks moods and what influences ing as opposed to what I need to be doing. them. Momento is a journal-writing app. “Now that I know my daily benchmark, there 42Goals tracks goals. Mint tracks finances. will come a time when I have to change my Facebook tracks events, places you’ve been, habits and double my steps. Eventually I’ll be friends and photos. And if you want to track your able to track my overall health better.” tracking, Klout measures the likelihood that A mom of three agrees. “Wearing the Fitbit friends will comment on your Facebook posts. only made me more aware of what I was doing. Personally, I’m holding out for the gadget that It didn’t change my lifestyle.” But when her tracks calories eaten and drunk and burns them attorney husband wore one, while his activity off upon consumption. level remained constant, he used the sleep data

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www.hartphoto.com

hink a healthy diet and solid exercise routine are all you need to carry you to your New Year’s fitness goals? Some say think again: On their own, these tactics just might be passé. Enter the world of quantifying. Everything. Or as Gary Wolf, a contributing editor at Wired magazine and co-founder of the blog the Quantified Self, calls it, “self knowledge through numbers.” Much of that knowledge is being tracked by ordinary people wanting to live fitter lives, people wearing smart fitness devices, using numbers in an effort to improve. These gadgets in their various forms – watches, wristbands, armstraps – track all things physical, from sleep to calories burned to steps taken. The devices sync with smartphones and computers, some wirelessly and some via plugging in, to provide visual, quantified aggregates of the wearer’s lifestyle. Cost for basic smart wearables ranges from $99 to $150. Cassie Gallagher, a personal trainer and owner of West U Fitness, is a proponent. “For the average person driving and sitting all day, you’d be surprised at how inactive you are,” Cassie says. Wearing a smart device like a Fitbit or Nike+ spotlights activity – or lack thereof. Depending on the device you choose, you might also be able to track fitness goals, sleep quality, how much you’ve eaten and how much of it you’ve burned. The idea is that by tracking the information and filtering it into goals and numbers and graphs, you’ll be motivated to do more and be better. Sometimes that’s the case, sometimes it’s not. An energy consultant who asked to remain anonymous is a competitor at heart. So when the company she was working for gave employees Nike+ FuelBands and formed teams to compete for the farthest distance run, she was in. “It definitely changed my behavior,” she says. “At the end of the day, I’d check to see where my team stood. If we were behind, I’d go out for a run that night to get us ahead.” Mom Christy Labban has used another smart wristband, Jawbone UP, for the past several months. She syncs with friends: “We can see each other’s activity and how we slept the night before,” she says. “What’s really motivating is

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NEIGHBORS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Digital Garage Sale borhoods include West University Trading and Westbury/Meyerland/ Bellaire Trading, which are “closed,” not “secret,” groups, meaning you can “see” the group page and ask to join. Any current member can approve and add you. The social/support group Bellaire Young Mothers also has a trading site, but it’s not on Facebook. To join, an application is required through the group’s website, bellaireyoungmothers.org, along with proof of a 77401, 77005, 025, 027, 081 or 096 zip code and a child under the age of 5. Tricia Onufer, a mom of two, has used the Bellaire Young Moms’ email listserv for years. The group has come in DIGITAL DEALS Jennifer Oakley (at left) found the perfect couch and chairs handy for locating near- for sale on the Facebook group West University Trading, which was created by ly impossible-to-find friend Jackie Sharbrough. items, like breast milk. grandmother’s dining table. She willed me all “There was a mom who was looking for breast this furniture. I don’t know what to do with it milk for a premature baby. At the time I had a now,’” said Jackie. three-month supply in our freezer,” said Tricia. “I have people tattle tale a lot. There was one “She was looking to buy it. I just gave it to her.” lady who emailed and said, ‘Is there any way to Jennifer Buechler, a mom with four kids, is a make it a closed group because my family in member of all four groups. Memorial City Mall New Jersey is watching everything I am selling is her meeting spot of choice for Memorial-area on Facebook,’” said Jackie, who agreed to trades. “My husband keeps asking me, ‘Why are change the security settings. you going to the mall again?’” She has even wonJennifer Oakley, a mother of five and member dered what the mall security guards think when of West University Trading, turned the overthey see her accept cash in trade of her goods. whelming task of redecorating into a fun game Jackie Sharbrough, owner of the annual by furnishing an entire room in her house with Urban Market Houston Antique Show, started finds on West University Trading. Facebook’s West University Trading. Instead of swiping her credit card at a pricey “Because of Urban Market, my friends would store, now she can just check her Facebook feed. come to me all the time and say, ‘I have my

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www.hartphoto.com

atie Shackelford Bennett is a busy mother of three. She spends a lot of time on Facebook but not looking at funny dog videos. She is the founder and administrator of a Facebook group with more than 3,000 members called Memorial Area Trading. It’s a “secret” group where members can buy and sell high-end goods by posting photos, like a neighborhood Craigslist. To join a secret group on Facebook – it doesn’t show up in search results – a current member must add you and the request be approved by the group administrator. The first member to comment, “Interested,” under a photo has first dibs and can then choose to buy or “Pass” the item. Items range from a used pair of skis to shoes to an antique armoire. It was slow to catch on for residents after starting in March 2013, but with more than 3,000 members now, mostly women, it has gained momentum. Even Katie’s friends who are on the site, like accountant Lucy Branca, have to follow the rules. “My husband and I bought a vintage Coke machine [on the site] from Katie and her husband,” said Lucy. Lucy followed protocol by commenting, “Interested.” “I didn’t want to get in trouble with Katie,” she said, laughing. Katie’s duties, among others, are to put out little digital fires. “Someone sent me a private message with three very long paragraphs complaining because people were ‘Liking’ the items she was posting but not buying them. She wanted me to make it a part of the rules people can’t ‘Like’ items,” said Katie. “I want to say, ‘Take it as a compliment. Calm down.’” Members of the group best mind the rules of the game. “I removed one person from the site. Six people reported her for not showing up to look at an item,” said Katie. “I get about six personal messages a day from members.” Katie spends a lot of her personal time running the site, without pay, just because she thinks it’s a cool idea for her community. “My husband is not happy with [the site], but I spend less time than he thinks I do as far as administrating it,” she said, laughing. Other Facebook trading groups in Buzz neigh-

Family loans Have children or family ever asked you for money? The IRS presumes family transfers are gifts and expects a gift tax return from you, the supposed lender, unless you can prove a loan. The IRS is curious whether there was a written promissory note, interest charges, security or collateral, a fixed maturity date, demands for repayment, actual payment, the ability to repay, loan accounts, or disclosure on federal income tax returns. These are good practices even for loans small enough to escape IRS scrutiny. Too many parents die with loans outstanding to one child or another, leaving hard feelings and few records. Interest generally must be charged. The IRS sets minimum rates, called the Applicable Federal Rate, that vary with the length of the loan. Special rules apply to demand loans. New AFRs are published each month. Real estate presents special problems. Imagine you find your dream home, but can’t qualify for the loan. Your parents want to help, so they buy the house for you. The note and deed of trust is in their name, and so is the title. The plan is for you to pay the note, but no one tells the lender, because otherwise your parents wouldn’t get the loan, either. Some time after closing your parents deed the house to you. You make all the note payments yourself, and everyone lives happily ever after. This is the wrong approach, for several reasons. It’s fraud on the lender to conceal the real party in interest. If you divorce before the note’s paid, your ex may take the house, leaving your parents to pay the note. And any

gift deed is public record, giving the IRS as much time as they need to discover and audit the transaction. Better to buy the home in your own name. Close through a title company. Give your parents a note secured by a deed of trust. If your parents finance only part of the transaction, they may take a second lien position, behind the bank. A lawyer is not necessary. Any Texas real estate agent can prepare a third party financing addendum that gives the title company and their fee attorney all the information necessary to prepare the loan documents. This article was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. 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 So., Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com

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NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Laird, staff writer

Affording College

hink you make too much money for your kids to get financial aid for college? There’s a good chance you’re wrong. So says Buzz resident Brannon Lloyd, a bearded and blunt college planner on the seminar circuit. He takes a topic that manages to be simultaneously scary and dull and, with rapid-fire delivery, spurs sleepy audiences to frantically scribble notes. If you’re new to the college-admissions process, every word seems like manna. “Private schools are often cheaper than state schools. Ignore the list price.” “You can negotiate with a college, but don’t call it that. Call it ‘review’ or ‘appeal’ and show competing offers.” “It is less expensive to send two kids to college at the same time, the way the formulas work.” At a recent PTO meeting at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, these were some of the first bombs Lloyd threw into the room. Parents sat up and reached for pens and paper. Their notes looked something like this: • Apply to some less prestigious schools that would consider you a top recruit, in the top 1020 percent of incoming freshmen. They will give you money. • Consider private schools. Although the sticker price is high, many give away lots of money. Also, you’re more likely to graduate in four years from a private college. • Only a tiny percentage of available college money is in private scholarships. The rest is from the government and the college. Focus first on those options. • Don’t make lots of income in your child’s “base year,” the year before college starts. • Most money in the child’s name – savings accounts, etc. – counts against you more in financial-aid formulas. Kids should take out Roth IRAs with money they earn. • A trust in the student’s name often counts against you. You can move the money back to a trust later. Or spend it on a major-related summer program during high school, especially at a college of interest. • Loans make college more expensive, not less. Try for free money first.

PRICE OF EDUCATION Evan Mintz said Rice University and Cardozo School of Law in New York were affordable, despite this 2011 photo spoof, thanks to then-lower tuition, the Texas Tomorrow Fund, a National Merit Scholarship, a law-school scholarship and parents who helped pay off his loans.

• Sticker prices aren’t the real price. • Google “cost of attendance,” or COA, and the name of the school to add in room/board, fees, books, etc. • Google the school’s name and “net price” for a calculator to see how much financial aid you can expect and your EFC, “expected family contribution.” • Don’t assume you make too much money to be eligible for financial aid. Fill out the forms. • When you fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), don’t list assets you don’t have to, including your primary residence and retirement accounts. • The older the oldest parent, the more assets you get to exclude. • Apply to exactly eight schools. Too many, and the colleges see you as a long shot. Too few, and they see you as too eager for their school. They know the schools you apply to because you list them on the FAFSA form. • Alphabetize the schools on your FAFSA. Otherwise, if you list a college first, it will think

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it’s your first choice and that it doesn’t need to lure you with money. • The optimal date to send in the FAFSA is Jan. 18. Don’t wait until your taxes are done. Once you file your taxes, update your FAFSA. • Do not file an extension on your taxes that year. The colleges will not release money to you until your taxes are done. • Check out Texas’ student-loan site, hhloans.com. It may offer lower rates than the federal loans. • The Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation gives interest-free loans to Texas students going to Texas colleges. • Avoid scholarship scams. It’s free to apply for a scholarship. • The PSAT is as important as the SAT for getting a scholarship. • Best scholarship book: Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes. • Best scholarship website: fastweb.com. But they sell your information, so use a new, unique email address to sign up.

• Another good scholarship site to visit: collegeboard.org • Good site for college reviews and breakdown of majors, but take with grain of salt because student-reported: collegeprowler.com • If you want ethnicity-based scholarships, apply to a region and college that needs you the most, where you are not the ethnic majority. • Grades are the most important factor for admissions; standardized test scores are the most important factor for financial aid. • Look for a school that has a new major/program it wants to fill with students. • Look for a school that is very strong in one major and then apply under a different, lesserknown major. • If you apply binding early-decision, you have a 30 percent greater chance of being admitted. But early-decision means you will get less financial aid since you have promised to attend. • Don’t let schools know they are first choice until final appeal when you show them competing financial-aid offers at other schools. • While well-intentioned, 529 plans can reduce the money given by colleges because the college knows you must spend that money on education. • The College Board’s CSS (College Scholarship Search)/Financial Aid Profile form is easy to fill out incorrectly, so be careful. It’s used by fewer than 400 schools, but they are the better schools. • If grandparents help pay, they should write a check to the parents or child, not directly to the school. It can cause the college to reduce aid. • When you pay tuition, line itemize the fees and don’t pay for what you don’t want – parking, sports tickets, etc. • Health insurance often is cheaper through the university than your family plan. At this PTO seminar, Lloyd, who has children at Carnegie Vanguard High School and Pin Oak Middle School, said he was on a mission to demystify the admissions process. He also hoped to drum up a few clients for his company, The College Money Guys, which provides student counseling as well as college admissions and financing services. For those who can’t or won’t pay the several thousand dollars, he said, families certainly can tackle college funding themselves. One local parent, Dr. Helene Sheena, did just that, along with her oldest daughter, Michelle, who received multiple offers and accepted a fullride scholarship to Tulane University. It helped that Michelle made good grades, played sports, volunteered and was a longtime Girl Scout. Michelle is a Lamar High School graduate, and her two younger sisters, Brittney and Erin, both go to Lamar. Their mom says the high school guidance counselors (and Google) helped them find scholarship opportunities. And mom attended all the college-prep talks. “I went to every one of those. Even once I had heard it all, I kept going,” she said. “Start planning early. It’s just a matter of planning.”

GREEN WAVE Sisters Brittney, Erin and Michelle Sheena (from left) celebrate homecoming with Tulane University president Scott Cowen. Brittney and Erin attend Lamar High School, and Lamar graduate Michelle is at Tulane on scholarship.

Also, she says, some universities will tell you up front what tuition discount you are likely to receive based on your GPA and scores, assuming you are accepted. It’s no secret that students don’t all pay the same tuition. Last year, the average tuition discount rate for full-time freshmen at private schools was 45 percent, according to a survey released by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Public schools also offer some discounts, and, in some situations, offer in-state tuition to out-of-state students. A lot of tuition discounts go to high-achieving and/or low-income students, and advice to middle- or upper-income families on how to get a piece of the rest varies. Each family’s situation is unique, and the guidance out there isn’t consistent. While Lloyd preaches against 529 plans because they count against you in the needanalysis formulas, other advisors say the penalty is minimal. Christopher Maurer, a certified financial planner, says it depends, but Roth IRAs or life insurance generally are good choices: “An equal amount of money in a 529 plan would result in less financial assistance than would the same amount of money positioned in cash-value life insurance or a Roth IRA. All three provide for no tax deduction when money is contributed, tax-free/deferred earnings and tax-free distributions. However, if the child does not go to college or the money isn’t needed for education, the funds in the Roth IRA or life insurance can

be used for the parents’ retirement. “A client of mine (husband and wife) retired in their early 50s. Their daughter elected to go to an expensive out-of-state college. Most of their wealth was positioned in exempt assets – life insurance, retirement accounts and home equity. While their cash flow is high, their taxable income is low due to how we have it structured for tax purposes. Their daughter received significant financial aid even though the family’s net worth is in excess of $3,000,000. Had there been no 529 plan, their daughter would have received in all likelihood received an even greater amount of financial aid.” Maurer says another creative planning technique is for parents in a high tax bracket to give appreciated assets, such as stock, to their 18-orolder child, who most likely is in a 0 percent tax bracket. The child can then sell the stock, paying no taxes. A finance-savvy, middle-income Buzz parent with a child at The University of Texas at Austin says her daughter didn’t qualify for aid. She relies on cash-flow strategies, the annual $2,500 American Opportunity federal tax credit and the UT-offered payment plan to avoid debt. She recommends Zac Bissonnette’s Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching off My Parents.

MORE ONLINE See this story online at westubuzz.com for links to more resources.

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TRAVEL by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Tourist vs. Traveler

elissa Law would love to take on the “when in Rome” mentality when traveling, but having three small children has compelled her and husband Marshall to plan ahead and take the tourist track. Amanda Rutt grew up with traveling parents who eschewed attractions and practiced learning from the locals. Now a mother of two, she teaches her sons to travel in the same way. Maybe you’re a Melissa; maybe you’re an Amanda. More likely, you’ve got a bit of both in you. We’ve called on both Houston travelers to offer their stories and their advice. First, Melissa. This summer, the family took its first trip to Disney World. A month out from the trip, Melissa felt confident in their plans. She had booked the hotel and planned the drive. She knew that she could buy park tickets from the hotel concierge. But then she talked to a friend who asked, “Which parks are you going to?” Confused, she asked, “Parks? We are going to Disney World!” Suddenly she learned that Disney World was actually made up of four different theme parks, each with its own ticket for admission and means of transport. Fast Pass lines? Character breakfasts? It was enough to send her into panic mode. She went online and bought the three best-selling books on Disney World and spent the next two weeks poring over them as if she were studying for the LSAT. Here’s what she’s learned: • Research, research, research! Read books, blogs, anything that will give you “insider” info so you can maximize your time at your destination. Know where to park, when to arrive, what to do first, and where to eat. • If you think a trip will take X amount of hours, double that amount if you are traveling with kids. Figure in diaper changes, food stops, potty breaks, trips to the store to buy Nature’s Miracle when someone pees in his car seat, and time to let the kids run around. • As you arrive into a new city or town, Google city parks and playgrounds where the kids can run around. • If you have a DVD player in your vehicle, rent DVDs from a Redbox along the way and return them to a different one farther along.

QUINTESSENTIAL TOURIST The Spaceship Earth geosphere at Epcot was on Melissa Law's list for mustshoot family photos at Disney World. Clockwise from left: Melissa; Savannah, 1; Marshall; Colt, 3; and Maverick, 5.

• If you didn’t plan certain events like Disney character breakfasts over a year in advance and they are sold out, call 30 days out, 2 weeks out and 1 week out to see if there are any cancellations. Amanda grew up with parents who went to New Orleans twice a year, staying in the French Quarter and renting a residence-type house among the locals. They never went to Emeril’s or signed up for a swamp tour; instead they got to know the locals and took them up on every invitation possible. As a young woman, she traveled to Brazil. Instead of heading to glamorous Rio, she went with a Brazilian friend to visit her mother in Salvador Bahía, a city on the northeast coast known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and laid-back authenticity. As a mom, the destinations are less exotic, but the same principle prevails. When her eldest, Jackson, was studying Mount Rushmore in school, they jumped in the car and made a road trip – in the dead of winter. They found friendly, relaxed locals in nearby Rapid City ready to share their lovely artsy community with the travelers – very different from the frantic scene during tourist season.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 16

Here’s what she’s learned: • Skip the guidebooks. Use the locals and real-life experience to help you know the real essence of where you are going. • Get to know someone who’s from the place where you’re going and ask what they like to do for fun. • Make a personal connection if you can. Having a friend who can show you around makes all the difference. • Not only is it more economical to travel off the beaten trail, but the people will be friendlier, too, because they’re not tired of the tourists. • Follow the signs along the road. Last summer, she took the boys on a drive to Luling, where they found a watermelon ranch, a chicken farm and a watermelon festival. • Avoid pre-packaged tours, which are just manufactured for tourists. • Just get out of the car, walk around and talk to people. Ask them: If they had someone coming to town, where would they take them? Whatever route you decide on, do it with all your heart. Whatever happens, remember: It’s all part of the adventure.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 17

HOME

by Michelle Maresh, contributing writer

elcome to Buzz Home, a column spotlighting different readers’ homes each month. This month we’re taking a look inside a variety of Buzz-neighborhood kitchens. Maybe you’re thinking of sprucing up your own kitchen. To express your personal style, say many designers, begin with one show-stopping feature that will create the look you want, whether it is traditional, transitional, contemporary or even eclectic. Not every part of the kitchen has to be overthe-top fabulous to be stylish and a good fit for your needs. Traditional design has long been the status quo; however, trending now is a cleaner, more minimalist design that has a contemporary influence. We hope these photos inspire you.

Photography by Julie Soefer

Buzz Home: Kitchens

Photography by Michael Hunter

Photography by Julie Soefer

Editor’s note: Michelle Maresh is the publisher of Houston Design Resources. To submit homes for consideration, email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

HEART OF THE HOME Bottom left: The Cook family lives in this Tanglewood estate. Interior designer: Connie LeFevre. Top right: Scott and Dotty Sonnemaker’s new construction is located on Lindenwood in Memorial. Interior designer: Jane Page Crump; builder: Chris Cunningham. Middle right: Larry and Deana Blackburn’s design of this gourmet cook’s kitchen keeps with the Tudor styling of the house. The layout was designed for Deana’s particular patterns of cooking and desire to have a very “English” palette and colorful decor. Interior designer: Jennifer Burgess Loh. Bottom right: This Memorial area 1960s ranch home was renovated with greendesign features, including overall energy efficiency. Interior designer: Sandra Lucas. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 18

THE SALON 3642 University Blvd. 77005 713.668.0333 • WWW.STUDIO3THESALON.COM

HO USTO N ’S M O ST EXCLUSIVE CO LLECTIO N O F DESIG N ER FRAM ES RICE VILLAGE 2542 AMHERST • HOUSTON, TX 77005 • 832-831-7253 RIVER OAKS 1806 B. WESTHEIMER • HOUSTON, TX 77098 • 713.523.1279 www.EyeGalleryHouston.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 19

David Shutts Photography

SPORTS

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz W

ith back-to-back SPC Championships under its belt, the Kinkaid Falcons girls basketball team is off and running to another sensational season. In the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons defeated three of the state’s top 10 private schools, including Westbury Christian, Second Baptist and Concordia Lutheran. “The win over Concordia Lutheran was especially gratifying,” said Falcons head coach Stacey Marshall. “They’re a phenomenal team, and our girls made an incredible comeback in the final minute to win the game in overtime.” The Falcons are racking up victories behind a talented lineup that includes senior guard Brecca Thomas, who’ll play at the University of Colorado next year. “Brecca is our team leader,” said Marshall. “She’s a great scorer and just a tremendous overall player.” Meantime, junior forward Tyjae Scales has been a dominant force for the Falcons, averaging 12 rebounds and 10 points a game. In addition, Marshall describes Raevyn Rogers as a key defensive stopper while Frances Andrews, Kristen Moore, Cynthia Ormiston and Tyra Collins are experienced back-court players who are all excellent shooters. Plus, youth is served quite well for the Falcons with a pair of outstanding freshmen players in Alexis Johnson and Chinaza Ndee. With a No . 5 statewide ranking one month into the season, St. Agnes Academy also boasted one of the state’s best private school basketball teams. The Tigers returned several of their top players from a team that advanced to the TAPPS 5A State Semifinals, including 6’2” senior sensation Michelle Nwokedi. Nwokedi, who’ll play collegiately at Pennsylvania, is averaging a lofty 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks a game. “The amazing thing about Michelle,” said Tigers head coach Jeff Hollinger, “is that even though she’s 6’2” tall we play her at guard. She can do it all on the court.” Meanwhile, the Tigers’ lineup also includes another 6’2” player in senior Lexi Onigbanjo, who averages nine points, nine rebounds and two blocks a game. Aside from the twin towers

in Nwokedi and Onigbanjo, the Tigers feature a talented senior trio of guards in Ava Ring, Corinne Kelly and Marissa English. “Ava sets the pace for us and is one of the quickest guards in the city,” said Hollinger. “All three of those girls play a lot of minutes and are huge contributors.” With those big contributions, the Tigers have more than held their own against some of the state’s premier public school programs, even finishing third overall in the 32-team Corpus Christi Riviera FANTASTIC FALCON Senior point guard Brecca Thomas leads a Kinkaid team Roundup tournament. that began the season with victories over three of the state’s top 10 private school “It was a top-notch field teams including St. Pius. of public school teams, The other big thing, said Blazer, was developand that was a great showing for us,” said ing a system around the team’s biggest strength, Hollinger. The Tigers’ only loss was a close game which just happened to be outside hitter Nenye to San Antonio Reagan, which is ranked in the Okoro. Okoro, who’ll play Division 1 volleyball state top 10 in UIL Class 5A basketball. at St. Louis University, accounted for about 50 The volleyball season may be over and done percent of the team’s kills this season. “She can with, but there are plenty of great things to look kill the ball at any opportunity,” said Blazer. Her back on and look forward to for Duchesne kill percentage was unreal, and we had put ourAcademy. Under first-year head coach Leon selves in position to get her the ball whenever Blazer, Duchesne posted a 14-8 record while possible.” advancing to the second round of the state playBlazer also credited the senior leadership of offs. The playoff victory capped off an amazing middle blocker Madelyn Eastham and outside turnaround season for a program that won only hitter Katie Johnson for the team’s incredible one game against 15 defeats just last season. It turnaround. “To get the rest of the team on board also marked the school’s best volleyball season I had to reach out to our seniors. They set great since back in 1993. examples and provided invaluable leadership.” “I knew coming in we had to change the culture of the program. The drive and desire to be Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardsuccessful in recent years just wasn’t there to be winning co-host and producer of the KUBE competitive,” said Blazer. “I stressed to the girls SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 that this isn’t last year’s team, and they took it p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school to heart. We had some great comeback victories sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, early in the season, and the girls started to please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. believe in themselves.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 20

Priscilla Dickson Photography

NEIGHBORS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Aggies take it all

their 10-1 season. The freshman division consists of first and second graders. Pictured from left (front row) are Travis Ray, Matthew Buettgen, Cody Ray, Andrew Buettgen, (second row) Garrison Smith, Bennett Connelly, Nicholas Carlin, Brendan Blackburn, Luke GilbertSmith and (back row) head coach Peter Buettgen and assistant coach Lawrence Thomas.

Winter white night The Southwest Football League Aggies were crowned the 2013 freshman champions after

The Trees of Hope Winter White Gala, chaired by Carol Buckley and Michelle Stewart, welcomed a sold-out crowd of 520 guests, including Taylor and Ronda Holladay (pictured). The

night brought in over $838,000, $111,000 of it from the live auction alone. River Oaks Country Club staff prepared ancho chili glazed beef tenderloin with green beans and mashed potatoes. The honoree couple was Robin and Danny Klaes, recognized for their years of service. Honorary chair was Lynn Wyatt, who has missed only one of the galas in 23 years.

Guysâ€™ night out Nearly 100 men, including (pictured, from left) Jim McBride, Doug Atnipp and Dan Burton,

Watch their smiles grow.

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 22

Wilson Parish

Michelle Watson

of the city’s leading activists for literacy, including former First Lady Barbara Bush and Neil Bush, founder of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and chairman of Points of

gathered at The Coronado Club for the Alley Theatre’s Wild Things: Black-Tie Men’s Evening, chaired by Jonathan S. Finger and Scott N. Wulfe. The evening consisted of cocktails, dinner, cigar rolling and auctions. After dessert, the men were all ears during the demonstration by world-renowned Gil Ash, who has won numerous titles in both skeet and sportingclay competitions and has taught professionally since 1984. Seen in the mix were Dean R. Gladden, David Buck, Ralph Burch, Bill

Byerley, Andrew Cordes, Brian Teichman, Jesse R. Marion, Bob Cavnar, Louis M. Girard, Ken Kades, John P. Kotts, Meredith Long, Charles L. Roff, Frank Steininger and William Wise.

Light. Mrs. Bush and Neil presented the Daily Point of Light award to Houston’s Books Between Kids, a Houston-based nonprofit started by two local mothers – Amy Barnes and Sandra Ahlhorn – who provide books to disadvantaged students. Pictured (from left) are Barnes, Julie Baker, Ahlhorn and Neil Bush.

Points of light

Buzz of romance

Points of Light, an organization dedicated to volunteer service, and JPMorgan Chase brought the national volunteer service campaign One America to Houston. The event featured some

Past Buzz cover kids Grace Kimble (The Memorial Buzz, August 2009) and Evan Fichter (The West University Buzz, October 2009) met in college at the University (continued on page 24)

Each patient is treated like a family member. We strive to provide exceptional dentistry to you and your family. Cosmetic Dentistry ZOOM Teeth Whitening Invisalign Veneers/Lumineers Restorative Dentistry Digital X-rays Crowns and Bridges Snap on Smiles Extractions Professional Cleanings Mention The Buzz and receive $200 off Zoom Whitening Z. Ashley Golshani, DDS • Cosmetic & Family Dentistry Member of ADA, TDA, GHDS, and AACD 5115 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 700 • Houston, TX 77005 (832) 530-4202 • www.myluxadent.com

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Sansone from quite a distance with the Clark Griswold-style candy canes and red lights. The home was decorated with statues of Ralphy and Flick from the movie A Christmas Story as well as multiple snow village scenes featuring several

with friends and family as they introduced their new picture-book series benefitting the non-profit organization Our Military Kids, which helps military children, at a pre-release party at Ouisie’s Table. Their new book, River Royals: Master the Mississippi, explores the culture, geography and history of the Mississippi River Basin.

(continued from page 23) of Georgia and are now

dating. The two had never met until 2012 at UGA. Grace will graduate this May with a degree in nursing from the Medical College of Georgia, and Evan, a junior, is in the UGA Terry College of Business majoring in accounting. The two like to spend their spare time with their sorority and fraternity, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Order.

Holiday fun The 3rd annual A Christmas Story/Christmas Vacation-themed party, hosted by Joe Sansone and Nancy Novelli, was a disaster-free night. Guests were able to spot the home of Joe

scenes from the movie. Midway through the festivities, Rose Sansone entertained the revelers by playing several Christmas carols on the harp. Pictured (from left) are Tommy Butts, Michael Mineo, Virginia Babin, Bonnie Mineo, Eric Uresti, Pat McLaughlan, Rae and Sue Berry, Novelli, Diane McLaughlan and Sansone.

M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I Authors and friends Sarah Wynne and Katie Clark (pictured, from left, with husbands David Wynne and John Clark) recently celebrated

Under the boardwalk The second annual Under the Boardwalk Gala benefiting Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital raised more than $460,000. Emceed by Hannah Storm, anchor of ESPN’s SportsCenter, the event took place at the Bayou City Event Center. The gala’s proceeds will establish the Hannah Storm Foundation fund within the Memorial Hermann Foundation, which pays for medical care for children. Chaired by father-son duo Fred and Jay

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

713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd., Suite 102

Houston, TX 77005 w w w. w e s t u o r t h o . c o m

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 24

Sarah Austin

images that capture the resilient spirit of families who have been impacted by a death and who have come to Bo’s Place for grief support.

Zeidman, the evening featured carnival games, dancing to Infinite Groove and gourmet boardwalk cuisine created by Tony’s. Pictured (from left) are Iggy Distefano, Susie Distefano, CMHH CEO, and Dr. Giuseppe Colasurdo, UTHealth president.

Senior fun The Lamar High School class of 2014 created lasting memories at the annual Senior Breakfast. Students and teachers enjoyed eating barbecue from local sponsors and lined up to take a

panoramic class photo. The class photo is always taken near the famous oak trees, and has been a tradition held at Lamar for many years.

Worth a thousand words Supporters of Bo’s Place, a bereavement center offering grief-support services, attended the opening of an exhibit at the Williams Tower Gallery. The educational exhibit, called “Life & Death…Let’s Talk About,” was created for Bo’s Place by photographer Karen Sachar. The exhibit comprised inspiring photographic

Pictured (from left) are board members Mary Beth Arcidiacono, Ronny Cuenod and Dorothy Cuenod. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Items are published on a space-available basis.

Trafton Academy Educating Minds, Building Character for Life Building on thirty years of experience and a tradition of excellence.

Now registering Pre-K & Kindergarten for 2014-15 Prospective Parent Coffee for Pre-K and K January 16, 2014 • 9:30 am (No RSVP necessary) Prospective Parent Coffee for grades 4-8 January 23, 2014 • 8:30 am (No RSVP necessary) Small class sizes • Honors & on-level curriculums Sports • Enrichments • Extended day until 6:00 Interest in touring or a shadow day for your child? Admissions office: 713.723.5888 ● admissions@trafton.org 4711 McDermed, Houston, TX 77035 ● trafton.org WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 25

KIDS

Amitava Sarkar

ON THE STAGE Ellie Eikenburg, a fourth grader at St. John’s School, said the best part of The Nutcracker was being with the other dancers right before they went on stage.

by Ellie Eikenburg, age 10

Buzz Kidz I

The Nutcracker: a party to remember

have been at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy for seven years, starting at the age of 3. I first saw The Nutcracker with my grandmother at the age of 2. My grandmother has always taken me to ballets. It’s just special time with my grandmother, so it’s just always been fun for me. When I was 4, I made a promise to a friend of mine, Catherine Huang, who also lives in West University and is in my fourth-grade class at St. John’s School, that we would one day be in The Nutcracker together. Last year we both performed in The Nutcracker for the first time, and this year we performed in the same cast. From this Nutcracker experience, I know dreams are not only in fantasy. I can accomplish anything if I have a plan.

To get a role as a party child I had to audition. Last year was my first audition. I didn’t know what to expect, so I was a little nervous. When I got into the room, we all had numbers pinned to our chests – and we danced how they asked us to. It wasn’t that bad. This year I wasn’t too nervous. If you went to see my cast of The Nutcracker, you could hardly see me on stage. I was one of 147 students from Houston Ballet Academy taking the stage in six of the 34 shows at the Wortham Center. My favorite part was the beginning. It wasn’t being on stage. It was waiting to get on stage when my friends and I got all excited. We were talking, and we were trying to remember our cues. Being with friends is the fun part, sharing the dressing room with the rats and the clowns and the other party children.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 26

The last little bit of fun is the day or so after a performance when a neighbor or a school friend tells me they saw my performance and they enjoyed the ballet. I feel good knowing that I had a small part in bringing the Christmas season to them. 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, TX 77401.

Starve or feed a cold? As we head into cold and flu season, many of us will catch a viral infection that will give us symptoms of a common cold: runny and/or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, headache, and yellow mucus. So if we’re infected, we should take an antibiotic, right? Wrong! Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, and viruses cause colds. A review of sinus infections from the New England Journal of Medicine (2004;351:902-910) stated that using antibiotics is usually not recommended until the mucus has been discolored for at least 7 or 10 days. Many of the patients we treat for allergy to multiple antibiotics develop those allergies when their antibiotic is changed over and over again. It gets changed because they take the first antibiotic when the “cold” first appears. Amazingly, the antibiotic does nothing to treat the virus, which runs its course. The patient, not feeling any better, asks for another antibiotic. And sometimes another. For years, the line about chicken soup was, “Will it help?” “Well, it couldn’t hurt.” Scientific evidence suggests that chicken soup actually does help. It contains the amino acid cysteine, which has been shown to thin out thick mucus secretions and help relieve congestion. Hydrating by drinking Gatorade, water or any non-caffeinated beverage helps further. What about “feed a cold, starve a fever.” It’s actually not a bad idea. A fever without cold symptoms may be the flu (influenza), another viral infection often manifest by nausea and vomiting. Starving the fever by withholding food is reasonable if one is nauseated, but make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Gatorade is a good choice here, too. What else works when you have a cold? Rinsing your nose out with a

salt-water solution a couple times a day. Some people prefer a Neti Pot, and others like the NeilMed squeeze bottle. Whichever you use, mix the salt with distilled water, not tap water. I’m sure the city makes clean drinking water, but I’m not as confident in the old pipes it runs through. Mucinex works by increasing the water content in the mucus, so that the mucus thins out and you can cough it up or blow it out. For a stuffy nose, you may want to consider a decongestant spray such as Afrin. But don’t use Afrin more than 5 days in a row or you may become physically dependent on it (addicted). And remember: Skip the antibiotics until the mucus is yellow or green for at least a week. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic

R E S U LT S

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School • 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX

MARY KAY FREEMAN In the fine neighborhoods of RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD MEMORIAL • WEST U/ MUSEUM For all your real estate needs 713.203.4079 Cell maryf@johndaugherty.com

520 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77027

J O H N D AU G H E RT Y. C O M

All online applications, required forms and fees must be submitted by February 1, 2014. PK and K Mandatory Observation Saturday, February 1, 2014 PK (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.) and K (10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) All prospective students will meet in the Parish Family Center. Application Deadline - Saturday, February 1, 2014. Tours available by appointment only. Please call the school office to reserve a space for your child. 713.666.2345 Currently accepting online applications - www.saintvincentschool.org

Porsche • Mercedes • BMW • Audi • Land Rover Since 1973, Houston’s leader in the care and repair of fine European autos. 5103 Gulfton @ S. Rice 713.661.6428 • www.eurocarwerk.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 27

DINING GUIDE by Dai Huynh, staff writer

ev1pro.com

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

Bite Macarons EDIBLE EDUCATION Post Oak Grill's Polo Becerra shares his culinary secrets during a cooking class.

hese days, restaurants serve up not only good food, but also entertainment. On a recent evening, Polo Becerra transformed the Post Oak Grill (1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-9939966) into a culinary theater – complete with a Frank Sinatra-style crooner. Fresh grapefruit and truffle oil wafted from the stage as the owner-chef demonstrated how to make a coffee-chocolate-crusted filet and a grapefruit-avocado salad. In the first row, Charo McGinley and 20 of her closest friends sipped on sauvignon blanc while watching Becerra cook and banter with the audience. “Truffle oil is like Chanel No. 5,” declared the chef. McGingley attended a previous class on quinoa and enjoyed it so much, she invited a few friends to this four-course cooking class. They in turn invited their pals. “Suddenly, I was calling the restaurant and telling them, ‘I have eight people coming. I have 12 coming, 15, 20.’ It’s so much fun, though, and something different.” Like Becerra, more Houston chefs are tapping into their inner Julia Child, dishing out their kitchen know-how not only in grocery stores and other retail outlets as the norm, but right in their dining room or kitchen. Monica Pope combines her love of cooking and teaching by customizing classes for groups of all sizes on the second floor of her Sparrow Bar + Cookshop (3701 Travis St., 713-524-6922). At the Four Seasons (1300 Lamar, 713-652-6248), chef Maurizio Ferrarese showcases Italian standards upon request. His students have ranged from a couple on a date to a 16-member team-building corporate function. From Tex-Mex soups to meatless enchiladas, Sylvia Casares of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen (6401 Woodway and 12637 Westheimer, 713-334-7295) reveals her secrets for perfecting Tex-Mex favorites during her bi-monthly classes. Meanwhile, Susie Jimenez successfully launched a trio of classes at her Latin Fusion restaurant Trenza (2800 Kirby, 713-526-1414) last month and plans to hold a few more next year. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JANUARY 2014 28

French pastries Neighborhood: West University Making macarons is a dare, especially in Houston’s soggy climate. These delicate orbs in a multitude of colors and flavors are finicky. Their golden, smooth crust turns into dud-like chews at the hint of humidity. Macarons also demand surgical precision in the sifting of superfine sugar and ground almonds, combined with the beating of egg whites. A misstep and the result is a gritty fistful of chalk. And so, it was a treat (and surprise) to bite into the puffedup salted caramel and pistachio renditions from Bite (recently opened in the Kroger shopping center). At last, the search for macarons “almost” like those from the venerable Ladurée in Paris is over. Granted, the weather was perfect that day – hardly a hint of humidity, nor a disappointed face at this charming white-gloss dessert-coffee house. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 5172-B Buffalo Speedway, 713-664-2483. $

Bombay Sweets Indian vegetarian Neighborhood: Sharpstown The buffet steams with aromatic basmati, vegetable curries and sautés. Patrons also come

for chaats, such as samosas, idly rice cakes, lentil doughnuts and pani puri, a crispy hollow pastry filled with chili-spiked potatoes. A salty, sweet and tart explosion detonates when you pour the accompanied spice-fueled tamarind water into the shell. The chaser? Soothing masala chai. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5827 Hillcroft St., Houston, 713-780-4453. $

Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso bucco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. 601 Richmond Ave., 713527-4440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$

Canopy Creative Gulf-Coast cuisine Neighborhood: Montrose When the weekend arrives, Houston’s motor shifts into idle, and Canopy greets its favorite meal – brunch. The austere space with blond furniture bubbles with conversations as Claire Smith’s reliable kitchen sends out baby-spinach salads with pulled chicken that is peppy with a dessert-wine vinaigrette, apples and roasted red

grapes. Try, too, eggs benedict on sweet potato English muffins and an earthy four-mushroom pot pie. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3939 Montrose, 713-528-6848. canopyhouston.com. $$

Coppa Osteria Artisanal pastas and pizzas Neighborhood: Rice Village Like Coppa Ristorante Italiano, this casual rendition applies the principles of Italian cooking by allowing ingredients to speak with minimum interference. Chef Brandi Key’s clarifies ingredients and judges flavors finely. Pizzas shine. Creamy burrata shimmers with peppery extra-virgin olive oil. Spaghetti carbonara crackles with black pepper and the creaminess of raw eggs and Parmesan cheese. Calabria chili and Meyer lemon brighten shrimp linguine with parmesan cream. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5210 Morningside, 713-5223535. coppaosteriahouston.com. $$

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

ner Mon.-Sun. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite A-132, 832-623-6168. delfriscogrille.com. $$$

Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland. Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and ownerchef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832-668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$

Huynh Restaurant Contemporary Vietnamese Neighborhood: East Downtown Pho Huynh closed on Milam Street, then reopened as Huynh Restaurant in old Chinatown. The food, still under the guidance of Mama Van Bui, shines on contemporary white plates. She special- (continued on page 30)

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

Lucille’s

ÉTOILE Mussels are on the menu at this authentic French restaurant. (continued from page 29) izes in dishes from Hue,

the culinary core of Vietnam. Delicate steamedrice crepes glisten with well-seasoned pork and black mushrooms. Her boluc lac explodes with flavors of pan-seared tender beef threaded with smoky jalapeño and caramelized garlic. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. 912 Saint Emanuel, 713-2248964. huynhrestauranthouston.com. $$

Island Grill & Juice Bar Smoothies and burgers Neighborhood: West University/Tanglewood Granted, the smoothies with natural juices at Island Grill are pretty lush. The Island Oasis is ripe with sweet pineapples, strawberries, coconut juice and vanilla yogurt. The juices – from wheatgrass to coolers made with veggies and fruits – are refreshing. But surprisingly, this neighborhood joint is noted for breakfast bagel sandwiches, pita sandwiches and muscular 8-ounce Angus burgers on soft buns. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. (closes 4:30 p.m. Sun.), 4024 Bellaire Blvd., 713665-5388. 5709 Woodway, 713-334-4036 islandgrillhouston.com. $$

La Casa Del Caballo Mexican steakhouse Neighborhood: Montrose Gregarious Latin voices ring through this Mexican steakhouse that buys its premium beef from the storied Allen Brothers in Chicago. Owner-chef Carlos Abedrop butchers a whole rib rack himself to ensure the right cut. The steak here isn’t the buttery, tender sort American diners have come to expect. Here, it has the kind of chew that bursts with forceful flavors from beef grilled over mesquite fire. The lamb, too, while tender, is resilient with its characteristic gamey nuances. Meats are good by themselves even with the standard sides of smoke-kissed beans, skin-on fried potatoes and three-alarm salsas. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 322 Westheimer, 832-623-6467. lacasadelcaballo.com. $$$

Leibman’s Gourmet deli Neighborhood: Memorial Party hosts around the Energy Corridor take savvy shortcuts when they buy pre-made dips, salads and other prepared noshes from Leibman’s Wine and Fine Foods. Longtime customers know that Etienne Leibman has one of the keenest palates in Houston, and her recipes – from the curried chicken salad Afrique and garlic artichoke dip to chopped chicken liver – are skillfully seasoned. Leibman recently started offering full lunch and weekend brunch menus with a changing roster of salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees. Lunch, Mon.-Sun., 14529 Memorial Drive, 281-493-3663. leibmans.com. $$

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot Northern Chinese Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown Paper-thin slices of lamb bob in bubbling broth fragrant with herbs and spices. Friends gather around, wielding chopsticks to cook meats and vegetables at this interactive Chinese-fondue establishment, famous in China but under the radar here except among China natives in the know. Houston is lucky to have one. Platters of raw ingredients (beef, chicken, lamb and seafood) arrive with a ying-yang hot pot divided by a mild broth in one side and a fiery chili-infused broth in the other. Meats are dipped in the broths, followed by noodles, tofu and vegetables. Lunch and dinner, Mon.-Sun., 5901 Westheimer, 713-9750687. littlesheephotpot.com. $$

Creative Southern Neighborhood: Museum District The fried green tomatoes – lightly crisped and anointed with a rich, bright-orange remoulade sauce – know few peers around town. This and a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, in this refurbished brick building, would do just fine for lunch. That and a side order of chef-owner Chris Williams’ hot rolls. Look around. You’ll see many breaking bread while waiting for shrimp and grits and the pan-roasted white fish on a pile of pancakes, surrounded by candied-sweet cherry tomatoes. Lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sun., 5512 La Branch, 713-568-2505. lucilleshouston.com. $$$

McHugh Tea Teahouse and more Neighborhood: Bellaire This shabby chic corner charms with its English ambiance illuminated by tea-cup chandeliers, refurbished tea sets and ornately framed photos of famous tea sippers, including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Michael Jackson. Fragrant organic teas – hibiscus blossom oolong, masala chai and cabernet assam – gently brew in glass orbs while regulars fork into lemon and chocolate pies topped with solidly crisp, snow-white meringue. The Southwestern pulled-pork quiche with shortbread-like crust is the envy of other chefs. Lunch & dinner, Tues.-Sat., 5305 Bissonnet, Bellaire. 713-218-6300. mchughtea.com. $

Osteria Mazzantini Upscale rustic Italian Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown Whipped lardo butter arrives with pillowy potato bread. If diners don't succumb to chefowner John Sheely's opening act, then they'll likely fall for his house-made ravioli, stuffed with earthy sweetbreads and kale, then lightly tossed in seared browned butter dotted with aged balsamic vinegar. The flavors are appealing – caramelized saltiness shot through with sweet and sour notes. Desserts are creative but grounded in Old World flavors, such as a mousse made with limoncello and an orangeolive oil cake with olive oil ice gelato and zabaglione. Lunch and dinner, Mon.-Sun., 2200 Post Oak Blvd. No. 140, 713-993-9898. osteriamazzantini.com. $$$$

Local Foods Chef-driven gourmet deli Neighborhood: Rice Village Hand-crafted sandwiches and salads from chef Dylan Murray draw a diverse crowd. Savor duck confit smothered with melted brie, aioli and cranberry preserves on wheat bread. Shrimp-and-crab on ciabatta with green god-

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Pass & Provisions Inventive modern fare Neighborhood: Fourth Ward A duo eatery in one space – white-tablecloth Pass and bustling Provisions. Pass is a caviar affair, while Provision serves casual edibles, including smartly donned sandwiches and bil-

lowy pizzas with such toppings as kale with pork sausage and duck confit with potato and pickled currants. There are some crossovers of dishes and kitchen playfulness between the two menus. Provisions, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat; Pass, dinner only. 808 Taft, 713-628-9020. Passandprovisions.com. $$-$$$$

Post Oak Grill Gulf Coast classics Neighborhood: Tanglewood Happiness exists in a bread basket at this popular outpost for business lunches. The basket usually cradles oven-fresh biscuits fragrant with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. One really isn’t enough; nor is two or three. Slow down, though, or you’ll fill up before the perfectly grilled rainbow trout arrives, glistening lightly with butter-caper sauce. Polo Becerra is a classic chef with a timeless approach of keeping ingredients simple and clean, with just a sheath of sauce to elevate the flavors of beef and seafood. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sat., 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-993-9966. postoakgrill.com. $$$

Quattro Contemporary Italian Neighborhood: Downtown Talented chef Maurizio Ferrarese brings the flavors of his native Italy to Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel. The dining room is an elegant

affair. Quality is high, and almost everything is made in-house. Just as engaging is the adjoining Vinoteca Quattro bar where an eclectic group of downtown workers unwind over Italian beers, wines and Italian small plates during happy hour. From 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, guests can purchase a wine or cocktail and allyou-can-eat antipasti for $18. Breakfast, lunch & dining Mon.-Sun. 1300 Lamar, 713-6501300. quattrorestauranthouston.com. $$-$$$$

Sparrow Bar + Cookshop Modern American Neighborhood: Midtown Monica Pope is forever reinventing herself and her restaurant concept. Her latest incarnation, the Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, applies beautiful, subtle flavors to farm-fresh local ingredients. Bronzed Texas quail nestles on warm yellow-corn grits hinting of orange zest. Caramel miso and blossom butter enhance hanger steak. Creativity carries over to a dynamic cocktail menu. Pope grasped the value of using fresh fruits and herbs in drinks long before it became a trend. Her hand-crafted cocktails push boundaries to offer new, exciting flavors, such as a vodka creation with roasted red bell pepper puree, shiitake mushroom vermouth and jalapeño syrup. Lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sat., 3701 Travis, 713-524-6922. sparrowhouston.com. $$$

The Lemongrass Café Asian fusion Neighborhood: Bellaire Polite service and a thoughtfully conceived menu endear Lemongrass Café to Houstonians. Chef-owner Fah Vorarittinapa marries the flavors of Chinese, Thai, Japanese, French and American cooking. Her signature dish remains the juicy tiger shrimp, stuffed with bacon and swaddled in crisp kataifi noodle, anointed by a sweet, spicy tamarind sauce. Pad thai is given a twist with a Japanese egg crepe. Her trio soup sampler is a composition of the soup of the day, French mushroom consommé and Thai tom yum chicken. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 5109 Bellaire, 713-664-6698. lemongrass-cafe.com. $$

Teotihuacan Tex-Mex originals Neighborhood: Northeast Houston Diners pack in day after day for grilled steaks, chiles rellenos and flautas in a room decorated with festive streamers. Co-owner Silvia Galvan applies soy sauce and black pepper to make fajitas and juicy sirloins with grilled onions. A must try: grilled shrimp, bathed in garlic butter, particularly satisfying wrapped in homemade corn tortillas and a dollop of lush guacamole. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 4624 Irvington, 713-695-8757. teomexicancafe.com. $

VALENTINE’S DAY AT Three or four-course tasting menu • Featuring filet and lobster plus a champagne toast • $190 or $225 per couple • Cocktail, wine or beer pairings for two starting at $50 For reservations, call 713-529-5881 or email rsvp@elevenxihouston.com

EXPRESS LUNCH 607 W. GRAY HOUSTON, TX 77019 WWW.ELEVENXIHOUSTON.COM

SUNDAY BRUNCH PRIVATE DINING SPACE OFFSITE CATERING

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