Facing Cancer
Claire Frazier
by Jennifer Oakley
Foodie Kids Teen Jobs Dining Guide: Happy Hour Classic Baby Fashion Travel Buzz: Scuba Diving Summer Meals Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
Back Porch: A Mother’s Wisdom
EDITOR’S NOTE At age 86, my mom, “Bubby Blanche,” has survived many life challenges. She’s a two-time cancer survivor, both breast and thyroid. She lost a son, who was born on Mother’s Day, and, last year, lost my dad. But she has not let challenges or grief keep her down. Her resilience and hilarious sense of humor constantly amaze and entertain me. This month, meet another incredible, strong Buzz resident who has also survived cancer, Claire Frazier. Writer Jennifer Oakley captures her tale with detailed, emotional insight. Claire coped during her dark journey through singing, faith, family and friends. I hope that reading Claire’s story will ease some of the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Wishing a happy and healthy Mother’s Day to my mom and to all the loved ones facing challenges out there. 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 Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Sarah Pilger Sanders Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Sharp Amber Lewis Michele Luke Helen van Rensburg
On our cover: Music has always played an important part in Southgate-area resident Claire Frazier’s life, especially while being treated for breast cancer. 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 © 2016 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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Your letters, thoughts, opinions All abuzz Just a note to thank you for your coverage of backyard beekeepers in your April 2016 issue [The Bee’s Knees: Backyard beekeepers have it sweet]. Not only did you shed light on a very important topic, Jennifer Oakley took care to accurately report each beekeeper's story with dedication and an engaging writing style. I have had numerous requests from friends and acquaintances wanting to investigate their own hives! So exciting! Thank you again. Lea Weingarten
Buddies in life and print What a surprise to see my name and story in such a big way in the recent Buzz – thank you for your nice feature [Back Porch: Neighborly get-togethers, by Andria Frankfort, March 2016]! I thought I would be a “little mention,” so it’s quite different to see me quoted line after line. And even more crazy that you also featured Dee Dee Dochen, my good friend of over 20 years! Neither of us had any idea, so it was quite wild to see our names in print in the same space, sharing our stories. Really brought a smile to our day! Many thanks for your good work. Nancy Ehrenkranz
Not a rodeo fan While I usually enjoy your magazine, I was disturbed by your March 2016 article, Rodeo Horsepitality [The secret show within the livestock show, by Michelle Casas Groogan]. If the Buzz residents profiled really love horses, why would they be involved in an event like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where each day horses are made to suffer in saddle bronc riding events? These beautiful horses are kept captive, moved from city to city, then forced to repeatedly endure the pain of flank straps and spurs so they buck wildly.... I have to believe God did not create these beautiful creatures so we might inflict pain and suffering on them for a few minutes’ entertainment. I’d rather show my love for horses – and all animals – by staying away from rodeos. Shane Axcell
Happy for local magazine Thank you for The Buzz (a first class magazine). As 45-year Bellaire residents, my wife Patty and I always enjoy the informative, relative and interesting articles and outstanding photos on current topics relating to our neighborhood. The ads regarding local neighborhood businesses are well done and very helpful. Keep up the excellent work. Dr. Kelton Ro-Trock, family psychotherapist 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.
Loves “seeing someone I know” Jordan [Magaziner Steinfeld], we are just so honored that you would even tell Jill and Brian's [Fredericks] story, so the [Memorial Buzz] cover was beyond expectations [Cherished Moments: Buzz newlyweds’ weekend weddings, February 2016]! My phone was literally "Buzzing" all weekend! Everyone loves The Buzz, and I always love seeing someone I know in it and, it seems, so do all of our friends. I know Cathy Garcia-Prats well and was SO EXCITED when she was featured on the cover…. Now there is an amazing woman; she is actually opening up a new preschool for kids in need. Thank you for chronicling such a happy and special time for our family. I hope our paths cross again. I can say, knowing how much thoughtfulness you all put into all of your stories is a wonderful thing for our city, and though I am sure you are bombarded with stories, I will always think of you when I come across more amazing people like Cathy! Dianne Brody Editor’s note: Thank you, Dianne, for your kind words about the February 2016 wedding article. Also, we're impressed you remember when Cathy GarciaPrats was on the cover of The Bellaire Buzz six years ago, back in 2010. Andy Blitzer wrote that popular article, A Perfect Ten, about Cathy, mom to 10 sons. If the rest of you want to read it, or missed the wedding article this year, you can find both at thebuzzmagazines.com. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 6
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Love being on the water in Galveston. • Have a travel story to share. • Enjoy cooking. • Have a passion or hobby to share. • Know an interesting neighbor to 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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NEIGHBORS by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer
Soul Survivor Music, prayer and laughter ease cancer treatment
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ondays meant chemotherapy. And for Claire Frazier, undergoing treatment for breast cancer, that was okay. Because if she got chemo on Mondays, Claire would feel just well enough to sing on Sundays. And she never wanted to miss a Sunday. As a choir member at South Main Baptist Church, Frazier credits singing for helping her survive breast cancer. “I pray through music,” says Claire, a vivacious Southgate resident. “Singing has always been my way to connect with God. To sing great hymns about healing, hope and strength while going through treatment – it helped me tremendously. When you are going through cancer treatment you just want things to be normal. You lose your hair; that’s not normal. I wanted to sing in the church and be normal. I sang all the way through my diagnosis. I did not miss a beat.” Now, eight and one-half years later, after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and a targeted immunotherapy drug, Claire is cancer-free and still singing – in the choir and God’s praises alike. For Claire, music and prayer have always been inextricably entwined. She started singing in elementary school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music and voice and has sung everywhere from The Houston Grand Opera to the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Going from diagnosis to treatment to today is a path that Claire says had the duality of being difficult and blessed at the same. “I think without question I’m a more thankful person than I was before breast cancer,” says Claire, who is the resource coordinator for St. Luke’s Day School. “There were so many little miracles of timing that happened during my treatment – they left no room for doubt that God was and is in control of my life.” Claire had no family history of breast cancer and was at first not overly concerned when she felt a lump in her breast two months after a normal mammogram in March 2007. She waited a few weeks and then went to see her OB/GYN, who pointed her towards a surgeon to have the lump removed. Her sister-in-law, Jeannie Frazier, a long-term breast-cancer survivor herself, urged Claire to get a second opinion at MD
TOGETHER Claire and Joe Frazier share a laugh together. Claire says Joe’s humor helped her through cancer treatments.
Anderson. There, doctors diagnosed her with invasive ductal carcinoma. “Apparently it did not have the outward characteristics of a malignant tumor, but the
biopsy revealed otherwise,” recalls Claire. “I was quickly plunged into the world of breast cancer. And, in the crash course that I didn’t sign up for I soon learned that breast (continued on page 10)
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FAMILY Claire Frazier and her husband Joe celebrate Claire being cancer-free, along with their children, (from left) Robert, Annie and Stephen. (continued from page 8) cancer is not one – but
many – different diseases with a variety of biological variances that determine treatment and prognosis.” A self-proclaimed planner, Claire notes that she dug deep to educate herself about her particular cancer and treatment. “I had a lumpectomy in July 2007, followed by six months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation and nine more months of a targeted immunotherapy drug,” she recalls. “In December of 2008 I finally rang the bell at MD Anderson. It was a very long road, but in addition to being a very faithful person, having a step-by-step outline for treatment and knowing what came next was comforting.” Claire credits husband Joe and children Stephen, now 26, Robert, now 24, and Annie, now 21, with helping her get through the one and one-half years of treatment. “Annie was actually with me when I got the dreaded phone call from MD Anderson,” remembers Claire. “She was only 12, and I was careful how I translated the news to her. It was Robert’s 16th birthday, and I waited until that night to tell him and Stephen separately. I wanted them to have the space to react in their own unique way and to privately reassure them that I was not afraid but filled with hope that everything would be okay.” That hopefulness did transcend into the perWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 10
spective of her children. “I was in middle school at the time. I was pretty freaked out, but my mom was so strong and uplifting throughout the whole thing,” recalls Annie Frazier, a junior at The University of Texas at Austin. “It was definitely a season of hope and not thinking for a second that something would go wrong. My mom is literally the best and the coolest person I know. She is my best friend, and I am so thankful for her.” The theme of hope is recurring with Claire, and she points out that being hopeful is key to getting through the diagnosis and treatment. That – and a little humor. Claire recalls singing in the Christmas program at church. “I took a bow with my wig on and was so glad that wig did not fall off!” she recalls, laughing. “I thought it was a really cute wig, but I kept thinking about what it would be like if it fell off!” And, she adds, her husband helped tremendously. “Joe was the best medicine of all because he could always make me laugh, no matter what dreadful thing I was facing,” recalls Claire. “We’d be in the chemo ward – me with my bald head and bad attitude, barely able to keep from throwing up, and he would say something so funny that I would crack up and forget how miserable I was.” For his part, Joe Frazier says that humor “was one of the only things I had in my tool belt” to
help his wife during that trying time. “There was nothing I could really do for her since she was going through it, but I tried to keep things as normal as possible,” says Joe, who runs Frazier Exploration Partners with his brother Bob Frazier. “And I would caution other spouses like me that you have expert doctors on the case and to have every hope that things are going to be just fine.” Additionally, Claire says the straightforward help from friends made a huge difference during her treatment. “I remember commenting to Joe that I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone, but oh how I wish everyone could experience the outpouring of care that I did. It sustained me,” she says. Claire found that friends and family who were proactive and honest resonated with her as a patient. “My favorite reaction was from a friend who said: ‘You have breast cancer?! That sucks!’” remembers Claire. “And she was absolutely right – it did!” Claire notes that every act of kindness was appreciated – but she also learned what people going through do not want to hear. “By all means do not tell the person in treatment your horror stories about other friends and family who had cancer – especially the ones who didn’t survive!” she says. Which brings her back to being a survivor. “I would repeat this verse over and over: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ [Philippians 4:13] On tough days, when I was waiting for a test result or dreading the side effects of chemo that would invariably knock me out, this verse helped to calm me down and look beyond myself for comfort.” A breast cancer Bible study support group at her home, organized by sister-in-law Jeannie Frazier, also became a favorite place of respite. “I started the group in 2000 after my treatment was all done,” says Jeannie, a Briargrove resident who is a Pink Ribbon Volunteer at MD Anderson. “That was 16 years ago, and we still meet every other Friday and we read how the Bible is encouraging and the love that come through holds you up when you are going through cancer treatment.” For Claire, holding other people up as they go through cancer treatment has become important to her. She never misses a chance to talk to other women about the process. “The thread of receiving and giving back just feels so right for that circle to keep going,” she says. Claire is proud to be a survivor. “The survivors are the first responders to those now going through treatment. It’s important to tell them: ‘It’s going to suck for a while, but you are going to be okay.’”
MORE ONLINE See this article at thebuzzmagazines.com for three more stories of life after cancer diagnosis, about Buzz residents Ashley Pratka, Stacy Middleman and Bill Gage. Plus, watch video clips of Stacy Middleman and Bill Gage talking about their experiences. The first Sunday in June marks National Cancer Survivors Day.
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FOOD by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Foodie Kids Grown-up palettes
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ine-year-old Jason Shwartz is on a mission. It’s not the kind of mission that typically comes to mind when you think “9-year-old boy.” Rather, it’s a mission to find the best food in the country. Specifically, the best steak. “It started when we were on vacation,” Jason’s mom Risa, a business performance consultant, says. “I just gave him a little piece of steak, and I made a bet with him that he wouldn’t eat it.” That’s because up until then, Jason would only eat prime rib. No steak. But, unbeknownst to Jason, he tried the steak. “He said it was the best thing he’d ever had. Ever since then he’s been on the hunt.” Jason, who is also a serious golfer, never misses the opportunity to visit a steakhouse with his family. “I’ve been to Ruth’s Chris, Pappas, Killen’s, Fleming’s, Vic & Anthony’s, places in New York. Wherever we go, we go for steak,” he says. “It’s his happy food,” his mom says. And he remembers every steak. “Killen’s is really flavory. I like how Fogo de Chão cuts the steak right in front of you, and it’s really, really good. I like how River Palm [in New Jersey] is really big and juicy.” Jason’s tastes extend beyond the carnivorous to a wide range of foods, his favorite being pasta. “I like it at Napoli, and I like homemade pasta from my mom,” he says. “She makes pasta and steak mixed together!” So specific are his tastes that Napoli has a “hidden menu item” called Jason’s Special. “It’s rigatoni with a plain chicken cutlet and mozzarella cheese on the side,” he says. “It’s not on the menu, but if you ask it’s in the computer.” At 12 years old, Jack Klosek is also a veteran restaurant-goer. But while he says Pappas Bros. Steakhouse is “always a favorite,” his preferences run a bit more exotic. “There’s a little Thai place near U of H [Kanomwan] where the food is just so good,” he says. “My favorite thing is the coconut soup with chicken that is just seasoned to perfection.” Recently, his family dined at RDG Bar Annie. Jack perused the menu and chose the pheasant because that was something he’d never tried. He loved it. Jack, who is in sixth grade at The Kinkaid School, recently celebrated his 12th birthday over sushi with friends. “Most of my friends keep an open WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 12
mind about it,” he says of his sophisticated taste in food. “Nobody busts my chops, and some people actually think it’s cool.” When asked about his favorite sushi, Jack says, “I like toro, which is the belly of the tuna. It’s a very creamy, melt-inyour-mouth piece of fish. At MF Sushi [his favorite in Houston], I like everything from a seared hamachi with truffle and a lemon slice on top to Wagyu with Dijon mustard and caviar.” Jack’s mom SUSHI KING Twelve-year-old Jack Klosek not only loves to eat sushi; he loves to make Tama, an attorney, it at home. He’s read cookbooks by all the great sushi chefs. says, “He is super Recently, Kelli turned her lifelong love of food into food, super into cooking. He loves sushi so into an Instagram account – @Austinmymouth much he would eat it every day if we let him.” His – with 25,000 followers checking out photos of passion runs deep: Jack’s bedside table holds stacks whatever new dish she’s trying. of cookbooks “by every master sushi chef in the While Kelli does have a full-time job in world. At one point,” Tama says, “I took them Austin, she calls @Austinmymouth “a fun outlet. away because I wanted him to read other things.” I appreciate good food, presentation, the work The Kloseks’ philosophy has always been to that goes into it.” Austin restaurants now reguexpose their children to good food. “Why larly ask Kelli to come in to try new menu items, assume they’ll only eat mac and cheese? Why hoping to get a post on @Austinmymouth. not fettuccini alfredo? One thing Jason, Jack and Kelli share in com“John has such a passion for food that every mon: parents who, from the very beginning, meal he eats is like his last,” Tama says of her offered sushi and steak over pizza and chicken husband, Jack’s father. The passion came from nuggets. “Kids can do anything and eat anyJohn’s upbringing in an Italian home where his thing,” Tama says. “We just have to show them mother made good food an important part of the possibilities.” their lives, a common thread for children growing up with a respect for – and a willingness to try – different foods. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for a “I’ve always been into food. My mom [Tali] recipe of the Klosek family’s favorite veal scaloppini is the best cook alive,” says recent college gradwith lemon butter sauce, plus a video clip of Jack uate Kelli Blumrosen. Growing up, she says, “My preparing homemade sushi. mom always had something new on the menu.”
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KIDS by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer
Blue Willow Bookshop
First Jobs Teens working part-time
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he summer after graduating from Stratford High School, Grant Haralson got a job with Janus 1 Unlimited, a franchisee with 26 McDonald’s restaurants in Houston. One of his tasks: playing Grimace, the purple milkshake character, including at professional baseball games. “The costume’s hot, yes, but it’s fun to see people smile when they see me coming,” says Haralson, now a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin. That first teenage job – flipping burgers, bagging groceries, scooping ice cream – is an experience fewer young people are having. According to the Pew Research Center, fewer than one-third of all American teens held a summer job in 2014. In 1978, almost two-thirds did. But working has value. According to Pew research, every year a person works as a teen results in a 14 to 16 percent increase in their income in their 20s. One reason for the decline in teen employment: teens are busier, at school and with activities. At the same time, fewer can drive. According to a survey done by the AAA Foundation, only 54 percent of all American teens get their licenses before their 18th birthday. While Douglas Whitson, a senior at Strake Jesuit, has worked at Blue Willow Bookshop since September, he says, “Out of my core group of friends, 10 guys, only one has a job, and one used to. The rest play sports.” Teens in their first jobs learn what are known as “soft skills,” such as being on time and dressing and behaving professionally. Some employers of recent college grads say they’ve learned to look specifically for paying jobs on resumes. “Forget the fancy service trips and the extracurriculars,” says one. “We find that the ones who have worked know how to work.” Mentoring teens can be satisfying. “It’s fun to watch them bloom,” says Debbie Adams, Haralson’s boss and mother of two young adults (both of whom worked as teens). Adams, who was an ER nurse before founding Janus 1, worked at a McDonald’s drive-through as a teen. “It was the very best training I could have had to be an WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 14
MORE THAN BOOK LEARNING Of his after-school job at Blue Willow Bookshop, Douglas Whitson says, “You learn, not just how to work at a bookshop, but how a business is run and how products are marketed.”
ER nurse,” she remembers. “You were under pressure. You were essentially doing triage.” Allison Goldberg encouraged her two girls, Jordan, 18, and Natalie, 16, to work in the summers. Jordan, now studying social work at UT, started working at the clothing retailer Vineyard Vines as a 10th grader. Natalie, a sophomore at Emery/Weiner School, works the front desk at Row, an exercise studio. “There’s just so much value in working,” says Allison. “I felt strongly that I wanted them to see how much work it takes to make minimum wage and what a rude customer or a kind customer looks like.” What advice do employed teens, their bosses and their parents have for young job seekers? Don’t just blanket a neighborhood with resumes. “Pick places that are interesting to you,” says Jordan Goldberg. Whitson’s family has shopped at Blue Willow since he was small. Valerie Koehler, owner, advises, “Understand where you are applying.” She recommends visiting the business, as a customer. “Go get an ice cream at that ice-cream shop and observe,” she says. “You might even decide that you don’t want to work there.” Allison Goldberg encouraged her daughters to research companies and come up with 3-5 ques-
tions to ask during the interview. The family also practiced answering interview questions casually, like when they were driving somewhere. Jordan confirms that the preparation did help. Family support is great, but you have to apply alone. “Don’t have your mom pick up the application, don’t have her come in to ask questions, don’t have her come with you,” says Koehler, “and don’t bring a friend to the interview. We want to see that you are brave enough and independent enough to do this on your own.” Don’t fret about looking nervous. Indeed, trying to act nonchalant can be the interview killer. “If someone is dressed nice and seems nervous, that is a good sign,” says Michael Savino of Michael’s Cookie Jar. “Body language is important: Look the interviewer in the eye, have a firm handshake,” says Adams. “Be on time. Speak clearly. And leave your cell phone in your pocket.” Don’t take no personally. Blue Willow “gets a ton of applications,” says Koehler. (And has no current openings.) “I was nervous. They say a lot of things to you at the interview,” says Haralson. “A W-9? What’s that? But don’t worry. They help you. Smile, be polite, be yourself.”
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Moms, Grads & Dads
Gift Guide Perfect gift ideas for even the hardest to please
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Classic. Current. Timeless. Whether for a friend, spouse, daughter, mother or sister, Enewton is a modern, yet classic line of jewelry that takes the pressure off gift giving! Made in the deep south, the bright colors, classic look, and price point keeps our customers coming back for more! Raspberry Rose (located in Rice Village), 2434 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.529.2260, www.raspberryroseboutique.com
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Pete: Cat, Life Guru Right on Target Starting at $69 per month, you can gift an Executive Membership to Athena Gun Club. As a member you'll experience one of the finest shooting experiences in the industry, priority lane reservations, complimentary handgun rentals and twelve 15-minute sessions in our live-action virtual training simulator. Best of all, range fees are waived for all Executive Members! Athena Gun Club, 10814 Katy Fwy. (at Beltway 8), Houston, Texas 77043, 713.461.5900, athenagunclub.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 16
Looking for a unique gift? In Pete the Cat's Groovy Guide to Life, everyone’s favorite cat puts his fun spin on inspirational quotes by historical greats. Cool gifts for cool people! Tomfoolery Toys & Books (located in the Meyer Court Shopping Center), 4844 Beechnut Street, Houston, Texas 77096, 832.879.2461, www.tomfoolerytoys.com
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Gifts for Mom & Grad Jewelry for all occasions at every price point. Let us help you create a memorable jewelry story. Receive 20% off one piece by mentioning this ad. J. Landa, 2412 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.807.1644, www.j-landa.com
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Come see this new line for women! JudyP tops take you from morning to night. They’re versatile with a flattering fit. Worn alone or in layers, any of the styles will be that “go to” top that looks good all day long. The Village Clothier (located in Rice Village), 2411 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.520.9096
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Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers, now home to Queen of Heirs, has just what you are looking for this Mother's Day! Our expanded inventory features a vast selection of unique, rare and collectible estate jewelry with styles ranging from vintage to contemporary. Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers, 1801 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, Texas 77056, 713.629.7444, www.tenenbaumjewelers.com
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
Classic baby fashion lawellphoto.com
Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother.
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he fashion industry is ever-changing. Styles come in, out and back again like stone-washed jeans. The same goes for babies’ fashion. Some, like smocked baby clothes, stand the test of time, while others fade. The school my twins attend is like a baby catwalk every morning. Most of the kids are wearing smocked outfits, monogrammed “bubbles” (one-piece rompers) and white Keds. A few outliers strut through the parking lot, toting their nap mat while wearing pink Converses, skinny jeans and a trendy T-shirt that sometimes I wish came in my size. Do the babies care? Of course not. But it’s fun to dress your kids while they let you. Soon enough, you will have no say in the matter. Anna Kimball, who works for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, dresses her boys, 1-year-old Simon (“Si”) and 3-year-old Phin, in “classic outfits with fun colors,” she said. “I love simple plaids, stripes and checks.” Anna’s husband Tripp, who works in real estate and construction, said he is not a fan of anything that snaps and is happy not to choose. “Anna usually has their outfits already picked out.” For dressier occasions, Anna typically selects classic bubbles and rompers for Si, and a buttondown with a fun belt for Phin. “I know a lot of kids insisting on dressing themselves,” she said. “At this age, Phin has not. Now, I’m not saying I haven’t had to bribe him to put something on with a lollipop.” There’s usually a favorite piece that gets passed down to the younger sibling. “Phin had a white-linen infant guayabera bubble,” said Anna. “It was passed down to Si. I loved it so much we did his first Christmas card in it.” Gone are the days of dressing siblings in the same outfits; many places sell a coordinating romper and button-down shirt, so the print is the same, but the style is different. “One of my favorite [outfits] is a navy, white and pale-red plaid, short-sleeve, button-down, linen shirt that Phin has worn with white or navy shorts,” said Anna. “Si has a matching romper that is the most precious cut.” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 20
SIBLING STYLE Paige Foote dresses twins Ellie and Henry in monogrammed, smocked outfits. At right: Anna Kimball likes coordinating outfits and bright-colored Native shoes for sons Phin and Simon.
This summer, Anna has several checked rompers for Simon. “Phin will wear shorts in the same color with a white guayabera,” said Anna. For warmer months, she buys plain white shirts from Walmart and has them monogrammed in bright colors like lime green and orange. For shoes, Anna said the boys like the lightweight, slip-on brand called Native. “The brighter the better. We let them pick the colors.” Messes happen. “Recently, my mom [Debbie] kept them for the weekend,” said Anna. “She got them dressed in nice white shirts for an outing. Phin talked her into taking them on a TCBY outing at the end of the night. [She] called me and said the outfits were covered in chocolate ice cream.” Nothing a little stain remover couldn’t get out. Paige Foote, a mom of 9-month-old twins, Henry and Ellie, said her go-style for the babies is “classic.” “I want them to look like babies for as long as possible,” said Paige. “I love smocked bubbles and dresses for Ellie, and Jon Jons and rompers for Henry.” Paige said she selects light colors like baby blues, pink and pastels and simple patterns such as polka dots. She also loves baby moccasins from the brand Freshly Picked. They’re colorful,
soft and great for pre-walkers. Paige’s husband Brandon, who works for Shell Oil, bought the kids their first fishing shirts for the lakehouse from Prodoh Youth Outdoor Apparel. “He doesn’t like the bubbles I put Henry in. Too girly,” said Paige. Shopping can be time consuming. “I mostly shop online,” said Paige. “I follow a lot of shops on Instagram too, like Smocked Auctions and Cecil and Lou. I find a lot of clothes that way.” It can be a challenge keeping beautiful baby clothes clean and wrinkle free. The twins “both wore long, traditional baptism gowns, and I was convinced they would wrinkle in their car seats,” said Paige. “We brought them to the church in pajamas and dressed them in the parking lot. Looking back, that wasn’t the best idea.” Even though the chocolate stains may not come out, and the wrinkles may stay wrinkled, this mom thinks it’s all worth it to see your little trendsetter show off his or her (mom’s) style this summer.
MORE ONLINE For more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com for writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s weekly column, “Mommy Moments.” If you have stories to share, leave a comment online or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 21
TRAVEL by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz Underwater wonderland
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arty Aaron’s been scuba diving all over the world; he’s experienced underwater blasts in the Red Sea, been chased by seals in the Galapagos and observed the sleeping sharks of Isla Mujeres, just to name a few aquatic adventures. One of his favorite diving memories takes place in the Blue Hole, a natural wonder off the coast of Belize near Turneffe Island. “I was with one of my brave daughters,” the real estate investor recalls – Haley, who is now getting her doctorate at Palo Alto University in neuropsychology, was about 13 at the time. “She didn’t like to be controlled. We would dive together as partners; she would touch everything. Porpoises, turtles, sharks. I was grabbing her arm and pulling her back. I said, ‘You have to stop this, it’s dangerous.’” He would tell her of the importance of staying close to him, too, but Haley would have none of it. One day they were immersed in the depths of the Blue Hole when a 10-foot shark swam right in front of her. “She immediately swam behind me and stayed there for the rest of the dive,” he recalls with a laugh. “The signal for shark is a hand on top of the head – she’s got a hand on her head and she’s shaking like a leaf – and that’s the last time I had to talk to her about staying close to me and not touching things.” Scuba diving immerses one into another world. It serves as a training ground, a bonding ground, and a context that pushes one far beyond the limits of the ordinary. It’s a humbling glimpse into the vast intricacy of nature, and it can also be an immersion in the art of the possible. For some Buzz families, diving has served many roles over the years, but perhaps most importantly, it’s helped them to grow – as individuals, and in their relationships. For the Scheps family, diving has been at the center of family life. Brent has been diving for about 30 years, and Melinda’s not far behind with 25 years. All of their four children are certified, and the youngest, Spencer, got his certification at the tender age of 10. “It’s such an incredible, beautiful world down there – you’ve got to go experience it,” says Melinda, a retired network engineer, waxing eloWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 22
SET TO EXPLORE Brent, Spencer and Melinda Scheps set off for Piranha Cove, located in Grace Bay of Turks and Caicos.
quent as she describes swimming through a school of spadefish, or cave diving with an 8-foot speckled moray eel, or watching as a school of 40 silvery barracudas swim by down below her. They wanted to share this world with their children, so they started them young at home in the pool. “We got them comfortable with the masks and the gear,” she said. They learned to breathe out of the snorkel and wear the mask without fogging it up, and how to clean it underwater. Every year they would go to Turks and Caicos, and at the resort they’d take their junior dive training, learning to use a compass, how to regulate buoyancy and all the other basics. Melinda remembers with a chuckle on one of Spencer’s first dives when, still under the influence of Nemo, he reached out to grab onto a turtle. “He thought it would be so much fun to grab the turtle and ride on it while it swam. So he grabbed the back of the turtle and thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world.” Little did he know that touching was against the rules. The divemaster threatened him that if he did it again, he would be kicked off the dive. Little Spencer learned quickly one of the cardinal rules of diving: respect. Now an eighth grader at St. Mark’s Episcopal,
Spencer has 35 dives under his belt. All the other kids are grown – Cameron, 25; Kelly, 27; and Taylor, 29 – and Melinda’s grateful to have an activity that brings them all back together again. “It’s played a huge role in our family,” said Melinda. “It’s been a great way for us to all get together and do something that we love.” For nurse Carol and physician Eric Rothenberg, diving got more difficult when the boys came along – until they discovered Beaches, an all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos where the diving and daycare are included, and where the diving is close enough that Carol didn’t have to worry about leaving the boys behind. It was a great place for them to learn and to dive together as the boys got bigger. Now, says Carol, the time they spent teaching the boys to dive is paying off in first-rate diving buddies. Paul, a first-year medical student at UTMB-Galveston, and David, now a sophomore at The Emery/Weiner School, are now challenging their parents to new heights. David, who got his certification when he was 11, is heading off this summer to Sail Caribbean, which hosts a diving camp in the British Virgin Islands to get his master diver certification. “We started as a more casual experience, but
RAYS OF WONDER Steve, Susan and Jordan Solcher take a break from diving in the Cayman Islands to get up close and personal with a stingray.
David has taken it to a whole new level,” Carol said. “For my husband, this is the really good time for him. When they’re children, they need more help. Now that they’re older he can really go to the limits with them – and now they’re getting to the point where they’re taking him to the limit.” Last summer, for example, they chartered a boat from the U.S. Virgin Islands and went out to dive the RMS Rhone, a U.K. Royal mail ship wrecked in 1867, where The Deep was filmed. David was “fearless,” his mother declared, and joined as his brother and father descended more than 100 feet, entered the wreck and explored it. David has been a lucky diver, his mother says; he has been face-to-face with a 13-foot dolphin and a whale shark while diving at Turks and Caicos. For Steve Solcher, chief financial officer at BMC Software, and wife Susan, a realtor, diving has laid a foundation for their life as a couple. Susan took a scuba-certification class at Texas A&M her first semester and loved it so much she got her advanced certification her second semester. Steve was a diver, too, and some of their first dates were dive trips to Cozumel and the Bahamas. Their children – Christian, 25, and Jordan, 23 – have grown up accompanying them on dive trips, from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Cayman Islands. Other dive trips were just for
them – a way to nurture their relationship. “It’s something we have a common love for; it’s a really neat activity that we look forward to,” she said. One of the most exotic trips was to a remote island off the coast of Mozambique, where they heard the low moan of whales swimming nearby as they dove. “Every time I go I’m always amazed,” Susan said. “When I get in the water I just pinch myself and say, I wish people could see what I’m seeing – the nature, the fish, the beauty, the coral – so few people really get to see the beauty from underneath. If you could see the vast variety of different species, the schools of fishes, the sponges… and to be breathing underwater – to me it’s phenomenal that we get to do that.” She’ll never forget their first night dive in Akumal, off the Mexican Riviera Maya. “The octopus come out at night, and they’re amazing to watch,” she said. “Some are huge, some are small; the colors at night are so different … you see a lot of things at night that you don’t see in the day. When you see it at night the colors are really vivid.” Melinda, too, is fascinated by night diving. “The whole sea changes at night – it’s almost like Night at the Museum, all the things that are hidden come alive. The giant lobsters you’d never seen that day are all walking around; massive crabs moving around the coral; the moray eels are out, and you can see them slithering
around on the sand. And you wiggle your hand back and forth, and it’s like you’re diving in thousands of lightning bugs… it’s beautiful.” Perhaps most important to Marty, however, is the chance to fully engage yourself and your family in life – as opposed to the Facebook version. “Diving with your kids brings three aspects into your life,” said Marty. First, there’s the recognition that your time together is very valuable. Second, there’s the physical component – now you have a reason to learn to swim better. Third, there’s the thinking part – they had to get experienced in the physical, equipment side and the mental side – learning how to do the calculations, learning about pressure, air, nitrogen narcosis. At the end of the day, he says, diving is a metaphor for life. “It was all about creating an environment or an arena where they could see themselves grow without unnecessary harm,” said Marty. “You learn about something, and then you apply it. Driving a car, scuba diving, being in a relationship – diving is the same process, and life is the same process. I’ve always brought it back that you’re the product of your experiences. Diving for me was just the arena for doing it.”
MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to dive classes and resorts. In July, check The Buzz for a story about outstanding diving opportunities in Texas. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 23
The Junior League of Houston
FOOD by Sarah Pilger Sanders, contributing writer
Cooking Buzz And so summer begins 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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hen you are young, every holiday is special, but growing up on the East Coast, Memorial Day always held a special place in my heart as it signaled that summer was near. Unlike Houston, where summer can start in March, East Coast summers truly begin when the community swimming pools open on Memorial Day. It meant sundresses, lemonade and long daylight hours, and, most importantly, school break was just around the corner. Holidays can elicit strong memories and nostalgia, often tied to the food you grew up eating. To me, Memorial Day is all about the grill. Something about a hamburger hot off the grill with ketchup and mustard squirting out all sides of the bun just screams summer. Summer foods aren’t the formal dishes of winter holidays but the kind that truly test the camouflaging nature of your loud summer prints. Summer food has the brilliant quality of often being very simple. Compared to complicated roasts, fancy hors d’oeuvres and even cocktails that require a hand beater, Memorial Day embraces simple dishes with rich flavor. My favorite way to start a summer party is with Orange Blossom Punch out of Stop and Smell the Rosemary. This light, refreshing cocktail welcomes your guests in from the hot day and lets them know that your event is not just for kids. Be sure to chill cups ahead of time for an extra crisp taste. As you sit down to eat, serve your guests a salad complete with a protein that is savory, but not overwhelming. The Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette from Peace Meals pulls together summer staples like avocado and honey and pairs them with toasted nuts and salty prosciutto. You can’t ask for a better start to a backyard meal. Nothing brings back the childhood elation of Memorial Day like hamburgers on the grill. The first lighting of the grill at the beginning of summer was practically a religious ceremony in my house. My father typically over-poured WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 24
the lighter fluid for dramatic effect, and my mother softly chastised him while her face beamed with delight. Today, I try to give my children the thrill of an old-fashioned barbecue with the Ole Mole Hamburgers from The Houston Junior League Cookbook. These slider-style burgers SUMMERTIME STARTER The Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic are easy and cap- Vinaigrette pairs avocado and honey with toasted nuts and salty prosciutto. ture the seasoning From Peace Meals of what a homemade burger should have. Prosciutto adds a salty bite to this picture-perFor side dishes, I have two summer favorites. fect salad. What is a cookout without a bean dip? Specifically, the Texas Bean Dip from The Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette: Houston Junior League Cookbook was one of the ½ cup olive oil first dips I learned to make as an adult, and I still ¼ cup white Balsamic vinegar pull it out for many occasions. It’s quick, simple 1 Tablespoon honey and a crowd-pleaser every time. Next, I recom½ teaspoon coarse salt mend a vegetable. But what is the fun of a veg¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper etable unless it is fried? The Fried Cauliflower from The Houston Junior League Cookbook is simSalad: ple and to the point. Veggies are better when 5 ounces mixed baby greens they are dredged in flour and dipped in hot oil. 2 medium avocados, pitted, peeled and sliced This is a party after all. 2 medium navel oranges, peeled and secChocolate Chunk Cookies and Strawberries tioned Eric, both out of Peace Meals, are sweet classics ¼ pound prosciutto, torn into bite-size pieces with small twists. The cinnamon and oats in the 1 ⁄3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted cookies make these treats far from ordinary but simple enough to please children and adults. Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a The strawberries are tart and refreshing and can small bowl. Place the mixed greens in a large bowl. be served on their own, on top of a cake or pie, Add the avocados, oranges, prosciutto and walnuts, or even in a drink. and toss with desired amount of Honey Balsamic Whatever you decide to serve at your summer Vinaigrette. Serve immediately. Serves 4. soirée, make sure it’s all about the three Fs: flavor, freshness and fun.
MORE ONLINE
Prosciutto and Orange Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more recipes mentioned in this article.
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SPORTS
by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz I
n the aftermath of tragedy, the students of Bellaire High School held an emotionally charged celebration called Hooping for Luv, a trio of all-star basketball games to raise funds for the families of the four victims of a Spring Break car accident. The accident took the lives of 18-year-old Bellaire Cardinals volleyball star Jade Robinson, her 19-year-old sister Brianna, who herself was a former track star at Bellaire, and 17-year-old former Bellaire student Brittanie Johnson. Shelby Coleman, an 18-year-old senior at Lamar High School, was the only survivor of the accident. A standing room-only crowd of about 2,000 turned out to HISD’s Butler Field House for the games, which featured many of the area’s top basketball players. “I’m just amazed how our students put together such a great event in a short amount of time,” said Bellaire volleyball coach Ap Clarke. “It was totally the kids who did all of this.” The idea for the event originated from Bellaire senior basketball player Deon’ta Lagway, a former boyfriend of Jade Robinson and a close friend of Jade’s family. “I felt like we owed it to them to have this big event and donate the money to the families. I knew the girls my entire high school life, and I just wanted to help out and make them proud and make their families proud.” Lagway played in the all-star event alongside Bellaire teammate Maxwell Evans. “It just feels so good that all these great high school players from across Houston came together to play for something special. It means so much to a lot of people,” said Evans. With a lineup of who’s who in Houston high school basketball, the games themselves evolved into a highlight-reel, slam-dunk festival. But the highlight was how the Bellaire and Lamar communities rallied around the families of the girls. “Obviously, by all the people who are here
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Bruce Bell Media
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you can see how those girls touched so many lives, even way beyond Bellaire High School,” said Bellaire sophomore volleyball and basketball player Cody PLAYING WITH LOVE Bellaire High School basketball player Deon’ta Lagway was soaring high during the slam-dunk competition of the Hooping For Luv benefit basketFillmore. “We just ball games. The Cardinals senior was a driving force behind the event, which raised wanted to have an funds for the families of Houston teens killed in a Spring Break car accident. event that brings Giuliana Madrigali, who Amarantos calls the everybody together as a community.” heart of the team. “Giuliana is a vocal playmak“Jade would just light up a locker room,” said er who sees the field really well. She led the disBellaire sophomore volleyball player Sharea trict in assists this season.” Washington. “She’d come in and yell out, ‘Hey, Amarantos had praise for several other playeveryone,’ and always put a smile on everyers, including senior Kate Rottino, freshman body’s face. Jade just had that personality that Grace Collins and sophomore Grace Youchum. when you were having a bad day she would just “Kate is one of our captains. She’s just a really brighten you up.” consistent player who’s always doing the right “Jade was just a special person on and off the things on the soccer field.” court,” said coach Clarke. “On the court, she Collins, only a freshman, led the team and was a hard-working player who just loved to play district in goals with 42 goals in 22 games. volleyball. Off the court, Jade was a lover of life.” “That’s pretty spectacular,” said Amarantos. In other news, on the soccer fields, it’s been “Grace is extremely fast with an excellent left one of the greatest seasons ever for the and right foot. She’s already being looked at by Memorial Mustangs girls’ soccer team. The some of the top colleges out there.” Mustangs won 21 of their 22 regular-season As for Youchum, Amarantos describes the games, followed by a 3-0 shutout over Cy Fair in sophomore midfielder as a tremendous athlete the bi-district playoffs. The only regular-season who does amazing things with the ball. “Grace loss of the year for Memorial was when the is just a lot of fun to watch.” Mustangs were without three key starters who were still playing basketball at the time. Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Award“I have an extremely competitive group of winning co-host and producer of the KUBE girls who really enjoy playing soccer with each SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 other,” said Mustangs girls soccer coach Lindley p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school Amarantos. “They go out there and battle hard sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, game in and game out.” please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. Among the so-called battlers is senior
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SPORTS
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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
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elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Heat from the mound Nick Puig, 10, pitches for Bellaire Little League’s Bats team, in the Minors division. A fourth grader at Horn Elementary, Puig has played baseball each spring and fall season since he was 3 years old. He has also played for summer tournament teams. Pitcher is his favorite position, but he also plays catcher, first base, center field and shortstop. Having fun is most important to Puig, who says that “a team that has fun together, wins together.” His dream is to play college baseball or pitch for the Houston Astros. But, if that doesn’t work out, then he can fall back on his secondary plan of attending either Stanford or MIT.
Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau
SportzBuzz, Jr.
Martial arts family Matthew Erasmus, 11, practices his flying side kick in class at Kim’s School of Tae Kwon Do (middle photo). His sister, Lauren Erasmus, 14, holds the paddle for him to practice his aim. The siblings have studied tae kwon do for seven years. Matthew won gold in his division in a local sparring competition, and he hopes to compete more in the future. His goal is to master an advanced kick known as a 540. Lauren enjoys learning forms and focusing on the selfdefense aspect of tae kwon do, and she hopes to pass the kukkiwon test. In addition to fitness, tae kwon do teaches discipline, coordination and focus.
Pre-kindergartners Rafael Lamadrid, Sarah Levy, Luis Lamadrid and Ethan Phillips (bottom photo, from left) enjoy Bellaire Little League’s (BLL) opening day with their manager, Victor Lamadrid. The 4 and 5 year olds are members of the D-Rays T-ball team and are new to BLL this year. The opening-day festivities took place at Jessamine Field and celebrated 63 years of baseball and community. The D-Rays proudly donned their team uniforms and marched in the parade of teams, with more than 400 other BLL players, before enjoying a rock-climbing wall, bouncy castle and a raffle drawing to throw out the first pitch. This is their first opening-day celebration, but the little D-Rays look forward to the season when they can participate in BLL’s annual home-run derby for 12 year olds. 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
Dee Zunker Photography
Learning to play
schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.
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NEIGHBORS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz About Town Art on wheels
Kariana Carlson, Jakob Doerr and Charlotte Mehnert (pictured, from left) posed in front of a visiting hippo art car. Just like the annual big Houston Art Car Parade, St. Mark’s held its own first Mini Art Car Parade where elementary and middle school students designed and created their own mini art cars.
A beautiful memorial
St. Mark’s Episcopal School first graders Catalina Amelio, Alex Glenn, Lily Wilson,
Ann and Jorge Leis (pictured) gathered as the Holocaust Museum Houston marked its 20th anniversary with a champagne reception at Neiman Marcus. The event was held to launch an exhibit developed with help from children
across the globe. More than 1.5 million handmade butterflies were submitted to the museum from every continent except Antarctica to memorialize the 1.5 million children who were killed in the Holocaust. The result is “The Butterfly Project,” a series of six traveling cases with some of the more thoughtful and thought-
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provoking samples. Three of the cases remained at Neiman Marcus and three at The Galleria through March 31. All six will appear at locations throughout the area through March 2017. Viewing locations can be found on the museum’s web site at hmh.org/butterflies.
Junior League hosts seniors The National Charity League Heart of Texas Chapter Senior Recognition Luncheon for the Class of 2016 was held at The Junior League of Houston. The event honored the class for their
service to the community in their six years in the chapter. The senior class of 2016 (pictured) includes students from St. Agnes Academy, St. John's School, Episcopal High School, The Kinkaid School, Houston Christian High School, Bellaire High School, Memorial High School, Lamar High School and Carnegie Vanguard. The mission of the National Charity League is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization. Seniors recognized were Elle Samantha Bennett, Sarah Catherine Bland, Emily Ann Boswell, Adeline Hope Braverman,
Kendyl Claire Bree, Allison Nicole Buaas, Emily Elizabeth Calkins, Catherine Grace Catechis, Emma Nicole Cohn, Emily Cecilia Cone, Claire Emily Dameris, Madeline Elizabeth Davet, Isabelle Anne Draper, Emily Michelle Fraser, Brooke Kruger Gilliard, Hannah Jane Goulden, Emma Marie Hansen, Isabelle Hamilton Haugh, Kristen Marie Kling, Brooke Katherine Kushwaha, Jennifer Claire Lillard, Grace Layden Linesch, Callie Ann Lucia, Lily Patton Martin, Caroline Rose Murphy, Susanna Brooks Pacha, Meredith Brooke Rasmussen, Brittney Hart Reese, Natalie Marie Romano, Lola Sloan Rucker, Catherine Elizabeth Schell, Jennifer Claire Trieschmann and Julia Renee Tucci.
A school tradition
West University Elementary recently held its annual book fair. The school has hosted the event for over 20 years and this year’s theme was “Books and Butterflies.” (continued on page 32)
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(continued from page 31) WUES librarian Kelley
Russell and assistant principal Amber Pinchback (pictured, from left) entertained the children at the fair.
Nurturing nature at Poe
as site visits from NWF. Now the area features an oval, pupa-shaped garden filled with milkweed and nectar plants, and wooden beds filled with more milkweed and nectar plants, plus herbs, fruits and vegetables. Pictured in the garden are (front row, from left) Elle Abrams-Schwartz, Aiden Abrams-Schwartz, Jace Gaff, Kathryn Kotter, (top row, from left) Stacie Gaff (Poe parent), Abrams-Schwartz, Kate Arbiter (Poe administrator), Shawn Gray (Poe teacher) and Lucinda Kotter.
Spring fling Dave Rossman
Go, Lexie, go
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Gulf Coast Chapter launches its Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign. The campaign is a competition among the candidates (10 women and nine men from the Houston area) to see who raises the most money. Each dollar raised is considered a vote. Lexie’s beloved grandmother, Anne “Mamoo” Wallace, lost her 7-year battle to stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma last year. See mwoy.org/pages/txg/houston16/lboudreaux.
Poe Elementary School parent Lesley AbramsSchwartz, who serves as chairperson for the recycling committee and co-founder of Poe's new Kids For Saving Earth Club, thought that helping save the butterflies would be a great thing to take on. She learned of grants offered by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to plant butterfly gardens at HISD schools. This would help save the declining monarch butterfly population (which has decreased by 90 percent), make an outdoor classroom for students at Poe and begin the journey to becoming an eco school. The effort included NWF seminars for the adults on how to produce, promote and maintain the garden, as well
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Lexie Boudreaux (pictured, second from left, with husband Aaron and friends Michael and Scott Shaver) gathered with friends and supporters at The Briar Club, including Beth Smith, Lauren Cancienne, Molly Evans, Lucia Clark and Dawn Persia. Why? Lexie is up for the challenge to become Woman of the Year. Each year,
Ashley, John, Walter and Thomas Weathers posed at an “egg-cellent” breakfast and photo event benefitting MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. The children got to play with live bunnies, as photographer Annette Boatwright captured portraits of the children. In addition, children enjoyed Easter crafts, ceramic-egg decorating, coloring, face painting,
Fay turns 25
Parents, teachers, faculty and staff from The Fay School poured into the Corinthian downtown for school’s annual gala and 25th anniversary celebration. Flowers and dangling crystal balls draped the ceiling as a cocktail reception kicked off the silent auction. Gala co-chairs included Elva Akin, Carrie Chaplan, Jennifer Cunningham, Shanna Halperin, Megan Pond, Tica Perwien, Erica Levit, Sarah Pollock, Jennifer Shellist and Debbey Guy. Wowing the bidders were liveauction items such as a black Lab puppy and a vacation at a home in Watercolor, Florida. The event raised a record $500,000 for the school. Pictured are (back row, from left) Shellist,
Guy, Akin, Melissa Lawson, Chaplan, Rina O'Malley, Danielle Stewart, Pond, (front row, from left) Anna Gurvitch, June Lovland, Natalie Wall and Lauren Granello.
Local talent
Andrea Conley, a seventh-grade student at Pin Oak Middle School, earned national recognition in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2016. She is being awarded a Gold Medal for her piece Fish Out of Water. She has been identified by panels of creative professionals as one of the most talented young artists in the nation. This year, nearly 320,000 works of art and writing were submitted. Only the top 1 percent were recognized at the national level, and she is one of 2,400 students to receive a National Gold Medal. These students have been invited to attend a ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York on June 2.
Gearing up for the gala Daniel Ortiz
balloon-animal artists and private playtime within The Little Galleria play area. All of the proceeds went to charity.
A preview party for the Nora's Home at the Kentucky Derby May 6 gala kicked off at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House. Nora’s Home is a 16-suite facility for transplant patients traveling to Houston to stay at during medical care. Over 50 supporters attended the reception, and each brought a bottle of wine to donate towards the gala auction. The executive director of Nora's Home, Kayla Lehmann, welcomed guests. The party was hosted by Brigitte and Bashar Kalai (pictured, at right) with (from left) Drs. Osama and Lilian Gaber and Lehmann. Gala honorees are the Boudwin and Bono families. For tickets, see norashome.org or call 832831-3720. Tickets start at $1,000 for two. 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.
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 33
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE Sophia Li, a junior at St. John’s School, went skydiving in Australia.
KIDS by Sophia Li, age 17
Buzz Kidz
Jumping from a plane
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he summer of 2014, I was in Cairns, Australia. The ocean’s harbor contoured like a distorted parabola, cluttered with rows of bayside restaurants. As the sun broke over the water, signaling dawn, fishermen unloaded sea bass and crustaceans into red plastic buckets filled with ice. Their boats bobbed, anchored to the ocean floor. The sea breeze was salty to the tongue. It was here that I found an advertisement for skydiving. Come conquer the skies with us! it read. If an 80-year-old grandmother can do it, so can you! I was never one to turn down a challenge. So the next morning, I biked to the agency, paid the obscene fee, and after a blur of flurried movement and safety videos, all of a sudden I was up in the air inside a cramped aircraft with my tandem mas-
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ter waving a small video camera in front of me. For some strange reason, fear didn’t come to me. Sure, I had the tingling sensations of adrenaline rushing through my body, but my mind was mostly numb as the plane reached 10,000 feet. I guess I had accepted the fact that I would exit at 10,000 feet and that I would survive. When I jumped, time seemed to slow down. I stared straight down at the grassy fields, my arms stretched out like I was flying in a tunnel of gravity, awaiting a hug from my very own planet. I landed safely (actually I tripped over my parachute, but that was after landing, so it doesn’t count). Skydiving is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Too often I feel like I’m trapped in the rigid expectations of this world, like I walk around each day with tunnel vision, blind to
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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 34
everything in my periphery. To be able to look at our world from an aerial view, from a place where nothing, not even gravity can pull you down quickly enough, gave me a new perception of who I was as a person, of what I desired to accomplish during my lifetime. To fly free is an experience I would never give up. 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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When aging parents need a psychological assessment All of us with elderly parents worry about them, especially about changes in behavior or mood. Yet determining if these changes are normal can be difficult. That’s where a psychological assessment can make all the difference. When to get an assessment If you’re concerned about any of the following, consider an assessment: • Changes in cognitive functioning. This may mean a decline in memory or other thinking skills. Decision-making and planning can become difficult. They may start to get lost while driving, or their ability to drive safely is starting to become a concern. • Substance use. In addition to alcohol or illegal drugs, prescription drugs can affect behavior, mood and cognitive functioning. Also, older individuals are usually more sensitive to medications, including sleep aids and benzodiazepines, which help with anxiety but can affect cognition. • Depression or anxiety. While many older adults have these issues successfully treated by an internist, some may need the expertise of a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. For example, depression can affect cognition, and what can look like the early stages of dementia can really be untreated depression. “There are many reasons why adult children want their aging parents to complete a psychological assessment, but it’s often because they are worried about dementia or Alzheimer’s,” said Harrell Woodson, PhD, administrative director of The Menninger Clinic’s Outpatient Services. “But what may look like a dementia is sometimes something else, and a
thorough assessment can help determine what’s really going on.” What’s included At Menninger, psychological assessments are typically done over 4.5 days with a team that includes a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker and other specialists as needed. The assessment includes interviews with the patient, the patient’s doctors and the family so that the team can get a 360-degree view of the patient. Testing may include neurocognitive, psychosocial and neuropsychiatric evaluations. A thorough review of all medications is included, as is an assessment of the patient’s physical status, a MRI and lab tests. The team leader helps the patient understand each step along the way. At the end of the week, the team leader and psychiatrist meet with the patient and family to review the findings and recommendations. Recommendations Recommendations can range from inpatient, partial or outpatient levels of care as well as assisted living or in-home assistance. Psychotherapeutic and medication recommendations may be offered and additional workups suggested. To make an appointment for an assessment, call 713-275-5000. The Menninger Clinic, 12301 S. Main Street, Houston, Texas 77035, www.MenningerClinic.com
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DINING GUIDE
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
This Month in Dining
Happy-hour countdown
KATA ROBATA The Texas Kobe Yakiniku roll is $8 at during happy hours.
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ouston transitions from work to happy hour, when liquid goodness soothes parched throats as early as 3 p.m. Happy times are afoot until the dinner bell strikes at 6:30 p.m. or so. Not to worry, reverse happy hour kicks into gear soon enough. Late-night socials are trending, thanks to the likes of 8-9-10 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, which has 8 appetizers – most for $9 each – until 10 p.m. Clever marketing, even tastier filet mignon flatbread. Here, we start the happy-hour countdown to toast bargain bites and drinks. 3 p.m. – Saltillo Mexican Kitchen (5427 Bissonnet) has half-off enchiladas and appetizers 3-5 p.m. Between 4 and 6 p.m., diners sip on 2-for-1 house cocktails along with $7 wines and $3 beers. Critic’s choice: trio of tacos and chicken enchiladas verde. 4 p.m. – Etoile (1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd.) lets you eat and drink like a king on a pauper’s budget. Chef-owner Philippe Verpiand’s fine touches extend to his “Green Hour” menu 4:30-6:30 pm. Sunday-Friday. It’s called the “Green Hour” because of the $12 absinthe and top-notch, hand-crafted $7 cocktails. Critic’s choice: house-ground burger with pomme frites, 10-ounce angus ribeye, sautéed shrimp with fingerling potatoes and imported cheese plate with dried fruits and jam. Next door at Songkran Thai Kitchen (1101-8 Uptown Park) chef-owner Junnajet Jett Hurapan composed a $5 appetizer menu along with $3 beers and $5 wines. Critic’s choice: $18 tasting plate with a choice of four appetizers, including tamarind meatballs, Thai sausage and chicken lettuce wrap. 5 p.m. – Kata Robata (3600 Kirby) has a selection of sushi rolls and appetizers between $4 and $9. Like Uchi (904 Westheimer), happy hour is only for an hour and a half, ending at 6:30 p.m. But WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 36
it picks up Saturday, and on Sunday, happy hour specials are noon-5 p.m. with $3 mimosas. Critic’s choice: tuna tartare, salmon and soft shell crab roll and the Longhorn roll with fried shrimp, fresh water eel and avocado. 6 p.m. – Latin Bites (5709 Woodway) slashes prices for its signature cocktails and hot bites by half 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Critic’s choice: crispy beef empanadas and anticuchos, or grilled heart with roasted potatoes. Seasons 52 (4410 Westheimer Road and 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway North) locations features a “sunset” menu 4-6:30 p.m. with $5 small plates, $6 wines and $8 specialty cocktails. Critic’s choice: Hawaiian Cosmopolitan with pineapple vodka, seared ahi tuna and lollipop lamb chops with balsamic. 7 p.m. – Caracol’s (2200 Post Oak Blvd.) 3-7 p.m menu is impressive with $7 appetizers and $6 wines and cocktails. The main attraction is half a dozen raw oysters with a glass of white wine for $13.50, or go for the gold medal with a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne and a half dozen woodroasted oysters for $65. Critic’s choice: braised pork taquitos, fried oyster tacos and crab fritters. 9 p.m. – Guad Texas Chef-Mex (2925 Southwest Freeway) rises like a phoenix after a fire two years ago, garnering fans with its tasty botanas ($3-$8) and $5 house margaritas. Happy hour is 3-6:30 p.m. But on Friday and Saturday, it starts again 9-11 p.m. Critic’s picks: bacon-wrapped quail and ceviche tacos 10 p.m. – Morton’s Steakhouse (1001 McKinney Street and 5000 Westheimer) discounts some beers and wines 4-6:30 p.m., but the $7 bar bites are available until closing. Critic’s choice: crab-cake BLT, mini cheeseburgers, filet mignon sandwiches, steak tacos, shrimp cocktail and crab-spinach dip. 11 p.m. – Aka Sushi House (2390 W. Alabama) buzzes with reverse happy hour 9 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. Last call is 15 minutes before closing at 10:30 p.m. MondayThursday. A successful business model here, happy hour starts at 3 p.m. weekdays and all day Sundays. Nibble and drink specials are $4-9. Critic’s choice: baked mussels, gyoza and spicy crunch tuna roll.
Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Buzz Dining Guide columnist Dai Huynh (D.H.) is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. Contributing reviewer Russell Weil (R.W.), a Houston native, is the author of the blog Eat More Burgers, eat-more-burgers.com. Their visits to restaurants in the Dining Guide were anonymous, and they paid for their meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Bollo Woodfired Pizza Pizza and Italian Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Bollo Woodfired Pizza offers casual dining in a modern, relaxed atmosphere. Specializing in Neapolitan pizza, Bollo bakes their creations in an 800-degree, wood-fired oven. There is a mon-
itor in the dining room where customers can keep an eye on their pizza while it is being made. The result is a pizza with tangy flavors and bubbling cheese on a thin, crispy, homemade crust. Choose the pizza as an entrée, or pair with their classic salads, small plates of crispy calamari or lobster ravioli, as well as entrée pastas, beef, chicken and fish dishes. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Mon.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. & Tues.-Thur.; 11 a.m.11 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 4-7 p.m.; 9 p.m.-close. 2202 A West Alabama, 713667-0391. bollohouston.com. $$ – R.W.
BRC Gastropub London-inspired gastropub Neighborhood: Rice Military Lance Fegen marinates his chicken in a honey brine prior to encasing the moist interior with a crisp, nutty crust. Short-rib brisket burgers evoke contented sighs while fried oysters are light but forcefully flavored in this wood-paneled masculine beer haven with engaging feminine touches, such as flamboyant wallpapers inspired by the glossy Viceroy, a boutique hotel in Santa Monica. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.Fri., 3-7 p.m. 519 Shepherd Drive, 713-861-2233. brcgastropub.com. $$ – D.H.
Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District
Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso buco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m. 601 Richmond Ave., 713-5274440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$ – D.H.
Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely credited with introducing Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on Westheimer captivates with interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines. Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner (continued on page 38)
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Following the success of True Food, Phoenixbased Fox Restaurant Concepts has launched another winning venture with this reasonably priced Italian eatery, where community dining is part of the appeal, along with homemade pastas and pizzas. A soaring space with bulbous overhead lighting and well-coiffed customers, North Italia manages to captivate and nurture our love affair with Italian cooking. Dishes to try include the seasonable vegetable salad, the highly touted bolognese, fig-and-prosciutto pizza, ricotta gnocchi with braised beef short ribs with horseradish crema, and Italian donuts. Call ahead for reservations or avoid peak hours if you hate to wait. North Italia, with a view of the kitchen behind floor-to-ceiling glass, is packed and loud during prime times. But that's part of the fun. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 3-6 p.m.; Sun., all day. 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 190, 281-6054030; northitaliarestaurant.com. $$ – D.H.
Saltillo Mexican Kitchen GUAD TEXAS CHEF-MEX Guad's bacon-wrapped quail doubles as an entree during happy hours. (continued from page 37) Mon.-Sun. Happy hour:
Mon.-Fri., 3-7 p.m. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$ – D.H.
Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland. Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and owner-chef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. Happy hour: Sun.-Fri, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$ – D.H.
Hay Merchant Craft food and beer Neighborhood: Montrose Located on lower Westheimer, which was named for the German immigrant and hay merchant Mitchell Louis Westheimer, this craftfood and beer establishment in a rustic setting is a popular spot. Their website proclaims that “beers are always served at the proper temperature, with the correct pressure and gas mix, in appropriate glassware, and by folks who know what the hell they’re talking about.” In addition to nearly 100 beers on tap, the food served is darn good as well. I paired a pint of Sierra WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 38
Nevada Pale Ale with their Citrus BBQ Pork Buns – fish sauce, iceberg lettuce, smoked pork, tomatoes and cilantro on a fluffy steamed bun. Other food offerings include a warm pretzel with “redneck cheddar cheese dip,” Texas chili with cornbread, and the “Cease and Desist” burger served with hand-cut fries. Be prepared to wait if you have a large party. 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.Fri; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat. & Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Sun., 3-6 p.m. 1100 Westheimer Rd., 713528-9805. haymerchant.com. $-$$ – R.W.
Max’s Wine Dive American food and wine bar Neighborhoods: Washington Ave. and Montrose The Austin-originated Max’s Wine Dive is known for its award-winning fried chicken. If you have ever tried it, you know what I am talking about. The well-seasoned flour gives way to a flavorful crispy crust. A 36-hour soaking in buttermilk and jalapeño gives the three-piece chicken plate its signature moistness. A side of honey-chipotle dipping sauce has the right amount of spice and contrast to each bite. Max’s is popular, so expect a wait without a reservation. With the rustic charm of exposed brick, and bottles of wine adorning the walls, the long sleek bar is popular at both the Washington Avenue and Fairview locations, so sit back, or stand up, and enjoy because the fried chicken is worth the wait. 11 a.m.-midnight Sun.-Thu.; 10 a.m-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., Open-6 p.m. 4720 Washington Ave. 713-6444949. 214 Fairview St., Ste.2. 713-528-9200. maxswinedive.com. $$ – R.W.
North Italia Modern Italian Neighborhood: Galleria area
Mexican Neighborhood: Near Bellaire Fans of La Casa de Caballo will be happy to hear that it has immigrated near the city of Bellaire and rechristened itself as Saltillo. Many of the old favorites remain, including the 4 pound-plus ribeye cap ($190) large enough to share with five of your BFFs, or for a smaller group of four, there is the 3-pound top sirloin ($80). Saltillo is smaller in size but in many ways with more charm. We like, too, the three-course lunch specials for $20. Try the tasty trio of tacos. Lunch Mon.-Sun. & dinner Mon.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m. 5427 Bissonnet St., 832-6236467. saltillomexicankitchen.com. $$$ – D.H.
Seasons 52 New American Neighborhoods: Highland Village/Memorial Seasons 52 is reminiscent of Houston's on Kirby, with similar synergy and dimly lit decor. There are multiple booths, each with its own lamp for an intimate, yet casual setting. The interior is well thought out, unified like most chains, but more upscale. Seasons 52 is motivated by seasonal ingredients, like a chef-driven restaurant, changing its menu quarterly along with showcasing new weekly specials. A plus? Nothing on the meal is more than 475 calories. It also has glutenfree and vegetarian menus. Consider the Winter Vegetarian Tasting with quinoa-citrus salad, soft black-bean taco, seasonal roasted vegetables and an amazingly innovative, yet simple cedar-roasted tofu. There is the standard grilled rack of lamb, roasted chicken and stellar flat-bread pizzas. The mini desserts in a cup are sensible, diminutive, four or five bites at most. Try the pecan pie with vanilla mousse or carrot cake with cinnamon honey. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4-6:30 p.m. Locations: Highland Village, 4410 Westheimer Road, 713-621-5452; CityCentre, 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway, 713464-5252. seasons52.com. $$ – D.H.
South Coast Grill Gulf Coast cuisine Neighborhood: Downtown Satisfying food can be such a good trip down memory lane. Rechristened and revamped, the restaurant formerly known as Massa's Seafood Grill provides that and more. Marching proudly into the next era of Houston dining, owner Joseph Massa continues to honor his family’s 72year-old tradition of good, solid Gulf Coast seafood and Creole specialties. Fewer and fewer restaurants are doing Gulf Coast cooking right these days, which is why of late we find ourselves delving into Massa's spicy grilled catfish with red beans and rice. Try, too, the pecan-crusted rainbow trout lovingly doused with lemon buerre blanc and served with potatoes au gratin. The composition pairs beautifully with a crisp sauvignon blanc. Although a recent addition, the shrimp and grits with blackened shrimp is another crowd favorite. Open lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. & Sat. for dinner. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri, 4-7 p.m. 1331 Lamar, 713-655-9100. southcoastgrill.com. $$-$$$ – D.H.
Underbelly Upscale Texas eats Neighborhood: Montrose Underbelly chef-owner Chris Shepherd’s menu is a touchstone of the nose-to-tail movement. The Oklahoman is known to haul a whole
hog through a roomful of diners, and his passion is mirrored by a striking woodcutting of a snout at the entrance. Family-style offerings include a pork roast with smoky sweet cornbread. Another piglet rendition is spicy kimchi stew. Shepherd shares his fondness for Asian cuisines with sweeping touches here and there – all of which are satisfying against an airy, modern, Texas Hill Country setting, with maple wood communal tables, fresh wildflowers and a wall of homemade preserves. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Thurs. & dinner Fri.-Sat. Happy hour: Mon.-Sat., 3-6:30 p.m.; 10 p.m.-midnight. 1100 Westheimer Road, 712-5289800. underbellyhouston.com. $$$ – D.H.
Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or short-rib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California cabernet. With his steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy
béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. & dinner Sun. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Sun., all day. 947 Gessner, 713395-6100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$ – D.H.
Weights + Measures American Neighborhood: Midtown This bakery/restaurant/bar starts with freshly baked breads, pastries and donuts at dawn with the Slow Dough Bake Shop. As the sun rises higher, it gracefully leads Midtown dwellers into a well-crafted, 150-seat restaurant that oozes urban cool. A smart, playful menu and wine list entice foodies while late at night, the bar, christened Love and Squalor, features cocktails and hundreds of beers along with an abbreviated menu. Dishes to try: wood-grilled mortadella, roasted carrot pizza and lacquered duck breast with snap peas. Bake shop: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner: Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; Brunch: Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Happy hour: Mon.-Fri., 3-6:30 p.m. 2808 Caroline St., 713654-1970. weights-measures.com. $$ – D.H.
MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for all restaurants that have been reviewed by The Buzz. You can use our restaurant finder to search by area, cuisine and price.
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Bunions and hammertoes
A minute with Maisie
Bunions and hammertoes are common causes of painful toes. A bunion isn’t a growth, but a misalignment of the bones in the foot. Although bunions and hammertoes can result from heredity, arthritis and bone abnormality, a more frequent cause is the prolonged wearing of shoes that squeeze the toes into pointy or narrow toe boxes. Bunions and hammertoes more often occur in women, but this doesn’t mean men are exempt. Bunions may not be painful at first, but you may notice a bump on the side of your foot, and that it’s harder to put on tight shoes. Over time, the bunion can become extremely painful and lead to reduced muscle strength in the foot. Hammertoe, a deformity that develops when tendons and ligaments in the toe contract, cause the toe to bend over and curl up, resembling a hammer. The top of the toe may then rub against your shoe, causing irritation, corns, calluses or bursitis. The problem often develops in the second toe, resulting from a bunion that has formed in the big toe, pushing it inward and displacing the second toe. Everyday, we see these and other foot problems in our practice. Remember to check your feet daily for any unforeseen foot issues. Bellaire Podiatry/Nail Laser Center of Houston, Dr. Barry P. Weinstein, 4909 Bissonnet, Suite 120, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.721.5500, www.BarryWeinsteinDPM.com
Many clients ask me, “What is a Child Advocate?” The Texas Family Code provides that a volunteer advocate may be appointed in cases involving CPS where termination of the parental rights is requested. They must be trained and certified by the court to appear as a volunteer. Typically, these volunteers are indispensable champions for children in foster care, particularly when CPS is so overwhelmed by their voluminous caseloads. If you are interested in helping children in foster care, please contact Child Advocates, Inc. at www.childadvocates.org for more information. Your time and attention could make the difference in the life of a child. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family law firm specializing in divorce, childcustody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
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Too rich for college aid? You may be doing pretty well financially, but that doesn’t mean paying for college is not a concern, or that you don’t want the most bang for your education buck. If you’re like me, you also don’t want to see your son or daughter graduate up to their eyeballs in debt. The good news is that the office of Federal Student Aid, part of the U.S. Department of Education, provides $137 billion per year to some 14 million students. The funds come as grants, loans and part-time “work-study” jobs, and can be used for direct expenses such as tuition and books, as well as indirect ones such as a computer or even dependent care. Your son or daughter can apply by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (see www.studentaid.ed.gov for more general information about government student aid). The bad news is that the more your household earns, the lower the needbased aid that your son or daughter will qualify for. Other variables come into play as well, such as family assets, how many kids in the household are attending college, and the expense of the school in question. So it is hard to predict whether a specific income level will or will not qualify for aid. A family earning well over $100,000 per year might qualify for need-based aid at an expensive school. On the other hand, someone I know whose single parent made only about $80,000 per year did not qualify for any aid at all in her situation. Whether your student qualifies for aid or not, the great news is that there is a lot of innovation happening in the field of education. If you want to go a less traditional, more customized route, then you can gain much more
control over the “bottom line” of your son’s or daughter’s college expenses. For instance, rather than an expensive-toobtain degree from a private school, you might want to consider an honors program at a state university. These offer small classes and even select residence halls filled with exceptional students focused on learning rather than just partying. Online options are another possibility, from freely available content through sources such as Khan Academy to fully accredited online degree programs. For the latter, affordable Colleges Online (www.affordablecollegesonline.org) is a great information resource. It lets you search for accredited public and private programs based on your desired field of study, degree, and location. It also has a plethora of rankings based on affordability and other criteria. “Finding higher educational opportunities that hit the cost and quality sweet spot,” the site says, “shouldn’t be harder than getting Bigfoot on film.” Amen to that. But financing the kids’ higher education remains a topic of concern for most families, and the nuances go well beyond what we can cover here. Talk to a trusted advisor. James Waters, CFP®, PARTNERSINWEALTH, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 145, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.964.4028, jrw@partnersinwealth.com, www.partnersinwealth.com
Delicious Food. Creative Ideas. Professional Staff.
Let us cater your special occasion • Weddings • Engagement parties • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Personal celebrations • Corporate caterings • Client entertaining • Staff lunches • Office parties
Owners - Frank N. Demeris and Stathy Demeris 4803 Bissonnet St. Bellaire, Texas 77401 713.664.7964 charliesandco.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 41
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The dilemma of estate disability planning If you live happily ever after, as opposed to dying in the prime of life, you’re going to be a burden. We all know that, so we list our assets, sign powers of attorney, and imagine, in vain, that we have lightened someone’s load. Time for a reality check. Planning for disability is harder than planning for death, and the effort is punished as often as rewarded. Powers of attorney require work. Without more, Fidelity and Schwab won’t accept your power of attorney. They want you and your agent to also sign their indemnity form. Bank of America won’t accept your power of attorney at all. They insist your agent be added to the account. If you wait too long, you’re disabled, and no one will accept your signature on an indemnity form or a new agreement. Powers of attorney require maintenance. If you give Fidelity an indemnity form, they will send you a confirmation letter with a control number. Then they will lose their letter, your form, and the control number. And your agent will discover this at 10 p.m. some night, when desperate to download a tax form. You must regularly nag Fidelity to ensure your agent can act when you can’t. Powers of attorney are an imperfect substitute for you. When your agent gains access to the Fidelity account, they will learn that tax forms are not available online from an agent’s account. When your agent calls Caremark about the credit card on your drug plan, Caremark will demand a business power of attorney, a medical power, a HIPAA authorization, and a Medicare claim assignment form. After all that, Caremark will still insist
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that you come to the phone. No planning is sometimes more efficient. Hercules cleaned the Augean stables in a day. If the principal has capacity to sign documents (a big “if”), funding a revocable trust in a crisis takes less time than setting up and maintaining powers of attorney in advance. A revocable trust, funded well before disability, is more expensive than powers of attorney but also more certain. Even then, powers of attorney remain necessary for IRAs and other assets that cannot be retitled. Why bother? Because whoever responds to your crisis, whether with two hours a month or 24 hours a day, will have limited resources, which will pale in comparison to your needs. The more you’ve prepared for them, the more they can do for you. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com
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Work out without leaks
College-prep checklist
Stress incontinence is a common problem following the birth of a child. While the severity of the problem can vary widely, many women experience slight leaking when they work out, cough or sneeze. Kegel exercises (or other methods of “pelvic floor muscle training”) can help to strengthen the pelvic floor and may potentially improve stress incontinence. Several medications and surgical options are also available for the treatment of stress incontinence; however, medications have potential side effects, and surgical procedures include the risk of complications. Thanks to advances in technology, women now have another option. ThermiVa is a non-surgical option which has been found to be highly effective at treating stress incontinence (voted best feminine rejuvenation device – 2016 Aesthetic Industry Awards). A specially designed probe delivers radiofrequency energy, resulting in vaginal tightening and tightening of the tissues around the urethra, improving stress incontinence. The probe may also be used to tighten the labia, improving their appearance. Natural collagen production is stimulated to help maintain the increased tissue strength over time. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes, is comfortable, requiring no anesthesia, and requires no recovery time. There are no activity restrictions following the procedure. ThermiVa can be performed alone, or as part of the COMPLETE mommy makeover™. Craig S. Rock, M.D., F.A.C.S., Plastic Surgery, 6624 Fannin, Suite 2590, Houston, Texas 77030, 713.799.8330, www.drcraigrock.com
May is often viewed as the “make or break” month for many high school students. Major projects, assignments, last set of exams, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and final exams seem so impossible yet so critical for future college plans and aspirations. Juniors must do well on AP exams and final exams, and take the SAT or ACT one last time. Sophomores are advised to take practice SAT and ACT exams to determine which test is better for them, and plan to start preparing for them this summer. Here’s your May checklist: • Take a FREE 2nd SATurday practice test on May 14 at Firat Education. • Register for the June 4 SAT and/or June 11 ACT. • Register for the June 4 SAT Subject Tests (at least two recommended). • Begin planning for summer college visits. • Finalize plans for internship/job and volunteer activities over the summer. • Juniors: Begin finalizing your college list by May 31. For more customized help with college preparation, please call us or email us. Our professionals develop and execute a customized plan for each student that aligns school academics, standardized testing, and college counseling with college and career goals. Firat Educational Solutions, LLC, Ibrahim Firat, MBA, Independent Educational Consultants Association Professional Member, 3701 W. Alabama, Suite 390, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.871.1048, www.firateducation.com
Point. Click. Win. Enter The Buzz 2016 Photo Contest DEADLINE MAY 15TH The Buzz Magazines is pleased to announce our eleventh annual Photo Contest. Winning photos will be published in our July issue and on our website beginning July 1. Our grand prize winner will receive a Canon PowerShot digital camera.* To submit photos, and for contest rules, visit thebuzzmagazines.com and click on the banner at the top of the home page. You can also view our 2015 winners online.
Grand Prize, Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS digital camera (*or camera of equal value)
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 43
sponsored by
PETS
Neighborhood Tails
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H3N8 or H3N2 Vaccine? 713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Hogan, age 3, and Nelson, age 4, English Setters, Riley St. My name is Hogan (on left), and this is Nelson (on right). We are English Setters. People stop to ask if we are twins while we are out walking, but Nelson is from Dripping Springs, and I am from northern California. He is 4 years old, and I am only 3½! Don’t ask me why, but we are named after the Texas golfing rivals Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan. Nelson and I have a lot to live up to, since English Setters are considered by some to be the most beautiful dogs in the world. So whenever we greet someone, we have to act the part, sitting perfectly and posing for pictures. But when we are home, we ditch the act, wrestle, bark and play constantly, and if something has sentimental value, we just have to chew it up. We really don’t ever mean to be bad. Did I mention we’re beautiful? Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.
You may have heard about a new strain of canine influenza (or CIV) that has been seen in some parts of the country. This new strain is referred to by veterinarians as H3N2. The original strain that first appeared in 2005 and made the headlines several years ago is labelled H3N8. The new H3N2 strain has different origins, and it appears more communicable than H3N8. In the last few months, there have been a number of reports of ill dogs in Austin, Round Rock and Pflugerville. Dogs that have CIV display a cough and other signs of respiratory illness. While some dogs (such as very old dogs) can become very sick, most dogs will recover easily after seeing their veterinarian for treatment. The vaccination for the H3N8 strain has been available for a number of years, but the vaccination for H3N2 was just recently released. It’s important to understand that these vaccinations do not provide cross-protection, which means your dog would need both vaccinations to be protected against both strains of CIV. Plus, just like the human flu vaccine, getting a CIV vaccination does not guarantee that your dog will not become infected, but it does reduce the probability and severity of symptoms. Make sure you check with your dog’s veterinarian on which, if either, of these vaccinations is best for your pet. Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com
Create a buzz for your biz. BELLAIRE WEST UNIVERSITY MEMORIAL TANGLEWOOD RIVER OAKS To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 19 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 44
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Summer-camp survival It’s time for summer camp. Activities like camping can be fun, but they can also increase your contact with outdoor pollen, contact allergens like poison ivy and harsh sunlight, as well as your chances for encountering stinging insects like bees, yellow jackets and wasps. Individuals with allergies should take appropriate precautions, such as avoiding camping during high pollen seasons for those with pollen allergies, having appropriate medications with you, and carrying injectable epinephrine to treat reactions to stinging insects. Don’t let your EpiPen get exposed to excess heat. The epinephrine is not as effective if it has been left in a hot car. (Those who experience a severe insect-allergic reaction must also obtain immediate emergency medical treatment.) With outdoor activities, those with eczema and those taking specific medications that make them more sensitive to the sun should avoid sun exposure for extended periods and always apply sunscreen lotion. Remember to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before anticipated sun exposure. Most of our patients with very sensitive skin recommend Vanicream-brand sunscreen. Besides being free of dyes, lanolin, fragrance and formaldehyde like all Vanicream products, the sunscreen also contains no PABA or oxybenzone. Swimming, whether in a pool or a lake, dries out the skin. Be sure to re-apply moisturizers after drying off. For parents of enthusiastic children, sleeping in a primitive tent may not sound fun. Try to find a hotel nearby. When making a hotel reservation, ask if there are allergy-proof rooms available. Rooms without carpet are best if they are available. If you are sensitive to molds, request a sunny, dry room
away from areas near indoor pools. Also, if you have allergies to any animals, inquire about the hotel’s pet policy, and request a room that has been pet-free. Those who are allergic to dust mites may want to bring their own dust-proof, zippered covers for pillows, or personal bedding. If you encounter any flying stinging insects, remain calm and quiet, and move slowly. Many stinging insects are searching for nectar, so don’t look or smell like a flower – avoid brightly colored clothing and perfume when outdoors. Because the smell of food attracts insects, be careful when cooking, eating or drinking sweet drinks like soda or juice outdoors. Keep food covered until eaten. Wear closed-toe shoes outdoors and avoid going barefoot. Also, avoid loose-fitting garments that can trap insects between material and skin. 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
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 45
NEIGHBORS
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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
A mother’s legacy, in writing
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MAY 2016 46
behance.net/runamokstudios
W
hen Shelby Nielsen left home for college, she had no idea how to do laundry. Or cook. Or, for that matter, boil water. “I didn’t have to know how to do any of that,” she says. “My first week or so [at A&M], my roommate and I lived off instant mashed potatoes because we figured out how to boil water and add flakes. But I soon set my stove on fire, because if you add butter to the water and it boils over because you’re watching Knots Landing, you start a fire.” And that’s how Shelby’s idea to make a “Good to Know” book for her children began. “The idea really came from my mother. When we went off to college, she gave us [Shelby and her sister, Ashley Pratka] a binder that was a cookbook.” The store-bought binder, called Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her? Surviving Away from Home, contained information written by the author on nutrition, grocery shopping, recipes, laundry, first aid, what to do when you’re sick and car and bicycle maintenance. At the end of each chapter were lined pages for handwritten additions. “My mom added family favorites to pre-written recipes in this book,” Shelby says. “In the very back of the binder there were common sense things like how to get stains out. “But I wanted my kids to really know about these things. I wanted them to have some of these skills down as second nature when I send them off into this big world.” Shelby’s children still have a little time to learn: Rachel, who was born on Mother’s Day, turns 14 this month; Caroline is 10; and Zach is 8. “With technology, it’s all so easy,” Shelby says. “All you have to do is Google. But sometimes you don’t have time to even do that.” Like when the water in the toilet began to rise. Instead of frantically finding a plunger, Shelby’s response was to yell, “Hey everybody! Gather ‘round!” Her kids were shocked. “They were all like, ‘What are you doing? It’s going to overflow!’ But I wanted everyone to see it. I turned off the water right as it was about to overflow to show them that you can turn the water off and stop something from happening. And
STARTING FROM SCRATCH It's not easy to impart all the knowledge we want to give our children. Shelby Nielsen got organized and started a "Good to Know" book of life lessons she wants her children to know when they leave home.
then we plunged. “Now they know how to plunge a toilet.” Not only that, it’s all documented in Shelby’s “Good to Know” binder. Divided into sections, the three-ring notebook is full of tips and ideas under four headings: “Things About the House;” “What to Do If...;” “Things to Aspire To” and “Things to Inspire.” On one page, Shelby simply instructs her children to keep wooden utensils out of the dishwasher to prevent warping. But it’s more than simple kitchen rules. “Some of the spoons we use every day belonged to your great-grandmother,” Shelby’s note reads. “She was an amazing cook. Cherish the tools she used and take care of them.” Other ideas for the house include everything from how to cut green onions (“with scissors, safer and easier than a knife”) to cleaning out the lint filter in the dryer (“if your clothes or towels are taking forever to dry, it may need to be cleaned out”) to using daylight savings days as reminders to change smoke alarm batteries (“take the time to buy enough batteries for all of the alarms in the house and go ahead and replace them with new batteries … you only have to listen to that blasted chirping once”).
There are first aid tips, advice on what to do when an earring falls down the faucet, and examples of a well-written thank-you note (along with an example of one that was “still sweet” but didn’t quite hit all the bases). There are favorite prayers: “A good prayer is nice to have on hand. Here are a few of my favorites,” Shelby writes, in her own handwriting. She includes a photocopy of “A Prayer for a Married Couple” that her grandfather carried in his wallet “his whole married life. It was folded and tattered.” Add to that notes on coping with flat chests, bushy eyebrows and feeling small. It’s a mix of common sense and “deeper life lessons,” all told on scraps of paper, some typed, some handwritten, some taken from other sources. All imbued with family history and Shelby’s best hopes for her children. Sort of like a Mother’s Day gift in the form of a frayed, no-frills, homemade book that spans generations. Happy Mother’s Day.
MORE ONLINE For an excerpt from Shelby's "Good to Know" book, see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.